« Torture, Destruction of Evidence, Obstruction of Justice--Just a Typical Day in the Bush Administration | Open Thread Main | »
Same Old, Same Old...
NMP reminded us on the last thread of how history repeats itself.
CIA Torture Plane Wrecks .. and it's carrying cocaine.
Just like back in Iran Contra days.
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Busy day for me today, folks. I'll try to check in.
Karen--I think you're on Hardball again tonight?
If so...Best of luck!
I bet George nose where all the coke done went.
All options are on the table, including the mirror.
monkey said:
Big effin woop, so they raked em over the coals... is anything gonna be done about it?
Show me, dont snow me.
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ON THE CLOSING OF GUANTANAMO:
I called Senator Feinteins' office this morning about Guantanamo and the hearing of the Judiciary Committtee on GITMO held on Tuesday 12-11-2007. I asked Feinteins's office if Congress could order/ legislate that the GITMO prison be closed. After a little bit of talking, the person mentioned that there is already a bill on Guantanamo (to close it down) in the Senate, Senate Bill # 1249, which has been sponsored by Kennedy, Kerry, Dodd, Clinton and perhaps some others. I asked what the status of the bill was - after waiting a little bit longer, the person came back with the information that the bill had a committee hearing on Monday.
It turns out that this bill was introduced long ago - April 2007 - but apparently no action has been taken...
WASHINGTON - President Bush made an impromptu appearance at the State Department to bid farewell to one of his closest advisers, Karen Hughes, who left a top diplomatic position on Wednesday to return to Texas and private life.
"I wouldn't be standing here without Karen Hughes," Bush said at a lively going-away party for Hughes after he was introduced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who briefly interrupted an interview with The Associated Press to welcome the surprise guest.
"One of her jobs was to teach me how to speak English," Bush joked in a reference to his sometimes inept command of the language, prompting loud laughter and a rejoinder from Hughes.
"How'd I do?" Hughes asked, drawing a look of mock indignation from Bush.
"I'll deliver the punch lines," the president said sternly, adding: "She never was that good at writing jokes."
Bush also took a shot at the State Department and its perceived culture of ingrained diplomatic niceties, saying that he named Hughes to head up the agency's public diplomacy efforts to shake up the system.
"There was no doubt in my mind that she (Hughes) was a change agent and sometimes this building could use change agents," he said. "I'm not saying all of the time, but certainly when it came to making sure that the world knows our intentions and our good hearts."
more on...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22240680/
Wholesale prices shot up 3.2 percent in November, the biggest jump in 34 years, propelled by a record rise in gasoline prices.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22240224
Senate Republicans block energy bill
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Republicans blocked a broad energy bill Thursday because it included billions of dollars in new taxes on the biggest oil companies.
Democratic leaders fell one vote short, 59-40, in getting the 60 votes needed to overcome a GOP filibuster. Democrats said they would strip the taxes from the legislation to move the bill forward.
Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said he hoped to get the revised energy package approved later in the day, including the first increase in automobile fuel efficiency in three decades and massive increases in the use of ethanol as a motor fuel.
He said we will "eliminate the tax title."
Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky predicted the revised bill would be approved with wide bipartisan support.
The legislation, if passed by the Senate, would have to be voted on by the House, which a week ago approved legislation that included the $21 billion tax increases with revenues marked for promoting renewable fuels and energy efficiency.
But Senate Republicans stood firm on opposing the tax increases, which they said would guarantee a veto by President Bush.
McConnell chided Democrats for pushing a "massive tax increase" that he said "they knew would never be signed into law" because of the president's opposition.
Reid countered that the Senate shouldn't back away from the needed tax measures "just because the president doesn't like it."
"We must begin to break our country's addiction to oil," Reid said.
more ons...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/13/congress.energy.ap/index.html
Wow, I think Chris Matthews has a crush on Karen!
History does repeat itself...
Otherwise nobody can explain (even with all the alleged cheating) why Americans voted for W twice, after voting for Reagan twice.
By the way, this Senator thinks Waterboarding is just like swimming .. backstroke, freestyle -
read it to believe it, see the video
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/060885.php
Speaking of cocaine, I think Bill Shaheen made a stupid remark and had to apologize for it, predicting that Republicans would seize on Obama's prior cocaine use, which may be true, but we have a cokehead president already - so it just sounds like dirty politics to me. I hate it when the competing Dems in the primaries give the Rovian Republicans ideas and that's exactly why I am avoiding the primaries this time. I saw it in 2004 and it's nasty and brutal and sick. It's like a social Darwinian survival of the two meanest and then they go at it and the meanest one of all ends up in the White House, the one with the most mean corporate operatives on their side.
Meanwhile it's a complete disgrace that the Republicans scuttled the energy bill domestically, and then ruined the Bali talks on climate change by refusing to reduce emissions.
John Kerry was the only Senator to go to Bali.
Al Gore sounded embarrassed to be from the US.
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” - Benjamin Franklin
Budget deal would probably give Bush victory on war funding
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Democratic lawmakers and staffers privately say they're closing in on a broad budget deal that would give President Bush as much as $70 billion in new war funding.
The deal would lack a key provision Democrats had attached to previous funding bills calling for most U.S. troops to come home from Iraq by the end of 2008, which would be a significant legislative victory for Bush.
Democrats admit such a move would be highly controversial within their own party. Coming just weeks after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, vowed the White House would not get another dollar in war money this year, it would further antagonize the liberal base of the party, which has become frustrated with the congressional leadership's failure to push back on Bush's Iraq policy.
"The base will not be happy," said one senior Democratic aide, who requested anonymity to candidly discuss budget negotiations that have not been completed.
The Democratic aide acknowledged the president is likely to get new money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan before Congress adjourns for the year. "Yes, in the end, that's where we will be," the aide said.
A senior Republican aide also said both sides are nearing a deal that would give Bush a large chunk of the $200 billion in war funding he requested earlier this year. "We're not there yet, but we're close," the Republican aide said.
Privately, Democrats say they have little choice but to give the president at least some war funding because Senate Republicans have vowed to block any final budget deal unless it has at least some of the war funding Bush has requested.
Don't Miss
Signs of Democratic fraying emerge
Bush clashes with Democrats on war funding
The White House has also been aggressive about pointing out that Defense Secretary Robert Gates will have to start laying off some civilian employees and freezing some defense contracts unless the Pentagon gets new war money soon, putting vast political pressure on Democrats to give the troops more money before going home for Christmas.
"We're calling on Congress to fully fund the troops," White House press secretary Dana Perino said Wednesday. "The troops need the money. Secretary Gates has been very clear -- since November 14, he has said that there might have to be furlough notices that go out if we don't get the money."
Still, Democrats are trying to sell $70 billion in new war funding as a partial victory for them. They point out that while the final numbers are still in flux during intense private negotiations, Bush is likely to get far less money than he originally requested.
"What is for sure is he will not get all $200 billion," said one senior Democratic lawmaker. "Whatever number it is, it is much less than what the president asked for. For the first time in this war, he has received less than his request."
But senior administration officials privately say they expect to be able to get at least of the rest of the president's $200 billion request passed through Congress next year.
"They have not been able to change the president's policy," one senior official said flatly, expressing confidence the White House will continue to get more war funds as violence decreases in Iraq.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/12/bush.war.funding/index.html
ON IRAQ:
"The base will not be happy," said one senior Democratic aide, who requested anonymity to candidly discuss budget negotiations that have not been completed.
The Democratic aide acknowledged the president is likely to get new money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan before Congress adjourns for the year. "Yes, in the end, that's where we will be," the aide said.
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You can say that again... and not just the base. Many independents, Republicans and the Ron Paul folks will be mad as well.
The deal would lack a key provision Democrats had attached to previous funding bills calling for most U.S. troops to come home from Iraq by the end of 2008, which would be a significant legislative victory for Bush.
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Oh well............................
Here is footage on the Ron Paul Blimp. BTW in my sleepy, rustbelt city I have seen several Ron Paul signs in front yards....
REPUBLICAN DEBATE: NO GLOBAL WARMING???
More on the Democratic budget cave in:
Democrats Cave on Spending
By Alexander Bolton
The Hill
Thursday 13 December 2007
Senate and House Democrats backed down Wednesday from a spending showdown with President Bush.
The Democrats' capitulation Wednesday on the total domestic spending level is the latest instance of Bush prevailing on a major policy showdown. Bush and his Senate Republican allies have repeatedly beat back efforts by Democrats to place restrictions on funding for the war in Iraq as well as Democratic attempts to expand funding of children's health insurance by $35 billion.
Democratic leaders said Wednesday that they would keep total spending at the strict $933 billion limit set by the White House. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also abandoned a proposal she supported Tuesday to eliminate lawmakers' earmarks from spending bills after she faced stiff opposition from powerful fellow Democrats.
Pelosi told the Democratic chairmen of the House Appropriations subcommittees, the so-called cardinals, that earmarks would stay in the omnibus and that Democratic leaders would accede to cut spending to levels demanded by Bush to save 11 spending bills from a veto, said sources familiar with a meeting that took place in Pelosi's office early Wednesday morning.
The Democratic cardinals rebelled against a plan suggested by Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) to save $9.5 billion by slashing earmarks. Obey hoped to use the money to minimize cuts to domestic programs important to Democrats.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121307J.shtml
Media Alert
Harper’s legal affairs contributor Scott Horton and Alabama Congressman Artur Davis will discuss the politically motivated prosecution and conviction of former Alabama Governor Don E. Siegelman on MSNBC’s “Live with Dan Abrams” tomorrow, Thursday, December 13 at 9:00 Eastern, 8:00 Central, 6:00 Pacific time, as segment four of the series “Bush League Justice.” Get information on the program here.
Scott will also be appearing tomorrow on Air America’s Thom Hartmann Program at 2:00 Eastern, 1:00 Central, 11:00 Pacific time, again to discuss the Siegelman case. A downloadable podcast can be heard after the program, and a list of participating stations can be found here.
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/12/hbc-90001898
Studies fault charities for veterans
Some nonprofits shortchange troops, watchdog group says
By Philip Rucker
washingtonpost.com
Americans gave millions of dollars in the past year to veterans charities designed to help troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, but several of the groups spent relatively little money on the wounded, according to a leading watchdog organization and federal tax filings.
Eight veterans charities, including some of the nation's largest, gave less than a third of the money raised to the causes they champion, far below the recommended standard, the American Institute of Philanthropy says in a report. One group passed along 1 cent for every dollar raised, the report says. Another paid its founder and his wife a combined $540,000 in compensation and benefits last year, a Washington Post analysis of tax filings showed.
There are no laws regulating the amount of money charities spend on overhead, fundraising or giving. But the institute's report suggests that 20 of the 29 military charities studied were managing their resources poorly, paying high overhead costs and direct-mail fundraising fees and, in some cases, providing their leaders with six-figure salaries.
The 12 charities rated as failing by the institute -- including the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, the AMVETS National Service Foundation and the Freedom Alliance -- collected at least $266 million in the past fiscal year.
'Work the system'
"They know how to work the system, and they seem pretty good at not going over the line, although it is pretty outrageous that so little money is actually winding up benefiting charities," said Daniel Borochoff, president and founder of the Chicago-based institute.
The charities' practices have sparked outrage among some members of Congress.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform was scheduled to hold its first hearing on veterans charities this morning.
"People want to help the veterans," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the oversight committee. "They don't want to enrich organizations that are cynically exploiting veterans for their own personal gain.
"We need to make sure that the generous contributions of Americans to veterans will help veterans and not line the pockets of fundraisers and these organizations."
Richard H. Esau Jr., executive director of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, based in Annandale, Virgina, said the cost of fundraising limits how much his group can spend on charitable causes. "Do you have any idea how much money it costs to advertise? It's unbelievable the amount of money it takes to advertise in the print and electronic media," he said. "I'm very proud of what we do, and we certainly do look after everybody. F or no F, the point is we do the right thing by veterans."
more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22237666/
VIDEO ON CLOSING GUANTANAMO BY AMNESTY INTER..
Btw ralpheh, here in NC, I've been seeing Ron Paul signs everywhere, and on almost all exit ramps on and off major highways.
The Paulitics of Driving
Btw ralpheh, here in NC, I've been seeing Ron Paul signs everywhere, and on almost all exit ramps on and off major highways.
The Paulitics of Driving
I believe he is going to be a force to be reckoned with Monkey.
Military Leaders: Ignore Bush Veto Threat, Ban Waterboarding
Thirty retired admirals and generals have penned a letter to key Democrats, urging them to defy President Bush's veto threats and pass legislation requiring U.S intelligence agents to follow strict standards for detainee treatment.
The letter - which is addressed to Senate and House intelligence chairmen John Rockefeller and Silvestre Reyes - urges the passage of Section 327 of the Conference Report on the Intelligence Authorization Act. The act passed the House this morning by a vote of 222 to 199 (only five Republicans supported the measure) but faces stiff opposition in the Senate. It would restrict the CIA from waterboarding by confining the agency to interrogation techniques permitted by the Army Field Manual.
"We believe it is vital to the safety of our men and women in uniform that the United States not sanction the use of interrogation methods it would find unacceptable if inflicted by the enemy against captured Americans," the military officials write. "That principle, embedded in the Army Field Manual, has guided generations of American military personnel in combat. The current situation, in which the military operates under one set of interrogation rules that are public and the CIA operates under a separate, secret set of rules, is unwise and impractical."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/13/military-leaders-ignore-_n_76656.html
About the Ron Paul blimp.... It is an interesting idea but I don't know how effective it will be. The Paulites want to fly the blimp up the East Coast to New Hampshire, I guess. Supposedly it will say "RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT - GOOGLE IT" or something close to that. I don't know if I like this message - perhaps a phone number (for the many non-computer literate should be included). And I wish it had some kind of slogan....
Hey, speaking of little abu's interrogation... look at this crap..
The videotapes, made in 2002, showed the questioning of two high-level Qaeda detainees, including logistics chief Abu Zubaydah, whose interrogation at a secret cell in Thailand sparked an internal battle within the U.S. intelligence community after FBI agents angrily protested the aggressive methods that were used. In addition to waterboarding, Zubaydah was subjected to sleep deprivation and bombarded with blaring rock music by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. One agent was so offended he threatened to arrest the CIA interrogators, according to two former government officials directly familiar with the dispute.
http://thinkprogress.org/
Now that is a damn interesting scenario.
I have a question for Jesselyn...
What were the purpose of these torture tapes?
What were they 'used' for?
Karen, great job on Hardball.
kangaroo... very cool, that was the hypothetical rant I ripped on yesterday, although I know I ain't the first one to rant it...
As the generals say, "That principle, embedded in the Army Field Manual, has guided generations of American military personnel in combat."
Which is why, dumbass American electorate, it was SOOOO friggin important to respect and listen to someone who actually served in combat, versus a dubious nitwit who's daddy paid off people to get out of even serving one weekend a month stateside, and then claiming to know what the f*** they are talking about when it comes to combat. (Todays rant d'jour)
Chickenhawks don't know sqwuak!
Senate Judiciary votes Bolten, Rove in contempt
Republicans may be able to block the citations with a procedural hurdle
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Thursday to hold two top aides to President George W. Bush in contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate in its probe of fired federal prosecutors.
On a largely party-line vote of 11-7, the Democratic-led panel sent contempt citations against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove to the full Senate for consideration.
As with many of Bush's battles with the Democratic-led Senate, the president may ultimately prevail since his fellow Republicans may be able to block the citations with a procedural hurdle.
more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22244282/
Madonna leads list of Rock Hall inductees
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/13/rockhall.inductees.ap/index.html
Cleanup, Aisle 4... bring the mop and an air freshener.
Quit hating on Maddonna, Monkey.
You are just mad cause you don't have a pointy bra.
Courage Campaign on Blackwater in California:
Trade worries and a joke at Dem debate
-snip-
One light moment in the debate came after the moderator asked Obama how he could talk of making a break from the past while seeking advice from advisers to former President Clinton. The question prompted laughter from Hillary Clinton.
"I want to hear that," she said.
The audience laughed. Obama paused.
"Hillary," he said. "I look forward to you advising me, as well."
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/13/dem.iowa.debate/index.html
Wow! Wonder what the reaction to that was. (Maybe along the lines of, "Over my dead body.")
I can hop in irc if anyone cares to pile in.
Which is why, dumbass American electorate, it was SOOOO friggin important to respect and listen to someone who actually served in combat, versus a dubious nitwit who's daddy paid off people to get out of even serving one weekend a month stateside, and then claiming to know what the f*** they are talking about when it comes to combat. (Todays rant d'jour)
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On torture in the CNN Repub debate, John McCain looked like the McCain of old. He said waterboarding IS torture AND the United STates SHOULD NOT torture. McCain absolutely wiped the floor ( I thought, anyway) with pretty boy Mitt, who stammered out, almost word for word, Mukasey's dodge... ""I can't go into specific means of "enhanced interrogation" techniques IT WOULD LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG..."" McCain almost seemed to be angry at Romney's lame answer. McCain seemed to simmer a bit while Romney was giving his answer.
Unfortunately, after that high watermark McCain went completely astray saying we were in Iraq because "we don't appease" and that "we appeased Hitler by letting him" come to power in Germany. I have seen McCain in committee hearings and he is much more intelligent and thoughtful than this. After McCain's answer, The Paulites in the audience booed and jeered the incorrect, widely off the mark analogy...
I guess your president thinks this conference of world leaders is totally unimportant.
Gore blasts US obstruction
Marian Wilkinson and Mark Forbes
December 14, 2007
FORMER US vice-president Al Gore has made a dramatic 11th-hour intervention at the faltering climate change talks in Bali, accusing his own country of obstructing progress and calling on other nations to forge a new deal without Washington.
With less than 24 hours to today's conference deadline, the newly-awarded Nobel laureate last night made an impassioned plea to conference delegates to leave an "open space" in a new climate change deal, and to hope it will be filled later by President George Bush's successor.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/gore-blasts-us-on-bali/2007/12/13/1197135662680.html
Congressman King & the Superficial War on Christians
http://www.docudharma.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2980
McDermott: Christmas Resolution Wasted Time
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/343463_mcdermott14.html
For future reference: Badass Bible Verses
http://www.cracked.com/article_15699_9-most-badass-bible-verses.html
http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/BibleViolence.htm
Woz
Gore is our REAL president. The other one is an imposter. We ran two environmentalists, Gore and Kerry, but they were robbed of the elections by oil corporations.
Ralpheh
McCain is sensible on the torture issue, having been a POW, though don't know why he has to be such a blind hawk ("my country right or wrong" type), & he's sensible on global warming.
Like most/all of them, a mixed bag - good on some issues, not on others. I would have to say that for all of them.
Yet most anything would be better than what we've got (see statement above where I talk about the imposter who is in there).
Scrooge McDermott Votes Against Christmas
http://silencedmajority.blogs.com/silenced_majority_portal/2007/12/scrooge-mcdermo.html
CRISIS IN BALI CLIMATE TALKS
24 hours to go, and crisis at the Bali climate talks. In the last day alone, over 150,000 of us have surged to the global rescue -- calling on the world not to give in to wrecking tactics by the governments of the US, Canada and Japan. We’re putting a full-page ad in the Jakarta Post’s summit edition where all the negotiators will see it, warning them to avert Titanic-like disaster -- and we’re coming together with other NGOs to deliver millions of signatures for climate action to governments.
I’m writing from the main hall at Bali, where Al Gore just said it’s time for “a global people power movement” to step in. He’s right. Our new global emergency petition brings us directly into the main battle at Bali -- and there’s no question that delegates here are watching what we all do. So please -- drop everything for thirty seconds, click below to see the ad and sign the petition if you haven’t already, forward this link to everyone you know:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/bali_emergency/24.php
Big Oil to Sign Iraq Deals Soon
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121007C.shtml
Ben Lando, reporting for United Press International, writes, "Big Oil's big dreams are close to coming true as Iraq's Oil Ministry prepares deals for the country's largest oil fields."
Inspector general for Iraq under investigation
FBI, Congress among those probing overspending, mismanagement charges
washingtonpost.com
WASHINGTON - Over the past four years, Inspector General Stuart W. Bowen Jr. and his staff have probed allegations of waste and fraud in the $22 billion U.S. effort to rebuild Iraq. Their work has led to arrests, indictments and millions of dollars in fines. And it has earned Bowen, who had been a legal adviser to President Bush, many admirers among both parties on Capitol Hill for his efforts to identify overspending and mismanagement.
But Bowen's office has also been roiled by allegations of its own overspending and mismanagement. Current and former employees have complained about overtime policies that allowed 10 staff members to earn more than $250,000 each last year. They have questioned the oversight of a $3.5 million book project about Iraq's reconstruction modeled after the 9/11 Commission report. And they have alleged that Bowen and his deputy have improperly snooped into their staff's e-mail messages.
The employee allegations have prompted four government probes into the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), including an investigation by the FBI and federal prosecutors into the agency's financial practices and claims of e-mail monitoring, according to law enforcement sources and SIGIR staff members. Federal prosecutors have presented evidence of alleged wrongdoing to a grand jury in Virginia, which has subpoenaed SIGIR for thousands of pages of financial documents, contracts, personnel records and correspondence, several sources familiar with the probe said.
more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22255573/
(from OnCall)
Pelosi says Republicans 'like' Iraq war
House Speaker accuses GOP of ignoring public's priorities
WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out at Republicans on Thursday, saying they want the Iraq war to drag on and are ignoring the public's priorities.
"They like this war. They want this war to continue," Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters. She expressed frustration over Republicans' ability to force majority Democrats to yield ground on taxes, spending, energy, war spending and other matters.
"We thought that they shared the view of so many people in our country that we needed a new direction in Iraq," Pelosi said at her weekly news conference in the Capitol. "But the Republicans have made it very clear that this is not just George Bush's war. This is the war of the Republicans in Congress."
Asked to clarify her remarks, Pelosi backed off a bit.
"I shouldn't say they like the war," she said. "They support the war, the course of action that the president is on."
"And that was a revelation to me," she said, "because I thought the American people's voices were so -- and still are -- so strong in this regard."
Pelosi, who opposed the U.S.-led invasion from the start, said the war was "a catastrophic mistake."
-snip-
In response, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in statement: "Republicans have stood on principle to protect current and future generations of Americans, whether it polled well or not. The success our troops are having in Iraq today is proof positive that our stance was the right one."
more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22256069/
WASHINGTON (CNN) — A veteran Republican strategist considered by many the architect of Ronald Reagan's 1984 landslide election victory is set to take the helm of Mike Huckabee's surging presidential bid, CNN has learned.
Ed Rollins — the longtime GOP strategist who worked in the Reagan White House, ran former Sen. Jack Kemp's 1988 White House run, and played a key role in Ross Perot's 1992 presidential bid — will be formally named Huckabee's national campaign chairman later Friday at an event in New Hampshire.
Rollins told CNN's John King that over the last several months he has become "more and more impressed by the day" with Huckabee.
"I had given up the profession and felt this was probably my last campaign and I wanted to help," Rollins said. "Mike is someone with great communications skills and a very approachable message and that is why you see his support growing not just in Iowa but across the country."
more...
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/12/14/veteran-gop-strategist-signs-on-with-huckabee/
"They like this war. They want this war to continue," Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters. She expressed frustration over Republicans' ability to force majority Democrats to yield ground on taxes, spending, energy, war spending and other matters.
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They want a permanent occupation in Iraq and permanent bases... a permanent military presence.
Ralpheh
McCain is sensible on the torture issue, having been a POW, though don't know why he has to be such a blind hawk ("my country right or wrong" type), & he's sensible on global warming.
Like most/all of them, a mixed bag - good on some issues, not on others. I would have to say that for all of them.
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McCain seems to be the least wacko of the Republican candidates:
I distrust both Romney and Huckabee because they are unknown quantities and because of their religious fanaticism.
So will this years "feel good" statement about the candidates be "who would you rather read the Bible with?".
Thou shalt not have a beer with thee.
Story of a You Tuber (named "Liberal Viewer") whose You Tube account was shut down by legal action of VIACOM. Apparently lots of You Tubers were shut-down and lots of groups ended up in court: Brave New Films, the ACLU etc.. The upshot, this guy is back on You Tube and new copyright regulations are being made to suit You Tube content,
White House 'encouraged' by spending bill
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congressional negotiators worked to cut hundreds of federal programs, big and small, as they fashioned a $500 billion-plus catchall government funding bill Thursday.
But while agreement with the White House remained elusive, negotiations went ahead on the assumption that Democrats would largely accept President Bush's strict budget for domestic programs and that he would ease up a bit if additional funding for Iraq is approved.
In the meantime, the House passed a bill to keep the federal government open for another week to give negotiators time to fashion the omnibus spending bill, pass it in both the House and Senate and then adjourn for the year.
The House passed the short-term funding bill by a 385-27 vote; Senate approval Thursday evening sent it to Bush. It would fund through December 21 the 14 Cabinet departments whose budgets have yet to pass.
After months of battling, Democrats announced Wednesday they would all but surrender to Bush's demand that lawmakers appropriate no more than $933 billion for annual operating expenses for Cabinet departments, whose budgets are set each year by Congress.
Democrats hoped to make an exception for a $3.7 billion increase for veterans health care, calculating that Bush and his GOP allies on Capitol Hill would relent in the case of that politically sacrosanct program.
Democrats still had differences to resolve among themselves, with Capitol Hill Republicans, as well as the White House.
"I have no agreement at this stage with the people in the House, the Republicans in the Senate, and the White House," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada.
The White House was quick to say it had not signed on to the Democrats' measure, awaiting details of the bill's final cost, the funding mix within accounts and the resolution of its request for additional Iraq and Afghanistan war funds. Still, hope was building that a deal could be sealed over the weekend or early next week.
"We're hopeful and encouraged by the movement that we're seeing on the Hill right now," said White House budget office spokesman Sean Kevelighan.
The White House does not believe the additional veterans money is needed and previously has issued veto threats if the money for veterans is not accompanied by cuts elsewhere in the budget.
more ons...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/14/budget.battle.ap/index.html
Video on Lousy Big Media:
On Blackwater facility to be built in California:
http://www.BlockBlackwater.com http://www.CourageCampaign.org .
Blackwater wants to build a mercenary training base in Potrero, CA, a small town just a few miles from the California/Mexico border, on 824 acres of land, consisting of 15 firing ranges, a helipad, and a heavy vehicle operator's course covering the equivalent of 10 football fields.
CodePink is launching a tax revolt:
http://www.codepinkalert.org/section.php?id=338
Unfortunately, this will hurt the wrong people the most, like the civilians in the government and aid recipients, rather than the occupation of Iraq. The fact remains that W is the one holding the purse strings, and the goal should be replacing him with a sensible candidate.
Either that, or an outright revolution, if things are THAT bleak.
Tax revolts are noble, but noble approaches will no longer work IMHO.
Senate bill on closing Guantanamo:
S.1249
Title: A bill to require the President to close the Department of Defense detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] (introduced 4/30/2007) Cosponsors (5)
Related Bills: H.R.2212
Latest Major Action: 12/11/2007 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held. COSPONSORS(5), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] - 6/11/2007
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] - 5/7/2007
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] - 5/11/2007
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 10/17/2007
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] - 5/8/2007
U.S. paid $32M for Iraqi base that wasn't built
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-12-13-Iraqcontract_N.htm
Blackwater in Baghdad: "It was a horror movie"
'His brains were missing:' Graphic account of Blackwater massacre
New testimony from witnesses and victims provides the most in-depth, harrowing account to date of the U.S. security firm's deadly rampage in Iraq.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/12/14/blackwater/?source=whitelist
Back on thread topic...
To the above link!!!!
Khalaf's observations are backed up by official accounts, including leaked FBI findings, which concluded that at least 14 of the 17 shooting deaths were unjustified, and statements by military officials disputing Blackwater's claim that its guards had been fired upon or under any sort of attack. The Iraq government's own investigation found no evidence that the guards had been provoked or attacked, and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's spokesperson called the shootings "deliberate murder."
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/12/14/blackwater/?source=whitelist
Video on Lousy Big Media:
In just five days, the Federal Communications Commission plans to open the floodgates of further media consolidation across America.
If FCC Chairman Kevin Martin gets his way, your community will be inundated with even more mass-produced celebrity gossip and infotainment, and less local reporting and quality journalism: more of the the junk news that is making us sick.
Together we can stop them. We blocked them in 2003, and today we need you to show Washington that you don't want more media consolidation. To do it, we're building a "Wall" of opposition: your photo next to thousands of others, standing shoulder to shoulder against Big Media. We're going to deliver this Wall to the FCC. Add your name now.
Help Build the Wall Against Big Media
http://www.stopbigmedia.com/wall/add
Wos this one's for you
Right now, in a skyscraper in Melbourne the fate of the Gunns pulp mill in Tasmania's Tamar Valley is being decided by ANZ bank executives - and with your help we can make sure ANZ makes the right decision at their AGM next Tuesday and beyond.
The ANZ bank is considering financing Gunns' controversial pulp mill this week. Despite having the short-sighted approval of the new Labor Government, without a financial backer the project simply can't go ahead. Banks aren't answerable to the voters but they do listen when customers, shareholders and the public put their reputation at risk.
Our contacts inside the ANZ have told us that the ANZ decision-makers like the new head of the ANZ Mr Smith are actively listening and now this is the time to add your voice. Can you send a message to Mr Smith, to encourage him to do the right thing and not finance the Gunns pulp mill?
http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/NoPulpMill&id=269
NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Monkey handler Ramal Lala strolls along New Delhi's streets, a leash on his monkey named Mungle. The local government has hired the two to chase down thousands of smaller monkeys known to roam this mega-city of 13 million people, hopping on just about anything, breaking into houses and occasionally biting spectators.
On this day, Lala bangs a large stick, yells at the monkeys and lets his partner off his leash. Mungle, a Langor monkey, jumps into the trees and hisses at his smaller monkey kin. Every once and a while, Lala whips out a slingshot and fires at the little menaces.
"They steal clothes, snatch food from inside the houses. They raid the houses in large numbers," he says. "Sometimes, the brave ones even bite."
Lala and Mungle are essentially the monkey police of New Delhi. The government wants men such as Lala to round up the wild monkeys and move them to the Bhati reserve on the edge of India's capital city.
Authorities have tried to prevent the animals from freely roaming the city for decades. But they've met resistance. The monkeys -- known as "hanuman" -- are revered in India and not everyone wants to see them go.
The latest roundup began after the city's deputy mayor fell and died. His son said he was fending off monkeys at the time -- although speculation in the streets doubts whether that was the case.
The New Delhi government says it has rounded up 600 monkeys in recent months and moved them to the reserve. Some estimates put the number of monkeys roaming the city as high as 10,000.
The whole thing has scientists such as Iqbal Maliq, the leading expert on primates in India, furious. She says she believes the roundup is a joke.
"It's a stupid plan," she says. "It is a ridiculous plan that is making the entire country look ridiculous in the eyes of the scientists of the world."
She questions putting the Langor monkey on a leash to intimidate the smaller ones. And the idea of brandishing a slingshot against a monkey is just too much to bear. "Stupid," she says.
Half-joking, she adds, "I say give the monkeys the power."
more...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/14/india.monkeys/index.html
HOUSE REPS. ON JUDICIARY SUPPORT IMPEACHING CHENEY...........
Rep. Robert Wexler (FL-19) and two other Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee - Luis Gutierrez (IL-04) and Tammy Baldwin (WI-02) - today called on the committee to begin impeachment hearings for Vice President Cheney.
They declared, "The charges are too serious to ignore. There is credible evidence that the Vice President abused the power of his office, and not only brought us into an unneccesary war but violated the civil liberties and privacy of American citizens. It is the constitutional duty of Congress to hold impeachment hearings."
The three Democrats wrote an op-ed to announce their position, but none of the nation's leading newspapers would publish it - just as they refuse to include impeachment in their polls, and just as they refuse to publish their own investigations of the crimes of the Bush Administration. Why? Because the Corporate Media is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Republican Party, as it has been since the Reagan Revolution of 1980.
So this important announcement was made on a Blogcall hosted by Democrat.com, and was covered by progressive blogs - the only news media that serves the people, not the Corporations.
You can read the full op-ed at Rep. Wexler's new site - http://wexlerwantshearings.com - where you can also watch a powerful video by Wexler.
HUCKABEE:
FAITH-BASED STUPIDITY IN PAROLING KILLER
(from Joe Conason in Slate)
According to good old Huck, the fault still lies elsewhere, presumably with that nebulous "system." How could anyone believe that he would let a vicious killer and rapist walk free? It is all too believable, if only because Huckabee continued to exercise his powers of clemency and commutation just as foolishly and frivolously for years after he should have learned better from the DuMond mistake. He bestowed those favors on prisoners he happened to meet, on prisoners with personal connections to him or his family, and especially on prisoners recommended to him by pastors whom he happened to know from his own previous career as a Baptist minister and denominational leader. As with DuMond, whose case was pleaded by a preacher named Jay Cole, prisoners guilty of heinous crimes could be washed clean in Huckabee's estimation if a pastor of his acquaintance importuned him. Among the thugs to whom he granted clemency was a robber who had beaten a man to death with a lead pipe.
Giuliani firm 'made millions' off data-mining
http://rawstory.com/rawreplay/?p=271
Bet their working overtime shredding all their lies.
Bush steps updoc shredding
Halfway through '07 Bush tops $2.9M spent shredding docs in '06.
http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2007/12/bush-secret-shredding-soars.php
I am about to burst. Christian got his test scores back. My son just graduated school a full 2 years ahead of time.
Come next semester I will have a 16 year old COLLEGE STUDENT!
HAHAHA!
I swear I may just cry!
BTW Carol,
I got caught up on a commissioned piece, but that's cool cause it gives me more time to think about your canvas.
Abstract is not as easy as it looks.
Kucinich Says He's Preparing 50-Page Bush Articles Of Impeachment
"On the way over here, I was reading a 50-page document that relates to Articles of Impeachment for the President of the United States," Kucinich said to a standing ovation. "And I want you to know that I'm actually preparing this document for submission to the House."
http://www.opednews.com:80/articles/genera_david_sw_071211_kucinich_says_he_s_p.htm
Come next semester I will have a 16 year old COLLEGE STUDENT!
Give him my congratulations, Christy
Military Families Patient No More
Military wife and mom fed up with neocon talking points used to shut down her concerns. Tired of less than 1% of population doing all the dying and sacrificing. If Iraq is so righteous, then let those who love enlist. Put up or shut up.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_kay_jone_071211_military_families_pa.htm
Sure will Rossi, as soon as he stops dancing around the house.
I am trying to read the news but I just don't think I can handle it today.
Worse than yesterday, as usual.
thanks kangaroo. I've subscribed to GetUp since they first began - they're great. They've been brilliant about the Pulp Mill. I signed their petition and wrote the ANZ a letter a while back and then to Mr Smith a few days ago. I have the form letter response already.
They will ensure that before any money is put into the project they'll go through the government's requirements and ensure they are abided by.
Well, that's as good as handing over the money - all governments want to pay poorer countries to stop logging whilst paying Gunns 3.4 million federal dollars to log Tasmania and turn it into a gigantic plantation!
But - I do it, when ever there is a chance.
Trust is Dead
By Phil Hoskins
This experiment in government we like to call democracy depends upon a certain level of trust, not only of government and elected officials, but maybe more importantly among the people themselves. After many years under attack, we can now declare trust dead.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18861.htm
Rep. Wexler Wants Cheney Impeachment Hearings
http://wexlerwantshearings.com/
Only One Thing Unites Iraq: Hatred Of The US
57 per cent of Iraqis believe that attacks on US forces are acceptable.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18871.htm
Are there circumstances in which waterboarding of prisoners is acceptable?
CNN QuickVote
Yes 55% 46074
No 45% 37437
Total Votes: 83511
God be with Mr. Wexler.
IMPEACH ALREADY!
PLEASE PROMOTE AND SUPPORT THE WEXLER VIDEO BY:
1) DOUBLE CLICKING ON IT AND WATCH IT @ YOU TUBE (not just here at DCP)
2) RATE THE VIDEO IT FIVE STARS
3) LEAVE A TEXT COMMENT, SOMETHING yeah, impeach the bastard etc..
4) IF YOU HAVE A YOU TUBE ACCOUNT, FAVORITE THIS VIDEO; THEN THE VIDEO WILL APPEAR ON YOUR YOUTUBE homepage..
Listen, folks, we should do at least as well as the Paul folks do at promoting their stuff on You Tube...
Well Done Georgie
Iraq's Youthful Militiamen Build Power Through Fear
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121307M.shtml
Sudarsan Raghavan reports for The Washington Post, "The Mahdi Army of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is using a new generation of youths, some as young as 15, to expand and tighten its grip across Baghdad, but the ruthlessness of some of these young fighters is alienating Sunnis and Shiites alike."
Paul Krugman | After the Money's Gone
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121407D.shtml
For The New York Times, Paul Krugman writes: "On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve announced plans to lend $40 billion to banks. By my count, it's the fourth high-profile attempt to rescue the financial system since things started falling apart about five months ago. Maybe this one will do the trick, but I wouldn't count on it."
HYPOCRACY IS MONUMENTAL
Gulf Challenges US on Iran, Israel
YOU DECIDE?During his speech, Gates stressed the danger of Iran's nuclear program, despite a new U.S. intelligence report earlier this week that said Tehran halted atomic weapons development in 2003 and hasn't resumed it since.
The report was a dramatic reversal from a previous report claiming Iran restarted the program in 2005.
Soon after Gates' speech, the defense secretary was challenged by Bahraini Minister of Labor Majeed al-Alawi, who wanted to know whether Gates thought "the Zionist (Israeli) nuclear weapon is a threat to the region."
Gates paused, and answered tersely: "No, I do not."
Asked if U.S. acceptance of that was a double standard in light of Washington's pressure on Iran, Gates again said "no," and described the government in Jerusalem as more responsible than the one in Tehran.
"I think Israel is not training terrorists to subvert its neighbors. It has not shipped weapons into a place like Iraq to kill thousands of innocent civilians covertly," said Gates. "So I think that there are significant differences in terms of both the history and the behavior of the Iranian and Israeli governments."
http://www.truthout.org:80/docs_2006/120907Z.shtml
The Terror Within
By Angie Riedel
There is more terror here at home than there is anywhere else in the industrial so-called civilized world.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18869.htm
Oh wow! Christian, well done! That's better than great! I feel proud of you because we exchanged a few words on this blog one time. And Christy, I feel damned proud of you too. Your family is great! You all deserve the accolades for such success. And I'm sure your man was in there helping you all. I'm going to celebrate with a herbal tea - no - just kidding. But I'll tell folks who know Leyla - and through her, of you Christy - and now, through her and you - of Christian.
Christy and Christian, Congratulations and welcome to college-Christian!
We wish you success and lots of homework at college.
Just go for it Christian!
Thanks Woz, that is sweet. It is a good day for him.
But on the other hand.... WTF IS THIS....?
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced today that he will bring the Senate Intelligence Committee’s version of the FISA surveillance bill as the “base text” for a vote on Monday. The Intelligence Committee legislation contains retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies. Reid said he will offer the Judiciary Committee’s bill, which does not contain the immunity clause, as a standing amendment.
www.thinkprogress.org
If any democrats are left who does not believe we are being DELIBERATELY BETRAYED by our own leaders.... This should either clear it up or else you just do not want to see.
Ty Sparrow. I will let him know. BTW darlin, will send Dianna through first thing monday.
Kudos to Christian!!!!
Knowledge is Power
December 14, 2007 9:33 PM
Christy said:
Christy,
I actually believe that the Democratic leaders are too timid (scared shi}less, is another way to put it) to be scheming how to betray those that supported them. They are dumf@ks. They don't have the political brains to force the Republicans to filibuster the resolution not allowing immunity. It is incredible to me that we have such an incompetent President while we are tortured by an inept Congress.
If it is true that the majority of the Democrats did not believe the non immunity resolution would not pass, Reid should have shown a leader's courage. Instead, he went along to get along. Feingold or a different Senator needs to shame their colleagues into supporting Dodd's filibuster.
If any of the Democratic Senators in the Presidential candidates now in Iowa had a brain cell, they would announce that they are going back to D.C. to support Dodd's filibuster. If Obama or Hillary doesn't go back, they have signed their death certificate and left the door open for Edwards who has been decrying the corporate stranglehold on this country. But, politics being what it is, Biden may be the only one to go back.
December 13, 2007 12:09 PM
monkey said:
Wow, I think Chris Matthews has a crush on Karen!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I caught the "flirting".....his body language gave it away.
I caught that too.
new thread
I absolutely do not believe they are 'dumf@ks'.
No way. Bullied, yes...stupid...no. I don't buy it.
Every 'mistake' made somehow nets these elite people MORE PROFITS...not less.Every 'mistake' bush has made somehow means MORE MONEY for him and his friends, not less.
Maybe they just would rather you believe they are incompetant, instead of believing they know EXACTLY what they were doing.
At what point is a 'mistake' a deliberate distraction?
Harry Reid KNOWS EXACTLY what he is doing. Cause he is bullied, bought, blackmailed, whatever, it doesn't really matter if he even WANTS to betray us.
All that matters is he is willing too, time and time again. Pelosi too. Once...is a mistake.
The only true 'mistake' here was on our part for ever trusting any of THEM.
They wouldn't have to be bullied if they were complicit.