"Joey Rats" Helped Bush Defeat Kerry

From AFP in Truthout:

German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (aka "Joey Rats" according to Jon Stewart - ed.), the Vatican theologian who was elected Pope Benedict XVI, intervened in the 2004 US election campaign ordering bishops to deny communion to abortion rights supporters including presidential candidate John Kerry.

Sharply divided on the issue, the bishops decided to leave the decision on granting or denying communion to the individual priest. Kerry later received communion several times from sympathetic priests.

Nevertheless, in the November election, a majority of Catholic voters, who traditionally supported Democratic Party candidates, shifted their votes to Republican and eventual winner George W. Bush.

No wonder Bush broke tradition and went to John Paul II's funeral. He knew, as did the smart money, that Joey Rats was the prime candidate to be the capo di tutti capi of the Roman Catholic Mafia Church. He owed the new guy. Or maybe Bush wants to get some pointers on how to control a tremendous number of people by telling 'em what God wants and threatening them with everlasting damnation if they don't do it. Bush would love to be able to do that. Popes make presidents look like pikers in that department.

I fell away from the Church many years ago when I realized what a fuckin' racket it is. Possessed of untold wealth, it allows many of its sheep to starve. It conflates its own self-serving traditions with the desires of the Almighty and gets it to stick. Its blind rituals cause a lot of people to feel guilt and suffer over things that are beyond their control and aren't spiritually important anyway.

Butting into U.S. politics where it doesn't belong is one more reason I was right to drop out. The Church is a medieval organization that got the power it has during the Dark Ages and would like nothing better than to return the world to those times when it had unlimited power and the Hell with the rest of us. Pun intended.

Conscience

WASHINGTON, April 19 - A surprise last-minute defection by an Ohio Republican forced the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to postpone a vote that had been scheduled for Tuesday on the nomination of John R. Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations.

The chairman of the panel, Richard G. Lugar, Republican of Indiana, reluctantly agreed to put off any vote until next month to allow a review of what Democrats portrayed as troubling new accusations that cast doubt on Mr. Bolton's temperament and credibility.

[. . .]

"My conscience got me," he [Sen George Voinovich, R-OH] said after the stormy two-hour session. He said he had gone to the meeting planning to vote for Mr. Bolton, but changed his mind after hearing the case against the nominee made by Senators Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware and Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, both Democrats.

"I wanted more information about this individual, and I didn't feel comfortable voting for him," Mr. Voinovich said. [my emphases]

[. . .]

Tell (politely, please) Senator Voinovich that you appreciate his attack of conscience and the fact he is setting an example for other Repubs to follow:

Voinovich, George - (R - OH)
524 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3353

Bolton is a certified madman and should be living in a room with rubber wallpaper, not representing this nation at the U.N. Jo says it best:

John Bolton no more deserves to be the UN Ambassador than the man-in-the-moon. M-O-O-N spells Snivelling Lackey. (apologies to Mssr. King, but what's up with all the self-referential stuff in DT VII?)...anyhow back to the latest incompetent up for promotion by the 1600 Crew (latest in a long line, no?)

[. . .]

Call, write, and email everyone you can and insist they vote against Bolton's appointment.

Update: 06:00:

Via Glen, more Repub dirty tricks in the effort to get this shithouse rat confirmed.

Public service

From Glen:

The American Family Association attests that I "took action on an AFA-sponsored poll, petition, or action alert." It's possible; but I swear that I only did it to tell them to go pound salt up their butts. (And this, my children, is how spam is born.) Nonetheless, I am now on their mailing list and I have been asked to forward this to my "family and friends." Far be it for me to refuse such a reasonable request.

[. . .]

The Party of God at work.

The Pope

This is probably the last I'll say about this. All you progressive Catholics who are optimistically waiting for reform? Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Did you actually think things would change?

Please

Get a fucking life.

Yeesh

The State Department decided to stop publishing an annual report on international terrorism after the government's top terrorism center concluded that there were more terrorist attacks in 2004 than in any year since 1985, the first year the publication covered.

Go read the Sister.

Skank Central

As we all know, Time magazine, which I have subscribed to for over thirty years and my family for thirty years before that, finally took leave of its senses and made Ann Coulter, the exemplar of white trash and all that is currently wrong with the American media, its cover girl (shudder). Hitler, OK. Idi Amin, fine. Manson, sure. Bush, well, everybody fucks up. Howsomever, this one takes the cake.

Cursor has thoughtfully provided a page with links to quite a few folks who have something to say about Time's losing its mind and putting that ____ (nasty four-letter word that I don't like to use; rhymes with "blunt") on the cover. Go read. Fun.

Update: Go read Wolcott on this subject. Scroll down a little.

ToDay's DeLay Part II

Damn, this DeLay shit's comin' fast and furious. It's getting hard to keep up. I fuckin' love it! I hope to be the first to bring you the tar-and-feather conclusion sooner rather than later, but for now here's Molly Ivins:

Tom DeLay, of all people, recently issued a fatwa on the need for good manners, a concept so bizarre there is no appropriate comparison. Let's reserve it as a future simile: "... as weird as the time Tom DeLay gave us all a lecture on manners."

In his new role as the Emily Post of politics, DeLay informed us, "It is unfortunate in our electoral system, exacerbated by our adversarial media culture, that political discourse has to get so overheated, that it's not just arguments, but motives are questioned." Did someone question his motive in taking an all-expenses-paid vacation from a lobbyist?

This would be the same Tom DeLay who said, "Screw the Senate," when he learned Bob Dole had cut a deal with Clinton to end the government shutdown caused by Newt Gingrich.

"We're in charge. We don't have to negotiate with the Senate." Same as above.

There is much more from DeLay that is unprintable in a newspaper. For some rich samples, try "The Hammer" by Lou DuBose, my sometime writing partner.

As to DeLay's claim of a vast left-wing conspiracy out to destroy the conservative movement, nonsense. I like conservatives. They're opposed to all questionable adventures abroad and for fiscal prudence and responsibility. It's right-wing nuts I can't stand.

Never thought I'd say this, but Amen to that. A good old-fashioned asshole conservative would look pretty good right about now.

Who's Yer Daddy?

Ratzinger got elected Pope. Finally. OK, media, on to the next clusterfuck.

Damn, I hope he doesn't like to take pictures of celebrities: he'd be a Pope-a-ratzi. That was too easy.

Maybe Half Vast

Go see Tom Tomorrow on the Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy. Since I'm about done with The Great Unraveling by Paul Krugman, I thought it was apropos. It feels good to belong on the correct side.

ToDay's DeLay

This is from an article by Hendik Hertzberg in the New Yorker. It's about the "DeLay must stay" movement which both Democrats and Republicans buy into, albeit for way different reasons. Read, you'll see. Anyway, the last coupla paragraphs all by themselves were worth reading just for one sentence by DeLay which I have emphasized.

[..]

But when asked who is to blame for “activist judges,” he was jaw-droppingly candid:

"I blame Congress over the last fifty to a hundred years for not standing up and taking its responsibility given to it by the Constitution. The reason the judiciary has been able to impose a separation of church and state that’s nowhere in the Constitution is that Congress didn’t stop them. The reason we had judicial review is because Congress didn’t stop them. The reason we had a right to privacy is because Congress didn’t stop them."


So there you have it, the DeLay agenda: no separation of church and state, no judicial review, no right to privacy. Next to this, the President’s effort to repeal the New Deal social contract by phasing out Social Security is the mewing of a kitten. DeLay may stay or DeLay may go. But the real danger is not DeLay himself. It’s DeLay’s agenda. It’s his vision. It’s his “values.”

I think DeLay should stay in D.C. Hanging from a lamppost. Now.

ANWR FUBAR

Or at least it's on its way to FUBAR.

George Bush is a decisive man of action. The fact that he has been 100% wrong doesn't even break his stride.

[. . .]

Go read Granny. I swear, Chimpy & Co better be held accountable for all the shit they've fucked up when they get out of office . . . maybe before. As Michael Jackson should go to Folsom, Bush and his administration should be making big ones into little ones at Leavenworth. Motherfuckers.

Well said

I missed Lambert Strether while I was gone. (No, TCF, it wasn't the Betty Ford Clinic. Remember, reality is just a crutch for people who can't handle drugs.):

[. . .]

No, but seriously, folks—Doesn't Bush remind you of one of those guys you read about in The Metro? The kind who claims you can make money at home in your pajamas if you just follow his few easy steps? And take his course or buy his software? "I'm President Bush! And I'm known for my bold and daring challenges!"

[. . .]

I watched President Dicknose on TV yesterday. If he were selling cars, he'd be out of business in a week. Bush couldn't sell ice water in Hell when it comes to Social Security 'refrorm'. Bush's last bold challenge was Iraq, and even the Jesus-freaks see how he's fucked that beond recognition, though they'll never admit it. 'Hey, kill other peoples' kids, but you ain't fucking up my Social Security.'

And, regarding Bush's falling job approval ratings, how come all these fucking people are waking up now? 51% of you voted for this asshole last Novenmber. Did you actually think he'd get better, you idiots?

A few things

Lance Armstrong: Armstrong says he'll retire after Tour de France. Good, let somebody else win, you nutless wonder. I'm sick of seeing your ass. Way to go with Cheryl Crowe though.

Tom DeLay: DeLay ducks ethics controversy in NRA speech. I used to be an NRA member. I used to be a Republican too. As far as I'm concerned, both of them have gotten away with far too much for far too long. DeLay is the epitome of what has happened to the Republican Party over the past twenty-five years and the NRA has turned into a distorted, perverted caricature of itself. Both of them should go the way of the dinosaur.

The Pope: No white smoke yet. Yeesh! See Lance Armstrong above. I'm sick of hearing about the fucking Pope. Maybe, if the Catholic Church ever found itself in the same century as the rest of the fucking world, I could get on the bandwagon. But when you have celibate men giving advice on marriage and relationships, when you have a problem with Africans using condoms to halt the spread of AIDS that's killing them by the millions, when you preach abstinence over birth control, you're irrelevant and out of touch in my book. Shut the fuck up about the Cardinals and get off my fucking TV.

Michael Jackson: Just fucking die, please. Anything so you get OFF my fucking TV, you mutant fuck. I hope they put you in General Population in Folsom and some big, hung-like-a-horse brother makes you his wife. You know how they love white women.

Now I feel a lot better.

Innocent Victims

The victims of Bush's bullshit war in Iraq are not always human.

Via DemVet:

HINESVILLE, Ga. - The 32 dogs look up with sad eyes or wag their tails as animal control officer Linda Cordry walks the row of chain-link cages toward a door concealing a gas chamber. "These guys are mine," Cordry says with weary resignation. "These are basically on Death Row."

Liberty County Animal Control and the humane shelter that shares its small cinderblock building have been crammed to capacity with dogs and cats since Army troops from neighboring Fort Stewart deployed to Iraq. Both agencies say it's no coincidence.

"I would say 95 percent of these animals come from military homes," says Beate Hall, who runs the humane shelter where dozens of soldiers and Army spouses began dumping pets during the holidays.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have prompted national efforts to alert deploying soldiers to alternatives to abandoning animals when they leave for war. But the hundreds of unwanted pets turning up in this southeast Georgia military town indicate many aren't getting the message.

[. . .]

If you can, try and help your local shelter one way or another. Our furry pals can't vote, so keep them in mind when you do.

Update: 15:45:

New York State has a pretty cool way to support pet education and show it:



50% of the annual fee goes to Animal Population Control Fund. New Yorkers, find out about other good causes you can support this way by clicking here.

Jesus-freak, hypocrite bastids

Roll Call (Sub Only) via Kos:

[. . .]

Sources say the Senator [Mel Martinez, R-FL] does not plan to make any more staff changes beyond that of Martinez's counsel, Brian Darling, who left the office. Darling belatedly admitted circulating a memo that urged Republicans to get involved in the Terri Schiavo case, in part because it could yield political benefits. [my emphasis]

[. . .]

Aren't these the pious Christians? Aren't these the kind, caring, doing all they can to protect life Christains? Don't give me this peace, love, and goodwill to men shit when the only reason you're in it is for the political payoff. After what these Jesus-freaks put that poor woman through, Jeb and the lot of them should be swinging from the end of a rope. These people have no souls, that's what Jesus would say, you motherfuckers.

Yuck DeLay

For some good DeLay jokes, go read The Hamster.

"Friends say that each day President Bush spends two hours playing video games. Now let's think about this -- there's a war in Iraq, gas prices have never been higher and what is he working on? Getting Spiderman to the third level. ...Yeah George loves video games. His favorite? Grand Theft Election." David Letterman

Scroll down for cartoons.

Nickel Dick

In amongst all the minor problems facing our country, like Bush's War, global warming, peak oil, and the rise of the retardiligious right, BeatBush has come up with one that makes them pale in comparison:

Buffalo porn

I am shocked and appalled. The United States Mint recently released a new buffalo nickel into circulation. (They call it the "American bison nickel.") The nickel shows the buffalo's penis. What does John Ashcroft think about this? Why has Reverend Dobson been silent? How can the family values Bush-and-Dick administration expose our children to this filth?

For many links to help you cope, and a really good photo of the offending member, click on it. May be work safe.

Back in the saddle

Okay, no applause, just throw money. Seriously, this hiatus worked out very well, ending with a wonderful weekend spent with the Mrs. It was her birthday this past Friday and I actually surprised her with a gift. Something extremely difficult to do, since she knows me so well after all these years, she can tell when I'm hiding something. Saturday evening we had an excellent dinner at Restaurant Mirabelle, one of our favorite haunts. Don't ask about yesterday, that's classified. In all, a very hedonistic weekend but a lot of fun.

I was very productive this past month as well. Technocracy is on its way to the publisher and I'll be resuming installments of Empires over at creativity beginning next weekend. Some serious productivity went on and I'm happy to say, mission accomplished. Unlike our shitbag (p)resident, I ain't lying.

With that in mind, I have to thank my blog partners Gordon and KR for doing a masterful job picking up my slack. From the bottom of my heart, guys, thank you very much. For their contributions, even as they had some serious technical difficulties with their site, Philippe and Dianne from Pourquoi Pas have my eternal thanks. They are a couple good folks who didn't know me from a hole in the ground when I asked them to guest blog here and stepped right up. Let me know if I can return the favor sometime.

To all the other bloggers whom I read and comment to regularly, I'm sorry for my absence. The only blog I've looked at over the past month was this one, just to see if there were any technical difficulties. the only news I got was from MSNBC and the local New York ABC affiliate. That's gonna get back to normal today too, so you'll see bullshit under my byline again in your comments.

So, it's off to the shop now but I'll be back this afternoon. I got a month's worth of bitching to make up for. Thanks again to everybody here for allowing me this month to get my shit together.

Scumbag Central

"Hot Tub Tommy" is darn hard to keep up with. This oughta help: Tom DeLay's House Of Scandal. Hopefully, a real time saver.