Thursday, July 31

How desperate is McCain?

How desperate is McCain? Comparing Obama to Britney and Paris in a campaign commercial. That's the best he can do? feh.
I'd fire my PR firm if I was the maverick. Dirty politics and smear campaigns only make he who does the smearing look like a fool. No wonder Obama is more popular than McCain.

American Justice?

Ya know what I like about our surveillance society (and there's not a lot about it I like)? I like that regular people can report back via YouTube just what corruption there is among authority figures, especially the cops.... particularly the NYPD. Thank Goddess for video phones.

When the video of the cop who body slammed a cyclist hit the internets, the cop was stripped of his badge and gun and put behind a desk. It's too bad that the cyclist was charged with attempted assault in the third degree, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, when in fact it was the cop who was guilty of assault and it looks like from the video, in the first degree and was quite disorderly himself.

Let this be a warning to the police. We're watching you too.

Watch the video.

Wednesday, July 30

Quote of the Week:

"How miserably the system has failed is highlighted by the large crowds turning up for free weekend clinics run by an organization called Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps. It was founded in 1985 to bring medical services to the Central Amazon Basin, an area ill-served even by Third World standards.

"The organization's founder, Stan Brock, calls the clinics "expeditions" to where the needs are greatest. Sixty percent of the expeditions now go not to the Amazon or other Latin American regions but to places in the United States. The most recent expedition, last weekend, was to Wise, in the southwest corner of Virginia."

-- Bernd Debusmann in his Reuters article In rich America, Third World inequality

Olmert Resigning in September



Israeli Prime Minister Olmert to resign in Sept.

Appearing angry and reading from a prepared text, Olmert said, "I was forced to defend myself against relentless attacks from self-appointed 'fighters for justice' who sought to depose me from my position, when the ends sanctified all the means."
Olmert, whose term was to end in 2010, said he would not run in his party's primary election, set for Sept. 17,


and from one of my favorite blog posts of all time......


Never Trust a Man with a Comb-Over
by Edgar J. Steele



excerpt......

Never trust a man with a comb-over. Yes, that self deception in which a balding man deludes himself into thinking that growing his hair out to an incredible length on one side of his head, then simply flinging it over to the other side, will cause others to think it looks as good as it does to himself. For example, take this fellow:



He actually thinks we don't notice that he is bald all the way to the back of his skull. He thinks that, somehow, we will believe he has a normal head of hair. He probably thinks that young girls my daughter's age find him attractive. I assume that a disproportionate number of perverts, child molesters and murderers of women and children have comb-overs - not to imply, heaven forbid, that this particular fellow should be viewed in that light.


Really, now - would you buy a used car from this man? Seriously - think about it. Someone who thinks he can delude you with something as obvious as a comb-over? He could persuade himself that you might be deceived by anything he said or did, don't you think? Look at those close-set, sneaky eyes. In this picture, you can almost hear him chortling over some poor sucker whom he just fleeced, as he rubs his hands together, Scrooge like. Or, perhaps, he is plotting the abduction of some poor innocent and is considering where to hide the body.

What a Nation's Leadership Says About its Character

Coincidentally, the man with the comb-over pictured above happens to be Ehud Olmert, Israel's current Prime Minister and architect of the genocidal frenzy that has been taking place in both Palestine and Lebanon. Past Israeli Prime Ministers have included self-confessed assassins (Begin) and mass murderers (Sharon) who thought themselves fit to mingle in amongst normal, decent people. That such men are selected to lead should tell you a great deal about Israel. Not that choosing a boob like Bush to lead America is not just as telling. H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) once observed:.............


As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents,
more and more closely, the inner soul of the people.
On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land
will reach their heart's desire at last
and the White House will be adorned
by a downright moron.

Just Sickening

From Think PRogress
Bush administration officials “reassured Israel’s defense minister this week that the United States has not abandoned all possibility of a military attack on Iran.” At the same time, the Israelis are “emphasizing the possibility of a military response out of concern that Tehran may soon have the know-how for building a nuclear bomb.”

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Did you know?

M ________ is the most expensive city on earth to live.
2) Has more billionaires living there than any other city.
3) Has a currency that has gained 8% since January against the US Dollar.


NY City which is the most expensive city in the US fell from #15 to #22 thanks to the dollar drop. Los Angeles fell to number #55 making it cheaper than Lagos, Nigeria and Almaty, Kazakhstan.


h/t farang who also added, "I can "tell ya a little story" you might find "interesting" about Putin stating (prior to 9/11/01) that he was going to sucker the Americans into invading/occupying Afghanistan, and run our military and economy and CURRENCY into the ground, JUST LIKE the US did to Russia when Reagan was in office and Moscow occupied Afghanistan.....think it might be working???

'Free Market' my flaccid floozie-flogger!

"SEC extends short selling curb through August 12"
(REUTERS): "U.S. securities regulators have extended through August 12 an emergency rule aimed at curbing abusive short selling in the stocks of 19 major financial firms, including mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

"The Securities and Exchange Commission rule is part of an agency crackdown on possible market manipulation that some blame for steep declines in the shares of financial companies."


They'll pull the curbs right in the middle of the Olympics, hoping no one will notice if the market descendeth into hell never to rise again from the dead.

Tuesday, July 29

LA to Ban Fast Food for Poor People. For their own good, of course.

The City Council of Los Angeles voted unanimously to put the poorer areas on a diet so they want to ban fast food restaurants for one year to hopefully attract restaurants that serve healthy food to poorer areas. I know... it doesn't make sense.

TSA ramps up program to psychologically screen airline passengers
If you have ever used a NY area airport, you just fell on the floor laughing. The TSA in NY doesn't understand English so every passenger would seem irate enough to blow up the place. I doubt this program is being used in NY.

Senator "Series of tubes" Stevens of Alaska has been indicted on 7 charges and will most likely have to give up his seat on the Senate Commerce Committee (thank god).

My favorite question asked by Monica Goodling to prospective candidates at the DOJ:
"What is it about George Bush that makes you want to serve him?"
Can you imagine that employees of the DOJ had to answer that question properly in order to get the job? How can there be any justice in Murka with shit like this going on?

A Message From Captain Obvious

Think Progress:
McClellan: Fox News Commentators Use The ‘Talking Points’ That The White House Sends Them


Sounds like Fox ought to be sued for using the word "news" in their name. It should be the Fox Propaganda Network.

The Guardians of Freedom





The Dark Wraith and Missouri Mule survey the final denial-based days of the crumbling Empire.

Hot off the Press!


McCain- Gag me with a spoon

It was all over CNN last night ad nauseum.

John McCain had a little piece of skin removed from his right cheek to be biopsied. He said that everything is going to be okay, but they had pundits upon pundits discussing what would happen if it was cancer and what would happen if it wasn't cancer. Dr. Sanjay Gupta was there to throw in his 2 cents. I almost threw up. Why not wait until the biopsy comes back to discuss it? Is there no other news happening on earth?

Since the news is so superficial.... Why not discuss that his wife looks like a floozie and how a good haircut could be the answer to that? They could put up graphic representations of how she'd look with a precision cut more appropriate her her age. I noticed her unruly hair when they kept showing her with him over and over and over again. She's too mature for that look.

Why not discuss all his gaffes and his dismal voting record towards women?


Gawd I hate the media.


UPDATE: McCain is cancer free. After all that punditry for nothing.

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Will the Internet End in 2012?

From IPower:
Bell Canada and TELUS (formerly owned by Verizon) employees officially confirm that by 2012 ISP's all over the globe will reduce Internet access to a TV-like subscription model, only offering access to a small standard amount of commercial sites and require extra fees for every other site you visit. These 'other' sites would then lose all their exposure and eventually shut down, resulting in what could be seen as the end of the Internet.

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Oh Nancy Pelosi GAG ME WITH A SPOON




She's the author of...Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters SAVE 32% off at Target!!




(so that's what she's been doing - writing a book these past 2 years)

so I sing La .....

Ti Da

La ......Ti Da!

Monday, July 28

For all you Female Hillary supporters who think McCainiac luvs ya some wimmens:





Well, I guess you're happy knowing your place.

Ogod, Ogod, we had our first quarrel.

It all began innocently enough on the phone:
"Hiii Hunneee, how ya' doin'? Hee-Haw."
"Hii to you Hunnee, how you doin'? Hee-Haw."
"Whuchadoin' Sweetie?"
"Nuthin much Goo-goo-pie, bloggin' around, trying to figure out who's the most hideous major candidate running for president."
"Well gosh, that's easy; McChancre is the worst."
"Eeeeyyy, wait a minute; I think Oblivion is really grotesque!"
That's the way it began and soon heated words were exchanged and the situation was on the verge of a screaming, shouting match when a voice that seemed to emanate from the phone and the stratosphere both thundered loudly, "SILENCE, MORTALS!" Awed, we awaited. The voice (which sounded suspiciously like The Dark Wraith) continued, "Now, it is obvious to me that your spiritual devotion to each other notwithstanding, your ignorance of the pecuniary pecadilloes of all the candidates is standing in your path to true wedded bliss. Hence, heed these words well."

There followed a lecture featured by its monotonicity; but in its way it was a soothing as well as enervating verbal dissertation of the financial flat-footedness which can be found not only in the present candidates but those of years past as well. And, here's the the strange thing: as the voice continued, we could feel our passions begin to rise; I could tell from the gasps and sharp intakes of breath from my betrothed on the other end of the connection that she as well as I was becoming rapidly aroused by the language coming from the voice. On and on it went, using phrases like "liquidity flow," "reversal of position," "transfer of assets, "straddle" (where I almost lost it), "fiduciary fecundity," and interspersed throughout, a repetitive use of "yield"--indeed, my betrothed gave a small squeal at the mention of "long- and short-term yield inversions."
Our host, sensing perhaps that he had found more-than-willing students, began to hasten to a conclusion; our gasps, grunts, groans, and tiny moans must have alerted him that his audience was about to pass on to an even greater knowledge than even he could impart. And like a true master of the craft he provided us with the catalyst: "Go now," he ordered, "and carry forth the message that EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE CANDIDATES IS A DUMBER FUCKING BOX OF ROCKS THAN THE OTHER!"

That's all it took. Accompanied by a titanic clap of thunder which seemed to echo down through the corridors of human history, my beloved and I were catapaulted headlong into a whirling, phantasmagoric maelstrom of colors, sounds and sensations which merged. separated, and plunged our souls through the densities, octaves, and infinite cycles of existence.

Much later, I found myself laying drenched with sweat on the basement floor, the phone beside me, and a tentative voice repeating, "Petey? Petey?"
"Yes Honey?"
"Ooohh Petey! Who was that guy?"
"I'm not really sure, but I'm gonna try and find him and hire him for Liz's Blogblastaramathon this weekend."
"Byyyeee, Petey."
"Byyyeee, Sweeetiee."

The Fannie-Freddie Fraud by Ron Paul

or maybe by Lew Rockwell (I hear he's Ron Paul's Ghost Writer) ?

Either way, I'm just thankful SOMEBODY is reporting it.

Statement before the US House of Representatives on HR 3221 July 24, 2008:
Madam Speaker,

For several years, followers of the Austrian school of economics have warned that unless Congress moved to end the implicit government guarantee of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and took other steps to disengage the US Government from the housing market, America would face a crisis in housing. This crisis would force Congress to choose between authorizing a taxpayer bailout of Fannie and Freddie, and other measures increasing government’s involvement in housing, or restoring a free-market in housing by ending government support for Fannie and Freddie and repealing all laws that interfere in housing. The bursting of the housing bubble, and the recent near-collapse in investor support for Fannie and Freddie has proven my fellow Austrians correct. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, instead of ending the prior interventions in the housing market that are responsible for the current crisis, Congress is increasing the level of government intervention in the housing market. This is the equivalent of giving a drug addict another fix, which will only make the necessary withdrawal more painful.

The provision giving the Treasury Secretary a blank check to purchase Fannie and Freddie stock not only makes the implicit government guarantee of Fannie and Freddie explicit, it represents another unconstitutional delegation of Congress’ Constitutional authority to control the allocation of taxpayer dollars. While the Treasury Secretary has to file a report with Congress, the lack of any effective standards for the expenditure of funds makes it impossible for Congress to perform effective oversight on Treasury’s expenditures.

HR 3221 also takes another troubling step toward the creation of surveillance state by creating a Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. This federal database will contain personal information about anyone wishing to work as a "loan originator." "Loan originator" is defined broadly as anyone who "takes a residential loan application; and offers or negotiates terms of a residential mortgage loan for compensation or gain." According to some analysts, this definition is so broad as to cover part-time clerks and real estate agents who receive even minimal compensation from "originators." Additionally, this database forced on industry will be funded by fees paid to the federal banking agencies, yet another costly burden to the American taxpayers.

Among the information that will be collected from loan originators for inclusion in the federal database are fingerprints. Madam Speaker, giving the federal government the power to force Americans who wish to work in real estate to submit their fingerprints to a federal database opens the door to numerous abuses of privacy and civil liberties and establishes a dangerous precedent. Fingerprint databases and background checks have been no deterrent to espionage and fraud among governmental agencies, and will likewise fail to prevent fraud in the real estate market. I am amazed to see some members who are usually outspoken advocates of civil liberties and defenders of the Fourth Amendment support this new threat to privacy.

Finally, HR 3221 increases the federal debt limit by $800 billion. We are told that CBO has scored this bill at a cost of $25 billion, but this debt limit increase belies that. The Federal Reserve has already propped up the housing and financial markets to the tune of over $300 billion, and this raising of the debt limit indicates that the cost of this newest bailout will likely be even more costly. I am dismayed that my colleagues have not learned the lessons of the Patriot Act and Sarbanes-Oxley. Massive bills passed in knee-jerk reaction to crisis events will always be poorly written, burdensome and expensive to taxpayers, and destructive of liberty.
---------------------------------------------

FRIDAY - JULY 25th.......

"After the markets closed on Friday, the announcement came that Freddie Mac plans to sell $5.5 billion dollars worth of new common and/or preferred shares to private investors, when its current market cap is only 6 billion. Of course, they had to register the new issue with the SEC and get its approval in order to do this, and on Friday, they filed with the SEC, which quickly approved the new issuance. This was no surprise of course because the SEC and Freddie are run by the same kind of people. Freddie recently got caught up on their SEC filings after years of what really amounted to total noncompliance due to what you might call some “major accounting issues” even though technically they were granted an exemption from filing because of their GSE status............."


First, note how the timing of this announcement, which came after markets closed on Friday as just noted above, was the same time frame used for the news about the IndyMac Bank closure. This kind of timing manipulation is used by the elitists whenever they wish to prevent market panic, allow a cooling off period before markets reopen and/or keep as many people from seeing or hearing the announcement as possible as they get underway with their weekends.


IT DOES NOT MATTER WHO YOU VOTE FOR THIS NOVEMBER.

THE MONEY PARTY HAS ALREADY WON.

Monopoly for Suckers! (BUSTED EDITION)

Fast forward the video to 4:20. The first part is already etched in our hearts and minds forever. I still cry everynight for those innocent people who lost their lives. Trying to get past that is very difficult and it is still impossible for many.

Try......




via RP4409

Anyone NOT See This Coming?

Yesterday a man barged into the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville, TN and started blazing away with a shotgun. By the time three church members tackled him and wrestled the weapon away (breaking his arm in the process) one man was dead, another was dying and several more were injured.

Today we learned the reason why:

Police: Man shot churchgoers over liberal views

A letter found in this guy's vehicle stated, among other things, that he hated liberal views. And the Unitarian church is a very liberal entity, with the dignity of all humanity as one of its core precepts.

This is what years of "Christian" Right-wing language will get you.

Weekend recap

I went to an artist retreat this past weekend. It was thoroughly enjoyable until a whole bunch of women started complaining about the elections and Obama. I generally expect artists to be more progressive and open minded, but I was unpleasantly surprised at the overall conversations at this retreat when it came to social issues. I should have walked away and stuck to my creations. But no.

I didn't hear a peep against McCain and his attempts to vote away women's reproductive rights. Now I am not one to vocally support one candidate or another, but what Obama criticisms I heard were completely off the mark. "He's too liberal." "He wants to take our guns away." "He doesn't support Israel enough." "He wants to shred our constitution." And these were New Englanders mind you. Naturally, I gave them a list of reasons why Obama and McCain were both lousy for the country and gave a lecture on the first amendment which was something they should all be thinking about. But it all boiled down to gun rights in the end. People are so afraid. But of the wrong things. I should have told them that the aliens were coming.

I sound like a broken record around here, but I just want to crawl in my bed and wait until it's all over.

Aliens. Star Wars. Why Now?


I haven't heard so much about aliens and star wars since the Reagan administration.

From the BBC: "There are alien bases on earth"
World renowned UFO researcher Timothy Good tells BBC WM about the UFO sightings wave gripping Britain, the government's secret liaisons with extraterrestrials and why a real 'Star Wars' might be coming.

PLEASE sign the petition to IMPEACH BUSH

Kucinich Testifies Before HJC for Bush Impeachment:




Message from Dennis Kucinich:



Sign the petition here

Thank you all for your attention to this most urgent matter.

Setting us up for later?

Tiananmen massacre photo slips into China paper

"The massacre remains one of the most taboo subjects in China, where the official line is that authorities put down the "political disturbance" to safeguard economic and social stability."

Anybody anticipating "political disturbances" in America?

Sunday, July 27

Barack Obama's Excellent German Adventure

“Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world doesn't mean you are wiser than when it reached only to the end of the bar.”
-Edward R. Murrow-



Here in the United States, we are all as anxious as anyone else to pass this current kidney stone of a president.

Meanwhile, the hills are alive...with the sound of Barry…but will a spoonful of sugar really help the medicine go down?

Americans of all stripes are most desperate to unload this horribly embarrassing, tax-payer looting, English-language mangling, war-mongering, pro-outsourcing, anti-privacy rights Mafioso of a Bush Administration -- even if it means, among other exciting ventures, taking off for the Moon with eight nations. With the presidential election less than four months away, it baffles the minds of many Democrats as to why over 18 million Hillary voters in their disgust of Obama would even remotely think about casting their ballots for the anti-affirmative action, corporate welfare, job killing Carly Fiorina suppwhoreted Republican candidate, John McCain, over the only anti-corporate welfare candidate running, Ralph Nader. If the PUMA PAC crew is so dedicated to democracy as they say on their website, why wouldn’t they all file over to a thinking anti-corporate welfare, third party candidate? As talented American software engineers, IT, financial and journalism professionals are increasingly given the sack to be replaced by millions of cheap, third-world workers to take their jobs here at home, it is a wonder why any self-described Democrat would ever consider voting for either candidate who both support outsourcing, McBama.

Last week, Barack Obama enjoyed the overwhelming support of 200,000 Germans – yes, REAL ones --- by traveling all the way over to The Hinterland to get it. (Many Team Obama fans are even wondering if annexing Germany as the fifty-first State mind not be a bad idea.) Think it- you’ll be it! This is, after all, the only candidate peddling “hope” and as sure as eating a waffle and refusing press chit-chat in a Scranton diner, one can dream… even when the harsh reality is both candidates (McCain and Obama) offer the promise of more disappearing jobs, access to healthcare, and corporate welfare programs to decimate America’s middle class. The only difference is that one candidate attempts to do it by getting Joe-Sixpack to willingly pick up a shovel and dig his own grave.

Can you guess which one?

With the Democratic Convention just around the corner, Obama’s foreign oration dress-rehearsal to a stadium sized audience was, to say the very least, an overwhelming success. Of course, the unkindest cut of all would be to remotely intimate that
Bush is an easy act to follow, and yours truly has, if nothing else -- always maintained that if any soto voce can mesmerize a crowd by saying just about anything, it is Barack Obama.

But here is what one Hillary supporter had to say in this No Quarter blog post about voting Democratic in November:


“This really isn’t about Hillary or Obama as much as it is about democracy and the democratic process (small d). I do think Obama is a bad candidate and I think Hillary is a GREAT candidate, but what has made me leave the Party is their corrupt machinations during the primaries. The undemocratic actions of these people are bad enough, but what really is pushing me toward McCain is that I believe the Democrats would not have divided their own party and stolen people’s votes to try to get this inappropriate man in the WH unless they have some sinister, autocratic agenda they want to implement.
The country has been so stratified that lots of Americans think we must have a Democrat to counter the Bush mistakes, but if you just look around at Democratic officeholders in the country, many are just as criminal and opportunistic as Republicans under Bush. I believe Barack Obama would be worse than Bush.”



After eight horrendous years of Bush Administration thuggery here and around the globe, the new Democratic “Leader of the Free World” presidential contender did more with this Berlin speech to erase eight years of embarrassment and oppression with his trademark “meet the new guy and get recharged” brand of whitewash to cover up the failed Bush Administration. But Obama’s peeps know that starving people are hungry for change and sometimes, the plebians get so hungry for “change and hope” that the starvation clouds their ability to see that what we actually have here, folks, is an economic trainwreck that feeds itself on the continued sell-off of blue collar and now white collar jobs. It is amazing how many self-described progressive blogs including AlterNet, Salon, The Nation and others go out of their way to cover up or ignore the number one issue of the day: Increasing immigration with decreasing numbers of jobs.


With skyrocketing costs of food, gas, housing, healthcare and travel, none of this would be a problem if Americans were afforded the right to at least apply their educations to meaningful, well paid jobs. People all around this country are losing their jobs due to legalized economic policies that open up the floodgates of immigration to decrease wages and take jobs and homes from Americans here while the Democrats approve and/or continue to stick their heads in the sand.


To paraphrase populist Huey P. Long to the Robber Baron industrialists and "free market" capitalists ruling America in 1920's:


"You got into the banquet room first, ahead of everybody else, and you ate all you could hold. You got plenty to take home to your children, and even to your children's children. But then you loaded up all that leftover food, way more than you could possibly eat, or your children could eat, or your children's children could eat [pause for effect], or WEAR, or USE, or LIVE IN, and you left with it! And you left an entire room of people hungry! Now you go back into that room and you put some of that food back on the table for the rest of us."




When it comes to reevaluating our free-market economy as it relates to the everyday lives of American citizens, for the first time in modern history, human capital is being equated with spare parts and traded on the open market, degrading and taking our collective human net worth along with it.

While increasingly incivil Democrats agonize over PUMA or Team Obama rhetoric, third-party candidates are rising. But wise free-marketers will see the economic parallels between current times and the 1920's and unless we want another Huey P. Long - style strong arm dictator, citizens here and not in someone else’s country like Germany must hold these candidates and their corporate welfare enablers accountable to demand labor reforms no matter which party takes the White House and Congress in '08. That, or get out your jackboots and goosestep right along with the One Party of Big Money Leader to digging your own economic graves.

-2Truthy

Not that I needed ANOTHER reason to vote Green, or Libertarian, or...

"Obama gives Bernanke vote of confidence"
Article is at REUTERS:
"I think that Chairman Bernanke was handed a pretty tough hand and I think some of the decisions he's made have been the right ones," the presumptive Democratic nominee told Reuters in an interview on Saturday evening. (Translation): Me 'n him make a fine pair of gobbledongers, don't we?

There is a Curse on John McCain

According to an uncertain tradition, there is a three-part Chinese curse that goes something like this:

1. May you live in interesting times.

2. May you get everything you wish for.

3. May you attract the attention of the powerful.

The first part of the curse - well, we're all living that one, ladies and gentlemen. With terrorism, school and mall shootings, high prices, a falling housing market and such the new century's starting out very interesting indeed.

Senator John McCain (R-Geritol) is deep into the second part of that traditional curse. He and his surrogates (which include a good healthy slab of the corporate-run media) spent a jolly time teasing Senator Barack Obama about going to Afghanistan and Iraq. They did this knowing that if Obama did go he was sure to make a misstep or verbal gaffe that could make him look less of a sure thing than he already is and give McCain some breathing room from his own cock-ups over the past weeks.

So Obama went to Afghanistan.

He went to Kuwait.

He went to Iraq.

He went to Jordan.

He went to Israel.

He went to Germany.

He went to France.

He went to Britain.

And guess what?

No missteps and no verbal gaffes. Obama spoke with troops, with generals, with national leaders and with the members of the press his campaign selected to go (and not Fox News, which serves them right). Even his aborted trip to visit wounded soldiers at Landstuhl was a very good move, showing that he knows that using troops as campaign props is wrong. The Pentagon tried to weasel on that one, saying that they didn't "explicitly" prohibit the Obama campaign from going there.

So the McCain campaign got what they wished for - Obama went abroad, and did nothing detrimental to his cause.

Although McCain and his surrogates are trying to spin it as a major blunder, saying that Obama hates the troops for not going to Landstuhl (a definite case of damned if you do / damned if you don't regarding the Republican Noise Machine). But McCain hates the troops just as much, if his votes against the GI Bill and veteran's benefits are any indication.

The McCain campaign also vilified Obama for not acknowledging the success of The Surge and McCain's idea to stay in Iraq as long as necessary, even long after Old Johnny's dead and buried.

Apart from getting the timeline wrong (and CBS giving him a pass for it), McCain's seen his stance on Iraq undermined by none other than the Bush Administration (from whose failing hands the torch of Stupid Military Adventurism has been passed to McCain) and Iraqi PM al-Maliki. Al-Maliki as much as explicitly endorsed Obama's 16-month timetable for withdrawal of US combat troops, and even Bush has set forth a "general time horizon" for withdrawal.

Nothing like getting thrown under the bus by your own people, is there John?
***

Oh hey! Almost forgot the third part of the curse!

That seems to fit the bill for the one million or so people who find themselves on the Terrorism Watch List (along with anyone who shares the same name) and the untold and unnumbered people whose phone calls, email and other communications have so far been swept up by the telecoms and given as a gift to the NSA.

Interesting times indeed.

Saturday, July 26

spicy coconut curry w/ chicken, potatoes, and sweet peppers

Adapted from a Madhur Jaffrey book, and then bastardized terribly.

1 large red onion, sliced thinly into half rings
4-5 cloves of garlic, minced
2 potatoes (yukon gold would be faboo), cut into medium chunks
2 sweet peppers (we're talking the smaller pale ones, not big bells), sliced into rings
1 big tomato, diced
1 lime
1 can of coconut milk
1-2 lb of chicken parts (I did organic free-range thighs that I boned and skinned and cut into medium chunks) - I had about a lb of chicken so I made up for the rest of the poundage with the potatoes
mushrooms if you have 'em
cooking oil (I like rice bran; it has a high smoke point and is very neutral)
1 tsp. black mustard seeds
1 cinnamon or cassia stick, small
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1.5 tsp. salt

3 T. coriander seeds
1/4 tsp. whole fenugreek
2 tsp. black peppercorns
1 large pinch cumin seeds (I added these because I love toasting them)
small cast iron pan for toasting these

So, heat the cast iron pan to a high heat, then turn it down, and throw in the coriander, fenugreek, peppercorns, and cumin. When you can smell the seeds toasting it is time to shake around the pan a bit. If they smoke, turn the heat down further and toss them around in the pan. Anyway, when they're looking darker and smell warm and toasted, they're ready.
I grind mine with a mortar and pestle, but you can use a spice grinder, too. Grind as fine as you can.

Heat a large skillet (cast iron is perfect, or big heavy-bottomed stainless will be good, too - no teflon), coat the bottom with your oil (I think I do roughly 2-3 T.), and toss in your black mustard seeds and the cinnamon stick, and have a lid handy. When the seeds start to pop (and pop they will when the oil is hot enough), quickly shove the sliced onions in there and put the lid on. When the popping has slowed some, turn down the heat a bit, and stir around the onions. It'll take about ten minutes at a medium low flame, but you're looking to brown the onions, not just wilt them to translucency. When they're browned, take out the cinnamon stick, toss in the garlic and let that cook a few minutes. Add the tomato and peppers, and let that cook a few minutes.

Stir in the toasted and ground spices, then the turmeric and cayenne, and open up your can of coconut milk. Pour the liquid into the pan, leaving behind the cream which is usually solidified (more on that later). Add the chicken pieces, and your potatoes. Squeeze in the lime juice, and toss in the salt. Stir, cover and let simmer 25 minutes. In the cookbook, she says to add another can of water before setting it to simmer, but boy, this is liquidy enough when I work with just the coconut juice from the can.

About a half hour later, stir in the coconut cream that was left in the can, turn off the heat, and you're ready to serve.

Tonight I had to improvise because I forgot salad fixings. So, I served the curry on a bed of baby spinach leaves, alongside some sliced tomato and avocado. The spinach wilted nicely. I'd also forgotten to buy naan (Trader Joe's has some stuff that passes fairly well if you heat it up), so I warmed up a stack of white corn tortillas. Fusion cuisine, ha. But it went together fine.

Next time, I would serve this with rice cooked with some peas thrown in, a salad of red vegetables (radishes, tomatoes, maybe some beets), some plain yogurt on the side, and I'd probably do the spinach beneath the curry again.

Veggie variations!

Do carrots and a bunch of mushrooms in lieu of the chicken. You could add some cooked chickpeas. Dice up a sweet potato in there; that would be great hot v. sweet contrasting. Zucchini and green beans would be great, etc.

The Bill we should all be scared of

No More Light At The End Of The Tunnel



DUE TO RECENT BUDGET CUTS AND THE RISING COST OF ELECTRICITY, GAS AND OIL, THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL HAS BEEN TURNED OFF.

viaFreedom's Phoenix

KERBLAM!

AP:
"FDIC takes over 2 more banks, closing 28 branches"

(Begins): "The 28 branches of 1st National Bank of Nevada and First Heritage Bank, operating in Nevada, Arizona and California, were closed Friday by federal regulators."


They haven't been added to the list on the BANK IMPLODE-O-METER but I suppose they will be soon. Ya' s'pose it'll be a financial tearer attack that'll prompt boygeorge to declare martial law and cancel the elections? Wraith?

Friday, July 25

Another try! The damn thing works in I.E. But not Firefox all the time.
If it doesn't work for you, google Dirty Deeds, Done with Sheep
and go the "best selection.
Sorry!

I didn't write this......someone else did.....what do you think??

Before you try to figure out who wrote it, I'm interested to hear whether or not you agree with this. I do, but I am very gullible, so I always look to my dear friends here at Blondesense when I need to make sense out of something. I am a very open minded person. OK - I'll admit it - I am a flip flopper. It keeps me on my toes (har har har I crack myself up!)

-------------------------------------
As any military historian will testify, among the most difficult of maneuvers is the strategic retreat. Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow, Lee’s retreat to Appomattox and MacArthur’s retreat from the Yalu come to mind. The British Empire abandoned India in 1947 — and a Muslim-Hindu bloodbath ensued.

France’s departure from Indochina was ignominious, and her abandonment of hundreds of thousands of faithful Algerians to the FALN disgraceful. Few American can forget the humiliation of Saigon ‘75, or the boat people, or the Cambodian holocaust.

Strategic retreats that turn into routs are often the result of what Lord Salisbury called “the commonest error in politics … sticking to the carcass of dead policies.”

From 1989 to 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Empire and breakup of the U.S.S.R., America had an opportunity to lay down its global burden and become again what Jeane Kirkpatrick called “a normal country in a normal time.”

We let the opportunity pass by, opting instead to use our wealth and power to convert the world to democratic capitalism. And we have reaped the reward of all the other empires that went before: A sinking currency, relative decline, universal enmity, a series of what Rudyard Kipling called “the savage wars of peace.”

Yet, opportunity has come anew for America to shed its imperial burden and become again the republic of our fathers.

The chairman of Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang Party has just been hosted for six days by Beijing. Commercial flights have begun between Taipei and the mainland. Is not the time ripe for America to declare our job done, that the relationship between China and Taiwan is no longer a vital interest of the United States?

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government wants a status of forces agreement with a timetable for full withdrawal of U.S. troops. Is it not time to say yes, to declare that full withdrawal is our goal as well, that the United States seeks no permanent bases in Iraq?

On July 4, Reuters, in a story headlined “Poland Rejects U.S. Missile Offer,” reported from Warsaw: “Poland spurned as insufficient on Friday a U.S. offer to boost its air defenses in return for basing anti-missile interceptors on its soil. …

“‘We have not reached a satisfactory result on the issue of increasing the level of Polish security,’ Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a news conference after studying the latest U.S. proposal.”

Tusk is demanding that America “provide billions of dollars worth of U.S. investment to upgrade Polish air defenses in return for hosting 10 two-stage missile interceptors,” said Reuters.

Reflect if you will on what is going on here.

By bringing Poland into NATO, we agreed to defend her against the world’s largest nation, Russia, with thousands of nuclear weapons. Now the Polish regime is refusing us permission to site 10 anti-missile missiles on Polish soil, unless we pay Poland billions for the privilege.

Has Uncle Sam gone senile?

No. Tusk has Sam figured out. The old boy is so desperate to continue in his Cold War role as world’s Defender of Democracy he will even pay the Europeans — to defend Europe.

Why not tell Tusk that if he wants an air defense system, he can buy it; that we Americans are no longer willing to pay Poland for the privilege of defending Poland; that the anti-missile missile deal is off. And use cancellation of the missile shield to repair relations with a far larger and more important power, Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Consider, too, the opening South Korea is giving us to end our 60-year commitment to defend her against the North. For weeks, Seoul hosted anti-American protests against a trade deal that allows U.S. beef into South Korea. Koreans say they fear mad-cow disease.

Yet, when a new deal was cut to limit imports to U.S. beef from cattle less than 30 months old, that too was rejected by the protesters. Behind the demonstrations lies a sediment of anti-Americanism.

In 2002, a Pew Research Center survey of 42 nations found 44 percent of South Koreans, second highest number of any country, holding an unfavorable view of the United States. A Korean survey put the figure at 53 percent, with 80 percent of youth holding a negative view. By 39 percent to 35 percent, South Koreans saw the United States as a greater threat than North Korea.

Can someone explain why we keep 30,000 troops on the DMZ of a nation whose people do not even like us?

The raison d’etre for NATO was the Red Army on the Elbe. It disappeared two decades ago. The Chinese army left North Korea 50 years ago. Yet NATO endures and the U.S. Army stands on the DMZ. Why?

Because, if all U.S. troops were brought home from Europe and Korea, 10,000 rice bowls would be broken. They are the rice bowls of politicians, diplomats, generals, journalists and think tanks who would all have to find another line of work.

And that is why the Empire will endure until disaster befalls it, as it did all the others.

------------------------------------

So, my dear friends, what do YOU think?

From the Sturgeon General, Republican Center for Democratic Control, somewhere in Washington, D.C., for immediate release:


Elections are like infections. We seem to be going along ok when we’re all told there’s another bug loose, like the swine or Asian (how appropriate) flu.

It all seems to start about February of even numbered years (there are some exceptions but usually it’s those even numbers again) and reaches near national-demic proportions by that November. Curious, that!

We, the people, are told that we can inoculate ourselves from the disease that plagued us the last 2, 4 or more years by injecting a new anti-biotic into the nation. This new injection usually has a couple of months of experimentation after some research on the cause of the infection. Groups get together telling us that their idea for a cure is the best and that those others could do more damage, so better be safe and not choose any of the others.

Eventually, the possible cure is narrowed to two doses. Again, each claiming ‘its’ cure is best and accepting the other’s might cause catastrophic results.

Fever starts to run high around late September and early October, probably because the incubation period is over by then and the disease is quickly spread by mouth. By then most of us have been infected in one way or another and have been told we MUST have a cure this time to end all the suffering from the last cycle.

By November, we can hardly stand it any longer and must decide which dose will help us best from the stories we’re told by those prescribing their cures. It’s amazing that with few exceptions we are usually pretty close in our judgment as to which will be used over the next cycle. (There are some who won't make a choice for whatever reason. They then have to endure whichever selection was made by all the others who do choose). Lately the one chosen hasn’t seemed to work as well as the other would have. Sometimes it’s painfully obvious that neither will help although we have this ingrained belief that if we choose wisely, things will be just fine…for another cycle.

We’re quickly approaching that time for panic to set in where a decision must be made; a decision that each organization claims will alleviate symptoms and the suffering of the last cycle. Which organization will provide us relief from the plague of the last 8 years? Or will either?

Over the years, these cures have become less and less effective. We may be developing an immunity to the cure or the disease is becoming more and more resistant to treatment. Still, some symptoms can be at least delayed for another cycle. And many of us still have faith that a permanent cure will be found. We even contribute mightily to the organizations in the hope that our money will provide that cure.

Remember, when you’re standing in line to make your decision, the choice of a cure during the last two epidemics wiped out a part of our population. It looks as though one of the selections now available could increase the number of dead among us and the other could find us wishing for another quicker cure.

Either way I doubt this new vaccination will take. Hopefully, we’ll be around to get another chance at a different vaccine in a couple of years.

Does the Dalai Lama Yell At People?

He should.

Upstaged by Obama, McCain to meet Dalai Lama

Ruh-Roh, Astro!

From Huffington Post:

Astronaut Claims UFO Cover-up

It's Friday, and for those who want Sport ...

... There's Sex!

We open the Obligatory Friday Follies with a minor victory from the State of Alabama. Two years or so ago the state made the sale of sex toys (dildos, vibrators, phalli, etc.) illegal; vendors face a fine of up to $10,000 and jail time.

But there's a loophole which one sex toy store has been quick to exploit: You can sell sex toys in Alabama if it's for medical reasons. So the store offers a medical questionnaire; answering 'yes' once constitutes a medical reason.

So the shop goes about its merry way, helping encourage the spread of orgasms and fun. And the straitlaced fundamentalist asshole killjoys of Alabama can only sit and watch, gnashing their teeth (and wishing deep down that they could have fun too).

***
It's a well-known fact, almost an axiom, that your friends will screw you over faster and more thoroughly than your enemies ever dreamed. Elliott Tuleja discovered this when he passed out drunk and two of his drinking buddies decided it'd be hilarious to set fire to the sleeping man's crotch.
I'll wait for the obligatory "Great Balls of Fire!" joke to pass.
***
In our "About Damned Time" Department, 70-year old Lonesome George may finally, after 36 years of trying, manage to become a daddy. See, George is a Galapagos tortoise and the last of his particular species. His long-suffering mate is actually not of his species but the closest genetic match. She finally laid eggs this past week.
***
A fellow described as a "tall black man" has been arrested in England for serial rape.
A series of attacks in May and June that left several of the usually placid herbivores bowlegged ended in an arrest, and part of the man's bail is the condition that he stay away from sheep farms.
One has to wonder though what he was thinking. "Oh, she came on to me - she was wearing this tight wool sweater ..."
It boggles the mind at times.
***
Finally, a question for the panel (idea stolen from Pajiba) to be answered in comments:
Where is the weirdest place you've made whoopee? Church, carnival, mother-in-law's house?

Thursday, July 24

Thursday evening Ha Ha

So, Obama went to Germany. He was well-received. Really well-received.

Here's the story, eh. I think he's well-received because he doesn't come off like a clod, and he's not Bush, as much as anything else.

Anyway, McCain didn't go to Germany. Ya know what he did today?

I thought this was something from The Onion when I first read it,
Mr Obama's Republican rival, John McCain, visited a German restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday to eat bratwurst sausage with local business leaders.

BlondeSense Is Throwing A Wedding! Sort Of!


-Peter of Lone Tree's Ship Has Come In-



Breaking News


San Francisco, CA Reliable sources including the beautiful bride-to-be announced plans over the weekend for two high-profile and prolific, beloved BlondeSense bloggers, Peter of Lone Tree & Missouri Mule, to wed – that's right -- as in the actual BIBLICAL way and not just the cyberspace one --- sometime in the future! Precise details such as exactly when, where, who will officiate, entertain, attend and provide the decadent cake are all virtually unconfirmed at this time although rumors positively indicate that a stealth bachelor/bachelorette party is in the works while the kids get the run of the asylum until SUNDAY NIGHT!


Party on, Team BlondSense! And everyone else who’s reading this that dares to drop by. (Details on the secret entry “code” to follow later. Maybe.)


Don’t forget to bring a dish, a modicum of *good* manners and courtesy, designate a driver, bring your galoshes and parachutes, plenty of music and liquor, gange, an eight ball, explosives and disguises, a couple of hookers and/or out of work waiters or investment bankers, dancing dogs with accordions (providing you can find any) and your very best and polished Walker Brothers impersonations to usher these two love birds along to a permanently mind-altering, point-of-no-returning, stupendous and otherwise staggeringly blissful start, together!
-2Truthy



file under: "What the F*ck?!?!?"

Okay, so Conyers was receptive to Kucinich's umpteen gazillion articles of impeachment against the preznit. Last month, was it?

Looks like they're going to having hearings. That's it.

Kucinich made this very easy for them. Even Bonzo could do this. Not so Pelosi and Conyers.

EVERY NIGHT I thank our Goddess above for Stewart and Colbert

July 23rd:


Headlines - Novak's Hit-and-Run
The only difference between Robert Novak's hit-and-run and his career is that this time someone stopped him.



Obama Quest - The Holy Land
Barack Obama holds a press conference at the Temple of Hercules, while John McCain is on his own quest for attention in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania


Osama or Obama
With all the attention Barack Obama is receiving, perhaps it is time the media realizes his name is Barack Obama.




On to Colbert...

How Bad Is Our Economy? Stephen gives you his two cents, which used to be a dollar.



The "Save Our Starbucks" campaign is the kind of grass-roots activism Stephen likes -- the kind that helps sprawling corporate behemoths.



and....

The Word - Join the European Union
If the European Union doesn't let us in, we'll sue them for geographic discrimination.



and....

the colorofchange petition (rapper Nas) segment was beyond hysterical :

Nas responds to Bill O'Reilly like the gangsta that he is -- with a petition.



In Stephen's words: Fox.....a propaganda pez dispenser

Here's the Nas Interview:


and here is Nas performing "Sly Fox" off his new Untitled album

Heart Wrenching

Today's reading is
America's Middle Class Can't Take Much More Punishment
By Matt Taibbi, RollingStone.com. Posted July 23, 2008.

Toadcast #33 - The Popecast

From one of my FAVORITE music blogs Songbytoad

IN FULL:


Fear not, this isn’t quite as horribly overbearing as it could have been. The ranting is actually fairly under control, and the self-important pontificating not quite as reckless as it could so easily have been, partly because I wasn’t quite as liberal with the gin as I have been in the past.
The reason it’s called the Popecast is because of this amazing little story about Catholics in the States issuing death threats to a kid who took a communion wafer out of the church with him. The hilarious PZ Myers then got involved, threatening to show them what real desecration would look like, and the pandemonium reached all new levels of shrillness

The thing that really got my goat about all this was not so much that Catholics took offence, but more the level of the hysteria and the language of persecution. It was honestly described as kidnaping and as a hate crime by various loonies, and there was nothing like enough ‘Oh fucking grow up and get the fuck over it’ being said. People seem to be seeking all sorts of odd legal protections for their crazy superstitions these days, and I am flabberghasted that a particular kind of idea is being so fucking mollycoddled as to be deemed immune from criticism and contempt. Come on, people, fuck your religious convictions and learn to deal with the fact that most of the planet thinks they’re crazy - and that applies to atheists as well.
Anyhow, I promise this doesn’t take over too much of the podcast, and that the music is given plenty of space to breathe.

Toadcast #33 - The Popecast


Head over to Toad's to hear the "Popecast"

MATTHEW YOU RULE!!!

Oh poor California. What a mess.

Governor plans to slash state workers' pay

Novakula hits pedestrian

I think it's time for 77 year old "journalist" and tv pundit Robert "Novakula" Novak to have his license revoked. He hit a pedestrian on K Street in DC with his black convertible penis extender (sometimes called a Corvette when driven by a younger person) and apparently didn't notice. A cyclist stopped him about a block later to inform him harshly that you can't just hit someone and drive away. A sixty something year old man was taken to the hospital with supposedly minor injuries (but I read somewhere that he was hurt pretty badly). A policeman was called and cited Novakula $50 for the hit and run and let go. The witness couldn't believe that Novakula didn't notice that he had hit a pedestrian since the victim was splayed out over the hood of the penile extension. (How can you not see someone on your windshield?)

Watching this video of Novakula being interviewed by the press shortly afterward made me think that perhaps he had been drinking or maybe he always slurs like that. That and the fact that he didn't notice a person splayed across his windshield. Someone ought to cite the cop too.

Watch:

Silliness

That's the only way to describe this:

'Allah meat' astounds Nigerians

As soon as I saw this my initial reaction reaction was "You have got to be kidding me!" But apparently a man in the northern Nigerian town of Birnin Kebbi was about to start gnawing on some gristle when he spotted what appeared to be a pattern in the gristle.

Just goes to show that silliness is epidemic, and can show up anywhere.

I was going to post up the picture of it as well, but I won't dirty my computer with it.

Where's Ralph Nader When You Need Him?

In order to counter the effects of mines and IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US military trotted out a class of big wheeled vehicles known as MRAP (mine-resistant, ambush-protected). The smallest, the Caiman, weighs in at a svelte 9 tons.

The MRAPs are designed with a V-shaped hull to deflect blast waves away from the vehicle, which is a very good thing indeed. The military loves these things because it saves the lives of our soldiers. And I wouldn't mind owning a Caiman to get through that pesky rush hour traffic (provided gasoline was $0.10 a gallon - these things probably get piss-poor mileage).

But - hey, presto! - the MRAPs have a problem.

They have a tall silhouette and a high center of gravity.

Do the words "Ford Explorer" ring any bells?

Yep, there have been a number of serious rollover accidents in MRAPs, usually caused by either taking a curve too fast, misjudging the road grade or the width of a bridge. Rutted roads can also pose a problem. A couple Green Berets, for example, drowned when their MRAP overturned into a canal in Afghanistan. To their credit, the military acted very quickly on this by issuing safety alerts and providing training to forestall these accidents.

But I say get Nader on this issue - it'll distract him away from pestering us about becoming President.

Wednesday, July 23

Obama's Version of "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran":

From the Truthseeker:

"..."there is no greater threat to Israel - or to the peace and stability of the region - than Iran... The danger from Iran is grave, it is real and my goal will be to eliminate this threat... We will also use all elements of American power to pressure Iran. I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon." He added for emphasis, "Everything in my power. Everything."

I-Lie Joe's Holy War: "There are terrorists out there who really do want to destroy our civilization and murder millions of Americans," LIEberman said

I stubbed my toe tripping over the this morning's paper whilst trying to maneuver the garbage can to the street.

After cursing the paper for being in the way of my garbage run, I decided to give the front page a quick glance......
Here's the front page of The Hartford Courant:

ToP of the paper is (lower) G.I .Joe's quote: "There are terrorists out there who really do want to destroy our civilization and murder millions of Americans"

Under this quote, is the LARGE and oh so BOLD headline across the page:

UNITED IN VISION
(Lieberman, Pastor Address US. Security Concerns)

alongside this photo:

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN speaks Tuesday in Washington to Christians United for Israel, an organization led by the controversial Pastor John Hagee. (LAUREN VICTORIA BURKE / FOR THE HARTFORD COURANT / July 22, 2008)














For CHRIST'S sake...



STFU Joe







and this photo:




(that flag looks a little blurry - eh? Well, in the paper, it's barely even visible)

Lieberman Affirms Pastor, Uses Religious Platform To Discuss Security - By JESSE A. HAMILTON | Washington Bureau Chief

Lieberman again drew a parallel between Hagee and biblical figures, this time saying biblical heroes, unlike the demigods of Greek mythology, "are humans — great humans, but with human failings." Lieberman said that Moses had his shortcomings, too.

"Dear friends, I can only imagine what the bloggers of today would have had to say about Moses and Miriam."


(I never knew about Miriam until I read this Joe, so I guess I have nothing to say)

and for those of you in need of a Bible 101 refresher course, here, IN FULL, is
Lieberman's Speech To Christians United For Israel

Sounds like the opening to a wedding ceremony, doesn't it? I wonder if he gave the Courant the headline to use.

You have gathered this evening, united by faith and a commitment to the State of Israel -- sixty years after its miraculous rebirth in the Holy Land.

But you know well that Israel's existence did not begin sixty years ago. It began four thousand years ago, as told in Genesis 12:1, when God told Abraham: "Leave your land, your birthplace, and your father's house and go to the land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you."

Each one of you has heard that call, and so you have come here today to the capital city of the greatest country in the world to keep that promise and advance that mission. I am honored to greet you with the timeless words of welcome which were extended to the pilgrims who came long ago to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem: "Bruchim Habaim B'Shem Hashem." Blessed be you who come in the name of the Lord.
n its struggle today, thanks to you and so many others, Israel may sometimes feel lonely, but it is surely not alone. With your help, with America's help, and with God's help--Israel will again prevail.

In the United States, solidarity with Israel runs both deep and broad. It is a feature of our landscape as distinctive and enduring as the Rocky Mountains and the mighty Mississippi. It stretches in time from President Washington and the Founding Fathers to President Bush and members of Congress of both parties.

There should be no mystery in this. Americans and Israelis alike are the children of freedom and know alike that our rights to life and liberty come from our Creator.
We both pride ourselves on our democratic ideals, our culture of economic opportunity, and our political pluralism. These are the values we cherish and the values that define not just who we are but who we aspire to be.

Today we Americans also recognize that Israel's struggle against terrorism parallels our own. The same violent Islamist extremists that seek the destruction of Israel also have attacked our own citizens at home and abroad.



Oy Vay.....

Tuesday, July 22

Navy Prosecutor of bin Laden's Driver Admits Flight 93 Was Shot Down

From REUTERS:
GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - "Osama bin Laden's driver knew the target of the fourth hijacked jetliner in the September 11 attacks, a prosecutor said on Tuesday in an attempt to draw a link between Salim Hamdan and the al Qaeda leadership in the first Guantanamo war crimes trial.

"Hamdan's lawyer said in opening statements that the Yemeni, held for nearly seven years before his trial, was just a paid employee of the fugitive al Qaeda leader, a driver in the motor pool who never joined the militant group or plotted attacks on America.

"But prosecutor Timothy Stone told the six-member jury of U.S. military officers who will decide Hamdan's guilt or innocence that Hamdan had inside knowledge of the 2001 attacks on the United States because he overheard a conversation between bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

"If they hadn't shot down the fourth plane it would've hit the dome," Stone, a Navy officer, said in his opening remarks."


More at the link. Ya' s'pose they're gonna release a second version of the movie they made, which I never saw, being loathe to watch almost everything considered mainstream these days, but wasn't there something about heroes charging the cockpit?

Hypocrisy, thy name is MSM!

Oops! Bush thinks camera is off!

I'm sure the media will break in and go 24/7 on this!
(Damn monkeys! Get outta my butt!)

Inspired by a few religious comments, I posted some new pictures at Flickr.

Religious Pictures





Update:
Brooke. For you.


The Daily Show Presents...."Obama Quest - The Legend Begins"

Barack Obama In The Middle East......


Will He visit an all muslim country wearing his bacon suit?

perhaps his zipper will be down....?.

or perhaps he'll start a war?

CANNED HEAT!! oh yeah baby.......I'm "Going Up The Country"

I'm gonna leave this city, got to get away

(those floating cities are looking mighty tempting right about now)


I'm sweatin' my arse off big time here on the East Coast

I'm gonna leave this city, got to get away


All this fussing and fighting, man, you know I sure can't stay

Just exactly where we're going I cannot say,
but........


We might even

leave the USA ......
'Cause there's a brand new game that I want to play.



can't take it anymore

Kids......

This Taxi Service is takin' us outta here today!








Canned Heat - Going Up The Country (Woodstock 1969)



gotta get goooo-ing
gotta get goooo-ing
gotta get goooo-ing
well I'm going



I can't stay here long...

now

cause I'm tired of the way

I've been dogged around

well I've got to roam and find me

a brand new....


ONE MORE TIME.....
(rare colour clip)


I'm going up the country, babe don't you wanna go
I'm going up the country, babe don't you wanna go
I'm going to some place where I've never been before
I'm going, I'm going where the water tastes like wine
Well I'm going where the water tastes like wine
We can jump in the water, stay drunk all the time
I'm gonna leave this city, got to get away
I'm gonna leave this city, got to get away
All this fussing and fighting, man, you know I sure can't stay
Now baby, pack your leaving trunk, you know we've got to leave today
Just exactly where we're going I cannot say, but We might even leave
the USA 'Cause there's a brand new game that I want to play
No use of you running, or screaming and crying
'Cause you've got a home as long as I've got mine

remember Yugoslavia?

It was 'Communism Lite' there. It was a traveling destination. The history was fascinating, and it was the gateway to the Balkans. Yeah, it was a powder keg for eons. Churchill was known to have muttered that there'd be 'some damned thing in the Balkans', and then we had WWI. (I tried to find that quote and it's context, and could not find it, btw. But there's a collection of his quotes and stories here.)

And there was the 1984 olympics in Sarajevo.

And then all of that changed in the early 1990s.

Karadjic has finally been caught. Well, the wind finally blew in such a direction that it was time to catch him, you might say. Story I saw at the Beeb last night. Story about his hiding in plain site in Belgrade.

Over a decade and one of the world's most wanted war criminals is being brought to justice.

I wonder how long our plant in chief and his cronies will be on the run.

Mladic is still on the run.

Anyone taking any bets on McSame not knowing where Serbia is?

Labels: , , , ,

McCain is against contraception



I know that a lot of folks thought this clip of McCain rubbing his face rather than addressing the question of birth control was amusing, but it really isn't when you think about the possibility of him becoming the president. McCain voted against a bill that would have required health plans to cover birth control for women if it also covered drugs like Viagra for men. He's voted against contraception for women for 20 years. But he doesn't remember and apparently he doesn't care enough about women's issues to even have an answer ready for the press while he is campaigning. This is the problem with an elderly man running for president.

This is as good an issue to bring up to anyone you meet, especially a woman, who is thinking of voting for him. In this economy and in these hard financial times, this is a very important issue.

Monday, July 21

Ewwwwwwww

Caught this on Digg.

From Pravda: George and Laura Bush to divorce after election because of Condi Rice?

hahahahahahahahahaha

oh that was gooooooood.

Dearly beloved...


A Paeon of Praise, An Ode to Excellence for the Penultimate Ungulate:

Storms, tornadoes, power outages, no a.m. coffee, cat burials, have all sapped my strength so instead of providing prose and lyrics of my own, I offer these from some old friends of mine:

There's a song in the air,
But the fair senorita
doesn't seem to care
for the song in the air.
So I'll sing to my mule
if you're sure she won't think that
I am just a fool
serenading a mule.

Amigo mio, does she not have a dainty bray?
She listens carefully to each little word we play.
La bella Senorita?
Si, si, mi muchachito,
She'd love to sing it too if only she knew the way.
But try as she may,
in her voice there's a flaw!
And all that the lady can say
is "E-E-AW!"

There's a light in her eye,
Tho' she may try to hide it,
She cannot deny,
there's a light in her eye.
Oh! the charm of her smile
so beguiles all who see her
that they'd ride a mile
for the charm of her smile.

Amigo mio, is she listenin' to my song?
No, no, mi muchachito, how could you be so wrong?
La bella Senorita?
Si, Si, la senorita,
If she knew all the words,

Well, maybe she'd sing along . . .

Her face is a dream
like an angel I saw!
But all that my darlin' can scream
is: "E-E-AW!"
Senorita donkey sita, not so fleet as a mosquito,
but so sweet like my Chiquita,
you're the one for me.

You're . . . the one . . . for me!


Donkey Serenade by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart,
with lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forest , 1937

(And, with apologies to Bill):

Is it but this,--a tardiness in nature
Which often leaves the history unspoke
That it intends to do? My lords......,
What say you to the lady? Love's not love
When it is mingled with regards that stand
Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her?
She is herself a dowry.

Fairest Mule, that art most rich, being poor;
Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised!
Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon:
Be it lawful I take up what's cast away.
Gods, gods! 'tis strange that from their cold'st neglect
My love should kindle to inflamed respect.
Thy dowerless daughter,...thrown to my chance,
Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair Lone Tree:
Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy
Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.
Bid them farewell, Mule, though unkind:
Thou losest here, a better where to find.

Global Economies Are Collapsing....... except for one

From Telegraph.co.uk:

The global economy is at the point of maximum danger - By Ambrose Evans- Pritchard

Sure makes you wonder how this Fantasy Land is doing so well.
******WARNING*******
Pour yourself a TALL ONE before viewing. It will help calm you down.

Let's take a look at the Dubai Timeline

or you can take a look at Dubai's "official" site about its economy at

dubai.ae/en.portal?topic,Article_000239,0,&_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=home

The Dubai economy enjoys a competitive combination of cost, market and environmental advantages that create an ideal and attractive investment climate for local and expatriate businesses alike. In fact, these advantages not only rank Dubai as the Arabian Gulf’s leading multi-purpose business center and regional hub city, but they place it at the forefront of the globe’s, dynamic and emerging market economies.
Dubai, with its ancient commercial and seafaring traditions, has long been recognized as the Middle East region’s leading trading hub and has emerged as its key re-export center. In more recent years, the Emirate has become a major venue for a number of growing, profitable industries and activities:

• Meetings, conferences, exhibitions
• Tourism
• Corporate regional headquarters
• Regional transport, distribution and logistics center
• Banking, finance and insurance
• Business and industrial consulting
• Information and Communications Technology
• Light and medium manufacturing

This all became possible due to Dubai’s warm, welcoming people, world class facilities and infrastructure and farsighted, open and liberal economic policies. Finally, committed to a progressive vision of itself, keen to diversify its economy and diminish its reliance upon shrinking oil revenues, Dubai has begun to develop into the Arabian Gulf’s premier international business center. Consider the factors that contribute to this ongoing success story.



Amazing what they have accomplished - eh?

It just boggles my mind what can be done when people are motivated by oil and in Dubai's case, the future lack thereof...



In addition to the flip-flopping below:

"McCain worried about the "situation on the Iraq/Pakistan border" (Note to McCain: There isn't one)"


"For a fourth time, John McCain this week referenced Czechoslavakia , a country that hasn't existed in 15 or so years."




Another Flip-Flopper for McCain

I know this really isn't news and it just makes people who were once deemed "Christian" reconsider their religious affiliation, but James Dobson of Focus on the Family who once swore he'd never vote for John McCain has changed his tune, flip-flopped, if you will. The self proclaimed "family values spokesman" now supports the candidate who dumped his first wife.
“I never thought I would hear myself saying this,” Dobson said in a radio broadcast to be broadcast Monday. “… While I am not endorsing Senator John McCain, the possibility is there that I might.”

To continue … “Barack Obama contradicts and threatens everything I believe about the institution of the family and what is best for the nation. His radical positions on life, marriage and national security force me to reevaluate the candidacy of our only other choice, John McCain.”
Radical? Obama? I wish.
You want family values, then endorse a candidate that is still on his first family.
You want family values, then don't listen to a right wing political hack.
Who would Jesus bomb?
Who cares if gay people get married or not?
How does renouncing Obama affect the prices at the pump?


What a silly, silly man.

Sunday, July 20

Yippie!





A gift... From the guys...

It Has Come to This

The BBC reports that a British parliamentary committee is recommending to the Foreign Office that the word of the US should no longer be trusted when it comes to extraordinary rendition and the use of torture.

Happy now, George, Richard, Condi and all those other little people?

Even the British no longer trust us unreservedly.

Where's the Justice Department when you need them?

I'll show them voter suppression

From the San Jose Mercury News comes a story about Santa Clara County immigrants who are becoming citizens. Just before their naturalization ceremonies they were given voter registration cards and shown how to fill them out. After the ceremony, when the immigrants became citizens they were collected. Santa Clara County officials were pleased as punch that they could offer this service to new citizens. It really is quite patriotic, I would say.

In March, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (an arm of the Department of Homeland Security, surprise surprise) declared that those cards must not be handed out until after the
ceremony. Voter registration has dropped 82% in Santa Clara County as a result. In fact in the four months before march 3,140 new voters were registered. In March and since then, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services staff were rushing people out the door while they were still filling out their voter registration cards. Only 8% registered in June's ceremony.

A spokes-shill for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service after realizing that they might be faced with a lawsuit, claimed that the facilities are too crowded and that it wasn't a political thing to suppress those who wish to register to vote. The CIS feels that they shouldn't hand out cards before the ceremony.
Registrar officials say they used the "down time" before the naturalization ceremonies to give a PowerPoint presentation showing how to complete a voter-registration affidavit. It made the process go smoothly, particularly for immigrants who are still struggling with English, registrar officials said. Bilingual assistance was also made available.
Now the immigrants don't have their cards in front of them when the PP presentation is given and they can't stick around after the ceremony to fill out the cards. And there you go. Democracy at work in America under the bushistas.

Here's the complete story.

This says it all

EU to give $1.6 billion to Africa for farming
This will help the farmers tackle food shortages and could reduce violence.

US sending more military aid to Africa
Just in case helping people EAT doesn't work out.

The US doesn't get it, do they?



via Americablog

Saturday, July 19

Greetings From East Jesus


Dear readers.
This is a photo of our very own PeterofLoneTree taken this very a.m. as he departed East Jesus in his Chevy van. If any of you have ever had any doubts about his deep love of country you may now put them to rest.
So anyway, he proposed, I accepted. I'm enjoying my big-ass diamond, and looking forward to a long engagement. I've quit my job. There won't be time for it. The stress of planning a wedding can cause unsightly under-eye circles that can be difficult to mask even with the most excellent concealer, and I don't want to spend all my time and money on the perfect wedding day to end up looking like a raccoon, now do I?
Since both our parents are deceased and neither of us will be gainfully employed during the engagement, our best bet is to have friends that are rich as God and nearly as generous who insist on bringing over wheelbarrows full of money for our personal use. Peter and I feel this is what you'd call your ideal situation and we're looking for one!
Our children will obviously be of no use to us whatsoever. They don't even have wheelbarrows, let alone money to fill them. As irritating as it is, they have like, their own lives, on which they don't want to fitter away our rightful wedding funds.
Who will pay? All the bridal tutorials I've read put this in the most delicate of terms: "Consult with your friends to determine the financial support available to you." In other words, who's got what and how much of it can we get hold of? ( This is where y'all come in.)
We've got to have a photographer and a videographer nowadays, as still photos alone won't suffice: We gotta have movies of it all. We got to have music. We've got to have limos. We've got to have hotel rooms and all varieties of auxiliary activities for our out-of-town attendees. We've got to have presents for everybody in the wedding party. We've got to have invitations. And bartenders, candles, champagne, and yes, tips and taxes! You think the preacher or judge will work for free!
My god, I'm outta the mood now. Never mind.

Sapping Operation

A long time ago, there was a term in warfare called a sapping operation, named for the type of tunnel that was dug. The tunnel was perpendicular to the enemy's lines or fortifications, and was supposed to get underneath said lines/fortifications. Once you were underneath, your combat engineers (called sappers - and still are in the British Royal Army, by the way) would set explosive charges in order to destroy the enemy defenses.

Examples of this are rather numerous, but the two best examples are the mines set off under the German trenches at the Battle of the Somme (one didn't go off, but the others were felt as far away as London) and the one set off by the Union Army against the Confederate works at Petersburg.

Another example of a sapping operation is what we saw in the German news magazine Der Spiegel today.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was in Berlin for talks with Federal Chancellor Merkel and was asked for his views on the competing plans for the eventual removal of US troops from his country. Being careful not to endorse either candidate ("Who they choose as their president is the Americans' business") he said that he favored Senator Obama's sixteen-month timetable for a US withdrawal from Iraq. He did allow for some modification of that timetable, based presumably on real-world conditions and not some nebulous fantasy.

That was the first mine under the Bush Administration's "Stay the Course, Dammit!" policy, which also served to put a hole in Senator McCain's own open-ended commitment stance.

The second was what the White House did with the Reuters report of the interview by Der Spiegel. Some complete nimrod sent it out, not to the internal mailing list but to the external list - the one that goes to all the news media outlets.

Snap! As they say.

That sound you hear, reminiscent of cracking icebergs and roofs about to cave in, is the Bush Administration's policy on Iraq. That policy has, according to some, has actually been edging closer toward Obama's position in recent days, what with the semantically awkward but brilliantly obfuscatory "general time horizon" (couldn't they find a better way to say "timetable?") and the pressing need to send more troops to Afghanistan.

Where does this leave Senator McCain's foreign policy stance?

According to one GOP strategist, "We're fucked."

Res ipsa loquitur.

Conspiracy Saturday

From Democratic Underground

star
star
star
star
star

I'm just sitting here wondering if anything will be different this time around and how many election cycles it takes to actually reform the corruption.

Friday, July 18

And in botanical news...


This is a passion flower growing on a vine in my backyard on the Isle of Long. It appears to be sticking his little tongue out at me. I will take that as a warning that the little fruits on the vine are inedible, but I could be wrong.



This is a wild passion flower growing in Kauai, Hi. This one looks like it's going to eat something. My son put up this picture on our little blog we share this summer while he's there and I'm here.

Chertoff: Europeans are out to get us now

WASHINGTON - European terrorists are trying to enter the United States with European Union passports, and there is no guarantee officials will catch them every time, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Thursday.
[...]
"The terrorists are deliberately focusing on people who have legitimate Western European passports, who don't appear to have records as terrorists," Chertoff told lawmakers. "I have a good degree of confidence we can catch people coming in. But I have to tell you ... there's no guarantee. And they are working very hard to slip by us."
-------------

Chertoff also dismissed the rumor that he may be a running mate for John McCain. Could this just be a ploy to take our attention away from some real news story? What or whom do we have to thank for this fear-fest? I'm sure that you're all just terrified as I am. heh Europeans come in all shapes, colors and sizes... so I guess we should just be askeered of anyone who has a foreign accent. And gosh, I miss the color coded terror alert bars. Remember the Sesame Street one? I do. It's nice to put a happy cartoon face on terror.

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Thursday, July 17

New Picture Tyme

Got some new pictures up for viewing at my flickr site.


Pictures

Click on the "sets" to the right to see the latest.

Bush vs. Bernanke a la Jon Stewart

President Bush is an optimist on the economy, but Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is an expert.





Wacky Tobacky - NRBQ

We’ve become so infatuated with Global Warming that we tend to think only of the Arctic (being the North Polar Region). We know the Antarctic is melting also, but the “press” has been on the north and the Polar Bears.
Maybe the Senator asshole from Oklahoma can explain this:

Strange things happening in Antarctica




Thousands of Baby Penguins freezing to death

Nicole Belle from Crooks & Liars Welcomes Naomi Klein To Discuss The Shock Doctrine - A MUST READ

For those who do not know the basis of The Shock Doctrine, Klein introduces how the writings of Milton Friedman and his underlings at the Chicago School of Economics has writ large literally over all of the federal government’s dealings both here and abroad. The key concept:

(O)nly a crisis — actual or perceived — produces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around. That, I believe, is our basic function: to develop alternatives to existing policies, to keep them alive and available until the politically impossible becomes politically inevitable.

What does that mean? That Friedman’s free market (but not really) ideals-demanding deregulation, privatization of public services and the removal of trade barriers at a time when the populace is still reeling from some form of disaster, be it a natural one, like Katrina in the Gulf states; political upheaval, such as Chile under Pinochet, or here in the US after 9/11. And the population, normally resistant to these changes–which benefit so few and none of the victims–are too fearful to mount a protest, much less put up a fight. And so, taking advantage of our frayed sensibilities, we get the Patriot Act, we get unapologetic warrantless wiretapping and we get useless formaldehyde-filled trailers in a swamp for Katrina victims.

Companies such as Halliburton, Blackwater and DynCorp exist solely from the largesse granted to them through the implementation of the Shock Doctrine, “disaster capitalism,” as Klein coins it. And it continues worldwide-in Iraq, most obviously, but elsewhere as well. Read the book and then watch stories coming out about Iran (remember, it need only be a perceived disaster), about China or even off shore oil drilling here in the States and ask yourself, who is benefiting? What are they trying to get away with?

I promise you, you’ll never watch the news the same way again.

Naomi Klein’s long time colleague and collaborator Debra Levy will also be answering questions during the discussion. Debra, a trained librarian, has been Naomi’s research assistant for eight years and, among other things, she is responsible for the 60 pages of incredible endnotes that do so much to bolster the book’s argument. She also runs www.shockdoctrine.org where many of the source documents for the book are now online, as well as breaking news on disaster capitalism.

So with that, please join me in welcoming Naomi Klein and Debra Levy to C&L to discuss disaster capitalism.


WOW - great discussion!

I haven't read the book yet. I must get it. I've certainly read plenty about it over the past few months though. I do know that NAOMI KLEIN RULES!

I hope it's at the library because at the moment, all I have is lint in my pocket.

News from the brutal occupation of Palestine

Children are treated as brutally as adults in occupied Palestine.

Excerpts from the Guardian:

In February, Muhammad was snatched by a four-man squad of Israeli special forces while playing with friends near the security wall, a mile away from his home. He was subjected to a vicious beating by the men, who punched him repeatedly and smashed him across the face with the butt of a gun in broad daylight. "No one said a word to me during [the attack]", recalled Muhammad, whose description of the assault bore marked similarities to Rodney King's ordeal.

The difference, however, is that Muhammad is just 14 years old, yet was deemed a sufficient enough threat by the soldiers that he needed to be beaten to the point of almost losing consciousness. His crime? Allegedly throwing stones at the separation wall; something Muhammad strenuously denies.

Whereas Israeli youths are treated as children in the eyes of the law until they turn 18, Palestinians are not accorded such humane treatment, and can be imprisoned from the tender age of just 12. Since September 2000 Israel has arrested and detained almost 6000 children, with 700 under-18s arrested in 2007 alone.

Gerard Horton of DCI, an NGO which has taken up Muhammad's case, pointed to the IDF's flagrant violations of children's rights as yet another example of Israel thumbing its nose at international law. "These abuses have been well documented for many years, yet our pleas for intervention have fallen on deaf ears", he said. "The lack of will by the international community to uphold the rule of law when it comes to the Occupied Territories is deeply disturbing."

After his violent treatment at the hands of the troops, Muhammad was taken to a police station for interrogation, where he was duped into signing a confession. "A man showed me a piece of paper in Hebrew [a language Muhammad doesn't speak] and told me if I signed it I would be released, so I did", he said. "Immediately he told me that I had just signed a confession, and that I should now expect a prison sentence".

After receiving medical treatment for his wounds, which required an overnight stay in hospital, Muhammad was transferred to another jail until his court case in front of a military judge. He was not permitted to see a lawyer until five minutes before his trial, and throughout his entire ordeal (including his four and a half month prison term) was not allowed to see any member of his family.

His parents were sick with worry, according to his mother.

continued
Nice ally we've got there. Are you outraged yet?

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Banking 101: Banks create money when they lend it - True or False.

I currently have 8 windows open on my computer. This Probably has a lot to do with my inability to focus most of the time. When I'm not on the computer, I usually have at least 8 or so ideas, thoughts, problems, songs, etc. etc. etc. in my head.
A tangled web indeed. You guys always manage to clear my cluttered mind and set me thinking straight.

So, I turn to my friends at Blondesense today to help me figure out a way to GET RID OF THE BANKERS. I can't do it by myself.


Here is what I am reading at the moment:


.........The court rejected the bank's claim for foreclosure, and the defendant kept his house. To Daly, the implications were enormous. If bankers were indeed extending credit without consideration – without backing their loans with money they actually had in their vaults and were entitled to lend – a decision declaring their loans void could topple the power base of the world. He wrote in a local news article:

This decision, which is legally sound, has the effect of declaring all private mortgages on real and personal property, and all U.S. and State bonds held by the Federal Reserve, National and State banks to be null and void. This amounts to an emancipation of this Nation from personal, national and state debt purportedly owed to this banking system. Every American owes it to himself . . . to study this decision very carefully . . . for upon it hangs the question of freedom or slavery.
Needless to say, however, the decision failed to change prevailing practice, although it was never overruled. It was heard in a Justice of the Peace Court, an autonomous court system dating back to those frontier days when defendants had trouble traveling to big cities to respond to summonses. In that system (which has now been phased out), judges and courts were pretty much on their own. Justice Mahoney, who was not dependent on campaign financing or hamstrung by precedent, went so far as to threaten to prosecute and expose the bank. He died less than six months after the trial, in a mysterious accident that appeared to involve poisoning.4 Since that time, a number of defendants have attempted to avoid loan defaults using the defense Daly raised; but they have met with only limited success. As one judge said off the record:

If I let you do that – you and everyone else – it would bring the whole system down. . . . I cannot let you go behind the bar of the bank. . . . We are not going behind that curtain!


From time to time, however, the curtain has been lifted long enough for us to see behind it. A number of reputable authorities have attested to what is going on, including Sir Josiah Stamp, president of the Bank of England and the second richest man in Britain in the 1920s. He declared in an address at the University of Texas in 1927:

The modern banking system manufactures money out of nothing. The process is perhaps the most astounding piece of sleight of hand that was ever invented. Banking was conceived in inequity and born in sin . . . . Bankers own the earth. Take it away from them but leave them the power to create money, and, with a flick of a pen, they will create enough money to buy it back again. . . . Take this great power away from them and all great fortunes like mine will disappear, for then this would be a better and happier world to live in. . . . But, if you want to continue to be the slaves of bankers and pay the cost of your own slavery, then let bankers continue to create money and control credit.

Robert H. Hemphill, Credit Manager of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta in the Great Depression, wrote in 1934:

We are completely dependent on the commercial Banks. Someone has to borrow every dollar we have in circulation, cash or credit. If the Banks create ample synthetic money we are prosperous; if not, we starve. We are absolutely without a permanent money system. When one gets a complete grasp of the picture, the tragic absurdity of our hopeless position is almost incredible, but there it is. It is the most important subject intelligent persons can investigate and reflect upon.

Graham Towers, Governor of the Bank of Canada from 1935 to 1955, acknowledged:

Banks create money. That is what they are for. . . . The manufacturing process to make money consists of making an entry in a book. That is all. . . . Each and every time a Bank makes a loan . . . new Bank credit is created -- brand new money.

Robert B. Anderson, Secretary of the Treasury under Eisenhower, said in an interview reported in the August 31, 1959 issue of U.S. News and World Report:

[W]hen a bank makes a loan, it simply adds to the borrower's deposit account in the bank by the amount of the loan. The money is not taken from anyone else's deposit; it was not previously paid in to the bank by anyone. It's new money, created by the bank for the use of the borrower.
How did this scheme originate, and how has it been concealed for so many years? To answer those questions, we need to go back to the seventeenth century.


Continue reading The Shell Game of the Goldsmiths
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NEXT

"We have restricted credit, we have restricted opportunity, we have controlled development, and we have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated, governments in the civilized world--no longer a government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and the duress of small groups of dominant men.
~Woodrow Wilson
(1856-1924) 28th US President
Date:
1913
Source:
in his book, The New Freedom: A Call For the Emancipation of the Generous Energies of a People, chapter 9

This "Quote" is still being debated
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"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."
~Written by Jefferson in a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802).
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NEXT

When England lost the Revolutionary War with America where our forefathers were fighting their own government, they planned to control us by controlling our banking system, the printing of our money, and our debt. The individuals listed below owned banks which in turn owned shares in the FED. The banks listed below have significant control over the New York FED District, which controls the other 11 FED Districts. These banks also are partly foreign owned and control the New York FED District Bank: First National Bank of New York, James Stillman National City Bank, New York, Mary W. Harnman, National Bank of Commerce, New York, A.D. Jiullard Hanover, National Bank, New York, Jacob Schiff, Chase National Bank, New York, Thomas F. Ryan, Paul Warburg, William Rockefeller, Levi P. Morton, M.T. Pyne, George F. Baker, Percy Pyne, Mrs. G.F. St. George, J.W. Sterling, Katherine St. George, H.P. Davidson, J.P. Morgan (Equitable Life/Mutual Life), Edith Brevour, T. Baker.

How did it happen? After previous attempts to push the Federal Reserve Act through Congress, a group of bankers funded and staffed Woodrow Wilson's campaign for President. He had committed to sign this act. In 1913, a Senator, Nelson Aldrich, maternal grandfather to the Rockefellers, pushed the Federal Reserve Act through Congress just before Christmas when much of Congress was on vacation. When elected, Wilson passed the FED. Later, Wilson remorsefully replied, referring to the FED, "I have unwittingly ruined my country". Now the banks financially back sympathetic candidates. Not surprisingly, most of these candidates are elected.
(The Federal Reserve Fraud)
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NEXT

From Yahoo's "Best Answer" to this (resolved) question:
Is the Federal Reserve a priate bank and who owns it?

The Government Accounting Office does not have complete access to all aspects of the Federal Reserve System. The Federal Banking Agency Audit Act stipulates the following areas are to be excluded from GAO inspections:

(1) transactions for or with a foreign central bank, government of a foreign country, or nonprivate international financing organization;

(2) deliberations, decisions, or actions on monetary policy matters, including discount window operations, reserves of member banks, securities credit, interest on deposits, open market operations;

(3) transactions made under the direction of the Federal Open Market Committee; or

(4) a part of a discussion or communication among or between members of the Board of Governors and officers and employees of the Federal Reserve System related to items.

So, basically everything that we NEED to know about the Fed is excluded from any Audit. Anyone who says otherwise is twisting the facts, or lying outright.

I have also heard claims that the Fed does not print money or oversee the printing of money. This is false.

"In 1990, at a cost of 2.6 cents each, over seven billion notes worth about $82 billion were ((produced for circulation by the Federal Reserve System.)) Ninety-five percent will replace unfit notes and five percent will support economic growth. At any one time, $200 million in notes may be in production. Notes produced in 2002 were the $1 note, 41% of production time; the $5 note, 19%; $10 notes, 16%; $20 note, 15%; and $100 note, 9%. No $2 or $50 notes were printed in 2002."

This quote is from a Federal Reserve Website under (oddly enough) "PRINTING OF CURRENCY":

Gee....I can't post the quote because
"sorry.....no longer available" - LOL!!

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NEXT

Confusion at IndyMac fuels customers' anger

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NEXT


a quote from reader NevadaLiberal in the comment section of a huffpo article: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Spent $200M to buy influence:
"We are a consumer driven nation. We want money and "things". We want iphones and other non-essential toys. Family and community are secondary to our busy dollar driven and possession driven daily lives. This is what happens when we lose focus and chase the God of Consumerism. Why would we expect any of the people we elect as our representives to be any different then any of us. It wont change until something absolutely drastic and terrible make us change. Obama wont change it. I am voting for him, but I dont expect him to change it. Because we wont change...our American lives wont change...we refuse to change. So how can I expect Obama to change things? The criminal crime family known as the Republicans and the red-headed stepchild known as the Democrates have just about completed the destruction of this country.......but we elected every single one of them....so who really is to blame???"

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NEXT

I'm hitting the music blogs to clear my head for a while.

I'm searching for Gilberto Gil today. Have a listen to this happy go lucky tune and forget all your troubles:
Chiclete com banana
~I’ll only add be-bop to my samba
When Uncle Sam starts playing the ‘tamborim’
When he grabs the tambourine and the bass drum
When he understands that samba’s not rumba


"Apparently, the breezy feel of “Chiclete” hides a serious conversation about musical appropriation and cultural imperialism…which might explain why college professors sometimes include the song in their coursework. But since I speak not a word of Portuguese and “Chiclete” is so damned catchy, for me, it remains a happy song. (How’s that for Yankee appropriation?)"

From a Gilberto Gil/Chiclete com banana review

I await your ideas my friends.

Please hurry though......... I haven't had a bath in days!!!
(Thanks to Minstrel Boy)

He made me very nervous with his comment on my previous GET RID OF THE BANKERS post:


Five or six hundred heads cut off would have assured your repose, freedom and happiness.

a quote from Jean-Paul Marat

Just another reason to reject McCain

Oh brother....

GOP Brags That McCain Will Continue Bush's Economic Legacy
by Dave Sirota at Huffpo

excerpt: When called onto the carpet for wanting to continue the policies of the most unpopular president in history, Republicans start running for cover to the point of claiming they never said what they just said. The denial is a tacit acknowledgment of the power of the populist uprising now boiling throughout the country. The GOP knows the country is very angry at conservatives' free market fundamentalism -- and so will deny and obfuscate to pretend they aren't championing such fundamentalism.
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Comment: Whiney Americans might remember early 2001 when the president had nothing to say about the economy except that we were in a recession, a recession he inherited, I might add. Things at that time weren't all that bad unless you were still reeling from the downfall of the internet superhighway ride of the late 90's when internet startups were selling wind and anyone with half a brain could see that it couldn't last. That didn't affect most Americans though.

This time, when most Americans are feeling the recession, we are told that it's all good. All I can say is F*ck 'em and the horse they rode in on.

Douchebag of the Week

From ABC News Blog:
Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-NC, has officially requested that the ”Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008" be also named after the late Sen. Jesse Helms, R-NC. Read more
I suspect old Liddy is losing her mind.

"Gee I Wonder Why They Haven't Caught the Anthrax Attacker,"

she said sarcastically seven years after the anthrax attacks of 2001.

Raw Story: Seven years on, no answer from White House on anthrax attacks

Reminds me of a slow bluesy-jazzy song I wrote on November 2, 2001

I'm So Sick Of Anthrax

Won't you kiss me again? Take my mind of CNN
Hold me in your arms. I wont do you any harm

Baby turn off the tv, I don't care if it's CNBC
There's a monkey on our backs... And I'm so sick of Anthrax.

We won't open our mail, nasty spores we won't inhale
Baby turn off the tv, No more MSNBC

Fox News has gotten stale, Forget about the rooms of mail.
Baby turn the tv off, Forget about your nagging cough.

Remember I'm your friend, and if this is really the end
Let's get that monkey off our backs, I'm so sick of anthrax

Wednesday, July 16

Christians, Muslims and Jews......OH MY! saudi king calls for religious reconciliation

By Paul Haven


King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia exhorted followers of the world's leading faiths to turn away from extremism and embrace a spirit of reconciliation, saying at the start of an interfaith conference Wednesday that history's great conflicts were not caused by religion itself but by its misinterpretation.

"My brothers, we must tell the world that differences don't need to lead to disputes," Abdullah said, speaking through a Spanish interpreter. "The tragedies we have experienced throughout history were not the fault of religion but because of the extremism that has been adopted by some followers of all the religions, and of all political systems."


continued

What a great idea!!!!
Gee, I'm surprised no one has mentioned this before........

I wish somebody would suggest we all try to get along OUTSIDE of religious beliefs. I think that might work better.

Who is the real John McCain?

Good information for you to know

Stupidest Statement This Week

"I know how to win wars."

The Upside to the $4 Gas Crisis

From Alternet and in a nutshell:
  • 1. Mass Transit Boom
  • 2. Lower Obesity Rates
  • 3. Fewer Accidents
  • 4. Shorter Commutes
  • 5. Alternative fuels craze

Congress Stood Up to the Shrub

I hope they keep up the good work.

Bush must hate America. He vetoed the Medicare bill. House and Senate to the rescue.
Just hours after Bush vetoed the legislation, the Senate voted 70-26 to overturn him, following the House of Representatives, which voted 383-41 to override. The bill now becomes law. Reuters
yay

HHS Moves to Define Contraception as Abortion

From Huffpo:
In a spectacular act of complicity with the religious right, the Department of Health and Human Services Monday released a proposal that allows any federal grant recipient to obstruct a woman's access to contraception. In order to do this, the Department is attempting to redefine many forms of contraception, the birth control 40% of Americans use, as abortion. Doing so protects extremists under the Weldon and Church amendments. Those laws prohibit federal grant recipients from requiring employees to help provide or refer for abortion services. In the "Definitions" section of the HHS proposal it states,

  • "Abortion: An abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. There are two commonly held views on the question of when a pregnancy begins. Some consider a pregnancy to begin at conception (that is, the fertilization of the egg by the sperm), while others consider it to begin with implantation (when the embryo implants in the lining of the uterus). A 2001 Zogby International American Values poll revealed that 49% of Americans believe that human life begins at conception. Presumably many who hold this belief think that any action that destroys human life after conception is the termination of a pregnancy, and so would be included in their definition of the term "abortion." Those who believe pregnancy begins at implantation believe the term "abortion" only includes the destruction of a human being after it has implanted in the lining of the uterus."
[...]

Up until now, the federal government followed the definition of pregnancy accepted by the American Medical Association and our nation's pregnancy experts, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which is: pregnancy begins at implantation. With this proposal, however, HHS is dismissing medical experts and opting instead to accept a definition of pregnancy based on polling data. It now claims that pregnancy begins at some biologically unknowable moment (there's no test to determine if a woman's egg has been fertilized). Under these new standards there would be no way for a woman to prove she's not pregnant. Thus, any woman could be denied contraception under HHS' new science. continued
aaaaarrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhhh!

Here's the link to NARAL's letter to your representative Oppose the Bush Administration’s Attack on Birth Control
-------------------------

Quote of the week:
"Jesus didn't run around handing out condoms," Cardinal George Pell told Vibewire yesterday.
h/t Adult Christianity.


(Haloscan comments are not showing up at the moment, but they are being registered. Hopefully they will re-appear at some point today)

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Two, ah-three, ah-four.......HOW MANY MORE?

Lindsey Buckingham - TROUBLE


I should run
On the double
I think I'm in trouble
I think I'm in trouble
I think I'm in trouble



Lindsey Buckingham is a former Fleetwood MAC member. This song is from one of his solo albums LAW and ORDER


SING IT LOUD Yolanda!!!!

"oh tell me now who do you love, who do you love, who can you trust with your love these days"


"Yolanda Gibson-Michaels has a very valid point in the demanding the Investigations of FDIC Frauds.. In my considered and qualified opinion; What has gone on in this country and others since this game of Dungeons and Dragons began to be played back in the 80's in the Global Banking, Financial and Economic Industries.. we have watched this nation be torn to shreds as she lost her International Good Standing while the DOJ sent out inter-Office Memorandums "DO NOT INVESTIGATE"..

This DO NOT INVESTIGATE intervention is no different than a MOB BOSS going throughout the global neighborhoods... breaking down doors, killing the men of the households, raping the women,then sending the children off into WHITE SLAVERY.. then having LISTENING DEVICES planted all over the place along with cameras on every street corner, in resturantes, under the beds, etc.. so the MOB BOSS would have full knowledge of the MOVES being made to bring him/her to justice......

Thats bad enough, but acording to an article in which Rodney Stitch Deposed Gunther Russbacher many of these alleged 'Judges" are bought and paid for to keep the MOB BOSS'S safe from prosecution..

WELL! IT'S HIGH TIME THIS TYPE OF MAL-ADMINISTRATION, MALFEASANCE and Acts in Color of Law by those in Offices of Public Trust who refuse to do their sworn duties and neglect their responsibilities of OATH OF OFFICE OF OFFICERS IN OFFICES OF PUBLIC TRUST..

Investigate THE FDIC FRAUDS

On Tue, 7/15/08, Yolanda Gibson-Michaels writes to Charles Schumer:

IMMEDIATELY ENSURE THAT SENATOR CHARLES SHUMER RECEIVE THIS EMAIL. EVIDENCE SUPPORTS SENATOR SHUMER REQUEST FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO REPORT FRAUD, REGULATOR FRAUD, INDY BANKS, ET.AL.

and to current FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair:

Charles Shumer should continue to expose Corporate Regulator Fraud. FDIC, OTS and other reported corrupt officials caused the IndyMac and other Bank Failures. Congress, Senate, and the Judiciary must investigate FDIC and all Federal Institution Regulators engaged into a World Wide Pyramid. Reported officials: Former FDIC Chairman Donald E. Powell, John F. Bovenzi (Go to the SEC check out John Bovenzi's unregistered SEC Financial filings and Donald E. Powell). Frederick S. Selby FDIC Division of Finance is the signatory to Kenneth Lay (Enron). Congressman Barney Frank received a 539 page disclosure report of FDIC reported Fraud. John Bovenzi's fraud is included inside the report.

--------------------


From Media Transparency re Donald "Katrina Czar" Powell:

According to his bio posted at the FDIC website, Powell, sworn in as the 18th Chairman of the FDIC in August 2001, was President and CEO of The First National Bank of Amarillo. With over "thirty years of experience in the financial services industry" Powell may recognize a financial fraud or hustle, but how is he on crisis management questions? According to some administration officials, Powell comes to the task with no previous experience in disaster or crisis management.

A lifelong -- and extremely wealthy -- Texan, Powell was one of the "Pioneers" who raised at least $100,000 for Bush's 2000 presidential campaign. The watchdog group, Texans for Public Justice, pointed out that Powell was appointed head of the Board of Regents at Texas A&M University by then Governor Bush in the mid-nineties.



Caught In A Web of Bureaucracy - by Yolanda Gibson-Michaels
Download for free.... if you dare.



TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE FOLKS



Just whistle while you work
And cheerfully
together we
can tidy up the place
So hum a merry tune
It won't take long
when there's a song
to help you set the pace

Something Terrible Almost Happened Tonight

Suicide is like a virus - negative emotion ferries the contagion - irrespective of age, gender or financial stability; for god knows we none of us have our lives tastefully arranged on a silver platter these days (if indeed we ever did). I participated in the online rescue (for rescue I hope it was) - and I was reminded of an essay I wrote in remembrance of my sister. I'm posting it here - because maybe, just maybe - someone somewhere needs to stop what they're doing and look around. Life breathes. It there's a tomorrow - then there's a chance. I believe in that tomorrow.



A Tale Told by an Idiot

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.


By William Shakespeare

It’s true, you know. Days do creep by in stunning anonymity, only to snuff themselves out in a brief flash of prescience before turning into dust. And it truly signifies not a god damned thing. We are born alone and we die alone – in the end, life offers up little more than that. Not much to recommend it – wouldn’t you say? And when exactly does life become simply about breathing? When there’s no sweetness left to serve as balm for interminable ennui? When every day looms as dark and dank as the one before? Life morphs into an absence of death – nothing more. It becomes that ‘walking shadow’ Shakespeare spoke about. How can that be preferable to blank nothingness?

So I look out into the whitewash of day and note how harsh the light is. No euphemistic glow, this – just heat bearing down like mountains – smog reflected, surrounding like sound. No direction, no pulse – summer’s heartbeat gone all flat and tinny. I am, I want, I wish, I need. I am tired. I want to be left alone. I wish I it would rain. I need a reason. People have children to gain purchase on immortality. In a hundred years some fractured version of their face will be staring back at itself in a mirror. Oh look – how like great-grandmama – same jaw, similar eyes – I am, I want, I wish, I need. I heard the other day that various geneticists had traced a direct descendant of Genghis Khan. Does this man now harbor the seeds of conquest? How ‘like’ is he? How ‘like’ are any of us really? So we share bars on a helix? Does that mean we pre-dispose ourselves toward one kind of behavior or another?

The weight that is the world can so easily overwhelm. Unfortunately – it is not possible to take a break. This is an all or nothing proposition – you’re either in or you’re out – as Heidi Klum so breezily puts it. 40 odd years ago my oldest sister opted for ‘out’, I’m afraid. I was 7 the summer she committed suicide. It was hot then too. I wasn’t told about it until I hit my teens. I just thought she’d left me. I was told that as well; that her absence was my fault – the result of my inherent ‘bad character’ – hers too. And I believed it – I believed it because my mother said it was true. Unstable they called her. Maybe she was. All I know is she was the only member of my family I loved and who loved me back. Red hair in a leopard print coat. More than 20 years my senior – she shone like a star – beautiful, warm. I’d wait at the window every Sunday for her to come see me; to come rescue me - until one Sunday I waited till dark and she never came. Her name became anathema in our house. I wasn’t allowed to speak of her – my mother pretended she had never been born. My brother used to encourage me to commit suicide also. He’d tell me the family discussed it – decided I was just ‘like’ her, and like her I needed to be dead. But death isn’t a reality show. There is no turning back. ‘Out’ is just that - ‘out’. And those genes she and I shared didn’t extend quite that far.

I’ve always wondered - what if she later decided she wanted to be ‘in’? That sudden burst of ennui - of depression - what if it passed moments later? What if she didn’t want to be dead? Her choice became irrevocable, I’m afraid. You can’t rent a timeshare on eternity. But what if you could? What if it were possible to shuffle off this mortal coil and suck up some of that oft touted and much desired peace? But only on the installment plan. Rent to buy, as it were; with a fully cancelable contract. I hereby revoke my former agreement on account of I don’t like being dead any more. Would there be some kind of penalty do you think? A forfeiture? Say – 10% of the rest of your life. Would that make any appreciable difference? Would Patricia come back to me? Put her arms around me and say, ‘Sorry, kid - I didn’t really mean it – leaving you all alone like that. It was just a mistake.’ You know - somehow I doubt it. Dead is dead – in any dimension. So goodbye sweet lady. I hope wherever you are – you finally found your peace.

Tuesday, July 15

Simon's Cat

"





Here it is - fresh off the animator's sketch pad: the very latest "Simon's Cat". I've even included the previous two installments. I thought we all needed a reason to smile tonight. I dunno about you guys - but my day could definitely have been better. Enjoy!!!

Another insult to Democrats and humankind



Some complete moron, Mike Meehan put up a political billboard in St. Cloud Florida that reads, "Please don't vote for a democrat." Big deal? Right? Well it's written over the image of the burning World Trade Center on 9/11. Meehan says he's trying to help Republicans. How? I don't have a clue, but I was a Republican on that day and a New Yorker and I was pretty pissed off at my government/country for letting this happen. We were the ones asking questions about how this could happen when the rest of the country was buying the BS from Ari Fleischer.

The billboard carries Meehan's website therepublicansong.com where it turns out that he's some hack looking for publicity for his music career (which I imagine has gone down the toilet by now.) Who said "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel?"

So I went to his website which opens with this paragraph:
The Republican Song title is actually “Please Don’t Vote For a Democrat.” The song was written, played, sung, produced, and recorded by myself. I claim to be a man of God and like millions of others, I love this great nation, “The United States of America.”
and I am simply offended by it. You don't have to be a god fearing person to love the country. In fact if you love the country, you should try to keep it free and safe. Not institute a police state. Democrats love America too and many are believers in God. Just not the nasty vindictive god of money and power at all costs.

What outrages me is the fact that he used the burning towers on his billboard because I am tired of the fear mongering used by people in this country to achieve their agendas. If their agendas were any good, they would not have to scare people into following their lead.

Secondly, NY is not a city that votes for Republican presidents so he can take his fucking NY skyline off his red state billboard. He may recall, since he likes to recall what happened in NY on 9/11, that NYers overwhelmingly rejected the RNC in 2004. If you asked anyone here, they were disgusted with the Republicans. So if anyone wants to show solidarity with New Yorkers, either they can refuse to support Republicans or bite me.

/rant

The Daily Show Headlines - 7/14/08

He just gets better and better and better. His vacation did him well!!


The Lovecats - Katie Melua and Jamie Cullum

My cats were VERY VERY VOCAL this morning. Something must be coming up? Oh yeah - must have been that furry, wet hairball I stepped in when I got out of bed. Not a very pleasant way to start the day. Couldn't help but think of that tune "The Lovecats" whilst rinsing my foot. Remember that song?

"The Lovecats" is the name of a 1983 single by The Cure.

Unlike most of The Cure's famous singles, "The Lovecats" is rarely performed live, due to the complexity of the song and the difficulty in recreating some sounds from it.


Well, forgot those sounds and watch Katie Melua & Jamie Cullum's LIVE performance at the 2004 Brit Awards.








LOL while you watch and Listen to the Cure



You should hear the sounds coming out of Large Marge right now!! OMG I just stepped on her tail (by accident) while she was eating her breakfast. I obviously scared the poor thing and a piece must have gone down the wrong pipe. I had no idea cats could make sounds like this.

Generation Kill

Have any of you watched Generation Kill on HBO?

I thought that since I am so anti-war, I ought to watch it, so I did. It's based on the book of the same name by Evan Wright, a Rolling Stone Magazine embedded reporter who accompanied First Recon Marines from Kuwait into Bagdad in 2003. The characters are based on the real Marines of this first mission. The 7 week miniseries takes place in their thin-skinned Humvees while they discover that there was no real plan for the invasion of Iraq, but their objective was to kill. kill. kill. Interesting.

What I found amusing is that when Wright, the embedded reporter arrived from Rolling Stone, the Marines thought he was some sort of hippy, commie, but then when it was revealed that he also wrote for Hustler, he was welcomed whole heartedly. You see quite a bit of Hustler reading in the episode, but no Rolling Stone reading by the troops.

What struck me in the first episode was that these "cold blooded warriors" were sent there with inadequate equipment, no replacement parts and little supplies. This was something I was writing about 5 years ago, but the excuse given in the story is that this was done in order to keep them angry and yet thinking.... able to make decisions. In Kuwait, they had the embedded reporter and author order supplies for them because only civilians could get batteries and supplies needed. Other important parts for the Humvees were mail ordered by the troops which they paid for. This is something that pissed me off to no end in real life at that time, but the troops were quite resourceful so maybe there was a method to the madness.

You get to know the characters in this miniseries and they are quite interesting. One of them, Rudy, is actually playing himself. These are not the kind of boys I would like to be the mother of however, resourceful or not. Not sure if they were brainwashed in bootcamp or just born that way. Just my little old opinion.

Have you watched it? What do you think?
The schedule is here for those who would like to see it and have an ongoing discussion about it.

Labels:

America is Hurting, Not Whining

From the Progress Report:

HOUSING FORECLOSURES INCREASING: As a result of the subprime lending crisis, "housing foreclosures nationwide were up 50% in June compared with the same month in 2007." In California alone, foreclosures have reached an average of 500 per day.

HOMELESSNESS INCREASING: The number of homeless people in America over the age of 50 is "steadily increasing."

HEALTHCARE COSTS RISING: According to a report by the Government Accountability Office, "health-care costs are growing much faster than the economy." Costs are rising so significantly, some Americans are delaying retirement.

GAS PRICES RISING: The national average gas price is $4.09, up 33 percent from this time last year. Gas prices are now expected to hit "$4.25 by the fall and then stay at more than $4 a gallon until the end of 2009."

JOB LOSSES INCREASING: In the first six months of this year, a total of 438,000 jobs have been lost, bringing unemployment to 5.5 percent. The CEO of Bank of America commented, if unemployment continues to rise, "all bets are off."

FOOD COSTS RISING: "U.S. food prices rose 4 percent in 2007" -- the fastest rise in 17 years -- and as a result, food stamps have considerably less buying power.

HEATING AND ELECTRICITY COSTS RISING: Heating oil costs across the North are expected to be "up 60 percent from last year," and utilities across the country are "raising power prices up to 29%."

REAL WAGES DECLINING: "Slower wage growth and faster inflation has led to falling real hourly and weekly earnings for most workers."

LEISURE SPENDING DECLINING: As a result of the rising cost of living, Americans are "tightening their belts and thinking twice about spending extra bucks on entertainment and leisure products."

VALUE OF DOLLAR DECLINING: The dollar "has been declining steadily for six years against other major currencies, undercutting its role as the leading international banking currency."
and read a shameful paragraph about how Phil "a nation of whiners" Gramm's legislation gutted the safeguards in place to prevent such calamity as we see above.

Disgraceful. If anything, America is a country that's not paying enough attention.

Recipe:

Murinated Chicken with Oysters
"Neb. cop, family win $40K..."
"We lose money the old-fashioned way--we urine it."

AP: "A police officer and his family have won $40,000 in their lawsuit against a restaurant that had served them food tainted by an employee's spit and urine."

Monday, July 14

TOE JAM - THE BPA FEAT. DAVID BYRNE & DIZZEE RASCAL

So- did anyone catch the new Fatboy Slim Video??

just TRY to get this song out of your head.

Good Luck!

Watch an octopus escape through a one inch hole

Damn! It's all so simple! Don't know why I didn't see this sooner!*


The Audacity of Food Banks


*(Sarcasm. In case anyone thinks differently.)

Who's going to bail out the US?

Just wondering what you all think.........



The Telegraph.co.UK has the story.....

You can't make this up.

Semiautomatic assault rifle giveway at Church? I'm picturing a disgruntled evangelical teenager winning the gun and blowing away all the sinners... especially if he owns the Left Behind Video Game.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma church canceled a controversial gun giveaway for teenagers at a weekend youth conference.

Windsor Hills Baptist had planned to give away a semiautomatic assault rifle until one of the event's organizers was unable to attend. (He hurt his foot.)

The church’s youth pastor, Bob Ross, said it’s a way of trying to encourage young people to attend the event. The church expected hundreds of teenagers from as far away as Canada.
OMG. Jesus if you're out there. COME BACK!!! NOW!!!!

“We have 21 hours of preaching and teaching throughout the week,” Ross said.
A video on the church Web site shows the shooting competition from last year’s conference. A gun giveaway was part of the event last year. This year, organizers included it in their marketing.

“I don’t want people thinking ‘My goodness, we’re putting a weapon in the hand of somebody that doesn’t respect it who are then going to go out and kill,'” said Ross. “That’s not at all what we’re trying to do.”
That's exactly what I'm thinking. What happened to bb guns? Or muskets? This reminds me of having to sit through a time share demonstration in order to get the Bose Radio or electric blanket for free.

Ross said the conference isn’t all about guns, but rather about teens finding faith.
“You make a lot of new friends down here,” said Vikki Goncharenko, who attended the conference. “You get to meet new people. There's a bunch of things that are going on. It's just, you have a wonderful time.”
If it's so great, why a gun? And won't an event like this attract criminal types?
Friday evening, Ross said the gun giveaway had been canceled. Pastor emeritus Jim Vineyard, who ran the event, injured his foot and wouldn’t be able to attend. The gun giveaway was also removed from the church Web site.

Ross said the church would give the gun away next year instead. He said the church spent $800 buying the gun for the promotion.
If you take away the incentive will they still come? Stay tuned.

I can't wrap my head around this story, so I will need to go and bang it against the wall now.

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Bomb Happy

Growing up, we used to protest this stuff. Where's a good protest against your government when you need one today?

President George W Bush backs Israeli plan for strike on Iran
As Tehran tests new missiles, America believes only a show of force can deter President Ahmadinejad
(didn't they photoshop those missiles?)

The Wedding Crashers (or collateral ceremonial damage)
A Short Till-Death-Do-Us-Part History of Bush's Wars
by Tom Engelhardt
(How US planes mangle weddings in war torn countries and generals barely flinch.)

The unofficial history of America™ by Kalle Lasn

The unofficial history of America™, which continues to be written, is not a story of rugged individualism and heroic personal sacrifice in the pursuit of a dream. It is a story of democracy derailed, of a revolutionary spirit suppressed, and of a once-proud people reduced to servitude.


........The Declaration of Independence, in 1776, freed Americans not only from Britain but also from the tyranny of British corporations, and for a hundred years after the document’s signing, Americans remained deeply suspicious of corporate power. They were careful about the way they granted corporate charters, and about the powers granted therein. Early American charters were created literally by the people, for the people as a legal convenience. Corporations were "artificial, invisible, intangible," mere financial tools. They were chartered by individual states, not the federal government, which meant they could be kept under close local scrutiny. They were automatically dissolved if they engaged in activities that violated their charter. Limits were placed on how big and powerful companies could become. Even railroad magnate J. P. Morgan, the consummate capitalist, understood that corporations must never become so big that they "inhibit freedom to the point where efficiency [is] endangered." The two hundred or so corporations operating in the US by the year 1800 were each kept on fairly short leashes. They weren’t allowed to participate in the political process. They couldn’t buy stock in other corporations. And if one of them acted improperly, the consequences were severe. In 1832, President Andrew Jackson vetoed a motion to extend the charter of the corrupt and tyrannical Second Bank of the United States, and was widely applauded for doing so. That same year the state of Pennsylvania revoked the charters of ten banks for operating contrary to the public interest. Even the enormous industry trusts, formed to protect member corporations from external competitors and provide barriers to entry, eventually proved no match for the state.

By the mid-1800s, antitrust legislation was widely in place.
In the early history of America, the corporation played an important but subordinate role. The people — not the corporations — were in control. So what happened?


How did corporations gain power and eventually start exercising more control than the individuals who created them? The shift began in the last third of the nineteenth century — the start of a great period of struggle between corporations and civil society. The turning point was the Civil War. Corporations made huge profits from procurement contracts and took advantage of the disorder and corruption of the times to buy legislatures, judges and even presidents. Corporations became the masters and keepers of business.

President Abraham Lincoln foresaw terrible trouble. Shortly before his death, he warned that "corporations have been enthroned . . . . An era of corruption in high places will follow and the money power will endeavor to prolong its reign by working on the prejudices of the people . . . until wealth is aggregated in a few hands . . . and the republic is destroyed."




h/t to Indigus

Sunday, July 13

What's Up With This?



Have these guys lost their collective minds? I don't care if it's intended as a joke or not - I'm offended. This is too touchy a subject for that kind of humor. The New Yorker's not MAD Magazine, fer Christ's sake! Why DO something like this? Any ideas?

Over There

When we allowed the remnants of the Taliban and al Qaeda to escape through the Tora Bora Mountains of Afghanistan to find safe haven in the tribal northwest of Pakistan


we knew they'd be back. And so it is, Son of Taliban, three times as nasty, three times as effective, and steam coming out of their ears.

Afghan insurgents (very likely Taliban) attacked a new NATO base in Kunar Province, up in northeastern Afghanistan. Nine US troops were killed in what is described as a multipronged, coordinated attack. A suicide bomber killed some 41 people in another part of the country.

Oh, and Pakistan has told us that we are not welcome to go hunting for Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. Like that ever stopped us before - anyone recall us bombing the snot of eastern Cambodia to destroy Vietcong and NVA positions there, in defiance of our pledges to respect Cambodia's neutrality and sovereignty?

Over in Iraq, the nascent Status of Forces Agreement (a nice cushy SOFA for our troops) had to be abandoned in favor of a more interim and temporary agreement that will bridge the gap between the expiration of the UN mandate in December and the removal of US troops in 2009.

Essentially, this defers any negotiations on the SOFA until the next Administration takes power, illustrating again the penchant of the Bush Regime for kicking the can a little further down the road. Sure, they'll leave it for John or Barack and let them take the blame when it collapses around them. Meanwhile, the worsening conditions in Afghanistan are putting pressure on the regime to withdraw more combat troops from Iraq faster, so they can deal with the new troubles.

But all is not gloom and doom and failure for Generalissimo Bush and Field Marshall Cheney. A report from the Times (of London, naturally) reveals that Bush gave Israel the "amber" light to further needlessly complicate matters by attacking Iran's nuclear facilities. What fun, eh? He'll back Tel Aviv if negotiations break down - and therefore we see a self-fulfilling prophecy begin, folks. If you're already champing at the bit to attack someone "if negotiations break down," then it becomes necessary to see to it that the talks do break down.

The scale is sliding more and more across from "Fail" to "Epic Fail" regarding Bush's military adventurism.

Huckabee may be insane

But then again a lot of people are when they talk about politics. Huckabee while making an insane correlation in the following quote on Hannity and Colmes does have a point about some Democratic politicians in that they don't stick to their convictions (if they have any):
Well, Americans have consistently rejected the George McGoverns and the Michael Dukakises, the people who clearly and unapologetically are out there on the left — the Walter Mondales who said, I’m going to raise your taxes.

So when liberals are honest about being liberals, they get beat. I think it’s a situation — you know, you had the little clip of Jesse Helms at the opening of the show, and I’m thinking, what a contrast. The thing that many of us loved and admired about Jesse Helms was that, here was a guy, he didn’t care what you thought about his view, but you were going to always know where he stood because he stood for something and he stood clearly.

I think we’re not seeing that in Barack Obama especially in relationship — to his position on the war.
Huckabee contradicted himself in the first place: If liberals stick to their convictions they get beat, but on the other hand Jesse Helms stuck to his and was a winner. But Jesse Helms was a liar and a bigot and a hateful mofo. I don't think that the "liberals" who were beat were beat because they were liberals though. The right is very good at playing into people's fears.

The problem with a lot of liberal politicians is that they get caught up in their pandering to different groups and don't stick to their selling points no matter who they are addressing. If a politician is anti-war, then he should be anti-war no matter whom he is speaking to with no apologies. There is enough proof out there that the war was a failure to back up that position and it should be duly noted. Obama is refining his position on the war which does not mean he's flakey even though Huckabee thinks this is a moral failing. If bush had refined his position, we may not be in the mess we are in and I'd probably have an iota of admiration for the man.

Americans can take the truth about the war. Well they should take the truth whether they like it or not. There's no need to try not to offend those who have family members in the service if you're a democrat who is against the war. You're actually doing them a favor and working to get their loved ones out of harms way (if you have a spine). If Americans are shocked that their sons and daughters are fighting in a quagmire that only benefits big oil, then they weren't paying attention in the first place and ought to be shocked awake. It's about time. Hey, I'm sorry, but I had to live with that information for 5 years and so should they. Don't you ever get tired of being informed when you're surrounded by ignoramuses? I do. It's very hard to stay upbeat and jovial when I have the urge to shake someone... and that is not my nature.

Holding up Jesse Helms as a model to which Obama should aspire is simply hilarious and at the same time cruelly outrageous. Helms was immoral and didn't give a hoot, but he was lauded because he stuck to his convictions even if they were hateful and bigoted. It's funny but I meet so many people who tell me that I have to give Bush credit for sticking to his convictions. Is that considered such a great virtue even when the person is 100% wrong, and even proven wrong? Maybe so in some circles. Not circles I care to hang out in. I've cut off perfectly good relatives over this. The rich ones don't want to contribute to society in the least, but complain when the roads are bumpy or someone gets it in a drive by shooting in a neighborhood with a low tax base. I mean, duh.

It's a good thing to stick to your convictions when you know that they service the society at large and it's okay to change your view when it's proven to be wrong. People should admire someone when they admit they were mistaken and come around to see the light. That's the problem that many conservatives have with so called liberals (not that there are more than a couple of them in the house or senate)- conservatives stick to their guns right or wrong and others are willing to change their opinions when it's proven that people can be hurt by current policies.

I'll take the flip-floppers any day when they turn to the light and stay there. Huckabee can certainly bite me. I still don't want to vote for Obama, but I'm open to being convinced otherwise.

Rare Hibiscus

click pic for larger version

The above is an orange hibiscus that only exists on Kauai, Hi. My son was there to witness its bloom last week. He's staying in the National Tropical Botanical Gardens among other places on the island for an intensive 5 week anthropological field school that will cover, botany, zoology and geology. He will hopefully be able to get a job after this. I set up a blog for him to upload pictures. (click those pics for large versions) It would have been nice if he had labeled the pics. I only know about the hibiscus because I was IMing with him at the time he was uploading them and asking questions. (I'm supposed to upload pictures of our home garden and the cat for him to look at if he gets homesick. Unfortunately I ate the vegetables before I got a chance to shoot pics. Maybe I'll get a shot or 2 of hummingbirds at the feeder if I'm lucky.)

Saturday, July 12

Speakin' of talkin' shiiiittt!


Foodie Saturday!

Roast Pork Loin with Blackberry Glaze

2 lbs. pork loin, patted dry and seasoned with salt and pepper
1 large sprig of rosemary, rinsed

Glaze:
1 pint of blackberries, rinsed
1/2 cup Marsala wine
4 tablespoons clover honey (or to taste)
pinch of salt
2 sage leaves, rinsed and torn into large bits
2 basil leaves, rinsed and torn into large bits

To make the glaze:
Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, then let boil, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Lower the heat to a bare simmer and cook until the berries fall apart and the mixture reduces to a thick slurry, about 2.25 hours.

Cooking:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a glass baking dish with heavy duty foil and spray with cooking spray. Arrange the pork loin in the dish, then spoon the glaze over it, smearing it around until the loin is covered. Shred the leaves off the sprig of rosemary and sprinkle over the loin.

Cook at 350 for 45 minutes or until desired doneness is achieved. I plan on serving it with baked potato and veggies.

Buono appetito!

Is ANYBODY awake yet???? What are WE going to do about this ?????

Home Loan Rescue Nearer

This was my front page headline this morning. PISS ME OFF - where the Hell is my credit for living with in MY MEANS and saving for YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS to buy our first house WITH 20 FUCKING PERCENT down?????

This is TOTALLY not fair. TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE FOLKS.

GET RID OF THE BANKERS

GET RID OF THE BANKERS

GET RID OF THE BANKERS

Seize all of THEIR ASSES i mean ASSETS and help the poor fools who fell (??) for the realtor's BS, and then the REAL FOOLS who "let" the bankers give them sweet deals -- TOO BAD. You're probably in a lot of other stuff way too deep also.






Regulators Seize IndyMac

Why isn't this FRONT AND CENTER at Huffpo (maybe it was during the night?)



Government shuts down mortgage lender IndyMacThe bank is the largest regulated thrift to fail and the second largest financial institution to close in U.S. history, regulators said.


Everyone in the comment section @ huffpo is as outraged as I am on this subject.

I am especially pissed at Chris Dodd. He HAD TO HAVE SEEN THIS COMING YEARS AGO - ?? Member of Senate Banking Committee and THEN HEAD of same?????

I'm sorry folks - you know what a socialist I am -- but this has GOT to be the final straw for me.
FYI -
For the record, I am a bleeding heart, tree hugging, ULTRA conservative, Libertarian Socialist

I guess things are picking up a bit at the big G - 88,800 hits
(that's the blog posts about IndyMac)

The LA times and Huffpo had the only "Big" story up this morning. I wonder if they are discussing this on cable?

PISS.ME.OFF

RIP Tony Snow

WASHINGTON - Tony Snow, a conservative writer and commentator who cheerfully sparred with reporters in the White House briefing room during a stint as President Bush's press secretary, died Saturday of colon cancer. He was 53. continued

FISA Following the money trail



If you cannot watch the above video, I'll fill you in on why so many of our elected officials voted for telecom immunity.

94 House Democrats Flipped and received on average $8,259 from telecoms.

In the Senate, Barack Obama received over $205,000 in political contributions from telecoms while John McCain got $356,000. (it's interesting how they bribe the republicans more... oh that's right, the Dems are spineless and cave to less money.)

In total telecoms gave $63 million to Republicans since 1990 and almost $38 million to Democrats.

Sen Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)- $51,500 in 2008 so far
Sen Mitch McConnell (R-KY) $20,500 in 2008 so far and $91,451 from telecom since 2002

Top Senate Recipients of money from telecoms this year.
McCain $365, 955 ABSENT
Clinton $246, 747 VOTED AGAINST IMMUNITY
Obama $220,789 VOTED FOR IMMUNITY
Rockefeller $51,500 VOTED FOR IMMUNITY
Stevens $41,400 VOTED FOR IMMUNITY
Collins $25,850 VOTED FOR IMMUNITY
Pryor $32,350 VOTED FOR IMMUNITY
Baucus $28,000 VOTED FOR IMMUNITY
Smith $27,750 VOTED FOR IMMUNITY
Graham $26,600 VOTED FOR IMMUNITY
Wicker $26,600 VOTED FOR IMMUNITY
Sununu $24,600 VOTED FOR IMMUNITY
Lautenberg $21,800 VOTED AGAINST IMMUNITY
Durbin $20,850 VOTED AGAINST IMMUNITY
McConnell $20,250 VOTED FOR IMMUNITY
Dorgan $20,250 VOTED AGAINST IMMUNITY
and so on

Gooooood Mooorrrning, CommieCast!



Saturday Morning....WHATEVER - just STOP YOUR WHINING and WATCH A FEW FATBOY Slim classics (I'm dusting the house this a.m.)

And playing these OVER AND OVER!!!


from my favorite music blog "Music for Kid's who can't read good"
and don't worry if the kids are in the room - it's a racey video - but it's acceptable.
Besides, EVERYBODY must listen to my favorite talking head DAVID BYRNE. The song is called "Toe Jam"

(scroll down under the youtube video and look for the Toe Jam Link)

Then hit the classic "Weapon of Choice" with my absolutely all time favorite actor in the whole wide world - CHRISTOPHER WALKEN -- dancing no less!!!!

Oh Fatboy....


Kevin (my other favorite music blog "Hello Vegetables") has another version of Toe Jam
at his site


So...... WHATEVER ya think ya gotta do just DO IT!


I'm think I'm gonna probably just sit here all day and watch videos!!

Friday, July 11

Obligatory Friday Sex Post

From Pam's House Blend: Alabama Attorney General Troy King was caught in bed (by his wife) with the Homecoming King of Troy U. You cannot make this up. Troy King is rabidly anti-homosexual (even though he is one) and is behind the anti-sex-toy crusade in Alabama. Not that any of this is surprising or anything.
Oh you hate gays? Does your wife know you're gay?

Labels:

President George Bush: 'Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter'

That's the headline in the telegraph. Our national embarrassment is at it again... even shocking other world leaders. Please impeach him, congress.

The American leader, who has been condemned throughout his presidency for failing to tackle climate change, ended a private meeting with the words: "Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter."

He then punched the air while grinning widely, as the rest of those present including Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy looked on in shock.

Mr Bush, whose second and final term as President ends at the end of the year, then left the meeting at the Windsor Hotel in Hokkaido where the leaders of the world's richest nations had been discussing new targets to cut carbon emissions.

One official who witnessed the extraordinary scene said afterwards: "Everyone was very surprised that he was making a joke about America's record on pollution."
I almost can't take it anymore. I feel like I want to go into a deep sleep and wake up late next January.

Conyers Floats Inherent Contempt for Rove and Pelosi Shifts on Kucinich Impeachment Resolution

From OpEd News by Robert Wexler:


Capitol Hill is buzzing today with major developments regarding our campaign for impeachment hearings for President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Just today, in what could be described as a perfect impeachment storm:

• Karl Rove once again thumbed his nose at Congress and the American people by brazenly ignoring a lawful congressional subpoena to testify before the House of Representatives;

• Judiciary Chairman John Conyers indicated his willingness to use the power of inherent contempt against Rove if necessary;

• Rep. Dennis Kucinich introduced another article of impeachment on Bush's lies regarding the Iraq war; and

• Speaker Nancy Pelosi was quoted today saying that the House Judiciary Committee should address the issues that Kucinich raises in the House Judiciary Committee.

After years of work by so many of you, the time appears ripe to finally hold Bush and Cheney accountable.

Conyers Opens Door to Inherent Contempt for Rove

Karl Rove has simply refused to appear, as he is legally required to do. His actions, endorsed by the Bush/Cheney Administration, are a challenge to our system of checks and balances and Congress must respond to this type of outrageous behavior with appropriate severity.

Today, Judiciary Chairman John Conyers courageously stated today that inherent contempt will remain an option for the House of Representatives so long as Rove and this Administration refuses to abide by the law.

We must now bring Mr. Rove (and other renegade Bush officials) in compliance with the law.

This is a defining moment for Congress: Will we continue to allow legislative power to be eroded by an out of control executive branch that ignores the rule of law - or will we finally put an end to this congressional capitulation and properly force Administration officials to testify in full view of the American people?

It is time for Congress to hold Karl Rove in inherent contempt. I congratulate Chairman Conyers' positive move in this direction, and we must work to move other Members of Congress in support of the use of inherent contempt. Inherent contempt properly enables the House Sergeant of Arms to physically take custody of Mr. Rove and bring him to the House of Representatives to testify.

How do you think a state or federal judge would react to a witness refusing to comply with a legal subpoena? The wayward witness would be arrested.

Should the Congress of the United States be shown any less respect than any courtroom in the nation?
Should the Congress react any differently than how any American judge would react? Absolutely not.

We are long past the time for threats and negotiation. We must bring Mr. Rove in front of the full Judiciary Committee, under oath. No administration official - not even the President - is above the law. They cannot be allowed to redefine it at will. We must all appear when called or suffer the consequences.

Speaker Pelosi's Shift on Hearings and Rep. Kucinich's New Article of Impeachment

After stating unequivocally that impeachment "is off the table," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated to CBS News today that the House Judiciary Committee should address the issues that Rep. Kucinich's has raised in his impeachment resolution.

Pelosi's words provide genuine hope for our cause of accountability for this Administration. We must use Speaker Pelosi's openness to new hearings in the Judiciary Committee to pursue aggressively the serious allegations against Bush and Cheney relating to lies about the Iraq War, the illegal use of torture, the improper disclosure of the identity of a covert agent, the political firing of US attorneys, and on and on.

I again congratulate Congressman Kucinich on his continued leadership and work on behalf of this vital cause.

This issue now reaches far beyond the substance of the Judiciary Committee's original inquiry regarding the firing of US Attorneys for political purposes. The crisis at hand relates to our most fundamental laws and of our Constitution. It is, in many ways, more serious than the Constitutional crisis surrounding Watergate – yet the national media ignores the facts and ramifications of this renegade Executive.

Congress has a duty to protect the balance of powers. Mr. Rove, Mr. Bolten, and Ms. Miers have taken actions that severely undermine these powers, and we should not rely on a federal court alone.

The political tide begins to be turning and that is why I feel so strongly that we should aggressively push for inherent contempt for Karl Rove and impeachment hearings for President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

Thanks you for your work and your commitment to our constitution.

- Congressman Robert Wexler

Word Lesson Time!

For the purpose of today's lesson, Guys & Dolls, I have taken the liberty of reposting one of Liz' images from a post down below:

Now, does Angela look like she's under "stress?"
PoLT's definition of "stress" is:
"That condition created when the mind overrides the body's inclination to choke the living shit out of some asshole who desperately needs it."

Even when...

Even when you are having a really bad day,





someone will still screw you.
WATCH OUT.

hat tip to Peter of Lone Tree

Big Pharma and Ethics?

So I was reading this article New pharma ethics rules eliminate gifts and meals and thinking about my doctor's office where the drop dead gorgeous, ovulating sales reps from big pharma sit in the waiting room ready to take him out to lunch. I notice that he is a bit terse with them, but maybe that's for my benefit. Maybe not. (he hasn't killed me yet and I've been going there since 1992)

But mostly I was thinking about all the samples I use each month and how many millions of other patients get samples from their doctors who are wined and dined by these breathtaking young things bearing knicknacks with their company logos and company credit cards. How much money must be pissed away on such things by big pharma? Imagine how much less expensive our meds would be if the reps didn't buy lunch for all these doctors? I wonder if the sales reps work the same way in Canada where drugs are cheaper?

Needless to say, I challenge the doctor when he changes my samples or prescriptions and ask which chippy brought them, wondering how much my mental health is at risk for his. He honestly tells me that he wishes the stuff would go generic already. But I wonder.

Ron Paul/ C-Span 7/10/08 - discusses US blockade on Iran AND how Iranians Tested Missiles AFTER Israel had WAR GAMES!



Dr. Paul quotes from the Pro Israeli Lobby J Street:

Our open letter on Iran


Talk of military action against Iran grows louder every day. Rumors swirl of an Israeli attack before Inauguration Day or a Bush administration October surprise. Their are reports of special ops teams already in place and at work.
J Street's position is clear: We oppose pre-emptive military action by either the United States or Israel, and we support stronger US diplomacy - using carrots as well as sticks - to address Iran's nuclear ambitions.
That's why we're asking J Street's members to sign our open letter to Members of Congress and Congressional candidates asking them to say "no" to war with Iran and "yes" to tough, smart diplomacy. We'll present this letter to every Member of Congress and Congressional candidate we meet with this cycle. Sign our open letter to Members of Congress and Congressional candidates here.
To us, it's common sense that saber-rattling and constant threats are counter-productive. What better way to unite Iran behind its most hawkish leaders than threatening to attack? What better way to empower the Iranian hardliners' case for nuclear weapons development than to talk of a military attack?
Too many political candidates seem to think that tough talk and belligerent resolutions will shore up their image on national security. Concerned about appearing "weak", they hesitate to stress negotiation and engagement as fundamental tools of foreign policy in addressing threats and resolving conflicts.
Was it weakness on the Bush administration's part to negotiate an end to Libya's weapons programs? Didn't "tough" diplomacy lead North Korea to start backing slowly away from its nuclear program?
Let's be clear: We do not want Iran to get nuclear weapons. We want to protect Israel from threats. We condemn the unacceptable and unjustifiable rhetoric against Israel and the Jewish people. We want to defend American interests in the Middle East and around the world.
But the current course of American foreign policy has not only failed to achieve these goals; it has undermined them.
A military strike will not eliminate the actual threat. Even proponents acknowledge that, at best, it might set Iran's suspected nuclear program back by a few years. But military action would likely strengthen Iranian determination to succeed in developing a nuclear weapon.
It was precisely this kind of backward thinking that brought us the debacle in Iraq. A war sold at least in part as a strategy for fighting terror instead brought increased terror and instability at a terrible cost in human lives, America's international standing and hundreds of billions of our tax dollars.
War with Iran would likely trigger wider warfare, further regional instability, and potentially a worldwide economic upheaval. In the end, the attack itself would strengthen the argument of those in Iran who say they need such weapons because they live under the threat of attack.
That's why we are asking our members to sign an open letter to current Members of Congress and Congressional candidates encouraging them to support a smart and tough policy on Iran.


The above video was provided by cspanjunkie

NEXT

Please go to this link to view yesterday's SINGLE ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT brought to the floor by Denis Kucinich:

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) sent the following letter today to his colleagues in Congress:

July 8, 2008


WHEN THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF LIES TO GO TO WAR, HE MUST BE IMPEACHED


A SINGLE ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR ON THURSDAY; PLEASE CO-SPONSOR

Dear Colleague,

During the Fourth of July holiday a WWII veteran stood ram-rod straight in his crisp dress uniform and saluted our flag as it passed in a parade. His silent reverential stance was a powerful reminder of the love of country that is reflected in our veterans of all generations and all services.

It is also a powerful reminder of the responsibilities of the President of the Untied States in his capacity as Commander in Chief.

It is worse than heartbreaking that George W. Bush, as Commander in Chief, caused this country to go to war based on information which was false, and which he knew to be false. The consequences for our troops have been devastating. We have lost 4,116 of our beloved servicemen and women since the war began, with over 30,000 physically wounded and countless others emotionally wounded. The toll on the service persons and their families will be felt throughout their lives.


There can be no greater responsibility of a Commander in Chief than to command based on facts on the ground, and to command in fact and in truth. There can be no greater offense of a Commander in Chief than to misrepresent a cause of war and to send our brave men and women into harm’s way based on those misrepresentations.


There has been a breach of faith between the Commander in Chief and the troops. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 or with Al Qaeda’s role in 9/11. Iraq had neither the intention nor the capability of attacking the United States. Iraq did not have weapons of Mass of Destruction. Yet George W. Bush took our troops to war under all of these false assumptions. Given the profound and irreversible consequences to our troops, if his decision was the result of a mistake, he must be impeached. Since his decision was based on lies, impeachment as a remedy falls short, but represents at least some effort on our part to demonstrate our concern about the sacrifices our troops have made.

This Thursday evening I will bring a privileged resolution to the House with a single Article of Impeachment of President Bush for taking our nation and our troops to war based on lies. We owe it to our troops who even at this hour stand as sentinels of America because they love this country and will give their lives for it. What are we willing to do to match their valor and the valor of their successors? Are we at least willing to defend the Constitution from the comfort and security of our Washington, DC offices?

Sincerely,

Dennis J. Kucinich

Member of Congress
---------------------------------------------------

NOW, will somebody tell me WHY THE FUCK neither one of these gentlemen were nominated by their respective parties for President of the USA?????

IMHO, I believe that these two men are the ONLY grown-ups in Congress.

Just who does he think he is anyway? The president's brain?



Not only did KKKarl Rove refuse to appear before the House Judiciary Committee, he skipped out of the country. According to Think Progress, "Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) said Rove’s attorney “never mentioned” this trip to the committee. Rove’s bogus claims of executive privilege were rejected by the Committee as “not valid” by a 7-1 vote. The committee gave Rove five days to comply with the subpoena."

Maybe not all of you feel the way I do when I read such things, nor do you recall with horror the years of blow job testimony against Bill Clinton, but I just have to rant here for a second...

I had an impressionable child at home during the Lewinsky debacle. I literally could not turn on the news in my house for I don't know how long. The media and the congress were jerking off to the antics of Bill Clinton and I wasn't ready to have to discuss oral sex with a 10 year old at home. Most people I knew at the time were simply appalled at the media coverage of it all. It's not like we were shocked at what he had done or anything, because everyone figures that world leaders do all sorts of sordid crap behind closed doors with their mistresses... we just didn't want to hear about it at supper hour. Looking back at how impossibly irritated I was by the whole scandal, that it had to be on the freaking news day in and day out and how it was a national embarrassment to put the president on the stand for such nonsense that had nothing to do with running the country and then to impeach him because he freaking lied about a blowjob... and now this complete pig faced AH is trying to get away with "executive privilege" on an issue as important as politicizing the fucking justice department which actually has an effect on the whole country, then I am just outraged to the max.

If Bill Clinton had to be subject to such interrogation, then KKKarl Rove ought to be arrested and forced to testify about EVERY conspiracy he was a party to.

/rant

Thursday, July 10

This pretty much sums up the FISA thing for me.
This exemplifies the contempt these pieces of shit have for OUR country.
If this image offends you more than what the assholes in Congress did to this country, you are either a Republican or work for a telecom.




I'm using this image on a greeting card that I will send to each Democratic Senator and Representative that supported the Tyrant Bush. But not over the summer. They will go out in time for the election.
Unfeeling, asshole traitors!

Here it is, as requested:

I first caught this over at Kevin's CRYPTOGON site, in between a couple of posts entitled, "U.S. Cluster Bomb Related Atrocities to Continue" and "Ambac Soars 50% on Collateral Posting."

Is it "The business opportunity of a lifetime!"? Depends I suppose (and this is my opinion only) if you have psychopathic tendencies. The site's title is Federal Business Opportunities and the offering page itself is referred to as "D--INTERNET AWARENESS SERVICES." Well, gee! Doesn't that sound...uh, official, and innocent. Before I post the bureaucratese, my title for the proprosal would be something along the lines of "Here's another way to cornhole the American People under the auspices of 'We're here to PROTECT AND SERVE you'."

Let's check out the contract specs, shall we? (And I apologize to those readers who loathe and despise the kind of language you're about to see, but force yourself to read it anyway--one more thing, if you can still see after wading through what's below, drop on over to Kevin's site and tell him hello and thanks.):
Solicitation Number:
W912CM-08-R-0025 Notice Type:
Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Synopsis:
Added: Jun 23, 2008 11:33 am
1. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.
(Anybody else find that 2nd sentence a little ominous? -- PoLT)
2. W912CM-08-R-0025 is issued as a request for proposal (RFP). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-26. NAICS code is 518210.

3. Requirement:
CLIN 0001: Report Internet Usage to be performed pursuant to the statement of work, 12 months at unit price of _____;
CLIN 1002, 1st Option to Extend pursuant to FAR 52.212-9, 12 months, at unit price of _____.
CLIN 2001, 2nd Option to Extend pursuant to FAR 52.212-9, 12 months, at price of _____.

Deliver to: Germany, POP and address will be stated in the award document.

STATEMENT OF WORK

The contractor shall conduct internet awareness services in support of the Governments activities to include Indications and Warning, Force Protection, and situational awareness.

The purpose of the services will be to identify and assess stated and implied threat, antipathy, unrest, and other contextual data relating to selected internet domains. The contractor will prioritize foreign language domains that relate to specific areas of concern.

The contractor will analyze various web pages, chat rooms, blogs and other internet domains
(Needless to say, Guys & Dolls, dat's you and me.) to aggregate and assess data of interest to the Government. It will also identify new internet domains that directly relate to the Governments specific local requirements.

The contractor will include a principle cyber investigator, a locally specialized threat analyst, a foreign speaking analyst with cyber investigative skills, and a constant watch team. It will organize additional native language translations at the direction of the Governments designated Contracting Officers Representative (COR), following mutual agreement.

The deliverable product will consist of a written report, delivered weekly to the COR. The report will contain raw data and supporting analysis to add value to raw materials. The contractors sources will be captioned under alias to preserve access, but upon request, the contractor will consider releasing specific URLs on an as needed basis based on the Governments request, if explicit threat materials or imminent threat to personnel or facilities are discovered.

The contractor shall immediately contact via telephone and/or email the designated COR upon receipt of any and all stated or implied threats that contain timing and/or targeting information relating to personnel, facilities or activities, and to specifically designated areas of concern.

As part of this alerting, if the contractor identifies a stated or implied threat that contains timing, targeting or both, it will deliver the raw URL and any supporting URLs relating to the threat materials. It will also make an investigator available within 8 hours of request for analytic discussions regarding the threat.

If the Government receives a deliverable report and believe the materials contain threat information, the COR may make a request for the URL release 24 hours a day to the contractor. The contractor will consider the ad hoc request for URL and respond within 12 hours. On cases where someone other than the COR makes a request, the contractor will notify the COR and will inform him or her of its decision.

4. The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, applies to this solicitation. The offeror must provide a list of its contracts for the past 5 years, of the type similar to the services required under this solicitation, to include detailed information (description, time frame, customer), including point of contact (name telephone and email). In addition, the offeror must explain why services under each listed contract are similar to the services required in this solicitation. The offeror must also explain how it will be able to obtain the needed information and be able to provide it on time by describing briefly any technical approach or operational system it has in place to fulfill the timely notification of significant or critical information obtained.

5. The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items, applies to this solicitation. Award will be made to the responsible offeror who has the most solid experience and able to provide the timely notification required. Solid experience means that the offeror has proof that it has done similar, if not the same type of services before. The Government will consider the relevance of the contracts (similarity to the services required) and the quantity. Experience and time factor are of equal importance and are more important than price. Price evaluation will include the option prices. Past Performance will be part of responsibility determination. List of contracts provided may also be used in determining contractors performance.

6. Bidders are advised to include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its offer or state if it has submitted annual certifications.

7. Clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, and at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (latest edition) (Deviation) applies to this acquisition.

8. The date, time and place offers are due on or before 07 Jul 08, 1600 hours, CET. Point of contact (POC) for this solicitation is: Yanina Seeger, Tel. 0049-611-816-2204 FAX 0049-611-816-2198, email: yanina.seeger1@eur.army.mil. Quotes may be submitted by email or fax addressed to the POC.
Additional Info:
Wiesbaden Contracting Center
Contracting Office Address:
ACA, Wiesbaden Contracting Center, ATTN: AEUCC-C, CMR 410, Box 741, APO, AE 09096-0741
Place of Performance:
ACA, Wiesbaden Contracting Center ATTN: AEUCC-C, CMR 410, Box 741 APO AE 09096-0741 EU
Point of Contact(s):
Yanina Seeger, 011-49-816-2204 ACA, Wiesbaden Contracting Center

China Recycles Used Condoms

THESE HAIR BANDS WERE MADE FROM USED CONDOMS AND THREADS IN CHINA











Breaking News


BEIJING (AFP) – Undisclosed LWOH operatives have just learned that used condoms are being recycled into hair bands in southern China, threatening to spread sexually-transmittable diseases they were originally meant to prevent, state media reported Thursday. In the latest example of potentially harmful Chinese-made products, rubber hair bands have been found in local markets and beauty salons in Dongguan and Guangzhou cities in southern Guangdong province, China Daily newspaper said.

“These cheap and colourful rubber bands and hair ties sell well ... threatening the health of local people,” it said.

Despite being recycled, the hair bands could still contain bacteria and viruses, it said. "People could be infected with AIDS, (genital) warts or other diseases if they hold the rubber bands or strings in their mouths while waving their hair into plaits or buns," the paper quoted a local dermatologist who gave only his surname, Dong, as saying. A bag of ten of the recycled bands sells for just 25 fen (three cents), much cheaper than others on the market, accounting for their popularity, the paper said. A government official was quoted as saying “recycling condoms was illegal.”
Meanwhile, China’s manufacturing industry has been repeatedly tarnished this year by a string of scandals involving shoddy or dangerous goods made for both domestic and foreign markets. In response, it launched a public relations blitz this summer aimed at playing up efforts to strengthen monitoring systems.


-2Truthy




from:

Bill from Maine, via dailykos:



Dear Troops in Iraq and That Other Place,

Hi! How are you? Staying busy, we hope, and close to an air conditioner! It's hot here, too---don’t get us started, ha ha! Thank god for popsicles, eh?

We have some bad news, I'm afraid. As you may have heard, things aren’t very rosy here stateside. So we're sorry to report that we've collectively decided that the wars of freedom you're fighting over there have been bumped down a notch--or two--on our national list of problems and priorities. :(

Now, before you start feeling sorry for yourselves, let us explain why you're no longer our top priority. You see, we're hurting at the moment. Hurting pretty bad. It's tough to know where to start. The real estate market sucks, gas prices are forcing us to cut back on vacations, our 401(k)s are battered, we're losing our jobs and things are getting more expensive. As much as we know that shopping is the best way to fight terrorism, it's just getting harder to plunk down the plastic at Macy's. There's just "too much month left over at the end of the money," ha ha.

Thank goodness you're over there and don’t have to experience what we're going through over here. You still get to drive your Hummers---we're all selling our SUVs for pennies on the dollar and squeezing into Priuses. We wonder if you can even grasp the magnitude of our discomfort. If you do, then no doubt you're stomping your feet and yelling (as we are): "God dammit! Stop the insanity!" Some of us have even had to start riding bicycles again or doing that thing where you stand up and put one foot in front of the other. (Warking? Wooking? Something like that.)

So please forgive us for turning our attention away from you men and women in uniform, but we've got our own problems here in the States. Don’t get us wrong, though. You're still doing a terrific job, and we promise to get back to you just as soon as our lives become a little more comfortable and cozy. We hear it could be as soon as 2010.

Huzzah to y'all, and if there's anything you can do to help us out with our struggles, please let your CO know. (Care packages stuffed with corn-based food products, salmonella-free tomatoes and some of the billions of dollars that Viceroy Bremer "lost" when he was in charge would be helpful, but all suggestions are welcome.)

Big hugs,

We The People
1/7th of whom can locate where you are on a map

P.S. You can also help us out big time by holding charity petroleum drives over there. We need oil and LOTS OF IT. Just stop what you’re doing this instant, start scooping up the crude with your helmets, and send it over in those big supply planes. For the love of God and Country, do it now. We NEED THE PRECIOUS JUICE!

P.P.S. Aunt Gladys is pregnant again.

OOPS! Hold on a minute there, buckfuttboy.

Somebody better tell boygeorge and/or his buddies on the shores of the Mediterranean that...well, here's the article as copied from ITAR-TASS:
"Putin, Ahmadinejad discuss military-technical and energy cooperation"
"Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday.

“In the course of the conversation, Putin and Ahmadinejad discussed various aspects of trade and economic interaction between the two countries as well as energy cooperation, including atomic energy,” the government press service said.

“In this context, both sides emphasised the need for timely construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant,” it said.

“Among other topics, Putin and Ahmadinejad also discussed issues pertaining to bilateral cooperation in the field of transport and military-technical cooperation,” the press service said.

"The official news agency IRNA reports from Kuala Lumpur, where the Iranian president is currently on a visit, Ahmadinejad called for the development of bilateral relations and expressed hope for a bright future of Russian-Iranian ties.

"According to Ahmadinejad, relations between the two countries are developing owing to the will of their leaderships, and all of the agreements reached earlier are being implemented.

"Putin said Russia attached great significance to relations with Iran."


Maybe the Russian bear is done hibernating. First found this article at a site entitled The Truth Seeker.

More Drug Warnings


Yesterday I was reading the WSJ and found this article that listed more drugs which may cause suicidal thoughts. They are epilepsy drugs that can be used to treat depression.

"But now, some drugs designed to treat conditions ranging from depression to the compulsion to smoke cigarettes (Chantix) carry warnings that tell patients that they could experience "suicidality," the medical term for suicidal thoughts or behavior."

As per usual (whenever they come out with a list of drugs that could cause suicide) there were a total of 3 drugs that I take or have taken regularly on the list of new drugs which would need suicide warnings. It really explains a lot. Then I read further and saw that Singulair has a suicide warning. I know plenty of women on Lyrica for fibromyalgia and that has a suicide warning too.

Why am I still alive then? I recently had another bout of "suicidality," and could really come up with no good reason except that there was this underlying feeling of gloom that I found hard to take. I wonder if the cure is worse than the disease and how would I tell?

UPDATE: Majikthise has a good article Is depression killing your brain?
See also How Prozac sent the science of depression in the wrong direction at teh Boston Globe

What is the job of the president anyway?

I was just watching a clip over at GritTV with Barack Obama where he mentions to Harry whatshisname at CBS news that his job as Commander in Chief would be to keep America safe. His job as Senator and if he becomes president is to uphold the constitution. That is what keeps us safe as a nation.

This 'safety' bullshit flies directly in the face of the constitution.
Shit happens in a democracy. Shit happens in life. Do we want to live in a cocoon safely or take our chances and live freely?

Meet the new boss. Same as teh old boss.

Michael Mukasey.

9/11 False Flag - By Frank Hoefer Leipzig, Germany. With English subtitles when necessary.

Here is a perspective from another country.




“The world has changed after September 11th. It’s changed because we’re no longer safe.”

These words were used by the George W. Bush, elected President of the United States in 2000, to dictate the political direction for the 21st Century.

Whereas Americans launch attacks relatively quickly, first on Afghanistan and later on Iraq, using falsified evidence, doubts about the official version of the events of September 11th grows. The speculations that surfaced on the internet directly after the attacks were considered to be just wild conspiracy theories until this now. Yet the circumstantial evidence and even the substantial evidence itself paints a clear picture. The responsibility for the terrible attacks seems to lie not with Islamic Terrorists but with several high-ranking members of the military and administration of the U.S. Government.

This documentary focuses on the inconsistencies in the official version of the events as well as on the evidence which has been suppressed regarding September 11th. In addition, it answers the questions of why we still know nothing about it to this day and why we are being deceived – also in european countries.


Here are a few hundred more items From 911truth.org

This, I believe says it all...........

The Dog That Didn't Bark - How did they know it was safe?


9.11 Voices
What If You Had To Tell The President?
Andrew Card:



White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card was with President Bush during a children's reading event at a Sarasota, Fla., public school when word came that planes had hit the World Trade Center. Card had to decide how to tell Bush without creating a national panic...
I usually ask myself this: If I were president, would I want to know? And the test was yes, I would want to know. So then I decided that I would tell the president. And I went over to the door, and I actually did give some thought as to what I would say to the president because it's not an easy thing to interrupt a president during an event.
First of all, you're watching, the cameras are on, and the audience is paying particular attention. And when it's a student audience, it's even a greater challenge.
So I was very uncomfortable about interrupting the president during one of his events ... so I wanted to think, how can I convey to the president the situation? And I made a conscious decision to state the facts and to offer editorial comment. And the facts, as I knew them, were -- since he knew about the first plane, I said, "a second plane hit the second tower." Those were the facts. And the editorial comment was, "America is under attack."
I said those things into the president's right ear, and I stepped back, because I did not want to invite a discussion from the classroom. But I tried to be succinct in what I told him so that he understood the enormity of the problem. He looked up -- it was only a matter of seconds, but it seemed like minutes -- and I thought that he was outstanding in his ability not to scare either the American people that were paying attention to the cameras or, more importantly, the students that were in the classroom.
And he just excused himself very politely to the teacher and to the students, and he left.

President Bush's 9/11 Visit to Booker Elementary - The Full Story





The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either.

~ Benjamin Franklin



Abject Slaves Bowing to the Failure

Sixty-two quislings bowed to the money fed to them by the telecommunications industry and groveled before the complete and utter failure who is Our Dear Leader, and voted to pass the revised FISA law that effectively erases the Fourth Amendment from the US Constitution. That was yesterday, by the way. All of our telephone conversations, email, IM conversations and any other form of electronic communication are now subject to interception and handoff to our intelligence agencies.

Well, maybe not. This is going to be before the Supreme Court soon. The ACLU and other groups are already deploying their lawyers, determined that our country will not go the way of other bright and shining examples of democracy like Russia, Zimbabwe and Egypt (where at least they don't try to hide behind pretty words like "rule of law" to cover up their actions).

Aside from the stupidity of allowing this to happen, the Congress may be astounded to learn that their popularity with the American people has sunk to 9 percent. 9 percent, bowing to 29 percent. Could the 9 percent be the result of the Democratic majority continuously kneeling to the Great Leader Bush instead of giving the Failure a whipping he'll take to his grave?

Stay tuned.

Oh, and by the way, just a mere five minutes shows an argument that telecomm immunity's unconstitutional. Article I, Section 9 states that Congress is not allowed to make any ex post facto law; i.e., a law "after the fact." In other words, if it was illegal to start with, you can't make it legal afterward and allow the perpetrator to get off scot-free.

If we allow ex post facto laws to be established in this country, we might as well relax another prohibition in the Constitution, that of a bill of attainder. Attaint Bush and Cheney, their cronies and their families, confiscate all their money and property and exile them forever from the United States.

Hey, if we're going to turn our backs on the Supreme Law of the Land regarding the telecomms, we might as well go all the way.

Wednesday, July 9

God Damn, I'm Pissed!

Hopefully if history does repeat itself, we can get carpenters to extend these "pews" to encompass the Republican AND Democratic successors to the most fanatic scum of the 20th Century.
And we're only in the first decade of the 21st. Imagine the fascism the Democratic supported New World Order can foist on us for the next 90 years...if we make it that long.
Assholes!



The not too distant future...

"This bill will help our intelligence professionals learn who the terrorists are talking to, what they're saying and what they're planning," Bush said in a brief White House appearance after the Senate (FISA) vote.


3:00 A.M; Somewhere in the eastern United States; early fall before the elections. The family is sleeping quietly. Nothing is stirring, not even a mouse.
Moonlight streams through the bedroom window illuminating a man still asleep.
The phone rings…again…again…
The man rolls over and fumbles for the phone…
“Hello?”, he sleepily says.
“Is this Kenneth?”, comes a heavily accented voice.
“Huh?”, says the wakening man.
“I asked, is this Kenneth?”, says a man with a strange accent.
“Who is this?”, demands the waking man.
“You know who it is. I’m confirming the meeting with (unintelligible) you have scheduled to discuss your involvement with (unintelligible).”, says the voice.
The man is awake now and trying to identify the accent. It seems so familiar; Spanish? No. Dutch? No? But it keeps nagging at him as he listens to the voice continue questioning him. “I don’t know anything about a meeting. Who did you say it was with?”, the now wide awake man asks.
“Thank you for the confirmation. (unintelligible) will meet with you at the prearranged time. Tell no one. Goodbye.” Says the voice.
The man hears a dial tone then hangs up the phone.
Hearing her husband talking, his wife groggily asks, “Who was that, honey?”
“I don’t know, dear. Must’ve been a wrong number. Good night, dear”, he replies.
He turns on his side and pulls the covers over his now chilly shoulders. Closing his again sleepy eyes, he thinks once more about that accent but it doesn’t matter. Just a wrong number. Got to get to sleep. He has to get up at 6:00 A.M. and he’s got a long day ahead.

Verizon Headquarters; sub-basement room 31 complex B.

Monitor: “Yes sir. We have a confirming call from somewhere in northern Pakistan to a number here in the states.”
Supervisor: “Recorded?”
Monitor: “Yes sir.”
Supervisor: “Suspicious?”
Monitor: “Well, seems he was sleeping and the call woke him.”
Supervisor: “Could be a ruse?”
Monitor: “Yes sir. How should we treat it?”
Supervisor: “Inform the NSA. We can’t take a chance.”
Monitor: “Yes sir.”
Supervisor: “Yeah, they’ll pick him up in the morning. These people think they can get away with tramping on our country! We’ll show them!”
Monitor: “Sir?”
Supervisor: “Oh, they all think they can get away with their subversion. But we got ‘ em now.”
Monitor: “Sir. The man is a businessman. Small businessman at that. His profile suggests he’s not a threat.”
Supervisor: “That makes him more of a suspect. Business! Probably making some arrangement he thinks won’t get him caught. That’s how they all are. We got this one. Who was the caller?”
Monitor: “No idea, sir.”
Supervisor: “Well, it doesn’t matter. The boys will take care of it now. Good work. Chalk up another one for mom, apple pie and the American way.”
Monitor: “…Sir? What if it WAS a wrong number?”
Supervisor: “Well, son. Better to be safe than sorry, Right? It’s only one man.”
Monitor: “..Aa..yes sir…”


A small town in Northern Pakistan

“Akmed. “Get me another number for someone in the United States.”


TV teaser that night in the man’s town:

Local man arrested as terrorist. Wife and son detained for further questioning. No other details were released.

In other news, Sanjay may get another chance on American Idol. One judge may have been drunk.

Medicare Bill Passed

Senator Kennedy made it to the senate today to vote for the medicare bill which passed by a veto proof 69-23. Kennedy was greeted with a standing ovation. Apparently it moved many Republican senators to vote with him. John McCain was the only senator who did not vote. Obama did.

FYI -- Discovery Channel Tonight -- Ted Koppel presents "The People's Republic of Capitalism" -- a 4 part series

Here's the line up:

Part 1: Joined at the Hip — Wed., July 9, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

The American and Chinese economies are irreversibly intertwined. The common complaint that the Chinese are taking jobs away from American workers is in many cases true. China's cheap and abundant labor attracts manufacturing from all over the world. Still, American economists estimate that the U.S. is as much as $70 billion richer each year because of its relationship with China —something must be going right.

Wal-Mart, America's largest retailer, is able to maintain low prices in part because of cheap Chinese labor. And when Apple sells a $299 iPod (designed in California and assembled in China), the American computer company makes an $80 profit, while the Chinese assembly plant makes just $4.

We'll trace the interconnected web of U.S./China trade, from Mexican migrant workers in North Carolina to a Chongqing teenager working on a boombox assembly line; quality control inspectors at Ethan Allen to a Chinese homemaker shopping at Wal-Mart in Chongqing; and laid-off workers from Briggs & Stratton's Rolla, Missouri plant to the American who runs the Briggs & Stratton plant in Chongqing.

Part 2: MAOism TO MEism — Thur., July 10, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Part 3: The Fast Lane — Fri., July 11, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Part 4: It's the Economy, Stupid — Sat., July 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

or......................

if you'd like to save yourself some time

and....................

SAVE YOURSELF from Ted Koppel, you can watch this interview with Jon Stewart




************UPDATE*************


or better yet......

Just read this SPOT ON comment by our resident economist The Dark Wraith:

Good afternoon, Jersey Cynic.

Ted Koppel should study economics before he tries to play Junior Economist.

Barring that, Mr. Koppel sh