Michael Ledeen got played for the fool that he is...and it'd be funny were the consequences of his foolishness not so utterly tragic...as Richard Clarke, speaking more generally, pointed out last night.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Party of One
Feel the Joementum
Joe's just the latest Republican politician to demonstrate his ignorance of correct spoken English.
Feel the Joementum
Joe's just the latest Republican politician to demonstrate his ignorance of correct spoken English.
The Big Lie
While it's nice to see the truth FINALLY coming out re: the Bush administration's stumblebum response to Hurricane Katrina and the flood...including the fact that idiot Shrub managed to lose a two page letter delivered to him personally from then-governor Blanco...I can only agree in part with Alexander's conclusion about the federal government taking the well-deserved blame.
The myth, if not set in stone, is certainly set in the minds of a lot of people--and at this point trying to explain the facts is almost an exercise in futility. And don't doubt for a millisecond that Rove knew this quite well when his spread his vicious lies, and, when they became so threadbare that even a Republican could see through them, spewed forth lines like "government failed at all levels" and "now's not the time to look for someone to blame," etc. etc.
But while lies themselves are easy to refute, the myths they help generate stubbornly refuse to surrender to facts. And that's one reason why it was so maddeningly frustrating to witness the grimmest of shows, where a cowed media fell hook, line, sinker, rod and reel for Bush administration nonsense...nonsense that's managed to embed itself in popular culture to the extent that I fear NO amount of factual analysis will ever turn it around.
Damn.
While it's nice to see the truth FINALLY coming out re: the Bush administration's stumblebum response to Hurricane Katrina and the flood...including the fact that idiot Shrub managed to lose a two page letter delivered to him personally from then-governor Blanco...I can only agree in part with Alexander's conclusion about the federal government taking the well-deserved blame.
The myth, if not set in stone, is certainly set in the minds of a lot of people--and at this point trying to explain the facts is almost an exercise in futility. And don't doubt for a millisecond that Rove knew this quite well when his spread his vicious lies, and, when they became so threadbare that even a Republican could see through them, spewed forth lines like "government failed at all levels" and "now's not the time to look for someone to blame," etc. etc.
But while lies themselves are easy to refute, the myths they help generate stubbornly refuse to surrender to facts. And that's one reason why it was so maddeningly frustrating to witness the grimmest of shows, where a cowed media fell hook, line, sinker, rod and reel for Bush administration nonsense...nonsense that's managed to embed itself in popular culture to the extent that I fear NO amount of factual analysis will ever turn it around.
Damn.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Permanent Means Forever
OK, here's MY modest proposal/cmpromise: all those in favor of a permanent presence in Iraq, beginning with Shrub himself, VOLUNTEER for service in the occupation force.
Damned chickenhawks.
OK, here's MY modest proposal/cmpromise: all those in favor of a permanent presence in Iraq, beginning with Shrub himself, VOLUNTEER for service in the occupation force.
Damned chickenhawks.
Unless Tom DeLay Proves ME Wrong, He's a Crooked, Lying Son-of-a-Bitch
And why would anyone listen to the moral equivalent of walking pond scum?
And why would anyone listen to the moral equivalent of walking pond scum?
Sending a Signal
But he gave up...golf.
After reading this article, and watching this slideshow, both of which are well worth your time, I couldn't help but contrast it with...this:
US President George W. Bush said in an interview out Tuesday that he quit playing golf in 2003 out of respect for the families of US soldiers killed in the conflict in Iraq, now in its sixth year.
"I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal," he said in an interview for Yahoo! News and Politico magazine.
"I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander-in-chief playing golf," he said. "I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them."
The US president traced his decision to the August 19, 2003 bombing of UN headquarters in Baghdad, which killed the world body's top official in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
"I remember when de Mello, who was at the UN, got killed in Baghdad as a result of these murderers taking this good man's life. And I was playing golf -- I think I was in central Texas -- and they pulled me off the golf course and I said, it's just not worth it anymore to do," said Bush.
Bush's last round of golf as president dates back to October 13, 2003, according to meticulous records kept by CBS news.
On the day of the bombing two months earlier, he had cut short his golf game at the 12th hole and returned to his ranch in tiny Crawford, Texas.
More here.
But he gave up...golf.
After reading this article, and watching this slideshow, both of which are well worth your time, I couldn't help but contrast it with...this:
US President George W. Bush said in an interview out Tuesday that he quit playing golf in 2003 out of respect for the families of US soldiers killed in the conflict in Iraq, now in its sixth year.
"I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal," he said in an interview for Yahoo! News and Politico magazine.
"I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander-in-chief playing golf," he said. "I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them."
The US president traced his decision to the August 19, 2003 bombing of UN headquarters in Baghdad, which killed the world body's top official in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
"I remember when de Mello, who was at the UN, got killed in Baghdad as a result of these murderers taking this good man's life. And I was playing golf -- I think I was in central Texas -- and they pulled me off the golf course and I said, it's just not worth it anymore to do," said Bush.
Bush's last round of golf as president dates back to October 13, 2003, according to meticulous records kept by CBS news.
On the day of the bombing two months earlier, he had cut short his golf game at the 12th hole and returned to his ranch in tiny Crawford, Texas.
More here.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
"Volunteer" Army
From Cursor--link:
"Because of the arrogant, corrupt lies of George W. Bush and his neo-con handlers my nephew is dead, and I am mad as hell...Jason Dene was not killed by enemy fire nor friendly fire but by Bush's brutal and cynical stop-loss program."
"Because of Bush's abusive stop-loss policy, Jason had been sent into an unwanted third tour of duty. He was a father of three and could not afford to lose his pension. Some 'volunteer Army'.
"During his three 15-month tours in Iraq, exposure to roadside bombs and other job-related injuries caused Jason to be hospitalized several times for concussion and internal bleeding and other injuries. Recently, Jason's condition was such that the Department of Defense flew him from Iraq to Dover Air Force Base for surgery. He was released from the hospital into the loving arms of the government who sent him directly back into Iraq. He was put on active duty while he was still on a liquid diet, unable to eat solid food because of a throat hemorrhage due to a botched surgery at a military hospital.
"After his second tour Jason returned home with severe mental and physical issues. He was certainly in no condition to be pressed into a third tour. He wanted out of the army. But Jason was a victim of the liar's back-door draft...
"Because of George Bush, the arrogant, the corrupt, the liar, the war criminal, my nephew is dead and my sister and the rest of my family are devastated."
John McCain wants more of this...
From Cursor--link:
"Because of the arrogant, corrupt lies of George W. Bush and his neo-con handlers my nephew is dead, and I am mad as hell...Jason Dene was not killed by enemy fire nor friendly fire but by Bush's brutal and cynical stop-loss program."
"Because of Bush's abusive stop-loss policy, Jason had been sent into an unwanted third tour of duty. He was a father of three and could not afford to lose his pension. Some 'volunteer Army'.
"During his three 15-month tours in Iraq, exposure to roadside bombs and other job-related injuries caused Jason to be hospitalized several times for concussion and internal bleeding and other injuries. Recently, Jason's condition was such that the Department of Defense flew him from Iraq to Dover Air Force Base for surgery. He was released from the hospital into the loving arms of the government who sent him directly back into Iraq. He was put on active duty while he was still on a liquid diet, unable to eat solid food because of a throat hemorrhage due to a botched surgery at a military hospital.
"After his second tour Jason returned home with severe mental and physical issues. He was certainly in no condition to be pressed into a third tour. He wanted out of the army. But Jason was a victim of the liar's back-door draft...
"Because of George Bush, the arrogant, the corrupt, the liar, the war criminal, my nephew is dead and my sister and the rest of my family are devastated."
John McCain wants more of this...
Livin' the Rock Star Dream...
Watching the coverage of George W. McCain's Red Stick sojourn hammers home something that struck me on the way back to work from lunch...I passed by the building formerly known as the Centroplex now re-dubbed the River Center--where the Senator held his "town meeting"(and where several thousand took shelter in the aftermath of the NOLA flood)--and noticed immediately that I HADN'T made a mistake in choosing that route because everyone had cleared out. By 1:20-1:30ish, it traffic was as normal as any other day...
I doubt that would be the case should Barack Obama stop by.
GMac also pulled one from Gee Dubya's playbook, flat-out lying about his support for investigations into levee (not levy) failures, but since that's a flat-out lie as opposed to mistaking the name of a particular concentration camp, it's ok...or maybe it's more like IOKIYAR...whatever.
But I will note that if GMac continues to underwhelm to such an extent that even a Manship-owned newspaper can barely be bothered with more than rote, meet-the-specs and that's it reportage...well, then Senator McCain will remain Senator McCain...
Watching the coverage of George W. McCain's Red Stick sojourn hammers home something that struck me on the way back to work from lunch...I passed by the building formerly known as the Centroplex now re-dubbed the River Center--where the Senator held his "town meeting"(and where several thousand took shelter in the aftermath of the NOLA flood)--and noticed immediately that I HADN'T made a mistake in choosing that route because everyone had cleared out. By 1:20-1:30ish, it traffic was as normal as any other day...
I doubt that would be the case should Barack Obama stop by.
GMac also pulled one from Gee Dubya's playbook, flat-out lying about his support for investigations into levee (not levy) failures, but since that's a flat-out lie as opposed to mistaking the name of a particular concentration camp, it's ok...or maybe it's more like IOKIYAR...whatever.
But I will note that if GMac continues to underwhelm to such an extent that even a Manship-owned newspaper can barely be bothered with more than rote, meet-the-specs and that's it reportage...well, then Senator McCain will remain Senator McCain...
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
The General Election Begins
Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee...he faces George W. McCain this fall.
People Get Ready has a good analogy re: GMac's visit to Kenner:
Skipping New Orleans is a little like proclaiming success in Baghdad while taking shelter in Baghdad’s Green Zone...
Indeed.
Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee...he faces George W. McCain this fall.
People Get Ready has a good analogy re: GMac's visit to Kenner:
Skipping New Orleans is a little like proclaiming success in Baghdad while taking shelter in Baghdad’s Green Zone...
Indeed.
In Defense of Roe v. Wade
Here's an exceptionally good--and short--essay by a retired gynecologist relating all-too-common scenarios prior to the 1973 decision:
With the Supreme Court becoming more conservative, many people who support women’s right to choose an abortion fear that Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that gave them that right, is in danger of being swept aside.
When such fears arise, we often hear about the pre-Roe "bad old days." Yet there are few physicians today who can relate to them from personal experience. I can.
I am a retired gynecologist, in my mid-80s. My early formal training in my specialty was spent in New York City, from 1948 to 1953, in two of the city’s large municipal hospitals.
There I saw and treated almost every complication of illegal abortion that one could conjure, done either by the patient herself or by an abortionist -- often unknowing, unskilled and probably uncaring. Yet the patient never told us who did the work, or where and under what conditions it was performed. She was in dire need of our help to complete the process or, as frequently was the case, to correct what damage might have been done...
It is important to remember that Roe v. Wade did not mean that abortions could be performed. They have always been done, dating from ancient Greek days.
What Roe said was that ending a pregnancy could be carried out by medical personnel, in a medically accepted setting, thus conferring on women, finally, the full rights of first-class citizens -- and freeing their doctors to treat them as such.
It's a short essay and if you've got a few minutes I think it's well worth reading it in its entirety.
Here's an exceptionally good--and short--essay by a retired gynecologist relating all-too-common scenarios prior to the 1973 decision:
With the Supreme Court becoming more conservative, many people who support women’s right to choose an abortion fear that Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that gave them that right, is in danger of being swept aside.
When such fears arise, we often hear about the pre-Roe "bad old days." Yet there are few physicians today who can relate to them from personal experience. I can.
I am a retired gynecologist, in my mid-80s. My early formal training in my specialty was spent in New York City, from 1948 to 1953, in two of the city’s large municipal hospitals.
There I saw and treated almost every complication of illegal abortion that one could conjure, done either by the patient herself or by an abortionist -- often unknowing, unskilled and probably uncaring. Yet the patient never told us who did the work, or where and under what conditions it was performed. She was in dire need of our help to complete the process or, as frequently was the case, to correct what damage might have been done...
It is important to remember that Roe v. Wade did not mean that abortions could be performed. They have always been done, dating from ancient Greek days.
What Roe said was that ending a pregnancy could be carried out by medical personnel, in a medically accepted setting, thus conferring on women, finally, the full rights of first-class citizens -- and freeing their doctors to treat them as such.
It's a short essay and if you've got a few minutes I think it's well worth reading it in its entirety.
Salt-of-the-Earth
So, King Dick apologized for his stereotyping of the entire State of West Virginia as nothing more than incestuous hillbillies armed to the teeth...er, tooth.
Well, now we know what it takes to extract an apology from Big Time...because getting shot in the face apparently isn't enough.
So, King Dick apologized for his stereotyping of the entire State of West Virginia as nothing more than incestuous hillbillies armed to the teeth...er, tooth.
Well, now we know what it takes to extract an apology from Big Time...because getting shot in the face apparently isn't enough.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Encore Performance
Sorry, it's been a little busy over here today; however, I came across this Mr. Bill episode that I'm sure's been linked to but is worth seeing again...if nothing else, I expect it might come pretty close to the real life experiences of at least some NOLA residents.
And...I was able to wander down to the city for a few hours of liberation yesterday, and did some window shopping/free air-conditioning on Magazine St. God what I wouldn't give for decent, reliable transit between Red Stick and NOLA (i.e., a train)...
Sorry, it's been a little busy over here today; however, I came across this Mr. Bill episode that I'm sure's been linked to but is worth seeing again...if nothing else, I expect it might come pretty close to the real life experiences of at least some NOLA residents.
And...I was able to wander down to the city for a few hours of liberation yesterday, and did some window shopping/free air-conditioning on Magazine St. God what I wouldn't give for decent, reliable transit between Red Stick and NOLA (i.e., a train)...
On the High Seas, No One Can Hear You Scream
Just when you thought President Gilligan and Skipper couldn't sink any lower...
You know, the mere fact that one of the ships is the USS Bataan is sadly ironic in itself; however, to add insult to injury, that ship was one of the few resources Shrub bothered to provide for relief and recovery following Hurricane Katrina and the flood.
It's as if he and Dick are genetically programmed for evil shit.
Just when you thought President Gilligan and Skipper couldn't sink any lower...
You know, the mere fact that one of the ships is the USS Bataan is sadly ironic in itself; however, to add insult to injury, that ship was one of the few resources Shrub bothered to provide for relief and recovery following Hurricane Katrina and the flood.
It's as if he and Dick are genetically programmed for evil shit.
RIP Bo
This is sad news: Bo Diddley died today. I first became aware of his music thanks to Joe Strummer, who cited Diddley as a major influence. Pretty good judgement, come to think of it...
This is sad news: Bo Diddley died today. I first became aware of his music thanks to Joe Strummer, who cited Diddley as a major influence. Pretty good judgement, come to think of it...
Souffle for Brains
To say he's a little light upstairs would be generous. "Babble on" might be more accurate. Geez, what an embarrassment. A GOP/media-made Frankenstein monster mannequin. The perfect storm of New England blue-blood snob and West Texas arrogance all rolled up into a single fetid package.
To say he's a little light upstairs would be generous. "Babble on" might be more accurate. Geez, what an embarrassment. A GOP/media-made Frankenstein monster mannequin. The perfect storm of New England blue-blood snob and West Texas arrogance all rolled up into a single fetid package.
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