
Plausible or not so plausible? You decide:
Most Americans think of President Bush as the commander in chief. His speechwriters have another name for him: the editor in chief.
“He always wants it to be logical and straightforward,” William McGurn, the chief White House speechwriter, said in a hurried telephone interview on Friday, just four days before the State of the Union address. “That’s his big obsession. I always say I’ve been edited by Bill Buckley at the National Review, Bob Bartley at The Wall Street Journal. And the president is the strictest editor, the most line by line.”
Yes, I so often think of William F. Buckley, Jr., and his command of the English language as secondary to the effulgent intellect of our current President. Ah yes, that beacon of learned discourse. That shining…
Oh, who the hell am I kidding? I grew up in West Virginia, and George Bush makes plain talking from the hollers sound erudite by comparison.
Putting the State of the Union into common parlance so that citizens of this nation can fully comprehend the direction in which the President hopes to take the nation? Just common sense. But portraying George Bush as the sort of man who goes line by line in a speech to have it reworked for clarity, consistency and rhetorical dexterity?
Na. Gah. Dah. Sorry, I'm not buying it.
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I can, however, see him crossing out all the words he can’t pronounce.
Keeping America safe, one monosyllabic word at a time…
Fitz!
let’s say he’s one guy I would not want to speechwrite for! can you just imagine the temper tantrums?
The Bush administration sees the “pursuit of force as a faith,” writes Tom Engelhardt, who runs Tomdispatch.com, “a regular antidote to the mainstream media.” In a recent article titled “The Look of a War against Islam: George Bush’s Crusading Scorecard (2001-2007),” Engelhardt provides a scathing analysis of the administration’s continuing miscalculations and its insensitivity toward the realities in Iraq and the religious tones in the conflict.
Engelhardt sees the “surge” bringing more death and destruction to Baghdad, home to nearly a quarter of Iraq’s population. He predicts more suffering: “It’s a formula for catastrophe and — with the possible exception of the president, the vice president, and a dwindling number of hangers on (e.g., Joe Lieberman and the Fox News Channel, the folks Condi Rice “loves”) — the truth is that everyone in Washington, in the world, knows it.”
http://www.niagarafallsreporte…..er298.html
“uh um ugh Turdblossom, I don’t, um, understand half them words in this here thang. I wan’ ya to go over it wit me line buh line so I don’ forgit. uh oh. ya mispelled nuclear. Even I know how ta spell that one. It’s exactly like how it’s spoken.. nu-cu-lar. Git it?”
It sure will be fun to watch. I’m only watching so that I can see Pelosi & Cheney doing the “wave”.
911 terra
911 terra
911 terra
I can see him as a severe editor. He cuts everything down to the point that he can understand it. And that’s not easy.
These clown Republicans putting out this s’t about opposing Bush now on Iraq. What a bunch of stinking cry babies, f’king trying to take the heat that’s coming off their own selfish, political asses. More that 3,000 American soldiers dead. Countless wounded. And probably close to 1,000,000 dead Iraqi’s. Are you listening Hillary, you bag of compromising, Bush cozying (is this a word?) political sewage?
I feel better.
I picture him playing video games between staged events.
Maybe he’ll come up with a new plan for us to put food on our families. I’ve got a few wingnut relatives I’d like to “food.”
Line item veto!
The classic video: Bush’s Speechwriter
I buy it. He has a certain moronic quality to all of his speeches- whichever speechwriter writes em- that show the mark of one single uneducated hand.
707!!
McGurn was able to keep a straight face when he said that? Comedic genius!!!
Who do they really think they are kidding? Any school age child can listen to five minutes of bush and know he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. More like a rusty old silver baby spoon…
Hey Skeptical!
(And Jane wants to be called Loretta, right?)
OK Kiddo-
Sure, Hilary’s listening. She’s having a chat with America, remember? She’s just not listening to you.
After all, do you own a major share of an insurance company? I though not.
Fe @ 2
LOL
His speechwriter confuses “editing” with “foot-stomping and rehearsing.”
George W. Bush is probably the kind of “editor” who tells the speechwriters to make a lot of changes, to do it his way, and then blames them when the speech doesn’t go over well.
he’s had some outstanding speech writers. let’s face it, making him sound smart has to be a monumental task.
this time, however, I don’t think the best wordsmith on the planet can pull his fat out of the fire. He’s way beyond redemption by rhetorical flourish. He’s done.
neurophius- Like a golfer who blames his caddy for his bad shot.
In anticipation of tomorrow night’s presidential flight of fantasy, here are 10 things to look for in the 2007 Bush State of the Union:
1. An Unhealthy Vision
2. Surge Protector
3. Faux Iraq-9/11 Link Redux
4. Sacrificial Sham
5. Culture of Life Redux
6. Energy Shortage
7. Warming to Global Warming
8. The Spend and Not Tax Conservative
9. The New Bipartisanship: The Democratic Deficit
10. Laura Bush: Gang Banger
For the details, see:
“SOTU Preview: 10 Things to Watch.”
Ah thought Sadam had Nu-Q-Lear Weppons.
I think there is a misunderstanding here. Coloring in the o’s in words with crayons is not editing.
“He’s done”
Yer just basin that on the fact that everybody hates him and nobody trusts him…
He’s goin fer broke! Tuesday he’ll be bangin on the podium with a little tent in his trousers–educatin us dumb mericans.
Before I get to read the post and the comments so far, I wanted to ask if anyone has lit a candle for Esten Maxwell. If so, what group name are you using?
Best video is the one where Bush reads during the 911 attacks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI5NKtrPUd0
And Condi Rice will make millions on the lecture circuit and from book deals after Bush is gone.
Hugh @ 27
How about putting smiley faces and sad faces inside them? What about adding a little
heartmushroom cloud over the “i” instead of the dot?Bush is readin “My Pet Goat- the x rated version”
Bush is an “editor” in the sense of being the “Deciderer” –
“No!”
“Shut up!”
“How dare you say that to ME?”
“See, I don’t have to explain myself.”
“Cut his mic! Cut it!”
“That Adam Clymer, he’s an asshole!”
“Hey you, Keller, you can’t print that!”
You get the idea.
I preached yesterday on the SOTU and the last portion of the sermon was what I’d like to see. Got a good laugh out of them.
The list of great things was followed by this:
In reading up for the sermon I found FDR’s Four Freedoms in his 1941 SOTU and read the LBJ 1965 Great Society SOTU. Both are amazing. In LBJ’s, all I could think of was Bill Moyers working it behind the scenes.
I edited the sermon and put it up in the toobz. It felt good.
No to mention, “Gee, it’d be a shame if anything happened to those ‘journalists’ in Iraq. Heh heh.”
That’s the most extreme form of editing.
Looking at the Clinton polls from WaPo on Olbermann. The DLC and these other compromising, so called centrist Demos and ‘third way’, types are Rahmming the Hill down our throats. I resent it.
Mrs. K8 @ 34
“Put somethin’ good in here about mah good friend Joe Lieberman!”
As for the Bush speech tomorrow night. I won’t be watching it. I think I can get the analysis I need after ‘the show’ here, and elsewhere.
Do you think Georgie could pass a pop quizz on that goat book?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 39
Nope.
effulgent intellect of our current President
I think it should be effluent
Bush editing:
“Ah don’t think my base likes the word “accurately”- by the way- ya heard any good fart jokes?”
Oklahoma kiddo @ 39
No.
SOTU? You gotta either 707 or put out a 505 . . .
Hugh @ 27
but how kin ah think outsahd the box if’n it be round?
to use an old britsh slang expression: “pull the other one – it’s got bells on it”
One of small things I am looking forward to when W is no longer president – is not having my intelligence insulted by a constant stream of “Bush isn’t the lazy jagoff dumbass you think he is stories”. Remember the summer reading list? They do think we are stupid.
HEY Gang! Seriously. Can anyone help with this???
Ann in AZ @
28
Oklahoma kiddo @ 39
suggest you mute the tv, and enjoy Speaker Pelosi looking down over Bush’s shoulder… breath deeply and erase the last memory of Hastert’s bulk up there… progress Kid, progress
Savor it.
Oh mysterious God in Heaven, if you do in fact exist outside the realm of humanity, please please please Oh sweet merciful and powerful God, please STOP Bush from using that fake Texas accent, please make him speak like the rest of his family which bears no hint of that fake Texas accent.
Thank you God!!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 38
I want to see James Webb give the response!
Anybody know when that’ll be? Approximate time? (As in, how long will the Deciderer yammer on?)
For that matter, I don’t know what time SOTU is. 8 pm est or 9 pm est?
punaise @ 42
Anything but fluent
This is more of the ongoing spin attempting to make Bush seem to be intelligent. Sure, he’s an ace editor. Uh huh. He reads lots of heavy books with 50 cent words, too. Yeah, I believe it.
BLAST FROM THE PAST SOTUS:
One way to judge President Bush’s 2006 is to look at how much of what he wanted to achieve at the beginning of the year has actually been accomplished. By that measure, Bush did not fare all that well. Of the 14 agenda items he set out to achieve in his State of the Union address:
one got done,
three were ongoing but two of these did not receive the increased funding Bush requested,
on six, legislation was introduced but not passed, and
four were unsuccessful.
http://www.bloggingstocks.com/…..-had-left/
Oklahoma kiddo @ 37
think how surprised they’ll be when she loses Iowa, NH and SC.
…But portraying George Bush as the sort of man who goes line by line in a speech to have it reworked for clarity, consistency and rhetorical dexterity?…
“I am in charge of all decisions-therefore I am the deciderer in chief. If I was anybody else but me right now I wouldn’t be in charge of all decisions to make you people safe to live in your homes because I wouldn’t be the deciderer, which I am, because nobody else is, or can be, while I am.” Cause there’s just one.”
In polisports it appears the Ungrateful American Public has taken a late halftime-inning lead over the Oligarchs. Early action had the Ingrates down by an MCA enabled by their own top players. Fortunately, a late surge of justice knocked one of the Oligarchs main players virtually disabled when the AG was verbally smacked with several rapid Leahys.
…it’s reported that the Cully is still kicking the walls of the penalty box after the Ingrates put him there for being blatantly stupid.
Adie @ 48
I have not heard of one.
Bush to speechwriters:
“Nah. Can’t use this one either. Yuh finally got the the words and the ideas right. But it still sounds like bullshit.”
Pach – What you want for the CM, and what the CM wants for the CM are different things. They do their “job” well, just ask them, they just don’t do the job they once did or that some would still want them to do.
ccmask @ 52
The Failure-in-Chief.
BTW, how are things with your work situation? Have been thinking of you!
I guess this clears up the mystery of how those 16 words got into that other SOTU . . .
MrsK8: Great actually, right now anyway. Me & the widow spent 4 hours with the atty today. Things are loking up–thanks.
I wonder if Joe kisses his *ss this year instead of his lips?
Oh, I believe he’s an editor. He’s got to go through that speech with a nit comb to strip out all the big words he can’t pronounce, all the smaller words he doesn’t know the meaning of, and in general anything that doesn’t “play to the base.” That’s a LOT of editing.
a nit whit comb :))
ccmask @ 54
And from LBJ’s Great Society SOTU we got Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, HUD, and the Natl. Endowments for the Arts and Humanities, and probably other things I missed.
And LBJ was a real Texan.
lina @ 55
I’m with you, lina. Hil is not going to be the Dem nominee. Obama won’t either. Edwards has only an outside chance.
ccmask @ 59
Hahahahaha!
With what comes out of his mouth, it amounts to the same thing, no?
I’m so happy to hear you had a good meeting — hope those greedy extortioners get their asses kicked! And I’ll still pray that you and the loyal staff get to keep your jobs — and be happy in your work!
AHAHA!
Richard Clarke on KO – “this administration doesn’t base it’s actions on intelligence”…
if they weren’t talking about spy stuff, it would still be true…
lina @ 55
;)
I hope the preznut gets a lot of claps and causes him to gain enough confidence in himself to ad-lib a little.
presque vu @ 60
Libby (and others) wish it was that simple.
Mrs. K8 @ 49
I think SOTU is 9p EST. That part’s easy. Promising to watch whole thing so we can give you a cue – not so much, even tho I’d like to help. Sorry.
Actually, I’m almost psyched up to watch, wondering about jr’s fabled temper & attnspan, & wondering if he’d pull some sorta “wonderboy” routine, swivel on his heel, & tell the faceshooter he’s in charge!as.of.NOW!
Then mrc’d wake up, keel over, &, well, I mean, she’s just right there…. POOF! Ooohhh gosh. Where am I? What year is it?
I hope the president doesn’t say anything misleading in the his address to the nation.
1,415 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Citizen Hardin Smith and the Firepup Patriots:
Is it my tinfoil hat imagination or has the corporate media made a special effort ta pump up the Chimp’s image the last couple a dayz. AOL had a header on this afternoon that advertised the fuckwad as “decisive” and “resolute”…do all the corporate news editors read the Whitehouse talkin pointz every AM before coffee??!!
I’m gettin’ a strong feelin’ that somethin BIG (and GOOD) is afoot and that we ain’t gunna hafta wait long after the SOTU to find out what it is. Anyone else gettin’ that feelin’?
KEEP THE FAITH ALL THEY GOT LEFT IS OUR MONEY!!!
Adie @ 72
;o)
Hugh @
27
707!!!
Bush.
Spike.
No, please don’t refer to them in the same post!
Norske – I have that feeling too… did you hear Leahy jump all over gonzo on the Aher (?) situation up in Canada? he was as mad as I’ve ever heard him…
I’m suspecting they’ve had enough.
K-8: It is so sad for her. Her husband was such a great boss. He bought everyone their homes, their cars, paid for funerals and if you went to jail, he bailed you out. He was such a good friend and he was only 59. And to think that these 4 guys (who we actually need to get the product out) did this was such a shock. In Brooklyn, they’d all get a baseball bat to their knees. Anyway, we need to replace them if we can. We’re on top of it now.
NorskeFlamethrower @ 73
I thought the machine was laying the groundwork for him to claim ultimate power by declaring martial law.
According to ABC Nancy Pelosi has 54% approval. Bush has 33%.
That’s 21 points, folks. And remember when the pundits (who now tell us of Hillary’s inevitability) told us that Pelosi was already damaged goods, in disarray and “on probation”, before Congress was even in session?
Heh.
Ed*ard Teller, where are you when I need you???
I think I have a theory about the U.S. Attorneys being canned, need help.
Can somebody give me an update on the status of the investigation into VECO Corp. in Alaska? Heard anything recently?
Any help would be appreciated greatly, thanks!
ccmask @ 69
That’s always good for a few laughs.
Great to hear things are going better at work.
Ah hope the President gets the Clap too!!
ccmask @ 62
Would be great to hear more details of that meeting, and how things are going. I say, not to worry about being OT. Those managers have all of the characteristics of errr…. certain repug thugs. I’m sure a lot of us are interested and concerned as to how the battle is going for one of our “own”. Heck, I’ve been here a while, and I suspect you arrived at FDL before I did!
p.s. twolf- that video is great, re: Bush speech writer. I have seen it before, but it’s a great take.
I have got to remember to wear my Joe Lieberman kiss button tomorrow for my Republican coworker. Woooooohooooo!
Morris Sheppard @ 66
I just decided I’m for Richardson. I want someone who has foreign policy experience who didn’t vote for the Iraq war. By process of elimination, that leaves Richardson.
Steve Clemons has floated a rumor that Gov. R. has some of the same sexual proclivities as Hillary’s husband. I haven’t seen any more on that, but that won’t affect my support for him. I don’t care if he wants to mate with farm animals as long as he can fix our foreign policy.
RevDeb @ 35
Wow. Great preaching. I really like that. Thanks.
This guy tells Olbermann that the Iraqis will have their revenge on our country.
neurophius @ 56
Thanks, Adie & neurophius. Since one hasn’t been started yet, I will start one under the groupname EstenM. Please join in; he’s only three and his dad is a friend of ours.
“Farm Animals”
Depends- as long as they are attractive, clean, and well bred- I see nothing wrong with it- but no chickens!!
Lina 87
Richardson is definately in the running. So is Wes Clark (my current fave).
i have to say, this latest casting of our Leader Who Excels At Everything is the most humorous, and certainly a lot less harmless than his new crack at Outgeneralling the Generalz.
even so i find it offensive, seeing as how i know something about the work and find that it requires certain capacities that are absolutely at odds with characteristics other profiles of bush have emphasized.
Adie @
48
It may be that a group hasn’t been started yet. If I recall Renee in Ohio started Jane’s group and posted it here. This is the site where I think you can either light one candle or form a group:
http://www.gratefulness.org/ca……cfm?l=eng
I think you can search that site to see if there is a group for Esten too. Hope this information helps.
You guys were great with my problem the other night. I copy and pasted 15 of your observations and sent them in an email. That woke her up, the poor thing. I then spent the weekend doing financial snapshots and then us women went to the attorney.
It reminded me of the movie Mommie Dearest when she goes into the boardroom , snaps open her briefcase and says “Don’t *uck with me fellas”
Yea and we didn’t get no damn Den Ben Foo!
RevDeb @
65
Thanks, Adie, for answering my question! I may have it on, but muted. Hmmm….but then how will I know how dismal the applause level is? Decisions, decisions.
———-
Norske, ol’ pal! So good to see you!
Yes, I have the same sense you do. It’s been working that way for a while hasn’t it? And did you notice that gas prices went down this week? Another six cents off a gallon.
Rayne- email me at tenureransom at hotmail dot com and I will send you ET’s addy. I don’t think he’d mind. p.s. I only check this when I am expecting mail. VG
Thanks Teddy. I thought it would be a hard one to write, but it just kind of flowed.
Morris Sheppard @ 92
Clark is my favorite for sure. I’m starting to think he’s not running.
Any candidate who doesn’t declare soon is out of the race- the money will dry up…early bird an all that/.
We have so many smart, and talented Democratic candidates for 2008 out there. (I am not speaking here of a certain self-centered NY Demo Senator, naturally)
KO WPITW: Insight magazine, Fox, the Washington Times, and NYPost, for “reporting,” amplifying, and then mis-attributing to Senator Clinton the Obama-madrassah smear.
been thinking he’s going to start with “Mister Speaker” then turn and give a folksy but sincere apology – heh heh
Oklahoma kiddo @ 102
Wait, Schumer’s running for President, too?
Re: Richardson. Never heard anything about pecadillos. Arm twisting and patron politics, mebbe so, for sure.
ccmask @ 76
Homes? Cars? Funerals? Oh. my. God.
And here I thought Mr. K8’s European-born boss was a sweetie….we bought our house on our own….
Seriously, though — your situation made me bring this up with Mr. K8. He, too, works at a great innovative small-ish company with a CEO whose ideas and drive and determination and integrity have made the place what it is. It’s a private company, the boss’s wife (who’s also wonderful) has been fighting cancer for many years now. The boss loves Mr. K8 and has told him he has a job for life, for as long as he wants it.
If something happened to Mr. K8’s boss I have no idea what would happen to us.
You give us important stuff to think about.
ccmask @ 95
CCmask- I can’t remember if Stephen Parrish CPA commented or not, and naturally, I don’t know if he’s reading, but he might be a good resource for you. xxoo
cbl @ 104
You are so right on this. I can already picture it.
Clusterfuck is a moron. God I hope congress cuts off the war funding.
Gov Richardson is interesting. Did a lot of good diplomacy at one time. There are rumours that he has more baggage than will fit in the overhead compartment, but I’d love to hear from some folks in NM who actual experience with him.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 102
it’s pretty far off, this decision ‘08, but i want to know — what if, and it’s a huge if, what if the dem nominee is in fact h.r. clinton?
what do we think we’re going to get from her? and how do we improve our chances at getting more?
bg @ 103
You might want to look at a recent post by Steve Clemons at thewashingtonnote.com.
Funny you should mention pecadillos — that’s exactly what he’s talking about — and pretty bluntly, too (which is odd for Clemons to be so blunt). He really calls out Richardson for his treatment of women. I’m keeping my eye out to see if there’s a response, since it is such a serious allegation.
petedownunder @ 111
His reelect numbers were very strong IIRC. He’d probably be a good candidate for Sec’y of State.
RevDeb @ 114
I agree on the Sect’y of State, but what about as a potential prez candidate? Anyone out there from NM?
I think Hillary would be a pretty good president- just as Bill was a pretty good president..She’d be hard working and effective. She’d figure out the difficult nuances of health care reform- medicare reform-and energy conservation…
I just don’t think she can be elected.
Thanks ValleyGirl. Yeah, I don’t remember who helped me that night. Usually I don’t tell my problems. Our boss was killed the night after xmas and I freaked. He was the b.e.s.t. When I say bought, I mean if you rented, he bought you a house and you made payments right to him. If you were late, he’d say don’t worry, wait until next week. He did this for everyone. He was a gem. We all worked hard and he treated us very well.
And these guys figured that if they demanded a $25,000 raise, she’d have to close down because her money is all ted up in probate now. And then they could make her an offer to buy the place. She almost did it. Until today, her atty had no idea what was going on. She is the type who can’t talk to attorneys without crying. So, she just doodled and I did the talking.
Thanks again to everyone for the fantastic thoughts the other night!
Does Bush issue a signing statement after he
gives his “hard work” speech?
p.s. — The title of that post over at The Washington Note is “A Question for Bill Richardson.”
I look back so fondly at those halcyon days when all we had to worry about were a few blow jobs in the Oval Office. Sigh.
The primary problem I find with Hillary is she has an awful lot of blood on her hands (Iraq).
Oklahoma kiddo @ 118
The OTHER problem I have is that she seems to value the rights of corporations OVER the rights of human beings.
rwcole @ 116
During the Kerry candidacy BoBo said one thing that made sense – he thought it was stupid of dems to vote for people they thought other people might like (ie be electable). Likewise I think we should chose our candidate by who WE like and not reject one because we think other people won’t like her. I’m not a big Hillary fan, the triangulation etc turns me seriously off, but I think she’d be OK if she got the job, way better than what we have now (not a high bar I grant you).
Thus I think we should talk about who we like or don’t like and avoid the electablity issue as on reflection I don’t think it makes good sense as a basis of choice.
lina @ 120
Remember the missing W’s from the WH keyboards? That was bs also.
Rep. Tom Udall’s daughter is Richardson’s campaign manager. I know women who work for him who adore him. I have not heard about any affairs, but if there are some, it will not be long before it is all out there.
He plays political hardball for keeps.
Patricia Madrid, who ran against He/her Wilson is a long-time supporter of Edwards. It will be interesting to see if she switches horses, I doubt she will.
Marion in Savannah @ 93
It may be that a group hasn’t been started yet. If I recall Renee in Ohio started Jane’s group and posted it here. This is the site where I think you can either light one candle or form a group:
http://www.gratefulness.org/ca……cfm?l=eng
I think you can search that site to see if there is a group for Esten too. Hope this information helps.
ref: 121
Oh… and the DLC, the “third way”, her cozy history with jerks like Newtie and Georgie. And her refusal to debate the anti-war, labor-progressive candidate Tasini in the last NY senatorial elestion.
ccmask @ 114
That’s really amazing. I imagine that being a woman who loved a man who cared so much for the well-being of others means that she’s blind-sided to see such greed and exploitation of someone’s misery.
She’s very, very lucky to have you.
Valley Girl — incoming.
Thanks for the assist!
Mrs. K8 @ 122
;)
bg @ 122
bg –
Take a look at Steve’s posting at http://www.thewashingtonnote.com.
What Steve is alleging has nothing to do with “affairs” — it’s more in line with Schwarzenegger behavior. Crude, vulgar, and very public humiliation.
I was shocked when I read it, and don’t know what to think. The allegation is so very specific, which is not like Steve’s usual tolerance/equivocation.
Let me know what you think, if you would.
Thank you.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 121
Siun @
4
rwcole @ 116
Mind sharing why you don’t think she can be elected?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 127
And don’t forget the power hair do and pants suits. Gotta add those to the lists ;-)
Seriously, her war support and her big corporation support is enough to turn me off. period.
Exactly, Mrs. k-8. She thought all of his workers were happy with him. She’s 65 and has so much that these guys are so jealous that they figured she’d be okay without one of her businesses…..After we left the atty, she put the top down on the xlr and boy did she nail it!
You are right, the American people have been stupid enough to elect this clown twice, they could easily elect this horror show too!
newspaperbrat @ 133
Oklahoma kiddo @ 121
and the “Health Insurance” casualties (Hillary whored* out for the insurance compaies and nixed single payer)
and the US gulags….
and….
[* no disrespect to sex workers intended]
And let us remind ourselves that with a Hillary candidacy, we will be subjected to every inch of if videotape covering the Monica saga.
Plus, we will get to hear all about whoever is servicing Bill now.
I’m just not up for it. Not with the whole world burning.
I think Wes Clark is going to wait until they all burn themselves out and then he’ll come in with Gore and take the wh!
Okay, FirePups, have something I need help kicking around.
Can you think of a reason why the administration would want to mess with a U.S. District Court system? Assume just one or two for now, not all of them. And let’s say the messing around comes on the prosecution side and not on the judicial side.
???
Brat–I think she’s got a lot of negatives with the male indie voters- could be too much to overcome.
It comes from all those Shakespeeers . . .I heard he read 50 more of em.
ccmask @ 132
Sounds like you really helped her to tap into her spirit!
Not that I’m asking for specifics, but did the attorney give some good ideas for how to give the evil bastards their comeuppance?
Rayne @ 137
I’ll suggest the obvious. To control the outcome of certain investigations they find inconvenient? Or control the outcome of investigations into their opponents that they want to see happen?
ccmask @ 139
Juxapose Gore with Clark and then you’re really talking!
ReElect President Gore 2009!
Ya think maybe the fact that she is such an incredible phony has anything to do with it?’
rwcole @ 141
Oh, yes. Recently there was an incident where he “groped” the Lt. Governor, Diane Denish, in front of an audience. I am not really sure how much of an incident it was. IIRC, Diane downplayed it, but it ran a few days in the Republican controlled press here. I don’t think it dredged up much else of substance, I don’t read the paper that ran the story.
Diane has been a stalwart behind the Governor. She will be the next governor and will be fantastic. But I don’t think she would just crawl under a rock and bite her lip if it was significant, to her.
I have known the man and seen him on many occasions. I have never seen or heard about “groping.” I think I would have heard about it from somewhere, if there was real substance.
I will certainly ask around, and I will say if I find out about it. At this point, I say no. And I am not saying this because I am a big fan of his. He has done some very good things. We have paper ballots now, for one thing. He was ultimately very important for that.
The arm twisting I can vouch for. And I really did not like that. And that is not because of any gender element. He does it to anyone.
ccmask,
Good to hear things will work out for your boss’s widow. She needs peace at this time not the harrassment those 4 sent her way. The Hopi people here in Arizona believe if you do bad things it comes back to you in one form or another.
Rayne @ 140
Aside from the seemingly obvious reasons? If it’s done correctly. Mistrial.
Rayne @ 140
in San Diego, to punish (and make an example of) the US Attorney who nailed the “dukester”.
elsewhere, (Guam and ____ and _____ and ?) to block incipient investigations of corrupt GOP/corporate allies.
Rayne @ 140
They want friends, lots and lots of friends!
Rayne @ 129
Rayne- I just replied. Let me know if you receive.
WTF?
OK, I misread it. the Dems are “targeting” him for support:
for a minute there I thought Rahm was working behind the scenes.
US Atty NM: Iglesias.
Fired.
Did not get a conviction of a big Democrat after two trials.
Well, they had given the 3-page letter to her atty requesting the raise. That they had worked hard and they felt in order to keep it all going they deserved the raise or they would walk this week. They fudged numbers and made it look like we were in arrears but we were hardly that way. The widow had no idea what the #’s were so she fell for it. Until I read that 3 page letter the other night….I worked all weekend. I didn’t sleep, I forgot to take my synthroid since Thursday…..I started on the numbers Saturday morning and I swear, when I looked at the clock it was 5:30 AM Sunday@!! I had my 36 page report and the atty was shocked how much we had out in the field. A completely different pic than the one the Team of 3 showed him. We called it Moral Exhorton–which I believe one of you guys named it the other night.
But, (blushing here) I think I saved 36 jobs, by jove!
bg @ 144
Did you read Steve’s piece? He also mentions crude gestures, such as pointing to his crotch and similar vulgar and highly disrespectful things.
I don’t want to make a big deal out of this if it’s being blown all out of proportion. I just don’t know what to think because Steve doesn’t normally write at this level of specific detail. If it is true as reported, it means a way of thinking about women which is not acceptable AT ALL, and in fact would play into certain cultural stereotypes which I would not want to hear bandied about. It would inevitably mean trouble were he to become President, or even SofS, IMO.
So I’m hoping it turns out that it’s not true. Am not too sure how to verify one way or the other, though. That’s why I’m happy to hear you say you’ll have your ear to the ground.
ccmask @ 117
ccmask- well, there is a time to reach out!!!, and there is a huge community of expertise here at FDL!!! I hope that if anything of such a troubling nature happens to any other FDLers, they will reach out too, for moral support, and real expertise.
ccmask @ 155
More than just jobs, there are certainly families attached to those workers. Good job on your part!
ccmask @ 155
Great work, ccmask – congratulations! You are a true friend to your boss and your co-workers.
You rock.
ccmask – FDL hero of the day!
ccmask @ 155
No doubt you did! I am inspired by your spirit and your hard work. Hope it doesn’t go unnoticed.
ccmask @ 152
The day may come, soon, when you are carried around out in the parking lot on the shoulders of those 36 — over to a tent where a celebration is held to salute justice and decency. That’s what I’m envisioning, anyway.
And take your Synthroid, sweetie! Don’t you forget! We need you to fight the good fight for a long, long time.
punaise @ 160
jeez Punaise, couldn’t you have said something to make ccmask blush? Like “you have a sexy brain”? Coming from an xy I’m sure that would mean a lot.
bg @ 147
Of course she downplayed it, what else was she to do? Especially if she wants to continue in politics? Don’t make a fuss, he’ll be gone in a couple of years, you’re a big girl, if you can’t take the heat…etc.
Mrs. K8,
OK, I read the article. It refers to a single incident, then goes on in a more general way.
I know a lot of women who would be able to provide better info. Honestly, I don’t think it goes anywhere.
And Margot, I will ask Diane straight out the next time I see her. She is ambitious, he is an arm twister, but I still say not much to it.
rwcole @ 140
This is the category I fall in but I don’t think her issues are any different than any other candidate. What specific negatives are you talking about?
Valley Girl @ 163
yeah, well, for once I was trying to be subtle…
Rayne @ 140
The obvious would be prosecutors investigating rethug corruption or that of their pals (eg Halliburton).
Mrs. K8 @ 95
I’m overwhelmed by sort of a quasi-scientific, morbid curiosity occasionally & just HAVE to watch. That only works if I mentally put aside the seriousness of the current & presumed future world situation(S), & the fact that ‘it’ really is accepted by others as preznit (not by me – stole the office – simple as that).
My training in ethology & fascination with animal behavior allows me just to watch ‘it’ almost dispassionately, the way one accepts – for instance – that a cockroach can’t ever act like a fox, and you wouldn’t expect it to, so you accept* the subject for what it is – no more no less (*for observation purposes only).
On a whole other plane, I regard it as an ABOMINATION, in fact a CRIME of the highest order, that this person was aided & abetted to win, much less retain, and wield the power of high political office in the 1st place!
Sometimes I can watch & “study” ‘it’ as well as group dynamics of its enablers, as their own situation worsens (just LOOK at the repugs scrambling for higher ground these days!?!) Sometimes I simply can’t stand to see or hear ‘it’. I rarely know which reaction I’ll have beforehand. Watching never helps my mood. It just helps explain some of the “how” & “why” to the logical part of my brain.
In some ways, I feel I can understand what’s going on inside the nit’s brain far easier than I can accept or understand what on EARTH some of the neocons & political mercenaries of various sorts find to sustain themselves mentally and spiritually.
Hey. Just re-read your, “Decisions, Decisions.” Just a thot: I often don’t decide in advance. I just listen to a few sec. & sometimes take great glee in turning him right outta my house on the spot, just on the spur of the moment! ;->
to hear the news programs tonight, the nit’s in big big trubble politically, goin’ down hard, on a bipartisan basis. goodie!
Punaise- you so funny.
And, BTW, did you get my email re: imm? I emailed him back then but have not had a response.
From TPMMuckraker.com, the list of known USA’s “replaced”:
Resume padding my *ss. There’s a specific reason these folks were pushed out, maybe even more than one.
What Senators are at risk?
The other idea I’m kicking around is that there is an investigation in each of these USA offices that affects a Repug Senator — like the Cunningham-Wilkes-Lewis bit. But it’s a Republican Senator, not just a Representative.
Losing any Senators to an indictment means that the nominal majority becomes a solid majority, and with enough Senators under indictment, the majority could become veto-proof.
Capice?
The other angle is messing with the District Court, but I can’t get that one to work out yet, not as strong a concept.
Valley Girl @ 170
I guess you didn’t get my reply? will re-send.
Fresh thread, all. Thought you could use something new to chew on…
No question, Dominici, NM, no investigations.
The main name to replace Iglesias is a total Repug. Maybe Iglesias too weak. He/her Wilson tried to tie her opponent to the scandal that Iglesias failed to convict. After 2 trials, mebbe the evidence was not there.
punaise @ 172
Nope, didn’t get reply. I will check, and if I don’t hear from you in an hour or so, I will get back to you. email filters here are sometimes weird. You do have my .edu addy, right?
Hi Rayne -
FWIW, both of the CA Sens are Dems……
rumi–I don’t think the issues have to do with anything specific- a lot of guys and a fair number of gals just don’t like her- perceived personality..It may be based on nothing- but it’s pretty wide spread.
Valley Girl @ 175
yep – sent it there just now
Mrs k-8:You said “The day may come, soon, when you are carried around out in the parking lot on the shoulders of those 36 — over to a tent where a celebration is held to salute justice and decency. That’s what I’m envisioning, anyway.”
The problem with this scenario is that I didn’t tell anyone at the plant. My coworkers don’t know it! They would have flipped if they thought they were losing their jobs! All of them are minimum wagers, except the “Team of 4″ and me. We live in a very small town and those 36 people would have gone nuts!
kirk murphy — yeah, I hear you about the Senators from CA being Dems…but were the USA’s working on investigations that implicated Senators from other states?
I remember reading a number of times that the Abramoff scandals implicated 65 members of Congress — didn’t distinguish whether House or Senate. I keep wondering when that shoe will drop…
ccmask @ 176
You, or the widow, should inform them — AFTER the jobs are safe!
And word should get out around your small town about the thuggish extortionists who would exploit the grief and the livelihood of others for their own greed.
I would actually like it best if they could be arrested — or sued — for their behavior. Failing that, as many people as possible should come to hear of their rapaciousness and cruelty — to a woman grieving for the man who had once helped them so much. Maybe they’d have to move to find another job — and they won’t be getting good references from your place, now will they?
The employees eventually hearing about how things went down is NOT a question of an ego trip for you — it’s a question of the truth about these slime leaking out into the community — and maybe a renewed concern for justice and decency for employees, and responsibillity and civic duty for employers. Those memes need strengthening everywhere.
PS: I’m no hero, but I sure feel good today. And for those people in the plant, those minimum wagers, who toil and work on the clock all day….I salute them!
Rayne @ 180
wow – I am so linear – I completely missed your subtle logic [no snark intended….]
now I’m wondering right along with you – thanks for helping me see…..
Adie –
It’s good that you have a clinical, dispassionate eye, even though the situation is one which causes blood pressures to rise precipitously!
For me, I experience a physical revulsion, a visceral reaction to the very sight of Little Boots. But then, I’ve had that reaction since 1999 (although it’s gotten much worse each year).
Still — I’ll do my best to monitor what’s going on, with careful trigger-finger control of the remote, since I want to see the congressional audience’s reaction and see James Webb afterwards. We’ll all get to commiserate here together later on the negative effects of being exposed to the Monster-in-Chief.
Yet another reason FDL is a life-saver of a community.
You are right. And blackballed besides. These folks need to be called up on taking advantage of a woman, especially one in distress. And I thank all of you for your support. I may have more questions as time goes on. Not completely out of the woods yet…but the Team of 4 now know I have read the letter. Like sand of the hourglass, so are the days of our lives! Wooooohoooooo!
rwc – thanks for the reply.
I can understand why some people feel like that. I just wanted to rule out discrimination issues that shouldn’t apply.
Oooh, sorry to have missed this thread. … I’d been thinking today how much our elected representatives sacrifice for us by having to sit through the de facto President’s entire address in person, for godssake. Thinking in a similar vein to Christy, I began imagining that the supply of U.S. writers had been exhausted, and Brush was forced to borrow some from the U.K. Maybe they were referred ultimately by the same wag in Ted Stevens office who “explained” the internet to him. Anyway, the result might have been something like this when Brush wanted to talk about prospects in the war:
Repeating the phrase “I don’t understand” 40 times per sentence is not “editing”.
Shiesh!
Mrs K8 at 184
I think we feel much the same thing. It’s just that, because of my scientific training, I developed a little “over-ride” button on my emotions. Said button rarely works reliably these days when the nit or the faceshooter, or perle et al or the clowns like Chris Matthews & pompous #&%# like Russert… who cover for them are anywhere in my sight or hearing. Good thing my job doesn’t depend on hiding my feelings. Most of the time, I just can’t stand them.
I nearly went nuts studying all those jerks as hard as I could, watching & listening to every utterance, before I met up with the wonderful folks at the Lake. I spent a lot of time tracking what was happening, then tracing the coverage, or lack of same, in the news corpse. Excruciatingly painful, and very depressing, but it helped me convince more and more of our friends & acquaintances that things really were going seriously wrong with our whole democracy.
Interesting you started early too. Did you have prior experience to alert you to w? My only warning, really, was reading Molly Ivins & Jim Hightower very early on, then subscribing to Liberal Opinion and immediately being repulsed at what was happening while the rest of the country seemed sound asleep.
Strangely, my most horrific memory was and is that picture of the storming of Miami-Dade Board of Elections recount by the repub. thugs – all numbered & named & caught in the act of committing a felony. …. and nothing, absolutely nothing happened. I’m still stunned over that.
Anyway, thanks to the Lake and some other good blogs, I think things are slowly changing. I just hope the goodguys&gals take over before it’s too late. Sure feels better to have such good company during the good tussle we’re facing.
got a cute little kitty reminding me it’s treat’n bedtime. better go. she’s the boss, heh.
Thanks for your participation at FDL. I always find your comments thoughtful and interesting.
I don’t pretend to know what’s going on with ccmask these days – sounds awful, poor thing. Just want you to know I really appreciated seeing all the support and encouragement you are giving in that situation.
Kinda like family around here ;->
{{{{{peace}}}}}
OT- punaise, I dug out your email and responded. For some reason you were rated as “junk mail” in my U’s inscrutable filters.
Rayne @ 170
Check out this page about Hanauer, the staffer involved in the Harman-Hoekstra dustup.
http://www.squiggler.com/2006/…..ecuri.html
I bet somewhere in the Bush archives there’s an invoice from Hooked on Phonics addressed to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. c/o the Oval Office.
ccmask @
182
I say you’re a hero, you worked thru the weekend, you saved Little Nell from the Mustache Twirling Bad Guy.
You are a hero!
(GAVEL SLAM) So proclaimed!
ccmask @ 139
Amen! Gore/Clark in ‘08!
Rayne @ 140
Rayne–
In the little time I have been visiting this blog, I have to realize you are a far wiser/brighter mind than I. However, may I add a small light to this, er, question?
A post a couple of days ago, someone mentioned a small company in San Diego (which is sort of like mentioning Los Angeles–it can cover a larger area than the San Diego area proper) called Northstar, a small company coming under scutiny for some impropriety. Living in San Diego, I get a lot of news about things going on in the “greater San Diego area” (BTW includes Cunningham’s old district as well as that of Republican Presidential contender Duncan Hunter) that, kind of, well, seem questionable. I suspect, but cannot prove, that Carol Lam, our USA (who put the Dukester in the pokey) was removed because she was investigating possible ethical irregularities by Hunter. Hunter is not only declared himself as a Republican Presidential candidate (albiet third tier) but he’s also a regular visitor to the Kool-Ade fountain. Don’t forget, Cunningham & Hunter were BFF; Hunter, IIRC testified at Cunningham’s trial as a character witness. ‘Nuff said on that. As Shakespeare once said: ” Something in rotten in the State of Denmark.”
On a personal note, many years ago, I was having breakfast at a coffee shop where Mr. Hunter was meeting with some local businessmen. As I watched him “work the room” the first thing that came to my mind was oiliy. Oiliy and creepy. Ech!
I think you guys are all wrong about Bush’s language ability. If he wrote or edited all his own speeches, he is a master at avoiding outright lies, while still implying them. You try writing a sentence that starts with Osama, ends with Saddam, implies they are connected, but doesn’t actually connect them.
bush is a prop.
.
Oh, Margot, this was good at 193….
Little Nell from the Mustache Twirling Bad Guy
bbwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh