Now that John Kerry's "Innocent me is being attacked by 'assorted right-wing nut jobs'" line is proving wholly insufficient for the job, he is changing tacts to calling his major gaffe a "botched" joke.
If we buy that lame excuse, he is implying that Bush, being of inferior mind to, say, John Kerry, ended up "stuck in Iraq" due to inferior intelligence and work ethic.
It seems a strange argument to make, even in the name of humor, considering Bush actually performed better at Yale than did Kerry.
If dumb Bush did better than Kerry in school, what does that make Kerry? Judging by his most recent comments, I suppose it would make him super-dumb.
Of course, that is not to suggest that he is as dumb, or as lazy, as the average American troop.
Malkin has reaction from "assorted right-wing nut job" soldiers here, here, and here.
Kerry proves the old adage that Democrats are their own worst enemies. I have thought for months that they would find a way to screw up this incredibly favorable election climate. This might be the straw that broke the Donkey's back.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
He's So Smooth
Not content to denegrate troops of his own generation, John Kerry gets right to denegrating troops of this generation:
Education: If you make most of it...do your homework...make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't you get stuck in Iraq.
Personally, I can't think of a single more insulting thing to say about the brave souls fighting for Iraqi's right now. I didn't realize that fighting wars was the work of stupid, lazy people but apparently that is the case.
With friends like this, who needs enemies?
UPDATE: Kerry "apologizes to no one" for his remarks:
"I'm sick and tired of a bunch of despicable Republicans who will not debate real policy, who won't take responsibility for their own mistakes, standing up and trying to make other people the butt of those mistakes," he said. "It disgusts me that a bunch of these Republican hacks who've never worn the uniform of our country are willing to lie about those who did."
Does he mean like John McCain? The American Legion? AMVETS?
If there was ever any doubt that John Kerry is a complete idiot, it should be gone at this point. I don't know whether to condemn him or thank him. I think he just handed the GOP a golden goose on a silver platter.
Education: If you make most of it...do your homework...make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't you get stuck in Iraq.
Personally, I can't think of a single more insulting thing to say about the brave souls fighting for Iraqi's right now. I didn't realize that fighting wars was the work of stupid, lazy people but apparently that is the case.
With friends like this, who needs enemies?
UPDATE: Kerry "apologizes to no one" for his remarks:
"I'm sick and tired of a bunch of despicable Republicans who will not debate real policy, who won't take responsibility for their own mistakes, standing up and trying to make other people the butt of those mistakes," he said. "It disgusts me that a bunch of these Republican hacks who've never worn the uniform of our country are willing to lie about those who did."
Does he mean like John McCain? The American Legion? AMVETS?
If there was ever any doubt that John Kerry is a complete idiot, it should be gone at this point. I don't know whether to condemn him or thank him. I think he just handed the GOP a golden goose on a silver platter.
Monday, October 30, 2006
And On The Seventh Day...
Lileks previews the first 100 days of a congress controlled by Democrats:
Day 1: Party like it's 1992; citizenship for all Gitmo detainees; a blanket amnesty; and a "Circle of Healing" ceremony held on the Capitol steps.
Day 2: The troops in Iraq will leave, walking in reverse, as if someone is playing the tape backwards; special construction brigades will quickly repair all the buildings destroyed since the 2003 invasion; and the last American out will reinstall Saddam. Thereafter, whenever someone criticizes America for invading Iraq, we'll look quizzical and say we don't know what they're talking about.
Day 3: Bush tax cuts repealed, so the upper 10 percent in income pay 67 percent of all federal taxes instead of 66 percent. That will make all the difference.
Day 4: Peace Corps sent en masse to Middle East to apologize personally to everyone and hand out gas-soaked flags and matchbooks. Burn one on us! Don't you love us now?
Day 5: Peace Corps Hostage Negotiation Unit commissioned.
Day 6: Gay marriage legalized by congressional voice vote, so no one has to go on record. (This allows gay Democratic congressmen to vote no without being outed.)
Days 7-100: Impeachment hearings. Sure, Pelosi has said she's against them. But as she promised: The children will be in charge. They're cranky if they don't get their way.
Day 1: Party like it's 1992; citizenship for all Gitmo detainees; a blanket amnesty; and a "Circle of Healing" ceremony held on the Capitol steps.
Day 2: The troops in Iraq will leave, walking in reverse, as if someone is playing the tape backwards; special construction brigades will quickly repair all the buildings destroyed since the 2003 invasion; and the last American out will reinstall Saddam. Thereafter, whenever someone criticizes America for invading Iraq, we'll look quizzical and say we don't know what they're talking about.
Day 3: Bush tax cuts repealed, so the upper 10 percent in income pay 67 percent of all federal taxes instead of 66 percent. That will make all the difference.
Day 4: Peace Corps sent en masse to Middle East to apologize personally to everyone and hand out gas-soaked flags and matchbooks. Burn one on us! Don't you love us now?
Day 5: Peace Corps Hostage Negotiation Unit commissioned.
Day 6: Gay marriage legalized by congressional voice vote, so no one has to go on record. (This allows gay Democratic congressmen to vote no without being outed.)
Days 7-100: Impeachment hearings. Sure, Pelosi has said she's against them. But as she promised: The children will be in charge. They're cranky if they don't get their way.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Your Vote Counts if Democrats Win
While I have generally regarded recent GOP optimism regarding this fall's elections as equal parts truth and wishful thinking, an article in the NYT today tends to bolster my opinion that things aren't going to be nearly as bad as some pundits allege.
In a radical departure from the drumbeat of drape measuring over the last month, the NYT today has an article expressing deep concerns about Democratic turnout, specifically in the black community:
...despite a generally buoyant Democratic Party nationally, there are worries among Democratic strategists in some states that blacks may not turn up at the polls in big enough numbers because of disillusionment over past shenanigans.
Talk about your all-time backfires. Donna Brazille puts it best:
This notion that elections are stolen and that elections are rigged is so common in the public sphere that we’re having to go out of our way to counter them this year.
What is so delicious about this is that it has been Democrats that have been pounding the absolutely false meme that elections are rigged. Without a shred of evidence or legal action to bolster the accusation, Democrats and uber-libs have been running around since 2000 accusing the GOP of stealing elections, either with the assistance of the Supreme Court or Diebold.
What has it wrought? According to the NYT, only the possibility that they have turned their own voter base away from the polls.
By way of reminder, two recent major cases of election tampering belong to liberals, not conservatives. ACORN is nailed submitting almost 1,500 bogus voter registrations, and then there is Milwaukee.
There are two possible outcomes to this election and each will have its own tagline.
Democrats win = The people have spoken
Republicans retain control = The GOP has stolen another election
If the latter happens, the Democrats will further erode confidence in the system. Why, they might not stop until black people just stop voting altogether.
Nice going over there. Way to look out for those minorities.
In a radical departure from the drumbeat of drape measuring over the last month, the NYT today has an article expressing deep concerns about Democratic turnout, specifically in the black community:
...despite a generally buoyant Democratic Party nationally, there are worries among Democratic strategists in some states that blacks may not turn up at the polls in big enough numbers because of disillusionment over past shenanigans.
Talk about your all-time backfires. Donna Brazille puts it best:
This notion that elections are stolen and that elections are rigged is so common in the public sphere that we’re having to go out of our way to counter them this year.
What is so delicious about this is that it has been Democrats that have been pounding the absolutely false meme that elections are rigged. Without a shred of evidence or legal action to bolster the accusation, Democrats and uber-libs have been running around since 2000 accusing the GOP of stealing elections, either with the assistance of the Supreme Court or Diebold.
What has it wrought? According to the NYT, only the possibility that they have turned their own voter base away from the polls.
By way of reminder, two recent major cases of election tampering belong to liberals, not conservatives. ACORN is nailed submitting almost 1,500 bogus voter registrations, and then there is Milwaukee.
There are two possible outcomes to this election and each will have its own tagline.
Democrats win = The people have spoken
Republicans retain control = The GOP has stolen another election
If the latter happens, the Democrats will further erode confidence in the system. Why, they might not stop until black people just stop voting altogether.
Nice going over there. Way to look out for those minorities.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Fatwa This Cabbie!
Katherine Kersten illustrates what can be learned by asking a simple question:
When I asked Patrick Hogan, Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesman, for his explanation, he forwarded a fatwa, or religious edict, that the MAC had received. The fatwa proclaims that "Islamic jurisprudence" prohibits taxi drivers from carrying passengers with alcohol, "because it involves cooperating in sin according to the Islam."
The fatwa, dated June 6, 2006, was issued by the "fatwa department" of the Muslim American Society, Minnesota chapter, and signed by society officials.
Fatwas, right here in Minnesota. How about that?
Luckily for us, we needn't attempt to predict the end game. As the Anchoress points out at CQ, Europe is providing a virtual time portal into what awaits America if we don't wake up regarding radical Islam:
The number of emigrants leaving the Netherlands and Germany has already surpassed the number of immigrants moving in. One does not have to be prophetic to predict, like Henryk Broder, that Europe is becoming Islamic. Just consider the demographics. The number of Muslims in contemporary Europe is estimated to be 50 million. It is expected to double in twenty years. By 2025, one third of all European children will be born to Muslim families. Today Mohammed is already the most popular name for new-born boys in Brussels, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and other major European cities.
Read that last sentence again.
With the influx of muslim immigrants comes increasing demands for sharia law. Taxi drivers at the airport don't have much power now, but imagine how the scenario might play out if those muslims felt emboldened by large numbers.
Of course, we don't have to imagine that either. We need only look at France, Denmark, and the Netherlands...to name a few.
When I asked Patrick Hogan, Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesman, for his explanation, he forwarded a fatwa, or religious edict, that the MAC had received. The fatwa proclaims that "Islamic jurisprudence" prohibits taxi drivers from carrying passengers with alcohol, "because it involves cooperating in sin according to the Islam."
The fatwa, dated June 6, 2006, was issued by the "fatwa department" of the Muslim American Society, Minnesota chapter, and signed by society officials.
Fatwas, right here in Minnesota. How about that?
Luckily for us, we needn't attempt to predict the end game. As the Anchoress points out at CQ, Europe is providing a virtual time portal into what awaits America if we don't wake up regarding radical Islam:
The number of emigrants leaving the Netherlands and Germany has already surpassed the number of immigrants moving in. One does not have to be prophetic to predict, like Henryk Broder, that Europe is becoming Islamic. Just consider the demographics. The number of Muslims in contemporary Europe is estimated to be 50 million. It is expected to double in twenty years. By 2025, one third of all European children will be born to Muslim families. Today Mohammed is already the most popular name for new-born boys in Brussels, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and other major European cities.
Read that last sentence again.
With the influx of muslim immigrants comes increasing demands for sharia law. Taxi drivers at the airport don't have much power now, but imagine how the scenario might play out if those muslims felt emboldened by large numbers.
Of course, we don't have to imagine that either. We need only look at France, Denmark, and the Netherlands...to name a few.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Come Back Cindy
Via Tim Blair, Cindy Sheehan has abandoned her principles in favor of political expediency. And the left is cheesed:
Before the campaign season began to heat up Sheehan had lambasted Democratic Senators Hillary Clinton and Dianne Feinstein, among others, for their backward defense of the war effort. She even went as far as to describe Hillary’s position on Israel and Iraq as being equal to that of Rush Limbaugh. Yet, when it has mattered most, i.e. now, she has been virtually silent.
Silent. While war mongering Democrats the land over trample the rights of brown people in the war torn regions of New Orleans and Venezuela.
Her silence almost surely accounts for this:
With two weeks to go, anything can happen, but it is beginning to look possible that the Democratic surge in the midterm elections may fall short of control in either House.
Cindy. Your people need you. Now get out there and put your arm around Hugo Chavez...or something. The highly principled anti-war crowd is reduced to rounding up actual war-mongerers to further the cause in your absence. How's that going?
...the group has collected 118 names and is trying to verify that they are legitimate service members.
Just one Cindy Sheehan short of a groundswell.
Before the campaign season began to heat up Sheehan had lambasted Democratic Senators Hillary Clinton and Dianne Feinstein, among others, for their backward defense of the war effort. She even went as far as to describe Hillary’s position on Israel and Iraq as being equal to that of Rush Limbaugh. Yet, when it has mattered most, i.e. now, she has been virtually silent.
Silent. While war mongering Democrats the land over trample the rights of brown people in the war torn regions of New Orleans and Venezuela.
Her silence almost surely accounts for this:
With two weeks to go, anything can happen, but it is beginning to look possible that the Democratic surge in the midterm elections may fall short of control in either House.
Cindy. Your people need you. Now get out there and put your arm around Hugo Chavez...or something. The highly principled anti-war crowd is reduced to rounding up actual war-mongerers to further the cause in your absence. How's that going?
...the group has collected 118 names and is trying to verify that they are legitimate service members.
Just one Cindy Sheehan short of a groundswell.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Howard Dean Must Be Silenced
Feeding on the idiocy of middle America values voters who are no doubt far more concerned with the likes of Mark Foley and Larry Craig than the overall direction of the country, Howard Dean has posted a public appeal at Iowahawk warning them of the "growing Republican homo menace:"
...this is just the tip of the GOP gayberg. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, the mincing minnie who ran the GOP's Foley coverup? A former high school "wrestling coach." California governor Arnold Schwartzenegger? A curious fondness for flexing his oiled pecs while parading around in a pair of skimpy Speedos. "Dick Armey"? You do the math.
And if their rampant homoism weren't enough, the GOP has further betrayed traditional conservatives by secretly nominating negros in races across the country. Yes, you read that correctly: actual negros. No matter how many times they try to hide the genetic truth from conservatives like you, GOP nominees like Michael Steele, Lynn Swann and Ken Blackwell are black as the ace of spades. Imagine the devastating impact on US property values if the world learns that more of those types have moved into the Congressional neighborhood.
Never have I seen a letter so potentially devestating to GOP election hopes. Thank goodness those middle America values voters can't read.
...this is just the tip of the GOP gayberg. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, the mincing minnie who ran the GOP's Foley coverup? A former high school "wrestling coach." California governor Arnold Schwartzenegger? A curious fondness for flexing his oiled pecs while parading around in a pair of skimpy Speedos. "Dick Armey"? You do the math.
And if their rampant homoism weren't enough, the GOP has further betrayed traditional conservatives by secretly nominating negros in races across the country. Yes, you read that correctly: actual negros. No matter how many times they try to hide the genetic truth from conservatives like you, GOP nominees like Michael Steele, Lynn Swann and Ken Blackwell are black as the ace of spades. Imagine the devastating impact on US property values if the world learns that more of those types have moved into the Congressional neighborhood.
Never have I seen a letter so potentially devestating to GOP election hopes. Thank goodness those middle America values voters can't read.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Whatever Happened to Courage?
The Anchoress is guest-blogging at CQ and led me to this wonderful column about Oriana Fallaci. Here's a quote from an interview with the Ayatollah Khomeini:
...Fallaci asked a more insolent question: “How do you swim in a chador?” Khomeini snapped, “Our customs are none of your business. If you do not like Islamic dress you are not obliged to wear it. Because Islamic dress is for good and proper young women.” Fallaci saw an opening, and charged in. “That’s very kind of you, Imam. And since you said so, I’m going to take off this stupid, medieval rag right now.” She yanked off her chador.
Today's journalists are so afraid of Islam they won't even publish a cartoon. Today's liberals wouldn't dare offend Islam by pointing out basic human rights atrocities.
Forget Iraq, is there any chance in hell that America can win the overall war on terror when half its people have already surrendered?
...Fallaci asked a more insolent question: “How do you swim in a chador?” Khomeini snapped, “Our customs are none of your business. If you do not like Islamic dress you are not obliged to wear it. Because Islamic dress is for good and proper young women.” Fallaci saw an opening, and charged in. “That’s very kind of you, Imam. And since you said so, I’m going to take off this stupid, medieval rag right now.” She yanked off her chador.
Today's journalists are so afraid of Islam they won't even publish a cartoon. Today's liberals wouldn't dare offend Islam by pointing out basic human rights atrocities.
Forget Iraq, is there any chance in hell that America can win the overall war on terror when half its people have already surrendered?
Thursday, October 19, 2006
My Pawlenty Interview
I just finished interviewing Governor Tim Pawlenty and will update this post later when I get a chance. He had many interesting things to say about his race and the state of the state which Minnesota readers might find interesting. At daughter #1's insistence I did convince the governor to sign an autograph for her and he was very gracious in doing so. It reads:(Name withheld at the request of My Dearly Befuddled)
You are wonderful!
Dream Big, eat your vegetables and always listen to your dad!!
You rock,
Tim Pawlenty.
Although he did not make any promises, Pawlenty did lead me to believe that there might be an opening for me in the Governor's Game one of these days. In fact, I am pretty sure he would have been content to spend the entire 40 minutes talking about hockey. All in all, a great guy in general.
UPDATE: Okay, where were we? Ah yes, the Governor.
Interesting to note that when I metioned that the RCP average of polls watching his race had him down 2.3 points, his response was "what's RCP?" I explained and opined that the average was probably thrown off by the astounding 9 point advantage given Mike Hatch by the Star Tribune poll. In what would be the only negative comment he would make during the interview, he acknowledged that the Star Tribune poll track record was highly suspect at best. He is certainly not alone in that assessment.
Some of the other topics I broached were education reform, Local Goverment Aid (LGA), the budget, and the Minnesota business climate, which I will take one by one.
Education Reform: Pawlenty - who has incredibly white teeth by the way, almost mesmorizing - recognized that the public school system in Minnesota is antiquated and in fact is based essentially on the same model created in the 1940s. He is a strong proponent of results-based pay and thinks we need to get away from seniority-based pay.
Although he acknowledged his personal support for a voucher system (especially in a limited way that would allow the underpriviledged to escape failing schools), he has no plans to bring it to the legislature because he doesn't feel it has any support there. That conclusion seems to fit his emerging attitude that he would rather spend his time working on things he can get done, rather than wasting time on pipe dreams.
LGA: Although he acknowledged that he is responsible for a percentage of increases in property taxes due to efforts to eliminate the state defecit, he rightly pointed out that the percentage of increases to property taxes, on average, are far higher than the percentage lost due to LGA cuts. There is no doubt that local units of government have been more than willing to scapegoat Pawlenty on this issue, while at the same time raising residents property taxes far more than needed to make up the difference.
For critics of LGA cuts, which helped turn a $4.5 billion defecit into an estimated $1 billion surplus next year, Pawlenty noted that he would consider a plan to cap property taxes. That idea is sure to be met with derision by tax and spend liberals, but serves to call their bluff none the less.
LGA is currently being re-tooled to once again serve its designed purpose; assisting smaller cities with higher poverty and smaller commercial and industrial tax bases. Over its lifetime, LGA has lost that goal and was more often than not being used extensively in wealthier communities that did not really need it. He estimates that 20 percent of LGA dollars will be shifted back to those communities. He also notes that LGA payments are back on the rise with the state in the black.
Business climate: I cited a recent study that puts Minnesota at 41st nationally for business climate. Not only was he aware of the study but pointed out that under his administration it has risen from an even more dismal 48th. He pointed to taxes, regulation, and insurance and energy costs for hampering the state business climate. He added that he wanted to "find the right mix" for improving in all of those areas and making Minnesota more attractive to business.
On the plus side, he pointed out that the state is sitting at 3.8 percent unemployement, which is astounding. He also noted that we have had fast paced job growth, 70 percent faster than the national average in fact. All in all, he felt that the state was "doing well" economically.
Taxes: Whether one agrees with how it was done or not, there can be no doubt that Pawlenty has been effective in reversing the deficit trend. As mentioned, the state is looking at a $1 billion surplus next year as opposed to the $4.5 billion defecit he inherited. At the same time, he noted rather proudly that he has accomplished what every governnor since Rudy Perpich has been trying to do, reduce the overall tax burden on Minnesotans. After being traditionally a top-five taxed state in the country for decades, just this year the state has dropped out of the top ten.
That is an almost miraculous feat when one considers he erased a massive budget defecit at the same time.
The race: Although it is pretty common knowledge there is no love loss between Pawlenty and Mike Hatch, the governor never once said anything negative about Hatch, prefering instead to focus on his plans for the future. Although the race is a dead heat now (Star Tribune hackery notwithstanding), I fully expect it to open up in favor of Pawlenty as election day draws near. Pawlenty comes off as genuine and down to earth while Hatch is running a negative campaign and comes off as a climber in pursuit of the culmination of a 20-year dream of the governor's chair. His plans to raise taxes are sure to hamper that effort as well.
One sidenote: When I asked if he would autograph a piece of paper for my daughter I told him that she had "this cock-a-ma-me idea that he would run for president someday." Of course, I did not expect that he would confirm that suspicion to a journalist for a rural weekly in the middle of a governors race, and he did not.
But he didn't deny it either.
Thank you for stopping by Fraters Libertas readers. You are by far the most erudite readers in all of the blogosphere. I mean that sincerely and noting it in print should in no way be construed as a desperate ploy for readership. I am actually quite happy with my average of 17 hits per day.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Another Reason Why I Love My Job
Governor Tim Pawlenty is scheduled to stop by the office tomorrow in the late morning for an interview. I expect the conversation will likely center on how he intends to use the last three weeks of the election season to return to office and Mike Hatch's record and plans for the state if elected.
I was heartened to see this week that our editorial board has endorsed Governor Pawlenty for another term.
On a personal level, it will be quite a treat to meet and talk politics with a governor that I admire a great deal. It is my sincerest hope that he is reelected, if for no other reason than I would have another chance at an invite to one of his locally famous hockey games. I mean seriously, who wouldn't like the chance to lay out a reporter?
It is getting a little late to do much official reporting on my interview with the governor, especially if the interview is campaign related. It is my hope he will address some substantive issues though, that I can report on right here later in the week.
Stay tuned.
I was heartened to see this week that our editorial board has endorsed Governor Pawlenty for another term.
On a personal level, it will be quite a treat to meet and talk politics with a governor that I admire a great deal. It is my sincerest hope that he is reelected, if for no other reason than I would have another chance at an invite to one of his locally famous hockey games. I mean seriously, who wouldn't like the chance to lay out a reporter?
It is getting a little late to do much official reporting on my interview with the governor, especially if the interview is campaign related. It is my hope he will address some substantive issues though, that I can report on right here later in the week.
Stay tuned.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Dressed, Plucked, and Seasoned
Coming completely out of left field and with no indication how such a tragic day could arrive, Air America has filed bankruptcy. The Smoking Gun has the petition and details on the over $20 million the company that "created the progressive talk show format" flushed down a progressive toilet.
Lacking a meat thermometer, Air America co-founder Sheldon Drobny appears to have no idea when the goose is cooked:
We plan to continue our efforts to make liberal talk radio a success.
Short of federal funding in perpetuity, I don't see how that will ever happen.
Brian Maloney is already exposing what appears to be the next chapter in this lesson in progressive capitalism.
Lacking a meat thermometer, Air America co-founder Sheldon Drobny appears to have no idea when the goose is cooked:
We plan to continue our efforts to make liberal talk radio a success.
Short of federal funding in perpetuity, I don't see how that will ever happen.
Brian Maloney is already exposing what appears to be the next chapter in this lesson in progressive capitalism.
Friday, October 13, 2006
And We Thought They Didn't Listen
I supervised a handful of kids today as they performed cemetery clean-up duties to fulfill community service obligations. The young delinquents performed very well for the most part. I did have to remind one kid, who called me an ass, that I was doing him the favor and if he wanted me to sign off on his service he better find the capacity for respect. Once he understood I had zero patience for taking crap he turned out to be a pretty decent sort.
At one point I asked another kid, a freshman in high school, what he had done to deserve his fine fate.
His response?
"Let's just say I made some bad choices."
Who says kids don't listen in school? They might not be learning how to behave, but they sure as hell are learning how to spin.
At one point I asked another kid, a freshman in high school, what he had done to deserve his fine fate.
His response?
"Let's just say I made some bad choices."
Who says kids don't listen in school? They might not be learning how to behave, but they sure as hell are learning how to spin.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
How Stupid Does He Think I Am?
Karl Rove has truly outdone himself this time. There's a man out there suddenly that makes Bush seem sane by comparison, and of course, Rove is likely preparing to viciously attack Democrats through the leak of low deficit figures.
What is it they say? Karl Rove always happens in threes? Does anyone not see this "plane crash" for what it is?
A "yankee" is dead.
Images of burning high rises in New York City.
Homeland Security officials saying over and over again, "We do not believe this was a terrorist attack," thus able to use the word terrorist through the entire news cycle, right before a midterm election.
It has October Surprise written all over it.
What is it they say? Karl Rove always happens in threes? Does anyone not see this "plane crash" for what it is?
A "yankee" is dead.
Images of burning high rises in New York City.
Homeland Security officials saying over and over again, "We do not believe this was a terrorist attack," thus able to use the word terrorist through the entire news cycle, right before a midterm election.
It has October Surprise written all over it.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Imagine the Lack of Possibilities
It's difficult to quantify exactly how much I would love to see this happen:
Mexico's foreign secretary said Monday the country may take a dispute over U.S. plans to build a fence on the Mexican border to the United Nations.
Let the day dream run wild. Really. Go with it.
UPDATE: If you imagine a "deeply concerned" Kofi Annan, you are probably on the right track.
Mexico's foreign secretary said Monday the country may take a dispute over U.S. plans to build a fence on the Mexican border to the United Nations.
Let the day dream run wild. Really. Go with it.
UPDATE: If you imagine a "deeply concerned" Kofi Annan, you are probably on the right track.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Appropriate Self-Loathing
The itinerary:
In the past year the directors and chief executives of groups such as WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the Soil Association have crisscrossed the globe, visiting the Falklands, Japan, Africa and Brazil.
The message:
Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association: “I am deeply concerned about my flying. I am campaigning for a solution but I am still part of the problem.”
It takes a devoted man indeed to overcome such deep convictions and see to it that countries without effective mass communications, like Japan, America, and various European destinations, learn how really, really, bad it is to fly.
In the past year the directors and chief executives of groups such as WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the Soil Association have crisscrossed the globe, visiting the Falklands, Japan, Africa and Brazil.
The message:
Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association: “I am deeply concerned about my flying. I am campaigning for a solution but I am still part of the problem.”
It takes a devoted man indeed to overcome such deep convictions and see to it that countries without effective mass communications, like Japan, America, and various European destinations, learn how really, really, bad it is to fly.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
The Dirtiest Season
Breaking news on the story behind the Foley story. Sources close Mark Foley's IM "page-pal" are claiming that the IMs were part of a prank. We'll have to see on that. Drudge claims to have corroborating sources.
It is also now being said that he was 18 years of age, which is still twisted, but not illegal. That hasn't stopped a Minnesota candidate of accusing the GOP of conspiring to protect a child molester.
"Congressional leaders have admitted to covering up the predatory behavior of a congressman who used the internet to molest children.”
Nancy Pelosi has had plenty to say. Most recently she "demanded that Republican leaders be questioned under oath about what they knew of Foley's conduct." Forgetting for a moment that she voted in favor of Gerry Studds five times for chairman positions after she knew he was guilty of date rape, it is starting to look more and more like it might be Democrats who need to be under oath as per her demand. See Macsmind's three part series.
Also, it looks like Democrats are blocking efforts to investigate the page program.
Of course it has been a particularily brisk season for slime overall, what with the whole "N-word" and "You're Jewish! Admit it!" attack against George Allen, actual crimes committed against Michael Steele, and the worst by far, a despicable sliming of Jeanne Pirro.
For those of you unaware, Pirro's opponents leaked sealed wire taps for the sole purpose of embarassing her privately.
And why not? Stealing financial records and sliming opponents a month before an election is certainly a lot easier than other things that could have occupied the Democratic Party these last two years...like agreeing on a platform.
What a disgrace.
It is also now being said that he was 18 years of age, which is still twisted, but not illegal. That hasn't stopped a Minnesota candidate of accusing the GOP of conspiring to protect a child molester.
"Congressional leaders have admitted to covering up the predatory behavior of a congressman who used the internet to molest children.”
Nancy Pelosi has had plenty to say. Most recently she "demanded that Republican leaders be questioned under oath about what they knew of Foley's conduct." Forgetting for a moment that she voted in favor of Gerry Studds five times for chairman positions after she knew he was guilty of date rape, it is starting to look more and more like it might be Democrats who need to be under oath as per her demand. See Macsmind's three part series.
Also, it looks like Democrats are blocking efforts to investigate the page program.
Of course it has been a particularily brisk season for slime overall, what with the whole "N-word" and "You're Jewish! Admit it!" attack against George Allen, actual crimes committed against Michael Steele, and the worst by far, a despicable sliming of Jeanne Pirro.
For those of you unaware, Pirro's opponents leaked sealed wire taps for the sole purpose of embarassing her privately.
And why not? Stealing financial records and sliming opponents a month before an election is certainly a lot easier than other things that could have occupied the Democratic Party these last two years...like agreeing on a platform.
What a disgrace.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Out of Thin Air
Well this is certainly one of the most unique news stories I have read in a while. Radar traces the backstory on Mark Foley - who we all agree gives us the shudders - to a blog called Stop Sex Predators.
SSP is the most basic of blogger templates and in fact is the exact template from which this blog evolved, except for the background color. The "links" section still contains the stock "Google me," and "edit me" buttons inserted as part of the template. The blogger profile is empty.
Radar describes SSP as "virtually indetectible to Google."
Yet the blog was highlighted by none other than Dailykos 12 minutes after Foley's emails were posted. The author at Kos claims to be a White House intern. He also claims to have Googled SSP.
What's the deal here?
This is a virtually unheard of blog whose author hasn't been motivated enough to add a single sidebar link or any of the standard motiff, fill out a profile, change the look of the blog even a tiny bit, or...anything.
After just a handful of posts over the summer, a hot, hot, hot entry on "skinterns" appears on Sept. 5, before SSP goes dark again until a Sept. 21 article with this lede:
I have been away for a while, so please accept my apologies for the lack of blog posts. BUT....while I was away, the blog has been noticed and some shocking emails have been received!!!!
The emails describe not a pedophile, but merely a homosexual. Granted, he is a very aggressive one and likes young interns way too much. One author ran into him at a gay bar after freshman year in college, another was reporting secondhand that Foley liked gay bars, locker rooms, and "he especially likes teenage boys," and a third is a man who claims he was hit on by Foley only after he left DC at the end of his internship.
At that point it was more of an "outing" than anything else.
Later that day are scanned faxes of e-mails, 12 minutes later an "intern" at Kos "Googles" the e-mails, and the story grows from there.
In response to breaking this DC bombshell, SSP has not responded to any e-mails from media wanting to know more.
The mere presence of Kos is enough to create suspicion as to the timing of the story, but add an "undetectable" blog Googled 12 minutes after posting and it enters the realm of the unbelievable.
Big stories have been broken by blogs before. Whoppers like Memogate, green helmet guy, cauterizing ambulances, Eason Jordan, and others. In all of those cases though, the authors had the credibility of transparency and/or a track record of accuracy, and provided all necessary research and sourcing.
Don't get me wrong, it is a damn fine thing that Foley is busted and out of there, but the timing and sources are highly suspicious. The assertions don't add up. How did this undetectable blog suddenly get so popular for Mark Foley gossip? How did Kos really find the story?
It has October Surprise written all over it, and doesn't even seem a very clever one. If it is, I wonder how long its authors have been hanging on to it. Long enough for a few more teenage interns to get groped perhaps?
Somebody needs to start providing some answers.
SSP is the most basic of blogger templates and in fact is the exact template from which this blog evolved, except for the background color. The "links" section still contains the stock "Google me," and "edit me" buttons inserted as part of the template. The blogger profile is empty.
Radar describes SSP as "virtually indetectible to Google."
Yet the blog was highlighted by none other than Dailykos 12 minutes after Foley's emails were posted. The author at Kos claims to be a White House intern. He also claims to have Googled SSP.
What's the deal here?
This is a virtually unheard of blog whose author hasn't been motivated enough to add a single sidebar link or any of the standard motiff, fill out a profile, change the look of the blog even a tiny bit, or...anything.
After just a handful of posts over the summer, a hot, hot, hot entry on "skinterns" appears on Sept. 5, before SSP goes dark again until a Sept. 21 article with this lede:
I have been away for a while, so please accept my apologies for the lack of blog posts. BUT....while I was away, the blog has been noticed and some shocking emails have been received!!!!
The emails describe not a pedophile, but merely a homosexual. Granted, he is a very aggressive one and likes young interns way too much. One author ran into him at a gay bar after freshman year in college, another was reporting secondhand that Foley liked gay bars, locker rooms, and "he especially likes teenage boys," and a third is a man who claims he was hit on by Foley only after he left DC at the end of his internship.
At that point it was more of an "outing" than anything else.
Later that day are scanned faxes of e-mails, 12 minutes later an "intern" at Kos "Googles" the e-mails, and the story grows from there.
In response to breaking this DC bombshell, SSP has not responded to any e-mails from media wanting to know more.
The mere presence of Kos is enough to create suspicion as to the timing of the story, but add an "undetectable" blog Googled 12 minutes after posting and it enters the realm of the unbelievable.
Big stories have been broken by blogs before. Whoppers like Memogate, green helmet guy, cauterizing ambulances, Eason Jordan, and others. In all of those cases though, the authors had the credibility of transparency and/or a track record of accuracy, and provided all necessary research and sourcing.
Don't get me wrong, it is a damn fine thing that Foley is busted and out of there, but the timing and sources are highly suspicious. The assertions don't add up. How did this undetectable blog suddenly get so popular for Mark Foley gossip? How did Kos really find the story?
It has October Surprise written all over it, and doesn't even seem a very clever one. If it is, I wonder how long its authors have been hanging on to it. Long enough for a few more teenage interns to get groped perhaps?
Somebody needs to start providing some answers.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Let's Recap
Here's some things to keep in mind the next time a member of the Democratic Party claims some imagined moral high ground because Mark Foley turned out to be a sleazy pervert.
In 1983, then-Democratic Rep. Gerry Studds of Massachusetts was caught in a similar situation. In his case, Studds had sex with a male teenage page -- something Foley hasn't been charged with.
Did Studds express contrition? Resign? Quite the contrary. He rejected Congress' censure of him and continued to represent his district until his retirement in 1996.
In 1989, Rep. Barney Frank, also of Massachusetts, admitted he'd lived with Steve Gobie, a male prostitute who ran a gay sex-for-hire ring out of Frank's apartment. Frank, it was later discovered, used his position to fix 33 parking tickets for Gobie.
What happened to Frank? The House voted 408-18 to reprimand him -- a slap on the wrist. Today he's an honored Democratic member of Congress, much in demand as a speaker and "conscience of the party."
In 2001, President Clinton, who had his own intern problem, commuted the prison sentence of Illinois Rep. Mel Reynolds, who had sex with a 16-year-old campaign volunteer and pressured her to lie about it. (Reynolds also was convicted of campaign spending violations.)
Saying Mark Foley makes Republicans hypocrites is like saying one anti-war activist who went to jail for aiding terrorists makes all anti-war activists terrorists. Like saying one popular liberal rapist makes all liberals rapists. Like saying one environmentalist with a lear jet makes all environmentalists hypocrites.
It is the last bastion of the simple mind.
Dennis Hastert explains exactly what was known and not known at what time.
In 1983, then-Democratic Rep. Gerry Studds of Massachusetts was caught in a similar situation. In his case, Studds had sex with a male teenage page -- something Foley hasn't been charged with.
Did Studds express contrition? Resign? Quite the contrary. He rejected Congress' censure of him and continued to represent his district until his retirement in 1996.
In 1989, Rep. Barney Frank, also of Massachusetts, admitted he'd lived with Steve Gobie, a male prostitute who ran a gay sex-for-hire ring out of Frank's apartment. Frank, it was later discovered, used his position to fix 33 parking tickets for Gobie.
What happened to Frank? The House voted 408-18 to reprimand him -- a slap on the wrist. Today he's an honored Democratic member of Congress, much in demand as a speaker and "conscience of the party."
In 2001, President Clinton, who had his own intern problem, commuted the prison sentence of Illinois Rep. Mel Reynolds, who had sex with a 16-year-old campaign volunteer and pressured her to lie about it. (Reynolds also was convicted of campaign spending violations.)
Saying Mark Foley makes Republicans hypocrites is like saying one anti-war activist who went to jail for aiding terrorists makes all anti-war activists terrorists. Like saying one popular liberal rapist makes all liberals rapists. Like saying one environmentalist with a lear jet makes all environmentalists hypocrites.
It is the last bastion of the simple mind.
Dennis Hastert explains exactly what was known and not known at what time.
Monday, October 02, 2006
You Talkin' To Me?
The Mexican government, likely without any fear that effective border control would force it to provide its own economy, sent a stern warning to President Bush about The Fence:
Mexico pleaded with President Bush on Monday to veto a Senate proposal to build a fence to keep illegal immigrants out, saying it could backfire by making the border less secure.
First of all, at this point I doubt that's possible.
Secondly, according to the Reuter's author - who apparently didn't think to ask - Mexico offered no evidence as to how a giant fence would actually hinder security. (Ed. - I looked up the word fence and found no evidence that its historically accepted effectiveness had been challenged by any credible study.)
Lastly, and in light of all that, does anyone else read it as a threat?
Mexico pleaded with President Bush on Monday to veto a Senate proposal to build a fence to keep illegal immigrants out, saying it could backfire by making the border less secure.
First of all, at this point I doubt that's possible.
Secondly, according to the Reuter's author - who apparently didn't think to ask - Mexico offered no evidence as to how a giant fence would actually hinder security. (Ed. - I looked up the word fence and found no evidence that its historically accepted effectiveness had been challenged by any credible study.)
Lastly, and in light of all that, does anyone else read it as a threat?
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