Robert Scheer has reported on every administration since Richard Nixon. But as he says in this interview, he never expected the lies and cynicism of Bush II.

With over 65 percent of Americans disapproving of our current president, why can't we get some credible opposition in Washington? As we head towards midterm elections, and look ahead to those of 2008, it's a question that is weighing heavily on millions of American minds.

Two longtime observers of our increasingly corrupt political system, Robert Scheer and Joe Klein have written books documenting the causes and the consequences. After 30 years covering politics, Scheer and Klein have some startling insights.

In conversation with AlterNet, Scheer explains why he thinks Nixon was one of the great policymakers of our time. Come back Monday to see Klein discuss how we can tell when politicians mean what they say. While Klein and Scheer have a distinctly different set of politics, you'll be surprised at their unified call for reform - and a cause that progressives can rally behind.

Robert Scheer spent over 30 years interviewing American presidents and candidates since Nixon, but it was only in retrospect that he discovered a disturbing pattern. Scheer's new book Playing President: My Close Encounters with Nixon, Carter, Bush I, Reagan and Clinton - and How They Did Not Prepare Me for George W. Bush explores the crippling effects the campaign process had on every candidate he interviewed - and how our presidents have become increasingly out of touch with American voters.

www.truthout.org

It was a set up, I'm sure of it. Rush is as pure as the driven snow.

I'll go along with the fact that the guy's an addict. That's ok. People have problems. But why is he out there on the radio spouting lies? Why is he allowed airtime and the right is trying to shut down NPR?

NO DECISION ON ROVE FOR AT LEAST A WEEK
David Shuster: "For Karl Rove, the drama is going to continue for a while. Sources close to Rove say his legal team has been told by prosecutors that no indictment decision will be made for at least another week. It means that even though Rove on Wednesday answered questions for three and a half hours, prosecutors are still unwilling to clear him or signal that his answers satisifed the grand jury.

Scott Fredericksen, former independent counsel: "The fact is, this is high risk strategy. But if Mr. Rove had said, I'm not going in there for a 5th time, I think that would have been a guarantee of an indictment."

DID ROVE COORDINATE TESTIMONY WITH LIBBY?
Another area of potential concern for Karl Rove involves an issue raised by pleadings in the Scooter Libby case. Prosecutors allege that Libby coordinated some of his actions with other white house officials including Rove. Rove is part of the prosecution narrative against Libby. And one document alleges Libby tried to mislead or confuse investigators by testifying he had a conversation with a reporter when the evidence shows it was Rove who had the conversation with the reporter.

Did Libby and Rove coordinate their testimony? And what does it mean for the overall investigation? In court documents, Fitzgerald says the investigation remains active.

And legal experts point out the big danger for Karl Rove is that the grand jury may have evidence Rove is not aware of. The only player in this drama who knows for sure is Fitzgerald -- who declined to clear Rove following his testimony and would only tell Rove's legal team that a decision on the presidential advisor will take at least ten days.

frog march, my last comment on the previous thread was for you.

These neo-fascists are the gift that keeps on giving. I am absolutely loving it.

Karl Rove Feels the Heat
Good post, lots of good links.

left, right, left, ribbit. . .

Then I'll check it out Saladin. Thanks for the opinion!

Judge Won't Dismiss Case Against Libby

WASHINGTON - A federal judge refused Thursday to dismiss charges against I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former top White House aide who was indicted on perjury and obstruction charges last year in the CIA leak scandal.

In a 31-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton turned down a motion by lawyers for Vice President Dick Cheney's onetime top assistant, who challenged the authority of Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald to handle the case.

This has been a really hard week for me, what with Bush polling at 32%, Rove under the gavel, Rush in cuffs, and now this prostitution thing. I dislike schadenfreude in others and absolutely despise it in myself -- but this past week...just...too...funny!

As for Rush, I'm interested to see if Al Franken's theory will pan out. Franken hypothesised that Rush's story about the source of his drug addiction (started with back pain, then he got hooked on oxycontin) is a total lie.

Franken's theory is that we know that (i) Rush lies about his health (e.g., why he didn't go to Nam), (ii) Rush loves golf (not great for a bad back), and (iii) Rush never once mentioned a bad back prior to the drug issue -- even though he talks about his personal life incessantly.

We'll see.

Today has been the motherload of news stories exposing Republican corruption from;

1.sex-for-favors to
2.Rove and Libby's Traitorous CIA leak and cover up to
3.Limbaugh's narcotic addiction and drug-seeking to
4.Kristol's PNAC war-mongering.

Feel free to add your own favorite Republican scandal story below.

"Walk the Line" was really incredible. While I distanced myself from the obvious genius of early country music during my childhood, I always held the Cashes and Carters' in high regard. Phoenix and Witherspoon (and just about every other actor) did 'em proud and deserve the accolades.

I'll watch "Goodnight and Good Luck" again tomorrow. It raised so many personal memories of my stint with live TV (we were still using the same headsets in the early 80's in West Virginia and my college video switcher was right out of the 50's) but to see such focus and honesty in broadcasting was both refreshing and bittersweet.

I remember the night we were to air a piece on West Virginia's "Hate Groups" and the power lines to our transmitter were severed...

anyhoo...goodnight...and good mangoes!

-T

p.s. I hought the Rush thing was some kind of "formality arrest" from the charges that were brought 3 years ago?

Or maybe I just heard it on Tony Snow's show!

-T

schadenfreude = malicious joy

Rush's boil on his butt kept him out of 'Nam. He claimed a pain in the ass then, and he continues TO BE a pain in the ass now.

His arre$t is ju$tice? Is Ru$h a tru$ty already? $30 a month for supervision???! Tho$e are very low wage$ for supervi$ing a criminal! Hey, folks, Ru$h is off the hook.

"As part of this agreement, Mr. Limbaugh also has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the State of Florida to defray the public cost of the investigation. The agreement also provides that he must refrain from violating the law during this 18 months, must pay $30 per month for the cost of "supervision" and comply with other similar provisions of the agreement."

April 28, 2006
Of Imperial Presidents and Congressional Cowards

by Patrick J. Buchanan
Now that Congress is back from spring break and looking ahead to Memorial Day, July 4, the August recess and adjournment early in October for elections, perhaps it can take up this question.

Does President Bush have, or not have, the authority to take us to war with Iran? Because Bush and the War Party are surely behaving as though this were an executive decision alone.

No sooner had President Ahmadinejad declared that his country had enriched a speck of uranium than the war drums began again.

Bush has said of Iran that even "a process which would enable Iran to develop a nuclear weapon is unacceptable." John McCain has said too many times to count, "The military option is on the table." The 2006 National Security Strategy re-endorses preventive war and elevates Iran to the No. 1 threat to the United States.

This is not enough for The Weekly Standard, which equates our situation with that of France in 1936, when Paris sat immobile while Hitler marched three lightly armed battalions back into the German Rhineland, which had been demilitarized by the Versailles Treaty.

"To Bomb or Not to Bomb, That Is the Iran

At antiwar.com

Kevin Drum's Cliff Note Summary of Plamegate

Is the Zarqawi video a hoax?

Picture comparisons..then and now.

To contrast liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, I offer this list of the military involvement of party activists in the service of their nation.

Democrats;
Richard Gephardt: Air National Guard, 1965-71
David Bonior: Staff Sgt., Air Force 1968-72
Tom Daschle: 1st Lt., Air Force SAC 1969-72
Al Gore: enlisted 1969; Vietnam 1971 army journalist 20th Engineer Brigade
Bob Kerrey: Lt. j.g. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam
Daniel Inouye: Army 1943-47; Medal of Honor, WWII
John Kerry: Lt., Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star w/ Combat V, Purple Hearts
Charles Rangel: Staff Sgt., Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea
Max Cleland: Captain, Army 1965-68; Silver & Bronze Stars, Vietnam. Paraplegic
Ted Kennedy: Army, 1951-53
Tom Harkin: Lt., Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74
Jack Reed: Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91
Fritz Hollings: Army officer in WWII; Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons
Leonard Boswell: Lt. Col., Army 1956-76; Vietnam, DFCs, Bronze Stars, and Soldier's Medal
Pete Peterson: Air Force Captain, POW. Purple Heart, Silver Star and Legion of Merit
Mike Thompson: Staff sergeant, 173rd Airborne, Purple Heart
Bill McBride: Candidate for Fla. Governor. Marine in Vietnam; Bronze Star with Combat V
Gray Davis: Army Captain in Vietnam, Bronze Star
Pete Stark: Air Force 1955-57
Chuck Robb: Vietnam
Howell Heflin: Silver Star
George McGovern: Silver Star & DFC during WWII
Bill Clinton: Did not serve. Student deferments. Entered draft and received #311
Jimmy Carter: Seven years in the Navy
Walter Mondale: Army 1951-1953
John Glenn: WWII and Korea; six DFCs and AirMedal with 18 Clusters
Tom Lantos: Served in Hungarian underground in WWII. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg

Now for the guys that like to accuse others of being unPatritotic:

Republicans:
Dick Cheney: did not serve
Dennis Hastert: did not serve
Tom Delay: did not serve
Roy Blunt: did not serve
Bill Frist: did not serve
Mitch McConnell: did not serve
Rick Santorum: did not serve
Trent Lott: did not serve
John Ashcroft: did not serve
Jeb Bush: did not serve
Karl Rove: did not serve
Saxby Chambliss: did not serve - Attacked Max Cleland
Paul Wolfowitz: did not serve
Vin Weber: did not serve
Richard Perle: did not serve
Douglas Feith: did not serve
Eliot Abrams: did not serve
Richard Shelby: did not serve
Jon Kyl: did not serve
Tim Hutchison: did not serve
Christopher Cox: did not serve
Newt Gingrich: did not serve
Don Rumsfeld: 1954-57 Navy flight instructor
George W. Bush: failed to complete his six-year National Guard commitment; assigned to Alabama in order to campaign for family friend running for Senate; failed to show up for required medical exam, went AWOL & disappeared from duty
Ronald Reagan: WWII - making movies
Bob Dornan: Enlisted after fighting was done in Korea
Phil Gramm: did not serve
John McCain: Vietnam POW, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross
Dana Rohrabacher: did not serve
John M. McHugh: did not serve
JC Watts: did not serve
Jack Kemp: did not serve. Knee problem kept him out of war and in NFL for 8 years
Dan Quayle: Journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard
Rudy Giuliani: did not serve
George Pataki: did not serve
Spencer Abraham: did not serve
John Engler: did not serve
Lindsey Graham: National Guard lawyer
Arnold Schwarzenegger: deserter from Austrian army
Sean Hannity: did not serve
Rush Limbaugh: did not serve (4-F)
Bill O'Reilly: did not serve
Michael Savage: did not serve
George Will: did not serve
Chris Matthews: did not serve
Paul Gigot: did not serve
Bill Bennett: did not serve
Pat Buchanan: did not serve
John Wayne: did not serve
Bill Kristol: did not serve
Kenneth Starr: did not serve
Antonin Scalia: did not serve
Clarence Thomas: did not serve
Ralph Reed: did not serve
Michael Medved: did not serve

Leaders visit; front-line troops say, 'Yeah, so?'

As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld made their surprise visits to Baghdad on Wednesday, many of the troops stationed north of Baghdad, in Balad and Dujail, say either they didn't know about it or didn't care.

"I'd ask him for a plane ticket home to see my wife. I have barely seen her in the last two years," said a young sergeant, who did not want to be identified. Like many of the soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division, he is on his second deployment to Iraq.

White collar crimes pay! White collar criminals do not go to jail! Limbaugh is free to do his business and stick it to the American people.

Mr. David Corn,

"Will the GOP continue to celebrate Rush Limbaugh as its leading voice? How many strikes does this man get?"

Hey, Rush only lied about stuff so he could get drugs. That is not even criminal enough to gain a full membership in the GOP criminal enterprise.

He will have to do better!

HA!

Thanks for all of your work.

Kirk

Rush Limbaugh Mixes Science with Comedy

Rush Limbaugh, the conservative talks show host, proves that science can be twisted to support any viewpoint. He found LiveScience's Top 10 Ways to Destroy Earth and, after reading much of the presentation (hurl our planet into a black hole, blow it up with antimatter, and other pretty difficult schemes), rightly concludes that it's virtually impossible for us to annihilate this world. He goes on to say that this is reason enough to go ahead driving your SUV and running your air conditioner, because you can't destroy the planet by your actions.

That's funny. And one assumes Limbaugh knows it is just humor. The Top 10 Ways to Destroy Earth, by the creative ponderer Sam Hughes, lays out incredibly difficult but theoretically plausible ways to render Earth entirely gone, as in no longer here. Dust, vapor, food for a blackhole.

People who worry about global warming and the effect humans have on climate are, however, not arguing that we will obliterate the planet, but rather simply that we are contributing to a dangerous trend that will cause seas to rise and swamp coastal communities, might render many species of animals extinct, and that could generate a host of other ill effects for society and life as we know it.

Limbaugh can make you laugh, but encouraging gas guzzling just because it won't literally destroy the planet is a sad recommendation even from someone who doesn's worry about global warming. Should we not also be concerned about American dependence on foreign oil, the limited supply of oil, and our eroding ability to compete effectively in the global marketplace as the cost of oil skyrockets while we fail to robustly encourage investment in new technologies and sustainable energy sources? Those seem like reasonable concerns for a conservative, but perhaps I’∂e just twisted the science to fit my views.

*****end of clip*****

The problem is not so much what the idiot (Rush) says, it is the ditto-heads that listen and believe.

I do not believe Rush was trying to be funny, more likely he was serious.

capt

Feds Move to Dismiss Domestic Spying Suit

SAN FRANCISCO - The Justice Department said Friday it was moving to dismiss a federal lawsuit challenging the Bush administration's secretive domestic wiretapping program.

The lawsuit, brought by the Internet privacy group, Electronic Frontier Foundation, does not include the government.

Instead, it names AT&T, which the San Francisco-based group accuses of colluding with the National Security Agency to make communications on AT&T networks available to the spy agency without warrants.

The government, in a filing here late Friday, said the lawsuit threatens to expose government and military secrets and therefore should be tossed. The administration added that its bid to intervene in the case should not be viewed as a concession that the allegations are true.

As part of its case, the EFF said it obtained documents from a former AT&T technician showing that the NSA is capable of monitoring all communications on AT&T's network, and those documents are under seal. The former technician said the documents detail secret NSA spying rooms and electronic surveillance equipment in AT&T facilities.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

I do not believe the FISA courts pass constitutional muster but skipping even FISA is clearly a crime.

I get the feeling the government is more concerned with protecting and defending itself at the expense of the same for us "the people".

capt

Limbaugh Reaches Settlement in Drug Case

Limbaugh reported five years ago that he had lost most of his hearing, saying it was caused by an autoimmune inner-ear disease. He had surgery to have an electronic device placed in his skull to restore his hearing. But research shows that abusing opiate-based painkillers can also cause profound hearing loss.

Before his own problems became public, Limbaugh had decried drug use and abuse and mocked President Clinton for saying he had not inhaled when he tried marijuana. He often made the case that drug crimes deserve punishment.

"Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. ... And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up," Limbaugh said on his short-lived television show on Oct. 5, 1995.

During the same show, he commented that statistics that show blacks go to prison more often than whites for the same drug offenses only illustrate that "too many whites are getting away with drug use."

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

I think addiction is a medical issue and should be treated as such but if hypocrisy killed Rush would have been dead long ago.

capt

U.S.: FBI Sought Info Without Court OK

WASHINGTON (AP) - The FBI secretly sought information last year on 3,501 U.S. citizens and legal residents from their banks and credit card, telephone and Internet companies without a court's approval, the Justice Department said Friday.

It was the first time the Bush administration has publicly disclosed how often it uses the administrative subpoena known as a national security letter, which allows the executive branch of government to obtain records about people in terrorism and espionage investigations without court approval.

Friday's disclosure was mandated as part of the renewal of the Patriot Act, the administration's sweeping anti-terror law.

The FBI delivered a total of 9,254 NSLs relating to 3,501 people in 2005, according to a report submitted late Friday to Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate. In some cases, the bureau demanded information about one person from several companies.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

There is a reason we have courts and laws. This is a clear violation of the constitution not that it matters.

capt

Isn't this the outfit that's already had a couple of big religous shows rallying the fundies? Maybe not, but this is still funny.

Global Vision axes conference

Global Vision's Salt and Light Conference featuring former Attorney General John Ashcroft has been canceled due to a lack of ticket sales, organizers said.

The event had been planned for Saturday at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. A related VIP event scheduled for tonight is also canceled.

"This is certainly one of the saddest and most painful and embarrassing moments in my 23 years of ministry for the Lord," Global Vision founder Haje Andraus said in an e-mail to his staff. "To be honest, I am heartbroken."

Andraus said in an interview that he was told choosing a Saturday morning for the conference was a mistake for a little-known organization.

"We should have had it on a Sunday, in a church, and we would have had a packed house," he said. "That is what we will try next time."

The Hobby Center is contacting ticket holders, who will receive refunds. Call the box office at 713-315-2525.

Chevron Posts 49% Increase in Profit

A consumer group accuses the company of profiteering after it reports earnings of $4billion, boosted by oil extraction and refining.

Chevron Corp. joined the parade of oil companies reporting king-size profits Friday, announcing that high crude prices helped boost first-quarter earnings 49% to $4 billion.

The company's results came on the heels of a series of stunning profit reports from giant Exxon Mobil Corp. and as critics from California to Washington ratcheted up accusations that the oil companies were piling up cash at the expense of consumers who were paying more than $3 for a gallon of gasoline.

Together, the nation's top three oil companies — Exxon Mobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips — reported profit of $15.7 billion in the first quarter, a nearly 17% increase from the year-earlier quarter.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

Had enough yet?

capt

Bush Guarantees Aliyev Peaceful Iranian Solution

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliev, who paid a critical visit to Washington at a time when the nuclear row still continues, met US President George W. Bush yesterday.

Regional security, the Upper Karabag (Karabagh) under Armenian occupation, energy issues, and the Iranian crisis were handled in the talk that took place at the White House.

Bush guaranteed Aliyev the solving of the Iranian problem in diplomatic and peaceful ways, as Aliyev said Azerbaijan will not join a possible strike against Iran.

Bush appreciates Baku's troop contribution in Iraq; stressing the importance that US ally Azerbaijan should remain fully briefed on developments in the region.

Azeris are grateful for the United States' undertaking a leadership role to support energy security in the region, said Aliyev. "I am sure our strategic relationships will be reinforced in the future."

According to Aliyev, President Bush and he mainly discussed the Armenian occupation in the Upper Karabag (Karabagh) in their talks.

*****end of clip*****

"Bush Guarantees"

I am thinking it is a translation issue?

capt

I have stepped over dog droppings in the street that have more value than the promises of Caesar Doofus Maximus.

David, it seems the neoconmen are nothing lying, hypocritical perverts!
micki, I think a more apt description of rush is that of a boil ON the butt rather then having one on his butt!
Kid, at least dog dropping are potential compost.

Daily Kos Poll

Do you think that the Todd Beamer Let's roll, really happen or was it made up propaganda, somewhat on the lines of what they tried with Pat Tillman?

A. Yes, t's propaganda. They wanted the nation to Rally around something or someone. They needed to put a face on it, and he was the All-American Poster boy. 913 votes - 92 %
B. No, I believe that it happen just the way the government said. 37 votes - 3 %
C. Not sure, I didn't really keep up with it. 35 votes - 3 %

985 Total Votes
-----------
92% eh? There is obviously a delusional majority out there, in spite of all the effort on the part of the MSM and their idiotic movie to bring the sheep back into the fold. BTW, this KOS diary mentions that it is CELL PHONES that are still the subject of hot debate. D. Benson, you better get your buddies to inform those right-wing radio hacks that they have it all wrong.

bush Aide Softened Greenhouse Gas Links to Global Warming

...including examples of political appointees who "assist" in adjusting language in government reports on climate science

Saladin, you could be right. But Rush is a pain in the butt, either way.

Neil Young Clobbers the Thought Police

A sneak peak at the controversial new album reveals a new American classic

I'm listening to Neil Young's new album, Living With War. It's not my first time; I was lucky enough to be at a private listening last week in California. But now, along with millions of others connected to the Internet, I'm hearing it live today through my computer speakers, streaming for 24 hours, courtesy of Mr. Young and his absolutely brilliant bunch of guerrilla marketers and movement builders (stream the album here).

Peace groups like True Majority smartly have seized on the moment to mobilize Young's listeners. Never before has any album moved so quickly from concept to completion to pre-release controversy, to the ears of millions of listeners. Mr. Young knows how to craft a message, and how to market it in a way that no one has before. He's done it like a martial arts expert, utilizing the venom and energy of his attackers who don't like this Canadian citizen's urgent, compelling, pro-peace vision of the American dream.

Living With War begins with Neil Young singing that we "won't need no shadow men running the government, won't need no stinking war." Angry, emotional words, but this is the most joyous and beautiful angry album I've ever heard. Of course, I'm biased, so listen for yourself it's free. Neil Young is my favorite rock artist and has been for decades. I love almost everything he's ever released, and I listen to something from him daily. I'm one of those gray-haired 50-somethings you see at the YMCA, rocking out on the cross-trainer trying to stay in shape, slipping toward old age. Anything I write or say about Living With War is personal and biased; I love this guy.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

This might be a re-post but worth a read.

capt

TOKYO JOURNAL
_______________

What Saladin said about people waking up (well, at least enough to roll over start asking questions.)

I got this from a couple different people this week who haven't previously been much for "conspiracy theories".

-T

Hajji, I saw that a couple days ago, very interesting. I think it is hilarious that the Universal Pictures blog has been deleting all the negative comments, which, by far, make up the majority of the opinions. Cell phones or sky phones, doesn't matter, the people aren't falling for it anymore. I still see a tiny pinprick of light at the end of the tunnel!

Saladin,

I hope somebody's been taking "screen shots" of the Universal site. Far too many questions/accusations/inconsistencies are just going ingnored.

Thanks, btw. for those who ask, here, and even for those that try to help divide the wheat from the chaff.

-T

Oh no, I thought it was seperate the wheeze from the shaft?

Okay - divide the wheat from the chaff. Now I've got it!

capt

Maybe some of the bushco conspiracy theory supporters could make an effort to show up in Chicago the first weekend of June. All the top independent 9/11 researchers will be gathered together for lectures and presentations, a perfect opportunity to engage in all out debate.
David Corn, that may be a good thing for YOU to attend!

MSNBC Poll

Do you believe President Bush misled the nation in order to go to war with Iraq? * 94129 responses

Yes
94%

No
5.6%
----------
The lies have grown thin. Now the question is, WTF are we going to do about it? Bomb Iran?

Scathing nuclear report as US brands Iran enemy No 1
Posted Apr 29, 2006 07:25 AM PST
Category: IRAN
From WRH

"Those danged Aye-rabs are making fuel for their reactor! Do you realize what comes next? Those ungodly fanatics are going to turn on the electric lights, TV sets, vacuum cleaners, BLENDERS! HORRORS! HORRORS! WOE IS US!" -- Official White Horse Souse

Capt...

And sew it goes!

_______________________

On waking up...

Right outside this lazy summer home
You ain’t got time to call your soul a critic no.
Right outside the lazy gate of winter’s summer home,
Wond’rin’ where the nut-thatch winters,
Wings a mile long just carried the bird away.

Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world,
The heart has it’s beaches, it’s homeland and thoughts of it’s own.
Wake now, discover that you are the song that the mornin’ brings,
But the heart has it’s seasons, it’s evenin’s and songs of it’s own.

There comes a redeemer, and he slowly too fades away,
And there follows his wagon behind him that’s loaded with clay.
And the seeds that were silent all burst into bloom, and decay,
And night comes so quiet, it’s close on the heels of the day.

Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world,
The heart has it’s beaches, it’s homeland and thoughts of it’s own.
Wake now, discover that you are the song that the mornin’ brings,
But the heart has it’s seasons, it’s evenin’s and songs of it’s own.

Sometimes we live no particular way but our own,
And sometimes we visit your country and live in your home,
Sometimes we ride on your horses, sometimes we walk alone,
Sometimes the songs that we hear are just songs of our own.

Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world,
The heart has it’s beaches, it’s homeland and thoughts of it’s own.
Wake now, discover that you are the song that the mornin’ brings,
But the heart has it’s seasons, it’s evenin’s and songs of it’s own.

Grateful, "Eyes of the World"
______________

Good morning!

-T

It is a BEE-U-TEE-FUL day here in the Sierras, now I have to go and tend the gardens, I get TWO this year, lucky me! Enjoy your day everyone.

Sal

Light rain before dawn today. Cloudy and cool.

Yes, another beautiful day in paradise.

"A hundred objective measurements didn't sum the worth of a garden; only the delight of its users did that. Only the use made it mean something."

~ Lois McMaster Bujold, A Civil Campaign, 1999

40 -
All the top independent 9/11 researchers will be gathered together for lectures and presentations, a perfect opportunity to engage in all out debate.

a perfect target for a terrorist attack!

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Friday that taxing enormous oil industry profits is not the way to calm Americans’ anxieties about pain at the gas pump, and that his “inclination and instincts” are that major oil companies are not intentionally overcharging drivers.
------------
the combined 1st quarter revenue of exxon, chevron and conocophillips totaled $191.5 billion - more than the individual gdp of 189 different countries, including chile, denmark, peru and venezuela.

#27
Alan,
The guy is heartbroken. I bet. The big tent show is not drawing the crowd it did a year ago.

#35
Capt,
I'm listening to it now. Going to go out and buy it. Neil Young is so great.

Drip, drip, drip, in my part of the world. A rainy day but the fire danger was high. We needed a slow steady rain. Good for the garden.

I wonder what kind of religion the prisons would have if they could choose just one?

Justice Department plans single-faith prison program

A plan by the Justice Department to offer only single-faith counseling to prisoners in a program designed to prepare them for their release has come under fire, according to a story set for Sunday's Washington Post, RAW STORY has found.

Excerpts from the article written by Alan Cooperman:

The Justice Department plans to set aside cellblocks at up to half a dozen federal prisons for an ambitious pilot program to prepare inmates for release. But it has produced an outcry by saying that it wants a private group to counsel the prisoners according to a single faith.

The plans do not specify what that faith must be, but they appear to rule out secular counseling or programs that offer inmates guidance in a variety of faiths.

The Washington-based advocacy group Americans United for Separation of Church and State charged in a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales that the Justice Department's Bureau of Prisons has tailored its bidding requirements to fit one particular program: an immersion in evangelical Christianity offered by Charles W. Colson's Prison Fellowship Ministries.

Outlining 10 ways in which the Bureau of Prisons' request for proposals from private contractors dovetails with Prison Fellowship's "InnerChange" program, Americans United contended that the plan is unconstitutional and urged Gonzales to withdraw it. Gonzales has not responded to the April 19 letter, Americans United said.

Independent experts on constitutional law asked by The Washington Post to review the bidding documents also questioned the plan's legality.
---------------------
It's all about money and power. It isn't about healing someone and preparing them to make something of themselves in a way that is in line with their faith.

Chris Maytag, owner/brewer of Anchor Steam Brewing on Michael Feldman's "What d'ya know" on NPR today.

Interesting for you hop-heads out there.

-T

David asks: "Will the GOP continue to celebrate Rush Limbaugh as its leading voice? How many strikes does this man get?"

The GOP embraces Rush but never celebrated him like the Dems did with Michael Moore at the Dem Convention in 2004. All Rush does is talks and takes drugs while Moore shoots.

Rush will get UNLIMITED strikes as long as his `Showtime' draws customers; somewhat of an alien concept (to the Left) called supply/demand.
===========================================
David rides off w/this ?smug? comment: "The right ain't looking so good these days. And that's even without Abramoff and the Iraq war."

Agreed! But, but, but....Are the Dems looking good these days? Even w/Abramoff and the Iraq War. I didn't think so!

Actually, the only people looking good are Happy folks like me who have been `overweight' in energy stocks/funds! With ~3 billion energy-consuming reasons somewhere on the far shores of the Pacific Ocean, out-of-sight but very material, how can anyone NOT expect higher price trends (with occassional down trends/cycles).

From WSJ Op-Ed today:

Average Price of: Gallon of Gas and Gas Tax portion (Data taken April 10, 2006)

Belgium $6.10 $3.77
Britain 6.13 4.03
France 5.80 3.65
Germany 5.96 3.82
Italy 5.91 3.57
Netherland 6.73 4.12

U.S.* 2.98 0.38

* Average for 50 states

Source: Energy Information Administration
=============================================
As an Energy stock holders, NO, I haven't HAD ENOUGH! The profit margins are too low!

#54
Yawn.

Harper's Index for March 2006

Number of U.S. counties where more than a fifth of "residents" are prison inmates: 21[Prison Policy Initiative (Northampton, Mass.)]

Number of these that are in Texas: 10[Prison Policy Initiative (Northampton, Mass.)]

Portion of New York Senate districts that would not meet the minimum population level without their inmates: 1/9[Prison Policy Initiative (Northampton, Mass.)]

Percentage of U.S. House contests in 2004 that were decided by fewer than 10 percentage points: 5[Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives]

Percentage of districts in 1972 that chose one party for President and another for the House: 44[The Brookings Institution (Washington)]

Percentage that did in 2004: 14[American Enterprise Institute (Washington)]

Percentage of Democrats and Republicans, respectively, who say the Iraq war was "worth fighting" 4, 84[M.I.T. Public Opinion Research Training Lab (Cambridge, Mass.)]

Total projected cost of the war per U.S. household, based on a January estimate: $19,600[Joseph Stiglitz, Columbia University (N.Y.C.)]

Amount that one of Saddam Hussein’≥ military uniforms sold for at auction in December: $16,000[Manion's International Auction House (Kansas City, Kans.) ]

Monthly fee that Court TV is charging for live Internet coverage of his trial: $5.95[Court TV (N.Y.C.)]

Number of suicide bombings known to have been carried out by Iranians: 0[Robert Pape, University of Chicago]

Minimum number of times that Frederick Douglass was beaten in what is now Donald Rumsfeld’≥ vacation home: 25[Harper's research]

Percentage of African-American families that have zero or negative net worth: 31[Edward N. Wolff, New York University]

Chance that the family of an African-American child is too poor to qualify for the full U.S. child tax credit: 1 in 2[Tax Policy Center (Washington)]

Percentage change in the amount of housework done by women after they marry for the first time: +17[Sanjiv Gupta, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)]

Percentage change in the amount done by men: ‒33[Sanjiv Gupta, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)]

Rank of 2004 among years when the most U.S. babies were born out of wedlock: 1[National Center for Health Statistics (Hyattsville, Md.)]

Number of half-siblings who have found each other on a website for children of anonymous sperm donors: 1,316[Donor Sibling Registry (Nederland, Colo.)]

Greatest number of them who have the same father: 21[Donor Sibling Registry (Nederland, Colo.)]

Minimum number of registered sex offenders who evacuated during Hurricane Katrina and cannot be accounted for: 2,000[U.S. Administration for Children and Families]

Miles from Berlin’≥ World Cup stadium that a four-story brothel has recently opened: 2[FKK-Saunaclub Artemis (Berlin)]

Percentage change since 1992 in the number of civil wars worldwide claiming more than a thousand lives: ‒80[Human Security Centre (Vancouver)]

Chance that a nation lacking resource wealth will have a civil war in any given five-year span: 1 in 100[Paul Collier, Centre for the Study of African Economies (Oxford, England)]

Chance that a nation with resource wealth will: 1 in 5[Paul Collier, Centre for the Study of African Economies (Oxford, England)]

Number of weapons that have been turned into tools for African farmers by a British nonprofit since 2001: 2,200[APT Enterprise Development (Moreton-in-Marsh, England)]

Number of farm implements that a rocket launcher yields: 5[APT Enterprise Development (Moreton-in-Marsh, England)]

Average percentage decline in U.K. child injuries during weekends when a new Harry Potter book is released: ‒46[Stephen Gwilym, John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford, England)]

Number of books published in Britain since 2004 that have "Shit" ,"shite" , or "crap" in their titles: 23[Harper's research]

Percentage change since 1995 in the number of U.S. fantasy books about dragons: +91[Locus Magazine (Oakland)]

Percentage of Americans who believe that China will be stronger than the U.S. in a decade: 42[Harris Interactive (Rochester, N.Y.)]

Number of copies sold in Japan since last summer of a comic book about the worthlessness of China: 180,000[Asuka Shinsha (Tokyo)]

Number of copies sold of a similar comic book about Korea: 370,000[Shinyusha (Tokyo)]

Chances that a Japanese person will make eye contact during conversation with another Japanese person: 2 in 5[Karl MacDorman, Indiana University School of Informatics (Indianapolis)]

Chances that he or she will make eye contact during conversation with a robot: 3 in 5[Karl MacDorman, Indiana University School of Informatics (Indianapolis)]

Amount paid in January for one of William Shatner’≥ kidney stones: $25,000[GoldenPalace.com (Kahnawake, Quebec)]

Amount paid last fall for a Ford Escort driven by Pope John Paul II: $680,000[Kruse International (Auburn, Ind.)]

Number of U.S. states whose constitutions require that public officials believe in a supreme being: 4[Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance (Kingston)]

Number of the 193 "laughing episodes" during Supreme Court arguments last term that were caused by Antonin Scalia: 77[Jay D. Wexler, Boston University School of Law]

Number caused by Clarence Thomas: 0[Jay D. Wexler, Boston University School of Law]

The Demise of the United States of America

Dear Cornposters:

This is my third doctrine in sharing with you. I share this third doctrine with a heavy heart. I will be discussing the demise of my country. There are probably hundreds of reasons for our death but I will give some of my reasons.

Through the centuries civilizations and empires have risen and fallen. I will be discussing the death of Nazi America. History does repeat itself. Historians often look to the Roman Empire and I will be no different.

The Roman Empire fell for a variety reasons, such as lead poisoning through their use of lead pots and pans, the possible rise of Christianity, the hiring of mercenaries to fight their endless wars, and the slaves to do the domestic work.

Let us look closely at the demise of the United States of America. Our death is similar and yet very complex because our death occurs in the twenty-first century. The twenty-first century was supposedly more advanced and yet it was probably less advanced in terms of humanitarian reasons.

We can look at our deregulations of the environment that is killing off life from animal to human life. It was Nazi America's fall from Christianity that also aided in our demise. We turned our backs on Jesus Christ and accepted bushianity. Bushianity is a religion that has eight pillars for its strength. These eight pillars are hatred, murders, torture, war crimes, corruption, decadence, greed, and lies. These eight pillars gradually destroyed the mind, body, and souls of our citizens and our nation as a whole. We also hired mercenaries to fight our endless wars because the Nazis have systematically killed off our children. We have also destroyed our middle class and hired people at slave wages. American corporations have also been instrumentally involved with our Nazi government by destroying the middle class with outsourcing and the hiring foreigners for less money. Nazi American lives have diminished steadily for decades.

Nazi Americans have developed a sense of hopelessness from our children to our adults. Our citizens and politicians have preferred screwing around and not parenting. Our teenagers are a great resource for us because they are into fairness and idealism. Fairness is not just for themselves but also for their friends and other people. They are also idealistic because they believe in a better world. Our country cannot be a role model for other countries because we have demoralized our people to the point that hopelessness and fear are rampant in our nation and among our people. We are already at the bottom of the abyss into hell.

I am on the mailing list of political organizations, religious organizations, and the behavioral sciences. I recently received a letter from friends at a hospital. They have asked me to be part of an audience and discussion on the "Silent Epidemic." This silent epidemic is quite revealing about our children and teenagers. It shares with us the hopelessness of our people and the future.

The hospital will be working with the Jason Foundation. The Jason Foundation wants to help children and teenagers from attempting suicide or committing suicide. One in sixteen students have attempted suicide in the past twelve months. Four of five youth revealed at risk behavior prior to taking their life. The Jason Foundation aims to educate and help people to be aware of the dangers of youth suicide. This is their mission.

Jason was the youngest son of JFI's President/CEO, Clark Flatt. He was an average student, good athlete, had many friends, and was active in his church's youth group. He did not have any alcohol or drug problems. He was a typical 16 year old. Clark Flatt explains in his speeches, "no one had ever told me suicide was a danger to my kids despite the fact suicide was and is the third leading cause of death for our youth."

Nazi Americans have a unique way of behavior toward people whom we consider different. We are great at stigmatizing people by bias, distrust, stereotyping, fear, embarrassment, anger, and/or avoidance.

Our evil and immoral ways have brought to us what we deserve our demise as a nation. People usually get what they deserve and Nazi America deserves death.

Sincerely,

Gerald

#12 Hajji

We LOVED "Walk The Line"! A fine lesson in good country. Tremendous acting and singing.

Speaking of love, Frog march, them some mighty good postings.

Soccer Saturday is upon us. Before heading out, I just wanted to share a little Late Night Humor.

"Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld made a surprise visit to Iraq yesterday. The surprise is that he's still the secretary of defense, I guess."
--Jay Leno

"President Bush said this week to help with gas prices he will temporarily ease environmental regulations. Great. Not only will you not be able to drive, you won't be able to breathe either."
--Jay Leno

"To give you an idea about how expensive gas is, this morning I carpooled in with Letterman."
--Jay Leno

"While he was in Orange County the other day, President Bush said he wants more temporary guest workers, you know, like he has at the White House now."
--Jay Leno

"Republicans in Congress are demanding that President Bush investigate whether oil companies are now gouging consumers on these gas prices. That's a good idea, Republicans asking Republicans to investigate other Republicans. And you know who they're going to blame? The Democrats."
--Jay Leno

"In his latest audio tape Osama bin Laden says that the Bush administration is evil, it's made up excused to attack Iraq, and is obsessed with Middle Eastern oil. If Osama bin Laden keeps talking like that he could wind up the Democratic frontrunner."
--Jay Leno

"John Kerry said this week he's thinking about running for president again, but he hasn't made up his mind as of yet. Well, that should put an end to rumors that he's indecisive."
--Jay Leno

"In a speech this week, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said America needs to work together to conserve oil. Then Arnold lit a cigar and drove over the crowd in his hummer."
--Conan O'Brien

"The new issue of Rolling Stone magazine features a cover story about President Bush called 'The Worst President in History.' President Bush said 'That's not fair, I'm also the worst president in math, English and geography.'"
--Conan O'Brien

"I was watching that movie Mad Max, you know that movie where gas is so precious that people are killing each other for a few gallons. It was set in the future -- I believe it was August."
--Jay Leno

"Queen Elizabeth turned 80 over the weekend. The queen of course a figurehead who holds no political power. Or, as we call them in this country, Democrats."
--Jay Leno

"Over the weekend, President Bush met with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. On leaving the meeting, both had the same comment: What'd he say?"
--Jay Leno

"I aim to be a competitive nation."
—Mr. Bush, San Jose, Calif., April 21, 2006

"And so I'm for medical liability at the federal level."
—Mr. Bush, on medical liability reform, Washington, D.C., March 10, 2006

"I like my buddies from west Texas. I liked them when I was young, I liked them then I was middle-age, I liked them before I was president, and I like them during president, and I like them after president."
—Mr. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 1, 2006

Indeed.

"What a crowd, you sound like Dick Cheney when oil hit $74 a barrel."
--Jay Leno

A google search of "flight 93 and families' support of movie" get's over a million hits. I only read these two below. I haven't heard anyone say "wait a minute, my family member didn't call me on a phone! This is a bullshyt government conspiracy!". You'd think if they didn't receive any calls from the plane, it would be on the front pages of all the papers. *nary a peep

Ready or not, terror hits film

Though some don't support the movie, enough of the families do that United 93 enjoys their general stamp of approval. Greengrass has hosted screenings and participated in Q&A sessions with family members who had concerns.

"He took great care of all of us and our emotions," says Paula Nacke Jacobs, whose brother Louis "Joey" Nacke was onboard Flight 93. "He would say, 'Are you comfortable with this? What would you like to see?' He had tremendous respect, and he's a very humble, humble man."

Flight 93 families say it's not too soon to tell heroic story

That would seem to be a decision best made by the people most affected, by the relatives of those who died on Flight 93. They unanimously supported making the movie, according to Universal Studios.
=====================
Top article said "most", bottom said "unanimous", but none said "Phone calls are bullshyt. They made that up!"

From my 1947 desk dictionary:

molten. Archaic past part. of MELT. Hence Adj. 1. Melted; in fusion, esp. from intense heat. 2. Made by melting and casting; as, a molten image.

melt. 1. to be changed from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heat.

Now capt, on the previous thread, reposted the only image that seems to exist, one I have seen repeatedly and in different resolutions, of the extractor removing a piece of steel which is yellow hot at one end. Please note this is not in a liquid state. It is yellow hot, not molten.

The cleanup crews from demolition companies even stated that they "loaded a molten beam on the flatbed truck." But if molten, it is liquid and so cannot remain in the shape of a beam. I repeat, the one and only one instance of this was the yellow hot steel segment of a box column extracted from deep within the rubble pile of either WTC 1 or else WTC 2 (less likely, but I don't have any direct evidence.)

I have been through, with others on the PhysOrgForum thread, every statement of 'molten'. Not one is referring to liquid metal, or even metal which had been liquid, pooled and cooled into a lump. All were, as best as I can determine, refering to the selfsame chunk of yellow hot, still solid, steel that capt's link will once again show. I have, not on my own, been unable to find solid, reliable evidence that there was more than this one, to repeat, not molten, yellow hot, but not molten, chunk of steel.

End the Silence

Prof. Benson,
One other possibility that I wanted to add, but thought you guys would just laugh... but it's totally possible. One of those links by Capt mentioned 'molten' at the bottom of the elevator shafts. Stay with me here. All elevator cables back then, and most of 'em now even, are terminated in a shackle with a 'bucket' poured full of babbitt. Mostly lead, with tin and copper mixed in, it's heated to melt and pour with a ladle. Looks like chrome when it's hot, I swear! Takes a gold or light brown hue when still heating as it burns out impurities, so we skim the top off to get to bright silver/chrome clean liquid. Dunno the melting point of that stuff, but it's far less than steel, or pig iron is what we call the building beams. There could very well be puddles of babbitt (not used so much anymore in bearings, but very much so in elevator cables... both hoist and compensation cables) in each elevator pit. And even when cooled, it still shines like chrome... which looks molten.

GREAT IS THE GUILT OF AN UNNECESSARY WAR. John Adams

American Soldiers

2,685 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan for Bush and his lies.

Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events. Sir Winston Churchill

Henry Kissinger says that military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.

In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments. Napoleon Bonaparte

Nazi America is a mirror image of Hitler Bush.

Arundhati Roy says that Hitler Bush is the world nightmare incarnate. Gerald asks the question is Hitler Bush the father of the devil incarnate party?

Confucius spoke that before you seek revenge dig two graves.

When an illegal war is launched, every person killed and injured, every piece of property destroyed, and all environmental damage is a war crime. A war without borders and limits is a perpetual war. This war of aggression proliferates terrorism in proportion to its reckless widening, making the world ever more dangerous. TCR News

One cannot help but wonder: Where there alternative ways of spending a fraction of the war’≥ $1 to 2 trillion in costs that would have better strengthened security, boosted prosperity, and promoted democracy? Joseph E Stiglitz The dollar amount for the war now rages around $8 trillion.

We do not have to visit a madhouse to find disordered minds; our planet is the mental institution of the universe. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

G.K. Chesterton said that Jesus speaks sanity to a world of lunatics.

The thought of Jesus being stripped, beaten, and derided until His final agony on the Cross should always prompt a Christian to protest against similar treatment of their fellow beings. John Paul II

The soldier's main enemy is not the opposing soldier, but his own commander. Ramman Kenoun! Yes, Bushitler, as Commander in Chief, is the American soldier's main enemy. His endless lies and his love for nuclear wars will destroy planet, Earth.

Since 911, 2,685 American soldiers have given their lives in wrong and immoral wars.

Contamination

Linda Schrock Taylor says that when God means to punish a nation, He deprives its rulers of wisdom.

Hitler Bush and the Nazi cabal will prowl the world seeking endless wars. With endless wars and depleted uranium the Nazi States of America will contaminate people, land, air, and water. In time our entire world will become contaminated through the use of depleted uranium in fighting our endless wars.

Millions of people have been contaminated by depleted uranium that the Nazi States of America has dumped upon Iraqi land and water.

The Nazi States of America is an evil nation.

18,000+ American soldiers have been maimed in Iraq and Afghanistan for Bush and his evil lies.

45,000+ American soldiers are suffering from PTSD.

Over 350,000+ Iraqis have been killed in Iraq since Bush declared shock and awe bombings on March 19, 2003.

Contamination from depleted uranium may have affected 125,000 American soldiers and several million Iraqis.

Are you feeling more safe and secure with Bush in the WH and Cheney as his chief hatchet man overseeing America and her people.

Nazi American elections are rigged to favor the repugnants.

We will have to see how events play out. Seymour Hersh (when he was asked to comment about the 2004 election)

Bush will declare martial law in 2008 and the elections will be suspended.

Our military men and women are used as cannon fodder for a terrorist Nazi American government.

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we. George W. Bush, August 5, 2005

There is no sense trying to make sense from those who have no sense.

THE GLORY OF BUSH IS MAN FULLY DEAD!!!

This war in Iraq really pisses me off!!!!!

Rigged elections doom American democracy. American soldiers are being killed and maimed TO PROMOTE AN AMERICAN NAZI STATE.

THE GLORY OF GOD IS MAN FULLY ALIVE. St. Irenaeus

I shall pass this way but once. Any good that I can do let me do it now for I shall not pass this way again. St. Ambrose

We must work tirelessly for man to be fully alive.

American soldiers are being killed like flies for Bush's lies. To date 2,685 American soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

DO NOT PATRONIZE ME WITH TALK ABOUT HUMAN LIVES. COLIN LAPDOG POWELL

It sounds like human lives are not important to Lapdog.

I was provided with additional input that was radically different from the truth. I assisted in furthering that version. Oliver North

There is no sense trying to make sense from those who have no sense!

Wolfowitz + World Bank = War + Poverty

As Diebold goes, so goes the election!

American democracy is dead as we know it. We are now OUTSOURCING our dead American democracy around the world with our dead and maimed soldiers who are fighting in foreign lands so these lands can revel in our dead democracy.

My fellow Nazi Americans, Bush does not view our Constitution as a piece of paper. He views our Constitution as a piece of toilet paper so he can wipe his ass with it.

No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices. Edward R. Murrow

Nazi Americans are accomplices in Bush's murders and war crimes.

To sin is a human business; to justify sin is a devilish business. Leo Tolstoy, Russian author 1828-1910

Nazi Americans continually justify sin.

The incestuous relationship between government and big business thrives in the dark. Jack Anderson

PEACE TAKES COURAGE!

HONOR THE TROOPS, DEMAND THE TRUTH!

The CIC (Coward in Crawford) lies about lying about his lies.

DEPLETED URANIUM HAS CONTAMINATED MANY MILLIONS OF IRAQIS AND OUR AMERICAN SOLDIERS.

Stop a New Fiasco

To use the term "dishonest Conservative" has become such an obvious and entrenched redundancy in political discussions that hardly anyone disputes it any longer. And pointing out that Conservatives are dishonest is roughly equivalent to pointing out that the sun is hot.

Witness the rASSmussen Reports. Their polling has consistently had Mr. Bush 10 points higher than other polls. They typically poll 500 people a day and use 3-days worth of polling to derive their numbers. This smooths out any of the daily upfuckery in the White House. When Mr. Bush's poll numbers initially fell below 45%, they changed their polling procedures. They pushed their release time later and later into the day. Now, they've changed their procedure again (now that they have him at *GASP* 37%):

"Beginning tomorrow (Sunday), our Job Approval updates will be based upon data using a slight modification to our weighting process. We will adjust our partisan weighting targets once each month based upon survey data collected over the preceding three months. This will maintain the stability needed to follow trends while adjusting periodically for any substantive shifts in partisan affiliation. Recently, we released a summary of our data on partisan shifts over the past couple of years."

Read: Mr. Bush has driven so many folks from the Republican party that they poll like independents (approve of Mr. Bush @34%) or like Dems (approve of Mr. Bush @~15%). Polling these seriously pissed people (who once voted Republican) artificially suppresses the numbers for the Republican approval rate (down 14 points in the last month or so). So rASSmussen decides to "change their weighting system" to adjust for Mr. Bush throwing his base under a bus.

Ignoring the Constitution

"...to adjust for Mr. Bush throwing his base under a bus."

hahaha

They seem to squish the same as the rest of us.

there are two possibilities regarding the collapse of Twin Towers on September 11th:

EITHER the towers experienced virtually no resistance from their steel-reinforced concrete floors as they collapsed, in which case, how could the buildings have been pulverized in mid-air into massive dust clouds, and why how could heavy steel beams have shot out sideways up to 500 feet as the buildings collapsed?

OR -- if there was sufficient resistance from the floors of the buildings to have caused the dust clouds and sideways ejection of material -- how could the buildings have collapsed at virtually free-fall speeds?

can't have your cake and eat it too
-----------
whatever - I say 911 was an inside job - at the very least.

Soldiers Drowning in Medical Debt

You fight for your country and you still have to pay the medical debt.

Re #64: Alan, that is very good! On the PhysOrgForum thread devoted to 'Basic Physics', there is a discussion of WTC and the events of 2001 Sep 11. Some are knowledgable about one or another speciality, but only one person who regularly posts there claims to have done some construction work, although mostly just drafting. I would greatly appreciate it if you would join us there to offer your practical insights where appropriate!

Incidently, I recall from my Properties of Engineering Materials class in 1961, a class I have never actually used anything from, that babbit metal melts at a temperature lower than any of its constituents. So it would very likely melt in the intense heat in the two rubble piles.

James Ha and Saladin --- both of you seem to be able to find sites with interesting visuals. For example, the WTC 6 visuals yesterday and from a few weeks ago, some visuals of the sub-plaza level construction of WTC 1 or 2. When you find these, I wold greatly appreciate having the links available on the PhysOrgForum thread on 'Basic Physics'. Some favor the A hypothesis, that airplanes sufficed, and some favor the D hypothesis, that demolition changes were also used. So far I favor neither for WTC 1 & 2, only finding the weight of the evidence for A (damage+fire) in the case of WTC 7. The point is you would be welcome.

how could heavy steel beams have shot out sideways up to 500 feet as the buildings collapsed?

Wait James, you guys keep saying those buildings collapsed into their own footprint. And in pieces neatly cut, ready to haul off to Asia.
That's 3 arguments that weren't true.

Staten Island Landfill

"... where the debris from the collapsed buildings were taken to be examined for victims' remains and personal effects, then sorted, recycled, and disposed."
*lots of pictures of the debris

Re #70: Another blog by somebody who completely fails to understand the physics. The building did not fall at 'near free fall speeds'. They actually fell considerably more slowly than that, although still rather quickly.

ack, I left out one phrase in the middle

"... where the debris from the collapsed buildings were taken to be examined for victims' remains and personal effects, as well as crminal evidence, then sorted, recycled, and disposed."

and just how quickly is rather quickly?
what's not to understand? for ALL the concrete of a given floor to be reduced to powder at the same time as massive steel beams were expelled out and away, the floor immediately beneath the given floor would've had to provide the resistance, right? and so on down. correct? that means each floor fell and slammed onto the one beneath. 110 times. each tower fell totally thru the path of MOST resistance in about 10 seconds. fall slam, fall slam, fall slam, fall slam, 110 times. you can't even SAY it as fast as each tower fell. try it. something destroyed each floor in succession before the floor above could slam onto it.

and why hasn't wtc6's unexplained explosion ever been addressed? - actually it has in this series of photos HERE. yet another unexplained coincidence from an entire day of unexplained coincidences.

#72 I 'preciate the invite and the kind words, but... Whew! I snooped around a little. I didn't see the particular "Basic Physics" section, but wow...the topics I did see were wayyyy over my head!

...fall slam, fall slam, fall slam, fall slam, 110 times.

Well, I don't think it was like that all. I think the superstructure acts and reacts to pressure and weight all at once, from top to bottom. You take out a chunk of support beams and their load-bearing capacity shifts to the others. Whether it's rated to hold the extra or not, it's now there. Now add a 900-ton counterweight at the top smashing through everything, I can see 500-ft trajectories for anything smaller in it's path.

you guys either believe that our govt. are too benevolent to have done 911, or they are too much of bumbling idiots to have done 911. I say that silverstein/cheney are neither benevolent nor bumbling. and 19 idiots with boxcutters from a cave, while obviously not being benevolent, WERE obviously bumbling fools. a hoax has been perpetrated on america, and you guys refuse to see it.

Just to explain the babbitt thing and how we do cables. The end of the cable is pushed through the small hole of a cone-shaped 'bucket'on the shackle, out the bigger size hole at the top. Slide the shackle down the cable some, to get some room to work. Then seize the end of the cable roughly twice as long as the bucket's depth. Spin out and straighten each strand of the cable and cut out the rope core, then fold each strand inside to make a loop. When finished, it's called a 'rosette' and it's more than twice as wide as the rest of the cable, in a rose-shape. Slide the shackle back to the end and pop the rosette into the bucket. Only the tops of the loops are showing from the strands. Pour the bucket full of hot babbitt (it cools real fast) and there you go... a terminated cable that will hold forever. *those rosettes never fail... the cable would break somewhere else first.
K, boring for y'all, but I thought i'd try 'n explain it.

Alan, it is found under the section entitled Physics. Click on 'Physics General'. On the new screen the first entry is 'General Physics, the correct analysis of the WTC collapse'. That will get you to the (so far) 761 page thread.

Don't bother to read it all, just follow along. Its mostly rather low density of information, but I hope you'll participate when you ccan offer the practical perspective that is so badly needed. (And most of the other topics are way over my head, too!)

James Ha, neither of us is a structural engineer. They have a tough time explaining all, with or with demolition charges, imho. WTC 6 just hasn't come up yet on PhysOrgForum. I, at least, would appreciate it if you would post links to the site sequencing the explosion of WTC 6, etc., on the PhyOrgForum site and simply ask what happened? There are many people with different ideas and viewpoints who might like to quit the rather fruitless rehashing of old stuff and get on with it: obtaining some understandings of WTC 6, the Custons House. Thanks.

I say that silverstein/cheney are neither benevolent nor bumbling.

Can't say about Silverstein (he might be pretty smart to get insurance for a bulding that's already been attacked, but as for Cheney... name me one thing he didn't fk up since he's been in office? haha

Later James, I'ma watch NASCAR while grilling some burgers. Catch up with you guyz later.

alan & benson, read this: LINK
then consider that there are only 4 video records of the 2nd hit (south tower), and they all 4 show the aluminum plane gliding into the steel tower without any of it breaking off or in fact even slowing down.
then read all of this: LINK
and realize that not only do the actual impacts look fake, but EVERY SINGLE photo and video capture of that plane show weird anomolies that just can't be explained other than the simple explanation: CGI.
then look at all of this: LINK
and realize the extent that we've all been had.
when I say 911 was an inside job, it's not because I'm just some wacky idiot who hasn't looked at 911 from top to bottom.

there's a petition calling for a real investigation into 911 somewhere in HERE. and there's a million $$ prize offered to anyone who can prove that explosives were not the instrument of the tower's demise - mr. benson, I'm sure that you could put a million $$ to good use, right?

fruitless rehashing of old stuff and get on with it

ha ha, well my post at 84 would qualify, yes?

James Ha --- This is similar an accident investigation, not mathematics. No 'proof' is possible, just the weight of the evidence.

I think photographs and videos should speak for themselves - especially when the flaws and obvious fakery of them are pointed out.

I said I was done yesterday, then I went on n on some more - but now I am truly done; post #84 pretty much sums up my observations of 911 -

I recommend stocking up on cans of and dried food while it is still affordable. good day.

Elamites were not semitic, at least linguistically. The Elamites lived in southwestern Iran, the portion now largely occupied by Arabs. They had their own empire from about 1450 BCE to 1100 BCE.

Elamite "is not a Semetic language (like Akkadian) nor an Indo-Euorpean one (like Old Persian); it is not definitely related to any known language or language group ... It was used by the Achaemenid Persian kings for some administrative documents in Fars during the earlier part of their rule (down to the 450s ...)" Amelia Kuhrt, "The Ancient Near East, c. 3000 -- 330 BC, Volume 1, From c. 3000 BC to c. 1200 BC", page 367.

Elamites were not semitic, at least linguistically. The Elamites lived in southwestern Iran, the portion now largely occupied by Arabs. They had their own empire from about 1450 BCE to 1100 BCE.

Elamite "is not a Semetic language (like Akkadian) nor an Indo-Euorpean one (like Old Persian); it is not definitely related to any known language or language group ... It was used by the Achaemenid Persian kings for some administrative documents in Fars during the earlier part of their rule (down to the 450s ...)" Amelia Kuhrt, "The Ancient Near East, c. 3000 -- 330 BC, Volume 1, From c. 3000 BC to c. 1200 BC", page 367.

Apologies for the double post.

#80
Alan,
It wasn't boring to me. My dad was an electrician and he helped build the house I grew up in and the duplex my mom lives in now. I have construction in my blood. I love watching construction. I love watching the big machines working. I like it when you explain things. Explain away.

"Now capt, on the previous thread, reposted the only image that seems to exist,"

That link provides a VIDEO and you can listen to them speak about the MOLTEN METAL. If you went there you would see a video not a still photo. The still photo is vid-cap from the video.

Here it is again:

Ground Zero Video

I would assume if you want to question Prof. Jones' work you can contact him at:

Steven E. Jones
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602

I am sure he would respond to any questions you have about his work, no?

capt

Read the last 90 posts. Say Hey!

Is Limbaugh really al Zarqawi? I stopped the TV last night and showed my wife that these two guys were not the same person. She said the eyes may not be the same but the hat certainly is.

And why does everyone get so attentive when someone on the hill gets caught having sex?

Won't anyone in the MSM admit to being screwed lately and frequently?

"It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers."

~ James Thurber (1894 - 1961)

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."

~ Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

"Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't."

~ Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

"The history of our race, and each individual's experience, are sown thick with evidence that a truth is not hard to kill and that a lie told well is immortal."

~ Mark Twain (1835 - 1910), Advice to Youth

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple."

~ Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895, Act I

April 29, 2006
Arianna Huffington
George Bush: Foreign Policy from God, Energy Policy from Big Oil

Apr. 25 -- The president may turn to God when it comes to shaping his foreign policy, but his energy policy is strictly courtesy of the Men Upstairs at Big Oil.

Which is why it is beyond comical to watch Moe, Curly, and Larry -- sorry, I mean Bush, Hastert, and Frist -- getting all blue in the face about skyrocketing gas prices, and calling on the Energy and Justice Departments to look into possible market manipulation by oil companies.

It's the least believable call for an investigation since O.J. set out to find the real killers.

For those of you experiencing a sudden wave of d?j? vu, yes, the GOP demand for a federal probe of potential oil industry price-gouging was a carbon copy of the demands Chuck Schumer made last week. Hey, maybe they just unconsciously "internalized" Schumer's words.

If it wasn't so despicable it would be laughable.

There was Frist on Good Morning America today, putting aside his video diagnostic skills to become one of the "Car Talk" guys. Among Frist's helpful money saving tips for drivers forced to consider taking out a second mortgage in order to fill up their tanks: get a tuneup, drive slower, and carpool. Thanks, Dr. Goodwrench!

But Frist was just the gassy second banana. The clear headliner was Bush, who had them rolling in the aisles at a meeting of the Renewable Fuels Association, with zingers like his claim that "large cash flows" mean that "these energy companies don't need unnecessary tax breaks". A sentiment that didn't stop the president from signing a GOP energy bill stuffed with some $14.5 billion in tax breaks, tax subsidies, and tax deductions for his cash-rich energy industry chums. I guess those tax breaks were "necessary."

Bush also scored big with his impression of a guy who cares about conservation, highlighting the need to "promote greater fuel efficiency": "And the easiest way to promote fuel efficiency," said the president, "is to encourage drivers to purchase highly efficient hybrid or clean diesel vehicles." As the proud owner of a pair of hybrids, I say "hear, hear." As a sentient human being I say, "Isn't this the same guy whose administration hasn't increased fuel efficiency standards for passengers cars even a single m.p.g. in six years?" Maybe now that former GM-lobbyist (and fuel efficiency opponent) Andy Card has left the White House, Bush has finally allowed his inner-Prius owner to run free. Or maybe the lure of touting vehicles that can run on alternative energy sources to an alternative energy trade association was just too hard to resist.

How gullible do they think we are? Memo to the White House: it's not working. Bush's approval rating just dropped to 32% -- a number at which both water and political clout freeze.

All this huffing and puffing about manipulated markets and record gas prices scream of a blatant attempt to inoculate Republicans from consumer rage over the massive earnings oil companies are scheduled to announce this week. Industry analysts predict that ExxonMobil will report first-quarter earnings of only $9.1 billion on Thursday -- down from the record $10.7 billion posted in the fourth quarter of 2005. With profits like that, Lee Raymond's $400 retirement package is starting to look a little stingy. Except to those paying through the nose at the pump.

The most honest comment on the gas price crisis came from Scott McClellan (freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose, eh, Scottie?) who said: "This is not something we got into overnight." Exactly. These levels of oil company profits took years of careful lobbying and planning to orchestrate.

Our oil-man president may want us to think that he's shocked, shocked by the "large cash flows" of the oil companies, and the sticker shock drivers are experiencing at the pump, but even before Team Bush was dreaming of toppling Saddam, it was laying the groundwork for the gargantuan windfall the oil industry is seeing -- starting with Dick Cheney's secret Energy Task Force.

It's not a coincidence that the oil and gas industries donated over $25 million to Congressional campaigns in 2004 (with 80% of that money going into Republican coffers), and another $7.2 million so far in the 2006 cycle (with 84% going to the GOP). They also doled out over $4.5 million to Bush's 2000 and 2004 presidential runs.

And what did they get for their largess? According to Public Citizen, the top five oil companies have pocketed over a quarter of trillion (that's with a "T") in profits since Bush took office. Talk about a return on investment. That's a gusher!

So for American consumers, payback is a bitch. And three bucks a gallon at the gas pump. The Bush administration has turned the White House into a full service filling station for Big Oil. And we're the ones being forced to pick up the tab.

So don't let the empty rhetoric and the phony outrage pouring out of the White House and the Republican Congress fool you: America isn't facing a shortage of fuel; it's facing a shortage of leadership.

Arianna forgot to say that the domestic policy is for the rich and their hefty tax cuts.

Re #93: Thank you, capt, but I am website challenged. I have no way to view a video and no easy way to listen to audio. So...

Is the video of the entire exctaction sequence? Who is providing the commentary? A tv reporter? Or is it Jones?

Thanks!

The GOP Is Sticking It to Americans

Gerald, what have you been feeding that elephant?

Look at the pictures on the link.

Tens of thousands protest war in NY City

Gerald, Cindy Sheehan was at the march. She's in one of the pictures.

Protest coverage

Gone are the days

#101 geof01, I have not been finding the elephant anything. The GOP feeds the elephant (its members) shit and out comes shit.

#102 Jeanne, Cornposters, please remember Cindy Sheehan is one of my foxes. Yes, Bushitler is more evil than bin Laden!

Please remember that war is outmoded. Wars create more problems than they resolve problems. No normal person will choose war over peace. Bushitler is insane!!!

The glory of Bushitler is man fully dead!!!

The glory of Bushitler is man fully dead!!!

Here is one comment that our Nazi American government says to the Iraqi people.

Another speaker was even more direct: Lawlessness is affecting the society. Drug addiction is rampant. Eccentric behavior is common. "This is an Iraqi problem," your country tells us, "but who created it? Why after demolishing all our efforts are you telling us to solve these things?"

My heart aches for the Iraqi people and how inhuman our Nazi government has treated the Iraqis.

Yes, our Nazi government has fully embraced hatred, murders, torture, war crimes, corruption, decadence, greed, and lies.

DB,

It would be unfair for me to try to define or characterize Prof. Jones paper or the contents therein. Please address him directly. I am sure he would enjoy a challenge from another honorable professor. The complete paper is HERE

Or maybe you can write a paper in opposition with all of your ideas, possibilities and assumptions?

I look forward to seeing the results! Please post copies here and we will all enjoy your superior intellect and acumen.

capt