Ezra says

What Gordon and I have been on for the last week. Go read over at Pandagon. He's got the results of the Newsweek poll there too.

More draftier, a lot, like

From that smart kid, Matt Yglesias:

Pay no attention to the redeployment of the Army NTC OPFOR to combat duty in Iraq. Thinking too seriously about what this implied for the future of the US military and about how badly overstretched our forces are right now will not be good for your health or your tax status. Incidentally, wasn't the redeployment of the Blackhorse to the Middle East part of the plot of a Tom Clancy book?

I guess that's how the WH does its military planning, see if there's a Tom Clancy parallel. I wrote about this a couple months back:

You know, I write spy novels and some science fiction. The reason I bring this up is not to peddle books, but to make an observation. Bush & Co's actions sound like the plot of a fucking spy novel. It's as if they're taking literary license with the war, the way I would when I ask my audience to suspend their belief in the flow of time and the details. (If writers didn't, novels would be SO long and boring, and filled with minutiae, that no one would want to read them.) But wars don't proceed like novels do. The president is not an omnipotent being, like a writer, who can mold the world so the outcome is in his favor. War, and running a country, involves minutiae on a biblical scale and all the details have to be addressed BEFORE war is declared. It's as if Bush thinks the world works like a TV show or a pulp fiction novel.

That's why they thought they could take Afghanistan using Special Ops forces alone. Some civilian in the Pentagon must have read Rainbow Six and said, 'we can do it that way'. Seems Tom Clancy never saw the need for a draft, but when we put a training unit on combat alert, a draft is probable. If the Air Force and the Navy put the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels on combat alert, a draft is imminent. I wouldn't be surprised if the Top Gun School personnel at Miramar are already training up for Iraq.

Social Security privatization

I posted about this last week. Today, DemVet has this:

[. . .]

But as short on specifics as the plan is, it's instructive to see who might benefit from this "privatization" effort, because you know that someone's gonna make a buck or six from any 1600 Crew program (Iraq-CheneyBurton?). Seems that there's an investment company waiting in the wings for just such an opportunity...and surprise surprise surprise, guess with whom it's affiliated?

[. . .]

So, not just one, but about as many cronies as possible stand to benefit from this so-called "privatization" effort. How much you want to bet that there's no scenario where privatization does not include capitalization of some bank account related to Fearless Leader his family and friends (Saudis anyone?). Neilsie and Silverado will look like amateur hour if this happens, count on it.

Yes, him

Frank Luntz, that is, the Pillsbury Doughboy of pollsters and Republican spinmeister wrote this in London's Financial Times:

The big story of the US presidential election up to yesterday was how few undecided voters there were. Now the final presidential debate is over, these voters have essentially made up their minds - and it is George W. Bush who should be worried.

If John Kerry is elected the 44th president, it will be because of a single night in Miami, when he came to debate and Mr Bush came to - well, no one is quite sure. The double-digit lead that Gallup polls, long considered the authority for presidential polling, gave Mr Bush after the Republican convention was fully erased by that fateful 90-minute confrontation.

Step by step, debate by debate, John Kerry has addressed and removed many remaining doubts among uncommitted voters. My own polling research suggests a rather bleak outlook for the Bush candidacy: many who still claim to be "undecided" are leaning to Mr Kerry and are about ready to commit.

Can Mr Bush turn the tide in just 18 days? Absolutely, but he must address voters who still harbour economic and national security concerns. And that requires a fundamental shift in the president's strategy and message. Asserting that the economy is strong and Iraq a success is just not credible to the majority of Americans - or to the stubborn 5 per cent who remain uncommitted.

[. . .]

Via Jim Hightower.

Worrisome for Bush indeed. If Luntz is saying this, you know the Bush people know it. Look for a flood of dirty tricks to spew forth from the Repubs in the next couple weeks.

More Enlightenment

Gordon can see the future, so can the Bunny. The Rabbit doesn't like what he sees if President Numbnuts is reelected.

NYT Endorses John Kerry

Hallefuckinlujah! Read this editorial in today's NY Times:

We have been impressed with Mr. Kerry's wide knowledge and clear thinking - something that became more apparent once he was reined in by that two-minute debate light. He is blessedly willing to re-evaluate decisions when conditions change. And while Mr. Kerry's service in Vietnam was first over-promoted and then over-pilloried, his entire life has been devoted to public service, from the war to a series of elected offices. He strikes us, above all, as a man with a strong moral core

Along with the invasion of Afghanistan, which had near unanimous international and domestic support, Mr. Bush and his attorney general put in place a strategy for a domestic antiterror war that had all the hallmarks of the administration's normal method of doing business: a Nixonian obsession with secrecy, disrespect for civil liberties and inept management

We have specific fears about what would happen in a second Bush term, particularly regarding the Supreme Court.

If he wins re-election, domestic and foreign financial markets will know the fiscal recklessness will continue.

The Bush White House has always given us the worst aspects of the American right without any of the advantages.

We look back on the past four years with hearts nearly breaking, both for the lives unnecessarily lost and for the opportunities so casually wasted. Time and again, history invited George W. Bush to play a heroic role, and time and again he chose the wrong course. We believe that with John Kerry as president, the nation will do better.

Sometimes these New Yorkers are pretty smart.

Gordon the Enlightened One

Seems like my partner's on to something. From Eric Alterman via Skippy:

If Bush somehow wins, it will require an even bigger steal than four years ago.

Instinct

From NYT via Josh Marshall:

[. . .]

Forty democratic senators were gathered for a lunch in March just off the Senate floor. I was there as a guest speaker. Joe Biden was telling a story, a story about the president. ''I was in the Oval Office a few months after we swept into Baghdad,'' he began, ''and I was telling the president of my many concerns'' -- concerns about growing problems winning the peace, the explosive mix of Shiite and Sunni, the disbanding of the Iraqi Army and problems securing the oil fields. Bush, Biden recalled, just looked at him, unflappably sure that the United States was on the right course and that all was well. '''Mr. President,' I finally said, 'How can you be so sure when you know you don't know the facts?'''

Biden said that Bush stood up and put his hand on the senator's shoulder. ''My instincts,'' he said. ''My instincts.''

Biden paused and shook his head, recalling it all as the room grew quiet. ''I said, 'Mr. President, your instincts aren't good enough!'''

[. . .]

As [Former NJ Governor & EPA Chief Christine Todd] Whitman told me on the day in May 2003 that she announced her resignation as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency: ''In meetings, I'd ask if there were any facts to support our case. And for that, I was accused of disloyalty!'' (Whitman, whose faith in Bush has since been renewed, denies making these remarks and is now a leader of the president's re-election effort in New Jersey.) [my emphasis]

[. . .]

As I've said before, our (NY, NJ, CT) Repubs are different from their ilk in other parts of the country. They tend to be more of the Classic Conservative mold rather than the Bible-thumping, Christo-fascist bunch. The Mrs and I used to have respect for Christie Whitman. 'Used to' being the operative word until she too caved to pressure like McCain did and actively supported Bush this cycle. She used to have principles, unlike that asshole we have running our state (Pataki). But though she denies her remarks, they do have a ring of truth to them (Gen Shinseki, Paul O'Niell, and others). She was awful quiet after she left EPA, wasn't she?

P.S.- Go read Melanie too.

Faith-based deprivation

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

What the military thinks

Via The American Street:

WASHINGTON - Members of the military and their families say the Bush administration underestimated the number of troops needed in Iraq and put too much pressure on inadequately trained National Guard and reserve forces, according to a poll released Saturday.

The National Annenberg Election Survey found that 62 percent in the military sample said the administration didn't send an adequate number of troops to Iraq. And 59 percent said too much of a burden has been put on the National Guard and the reserves when regular forces should have been expanded instead. [my emphasis]

Family members were more critical of the administration's Iraq policy than those on active duty.

This critical view comes from a military group that has a more favorable view of President Bush (news - web sites), Iraq, the economy and the nation's direction than Americans in general. [From AP]

[. . .]

The closer it gets to Election Day, news like this and the shortage of flu shots will sway many of the undecideds Kerry's way. Let's hope Bush's smoke and mirror show unravels even more by 2 Nov.

Definitely Not The Ivy League

Following up on my earlier post, Steve Harvey of the LATimes has some more names of institutions of higher learning in California:

Salt Lake, Calif.: A discussion here about college nicknames brought this from Raul Blacksten: "I attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, in the early '70s, and there were so many students from California that it was not uncommon to hear it referred to as the 'University of California at Provo.' I think there were even bumper stickers to that effect."
Cal State Whatevers: While we're on the subject, here are some other college nicknames I've collected from readers:
• University of Severe Tire Damage (Cal State Northridge, in honor of the school's many parking lots, which have many more exits than entrances).
• University of California Near Fedco (San Bernardino Valley College).
• University of Lincoln and Manchester or LMU (Loyola Marymount University).
• Under Construction Indefinitely or UCI (UC Irvine).
• University on Colorado between Lake and Allen, or UCLA (Pasadena City College).

I wonder when he'll get around to Cal State San Quentin. Oh, well. Who needs Yale, anyway?

Field Report On Flu Shots

Well, I guess we've all heard about the shortage of flu vaccine and Kim Jong-Bush's health plan: "Don't get sick." If you haven't, read Fixer's post (you can scroll down a little to get to it, too) on the subject, then come back.

See, Fixer does the grand scheme of these things, being the Master and all, while I, the grunt, get down in the trenches and find out what's really going on and how issues affect real people. This one came about quite serendipitously (Hey! Lookee here!) on me and the missus' weekly adventure, aka grocery shopping.

There we were, rounding the corner from the cottage-cheese-and-ice-cream aisle and heading for Frozen Food. The F.F. aisle was blocked by a long line of people, taking up its entire length. They were standing in line for flu shots right there in Safeway. Old people. There were canes and walkers, wheelchairs and electric scooters, and such hair as there was, was your lighter shades. I didn't check their teeth, but I'm sure a lot of those folks could have just held them up if I had wanted to.

We continued our shopping and eventually got to the checker. She told us that there had been a line for the shots since six A.M. (it was about 10:00 at the time) and they had already run out of vaccine once and had to recop. Mrs. G. damn near slapped me when I wondered out loud what might be the significance of herdin' 'em down the frozen food aisle. After all, that aisle is full of preserved stuff. Actually, the pharmacy is at the far end of it.

I did some checking: The shots cost $20 and the high-risk criteria applied to be eligible. They took Medicare, cash and checks. Note: "High risk" does not mean the risk of CATCHING the flu, but the risk of DYING from it once you've got it. We were not eligible and that made us feel young.

We are prepared to undergo any hardship, make any sacrifice, to bring you the latest stuff on this blog. We never did get any frozen food.

Saturday Cattle Dog Blogging

Atrios has his cats, TBogg has his Bassett Hound, and The Dope on the Slope has his invertebrates, so here's our Cattle Dog:

A baby pic of Mrs. F's little monster.

Now I'm done for the day.

Rednecks

I personally blame Jeff Foxworthy for making rednecks sound loveable. Most of the rednecks I’ve met are meaner than snakepiss with the intellect of a walnut-brained alligator.

Now we have a president who’s been part of the pampered class all his life who cannot find comfort among his own class despite all the remedial tutoring and cash bailouts he’s had from all his Dadddy’s friends. He’s far more comfortable displaying all the gator attributes, reaching down to the inbreds and toothless wonders with the politics of hate and division honed to fever pitch, combined with an aw-shucks nice guy camera front that appeals to people accustomed to instinctive response, which is so much easier than actual thinking.

[. . .]

You gotta read the whole thing.

I'm probably done for the day. I have to go to a Bar Mitzvah today that will probably last ALL day. They're conservative Jews. Oy! I leave you in my partner Gordon's more-than-capable hands.

The flu bug

Or, CNN actually asks the right questions. From Digby:

[. . .]

BUSH: If you're healthy, if you're younger, don't get a flu shot this year.

SCHNEIDER: Sounds like rationing, something the president said would result from Kerry's health care plan.

[. . .]

SCHNEIDER: What President Bush warns could happen under the Kerry health care plan, shortages, rationing, that's exactly what is happening now. So the issue is whether the Kerry health care plan would solve the problem, or as Republicans charge, make it worse.

WOODRUFF: Is there any evidence yet how this issue is playing out politically? Do we see polls? Do we pick up what people are saying?

[. . .]

This flu vaccine problem puts Bush's bullshit squarely in the light of day. Even media whores with tenure like Schneider and Woodruff can't shove their heads in the sand over this one. Unlike Iraq, or the rest of Bush's fiascoes, this affects the American people directly. This is only going to get worse for President Clueless before it gets better, and it ain't gonna resolve itself by 2 Nov. Especially if people start dropping dead from influenza in any sort of numbers.

KERRY: There still aren't enough flu vaccinations. What's the president's solution? He says, don't get one if you're healthy. That sounds just like his health care plan to me, hope and pray you don't get sick.

Bush On The Bumper

Go to PST and see over 100 anti-Bush bumperstickers.

Insurance

Gordon had been pontificating at Bubba's a while back about NY Attorney General Eliot Spitzer getting a cabinet post in a Kerry Administration. I didn't think it was a good idea, citing the people of New York need him more. From Reactions [Registration required, sorry]:

New York attorney general Eliot Spitzer is suing insurance broker Marsh over its practice of charging insurers placement service agreements (PSAs), also known as contingent commissions or market service agreements, in return for placing business with them. The broker's share price dropped by 17% following the news.

Marsh is also accused of soliciting fictitious bids for contracts aimed at deceiving clients into believing that competition to underwrite contracts had taken place. Several insurers that benefited from the practice have also been named in the lawsuit. These include American International Group (AIG) and Ace, the chief executives of which are the father and brother respectively of Marsh & McLennan's CEO Jeffrey Greenberg.

[. . .]

Now, I happen to have a source (sound like Josh Marshall, don't I) in the insurance industry and the word is that this is a family feud between the Spitzers and the Greenbergs and Eliot's doing this to tweak their testicles. But Spitzer wouldn't be seeking indictments if he wasn't sure of himself. Greenberg has some serious resources. Besides, you know these two copped a plea for a reduced sentence provided they spill their guts:

The two AIG employees who have pleaded guilty to participating in the practice are Karen Radke, senior vice-president of excess casualty at American Home, a unit of AIG, and Jean Baptiste Tateossian, manager of the national accounts unit at American Home.

According to a spokeswoman at the New York attorney general's office, both have been charged with fraud and face up to four years in prison.

Sorry, Gord, there are too many crooks in NY to let Eliot go to Washington.

Win At All Costs

Paul Krugman in today's NYTimes on the Republican policy of vote tampering, disenfranchisement, and voter registration crimes:

The important point to realize is that these abuses aren't aberrations. They're the inevitable result of a Republican Party culture in which dirty tricks that distort the vote are rewarded, not punished. It's a culture that will persist until voters - whose will still does count, if expressed strongly enough - hold that party accountable.(my emphasis)

If I were President Kerry, I'd convene enough Grand Juries on Jan. 21st to indict every last one of the bastards and build a few hundred gallows, too.

'Sup, Oy?

Just when you think you've seen everything, up jumps the devil. Go read Hebrew Hip-Hop in, where else, the Ess Eff Chron.

Even the name Hadag Nahash embodies the group's spirit. Guy Mar, the band's DJ and one of the first hip-hop DJs in Israel, reveals that the words are a mix up of Nahag Hadash -- "new driver" -- a sign everyone must post on their cars' rear windows during the first year of licensed driving. Streett came up with the name as a form of protest.

"This is the great idea they have to reduce car accidents?" he scoffs. "People either honk at the new driver or stick to (him) or pass him on the right. So actually, posting this sign is stupid and useless. I figured that if we called ourselves Hadag Nahash and got people to put our stickers on the back of their cars, we would help create chaos and confuse the police" -- which, he adds mischievously, "is always a good thing."

Where else could you go after Klezmer, anyway? I'll go quietly.

Signs Of The Times

Check out the signs on Freeway Blogger.

Thanks again, Bubba.