Think Progress

ThinkFast: June 20, 2008

By Think Progress on Jun 20th, 2008 at 9:01 am

ThinkFast: June 20, 2008


f16.jpg

“Israel carried out a major military exercise earlier this month that American officials say appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Several American officials said the Israeli exercise appeared to be an effort to develop the military’s capacity to carry out long-range strikes.”

While House Democrats are “eagerly preparing” for testimony from former White House spokesman Scott McClellan today, “Republicans seem unsure of how to handle the president’s unlikely critic.” Members of both parties “fully expect the hearing to extend far beyond the leak of a CIA agent’s name and delve fully into McClellan’s charges” about the Iraq war.

Yesterday, the House passed, “by a wide margin,” a “bill to enhance parental leave benefits for federal employees.” “Under the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, federal and congressional employees would receive four weeks of paid parental leave after birth or adoption, or taking in a foster a child.” The White House has threatened to veto the bill.

Responding to an ABC News/Washington Times investigation, “the Veterans Administration plans to inform 32,000 veterans that they are using a drug linked to suicide or violent behavior.” The ABC/Times investigation revealed that the VA waited three months to notify Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans in a VA experiment of the possible side effects from the anti-smoking drug Chantix.

On the trail today: Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will meet with Democratic governors in Chicago and then travel south to attend a fundraiser in Jacksonville, FL. Sen. John McCain will address “an elite business gathering” at the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa, Canada.

As the Bush administration approaches its end, “Vice President Dick Cheney has won his battle to withhold records from the public.” “He has managed to stonewall everyone,” said House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA). “I’m not sure there’s anything we can do.”

The “dirty truth about clean coal” is that it is “more a catchphrase than a reality,” writes BusinessWeek. “Despite the eagerness of the coal and power industries to sanitize their image and the desire of U.S. politicians to push a healthy-sounding alternative to expensive foreign oil and natural gas, clean coal is still a misnomer.”

In a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates yesterday, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) sought assurance that the Pentagon “is taking action to prevent accidental electrocutions among U.S. troops in Iraq.” In January, one of Casey’s constituents, Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth died of cardiac arrest “after being electrocuted while showering at his barracks in Baghdad.” At least 11 other troops have also been electrocuted.

A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that “more than 27,000 nursing homes, hospitals, physicians” and other Medicare providers “flouted the tax system while collecting Medicare fees in 2006.” One nursing home operator “filed $15 million in Medicare claims while owing $7 million in unpaid taxes” and using a charity to buy luxury cars for the owner’s personal use.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State “filed a federal lawsuit Thursday asking that South Carolina not be allowed to produce license plates that feature a Christian cross with the phrase ‘I Believe.’” Approval of the plate “was a clear signal that Christianity is the preferred religion of South Carolina,” said the group’s director.

And finally: Last week, “baby-faced lawmaker” Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL) “was seen with a brand-new, well-groomed mustache and goatee.” He explained to The Hill that over the recess, he “went fishing a couple of days and decided to let the facial hair that would grow, grow.” He added that his daughter has taken to calling him “Captain Jack” from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and with the goatee, he no longer gets carded.




Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date

114 Responses to “ThinkFast: June 20, 2008”

  1. Freedom Rebel Says:

    Attorneys general back federal media shield bill

    More than two-thirds of state attorneys general now back the right of reporters to withhold the identity of their sources in most federal court cases. The Newspaper Association of America said Thursday that 37 attorneys general have signed a letter to Senate leaders in support of a media shield bill.

    "By affording some degree of protection against the compelled disclosure of a reporter's confidential sources, these state laws advance a public policy favoring the free flow of information to the public," the attorneys general wrote to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. A media shield bill won passage overwhelmingly in the House in October, after a similar measure cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee.

    Yet it faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where there is strong opposition from some Republicans. The White House has threatened to veto the legislation, arguing it would encourage leaks of classified information. The Bush administration says the measure would make it virtually impossible to enforce federal laws governing leaks and that the bill's definition of a journalist is too broad.

    http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/Attorneys_general_back_federal_medi_06192008.html

    Bush, where was all this concern over the Valerie Plame leak of classified information? Oh that’s right! On July 2, 2007, President Bush commuted Libby's jail sentence, effectively erasing the 30 months he was supposed to spend in jail. Karl Rove works for Fox News without so much as an indictment for his involvement. Spare us your bogus concern and disingenuous enforcement of federal laws.


  2. Freedom Rebel Says:

    Health Care and Ghosts of War

    Speaking in a time of war, Martin Luther King Jr. said: “Somehow this madness must cease.” Forty-one years later, young soldiers are returning to the United States from terrifying zones of carnage. The old claims of a justified war have melted away. So have the promises of a humane society back home.

    “The shocking facts about health care in the United States are well known,” Yes! Magazine noted in the autumn of 2006. “There’s little argument that the system is broken. What’s not well known is that the dialogue about fixing the health care system is just as broken.” That’s an apt description. For all the media focus and political rhetoric on health care, the mainline discourse is stuck in a corporate-friendly rut. But there are signs that a movement for a rational, humanistic health care system in this country is now gaining strength. There’s a lot of profit in death. Under the guise of national security. And under the guise of health care.

    Today, across the United States, people are dying because they don’t have access to health care. But policy solutions are available. In Congress, about 90 co-sponsors are backing H.R. 676, a bill to provide “comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents.” Call it whatever you like — “single payer” or “improved Medicare for all” or “universal health care with choice of providers and no financial barriers.” What it adds up to is the policy option of treating health care as the human right that it is.

    “Any group that proposes reform policy that maintains the use of for-profit insurance companies in a so-called free market is being driven by one single motive — to protect the golden coffers of their share of the $2 trillion cash cow!” Dr. White adds: “To continue down this road is paramount to suggesting that we privatize our fire and police services and turn them into for-profit organizations. You do that and people will die — just like they are dying now under our current health care system!”

    http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/9/9739/

    Our government has been bought and paid for by Corporations to look out for their best interest not ours. When these companies find it cheaper to pay the fines then clean up the toxins they dump in our water, land and air, our government fails to protect us. The Health Care Industry and Insurance Companies profit from this, our government does nothing to intervene or change it’s current rhetoric, while the poor and uninsured pay the ultimate price. (Check out H.R. 676 this will truly help)


  3. unbelievable Says:

    While House Democrats are “eagerly preparing” for testimony from former White House spokesman Scott McClellan’s testimony the House Judiciary Committee today, “Republicans seem unsure of how to handle the president’s unlikely critic.” Members of both parties “fully expect the hearing to extend far beyond the leak of a CIA agent’s name and delve fully into McClellan’s charges” about the Iraq war.

    I read an article at Buzzflash about European Nations preparing war crime documents against the Bush administration, and that Georgie better have enjoyed his last visit to Europe, as his next might not be as pleasurable.


  4. Wayne Says:

    House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA). “I’m not sure there’s anything we can do.”

    OY, its not like impeachment is an option......

    WTF is wrong with these f_ckwits?


  5. Freedom Rebel Says:

    2 Wall Street execs first to face charges for sub-prime chaos

    With their arrest Thursday on a nine-count indictment, two former investment fund managers for banking titan Bear Stearns are now the public face of the nation's mortgage finance meltdown. FBI agents made the first high-level arrests of Wall Street executives in connection with the nation's sub-prime meltdown, parading the handcuffed fund managers in front of cameras as the sun came up over Manhattan.

    The U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn brought the securities and wire fraud charges against Ralph Cioffi, 52, and Matthew Tannin, 46, respectively the founder of two Bear Stearns hedge funds for ultra wealthy investors and the funds' manager. The two were also charged with conspiracy, and the Securities and Exchange Commission brought civil charges against the pair Thursday.

    The indictment alleges the two deceived investors into believing the hedge funds, which held special mortgage bonds that were backed with now-toxic sub-prime home loans, were healthy when they knew clearly they were not. The end result was that well-heeled investors like the one described in the indictment, Major Investor #1, collectively lost more than $1.5 billion.

    Despite that assessment, the pair allegedly told investors the market downturn was an "awesome opportunity" to buy, when in fact Cioffi transferred $2 million of his own money out of the fund, allegedly without disclosing that to investors who believed the pair had their own money at stake, too. Although the case involves rich investors losing big sums, it has a great importance for ordinary Americans. It's a milepost in an unfolding national saga.

    http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/41660.html

    These deceitful scheming low life’s are starting to get what their actions warrant, public humiliation. And this is just the beginning, hopeful they will get a nice extended stay at Ricker’s Island. With three squares a day and a 350 lb roommate with a nickname Blade. Keep the indictments rolling; there are many more that deserve to be dragged off in handcuffs.


  6. upside99 Says:

    I can almost see the twitching going on as the Repugs try to establish their disaster recovery program in the wake of Scotty's testimony today.

    This is gonna be F U N !!


  7. Zimzone Says:

    Sen. John McCain will address “an elite business gathering” at the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa, Canada.

    Is McCrash an 'Elitist'?

    Hmmm, married to a rich heiress, develops a tax plan that would benefit him by over $300K a year, holds $1,000 a plate 'dinners', supports big oil drilling, was against GI benefits, and supports Telcom immunity.

    That's no maverick, folks, that's an ELITIST.


  8. unbelievable Says:

    Americans United for Separation of Church and State “filed a federal lawsuit Thursday asking that South Carolina not be allowed to produce license plates that feature a Christian cross with the phrase ‘I Believe.’” Approval of the plate “was a clear signal that Christianity is the preferred religion of South Carolina,” said the group’s director.

    A Supreme Court ruling on the religious jargon in the pledge and on our money is due prior to July 7th as well.

    There are more Atheists in America than Jewish people in the world. We are a growing presence in America that needs to have EQUAL freedom from religion as all religious people have freedom of religion.


  9. unbelievable Says:

    Travel Advisory

    http://www.tnr.com/toc/story.html?id=597957fd-6bbf-4d02-b29f-3dbd35176038

    Is it likely that prosecutions will be brought overseas? Yes. It is reasonably likely. Sands's book contains an interview with an investigating magistrate in a European nation, which he describes as a NATO nation with a solidly pro-American orientation which supported U.S. engagement in Iraq with its own soldiers. The magistrate makes clear that he is already assembling a case, and is focused on American policymakers. I read these remarks and they seemed very familiar to me. In the past two years, I have spoken with two investigating magistrates in two different European nations, both pro-Iraq war NATO allies. Both were assembling war crimes charges against a small group of Bush administration officials. "You can rest assured that no charges will be brought before January 20, 2009," one told me. And after that? "It depends. We don't expect extradition. But if one of the targets lands on our territory or on the territory of one of our cooperating jurisdictions, then we'll be prepared to act."

    Viewed in this light, the Bush Administration figures involved in the formation of torture policy face no immediate threat of prosecution for war crimes. But Colin Powell's chief of staff, Colonel Larry Wilkerson, nails it: "Haynes, Feith, Yoo, Bybee, Gonzales and--at the apex--Addington, should never travel outside the U.S., except perhaps to Saudi Arabia and Israel. They broke the law; they violated their professional ethical code. In the future, some government may build the case necessary to prosecute them in a foreign court, or in an international court." Augusto Pinochet made a trip to London, and his life was never the same afterwards.

    The Bush administration officials who pushed torture will need to be careful about their travel plans.

    New York attorney Scott Horton teaches at Columbia Law School.


  10. Wayne Says:

    unbelievable Says:
    I read an article at Buzzflash about European Nations preparing war crime documents against the Bush administration, and that Georgie better have enjoyed his last visit to Europe, as his next might not be as pleasurable.

    It may have to be the Europeans that have to actually bring Bushco to justice, since the Democratic Leadership seems intent on shielding Bush.

    With Nancy Pelosi, why do we need Republicans?
    She seems to be the best Republican Speaker yet.
    And Reid is just plain useless.


  11. Dumb_Hussein_Fox Says:

    McCain advisor Doug Holz-Eakin confirms McCain supports Social Security privatization:

    "...he did accept that [McCain's] plan would bear some resemblance to Mr Bush's proposal to partially privatise social security..."

    Important enough for the EmmmEsssEmmm not to cover, of course.


  12. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    Responding to an ABC News/Washington Times investigation, “the Veterans Administration plans to inform 32,000 veterans that they are using a drug linked to suicide or violent behavior.”

    The fact that the Veterans Admin doctors prescribed a drug and didn't tell their patients what the possible side effects were is criminal. If I was one of the patients who received this drug without the proper warnings, I would sue the VA.


  13. unbelievable Says:

    Wayne Says: WTF is wrong with these f_ckwits?

    Hard to say, but sometimes I have a feeling it's a matter of us having elected people who only became politicians because they weren't qualified to actually do anything else...

    I am hoping Obama will set a new precident of elected officials who actually have the grey matter to make solid decisions, as well as the backbone to make it happen. I really hope he picks John Edwards as AG. We know he'll pursue justice.


  14. BearCountry Says:

    st. john is criticizing Obama for opting out of the public funding of candidates. st. john uses that funding as a way to guarantee loans, then opt out. He is now so far behind in campaign funding that he is desparately trying to limit Obama's spending. Obama will crush him in spending for advertising and, since Obama has a strong base, the advertising should help him greatly.


  15. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    “He has managed to stonewall everyone,” said House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA). “I’m not sure there’s anything we can do.”

    There are plenty of things they could have done, they just chose not to. I have frequently heard Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law professor who is often on Countdown, tell Keith what our Congress could do to make them follow the law. The first would be to find him in Contempt of Congress and the second would be to use Inherent Contempt to compel him to do what he was told to do.


  16. Frosty Cupcake Says:

    What else?

    Isn't the House set to vote today on the Telecom Immunity bill?

    I'm going to check...


  17. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    In January, one of Casey’s constituents, Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth died of cardiac arrest “after being electrocuted while showering at his barracks in Baghdad.” At least 11 other troops have also been electrocuted.

    This is criminal and whomever is responsible should be prosecuted. But of course this is just an "oops" to the Bush Crime Family. I'm betting that the contractor (I believe it was KBR) has suffered no consequences for causing these deaths.


  18. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    I read an article at Buzzflash about European Nations preparing war crime documents against the Bush administration, and that Georgie better have enjoyed his last visit to Europe, as his next might not be as pleasurable.

    How humiliating that will be. We can't take care of the crooks who ran our government and hold them accountable. But the world outside the US will. Unbelievable!


  19. unbelievable Says:

    Wayne Says: It may have to be the Europeans that have to actually bring Bushco to justice, since the Democratic Leadership seems intent on shielding Bush.

    I still maintain that the references between Bush and Hitler are just as valid today as ever. Were it not for Bush's lack of intelligence and Cheney's greed for money over title, we might have an even bigger holocaust than we currently do. And I do consider the murder of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians a holocaust.

    With Nancy Pelosi, why do we need Republicans?
    She seems to be the best Republican Speaker yet.
    And Reid is just plain useless.

    Aside form the capitulation, they don't have the numbers to actually do much of anything (although I would have liked to see them have tried). It's the capitulation that bothers me the most. I don't understand it.


  20. misshusseinmolly Says:

    “He has managed to stonewall everyone,” said House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA). “I’m not sure there’s anything we can do.”
    ________________________________________________

    Let me help you out there, Henry. There are a few more tricks in the bag you've overlooked:

    -- Subpoena
    -- Inherent contempt
    -- Impeachment

    See -- that wasn't so hard, was it?


  21. Zimzone Says:

    America's day of shame is here.

    Hoyer, Pelosi, Reid, et al that support Telcom immunity caved in to special interests & Bush pressure.

    The Whine House may have pictures or text that those folks fear they'll release, but it doesn't matter. When you collude to hide the truth, no law or bill makes it 'OK'. Bush colluded with the Telcoms to spy on innocent American citizens. Not only is that fascist, it's illegal. ILLEGAL!

    Voters in Hoyer & Pelosi's States remember, these two can be replaced in November, just like Bush will be.

    Steny, Nancy, we're 'elephants', remember? We won't forget...


  22. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    upside99 Says:
    I can almost see the twitching going on as the Repugs try to establish their disaster recovery program in the wake of Scotty’s testimony today.
    This is gonna be F U N !!

    I'm frankly amazed that the Bush Admin is allowing him to testify. I wonder if they told Scotty if he tries to testify they would invoke EP and Scotty told them to stuff it, he was going to testify anyway. It makes no sense that they are not trying to stop him.


  23. bonzo 1958 Says:

    Tring to hide the FISA vote behind the mcclellan testimony. clyburn (SC) was on c-span this morning talking about how they were holding the administration accountable with these hearings.

    I watched and listened and found something disturbing.
    I don't know if it's just him,
    but he really does believe voters are stupid. He was telling dem callers they didn't know what they were talking about. Oh yeah and he said voting for the FISA bill won't hurt dems.

    Very condescending patronizing man.


  24. unbelievable Says:

    lock_box do you need us to give you some links to credible news sources (i.e. those that fact check)?


  25. Frosty Cupcake Says:

    OK, the FISA bill is set to be voted on in the House today.

    Please call your representative in the House (I just called mine) to urge a NO on this terrible bill. Call toll free and ask to be connected to your representative's office.

    1-800-828-0498

    From the ACLU:

    When you call say something like this:

    I am a constituent calling about H.R. 6304, the Hoyer/Bush FISA Deal. I urge you to vote "NO" because:

    1. The Hoyer/Bush FISA deal allows for mass and untargeted surveillance of Americans’ communications.
    2. The Hoyer/Bush FISA deal contains blanket immunity, virtually guaranteeing lawsuits against telecom companies will be dismissed. Ongoing lawsuits may be our last best hope of exposing the extent of illegal spying.
    3. If leadership will not lead, it is the responsibility of every lawmaker to lead on this issue. You need to do what your constituents and the American people demand. Bowing to pressure from Republicans, the White House, the telecommunications companies and even Democratic leaders is unacceptable.


  26. unbelievable Says:

    Here's an underlying reason why Obama was should have declined public funds. The Conservatives simply cannot play fair, and he will have to defend himself. Plus, I like the fact that he is beholden to the people who financed his campaign and not a lot of corporations. It's the beginning of the change we've been crying for for years.

    John Kerry: Obama's Public Financing Decision Will Enable Him To Avoid My Fate

    We like this one. To amplify its message that opting out of public financing was necessary to combat the onslaught of outside 527 ad spending that's likely to hit Obama in the months ahead, the Obama campaign has turned to the perfect messenger: John Kerry.

    On a conference call with reporters moments ago, Kerry insisted that the decision was necessary if Obama is to avoid succumbing under a barrage of such spending, as he did.

    "You know, the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth hadn't appeared in July of my year as a funded group," Kerry said. "And they were funded in August, which was the time I was tied to campaign finance reform and didn't have the money to respond. And it had an obvious, profound impact. So I think in order to control your campaign and your message, it is essential to be able to respond to those and be free to respond to them."

    Kerry's fate at the hands of the Swift Boat Vets, of course, continues to haunt Dems. So he's just the person to make this case and to make John McCain's refusal to forcefully rein in the outside groups on his side look that much more ominous.


  27. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    st. john is criticizing Obama for opting out of the public funding of candidates. st. john uses that funding as a way to guarantee loans, then opt out. He is now so far behind in campaign funding that he is desparately trying to limit Obama’s spending.

    I find it funny that he is, once again, saying he will take public financing. I don't understand why the system is such that McCain can jump in and then out of they system. I thought once you agreed, that was it.

    But, it makes sense for McCain to take public financing. That guarantees him $85 million for his campaign. He can then tell all his supporters to direct the money they would have given to his campaign to the 527's who are going to be sliming Obama.

    I also think that once you have gamed the system like McCain did by opting in, getting a loan guaranteed on that financing and then opting out, that you should not be allowed to use the system again. McCain taking public financing is not going to do what the system was intended to do. All it will do is to guarantee McCain a certain amount of money.


  28. BearCountry Says:

    w and his cronies are not particularly worried about scotty saying anything because there will be no repercussions. The criminal actions that the administration have already committed have not brought many problems to the top level (scooter's sentence was commuted). They will brush scotty off by heavier attacks ad hominem, and the MSM will accept it and move on.


  29. unbelievable Says:

    Salon's Glenn Greenwald posted the amount of money each of the major telecoms involved spent on lobbyists to curry a favorable outcome for this legislation (Telecom immunity).

    Just in the first three months of 2008, recent lobbyist disclosure statements reveal that AT&T spent $5.2 million in lobbyist fees (putting it well ahead of its 2007 pace, when it spent just over $17 million). In the first quarter of 2008, Verizon spent $4.8 million on lobbyist fees, while Comcast spent $2.6 million. So in the first three months of this year, those three telecoms -- which would be among the biggest beneficiaries of telecom amnesty (right after the White House) -- spent a combined total of almost $13 million on lobbyists. They're on pace to spend more than $50 million on lobbying this year -- just those three companies.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/20/congress-strikes-immunity_n_108231.html


  30. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    Aside form the capitulation, they don’t have the numbers to actually do much of anything (although I would have liked to see them have tried). It’s the capitulation that bothers me the most. I don’t understand it.

    That's my problem. Bush is calling the 110th congress the most do-nothing Congress ever and I have to say that I agree with him. Not because they haven't been able to pass bills due to Republican obstruction. But because they haven't even really tried. If they had fought a good fight and in the end lost, that I could forgive. But not fighting at all is unforgivable.

    They should have come up with a funding bill for Iraq that demanded withdrawal of troops and they should have stuck with it even if they were afraid that the public didn't think they were supporting the troops. That's another thing I don't get. They have the public watching their backs on most issues and yet they are still afraid to stand up to the Bush Crime Family.

    On another subject, does anyone know if the Blue Dog Democrats had anyone challenge them in primaries and did any of them lose?


  31. unbelievable Says:

    Until we stop electing rich people who are owned by even richer people to be our "representatives", we're not going to see change. We need to do everything we can to start electing people who represent us.

    We've already seen what a lot of small donations can do. The math is in our favor. It seems that we're going to have to buy back our country in $25 increments.


  32. spencers mom Says:

    FYI - Conyers and McClellan on C-SPAN 3 right now

    PEACE


  33. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    Just thought I would prepare you folks for the new right wing talking point about Obama, but it will be submitted by a supposed Obama supporter.

    Apparently Obama did a commercial to help one of the Blue Dog Democrats in his reelection bid. Glenn Greenwald at Salon wrote an article about this more or less dissing Obama for supporting this guy. It appears that particular Blue Dog is one of the ones that wants Immunity in the FISA bill. Apparently, since Obama has done a commercial for this guy, that means that Obama must secretly support Immunity for the Telcoms or it means that he is a big fat hypocrite.

    My take on it is that the DNC has decided it is more important to protect that seat than it is to punish that particular Blue Dog for his stance on the FISA bill.

    I have to say that I am rather upset with Glenn Greenwald for writing that article. I always thought he was a pretty upfront writer.


  34. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    unbelievable Says:

    lock_box do you need us to give you some links to credible news sources (i.e. those that fact check)?

    Aren't you asking a little much of a sockpuppet?


  35. Dumb_Hussein_Fox Says:

    Unbelievable @ 9

    You've got to read The Torture Team, referenced in Scott Horton's article. It absolutely pins a number of the Bush goons - Rummy, Feith, Haynes, Addington, Gonzales, Yoo, Bybee - not just for their torture advocacy, but the way they tried to make it look like it wasn't their idea.


  36. misshusseinmolly Says:

    Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says
    June 20th, 2008 at 9:34 am
    But, it makes sense for McCain to take public financing. That guarantees him $85 million for his campaign. He can then tell all his supporters to direct the money they would have given to his campaign to the 527’s who are going to be sliming Obama.
    __________________________________________________

    You just said (and probably better than I would have) exactly my feelings about Obama's decision.

    Obama and McCain have two different strategies for campaigning this season. McCain doesn't have much of a message to get out, except that he is "not Obama". And because he has already pledged to run a "clean campaign", he will rely heavily on 527 groups to do a lot of dirty work for him. Therefore, he can go the public financing route, knowing that the money that really counts for him (the 527 efforts) will be unlimited.

    Obama's efforts are going to be directed at getting his message out to as many people as possible, and he will have to spend a fair amount of money and energy refuting the smears coming from McCain's friends. He already has an awesome money-raising machine in place which will work much better for him than public financing will. It would be one thing if he abandoned public financing so he could raise money from special interests and PACs without limits, but he's not, and I can live with that.

    This is going to be one very ugly campaign, and we are going to see elements of the American psyche that we'd just as soon not think about. Racist innuendo will be constant, and doubts about Obama will be raised that no white candidate has ever had to deal with (did we ever question a white candidate's patriotism?). I don't blame Obama for taking the road that's going to be the most financially advantageous.


  37. unbelievable Says:

    Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says: That’s another thing I don’t get. They have the public watching their backs on most issues and yet they are still afraid to stand up to the Bush Crime Family.

    According to our legal system that makes them accomplices to the crime. I agree, I watch them give away billions more, without strings, and wonder what's the point in calling them Democrats...

    Is Cindy Sheehan still going to run against Pelosi?


  38. upside99 Says:

    lock_box Says:
    Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    He can then tell all his supporters to direct the money they would have given to his campaign to the 527’s

    Good thing TP’s got boy George to carry them through. Every good cheerleader needs a nice skirt!

    Can anyone translate this statement?


  39. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    #lock_box Says:
    Obama opts out of Public Financing despite being a long time Advocate

    This idiot troll needs a brain transplant. How can you "opt out" of something you were never in. Obama never agreed to take public financing, he never filled out the forms and he never got any money. McCain, on the other hand, agreed to public financing, signed the forms, got some money, used his public financing as a guarantee on a loan, and then "opted out" of the system. It's all as illegal as hell but since the commission that would look into it has less than half its seats filled (thanks to Bush), no one is doing anything about McCain.

    Obama's campaign will be financed by the public, by "we the people". McCain's campaign will be financed by a public financing handout and millions of dollars raised from corporations, pacs, lobbyists, etc, all funnelled into his 527's since McCain has a guaranteed pot of money from public financing. So which of the two are really financing their campaigns through public money?


  40. hussein toasterhead Says:

    rogerse Says:

    A young Muslim woman said she and another woman were refused seats directly behind Barack Obama — and in front of TV cameras — at a Detroit rally because they wear head scarfs.

    June 20th, 2008 at 9:45 am
    _____

    I'm glad to see you being so supportive of the right of all Americans to practice their religion however they choose. I can only hope you will continue to support this right even when it's unrelated to an Obama campaign snafu.


  41. unbelievable Says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says: Aren’t you asking a little much of a sockpuppet?

    Perhaps, since we all know that the 25%ers use their brains for storage of someone else's thoughts rather than prodution of their own.

    Still, I can't help it. I think all children deserve an education :D


  42. joe cantwell Says:

    hussein toasterhead Says:
    rogerse Says:

    A young Muslim woman said she and another woman were refused seats directly behind Barack Obama — and in front of TV cameras — at a Detroit rally because they wear head scarfs.

    June 20th, 2008 at 9:45 am
    _____

    I’m glad to see you being so supportive of the right of all Americans to practice their religion however they choose. I can only hope you will continue to support this right even when it’s unrelated to an Obama campaign snafu.

    rog also supports the house gop in their efforts to impeach dick cheney and bush!


  43. unbelievable Says:

    Jindal: Intelligent Design "The Very Best Science"

    Bobby Jindal, Louisiana Governor, exorcist, and potential McCain running mate, was interviewed on CBS's Face The Nation on Father's Day. Among the topics covered, Jindal was asked about his opinions on the debate over intelligent design's place in the public school curriculum. Jindal supports teaching intelligent design alongside evolution in the classroom, saying:

    I personally think that the life, human life and the world we live in wasn't created accidentally. I do think that there's a creator. I'm a Christian. I do think that God played a role in creating not only earth, but mankind. Now, the way that he did it, I'd certainly want my kids to be exposed to the very best science. I don't want them to be-I don't want any facts or theories or explanations to be withheld from them because of political correctness. The way we're going to have smart, intelligent kids is exposing them to the very best science and let them not only decide, but also let them contribute to that body of knowledge.

    Most scientists argue that intelligent design doesn't qualify as science.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/19/jindal-intelligent-design_n_108147.html


  44. misshusseinmolly Says:

    Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
    He can then tell all his supporters to direct the money they would have given to his campaign to the 527’s

    lock_box Says:
    Good thing TP’s got boy George to carry them through. Every good cheerleader needs a nice skirt!
    ___________________________________________________

    I think the lock_box just became unhinged. This non-sequitur makes no sense whatsoever. Maybe the troll needs to reboot.


  45. unbelievable Says:

    Dumb_Hussein_Fox Says: You’ve got to read The Torture Team, referenced in Scott Horton’s article. It absolutely pins a number of the Bush goons - Rummy, Feith, Haynes, Addington, Gonzales, Yoo, Bybee - not just for their torture advocacy, but the way they tried to make it look like it wasn’t their idea.

    If you think something is a great idea, and you are an egocentric megalomaniac, you generally want to take credit for that idea. It's how many serial killers get caught - they want credit for their 'genus'. The fact that these self-centered "people" with no sense of morality refuse to take credit for their ideas shows just how horrificly wrong they really must have been.


  46. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    35. rogerse Says:

    The thing this troll conveniently left out was the fact that Obama had nothing to do with it and when he found out what had happened, he apologized profusely to the women. What I find sad is that an Obama staffer thought it was necessary to do what they did. It wouldn't have been an issue if the right wasn't determined to tar and feather Obama as a scary Moslem terrorist who is a Manchurian Candidate.

    The most likely Manchurian Candidate we have is John McCain who was brainwashed by the Viet Cong for 5 years.


  47. unbelievable Says:

    upside99 Says:

    Good thing TP’s got boy George to carry them through. Every good cheerleader needs a nice skirt!

    Can anyone translate this statement?

    Uh, lock-box is a cheerleader who likes to wear nice skirts?


  48. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    Zimzone Says:
    America’s day of shame is here.
    Hoyer, Pelosi, Reid, et al that support Telcom immunity caved in to special interests & Bush pressure.

    I'm hoping that the Senate will save the day here. Reid is refusing to allow the Senate version back on the floor and Feingold has said he is determined that it will not be heard again before the next President takes office.

    I would almost rather that some districts go Republican than to send any of those "Blue Dogs" back to Congress. They are the ones who are responsible for this, with Hoyer and Pelosi complicit.

    Nancy Pelosi will go down in history, along with Bush, as the Worst Speaker of the House ever. It's sad. I had very high hopes for her.


  49. Frosty Cupcake Says:

    Bilbo:

    Plus the family still supports Obama.

    PS. The toll free number to the Congressional switchboard is 1-800-828-0498. Call your rep, toll free, to oppose H.R. 6304, the Hoyer/Bush FISA betrayal.

    Call. It's make you feel better.


  50. unbelievable Says:

    McCain And Obama Tied In Georgia

    A New InsiderAdvantage / PollPosition survey conducted June 18 of registered likely voters in the November presidential contest shows Sen. John McCain leading Sen. Barack Obama by a single point in Georgia, making the race in Georgia a statistical tie. Libertarian Bob Barr, a former Republican Congressman from Georgia, received 6 percent of the vote. ...

    The Results:

    McCain: 44%
    Obama: 43%
    Barr: 6%
    Undecided: 7%

    Analysis from InsiderAdvantage CEO Matt Towery:

    "As Barack Obama has become the clear presumptive nominee of his party, the race has become defined and voters appear to be taking early stands in the race.

    "Georgia is competitive for Obama for several reasons. First, it has a high African-American voting age population (VAP). Second, it has an unusually high percentage of younger voters (18-29). Both of these groups are more in the Obama camp, with black voters already at the 83 percent level and likely to climb.

    "Equally important, like its neighbor Florida, Georgia has a high percentage of voters who consider themselves independent. Obama is carrying that critical swing vote by about 10 percent in the poll.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/20/mccain-and-obama-tied-in_n_108217.html


  51. Frosty Cupcake Says:

    Bilbo:

    "Reid is refusing to allow the Senate version back on the floor"

    Really? Where did you hear that? I was pretty sure Reid was on board with the whole sorry mess.

    "and Feingold has said he is determined that it will not be heard again before the next President takes office."

    Just sent him an email (though I'm not in Wisconsin) to thank him for his efforts.


  52. votenic Says:

    Babyface? How embarrasing, and these are the people that run our country huh?
    http://www.votenic.com


  53. DRxJ Says:

    rogerse(rogerdo)

    As usual, you are a day late and a step behind.
    Obama calls women who were not allowed in seats

    In case you won't read the link, Obama called one woman and sincerely apologized, and left a message with another woman.
    I'd like to see McCain do that!
    Also, the key part of the article is that they were denied seating by Obama's volunteers, not Obama!


  54. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    unbelievable Says:
    Is Cindy Sheehan still going to run against Pelosi?

    I believe she is on the ballot as an Independent. But, as far as I can see, she isn't mounting any kind of a campaign. I think she just put her name out there hoping that a lot of people in California will vote for her just to send Nancy Pelosi a message. It just might work. I think it would be great if she won, especially without campaigning. That would be a serious message to Pelosi. If I was still living in California, I would vote for Sheehan for sure.


  55. DRxJ Says:

    Whoops, sorry Bilbo, you already addressed the issue.
    My bad!

    Oh, by the way, lock_box is the racist mucking foron who is afraid of blacks, who doesn't even have the cajones to stay with one posting name.


  56. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    Frosty Cupcake Says:
    Bilbo:
    “Reid is refusing to allow the Senate version back on the floor”

    I'm not sure where I heard it. Reid has never been for telcom immunity and he voted against the bill. But, he is still complicit because he could have held the bill the last time like he says he will do this time.

    Can you imagine how great Reid will look if he actually stands up to Bully Boy Bush? But, I fear that Bush has something on Reid the same as he has on Pelosi.


  57. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    misshusseinmolly Says:
    I think the lock_box just became unhinged. This non-sequitur makes no sense whatsoever. Maybe the troll needs to reboot.

    Phew...I'm glad that other people couldn't figure out what the stupid troll was talking about. I thought that maybe I needed more coffee because all my brain cells weren't firing. Now I know it's the trolls brain cells that are not firing.


  58. Frosty Cupcake Says:

    Bilbo:

    I hope that's true about Reid, though I can't seem to find the info online.

    Thanks. :)


  59. unbelievable Says:

    Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says: If I was still living in California, I would vote for Sheehan for sure.

    I read that the Ancient Greeks used to require that each person spend a year as a Representative in the Congress. As a result, it was true Democracy. We are not. I'd like to see more middle class and poor people given the opportunity to contribute to running our country. Then, we might make better decisions for everyone, and not just a privileged few.


  60. DRxJ Says:

    rogerse(rogerdo) Says:
    DRxJ Says:
    the apology was expected and irrelevant to what happened.and the fact that it wasn’t he himself makes it forgiveable?.

    WHAT???


  61. upside99 Says:

    rogerse Says:
    DRxJ Says:

    the apology was expected and irrelevant to what happened.and the fact that it wasn’t he himself makes it forgiveable?.

    Uhhh, Yea Rog it does, as this is the first time in 7 1/2 years that anyone in a Presidential position has owned up to any mistake. And Dubya has some HUGE ones to answer for, but we all know how that will work out.


  62. BearCountry Says:

    Bilbo, if Obama's support for the blue dog came during the GE, I would understand. This support is during the primary. There is apparently a strong Dem opponent that would be more amenable to Obama's vision. This support smacks of rahm trying to strengthen his own position in the House and getting Obama to help him. rahm has taken (and received) a lot of undeserved credit for the increase in the dem population in the House and is continuing to try to build his base.


  63. Zooey Says:

    Jeebus, rogerse. If you're going to troll, take a little pride in your work -- Punctuation! Spelling! Grammar!

    Sheesh...


  64. barfly Says:

    rogerse Says:

    the apology was expected and irrelevant to what happened.and the fact that it wasn’t he himself makes it forgiveable?.

    Please post any past responses you've made, that criticize Bush's staged events.

    Just one.


  65. upside99 Says:

    Zoo,

    Me thinks Rog is just mailing it in at this point. Knowing how November will turn out.

    We now have officially been given the third stringers to play with.


  66. Doc Rock Says:

    The White House obviously is against families if it vetoes the federal parental leave bill--or are they just sexist? Or, "Women should stay-at-home and be barefooted and pregnant? "


  67. RUCerious Says:

    Uh, Oh. Trolls will be frothing at the mouth over this one...

    FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. June 17-18, 2008. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3. LV = likely voters

    "If the 2008 presidential election were held today, would you vote for [see below]?" Names rotated

    McCain 39
    Obama 42
    Nader (I) 4
    Barr (L) 2
    Other (vol.)/Unsure 14

    Take away Nader and Barr and Obama leads 45/41

    And 6/17 Gallup tracking poll shows Obama with a five point lead 47/42.

    Look for increased howling in the morning, with occasional weeping and gnashing of teeth towards sunset.


  68. DRxJ Says:

    This is the characteristic that I like in a leader.
    Although Obama had nothing to do with the forbade sitting, he still apologized because "it was wrong and not appropriate".
    He called the offended party directly.
    Much better than "I'm the decider, so there!"


  69. Briseadh na Faire Says:

    misshusseinmolly Says:
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    “He has managed to stonewall everyone,” said House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA). “I’m not sure there’s anything we can do.”
    ________________________________________________

    Let me help you out there, Henry. There are a few more tricks in the bag you’ve overlooked:

    – Subpoena
    – Inherent contempt
    – Impeachment

    See — that wasn’t so hard, was it?

    To which I would add:

    $$$$

    If Congress doesn't fund the office of the Vice President, Dead-Eye Dick can't do....squat.

    The Democrats, in control of Congress, hence in control of the entire budget for the entire country have given Bush&Co. free reign.

    Like Unbelievable, I don't understand the capitulation. It only makes sense if you look at our two-party system in the same way as you look at "Professional Wrestling." There's all the posturing, the ranting and raving...the "show." The good guys and bad guys are interchangeable, and good guys turn bad, while bad guys turn good. And the outcome is scripted in advance.


  70. RUCerious Says:

    As the Bush administration approaches its end, “Vice President Dick Cheney has won his battle to withhold records from the public.” “He has managed to stonewall everyone,” said House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA). “I’m not sure there’s anything we can do.”

    Except IMPEACH THE BASTAHD, you gutless ninny!


  71. unbelievable Says:

    RUCerious Says: Look for increased howling in the morning, with occasional weeping and gnashing of teeth towards sunset.

    And racist ad hominem attacks...


  72. DRxJ Says:

    If republicans hate facts is here, and actually wants to discuss, I wonder what he/she thinks about this, as we all know he/she won't be voting for Obama in November:

    Obama and Hillary to campaign together


  73. barfly Says:

    And racist ad hominem attacks…

    ... dressed up as "serious" political commentary: "People are saying..."


  74. misshusseinmolly Says:

    unbelievable Says
    June 20th, 2008 at 10:15 am
    I read that the Ancient Greeks used to require that each person spend a year as a Representative in the Congress. As a result, it was true Democracy. We are not. I’d like to see more middle class and poor people given the opportunity to contribute to running our country. Then, we might make better decisions for everyone, and not just a privileged few.
    _________________________________________________

    I wonder how many people would try to get out of it, just like jury duty?

    Our legal system has become something that draws complaints from a great many people who think we should "git tougher on crime", but many of those same people dread the idea of actually serving on a jury and try to get out of it.

    I suspect that we might experience some of that with citizen lawmakers, too. But in general, I like the idea.


  75. RUCerious Says:

    Let me add a requirement for two years of military service, just so each and every citizen will know what 'going to war' really means. Then they can do their year of governance service, no chickenhawks influencing any decision making.
    We'd have a hell of a lot fewer wars.


  76. the Lone Voice of Reason Says:

    misshusseinmolly Says:

    unbelievable Says
    June 20th, 2008 at 10:15 am
    I read that the Ancient Greeks used to require that each person spend a year as a Representative in the Congress. As a result, it was true Democracy.

    Even Pilot's Republic would be better than what we got right now.


  77. RUCerious Says:

    Rogersuckerofeggs, that's a FOX Poll! Here's the link
    Go look for yourself.


  78. unbelievable Says:

    misshusseinmolly Says: I wonder how many people would try to get out of it, just like jury duty?

    No doubt, there are people who want the benefits of a democracy without sharing in the responsibility of working to achieve it. But, I suspect that people who are paid well for their time wouldn't mind jury duty as much as if it's completely voluntary.

    Could you imagine if juries were comprise of people who were paid by corporations? It wouldn't be that much different than Congress now. It's why we have to get these people out.


  79. Paul W Says:

    Responding to an ABC News/Washington Times investigation, “the Veterans Administration plans to inform 32,000 veterans that they are using a drug linked to suicide or violent behavior.” The ABC/Times investigation revealed that the VA waited three months to notify Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans in a VA experiment of the possible side effects from the anti-smoking drug Chantix.

    Support the troops...with experimental, suicide inducing drugs. Put that on a bumper sticker.

    http://progressiveworldreview.com


  80. dbadass Says:

    Zooey
    At home? One piece?


  81. the Lone Voice of Reason Says:

    As long as our stupid populous elects the leaders we have right now, I'm still sticking with the philosopher Kings Idea.


  82. Marie Says:

    Republicans have hammered Michelle Obama for her remarks in February that she was proud of America "for the first time in my adult life."
    Dan Abrams showed footage he uncovered of a Fox News interview with John McCain on March 13, 2008, in which McCain said, "I didn't really love America until I was deprived of her company."
    McSame has said this several times in public. He didn't always love America. Add this to the video of McCain at a recent town hall meeting, saying that it's tough to be proud of America.
    Abrams thinks McCain's comments could undermine the "right wing's steady attacks against Michelle Obama."


  83. unbelievable Says:

    RUCerious Says: Let me add a requirement for two years of military service, just so each and every citizen will know what ‘going to war’ really means. Then they can do their year of governance service, no chickenhawks influencing any decision making. We’d have a hell of a lot fewer wars.

    No expections to service, and no doubt. I suspect leaders fear for their children's lives would be another motivating factor there.

    Speaking of leader's kids - seems Jenna Bush is a fan of Obama. I heard it upset King Georgie. Too funny!


  84. RUCerious Says:

    Rog, how big a moron are you?

    SCROLL DOWN on the link I posted!!!!!!

    Gallup Poll daily tracking. Three-day rolling average. N=approx. 2,600 registers voters nationwide. MoE ± 2. June 7, 2008, & earlier: Based on a five-day rolling average. N=approx. 4,400 registers voters nationwide. MoE ± 2.

    General Election Trial Heat:

    McCain -Obama -Other (vol.) -Neither (vol.) -Unsure
    Survey end date 6/17/08
    42 -47 -1 -4 -6

    You really are an idiot.


  85. the Lone Voice of Reason Says:

    Speaking of leader’s kids - seems Jenna Bush is a fan of Obama. I heard it upset King Georgie. Too funny!

    Really? Tell me more tell me more ...


  86. unbelievable Says:

    Marie Says: Abrams thinks McCain’s comments could undermine the “right wing’s steady attacks against Michelle Obama.”

    Good news. Gotta love video archives!

    I like Michelle Obama. She's smart, educated, intelligent, and speaks truth to power. Reminds me of Hillary Clinton in this regard actually. Explains why Republicans fear her. She'll be far more active than just some trophy wife throwing parties and posing for photo-ops.


  87. upside99 Says:

    lock_box Says:

    George Soros! 527 Donations to TP! 2.5 million

    And your point is ........


  88. A Patriot Acting Says:

    lock box! 25 posts defending the boy king! $2.50 in the bank! Thank you RNC!


  89. misshusseinmolly Says:

    rogerse Says
    June 20th, 2008 at 10:44 am
    again, you [RUCerious] were misleading about the fox poll, and still have no proof for the 6/17 gallup poll showing 47/42.
    ________________________________________

    I see that RUCerious has already responded to this, but in case you're still skeptical, here's more:

    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html

    As you can see, this includes BOTH the Fox poll (without Nader or Barr) and the Gallup poll. As well as the latest Rasmussen, Reuters/Zogby, ABC News, and Cook/RT Strategies polls. All show Obama to be 4 or 5 points ahead of McCain, which is outside the 3-point margin of error. Looks like a pretty clear trend to me.

    Hope this clears things up for you.


  90. ADDdaddy Says:


    And the White House threatened to veto the bill, calling it a "costly, unnecessary, new paid leave entitlement."

    Bush HATES American families.

    Bush Loves Bin Laden's family-
    hence the September 12th airlift of all Osama's relatives out of the U.S..
    Hence his decision to pull our troops out of Tora Bora and rely on the local "friendly" tribes to get him.
    Hence his acceptance of Bin Laden family money to help fund his first Oil Company, Arbusto. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbusto

    Bush HATES Americans, POOR AMERICANS.


  91. unbelievable Says:

    lock_box Says: George Soros! 527 Donations to TP! 2.5 million

    So?


  92. Luis M Says:

    rogerse Says:
    the apology was expected and irrelevant to what happened.and the fact that it wasn’t he himself makes it forgiveable?.

    Expected? Surely, but unlike most Republicans, he actually apologized. And it's not irrelevant at all. Maybe apologies are irrelevant in your own little world, where you never apologize for any lies and/or mistakes you make, but here in the real world, apologies do count for something.

    And it's not for you to decide what's forgivable or not, it's up to the people affected if they want to forgive the staffers or not.


  93. Briseadh na Faire Says:

    By the way, what's with the stock photo for this thread? It looks more like a plane spreading fire retardant than a military strike.


  94. misshusseinmolly Says:

    the Lone Voice of Reason Says
    June 20th, 2008 at 10:39 am
    Even Pilot’s Republic would be better than what we got right now.
    _______________________________________

    Do you have some auto-correct utility activated that doesn't recognize the word "Plato", or are you talking about government by aviators?


  95. Evil Spaniard Says:

    The “dirty truth about clean coal” is that it is “more a catchphrase than a reality,” writes BusinessWeek. “Despite the eagerness of the coal and power industries to sanitize their image and the desire of U.S. politicians to push a healthy-sounding alternative to expensive foreign oil and natural gas, clean coal is still a misnomer.”

    Meanwhile, in the reality based world...

    Inventors: Solar Dish Could Revolutionize Energy Production

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080619/sc_livescience/inventorssolardishcouldrevolutionizeenergyproduction;_ylt=ApO6oT8G1Si.hH3zX1ZBnvus0NUE

    Business leaders call for global warming action

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080620/ap_on_sc/japan_climate;_ylt=AtNZAtplDzaBpeFLIVEP4qes0NUE


  96. misshusseinmolly Says:

    lock_box Says
    June 20th, 2008 at 10:56 am
    George Soros! 527 Donations to TP! 2.5 million
    ___________________________________________

    You know, we really expect our trolls to be more coherent than this. Even if your bosses pay you by the post, I'm sure they expect the posts to make sense, to get their money's worth.

    And BTW -- just the name "George Soros" is not the slur (or debate point) you seem to think it is. If you mean it to be some sort of slam, we require you to put up an intelligent argument.


  97. RUCerious Says:

    BNF @#100 ~ I thought it was weird too, but maybe chemical warfare with love from Israel to Iran.


  98. RUCerious Says:

    Looks like somebody's got a lock on their brainbox, preventing coherent output.


  99. the Lone Voice of Reason Says:

    #
    misshusseinmolly Says:

    the Lone Voice of Reason Says
    June 20th, 2008 at 10:39 am
    Even Pilot’s Republic would be better than what we got right now.
    _______________________________________

    Do you have some auto-correct utility activated that doesn’t recognize the word “Plato”, or are you talking about government by aviators?

    Pilot's Republic was his idea after he come to distrust democracy because of his experiences in Athens He thought one couldn't be ethical unless they lived in a just and rational state. In his ideal state everyone would be assigned a role so it could function harmoniously. At the top of all classes would be a ruling elite of philosopher-kings, kind of like a monarchy. Of course it never came to be, the greeks hated monarchy and believed in democracy.


  100. Leftside Annie Says:

    Awwww, rogerdodger, lockbox - GOOD DOGGIES!!!!


  101. the Lone Voice of Reason Says:

    Oops I meant Plato, sorry too much studying of theology for me lately.


  102. the Lone Voice of Reason Says:

    Thanks for checking me anyhow.


  103. the Lone Voice of Reason Says:

    That's why I come here, to surround myself with intellects. You people make me smarter.


  104. judyinnm Says:

    Israel has nuclear weapons; yet they feel entitled to attack Iran for supposedly trying to develop nuclear weapons. The US has nuclear weapons, and did attack Iraq for supposedly having nuclear weapons. In the grand scheme of things, the irony of these two countries' self-justification for attacking other countries for wanting to be able to protect themselves is laughable.

    A matter of religion, I guess. Guess god is still telling Judeo/Christian countries to slaughter all who stand in the way of their world domination (down to the last woman & child).


  105. Jeannie See Says:

    It turns out that Kamisha Block wasn't killed by friendly fire - she was murdered.


  106. Exit Stage Left Says:

    As the Bush administration approaches its end, “Vice President Dick Cheney has won his battle to withhold records from the public.” “He has managed to stonewall everyone,” said House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA). “I’m not sure there’s anything we can do.”

    How about impeaching the rat ba$tards?

    **crickets**


  107. Luis M Says:

    judyinnm Says:
    Israel has nuclear weapons;

    Now, now, now. They haven't actually come out and said so... therefore they don't have nuclear weapons. I'm suuuuure they had good reasons to send Mordechai Vanunu to jail for 18 years when he reported about Israel's nuclear weapons (which, as we just said, do not exist, right?).

    /snark


  108. republicans hate facts Says:

    DRxJ Says:
    If republicans hate facts is here, and actually wants to discuss, I wonder what he/she thinks about this, as we all know he/she won’t be voting for Obama in November:
    Obama and Hillary to campaign together

    It's EXACTLY what I EXPECTED and what I TOLD THE OBAMAHEADS would happen. Hillary is a loyal democrat, and I'm sure she'll help Obama just as I predicted. Obama lost my vote, not Hillary telling me to vote or not to vote. But all of the Obamaheads still blame Hillary, even though Obama's reaching out to Hillary supporters has been lame and nonexistent among the obamaheads themselves. I commend Hillary for making peace, and being a good candidate, now only if Obama were half as loyal to the Democratic voters and the party as she is, I might be willing to personally vote for him in Nov. And now that Hillary is helping him campaign, maybe she'll show him how to not come across like a self righteous arrogant pr*ck to the Hillary base...


  109. Leftside Annie Says:

    Jebus, RHF - got obnoxious?


  110. DRxJ Says:

    so, rhf, tell us how you really feel?
    ROTFL!
    Seriously, tho, do you really harbor so much hatred, or are you just looking for a response?
    It seems to me that you believe Hillary could no wrong.
    Just one question:
    Did she or did she not agree to the DNC terms (punishment) brought on by Michigan and Florida early primaries?

    Oh, and don't be too sure that had Michigan actually held it's designated primary, Hillary would have one. After both agreed to Obama withdrawing, there were lots of votes for "other". LOTS!
    Just sayin....
    Have a great day!


  111. DRxJ Says:

    "would have one" of course is phonics for "would have won"

    That's what I get for typing after lunch.


  112. dbadass Says:

    He everyone. Wanna freak out RHF?


  113. dbadass Says:

    Hey


  114. mauro7inf Says:

    Kendrick Meek, incidentally, is 41 years old as per Wikipedia (born in September, 1966). I don't know why he'd be in the 30-something Caucus, since the man is over the hill. ;p



Jump to Top

About Think Progress | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy (off-site) | RSS | Donate
© 2005-2009 Center for American Progress Action Fund
View Most Popular

Advertisement

What We're About

Featured

image
Subscribe to the Progress Report



imageTopic Cloud


Visit Our Affiliated Sites

image image
Reports


Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.

Name:
Email:
Tip:
(required)


imageArchives


imageBlog Roll