Odom in the News

A ray of hope..Negropante not going along with regime change agenda.
Iran Intelligence War By Robert Parry TomPaine.com
Monday 01 May 2006

In a replay of the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction charade, neoconservative supporters of George W. Bush are pushing the U.S. intelligence community to take a more alarmist view about Iran's nuclear program-only this time, the nation's top spy John Negroponte is resisting the pressure unlike former CIA chief George Tenet.

Tenet joined in Bush's hyping of the WMD evidence about Iraq-famously telling the President that the case was a "slam dunk." But Negroponte is defying hardliners who want a worst-case scenario on Iran's capabilities. Instead, he is citing Iran's limited progress in refining uranium and their use of a cascade of only 164 centrifuges.

"According to the experts that I consult, achieving-getting 164 centrifuges to work is still a long way from having the capacity to manufacture sufficient fissile material for a nuclear weapon," Negroponte said in an interview with NBC News on April 20.

"Our assessment is that the prospects of an Iranian weapon are still a number of years off, and probably into the next decade," said Negroponte, who was appointed last year as the Director of National Intelligence, a new post that supplanted the traditional primacy of the CIA director as the head of the U.S. intelligence community.

at truthout

#239 O'Reilly (previous thread) Yes yes yes..

This article is well worth reading at Weekly Standard. Mr Kristol one of the main regime change warmongers sounds worried that his psychopathic club may not get their way.

"Iran Is Not Iraq"
Much of the U.S. government no longer believes in, and is no longer acting to enforce, the Bush Doctrine.
by William Kristol
05/08/2006, Volume 011, Issue 32

"We are committed to a diplomatic course [to stop Iran's nuclear program] that should, with enough unity and with enough strength and with enough common purpose, make it possible to convince the Iranian government [to change its course]. . . .
"Let me go right to the crux of the question. The United States of America understands and believes that Iran is not Iraq. The Iraq circumstances had a special character going back for 12 years of suspended hostilities after a war of aggression which Saddam Hussein himself launched. . . .

"It goes without saying that the United States believes and others believe that, in order to be credible, the U.N. Security Council, of course, has to act. . . . The Security Council is the primary and most important institution for the maintenance of peace and stability and security, and it cannot have its word and its will simply ignored by a member state."
--Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Europe last week,
from Glenn Kessler's April 28 account in the Washington Post, "U.S. Tries to Calm Fears in Europe on Using Bases"

SAY IT AIN'T SO, CONDI!

In fact, Condi and her colleagues will try to say--privately and off the record--that it ain't so. They'll explain to Bush supporters here in Washington that the administration hasn't really gone soft on Iran. The State Department is just doing its job, reassuring the Europeans so as to keep them on board. Sure, hawks will worry that proclaiming "Iran is not Iraq" signals that
the Bush administration is now terrified even to threaten the use of force against terror-sponsoring dictatorships seeking weapons of mass destruction. But all options, at least theoretically, are still on the table. And Ahmadinejad is doing such a good job scaring the Europeans. This is no time for Washington to be scary!

No, it's time to be reassuring. That doesn't mean we don't do some finger-wagging when Ahmadinejad taunts and challenges us, saying one day he's going to destroy Israel, the next that he's going to transfer nuclear technology to Sudan, and meanwhile buying more long-range missiles from North Korea. But it would be simple-minded to rise to his bait, and to think that we really have to do something tough in response to him.

at weekly standard

Later ..Corn folks

David..General William Odom clearly with the "reality is reality" folks. Not the "perception is reality" side.

Mr. David Corn,

Another very good piece.

"It's far more engaging to listen to Zbigniew Brzezinski than Hillary Clinton on the subject of Iraq. You tell me what that signifies."

I would personally find almost anybody more engaging than HRC.

"This means that the policy debate has been vibrant, while the political debate has been muted."

I am not sure what you mean or who are the voices in the "debate" on either policy or politics. I might be reading too much into the word "vibrant."

Thanks for all of your work!

Kirk

What it signifies is that Democrats have been marginalized on national security issues and they are worried that the sound of their voices on these issue will jeopardize their prospects for making gains in the house and the senate this November.

Magnitude-8.0 Quake Strikes Near Tonga

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck early Thursday near the South Pacific nation of Tonga, and a tsunami warning was issued, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

A warning said it was possible a tsunami could hit Fiji and New Zealand. Police in Fiji and Tonga said there were no signs of impact from a tsunami.

Speaking about the time a wave was forecast to reach the islands, police spokesman Mesake Koroi in Fiji's capital, Suva, said there had been no immediate reports of a tsunami.

A police officer in Tonga's capital, Nuku'alofa, said there were no immediate reports of damage or a tsunami.

Another officer in Neiafu, 180 miles to the north, said the quake was felt for about 90 seconds.

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

8 is a huge quake.

capt

On the issue of Iraq, it appears to me that Hillary Clinton voted as a political calculation, as did many other Democrats. I found this then, and I find it now, abhorent, repulsive, and downright [expletive deleted]!

The doubts about the aluminum tubes, and the Niger yellowcake were all there for any of us who were willing to look to find. I and many millions of others who took to the streets in America and around the world were well aware of the snow job being perpetrated. Any Congresscritter who voted for the war resolution did not do DUE DILLEGENCE in the most serious of affairs that they are ever called on to perform.

8 Good point. Their "yes" votes then are clubs used to discredit their credibility on foreign policy issues now. Irony?

ABC News' The Note: CIA leak jury may meet today
RAW STORY

*****************************

Maybe the pining days are over Capt.
Meanwhile, tsunami warnings are reaching to New Zealand and Hawaii. 8 is massive. Thoughts and prayers...

#9 - The shackles of the two party system, I'm afraid. Ironic chains, indeed.

#196 from the previous thread...

Hours after the hijacked planes flew into the World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, an FAA manager at the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center gathered six controllers who communicated or tracked two of the hijacked planes and recorded in a one-hour interview their personal accounts of what occurred, the report stated.

See, I toldja. That would be 'hearsay', not the true evidence... as in the actual taped communications with the plane. Why would they want to hear recollections instead of the real convos? That it wasn't official and it was done on 'company time' probably had alot to do with the supervisor destroying it. All that other stuff you ranted about doesn't make any sense either. You know as well as I do that shyt gets covered up and whistleblowers leak it later, to uncover incompetence and lies... but nary a single whistleblower has come forward with anything like your version of events. Didja listen to the linked recordings, including at least one other plane's replies to the controllers? Made up you say??

Humor needed. find some here

I was going to post this on the previous thread, but see that David has a new topic.

See "Curing Analytic Pathologies: Pathways to Improved Intelligence Analysis" by Jeffrey R. Cooper, Center for the Study of Intelligence, December 2005 (5 MB PDF) This is a PDF file -- I hope I post it correctly.

Author Cooper said he would welcome feedback from interested readers. Comments can be posted on the Secrecy News blog

Steven Aftergood is becoming an American hero, IMO.

Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
web: www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email: saftergood@fas.org

It is important for the generals to voice their concerns.

Blowing more snotbubbles to make a case. If you're trying to prove that Dems have illegally leaked secret info., It's a good idea to find a case where they broke the law or at least were investigated by the Justice Dept. for leaking information.

Posted by Pande

Never said it was proven an illegal leak (that's your lie) just as the Plame leak has not been proven to be illegal (that's your lie again).

What this shows is that the Dems can't be trusted with National Security.

_________________________________________________

This is your comparison to divulging the name of Valerie Plame and outing her operation to monitor Iranian nukes? That's really sad, the lengths that you will go to cover for the illegal actions of the White House.

Posted by Pande

If Valerie was monoriting Iranian nukes then where was she here?

Iran Went Nuclear Despite Secret Deal

A secret 1995 agreement between the Clinton administration and then-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin was supposed to halt the transfer of nuclear technology and military equipment to Iran.

But when the Russians continued to help build Iran's premier nuclear facility at Bushehr, the White House refused to impose sanctions.

Under the accord hammered out by Chernomyrdin and then-Vice President Al Gore, Russia had agreed to end all weapons sales to Iran by Dec. 31, 1999.

But after uncovering the confidential arrangement, the New York Times reported that the deal "essentially exempted Russia from American sanctions on arms deliveries to Iran [and] emboldened Moscow to ignore other agreements, particularly on sales of missile and nuclear technology to Iran."

Dems can't be trusted with National Security!!

Bushitler Failed Kindergarten

Bushitler is too stupid to be president

The generals are smarter than politicans when it comes to understanding war and its "causes." They understand the complexities of societal conditions that push men to war -- and in the currrent day, the generals know that the problems in Iraq cannot be solved by any predominately military solution. The politicians still have not learned that lesson -- the Dems let themselves get bamboozled.

bush and his handlers were talking about a "new era" in foreign relations even before the dust had settled after 9/11. bush decided to use military "resolve" to settle the score for 9/11 -- a shocked nation largely agreed with him, at first. (Too bad the American people don't know more about history...ah well.) The Dems have never recovered from ignoring their historic concerns over civil liberties and going along with giving bush authority to invade Iraq. The Dems have possibly missed their chance to think creatively and do anything to get us out of the mess we're in.

The old mindset about military intervention being the cure-all is a thing of the past -- the generals know this; the politicians do not.

David Corn, it says that Hillary will not make a good president, when, come 2009, we will need a great one.

The latest TomDispatch by Chalmers Johnson, which you can link from TomPaine.com today, offers --- from a completely different perspective --- reasons supporting 'out now'.

You have sunk to a new low, M.B. Now you are spinning so frantically for the Conservatives that you have tripped yourself up and lied yourself into a hole. Pathetic.

Posted by Pande

I'm not spinning for anyone. I haven't defended Randy Duke Cunningham, Tom Delay, Jack Abramoff, etc. It is you that constantly defends and lies for the Dems, not even Saladin stoops to your low!

Your 8-9 mins are up!

Rummie and Dummie

Bushitler is a terrorist and a war criminal

We will not leave Iraq until the oil wells are securely in OUR hands, er, Halliburtons hands.

They do'nt care about the people, kill em all, stack em up like cordwood and let Alah sort em out.

Time to get the freak naziesque moneygrubbing death cult out of office! NOW!!!

Bushisms

Poor Pandemoniac shows his lack of logic."

Supporting facts? None from the factchecker. Again, you are as useless as a budget director who can't balance a budget.

"It is assumptive that such poor syllogism is the cause of his pitiful standing in life."

factchecker (sic) doesn't bother with proof, or facts to support a single lemma.

While casting aspersions at (sic) everyone else he nevers (sic) addresses, much less answers, the questions of the motives of Ms. McCarthy.

Questioning motives is to address facts not in evidence. It's as pointless as addressing or questioning her state of mind. It has no bearing on the legality of rendition and torture.

And his work is rife with non-sequitirs (sic)."

Keep using those big words. You are getting more laughs than you will ever know.

I had said (sic) that her job was "verifying the authenticity of possible abuses of authority". But Pandemoniac said, no, that her job was "to investigate sensitive programs and call attention to problems". Well, in logic we call that a distinction without a difference. Wouldn't a normal person consider the abuse of authority to order torture "calling attention to problems"?

That's not what the IG's office is tasked to do. It doesn't go around picking bad apples (people). It monitors trees (entire programs). It's like the difference between Recess throwing staplers at people and his job fixing intell with the help of WINPAC. If you consider that the same scope and magnitude, I can't help you.

And he still fails to answer the question of whether these allegations of Eastern European "torture camps" were ever verified."

The reading skills of an M.B. Sill. The UK ambassador to Uzbekistan claims that he knew of several folks that were taken there and tortured. Who is in a position to verify this? Goss. But he won't. Who is in a position to investigate? Congress. But they won't. I can't write it any simpler than that.

"This gentleman, Pandemoniac, is one of middling debating skills but short on any type of gravitas."

Again, facts not in evidence. A factchecker without facts ... try harder, dude.

"He is a sophist at best, a charlatan at worst."

No facts and no logic. Impressive.

"Alas, he is probably the best the left has to offer."
Posted by factlesschecker at May 3, 2006 10:11 AM

Conservatives are cringing at the thought that anyone might mistake you for one of them.

Colbert's response to his appearance

Tomgram: Chalmers Johnson on Peddling Democracy

With thanks to David Benson for directing me/us to this article...

I am so glad that Pandemoniac is basing his entire argument of abuse in foreign prisons on the word of the UK Ambassador to, where was it again, Uzbekistan? Probably a friend of yours and a fellow traveller with the Right Hon. George Galloway.

I ask for red meat and am given swill. Again, probably the best the truly vacuous left has to offer, however.

Americans look for an alternative to this hapless,clueless, incompetent adminstration and congress, but their only alternative is the likes of you?

Please.

Torture "widespread" under U.S. custody: Amnesty International

Hmmmm...looks like Chalmers Johnson understands the situation in Iraq even better than the generals understand it (from above linked article):

"...The role of the American military in our war there has been an unmitigated disaster on every front, including the deployment of undisciplined, brutal troops at places like the Abu Ghraib prison. All the United States has achieved is to guarantee that Iraqis will hate us for years to come. The situation in Iraq today is worse than it was in Japan or Korea and comparable to our tenure in Vietnam. Perhaps it is worth reconsidering what exactly we are so intent on exporting to the world."

#29 Mr. factchecker,

If it was proven to your satisfaction that the US renditions people to secret prisons for torture, would that be wrong of America to do that? I mean, are you in favor of America doing things like that?
Just wondering if you're against it, or just the proof of it.
Next I'll ask why you think they are fighting back against it being uncovered. Why bother if it isn't true?

AFX News Limited:: US acknowledges torture at Guantanamo; in Iraq, Afghanistan - UN
Torture Documents Released Under FOIA

U.S. TORTURE google search

#27
Alan,
Cobert is a funny man.

David:

I love your opening with:

"One of the most passionate and articulate advocates of the get-out-now school is no liberal wimp. I'm talking about retired General William Odom, who once ran the National Security Agency."

IF you are from the Right, you would've started this post, like me, with:

"Most of the passionate and articulate advocates of the get-out-now school are liberal wimps. Not so with General Odom, who once ran the National Security Agency."

Good post; will be back later!

I think that DEN makes a good point about the situation with oil, Halliburton, and Iraq. The three are quite linked. I read where a soldier claimed that he was on duty protecting the pipeline that is/was being built for Halliburton. The situation is sick as far as I'm concerned.

#31
Micki,
Chambers Johnson has been on Democracy Now several times. He has always given a very clear view of what is happening in the middle east. Fisk is another good reporter. Dahr Jamail is another.

It is so far beyond a mess over there. It is a chaotic hell hole. I was listening to NPR this morning. They had a segment on drug use in Iraq. It is up. Surprise surprise. The report was good because it allowed the people to speak for themselves. That has been something that has been lacking in the reporting from Iraq.

Pardons Granted 88 Years After Crimes of Sedition

Seventy-nine Montanans were convicted under the state law, considered among the harshest in the country, for speaking out in ways deemed critical of the United States. In one instance, a traveling wine and brandy salesman was sentenced to 7 to 20 years in prison for calling wartime food regulations a "big joke."

Hold on to your hats Corn-people. Look what I found.

Federal Study Finds Accord on Warming

A scientific study commissioned by the Bush administration concluded yesterday that the lower atmosphere was indeed growing warmer and that there was "clear evidence of human influences on the climate system."

The finding eliminates a significant area of uncertainty in the debate over global warming, one that the administration has long cited as a rationale for proceeding cautiously on what it says would be costly limits on emissions of heat-trapping gases.

------------>ahhh, but there's a "But..."

But White House officials noted that this was just the first of 21 assessments planned by the federal Climate Change Science Program, which was created by the administration in 2002 to address what it called unresolved questions. The officials said that while the new finding was important, the administration's policy remained focused on studying the remaining questions and using voluntary means to slow the growth in emissions of heat-trapping gases like carbon dioxide.

"Jury Rejects Death Penalty for Moussaoui"

"I'm not spinning for anyone."
Posted by: M.B. at May 3, 2006 02:26 PM

Posting twice using the same cut and paste nonsense to make two OPPOSING points is the height of absurdity. You've spun yourself into a corner.

"I am so glad that Pandemoniac is basing his entire argument of abuse in foreign prisons on the word of the UK Ambassador to, where was it again, Uzbekistan? Probably a friend of yours and a fellow traveller with the Right Hon. George Galloway."

I can rewrite or redirect you to what I wrote. You have sunk below M.B.'s simian reading level. I said that allegations have been made by people (plural -- not just Ms. McCarthy) in the intelligence community and government sources from other countries. It is up to Mr. Goss to verify or congress to investigate. Conservatives in congress are either too lazy or too stupid to get to the bottom of these allegations. Me? I'd prefer that Congress look into it and clear things up. If you prefer that the name of our great nation get dragged through the mud by allegations of torture in Iraq, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Gitmo, just say so.

"I ask for red meat and am given swill. Again, probably the best the truly vacuous left has to offer, however."

Defending the Lawbreaking, DoNothing, Rubberstamp Republicans is all that the spinmasters on the Right have left. Cunningham is on his way to the pokey. Claude Allen, Scooter Libby, Congressmen Ney, Doolittle, Pombo, DeLay, Burns, and Harris are on the docket next.

The lawbreaking and corruptions start at the White House, trails into the halls of Congress and permeates every aspect of government that conservatives touch. No amount of lipstick will make that pig any prettier. Keep spinning. But more importantly, learn to read.

"Americans look for an alternative to this hapless,clueless, incompetent adminstration and congress, but their only alternative is the likes of you?"
Posted by: factless at May 3, 2006 03:05 PM

It's called accountability ...oversight ... Congress doing its job. If Conservatives don't like having people like me demanding that Congress do their jobs, they have landed on Planet Dipshit. That is the reason that the Republican Party is eating dirt and making mudpies. Democrats have been asking for investigation after investigation. All they want is for Republicans to let them do their jobs. But that's the problem with the majority party. They'd rather just sit on their hands and let goobers like you make excuses for them. If you're happy with Republican stonewalling, just say so.

My header would be... "Did Specter Gets Some Balls?"

Hearing vowed on Bush's powers
Senator questions bypassing of laws

By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | May 3, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, accusing the White House of a ''very blatant encroachment" on congressional authority, said yesterday he will hold an oversight hearing into President Bush's assertion that he has the power to bypass more than 750 laws enacted over the past five years.

''There is some need for some oversight by Congress to assert its authority here," Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, said in an interview. ''What's the point of having a statute if . . . the president can cherry-pick what he likes and what he doesn't like?"
===============
There's that word again, 'cherry-pick'. With repugs now using it too, it must be destined to become Dubya's nickname in history.

Maybe DoE scientists are not so good, after all: "The Los Angeles Times recently [before 2005 May 9] reported that government scientists apparently submitted phony data to demonstrate that a proposed nuclear waste dump in Nevada's Yucca Mountain would be safe." The Nation, 2005 May 9, p. 16.

Now everybody sing the refrain with me:
The DoE is not-your-friend.

How would you like to be Odom? Military leadership know their job is to finish the job but also do it with as little blood shed as possible. Civilians are not supposed to be part of the confict in the way they are in Iraq.

Can you imagine the nights awake for these career soldiers? They have a duty to their commander in chief but have realized early on that the president was incompetent and the plan for Iraq was worthless. Is Congress helping? Very few are. It took Murtha and Biden and a few others going over there and listening to the generals and the leadership in the field and then coming back and going on Meet the Press.

And then the republicans turn around and try to smear Murtha. What a joke. He basically told them to shut up and they ran back to their offices.

What does the military do? It seems that everything they do only makes it worse. They are waiting for solid leadership and the president gives them Rumsfeld. Rumsfeld puts men in place who will do as they are told. Look at Sanchez. He ordered torture. Look at Miller. He ordered torture. The military is also dealing with contractors who are making decisions that are causing instability as in the case of the Blackwater incident Jeremy Cahill wrote about.

So what's the next step?

As http://www.writingforums.com/showthread.php?p=678329#post678329 shows, prejudices prevail even when venerated people speak out in favour of something!

It STILL remains an US and THEM whorl

Pandes real agenda:

Radical organizations, including active communist and revolutionary socialist organizations, were the driving force organizing the immigration boycott rally at Union Square in New York City on Monday.

The "Immigrant Boycott Day" was intentionally scheduled for May 1, worldwide known as the communist and socialist "May Day" holiday celebrating the struggle of "exploited workers" internationally.

Beginning at noon, radical leftists groups – including the communist Workers World Party and the International Socialist Organization – brought printed placards and signs to Union Square. Members of the groups handed out copies of the Workers World and Socialist Worker newspapers, in both Spanish and English, along with the professionally printed placards with their radical message. Tables were set up to distribute socialist literature.

Posting twice using the same cut and paste nonsense to make two OPPOSING points is the height of absurdity. You've spun yourself into a corner.

Posted by Cornfused Pande

The point was that Halloway didn't step down out of honor for the better of his party as you suggested. The spinning is in your cornfused head.

More on Colbert by the guy who booked him

But he says he knew enough about Mr. Colbert — "He not only skewers politicians, he skewers those of us in the media" — to expect that he would cause some good-natured discomfort among the 2,600 guests, many of them politicians and reporters.

and

"There was nothing he said where I would have leapt up to say, 'Stop,' " said Mr. Smith, who introduced Mr. Colbert and sat near him on the dais. "I thought he was very funny," Mr. Smith added, though there was hardly consensus on that point yesterday.

If corporations stopped exploiting workers, there wouldn't be a need for socialist groups to try to organize labor.

So, illegal immigrants are Commies? haha
Or, did the Commies see a good opportunity to exploit someone else's issue?
That would be like... Bush 'n crew are wimpy libruls because Harry Taylor showed up at their gig.
Bush Event Goes Off Script

Re #50: Alan, a tarheel tells it right!

So, illegal immigrants are Commies? haha
Or, did the Commies see a good opportunity to exploit someone else's issue?

Posted by Alan

Alan, Lou Dobbs just wrote about this and you may think it is a laughing matter but this effects real wages which you Cornnuts keep complaining about.

So let me ask you a question:

Do you think meat packers wages going from $19.00 an hour to $9.00 an hour because of illegals is a laughing matter?

Do you not care about the lower income wage earners?

If Harry's a Tar Heel, then go UNC!!

Do you not care about the lower income wage earners?

Yep, but I think you don't. What is this fake concern? You were calling 'em Commies the post before.
Deflect from your stooopid-azz post to something completely diff. Spin away top-ster!

If corporations stopped exploiting workers, there wouldn't be a need for socialist groups to try to organize labor.

Posted by citizen X

Citizen X - illegals work for farmers, contruction contractors and landscapers mostly. I'm not familiar with illegals going to work for Microsoft, Intel, NBC, General Motors, etc. Organized labor is mostly for government employees and liberals so why the need for socialist groups?

Yep, but I think you don't. What is this fake concern? You were calling 'em Commies the post before.

Posted by Alan

Alan, come on- even I don't think your that stupid! Where did I call illegal immigrants commies, please show me?

If you would have read the post you would see that it was radical leftist commie groups that were organizing the protest. Does this help? I sure hope I'm not wrong about you being stupid!

So now that you have stated that you care about low wage earners what do you propose we should do about illegal immigrants that are bringing down their wages?

People like Pandemoniac are so blinded by their hatred for others, so into victimhood that they miss even the most obvious. I call both the White House and Congress "hapless, clueless and incompetent" and Pandemoniac thinks I am defending them?

This is why people of inferior intellect like him should be careful of what they say. People who have real brains, have real success stories in life see through the total vacuity of such arguments.

Then, again, perhaps it is better to have him at this site, impotently pecking away at his computer, rather than creating problems in the real world.

Then, again, it appears Pandemoniac has difficulty functioning in the outside world, anyway.

What is this fake concern?

Posted by Alan

How would you know if my concern was fake or not? Are you a fortune teller or palm reader?

I have stated that the illegals are bringing down wages and I have been on record asying they should be sent home.

I assume you agree with President Bush and Pande that we should let them stay rather they got here illegally or not. Other than you saying- you care- you give no solution to the problem.

So what say you?

"Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite."

~ John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - 2006)

illegals work for farmers, contruction contractors and landscapers mostly.

Well DUH!! You forgot meat packers!

What you described are non-union jobs. So, can I deduce from that, that union = good? Good for you!
Patriotic union workers that had to fight for all our worker's rights that even non-union workers benefit from. Propz to them!

Jury spares 9/11 plotter Moussaoui

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (CNN) -- Al Qaeda terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui should spend the rest of his life in prison for his role in the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, a federal jury decided Wednesday.

The nine men and three women returned their verdict on the seventh day of deliberations after reliving the September 11 attacks through weeks of harrowing testimony and evidence.

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

Thank goodness for small favors.

If they had decided to put him to death they would have made him into a martyr.

capt

Where did I call illegal immigrants commies, please show me?

Didja even read what you posted at #56??

Radical organizations, including active communist and revolutionary socialist organizations, were the driving force organizing the immigration boycott rally at Union Square in New York City on Monday.

The "Immigrant Boycott Day" was intentionally scheduled for May 1, worldwide known as the communist and socialist "May Day" holiday celebrating the struggle of "exploited workers" internationally.

So the illegal immigrants aren't Commies? They're just led by Commies. Oh, ok.

Now really LBH, you seem to have probz with Dubya 'n crew, so why are you constantly defending them? Join the constitution-loving progressives and be done with it. sheeeeshhh!

People who were unwitting dupes of the Communists, but not Communists themselves, were often referred to as "Useful Idiots" by the Communist Intelligentsia.

I would say that anyone marching in a parade but not knowing it was sponsored by ANSWER would fit that description.

Yeah, it was those awful socialists who brought us the 8 hour day, the 40 hour week, unemployment insurance, social security, etc., etc.

Check out the Haymarket story, the origin of May Day.

Rep. Ed Markey: The Threat Facing The Internet Is Very Real 5-3

Top CIA official under investigation for connections to the Randall Cunningham bribery scandal 5-3

36 US House Reps Want Bush Impeachment Probe 5-3

Secret Service records of Abramoff visits to White House will be incomplete 5-3

Cato Institute: Bush had shown disdain and indifference for the US constitution by adopting an astonishingly broad view of presidential powers 5-3

Bush and the Republicans to extend 70 billion in tax cuts 5-3

Midterm Presidential Approval and 2006 5-3

FEMA abandons New Orleans office 5-3

Nine states sue Bush over creating "incentives to build larger, less fuel-efficient models" of vehicles 5-3

******

Thanks POAC

People who were unwitting dupes of the Communists, but not Communists themselves, were often referred to as "Useful Idiots" by the Communist Intelligentsia.

I would say that anyone marching in a parade but not knowing it was sponsored by ANSWER would fit that description.

Welp, I just checked, and the Texas sun isn't egg-frying temp anymore, so I'ma go mow. Catch you guyz later tonight.

illegals work for farmers, contruction contractors and landscapers mostly.

Well DUH!! You forgot meat packers!

What you described are non-union jobs. So, can I deduce from that, that union = good? Good for you!
Patriotic union workers that had to fight for all our worker's rights that even non-union workers benefit from. Propz to them!

Alan, I take it back you're a dipstick at best!

My question had nothing to do with unions you moron!

Sorry, I was trying very hard not to reduce myself to Pandes level with the name calling but you needed it!

Re #68: Alan, xeriscape your yard. Then you won't need to either water or mow...

Now really LBH, you seem to have probz with Dubya 'n crew, so why are you constantly defending them?

By Alan

More help for the challenged progressive:

Bush + Pande + Alan = support illegals staying

LBH = send their asses home

Who's supporting Bush?

On AAR (Air American Radio)

Laura Bush says "George believed in abstinence, he saved himself until he was elected president so he could screw all Americans"

(Laura Bush was parodied)

HA!

capt

#48
Alan,
That's royal. Book the guy who's going to do the most damage and then claim that you never watched him much.

#LBH here is an article for your argument.
at American conservative

Regime Crisis

by Patrick J. Buchanan

At this writing, France has capitulated to mass demonstrations and canceled a labor law that would have let employers dismiss workers under 26.

For the French, the cave-in is truly bad news. It means the political system is not strong enough to take even modest measures to liberate France from a socialist system that is a freshwater fish in the salt waters of the Global Economy.

If despair and gloom are widespread in France, they are justified. With a birthrate below what is needed to continue as a French nation, its 5-8 million Arab and Islamic immigrants alienated, a limping economy, and no way to cast off socialist shackles, France’≥ future appears grim.

In America, too, a regime crisis appears at hand.

Millions have massed in cities from Los Angeles to Phoenix to Dallas to Washington to demand that 12 million illegal aliens be granted full rights of U.S. citizens and all talk of defending U.S. borders be halted at once. Republican and Democratic politicians have been rendered speechless by the size of the demonstrations.

But the demonstrations reveal something more unsettlling. That hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens, all subject to deportation, would defiantly march under foreign flags in U.S. cities suggests the government of the United States has lost its moral authority.

More At american conservative

It would appear that both Republicans and Democrats have become so incompetent as to be rendered practically useless.

Does anyone believe that a third-party candidate, such as a Colin Powell from the Republicans or an Evan Byah or Dick Lamm from the Democrats, wouldn't have widespread support?

Democratic Party finally comes up with new agenda:

-The James Hartline Report- Breaking News May 3, 2006 (8:00am.pst)

Democratic Congresswoman Susan Davis Pushes For Legalization Of Sodomy In U.S. Military: Her Move Seen As Threat To National Security

Go Pande, Go Pande!

Exxon and Mobil sticking it to the American sheeple up the gas....

Break Up the Big Oil Cartel

By RALPH NADER

What a week it has been for the giant oil companies! Billions in record quarterly profits rushing into their coffers. An even bigger round of quarterly profits coming up. Gargantuan executive pay bonanzas. And a pile of "forces beyond our control" excuses to publicize in response to the empty outrage of Washington politicians and the real squeeze on consumers and small businesses.

Oil man Bush, atop his administration marinated with ex-oil executives in high positions, keeps saying there is little he can do. It is the market of supply and demand. Only fuel cells and hydrogen sometime down the 21st-century road can save the country from dependency on foreign oil, he says repeatedly. Plus more drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge.

The public heat about energy prices prodded Mr. Bush this week, however, to at least make a little change in rhetoric. He repeated his warning that his government will not tolerate any gouging. Yet the supine reporters did not ask him whether he has ever caught a gouger. But he did mumble something about higher fuel economy standards so that your car guzzles a little less gasoline. He said he will be meeting with the domestic auto company executives in the White House in mid-May. He praised ethanol again. He visited a gas station in Mississippi to feel the pain of the motorists.

Will Hollywood ever leave Washington, DC?

On Capitol Hill--aka wurthering heights--the Republicans are starting to talk tough, mumbling about larger taxes on oil industry profits--an idea Bush said he would veto last year. The Democrats cannot even agree on an excess profits tax, preferring the greasy band-aid of lifting the 18.4 cent gasoline tax for sixty days. This new detour is pathetic since it takes the heat off the industry's skyrocketing gasoline price which are well into the $3 to $4/gallon range in many places.
at counterpunch

Kathleen

I don't care too much for Pat Buchanan but agree that we have lost moral authority. I don't agree that we should do nothing or we will be in the some position that France is now in.

State of the Parties:
Republicans: RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman met with Republican members of Congress this week to impress upon them just how bad the opinion polls are looking for them, and warning that they face a possible catastrophe in November.

1) This warning contributed to GOP determination to pass a tax reconciliation bill that will extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts beyond their current expiration dates at the end of the decade.

2) On Tuesday, Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and House Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) were supposed to meet with President Bush in the Oval office to discuss the tax bill, which, if passed, will be one of the most important Republican accomplishments of 2006 leading into the midterm elections. But Grassley bowed out, giving the excuse that he had constituents in town from Iowa. Even in the face of disaster, Republicans seem unable to get their act together.

3) Despite all the media coverage given to the issues of immigration and "corruption," polls show that the issue currently concerning voters the most -- even more than immigration -- is the wasteful spending by the Congress. With its vote on Thursday in favor of the rule for the lobby reform bill, the House has taken its first step toward patching up damaged Republican credibility.

4) Republicans will focus in their campaign on the danger of electing Democrats to a majority in Congress. Their catch-word is "dangerous," a word taken from an ill-considered appearance by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) on the Senate floor next to a sign (color-coded to match her outfit) stating "Dangerously Incompetent" in large letters. The Stabenow appearance was meant to highlight the administration's incompetence.

Let's hear it for higher gas prices! $5, yes, $6, $7, even $8. Then maybe people will choose to 'have a hoot, don't polute', not contribute so much to climate change, and learn than nothing is life is free, but that public transportation is a socialist good!

I'm sure this will rile some cornposters!

Third Party Candidates are not an option according to the Dems

National Libertarian Party

Proposed Legislation Creates Treasury-Funded Campaigns for the Two Major Parties, Leaving Third Parties with No Means to Run (Washington, D.C.) On February 1, congressional Democrats, led by Rep. Obey of Wisconsin, introduced a bill, H.R. 4694, that would end viable, third-party competition in races for the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, ironically named the "Let the People Decide Clean Campaign Act," would mandate public funds (taken from the U.S. Treasury) to candidates for the House of Representatives and forbid candidates from taking private funds such as contributions from individual donors.

#60
An interesting story coming from the immigrant protest story is the protests of the African American workers. They want the jobs too and jobs with living wages. One woman said that now it's even harder to get jobs because you need to be bilingual. I feel tension building.

Alan Greenspan on third party

CNN.Com ^ | March 10, 2006 | CNN

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Recently retired Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan believes that there will be a major independent candidate for president from the nation's political center, according to a published report. In an interview with The New York Times about his post-Fed activities,

#6 O'Reilly,

That is what is putting me into a funk that I must fight out of. It doesn't help that we all have personal lives to deal with. Did any of you catch Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondents Dinner. I'm late in commenting on it. He ripped! He comp;etely and totally ripped.

From a Rasmussen poll

April 27, 2006--Democrats currently hold a 12-point advantage over Republicans on a generic 2008 Presidential ballot. However, a third-party candidate focusing on immigration enforcement issues could fundamentally alter those political dynamics.

The survey also asked respondents how they would vote if "a third party candidate ran in 2008 and promised to build a barrier along the Mexican border and make enforcement of immigration law his top priority."

With that option, support fell sharply for both major parties. The Democrats still come out on top with support from 31% of Americans. The third party candidate moved into a virtual tie at 30% while the GOP fell to 21%.

"Then, again, it appears Pandemoniac has difficulty functioning in the outside world, anyway."
Posted by factless at May 3, 2006 05:42 PM

I must've hit a bit of a raw nerve there. Getting a little extra-bitchy. Huh-larry-us.

Still. 4 posts. No facts. So Factless .... if you aren't making excuses for Congress, why aren't you demanding an investigation by congress into the facts regarding rendition and torture in Iraq, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, etc, etc, ad infinitum, ad nauseam?

Spin. Twist. Contort. Saying that Republicans are clueless, hapless, ineffectual, useless, Rubberstamping, Borrow-and-spend losers doesn't erase the fact that you want Ms. McCarthy investigated; but you'll give the govt. a pass on rendition and torture. Calling the Republicans morons won't earn you any more points than claiming that the sun is hot. Big Whoop, even M.B. knows that.

Just because I rip your posts to shreds with ease doesn't mean that I'm bitter, angry, unhappy or in any way unsuccessful. Check out my weekly funnies tomorrow on this blog. They are to larf.

Don't be angry because I'm obviously smarter than you. Arm yourself with FACTS, Factless. I feel bad clubbing an unarmed man.

Let's continue to hope that Karl and the rest of the psychopaths croak!

May 3, 2006 -- The Federal grand jury investigating Leakgate, specifically Karl Rove, met today at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, however, Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was not present. The press gathered in front of the building was small as compared to past events, including last week's testimony of Rove and last year's indictment of I. Lewis Libby. All indications are that some important news on the Rove front will be breaking soon.

Pande posts:

I must've hit a bit of a raw nerve there. Getting a little extra-bitchy. Huh-larry-us.

Sounds like the raw nerve is your ego being ripped apart by Fact Checker!

Just because I rip your posts to shreds with ease doesn't mean that I'm bitter, angry, unhappy or in any way unsuccessful. Check out my weekly funnies tomorrow on this blog. They are to larf.

Posted by Pande

Pande, you have yet to rip anyones post to shreds except in one of your wet dreams. Anyone who reads your posts can tell that you're bitter, angery, unhappy and unsuccessful unless your posts are all lies!

Pande,

I normally would (wisely) refrain from going toe-to-toe with you, but I have to intervene in this case.

"Extra Bitchy" was the term I used to differentiate "Timmy L" from the OGT (Original Gopher Tim) way back when...

Or perhaps one of these (or ALL of them) clowns is a mouse of many monikers?

-T

Pandes ego takes a dive:

Don't be angry because I'm obviously smarter than you.

Posted by Pande

"In jealousy there is more of a self-love than love"

Francois de la Rochefoucauld

Sorry, Hajji. I tried extra-moronic, extra-idiotic, extra-pendejo but none of them worked.

"Iran Went Nuclear Despite Secret Deal"
Posted by: LBH at May 3, 2006 02:09 PM

The title alone is suspect. That means that the secret deal was designed to stop Iran from going nuclear. Yet, the body of the article that you clipped says that the agreement was designed to allow Russia to get around the non-proliferation agreements. That should have made it easier not harder for Iran to go nuclear.

The article that you cut and paste makes no sense. Why would Iran go Nuclear "despite" a secret deal that was designed to make that easier?

Then there's this bit of history:
"A second key area of Russian exports is arms sales, which resumed in 2000 after Russia left the so-called Gore-Chernomyrdin protocol, a secret agreement between Moscow and Washington about restricted arms deliveries to Iran."

Why would Russia walk away from the Gore-Chernomyrdin protocol in 2000 if it was designed to make it easier for them to deal arms with Iran?

Obviously your article is a load of crap.

You REALLY need to learn how to link. You use the same crap to make two opposing points about Mollohan and we're supposed to trust that you are providing the relevant points?

Factless, check this out. This is how it's done:

If Bush-ehr (neat name, eh?) gets built, Conservatives have only Mr. Bush to blame. It's been in the works since the 70's. Big Dawg stopped Russia from completing the job. Funny how the greatest spurts in nuclear proliferation have come under Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. The Clinton Administration tried to stem the flow of nuclear weapons and nuclear technology. Bush meanwhile has allowed Pakistan, India and North Korea to stockpile its nuclear weapons and join the International Nuke Club. Hey, isn't one of those countries part of the Axis of Evil? Why does Mr. Bush hate America and let all these dangerous countries multiply the number of nuclear weapons that they possess?

I thought this part of the article linked below was particularly amusing:
At an October 5 joint subcommittee hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee devoted to Russian involvement in Iranian weapons programs, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) grilled Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation Robert Einhorn on Russian arms sales to Iran. Brownback, citing a recently released CIA report on proliferation which charged that Russia "remains an important source of conventional weapons and spare parts for Iran," asserted that Russia had not lived up to its "negotiated" 1995 deal to end its Iranian arms trade. The senator further explained that in return for the 1995 Russian commitment the United States had "pledged to avoid any sanctions."

Eight days later, The New York Times ran a front-page story on the 1995 aide memoire, quoting sections of the classified document. The article named the 1992 Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act as the law the Gore-Chernomyrdin agreement "appeared to undercut," though it erroneously stated that the legislation calls for sanctions to be applied to all countries that transfer weapons to state sponsors of terrorism.

Did Brownback or Roberts leak that classified document? Shame. Shame. Breaking the law. Breaking the law.

Again if the G-C protocol was designed to make Russian-Iranian arms deals easier and "undercut" non-proliferation agreements, why did Russia walk away from it in 2000?

The weapons deals that were done after the Gore-Chernomyrdin protocol were never illegal:
"On October 13, the day The New York Times article appeared, Richard Boucher stated that before Gore signed the aide memoire, the Pentagon reviewed the Russian arms sales and concluded that "none" would be destabilizing or would threaten the military balance in the Persian Gulf."

The State Department spokesman also asserted that none of the contracts were "sanctionable by law because they predate the effective date of the various lethal military equipment sanctions laws and because they did not meet the threshold for advanced conventional weapons, as defined in the Iran-Iraq Nonproliferation Act of 1992." A Gore aide, interviewed on October 23, further stated that "In no way did the Vice President pledge to forgo sanctions that would be applicable under U.S. law.

"Testifying before a joint hearing of Senate subcommittees on October 25, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation Controls John Barker provided the administration's fullest explanation of the deal. Barker stated the U.S. government only gave the assurance that it would take "appropriate steps" not to sanction Russia for its pre-1995 deals "after a careful review to ensure that they did not in fact trigger mandatory sanctions under the Iran-Iraq Act or other potential applicable sanctions laws."

There was a time when Republicans tried to do their job in keeping the Executive branch in check. Now that they've made it a habit of dealing with lawbreakers like Abramoff, they don't want to make any waves, lest they get swept under in their own whirlpool of corruption.

If you're looking for illegal dealings with Iran. Try Halliburton. That's where Cheney get all of his dirty money from.

Facts, Factless. You can't be a factchecker without 'em. You are one funny dude.

"Anyone who reads your posts can tell that you're bitter, angery (sic), unhappy and unsuccessful unless your posts are all lies!"
Posted by M.B. Sill at May 3, 2006 07:02 PM

Only those of you on the business end of my ass-kicking feel that I'm the meanest of the Cornbloggers. Don't hate me cause I'm smarter than you.

Ask everyone else, I'm a total sweetheart. I'm one smoove Brovah.

Oops forgot the link on the Russia moving away from G-C Protocol.

Pande

The Clinton Administration tried to stem the flow of nuclear weapons and nuclear technology. Bush meanwhile has allowed Pakistan, India and North Korea to stockpile its nuclear weapons and join the International Nuke Club. Hey, isn't one of those countries part of the Axis of Evil? Why does Mr. Bush hate America and let all these dangerous countries multiply the number of nuclear weapons that they possess?

You really believe that crap don't ya? I bet you voted for Clinton because he had nice hands too!

I must say that I'm a bit taken aback by the Moussaoui "Life" verdict. I was quite sure that despite there being no evidence whatsoever to support what he'd confessed to that somebody'd make sure to fire up "Old Sparky" for the sacrificial lamb.

I guess the illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocents and the maiming and long-term dibilitation of countless others will have to suffice, for now.

-T

Sorry Pande, I assumed you already knew about the Clinton-Gore missile gate scandal beings you're obviously smarter than everyone.

Here ya go in a cornut shell:

Al Gore's secret deal helped Moscow improve its missiles using U.S. funding and technical engineering. Al Gore's secret deal helped the Russians keep Sukhoi Su-25 strike fighters in the air over Chechnya and Chinese Su-27 interceptors over the Taiwan Straits. Al Gore's secret deal kept the former Soviet war machine alive by allowing Russia to make and sell arms around the world without penalty.

Al Gore sent U.S. taxpayer money to subsidize Russian arms makers, helping to improve and develop new weapons that are now being sold to world powers unfriendly with the United States. As more and more of Al Gore's secret pact with Russia becomes public, it appears that Moscow has a good reason to love the vice president.

#46 Red-baiting. M.B., just out of curiousity, do you understand what I mean when I call you a red-baiter and why that makes you look like a moonbat freak?

#76 Gay-baiting. Same Question

Not answering either one of those questions would explain a lot about your ignorant cut-and-paste goofiness.

"Sorry, I was trying very hard not to reduce myself to Pandes level with the name calling but you needed it!"
Posted by: M.B. Sill at May 3, 2006 06:03 PM

Moral relativism. When WMD-Timmiee comes back, we'll have him 'splain that to you. He talks at your primitive level.

"You really believe that crap don't ya? I bet you voted for Clinton because he had nice hands too!"
Posted by M.B. Sill at May 3, 2006 07:19 PM

I'm just linking the facts, M.B. Ask factless, he can fill you in on the importance of establishing a factual basis for your arguments. You really oughta try it instead of just making shit up. And seriously, learn how to link. I'll try to help you out in that regard when I get home.

Did Brownback or Roberts leak that classified document? Shame. Shame. Breaking the law. Breaking the law.

Posted by Pande

LBH helps smarter Pnade

However, documents forced from the Clinton administration by the Freedom of Information Act show that part of the secret 1995 Gore agreement with Moscow included more than weapons for Iran.

#95 FACTUAL SUBSTANTIATION. Find it. Link it. Share it. You've finally accepted the fact that I'm smarter than you. Now try to show us that you aren't just pulling lies out of your arse.

Russia walked out on a deal that gave them all that good stuff? Either they are the world's biggest idiots or you're ... ah, never mind.

And if it was a secret deal, how did the Defense Dept. review the details?

Keep trying. Wait. Ain't it time for your shift at the Gas-n-sip? Check back tomorrow. I'll have a little cut-and-paste solution to your linking needs.

So was that Brownback or Roberts?

APOLLO ALLIANCE: The Ten-Point Plan for Good Jobs and Energy Independence

...off to a slow start. Too bad the Congress, the busheviks, the American sheeple are all yakking about high gas prices instead of actually doing something about the basic problems.

were the terrorists helped?
or were they the helpers?
911highjacker.com/

I know we've been over this at least a few times but I, for one, think no one is a lost cause:

come on- even I don't think your (sic) that stupid!

I can't speak for anyone else but I think your difficulty learning when to use YOUR and YOU'RE does not reflect on your intelligence. See if this helps:

YOUR POSSESSION
YOU'RE THAT STUPID.

Pandes smarter side:

If you're looking for illegal dealings with Iran. Try Halliburton. That's where Cheney get all of his dirty money from.

Halliburton started getting contracts under Clinton-moron!

More spin from Mr Jealousy

#94 Gee, Hajji, maybe the Decider-in-Chief will decide to fire up old sparky because...well... because, he makes up laws as he goes along.

(I'm only being 1/2 facetious.)

You've finally accepted the fact that I'm smarter than you.

Whatever you say Mr. Jealousy!!

LBH & Pande --- A pox on both their houses! Both the Demolicans and the Repubcrats!

LBH --- Haliburton, as a company, has been around under that name at least since the 1960s. Probably, given the nature of its business then, had gvmnt contracts then, too.

83 Nice post. Thank you.

Only those of you on the business end of my ass-kicking feel that I'm the meanest of the Cornbloggers.

Posted by Pande

I've never said you're mean. I have said anyone who plays soccer obviously needs to make up for his lack of manhood somehow, which explains all your macho tough guy talk.

LBH --- Haliburton, as a company, has been around under that name at least since the 1960s. Probably, given the nature of its business then, had gvmnt contracts then, too.

By David Benson

Thank you for making my point

Oh ya, I forgot about Jooeek being raised by lesbians. Not having a daddy shows your frustration with manhood.

More and endless personal attacks speak to your lack of good character and education.

How petty.

If David ever decides to put an end to the personal attacks you will not be missed.

"Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established."

~ Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC), The Confucian Analects

capt

"If the innocent honest Man must quietly quit all he has for Peace sake, to him who will lay violent hands upon it, I desire it may be considered what kind of Peace there will be in the World, which consists only in Violence and Rapine; and which is to be maintained only for the benefit of Robbers and Oppressors.": - -- John Locke - (1632-1704) English philosopher and political theorist.

=
They could be made to accept the most flagrant violations of reality, because they never fully grasped the enormity of what was demanded of them, and were not sufficiently interested in public events to notice what was happening : George Orwell

=
Political language. . . is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind: George Orwell

=
The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them: George Orwell

===

Thanks ICH Newsletter!

Odom is a hero.

Bob

Only in the southern part of the United States, west of Florida and east of California do so many grown men think of soccer as an unmanly sport.

I played soccer in elementary school and switched to football for high school and college. It never fails to amaze me when people cast aspersions on the game of soccer.

It is the most popular sport worldwide and it hosts the most widely attended international event, The World Cup. (Yes, more popular than NASCAR and Formula 1 combined.)

It's too bad there are so many provincial Americans who hold firmly to narrow-minded opinions.

Dear Harry,
I found some home video footage from the white house. I thought you'd like to see it.

White House Egg Role

Beyond Incompetence: Washington's War in Iraq

"ICH" -- -- If there is a central principle animating Noam Chomsky's commentaries on US foreign policy, it is his affinity for Realpolitik analysis. As Chomsky argues in a recent interview, "Our leaders have rational imperial interests. We have to assume that they're good-hearted and bumbling. But they're not. They're perfectly sensible." This methodological axiom presents some serious challenges for those trying to understand the US war in Iraq. With so much evidence of bumbling within the Bush White House, it is tempting to join the chorus of critics, led by the Democrats, who say that incompetence is the defining feature of US foreign policy. Is it possible to tell the story of the US invasion of Iraq as "perfectly sensible"?

Chomsky is adamant and he is right to warn against the idea that foreign policy elites are more fool than knave. "Consider the actual situation, not some dream situation... If we can enter the real world we can begin to talk about it... We have to talk about it in the real world and know what the White House is thinking. They're not willing to live in a dream world."

What, then, is the "actual situation" that led the Bush administration to make the "perfectly sensible" -- if entirely imperialist -- decision to invade Iraq and topple the regime of Saddam Hussein? Here, according to Chomsky, is the real world:

More HERE

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

A good piece.

capt

"Odom is a hero."

I'll second that!

capt

Beating About The Bush? Not With Hersh

05/03/06 "The Independent" -- - LONDON: Sy Hersh is an ornery, cussed sort of guy, not one to suffer fools gladly. As the man who broke the My Lai story and the atrocities at Abu Ghraib, I reckon he has a right to be ornery from time to time – and cussed.

He’s dealing with powerful folk in Washington, including one – George W Bush – who would like to cut him down. And when Hersh wrote – as he did in The New Yorker this month – that "current and former American military and intelligence officials" have said Bush has a target list to prevent Iran obtaining nuclear weapons and that Bush’s "ultimate goal" in the nuclear confrontation with Iran is regime change – again! – you can see why Bush was worried. "Wild," he called the Hersh story. Which must mean it has some claim to veracity.

So when I cornered Hersh at Columbia University in New York and dropped him a note during a Charles Glass presentation asking for an interview, I expected a stiff reply. "Anything you ask," he scribbled obligingly on a piece of paper.

More HERE

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

Fisk is rockin’!

capt

"If David ever decides to put an end to the personal attacks you will not be missed."

I'll second that.

Birdflu or POTUS deploys armed forces domestically?

As the Bush administration releases an update to its $7.1 billion bird flu plan, a Pentagon official said today that the military would primarily provide support to the federal government in the event of an outbreak.

The military would assist with transporting critical resources via air, medical lab testing, distributing pharmaceuticals, providing surge medical capability, assisting with inter-agency planning, providing communications to civil authorities, assisting with mortuary affairs, and, of course, drawing upon the vast network of military public affairs capabilities across the country.

The official would not speculate on whether troops could be asked to perform any police duties in an outbreak, but added that troops could provide security and quarantine assistance to civil authorities.

(link)

House passes sham "lobbying reform" bill thanks to Dem defections

No restrictions on lavish gifts or travel to exotic locations, no ethics training, no ban on revolving door "legislator to lobbyist" moves, no earmark reform, and no enforcement of existing rules.

And look who helped make it a reality:

Barrow
Boren
Boswell
Cuellar (who is begging for another primary challenge in 2008)
Marshall
Matheson
Melancon
Taylor (MS)

(link)

Answering the "Dems Backed Bush Too!" Charge
By SusanG on GOP incumbents | dailykos | 5/3/6

In my post earlier today about Booting the GOP Enablers, some commenters discussed how individual Republican incumbents will try to slither their way out of taking responsibility for destructive votes by pointing out that some Democrats supported bad policy too.

Once again, I offer to Democratic challengers facing this tactic a possibly simple-minded approach: Acknowledge how our system works, then move in for a specific kill.

Example, using Medicare: (link)

The Republicans are Running out of Gas
By DarkSyde on energy |Daily Kos | 5/3/6

I can think of a hopeful explanation for why the $100 Republican gasoline rebate flopped worse than Bob Dole without Viagra: The American people are waking up. They're hip to the GOP gyp. They're on to the neocons. They're fed up with the shifty shenanigans and Abramoff earmarks. They're waking up to the Republican Culture of Corruption, the oily ease with which fat-cat lobbyists stroll unopposed through gold trimmed halls of power, while the working classes that pay the lawmakers salaries and vote them into office are left standing in the cinder block waiting room undergoing a body cavity check. Yes, it looks like the American people, all of them, are getting jiggy with it. Gas prices got everyone's attention. (link)

David and fellow cornbloggers and spoof posters and insulters. You've got the Pajamas Media logos up now as well as new ads. The page seems to load just as fast as before - I'm on a high speed connection.

The new ads are distracting however because they have the animation. It can be annoying to read your thread or someone else's post while ads in both the left and right gutter flash and blink. I'm glad the ads are only at the top of the page. For what's its worth I'm sure you can tell my preference is for ads that do not flash and blink like a pinball machine.

I saw a NETFLIX ad. It's a good deal if you like movies. I've been a customer for a while now. It's a great service most of the time. Sometimes, the DVDs arrive scratch - which means they don't inspect them for skips and scratches unless that last viewer reports it. That sucks because you carved out two hours and the movie is un-viewable.

I watched Walk The Line last night.(Yes! From NETFLIX) It was real good. I especially enjoyed the music, which was performed by Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. Growing up on rock and pop, I never was a big country fan but the movie turned me on to it.

Tomorrow, I'm heading down to the local vintage record store to buy me a John Cash album and maybe a June Carter album while I'm at it.

Hello!!!!!
Study: US mothers deserve $134,121 in salary

A full-time stay-at-home mother would earn $134,121 a year if paid for all her work, an amount similar to a top U.S. ad executive, a marketing director or a judge, according to a study released Wednesday.

...To reach the projected pay figures, the survey calculated the earning power of the 10 jobs respondents said most closely comprise a mother's role -- housekeeper, day-care teacher, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, facilities manager, van driver, chief executive and psychologist.
---------------------
Where the hell is the nurse in that list? Or the diplomat? the cop? Day care teacher....how about teacher in general? Oh and computer maintenance person. Referee. Ass kicker. Accountant. Gardener. Seamstress. And that's just in one day...I might add sometimes in one hour.

Jeane,

If only I had a psychologist. But aren't they male? No offense to our learned male readers. It's time for a little self indulgence.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

#123
O'Reilly,
My kids love Johnny Cash. They aren't country fans but love great music. Cash was great. They especially like the CD "American IV: The Man Comes Around". He sings a Trent Reznor song "Hurt". I think my daughter told me that he recorded the CD when he could barely perform. Great CD. Go on the Barnes and Noble web site and listen to the music.

David Corn cross posted on www pajamasmedia.com

#125 Jeanne,

Sorry for mispelling your name.

Thanks Jeanne.

It was touching to learn that June died of complictions from a heart valve operation and John died four months later. He didn't want to live without her.

"Withdrawal will encourage the terrorists"
David, it seems to me that there are already many terrorists of different stripes right now. Between what some of our troops are doing, and some British troops, along with some covert Israeli agents and private mercenaries, I don't see how it could possibly get any worse. Bring them home, NOW!

Alan, I've already said I am done with this debate. The day is coming when all those many unanswered questions are going to bite bushco in the ass. Are you one of the people who feel no further investigation is needed? If so, I think you are becoming a minority, polls show different.
-------------
From Stop the Lie.com
Universal

It was fun while it lasted...

It looks like Universal Pictures decided to take down their "Flight 93" forum. In all honesty, I'm shocked they didn't do it sooner. The boards were quickly overrun with visitors DESTROYING the government's account of 9/11. -From a commercial standpoint, that can't help you "sell" a movie based solely on the government's version of events.

Poll after poll at the site showed 80% of respondents believed there is a cover up surrounding 9/11. And if you saw the posts, you'd understand why. Anyone coming in with a "blank slate" undoubtedly left with mounds of excellent information they never heard in the mainstream media. I suspect many left with a higher appreciation for those out there fighting for the truth.
-------------
I for one am relieved that the people are taking off the rose colored glasses and asking questions, because there are a lot.

BulbCam
Posted May 3, 2006 07:06 PM PST

A webcam pointed at the oldest known working light bulb in a Fire Station in Livermore, California. Age 104 years. Remember when America made products with that kind of reliability and durability?

More headlines from WRH

Depleted Uranium - Far Worse Than 9/11
In 1979, depleted uranium (DU) particles escaped from the National Lead Industries factory near Albany, N.Y.,which was manufacturing DU weapons for the U.S military. The particles traveled 26 miles and were discovered in a laboratory filter by Dr. Leonard Dietz, a nuclear physicist. This discovery led to a shut down of the factory in 1980, for releasing morethan 0.85 pounds of DU dust into the atmosphere every month, and involved a cleanup of contaminated properties costing over 100 million dollars.
Posted May 3, 2006 09:26 AM PST

In the chaos of Iraq, one project is on target: a giant US embassy
In the pavement cafes, people moan that the structure is bigger than anything Saddam Hussein built. They are not impressed by the architects claims that the diplomatic outpost will be visible from space and cover an area that is larger than the Vatican city and big enough to accommodate four Millennium Domes. They are more interested in knowing whether the US State Department paid for the prime real estate or simply took it.
----------
Mr. Rivero has been busy today.

#131
Now watch somebody hit it with a ladder.

"Out there fighting for the truth." Sure.

And just what are you doing "fighting for the truth" other than repeating and repeating your mantra?

I have no greater appreciation for the Crusaders for the Truth that you represent than I did before the flick "Flight 93" hit the theaters. There are a lot of unanswered questions, but there is also much that you and your followers do not know. You will not "save" us from anything. If you are "done with this debate" please spare us from continuing to post your "arguments" to support your position. Be done! To paraphrase an outspoken woman named Carol, "SU."

#134
Caroline,
Whether you believe that debate or not doesn't matter. What matters is they are forcing an airing out of the facts. Maybe James and Saladen are right. Maybe they're wrong. What I know for sure is that there wouldn't be all the questions if t