Goodbye, old friend

Team members disagree with me on this one, but I would like to bid a fond adieu to an old friend:




Oskee-wow-wow, Chief.

In vino veritas

The president looked particularly blotchy, drinky and stumbly in his press conference this week. As the Latin phrase above says, though, "in wine, there is truth."

THE PRESIDENT: It's an interesting question. One of the problems -- not specifically on this issue, just in general -- let's put it this way, money trumps peace, sometimes.

Now add this in with this, and yes, 2 and 2 still equal 4.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. government is at risk of squandering significantly more money in an Iraq war and reconstruction effort that has already wasted, overcharged or poorly tracked $10 billion in taxpayer money, federal investigators said Thursday....David M. Walker, comptroller general of the GAO, Congress' auditing arm, said his agency has been pointing out problems for years, only to be largely ignored or given lip service with little result..."There is no accountability," Walker said. "Organizations charged with overseeing contracts are not held accountable. Contractors are not held accountable. The individuals responsible are not held accountable....People should be rewarded when they do a good job. But when things don't go right, there have to be consequences," he said.

Pardon me!

Well, Scooter-palooza is just about over.

I have never been a trial lawyer, and trial strategy is not my strong suit, but this seems fairly obvious. Libby's team meekly put forth two "defenses," the "I'm too busy and I forgot" claim and the "They threw me under the bus to save Turd Blossom" angle.

The problem is, Defense #1 effectively required Scootie to take the stand and #2 needed Darth Vader under oath to make it fly. Why do you think the words "Libby," "Cheney" and "under oath" don't fit together here?

So here's the drill. The jury HAS to convict based on the evidence presented and then, lo and behold, for being the good soldier, here comes a freshly-minted pardon.

Hate and Conservatism

In the comments to the previous post, Jimbow8 quoted Tim Hardaway, easy runaway winner for Humanitarian of the Year, saying "You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. ... I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

First of all, I'm glad that Tim distinguishes being the United States from being in the world, since it shows that he is not part of the reality-based community, and thus a conservative. I've heard this topic being discussed in multiple forums, and one thing that radio show hosts try to do (to avoid alienating their audience), is say things like "I don't care whether you agree with him or not, I'm not here to argue right versus wrong." Well, I don't care if I alienate people who hate like this, so I'll tell you right here - if you agree with Tim, you are a moron. Hating a whole group of people for a genetic characteristic is just dumb. Hating someone because they're gay is like hating someone because they're black. Or a woman. Or Arabic.

Wait, I'm seeing a pattern here.

I find it interesting that conservatives like to hate those who are "different". Their worldview is so narrow that opening their lives up to people with different backgrounds, body parts, etc, scares them into hatred. Of course, this is because conservatism is about selfishness and power. "I want my share to increase, I want to only deal with the things I want to deal with, and perhaps most importantly, I don't want you to have something that I otherwise could have had. Those who do not have power are a threat to me, because they could take mine away. And that scares me, so I must fear them. Then I must hate them, because they are out to hurt me."

To a conservative, it's all about distributing a finite set of resources, and making sure that they get the biggest share they can. There's no sense of working together to grow the resources, so that more people can share more things. It's about the haves and the have-nots, and convincing the have-nots that the only way they can get more is to take from others (while those with more power take it right back). It's about creating images of Us vs. Them, so that when we take from someone else, especially that damned woman, or gay guy, or furriner, we're not taking from someone as important as we are. We're not taking from someone as human as we are. We're taking from someone who is lesser than us, somehow, someone who wants what is rightfully ours. Someone we can hate with impunity. Someone we can kill, and feel no sorrow.

And that's how you start a war.

Spraying to all fields

The Straight Talk Express John McCain trainwreck spirals further out of control, as he speaks to the Discovery Institute, those intelligent design/the world is 6,000 years old folks.

May I say how annoyed I am about Iran possibly meddling in the Middle East? The nerve?

I would like to congratulate the Rev. Ted Haggard , head of the National Association of Evangelicals, for being "cured" of his homosexuality. All I can say is. "FABULOUS!"

Memo to the U.S. Senators from Illinois--STOP APOLOGIZING FOR BEING RIGHT.

How damned guilty is Scooter Libby?

Down on the corner...

We haven't visited for a while, but we must pause and reflect upon the wisdom of John E. Groskopf of Vernon Hills, Illinois, who gave us this gem:

Comparing Obama to Lincoln borders on hubris. Lincoln freed the slaves. Obama is willing to see millions of fetuses destroyed. Lincoln fought the war to win. Obama wants to withdraw in defeat. Lincoln suspended habeas corpus to save the country. Obama wants to grant it to enemy combatants determined to destroy the country. What do they have in common? Did they both smoke? Bridge the gap? Not with millions of gun owners. Not with those who see failure in the backbreaking commitment to entitlements. Not with those who do not want socialized medicine. Not with those seeking permanent tax relief for all taxpayers (not just those who pay no taxes). Can't we all just get along is not a policy.

Besides being an anti-abortion gun nut, 1) Johnny celebrates the suspension of fundamental legal rights as a virtue in a fashion rarely seen among the breathing and 2) obviously has no idea what "hubris" means.

So John...

Good to be home, Part II

Brief reflections on my trip to the nation's capital (for those of you that know me from another particular forum, hat tip to Rambler Boy!):

First of all, I was completely divorced from the news. I didn't touch a computer and saw very little TV. About all I could gather was that I am the only man in America who claims not to have fathered Anna Nicole's baby.

My kid is amazing. She basically curated the show that opened Friday night at the gallery where she's interning. My little girl's all grown up!

I am always moved and awed when I see the White House. This time, though, my thoughts turned to how much we're going to have to pay one of those disaster recovery companies that clean up after fires and floods to remove the neocon stench from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

At the National Archives, I caused a security guard to laugh out loud briefly before returning to palace guard seriousness when I said they should put a "Repealed Effective 9/12/2001" label over the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

For all of you DC area dwellers who complain about the Metro, come to Chicago! On Sunday morning, I left the hotel in Silver Spring at 8 AM. Walked to the Metro, took the train, changed lines, and by 9:10 was checked in and past security at National Airport (I will not use that other name.)

Finally, how's this for an appetite killer. I took the daughter out for dinner to a restaurant close to the White House that is a favorite of Congress creatures and the K Street crowd. I excused myself to visit the facilities, and yes, got to stand at the necessary next to former Senator Man on Dog. Just try going back to eat after standing next to Rick and his Santorum.

Good to be home!

Yes, it is deliciously true. The author of this:

is the new pastry chef here:

Whatever happened to "up or down" votes?

Washington: A long-awaited Senate showdown on the war in Iraq was shut down before it even started yesterday, when nearly all Republicans voted to stop the Senate from considering a resolution opposing President Bush's plan to send 21,500 additional combat troops into battle.

So much for that good for the goose is good for the gander nonsense.

Excuses, Excuses….

I know, I haven't written much lately. The Bears, work, the car's been in the shop forever, it's too damned cold, etc. And tomorrow, I'm off to the nation's capital for a conference and to see my kid, who is spending the semester there. I may have some random thoughts before the very early departure tomorrow, but I leave you in good hands, and will see you all Monday.

Sometimes you don't even need to read the article

Headline: "Pentagon big winner in Bush budget plan"

Really? I am shocked.

As if you needed another reason

WASHINGTON - Even talking football, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks diplomatically.

She made clear Friday that she wants the Indianapolis Colts to win Sunday's Super Bowl over the Chicago Bears, but her words were measured.

During a photo opportunity to tell Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov goodbye, the two refused to answer questions about the Middle East situation, the subject of Lavrov's visit. Then, as they turned away, a reporter asked Rice to forecast the Super Bowl outcome.

"I really like both Chicago and Indianapolis, but I think Indianapolis is going to win it," she said. Then, as if it were an afterthought, she added: "And that would be a good thing."

Quote of the Day

Janning, to be sure, is a tragic figure. We believe he *loathed* the evil he did. But compassion for the present torture of his soul must not beget forgetfulness of the torture and death of millions by the government of which he was a part. Janning's record and his fate illuminate the most shattering truth that has emerged from this trial. If he and the other defendants were all depraved perverts - if the leaders of the Third Reich were sadistic monsters and maniacs - these events would have no more moral significance than an earthquake or other natural catastrophes. But this trial has shown that under the stress of a national crisis, men - even able and extraordinary men - can delude themselves into the commission of crimes and atrocities so vast and heinous as to stagger the imagination. No one who has sat through this trial can ever forget. The sterilization of men because of their political beliefs... The murder of children... How *easily* that can happen! There are those in our country today, too, who speak of the "protection" of the country. Of "survival". The answer to that is: *survival as what*? A country isn't a rock. And it isn't an extension of one's self. *It's what it stands for, when standing for something is the most difficult!* Before the people of the world - let it now be noted in our decision here that this is what *we* stand for: *justice, truth... and the value of a single human being!* - Judge Dan Haywood, Judgement at Nuremburg

Alex, may I have "Stating the Obvious" for a trillion dollars, please?

A long-awaited National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq, presented to President Bush by the intelligence community yesterday, outlines an increasingly perilous situation in which the United States has little control and there is a strong possibility of further deterioration, according to sources familiar with the document (more) .

Wow, there's a shocker.

He's probably right....

During the Super Bowl media day nonsense, Bears wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad gave us this one, a shout-out to the troops:

To all the troops in Iraq and Iran, we love you and we’re with you!’’

I'd say he's probably right on this one.

Did you ever read something that just, well, made you question everything?

While waking up this morning, I was browsing some right-wing blogs via the Daou Report on Salon. I find it best to read some of these things when I'm not fully awake. One of the hot topics, apparently, is global climate change. Really, you say, after the Liar in Chief mentioned it in his State of the Union address, people who have previously doubted the mountain of scientific data telling us that human activity affects the environment are changing their minds? Or perhaps it's that they're aghast, as any thinking person should be, that the White House has been actively pressuring scientists to not release that data?

(I think you know where I'm going with this...)

Of course not. They're digging in their heels even harder, and in the process, are just going wacko. Yes, I'm comfortable using that word for people who write things like this:

"Paper recycling is probably responsible for a lot of CO2 remaining in the air and not being removed."

You see, you environmentalist activist nutjobs - if (and I mean if!) human activity is causing global climate change, it's because of your crazy recycling. Not the burning of coal. Not the burning of gasoline and oil. No! You, who are trying to "save" the earth, are killing it!

Quick - everyone jump in your Hummers and go to the paper recycling plants and burn them down - they're destroying the earth. That's the only way we can save ourselves.

Torture Boy Takes a Page from Joseph Heller

Apparently Torture Boy Gonzalez has agreed to release details of the illegal domestic spying program. What makes this story funny is the following quote from torture boy himself:

"It's important for us that they (congress) understand what we're doing (with the spying program). All they have to do is ask."

Of course, NO ONE in congress knew ANYTHING about the illegal spying on US citizens for months - if not years - after it was instituted shorty after 9/11. Even then, only a few highly placed GOP toadies and the ranking Democrat in the house and senate were let in on the EXISTENCE, but not the workings and/or scope, of the illegal fishing expedition. To make matters worse, they were FORBIDDEN from even acknowledging that the program existed.

So, how exactly was congress **supposed** to ask? It took a FEDERAL judge, an overwhelming electoral defeat, a change of leadership in BOTH the house and senate, AND two weeks of foot-dragging and stonewalling before saying: all they had to do was ask?

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There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.

"That's some catch, that Catch-22," he [Yossarian] observed.
"It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed.
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Note to Team Thinker

We have been "Google-ized," we're in the new format now. You will need to get a Google account to post.

UPDATE: It is pretty screwed up right now, bear with me.

Updated update--Better.

From the "Is this supposed to surprise me?" File

WASHINGTON (AP)- The U.S. government wasted tens of millions of dollars in Iraq reconstruction aid, including scores of unaccounted-for weapons and a never-used camp for housing police trainers with an Olympic-size swimming pool, investigators say.

The quarterly audit by Stuart Bowen Jr., the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, is the latest to paint a grim picture of waste, fraud and frustration in an Iraq war and reconstruction effort that has cost taxpayers more than $300 billion and left the region near civil war.

“The security situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate, hindering progress in all reconstruction sectors and threatening the overall reconstruction effort,” according to the 579-page report, which was being released Wednesday.

(more)

Inmates Running the Asylum

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 — President Bush has signed a directive that gives the White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy.

In an executive order published last week in the Federal Register, Mr. Bush said that each agency must have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee, to supervise the development of rules and documents providing guidance to regulated industries. The White House will thus have a gatekeeper in each agency to analyze the costs and the benefits of new rules and to make sure the agencies carry out the president’s priorities.

This strengthens the hand of the White House in shaping rules that have, in the past, often been generated by civil servants and scientific experts.

Yeah, that was a crazy idea having those wacky scientific experts involved in regulation. Everyone knows Bush appointees do a MUCH better job there!