High oil prices? Confront OPEC!

So said George W. Bush in 2000.

Oh well. I guess he didn't really mean it.

And yes that is a Newsmax cite. Let's see if the boys on Federal Review will attack it anyway.

The "Not My Fault" Administration

Well, the buck-passing continues. Rather than address the causes of high gas prices (which, like the deaths of 3000 American citizens due to terrorist attack, happened on his watch), the Bush Administration today .....


wait for it ....



BLAMED DEMOCRATS!! Surprise surprise. Scott McLellan today stated that if the Democrats had only voted for the Bush Administration's love letter to the petroleum industry, also known as the Energy Bill, then we wouldn't be where we are today.

I don't doubt the ability of Bush's buddies to destroy ANWR in record time, but even in their most optimistic projections, they never said they could produce enough oil prior to 2004 to affect the world price of gasoline. Seriously, they could not possibly have found the oil and built the infrastructure to get it out of the ground and to refineries in the time since Dick Cheney's Top Secret Energy Committee (i.e. Enron, ExxonMobil and Texaco) met in the White House. No way. It's just ANOTHER lie. Shocker.

What a bunch of maroons.

Ahhhhh... liberals on the radio

It's like an oasis in the desert - Al Franken on the airwaves, countering Rush and Boortz and Savage and Hannity and two-bit imitators like the moron here in Raleigh on 620AM. Too bad the media is SO liberal that it is freaking NEWS when a liberal talk show goes on the air.

Franen is pretty dang good by the way. A little uneven today, but there were hysterical parts, like having Ann Coulter locked in the Green Room without cigarettes, and the constant updating of how long l he has been doing his show without the aid of OxyContin.

G. Gordon Liddy calling in from his show was good too.

"Good luck Al, I mean it, you're a good guy. I don't agree with you on anything, but I wish you luck."

"Thanks, G, good luck to you too, I hate everything you stand for."

"And I you, Al."


Go give it a listen...AIR AMERICA

TEXAS REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM PROVISION OF THE WEEK

Remember when George W. Bush ran for President, and said what he did for Texas, he could do for America?

Remember when Tom Delay procured the wholesale gerrymandering of the U.S. House districts in Texas, just to elect as many Texas Republicans to Congress as possible?

Yes, Texas Republicans are a special breed, but they've damn near taken over the country. I thought it might be nice to take a look at what they want to do with that country once they finish taking it over (which will be shortly after November 2004 if the Democrats don't win this election).

So, in that vein, I'm starting a new feature - it's called the Texas Republican Party Platform Provision of the Week. Each week, I'll list three provisions of the Republican Party Platform for the great state of Texas. You tell me which two are real and which one is made up by a wild eyed liberal trying to make the Republicans look bad:


United Nations - The Party believes it is in the best interests of the citizens of the United States that we immediately rescind our membership in, as well as all financial and military contributions to, the United Nations.

Christian Nation The Republican Party of Texas reaffirms the United States of America is a Christian nation, which was founded on fundamental Judeo-Christian principles based upon the Holy Bible. We also affirm the right of each individual to worship in the religion of his or her choice. ... the Party acknowledges that the church is a God-ordained institution with a sphere of authority separate from that of civil government. . . Our Party pledges to do everything in its power to restore the original intent of the First Amendment of the United States dispel the myth of the separation of Church and State. We support the right of individuals and state and local governments to display the Ten Commandments on public property subject to their control.

Screw it. I can't do it. Every time I thought up something radical and ridiculous to make my "third provision," I looked and it was already in there! They want to get rid of the ATF. They want to endorse racial profiling to combat terrorism. They want to eliminate Federal law enforcement WHILE calling on the Federal government to fight terrorism!

They want to eliminate the Endangered Species Act. And they are so concerned about the United Nations that tey not only call for opposition to "(4) UN control of any United States land or natural resources;" but also "(7) any UN control of any United States land or resources." (Is this really a problem?)

Oh yeah, and there's this gem - reporting of all new HIV cases BUT the right to refuse to be innoculated against communicable diseases WITHOUT penalty or discrimination for refusal. (Yes, George W. Bush wants your kids in school with unvaccinated kids. Cool.) So it's ok to impose whooping cough on your child, but those damn homersekshuls shouldn't be able to hide their disease.

The party requires all persons running as Republicans in Texas to sign each page of this document indicating their assent to its provisions.


They're right, it IS like a whole other country: one I wouldn't want to live in.

Blogging wilderness

Sorry about the slow posting. All three denizens of the Stinging Nettle are swamped at work right now. We shall return.

Incidentally, Charlotte is a pretty city at dusk. All the glass buildings reflect the sunset very nicely. The problem is, as you watch the sun go down and realize you're probably stuck in here for another 5 hours, and you'll be back at 8:30 a.m., it doesn't seem so pretty anymore.

Talk to y'all soon.

Go read Atrios.

The "F" Word

I've said it for years: The "F" Word is almost always at the heart of not only this nation's political and social problems, but of the world's as well. No, not that "F" Word.
This one.

(Thanks to Allen Brill and Matt Zemek for the link.)

Damn Right

"If Condoleezza Rice can find time to do `60 Minutes' on television before the American people, she ought to find 60 minutes to speak to the commission under oath. We're talking about the security of our country."

John Kerry, March 27, 2004.

Under God

Goldstein & Howe. PC's most useful United States Supreme Court blog has for the past several days been focused on the arguments of Michael Newdow, the legally trained emergency room doctor and atheist who has represented himself in his challenge to the word "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. As all the published excerpts from the argument reveal, Newdow did more than hold his own, and in many instances seemed in control of the debate.

Although this post reports the media buzz that suggests Newdow may lose on the standing issue, the author nonetheless predicts that Newdow will prevail as to standing, and bases this opinion at least in part on the fact that the Justices spent comparatively little time on that issue as opposed to the merits of the issue. I see it a little differently. True, the Justices went after Newdow aggressively on the merits, but, from my perspective, got nowhere. Cynical observer that I am, I would not be surprised to see Newdow lose on the standing issue precisely because the Justices realize that Newdow is demonstrably correct in his application of precedent. Even with Scalia forced to recuse himself, this is still a Panel dominated by political ideology, and a result-based decision should come as a surprise to no one.

This woman is not happy...

She should also be fired.



Seriously, add a caption to this picture. It's fun...

Where oh where is Condoleeza Rice

...oh where oh where can she be???


The good Doctor Rice is claiming Executive Privilege. Richard Clarke just ate the Administration's lunch. Let's see how long she hides.

Gay marriage will destroy marriage...

A couple in Durham is suing to overturn NC's ban on gay marriages. They filed the suit on Monday.

Not coincidentally, Monday evening I asked my wife to find some socks for me and she said "why don't you do your own laundry?"

See, it's starting already.

This is interesting...

Want to know what Congressman Charles Taylor has done to deserve investigation?

Take a look at investigatetaylor.com.

I didn't write it, I don't vouch for it, but it asks some interesting questions.

Lifted wholly from Atrios, because it needs to be repeated

From the Center for American Progress:


CLAIM #1: “Richard Clarke had plenty of opportunities to tell us in the administration that he thought the war on terrorism was moving in the wrong direction and he chose not to.” - National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, 3/22/04

FACT: Clarke sent a memo to Rice principals on 1/24/01 marked “urgent” asking for a Cabinet-level meeting to deal with an impending Al Qaeda attack. The White House acknowledges this, but says “principals did not need to have a formal meeting to discuss the threat.” No meeting occurred until one week before 9/11. - White House Press Release, 3/21/04

CLAIM #2: “The president returned to the White House and called me in and said, I've learned from George Tenet that there is no evidence of a link between Saddam Hussein and 9/11.” - National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, 3/22/04

FACT: If this is true, then why did the President and Vice President repeatedly claim Saddam Hussein was directly connected to 9/11? President Bush sent a letter to Congress on 3/19/03 saying that the Iraq war was permitted specifically under legislation that authorized force against “nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11.” Similarly, Vice President Cheney said on 9/14/03 that “It is not surprising that people make that connection” between Iraq and the 9/11 attacks, and said “we don’t know” if there is a connection.

CLAIM #3: "[Clarke] was moved out of the counterterrorism business over to the cybersecurity side of things." - Vice President Dick Cheney on Rush Limbaugh, 3/22/04

FACT: "Dick Clarke continued, in the Bush Administration, to be the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and the President's principle counterterrorism expert. He was expected to organize and attend all meetings of Principals and Deputies on terrorism. And he did." - White House Press Release, 3/21/04

CLAIM #4: “In June and July when the threat spikes were so high…we were at battle stations…The fact of the matter is [that] the administration focused on this before 9/11.” – National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, 3/22/04

FACT: “Documents indicate that before Sept. 11, Ashcroft did not give terrorism top billing in his strategic plans for the Justice Department, which includes the FBI. A draft of Ashcroft's ‘Strategic Plan’ from Aug. 9, 2001, does not put fighting terrorism as one of the department's seven goals, ranking it as a sub-goal beneath gun violence and drugs. By contrast, in April 2000, Ashcroft's predecessor, Janet Reno, called terrorism ‘the most challenging threat in the criminal justice area.’” - Washington Post, 3/22/04

CLAIM #5: “The president launched an aggressive response after 9/11.” – National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, 3/22/04

FACT: “In the early days after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the Bush White House cut by nearly two-thirds an emergency request for counterterrorism funds by the FBI, an internal administration budget document shows. The papers show that Ashcroft ranked counterterrorism efforts as a lower priority than his predecessor did, and that he resisted FBI requests for more counterterrorism funding before and immediately after the attacks.” – Washington Post, 3/22/04

CLAIM #6: "Well, [Clarke] wasn't in the loop, frankly, on a lot of this stuff…” - Vice President Dick Cheney, 3/22/04

FACT: "The Government's interagency counterterrorism crisis management forum (the Counterterrorism Security Group, or "CSG") chaired by Dick Clarke met regularly, often daily, during the high threat period." - White House Press Release, 3/21/04

CLAIM #7: "[Bush] wanted a far more effective policy for trying to deal with [terrorism], and that process was in motion throughout the spring." - Vice President Dick Cheney on Rush Limbaugh, 3/22/04

FACT: “Bush said [in May of 2001] that Cheney would direct a government-wide review on managing the consequences of a domestic attack, and 'I will periodically chair a meeting of the National Security Council to review these efforts.' Neither Cheney's review nor Bush's took place.” - Washington Post, 1/20/02

Were Al's "lies" worse than George's?

We all remember how Al Gore was lambasted by the press during the 2000 campaign for a whole raft of lies (most of which turned out to not be lies at all - and none of which were the least bit substantive). The invention of the internet, Love Story, the meeting with the director of FEMA, etc. - all based on misquotes. misunderstandings and even outright fabrications.

But let's take a look at these "lies" by George Bush from today's Wall Street Journal. You decide if they are worthy of the same media outrage that greeted Al Gore. And then ask yourself how liberal the media really is:

LIE: "The president said publicly at least twice that he gave the order. During a town-hall meeting in Orlando on Dec. 4, 2001, Mr. Bush said that after the attacks, "one of the first acts I did was to put our military on alert.""

TRUTH: "Shortly after a passenger jet crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, Air Force Gen. Richard Myers raced back to the military headquarters from a meeting on Capitol Hill. The four-star general, acting head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that day, went directly to the Pentagon's command center. With smoke spreading into the cavernous room, he ordered the officer in charge, Maj. Gen. W. Montague Winfield, to raise the military's alert status to Defcon III, the highest state of readiness since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war."

LIE: "At the Dec. 4, 2001, town-hall meeting in Orlando, Mr. Bush said, "I was sitting outside the classroom, waiting to go in, and I saw an airplane hit the tower -- the TV was obviously on. And I used to fly myself, and I said, 'Well, there's one terrible pilot.' " Several weeks later, he said essentially the same thing at another public event in Ontario, Calif."

TRUTH: "Actually, no scenes of the first plane hitting the Trade Center were broadcast on television until late that night, when amateur video footage became available. The TV in the room where Mr. Bush waited wasn't even plugged in, according Ms. Rigell, the principal. "It's just a mistaken recollection" on the president's part, his spokesman, Mr. Bartlett, said in an interview."

LIE: "In his address to the nation from the Oval Office on the night of Sept. 11, Mr. Bush said that "immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency-response plans.""

TRUTH: "But in interviews, federal officials said that in fact, lower-level government employees activated the Interagency Domestic Terrorism Concept of Operations Plan."

OK, OK, these are perhaps not hugely significant lies (little white ones?), but still where's the venom that greeted Al Gore? Did Al ever tell any whoppers like these from a compilation done byBushwatch:

LIE: "Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised." - George W. Bush, Address to the Nation, March 17, 2003.

TRUTH: Where are those weapons?

LIE: ""Asked later if his [Harken] stock sale had been related to the company's impending setback, {Board member] Bush replied, "I absolutely had no idea and would not have sold it had I known.""

TRUTH: "In fact, SEC records show that Harken's president had warned board members two months before Bush's sell-off that the company had liquidity problems that would "drastically affect" operations. --SF Chronicle, 07.05.02"

I intended to include a few more examples, but I am off to Austin; back Thursday. See ya.

Another needle through the heart

It's too frickin' painful to be an NC State fan. End of game failures against Ohio State, Florida State and Maryland in football and against Carolina, Maryland and now Vanderbilt in basketball. I'm going to need the six months until football season to recover.

Like many of my fellow Pack faithful, I griped about a couple of horrible late foul calls. But I won't blame the loss on those calls. The players lost the game. Once again, they blew it. Congrats to Vanderbilt. I guess it's GO WAKE from here on out.

How's Yer Bracket Lookin'?

Wow. Stanford down. Kentucky down. NC State down (sob). Gonzaga down. Mississippi State down.

That's 2 number 1 seeds, two number two seeds and a number 3. All gone.

It's looking good for the Deacs, boys.

Lessig in Wired: Some Like It Hot

Too often we seek to evaluate societal problems without trying to identify and learn from historical analogies. In a fine piece from Wired magazine, Lawrence Lessig puts the proper context around the issue of online music piracy and file sharing. Interestingly, Lessig notes that the birth of the film, radio, cable TV and music industries were all built to some extent on forms of piracy.

Bush and company wanted to invade Iraq on 9-11

At this point, I don't understand how anyone can possibly believe that the Bush Administration did not build public support for an invasion of Iraq by duplicitous means. They had plans to invade Iraq from Day 1 and used any means necessary to build public support for a war that has enriched many supporters of the President.

Krugman: Taken For A Ride

Paul Krugman notes the idiocy of the claims being made about the 'regime change' in Spain by silk-stockings such as Dennis Hastert.

"A country's ruling party leads the nation into a war fought on false pretenses, fails to protect the nation from terrorists and engages in a cover-up when a terrorist attack does occur. But its electoral defeat isn't democracy at work; it's a victory for the terrorists."

The beauty of it all is that Americans can see through the smoke and mirrors - and we'll have our own regime change come November.

In furthering his overall point that all of Bush's patriotism arguments just mean that he cannot be accountable, Krugman also notes the supreme hypocrisy of recent Bush campaign ads that falsely accuse Kerry of seeking to slash combat pay. As we all know, it was the Bush Administration that sought to reduce pay and benefit for our fighting men and women. Can any of our Republican readers credibly defend this ad?

Gas

Welcome to the Bush economy.

Clinton (1999):




Bush (picture from 2003, but you get the idea):



Any questions?

CNN.com - Musharraf: 'High-value' al Qaeda target may be surrounded in Pakistan

Sources say it's the #2 guy in al Qaeda. . .

About 70,000 Pakistan troops are in the tribal regions and the recent offensive coincides with a major U.S. military operation on the other side of the border in Afghanistan to capture terror suspects. Though a spring offensive across southern and eastern Afghanistan, called Operation "Mountain Storm", is yet to be officially launched, U.S. military operations there have been stepped up."

I think it's just a matter of time until they nab UBL.

Debkafile: Madrid bombers known to US since 2002.

If true, this is a damning story. Debkafile is a slightly-alarmist Israeli website which claims ties to Israeli and arab security networks. While the stories they run are heavily pro-Likud when discussing the Palestinian uprising and Israeli occupation, their reports on the Iraq war were fairly accurate, and they often are weeks ahead of the media.

Check this one out:

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report

16 March: According to DEBKAfile’s exclusive counter-terror sources, the Madrid train bombings in which 201 Spanish commuters were murdered and 1,400 injured, were not the work of an al Qaeda offshoot or affiliate. Like the attacks in the United States, they were conceived, planned, orchestrated and directed by Osama bin Laden and his top lieutenant, Ayman Zuwahiri, in person, and aimed at a Western Achilles heel. * * *

Bin Laden’s “success” owes less to his superior craft than to the laxness of US and European counter-terror authorities. The names and descriptions of all the members of the Moroccan network which perpetrated the worst terrorist outrage since 9/11 were in their possession, handed over by Ramzi bin al Shaiba after he reached US custody in September 2002. All that time, none of the Moroccan terrorists named were detained, although their network is directly controlled by bin Laden himself and despite the fact that they lived mostly in Madrid or Tangiers. This intelligence failure is further magnified by the ease with which the terrorists were able to carry out their attack. They had no need of aircraft, suicide bombers, wads of cash or even box-cutters – only very simply to buy Spanish-manufactured explosives, stuff them into ten ordinary bags and leave them on the targeted trains.

If this is true, it is, pardon the term, political dynamite. If this administration and its Spanish allies were aware of the existence of one or more terrorists in Madrid and did nothing to stop them, and THEN endeavored to shift the blame for an attack they could have expected at any time to ETA in order to avoid political repurcussions . . . . well, let's just say Aznar will be lucky if being deposed is all that happens to him, and Bush's supposed record on safety and security should be justifiably left in tatters.

If this is true, there is blood on their hands. But what is scarier is the implications for the future.

Debka also has stories detailing how Israeli authorities have determined that the bombers who attacked an Israeli port last week most likely snuck in as stowaways in a shipping container. Now, given the laxness detailed in the post above, and the extreme vulnerability of US ports to attack in such a manner, don't you think maybe this Administration ought to be worried about shipping containers?

John Edwards warned us. The Bush Administration has not listened.

Dr. Frank Porter Graham

Some of my online friends have asked from time to time why I call myself DrFrankLives. Well, it is to honor the memory of one of the greatest North Carolinians of the 20th Century. From 1909, when he graduated from the University of North Carolina, through a lifetime of service to the people of his beloved state (as President of UNC and as Senator) and of the world (as UN Ambassador and negotiator of peace treaties around the world), Dr. Frank Porter Graham lived his life for others, with a fiery will and a certainty that his cause was just.

He built the University of North Carolina system during the 1930s, when many universities folded their tents and died. Thousands were educated and brought out of destitution because of his refusal to let the public university die. In his wake rose other giants - Terry Sanford, Charles Kuralt, Jim Hunt, Hugh Morton, Bill Friday, Al Lowenstein, John Ehle - and many others now forgotten who returned home to small towns and followed his example by making their world a better place.

A true Christian, he bore the brunt of the racist, misogynist 1950 campaign with grace and good will, and without stooping to his detractors' level in response. His opponent's atrocious PR effort was run by Jesse Helms, his polar opposite in every way. In that way, he fought the forerunners of the modern Republican Party - those too reactionary and racist to remain Democrats after 1948.

He was accused of being a Communist for seeking to better the lives of workers, an elitist for seeking to educate the people, and a radical for allowing others to speak. When he arrived in Washington, he was attacked by Joe McCarthy and William Ezra Jenner. Truly, you can judge a man by the character of his enemies. He was a tiny man of towering intellect and virtue, and the very model of servant leadership.

In 1950 the people of North Carolina, not for the last time, voted against their own best interests in the Democratic party runoff and sent Dr. Frank back to Chapel Hill. Having been defeated by a segregationist, Willis Smith, Frank Graham rose to speak his farewell address in the Senate Chamber. Without bitterness, he calmly set forth his vision of America:

In this America of our struggles and our hopes, the least of these our brethren has the freedom to struggle for freedom; where the answer to error is not terror, the respect for the past is not reaction and the hope of the future is not revolution; where the integrity of simple people is beyond price and the daily toil of millions is above pomp and power; where the majority is without tyranny, and the minority without fear, and all people have hope.

That is progressivism. And that is why I honor him with my pseudonym.

Jack Ryan is a moron

The newly minted Republican nominee for Senate in Illinois is Jack Ryan, a former investment banker who now teaches in an inner-city school. At first glance, he looks like an interesting, compelling candidate.

But consider this: he was stupid enough to divorce this woman. Yeah, that's right. Seven of Nine was just not good enough for him.

From what they are saying over at dailykos, the stuff that is coming out from the divorce files is gonna be na-a-as-tee.

What kind of moron would treat the world's hottest high school teacher so badly?

If you're in Chicago (cough, Paul G., cough cough), vote for Obama, and tell us what you're hearing about old love em and leave em Jack Ryan.

NCAA Tickets

I have three tickets available to the First Session in Raleigh tomorrow. That's Wake vs. VCU and Florida v. Manhattan.

Let me know if you want 'em.

Watch the liar squirm.

Don Rumsfeld does the old "but... but.... what I said... but" shuffle.

Who's the imminent threat to American democracy? I'll let you decide.

Hoop Dreams

If you've never seen the movie "Hoop Dreams" about the lives of two high school basketball players in Chicago, you really should. It's a fantastic documentary that carries the emotional impact and story line of a feature film. Ebert said films like Hoop Dreams are the reason for cinema. Pretty high praise.

The film tracks the lives of highly-rated prospects Arthur Agee and William Gates as they struggle to make their basketball dreams come true. Arthur ended up playing at Arkansas State and William at Marquette. Since then, though, where are they?

Well Arthur has continued to pursue basketball, as well as careers in communications and entertainment. He is currently playing Slam Ball - the cool trampoline basketball you sometimes see on SpikeTV. He is also a motivational speaker.


William dropped off the Marquette team, but stayed in college, finally playing again his senior year. He married his high school sweetheart, got a tryout with the Bulls and the Wizards, and finally retired after a string of injuries. He's now a minister in Chicago, tending to the residents of Cabrini Green.

Cool.

I have ensured Wake Forest's defeat

By purchasing tickets to see them on Saturday, I have probably doomed Wake to a loss in the first round.

Come on Deacs, come on Devils. I want to watch both teams on Saturday.

What Matthew Yglesias said

In The American Prospect Online, Matt calls for Democrats to begin attacking Bush on his failure to protect the country in any meaningful way against terror -- here or abroad. Amen. Here's the really good part, but go read the rest, which is wonderful and spot on. Thanks to Atrios, again, for the link.

It's impolite to say so, but if Condoleezza Rice had focused less on abrogating the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and more on Clinton National Security Advisor Sandy Berger's advice during the transition to "spend more time during your four years on terrorism generally and al-Qaeda specifically than any other issue," there's at least a chance that September 11 might have been averted altogether.

Once the attacks occurred, Bush began to exercise what the media has universally proclaimed to be "strong leadership" on terrorism. In fact, he did nothing of the sort. Instead, after spending the day flying around the country in an apparent state of confusion, he delivered a widely panned address to the nation in which he falsely claimed that, "Immediately following the first attack, I implemented the government's emergency response plans."

There were no such plans, and Bush's immediate reaction to the first attack was to continue reading a children's book to a group of young students.

It wasn't until over a week later that the president demonstrated the closest thing to strong leadership that his administration has ever had to offer: an excellent speech before a joint session of Congress, one of a number of rhetorically brilliant foreign policy addresses he's delivered since 9-11.

The country, however, is in need of a president who can assemble a competent national security team, not a crack staff of speechwriters.

Damn right. Attack your enemy where he is weakest, even if he has tried to appear strong there. The general who does so will win the day.

Sweet Sixteen or Bust

Frankly, I was surprised that the NC State Wolfpack received a #3 seed in the NCAA tournament (I expected a #4 at best after blowing a 21-point lead against eventual ACC champion Maryland). Though La.Lafayette is a tough #14 seed, I won't be satisfied without a trip to the round of 16 this year. If the Pack get Scooter Sherrill and Jordan Collins back, I think the Sweet Sixteen should happen. Getting past Connecticut is another matter. . .

ESPN's resident NCAA hoops jackass is showing no respect for the Pack. Another reason why I take more of my business to SI.com these days.

New analysis of the Bush AWOL issue

The always phenomenal Orcinus has posted an article (referencing a story in the Spokane Spokesman-Review) that attempts to explain what might be at the root of some of the gaps in Dubya's service records - and touches on the more serious issue of tampering.

Will the AWOL story find some new legs?

Maybe it's just me...

... but does anyone else think that these guys:




kind of resemble these guys:





?????

Getting to know me... Getting to know all about me...

From the Sesquipedalian, an exercise in alphabetical introduction:

A -Age: 33.

B - Band listening to right now: No one right "NOW", but have been enjoying the new BNL CD "Everything to Everybody" and Jack Johnson's CD "Brushfire Fairytales."

C - Career in future: not this one.

D - Dad's name: John Henry - I kid you not.

E - Easiest person to talk to: My wife, of course, though my dogs are also great listeners.

F - Favorite song at the moment: I have no idea. The Lord of the Rings score is on frequent repeat and I can't get it out of my head.

G - Gummy worms or Gummy bears: Worms - if you get tired of eating them, they make great bait.

H - Hometown: Depends on the definition. Now - Raleigh, NC. Grew up in High Point, NC. Born: a military base in Germany.

I - Instruments you play: Trumpet, euphonium, voice, smidgen of piano, can also do mean rendition of Smoke on the Water on guitar.

J - Job title: Attorney and Counselor at Law.

L - Longest car ride ever: In one day, Montreal, Quebec to Gettysburg, PA. 551 miles, not counting the driving around I did looking for a hotel.

M - Mom's name: Joan.

N - Number of siblings: 4 sisters.

O - One wish: good health and happiness for my children.

P - Person who influences you most: My son.

Q - Quote you like: "The man who does nothing cuts the same sordid figure in the pages of history, whether he be a cynic, or fop, or voluptuary. There is little use for the being whose tepid soul knows nothing of great and generous emotion, of the high pride, the stern belief, the lofty enthusiasm, of the men who quell the storm and ride the thunder." Theodore Roosevelt - "The Man in the Arena" 1910.

R - Reason to smile: My son will be waiting for me when I get home.

S - Song you sang last: "The Gloria Patri" - Hey, I was in church.

T - Time you wake up: 7:45. I know, I know, I'm lazy.

U - Unknown fact about me: I had the lead role in "They'd Hang you In Nashville," a production of my high school drama department.

V - Vegetable you hate: Eggplant. Ugh.

W - Who's your favorite character in Pirates of the Caribbean: The ride? The drunk near the end sleeping in the pig trough. THe movie? Captain Jack, of course.

X - X-rays you've had: Head (encounter with baseball bat), teeth (encounter with caries), jaw (TMJ), wrist (encounter with my friend Michael's feet at the bottom of the slide I was standing on), cheekbone (encounter with elbow of very large center for opposing team), knees (floating patella).

Y - Yummy food: Banana pudding - but only if homemade by a church lady for a pot luck dinner.

Z - Zodiac sign: Libra.

Allen Iverson, role model

Allen Iverson, that paragon of virtue and sportsmanship, has done it again. Coming off a swollen knee, Iverson last night refused to play for the 76ers, because his coach intended to use him as a sixth man, resting the knee and allowing another player to start.

Iverson's response to this quite sensible tactic? A poutfest.

"I'm a starter," said the little thug. "I'm not a sixth man," the petulant handgun waiver and bowling alley fighter added.

Instead of doing what he was told to do by his coach, Iverson sat on the bench, hat turned sideways, wearing a freaking Milwaukee Bucks jersey. What a tool.

Good news in the world of radio

Exhibit A: Howard Stern

Exhibit B: Air America

Panel cuts 'sexual orientation'

Ahhh - the spirit of tolerance is alive and well in Raleigh. The Raleigh City Council City was discussing making its mission statement more inclusive by including the concept of sexual orientation. The mission statement merely says that the city's Human Relations Commission "seeks to serve as an advocate for all people regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex or age in pursuit of human and economic relationships." Clearly, adding sexual orientation to the list does not equate to advocacy of homosexuality.

"[City Councilman Mike] Regan said that adding "sexual orientation" to the mission statement legitimizes a behavior that he said the Bible calls abhorrent.

"I'm the kind of Christian who believes every word of the Bible literally," said Regan, who represents central North Raleigh. "I've read the Bible several times, and my first allegiance is to God, who is my king. I need to stand up for his laws and ordinances before any other. And I think that our city, our state and our country will be better off if we follow his laws and ordinances."

Isn't this akin to theocracy? Worse, the Commission agreed with Regan. I would ask Mr. Regan how he thinks Jesus Christ would have voted on this issue. Christian indeed.

'Pokes trade for Henson

I think this is a mistake - even though they only gave up a 2005 third-rounder. My dream of Philip Rivers in a Cowboys uniform is over.

ACC Tournament Update

Game 1 (final): Duke 84, Virginia 74
Game 2 (final): Georgia Tech 83, Tar Holes 82 (last second shot by Jarrett Jack to win it for Tech)
Game 3 (final): NC State 78, Florida State 71 (woo-hoo!)
Game 4 (9:30 pm): Maryland vs. Wake Forest

Ridge Sidesteps Question On Bin Laden's Capture

Not sure if this means anything, but it sure is an interesting non-answer:

"When asked by reporters in Thailand if the al-Qaida leader is hemmed in -- and would be caught or killed closer to November to boost President George W. Bush's popularity -- Tom Ridge didn't answer the question directly."

Another reason why Kerry shouldn't apologize:

. . . because they really are crooked liars!

Apparently, the Bush Administration ordered the cost estimates for the Medicare prescription drug plan withheld. The actual estimate was $551 billion over ten years and the government's top expert on Medicare costs was told that he would be fired if he revealed the actual numbers.

"When the House passed the benefit by five votes Nov. 22, the White House was embracing an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office that the bill would cost $395 billion over 10 years. But for months, the administration's own analysts in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services had concluded repeatedly that the drug benefit could cost upward of $100 billion more than that.

Withholding the higher cost projections was important, because the White House was facing a revolt from 13 conservative House Republicans who had vowed to vote against the Medicare drug bill if it cost more than $400 billion."

So, they lie to members of their own party as well! How can anyone in their right mind want four more years of this?

Donated Bodies Used in Land Mine Tests

Another surreal bit of news sent to us by JT, the only guy who can find this sort of thing. Apparently, the US Army has been buying and blowing-up cadavers in land mine tests. Some people are concerned about this:

"Michael Meyer, a philosophy professor at Santa Clara University in California who has written about the ethics of donated bodies, said the military's use is questionable because it knows donors did not expect to end up in land mine tests.

"Imagine if your mother had said all her life that she wanted her body to be used for science, and then her body was used to test land mines. I think that is disturbing, and I think there are some moral problems with deception here," Meyers said."

Fish. Barrel. Boom.

"I'm a firm believer in feeding people their own words back to them, when it's appropriate."
– Trent Lott

. . . and that's what William Rivers Pitt does in this truthout.org editorial. From the mother:

"Why should we hear about body bags and deaths and how many, what day it's gonna happen? It's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?"
- Barbara Bush, said on 'Good Morning America' the day before the Iraq war started, New York Times, 01-13-03.

To the son:

"I'm the commander - see, I don't need to explain - I don't need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the President. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation."
- George W. Bush, Washington Post, 11-19-02.

Thanks to TG in NJ for the link.

And on a lighter note to end the day. . .

This classic worked its way to my inbox this morning - and the lesson it teaches bears repeating.

In one episode of "Cheers", Cliff is seated at the bar describing the Buffalo Theory to his buddy, Norm. I don't think I've ever heard the concept explained any better than this...........

"Well you see, Norm, it's like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.

In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster more efficient machine. And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers"

Bravo!

Somebody made a mistake. . .

I arrived home from an exhausting day in the office yesterday and was greeted, not by my 9-month old son's smiling face, but by a letter-size, full-color, glossy portrait of the First Couple. Republican National Committee Chairman Marc Racicot is hoping that I'll "join the Bush-Cheney '04 team as a Charter Member in North Carolina" and he "hopes that [I] will display [my] photo proudly."

"Already, Democrats have relentlessly attacked the President, while liberal special interest groups are raising hundreds of millions of dollars to defeat President Bush. . . Their rhetoric has amounted to nothing more than political hate speech. Senator John Kerry compared President Bush to Saddam Hussein, calling for regime change in the United States."

But, says Marc, the President has a "positive, optimistic agenda for America:

- and agenda that continues the War on Terrorism and protects the homeland, [we'll get to the War on Terrorism just as soon as we're through with Iraq!]

- an agenda that strengthens the economy and creates new jobs, [more tax cuts baby!]

- an agenda that makes it possible for every American to own a home, health and retirement plan and, if they want, their own business, [all you need is enough money!]

- an agenda that focuses on results in schools so every child learns to read and no child is left behind. [except for those children in states that can't afford to fund our half-baked programs]

But the liberal national media [like FOX News and Rush Limbaugh!] won't deliver this message to the American people."

I guess they expect people (even liberals!?!?) to buy this crap. Unfortunately, the contribution form did not have a box for "bag of horse shit."

I have no idea how these bozos got my name - maybe it's because JT signed me up for www.newt.org as a joke (those spammers still ignore my requests to unsubscribe). Anyway, I thought our vast multitude of readers might enjoy this peek into the wild world of the Republican Party. Here are scans of the actual letter: Page 1 Page 2

Historian Howard Zinn's Talk at High School Irks Parents

Howard Zinn spoke to select students at a Rhode Island high school recently and some parents were upset.

Dumb parents: ""If [Zinn] doesn't like the way this country's run, he shouldn't be here," said Stephanie Accaputo, who has three young children in the school system. She suggested that a conservative speaker be invited to address students. But, she said: "Political ideas shouldn't be discussed in high school.""

Smart students: "Sophomore Simon Riley explained that the students who attended Zinn's lecture were selected "based on intellectual ability." They are capable of taking various political opinions "with a grain of salt." He welcomed the prospect of a conservative lecturer. "I think the more conversation there is, the better.""

Judicial Activism Cuts Across Ideology

There's a very insightful piece about judicial activism over on Balkanization. Jack Balkin makes the interesting argument that neither liberal nor conservative courts are necessarily "activist," but rather that they tend towards activism or restraint depending on their ability to control decisions:

"Today judicial activism is not the prized possession of wild eyed liberals: conservatives-- and especially today's conservatives-- are doing it too, and because they control the courts they probably have more opportunities. At the same time many liberal scholars and judges are rediscovering the virtues of judicial restraint, as you can see in their positions on areas ranging from campaign finance to affirmative action."

"My point was, and remains, that it is a big mistake to think that judicial activism is the modus operandi of any one political ideology. Political ideologies are quite often opportunistic with respect to institutional questions."

Welcome Locossulus Locusolos Lucos Paul Goyette to the blogroll

Paul Goyette's got a great page at Locussolus. Go check him out.

Turkee-gate gets worse

Salon magazine's new election year blog - WarRoom - has an interesting development in the story surrounding President Bush's Thanksgiving Day trip to Baghdad. You remember, the one where he brought a beautiful turkey dinner to the troops (which they weren't allowed to eat), and then left under cover of darkness with the Presidential tail between the Presidential legs while Hillary Clinton remained in Baghdad for another week?

It seems those boisterously cheering GI's had been preselected to attend the event - only those who answered on a questionnaire that they "supported the President" could attend. Those with political opinions more closely allied to reality had to remain in their quarters and eat MREs.

Even soldiers who fight and die for him aren't good Americans if they disagree with this President.

Repeat after me: WE CANNOT BE RID OF THIS MAN SOON ENOUGH.

I'm off to Houston again. See you Saturday.

Create Your Custom Bush/Cheney Poster!

You can have some fun with this one - there is a custom text field that allows you to add truthful and appropriate statements on your official Bush/Cheney '04 poster like:

"2,800,000 out of work. . . and counting"

or

"Don't misunderestimate us!"

You get the idea. Thanks to Kos user mlhm5 for this.

Time Warner Sucks

I need to vent a bit today. . .

One might make the argument that deregulation of the cable television industry has spurred massive innovations like digital and high-definition television, on-demand access to programming, personal video recorders and broadband internet. Maybe. But probably those innovations would have happened anyway. Deregulation has also resulted in monopoly pricing that has become outrageous - even for an early adopter like me. There is a lot of information in this Consumer Union report (much of it derived from the FCC. Rates have increased 45% since deregulation. According to the FCC, the deregulated cable industry has spent six times as much on mergers and acquisitions as on capital expenditures (e.g. technology upgrades). And cable operators have a stake in 40% of the top cable channels. But you'll hear them argue that rate increases are due to technology upgrades and increased programming costs.

I just got my new cable bill the other day and almost fell on the floor when I saw the amount due: $132. Yes, I do receive extensive services from TWC here in Raleigh (Digital, HBO, Starz, DVR, Roadrunner) but the cost jumped 20% in one month. Very pissed off, I called TWC and was told that a one-year promotion on my account expired. I haven't made any changes to my account in the last year, so I asked what the promotion was - they couldn't tell me. The fact is that I never signed up for any promotion - I got the public rates for my services at the time I switched back to cable. And I'm not unwilling to pay more for new services, but a 20% bump in one month just ain't right. Threats to switch back to Direct TV drew no response. When I asked what I needed to do to cancel my account, I was told that I could do it right away. But I passed on that option. . . for now (the new season of The Sopranosjust started)

I despised the cable company back in the mid-1990's - they were raising prices continuously and had the absolute worst customer service on the planet. I really think they hired the nastiest people they could find. They would charge like $50 for an installation that consisted of flipping a switch. I yelled and screamed and wrote useless letters to the FCC. And when I could afford it, I switched to Direct TV.

I loved Direct TV - it was a huge upgrade from cable TV and I enjoyed it for several years. Then came broadband. Since I despised the cable company, I thought I'd get DSL from BellSouth for my internet access. Unfortunately, the phone wiring in my neighborhood was not yet ready for DSL. I was desperate for high-speed internet, but I didn't want to pay $60/month as a non-premium cable subscriber. So I switched to the dark side.

I dropped Direct TV (and actually sold my equipment at a profit!) and signed up for Digital Cable and Broadband. Much to my surprise, I found that Time Warner Cable of Raleigh had undergone a transformation. Their offerings were much improved and their customer service was outstanding (far, far better than my experiences with Bell South, Sprint and Cingular - and even Direct TV). I was a happy camper - and not paying too much more for basically the same TV services that I had with Direct TV. I also had my broadband for $45/month.

Things got even better when they introduced iControl (movies and other programming on-demand), the absolutely miraculous Personal Video Recorder (basically TWC's version of Tivo) and doubled the bandwidth of Roadrunner. Yes, I had some gripes - Digital TV is a bit of a myth (many popular channels are not offered digitally and there are noticeable artifacts in the digital images due to inferior compression technology) and some of the local networks (NBC in particular) have antenna-like fuzz. But I was pretty satisfied with Time Warner - until the other day when I got hit with some serious sticker shock.

So now what? Suck it up, stick with what I have and pay the monopoly pricing or switch back to the Murdoch-owned Direct TV and get Bell South's inferior DSL? I hate those guys too. Maybe I should just exercise my right to watch less TV. . . ahhhh the misery of the American consumer!

There is a reason that the American people forced our government to control and regulate the monopolistic tendencies of corporations. Those corporations continue to have too much control and influence over the administrative apparatus that is supposed to regulate them in the public interest. We need a President that will look beyond the wall of corporate interest and elevate the public interest. I sincerely hope that John Kerry is able to lead the country in this direction. I know that George Bush will not.

This sucks.

Ronnie Franchise now a Maple Leaf

Ron Francis - the most underrated athlete in pro sports, was traded today by the Carolina Hurricanes to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He asked for the trade by waving his No-trade clause. In exchange, the Canes unload about $1 MM in salary and receive a fourth round pick in 2005. A fourth round pick.

A FOURTH ROUND PICK!

There is much to be said about this, much of it negative, and much of it involving heaps of invective to be thrown at the bumbling Jim Rutherford.

But for now, I can only mourn my lost opportunity to see Ron Francis play in his last game in the NHL. Take a look at greatness:

1,719 Games Played. (3rd in NHL history)
546 Goals Scored (19th in NHL history)
1242 Assists (2d to Gretzky all time)
1788 points (4th in NHL history)
Most 50 point seasons in NHL history (tie with ahead of Gordie freaking Howe)
Most consecutive 50 point seasons (23!)
Three time Lady Byng trophy winner (1995, 1998, 2002)
Selke Trophy (1995)
Two Stanley Cups (1991, 1992)

And the thanks of a grateful city.

Ron Francis - You are a class act. Thanks for the memories. Good luck in the playoffs, even if you are playing for the enemy.

Wampum: If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck...

Atrios kindly points us back in time to a March 5 post by Wampum that makes a very interesting comparison between the reigns of Bush the Elder and Bush the Younger.

Both father and son faced deficit and unemployment problems late in their terms. The jobs started returning for GHW, but the unemployment rate shot up as people began to reenter the labor force. The recession had perhaps begun to recede, but it was too little too late for Election Day.

The way things are going, it may be that GW is left with a comparatively low unemployment rate but few new jobs. And the alternative might be worse for Shrub - more jobs but a skyrocketing unemployment rate in time for Election Day 2004.

At least Papa Bush was somewhat responsible - he raised taxes to try and address the deficit; Boy Bush thinks tax cuts for the wealthy are the solution to all ills. Here's an appropriate comment on this subject by a Wampum reader "K":

"The irony to savor is that Bush I's own base crucified him for doing the right thing (raising taxes), but now want to credit him in retrospect for kick starting the Clinton boom that they refused to believe would ever happen. Yet now they not only refuse to do the right thing again, they want to do the wrong thing (cut taxes and balloon the deficit) over and over again. The stupidity of wingnuts is a wondrous sight to behold."

Sun Tzu, call your office...

Mathew Gross has an excellent post today concerning how the Democrats can go after George W.'s strong point - his so-called leadership in the war on terror.

As Matt points out, recent polls show that foreign affiars, and specifically the war on terror, are the ONLY issue keeping Bush afloat right now. Conventional wisdom says the people believe Republicans are better on this issue than Demcrats. Thus, to win, Democrats must shift the focus of the electorate onto domestic issues.

Wrong.

The Bushies' bravado on foreign affairs is a front - the political equivalent of General Patton's "army" at Dunkirk. There is weakness there. As Seth Appel wrote to the New York Times recently:

It continues to baffle me that the Republican Party insists on reminding the American people over and over again that George W. Bush's administration is responsible for the greatest security failure in the history of the United States.

Sun Tzu taught that a victorious general attacks his opponent where his opponent is weakest. Of course, an opposing general will then give the appearance of strength to his weak places, in order to stave off attack and force the battle to a more advantageous ground. That is what Bush has done.

We must attack on Bush's record on terrorism and defense. If we tear down that facade, the rotten core of Bush's political position will show. He can throw all the money in the world at the problem, but money alone is not enough. He will have nothing to run on. No record of success. No great achievements. Nothing but:

The greatest intelligence failure and loss of civilian life to hostile action in the history of the country. And it was on his watch.

If he's going to use 9/11, I say fine. Let's grab it out of his hand and beat him with it.

Political Wire: Polls Show Electoral Map Favoring Kerry

Thanks to Brian for the link to this. . . some very good news from Zogby that shows Kerry leading the electoral race (yes, it's early and the mud-slinging has only just begun) and doing a better job holding onto Blue states than Shrub with the Reds. Of the states in play, Florida and Ohio would be enough to boot the despot.

Greenspan's Con Job

This time it's William Grieder in The Nation taking on Greenspan and the Republican Social Security bait and switch (we had a link to Paul Krugman's article on the same topic on March 2).

"Meanwhile, there's one simple and just solution for any long-term fiscal problems Social Security might face: Eliminate the income cap of $87,000 on FICA taxes so that every highly paid worker, even Bill Gates, would pay the full freight. Since wealthy earners have benefited disproportionately from tax reduction, this would be their personal contribution to restoring fiscal order. Why doesn't someone ask the Fed chairman about that?"

More Republican "brilliance"

Your opponent is married to a woman with 750 million dollars. She cannot give it to her husband, because it was hers before she married him, thus the contribution to her husband is capped at $2000.

She could, however, spend all $750 million to run ads defending herself against attack if she wanted to, and she could spend that money up to the eve of the election. So long as it isn't coordinated with the campaign, such an expenditure would be independent and not geared to elect or defeat anyone.

For now, however, she has sworn off doing that, unless attacked. That $750 million is in the bank, unspent and untouchable.

So what do you do?

Well, if you're Karl Rove, political genius, you let your lackeys start to attack her personally.

Brilliant, Karl. How ever will we defeat you?

Open up that case o' whoop-ass, Teresa. Spend spend spend.

Fake election, fake backdrops, fake war, fake fighter pilot, fake turkey...

... and now.... FAKE FIREFIGHTERS!

Via Atrios comes this MSNBC story - the firefighters in the Bush ads are paid actors, not real firefighters.

"Where'd they get those guys?" Mocks one official of the firefighters union.

Seriously, if there is one group of people you don't want to [mess] with post-9/11, it's firefighters. So what do they do? They use real footage of a dead firefighter being carried from the rubble, and then hire two spokesmodels to pretend to be firemen in a "firehouse." Great idea. The excuse? "It's cheaper."

This is the campaign with $150 million, and they can't pay and/or find two real firefighters to sit and have their pictures taken?

Karl Rove, political genius? Hardly.

[edited to comply with FCC regulations]

The lies about John Kerry have started

For weeks now, I've been trying to find the time to rebut and refute the accusations that appear in some quarters and other quarters about John Kerry's activities during and after his service in Vietnam.

The attacks usually center around doubt about his true heroism in country and about his later involvement with Vietnam Veterans Against the War. His testimony to Congress in 1972 is usually condensed in these lies to a simple statement that "he accused his fellow soldiers of war crimes."

Well, the inestimable Joe Conason has done the job for me. Read it. It's only one page, and, as usual, Conason nails it. Kerry told the truth. It was universally acknowledged that he told the truth, and the portion of his testimony that related to atrocities were quotations from the testimony of others, were one paragraph of his testimony, and have never been refuted.

The truth is, Americans killed civilians. They were ordered to do so, perhaps unavoidably, because they were embroiled in a geurrilla war and their commanders were sitting in Saigon or D.C., clueless about the actual effects of free-fire zones, napalm and Agent Orange.

Kerry was there. His critics, notably chicken shit Representative Tom "I tried to go to Vietnam but the blacks took all the spots" Delay, were not.

Go read Conason. All of you.

Entertaining debate on Brian's blog

I've been in the midst of a very entertaining (I've been entertained anyway) debate on the blog of Brian, a frequent visitor to our prickly environs. Look for the post entitled "Bush Will Run On 9-11....You Expected Something Else?" and the 28 comments. Why this debate isn't occuring on my home court I cannot say. I guess we need a few more Winstons around here!

The Beer Drinking Showdown is Cancelled

It is off because you are all a bunch of whipped little weenies.

The Blackmun Papers: Documents Reveal the Evolution of a Supreme Court Justice

The papers of the late Justice Harry Blackmun were released publically today. The Times has an interesting article about the contents (Blackmun wrote the opinion in Roe v. Wade) - which are fascinating in part because many of the documents are so recent (Blackmun retired in 1994).

Ashcroft hospitalized with gallstone pancreatitis

In a particularly apt description, WebMD theorizes that gallstones cause pancreatitis by blocking the bile duct, causing a buildup of bile and other enzymes, which inflame the pancreas.

So, being full of bile can cause pancreatitis.

Hmmm...

Stinging Nettle v. Federal Review

Event: Stout-drinking showdown

Where: The Hibernian Pub - Raleigh, NC

Time: 5:30 p.m., this afternoon

Be there or have your manhood mocked - which could happen anyway.

*Special exception will be made for Shoveldog, who lives near Greensboro. He can hoist one at that biker bar and we'll count it.

You too can get an SEC degree!!

Take the test for Jim Harrick, Jr.'s class.

My favorite?

How many points are awarded for a three point shot?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

or

Diagram the half court line.


Wow. Imagine making the University of Colorado look like it has integrity.

Howard Stern whines - and he's got a point.

Now, I think Howard Stern is a boorish pig. I think his radio show is repetitive and ridiculous, and treats women like trash. While I'm not opposed to naked lesbians playing Twister on the radio, it's not exactly wholesome morning show material. His movie was hilarious, and he was actually pretty good in it, but I think his radio/TV show is basically crap.

But it was crap that made a mint for Clear Channel; and they loved him until, in the wake of Janet's Nipple, they fired him for "indecency."

Stern says that's a crock. He says he was fired because he had recently announced that he did not want to reelect George W. Bush to the Presidency, and he'd become increasingly more vocal about what a horrible President Chimpy McFascist really is. Next thing you know, Clear Channel removes him from the airwaves in swing states like Pennsylvania and Florida.

You can believe Stern, or you can dismiss him, but get a load of this press release from W's corporate masters at Clear Channel Communications:


In a statement released to Salon, the media company insists that "Clear Channel Radio is not operated according to any political agenda or ideology." Clear Channel Radio chief Joe Hogan said, "The decision to suspend Howard Stern from our radio stations is based on our regulatory obligation and commitment to airing material that conforms to the standards and sensibilities of the local communities we serve."

Put that one in the "I am not a crook" category of American political lies.

Every week, Clear Channel Communications saturates Raleigh airwaves with the execrable Bob & Madison, which, among other things, repeatedly features a naked fat guy showing up at odd places in Raleigh. It also features segments encouraging drivers to run bicyclists off the road. But, it stays on the air, because Bob is a good old boy with a racist undercurrent to his ignorant rants.

Furthermore, Clear Channel offends the standards and sensibilities of every thinking American with the repetitive crap it spews as an excuse for music programming. (You want to trace the downfall of the music industry? Don't look at Napster - look at Corporate Radio).

Anyway, I really don't like Howard Stern, but if he uses his still considerable access to America's airwaves to draw attention to the incestuous relationship between a megalomaniacal Texas media company and its Washington lap dogs in the White House and the FCC, then more power to him.

Neocons and Theocons

Sydney Blumenthal, writing for The Guardian, argues convincingly that the Bush administration is at war, not with Iraq, or with terrorism, but with modernity, in both social and scientific contexts. In typically concise prose, Blumenthal ties it all together, highlighting recent examples such as the proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, the recess appointment of William Pryor as a federal judge, the decision of attorney general John Ashcroft to subpoena the medical records of women who have had abortions at planned parenthood clinics, and the dismissal of dissenting scientists on his bioethics panel. Blumenthal's list, hardly intended to be all-inclusive, could have certainly included this administration's alteration of the post 9-11 EPA report, the alteration of a recent scientific report on health issues affecting minorites, administration proposals to change longstanding principles of scientific peer review, and the Bush position on global warming and refusal to participate in the Kyoto treaty.

If, have some have recently suggested, the term "liberal" should be replaced with "progressive," might I suggest that for consistency's sake, the actions and policies of this administration would support the replacement of the term "conservative" with the more accurate descriptor, "regressive."

Minor cosmetic updates

In response to a few complaints about moving images and such, I've made a few adjustments to the blog template. Please let us know if things are better. . . or worse.

Morons at the New York Times

"Law professor" Steven Gillers says Kerry should nominate Bill Clinton as his VP. Now, from some peopl eunfamiliar with the Constitution, this might be an appealing alternative. After all, the Big Dog is the most successful Democrat since FDR. He's a hell of a leader. A great President.

He's also inelegible to be VP.

"Professor" Gillers, who I hope soon loses his post at NYU, and who displays the problem with allowing academics to speak out on real issues, says in his article:

The first objection, the constitutional one, can be disposed of easily. The Constitution does not prevent Mr. Clinton from running for vice president. The 22nd Amendment, which became effective in 1951, begins: "No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice."

No problem. Bill Clinton would be running for vice president, not president. Scholars and judges can debate how loosely constitutional language should be interpreted, but one need not be a strict constructionist to find this language clear beyond dispute. Bill Clinton cannot be elected president, but nothing stops him from being elected vice president.

Well, strictly construe this, PROFESSOR:

Amendment XII - PASSED IN 1804 - "But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. "

Is that clear enough for you, "professor"?

Not an end - a Beginning

Well, sometimes dreams are deferred for a little while. Such is the case with John Edwards' dream of the Presidency.
I am so proud of my Senator. I hope you all have seen the potential, talent and down right goodness of this man. Even in conceding, he shows impeccable timing - not staying a moment too long. He is giving a speech at Raleigh Broughton High School, near the memorial to his son, at which he will withdraw from the race. 3:30 this afternoon.

He has shown that he is the future of this party, and I hope the party embraces him and thanks him for running a disciplined, strong and CLASSY campaign for the Presidency. Alone among Senator Kerry's one-time rivals, his endorsement of our nominee will not ring hollow. He never played dirty. He played hard and he distinguished himself in the effort. Well done Senator Edwards.

Now go spend some time with those beautiful kids and come out fighting this summer.

To the staff - BRAVO! Chris, Josh, Morgan, Jen, Aaron, Andrew, Nick, Laura and all of you have ennobled our process by your efforts and your absolute dedication to the man we all know should and someday will be President of the United States. I am happy to call you my friends.

Senator Kerry, you have shown yourself worthy. You have perservered through the down times, and come back stronger and better for the experience.

I will enthusiastically work for you this summer and fall. The alternative is too hideous to contemplate.

Kerry/Edwards in 2004!

Iraqi Oil More Important Than War On Terror

"With Tuesday’s attacks, Abu Musab Zarqawi, a Jordanian militant with ties to al-Qaida, is now blamed for more than 700 terrorist killings in Iraq.

But NBC News has learned that long before the war the Bush administration had several chances to wipe out his terrorist operation and perhaps kill Zarqawi himself — but never pulled the trigger."

Wasn't this camp in northern Iraq under our control since before the invasion? I know that this area was under the No-Fly Zone. Check out this Guardian article from 2002 for the story then. This Administration is at best incompetent and at worst criminal. Let's hope the damage is limited over the next ten months. This one is really blowing up over at DU.

Slate Exit Poll numbers via Kos

Not very encouraging for our boy. . .

Bonds got steroids, feds were told

More on the Barry Bonds steroid saga. . . the SF Chronicle is reporting that Bonds, Gart Sheffield and Jason Giambi received steroids from Balco according to information received by federal investigators. As a Yankees fan, I must insist that Giambi and Sheffield are absolutely innocent!

In other baseball news, controversial Reds owner Marge Schott has passed away.

FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS!

... or something like that. Meg Scott Phipps was sentenced today.

SENTENCED: U.S. District Court Judge Malcolm Howard on Tuesday sentenced former state Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps to four years in a federal prison. He also ordered that she pay a $25,000 fine and that she begin serving her sentence immediately. Her sentencing comes 3 1/2 months after Phipps pleaded guilty to five federal charges, including extortion.
(THE INSIDER, 3/2/2004)

Tragic hubris. The game don't work like it did when daddy played it, sweetheart.

News 14 Carolina pranked

We had a(nother) snowstorm in Raleigh late last week. As a prank some NC State students sabotaged the postings for business closings at the News 14 Carolina TV station. Much of what was posted were inside jokes, but others are good for all. It's hard to believe that all this stuff got through.

the article

the result

the thread that started it all

Thanks to JT for permitting me to post verbatim this dose of humor well-suited for a rainy Raleigh afternoon. . .

Krugman on Greenspan: Maestro of Chutzpah

The bait-and-switch Krugman describes, in a nutshell:

1. Greenspan commission persuades Congress to increase the (regressive) payroll tax in order to improve the solvency of Social Security.
2. Payroll tax results in a Social Security surplus.
3. Greenspan argues that the surplus should be used to fund tax cuts that overwhelming benefit the most wealthy.
4. Lost government revenue leads to massive deficits, jeopardizing Social Security.
5. Greenspan argues that Social Security benefits must be cut to limit the deficit.

"The point, of course, is that if anyone had tried to sell this package honestly — "Let's raise taxes and cut benefits for working families so we can give big tax cuts to the rich!" — voters would have been outraged. So the class warriors of the right engaged in bait-and-switch."

Peter Jackson Brings The Broom

On a lighter note, the deserving Return Of The King dominated the Oscars last night, sweeping to 11 awards for 11 nominations and tying the record for most awards (Titanic and Ben-Hur). I'm a big fan of the trilogy (in both its written and film versions), but there's no doubt that Peter Jackson and his cast and crew deserved kudos for a three-film epic that was an absolute triumph of its genre and of epic filmmaking in general.

I could not imagine ROTK losing any of the technical awards for which it was nominated and no one has ever directed a project as visionary and complex as Jackson - he clearly deserved a Best Director award. The Best Picture award was just icing on the cake for the band of Kiwis.

Soldier for the Truth - Exposing Bush's talking-points war

From the 'More Evidence That Your Government Lied About Iraq' department. . .

So, the Bush Administration created the so-called Office of Special Plans in the Pentagon. It's mission was not to develop policy but to sell an invasion of Iraq using whatever propaganda necessary. Politics in the Pentagon - I can only imagine what the 'liberal media' would have said if Clinton had engaged in this sort of behavior.

Thanks for the latest look into how your government works go to Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Karen Kwiatkowski (who retired from the USAF so that she could speak freely about the government's dishonesty). Here are some excerpts from this LA Weekly interview with her:

KWIATKOWSKI: "I can give you one example of how the talking points were altered. We were instructed by Bill Luti, on behalf of the Office of Special Plans, on behalf of Abe Shulsky, that we would not write anything about Iraq, WMD or terrorism in any papers that we prepared for our superiors except as instructed by the Office of Special Plans. And it would provide to us an electronic document of talking points on these issues. So I got to see how they evolved.

It was very clear to me that they did not evolve as a result of new intelligence, of improved intelligence, or any type of seeking of the truth. The way they evolved is that certain bullets were dropped or altered based on what was being reported on the front pages of the Washington Post or The New York Times.

LA WEEKLY: Can you be specific?

KWIATKOWSKI: One item that was dropped was in November [2002]. It was the issue of the meeting in Prague prior to 9/11 between Mohammed Atta and a member of Saddam Husseins intelligence force. We had had this in our talking points from September through mid-November. And then it dropped out totally. No explanation. Just gone. That was because the media reported that the FBI (news - web sites) had stepped away from that, that the CIA said it didnt happen."

ON EDIT: I couldn't resist adding these additonal passages - the real reason we invaded Iraq:

"One of those reasons is that sanctions and containment were working and everybody pretty much knew it. Many companies around the world were preparing to do business with Iraq in anticipation of a lifting of sanctions. But the U.S. and the U.K. had been bombing northern and southern Iraq since 1991. So it was very unlikely that we would be in any kind of position to gain significant contracts in any post-sanctions Iraq. And those sanctions were going to be lifted soon, Saddam would still be in place, and we would get no financial benefit.

The second reason has to do with our military-basing posture in the region. We had been very dissatisfied with our relations with Saudi Arabia, particularly the restrictions on our basing. And also there was dissatisfaction from the people of Saudi Arabia. So we were looking for alternate strategic locations beyond Kuwait, beyond Qatar, to secure something we had been searching for since the days of Carter to secure the energy lines of communication in the region. Bases in Iraq, then, were very important that is, if you hold that is Americas role in the world. Saddam Hussein was not about to invite us in.

The last reason is the conversion, the switch Saddam Hussein made in the Food for Oil program, from the dollar to the euro. He did this, by the way, long before 9/11, in November 2000 selling his oil for euros. The oil sales permitted in that program arent very much. But when the sanctions would be lifted, the sales from the country with the second largest oil reserves on the planet would have been moving to the euro."

The rest of the interview provides more examples that will no doubt convince you that George Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld are among the most patriotic of Americans. At this point, I think it's beyond debate that the Administration was determined to go to war all along and that all of the nonsense about WMD's and democracy and freedom and al Queda was pure pretext and political propaganda. Of course, this was obvious to many of us who were appalled by the Administration's ever-changing justifications way back when.

Thousands have died and our Treasury is being drained - when will these people be held accountable? November.

Aristide Flees After a Shove From the U.S.

I don't know a whole hell of a lot about the situation in Haiti, but I have to question our government's decision to effectively support a coup d'etat over a democratically-elected leader. Some are claiming that American soldiers forced him to leave (including Congresswoman Maxine Waters on CNN). Some even speculate that the US had more of a direct hand in the coup; regardless, it's clear that we've done little to salvage the democratic process and rule of law in Haiti. Who are the terrorists this time? I saw footage of Haitian rebels smacking fleeing children with pistols.

I have no doubt that Aristide and his Lavalas party can easily be portrayed as 'evil-doers' and I've seen information strongly suggesting that his election by 92% of the Haitian population was tainted. But there are also substantive articles (such as this one at Znet) arguing that this is just another in a long line of third world tragedies caused be resistance to the IMF/World Bank hegemony. Once again, we appear to be less interested in democracy and more interested in free markets and free trade - regardless of the human cost:

"The World Bank predicted in 1996 that up to 70 per cent of Haitians would be unlikely to survive bank-advocated free market measures in Haiti. According to a 2002 Guardian article, by the end of the 1990’s “Haiti’s rice production had halved and subsidized imports from the U.S. accounted for over half of local rice sales.” [10] As Haiti became the “star pupil” of IMF and World Bank, such policies “devastated” local farmers.
Structural Adjustment Programmes [SAPs], which have been forced upon Haiti, have in traditional style promoted the privatisation of state industries. According to Aristide in his 2000 book “Eyes of the Heart”, privatisation will “further concentrate wealth” where 1 per cent of the population already controls 45 per cent of the overall wealth. As for why Haiti would agree to World Bank and IMF measures, Aristide provides context along a “dead if we do, dead if we don’t” line: “Either we enter a global economic system, in which we know we cannot survive, or, we refuse, and face death by slow starvation.” "

In Meeting, Kerry Emphasizes His Strong Support of Israel

Though I greatly look forward to a power shift in Washington, I fear that this is one issue where we won't see any determined progress over the next four years:

"Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League. . . said that Mr. Kerry "came very close to where the president is" on several fundamental positions. "There was very little room between him and Bush," he said."

I fully expect Edwards to toe the line on the Israel/Palestine question as well.