Thursday, March 30, 2006

Scalia



Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in his typical hypocritical form, says "the Sicilian gesture was not offensive and had been incorrectly characterized by the Herald as obscene". But just what does he think vaffanculo means?

posted by Stash @ 7:02 PM

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Matalin

On NBC Today, Republican strategist and Dick Cheney Rubberstamp, Mary Matalin:

"[w]e have taken out the Al Qaeda network. We've decimated it."

A big difference.... have we "taken it out" or have we eliminated 10% of it? The Whirlpool thinks it's closer to the latter. According to The Osama Clock it's been quite a while since Dubya said he'd get Osama "dead or alive".

Media Matters claims Matalin was "misleading at best".

posted by Stash @ 11:43 AM

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Please hitch your wagon to the Bush mule!

But, Ken. Watch out for Neal Horsely!



Memorandum

To: Ken Mehlman
From: Jan van Lohuizen
Date: March 3, 2006
Re: Bush -- Congressional Republicans

Per our conversation, we took another look at the way voters, Republicans specifically, link President Bush and Republicans in the House and the Senate. There are several points worth making:


1. President Bush continues to have the strong loyal support of Republican voters. Despite slippage in approval ratings among all voters, the President's job approval among Republicans continues to be very high. Most members will be elected with between 80% and 100% of their support coming from Republicans. I don't see that Republicans driving a wedge between themselves and the President is a good election strategy.

2. My read of the current environment is that our problem will be turnout. '06 could become an election like '82 or '84. In '82 Republicans showed up at relatively normal turnout rates, while Democrats, because they were angry, showed up at abnormally high turnout rates. In '94, Republican turnout was elevated, while Democratic turnout was depressed. We have every reason to believe '06 could become the inverse of '82. We don't see signs of a depressed Republican turnout yet, but we have every reason to believe Democrats will turn out in high numbers. Anything we do to depress turnout, by not running as a unified party for instance, could very well lead to serious consequences in November.

3. The President is seen universally as the face of the Republican Party. We are now brand W. Republicans. The following chart shows the extremely close correlation between the President's image and overall ratings of the party.

President Bush drives our image and will do so until we have real national front-runners for the '08 nomination. Attacking the President is counter productive for all Republicans, not just the candidates launching the attacks. If he drops, we all drop.

posted by Stash @ 7:51 PM

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Saturday, March 25, 2006

Bush - Iraq: We're gonna be here a while!

Asked whether there would come a day when no U.S. forces are in Iraq, Bush responded, “And that will be decided by future presidents and future governments of Iraq.”

It doesn't sound any better no matter

how he holds his finger,
purses his lips or which costume he dons.


Anymore stupid fucking questions from the Wrong Wing?

posted by Stash @ 6:20 PM

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Trouble in paradise? Bush ... The Impostor?

Author of The Impostor





“Just in the last few months, I think a light has gone off for people who’ve spent time up close to Bush: that this instinct he’s always talking about is this sort of weird, Messianic idea of what he thinks God has told him to do.
“This is why George W. Bush is so clear-eyed about Al Qaeda and the Islamic fundamentalist enemy. He believes you have to kill them all. They can’t be persuaded that they’re extremists, driven by a dark vision. He understands them, because he’s just like them …
“This is why he dispenses with people who confront him with inconvenient facts. He truly believes he’s on a mission from God. Absolute faith like that overwhelms a need for analysis. The whole thing about faith is to believe things for which there is no empirical evidence. But you can’t run the world on faith.” Bruce Bartlett


Bruce Barlett on The Daily Show.

posted by Stash @ 9:41 AM

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Friday, March 24, 2006

Na-Na-Na-Na.... Na-Na-Na-Na... Hey! BenDom!... Goodbye!

Kurtz gave the initial nudge. With Domenech on the ledge, Kos and others kept him wobbling. Finally, BenDom jumps. The fore-play didn't last long enough. The splat ended up being anticlimactic. We don't even want a smoke.

Ben Domenech Resigns

In the past 24 hours, we learned of allegations that Ben Domenech plagiarized material that appeared under his byline in various publications prior to washingtonpost.com contracting with him to write a blog that launched Tuesday.

An investigation into these allegations was ongoing, and in the interim, Domenech has resigned, effective immediately.

When we hired Domenech, we were not aware of any allegations that he had plagiarized any of his past writings. In any cases where allegations such as these are made, we will continue to investigate those charges thoroughly in order to maintain our journalistic integrity.

Plagiarism is perhaps the most serious offense that a writer can commit or be accused of. Washingtonpost.com will do everything in its power to verify that its news and opinion content is sourced completely and accurately at all times.

We appreciate the speed and thoroughness with which our readers and media outlets surfaced these allegations. Despite the turn this has taken, we believe this event, among other things, testifies to the positive and powerful role that the Internet can play in the the practice of journalism.

We also remain committed to representing a broad spectrum of ideas and ideologies in our Opinions area.

Jim Brady
Executive Editor,

washingtonpost.com

posted by Stash @ 11:37 AM

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Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Guess which quote belongs to which gas-bag




A. OK, yes. But, only once. George was drunk. I was drunk. He puckered like this. What could you expect?

B. I've looked at the video and I think Bush is toast.

C. Goddamit! Dubya was supposed to pardon me.

D. What gerbal? I didn't eat a gerbal.

posted by Stash @ 4:29 PM

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Sunday, March 12, 2006

Bill Frist said what?!?!


The frontrunner for the Republicans is as incoherent as the Prez. On criticism of the Bush, Frist said:
 
"So the signal that it sends that there is in any way a lack of support for our Commander in Chief, who is leading us with a bold vision in a way that we know is making our homeland safer is wrong. And it sends a perception around the world and, again, that's why I'm saying as leader at least of the Republican side of this equation, that it's wrong, because leadership around the world of our sworn enemies are going to say, well, now we have a little crack there."


Oh, please let him win the nomination. Please let him win. Please! Please! Please!

posted by Stash @ 11:16 AM

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Saturday, March 11, 2006

It's about time! The Courts finally out the Boy Scouts.


In a unanimous decision against a division of the Boy Scouts, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that groups receiving government subsidies may be required to pledge compliance with anti-bias policies - including those that protect atheists and homosexuals.

The decision, handed down against the Berkeley Sea Scouts, was a blow to the national Scouting organization, which in past landmark rulings had been assured the legal right to exclude boys who are gay or don't believe in God.

Thursday's ruling did not take away that right. But it allowed local governments to make bias costly - in this case, by withdrawing free berthing privileges at the Berkeley municipal marina, worth thousands of dollars a year to the Scouting group.

Some governments across the country have begun withholding a variety of subsidies from Scouting organizations for failure to adhere to local anti-bias policies.

Other local governments have been sued for granting subsidies.

more...

Scouting For All

posted by Stash @ 10:48 AM

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Scarborough on Republicans



"The lack of leadership in Washington, D.C., is sickening. If you look at what Republicans did--promised to do in 1994, when they took control of Congress, and see, how they've been acting over the past three or four years, the biggest debt and deficit ever. They are irresponsible and reckless on so many levels. I'm embarrassed right now to be a Republican. It's a disgrace because of the lack of leadership."

Video

posted by Stash @ 10:25 AM

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Wednesday, March 08, 2006

What It Means To Be A Republican


by Larry Beinhart


The vice president shoots you in the heart and in the face. Then you apologize for all the trouble it’s caused him. That’s what it means to be a Republican.

Despite almost hysterical warnings the president stays asleep at the wheel. He does nothing about terrorism and 9/11 happens. He responds by running away to Nebraska. Three days later he makes a supposedly impromptu speech with a bull horn on the rubble of the World Trade Center. He is universally cheered as a hero. That’s what it means to be a Republican. The president puts together false claims to go to war with the wrong country. His party universally supports him. That’s what it means to be a Republican.

The administration mismanages the war in Iraq so that it creates chaos, a breeding ground for terrorists and political opportunities for Islamic fundamentalists. Along the way, the reasons for going to war are exposed as false. The president runs on national security as his main issue. He is re-elected. That’s what it means to be a Republican.

The president cheerfully gives away the surplus to the richest people in the country. Then he runs up record debts, just to throw more money their way. He claims it has helped America’s economy. People act like they believe him. That’s what it means to be a Republican.

The administration continues it’s magnificent tradition of going to sleep when it is warned of disaster. It does nothing when Katrina is coming. It continues its record of doing nothing when disaster arrives. As New Orleans was lost, just as when the World Trade Center was lost, the president got as far away as possible. But he can’t be blamed for what nature did. That’s what it means to be a Republican.

The president orders wiretaps without warrants, a straightforward violation of the constitution. When the Attorney General is called to testify, the head of the Judiciary Committee insists that his testimony not be under oath. The head of the intelligence committee suggests that the law be changed, now, to make it legal after the fact. That’s what it means to be a Republican.

Alberto Gonzales helped come up with the program that rejected the Geneva Conventions, that permits torture, that says that the president is above the law and that “I was only following orders” should be a defense against a charge of war crimes. Ah, if only the Nazi war criminals who were hung at Nuremberg had Gonzales there to defend them. The president nominates Gonzales to be his new Attorney General. He is confirmed with little debate and no outrage. That’s what it means to be a Republican.

This needs to be understood.

What it implies is that Republicans can’t be dealt with as if reason and facts will sway them. Because it wont. It’s hard for reality based people, regular Democrats and Liberals to understand that.

What it let’s us know is that reality based people, Democrats, Liberals, real Conservatives, old-fashioned Republicans and non-profit Christians have to take more vigorous and rigorous stands. Or reality and real American values and the American landscape will disappear, not just temporarily, but forever.


The Link

posted by Stash @ 3:36 PM

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Al Franken on Republicans and Religion


"They hijack religion and Jesus, when Jesus talked about helping the poor. As I always say, if you cut out every passage in the New Testament where Jesus talks about helping the poor, or helping the least among us – if you cut out each one of those passages, you’d have the perfect box to smuggle Rush Limbaugh’s drugs."

Read the BuzzFlash interview.

posted by Stash @ 6:53 AM

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Monday, March 06, 2006

Katherine Spatula-Makeup Harris feeling the heat


Harris 'circling the wagons,' consultant says
Senate hopeful cancels weekend appearance

By Jeremy Wallace

PORT CHARLOTTE -- Already trying to avoid the media, Longboat Key Republican Katherine Harris is now canceling campaign stops in Southwest Florida as questions swirl about her ties to a Washington, D.C., defense contractor at the center of an ongoing national bribery scandal.

Harris, who is running for the U.S. Senate, abruptly canceled a stop in Charlotte County on Saturday, and four other events planned for Lee and Collier counties were removed from her campaign Web site.

It's another sign that Harris' struggling campaign is now in full crisis mode. Political consultants say that shying away from the public right now is also a bad strategy.

"She can't hide and expect this to go away," said David Johnson, a Republican political consultant. "It looks like her campaign is circling the wagons."

Brandon-based political consultant Mark Proctor said he advises clients to hold court early with the media to avoid a story dragging on for a week, as it has with Harris. The longer the story goes on, the more likely it is for voters to remember the issue come Election Day, he said.

Harris may not be talking to the media and staying away from some events, but she is trying to control the damage in other ways. And she recently told her backers that she is making a fund-raising push over the next few months.

Harris organized a conference call on Friday with her most loyal supporters in which she downplayed her connections to MZM Inc., saying, "There is nothing to it except for the press trying to be negative."

The company's owner admitted in federal court that he gave $32,000 in illegal campaign donations to Harris.
The Story

posted by Stash @ 9:38 AM

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Sunday, March 05, 2006

Jon Stewart has left the building!


The Awards have been presented. The Wrong Wing media will struggle but get back to reality and look at this administration rather than pretend America is in a "culture war" driven by those evil Hollywood homo lovers. It didn't end up being a Brokeback night. TransAmerica was ignored. Hoffman got a deserved Oscar for Capote.

Best Supporting Actor: George Clooney, Syriana

Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener

Documentary Feature: March of the Penguins I guess this could be one of those homo movies. After all, you have to protect our kids from those penguins!

Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote

Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line

Best Adapted Screenplay: Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, Brokeback Mountain

Best Original Screenplay: Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, Crash

Best Director: Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain

posted by Stash @ 8:57 PM

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Are we "At War"?

The President contends that "during a time of war" he, as Commander-in-Chief can by-pass Congressional oversight because it's his duty.

Forgetting the great debate over the premise, we submit an interesting question is, Are we "At War"?

Further,

How and when is the United States of America "At War"?

Do we have to know with whom we are "At War"?

Should we have an understanding as to what circumstances will exist to show that the "War" is over?

How will we know if we've won?

posted by Stash @ 11:52 AM

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Saturday, March 04, 2006

Homophobia at it's worst!


You have to wonder if these fools know just how stupid they look.

The homo equivilant would be, "An abandoned baby was left to die, but two gay gentlemen took it in and raised it to a healthy and productive adulthood."

But, to these knuckle-dragging, dip-sticks, that's a bad thing. Go figure.

Parents Complain About Book's Undertones

Saturday, March 4, 2006; 12:22 PM



SAVANNAH, Mo. -- A children's book about two male penguins that raise a baby penguin has been moved to the nonfiction section of two public library branches after parents complained it had homosexual undertones.

The illustrated book, "And Tango Makes Three," is based on a true story of two male penguins, named Roy and Silo, who adopted an abandoned egg at New York City's Central Park Zoo in the late 1990s.

The book, written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, was moved from the children's section at two Rolling Hills' Consolidated Library's branches in Savannah and St. Joseph in northwest Missouri.

Two parents had expressed concerns about the book last month.

Barbara Read, the Rolling Hills' director, said experts report that adoptions aren't unusual in the penguin world. However, moving the book to the nonfiction section would decrease the chance that it would "blindside" readers, she said.

The Associated Press © 2006

posted by Stash @ 5:34 PM

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