Colbert At The Correspondent's Dinner [VIDEO]
c/o crooks & liars

A joke in honor of the White House Correspondent's dinner.

What's the difference between Bush and Clinton? Bush can't control his generals and Clinton can't control his privates.

Stephen Colbert smacks Bush down hard - Video
Richard Kastelein | Empire Burlesque | 4/30/06

The crowd was simply stunned.

Although he was being funny - Colbert wasn't being a comic... He stood up and told the Emperor and his minions that they simply have no clothes.

And if that's your goal, well, misery accomplished. Over the last five years you people were so good over tax cuts, W.M.D. intelligence, the affect of global warming. We Americans didn't want to know, and you had the courtesy not to try to find out. Those were good times, as far as we knew. But, listen, let's review the rules. Here's how it works. The President makes decisions, he's the decider. The Press Secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Put them through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know, fiction.
This truly was a "Lenny Bruce moment" and a "must watch".

(link)

Mr. David Corn,

Great post!

No offense to Tony but really, he is no Clooney! (one of my better halfs favorites)

Thanks for all of your work!
(now about that new book?)

Kirk

Yes, let's have a few tidbits - a golden nugget as it would be - about your progress on the new book. . . or a teaser. . . or a funny anecdote about a conversation with your publisher. . . or how your friends are mad at you becuase you spend all your $%^! time on the book. . . Your loyal public wants to know.

This double approach - clamping down on unauthorized disclosures while releasing documents on carefully chosen occasions - illustrates how the White House has attempted to manage closely held government information since the terrorism of Sept. 11 made Bush a wartime president.

"It's selective secrecy for political control," said Tom Blanton, director of the independent National Security Archive at George Washington University. "Secrecy puts power in the hands of officials who then can abuse it. It also covers up the abuse."

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Zeroing In On Rove?

TPMMuckraker read all the papers and says everyone agrees on why Karl Rove appeared for the fifth?count it, fifth?time before the grand jury on Wednesday: to explain why he failed to tell prosecutors earlier that he'd revealed Valerie Plame's identity to Matthew Cooper. Bloomberg's story quotes "people familiar with the case" as seeing"potentially ominous signs" for Bush's adviser in his latest visit to Fitzgerald's grand jury.

Ominous, Bloomberg explained, because, "Among other things, they said, Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald declined to give him any assurance after his testimony that he won't be charged."

RawStory posts an MSNBC report about Rove's lawyers saying that Rove called the whole experience "hell" and "was surprised by the tone of the questions as well as the length of time he was required to testify."

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Mr. Prosecutor, To quote an unreconstructed former Republican presidential candidate, "You know it. I know it. And the American people know it." We expect you also to have sufficient evidence to prove all of this. There are many of us who are on the verge of losing faith in our democracy. We are convinced that there are people within the highest ramparts of American government who are willing to put our country at great risk to advance their geopolitical vision. We want our country back. And all we have left is the power of the law. From what we know, you are the right man come forth at the right time.

Presumably, he is trying to find evidence that Karl Rove launched a covert operation to create the forged documents and then conspired to out Valerie Plame when he learned the fraud was being uncovered by Plame?s husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson. As much as this sounds like the plot of a John le Carre novel, it also comports with the profile of the Karl Rove I have known, watched, traveled with and written about for the past 25 years.

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mr. ha, alternet's oshua holland has a piece today you should have a look at

I have seen the spawn of Rove's tortured mind and watched a hundred of his political scams unfold and I am confident I know how this one played out. Rove might have brought it up with his fellow big brains in the White House Iraq Group, a propaganda organization set up to disseminate information supporting the war. There was likely a consensus to move the plan to smack down Wilson out of the White House. Rove always keeps a layer of operatives between himself and the person he gets to pull the trigger. Libby was probably told to manage it out of the VP's office to protect the president because Karl always takes care of his most prized assets. Libby then likely ordered John Hannah and possibly David Wurmser to call the ever-friendly Judy Miller at The New York Times and columnist Robert Novak to give them Valerie Plame's identity. Rove knew that Miller would call Libby of Aspen for confirmation and his old friend Novak was certain to call Rove who, as an unidentified senior White House official, would confirm the identity on background only. Because Novak is a partisan gunslinger, he wrote more quickly than Miller and when she saw the firestorm his story created, she backed off and has since been trying to cover for herself and Libby. Miller's later claim that she cannot remember who gave her the "Valerie Flame" name is as much dissembling as Rove's unconvincing argument that he "forgot" he met with Time reporter Matt Cooper. Karl Rove can remember precinct results from 19th-century presidential elections. He neither forgets nor forgives.

Bush Leverage With Russia, Iran, China Falls as Oil Prices Rise

May 1 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush, already weakened at home by the soaring cost of oil, is finding that it's also eroding his ability to achieve his foreign-policy goals.

``It's a geopolitical nightmare,'' says William Cohen, a former Republican senator from Maine and defense secretary under President Bill Clinton who is now chairman of the Cohen Group, a Washington-based consulting firm. Such nations as Iran, Russia and China ``don't see us as the colossus that can cause them any harm, either by our economy or by our prestige.''

Record-high energy prices are weakening Bush's prospects of assembling an international coalition to counter Iran's nuclear ambitions. They are diminishing his chances of influencing energy-rich nations such as Russia and isolating troublesome ones including Venezuela and Sudan. And they are straining U.S. economic and diplomatic ties with China, whose oil needs are skyrocketing.

Prices show no signs of abating in the last two-and-a-half years of Bush's presidency, with oil futures hovering near $72 a barrel through the November 2008 presidential election. That's creating a windfall for oil-producing nations that may thwart Bush's goal of promoting democracy and free markets from Asia to the Middle East and halting the spread of nuclear arms.

Bush acknowledged last week that high oil prices have decreased the U.S.'s power to sway events.

More HERE

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High oil prices are killing us as big oil sucks us dry while giving themselves huge bonuses and record profits.

capt

Stephen Colbert was outstanding! Take the time watch the video. You will see that the press is as nervous, constrained and frightened, as they were before the invasion of Iraq and have continued to be as the Bush administration has been beating the drums for first strikes on Iran the last three years. It was oh so apparent.

Colbert was working for the truth and the american public that night....he "bitch slapped" the Bush administration and the press. Thank You Stephen Colbert.

"But the rest of you, what are you thinking, reporting on NSA wiretapping or secret prisons in eastern Europe? Those things are secret for a very important reason: they're super-depressing. And if that's your goal, well, misery accomplished. Over the last five years you people were so good -- over tax cuts, WMD intelligence, the effect of global warming. We Americans didn't want to know, and you had the courtesy not to try to find out. Those were good times, as far as we knew.

But, listen, let's review the rules. Here's how it works: the president makes decisions. He's the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Just put 'em through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know - fiction!"

Special Report Protects Bush By Lying
Reported by Janie - April 07, 2006

On Special Report Thursday (4/6) Fox White House Correspondent Carl Cameron filed a report on the revelation that George Bush leaked the classified National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) to the media in July 2003 to strengthen his case for the invasion of Iraq since he was under pressure because no weapons of mass destruction had been found. In typical Fox fashion, the report was filled with lies and misperceptions which left any viewer with complete pro-Republican propaganda.

(link)

Impeachment without Blowjobs
BY JESSE MYERSON

After nearly six years of investigating the matter, I have finally disappointingly determined that President Bush has never committed the ultimate impeachable offense: getting dome on the job (if a congressman did this, would it be called "getting a job in the dome"?). My suspicion, for what it's worth, is still that the reason behind this is just that it?s never been offered to him, and that were it ever, the president would criminally accept. But I'm not one for pre-emptive justice, or for conviction on the basis of guesswork. No, instead, in my quest for impeachment I have, by incident, compiled a list of more minor crimes which, while by no means as egregious as what that wretched, wretched Clinton fellow did, might, taken in whole, constitute grounds for impeachment. Indulge me.

(link)

#268 Capt (previous post). From my perspective the march in New York received very little coverage in the MSM. In fact I did not see any late last week or over the weekend. We are witnessing the absence of well balanced and accurate coverage of these events that we witnessed prior to the invasion of Iraq. In Oct of 2002 one of the first large marches in Washington barely received any coverage. NPR did not touch it. NPR did not touch this march either. Call and write NPR.

The consequences are that those at home who are unaware that such a march is even taking place are left thinking that they are alone with their questions about the Bush administration drum beating about Iran. Deja vu.

TO ALL... Have folks read or seen any coverage of Saturday's anti-war march in the MSM. All I have read are several articles on Truth out and Anti-war. The front page of the New York Times did not mention it. SPOOKY

The MSM is just propaganda.

IMHO

capt

Stephen Colbert is THE funniest person on TV period.

The muted response by the audience post skit was a tell. The fear of laughing was very evident. I thought that was you David in with the WH press Corps, such a brief glance but I said Hey! I know that guy!

Helen Thomas is a jewel shining brightly in the Corps despite her age and the video showed she could do comedy, she was great!

The Colbert Report is a report on truth and Stephens word creation "Truthiness" rings true at the dinner.

Chimpies parrot was hard to distinguish from chimpy if you listened only and by the real chimpies body language he was not comfortable with self depricating humour.

Stephen scored big whacks at the CIC and struck a nerve in the audience, good, someone needs to let them know fear is not an option any more.

Kathleen @ #12 regarding Colbert. Amen to that! I wish I could've been there like Mr. Corn. Colbert said just about every painful thing to Bush that 68% of us would love to say, and Bush simply had to sit there and listen, 15 feet away. And Colbert stuck it to the meek press too, with which Mr. Corn seems a bit uncomfortable. I think the cabinet and the DC press should all be squirming, sweating and nauseously uncomfortable all the time, given where we've come to under this administration. And what better place to do so than a mutual backslapping club fancy dinner? Awesome, just awesome.

Of all all the great satire and funny lines from Colbert's speech, the one that is taying with with me today is him urging the President not to view the glass as half empty, or half full, regarding his disapproval ratings. That it's really 2/3 empty, and most of what is in the glass is just backwash anyway!

19 Good Riff.

Everytime I think of bush and all those richly attired people yucking it up at some party I just want to throw up. I wish there was a way to round them all up and drop them off in Afghanistan for a tour of the DU poisoned babies. What a party, what a time to remember. bushco's day is coming and I hope I am still here to see them get what they deserve.
caroline from the last thread, the reason people don't get all bent out of shape like you do when I say something they disagree with is because they truly believe in free speech, and NOT just for the people they agree with. Even Alan understood what I meant and didn't take offense. You take offense at everything I say, which I find humorous. Take a lude and relax, you're WAY too uptight!
Alan from the last thread, I'm glad you have a sense of humor, that is probably our most important asset in this crazy world! I am going to make a prediction. I think that the 9/11 debate is going to get extremely volatile. Regardless of what the official story supporters think there is no way to ignore the myriad unanswered questions that remain after all this time. Arguing about cell phones vs. sky phones and controlled demo vs. airplane demo doesn't even begin to skim the surface of the outright lies and inconsistancies associated with the official version. It is starting to appear in the MSM, attempts to quash it are not working as well as they used to. People are reading and starting to realize the MSM is not realiable for honest news anymore. I believe that eventually the truth will come out when the powers that be are ready to make their next move. Things are changing fast, bushco has been doing everything in their power, under the direction of others, to destroy the republican party and this country as fast as possible, because a democratic republic is unacceptable to the ruling constructs planned for the world. You may laugh at my theory, and that's fine, but it is based on an intense amount of reading, research and observation. 10 years ago who would have ever believed our country would be where it is today? There is no way we can vote ourselves out of this mess. If the people don't stand up as one powerful force, and damn soon, the US as we have always known it is finished.

Well bless his little retarded codpiece self. PIC

Sal, ludes? You will love this then, 21st Century Propaganda Machine. Beamed directly to a living room near you!

DEN, you know I was kidding, right?

ABC News: Thousands in NYC March Against Iraq War

CBS/AP: Iraq Protest Draws Tens of Thousands

Boston Globe: Tens of Thousands in NY March AGainst Iraq War

Chicago Tribune: NYC War Protest Attracts Thousands

WaPo Puts in on Page A07, Sunday

FORBES: Tens of Thousands in NYC Protest War

From WaPo's website Saturday Night: Tens of Thousands Protest Iraq War

Washington Times: Thousands Protest Iraq War in March through Manhattan

Thousands Protest War in New York City

Also, dozens and dozens of local TV stations, additional newspapers throughout the US, including Newsday, Houston Chronicle, and Aljazeera, Hindu Times, Jerusalem Post, Islam Online, and other foreign publications covered the war protest. There will never be enough coverage, but it was not ignored.

Take a lude and relax, you're WAY too uptight!

Thanks for the laugh, Saladin. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

DEN, that's just more propaganda hoopla! Our govt. Would NEVER do anything like that! They are only doing what they have to in order to protect us from cave dwelling boogeymen who are tireless in their efforts to make us un-free!

I'm not uptight at all. You are the one who endlessly bitches about everything I say and have even told me to f**k off. I just scroll past your posts that don't interest me. I couldn't care less about your politics and they certainly don't have the ability to get me riled up. Can't you just ignore me too? You will feel better.

CIA uses Boeing 737

May 1, 2006 -- CIA Boeing 737 still flying secret prisoners around Asia and Europe. A Boeing 737, tail number N368CE, registered to a shadowy company called Premier Aircraft Management and incorporated in North Las Vegas, Nevada, has been sighted in Frankfurt, Germany, Luxembourg, Baghdad, and Kabul in recent months. The Boeing is ostensibly owned by Wells Fargo Bank and was based in Wilmington, Delaware until 2004. The plane was previously registered to a Malaysian firm called Country Heights, based in Seri Kembangan, Malaysia and operated under registration number 9M-LKY. The Boeing has had an interesting history. Once known for flying around VIPs such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kofi Annan, the plane has been used by the CIA to fly around renditioned prisoners and their CIA captors.

In 2005, the home base of the plane was shifted from Wilmington to Frankfurt, Germany. Recently, the ownership of the Boeing was shifted from Premier Aircraft Management to a sister company called Vision Airlines. The owner of both companies is William Acor, whose airline business has largely encompassed sightseeing flights over the Grand Canyon. The registered secretary and treasurer of Premier is Chong How Kiat while Acor is treasurer for Vision. Vision's secretary is listed as Steven Acor. According to FEC records, Acor donated to the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2004.

Premier Aircraft Management appears to be an umbrella company consisting of firms and branches in Nevada, Canada, Luxembourg, and Malaysia. Another Boeing 737, tail number N34315 and registered to Wilmington Trust, in Wilmington, Delaware, has been spotted at Luxembourg's Findel Airport along with N368CE. There are reports of a cooperative arrangement between these aircraft and Luxair, which is based at Findel.

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

Wayne Madsen - always interesting reading.

capt

Cant we all just get along?

Why There Has Never Been a Bush Veto

In one of the most arrogant, appalling and audacious acts by any President, Bush has signed bills with additional "signing statements" that essentially say even though Congress passed this law and Bush swore on the bible to uphold the law, well shucks, that was just a show for the rubes on television, patriotic suckers. The signing statement says Bush can ignore any element of this law whenever he wants to. Because Bush says so, thatճ why, screw 225 years of democratic government.

Why veto anything one is simply going to ignore anyway? That, after all this time and hundreds of thousands of words puzzling over the answer, turns out to be the answer after all: Bush has never vetoed a bill because the law means nothing to him.

To state the screamingly obvious, this amazing scenarioѡ concrete reality at this very moment in the United States, the worldճ oldest democracyѣhucks the country into the shitcan. Congress is meaningless, the law can be subverted at any time by the presidentճ order, and thus the Bill of Rights quietly dies, the bedrock of every citizenճ existence.

Special care should be taken not to dismiss this development as a personal quirk of Bush or the presidency itself. Again, the law of the United States may be subverted at the presidents order: Bush can start a war, for example, in flagrant defiance of the law and thereճ nothing the country can do about it. Bush has taken these dictorial powers for himself but his actions directly affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

More HERE

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"asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution."

capt

You know David, I used to read you regularly. But I find your constant preening, references to what video you were "pleased to be in" type comments about yourself to be annoying. There are just too many of them. Your posts also have begun to sound like you're enjoying the high life a bit much and they lack urgency and seriousness that Glenn Greenwald and Firedoglake blogs have.

DEN, I do get along, but there are always some who find it impossible to allow dissenting opinions to be expressed without feeling the need to chime in with some kind of insulting comment. I have suggested several times that she just ignore me, but she won't, I have always pissed her off. You may have missed what she said on the previous thread, but it was totally unnecessary. I am grateful to Alan for his calm and reasonable response. I promise, I am done with her now.

UK Petrol Now
$7-$8 Per Gallon!
NewsWales.com
5-1-6

1.00 GBP United Kingdom Pounds = 1.82357 USDUnited States Dollars

People living in places like rural Wales are going to suffer most from high petrol prices, Welsh Conservative AM Brynle Williams said today.

He was comenting on news that petrol prices have reached a record high in the UK. According to the AA Motoring Trust, the average price of a litre of unleaded petrol went up from yesterday's record of 96.13p to a new high of 96.26p. A litre of diesel is also now at a record high - 98.9p a litre.

"People are going to have to get used to the fact that high fuel prices are here to stay," said Brynie Williams.

"In the long term I cannot see unleaded petrol falling below 97p per litre. Regrettably it is people living in places like rural Wales who are going to suffer most.
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When oil reaches 100 dollars a barrel we will be suffering as well.

Law Day, U.S.A., 2006
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

America's legal system is central to protecting the constitutional principles on which our Nation was founded. As we observe Law Day, we celebrate our heritage of freedom, justice, and equality under the law.

White House [Link]

Ex-Playboy Model Smith Wins U.S. Supreme Court Appeal

May 1 (Bloomberg) -- Former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith won a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that revives her $89 million claim in a fight over the estate of her late husband, Texas oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II.

The justices, reversing a federal appeals court, unanimously said a federal bankruptcy judge had jurisdiction to consider Smith's claim against her stepson, E. Pierce Marshall. The Supreme Court sent the case back to the appeals court level to consider additional arguments by Marshall against the award.

Smith, who was 26 when she married the 89-year-old Howard Marshall in 1994, says Pierce Marshall destroyed some documents and altered others to ensure she didn't receive the half-billion dollar trust her husband had set up for her before his 1995 death.

More HERE

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Good for her. I wonder if when she is in her nineties she will marry some young guy and the chain can remain unbroken.

capt

I find it interesting that Stephen Colbert made you, David Corn, somewhat uncomfortable. Though you profess to have enjoyed the comedy of it, you ignore the truth that Colbert was speaking (or should I say "truthiness"?). Why analyze why everybody in the room was squirming and "sour"? It's all just jokes (right?). As Colbert was pointing out, practically everybody in that room on Saturday night is complicit with the horrors of this administration. Check out the blogs today. Colbert is a hero. A brave man among the Washington Press corps cowards.

Stephen Colbert did the unthinkable -- he dropped a bomb on the busheviks and the WH press corps. And hit his target!! The WH press corp yukked it up for bush, but were obedient little toadies when Colbert told the REAL TRUTH. They looked as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs! Ohhhhhhhhhh, please don't let the cameras catch me laughing!

The event should have been cancelled this year. All it did was give more face-time on TV to the busheviks and temporarily change the subject...AGAIN!

Oh, well...it showed the WH media worries way too much aboutoffending the worst president in history.

Maybe she would be willing to give some of that hard earned money to the people of Afghanistan, they are in desperate need of help.

22 Commander Codpiece "The Derider"

Puerto Rico closes government offices

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The government of Puerto Rico ran out of money Monday, forcing the U.S. commonwealth to close public schools and shut down government offices, putting almost 100,000 people out of work.

The legislature and governor failed to reach a last-minute accord that would have averted the first-ever partial shutdown of the government in island history.

All 1,600 public schools on the island were closed two weeks before the end of the academic year, and 43 government agencies were shut down after last-minute negotiations between lawmakers and Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila failed.

Acevedo blamed "legislative inaction" for the shutdown.

"As of 8 a.m. this morning, I don't have in hand a single legislative proposal that resolves this crisis," he told reporters.

More HERE

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

Big trouble in Puerto Rico.

capt

emjoe at #37: Spot on. Some call them the White House press CORPSE.

The "New Totalitarianism" now defines a desperate neo-con end game By Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman / Free Press | May 1 2006

As the Bush/neo-con kleptocracy disintegrates in a toxic cloud of military defeat, economic bankruptcy, environmental disaster and escalating mega-scandal, its attack on basic American freedoms---its "New Totalitarianism"---has escalated to a desperate new level, including brutal Soviet-style prosecutions against non-violent dissidents and an all-out offensive for state secrecy, including an attack on the internet.

In obvious panic and disarray, the GOP right has turned to a time-honored strategy---kill the messengers. While it slaughters Americans and Iraqis to "bring democracy" to the Middle East, it has made democracy itself public enemy Number One here at home.

The New Totalitarianism has become tangible in particular through a string of terrifying prosecutions against non-violent dissenters, an attack on open access to official government papers, and the attempted resurrection by right-wing "theorists" of America's most repressive legislation, dating back to the 1950s, 1917 and even 1797.
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Can someone please explain to me how Muslim fanatics benefit from this?

"as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!"

HA!

Apt description!

capt

I think Steve Colbert has made himself very famous. I like his show in part because he does the Bill thing almost too well.

AAR was talking about him this morning.

What a sad commentary it is about the MSM and the "press corps" that "The Daily Show" and parodies are the only place to hear the truth?

capt

#37 Check out the blogs today. Colbert is a hero. A brave man among the Washington Press corps cowards.

Isn't it surreal that Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart aren't even "journalists" but we get the straighter scoop -- unvarnished truthiness -- from them, than we generally get from the "real" media?

What's wrong with that picture?

Robert Fisk: Seen through a Syrian lens, 'unknown Americans' are provoking civil war in Iraq By Robert Fisk 04/29/06 "The Independent"

Linked by ICH

...The Americans, my interlocutor suspected, are trying to provoke an Iraqi civil war so that Sunni Muslim insurgents spend their energies killing their Shia co-religionists rather than soldiers of the Western occupation forces. "I swear to you that we have very good information," my source says, finger stabbing the air in front of him. "One young Iraqi man told us that he was trained by the Americans as a policeman in Baghdad and he spent 70 per cent of his time learning to drive and 30 per cent in weapons training. They said to him: 'Come back in a week.' When he went back, they gave him a mobile phone and told him to drive into a crowded area near a mosque and phone them. He waited in the car but couldn't get the right mobile signal. So he got out of the car to where he received a better signal. Then his car blew up."
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This tactic sounds amazingly similar to the Mossad "By deception thou shalt do war" tactic.

"Don't worry if you're a kleptomaniac, you can always take something for it."

~ Unknown

micki, it's our new bizarro world where the only reliable news source is on The Comedy Channel!

#25 Caroline..thanks for linking all of those articles. Of course there will never be enough coverage of an event like that for me.

But when the national networks that the majority of americans watch "almost" ( I say that politely I did not see or hear one second of coverage, not by NPR not by any mainstream T.V. or radio outlets) they completely ignored it..they should receive thousands of e-mails, phone calls full of outrage. We should demand more of them!

Stephen Colbert's efforts to "bitch slap" the media is a perfect example of holding the press accountable.

"it's our new bizarro world where the only reliable news source is on The Comedy Channel!"

And for some odd reason THAT is funny!

capt

David:

This part of your `prom' post really stood out:

"Still, there was no explicit recognition that Americans are dying each day for his war in Iraq. And few attendees seemed to think twice about that."

My lighter comment is that Bush did NOT want to set an overly somber mood for your Prom; would have been in bad taste when followed by the skewering he anticipated and received later on.

My more somber reaction is to these two simple words you penned: "his war". These 2 words, just 6 letters in all, sum up the partisanship of the Iraq War perfectly! Unfortunately, they also seem to increasingly apply, for the Left, to the broader War on Terror.

Our history has few officially declared OUR WARS. Even during the Vietnam War, I don't recall (though too young to have paid close attention to the chattering class) the media calling that war as Kennedy's or Johnson's War.

Your calling the Iraq War as `his war' was likely made casually and worth little afterthoughts. For those of us who support the many non-WMD reasons to topple Saddam, we regret that too many on the Left, especially those in Congress who voted for the War and the liberal press, have reached a similar level of concluding that the war is `his war' and not OUR WAR.

The negative, uncomfortable reaction of the "majority" of the dinner's attendees is telling. Most of the press salivates for the continuation of the "GAME" without harboring any desire for making any changes.

It was the "fool" in the king's court, alone, who was allowed to challenge the king with statements of reality wrapped in humor.

If the FOOLS of the press corps are too afraid to openly explore the "edges" that Colbert blithely danced upon, then they should hang up their steno-pads, rip the Press cards from the bands on their fedoras and write their novels that are sure to be suitable for burning by the fundamentalist facist nation that this country is rapidly becoming.

-T

#49 Saladin Jon Stewart never..ever touches issues that have to do with Israel's policies or actions.... Never.

He NEVER challenges, makes fun of or criticizes anything the Israeli government does. I have listened closely. Someone could turn this topic into a masters program..just looking at the Daily show and whether the producers or Stewart treat all topics equally. I know they do not.

Last night (replay this morning) Jon Stewart had the head of Mossad on.

I have it recorded but have not watched it yet.

capt

"Had the head of Mossad..."

He'd be the toast of Hammas, for THAT!

-T

"they should hang up their steno-pads, rip the Press cards from the bands on their fedoras and write their novels that are sure to be suitable for burning by the fundamentalist facist nation that this country is rapidly becoming."

As far as I am concerned they already have. The crud that passes for news has been sorely lacking in any real substance since before Bush (IMHO).

capt

If not "his war" then whose?

You haven't been paying attention. A hundred serious, sincere, and many of them Republican people have stepped forward in the last three years and said the war in Iraq has nothing to do with the war on terror; the administration lied about yellowcake, aluminum tubes, mobile bio labs and mushroom clouds.

You should consider changing your name from "Happy" to "Ignorance is Bliss"

"To be stupid, selfish, and have good health are three requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost."

~ Gustave Flaubert (1821 - 1880)

Ahmed Chalabi is back in the news. The "urban myth" cowboy.

This is what the world gets when the MSM does not do their job and challenge the Bush administratons strategy and claims with Iran that they started spewing three years ago. This momentum has been building all of that time and has gone unchallenged "most" of the time.
Last update - 23:13 30/04/2006


Rice: U.S. may press Iran not only via UN on nuclear issue

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned on Sunday the United States might take steps outside the UN Security Council to pressure Iran to stop its nuclear program.

Rice, who appeared on several Sunday television talk shows, said Washington still had a number of diplomatic steps it could take through the UN Security Council against Iran. However, if the Council did not act quickly enough, Washington and its allies would not wait.

More at AP

#55 Capt..if this is so....that would be a first by Stewart. Do you have any past examples of him criticizing Israeli policies or actions?

The Iraq fiasco is certainly not "my war." You can claim it as your own if you wish. Ignorance is Bliss.

This will clear hings up.

Whose war is it? (pic)

The Daily Show episode with the Mossad goon was disturbing I thought. He is one sick dude, the details escape my addled mind but I got a not-so-good feeling watching Stewart roll over for his belly scratch.

O'Happy:

I said at #52: "For those of us who support the many non-WMD reasons to topple Saddam,..."

Notice the "non-" before "WMD"!

And what do you come back with at #58? "...the administration lied about yellowcake, aluminum tubes, mobile bio labs and mushroom clouds"

I assumed that someone who posts so much, 14 times out of the first 58 posts on this thread, you are capable of reading; but I was wrong! You posts much but don't read well before jerking off!

we regret that too many on the Left, especially those in Congress who voted for the War and the liberal press, have reached a similar level of concluding that the war is `his war' and not OUR WAR.

Aren't you the same guy who praises Bush's tax cuts for the rich? How is it that you can squeal like a like a selfish little pig in shit about all of your great stock conquests, but if the government should have the audacity to ask you
to sacrifice anything for "our" war, fuggedaboutit.

You don't know the first thing about sharing sacrifice for "our" war. There are people on this board with loved ones in Iraq. You're a fool and hypocrite.

#58 O'Reilly this is true. I met and talked with quite a few Republicans at the anti-invasion marches and at Kerry rallies.

The amount of well known Republicans who have spoken against this administration is astounding. Kevin Phillips, Paul O'Neil, General Zinni, NSA's Paul Ford who testified against John Bolton at his Senate Hearings. It would be great to see a list of all of the Republicans who have spoken out against the right wing radical "regime change" policies of this administration..

Anyone who believes that I was uncomfortable with Colbert's performance should go back and look at what I wrote. I said that I laughed while others squirmed, and I praised his material. What was unclear about that?

Kathleen,

Not even saying that about the show as I have yet to watch, I caught the last minute or two and it was a comment from Steve Colbert that mentioned the head of Mossad.

I have never watched TDS with a concern for what Jon says about Israel. So I have no recollection of such.

capt

Micki, so glad you watched the Colbert routine. The blogs are on fire about him but have you noticed the MSM has virtually nothing except to highlight what a good sport Bushie was for participating in a spoof on himself? No mention of Colbert. It is spooky! I thought one of the most dramatic elements of Colbert's film was featuring Helen Thomas in the pursuit ALONE. That's really how it was, Helen being the only reporter to hold their feet to the fire.

Kathleen, Jon Stewart is Jewish himself. I've noticed how you seem to tie everything into what appears to be a Jewish obsession on your part. What gives with that?

"I got a not-so-good feeling watching Stewart roll over for his belly scratch."

That is the feeling I have gotten from Jon on many occasions. We all chatted about that very issue at length some time ago.

capt

Happy nails one, That's your business and I'd prefer not to hear about it. You should keep your hands off the young boys.

What are your "many non-WMD reasons" that justify war in Iraq? How many of the aformentioned existed at the time of the invasion?

OUR kids are on the front lines in YOUR war, you condescending, snide little man...

-T

I read it David...you get to keep that cool headband-card, if you want it!

-T

Kathleen, I know he doesn't criticize Israel, they aren't allowed to. One thing I have learned in all my reading about Israel is to stop using the term Jew and Israel interchangeably. The fact that the majority of people continue with that misperception is what enables the Israeli leadership to commit crimes against humanity and get away with it. The Jewish label is a powerful shield that they are sorely abusing.

David writes:

The country is at war. There's plenty of problems--and contentious issues--besieging the nation's capital. And the White House and two thousand or so members of the press gather to make fun of it all and share a laugh. Does one risked being branded a fuddy-duddy to wonder if this is, well, seemly? It does feel surreal.

Yes David there are plenty of problems, which is why I have to wonder why you would go to a event you call seemly and then dedicate an entire blog about it?

To spread democracy and freedom. Except the "rule of law" because HE started HIS war and now:

"asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution."

*****

So our kids, our brave and best are dying in a war to grant HIM his dictatorial powers?

Anybody else had enough yet?

capt

"Yes David there are plenty of problems, which is why I have to wonder why you would go to a event you call seemly and then dedicate an entire blog about it?"

Corn writes about politics and government for a living so its not a big leap to understand why he would attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Poor lbh.

The Decider

I hear the voices, and I read the front page, and I know the speculation. But I'm the decider, and I decide what's best. George Bush April 18, 2006

Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite. John Kenneth Galbraith (1908-2006)

The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy, that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith (1908-2006)

Israeli forces ban Palestinian patients from treatment in Israel

GAZA, April 30 (KUNA) -- The Palestinian Health Ministry announced on Sunday that the Israeli occupation forces have banned Palestinian patients to enter Israel for the sake of receiving health care and be treated in its hospitals.

The ministry said in a statement that the Israeli forces stationed at Beit hanoun in north Gaza banned today three Palestinian children, their mothers as well as cancer patients to continue their medication in Israeli hospitals.

The statement pointed out that all those patients had obtained entry permits and were screened by the security personnel following a coordination with the concerned hospitals.
-------------
Israel can do whatever it wants because Jewish people suffered in a Holocaust in Germany 60 years ago.

From WRH
"Flight 93" the movie, why?

But maybe the why can be answered in part by who made Flight 93. It arrived packaged and promoted by Universal Studios, which is owned by NBC Universal, which also owns NBC, which is all owned by General Electric, media giant and major weapons contractor. What's more according to la.indymedia.org, General Electric donated $1.1 million to GW Bush for his 2000 election run. MSNBC is an NBC joint venture with MS or Microsoft that kicked in $2.4 million to get GW Bush elected. Now, where do you think the movie's point of view is coming from?
----------
Interesting factoid. This is why murder investigators always follow the money, except of course in the case of 9/11 where they avoided that line of questioning like the plague!

More sage advice from king george:

Dear Leader's prep plan for the upcoming hurricane season.

President Bush on Friday rejected the idea of killing FEMA.
The lessons of Katrina are important,' Bush said. we've learned a lot here at the federal level. We're much more ready this time than we were the last time.'
Let's , first of all, pray there's no hurricanes,' Bush said. That would be, like, step one.'

This man is mentally ill. The hurricane season is barreling down upon us and everyone knows the federal government is not ready.

Hideous Kinky

Mr. Corn:

You wrote: "The audience was not appreciative of his close-to-the-bone laceration of Bush and the Washington press corps. His material was sharp, piercing. But too much for this crowd. * * * That said more about them than him. Practically everyone I later surveyed was sour on his performance. Yet I laughed, while others squirmed."

Perhaps, as some one close to that community you can elaborate in a future post on what the audience reaction 'says about them' or is that the part that could be uncomfortable - calling attention to the utter failure of most others in your profession (not you, understand). Did did you think Colbert's speech was inappropriate in any way for the occasion and this crowd? Not assuming, just asking.

I'm the decider, and I decide what's best

#54 Kathleen -- with all due respect, not ALL topics are equal. Just saying...

"...just looking at the Daily show and whether the producers or Stewart treat all topics equally. I know they do not."

And look what we get on CNN: Bush "pokes fun at self" with video! Anna Nicole Smith wins a Supreme Court Decision that affects none of us at all. Trouble on the set of Desperate Housewives! Nothing about a colossal and provocative a$$-kicking forced on the President and the White House Press Corps, in real time and personally.

#69 Hey, Kaff, thanks for the heads-up on the tape!

I thought the vignette with Helen was a bit too long, but other than that, it made it's point very succinctly. I liked the parking garage venue -- sort of took me back to when Bob Woodward was SUPPOSED TO BE such a great investigative reporter.

#69 Kaff one of my many obsessions (for over 20 years) is and has been the disproportionate amount of power and influence that Israel has over U.s. foreign policy. How may times do Americans have to hear or continue to ignore that this is a serious issue for countries in the middle east. This is persistently ignored and dismissed by the mainstream media and comedy outlets in the U.s.

My response that you seem to object to was in response to Saladin's comment to Micki about Comedy Channel

"micki, it's our new bizarro world where the only reliable news source is on The Comedy Channel!"

I do not think Comedy Central including Jon Stewart who has a great deal of power and influence and who prides himself in addressing all political issues... equally and unafraid, as bullshit. Stewart and his producers are cowards on Israeli policies and actions and they often hammer other nations.

My point in response to Saladins inference that we will be getting "reliable news" from Comedy Central on all topics as absurd. The influence of the Israeli lobby has yet to be addressed on any major news outlet or through comedy in America. And as Jimmy Carter and others state that until the U.S. is willing to deal with the Palestinian/Israeli conflict in a fair, balanced and accurate way the conflict will continue and escalate.

Stewart and other comedians could address this issue through comedy and honesty but they do not. Stewart could have done some comedy piece on how the Aipac/Rosen/Weissman espionage trial has been postponed four times since January. If this trial had to do with any other country's "alleged" spying Jon Stewart through his comedy and the mainstream media would have been all over this critical story. They were not.

If our media and comedians who touch on politics as Stewart does were truely free to report fairly and accurately on all issues, this case and the Israeli lobbies continued and persistent efforts to have this serious case dismissed would be endlessly covered through comedy and the news...but it has and is not.

Later.

Sal, the word is 10% of the first days take of Flt 93 was going to victims families. Wow such generosity for producing speculative propaganda, NBC once again shows its collective moneygrubbing ignorance.

At least The Guardian in the UK is not scared to call attention to it in detail:

"Mr Bush smiled constantly during the 15-minute sketch, which was greeted throughout with applause and laughter. Having rehearsed the sketch, he knew what was coming. But he did not know about the skit that followed, a critique of his presidency by the political satirist Steven Colbert. Colbert made jokes about the elusive weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, opportunistic pictures on aircraft carriers and the mishandling of Hurricane Katrina.

Castigating Mr Bush for not changing policy even when circumstances demanded it, he said: "When the president decides something on Monday, he still believes it on Wednesday - no matter what happened Tuesday."

Colbert was scathing about Mr Bush's failures in Iraq. "I believe the government that governs best is the government that governs least, and by these standards we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq."

Mr Bush's grin became increasingly fixed. At the end of Colbert's sketch he and Laura gave him quick nods and left the platform unsmiling."

WWJD

The press turning a blind eye to an issue causes many to go blind in both eyes. Blindness is bliss as many can surely see.

I want MY war (pic)

#85 Micki. I agree completely all topics are not equal. But when the MSm and comedians with a great deal of power and influence are unwilling to address political topics that have influenced the whole middle east and the way countries and people in that part of the world feel towards the U.s., Or when the actions and policies and religious fanaticism of most coutries are ripped apart or made fun of by Stewart and yet Israeli policies or Zionist fanatics are left untouched, this provides a safe haven for those violent,destructive poiicies to continue to take place..... unchallenged.

David Corn writes: "Practically everyone I later surveyed was sour on his performance."

First, David, I thought you were clear as a bell that you laughed.

Second, can you tell us who wasn't sour on Colbert's performance? If "practically everyone" was sour, well, then, some weren't. Knowing who wasn't sour is an important part of the story, IMO.

Inquiring minds want to know who the non-sourpusses are...certainly, it can't be privileged information.

I am already against the NEXT WAR

Bush deemed all chucklers names to be classified.

He is the decider.

Micki: Editor and Publisher has some of that:

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002425365

The Iran War Has Begun

Bushitler is a total nut job

When I linked, I did not have to register but they slipped it in to read the article. Please accept my apologies.

The name of the article that I had hoped for you to read was Bush's Misbegotten Iran Plan.

Putting a Smiling Face on Disaster

Please read article on post #103!!!!!

Any parent that permits their son or daughter to fight for this devil incarnate nation is nutty than Bushitler.

It should read "nuttier than Bushitler."

Dear Mrs. Smith, your son was killed in Iraq because the U.S. Armed Forces ran out of bullets. Sincerely, Rummie, the dummie

P.S. Your son owes $1,965 for his uniform and rifle! Pay up immediately before we have the CIA knock on your door and take you away as an enemy combatant!!!

The Larry, Moe, and Curly show has an endless run with idiot Bushitler and his goons in office!!!

The Circus Is in Town

Capt, our war vs. his war. What's that quote about success having many fathers but failure being an orphan? And I agree with Don, profiteers shouldn't be allowed to claim the war as theirs.

Stewart being Jewish (Liebowitz, or something close to it) probably shades his views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Having a strong personal connection to the Holocaust might do that to you.

Kathleen, you took my comment about the Comedy Channel FAR too serious! In case you missed the sarcasm I was JOKING! SHEESH! You should know that I, of all people, am well aware of the refusal on the part of the MSM to treat equally any negative news in regards to Israel. The article I posted above about their refusal to allow Palestinian cancer patients into the hospital will not be touched by the US media with a 50 foot pole, just like they won't talk about the systematic way they are starving the Palestinian people to death by closing off the road to the port. Can't see it from my house.

Pan, what on earth does the Holocaust have to do with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? The Palestinian people had nothing to do with the Holocaust, but they are sure as hell paying dearly for it.

3-Year-Old Child's Skull Crushed at Israeli Checkpoint

Date : 29/04/2006 Time:13:59

HAIFA, April 29, 2006 (WAFA)-A three-year-old girl was killed at an Israeli checkpoint in the West Bank city of Ramallah, her mother told WAFA on Saturday.

The little child Rafeda Thaer, of Kufr Kanna in Israel, was accompanying, last Sunday, her mother and three brothers to pay a visit to her imprisoned Father in Nafha Israeli jail. The Israeli occupation's Gate of Kharibtha checkpoint, west of Ramallah, shut up at her head and crushed her skull.

Her mother, Jihan Aqeela said: "We stopped at the Kharibtha checkpoint inside a car for more than one hour. Rafeda wanted to go to bathroom. We got off the car and as we were passing the checkpoint, its huge Gate suddenly shut up against Rafeda's head. She was instantly bleeding from her head and eyes and went in a coma . An ambulance rushed to the checkpoint and took Refada to Hospital, but she died two days later."
------------
How does the Holocaust have anything to do with shit like this? I'm sorry, but this makes me so angry I could just scream.

SHANNON'S LAW: A Thousand Fathers

After the Bay of Pigs debacle, President John F. Kennedy famously remarked that "Success has a thousand fathers; failure is an orphan." By the time a large crowd gathered in the Poinsett Plaza lobby on St. Patrickճ Day, it seemed like all of Greenville had been buzzing for weeks with talk of a super-secret business venture code-named "Pogo" that had been collecting promises worth $12 million from various government entities in exchange for locating a corporate headquarters here that promised 600 new jobs at an average salary of $54,000 per annum.

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

I thought it was Kennedy but did not find it at my regular source quotationspage.com

capt

"Victory has a thousand fathers; defeat is an orphan."

~ John F. Kennedy, "A Thousand Days," by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr [1965]., p289. Comment made by JFK in the aftermath of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, 1961.

#112, The question is why does Stewart turn a blind eye to the I-P conflict. Anyone who has a close personal connection with the Holocaust is less likely to take a step back and question whether or not the U.S. is doing the right thing by backing Israel 100% of the time. With the Arab world backing the Palestinians, the U.S. is a good ally to have in the Middle East. It's a matter of simple psychology and RealPolitik. Rightly or wrongly, self-preservation matters much to most groups. Stewart's "neglect" of the I-P issue is a byproduct of this reflex.

Capt,

Can't link to "Shannon's Law". Could you cut'n paste it in an e-mail to me? Workin' 'ya know...

thanx.

-T

NIGHTLINE
______________

Interesting...I just did a "mandatory" DHS CME...gave 'em my work e-mail...suddenly I'm getting spammed by a gazillion "Government Online Survey"...

Anybody else think DHS is selling e-mail lists?

-T

Pan, Whether that is true or not is beside the point. All across the MSM spectrum the I-P issue is very purposely ignored when it comes to crimes against the Palestinian people, by Jewish and non-Jewish programmers alike. It could certainly be argued that Israel as a state is not necessary for the preservation of the Jewish people as a whole, and in fact since it's inception has been the cause of endless misery and strife for many Jews as well as Palestinians. Those two peoples lived in peace with each other in Palestine for many long years until the extremist Zionist regime demanded that the ancient borders be returned to the Jews because it was given to them by God and they are the "Chosen People." That one human concept has caused more death and destruction then any other, no matter who says it or where it is said. Preserving a people on those cruel and archaic terms will always fail, because it is a flawed path of logic that has and always will generate conflict, it is not something that can be argued rationally.

#84 James... wow Maybe Barbara could pinch W's ear and make him look at what he's done. She's the "family values" matron of Amerika, right?

#88 Kathleen... I was wondering about Bill Maher. Is he Jewish too? He was the original 'Jon Stewart', but probably more rash and not quite as funny... which was too much for mainstream media honchos. That ABC (I think it was) gig didn't last too long. Glad he's back, but... I have a cable modem but not cable TV.
*shrug*

Question. If I ordered the cable strictly for the internet a few years ago, (I know it's all the same cable) do they put an inline filter in the line to block TV signals? In other words, could I split the cable and hook directly up to a 'TV-out' graphics card to watch cable TV on my computer?

"I believed then, just as I believe now, that the best way to support the troops is to oppose a course that squanders their lives, dishonors their sacrifice, and disserves our people and our principles."
-- John Kerry, April 22nd, 2006 in Boston

When I read certain posts, I often have the impression that Jews (to some) are damned if they do, and damned if they don't. Jews are often reviled for things that others get away with on a regular basis, and condemned when their actions are justified -- it seems a judgement is made based on them being Jews, not on whether the judgement or action is moral, correct, or not.

Gee whiz, Jews are like everyone else. They come in all stripes. Some Irish don't want a thing to do with Sinn Fein; some Jews disagree with the various politics of Israeli leaders. Some Jews feel passionate about Israel; some Jews (usually younger people) could care less about their Jewishness, and only have a marginal interest in Israel. Jews are dispersed -- their first loyalty is to their country of residence; then if they feel a connection, they have a lesser loyalty to Israel.

As Daniel Levy (former advisor to Ehud Barak) has pointed out: In Israel, many have come to the realization that it would be smart to withdraw from Gaza, and eventually from some of the West Bank settlements. Why? For their long-term security. Why isn't it happening sooner than later? Because U.S. supporters see that as "appeasement" or even betrayal. The ole bushevik "not tough enough" BS.

Levy has said that the role of "The Lobby" in Israel-US relations will have to be "rethought."

All this warmongering during the bushevik reign has gotten us nowhere.

My apologies to David and you guyz for the long post. The above quote was at the top of this email. I've added some emphasis with the bold font.
==============

When we were in the Senate together, John Kerry and I shared a lot more than a last name. We both came to public service after having served our country in Vietnam. And that experience caused us to make a fifteen year effort to bring peace to Cambodia, resolve the POW-MIA issue, write a road map to normalization with our former enemy, and follow that road map until a former prisoner of war returned as our ambassador in 1998.

That diplomatic voyage was long and very contentious. It began with President George Herbert Walker Bush and ended with President Clinton. It was not possible without the courageous leadership of Senator John McCain and many other Vietnam veterans who served in Congress. It was angrily opposed by many and reignited many of the bitter, personal debates surrounding the war itself.

It's among my proudest accomplishments. We were able -- Republicans and Democrats together -- to achieve a great foreign policy success at the site of our worst foreign policy mistake. We stood shoulder to shoulder for peace and reconciliation. Millions of Cambodians and Vietnamese are better off today because of it. For me this was an effort worthy of our sacrifices and reflects my strongest desire for America's destiny as a peace maker.

For those who have fought in war, decisions about war and peace and how you send men and women to war become personal in a hurry. Wars -- even when we agree they are necessary -- are not the result of our successes; they are the result of our failures.

Something more, though, was seared into both John and me by our Vietnam experiences. Half of the names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall are the names of Americans who died after the policy makers knew our nation was on the wrong course, after both political parties called for expeditious withdrawal. And yet the war dragged on for five more years.

"How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

Thirty-five years ago, John Kerry asked that question as a recently returned Vietnam veteran testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He acted because he believed it was right to dissent from a war he believed was wrong -- and he was willing to endure the attacks of the Nixon Administration which hated John for saying what he believed.

This testimony provoked more than partisan attacks. Even many of his fellow veterans were angry and some never forgave him. I remember this well because I nearly lost my first race for Governor because people thought I was John.

Say what you want about the content of that testimony, it was an act of profound courage. And say what you want about that testimony, there is little doubt that Vietnam and the United States would have been spared tens of thousands of its youth had John's advice been taken.

Ten days ago, in a powerful speech on Iraq and dissent at Boston's Faneuil Hall, John made it clear that those who disagree with President Bush's course in Iraq have a right and an obligation to challenge a President who they believe is wrong, a policy they believe is wrong, and a war in Iraq they believe weakens our nation.

John stood up and defended the dissenters -- whether retired generals or our fellow Vietnam veteran Congressman Jack Murtha.

In an age where those who speak out are too often vilified or worse, John spoke out about and acted on the real meaning of patriotism: having the courage to speak your mind, heart, and gut even when it's unpopular.

I urge you to watch this vitally important speech and to forward it to as many people as possible.

VIEW HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FANEUIL HALL SPEECH ON DISSENT AND IRAQ

We're at a big moment here - one where each and every one of us must reject attempts to silence criticism of the rudderless course Washington has charted, one in which each of us must absolutely refuse to let soldiers and civilians die to save face for politicians unwilling to admit their mistakes or change course.

I urge you to watch this speech and to join with John Kerry in speaking out and doing everything possible to make 2006 the year that we did what's right for our soldiers in Iraq, our nation's foreign policy values, and our national security.

Sincerely,

Senator Bob Kerrey
=====================
There's 3 versions of the speech at that link... a highlights (6 minutes), extended highlights (19 minutes), and the entire speech (40 minutes).

Back when Robert and Hapless were discussing the "might makes right" doctrine of foreign relations, I meant to look up the Pascal quote about Might and Right. It goes something like, Right without might is ineffectual. Might without right stands convicted of itself as tyrannical. But there will always be bad men and we must try to align might with right to ensure Justice.

It's easy to be dismissive about the atrocities of war. And it's hard to be pragmatic about religious doctrine. This is at the nexus of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It's a renewal of the religious crusades, revisiting a darker time in World History.

Capt, thanx for the pickup on the quote.

Kathleen mentioned that the national press did not raise the march on the 29th in NYC (a much earlier post). I wondered about this myself. After reading most of the entries here - I am surprised that so little is thought of the event. I planned on going but had other duties at home and could not make it this time. I'm still struck that so few articles were written and that even cable television didn't make anything of it. It was all about Iran and Iraq. We need to speak up to our congressmen and women. They need to know that we don't want to invade Iran. They need to know that Iraq isn't working out and that an exit strategy is what's desired by the people of the USA. I am urging everyone to write to their representatives and senators as well as GWB for that matter. A personal letter means more to these people than a prescripted letter from an organization. Let them know.

#126 Joe -- I have been writing and calling my reps until I am blue in the face, and hoping that saner heads will prevail.

But, I despair when I think about the massive demonstrations and on-going letters, calls, editorials, etc. against bush's War on Iraq, to no avail. I could scream when I think of bush saying (about the demonstrations) that, "I don't pay attention to focus groups."

Unfortunately, the con-warriors will do exactly what they want to do, the people be damned.

I'm coming to believe that a letter from a constituent carries very little value when held up next to a check from a special interest or an offer of major pork grease from the "party" to just about any politician out there.

and that saddens me.

-T

#127 Micki "blue in the face" is right, and thank you for being a vigilant citizen. There was coverage on the morning news programs and NPR's Talk of the Nation was devoted to the immigrant protest around the country. I don't think NPr has given an hour to the anti-invasion marches once in the last three and a half years.

micki, I am able to distinguish between the average Jewish person who works hard, is honest and just wants to live in peace, and the faction known as the Zionists, which include many Christians as well. I've come to the conclusion that in nearly all organized religions there is a certain percentage of fundamentalists or extremists that cause no end of trouble for the majority of their group, even though they are a small percentage of trouble makers. The vicious behavior of some fanatical Muslims and Zionists have caused much of the world to frown on the entire religion, even though the vast majority are good and decent people. As I've said, Jewish and Muslim people lived in peace together for a very long time until the extremists showed up and began this murderous agenda. Just like we know that not all Christians are the Armegeddon for Rapture psychos, that those people are in fact the minority, it makes all of Christianity look crazy. Trying to get people to see the difference is difficult because they are almost always only offered one side of the story, and it's always the bad side! It takes a lot of digging to get the big picture. Until the extremists of both sides of the I-P conflict are stopped this murder spree will continue and innocent people like the little 3 year old girl who had her head crushed in a gate, will keep suffering.

As planetary parasites carving up Earth, it remains to be seen if we will exterminate ourselves or the Earth will do it for us.

#111 Saladin. I think I know where you stand on the Israeli/ Palestinian issue. You stand on the side of being fair and balanced. I just ran with your comment, in regard to Comedy Central. I have never heard a comedian touch this issue.

#116 Pande..Exactly

#119 Saladin. The Msm is not only lopsided on the Israeli/Palestinian issue. They never discuss that Iran and Iraq have requested on many occasions that the middle east become a "nuclear free zone",they do no bring up the that Israel refuses to sign on to the non-proliferation treaty, the treaty that they demand that others live by, while they make billions of dollars selling who knows what to who knows who? They do not discuss (out loud) the back door that Israel provides for defense companies to sell military and 'allegedly" nuclear technology. As long as Israel is not subject to inspections who can prove what they are doing. The MSM does not touch that by Israel, Pakistan and India refusing and not being pressured to sign on to the NPT the massive arms race continues to grow.

Iran has been bringing up the agreement that they wanted the U.S. and Israel to sign an agreement two years ago that said that neither country would pre-emptively attack or invade Iran. The MSM does not cover these request or issues..they repeat the inflammatory rhetoric flying back and forth between Israel, Iran and the U.s. That is why we find ourselves exactly where we are with Iran.

And the media has done it's part as Stephen Colbert brought up to journalist "Over the last five years you people were so good -- over tax cuts, WMD intelligence, the effect of global warming. We Americans didn't want to know, and you had the courtesy not to try to find out. Those were good times, as far as we knew."

Most journalist have allowed the Bush administration plenty of room to build the momentum to use our military for pre-emptive strikes in Iran basically unchallenged. (Bolton has been setting up the card to trump the security council for the last two years in regard to military action in Iran if the neo-cons do not get their way.

When the MSM does not air these marches (the one in New York this weekend) this once again (deja vu) leaves americans at home thinking that they may be alone in questioning the Bush administration's regime change agenda heading down the tracks towards Iran.

#126 Thinker..Good ideas. Our reps and the MSm need to know that we notice these continued lapses of fair and accurate coverage.

#123 Micki... "some" of the West Bank. Israel needs to return "all" of the West Bank. They need to remove all of the illegal settlements that grew under Ariel Sharons direction and manipulative ,underhanded tactics. Israel needs to be pressured back to the 67 line according to UN resolution 242.

The Athens Film festival is in full swing. Off to see Neil Young's film. Last night saw a film called the State of Fear about the Shining Path
in the 80's and 90's in Peru and the governments response to them. Factual,Brutal, bloody and disturbing. Really did not know much about the Truth commission that took place in Peru after this tragedy took a turn. Individuals from the Shining Path have been prosecuted. Surprise no one from the government or the military have ever been prosecuted for their war crimes. Best film/documentary that I have seen in a long time.

#130 Saladin...Bingo..

John Snow was on the evening news tonight talking about Social Security's troubles. Suppose a person receives $10,000 from this program per year but returns, say, $1,000 back in Federal tax the following April. So is the Federal loss 10k or 9k ? Does anyone know the answer to this? Properly the loss should be called 9k, which would make the program much more solvent than its critics claim.

Re #134: jerry dice, the Social Security Trust Fund pays out 10k. Of this the retiree keeps 9k and the general revenues of the GovUS, collected by the IRS, gets 1k. The two are different pockets.

War ... should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures are to support its burdens, instead of the government which is to reap its fruits. : James Madison (1751-1836)

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War: first, one hopes to win; then one expects the enemy to lose; then, one is satisfied that he too is suffering; in the end, one is surprised that everyone has lost. : Karl Kraus (1874-1936)

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Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph: Haile Selassie

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The state has, in order to control us, introduced division into our thinking, so that we come to distrust others and look to the state for protection! But the roots of our individualism remind us that what we are is inseparable from the source from which all others derive; that coercive practices that threaten our neighbor also threaten us.: -Butler Shaffer

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"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." - Plato

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