Once and for all, let's tackle the big issues of our day. The flag-burning epidemic must be stopped (sarcasm).

It's a sad day in the USA.

sigh.

Mr. David Corn,

Yep, flag burning! Or is the most important issue gay marriage? (over 2,500 dead troops) Oh yeah, flag burning. The GOPhers prove again they cannot lead. When the going gets tough they deflect, deride, demean, distract, demand and dissemble.

War? There is no war. The "WAR" was over a couple of years ago, we now have only a failed occupation. If we just use the right terms we win the argument.

Thanks for all of your work.

Kirk

As a proud conservative, I must say that this flag-burning amendment is the biggest bunch of nonsense I have ever seen.

However, the process may have some salutary effect. The longer the Congress spends on this pipedream, the less time it can spend screwing up my life.

Retiring Old Glory

When the United States flag (Old Glory) becomes worn, torn, faded or badly soiled, it is time to replace it with a new flag, and the old flag should be "retired" with all the dignity and respect befitting our nation's flag. The traditional method of retirement is to incinerate the flag, but this does not mean that one should simply drop the entire flag (intact) into a fire.

A flag ceases to be a flag when it is cut into pieces. In addition, it is easier to completely incinerate the flag, if it is cut into smaller pieces. A flag should never be torn up like an old bed sheet. It should be cut up with scissors or shears in a methodical manner. The corners of the flag should be stretched out over a table top and someone should cut the flag in half, vertically (be careful not to cut up the blue star field (see the figure). Then, place the two halves together and cut them in half, horizontally. You will end up with four pieces of flag, one being the blue star field.

More HERE

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

Now what?

capt

Retiring Old Glory

Just a simple piece of colored cloth, sewn together in a red, white, and blue design. A piece of cloth that of itself does nothing more than hang or blow in the wind. But too many thousands of people though out our nations glorious history, it has stood tall, standing as a monument of Freedom, for all Americans. Men and woman have given their lives for it, fought for it, cried for it, and revered it as a symbol for the greatest country on earth. Books, songs, and poems have been written for it, and our National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner was inspired by it. Each day our children are encouraged to pledge their allegiance to it, and when ever it is raised or passes by, we all place our hands over our hearts or salute it. It stands for the freedom we all share and the pride and patriotism we feel for our country.

But when the flag has served its usefulness and no longer is suitable to represent our country, it must be retired and replaced. I believe that a task of this magnitude warrants a well thought out plan and a guide to properly dignify this event. The only "official" resource that I was able to find was in the United States Code that simply states:

"Soiled flags may be renovated by either washing or dry cleaning. Worn out flags should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning."

More HERE

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

I am assuming none of the politicians have ever retired a flag properly?

capt

Pandemoniac,
Remember the old Grouch Marx line, "Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?"

You can quote me all the interpretation, all the opinions, all the nuances you want. Here is what the memo said.

"Because the counterintelligence investigation will involve the use of surveillance techniques authorized under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) against targets that, in some instances, had been subject to surveillance under Title III, and because it will involve some of the same sources and targets as the criminal investigation, we believe that it is prudent to establish a set of instructions that will clearly separate the counterintelligence investigation from the more limited, but continued, criminal investigations. These procedures, which go beyond what is legally required, will prevent any risk of creating an unwarranted appearance that FISA is being used to avoid procedural safeguards which would apply in a criminal investigation."

Let's not you and I try to interpret the memo. Let's just let the people read it and decide for themselves.

249
Mr Pandemoniac at post 148
I've read your comments about our troops and do not find any humor in what you or others here have said. My brother died in Iraq one year ago and I find everything you post about this war to be extremely insulting and juvenile. I would ask that you refrain from future comments about our slain brothers and sisters in arms. If you oppose the war, fine. Just don't smear my brothers memory with this kind of sick behavior.
Posted by: Kelly at June 25, 2006 12:17 AM

Any chance the moderator will check in the thread "Cheney's Lousy Numbers" to determine whether this post was a spoof post by another corn blogger? If it is, I find the behavior disgusting. I asked factchecker if he had posted as Kelly but he did not to respond.

Pandemoniac,

One more quote to let the people read for themselves to see whether or not the Gorelick memo created a wall.

"This AUSA (Assistant United States Attorney) will also serve to ensure, in conjunction with the FBI and OIPR, that information which reasonably indicates that a significant federal crime has been, is being, or may be committed is appropriately disseminated to criminal investigative personnel, the USAO (United States Attorney's Office)and the Criminal Division pursuant to the procedures set forth above. That AUSA will continue to be 'walled-off' from participation in the on-going criminal investigations and cases will continue to abide by all FISA dissemination provisions and guidelines."

Neither you nor I have to comment on this. People can read the quote and decide for themselves.

down with the flag

Respect the flags and all they become. Fuck the flag waivers and the ribbon displaying scum. If there is one thing this country is about, it’s got nothing to with phony religious clout. This country was built that us boys and girls are equal. Our founders ran from the fundamentalists and their burning lake sequel. Respect the flags and all they’ve become. We are not alone in this world.

David Corn, Just how much per year of our taxes goes to supporting Congress? We would like that money to be well spent, say on the meaningful and important issues you mentioned today.

Talk about crepitation...

4 Votes Shy

Pretty sad day when they can quickly come to a vote on what would start the slippery slope of quashing free speech and come only 4 votes(a quick bribe or armtwist) shy.

Fitz @ #8,

We can call each other names, we can argue, we can do a lot of things. What we cannot due is falsely post as the grieving relative of a dead soldier. Such an abomination would be beyond and beneath utter contempt for anyone from either side of the political spectrum.

No, I did not make that or any similar type post.

McCain, Feingold Co-Sponsor Chain Of Integrity-Themed Eateries

WASHINGTON, DC—Éiting a longstanding need to "restore honor and dignity to the American food-service industry," Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) announced the public debut of their joint business venture Monday, a chain of integrity-themed restaurants which opened in 12 locations nationwide.

Russ & John's flagship location in Stevens Point, WI.

The new Russ & John's chain, which the two senators funded privately via small financial donations of no more than $2,000 per investor, was founded on the idea that "today's customers want quality food without all the lies and exaggerations that all too often accompany it," according to McCain.

"When we say we've got the best burger in town, you can be sure that we can back up that claim with documented evidence," Feingold said to an estimated crowd of 4,000 at the grand opening of a Russ & John's in Stevens Point, WI. "We've done the research, our staff has interviewed hundreds of burger lovers, and I can truthfully say that nothing compares to our mouthwatering Bleu Cheese 'N Bacon Burger."

Feingold described what he called the eateries' three bedrock principles. "First, we will never mislead customers with pictures on our menus that make a sandwich look bigger, juicier, or more out-of-this-world delicious than it actually is," Feingold said. "Second, we consider all customers equal and will extend the same service to influential diners and retirees on fixed incomes who stop by just for the salad bar. Third, we will offer full, voluntary disclosure on the ingredients of all our dishes, including our world-famous secret pancake recipe, as our customers have the right to know exactly what makes them so darn fluffy."

More HERE

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

I hear there is new competition for H&R Block - a chain of tax prepares (well connected) called Sarbanes-Oxley & sons.

HA!

capt

The Republicans are worried about the flag, gay marriage and the terrible burden of the estate tax on the rich. The rest of us are obviously unnecessarily worried about war, peace, the economy, the environment and civilization. Another reason to vote Republican—they have a shorter list. - Molly Ivins

The rest of us are "picky, picky, picky," to quote Pat Paulson.

Legal Experts to Senate Committee: Bush "Signing Statements" Unconstitutional, Impeachable

In a hearing today, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on presidential signing statements, which Ranking Member Leahy called "a grave threat to our constitutional system of checks and balances." Recent reports have highlighted how Bush has issued these orders in record numbers and exercised unprecedented overreach by giving himself the authority to ignore certain parts of the laws he signs.

Because of the extralegal nature of the signing statements, there is nothing for Congress or the Supreme Court to actually overrule. Nevertheless, the statements are binding for policy implementation.

Bruce Fein, attorney and renowned legal scholar, told the committee that Bush has essentially given himself a line item veto power by declaring portions of new laws unconstitutional and offering his own revisions.

"These statements, which have multiplied logarithmically under President George W. Bush, flout the Constitution's checks and balances and separation of powers. They usurp legislative prerogatives and evade accountability," Fein said. "The President does not enjoy a constitutional option of unilaterally pronouncing a provision he has signed into law as unconstitutional and refuse to enforce it on that count."

Citing Bush's behavior as "alarming," Fein suggested that the President could be impeached for "political crime(s) against the Constitution."

More HERE

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

Something tells me flag burning is not the hot topic today!

capt

US literary couple unite in death

The remains of the wife of 19th Century US writer Nathaniel Hawthorne have been reburied next to those of the author, after more than a century apart.

Sophia Peabody Hawthorne left the US with her children after her husband's death in 1864. She went to England, where she died six years later.

Her remains and those of daughter Una were exhumed from a London cemetery, after their plot fell into disrepair.

One of Nathaniel Hawthorne's best known works was the novel The Scarlet Letter.

Maintenance of the plot in Kensal Green cemetery in north-west London was paid for by a Catholic order, the New York-based Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, which was founded by the Hawthornes' daughter, Rose.

More HERE

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

File this one under "Time is nothing as love conquers all"

capt

Dang,
I sang Happy birthday to hajji and David posted right away. May I repeat....
Ehem...me me me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOOOO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOOOOOOOOO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR HAJ...........
HAPPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YOU.

AND MANY MORE....

How many US flags got burned in the last five years? Talk about a non issue. Wonder how much that cost us in useless man hours for the dweebs in congress. Can't they do anything right? Oops forgot, NO. Time to change them and get fresh blood. Remember to vote early and often.

Good post David.
Amen.

There's also this issue of Iran and North Korea and Bush's sword rattling. I loved Chuck Hagel basically telling the white house to shut up.

Hamas 'implicitly accepts Israel'

Palestinian militant group Hamas has agreed to a document backing a two-state solution to the conflict with Israel, officials say.

The initiative, devised by Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, implicitly recognises the Jewish state.

Hamas's charter currently calls for Israel's destruction by force and rules out peace negotiations with it.

The deal comes amid heightened tension with Israel following the capture of an Israeli soldier by militants on Sunday.

More HERE

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

A glimmer of hope? Maybe they will be able to come up with an answer or one of the answers? Neighbors can live in peace, if they both choose to do so.

capt

#20
WTF,
I agree with you. Non issue. Waste of time. Waste of our taxpayer dollars. Stupid. They sound like a bunch of old men waving and pointing their fingers. "Oh yeah....well."

It is obvious to me that they are side tracking the congress. Don't get anything done. Don't discuss illegalities of the congress and white house. What a joke.

Ronaldo breaks all-time scoring record at World Cup with goal against Ghana

Ronaldo scored his 15th World Cup goal Tuesday to become the tournament's all-time scoring leader.

Emergency Petition to Congressional Leaders: Pass the Voting Rights Act!

"For more than 40 years, the Voting Rights Act (VRA) has protected the right of every American citizen to cast a vote. Equality in voting is fundamental to the American democratic system. Stop the stalling and pass the Voting Rights Act now!"

*****

A little keyboard activism.

capt

And let me add my birthday greetings, from forty wonderful to forty doublewonderful.

See, its all in the wording...

War On Medicine

Steph Sherer is executive director of Americans for Safe Access, a 30,000-member organization fighting for safe and legal access to cannabis for treatment and research.

Today, Congress will consider whether to prevent the DEA from raiding, arresting and prosecuting patients who use medicinal cannabis in those states that have passed laws supporting this medical therapy.

The House will be deciding on an amendment to the Department of Justice appropriations budget sponsored by Reps. Maurice Hinchey, a New York Democrat, and Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican, that would prevent the Department of Justice from using its ever-shrinking DEA budget dollars on actions against medical cannabis patients. The amendment is simple in scope and effect. It does not change any federal laws regarding medicinal cannabis. It does not cut any funds from the DEA budget. This amendment only directs that precious DEA dollars be used for other, more pressing matters.

Garry Silva, a patient who uses medicinal cannabis, spent two days in mid-June wheeling his way through the halls of the Capitol in support of the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment. Gary is a member of Americans for Safe Access—° group dedicated to defending patients’†access to medical cannabis—°nd suffers from chronic pain due to a degenerative back condition and the effects of a violent federal raid on his house. He traveled from his home in California to plead with members of Congress to stop the DEA from raiding and arresting seriously ill patients in the 11 states that allow doctors to recommend and patients to use medicinal cannabis.

More HERE

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

Seems reasonable to me.

capt

I agree 100% with Factchecker on Flag burning.

As Leno said:
"Republicans in the Senate have announced they are moving on from gay marriage ... to a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. ... We would join the only three other countries who have banned flag burning: China, Cuba and Iran. We can stand with our brothers on this issue."
--Jay Leno

On the Gorelick Memo... not so much. But then again, the FISA court and the DOJ are on my side; so I don't feel so bad.

As I noted before, you obviously don't know the first thing about the FISA court, the history or their requirements. I quote the facts (not opinions) laid out by the FISA Judicial Review and the Ashcroft DOJ.

Letting that quote lie unaddressed is like letting all those Wilson quotes taken out of context lie unaddressed. Ain't gonna happen.

Since you like lists, let's review:

1. The FISA court and DOJ both say the wall was created by the 80s-era DOJ. You still have not disproven their contention. If you have a bone to pick, it's with the Republicans. Take it up with them.

2. The Gorelick memo was called "Procedures for Contacts Between the FBI and the Criminal Division Concerning Foreign Intelligence and Foreign Counterintelligence Investigations" because (as the FISA court and DOJ noted) it established a procedure for passing information over the wall. You still have not addressed this contention.

3. The Thompson memo in the Ashcroft DOJ built the wall higher. Not a word you've written has ever addressed this.

You want to leave the quote unaddressed as a direct appeal to ignorance. That is an insane proposition.

The Assistant US Attorney's job was to pass information accross the wall. The only thing he was walled off from (as the FISA court and the DOJ both note) is "controlling or directing" the investigation on either side.

On one point, you are correct. People here are reading your nonsense and you are allowing them to decide for themselves. Unfortunately for you, they have come to discover that you prefer ignorance to information -- that you prefer opinion to fact.

It reflects poorly on you. But that's the choice you've made.

"Neither you nor I have to comment on this. People can read the quote and decide for themselves."
Posted by factchecker at June 27, 2006 06:56 PM

Indeed.

Senate Rejects Flag Desecration Amendment

By LAURIE KELLMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) - A constitutional amendment to ban flag desecration died in a Senate cliffhanger Tuesday, a single vote short of the support needed to send it to the states for ratification a week before Independence Day.

Scientists Give Gore Movie Five Stars for Accuracy
By Seth Borenstein
Associated Press
posted: 27 June 2006

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

Watch out now, take care, lest the flags you burn in celebration contribute to the increase in caloric output...

lol

Capt, flag burning = "hot" topic ouch, watch out for flying tomaters.

Jeanne, Ronaldo's goal was freekin' amazing. Along with Maxi Rodriguez' goal in the MexvArg game, it has to be the goal of the decade. Let's spin the wheel of adjectives .....

And I'm not looking for an agrument. What's an agruement? (Just funnin' ya'). Neither is Carey.
By Pandy
"That's because she whooped your ass!"
Posted by: LBH at June 27, 2006 06:23 PM

"I love ya Pande!"
Posted by: Carey at June 27, 2006 04:33 PM

LOL. I thought you said you were married? That actually might explain a lot about your frequent whining on this blog. Your wife "loves" you too much.

Congress is wasting man hours and plenty of money on an issue that doesn't even compare to the important issues of the day. Who cares about flag burning. While a few flags have been burned I think that most protesters prefer other forms of protest. What a waste.

Pandemoniac,
If you can find video of the goal can you post it?

Argentina Vs Mexico - 97th, Maxi Rodriguez - Goal Argentina

Is that it?

capt

Four other countries where it is a crime to burn the national flag...

China
Cuba
Iran
Iraq

I bet it is also a crime in North Korea.

Now there are some fine examples of countries making it a crime to burn the flag. Politicians of all political persuasion need to get a clue, and fast.

That one was good Capt, but Ronaldo's goal was freaking amazing. I must see it.

Capt, that is the very goal. Maxi chests the ball and plucks it mid-air and drives it "en el lugar donde las arañas hacen su nido" (in the place where spiders build their webs). That's the goal that killed Mexico.

===+===

It occurs to me that this little gem is another in a long line of painful examples of the inability of the Conservatives here to assimilate factual information:

"We can call each other names...."
Posted by: factchecker at June 27, 2006 07:02 PM

Hmmm. Are you admitting that you missed out on this critical little fact?
---8---
"Another periodic warning to posters: refrain from name-calling or you will be banned...."
Posted by: David Corn at June 27, 2006 01:00 AM

Not that your ignorance should excuse the flagrant display of typical Conservative foaming at the mouth ranting (racial slurs). But with a mooncalf like you, it's par for the course.

Maybe this one:

Cristiano Ronaldo's goal

capt

Very typical of a bunch of worthless politicians. This country has problems plenty so lets waste time and money on 'nothing'! We know the repuglicans will do nothing but what about the so-called democrats? They all look alike to me. I'm still hopeful for Gore/Feingold. They may be helpless with this legislative body but at least they would not bomb Iran or North Korea. BTW, what the hell ever became of the country we grew up in?

Another Ranoldo?

great ronaldo goal

capt

"in the place where spiders build their webs"

Lovely.

Scarborough Chooses Jefferson

For those in the D/FW area:

AMC The Parks At Arlington 18
3861 S. Cooper, Arlington, TX 76015 (972)7248000
An Inconvenient Truth - 12:05 PM, 2:30, 4:50, 7:10, 9:35

Probably not showing in many other theaters around here.

The pols just gave themselves ANOTHER raise. How much do we pay them for a day on the floor of complete absurdity?

"So they [the Government] go on in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all-powerful to be impotent." ~ Sir Winston Churchill, Hansard, November 12, 1936

capt

Conservative Scarborough breaks ranks with Busheviks

As the new wave of conservative outrage explodes on our TV screens, Joe Scarborough stands out almost alone against his fellow colleagues. Author Ron Suskind said that this is all old news. Terrorists have changed the way that they deal with money transactions for years now. You can watch the video here.

Scarborough: You gotta admit-it?s frightening. More so to us who know how Washington works and know how power can corrupt and know how power can be abused. I believe friends, we are in dangerous times for those of us who believe like Thomas Jefferson-that Washington is not to be trusted with unlimited police power.

I disagree with Joe on any number of issues, but he has been consistent on privacy rights and has stood out among the conservatives that want to make the press this administration?s scapegoat.

Jeanne. JINX!

I love the fact that if we have a flag burning amendment, we'll be one of four countries to outlaw such activiity... China Cuba Iran US of Goddammed-A!

Feliz cumpleaños to Hajji. It's great to see that we've made it through another year. The only downside to Hajji's B-day is that mine is soon to follow. Also, Forty Toofrikkinold.

This is the Ronaldo goal against Ghana that broke the record, he jukes the goalie and taps it in. Beautiful. With an assist from Kaka. Funny but Dudu didn't make the squad. Baaaad puns. Good thing Mr. Corn isn't banning folks for bad puns.

Pandemoniac says @ 28.
"The Assistant US Attorney's job was to pass information accross the wall. The only thing he was walled off from (as the FISA court and the DOJ both note) is "controlling or directing" the investigation on either side."

Well, first of all, the AUSA was Mary Jo White, a woman, not a man as you claim. But rather than take your opinion or my opinion, let's see what the actual memo says:

"That AUSA will continue to be 'walled-off' from participation in the on-going criminal investigations and cases will continue to abide by all FISA dissemination provisions and guidelines."

Seems to me the memo says she is walled of from "participation", not just "controlling or directing".

My reading was also the opinion of Mary Jo White, the AUSA, who would seem to know a lot more about this than either you or I.

But, then, I think the people can make up their own minds. Unless you seem to think they can't.

How much for the services and buildings and security? To have these jerks make political gestures while they are "on the clock" to do the peoples business?

$5 maybe $7 million a day?

How can either party afford incumbency?

These politicians are just ripping us off and wasting precious time.

capt

Pre-War Intelligence

JONES: My question is this to all four of you who would like to answer, maybe it?s a very simple question. I apologize if it?s been asked before. But what perplexes me is how in the world could professionals ? I?m not criticizing anybody here at this table ? but how could the professionals see what was happening and nobody speak out?

I?m not saying you did not do your duty, please understand. My point is as a congressman who trusted what I was being told ? I?m was not on the Intelligence Committee, Senator Dorgan, but I am on the Armed Services Committee ? and I was being told this information. And I wish I?d the wisdom then that I might have now. I would have known what to ask. But I think many of my colleagues ? they did not have the experience on the Intelligence Committee ? we just pretty much accepted.

So where along the way ? how did these people so early on get so much power that they had more influence in those in the administration to make decisions than you the professionals.

WILKERSON: Let me try to answer you first. Let me say right off the bat I?m glad to see you here.

JONES: Thank you sir.

WILKERSON: As a Republican, I?m somewhat embarrassed by the fact that you?re the only member of my party here.

JONES: I agree.

WILKERSON: But I understand it. I?d answer you with two words. Let me put the article in there and make it three. The Vice President.

"But, then, I think the people can make up their own minds. Unless you seem to think they can't."

Factchecker,
Very manipulative. Unbecoming of a gentleman.

Carrie,
Isn't that haunting? It sends chills.

Why the Flag-burning Ban Failed

Though advocates tried to turn one more senator, Republican Mitch McConnell's side prevailed

One of the last major accomplishments of Randy "Duke" Cunningham before the Republican Congressman was jailed for taking $2.4 million in bribes was to sponsor an amendment to the 217-year-old Constitution of the United States. The amendment, which would have given Congress the power to outlaw "desecration" of the flag, cleared the required two-thirds majority in the House last year and Tuesday evening the Senate put the amendment to a vote. Both sides in the battle said during the run up to the vote that supporters were one vote short of the 67 required for Congressional passage —†and despite a late push to flip one more Senator, the Amendment did indeed fail, 66-34.

Of all the 34 Senators the amendment's supporters wish they had had on their side, Mitch McConnell is surely the top of their list. McConnell, the Senate Republican Whip, is normally in charge of herding the GOP agenda through the Senate. On this issue, though, with the thinnest of margins, the conservative Kentuckian has been on the other side of the wire.

McConnell took a classically conservative position on the amendment. He argued that Senators have to make a choice: protect the flag, which is a symbol of freedom, or protect the constitution, which is the literal source of American freedoms. In a recent editorial, McConnell wrote, "The First Amendment, which protects our freedom of speech, is the most precious part of the Bill of Rights. As disgusting as the ideas expressed by those who would burn the flag are, they remain protected by the First Amendment."

More HERE

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

I like Mitch McConnell about as much as I like Ann Coulter or Limpbaugh. On this issue he is right. There is a streak of paleo-conservative that runs just below the surface. I think Bush and his cronies have reason to worry. Their wedge issues are splitting the GOP more than anything.

capt

-Flag issue missed by 1 vote
-Vote tallied 66; but 67 needed
-All Corn bloggers cept one, says "waste of time"

Perhaps NOT an issue high on the Silent Majority's To-Do list, it is still an important moral/social, God and Country dividing point.

In a image-heavy world, with foreign protesters burning/descerating our flags routinely, it seems that we ought not help our enemies' cause by burning our own flags. American protesters burning the Stars & Stripes, broadcast on Al-Jazeera--no translation necessary in any language--would not help our nation's causes.

Personally, I would've been honored to cast the 67th vote. Chalk this flag issue to another PLUS for the GOP, now even more entrenched as the God and Country party! Smart and Right move!

Legal Experts to Senate Committee: Bush "Signing Statements" Unconstitutional, Impeachable

In a hearing today, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on presidential signing statements, which Ranking Member Leahy called "a grave threat to our constitutional system of checks and balances." Recent reports have highlighted how Bush has issued these orders in record numbers and exercised unprecedented overreach by giving himself the authority to ignore certain parts of the laws he signs.

Because of the extralegal nature of the signing statements, there is nothing for Congress or the Supreme Court to actually overrule. Nevertheless, the statements are binding for policy implementation.

Bruce Fein, attorney and renowned legal scholar, told the committee that Bush has essentially given himself a line item veto power by declaring portions of new laws unconstitutional and offering his own revisions.

"These statements, which have multiplied logarithmically under President George W. Bush, flout the Constitution's checks and balances and separation of powers. They usurp legislative prerogatives and evade accountability," Fein said. "The President does not enjoy a constitutional option of unilaterally pronouncing a provision he has signed into law as unconstitutional and refuse to enforce it on that count."

Citing Bush's behavior as "alarming," Fein suggested that the President could be impeached for "political crime(s) against the Constitution."

---------------------
But we're worried about flag burning.

#55
SM
The point is, it's not an issue. How many times have you seen people burning the flag? It's not an issue.

Um, #17 & #56?

Are we not reading the thread?

The good ones are always worth repeating.

HUGE lightning and thunder storm. Looks like a UFO is going to land. If they do, what should I tell them if they ask me to take them to my leader?

capt

Capt,
My brain only holds so much especially after a day of data entry.....I am loopy.

Tell them it would be your pleasure.

License to lie

In his devastating new book, Ron Suskind shows how 9/11 allowed George W. Bush and his shadowy courtier, Dick Cheney, to "create whatever reality was convenient."

If there are any observers who still deny that the Bush administration is the most secretive, vengeful, reality-averse, manipulative and arrogant government in U.S. history, they will have a lot of fast talking to do after reading Ron Suskind's new book, "The One Percent Doctrine." A meticulous work of reporting, based on interviews with nearly 100 well-placed sources, many of them members of the U.S. intelligence community, Suskind's book paints perhaps the most intimate and damning portrait yet of the Bush team.
--------------------

tell them that we only have a decider.

Storms ripped off a few roofs yesterday. The lightning (the last hour or so) has been amazing!

Literally hundreds of strikes a minute.

capt

Ironically, incidents of flag desecration increase when meaures are taken to protect it:

"I, for one, have never felt any real desire or inclination to burn an American flag (or any other flag for that matter). Apparently most Americans are in the same boat because, according to one study, there were only 45 reported flag burning incidents in the first 200 years of the republic (h/t Think Progress). That means there are probably more historical incidents of witch-burning than flag-burning. Maybe we should start debating the Witch Protection Amendment.

But I digress. Back to flag-burning. Despite my natural disinclination (apathy?) toward burning flags, if the Flag Desecration Amendment passes, I'm going to be awfully tempted to burn one for the first time, if for no other reason than to protest the passage of such a mind-bogglingly stupid amendment. And I have a feeling I won't be alone. It seems likely, therefore, that the primary consequence of this amendment will be to dramatically increase the level of flag burning in this country.

If you doubt this is true, just ask Professor Robert Goldstein, who's an expert on the subject. This Senate Report quotes Goldstein as saying: "We've had more than twice as many flag burnings since this became a front page issue in 1989 than in the entire history of the American republic." The report continues:

Professor Goldstein has established that the
number of incidents peaked during the period
after the 1989 Flag Protection Act was in effect,
and that the rate of incidents has more than
tripled since the current effort to amend the
Constitution was initiated. Even with the
increase brought on by the agitation for bans
on flag burning, the actual number of incidents
remains exceedingly low. These facts are
undisputed."

More Here

* * *

Some may be happy to protect the flag at the expense of the constitution. That position is antithetical to the foundations on which this country is based. In short, the amendment would convert the flag from a symbol of our freedoms, including the freedom of speech, to a symbol of censorship.

Capt,
What would bush do if you brought some aliens to his doorstep? I would love to see his face. Or Cheney's face. Or Bolton. I don't think they can claim they are the super power of the universe. Wouldn't that make a great SNL skit?

Rick,

Right on!

As Always!

capt

Jeanne,

No Doubt!

With flashbacks to Ronny Rayguns Alien invasion doctrine!

capt

In short, the amendment would convert the flag from a symbol of our freedoms, including the freedom of speech, to a symbol of censorship.
Posted by: RicK at June 27, 2006 11:01 PM

Hot-digitty cogent and pithy. NicE job RicK.

Jeanne 57

May not be a big issue today, but there were lots of Vietnam War protesters burning our flags. Iraq War protesters have not reached that level, but could.

To Corn bloggers, the flag is a non-issue. To the (Silent) Majority, the NSA spying of international communications was a non-issue.

Funny how this flag thing mustered 2/3+ vote in the House and fell 1 vote shy of 2/3 in the Senate. Dems can't win on this one and should just STFU; like me now!

#68
SM
Did you read #63?

"The believing mind is externally impervious to evidence. The most that can be accomplished with it is to induce it to substitute one delusion for another. It rejects all overt evidence as wicked" ~ Henry Louis Mencken (1880-1956) U. S. Editor and Critic.

"A fool cannot be protected from his folly. If you attempt to do so, you will not only arouse his animosity but also you will be attempting to deprive him of whatever benefit he is capable of deriving from experience. Never attempt to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig." ~ Robert A. Heinlein

Tom DeLay: A Voting Double Threat

Tom DeLay may have retired from Congress, but he is still a voting force to be reckoned with.

Texas Democrats are suing to force Tom DeLay to stay on the November ballot -- or, more accurately, to block Republicans from naming a successor. For the legal gambit to work, the Dems need to show DeLay, who says he has since moved to Virginia, is in fact still a Texan.

To prove himself a Virginian, DeLay registered to vote in the Lovers' State (actually a Commonwealth).

But he has yet to take his name off the rolls in Texas: he's still registered to vote down in Fort Bend County, as you can plainly see on the county's online records.

DeLay simply needs to notify the county in writing that he won't be voting around there no more -- but he hasn't done it. "We’≤e up to do date on what we’≤e getting in on a daily basis," the nice lady at the county election administration office said, "and we haven’¥ received anything from him asking us to cancel." Until then, she told me, he's considered "active."

That certainly won't help DeLay convince a Texas judge that he's really a resident of Virginia.

Also -- doesn't it seem like there should be a law against this sort of thing?

Update: Actually, according to a helpful fellow in the Fort Bend County DA's office, this probably would not be a crime, unless DeLay tried to come back and vote in Texas after having voted in Virginia.

More HERE

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Neocon culture of corruption - the gift that keeps on giving.

capt

The flag burning bill will rise again from the ashes like the phoenix. It will rise again when Congress reinstates the military draft. Reinstatement of the military draft will create many flag burning incidences. This time the Supreme Court will uphold the bill that will be sent to the states for our 28th amendment.

Big Week in Court for DeLay

OK, so rarely a week goes by where Tom DeLay doesn't have some sort of important court date, but this next couple of weeks will have some real repercussions for the country.

Sometime this week, the Supreme Court is expected to decide on the constitutionality of DeLay's 2003 redistrictring. If the court decides against it, the state would revert to the former districts and electoral chaos would ensue. If the court decides that the redistricting was constitutional, then we may soon see a whole lot more gerrymandering in blue as well as red states.

And according to lawyer for the Texas Democrats Chris Dunn, a federal judge in Texas is expected to decide next week whether Republicans can constitutionally replace DeLay as their candidate. If DeLay loses, he'll be stuck on the ballot. And what happens then? Will he let the Democrat Nick Lampson run unopposed?

More HERE

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Not my state or district but I am hoping Lampson prevails.

capt

What the president and his spokesmen are once again asserting is that the prosecution of this ill-defined, open-ended 'War on Terror' inevitably trumps basic democratic rights in general and the constitutionally enshrined freedom of the press in particular. (link)

This is a very good article to read.

Bush and the Ten Commandments

if i make an american flag into a cape for my super-hero costume, is that considered a desecration? - i must admit that it looks quite striking with swimming goggles and a 'where's waldo' shirt.

Back to the original list....

I will take your lack of response to mean that you have tacitly agreed to the following:

1. The FISA court and DOJ both say the wall was created by the 80s-era DOJ. All problems can be traced back to their idiocy.

2. The Gorelick memo was called "Procedures for Contacts Between the FBI and the Criminal Division Concerning Foreign Intelligence and Foreign Counterintelligence Investigations" because (as the FISA court and DOJ noted) it established a procedure for passing information over the wall. So what was Mary Jo's job, as AUSA? [as per the directive titled "Procedures for Contacts Between the FBI and the Criminal Division Concerning Foreign Intelligence and Foreign Counterintelligence Investigations"]:
"This AUSA will also serve to ensure, in conjunction with the FBI and OIPR, that information which reasonably indicates that a significant federal crime has been, is being, or may be committed is appropriately disseminated to criminal investigative personnel, the USAO, and the Criminal Division pursuant to the procedures set forth above.

If she was having problems with the "wall," it didn't show in the Bin Laden indictment. I'm not saying that her legal record was the cause of her problems; but she obviously wasn't cut out to be AUSA for her district. She had a track record of letting the big fish get away.

3. The Thompson memo in the Ashcroft DOJ built the wall higher. Not a word you've written has ever addressed this.

IF there is any blame to be cast for the failures of the FBI and FIC, we can lay them at the feet of the AUSA who failed to pass on the relevant information (as she was tasked to do): Mary Jo White.

"Seems to me the memo says she is walled of from "participation", not just "controlling or directing"."

Read the whole memo, you're missing several key facts by ignoring the rest of the directive. It may seem to you that she was walled off from the investigation; but as the FISA court noted and the Ashcroft DOJ reiterated, she was the conduit of the process known as “passing information over the wall.”

"My reading was also the opinion of Mary Jo White, the AUSA, who would seem to know a lot more about this than either you or I."

Yes, she does have experience with it; but if you go back and read that original story that you cut and paste you'll read of other folks who had to deal with the "wall." They said it was cumbersome but manageable. I guess it depends on the skill of the AUSA. Obviously, Ms. White wasn't up to the task.

"But, then, I think the people can make up their own minds. Unless you seem to think they can't."
Posted by: factchecker at June 27, 2006 10:06 PM

I don't have the slightest shadow of a doubt that folks have already made up their minds. Experience with the highly discerning folks here on this blog tells me that that the expertise of the sources I cited (the FISA Court Review and the Ashcroft DOJ report) is valued much more highly than the interpretation of an inveterate mythomaniac like you. Don't you agree?

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! Nice pipes Jeanne, where'd you learn such an unorthodox style?
++++++++++++++++

Flag Desecration, eh? As obvious a political waste of time and energy as we'll ever see.

"It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."

Why should I care if someone wants to burn a flag as a reverent retirement or to display disgust with the troubled nation we're watching go up in flames?

I don't care if some private person wants to fly the "Stars and Bars",(civil institutions are another matter, entirely) either. It is EXPRESSION, and hurts no one. Burning flags, burning crosses, burning bras, burning effigies of political and/or religeous figures, burning weed...why, exactly, should anyone have any say in how I choose to express myself, so long as it is the flag, cross, bra, effigy or weed that I OWN! (and doesn't set anybody else's on fire)

So why should I give a flying, flaming fajita?

That the congress takes up such rubbish is the tell.

I'm gonna go burn a bible, a flag, a bald eagle and a dashboard Jesus...and then sleep!

Ike, the prodigal puppy, is coming home to momma tomorrow!
Kill the fatted can of Kenn'L Ration!

g'nite!

-T

78 Amen

Pande,

My magic 8-Ball is sqarely in your corner.

I think you should starve Fastchecker of attention until he can attribute that Lt. Wazzisname who supposedly wrote that silly letter to the NYTimes.

It is really like watching a cat batting around a rat just severely enough to keep it (barely) alive, just for its own entertainment. I can only take the cruelty for so long before I have to say "Finish it off, or I'll stomp on its little head".

But, I guess I shouldn't try to rob the (soon to be) OLD Tomcat of his fun!

carry on...(nothing equals the splendor)

-T

When my Dad died in December - he was 82 - the funeral director gave my Mom a flag at the gravesite.

The funeral director said some nice words, and explained the flag was from the President of the United States. My Dad was a veteran of WWII and had served in the 82nd Airborne.

My mother accepted it gracefully, not becuase it was from George Bush but because my father had risked his life to serve his country. She would have preferred it was a gift of anyone but "W" who risked nothing and who failed to perform his duty even in the guard.

We are not blind. We see what he has done and it is not good.

Hajji has the memory of the GOP mascot. I tend to agree. Show us the money.

I think you should starve Fastchecker of attention until he can attribute that Lt. Wazzisname who supposedly wrote that silly letter to the NYTimes.

Lt. Tom Cotton writes this morning from Baghdad with a word for the New York Times:

Dear Messrs. Keller, Lichtblau & Risen:

Congratulations on disclosing our government's highly classified anti-terrorist-financing program (June 23). I apologize for not writing sooner. But I am a lieutenant in the United States Army and I spent the last four days patrolling one of the more dangerous areas in Iraq. (Alas, operational security and common sense prevent me from even revealing this unclassified location in a private medium like email.)

Unfortunately, as I supervised my soldiers late one night, I heard a booming explosion several miles away. I learned a few hours later that a powerful roadside bomb killed one soldier and severely injured another from my 130-man company. I deeply hope that we can find and kill or capture the terrorists responsible for that bomb. But, of course, these terrorists do not spring from the soil like Plato's guardians. No, they require financing to obtain mortars and artillery shells, priming explosives, wiring and circuitry, not to mention for training and payments to locals willing to emplace bombs in exchange for a few months' salary. As your story states, the program was legal, briefed to Congress, supported in the government and financial industry, and very successful.

Not anymore. You may think you have done a public service, but you have gravely endangered the lives of my soldiers and all other soldiers and innocent Iraqis here. Next time I hear that familiar explosion -- or next time I feel it -- I will wonder whether we could have stopped that bomb had you not instructed terrorists how to evade our financial surveillance.

And, by the way, having graduated from Harvard Law and practiced with a federal appellate judge and two Washington law firms before becoming an infantry officer, I am well-versed in the espionage laws relevant to this story and others -- laws you have plainly violated. I hope that my colleagues at the Department of Justice match the courage of my soldiers here and prosecute you and your newspaper to the fullest extent of the law. By the time we return home, maybe you will be in your rightful place: not at the Pulitzer announcements, but behind bars.

Very truly yours,

Tom Cotton
Baghdad, Iraq

Posted by: factchecker at June 26, 2006 10:07 AM

As Vice President Dick ("Last Throes") Cheney said Thursday, redeployment of our troops would be ìthe worst possible thing we could do. ... No matter how you carve itóyou can call it anything you wantóbut basically it is packing it in, going home, persuading and convincing and validating the theory that the Americans donít have the stomach for this fight.î

Then right in the middle of CutíníRun Week, the top American commander in Iraq, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., held a classified briefing at the Pentagon and revealed his plan to reduce the 14 combat brigades now in Iraq to five or six. And hereís the best part: Rather than wait till the end of this year or, heaven forefend, next year, Casey wants to start moving those troops out in September, just before whatever it is that happens in early November. They donít call him George W. Jr. for nothing.

Ivans

Ivans = Ivins = link = tired = g'nite.

Wrong about Judy Miller
Right about the 1st Amendment
Keller speaks his peace

[ . . .] It's an unusual and powerful thing, this freedom that our founders gave to the press. Who are the editors of The New York Times (or the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and other publications that also ran the banking story) to disregard the wishes of the President and his appointees? And yet the people who invented this country saw an aggressive, independent press as a protective measure against the abuse of power in a democracy, and an essential ingredient for self-government. They rejected the idea that it is wise, or patriotic, to always take the President at his word, or to surrender to the government important decisions about what to publish.

The power that has been given us is not something to be taken lightly. The responsibility of it weighs most heavily on us when an issue involves national security, and especially national security in times of war. I've only participated in a few such cases, but they are among the most agonizing decisions I've faced as an editor.

more HERE

ok g'nite

If Congress had banned burning the US flag, protesters could simply start burning the Jolly Roger--because as long as the right wing runs this country (off a cliff), the two flags will mean much the same thing. Of course, Native Americans (the misnamed "Indians") might well say they always meant the same thing. After all, we got this country by murdering the "Indians" and stealing their land, thus violating two of the Ten Commandments--so much for "God and Country"! Gerald is right; this country has nothing to do with the will of God. To be fair, though, NO country can do the will of God, because all countries are composed of human beings, and all human beings are sinners. To speak of any nation being righteous, or chosen of God, is patent nonsense.

Back to mining NaCl, Kid Charlemagne

#30 Thanks Robert

The news I was watching today had a crawler at the bottom that said just the opposite. I'm like waiting for this segment of the news... I gotta hear this. Some techie spun the hell outta that crawler. No wonder the story didn't actually come up on the news.
Nice link and thanks again.

The source on the Cotton letter is . . .

POWERLINE

Waddo I win?

capt

I should have linked it in the first place. I am too petty:

The "Cotton" letter

There you go!

capt

"Unless you seem to think they can't"

Listed under passive/aggressive psycho-babble?

capt

While we're at it, let's criminalize the burning of all holy books, the bible, qu'ran(sp), torah, the big blue book(aa), the dalai lama's writings, all disney books/movies/dvds, the constitution(bush has a signing exception, here), any beatles records, photos, the stones...the point is, any icon that anyone clings to, for security and self identification. How many Iraqi flags have been burned during the war? how many pregnant women, pro-lifers? How ridiculous do you want to get? and congress is voting a pay raise for themselves? I have not had a raise for almost 2 years, and I work for one of the most successful global financial services companies in the world, Lehman Brothers. Do I dare say it in public? is this a violation of free speech to restrict me from stating the name of my employer while telling the truth? we will see, won't we.

Blessings,
st john

Female killer who cooked partner appeals

The only woman in Australia serving life in prison without the hope of parole is appealing against the severity of her sentence for murdering and mutilating her partner.

Abattoir worker Katherine Knight stabbed her de facto husband, John Price, 37 times and served his flesh to his children for dinner.

In February 2000, Knight skinned Mr Price at their home at Aberdeen, in the Hunter Valley, and put his head in a pot on the stove.

More HERE

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The sales of her cookbook "How to serve Your Husband" never took off. On the brighter side, at least she cooked the head before serving the children.

capt

Pleezz. I'm not in a mood to hear fairy tales about how Congress didn't know, but did know. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060628/pl_nm/security_leaks_dc">Link

LINK

I'm afraid I've lost my patience.

There is no "Kelly"; do I have to say why?

There is no Kelly. There are people who suffer like this, but we are doing no wrong in trying to get them out of this quagmire.

The Cabal, Outed

The spies who lied us into war are at it again

The looming conflict between Iran and the United States has a nightmarish quality about it: it is like one of those dreams in which a horrific series of events is endlessly reenacted, while the dreamer is powerless to stop it. You scream and nothing comes out.

It is a rerun of the run-up to war with Iraq: the "weapons of mass destruction" that may (or, more likely, may not) exist, the exile groups proffering dubious "intelligence," platoons of laptop bombardiers urging us to strike while they sit, sipping a latt?, in the cushioned comfort of their well-subsidized Washington think tanks. The fevered editorials, the presidential posturing, the dramatic showdowns in the UN Security Council, the tragicomic behavior of the proposed target, as its leaders alternately proclaim their innocence and shout their defiance, grimly preparing for the inevitable assault. A creepy feeling of deja vu overcomes me as I contemplate this familiar litany rising from the ranks of the War Party.

How, one wonders, could we be repeating the disastrous series of bad decisions, grossly self-serving projections, and alleged intelligence "failures" that led us into the Iraqi quagmire? And so soon!

The answer is that the foundations for this massive propaganda blitz and subsequent ratcheting-up of war hysteria were laid at about the same time as the Iraqi misadventure was conceived. The same people who lied us into war with Iraq have all along been deeply involved in a similar effort in regard to Iran: indeed, the two projects are intimately intertwined, as Laura Rozen –†a senior correspondent for The American Prospect and one of the most consistently interesting reporters on the international affairs beat in Washington –†reveals in her latest piece, "Three Days in Rome?", which appears on the Web site of Mother Jones magazine.

Both efforts came together at a secret meeting between intelligence operatives of at least three nations, held on Dec. 21, 2001, in Rome. Hosted by SISMI, the intelligence section of the Italian military, this clandestine conclave –†featuring both the storied and the soon-to-be-famous –†had an agenda as varied as the attendants. Over three days, American, Italian, and Iranian participants –†including Manucher Ghorbanifar, the infamous wheeler-dealer at the center of the Iran-Contra scandal –†discussed Middle East politics, exchanged bits of gossip, and then got down to the real business of plotting regime-change in Iran. Rozen writes:

More HERE

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Justin lays it out there for all to see.

"This is like deja vu all over again." ~ Yogi Berra

capt

Bush may allow wiretapping review: Specter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House appears to be leaning toward allowing a secret federal court to look at its controversial warrantless wiretaps, a reversal of previous policy, a top Republican senator said on Sunday.

Sen. Arlen Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, had been pressing the Bush administration to seek clearance from the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, court.

The act requires warrants from the court for intelligence-related eavesdropping inside the United States.

"I think there is an inclination (in the White House) to have it submitted to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance court, and that would be a big step forward for protection of constitutional rights and liberties," Specter, who had harshly criticized the program, told "Fox News Sunday."

More HERE

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"Bush may allow wiretapping review?"

Well if Bush ALLOWS a review? WTF? Time for a little de-crowning of the Neo-king George?

capt

Dems vow to block pay raises until minimum wage increased

I've been waiting and waiting for congressional Dems to do something exactly like this.

Democrats ratcheted up their election-year push for an increase in the federal minimum wage Tuesday by promising to block a congressional pay hike unless some of the lowest-paid hourly workers get their first raise in nearly a decade.

"Congress is going to have earn its raise by putting American workers first: A raise for workers before a raise for Congress," said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

Reid refused to spell out exactly how he will block a $3,300 pay raise scheduled for January 1 for members of Congress, who currently earn $165,200 annually. He said with 40 Senate Democrats backing the maneuver, "We can stop anything they (Republicans) try to do with a congressional pay raise."

This makes so much political sense, it's astounding it took this long. The public strongly supports an increase to the minimum wage and strongly opposes lawmakers giving themselves a raise.

Reid and the Dem leadership are making this simple: if members want their cost-of-living-increase, then they better be ready to increase the minimum wage for the first time since 1996. (Since the last minimum-wage increase, salaries for members of Congress have gone up $31,600.)

For Dems, it's a winner: it's not only the right policy for working families and the economy, but it's also the right political stand on two issues that matter to voters. Dems can be a little slow sometimes, but they usually manage to get it right eventually

More HERE

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There was some legislation that would have tied the politicians pay-raises to increases in the minimum wage.

A winning issue but sadly people earning minimum wage never have anything left to bribe their representatives after they pay rent and fill-up the car.

capt

Note to Liberals: Stop Waiting for a Hero

As we get closer to the presidential elections, a conversation will be heard all across America. "Who can liberals choose that will save this country? Is he the one, or is it her?" Lists are being compiled and a debate held over which of the names is America's savior. For liberals, the correct answer is "none of the above."

I say this without knowing who will be the nominee. I say this not because the individuals in question are inadequate. I say this because liberal values cannot be saved by heroes. Liberal values can only be saved by ordinary citizens living up to their principles.

More HERE

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

An interesting piece.

capt

Curtain May Be Closing On Scientific Water Controversy

Water covers 70 percent of the Earth's surface and makes up 60 percent of the human body. Despite water's ubiquitous presence in our lives, it remains a mystery. Whereas most substances contract when they solidify, water expands, making it less dense as a solid than as a liquid. Our lives depend upon liquid water but, given its light molecular weight, water at room temperature should be a gas. The key to understanding the strange but vital properties of liquid water is to fully understand its structure.

A single water molecule is V-shaped, but because the oxygen atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atoms, the electrons in the molecule tend to gather towards the oxygen end, creating a slightly negative pole there and a slightly positive pole on the hydrogen side. The polarity of each water molecule results in a weak attraction between it and other water molecules, called a hydrogen bond. In the traditional scientific picture of water in the solid ice state, every individual water molecule forms four hydrogen bonds two that are electron acceptors and two that are electron donors through which it connects to its nearest neighbors. The result is a network of tetrahedrons. When ice melts, these bonds may become distorted and up to 20-percent of them broken. Despite these thermal distortions, liquid water still retains its tetrahedral network. This tetrahedral structure, coupled with strong hydrogen bonding, has long been thought to be the source of liquid water's unusual properties.

More HERE

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Some very interesting stuff. It is amazing how little we know about water.

capt

Obama to Dems: Time to court religious zealots

Sen. Barack Obama chastised fellow Democrats on Wednesday for failing to "acknowledge the power of faith in the lives of the American people," and said the party must compete for the support of evangelicals and other churchgoing Americans.

"Not every mention of God in public is a breach to the wall of separation. Context matters," the Illinois Democrat said in remarks prepared for delivery to a conference of Call to Renewal, a faith-based movement to overcome poverty.

"It is doubtful that children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance feel oppressed or brainwashed as a consequence of muttering the phrase `under God,'" he said. "Having voluntary student prayer groups using school property to meet should not be a threat, any more than its use by the High School Republicans should threaten Democrats."

Obama, the only black in the Senate, drew national notice even before arriving in Congress last year, and has occasionally used his visibility to scold members of his own party. Widely sought as a fundraiser for other Democrats, Obama responded with a noncommittal laugh this spring when asked whether he wants a spot on the national ticket in 2008.

His speech included unusually personal references to religion, the type of remarks that usually come more readily from Republicans than Democrats.

"Kneeling beneath that cross on the South Side of Chicago, I felt I heard God's spirit beckoning me," he said of his walk down the aisle of the Trinity United Church of Christ. "I submitted myself to his will and dedicated myself to discovering his truth."

Obama said millions of Christians, Muslims and Jews have traveled similar religious paths, and that is why "we cannot abandon the field of religious discourse. ... In other words, if we don't reach out to evangelical Christians and other religious Americans and tell them what we stand for, Jerry Falwells and Pat Robertsons will continue to hold sway."

Obama coupled his advice with a warning. "Nothing is more transparent than inauthentic expressions of faith: the politicians who shows up at a black church around election time and claps _ off rhythm _ to the gospel choir."

At the same time, he said, "Secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering the public square."

As a result, "I think we make a mistake when we fail to acknowledge the power of faith in the lives of the American people and join a serious debate about how to reconcile faith with our modern, pluralistic democracy."

Obama mentioned leaders of the religious right briefly, saying they must "accept some ground rules for collaboration" and recognize the importance of the separation of church and state.

More HERE

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There goes my opinion of Barak.

The so-called religious zealots are the problem not the answer.

capt

Senator Diane Feinstein is more concerned about the image of returning soldiers from Iraq burning the American Flag than saving their lives. People around the world are burning our flag, if folks in the states join them how would that appear?

Feinstein should be pulled off the Senate Select Committee on INtelligence. Her family has profitted from this war and somehow that seems to be a conflict of interest issue.

#97 Capt..This article reinforces the most serious reasons for holding those responsible for lying us into the quagmire in Iraq. Many of the same individuals, have been free to create more "noble lies" for the american people to swallow about Iran.

Folks should be calling,emailing, visiting their representatives demanding that Phase 2 be completed...including parts four and five. Senator Pat Roberts needs to be hammered for interfering with the thoroughness of this investigation.

Byron York has an update on the status of Phase 2 at National Review.

#51 Carrie..#53Jeanne..Wilkerson's words are haunting. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the whole group responsible for the false pre-war intelligence will be held accountable. They have been able to run free to cook up reasons for pre-emptively attack Iran.

#124 Robert (previous thread) Ditto. The consistency of Scott Ritter's information having to do with the supposed WmD's in Iraq has been proven to be accurate.

LBH is committed to focusing on unsubstantiated claims. Distractions.....

As David has pointed out..What a time of focus on flag burning...

In the Senate, Covering Themselves in Old Glory
By Dana Milbank
Tuesday, June 27, 2006; Page A02
The Citizens Flag Alliance, a group pushing for the Senate this week to pass a flag-burning amendment to the Constitution, just reported an alarming, 33 percent increase in the number of flag-desecration incidents this year.

The number has increased to four, from three.
The naive among us may have trouble appreciating how four flag-burning episodes would constitute a constitutional crisis. But the men and women of the Senate, ever alert to emerging threats, are on the case.

Does flag burning contribute to global warming? If so then ban it immediately. Or does the hot air out of DC contribute much more and can we ban them?

#58 Capt.

They are coming, that is, showing themselves. Just not quite yet.

I would say "Howdy, are you sure you landed in the country of your choice?"

#62 Capt

God has spoken. "Get rid of those dang-ass roofs! I told you, I don't have complete control over the global warming thing. Pay attention. You don't understand. I'm gonna hit Florida-can't seem to control it anymore.

Alburquerque, get a move-on!"

Seriously, we had the storm just before you. Freakin weird, wasn't it?

#71 Capt

Who are we peons to tell DeLay to go away? Messianic, no megalomaniac. Must be a kin of that there Bush person.

#81 Neil

I'm so sorry. It is extremely hard to lose one's Dad.

At least we got the flag from former Pres. Clinton. It must have hurt double to receive it from Bush.

My sympathy to you and your family.

Hajji, yes, I'm done with Factchecker. He's admitted that it was Ms. White's job to pass info over the magical "wall" that the Republicans created in the 80s. I knew he would eventually stumble accross the point I was making. He didn't even have the grace to thank me for interceding on his behalf after he made a stooge of himself with his racist idiocy. Factless and graceless. I wash my hands of the child.

Capt, if you're getting a prize for #90, I want half. I linked it in the previous thread @211.

#84 Carrie

They act like they have balls, don't they? Instead, they're just copying us, now, that is. Well gosh darn, we made a mistake, doncha think? Let's just figure out how to make it a Democratic mistake.

That shouldn't be hard.

KATHLEEN,

God, what Israel is doing with the showdown in the Gaza. The whole thing is a hoax, the Palestinians know it.

I said once before, this is never going away is it? Let religion get into the mix and it's pretty much a gone thing.

Had the amendment passed:

Police Blotter:
Police responded to an anonymous tip that a man was deliberatally mistreating The Flag in front of his home. Upon police arrival the man explained he was wringing The Flag out after having washed it.

#60 Jeanne

My sister sent me that article. I can't wait to get the book. I always let my brother (in law) buy it, read it, then I get it all to myself. My sis only reads fiction. I wish it was that easy.

Certain "herbs" hazardous for your head?

Cannabis is no soft drug, UN warns

June 28, 2006 New strains of highly potent cannabis are as dangerous as heroin and cocaine, and the drug can no longer be dismissed as "soft and relatively harmless", the United Nations has reported.

Article

Has anybody had a problem with that? Just lasts longer with less input required. More fear and hype.

ST. PAUL, Minn. Drinking six cups of coffee per day can lower the risk of type II diabetes, even among people who are obese or don't exercise, according to a University of Minnesota study released Monday.

While the research focused on postmenopausal women, the results likely apply to men as well, said lead author Mark Pereira, an assistant professor in the university's School of Public Health.

Women who drank six or more cups of coffee per day reduced their risk by 33 percent. Results were virtually the same whether the women drank regular coffee or decaf.

The study does not imply that coffee is a substitute for good diet and exercise, or that nondrinkers should start, but the popular beverage can be part of an overall diabetes prevention strategy, Pereira said.

Article

Hopheads rejoice! All that couch sitting can be offset by pounding coffee, beating the diabetes demons. Keeps ya awake too! Scuse me while I go test the theory.

Ava Lowery

Ava Lowery is only 15 years old, but wiser than many politicians and reporters four times her age.

The young Alabaman started a website called "Peace Takes Courage," and populated it with arresting Internet flash presentations and news. Many Internet activists have seen Ava's emotionally wrenching presentation of "Jesus Loves Me" that so movingly depicts the horror inflicted upon children by Bush's Iraq War.

Although many Democratic leaders back down when confronted with hostile questions from the press, Ava has held her own and shown that a backbone comes with character, not age.

As one BuzzFlash reader noted of her appearance on CNN: "Ava was beautiful and gracious and stuck to her talking points. Her poise was remarkable. Folks, this is our future. The right would have us believe that tomorrow holds nothing but darkness for us. But it's just not true. We can move America forward, no matter how small we may feel in the big scheme of things. Ava is a testament to the human spirit, an example of hope for all of us."

Ava Lowery has created more than 70 truthful animations about peace and the deceptions of the Bush Administration. She was the toast of the recent YearlyKos convention, and for good reason.She is a most worthy winner of this week's BuzzFlash "Wings of Justice Award."

More HERE

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

A well deserved accolade for Ava, she ROCKS!

capt

Tehran is next

Presbyterian Church Endorses Medical Marijuana

Congress to Vote on Measure to Stop Raids Next Week

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With the U.S. House of Representatives poised to vote on a measure to stop the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from arresting medical marijuana patients in states which permit medical use of marijuana, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has become the latest religious body to endorse legal access to medical marijuana for seriously ill patients.

The resolution, passed by consensus on June 21, affirms "the use of cannabis sativa or marijuana for legitimate medical purposes as recommended by a physician" and urges "federal legislation that allows for its use and that provides for the production and distribution of the plant for those purposes." The full text of the resolution is available at http://72.54.6.218/Business/Business.aspx?iid=134. The Presbyterian Church (USA) now joins the United Methodist Church, Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ, Union for Reform Judaism, Progressive National Baptist Convention, and the Unitarian Universalist Association in support of medical marijuana.

Next week, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment, which would bar the U.S. Department of Justice - including the DEA - from using its funds to interfere with the implementation of medical marijuana laws in the 11 states that have them: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

"Being seriously ill is stressful enough already without living in fear of arrest for taking doctor-recommended medicine," said Rev. Jim McNeil, a representative of the Homestead Presbytery in Nebraska, the regional body that brought the resolution to the General Assembly. "It is the job of religious denominations to give voice to those who cannot speak up for themselves. We pray that Congress will have the compassion to stop this war on patients."

"This action by the Presbyterian Church is further proof that protecting medical marijuana patients is simply not controversial," said Aaron Houston, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "A lot of people mistakenly believe that the issue of medical marijuana is 'incendiary,' but that's simply not true. An overwhelming majority of Americans want cancer and AIDS patients to be able to use medical marijuana under their doctors' care, and it's time for Congress to listen to the voters."

More HERE

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

Some people do see through the fog of misinformation. The people that want weed to be illegal are the same people that profit from it being illegal.

capt

Is John Stewart an "enemy combatant"? Somebody thinks so.

This segment from Scarborough Country asks the question 'Is Jon Stewart a danger?' The question is based on a recent study that claims that Jon Stewart, popular in the 18-34 age group, increases cynicism, and therefore decreases voter turnout.

AlterNet must be contributing to Stewart's plan to ruin democracy, because a Daily Show clip ran during this Scarborough segment is the exact same one that ran a few days ago here on AlterNet.

Video-n-article

To Refuse To Serve

Re: Jon Stewart

"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong." ~ Voltaire (1694 - 1778)

Resistance of US Military

119-It's funny that they mention the cynicism without also mentioning that another study found his viewers to be more informed on current events than viewers (primarily) of any major network news, especialy FAUX(who scored the lowest).

Seems to me that might indicate a causal relationship they don't want to touch, and an admission of their own failures in covering current events.

Voting Rights Act Nailed To Burning Cross

Behind the "Delay" in Renewing Law is Scheme for Theft of '08

Don't kid yourself. The Republican Party's decision yesterday to "delay" the renewal of the Voting Rights Act has not a darn thing to do with objections of the Republican's White Sheets Caucus.

Complaints by a couple of Good Old Boys to legislation has never stopped the GOP leadership from rolling over dissenters.

This is a strategic stall meant to de-criminalize the Republican Party's new game of challenging voters of color by the hundreds of thousands.

In the 2004 Presidential race, the GOP ran a massive multi-state, multi-million-dollar operation to challenge the legitimacy of Black, Hispanic and Native-American voters. The methods used broke the law the Voting Rights Act. And while the Bush Administration's Civil Rights Division grinned and looked the other way, civil rights lawyers are circling, preparing to sue to stop the violations of the Act before the 2008 race.

Therefore, Republicans have promised to no longer break the law not by going legit but by eliminating the law.

More HERE

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

The dodge by the GOP is very calculated. The next election or two are in the bag. I think they are expecting civil unrest. Watch how they prepare for the November. That will predict what they are doing.

capt

Pande,

I missed that - the prize is all yours.

Powerline? HA!

capt

The Seventeen Foxes

What is great about the computer, I can log onto different websites and focus on some people and their articles. The sixteen foxes for me are Arianna Huffington, Maureen Dowd, Teresa Whitehurst, Karen Kwiatkowski, Eleanor Clift, Molly Ivins, Cindy Sheehan, Katrina Vanden Heuvel, Sister Joan Chittister, OSB, Naomi Klein, Devvy Kidd, Nora Ephron, Helen Thomas, Linda Schrock Taylor, Karen Horst Cobb, Ann Wright, and Judith Moriarty. These seventeen women write exceptional articles.

Here is a brief overview of why these writers are foxes for me.

1. Cindy Sheehan is a mother of a soldier that was killed in Iraq. She wants to know what noble cause killed her son. The chickenhawk, Bush, refuses to answer the question.
2. Eleanor Clift may not write articles like the rest of the women but I enjoy her intelligence in standing up to the bushcos when she appears as a guest on the various talk shows.
3. Molly Ivins is from Texas and she, too, will not take any crap from Bush or his family. Plus, any woman who drinks beer from the bottle is my kind of woman.
4. Arianna Huffington is a Republican but she is an objective person in assessing America’≥ problems. She chooses her country over her party.
5. Karen Kwiatkowski is a retired military colonel with a Ph.D. Her articles are well written and her love for the military is noted but she will not go along with stinking military thinking from the other generals and from that chickenhawk, Bush.
6. Teresa Whitehurst is a Ph.D. clinical psychologist who writes great Christian articles that reveal her discipleship in following Jesus.
7. Maureen Dowd is a columnist with the NYTimes. She, too, writes very good articles that reveal her innate nurturing and sensitivity as a true female. Why this gorgeous woman is not married I do not know.
8. Katrina Vanden Heuvel is also on the list of foxes and she is a valuable member. Katrina writes articles for The Nation magazine.
9. Sister Joan Chittister, OSB, can be read on NCRonline.org. Sister Joan is a bit of a maverick for a Catholic nun but she does convey some interesting thoughts.
10. Naomi Klein writes for The Nation and her writings are also published in the Guardian.
11. Devvy Kidd writes for News with Views website. She has several interesting articles to read. You can also type in her name and you can check the articles.
12. Nora Ephron is a writer whom I have come to read her articles on The Huffington Post website. She is an author and has worked on the Hollywood scene.
13. Linda Schrock Taylor has been added to my list of foxes. I have read her articles on LewRockwell.com.
14. Helen Thomas is another woman added to my list of foxes. How could I have missed her? For years she was the first news reporter to ask a question at presidential press conferences. Since Helen had the opportunity to ask the first question, she tried to be fair and impartial. Today, she is a more critical and an open reporter.
15. Karen Horst Cobb is a freelance writer from New Mexico. She has written two great articles about Christians.
16. Judith Moriarty has been added to my fox list. Judith has written many good articles. You type in Judith Moriarty and a list of her articles will appear for you to read.
17. Ann Wright is a retired Colonel who was in the military for 29 years and served as a U.S. diplomat for 16 years. She resisted the war by resigning in March, 2003. She is writing openly against the war.

We can see that the number of foxes has slowly increased.

Mistaken Identity or No Identity

Where are the foxes?

126

Woody or Woody not? That is the question. Here is the answer:

Rush Job. Rumors were swirling around Capitol Hill and beyond Tuesday that Rush Limbaugh is dating actress Mary Lynn Rajskub, who plays Chloe O'Brian on the Fox series "24." Though that still doesn't explain the unauthorized bottle of little blue pills (shhh, Viagra!) that customs agents found in Limbaugh's luggage at Palm Beach International Airport on Monday.

The conservative radio talk show host hinted on his show Tuesday that he went on a boys-only trip with the cast of "24." Chloe is no boy. If you saw the papers over the weekend, including The Washington Post, there were photos of Limbaugh planting a big kiss right on Rajskub's lips during a dog-and-pony event at the Heritage Foundation.

No one at Heritage seemed to know whether Limbaugh and Rajskub were more than photo-op kissing buddies. A spokeswoman for Heritage who asked not to be named told HOH, "Nobody knows. Several people have been asking today. I have no idea."

Our guess is, probably not. Though why would Rush take Viagra on a boys-only trip?

Eschaton

Bringing democracy to Iraq:Mission Accomplished

Wives and family members of soldiers fighting in Iraq have received telephone calls, believed to include death threats, from insurgents, according to military documents seen by The Sunday Telegraph.
----
ya. insurgents in iraq are calling u.s. soldier's families in ohio and threatening their lives. right.
__________________

More children in U.S. living in poverty.
U.S. children are poorer and less healthy now than in the 1990s, a child advocacy group says.
There were more than 13 million children living in poverty in 2004 -- an increase of 1 million over four years. There was also an increase in the percentage of low birth-weight babies between 2000 and 2003 and an increase in the number of children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment.
----
the good news is there will be plenty of flags to go around. - priorities!

A sad day for the Lone Star State.

Top court upholds most of Texas redistricting plan
Although the justices refused to overturn the entire map, they ruled that one district in southwestern Texas violated the federal voting rights law.

"A win for liberty and free speech? Or a troubling sign that almost two-thirds of the body's lawmakers believe that a veteran who cuts a flag into pieces to oppose the Iraq war ought to be thrown into jail?"

Both. For now.

capt @ 118:

That should improve the quality of the food at the monthly pot luck dinner although now we're probably going to have to bring twice as much.

I knew there was a good reason I'm Presbyterian.

"a veteran who cuts a flag into pieces to oppose the Iraq war"

This argument, however, must not be limited to veterans or any other subset of persons to which the Constitution applies. I recognize the appeal to emotion here, but my rights are no less (and, of course, no more) worthy of protection than a veteran's rights.

"That should improve the quality of the food at the monthly pot luck dinner"

Too FUNNY!

capt

The seventeen foxes are named in post 126. People will differ on the meaning of foxes. There are various foxes, such as sly fox, pretty fox, intelligent fox, human fox, etc. If people pressed me, I would have to say that I am interested in the human or humane foxes. They are people who value life, liberty, justice, and peace.

capt #102,

Very disappointing article about Obama. "Liberal" Democrats are deluding themselves if they think they're going to attract the die-hard Bible thumpers (who are among the 37% who still approve of the way the Bush administration is running the country) with pious pronouncements. True Christians (or secular humanists who agree with the most important Christian principles, for that matter) will recognize their fellows by their actions, not their words.

Bush (today):

As you might recall, I addressed that issue last year, focusing on Social Security reform. I'm not through talking about the issue. I spent some time today in the Oval Office with the United States senators, and they're not through talking about the issue either. It's important for this country -- (applause) -- I know it's hard politically to address these issues. Sometimes it just seems easier for people to say, we'll deal with it later on. Now is the time for the Congress and the President to work together to reform Medicare and reform Social Security so we can leave behind a solvent balance sheet for our next generation of Americans. (Applause.)

If we can't get it done this year, I'm going to try next year. And if we can't get it done next year, I'm going to try the year after that, because it is the right thing to do. It's just so easy to say, let somebody else deal with it. Now is the time to solve the problems of Medicare and Social Security, and I want your help. I need the Manhattan Institute to continue to agitate for change and reform. You've got a big voice. You got creative thinkers, and if you don't mind, I'd like to put this on your agenda, and let you know the White House and members of the Senate and the House are anxious to deal with this issue and get it done once and for all.

#138,

Absoluely!

Good to know what Barak is thinking now - save from any surprises.

capt

The Real Story on Iraq

Bush is better at exploiting, dismantling and destroying things than building them. Even if his Social Security plan would provide the same or better benefits for retirees and the disabled, there isn't much evidence he could implement it successfully.

The many, the sad, the homeless American soldiers!

Support the Troops

Mr. Corn,
Why waste a precious second of life reporting on this topic? This is exactly what Karl Rove expects from the Washington Media. I find it entirely disingenuous that the media flocks to this issue with a sense of superiority. If so many in the media were as clever as they have estimated themselves to be, this story would never have reached print/television. Just keep following that carrot...

145 To rally disapproval for a cynical and corrupt politcal process?

No Bravery

Speaking of threats to Vets and their families.

Yesterday, a Viet Vet (Marine flight medic, 3tours, 2 choppers shot out from under hiim, 2 purple hearts) nurse pal of mine told me he'd taken his laptop to a service guy.

Service guy tells him he has 14 different viruses. Then proceeds with the story about how Al-Queda is targeting internet systems with new viruses all the time to infiltrate and shut down our system capabilities!!!

We just laughed and laughed...

Gale's a great nature photog, btw. If anybody travels in this area, be sure to visit him at "The Nature Gallery" near the entrance to Table Rock State Park, SR 11, Pickens Co. SC.

-T

CNN:Breaking Nooze
_____________________
"Israeli warplanes flew over the home of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Israeli officials said. The move apparently is aimed at pressuring the Syrian leader to help get a captured Israeli soldier released.
______________________

Sweet Jesus, Pedro and Pablo!

-T

We give HUGE TAX BREAKS TO THE FILTHY RICH so our war veterans can be homeless. That is the American way. Fight for your country and our plan for you is to become homeless so we can give MORE MONEY TO THE FILTHY RICH. What is there not to love about this soulless and Godless country?

You have heard that water rises to seek its own level. Well in our devil incarnate nation shit just keeps on rising without reaching any specific level. We expect more and more shit to rise to unlimited heights!

hey neoskodes!

History is watching you. The future is watching you. The massed billions yet unborn are watching you, and they see a pathetic huddle of children who are throwing the world's most expensive tantrum because they don’t want to fix what they destroyed.

They see a no-neck ocean of cowards and fools and bigots, led by liars and crooks. They see you taking your hour in the sun -- the one you traded your ideal, you conscience and you soul to acquire – and pissing it away. Deliberately picking fights over trivia in the hopes that no one notices that you have destroyed a great nation.

They see you failing, in more ways and with worse consequences than any generation in American history. And doing it while giggling and jerking off to Ann Coulter.

Your children and grandchildren see all that you have done and all that you have failed to do and they are ashamed of you, so govern, you weak, stupid, frightened little men. You ARE the government, so quit bellowing and blaming everyone from Michael Moore to Cindy Sheehan for your sins.

Actually step up like men and govern.
Govern, or admit that you are uniquely incompetent to actually lead a great nation.

Govern…or shut the fuck up.

Why do the Nazis hate our veterans?

Why do the Nazis hate our veterans?

Anyone that believes a flag is the essence of our country needs to buy a clue. Shrub new attack on SS will fail as all of his frontal assaults fail, but he will just use a signing statement to revamp it without any public input and his puppet senate and house will follow with their tongues lapping at his heels. What a bunch of losers we have in this country and not just polliticians, the public also have the responsibility to address these problems too. Hope we have the courage. Of course, if we just stay the course, we will all be broke in about a year. Good news the top one percent will hire you to do the jobs the illegals won't do. Enjoy your new lifestyle under the new fuerher. Idiots!!!

#75
Yes it was a good article Gerald.

Chainey insults Murtha. Chainey is that chickenhawk who never served in the military. He is the one with his fly open everytime his number was called to serve so he can impregnate Lynn. This was his idea of military service. His two daughters have never served. He wants the poor and the middle class to serve and be killed or maimed. Chainey considers himself a patriotic American but we know him as a murderer and a war criminal with regard to the plight of our soldiers and the Iraqi people.

#155 Jeanne, we are going mad in this country. We talk religiously or religiosity and than we go ahead and break every commandment in the Ten Commandments.

#155 Jeanne, we are going mad in this country. We talk religiously or religiosity and than we go ahead and break every commandment in the Ten Commandments.

ya. idiots.

151, J, do not worry yourself about the future, it is in the capable hands of SUPER DIEBOLD MAN! coming to the rescue of threatened congresscritters all over this country. Insuring they can continue on their destructive course despite voters rejections.

SUPER DIEBOLD MAN! the super hero 99 out of 100 fascists prefer.

Religion and Politics

Dear Posters:

I was talking to a friend and he said that in the past belonging to a specific political party would mean live and let live.

Today a membership in a political party defines who you are. For example if you are a republican, you are defined as holy, saintly, and destined for heaven. If you are a Democrat, you are defined as bad, evil, and destined for hell. So what if you are someone who is into fear, greed, hatred, killing, and torture, you are a republican and you are saved. If you are a Democrat and you believe in the true God of love, mercy, justice, and peace, you are still destined for hell because you are a Democrat.

My friend went on to say that heaven should be an interesting place because the fearmongers, the greedmongers, the hatemongers, the killmongers, and the torturemongers will be transforming heaven into hell. Just like they are transforming America into a living hell while they are here and in power.

Yes, heaven will be an interesting place with all the false prophets and bush lovers.

Sincerely,

Gerald

"Say what you will about the Ten Commandments, you must always come back to the pleasant fact that there are only ten of them." ~ H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)

Reminds Me

America reminds me of the person who keeps beating his head against a brick wall. Someone asked him why does he beat his head against the brick wall? The person answered by saying it feels so good when I stop.

It is time for Americans to stop beating themselves with hatred, killing, and wars and start to feel good through love and mercy for our brothers and sisters.

SUPER DIEBOLD MAN!
(now with kung-fu wallet grasping action)

Religion Can Counter Terrorism, Says Holy See
Vatican Addresses U.N.

NEW YORK, MAY 12, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Religion should be the solution to terrorism, not its cause, says the Holy See.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See's permanent observer to the United Nations, said this Thursday during informal consultations on counterterrorism during a General Assembly session.

"Religions are called to create, support and promote the precondition of every encounter, every dialogue, and of every understanding of pluralism and cultural difference," the Holy See official said.

"That precondition is the dignity of the human person," the archbishop added. "Our common human dignity is a true precondition because it comes before every other consideration or methodological principle, even those of international law."

It is the "'golden rule,' found throughout the religions of the world," he said. "Another description of this concept is reciprocity."

Archbishop Migliore continued: "Encouraging awareness and experience of this common heritage within and among religions will surely help in the translation of this positive vision into political and social categories which will, in their turn, inform the juridical categories linked to national and international relations.

"The Holy See is willing to support initiatives that encourage believers to be agents of peace and join all those who would be builders of our peaceful coexistence."

True nature

"Moreover," the archbishop added, "when religion's true nature is rightly understood and lived out, it can become part of the solution rather than the problem, because it will promote humane engagement and regard for the dignity of others, to the common good of us all."

The prelate explained that Benedict XVI has invited "Catholics and all women and men of good will, …†to link their efforts to reflection, cooperation, dialogue and prayer, intended to overcome terrorism and build a just and peaceful coexistence in the human family."

To study the causes of terrorism does not mean to justify them, explained the archbishop.

"No cause," he said, "no matter how just, can excuse or legitimize the deliberate killing or maiming of civilians and noncombatants."

SUPER DIEBOLD MAN- Now with super discriminator beam, able to recognize and delete non-white, non-neocon votes and destroy them with a single powerfull blow!

#80
It's the Irish in me. Music's in the blood.

As for the Tom Cotton charactor. I want an answer to that too.

Former Bush Spokesman Urges Newspapers to Run Pro-War Stories by Former Vets With GOP Ties

Who is this Lt. Tom Cotton anyway? Was his letter legit? I want to know the truth.

#83
Yeah, Pandemoniac found it on Powerline, the embarrassment of MN.

#52 Jeanne

As I reread the comments, I couldn't let this one slip by again.

Factchecker, a gentleman??? Or even a lady???

#166 Den

Oh, it hurts to laugh at that one.

#61 spy

I'm still laughing over that one.

Will someone give Pande some right wing propaganda to debunk?

Bombs? somebody mention bombs?

Mercury, Nevada, sits 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, next to nowhere in the broad Nye County desert. For decades, it was a booming "company town," with some 10,000 people, a first-run movie theater, a lending library, a dry cleaner, a health center, and an interfaith chapel. Its eight-lane bowling alley was busy on most weeknights and packed them in on weekends. The cafeteria seated 800; the Mercury Steakhouse offered more elegant dining for special occasions. And the Olympic-size community swimming pool drew big crowds when temps frequently topped a hundred degrees.

But today, a lot of that's been bulldozed in Mercury. The place turned ghost town after October 1992, when the U.S. government ended 41 years of nuclear testing at the adjacent Nevada Test Site (NTS).

Article

Anybody that has Google Earth installed on their computer, go to coordinates:

37° 06'37.85" North and 116° 02'33.75" West. The craters are all there.

Regular GOOGLE search MAP for Mercury, NV

Holy stinking paper trails!

WMR drops another BIG-ASS bomb

From the reports of Gonzalez's Banking Committee and two law suits by Desert Storm veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome against two Texas-based companies named as sources of chemical and biological weapons for Iraq in court filings, WMR can report that George H. W. Bush and James Baker were directly involved in providing WMDs to Saddam Hussein using then-private businessman Donald Rumsfeld as an intermediary. U.S. Army counter-intelligence agents report to WMR that they and British WMD clean-up personnel were used as a janitorial team to get rid of evidence linking U.S. firms, including Carlyle, Phillips Petroleum (now Conoco Phillips), and Tanox Biosystems of Houston in providing deadly chemical and biological agents to Iraq in violation of UN sanctions. In addition, another Bush-connected corporation, Bechtel, was investigated by Gonzalez for providing not only chemical and biological production materials to Iraq but pressuring the U.S. Export-Import (EX-IM) Bank to underwrite loans for the construction of an Iraq-Aqaba, Jordan oil pipeline. [Vice President Dick Cheney's hand picked President of the EX-IM Bank, publishing magnate Phillip Merrill, was recently found in the Chesapeake Bay with a shotgun blast to the head and weighed down with an anchor].

HERE

War is a racket.

Glory be! Leave Old Glory alone... and get on with the nation's real business!

This biennial, muddleheaded political stunt over flag desecration came mighty close to passing this time! (All 50 state legislatures have already passed resolutions supporting a flag protection amendment.) Let's say it did pass...passage would be only the beginning of a long series of disputes over flag desecration -- in the streets and in the courts.

Consider the wording of the proposed flag desecration amendment: "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States."

Those words are so loose and ill-defined, that we'd have battles over what may be considered a flag of the United States and what actions constitute physical desecration. Would it include the flag emblazoned on George Bush's cowboy boots?

We would have discriminatory enforcement of the law, for certain. Those in favor of a constitutional amendment would not be satisfied because the "law" could be interpreted too broadly. Those against the constitutional amendment would not be satisfied because the "law" would encourage selective prosecutions.

A little bit of history...

In 1878, Congress considered and rejected H.R.4305 to ban the use of the flag for commercial purposes. The measure failed because party leaders feared they wouldn't be able to use the flag in their political campaigns!

Taking care of their own self-interests. Ha!

176 Old Glory B

Just got back from Canada -- while in Okanagan Falls, BC, I talked to a young woman who was a volunteer at a little heritage museum. She told me she had moved to Ok Falls to look for a new job and was "currently on EI."

I asked her if EI meant "employment insurance" and she said "yes."

I told her in the States it's usually referred to as "Unemployment Insurance."

She said, "Well, our wording sounds a little more hopeful, eh?"

Canada, EH?

Check oot #174 eh.

#172 Oh God Den.

Den,

Not really a surprise is it? We go way back aiding Saddam. The paper trails on DU and all other illegal, immoral weapons may be new, but I surely believe it is in addition to what we already have used, not just under the Bush/Cheney regime. It became politically expedient for Bush/Oil et al. to knock this out at this juncture. The direct link is Rumsfeld/Cheney.

You know, election stuff. "Gotta cover our asses."

Can you imagine a person not caring how his/her actions go down in history? I don't believe it for a minute. Bush talks to God, don't forget. He knows only HE is right, cuz HE talks to GOD. Screw the poor bastards who lost their lives in the glory of HIS greatness.

Did you see the photo op of Bush running with a man who lost both legs and who is proud of it. "For my country."

In other news, I'm sick of Israel playing the underdog role. It doesn't wash. It doesn't wash. Not after years and years of abusing Palestinians. Don't speak of borders that were never drawn LBH. Wonder why? Had to do something with the JEWS and their Holocaust dilemma They have lots of money.

Don't get me wrong on this, mind you. I am against all discrimination. But I don't like seeing it used to political advantage, over and over.

Iraelies Put Heat On Palastinians, Assad

CAPT.

GET ON WITCHA SELF BIG BOY!

I like what I'm hearing. The Capt has gotten angry.

DEN,

I just read The Wayne Madsen Report, which I highly recommend as daily reading--thanks to Den. Den consistently comes up with great stuff.

This is a great paper trail, although I think Ron Suskind has some of this on Frontline, especially on The Carlyle Group.

HEY MICKI!

From WMR:

There is also an interesting Justice Department memo from U.S. Attorney Robert Barr (later elected to the House of Representatives) that was uncovered by Gonzalez that points to Turkish involvement with Saddam's acquisition of WMDs from the United States. After serving a Bush I's National Security Adviser, Scowcroft became the head of the American-Turkish Council (ATC), an entity that figures prominently in the A Q Khan nuclear proliferation network, the work of Valerie Plame Wilson and her Brewster Jennings & Associates covert team, FBI Turkish and Farsi translator Sibel Edmonds' discoveries while looking over FBI intercepts, and the use of Turkish intermediaries connected to Russian-Israeli Mafia syndicates involved in WMD proliferation. Barr subsequently lost his House seat in a redistricting engineered with the assistance of George W. Bush political "Svengali" Karl Rove.

Oh thats why Val was outed and Sibol gagged, lying bastards covering their TREASONOUS asses. Wonder if WM will get the anchor treatment. Poking a mighty powerfull(Illuminati) beehive. I think Kissinger was mentioned.

Carey, I believe bush doesn't give a damn about history or how history will portray him. Remember when (toady) Bob Woodward interviewed him?

... “After the second interview with him on Dec. 11, we got up and walked over to one of the doors. There are all of these doors in the Oval Office that lead outside. And he had his hands in his pocket, and I just asked, ‘Well, how is history likely to judge your Iraq war,’” says Woodward.

“And he said, ‘History,’ and then he took his hands out of his pocket and kind of shrugged and extended his hands as if this is a way off. And then he said, ‘History, we don’t know. We’ll all be dead.’”

Hello, hello? this thing still working?

A group of 50 pro-Israel Christian tourists came under attack Wednesday from some 100 residents of the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea She'arim in Jerusalem.
---------
aw too bad tourists, you shouldnt've gone anywhere near there.

What? Did'nt feed em to the lions?

Wadda ya gotta do draw em a map?

Where was I before I was rudely interrupted by an almost 17 year old who wanted to practice driving so she can go get her license. Let's see....I'm a little unnerved. Hmmmm. Oh yes.

Capt,
What if the kids asked what kind of meat it was they were eating? How old were the kids? FREAKY!!!
I'll just stop. Ick...ick.

How do you tell the president is lying?

Gotta go home and wash the cat, DEN out!

#102
OMG,
Court religious zealots? Why? They are a one issue group. Worthless in a political sense. We need our elected body to analyze the needs to of the country and progress forward. Ignore the religious zealots.

#126
Gerald,
17? Yikes. Well, you've justified your choices so I will except the decision.

Democrats: a Message Problem?

Everything in this office comes with a Red Sox analogy, and today we're looking at the Democrats the way Red Sox nation looks at the All-Star break. Boston may be in first place. They may be five games up in first place. They may look great, they may be hitting well and there may be five good Yankees on injured reserve and yet we still can't shake the feeling -- the conviction borne of experience -- that somehow, some way, before the end of September, the Sox will find a way to screw it all up. Things seem to be going well for the Democrats, or, rather, they're going poorly for the Republicans. . .

As I understand what the climatologists are saying on RealClimate, we are going to have to be prepared for ever more of the 'unusual' weather which has been afflicting the east...

When is congress going to earn their pay by doing something sensible about it?

"You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it." --Malcolm X (1925-1965)

=
"The State... has had a vested interest in promoting attitudes that would tend to make us skeptical of our own abilities, fearful of the motives of others, and emotionally dependent upon external authorities for purpose and direction in our lives." -- Butler D. Shaffer - Professor, Southwestern University School of Law Source: Calculated Chaos, 1985

=
"Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters." -- Daniel Webster - (1782-1852), US Senator

===

Thanks ICH Newsletter!

I'm with you on the religious zealots, Jeanne. They get more power than they deserve as far as I'm concerned. There are more rational people than you realize. The problem is that so many people don't vote - maybe it's because they are more rational than we are. Sometimes, I wonder.

"When is congress going to earn their pay by doing something sensible about it?"

When is congress going to earn their pay by doing ANYTHING sensible about ANYTHING?

capt

#174
Thank you for the post Den. Very interesting. Not only does the military have to worry about the enemy they have to worry about how they are going to be treated in every way by their leaders.

capt, don't know about the future, but congress did something sensible, let's see... in 1933 wasn't it?

Everything "new" is old again!

New thread. Does that make it old?

The yeast is still rising on the new thread deal!

Apprentice Programs

Dear Cornposters:

The city of D'Iberville, Mississippi has been trying to have contractors rebuild their city. The contractors prefer to rebuild the casinos that will bring the trades people more money. So, the city has decided to call in Chinese help to rebuild the city. There will be 3,000 laborers who will be coming to the city.

I ask why the city, the school district, and handymen cannot help establish apprentice programs for Americans to give them some skills? Whether or not these skills have carryover value is not as important as for a person who has some skills to work on their home in the future. These personal skills will keep them from calling some person to repair the problems at a hefty cost.

There does not appear to be any interest in helping Americans. This is an example were Bush's ownership society and apprentice programs will pay big time dividends in the present and for future disasters that may occur in these Gulf areas.

I see a nation disintegrating into oblivion and there is no attempt to stop it. Are we a nation that has sold her soul to the devil for money, nuclear weapons, and the bushgod?

Sincerely,

Gerald

PM Blair expected to announce resignation

LONDON, June 28 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to announce he will resign as early as next May, The Telegraph reports, citing members of Parliament.

Blair's position has been weakened by the war in Iraq and on the domestic front where former Home Secretary Charles Clarke has publicly criticized his former boss.

The Telegraph reports there have been enough rumors of Blair's exit that the presumptive replacement, Chancellor Gordon Brown, has taken powerful steps like reopening a deal Blair reached on the EU budget.

The newspaper said Blair would likely leave office around the time of his 10th anniversary of prime minister. He took office May 2, 1997.

The move by Blair may quell disapproval within his party ahead of the Labor Party conference in September, although it may prompt opponents to push for him to leave the post immediately.

More HERE

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

Day late and a dollar short (or is it pennywise and pound foolish)!

HA!

capt

NASA engineer quits 5 days before launch

HOUSTON, June 28 (UPI) -- A 30-year NASA veteran and one of the agency's top shuttle engineers has reportedly angrily resigned only five days before Saturday's Discovery launch.

Charlie Camarda had been director of engineering at the Johnson Space Center and played a major role on NASA's Mission Management Team that is preparing for this weekend's launch.

Unidentified sources at NASA told ABC News Camarda has been feuding with Wayne Hale, the manager of NASA's space shuttle program, and NASA Administrator Mike Griffin about treatment Camarda's engineers received when they raised concerns about the upcoming Discovery launch. Some engineers believe more substantial changes need to be made.

In a Tuesday email to his colleagues at Johnson, ABC News said Camarda reaffirmed his disappointment with NASA officials.

"I cannot accept the methods I believe are being used by this Center to select future leaders," he wrote. "I have always based my decisions on facts, data and good solid analysis. I cannot be a party to rumor, innuendo, gossip and-or manipulation to make or break someone's career and-or good name."

More HERE

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

I hope this is not an issue specifically about the new launch.

capt

Well, it seems that the old thread will have to be the new thread until the new thread finishing rising, at which time the new thread is the fresh new thread and the old new thread is stale.

Got it?

Yep. Got it.

Dream, the unlinkable thread
inaccessable comments
just post here instead.

capt, it certainly appears that the emminent shuttle launch is the final specific reason...

Orrin

Freedom of Speech?
Them's fighting words.
Grab your torch and pitchfork.

capt & Dr. B - When my husband worked as Jules Bergman's producer for ABC News, they (jokingly - haha) referred to NASA as "Never A Straight Answer."

(Shhhh...don't tell anyone.)

U.S. announces solar energy initiative

WASHINGTON, June 28 (UPI) -- U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman has announced an initiative designed to make solar technology cost effective by 2015.

Bodman said the U.S. will spend $170 million during a three-year period for cost-shared, public-private partnerships to advance solar energy technology.

He said the move is part of the Solar America Initiative, President Bush's commitment to diversify energy resources through grants, incentives and tax credits.

The SAI's goal is to reduce the cost of solar energy systems to make them competitive with conventional U.S. electricity sources by 2015.

"This investment is a major step in our mission to bring more clean, renewable solar power to the nation," Bodman said. "If we are able to harness more of the sun's power and use it to provide energy to homes and businesses, we can increase our energy diversity and strengthen our nation's energy security."

More HERE

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

Solar power is an answer to many of our energy related problems.

capt

In the ER we are superstitious about some things. One is to never, ever erase the last name off the board when you (rarely) find yourselves without patients.

The other, should you actually FIND yourselves in such a (blissful) state...is to not talk about it, lest ye be doomed to situation reversal.

Know what I'm talkin' 'bout?

-T

Gripes of Wrath

In their apoplectic fury over The New York Times's publishing a front page expose of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program, the White House and their lackeys may be backing themselves into a corner.

....What a gummy uproar. One so loud and ferocious that there almost has to be some follow-through, otherwise you are going to have one frustrated batch of highly indignants. They want the administration to show the Times and the rest of the press who's boss. The neocon contingent is already dismayed with the tiptoeing around Iran's nuclear program, with Ledeen and Perle lodging protests. If the pushback against the Times peters out, if the posse disbands shortly after mounting up, the White House is going to look weak in the bugged-out eyes of its mutant defenders. It'll be interesting to see if the controversy builds or fades over the next few days, and whether or not the Times-bashers will be compelled to call their own bluff. In the meantime, whatever one thinks of the Times's performance leading up to Iraq and the Judith Miller debacle, the ugly threatmongering and barking ("For the Times to release information about secret operations and methods is treasonous”© of Peter King shouldn't go unchallenged. Let him climb the Empire State Building if he wants to work off steam.
-----------
I got to listen to that blowhard from Powerline on Minnesota Public Radio weigh in on the subject. Anybody who differed from him wasn't given a reply. He wouldn't 'dignify' their questions with an answer. Yeah right. He finally had to condend with an audience that thinks.

"You cannot usurp the power of the Congress of the United States."

Um, Senator Hatch? You might want to check those 750+ signing statements. Mr. Bush has already done exactly that.

speaking of NASA, guess who's now in charge of their budget and financing? none other than the same skode who after a furious redistricting skode action now finds himself representing the districts that hold the lions share of companies that will get the contracts for designing/building the new and improved space program should anything unfortunate happen to the sole piece of the existing space program thus proving the need and paving the way for the new and improved space program.

Good video of a controlled demo.

The Landmark Towers demolition

There was a smaller one here in Houston last Sunday, and it looked diff from this, so I guess each one depends on how it's built. You definitely hear the charges going off in both of 'em though.

David asks on his (aging) new post: "The GOP effort to win congressional approval of this proposed constitutional amendment--months before an election-seems related to issues other than ensuring the right checks and balances. Care to guess what they are?

Well, I'll guess...but I hope, David, you tell us if we're wrong, or perhaps yours was a rhetorical question...well anyway, here's one of my guesses:

It's a pre-emptive move, actually. A purely political move. There will be much heated "patriotic" discussion. The Repugs hope to send a message -- because of the subjective definition of "desecration" this amendment would result in inconsistent "protections" of the flag, but the Repugs' hope is that it would send a consistent message in stifling legitimate political dissent.

Or, maybe they're just stooooooopid.

Matthews and DeLay talk about the Government's
program to track financial transactions and
Karl Rove's treasonous act outing Valarie Plame

Matthews: Isn?t this like the Yankees and baseball? Everyone wants to beat the Yankees?

Delay: It?s not politics; This is war.

Matthews: It?s not politics?

Delay: The American people understand the real war?

Matthews: You don?t think Karl Rove is behind this and saying, "Hey put in more fire, shoot ?em again, keep this going a couple of weeks"?

Delay: Absolutely not. This is war. The New York Times has undermined our national security and there ought to be consequences. It has nothing to do with politics.

Matthews: So you?re against leaking?

Delay: Yes, I?m against leaking.

Matthews: All leaking by the administration. So even this thing with the CIA agent shouldn?t have been leaked?
Delay: Absolutely not.

Matthews: So guys like Rove shouldn?t have been talking to the papers? and people like Scooter Libby shouldn?t have been talkin?;?I?m asking you.

Delay: I?m not gonna? I?m not a [???]; I?m not a judge.

Matthews: You said you were against leaking

Delay: You said something that Karl Rove is not being commited of, convicted of?

Matthews: He never denied it, and nobody is going to contest it. It?s public record that he leaked.

Delay: It?s just you saying that he is guilty.

Matthews: I am not saying it?s a crime. I?m saying he leaked.

Delay: How do you know he leaked?

Matthews: Because it?s the public record now that he leaked (laughs in frustration)! That doesn?t bother you?

Delay: No! Leaking national security secrets at a time of war is outrageous and shouldn?t be done.

Matthews: But not the identity of a CIA agent?

Gripes of Wrath
Posted by James Wolcott

In their apoplectic fury over The New York Times's publishing a front page expose of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program, the White House and their lackeys may be backing themselves into a corner.

Consider what's happened in the last 24 hours. Bush has called the disclosure "disgraceful," looking far angrier (or fake-angrier) than he ever did about the Katrina fuckup. Cheney, of course, released some deep-stomach rumbles. Tony Snow made his displeasure known. And in a cloud of dust rode the Ox-Bow posse, fashioning a necktie for Bill Keller and company. Congressman Peter King, the sort of bullyboy who would have been right at home planted next to Joe McCarthy during the Red Scare, urged criminal prosecution.

(link)

David, We are unable to navigate to the new post w/ comments section. This is the error message when you click on NEXT> at the top of this post or if you click on comments for the new thread, from the homepage.

The requested page could not be found.
Page not found - /archives/2006/06/hatchs_rational.php

I had no idea the ring-wing noise machine was going to push this treasonous NYT thing so hard and so long.

#224 O'Reilly, perhaps it's all a part of the effort to stifle, not only dissent, but reporting from "librul" media. As I said above about the flag desecration "dilemma" -- the Repugs' hope is that it would send a consistent message in stifling legitimate political dissent.

Visions of Science 2005

Indian walks into a cafe with a shotgun in one hand pulling a male buffalo
with the other. He says to the waiter, "Want coffee." The waiter says, "Sure, Chief, coming right up." He gets the Indian a tall mug of coffee. The Indian drinks the coffee down in one gulp, turns and blasts the buffalo with the shotgun, causing parts of the animal to splatter everywhere, then just walks out.

The next morning the Indian returns. He has his shotgun in one hand pulling another male buffalo with the other. He walks up to the counter and says to the waiter, "Want coffee." The waiter says, "Whoa, Tonto! We're still cleaning up your mess from yesterday. What was all that about, anyway?"

The Indian smiles and proudly says, "Training for position in United States Congress: Come in, drink coffee, shoot the bull, leave mess for others to clean up, disappear for rest of day."

Border Patrol Game

Be ready, they're FAST.

I'm not a good guesser when it comes to things like the flag burning thing but I wonder if it has something to do with setting up the abortion issue.

It's late and I'm tired but there you go. I bid you good night. Good night...I bid you good night da da...

Lay down, my dear brothers, lay down and take your rest
Won't you lay your head down on your saviour's breast
I love you, but Jesus loves you the best
And I bid you goodnight, goodnight, goodnight
And I bid you goodnight, goodnight, goodnight

One of these mornings bright and early and soon, goodnight
Now they're pickin' up the spirit to the shore beyond, goodnight
Go walking in the valley of the shadow of death, goodnight
His rod and his staff, gonna comfort me, goodnight
Join the wise, there's a soul to find, goodnight
Lord send a fire, not a flood next time, goodnight
To leave for the ark, that wonderful boat, goodnight
She really loaded down, getting water to float, goodnight
Now pray for the beast at the ending of the world, goodnight
He'll eat all the children that would not be good, goodnight
I remember right well, I remember right well, goodnight
I went walking to Jerusalem just like John
Goodnight, goodnight, goodnight
Lay down my dear brother, lay down and take your rest
I wanna lay your head upon your Saviors breast
I love you, but Jesus loves you best
I bid you goodnight, goodnight, goodnight
I bid you goodnight, goodnight, goodnight

alan that is absolutely terrible! ha ha - did you notice the flag at the end?

Thanks for the lullaby. sweet dreams.

Froomkin's column asks the correct question:

But not once has the White House definitively answered this question: How are any of these disclosures actually impairing the pursuit of terrorists?

Terrorists already knew the government was trying to track them down through their finances, their phone calls and their e-mails. Within days of the Sept. 11 attacks, for instance, Bush publicly declared open season on terrorist financing. As far as I can tell, all these disclosures do is alert the American public to the fact that all this stuff is going on without the requisite oversight, checks and balances.

How does it possibly matter to a terrorist whether the government got a court order or not? Or whether Congress was able to exercise any oversight? The White House won?t say. In fact, it can?t say.

By contrast, it does matter to us.

(link)

Gerald, here's a good interview of Helen Thomas, from the Daily Show.

Helen

"[T]reason, plain and simple": Right-wing media figures attack NY Times over bank-tracking story

Numerous conservative media figures have lashed out at The New York Times and its executive editor, Bill Keller, over an article describing a secret Bush administration program designed to monitor international financial transactions, arguing that the publication of the article was a treasonous act and suggesting that the newspaper is "sid[ing] with al Qaeda" and "aiding and abetting the terrorist movement."

Did anybody see Patriot Boy's post about Rush's Viagra story, called "Romancing the Righty"? lol

Marine in 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Killed in Iraq

DETROIT (June 28) - A Marine and one-time recruiter who appeared in Michael Moore's documentary film "Fahrenheit 9/11" has died in a roadside bombing in Iraq.

IAVA article

New Ideas Series, Volume 2: "The Brzezinski Plan"

Last week was another hot one in Iraq. It was also a hot week in Washington, where the debate about the war in Iraq finally cranked up a few notches. But it wasn't pretty. Republicans stood in lock-step with the President. Democrats looked like crabs in a bucket. Partisanship, chest-thumping patriotism, and empty rhetoric ran rampant. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), himself a Vietnam veteran, pleaded for calm and reason saying, "Focus group-tested buzz words...like 'Cut and Run'...debase the seriousness of war." He's right. Hagel has been a consistent voice of reason, and an important critic of this war. Watch his excellent comments here. As I write in my new book Chasing Ghosts, he is one of the good ones on Capitol Hill.

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

Hat tips to J&C - I hope this helps?

capt

Hmm...Hatch's personal vendetta against SCOTUS? I dunno, but I'm sure the "Activist Judges" and "Ambulance-chasing Trial Lawyers" cards will figure prominently in the next two election cycles.

Legislate "Patriotism" to protect the flag.

Legislate "Religion" to get kids to mindlessly recite "under God" (which is strangely how Jimmy-Jeff Gankert feels when he spends the night at 1600) every morning of their school lives.

Legislate "Morality" to keep the honor of a loving, legal romantic relationship out of the hands of gay and lesbian Americans.

Legislate "Secret Privacy Invasions" so that the Gummint can see whatever they want, whenever they want AND not be penalized for past transgressions.

So yeah, go ahead and protect that precious Patchwork Quilt! Keep it flying safe O'er the LAND of the FREE!

Puh-thetic

-T

#232
To continue with the Froomkin article posted above...

The sum total of the administration's defense against this charge appears to be: Trust us. Trust that we're only spying on terrorists, and not anyone else.

But what if the trust isn't there? And what if they're breaking the law?

That's why it's better to attack. It makes for great soundbites. It motivates the base. And perhaps most significantly, it takes attention away from Bush's own behavior.

...Sheryl Gay Stolberg writes in the New York Times: "Administration officials had argued strongly that in reporting on the financial tracking operation, The Times would endanger national security by prompting the Belgian banking consortium that maintains the financial data to withdraw from the program. On Sunday, Mr. Keller, the paper's executive editor, posted a letter on The New York Times Web site saying that the newspaper 'found this argument puzzling,' partly because the banking consortium is compelled by subpoena to comply. . . .

"Mr. Keller said in the letter that the administration had made a 'secondary argument' that publication of the article would lead terrorists to change tactics, but he said that argument had been made 'in a halfhearted way.' "

The Wall Street Journal had been working on the banking story for a long period of time but did not reach the point of having enough information to publish until Thursday afternoon, according to a staffer who declined to be identified because the newspaper is making no public comment. The Journal does not know why Treasury officials made no appeal against publication in that paper, but editors assume that by then the officials were resigned to the fact that the details were coming out, the staffer said.

The High Price of American Gullibility

Many Americans have turned a blind eye to the administration's illegal and unconstitutional spying on the grounds that, as they themselves are doing nothing wrong, they have nothing to fear. If this is the case, why did our Founding Fathers bother to write the Constitution? If the executive branch can be trusted not to abuse power, why did Congress pass legislation establishing a panel of federal judges (ignored by the Bush administration) to oversee surveillance? If President Bush can decide that he can ignore statutory law, how does he differ from a dictator? If Bush can determine law, what is the role of Congress and the courts? If "national security" is a justification for elevating the power of the executive, where is his incentive to find peaceful solutions?

More HERE

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

What is the incentive to find a peaceful solution? Less presidential power?

capt

Here's a little something from the same Froomkin article on polls.

A Gallup/USA Today poll finds a clear majority -- 57 percent -- of Americans supporting the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq; while a Washington Post/ABC News poll finds only a narrow minority -- 47 -- percent in favor.

How can that be?

Well, look at the wording.

Here's the Gallup question: "Which comes closer to your view? Congress should pass a resolution that outlines a plan for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq (or) decisions about withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq should be left to the president and his advisers?"

In other words: Should Congress propose a timetable, or just leave it all up to Bush?

Here's the Post question, with my emphasis: "Some people say the Bush administration should set a deadline for withdrawing U.S. military forces from Iraq in order to avoid further casualties . Others say knowing when the U.S. would pull out would only encourage the anti-government insurgents . Do you yourself think the United States should or should not set a deadline for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq?"

That's awfully close to: Are you in favor of cutting and running? What's amazing is that 47 percent of Americans said yes.

-------------------
I always listen to the wording when I'm asked to answer poll questions. They are very leading.

#241

To me Americans are walking the thin line between feeling safe by letting things remain as they are...I'm not being hurt by it and I haven't done anything wrong...and having America change. Unfortunately they walked that line too long. A lot of damage has been done to this country. People can be conned but a lot of times they allow themselves to be conned. America allowed itself to be conned by the crime family neocon because the American public believed they had something to gain from it. That's how the con works.

One of the reasons the con worked? It allowed a lot of Americans to have the prejudices they held deeply inside.

Another reason? The neocon crime family allowed Americans to remain blind to things like oil shortage. We could continue to drive our big vehicles. The war in Iraq would allow us more oil.

And of course the neocons always play on the you can be rich too nerve.

Alan, thank you for the Helen Thomas interview post. I was right. She would be great for a dinner date. Both you and Jeanne had great posts!

Cornposters, David Corn has a new thread but are we unable to post?

Keith takes on the SWIFT program and all that attack the NY Times. It may not have been such a secret after all. Count all the times Bush told the world that he was chasing down the terrorists money. Looks to me and Roger Cressey like there has been no damage done by the NY Times. Just another con game for this administration.

VIDEO Chimpie tries to put the NYT out of business, thought they had it all figgered out. NOT!!

Olbermann shows the silliness of it all.

Now can we kick the doofus' out?

I was alittle frustrated, the comment section is for some reasaon inactive in David's next post. So here I am. This whole GOP movement attacking the New York Times for leaking the banking transfer snooping is completely hypocritcal. Where were they when the Administration leaked the identity of Valerie Plame? They were hoping Bush, Rove and gang would not get caught. Now the pot is calling the kettle black.See you in november.

Looks to me like this misadministration has been getting a trouble free ride from the press. However if chimpies cabal continues to piss on the press they might not like getting wet.

#246, yes there's that leak; and then there's the leak that may have cost more than a few lives: the Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan leak. SSDD.

This busted thread thing is gonna put a cramp on my Thursday Night Funnies. Time for Mr. Corn to bust out the NeRdS.

The Neocon Battle for Media - Robert Parry

"The fate of the American Republic could not be more clearly at stake. But the forces that share a common cause in trying to protect the traditional concepts of constitutional checks and balances and the inalienable rights of citizens are scattered and disorganized.

Meanwhile, BushÔøΩs neoconservative administration is tightening its grip on what information the American people get to see and hear."
+++++

It kinda makes ya wonder what the busheviks and its ardent supporters have in mind to keep the "librul" NYT and other non-cooperative media outlets in line. How can people so blithely accuse Keller, Lichtblau and Risen of treason? Didn't we execute the Rosenbergs for less? Hello! Treason carries the death penalty.

Gawdalmighty.

If Orin Hatch wants to send a message, I also want to send a message. Here it is --

Apprentice Programs

Dear Cornposters:

The city of D'Iberville, Mississippi has been trying to have contractors rebuild their city. The contractors prefer to rebuild the casinos that will bring the trades people more money. So, the city has decided to call in Chinese help to rebuild the city. There will be 3,000 laborers who will be coming to the city.

I ask why the city, the school district, and handymen cannot help establish apprentice programs for Americans to give them some skills? Whether or not these skills have carryover value after the rebuilding of the city is complete it is important for a person to have some skills to work on their home in the future. These personal skills will keep them from calling some person to repair the problems at a hefty cost.

There does not appear to be any interest in helping Americans. This is an example were Bush's ownership society and apprentice programs will pay big time dividends in the present and for future disasters that may occur in these Gulf areas.

I see a nation disintegrating into oblivion and there is no attempt to stop it. Are we a nation that has sold her soul to the devil for money, nuclear weapons, and the bushgod?

Sincerely,

Gerald

From CLG:

Breaking: Supreme Court: Bush overstepped his authority in plans for war crimes trials at Guantanamo Bay. Details forthcoming.

capt

Supreme Court Rejects Guantanamo War Crimes Trials
In 5-3 Decision, Justices Rebuke Bush's Anti-Terror Policy

Oh, those darned activist judges!

Jinx!

Supreme Court Blocks Bush, Gitmo War Trials

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that President Bush overstepped his authority in ordering military war crimes trials for Guantanamo Bay detainees.

The ruling, a rebuke to the administration and its aggressive anti-terror policies, was written by Justice John Paul Stevens, who said the proposed trials were illegal under U.S. law and international Geneva conventions.

The case focused on Salim Ahmed Hamdan, a Yemeni who worked as a bodyguard and driver for Osama bin Laden. Hamdan, 36, has spent four years in the U.S. prison in Cuba. He faces a single count of conspiring against U.S. citizens from 1996 to November 2001.

Two years ago, the court rejected Bush's claim to have the authority to seize and detain terrorism suspects and indefinitely deny them access to courts or lawyers. In this follow-up case, the justices focused solely on the issue of trials for some of the men.

The vote was split 5-3, with moderate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy joining the court's liberal members in ruling against the Bush administration. Chief Justice John Roberts, named to the lead the court last September by Bush, was sidelined in the case because as an appeals court judge he had backed the government over Hamdan

More HERE

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

Somebody said NO to Bunnypants? I expect a tantrum.

capt

canada.com - Top Us. Court: Bush overstepped authority

"The tribunals and the camp itself have attracted worldwide condemnation from lawyers and human rights groups. Several countries have demanded that Guantanamo be closed, but Canada has not taken a position."

#254 capt, the tantrum is scheduled for this afternoon, after General Rove has hammered the "correct" words into bush's peabrain.

Re: SCOTUS rebuke:

Bush spokesman Tony Snow said the White House would have no comment until lawyers had had a chance to review the decision. Officials at the Pentagon and Justice Department were planning to issue statements later in the day.

Department of Justice? With this Administration thats a laugh.

The Supreme Court decision is irrelevant because Bush is the Supreme Ruler and the Constitution has no meaning for him. Bush has his own constitution that he follows. Normally, a person sits on the toilet in the morning for what is known as a person's morning constitution.

Smile! A new Canadian tool can re-grow teeth

Pet Peeves

Dear Cornposters:

I believe that we all have pet peeves in our lives. I will take some time to share with you some of my pet peeves. My first pet peeve and I am not listing them in any specific order has to do with donations. Every month we receive letters for a donation for some charity, political party, religion, and organization. We also receive two or three calls a month for some donation. There are at least twenty letters a month for some kind of donation. I do not have enough money to donate to anyone.

The second pet peeve deals with the monthly catalogues we receive. There are about twenty to twenty-five different catalogue companies that send us these catalogues. At first we received a fall/winter catalogue and a spring/summer catalogue. From two catalogues per company it became a fall, winter, spring and summer catalogues. From four catalogues it expanded to men, women, children, indoor/outdoor clothes, indoor/outdoor furniture and products, and every thing else under the sun. From these twenty to twenty-five catalogue companies we receive about five hundred catalogues a year.

With these five hundred catalogues all over the home they are now in the bathroom. The bathroom has become the main room in the home. The catalogues allow a person to sit on the toilet for an hour. The bathroom is an important room but it should not be the main room. The bathroom is where a person does their business and leaves. For example you sit on the toilet, unload a mother load, wipe your behind, wash your hands, and you leave. There is no good reason to sit on the toilet for an hour.

These are a few of my pet peeves.

Sincerely,

Gerald

Fool me once, fool me twice

A date to remember will be the night of June 20, 2006. That's the night the United States Congress was fooled for the second time.

Remember October 2002 and Iraq? So much has happened since then that it seems like ancient history.

Or at least that is what the Bush administration would like to have the public think. One constant theme that emanates from the White House is that whatever mistakes might have been made in the past - eg, the reasons given to justify going to war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq - they are behind us. It's "water under the bridge", or maybe "over the dam" - take your pick.

The latest example of trying to spin this web occurred in Vienna on June 21 during a presidential press conference following the US-European Union summit. Asked why Europeans in recent opinion polls held the United States in low regard as a force for peace, President George W Bush in effect discounted the poll results as a perceptual problem for Europeans. He had made decisions he though best for the United States and the world, and it was simply unfortunate that Europeans happened not to agree with him.

Besides, all that was in the past.

So it is. But so too is October 2002, when Congress voted to surrender to the president its constitutional duties with regard to declaring war by "empowering" Bush to use any and all means and, at a time of his choosing, to compel Saddam Hussein to give up the weapons of mass destruction that the world "knew" he possessed. Bush pushed the button on March 19, 2003, plunging the United States into a war in Iraq that has taken, conservatively speaking, 45,000-50,000 Iraqi lives and killed 2,500 US service members, 226 troops from other coalition countries, 100 journalists, and more than 350 contractors. The war has cost nearly US$400 billion and will generate thousands of disabled veterans for decades to come.

More HERE

American Gullibility

Nazi Americans Love It

#256
Micki,
I have to go to work soon. And it's boring work. Waaaa. Anyway, at least I got a laugh before I left. You are too funny.

Ok, the next question is...if the administration overstepped it's bounds for trials, what happens next. And more importantly, what does this say about the case for the men who have accused the administration of torture and abuse? What do you tell the families of the men who gave up hope and committed suicide? To me, and I'm not a lawyer, this opens up the debate about the abuse of the Geneva Convention Rules.

Insurgents offer truce in return for timetable for U.S. pullout
BAGHDAD (AP) — Eleven Sunni insurgent groups have offered an immediate halt to all attacks — including those on American troops — if the United States agrees to withdraw foreign forces from Iraq in two years, insurgent and government officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

So much for the pull out and things will get worse opinion. They are giving us two more years to clean up. If the Iraqi security forces can't do the job themselves by then it's doubtful they ever will and we should pull out anyway. Better to announce our intentions and have the ceasefire than fight for two years and cede defeat.

I see you lefties have finally won a victory for the terrorists!

Well done, now the ACLU can defend them and sue the American tax payer for the injustice of accusing someone of killing Americans.

My hat is off to you little jihadists!

If bush's SPY PROGRAMS are intended to find terrorists, what are the conditional probabilities that his unconstitutional SPY PROGRAMS will result in finding them? -- BAYES'S THEOREM

We need this to establish a ruling as to the legality of the chimpy cabals treatment of so-called enemy combatants.

The Congress was unwilling to establish standards, the SCOTUS was the last hope for justice.

The Geneva Convention was quite clear on treatment of POW's. Now we know, to get change applied against the chimpie cabal we have to use the court system to further the issues since Congress is inept as hell.

Another thing and then I'm out a here....

I think this ruling has placed the US and the Bush administration again on equal footing with the rest of the world. If we are going to be a super power we must abide by the laws that make us a world leader. We can't act as if we are above the law.

#268 projecting again.

bush throws temper tantrum in Iowa

Jeanne, this bush tantrum was not scheduled. General Rove was really pissed when georgie went off jabbing that corn cob for emphasis! It was reported, "The sobbing George Bush was then lead away by Karl Rove to the campaign tour bus, where Rove tanned the Presidents hide with his belt."

Hope you have fun at work...

The Myth of Al Qaeda
________________

By Michael Hirsh
Newsweek
Updated: 5:55 p.m. ET June 28, 2006

June 28, 2006 - The capture of Ibn Al-Shaykhal-Libi was said to be one of the first big breakthroughs in the war against Al Qaeda. It was also the start of the post-9/11 mythologizing of the terror group. According to the official history of the Bush administration, al-Libi (a nom de guerre meaning "the Libyan") was the most senior Al Qaeda leader captured during the war in Afghanistan after running a training camp there for Osama bin Laden. Al-Libi was sent on to Egypt, where under interrogation he was said to have given up crucial information linking Saddam Hussein to the training of Al Qaeda operatives in chemical and biological warfare. His story was later used publicly by Secretary of State Colin Powell to justify the war in Iraq to the world.
__________________

An old mass media saying...."There's NO SUCH thing as BAD publicity!"

This Bush misAdministration has done more to create figureheads, funding and rallying cries for "Jihadists" than any would have been able on their own.

You just can't buy that kind of publicity!

-T

GOP Elites Are All About Money

the ha theorem:
since the acts of and even the merest threat of terrorism are contrived and perpetrated/foisted upon john Q by those who stand to gain the most financially from the very acts/threats of said terrorism, the 'spy program' derived by those very same contrivers and is claimed to be designed to uncover terrorist plots can only really have as it's motive the uncovering of dissent by john Q. to such heavy-handed tactics.

Did the Nazis terminate Mr. Corn's website? Will they try Mr. Corn as an enemy combatant for his blogs? Have the Nazis chosen Mr. Corn's website to shake up and penalize the other websites for their fair and balanced reporting of the news? Are the Nazis currently assessing the Cornposters' comments to build a case against many posters as enemy combatants?

Yea Gerald, the nazis visited me the other day and asked me about you. I said you were definitely the anti-nazi type. Keep your eye out for the MIB.

from the very day that mr. corn published his book the lies of george w. bush and started his bushlies (now this) blog to the time that bush was asked what he thought of said book (i haven't read it!) up to and including now this blog has been the only one on the web to allow such anti-bushco comments with an absence of gatekeeping or moderators limiting the spread of information that there can really be no doubt as to it's being monitored and the commentors assessed.
enemy combatant? - not me. but i will continue to make my disdain towards the bushco administration's callous disregard for humanity known to all.
oh ya, 911 was an inside job!

J, we are AMERICANS exercising our freedom of speech in written form. I think the fascists are watching us but so what? 9/11 WAS an inside job no doubt. They are afraid and paranoid about being discovered, why else would they be wiretapping everyone?

Evil chimpy weasels, frightened like little girls, think they can step all over the Constitution and anything else that gets in their way.

Got that chimpie trolls? The only terrorists are YOU!

Finally! New thread!