Kristol: It’s ‘Unbelievable’ That Congress Won’t Give Bush ‘The Benefit Of The Doubt’ On Spying
Kristol: It’s ‘Unbelievable’ That Congress Won’t Give Bush ‘The Benefit Of The Doubt’ On Spying
Today on Fox News Sunday, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol mourned that an “emboldened” Congress refused to give telecommunications companies retroactive immunity for cooperating with the administration’s warrantless wiretapping.
Kristol said it was “unbelievable” for lawmakers to question the judgment of administration officials. Instead, he argued, Congress should just give them the “benefit of the doubt”:
I think it’s kind of unbelievable, frankly. It’s a judgment call. We don’t know. Not to give the administration the benefit of the doubt when they have career people, military people, intelligence people like Mike McConnell and Mike Hayden, and the attorney general, Mike Mukasey — I mean, these are not political hacks. These are not ideological people.
When they say this is important for our national security, the Congress — to block this legislation I find pretty amazing.
Watch it:
The Bush administration secretly conducted spying in violation of the Constitution and the law for four years before The New York Times disclosed it in 2005. For years, the White House lied about these activities to the American public. For example, in 2004, Bush claimed that “a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way.” At least one telco refused to comply with the Bush administration’s request because it knew the actions were illegal.
Even now, the administration continues to lie about the consequences of the Protect America Act expiration. Just yesterday, Bush stated that it will now “be harder for our government to keep you safe from terrorist attack.” But as an expert from the Cato Institute admits, this statement isn’t true: “There’s no reason to think our nation will be in any more danger in 2008 than it was in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, or 2006.”
Transcript:
WALLACE: Well, let’s talk about the politics of this fight, because it seems to me it represents the strongest challenge so far by the congressional Democrats since they have gotten the majority in Congress to President Bush’s national security policy.
In the past, they’ve huffed and puffed and generally caved in to what the president wanted. This time they didn’t. They allowed the law to expire and went home.
Bill Kristol, what’s different this time?
KRISTOL: Well, they’re emboldened, I guess, and they seem to believe that the director of national intelligence, Mike McConnell, a career military man, career intelligence guy, director of the National Security Agency under Bill Clinton for the first half of the 1990s — that he is not telling the truth.
That’s what Ted Kennedy said, that the DNI’s statements, the director of national intelligence’s statements, are shameless on the part of the administration.
President Bush says he’s following his recommendations. They need this liability protection for the telecommunications companies to make sure they have robust private sector cooperation across the board, not just on eavesdropping or, I think, for our spying efforts, our eavesdropping efforts.
They say this has stopped threats. McConnell says that the Al Qaida is reconstituting itself in safe havens, unfortunately, in the northwest side of Pakistan.
I think it’s kind of unbelievable, frankly. It’s a judgment call. We don’t know. Not to give the administration the benefit of the doubt when they have career people, military people, intelligence people like Mike McConnell and Mike Hayden, and the attorney general, Mike Mukasey — I mean, these are not political hacks. These are not ideological people.
When they say this is important for our national security, the Congress — to block this legislation I find pretty amazing.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Bush admitted to warrantless spying, of course he’s not going to get the benefit of the doubt because this is more about covering his behind than protecting America. Its like legalising what Nixon did.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:07 pm“…people like Mike McConnell and Mike Hayden, and the attorney general, Mike Mukasey — I mean, these are not political hacks. These are not ideological people.”
Surely a contender for the top spot in the long list of Kristol BS!
February 17th, 2008 at 1:08 pmIt’s unbelievable that anyone listens to this jackass anymore.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:10 pmOMG!
He actually said we should give Bush the benefit of the doubt —
based on WHAT? All the lies, secrecy, deception and manipulation of the past 8 years?
This guy is even more stupid than I thought.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:10 pmIs comment #1 a lame attempt at a spoof?
February 17th, 2008 at 1:12 pmNixon was impeached for illegally wiretapping political operatives. The present a$$ in the White house is wiretapping all of us and he expects to get away with it.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:13 pmTrusting the lying, spying, war-mongering fear-mongering Bush gangster regime to not illegally spy on us is sort of like trusting Republican-controlled corporations to “count” our votes in secret using proprietary software. Oh, wait, well still trust Republican-controlled corporations to “count” our votes in secret using proprietary software…
February 17th, 2008 at 1:17 pmFrom The Lost Kristol Tapes, by Jonathan Swarz:
You loved it when Bill said invading Iraq was going to have “terrifically good effects throughout the Middle Eastâ€? You have the original recording of him explaining the war would make us “respected around the world†and his classic statement that there’s “almost no evidence†of Iraq experiencing Sunni-Shia conflict? Well, I’ve got something that will blow your mind!….
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/02/15/7080
February 17th, 2008 at 1:23 pmIt’s unbelievable that the NY Times hired you, Bill.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:24 pmwe gave duby the benefit of the doubt, back in sept ‘01…
February 17th, 2008 at 1:24 pmhe abused and misused it…
no more.
“Oh, Bill Kristol…are you ever right?”
Jon Stewart, ca. 2008
February 17th, 2008 at 1:28 pmFrom the transcript: They need this liability protection for the telecommunications companies to make sure they have robust private sector cooperation across the board, not just on eavesdropping or, I think, for our spying efforts, our eavesdropping efforts.
Is Kristol suggesting that the private sector would only cooperate in the critical work of busting spies and terrorists if they’re given incentives? The private sector has no sense of loyalty or patriotism? Is that what he’s saying? Because it sure sounds that way.
Shorter Kristol: “Corporations can’t be expected to fight the war on terror unless they are compensated for it.”
Why does Kristol hate the private sector? Is he some kind of communist?
February 17th, 2008 at 1:32 pmwell, remember, gummitch, that the telcos shut down
an operation after the gov failed to pay it’s bills…
or “incentives”…
February 17th, 2008 at 1:38 pm“I hope we get attacked. It would be interesting to see how soul searching and finger pointing shakes out.” – - Comment by Gay Republicans
– - Going for the self-fertilizing notoriety, I see.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:39 pmBilly Billy Billy, give it up!
Your only talking to clear your throat. nobody wants to hear your shit.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:39 pmRepublicans are praying for an attack so they can say I told you so. They want americans to die.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:43 pmComment by Gay Republicans — February 17, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
Isn’t the term “Gay Republicans” a bit of over kill ?
Could you be a bit more overly redundant or repetitive ?
February 17th, 2008 at 1:46 pmDo I hear you whining, Mr. Bush?
February 17th, 2008 at 1:46 pmDid I hear you complaining about the difficulty of the task?
Maybe you would rather, the next time you run the obstacle course, that I hold your gun for you?
When you next go through the shooting gallery, maybe you’d prefer you didn’t get points taken off when you shot an innocent?
Maybe you feel you shouldn’t be required to shine your shoes?
Maybe you want me to give you a little shove going over the wall?
Well, let me tell you something, you supercilious pampered little rich boy!
It would certainly be easier on you if you could just ignore the laws, not care whom you kill, throw everybody in camps, and set off nuclear weapons.
I understand you would have an easier time of it if you acted like Nazis and Chekists instead of like Americans with a sense of honor and respect for human rights.
Well, my heard just effing bleeds for you, you know that?
You can complain about the weight of your rifle, how you’re supposed to make your bed, shine your shoes and go to a damn court when you want to wiretap somebody, and wipe your behind when you take a dump.
You know what? It’s true. It’s hard. It’s really hard.
Now let me clue you in you little snot-nosed job-shirking born-on-third-base-and-thinks-he-hit-a-triple crybaby,
You’re supposed to do it ANYWAY.
You’re going to fight the enemy AND uphold the honor and the ideals of the United States of America. That IS your mission and you WILL perform it. You will do what you are supposed to do and you will do it in a manner that UPHOLDS the HONOR of the country you REPRESENT, and you will do it without any more pathetic WHINING.
And if you continue to Complain, I will come up to you and personally reach down your throat and pull your nuts up through your gullet, throw your privileged little keister in the stockade, and replace you with someone who can actually DO the JOB.
Have I MADE MYSELF CLEAR to you? HAVE I?
[/di]
“I think it’s kind of unbelievable, frankly. It’s a judgment call. We don’t know. Not to give the administration the benefit of the doubt when they have career people, military people, intelligence people like Mike McConnell and Mike Hayden, and the attorney general, Mike Mukasey — I mean, these are not political hacks. These are not ideological people.”
Hey Kristol
Can you or anyone else name just 1 person in the Chimpy administration or that is a Shrub appointee , who isn’t a political hack ?
February 17th, 2008 at 1:49 pm-I hope we get attacked. It would be interesting to see how soul searching and finger pointing shakes out.-
Thats just a little extreme. Do you think you could regret making such an asinine comment? Lets not get carried away now…
February 17th, 2008 at 1:51 pm‘a judgement call’. Too funny. As though Junior is in possession of some faculty that would permit ‘judgement’….
February 17th, 2008 at 1:52 pmSometimes I wonder if somehow I went to sleep and woke upon a whole other Planet Wingnut. Just breathtaking is Mr. Kristol in full wingnuttery.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:53 pmI hope we get attacked. It would be interesting to see how soul searching and finger pointing shakes out.
Comment by Gay Republicans — February 17, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
You want us to get attacked, people killed or hurt, because you are interested in who points fingers at who?
Forget about the soul searching part, because you have no idea what a soul is, you do not have one for comparison.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:55 pmGR = Attemped thread hijack troll. Flag, don’t feed.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:58 pmWhat is unbelievable is that someone so stupid has lived as long as this idiot has, and that he still has a job. Of course it doesn’t take any special talent to be an asskisser, and this glomb has inherited the lips for this.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:58 pmHow about Bush giving Americans the benefit of the Constitution?
February 17th, 2008 at 2:06 pmKristol is even more stupid than I originally thought.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:11 pmwell, it’s still there… not enough flagging going on…
something like that is a sure hit on the oLIElly & friends shows…
February 17th, 2008 at 2:11 pm…
Actually, what’s more unbelievable is the ongoing blatant violation of existing laws and the lack of accountability by those whose job is to provide Checks and Balance to our Government.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:13 pmLate Edition: Senator Jack Reed Dispels GOP FISA Lies
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/02/17/late-edition-senator-jack-reed-dispels-gop-fisa-lies/
February 17th, 2008 at 2:15 pmWhile this is true for more people in this administration than in most, there really is a very very special place in hell for Bill Kristol.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:16 pmWhy does anyone give this fool a forum? He wants us to “just trust” this administration after all the lies they have told. What an idiot. He also doesn’t explain why, if it was to help with finding terrorists, Bush had the telcoms spy on us for almost a year before 911 even happened.
Something I would love to have the MSM bring up is: since Bush was spying on us weeks after his coronation, and this unlimited spying is necessary to stop terrorists, then why didn’t it stop 911?
February 17th, 2008 at 2:17 pm#5: Why? Because Bush and his ruthless way to wage war on terror are the reasons why we haven’t been attacked since 9/11. He has done what he promised and kept us safe.
Comment by Frank M — February 17, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
Prove it, Frank. Prove that his “ruthless way” is responsible for the lack of attacks on US soil. Because we weren’t exactly swarmed with attacks prior to 9/11. It’s typical of Republicans to take credit and never accountability.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:19 pmI hope we get attacked. It would be interesting to see how soul searching and finger pointing shakes out.
Comment by Gay Republican
Looks like we have a new troll. And another particularly vile one at that. Does the RNC have a bottomless supply of this scum?
February 17th, 2008 at 2:21 pmwell, it’s still there… not enough flagging going on…
something like that is a sure hit on the oLIElly & friends shows…
Comment by katy
I know Katy…I suspect that there is no one minding the store this three day weekend. There has been a lot of particularly vile stuff posted here that is still there. Not a wise move on TP’s part.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:23 pmSomething I would love to have the MSM bring up is: since Bush was spying on us weeks after his coronation, and this unlimited spying is necessary to stop terrorists, then why didn’t it stop 911?
Comment by bilbobaggins
I’m emailing this to every major news outlet, everyday, until it’s an above the fold HEADLINE.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:24 pmWhy does anyone pay attention to what Wiliam the Bloody says, other than to mock him for his stupidity?
February 17th, 2008 at 2:24 pmWhy? Because Bush and his ruthless way to wage war on terror are the reasons why we haven’t been attacked since 9/11. He has done what he promised and kept us safe.
I firmly believe the reason why we haven’t been attacked since 911 is because the “terrorists” are sitting back watching Bush destroy this country from within. They don’t need to attack us, Bush is doing their job for them.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:24 pm#5: Why? Because Bush and his ruthless way to wage war on terror are the reasons why we haven’t been attacked since 9/11. He has done what he promised and kept us safe.
Comment by Frank M — February 17, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
What happened to the promise that he gave when he swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution ?
Shouldn’t that take precedence ?
February 17th, 2008 at 2:27 pmIs Kristol suggesting that the private sector would only cooperate in the critical work of busting spies and terrorists if they’re given incentives? The private sector has no sense of loyalty or patriotism? Is that what he’s saying? Because it sure sounds that way.
Shorter Kristol: “Corporations can’t be expected to fight the war on terror unless they are compensated for it.â€
Why does Kristol hate the private sector? Is he some kind of communist?
Comment by gummitch — February 17, 2008 @ 1:32 pm
WHY does ANYONE even THINK corporations Have ANY sense of patriotism or nationality. THEY ARE INTERNATIONAL WHORPORATIONS FOR A REASON.
No Responsibility, NONE, EVER NEEDED now that the finality of living offshore, and still being able to feed from the U.S. Treasury trough has been finalized under the traitor bush.
CORPORATIONS have no need for patriotism. Do not look to them for leadership on this subject.
And someone PLEASE ask Scumlia on the SCOTUS, if you are such a absolutist regarding the Constitution, where does it mention CORPORATIONS, or the rights given to NON-PERSONS??????
Only from Stare Decesis do the CORPORATIONS GET RIGHTS.
Get rid of corporate personhood, and voila’ 99% of all our problems are gone.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:27 pmBill, what part of “Checks & Balances” don’t you understand?
I mean, it is obvious you are a clueless person, in that you refuse to recognize that this administration has incorporated the greatest degree of politicization within the executive branch, ever.
I mean, it is obvious that you are a disingenuous man by willfully turning a blind eye to the facts of the situation.
But, as far as I can tell, using IQ as a rubric, you are not a stupid man, so you must be capable of understanding even the most basic tenets of U.S. government.
Again, I ask you, Bill, what part of “Checks & Balances” don’t you understand?
February 17th, 2008 at 2:30 pmAnd at what point is it OK to rape a baby to stop a terrorist?
If Scumlia thinks that it is OK to slap one’s face, and by extension torture someone to stop a susposed pending attack, then take it even further. Can we rape the terrorist’s child to show him/her we mean business? Can we kill thier child to show them. Kill their whole famly, village, bomb their country, Nuke the FU(king world to show the terrorist we mean business?
Scumlia’s asshat statement is a self-defeating arugment.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:33 pmWhat happened to the promise that he gave when he swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution ?
Shouldn’t that take precedence ?
Comment by MCMetal
It would, except Bush is a monumental traitor.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:38 pmHe has done what he promised and kept us safe.
Comment by Frank M — February 17, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
You forget that 911 happened under his watch even with warrantless wiretaps and that we were safe for years before he took office.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:39 pmWho listens to Bill Kristol, the leader of the Flaccid Fascist Front?
-GSD
February 17th, 2008 at 2:43 pmLOL, Shrub’s idea of “keeping us safe” is to NOT pursue Bin Laden and to attack a Nation which had NOTHING to do with 9/11.
In other words, he played right into their hands, giving them exactly what they wanted.
Like the true terrorist-sympathizer he is.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:43 pmDid you see the latest where the Saudi’s and Bush’s hand-holding pal Bandar Bush threatened the UK with terrorist attacks unless the UK stopped investigating the Saudi’s for war profiteering and corruption?
We are closing in on the Bushists and they are getting ‘ascared’.
-GSD
February 17th, 2008 at 2:48 pmDumbya has kept us safe from attack by sending our Military to occupy two predominantly Muslim nations. One with huge oil reserves, and another with a key pipeline, oh and poppy production to boot, all the while boosting the true threat: America Imperialism.
Mmmmm, feel the safety? I mean, why would anybody want to harm poor little innocent us?
February 17th, 2008 at 2:51 pmHere’s the “benefit of the doubt” on you, Kool-Aid Kristol – you are a bona fide, certified “fascist” and will someday find yourself on trial for aiding and abetting the destruction of our constitution AND country. Is prison jumpsuit orange your color, GOPig?
February 17th, 2008 at 2:52 pmSetting aside my atheism and assuming for the sake of debate that God exists I ask again: if God is on BushCo’s side like they say why do they need an agency to help them spy?
February 17th, 2008 at 2:52 pmFeel that safety …. or maybe we should call it “feel that draft” – the one coming from the barn door being left wide open on each of our borders. Feel the breezy safety??
February 17th, 2008 at 2:53 pmGSD: Bandar Boosh, Chimpy’s alter ego, is running scared; just like Chimpy. The ONLY reason he’s so overly concerned about immunity for the telecoms is that the lawsuits don’t end up on his desk, as they definitely will. Not to mention what will be unearthed during the legal process which will hang the noose around Chimpy’s neck.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:55 pmWhatevah, Bush is running around Africa pretending to be Santa Claus while screwing Americans dry and hard.
Maybe he’ll move to “Zim-ba-way” as he pronounces it and run for Dictator for Life.
-GSD
February 17th, 2008 at 3:01 pmHoly Smokes.
Greece is on the threshold of going Commie!
Time for an invasion:
“Demetris Christofias, 61, the Communist party leader, and Ioannis Kasoulides, 59, a former foreign minister and leader of the DISY party, will now face off for the presidency.”
-GSD
February 17th, 2008 at 3:04 pm“Is comment #1 a lame attempt at a spoof?”
It’s not a joke. I’m serious. I didn’t say ‘have a nuclear weapon remove one of our cities’. What has happened to our country and our liberties has been more devastating than 911. Would you agree? Congress and the Senate haven’t been able to do anything (or do they even care). The Presnet runs around like he owns the place. The American public is too stupid and lame to even figure any thing out. It’s more of the same for the next 50 years as far as I can figure.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:05 pmAnother terrorist attack would seriously change the direction this country is headed. Almost like a reset button. At that point the American public would have to come back to the ‘reality’ of who runs this place; a completely idiotic and intentionally misleading and divisive group of corporate monkeys interested in only themselves.
For the sake of all American women;
BOYCOTT CHRIS MATTHEWS and THOSE THAT ADVERTISE ON HIS SHOW!
February 17th, 2008 at 3:13 pmHonestly, when I hear the stuff that comes out of Kristol’s craven pie-hole, I am forced to believe that he and those on his side, must surely live in some kind of alternate reality…. WTF!
February 17th, 2008 at 3:15 pmHe has done what he promised and kept us safe.
Comment by Frank M
Ok, but Bill Clinton did the same thing. Remember? And Clinton caught the masterminds of the first World Trade Center attack, and try them and put them in prison, all without destroying the constitution, spying on americans for the fun of it, and while paying off the Reagan deficit.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:17 pm“Because Bush and his ruthless way”
I have witnessed the fishing prowess of this clan. Ruthless it is not. Clueless yes, ruthless no.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:19 pmIt’s the Enabling Act all over again. I think someone is starting to read up on history.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:20 pmAt 30% and declining, you get no benefit of a doubt, you getr doubt of the benefit. When you live by the lie, eventually few believe you.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:36 pmThe reason Shrubbie hasn’t been forthcoming with any evidence that this violation of our rights has worked is because it hasn’t. He’s drunk on his own power over the people and the fact that he can blackmail congress with the spying he’s done on them. Do you think he’d be granted a warrant from FISA for spying on political adversaries? Not in this lifetime.
If he had one iota about how this illegal spying came up with something credible in terms of “keeping us safe”, he’s be spewing it from here to the other side of the planet. Fact is: He doesn’t have any proof and he’s absolutely NOT keeping us safer.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:38 pmJust how gullible does he think the American people are? Fortunately, the American people are much smarter than Kristol believes. The Bush Administration has not earned the trust of the people.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:40 pmYou might be able to prove something was stopped with prima facie evidence; the counterpoint to that argument cannot be debated or proven. Just because something “didn’t happen” doesn’t mean that he or anyone else has done something spectacular to achieve this end result or falsely claim that it’s evidence of keeping us safer.
Just because something never happens doesn’t mean anything logically.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:40 pmUnfortunately for the GOPiglet Trolls here, their argument about keeping us safe is a non issue.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:41 pmStraussian fascist Kristol will have his day in court and get his due. He’s in this fascist coup up to his eyeballs. I cannot wait for them all to get what they deserve. If I were any of them, I’d be planning to leave this country – and soon.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:42 pmkdawg1020: Everything this fascist administration has done convinces us further that they are untrustworthy criminal misanthropes. If Bush’s lips are moving, he’s lying.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:43 pmI hope we get attacked
– Gay Republicans @ #1
And the meanest, ugliest, nastiest one, the meanest father raper of them all, was coming over to me and he was mean ‘n’ ugly ‘n’ nasty ‘n’ horrible and all kind of things and he sat down next to me … and we had a great time on the bench, talkin about crime, mother stabbing, father raping, all kinds of groovy things that we was talking about on the bench.
– Arlo Guthrie, Alice’s Restaurant
So, G.R. … um …
February 17th, 2008 at 3:48 pmWhy do you hate America?
“I have witnessed the fishing prowess of this clan. Ruthless it is not. Clueless yes, ruthless no.”
Comment by dbadass — February 17, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
Ok, I admit, you lost me… Is fishing a euphamisim or something?
February 17th, 2008 at 3:49 pmIs the new troll strategy to come up with a name a regular might have and then post such vitriol to discredit the regulars?
February 17th, 2008 at 4:03 pmThe fact that bloody Bill says its what should be is proof that its bullshit. He is 100pct wrong on everything. And implying Mukasey is anything but fredo II is more bullshit. Hayden and McConnell are bizarre bush stooges.
February 17th, 2008 at 4:07 pmgay repuglicon @ #59
I see what you are getting at but if there is an attack or even if somebody say kills say the Democratic Presidential Contender. Do you really want it knowing full well that that idiot will probably do directive 51 and that will perhaps cause a civil war in America. Are you ready to perhaps see yourself or family or friends in a war that might just be a lot worse than suffering another year with this jerk.
Perhaps you need to think a little more on the subject.
February 17th, 2008 at 4:25 pmBush is keeping america safer, eh? And just how is he doing that? Wide open borders? Nope, not that way. By spying on american citizens? Nope, not that way.
And since his spying which, incidentally, began well in advance of 911 (ahem!) hasn’t translated into keeping us safe: case in point IS 911 then how can this traitor to our constitution convince anyone that he’s doing anything more than criminal behavior himself?
He had to admit to doing it since the whistleblower at A T & T “outed him”. Now he has no choice but to admit it and not provide any details about what the telecoms need immunity for – we know the answer to that – it’s to keep his butt from being impeached and out of prison once the avalanche of lawsuits hits the telecomes naming both the telecom and George W. Bush in their class action suits.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:02 pmAnd the lawsuits are slamming in as we type. Let the Bush empire pay for it all.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:03 pmKristol: It’s ‘Unbelievable’ That Congress Won’t Give Bush ‘The Benefit Of The Doubt’ On Spying
It’s even more unbelievable that anyone still asks you for your always erroneous and useless opinion …………..
February 17th, 2008 at 5:09 pmOur government has bee run by politicos at every level for the last 7 years. Not experts – politicos. And poorly educated politicos, at that. We have replaced competent and experienced managers and administrators with a bunch of feckless boobs and outright criminals. We have lost the “corporate memory” of America’s back office, and the records system has been trashed. Our Government will never fully recover from this damage.
If you have ever read Roman history, you might have found yourself asking how the Republic was destroyed (and further, how it was allowed to be destroyed). We are reliving Roman history. We are watching the destruction of noble government by the interests of money and power.
Kristol is betting against our Republic. He apparently believes that the money and power interests will win.
I sure hope he’s wrong.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:11 pmDoes the RNC have a bottomless supply of this scum?
Comment by bilbobaggins — February 17, 2008
That goes without saying…just pick one any one.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:18 pmFool me how many times? Benefit of the doubt? Trust me? Why not just send everyone else home and everybody just give Bush and Cheney the benefit of the doubt to dictate at will? Oh, we’ve already done that.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:20 pmComment by DieNowForPeace — February 17, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
AMEN Brother!!!
February 17th, 2008 at 5:22 pmScrew these talking heads.
Reality is at your fingertips:
Iraq Coalition Casualty Count – ICCC
http://icasualties.org/oif/Details.aspx
STOP THE WAR.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:31 pmYou whats “unbelievable”?
February 17th, 2008 at 5:31 pmThat theres anyone left even listening to anything Kristol has to say.
The man has made a career out of being wrong about everything.
HOT OFF THE PRESS! http://www.bradblog.com/
Dallas Morning News gets the Patriot of the Year award in their printing of the Sibel Edmonds story about treason in the Bush Administration! Hoorah!
Conveniently, Boosh is in Africa when the $hit hits the fan all around him.
Maybe he’d better consider staying in Africa now?
February 17th, 2008 at 5:32 pmKristol – Still Crazy After All These Years
and still just as Anti-American as ever.
If this bastard had a conscience, he’d be ashamed of himself.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:33 pmAndy: I’m with you. This administration of liars and criminals cannot be believed and will NEVER be given the benefit of a doubt by the american people EVER again. How many lies is it now? Nixon was impeached for ONE lie – get that, ONE lie. This sicko has been lying in our faces on national television for 7 years! Move over Chimpy – there’s a new sheriff in town! And it’s the american people who are taking back our democracy.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:34 pmKristol is a card-carrying fascist nazi – has been for a very long time. He’s a “Straussian” – goggle Leo Strauss to see the ugly truth. Kristol’s grandpappy, Irving Kristol has been dubbed the “grandfather of fascism”….sounding familiar?
Let’s see: Both of Bush 43’s grandfathers were aiding the third reich and were told to cease and desist. Irving Kristol’s grandfather is the grandfather of fascism….we can see that these men were brainwashed from a very young age or fascism is in the genes.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:36 pmIt’s been one clever coup d’etat, hasn’t it? The ONLY thing these fascists didn’t count on (and underestimated) was the mid-term election. They’d decided NOT to hack the midterms so as not to alert the country who would fall fast asleep and not change our hacked electronic voting machines for the 08 election (They sacrificed the “trees” for the “forest”). Huge mistake – because the coup was incomplete at that point.
PNAC (Project for a New American Century) concocted the Patriot Act well in advance of 911 (Read – The New Pearl Harbor – for factual data). All they required was a false flag attack on american soil to set their plans into motion.
Connect the dots….it’s all there…..Wait till Sibel Edmonds (who is a critical key in all of this) outs the info she has on 911!! There will be a firestorm of disgust and anger sweeping across this country and the Dallas Times has just opened the Pandora’s Box! It’s going to be a very crazy week when this stuff goes mainstream. Then the american people will be seeing a much larger picture and the automatic connection of some serious dots – dots which will put most of these neocon bullies behind bars.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:40 pmAnd Bush began spying illegally on americans the first week he was in the oval office. So the spying had nothing to do with finding the terrorists either. If it did, he wouldn’t have ignored the 42 warnings he had prior to 911.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:42 pmKristol: It’s ‘Unbelievable’ That Congress Won’t Give Bush ‘The Benefit Of The Doubt’ On Spying
February 17th, 2008 at 5:49 pmThis statement IS unbelievable…the neocons want it all including the ability to HIDE THE ILLEGAL SPYING THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE. We the People deserve to see just who was spied on, who was blackmailed over the spying… it is our constitutional right to make this right and get the information out there.
It’s unbelievable that anyone listens to this jackass anymore.
Comment by VerbalKint
Not really. Americans are the stupidest people to have ever existed on this planet. it really comes as no surprise at all.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:52 pmComment by whatevah
February 17th, 2008 at 6:02 pmWe better hop and pray Sibel Edmonds has protection and is watching her back. what a story!
KRISTOL should shut up! If he has nothing intelligent to say, he should keep his mouth SHUT!
By now, everyone who has brains knows that Bush is just a liar who we cannot trust at all. He started a war telling us lies. And so many more after that. Plus he doesn’t give a sh*t about peoples Cnstitutional rights, so what kind of “benefit” Kristol wants for this guy? What is Kristol’s point?
Bush was the worst accident ever to hit America. More people died due to his decision to fight those responsible for 9/11 than the victims of 9/11. And the guy is so poor from the neck up that he has been fighting a war on a wrong territory, going after the wrong enemy.
So please, Kristol, no benefits for those deliberated, calculated, illegal attacks of this president on people’s privacy. Id he can’t obey and protect the CONSTITUTION, he should resign.
Actually, he should be IMPEACHED. But people in this Country don’t have the necessary balls to take action and defend themselves against abuse of power.
February 17th, 2008 at 6:04 pmOh yeah, Billy Boy. We are so damn stupid and that we will give Bush “the benefit of the doubt” on the FISA law. And our stupidity knows no bounds — so we’ll cut him slack on his never-ending Iraq War. We’re all taking the same stupid pills that you take.
BTW Billy — Shut the hell up.
February 17th, 2008 at 6:13 pmThese bastard thugs are desperately trying to run out the clock with the falsehoods so maybe they can run off to Dubai or Paraguay when Bush’s term is up… where they can find protection from their treasonous acts. Wouldn’t we all like to see justice prevail? Right now I would settle for the thugs to just leave, leave us alone and let us restore our country.
February 17th, 2008 at 6:17 pmMaybe the neocons will find Ken Lay alive in Paraguay or Dubai when they reach that destination.
February 17th, 2008 at 6:20 pm#1
1. I hope we get attacked. It would be interesting to see how soul searching and finger pointing shakes out.
Comment by Gay Republicans
February 17th, 2008 at 6:26 pmIf we get attacked it is because Bush is threatening an attack as he continues to say:We are no longer safe if Congress does not give (him) immunity.
Straussian fascist Kristol will have his day in court and get his due. He’s in this fascist coup up to his eyeballs. I cannot wait for them all to get what they deserve. If I were any of them, I’d be planning to leave this country – and soon.
Comment by whatevah — February 17, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
War crimes knows no boundaries.
It’s been one clever coup d’etat, hasn’t it? The ONLY thing these fascists didn’t count on (and underestimated) was the mid-term election. They’d decided NOT to hack the midterms so as not to alert the country who would fall fast asleep and not change our hacked electronic voting machines for the 08 election (They sacrificed the “trees†for the “forestâ€). Huge mistake – because the coup was incomplete at that point.
Comment by whatevah — February 17, 2008 @ 5:40 pm
No, no, no you got it wrong wahtevah, They DID hack the election, but the hack only works when the vote is close. The vote was SOOOO skewed against them, that the best they do hack was to NOT get a lansdlide against them. Of course they hacked the elction. As Rove said, “he knows things that everyone else does not know.” ANd he knew that they were hacking the election, but he did not count on the massive outcome, that would not look kosher to just overturn.
The next number count HAS to be HHHUUUGGGGGEEEE to compete with the hackery.
February 17th, 2008 at 6:49 pmLittle Billy Crystal doesn’t even try to make sense. It’s not his mission.
There’s no need in getting upset about what he says. He is not relevant to any adult political discussion. The best thing to do is not patronize the corporations that give him a platform. Cancel that NY times subscription and join the boycott Fox News sponsors movement, contact Fox sponsors and explain how you are disgusted with the sleazy, dishonest BS.
Billy’s just another closeted neocon with Daddy issues ala Karl Rove and the rest of that weird bunch.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:14 pmBilly, why don’t you just come out of the closet and accept yourself bondage get-up and all or what ever that psycho drama is that drives your behaviour.
It’s unbelievable that Americans haven’t taken up arms and started a revolution.
Then again, Americans are the stupidest, laziest idiots to have ever lived. Maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:21 pmAbsolutely correct. I couldn’t agree more with this sentiment.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:37 pmI’d gladly give this administration the benefit of a good swift kick in the butt, but doubt? Nope.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:47 pmWe have truly fallen on sad times. Once upon a time, the NY Times printed the Pentagon Papers out of a belief of civic duty, and even competed with the Washington Post to unravel the Watergate mystery.
Now, the NY Times is an echo chamber for Bush and even goes so low to hire Kristol to shill discredited policies. How have the once mighty has fallen.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:51 pmoh man – looks like Bill Kristol-meth should go into stand-up comedy. Giving the “decider” he benefit of the doubt is like giving an alcohol the keys to the liquor store.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:56 pmComment by Uncle Ho — February 17, 2008 @ 7:51 pm
Hear, Hear! Spot on Uncle!
February 17th, 2008 at 8:13 pmComment by flavorino — February 17, 2008 @ 7:14 pm
Well said!
February 17th, 2008 at 8:15 pmBuh Buy Kristol.
February 17th, 2008 at 8:48 pmClearly Kristol has lost the thin grip he had on reality and should be locked up in a rubber room.
For those of us living in the real world, trust must be earned. Giving Bush the “benefit of the doubt” is completely out of the question.
February 17th, 2008 at 8:59 pm#101 – ha!! – good post – and can we all agree to throw john bolton right beside kristol on the list of people we should ignore
February 17th, 2008 at 9:00 pmSeriously. If you think these guys are headed out of office anytime soon, you are stupid. The average American has had many opportunities to make a stand. Made none. Congress can’t challenge them without being painted as weak and that’s accepted by the American press. They have amassed trillions of dollars in wealth, set up contracts that make them money for an eternity, and can tell any lie and have 51% of the population spread it as truth. Any one stands up, all they have to utter is one word: Liberal. Then that person is savaged. They have culture warriors out calling everyone liberals, too. I’m sorry. Something very bad has to happen in order for things to change. Something so bad that they lose 75% of their following. Something so bad that someone in their own circle turns and beats them to death.
February 17th, 2008 at 9:00 pm#1: If we’re attacked because the House of Reps. stands for the rule of law, who do you think I’m going to blame?
I’m going to suspect the Administration. That’s how much I trust these sacks of shit.
This is all about covering their crimes.
February 17th, 2008 at 9:27 pmCompletely off topic, but expect more Islamic violence in Denmark (and elsewhere) in reaction to a film soon to be released in that country.
February 17th, 2008 at 9:55 pmComment #1 is so stupid! 9/11 attack was not from outside the USA, it was MADE IN USA! Ask Bush or Chenney, or Rice or Rumsfeld, What a E-4B plane was doing flying over Washington on 9/11! Go on… ask them! The fearmorger comments such as yours are design to keep people as stupid as you, under control, and allow a criminal administration to spy on you and everybodyelse without a propper court warrant. Trampling all over your rights as a citizen, and ignoring the law. Following your very stupid comment, how did the scary “Terrorists” managed to demolished WTC7? How were they able to hit the Pentagon and hide the fuselage of a 757? How did they managed, armed only with boxcutters, to defy the law of physics??? 10 seconds, three concrete and steel structures, total collapse… Oh yeah… judging by your stupid comments, you have no clue what physics is… Just remember, that NORAD took 45 minutes to respond on that day!
February 17th, 2008 at 10:22 pmDon’t give the criminal telecom corporations imunity!
February 17th, 2008 at 10:26 pmBuck Fush! Buck Kristol!
February 17th, 2008 at 10:27 pmComment by sacopenapa
February 17th, 2008 at 10:54 pmOne of the most obvious was the bringing down of building #7… happened right before our eyes for no reason and the masses do not question that…. a real mind twister how this is not challenged.
117, I have seen your sentiments, please think of cures.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:03 pmRe: For example, in 2004, Bush claimed that “a wiretap requires a court order.
Yes, but remember *wink* that Bush later said he was referring to wiretaps for domestic law enforcement issues, such as tracking drug dealers.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:16 pmGive Bush ‘The Benefit Of The Doubt’ On Spying
You don’t give known LIARS the benefit of a doubt about anything.
Besides being a WAR CRIMINAL who has LIED constantly about everything.
This is about Bush covering HIS ASS and nothing more.
Buck Fush
February 17th, 2008 at 11:18 pmEven more unbelievable is that this jerk gets paid to blather his usual nonsense and that he has Harvard degrees.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:20 pmReread your post Billy Hill.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:23 pmRE: For example, in 2004, Bush claimed that “a wiretap requires a court order.
Bush also said that they still go to the FISA court for a warrant to wiretap a domestic call.
I’d still like to know why it takes 200 man hours to assemble a warrant for an international call that is routed through America, forcing the NSA to bypass the FISA court because “there’s not enough time,” yet to wiretap a domestic call they can go to the court without any problems.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:24 pmAnd read it again, and again, then stfu, or else
February 17th, 2008 at 11:25 pmKristol’s grandpappy, Irving Kristol has been dubbed the “grandfather of fascismâ€â€¦.sounding familiar?
Let’s see: Both of Bush 43’s grandfathers were aiding the third reich and were told to cease and desist. Irving Kristol’s grandfather is the grandfather of fascism….we can see that these men were brainwashed from a very young age or fascism is in the genes.
Comment by whatevah — February 17, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
I won’t take issue with your basic points, whatevah. However, Irving Broken-Crystal Ball is Billy-boy’s father–not grandfather.
From Wikipedia
February 17th, 2008 at 11:25 pmWilliam Kristol (born December 23, 1952 in New York City) is an American Republican pundit…and is the son of Irving Kristol, one of the founders of the neoconservative movement.
Comment by Billy Hill — February 17, 2008 @ 11:18 pm
February 17th, 2008 at 11:25 pmBe very careful – that straw man is becoming very dry – tinder – poof it caught fire.
#115…what pertinency to my comment does WHO did 911 matter? It’s irrelevent. I’m just saying that something big needs to happen to get Americans upset at how this place is run. And don’t tell me I don’t understand physics…they are the only laws I obey painstakingly.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:31 pmOh. and by the way. Some Conservative that I met the other day thinks Kristol is a liberal. Guy knew alot…but he’s convinced he is. I told him to get his gray matter fixed.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:33 pmAt least Ron Reagan, Jr. isn’t a neocon, he’d have THE name.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:36 pmBe Alerted to the Hottest Stock Picks!!
Join Emerging Growth Alert Newsletter !
By joining the team at Emerging Growth Alert you will be in position to receive stock alerts profiling stocks about to move or already in motion. Our alerts are sent in time for you to research, investigate and make a decision about whether this opportunity is right for you. You will not be bombarded with junk mail. There is ABSOLUTELY NO OBLIGATION, and the service is entirely FREE.
http://financialtrading.byethost13.com
http://cashstocks.angelfire.com
Disclaimer:
http://stocks.freetzi.com/disclaimer.html
P.S.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:37 pmYou may think this is spam but this is only an invitation for those interested to receive Stocks alert – ONLY stock alerts… Thanks to those who subscribed :)
If a post is by Billy Hill just skip over it, it is not worth reading. The usual lame attempt at humor by repukes. Lame, poorly put together, sorry assed punch line. I never read it’s posts anymore.
Bush/Cheney
hague trials ‘09
Buck Fush
February 17th, 2008 at 11:37 pmOf course Kristol is not a liberal, they reject him as a fraud, it is the cons that embraced them!
February 17th, 2008 at 11:39 pmliberals and cons reject Kristol, hello!!
February 17th, 2008 at 11:40 pmBilly is proof positive the ‘conservatives’ – whatever the hell that means these days – have nary a clue when it comes to sarcasm.
Here’s a good read on Kristol.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:41 pmBuh Bye Kristol!!
February 17th, 2008 at 11:41 pmHas anyone bothered to point out that Bush started the ‘warrantless wiretapping’ BEFORE 9/11?
February 17th, 2008 at 11:52 pmSome Conservative that I met the other day thinks Kristol is a liberal. Guy knew alot…but he’s convinced he is. I told him to get his gray matter fixed.
Comment by Gay Republicans — February 17, 2008 @ 11:33 pm
Kristol, Bush, Cheney, and the Neo-Cons could be considered Trotsky-ites, with twinges of Fascism.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:55 pmAbsent people that host their own programs, i.e.e O’Reilly, Hannity, etc . . . is he the stupidest pundit out there?
February 18th, 2008 at 12:10 amIn school, anyone being so often flunk out. Kristol is a flunkee – nothing more.
February 18th, 2008 at 2:29 amSo what will happen if telecoms don’t get “immunity”?
Will terrorists sue them?
LOL!
This country is INSANE!
February 18th, 2008 at 5:33 amKristol is betting against our Republic. He apparently believes that the money and power interests will win.
I sure hope he’s wrong.
Comment by Marcus Aurelius
No, like all Zionists he’s merely using the US to do Israel’s dirty work. And they don’t give a shit if they destroy the US in the process. After all, we are just a nation of “useless eaters” as far as they are concerned.
February 18th, 2008 at 5:38 amKristol: It’s ‘Unbelievable’ That Congress Won’t Give Bush ‘The Benefit Of The Doubt’ On Spying
Yeah, because the blank check for the War on Terrorist went so well…
February 18th, 2008 at 6:50 amSo what will happen if telecoms don’t get “immunity�
Will terrorists sue them?
LOL!
Comment by JPV — February 18, 2008 @ 5:33 am
Of course not. The ACLU will sue on their behalf. ;)
February 18th, 2008 at 8:10 amDoes Bill Kristol work for VP Cheney? You know how Cheney won’t release the info on who works in his office, or how many employees there are – listening to Bill Kristol yesterday on Faux news, he was speaking about the FISA thing, but he made a couple of references using the word “robust.” VP Cheney is the only one I know of that uses that word on a regular basis. Kristol is far too comfortable when he talks about the Bush Adm. Way too familiar. Someone might ought to look into this.
February 18th, 2008 at 8:21 amOnly fascist conservatards are so stupid as to be against an organization dedicated to preserving their Civil Liberties. Any domesticated pet is smarter than any Republican,any time. But, we can always thank the right for 9/11!
February 18th, 2008 at 8:30 amSo what will happen if telecoms don’t get “immunity�
Will terrorists sue them?
LOL!
Comment by JPV — February 18, 2008 @ 5:33 am
Of course not. The ACLU will sue on their behalf. ;)
Comment by upright left — February 18, 2008 @ 8:10 am
Anyhow, terrorism and perpetual war is very good for Republican arm dealers ;) ;)
February 18th, 2008 at 8:31 amlet’s see….character make-up of bush:
* lying profusely and continuously – check
* a penchant for manipulation, exaggeration, and deception – check
* admitted criminality – check
* incompetence in the extreme – check
* completely insulated from realty – check
* an complete lack of interest in facts – check
* a proven inability to respond properly to known information – check
* an incurious, easily manipulated mind – check
* a barely concealed joy at the suffering of others – check
* an massive inferiority complex – check
* motivated by revenge, jealousy and the need to constantly belittle others – check
* a proven inability to grasp complex concepts and nuance – check
oh yea, trust bush. now THERE’s a good idea. kristol and bush are clearly of the same warped sick minds.
February 18th, 2008 at 8:35 am.
The Democrat Party should stick to investigating sports and leisure activities and leave National Security to the professionals.
Comment by jdc
Spector is a republican, idiot. And there is no Democrat party, except in the fantasiec of retarded right.
February 18th, 2008 at 8:48 amShow me exactly where in the Constitution that it says that Congress must give the Executive Branch “the benefit of the doubt” on anything.
Given how many times this President has ignored the Constitution, ignored precendent and plain old common sense, how can anyone ask with a straight face for Congress to give him “the benefit of the doubt”?
February 18th, 2008 at 9:01 amhow can anyone ask with a straight face for Congress to give him “the benefit of the doubt�
Comment by jpopphan
There you have it. Kristol doesn’t have a straight face: his thin, birdlike, lips are constantly twisted into a smug smirk. He has one of the most crooked faces on TV.
February 18th, 2008 at 9:08 amThe spinning logo in the lower left of the screen tells you all you need to know.
That and the words: Bill Kristol, Fox News Contributor.
I wouldn’t watch that crap if someone paid me.
February 18th, 2008 at 9:40 am#141 – “This country is INSANE!” Comment by JPV — February 18, 2008 @ 5:33 am
We knew that when Pres. Bush was elected in 2006!
February 18th, 2008 at 9:46 amI suppose kristol would also recommend a proven pedophile as a babysitter.
February 18th, 2008 at 9:49 am.
I suppose kristol would also recommend a proven pedophile as a babysitter.
Comment by pluege — February 18, 2008 @ 9:49 am
Only if he was a Republican.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:00 am#5: Why? Because Bush and his ruthless way to wage war on terror are the reasons why we haven’t been attacked since 9/11. He has done what he promised and kept us safe.
Comment by Frank M
ROFLMAO
War on Terror?! Are you kidding?
No, wait, don’t answer that. We already know the answer.
Idiot!
February 18th, 2008 at 10:08 amhere i am, waiting for the weekday FAST thread…
then i remember, it’s a “holiday”…
so, for your daily reminder (the condensed version):
“Good morning…”
WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE!
February 18th, 2008 at 10:12 amOnly fascist conservatards are so stupid as to be against an organization dedicated to preserving their Civil Liberties.
Comment by Lefty Patriot — February 18, 2008 @ 8:30 am
Dedication to preserving civil liberties would be great. Dedication to inventing new ones for some and removing personal responsibility for all? Not so great. ;)
February 18th, 2008 at 10:13 amThis is (and has always been) a serious problem with the Republicans: they can say the most insane, stupid thing and keep defending it as if it actually made sense.
Examples can be seen from Limbaugh to Coulter and in between (Bush, Cheney, Perrino, Rice, Muckasey, and on and on and on….)
When will those people realize that most Americans HAVE brains – except those who were brainwashed by the Republican mentality and can no longer THINK by themselves?
February 18th, 2008 at 10:16 amkaty, ain’t it a great holiday! Celebrating President’s day? Not while this moronic chymp is sullying the White House with his horrid banana breath…
And, on the subject of his Africa trip, GO TSE TSE flies!!
February 18th, 2008 at 10:16 amWOW!! What Rock has THIS guy been living under the last 7 years!?!!?
February 18th, 2008 at 10:21 amWhat is truly ‘unbelievable‘ is that Bill Kristol is actually employed at all.
Sounds like Willie Kristol is advocating the disbanding of the U.S. Congress altogether. I mean HEY, think of all the time it would save the Bush administration in screwing WE THE PEOPLE more than they already have!
Good grief.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:27 amIt seems to me that most of these pundits are trying to carve out some ’shock jock’ arena for themselves, by saying more and more blatantly bullshitical prounouncements, then running a
February 18th, 2008 at 10:30 amWTF-Reactionometer to see how much additional press it gets them.
Dedication to preserving civil liberties would be great. Dedication to inventing new ones for some and removing personal responsibility for all? Not so great. ;)
Comment by upright left
Perhaps you shouldn’t have gotten upright with out first sleeping it off.
I can’t tell what the hell you’re talking about with this “and removing personal responsibility for all” doggerel.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:32 am“Dedication to preserving civil liberties would be great. Dedication to inventing new ones for some and removing personal responsibility for all? Not so great.”
Comment by upright left —
Like the president, and his newly invented “unenumerated war powers?”
I don’t hear you complaining about those, lefty. Or is your fake outrage republican-free?
February 18th, 2008 at 10:35 amRUCerious @ 10:16 am -
i watched the today show interview from africa, with ann curry…
did you know? the economy is a mess because there are too many
houses being built!
what a brain! … i’m so proud…
February 18th, 2008 at 10:39 amc’mon, barfly, you aren’t expecting downright leftout to have some level of logic associated with statements like ‘removing personal responsibilty for all’, do you?
Now ‘removing personal responsibilty for Reublicans’, that’s more up its alley.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:40 amkaty ~ and what was the impetus to build too many houses?
Unregulated greed mongers in the mortgage industry? Whaaa>>>????
Go TSE TSE flies!
February 18th, 2008 at 10:42 amIt’s unbelievable that no one ever asks Kristol how much money he receives for being a Bush propaganda outlet.
Armstrong Williams got 1/4 of a million…. I would guess Kristol gets about the same… the best press that taxpayers money can buy… now there’s a crime worth going after… the press on the payroll.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:43 amDer chymp has the economic acumen of a lemur.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:44 amRU – i should have included that ann asked him if the costs of the “war” were damaging the economy, and his answer was “no – it’s too many houses”… i kid you not…
February 18th, 2008 at 10:48 amthe best press that taxpayers money can buy… now there’s a crime worth going after… the press on the payroll.
Comment by electricphoto — February 18, 2008 @ 10:43 am
Wouldn’t it be nice if these so-called experts/commentators had to disclose all of their conflicts of interest? Such as amounts given to speak, stock holdings over a certain threshold etc.? This guy Kristol is one of the founding members of the PNAC correct? That fact should be disclosed every time he opens his mouth.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:49 amFrom MSNBC wire on McCain and Bush…
There is also the matter of Mr. Bush’s unpopularity — polls show that only about 30 percent of voters approve of the job he is doing as president.
And though he remains relatively popular among Republicans, even there his approval rating has declined to 66 percent.
So if the overall voter rating is 30%, and the Repuglycan rating = 66%, how few repuglycans are out there?
February 18th, 2008 at 10:51 amI retract my ” has the economic acumen of a lemur.” statement.
It can’t be much higher than an amoeba.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:52 amWe’re coming up on 24 hours since a new post. Somebody should call the TP office and make sure they didn’t leave the gas on or something.
If they don’t get a new post up soon, I’ll have to watch TV.
Oh well – I guess everybody needs a day off.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:57 am#159 – “Dedication to preserving civil liberties would be great. Dedication to inventing new ones for some and removing personal responsibility for all? Not so great. ;)” Comment by upright left — February 18, 2008 @ 10:13 am
That’s why so many people are opposed to the excesses of the Bush Adminisration and their egregious attempts to remove their responsibility for their own failures.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:58 am“So if the overall voter rating is 30%, and the Repuglycan rating = 66%, how few repuglycans are out there?
Comment by RUCerious”
Is this one of those SAT math questions?
February 18th, 2008 at 11:01 amnew blog round up at http://www.crooksandliars.com/
always lots of good stuff…
February 18th, 2008 at 11:04 am“I think it’s kind of unbelievable, frankly. It’s a judgment call. We don’t know. Not to give the administration the benefit of the doubt when they have career people, military people, intelligence people like Mike McConnell and Mike Hayden, and the attorney general, Mike Mukasey — I mean, these are not political hacks. These are not ideological people.”
Sniffs the powdered, aging, courtesan from her bench, in the Court of the Crimson Cowboy…
February 18th, 2008 at 11:31 amBush has exhausted all Benefits of the doubt. There is no room allowed for any benefit. none.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:32 amTse Tse flies? That’s a good one RUCerious.
I think we should drop the Chimp naked in the savannah and see if he can make his way home. He would make a good meal for a den of hyena cubs, even if it’s cannibalistic.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:40 amIs this one of those SAT math questions?
Comment by Bobwurst — February 18, 2008 @ 11:01 am
Yes, and the appropriate answer is:::
Not many.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:49 amKristol – Bush – Benefit of the doubt. This is parody right? Even Kristol isn’t this much of a maggot is he?
February 18th, 2008 at 11:51 am“I think we should drop the Chimp naked in the savannah and see if he can make his way home. ”
I attempted a short-story once, about Bush waking up a soldier in a troop transport, driving down the streets of al Cut. It was supposed to be a comedy – but in every version, he gets killed in the end, somehow. I didn’t think it would sell back then, when his approval ratings were so high.
Now, I don’t know, though.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:53 ambarfly, today, it would sell, and you’d probably wind up in a cell.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:56 amIn gitmo.
What if congress grants immunity to any telecom that taps the phones of Kristol, Wolfowitz, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, G.H.W. Bush, etc.?
February 18th, 2008 at 12:00 pmWhat’s unbelievable is that ANYBODY would listen to, or care about, what this moron has to say!
February 18th, 2008 at 12:03 pmEven Kristol isn’t this much of a maggot is he?
Comment by Shayne — February 18, 2008 @ 11:51 am
Yes, festering in the rotten corpse of the BushitCo administration.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:03 pmbarfly, I would be glad to advance you a little for your story. You could publish a book of short stories with the same general theme.
I have dibs on the “broadhead through the guts” hunting accident scenario though.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:09 pmbarfly, I would add to nanlichi’s idea. You could make your story a “twilight zone-Ground Hog’s Day” type of full length novel, consisting of a bunch of short stories all with the theme of Bush getting sent into different soldiers bodies in Iraq (including Iraqi?), all ending in his death until he finally shows remorse for starting the war. Then, as President again, he pulls the troops out of Iraq and exposes to the world all the lies and manipulations, resulting in Cheney’s and his impeachment. And maybe the epilogue can be all the soldiers whose body he inhabited actually come home safely (gotta like happy endings!).
February 18th, 2008 at 12:29 pmThe NY Times must be so proud.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:59 pm.
PLC, that would make a great structure for describing the war from different angles. All of the days wouldn’t have to end in death, there’s many more soldiers that have lost arms and legs than died. Iraqis too. And have a day with Iraqi kids coming home to no electricity, no water and no Dad. And how about some parents and brothers and sisters who lost a family member in Bush’s War?
Write that book barfly!
February 18th, 2008 at 1:21 pmThis certainly is worth quoting:
He has done what he promised and kept us safe.
Comment by Frank M
Ok, but Bill Clinton did the same thing. Remember? And Clinton caught the masterminds of the first World Trade Center attack, and try them and put them in prison, all without destroying the constitution, spying on americans for the fun of it, and while paying off the Reagan deficit.
Comment by Bobwurst — February 17, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
Man, I need a bumber sticker to sum that up and put it on every car in the walmart parking lot.
February 18th, 2008 at 1:26 pmPerhaps you shouldn’t have gotten upright with out first sleeping it off.
I can’t tell what the hell you’re talking about with this “and removing personal responsibility for all†doggerel.
Comment by barfly — February 18, 2008 @ 10:32 am
Bud, unlike you, there are people in this world who have no need to sleep anything off. That you would fail to understand about personal responsibility is no surprise. ;)
February 18th, 2008 at 3:45 pmNeither can he, barfly… neither can he…
February 18th, 2008 at 3:47 pm“Dedication to preserving civil liberties would be great. Dedication to inventing new ones for some and removing personal responsibility for all? Not so great.â€
Comment by upright left —
Like the president, and his newly invented “unenumerated war powers?â€
I don’t hear you complaining about those, lefty. Or is your fake outrage republican-free?
Comment by barfly — February 18, 2008 @ 10:35 am
Bush has definitely overstepped his powers. I also think he made mistakes with No Child Left Behind and his lack of diplomatic efforts. None of those things have anything to do with the comment on the ACLU, so I didn’t mention them. ;)
February 18th, 2008 at 3:51 pmBush has definitely overstepped his powers.
Comment by upright left — February 18, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
Start the impeachments!!!
February 18th, 2008 at 3:59 pmBush has definitely overstepped his powers.
Comment by upright left — February 18, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
Start the impeachments!!!
Comment by dixie blood — February 18, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
Apparently, that’s off the table. Evidence that politicians of neither major party can be counted upon to do what they say, or imply, they will. ;)
February 18th, 2008 at 4:06 pmApparently, that’s off the table.
Comment by upright left — February 18, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
There’s more than one table.
John Conyers has a table.
Chris Dodd has a table.
The state legislatures have tables.
We can and must impeach now!!!!
February 18th, 2008 at 4:27 pm#5: Why? Because Bush and his ruthless way to wage war on terror are the reasons why we haven’t been attacked since 9/11. He has done what he promised and kept us safe.
Comment by Frank M — February 17, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
I think, one has to naive to think that Americans are not attacked post 9/11.
those in Afghanistan and Pakistan Border area seems to more fiscal conservative, why spent more money, man power and efforts when you -their enemy- are in their neighborhood and are going to stay for long time.
by the way How many young man and woman we have lost by now in Iraq and Afghanistan ? more than we lost on 9/11 ?
February 18th, 2008 at 7:24 pmBush and Kristol have a lot in common, like the fact that both are mediocre intellectually, but have gladly accepted the mantles of their fathers. Both were born on third base thinking they’d hit a triple.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:24 pmhttp://newsprism.wordpress.com
How is it possible that Kristol thinks the public ought to give a liar, torturer, kidnapper and constitution destroying thug the benefit of the doubt? It must be a dark place where he keeps his head.
February 19th, 2008 at 4:29 amHas anyone noticed how many “Mikes” this administration has hired?
How many mikes does it take to bring down a shrub?
February 20th, 2008 at 5:04 amIs bad credit preventing you from getting a car of your dreams? It is one of the most harrowing situations in which you can be drawn when you have a bad credit tagged to you. You don’t have to worry any more since auto loans for bad credit have been perfectly tailored for such situations and can help you out of this pathetic situation. Auto loans are made especially for people with poor credit history, CCJs, IVA’s. To find cheap oloans,instant auto loans visit
February 27th, 2008 at 5:16 amhttp://www.nationalautoapproval.com