"We don't govern by polls...."

HNN Poll: 61% of Historians Rate the Bush Presidency Worst

This is why you shouldn't listen to the educated elite.



And we all know that facts have a liberal bias.



God made W president and only He can judge.
God is male cuz the bible says so.



So line up, sign up and re-enlist today (w/ John W. McBush - Four more years!)



God save us all!



Catch you later.....

True Patriotism

I'd say the man has more than earned his right to speak any freaking way he wishes.

www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0404wrightapr03,0,225570.story

chicagotribune.com


Factor military duty into criticism


April 3, 2008

By Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss


In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines.

In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)

The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital, as a member of the commander in chief's medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery. For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation.

What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two branches began to become integrated.

While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/sailor, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for being a prospective father. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger than the African-American youth, used their student deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections.

Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for six years or our three political leaders who beat the system? Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice something or those who merely talk about their love of the country?

After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of America's biggest cities.

This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, who has been in the news for comments he made over the last three decades.

Since these comments became public we have heard criticisms, condemnations, denouncements and rejections of his comments and him.

We've seen on television, in a seemingly endless loop, sound bites of a select few of Rev. Wright's many sermons.


Some of the Wright's comments are inexcusable and inappropriate and should be condemned, but in calling him "unpatriotic," let us not forget that this is a man who gave up six of the most productive years of his life to serve his country.

How many of Wright's detractors, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly to name but a few, volunteered for service, and did so under the often tumultuous circumstances of a newly integrated armed forces and a society in the midst of a civil rights struggle? Not many.

While words do count, so do actions.

Let us not forget that, for whatever Rev. Wright may have said over the last 30 years, he has demonstrated his patriotism.

Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss are, respectively, Navy and Marine Corps veterans. They work at The Center For American Progress. Korb served as assistant secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration.

Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune

I simply loathe Yellow Elephants and Chicken-hawks. If you're so damn gung-ho for Bush's mis-adventure, if you really want to support the troops....shut the eff up and ENLIST!

Catch you later.....

Chris Matthews Sucks!

I am the oldest of eight, from a very large extended family.

That said, Chris Matthews reminds me of the sibling who is always clamoring for attention, using the most outrageous palaver to gain notice.

The verbal garbage emanating from that mouth was always meant for nothing more than “look at me, love me, I'm something, too.”

Tweety is growing more and more confrontational for confrontation's sake. Tweety also has a hard-on for the Clinton's that just begs for professional intervention. He's like most compulsive talkers... He never listens, is always looking for the next bon mot, just to get noticed, to seem as smart as the rest. And what is the deal with him and McLame? Is BBQ sauce an aphrodisiac?

Nothing added by Tweety is worth the time needed to listen.

His performance today with Mr. Obama shows a needy striver at his worst.

MS-NBC used to be the cable news network of choice in these parts; now however, with the obvious exception of Keith Olberman, it has become merely noise and embarrassing at that. They should give Rachel Maddow a show immediately and give Tucker and Buchanan a shove just as soon.

What Matthews adds to the national dialog is the stuff of tabloid journalism. His knowledge of what concerns the man on the street is constrained by his beltway view. He is so enamored of his own shallow POV that he has become irrelevant.

I no longer watch MS-NBC (except for K.O.), just like I no longer listen to that certain sibling.

Life is short, egotistical B.S. is abundant, one must choose.

I've made my choice.... Fuck Chris Matthews and fuck MS-NBC.

Catch you later.....

Edit 1/29/2010:

Enjoy!

Flying Penguins!

April Fools Day, from those wonderful folks at the BBC

Catch you later.....

Music and Life - Alan Watts

Enjoy!

Catch you later.....

The Circle of Life

(click image for larger view) From:

http://www.viruscomix.com/takethetightrope.jpg


Tomorrow is Monday...again!

Catch you later.....

Breaking News!

Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman to be released on bond!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080327/ap_on_re_us/siegelman_release;_ylt=Aq_h6K3Ia8sqYGU9REkM6Gqs0NUE

Top Ten Reasons Stephen Colbert Should Support Obama

Cute girl, not sure what make of the rest of it, though.

Catch you later.....

Dream Ticket

After Sens. Clinton and Obama render each other unelectable, maybe a brokered convention will consider this alternative...

Al Gore / Bill Bradley

Tan, rested and ready!

Catch you later.....

Bush Fatigue

After 7 years of increasingly depressing, outrageous stunts from this sorry excuse for an administration, I've finally succumbed to emotional fatigue.

When reading, then hearing how it is poor George who is bearing a disproportionate burden from 5 years of illegal war, I should have erupted in outrage.

When an Olympic-caliber jackass like Cheney responds to overwhelming public sentiment in a democracy with a "So?", my head should have exploded.

When pondering the toll of this foreign policy cluster-f@#k on lives and the economy of our once great nation, my soul should ache.

Instead I seem capable of nothing more than rocking back and forth, groaning as if in pain and asking "How? How?".

How is it that the Dem's are capable only of family squabbles?

How can the Repugnicant be leading in the polls?

How can the press continue to abandon their most serious responsibility in favor of chasing pantless heiresses and covering cornflake auctions?

How do those doing most of the fighting, dying, working, paying, sacrificing just sit and take it without storming the palace gates?

Are you better off now that seven years ago? Thought not.

Where will this country be in five years? Ten? Fifty?

Are you looking forward to producing your papers to the authorities to travel? Vote?

Are you OK with Big Brother monitoring your most personal, private communications?

Are you happy that most of the work you do enriches others more than yourself?

Thought not.

Well, what are you going to do about it?

Catch you later.....

US death toll in Iraq war hits 4,000 - Yahoo! News

US death toll in Iraq war hits 4,000 - Yahoo! News

Another milestone in the single biggest foreign policy blunder in American history.

All done on the cheap with borrowed money.

Courtesy of the worst administration in my lifetime.

Feeling safer?

Yeah, me too.

Catch you later.....

Argument: Creationism vs Evolution in 60 Sec.

Now that's rational discourse (w/ a IDiot)

Catch you later.....

They MUST be Expelled!

Obviously in the devil's grip!

Catch you later.....

NOVA | Intelligent Design on Trial | PBS - Blog Against Theocracy!

NOVA Intelligent Design on Trial PBS

From last November, the story of Kitzmiller et al V. Dover

The following excerpts from the Judge's 130+ page decision sum it all up nicely:

ID is not science

After a searching review of the record and applicable case law, we find that while intelligent design arguments may be true, a proposition on which the Court takes no position, intelligent design is not science.

We find that intelligent design fails on three different levels, any one of which is sufficient to preclude a determination that intelligent design is science. They are:

(1) intelligent design violates the centuries-old ground rules of science by invoking and permitting supernatural causation;

(2) the argument of irreducible complexity, central to intelligent design, employs the same flawed and illogical contrived dualism that doomed creation science in the 1980s; and

(3) intelligent design's negative attacks on evolution have been refuted by the scientific community. It is additionally important to note that intelligent design has failed to gain acceptance in the scientific community, it has not generated peer-reviewed publications, nor has it been the subject of testing and research.

ID is the progeny of creationism

The evidence at trial demonstrates that intelligent design is nothing less than the progeny of creationism.

What is likely the strongest evidence supporting the finding of intelligent design's creationist nature is the history and historical pedigree of the book to which students in Dover's ninth-grade biology class are referred, Of Pandas and People.

Pandas is published by an organization called FTE, as noted, whose articles of incorporation and filings with the Internal Revenue Service describe it as a religious, Christian organization. Pandas was written by Dean Kenyon and Percival Davis, both acknowledged creationists, and Nancy Pearcey, a Young Earth Creationist, contributed to the work.


Evolutionary theory is not antithetical to religion

Both Defendants and many of the leading proponents of intelligent design make a bedrock assumption which is utterly false. Their presupposition is that evolutionary theory is antithetical to a belief in the existence of a supreme being and to religion in general.

Repeatedly in this trial, Plaintiffs' scientific experts testified that the theory of evolution represents good science, is overwhelmingly accepted by the scientific community, and that it in no way conflicts with, nor does it deny, the existence of a divine creator.

The disclaimer Dover wanted read to students is flawed

The disclaimer written by the Dover School Board singles out the theory of evolution for special treatment, misrepresents its status in the scientific community, causes students to doubt its validity without scientific justification, presents students with a religious alternative masquerading as a scientific theory, directs them to consult a creationist text as though it were a science resource, and instructs students to forego scientific inquiry in the public school classroom and instead to seek out religious instruction elsewhere.

The goal of the ID movement is to foment a revolution

Intelligent design, as noted, is grounded in theology, not science. Accepting for the sake of argument its proponents' as well as Defendants' argument that to introduce intelligent design to students will encourage critical thinking, it still has utterly no place in a science curriculum.

Moreover, intelligent design's backers have sought to avoid the scientific scrutiny which we have now determined that it cannot withstand by advocating that the controversy, but not intelligent design itself, should be taught in science class.

This tactic is at best disingenuous, and at worst a canard. The goal of the intelligent-design movement is not to encourage critical thought but to foment a revolution which would supplant evolutionary theory with intelligent design.

It is unconstitutional to teach ID as an alternative to evolution

We do not question that many of the leading advocates of intelligent design have bona fide and deeply held beliefs which drive their scholarly endeavors. Nor do we controvert that intelligent design should continue to be studied, debated, and discussed. As stated, our conclusion today is that it is unconstitutional to teach intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in a public school science classroom.

Pharyngula: EXPELLED!

This is just too rich!

P.Z. Myers has a terrific blog (see my Blogroll), the go-to place for sanity in re science and theology.

If you've been a regular reader of Pharyngula, you are aware of a little movie called:

EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed, which features Prof. Myers in interviews obtained under false pretenses.

Prof. Myers went to a pre-release screening of the movie last night at Minnesota's Mall of America. Here's the story:

Pharyngula: EXPELLED!

"I went to attend a screening of the creationist propaganda movie, Expelled, a few minutes ago. Well, I tried … but I was Expelled!...

...I'm still laughing though. You don't know how hilarious this is. Not only is it the extreme hypocrisy of being expelled from their Expelled movie, but there's another layer of amusement. Deep, belly laugh funny. Yeah, I'd be rolling around on the floor right now, if I weren't so dang dignified...

...They singled me out and evicted me, but they didn't notice my guest. They let him go in escorted by my wife and daughter. I guess they didn't recognize him. My guest was …
Richard Dawkins."

I'm tellin' ya, ya just can't make this kind of stuff up!

The hypocrisy and stupidity of the IDiots is a gift that just keeps on giving.

Make sure to check out the comments. Just don't read while drinking or your monitor will wind up needing servicing or replacement. Same goes for laptops w/out spill-resistant keyboards!

Catch you later.....

Smoothly Sailing on a Sea of "I've got mine, screw you!"

JFK on religious test for office.

What's For Dinner?

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Fume Blanc

Garlic Cheesy Rice/Pasta

Steamed Vegetable Medley w/ Cumin-Coriander Butter Sauce

Two-Crab Crab Cakes on Fresh Organic Greens w/ Balsamic Vinegrette

Homemade Tartar Sauce

Garlic Bread

Key Lime Pie

Thanks for coming.

Catch you later.....

Carole King on Colbert!

Carole and Steve have a great chat and then....SHE SINGS!

Don't miss the rebroadcast.

Worth the time, as aways.

37 years later and she still looks great! Me, not so much.

Catch you later......

ps. Tapestry is to be re-released w/ new material!

Congressional Challengers on the Responsible Plan for Iraq

It's past time, dammit!

Catch you later.....

Many Questions...One Answer

What makes it preferable to lend 30 billion dollars to a giant financial concern, to buy another, failing financial giant (at bargain basement rates!) rather than to lend that money to individuals and families faced with the loss of their homes due to the mortgage machinations of said financial corporations?

How is it that Barack Obama is held responsible for things that pass the lips of a former pastor (religious nut) while the media glosses over the insane rantings that emanate from the mouth of a pastor (religious nut) who endorses Obama's presumptive opponent? How is Pastor Huckabee (religious nut) saner, kinder, more responsible, more American than Pastor Wright?

Why does Eliot Spitzer find it necessary to quit the public stage when David "Diapers" Vitter, Larry (I got rythym) Craig and Bill "Falafel King" Oreilly are still employed?

What entitles the government to poke its nose into every corner of our lives, restrict our constitutional rights, and pour the country's treasure down a black hole while becoming more secretive and protective of the privacy rights of the criminals and conspirators pillaging the Constitution and our nation?

Which is worse? Screwing the country or screwing an intern? How do we allow a sitting president to be impeached for fibbing at a deposition when the current office-holder gets a pass for blatantly lying us into a ruinous and illegal war?

Qui bono? Who benefits?

The ruling classes.

We do the sweating, they get the equity.

Catch you later.....

American Civil Liberties Union : Stunning New Report on Domestic NSA Dragnet Spying Confirms ACLU Surveillance Warnings

American Civil Liberties Union : Stunning New Report on Domestic NSA Dragnet Spying Confirms ACLU Surveillance Warnings

WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union responded today to a stunning new report that the NSA has effectively revived the Orwellian "Total Information Awareness" domestic-spying program that was banned by Congress in 2003....

"Year after year, we have warned that our great nation is turning into a surveillance society where our every move is tracked and monitored," said Barry Steinhardt, Director of the ACLU’s Technology and Liberty Project. "Now we have before us a program that appears to do that very thing. It brings together numerous programs that we and many others have fought for years, and it confirms what the ACLU has been saying the NSA is up to: mass surveillance of Americans."

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/nsaspying/23989res20060131.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080316/ap_on_re_us/sunshine_week_poll;_ylt=AvnE7CO5kYp8EQZBhcOuuPSs0NUE

It's perfectly OK for your government to know everything about you but you musn't know what your government is up to in your name? Puhleez. Give me a break.

Catch you later.....

FBI disregarded secret court on private records - Yahoo! News

FBI disregarded secret court on private records - Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI twice disregarded a secret court's constitutional objections and obtained private records for national-security probes, a U.S. inspector reported on Thursday....

...An influential Senate Democrat accused the FBI of "systemic failure" and the American Civil Liberties Union said the reviews demonstrated a need to check the agency's authority....

...Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the report "outlines more abuses and what appears to be the improper use of National Security Letters for years in a systemic failure throughout the FBI ... Legislative action may be necessary to correct these abuses."

The FBI's assertion that is working to correct flaws in the system with an eye toward protecting civil liberties is believeable. Right? They're trustworthy, right? Santa?

Catch you later.....

Imagine - John Lennon

Catch you later.....

For Mr. & Mrs. Spitzer

Catch you later.....

Thanks, Georgie, you're doin' a heck of a job!

Retail gasoline price hits record: AAA - Yahoo! News

Remember when the war in Iraq was going to pay for itself?

TOM TOMORROW:

http://www.salon.com/comics/tomo/2008/03/10/tomo/

One extremely gratifying aspect of the Web is the ease with which one can go back and look anew at the lunacy of the Neocons and their demon-partners, the "religious" right.

Together, I think with malicious intent, these marginally aware, minimally conscious groups have brought us to the brink of the destruction of the American Dream. Out of pure avarice. Greed. The lust for power.

And in John McLame they offer us 4 more years of this mindless crap, with the added attraction of an anger management problem.

Meanwhile, democrats, progressives, liberals, whatever are fighting among themselves like a bunch of jealous sisters around prom time. Jeebus people, look at the stakes, grow a spine and get down to the dirty work that lies ahead.

Impeach Already! Protect the Constitution!

I've been looking hard at this on-line, learn Chinese at home deal, 'cause it looks like it'll be more important here in So-Cal than even Spanish before long. We're giving the store away!

The inter-personal, intra-party B.S. going on in the Netroots, cable news, and elsewhere is, frankly, disgusting, especially given the long term stakes.

Supreme Court, anyone?

Admiral Fallon's departure today does not bode well for the near term future. Think Bush will go for a hat-trick? Three wars in one Administration! War with Iran! Because Iraq was a typo?!

Our culture, history, current level of education, awareness does not bode well for taking the long view. Something that opposing entities (nations, philosophies, religions, whatever) seem to do easily.

Enlightened Self-Interest Anyone?

Catch you later.....

Up This, Christian Soldier

New lawsuit filed against defense secretary over fundamentalist Christianity in military

An Army specialist who served two tours of duty in Iraq sued Defense Secretary Robert Gates and his supervising officer Wednesday for allegedly trying to force him to embrace fundamentalist Christianity and then retaliating against him when he refused.

The complaint charges that Hall, who is based at Fort Riley, Kansas, has been forced to "submit to a religious test as a qualification to his post as a soldier in the United States Army," a violation of Article VI, Clause 3 of the Constitution.

Mikey Weinstein, the founder and president of The Military Religious Freedom Foundation, in an interview, said, “It is beyond despicable, indeed wholly unlawful, that the United States Army is actively attempting to destroy the professional career of one of its decorated young fighting soldiers, with two completed combat tours in Iraq, simply because he had the rare courage to stand up for his constitutional rights and guarantees of separation of church and state against a superior officer who was forcefully attempting to intimidate him into accepting fundamentalist Christianity."

These right-wing religious zealots are nothing more than our own American Taliban. They would, if able, gladly force us all to wear a literal Burka. Forget the Bill of Rights, it has been replaced with their unique interpretation of the bible. Apostasy would be a crime. Your every act would be examined for orthodoxy. After all, they're directed by god.

Catch you later.....

The Emperor in Chimp fiddles while Rome Burns

Bush yearns for Texas in rare singing performance - Yahoo! News

Am I the only one who sees parallels to Nero?

I wish he would visit the San Diego V.A. Hospital.

What a schmuck!

Catch you later.....

Clean, but barely: Annual Joke Show on Prairie Home Companion!

A Prairie Home Companion from American Public Media

I look forward to this episode every spring. Two hours of jokes of all types, some just clean enough for the public airways, guaranteed to put a smile on any face. Check local listings (Link above).

Catch you later.....

Those damn Bendas never get the hint!

Those damn Bendas never get the hint!

Catch you later.....

More FBI privacy violations confirmed - Yahoo! News

More FBI privacy violations confirmed - Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON - The FBI acknowledged Wednesday it improperly accessed Americans' telephone records, credit reports and Internet traffic in 2006, the fourth straight year of privacy abuses resulting from investigations aimed at tracking terrorists and spies...

...And it was caused, in part, by banks, telecommunication companies and other private businesses giving the FBI more personal client data than was requested...

..."The credibility factor shows there needs to be outside oversight," said former FBI agent Michael German, now a national security adviser for the American Civil Liberties Union. He also cast doubt on the FBI's reforms.

Four straight years of this and where is the outcry? We're getting the civil rights equivalent of an anal probe w/out KY and I barely hear a squawk.

It's only a matter of time before this purloined info is used as evidence in a criminal trial against Joe Citizen and the Supremes will say, "OK, what the hell, the government means well, and it's for our own good."

No wonder Bush and the Telcos want immunity, this is only the tip of the iceberg.

What do they call it when government and business collude to deny the rights of citizens?

Pantload?

Catch you later.....

Moses was high on drugs: Israeli researcher - Yahoo! News

Moses was high on drugs: Israeli researcher - Yahoo! News

When he was high on the mount, he was high on the mount!

Burning bush, indeed.

Catch you later.....

U.S. incarcerates more than any other nation: report - Yahoo! News

U.S. incarcerates more than any other nation: report - Yahoo! News

The report by the Pew Center on the States said the American penal system held more than 2.3 million adults at the start of the year.

The far more populous nation of China ranked second with 1.5 million behind bars, with Russia a distant third with 890,000 inmates. (USA, USA... We're #1 ! snark!)

"Beyond the sheer number of inmates, America also is the global leader in the rate at which it incarcerates its citizenry, outpacing nations like South Africa and Iran," according to the report.

Tough sentencing laws, record numbers of drug offenders and high crime rates have contributed to the United States having the largest prison population and the highest rate of incarceration in the world, criminal justice experts say.

The failed "War on Drugs" is responsible for more than half of the current prison population.

http://corporatism.tripod.com/majority.htm#ma

And perhaps not surprisingly, over half of the people jailed on drug-related charges are in for simple possesion of "soft drugs" (Marijuana, Hashhish, Ecstacy, etc.).

As a nation we now spend more on prisons than on higher education.

It is past time that we overhaul the short-sighted drug policies that have led to this national embarassment.

Catch you later.....

Military Manpower Shortfall

Received a troubling E-Mail from an old shipmate today.

He's 56, last active duty 1975, retired from Naval Reserve 1999, Ready Reserve (like me) since.

He's been called back for active duty with the National Guard! After some quick training in Florida, he will report to Iraq later this spring to serve as an MP for 12 to 15 months.

Things are going so well in Iraq that an old salt, whose specialty is instrument optics, who is less than 10 years from Medicare, is to go overseas and carry a gun in a freakin' war zone!

Does this mean the Chimpster-in-Chief will be joining the fray next February? He still owes some service time, as I reckon. Hey, Georgie! Gonna join in the fun? Ya AWOL bastard.

Catch you later.....

Star Wars according to a 3 year old.

Cute, charming, bright.
What a lovely child!

Black Adder, Shakespeare's Agent?

This explains so much.

Enjoy!

Catch you later.....

Huckster endorses 'egg as person' amendment - The Denver Post

Huckabee endorses 'egg as person' amendment - The Denver Post

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee on Monday endorsed a proposed Colorado Human Life Amendment that would define personhood as a fertilized egg.....

(snip)

.....Opponents say the amendment would have sweeping consequences, not only for those seeking abortions, but for women using hormone-based contraception and couples using in-vitro fertilization to start families.

Oh, the perils of too much religion and not enough science. Shudder!

No wonder the Founders found a seperation of church and state necessary for the future of the Republic.

Catch you later.....

Phony Patriotism

Conservatives say Obama lacks patriotism - Yahoo! News

Let me see if I've got this right.....

I can shred the Bill of Rights, enrich my corporate masters, take the country into an illegal war, pollute the planet, jail anyone without charge, illegally torture prisoners, disenfranchise entire classes of citizens, ignore the law and courts, evade military service, diminish America's standing in the world, ad infinitum.....

And it's all OK if I wear an American flag lapel pin and recite the Pledge of Allegience more loudly than the next guy? Now they tell me!

Catch you later.....

Bush Screws Rule of Law, Again!

White House says phone wiretaps back on "for now" - Yahoo! News

...The Justice Department and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement saying wiretaps will resume under the current law "at least for now."...

...President George W. Bush has said he would not compromise with the Democratic-led Congress on his demand that phone companies be shielded from lawsuits for taking part in his warrantless domestic spying program.

Unitary Executive, Imperial Presidency, Tyranny... Take your pick, this is just ridiculous!

What does it take to get this monkey impeached? Jeebus, Congress, just do your freakin' jobs.

Catch you later.....

Lewis Black - The Old Testament

Have yourself a Jewy, Jewy day!

Catch you later.....

Threats of violence toward Obama & his supporters

I wonder if this is something that the Secret Service should be made aware of?

I won't link to it because the authors don't deserve the hits, however, in a YouTube video with the disgusting title "Barack and Michelle Obama Supporters are Retards", one finds in the comments section a discussion about how much fun it would be to sit on a hill (adult carrot?) and take pot shots at Obama and his supporters with a "sniper rifle" and an "AR-15".

I'm a huge fan of the First Ammendment but are violent threats protected speech?

Are threats of violence ever funny?

Perhaps a sign of the right's desperation, definitely an indicator of the lack of decency of some on the Web, but most assuredly a sign of small, angry minds. Imagine the outcry from the Wingnuts if a liberal poster laughed at the idea of shooting Mr 19% and his fans.

Catch you later.....

Theory of Intelligent Design

Some say Genesis was inspired by God.



Many others say Phil Collins was a lousy drummer.



Catch you later...

Omega Man - News Report - How the world ended

The Future...
Without Telecom Immunity.

Catch you later.....

(Democratic) Fever - Peggy Lee

I'm looking at the vote totals for Wisconsin and Washington. Democrats are turning out for their candidates at more than two to one over the GOP. I've got the fever!

Catch you later.....

Turn Greenhouse Gas Into Gasoline?

Scientists Would Turn Greenhouse Gas Into Gasoline - New York Times

Yet another argument for science unfettered by religious wingnuttery.

Or 21st century alchemy?

I retort, you deride.

Catch you later.....

Court rejects ACLU challenge to wiretaps - What a surprise!

Court rejects ACLU challenge to wiretaps - Yahoo! News

.....ACLU officials described the situation as a "Catch-22" because the government says the identities of people whose communications have been intercepted is secret. But only people who know they have been wiretapped can sue over the program.

A lawsuit filed by an Islamic charity met a similar fate. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year ruled against the Oregon-based U.S. arm of the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, concluding that a key piece of evidence is protected as a state secret.

In that case, the charity alleged the National Security Agency illegally listened to its calls. The charity had wanted to introduce as evidence a top-secret call log it received mistakenly from the Treasury Department.

The hits just keep on coming.

Catch you later.....

The Looming Banking Collapse

Mon Feb 18, 9:09 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Banks in the United States have been quietly borrowing "massive amounts" from the U.S. Federal Reserve in recent weeks, using a new measure the Fed introduced two months ago to help ease the credit crunch, according to a report on the web site of The Financial Times.

The newspaper said the use of the Fed's Term Auction Facility (TAF), which allows banks to borrow at relatively attractive rates against a wide range of their assets, saw borrowing of nearly $50 billion of one-month funds from the Fed by mid-February.

The Financial Times said the move has sparked unease among some analysts about the stress developing in opaque corners of the U.S. banking system and the banks' growing reliance on indirect forms of government support.

(Reporting by Mark McSherry; Editing by Valerie Lee)

From Jim Kunstler, Clusterfuck Nation,

http://jameshowardkunstler.typepad.com/clusterfuck_nation/2008/02/shoes-dropping.html

.... And after another while, the nature of money became so detached from anything real, so abstract, that its very existence became hypothetical. Even this "worked" for a while, in terms of the managers of this money being able to "cream" substantial amounts of this hypothetical money off the top of their notional operations and translate that hypothetical cream into Tribeca lofts, Gulfstream jets, and other real luxuries. The rest of the economic food chain -- and the social order that represented it -- got stripped of remaining asset value (and social value) until they had nothing left to trade with except debt, in one form or another, and this phase of the game turned out to have a short lifetime when the the only debts remaining to be monetized were the contracts on houses occupied by people with no hope of ever meeting their obligations -- and then the whole sorry racket started to go up in a vapor. This is roughly where we are, and where the banks stand today. They are pretending to have money and desperately cadging loans from all comers to keep appearances up, but the loans can't come in fast enough. The appearance of confidence is crucial (as it is, of course, in any "con" game) to keep the investors (depositors) at bay. If a bunch of investors (depositors) all got nervous about the solvency of a given bank, they might try to slip in there during business hours and withdraw or redeem their "money" and perhaps translate it into items of value like gold coins, bottles of vodka, or cases of 9 millimeter pistol ammunition. And if enough of this bunch showed up at the same time, we would see a phenomenon called a "run" on a bank. And after that started at one bank, the thing Franklin Roosevelt called "fear itself" could easily spread to depositers in other banks pretending to be OK... and that would be the magic moment that the USA discovered it was no longer a rich nation."

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The whole house of cards is poised to come down around our ears. McCain might get his hundred years war. Over food, fuel, shrinking land masses, religious fanatacism... the list grows and grows. Who in their right mind would want to be President?

Sweet dreams, catch you later.....

Bush Family Mini-series

The Bush family is to be featured in a sequel to ROOTS.

The working title is FERTILIZER.

Catch you later.....

K. O. w/ Richard Lewis : Political punch lines

Maybe it's time to give the De-caf a try?

Catch you later.....

Time to buy some imported Havarti !

BBC NEWS Europe Iranians urge Dutch to ban film

And:


Danish MPs refuse cartoon apology
By Thomas Buch-Andersen BBC News, Copenhagen:

Danish MPs have cancelled a trip to Iran after Tehran demanded they apologise for the republication of cartoons deemed offensive to Islam.

Two days before the scheduled trip, Tehran demanded the MPs condemn the cartoon on their arrival in Iran.

The row follows the arrest on Tuesday of three men for allegedly planning to murder cartoonist Kurt Westergaard.

The following day, 11 Danish papers reprinted his drawing depicting the Prophet with a bomb in his turban.

A condemnation and apology would help convince the Iranian people that Denmark's authorities had distanced themselves from the action, Iran's parliament said in a letter to Danish MPs.

If anyone needs to apologise... it is the Iranians Villy Soevndal, Danish MP

Nine members of Denmark's foreign affairs committee were due to arrive in Iran on Monday for a three-day trip focusing on human rights and the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme.

"We are not the ones to apologise," said Villy Soevndal, the leader of Denmark's Socialist People's Party.

"If anyone needs to apologise for freedom of speech, human rights, imprisonments, executions and lack of democracy, it is the Iranians."

Denmark's foreign minister has backed the parliamentarians' decision not to travel.

Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/7248963.stm Published: 2008/02/16 20:26:35 GMT© BBC MMVIII

Perhaps they will resort to violence to prove that Islam is a peaceful religion.





Catch you later.....

Hillary's Inner Tracy Flick

Too funny!

Catch you later.....

NO, YOU CAN'T -- NO SE PUEDE.

GOP? Not for me!

Catch you later.....

The Spies Who Love You - Mark Fiore's Animated Cartoon Site

Enjoy:

Mark Fiore's Animated Cartoon Site

Jim Hightower | CASHING IN ON AMERICA’S VETERANS

This sort of crap should be vigorously prosecuted as a felony:

Jim Hightower CASHING IN ON AMERICA’S VETERANS

And here in San Diego where so many service members, vets and their families live.

Catch you later.....

Don mclean- vincent

Daily Kos: FISA Fight: Here's what happens when you tell the truth

Daily Kos: FISA Fight: Here's what happens when you tell the truth

Finally! A glimpse of a spine... Am I dreaming?

I won't feel less safe at 12:01am, I'll feel more safe.

Catch you later.....

Jeebus + Guns: OY! US military accused of harboring fundamentalism.

This is the kind of crap that really scares the Be-jeebus out of me.

US military accused of harboring fundamentalism (H/T to Pharyngula)

It (lawsuit) alleges a "pernicious pattern and practice" of infringement of religious liberties in the military.

The group's founder, former Air Force lawyer Mikey Weinstein, said he has documented 6,800 testimonies by military personnel -- nearly all of them Christians -- of sometimes punitive or humiliating attempts to make them accept a fundamentalist evangelical interpretation of Christianity.

"I am at war with those people who would create a fundamentalist Christian theocracy in the technologically most lethal organization ever created by our species, which is the United States armed forces," he said.

He plans to add extra charges and possibly other lawsuits this month.

"It violates title seven of the US code for an employer to push their Biblical world view on an employee," he said. "But it's a trillion times worse when that is not just your shift manager at Starbucks but that is your military superior."

He singles out one of the major Christian groups in the military, the Officers Christian Fellowship (OCF).

This kind of crap was going on when I served 35 some years ago. It was and is bad enough in the South where I spent the bulk of my time but it's worse now according to friends who are still serving, especially in the Air Force and more so at the Air Force Academy, conveniently located in Ted Haggard's old neighborhood.

Down with Tyranny (http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/) has it nailed on the mast-head: "When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." Sinclair Lewis.

Catch you later.....

Turkeys Away - WKRP in Cincinnati - cause' I need a laugh

A million years ago I worked at an FM underground rock station as a late night DJ. Loved it! Can't prove it, but I think our roster inspired this show. We had a Les, a Herb, a Big Guy and more than a couple of Dr. Johnny Fevers. Fond, crazy memories.

Catch you Later.....

(Classified) Bill Defends Against Flesh-Eating (Classified)

(Classified)

Catch you later.....

Our Incredible Shrinking Bill of Rights

Tuesday's FISA vote goes to show, quite emphatically, that we need not just more Dems in Congress, but REAL Dems, Progressives, DFL'rs.

Minority Repugs have sufficiently neutered an adequate number of DINOs so that, though GOP policies are rejected my a clear majority of this nation's citizens, acts condoning criminality can get passed into law in the "World's Greatest Deliberative Body". An outrage!

But where is the wide spread condemnation? Where is the press?

Too busy covering Primary season as though it were a horse race.

Couric lobbing soft-balls, Fox sputtering madly, MSNBC playing with their wieners (not you, K.O.!), CNN doing god-knows-what.

How about some in-depth reporting on issues, policy differences, how about some real analysis? Too boring or too hard?

I'm gratified to know Democratic prospects look so good for the fall, but my frustration with the caliber of legislators is growing. More of the same spineless DINO's is just more of a bad thing.

I could go on but the NSA is banging at the door and they no longer need a warrant. For any of us.

Catch you later..... (I hope!)

Gotta call my Senators, Again...

Here we go, again. Telecom immunity will prove for once and for all the spinelessness of Senate Democrats. Glenn Greenwald - Political Blogs and Opinions - Salon, as usual, has a fine post on tomorrow's stakes:

There is an honest way to argue in favor of telecom amnesty, and it is, of course, exactly what amnesty advocates like the WSJ, Andy McCarthy, Jay Rockefeller and the rest of them desperately avoid. This is the only honest case one can make for this radical gift to telecoms:

Yes, telecoms violated multiple federal laws by enabling government spying on Americans and turning over communications data without warrants. They broke these laws not only in the aftermath of 9/11, but for years and years. By breaking these laws, they reaped enormous financial profits, as the Government paid them huge fees for their cooperation in the illegal spying program. Despite their having broken multiple federal laws and having committed felonies -- while reaping great profits in the process -- they ought to be granted retroactive amnesty and immunized from any consequences for their lawbreaking, otherwise they may be reluctant to break our laws in the future.

Why is this so hard for Senate Dems to get? If I keep calling Diane we'll be on a first name basis in no time. But will she finally get it?

Catch you later.....

Yes We Can - Compare this.....

Any questions?

Catch you later.....

To this...

Catch you later.....

Taxi To The Darkside

What have we become? Where did my America go?

Taxi To The Darkside

A nation built on ideals cannot sustain by trashing those same ideals when confronted with some one's notion of exigent circumstances.

Later.....

Garrison Keillor, Time to start over | Salon.com

Though a San Diegan for 20+ years now, I'm still a Cornhusker, out of two Minnesota Golden whatevers.

This is the voice of my people.

This speaks to me.

Garrison Keillor, Time to start over Salon.com

Catch you later.....

This Modern World - GOP Dream or Nightmare?

This Modern World Salon Comics

Smarter Than the Real Thing?

Catch you later.....

And Now For Something Completely Different.....

My vote in today's California primary was for Barack Obama.

I believe he offers the best hope for a different, kinder, saner path toward our future as a nation.

I believe he offers the best hope to improve America's standing in the eyes of the world.

I believe he can inspire us to work together for a better future for ourselves and our heirs.

I believe I feel better about this vote than any since I placed my mark for McGovern.

It's time to reclaim America, this is my champion.

Catch you later.....

Patriots Coach Admits Spying on Opponents - Demands Immunity!

Unconfirmed sources reports (Unconfirmedsources.com) that the Patriot's coach spied on and tortured opponents during 2007 season and that Bush has decided to grant retroactive immunity in the National (Football League) interest.

Catch you later.....

1972 Dolphins Win Super Bowl XLII !

New York Giants - 17

New England Patriots - 14

Catch You Later.....

Bill Maher On Religion

This kind of talk makes the Flying Spaghetti Monster very sad.

Catch you later.....

Groundswell? "I like Obama", says Ike’s granddaughter.

Hillary about to face Super Tuesday Shocker?

I like Obama, says Ike’s granddaughter - Tales from the Trail: 2008

Seems to me that there is a very significant move from all around the political spectrum toward Barack Obama and his message of hope and change.

I'm putting Hillary's presumptive nomination on an involuntary 72 hour hold.

Catch you later.....

FISA

Yet again, I've contacted my Senators, Boxer & Feinstein, to keep the pressure on. To remind them of the importance of standing for principles. I suggest you contact your Reps w/ concerns re: the rule of law, the Bill of Rights, the Limits of Presidential authority and respect for the individual.

Catch you later.....

New on the Blogroll: The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Just found a great blog that has helped me find my true path. I'm a Pastafarian! After 12+ years of Catholic education, who knew?

Find your salvation before it's too late...

http://www.venganza.org/

Catch you later.....