FITZ!

heh heh ZED!

G’morning Christy….. off to get my 2nd cuppa… brb… and read the post!

Maybe Rove told Bush that attending church wasn’t helping his popularity with the fundamentalists anymore.

Bush doesn’t need a minister to give him God’s message. God talks to him directly. He hears the voice all the time. “OK, now tell them how hard it is to put food on their families.”

Mountain biking? If you are a cop, you better run!

‘Morning everybody. Off for my second cup of coffee. brb

This little snippet was just so hilarious — so many hypocrisies, so little time.

Hadn’t thought about it before, but if I had the chance to preach with the preznit sitting in the pews, what would I say? . . . .

I’ll have to ponder that one.

Sheesh. He’s not been a regular church goer, but we’re supposed to believe he’s a man of faith.

He’s not willing to listen to a second sermon on changing one’s actions, but citizens are supposed to believe he acts in the best interests of the country.

Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.

On the other hand, did James Baker get to the right Reverend Luis Leon in advance of last week’s sermon? Or was this the usual Advent season call for repentance? Hmm.

Good morning Christy.

What a putz. He isn’t even going through the motions for his base any more.

And if God is giving him advice, I wish He would advise Shrub to treat defenseless people with compassion. I woke up wondering where all those poor people snatched in the ICE raids are, and how it is that our government can make people disappear with impunity. Great film on the Newshour last night of the service in Greeley, and a young mother, her face shadowed, recounting how her little son cries constantly for his father, and she has no idea where he is. That’s yer family values in action.

RevDeb at 9 — I thought that you and Peterr might have a little fun with this one. *g*

Think Baker represents the republican party leadership that sees itself and the party in deep doodoo. Going to be interesting – this Bush vs. republicans.

Mornin’ all!

Cheney and Bush arriving at church

Christy Hardin Smith @ 12

RevDeb at 9 — I thought that you and Peterr might have a little fun with this one. *g*

yep, but I take lots of time to think about my sermons so I can’t just rush in with abandon . . . not like a certain preznit seemed to do regarding taking the country into war . . . .

o/t.

Prof. Cole links to a seriously underreported story out of Iraq – Oil Smuggling Parts 1 & 2

Hmmm. 100,000 barrels a day are smuggled, worth $62 a barrel on the open market. Aren’t we talking about $6.2 million a day? Isn’t that $2.26 billion a year? Imagine what criminals and militiamen can do with that kind of money.

Note also that the petroleum smuggling is a double-edged sword. It weakens the central government by bleeding it of resources. And it strengthens paramilitaries and criminal elements against the central government. Iraq will never amount to anything unless this hemorrhaging of national resources can be halted.

http://www.upi.com/Energy/view…..1324-7320r

http://www.upi.com/Energy/view…..4012-3505r

why in God’s name isn’t this man on the teevee ?!?!?

ken melvin at 13 — I think so as well. Establishment v. the neocons. Which ought to make things in Congress a bit more interesting come January — when suddenly everyone begins to look ahead to 2008 instead of just at propping up the Shrub. Is it in their political interests to continue the sham of supporting him no matter what — or is it in their interests to distance themselves as quickly as possible from him and his policies? Very, very interesting to watch…

Bush signing statement on US-India nuclear deal erases Congressional restrictions

‘Repentance is changing your way, changing your mind, changing your direction. It requires the courage to acknowledge that you want to change, to change your direction.’

What are the characteristics of an Adult?
1. ability to analyze your situation and make corrections?
and
2. acknowledge mistakes, learn from those mistakes and takes corrective actions?
or
3. stubbornly “stay the course”?
and
4. the war is so much fun that escalation should make it so much better?

BTW…. it is a toasty 35 degrees here at my home in the desert this morning!

Morning all

OT– I am not a WSJ subscriber, but this is the blurb they offer.

STUTTGART, Germany — Gen. Charles F. Wald has been projecting American power all his career. As a young air controller, he flew target-scouting missions over Vietnam. More recently, he led bombing runs in the Balkans and commanded the air war in Afghanistan.

But in his final military post, as deputy commander of U.S. forces in Europe, Central Asia and Africa, the Air Force general awoke to a vulnerability at the heart of that power: oil.

I want to say well duh, but…

http://online.wsj.com/google_l…..lenews_wsj

Susan in Iowa at 11 — I was thinking about that as well yesterday evening. We had family over for dinner and it was so cozy at our house…and I thought about all of those kids who may still be trying to figure out with whom they will stay and where their parents may or may not be…what a mess. Whatever the law enforcement action, you never, ever leave children dangling like that — EVER. You do your freaking job and stay up until every single child has a safe placement. Period. I’ve been up at 3 am on Christmas Eve trying to find placements for kids when there was an emergency arrest situation — no matter how tired and miserable you may be, those kids have to take priority — it’s the decent thing to do, and the Feds and locals both dropped the ball on that miserably. I am beyond pissed.

twolf1 @ 18

Bush signing statement on US-India nuclear deal erases Congressional restrictions

We just have to remove him and his handlers from office; there is no other solution.

At least there is a hint of sanity in this article:

Split opinion over more troops.

btw, for those in need of a giggle this morning, Froomkin also linked up this LATimes bit on wonky political presents for the political junkie in your life. I have to say, I’d LOVE a “Karl Rove Is Voldemort” t-shirt to wear walking around my neighborhood. Mwahahahahahaha…

Rayne at 10 — I would think it was the usual Advent repentence sermon. Amusing that it may have hit a nerve with the Shrub though, isn’t it? Wanker.

Maybe Bush knew Caroline would be there and had also read Enigmatic American Economy Extracts’, so the last person he wanted asking him questions was a journalist from the Financial Times.

twolf1,

I like this one,

at home in Crawford

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYNoQZ5djUA

I tried to find a YouTube of CSN singing “Love The One You’re With” — but couldn’t come up with a good one. I did find a very cheesy lip synch one, but I couldn’t do that to you guys first thing in the morning. *g* It just seemed so perfect for a descriptive of Shrub — although, as Froomkin says in his column yesterday, there is a reason that Cheney has been going along on the whole of the “Presidential listening tour” on Iraq, isn’t there?

Hey, Bush listens to God – so long as God tells him what he wants to hear.

Which makes Bush quite the egalitarian; he treats God just like he treats everybody else.

katymine @
20

BTW…. it is a toasty 35 degrees here at my home in the desert this morning!

29 degrees here, in the Central Valley of Cali. You’d think it was December or something. *g*

Sean Penn has a stunning speech at HuffPo– it’s his acceptance speech for the 2006 Christopher Reeve First Amendment Award. A snippet here:

Which is to say that, globally, the United States is number one at demanding accountability and backing up that demand with imprisonment. But, when it comes to our president, vice president, secretary of state, former secretary of defense…this insistence on accountability vanishes. All of a sudden, what’s past is prologue. And we’re just “forward-looking.” But some people can’t just look forward. Men and women stationed in Iraq at this moment, under orders of a Commander-in-Chief so sufficiently practiced in the art of deception, that he got vast numbers of American journalists and the most esteemed media outlets of this country, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, and PBS to eagerly serve his agenda-building for war. And the process also induced vast numbers of artists and performers (probably even some in this room tonight) to keep quiet and facilitate the push for an invasion in Iraq.

I’m sure many people who I met in Baghdad, both in my trips prior to and during the occupation, now similarly cannot just look forward. With lives so entirely shattered by a violence of occupation – an ongoing U.S. war effort and the civil war that it has catalyzed. All on the back of a crumbled infrastructure, following eleven years of devastating U.N. sanctions.

And, where is the accountability on behalf of the American dead and wounded, their families, their friends, and the people of the United States who have seen their country become a world pariah. These events have been enabled by people named Bush, Cheney, Powell, Rumsfeld, and Rice, as they continue to perpetuate a massive fraud on American democracy and decency.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..36659.html

via Froomkin:

“It can be argued that Bush understood little about war and peace and diplomacy and honesty in government. Cheney understood all of it, and he bears much of the responsibility for what’s gone on in Washington and in Iraq for the last six years. Keep a sharp eye on him. Desperate men do desperate things.”

A couple of months ago, John Dean stated at an ACLU Townhall that the genius of Cheney is that he allows Bush to wake up everyday thinking he is President.

I just asked my hubby to order the Impeach game so we can have it for our New Years’ Eve party. Also ordered several Impeach bumper stickers for my good friends.

I feel better now.

katymine @ 32

A couple of months ago, John Dean stated at an ACLU Townhall that the genius of Cheney is that he allows Bush to wake up everyday thinking he is President.

So, Cheney channels Eva Braun? That’s a funny scenario….

Yesterday, Bob Somerby at the Daily Howler made an excellent point. It is that persons who were wrong about Iraq are seen by the media as having greater credibilility in the current discussion about what to do in Iraq than those who were right from the beginning. As he so aptly put it: “It’s something like a basketball tourney where only the losers advance.”
It is maddening that the Left is being locked out of this debate. Somerby called it “Rule by the wrong.”

This Old Brit @ 27

Maybe Bush knew Caroline would be there and had also read Enigmatic American Economy Extracts’, so the last person he wanted asking him questions was a journalist from the Financial Times.

They crow about the economy, but we are close to being busted, imho.

Nice blog– good stuff there. ;)

RevDeb @
9

Hadn’t thought about it before, but if I had the chance to preach with the preznit sitting in the pews, what would I say? . . . .

I’ll have to ponder that one.

I’d cover the Beatitudes:
* Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
* Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land.
* Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
* Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
* Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
* Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
* Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
* Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Then move right on into Matthew 25: 34-46:

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,* you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’

Yes, those would be some interesting bits to cover with Bush in the front pew.

old gold at 35 — the basketball analogy is a good one. Thanks much — missed that yesterday.

Terry in MD.

At this point in time I wonder if there was ANYTHING that would penetrate that concrete skull of his. He is probably intentionally sedated before being sent to church, God forbid he should actually hear the message which Rev. Leon and others have most likely been preaching at him week after week, year after year.

All that you said above should be enough. Would that it were.

(hanging my head in sorrow for the state we are in)

twolf1 @ 18

Bush signing statement on US-India nuclear deal erases Congressional restrictions

Imagine my surprise.

cbl @
28

twolf1,

I like this one,

at home in Crawford

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYNoQZ5djUA

hee hee

twolf1 @ 18

Bush signing statement on US-India nuclear deal erases Congressional restrictions

It is important to remember that signing statements have never been upheld as having any force by any court. It’s his lawlessness that’s the issue, not the trappings he wraps it up in. As with all his signing statements, it doesn’t actually say he’s going to ignore what Congress passed (though it heavily implies it in this case), so now that we have a Democratic Congress, it’s going to be up to them to act when he actually does go against the law. In this case, as in several past ones, reporting requirements are where that’s the most likely.

The radical right are such weasels. If they actually believed they had this power, rather than just betting they can get away with it, they’d actually challenge provisions of the law, rather than endlessly saying “shall construe provisions of the Act in a manner consistent with the President’s constitutional authority.”

And this is the most revealing bit:

Also, if section 104(d)(2) of the Act were construed to prohibit the executive branch from transferring or approving the transfer of an item to India contrary to Nuclear Suppliers Group transfer guidelines that may be in effect at the time of such future transfer, a serious question would exist as to whether the provision unconstitutionally delegated legislative power to an international body. In order to avoid this constitutional question, the executive branch shall construe section 104(d)(2) as advisory.

In other words, “we claim we believe that the law you passed is unconstitutional, but since the Supreme Court might not agree, we’ll play Congress, Executive, and Supreme Court and rule that we’re correct.”

Christy Hardin Smith @
12

RevDeb at 9 — I thought that you and Peterr might have a little fun with this one. *g*

I saw this yesterday, while one of looseheadprop’s posts was up. I tossed this in then, but (obviously) it’s on topic here:

I’m guessing that after the previous Sunday’s experience, someone at the White House checked the lectionary (set of appointed lessons for each Sunday, used in many churches of different denominations) to see what would be on the preacher’s mind this week. This past Sunday’s main reading from the Gospels was the story of John the Baptist preaching to the crowd he labeled a “brood of vipers,” for their hypocritical behavior. Among his suggestions for them: (a) those with two coats should give to those with none; (b) those with homes should care for those without; (c) tax collectors should collect only what is due, not any extra for themselves; and (d) soldiers should do their jobs, and not use their weapons and power to threaten and extort.

I can see why Bush would decide to take a pass on hearing a sermon based on that story.

Re Luis Leon’s sermon encouraging the idiot child to reconsider, I’m totally amazed that georgie listened enough to refuse to go back..I bet karl wised him up to what had been said.

Jay @ 44

Re Luis Leon’s sermon encouraging the idiot child to reconsider, I’m totally amazed that georgie listened enough to refuse to go back..I bet karl wised him up to what had been said.

I think they fit him with ear plugs before they send him to church.

I think I now know why whatever comes out of the mouths of bush & co doesn’t make a lick of sense…they’re communicating with each other via speaking-in-tongues neoconese.
mister bush says rummy “spoke straight. It was easy to understand him.”
rummy:
“I believe what I said yesterday. I don’t know what I said, but I know what I think, and well, I assume it’s what I said.”
“Needless to say, the president is correct. Whatever it was he said.”
“I’m not into this detail stuff. I’m more concepty.”
“I would not say that the future is necessarily less predictable than the past. I think the past was not predictable when it started.”

Maybe he should just hang out at all white churches.

Remember this from Coretta Scott King’s funeral?

Lowery’s speech — like Carter’s — included a passage that provoked controversy (and a prolonged standing ovation):

LOWERY: We know now there were no weapons of mass destruction over there. But Coretta knew, and we know, that there are weapons of misdirection right down here. Millions without health insurance. Poverty abounds. For war billions more, but no more for the poor.

Pissed off the whole wingnutosphere.

A friend told me that when social change and activism are long haul, small gain activities, it’s the Christians and the Marxists that hang in for the long term.

I guess those Christians are scaring W.

OT

Christy, (and all who care about Choice)

moiv has another stunner. This one is about EC and other things that should be easily available in Texas. Read it and scream.

RevDeb @ 45

Jay @ 44

Re Luis Leon’s sermon encouraging the idiot child to reconsider, I’m totally amazed that georgie listened enough to refuse to go back..I bet karl wised him up to what had been said.

I think they fit him with ear plugs before they send him to church.

It makes it so much easier for him to dream about his mountain bike or maybe that nifty commander in chief uniform he’ll get to wear if deadeye dick declares martial law

I’d like to make a point about impeachment. It doesn’t have to be for specifically criminal acts — the argument that “he hasn’t done anything criminal” is no argument againt impeachment.

Suppose a President sat around all day drinking beer and watching ESPN? Or shoved his dessert into the face of a foreign ally? You’d have every right to impeach him, even though he wasn’t acting criminally.

(Arguably, Bush has broken the FISA law, and through his signing statements has broken his oath of office by not “faithfully executing the laws,” etc., but that’s a different discussion)

The “I” word is going to come up again and again, as we “escalate.” And it shouldn’t be batted off the table with the “not criminal” argument.

(I’d argue that a President who shouted down the joint chiefs of staff in order to send more troops into a meat grinder over their objections may be committing an impeachable offense, in absence of a “no confidence” process……)

Brrrr. Chilly here in Boise this pre-morning. And also in the Pentagon’s own assessment of where we are in Iraq: namely, implicitly at least in their assessment, in a civil war (as reported by this morning’s WaPo):

this report, unlike the prior one, omitted any explicit statement that Iraq is not in a civil war.

How bad does the Pentagon now think it is?

“The violence has escalated at an unbelievably rapid pace,” said Marine Lt. Gen. John F. Sattler, director of strategic plans and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who briefed journalists on the report.

Want to solve it all with a “surge” of more troops?

The escalation of violence in Iraq comes despite increased troop levels — including a higher-than-anticipated U.S. force level of 140,000 troops and a growing contingent of Iraqi security forces,

1,000 attacks per week against American and Iraqi targets, according to the Pentagon report. As summarized in the New York Times story on this:

The report, which covers the period from early August to early November, found an average of almost 960 attacks against Americans and Iraqis every week, the highest level recorded since the Pentagon began issuing the quarterly reports in 2005, with the biggest surge in attacks against American-led forces. That was an increase of 22 percent from the level for early May to early August, the report said.

While most attacks were directed at American forces, most deaths and injuries were suffered by the Iraqi military and civilians.

So the question now is this:

What is the Middle East going to look like for the next 5-10 years, after we pull out?

Will we get away from reliance on oil — not because we want to do so, but because the marketplace will drive us there? Will we massively shift to development of alternatives — maybe even alternatives that do not involve combustion?

Will the increased oil prices lead to renewed pressure to drill in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge?

Will the debacle in Iraq have an effect on global warming?

This is our future that we’re talking about — our global future.

RevDeb @
9

Hadn’t thought about it before, but if I had the chance to preach with the preznit sitting in the pews, what would I say? . . . .

I’ll have to ponder that one.

Haven’t had a president to preach to, but I’ve had a Senator drop in unexpectedly – the late Paul Simon. It didn’t change what I had to say, but I think I stood up a little straighter when I said it.

(Full disclosure: Simon was a family friend, and I’ve sorely missed him in so many ways. What he would have done with the hearings for the last two Supreme Court nominees . . .)

I’ve also had a couple people come up to me after preaching somewhere and say “Gosh, I’ve got to tell my uncle (or some other relation) about what you said today. He/she serves in the legislature (or works on Capitol Hill, or has some other big political connection).” That’s the thing about preaching – you never really know who’s going to be there, and never really know who they might be connected to.

GWB looking for the newest reason we’re still in Iraq:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tphG4iuGmxk

There is so much more in the Pentagon report. The NYT goes on:

Shiite militias, the Pentagon report said, also received help from allies among the Iraqi police. “Shia death squads leveraged support from some elements of the Iraqi Police Service and the National Police who facilitated freedom of movement and provided advance warning of upcoming operations,” the report said.

“This is a major reason for the increased levels of murders and executions.”

Hello-oh.

morning, all… coffee’s ready…

brrr! cold this morning!

Peterr @ 43

Christy Hardin Smith @
12

RevDeb at 9 — I thought that you and Peterr might have a little fun with this one. *g*

I saw this yesterday, while one of looseheadprop’s posts was up. I tossed this in then, but (obviously) it’s on topic here:

I’m guessing that after the previous Sunday’s experience, someone at the White House checked the lectionary (set of appointed lessons for each Sunday, used in many churches of different denominations) to see what would be on the preacher’s mind this week. This past Sunday’s main reading from the Gospels was the story of John the Baptist preaching to the crowd he labeled a “brood of vipers,” for their hypocritical behavior. Among his suggestions for them: (a) those with two coats should give to those with none; (b) those with homes should care for those without; (c) tax collectors should collect only what is due, not any extra for themselves; and (d) soldiers should do their jobs, and not use their weapons and power to threaten and extort.

I can see why Bush would decide to take a pass on hearing a sermon based on that story.

“Brood of Vipers” would make an interesting post.

Peterr @ 52

RevDeb @
9

Hadn’t thought about it before, but if I had the chance to preach with the preznit sitting in the pews, what would I say? . . . .

I’ll have to ponder that one.

Haven’t had a president to preach to, but I’ve had a Senator drop in unexpectedly – the late Paul Simon. It didn’t change what I had to say, but I think I stood up a little straighter when I said it.

(Full disclosure: Simon was a family friend, and I’ve sorely missed him in so many ways. What he would have done with the hearings for the last two Supreme Court nominees . . .)

I’ve also had a couple people come up to me after preaching somewhere and say “Gosh, I’ve got to tell my uncle (or some other relation) about what you said today. He/she serves in the legislature (or works on Capitol Hill, or has some other big political connection).” That’s the thing about preaching – you never really know who’s going to be there, and never really know who they might be connected to.

Peter, I was a great admirer of Sen. Simon. I think I still have a few “Simon for President” bumper stickers in a file in my basement. If you want one, e-mail me.

I haven’t preached for a high official. I had a Gov. at a memorial service I did 2 years ago and chatted with him afterward (rather useless, RI). I have had state legislators in my congregations. They tend to not attend except to maybe make an appearance at Christmas Eve.

I no longer try to tailor sermons to anyone’s needs (or mine) since usually the person I want to send a message to doesn’t show up that Sunday anyway. Since we don’t use the lectionary, I have to/get to chose topics every week. Been talking a lot about peace for the past 4 years in one way or another.

Latest FaBlog: Fait Divers — “Of all people. . .”

Prof– this breakdown of the data is missing from most of the CM reports thus far:

The number of average weekly attacks in Iraq rose to 959 in November, a roughly 22 percent increase in weekly attacks since August, the report shows.

Of those attacks, 648 were against U.S. troops and coalition partners, 194 were against Iraqi security forces, and 117 were against Iraqi civilians, according to the Defense Department.

(emphasis mine)

http://www.estripes.com/articl…..icle=42275

(I still believe that we actually engineered the civil war…)

angie @ 59

Prof– this breakdown of the data is missing from most of the CM reports thus far:

The number of average weekly attacks in Iraq rose to 959 in November, a roughly 22 percent increase in weekly attacks since August, the report shows.

Of those attacks, 648 were against U.S. troops and coalition partners, 194 were against Iraqi security forces, and 117 were against Iraqi civilians, according to the Defense Department.

(emphasis mine)

http://www.estripes.com/articl…..icle=42275

(I still believe that we actually engineered the civil war…)

Angie, you are not alone. Not by a long chalk.

Why do Christians allow Bush to claim to be one without challenging him on that claim?

“church is cancelled”

interesting phraseology there

Warning to TRex:

You have been replaced.

Sean Pean has done taken your job. Sorry.

He riffed last night on how it was that the American people supported the invasion of Iraq:

Who were those mothers and fathers believing in?! We know it’s not the administration alone, but a culture at large, cloaking itself in self-righteousness, religion, and adolescent hero-dreaming machismo.. . .Would they have believed the factually impaired Bill O’Reilly if they knew he was massaging his rectum with a loofah while telephonically harassing a staffer? Or the little bow-tie putz, if they knew all he was seeking was a good laugh from Jon Stewart? Maybe our countrymen and women were listening to Ted Haggert while he was whiffing meth and boning a muscle-headed gigolo? Or Mark Foley seeking junior weenis?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..36659.html

Whoosh!

Sorry I’m moving a bit slowly this morning in comment responses, gang — The Peanut is home with the sniffles, and momma duties have to come first. Plus, am working on a big article in the meantime for a little later this morning…

I can’t stop quoting Sean Penn:

Of course we’d prefer some easy ways to get there. But no easy ways exist. Not a new Congress. Not Barack Obama. And, not John McCain. His courage in North Vietnamese prison makes him a heroic man. His voting record in Congress makes him a damaging public servant. We have gotta stand the fuck up and show the world how powerful are the people in a democracy.

Found something interesting while looking for gift ideas. Too late for Christmas, but maybe Kwanzaa or something. ;)

No, George, no!: The Re-parenting of George W. Bush

My brother would probably get a kick out of that book, but giving it to him in front of my dad wouldn’t really be in the “Christmas spirit”. Dad can’t stand criticism of the administration. He’s also very Catholic. Latin Mass Catholic, even. In *his* reading of the Bible, Jesus is “pro-management”.

Guys, I’m gonna play the devil’s advocate here.

How can he change? At this point, if he gets down off the “victoryhubris” pony, then the shit hits the fan. (Of course, it’s going to hit it anyway, down the road.)

Specifically, without american troops there, Iraq is going to implode and fragment, and almost certainly, in a bloody and violent manner.

But relatively few americans really want to think about the horrific outcome that is pretty much graven in stone, at this point.
Think of this: “Success” now means an Iraqi “government” that will, somehow, miraculously be “stabilized”, which stability, INCIDENTALLY, will vastly increast Iran’s power and influence in the mid-east and the world.

This post, is no defense of bushCo, nor is it a call to “stay the intercourse”. It’s only pointing out…again…just how blitheringly stupid and…hubristic, was the decision to pull the trigger on Iraq.

But politically garrotting george bush and company, won’t change the outcome in Iraq. That’s a done deal. All it will do is, we hope, get out troops home, and make the voters leery of faithbased invasions.

It will also let the rest of the fallout from what is probably the worst decision ever made by an american president, go ahead and transpire, since staving it off by throwing more blood and money into the hopper, will only mean that an unspinnable political reckoning won’t fully come down on the heads of george bush and the repubs, but may be fended off long enough for them to sneak out of town and leave some sucker of a president-elect, holding on to the flaming bag of bodyparts and bullshit.

We NEED to get that little consolation prize, of tying this misery around junior’s neck like some foul, rotting chicken.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 64

Sorry I’m moving a bit slowly this morning in comment responses, gang — The Peanut is home with the sniffles, and momma duties have to come first. Plus, am working on a big article in the meantime for a little later this morning…

Tease.

(Sniffles and coughs here too – no fun at all.)

For ACLU, A Victory In Standoff With U.S.

In fighting the grand jury subpoena, the ACLU called the designation of the document as “Secret” a striking example of the Bush administration’s rampant use of claims of “state secrecy” and overclassification of documents and information to hide its actions.

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/g…..61218.html

This preaching to chimpy thing is a dream microcosm of what us red staters can do on regular basis.

Wherever family and friends gather to break bread down here, a prayer is required.
I always say the prayer in my own home and have developed an ability to deliver it on a moment’s notice at others’ as well.
You have a captive audience with members of the Flat Earth society for a minute or so to remind them of the true teachings of Christianity.
Peace is usually a central theme.

I know, Prof @ 65– the article is mighty fine.

Good to know, OldBrit @ 60– nothing else makes any sense to me…

;(

The existance of Bush is the best advertisement there is on the planet for buying condoms .

Dont know if this was discussed yesterday (hard to keep up here) but I heard a peice on the AKsomething machine guns being smuggled into the US by our returning soldiers and being sold. These are illegal in this country and have been carefully controlled until recently.
I think the story was on NPR

Speaking of hubris. One of our more bellicose war pimps Anne Applebaum is now blaming “Old Europe” for not fixing the war helped sale.

What a tosser.

angie @ 59

(I still believe that we actually engineered the civil war…)

i have wondered…. in april 2004 during the first attack on sunni falluja, shiia participated in a nonviolent protest/convoy of aid until the attack was called off…. then in november (after usa elections) when the attack was resumed, there was no support. a couple months later the shiite mosque in samarra was bombed.

did the usa negotiate with shiite leaders to abandon their previous support for falluja?

was the mosque bombing retribution?

was that when sectarian conflict spiraled out of control?

(a stupid question – what is the proper usage of shiia and shiite? when should i use one or the other term?)

T- @ 71

This preaching to chimpy thing is a dream microcosm of what us red staters can do on regular basis.

Wherever family and friends gather to break bread down here, a prayer is required.
I always say the prayer in my own home and have developed an ability to deliver it on a moment’s notice at others’ as well.
You have a captive audience with members of the Flat Earth society for a minute or so to remind them of the true teachings of Christianity.
Peace is usually a central theme.

Good for you!

TRex had a great primer on Islam and the differences of Shia and Sunni last night – definitely worth going back to read, if you didn’t see it.

Brownback is a nitwit… he finally removed his block on a nominee for a judgeship (he blocked because the woman had attended a “same sex commitment ceremony”) but said he wanted promises that the nominee wouldn’t rule on any same sex issues…

from the Wapo

this all just seems so stupid…

RevDeb @ 57

Thanks! You’ve got mail.

THE PRESIDENT’S OWN COMBINED AND UNANIMOUS JOINT CHEIFS OF STAFF TELL THE PRESIDENT DO NOT SEND MORE TROOPS

The washingtom post

…The Joint Chiefs think the White House, after a month of talks, still does not have a defined mission and is latching on to the surge idea in part because of limited alternatives, despite warnings about the potential disadvantages for the military, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the White House review is not public.

The chiefs have taken a firm stand, the sources say, because they believe the strategy review will be the most important decision on Iraq to be made since the March 2003 invasion.

At regular interagency meetings and in briefing President Bush last week, the Pentagon has warned that any short-term mission may only set up the United States for bigger problems when it ends. The service chiefs have warned that a short-term mission could give an enormous edge to virtually all the armed factions in Iraq — including al-Qaeda’s foreign fighters, Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias — without giving an enduring boost to the U.S military mission or to the Iraqi army, the officials said.

The Pentagon has cautioned that a modest surge could lead to more attacks by al-Qaeda, provide more targets for Sunni insurgents and fuel the jihadist appeal for more foreign fighters to flock to Iraq to attack U.S. troops, the officials said.

Tanbark @ 68

Guys, I’m gonna play the devil’s advocate here.

How can he change? At this point, if he gets down off the “victoryhubris” pony, then the shit hits the fan. (Of course, it’s going to hit it anyway, down the road.)…

That’s the thing that demonstrates that he cares about nothing but himself. A president who cared even the slightest about the good of the country, when faced with the options of taking his lumps now or sacrificing lives and billions to pretend that it’s not his fault for a couple more years, would choose the first.

I don’t think “stay the course” or “double down” for two more years is going to do the GOP in general any good. They have the choice of pulling out with whatever disastrous consequences that entails or staying with whatever disastrous consequences that entails (and the recent election gives a clear picture of how the American people are likely to respond to the second option.) It’s only about George the sociopath and his refusal to ever accept that he could be wrong, no matter what the cost.

But I do agree that we need to endlessly push the idea that the failure in Iraq was invading in the first place. Nobody else “lost” Iraq, Bush and the neocons did by putting us in a no-win situation.

jr. “uses” church the same way he “uses” that little flag in his lapel…

Adie @ 83

jr. “uses” church the same way he “uses” that little flag in his lapel…

everything is just a prop to further him along his little dream path which has turned into a nightmare for the country.

Peterr @ 78

TRex had a great primer on Islam and the differences of Shia and Sunni last night – definitely worth going back to read, if you didn’t see it.

my question was one of grammar – about the use of the terms (the words themselves) “shiia” and “shiite”… are they used interchangably? or should i use them in different cirumstances?

selise @ 76

angie @ 59

(I still believe that we actually engineered the civil war…)

i have wondered…. in april 2004 during the first attack on sunni falluja, shiia participated in a nonviolent protest/convoy of aid until the attack was called off…. then in november (after usa elections) when the attack was resumed, there was no support. a couple months later the shiite mosque in samarra was bombed.

did the usa negotiate with shiite leaders to abandon their previous support for falluja?

was the mosque bombing retribution?

was that when sectarian conflict spiraled out of control?

(a stupid question – what is the proper usage of shiia and shiite? when should i use one or the other term?)

all good questions that I wonder about, too. I think the bombing of the mosque extremely suspicious.

Former CIA analyst a and presidential advisor Ray McGovern does not rule out Western involvement in this week’s Askariya mosque bombing in light of previous false flag operations that have advanced hidden agendas of the ruling elite.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/ar…..ombing.htm

also, the I think that the term Shi’a and Shi’ite are interchangeable..

fyi– Kofi Annan’s year end presser coming up on cspan.

RevDeb @ 84

Adie @ 83

jr. “uses” church the same way he “uses” that little flag in his lapel…

everything is just a prop to further him along his little dream path which has turned into a nightmare for the country.

Amen! *sigh*

FishbowlDC has a fun little item . . . the winner of an annual WH press corps contest to rewrite “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The winner was Greg Clugston of Salem Radio.

Click through for the whole poem, but here’s my favorite couple of lines:

All of a sudden there arose such a clatter,
Dubya jumped up to see what was the matter.
Out on the lawn stood someone he could not neglect;
It was Nancy Pelosi — the new speaker-elect.
With a shift in power, Congress won’t be the same –
And she turned to her colleagues, calling them by name:
‘Now Hoyer! Now Reid! Now Biden and Kennedy!
‘On Schumer! On Durbin! On Murtha and Leahy!
‘To the top of the committees, to the top of them all,
‘Let’s stop the eavesdropping on every phone call, . . .

perris @ 81

THE PRESIDENT’S OWN COMBINED AND UNANIMOUS JOINT CHEIFS OF STAFF TELL THE PRESIDENT DO NOT SEND MORE TROOPS

The washingtom post

…The Joint Chiefs think the White House, after a month of talks, still does not have a defined mission and is latching on to the surge idea in part because of limited alternatives, despite warnings about the potential disadvantages for the military, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the White House review is not public.

The chiefs have taken a firm stand, the sources say, because they believe the strategy review will be the most important decision on Iraq to be made since the March 2003 invasion.

At regular interagency meetings and in briefing President Bush last week, the Pentagon has warned that any short-term mission may only set up the United States for bigger problems when it ends. The service chiefs have warned that a short-term mission could give an enormous edge to virtually all the armed factions in Iraq — including al-Qaeda’s foreign fighters, Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias — without giving an enduring boost to the U.S military mission or to the Iraqi army, the officials said.

The Pentagon has cautioned that a modest surge could lead to more attacks by al-Qaeda, provide more targets for Sunni insurgents and fuel the jihadist appeal for more foreign fighters to flock to Iraq to attack U.S. troops, the officials said.

anyone rememeber the Stewart “I listen to my generals” tape???

T- at 71, I’ve been thinking about that sort of “teachable moment” with family. Well, mainly my Dad, who I mentioned above. See A llama for my mama for more.

OldCoastie @ 79

Brownback is a nitwit… he finally removed his block on a nominee for a judgeship (he blocked because the woman had attended a “same sex commitment ceremony”) but said he wanted promises that the nominee wouldn’t rule on any same sex issues…

from the Wapo

this all just seems so stupid…

I’ll take that, if all the graduates of Liberty, Bob Jones, etc. will recuse themselves from church-state cases…

angie @ 86

I think the bombing of the mosque extremely suspicious.

Former CIA analyst a and presidential advisor Ray McGovern does not rule out Western involvement in this week’s Askariya mosque bombing in light of previous false flag operations that have advanced hidden agendas of the ruling elite.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/ar…..ombing.htm

that would be even worse than i’d had feared. but, of course, quite plausible. divide and conquer is a common colonial tactic. as professor foland is fond of saying “release your inner cynic”. sigh.

also, the I think that the term Shi’a and Shi’ite are interchangeable..

thank you!

OT– Kofi Annan highlights Israel/Palestine as a central issue that must be resolved.

Wrt religion and violence– he says that the primary issue is NOT religion but politics and power.

(I would agree)

Worst thing that happened to him as Sec General was not being able to stop the Iraq war and the loss of the UN colleagues in Iraq. Thirdly, the oil for food “scandal” and how it was used by many to undermine the UN.

(take that Norm Coleman and John Bolton!)

ruffian @ 89

perris @ 81

THE PRESIDENT’S OWN COMBINED AND UNANIMOUS JOINT CHEIFS OF STAFF TELL THE PRESIDENT DO NOT SEND MORE TROOPS

The washingtom post

…The Joint Chiefs think the White House, after a month of talks, still does not have a defined mission and is latching on to the surge idea in part because of limited alternatives, despite warnings about the potential disadvantages for the military, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the White House review is not public.

The chiefs have taken a firm stand, the sources say, because they believe the strategy review will be the most important decision on Iraq to be made since the March 2003 invasion.

At regular interagency meetings and in briefing President Bush last week, the Pentagon has warned that any short-term mission may only set up the United States for bigger problems when it ends. The service chiefs have warned that a short-term mission could give an enormous edge to virtually all the armed factions in Iraq — including al-Qaeda’s foreign fighters, Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias — without giving an enduring boost to the U.S military mission or to the Iraqi army, the officials said.

The Pentagon has cautioned that a modest surge could lead to more attacks by al-Qaeda, provide more targets for Sunni insurgents and fuel the jihadist appeal for more foreign fighters to flock to Iraq to attack U.S. troops, the officials said.

anyone rememeber the Stewart “I listen to my generals” tape???

the democrats need to HAMMER the “I listen to my generals” and MAKE SURE he does NOT send more troops

selise @ 85

my question was one of grammar – about the use of the terms (the words themselves) “shiia” and “shiite”… are they used interchangably? or should i use them in different cirumstances?

Shiite and Shia are interchangeable, as far as I know.

Hubris.
Something Clusterfuck thinks you have to rake up after cutting brush.

Bustednuckles @ 96

Hubris.
Something Clusterfuck thinks you have to rake up after cutting brush.

Or else he thinks that someone is talking about that Jewish circumcision rite that’s generally followed by a big banquet and party.

Wouldn’t want to miss “Hugh’s bris“.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 25

btw, for those in need of a giggle this morning, Froomkin also linked up this LATimes bit on wonky political presents for the political junkie in your life. I have to say, I’d LOVE a “Karl Rove Is Voldemort” t-shirt to wear walking around my neighborhood. Mwahahahahahaha…

There’s a house not very far from us where I often see a car parked in the drive with a “Republicans for Voldemort” bumper sticker plastered aft and center.

Biodun @ 94

selise @ 85

my question was one of grammar – about the use of the terms (the words themselves) “shiia” and “shiite”… are they used interchangably? or should i use them in different cirumstances?

Shiite and Shia are interchangeable, as far as I know.

My ear hears it as Shiia = plural, and Shiite = singular – but that could be an anglo attempt to impose meaning/order on something unfamiliar.

witchywoman @ 99

Biodun @ 94

selise @ 85

my question was one of grammar – about the use of the terms (the words themselves) “shiia” and “shiite”… are they used interchangably? or should i use them in different cirumstances?

Shiite and Shia are interchangeable, as far as I know.

My ear hears it as Shiia = plural, and Shiite = singular – but that could be an anglo attempt to impose meaning/order on something unfamiliar.

I’m sure this has been said in some form before, but I can’t resist

since the president attacked IRaq, that Shiite has hit teh fan

Shorter Anne Applebaum:
I can read French and German (tra la la) and if
the Euro-trash can’t immediately clean up our mess then they shouldn’t say they we made it.

On the sermon, Bush = David
Iraq= Bathsheba
Where is our Nathan? Jim Baker failed.

witchywoman @ 99

My ear hears it as Shiia = plural, and Shiite = singular – but that could be an anglo attempt to impose meaning/order on something unfamiliar.

From dictioanry.com:

Shi’ite noun Islam. a member of one of the two great religious divisions of Islam that regards Ali, the son-in-law of Muhammad, as the legitimate successor of Muhammad, and disregards the three caliphs who succeeded him.

Also, Shiite, Shi’a, Shi’ah,

Shi’ite can also be used as an adjective.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/shi’a

Adie @ 83

jr. “uses” church the same way he “uses” that little flag in his lapel…

I think you are right, but why do church goers allow him to get away with it?

selise @ 76

angie @ 59

(I still believe that we actually engineered the civil war…)

i have wondered…. in april 2004 during the first attack on sunni falluja, shiia participated in a nonviolent protest/convoy of aid until the attack was called off…. then in november (after usa elections) when the attack was resumed, there was no support. a couple months later the shiite mosque in samarra was bombed.

did the usa negotiate with shiite leaders to abandon their previous support for falluja?

was the mosque bombing retribution?

was that when sectarian conflict spiraled out of control?

In searching for another story a few days ago, I ran across this interesting interview of GW Bush shortly after the Samarra mosque bombing (February 2006). In hindsight, it’s amazing to see how Bush insisted there wasn’t really sectarian violence, let alone a building civil war. He argued that the violence in Iraq was waning, the situation was getting better. He said that the Samarra mosque bombing was to create sectarian strife, but claimed all of the leaders and most Iraqis were committed to building the country and not letting violence grow anywhere toward sectarian warfare or civil war. All the while, he had to know that the situation was seriously deteriorating into civil war.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/stor…..amp;page=1

Additionally, I was struck the other day when watching a news program (sorry, I don’t remember who it was, and if it was on CNN or MSNBC) when a former military official bluntly said that the only real problems with sectarian violence are in Baghdad and Anbar province, because the rest of Iraq has been ethnically cleansed. That gave me chills.

I’m scouring the internet to try and figure out who said it. If I find a transcript I’ll post it later.

Can we preemptively impeach the Prez…

He will listen to Ex-General Jack Keane
and bump up troops by 40K..
Thank God for this thread…
Keane is blasting away on the Diane Rehm
show with false assumptions, and I was swearing at the dial on my car….
Once a General, always a General, according to
the Order of Mel-keys-a-deck (sp)

OT–

oh beauty– Annan smacks the slimy Faux reporter who says the UN Secretariat is corrupt.

Catalonian @ 101

On the sermon, Bush = David
Iraq= Bathsheba
Where is our Nathan? Jim Baker failed.

Bush has had about six billion Nathans to choose from since at least 2002. Nathan can only do so much when David is a complete bonehead with delusions of both adequacy and grandeur.

Badwater @ 103

Adie @ 83

jr. “uses” church the same way he “uses” that little flag in his lapel…

I think you are right, but why do church goers allow him to get away with it?

The right wing church goers are focused on the life to come and the rapture. Bush helps them to think that it is imminent.

The liberal church goers have been fighting him since day one.

The ones in the middle are just starting to wake up from their deep sleep, kind of like Rip Van Winkle.

Badwater @ 103

Adie @ 83

jr. “uses” church the same way he “uses” that little flag in his lapel…

I think you are right, but why do church goers allow him to get away with it?

That’s right up there with “Muslims aren’t condemning bin Laden loudly enough. They must agree with his actions” for fallacious attributions of collective responsibility.

Fresh thread, all.

Regarding what the Wash. Post reported (repeated several times above) about the Generals being against more troops, what I read is that they are objecting to short term deployment of limited numbers of troops.

Bush will take that to mean the Generals are advocating for 100,000 more troops for 5 years.

What I fear is the reason for Bush’s delay on his ‘new path forward’ speech, is that they are about to call up almost all National Guard units at one time. And they did not want the hullabaloo that would create over Christmas. How very evil of them.

katymine @ 32

via Froomkin:

“It can be argued that Bush understood little about war and peace and diplomacy and honesty in government. Cheney understood all of it, and he bears much of the responsibility for what’s gone on in Washington and in Iraq for the last six years. Keep a sharp eye on him. Desperate men do desperate things.”

A couple of months ago, John Dean stated at an ACLU Townhall that the genius of Cheney is that he allows Bush to wake up everyday thinking he is President.

I don’t think there is any genius in Cheney’s ability to let Bush wake up thinking he is President. I think anyone could pull off that trick. Bush’s mind is too delusional to think otherwise. He is a complete tool and fool.

selise @ 76

angie @ 59

(I still believe that we actually engineered the civil war…)

i have wondered…. in april 2004 during the first attack on sunni falluja, shiia participated in a nonviolent protest/convoy of aid until the attack was called off…. then in november (after usa elections) when the attack was resumed, there was no support. a couple months later the shiite mosque in samarra was bombed.

did the usa negotiate with shiite leaders to abandon their previous support for falluja?

was the mosque bombing retribution?

was that when sectarian conflict spiraled out of control?

(a stupid question – what is the proper usage of shiia and shiite? when should i use one or the other term?)

Shi’ite is an adjective form, Shia is a noun form. However, my understanding is that Shiite is a vaguely disparaging English form. Prior usage of the form with regard to religious adherents (e.g., Campbellite, Taylorite) supports such an interpretation. Shia would then be the preferred form, and I guess you use circumlocutions to avoid needing adjectives.

Note that we don’t refer to Sunni muslims as Sunni’ite. Part of the current war of all-against-all in Iraq is a Sunni-Shia confrontation.

BC

Bargain Countertenor @ 113

Shi’ite is an adjective form, Shia is a noun form. However, my understanding is that Shiite is a vaguely disparaging English form. Prior usage of the form with regard to religious adherents (e.g., Campbellite, Taylorite) supports such an interpretation. Shia would then be the preferred form, and I guess you use circumlocutions to avoid needing adjectives.

Note that we don’t refer to Sunni muslims as Sunni’ite. Part of the current war of all-against-all in Iraq is a Sunni-Shia confrontation.

BC

wow, thank you so much for the education! now if i can just remember to stick with nouns…

selise @ 114

wow, thank you so much for the education! now if i can just remember to stick with nouns…

Thanks to all for the help in understanding.

Verbs are good too.

IMPEACH!

The same George W. Bush who so proudly declared himself a “war president” is leading the United States to strategic bankruptcy and geopolitical disaster. As Commander-in-Chief, President Bush displays all the hallmarks of the failed executive. With a nod to Stephen Covey, call them the “Seven Habits of Highly Defective Presidents.”

1. Name Names and Outsource Responsibility
2. Focus on the Process, Not the Plan
3. Set Dates to Turn Corners
4. Use New Slogans for An Old, Failed Product
5. Find New Uses for An Old, Failed Product
6. Announce Your New Product Before It’s Ready
7. Don’t Do The Market Research

For the analysis, see:
“Iraq and the 7 Habits of Highly Defective Presidents.”

Badwater @
103

Adie @ 83

jr. “uses” church the same way he “uses” that little flag in his lapel…

I think you are right, but why do church goers allow him to get away with it?

subtle, guilt-tripping memobubbles released by rover into the MSM & “holier-than..” ethers? Yeah, I’m serious. Think about it…

RE: Merrie Englande…

does anyone think that Gordon Brown is looking forward to inheriting 7200 Brit troops as hostages?