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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
Tigger, at the Giza Plateau.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Sigh
Not even 72 hours after the vote. And I'm sure we can count on ceaseless squawking from the likes of Tom Minnery, et al, for the duration.
Not even 72 hours after the vote. And I'm sure we can count on ceaseless squawking from the likes of Tom Minnery, et al, for the duration.
Happiness is a Warm Gun
I think I'll file this under "looking for an excuse, no matter how loony." You know, I wouldn't mind gun nuts all that much if they weren't so...weird and creepy.
I think I'll file this under "looking for an excuse, no matter how loony." You know, I wouldn't mind gun nuts all that much if they weren't so...weird and creepy.
Hey, Joe
Fuck. You. And let me repeat myself if I wasn't clear. Fuck. You. From Steve Benen:
THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE 'BEGGING'.... Not to belabor the point, but the exploits of Joe Lieberman have apparently led to some confusion, even among Democrats who should know better.
Let's cut the nonsense. Reid offered Lieberman a chance to stay in the Democratic caucus, keep his seniority, and become the chairman of some other committee. Lieberman thinks that's "unacceptable" and reportedly "begged" to stay on as chairman of Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Bayh thinks this is about "revenge or retribution." It's not. For that matter, it's only partly about holding Lieberman accountable for his betrayals. This is actually about a specific power Lieberman is intent on keeping for a specific reason.
This seems to be routinely overlooked, but take a moment to consider what the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs actually does: it's the committee principally responsible for oversight of the executive branch. It's an accountability committee, charged with investigating the conduct of the White House and the president's administration.
As chairman of this committee for the last two years, Lieberman decided not to pursue any accusations of wrongdoing against the Bush administration. Lieberman's House counterpart -- Rep. Henry Waxman's Oversight Committee -- was a vigilant watchdog, holding hearings, issuing subpoenas, and launching multiple investigations. Lieberman preferred to let his committee do no real work at all. It was arguably the most pathetic display of this Congress.
And yet, now Lieberman acts as if keeping this chairmanship is the single most important part of his public life. Why would he be so desperate to keep the gavel of a committee he hasn't used? I'll let you in on a secret: he wants to start using the power of this committee against Obama.
Lieberman didn't want to hold Bush accountable, but he seems exceedingly anxious to keep the committee that would go after Obama with a vengeance, effectively becoming a Waxman-like figure -- holding hearings, issuing subpoenas, and launching investigations against the Democratic president.
Lieberman doesn't care about "reconciliation," he cares about going after a Democratic administration. Why else would he fight diligently to be chairman of one committee instead of another?
And, to add one more thing: because of his Chairmanship, Lieberman, more than any other Senator, helped the Bush administration snuff out any real investigation of their total failure responding to Hurricane Katrina. Indeed, I remember once or twice listening to Mr. Joe Sanctimonious Fuck Lieberman drone about the need to move on and not point any fingers, while his fellow Connecticutian Rep. Chris Shays, R-LOSER, made sure to blame flood victims in open Congressional testimony.
If it were me, I'd offer Joe Chairmanship of the Senate Cloakroom, with official duties consisting of emptying the garbage cans. Don't forget to separate the recyclables, Joe.
Note: again, sorry for the late start. It's been surprisingly busy for a Friday.
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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
Fuck. You. And let me repeat myself if I wasn't clear. Fuck. You. From Steve Benen:
THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE 'BEGGING'.... Not to belabor the point, but the exploits of Joe Lieberman have apparently led to some confusion, even among Democrats who should know better.
Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) ... said he disagreed with stripping Lieberman of his chair. "No, I don't think there should be retribution," he said. "I think reconciliation is in order, not revenge or retribution."
Bayh suggested that Lieberman apologize and "let bygones be bygones."
Let's cut the nonsense. Reid offered Lieberman a chance to stay in the Democratic caucus, keep his seniority, and become the chairman of some other committee. Lieberman thinks that's "unacceptable" and reportedly "begged" to stay on as chairman of Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Bayh thinks this is about "revenge or retribution." It's not. For that matter, it's only partly about holding Lieberman accountable for his betrayals. This is actually about a specific power Lieberman is intent on keeping for a specific reason.
This seems to be routinely overlooked, but take a moment to consider what the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs actually does: it's the committee principally responsible for oversight of the executive branch. It's an accountability committee, charged with investigating the conduct of the White House and the president's administration.
As chairman of this committee for the last two years, Lieberman decided not to pursue any accusations of wrongdoing against the Bush administration. Lieberman's House counterpart -- Rep. Henry Waxman's Oversight Committee -- was a vigilant watchdog, holding hearings, issuing subpoenas, and launching multiple investigations. Lieberman preferred to let his committee do no real work at all. It was arguably the most pathetic display of this Congress.
And yet, now Lieberman acts as if keeping this chairmanship is the single most important part of his public life. Why would he be so desperate to keep the gavel of a committee he hasn't used? I'll let you in on a secret: he wants to start using the power of this committee against Obama.
Lieberman didn't want to hold Bush accountable, but he seems exceedingly anxious to keep the committee that would go after Obama with a vengeance, effectively becoming a Waxman-like figure -- holding hearings, issuing subpoenas, and launching investigations against the Democratic president.
Lieberman doesn't care about "reconciliation," he cares about going after a Democratic administration. Why else would he fight diligently to be chairman of one committee instead of another?
And, to add one more thing: because of his Chairmanship, Lieberman, more than any other Senator, helped the Bush administration snuff out any real investigation of their total failure responding to Hurricane Katrina. Indeed, I remember once or twice listening to Mr. Joe Sanctimonious Fuck Lieberman drone about the need to move on and not point any fingers, while his fellow Connecticutian Rep. Chris Shays, R-LOSER, made sure to blame flood victims in open Congressional testimony.
If it were me, I'd offer Joe Chairmanship of the Senate Cloakroom, with official duties consisting of emptying the garbage cans. Don't forget to separate the recyclables, Joe.
Note: again, sorry for the late start. It's been surprisingly busy for a Friday.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Even if he Ultimately Wins the Election...
Ted Stevens will presumably be looking for new office space come 2009...
Ted Stevens will presumably be looking for new office space come 2009...
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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
Cover Art
Here's the article, and above is my suggestion for a front page if they want to expand it and turn it into a book.
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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
Here's the article, and above is my suggestion for a front page if they want to expand it and turn it into a book.
A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Have. Or Not to Have a Mind at All.
Wingnut preznit meets wingnut governor.
[Palin] did not know Africa was a continent, according to new reports.
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Mr. Bush, turning his attention to another continent, told reporters, "We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, and we should. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease."
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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
Wingnut preznit meets wingnut governor.
[Palin] did not know Africa was a continent, according to new reports.
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Mr. Bush, turning his attention to another continent, told reporters, "We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, and we should. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease."
Lord of the (Supersized) Fries
Cross posted at First Draft
Hell hath no fury like a winger scorned, eh? On the one hand, you've got the preemptive impeachers, then there's Erik Erickson of Red State, full of righteous spittle, promising the wrath and fury of leprosy--or its political equivalent--to anyone who dares question the abilities of wingnut hero Sarah Palin, or, worse, whispers leaks to the likes of Carl Cameron, et al. As you might expect, Michele Malkin approves.
I suppose this is the winger equivalent of introspection: screech, puff out your chest, maybe toss a few verbal rocks, threaten yet another "enemy"...and reach for some more supersize fries.
Last week we were treated to another fine example, that of Glenn Reynolds and the Missus promising to go all John Galt/Postal/to the mattresses, their preferred method of combat being...the snide note in lieu of a tip to the waitstaff at any number of establishments where they choose to dine. Others bravely responded in comments that they too, were willing to go right to the edge, perhaps even closing vital engines of commerce rather than subject themselves to the humiliation of a slightly higher marginal tax rate. A tax that no doubt would be used to subsidize shiftless laziness (and we all know what THAT means, wink wink.)
But, you know, on a more serious note, these sorts of reactions are quite revelatory. Since the attacks of 9/11, your wingers have insisted that history itself had stopped, that we must grimly set aside any notion that government was anything but an engine of merciless combat, and that, above all, the horde MUST be stomped on and stopped, regardless of cost. It was our duty, and anyone asking unpleasant questions was a traitorous stooge.
But, in the end, what it's really all about for these folks is...the absolute need to feel superior to, and, if necessary, behave with the utmost rudeness, towards...staff or waitstaff.
And, even as they reveal themselves to be just that pathetic, they are equally delusional in their beliefs that, for some reason, we'd actually miss them if they DID 'go John Galt" on us. Imagine--no tip AND no snide note. What horror!
Of course, the real horror is the absolute childishness displayed by the wingnuts--a childishness that's resulted in genuine suffering for an awfully large number of people.
Cross posted at First Draft
Hell hath no fury like a winger scorned, eh? On the one hand, you've got the preemptive impeachers, then there's Erik Erickson of Red State, full of righteous spittle, promising the wrath and fury of leprosy--or its political equivalent--to anyone who dares question the abilities of wingnut hero Sarah Palin, or, worse, whispers leaks to the likes of Carl Cameron, et al. As you might expect, Michele Malkin approves.
I suppose this is the winger equivalent of introspection: screech, puff out your chest, maybe toss a few verbal rocks, threaten yet another "enemy"...and reach for some more supersize fries.
Last week we were treated to another fine example, that of Glenn Reynolds and the Missus promising to go all John Galt/Postal/to the mattresses, their preferred method of combat being...the snide note in lieu of a tip to the waitstaff at any number of establishments where they choose to dine. Others bravely responded in comments that they too, were willing to go right to the edge, perhaps even closing vital engines of commerce rather than subject themselves to the humiliation of a slightly higher marginal tax rate. A tax that no doubt would be used to subsidize shiftless laziness (and we all know what THAT means, wink wink.)
But, you know, on a more serious note, these sorts of reactions are quite revelatory. Since the attacks of 9/11, your wingers have insisted that history itself had stopped, that we must grimly set aside any notion that government was anything but an engine of merciless combat, and that, above all, the horde MUST be stomped on and stopped, regardless of cost. It was our duty, and anyone asking unpleasant questions was a traitorous stooge.
But, in the end, what it's really all about for these folks is...the absolute need to feel superior to, and, if necessary, behave with the utmost rudeness, towards...staff or waitstaff.
And, even as they reveal themselves to be just that pathetic, they are equally delusional in their beliefs that, for some reason, we'd actually miss them if they DID 'go John Galt" on us. Imagine--no tip AND no snide note. What horror!
Of course, the real horror is the absolute childishness displayed by the wingnuts--a childishness that's resulted in genuine suffering for an awfully large number of people.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
The Wasilla Hillbillies
Come and listen to a story 'bout
First Dude Todd
His wife a small town mayor
while he held a seasonal job
And then one day
He was Iron Dogging through
When out to the governorship
Sarah Palin flew
Juneau, that is
well, not really,
per diems
for staying at home
Well, the next thing you know
Sarah's made the national scene
There's the Bridge to Nowhere
and other things obscene
They said Neiman Marcus
is the place you gotta go
so off to mall
they went shopping for some clothes
Makes the man (or woman), they say,
$150 grand or more?
A-Okay!
---
Well, now it's time to say goodbye
to Todd and all his kin
And they'd sure like to thank
the GOP for what they did
You're all invited back
in twenty twelve for more and more
of grating accents, lies, and nonsense
from the doltish governor.
Kick your $500 dollar shoes off.
Y'all come back now, hear?
You betcha!
Come and listen to a story 'bout
First Dude Todd
His wife a small town mayor
while he held a seasonal job
And then one day
He was Iron Dogging through
When out to the governorship
Sarah Palin flew
Juneau, that is
well, not really,
per diems
for staying at home
Well, the next thing you know
Sarah's made the national scene
There's the Bridge to Nowhere
and other things obscene
They said Neiman Marcus
is the place you gotta go
so off to mall
they went shopping for some clothes
Makes the man (or woman), they say,
$150 grand or more?
A-Okay!
---
Well, now it's time to say goodbye
to Todd and all his kin
And they'd sure like to thank
the GOP for what they did
You're all invited back
in twenty twelve for more and more
of grating accents, lies, and nonsense
from the doltish governor.
Kick your $500 dollar shoes off.
Y'all come back now, hear?
You betcha!
Team Bush Prepares for the Transition
Don't get me wrong--I'm as pleased by the election of Barack Obama as one can be. I told some friends last night while we celebrated over the phone it's nice to not be ashamed or infuriated by the national leadership.
Still...you've got to wonder just how bad a wreck Team Bush has made of things. Particularly when Dick Big Time endorsed John McCain, it got me wondering. Dick's evil, and not particularly bright, but neither is he as dumb as...oh, Sarah Palin. He must've known that a Cheney "endorsement" would be about as popular as a dog-shit milkshake in this political climate. Yet, there he was, delivering his own version of an October surprise.
Meanwhile, Obama will take over in 2009 with conditions that look, in my mind, a lot like the late 1970s. The wars MUST be wound down, fuel prices are going to stay high, the overall economic picture isn't good...you've got a winger faction that will howl and bay at any action that, in their coal-black, dead eyes, smacks of "government" (well, unless it's a massive bailout of the banks, etc. etc.)--and the Bush administration has pretty much looted the treasury.
Anyway--I don't want to rain on any parade, particularly on what's a beautiful day down here...despite the fact that Loosiana voted red, nationally and locally. Democratic candidate Don Cazayoux was defeated in the 6th District--not a big deal, as he was about as Blue Dog conservative as it gets, and a bond issue I was hoping to see pass was voted down...ironically, four years ago, local results were the one bright spot, in 2008, it's the national election that's got me smiling.
Don't get me wrong--I'm as pleased by the election of Barack Obama as one can be. I told some friends last night while we celebrated over the phone it's nice to not be ashamed or infuriated by the national leadership.
Still...you've got to wonder just how bad a wreck Team Bush has made of things. Particularly when Dick Big Time endorsed John McCain, it got me wondering. Dick's evil, and not particularly bright, but neither is he as dumb as...oh, Sarah Palin. He must've known that a Cheney "endorsement" would be about as popular as a dog-shit milkshake in this political climate. Yet, there he was, delivering his own version of an October surprise.
Meanwhile, Obama will take over in 2009 with conditions that look, in my mind, a lot like the late 1970s. The wars MUST be wound down, fuel prices are going to stay high, the overall economic picture isn't good...you've got a winger faction that will howl and bay at any action that, in their coal-black, dead eyes, smacks of "government" (well, unless it's a massive bailout of the banks, etc. etc.)--and the Bush administration has pretty much looted the treasury.
Anyway--I don't want to rain on any parade, particularly on what's a beautiful day down here...despite the fact that Loosiana voted red, nationally and locally. Democratic candidate Don Cazayoux was defeated in the 6th District--not a big deal, as he was about as Blue Dog conservative as it gets, and a bond issue I was hoping to see pass was voted down...ironically, four years ago, local results were the one bright spot, in 2008, it's the national election that's got me smiling.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Wingnuttia's stranglehold on power ends not with a bang, but a whimper. Take a look at Edroso's recent posts (scroll down) and...consider how puerile, how truly pathetic the wingnut reaction is.
Ad nauseum they've been insisting that we face an enemy the likes of which we've never seen, well, at least since the Cold War...and that we must, with grim-faced determination, wring the life out of it, sparing no cost (um, as long as it doesn't involve their own health and well-being and as long as it doesn't entail a tax increase)...but, in the end, what it all boils down to with these freaks...is an excuse to behave snidely and/or rudely to the staff or waitstaff, as the opportunity presents itself.
Count me as another person who'd be more than happy to watch these miserable excuses of humanity waddle off to play their John Galt fantasies. Let 'em see exactly how meaningless they really are in the whole scheme of things.
Time to Make Some History
Guess I'll go stand in line, which itself is a little refreshing: I've been voting at this precinct since 2005, and this will be the first time I've had to wait ...which doesn't upset me, although the long lines I've been hearing about are yet another example of how conservative rule does everything it can to limit our democratic rights.
In a similar vein, another fine example are the Sequoia Advantage voting machines that will hopefully record my vote accurately...but there's no guarantee AND studies show them to be disturbingly easy to hack. Note: I first learned of problems with Sequoia voting machines from Crawling Westward.
Anyway--it will nonetheless be historic...and even with the Gret Stet presumably going to the mouthbreathers, this is by far and away the most enthusiastic vote I've ever cast. The only one that comes even close would be from 1992, when I also waited for some time before casting my ballot/thumbs down on four more years of Bush I.
Back in a bit.
Guess I'll go stand in line, which itself is a little refreshing: I've been voting at this precinct since 2005, and this will be the first time I've had to wait ...which doesn't upset me, although the long lines I've been hearing about are yet another example of how conservative rule does everything it can to limit our democratic rights.
In a similar vein, another fine example are the Sequoia Advantage voting machines that will hopefully record my vote accurately...but there's no guarantee AND studies show them to be disturbingly easy to hack. Note: I first learned of problems with Sequoia voting machines from Crawling Westward.
Anyway--it will nonetheless be historic...and even with the Gret Stet presumably going to the mouthbreathers, this is by far and away the most enthusiastic vote I've ever cast. The only one that comes even close would be from 1992, when I also waited for some time before casting my ballot/thumbs down on four more years of Bush I.
Back in a bit.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Won't Have Palin to Kick Around?
Good heavens, let's hope that's the case, although I've long since learned there's no level to which wingnuttery won't stoop if they think they can somehow scrounge up a few cheap political points.
And I'm still inclined to think Palin could outpoint Bobby Jindal, given that less really IS more in Wingnut World.
Still, for the reasons Marshall notes--and more--I wouldn't at all mind seeing Palin relegated to perpetual minor league status, if not permanent exit-stage-of-her-choice from the political scene.
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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
Good heavens, let's hope that's the case, although I've long since learned there's no level to which wingnuttery won't stoop if they think they can somehow scrounge up a few cheap political points.
And I'm still inclined to think Palin could outpoint Bobby Jindal, given that less really IS more in Wingnut World.
Still, for the reasons Marshall notes--and more--I wouldn't at all mind seeing Palin relegated to perpetual minor league status, if not permanent exit-stage-of-her-choice from the political scene.
Cancelled Dick
The Casper Star Tribune--Cheney's home town paper--chooses to ignore Big Time's recommendation.
Dang librul media.
The Casper Star Tribune--Cheney's home town paper--chooses to ignore Big Time's recommendation.
Dang librul media.
Time Running Out?
Well, let's hope so--and while, yeah, we'll probably always have political factions opting for the lowest of roads, stopping their mouth-breathing only long enough to spew the most obscene lies and bullshit...TPM's calling it McCainism this cycle, I fully expect Palin to continue the same crap starting Wednesday morning if she's not laughed off the national stage...and while we can go back generations if we really want to search for a source (most likely some variant on the adage "no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the public...") it's somewhat of a relief to see such filth ringing hollow, at least this time. WHY it's failed is open to interpretation, of course. Personally, I'm not holding out hope of an electorate that's somehow become enlightened. Instead, I think the public has realized that REAL fears require far more competence than the conjured nonsense exploited by the likes of Karl Rove, et al. Hatred is a luxury...one for small minds, to be sure, but a luxury that small minds can't afford, at least right now.
Well, if that's what it takes to throw the bums out, so be it. And while justice will hardly be served absent extended times in the stockade or pillory for large swaths of crooked officialdom, I'll settle for the end of their political careers...
One more day until the beginning of the end...we hope.
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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
Well, let's hope so--and while, yeah, we'll probably always have political factions opting for the lowest of roads, stopping their mouth-breathing only long enough to spew the most obscene lies and bullshit...TPM's calling it McCainism this cycle, I fully expect Palin to continue the same crap starting Wednesday morning if she's not laughed off the national stage...and while we can go back generations if we really want to search for a source (most likely some variant on the adage "no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the public...") it's somewhat of a relief to see such filth ringing hollow, at least this time. WHY it's failed is open to interpretation, of course. Personally, I'm not holding out hope of an electorate that's somehow become enlightened. Instead, I think the public has realized that REAL fears require far more competence than the conjured nonsense exploited by the likes of Karl Rove, et al. Hatred is a luxury...one for small minds, to be sure, but a luxury that small minds can't afford, at least right now.
Well, if that's what it takes to throw the bums out, so be it. And while justice will hardly be served absent extended times in the stockade or pillory for large swaths of crooked officialdom, I'll settle for the end of their political careers...
One more day until the beginning of the end...we hope.
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