ThinkFast: September 2, 2008
ThinkFast: September 2, 2008
64 percent: People concerned that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) “would pursue policies that are too similar to what George W. Bush has pursued,” according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll. Forty-seven percent fall into the “very concerned” category and 17 percent rate themselves “somewhat concerned.”
Hurricane Gustav struck the Gulf Coast with less strength than feared, “sparing New Orleans and the world’s densest concentration of oil-and-gas facilities.” While the emergency response effort went largely as planned, “officials said that at least seven people were killed” in the storm.
The death of a sailor in Afghanistan over the weekend marked the “500th U.S. service member to die in that country since the war there began in 2001.”
The Justice Department’s inspector general says Alberto Gonzales improperly handled classified materials about national security programs, including the Bush administration’s warantless wiretapping program, during his tenure as Attorney General. However, “officials in the Justice Department’s national security division looked at the inspector general’s report but did not find a case to prosecute.”
On the trail today: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is scheduled to make a public appearance in Philadelphia and will then head to Cleveland, OH. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) is in Chicago with no public events scheduled.
Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman and producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar have been released from police custody in St. Paul, following their arrest while covering demonstrations at the Republican convention. According to Democracy Now!, all three were “violently manhandled by law enforcement officers.”
“While it’s possible” the McCain campaign called some people in Alaska to vet Gov. Sarah Palin, “there was no sign of it,” the Wall Street Journal reports. “A Republican with ties to the campaign said the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday,” just one day before McCain announced Palin as his vice presidential pick.
As mayor of Wasilla, AK, Gov. Sarah Palin hired a lobbying firm to secure nearly $27 million in federal earmarks. The Anchorage-based firm has “close ties” to Rep. Don Young (R) and Sen. Ted Stevens (R), who was indicted in July. “The Wasilla account was handled by the former chief of staff to Stevens, Steven W. Silver, who is a partner in the firm.”
Ten percent of Americans “are unemployed, discouraged from seeking work or underemployed,” up 25 percent from last year, according to a Rutgers University labor scorecard. The report also found that “median weekly earnings for American workers have not grown in real terms over the last eight years” and “the federal minimum wage is worth 40 cents less per hour, in inflation-adjusted dollars, than it was a decade ago.”
And finally: The “micro-blogging” site Twitter — which allows users to post 140-character messages — has become an invaluable resource during Hurricane Gustav. One New Orleans resident, Robert Peyton, said that even when the power went out, he could still receive messages from the New Orleans Twitter community directly to his smartphone. Peyton added that Twitter was one of the only ways to get accurate updates. “The national broadcasts are just kind of silly and alarmist,” he said.
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Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman and producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar have been released from police custody in St. Paul, following their arrest while covering demonstrations at the Republican convention. According to Democracy Now!, all three were “violently manhandled by law enforcement officers.”
Glenn Greenwald, Amy Goodman, Indymedia. Lindsay & Jane over at firedoglake did a commendable job in covering all this over the holiday weekend. They have alarming videos of how these protestors were treated. The MSM “crickets” on all the civil rights violations, the raids, police harassment, snatch squads, and arrests; they even arrested a nun over the weekend. Instead of covering these stories, the WSJ Highlight of the Day “Night Runner” article made the front page. You ask “Night Runner”?? It is about McCain VP pick Gov. Sarah Palin discusses her unusual workout and fitness routine. Do I care about the workout habits of Sarah Palin?? When did a government official’s fitness training become of National Importance? OMG how did that become more important than people having their homes raided, pepper sprayed, arrested for asking for a warrant to search their homes, and shoved to the ground handcuffed for 45 minutes before they where hauled off to jail because they were going to protest an Illegal War. (Operative word being they were “going” to protest, they hadn’t actually had a chance to do that yet.) To say I’m upset is an understatement at the Police State, we are witnessing, of St. Paul this weekend.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:07 amgood_golly8 Says
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 am
That’s an old joke — surely you can do better than that. Besides, you can substitute the New York Times for Fox News and substitute the Republican for a Democrat, and you’d get the same result.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:10 amUS Bars Kansas Meatpacker from Mad-Cow Testing
Our safety obviously doesn’t matter to Big Agriculture; they only test a small percentage of cows for the deadly disease. The U.S. tested about 20,000 out of a possible 1 million animals that fit the high risk category. The high risk cattle are 3 yrs or older. The highest risk are “downer cows” (those unable to walk or stand on their own).
Big Ag had a big win today in Federal Court. A federal appeals court says the government can prohibit meat packers from testing their animals for mad cow disease. Makes you think twice about that juicy hamburger or grilling those steaks this weekend.
What started this uproar was a Kansas meatpacker Creekstone Farms Premium Beef wants to test all of its cows. Sounds to me like a great idea and responsible policy to have. Which is exactly what Japan does; they have the most extensive testing system in the world. All slaughtered cattle there are tested, no matter the age. Throughout the continental European Union, countries test all cattle over 30 months that are slaughtered; Germany includes all over 24 months. The American approach, not so good, has been to test roughly one in every 1,700 slaughtered.
Well this didn’t sit well with the other larger meat companies. They worried that if Creekstone is allowed to perform the test and advertise its meat as safe, they could be forced to do the expensive test, too. Advertise meat safety, wow, what a concept.
Four companies already offer test kits that can, within four hours, tell if a slaughtered cow carries bovine spongiform encephalopathy, otherwise known as BSE or mad-cow disease. It wouldn’t cost much: Test kits cost about $10 a pop. The large meat companies excuse is it will raise the price in the meat case. That is a fact, but by only six to ten cents per pound!
That seems to me a small price to pay for protection of you, the consumer. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday overturned a lower court ruling that would have cleared the way for the testing. The appeals court said restricting the test is within the scope of the government’s authority.
One last thought: Why should they not get a seal of approval just by testing every cow in the US? Why not adopt a standard of raising animals that ensures them to be 100% healthier; without feeding the unfortunate animals, living in overcrowded conditions, being fed pesticide-ridden food, and being shot up with growth hormones and antibiotics? It was just a thought!
USA Today
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 am64 percent: People concerned that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) “would pursue policies that are too similar to what George W. Bush has pursued,” according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll.
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And that number probably doesn’t include the 28% of people who LIKE Bush’s policies. Those of that group who believe McCain would pursue Bush’s policies aren’t “concerned” about that, they are hopeful and enthusuastic that he will.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 amI have to wonder if the RNC picked the Twin Cities after determining how repressive the police were willing to be in their behalf. All week Randi Rhodes commended the Denver Police about how helpful and polite they were. There were a couple of incidents but nothing like we are seeing in these videos.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 amWowza! I’ve been gone for 4 days, and really missed a helluva lot going on in the good ole USA!
Here’s my attempt at humor, which I hope will be much funnier than good_goony8.0 (before she gets banned):
McCain/Palin ‘08
Now, I would really appreciate the antagonistic trolls to please
criticize a potential vice president for not having enough family values to raise a child! Seriously, had it been Biden’s unwed 17 year old daughter who was pregnant, we would have never heard the end of it. Hell, Edwards, a non candidate, was in the news for months, and was shoved down our throats. Guess what, turn about is fair play. BTW, I could care less if her daughter is pregnant, or if her husband had a DUI decades ago, I’m more concerned that she could possibly be the leader of this country, with so little experience.
My thoughts and prayers to those on the South coast, as Gustav is now inland. He was not Katrina, but those affected will have a ton to deal with in these next coming months.
PEACE!
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:16 amThe Justice Department’s inspector general says Alberto Gonzales improperly handled classified materials about national security programs, including the Bush administration’s warantless wiretapping program, during his tenure as Attorney General. However, “officials in the Justice Department’s national security division looked at the inspector general’s report but did not find a case to prosecute.”
Big surprise here. It’ll be news when the Justice Department does prosecute a Republican.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:16 am“A Republican with ties to the campaign said the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday,” just one day before McCain announced Palin as his vice presidential pick.
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I can just see this vetting process — “Are you a natural born citizen?” “Are you at least 35 years of age?” “Have you ever engaged in oral sex in the Governor’s office with someone you weren’t married to?” “Are you willing to tie yourself to a guy who will not only lose the election, but will embarrass our party daily?” “You are?” “You will?” “Great — you’re in!”
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:17 am“And many of those involved in the more violent activities identified themselves to reporters as anarchists. These protesters, clad in black, were operating on the streets in addition to a mostly peaceful anti-war march, wreaking havoc by damaging property and setting at least one fire.”
Sounds like agent provocateurs to me.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 amHouse of Roberts Says:
Sounds like agent provocateurs to me.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 am
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Or Ron Paul supporters. That’s the same as anarchists, right?
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:23 am… a sailor in Afghanistan… ???
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:26 am90% of the previous thread was devoted to gg…
how ’bout not letting that happen. ever. again.
eh?
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:30 amMcCain: ‘Ready for War on Day 1′
Obama: ‘Ready for Peace on Day 1′
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:30 am500 soldiers have died in Afghanistan. Obama proposes an increased effort there. Is it worth the cost?
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 amObama would increase troops in Afghanistan:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/370788_campaign15.html
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:33 am…
And this is why they are history.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:34 ambackup Says:
500 soldiers have died in Afghanistan. Obama proposes an increased effort there. Is it worth the cost?
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 am
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Yes.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:34 amUp until midweek last week, some 48 to 72 hours before McCain introduced Palin at a Friday rally in Dayton, Ohio, McCain was still holding out the hope that he could name as his running mate a good friend, Senator Joseph Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, a Republican close to the campaign said. McCain had also been interested in another favorite, former Governor Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania.
But both men favor abortion rights, anathema to the Christian conservatives who make up a crucial base of the Republican Party. As word leaked out that McCain was seriously considering the men, the campaign was bombarded by outrage from influential conservatives who predicted an explosive floor fight at the convention and vowed rejection of Ridge or Lieberman by the delegates.
At the increasing rate of information coming out on Palin daily, McCain may get his wish after all. It’s going to get to the point I think they will throw her under the bus. The blogs and independent reporters keeps finding more and more reasons why Palin was an extremely bad choice. She is not doing well under public scrutiny….
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:35 amStart your day feeling good and proud to be an Obama supporter:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/21286/24889/30/582729
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:35 amHey Goony — you don’t think you have something against us, do you? The police state is on fire, you Nazis have got what you wanted, but that only means that real Americans need to increase their end-strength.
After eight years of massive damage you’ve done to our country, and most notably, to our troops and the Iraqi people, call it a welcome home present. The moderate GOOPers don’t even plan on attending the convention. So if some real anarchy (revenge) results, it is good for our country to ruin the Finish her off! 2008 gathering by the GOOP Nazi regime.
Many blessings to every protestor in St. Paul, recently to Amy Goodman and producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. You were all unjustifiably manhandled.
Sooner of later, the police state is going to be brought down to size. And hopefully worthless goony is sent to the Hague.
I’m at liberty to hope for the worst for the demolishioners of our country because they’ve committed worse acts against great Americans.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:36 amOf course we should have been in Afganistan this whole time. If we had been we probably wouldn’t need to be there now.
backup and gg, I’m with Katy on this. With your inane blather of non facts and quoting republicans as credible you regularly destroy our opportunity to discuss real issues. I will flag both of you every time you post from this point forward.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:38 amHurricane Gustav struck the Gulf Coast with less strength than feared, “sparing New Orleans and the world’s densest concentration of oil-and-gas facilities.”
Unfortunately for the Republicans, they no longer have an excuse to cancel their convention and McBush will look pretty stupid if he gives his acceptance speech from there.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:38 amThe death of a sailor in Afghanistan over the weekend marked the “500th U.S. service member to die in that country since the war there began in 2001.”
I am sick to death of hitting milestones of death.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 amI want more rights for protesters pushed through congress, and I want the good ole’ boy system at police heaquarters that makes them feel at ease with going overboard in militarizing their task forces.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 amkaty Says:
… a sailor in Afghanistan… ???
A lot of naval personnel have been sent to Afghanistan as fighting troops, because of the shortage of Army and marines to send there.
They are also sending Naval reserves to the combat zone as well.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 amOn the trail today: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is scheduled to make a public appearance in Philadelphia and will then head to Cleveland, OH.
What, he gave up on his photo op? I heard on the news last night that he was helping pack boxes of food for hurricane victims in Ohio. Now, can you see McBush bending over filling boxes with food? Not likely.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:41 amTen percent of Americans “are unemployed”
But..but..Hannity says we’re seeing robust economic growth!
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:41 amEven the corporate media seem to be fed up now with McCain’s If-I-can’t-have-Joe-I’ll-show-you..-temper-tantrum and asks about his judgement. The WaPo’s Cohen compares Palin to Caligula’s horse, even.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:41 amDutch Intel US to Strike Iran
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1220186494776&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:42 ambackup Says:
Obama would increase troops in Afghanistan
Where we should have left our troops, rather than invade Iraq for lies. Bush abandoned the fight against the real Al Qaeda and the Taliban over lies, and as a result we are being overrun in Afghanistan now.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:42 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:38 am
“…and McBush will look pretty stupid if he gives his acceptance speech from there.”
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Actually, McCain would look pretty stupid if he gives his acceptance speech from Louisiana no matter how bad the hurricane is. If the hurricane’s destruction came anywhere close to Katrina proportions, he would look incredibly exploitative. Plus, by barging into a disaster zone (with Secret Service, his entourage, etc.), he would just be in the way of clean-up efforts — p!ssing people off in great enough numbers to turn that red state blue.
And of course, with minimal and manageable carnage from the hurricane, he’d look both exploitative and clueless.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:43 amDemocracy Now! host Amy Goodman and producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar have been released from police custody in St. Paul, following their arrest while covering demonstrations at the Republican convention.
The police also arrested over 100 other demonstrators. Let’s see if this hits the MSM like the arrests at the Democratic convention. And, the protesters were arrested just for being there protesting. They were not doing anything illegal. It was a preemptive strike by the police who called the protesters “terrorists” and sprayed them with pepper spray and shot rubber bullets at them.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:43 amwhen hannity says “we’re seeing robust economic growth”,
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:44 amhe’s right. they are.
As mayor of Wasilla, AK, Gov. Sarah Palin hired a lobbying firm to secure nearly $27 million in federal earmarks.
The mayor position is also a full time job paying $68,000 a year, all for a town that at the time had 6,000 citizens. Only in Alaska, a state flush with oil money could this be possible. I live in Corvallis, Oregon, population 59,000 with a part-time unpaid mayor. I think you will not find another town of that size with a well paid full-time mayor in any state other than Alaska.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:45 amI agree with Obama’s focus on Afghanistan. I just find the absolute contrast of the progressive view on troop loses in Afghanistan and troop losses in Iraq.
Obama want more troops in Afghanistan and wants to widen the effort into Pakistan.
I’ve heard quite a bit how it’s not our place to meddle in the affairs of other country. At times it’s been a very compelling argument. But, apparently, if Obama proposes it, it must make more sense to progressives.
Why the disconnect?
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 amWayne Says:
A lot of naval personnel have been sent to Afghanistan as fighting troops…
thanks wayne… i remember reading something about that, long ago…
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 amThe spin machines are in high gear now, as more comes out about Palin’s background which was not discovered in the vetting process because there was no vetting process.
The bottom line is that McCain’s campaign is in trouble; they are distancing themselves from Bush/Cheney but it’s hard to get too far when McCain subscribes to all of Bush’s policies.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 amMcCain needs a lot of money to compete and the only ones with deep pockets are the social ultra-conservatives.
With a female VP, he chose the cynical route of selecting a woman in an effort to peel off some disaffected Hillary voters. (PUMA reps have been on TV confirming that McCain’s choice satisfies them. WTF – any other woman is as good as Hillary???)
So McCain has a socially conservative woman, one who is not unfamiliar with the corruption that comes with Alaska governance, who denies global warming, who is a little short on history much less on foreign matters, who has no opinion on Iraq except that her son is going there soon, and so this ticket is the best he could muster, as he looks to pander to those who will send him much needed funds.
Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:41 am
What, he gave up on his photo op? I heard on the news last night that he was helping pack boxes of food for hurricane victims in Ohio. Now, can you see McBush bending over filling boxes with food? Not likely.
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I really did see McCain on the news last night supposedly putting together relief packages for hurricane victims. The camera was focused on him as he had an item in his hand, hand poised over the box, and he…did absolutely nothing productive with it. He dipped the item in the box a couple of times, but mostly he just stood there with the item in his hand hovering over the box.
It was as if one of his handlers told him to stand there and look like he was packing boxes. It wasn’t a good idea. A grocery bagger would have understood instantly what the job entailed, but McCain did not.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:48 amTen percent of Americans “are unemployed, discouraged from seeking work or underemployed,” up 25 percent from last year, according to a Rutgers University labor scorecard.
Now, that sounds like a realistic number. Then when you include the number of people who are working full-time at a wage significantly lower than their prior job that was sent over seas, you are more like 20% of the population.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:48 amMy son was a sailor in Iraq. He was a corpsman and assigned to the marines as a medic. He came back with all his body parts but he still suffered horribly trying to patch up his buddies and innocent Iraqis. He said the dead children were the worst.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:50 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
good_golly8 Says
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 am
That’s an old joke — surely you can do better than that. Besides, you can substitute the New York Times for Fox News and substitute the Republican for a Democrat, and you’d get the same result.
That must have been some joke, since it is already gone. I wonder if goony8 is also gone? If so, look for the new improved version goony9 coming soon.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:50 amFunny to watch the trolls whine about the fact that there were more people outside the repub convention than inside.
Even if they had held it as normal without the fortunate for them hurricane distraction there would still have been more people outside protesting than inside.
Add to that the fact that the sitting incumbant is not even going to be allowed into the convention hall and cheney has more important things to do elsewhere and you get a pretty good picture of the disarray that has become the republican party in their desperation…..oh, and palin….that was such a good move…..for progressives that is.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:51 amBig Ag had a big win today in Federal Court. A federal appeals court says the government can prohibit meat packers from testing their animals for mad cow disease.
Why in the world would the government even want to prohibit meat packers from voluntarily testing their meat. Just another reason to vote Democratic in November.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:52 amWayne I agree we lost focus in Afghanistan. I agree with Obama’s interest in the area. But, if you consider much of the anti-war sentiment that’s been prevalent here the last 3 years, you’ll understand my confusion.
Bush and conservatives have been attack for the war on Iraq, of course. But, more broadly, Bush and neocons have been attack for warring in general.
Bush and neocons are hitler like, because of their support of the military industrial complex and it’s use around the world to force American will. Okay. Obama wants to increase troops, more helicopters, more technology, etc…
Where are the lamentations of the military industrial complex that Obama plans to use?
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:52 am#40, I saw that too. I think I even saw a glimpse of a hand pointing into the box to show him where to put the item. It was a bottle of some sort of cleanser with a spray gun nozzle. He just stared at the label like he’d never seen it before and then I saw a hand point down into the box and he every so gingerly placed it down there. Then somebody handed him what looked like a bar of soap and he stared at it, (it was still in the box). I could have packed an entire box in the time it took him to put in two items. I think they cut it purposely since he was doing himself more harm than good.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:54 ambackup Says:
Why the disconnect?
Why are you so f_cking obtuse?
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:55 amgood_golly8 Says:
Spin: Police harass protesters.
So goony, don’t you find it interesting that there is no video to back up this contention. There is video to back up the police harassing people for simply being present. When I see video of protesters violating the law, I’ll believe it. Until then, I’ll believe it is spin to try to mitigate the damage.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:55 ambackup Says:
Why the disconnect?
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 am
It’s really simple. Let me see if I can explain this to you.
Afghanistan/Pakistan is still the home of al-Qa’ida – a terrorist group that has conducted attacks on the continental United States and U.S. interests overseas.
Iraq is a country we invaded for no reason whatsoever. Because our president thought it’d be fun.
I should qualify that this is not a black-and-white issue for us. Although we want our troops to finish the job in Afghanistan and provide the Afghan government with the means to control the vast country, we’re also concerned about the massive civilian casualties that continue to occur with increased airstrikes and from raids by Afghan security forces. And we’re concerned about Afghanistan and Pakistan becoming puppet governments of the U.S. History should tell us that that never works out for us.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:56 amI don’t know missmolly, bush did it after katrina while the bodies of American citizens floated in the waters behind his well lit backdrop…..the media will favor them even in the face of thier ineptitude in the face of horror.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:59 ambackup Says:
500 soldiers have died in Afghanistan. Obama proposes an increased effort there. Is it worth the cost?
Absolutely not! The Soviets supposedly at the height of their power and ruthlessness could not and did not win. The US will not win – however that is defined. When an army fights a population, the population always wins. The people are the sea in which the insurgency swims.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:59 ambackup Says:
500 soldiers have died in Afghanistan. Obama proposes an increased effort there. Is it worth the cost?
And the reason why you are asking this is? You fully support the debacle in Iraq, so why would you oppose sending more troops to Afghanistan?
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:59 ambackup Says:
Where are the lamentations of the military industrial complex that Obama plans to use?
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:52 am
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Progressives are concerned about that. We’re concerned about Obama’s tacit support of keeping Blackwater and other mercenaries in Iraq even as troops are being drawn down. We’re concerned about Obama’s increasing language about protecting Israel and dearth of language about the mideast peace process. People on this forum post about these issues frequently.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:00 amGoony loves it when destestable thugs manhandle good Americans. It massages his jealousy that he can never be as thoughtful, as knowledgeable, and as worried about the country.
FACT: Goony hates America. He really does.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:03 am. . . “officials in the Justice Department’s national security division looked at the inspector general’s report but did not find a case to prosecute.”
If it had been some career civil service GS-12 employee, they would have thrown the book at him. There can be no justice as longer as we have different kinds of justice for members of different classes in society!
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:06 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:50 am
That must have been some joke, since it is already gone. I wonder if goony8 is also gone? If so, look for the new improved version goony9 coming soon.
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Eh — it was just typical of what wingnuts consider knee-slapping humor. If you really want to see it, you can check it out here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2065035/posts
And yes, I’m sure we’ll be getting GG9 soon.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:07 amSo..goony, your Palin pick has turned out to be a DUD. What will your party do now?
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:08 am#backup Says:
Wayne I agree we lost focus in Afghanistan. I agree with Obama’s interest in the area. But, if you consider much of the anti-war sentiment that’s been prevalent here the last 3 years, you’ll understand my confusion.
You are only confusing yourself. Afganistan is where OBL was. We had a reason for going in there and still have a reason for being there since OBL is still there in the vicinity. As long as the government in Afghanistan doesn’t ask us to leave, I think we should stay and finish the job we started 5 years ago.
Iraq had nothing to do with 911 and was no threat to us. Now, is that simple enough for you to understand with the few brain cells you have left?
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:08 amMcWars Says:
I want more rights for protesters pushed through congress, and I want the good ole’ boy system at police heaquarters that makes them feel at ease with going overboard in militarizing their task forces.
Good Morning McWars :)
I agree with, they need to start upholding the First Amendment.
Donna Brazile from CNN got hit with pepper spray at RNC. I can’t wait to here from the MSM what she supposedly did wrong. The Mainstream media is focusing on a few fringe groups. They did alot of arrests before the convention even started with the Home Raids. That doesn’t include the snatch raids, where people started coming up missing from the streets.
Firedoglake.com & Glenn have some great videos that prove the police brutality that the average peaceful protestor was subjected too..
Have a good day !!!
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:09 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2065035/posts
Nope, won’t go to that website. I have already taken my shower and don’t want to have to take another.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:09 amAs for the protesters in MN, those were not true progressives, they were not seekers of peace!
Unfortunately, there are those who seek to disrupt no matter what (hi good_goony and Parodyll!).
Last year, a Neo Nazi group planned to organize a rally here in downtown Kalamazoo.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:11 amIt was quite the cluster fck, as you can imagine, what with all the police officers and protesters, but, fortunately, there were only 2 or 3 arrests (one for hitting an officer’s horse), but they were the anti-racist people.
Whodathunkit? But again, there are those just looking for trouble, and do NOT represent the majority at all.
So, good_goony8.0, unless you’ve been banned, let’s try not to paint with such a wide brush.
McWars Says:
I want more rights for protesters pushed through congress, and I want the good ole’ boy system at police heaquarters that makes them feel at ease with going overboard in militarizing their task forces.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 am
It’s not just during the protests that free speech needs protection. Police in the twin cities have been conducting preemptive raids of protestors’ homes:
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:14 am
hussein toasterhead Says:
backup Says:
Where are the lamentations of the military industrial complex that Obama plans to use?
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:52 am
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Progressives are concerned about that. We’re concerned about Obama’s tacit support of keeping Blackwater and other mercenaries in Iraq even as troops are being drawn down. We’re concerned about Obama’s increasing language about protecting Israel and dearth of language about the mideast peace process. People on this forum post about these issues frequently.
Heck, I’m concerned even that the Warner/military commissions act that killed posse comataus, gave the president ( any president, democrat or republican ) the right to call anyone, even a US citizen, an enemy combatant, has no been repealed.
I have stated I do not trust any president with that travesty of a bill, as I said before, I do not trust Bush with those powers and would not even trust a Democrat with those powers.
These idiot Republicans and trolls should realize that all the powers given to Bush during the Republican majority are going to become Obama’s powers when he wins.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:14 am#38 Marie Says:
The spin machines are in high gear now, as more comes out about Palin’s background which was not discovered in the vetting process because there was no vetting process.
Good morning Marie. :)
The one story I read that had me shaking my head was about a Democratic Researcher sent to Alaska. He went to the local Newspaper that is not online and asked for articles about Palin. The person behind the counter was shocked because he was the first person to ever ask for that information. That was in the HuffPo I think on Sunday.
I agree, there wasn’t any vetting at all… She’s a woman and that ended the vetting process.
Have a good day……
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:14 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
As mayor of Wasilla, AK, Gov. Sarah Palin hired a lobbying firm to secure nearly $27 million in federal earmarks.
The mayor position is also a full time job paying $68,000 a year, all for a town that at the time had 6,000 citizens. Only in Alaska, a state flush with oil money could this be possible. I live in Corvallis, Oregon, population 59,000 with a part-time unpaid mayor. I think you will not find another town of that size with a well paid full-time mayor in any state other than Alaska.
Hey, the mayor of Milwaukie, Oregon gets $200 a month and it’s only about 20,000 people. Corvallis needs to get it together!
All you need to do is find a ton of gas and oil on public land, Bilbo.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:20 amInteresting side note.
My right leaning friends, the true moderates, not the “I’ll vote Republican no matter what!” extreme, are quite confused about McCain’s V.P. pick.
One went so far as to ask “Can the GOP call a do over?”
No, my dear, you’re stuck with McSame.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:23 amGood luck!
However, “officials in the Justice Department’s national security division looked at the inspector general’s report but did not find a case to prosecute.”
Here’s a case of ‘not looking too hard’…
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:23 ambackup Says:
Why the disconnect?
___________
There is no disconnect, except in your synapses. Wayne and several other posters here have explained this quit well, and yet there you sit, puffing on your pipe, or is it blowing bubbles out of your pipe, pretending we’re somehow being inconsistent.
BTW, the bow tie schtick is getting old… I’d suggest you try something different.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:26 amGood morning to you, Freb.
My feeling of helplessness stems more from the fear that these great Americans won’t be able to have their grievances properly addressed, than their rights being violated in the first place.
Where do you find any good cops these days?
Toasterhead, very good piece. Thanks for pointing that out. What they are doing is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Have a great day Toasterhead and Freb!
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:30 amPolice brutality is sop now. They shoot old men with a garden tool instead of just waiting for him to nap….
Watched cops lately? Can’t stomach it myself. The police are now allowed to be storm troopers.
When I was a child we were told to go to a policeman if there was trouble, I did not teach my children that. More often than not they cause more harm to the victim than they help.
Ask any rape victim.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:37 amMcWars Says:
Toasterhead, very good piece. Thanks for pointing that out. What they are doing is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:30 am
_______
Thanks – yesterday’s Democracy Now is required listening and/or reading for anyone who cares about the Constitution.
I don’t think it’s any coincidence that on the day DN aired this story, police arrested and charged Sharif ‘Abd el-Kouddous, Nicole Salazar, and Amy Goodman. This is nothing less than media intimidation.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:37 amJoe Scarborough on MSNBC is calling all the protesters anarchists. Er wouldn’t have this country if it wasn’t for protestss. What a jerk.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 amJust as nixon did, now they have the media to spout thier vile rehetoric……blogs, not so much.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:55 amShayne Says:
Joe Scarborough on MSNBC is calling all the protesters anarchists. Er wouldn’t have this country if it wasn’t for protestss. What a jerk.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 am
_______
I guess there is no Bill of Rights in Scarborough Country.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:57 am#72 hussein toasterhead Says:
Yesterday’s Democracy Now is required listening and/or reading for anyone who cares about the Constitution.
I don’t think it’s any coincidence that on the day DN aired this story, police arrested and charged Sharif ‘Abd el-Kouddous, Nicole Salazar, and Amy Goodman. This is nothing less than media intimidation.
I couldn’t agree with you more HT :) I was mainly reading firedoglake this weekend, because Jane and Glenn went to a couple of the homes that got raided. They gave a detailed report about what transpired in those homes. It seemed like every couple of hours they had a new report of people shaken up by all of this, another house being raided, and people seeking sanctuary. One of the reports where they had arrested 9 people and one being a nun, talk about the police reaching an all time low.
I never thought I would see anything like this in my lifetime. RNC struck another blow to the First Amendment.
Have a good day hussein toasterhead !!!!
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 amfrom levi johnston’s (vp candidate sarah palin’s future son-in-law) myspace page:
On his MySpace page, Johnston boasts, “I’m a f—in’ redneck” who likes to snowboard and ride dirt bikes.
“But I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some s— and just f—in’ chillin’ I guess.”
“Ya f— with me I’ll kick [your] ass,” he added.
He also claims to be “in a relationship,” but states, “I don’t want kids.”
*
the face of young conservatism.
$
good luck.
^
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 ambackup Says:
I agree with Obama’s focus on Afghanistan. I just find the absolute contrast of the progressive view on troop loses in Afghanistan and troop losses in Iraq.
Obama want more troops in Afghanistan and wants to widen the effort into Pakistan.
I’ve heard quite a bit how it’s not our place to meddle in the affairs of other country. At times it’s been a very compelling argument. But, apparently, if Obama proposes it, it must make more sense to progressives.
Why the disconnect?
The disconnect lies solely with you backedup.
Iraq had NOTHING to do with 9/11. AFGHANISTAN DID. We ABANDONED FOCUS ON AFGHANISTAN, OSAMA BIN LADEN, THE TALBIAN AND AL-QAEDA to fight a WAR WE DID NOT NEED TO. AFGHANISTAN, NOT IRAQ, HARBORED AL-QAEDA. AFGHANISTAN, by harboring that organization who attacked us, was where we should have stayed. Now, since we’ve had to shift so many of our forces to Iraq for an UNNECESSARY WAR, AL QAEDA has a STRONGHOLD ALONG THE AFGHAN-PAKISTAN BORDER.
You are disconnected from reality my friend.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 amit’s not about her being a woman… that’s a hopeful ruse…
[...]
That’s all this was about. Forget the press reports grasping at straws trying to figure out this pick, whether it represents a new reform message or was targeted to exurban voters. This was a wet kiss to the religious right. There was only one group doing the vetting. The theocons were waiting for a signal to start up the phone banks and the ground work and now they have it. They probably would have done so anyway, but this was the tipping point.
[...]
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/yes-sarah-palin-was-vetted-by-dday-it.html
MUST READ.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:06 amYou missed all of this lovely Lunatic Fringe news!
PROTEST TURNS INTO MINI-RIOT
Democracy Now! producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar were arrested while they carried out their journalistic duties, Democracy Now! said in a statement. Democracy Now! said Kouddous and Salazar were arrested on a felony riot charge while Goodman was charged with misdemeanor obstruction of a legal process and interference with a peace officer.
Philadelphia Columnist Warns: ‘If McCain wins, look for full-fledged race war’…
Police fire tear gas into protest group
Anarchists who had threatened to “crash the convention” wreaked havoc Monday in downtown St. Paul as the Republican National Convention opened, shattering windows, throwing rocks, slashing tires and blocking traffic.
Look at your lovely party in action. Threaten riots and race wars just too hard to debate and win on the issues. Typical liberal reaction to advancing their political ideology.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:01 pmI’ve been told that Bush and co. have used the threat of terrorism as a necessary illusion to manufacture consent for war in Iraq. I’ve also been told that meddling in the affairs of the middle east is not our business. I’ve been told that expending our resources (soldiers and money) is useless folly in a part of the world that we don’t understand and will only lead to increasing Islamic fundamentalist anger towards us and a more general worldwide disapproval.
Now, Obama wants to increase troop levels in Afghanistan and widen the effort into Pakistan. I could make the argument that Obama is using the effort as a necessary illusion to manufacture consent to broaden the war on terror to discount the notion that he is merely a dove with blinders on.
But, why the objection to the projections of American power into Iraq and no concern about it’s projection into Pakistan?
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:02 pmIf we respect the sovereignty of countries to manage their affairs. And we avoid the heavy handedness of the Bush administration. Why aren’t we working with Afghanistan to handle this as a police action? What right will we have to go into Pakistan, if the Pakistanis don’t want us treading on their soil?
Until the recent withdrawal agreement, the democratically elected leadership of the Iraqi people has wanted us to stay to help with stability and security of the region. But, that didn’t dissuade many progressives from calling our presence illegitimate and demanding a pullout. Why will our foray into Pakistan be more legitimate?
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:12 pmThat misogynistic idiot McLoser thinks that just because Our Ms. Palin has a v*gina, all of her fellow Vagamericans will simply fall in line and vote Republican come November 4.
Um, no. Not going to happen. *eyeroll*
This Vagamerican is voting for Obama. ;o)
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:20 pm..Atlanta, GA 9/02/2008 05:43 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)
Levi Johnston, the father of Bristol Palin’s unborn child, posted on his personal MySpace page that he doesn’t want kids.
Johnston, Bristol’s boyfriend, changed his MySpace profile to say that he is “in a relationship”. However, he also says on his profile, “I don’t want kids”. On his MySpace page, Johnston describes himself as “a f_ckin’ redneck who likes to snowboard and ride dirt bikes.”
“But I live to play hockey,” continued Johnston. “I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some sh_t and just f_ckin’ chillin’ I guess.”
He even warns, “Ya f_ck with me I’ll kick [your] @ss.”
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm> Kansas meatpacker Creekstone Farms
> Premium Beef wants to test all of its cows
They need to get on Oprah and tell thier story then.
Make no mistake, the “beef mafia” (no joke) is nasty and mean and they tried to take Oprah down with an outrageous but well funded libel lawsuit before and she came out on top…
If this outrageous court decision were widely publicized, there would be a public outcry that would force differing legislation…
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:07 pm> But, why the objection to the
> projections of American power
> into Iraq and no concern about
> it’s projection into Pakistan?
I’m a paranoid, 1984ish type who thinks that at the very highest levels ONLY, all these guys are working together….
all the rest of the people on both sides, mid level and low level, are just smucks…
but, perphaps trying to speculate on what my less paranoid brethern would say? that hmmm, well Pakistian, and people formerly and currently in Pakistan, had SOMETHING to do with the groups and organizations who attacked us. unlike iraq, who, well, never attacked us at all, ever, at any time..
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pm