Saturday, March 15, 2008
Loose Shoes
Here's a philosophical number about the important things in life! Two can play at this big band shit...
Reasons ...
When you see your family killed, some people withdraw, others vow revenge:
I might not use the same methods, but if you kill a member of my family, I would take my revenge as well:
As we sit back in our relatively comfortable world, do we even consider the consequences of our actions? Does anyone here understand what it takes to drive someone to willingly strap explosives to their body to exact their pound of flesh? 20 years from now, people here will wonder what we ever did to make these people hate us so, just like most Americans do today; sitting around, scratching their heads saying "these people hate us for our freedoms".
Horseshit. They hate us because we treated them like nameless, faceless people in the past, ever since we realized they have more of the precious liquid we so desperately need than anyone else. We still do, as we kill them indiscriminately in the name of "freedom and democracy". We have destroyed any chance of "winning these people's hearts and minds" and it's time to leave before we do even more damage. The blowback from Iraq will haunt us for the next 50 years.
Um Saad, a middle-aged woman living in the Sunni district of Khadra in west Baghdad, blames the Americans for the death of her husband and two of her sons and threatens revenge.
"They are monsters and devils wearing human clothes," she exclaims vehemently. "One day I will put on an explosive belt under my clothes and then blow myself up among the Americans. I will get revenge against them for my husband and sons and I will go to paradise."
...
I might not use the same methods, but if you kill a member of my family, I would take my revenge as well:
...
Her eldest son, Saad, wanted to enter the military academy just like his father. Um Saad said she did not want to lose him and instead he went to the police academy and had graduated as a police lieutenant when Saddam Hussein was overthrown in April 2003. She wanted him to resign. "After the fall of Iraq the police were the second target [of Sunni guerrillas] after the Americans."
Saad equivocated over resigning since he held the Americans responsible for killing his father, but the family needed his salary. He finally decided to leave the police, but before he could do so, on 25 October 2003, his police station at Khadra was hit by a large car bomb. He was uninjured by the blast but, as he ran with his pistol drawn to help a friend, American soldiers at the scene thought he was attacking them. "They shot him dead with six bullets in the head and many more in the body," says his mother.
...
As we sit back in our relatively comfortable world, do we even consider the consequences of our actions? Does anyone here understand what it takes to drive someone to willingly strap explosives to their body to exact their pound of flesh? 20 years from now, people here will wonder what we ever did to make these people hate us so, just like most Americans do today; sitting around, scratching their heads saying "these people hate us for our freedoms".
Horseshit. They hate us because we treated them like nameless, faceless people in the past, ever since we realized they have more of the precious liquid we so desperately need than anyone else. We still do, as we kill them indiscriminately in the name of "freedom and democracy". We have destroyed any chance of "winning these people's hearts and minds" and it's time to leave before we do even more damage. The blowback from Iraq will haunt us for the next 50 years.
Blast from the past ...
I got an appreciation of Big Band music aboard a Holland America cruise a few years back, courtesy of our friend Loretta and the Nick Ross Orchestra. 16 days aboard Noordam on a Big Band-themed cruise with a bunch of 'Greatest Generation' folks and the bug bit me.
Speaking of cruising, we'll be leaving a week from Monday on vacation. Light blogging this weekend because I got a buncha shit to do to prepare.
The Glenn Miller Orchestra - American Patrol
Speaking of cruising, we'll be leaving a week from Monday on vacation. Light blogging this weekend because I got a buncha shit to do to prepare.
Saturday whorage
The next chapter of Thirty Days at Zeta is up at The Practical Press.
Let us know what's going on at your place. Leave your links in comments.
Let us know what's going on at your place. Leave your links in comments.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Exactly!
Mr. Leonard Pierce on chickenshits. Namely, the Chickenshit-in-Chief:
...
This is the chickenhawk worldview at its absolute purest: a guy who ducked out on his chance to actually go and fight in the war sprouting a boner at the concept of other people fighting one, and rattling on about what an exciting, picaresque fantasy adventure it all must be.
Every living male in my family other than me has fought in a war - Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf or Iraq. None of them exactly regrets his service, and there’s a wide range of opinions among them about politics and the necessity of the various wars in which they fought. It’s not a homogeneous group by any means, with plenty of die-hard liberals and plenty of stone-ribbed conservatives. But not a fucking one of them in a million years would describe their wartime experiences as "romantic."
...
Let's Have A Party!
Think I'm the only one who posts crazy redneck music? Think again! Rightly so, too. Heh.
Thoughts of an Ex-Marine
Camillo "Mac" Bica
Go read.
This is one of the few times I've agreed with a Marine officer.
Often as I've marched and demonstrated for peace, I've been verbally assaulted, accused of being un-American, unpatriotic, even treasonous by those who carried American flags, sang inspiring hymns, and boisterously and stridently asserted their patriotism, love of country and support for the troops through bullhorns.
Most of this criticism I dismissed as a failure to understand the nature and the reality of war and the moral and political obligations of citizens in a democracy. I was confident in my patriotism, my love of America and my concern and support for the troops. I had, after all, served honorably as a motivated United States Marine Corps officer in Vietnam. But when this disparagement and denunciation began coming from fellow veterans, I became disquieted and felt the need to seriously ponder the possibility that perhaps I had gone astray, violating some sacred trust or bond. So, what I offer in this essay is a thought experiment in self-examination, an introspective journey into the mind and motivation of a former Marine turned peace activist.
Go read.
As a result of this exercise in self-examination, I have realized that I am anti aggression. I am anti unjust, immoral, and unnecessary war, but not anti war. I am anti the Iraq war, however; anti the Bush Administration, anti rogue nation and anti recruitment. In addition, I am pro military, pro veteran and pro America. I have realized as well that the outrage I feel regarding the corrupting and disgracing of America by those political leaders and their coconspirators who cherish not our values and way of life but only wealth and power requires - no demands - the true patriot to embrace truth and to cry out in condemnation and protest. Finally, despite the criticisms and disparaging comments and accusations by credulous veterans, I have realized that my activism and dissent are an expression and fulfillment of my moral and patriotic duty. I am confident, therefore, that I am more the patriot today as I demonstrate for peace than when I wore the uniform of a United States Marine.
This is one of the few times I've agreed with a Marine officer.
Report Shows No Link Between Saddam and al Qaeda
We knew that, but now it's official: Bush and Cheney and their henchmen flat fuckin' lied us into their criminal war and occupation for oil. They should be in jail. Now.
ABC News
Yesterday they cancelled plans to send it out and today it's on the internets. Heh.
Someone at the Pentagon is on the ball. Probly PFC Snuffy down in the basement. Fuck the White House.
ABC News
ABC News has requested and obtained a copy of the Pentagon study which shows Saddam Hussein had no links to Al Qaeda.
(READ THE FULL REPORT HERE.)
It's (a) government report the White House didn't want you to read: yesterday the Pentagon canceled plans to send out a press release announcing the report's availability and didn't make the report available via email or online.
Yesterday they cancelled plans to send it out and today it's on the internets. Heh.
Someone at the Pentagon is on the ball. Probly PFC Snuffy down in the basement. Fuck the White House.
Bush Library Pledge Drive: Pickles On The Stump
"Now you can be just like the President and wipe your ass with Bill of Rights of this here country, and all you got to do is pledge a million dollars for the George W. Bush Presidential Library," said Mrs. Bush like a carnival barker.
Just for fun, go read some of these comments on his
Karma ...
Since the Rethugs have been ripping us off for the last 8 years, it's sort of nice to see them get a taste of their own medicine:
Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
I'll be smiling all the way to work. Later. TGIF!
The former treasurer for the National Republican Congressional Committee transferred as much as $1 million in committee funds into his personal and business accounts, officials announced today, describing a scheme that could prove to be one of the largest campaign frauds in recent history.
...
Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
I'll be smiling all the way to work. Later. TGIF!
'Kristen'
Well, since this is NY, all we've been hearing for the past few days are the sordid details about Gov. Spitzer's tryst with an expensive call girl. Since the girl's identity has become public, we've heard more about her than we really want to know. That said, I have a little advice for rich middle-aged men going through their 'crisis'.
If you just have to spend that much on a call girl, get your money's worth. Listen to me. A 'high-class' hooker isn't a 22 year old high school dropout with a prison tattoo. The real 'high-class' ladies are generally college-educated, if not more, can mingle with executives and CEOs, generals and diplomats, and none would be the wiser. They are not looking to promote their pop album or whatever their aspirations are. The real high class escort services are professional operations who seldom get caught.
I don't get paying for sex (for me, it wasn't so much 'the kill', but the thrill of the chase; paying for it takes all the fun out of it) to begin with (though I can see why a lot of Republicans can't get laid; it's tough when you're socially inept), but if you're the governor of New York, I'd expect you'd know enough to do it right. Spitzer was/is an idiot for throwing away his entire career for a bit of gratification at an exorbitant price and he's a fool for getting it in such an amateurish manner (arranging for sex on a website, please; you're the fucking governor). He should have known better.
When you have a beautiful wife and family, when you're the leader of one of the most powerful and influential states in the union, you don't do dumbass shit like this (you don't do it even if you're not the governor). He's hurt his family irreparably, he's hurt the state of New York, and he's hurt the Democratic Party in a crucial election year, all for a 22 year old piece of ass he could have had the equivalent of for the price of dinner and a movie. Maybe not even so much as there are girls (and guys) out there who've made a career out of sleeping with rich, powerful men discreetly.
With the judgment Spitzer showed in getting his jollies, the State of New York is better off without him. Thank god we had David Paterson on the bench.
If you just have to spend that much on a call girl, get your money's worth. Listen to me. A 'high-class' hooker isn't a 22 year old high school dropout with a prison tattoo. The real 'high-class' ladies are generally college-educated, if not more, can mingle with executives and CEOs, generals and diplomats, and none would be the wiser. They are not looking to promote their pop album or whatever their aspirations are. The real high class escort services are professional operations who seldom get caught.
I don't get paying for sex (for me, it wasn't so much 'the kill', but the thrill of the chase; paying for it takes all the fun out of it) to begin with (though I can see why a lot of Republicans can't get laid; it's tough when you're socially inept), but if you're the governor of New York, I'd expect you'd know enough to do it right. Spitzer was/is an idiot for throwing away his entire career for a bit of gratification at an exorbitant price and he's a fool for getting it in such an amateurish manner (arranging for sex on a website, please; you're the fucking governor). He should have known better.
When you have a beautiful wife and family, when you're the leader of one of the most powerful and influential states in the union, you don't do dumbass shit like this (you don't do it even if you're not the governor). He's hurt his family irreparably, he's hurt the state of New York, and he's hurt the Democratic Party in a crucial election year, all for a 22 year old piece of ass he could have had the equivalent of for the price of dinner and a movie. Maybe not even so much as there are girls (and guys) out there who've made a career out of sleeping with rich, powerful men discreetly.
With the judgment Spitzer showed in getting his jollies, the State of New York is better off without him. Thank god we had David Paterson on the bench.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Our new governor ...
I love this guy:
... "Just so we don't have to go through this whole resignation thing again," one ballsy reporter asked, "have you ever patronized a prostitute?" Patterson thought for a minute. "Only the lobbyists," he said.
Pizza and beer now cost an arm and a leg
MSNBC
On top of everything else, Bush has finally gone too far. Now he's fuckin' with my pizza! Asshole.
If you’re looking for a sure sign the U.S. economy is headed in the wrong direction, all you need to do is look at the skyrocketing price of “recession-proof” foods: pizza, hot dogs, bagels and beer.
Pizza makers have seen their cheese costs soar this year from $1.30 a pound to $1.76 a pound. Even worse, the flour used to make the dough has gone from $3-$7 dollars a bushel to $25 a bushel in less than a year.
Beer makers have been forced to raise their prices because of the skyrocketing price of hops – one of the principle ingredients. The price of hops has gone from about $4 a pound in September to $40 a pound. The price of barley, beer’s other main ingredient, has nearly doubled.
On top of everything else, Bush has finally gone too far. Now he's fuckin' with my pizza! Asshole.
Are we closer to war with Iran? Oh, yah, you betcha!
Froomkin with many links and quotes about the coming war with Iran in the wake of Admiral Fallon's 'retirement'. Other stuff too. Runs to 5 pages.
Like, DUH...
I think 'strategically unsound' is the understatement of the year!
To Bush, the 'unmanageable risk' is that a Democrat will probably be elected President.
Links at site. To quote Fixer, "We're screwed". On a lighter note:
The abrupt resignation yesterday of the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, Admiral William J. "Fox" Fallon, has sparked a new round of speculation that President Bush and Vice President Cheney have some sort of plan in the works to attack Iran before their time is up.
Like, DUH...
"And so Fallon, the good cop, may soon be unemployed because he's doing what a generation of young officers in the U. S. military are now openly complaining that their leaders didn't do on their behalf in the run-up to the war in Iraq: He's standing up to the commander in chief, whom he thinks is contemplating a strategically unsound war."
I think 'strategically unsound' is the understatement of the year!
"Across the officer corps, a large number of senior military leaders share Admiral Fallon's broad assessment that a war with Iran would bring unexpected and, perhaps, unmanageable, risks elsewhere in the Muslim world and around the globe.
To Bush, the 'unmanageable risk' is that a Democrat will probably be elected President.
Terry Atlas blogs for U.S. News and World Report with "6 Signs the U.S. May Be Headed for War in Iran." They are: Fallon's resignation, Cheney's trip to the Middle East, the Israeli airstrike on Syria, U.S. warships off Lebanon, Israeli comments and Israel's war with Hezbollah.
Atlas explains each one. Why the Israeli airstrike on Syria, for instance? Atlas writes: "Israel's airstrike deep in Syria last October was reported to have targeted a nuclear-related facility, but details have remained sketchy and some experts have been skeptical that Syria had a covert nuclear program. An alternative scenario floating in Israel and Lebanon is that the real purpose of the strike was to force Syria to switch on the targeting electronics for newly received Russian anti-aircraft defenses. The location of the strike is seen as on a likely flight path to Iran (also crossing the friendly Kurdish-controlled Northern Iraq), and knowing the electronic signatures of the defensive systems is necessary to reduce the risks for warplanes heading to targets in Iran."
It's still not really beyond Bush and Cheney to order a full-scale preemptive attack on Iran. But the more likely scenario is that there will be an asymmetrical U.S. response to a (possibly trumped up) Iranian provocation. And the most likely scenario is that the U.S. will encourage (or certainly not oppose) an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities -- which in turn would lead the U.S. to come to Israel's defense should Iran strike back.
That's been a favorite Cheney scenario for more than a year. See, for instance, this Steve Clemons blog post from last May, later corroborated by the New York Times. And see my June 4 column, Cheney, By Proxy.
Links at site. To quote Fixer, "We're screwed". On a lighter note:
Jay Leno, via U.S. News: "Well, here's a very scary story. Prescription medications have been discovered in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans." President Bush "calls that the Republican healthcare plan."
Letter from an old white lady
I just love this kinda shit! Pinko Magazine
Dear Hil,
What the fuck did I say?
I should have guessed something like this would happen. You know how those people are. You can’t say anything bad about them. They can say what ever they damn well please in their hippity-hop songs, but I say anything bad about one of them and 30 minutes later Al Sharpton has a fucking news conference. I’ll tell you one thing. Those people stick together. They’re worse than the fucking Jews!
And another thing, I’m pretty sure it was Obama that stole my car stereo last year. I didn’t get a good look at him, but I’d bet you if it wasn’t him, he knows the ones that did it! You should get on CNN and talk about that! Let see him talk his way out of that one! Bet you he can’t!
So yeah, what was I saying? Oh right. I am stepping down from your finance committee so I can speak for myself and you can continue to speak for yourself about what is at stake in this campaign. When that red phone rings we don’t need Jay Z answering it, or whatever. Fuck — was THAT racist? I only said it because Jay Z cut a radio ad for Barack. Not because I think he’s gay and would be banging Barack on the down-low. You didn’t hear that from me, though I assume Ed Rendell will bring it up. And that’s the kind of thing they would use against me. The Obama campaign is attacking me to hurt you. I won’t let that happen. Not in my back yard.
Sincerely yours,
Geraldine Anne Ferraro
50 Suggestions for John McCain's VP Shortlist
Will Durst
6. JEB BUSH. Ups the Bush streak to seven of last eight GOP tickets.
19. FRED THOMPSON. Throws a bone to the conservative wing and makes candidate appear vibrant.
23. HILLARY CLINTON. Wants it so bad, she'd cross the aisle for death- watch slot.
28. TOM CRUISE. Scientologists are to Republicans what vegans are to hippies.
38. KEIFER SUTHERLAND. What right winger doesn't love Jack Bauer? Torture question becomes moot.
41. WILLIE NELSON. You have any idea of what percentage of this country smokes pot?
45. KARL ROVE. Assassination insurance.
47. DONALD RUMSFELD. See Karl Rove.
48. NEWT GINGRICH. See Karl Rove.
Protesters Arrested At Diego Garcia
Guardian UK
Two British human rights campaigners have been arrested at sea off Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean after protesting against the island's use in British and US military operations. The two men were demonstrating against the island's admitted use by the US for rendition flights and the historic removal of the Chagos islanders from their homes nearly 40 years ago.
Two things spring to mind:
1) You have to really, really! want to protest something to go to that godforsaken speck of shit!
2) You have to get arrested before anybody would even know you were there.
I agree with their protest, but it's really pretty useless, like shovelin' shit against the tide. I think these guys are lucky that the arrestors didn't just sink 'em with gunfire and then shrug, "What protesters?".
Special Comment
Keith Olbermann takes the Clinton campaign to the woodshed. Pretty gentle compared with the way he blisters Bush's ass, but there's really no comparison. From Baldwin Park Democrat:
The war thing ...
You know, what we don't hear about on TV anymore because Hil and Barack are fighting like children and Spitzer is spending $5K an hour on his dick:
War? Oh, that war. Maybe Hillary and Barack should STFU with the catfight and spend more time detailing exactly how they're gonna bring the troops home and how fast it's gonna get done.
Off to the shop ...
BAGHDAD — U.S. authorities in Baghdad have received five severed fingers belonging to four Americans and an Austrian who were taken hostage more than a year ago in Iraq, U.S. officials said Wednesday.
The FBI is investigating the grisly development, and the families of the five kidnapped contractors have been notified, American officials said on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the case publicly.
Authorities confirmed that the fingers belonged to hostages Jonathan Cote, of Gainesville, Fla.; Joshua Munns, of Redding, Calif.; Paul Johnson Reuben, of Buffalo, Minn.; Bert Nussbaumer of Vienna, Austria; and Ronald J. Withrow, an American who was kidnapped separately from the others.
...
War? Oh, that war. Maybe Hillary and Barack should STFU with the catfight and spend more time detailing exactly how they're gonna bring the troops home and how fast it's gonna get done.
Off to the shop ...
Thanks to Mr. Philadelphia for the link.
They don't care ...
If it's legal or not. Why is everyone so surprised? Just because something was ruled illegal or unconstitutional doesn't mean the Bush administration is gonna stop doing it, they're just gonna hide it better:
The American Civil Liberties Union responded today to a stunning new report that the NSA has effectively revived the Orwellian “Total Information Awareness” domestic-spying program that was banned by Congress in 2003. In response, the ACLU said that it was filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for more information about the spying. And, the group announced that it was moving its “Surveillance Clock” one minute closer to midnight.
...
The new governor ...
Personally, I think NY will be better off:
Mr. Paterson's story is inpirational and we're lucky to have him.
And he's a Long Island boy; what could be bad? Heh ...
...
Paterson was born in Brooklyn; an infection during infancy left him with no sight in his left eye and severely limited vision in his right. He has optic atrophy. His family moved to Hempstead, a suburb on Long Island, so that he could attend public schools which provided a better education for the visually impaired than those in city. He graduated from the racially integrated Hempstead High School in 1971.
Paterson received a BA in history from Columbia University in 1977 and later his law degree from Hofstra Law School. After law school, he went to work for the Queens District Attorney's Office, but failed the New York bar examination, and so did not become an attorney at law. He attributed this to insufficient accommodation for his visual impairment, and has since advocated for changes in bar exam procedures.
Paterson is the son of former New York Secretary of State Basil Paterson, who was the first African American Deputy Mayor of New York City, and the second African American to run for statewide office in New York (Edward R. Dudley was the Democratic nominee for New York State Attorney General in 1962). Secretary Paterson was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1970. The elder Paterson also served in the New York State Senate, in the same seat his son occupied. The elder Paterson was also the first African American vice-chair of the national Democratic Party. David Paterson has a younger brother, Daniel, who is a New York government official.
Paterson and his wife Michelle Paige Paterson live in Harlem. They have two children: Ashley, who entered Ithaca College in fall 2006, and Alex, who attends school in New York City.
An avid fan of New York sports teams, Paterson has been known to call in to WFAN, a major sports talk radio station in New York City.
Paterson is an active advocate for people with visual and physical impairments. He was elected as a member of the American Foundation for the Blind. Paterson serves on the board of directors of the the Achilles Track Club, an organization which sponsors disabled athletes and disabled veterans competing in marathons. Paterson himself completed the New York City Marathon in 1999.
...
Mr. Paterson's story is inpirational and we're lucky to have him.
And he's a Long Island boy; what could be bad? Heh ...
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The "Oh, Shit!" Moment On Iran
Dave Lindorff
It is high time for the military, Congress, and the American people to tell the insane sociopathic warmongers to fuck off. Will they?
Stay tuned...
Every horror movie has that "Oh Shit!" moment, when the hero or heroes are huddled in some creepy hideout, and suddenly something happens that tells you that the monster is just around the corner, or just about to attack. In "Jurassic Park," it was the pulsing ripples in a cup of water, heralding the arrival of a T-Rex. In "Jaws," it was the deep bass music, letting you know that a monstrous shark was about to attack.
Well, we just got our "Oh Shit!" moment with the just-announced resignation of Admiral William J. Fallon, the military commander of U.S. Middle East operations.
All the elements, that is to say, are in place for a massive air assault on Iranian targets, designed to destroy its nuclear program, cripple its military command and control, and -- at least this is a stated Cheney goal -- to lead to the overthrow of the Iranian government by its own people.
It is, of course, the strategy of madmen.
The monster of war will be unleashed, and will not easily be defeated. That's why Adm. Fallon was so opposed to the whole idea. He knows that it will be a disaster for the U.S. militarily, economically, and politically.
The worst part is that Cheney knows this, too. He just doesn't care. This is the man's parting shot as he leaves office -- to put the country into the throes of a war so vicious that no one will think of pursuing him for his long list of crimes against the nation and the Constitution.
He is guessing -- and he may be right -- that the American public will, sheep-like as always, rally to the cause, with a new round of yellow magnet "ribbons" on their cars. He is hoping -- and he may be right -- that war will be a boon for the candidacy of Republican John McCain and for embattled Republicans running for Congress.
It's a kind of political Hail Mary.
Oh Shit! Here it comes!
It is high time for the military, Congress, and the American people to tell the insane sociopathic warmongers to fuck off. Will they?
Stay tuned...
Surgery Update
Didn't happen. The nurse took my blood pressure, and to quote the anesthesiologist, "No fuckin' way".
So I have to get that under control and then take another stab at it. I'm disappointed, but the hospital and doctor, and the cataract, will be there whenever.
Disappointed but grateful. Knowing about my blood pressure might have just saved my life.
So I have to get that under control and then take another stab at it. I'm disappointed, but the hospital and doctor, and the cataract, will be there whenever.
Disappointed but grateful. Knowing about my blood pressure might have just saved my life.
Quote of the Day
As I run out the door ...
Roger Ailes the Good (scroll down, his permalinks are fucked):
Heh ... Later.
Roger Ailes the Good (scroll down, his permalinks are fucked):
...
At least Rudy Giuliani never paid for it. (Though the taxpayers did.)
Heh ... Later.
Late ...
Running really late. Had to get the Mrs. on an early flight out this morning. I'll be back after work.
Surgery Day
I'll be light-to-none blogging the next day or so. I'm going in this morning to have a cataract removed from my right eye. I had the same thing done to the left one several years ago, so hopefully this will be the last time I have to do this for a while. I'm looking forward to it. After the last cataract, I ended up farsighted in my left eye and nearsighted in my right eye. Drive with one, read with the other. A simple matter of retraining my little pea brain, but it will be nice to have same-focus binocular vision again.
Anyway, in honor of the lovely drugs they will give me so that I will not react adversely to the Doc advancing on my eyeball to slice 'n dice with his (t)rusty Ginsu set, I will leave you with this video from Cowboy Bebop, the anime that got me likin' anime. Enjoy.
Anyway, in honor of the lovely drugs they will give me so that I will not react adversely to the Doc advancing on my eyeball to slice 'n dice with his (t)rusty Ginsu set, I will leave you with this video from Cowboy Bebop, the anime that got me likin' anime. Enjoy.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
CentCom Commander Resigns
MSNBC
Look for the update to start with, "Strategic operations against Iran have commenced..."
Note to you star-studded Flags out there: If you really take the defense of the United States seriously, whenCheney the Chimp tells you to attack Iran, tell him to stuff it.
Better yet, clap 'em both in irons and send 'em to some lovely tropic isle.
Note to Congress: If such a wondrous thing as B&C's arrest and rendition take place, don't make waterboarding any more illegal than it already is just yet. There's a lot we want to know from those two.
Probably won't even need to waterboard 'em. We can probably get those two chickenhawks to sing like little birdies by takin' 'em into a room with a bathtub and turning on a faucet. Withhold the toilet tiss-yoo and let 'em stew in their own, er, juice for a while as well.
Adm. William Fallon is stepping down as head of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees military matters in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Tuesday.
Gates described as “ridiculous” any notion that Fallon’s departure signals the United States is planning to go to war with Iran.
This report will be updated as information becomes available.
Look for the update to start with, "Strategic operations against Iran have commenced..."
Note to you star-studded Flags out there: If you really take the defense of the United States seriously, when
Better yet, clap 'em both in irons and send 'em to some lovely tropic isle.
Note to Congress: If such a wondrous thing as B&C's arrest and rendition take place, don't make waterboarding any more illegal than it already is just yet. There's a lot we want to know from those two.
Probably won't even need to waterboard 'em. We can probably get those two chickenhawks to sing like little birdies by takin' 'em into a room with a bathtub and turning on a faucet. Withhold the toilet tiss-yoo and let 'em stew in their own, er, juice for a while as well.
FL Lawmakers Consider Regulating Salvia
AP via Raw Story
The article gives a pretty good description of the herb and its effects, but for the straight scoop I turn to our august panel of experts on recreational drugs:
Fixer, what's up with this shit?
On Web sites touting the mind-blowing powers of Salvia divinorum, come-ons to buy the hallucinogenic herb are accompanied by warnings: "Time is running out!" and "stock up while you still can."
The article gives a pretty good description of the herb and its effects, but for the straight scoop I turn to our august panel of experts on recreational drugs:
Fixer, what's up with this shit?
4AM Closing for Repug Convention Nixed
Raw Story
Probably a clever idea to let the Repugs get themselves in even more trouble. Heh.
Take this from a guy who has more than once seen the Sun come up from a barstool because the bars in Nevada don't close: I'm glad it didn't pass.
Note to Repugs: Just start drinkin' earlier (before they get up!?). It'll have the same results, but the folks who deal with the shenanigans of late-night drunks won't have to stay up as late.
A Minnesota state senator (Linnda Scheid DFL MN-46 - G) has withdrawn a bill which would have extended drinking hours at local bars during the Republican National Convention next summer.
The legislation would have changed the closing time from 2 am to 4 am for bars in the seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul area between Aug. 29 and Sep. 8.
Probably a clever idea to let the Repugs get themselves in even more trouble. Heh.
Take this from a guy who has more than once seen the Sun come up from a barstool because the bars in Nevada don't close: I'm glad it didn't pass.
Note to Repugs: Just start drinkin' earlier (before they get up!?). It'll have the same results, but the folks who deal with the shenanigans of late-night drunks won't have to stay up as late.
Dope Pushers Going Bipartisan
Politico
This is actually pretty good news. The dope industry is the second or third largest gang of ripoff outfits (AKA 'Corporate America') in the country. They see which way the political wind is blowing and are at least hedging their bets in anticipation of a Democratic regime. They just want to keep their gravy train runnin' smooth.
Exactly right, Billy, yer catchin' on. That's what's going to happen if we wish to catch up to the civilized nations and get this economy under control. Health care will still come out of everybody's pocket, but the money will go for health care instead of obscene profit to 'insurance' companies, as in "pay us for years and you're covered until you get sick", and the dope cooks.
Billy's sayin' it like it's a bad thing, and will fight it like the dinosaurs fought extinction, with the same eventual outcome. The time of health care for profit is going to come to an end for many reasons, even if for no other reason than it's just plain wrong to selectively disregard people's lives and well-being to make a buck.
The gravy train's runnin' outta track.
Could PhRMA, the trade association for all of the big, Republican-leaning drug companies, become the Democratic presidential nominee’s newest best friend?
When you’re finished laughing, you might want to settle in and ponder the positioning of Billy Tauzin, who took the reins of the association three years ago and has since been aggressively moving it toward the center of the political spectrum.
This is actually pretty good news. The dope industry is the second or third largest gang of ripoff outfits (AKA 'Corporate America') in the country. They see which way the political wind is blowing and are at least hedging their bets in anticipation of a Democratic regime. They just want to keep their gravy train runnin' smooth.
Tauzin does object, though, to some provisions of the Democratic plans, particularly creation of a government insurer of last resort.
While Tauzin embraces many of the Democratic proposals, he can’t support plans by both Obama and Clinton to create a government insurance program that could serve as an alternative for people who can’t get private coverage.
The way Tauzin sees it, that’s the first step toward a government-run, single-payer system modeled after those in Europe and elsewhere.
“I don’t like any notion that the government is going to come in and start competing with private insurance,” he said. “The government becomes a price fixer, and it will drive out private offerings. It ends up being a single-payer system eventually.”
Exactly right, Billy, yer catchin' on. That's what's going to happen if we wish to catch up to the civilized nations and get this economy under control. Health care will still come out of everybody's pocket, but the money will go for health care instead of obscene profit to 'insurance' companies, as in "pay us for years and you're covered until you get sick", and the dope cooks.
Billy's sayin' it like it's a bad thing, and will fight it like the dinosaurs fought extinction, with the same eventual outcome. The time of health care for profit is going to come to an end for many reasons, even if for no other reason than it's just plain wrong to selectively disregard people's lives and well-being to make a buck.
The gravy train's runnin' outta track.
Radio Fear America
NYT
I hope the next Prez starts with a twelve-rope dropfest pour encourager les autres and to show miscreants that criminal actions have consequences.
Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia read the funnies over the radio to cheer up New Yorkers during a newspaper strike. President Franklin Roosevelt gave "fireside chats" to bolster Americans during the depression. President Bush used his radio address on Saturday to try to scare Americans into believing they have to sacrifice their rights and their values to combat terrorism.
This is not the first time that Mr. Bush has misled Americans on intelligence-gathering and antiterrorism operations, and it may not be the last. It will be up to the next president to restore the rule of law.
I hope the next Prez starts with a twelve-rope dropfest pour encourager les autres and to show miscreants that criminal actions have consequences.
A Different View of our Presidental Canidates
I was a geek before geek was a common term. For a geek, one of the best ways to spend your spare time was playing Dungeons and Dragons. Long before Diablo, World of Warcraft, or Everquest (aka Evercrack), you had this game where you had to do all the work looking up stats in various tomes and relying on your (gasp!) imagination. Last week with the passing of Dungeons and Dragons creator Gary Gygax, many including myself have looked back at those long ago days. So when I stumbled across this gem - I had to share.
In honor of his passing, and because it's an Election year - I give you the Monster Manual stats of each of the canidates (via Charlie's Diary)
John McCain (Demon Prince of Republicans.) (Lesser God.)
Hilary Clinton (Demon Queen of Pork Belly Futures.) (Lesser Goddess.)
Barack Obama (Demon Prince of Upsetting Applecarts.) (Lesser God.)
In honor of his passing, and because it's an Election year - I give you the Monster Manual stats of each of the canidates (via Charlie's Diary)
John McCain (Demon Prince of Republicans.) (Lesser God.)
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO APPEARING: 1
ARMOUR CLASS: -7
MOVE: 3" (72" per flight sector on the campaign jet)
HIT DICE: 200 hit points (But first you have to defeat 4d8 Secret Service Agents)
% IN LAIR: 0%
TREASURE TYPE: All your NATO base are belong to us!
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: Invades Iran. Takes 100d20 casualties in first strike while inflicting 20 x 100d20 civilian casualties. Followed by war of attrition, economic collapse, recrimination.
SPECIAL ATTACKS: 5% chance of 30,000 Megaton nuclear first strike on Upper Volta.
SPECIAL DEFENSES: +3 or better weapon to hit. In event of combat, 20% chance of heart attack per round, followed by the swearing in of President Santorum. You wouldn't want that, would you?)
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 80% (10% vs. mind control spells by Cheney.)
INTELLIGENCE: Normal.
CHARISMA: 12 (16 to neocons)
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic evil if under control of Cheney; otherwise Chaotic neutral.
SIZE: M
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: X/29,950* (* for impeachment)
A huge, ancient, carnivorous dinosaur from the swamps at the heart of Republican country, not unlike Godzilla in appearance and wrinkled integument, McCain has seen better years. Nevertheless he can breathe fire and threaten to stomp flat the capital city of any country that Fox News disapproves of with the best of them.
The biggest danger in facing off against a McCain is that he might be under the mind control of the Svengali-like Cheney, Prince of Darkness. In this case, he is likely to be lethally aggressive and even more unpredictable than usual.
Hilary Clinton (Demon Queen of Pork Belly Futures.) (Lesser Goddess.)
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO APPEARING: 1
ARMOUR CLASS: -7 (But -4 if encountered in the same campaign as a Bill Clinton)
MOVE: 3" (72" per flight sector on the campaign jet)
HIT DICE: 200 hit points (But first you have to defeat 4d8 Secret Service Agents)
% IN LAIR: 0%
TREASURE TYPE: The future is ... Pork!
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 + 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: captures 2-16 superdelegates; 20% chance to cast Slime per round
SPECIAL ATTACKS: If sustaining damage, 33% chance per round of invoking Bill Clinton to fight alongside her. See also Big Dog.)
SPECIAL DEFENSES: +4 Fundraising, Regeneration, +3 or better weapon to hit.
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 80%
INTELLIGENCE: Genius
CHARISMA: 17 (Democrats)/ -1 (Republicans)
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Neutral (Will steal anything that's not nailed down, especially if she can construe it as lawful appropriation. Depending on the meaning of the word "it".)
SIZE: 14
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: X/12,250* (* for impeachment)
As with all Clintons, Hillary exudes negative charisma towards Republicans. Otherwise, she's a classic machine reptile.
Barack Obama (Demon Prince of Upsetting Applecarts.) (Lesser God.)
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO APPEARING: 1
ARMOUR CLASS:
MOVE: 3" (72" per flight sector on the campaign jet)
HIT DICE: 200 hit points (But first you have to defeat 4d8 Secret Service Agents — unless attacking in Texas, Florida, or other Republican-held states)
% IN LAIR: 0%
TREASURE TYPE: Budget Deficit: -500,000 million G.P. plus compound interest
NO. OF ATTACKS: 0 (He runs a clean campaign).
DAMAGE/ATTACK: Makes his opponents look foolish: -1 Charisma per round engaged in combat polite debate.
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Casts Mass Charm 1 per round engaged in combat polite debate.
SPECIAL DEFENSES: +5 Fundraising, Regeneration, +3 or better weapon to hit.
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 80%
INTELLIGENCE: Genius
CHARISMA: 18(100) (Democrats) / 12 (Republicans)
ALIGNMENT: Law Professor
SIZE: M
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: X/89,950* (* for impeachment)
Handsome, intelligent, charismatic, and he manages to sound absolutely wonderful ... but how do you know what else is lurking under that sleek exterior? The Obama's main advantage in combat is that he makes everyone else in the melee look absurdly aggressive or foolishly short-sighted, sapping their Charisma. Probably the lesser evil, so once you elect him you'll have the luxury of knowing you've been eaten by the right lizard god.
Spitzer ...
To all of you who are screaming for his resignation. STFU. He should stay in office until David Vitter and Larry Craig resign.
Update:
And something I've been thinking since the McGreevy scandal is put into words by Dr. Attaturk (Podiatrist to the Stars):
Update II:
Our pal Lambert has some questions:
Update III:
And Watertiger basically sums it up:
And just some thoughts of my own. What the fuck can this woman do that's worth $5000 an hour? I mean, seriously, for that kind of money, sparks better shoot out her ass and Hail to the Chief play out her ears. No public pussy* is worth that, I don't care how 'high class' she is.
Update IV:
But should Spitzer have to resign (he's a Dem so the Republican Noise Machine will be cranked into high gear until he leaves), the man who would take his place is inspirational.
Update:
And something I've been thinking since the McGreevy scandal is put into words by Dr. Attaturk (Podiatrist to the Stars):
Stop fucking up, then dragging your spouse out to stand there and suffer while you talk about how sorry you are -- especially since they are the most aggrieved party of all. It's bad enough that you fucked up, and fucked them over, don't punish him or her by making them stand there with a pasted on look on their face while you drone on.
Thank you.
Update II:
Our pal Lambert has some questions:
...
And interesting, isn’t it, that this whole story, that starts with a wiretap, breaks the same day and completely buries a story on how these guys can wiretap entire cities whenever they fucking want. Odd, that.
...
Update III:
And Watertiger basically sums it up:
...
I'm of the belief that it takes a special kind of person to be a politician - the level of arrogance and chutzpah to build your entire career on crime-busting, and you wind up IN THE MIDDLE OF A FUCKING PROSTITUTION RING? WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING?!?!
...
And just some thoughts of my own. What the fuck can this woman do that's worth $5000 an hour? I mean, seriously, for that kind of money, sparks better shoot out her ass and Hail to the Chief play out her ears. No public pussy* is worth that, I don't care how 'high class' she is.
Update IV:
But should Spitzer have to resign (he's a Dem so the Republican Noise Machine will be cranked into high gear until he leaves), the man who would take his place is inspirational.
*And let me be absolutely clear (before I come home to see a crowd of women on my front lawn with pitchforks and a noose), this prostitute wasn't some victim (or a woman forced into the business by slavers) who ran way from home and had to sell herself to survive. A woman who can demand that much is in it for the money, period, and I'm looking at it as a purely business transaction. For $5K, that sucker better be gold plated at the very least. Goin' to work now ...
Monday, March 10, 2008
Bush's Endgame and Legacy
Balkinization
He has failed as badly as it is humanly (?) possible to fail and then some, period. Every incompetent and criminal act was done on purpose. Worst. President. Ever.
The next President, the first real one in eight years, absolutely must institute "systematic rejection of the themes of his Presidency". Posthaste with a hard-on.
Rather, it is worth recognizing Bush's veto-- and indeed, many other future actions and acts of intransigence-- as part of an endgame strategy. At this point in Bush's Presidency he deals from a position of weakness, not strength. His major goals are to prevent criminal prosecutions of himself (unlikely in any event) and his aides (more likely), to keep the public from finding out much of what he and his advisors actually did and ordered done during his presidency (his fight for immunity for telecom companies who engaged in illegal surveillance should be understood as part of this larger strategy), to entrench the U.S. presence in Iraq for the foreseeable future, and do what he can to ensure that John McCain becomes President, or failing that, Hillary Clinton as a second best solution. He figures that McCain, and, to a lesser extent Clinton, are most likely to continue aspects of his policies and keep troops in Iraq for some time. The longer that the next president continues his policies-- including warrantless surveillance, his interrogation practices, and his war in Iraq, the longer these features will become normalized and/or the next President's problem.
What Bush does not want, above all, is to be followed by a repudiationist or reconstructive Presidency that establishes a new political order through systematic rejection of the themes of his Presidency, thus making Bush the modern day equivalent of Herbert Hoover and Jimmy Carter rather than Harry Truman. Bush's presidency is a failed presidency; the only issue now is how badly he has failed.
He has failed as badly as it is humanly (?) possible to fail and then some, period. Every incompetent and criminal act was done on purpose. Worst. President. Ever.
The next President, the first real one in eight years, absolutely must institute "systematic rejection of the themes of his Presidency". Posthaste with a hard-on.
Quote of the Day
I haven’t been indicted yet, but I fully expect to be by the end of the year. - Karl Rove
MSNBC to De-Twit
Raw Story
Agreed, and the next step in the right direction will include the words "Rachel Maddow", oh please please please...
Update:
Forbes
Waaaaah!
According to TVNewser, MSNBC will announce the dismissal of talk host and political pundit Tucker Carlson.
"Maybe MSNBC has realized that swinging to the Right to try and shake out Fox News for viewers isn't a winning strategy," opines The Bilerico Project's Alex Blaze. "Or maybe they realized that at least half their commentators should accept the reality that white men aren't oppressed. Or maybe they think that people don't want to watch a bully wannabe talk about his fun days of beating up [gays]. Or maybe they got tired of his history of abusing the rules of logic, evidence, and reality."
Whatever it was, I'll take it as a step in the right direction.
Agreed, and the next step in the right direction will include the words "Rachel Maddow", oh please please please...
Update:
Forbes
The bow tie is out at MNSBC. David Gregory is replacing Tucker Carlson as host of a one-hour show each evening.
The news network is making a handful of changes to respond to heavy political interest. Gregory's new show is called 'Race for the White' and will be on each weekday at 6 p.m. starting next Monday.
MSNBC also says that Andrea Mitchell will anchor an hour each afternoon. Keith Olbermann's popular 'Countdown' program will rerun every night at 10.
Waaaaah!
Oh, the irony...
Ironic Times
I think Mrs. G likes the little 'French maid' outfit I wear...
BUSH PLEDGES TO HELP McCAIN
Promises at least two terror alerts.
Research: Brain Imaging Could Show Other People’s Dreams
Coming soon to YouTube.
Report: Vermont Highest in Marijuana Use, Utah in Mental Health Problems
Vermont lowest in mental health problems, Utah in marijuana use.
Israeli Researcher: Moses High on Drugs When God Gave Him Ten Commandments
Smoked “burning bush.”
Men Who Do Housework May Get More Sex
Based on survey of 1500 brothels.
I think Mrs. G likes the little 'French maid' outfit I wear...
Supporting the troops ...
Yeah, those fine patriots at Halliburton:
Don't you silly people understand? You go to war with the contractors you have, not the contractors you want.
Happy Fucking Monday ...
...
A report obtained by the Associated Press said soldiers experienced skin abscesses, cellulitis, skin infections, diarrhea and other illnesses after using discolored, smelly water for personal hygiene and laundry at five U.S. military sites in Iraq.
...
Don't you silly people understand? You go to war with the contractors you have, not the contractors you want.
Happy Fucking Monday ...
Perfect ... in theory ...
Little Dougie Feith is now saying it wasn't his fault Iraq went so badly. It was everybody else's. Athenae:
...
Irony. Whenever I think they've finally killed it, it rises from its grave to gnaw the Republic once more.
...
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Yeesh ...
I hate the 'time change'. Throws me all out of whack for a week. The bright side is, the clock in my car is the correct time again. Heh ...
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