"'Hostage Crisis' Or End Game?"

That's the headline of Joe Quinn's essay at Signs-of-the-Times. Here's the opening remarks:

"Up until the 23rd March 2007, it seemed unlikely that the 'creative destructionists' (1) and 'reality-makers' in the Pentagon and Tel Aviv would get to "liberate" Iran in the way they have liberated 26 million Iraqis (1 million of them from their bodies).

"The past 3 years of subtle and not-so-subtle slander and demonisation of the Iranian president and people by the American, British and Israeli governments and their media had been largely ineffective in further provoking the anti-Islamic ire of Joe six-pack. After all, with the US invasion of Iraq either a war crime or a quagmire (depending on your political perspective and depth of conscience) Bush's political capital account was seriously overdrawn, rendering the idea of extending the Middle East madness into an attack on Iran nothing but a Zionist pipe dream.

"Or so it seemed."

Joe's on the money with this analysis. Hit the link for the rest.

More Pet food is Recalled

Bloomberg.com:

Purina pulled 13.2-ounce and 22-ounce cans of its Alpo Prime Cuts and Gravy wet dog food made at plant 1159 and bearing date codes from 7037 to 7053, the statement said. The company's 5.3- ounce Mighty Dog pouch products were removed from stores as part of the Menu Foods recall on March 16.

Yesterday, Colgate-Palmolive Co. unit Hill's Pet Nutrition, the maker of Science Diet pet foods, recalled its Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food because it may contain gluten from the Menu Foods supplier.

Yesterday, Colgate-Palmolive Co. unit Hill's Pet Nutrition, the maker of Science Diet pet foods, recalled its Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food because it may contain gluten from the Menu Foods supplier.

8,000 Complaints

Menu Foods recalled food sold under brands such as Procter & Gamble Co.'s Iams and retailers' own labels. Iams dry food isn't made by Menu Foods and doesn't contain wheat gluten, Cincinnati- based Procter & Gamble said.

Melamine is used as a fertilizer in Asia and is a durable plastic used to make plates and spoons. Normal inspections of pet food wouldn't have detected the substance.

Officials traced the wheat gluten to China and have begun inspecting imports. The supplier of the wheat gluten wasn't identified...

Week in Review

Bush lied. The congressional bill will not deprive troops of needed funds as Bush asserted last week. The army has enough money to fund the war through July.

Pretty darn ironic. John Gibson, Bill O'Lielly and Michelle Malkin have launched a campaign to get Rosie O'Donnell fired from the view. May I add that I have seen attacks on Rosie over at MSNBC as well.

Whenever people tried to tell me what a liberal Bill Clinton was, I remind them of Nafta to shut them up. Hillary appears to have split with Bill's Nafta legacy.

Wasn't it just gruesome how the president used troops at Walter Reed as his backdrop when he pretended to apologize for the conditions there?

Anatomy of a photo-op.
Bush at Walter Reed: “Journalists were allowed to take pictures and watch for only a few minutes before being ushered out, though not before Bush told photographers to take pictures of Sgt. Mark Ecker’s tattoo of a naked woman. Reporters were not allowed to interview patients in Abrams Hall, hospital officials said, citing logistics. The hospital instead made available two doctors, who spoke glowingly about the president’s visit and had no information to provide about the facility’s problems.” Bush wrapped up his visit an hour before the scheduled time.
UPDATE2: “The president was not taken into the shut-down Building 18 yesterday but was shown a well-kept, empty dormitory room equipped with flat-screen television and desktop computer in Abrams Hall, where some Building 18 patients have been moved.”

Gonzo lies: "I believe in truth and accountability and every step that I've taken is consistent with that principle," Gonzales said when asked why he is not heeding calls to resign. "I am fighting for the truth as well."

OMG. Prayer flunks test: "In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that having people pray for heart bypass surgery patients had no effect on their recovery. In fact, patients who knew they were being prayed for had a slightly higher rate of complications."

Give me some good news.

Caption anyone?

source unknown

Do you know this person?

Friday Sex Post for Women

Terrible Ted sent me a link to this article for the Friday sex post: Do Women Enjoy Chocolate More Than Sex?

The article by Danielle Egan is about a book written by Joan Sewell, I'd Rather Eat Chocolate: Learning to Love My Low Libido, who claims that women lose their libidos as they grow older. It's an old excuse and is not scientifically sound. Sure, she may prefer chocolate to sex with her husband for whatever reasons and she may be ok with her low libido- fine with me. But it's not biological. If the opportunity came up, my chocolate stash would be out the window in a second. Sewell thinks horny women are pandering to men. It's quite the contrary.

A woman's seeming lack of a sex drive, is not usually biological if you study the studies. Menopause does not click the switch off either. In this world with the unprecendented distractions, it's easy for couples to fall into a rut when it comes to intimacy, but with a little work from both sides, you can turn that flicker into a flame, if you want to.

Chocolate is a wonderful sex substitute for a human being, because you get the emotional pleasure (and then the resulting guilt)... but if someone new gives you the eye, that chocolate bar is not necessary anymore, although both are delightful as a combo. A woman may choose to stay on the chocolate rather than to get it on with the mailman because she values her current relationship, but it's not because she lacks the ability to be a horn dog.

A woman who eats chocolate is not dead yet.
If she were dead, she wouldn't be eating the chocolate.

UPDATE: Terrible Ted also wants you to see this article: Storm in US over chocolate Jesus
Chocolate Jesus on a cross? Oh. It's art. That's sure to fuel a controversy with the unpopular but vocal Catholic League who do not represent the majority of US Catholics. And isn't it interesting that the 'storm' is covered in the BBC news and I haven't even heard of this "storm" here in NY where it is happening?

UPDATE 2: the story is all over the cover of the NY Daily News. Figures.
UPDATE 3: The Chocolate Jesus will not be displayed after all.

Let me see if I have this straight.

President Bunnypants goes on the record blaming the Democrats in the House and Senate for not caring about the troops enough to fund them. In fact the bills from the House and Senate actually include more money than bush requested to fund the troops and the House bill makes bush certify that the troops are "properly trained, equipped and rested before being sent into combat." The problem is that bush wants to veto the bill because it calls for a withdrawal of troops 15 months from now. So if bush vetoes the bill, how can it be the fault of the Democrats?

Then I saw bush on tv reading blog posts from several weeks ago by Baghdad bloggers who say that everything is improving in Baghdad and that people are returning. It turns out that things are not improving and if you read the blog posts by these guys now, the shit is hitting the fan. Furthermore Michael Ware, CNN Baghdad correspondent said that even in the Green Zone, no one is permitted to go into the streets without wearing a flak jacket.

Then I heard Joe Lieberman and John McCain get up and tell everyone that the surge is working and Baghdad is safer but both of them were debunked by the facts.

I don't think it's very nice to spin the news and lie about an actual war to the American people. I believe that this undermines our troops very much. I also believe that if bush had read his father's memoirs, we wouldn't be in this mess and he should be held accountable.

From Chapter 19, A World Transformed, 1998 by GHW Bush (not edited)

Trying to eliminate Saddam, extending the ground war into an occupation of Iraq, would have violated our guideline about not changing objectives in midstream, engaging in "mission creep," and would have incurred incalculable human and political costs. Apprehending him was probably impossible. We had been unable to find Noriega in Panama, which we knew intimately. We would have been forced to occupy Baghdad and, in effect, rule Iraq. The coalition would instantly have collapsed, the Arabs deserting it in anger and other allies pulling out as well. Under the circumstances, there was no viable "exit strategy" we could see, violating another of our principles. Furthermore, we had been self-consciously trying to set a pattern for handling aggression in the post-Cold War world. Going in and occupying Iraq, thus unilaterally exceeding the United Nations' mandate, would have destroyed the precedent of international response to aggression that we hoped to establish. Had we gone the invasion route, the United States could conceivably still be an occupying power in a bitterly hostile land. It would have been a dramatically different — and perhaps barren — outcome.

---------------
PS. Check out Candy's excellent book reports on Glenn Greenwald's How Would A Patriot Act and Joe Conason's It Can Happen Here. I better get myself to the library.

Let the Music Play

Just my 2¢...

Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore is being blocked by some anti-global warming Congress critters of the GOP (my party, right or wrong) persuasion from having a "Live Earth" concert on the steps of the Capital building this July. The major excuse given by that bastion of ill repute, James Inhofe (R-Ok) is that you're not supposed to have an event that is partisan or politically controversial on Capital gruonds. Being that Inhofe's opinion on global warming makes the whole thing politically controversial and partisan, and someone ought to investigate exactly whose pocket Inhofe is in, makes this controversy laughable. Furthermore, his ill informed and uneducated opinion on the topic, plus the fact that he is anti-science (unless it serves his political agenda) in this day and age, insults my, and the rest of country's, intelligence. Global warming is not an opinion.


Speaking of Al Gore, did you catch Jon Stewart hosting Dennis Miller the other night and the sarcastic ribbing Stewart received from Colbert afterwards for not taking Miller down?

"Calm down with the threats."

States Speaker Pelosi -

"On this very important matter, I would extend a hand of friendship to the president, just to say to him, 'Calm down with the threats," she said. "There's a new Congress in town. We accept your constitutional role. We want you to accept ours."

"This war must end. The American people have lost faith in the president's conduct of the war. Let's see how we can work together," added Pelosi, D-Calif.

She and Reid also sent Bush a letter during the day that said they "stand ready to work with you, but your threats to veto a bill that has not even been presented to you indicate that you may not be ready to work with us."


video here

Yep, hasn't even reached his desk and he's threatening a veto showdown and claiming ANYTHING that goes wrong with the army and war is now the fault of Congress. What a wanker!

So where are we at with the spiraling into the inky bowels of hell check off list?

1. Failed war and occupation
2. Former allies runing away and ignoring you
3. Several members of administration on trial or under investigation
4. Economy in the tank and sinking fast
5. Even the Mormons have lost faith in you (its true, a 21% drop in approval)
6. Your best advisor, Turdblossom, has started a rap career
7. Even the always reliable Right wing shills are getting their asses handed to them on their own TV shows

I'm sure you can come up with heaps more, maybe we should keep a running list somewhere so we can refer back to it.

Baby, baby, where did our love go?

UPDATE Friday, March 30
From Think Progress:

The Bush administration responded with shock to King Abdullah’s declaration that the U.S. is “illegitimately” occupying Iraq. “We were a little surprised to see those remarks,” said Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns. White House spokesman Dana Perino claimed, “It is not accurate to say that the United States is occupying Iraq.”

Then what is accurate Dana Perino? Please tell us.


You are a more ruthless dictator than I am, Bushie.
You, my dickless f(r)iend, possess no kingly skills. Your breath smells like camel farts and I will not kiss you this time. We will hold hands and walk in the park instead.


Oh my goodness. What went wrong?

The president was to host a gala for Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah on April 17, much to my nausea. Bandar bin Sultan (alias Bandar Bush) flew to DC last week to explain that the date was not convenient. WaPo's Jim Hoagland gives you the scoop. Also Jordan's King Abdullah has let the WH know that he can't make it for dinner this September.

Meanwhile the International Herald Tribune reports that

"King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, opening a summit meeting of Arab leaders here Wednesday, called the U.S military presence in Iraq "illegitimate" and warned that sectarianism could lead to all-out civil war.

"In beloved Iraq, blood flows between brothers in the shadow of illegitimate foreign occupation and hateful sectarianism, threatening a civil war," he said, in unusually strong criticism of the United States from a strong ally.

But Abdullah's focus was mostly on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which Sunni Arab leaders see as a major cause of violent radicalism in their own countries and threat to regional stability."

OMG, did they read my blog? It's about time.

But what's this about Persia?
This is interesting: Iran planning to stop using U.S. dollar to price oil
brace yourselves.

UPDATE: Condi was snubbed by Israel. "It refused her offer to act as negotiator between its government and the Palestinian authorities."

Ladies and Gentlemen

I give you . . . Politits.

Any blog site with this motto is worth reading: "Sex and politics. Two obsessions with a lot in common. Someone always gets fucked."

Sounds a bit like this place, no? (I wonder if she's a blonde.)

Enjoy.

Even his Allies aren't returning his calls

I think this is quite possibly the best news I've heard today.

Now WE here, (you know, those citizens who actually READ and don't turn to Faux News to give us answers) do realized that the majority of terrorists attacks in Iraq are being funded and performed by allies of the Arabs, so it is especially interesting that Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah had his national security advisor Bandar bin Sultan FLY to DC to tell Bush that the state dinner for April is OFF. The reason, 'It is not convenient' was the way it was put," says one official.

Now of course this comes right after an announcement that Saudi Arabi is looking for some common ground with the Iranians and Hezbollah. The money quote (and one I'll commit to memory) is :

"She is conducting crisis management, not grand diplomacy," a European official who talked to her recently said disappointedly.

Adds an admirer who tracks Rice's intentions and assessments in the Middle East: "Condi is doing everything she can. But she is dancing with a corpse that just keeps flopping over in another direction every time she tries to move it."

It is also noted that in the traditional Saudi view, when an administration or ruler is swimming against a tide of scandal and stench that engulfs his most trusted aides... this is a moment to hedge, not to indulge.

Moon River

ahhh.....one of the best!

You MUST take a listen to THIS VERSION by Kid Koala + P Love. He's a "Turntablist" (I thought there was something wrong with the audio when I played it)

A fantasy like experience, especially when it comes on while you're typing. It's haunting. It's simply beautiful.....

Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

Kid Koala is Kewl. Fantastic piece of recording!!! (right click to add)


While you're over at Motel, don't forget to get Marvin Gaye - What's going on, and The Guess Who (Who?) - Undun.

Enjoy.

Who does our government serve anyway?

Have you read this article?

The AIPAC Girl
by Patrick J. Buchanan

"If George W. Bush launches a pre-emptive war on Iran, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will bear full moral responsibility for that war.

For it was Pelosi who quietly agreed to strip out of the $100 billion funding bill for Iraq a provision that would have required President Bush to seek congressional approval before launching any new war on Iran.

Pelosi’s capitulation came in the Appropriations Committee.

What went down, and why?"

Buchanan suggests that Israel jerked her chain- Continue reading

Just who does this government of ours serve?

What happened to the Declaration of Independence anyway?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

See also
Howard Zinn at youtube Now Is The Time To END All War on This Earth
Anarchism and the Question of Human Nature
The Moral Obligation To Be Intelligent (1927)

We need to get smarter and angrier

My mind is whirling right now. I read how we are sending severely wounded troops back for more tours of duty because we can't afford to let them go home to heal. (Not that Walter Reed is much better for our wounded soldiers to mend at). The administration has pushed through its troop increase, leaving MORE men and women in harms way, with little to no training on new equipment (what little of it there is) and no understanding of basic language phrases or customs. Its like they WANT more civilian murders at the hands of our troops, isn't it?

Yet, with all of the problems they are having with one occupation there is now a ground swell of rumors and reports that they want to start ANOTHER one? (See Peter's story below). WTF?! And just what are the justifications for this 'war'?

Add to this the Congress has passed a resolution to give funding to the troops WITH the addition of a timetable for withdraw (One year) (Pity (not) Dick Cheney who rushed to the capitol to cast a tie breaking vote only to find out several republicans had sided with the dems - bwhahahaha). Not that it matters, of course, W has already stated that he will ignore the timetable and do and he damn well pleases. A stance that could easily be the final nail in his impeachment coffin.

Which of course leads me to wonder why he hasn't been impeached yet. He has screwed up everything he has ever touched, he is completely out of touch with reality in general and with the American public specifically. By his own admission, he talks to invisible people and listens when they talk back, he has nothing but faith in his cronies and financial backers... most of whom are leaving him in the dust.

I know the Neo-cons were waiting and expecting the Dems to splinter apart, to have a break down of their new found solidarity over the 'little, grey issues' but you know what, maybe we are getting smarter and learning to look at the big picture. Once the war is over and the monkey slinging shit has been taken out of the room and locked up, THEN we can hammer out the little details that separate us, but until then we stand as one. And we cannot let them pull us apart, not until the nightmare they started has been ended.

Yes, I am alive

Sorry I've been gone so long, health issues and a family crisis reared its ugly headand kept me quite busy for the last few weeks. I'm just trying to get my thoughts in order over the planned invasion of yet another Middle Eastern Country, but until then, please accept this joke:



One December day we found an old straggly cat at our door. She was a sorry sight. Starving, dirty, smelled terrible, skinny and hair all matted down.

We felt sorry for her, put her in a carrier and took her to the vet. We didn't know what to call her, so we named her "Pussycat."

The vet decided to keep her for a day or so. He said he would let us know when we could come and get her. My husband (the complainer) said, "OK, but don't forget to wash her, she stinks."

He reminded the vet that it was his WIFE (me) that wanted the dirty cat,not him. My husband and my Vet don't see eye to eye. The vet calls my husband El-Cheap-O', and my husband calls the vet 'El-Charge-O'. They love to hate each other and constantly 'snipe' at one another, with my husband getting in the last word on this particular occasion.

The next day my husband had an appointment with his doctor, who is located in the same building, next door to the vet. The MD's waiting room and office was full of people waiting to see the doctor.

A side door opened and the vet leaned in - he had obviously seen my husband arrive-
He looked straight at my husband and in a loud voice said, "Your wife's pussy doesn't stink any more and it's finally clean and shaved, so she now smells like a rose. Oh, and, by the way, I think she's pregnant. God only knows who the father is!"

Then he closed the door.


Now THAT, my friends, is getting even.

"Operation Bite: April 6 sneak attack by US forces against Iran planned, Russian military sources warn"

By Webster G. Tarpley
Online Journal Contributing Writer
Mar 26, 2007, 01:02

WASHINGTON DC, -- The long awaited US military attack on Iran is now on track for the first week of April, specifically for 4 am on April 6, the Good Friday opening of Easter weekend, writes the well-known Russian journalist Andrei Uglanov in the Moscow weekly "Argumenty Nedeli." Uglanov cites Russian military experts close to the Russian General Staff for his account.

Hit the link for full article.


UPDATE: Russian News and Information Agency: "Russian intelligence sees U.S. military buildup on Iran border"


MOSCOW, March 27 (RIA Novosti) - Russian military intelligence services are reporting a flurry of activity by U.S. Armed Forces near Iran's borders, a high-ranking security source said Tuesday.

"The latest military intelligence data point to heightened U.S. military preparations for both an air and ground operation against Iran," the official said, adding that the Pentagon has probably not yet made a final decision as to when an attack will be launched.

So Sad In A Hilarious Kinda Way

When I read Novak's piece in the Washington Post the other day ("In half a century, I have not seen a president so isolated from his own party in Congress -- not Jimmy Carter, not even Richard Nixon as he faced impeachment."), I couldn't help but think of the last line in the old schoolyard song "The Farmer in the Dell".

The cheese stands alone.

Did you know?

Watch this AMAZING video

(hat tip to Bri atbreezedebris)

Banana Republicans

I'm Chiquita Banana, and I've come to say
Bananas have to ripen in a certain way.
And when they are flecked with brown and have a golden hue,
Bananas taste the best, and are the best for you.
You can put them in a salad. You can put them in a pie - aye.
Anyway you want to eat them it's impossible to beat them.
But bananas like the climate of the very, very tropical equator.
So you should never put bananas in the refrigerator.
~The Chiquita Banana Song
---------------------------

Amy Goodman writes, "Want to help finance terrorism? Buy a Chiquita banana."

...Chiquita made almost monthly payments to the AUC from 1997 to 2004, totaling at least $1.7 million.

The AUC is a brutal paramilitary umbrella group, with an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 armed troops. It was named a terrorist organization by the United States on Sept. 10, 2001. Among its standard tactics are kidnapping, torture, disappearance, rape, murder, beatings, extortion and drug trafficking.

Chiquita claims it had to make the payments under threat from the AUC in order to protect its employees and property. Chiquita's outside lawyers implored them to stop the illegal payments, to no avail....

...

Chiquita has had a long history of criminal behavior. It was the subject of an extraordinary exposé in its hometown paper, The Cincinnati Enquirer, in 1998. The paper found that Chiquita exposed entire communities to dangerous U.S.-banned pesticides, forced the eviction of an entire Honduran village at gunpoint and its subsequent bulldozing, suppressed unions, unwittingly allowed the use of Chiquita transport ships to move cocaine internationally, and paid a fortune to U.S. politicians to influence trade policy....

Banana Republican: But you just knew somehow that the US politician's, particularly Republicans had to have something to do with this. After reading the whole above article, I did some "googling" and I found this transcript from Frontline January 30, 1996 called So You Want to Buy a President? Who buys presidents? Why it's the Chiquita Banana guy, Carl Lindner (still on the list of Forbe's billionaires), former head of Chiquita. Read more about Lindner in 1997 here at Frontline. This man and his bananas were verrrrry influential in American politics, even with the Clintons, but probably only because Clinton was the president despite all the money Lindner threw at Bob Dole who liked to use Lindner's private jet to get around. There was a banana war raging between the US and the EU- two countries that don't even produce bananas, but Lindner got US politicians to get the WTO to force the EU to open their markets to Chiquita bananas.

Why does that name sound familiar? He also contributed $300,000 towards the Swift Boat Veterans for Lies. Not unbelievable.
---------

Day, I said Day, I said Day-ay-ay-oh
Daylight coming and me wanna go home

When They Start Taking The Fifth . . .

Dear Ms. Goodling:

I'm sorry to hear that things are moving down hill fast.

I'm sure it was hard enough that you had to take leave of absence for "personal reasons" from that cushy job as Department of Justice liaison to the White House. I hope your dog gets better soon. Still, as liaison between the DOJ and the White House, you must have had access to lots of juicy stuff. Oops, I guess I understand why it is you need to assert your Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination when you appear before the Senate and House committees.

You go ahead and take the Fifth, honey. I'm sure Messrs. Leahy and Conyers ain't after a small fry like you. (They mighta learned something from the Scooter Libby deal.) But don't think this gets you off the hook. Make no mistake about it, you will be testifying. The only questions is what type of immunity you get.

Kudos to your Daddy for picking John Dowd as your lawyer. He's a smart guy and I'm sure he'll do a great job keeping your sorry ass out of jail.

Toodles.
Red

Monday Mental Tune-Up

It's going to be a busy week, and we need to be in full control of our mental faculities, so here's something to get our brains working on a Monday.

Name all 50 states in ten minutes. Time starts when you click the link, so be prepared.

I got all 50 with about six minutes to spare. Michigan costs me a bit of time.

How'd you do?

INDIVIDUALISM

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Europe appears to be losing faith in its own future, Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday, warning against "dangerous individualism" on a continent where many people are having fewer children.
"One must unfortunately note that Europe seems to be going down a road which could lead it to take its leave from history," the pontiff told bishops in Rome for ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, a major step toward the creation of today's European Union.

Benedict said he was concerned about Europe's "demographic profile"—though he did not describe the trends that have alarmed the continent for decades.

In countries like Italy, where many married couples have one or no children, the population is expected to shrink dramatically in a generation or two unless fertility rates quickly increase.

Benedict expressed concern that Europe's population trends, "besides putting economic growth at risk, can also cause enormous difficulties for social cohesion, and, above all, favor dangerous individualism, careless about the consequences for the future."


Sociologists and economists blame the economy, particularly the unemployment rate—at 14.9 percent the highest in the EU. Worried about losing their jobs, many women in Poland put off having children, often until it is too late.

Italian experts cite Italian's desire for an easier lifestyle, but they also blame shortages of day care centers, expensive housing and a sluggish job market which sees many Italians living at home until well into their 30s as reasons for the country's relatively few children.

Here is the entire AP story

I need your help here my friends.

Somehow, not bringing a lot of children into an uncertain world, with the prospect of having a difficult future seems pretty responsible to me. It doesn't strike me as possibly leading to "dangerous individualism". Maybe I don't have a clear understanding of how he is using the word "individualism":

1. a social theory advocating the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual.
2. the principle or habit of or belief in independent thought or action.
3. the pursuit of individual rather than common or collective interests; egoism.
4. individual character; individuality.
5. an individual peculiarity.
6. Philosophy. a. the doctrine that only individual things are real.
b. the doctrine or belief that all actions are determined by, or at least take place for, the benefit of the individual, not of society as a whole.

He must be using the philosophical meaning?

Or, maybe he is using the economic view: A view that stresses the importance and worth of each person. In economics, it is the doctrine that individuals best serve the public interest by pursuing their own self-interest. For example, the businessman who expands his company to increase his profits also creates jobs for many people and thereby serves the public interest. (See laissez-faire.)

Must be this one since he was speaking at the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome -Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (I had no idea the Treaty of Rome "was nurtured at Bilderberg meetings)


I'm not even going to try to figure out how a decrease in population can also cause enormous difficulties for social cohesion. ( a state in society in which the vast majority of citizens respect the law, one another's human rights and values, and share a commitment to retain social order)


I thought that maybe a look at "individualism" over at wikipedia might help. OH BOY! "Individualism has a controversial relationship with egoism (selfishness)", and now I'm trying to get into Ayn Rand's head. She describes selfishness as a virtue.

Maybe someday I will be able to read without trying to get into the head of the person writing it. It drives me crazy (and my hubby) when I constantly ask "what do you think they mean by that"? He won't even watch movies with me anymore!

So, what do you think? Could Pope Bentdick be onto something using the term "dangerous individualism"?

Land of the free, Home of the brave

I just don't see how not negotiating or speaking to one's enemies is a good policy. Weren't we taught to look bullies in the eye? It seems more bullyish than brave and more chickenhearted than courageous to refuse to speak to those who don't obey us. That's what struck me most about this article in the NY Times: U.S. Envoy Says He Met With Iraq Rebels

And meanwhile, we have a list. A huge list. Of supposed people who may do harm to this country. And once you're on the list, you can't get off. The listmasters are overwhelmed.

And to add scariness to the whole scenario, Novak writes: "In half a century, I have not seen a president so isolated from his own party in Congress -- not Jimmy Carter, not even Richard Nixon as he faced impeachment." Now that's an indictment.

How about Chuck Hagel, "Any president who says, I don't care, or I will not respond to what the people of this country are saying about Iraq or anything else, or I don't care what the Congress does, I am going to proceed — if a president really believes that, then there are — what I was pointing out, there are ways to deal with that."

How about me saying, "I miss Nixon."

New Rules For Bush and Cheney

I love it when Bill Maher seems to be reading our minds.
Watch here

Bill Maher, HBO March 23rd

New Rule - Traitors don't get to question my patriotism.
What could be less patriotic than constantly screwing things up for America? You know, it's literally hard to keep up with the sheer volume of scandals in the Bush administration. Which is why I like to download the latest scandals right onto my IPod. That way, I can catch up on this week's giant fuck up on my drive into work.

In fact, Bush has so many scandals he could open a chain of "Bush Scandal and Fuck Up" theme restaurants. Hmmm, should I get the Harriet Miers Meatloaf, or the Katrina Crabcakes?

You know, not to generalize, but the 29 percent of people who still support President Bush are the ones who love to pronounce themselves more patriotic than the rest of us. But just saying you're patriotic is like saying you have a big cock. If you have to say it, chances are it's not true. And indeed, the Party that flatters itself that they protect America better is the Party that has exhausted the military, left the ports wide open, and purposely outed a CIA agent, Valerie Plame. That's not treason anymore, outing a spy? Did I mention it was one of our spies?

And how despicable that Bush's lackeys attempted to diminish this crime by belittling her service like she was just some chick who hung around the CIA. An intern really. Groupie if you want to be mean about it. No. Big lie. Valerie Plame was the CIA's operational officer in charge of counter-proliferation. Which means she tracked loose nukes. So, when Bush said, as he once did, that his absolute, number one priority was preventing terrorists from getting loose nukes, okay, that's what she worked on. That's what she devoted her life to. Staying undercover for 20 years. Maintaining two identities every God-damned day. This is extraordinary service to your country. Valerie Plame was the kind of real life secret agent George Bush dreams of being when he's not too busy pretending to be a cowboy or a fighter pilot.

CIA agents are troops. This was a military assassination of one of our own done through the press, ordered by Karl Rove. He said of Valerie Plame, quote, "She's fair game," and then Cheney shot her.

George Bush likes to claim that he doesn't question his critics' patriotism, just their judgment. Well, let me be the first of your critics, Mr. President, to question your judgment and your patriotism. Because let's not forget why they did it to her. Because Valerie Plame was married to this guy Joe Wilson who the Bush people hated because he busted them on one of their bullshit reasons for invading Iraq. He was sent to the African country of Niger to see if Niger was selling nuclear fuel to Iraq. They weren't. It was bullshit. And he said so. In fact, his report was called, "Niger, Please."

Valerie Plame's husband told the truth about their lies, so they were willing to jeopardize an entire network of spies to ruin her life. Wow. Even the mob doesn't go after your family.

Mark Twain said, "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." And I say Valerie Plame is a patriot because she spent her life serving her country. Scooter Libby is not because he spent his life serving Dick Cheney. Valerie Plame kept her secrets. The Bush administration leaked like the plumbing at Walter Reed.

In the year 2008, I really think that Hillary Clinton should run for president on a platform of restoring honor and integrity to the Oval Office.

Hat tip to Alternet Blog peek

BUT! What are we going to do about the emissions of bullshit from republicans?

"Pill stops cow burps and helps save the planet"

There's the headline. Here's Kate Connolly's article in the British-based Guardian:
Friday March 23, 2007

Cut down on flying, sell the car and recycle your bottles. But if you really want to tackle global warming, you should stop your cow from burping.
According to scientific estimates, the methane gas produced by cows is responsible for 4% of greenhouse gas emissions. And now, German scientists have invented a pill to cut bovine burping.
The fist-sized plant-based pill, known as a bolus, combined with a special diet and strict feeding times, is meant to reduce the methane produced by cows.

Hit the link for the rest of Kate's article. Meanwhile, I'm gonna try and find her e-mail address and ask her if she's heard anything about attempts to eliminate or at least reduce the amount of political bullshit that is also polluting our planet.

Kate writes about a good idea though. I spent my high school years, and a lotta time since then, doing farm work, which included milking cows, some even by hand instead of a machine. Once, I was pouring ground oats into the manger connected to old Bossy's stanchion when she let one rip right in my face and I damn near lost my supper. Up to that point in time I had always believed that a combination lima bean/sauerkraut fart was the worst smell on earth.

Some Things We Need To Pay Attention To

It's easy to become engrossed in all this Alberto Gonzales and Prosecutor-Gate stuff because there are lots of juicy details to savor. Every Friday evening is a feast as new documents are dripped, dripped, dripped out. There are, however, a couple other issues we oughtta be keeping our eyes on:

I can't believe the Iranians were stupid enough to snatch a bunch of Brits. I mean, it's not as if King George and the Neocon Nation aren't just waiting for an excuse to launch another war of aggression. Ahmedinijad is an idiot.

The Inspector General of the Justice Department has found huge abuse of National Security Letters, which force business owners to disclose sensitive client information without permission from the client. What he has said, in fact, is that the FBI acted illegally in obtaining highly personal information, such as internet records, bank accounts and credit information under the inaptly named Patriot Act. Now there's a freaking surprise. Who would have expected that to happen? Naturally, the Director of the FBI won't resign, nor will 'Berto, his boss (yes, we are back to Mr. Gonzales again). Apparently no one is responsible and the buck stops no where.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Insanity is collecting more information than they can possibly analyze, with annoying consequences to American citizens who find themselves on "no-fly" lists, thereby restricting their ability to travel freely. Constitution? We don't need no stinkin' Constitution.

In addition, King George himself appears to have put the kibosch on an internal Department of Justice investigation into warrantless wiretapping. The investigation was being conducted by DOJ's Office of Professional Responsibility, which is charged with monitoring ethical abuses. (OPR was created in the wake of abuses by DOJ during Watergate. The more things change, the more they remain the same.) The investigation was stymied because His Heinie refused to grant the investigators the requisite national security clearances. This bears watching; we may see a lot more about this in the news very shortly.

The extent of the Pentagon's lies following the death of Pat Tillman are finally coming to light. That only took a couple of years. Its Inspector General "will cite a range of errors and inappropriate conduct as the military probed the former football star’s death on the battlefront . . ." That conduct includes the involvement of of four general officers. Geoffrey Chaucer once asked the question: If a shepard be shitten, what shall his sheep be? When military leadership acts this way, incidents such as Haditha should surprise exactly no one.

New Yorkers were spied on widely in the months before the 2004 Republican National Convention. Probably a buncha stinkin' flithy hippies with delusions about their so-called rights.

The new Secretary of Defense wanted to shut down Guantanamo, and the Secretary of State agreed, but they were overruled by Snarling Dick and (uh oh, here we go again) Alberto Gonzales. Meanwhile, the CIA is waiting for King George to set torture guidelines, but those are waiting for review and approval by 'Berto, who is busy with other matters right now.

Finally, because I can't resist, we have learned over the past 36 hours that Gonzo was a tad more involved in the US Attorney firings than previously disclosed, and that the DOJ liaison to the White House has gone on indefinite personal leave. Story here. Keep digging Mr. Leahy and Mr. Conyers. Most of this stuff has a common thread, and we'd like to see you find it and pull it. I will be quite interested to see what unravels.

Environmental Nightmare

This weekend marks the anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. March 29, 1989 at four minutes past midnight the oil tanker Exxon Valdez struck a reef in Alaska's spectacular Prince William Sound. 11 million gallons of crude oil was spilled. An environmental nightmare began that would not only change Prince William Sound, but the world. They'd like us to forget. Let's not, okay?