Is it just me, or does the reich wing seem a little. . . off key these days?
I mean, major congratulations to every one who helped out Fox "News" as fascist propoganda outfit this past week. While I've loved doing Libby trial coverage, and look forward to being at Waxman's hearing this coming Friday to see Valerie Wilson's walking, talking on camera debut, I do miss taking part in fighting campaigns like that one. Sigh. . . can't be everywhere at once, I guess. Mad props to all involved, and it took very many working together.
Meanwhile, you've got fragging behind the lines in the bigotsphere, where, as TRex documented last night, Wilma MalKKKin got called out as a cavewoman by one of her own. This, after Wilma pulled a Tonya Harding on Coulter after the CPAC Conference. Yabba-dabba-doo!
I don't for a minute think the mighty reich wing media zeppelin is mortally wounded, or that it has lost its national dominance, but Bush is destroying everything he touches, and having attached itself to him, the noise machine is damaged and losing altitude while the crew inside fights over who gets jettisoned to "right" the ship.
My congratulations to the Edwards campaign for throwing Fox "News" an anchor and for defending Barack Obama in the bargain. Sometimes it almost seems as if Democrats might actually be teachable, that they may be learning a thing or two about politics. If that happens, it will be good for the country and good for the party, if not so good for the old line insiders keeping the crypt of the decrepit 1990's Democratic Party zombie.
I dedicate tonight's video clip, though, to Roger Ailes of Fox "News," whose recent sour notes may well have gotten by in 1998, but this is a new political era. The 1990's are over. Both Republicans and old line Democrats really should get used to it.
Okay, speaking of bad karoake, what's you best "worst" karoake story?
I used to do a really cheesy version of. . . no, no, I can't say.
Okay, I will:
Bailamos, in Spanish.
Related posts:
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
FDL!
Hey Pach, nice night, eh?
Pach. You. Rach.
Evening Pach. Remember all you Late Nighters, tonight’s the night. No, not that. DST starts at 2 am. Spring forward. Sounds like something Chairman Mao might have said.
Karaoke…
One of my friends does an absolutely jaw dropping version of “Joey” by Concrete Blonde.
Ms. Shooogarp and myself had Karaoke at our Wedding reception. Good times.
Ya
Karaoke – isn’t that a Japanese word meaning to torture others by off key singing while drunk?
Nice 0 shoogarp. Finally I’ve seen one!!!
…mr paws won’t hear of it in the house.
Well, it didn’t involve any singing, but I tried rap dancing back in the 90s. I got told by an African-American collegue “Gardner, you dance like a white man.” I was crushed. Completely, utterly deflated. I’ve never attmpted it again.
“Spring forward. Sounds like something Chairman Mao might have said.”
Great song.
petedownunder – that’s the definition i’ve always found to be true
Thanks Valley Girl!
I haven’t been around much lately, but have had a weird luck of logging on at the right time.
petedownunder @ 6
That’s about it…nothing makes me make a bolt for the door more than karaoke. I think it’s Japanese revenge for Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
…on a sign in a Portland bar I don’t remember the name of. No, I didn’t sing, smarty pants.
OT When you’re a Rethug and you’ve lost the NY Times you’re in trouble. NYT calls for Abu Gonzo to stand down.
Edward’s also mentioned gays in his response, which says a lot, I think. This whole episode is delicious, no?
Gosh, the right wing is really hurting these days. Libby’s conviction, all the pending congressional investigations, their plan to sabotage every Dem candidate for prez at the debate…
It’s almost enough to make me think we should cut them some slack.
HA! Hell no, pile on everyone. Kick ‘em while they’re down and keep on kicking.
‘Incompetence has its drawbacks as a component within a greater strategy of conquest’
;>)
Night Pups, go to get some stuff done before bed. Like set all the damn clocks.
Tough week for W. I’m beginning to think that Bush may face impeachment before ‘08 after all. From the Republicans. Seriously, it’s so bad that a tipping point is conceivable. The Republican party may start to smell extinction, and realize that their only chance may be to exorcise the whole Bush cabal. And quick.
I’m still out playing poker, gang.
Winning for once. Heh.
Pachacutec @ 21
Just so you donate 10 percent to the Plame House.
The Republicans shit the bed, and the Democrats wash the sheets.
I hope they remember the stench when the linens are white again, and remember just who it was that did the soiling. Begone, you incontinent bastards! And don’t come back here no more!
…dunno, republicans appear these days to be too stupid to recognize the danger ahead especially when they get behind someone like “my boy Newtie”.
the most delicious thing for me has been the sneaky FBI enabled by the AT…how can it get any more wrong?
There isn’t one master astrologer who thinks Bush will finish his term in office.
no, no, no, no, no karaoke for me!
friends don’t let friends karaoke
I am smacking my lips at the prospects of all those pugs turning all that nasty on one another…
shooogarp @
5
The Dylan song?
Pach,
That was BAD karoke! Kind of like Krauthammer’s column. What a jerk he is.
shoogarp- WHAT I mean is that I acTuaLLy SAW a zero 0 which I never have before!!! I mean like a ZERO. not just the first comment on the thread.
Suzanne, first night here with no heat on…what’s it like over there? Had any bites yet?
spidey, just a low fire in the fireplace – more for atmosphere than heat … 53 outside right now. just lookie loo’s so far :(
Valley Girl: I saw a 0 too, right after I posted my comment and I was still a 1 and shooogarp was a 0. Then I refreshed and became a 2 and shooogarp was a 1.
johno @ 20
The problem is that they’d have to impeach Cheney first, as he’s the real brains, and then have Karl Rove resign for “health reasons”. But that won’t happen.
spiderpaws @ 32
have you ever seen a 0 before?
…not so damp here anymore…I watered the garden today.
And bought a Rat Zapper. mr paws plans to have a go at it when he gets home from his gig later (hopefully sober since setting up an electric chair while smashed could have its downside)
…never seen a 0, ever
Fox News and Ann Coulter are a perfect match of hate on hate, lie upon lie.
http://www.lydiacornell.com
Suzanne: the pattern that usually happens is that if you start something in retrograde Mercury it doesn’t rap up til the NEXT retrograde Mercury finishes…that could mean you are out of there in July…waddya think?
spidey- I would love to believe what you mention about the prospects for bush. But, I have been let down too often by astrological forecasts. However, major caveat on that is that these are “popular astrology” forecasts. I’m tempted to ask you if you can backtrack astrologically to tell me my sign, but that would be unfair. Still, I’d be interested in your answer, right or wrong.
Lose an hour tonight…and then lose another three Wednesday flying to DC. Ugh. Gonna try to get into Waxman’s Plame hearing Friday, just one among forty other family-in-DC things on the list.
The rare zed – often lusted after, seldom attained…
Y’know, I’ve never had anything to do with karaoke. I think that’s because they never seem to have good accompaniment for the a cappella songs I’d be inclined to sing…. :)
For the latest news, hearings, legal filings and other essential documents on the politically motivated prosecutor firings, see:
“The Bush U.S. Attorney Scandal Documents.”
The first time I did Karaoke, I tried Mustang Sally, which turned out to be a high tenor version, way too high for me. The assembled multitudes were treated to a totally falsetto version. Not pretty.
Suzanne @ 40
It is pretty weird that in all the time I’ve been at FDL I’ve never before actually seen one before.
July? huge whine, spidey if you are talking an offer to buy – fair to middlin if you mean o-u-t out sold, closed escrow, done deal and on my way.
Phoenix Woman @
34
I thought it would be nice to take Elizabeth de la Vega’s advice and do them both at the same time. Ahhh, I love the smell of regime change in the morning!
Republicans are hanging on because so many have dirty laundry. K Street, numerous votes supporting the cabal, phone calls to USA’s etc. So many people need to be exposed to the point of never being allowed to work in Gov’t or even a contractor who works for the Gov’t ever again. For those not prosecuted we need a black list!!
(truth and reconcilliation or some such process)
As Bush weakens in the eyes of authoritarian lovers much of this charade will fall but the real puppet masters behind Cheney, his secret energy team, lying us into war team members, PNAC, Sembler, Scaife, all the way down to Kate O’Biernes husband and Tucker Carlsons father, must be confronted and shown to the public for what they truly are or they will haunt us again quite possibly with much more dire consequences the next time. (not that I am at all comfortable with the notion we are anywhere near finished with our task but it’s nice to be able to imagine for a moment light at the end of the tunnel)
IMO, Iran Contra was the first real lesson and we let it slip by. This is round two and of course they learned from their mistakes. Will we?
VG: what exactly are you asking me re your sign?
Good astrologers do not do “forecasts”, that’s bull…they do aspects and show the “direction” things are going…Bush’s direction is out the door, at least it looks that way. He has an enornous amount of luck in his chart, a fabulous Jupiter that has saved him from many things. When he starts to really lose, he will take his marbles and go home. Just watch. Anyway, best not to get too attached to the outcome of any of this. (she says as she prays over the Rat Zapper)
Eureka #47 (? my zed is still up) Interesting in watching the video of the Plame panel from yKos last year, where Marcy said something to the effect that “THIS needed to be explained in a way so that it doesn’t go the way of Iran Contra in public understanding”. That is a huge paraphrase from something I watched months ago, but still…
..another thing about repugs…they will suck the tit until forcibly weaned…it’s all about the $$$
spiderpaws @ 48
spidey- I was kidding, and I hope you didn’t take it amiss. However, I assume that people who are serious about astrology (not the popular stuff) have a good smidgen of intuition as well as other gifts. I was actually asking you to guess my sign, no harm, no foul. But, I was probably falling into the “popular astrology” trap. ;)
marksb – Good to see you, hope you are well. Eureka is greeeen but delighted to hear you will be watching Waxman poetic!
Pach! C’meah ya big mook! mwah mwah!
omg, looks like JerseyWarbler, Coulter and Mary Katherine Gallagher have the same choreographer!
I like the dismount:
“I think I hoit moiseff”
spidey- and as to “intuition”, the only thing from my experience that has to do with getting a bead on people has to do with the “types”- as in ENFP, ISTJ, etc. And, I am very good at calling these types, w/o seeing test results.
i am so jealous of those who can head to dc – i’m stuck here trying to keep the place ‘for sale perfect’. i want so bad for friday’s hearing to be televised. has anyone heard whether or not it will be? how about live blogged?
Valley Girl @ 35
personal question?
(channeling Monty Python…)
:O)
I have been looking for reasons Bush went to Uruguay but have found no mention. All I know about Uruguay is that as a convienient neighbor of Paraguay, Rev Moon owns enormous amounts of land in both countries and Uruguay is the place for private banking / hiding a lot of money. How easy would it have been for Bush to make secret field trip to see his new digs in Paraguay? Will the press ever ask? *s*
marcy wheeler!!! i’m in clover – i met marcy and she signed her book for me tonight at “the tank” in NYC!!! picture me – still smiling! and she was fantastic!! ok – calming down slightly….. now what am i doing…. oh – congrats to the nevada dems for kicking faux news to the curb!
Serious astrologers learn from books, classes, courses and erecting charts over and over. Then they study with masters. It takes years. Intuition plays no part in serious astrology. It is not fortune telling despite some of the negative comments made here about it. Until they developed software to do the job, charts were erected via logorythems (sp?) It took an hour just to get the chart up. Then interpretation begins. it’s an art and a science.
If you know popular astrology (newspaper horoscopes) is silly and a trap, why bother with it? Consult a professional.
What makes the zero special, in my humble opinion, is that it only stays until you refresh. Refresh comments does not have an effect.
However, if you refresh the page, it poofs until the next time you are lucky enough to catch the elusive zed.
My favorite FOX experience recently was watching their coverage of the Libby verdict. I figured that it was important to see how they were tryin to spin the unspinnable.
So, they interview the defense team, of course… and then Fitz comes down the courthouse steps.
After the first question, though, where he clearly (his only way) explains what happened, Fox cut the signal saying “We lost our camera”.
Yeah, right :) MSNBC had a much more flattering camera angle, in any case.
Those guys know they are going down, I can feel it.
spider – is that rat zapper going on the shrub’s chair?
I’d bet that would be funny!
spiderpaws @ 59
spidey- I meant no offense, and I hope you understand that. And I am not one of the people who has made negative comments about astrology here, at least as you practice it. I always find your comments fascinating. In my comment about “intuition” I was thinking about what you may call art- personal art. I see intuition as an art. I hope this helps clarify my comments.
Eureka Springs: strange you should mention that about Bush and Moon down there and hiding money. this double eclipse happens in Bush’s money and death houses…that’s the second house and the eight. The death house eclipse for Bush doesn’t happen til the 19th. This same house rules inheritance, rebirth or resurrection, deaths of all kinds (your own or others)
The wurlitzer Band Wagon has a lot of wheels, but they are coming off faster than they can be replaced. Meanwhile the band plays louder and louder, but out-of-tune. In fact, many instruments are playing different tunes. All horrible, of course.
VG: no offense taken. Just so you understand that it is not fortune telling or card reading or “black arts”. I couldn’t venture a guess on what “sign” you are and wouldn’t. Sun signs are determined by the date of birth and how would I know that about you?
kathy @ 67
I’m really hoping that the Heritage Foundation is exposed as a Satanic cult… that would sort of kill a lot of the Wurlitzer’s bass notes. :)
….8th house also rules taxes so maybe Bush went down there to Moon-Land to stash money to avoid taxes.
Eureka Springs, AR @
59
‘Market access’ for global trade, according to this source.
Everywhere else on the tour gets the ‘more foreign aid for greater U.S. influence’ pitch, couched in less blatant terms.
spiderpaws @
36
Cool, spidey! It really is the most humane way to deal with a nasty problem.
And – I’ve gotten a zero a couple of times that turned into a 1…still not sure how that works at all.
…he probably took a pile of the Family Crime and Fraud Money to put in a Moon Bank for when the US economy completely tanks.
It would be fitting, considering Newt Gingrich back in the ’90s was pushing for both Clinton AND Gore to be impeached.
Alicia: can’t wait! Right now they are climbing up the walls from the psycho basement to the wasp nest attic. Heard them chewing on something in there like …wiring? or pipes?
Ok, I’m home now, $20 richer.
spiderpaws–what is your opinion of Bush’s birth chart? My wife says it shows he is a psychopath–do you concur?
darkblack @ 70
thanks db.
spidey- thanks for replying. I never thought that it was a “black art”. Actually, I’m not so sure that card reading (Tarot) is a black art. I’ve been also fascinated by that, and done some readings for myself, which were pretty interesting. And, I know another scientist (me also being a scientist) who does Tarot card readings. Anyway, back to the point- I am curious to know if you think that the general characteristics of various sun signs, as portrayed in popular astrology, actually have validity- in a very general way. I remember asking someone on FDL, who I knew rather well from comments, if he was a Virgo. Yes. What gave me the additional clue was that he filed his income tax statement pronto. Maybe that was just a lucky guess on my part.
Pachet a Jackson. sweet!
Neurophius @77: I never got that. What I got mostly is the fucking luck this guy has. In Indian astrology they claim if they had children with his chart, the child would be king. Worshipped.
One thing that does come through is the arrogance. right there in the first house. And the dominant mother who tries to thwart him.
spiderpaws @ 75
just put some kind of delicious treat in there – i think they give you some dog food – and it’ll be Hot Seat Hotel in no time. Plus, you don’t ever have to look at them or touch them.
VG: lucky guess. I’m not a Virgo and always file on time esp since they got nasty with me ; (
Phoenix Woman @ 74
Spiderpaws
Have you ever done Newtie’s chart?
Alicia: do they get to eat their last meal? Hot Seat Hotel, wow. feeling sorry already but not so bad if they get to eat the good treat. Like maybe a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup or a Neumans Original Oreo Cookie. Just have to remember that they pulled all the insulation out of the psycho basement and made filthy nests in the waspy attic.
Hello pach, and fdl. Reaching out from my humble abode in OKC. Do you have a point in this post in seven words or less? Think foggy night, billboard at sixty mph.
OFG: We’re gaining in the media war.
That’s six.
petedownunder @
6
My Asian relatives and I agree to disagree about karaoke.
As we build our own liberal wurlitzer, there’s a seemingly simple, but vitally important point to be made:
All these horrific abuses of power that we’ve been living through over the last 7 years were caused by REPUBLICANS, not just the Bush Administration.
Separating the two has been an obvious strategy by the Repub’s wurlitzer over the last year. They’re gonna try and say in ‘08, “elect us, we’re real repubs and we’ll clean up after ‘ol Georgie!” We cannot let this happen. Without the REPUBLICAN Congress, Bush would not have been able to enact many of THEIR disasterous policies.
I hope any liberal commentators will stop saying, “This administration has been wrong on everything.” and simply say instead, “The Republicans have been wrong on everything.” Iraq, massive national debt, spying on citizens without warrants, and on ad nauseum are all caused by REPUBLICANS, not the Bush Admin. Democrats are the only solution. Once we get more control, then we can weed out more DLC-Dems, and keep the pendulum swinging back towards the Constitution, and keep it there this time. Russ Feingold should be considered a “middle-of-the-road” Dem, and not a left-wing Dem.
No on Newtie’s chart. Do you have his DOB, place of birth and time? Did have a look at Guliani though. He’s had some very powerful Pluto aspects that make him look like the right stuff but guess what? They are ending by late May and a bunch of nasty Saturn aspects start up and that will be the end of him since they last til May 08. heh
OFG: Hah! No point that I can see
Spiderpaws,
his DOB is June 17, 1943
and he was born in Harrisburg, PA
No time of birth available tho
spiderpaws, just want to do a big shoutout and say i love so much your astrological insights about all things political-please keep it coming!
spiderpaws @ 92
That’s a cryin’ shame about Rudy
i am completely amazed at the horrific pool of repug candidates…looks like a shoo-in for the dem who wins the nod.
Pachacutec @ 89
This is good. After a twenty years head start, it is foruitous that the left wing has recognized the importance of public messaging. I had placed my hopes in the energetic Jennifer (with a “J”) Nix on scraping up the dough and recognition to propel the message of the rest of us.
Hiya everyone.
When I used to drink and go to Ollie’s in Oakland I used to sing this song a lot:
Tammy
I didn’t look like her singing it, though.
Ann in AZ @
48
Simultaneously or single-file, these bastards have got to go. And the Senate has to understand that the last man standing doesn’t get to appoint McCain as veep.
Nancy for president!!!
sheila @ 97
Don’t underestimate the repugs willingness to cheat with electronic voting machines, voter suppression, etc. We need to be ahead so far that none of the cheating matters. And, we gotta increase numbers in the House and Senate also. Make sure LieberME is insignificant. I hope Dems don’t get too complacent. The battle is just beginning!
Newtie has sun, mercury, saturn and neptune in gemini, that’s one tricky guy who is just a bag of hot air. His moon is in sagitarius and he has venus in Leo so I’d say he is the kind of guy who likes to wander around sexually a whole lot and when women stroke his ego he is just lost…for awhile…til the next one comes along. I would never trust this man, He is a pile driver with women.
To get deeper I would need to erect a chart and would need the time.
Why Wait ’til ‘08? Pelosi ‘07!
Wigwam @ 100
I’m all for Nancy as President except for the part where she wouldn’t be in The House.
sheila @ 97
Hello Sheila,
Me too. However, Digby and Glenn Greenwald seem to think that the “tribal instinct” wll overide hard set doctrine of “God, guns and gays,” in the Republicant party.
I disagree. The corporatiststs will line up and try to sell this bag of shit to the rank and file. It will not work. They peddled the other shit too hard, and cannot seperate themselves from it now.
Democrats will take the WhiteHouse.
As flawed as the GOP field is, liberals would be very unwise to underestimate the other side’s remaining strengths going in.
They are desperate. They still control the media. They are very good at negative campaigning and destroying the public image of an opponent. Democrats have been horrible campaigners and strategists for a generation.
I expect a nasty, ugly fight, no matter who the nominees of either party are.
bonkers @ 103
Nancy is third in line after Bush and Cheney, provided that neither of them gets to appoint a veep.
bonkers @ 102
June ‘07
and Pach, I mentioned this to egregious earlier, in five words…
echo and the funny papers
Retrieve the popcorn:
http://www.realcities.com/mld/…..ton_nation
I agree with Pach. A way yonder ugly fight is before us. We must constantly point out the hypocrocies of the rightards.
spiderpaws @ 102
Hmmm
It’s surprising that anyone trusts that guy, especially after all these years.
And all is forgiven for being a serial cheater, the sanctimonious hypocrit!?
I might even vote against him twice if he’s the candidate. ;)
and he really is a Blockhead, too.
Pachacutec @ 106
This has been the number one reason for their “success.” It feels like this could be changing though, slowly but surely. People are certainly doing their parts around here to help make the change!
spider, that fits with what i read last night about newtie over at gilly’s place. he admitted to doing his 23 year younger than him aide ON his congressional desk during his divorce trial. newt is not trustworthy.
Ooops.sorry. Newtie has Uranus in Gemini not Neptune. and also, very significant here I just see that he has pluto probably conjunct his venus so he has some definite power with all things feminine. Having Pluto in Aries could mean some big explosions from this guy and rapid ascents and descents.
spiderpaws @ 86
I don’t know if they actually get to eat it but they get the enjoyment of the aroma. But after I saw one actually poking its snout up through the stove burner, any sympathy I might have had has vanished.
Pachacutec @ 106
I’m not sure Bush plans on leaving the White House in ‘08.
Bedtime for me, gang.
Sing me a lullaby!
spiderpaws @ 114
Not to mention, his head up his anus.
Oilfieldguy @ 109
I mentioned way back in the Summer on peterrs first couple of posts that the only way to handle these bullies (before John Dean came along with “authoritarian”) could only be quashed with complete humiliation in the most public way possible. It’s the only way besides punching a bully right in the nose.
In fact Newtie may be a multiple personality
Pachacutec @ 117
You got it! Here’s one while I tuck you in….
…off to stargaze…blowing kisses
spiderpaws @ 122
Good seeing
enjoy the clear skies, spidey.
i worry about ombama getting the nomination and then the repugs pulling a harold ford racial attack ad at the 11th hour… i fear there is still too much racial prejudice in this nation for a black man to be president.
we need spidey to start doing the charts of all the dem contenders :)
Were Bush or Cheney to be impeached, then per the Wikipedia:
If, however, both were impeached before the vacancy was filled, Nancy would be president.
spiderpaws @ 120
And each one is more repellent than the last…
Wigwam @ 127
For there to be a vacancy, one of them would not only have to be impeached [by the House] but also convicted [by the Senate]. Clinton was impeached but not convicted.
The RePugs are all actors! they are all preformers! the more outragious the performance the better. They value the Anti-Gay performance and will accept the actual gayness if the performance is great and loud and out there. Their world is based on the performance!
In the S&M world i suspect in private they are the M but in public they wanna be the S.
The wining debator is the one last standing and yelling, fuck the intellectual logical part, to them the winner is the one giving the best performance of victory and dominance.
They hate Hollywood not because its liberal as they say but because it does SO WELL at what they value. A Ted Haggard is valued because of his anti-gay act….even when he is gay. and Foley….keeps his place in what he is reading by folding a page over in the corner, yet his act they bought no problem as long as he could keep it up.
They love Limbaugh because of his act. no matter if its transparent as long as he delivers it with gusto. As long as he is true to his ACT. Never mind he is a drug user as long as he condemms drug users with gusto.
A good high school pep rally is highly valued, Bushes campaign stops really did look like pep rallies period. Bush was a cheerleader in part of his growing up. The cheers count, even if the cheerers are selected for the audience its the Act that counts.
They hate reality based. They love the show. They love lying, they love the liar as much as the lie. Their favorite president was a grade B actor but he delivered at the podium, even when he was loosing his mind he knew the technique. its the delivery STUPID, forget reality and praise delivery.
I feel like i’m lost in some sort of grade B virtual reality game……the matrix seems real but i wish i could take the safe pill and this would all go away.
Wigwam @
107
This is exactly right. You better bet your sweet a** that if they see the ship going down, Cheney will either die conveniently (remember Wild Bill Casey, Reagan’s CIA director, who suddenly expired just before testifying in Iran-Contra?), or he will be forced to resign (for health reasons, of course) in order to permit a replacement VP to be named, just like Gerald Ford, the only president never to be elected by popular vote.
Bob in HI
I don’t know if anyone is out there still, but I finally got around to watching the TIVO or Bill Maher’s Real Time and something I hadn’t heard of before came up. Apparently Dana Milbank confirmed that he heard Libby’s wife state at the reading of the verdict that, “WE are going to fuck them”. Why haven’t I heard about this at all? I don’t feel like I live under a rock…, but perhaps I do… Anyone???
neurophius @ 129
There is no likely way for either of them to be convicted by the Senate, given that a 2/3 majority is required. Nevertheless, Article II, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution states that the President: “… shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.” So, a president who is about to be impeached has a lot of motivation to step aside while he still has the opportunity to be pardoned by his successor.
and now for something completely different -
ta-da
i comment whore….
epu’d:
________________________________________________
Hmmm.
Robert Fisk and Noam Chomsky exhaustively record –
and US policy -
(from the restoration of the Shah via Kermit Roosevelt’s splendid little coup in ‘54; to the Indonesian generals’ ‘64 coup; to Cheney/Rumsfeld’s support for Saddam during the Iran/Iraq war; up through the US’s undying support for Egypt’s President For Life, now on his sixth term thanks to very full jails)
…. US policy confirms
how the West struggles to destroy any vestige of popular rule in the Muslim world.
Today – right now.
For those who haven’t noticed, the Palestinians had the cheek to freely elect leaders Israel doesn’t like.
So the US, EU, and Israel are starving 1.4 million human beings unfortunate enough to be trapped in the miserable non-state.
‘Cause we love democracy and those dirty godless Muslims don’t.
Uh huh.
Yep, the Muslim world hates democracy so much that the US spends billions of dollars a year to prop up monarchs and dictators who jail, torture, and massacre their Muslim subjects.
Just as our clients the Shah and Saddam did.
While US taxpayers bought their weapons for them from US megacorps.
They were our strongmen, after all. We installed them.
The US electorate, in contrast, freely elects and re-elects theocratic candiates who publicly seek to attempt to impose their Bronze Age theocratic ideologies in:
This sorry record could be distorted to support the prejudicial conclusion that democracy is incompatible with dominant Judeo-Christian beliefs.
A more catholic (look it up) view is that fundamentalism of any religious or ideological origin is incredibly destuctive.
Leprosy destroys…
and for the same reason.
No feedback.
The microbe that causes leprosy knocks out sensation from peripheral nerves. Peripheral nerves (those outside the brain and spinal cord) carry information about heat, cold, pain…all the signals needed to avoid injury.
Patients with leprosy suffer permanent harm when they cannot feel injuries.
Fundamentalists – Bin Laden, Gen. Boykin, Milton Freidman, MaoTse Tung, Torquemada, Cromwell, Israel’s Lieberman, LePen, Norquist, Falwell, Dobson – are all slaves to ideology.
Religious fundamentalists, economic fundamentalists, social fundamentalists – they’re all delusional.
They suffer from “negative hallucinations”. Rather than seeing what is not there, they are psychotically unable to see the world around them.
They’re all incapable of recognizing information from the real physical world that conflicts with their ideologies.
Willfully, stubbornly, violently enslaved – and opposed to any glimpse of the world confounding their ideological fantasies.
Fundamentalism is to religion as incest is to parenthood.
Those who mistake the evils of the former(s) for the full extent of the latter(s) limit greatly limit their choices.
I try not to allow that to limit mine – or my choice of allies.
Myself, I’m damned glad Catholic Worker showed up to bottom line much of the work required to fit out our five story rented HQ in LA for the Aug 2000 protests against the DNC.
Progressive religious groups also served central roles in Philly for the 2000 RNC protests.
I look forward to continuing to fight side-by-side and community-by-community together with people of faith, agnostics, and athiests towards shared progressive goals.
We all share progressive goals – and without people of faith, progressives can’t win elections.
I’ll fight along with progessive believers.
Those who choose victory in American electoral politics will join us.
Cheers.
Elliott @
116
You are right to worry. Remember in October last year the Republicans pushed through a special bill giving the President King the authority to declare martial law, and to send the National Guard in one state to keep law & order in another state. In an “emergency,” of course. But only the President gets to decide what’s an emergency.
Bob in HI
jmba @ 131
Hmmmmm. I watched her body language going in and out of the courthouse, and she seemed very angry but was avoiding him like the plague. How did others read that?
That’s it for me tonight, folks. Don’t forget to change your clocks – spring forward tonight. Makes getting up before the crack of noon tomorrow even more difficult.
G’nite all.
I found the quote from Dana Milbank’s article. On Real time he just filled in the blank of the expletive with F@#%. It isn’t hard to imagine how his musing failed to register with me as I think he is a bit of a blowhard.
Libby’s wife, Harriet Grant, was not as composed. In the first row of spectators, she hunched over and shook. A young member of Libby’s defense team put his arm around her shoulders. After judge and jury left, Grant went over to hug her husband with a furious look on her face. Three reporters heard her say what sounded like, “We’re gonna [expletive] ‘em.”
Sorry here is the link…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01998.html
I know it is late and I am EPU land, but I just had to get this off my chest tonight and do a little google research and hope some FDL’er could set me straight. Peace Out :)
jmba @ 138
Given the way this administration operates, she probably meant the jurors….
jmba @ 139
FDL got a heads up on this a few days back and it was discussed then, including conjecture about who “them” is …….
Using my rudimentary google abilities (at best) this afternoon, I could not find the law or executive order that I read about from time to time claiming the President now has broader powers in re posse comitatus. Is that the same legislation you are talking about? Do you remember its name?
fahrender @ 142
Geez, how did I miss that? I am about a post away from requiring a 12 step program to kick my FDL habit. Well.., I suppose one can only hope she means the ‘Shooter’.
kirk murphy @133- Excellent!
and
I may have to borrow that…)
Eureka Springs, AR @ 143
As I recall, it was an amendment to the last military appropriations bill, snuck in at the last minute in conference committee. Look around for that appropriations bill and you’ll find it.
Eureka Springs, AR @
143
See What Would You Do If Bush Declared Martial Law? by Jane Smiley dated 02.20.2007. Part of the sneakiness of this is that the provisions were tucked into a Defense budget bill, so how are you going to vote against that?
Bob in HI
Eureka Springs, AR @
59
I’ve been trying to explain the whole questionable (try connecting the dots on the cities he’s going to) trip to myself, too. I’ve decided that it started with needing to find something for him to do that gets him out the way for a while looks like high-level Presidenting (so he can do stuff like this with the flourish of a really busy and darned-near inaccessible President). Since he’s just about || far from being persona non grata in Europe absent some meeting where they have to let the POTUS attend, that continent’s out. Condi seems to be busy with SOS stuff, so that lets Africa out. Middle East: see Europe. Australasia: Cheney was just there.
That left Latin America. After a lot more either Euro-style crossoffs, or places that can’t afford the bajillions required by the Secret Service for a Bush Effect visit, that left three countries that the US has had by the cojones for decades: Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Not such high-level Presidenting, that list, especially considering that some in the White House might not be aware that Mexico is not one of the fifty States. Veiled threats must have gone out to the big dogs, Brazil and Argentina. But recent official trips to the latter, by U.S. officials on what evidently is aptly called a diplomatic offensive, and by Alberto Gonzales(?!) went badly enough that even the White House crowd might have taken the hint. So, Brazil, which might not mind the visibility and has a pretty robust president.
That leaves Uruguay, which Bush no doubt insisted on himself, thinking it was the place where his Dad just bought him that cool new ranch.
Eureka Springs, AR @ 145
I won’t see it if you don’t ;)
A tweaker & former co-worker of my wife’s and I did a spectacular version of “Love Shack” at a bar in Dixon, Ca. a couple of years ago. I hear the locals are still talking about it (”Love, baby-that’s where it’s AT!!!)-Indeed!!!
I soooo hate ‘krapeokie’!
Pachacutec @
106
i thoroughly agree with Pach (now in well-deserved dreamland). These people are not dead, not history and definitely not giving up. We can take heart in their current (seeming) disarray and have some fun joking around amongst ourselves, but we should not get cocky and take anything for granted.
I am not a communist but I fully understand how both Russia and China fell to communist ideology. If you trod on people long enough and you only pretend to govern with the public good in mind people will put up with it only for so long and then someone like Lenin or Mao will show up.
The Republicans are enamored of fascist ideology and freely engage in the tactics of fascism, including racist strategies. They feel that anything is better than socialism. Anything. So what if an entire ethnic group is sent to concentration camps and most of them die from malnutrition, or are literally worked to death or gassed. So what? The master race, the good people, are safe and will prevail! God is on our side! Whatever we do, we do for the ultimate good and God understands that.
I don’t believe that America can become communist, nor do I believe the ridiculous notion that this country would ever become an Islamic theocracy. We are, however, dangerously close to becoming a fascist state. There are those who say we already have become one.
We are a capitalist, corporate state. This is undeniable. Corporations literally control this country. Corporate leaders and the people with inherited wealth make almost all of the important decisions affecting the American people. Their wishes are what Congress and the President and the Supreme Court listen to.The Hillary Clintons and Joe Liebermans and John McCains and Newt Gingriches, the Arlen Specters and Chuck Shumers and Rahm Emanuels of this world hop to their tunes. I won’t even mention the current administration. Not needed.
It will take every thing we have and more to go up against this, and we may lose. We will probably lose. But how can we look our children and grandchildren in the eye if we don’t fight the good fight?
Some people here are down on the Democrats. To me they look good only by comparison to the Republicans. Sad but true. Yet we must do something. Right now that something is to vote for Democrats and get rid of Republicans.
I wouldn’t ramble on like this except that it’s late on a Saturday night. I’ll end this by paraphrasing Pach’s warning:
It won’t be easy and we can expect nasty, viscious attacks for our efforts.
Calling one of our guys a faggot will seem nothing more than a playground taunt when they really get serious. Irving Libby’s conviction just got them riled up. We heard that Patrick Fitzgerald is a bully, Valerie and Joe Wilson are bad people, NO CRIME WAS COMMITTED, and so on. And that’s just when a former administration team member is dealt with. If we actually get to introducing articles of impeachment for Gonzales, Cheney or Bush, or actually have a trial there will be a serious cataclysm. And if that doesn’t happen we will continue to be amazed at how Low the Republicans can Go. The campaign and election of ‘08 will set a new standard of mudslinging, nastiness and unprosecuted libel.
Be ready. And remember that Johnny Cash photo …….
prostrated dragon (@ 11:45):
that whole trip is Sooooooooo phony it would be laughable if it weren’t taking money away from more important things. the screaming signal of just how big a lie it is: the headline in the news about how Bush is keeping his mouth shut over Hugo Chavez’ taunts. how unlike fuckwad. whatever happened to that faux cowboy brush-clearin’ guy?
BBC on W vs. Hugo:
The US president has pointedly refused to directly respond to Mr Chavez’s comments as they make parallel tours of the region.
The article pits W’s capitalism pitch’s paltry financial commitments against Chavez’s socialism pitch’s huge financial commitments. The Latin American Spanish language press is heating up fast. Most of the English language press there is far right and not daily, so they’re really starting to lag behind the narrative.
Uh-oh. I posted a comment around when the new daylight savings time comes on at fdl’s time zone. It has disappeared…
jmba @ 138
Warning: this story may be apocryphal. Jane says:
Mornin’ all!
Morning twolf1! Morning All Our Relations!
How goes it Shez? Did you set all your clocks ahead one hour?
Mornin’.
Good morning, pups. The only people behind the firewall at the NYT today are Bobo on “The Vanishing Neoliberal” and Frank Rich explaining why Libby’s pardon is a slam dunk. Nicholas Kristof has a column, but he’s out there, exposed, for the hoi polloi to read.
http://mgpaquin.blogspot.com/
Try the new organic coffee I picked up at the Fresh Market yesterday, or there’s tea if you prefer. And help yourself to a blueberry muffin too. I’m trying to pry my eyelids open after having had an hour of sleep snatched away…
Hi egregious, hi Marion
Morning egregious! The sky is just starting to get pink here and I’ve already polished off most of a pot of coffee while catching up on comments from the evening threads.
LOL twolf, no I haven’t touched my clocks yet, checked my puter clock first thing though and as it is correct and I’ll be on here for awhile
hours and hoursI’ll get to them sometime today. How goes it with you?I had a karate instructor who used to like to say “always kick a good man when he’s down.” (Good as in dangerous, as opposed to good as in walking in grace and light.) The right wingers have proven again and again how dangerous they are. So kick and kick, and kick again.
Shez – It’s going well here. Got coffee in hand. Right now I am taking a break from my tiring clock-setting chores.
Please set in bronze what the posters kirk murphy @ 134 and fahrender @ 152 posted. The beginning of a new litergy. Bob Schacht @ 135 warning is worthy as well of bronze, fiction could be no more strange than fact anymore. All the best…..
Fresh thread up and running for everyone.
I was certain that that karaoke singer was Rudy Giuliani. It was so close to photos I’ve seen of American’s Mayor (Who Likes to Wear Women’s Clothing). Not that there is anything wrong with that (unless you’re running for the Republican nomination).
I think that reason why the republicans are in such a hurry to get Scooter pardoned is that they are worried about bush getting impeached. Then he can’t pardon Scooter because until the investigation is complete nobody not even us can guess where the investigation might lead. Scooter’s outing of Palme in retaliation over her husbands exposing the yellow cake lie might end up being part of the articles of impeachment. Scooter suddenly faced with no pardon, hard time a felony conviction, a loss of his law licsense and as a felon no cushy lobbying or coroporate board jobs might crack. That plus Valerie’s civil suit going after his personal assets!
TCU @ 169
All the House has to do is proceed with impeachment (from whatever source – within the house or from state legislatures, etc.) and that automatically takes away the ability of the
presidegovernor in the White House, the “W”art on the presidency, from exercising the powers of pardon. As long as there is impeachment, the power to pardon is gone. Mr Treason, Irving LL, is left, slowly, twisting, hanging in the breeze. Wouldn’t be surprised if cannaryitis would set in at that point. It really doesn’t matter if the Senate doesn’t get arround to finishing off the job of impeachment but the remaining time would undoubtedly uncover so much dirt, not even the Republican Fascists in the Senate would want to be seen supporting the maladministration, particularly if their seats were up for renewal. The votes may not be there now, but if the House impeaches, they will be there. Mighty well worth considering. All the best……Please pardon The Evil Grammar Policeperson, but:
There should be no “the” before “hoi polloi.” “Hoi” = “the.” Thus “the hoi polloi” =
“the the common folk.” It’s like saying “the les miserables.”
But, if it’s any consolation, it happens all the time.
Back to lurking.
Hello Everyone,
So I have a question that is somewhat off topic and I will also own up to the fact of being a blog rookie.
My Wife thinks the world of this blog and quotes it often.
Back to the question that I posed a little while ago to her.
“Who does the Attorney General Represent, Who is his client?” Now some of the websites I have read say that his client is the government but I am still not sure. The reason I ask is that if “AG” works for us and us being citizens, why can’t we fire him, but maybe that is just me dreaming.
How To do Karaoke from one who Wins Contests….
Order the Karaoke CD online.
Get A Karaoke machine.
Practice in your basement – get an outfit and “moves…”
only do songs from your own CD as the Keys and arrangements really vary….
Upbeat songs usually do better.
Tip the KJ to be nice (or move up on the list….)
totally uncool to smear wilma flintstone that way.
i wish you’d pick on a favorite cartoon character of someone else.
but, i guess if you’re one of the cool kidz, you can do whatever you want.
While the conventional liberal wisdom has been that this past week was very bad for the Administration, as is usual with liberals, they are completely off the mark.
Here are some important things they have entirely missed.
1) There has been a dramatic improvement of the Iraq situation – the surge has succeeded beyond the wildest hopes of the Administration. See Kagan’s oped in today’s Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01839.html
In addition Iran’s meddling has been thwarted and they seem to be beginning to accede to US demands with respect to their nuclear program.
2) There are very promising new peace initiatives in the Middle East – watch for dramatic developments soon.
3) Robert Gates is proving to be a bold and decisive Defense Secretary and military morale has rebounded to its highest levels since 2001.
3) AG Gonzales has gotten a second wind. His purge of US Attorneys has rejuvenated the Justice Department. Contrary to what you read here and in the liberal press, the IG report on comparatively minor shortcomings in the FBI show that the internal controls of the Justice Department are effective.
4) President Bush’s trip to Latin America is a rousing diplomatic success. Chavez’s attempt to spoil this have backfired spectacularly.
5) Congressional Democrats are in total disarray. Developments in Iraq and the Middle East will make it much much worse. Watch for Steny Hoyer to stage a coup against Pelosi. (He has never forgiven her for trying to dump him from the leadership team and replace him with Murtha.) Also watch for Joe Lieberman to flip the Senate back to the Republicans.
By this time next year things will look very bleak for Democrats. President Bush will have a free hand in appointing his chosen successor to continue his enlightened policies, and have his choice overwhelmingly endorsed by the electorate. And he will go down in history as a great statesman and world leader.