Every time I hear Rahm Emmanuel and Chuck Schumer talking about their brilliant campain strategies which completely ignore our involvement in a country called Iraq, I’m reminded of John Cleese as Basil Fawlty in my single favorite piece of British comedy — the Fawlty Towers episode called "The Germans." Please watch the above clip and tell me if you recognize the DSCC/DCCC strategies for November. At least Basil had the excuse that he had just been hit by a large falling moose head.
A question — are we now supposed to not mention torture too? A laundry list of campaign unmentionables would be a nice thing to have.
Update: Swopa has a great post on the hit piece on Howard Dean in the NYT which — shockingly! – glorifies Rahm and Chuck. Well at least the Times got their nose out of the Clinton panty drawer for the moment.
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Go Blue! Rahm is a tool!
Second and fitz!
The clueless corporate dems clearly don’t want to adress the fart at the dinner party-ie Iraq. Or torture. The Gambinos will not beat themselves.
You nailed it Jane. At least we can laugh at “Fawlty Towers” because it’s fiction.
I’m beginning to wonder what is permissable to criticize the Repubs about. As for the Dem leaders, I’ve never seen a bunch of supposedly powerful guys who have smaller ‘nads.
seriously, did a memo go out and we missed it?
the dems’ total avoidance of discussing TORTURE just shows the world why they’re not worthy of office.
meanwhie. clinton reminds us what it’s like to stand up and tell the truth.
I heart FDL and everybody here!
Gotta run – however may I just say fuck Schumer and Rahm E sideways with a rusty weedwhacker. What’s worse, Cheney or his willing cocksuckers?
And yes, Jane – torture no longer mentionable. Actually, nothing of any substance or import is any longer mentionable – no list needed.
We’re all Perot’s crazy aunt in the basement now.
Stark, raving batty I am and proud of it! All kinds of past heroes and heroines, scientists, humanists and pacifists have been considered crazy before, you know.
Love John Cleese and Fawlty Towers and that episode is seared in me brain, Jane. :O
Despite Harry Reid’s cave in, I remain hopeful. People are way too fed up to buy into the current episode of Gambino Kabuki Theater. Minds are already made up. The wave is building…
Like the two guys facing a firing squad, Bill and Jack.
Asked if they would like a blindfold, Bill said “Fuck You!”
Jack said “Bill, don’t make trouble.”
So sad. They don’t get excited about anything, therefore they are not exciting. Te guy that does the “red eye” commercials, what’s his name, Ben Stein? Get him to read the Smith section of the phone book, it would be nearly as captivating.
DON’T MENTION THE WAR!!!
I think about it every time I see Rahm and Chuck.
This may be the *opposite* of what you’re asking, but I think the Dem’s theme should be Republican INCOMPETENCE.
(as in “IT’s the INCOMPETENCE, stupid!)
It *does* cover a LOT…
Katrina (the turning point in Bush’s alleged popularity)
Iraq (the 9 billion that’s missing…also not mentioned)
Torture (doesn’t EVERYONE know that it doesn’t work?)
Warner/Graham/McCain “compromise” legislation (NO habeus corpus)
Job creation (there has been none)
Largest deficit in history (because we’re spending 13 million/per hour in Iraq)
No Child Left Behind (NOT working)
In short: FAILURE FAILURE FAILURE…due to INCOMPETENCE
Jane Hamsher @
11
‘xactly, Jane!
Crawl walk run. Elect more progressives and build on that. Slowly eliminate the Vichy Dems like Rahm. We will get our party back.
“Every time I hear Rahm Emmanuel and Chuck Schumer talking about their brilliant campain strategies…”
Ahhhhh yessss (in my best W.C.Fields’ drawl *g*), the 3 Monkey Election Strategy – See nuthin’, Hear nuthin’, Say nuthin’.
And their execution is simply mahvelous!
And may I say Mizz Jane, that I consider Fawlty Towers the bee’s knees of comedy!
Btw, are you actually considering the FDL business card idea that xyz came up with?
I really, really think it is a grand idea (fingers crossed that she’ll please, please go for it!).
Given that Rahm and Chuck would probably have a hard time finding their way out of a refrigerator carton (they wouldn’t be able to discuss which way is up, for one thing: it might be controversial), I figure their opinions are worth rather less than the carton. You can use a box that size for a dry-weather shelter.
Mad Dogs @ 15
What was the strategy? I missed it.
Unfortunately Jane, I feel the same way, and am disheartened. I keep reminding myself that WE are the leaders.
OT – I’m in CT for the weekend. Thinking about staying until Bushie’s visit. Has anyone heard about any Anti-bush demonstrations scheduled for CT?
We’re going to continue to hear the same old ideas from this same old bunch. Time for some new people with backbones.
Nice reference! I used to have this show memorized. I even had the scripts. I also had a very … nonstandard childhood, shall we say.
Well, if the Dems have to be puppets, we’d better make sure it’s us who have our hands up their backsides making sure they do what they’re supposed to.
Abandon the party? I don’t think so. We may have to work extra hard to make sure these bozos represent us the way we expect, but I know for damn sure there isn’t going to be a snowball’s chance in hell of being heard if we get Republicans instead.
I am not going to spend the next two years feeling like either I have duct tape over my mouth or the people who represent me have beans in their ears. No, I’m not.
And I am for sure not going to be able to function if we can’t take the Oval Office in 2008.
I am sick to death of getting “that close,” or winning “moral victories” and “making a statement.”
I WANT TO WIN. WIN. Remember winning? Where your guy gets more votes than the other guy?
That’s what I want. And Emanuel and Schumer can either get with the program, or be fitted for a puppet chute, cause one way or the other, these guys ARE going to do it the way it needs to be done so we can WIN.
/rant. Sorry, got a little carried away.
Twisted Martini @ 14
Yes. The right wing fought for 20 years to take over the Republican party and gain power. We’ve been at this struggle for six years.
As John Dean said, the next two elections will decide the future course of our country. I don’t care for Schumer or Emmanuelle – I’m furious at Reid (again). However, I will continue to do everything I can to support all the Blue America candidates – particularly Lamont. Because we can win back Congress – without them.
Fuckin’ A Anne!
And don’t mention that BushCo relied on the word of an Iranian SPY and set him up to rule Iraq after Hussein’s downfall…and there has been no ACCOUNTABILITY for that (surprise surprise).
Hopefully Bill has gotten the message that the christo-wackos are still rewriting the history of his presidency and he is therepubanti-christin this election. It looks as if he is the only one who has the balls to fight back. What can we do to fire him up and for him to call bullshit on these fascist pieces of crap?
Ya gotta love 2002 thinking. It worked so well then, and in 2004.
Andy
Now there’s a topic right there, things not to mention in political discourse.
Infuriating isn’t it how people with no defensible position on a controversial
issue invariably resort to thuggish tactics in order to stifle debate.
Not that Frank Herbert is the best source for reflection, but a saying of his
resonates. “Violence is the first resort of incompetence.”
Certainly its the first resort of a dishonest self-interest in at least one side
of whatever the controversy happens to be.
As for the incompetence meme, the harm caused by the GWOT is not a case
of ‘accidental negligence’, but a much more specific form of malevolence.
dab from CT @ 22
Edit never works for me – without “them” meaning the Dem leadership
I just want to know why our founding fathers threw off the yoke of the British Empire and King George then, and those in power now crow about it as though we are a righteous and ancient democracy. Right now, this minute these monsters are crowning, anointing, and genuflecting to another King George and embracing Imperialism and Empire and most of them can’t even understand a proper British accent, much less appreciate dry humor.
(or read subtitles.) More Rambo, less culture. Please sir, may I have some more?
Look at this post by “Mona” posting on the hard-core Libertarian site inactivist.org:
http://inactivist.org/democrat…..r_radicals
You see the same sort of sentiments on other Libertarian sites such as lewrockwell.com. These people who normally don’t have the time of day for Democrats are asking – no begging – Democrats to stand up and fight! There is real and widespread anger out there in in the classical conservative ranks, not to mention in the independent center. How can the Rhams and the Chucks be so clueless? Can’t someone get through their heads that the timid, mealy-mouthed tactics exhibited so far by Democratic congressional candidates those of us in the responsible center and right are just flat-out discouraging? Unless Dem candidates change their act come election day many of the POed centrists and classic conservatives are going to say to themselves “Why bother?”
Election fraud is definitely not mentionable.
Apparently all the “cool” politicians don’t believe in it.
This is common in hierarchical, top-down organizations. Big corporations make horrible decisions every day despite the good advice they receive from those on the front lines. The difference is that we on the front lines can do something about it. And we are.
Something I posted over at Kos, bears repeating here.
I just got off the phone with a fund raiser for John Kerry. When I asked if the Senator was going to have anything to say about making torture official U.S. policy, her response was “wait till after the election when we’ll have a majority. We just can’t get heard now. We can’t even call committee meetings. I think you’ll be very pleased.”
Silly me. It’s all about process. Appearing on talk shows, issuing press statements, introducing amendments or just plain filibustering are not options? Silence is taken as assent. How are they going to respond when the Republicans baost how they’re strong on terror, because they’re willing to ‘get tough’ – not like those Nancy (Pelosi) Boy Democrats.
I’m sure we remember how silent the Republicans were during the years they were out of power.
Sarik at 24
Hmm, Iranian SPY, omg SPIES, …you mean there are …SPIES…
…involved in all these, …WAR… shenanigans…
Oh. My. G-d.
Good thing its only IRANIAN spies that an ‘accounting’ must be made of.
*grin*
yep dab from CT. & Steve 25.
I hope I’ve helped get this thread off to an obscenity-laden start. Sometimes you just gotta. (Plus, after one has watched The Big Lebowski for the eighth or so time, the f-word becomes noun, verb, indefinite article…)
Lata y’all, from A FUCKING PISSED AS HELL LIBERAL NOT TO MENTION DYKE PATRIOT.
I swear, if these guys botch this election, then it’s time to get rid of them all. There will need to be a primary challenge against every single one of them in 2008.
I had coffee with a right leaning friend of mine yesterday. He has a bible study with several true believing wingnuts, and said they were still doubting the science on Global warming. I mentioned the “medical tourism” post you had up the other night and told him to run that past some of his wingnut friends, who were also doctors.
Reality bites. You can only call chicken shit chicken salad for so long before the smell begins to overwhelm you.
What a [psychiatric] laundry list that would be:
1. Don’t mention the Iraq war, because some of us were terrified little kittens and voted for it and now won’t admit we were wrong.
2. Dont mention torture, because Republicans have told us over and over that the public will think we have balls the size of peanuts if we do.
3. Don’t mention war profiteers, because some of our contributors are.
4. Don’t mention consolidation of media, because we have friends in the media. Not many, but a few.
5. No, please don’t tell us that we have to make sure all the votes are counted. We’ll be labeled “sore losers.”
6. Yes, Al From is my close friend, as are the Koch brothers. Why must you ask such questions?
7. No, don’t ask about some of the people we’re getting money from. And, no, we are not working on a Loan Shark Protection Act for them. Yet.
8. Never mention–never–that we’d sell out working families to help MBNA’s bottom line. We’ve got a reputation to protect, after all.
9. Yes, we’re all for energy independence. When Exxon says it’s okay with them. But, jesus, don’t mention that, right?
And on and on and on, ad infinitum.
Can’t mention torture… don’t talk about Iraq… there’s no deficit… Diebold machines can’t be hacked, we have a right to vote (well, some of us with picture ID cards)… So what can we talk about? Hmm, no child has been left behind, we’re gonna build a BIG wall, the economy’s going great — ooh, look, shiny thing, gas prices down!
angie @ 13
I too think about the war every time I see Rahm and Chuck. And guess who, too?
Twisted Martini @ 36
Unless, of course, you like the smell of chicken shit.
Larry Roth @ 33
Hmmmm…wasn’t there a post recently by some critter called TRex that called out John “I’ll wait until after I get elected” Kerry?
Like you Larry, I’m trying to understand how hiding is a demonstration of courage.
Who knew?
Hey Marion in Savannah, I’m in Savannah too.
umm…
I know OK kiddo, pick me, pick me!
I think that Emanuel and Schumer and Reid and almost everyone else can’t say these words because to say torture or war or 3000 young Americans dead or wiretapping or stolen election is to admit that they let it happen.
And they did. They are complicit. So they minimize the offense. And they let the MSM gloss it all over, too.
How loud must one yell that the emperor has no clothes before someone else hears it? When does the nightmare end?
What is remarkable is that no one, no one, outside the US believes anything good about the US government any more. The clarity with which the rest of the world perceives the insanity is in such stark contrast to the obfuscation of Emanuel and his merry band who don’t even bother to be the opposition. How can Americans pull back the curtain and see the real wizard?
You know everybody’s jocking Russ Feingold for ‘08, but he has underwhelmed me as well. Show me some stones on a consistent basis and I’ll gladly give you my vote.
“wait till after the election when we’ll have a majority. We just can’t get heard now. We can’t even call committee meetings. I think you’ll be very pleased.”
I think I’d have had a hard time not reaching through the phone line and trying to strangle the fundraiser. Jeebus, you’d think they want to lose the election. Don’t they understand that everytime they lose an election, it puts them that much farther behind at the start of the next one? How much plainer does the language have to get before they understand?
Rahm and Schumer are DINOs. They haven’t had a new idea in years and distrust anyone who has. They mount the same kind of campaigns that have lost them elections time and again because they really do learn nothing. If Democrats do better this November, it will not be because of but inspite of them. In foreign affairs their differences with the neocons are mostly in terms of nuance. More than this, as I have been harping here today, they buy into the narrative that national security and Iraq remain a win-win for Republicans and a lose-lose for Democrats. No matter how stupid, wrongheaded, and often downright criminal the Republicans are any criticism is taken as a sign of Democratic weakness. This is how we get continued support for an unpopular, discredited war in Iraq. This is how we get Democratic silence on torture. These guys are so afraid of appearing weak that they do nothing but act weak.
Minesotachuck at 30
Exactly–the Democrats should be shouting from the rooftops about the McCain Torture Bill. The Dems aren’t going to convert any of the far-right Dead-enders, but they could peel away some libertarians and independents. Or at least make the libertarians uncomfortable so they sit on their hands. Hey, senators-the GOP is giving you a wedge issue, you fools! Pound on it!
Wouldn’t it be great if we has a replica of the kiss float, but instead feature the tortured guy pic a few threads back? Imagine taking it from state to state and we could open a webpage for people to post citings?
Whatever Rove scares the Dems with, we need to scare them worse.
No shit, the dude with electrodes on him with Fredo throwing the switch. If somebody wants to design the postcard to send to the Dem Senators, I’ll print it.
apparently they can’t say ’sorry, we were lied to.”
or
“we made a mistake.:
So, after a little political “kabuki” with McCain, Warner, and Graham, Bush and the rest of the Cheney Administration come away with a legislative agreement that will give them “amnesty” (without ever directly stating it) from being charged with any war crimes in Iraq or anywhere else.
Neat. I’m sure Augusto Pinochet is marveling at the BushCo’s legal legerdemain, slipping this past the Senators, the American People, and most of the mainstream media.
Now, because Harry and Rahm and Chuck and the rest of the nincompoop Democratic “centrists” don’t want to talk about torture or the War on Iraq, Bush will be able to sign his own “get out of jail free” card. Also, those same cards for Rummy and Dick and Alberto and all of the generals at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, in addition to all of the CIA interrogators torturing suspected terrorists around the world.
Way to go, gang. Thanks for making the world safe for the torturers.
Hey, get off Chuck and Rahm’s backs. They’re busy doing too many other important things, like planting hit pieces about Howard Dean in the New York Times.
There are more important things than winning elections, y’know. (At least to them, apparently.)
ccmask
That is a great idea! Take it wherever any rep is speaking, repub or dem.
The kiss-float was a success, there are other icons that will resonate,
like the Abu-Ghraib christmas tree, and Bush joking about “No WMD here.”
montag @
38
This is, without question, the most concise analysis of the November strategy yet.
Absolutely brilliant.
ccmask @ 50
That is a great idea.
It would be nice to send a post card with that picture to every member of Congress. And on the back, there could be a box marked YES, I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS, and another box marked NO, I AM OPPOSED TO THIS. You could ask them to check the appropriate box and send it back to you.
EPU’d from earlier thread:
Martin Luther King, Jr. said this and I concur as I can find no better words:
But then again, what did he know? He wasn’t a politician.
…bedlam is dreaming of change…
cleter @ 57
Any designers in the crowd?
radlib1 @ 53
Y’know, if the Democrats en masse were to say, fuck Pelosi, “we’re going to go after these guys and we are going to stop this destruction of our rights, the destruction of our military, the destruction of our voting rights, the destruction of our tax base and the destruction of our reputation in the world. We are going to put these people in jail where they belong, because they are criminals,” you’d have the biggest turnout for Dems in history.
At least Basil had the excuse that he had just been hit by a large falling moose head.
Hmmm. Come to think of it, that’s Clinton’s excuse too. Bull Moose Wallace trying to hit him over the head.
(New Urban Dictionary Example: Bull Moose Wallace tried to Bull Moose Clinton in the interview but, Bill would have non-of it shouting “BullMoose!” at Wallace for asking questions from the extreem right hand. So Wallace had to “drink” (so to speak) Clinton’s warm beer-like pissy-ness. Bet he’ll remember THAT for awhile!)
ccmask @ 50
Make 3 to follow McCain, Graham and Warner around wherever they go.
Sarik at 12:
2nd, 3rd and 4th the motion: The issue is incompetence, with malfeasance added in for good measure.
That said, there’s a short spiel that should be at the core of every Dem candidate for the US House and Senate:
cleter @ 57
No third choice, no comments added like: I am against it, but did you see the new shiny McCain/Warner/Graham debacle we signed on to?
Yes/No– answer, please.
Larry Roth @
33
The proper response to this is: “Call me after the election, and I’ll send you some money then.”
Twisted Martini @ 51
Go for it. This is so disgusting and sickening.
I hate to pass judgement, but if these individuals aren’t completely outraged by and fully engaged against this latest disposal of inconvenient laws by the Bush administration as citizens of America, never mind as career pols scrambling to save their own highly triangulated careers…Then they are in agreement with the radical Right agenda. Period.
There can be no appeasement for those who would destroy the moral fabric of society to retain power from those entrusted to safeguard it.
cleter #49,
McCain is just trying to be balanced. He got an anti-torture bill through last year so now he’s working on a pro-torture bill this year. It’s his version of triangulating.
Hugh @ 69
Well, f**k him. McCain can kiss my shiny metal ass.
In a flurry of events aimed at kicking off the general election campaign against Democratic incumbent Maria Cantwell, McGavick was also guest of honor Wednesday at a $500-a-person reception hosted by the GOP senatorial campaign committee and a $1,000-per-plate dinner at a Capitol Hill restaurant.
In other news, American soldiers were charged only $3.00 a plate for their meals IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREAKIN DESERT.
RevDeb @ 58
I really, really dislike politicians and always have. Truth, spoken bravely, has always brought tears to my eyes.
PS The Gop Red Plate Special
And remember to never, ever mention Afghanistan. Major campaign buzz kill.
Boy, you’d think that Rahm and Chuck were playing defense for Notre Dame!
angie @ 44
You’re a major howl. Miss smarty-pants. To the head of the class w/you.
Twisted Martini @ 60
Hell, I’ve got Photoshop. Who’s got a bunch of card stock?
I bet being followed around by that float would make McCain explode into a fiery, un-Presidential rage.
Hugh #69:
McCain’s anti-torture bill from last year had an amendment attached that blocked Guantanamo detainees from going to court, so there’s nothing new here; their idea of a compromise is to say that torture is illegal and then refuse to allow courts to enforce it.
darkblack @ 68
LOL! Si Meester Cheney, Manuel he do whatever you say.
As we dutifully refrain from mentioning torture, shall we also refrain from using the words, with liberty and justice for all? Ah the world is changing fast……it’s all about globalization and privatizaton. No need for sentimental ideals. Move along! Move along!
Hey everyone
Our scarecrow has a diary up on Kos that could use some mojo or it will disappear into the ether.
mosey on over there and recommend, please.
HERE
When will we stop calling sound bites between political pundits and politicians democracy? A polite conversation between the right and far right fails to represent the majority or express different view points.
Maybe we need another Joe McCarthy to haul dissidents before Congress to get the attention of people?
That’s something we should explore-A web to print solution similar to Spotlight to deliver a progressive message. Like Ned’s friends family and neighbors tool.
Rahm and Chuck have it exactly righ, of course. Iraq is not important to the great and generous (above all, generous) American people. The trillion bucks spent is like nothing compared to the good the Iraq invasion has accomplished. So what’s a few thousand dead and wounded. It’s for a good cause. Ask Al From.
For your information, Rahm and Chuck are there to see that the horses don’t get too scared out there, in America’s Main Street. They’re our kinda guys. Whadda pair!
Twisted Martini @ 75
Looks more like they’re playing defense for the “All Capitol Hill Lobbyists’ Snakes” to me.
In 1791, America ratified the Bill of Rights. Under the 8th Amendment, this is what they said, and it isn’t quaint:
now, as we evolved, we made it clear:
much more here about our evolution:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E…..nstitution
Meanwhile we have the Geneva Conventions and the War Crimes Act. None of it is ambiguous.
We are supposed to treat all as we wish to be treated.
Might as well torture McCain with a little blast from the past. After all, he easily recovers from torture, as he has proved time and time again. I don’t think he is able to make quick decisions. Anyway, enjoy!
AMY GOODMAN: I’m looking at a piece by Joe Connesin at salon.com, who writes, “Watching her husband embrace the president in the new commercial must be distressing to Cindy McCain whose former dependence to prescription drugs was highlighted in an anonymous campaign leaflets the night before the South Carolina primary. Before anyone knew that Rush Limbaugh would make addiction fashionable on the far right. According to Newsweek’s inside account of the campaign, she began sobbing loudly while watching the returns that sank McCain’s campaign. Trying to soothe her, her husband said, ‘Think of how the Bushes felt two weeks ago in New Hampshire,’ where Bush had unexpectedly lost the primary. Between her sobs, she replied, ‘We never called his wife a weirdo.’ The assault on McCain’s family didn’t spare Bridget, the litte girl they’d adopted from a Mother Theresa orphanage in Bangladesh. In the mouths of anonymous quote ‘push pollers,’ who called Republican voters across South Carolina to smear the maverick reformer, Bridget was transformed into an illegitimate black baby, a variation on Bill Clinton’s mythical black son. Christian conservatives eagerly spread baseless rumors that McCain had consorted with prostitutes, another old Clinton-bashing smear, and that he was also homosexual.” So very interesting, now insiders saying that McCain’s dislike of Bush is legendary and of course going back to this time 2000.
montag @ 85
Watching Michigan State run up and down the field on them.
radlib1 @ 53
Last week was Republican (faux) infighting with the usual suspects like Lindsey the weasel Graham. Remember his faux concern about Alito?
I can understand last week with the Dems, as such. This coming week will, and better be, different
Twisted Martini @ 81
If someone created it in PDF format where we can download it and print it at home.
Afterall…. some of us have to endure the fact that “its ok to torture” McCain because they just happen to be the Senator from AZ… AND I just happen to live in AZ…
cleter 56, et al:
Instead of or as an alternative to designing and printing up post cards, maybe someone could do it as a PDF or MS Word Doc file that can be posted and downloaded by people, then printed out. Perhaps as an 8 1/2 x 11 document instead of a card. People could put their return address on it, put a stamp on it and then put it in an envelope and mail it to their candidate or Congress critter, asking them to check their answer and send it back.
Just an idea.
Dark, you give me the front side image, and I’ll handle the back.
ccmask @ 87
Why, he’s such a maverick that he rebels against showing well-founded outrage against politically motivated personal slander cast by yellow-striped duty-shirkers, you see
;>)
Twisted Martini @ 93
Que?
;>)
Joe Buck #78,
And then too there was McCain’s silence in the face of Bush’s signing statement which basically said he would do whatever he felt like with it.
The habeas question though is fundamental to the whole detention/torture debate. We are either a nation of laws or we’re not. If we create a legal black hole where our laws do not apply, then we have no system, period, because what happens to one group today can happen to any group tomorrow. We do not accord legal protections to suspected terrorists because we like them but because we wish to protect our own rights now and in the future.
Years ago, Jim Garrison said –
“I’m afraid that fascism will come to America in the name of national security.”
Unfortunately, we’re seeing it coming in though our Congress and creeping across our country right now. Aided and abetted by the abject obsequiousness of the Vichy Dems and other spineless moral jellyfish in Washington.
Hillary will not win the nomination or the presidency in 2008 if she continues to travel the same road she’s been on regarding the whole Middle East situation. She doesn’t have ghost of a chance if she perpetuates the Bush doctrine of keeping our soldiers in Iraq in the midst of a civil war. Of course this Iraqi civil war just may force her hand. And she MUST support a fair solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
If McCain and Clinton share the same views on Iraq, the American voters will go with John. Not Hillary.
katymine @
90
I threw something together… let me know if you have trouble accessing it:
http://www.box.net/public/71quxfehd5
Oklahoma kiddo @ 98
true.
If the Dem leadership quits the field on torture, rule of law and other minor shit like that; then I think selise from the Kabuki thread is correct. It is time to move from electoral politics to social movement politics.
Having been in college and Med school in DC from ‘62 to ‘70, I miss the smell of tear gas in the morning. Of course today, a street protest will be met with high power microwaves and being arrested and charged as as enemy combatant.
darkblack @ 95
You give a good signature DB image for the front of the postcard, & I’ll do the rest.
Can’t mention abortion, or the right to choose. Or privacy rights which is the basis for Roe v Wade. It’s too touchy of a subject you know.
Can’t mention the speration of church and state. Godless liberals and all that doncha know.
Can’t acknowledge that gays and lesbian exist, let alone their full rights. We’ll take your donations, your tax money and your votes. Just slip it all out from under the closet door.
Can’t talk about the glorified hate that immigrants and minorities are subjected to because, well quite frankly we need them to serve us cocktail weenies on the DC circuit. More mustard please.
Can’t talk about the truth, because we don’t know how.
Can’t talk about anything substantial becuase we’re a bunch of fucking cowards and we know it.
Minnesotachuck @
92
Heck, I just created a jpeg prototype of it. I used the hood picture from the previous thread It took all of a minute. Who wants it? Twisted Martini?
Twisted Martini @ 102
IMO, Dave @ 99 has something that says it all.
angie @ 86
Sorta’ like Jesus said. Yep. We be a Christian nation…just like jeebus says it be…
I don’t think a man tortured as bad as McCain supossedly was should serve in such a high office.
Let’s say, for instance, that a women is kidnapped and severly raped while in her 20’s. She is locked away in an underground vault and is raped daily. She is rescued 3 months later.
The woman recovers after several years, and goes on to hold a position as as Senator. Just as she is in a position to look forward to an election in two years time, she votes to legalize rape.
Has she ever really recovered from her tragedy as a young girl. Did she vote to legalize rape because she still fears her rapist.
You decide.
Grabbed Dave’s, I’ll work on it tomorrow. Cleter, you can send yours to dan At twistedmartini DOT com. I’ll make a few.
OT Apparently Venezuelan foreign minster was detained at JFK.
I rather enjoyed the Venezuelans visit.
Did Bush waterboard McCain?
Dave at 99
Nice.
I like the idea of a postcard rather than inside a letter, because then the mail carrier gets to see it.
UptownNYChick @ 109
See??? No diplomacy nor diplomatic immunity. Just revenge.
I read that uptown NY. Made him strip down to his birthday suit. Charges have been denied.
WRT to the hooded torture victim, David Rees used the image to great effect a while back; scroll to the bottom of the page.
http://www.mnftiu.cc/mnftiu.cc/war43.html
What do Chuck & Rahm want, anyway? To be elected minority leader of a dwindling Democratic caucus in the (Senate)(House) whose only purpose is to rubber-stamp whatever the Emperor wants because then it will be bipartisan, which is nicer and more polite than fighting all the time? Or do they have some hidden agenda that I have missed?
Jane Hamsher @ 56
We try. :)
But, sometimes the thread moves a little too quickly for my slightly slower brain. There’s a lot more that could be added to that laundry list.
Such as:
10. No, don’t mention our support for Joe Lieberman. He got a raw deal from the voters, but, he’s still our pal. We don’t want to get to know anyone new.
11. No, don’t say it, and don’t try to get me to say it. The Republicans are not fascist pricks. We’re bipartisan and we are above that sort of gutter politics. We will go on callin’ `em like we see `em.
12. I’m often asked by people like you to search my conscience and I have, and whatever we do is nothing compared to what the bloggers could do to this country. Whatever they do would be ten times worse than what we are doing here. [paraphrased from what movie and what character? :) ]
Is trex here tonight or can I go to bed and read a book?
Dru @
113
perfect.
the other strips are pretty perfect too!
ccmask @ 113
I liked the Venezeulans, but I am very happy the diplomatic big wigs are leaving. It felt like we were invaded.
Dave @ 98 – well done! I’m printing mine out tonight! hope everyone else does too … and we should spread this around.
and Jane – I am so proud to be part of Firedoglake where we stand for what’s right!
thank you!
Howie has a great Chavez post over on Down with Tyranny – good stuff!
Howie rocks!
http://downwithtyranny.blogspo…..etely.html
From answers.com
Dunking is depicted in the Disneyland ride Pirates of the Caribbean where audio-animatronic Pirates are shown dunking a magistrate in a well in order to make him reveal the location of treasure.
Autoassassinophilia and mock executions
The small but significant minority of customers of professional dominants that want them to role-play mock executions are presumably people with the paraphilia of autoassassinophilia, in which a person becomes sexually aroused at the thought of their own death at the hands of another.
Chuck Schumer dumber than a box of rocks but he got rid of Alphonse Tomato, which was a mitzvah in itself.
I like Bob Somersby’s description of the Democrats as the Washington Generals.
Re: The rumors that OBL has died of typhoid.
I hope it’s true. And I hope the headline reads: “Osama bin Laden Dies of Natural Causes”.
Twisted Martini @
51
How bout a whole deck of cards, each one a different human being tortured by the U.S. There are plenty of images to choose from. Seymour Hersch saw footage of children being tortured at Abu Ghraib and he still can barely speak of it without his voice breaking. Throw a couple of kids into the deck too. You know the pictures are out there.
We’ll call the deck, The Worst of the Worst. And it’ll be us.
Dave and all – I’ve just sent the postcard image (crediting Dave) to a wide selection of progressive bloggers encouraging them to join in, get their readers to print and send or fax asap …
now we need to make sure we do the same … and I plan to send to all senators, not just my own so I’ll be printing all day tomorrow
Siun @
120
Howie does rock. I remember how much shit I took about having him on the blog back in the day, as I recall he was a liberal elitist Hollywood record executive trying to poison the minds of the children, and I was intollerant blog mistress for telling people who said so to Fuck Right Off.
Now they write posts about what a blogospheric treasure he is. Sometimes you have to just know you’re right and take the long view.
You guys are just the best. I have NO idea how you do what you do, but I am, as I’m sure others are, immeasurably grateful. It’s SO good to know that you’re there…thank you.
Siun @
125
Let me know if it prints out OK – I just threw it together, and the photo is low-res.
Let me know if I can be of further assistance!
Jane – I know I’m the press sec and all but lordy, today I am just bursting with pride at this blog and your strong stance and the amazing community – over $1000 for Tony and great push back on torture ideas and … fuck yeah!
remind me how this goes again… the Senate will pass the torture bill and then it goes to the House for their approval? right? (forgive me, I’m very tired).
it appears that Jane Harmon may be asking for the list of techniques to be used (funny, no one else has made that simple request!)… now, considering how stubborn the booshcos are, that might burn up a day or so… seems like someone, somewhere could ask for specific exclusions… no sexual abuse, no rape of women, no abuse of children… oh, excuse me! no sexual alternative techniques, no alternative techniques performed on children… who could object to those exclusions?
someone was calling these things “poison pills” in the form of amendments… anything! anything at all to delay this!
Yeah, stand for something. And stand still, quit chasing polls and triangulating. Hard for voters to hit a moving target. When the mood swings back, there you are, patiently waiting, sagelike.
Dave and crew – it’s up on the Agonist already:
http://agonist.org/sean_paul_k…..ar_senator
spread the word!
Hugo
This is much funnier than Basil Fawlty.
Been some outstanding work done by bloggers regarding the Terror/Torture program. I almost didn’t post anything on it, but if I’m ever gonna get good at this, I gotta keep swinging.
The J-Poops first loyalty is not to the USA, even if it costs them an election.
Jane Hamsher @ 126
In the almost year I’ve been hanging out here, Howie’s Act Blue stuff and the FDL Book Salon have been stand out additions. I’m looking forward to next, Jane ; )
OldCoastie @
130
that’s really interesting, because that same idea showed up on a comment thread at digby’s. Hmmm. That’s a good idea.
OFG – great post you kittenstomper you!
How about someone doing a diary at Kos on the postcard idea with a link or the image embedded so Dave’s site isn’t overloaded – any takers?
The problem with the whole “poison pill” notion is that the Democrats don’t have the numbers get any of these amendments into the bill. They can only waste as much time as Frist will permit in debating such amendments, and then having them go down to defeat.
A filibuster is the best way to go.
really, cleter… who could object to an exclusion that says women will not be raped? that children will not be raped?
but my bet is that shrubya wants NO limits placed on him and it would cause all kinds of delays…
let’s see the Repubs go and explain to their constituents how they voted for rape… as an alternative technique… yeah, that’ll go over big…
I think when the specifics are examined, it does totally shock the conscience…
Pach’s offering FDL Late Night upstairs.
Oldcoastie – absolutely the perfect strategy – if Bush wants clarity in the law, let’s demand a few clear limits – like rape. Get specific about what they can’t do, get graphic, make them deny it, put them on the defensive – this is how you win this battle.
Oilfieldguy @ 134
Great piece!
I understand there’s a first-person description of waterboarding by Margery Kempe. (Late medieval English religious writer.) Of course, back then they used linen fabric instead of cellophane. I’m sure that first-person descriptions of the use of other techniques could be found, with which to enlighten senators and congresscritters. They could then filibuster by reading all of them into the record, just so everyone would know what was intended. Nope, no one hiding under that desk …
[still steaming…]
I remember the first set of shocking torture pictures that came out, and seem to remember that there was another batch that was supposed to be even more shocking. The Senators got to look at them in a secure room. Did the second batch ever come out? I don’t remember hearing about it.
Sophist @
34
I suppose PLAME must not be mentioned either. But I thought that *IRAN* was part of the axis of evil…so we get played by an Iranian spy who we’re planning to install in Saddam’s place…who is seated behind Laura B at the SOTU address? This is not a security breach? Oh I forgot…this must not be mentioned!
sarik @ 146
Sarik:
It is UNACCEPTABLE for you to even THINK that. Please report for thoughtcrime reprogramming.
I uploaded the postcard. Feel free to steal my bandwidth.
http://webpages.charter.net/mi…..stcard.pdf
Another unmentionable:
Jack-(Abram)off
yup. they don’t know Jack.
Glad to see the truth about the Rahm and Chuck show. Since the democratic party will not give any money to Jean Hay Bright, running against Snowe in Maine, I’m done with them. Howard Dean was against the Iraq war and was demonized by the media and continues to be demonized by the likes of Rahm and Chuck. I’m thinking Dean may have his hands tied. Hay Bright stands for the old democratic party that believed in worker rights, good pay …prior to NAFTA dems.Didn’t need framing to get a vote. Is this why she doesn’t get campaign funds? Not the lame excuse she doesn’t have enough money in her war chest to merit campaign funds. Or no corporate sponsers. This is the problem with the democratic party. If I don’t have a choice, I won’t vote.
- Don’t mention that McCain says on ‘Face the Nation’ that waterboarding is not allowed while the document indicate that it is – according to what I read.
- Don’t mention that they never caught the Antrax mailer. Apparently, they think it was an inside job since they went after a U. S. academic. Wonder if the stuff that went to the ‘National Enquirer’ in Florida has the same DNA as the batch that went to New York, Washington? Pretty scary if it is not.
Hey…don’t mention the male whore given access to the White House on two hundred occasions and given a coveted White House press pass for a year or so…to ask fawning sycophantic questions and pose as a correspondent for a phony news service….
Quite a breach of security there. Who was he visiting on all those occasions?
We haven’t heard much of Mr. Gannon lately…did Scottie take him with him?
[I just KNOW middle America could sink its tabloid teeth into this one, if they only KNEW about it.]
Thank you thank you thank you Jane! I LOL alone w/computer. Until my jaws ached. Oh, I needed that.