Dr C sent us some random excerpts from the Federalist Papers:
The Federalist #6
(Hamilton)
"The causes of hostility among nations are innumerable. There are some which have a general and almost constant operation upon the collective bodies of society. Of this description are the love of power or the desire of preeminence and dominion........"
"And there are others.........which take their origin entirely in private passions; in the attachments, emnities, interests, hopes and fears of leading individuals in the communities of which they are members. Men of this class, whether the favorites of a king or of a people have in too many instances abused the confidence they possessed; and assuming the pretext of some public motive, have not scrupled to sacrifice the national tranquillity to personal advantage or personal gratification."
"Pericles.... was the primitive author of that famous and fatal war, distinguished in the Grecian annals by the name of Peloponnesian war; which, after various vicissitudes, intermissions, and renewals, terminated in the ruin of the Athenian commonwealth."
(after detailing the personal political reasons why Pericles started the Peloponnesian War)
The Federalist #4
(Jay)
"It is too true, however disgraceful it may be to human nature, that nations in general will make war whenever they have a prospect of getting any thing by it; nay, absolute monarchs will often make war when their nations are to get nothing by it, but for purposes and objects merely personal, such as a thirst for military glory, revenge for personal affronts, ambition, or private compacts to aggrandize or support their particular families or partisans. These and a variety of other motives, which affect only the mind of the sovereign, often lead him to engage in wars not sanctified by justice or the voice and interests of his people."
Why couldn't Peggy Noonan and Bob 'bobbing for Bush' Woodward have picked these guys to channel???
Back by popular demand:
November 17, 2002
Morning in Blogtopia*
Thank you to TBOGG and Seeing the Forest for the mentions!
Blah3.com gives us the real poop on Iran-Contra Criminal ** John Poindexter, chosen by Chimpy and his nursemaids to be the director of the Pentagon's Information Awareness Office. So what, you’re saying? Just think: his little department will provide intelligence analysts and law enforcement officials with instant access to information from Internet mail and calling records to credit card and banking transactions and travel documents, without a search warrant. Only in GW Bush’s ‘America’. What did you think you were voting for?
Added Blue Streak to the links list.
Check out the accurate and dependable Dick Cheney Terror Index, at Body and Soul!
New quiz going around! Take The Gender Test! Fun facts:
So Far, The Gender Test Has Learned --
Men prefer falling over drowning to death.
Women really hate the word "used".
Women are more likely to realize that clams are alive (89%) than men (only 86%).
Testify! Has a great billboard pic, here.
*coined by skippy!
**John Poindexter lost his job as National Security Adviser under Ronald Reagan, and was convicted of conspiracy, lying to Congress, defrauding the government, and destroying evidence in the Iran Contra scandal.
Woke up to 2 good articles, via BuzzFlash:
"What did Dubya do in the war, daddy?" in the Toronto Star: 'Certainly the media showed its soft side last week. As George W. Bush piously observed Veterans Day, media pundits somehow restrained themselves from pointing to the irony that the U.S. Commander-in-Chief, who's sometimes referred to as a "former fighter pilot," has an embarrassing military past. His records show that for months at a time during the Vietnam War, Bush could be classified as, at best, "absent without leave" (AWOL) or, at worst, as an army deserter.
And "Media Bites Election - What Really Happened on Election Day" in The Manis Report: 'that the media seems to prefer the same old dog bites man. The Republican sponsored riot in Florida 2000, the Enron murder coverup are just the first two things that come to mind.
'It is time to be very clear that the mainstream media is setting a biased agenda -- Even the Washington Post which failed to cover the anti-war debate, and the New York Times which failed for five days (until readers protested) to report the largest anti-war rallies in thirty years. Even CBS News, which failed to follow up its own Enron “suicide” expose after the block-printed and probably forged “suicide note” was produced.
'Even all the networks – in failing to question the misrepresentations and outright lies promoted by the current Administration in promoting the Iraq war.
'And what’s up with the Fox News Network getting away with calling itself “fair and balanced”, and Bill Reilly’s “no spin zone”?
'It should also be very clear that democracy is being endangered by this biased an agenda.'
November 15, 2002
snort!
From the NY Times's profile of Tom DeLay:
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Pest control business; Texas House of Representatives, 1979-84.
For a second there it just looked funny.
In other news...
Bill Press's 'Nancy Pelosi is just what Democrats need' - one of the many good articles at SmirkingChimp.com.
Bushmoonies will be celebrating National Ammo Day November 19. No, really. Link here. But I'd take my word for it - you don't really want to go over there.
Speaking of vomiting, the NY Times brings us this: 'Democrats Vote No, but Allow Judicial Nominee to Advance (link here). The Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee today engaged in an unusual voting maneuver that signaled their disapproval of one of President Bush's judicial nominees even as they cleared the way for his confirmation. They first allowed the nominee, Judge Dennis Shedd, to be approved by a voice vote. Then, one by one, each of the Democrats present asked to be recorded as having voted against him.' Swell. HAVE YOU F*CKING IDIOTS LEARNED NOTHING???????? Good God.
Links
I'm not sure what's going on with my links. They're working all right for me. On the page, underlined text = link to a source. The underlined text is also colored in blue or green.
The stuff in fine print, like
"posted by maru soze
2002_11_01_maruthecrankpot_archive.html#84470742">8:45 AM" will link to the appropriate archives section.
If anyone can narrow down what problems they're having, please email me!
Thank you, John McCain!
The White House and key members of Congress agreed Thursday to create an independent commission to investigate the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Supporters expect it to be approved before Congress adjourns for the year.
The compromise came days after it appeared that the White House had blocked action on a commission, whose findings could embarrass pResident Bush on the eve of the 2004 election. Under the compromise, Bush would get to name the chairman; Democratic leaders in Congress would pick the vice chairman. The panel will have five Democrats and five Republicans. Victims' families claimed a partial victory by getting the White House to allow McCain, a maverick who often disagrees with Bush, to have input on the appointment of one Republican member. Link here.
Quote of the Day
...again goes to TBogg, for this gem:
"With Woodward mounted on one leg, Kelly, grunting and huffing on the other, and Howard Fineman's face buried in Bush's crotch, looks like President Cartman has hit the media trifecta."
'What did you think you were voting for?'*
"If the Homeland Security Act is not amended before passage, here is what will happen to you: Every purchase you make with a credit card, every magazine subscription you buy and medical prescription you fill, every Web site you visit and e-mail you send or receive, every academic grade you receive, every bank deposit you make, every trip you book and every event you attend - all these transactions and communications will go into what the Defense Department describes as 'a virtual, centralized grand database.' To this computerized dossier on your private life from commercial sources, add every piece of information that government has about you - passport application, driver's license and bridge toll records, judicial and divorce records, complaints from nosy neighbors to the F.B.I., your lifetime paper trail plus the latest hidden camera surveillance - and you have the supersnoop's dream: a 'Total Information Awareness' about every U.S. citizen." - William Safire, in the NY Times.
*Jon Stewart, on The Daily Show
And in a related story: "With the pretext of protecting citizens against terrorism, US legislators are happily throwing personal freedoms out the window. The Cyber Security Enhancement Act slipped into the Homeland Security bill at the last moment allows police to conduct Internet or telephone eavesdropping willy-nilly with no requirement to ask a court's permission first. The Act demands life sentences for hackers that 'recklessly' endanger lives...and allows Net surveillance to gather telephone numbers, IP addresses, and URLs or e-mail information, where an 'immediate threat to a national security interest' is suspected.* ISPs will also be permitted to hand users' records over to law enforcement authorities, overturning current legislation that outlaws such behaviour." - The Inquirer, with thanks to democrats.com.
*Suspected by John 'Crisco' Ashcroft, who thinks calico cats bear the marks of Satan.
The good, the bad, and the ugly
Two more Republicans get 18,181 votes??!! Blah3.com has the poop here. Gee, there hasn't been much in the mainstream media about this, has there?! Nothing to see here.....
Yuck! Drudge is already getting his panties wet over Bob 'bushbobber' Woodward's new puff-piece, Bush at War. Funny, it doesn't seem to cover The AWOL Years, or How My Dad Got Me into the National Guard, or even Minesweeper: It's Much Harder than Pac-Man!.
Thanks to Skippy for reminding us all of the upcoming Leonid meteor shower! It's supposed to be better than last year's!
Oh sure - Fox gets all the good seats
Recently, WH spokes-tool Ari 'the Liar' Fleischer reshuffled the seating chart in the briefing room. The changes included moving all the news-magazine reporters a few rows back.
The little leghumping lapdogs press corpse made such a fuss that Conan O’Brien couldn't resist - as he put it: “The good seats were given to reporters from President Bush’s favorite magazines, Highlights and Ranger Rick.” link.
Oh, and speaking of humping, happy honeymoon, Ari!
How......inspiring
LONDON (AP): The Cretin of Crawford appears in a new book of quotations released Thursday.
"Bushisms" in the second edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Phrase, Saying and Quotation, include: "We are ready for any unforeseen event which may or may not happen" and his words of wisdom at the 2001 Yale University commencement: "To those of you who received honors, awards and distinctions, I say well done. And to the 'C' students, I say you, too, can be president of the United States."
Did the Feds 'Fix' Florida Again?
Whistleblowers raise suspicion that the delay of a federal audit of the state plan was tied to Gov. Jeb! Bush's re-election campaign.
Sen. Charles Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, has asked for an investigation into whether Health and Human Services inspector general Janet Rehnquist delayed the audit to avoid possible embarrassment to Bush.
Grassley said Tuesday the audit delay is just one part of a federal inquiry into whether Rehnquist, daughter of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, like her old man, put the fix in for the bushies.
Grassley asked the General Accounting Office to look into Rehnquist's operation in October after learning that she made 19 senior-level staff changes at HHS. Grassley called that number "exceptionally high."
In talking with the whistleblowers from HHS, Grassley learned of suspicions that Rehnquist had delayed the Florida audit to avoid the possibility of damaging Jebbie's re-election campaign.
Oh, I'm sure there'll be nothing to see here. Move along.
L'aria di castrati
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP): Sen. Patrick Leahy's criticism of the U.S. Senate campaign in Georgia, in which a Republican upset a Democratic incumbent, is itself drawing a sharp response.
Leahy appeared on call-in show on WVMT-AM earlier this week and dismissed the winner of the Georgia race, Rep. Saxby Chambliss, as ''a draft dodger'' who had been supported by the AWOL Wonderboob.
''(Bush) supported a man, for example, in Georgia who was, well, the best way to put it, was a draft dodger who attacked Senator (Max) Cleland on his patriotism,'' Leahy said. ''And the president joined in that.''
Leahy's press secretary, David Carle, said the senator stood by his radio comments. ''(Leahy) is one of scores of Americans who were sickened and angered by the squalid attacks on the patriotism of Senator Cleland, a war hero who lost three limbs in Vietnam, and his comments reflect his strong feelings,'' Carle said. "But like most Democrats, I wish the ol' coot would've said something a few weeks ago, when it really mattered. Jeezus!"
November 14, 2002
IssuesGuy has all sorts of issues with the the economy, or lack thereof - see 'Stock Market Idiocy' and 'It Isn't Working, So Do it More' at Seeing the Forest.
Poetry Corner
Whence September dusk grows crisper still
With leaves all crimson conquered
I yearn to shout and dance about
And stick pickles in my honker.
- - Emily Dickinson, interpreted by Opus
'One party, one leader, one miserable failure'
"As it stands, we the people didn't get the government we deserve. We inherited your miserable failure." - Alan Bisbort writes An open letter to Deadbeat Dems, here.
"Maybe the Democrats have learned that they brought about their own debacle by saying "me too" and rolling over for Bush on so many issues during the campaign. Maybe now they will stiffen their rubbery spines and fight back." - Helen Thomas.
"No one can admire Democrats for having the courage of their convictions because they have neither courage nor convictions. They are Republican wannabes who can’t find their sorry butts with both hands and a map." - George E. Curry.
This just in!
House Democrats voted 177-29 today to make Rep. Nancy Pelosi the first woman ever to head a political party's caucus in Congress, and the only Dem in DC with - what was the term? Oh yeah, nutsacks..
Twenty-nine Democrats voted for Rep. Harold Ford of Tennessee, who had decided last Friday to challenge Pelosi for the job. Rep. Nancy Kaptur, an Ohio Democrat who got into the race only this week, pulled out before the vote.
Quotes of the Morning:
"The Democrats have been told they're too liberal for American voters and should move to the right. They're also told they need to distinguish themselves from the Republicans and move to the left. I think they just need - nut sack." - Jon Stewart, honest newsguy.
"Let's say he's alive. How much should we care at this point?" - that total waste of skin Howard Kurtz, on Osama bin Laden (link here).
Song of the Day:
Patti Smith's Gloria. Just because.
Great Moments in Hypocrisy
White House Wages Stealth War on Condoms -
The Hypocritical Holier than Thou Harken Halfwit George W. Bush has begun appointing critics of condoms to a presidential advisory panel on AIDS. They include social conservatives who question the international scientific consensus that condoms are highly effective in AIDS prevention. Instead, they emphasize failure rates from slippage, breakage and not using condoms every time.
"The only 100 percent effective way to avoid nonmarital pregnancy and STD infection is to avoid sexual activity outside a mutually faithful, lifelong relationship - marriage," says the Texas-based Medical Institute for Sexual Health. The group's founder, Dr. McIlhaney, Jr., now sits on the presidential AIDS panel.
Abstinence-only programs, which promote sexual abstinence and do not provide information on contraception or AIDS prevention, are the administration's pet projects, slated for more and more funding every year. So far, studies on their effectiveness are incomplete or inconclusive. Story here.
There used to be a site floating around out there listing all the repug national figures who got divorced and/or cheated on their wives...if anyone has it, please send it in! Here's a start.
Kudos
The Editor of Blah3.com is interviewed! See "The Question Mark Campaign: The Flash Movies of 'Stranger'" here!
Last night on Crossfire
CARLSON: But the bottom line here is, Paul, is that the president, whatever you think of him -- and I know you don't think much of him -- has achieved what Bill Clinton refused to do...
BEGALA: A fully incoherent foreign policy.
and to G Gordon Liddy:
BEGALA: Let me see if you've got the courage of your convictions to cross party lines. Now let me read you a quote from General William Turnipseed, retired commander of the Alabama National Guard, unit to which George W. Bush, lieutenant, was assigned as a Guardsman.
Here's what General Turnipseed said about Bush. "Had Bush reported in, I would have some recall, and I do not. I had been in Texas, done my flight training there. If we had a first lieutenant from Texas, I would have remembered."
Bush never showed up for an enter year of his Guard duty, and Dick Cheney, of course, famously told the Washington Post in 1989 and I quote, "I had other priorities in the '60s than military service."
He got five draft deferments. Why not a word? Why do you slam Bill Clinton, who clearly did not serve, and not a word about Bush and Cheney?
LIDDY: Well, what you say is correct, but Bush was a fighter jock.
BEGALA: And he was AWOL for a year.
The Top 10 Kids' Books for Conservative Crackpots
10. Rush Limbaugh Ate My Baby Brother!
9. Jesse’s a Funny Name for a Boy, Isn’t It?
8. The Lyin', The Bitch and the Wardrobe: The Ann Coulter Story
7. Yertle the Unlawful Combatant Turtle
6. Heather Has Two Mommies Who Are Going to Hell
5. Horton Hears a Who (And Turns Him in to the Authorities Like a Good Citizen Should), by John Ashcroft
4. Belittle Women, by Phyllis Schlafly
3. Jerry Falwell's Big Book of Things You'll Burn in Hell For
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas Back from Those Money-Grubbing Welfare Moms
1. Where Babies Come From Is None of Your Business
and some of the runners-up:
i. The Fat Cat in the Hat Gets a Tax Cut
ii. Green Eggs and Uninspected Ham
iii. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Glowing Green Fish, Because Trent Lott Doesn't Care Who Dumps Toxic Waste into Our Lakes and Rivers
iv. If I Ran the Zoo, Those Lazy Animals Would Have to Work for Their Food and Lodging
v. The Little Female Engine That Couldn't Because It Would Make the Boys Think She's a Bitch
vi. The Little Engine That Could... Burn All the Oil in the Alaskan Wildlife Reserve
vii. Dubya Potter and the Star Chamber of Secrets
viii. Harry Potter and the Cross of Fire
- - from Top5.com
November 13, 2002
Oh, Dubya, please call me Howeeeeena....
"What if there was a columnist for one of the prestige news weeklies and suddenly he completely lost his mind and started penning column after column about how he had taken command of a ragtag army of snails and lemurs who were running through the neighborhood stealing from the rich and giving to the poor?
"Would there be an intervention? Would he lose his column? Or would things just keep going on as per usual with maybe a few people chiming in about his edgy new style and crackerjack reporting?" - Josh Marshall bitch-slaps bush boy-toy Howard 'whoreward' Fineman here!
Fun with freepers 2
'Safire Predicts Hillary/Condoleezza match-up for 2008!,' screams Drudge. Condo will defeat Hillary Clinton for the presidency, repub lackey Safire says. So what else are you gonna pull out of your ass?
Oh.....my.....GOD
You have to check out The Onion's take on the midterm elections (thanks to dedalus at the BC forum for posting the link)!
Blogtopia-pallooza
Read about The Commonweal Institute - "the Heritage Foundation of the Left" - at Seeing the Forest. Their goal: 'to move people’s underlying attitudes away from the right wing’s agenda and back to a moderate/progressive perspective.'
Another flash movie at Blah3! Media #3: 'Things the Media want you to think,' or "You are free to do what we tell you." With musical guest Pitchshifter.
Quote of the day at Counterspin Central: scroll down to 'PARLIAMENT OF WHORES.'
Quote of the day, #2: "The fact is he [Dumbya] is wrestling with problems as tough as any president has wrestled with since Lincoln." - Former President George Bush, with a straight face evidently.
Gee, could the WH have been blowing smoke up our @ss again?
Turkey says there no Iraq order for nerve gas antidote.
ANKARA, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Turkish health and pharmaceutical officials today denied knowledge of any Iraqi orders for large doses of a drug that can be used as an antidote to nerve gas, the state-run Anatolian news agency said.
A senior official at the Turkish Health Ministry, which would normally approve such sales, said authorities knew nothing of any such order.
Wolf Blitzer was heard to reply "%@#*% !" from his stall in the Breaking Nooze Network mens' room.
Coffee!!
Congratulations, you're Seattle, the Emerald City.
What US city are you? Take the quiz by Girlwithagun.
Loss of water pressure in DC as chickenhawks simultaneously flush
Iraq, facing a Friday deadline and the threat of war, has accepted the new U.N. resolution that will return weapons inspectors to the country after nearly four years. "We are prepared to receive the inspectors within the assigned timetable," Ambassador Al-Douri said. "We are eager to see them perform their duties in accordance with international law as soon as possible."
In the letter, Iraq reiterates that it has no weapons of mass destruction. "We explained in the letter the whole Iraqi position saying that Iraq ... has not and will not have any mass destruction weapons, so we are not worried about the inspectors when they will be back."
Fun with freepers
President Bill Clinton is to accept an award for his peace efforts in Northern Ireland during the St Patrick's celebration in New York next year.
"Squee! Squee! Squee!" - Democrats continue to bend over, take it up the @ss.
Having learned nothing, Dems plan to fold on judicial nominees
Thank you sir, may I have another?
One Democratic aide said the Thursday vote on the two nominees was a gesture of good will . Senator Pat Leahy, the Vermont Democrat who will relinquish the chairman's seat in several weeks to Orrin Hatch, scheduled the session and Democratic aides said they expected the two candidates to be approved.
"Once the election returns were in, this became the obvious way to go," one Democratic aide said. "We really are a bunch of spineless pussies!"
Republicans said today that they recognized the agreement to vote less as a gesture of good will than as an appeal to Senator Hatch to be kind as he allocates committee and staff resources. And in a related story:
Tom 'Isadora' Daschle Caves on Homeland Security, 9/11 Commission
The White House and congressional leaders agreed Tuesday to begin pushing a bill through Congress this week to create a Homeland Security Department, moving toward a major legislative victory for pRresident Bush.
Congressional officials said they expected the Republican-run House to approve the bill today while the Democratic-controlled Senate will begin debating it the same day.
Passage also would represent a reversal by Senate Democrats who before the election opposed the bill because they said it would undermine civil service protections at the new agency.
The bill would drop Senate language that would have established an independent commission to investigate why U.S. authorities failed to prevent the Sept. 11 attacks, congressional aides said.
Yes, folks, the new pink tutus have been delivered, along with shiny new pink kneepads. Have a nice day.
November 12, 2002
Bartcop replies to Reznit Evil
"I have no greater responsibility than protecting the American people." -- President Pinhead on Veterans day
Hey, Smirk!
Just like in Texas, you hold the record for "most dead" on your watch.
If your job is protecting America, you're the worst president in history.
OK, which is the actual quote?
Dr. C. writes us asking 'Isn't this ironic?" Oh yes!
U.S. Rejects Iraq Demand for Changes
"I don't think there's anybody who believes the Iraqi parliament has a serious voice in what does or doesn't happen in Iraq," McCormack said. "There is only one voice that matters in this despotic regime and that is from Saddam Hussein. This is really, I think, pure political theater."
....or....
Iraq Rejects U.S. Demand for Changes
"I don't think there's anybody who believes the United States Congress has a serious voice in what does or doesn't happen in America," Odai Saddam Hussein said. "There is only one voice that matters in this despotic regime and that is from Dick Cheney. This is really, I think, pure political theater."
Sigh....
November 11, 2002 (ENS) - Members of the international nongovernmental coalition Species Survival Network were shocked to hear the United States offer a plan that would allow for a renewed international commercial trade in stockpiled elephant ivory within the next three years.
The U.S. amendment language came without warning at the 12th conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) during debate over a proposal from Botswana to allow the trade in 20 metric tons of ivory and also allow for an annual quota for ivory sales.
The U.S. language was announced moments before the European Union announced its opposition to the ivory trade at this time.
In a related story, the Bush misadministration plans to allow more snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. The decision reverses one taken during the Clinton presidency that would have banned them by next winter.
There would be no limits on snowmobiles for the winter season beginning next month and running until mid-March, Interior Department officials said.
Arm-twisting the leg-humpers
Oooooooooooh, a new taxpayer-funded backdrop for another taxpayer-funded Napoleon Bonehead propaganda tour! Photoshoppers, start your engines.
Even God's pissed
SUNSPOT, N.M. (AP) - Scientists say they have made the unprecedented discovery of solar flares erupting almost simultaneously on opposite sides of the sun.
Scientists at the observatory are trying to determine whether the eruptions were linked or a coincidence, said solar physicist Don Neidig. Experts said the discovery could have far-reaching consequences if more cases are observed.
'Be careful what you wish for'
It's show time! Time for the Republican Party to deliver on decades of big promises to the true believers: Ban abortions! Renew family values! Win the drug war! Slash taxes! Just remember, guys, no more excuses about Democrats obstructing the GOP platform. Your bluff has been called.
Not even another stunning victory over Saddam Hussein will be sufficient to ensure reelection for Bush if the economy is in the doldrums, if the national debt accelerates and if the Christian right is again frustrated in its relentless quest to ban abortions.
The president and his party are now wholly responsible for stewardship of the American economy. Their fate two years from now will hang mostly on hard numbers: how many of us are unemployed and what remains of our 401Ks. Link here.
Image from Hypocrites.com
Quiet day so far. Cool and rainy.
I'm starving!!
From watchdog to lapdog
During the Clinton administration, White House reporters made much of frantic presidential travels. Viewers learned that the federal treasury was set back $42 million by Clinton's trip to Africa, and were peddled the tale of Air Force One holding up takeoffs and landings at LAX while a Beverly Hills hairdresser gave the president a $200 trim.
No such coverage on the tube this time, only an analysis tucked away in the Washington Post that pResident Bush's political fund-raising trips through mid-October had cost taxpayers $15.7 million. Link here.
New flash movie, Media #2: 'Take The Power Back' at Blah3:
War = Ratings.
Ratings = Money.
War = Money.
BOYCOTT WAR!!
Musical Guest: Rage Against The Machine
November 11, 2002
Quote of the Day
"When was the last time that anyone offered George Bush a blow job? I mean, besides Howard Fineman...." - Tom, at TBOGG.
Oh Lord, Won't You Buy Me A Mercedes Benz...
Maru's Christmas List:
Electric guitar (on sale at Wal-Mart!)
Lava Lamp
Cartman doll
DVD player
Thick black socks
2-way plebney light
CD: Firesign Theater's Don't Crush That Dwarf - Hand Me the Pliers
The George W Bush "Boy, Am I Fucking Stupid!" wall calendar/dart board
Karl Rove in coma with large brick up his ass
I see the AWOL Wonderchimp is visiting the Vietnam Memorial, thanking veterans this morning, and planning how many troops he'll be sending to Iraq. What a guy.
Yesterday was the family's game dinner at my parents' house. This is where we basically clean out the freezers in preparation for what the new hunting season will bring, and catch up on the news. Some topics: old graveyards, my nephew's new cat Princess Arianna, local real estate, the wackjob down the road who died and rotted in her house, which then had to be torn down. We totally avoided politics, as none of us were really drunk enough.
The menu:
smoked salmon
sun-dried tomatoes with cream cheese
tuna sashimi
grilled venison rib chops with figs and a cranberry dipping sauce
venison skewers with pancetta and olives
venison tenderloin crostini with portebella mushrooms and pancetta
potato leek soup
pheasant in red sauce served with polenta
pheasant in a white sauce
sauteed mushrooms
sauteed broccoli rabe with garlic
butternut squash au gratin
roasted red peppers with preserved lemons
celeriac remoulade
apple pie a la mode
zabaglione
Wine:
NY State white
Parruso Barolo 1990
Elio Altare "La Morra" Barolo 1989
Grappa: Millefiori
November 10, 2002
United in anti-Bushism, Activists Vow Europe-Wide Protests Against Iraq War
FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) - Peace activists pledged on Sunday to stage protests across Europe against any war in Iraq, fired by the success of a weekend rally that brought half a million protesters onto the streets of Florence.
They said they were planning to hold a wave of demonstrations in three months' time, but would mobilize supporters sooner if a U.S. attack on Iraq looked imminent.
"We have fixed a date of February 15," said Italian militant Piero Maestri, adding that the rallies would be staged simultaneously in all major European capitals. "Some people wanted to hold it sooner, but the English said they needed more time to organize things. However, if war breaks out beforehand, we will hit the streets immediately," he said.
"This war, when it comes, will be one of the most unpopular in history and we have to do something to try to stop it," said Alain Krivine, a far-left French member of the European parliament who took part in Saturday's protest.
Eat my shorts
Great pic at MWO: 'Neither of these men will ever be elected President.' :) They forgot one:
Tom 'I'm wearing new panties!' Daschle says "Don’t blame the message" at pMSNBC.
I'll be home for Christmas...'cause I'm not in the armed forces: the Pentagon is steadily building up its forces in the region and is expected to be ready for battle by as early as next month, military analysts said yesterday.
Say it ain't so! Gateway ditches the cow! My favorite mascot will be replaced with - ughhh - kids. Whip it.
Who is Nancy Pelosi?
And why are the Republicans so upset that she’s the new Minority Leader?
"We must draw clear distinctions between our vision of the future and the extreme policies put forward by the Republicans. We cannot allow Republicans to pretend they share our values and then legislate against those values without consequence.
"As Minority leader, I will highlight those differences and challenge Republicans to match their words against their deeds. With our Members, we will carry this new resolve to Democrats across the country for the benefit of the American people."
- -From Bryan Zepp Jamieson's new column, at Zepp's Commentaries.
November 9, 2002
Updates and thanks
I'm testing Blogrolling and a neat referral thingie that skippy's using! Hopefully I won't discombobulate my html codes again.
A big thank you to Free Pie and skippy for the mentions, and to Dr. C for the nice email!
500,000+ March in Anti-War Rally in Italy
FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) - More than half a million anti-war protesters from across Europe marched through the city today in a loud and colorful demonstration denouncing any possible U.S. attack on Iraq.
Brimming with anti-American feelings and riled by a tough new U.N. resolution to disarm Iraq, young and old activists from as far afield as Russia and Portugal joined forces for the carnival-like rally.
"Take your war and go to hell," read one banner, in a forest of multi-colored and multi-lingual placards. "Drop Bush, not Bombs" read another. Some placards depicted pResident Bush as Hitler.
Authorities estimated that some 450,000 protesters flooded Florence's streets for the march on a chilly autumn afternoon. But by dusk, the crowed had swelled to over half a million, many of them arriving on specially chartered trains and buses. Organizers estimated the gathering at around one million, making it one of Italy's biggest ever anti-war rallies.
Despite the large crowds, the march was largely peaceful and no incidents were reported. "The atmosphere here is wonderful. Absolutely perfect. It shows that a new young left is emerging," said Stavos Valsamis, a 27-year-old Greek activist from Athens.
Dammit!!!!!!
Democrats Pledge Cooperation After Defeat
Sat Nov 9,11:07 AM ET, WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats "suffered a disappointing defeat" in Tuesday's congressional elections and will work with Republicans to get things done, a rookie Democratic representative said on Saturday.
"As hard as humanly possible, Democrats will seek bipartisan achievement to get things done by working with the Republican Congress and this President," said the appropriately-named Kendrick Meek, a newly elected U.S. representative from Florida.
Clueless, ball-less and stupid is no way to go though life, son. Jesus wept.
Republican squirrel?
It's a beautiful day, so I'm stuck doing yard work. But first:
Electile Dysfunction
Ben Tripp‘s 'Voting with your ass' at SmirkingChimp.com.
And Mark Weisbrot‘s 'Democrats could try telling the truth' here.
November 8, 2002
Helen Thomas condemns the Bush misadministration, media
"I have never covered a president who actually wanted to go to war. Bush's policy of pre-emptive war is immoral - such a policy would legitimize Pearl Harbor. It's as if they learned none of the lessons from Vietnam," she said to enthusiastic applause.
"Where is the outrage?" she demanded. "Where is Congress? They're supine! Bush has held only six press conferences, the only forum in our society where a president can be questioned. I'm on the phone to Ari Fleischer every day, asking will he ever hold another one? The international world is wondering what happened to America's great heart and soul."
Thomas didn't let the press off the hook, though. "Everybody learned the lessons of Vietnam, including the Pentagon. In Vietnam, correspondents could go anywhere - just hop on a helicopter and report on the war. Now we don't have that access. It's total secrecy. The media overlords should be complaining about this. I do not absolve the press. We've rolled over and played dead, too," she said.
Asked to advise young journalists, Thomas pounced. "Remind the politicians you interview that you pay them, that they are public servants. Remember every question is legitimate. And don't give up. There's always a leak. There's always someone who's trying to save the country," she said.
Cool!
Rep. Martin Frost of Texas dropped out of the race to succeed Dick 'Eunuch' Gephardt as House of Representatives Democratic leader on Friday and will back Nancy Pelosi of California for the job, party sources said.
Frost's action ensured that Pelosi will become the House minority leader when the 108th Congress convenes in January.
Good deal - Frost seemed way too wishy-washy.
Gee, usually I'm f*cking sweetness 'n' light...
Which Element Represents You?
created by 
kefkafanatic @ mental insanity
Maybe I'll be safe here...
Oh fuck!!
Orrin Hatch takes control of the Judiciary Committee!
So it's war!
"If we don't do something, he might attack us!" - the Incredible Warring Wonderboob, 11/7/02.
The UN Security Council unanimously approved a tough new Iraq resolution today, forcing Saddam Hussein to disarm or face "serious consequences". The vote came after eight weeks of tumultous negotiations and was seen as a victory for the Chickenhawks and Warmongerers of the bush misadministration.
November 7, 2002
a "Show about Nothing"
"...the so-called "Daschle Democrats" stood for absolutely nothing and therefore richly deserved to lose. Can anyone please explain what on Earth the Democratic party stands for right now? Republicanism Lite? Wow, that's inspiring!
"Unfortunately, what we have here is a party completely adrift, with no agenda of its own, and therefore with nothing left to do but criticize the President. In the weeks and months leading up to yesterday's debacle, we witnessed the pathetic spectacle of the Democarats meekly rolling over and supporting the President on Iraq in order to "move on" -- to what, we'll never know.
"We had Democrats criticizing the President's economic policy as a "disaster," but refusing to oppose the foundation of that policy -- the huge tax cut giveaway to the rich. Finally, by holding up Homeland Security in order to avoid angering the labor unions, the Democrats ended up looking weak on defending the nation while appearing to be in complete thrall to special interests (Big Labor, in this case).
"The "Daschle Democratic Party" stood for nothing, offered absolutely no vision or plan for America, and therefore deserved to lose. It's time for the Democrats to do some serious soul searching, but don't hold your breath that they actually will!" - Lowell Feld.
Thank you, TBOGG:
'...as I walked through the room, I saw a commercial promoting MSNBC's "fiercely independent political coverage". That's enough to make you hork a waffle through your nose. I assume they meant "independent" of the facts.'
And the look into Dick 'dick' Cheney's love life is a hoot!
Ah well
"...not only do we have an economy slowly flapping its way to the bottom of the fish tank, we have two men in the White House who, a scant two months ago, were hiding out in some subterranean war room in the Appalachians, hoping to dodge subpoenas on account of their shady business conduct, even as all their buddies at Enron were striking to make deals with the Justice Department." - Alexander Cockburn & Jeffrey St. Clair.
"Now that he controls all the political institutions - House, Senate, White House - Bush can move to infiltrate the judiciary. Dozens of conservative federal judges with lifetime tenure await confirmation they can now expect to get. This will permanently reorient constitutional trends. The slashing of forests and the drilling of wilderness, by timber and oil interests newly let loose, will be still less reversible. The rich men's tax cuts of 2001 will be secured against revision, and other tax cuts added. The 40 million Americans without health insurance can expect to remain that way. Axioms of inequality will be engraved deeper into the pillars of American society." - The Guardian's Hugo Young.
Hesiod lists the choices for the new Democratic leadership at Counterspin Central.
What the hey is Lieberman doing on the list - it's supposed to be Democrats only, innit?!
I like Barney Frank, myself, but what do I know - I thought the Dems would at least hold the Senate.
Quote of the Morning
A day after Democrats suffered resounding congressional losses, one exasperated Democratic political consultant said he was going to put his displeasure into literary form. "I'm ready to write a book," said Democratic strategist Peter Fenn, whose proposed title would be: "Why Democrats Have No Balls." - Anthony York, in Salon.
Now you say that you're sorry, after bein' so untrue...
Democrats are beginning the 2004 political campaign on a sour note after midterm elections that left them weakened in Washington and worried about money, message and who will be their next principal messenger. "Since Bill Clinton left, we don't know who we are," Democratic consultant Dane Strother said. "We not only need to know who we are, we need to tell people who we are," said Al From, founder and chief executive of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council. "We didn't have much to say in this election." link.
I'd just like to tell our readers from overseas that they got it right the first time: George W. Bush is a dumbass. Unfortunately, you can say the same thing for a lot of Americans, too.
Daddy's Little Doofus is controlled by his much smarter advisors. And the citizens of the US are controlled by the mass media, which is owned by the same big-business cronies that helped put pReznit Privilege in the White House. Never has the term "idiot box" been so true. The 'Murken public sits in stupor on their comfortable couches with their hands down their pants, eyes blankily glued to 'news alerts' from such repub donors as Fox and CNN. Brainwashing propaganda. It's something out of Clockwork Orange. When the 'news' channels broadcast fawning, flagwaving coverage of Dumbya and his nannies 24/7, what do you think is going to happen? The sheep are going to go baaaaaaaaa. Hey, they're 'Fair and Balanced"! They cover both views, right and far-right!
Arrrrgggghhhhh.
From one end of the country to the other, the Democrats had nothing to say. And the nation will suffer for their silence.
The first order of business for Democrats is clear: They must dump the utterly discredited masterminds of their disaster. Dick Gephardt, Tom Daschle, and Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe.
The second order of business for the Democrats, then, is message. In a nation where economic insecurity is routine; where anxiety over jobs, retirement and health coverage is widespread; the failure of the Democrats to connect on any of these causes is astonishing. It must now craft plausible policies that will restore some security to the social and economic lives of Americans -- and that cannot be done without challenging the all-wealth-to-the-wealthy economics of the administration.
The Democratic Leadership Council and other center-right Democrats will doubtless argue that this election proves that Democrats dare not deviate from fiscal conservatism at home and hawkishness abroad. But the dwindling of the Democratic base this Tuesday argues precisely the opposite: that when Democratic candidates cease to be Democrats, Democratic voters cease to be voters. Republicans may have worked to depress Democratic turnout in this week's election, but the real scandal is, so did the Democrats. - Snipped from Harold Meyerson's column in TAP.
KMA
"We're going to stand up for the things we believe in. It's going to be important for us to continue that fight, even though we're in the minority." - Tom 'Isadora' Daschle tries out his new comedy routine.
"This year, cowed by the alleged popularity of George II and his successfully steamrolling his agenda, the Dems offered 'republican lite' in far too many races. With a choice of two candidates, both supporting the bush junta, why vote for a Democrat? Why vote for the person too wishy-washy to stand for the long-held principles of his or her party?" - BuzzFlash contributor LT.
November 6, 2002
Dear Senator Daschle:
You could have whipped the Republicans by telling the truth about any of the issues. Instead the Dems ran a gutless, incompetent, content-free, let's-not-offend-anybody campaign.
Now because of you and Gephardt, and numerous other fools and cowards who control the Democratic Party - who decided to roll over rather than stand for something - we'll all suffer.
I hope you feel lousy, you pink-tutu wearing weakling. You deserve it - and I, and tens of millions of other Americans and upstanding Democrats, don't.
- paraphasing from a letter at the BuzzFlash mailbag.
Read 'n' weep
President Bush has new hopes for action on his conservative slate of judges, his energy plan calling for drilling in Alaska's wildlife refuge, and the policies he favors on topics such as homeland security, terrorism insurance and prescription drug coverage. With Democrats losing their ability to set the Senate schedule and launch probes of the administration, chances improve for Bush's hopes to extend last year's tax cuts [to the rich], curtail jury awards, cut business regulations (possibly on Superfund environmental cleanups) and overhaul Medicare. Yep, you can say goodbye to the investigations into Enron, Harken, Halliburton, Dick 'Chicanery' Cheney's top secret energy task force meetings, what happened on 9/11....
- - -From the Washingtoon comPost.
And f*ck you.
If you were eligible to vote yesterday, but didn't, don't you come crying to those of us who fought like hell to counter balance the Republican juggernaut. If you actually support George W. Bush and the corporate cronies who make up the Republican party, don't come crying when your sons and daughters die in Iraq - which can only be considered as the next Vietnam. If you voted for a Republican senator on November 5th, don't come crying when the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, and your daughter has to secretly contract with a witch doctor for her abortion. If your son or daughter is accused of breaking the law, but doesn't get to talk with an attorney, or you're not happy your phone lines have been tapped, don't come crying to me. If arsenic in your drinking water leads to your pancreatic cancer, live with it or don't. If you don't like strip mines in your national parks, don't expect violins or kleenex.
You knew what you were getting when you voted on November 5th. Or you should have known. Ignorance is not a valid excuse. This is what America wants. When other people in other nations criticize Americans as self-centered and arrogant, they may not be talking about you or me. But they ARE talking about the majority of Americans. And I am beginning to think they're right. By the way, Mssrs. Daschle and Gephardt: resign. Your sit on your thumbs, butt kissing of the President predictably backfired. Apparently, a minority of Americans - but enough of them - decided that even a bad set of solutions is better than your disappearing act. - From D. Heil's 'Message to America: Don't come crying...', at SmirkingChimp.com. Word.
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it. - from Your Daily Moment of Zen, at Chapel Perilous.
This just in...
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson won a second term by a mere 527 votes, defeating Rep. John Thune in a race widely seen as a proxy fight between pResident Bush and Senate Democratic Leader Tom 'Isadora' Daschle.
With all precincts reporting, Johnson received 167,481 votes, or 50 percent, to 166,954 votes, or 49 percent, for the Republican. Thune campaign officials said they were discussing a recount. Of course they are.
Puh
"I know something about being a government. And you've got a good one." - the Oaf of Office, on the campaign trail (where else?), Ark., 11/4/02.
"Mommy!" - Tom 'Isadora' Daschle, 11/6/02.
Piss 'n' Graffiti
The Angry Dems.com Wall of Frustration, here.
"Democrats have no one but themselves to blame for this defeat."
"A party that will not criticize the incumbent president cannot defeat him, now or two years from now. A party that has nothing to say about unfair tax breaks, a vanishing surplus and a looted economy cannot expect anyone to listen when it asks for votes. A party without passion or vision is hardly a political party at all. Even in their righteous defense of Social Security, Democrats too often sounded as if their chief concern was to preserve their own institutional position. Today the future looks grim for them because they blurred the purposes of their partisanship." - Joe Conason.
Lincoln Chafee May Cross Aisle - Thus Blocking the Bush Dictatorship
"Republicans won control of the Senate after ousting Democrats in Georgia and Missouri, giving president Bush's legislative agenda a major boost in the next Congress... With at least 47 senators, Democrats will still be able to use filibusters - procedural delays - to kill Republican initiatives because such roadblocks need only 41 votes to succeed....But the final word on Senate control may be delayed because of possible Election Day disputes over paper ballots in Minnesota and other issues. Uncertainty could linger until Dec. 7, when a Louisiana runoff will be held since the front-runner there, Landrieu, failed to win 50 percent of the vote. Furthermore, Rhode Island Republican Sen. Lincoln Chaffee said he might consider crossing the aisle after the election if the chamber were tied 50-50." - pMSNBC, via democrats.com email.
Yeah, and then Zell Miller crosses...
Speaking of DINOs, Jim Traficant is still just another prisoner in Pennsylvania.
I heard on the news coming in this morning that the Democrats are in shock, they don't know what hit them, and that heads are going to roll. Well duh. After spending the past two years cowering or fawning to the White House, and caving in to practically every little thing, they're surprised? Hell, when they weren't humping Karl Rove's leg they allowed themselves to be portrayed as unpatriotic, traitorous crybabies (thank you, media whores, for all your help there).
Not only that, but leaders Tom 'Isadora' Daschle and Dick 'Fluffy' Gephardt did fantastic imitations of invisible mimes, for petessake. It seems like the only thing I've heard from them is the sound of both of them kissing WH ass.
Pathetic jellyfish don't usually win votes.
And WTF is wrong with Florida???!
November 5, 2002
Crap. I just spewed coffee all over the keyboard: Atrios has some great captioned pics up over at Eschaton.
Repuglican efforts to intimidate voters reaches new lows.
WAKE UP !!!!!
Races to Watch
By WilliamPitt at DemoUnderground:
New Jersey: Lautenberg will defeat Forrester.
North Carolina: Libby is in some trouble against Bowles. Miller (D) will defeat Grant (R) for the new seat.
New Hampshire: Shaheen can win if the anti-tax folks don't come flooding to the polls.
Arkansas: Hutchinson (R) is the "most vulnerable incumbent" for GOP against Pryor.
Georgia: Chambliss (R) compared Cleland to Osama and Saddam in ads, so bad that Zell actually stood up for a Democrat and defended Cleland. Cleland will win. MANY House races are competitive here.
South Carolina: Lyin' Lindsay Graham faces a strong challenge to keep Thurmond's seat in GOP hands against challenger Alex Sanders. This would be huuuuuuuge.
Colorado: Freshman Senator Allard (R) in trouble against Tom Strickland. The new House seats here are a toss-up.
Texas: Phil Gramm's seat likely to be taken by Cornyn(R) against Kirk after major White House push.
Minnesota: Mondale will beat Coleman, especially after that debate - I am sure it is being played wall-to-wall on local MN TV.
Missouri: Carnahan (D) is barely hanging on against Talent.
South Dakota: Tossup between sitting Senator Johnson (D) and Thune. Too close to call.
Words cannot descibe how I'd like to see Florida humiliate Jeb! and send his pathetic, whiny little balls back to Kennebunkport and political obscurity. Along with his simian brother.
November 4, 2002
"USA stands for US, Asshole!" *
"I need to be able to move the right people to the right place at the right time to protect you, and I'm not going to accept a lousy bill out of the United Nations Senate." - the Oaf of Office, South Bend, Ind., Oct. 31, 2002
"John Thune has got a common-sense vision for good forest policy. I look forward to working with him in the United Nations Senate to preserve these national heritages." - oh good lord...
"Any time we've got any kind of inkling that somebody is thinking about doing something to an American and something to our homeland, you've just got to know we're moving on it, to protect the United Nations Constitution, and at the same time, we're protecting you." - the same smirking idiot, Aberdeen, S.D., the same day.
*Pretty sure it was Stephen Colbert, on The Daily Show.
I'm scared.
I'm seeing stories that the repigs are moving ahead in the polls.
It's going to be a long day tomorrow.
Whining Flake Picks Interim Senator
Minn. (AP) - Gov. Jesse Ventura just named independent Dean Barkley to serve as interim senator, filling the seat of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone. The decision temporarily gives the Senate a 49-49 split with two independents.
Wow - you just have to see stranger's new flash movie, Revolution: 'Everything depends on one vote: yours.' Fantastic stuff. If the DNC had this running on tv, there'd be no problem getting out the vote!
Quote of the morning, part 2
Our hero, Jon Stewart, mercilessly reduces Howard 'whoreward' Kurtz to a puddle of repug-pondsmeg on his vanity show, Reliable Sources:
Howie the whore: So you don't, you're not confusing yourself with a quote, "real journalist"?
Jon Stewart: No. You guys are...
Howie the Clueless: You're just making fun...
Jon Stewart: You guys are confusing yourselves with real journalists.
WTF recommends you read the entire interview, at the link above!
What's black and brown and looks good on KKKarl Rove?
Spent the weekend putting up Vote Lautenberg! posters. And watching football.
Quote of the morning
"Lester, I am not a protest tracker except for when I travel with the President. Then I look out the window." - Ari Fleischer, press conference, 10/29/02.
November 2, 2002
.
NRA Happily Sodomizes Very Soul Of Universe
The National Rifle Association and its crusty soul-curdling rifle-licking high-profile leader no one really likes Charlton Heston actually chose to openly degrade very soul of the universe and went ahead with a pro-gun rally in Tucson Wednesday, just two days after three university professors were gunned down by a flunking student who was also a gun collector and presumably an NRA fan and avid supporter because what depressed lonely gun-collecting moron doesn't love America's free and easy access to guns, not to mention the sheer soulless audacity and direct heartless insult and painful karmic sodomy of coming to a shocked and horrified town that just suffered a tragic gun-related tragedy to promote the gun cause and pump your clenched violent pro-gun fists and exclaim how everyone in the nation should own guns because then no one would shoot each other anymore because they'd be too afraid they'd get their own faces shot off? How cool would that be? Grunt sneer yay? - Mark Morford, SF Gate Morning Fix, via email.
Huh?
The White House expressed support today for pathetic, lying, corporate whore/SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt, brushing aside pressure from Democrats and some Republicans for his removal.
"The president continues to have confidence in Harvey Pitt," White House spokes-tool Ari "the Liar" Fleischer lied.
The statement followed a Washington Post report that the White House was considering asking Pitt to resign or may wait and allow him to step down after the Nov. 5 congressional election. According to the Post, support for Pitt within the White House is deteriorating.
"Confidence in our economy depends upon us holding people to account if they're not honest with the people. That's the kind of leadership you need in Nashville and that's the kind of leadership you've got in Washington," Smirky McGolfcart laughingly told deluded bushmoonies on the campaign trail in Tennessee.
According to congressional sources, White House officials are considering a major reshuffling of Bush's economic team after the election.
It's snowing.
Hmmmmmm
NEW YORK (AP) - Leading state Democrats have asked Independence Party candidate Thomas Golisano to drop out of the race for governor and endorse their candidate, a request Golisano responded to Saturday by scheduling a public announcement for Sunday.
A Marist College poll released a week ago of 432 likely voters showed Pataki with 47 percent, followed by McCall with 27 percent and Golisano with 17 percent. It had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
'Regime Change Begins at Home'
MWO and Ampersand remind us to visit Move On - "MoveOnPAC's campaign contributions provide financial support to congressional candidates who embrace moderate to progressive principles of national government. Our intention is to encourage and facilitate smaller donations to offset the influence of wealthy and corporate donors. With the Congressional balance of power hinging on the outcome of a few key races, the candidates endorsed here are crucial to maintaining the balance of power in Washington."
Check out their 'Twenty reasons this election matters and twenty ways to take action.' Donate, volunteer, help get out the vote next week!
November 1, 2002
Nothing to see here, move along...
The White House said on Friday it was content to allow the Securities and Exchange Commission (link) to handle an investigation into the choice of William 'Whoops!' Webster to a new national accounting oversight board.
The White House also reiterated its confidence in SEC Chairman Harvey 'Corporate Whore' Pitt, whom SEC sources said failed to tell fellow commissioners that Webster was audit committee chairman of U.S. Technologies Inc., a company that has been accused of fraud in a lawsuit.
Rock 'n' roll! Cool Headline of the Day: Macedonia Parliament Backs 'Guns and Roses' Govt. (link).
AWOL Wonderchimp, Chickenhawks Move Massive Amounts of Ammo to Gulf
The U.S. Navy is seeking more merchant ships to carry large quantities of ammunition to the Gulf for arrival in November and December, shipping tender show.
The Navy has also placed an order to shift quantities of ammunition between Gulf ports, as the United Nations moves closer to a new resolution on disarming Iraq.
One of the orders shows the Navy's Military Sealift Command is seeking a vessel to move 550 containers of ammunition and explosives from the U.S. East Coast to four ports in the Red Sea and Gulf.
"That's a big chunk of ammo," said one shipping source.
Meanwhile, in related stories: Russia today stood by its demand that Washington seek explicit U.N. authorization for using force against Iraq if Baghdad failed to cooperate with weapons inspectors.
And former U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter said today that the Noocyooler Nincompoop and his small-dicked 'advisors' would try to trigger a war with Iraq by interfering in new arms inspections in what he said would be proof of American "imperial" ambitions.
"The U.S. will be doing whatever it can to provoke a confrontation," he told journalists in Berlin. "There is a big group of people in the United States that want war."
Quotes
"If you find someone who is not going to vote for us, put a nail in his tire. Don't let him out of the driveway." - Gov. Mike Huckabee "joking" to the bushmoonies Republican faithful at the NRA rally yesterday in Springdale, Ark. (from Joe Conason).
"Today it looks like some more Americans are looking for work, and that's a problem. We're kind of bumping along, and that's not good enough. I need people in Congress who understand the role of government, and that's to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish." - the Oaf of Office, Pennsylvania, 11/1/02. Ummmmmm, he's been spending how many months now either on vacation or on the fundraising trail?
