"I have chosen not to put the country through
another agonizing Supreme Court battle. It is time for the nation to heal." -- Stephen Colbert, announcing
the end of his presidential campaign after Obama ordered
(according
to CNN) South Carolina Democrats to keep him off the primary ballot,
Link
Why is Obama afraid of Colbert?
Was he afraid of coming in third in South Carolina?
Excerpt: Democrats not only failed to mount a sustained
challenge to Bush's policies, they avoided any systematic hearings
that would educate the American public about
why Bush's presidency has represented such an extraordinary threat
to the Republic. They have acted as if the people
simply should "get it" without any more information.
This Democratic tendency to de-value information
- and a timidity toward real oversight - can be traced back to the
1980s when accommodating Democrats, such as Rep.
Lee Hamilton of Indiana, sought to finesse, rather than confront,
abuses of power by Ronald Reagan and George H.W.
Bush during the Iran-Contra Affair and related scandals.
The pattern deepened in 1993 when Bill Clinton
won the presidency and the Democrats still controlled Congress.
At that point, they shelved investigations of
Reagan-Bush crimes, including clandestine military support for Saddam,
drug-trafficking by the Nicaraguan contra rebels,
and still-secret dealings with Iran.
"I'm proud to say that the tide has turned
in Iraq and we're winning that war. And if we don't let down our troops, they're going to bring
home a victory that will protect us here at home from today's threat -- totalitarian terrorist
Islamism that's trying to take our liberty from us." -- Sen.Joe Lieberman (I-Kissyface),
Link
What Kissyface is saying is, since most
people in Baghdad have either been killed of fled,
we can call that a victory because there
are fewer people left to be murdered.
There's a segment of BCR
129 on this, with Jesus-like
parables.
Excerpt: The Senate confirmed Tortureboy Michael Mukasey
as attorney general Thursday night to replace
Tortureboy Alberto Gonzales, who was forced from
office because he was a torturing law-breaker.
President Bush thanked the Senate. "He will be
a loyal cromie," Bush said his his fake ranch in Texas.
Republicans were solidly behind Bush' nominee.
Democrats said their votes were not so much for Mukasey
as they were for restoring a leader to a Justice
Department left adrift after Gonzales' resignation in September.
In the end, Mukasey was confirmed by a 53-40
vote. Six Democrats and one independent joined
Republicans in sealing his confirmation.
The choice, according to one of those Democrats,
was essentially between "whether to confirm Mukasey or
to leave the Department of Justice without a
real leader for the next 14 months," said Sen. Feinstein of California.
"This is the only chance we have," she said,
referring to Bush's threat to hold his breath if he didn't get his way.
But members of her own party didn't agree.
"This is like saying when somebody murders somebody
with a a baseball bat and you say, 'We had a law
against murder but we never mentioned baseball
bats,'" said Patrick Leahy, D-Rubberstamp.
"Murder is murder. Torture is torture."
Besides Schumer and Feinstein, Democrats voting
to confirm torture and law-breaking were:
Evan Bayh of Indiana, Tom Carper of Delaware,
Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Ben Nelson of Nebraska.
I'm curious - can anybody name a lower standard
than,
"I voted to confirm
a pro-torture attorney general because our fake
cowboy president said this was the best deal we'd get"
I don't think Parry is talking about Hillary;
I think the "improprieties" he's commenting about about may
pertain to her husband. If you watched
the last debate, the subtext of a lot of Obama's comments was
veiled references to the discord seen during
the Clinton administration, implying that it was all the Clintons' fault.
I haven't seen any Internet stuff, because I
use the Intenet for work, except when I'm reading BartCop.com,
but I have heard comments from other people.
As usual, instead of attacking her on the issues, they go for the
sleaze.
Keep hammerin',
Ann in Philly
Parry is clearly anti-Clintons. I would prefer that he flat-out state
that, but he's just hinting at it
as "an objective reporter." That bothers me. What I got from
that piece was
"You'll be sorry you nominated another sex-crazy
Clinton."
Parry has had a thorn in his paw since 1993, when Bill failed to investigate
Poppy Bush.
He apparently thinks Clinton should've known the BFEE would become
bigger and more
powerful, then they'd fix the next two elections and invade countries
for profit and destroy
the Constitution and stupid Bill Clinton didn't have the brains to
see that 15 years ago.
Another chord seems to be, "She'll make the
same mistakes as Bill" if we screw up and elect her.
Before I wrote my reply to his "Hillary's Vulnerability" column, I read
Parry's previous column,
How Bill Clinton
Let Bush I Off Hook which is a re-hash of his previous How Bill
Clinton Let Bush I Off Hook column from a few months ago, which, hopefully,
was a re-hash of a column he
wrote in 1993. It's hardly fair to Monday-morning quarterback
"what Clinton should've known" 15 years ago.
He wants to beat up the Clintons for that "mistake" again and
again
and I fail to see the point.
It's real easy to look back at 15 years of history and write, "If
Clinton had gone after Bush in 1993, maybe the Bush Dynasty would be less
powerful than they are today and Bill Clinton - in 1993 - should've known what a
mess Bush would make from 2000-2008."
Bill's "mistake" is a central theme to "Neck Deep," Parry's latest
book.
On Parry's website it says:
"But a sub-theme of Parry's book is how Bill
Clinton and other accommodating Democrats failed to hold George H.W. Bush accountable
for his behind-the-scenes abuses of power and thus opened the door to the Bush restoration
in 2000. This history is important again today as Hillary emerges as the Democratic
front-runner..."
It looks like Bill will take a hit every time Parry pushes his book,
which is often.
I might get tired of seeing what I consider to be a false charge repeated
again and again.
Then his next column was titled "Hillary's Vulnerability," and it was
about sex rumors.
Of course, much of my anger is a result of expecting so much more from
Robert Parry.
I don't like the "most important site on the web" attacking the Democratic
front-runner
because her husband failed to see the future as, apparently, Bob Parry
could back in 1993.
"Giuliani has now argued that his tenure as
Mayor of the Universe New York City gives him better foreign policy credentials than Joe Biden,
a keener understanding of torture than John McCain, more experience at Ground Zero than the actual
recovery workers, and a unique ability to secure the nation's borders against illegal immigrants.
At least now his contention that Wife #3 is a bioterror expert thanks to her nursing background
seems a little less out of left field."
-- Christopher Orr, Link
Instead of being the drunken idiot you always
are,
print the exact speech Obama gave on the Iraq
war.
Here's an idea, put it right next to Hillary and
Edward's cheerleading.
Bet you are too chicken.
Swanny
Gee, a link might've been nice - you want me to scour the internet for
a particular speech?
Plus he's probably given more than one speech on Iraq, which one did
you like?
Still, I can't see how that changes anything.
If Al Qaeda had brought down the Sears Tower and killed 3,000 Chicagoans,
I don't think Obama's Illionois constituents would settle for a few
verses of Kumbaya.
If Obama was a senator in 2003 and voted against the war (Don't
explain the war vote to me)
I doubt he'd win his next election and he'd be swept into the dustbin
of history.
...and blow me on the drunken idiot comment.
Where's your web page with sober and intelligent political insight so
we can compare?
Excerpt: A Swiss study suggests that teens who use only
cannabis appear to function better than those
who also use tobacco, and are more socially
driven and have no more psychosocial problems
than those who abstain from both substances,
according to a new report.
Although teens who smoke both marijuana and
tobacco seem to have more psychosocial problems
and thus may be worthy targets for preventive
intervention, those who smoke marijuana only also
should be monitored closely and counseled.
So, tobacco users need an intervention.
Pot smokers only need monitoring,
Excerpt: Veterans make up one in four homeless people,
though they are only 11 percent of the population.
And homelessness is not just a problem among
middle-age and elderly veterans. Younger veterans from Iraq
and Afghanistan are trickling into shelters and
soup kitchens seeking services, treatment or help with finding a job.
The Veterans Affairs Department has identified
1,500 homeless veterans from the current wars
and says 400 of them have participated in its
programs specifically targeting homelessness.
It's estimated that 194,254 homeless people out
of 744,313 on any given night were veterans.
20 years ago, the estimated number of veterans
who were homeless on any given night was 250,000.
Bush sent over a million soliders into that mind-fucking meatgrinder.
And now that they need help,
Bush said "Fuck 'em" and pushed for a another round of tax cut for
the super-rich and the oil companies.
But let's not impeach the murderous bastards.
Let's save impeachment for something serious, like a blow job.
Excerpt: Pakistani police placed opposition leader Benazir
Bhutto under house arrest Friday, uncoiling barbed wire in front
of her villa, and reportedly rounded up thousands
of her supporters to block a mass protest against emergency rule.
Bhutto twice tried to leave in her car, telling
police: "Do not raise hands on women. You are Muslims.
This is un-Islamic." They responded by blocking
her way with an armored vehicle.
The former prime minister had planned to defy
a ban on public gatherings and address a rally, where police used
tear gas and batons to chase off hundreds of
supporters who staged wildcat protests and hurled stones.
Dozens were arrested.
Looks like Musharraf handles protesters like Bush
does.
Further afield, a suicide bombing at the home
of a government minister in the northwestern city of Peshawar
killed four people. Minister for Political Affairs
Amir Muqam was unhurt.
The attack underscored the threat posed by religious
extremists that Musharraf and Bhutto are sparring over.
It was cited by Musharraf as the primary reason
for imposing the state of emergency last Saturday.
Isn't this another Bush-created disaster?
I haven't had time to follow any of this, but the whore media says
Bhutto went back to Pakistan
on Bush's suggestion - and now this nuclear power is very, very unstable.
I guess $100 barrels of oil was just the beginning.
Think how much oil will cost once Al Qaeda gets the bomb.
To mark the end of his probation for doctor shopping
at the end of this month
Rush should celebrate by going on eBay and auctioning
off the receipt for the $3,000
he paid for his bail as well as the one for the
$30,000 he had to pay the State of Florida
to defray the cost of the investigation.
Then he could match the money raised and donate
the funds to drug rehab related charities.
And just in time for the Holidays! Imagine the
look of sheer joy on the face of your favorite
Rush Limbaugh fan when they open this much sought
after keepsake on Christmas day!
It's a gift they are sure to treasure for years
to come!
Bart:
Giuliani was able to convict John Gotti, the
godfather of the Gambino crime family
only because of the testimony of Sammy "the Bull"
Gravano and only got that because
he gave Gravano a deal of a lifetime: witness
protection after only a couple of years in prison.
Gravano personally killed 19 people, including
a cop.
For better or worse, Giuliani made this deal.
It was not intensive questioning, it was a sweetheart
deal.
Not the sort of deal I want made with any top
terrorist,
a walk in exchange for outdated information.
E.L.
"I'm puzzled by all the neoconservative bloviating
and war-whooping about Iran and the near deathly silence about the deteriorating situation
in Pakistan. I mean, we have actual terrorist training camps in Waziristan that are just
sitting there, ripe targets for the sort of quick special forces strikes that the Turks are laying on
the PKK in Northern Kurdistan (with our not-so-tacit approval). But I haven't read much in the
Weekly Standard about the need to act against Al-Qaeda-Not-in-Iraq. Bill K, N-Pod,
you remember Osama, right? What gives?"
-- Joe Klein, asking questions Bill Kristol (R-Apocalypse) can't answer,
Link
Well, I thought you would be able to crow a little
bit.
Crude oil is at $98 per barrel (and
climbing). I think you called that one a while ago.
All I here on the news lately is Hillary this,
Obama that.
I think the media really wants one of these two
candidates, because they know that only a white male can win.
I will vote for John Edwards in the primary,
hairstyle and all. In the general election, I will vote for any Democrat,
but I truly worry about our chances if it's Obama
or Hillary. I'm not hating either one, but both will bring out the
dregs of Republican society to vote against them.
It seems these are the only two Dem candidates you hear about.
I've vented,
Chris in Ohio
Chris, is there any evidence that Edwards can handle the massive, right-wing
slime machine?
I want an angry knife-fighter to go against them, not a nice guy with
a message of hope and sunshine.
We did that hope and sunshine crap twice, remember?
The same thing happens to me when I visit your
page, but I discovered that going to a link
then returning to the page causes it to fully
load. Then I can enjoy all the toons that were blank!
Thanks for the laughs - and astute commentary.
Barbara in New York
Hmmm, I will huddle with my technical staff and investigate further.
"The state of emergency in Pakistan signals
yet another low point in Bush's foreign policy -- a stark demonstration of his paltry influence
and his bankrupt principles...One consequence of this crisis is that Bush's 'freedom agenda'
is finally bankrupt. He will never again be able to invoke it, even as a rhetorical ploy, without
evoking winces or laughter. " -- Fred Kaplan, underestimating
Bush's level of self-denial, Link
George Bush took away free healthcare for veterans.
I know this because my husband is a Vietnam veteran
and has had some health problems so we went to
the VA. It is a long story but we make too much money
(over 30,000 a year for a couple) for them to
help us. George changed this in the beginning of his administration.
The Vets centers in this country have been devastated
by cuts and the one here in the Peoria, IL area has
only one counselor available. I think we
will be fine but I know of many veterans who aren't.
It is truly disgusting what they have done.
My suggestion to you is to contact Larry Scott
as www.VAwatchdog.org
He may be able to tell you more about how this
administration has hurt the veterans of this country
no matter when they served. He wrote an
article a couple of years ago on how an aide to a Republican
legislator (I believe) told him the plan was
to dismantle free healthcare for veterans. It is very sad and we
are angry at the Dems, too, for not stepping
up more to stop this terrible injustice.
Support The Troops-- Write Congress to End the
War
and Demand They Restore Free Healthcare to All
Veterans
Joan
"I am not going to go out and grab a bunch
of leaves and take them inside when I have to use the bathroom. I
am going to use toilet paper! I'm going to try to be as hygienically
correct as I can!"
-- Rush, on how to clean your ass clean enough to pass the Army physical
Link
Butt Rush, why didn't that work for you in 1970?
"I think we're missing the whole point of all
this waterboarding stuff anyway. Who are we talking about? We're
talking about the type of lowlifes that behead people and plot things like
9/11!" -- Rush, on why those suspected of a crime
should just plead guilty, Link
Butt Rush, when YOU were arrested, you claimed you were innocent
and being "set up."
Why is it different for them? Because they have darker skin?
"The new Pakistani general, he's just been
elected -- not elected, this guy took over office. It appears
this guy is going to bring stability to the country, and I think that's
good news for the subcontinent." -- Dubya, in the fall
of 1999, as he campaigned for the presidency, asked by
a reporter to name the leader of Pakistan, (he couldn't), Link
Actually, the facts are a little
worse than that.
The reporter said, "Can you name the president
of Pakistan?" and Bush snorted
and flashed that shit-eating grin that
works on Txans and the retarded and said,
"No, CAN YOU?" challeneging the reporter
to answer his own question.
All the signs were there, Bush was a brainless,
child-misfit, who never won antyhong
that his daddy didn't pre-fix up-front
- and we did our best to point them out.
We told you back in 1999 that Bush was,
by far, the stupidest man to ever seek
the office, and that he was mentally unbalanced,
but nobody listened at the time..
Excerpt: Bush's choice for attorney general [Michael Mukasey]
told senators the Constitution does not prevent the president from wiretapping suspected
terrorists without a court order."
Wow. That's quite the claim, dontcha think, considering
the Fourth Amendment kind of implies
-- you know, in an unequivocal, iron-clad, irrefutable
implying sort of way -- that wiretapping
without a search warrant is, well, gosh, just
so darn unconstitutional. (If confirmation's needed,
I suggest consulting any fifth grade American
history class.)
Then again, maybe Mukasey's never read that far.
Maybe he lost interest in the Constitution and
put it aside after getting bored by the Third
Amendment: "No soldier shall, in time of peace be
quartered in any house, without the consent of
the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner
to be prescribed by law."
Bart, I like HRC, but I'm worried that she may
be the Republican candidate, Rove's candidate,
and the swift-boaters are just winding up for
her nomination.
Are you thinking we should nominate a nice, non-polarizing
candidate like Gore or Kerry?
I envision a multitude of registered pubbies voting
in their Democratic Primaries for Hillary,
and that's just the legal play. If the
nutters can make her the candidate along with legit dems,
then the preparation for attacks can be focused
earlier on a single candidate.
You have a good point in that we have 50 bad systems
to manipulate.
The GOP slime machine will do a great job of
smearing anyone we nominate.
The trick is nominating someone who will fight
back, someone who wants to win.
If after 8 years of Operation Fuck Shit Up, the
"people" elect another parade float
for a preznint like googliani, we can kiss democracy's
ass goodbye, for good.
Do you actually think 'IF' they had some kind
of sex details on Hillary they would have sat on it all this time?
(anyone heard of 'Fox faux news?') esp. if she
had a gay affair?
Please. No way would that be kept from the public.
It's not like she's a Republican in Congress.
(OUT Linsey Graham and esp. that whore of whores
Mitch 'the bitch' McConnell - they make me want
to toss up my lunch - here I'm going to be mean
-'Hey tinkerbell, you're out if you give kids
healthcare' - hate these kinds of hypocrites).
EConn
Your last issue was Gold, Baby! GOLD!
Note: In a fucked up world of hate
and ignorance, you always
guarantee a good laugh and a good right-wing
monkey ass-kickin'!
Here's a modest donation to keep you swinging
that hammer!
Your Friend,
Mike D.
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