Fitz!

I was appalled at that Morgan person the other night.

I hope like hell she’s never on HardBRAWL again.

Turd!

IOKIYAR(It’s okay if you are a Republican.)

“If he were to be tried and convicted of treason, yes, I would have no problem with him being sent to the gas chamber.”

LMFAO.

I hate to tell ya, Melanoma Moron, Keith Olbermann burst that fucking bubble last night. This stuff was no secret whatsoever.

Has anyone compiled a recent list of the homicidal rantings of the Republican-conservatives and forwarded said list to Ramesh Ponnoru?

I think the real “Party of Death” is showing their true colors.

-GSD

Spork, are you still here?

If Ol’ 60 Grit got into a fight with Edie Tarbox, who would win?

(Not America, certainly)

Re: Melanie Morgan

KO on Countdown just named her “worst person in the world” ; )

“It is about revealing classified secrets in the time of war. And the media has got to take responsibility for revealing classified information that is putting American lives at risk.”

- Melanoma Moron
__________

Dumbass Bitch, the NYT didn’t publish ANYTHING “classified” here.

http://www.swift.com/

Look this isn’t rocket science. Send a letter to MSNBC, attention: Dan Abrams. Tell him of your displeasure and then TURN THE T.V. OFF. Abrams is new, the programming is vulnerable, numbers are everything, and with a little bit of luck this problem will fix itself.

“It is about revealing classified secrets in the time of war. And the media has got to take responsibility for revealing classified information that is putting American lives at risk.”

But only the media. Because it’s totally cool when the government does it.

At best people like Chris Matthews are standing by as they let radical crazies incite violence in this country. At worst they’re complicit, like major media figures who helped ignite the Rwandan massacre. Dave Neiwert at Orcinus is a stand-out site for understanding the depth of danger from this relentless, insidious hatred.

I’m not sure enough people take this hate on the airwaves seriously enough. Sure it’s all fun and games to sit around and call for the death of people, then head off and share cocktails with each other. But what about the troglodytes that watch and listen to this stuff? They’re the ones likely to go the next step and actually act. We’re just going to have to wait until someone gets killed, aren’t we? But even then I’m sure the Chris Matthews will find some rationalization to avoid responsibility.

There is no limit to this utter whore. Or the entire whore media culture. Truly. Their whipped submissiveness to mac daddy rove is without any bounds whatever.

oh and fitz! kitts! leisureguy! jane! rootz! christy! fiona! birds! dogs! the still cool america of people!

They’re the ones likely to go the next step and actually act. We’re just going to have to wait until someone gets killed, aren’t we?

I don’t think it really makes much difference. It’s always just some lone nut/bad apple, nothing to do with them.

“harridans” — good word! It needs to be used more often about the Phyllis Schafleys et al

Um, in the moonbat’s defense, it WAS an “if…then” statement, so she’s pretty much off the hook. The penalty for treason is still death in a lot of places. Just for fun, replace the “he” with “Ann Coulter” in the statement (you can change “him” to “her” if you’d like, too). See? Now it’s a much less disturbing mental picture.

fitz! kitts! leisureguy! jane! redd! birds! what’s left of america, us people!

Um, in the moonbat’s defense, it WAS an “if…then” statement, so she’s pretty much off the hook.

“Wingnut” or “dingbat”, if you please.

My point being that the chances of Bill Keller being convicted of treason are about on par with W’s chances of getting inducted into Mensa. I wouldn’t even be willing to bet the change under the couch cushions on it.

Thanks for the post Jane, because Melanie’s comment seemed like a disturbingly hallucinatory rant. Would one dare say the word “psychopath”?

If she’s a denizen of the wingnut ghetto, I want it to be a gated community. On an island.

fwiw, the gas chamber hasn’t been used in the USA for a legal execution since 1999 (Arizona, March 4th, 1999 on Walter LeGrand))

Of course, I continue to believe that a trial on this issue, while it would be a travesty of justice, would be terrific entertainment.

There is no declaration of war from Congress.
—-
Just so nobody else has to; I did get the gist, but wanted MORE. (via Nisus Thesaurus plug-in for OS X 10.2.8 aka ‘Jaguar’.)
“harridans (as in “harridan”) n. : a scolding (even vicious) old woman”
——
Your friendly neighborhood Kludge.

The Rethugs and their megaphones sure are geering up the spinning. It is making me dizzy and giving me whiplash.

The more vile, vitral spewing of venom daily means that they are loosing control. When “WE” were the quite docile little sheep they just spread the standard “scare” line.

Amazingly, there are Democrats who are hitting back (boohoo that nasty Democrat punched me back) and standing up for our constitution.

Thanks for the post Jane, because Melanie’s comment seemed like a disturbingly hallucinatory rant. Would one dare say the word “psychopath”?

If she’s a denizen of the wingnut ghetto, I want it to be a gated community. On an island.

I’d say there’s anywhere between five and twenty (hell, maybe more) of these kinds of loonies who get invited back again and again, or even given their own shows (Beck, Savage). And yet hardly anyone seems to think the right is unhinged. It’s kind of scary, really.

An example of previous travesty of justice that made for great entertainment:

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/29308

“Spork, are you still here?

If Ol’ 60 Grit got into a fight with Edie Tarbox, who would win”

Geez…tough call. Who can resist a tarbox?

.

Apparently, there are Ann Coulter wanna-bes, as hard as that is to imagine.

I heard the roundtable in the car on the way home tonight, and the Sandpaper Shrew could not have been any deeper in the Admin’s lap; it was disgusting, and if she even read the SC opinion, she’s lost the ability – if she ever had it – to take a legal opinion on its face, and not through the lens of her own bias. How is this helpful to anyone?

I guess I have gotten to the point where it isn’t that I don’t want to hear opposing opinions – I enjoy a good debate and believe that real debate is how we often reach an acceptable middle ground. At a minimum, real debate sharpens the issues, and gives us things to think about and consider.

I listen to AirAmerica, and I read a wide selection of liberal/progressive points of view. I listen to liberals attempt – in vain – to engage conservatives in discussion of the issues. Is it just me – am I so biased that I am only hearing talking points from many conservatives, and little but downright smears from them as well?

Listening to conservatives talk about the banking surveillance program, for example, I don’t hear facts at all. It was just like Barney Frank said today – that the House resolution stated as fact what the administration wants to put out as the truth about the program, when in fact, no one knew for certain that any of the assertions in it were true.

I mean, what function does Chris Matthews actually serve? What does he bring to a discussion that sheds any light on issues? What function do any of them serve, for that matter?

I get so I am torn between continuing to take in information (if you can call it that ) from all sides – which usually leaves me with a pulsating vein in my temple – and some days just wanting to pull the covers over my head and forget that all this is going on.

/rant

Just a couple of thoughts to ponder. First, this type of rhetoric will by necessity lead to the ramping up of hatred and vitriol towards people in the media or their perceived friends. We are headed down a deadly road where some wingnut will not be satisfied until these perceived enemies of George Bush or the State are silenced.

In someone’s twisted mind they will look upon this breach as their rationale to take whatever measures necessary to silence this threat with force.

Unfortunately when this happens, and it will happen, this will only be the first shot into what will naturally escalate into full blown strife.

I don’t wear tinfoil hats, and I don’t believe in conspiracies, unless it involves Rover, but I do see the hardening of passions. Hell there are times when I feel like physically taking back my country, so I know the passions are real.

I don’t have an answer, a solution, or any plan to stop what I see as the inevitable. I’m a boomer, and I remember the streets in the 60’s, and like being in a time warp, we are again headed to the pavement, most likely spattered with blood.

God help us all.

Desperate goopers throw a bone to the NRA:

WASHINGTON – The House on Thursday passed legislation that would suspend a new requirement that gun dealers provide a trigger lock with every handgun they sell.

The development came on the heels of a 230-191 vote late Wednesday to block the Justice Department from enforcing the trigger lock law. The vote came during debate on a spending measure funding the department’s budget.

Despite the vote, suspension of the trigger lock mandate is not at all ensured. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., the top GOP negotiator on the underlying Justice Department spending bill, voted against the idea. The Senate voted more than 2-1 to impose the requirement and has yet to act on the bill.

Jane/Christy…

…will either of you be posting an analysis of the Hamdan decision? I always come here to read excellent legal analysis of the events of the day…I popped over here thinking for sure you’d have something up.

Great time to get EPU’d. lotus, if you’re still around, the story of the piano and the rope is recounted (in excruciating detail) at the end of the last thread.

Jane,

This is exactly what MSNBC/FOX/CNN want. They want people like Morgan and Coulter to continually dehumanize and slander opponents of Bush/Rove/Cheney/Republicans. Chances are Matthews got a memo from the top brass at GE/MSNBC that said “attaboy, give us more Morgan and Coulter.”

Is there any doubt at this point that corporate media is an enemy of Democrats and progressives? I don’t think so.

Assimilated Press
Read “White House: Parts Of Constitution Written In Invisible Ink” at:
http://assimilatedpress.blogspot.com/

With about three months of blogosphere under my sash I now get who 60 Grit O’Beirne is. Take MannC and put her in a tanning booth for twenty thousand miserable years, presto. These Republicans are flopping around like a shark out of water.

Well….I go back and forth on the question of whether it’s better to shut these types of people up, or whether it’s better to let them air their lunacy and let the public see just how crazy they really are.

Part of the problem might be that too many Democrats are just too timid to publicly call them idiots and loons….right on national TV.

Ghostman

Read Anne at 26 and Elliot at 27 as ONE contiguous comment.

DC Pol Sci, Christy wll be posting on Hamdan first thing tomorrow.

All you need to know about MM

Bringing back the ol’ Spinster Lady look

Free Speech Enemy (BTW I know Steve and Virginia and they couldn’t be nicer people)

Looks to me as if any serious attempt to govern is officially on hold until the end of the election season. These fuckers might just as well go home now. We’re gonna get nothin but bullshit for the rest of this congress’s term.

Next- an anti bible burning amendment to the constitution.

Thanks, Leslie — be right back.

Just a couple of thoughts to ponder. First, this type of rhetoric will by necessity lead to the ramping up of hatred and vitriol towards people in the media or their perceived friends. We are headed down a deadly road where some wingnut will not be satisfied until these perceived enemies of George Bush or the State are silenced.

In someone’s twisted mind they will look upon this breach as their rationale to take whatever measures necessary to silence this threat with force.

Unfortunately when this happens, and it will happen, this will only be the first shot into what will naturally escalate into full blown strife.

I don’t wear tinfoil hats, and I don’t believe in conspiracies, unless it involves Rover, but I do see the hardening of passions. Hell there are times when I feel like physically taking back my country, so I know the passions are real.

They Shoot Judges, Don’t They?

Eli at 23 “Id say theres anywhere between five and twenty (hell, maybe more) of these kinds of loonies who get invited back again and again, or even given their own shows (Beck, Savage). And yet hardly anyone seems to think the right is unhinged. Its kind of scary, really.”

My feelings as well. I continue to be amazed that the Right, or at least the far Right, does not have a reputation for being totally crazed and vicious.

Oops, sorry.

Tarbox.

.

OT but has anyone seen Alexander Cockburn’s hit piece on blogs in this week’s The Nation? The editors at TNR will have an orgasm when they read it, if they haven’t already.

My feelings as well. I continue to be amazed that the Right, or at least the far Right, does not have a reputation for being totally crazed and vicious.

They’re just a few bad apples, really.

Who get to be on TV over and over and over again.

Eli 43, they don’t believe in therapy; this is as close as they get to talking about their problems.

Eli says
June 29th, 2006 at 6:32 pm
My feelings as well. I continue to be amazed that the Right, or at least the far Right, does not have a reputation for being totally crazed and vicious.

They’re just a few bad apples, really.

Who get to be on TV over and over and over again.
———————————————————-
I honestly thought that 2004 was going to be the end of it. Then Bush got the most votes in history. Shows you what I know.

Eli 43, they don’t believe in therapy; this is as close as they get to talking about their problems.

“Mommy State never loved me!”

Jane, a couple of my CT recommendations, outside of pizza. For the car, 1300 AM, Progressive Talk Radio.

For a real seafood treat, have a genuine CT lobster roll. Completely different from most others. This ain’t no lobster salad. Hand-picked lobster meat grilled in butter and served in a toasted, buttered hot dog bun. To freakin’ die for. Best known for this Jimmies in West Haven and Lenny and Bruce’s in Clinton.

it is likely that Christy will have her Hamdan post up by noon tomorrow … it’s rather profound and her peanut is acting obstreperous

Hamdan is not a harridan, I suppose.

hmmm. new word.

I can’t agree that a trial of the NYT editors for treason, or the NYT for violation of some statute against sedition, would be “entertaining.”

This is not a joke, and the idiots who are advocating that Keller be tried for treason are serious and should be taken seriously. We are not living in a society where the Bill of Rights is secure, where the vast majority of Americans can see through the political demagoguery, and where our instititutions, particularly our courts, are so revered and committed to democratic principles and the 1st Amendment, that any challenge would be laughed out of court, let alone in some entertaining fashion.

The current ruling party is engaged in serious challenges to our form of government, and to the notion of free speech, free press and other Bill of Rights protections. — didn’t you read Glenn’s book? Are you not paying attention?

I honestly thought that 2004 was going to be the end of it. Then Bush got the most votes in history. Shows you what I know.

I thought “Mr. Personality” (bachelor contestants in masks, hosted by Monica Lewinsky), and then “The Littlest Groom” (just guess) would kill reality television.

There. Is. No. Bottom.

SharonW, just when my hunger pangs were dying down, you get me going again. *g*

Hamdan is not a harridan, I suppose.

hmmm. new word.

Hamridan?

I don’t think that’s kosher.

These TeeVee talk shows are entertainment- they depend on ratings- and wild language draws viewers.

Tweety had a WP guy on Hardball today who actually wanted to seriously discuss the issues. Tweety cut him off every time in favor of the ranters- he knows what drives his ratings.

If ya wanna be invited back- say something wild.

the SC decision is profound: Christy’s post might be …

klyde sez”

OT but has anyone seen Alexander Cockburn’s hit piece on blogs in this week’s The Nation? The editors at TNR will have an orgasm when they read it, if they haven’t already.

I haven’t seen it yet but I dislike Cockburn.

Since Snitchens left Cocburn is the shame of that rag.

.

I can’t agree that a trial of the NYT editors for treason, or the NYT for violation of some statute against sedition, would be “entertaining.”

On the one hand, it would certainly be both gratifying and useful to see this bullshit given the legal spanking it so richly deserves. On the other hand, a trial gives it legitimacy, even if they lose.

And if they get the “right” judge, they might not lose, and then we’re *really* screwed.

Haw, Leslie — foxed those bros, you did. Kindly reminds me o’ what we fixin’ to do to them goopers (if they give us a chancet and don’t go ahead on and do it to theyseffs first).

resist. starting. another. punfest.
Eli, think of the children….

Waiting for Chris and Norah to understand there is a limit to incredulity, absurdity and damage to truth, when they give face and mike-time to likes of, for example Tom DeLay last night on weird-ball, is tantamount to waiting for Samuel Beckett’s Godot. These two peas in a pod won’t ever get it. And waiting for these characters to eventually wake up, is a prescription for sated frustration and insanity rooted in boredom.

resist. starting. another. punfest.
Eli, think of the children….

One a night is enough for me, really. And even that usually leaves me feeling kinda guilty for derailing the thread.

Best known for this Jimmies in West Haven and Lenny and Bruce’s in Clinton.

ROTFL at myself. I meant Lenny and Joe’s… Fishtail to be precise.

I had a brain fart. Now why on earth would Lenny Bruce have come to mind? Too funny.

Hamridan?

I don’t think that’s kosher.

Again, *snip*.

.

lotus, they sure are messing things up for themselves, aren’t they? Now if we can just manage to throw them anvils instead of lifelines.

All right, at the risk of sounding like the girl who cried wolf, I am in fact going now. Have yourselves a wonderful evening, all y’all.

Again, *snip*.

“But if you rub it, it turns into a suitcase!”

“What exactly is it going to take before Matthews and Company acknowledge the damage they do to the public discourse by offering these people a megaphone? “

Nothing will make them acknowledge the damage they do. The only things lowlife sleazebag scumballs people like Matthews understand are ratings, perceived power and potatoes cocktail wienies.

Disgusting, foul and despicable psychopathic harridans (love that word, thanks) like Morgan are “good television.” They get your blood up, make you want to yell and throw things, and enable raucus dramatic confrontations. So much better than actual sane, reasoned discussion for addle-brained viewers seeking momentary diversions.

The only thing that will get them off the air is if people stop watching them and the shows they are on. Can’t sell the advertising then, you know.

Leslie, my last meal would include a CT lobster roll. They’re that good.

I posted this earlier (by memory) but this is from the actual transcript…

HENRY: But complying with the Geneva Conventions is exactly what the administration said it didn’t need to do as it made its case for broad powers in the war on terror. That’s why it’s a slap at the administration and that’s why they’re also eager to dump this right in Congress’ lap — Lou.

DOBBS: To dump it in Congress’ lap, there is something strange, if I may say, Ed, about a president saying he will conform to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Why would that even be necessary to say?

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRA…..dt.01.html

Disgusting, foul and despicable psychopathic harridans (love that word, thanks) like Morgan are “good television.” They get your blood up, make you want to yell and throw things, and enable raucus dramatic confrontations. So much better than actual sane, reasoned discussion for addle-brained viewers seeking momentary diversions.

Those wacky Republicans that everyone loves to hate! What crazy, kooky thing will they say next?

DOBBS: To dump it in Congress’ lap, there is something strange, if I may say, Ed, about a president saying he will conform to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Why would that even be necessary to say?

Perhaps for the unspoken “…this time.” at the end.

waiting on my ‘nharridans.

And just think — the great hunk of Abramoff stuff — Ney — DeLay’s trial — Jerry Lewis et al. — Coulter’s FL case — and who-knows-what-all in the ME remains to be seen (let alone FITZ).

Oh, they’re in for quite a ride to November.

Jane — the offensiveness of Matthews descent into tolerance for extremism was on full display again tonight, with his panel of O’Beirne spouting her extremist views (”this was just a decision by 5 of the 9 justices — hardly authoritative” paraphrasing), Robinson of the WaPo (who played this like it was funny), Smerconish (an idiot mouth) and Oliphant, the former columist at Boston Globe, who thinks his job is to be polite and fair to everyone even as every principle he believes in is being trashed. Nice guy, but . . . This is typical Matthews — put a couple of otherwise decent moderates up there against two truly extreme radicals.

I usually seek this out, just to see what people are being exposed to, but this was truly offensive. This was the first time I’ve ever turned it off.

American Constitution Society: http://www.acsblog.org/separat…..ework.html

Justice Thomas refers to Justice Stevens’ “unfamiliarity with the realities of warfare”; but Stevens served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945, during World War II. Thomas’s official bio, by contrast, contains no experience of military service.

And just think %u2014 the great hunk of Abramoff stuff %u2014 Ney %u2014 DeLay’s trial %u2014 Jerry Lewis et al. %u2014 Coulter’s FL case %u2014 and who-knows-what-all in the ME remains to be seen (let alone FITZ).

Oh, they’re in for quite a ride to November.

Will all of this stuff shake out before November? Especially the additional DeLay indictments?

When Tweety was on Colbert the other night, I was so disappointed because Colbert missed such an opportunity – I mean, he could have played ‘little Timmeh’ with him so easily and wonderfully…

“Admit it, Chris, you’ve got a big MAN CRUSH on George W. – don’t you? Well, either him or Tom Delay…”

“How can you deny it when you said…W has such Sunny Nobility, and he hit a home run with every speech he’s ever made, and everybody wants to go to a barbeque with dumbya and on and on, blah blah blah.” He could have hit him with the ‘democrats are like terrorists’ comments, of course, in his rightwing persona, egging Tweety on like he agrees. He could have given him the quotes and the dates and maybe even shown the video clips – and he could have parodied Meet the Press at the same time.

That’s what I thought Colbert would do with Tweety on his show and he didn’t – Matthews is a treasure trove of parody and “gotcha” opportunities – if he had done something good with the interview, Matthews would STILL be trying to defend himself and wouldn’t have had the nerve to put on a radical b*tch like that gas chamber woman the very next day – Colbert made a big mistake!

Those wacky Republicans that everyone loves to hate! What crazy, kooky thing will they say next?

Shoot Bill Keller!

It’ll be the laff riot of the season!

[/wingnut]

.

Abramoff indictments, rather. Not that there’s that much difference.

Justice Thomas refers to Justice Stevens’ “unfamiliarity with the realities of warfare”; but Stevens served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945, during World War II. Thomas’s official bio, by contrast, contains no experience of military service.

Not *that* kind of warfare, you silly. The Hugh Hewitt, Jonah Goldberg, Andy Sullivan kind.

Anne: I agree wholeheartedly with your “rant” about the cavernous absence of ideas in all the Right-wing rhetoric.

Reminds me of a passage I saw in Harper’s magazine a while back:

“Lionel Trilling, the literary critic, observed in 1950 that ‘In the United States at this time, liberalism is not only the dominant but even the sole intellectual tradition.’ He went on to say that ‘there are no conservative or reactionary ideas in general circulation,’ merely ‘irritable mental gestures which seek to resemble ideas.’”

Ever since I read this piece, the phrase “irritable mental gestures” automatically comes to mind when I hear the wingers recite their talking points. So sad.

Eureka Springs, AR 73

that was rich

*ilson at 76 -

Thanks for that quote. Sums things up nicely.

Eli, Abramoff’s apparently rattling off names and dates as fast as he can (as a bully whose bluff is called will), so I can well foresee a bunch of new indictments by, oh say, Sept-Oct . . .

OT again, a taste of Cockburn’s swill: Welcome to blogworld. They’re loonies, beyond any sanction or reproof by reality. These people are going to stop a war, change the direction of our politics? They make Barbara Steisand look like Che Guevara.

The other 1200 words are just more of the same.

Eli, Abramoff’s apparently rattling off names and dates as fast as he can (as a bully whose bluff is called will), so I can well foresee a bunch of new indictments by, oh say, Sept-Oct . . .

‘Tis a con-summation devoutly to be wished.

The sad fact is that if they built it (a serious and objective teevee show about the political and policy issues facing the nation) no one would come.

Jane, love that you think Chris is redeemable. He is, of course, but unlike you and I he needs the effective politcal argument.

*ilson 76,

And there you have it.

This evening I was provided an interesting view of America at the hotel “Happy Hour” tonight (out of town working with a client). There is a group of engineers from Europe, Sweden, Germany & Swiss. They were shocked at the attack of the media and I was asked more than once, “I thought this was America, not China”.

They were very shocked at the “tone” of the news and just totally amazed. I told them…I do not watch that crap, it isn’t news, it is entertainment and it stopped being news years ago.

Every once in a while, we all need a view of our country through the eyes of foreigners.

[Moderator comment: have no idea why this got trapped!]

Scarecrow at # 52, TeddySanFran or somebody already said this in an earlier thread, but Keller’s response to all of this ought to be “bring ‘em on.” The Justice Dept. will never bring charges or even investigate any kind of ‘treason’ about the Times’ publication. the defense wouldn’t even have to resort to classified info to blow that house of cards to smithereens. They have no case and they know it, it’s all media smoke.

Imagine W. on the stand, under oath, having to answer exactly how this “revelation” has harmed the war on terra, especially after having just run the video from C & L showing W. talking about this over and over. Ain’t gonna happen, call their bluff I say.

Nothing is quite as disgusting as Tweety interviewing the cute little White House spokesperson whasshername.

SNL should do a parody with cutey wearing nazi garb and explaining breathlessly to Tweety that the leader is only following the law in those nice camps he built in Poland and that the nasty press is being irresponsible in their reporting.

Tweety would, of course- stare at her bazoolas and nod in rapt agreement saying “Yes- well I have to agree with you there!”

everhopeful – So true. Tweety was quite nervous and Colbert really dropped the ball. Then Chris admits he is rooting for Dems this Nov.

katymine says: Your comment is awaiting moderation. at #91
;(

scarecrow – and when you listen or watch this stuff it is horrifying to contemplate how it is taken by people who don’t know and haven’t done the research and the reading that would allow them to come to a conclusion that is based in reality. There are people who take what O’Beirne says as gospel, because she gets the platform on a major network.

I agree with you about Oliphant – here’s a guy who is open-minded enough to concede certain points, but when he attempts to point out the fallacies and falsehoods is given short shrift.

There’s a term for people who say outrageous and offensive things just to get a rise out of people: manipulative, self-indulgent, narcissistic assholes.

When Tweety was on Colbert the other night, I was so disappointed because Colbert missed such an opportunity

True enough but “The Word” was especially vicious.

.

Tweety would, of course- stare at her bazoolas and nod in rapt agreement saying “Yes- well I have to agree with you there!”

More like “stare at his flightsuited stuffed crotch”—Matthews is a closeted circus ringmaster–it’s all just a show, and he pants for “tough guys”. and O’Beirne was appalling tonight, as usual.

There are people who take what O’Beirne says as gospel, because she gets the platform on a major network.

“If she was lying, they wouldn’t let her on the TV.”

Seems to me that Oliphant’s concessions are purely manipulative- and often stupid. He’s trying to grease the wheels- but doesn’t know that the track is leading to the “swell president” station no matter what he says.

It’s the Cunningham-Wilkes-Wade ball o’ wax that may end up really alienating the neighborhood-level gooper vote. The idea of rigged DoD contracts producing avalanches of cash into the pockets of Cunningham, Ney, Lewis, et al. — as soldiers and wounded vets go without —

WOW. THAT’s riling VFW huts and Kiwanis luncheons from one end of this place to the other — or will shortly.

I keep wondering about the total silence in the Progressive Blogosphere about what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank…

http://katrinamemo.blogspot.co…..-land.html

It’s the Cunningham-Wilkes-Wade ball o’ wax that may end up really alienating the neighborhood-level gooper vote. The idea of rigged DoD contracts producing avalanches of cash into the pockets of Cunningham, Ney, Lewis, et al. %u2014 as soldiers and wounded vets go without %u2014

I’m hoping that some “safe-seat” Republicans get indicted too late for the party to sub in replacement candidates. That would be too sweet. Um, assuming that there are Democrats in the race, of course…

Dave Neiwert has been doing yeoman’s work on this subject for a long time

Here’s a really interesting piece

Factoid:

Eli just missed one-in-five posts with only 19 posts in the first 100. Better luck next time!

G’night all!

Ed Deevy — we’ve been fretting about it off and on all day here. The Hamdan verdict took over pretty thoroughly, I grant you, but there’s been nothing like “total silence” on Gaza here.

Goopers may be skating on the corruption issue- the dem from Louisiana with the frozen cash saved em. His story is so much simpler to understand than Cunningham and his brave band of gooper crooks.

At this point the score is 25 goopers to 1 dem- so it’s a tie.

Dave Neiwert has been doing yeoman’s work on this subject for a long time

Neiwert deserves some sort of award.

.

Eli just missed one-in-five posts with only 19 posts in the first 100. Better luck next time!

You probably wouldn’t believe that I’ve been holding back…

lotus, there is another part of the Cunningham-Wilkes-Wade ball o’ wax, how about the 30 plus front companies that Wilkes had registered to a single office suite receiving unsolisitated DoD defense contracts where everyone of the so called employees of those 30 front companies donated their $2000 to the RNC.

Would you call that money laundrying?
The San Diego Tribune has been dogging this story and it gets very little play in the MSM.

THAT means OUR tax money has been funneled through Cunningham from the DoD to the RNC… GRRRRRRR

I have combat experience. I fought off a high tech lynching.

-Clarence Thomas

At this point the score is 25 goopers to 1 dem- so it’s a tie.

Two – there’s Mollohan.

Four if you count Cynthia McKinney hitting a security guard and Harry Reid getting free seats to a fight.

EXACTLY, katymine!

It is easy to fantasize about some trial in which good decimates evil, and in which charlatans are exposed and truth emerges. This all assumes a DoJ that has integrity and a federal court system that adheres without fear to the rule of law and constitutional principles, even in the face of an easily inflamed and fearful public. Do we really want to test how strong the beast has become?

There may have been a time when that scenario was realistic, but 20 years of judicial appointments, political demogoguery and incessant fear mongering have taken a huge toll on our system of justice. Mary is not depressed for nothing.

All this bravado about “bring it on” is as foolish for us as it was for g. Bush. If we’re so confident of the result, don’t volunteer some editor for the test. Find an act of conscience, that in your world would be fully protected by a vigilant court system, but could be characterized as “treasonous” under today’s political rhetoric. Then put your own freedom on the line.

We are not spectators.

I’ve had a busy travel schedule this week, not much time for the blogs or news. Did catch the ruling by the court, so when I finally got home today I turned on Keith for a grin and then saw the teaser for S.Country. “Is B Spears white trash”
Don’t ya love da media.

GSD -

GOL!

I forget, what was the lynchpin to his confirmation?

It is easy to fantasize about some trial in which good decimates evil, and in which charlatans are exposed and truth emerges. This all assumes a DoJ that has integrity and a federal court system that adheres without fear to the rule of law and constitutional principles, even in the face of an easily inflamed and fearful public. Do we really want to test how strong the beast has become?

This is why I cringe when other liberals root for the Republicans to nominate someone like Newt Gingrich for president, because they would so *obviously* get crushed.

There is no-one the Republicans can nominate who would mean a slam-dunk win for the Democrats. No-one.

Harry Reid getting free seats to a fight.

If the seats were provided by Abramoff or the Mob I might care.

Otherwise, no.

.

then saw the teaser for S.Country. “Is B Spears white trash”

Yes.

I just saved everyone an hour.

I have combat experience. I fought off a high tech lynching.

-Clarence Thomas

As my reward, I get to lynch democracy and burn the Constitution as a full time job!!!

And you should see the white robes and hood I get to wear at home!!!

There is nothing like watching S&M porn, in full Klan regalia!!!

If the seats were provided by Abramoff or the Mob I might care.

Otherwise, no.

But it’s not about whether *we* care. It’s about whether they can rattle off enough examples of Horrible Democratic Corruption to make it *sound* equivalent. I fear that three may be enough, since it’s enough to constitute a list.

Anne & Elliot Ness posts are spookily like an extended karmic thought. !

I’m just now leaving work, so I won’t be back for awhile, but NYT (AND WaPo and any other serious paper)is partly imperiled by the line they have let their political editors and editorializers take – the dissent is traitorous, speech must defer to the reign – tone, tenor and chorus of their own pieces.

Over and over they have let the American people be hammered with “traitor traitor traitor secret secret secret”.

To have such a trivial story – in the greater scheme of things – provoke this onslaught is sad, a little scarey, and a lot self-induced.

THe gas chamber reference was just sickeningly over the top.

I really think MSNBC needs to re=think Hardball too, bc they are not going to out O’Reilly O’Reilly, and too much of the rest of the country is tired of listening to the shrill screech of people who have no real qualifications and credentials.

I think that has been the biggest shock for some – finding out that, for example when there is a K O’B on, opining as to a S. Ct. opinion, she’s not exactly a S. Ct. scholar.
Posner makes me nuts, but if they want to represent the view from the other side, at least bring on someone like him. Not someone who is just an uninformed shrieker. People get tired of it.

Off to get groceries and take care of horses –

SHARKBABE – are you back or did I only think you were gone?

Mora,tough JAG lawyers who won’t be intimidated, Swift, rabid venomous lambz, law students at Seton Hall, more Abramoff revelations to come, all these and more back at YOO Shark!

I wonder what percentage of FDLers could pick Britney Spears out of a lineup. I could not.

I’ve glimpsed her on mag covers or TV, surely, but never paid attention long enough or often enough to “receive the imprint.”

There are several reasons that the DNC is gaining on the fund raising race with the RNC.
1. Abramoff gravey train shut down
2. Cunningham-Wilkes DoD money wash machine funneling
3. Ohio Coin Dealer Tom Noe found guilty…
4. Democracy Bonds….. http://www.democrats.org/democracybonds.html
People funded Democracy NOT corporations!

I wonder what percentage of FDLers could pick Britney Spears out of a lineup. I could not.

I could. And someday I hope there is an opportunity to prove it.

Look this isn’t rocket science. Send a letter to MSNBC, attention: Dan Abrams. Tell him of your displeasure and then TURN THE T.V. OFF. Abrams is new, the programming is vulnerable, numbers are everything, and with a little bit of luck this problem will fix itself.

Didn’t Coulter use Hardball to call for shooting Murtha? Isn’t it time to consider contacting Geoffrey Immelt of GE and asking if it is his purpose to incite violence?

spork_incident #118

Reid did not get free seats, he was provided a credential to enter a boxing event. A credential does not have a monitary value and is not a seat. It is a pass to enter. The TeeVee and press get them at events. It was those nice orange badges we wore at Yearlykos….

AND it is illegal to pay for a credential per NV law. The big deal is that John McCain PAID money for his credential to the same event. WHY are they not going after McCain??? Oh I forgot,if you are trashing a Dem, McCain is ok.

Am off to bed – brain is feeling toasty around the edges…

Sweet dreams.

As Olbermann pointed out in an interview a few weeks ago, his bosses don’t care what he says as long as he gets ratings. I doubt it’s any different for Tweety. They are the only two members of the evening lineup at MSNBC likely to survive the new Abrams management. Scarborough and Tucker and Throaty are all looking at the chop. Why? It’s sure not because MSNBC loves right wingers. It’s all about the ratings. If you don’t like shouting matches, don’t watch Hardball. I watch Blitzer at that hour, then switch over to KO. If you watch Tweety, you’re feeding the trolls. Not to mention whoever makes Mylanta.

Let’s ask Cal Thomas about Brittney, shall we?

Reid did not get free seats, he was provided a credential to enter a boxing event. A credential does not have a monitary value and is not a seat. It is a pass to enter. The TeeVee and press get them at events. It was those nice orange badges we wore at Yearlykos….

I was the one who cited it originally. My point wasn’t about what *really* happened, it was about how the Republicans would spin it. Jefferson and probably Mollohan represent real corruption. McKinney and Reid are tempests in teapots.

But it’s not about whether *we* care. It’s about whether they can rattle off enough examples of Horrible Democratic Corruption to make it *sound* equivalent. I fear that three may be enough, since it’s enough to constitute a list.

Well, yes.

It’s self-evident.

This is my thing: We don’t have a free-vote anymore.

In the end, I don’t know if Diebold or whichever is skewing the elections.

I *do* know that people don’t trust elections anymore.

*That* is what’s offensive.

.

So is there ANYTHING that american voters care about- ceptin terrorists and Mexicans of course?

Well yes- they care if their homes lose 20% of their value because of Clusterfuck’s failed tax cuts on the credit card policies- and that’s what’s about to happen.

Dems need to start blowing the whistle on this fiscal mismanagement NOW.

For the corporate media, it is about audience share because that affects the bottomline. If they could sell the news with reasoned analysis, they would. But that can take critical thought, require investigation, and be more expensive. It is so much easier to put on a pack of walking caricatures spouting idiocies. It comes across as Jerry Springer does the news but they don’t care if it brings in audiences, even ones who are infuriated by what they see. Sure, it isn’t news, commentary, or analysis but infotainment is today’s media paradigm.

I’m crashing too — what an eventful day.

Have good nights, my dears. Sleep well, and I’ll see you in the ay-em.

I think the corporate media *wants* us to believe that it’s all about profits, but if that were true they’d *still* be talking about Jeff Gannon’s White House sleepovers.

Their corporate parents are huge, and they make a lot more money from Republican policies than they do from their media divisions.

I’m crashing too %u2014 what an eventful day.

Have good nights, my dears. Sleep well, and I’ll see you in the ay-em.

Maybe you mean “sheep well”?

At any rate, I’m off myself.

.

It is the believe that all crimes are equal.

Bush lies us into war and thousands die == Kerry lied that his cat is not white

Don’t you see it? They are very equal aren’t they? Why don’t we send Kerry to GITMO because he lied….

It is the scales that are always equal even if the content is quite different.

We need a TeeVee Commercial …. On the Left side of the screen you see the “Two” corrupt Democratic congresscritters, on the Right, you see an ongoing slide show of ReThug after ReThug under investigation, indited or convicted. That is the way to show the balance. Then put the dollar amounts on the scale…. One side has thousands of dollars (Dems) and the other has millions…

BarbaraB,

On the money!

I DO like the trend…

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings/

That virago Malady Moron is on the local extreme right-wing radio station’s morning drivetime fascist nutfest nazi orgy.

She is without doubt one of the shrillest, nastiest pieces of work around — of a kind with Coulter and Malkin.

When I anticipate a tough morning getting out of the sack, I put the radio alarm on the night before for maggot Moron’s morning scummy sleaze-and-screamfest.

When the alarm goes off and Her Vile Shrewness bellows forth like the pig she is, I’m out of bed like a rocket, slamming my fist down on the radio, cursing the gods for allowing such fetid pieces of puke to walk the earth.

I’ve gone through a couple of those radios…

I’m usually nicer to my radio, and set it to the Air America outlet, KNBR-Home of the Giants, KUSF, or KPIG.

Another thing about her show — she and her discgusting cohosts engage in frequent gross double entendre that would make Howard Stern blush, and then they cut to James Dobson….

Curious.

Bush lies us into war and thousands die == Kerry lied that his cat is not white

Or… Clinton got a blowjob in the Oval Office.

Has anyone compiled a list of Things That Bush Has Done, Which Would Have Gotten Clinton Impeached? I’m guessing there’s at least twenty, if not one a week.

BarbaraB #129
I send emails to MSNBC, CNN and CNNHLN on a weekly basis tell them …. Not watching … Still Not watching….. but watching KO everynight…

Until they stop having “missing white women” topics…. “still not watching” emails are sent…

Until they stop having “missing white women” topics…. “still not watching” emails are sent…

If you’re white, there’s a certain irony there…

Scarecrow, I totally agree. This is downright scary when all three branches of the government are under the control of one party. The only oversight left is the media which the republicans have all but taken over. We can’t afford to risk a take down of the NY Times, even with their checkered track record.

As for Hardball, that show is the Jerry Springer of talk shows and is totally disgusting!

The media’s corporate parents aren’t necessarily happy with fiscal policies that are going to raise interest rates, and they sure don’t like what’s happening with the stock market. Remember, millionaires are Republican. Billionaires are Democrats. See, e.g., Warren Buffett. Most of all, I think, big business wants stability — and it is quite capable of hedging its bets. Corporate donations to Dems are going up. I’m not saying they don’t tilt rightward, but it isn’t a unified hegemony.

Hugh–”expensive”

Hell it’s not expensive at all. You can get people to come and talk for free- people who have actually DONE the research- people who KNOW what they’re talking about. It’s practically free- trouble is- no one will watch three professors talk about the details of- say- global warming. It’s complicated- you have to pay attention- it’s not entertaining. Imagine a three hour show where the professors go through the seven most critical measures regarding global warming- marshall all the facts- discuss them in depth– etc.

Yer talkin “snorefest”. No one’s tunin in!

Eli I am white but two of my children aren’t!

To me, if Nancy Grace fell off the end of the earth I would not miss her at all!

Between Rita Cosby & Nancy Grace, basically a shear waste of skin and air!

BarbaraB, I hope you’re right. Of course, it’s not the corporate world as a whole, just the corporations (or individuals, like, say, Murdoch or Moon or Scaife) that own media outlets.

Did anyone hear Marvin Kalb on NPR today? He was teamed up with some right wing women who did the usual interruption shtick.

Kalb said once. “I didn’t interrupt you”.

The second time he said: “I’m outta here.”

He left.

The right wing women went on to offer this pearl of mendacity.

“The Wall Street Journal is the only newspaper in America with a conservative editorial board.”

She was not challenged on that statement by NPR ’s Nicley McDeferral.

-GSD

The truth is that businesses typically make more money when dems are in power. Why? Because dem policies tend to put more money in the hands of consumers- and consumers buy cars and refrigerators and six packs of beer.

This trickle down bullshit doesn’t fuckin work.

Ford motor company supports goopers who make sure that billionaires get millions in tax breaks.

Think them billionaires are gonna run out and buy em an F150?

Hey, mjh — welcome back.

Sorry to be in such a grumpy mood, but the first story I read this a.m. in the NYT?? was about some UN conference/working group on how to control the proliferation of weapons, and the US delegation consisted entirely of three people hand picked by the National Rifle Association — whose objective was to ensure that nothing happened that would undermine my ability to buy a gun.

That was just so typical of this Administration — put the foxes in charge of every hen house, and then tell the chickens there’s a security problem! It just set me off.

I’ll be better tomorrow, because I just know the news will be better.

The most pitiful teevee format is the one where ya get a gooper and a dem to “debate” an issue.

You can listen to that bullshit for days and never learn a damned thing- they shout and interrupt and demean one another’s parentage- but there’s NO illumination. Might as well watch wrestling.

excellent post jane. crap like that made me drop my cable subscription. i really miss c-span, but that’s about it. do these “people” (i’m trying to take the high road) realize that children hear all this and will assume extreme trash talk is ok? msnbc and chris matthews should be spanked and put in the corner.

Clarence Thomas applied for a waiver and got to use the “liberal law of infallibility” in order to claim “victim status” and wave the White Hoods and Sheets and nooses. Didn’t the Republicans use the “weepy bride” shtick for old Clarence “Battle Weary” Thomas?

That was the turning point that got the most unqualified man, dare I say ‘Republican affirmative action’ appointment on the SCOTUS.

There is a a right wing e-mail that refers to Clarence Thomas as the “first black man on the Supreme Court”. I imagine that Thurgood Marshall was shocked to find out he was white.

-GSD

OT, but if you have the stomach for it, go over to redstate and catch a whiff of their “Constitutional Crisis” wrt the SCOTUS decision today – it starts like this:

Today, the Supreme Court opened up the United States justice system to foreign combatants and terrorists when it ruled in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld that military tribunals were not a Constitutionally sufficient manner in which to try them. This presents the country with what I believe is a full on Constitutional crisis. Not only because of the Court’s usurpation of the powers of the Commander-in-Chief during wartime, but because Congress had specifically barred the Court from hearing this and any other case involving Guantanamo Bay detainees.

http://www.redstate.com/story/2006/6/29/95926/8706

My July 3rd New Yorker just came. I’ve been reading Jane Mayer’s piece on David Addington. I’m about to have a frigging aneurism.

This man is a TRAITOR to our Constitution. The arrogance!

Dude, comes a revolution, your ass is mine.

Thanks Scarecrow. I’m not surprised! I read the papers with trepidation. I was just reading that a bill is pending, or in commitee (I may have the details wrong), that among other things, is an attempt to take away the requirement that all guns sold have triggerlocks!! The objectives of the NRA never cease to amaze.

I was pleasantly surprised and relieved today with the ruling of SCOTUS, but already the administration is trying to spin that as a win for them. Oh well. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.

rwcole

There would be some expense simply in doing the background research for a moderator like Matthews. To find out who could talk intelligently on an issue, you have to know what the issue really is and that takes research. Beyond this, there is investigation of issues such as the story behind the Voting Rights Debacle or even Bush’s National Guard service that would require digging. All these things take money, and newspapers and news outlets are tending to cut staff rather than hiring more. To have a Rolodex with the all usual suspects, takes nothing and this is how business is currently being conducted.

“…because Congress had specifically barred the Court from hearing this and any other case involving Guantanamo Bay detainees.”

The court, in the end, is primus inter pares. SOMEONE has to have the last word, and it is not the Congress, with respect to this issue at least. Redstate.org weenies can just get the fuck over it. Change the Constitution if you don’t like it.

Bill in congress to replace trigger locks with Bibles- King James Version- to be included with every gun purchase—proper passages to be underlined.

rwcole,

“The most pitiful teevee format is the one where ya get a gooper and a dem to “debate” an issue.”

You mean like the last incarnation of Crossfire (that crashed and burned?). Pure theater and most of that crap that came out of (name your talking head) was written by the shows writers and read off the TelePrompTer.

If indeed the wingnuts believe that the NYT is guilty of treaon, then why aren’t they all gathered outside the White House and the Department of Justice demanding prosecution of this heinous crime?

I think she was referring to George Bush.

If she was, Then I agree.

Gas Chamber is ok.

But staked out on an ant hill is better.

Red ants…big ones.

Hey, y’all, it’s TRex.

I think I may be the only moderator-type here. Last time I talked to Jane, she was taking Katie to the vet, and I don’t know if *ilson and VG are around. I’m at work, running back and forth between the computer and the microphone, so if a comment gets stuck in moderation for a bit, please be patient. I’ll get to it as quickly as I can.

Late Nite post coming up in ten…nine…eight…

everhopeful #156

Well finally we have something we can agree with the goopers about…we do in fact have a Constitutional Crisis! hehe …unfortunately as usual, they got the details all wrong.

Actually, I think we are in some danger of buying into the right wing shtick that “words are dangerous.” Do words incite mobs, or do mobs form because of what they already have in common? Does Faux make people right wing, or do right wing people watch Faux? I think a lot of it is the clientele effect. People watching Fox don’t want a reasoned discussion, they want confirmation of what they already believe. Ditto Lou Dobbs. If people want reasoned discussion — with professors and experts and all — they can watch PBS. Or CSpan. I get very nervous when progressives want to bar someone from television because they can’t stand what she is saying. Or because it’s “incitement.” Just agitate for someone to go on opposite her and call bullshit. Or — as I always want to yell at family values types going on about indecency on television — turn the damned thing off or change the channel. Just sayin’.

Well finally we have something we can agree with the goopers about…we do in fact have a Constitutional Crisis! hehe …unfortunately as usual, they got the details all wrong.

We disagree on whether there is too much Constitution or not enough…

everhopeful -

This part kills me:
…”Not only because of the Court’s usurpation of the powers of the Commander-in-Chief during wartime”…
——
Check the Congressional Record. I haven’t seen a Declaration of War since, ummm…what, Dec, 1941.

I’m seeing quotes ‘during wartime’ all over the place. As someone wise put it: ‘That’s just wrong.’

And, just for the heck of it, I really dig the bit about the ‘Court usurping Commander-in-Chief powers’. Who knew such a thing could happen?

And, just for the heck of it, I really dig the bit about the ‘Court usurping Commander-in-Chief powers’. Who knew such a thing could happen?

Is detaining people indefinitely without trial really a “Commander-In-Chief” power?

what’s wrong with Katie? it took me about one minute to fall in love with those dogs. hope she’s ok. i think ned lamont should perm his hair like kobe’s. kobe has more charisma than george clooney. well, hmm…as much charisma as george clooney.

It is possible for Congress to define jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in those cases not assiged by the Constitution itself. Congress could have passed a statute that said wrt to this or similar specific cases, the SCT doesn’t have jurisdiction. Before it could get to the merits of the case, the Court here had to decide whether Congress had actually done that, and they decided, “no, they didn”t.”

The issue came up because our friend Lindsay Graham tried to sneak a colloquy that didn’t actually happen into the congressional record at the last minute making the argument that a particular statute being considered did strip the court of jurisdiction. Graham wanted to influence this decision by inserting this “legislative intent” into the bill. But the Court rejected that, and there is a footnote that is aimed right at Graham — nice try, but no cigar. It’s am embarrassment for Lindsay.

TRex, is Katie ok?

I agree BarbaraB… That is the main purpose of the remote control….. If you do not want to see it on TeeVee…. Turn it off….

Why should someone elses viewing preferences be forced on me? Or why would my viewing preferences be forced on someone else?

But then again…. I occasionally live in the reality based world.

Thanks TRex for gettting me out of moderation!

Eli 170 -

Ask Yoo and/or Gonzo. They got lots o’memos behind the curtain. “Want an opinion? Let’s see now…Here ya go!”

If the president has unlimited power during wartime- and he/she gets to say when there’s a war- well then we’re screwed- if ya catch my drift!

As much as these irresponsible rantings of the pundits grate on one’s faith in the civilization of the human race, the one that got me today was Trent Lott. He was raling about the Supreme Court decision involving the Guantanamo Detainees. He was saying it was a terrible decision because these people were bad guys. He showed absolutely no understanding that the Supreme Court is charged with making sure our actions conform to the Constitution, to the Bill of Rights. Our Constitution has this concept called “due process.” What we do with accused bad guys is have a trial. If bad guys are found guilty, we punish them. Trent Lott didn’t show any sign of knowing that’s how we do things.

He sounds like Bush. When Bush was confronted about the absence of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq and any valid reason to have gone to war, he said, “You got to understand, Saddam Hussein is a very bad man.” They talk like we don’t have a system of government that’s very clear about how we are to handle ourselves in dealing with the accused. Bad guys across the sea – let’s go to war. Bad guys in captivity – let’s keep them there forever.

It’s like they’re making up our government as they go.

Inciteful speech is not helpful. It is not even covered by the First Amendment. But the real problem is that the corporate represents as news what is infotainment. If they want to call it Fox, CNN, or MSNBC infotainment, then fine; otherwise, the criticism is on target and deserved.

If the president has unlimited power during wartime- and he/she gets to say when there’s a war- well then we’re screwed- if ya catch my drift!

Yep that says it all…

If the president has unlimited power during wartime- and he/she gets to say when there’s a war- well then we’re screwed- if ya catch my drift!

Bootstrapping. Or Bushstrapping…

Look at where we are blogs google etc. The tie in with larger corp. profits appear to be the sinker. Much of the cost of investigative journalism has dropped. Would it cost any more to base a talking head show on truth? Do progressive shows cost more to produce? Not one commercial network tries to have a level headed show, it’s accross the board. They (MSM) compete for basically the same biased opinion. Clearly the corp. parents want it this way.
Olberman mentioned this week his ratings are up quite a bit and O’ritely (whom I have never watched) is way down.

Bushstrapping I should think

The only president to ever wear a strap on.

Mickey -
No. They’re NOT making it up as they go. They have a plan. They’re about TEARING IT DOWN AS THEY GO.

more fiber please

TRex, is Katie ok?

Dunno. Still waiting to hear back. Cross your paws.

TRex you are a tease…..

Eli

“Court usurping Commander-in-Chief”

I think we will be hearing this Article 2 stuff now since the other pillar for Guantanamo the AUMF for Afghanistan got blown out of the water today in the SCOTUS ruling.

Court slurping commander in chief.

I was pleased, at least, to see dear Tom Oliphant on Hardball today. Ol’ 60 Grit looked especially pained at his clarity and lack of vitriol.

BBC World News goes head to head with the “morning shows” beginning July 3rd starting in “some” markets here. I saw some of their stuff when I was in Mexico a month or so ago. It’s what CNN USED to be! They see an opportunity for REAL NEWS here! I hope they’re right.

Mickey #177

“It’s like they’re making up our government as they go.”

They are. Guantanamo and the NSA wiretapping they did and then after the fact tried to come up with a legal rationale for them. The legal reasoning behind torture and signing statements at least preceded these in the sense they were going to do them anyway but happened to get the rationale in first.

Lewis Black is hilarious tonight on the Daily Show.

Re whether congress could strip the Supremes of jurisdiction in the Hamdan case — Arlen Specter is on C-SPAN right now (I’m back east) talking about this very issue. He calls the effort to strip just “court shopping,” by those who made the effort. He’s poking Lindsay (and Cronyn?) in the eye, unless I’m missing this.

The effort to strip jurisdiction was made wrt to the bill that banned torture.

Hi, guys.

Late Nite is up.

It’s not pretty.

Did someone mention Rita Cosby? Why? Everything was going fine up until then.

Rita Cosby — a face made for radio and a voice made for silent movies.

new t’read

http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..tlas-wept/

Further restricting the federal courts, which are courts of limited jurisdiction by design, is soooo devious when it’s targeted to a specific outcome. Argh!! I hope Arlan Spector resists any such legislation in this instance and other similar outcome oriented legislation. Congress might as well be considered just another part of the President’s cabinet.

Hugh — I’ve got no problem with criticism, whether it’s of bad news or bad entertainment. I just thought some of the comments were suggesting doing a reverse-Dixie Chicks and banning harridans from the airwaves. Perhaps I misread them. Anyway, I certainly agree that most of the cable news talk shows aren’t news, and darned few of them are entertaining.

“You have to wonder what they would have to do or say to get bounced from that gig.”

That they were lesbian lovers?

Matthews created quite a stir a few months ago. John Aravois of Americablog tried to have a Chris Matthews boycott for something to do with gays. It fizzled out I think.

Can’t do anything with Matthews and the whole of MCNBC, not while the ratings are so high.

It is pure greedy, show me the money, and ego trips on that network. As long as the wing nuts atract a crowd MSNBC isn’t going to one thing different.

What exactly is it going to take before Matthews and Company acknowledge the damage they do to the public discourse by offering these people a megaphone?

Unfortunately, MSNBC has recently stated that Hardball (along with Countdown) is one of their top shows and they plan on keeping it.

That would suggest that MSNBC likes the hatred Matthews spews.

It should be clear to everyone that those currently in power view a free and impartial press as one of their greatest enemies. The NYT is speaking truth to power and, hence, the attack dogs are called out to try to bring them in line.

The more that the media attempts to shed light on what they are doing, the more they will clamp down on the media. The whole right-wing noise machine will be brought to bear on any media outlet with the courage to shed light on the crimes of this administration.

Most of the large communications companies are in bed with the administration on this. You only need to look at the net neutrality vote as well as the consolidation within the media industry in the last few years to see this.

Those running our country need the media to be controlled by a few, extremely powerful companies in order to influence the news so they are not portrayed as criminals. A diverse, free media would’ve more agressively exposed them before now.

Likewise, the powerful media companies need an administration that will allow them to further consolidate and get larger so that their profits will grow. A rich, diverse media is simply not in the best interests of their executives and stockholders.

This symbiotic relationship is one of the core sicknesses afflicting our democracy.

Just as the Republican Congress and their tame media enablers are calling for things like putting the NYT’s Bill Keller to death for revealing “secrets” that were already revealed by the Bush Administration, Minnesota Republicans are now blasting the StarTribune for covering a story that the Minnesota GOP has, in a press release, urged them to cover.

This is what happens, Big Media, when you coddle and suck up to Republicans and give in to their demands, as you have done for decades. They will take the power over you that you have ceded to them, and use it to attempt to destroy you.

Speaking of death penalties for important people, Rosa Brooks has an op-ed in this morning’s LA Times, http://www.latimes.com/news/op…..-opinions, where she notes that the SCOTUS ruling on Hamdan v. Rumsfeld opens the door to possible war-crimes prosecution of White House officials. And she cites language from US Code 18, 2441 (the War Crimes Act of 1996): “[Any US national who] commits a war crime [including any ‘grave breach in any of the international conventions signed at Geneva 12 August 1949, or any protocol to such convention to which the United States is a party’] … if the victim dies, shall … be subject to the penalty of death.” Sweet!

Jane, I don’t always agree with you but I’m with you on this one.

to respond to Jane – rightwingers write letters and boycott advertisers. Why don’t we?

Hardball’s ratings might go up if they put on all the harpies to mud wrestle.

At the very lease, flood Hardball with e-mails protesting this homicidal harpie!

Chris Mathews is a real problem. For one thing he promotes nasty brutish interactions, his morals are are shallow and idiotic. “Do you think if Bush looked more like Tom Cruise his numbers would improve?” And that is just a small taste of his level of political discourse.

As for Hardball… Well no, it’s SOFTBALL for the Repugs and set up and interrupt for the Dems. He very very rarely has a real liberal on, he prefers ole timey dems like Schrum who he can kick around and make look stoopid. He is pure and simple a republican. And if he isnt then he is on their payroll. A total suckup and buffoon who will obviously sell out his country for a dollar.

Anyone feel that maybe we could subscribe to the NYT??? I am willing, just to boost their numbers. Just a thought.