While reading both Glenn Greenwald's and Paul McLeary's excellent takedowns of the enemy of the reality-based side of the blogosphere, that anti-journalistic walking oppo dump that is paid Lieberman employee Dan "Dangerstein" Gerstein, I noted the last paragraph of Greenwald's piece concerning the odd tendency of Gerstein's enablers (such as the WaPo's Mary Ann Akers) to leave out the fact, as pointed out by McLeary's February CJR piece, that Dangerstein works for a guy who has had a longstanding antagonism towards Gerstein's online targets of choice:
It's astounding that such matters even need to be explained. Perhaps Akers — and any other journalists who want to write anti-blog stories with Gerstein as their source — ought to read that article to see what type of "source" Gerstein is.
I commend your exhortations, Glenn, but alas, I suspect that they are wasted where Akers is concerned. As a commenter at Glenn's shop points out, she was gleefully helping GOP operative Tucker Carlson pimp bogus Republican talking points about Nancy Pelosi when she and any other Beltway journalist with a pulse had to have known all about all the Republicans racking up their frequent-flyer miles to and from Syria (not to mention that Pelosi's trip was praised and counted a success in the Israeli and other non-US media).
This goes beyond Akers' current willingness to be Den Gerstein's private stenographer and imperviousness to anything that might interfere with her efficient transmission of Republican and Neo-Republican talking points. The same eagerness to strap on the kneepads and transmit GOP propaganda nearly unfiltered was shown yet again by the press' bizarre haircut obsession (at least, with the haircuts of Democrats; those of Republicans or members of the press corps didn't get anywhere near as much scrutiny).
Upton Sinclair pointed out long ago that it is impossible to get someone to understand something when their salary depends on their not understanding it. And for much of the US media's history, those words have rung all too true — especially as the people who pay the journalists' salaries are increasingly, as media ownership is concentrated into ever-fewer hands, much more conservative-friendly than liberal-friendly.
After a brief period of relative honesty in the 1970s, Kneepads have been the Beltway reporter's favorite accessory ever since the days of Reagan press czar Billy "I Didn't Steal the Fifty Grand, Honest!" Dale and the Gipper Era GOP's eagerness to cater to corporate media execs (otherwise known as "the guys who sign journalists' paychecks") by gutting FCC regulations and abolishing the Fairness Doctrine. That's why anyone of prominence and prestige who dares point this out — from Jane Hamsher to Bill Moyers — is immediately set upon by the GOP/Media Complex and its fellow travelers.
Related posts:
- GRITtv Live: Jeremy Scahill and Glenn Greenwald – Who’s Afraid of the Independent Press?
- Covering for Karl and Mark -or- Why I Call It “The GOP/Media Complex”
- Black Radio and the “Performance Rights” Toll Booth
- Rikyrah: Opt-Out States Are “Where the Majority of the Black Population in This Country Lives”
- The Greatest Generation did not defeat Hitler so that we would end up with a black one of our own. And butt sex.
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PW!
Bustedknuckles!
kneepads!!
bg!
THIGHS!!
(I’m sorry, but for some reason that photo always makes me stare fixedly at the model’s freckly, hairy thighs.)
Nice piece PW.
I quit using the MSM for news years ago.
Do the new kneepads have a pocket for breath fresheners?
When I saw that picture I thot it was a double amp veteran. There are TWO THOUSAND double amps.
Showdown at the OK Corral soon. And it has been amply demonstrated that our boy is very trigger happy.
TRex @ 5
Whereas, I, at a glance, keep thinking he’s writing the note with his pecker.
Read closely what the note says.
Gotta be DANGERSTEIN!
I hate this goddam fucking war!
that being said, melamine scrap trader might be a good next job title for Wolfie the global banker.
that being said, they must be breeding a new generation of journalists with kneepads implanted at birth.
Someone was asking in a prev. thread if “Dangerstein” was an “FDL term”.
No. Gerstein made that up all by himself.
And, you can get a glimpse of how wonderful he thinks he is by reading his first dangerstein blog post:
http://dangerstein.blogspot.co…..g-day.html
egregious @
7
So did I, at first. 2,000 double amputees? Wow.
Phoenix Woman writes:
I call it being willfully obtuse.
BTW There’s a post over at TalkLeft that calls BS on Brian Williams claiming he pays $12 for his haircuts, although no evidence other than deductive reasoning.
I hear Bush vetoed the troops today.
This all puts me in mind of Stephen Colbert’s masterful skewering of the media in last year’s WH Correspondent’s dinner. From editorandpublisher.com:
Addressing the reporters, he said, “Let’s review the rules. Here’s how it works. The president makes decisions, he’s the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Put them through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know — fiction.”
It doesn’t get any better than that, snark-wise.
OFF TOPIC
Dennis Kucinich on radio right now with Bob Kincaid, talking about impeaching Cheney.
http://headonradionetwork.com/listen-live/
Kneepads?…Kneepads, you say?
;>)
John Kerry on idiot Blitzer now…
You’ve got to see this little video report on what happened to the architects of Bush’s war.
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/….._0501.html
dakine01 @ 14
I call it being willfully obtuse.
BTW There’s a post over at TalkLeft that calls BS on Brian Williams claiming he pays $12 for his haircuts, although no evidence other than deductive reasoning.
Oh, yes. Eric Boehlert disembowels Brian $12-million-a-year Williams pretty nicely here.
SnarKassandra @ 17
If Mr. McGovern gives us some of that evidence, Kucinich might just have a chance of success.
Mary Ann Akers:Dan Gerstein :: Mike Isikoff:Ken Starr
and
Mary Ann Akers:Mike Isikoff :: Howard Kurtz:Sherry Annis
This is a practice for Saturday’s SAT.
Hail in TX (5 1/2″) in diameter with tornados. Lovely.
great post, here, phoenix woman –
but actually — i’ll stand up, today, at
least, for the gray lady — the new york
times. the story she ran [and i’ve remarked
upon, under-there(!)] on the iran-halliburton-
subsidiary-doing-business-with-terrorists-
link, including democratic senatorial
talking-points, was excellent, and continuing, coverage. . .
warning — i’ll likely not have these
same feelings tomorrow morning, but tonight,
i do. . .
so — keep on keepin’ on. . .
Clusterfuck enabler Chris Matthews continues to let David Drier- (chief nausea inducing crap head) to say that the plan in Iraq is Petraeus’s plan..
Wait- a few months ago it was Clusterfuck’s new stratergy—why does he wanna give it away? Why ain’t he proud of it–I mean– what other genius could come up with a strategy as great as a “surge”..
Fuckheads
Phoenix Woman @
21
Oh, yes. Eric Boehlert disembowels Brian $12-million-a-year Williams pretty nicely here.
I worked in Manhattan for most of Y2K, living during the week in Battery Park City. I got ONE hair cut there. I’d gotten a flyer for 10% off at a nearby salon. I was able to convince them to give me 25% off as I’m bald and it still cost me $40. I find it difficult to find places as little as $10-$12 even out here in San Antonio. I found ONE place when I lived outside Albany that charged half price for bald men cuz we only have half the hair. Brian Williams and all the other talking heads are paying far more than regular people for their ‘doos.
SnarKassandra @ 17
I like Kucinich and admire his courage, but I don’t understand his talking about impeaching Cheney while leaving Bush out of it. I would like to hear him explain that.
Ya think maybe Brian is lying?
Kinda funny- goopers tryin to pose as warriors with their mouths.
I can’t remember even ONE gooper commander in chief winning a war since the first one–Lincoln! Am I missing a gooper hero somewhere?
allan_in_upstate @ 23
Actually, that might be practice for the 2004 SAT. They got rid of the analogies in 2005.
Jay @
29
Now how’d ya guess?
dreamcatcher says:
May 1st, 2007 at 4:25 pm
SnarKassandra @ 17
OFF TOPIC
Dennis Kucinich on radio right now with Bob Kincaid, talking about impeaching Cheney.
http://headonradionetwork.com/listen-live/
I like Kucinich and admire his courage, but I don’t understand his talking about impeaching Cheney while leaving Bush out of it. I would like to hear him explain that.
————-
He said Cheney is first. Not ONLY. First. Look at his website. Interview is over now.
rwcole @ 30
Now, don’t forget Ronnie Ray-guns was the hero of Granada while BushCo I was the hero of Panama.
Bush cut the troops off at the knees.
Kucinich on impeaching Cheney
I have ta wonder why he’s bothering.
He ain’t EVER gonna be prez and he’s NEVER gonna impeach Cheney..It’s all wishful thinking- like Clusterfuck…
SnarKassandra @ 33
They’re doing it right. Get Gonzo cornered and recused from everything. Then impeach Cheney, then impeach Bush before he has a chance to name a new VP. Badabing badaboom.
allan_in_upstate @ 23
Nice try, but they dropped analogies from the new SAT. I know cuz my son is prepping. It is a good thing they did too. Perverse is what I would call them. On the other hand, they added an essay writing section, which not all educators are happy about.
dakine01 @ 32
No, I think that’s how much he actually pays — or should I say tips? — the stylist at NBC.
“Why does Bush hate our troops?” I like it, it has the potential to meme into the mainstream..maybe an old fashioned bumper sticker would be a good start.
SnarKassandra @ 33
Well, I feel a little better. Now, my only question is, why not Bush first? Ain’t he the [selected] president?
If the madam stuff actually comes out in the open, life as we’ve known it for the last 6 years is going to change rapidly. I’m skeptical, because she’s holding all the aces.
LS @ 24
I don’t like tornados.
dakine01 @ 27
I worked in Manhattan for most of Y2K, living during the week in Battery Park City. I got ONE hair cut there. I’d gotten a flyer for 10% off at a nearby salon. I was able to convince them to give me 25% off as I’m bald and it still cost me $40. I find it difficult to find places as little as $10-$12 even out here in San Antonio. I found ONE place when I lived outside Albany that charged half price for bald men cuz we only have half the hair. Brian Williams and all the other talking heads are paying far more than regular people for their ‘doos.
If you lived close to me, I’d cut it for nothing.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 43
Me either, makes me verrry noivous.
Considering the amount of time it takes to impeach anyone, why wait until his term runs out?
My party needs to pull out all the stops. It’s time.
Valley Girl @ 12
That just makes it even more precious. >:-)
Does Brian Williams have a makeup department to make him more presentable for the new? In such a case, he may not pay anything at all and yet his haircuts and makeup could cost more than Edwards’ haircuts. OTOH we should all be grateful that we only have haircuts to talk about and nothing serious like war. Thanks, Brian.
As for kneepads, are the media trying to give Deborah Palfrey’s escort service a run for their money?
Because Cheney is the truly dangerous one?
George Bush=Charlie McCarthy
Dick Cheney=Edgar Bergen
Tweety has the criminal gooper candidate for governor of Ohio on teevee.. talk about no standards!!
Mary Ann needs to be put out to pasture:
Green Akers is the place to be
Farm living is the life for me
Lies spreading out,
so far and wide
Keep Manhattan,
just give me that countryside.
This one’s good. Kos diarist has diary entitled,
Bush To Cut-Off Funding For Troops Today!!!
libertydrone @ 50
I dunno. that would mean Mary Cheney = Candice Bergen, and that would make my soul bleed.
OT my soon to be revised item 165 on my scandals list
Beck said Gore using “same tactic” in fight against global warming as Hitler did against Jews
-via ThinkProgress
twolf1 @ 56
And then his head exploded.
DEMS! Hold the line! Don’t Blink!
1) Send the Katrina Bill to Bush – say you’ve cut what he has called “pork” from the Iraq/Afghanistan Supplementary funding bill. Point out if he vetoes this bill, Congress will consider putting it back into the War supplemental!
2) Point out that it’s Bush’s incompetance that has led to him requesting a supplementary bill. He didn’t include this in his requests for DOD funding. He could have budgeted it then. But he has consistantly overspent that budget it Iraq.
3) Send Bush another Supplemental but link it to mandatory timetables AND pay-as-you-go taxes that are directed at wealthier Americans and the corporations that have benefitted from contracts from Homeland Security and the Iraq War. That way all Americans sacrifice in the War Against Terror.
Tell him you’ve met him halfway by cutting the pork. But kept the timelines.
4) If he vetoes this send him a two-month supplemental. No timelines or schedules but stipulate that Congress will assess progess before making another supplementary outlay. Include the “fiscally responsible” pay-as-you go tax increases as noted above. Note that these taxesare only for the duration of the war or to pay down debt accrued from the war.
You can bet your sweet bippyb that Bush will be going ballistic in this chess match where Congress has the center of the board!
Wonder if dems know what their next step is. They weren’t really waiting to see if clusterfuck was going to veto the bill- they KNEW he would- so they should certainly have plan B well hatched. Would have been impressive had they immediately followed Clusterfuck’s stammering speech with–”OK- here’s what’s gonna happen”.
Thanks Hugh. *opening my folder & updating the spread sheet again*
twolf1 @ 56
Well, thank God the GOP knows better than to avoid unnecessary global entanglements. %-P
dreamcatcher @ 46
Quite so; this is something I don’t understand. It’s a two-stage process, after all – first the indictment (impeachment) in the lower house, then the trial in the Senate. But is there anything that says the Senate vote must be rapid? (As if..) Could impeachment not occur soon, leaving the trial to absorb all the information from the hearing of, say, the rest of the year?
Even now, we’re seeing heavy grounds – what will public opinion make of, say, the deliberate stuffing of agencies like FEMA with political cronies?
Then there are the tiny matters of war without imminent threat, torture, surveillance.. why roast Bush, when far more succulent results can be achieved with a long, slow smoking out of the facts? Other than the horrendous continuing cost in life as Iraq crumbles..
I like Murtha’s idea- approve funding for two or three months and say that unless benchmarks are met- they’ll cut off funds after that. Can anyone see a downside to it?
twolf1 @ 56
And Howard Kurtz will nail Beck for it in his column tomorrow. Not.
So Gore is anti-Semitic as demonstrated by his views of climate warming?
Hugh @ 57
Under normal conditions, Glenn Beck’s head
cannot explode, because there is no pressure differential between the inside of his skull and the surrounding atmosphere.
EvilDrPuma @
54
Was picturing the Simpleton-in-Chief bouncing up and down on Deadeye’s knee reciting whatever he’s told.
Hadn’t thought of poor Candice Cheney as a consequence. Hearts bleed in unison.
ccmask @ 60
You are welcome. Selise (without whom this list would not be possible) just made the most recent changes.
rwcole @ 63
Too late. Bush cut off funding for his troops. They may have to open shop selling rugs for $5.00 to save up air fare.
In the picture above the post on the pad of paper does it say FDL is Satan Liebermen is God or is that Dog?
Do not compromise with George Bush on anything, Democrats.
The major problem with impeachment is–the votes aren’t there- not in the house- and CERTAINLY not in the senate…It’s a waste of energy to even think about it.
Renzi is bluffing this out.
AZ Central
Hugh @ 68
I’m missing #164. I must have went to the toilet.
rwcole @ 72
Soooon.
EvilDrPuma @ 66
You’re claiming it’s not a vacuum in there?
rwcole @ 72
Agreed. Bush has chosen the political death of a thousand cuts. Let’s encourage Waxman, Conyers, Leahy, et al. to give him what he wants.
BTW Kucinich has said he is going after Cheney first so that when Bush is impeached Cheney won’t be in line to succeed him.
Any word from the front runners yet?
If the bullshit inside and the bullshit outside the skull are in balance- well then there’s no problem.
Hugh @ 57
Thus my dismay upon learning the ability to accurately decode analogies being dropped from the SAT.
One should be able to see how some things are ‘intertwingled’ or not.
…….because there is no pressure differential between the inside of his skull and the surrounding atmosphere
Link please.
allan_in_upstate @ 23
Best Luck on your SAT, Allan! Reminds me of the Miller’s Analogy Test.
AZ Matt @ 73
A corrupt Republican is the target of a smear campaign by Abu Gonzales’ DoJ?!?! Does Renzi really believe we’re as stupid as he is?
ccmask @ 74
libertydrone @
50
Sorry, I don’t buy that. The Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy paradigm is not only simplistic and delusional, but it lets Bush off the hook. How can he be liable if he is just a wooden doll? Bush is every every bit as responsible and evil as Cheney, plus he is the [selected] president.
Yes, I know, Rove and Cheney do the thinking for him, but what we have seen for six years is Bush’s agenda, and the accountability begins there.
How can Bush punish his family members serving in Iraq by vetoing their funding? Oh wait. Members of that royal family don’t serve. They only take.
Bush vetoed America.
I think we will learn one day that Bush actually was running this fiasco. Like all weak leaders- he doesn’t keep the peace among his troops and free lancing is a way of life in the White House- but only Bush himself could create the mess we see.
rwcole @ 89
I dunno, I don’t think Bush could find his ass with both hands.
I just don’t understand how our leaders, Democrats and Republicans were fooled by the Bush nitwits into attacking Iraq.
EvilDrPuma @ 66
That’s some probing insight, there.
;>)
AZ Matt @
73
Ah, it seems like only yesterday that Duke Cunningham was issuing similarly defiant tirades.
Followed not long thereafter by a bleating and weepy mea-culpa followed not long thereafter by more defiant tirades.
Collective mental illness has enveloped all of wingerdom.
-GSD
Busted
Yep- I rest my case.
This country LOOKS as if it is being run by a man who can’t find his ass with both hands.
OT–This OpEd piece published yesterday, Monday, April 30, 2007 – in the Bangor Daily News (Maine) has a useful summary: Phil Worden: Has Bush committed impeachable acts?
The OpEd also has a cool graphic of a coffee cup– or, considering Maine, perhaps a steaming cup of hot chocolate. The side of the cup shows the U.S. Capitol, and the steaming vapors emanating from the cup form the words “coup d’etat”. Maybe this is the brew that Republicans have been drinking for the past 6 years.
Come to think of it, the “steaming vapors” look a lot more like swamp gas than steam. (/snark*)
–and the article is a good read, too.
Bob in HI
Dammit Dems, just give a date and cut off the funding. This is not a difficult concept.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 96
They gave a date, and he cut off the funding.
Hugh @ 57
Actually it’s the anti-Global Warming types that have used the Nazi propaganda tactics…the big lie, saying that the “enemy” will destroy the economy, that the “enemy” is working for foreign interests, that they are going to take away our access to resources like coal and oil.
Rather than use the best science, they have used pseudo-scientist hacks (policy makers attached to the firms that would have to make changes in their pollution levels).
They have silenced scientists within the government from discussing their results.
When the world community was united in support of a Global Treaty the U.S. decided to ignore that call.
The WH has used a bunch of little Goebbel’s to espouse such nonsense, without allowing actual credentialed climate experts to come on those programs to expain just how F.O.S. they are.
rwcole @ 26
Hi RWCole,
Oh golly didn’t you hear? There IS a new strategy. The President has heard the American people, He has a new Secretary of Defense and he has a new General, a new strategy.
So there. Compliments of Senator Talking Points Hutchinson.
These people are Un. Be. Leave. A. Bull.
Watching Paul Helmke of Brady Gun Control propagandize his anti-gun message on C-Span 3 tonight, I surfed the web for facts and happened on web site of Congressman Steve King (R.Iowa).
To wit: numbers since 9/11.
21,900 Americans murdered by illegal aliens.
23,000 Americans killed by illegal alien drivers.
15,000 American kids are victims of sex abuse by illegal aliens.
To wit: from England.
Home invasions (occupied homes) are 4 times the rate in England as in the U. S.
All things considered.
Hugh @ 68
here’s the link to hugh’s list. he updates old items as well as adding new ones.
do-si
Have to wonder how many mental defectives we have in the country who actually SWALLOW that bullshit!
EvilDrPuma @ 66
That would only be true in outer space…actually Beck’s head should IMPLODE!
PLovering @ 100
Garbage in, garbage out, garbage all about.
EDr.P–same wavelength. After Waas, Renzi thinks we don’t know better?
EvilDrPuma @ 77
I still prefer Bush’s own plan: detainment without end, waterboarding, some tasty FDA approved snacks, more waterboarding, more detainment. A tribunal in absentia. Rinse and repeat.
cinnamonape @ 103
Maybe it has. His thinking certainly sucks.
Beer O’clock on the left coast.
Have another anger-ale rwcole. I for one keep my sanity in part by knowing impeachment and the Hague are at least in some small part a possibility for these war criminals.
I applaud Kucinich for far more of his words and deeds than most other Democrats in the House these days and will not remain silent while you attack him for actually standing up against Cheney.
Put your anger to better use.
do-si-do @ 106
I wouldn’t even joke about doing that. To
anybody.
PLovering @ 100
Should we round ‘em up after peach season?
-GSD
Democrats that think that to keep sending these things to Bush, and him doing the veto thing is going to save lives, our and their’s, then they are very sadly mistaken. Now is the time for push and shove.
The right thing for Bush to do is to have a talk with the american people and say:
Ya know- I just wasn’t cut out ta be president. I really don’t know what I was thinking when I decided to run. I guess I figured that if dead head Ronnie could do it- why not me- but I’ve really botched this whole thing off- as is obvious to most of you- so I’m quitting.
I was really cut out to be a personal physical trainer- not a president- so I’m gonna go find a gym to work in.
AZ Matt @ 73
Oh, he would, would he??? Well, then, maybe Gonzales needs to hire an independent special prosecutor, kinda like Patrick Fitzgerald, to investigate, don’tcha think? And since similar situations seem to be popping up everywhere, like mushrooms after a rain, better give this special prosecutor authority to look into all of them, yes? With guaranteed independence and a no-firing clause?
Oh, and I absolutely do not have any partisan interest in this issue at all, even though I absolutely adore the folks at Democracy for America/Flagstaff, and was their librarian until I moved. . . .
But I moved, see, so that makes me an impartial observer, right? ? ? ? (*/snark*)
Bob in HI
Flagstaff 1987-2004
Frank Rich and Rachel Maddow on KO!
Olbermann in my living room now.
George Bush has never accomplished a real mission in his life.
I guess Cong. Steve King of Iowa must have some of my relatives captive at his site. This is the sorta sh** I get in e-mails from them.
Re-education is not possible.
I’ll take Hail Mary for $1000, please.
Bob Schacht @ 95
Great article for impeachment Bob. Do those illegal aliens that they are roubnding up vote? Do they vote Dem? Be something if he was actually rounding up Democrat voters. Between the illegals, and the potheads and the millions in prison who lose their voting rights, it is a remarkable plan, if you’re a GOP.
I wish there was an easy way to fix the media. Reinstating the Fairness Doctrine is a good start, but the problem (as you point out) is that the people who write the paychecks have an incentive to have their reporters skew the news to pro-corporate POVs. And of course, there’s the sticky first amendment issues… conservatives have rights too (they just have a lot more wrongs).
I think one answer lies in how we label things. For instance, we have laws about what can be labeled “cheese” (laymans summary). Sure, you can sell Velveeta, but you have to call it “Pasteurized Process Cheese Sauce”, not “cheese”. You can sell “Cheez Whiz” but not “Cheese whiz”.
Maybe we should regulate what can be called “News”?
If you are going to call the product you put out News, you need to have a high standard for accuracy — and when falsehoods are brought to your attention, consequences must be paid (along the lines of fines as well as PROMINENT running of corrections.) Failure to disclose biases (see: DANGERSTEIN) is also a no-no.
A reader comment feedback mechanism, perhaps with a fraction of paid fines going to individuals who catch the mistakes, would keep em in line. It needs to be painful enough to make errors that they will go out of their way to avoid them.
This gets around the first amendment issues, we get a real fourth estate back that cares about getting the whole story correct, and the wingnuts can still watch their Fox Process Newz Product Channel.
Bob Schacht @ 95
Ayah, New England sensibilities, Vermont town halls and now the Bangor press! We need a twofer; Impeach Bushco!! Secession anyone!!!
Listen to Nancy Pelosi tonight
http://thinkprogress.org/
I am so angry tonight that Ive had a hard time being nice to my poor husband.
Bush is still trying to make the connection between Iraq and 9-11.
OT – Go Golden State Warriors!
Coming up in an hour and a half, the pesky underdog overachievers will try to finish off the powerhouse Dallas Mavericks in round one of the NBA playoffs.
(any inferences of bandwagon-jumping are not too far from the truth.)
Hugh, Selise- did you catch this scandal?
http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..ent-663262
Special Prosecutor? Bush didn’t even start an investigation in the Plame Affair.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 116
K.O, KO”ing Shrub!!!!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 123
Meanwhile, Wonkette has made the connection between George Tenet and Ron Jeremy.
rwcole @ 102
29 percenters. I’m surrounded by ‘em. Even here in the so-called liberal Bay Area. The one Billo wanted to bomb. Another missed opportunity!
Good evening all.
For those without KO, the beginning of the show is showing Bush from 2003 to the present saying over and over again that we are making progress in Iraq. KO’s voice is in his special comment mode…
Valley Girl @ 125
twolf1 @ 56
From Wikipedia:
Edwards dominates money race in South http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..ICuEjMWM0F
Texas Betsy @ 130
Welcome. The news today is a lot like Hell, but without the nice upholstery.
My final word on impeachment (far as this thread is concerned) is that I agree with rwcole that it is not feasible right now, meaning there is no way to get 2/3 of the Senate to convict, even if the House (by a simple majority) votes for impeachment.
Nevertheless, talk of impeachment should be on the table because it helps to frame the debate for the American people, and against the Republicans.
But most germane of all is the fact that all the available evidence shows that the president and his gang did commit high crimes and misdemeanors while in office, and to ignore them is tantamount to foisting a grievous injustice on the American people.
Therefore, we should continue the drumbeat of talking about BushCo.’s impeachable crimes, while knowing that in the world of practical politics, there is only a small chance of that happening.
On the other hand….look at what happened to Nixon.
EvilDrPuma @ 134
Nice image!
rwcole @ 113
I was really cut out to be a personal physical trainer- not a president- so I’m gonna go find a gym to work in.
That is an INSULT to Personal Trainers everywhere! :)
Texas Betsy @ 130
Afternoon, Ma’am, at least here! ;)
exactly right
the blogs are doing what the msm is supposed to
prediction: in 5 years, the msm will be all celeb stories all the time, and the blogs will have risen to the place where journalism should be in a free an open society
Is the upholstery in hell leather? Because it is really hell when it is hot to peel thighs off the leather. . .
CTuttle @ 138
Good evening Sir. Or Ma’am. :)
Hi. I’ll apologize for the lengthy quote I lifted from Think Progress, but it is even more cathartic now after the news than this a.m. And it’s hard to condense years of BS into one State of the BS address into a concise post. Thank you, conscience, whoever you are.
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/…..lished-07/
1. It’s the liberals. It’s the ACLU. It’s Clinton . It’s Monica. It’s the “climate of permissiveness”. It’s France . It’s the liberal media. It’s Clinton ’s p* nis . It’s Hillary. It’s Gov. Dean. We never could have known they’d fly planes into buildings. “No actionable intelligence”. They didn’t tell us to do anything. O’Neill’s lying. Clarke’s lying. General Shinseki’s lying. The Union of Concerned Scientists is lying. Our own weapons inspector David Kay’s lying. Wilson ’s lying. John Dean’s lying. Newsweek lied! CBS lied! Everyone’s lying but us. We had to lie. We never lied.
Plame outed herself. Her husband outed her. The liberals outed her. No one outed her, since everyone already knew her covert identity. Rove had nothing to do with it. No comment. Lib’ral, lib’ral, lib’ral.
It’s the libs trying to pull Schiavo’s feeding tube. It doesn’t matter that DeLay pulled his own dad’s feeding tube. “Culture of life”. It’s Janet Jackson’s boobs; it’s the Statue of Justice’s boobs. Reading the news might cloud my judgement. It’s the “decade our government…blinded itself to our enemies”. It’s the homosexuals wanting to marry. “Restore honor and dignity to the White House”. A decision to go to war wasn’t a decision to go to war. “No actionable intelligence”. It’s the pledge of allegiance. They’re taking God out of America . Osama didn’t tell us when, how, where, and by what means he’d attack, and he didn’t leave a forwarding address. The 9/11 panel is biased against us. Saddam = Al Qaida. Saddam = Al Qaida.
Chalabi’s an honorable man and I believe everything he says about WMDs. Chalabi’s a crook and he passed secrets to Iran . Chalabi’s the liberals’ fault because they didn’t shoot us when we started using his “intelligence”. Chalabi? I don’t know any ‘Chalabi’!
It’s just a few dead-enders. They’ll be gone when we capture Saddam. They’ll be gone when we capture Saddam’s sons. They’ll be gone when we hand over “sovereignty”. They’ll be gone when Iraq has elections. They’ll be gone in 12 years. They’ll never be gone.
We fight them in London so we don’t have to fight them, er, uh, well, can’t get fooled again!
Bolton didn’t lie! He just knowingly gave incorrect answers under oath.
Aw, so what’s another ISLAMIC STATE in the mideast? It’s not like Bush has made it a home for terrorists or anything!
No one could have anticipated that a category 5 hurricane aimed directly at New Orleans would have destroyed it! No one could have anticipated that they might need federal assistance quickly! Of course no one’s in charge of accepting the generous aid offered by other nations — isn’t that the mayor’s responsibility? Being a judging supervisor for the Arabian Horse Association is ample experience to head FEMA! It’s the mayor’s fault! It’s the governor’s fault! It’s Howard Dean’s fault! It’s CBS’s fault! It’s the Monica Crime! Ted Kennedy killed Mary Jo! Libtards killed Terry Schiavo! Wah! Wahhhhhhh!
It’s all these former staffers hawking their books. Money never corrupted anyone. “I’m a uniter, not a divider!” It’s the stem cells. It’s the feminazis, the intellectual elitists, and the ecoterrorists.
It’s Cthulhu. It’s the martians.
It’s anyone but Bush.
Comment by Your Conscience — May 1, 2007 @ 10:20 am
snowbird42 @ 122
Pelosi brought up Bush’s 1999 timetable statement! Good for her!
rwcole @ 113
I was hoping he’s quit tonight instead of the veto speech. This man is clearly no longer enjoying his job. It’s actual work, and he’s not cut out for work.
wtf @ 139
Amen, brother! I’ve seen the light, now only if Faux viewers could only rapture, errr, see the light!!!!
rwcole @ 63
I like it a lot. It’s the best idea I’ve heard. I like it better than the bill that was vetoed today. This way, when things are no better in July, maybe there will be votes to end the occupation immediately and only fund the expense of a withdrawl
So the options are what? Widen the war. Bring the troops home. Satus quo. Leave it for the Democrats.
Texas Betsy @ 141
Most certainly, Sir! Evening Ma’am, doffs hat!!!
EPU’d re Tenant on 60 minutes:
I wanted to throw objects through my TV when that POS asked him if anyone died in CIA custody? And Tenant said, “no.” clearly lying.
And he asked, “are you sure?” what a strong follow up question.
What an ahole. Why didn’t he read his own CBS website which reported 2 years earlier that 108 died in US custody?
I think that smile would have wiped off Tenant’s face if he would have started rattling numbers and names and put faces up of the ones killed in CIA custody due to the torture.
Oooh, me too. Call Fitz.
Yesterday was the anniversary of Hitler killing himself in the bunker. With that in mind…HERE’S GEORGIE!
When Sean Insanity quoted “The Washington Post” about Hillary Clinton’s controversial appearance on FDL (when the only controversy was invented by Dangerstein and chatted up to WaPoOnline “blogger” MaryAnn Akers (Isikoff)) I waited for the great WaPoO and WaPo machinery to go into overdrive. Surely Jim Brady would explain to FOXNews the HUGE distinction between The Washington Post and WashingtonPostNewsweekInteractive (WaPoOnline). Deb Howell is particularly vociferous in this regard when bloggers confuse the two.
But:
*crickets*
Oklahoma kiddo @ 147
No, I’m telling ya, give a two month advance, as much as it galls me, but no strings attached!! I can see the writing on the wall, this Maladministration is Imploding!!! Let the Chicken(Hawk)s come home to roost!!!
solai @ 150
Hmmm. I think you misunderstood something. When somebody like Renzi says he would “welcome an independent investigation into his actions,” he means “ask a couple of token questions and let me off the hook.” But I’m sure there are USAs willing to accommodate.
I want a cut-off of funding. I want out of Iraq now.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 156
Amen!
Sean Insanity! Beautiful. Did you copyright that one, Teddy?
TeddySanFran @ 152
Is the Faux smear machine sputtering and misfiring, could it be????
Thanks do-si-do. I enjoyed your post.
One little problem with waiting. People have a tendency to die in Iraq. And it inches us toward the possibility of a wider regional conflict.
Yeah! The president cut off funding and the troops will be coming home!! Right?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 156
Yeah to that but Id settle for a clean bill to Bush for two months and then we’ll look at it again.
Speaking of who pays whose salary — I’m relieved that Rupert Murdoch’s rational approach to journamilizm may rein in those radicals at the Wall Street Journal — if NewsCorp’s purchase of DowJones goes through!
Is there anything Murdoch doesn’t want to own?
I think Murtha’s plan is a real winner. It may even end the war earlier than today’s bill. Either that or have Congress authorize ‘emergency withdrawl funds’ (to be used for that purpose only) in case the money does run out. Is that possible to do?
PLovering @ 100
NOT
Where does this rubbish come from? If you hadn’t said you got it from a Republican Congressman, I would have sworn this was snark.
Bob in HI
Sen. Webb (D-VA) on the president’s veto: “We won this war four years ago. The question is when we end the occupation.”
I like it.
TeddySanFran @
164
An unbiased opinion
;>)
It would be easy for me to say ‘give it time’. But I’m in no danger of being killed or having my legs blown off. Or having my women and children blown to bits.
TeddySanFran @ 163
he doesn’t want to own up…to being a tool.
TeddySanFran @ 163
Are you inferring that there is something that Murdoch doesn’t own???
Congress voted to fund the troops. Bush vetoed funding the troops. No compromise. No money – No war. Make him address Veterans’ funding and Katrina. Let him veto everything. Keep the ball in his court. He cut off the funding with his veto. Hang tough. Force his hand. If we keep it in his court, it will always be his war. Don’t make it our war, this is the neocon oil rip-off war.
Can you imagine having Murdoch’s money and wasting your time playing politics for Republicans???
“The Nation” has been running ads on Air America. I just heard one awhile ago about the “bizarre haircut obsession” that made me wonder if I was listening to Rush Limbaugh’s program instead of Rachel Maddow’s.
“The Nation” commenter went on a rant about John Edwards, his expensive haircut and house…and the war on poverty. What?
“The Nation” guy was saying that John Edwards would be more believable in the war on poverty if he didn’t get expensive haircuts or live in a huge home, I guess implying that if Edwards was poor and destitute he’d make a much better spokesman and advocate for the poor and homeless.
But I couldn’t help thinking of FDR, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, who were hardly impoverished Democrats, but who did so much to lift so many American citizens out of poverty and give them a chance to realize the American dream.
In other words, I applaud John Edwards efforts to help the poorest in our society, and just wonder if some DLC/DINO has infiltrated “The Nation” magazine, to literally spew Republican talking points. Just curious.
Olbermann asks a question. ‘So we don’t have any idea of what Gonzales does for a living’?
snowbird42 @ 166
Except for the part where we didn’t win a damned thing four years ago. Why should we settle for less than the whole truth?
Turley just said on KO, what does Gonzales DO during the day…where did I hear that before, about an hour or two ago!!!
President Bush vetoed the funding for our troops!
Sorry, I just had to say it again. And again…
OT-
Did anyone hear Ted Koppel on NPR tonight? His argument was that Dems are setting themselves up to take the blame for the eventual failure of the war and letting Bush off the hook. Bush (sex Koppel) has exactly zero political incentive to agree to any kind of pullout. I have a terrible cold and therefore can’t use my brain. Can someone who heard the piece tell me why it’s total bullshit. Thanks.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 168
Good point, kiddo, being a twenty-year vet, I agree whole-heartedly with ya, however, being a political pragmatist, this appears to be the best option! *g*
Bush refuses to fund the troops. He’d rather argue with Congress than fund the troops. He has politicized funding of the troops, just like he politicized everything else.
LS @ 181
That is about the size of it.
cinnamonape @ 133
twolf1 @ 56
Well, Gore helped make An Inconvenient Truth
and Goebbels helped Leni Riefenstahl makeTriumph of the Will,
so clearly Gore is a Nazi. I.e.,
Gore: An Inconvenient Truth:: Goebbels:Triumph of the Will
There will be a test in tomorrow (but not the SAT).
EvilDrPuma @
176
What exactly do people mean when they say you won the war? To me this sounds like an attempt to salvage some national self respect out of what has been an unmitigated disaster from start to finish.
ccmask @ 173
Think of the worthwhile things that could be done.
LS @ 181
Yup.
EvilDrPuma @ 176
The damage done to the Justice Department by the Bush Administration’s politicization is unforgivable. And will take years to mend.
Cuewhiffle @
179
AAAH! I meant “sez Koppel.” Sorry to put those words next to each other.
Loo Hoo @ 183
Too true, look what Bill and Melinda are doing!!!
Cuewhiffle @ 179
It’s bullshit, because the only way Bush would not veto a bill from Congress is if there were no strings attached so that he can continue his illegal war of aggression to steal Middle East oil. He will NEVER leave Iraq. The neocon plan is to control the oil and keep permanent bases in the Middle East. They want to control the world. They have laid out their agenda numerous times. He does not care about the troops or us at all. We are the tools for their plan. That is why it is bullshit.
So we have a question about what Gonzo does during the DAY- so we KNOW what he does at night?
I fully intend to keep my party’s feet to the fire on de-funding the war and defanging Bush.
Cuewhiffle @
179
I did not watch Koppel (never do) but if he said that, he is dead wrong because the American Public already blames Bush for the failure in Iraq, except for his 30% base that would follow Bush to hell.
As to the reason why I never watch Koppel, you just gave the reason. Koppel only talks to hear himself talk.
Cuewhiffle @ 179
Not really, unless they do what Murtha and others here suggest in response to his veto..
This was my first comment after jr’s veto speech
Time for Congress to tighten the withdrawal…
No permanent bases!
No paid militia!
America should not (even appear to) be robber barrons!
Why fund anything beyond the time a
surgeescalation can be measured in September?Troops
Home
Now!! (h/t TSF)
snowbird42 @ 167
Yes, that’s the ticket.
Use his own words from the Mission Accomplished speech.
CCMask: you’re welcome but it’s really “Your Conscience” commenter on Think Progress. I forgot to use the quote thingy to indicate. sigh.
In all these discussions of funding, I’m not hearing much said about where Blackwater’s money is coming from – are they paid from the same endless tank of (borrowed, ad infinitum, or until the lenders decide the other end of EUR vs USD makes more sense) money as rest of the military funding in question?
As I recall, the number of Blackwater personnel is in the region of 100,000. Do they take their orders from the Pentagon, or do they remain legally private and independent?
(And then there are the permanent bases, and the not-quite-as-gargantual-but-still-amazingly-large Embassy, the latter presumably being Department of State?)
rwcole @ 190
Ask ABC, snicker, snicker!! R.I.P. Poston!!!
rwcole @ 192
He’s an Arabian horse whisperer.
Fern @ 183
I don’t understand what it means either.
pheonix, LOVED your post, sorry to go off topic BUT
the first female president of America
MAN OH MAN I LOVE THIS GIRL
Glenn Beck WPITW
rwcole @ 191
He delegated THAT to Young Republicans, too…
BUSH VETOED FUNDING FOR OUR TROOPS. (It just needs to be said, over and over.)
I love Murtha’s plan, and also the idea of sending Pres. Awol a clean Katrina-funding bill without the war funding. The GOP is in its last throes and we need to make sure the Dems finish the job. I will be calling my Rep and Senators to advocate for both of the above ideas, as well as reminding the Dems to stay on message and framing.
BUSH VETO DELAYS GETTING MONEY TO OUR TROOPS.
Porsupah @ 197
Those guys get $100,000 at least a year. And Halliburton feeds them and houses them.
So, 100,000 times 100,000 equals=
And the National Guard gets squat.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 175
At least Paris Hilton throws good parties..
EvilDrPuma @ 176
OK, I said essentially the same thing a few days ago, and got jumped on, by EDP and MFI. My point was that this is not a bad “message”. Call it a talking point, if you will, but let the Republicans have this “victory”. There are Repugs right now looking to compromise on this Withdrawal Bill; let them say “we won” for chrissakes, it wouldn’t kill us, since we won’t give up the timetable for withdrawals.
By the way, I am not angry. I love you guys, you remind me of my Jack Russels and knee-sock. You simply don’t let go!
Porsupah @ 197
at least 126K and read this article.
dakine01 @
202
Runner up, Lou Dobbs. “He was doing one of his infrequent stories about illegal immigration…”
ROFL!
Perris@199, wouldn’t it be awesome if Nancy, not Hillary, was to become the First Lady, err, Prez!!! ;)
Cozumel @ 209
And bronze to Inhofe for saying the initial invasion was not about WMD – KO “We don’t erase those news tapes anymore Senator.”
On mercenaries – read Scahill – Blackwater …
it’s an amazingly good book…
Eureka Springs,
No Paid Militia
No kidding. What is this whole Blackwater thing? Does anybody have a link to an article about how this got started, who’s making the money, WTF?
CTuttle @ 210
I don’t think hilary is electable, notice how corporate media says she “was the most presidential”, “did very well” “showed her grit”
they want her to be the standard barer because they think she’s carrying enough baggage that every republican will take another chance with a repukelican
I am hoping she drops out as soon as gore declares
Are we saying that as a result of Bushs’ recent actions our troops will run out of money?
Our troops are going to run out of gas, equipment, medical care, because Bush cut the funding with his veto. He’d rather keep them there dying, while his cabal works their oil deals. He also wants to keep NOLA in the stone ages, so he can help his cronies rebuild it later for rich people when everyone gives up. What a guy.
kemo – we did not win and allowing people to claim we did also allows them to legitimize the illegal invasion of a sovereign nation
plus we’re losing and going to lose a lot more
If you want to work for Blackwater, here is their resume:
Don’t they hire women????
Loo Hoo – Scahill has been reporting on Blackwater at the Nation for quite a while and he is the one to read. There’s also a Cspan Booknotes interview with him – check their archives
Oklahoma kiddo @ 215
actually what bush said was more frightening then anyone has mentioned and I’m surprised nobdoy picked up on it
he said;
“I will take funding from other programs”
yes, he said that, yes, that means social security, yes that means the pension insurance funds, veterans benefits
yes, that’s what it means
Oklahoma kiddo @
215
Based on what I’ve read they actually have funding good through the end of June but the Chimpenfuhrer has been talking his sh*t about running out yesterday.
The Oracle @ 174
THE NATION is OK I think mostly. But LYNDON JOHNSON, he was an arrogant, Texan, warmonger, put in by Big Oil-seem familiar? VietNam, Dominican Republic, Chicago 68-Johnson was a villain and a bully.
How much of Bush’s money was deemed for supporting Blackwater and other contractors? Speaking of contractors, wouldn’t the work that Goodling and Sampson were doing appear to be independent contracting within the DOJ. Just thought I’d throw that out there, while I’m at it.
So then we’re looking at a blame game situation.
EvilDrPuma @
200
Bush wants the troops to come home so that Blackwater can finish the job and the oil companies can do their job. They will take over funding the “mercenary troops” and the US Military will be abolished.
Eureka Springs @ 208
Hoo. Sobering reading. Definitely not an aspect to be forgotten.
dakine01 @ 221
he will steal from the middle class to fund his little war, he will break this military if it’s the last thing he does
Oklahoma kiddo @ 224
No, we are telling it like it is.
Siun @ 217
Siun: I disagree and believe Sen Webb is saying we won the war to get rid of Saddam for whatever reason. But we’ve lost the occupation and peace after the battles because Rummy was an idiot and there was no post invasion planning allowed. It is semantics but it allows some small measure of saving face for those who need it while the rest of us deal with reality.
perris @ 219
Hmmm. Sounds just a little bit unconstitutional to me. Congress controls the purse strings…not Bush.
Alright. Peace.
Cuewhiffle @ 179
It’s a variation on the old meme that everything is good for the Republicans and bad for the Democrats. Republicans lie us into a war and keep us there for more than 4 years. The Democrats try to get us out and so the only possible conclusion is that it is the Democrats’ fault.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 214
Yes.
Bush just whoring himself and Laura on AI? What’s up with that? The day of the anniversary of Mission Accomplished, the day he vetoes funding for the troops, he goes on AI?
As my daughter pointed out when she called to tell me, “I watch American Idol so I can get away from him…”
What me, Bush?
EvilDrPuma @ 231
he said it plain and clear
are you under some kind of bizzare notion the constitution means ANYTHING to the boyking?
Holy mackeral, look at that US Embassey picture…
dreamcatcher @ 193
Ted Koppel is a member in good standing of the GOP/Media Complex. He will always spin things for the GOP and against Democrats. Period.
BTW, Ted Koppel’s son-in-law is that idiot neocon Kenneth “Threatening Storm” Pollack, who has filled his FIL’s ears with warmongering crap about Iran and Iraq.
Remember, this is “emergency” funding supplemental. This is not “the budget for the war”. This is extra funding. Kucinich has said numerous times, the money to fund the war is in the pipelines because of the budget from last year for this year.
perris @ 213
smarter than your average barer, but still…
I like the way you think!
perris @ 212
I’m a hoping that when I pull the lever in Nov. ‘08, I won’t have to plug my nostrils!
EvilDrPuma @ 231
Once the funds have been authorized, the departments can do pretty much as needed with them including re-program although I don’t think Chimpy can legally move from one department to another. But he can re-program within a department. But then again, when has legaalities ever stopped anyone in this adminstration.
Then does it follow that U.S. troops will be left wandering around Iraq with no money or flight tickets home?
Officially, the design of the compound is supposed to be a secret, but you cannot hide the giant construction cranes and the concrete contours of the 21 buildings that are taking shape. Looming over the skyline, the embassy has the distinction of being the only big US building project in Iraq that is on time and within budget.
How long did it take to plan this place???
LS @ 228
“Blame game” was one of former White House press secretary Scotty McClueless’s favorite talking points. Whenever a reporter suggested that someone should be held accountable for some wrong, he would say, “I’m not going to play the blame game. You are playing the blame game.” Very nonresponsive.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 243
My friend’s son got there last week. He’s a grunt assigned to a 2nd ID outfit and here is his report
Guess he finally made it to
camp corriegdor on a convoy. Last time we heard he was spending his days in
al taquedam, walking around with his weapon and at night hauling all of his
shit to the airfield to be told what he already knew, there was no room on
the helo. Guess they get their soldiers close to where they need to be and
then sort of leave it up to them to figure out how to get the rest of the
way. As you said, I don’t try to figure it out.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 243
Depends on what he uses the money for. Once appropriated, he can use it for whatever he wants to. If he is stating he will take money from other programs, he might use the money to fund contractors or legal fees for his crumbling corrupt departments. That is why Pelosi says no blank check. This administration cannot be trusted to do the right thing. Only the right-wing thing.
Ted Koppel is apparently being groomed by NPR to replace Daniel Schorr. Schorr at least had the distinction of making Nixon’s enemies list, but Koppel seems to have nothing to recommend him. Fatuous, pompous, totally convinced of his own command of the facts and the situation, he seems to me to belong to the first rank of bloviaters–well, maybe the second rank.
The faux but heavy sardonicism reeelly turns me off.
Back to the oblivion of the land of lurk.
We are a nation of pirates.
New thread.
here’s a crooks and liars video of my fantasy girl
FYI, Eli is upstairs
Let’s just SEE how much wind Bush can whip-up for the Never-Ending Occupation in the wake of his veto.
He vetoed the funding – now let’s see him rally some indignation on behalf of his position.
Smirky may have over-played his hand – Stand Tough Dems! Let’s MAKE HIM show us that he has the strength of popular support.
Let’s MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT to over-ride the Veto – just to get the GOP votes on the table.
Bush doesn’t have the cards, folks.
No compromise.
Perris@219, As the CRS has stated, Shrub has the wherewithal to reprogram funds within DoD, a veritable smorgasborg of funds, however, he does not have the Authority to redirect funding from other Dept’s!!! That is Verboten!!!
PW, 238
Wow! Didn’t know that. Connecting the dots….ok, dots connected.
Thanks everybody for the vicarious Koppel bashing. I feel better now. I heard the thing on the radio in the car and my brain, after saying ‘Wrong!,” wouldn’t really talk to me anymore.
Maybe I’m the only one with a brain like this….
I finally broke down and put up a post on my own blog that deals somewhat with this subject of the current sate of journalism. My primary reference was the Bill Moyers piece, “Buying the War”.
I know, I’m about a week behind the curve over here.
It’s a pretty good piece, I think, establishing the current pressures on the media. Granted, I did not go nearly far enough, but as is my habit, I tend to undersell and let the readers sort of fill in the blanks.
It is why I really like the blogosphere, at least the left 90%, where folks do not need to be spoonfed.
Anyway, I hope the lakers over here enjoy it, I intended to send it to the ladies of the lake for first crack, but I was so immensly proud of myself for actually getting back to blogging, I hit the publish button.
I hope the learned and involved people of the lake take the time to read it and add to it if it is worthy. Just click my name for the site, it is the top post.
Sorry for the blatant blogwhoring, but my posting is geting so rare, and fdler’s have been so encouraging to me, I just thought I would let folks know it’s out there.
Thanx.
$50K is such a pathetic amount of money really. OK, Billy stole it but really, what’s the big deal, He worked hard, really hard for years on some pathetic government salary. The government spends that much every nanosecond. Much of it right down some rat hole or other
To be precise on how this worked. The news companies reimbursed the travel expenses by check. That check went to Uncle Sam. A few of them happened to end up in BIlly’s account. NBC and the NYT still payed their bills.
Billy was never going to rise any higher. The few thousands didn’t make him rich. He just served the rich and the hopeful rich, as richness became a real possibility for ‘reporters’.
Damn, I’ve almost convinced myself. It is a sad story. .
Cuewhiffle @ 254
Oh no, I have that affliction too.