Think Progress

ThinkFast: April 17, 2008

By Think Progress on Apr 17th, 2008 at 9:00 am

ThinkFast: April 17, 2008»


bushglobes.jpg

Delegates at a major economies climate conference in Paris criticized President Bush’s catastrophic environmental goals announced yesterday, with South Africa calling Bush’s proposals “‘disappointing’ and unambitious when many other industrialized economies are already cutting emissions.” “But Bush will be leaving office soon. What he says doesn’t matter so much any more,” one senior European official said.

The credit market crisis is spreading to student loans,” making loans “harder to come by and more expensive.” Over 50 firms have “abandoned or cut back their federal or private student loan programs this year, unable to raise money in the financial markets.”

A federal judge denied a request to subpoena Vice President Cheney in a lawsuit filed by a Colorado man “who claims he was wrongfully arrested for comments he made” to Cheney about the Iraq war. Lawyers claimed Secret Service agents “told different versions of the episode” that only Cheney could clarify.

John McCain’s opposition to the GI Bill appears to be rooted in a concern “that a generous education benefit would persuade soldiers and Marines ending their tours to pursue an education rather than reenlist in the overstretched military.” “He’s the odd man out,” VoteVets chairman Jon Soltz said of McCain. “You have 55 co-sponsors on this bill, and he’s not one of them. He has to lead or follow.”

A bipartisan group of Senate lawmakers is pressing the Justice Department to investigate Rep. Don Young’s (R-AK) 2005 earmark for a highway project that benefited his campaign contributors. The provisions of the $10 million earmark “were mysteriously altered” by Young “after Congress gave final approval to a huge 2005 highway funding bill.”

Federal budget cuts have reduced the ability of nuclear weapons laboratories “to carry out scientific research needed to ensure the reliability of the nation’s nuclear arsenal in future years.” George Miller — director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory — told the Washington Post yesterday that science is being squeezed out.”

Government documents reveal that the Bush administration may “remove Sudan from an American list of state supporters of terrorism and normalize relations if the Sudanese government agreed, among other steps, to allow Thai and Nepalese peacekeepers in its Darfur region.”

In a clash with the Senate yesterday, the White House “threatened to block a war-funding measure if it contains billions in domestic spending.” The Bush administration is demanding that Congress provide a $108 billion emergency war funding bill by Memorial Day without domestic funds. Lawmakers say the domestic priorities are needed for “road projects and water-system improvements.”

“U.S. forces in Baghdad hope to turn over responsibility for security in most of the Iraqi capital to Iraqi forces in about a year,” according to Colonel Allen Batschelet, chief of staff for the American military in Baghdad. He said the military expected to set up an “overwatch” arrangement — “under which they withdraw from day-to-day patrolling, but keep rapid response forces nearby in case they are needed” — by spring 2009.

And finally: Yesterday, Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) chaired a two-hour Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Iraq war, in an attempt to silence people who are saying he is too old for the job. Byrd showed up “on time in a crisp suit and displaying a broad smile while an aide wheeled him into the room.”

What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.




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84 Responses to “ThinkFast: April 17, 2008”

  1. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Four Hundred Scientists Conclude Changes in Farming Necessary to Avert Potential Mass Starvation and Global Climate Change.

    Sixty countries backed by the World Bank and most UN bodies yesterday called for radical changes in world farming to avert regional food shortages, escalating prices and growing environmental problems.

    The report - which took four years to complete, painted a grim picture:

    The authors say the world produces enough food for everyone, yet more than 800 million people go hungry. “Rising populations and incomes will intensify food demand, especially for meat and milk which will compete for land with crops, as will biofuels…Conflict over control of the world’s dwindling natural resources presents a major political and social challenge to governments, likely to reach crisis status as climate change advances and world population expands from 6.7 billion to 9.2 billion by 2050.”

    Robert Watson, chief scientist at the UK Department for Environment said…

    “Continuing with current trends would mean the earth’s haves and have-nots splitting further apart,” he said. ” It would leave us facing a world nobody would want to inhabit…”

    Full article, unedited at:
    http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/16/8327/


  2. barfly Says:

    45 killed in Iraq suicide bombing

    A suicide bomber struck the funeral of two anti-al-Qaida Sunni tribesmen in a town north of Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, police said.

    The blast was the latest attack in Iraq’s Sunni areas after a period of relative calm that was broken this week, raising concerns that Sunni insurgents are reorganizing.

    Over the past months, violence has dropped with the increase in U.S. troops and the growth of so-called Awakening Councils, groups of Sunni tribesmen who joined American forces in fighting al-Qaida-linked militants.

    The suicide bomber detonated his explosives in the town of Albu Mohammed, 90 miles north of Baghdad, during the funeral of two brothers who belonged to the local Awakening Council. The brothers were slain a day earlier, police in the nearby city of Kirkuk said.

    At least 45 people were killed in the blast, the police officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media. The blast was the single deadliest attack since March 6, when a bombing in central Baghdad killed 68.


  3. Freedom Rebel Says:

    ATTENTION ABC: You Are Hurting America

    An hour into the latest Democratic Debate and overwhelmingly, the consensus is that ABC is doing a fine job… of completely ignoring the issues that concern Americans and focusing on minutia that is hurting the race, the Democratic party and the American electoral process.
    There are now well over 10,000 complaints……

    I am disappointed that ABC would pick George Stephanopoulos, there is a clear conflict of interest. The debate was like watching a cross between Jerry Springer and a Tabloid News show. The only difference was no one threw a chair. To waste time over Flag Pins and irrelevant issues is two hours I want back. For the viewers who are undecided, this should have been a great opportunity for the candidates to discuss how they would solve many of America’s problems. Instead, ABC choose to insult our intelligence and shine a negative light on Democrats. ABC should be ashamed that they have lowered their standards to the level of Fox News.


  4. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Plants ‘thrive’ on Moon rock diet
    Scientists with the European Space Agency say the day when flowers bloom on the Moon has come closer.

    An Esa-linked team has shown that marigolds can grow in crushed rock very like the lunar surface, with no need for plant food. Some see growing plants on the Moon as a step towards human habitation.

    “We would bring a system of water circulation and recovery, which is also the type of system that in any case you want to develop when you are going to manufacture a primitive sort of life support system,” said Bernard Foing, a senior scientist with the European Space Research.

    A team led by the National Academy of Sciences in Kiev planted marigolds in crushed anorthosite, a type of rock found on Earth which is very similar to much of the lunar surface.

    Dr Foing, who presented the study at the EGU meeting, said there was no reason in principle why the same idea could not bear fruit on the Moon itself. Tools could crush lunar rock and add bacteria and seeds.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 2/ hi/ science/ nature/ 7351437.stm

    ** When farming fails on planet Earth this may Plan B.


  5. misshusseinmolly Says:

    I was alarmed to read that a Colorado man had been arrested for merely making “comments” to Cheney regarding the war in Iraq. Naturally, I read the linked article to see if I could find out what those comments were (unless the comments included some threat of bodily harm to the Vice President, I couldn’t understand why an arrest was in order). That article said nothing.

    Here’s a little more information:
    http://www.rockymountainnews.com/ drmn/ local/ article/ 0,1299,DRMN_15_5039230,00.html

    Apparently, criticizing the Vice President to his face is now a criminal offense. Another freedom down the drain…


  6. Wayne Says:

    2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    ** When farming fails on planet Earth this may Plan B.

    That lack of atmosphere thing kinda makes that impractical.


  7. RantingTommy Says:

    The land of the free and home of the brave has become the land of the surveilled and the home of the cowering republican sissies.


  8. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Deal Reached on Iraqi Oil Theft Law?

    WASHINGTON, April 16 (UPI) — Iraq’s central and Kurdish region governments have reached a deal on an oil law, including a method for weighing the validity of the oil deals the Kurds have signed with foreign firms, the top government spokesman told United Press International.

    “There is an understanding between the central government and the regional government for the oil law,” Dabbagh said in a telephone interview from Brussels.

    The oil law and oil deals have been a source of contention in Iraq’s political and civil society. The oil law has seen many versions and incarnations, each with steadfast supporters and opponents.

    Dabbagh said the agreement is on the version of the oil law approved by key KRG and central government leaders in February 2007. But the deal was foiled by an Oil Ministry decision to classify Iraq’s discovered oil fields and exploration blocks.

    “This is going to be reviewed and is going to be checked whether they are workable with the new law or not,” he said. “If not they should be amended in order to have them matching with the new regulation of the oil law.”

    Full unedited story at:
    http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/32791


  9. robertoroberto Says:

    Anyone else shocked by the treatment former President Jimmy Carter is getting for meeting with Hamas leaders? Is it so reprehensible to build bridges rather than tear them down? Personally, i think the former President should be applauded for his courage and intent.


  10. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Wayne Says:
    2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    ** When farming fails on planet Earth this may Plan B.

    That lack of atmosphere thing kinda makes that impractical.
    —————–
    I believe the plants will be grown in a protective enclosure (which of course will have to be constructed).


  11. Wayne Says:

    misshusseinmolly Says:

    Apparently, criticizing the Vice President to his face is now a criminal offense. Another freedom down the drain…

    If telling Cheney his actions “are reprehensible” is enough to warrant arrest, quite a few of us should be looking for a knock at the door. Me included.

    Cheney, go Cheney yourself.


  12. barfly Says:

    Apparently, criticizing the Vice President to his face is now a criminal offense. Another freedom down the drain…

    How will Imperial Cheney survive, after the elections? The poor man have become accustomed to the exercise of unbridled political power, and will have little to console himself with, other than struggles for dominance inside his homeowners’ association.


  13. McWars Says:

    The insane energy prices are boosting food prices because of transportation costs. I don’t believe it’s a supply-and-demand issue right now as it is a severe problem with routing the existing supply to where it’s needed.

    Food prices are apt to rise in the future, even after the energy mess is resolved, solely on the basis of rising populations and income around the world, but that’s where we can launch a preemptive strike and return to a locally-grown boom — crops, cattle, etc. And it’s time to stop any kind of food-to-fuel conversion.


  14. celtic cynic Says:

    “What he says doesn’t matter so much any more,” one senior European official said.”

    It never has, it never will matter what Bush said.


  15. barfly Says:

    From Freedomless’ link:

    A comic documentary, “Super High Me,” the new “Harold and Kumar” release and the mockumentary “Totally Baked” all have marketing and advertising schemes linked to April 20.

    Three days away; and have you stocked up on your party supplies?


  16. Wayne Says:

    2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    I believe the plants will be grown in a protective enclosure (which of course will have to be constructed).

    That would only work for any colony established on the surface of the moon, but for providing food for people on earth, prohibitively expensive. Unless you want to pay a few million per bushel for produce.

    We would be better off making sure our planet stays healthy enough to sustain us. Its not like all of us can just step out of a spaceship and live on the moon or Mars without living under domes.


  17. Zimzone Says:

    Yes, yes, yes, Obama can beat McWarmonger.

    Thanks, Hillary!


  18. dim wit Says:

    barfly Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    From Freedomless’ link:

    A comic documentary, “Super High Me,” the new “Harold and Kumar” release and the mockumentary “Totally Baked” all have marketing and advertising schemes linked to April 20.

    Three days away; and have you stocked up on your party supplies?

    my bong is packed, though I seriously doubt it’ll make it to 4/20


  19. McWars Says:

    We can’t even remind Cheney to brush his teeth without being locked up? What if I give him a FREE box of Crest Whitestrips?


  20. Briseadh na Faire Says:

    Delegates at a major economies climate conference in Paris criticized President Bush’s catastrophic environmental goals announced yesterday, with South Africa calling Bush’s proposals “‘disappointing’ and unambitious when many other industrialized economies are already cutting emissions.” “But Bush will be leaving office soon. What he says doesn’t matter so much any more,” one senior European official said.

    What He says does matter. Any laws, rules, or regulations He gets enacted now would have to be overturned. And with a minimum of 40 votes in the Senate, the Republican Party can ensure that nothing will get overturned. They can also use the court process to tie up any proposed administrative rules into lengthy court hearings, effectively preventing changes from taking place for years.

    So, if they set lax guidelines now, it will be near impossible to implement stronger ones to protect our environment under a new president.


  21. DieNowForPeace Says:

    my bong is packed, though I seriously doubt it’ll make it to 4/20

    LOL! Yes, 4/20 means little to those who partake daily.


  22. misshusseinmolly Says:

    Freedom Rebel Says
    April 17th, 2008 at 9:07 am
    ABC should be ashamed that they have lowered their standards to the level of Fox News.
    _________________________________________________

    Don’t put all the blame on ABC — this is a growing trend among ALL broadcast media, and is spreading to print media as well.

    Issues of concern to Americans:
    – Economy
    – Occupation of Iraq
    – Health care
    – National security
    – Corruption in government
    – Illegal immigration

    Issues of concern to the media:
    – Wearing of flag pins
    – Obama’s assessment of “bitter” Americans in small towns
    – Obama’s bowling ability
    – Hillary’s crow’s feet
    – Obama’s pastor
    – McCain’s POW past

    Naturally, the media wants Americans to be as preoccupied with trivial issues as they are, which is why we are getting far more fluff than substance (why do they think fluff gets higher ratings?). I, too, would much prefer the candidates talk about what they would do to improve our country and our way of life than spend their time sniping at each other over irrelevant points.


  23. Marie Says:

    When Obama wins the nomination and the campaign begins in earnest against John McCain - McCain will have his lunch handed to him. He is Bush redux. He is not supportive of troops, while he wants to continue war. He is dismissive of people in the troubled economy (he says a lot of their problem is “in their heads”). He has flip-flopped on too many issues; his history as a POW won’t carry him into the White House.
    All he will have in his quiver are Clinton’s remarks against Obama - he has nothing worthwhile about his own politics. Obama will win in a landslide.


  24. IgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:

    “But Bush will be leaving office soon. What he says doesn’t matter so much any more,” one senior European official said.

    Maybe not, but I am certainly concerned with what he may do before he leaves office.


  25. Marie Says:

    The debate last night was a disgusting debacle. ABC is the poster boy now for the level to which mainstream media has sunk.


  26. IgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:

    “You have 55 co-sponsors on this bill, and he’s not one of them. He has to lead or follow.”

    I’d prefer that he just get out of the way.


  27. Briseadh na Faire Says:

    Federal budget cuts have reduced the ability of nuclear weapons laboratories “to carry out scientific research needed to ensure the reliability of the nation’s nuclear arsenal in future years.” George Miller — director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory — told the Washington Post yesterday that science is being squeezed out.”

    Our national defence will henceforth be dependent upon Faith-based Nukes.


  28. McWars Says:

    misshusseinmolly

    Issues of concern to the media:
    – Wearing of flag pins
    – Obama’s assessment of “bitter” Americans in small towns
    – Obama’s bowling ability
    – Hillary’s crow’s feet
    – Obama’s pastor
    – McCain’s POW past

    In the politicadilly cafeteria, Miss Molly, Obama’s pastor looks TASTY! What a menu!


  29. Who Misspoke Today? Says:

    In a clash with the Senate yesterday, the White House “threatened to block a war-funding measure if it contains billions in domestic spending.” The Bush administration is demanding that Congress provide a $108 billion emergency war funding bill by Memorial Day without domestic funds. Lawmakers say the domestic priorities are needed for “road projects and water-system improvements.”

    Fine. Insert the domestic funds.


  30. dim wit Says:

    Federal budget cuts have reduced the ability of nuclear weapons laboratories “to carry out scientific research needed to ensure the reliability of the nation’s nuclear arsenal in future years.” George Miller — director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory — told the Washington Post yesterday that science is being squeezed out.”

    Who needs science? We’ll just pray to God they work.


  31. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Wayne Says:
    2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    I believe the plants will be grown in a protective enclosure (which of course will have to be constructed).

    That would only work for any colony established on the surface of the moon, but for providing food for people on earth, prohibitively expensive. Unless you want to pay a few million per bushel for produce.
    ———————–
    Obviously you don’t have a Star Trek-like transporter installed in your house yet.


  32. Freedom Rebel Says:

    MissMolly:

    This is what the Colorado man said to Dick:

    When he happened upon Cheney and his security detail at a mall and took the opportunity to tell him: “Your policies in Iraq are disgusting.”

    I personally don’t see anything criminal in that. He doesn’t like Cheney’s policies. Well, we all don’t like Cheney’s policies in Iraq, so technically we should all be arrested by their standards of justice. The details are on RawStory.


  33. barfly Says:

    That would only work for any colony established on the surface of the moon, but for providing food for people on earth, prohibitively expensive. Unless you want to pay a few million per bushel for produce.

    That’s if you’re dead-heading one way. Ship spent nuclear waste (after it’s been made transportable) out, bring good, wholesome food back!


  34. misshusseinmolly Says:

    McWars Says
    April 17th, 2008 at 9:39 am
    In the politicadilly cafeteria, Miss Molly, Obama’s pastor looks TASTY! What a menu!
    ___________________________________________

    Tastier than crow’s feet? And don’t forget, bitter Americans are on special today…


  35. barfly Says:

    When he happened upon Cheney and his security detail at a mall and took the opportunity to tell him: “Your policies in Iraq are disgusting.”

    Since 9/11 changed everything, Cheney was simply being prudent, and making a preemptive decision, to invade this guys’ personal life.


  36. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Freedom Rebel Says:
    ATTENTION ABC: You Are Hurting America
    —————————
    I saw many articles this morning expressing anger with ABC’s debate yesterday, which I’m sure are justified (even though I didn’t watch it).

    Where was that anger when ABC was censoring virtually every major news story for the past seven years?

    Just a few:
    - Downing Street Memos
    - Loss of Habeas Corpus
    - NSPD51 (Bush ability to declare Martial Law whenever he desires)
    - 70,000 minority voters scrubbed from Florida voter roles
    - Depleted Uranium in Iraq
    - All of our corn and soybeans Genetically Modified, no safety testing ever done
    - Net Neutraility issue
    - The Bankers literally wrote the Bankruptcy Bill

    I have 100 more!


  37. Keith Says:

    And in other news: jobless claims increased 17,000 to 372,000.


  38. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    misshusseinmolly Says:
    Apparently, criticizing the Vice President to his face is now a criminal offense. Another freedom down the drain…

    Actually, I believe that he touched Cheney and that is mostly why he was arrested. But, it was all BS and the charges were dropped. Now he is suing Cheney and the Secret Service. And naturally a Bush activist judge has said that they can’t subpoena Cheney to testify. What has become of our justice system in America? Is it irrevocably broken?


  39. Keith Says:

    2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda, when I tell conservatives about the Downing Street Memo, they tell me it couldn’t possibly be true or else it would have been on the MainStreamMedia. It is true, the MSM is chicken$h!t.


  40. cerberus Says:

    There goes McInsane’s votes from Vets! He’s just eliminated that bloc of voters!


  41. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    barfly Says:
    How will Imperial Cheney survive, after the elections? The poor man have become accustomed to the exercise of unbridled political power, and will have little to console himself with, other than struggles for dominance inside his homeowners’ association.

    This is why Cheney wants to have his Secret Service protection extended beyond what is given to ex Vice Presidents. He knows that he will not be able to show his face in public without facing scorn and anger.


  42. cerberus Says:

    Re: Cheney Lawsuit. Since the judge’s relationship with Cheney is incestuous, nothing legitimate can be done UNTIL the Dems take office and then the charges will fly, investigations will be conducted, and indictments issued.

    Investigate, Impeach, Incarcerate

    And what’s this load of bull being espoused by Repukes that impeachment will take precious time away from other things?

    What other things can trump impeachment in terms of the people of this country making a statement against the tyranny of the Bush administration? This would have internationally positive effects right now. Even if these fools are out of office, impeachment proceedings will make a “moral statement” that this country does not condone the torture done by the Bush administration which violates Common Article 3, Geneva conventions on torture.

    Bush openly admitted that he approved it. Impeachment proceedings now ARE MANDATORY by the House. They are not ELECTIVE according to our constitution but, if not brought about immediately, will constitute a violation of the oath of office of EVERY member of the House of Representatives.


  43. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    McWars Says:
    misshusseinmolly

    Issues of concern to the media:
    – Wearing of flag pins
    – Obama’s assessment of “bitter” Americans in small towns
    – Obama’s bowling ability
    – Hillary’s crow’s feet
    – Obama’s pastor
    – McCain’s POW past
    ————————-
    Hate to say it but even our small progressive radio and t.v. media is failing us. They’ve fallen into the trap of reporting on superficial personality issues and he said/she said.


  44. cerberus Says:

    And once the Dems take office, this judge will also be investigated for abrogation of his oath of office as well.


  45. And the beat goes on Says:

    A Trillion Dollar Rescue for Wall Street Gamblers
    Source: Counter Punch - MICHAEL HUDSON

    If the move to a Unitary Executive of unfettered presidential power frightens you, America’s radical right turn to Unitary Finance should compound your fears–and your debts as well. The financial events of the last two weeks of March 2008 demonstrate that the “economic royalists” and “money changers” whom Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) drove from the temple of finance have returned to mismanage our economy into dire straights of unprecedented risk–debt creation, euphemized as “leveraging” and “wealth creation.”

    The few checks and balances that remain in the way of the financial sector’s increasingly centralized planning, especially at the state level, are being swept aside under the guise of “saving the system.”

    Read the rest of the article at:
    http://blacklistednews.com/view.asp?ID=6243

    **There will be little, if any, help for the average middle class person under this regime. I truly hope the FIRST thing a new president (if there is one) works on is restoring the middle class and regulating these greedy bastards who refuse to regulate themselves.


  46. cerberus Says:

    Barfly: Dick Cheney will become a pariah in this country. He’s already reviled and repudiated by the majority of the people. He’ll have to go into exile at his nearest Cardiac Unit I suspect.


  47. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Keith Says:
    2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda, when I tell conservatives about the Downing Street Memo, they tell me it couldn’t possibly be true or else it would have been on the MainStreamMedia. It is true, the MSM is chicken$h!t.
    —————————
    When I ask people about the DSM I get a blank stare. 99% of those I talk to never heard of it.


  48. cerberus Says:

    and the beat goes on: This is precisely what the fascists in the white house need to move this country from a democracy - no middle class at all. It’s all part of Bush’s scheme to destroy this democracy.


  49. Zimzone Says:

    Cheney…season opens January 21st, 2009.


  50. cerberus Says:

    #48 The Downing Street Memo will be the ’smoking gun’ to impeach Bush coupled with his overt violation of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions when the Hague investigations begin. He can run but he can’t hide from the contents of this memo and his own admission of approving torture. I’d say his goose is cooked.


  51. Doc Rock Says:

    ” A federal judge denied a request to subpoena Vice President Cheney in a lawsuit filed by a Colorado man ” — how Kafkaesque!


  52. Keith Says:

    What’s the DSM?


  53. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    And the beat goes on Says:
    A Trillion Dollar Rescue for Wall Street Gamblers
    Source: Counter Punch - MICHAEL HUDSON
    ———————

    The cure for the ills of deregulation is MORE DEREGULATION.

    What brilliance!

    With a grasp of logic like that I should be receving my degree of Economics from the Univ. of Chicago in the mail any day now!


  54. cerberus Says:

    zimzone: Let’s begin an official countdown to the US “block party” where the people will be dancing in the streets.


  55. Keith Says:

    I just realized : Downing Street Memo. Sorry , lack of sleep.


  56. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Keith Says:
    What’s the DSM?
    ——————
    Downing Street Memo


  57. cerberus Says:

    It’s amazing to me how much time and energy The Federalists and the NeoFascists have put into their diabolical coup on this democracy. In January there will be massive round up of the provocateurs, culprits, and co-conspirators against this country….beginning with this administration and working down.


  58. cerberus Says:

    Score another one for The Master of Evil, Dick! He gets away with shooting his friend in the face and now eludes these charges. This judge should be disbarred immediately.


  59. Zimzone Says:

    DSM = Dumb Shit Media

    Cerebrus, agreed. I’m not celebrating 4/20/08, but will be ready to howl at the moon on 1/20/09!


  60. Doc Rock Says:

    The credit crisis for students is good! The sons and daughters of the rich will have significantly less competition for the best universities and colleges and will, consequently, have even greater opportunity for and access to the best, most important, and rewarding careers! Then we will know better who our “betters” are and respect them and their class appropriately! The Cheney-Bush-Reagan vision lives!


  61. Keith Says:

    How come no one cares who forged the “Niger Documents”? How did it get into Bush’s State of the Union 11 months after it was known to be a forgery? Why doesn’t the media care about that?


  62. Doc Rock Says:

    If Cheney-Bush vetoes the emergency war funding, my response would be, “So?” And let it end there. Bring home the troops and keep home the treasury. Eliminate the deficits and pay down the national debt.


  63. Keith Says:

    Zimzone, you celebrate Hitler’s birthday? :)


  64. Freedom Rebel Says:

    #23 Miss Molly

    I agree all broadcasting has lowered their standards. But since ABC was hosting the debates I was hoping they would rise to the occasion. Well, that was a big mistake on my part. I would have loved to see them discuss the issues you mentioned. There are too many undecided voters out there and what a waste of an opportunity for them to make a critical descision.

    I think part of the problem that they have gone to Fluff News is, look at how many hits on google over Spitizer Scandal, Brittany having a meltdown, and the list goes on. It’s a tradegy they are turning into tabloid reporting just to get their ratings up.


  65. barfly Says:

    Former-Senator Jim Nussle of Iowa, now Bush budget director, is on C-Span at a war funding hearing, (badly) tap dancing around the issue. Lending of reconstruction funds is discussed, and he’s being asked about tax-payer reimbersement. He’s asked if we should be able to recover taxpayer funds; he agrees. The democratic senators are saying they will be pushing for direct reimbersement through the war spending appropriation bill. Thad Cochran is being a tool, parroting stale GOP talking points.


  66. barfly Says:

    Someone just made the point that $64 million dollars was spent in Iraq, while the hearing was going on.


  67. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Keith Says:
    How come no one cares who forged the “Niger Documents”? How did it get into Bush’s State of the Union 11 months after it was known to be a forgery? Why doesn’t the media care about that?
    ——————————–
    Can you just imagine if the Downing St. memos and the Niger Documents came out during an Obama Presidency!!??

    The corporate news networks would have 24/7 coverage with no commerical interruptions for at least a month.

    Every AM radio station propagandist would be shouting for impeachment and hanging. Every person in America would know every word in the documents.

    But those documents indicted a Republican/Corporate/Fascist President so it’s as if they don’t exist.

    Ah…how the media creates our reality, it’s quite amazing isn’t it?


  68. Freedom Rebel Says:

    #37 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Where was that anger when ABC was censoring virtually every major news story for the past seven years?

    Because many Americans have become to complacent. They have concluded they can’t do anything about it. What they don’t realize is they truly can, with petitions, emails, grassroots organizations and many other options.

    I couldn’t agree with you more, not just anger, but outright indignation. For ABC to think that the public is not interested in these very important news stories. I admit there was a time I was complacent, but I had my own battles with my local school system to comply with educating children with disabilities properly that took up much of my time. That is no excuse though. I realized there were many other problems that needed to be addressed outside of my own city.


  69. Fred Says:

    Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
    What has become of our justice system in America? Is it irrevocably broken?

    I think our justice system was broken before the bush admin.

    80% of people in prison are there for non-violent drug convictions.
    We have more people in prison than the whole rest of the world combined, including China and Russia.
    We are executing innocent people.
    People with money get away with murder in this country.
    etc.

    That being said, I would say that our justice system is even more disfuncitional since bush and his efforts to use the doj for political hits and getting away with it due to his judicial appointees ruling against the people and in favor of the “unitary president”


  70. Fred Says:

    Keith Says:
    And in other news: jobless claims increased 17,000 to 372,000.

    I was aware that jobless claims had jumped but this is staggering if true.


  71. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    cerberus Says:
    And once the Dems take office, this judge will also be investigated for abrogation of his oath of office as well.

    BWAHAHAHA! Good one, cerberus.


  72. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Freedom Rebel Says:
    #37 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Where was that anger when ABC was censoring virtually every major news story for the past seven years?

    Because many Americans have become to complacent. They have concluded they can’t do anything about it. What they don’t realize is they truly can, with petitions, emails, grassroots organizations and many other options.
    —————————
    I’ve learned you really can’t convince other people of things they’re not willing to accept. You’re only responsible for your own behavior.

    So I stop buying products from their advertisers. I write a letter. I make a phone call. If everybody did the same the problem would be resolved. People only usually act when they feel sufficient pain. Problem is, by then, it’s usually too late.


  73. Wayne Says:

    Marie Says:

    The debate last night was a disgusting debacle. ABC is the poster boy now for the level to which mainstream media has sunk.

    It was more like a neocon circle jerk than a debate.

    I had to turn it off.


  74. Keith Says:

    By MARTIN CRUTSINGER (AP Economics Writer)
    From Associated Press
    April 17, 2008 7:52 AM EDT
    WASHINGTON - The number of newly laid off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits last week increased by more than had been expected, reflecting pressure from the weak economy.

    The Labor Department said Thursday that applications for unemployment benefits rose to 372,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week. That was higher than the gain of 12,000 that many economists had expected.


  75. misshusseinmolly Says:

    Wayne Says
    April 17th, 2008 at 10:46 am
    It was more like a neocon circle jerk than a debate.
    I had to turn it off.
    ___________________________________________

    This is EXACTLY why Democratic candidates have been reluctant to debate on Fox News — everybody knows this is what a Fox News Democratic debate would look like.

    Now ABC can be added to the list of “pointless places to waste your time if you’re a candidate.”


  76. L. Hussein Annie Says:

    It’s bread and circuses, people.

    It makes me so angry I could just …spit.


  77. Freedom Rebel Says:

    #73 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    So I stop buying products from their advertisers. I write a letter. I make a phone call. If everybody did the same the problem would be resolved. People only usually act when they feel sufficient pain. Problem is, by then, it’s usually too late.

    You are so right.. Unless it personally effects them most will not lift a finger. Thank you for all your great posts, I truly appreciate them.


  78. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    Briseadh na Faire Says:

    So, if they set lax guidelines now, it will be near impossible to implement stronger ones to protect our environment under a new president.
    ______________________

    Oh nonsense, BnF. The principle of the all-powerful unitary executive has been firmly established. President Obama needs merely to issue signing statements.

    Snark/off…


  79. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    misshusseinmolly Says:

    Now ABC can be added to the list of “pointless places to waste your time if you’re a candidate.”
    __________________

    Have we all forgotten that ABC is also the outfit that put Cyrus Nowasteh’s masterpiece, “The Path to 9/11″ on the airwaves?


  80. RUCerious Says:

    “But Bush will be leaving office soon. What he says doesn’t matter so much any more,” one senior European official said.

    Irrelevant George.

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Q!


  81. RUCerious Says:

    George Miller — director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory — told the Washington Post yesterday that science is being squeezed out.”

    OMG, I hope they’re not going with faith based nukes?


  82. RUCerious Says:

    ABC should rename itself MMM

    MediaMinutiaMasturbation


  83. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Freedom Rebel Says:
    #73 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    So I stop buying products from their advertisers. I write a letter. I make a phone call. If everybody did the same the problem would be resolved. People only usually act when they feel sufficient pain. Problem is, by then, it’s usually too late.

    You are so right.. Unless it personally effects them most will not lift a finger. Thank you for all your great posts, I truly appreciate them
    ———————-
    You’re welcome.


  84. jgrant@goldfeinlaw.com Says:

    Out of my cold dead hands ,says it all for me. These rural gun toting- bible loving- race hating if your different from me bitterly angry white folks do cling to this crap as if those issues will put food on their tables . Or help pay a doctor bill , or even give their kid a good education . Why else would we have 8 years of an idiot for president and may get another elitist in regular man clothes touting gun loving -
    values doublespeak that they fall for.

    I ask you?
    — Jacqueline, Philadelphia, PA


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