(You have to be of a certain age to get the reference..)
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Separated at birth?
I'm looking for other suggestions, but something tells me that President Ahmadinejad doesn't have a "box of sunshine!"
Not that sweet...
Apparently this is part of a deal that lets the drug-addled gasbag off if he stays clean.
September 11, "Flight 93", and the attempted highjacking of a real national tragedy
Of all the things I despise George W. Bush for, exploiting 9/11 to steal, murder, lie, cheat, and attempt to destroy the world and my country may always reside at the top of the list. I know that not everyone shares my feelings, but I find that I still can't look at images or video of that day without feeling like I've been kicked in the gut. It may be more than four and a half years since that day, but my recollection of the shock, anger, pain, and everything else I went through has not faded. I don't know what it is - whether it's from living near New York at the time and seeing the smoke from the towers while driving home or just because of the magnitude of the event.
Now there's this new movie out, "Flight 93." (I promise, I'll get back to the President soon.) I have no interest whatsoever in seeing this movie. I don't understand why anyone would have any interest. Do we need a dramatization of those events? The reality not real enough for you? I've heard it's very well-made, and I'm sure it will make the producers buckets of money, and bully for them. They won't get any from me - I don't know if it's too soon, or if it will ever be long enough, but that's okay.
Back to the President. He's been trying to capitalize on 9/11, much the same way as the filmmakers are doing. However, while they are business people, creating and marketing a product that will likely make them money, he has a very different role in our country, a role which carries a responsibility to care more about right than profit.
Of course he doesn't. Everyone knows that the administration's sole objective for being in power is to acquire more power. In doing so, they threw away the best chance we've had to make collective progress as a nation in over half a century - think about what this country was like in the weeks following the attacks, the sense of national pride and connectivity - and then think about what things are like now, with the most bitter partisan politics (and resultant lack of progress) that nearly anyone can remember.
The main tactic they have used in this power grab, as we know, is fear. We're supposed to be terrified that terrorists could attack at any minute, and if we don't listen to everything he says, our children (even if we don't have any) will be killed and beaten and tortured and killed again and we'll have to watch and it will be the worst thing ever and then it will get worse than that and oh my god and and and
Sorry.
The leverage they use is the fear that we felt on 9/11. They have spent years trying to reach into people's guts to grab that fear, and use that fear to inspire hatred and lead us to war. Along the way, they have tried to hijack the real feelings of the American people and trade them for faux-jingoism and bigotry and war. They've acted as if somehow they have more of a claim on that tragedy than anyone else - that somehow their desire to kill and hate is more valid, is more urgent, is more necessary than any other reaction.
Stop it, Mr. President. Stop it right the hell now. You do not have the right to start a war based on lies, quoting my fear of terrorism as a reason. I do not need you (or a hack country singer, for that matter) to remind me how I felt that day. I do not give you the right to destroy the world in my name. I'm taking 9/11 away from you. It's mine. And my neighbor's. And my family's. It's everyone's, and you don't have the right to take it from us and use it for your evil purposes.
I was reading on a right wing blog about "Flight 93", and the delusional bloggers and commenters were busily spewing hate about how much everyone needs to see the movie, to remind us of the tragedy, and (in their sick minds, anyway) reawaken our national anger to lead us further into war. We've become complacent, they cry. We've forgotten, they say.
We have not. Just because we don't want to kill every brown person and build a wall around the country and burn the Constitution does not mean that we've forgotten. My reaction is as valid as any, and it's more human, and humane, than theirs. I say to them that they have no more right to claim ownership of 9/11 than the President, and I'm done. Hate if you want, but you will not do so in my name.
Now there's this new movie out, "Flight 93." (I promise, I'll get back to the President soon.) I have no interest whatsoever in seeing this movie. I don't understand why anyone would have any interest. Do we need a dramatization of those events? The reality not real enough for you? I've heard it's very well-made, and I'm sure it will make the producers buckets of money, and bully for them. They won't get any from me - I don't know if it's too soon, or if it will ever be long enough, but that's okay.
Back to the President. He's been trying to capitalize on 9/11, much the same way as the filmmakers are doing. However, while they are business people, creating and marketing a product that will likely make them money, he has a very different role in our country, a role which carries a responsibility to care more about right than profit.
Of course he doesn't. Everyone knows that the administration's sole objective for being in power is to acquire more power. In doing so, they threw away the best chance we've had to make collective progress as a nation in over half a century - think about what this country was like in the weeks following the attacks, the sense of national pride and connectivity - and then think about what things are like now, with the most bitter partisan politics (and resultant lack of progress) that nearly anyone can remember.
The main tactic they have used in this power grab, as we know, is fear. We're supposed to be terrified that terrorists could attack at any minute, and if we don't listen to everything he says, our children (even if we don't have any) will be killed and beaten and tortured and killed again and we'll have to watch and it will be the worst thing ever and then it will get worse than that and oh my god and and and
Sorry.
The leverage they use is the fear that we felt on 9/11. They have spent years trying to reach into people's guts to grab that fear, and use that fear to inspire hatred and lead us to war. Along the way, they have tried to hijack the real feelings of the American people and trade them for faux-jingoism and bigotry and war. They've acted as if somehow they have more of a claim on that tragedy than anyone else - that somehow their desire to kill and hate is more valid, is more urgent, is more necessary than any other reaction.
Stop it, Mr. President. Stop it right the hell now. You do not have the right to start a war based on lies, quoting my fear of terrorism as a reason. I do not need you (or a hack country singer, for that matter) to remind me how I felt that day. I do not give you the right to destroy the world in my name. I'm taking 9/11 away from you. It's mine. And my neighbor's. And my family's. It's everyone's, and you don't have the right to take it from us and use it for your evil purposes.
I was reading on a right wing blog about "Flight 93", and the delusional bloggers and commenters were busily spewing hate about how much everyone needs to see the movie, to remind us of the tragedy, and (in their sick minds, anyway) reawaken our national anger to lead us further into war. We've become complacent, they cry. We've forgotten, they say.
We have not. Just because we don't want to kill every brown person and build a wall around the country and burn the Constitution does not mean that we've forgotten. My reaction is as valid as any, and it's more human, and humane, than theirs. I say to them that they have no more right to claim ownership of 9/11 than the President, and I'm done. Hate if you want, but you will not do so in my name.
Denny, you big gas bag
Hydrogen, that is. You'll recall that Smirky's been talking about Hydrogen cars as the panacea for reducing dependence on oil for a long time. Well, if we are able to produce millions of safe, Hydrogen-powered cars, and develop a national infrastructure to distribute and store a flammable gas on that scale (oh, the humanity!), then that will work, but even the best guesses are that we're a couple decades away from that point. So, instead of working on other solutions which could reduce the problem in the short term, we're focusing our national agenda on pie-in-the-sky futures with no fallback.
Anyway, yesterday, some of the congresscritters decided that they needed some positive publicity, and did a photo-op at a gas station with some of GM's prototype Hydrogen cars. And when it was over, good ol' Denny left the event in one of those Hydrogen cars for the few block drive back to the capitol.
Until he stopped a block away and got out of that car and climbed into his Suburban.
Anyway, yesterday, some of the congresscritters decided that they needed some positive publicity, and did a photo-op at a gas station with some of GM's prototype Hydrogen cars. And when it was over, good ol' Denny left the event in one of those Hydrogen cars for the few block drive back to the capitol.
Until he stopped a block away and got out of that car and climbed into his Suburban.
More pics from the Republican PARTY!!!!
Some more photos of Rep. Blutarsky (AKA Rep. John Sweeney of new York, stupid enough to go to a frat party already allegedly in an "New York State of Mind."
(see story below)
Brother, can you spare a trillion?
Iraq Costs Said to Hit $320 Bln, Then Double Before War Ends
April 27 (Bloomberg) -- The cost of the war in Iraq will hit $320 billion once Congress approves an emergency spending measure that's now before the Senate, and that figure probably will double before the war ends, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The cost in fiscal 2006 alone will reach $101.8 billion, double the $51 billion spent in fiscal 2003, the nonpartisan service said. Even if U.S. troops start to leave this year, the total costs of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will jump by $371 billion during the withdrawal, the report said, citing an estimate from the Congressional Budget office.
The total estimated cost of the two conflicts is now $811 billion, far surpassing the inflation-adjusted $549 billion spent on the Vietnam War, the service said.
And that's just what they are willing to tell us. Add in the off-book amounts (like state National Guard equipment that is destroyed, hidden contracts, ongoing expenses, and the stuff they are just lying about) abd the numbers become even more frightening.
April 27 (Bloomberg) -- The cost of the war in Iraq will hit $320 billion once Congress approves an emergency spending measure that's now before the Senate, and that figure probably will double before the war ends, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The cost in fiscal 2006 alone will reach $101.8 billion, double the $51 billion spent in fiscal 2003, the nonpartisan service said. Even if U.S. troops start to leave this year, the total costs of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will jump by $371 billion during the withdrawal, the report said, citing an estimate from the Congressional Budget office.
The total estimated cost of the two conflicts is now $811 billion, far surpassing the inflation-adjusted $549 billion spent on the Vietnam War, the service said.
And that's just what they are willing to tell us. Add in the off-book amounts (like state National Guard equipment that is destroyed, hidden contracts, ongoing expenses, and the stuff they are just lying about) abd the numbers become even more frightening.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
A warm welcome to our first River City visitor
I saw we had a visitor from Fort Wayne, Indiana, the hometown of my lovely bride and where we were married:
Please visit again!
Please visit again!
How many shopping days are left?
We're coming right up on "Mission Accomplished" Day, the third anniversary.
How do you plan to celebrate the "holiday?"
How do you plan to celebrate the "holiday?"
Duuude.........
See the story here at Josh Marshall's site.
As James Taylor said,
Americano got the sleepy eye
But his body’s still shaking like a live wire
Outrage Overload Post
Note: The following contains no substantive content, I am on an outrage break.
I was reading one of my favorite (undisclosed) sites this morning when I saw that the president "could care" less about something. That one is on my list of grammar pet peeves, as that usage implies that the president does care (which of course, he doesn't--oh wait, that's outrage, sorry. Back to silliness)
Apostrophe abuse is another one of my favorite grammar gremlins. You have seen restaurant signs that say "Semi's Welcome." A fine fellow known to many team members here always gives us a hearty greeting of "Hey guy's!"
Semi's what? Guy's what? That usage is possessive, not plural!! It drives me crazy.
Any others? Comments are appreciated, but if you don't, I could care less, irregardless.
I was reading one of my favorite (undisclosed) sites this morning when I saw that the president "could care" less about something. That one is on my list of grammar pet peeves, as that usage implies that the president does care (
Apostrophe abuse is another one of my favorite grammar gremlins. You have seen restaurant signs that say "Semi's Welcome." A fine fellow known to many team members here always gives us a hearty greeting of "Hey guy's!"
Semi's what? Guy's what? That usage is possessive, not plural!! It drives me crazy.
Any others? Comments are appreciated, but if you don't, I could care less, irregardless.
Meanwhile, back in Frostbite Falls....
WASHINGTON, (UPI) -- Eight of Iraq's 18 provinces are dangerously unstable and violent, not just the four usually cited. (more)
And it is just a happy coincidence that those eight provinces are, oh, I don't know, how do you say it, WHERE MOST OF THE PEOPLE LIVE!!!??????????
And it is just a happy coincidence that those eight provinces are, oh, I don't know, how do you say it, WHERE MOST OF THE PEOPLE LIVE!!!??????????
The answer
Pete asked the question below about how long it wouldbe until ANWR got brought into the current fracas about gas prices - well, that would be, umm, right away.
From CNN.com:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Every American taxpayer would get a $100 rebate check to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote Thursday.
However, the GOP energy package may face tough sledding because it also includes a controversial proposal to open part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil exploration, which most Democrats and some moderate Republicans oppose.
These guys (to be specific, Charles Grassley of Iowa, Ted Stevens of Alaska, Pete Domenici of New Mexico and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania - although not for long) will stop at nothing to drill in Alaska, despite the fact that it wouldn't produce oil for a decade and would have a minimal (few percent at most) impact on gas prices and oil supply. It's nothing more than another big sloppy kiss to the oil industry, which, believe it or not, is crying poor.
And are these guys offering this up as a bill which could stand or fall on it's own merits? Of course not. They're attempting to attach it to an amendment to an emergency spending bill which deals with Bush's murderous folly in Iraq and the still suffering Gulf Coast's attempt to rebuild after Katrina and Rita.
Now, part of the bill seems to deal with accountability for the oil companies (they want to examine tax returns), but that's just a political ploy. There's no way in hell this amendment will pass (it needs 60 votes), but it will allow these morons to stand up and say "We tried to hold big oil accountable, and the Democrats didn't want to help the American people", even though they're full of crap.
Oh, and as for the $100? Who's paying for that? Where does the money come from? That's right - Hu, and China, as the national debt goes up to pay for unrestrained spending by the GOP.
From CNN.com:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Every American taxpayer would get a $100 rebate check to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote Thursday.
However, the GOP energy package may face tough sledding because it also includes a controversial proposal to open part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil exploration, which most Democrats and some moderate Republicans oppose.
These guys (to be specific, Charles Grassley of Iowa, Ted Stevens of Alaska, Pete Domenici of New Mexico and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania - although not for long) will stop at nothing to drill in Alaska, despite the fact that it wouldn't produce oil for a decade and would have a minimal (few percent at most) impact on gas prices and oil supply. It's nothing more than another big sloppy kiss to the oil industry, which, believe it or not, is crying poor.
And are these guys offering this up as a bill which could stand or fall on it's own merits? Of course not. They're attempting to attach it to an amendment to an emergency spending bill which deals with Bush's murderous folly in Iraq and the still suffering Gulf Coast's attempt to rebuild after Katrina and Rita.
Now, part of the bill seems to deal with accountability for the oil companies (they want to examine tax returns), but that's just a political ploy. There's no way in hell this amendment will pass (it needs 60 votes), but it will allow these morons to stand up and say "We tried to hold big oil accountable, and the Democrats didn't want to help the American people", even though they're full of crap.
Oh, and as for the $100? Who's paying for that? Where does the money come from? That's right - Hu, and China, as the national debt goes up to pay for unrestrained spending by the GOP.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Conservative "Thought" from Rush's Dumber Brother
CAMPUS HETEROPHOBIA
by Rush's Dumber Brother
Does anybody really think homosexual activists aren't trying to push their lifestyle on America -- as opposed to merely striving to avoid discrimination? A few recent news items shed some light on the subject. Scott Savage, a librarian at Ohio State University at Mansfield, got a quick lesson in "tolerance" while serving on a committee responsible for selecting books for incoming OSU students to read as part of their "First Year Reading Experience."
Savage, a devout Quaker, recommended that a number of conservative-oriented books be added to the list, to balance other books on the list, many of which reportedly had a liberal slant.Savage recommended four books, "The Marketing of Evil," by David Kupelian, "The Professors," by David Horowitz, "Eurabia: the Euro-Arab Axis," by Bat Ye'or, and "It Takes a Family," by Sen. Rick Santorum. How dare he? Won't he ever learn the proper lessons of selective censorship? The school had earlier investigated him for recommending other forbidden conservative books to freshmen students.
But I guess the request to place these dread screeds on a formal school list was just way too rebellious for anyone employed by an institution of higher learning priding itself in maintaining an environment of academic freedom and open inquiry. Three professors strenuously objected to Savage's suggestions, describing the Kupelian book as "hate literature," and "homophobic tripe." The professors, two of whom are homosexual, said the inclusion of these books on the list made them feel threatened and unsafe on campus.
This one is remarkable, even for Rush's Dumber Brother. First of all, you notice in the above and in the rest of the screed that nowhere does he mention what the books were with the "liberal slant?" How's that for intellectual honesty?
But beyond that--look at who the freakshow librarian wanted to include on the list. David Kupelian? Editor of the WorldNetDaily, and author of wonderful little tomes like this? Why, he's a wonderful man, I would love for him to be required reading for college students. And Santorum and Horowitz, they were unanimous inductees into the Unhinged Rightwing Moonbat Hall of Fame. (I admit to not being familiar with Bat Ye'or, but a quick Google search certainly isn't promising--she is an Egyptian-born, virulently anti-Muslim Jewish historian and darling of the right wing).
So this is what passes for conservative "thought" these days. How pathetic.
by Rush's Dumber Brother
Does anybody really think homosexual activists aren't trying to push their lifestyle on America -- as opposed to merely striving to avoid discrimination? A few recent news items shed some light on the subject. Scott Savage, a librarian at Ohio State University at Mansfield, got a quick lesson in "tolerance" while serving on a committee responsible for selecting books for incoming OSU students to read as part of their "First Year Reading Experience."
Savage, a devout Quaker, recommended that a number of conservative-oriented books be added to the list, to balance other books on the list, many of which reportedly had a liberal slant.Savage recommended four books, "The Marketing of Evil," by David Kupelian, "The Professors," by David Horowitz, "Eurabia: the Euro-Arab Axis," by Bat Ye'or, and "It Takes a Family," by Sen. Rick Santorum. How dare he? Won't he ever learn the proper lessons of selective censorship? The school had earlier investigated him for recommending other forbidden conservative books to freshmen students.
But I guess the request to place these dread screeds on a formal school list was just way too rebellious for anyone employed by an institution of higher learning priding itself in maintaining an environment of academic freedom and open inquiry. Three professors strenuously objected to Savage's suggestions, describing the Kupelian book as "hate literature," and "homophobic tripe." The professors, two of whom are homosexual, said the inclusion of these books on the list made them feel threatened and unsafe on campus.
This one is remarkable, even for Rush's Dumber Brother. First of all, you notice in the above and in the rest of the screed that nowhere does he mention what the books were with the "liberal slant?" How's that for intellectual honesty?
But beyond that--look at who the freakshow librarian wanted to include on the list. David Kupelian? Editor of the WorldNetDaily, and author of wonderful little tomes like this? Why, he's a wonderful man, I would love for him to be required reading for college students. And Santorum and Horowitz, they were unanimous inductees into the Unhinged Rightwing Moonbat Hall of Fame. (I admit to not being familiar with Bat Ye'or, but a quick Google search certainly isn't promising--she is an Egyptian-born, virulently anti-Muslim Jewish historian and darling of the right wing).
So this is what passes for conservative "thought" these days. How pathetic.
The wisdom of John Stuart Mill
"I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative."
.
.
Watch out, ANWR
So now that our courageous president has stepped up to "temporarily" ease environmental restrictions on the oil companies--can drilling in ANWR be far behind?
Redundancy
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush has picked Fox News radio host Tony Snow as his new White House Press Secretary and is expected to announce the choice on Wednesday, a Republican official said.
Fox News, presidential mouthpiece. Isn't that just a bit repetitive?
Fox News, presidential mouthpiece. Isn't that just a bit repetitive?
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
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