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30 May 2007

To Run, Or Not To Run, Part Deux

Oops! I spoke too soon.

The former senator has indeed begun making his presidential bid official.

We'll see where it goes from here. There is MUCH speculation about how Fred Thompson's candidacy will affect the other Republican candidates.

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Photo: Steve Helber/AP

Rice Iran-E

At least there is SOMEONE in the Bush administration who is willing to sit down and chat. Albeit with strong words...

If we left it all up to Dick "Quick Trigger" Cheney, we'd already be dropping munitions on Iran.

Scary times indeed.

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Photo: Ron Edmunds/AP

Bush Has Got Some Seoul

What. The. F**k. It's been over 50 years since the Korean War. To this day there are thousands of American troops in South Korea, and yet president Bush is all set to go at it again... in a different part of the world: Iraq.

Observe. White House spokesman Tony Snow commenting on the president's wishes to maintain a U.S. military presence in Iraq:
The Korean model is one in which the United States provides a security presence, but you've had the development of a successful democracy in South Korea over a period of years, and, therefore, the United States is there as a force of stability.
Ugh. Get some snacks kids - this one is going to take a while.

Hearing Voices


God has spoken to me. I listen to God, and what I’ve heard is that I’m supposed to devote myself to rebuilding the conservative base of the Republican Party, and I think we shouldn’t be underestimated.
Tom DeLay on the Voice that he has heard.

Yikes.

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Photo: Brooks Kraft/Corbis for TIME

Dems Fightin' Words

I just don't get it.

Will someone PLEASE explain to me why casting a vote (yea or nay) for proposed legislation makes you a person who "embraces a policy of surrender" or "abandon(s) principle in favor of political positioning". Rudy even claims that those who voted against the supplemental were "in denial of the war on terrorism". Huh?

Let me see if I understand this...

Senators Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-Ny) were elected by a majority of voters in each of their states. These voters have entrusted their senators to go to Washington D.C. and cast votes, based on what they believe to be in the best interest of their constituents, on various legislation in Congress. What Rudy McRomney is saying here, essentially, is these senators (Chris Dodd of Connecticut also voted against the supplemental) made a mistake in voting "nay" on the bill.

Well fellas, if you are right (which I highly doubt) these senators will not only lose their presidential bids - but they will also be booted from their positions in the senate by their individual state constituencies. Duh.

Also, I think that it is notable that it wasn't just Obama and Clinton opposing the bill. As I mentioned above, Chris Dodd voted against it, and in the House presidential hopefuls Dennis Kucinich (D-Oh) and Ron Paul (R-Tx) also voted a strong "nay". Why is it that all of the attention is paid to the front runners?

The bottom-line is this: if you disagree with the way that a person in Congress votes - you are free to voice that opinion. However, calling them names like "traitor", "cut'n'runner", "defeat-o-crat" and others is just plain stupid. Just release a statement that says, "hey, I strongly disagree with the senator/representative and here is why..."

Dumbasses.

SURPRISE!

Really? Everyone is surprised at this reaction?

Duh. We "hired" the Democrats to change things around. We said, "no more status quo". Apparently it's fallen on deaf ears.

Money, It's A Crime

I've given up. It's completely clear to me now that I will have no Social Security benefits when I retire.

Our country is in so much trouble that it's scary.

...and Bush calls himself a conservative. HA!

To Run, Or Not To Run

I loved him in The Hunt For Red October. Not sure how much I would love him in the White House... hell, he hasn't even officially declared a run for the presidency yet. Still, it would be really interesting to see him run.

"I imagine you're gonna tell me what all the hub-bub is about."

Would you believe that I could not find ANY screenshots of Fred Thompson from Hunt? I would have thought there would be tons out there in the web.

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Photo: Steve Helber/AP

29 May 2007

Holy Sheetz!

You've got to be kidding me. Let me get this straight; the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is attacking a bill in Congress that would make all cars (particularly trucks and SUVs) more fuel efficient.

Right. Making cars more fuel efficient is a bad thing... if you enjoy spending money like it's going out of style. I went to my local Sheetz and filled the tank in my Dodge Caravan today (yes, I drive a minivan - what's it to 'ya?). I bought 17.5 gallons of the "cheap stuff" (87 octane mix) and I dropped $54.40. *GASP*

Yeah. The "cheap stuff" is $3.099 per gallon in my area - which is nearly 10 cents below the national average.

Ugh.

Someone needs to slap the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

Some Long Overdue Action


Finally, we're seeing some action on the part of the Bush administration. I know that the subject of Darfur has become somewhat trendy, particularly in Hollywood circles, but I think that the crisis needs more attention than it has been getting... especially from this White House.

But, I guess I can't blame Dubya too much. His entire administration is surrounded by scandal, and there is also news that another top presidential aide has resigned. I have to admit that I'm not surprised. I would get the hell out too if I were part of an increasingly unpopular administration that simply refuses to change direction on ANYTHING.

It won't be long before it's just George and "Trigger Finger" Dick that are left to roam the halls of the West Wing.

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Photo: Larry Downing/Reuters

Service Provider Wackiness

My ISP has been down for a couple of days... which has basically meant two things: [1] no postings for you to read, and perhaps more importantly [2] no Internet for me. Now we're back online.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a nice long weekend. Now, back to work...

28 May 2007

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day. If you are driving, don't drink. If you are drinking, don't drive.

Oh, and even though most of us will be grilling up some yummy vittles, please try to remember what this day is about. Just take a minute to honor those who have fallen, and those who serve.



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Photo: National Archives

25 May 2007

The New Monica Scandal


Yikes. I wouldn't want to be in her shoes.

Monica Goodling... what can I say? Many pundits in D.C. are referring to her as "Bush's Monica" - a not-so-veiled reference to his predecessor's Monica scandal.

All Clinton-related-humor aside (LOVE John Goodman), Monica Goodling has blown the Alberto Gonzales/U.S. Attorney scandal wide open. Unfortunately, this means with every question that get answered, there are two or three more questions that come up.

To begin with, Ms. Goodling admitted to using a political "litmus test" when choosing to hire career professionals in the Department of Justice (DOJ). Essentially, if she didn't like your politics, you would not even be considered for a job. She said that she "crossed the line" but that she regrets making those "mistakes". When asked if she felt that she had participated in an illegal act she responded, "I know I crossed the line... but I didn't mean to."

Well, thanks for your time Monica. You can go now. All is forgiven.

Wait... you mean there is more?!

In her opening remarks, Goodling wasted no time in throwing her former colleagues at the DOJ under the proverbial bus:
I believe the deputy [attorney general Paul McNulty] was not fully candid about his knowledge of White House involvement in the replacement decision, failed to disclose that he had some knowledge of the White House's interest in selecting Tim Griffin as the interim U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Arkansas, inaccurately described the department's internal assessment of the Parsky commission, and failed to disclose that he had some knowledge of allegations that Tim Griffin had been involved in vote- cadging during his work on the president's 2004 campaign.
Now, understand that she is basically accusing McNulty of giving false testimony to the Senate Judiciary committee - which could be ruled perjury. This is no small accusation.

BUT, I think the biggest bombshell piece of news was when Ms. Goodling testified that she had met with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales after the investigation had begun. In his earlier testimony, Gonzales said that he had not discussed information regarding the congressional inquiry with any of his colleagues at the DOJ to preserve the integrity of the investigation. However, Goodling testified that Gonzales told her about his impending testimony, AND wanted to know what her "reactions" might be.

Of course, Alberto Gonzales then issued a statement:
The attorney general has never attempted to influence or shape the testimony or public statements of any witness in this matter, including Ms. Goodling. The statements made by the attorney general during this meeting were intended only to comfort her in a very difficult period of her life.
Messed up. That right there is a classic case of witness tampering. If you are involved in an investigation, you simply can not speak with other witnesses... about ANYTHING. Duh.

I'm going to continue to follow this story with much interest...

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Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Photo: Jim Young/REUTERS

What Would You Do For Fame?

This is a bizarre story.

Apparently, this woman's father just died and his last wish was for her to win a reality TV show?

Creepy.

Rosie Vs. What's-Her-Name

Ugh. Just some quick thoughts on some nit-wits.

I don't watch The View. You couldn't pay me enough $$$ to watch it. Well, okay you could PAY ME, but I wouldn't enjoy it. I was watching one of my daily doses of punditry yesterday when I came across this story about the ladies on the aforementioned unwatchable program.

Now, the part that I think is funny is all of the articles and news teasers are saying, "Rosie Vs. Elisabeth, Who Won?" Who the f**k cares? Neither of them won because they are both largely uninformed morons - hence, I do not watch.

But hey, that's just my opinion. If you don't like it, close your browser window.

The good news is that Rosie O'Donnell is leaving the show early. Instead of sitting at that table for another three weeks, she's ducking out now.



Ha ha ha...

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Photo: AP Photo/ABC

Your Children Are In Danger

What, you didn't know? Isn't it completely obvious?

According to president Bush, speaking from the White House Rose Garden yesterday, everyone should constantly support his cause (whatever that may be) because the terrorists are a "threat to your children". Well, that's what he said to NBC News White House correspondent David Gregory. There was a nuanced difference in what he said to New York Times reporter Jim Rutenberg; "It's (terrorism) a danger to your children, Jim."



Ugh. It's also noteworthy that Jim Rutenberg has no children - proving, once again, that George W. Bush is a f**king moron. Hey Dubya, if you are going to try to scare us, at least be realistic about it.

The politics of terror are old. I'm so sick of politicians using scare tactics to gain support, pass legislation and to achieve and maintain power.

Oh, sure - I will concede that there are definitely people "out there" who want to hurt Americans. That has been WELL documented. Hell, go turn on CNN right now and I would bet that you would only have to wait five minutes before you see a story about American soldiers being killed by a suicide bomber or an IED. It sickens me - but continued support for a war that has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH 9/11 simply does not make sense to me (Afghanistan is another story).

The f**king cowards in Congress - and yes, my congressman is included in that bunch - makes me so angry that I can't see straight. Democrats - whom we put into power to make some REAL changes - got scared and backed down from the fight. The media has been calling this a victory for president Bush but I could not disagree more. This is not a victory for anyone... PARTICULARLY those who are serving in
Iraq. Oh sure, soldiers are going to get much needed funding, and I'm all for that, but they are also going to have to stay in Iraq until... well... we DON'T KNOW.

If Congress would have grown a pair and made the timetable mandatory, our men and women in uniform would have a much clearer picture of when they could return home to family and friends. It would give them the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel". However, it appears that Bush and his homies in D.C. want to make that tunnel extremely dark. So dark, that one cannot see their hand in front of their face.

On top of all of this, the president also predicted a "bloody" summer in Iraq. Oh, that's reassuring. What a dick.

George Bush has made America less safe and less respected in the world. - John Edwards

24 May 2007

Chuh-Ching

Wouldn't it be sweet if I got a huge refund from my school loans?

Yeah. It would.

Paul Sends Rudy Back To School

Hell yeah Ron Paul!

You see, I think that it is very unfortunate that Rudy Giuliani received such positive press for his public lashing of Dr. Paul at the last Republican candidate debate. However, if you listened carefully to Paul, you will notice that he did NOT say that the U.S. caused the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. I think The Nation's John Nicols says it best:
Certainly, the vast majority of Americans would object to any attempt to justify the attacks on this country, its citizen and its soldiers. But that was not what Paul was doing. He was trying to make a case, based on what we know from past experience, for bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq.
Indeed.


The way that I see it, Ron Paul never said that the United States "invited" the 9/11 attacks. Paul was simply arguing that because of the United States' history of military interventions in the mid-east region, the Islamic jihadists who targeted the U.S. were inspired to carry out their attacks.

Oh, and there are others who agree with Ron Paul.

That's it.


Get Real

Numbers don't lie. Bush needs to pull the troops out of Iraq. Period. Until he does, he will continue to see some really pissed off people rallying for their cause.

Despite all of the noise about the spending bill in Congress, the war in Iraq, ever-declining poll numbers, and an administration embroiled in scandal - president Bush still appears to think that he's doing a good job.

Get real.

RE: I've Got Gas Problems

...again. More pleasing news from the legislative front. I'm not sold on the entire bill, but at least people are talking about this now. $4.00 per gallon gasoline at the pump is unacceptable. Especially when you consider that gas prices have continued to rise despite the relative stability in the price of crude oil.

Something is definitely amiss.

K.O. Punch


Ladies and gentlemen, this should not be happening. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the American electorate overwhelmingly condemn the war in Iraq last November?

Write to your representatives. We CAN make this stop. Do something.

23 May 2007

Goodbye, High-Priced Salon

Say hello to Democratic campaign strategist Bob Shrum.

It would seem that John Edwards' now infamous $400 haircut is the LEAST of his image problems. Enter Bob Shrum's new book and it's claims that Edwards is not as genuine as he would seem.

So, which is worse; a really expensive haircut (that makes you seem less-than-sensitive to the cause of poverty and homelessness) or a tell-all book that paints you as an insincere candidate for president?

Good luck with that choice Johnny.

Dennis The Menace

Poor Dennis Kucinich. I think the guy is one of the few politicians left in Washington that is REAL. He really tries hard to get people to listen to what he is saying.

Unfortunately, nobody is listening.

RE: I've Got Gas Problems

Previously, I mentioned that I'd sent a message to my Congressman in Washington regarding the outrageous price of gasoline and the unfotunate dependance that America has on petroleum products.

I must say that I'm pleased at how quickly the conversation is moving in D.C. Although, this won't bring down the price of gas for the travel-heavy summer.

Hopefully, I won't have to cancel my trip to the Jersey Shore...

iRaq, iWrong

Geez. The Democrats really backed down from this one. I'm severely disappointed.

As I understand it, the 2006 mid-term elections were a referendum on the war in Iraq. So, now that the Dems have the power of the purse in Congress, why aren't they using it for more than political posturing (and bluffing). The president just called their bluff, and now he's got the $100 billion that he asked for, with very little in attached strings (namely the minimum wage increase).

And yet, STILL no benchmarks or deadlines for troop redeployment. Where is the f**king outrage?!

So sick. So tired.

More Green


New York City, in partnership with Yahoo!, is implementing a new "green" taxi cab program. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said of the current fleets, "These cars just sit there in traffic sometimes, belching fumes. This (new hybrid taxi plan) does a lot less. It's a lot better for all of us."

The question is, will cabbies still gouge out-of-towners with inflated fares? You bet.

I think that this is a great step, but we still have a long way to reduce carbon emissions...

1252 In The House

Sick of the high price of gasoline? Do something about it.
As of Monday, gas prices are the highest in U.S. history—we just passed the 1981 record, even adjusted for inflation. Prices could reach $4.00 per gallon in parts of the country, just in time to crimp summer vacation plans. As consumers suffer, the oil industry continues to reap the windfall—breaking profit records on an almost quarterly basis. It's outrageous!

Enough is enough. Hearings started yesterday on H.R. 1252, a House bill that would make gas price gouging a federal crime, punishable by 10 years in prison. Speaker Pelosi has said she'll move the bill to a vote this week—if there's the two-thirds majority required to fast track the bill through the process. Oil company lobbyists are frantically trying to stop the bill. Your representative needs to hear from you today. Will you sign our petition asking Congress to pass the price-gouging bill—and then send it to your friends?

Do something. Do it now.

22 May 2007

Ron Paul: Rag Doll

Ron Paul is getting a raw deal from the good folks over at Fox News. Andrew Sullivan writes:
Malkin and Fox News continues the Ron Paul disinformation and guilt by association tactic. In this earlier clip, I missed the fact that John Gibson actually said that Paul suggested in the debate that the United States "actually had a hand" in the 9/11 attacks. Gibson watched th debate so he knows this is a lie, and yet he broadcast it as truth. Why is he not fired? How different is his assertion of a lie in the face of direct evidence to the contrary any different than Dan Rather's lies about George W. Bush's National Guard service? Until recently, my view has been that the Democrats were foolish to boycott FNC. I think you should go on any media channel to make your case, as Hitch did recently to great effect. Now, I'm not so sure. When a news channel has sunk to these depths of deliberate disinformation, they are no longer a news channel.
The video evidence:

Well said Mr. Sullivan. Well said.

It's high time that everyone calls Fox News out for what it is; a conservative leaning media outlet (note the word "news" did not appear in that description). I don't mind the fact that Fox News broadcasts White House talking points day in and day out... I don't mind that at all. What bothers me is that they do this under the banner "fair and balanced" when in fact that is blatant false advertising.

Personally, I watch MSNBC. I'm not saying that they are perfect, but they have pundits and news programs of all political stripes on the air daily. If you are a conservative, you have Joe Scarborough and Tucker Carlson to watch. If you are more on the progressive side, you can check out Keith Olbermann. And all the while, Chris Matthews sits somewhere in the middle.

But that's just me.

... And The Glovers Come Off

Look - I'm a H U G E fan of free speech. I am a firm believer in the First Amendment. But, even I will concede that there are some things that I would strongly advise against.

Look, Danny Glover can do what he wants to do - there is no U.S. law prohibiting him from working with ANYONE on a movie. If he wants to produce a series for HBO with friggin' Osama bin Laden, more power to him. My guess is that he wouldn't get a very good response from the public on that one, but hey - what do I know?

BUT c'mon, Hugo Chavez is not a nice guy - for the most part. Not to mention that the average American probably doesn't really like Chavez all that much... which may be due to an overwhelmingly negative campaign to smear the United States. Maybe not the best move for Glover's career... unless he's looking to gain that crucial Venezuelan dollar at the box office. *wink*

My point is this, I think that both of these fools are wrong. Representative Connie Mack (R-Fl) is saying that Glover shouldn't be making movies with Chavez because he is a "renegade communist dictator". Glover, on the other hand, is probably not making a sound career move. But he should be permitted to do whatever he wants without fear of governmental retribution.

Strange story all around.

Not-So-Good-Ling

Man, it's going to be a busy week.

- The Senate is debating immigration reform today.
- Monica Goodling is set to testify before Congress tomorrow regarding the Alberto Gonzales/U.S. Attorney scandal(s).
- President Bush is meeting with NATO's secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to discuss that organization's role in the war in Afghanistan.

I love this stuff!

Lean On Me

How long do you think that Congress will have to lean on the Department Of Justice and the Bush administration before someone actually turns over some decent information?
“Your consistent stonewalling and misdirection have prevented this committee from carrying out its constitutional oversight and legislative duties for far too long,” Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and ranking Republican Arlen Specter (Pa.) said in a letter.
The good news is that my vote for Specter was not a wasted one. He really appears to be going after the administration on this one. Nice one Arlen.

It's A Chopper Baby

I'm so pleased to see this.

A high school buddy of mine flies in Iraq, near Tikrit. Every time that I hear of an American helicopter being shot down, I shudder. I'm glad that he's a bit safer now.

A shot of him in his "whirly-bird":

Godspeed Sliffy. Come home safely.

He Will Make A Good Husband


You've got to be kidding me. I wonder if the wedding is still on?

Hauer Man Rudy

As callous as it may seem, Rudy's biggest asset in the 2008 presidential election is September 11th, 2001. I'm not saying that he ENJOYS that fact, but I (and many others) believe that if 9/11 had never happened, then Rudy Giuliani would just be another "former mayor of New York City", not a political icon as he has become.

BUT, it seems that there are those that aim to change the public perception of "America's Mayor". Jerome Hauer, formerly the emergency management director for New York City, is saying that Rudy didn't exactly do what he claims to have done following the September 11th terror attacks.

We'll have to see what the impact that Mr. Hauer's claims will have on the Giuliani campaign. So far, nothing seems to stick to Rudy - as he continues to be the front-runner for the GOP nomination.

Photo: Ruby Washington/The New York Times

Nerd-Alert


Don't tell me what happened on the season finale of Heroes last night. I TiVo'd it and am going to watch tonight. :)

I. Love. This. Show.

21 May 2007

I Want A New Job

Bill Richardson (D-Nm) is officially running for president (like you didn't know that).

Pretty good spot:

I think that Governor Richardson is a good candidate - and could very well capture my vote... if he makes it through the primary.

I Should've Had A G8

Will someone PLEASE tell me what the f**k the Bush administration is doing? An entire league of international scientists have said that global warming is real and that there is an urgent need to take steps to thwart it's progress. But the U.S. government wants to say that it's a "long-term issue" that will require a "diversity of approaches".

Seriously, somebody mail George W. a copy of "An Inconvenient Truth" on DVD. Surely the prez has a DVD player on Air Force One.

Straight Talkin'

Classic John "Maverick" McCain:
Well, today, on a conference call with bloggers, Mr. McCain fired back at the former Massachusetts governor, who has (of course) held varying positions on immigration over the years.

"Maybe I should wait a couple weeks and see if it changes," Mr. McCain said of Mr. Romney's position on immigration this week. "Maybe he can get out his small varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his yard." - Ryan Sager

Too funny! Agree with him or not, I think McCain is showing symptoms of his 2000 presidential run. Either that or he just enjoys playing tether ball with Mitt Romney's cojones.

They (Most Likely) Knew In 2003

I was afraid that it would pan out this way. I'll be interested to see how the investigations go, but I would guess that SOMEBODY knew that Iraq would be a total mess. Hint:
The two assessments, titled "Principal Challenges in Post-Saddam Iraq" and "Regional Consequences of Regime Change in Iraq," were produced by the National Intelligence Council (NIC) and will be a major part of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence's long-awaited Phase II report on prewar intelligence assessments about Iraq. The assessments were delivered to the White House and to congressional intelligence committees before the war started.
Ugh.

Who Is John Cox?


Why haven't I heard about this guy before? Where has he been hiding?

Now there are ELEVEN Republican candidates for the 2008 presidential election.

Yikes. That's a lot of white dudes.

Poll Smoking

Iowa polling.

Things of note:

1. On the Republican side, Mitt Romney is destroying the competition with a 12% lead on the second-place candidate, Rudy Giuliani. Poor John McCain is in third, but only by one percentage point. Although, on the "favorable impressions" scale, there are still a lot of folks who are unsure about Mr. Romney.

2. Also on the GOP side, my underdog pick, Ron Paul, doesn't even register in the polling because he failed to get even one percent... ugh.

3. On the Democratic side of things, I'm jumping up and down in my seat (quite literally) because Hillary Clinton is NOT the front-runner in Iowa. She's not even in second place! John Edwards has the top spot with 29%, Barack Obama is numero dos with 23% and Hillary rounds out the top three with 21%.

4. Staying with the Dems - on the "candidate impressions" polling, Hillary is getting CREAMED by Edwards and Obama. Edwards has a 79% and Obama has a 74% on the "favorable" scale. Clinton - while in the third position - scores only a 66% favorable impression.

Global Waaahming

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Ca) and Governor Jodi Rell (R-Ct) have accused the federal government of dragging it's feet on the subject of global warming.

The governors also criticized President George W. Bush for an executive order he issued last week giving federal agencies until the end of 2008 -- near the end of Bush's term -- to continue studying what to do about greenhouse gas emissions.

"To us, that again sounds like more of the same inaction and denial, and it is unconscionable," they wrote.

"California, Connecticut and a host of like-minded states are proving that you can protect the environment and the economy simultaneously," Rell and Schwarzenegger wrote. "It's high time the federal government becomes our partner or gets out of the way."

Nice. There's something so liberating to see someone break with their own political party to do good things... regardless of what that political party affiliation may be.

Call Your Bookie

My prediction was that Alberto Gonzales will be gone before June 15th of this year. Apparently, Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa) agrees with me.

In an interview on CBS' Face the Nation, Specter said that, "...before the vote (of 'no confidence') is taken, that Attorney General Gonzales may step down."

Does anyone know what the over/under is for this?

20 May 2007

Maturity

Why is Barack Obama the political star that he is? Because he doesn't just speak to crowds, he moves them. While speaking to the 2007 graduating class at Southern New Hampshire University yesterday, Obama had this to say:

I bring this [maturity] up because there’s often an assumption on days like today that growing up is purely a function of age; that becoming an adult is an inevitable progression that can be measured by a series of milestones – college graduation or your first job or the first time you throw a party that actually has food too.

And yet, maturity does not come from any one occasion – it emerges as a quality of character. Because the fact is, I know a whole lot of thirty and forty and fifty year olds who have not yet put away childish things – who continually struggle to rise above the selfish or the petty or the small.

We see this reflected in our country today.

We see it in a politics that’s become more concerned about who’s up and who’s down than who’s working to solve the real challenges facing our generation; a politics where debates over war and peace are reduced to 60-second soundbites and 30-second attack ads.

We see it in a media culture that sensationalizes the trivial and trivializes the profound – in a 24-hour news network bonanza that never fails to keep us posted on how many days Paris Hilton will spend in jail but often fails to update us on the continuing genocide in Darfur or the recovery effort in New Orleans or the poverty that plagues too many American streets.

And as we’re fed this steady diet of cynicism, it’s easy to start buying into it and put off hard decisions. We become tempted to turn inward, suspicious that change is really possible, doubtful that one person really can make a difference.

That’s where the true test of growing up occurs. That’s where you come in...

Simply incredible. Even in print, these words are truly inspiring. I can only imagine what the graduates and other attendees of the commencement ceremonies were thinking...

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Photo: Jim Mone/AP

19 May 2007

"The Hammer" Gets Hammered

Stephen Colbert is one of, if not THE greatest satirists around. DeLay had no clue what was going on. Colbert nailed him (pun intended) on so many levels.

Priceless:


This is why I watch.

Going, Going, Gonzales


So, Mr. Comey testified that then-White-House-counsel Alberto Gonzales and chief-of-staff Andy Card went to the hospital to try to convince the then-attorney-general John Ashcroft (who had just underwent surgery) to approve the now infamous NSA warrant less wiretap program.

The kicker is that it is ILLEGAL to discuss matters of national security in an INsecure location (such as a public hospital).
Executive branch rules require sensitive classified information to be discussed in specialized facilities that are designed to guard against the possibility that officials are being targeted for surveillance outside of the workplace,” says Georgetown Law Professor Neal Katyal, who was National Security Advisor to the Deputy Attorney General under Bill Clinton. “The hospital room of a cabinet official is exactly the type of target ripe for surveillance by a foreign power,” Katyal says. This particular information could have been highly sensitive. Says one government official familiar with the Terrorist Surveillance Program: “Since it’s that program, it may involve cryptographic information,” some of the most highly protected information in the intelligence community.

The law controlling the unwarranted disclosure of classified information that has been gained through electronic surveillance is particularly strict. In the past, everyone from low-level officers in the armed forces to sitting Senators have been investigated by the Justice department for the> intentional disclosure of such information. The penalty for “knowingly and willfully” disclosing information “concerning the communication intelligence activities of the United States” carries a penalty up to 10 years in prison under U.S. law. “It’s the one you worry about, says the government official familiar with the program. -Time Magazine
Gonzales should have known that.

If Alberto has felt like he was back in the heat of Texas lately, he's right. However, with this new information that James Comey has revealed, I think that it's only going to get hotter for Gonzales.

My guess: Gonzo resigns no later than June 15th of this year...

The View, Askew

Honestly, I have NEVER watched this show. I was reading Andrew Sullivan's blog and he mentioned this conversation. I'd like to first point out that I will always think that Rosie O'Donnell is a crackpot. That said, the usually un-funny Joy Behar makes some very good points. Observe:

Even the "blonde one" admits that "policy should always be re-evaluated". Amen.

Toga! Toga! Toga!


Ah, the glory days of college...

Except that in my day, you weren't allowed to cheat... and IF you did, you wouldn't admit it to a pollster.

18 May 2007

Oh SNAP!

I love it when Sean Hannity gets verbally smacked down by a guest. It's even better when that guest is a snobby brit...

Observe:


He Knows What He's Talking About


Love this guy and his ideas. Energy and the environment should be - nay - MUST BE at the top of the "issues list" for the 2008 presidential campaign. Here's to some great thoughts on energy.
Rock on Richardson, rock on.

The Parent Trap

What the hell is wrong with parents these days? Doesn't anyone have any common sense left?

Yikes.

Ugh.

Give me a friggin' break.

Links

I've Got Gas Problems, II


Funny. But not.

3rd Party Politics


Is he serious? A third-party bid for the presidency in 2008?

I'm not saying that it would never work, but it sounds so familiar. Does New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg remember H. Ross Perot and the "spoiler effect" on the 1992 presidential election?

...just one more reason why the Democrats will win in 2008.

Roe V. Wade V. Rudy

V.
Poor Rudy. This guy can't seem to catch a break. Now James "I want Jesus in the White House" Dobson is spouting off about Rudy. Giuliani is apparently too liberal for Dobson. BIG surprise there...

Wolf-Oh-Shitz, Part Deux


Nah-nah-naaah-nah
Nah-nah-naaah-nah
Hey, hey, hey
Goodbye.

In Matters Animal, Vegetable And Mineral

He is the very model of a modern major general.


It sucks that CBS fired Major General John Batiste. It's simply WRONG that he was fired for appearing in an VoteVets.org ad that speaks out against the Bush administration.

I would encourage everyone to check out this petition over at MoveOn.

The ad in question:


Gone-zales, Part Deux



It's about time. I was wondering how much bullshit would need to spew forth from this guy's mouth before somebody would do something about it.

17 May 2007

Tempting Faith

I must say that this is the best political insight that I've seen and heard from a conservative Christian. At least on the topic of the state of politics vs. the church.

I'm considering reading David Kuo's book.

16 May 2007

Feeling Ill? Accept Jesus.

Uber-scary.

What does accepting Jesus as a savior have to do with treating kidney stones? This is the result when you hand the controls of the military, nay the country, over to our friends in the White House.

Yikes.

A True Advocate For Peace and Non-violence

It's a shame. I went to the Google news section and searched two names: Jerry Falwell and Yolanda King.

Jerry Falwell generated "about 2,875" results.

Yolanda King generated "about 690" results.

Why is it that someone who preaches hate and intolerance can be overwhelmingly more popular (at least on the 'net) than a woman who dedicated her life to pursuing her father's dream of racial justice and equality.

Read up on Yolanda King.

The Future Is Indeed Bright

Inspired writing.

Oh, and it's dead-on in correctness too. Dems are going to clean up in the 2008 election. Unless of course Reagan comes back in the form of some unannounced candidate.

Yeah, I don't think that's going to happen.

As much as Republicans LOVE them some Ronnie Reagan, the party is too embroiled in self-loathing over the 2006 defeat. Everyone is running in opposite directions covering their ears and yelling, "NO! I've got the solution to unite the party - listen to ME!"

Good luck with that.

Gas-tronomical

Gone-zales

Say what you will about Attorney General Alberto Gonzales...


... but this story just creeps me out. Who would to try to get a guy who's in the hospital, possibly sedated, to sign off on some illegal bullshit? Apparently Alberto and his cronies would.

Ugh.

A Proper Tribute


Seriously? The guy sits in front of a H U G E portrait of himself? Just a bit on the grandiose side, eh?

Normally, I would not speak ill of the dead - but honestly I have nothing positive to say about this man. Oh sure, you could say that he has helped many people get on the "right track" (pun intended) with their lives... but at what cost?

Jerry Falwell was a bigoted, homophobic, polarizing figure in both American religion and politics. In fact, I would give him credit for knocking down the wall (or at least punching holes in it) between Church and State. And that is NOT a good thing - contrary to many so-called-conservative-idealists. This guy basically got Bush-the-latter elected with his "evangelical voter" turnout.

I wrote a short opinion paper in college (between my beer bongs and jell-o shots) regarding Falwell's condemnation of "Tinky-Winky", the purple-clad... thing on the Teletubbies children's program. Yes, that's right folks - our man Falwell attacked a British children's program - warning parents that Tinky-Winky was secretly gay and morally dangerous to children. In his twisted logic, Falwell saw the purple color (sooooo gay) and the upside-down triangle (a symbol for gay rights) as obvious subliminal messages to children to become gay (please note the sarcasm). Oh, and the purse...

Ugh. Give me a break.

BUT, all absurd "controversies" aside, Falwell said some really bad stuff too. After the September 11th attacks in 2001, Jerry whipped out this gem:'
I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say, 'you helped this happen'.
YIKES. You see, what bothers me the most about this guy is that he claimed to be a man of God. Now, I may not be the most religious person around (I can assure you that I'm not), but I was raised in a church and remember that the lessons we were taught in Sunday School were based on values of tolerance, understanding, and most of all - LOVE. What is Christianity (any denomination) without LOVE. All you need is LOVE.

I would say that Reverend Falwell kinda missed the boat on the whole subject of LOVE.

Now, all of that said - I'm not sure that I would be attending an anti-memorial for Jerry. I can totally understand why folks would want to dance with joy at the news of his passing, but I think that may be taking the whole bit a little too far. My way of "anti-memorializing" Falwell is just this: a simple blog post.

May the Reverend Dr. Jerry Falwell not be forgotten... but not for any good reason. He should be remembered as an example of how NOT to treat your fellow man. He should be remembered for his inability to LOVE.

Love everyone.

I've Got Gas Problems

A copy of a letter I sent to my representative in Congress:
Mr. Christopher Carney,

I voted for you in November of last year because I feel that there needs to be some serious change in Washington, D.C. Your predecessor, Don Sherwood represented the status quo to me - therefore you earned my vote.

I urge you to help advance and support the bipartisan "Fuel Economy Reform Act" (H.R.1506).

Congress' new enthusiasm for taking meaningful action on global warming is encouraging, but I am concerned that we are not acting on the solutions immediately available to reduce global warming pollution and enhance our energy security.

I strongly support raising vehicle fuel economy standards as a critical step toward solving global warming and tackling our dependence on oil. Please do everything you can to get this bill to the House floor and vote in favor of it.

Sincerely,

the Pajama Pundit

I would urge you do to the same. Let your representative in government know that REAL change must happen NOW.

ALL ABOARD!

YAY! Another candidate for the Bush Administration to practice throwing...


... throwing people under buses.

Another Activist Dies...

... except this one was an activist for TOLERANCE.


Will the death of Yolanda King be overshadowed by the death of Jerry Falwell?
I certainly hope not.

Tinky Winky Can Rest Easily Now

15 May 2007

About The Pajama Pundit

THE CONTRIBUTORS:

Founder/Editor-In-Chief: The Pajama Pundit


A gadabout and quasi-pseudo-intellectual, the Pajama Pundit first stumbled upon his interest in combining political debate and the Internet(s) some three years ago. For a good while, a simple MySpace site and blog were his primary connection to the blogosphere. Gradually, as The Pajama Pundit's interest in political thought grew, so did his readership - and his frustration with Washington D.C.
In May of 2007, The Pajama Pundit decided that he would take his ranting and raving from the lack-of-focus MySpace blog - and devote an entire site to his political prose.

A political independent, The Pajama Pundit does not toe-the-line of any political party. He has some conservative ideals as well as some progressive ones and feels that nobody should be criticized for having an opinion.

A devoted husband and father of two, The Pajama Pundit has no discernible skills for employment. Aside from editing a political blog, he is a stay-at-home-dad as well as a musician, movie critic and an avid reader of adventure novels.

This space is designed for commentary and The Pajama Pundit welcomes people from all political stripes to voice opinions freely and without fear of mean-spirited attacks. You will not witness any attacks on anyone whose world-view differs from that of the pajama-clad politico. However, The Pajama Pundit does expect intelligent arguments and discussion - and is a stickler for proper grammar usage.

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Contributor: The Fury Blogger

An opinionated person who is not too opinionated where he doesn't listen to all sides of a debate. The Fury Blogger first got into politics in 2004 shortly after leaving the United States Marines where he served in the Persian Gulf. Sometime shortly thereafter he decided it was time to create a constructive way to discuss his political ideas and created 'A Furious Mind' which eventually became The Fury Blogger.

He's always been inspired by The Pajama Pundit and his entertaining writing, and he was honored to receive the offer to participate at ThePajamaPundit.com. He's been an avid reader of this blog for the past year and looks forward to many more years.

The Fury Blogger is a recently-self-discovered Libertarian after years of searching for himself in this crazy world of politics. He's always found himself to be more conservative throughout the years but, in a strange twist of irony, has not once voted for a Republican president. He feels that the Republican party has lost it's way and is forming into a new party in front of our very eyes.

A stay-at-home dad of two toddlers, The Fury Blogger likes gaming, online gaming, journalism, story telling and he enjoys playing sports and going to the gym to stay in shape. During his High School years he was rated the #1 High School Catcher in the Country but was derailed from the sport of baseball due to a shoulder injury, from which he's never fully recovered.

His comments and posts may be opinionated but he welcomes reader commentary from any political spectrum, whether you agree with him or not. He's not afraid to admit when he's wrong and has been known to change his stances, prior to which he previously was so firmly opposed. Feel free to leave any thoughts about The Fury Blogger on this blog or at his personal blog at TheFuryBlogger.com, or you can e-mail him here.



Contributor: B-Diddy

B-Diddy is a 20-something conservative (who also happens to work in the entertainment business...go figure?). He believes the basis of the Republican party of small government, individual rights, less taxes, conservative moral principles and accountability are what makes America great. He is fair-minded, however, and knows when Republicans are wrong and will acknowledge those things. He loves political discussions as he believes debate brings about strong foundations of beliefs and is disappointed that more often than not, people don't have a strong belief system.

He encourages EVERYONE to get involved in the political process because Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, etc had it right...this is a government of the people, by the people and for the people...if we make it that way!

"What they truly don't understand is the principle so eloquently stated by Abraham Lincoln: 'You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.'" - Ronald Reagan


Contributor: Vast

Born and raised in the great state of Iowa. I love it here and plan to live out my days here. I was born in August of 1972 and I am a child of the 70’s and 80's. I vividly remember the day Ronald Reagan was shot and the day we invaded Iraq under Bush 41. I joined the United States Air Force in 1991, going to basic in San Antonio, TX and being stationed at Elendorf AFB in Anchorage, AK.

After 1 enlistment tour I returned home to Iowa. Instead of returning to my roots in Derby I took up residence in Grinnell. About 2 hours after getting off the plane, I stepped into a small Grinnell book store and began working a part time job. From there I picked up job stocking shelves at the local Hy-Vee.

In 1997 I was hired into my first factory job as a Press Operator at Engineered Plastic Components, Inc., a company that specializes in custom injection molding parts for the Automotive, Agricultural, Appliance, and Consumer industries. It didn't take long for me to work my way up from the floor to where I am now, Quality Engineer/Supervisor.

I am an avid (addict) computer gamer. My current addiction, and has been since December 2004, is World of Warcraft. My main character is Amradorn, a Tauren Druid. I am the guild leader of Foederati and I also write a WoW blog called Warcraft Field Repots.

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