Outraged viewing public demands a different ending for 'The Bushpranos'

SPR

Polls indicate that before the lights go out on the Bush administration, this is the final image most folks wanna see on their tubes:

Five Pillars of Bush, with apologies to T.E. Lawrence

Democratic Underground with today's 'recommended read'. Nothing really new, but a nice neat package.

A tremendous amount of damage has been done to our country since George Bush took office, and consequently we now find ourselves in a perilous crisis, with our Constitution in tatters, our treasury being depleted by rampant militarism, our international reputation at an all time low, and with a broken election system. Therefore, Americans would do well to carefully consider prior to the next election the five pillars of George Bush's Republican Party. This is a description of five groups of people, the first four which overlap to a great extent, who lead, support, and vote for today's Republican Party.

The economic royalists (Quotes from FDR and Al Gore)

The militarists

...

There are several causes and components of this rampant militarism. One primary cause overlaps with the economic royalists: Wealthy corporate friends of the Bush administration have made billions from their no-bid contracts associated with the Iraq war, as billions of dollars have gone missing; we have built several permanent military bases in Iraq; and now we are insisting upon and intimidating the Iraqi government to gain control of their oil.

That word, 'oil', seems to be cropping up a lot lately for some reason...

For millions of Americans who support the rampant militarism of George Bush's Republican Party, fear and racism undoubtedly play a major role. Constant fear mongering by the Bush administration causes many ordinary Republicans to be so fearful for their own safety that they are willing to have their Constitution and the rule of law in their country destroyed in return for George Bush's promises to protect them. The fact that most of the victims of George Bush's cruel and inhuman policies are Muslims of Middle Eastern descent and dark skin undoubtedly makes that bargain more palatable to many of his followers.

The paper Bush's 'promises' are written on should be kept on a roll next to the toilet.

The propagandists and destroyers of our First Amendment rights

The crooks

AKA the 'con men'. Not enough bandwidth.

The gullible

AKA the 'marks'. The largest group of Repuglican'ts.

Despite all their money, the support of most of the corporate news media, and widespread election fraud, Republicans nevertheless must still rely on many millions of gullible Americans to push them over the top. They must convince many millions of Americans to buy into the absurdity that their economic policies are not weighted heavily in favor of the rich and powerful; that George Bush and his associates didn't know that Iraq posed no threat to us whatsoever when he went to war against them; that the tough talk and excessive eagerness of Republicans to pull their country into war is a manifestation of courage; and finally, many millions of Christians buy into the absurd idea that George Bush and the Republican Party is the party of Christian values.

Suckers.

That is the essence of the Constitutional crisis we have today. Many of our Democratic representatives feel that if we wait it out for another year and a half and elect a Democratic Congress and President in 2008 we will get back on the right track. My great fear is that it will be too late by then. A solid precedent will have been set that says that it is ok for our President to be above the law, like a King, rather than a servant of the people. I don't see how we’re going to reverse that precedent if we don't take aggressive steps to remove George Bush and Dick Cheney from the offices they have so greatly abused, while we still have the chance.

Hear, hear. Go read.

The new guy ...

We added another car guy to the staff over at Fixer & Gordon. Stop over and say hi to Bustednuckles (many of you will recognize him from the comments sections here), who also has his own blog. Another pissed off mechanic. Heh ...

Scopes ...

I saw that idiot Huckabee on Noball last night and Ol' Tweety actually said something worthwhile. Paraphrasing: "It's 2007 and we're retrying Scopes."

I touched on this during the first Rethug debate a couple weeks ago. Listen to me.

Any candidate who is running for elective office who believes every human on Earth is a direct descendant of Adam and Eve (I guess they never saw Deliverance or read the history of the Hapsburgs), who believes every spieces of animal is derivative of those aboard Noah's Ark, who believes the Earth is 6000 years old, and who believes God actually did create Life, The Universe, and Everything in 6 days, not only should you lose the election but should be laughed at and shamed from public life.

I am fucking tired of people with double-digit IQs being allowed to shape the national discourse. I'm fucking tired of morons being treated as credible just because they put on a suit and speak for a political party. Shut the fuck up.

Thank god ...

After growing up with crooked, dysfunctional, connected, Ginzo assholes, I for one am glad The Sopranos is over. I see nothing good about glorifying criminals and now another generation of Ginzo assholes think being a wiseguy is something to aspire to.

Heck of a job

In these days of administration corruption, incompetence, and outright blatant criminality, I'm almost nostalgic for Movement Conservatism. It went a little overboard, but it never threatened to sink the ship like the Repugs are now.

Good op-ed at The Dallas Morning News:

In this late winter of our discontent – bordering on, let's be honest, black depression – conservatives' minds turn to the ways the promise of a new era of rightist government has turned to ashes by the Republican Party's incompetence and corruption.

Heck of a job, the lot of you. You and your congressional Republican abettors have done a splendid job routing conservatism, and making it seem not like a plausible governing philosophy and approach to public life, but instead indecent drapery swaddling ambition in silken phrases, and incompetent hackery in velvety ideals.

Being conservative used to mean that you stood for certain political ideas, but it also meant that you stood for certain virtues, especially personal responsibility and old-fashioned honor. After these last six years, it's hard to know what conservatives stand for, except never having to say you're sorry.

There's no love lost between me and conservatives. Conservatism and Liberalism used to be two sides of an ongoing national debate. Both sides had good points and bad, both sides went overboard sometimes, and both sides traded the upper hand back and forth from time to time. That was all right. Looking back, it was a Hell of a lot better than what we have now.

Since conservatism has been carjacked by the current crop of Repugs, conservatives are tarred with the brush of the neocons, warmongers, big money fascist cronyism, the phony god squad, and general all 'round evil bullshit. 'Twas ever thus, but it's worse now.

Serves 'em right. They gotta be more careful who they let usurp the reins. The current crop of Repug presidential candidate clowns shows how far they've fallen. And they can't get up. Good. Maybe in a generation or so they'll get their bearings again and our country can go back to the give-and-take of actual democracy.

I was glad to read that op-ed. I'm glad conservatives are finally starting to realize the damage that has been done to them by themselves in their flawed and fatal power grab, the last gasp of a failed philosophy. I hope more conservatives come to those same conclusions and go away and re-think their raison d'être to arrive at a more fair and balanced (heh) philosophy. I won't hold my breath.

As a matter of fact, I think it would be entirely fitting if it is a team of consies who drop the trap door out from under the evildoers who destroyed them in their own name. I hope they stay destroyed for a good long time as well.

Planning Libby's Pardon

Berkshire Eagle

BUSH (in the Oval Office with his top aides): OK, we're agreed. We strip Michael Moore's citizenship, label him an "enemy combatant," and let him enjoy the free health care at Guantanamo Bay. Next issue: The process for Scooter Libby's pardon. How we gonna do this?

DICK CHENEY: Just do it, sir. Do it now. Right now! To hell with anyone who complains. Just sign this paperwork and it's done. (He hands Bush a document.)

BUSH: This says, "Presidential Authorization to Attack Iran with Nuclear Weapons."

CHENEY: Oh, sorry. (He hands Bush another document.)

BUSH (confused): This says, "Resignation Letter of George W. Bush."

CHENEY (laughing nervously): Ha! Just a little joke, sir.

BUSH: How about I sign an executive order that makes lying a good thing? And telling the truth a bad thing? Then Scooter's conviction would have to be overturned!

There's more...

Oh, the irony...

Ironic Times

White House Adds Five Lawyers to President's Legal Office
Each claims it won't interfere with day job on Supreme Court.

Plot to Blow Up Major Landmarks Thwarted
By same undercover agent who thought it up.

Gates Cites Progress in Afghanistan
Most Taliban fighters now busy with poppy harvest.

Oh good! I like poppy-seed rolls...

Bush Addresses Pope as “Sir”
Pope addresses Bush as "schmuck."

In German, Italian, and Latin!

Google's "Street View" Raises Some Privacy Issues
Like: that person leaving the Ecstasy Motel looks an awful lot like you.

Oops...

America's Lords and Masters: The Trust-Fund Babies

Good rant at The Progressive Daily Beacon on the sad state of affairs in this country and our ruling class. Caution: Paris alert.

All his life, George W. Bush was able to get by simply by being "George H.W. Bush's boy." Like Paris Hilton, George didn't need to study in school. Why bother? Success isn't something a person works for - not in their world, anyway. Success is a birthright. "They're special" by virtue of breeding and breathing --- no talent, no skill, no ability required. The George and Paris class are taught from a very early age that they are not bound by any of the rules applicable to the "common people." And, they live their lives letting everybody else know that they know it.

Neither Paris Hilton nor George W. Bush has any clue whatsoever what life is like for the average person. And, don't think for a moment these mollycoddled brats give a damn either.

They grew up in gated communities where the grass is always green, the lawn forever perfectly manicured, nannies are the norm; someone else does the cleaning, cooking, driving, bed-making, and garbage removal...George and Paris did the taking and Mommy and Daddy did the paying.

Hilton's pretty harmless, but we're all paying for Bush's upbringing, or lack thereof.

Yet, these are the people who would "lead" America. People whose entire life experience can be contained within the walls of Mommy and Daddy's gated estate and paid for with a credit card. These are a people who've come to believe that every issue and any problem can either be bought off or made to go away, if only someone can figure out whose palms to grease. Also, these are the people who get to play dress-up military in the National Guard and when they get bored with it, just walk away knowing Daddy's friends will take care of it. And, yes, the Paris Hilton and George W. Bush's really do think it is someone else's job to clean up their messes or to fight, bleed and die for their ideas and ideals.

How proud she and George have made America's trust-fund families. With such "character" and "dignity" they've represented America's ruling-class-by-birthright.

They must be proud indeed of their class's clueless spawn.

One more reason I like Bill Richardson

Yahoo!News

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson said Sunday he wanted a total withdrawal of U.S. forces in Iraq and that American troops are targets in a civil war.

"I would leave no troops in Iraq whatsoever," Richardson said. "The difference between me and the other candidates is, they would leave troops there indefinitely, and I would not."

Richardson says U.S. troops should be redeployed by the end of the year to Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf. [...]

Tienes huevos, amigo.

Papal Bull, Meet Texas Bullshit...

Pensito Review

Bush Disses the Pope to His Face - Twice

Why would Bush deliberately insult the pope?

It’s also possible Bush heard the rumors that John Paul was said to believe he is the Antichrist.

For once, I'm not going to fault the Chimp for being his usual, boorish, clueless, obnoxious self. I think he was awed to be in the presence of a truly world-class scam artist, the spiritual leader of a billion suckers instead of just a few million here at home like Bush is. I'm sure Turdblossom asked Dubya to quiz the Pontiff on how he does it.

Another possibility is that Bush is a little jealous that the Pope is also claiming to be God's right-hand man on Earth, and does a way better job of the con.

Do no harm?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that part of the hypocritic Hippocratic Oath? Yeah, right, not if you're a neocon Rethug. SteveAudio:

... Much has already been written about GWBush’s seemingly tone-deaf nomination of Dr. James W. Holsinger, Jr., for Surgeon General. From Think Progress:

But as BarbinMD points out, Holsinger’s nomination to be “America’s doctor” is troubling. He has a long history of prejudice toward gays and lesbians. Some examples:

...

Another crony-in-high-places hiring by the Chimp. If FEMA, Iraq, the Justice Department (need I go on?) are any indications, they'll be pushing blood letting and 'the healing touch' soon. Good. God.

Gotta take the Mrs. to the airport. See yas in the afternoon ...

Which begs the question ...

TIRANA, Albania, June 8 — The highlight of President Bush’s European tour may well be his visit on Sunday to this tiny country, one of the few places left where he can bask in unabashed pro-American sentiment without a protester in sight.

...

What the fuck are the Albanians smoking and where can I get some?

Relevancy ...

Craig Crawford hits it on the head:

George W. Bush remains relevant in Washington only because he is running a war ... Indeed, Bush's standing among GOP politicians raises a serious question about his ability to govern effectively during his remaining 19 months in office.

...

It's why I keep saying the only way we leave Iraq is when a Democratic President gives the order in 2009. Bush won't do it because it's the only thing keeping him out of jail.

Link via HuffPo.

Are you wearing those boots with that rifle?

MoDo asks the burning question:

Be honest. Who would you rather share a foxhole with: a gay soldier or Mitt Romney?

She came up with the same answer I did:

A gay soldier, of course. In a dicey situation like that, you need someone steadfast who knows who he is and what he believes, even if he’s not allowed to say it out loud.

The Republican field seems stale and out of sync. They should have listened to the inimitable Barry Goldwater, who told it true: You don’t have to be straight to shoot straight.

Believe me, I am 100% behind (is that gay?) this Repuglican't field! They are the Dems' best chance to wrest us away from incompetence, intolerance, and insanity. Even with them we're still in trouble, but maybe less of it.

Little Warlords

Seems some maggotized Marine company commander got a problem with the body armor given to his troops:

The body armor that West Seneca’s American Legion Post 735 bought for Marines in Iraq is gathering dust somewhere in dusty Anbar province, thanks to Marine Corps orders preventing its use.

...

It’s asinine,” said Mark McMahon, whose purchase of the body armor for his son and two of his buddies prompted the Legion post to buy 20 sets for the West Seneca Marine’s entire unit.

“That body armor that’s sitting around somewhere could possibly save someone from serious injury or save a life,” said Charles “Phil” Kordos, the post commander.

...

And why isn't this stuff being given to the Marines?

...

McMahon’s father said the company commander decided that the body armor could not be used, even though many Marines consider it to be more protective than what the Marine Corps issued. [my em]

...

Listen to me. It's unconscionable as it is that Americans have to run bake sales and ask for donations for equipment the troops should have had before they deployed. For a commander to deprive his unit of the best protection available, especially when it is sitting in-theater, is criminal. Who the fuck is this asshole to decide, arbitrarily and without directive from above, to deny his troops this stuff?

Great thanks to Cookie Jill for the link.

Surprise! Surprise!

Brother deuddersun sucked me in on this one:

What should you be in the military?

Marine

You scored as a marine, being a marine is a very honorable position, and are highly respected, you maybe one of the most common sodliers (sic - don't call ME no fuckin' sodlier! - G), but are known for getting the job done and you kick some some F'in terrorist ***!! oooraahh!


First try, too, although I take the more romantic view:


It was easy - I just checked all the boxes with "Oorah!" or "never leave yer buddies behind". It has to be easy for Marines to do it...f'rinstance I had to c&p this by the each instead of snaggin' it whole with nice borders'n all like deuddersun did. I think he was smart enough not to get to be in the grunts...

Take the quiz yerself. Note to AF weenies: there's no questions about which fork to use or the proper military alignment of yer sock drawer.

Pecker Checker

There is nothing I could possibly say about The Disgruntled Chemist's post that would do it justice. Just go...

Chickenhawks in training ...

Seems the progeny of the Mittster have their own blog. Via Res at Dr. Attaturk's place we get this:

...

Five Brothers was launched on April 12, and the Romneys post entries, load photos and videos several times a week. The blog is edited by the campaign communications staff, and comments and questions are allowed, though answers are not guaranteed.

A query such as, "Being a Mormon, does Romney campaign on Sunday?" gets a reply -- yes, Romney tries to make it -- while something like, "Have any of the five Romney brothers, all healthy heterosexuals well under 42, considered volunteering for military service in the Global War on Terror?" is ignored. [my ems]

...

But of course. It is because the children of our 'ruling elite' only know how to send other people's children to war. I'm still waiting for Jenna and Not Jenna to do something to support the troops. At the very least, do some work for the USO, for crying out loud.

Screwing NOLA ...

And everybody thought it was over. Our pal Scout Prime:

...

Then on to the post by Matt at Fix the Pumps for details. First he states..."The report is stunning in its breadth and depth. Things are way worse than I knew. [...] The amount of crap this investigation uncovered is breathtaking." Matt then details what is wrong with the pumps among other things. There is this regarding what has been known...

...

Thanks to cronyism and corruption, NOLA is just a pump failure away from flooding again.

...

This story is just not going away, as much as elements of ACE would like it too. It shouldn't. If the pumps fail, New Orleans floods.Yet as with too many NOLA stories it is not being heard.

...

Either through design or incompetence, the NOLA story has fallen off the radar (the way the Bush family wants it to, by the way). Scout is doing a masterful job documenting this atrocity and it would behoove you to scroll through the posts over at First Draft and get a sense of what's been done to these poor people. And then write some letters.