BartCop's most recent rants - Political Humor and Commentary, August 30, 2005, Volume 1611 - Penrose, Mirage After Mirage, Katrina oil excuse, Vet wars, not Cindy, Roberts's Torture Memo, Crowe suit settled, Question deserves answer, The Buzzflash petition, Cindy, media & Bush, Alicia Keys unplugged

"I have gone over his head, I've gone to the American people.
And we employ him, he's our employee."
-- Cindy Sheehan, reminding Bush that his top priority shouldn't be Halliburton, Link

Mirage After Mirage After Mirage
by Robert Parry at consortiumnews.com

Link

Excerpt:
Since the invasion in March 2003, Bush and his backers have hailed one mirage of false hope after another, from the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s statue, to Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” speech, to the slaying of Hussein’s two sons, to Hussein’s capture, to the transfer of “sovereignty,” to last January’s elections – and finally to the proposed constitution. [See Consortiumnews.com’s “Sinking in Deeper.”]

Yet, even as the Iraq War skeptics turned out to be right and the pro-war pundits were exposed as gullible or worse, the same Washington dynamic of a pinched debate about Iraq has continued to apply.

No pro-war columnist has been fired for showing inadequate skepticism about Bush’s claims. No anti-war thinker has been added to the op-ed pages of major newspapers to make sure there is more skepticism now.

Indeed, there has been no appreciable change in either the make-up or the ideology of the TV pundits. As little accountability as there was for senior Bush officials for misleading the country to war, there’s been even less for star journalists who failed to ask the tough questions. [For more, see Consortiumnews.com’s “Washington the Unaccountable” or “Bush's Nation of Enablers.”]

"Look, I don't attack people on their weaknesses.
That usually doesn't get the job done.
Voters already perceive weaknesses.
You've got to go after the other guy's strengths.
That's how you win."
--Karl Rove, on how McCain was "an insane coward" and Kerry was, "that lying traitor."
It also explains why they made Bush our greatest war hero - because it's such a joke Link

Oil flow hurt in storm's wake?
Translation: Gouging is what they do best

Excerpt:
Hurricane Katrina paralyzed the oil industry in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico on Monday,
raising fears that damage to offshore platforms and pipelines could trigger a supply
crunch in the world's largest energy consumer.

The hurricane, which slammed into New Orleans after plowing through the Gulf, shut at
least half of the region's oil production, a quarter of gas operations, and forced shut eight
refineries along the coast -- sending crude oil prices to record highs above $70 per barrel.

Just like Bush's unmetered oil wells in Iraq, how do we know the oil platforms were damaged?
Every time someone sneezes, the oil companies say, "We have to raise prices," and the media
and the president go along with this handjob of a gouge.

Meanwhile...

Journalists didn't bother vetting war claims
But every word from Cindy is parsed 100%

Link

Excerpt:
The news media are failing to acknowledge their own responsibility for the invasion of Iraq,
even as they report with glee Cindy Sheehan's antiwar protest outside Bush's fake ranch...
But the news media ought to explain why they broke their moral covenant with the American
people to provide complete, balanced, fair and accurate information about the charge to war.
Americans have a right to ask journalists how they intend to ensure that sound journalism
prevails in the future for all kinds of news. They have a right to ask what journalists will do the
next time they get caught up in an administration's strategy to market a war or other action
that can harm the American people.

Now and then the media admits, "We didn't check Bush's war claims closely enough,"
and then they turn around and give him a complete pass on his next set of lies.

Hey media - screw you and your fake apologies.
We know you're on Bush's team, so stop claiming that you're journalists
while you're waving Bush pom poms all the time.

Comments?

Bush the Monkey - not going to jail,
and his lies have killed thousands.

Subject: what is the noble cause?

Whether or not you agree with the Iraq conflict, Cindy Sheehan is asking an important question
that should be answered. She is asking, "What is the noble cause is her son died for."

If Americans are being asked to give the lives of their sons and daughters, their wives and husbands,
and their parents then America should at least be able to articulate why it is that we are there and
what we hope to accomplish. The reason we went in has proved to be false. There were no WMDs.

Iraq has recently failed to agree on a constitution and the unsupported proposed constitution to be
voted on establishes and Islamic state. So - is establishing an Islamic state the noble cause that we
are fighting and dying for? I sure hope not!

The real issues that Cindy Sheehan is trying to point out is that we don't know why we are there
and we don't know what we are doing. The problem is that there is no plan. Even the most
hawkish of the war supporters need to at least know that Bush has a plan.

Anyone who disagrees with Cindy ought to be able to provide the answer.

Comments?

"What is important is that Iraqis are now addressing these issues
through debate and discussion -- not at the barrel of a gun."
--Dubya, discussing the peaceful paradise he created in Iraq Link

Bart

been on vacation for 2 weeks, just catching up on the site,
I saw a program on discovery a couple of years ago, where they said
it was due to religious reasons, if Christ had turned weeds into Weed,
then we would now be smoking it.

Alcohol is God's product, so it must be good.
Jim R

Can you imagine Jesus at a pot party - and they run out?
"Yo Jesus, we're out of weed, Dude. Can you help us?"

And then Jesus turns tobacco into some killer bud then they ask,
"But Jesus, why did you save the good stuff for last?"

Excerpt:
Democrats plan to question Supreme Court nominee John Roberts about a disavowed
Justice Department memo that critics say led to torture in foreign prisons, top Senate
Judiciary Democrat Patrick Leahy (D-Bushrubberstamp) said Monday.

Then-Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee argued in a Jan. 22, 2002, memo that the
president has the power to issue orders that violate the Geneva Conventions as well as
international and U.S. laws prohibiting torture.

"It will be raised, partly on the question of to what area — if any — can a president
be considered above the law," the Rubberstamp told reporters.

We already have an all-torture Executive branch.
Why not have a torture judiciary, too?

Subject: BCR Show 80

Hi Bart,

Show 80 was really good.
Nice mix of different features.
Really funny and serious.

best,
Chris M

Bart, I think the time is ripe to make note of Brian Haw in London. He has been keeping vigil
in front of Parliament for over 1500 days and has been a thorn in the side of Blair and Parliament
the way Cindy has been to Bush. They have even passed special laws to try to evict him.

He has written a fine letter to Cindy Sheehan, which is posted on his website.
I think it would be good to show the war protest solidarity across the Atlantic.
And it's another example of what one person can do to harass the monkeys.
Grower.

Bart, here is money for DC signs..& Tequila Question..can't find Chinaco Anejo here.
How is Herradura Silver 100% de agave 80 proof?

PS. think I'm going to DC,"if" I sign up for a sign, how does one get it?
Rick

Rick, thanks for that.
I don't like any of the silvers, not even the Chinaco.
To me, they taste like rubbing alcohol.
The anejos have been "aged" with fruits & flowers
which gives it the fantastic flavor that I crave so much.
There's a Link to buy Chinaco Anejo on every Bartcop front page

As far as the signs, we'll announce a place for people to meet.
I believe the signs must be attached to the special poles, too.
If you don't have special poles, the Secret Cervix will steal your signs.

Note: We're gaining steam on the big protest march.
Watch here for important details soon!

Crowe suit settled

..Link

Excerpt:
Russell Crowe settled a civil lawsuit filed by the New York hotel clerk he assaulted
in June with a telephone. A statement released by both parties said Crowe and
Nestor Estrada had settled the case but offered few details.

"Both sides expressed satisfaction at the resolution," the joint statement said.

Local tabloids said Crowe paid about $100,000 to settle the civil lawsuit.
He still faces criminal charges of assault.

"It's my lucky day."

How can he still face criminal charges? The settlement surely contained a clause
saying Nestor cashes the check only if he refuses to testify, right?

But at least the blackmailer was only paid $100K, and not $15M as was reported.
I still don't understand those who liked the $15M figure.

Comments?

Subject: gas prices

Bart, can't disagree with you on how crappy the fuel prices have gone up.
Only thing, if we went to Iraq to steal the oil, why is the price up to $70/barrel?

Ron the military guy

Ron, Bush is stealing the difference.
I filled up yesterday - $42.
When Clinton was president, we had peace, a budget surplus and a fill up was $24.
Bush is stealing that extra $18 because the scared-bunny Democrats and the whore press
refuse to call him on any of his crimes.

That's why Cindy Sheehan is a saint.
She's got nothing but guts and look what she's been able to do.

Besides the $130M he steals from Iraq every day, the BFEE steals $18
from every working family in America every week, the bastards.

Comments?

saw it on yellowcakewalk.net

Arizona Daily Star drops Coulter

Link

Excerpt:
The Arizona Daily Star in Tucson has had enough of Ann Coulter. In a column announcing
a wide range of changes in the paper's opinion pages Monday, Editor and Publisher David
Stoeffler revealed that the paper was dropping Coulter's syndicated column. "Many readers
find her shrill, bombastic, and mean-spirited. And those are the words used by readers who
identified themselves as conservatives," Stoeffler wrote.

As shrill and mean-spirited as Coulter is, her lies didn't get 1900 soldiers killed.

Comments?

Subject: I met Cindy

Hey Bart!

I went to protest with Cindy Sheehan last weekend.

Sorry, but I had no BartCop stickers; that and the Democrats were the only things missing
at Camp Casey. I plan on hooking up with her when she visits Tom Delay and anywhere
else she stops in Texas.

If things work out, I'll be in Washington on Sep 24th for the impeachment protest!

Yeah!

Bart, this woman is incredible. She speaks from the heart, saying the things that you and I have
been saying for years. I got all choked up when I met her, because for the first time in four and
a half long, long years, I felt some hope. Hope! Really! Odd isn't it, that one woman has done
in a few weeks what no one else in America has been able to do: stand up to that coward Bush
and keep the media's attention for longer than 15 minutes.

Thank goodness for Cindy! She is the beginning of Bush's end.

. bartcop.com reader KIM with Cindy Sheehan

kim in Texas

ps...just a reminder - Bush is NOT from Texas; he was born in Connecticut!

Comments?

Garbage playing Portland Sept 3
Garbage playing San Fran Sept 10th
Garbage playing Fresno Sept 11
Garbage playing Phoenix Sept 12
Garbage playing San Diego Sept 12
Garbage playing The Joint in Las Vegas Sept 15

Steve let me treat you to Tequila Heaven - The Pink Taco at the Hard Rock.
And don't worry - this isn't make-you-sick Jose Cuervo.
What we'll drink is as far away from Cuervo as the Spice Girls were to your band.

Contact me - we'll talk politics while we sip the Nectar of the Gods.
And if Red likes great tequila, tell her she's welcome, too.

Shrl, Steve - send me an e-mail address and I'll make you a BartCop Member - for free!