ThinkFast: December 18, 2007
ThinkFast: December 18, 2007
Some FBI agents are challenging the CIA’s description of al Qaeda captive Abu Zubaida “as an important insider whose disclosures under intense pressure saved lives.” They say his “credibility dropped as the CIA subjected him to” waterboarding and other “enhanced interrogation” measures.
A USA Today/Gallup Poll found that Americans gave the president, congressional Democrats, and congressional Republicans unfavorable ratings “by more than 2-to-1 margins.” “While Bush’s ratings have been poor for most of the past two years, the two parties in Congress hit new lows in the poll.”
The House passed a massive year-end omnibus spending bill last night after the White House said it was “encouraged” by what the Democrats had produced. The Washington Post reports that the omnibus bill “has cut all funding for continuing development next year of a new nuclear warhead.”
The Politico reports that some Senate Democrats are exploring ways to replace Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, “believing he’s no longer physically up to the job.” “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is not in favor of such a move.”
“Americans could save $1.5 trillion in healthcare costs over the next decade while covering the uninsured and improving overall quality,” according to the Commonwealth Fund. “But it would take widespread reforms to root out inefficiency, not to mention higher tobacco taxes and other levies.”
The FCC “is pushing ahead to pass a rule today that would allow more consolidation of local media ownership in the nation’s largest cities, despite the fresh threat of a legislative rebuke and continued protests from advocacy groups.” Watchdog groups say FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin is “is rushing” the rule “through without adequate public comment.”
A consortium of 14 of the world’s largest coal producers will announce today the location of a new coal-fired electric plant that will capture and store its carbon emissions. However, the Energy Department, which is supposed to pay for much of the work, “called the announcement on a location ‘inadvisable’ and seemed to distance itself from the plans.”
Iraqi leaders criticized Turkey for bombing Kurdish militants in northern Iraq with airstrikes that they said had left at least one woman dead. The Turkish army sent soldiers about 1.5 miles into northern Iraq in an overnight operation on Tuesday.
And finally: Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist “was seen out in front of the White House Monday on a Segway.” Frist is said to be filming a new commercial for Coca-Cola, which puts him at odds with former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, who promoted Pepsi.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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The polls are going to continue to drop for the president and congress until they do something the people want.
It’s no surprise that the president’s numbers remain low — people are NOT happy with his performance.
As far as congress goes, everybody is unhappy with the obstructionism, the Republicans are still in a snit over losing their majority in the 2006 elections, and the Democrats are frustrated over the lack of action from the people they elected.
Will they wake up?
December 18th, 2007 at 9:05 amAnd finally: Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist “was seen out in front of the White House Monday on a Segway.†Frist is said to be filming a new commercial for Coca-Cola, which puts him at odds with former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, who promoted Pepsi.
Let me guess, from watching videotapes of Coke and Pepsi being poured, Frist was able to discern that Coke was the better tasting of the two.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:10 am“Americans could save $1.5 trillion in healthcare costs over the next decade while covering the uninsured and improving overall quality,†according to the Commonwealth Fund. “But it would take widespread reforms to root out inefficiency, not to mention higher tobacco taxes and other levies.â€
————————————————-
I agree with everything in this paragraph except for the part about higher tobacco taxes. Tobacco products are already taxed in most places several times higher than the cost of the original product. There comes a point where you really can’t go to that well anymore. Admittedly, smoking accounts for a fair amount of illness, but not all of it. We need to pick on alcohol for awhile. Or bacon cheeseburgers.
As far as “inefficiency” goes — it’s not mentioned that one of the biggest inefficiencies of the system happens to be the for-profit greedhead middlemen. Eliminate that, and it will be amazing to see how efficiency increases. Furthermore, if you take all the money that employers are paying NOW to provide health insurance for their employees, there would be more than enough to fund a single-payer system.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:12 amThe Politico reports that some Senate Democrats are exploring ways to replace Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, “believing he’s no longer physically up to the job.†“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is not in favor of such a move.â€
While you’re at it guys, why don’t you explore some ways too replace Harry Reid as Majority Leader.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:14 am“They say his “credibility dropped as the CIA subjected him to†waterboarding and other “enhanced interrogation†measures.”
Um…wouldn’t ANYBODY’S credibility drop if they were subjected to torture and would be willing to say anything to get it to stop?
December 18th, 2007 at 9:14 amSome FBI agents are challenging the CIA’s description of al Qaeda captive Abu Zubaida “as an important insider whose disclosures under intense pressure saved lives.†They say his “credibility dropped as the CIA subjected him to†waterboarding and other “enhanced interrogation†measures.
Well that explains why Al-Qaeda has so many #2s. All you have to do is pour water on them and they magically get a promotion. I guess you probably shouldn’t feed them after midnight either.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:19 amGreat…now I can’t drink Coke anymore!
December 18th, 2007 at 9:19 amMaybe a “leak” is about to come from the Whitehouse about information that Abu Zubeida gave interrogators?
Something whistled in the tune of “the Saudi’s.. it was the F-in Saudi’s!!!”?
The “FBI” surely can’t have that kind of information become credible.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:24 amIran confirmed on Monday that it had received the first fuel shipment for its nuclear power plant at Bushehr, and also indicated for the first time that it was building a second nuclear power plant.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 18, 2007 @ 9:22 am
They are allowed to build power plants, so this is a story why….????
December 18th, 2007 at 9:26 amThank you note to all the TP’ers who got involved!!
Yesterday was a Bea-U-tiful day for the netroots and bloggers. Thanks to the courageous efforts of Chriss Dodd’s filibuster against the monstrous FIS law. With an assist from Kennedy, Boxer and Feingold. Thank you thank you thank you.
Supported by websites suchs as Crooks and Liars, Firedoglake and Glenn Greenwald!! Thank you thank you thank you!
And the passions of tens of thousands of bloggers who got on the phones, sent emails and faxes!! We were victorious. Score one for the people over the corprotocrocy! Remember, THEY FEAR US.
Imagine if millions got involved! Imagine what we could accomplish!
We didn’t even need the help of our two all-star candidates (Barack and Hillary) who couldn’t be bothered to help us save the 4th amendment.
If you watched NBC nightly news or Hardball yesterday this story never appeared. In their world it never happened. Normally that would piss me off to no end. But now that I think about it I’m glad. This was OUR victory. Our party. Brian Williams and Chris Matthews were not invited. I don’t think they’d understand what occured anyway. Its was too subtle and beautiful for their eyes.
This is only round 1. Round 2 will come in January. We will be even more prepared. Retroactive immunity will never pass because WE WON’T LET IT. This is our goddam country and ain’t no one can take it away from us if we don’t allow it!
I had to get this off my chest!
December 18th, 2007 at 9:27 amWhat next? Little Billy Frist reclining in a bathtub for a Cialis commercial?
For a supposedly talented heart surgeon, he seems to be continually sinking to new lows.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:28 amThey say his “credibility dropped as the CIA subjected him to†waterboarding and other “enhanced interrogation†measures.
Abu Zubaida was just plain nuts and they knew it when they started waterboarding him.
Coleman, a 31-year FBI veteran, joined other former law enforcement colleagues in expressing skepticism about Abu Zubaida’s importance. Abu Zubaida, he said in an interview, was a “safehouse keeper” with mental problems who claimed to know more about al-Qaeda and its inner workings than he really did.
Abu Zubaida’s diary, which Coleman said he examined at length, was written in three distinct personalities — one younger, one older and one the same age as Abu Zubaida. The book was full of flowery and philosophical meanderings, and made little mention of terrorism or al-Qaeda, Coleman said.
Looking at other evidence, including a serious head injury that Abu Zubaida had suffered years earlier, Coleman and others at the FBI believed that he had severe mental problems that called his credibility into question. “They all knew he was crazy, and they knew he was always on the damn phone,” Coleman said, referring to al-Qaeda operatives. “You think they’re going to tell him anything?”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22288742/page/3/
December 18th, 2007 at 9:28 am“While Bush’s ratings have been poor for most of the past two years, the two parties in Congress hit new lows in the poll.â€
And they will continue to have low poll numbers as long as the Republiscums continue to obstruct and the Democrats continue to cave to Bush.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:29 am15.
Too bad we were not able to examine GDumbya’s head and diary before the 2000 election. We sure could have avoided alot of misery.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:30 amThe Politico reports that some Senate Democrats are exploring ways to replace Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, “believing he’s no longer physically up to the job.†“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is not in favor of such a move.â€
Of course Harry Reid is against doing this. He knows that he will probably be next.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:31 amhis “credibility dropped as the CIA subjected him to†waterboarding and other “enhanced interrogation†measures.
That’s what most seasoned interrogators have said about any and all forms of torture. As the interogatee panics, they tell you everything you want to hear, with no regard to the truthfullness of their statements.
Worthless.
Like Bush.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:31 amThe President and both parties drop in the polls will translate to good news for people candidates Ron Paul and Rep. Dennis Kucinch.
May be that’s why Ron Paul making records collecting millions of dollars in short period of time from angry people who are sending him little checks that started to add up to millions of dollars.
Does anybody believe there will be any serious change by electing Giuliani,Romeny,H. Clinton, McCain, Thompson, Huckabee,Edwards or Obama?
But there will be a big change if Ron Paul or Kucinich were elected..that’s why the big media is ignoring them.
They are not even on any list of polls conducted by corporate media…!!!
No surprise there…
December 18th, 2007 at 9:31 amIraqi leaders criticized Turkey for bombing Kurdish militants in northern Iraq with airstrikes that they said had left at least one woman dead. The Turkish army sent soldiers about 1.5 miles into northern Iraq in an overnight operation on Tuesday.
So much for the free, democratic, sovereign state of Iraq.
How bout it trolls, ready to nuke Islamabad?
December 18th, 2007 at 9:33 amSTART A NEW PARTY
December 18th, 2007 at 9:33 amIt won’t affect the next election. Time to stop being so scared. Democrats just bend over and spread their asscheeks for the Republican Neocon Crimegang anyway.
“Americans could save $1.5 trillion in healthcare costs over the next decade while covering the uninsured and improving overall quality,†according to the Commonwealth Fund. “But it would take widespread reforms to root out inefficiency, not to mention higher tobacco taxes and other levies.â€
We could do the same thing by extending Medicare to all and having a single-payer health system. And it wouldn’t cost the average worker any more than it costs now for their health insurance and for many it would cost less. Check out Dennis Kucinich’s web page for his research on implementing a single-payer health care system in the US. The only problem with a single payer system is that it will cut the for profit health care industry out of the equation. And I say “too bad so sad”. They have been ripping us off for decades, it’s time for them to be gone.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:33 amThe FCC “is pushing ahead to pass a rule today that would allow more consolidation of local media ownership in the nation’s largest cities, despite the fresh threat of a legislative rebuke and continued protests from advocacy groups.â€
What I don’t understand is why this agency has so much power to act without consensus from anyone, much less “we the people”. It’s time we put the FTC under more control by Congress since they are the ones that represent us, and it is our future the FTC is messing with.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:35 amThank you Senator Dodd & the others supporting his opposition to Telcom immunities.
Congressional approval ratings would quickly rise if more politicians stood up for the right thing. I’m deeply disappointed in Obama. Hillary will always put herself before addressing an issue, but Obama should have supported Dodd’s efforts.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:37 amUh, Bilbo, that would be “FCC”, but yes, you are spot on. Since when should a regulatory agency have the ability to make policy decisions of this import????
December 18th, 2007 at 9:37 amWhat I don’t understand is why this agency has so much power to act without consensus from anyone, much less “we the peopleâ€.
Show me a governmental agency which actually works for the people, and I’ll show you where Santa Claus lives.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:37 amIf the Democrats take over the White House and the Congress in January 2009, will we be able to get rid of Pelosi and Reid and put in people who will be effective?
December 18th, 2007 at 9:38 amInteresting table USA Today/Gallup has on Bush’s approval ratings through the years. The last time he hit 50% or higher was in early MAY 2005 (and it was exactly 50% then). This is more than two and a half years with more Americans disapproving of his performance than approving of it. No other president in our history has been approved by a minority for such a sustained length of time.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:39 amwill we be able to get rid of Pelosi and Reid and put in people who will be effective?
Comment by Marie
No. Our government is seriously busted, and it will take time, if not a miracle, to fix it.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:39 amOnly 399 of the 1011 people surveyed by the pollsters identified themselves as Republican or Republican leaning, and yet the favorability ratings of the Democrats in Congress continues to drop like a rock, down several more points since the last survey.
Comment by cold_hard_left
CHL obviously left out an important part of the equation. And that is that the ratings of the Republiscums in Congress continues to drop like a rock down several points from the last survey.
Cherry picking data to meet your needs is a necessary trait for Republiscums.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:40 amJust to clarify the poll results on Congress, by party
Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job?”
Approve 26
Disapprove 68
Unsure 5
“Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job?”
Approve 30
Disapprove 64
Unsure 5
So trolls, before you get all huffy around this…
December 18th, 2007 at 9:41 amThe Dems just need to stand up to Bushit more often and their ratings will get better…
want to pay for health care?
1. start out by charging $10.00 per pack of cigarettes
2. tax the dog crap out of churches
3. legalize weed and tax it too
December 18th, 2007 at 9:41 amThey are allowed to build power plants, so this is a story why….????
Comment by Blue Stater
Because CHL and his ilk think that building a nuclear power plant is “one step away” from building a bomb. They are too ignorant to do research and find out that what they think is nothing more than a myth.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:43 amOK, just one more poll…
CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Dec. 6-9, 2007. Adults nationwide.
“Do you think it is good for the country or bad for the country that the Democratic Party is in control of Congress?” N=494 adults, MoE ± 4.5
Good 53
December 18th, 2007 at 9:43 amBad 37
Neither (vol.) 8
Unsure 2
Bilbo,
I believe you were referring to the FCC?
Kevin Martin is a corporate stooge personified. He’s at the beck & call of large corporate media interests and displays no shame in allowing himself to be used as a pawn in this debacle.
The Tribune Corp missed the boat by sticking to a paper media. Now they want to change the rules so they can get back in the game. Blogs like these are a market that passed right by certain corporate media. Now they want to ‘own us’.
Bullshit!
The FCC, FDA, USDA and many other Federal entities have been assigned political appointees to kow tow to corporate interests. This isn’t ‘Conservative’ government, it’s a phucking free for all. Last one standing ‘gets it all’ mentalities do America or it’s people no service.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:43 amHe knows that he will probably be next.
Comment by bilbobaggins — December 18, 2007 @ 9:31 am
Crying shame he can’t be first.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:43 am“…and yet the favorability ratings of the Democrats in Congress continues to drop like a rock, down several more points since the last survey.”
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 18, 2007 @ 9:18 am
You’re right — and the favorability ratings of the Dems will drop even more until they get off their butts and do what we elected them to do. It’s not the Repubs who are giving them their low ratings, it’s us.
Please do not mistake this as some sort of victory for Republicans, however. Most of us will still vote for a Democrat in our district than vote for somebody who would continue the disastrous policies of the current administration. We will elect even more Democrats — and braver ones — in 2008.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:44 amBecause CHL and his ilk think that building a nuclear power plant is “one step away†from building a bomb. They are too ignorant to do research and find out that what they think is nothing more than a myth.
Comment by bilbobaggins — December 18, 2007 @ 9:43 am
Big assumption in there, bilbo, and I believe you got that part wrong.
CHL is just flinging poo to see what sticks and who reacts. As usual, the troll is just here for the attention.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:44 amCHL, the low rating of congressional Democrats is because they won’t impeach your guys Bush and Cheney even though most of their constituents want them to do so, so its not much to be celebrating about.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:44 amAnd, meanwhile, things are heating up in northern Iraq, or should I say northern Kurdistan?
And that, by the way, is how to post a link.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:46 amWarm, flaccid Right,
If we needed to read newspapers to comment, we’d welcome your drivel posts.
Fact is, we’re all well read, know where to go to get news, and really don’t need you monitoring the ‘net to shore up your incredibly shallow perspectives.
If you have something to say, let’s hear it. If not, just STFU.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:49 amI think CHL is a front for some group using TP to get THEIR message out. Whoever that is, they have waaaay too much time to spend scouring newsites for the links they want to post here. This can’t be just one person doing all this. Hey, TP!!! Wake up! You’re being used.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:50 amDemocratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton tops the list of “anti†candidates in a poll that asks Americans who they would most want to keep out of the White House, The Washington Times reported on Tuesday.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 18, 2007 @ 9:38 am
No surprise here. The Republicans have gone negative on Hillary from the time she was First Lady. I would be willing to bet that most of the people who claim to hate her cannot give one single intelligent reason why. They have just gotten the idea that “she’s an awful person” — mostly because that’s the mantra the wingnuts have been pushing for years. Heck — for years, the GOP has used the “if you don’t contribute money to us, you could have the awful Hillary as president” — without specifying why this would be such an awful thing.
I’m one of the people who do not want to see Hillary as president. Not because of the vague “she’s an awful person” propaganda pushed by the right, but because I don’t trust her to downscale our involvement in Iraq, I believe she is in bed with too much of corporate America, and because she will do anything to support Israel, even actions that destabilize the rest of the Middle East.
However, if the choices came down to Hillary or Rudy come next November, I will hold my nose and vote for Hillary — and I bet a lot of other people will, too.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:54 amCareful, missmolly. Now you’re discussing what CHL wants you too. That’s the whole point of what he does – to take over the thread and redirect the conversation.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:55 amRomney teared up when speaking about his emotions when blacks were finally alalowed into his church. He teared up when imagining his own sons in coffins returning from Iraq.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:56 amRomney makes me tear up in revulsion and disgust — he is so phony and plastic, he is a human bobble-head.
Caption:
‘The Four Whorsemen of the Apocadips’
December 18th, 2007 at 9:57 amRon Paul is the only Republican candidate with a base of support. (unless you count Tom Tancredo) And lots of people like his opposition to the war. However, he’s anti-choice, and is in favor of eliminating federal involvement in health care, which is not what people want to hear.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:57 amBut with this crew of Repub candidates, Paul is going to be a lever in the campaign. It should be fun.
It should be fun.
Comment by pbg — December 18, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Fun??? hah! More like a freak show! Especially if t/Rudi decides he needs the cross-dressing vote and starts showing up at campaign stops in a dress.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:59 amThe Turks have attacked Kurds in northern Iraq. The US publicly decries it, while giving Turkey tacit approval.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:00 amI believe that we used Saddam’s gassing Kurds as a one reason to attack Iraq (even though Rumsfeld gave Saddam the weapons to do so), but today, we are giving a wink and a nod to Turkey as they attack.
“What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.”
Financial Times
By Steve Negus in Cairo and an Iraqi correspondent in Baghdad
Baghdad’s Shurja market is open for business.
The capital’s central commercial district, which earlier this year was virtually shut down by repeated car bombings and sniper fire, is now thronging with residents doing last-minute shopping before this week’s Eid holiday.
“For six months, not a day passed without my seeing a body near my shop,†says Qassem, who sells curtains. “But today, business is good and security is good and, God willing, things will get even better.â€
Six months after the “surge†of US troops finished deploying into Baghdad, Iraq’s capital is breathing again. The US military says violence has fallen by 60 per cent nationwide over the past six months, an impression that is borne out by anecdotal evidence from Iraqis.
The Iraqi Red Crescent also reports that the country’s number of internally displaced fell for the first time in October, when 110,000 people returned to their homes.
Baghdad has become beautiful,†says Sadiq, a photographer working on Palestine street, which spans Sunni and Shia districts and was formerly one of the most dangerous thoroughfares in the city. “Each Thursday this street becomes a festival, with newlyweds parading down it in their cars accompanied by music and cries of joy,†he says. “Today we experience life, and today we experience hope.â€
December 18th, 2007 at 10:02 amRomney teared up when speaking about his emotions when blacks were finally alalowed into his church. He teared up when imagining his own sons in coffins returning from Iraq.
Comment by Marie — December 18, 2007 @ 9:56 am
Maybe he’s been taking crying lessons from Boehner? As far as his “own sons in coffins” — he needn’t cry. In order to come back from Iraq in a coffin, you have to go there in the first place.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:03 amBaghdad has become beautiful,†says Sadiq, a photographer working on Palestine street, which spans Sunni and Shia districts and was formerly one of the most dangerous thoroughfares in the city. “Each Thursday this street becomes a festival, with newlyweds parading down it in their cars accompanied by music and cries of joy,†he says. “Today we experience life, and today we experience hope.â€
Comment by Exley — December 18, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Good! Can our troops come home now?
December 18th, 2007 at 10:04 amGiuliani’s once-leading campaign is slipping in key early states
By William Douglas | McClatchy Newspapers
These are tough times for Rudy Giuliani. He’s still the leading GOP presidential candidate in national polls, but only by two percentage points over Mike Huckabee. And in early-voting states, Giuliani’s sinking fast.
Guiliani and Hillary are both big names and their national ratings reflect nothing other than name recognition. But, when the voters get up close and personal with them, they are both found to be lacking. I pay no attention to the national polls. They are more often wrong at the end of the story.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:04 ammissmolly
Censorship issues.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6183168.html
Basically, she thinks that the Wiimote is training a new generation of killers.
Personally, I think we should keep an eye on those Zelda fans.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:04 amAnd lots of people like his opposition to the war. However, he’s anti-choice, and is in favor of eliminating federal involvement in health care, which is not what people want to hear.
Actually Ron Paul is in favor of eliminating the federal government period. He’s a Libertarian and they believe that the answer to all our problems is in privatizing our country. They believe that capitalism is king and the answer to all evils. They are wrong.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:07 am“Today we experience life, and today we experience hope.â€
Comment by Exley — December 18, 2007 @ 10:02 am
and it only took 5 years and a million dead Iraqis. excellent work, rightards! Things are only another 10 years from being back to normal in Iraq, take a bow!
jesus, exley, is that what you’re left with? talk about grasping at straws. failure is the Bush success.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:08 amBut it is good to hear that Reid was wrong in his rush to cut, run, surrender and declare defeat.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 18, 2007 @ 10:05 am
But you cheered when reagan did the same thing. You need professional help, CHL, and a lot of it.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:09 amI think CHL is a front for some group using TP to get THEIR message out. Whoever that is, they have waaaay too much time to spend scouring newsites for the links they want to post here. This can’t be just one person doing all this. Hey, TP!!! Wake up! You’re being used.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
Sometimes I think that TP ignores the trolls on purpose. They like to brag that their threads garner 100 plus comments. It doesn’t matter than half of them are troll droppings and people playing “whack a troll”.
Come on TP, you were doing good there for a while getting rid of the useless trolls, how about doing it again.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:10 amRoS, that’s another way of putting it.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:12 amI think it’s entirely possible that Paul might pull an upset in New Hampshire (live free or die, after all) and the sheer panic and frantic retooling on the part of Willard and Trudy would be awesome to behold.
And it will also be highly interesting to see how the press handles it.
“a million dead Iraqis”
Is that all you are left with, Lefty Patriot? Absurd hyperbole?
Putting your nonsensical numbers aside, the fact is that the Bush/Petraeus surge has worked, despite all the naysaying by the left and efforts by the congressional Democratic leadership to cut off the funds to our service people in Iraq and desert the Iraqi people to the not-so-tender mercies of Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:14 amWhat did we miss?
This tidbit of crazy.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:17 amPutting your nonsensical numbers aside, the fact is that the Bush/Petraeus surge has worked, despite all the naysaying by the left and efforts by the congressional Democratic leadership to cut off the funds to our service people in Iraq and desert the Iraqi people to the not-so-tender mercies of Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.
Comment by Exley — December 18, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Picking and choosing again, Exley? And actual lies, blatant ones at that, claiming that the Democrats were attempting to cut funds to service men and women. A lie. Or desert the Iraqis to Al Qaeda, when Al Qaeda isn’t even IN Iraq. A lie.
No mention of Sadr City? No mention of the Turks crossing the border into Northern Iraq? No mention of the Iraqi government warning Iraqis not to return to the country, especially to Baghdad?
Lies, distortions, and cherrypicking. Typical Exley dishonesty.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:23 amEnlist, exley, let al qaeda surge your ass. funny how the bigmouthed cowards leave the fighting to eveyone else.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:23 amComment by Exley
Great, Baghdad’s safe, Mission Accomplished! So can we go home now? No, of course you won’t let the troops go home because the victory you so desperately seek has nothing to do with Iraq. “Victory” for you is a political victory here. You don’t give a rat’s ass about the “troops” or the Iraqis.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:24 am“Putting your nonsensical numbers aside, the fact is that the Bush/Petraeus surge has worked…”
And we all know they can’t keep it up because of troop rotations, so what’s your point?
December 18th, 2007 at 10:30 amwant to pay for health care?
1. start out by charging $10.00 per pack of cigarettes
2. tax the dog crap out of churches
3. legalize weed and tax it too
Comment by Fan of Man — December 18, 2007 @ 9:41 am
I realize that your post is mostly tongue-in-cheek, but I like #3 — that could work quite well.
Charging $10.00 a pack of cigarettes (making a carton of them $100) would merely drive the tobacco black market — resulting in less tax revenue, more police work, and fuller prisons.
And I’m not ready to open up the can of worms that eliminating the separation of church and state would cause.
But seriously, we really wouldn’t have to do any of these things to fund a single-payer health care system. Just eliminate the “for-profit” middlemen and tax businesses less than what they are already paying to provide health benefits. This should be more than enough — businesses will be happy to pay more taxes if the net amount is less than the whopping amount they currently pay for employee health insurance, and citizens who no longer have to pay expensive premiums out of their pockets can use that money to stimulate the economy. Everybody wins — except the healthcare profit makers (yeah, my heart bleeds for them).
December 18th, 2007 at 10:31 amCome on TP, you were doing good there for a while getting rid of the useless trolls, how about doing it again.
Comment by bilbobaggins — December 18, 2007 @ 10:10 am
Semantics might be the problem. The trolls may be a pain but not “abusive” which may keep a reader from reporting abuse. How about a troll rating system that would flush one away?
Chek out the rating system at TPMCafe at this post: http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2007/dec/18/was_bob_kerrey_intentionally_muslim_baiting_obama
December 18th, 2007 at 10:36 am“… despite all the naysaying by the left and efforts by the congressional Democratic leadership to cut off the funds to our service people in Iraq and desert the Iraqi people to the not-so-tender mercies of Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.”
Expect Exley to stay as far from discussing the terrorist PKK as possible, as it shoots down his whole “Iraq is getting better” theme.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:37 amNot yet missmolly. There is still work to be done. But it is good to hear that Reid was wrong in his rush to cut, run, surrender and declare defeat.
Comment by cold_hard_left
Surrender to, the Maliki government?
And I didn’t realize having an actual exit strategy to both give Iraq the sovereignty they deserve AND keep from rotating our troops in and out of the meatgrinder was “declaring defeat”.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:38 ampost 66
“What did we miss?
This tidbit of crazy.
Comment by alpuz3 ”
Wow. I hope the guy gets some help. I guess this isn’t splashed all over the media beacuse it wasn’t a woman crying rape, or a liberal student.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:39 amComment by cold_hard_leftovers
Predicting a defeat isn’t the same as wishing for it, you silly bean.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:39 amDoesn’t Bush allowing the Turks to bomb in northern Iraq make a mockery of claims by Bush that Iraq must be free to develop into a democracy without outside (regional) influences?
December 18th, 2007 at 10:46 amThe futuregen project is going to Mattoon Illinois.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:49 amCaption : The Nazi Chimp and his Cohorts in Crime contemplate closing down a Free Society and curtailing more civil liberties.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:56 amWow violence is down, but Iraq still does not have a functioning government, no functioning army, it has essentially been partitioned along sectarian lines and it is more closely aligned with Iran than any other country. Sounds like success to me. However we never should have been there in the first place/ And for those who push the we started it now we should finish it line of thought…you are wrong.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:00 amAnd I didn’t realize having an actual exit strategy to both give Iraq the sovereignty they deserve AND keep from rotating our troops in and out of the meatgrinder was “declaring defeatâ€.
Comment by RickS — December 18, 2007 @ 10:38 am
You have to understand that the wingnuts like to accuse progressives of “declaring defeat” as much as possible. They just love soundbites with no substance.
It’s fairly easy to do, too. Just start an unwinnable war by conducting a “pre-emptive” attack on a country who has not attacked you. Depose the tyrannical but stabilizing leadership. Get mired in a horrible civil war. Increase sentiment against your country worldwide. Create a breeding ground for terrorists.
And then when anyone criticizes your actions, just accuse them of wanting to “declare defeat.” It’s SOOOOOO much easier than admitting that your foolish actions got you stuck in a quagmire and it’s YOUR mess to clean up.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:05 amSo when the U.S. wins, “Progressives†lose. That’s a nice bonus.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 18, 2007 @ 10:37 am
Too bad for you the US never wins when the treasonous GOP is in charge.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:07 am“Today we experience life, and today we experience hope.â€
Comment by Exley — December 18, 2007 @ 10:02 am
As long as thousands of US troops permanently occupy Baghdad.
BTW, that appears to be the plan. Saw an article yesterday indicating the long range plan is to leave the outlying provinces to the locals, pull all troops into Baghdad.
Worked great in Afghanistan, right?
December 18th, 2007 at 11:10 amSo you are going to help pay for health care by hoping that people keep smoking to pay the tax?
Comment by cold_hard_left
Even the most casual observer has better insight than you.
Higher taxes force some to quit (improving their health) while those that don’t, help pay for their cancer treatments in the future.
GOT STUPID, STUPID?
December 18th, 2007 at 11:16 amGOT STUPID, STUPID?
Comment by DieNowForPeace — December 18, 2007 @ 11:16 am
Now, now, no making fun of the mentally deranged.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:18 amCaption: The usual suspects.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:31 amIraq cannot gain full sovereignty under Chapter 7 status when the UN Security Council issued Resolution 661 following Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Al-Maliki said the lifting of Chapter 7 status will enable Iraq to “end the presence” of multinational forces by the end of 2008.
Resolution 661
Says Chapter 7 will be removed when Iraq is no longer a threat to its neighbours
TURKEY IS STOPPING THIS HAPPENING – TURKEY IS WORKING FOR THE US TO STOP IRAQ GAINING FULL SOVEREIGNTY , WHICH MEANS IRAQ HAS TO RENEW THE UN MANDATE FOR FOREIGN TROOPS
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/12/2C4F103F-5B73-4926-827D-1A6701C35B26.html
December 18th, 2007 at 11:37 amAnother reason to choose Pepsi?
December 18th, 2007 at 11:42 amInstead of replacing enator Byrd, how about replacing Reid?
December 18th, 2007 at 11:43 amReal healthcare reform will require: 1) single-payer, 2) shift of emphasis to primary care (including pediatric care) which will require restructuring remuneration away from super-specialists to primary care practitioners, and 3) integrating services into good HMO-like service like SOME that existed early before the insurers drove them into desuetude.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:47 amtoo bad SHIMKUS gets to take ANY credit for the FutureGen project…
strong>Shimkus, Johnson, Costello praise choice of Mattoon for FutureGen Facility
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19), Jerry Costello (D, Illinois-12), and Timothy Johnson (R, Illinois-15) issued the following statements after Mattoon, Illinois, was announced as the site of the FutureGen facility
…
http://www.southernillinoisan.com/ articles/ 2007/ 12/ 18/ breaking_news/ doc4767eba1c0471174958043.txt
… 30 miles north of my town…
Statement From Americans for Balanced Energy Choices Regarding FutureGen Site Selection
Posted : Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:18:58 GMT
December 18th, 2007 at 11:47 amAuthor : Americans for Balanced Energy Choices
Category : PressRelease
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — “Today’s announcement of the FutureGen site in Matoon, Illinois is one of the most important days for our nation’s energy independence future. FutureGen will help meet the world’s growing demand for clean, affordable electricity, fuel our global economy and sustain jobs,†said Joe Lucas, executive director of Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC).
[…]
A number of innovative technologies will be tested at the FutureGen site, including carbon capture and underground storage, to convert affordable, abundant coal to clean energy, which strengthens energy security and reduces dependence on higher-priced forms of energy. The technology will be shared with the international partners in the FutureGen Alliance.
[…]
http://www.earthtimes.org/ articles/ show/ news_press_release,244399.shtml
…
“Today we experience life, and today we experience hope.â€
Comment by Exley
Hahahahaha. Anecdotary evidence.
If you say so…
December 18th, 2007 at 11:50 amIraq’s Kurdish leader snubs Rice
Turkish troops have been amassed on the Iraqi border
December 18th, 2007 at 12:35 pm