ThinkFast: August 6, 2007
ThinkFast: August 6, 2007
In an editorial entitled, “Warrantless Surrender,” the Washington Post writes that Congress was “stampeded into another compromise of Americans’ rights.” The Post adds the bill was “as reckless as it was unnecessary” and “was scarcely considered at all.”
Most Americans disapprove of the Iraq war and of exporting democracy by force, yet neoconservative proponents of those policies advise the leading Republican presidential hopefuls. “There is an overwhelming presence of neoconservatives and absence of traditional conservatives that I don’t know what to make of,” said Richard Allen, former Reagan White House national security adviser.
The NY Times writes, “One part of the Justice Department mess that requires more scrutiny is the growing evidence that the department may have singled out people for criminal prosecution to help Republicans win elections.” One especially egregious case appears to be that of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, whose conviction is “disturbingly weak.”
The Pentagon has lost track of about 30 percent of the weapons given to Iraqi forces, raising fears they have landed in insurgents’ hands. 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols have vanished. The GAO reported that the weapons distribution “was haphazard and rushed and failed to follow established procedures, particularly from 2004 to 2005, when security training was led by Gen. David H. Petraeus.”
Fox pundit Bill Kristol claimed the Minneapolis bridge collapse didn’t “symbolize any great failure of our infrastructure.” Bush said he would veto a bill that would increase the national bridge and highway maintenance budget from $4 billion to $5 billion. Sen. Chuck Schumer warned, “Our maintenance of our bridges and highways [has] been cut back for too long.”
The Huffington Post has introduced FundRace, a new online tool that discloses who is funding and influencing the 2008 presidential election. The feature allows users to easily find the names and addresses of contributors to presidential candidates.
“A suicide bomber slammed his truck into a densely populated residential area in the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar on Monday, killing at least 28 people, including 19 children, local authorities said.”
“Declaring a new direction in energy policy, the House on Saturday approved $16 billion in taxes on oil companies, while providing billions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives for renewable energy and conservation efforts.”
“Eight months after Democrats vowed to shine light on the dark art of ‘earmarking’ money for pet projects, many lawmakers say the new visibility has only intensified the competition for projects by letting each member see exactly how many everyone else is receiving.”
And finally: Tiger Woods gets his own D.C. drink. The D.C. restaurant TenPenh’s drink mix of ginger limeade and passion-fruit iced tea — formerly called an Arnold Palmer — has been renamed for Tiger Woods. “It felt weird,” says a restaurant spokeswoman. “We couldn’t serve an Arnold Palmer in an Asian restaurant.”
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August 6th, 2007 at 9:09 am“One part of the Justice Department mess that requires more scrutiny is the growing evidence that the department may have singled out people for criminal prosecution to help Republicans win elections.â€
I have also thought that we should be more concerned about the US Attorney's that kept their jobs than those who were fired. What did they have to do to keep their jobs.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:12 amBob "The Prince of Darkness" Novak will be on Diane Rehm today. Whether you hate him or merely dislike him, it should make for an interesting interview. Diane doesn't pull any punches.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:13 am"Fox pundit Bill Kristol claimed the Minneapolis bridge collapse didn’t “symbolize any great failure of our infrastructure.â€
Just when you think that Bill Kristol has said the dumbest thing, he has to go and fool you.
Sure Mr. Kristol, the fact that the bridge was rated at something like 50% in structural safety had nothing to do with it falling down. Does Mr. Kristol really think that we can go another 10, 20, 30 years ignoring our infrastructure so that people can pay lower taxes, without any consequences.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:15 amSen. Chuck Schumer warned, “Our maintenance of our bridges and highways [has] been cut back for too long.â€
I met him Saturday, me and my buddy told him he was on our Fantasy Congress teams, he had no idea what meant.
“Eight months after Democrats vowed to shine light on the dark art of ‘earmarking’ money for pet projects, many lawmakers say the new visibility has only intensified the competition for projects by letting each member see exactly how many everyone else is receiving.â€
Didn't the final version of the bill make disclosing earmarks optional?
August 6th, 2007 at 9:17 amThe number of weapons that disappeared is very disturbing.
The way the US handles its occupation also.
Lieberman was very enthusiastic about spying on AMericans. Just external lines folks. But... wait a minute... phone lines towards Iraq arent coincidentally external also?
Liebermans filtering the complaints in the near future? Or just checking for bad nerves due to Iranian nukes?
Yeah well mr lieberman, youre a jew. But justice shouldnt be too far off from a jew, right mr lieberman? So wheres the justice u little irresponsible buttmunch?
August 6th, 2007 at 9:17 amGarr King, folks that's the Name to remember. This man is a federal Judge in Oregon and has seen the actual NSA wiretap document that proves the administration broke the law. Anyone who voted for this last travesty knows it's a no brainer, someone broke the law. I guess those who had to vote for the bill felt we really can't put Dear Leader in jail.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:18 amThe Atom Bomb! Nuclear Warfare! Weapons of Mass Destruction!
I often start my day with reading On this Day in History.This morning the reference to World War II caught my eye. Sixty-two years ago today, the United States dropped the world's first ever atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
Here's how President Truman described it:
A MILITARY BASE? Surely the President knew that "thousands of civilians lives" were already lost. Yet, three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
History will continue to judge whether President Truman did the right thing in ordering the use of nuclear weapons. That issue won't be settled here.
Talk of nuclear weapons again makes the front pages of our newspapers. Will North Korea use nuclear weapons? Iran?
I'm a firm believer in the maxim that those who are ignorant of history are bound to repeat it. That's why I'm writing today. Before we move carelessly onward, we need to look back. Look back at the capacity humankind has for destruction.
This link will take you back to 1946. At the one-year anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima, the War Department produced a short movie meant to be shown to the armed forces only. Now that it is available for all to see, we must look back so that our moving ahead is guided by wisdom, not hubris and bravado.
http://www.massachusettsobserver.com/Hiroshima.htm
August 6th, 2007 at 9:19 amDidn’t the final version of the bill make disclosing earmarks optional?
Comment by squegeeboo — August 6, 2007 @ 9:17 am
Ooo - so it's on the honor system now instead of on the down-low? Truly a milestone in lobbying and campaign finance, this.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:20 amWhy does anyone, even the partisan hacks at FoxNews, allow Bill Kristol to continue to offer his unbelievable stupid and ignorant opinions on national television. There are any number of state and national studies on the subject of our infrastructure, complete with actual numbers required, to counter this idiot.
Clearly, neither major party has attended to the issue for the last decades. There has been plenty of funding over the years, but all directed at new projects, and only a pittance spent on maintaining the existing infrastructure. What is Kristol clear, though, is that the neocons and the Republic party in general are terrified that the Minnesota bridge failure will finally catch the public's attention and that we will finally realize money must be spent on repair and maintenance, money that they would prefer to either keep in the pockets of the wealthy, or divert to their grandiose projects overseas.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:20 am16 billion in taxes will not even cover the cash even a single oil company has been handed as a gift from George Bush during a time of peak profits.
That's peak profits above all other corporations throughought recorded history.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:24 amThe Pentagon has lost track of about 30 percent of the weapons given to Iraqi forces, raising fears they have landed in insurgents’ hands. 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols have vanished.
This sums up this whole fiasco; lack of planning, no credibility, no clear criteria for an outcome, 'victory' is a moving target.
I suspect we'll get dumb looks and no clear answers from the Army, but American soldiers killed by our own weapons is beyond stupid. It's criminal!
Bush thinks Patraeus is a genius. He gives credit to him for planing the surge when it came out of AEI.
Patraeus was in charge of the planning, but didn't plan on being accountable for where the weapons went?
WTF?
August 6th, 2007 at 9:25 ammparker
August 6th, 2007 at 9:28 amThat’s peak profits above all other corporations throughought recorded history.
But not peak profit margins over all other corporations.
Hey Billy Crisco!
August 6th, 2007 at 9:29 amI've got a bridge in Mpls. I'll sell you cheap.
Slightly used, but certainly good enough for your purposes.
Idiot.
In an editorial entitled, “Warrantless Surrender,†the Washington Post writes that Congress was “stampeded into another compromise of Americans’ rights.†The Post adds the bill was “as reckless as it was unnecessary†and “was scarcely considered at all.â€
Now they vow to "fix it". Didn't they have time to do that when they were writing it up and it was in their hands? Stupidest f-in' thing I have seen come from this Congress yet. Unfortunately it overshadows all the good work they have been doing lately.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:30 amThe Pentagon has lost track of about 30 percent of the weapons given to Iraqi forces, raising fears they have landed in insurgents’ hands. 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols have vanished.
Why do the Trolls, such as LibTeenie,m12, Frank J, Mr Pee, love terrorists and hate America?
Why do so many of these Trolls, above, have so many pedophiles in their midst? Why do they love perversion and hate goodness?
Well, anyway, the Trolls, above, are out of touch with 70% of America, so its no surprise they hate 70% of America.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:31 amCaption contest:
Remember the video of Bush on the golf course giving a statement to the press about some sort of issue, and then saying, "Now watch me make this drive"?
Caption for the above photo:
"Now watch me stick my thumb up Rove's a**."
August 6th, 2007 at 9:33 amI'm just a poor ass exconvict. But I am a value voting Republican even though we do have many pedohiles in our party. Damn do gooder liberals ruining this country.
Hell their needs to be more of them amoral liberals in prison like I was for selling drugs.
Stupid Liberals. And no I am not a liberal. Just a jobless sh_t sponging off my grandmother. My girlfriend and young child sponge off her liberal do gooder ass as well.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:37 amWarrantless Surrender:
Sure, they'll fix it . . . riiiiight .
August 6th, 2007 at 9:42 amThey had to ensure Junior's illegal activity was made legal first.
The rest is just b.s.
Sickening.
Stupid Liberals. And no I am not a liberal. Just a jobless sh_t sponging off my grandmother. My girlfriend and young child sponge off her liberal do gooder ass as well.
Comment by Heath — August 6, 2007 @ 9:37 am
Hence the difference between liberals and conservatives. Liberals believe in taxing people who have money to pay for what we and our children need today. Conservatives believe in taxing our children (through deficit spending) to pay for what we needed yesterday.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:42 amHAHAHAHAHA. Rush can do all the drugs he wants because he is not a liberal.
Its okay to do drugs and be a worthless sh_t all your life. Just hide behind a name. Hell millions of us cons do. Stupid do gooder liberals can't figure that out. We are winners because we are liars. Damn good liars.
And ya know what else? I am still more moral than you dinks. Because I say so!
August 6th, 2007 at 9:43 amThe Glenn Kessler article (30% of weapons missing) contains some astonishing stats:
$ spent developing Iraqi security forces: 19.2bn
$ spent delivering equipment: 2.8bn (question: what was the other 16.4bn spent on? Contractors? Coffee and donuts?)
By way of contrast:
$ spent on Bosnian army: 100mn
Weapons unaccounted for: 0
Moral of the story: Repubicans are the party of big gunvernment.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:45 amComment by dlet — August 6, 2007 @ 9:30 am
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Wasn't it just a week or two ago that Reid kept the Senate in sesson all night to call the Repubs bluff on a filibuster threat? Yet they can't delay their all important vacation a few days to do the right thing on the warrantless wiretapping legislation.
But in the end, does it make any fkng difference? Look at what we have. We have a group of Repubs who will defend Bush till the day that they die. Impeachment was taken off the table the day after the 2006 elections. The 109th Congress let Bush get away with anything and everything. The Repubs who stated in public that warrantless wiretapping was illegal went right up to Bush and kissed his ass, and are still doing so today. The Dems can't get enough support from the Repubs to impeach Gonzo. If they force the WH's hands too much on subpoenas and whatnot, it will likely end up in the courts and Bush will be out of office before anything could be done. Otherwise, the cases will go to the Supreme Court and we know the chance of them ruling against Bush. All Bush has to do is claim Executive Privilege everytime he doesn't want anyone meddling in his or Cheney's affairs, and the Dems let him get away with it.
Damn it.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:50 amI guess TP refuses to publish any of my commentary. I tried posting all day yesterday and this morning. None of my commentary or articles got through. Zero. The only thing they let me publish is the word "test". And perhaps this criticism.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:51 amComment by ConPerVative
love the name... might i suggest this though:
ConPERVative or conPERVative...
put the accent where it belongs...
August 6th, 2007 at 9:53 ami'm in the sign business... i know about these things...
but whatever...
I guess TP refuses to publish any of my commentary. I tried posting all day yesterday and this morning. None of my commentary or articles got through. Zero. The only thing they let me publish is the word “testâ€. And perhaps this criticism.
Comment by Larry from C — August 6, 2007 @ 9:51 am
---------------
Join the club. I couldn't post anything lengthy on Saturday. If I tried, the Name and E-mail and URI fields would go to "null." I tried breaking up my post into shorter versions but could only get 2 out of 3 blocks to post. I don't know what's going on, and it does not appear to be affecting everyone (several folks posted quite lengthy notes), but the TP admins don't appear to give a damn. As I recall, these problems posting seemed to start back when "The Path to 9/11" was getting ready to air and TP was posting info about it. On many occasions I sent notes to the admins but was ignored. We need a new program to post notes; I personally like what crooksandliars.com is using.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:57 amBill Kristol is simply stupid.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:00 amVerbalKint
Bill Kristol is simply stupid.
I thought he was pretty good as Miracle Max in the 'Princess Bride'.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:07 amComment by VerbalKint — August 6, 2007 @ 10:00 am
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Bill and Tony Snow are the Baghdad Bobs of America.
Bush could bite the head off a bat and Bill would respond, "There's nothing inherently wrong with that. My gosh, the man was hungry."
August 6th, 2007 at 10:08 amI know I'm shouting at the wind here, but TP, could you please stop posting pictures of that smug, smirking, petulant bastard? Just looking at him turns my stomach. How about a picture of the inside of someone's stomach? Or perhaps a colonoscopy? That would supply far more aesthetic pleasure.
It's Monday, and I enjoy fewer constitutional rights than I had on Friday. Ugh.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:08 amThe Pentagon has lost track of about 30 percent of the weapons given to Iraqi forces, raising fears they have landed in insurgents’ hands. 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols have vanished.â€
Yes, as if The Pentagon didnt know what was gonna happen. Come on.
More insurgency = more war = more profits.
It´s getting old.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:09 amBush hates America.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:09 amdemocrats...republicans...no difference.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:11 ami found this listed on the google news... have seen this site before,
but not sure of its bonefides... but the headline is catchy:
US Police State: Congress Approves Extensive Wiretapping
Global Research, August 6, 2007
Washington Post
Global Research Editor`s Note
The introduction of extensive wiretapping should be seen in relation to Bush adminstration measures which are geared towards the suspension of civil liberties and the crminalisation of dissent including Bush`s July 17 executive order, which criminalizes the antiwar movement. The objective of this most recent piece of legislation is clear: establish a Police State in America.
The fact that the wiretapping under the legislation applies to foreigners is cosmetic. The measure is intended legitimise an extensive system of surveillance
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6465
and then it posts the wapo news article...
who/what is global research?
August 6th, 2007 at 10:12 amI thought he was pretty good as Miracle Max in the ‘Princess Bride’.
Comment by squegeeboo — August 6, 2007 @ 10:07 am
I think he's had work since then -- he appears hyper-smooth. :P
August 6th, 2007 at 10:12 amCaption quiz...Question asked of the impaired man above...How old are you.? Answer...I am this many.........Blessings
August 6th, 2007 at 10:13 amAh yes. Our fabulous democratic majority has given the President permission to spy on us without a warrant. nice. What next, unwarranted anal probing?
August 6th, 2007 at 10:13 amA suicide bomber slammed his truck into a densely populated residential area in the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar on Monday, killing at least 28 people, including 19 children, local authorities said.
I had some snark, but I think I'll just leave it alone.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:19 amdemocrats…republicans…no difference.
Comment by Freakaloin — August 6, 2007 @ 10:11 am
Is this the RNC talking point for today?
August 6th, 2007 at 10:20 amverbalkint - it's been an RNC talking point for years...
August 6th, 2007 at 10:22 amseems to be picking up speed lately...
wonder why? ... (duh)...
It appears that approximately half of my comments are showing up.
Nice work, TP. Now that you're back, maybe you can get your shit together?
August 6th, 2007 at 10:24 ami see no difference in dems or repubs. the dems give bush everything he wants. and just you wait and see...if the dems take control of the whitehouse in 08...policies will not change...democracy is dead in america. if you wanna think thats a repub talking point then go ahead...
August 6th, 2007 at 10:26 amSuppose the rubber-stamp Congress will play the role of doormat on this matter, too?
Other than saying that they don't enjoy going along with W, where the Repukes remained silent, what else is new?
August 6th, 2007 at 10:29 amIn an editorial entitled, “Warrantless Surrender,†the Washington Post writes that Congress was “stampeded into another compromise of Americans’ rights.†The Post adds the bill was “as reckless as it was unnecessary†and “was scarcely considered at all.â€
Those brave democrats were stampeded...did Bush "trick" them again? Or are we to expect the usual denials of responsibililty from the left that they didnt know what they voted for, that they didnt have enough information, that that that they shouldnt have to live up to what they do when called on the carpet?
Having the dems in power is more fun than when they were the minority. Its become such a hapless circus with them controlling the show; I havent laughed this much in a long time.
Pelosi/Reid....LOL! Feckless and pathetic.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:29 amZooey
August 6th, 2007 at 10:32 amNice work, TP. Now that you’re back, maybe you can get your shit together?
Ah, angry, frustrated, pointless rants, the hallmark of the left :)
the american ppl were thrown under the bus decades ago. dems...repubs...elections etc are just there to give us the illusion of choice. some ppl still believe the hype...how naive can ya get?!? is that a republican talking point too?
August 6th, 2007 at 10:33 amPelosi/Reid….LOL! Feckless and pathetic.
Comment by Sheller of the Clams — August 6, 2007 @ 10:29 am
Chocolate's way better than vanilla. Everyone knows that.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:34 amgood news!
Mystery Steve Jobs blogger outed
The blogger who has entertained readers with his caricature of Apple's chief executive has been unmasked
Jonathan Richards
Mousetrap blog: tech's greatest, geekiest mystery is solved
'Fake Steve Jobs', the anonymous blogger who for more than a year has entertained readers with his studied caricature of the Apple chief executive, has finally been outed.
Speculation about the real identity of the blogger, whose writings even the real Steve Jobs – and Bill Gates – have admitted to reading, had been intense, with Apple insiders among those in the frame.
But the blog, whose targets have included venture capitalists, tech journalists as well fans of open-source software, whom he calls 'freetards', has been revealed to be the work of an editor at Forbes Magazine.
Danial Lyons, a senior editor at Forbes, was unmasked by a reporter at The New York Times, Brad Stone, who compared Fake Steve's writing with that on Mr Lyons' own blog.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:34 amhttp://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article2207645.ece
...
Ah, angry, frustrated, pointless rants, the hallmark of the left :)
Comment by squegeeboo — August 6, 2007 @ 10:32 am
It's a gift......and I haven't eaten yet. :-)
August 6th, 2007 at 10:36 amWhy are Democrats such cowards? After clamoring Bush broke the wiretapping law, 41 Democrats rolled over and played dead and gave the President what he wanted.
Democrats are COWARDS and LIARS. They vote according to polls, not souls. They would have went right along with Adlof Hitler when he was popular in Germany. Oh wait - a Democrat did go along with Hitler.
Democrats are spineless WIMPS!!
August 6th, 2007 at 10:37 amThey would have went right along with Adlof Hitler when he was popular in Germany. Oh wait - a Democrat did go along with Hitler.
Comment by I Heart Alito — August 6, 2007 @ 10:37 am
Huh??? Prescott Bush was a Democrat??? Who'd a thunk it???
August 6th, 2007 at 10:39 amComment by The Republic of Stupidity — August 6, 2007 @ 10:34 am
It's the only way to handle 'em. :-D
August 6th, 2007 at 10:40 amIt’s the only way to handle ‘em. :-D
Comment by Zooey — August 6, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Tip of the hat to Marcus on that one.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:41 amThe reason Congress passed the laws allowing warrantless wiretaps is to prevent themselves from being blamed should our nation be attacked again. National security is still the Dems greatest fear, and if it weren't for elections, the Dems wouldn't do anything to secure our nation.
As long as netrooters keep voting for any ole Dem that makes it to the top of their ballot, you will keep getting Bush-Cheney lite governments. Emanuel, Schumer and Hill'reh will keep playing that game of chicken with you, because they KNOW you will blink.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:42 ami suppose we'll be hearing that for some time now...
August 6th, 2007 at 10:43 am*sigh*
you'd think they'd be saying "thank you!, dems!
we've been trying to get to a full fledged fascist state for years!
thanks!"
...
You are correct that Dems and Reps are the same on foreign affairs. I told you months ago that American foreign policy was out of the hands of our government and driven entirely by external forces, which force necessary reactions regardless of who is in power. Reps will just do it faster and further than Dems, but make no mistake, they are moving in the same direction, herded along by history.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:47 amThe reason Congress passed the laws allowing warrantless wiretaps is to prevent themselves from being blamed should our nation be attacked again. National security is still the Dems greatest fear, and if it weren’t for elections, the Dems wouldn’t do anything to secure our nation.
---------------
I guess they really didn't try to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, did they? Nah...it was all a dream. Idiot.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:47 amTip of the hat to Marcus on that one.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — August 6, 2007 @ 10:41 am
It brings back sweet memories of "Clinton Non Sequitur Night."
Such a good time....
*sniff*
August 6th, 2007 at 10:49 amStop the presses, "new, secret evidence" about warrantless wiretaps has been released, so that Dems can plead ignorance about their recent vote to allow them. You are now free to keep voting for them unabated.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:55 amYou are now free to keep voting for them unabated.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — August 6, 2007 @ 10:55 am
Thanks Jason, we were waiting for you to let us know what we're supposed to do next.
*eyes rolling*
August 6th, 2007 at 10:59 amLet's see...the Dems tried to get cargo checked for nuclear bombs when they left a foreign port, but Bush wanted to veto the legislation and only inspect the cargo after it had arrived in America. Which would be a bit too late. A nuclear explosion at an American shipping port. Now that would make the terrorists proud. Not to mention shutting down that port and damaging the economy. Which, by the way, was bin Laden's goal all along. As we spend billions of dollars on this "war," which we are borrowing from foreign governments and will likely never afford to pay back, we are well on our way.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:59 ami forgot to add applesauce to my cookie dough last night...
high of 90 today... 97 tomorrow...
August 6th, 2007 at 11:00 amthen today it is - mowing day...
later...
Well Bill, you shallow piece of neocon crap, tell that to the families of those who are still in their cars in the river. Perhaps you can be there to tell them all this while the bodies are pulled from the water. At what point do you neocons put a value on a life for anything other than being a pawn in progressing your sick agenda?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:08 amDuring the very time Congress was debating codifying President Bush's lawbreaking by revising FISA, Alberto Gonzales' DOJ was raiding the home of a former Justice official to identify the person who first brought the illicit program to light.
For the disturbing details of selective retribution by the White House, see:
August 6th, 2007 at 11:16 am"Payback Time: FBI Raids Home of Suspected NSA Leaker."
The five Cabinet ministers loyal to Iraq's first post-Saddam leader will boycott government meetings, further deepening the political crisis that threatens to swamp the administration of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, two lawmakers said on Monday.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:30 amBush said he would veto a bill that would increase the national bridge and highway maintenance budget from $4 billion to $5 billion.
Good. It's not needed, as long as the current funds are used wisely.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:32 amPoll: Iraqis Oppose Oil Privatization
Iraqis oppose plans to open the country’s oilfields to foreign investment by a factor of two to one, according to a poll released today. Iraqis are united in this view: there are no ethnic, sectarian or geographical groups that prefer foreign companies.
http://www.priceofoil.org/
August 6th, 2007 at 11:33 amArchitects and Engineers for 911 Truth is a growing organization. Here Richard Gage, a San Francisco Architect, lays out the case:
http://911blogger.com/node/10025
August 6th, 2007 at 11:33 amIn an editorial entitled, “Warrantless Surrender,†the Washington Post writes that Congress was “stampeded into another compromise of Americans’ rights.†The Post adds the bill was “as reckless as it was unnecessary†and “was scarcely considered at all.â€
Typical. What else would you expect from the Liberal media?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:34 amBush said he would veto a bill that would increase the national bridge and highway maintenance budget from $4 billion to $5 billion.
If 160,000 bridges roads and dams are dangerous in America then you NEED to spend more
why not take 1 billion from the war chest ????
August 6th, 2007 at 11:34 amGood. It’s not needed, as long as the current funds are used wisely.
Comment by Pyrrho — August 6, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Right, Mr Pee. Pay no attention to the collapsing bridge -- inspected and cared for using "current funds."
Move along, nothing to see here....
August 6th, 2007 at 11:35 amOne especially egregious case appears to be that of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, whose conviction is “disturbingly weak.â€
Ha! Now the Dems want to start letting criminals off the hook!!!
You guys are starting to lose it!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:37 amWhy are Democrats such cowards? After clamoring Bush broke the wiretapping law, 41 Democrats rolled over and played dead and gave the President what he wanted.
Democrats are COWARDS and LIARS. They vote according to polls, not souls. They would have went right along with Adlof Hitler when he was popular in Germany. Oh wait - a Democrat did go along with Hitler.
Democrats are spineless WIMPS!!
Comment by I Heart Alito — August 6, 2007 @ 10:37 am
August 6th, 2007 at 11:42 am------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This isn't about partisanship. This is about the safety and security of the Motherland. If you can't but parties aside for a minute, then all you do is give comfort to terrorists.
WASHINGTON, July 20 (RIA Novosti) - A former Reagan official has issued a public warning that the Bush administration is preparing to orchestrate a staged terrorist attack in the United States, transform the country into a dictatorship and launch a war with Iran within a year.
Paul Craig Roberts, a former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, blasted Thursday a new Executive Order, released July 17, allowing the White House to seize the assets of anyone who interferes with its Iraq policies and giving the government expanded police powers to exercise control in the country.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:42 amAh, angry, frustrated, pointless rants, the hallmark of the left :)
Comment by squegeeboo — August 6, 2007 @ 10:32 am
--------------------
August 6th, 2007 at 11:42 amYou got that right.
This isn’t about partisanship. This is about the safety and security of the Motherland.
Comment by Pyrrhomania — August 6, 2007 @ 11:42 am
Agreed. Africa should be safe and secure for all!!!!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:45 amGood. It’s not needed, as long as the current funds are used wisely.
Comment by Pyrrho — August 6, 2007 @ 11:32 am
What makes you say that?
"Current funds" are what earned the nation's infrastructure a grade of D, from the American Society of Civil Engineers, down from a D- four years ago,
August 6th, 2007 at 11:49 ampete
earned the nation’s infrastructure a grade of D, from the American Society of Civil Engineers, down from a D- four years ago,
Don't you mean up from a D-?
DRxJ
August 6th, 2007 at 11:50 amAgreed. Africa should be safe and secure for all!!!!
Even for the French?
Something great the democrats are doing NOW
House Approves Taxes on Oil Companies
WASHINGTON - Declaring a new direction in energy policy, the House on Saturday approved $16 billion in taxes on oil companies, while providing billions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives for renewable energy and conservation efforts.
Republican opponents said the legislation ignored the need to produce more domestic oil, natural gas and coal. One GOP lawmaker bemoaned "the pure venom ... against the oil and gas industry."
The House passed the tax provisions by a vote of 221-189. Earlier it had approved, 241-172, a companion energy package aimed at boosting energy efficiency and expanding use of biofuels, wind power and other renewable energy sources.
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/05/ap3988165.html
HOPE BUSH DONT VETO THIS COMMONSENSE
August 6th, 2007 at 11:51 amTobey Tall
HOPE BUSH DONT VETO THIS COMMONSENSE
Yup, nothing more common sense than putting extra taxes on business's doing business in America. I'm sure it won't hurt their further investment in the parts of their business's in America, or just increase consumer prices to cover the new taxes.
And way to ignore this still:
August 6th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Tobey, there is no war chest
August 6th, 2007 at 12:03 pmthe war is funded entirely thru emergency funds, as each year the war is completely unexpected.
pete
Don’t you mean up from a D-?
Comment by squegeeboo — August 6, 2007 @ 11:50 am
No, I mean this:
http://www.asce.org/reportcard/2005/page.cfm?id=108
"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, March 9, 2005
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) today released its 2005 Report Card for America's Infrastructure - assigning a cumulative grade of D for the nation's infrastructure. The condition of our nation's roads, bridges, drinking water systems and other public works have shown little to no improvement since they were graded an overall D+ in 2001, with some areas sliding toward failing grades.
"In transportation, two categories have worsened - roads from D+ to D and transit from C- to D+. "
Why would you quibble over whether a D is better than a D-? Is there any time that a D is acceptable? Did you ever bring home a D, and get away with explainging that "it's not as bad as a D-?"
August 6th, 2007 at 12:06 pmpete, according to Bush, an F is great! (51%)
August 6th, 2007 at 12:10 pma mandate, even
I think he has a Q- grade now.
August 6th, 2007 at 12:10 pmComment by pete — August 6, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
You said:
D- > D
But that is not true, because:
D > D-
August 6th, 2007 at 12:16 pmpete
Why would you quibble over whether a D is better than a D-?
Because it is?
Is there any time that a D is acceptable?
August 6th, 2007 at 12:16 pmOn a pass/fail scale, D is for Done after all.
#
Architects and Engineers for 911 Truth is a growing organization. Here Richard Gage, a San Francisco Architect, lays out the case:
http://911blogger.com/node/10025
Comment by Matthew — August 6, 2007 @ 11:33 am
Matthew: Thanks for this!
August 6th, 2007 at 12:22 pmUnfortunately, nothing the Democrats attempt to do now will mean anything to the american people. What they did in providing defacto exoneration to Bush to spy on american citizens trumps everything and anything they try to do to assuage the people's anger and disillusionment with them as well as the existing disgust and disdain for the Republican Party.
Shafting the people and giving away our civil liberties is definitely NOT what we elected them to do and as far as I can see it, there's no reason whatsoever for 41 democrats to have betrayed the trust of the people.
What this gang of 41 did over the weekend is reprehensible and capricious and definitely needs to not go unnoticed.
August 6th, 2007 at 12:25 pmcheck out what's really news today http://www.independentvoting.com and see that 35% of all registered voters have registered as "I's" and the number following this weekend's sellout by the Dems who thought it more important to go on their vacation than to serve the best interests of the people, not to mention the trashing of our civil liberties in the process, are driving more people to register as Independent this week.
At this moment, 35% clearly makes this a force to contend with. The MSM would like these voters to go away but they will soon have to reckon with this growing number. In actuality, this number is now larger than the percentage of Registered Republicans so it can legitimately be said that the Republican Party is the "Third Party" right now.
August 6th, 2007 at 12:27 pmveritas
see that 35% of all registered voters have registered as “I’sâ€
Hasn't that been roughly standard for the past decade at least?
August 6th, 2007 at 12:36 pmIf you can’t but parties aside for a minute, then all you do is give comfort to terrorists.
Comment by Pyrrho — August 6, 2007 @ 11:42 am
---------------
Like Bush and Powell and Bartlett saying that we'd leave Iraq if the Iraqi gov't asked us too, and not a care in the world about what would happen to the region after we leave.
Yet if a Democrat so much as whispers that we need to leave Iraq, oh hell no. Mass hysteria would ensue, and only the generals on the ground will determine when we can leave.
August 6th, 2007 at 12:46 pm#85, veritas,
At least the Republicans do what you know they will do. Dems say one thing and do the opposite - ALL THE TIME. I don't know how you can vote for them. You are better off voting for Green Party or other Independent candidates, yet you keep giving license to Dems, who, in the end, do exactly what Republicans would have done.
August 6th, 2007 at 12:56 pmComment by Pyrrho — August 6, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
---------
Ummm, no. The suggestion is that a D is better than a D-... this is coming from Squeege, not Pete.
As for grading the condition of, among other things, our bridges, Pete is right. A "D" is unforgivable and unacceptable, whether it is a "-" or a "+."
August 6th, 2007 at 12:56 pmCaption Contest:
And now a man with a tape recorder up his nose.....
August 6th, 2007 at 1:07 pmComment by Jason M. Hendler — August 6, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
---------
Sure.
Arlen Specter faking outrage and saying Bush needed to be investigated over warrantless wiretapping because it was illegal, and then not doing a f-king thing about it.
Same for Lindsey Graham.
And Sen. Pat Roberts saying he'd release Phase II of the investigation over intelligence used to go to war and how it was used by Bush, and doing everything in his power to stall.
And Bush saying we'd leave Iraq if the Iraqi government asked us to, and ignoring them when they do just that.
And Bush saying America wouldn't be nation builders or world police.
And Bush saying he'd return honor and integrity to the WH, yet throwing up Executive Priviledge every time he doesn't want any oversight of his administration, including the National Archives efforts at making sure that classified documents were being handled properly, and efforts to find out info about the Pat Tillman death (just what IS Bush trying to hide in this latter issue??).
And Rummy saying he knew where the WMDs were, then 3 years later lying about it and saying he didn't say those words.
Heh.
August 6th, 2007 at 1:09 pmFee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of a tiny todgered, Ivy League mysogynist....
August 6th, 2007 at 1:11 pmCaption Contest:
August 6th, 2007 at 1:13 pm"The American People give me 1 finger up, of course they didn't use this one, but I assumed that was a mistake."
TerrytheTurtle
todgered
?
August 6th, 2007 at 1:20 pmFwd: How to create an Angry American
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgfzqulvhlQ
August 6th, 2007 at 1:28 pmhttp://911blogger.com/node/10025
Comment by Matthew — August 6, 2007 @ 11:33 am
Matthew: Thanks for this!
Comment by veritas — August 6, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
My pleasure. It was a link that you posted some months ago, BTW, that led me on the path to this one, so thank you!
August 6th, 2007 at 1:54 pmOn a pass/fail scale, D is for Done after all.
Comment by squegeeboo — August 6, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
D is also for Dead, after all.
A D leaves no margin for error, no factor of safety, no durability over time.
D might be your standard of performance. It is not mine. It is not an acceptable standard of performance for any public works infrastructure.
August 6th, 2007 at 2:35 pmpete
A D leaves no margin for error, no factor of safety, no durability over time.
Sure it does, theres still a D- before you F(ail)
D might be your standard of performance. It is not mine. It is not an acceptable standard of performance for any public works infrastructure.
August 6th, 2007 at 2:41 pmProbably shouldn't have the gov't do anything then.
Todger - : http://shystuff.me.uk/page_t.htm
August 6th, 2007 at 3:27 pmComment by squegeeboo — August 6, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
Sure it does, theres still a D- before you F(ail)
You're wrong. Why do you insist on shaving the difference between D and D-? D is the last point on the line before failure. If you stand at D, there is nothing left. If you built a bridge at D, the very first flaw or accident would destroy a very important and expensive public asset, and most likely kill people.
August 6th, 2007 at 4:35 pmpete
You’re wrong. Why do you insist on shaving the difference between D and D-?
Because there is a difference, a D- is different from a D, otherwise you wouldn't have brought it up.
Even the website your link to, if you look at 2005, gives out D-'s in some areas, not just D's.
For example, drinking water received a D-, which was a drop from a D in 2001.
If you built a bridge at D, the very first flaw or accident would destroy a very important and expensive public asset, and most likely kill people.
Well doesn't that really depend on what the flaw is? Maybe when they chiseled a name into it, they misspelled it. That would be a flaw, but it won't mean doing the bridge over again, or the deaths of anyone.
If you insist on using absolutes, please use correct absolutes. If a rating scale isn't flat grading, (just A, B, C, D, F) which ASCE is not, but also uses +/- then an A+ is not an A which is not an A- etc, all the way down the line thru F-.
August 6th, 2007 at 4:51 pmBush's policy of spreading democracy unilaterally by force in Iraq and the Middle East has been a resounding failure. As has the surge. Neo-cons are unable to admit how truly wrong they have been about the war. Their failure to admit mistakes is irresponsible and immoral while Americans continue to die in Iraq everyday.
This is not the first time weapons have gone missing in Iraq. This war is a mistake. The surge is an even bigger mistake. The surge has failed because it was supposed to give the Maliki government enough breathing room to make political concessions. Maliki has not done this instead the Iraqi parliament has gone on vacation while Americans continue to die in Iraq every day. This is a shameful record. Both Bush and Maliki have shown how truly incompetent they are.
August 6th, 2007 at 5:40 pm