ThinkFast: August 20, 2007
ThinkFast: August 20, 2007
“The Army has nearly exhausted its fighting force and its options if the Bush administration decides to extend the Iraq buildup beyond next spring.” The Army’s 38 available combat units are already mobilized, leaving no fresh troops to replace five extra brigades that Bush sent to Baghdad this year.
Bombers killed an Iraqi provincial governor on Monday — the second assassinated in two weeks — “amid mounting tension between rival Shiite armed factions in Iraq’s southern cities.” Both governors were members of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, “one of Iraq’s most powerful parties and a bitter rival of another Shiite movement led by radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.”
Reporting on the war in Iraq “fell sharply in the second quarter of 2007,” according to a new report by the Project for Excellence in Journalism. Coverage of the war’s three major storylines — the U.S. policy debate, events in Iraq, and their impact on the U.S. homefront — slipped to 15 percent of total coverage, “down from 22 percent in the first three months of the year.”
Today at 2:30 is deadline for the White House “to turn over materials regarding the National Security Agency’s eavesdropping program to the Senate Judiciary Committee.” Even though the White House already received an extension from the original July 18 deadline, White House counsel Fred Fielding has stated that the administration will also miss today’s date.
The American Psychological Association, the nation’s largest group of psychologists, voted to restrict members from taking part in interrogations at U.S. military prisons that involve “any of more than a dozen specific practices, including sleep deprivation and forced nakedness.” The APA voted against a broader proposal to ban involvement in any interrogations that lack adequate human rights protections.
9,000: Number of houses bulldozed in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina hit on Aug. 29, 2005. But houses have gone up in New Orleans “more slowly than in many other midsized cities.” It has “approved construction of fewer than 1,400 new homes” during that same period.
Current and former officials of the Justice Department say “the department’s integrity has been damaged, employee morale has been hurt and [Alberto] Gonzales’ relations with the Democratic-controlled Congress have deteriorated beyond repair in a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers, including some Republicans.”
In an unprecedented order, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has required the administration to respond to a request it received last week by the ACLU for orders and legal papers discussing the scope of the government’s authority to engage in the secret wiretapping of Americans.
And finally: “Hundreds of naked people formed a ‘living sculpture’ on Switzerland’s Aletsch glacier” over the weekend, “hoping to raise awareness about climate change.” The event was shot by Spencer Tunick, “the New York artist famous for his pictures of nude gatherings in public settings worldwide,” and co-organized by Greenpeace. Most Swiss glaciers “will disappear by 2080 if global warming continues at its current pace.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
So what do we do when we run out of combat units? Oh, wait, wait — I know! We invade IRAN!
August 20th, 2007 at 9:10 amgood on the apa… this should have happened years ago…
August 20th, 2007 at 9:12 amAnd, yes, I DO take it personally
“Reporting on the war in Iraq fell sharply in the second quarter of 2007″
I can think of only two reasons for this. First — the war in Iraq has so many negatives that Fox “rah rah Bush” News can’t even spin it anymore. Second — the war has exceeded the attention span of Americans, so coverage doesn’t do a thing to enhance ratings.
Kind of reminds me of traffic fatalities in Los Angeles — they are common enough that they only make news on the traffic reports when they are tying up traffic.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:14 amToday at 2:30 is deadline for the White House “to turn over materials regarding the National Security Agency’s eavesdropping program to the Senate Judiciary Committee.†Even though the White House already received an extension from the original July 18 deadline, White House counsel Fred Fielding has stated that the administration will also miss today’s date.
That chomping sound you hear is Barney eating the President’s homework again.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:14 am“It has “approved construction of fewer than 1,400 new homes†during that same period.”
This is by design. The Bush administration is not going to help these people rebuild their homes because he wants his rich friends to be able to buy their land and build lots of condominiums for rich people to live in. No matter who lived there first.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:15 amSo what do we do when the White House misses today’s deadline to turn over the NSA eavesdropping program materials to the Senate Judiciary Committee? Extend the deadline again? Wake me when something happens…
August 20th, 2007 at 9:15 amMenehune:
Whether you like it or not, Bush is fighting for National Security and “Executive Privilege” for the next President as well.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:16 ambilbogaggins:
To be fair, Native Americans lived their first.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:17 amThe only way the US is going to get close to any respectability internationally is to hand over these war criminals for Nuremburg-style trials. Expose the greed, expose the incompetence, expose the hypocrisy, expose the lies and expose the corruption.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:18 amDamn it TP. What’s with wiping out my sign-in information EVERY TIME I post. This is getting ridiculous. Add this to eating every other thing I try to post, this site is really no longer worth it.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:18 amMy father many years ago asked his children during dinner table conversation: “Why will capitalism always survive?†His answer: “Because socialism will always be used to save it.â€
- Ralph Nader, commenting on the Feds bailout of Subprime and Mortgage Lenders
August 20th, 2007 at 9:18 amComment by bilbogaggins — August 20, 2007 @ 9:15 am
There’s another reason why the neocons really don’t want to rebuild the homes of the people who lived there at the time of Katrina. They WANT to keep the locals from coming back home. Politically, it works out a great deal better for them if this pocket of Democratic voters gets scattered to the winds.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:18 amReporting on the war in Iraq “fell sharply in the second quarter of 2007,â€
It’s simply not as compelling as the ‘trapped miners’ story. Never mind that in this case there are many thousands of our fellow citizens trapped in a desperate situation, not just six.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:19 am“To be fair, Native Americans lived their first.
Comment by Jake D.”
You know Jake, I’ve been posting here for a while and I can safely say that NOT ONE THING you have ever posted makes sense or proves a point. You either post a talking point or some stupid straw man argument like the one above. How old are you? What is your IQ? My guess is 12/70.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:20 amWhether you like it or not, Bush is fighting for National Security and “Executive Privilege†for the next President as well.
Comment by Jake D. — August 20, 2007 @ 9:16 am
So thoughtful of Bush to work so hard for a rich toolbox to hand over to Hillary! Was this his motive all along?
August 20th, 2007 at 9:20 amRE: Missing the NSA deadline AGAIN:
“I will restore honor and integrity to the White House.”—Shrub, ca. 2000.
I doubt that idiot could even find those words in a dictionary at this point. Alas, I fear Leahy will hold a press conference at which he expresses his extreme disappointment, and then grant these awful people yet another extension.
I say impeach, if for no other reason than to demonstrate that someone will stand up to these tyrants! Given the last six years, that would be one of the most effective uses of my tax dollars in recent memory!
August 20th, 2007 at 9:20 amTo be fair, Native Americans lived their first.
Comment by Jake D. — August 20, 2007 @ 9:17 am
Well would you be fair and move to N. Korea, more your speed, you know with a dictator and all.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:21 amWhether you like it or not, Bush is fighting for National Security and “Executive Privilege†for the next President as well.
Comment by Jake D. — August 20, 2007 @ 9:16 am
I can safely say I don’t like it, Jake. The President, be they R or D, needs to be accountable. It’s that simple. I don’t want Hillary to be able to hide everything she does either.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:23 amTo be fair, Native Americans lived there first.
Comment by Jake D. — August 20, 2007 @ 9:17 am
Interesting point. In that case, “to be fair”, Bush should be fighting to turn that land back over to the Native Americans instead of condo developers.
Just because our government swept people off land they had occupied for years once doesn’t mean we should keep doing it.
Oh, and I corrected your spelling for you. I know that “their”, “there”, and “they’re” can be tricky.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:24 amThe war coverage decline is now noticable, the media is chasing fluff news.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:25 amThe war news is shelved.
Between King Elvis and other fluff stories..war stories now vanishing.
That’s good news for war makers .
This is happening also while the Congress is absent for a month.
bilbogaggins:
I’m 75 but never have had my IQ tested. It was good enough to graduate from Stanford Law at the top of my class, though. How old are you? What is your IQ? Where did you graduate? I won’t presume to guess.
P.S. “their” = “there” (darn Spellchecker ; )
August 20th, 2007 at 9:25 amTexas defies federal court with plan to execute man who did not kill
· Controversial state law led to murder conviction
· Accomplice had sat in car 25 metres from shooting
Texas is poised to execute a man for a crime he did not commit. While the perpetrator of the murder in San Antonio was executed last year, Kenneth Foster, who was sitting in a car 25 metres away at the time of the shooting, was sentenced to death under the “law of parties”.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2152334,00.html
August 20th, 2007 at 9:25 amcome on you should all ignore Jake D or any other name IT goes by
August 20th, 2007 at 9:26 amI can safely say I don’t like it, Jake. The President, be they R or D, needs to be accountable. It’s that simple. I don’t want Hillary to be able to hide everything she does either.
Comment by Menehune — August 20, 2007 @ 9:23 am
Hillary is just as evil as Bush, as we can see from her whining about Bush being secretive, and then sealing her records until after the election.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:26 amMenehune:
Nancy Pelosi took impeachment off the table, if you will recall.
RUN, CINDY, RUN!!!
August 20th, 2007 at 9:27 amTo be fair, Native Americans lived their (there, perhaps?) first.
Comment by Jake D. — August 20, 2007 @ 9:17 am
Now Jake, we’ve been through these lessons over and over. They don’t seem to be sinking in.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:27 amjake the peg will ruin the thread ( AGAIN) please ignore him — or any other name you suspect is IT
August 20th, 2007 at 9:28 amBush is now the embarrassing uncle the Republicans just can’t hide
With the departure of Karl Rove, the stench of failure hangs over the president – and his party wants to ignore the smell.
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/index.html
August 20th, 2007 at 9:30 amGod forbid the Echo Chamber ever consider the PRINCIPLE of “Executive Privilege” apart from Bush hatred . . .
August 20th, 2007 at 9:30 amAdd randy camels to the list of things our troops must watch out for…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6954728.stm
August 20th, 2007 at 9:31 amIt’s clearly as if they are departing the scene of a crime – hoping against hope that by the time Bush departs that they will be forgotten by the war crimes tribunal in The Hague, for that is where they all deserve to end up: Bush, Rove, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld and Blair for creating such a monumental human catastrophe in Iraq.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:32 amEverything else Bush has done has the stench of incompetence, of venal greed, of rank stupidity, vile arrogance. He is an abject failure yet the smug swagger and the demented fratboy grin are still there. The man without a clue.
Americans should be much more careful not to vote for someone of such obvious staggering banality and whose talent would perhaps have suited a small town council and no more. The world could not be in a worse state and here we are, almost 8 years travelling up the wrong road. It’s like being back in the Dark Ages.
I can think of only two reasons for this. First — the war in Iraq has so many negatives that Fox “rah rah Bush†News can’t even spin it anymore. Second — the war has exceeded the attention span of Americans, so coverage doesn’t do a thing to enhance ratings.
Comment by missmolly — August 20, 2007 @ 9:14 am
It’s also worth mentioning that the United States ranks 53rd in press freedom, according to RSF.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:32 amGod forbid the Echo Chamber ever consider the PRINCIPLE of “Executive Privilege†apart from Bush hatred . . .
Comment by Jake D Fake — August 20, 2007 @ 9:30 am
Please explain why our fearless leader is envoking “executive privilege” for the Tillman case. What possible reason is there to hide the findings?
August 20th, 2007 at 9:32 amTo be fair, Native Americans lived their first.
Comment by Jake D. — August 20, 2007 @ 9:17 am
To be fair, NO ONE was living there when Bienville founded the city. The location was a mile-wide flat plain at the edge of the river with a short portage to Lake Ponchartrain that was dry nearly year-round. There is no record of aboriginal settlement.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:33 amJake D
There is no legal basis for executive priveledge. It is a mythical construct.
And further, it is undesirable whoever is in power, whether it be a clone of FDR or GW Bush.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:33 amDon’t waste your time on the black hearted little troll’s..You make them very happy showing any attention to their insanety and madness…I think jake the flake is michael, MA, and any number of name’s…Ignore and they go back to the darkness….Feed them and they clog the thread’s also driving out other poster’s……Blessings
August 20th, 2007 at 9:34 amIf we all totally blank Mr P – he will be gone in a couple weeks
August 20th, 2007 at 9:35 amComment by Tobey Tall — August 20, 2007 @ 9:30 am
Bush’s primary objective at this point is just to coast to the finish line. I don’t have any hope that there will be any new ideas or plans coming from the White House in the next 17 months — his attempt to reform immigration was about it.
Meanwhile, other Republicans are getting worried about their own 2008 re-elections. Maybe this is why McConnell is trying to get a statue of Ronald Reagan installed at the Capitol. Anything to deflect attention away from Bush and onto an older model that sold to the base well.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:35 amI’m 75 but never have had my IQ tested. It was good enough to graduate from Stanford Law at the top of my class, though.
Comment by Jake D. — August 20, 2007 @ 9:30 am
And just when I never thought I’d see someone top Mr P’s “Saudis aren’t Moslems” comment.
Thanks for getting my week off to such a funny start.
Who says trolls don’t have a sense of humor?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHHAA!!
August 20th, 2007 at 9:35 amBienville:
I was referring to all of Louisiana hit by Katrina too:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana#Early_settlement
Bruce Gorton:
Please re-read U.S. v. Nixon, where the Supreme Court indeed recognized “Executive Privilege” but deemed it inapplicable to the Watergate Tapes.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:36 amFrom the article:
Once in Iraq, you’ll never get back.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:37 amI’m 75 but never have had my IQ tested. It was good enough to graduate from Stanford Law at the top of my class, though. How old are you? What is your IQ? Where did you graduate? I won’t presume to guess.
P.S. “their†= “there†(darn Spellchecker ; )
Comment by Jake D
Ignore jake. He also claimed to be a korean war vet until he got busted stealing from a real vet’s webpage.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:37 amBienville:
I was referring to all of Louisiana hit by Katrina too:
wi*ki*pedia.org/wiki/Louisiana#Early_settlement
Bruce Gorton:
Please re-read U.S. v. Nixon, where the Supreme Court indeed recognized “Executive Privilege” but deemed it inapplicable to the Watergate Tapes.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:38 amWhat possible reason is there to hide the findings?
Comment by DRxJ — August 20, 2007 @ 9:32 am
There is none. You do realize that when a future Dem president uses “ED”, the future GOOpers will scream bloody murder and point to BuschCo as an an example of abuse of the privilege.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:39 amFor the record, I fought in the Korean War and never stole from any vet’s webpage (unless Wikipedia is owned by a vet ; )
August 20th, 2007 at 9:39 amFor the record, Jake D. has been outted, routed, and shot down so many times, it a wonder there’s anything left of him to still take a shot at.
It must be comfortable living a completely fact-free life.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:44 amJake D.
Very well. I have done as you asked and I admit my error.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:45 amTo be fair, Native Americans lived their first.
Comment by Jake D.
No one was stupid enough to live there before us western colonial types.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:45 amLeast of all Native Americans.
Thank you, Bruce. Now, it is at least POSSIBLE that Bush is fighting for that principle on behalf of all future Presidents as well, right?
August 20th, 2007 at 9:46 amI was referring to all of Louisiana hit by Katrina too:
Comment by Jake D. — August 20, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Perhaps you should have made that clear in your comment. You replied to a comment which plainly referred to the 9000 homes being demolished, all of which are in New Orleans.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:47 amFor the record, I fought in the Korean War and never stole from any vet’s webpage (unless Wikipedia is owned by a vet ; )
Comment by Jake D. — August 20, 2007 @ 9:39 am
So you admit to stealing from Wikipedia?
Jake, you’re pond scum, thank the flying spaghetti monster your days on earth are almost done. (if you haven’t lied about your age too)
August 20th, 2007 at 9:47 amPlease explain why our fearless leader is envoking “executive privilege†for the Tillman case. What possible reason is there to hide the findings?
Comment by DRxJ — August 20, 2007 @ 9:32 am
Same reason there is for invoking executive privilege for failure to turn over documents belonging to the public, for preventing WH staffers to testify before Congress, etc. etc. And that is to save the president’s and vice president’s butts.
The Supreme Court ruled in 1974 (U.S. vs. Richard Nixon) that executive privilege may be invoked in situations where national security would be seriously compromised. They went on to rule unanimously that this didn’t apply in Nixon’s case.
Since then, Clinton attempted to invoke executive privilege during the Lewinsky mess, without success — Clinton’s sex life had absolutely nothing to do with national security, and everybody knew it. And Dubya has invoked it several times to cover his tracks. This may wind up in the SCOTUS again, and they could possibly rule in Bush’s favor, since the current court tends to support expanding presidential powers (of THIS president, anyway) — despite no evidence that all the crapola the WH is hiding has anything to do with national security.
If that happens, the Supreme Court will basically be giving the executive branch unlimited power to thumb their nose at the legislative branch. Bye bye, checks and balances.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:49 amIn case anyone NOT on the “Ignore List” didn’t see my clarification above, I was referring to the entire portion of Louisiana hit by Katrina (Bush’s approval process includes much more than the area built-up by the French Quarter). Let me know if there are further questions.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:49 amGood Morning BnF and all regular progressives…Good to read you here..Stop the thread pollution, ignore the troll….
Bull shit bush has no plan’s to improve anything..He and his follower’s want to finish off the decline and fall of America…..To improve our country we must uncover all the corruption and make sure it is removed, from all side’s……Blessings
August 20th, 2007 at 9:51 amJake D.
Unlikely, as the principle itself is weak to start off with, and can be abused to hide corruption on the part of the executive – as Richard Nixon attempted to do.
In other words, it is not entirely desirable to have a government which can be as secretive as the current US government is.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:51 amSorry, Bruce, but the rest of us are fighting a war here. The war WILL continue into the next Administration as well.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:52 amUmmm… If I am not mistaken the CITY of NO is responsible for approving the permits for new houses to be built, not the federal government. Looks like Ray Nagin better step it up if he wants to rebuild is “chocolate city”
August 20th, 2007 at 9:55 am“I’m 75 but never have had my IQ tested. It was good enough to graduate from Stanford Law at the top of my class, though. “
Oh the wonders of the internet. One can present themselves as any fantasy they want and there is no way people can prove that they are liars. On the other hand, if you are a Stanford Law graduate, with your intelligence, either they have lowered their standards or you did an awful lot of cheating. I don’t believe that Stanford graduates people with absolutely zero critical thinking skills.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:55 amSorry, Bruce, but the rest of us are fighting a war here. The war WILL continue into the next Administration as well.
Comment by Jake D. — August 20, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Sorry Jake, But we are “fighting” an occupation that happens to be in the middle of a civil war. A big difference.
And yes, it will take a lot of Dem effort to clean off the fecal stain BushCo has left on the world.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:56 amSorry, Bruce, but the rest of us are fighting a war here. The war WILL continue into the next Administration as well.
Comment by Jake D. — August 20, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Oh this war will go on for quite some time, you don’t stop the growth of terrorism by invading a nation that posed no threat. You don’t kill or starve millions of innocent people and think those that are left are going to like you.
You idiots think violence is the answer to all problems, when it’s really the cause of.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:56 am“Hillary is just as evil as Bush, as we can see from her whining about Bush being secretive, and then sealing her records until after the election.
Comment by The World Hates Bush”
Oh yeah, sealing your records as First Lady of the White House is right up there with declaring executive privilege to keep Pat Tillman’s records from being released.
And what about Bush sealing his father’s records practically forever?
August 20th, 2007 at 9:56 amNo one was stupid enough to live there before us western colonial types.
Least of all Native Americans.
Comment by Raven — August 20, 2007 @ 9:45 am
A susbtantial number of intelligent and educated people lived there and invested there. A few major universities, for example: Tulane, Loyola, Xavier, University of New Orleans, Baptist Seminary, Notre Dame Seminary, to name a few. Large commercial buildings have been built, perhaps a dozen over 30 floors, the tallest topping out at 50 floors. The local population was over one million. I have no handy reference, but the “old money” of New Orleans is both very old and very wealthy.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:56 amJake D.
Except:
1: The claims of executive privilege aren’t being applied to issues purely pertaining to the war – so much as everything which could possibly embarass the president.
2: There has been no declaration of war.
3: Declaring war does not immunise the executive from the rule of law.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:58 amI don’t believe that Stanford Law graduates people with absolutely zero critical thinking skills either. We at least agree on that.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:58 am“Please re-read U.S. v. Nixon, where the Supreme Court indeed recognized “Executive Privilege†but deemed it inapplicable to the Watergate Tapes.
Comment by Jake D.”
If Executive Privilege is inapplicable to the Watergate tapes, how in hell is it applicable to Pat Tillman’s records? Tell me re-tard, inquiring minds need to know.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:59 am“For the record, I fought in the Korean War and never stole from any vet’s webpage (unless Wikipedia is owned by a vet ; )
Comment by Jake D. “
So you created your “war” record via Wikipedia…same thing. You are a liar and a fraud.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:00 amOh yeah, sealing your records as First Lady of the White House is right up there with declaring executive privilege to keep Pat Tillman’s records from being released.
And what about Bush sealing his father’s records practically forever?
Comment by bilbogaggins — August 20, 2007 @ 9:56 am
Yes Bilbo, it is right up there!!! SECRECY don’t you get it? Sigh no wonder this country has failed.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:00 amBTW bilbogaggins — I’ve answered all of your questions to me, but you did not answer mine to you:
1) How old are you?
2) What is your IQ?
3) Where did you graduate?
August 20th, 2007 at 10:01 amHey, Jake is back…
I was with the Army’s 60th Signal Service Company out of Fort Lewis, deployed to Korea and then Japan at the First Tokyo Arsenal, until my honorable discharge as a Sgt. – Jake D
Now, without checking the site below for further details (where you ripped off the lies you told above) please let me know what your MOS was jakey.
http://www.koreanwar.org/html/units/60sigsvc.htm
August 20th, 2007 at 10:01 amIf Executive Privilege is inapplicable to the Watergate tapes, how in hell is it applicable to Pat Tillman’s records? Tell me re-tard, inquiring minds need to know.
Comment by bilbogaggins — August 20, 2007 @ 9:59 am
BushCo is using EP like taking the Fifth; to protect their sorry scumbag asses from criminal prosecution!!
August 20th, 2007 at 10:02 amTwo words, bilbogaggins: NATIONAL SECURITY. Taping that occurred in the Oval Office was not on a battlefield, last I checked.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:02 amSomebody get Jake. Stanford Law School is on the line.
They want their credibility back, now.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:03 amYou idiots think violence is the answer to all problems, when it’s really the cause of.
Comment by The World Hates Bush — August 20, 2007 @ 9:56 am
Other than facism and slavery, war has never solved anything……
August 20th, 2007 at 10:03 amAlready did that Dave C.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:04 amSomebody get Jake. Stanford Law School is on the line.
They want their credibility back, now.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — August 20, 2007 @ 10:03 am
RoS,
Yale just sent an inquiry, offering to return Daddy Bush’s money if they can get Dubya’s fake sheepskin and his cheerleading outfit back. They are WAY embarrassed over that little “error in judgement” as well.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:06 amIf I am not mistaken the CITY of NO is responsible for approving the permits for new houses to be built, not the federal government.
Comment by hacker bob — August 20, 2007 @ 9:55 am
That’s true, bob. But the people have to apply for the permits.
With all the problems with the levees, insurance and financing, only those with cash and great determination to rebuild have applied.
Mr Bush certainly owns the levees problems. And although he promised to help with the insurance and financing issues, he has mostly failed to do so.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:07 amOther than facism and slavery, war has never solved anything……
Comment by hacker bob — August 20, 2007 @ 10:03 am
Ohh lookie it’s hb…
You mean the civil war was all about slavery?? You we’re home schooled right?
So let’s see, Hitler invaded countries that posed no threat, claiming they did.
Bush has done the same.
Yup America has gone fascist. How do you feel Nazi?
Sadly it will take violence to stop the violence we started.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:08 amCheck the link, Jake is a plagiarist & a liar. My guess is he’s under 21 too.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:08 amOops, the link…
http://www.koreanwar.org/html/units/60sigsvc.htm
August 20th, 2007 at 10:09 amFor the record, here’s Jake’s suppossed real name:
For the record, my real name is James Dort, I served in the Army during the Korean War, and I have never “hijacked†anyone else’s name.
Comment by Jake D. — August 8, 2007 @ 10:12 am
but yet he quotes, ver batim, from the link provided by Dave C as Johnnie Johnston.
So Jake, which is it? James Dort? Johnnie Johnston? Mr. Pee?
You have no credibility to even be addressed! Yet, I gave you the opportunity to answer a simple question at 9:32am, to which you never responded.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:18 amYou’re not here to debate, you’re here to derail.
Faker!
White House counsel Fred Fielding has stated that the administration will also miss today’s date.
Oh, shit, watch out, another earth shattering. scathing letter will surely follow.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:18 amKudos to Dave C for outing Fake Jake as the phony ass plagerist he is.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:20 amKudos to Dave C for outing Fake Jake as the phony ass plagerist he is.
Comment by RUCerious — August 20, 2007 @ 10:20 am
I agree and we have known this for quite some time and have been ignoring anything to do with his “military service”, just focusing on the other parts of his crazy posts.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:22 amOh, shit, watch out, another earth shattering. scathing letter will surely follow.
Comment by RUCerious — August 20, 2007 @ 10:18 am
Lighten up, RUC. There could be paper cuts involved.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:22 amOh, shit, watch out, another earth shattering. scathing letter will surely follow.
Comment by RUCerious — August 20, 2007 @ 10:18 am
And maybe this time it will be followed up with a ……………… double meany weany SCOWL!
August 20th, 2007 at 10:24 amYou have no credibility to even be addressed! …
Comment by DRxJ , tros, dave, billbo, upside, burce, etc., etc., etc….
and yet…
August 20th, 2007 at 10:24 amand yet…
Comment by katy
Heh. Spot on.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:28 amYou have no credibility to even be addressed! …
Comment by DRxJ , tros, dave, billbo, upside, burce, etc., etc., etc….
and yet…
Comment by katy — August 20, 2007 @ 10:24 am
AW Gee, Katy,
He was so much fun to play with. But we’re sorry, honest!
August 20th, 2007 at 10:29 amYou have no credibility to even be addressed! …
Comment by DRxJ , tros, dave, billbo, upside, burce, etc., etc., etc….
and yet…
Comment by katy — August 20, 2007 @ 10:24 am
and yet, to prove that Fake is not here to debate, I asked a simple question that went unanswered, thus revealing it’s true colors, and helping newbies here witness what a troll does. Distract.
You’re welcome, katy
August 20th, 2007 at 10:32 amYesterday I saw an Inconvenient Truth.
I think it is a well docummented movie, but I didnt understand why all the Gore shots while working, speaking, etc. I think it is directed to the American population where there is still the doubt about Climate Change happening or not.
I liked it. For more scientific info for the general population I recommend this site: realclimate.org
August 20th, 2007 at 10:35 amComment by DRxJ — August 20, 2007 @ 10:32 am
Now, if we can only get mr. p/et al off his mom’s PC and away from the Jr. College library machines, we would have our site almost all cleaned up.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:37 amGood to see you all here …We finelly got a good rain yesterday, Lady Z….How’s it going for you all.? We might as well pollute and derail the thread away from the miserable lieing little troll…..Good job reposting his lie’s….Blessings All
August 20th, 2007 at 10:38 amComment by Juan C — August 20, 2007 @ 10:35 am
I think the shots of Gore working, speaking, etc, were simply to humanize him and to give the viewer a break from the enormity of the GW problem.
Good morning, Juan! :)
August 20th, 2007 at 10:40 amGood morning, Sharon.
We got a nice rain yesterday. It cleared the dust from the harvest out of the air. It’s supposed to be only 65 degrees today — amazing!
Today is the first day of school, so I’m just here for a quick read before I catch the bus.
Have a great day, and take care, Great Lady. :)
August 20th, 2007 at 10:43 amZooey
They were a bit of a mistake though, the lecture was far, far stronger material.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:45 amGood morning, Juan! :)
Comment by Zooey
Good morning to you, Z!!!
Yes, I think that it was very important for him, or for the political movement towards Climate Change, to show him as a concerned guy. He is not Michael Moore when it comes to making documentaries, but, he explained, very well, the complex problem.
Im no fan of politicians but he did well.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:47 amOh and something TP missed:
97.5 billion dollars, the amount of money the Fed has pumped into America’s finance system since August 9. Kind of puts the lie to anybody who tells you that Bush’s economy is just peachy doesn’t it?
August 20th, 2007 at 10:48 amHey Zoo,
got your Big Chief tablet and #3 pencils in the shiny new book bag?
August 20th, 2007 at 10:48 amYesterday I saw an Inconvenient Truth.
Comment by Juan C — August 20, 2007 @ 10:35 am
I’m glad to get your recommendation. I just got a copy of it and will watch it at the earliest opportunity.
I got another recommendation that was sincere. I met someone who claims to be a “diehard Republican” with “no fondness for Al Gore” watched the film and came away from it saying that “you can’t argue with facts, no matter who delivers them”.
I look forward to seeing it.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:50 amComment by DRxJ — August 20, 2007 @ 10:32 am
yea yea yea… every day… all day long…
i like to give the newbies more credit than that…
there are ways to discredit the troolls without directly engaging them.
just sayin’…
August 20th, 2007 at 10:59 am.
Hey Zoo,
got your Big Chief tablet and #3 pencils in the shiny new book bag?
Comment by upside00 — August 20, 2007 @ 10:48 am
All of the above, and a shiny apple for the teacher. :)
August 20th, 2007 at 11:08 amThey were a bit of a mistake though, the lecture was far, far stronger material.
Comment by Bruce Gorton — August 20, 2007 @ 10:45 am
The movie made me want to see the lecture by itself, but I also enjoyed seeing the source of Gore’s inspiration.
August 20th, 2007 at 11:09 amHEY KATY – -
I addressed no comments directly to Jake. I did make a couple of snide comments, then left. If these other folks are going to go back and forth w/ him, that’s their business. It’s called free speech.
Stop moralizing. I tried getting people to clean it up and I got called a troll for it (even though it seemed to work, somewhat…). People are going to do what they do when they come here. The lecturing gets old.
August 20th, 2007 at 11:15 amMorning folks.
Here’s some good news for a change:
OCEANSIDE, Calif. — A North County biotechnology firm claims it has crossed a major hurdle in embryonic stem cells research by growing the cells directly from unfertilized human eggs, it was reported Monday.
Critics have opposed use of embryonic stem cells, arguing that such research destroys human life.
But because the egg cells at Oceanside-based International Stem Cell Corp. were never fertilized, there was no conception and thus no embryo, according to Jeff Krstich, the company’s president and chief executive, the North County Times reported.
Thus, research involving the company’s stem cells should meet President George W. Bush’s requirements for federal funding, Krstich told the Times. Citing moral concerns, Bush in 2001 banned the use of federal dollars for research on embryonic stem cells created after August of that year.
Evan Snyder, head of the stem cell research program at the Burnham Institute in La Jolla, agrees with Krstich about the funding, but said proving that the company’s cells work is the big challenge, the Times reported.
Embryonic stem cells are normally taken from days-old human embryos made by normal fertilization. To be used in therapy, stem cells must be transformed, or differentiated, into the needed cell type, then transplanted into the patient.
“I just think it remains to be seen how normal they would behave when differentiated, and most importantly, when transplanted,” Snyder told the Times.
Researchers around the world are investigating whether embryonic stem cells can be used to treat diseases and injuries. Krstich said his company’s “parthenogenetic” cells could be used to treat people with diabetes, eye and liver disease by as early as next year, the Times reported.
August 20th, 2007 at 11:19 amZooey
I know. It was one heck of a lecture, the sort of thing that made one think of what America lost when Bush was named president.
August 20th, 2007 at 11:22 amBruce,
Do you know where I could see the lecture? I doubt he’ll ever come to my town, but maybe it’s online?
August 20th, 2007 at 11:27 amWith all the time spent covering Karl Rove this Sunday, news coverage of Iraq must have dipped to 0%.
August 20th, 2007 at 11:29 amZooey
I don’t know. I want to see it straight too, but I doubt he will come out to South Africa to deliver it.
Heck that guy should have been president. Imagine, a president of the world’s most powerful nation, who can actually speak.
August 20th, 2007 at 11:33 amDo you know where I could see the lecture? I doubt he’ll ever come to my town, but maybe it’s online?
Comment by Zooey
I was told that, in order to bring him to Mexico, he asked tons of money and a super duper home theater all day on. ????
Well, every former president or vice president will ask that kind of money for sure.
August 20th, 2007 at 11:33 amComment by Juan C — August 20, 2007 @ 11:33 am
It seems like a few years ago, I read an item that said Gore would make his presentation to your group for nothing. Maybe it included travel costs. That was a while before the movie made the presentation so well known.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:26 pmThis Thinkfast thread hates me.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:54 pmhas eaten all my previous posts
Don’t feel alone, Wayne — it’s been eating my posts, too. I wanted to post a rebuttal to Jake D’s comment that somehow Pat Tillman’s death had to do with national security because he died on a battlefield, but I can’t get past whatever TP filters are out there.
Serves me right — maybe TP is just trying to tell me not to argue with a troll.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:57 pmNewsweek rebuts their own article on global warming! Link. Excerpt:
Self-righteous indignation can undermine good journalism. Last week’s Newsweek cover story on global warning is a sobering reminder. . . .
Newsweek’s “denial machine†is a peripheral and highly contrived story. Newsweek implied, for example, that ExxonMobil used a think tank (AEI) to pay academics to criticize global-warming science. Actually, this accusation was long ago discredited, and Newsweek shouldn’t have lent it respectability. . . .
Journalists should resist the temptation to portray global warming as a morality tale—as Newsweek did—in which anyone who questions its gravity or proposed solutions may be ridiculed as a fool, a crank or an industry stooge. Dissent is, or should be, the lifeblood of a free society.
August 20th, 2007 at 3:46 pmThe violence in Iraq continues to grow and the surge has done nothing to control the civil war violence. The surge is a flawed strategy and Bush should change course. His policies have done made us more unsafe.
August 20th, 2007 at 4:56 pmAny effort to raise awareness about global warming is both welcome and needed. Global warming is a very serious concern and Bush should be listening to scientists instead of listening to the AEI and energy company executives who contribute to global warming with their environmentally unsafe practices.
August 20th, 2007 at 5:00 pmIt’s clearly as if they are departing the scene of a crime – hoping against hope that by the time Bush departs that they will be forgotten by the war crimes tribunal in The Hague, for that is where they all deserve to end up: Bush, Rove, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld and Blair for creating such a monumental human catastrophe in Iraq.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:17 pmEverything else Bush has done has the stench of incompetence, of venal greed, of rank stupidity, vile arrogance. He is an abject failure yet the smug swagger and the demented fratboy grin are still there. The man without a clue.
Americans should be much more careful not to vote for someone of such obvious staggering banality and whose talent would perhaps have suited a small town council and no more. The world could not be in a worse
I just have to say that Schlozman is a great American becasue of the fact that he didn’t want to suppress the voting rights of anybody, but rather he wanted to get them to show IDS
“Newsweek implied, for example, that ExxonMobil used a think tank (AEI) to pay academics to criticize global-warming science. Actually, this accusation was long ago discredited, and Newsweek shouldn’t have lent it respectability. . . .”
Comment by muckdog — August 20, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
link? (Oh, and somewhere other than from Drudge, please.)
August 20th, 2007 at 6:38 pmAh more muck from muckdog, who gets his quotes from people who get paid 4 figures an hour to consult for the OIl industry and who make outrageous claims like “Cigrarettes arent bad for you, and that “asbestos could have saved the twins towers.” hahahaha. hey muckdog, you think newsweek is in the pocket of “big Gore”?
Oh and jake.. your a lawyer AND a soldier too now? hahahaha. so tell me smart guy, what city and state did you take the bar exam, what year was it, and what was a passing score on the exam you took? how many different exams did you take to get your law liscense? how many digits are in your bar # ?
August 21st, 2007 at 3:59 am