Paul Krugman has an excellent op ed in today’s New York Times (Times Select) that echoes a lot of what Glenn Greenwald has been saying about what the Republican Party has become. Glenn, whose latest example profiles almost-candidate Fred Thompson, has been arguing for months that today’s GOP has been completely transformed from the party that once warned against bigger government and its intrusion into our personal lives into a party that embraces the most egregious invasions of individual liberties and the imperialist fantasies of the party’s extreme right wing.
In their zealous and delusional crusade to topple Saddam Hussein and transform the Middle East into the ideal partners in America’s global war on terror, the Bush/Cheney regime effectively destroyed the party that eschewed foreign interventions and nation building. The Fox-spread beating that Ron Paul has been taking for his remarks are proof of this. Krugman’s point is that Bush is no longer the aberration, but rather the model for most of the current crop of Republican Presidential candidates. Have we been too harsh in blaming just Bush/Cheney, he asks?
No, I haven’t lost my mind. Mr. Bush has degraded our government and undermined the rule of law; he has led us into strategic disaster and moral squalor.
But the leading contenders for the Republican nomination have given us little reason to believe they would behave differently. Why should they? The principles Mr. Bush has betrayed are principles today’s G.O.P., dominated by movement conservatives, no longer honors. In fact, rank-and-file Republicans continue to approve strongly of Mr. Bush’s policies — and the more un-American the policy, the more they support it.
Now, Mr. Bush and Dick Cheney may have done a few things other Republicans wouldn’t. Their initial domestic surveillance program was apparently so lawless and unconstitutional that even John Ashcroft, approached on his sickbed, refused to go along. For the most part, however, Mr. Bush has done just what his party wants and expects.
After noting the rejection of torture by General Petraeus and retired military leaders, Krugman goes on to highlight the Jack Bauer/24 moment in the last Republican Presidential candidates debate:
But aside from John McCain, who to his credit echoed Gen. Petraeus (and was met with stony silence), the candidates spoke enthusiastically in favor of torture and against the rule of law. Rudy Giuliani endorsed waterboarding. Mitt Romney declared that he wants accused terrorists at Guantanamo, “where they don’t get the access to lawyers they get when they’re on our soil … My view is, we ought to double Guantanamo.” His remarks were greeted with wild applause.
Is Bush alone in his zeal to topple Islamic regimes?
Well, Mr. Romney offers more of that. “There is a global jihadist effort,” he warned in the second debate. “And they’ve come together as Shia and Sunni and Hezbollah and Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda with that intent.”
Most of the candidates remain in the Cheney/McCain/Lieberman delusional fog about conditions in Iraq and the prospects for victory. And they remain disturbingly silent about the stunning incompetence and lawlessness of the Bush/Cheney regime.
What we need to realize is that the infamous “Bush bubble,” the administration’s no-reality zone, extends a long way beyond the White House. Millions of Americans believe that patriotic torturers are keeping us safe, that there’s a vast Islamic axis of evil, that victory in Iraq is just around the corner, that Bush appointees are doing a heckuva job — and that news reports contradicting these beliefs reflect liberal media bias.
And the Republican nomination will go either to someone who shares these beliefs, and would therefore run the country the same way Mr. Bush has, or to a very, very good liar.
Maybe we should elect a Democrat for President next time.
Photo credit to this MSNBC link.
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Comey!
Frackin scary has hell this new GOP.
zed?
The best was all the republicans, except Ron Paul, endorsing RFID chips implanted in every American. Orwellian.
In my mind, Krugman has (once again) hit THE NAIL on THE HEAD.
These are the issues that Dems need to be hitting and highlighting every chance they get.
And, it goes without saying that these topics are what corporate media should be addressing as well.
I guess Moyers and Krugman are essentially the lone voices in the vast wilderness of corporate media.
I hope Ron Paul drops out or runs as an Independent. Then the rest of the Republicans can run on their warmongering, American-values-hating platform. Should be the biggest electoral victory since Nixon in ‘72 – for the Dems, that is.
I’ve never been able to watch more than a few minutes of “24″. The anti Arab/Muslim bias is so severe, but this hatred is now seen to be a normal expression by many Americans.
9/11 allowed the propagandists to exploit the latent racism in America, very sad, but very real.
unless the democrats also nominate a neo-con, that wouldn’t be so great, would it?
His remarks were greeted with wild applause.
snip
Just who were these people in the audience? Not a mixed crowd, I’m sure.
There are no “traditional” republicans left it seems. The few who occasionally profess some fealty to small gov’t, fiscal integrity and all the old platform are so cowed and beaten down by the wing-nuts and the Christianists that all they do is squeek a little then go back to being enablers. And yes that’s YOU:
Arlen Spector
Olympia Snowe
Susan Collins
Christopher Shays
and all the rest of the so-called moderates.
Yeah, let’s do that. And let’s also make sure that the GOP-run WH isn’t spying on their political enemies in the runup to the election. Let’s make sure there are no voting shenanigans with these unreliable Diebold machines and backroom vote counting by Republicans only. I guess waht I’m saying is that we should make sure the 2008 election isn’t like the 2004 election.
How about those idiots at the repub debate agreeing that RFID chips in all Americans is a GREAT IDEA? All except Ron Paul.
Amazing.
Paul also is outspoken on the evils of the fed reserve — the fact that the fed creates money out of thin air and then “loans” it to us at interest. Even Jefferson spoke out about how evil it would be for a country to lose control over its money.
jeebus, I love this man!
G’Morning Scarecrow
It is pandering to the deliverance wing of the wingnuts. Sure is pretty scary and the only candidate on that stage for the regular Repugs in AZ would be Ron Paul.
Romney will win due to the Mormon factor here and McCain is under recall for his senate seat.
I’m sorry to be OT, but I wondered wrt to Wolfowitz: is he going to get the 400K bonus (can’t remember when it’s supposed to kick in, but I presume that’s why his official date to leave is June 30)?
these are not self-cancelling attributes.
the GOPuke nomination will go to the person who comes across as the most war-like and uncompromising against the brwon people of the world, both at home and abroad…
that person, if they are rabid enough–and especially if there is some exceptional event during the campaign season–has a VERY GOOD CHANCE of becoming (note, i did not say ‘being elected’) president…
.
ccmask @ 9
Oh, they were mixed — some supported Mitt, others Rudy, other McCain (OK, not so many of those) . . .
Congress can get the GOP on record many more times supporting Bush, and really break the Republican brand name.
But the Dems have to tie the stinking carcass around every Republican and flog it again and again in the 08 elections.
In the Repug world portrayed here, any “Right”-thinking conservative should be honored — as long as they support whats “Right”.
Bush’s control of the Justice Department is “Right” because it permits unlimited “Righteous” rule. But in every junta there is a weakness, and if Bush had actually studied history, he would have realized that the military generals might be a threat.
“But the military loves Republican!”
What a fool.
Yep. I couldn’t agree more with this article by Mr. Scarecrow. And remember, all these nutcases now view the “Bush model” as the winning path towards securing an election. For them, the end DOES justify the means.
They are criminal in policy, and criminal in process. Better sharpen up, D teamers. These guys play for keeps. And they don’t, and won’t play by the rules.
Ghostman
Good morning from L.A. 2nd great post this a.m., Scarecrow.
I needed something to wash the WaPo Kmiec taste away. Krugman’s reasoning puts Doug’s screed where it belongs- nowhere.
BTW, many pages of negative comments on Kmiec…
ccmask @ 9
It has been suggested that the microphones may have been set to amplify applause.
Dumbwya @ 4
wow. that’s scarey…. maybe i should consider reregistering as an R so i can vote in the primary for paul.
May 16, 2007 (Computerworld) — The computer database infrastructure of Sarasota County, Fla., was attacked by a notorious Internet worm on the first day of early voting during the 2006 election, which featured the now-contested U.S. House race between Democrat Christine Jennings and Republican Vern Buchanan in Florida’s 13th Congressional district.
Please pass the gravy
Marie Roget @ 21
Those were fun to read. And good morning from up the hill…
I hope everyone saw the Colbert bit about the “wild applause” at the “debate.” “To be fair,” said Colbert, “The applause sign was lit up.” [Shows a picture of a huge, lit sign saying “TORTURE” over the heads of the candidates.]
This is why is it so important that we start getting the significant players behind bars, or at least on their way before the election. Running out the clock is not an option. This regime has to end now!
selise @ 23
Don’t get too enamored of Paul. His criticism of the Iraq war is consistent with an ultra-libertarian, no government philosophy.
Except for McCain’s, the candidates’ responses to Brett Hume’s ticking-timebomb question were both appalling and embarrassing. Had Krugman posed that question, I’d have congratulated him on getting those candidates to show their true colors. But with Britt Hume asking the question, I had the creepy feeling that he thought this question was very relevant to the world in which we live and an opportunity for Republican candidates to show their worth. Somehow that frightens me even more.
Geez, I can’t believe that Sarasota County didn’t keep their database servers patched. That’s almost criminal negligence.
Cuewhiffle @ 25
Did you see the Delay interview?
Wasn’t Ron Paul once a Libertarian? I seem to recall him switching parties a few times in the past.
Solai @ 31
Not yet–tell us about it.
Gnome de Plume @ 32
Correct.
For moral squalor it’d be hard to exceed Brit Hume’s.
But I think that the “Official Bushies” can.
——————————
(check my .SIG above in a day or three) :)
Going back to yesterday’s arguments by gov’t lawyers on the Plame lawsuit, with the Comey revelations, hopefully the judge is so suitably appalled by his own DOJ’s behavior to not buy into any of it.
Mutant Poodle @ 24
The comments were a gas, agreed, & good morning to you, MP. Foggy morn down here, but that’s ok, it’ll burn off later…
katymine @ 14
What? Tell us more about the recall.
Landofthefree, you are right. We all need to get involved in the actual election to watch what’s happening.
dakine01 @ 10
I keep getting recruiting literature from the left side of the CA Republican party. They’re trying to reclaim it. (I’ve bnever been a member of the GOP. Where did they get this mailing list?)
I’m not sure what I’m supposed to think when they’re holding a subseminar that has the announced topic of reclaiming Republican support for the environment as they historically had with Teddy Roosevelt. (my words, not theirs, but that’s the sense of it.)
Do people have to memorize Niemoller’s Lament in the original German to have a problem with this? We should ask Romney voters if they’re so good at conforming to the Power Elite (and remember, Republicans are good at playing the Victim Card) that they’d never run afoul of a tyrannical regime; or such great asskissers that they’re confident they can snow said regime into thinking they’d supported them all along.
In 1984, Winston Smith saw neighbors run afoul of the law that he never suspected would have.
Finally starting to get it, just a little bit. Never look at the storyteller, always look at the audience. Mr. Bush originates nothing. He is a figurehead of the propaganda machine. He does and says exactly and only what the machine requires him to do and say. The nomination will go to whichever candidate does the best job of channeling the propaganda machine.
umm, whats wrong with that? do you like the political spectrum so narrow that Cheney, Clinton, and Obama all say “all options are on the table” regarding the fake “crisis” with Iran?
David “If any president has tried to implement conservative ideals — it’s Bush” Greenberg (How Bush Stayed True to Conservatism, NYT 5/15/2007), you just got punk’d.
PJ Evans @39
M. de Plume gets literature from the GOP because his job title says he “should” be a money grubbing corporate whore. I often have fun with the return envelopes. One day this week I got mail from Hillary while he got mail from Giuliani. I often wonder what the postman thinks of us.
1. spying: how ya gonna prevent it?
2. voting shenanigans: what’s going to prevent it?
answers: nothing, and nothing…
Mutant Poodle @ 28
However, Paul is worth courting. He was one of the lone voices in the wilderness AGAINST the dreaded Real ID Act, which even Democrats blindly and foolishly supported. He was also against the funding and implementation of mandatory psych testing of children in public schools, as advocated by the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Many times Ron Paul has been a loner in his party, voting not necessarily with Dems, but against his party’s position on matters that truly counted.
I’m not kidding myself as to Paul’s politics, but I think I’m more comfortable with him than I am Chuck Hagel.
P J Evans @ 39
I’ve never been an R either but too many times, it appears that the Rs think that if they can get right on one issue, it will absolve them of their responsibilities on all the other issues. That’s why the Rs in New England are a currently endangered species and getting that way even in traditionally R areas of NY and such.
these are not self-cancelling attributes.
Well said, my friend, well said.
Mutant Poodle @ 28
oh, i’m not. it’s just that, imo, there is a clear difference between him and the other R candidates.
from http://www.antiwar.com/pat/?articleid=10984
Listening to Willard Romney and the brain-dead audience…Talk about emboldening our enemies…this is worse than ‘Bring it on!’
OT–
Has anyone seen this recent hatchet job on Murray Waas by his detractors at the Washington CityPaper? I post this because this whole business about Waas was the topic of Christy’s post/thread a few months back.
Ghostman @ 20
My understanding of repiglican finances is a bit shaky, but if Karl Rove still controls the purse strings, there may be some financial coercion as well. It seems that the urinary executive currently controls all other branches of government.
anyone else having strange charactersappearing in this post?
ruffian @ 54
fixed now-thanks to ?? thanks!
Selise @ 23 – in Texas you don’t have to register your party affiliation. Your vote in the primary commits you to that party only for that voting cycle. The following election cycle you get to start afresh. In 2006 I voted in the R primary to try to sway the governor’s race. I might do it again in 2008 presidential if I am comfortable with all the D’s running. By voting in the R primaries I become perceived as a “double or triple R” – the list of voters the strategists look at to see who their base is. With enough tricky Gnomes around, we could screw up the next KKKarl’s thinking. ;-)
there’s a third option that might actually save the republican party;
a hero must rise among their ranks, a politician who did not dodge the draft, a politician who is NOT afraid, one who not only doesn’t care if he looses “the base” but WANTS to loose the base
someone who declares in no uncertain terms the president’s decisions were far worse then inept, they were criminal, someone who stands up and claims at the top of his lungs;
“CONCERVATIVES ARE RECLAIMING THEIR PARTY WHICH HAS BEEN HELD HOSTAGE”
that person has the only chance of a republican winning a general election
Maybe we should elect a Democrat for President next time.
That is such a softball pitch, but I’ve never been one to let such things go by: WHAT THE HELL DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE???? If you think Hillary Clinton is going to tear down that new embassy in Baghdad, you haven’t been paying attention.
Our Democratic “leaders” haven’t done the right things yet. What makes you think they will if one of them is president?
OT. Mutant Poodle – got your Monica comments over at TNH. Keep ‘em coming gang. Gonna assemble questions for HJC hearing and send before COB today. can always send followups next week, but hearing is Wednesday and staff will probably be running it to ground over the weekend.
IRT the Colbert/Tom DeLay interview. SC introduced him as a former bug exterminator and it was downhill from there. They put up a big picture of his mug shot w/ a split screen. Jesus was on the other half. TD just had a frozen smile on his face for most of the interview.
Gnome de Plume @ 56
Hmmm. I’m in San Antone and just might have to hold my nose and do that.
dakine01 @ 46
This is the Republican’s marketing “genius” at work, the much-vaunted direct mail database they are using in this situation. We’ve been studying this rather closely; we know they can micro-market just like any retail outlet can, because they know all about you.
(Just as an aside: imagine that “program” gathering every piece of electronic data about you — how could the Repugs use it to market positively or negatively to you? Food for thought.)
They either contract from within their own “family” or buy commercially databases in which your purchasing habits have been recorded. Do you get any subscriptions to magazines, and which ones? Do you have a shopping card for discounts at your local grocery store? Do you have a credit or debit card? What kind of vehicles do you have registered and what about properties you own?
They already know all about you. My spouse is an independent, unregistered and unaffiliated with any party — but they know to send content regarding manufacturing and gun rights to him because of his job, the magazines he gets, his hobbies.
They send me stuff that focuses on family values, safety and security, because I’m the one who makes all the online purchases of kids’ toys and books, annual photos, you name it.
They also know to send me environmental stuff because I’m the one who gets magazines that have an outdoorsy element to them, purchased by folks most likely to be environmentalists, along with catalogs for organic gardening products.
Now does it make sense? They already know your soft spot. You’ll need to be more religious about opt-outs on companies selling your info to third-parties, but that’s not a guarantee. I’m a privacy freak and they still find me.
Loo Hoo! :)
wgg: tokin liberal -
I’m hopeful that there will be a lot of scrutiny on process for the next election. The 2006 midterms made me more confident that the GOP has not been able to control voting outcomes enough to override the will of the people. Two things I think we can do to help ensure fair elections are:
1. get involved in the process. Be a poll watcher. Anybody can do it, it’s easy and rewarding. If you’re a lawyer, get thyself volunteered to assist on election day. As a pollwatcher in my area, I’ve been amazed to learn how much shenanigans (or at least questionable events) have popped up. We can’t afford to let another event like what happened in FL in 2000 or Warren County OH in 2004 happen again. But, we also need to ensure that every eligible person has the right to vote in every city and town in America. we need to make sure no eligible voters are not intimidated or inconvenienced enough so that their votes cannot be cast or counted.
2. Get involved in promoting good candidates, canvassing, phonecalling, or doing whatever volunteer work you can for the party. It’s been shown that a party who is hacking electronic machines can only shift a small percentage of votes. So, if the public overwhelmingly votes for good Democratic party candidates, we aren’t at risk of getting an election stolen again.
3. Make sure your city/town/village clerk is honest and above board.
4. Work hard at getting absentee ballots out to voters, and encourage new unregistered people to vote.
5. Write LTEs to your local papers about how voting integrity is a critical foundation of our democracy. Include how, if electronic machines are used, the people should demand a printed receipt.
6. Write to and call your representatives in the House and Senate to request they address voting integrity, including paper receipts for all electronic machines and security systems in place to ensure votes are recorded and counted accurately.
It might not solve all the problems, but it is a start.
Gnome de Plume @ 56
very nice. i wonder what KKKarl will think when he starts seeing primary R voters donating to D candidates?
ruffian @ 54
Mitt Romney is a strange character, so mark me down for a “yes.”
The Daily Show – Repub Debate
just about time for the work detail truck to arrive -
I linked this yesterday – and it’s still one of the funniest on-target bits I’ve ever seen Jon Stewart do
really, go to the link and look to the bottom of the video window – click on “More Videos” – then go to
“Right Wing off”
even the WM Central Tx repubs I’ve shown it to have laughed their asses off
Have a FDL day y’all
Scarecrow thanks!
will try to check in with y’all later – after all, it is friday!
Maybe we should elect a Democrat for President next time.
You know, I don’t think that’s good enough.
Ours is supposed to be a system of laws. The role of the executive should not depend on personality or party. I can’t say that I would trust any of the candidates to roll back the power of the executive on their own. Nor should I have to.
This is a legislative responsibility. They need to begin exercising it. If it takes the threat of Unitary President Hillary Clinton to get the Republicans to recognize that there are principles of American governance in play here, well, I’d be okay with that.
John H. Farr @ 58
so far, not much – all they have adjusted is their rhetoric – not a one of the Pres. candidates is driven by principle except maybe Kuchinich or a revived Gore, and the longshot Gravel from Alaska.
These ones need support, the others need to be warned that the days of triangulating and betraying the base are over.
Rayne @ 62
ChoicePoint
the following is on the previous thread and needs to be reposted here;
wgg: tokin librul @ 112
i have also long believed they have no plans to ‘leave office.’
there is a lot of time between now and either Nov. 5, 2008…a LOT can happen…
Remember: “nobody ever anticipated terrorists would fly airliners into skyscrapers…”
.
I have long believed as well they have no intention of leaving office willingly
Repost from Late Late Night thread…
Jay Leno:
“Big News! Have you heard about the resignation of Paul Wolfowitz? Finally, a Republican forced out of office over an affair with a WOMAN!”
LaFourmiRouge @ 71
MUWHAHAHHAHAAA!!!!
Re: Jack Bauer/”24″:
By this Day 6 of “24″, the producers and writers have exhausted all narrative possibilities as far as global terrorisits of all stripes and religious affiliations. Maybe Day 7 can just be another day at the office–at CTU.
TiredFed @ 68
Well, that’s one of them.
Karl Rove was a direct mail man; that’s how and where he got his start.
Richard Viguerie. Eberles.
There are more. They start with their own database and they flesh them out with data acquired from others, like ChoicePoint.
LaFourmiRouge @ 71
Yeah, whoda thought?
sy @ 43
Thanks for pointing out that excellent article. BTW, it’s available for free here.
Completely off topic, but I thought of our much beloved Trex as I read this..( much more fitting and respectful than the chicken connection brought up recently) :)
Fused nasal bones helped tyrannosaurids dismember prey
New evidence may help explain the brute strength of the tyrannosaurid, says a University of Alberta researcher whose finding demonstrates how a fused nasal bone helped turn the animal into a “zoological superweapon.”
“Fused, arch-like nasal bones are a unique feature of tyrannosaurids,” said Dr. Eric Snively, a post doctoral research fellow at the University of Alberta. “This adaptation, for instance, was keeping the T. rexes from breaking their own skull while breaking the bones of their prey.”
perris @ 69
Is the inference that they will not leave office even if voted out in 2008? (In other words, will they steal the election again, or have a coup or what?)
John H. Farr @ 58
if the general election comes down to Hillary Clinton vs. any Republican, i will happily vote for Clinton. She would certainly be a better alternative than anyone in the Republican party, and our party’s platform would be at least partially enabled. At this point, I highly doubt I’ll vote for her in the primary, but if she happens to get the nomination, I’ll support her 100%. Letting the Republicans control our world for one day longer (let alone 4 more years) would ensure that most of our rights and privileges as citizens will be vastly reduced.
She will do better for America than any Republican regarding the constitution and following the laws of our nation.
She will do better for America than any Republican in addressing healthcare and environmental issues. Same for civil rights.
She will do better for America than any Republican to restore our credibility as a nation throughout the world.
She’s not my primary choice, but she is so much better than the alternative.
In the meantime, I research and review all of the candidates (R and D) and the pulse of the average American voter. I talk with friends and acquaintances frequently about the state of our nation and world, and how we need a strong leader who will respect our constitution and laws, will respect human life, will protect Americans by making sure healtchare is available and affordable, and will get us on a better path.
The unspoken racism in all of this just annoys the living shit out of me. I thought Brit Hume’s little “thought experiment” on suicide bombers in American malls was the worst of it, so let’s try a slightly different “thought experiment”. Let’s try one with a little more basis in reality:
Terrorists have just blown up the Oklahoma City Federal Building, killing over 100 people and injuring more than 800. Law enforcement officers have highly-credible information that the bombing was carried out by “a few right-wing white guys”. As President of the United States, what would you do?
A) Direct your law enforcement agents to follow up every credible lead according to standard procedures, ultimately resulting in the capture of the bombers, one of whom is convicted and executed while another is convicted and sentenced to 161 consecutive life terms with no possibility of parole.
B) Note that the Fox News crew that is supposedly “covering the bombing” is, in fact, a perfect match to the initial (though vague) descriptions of the suspected terrorists. Using your Jack Bauer-like intuition, you realize that this team may be planning a second strike on rescue workers, so you order them kidnapped and taken to Guantanamo, where they are tortured and ultimately confess to both the initial bombing and to a second attack that your quick judgement averted. None of this evidence would stand up in court, of course, so you keep the terrorists in Guantanamo Bay indefinitely, despite the objections of civil libertarian pussies. In an unrelated case, Timothy McVeigh pays a small fine for driving without a license plate, but he is cleared of a concealed weapons charge, as the jury feels that his “fear of Fox” defense was a legitimate excuse to break the law concerning concealed weapons.
Wolfowitz leaving clears the way for progress?
Looks like a pattern for all remaining Bush officials.
Watching Republicans debate is like watching viruses under a microscope. Evil and fascinating, you just hope they don’t spread.
Frank Probst @ 80: excellent post.
Gnome de Plume @ 78
the inferance is that there will be an “emergency” that will force martial law and they will remain in office
this to my mind would have been what happened had it been a republican congress and senate, gonna be harder to pull off with the grownups in controll but that won’t stop them from tryig if they think there’s a chance it might work
O/T Terror Suspect’s Path From Streets to Brig
By DEBORAH SONTAG. 2004 NYT article presents a different look at events leading up to Padilla’s “arrest.”
off topic again…I’m just cruising the web today..
In research published today in Science, an international research team – including CSIRO’s Dr Ray Langenfelds – concludes that the Southern Ocean carbon dioxide sink has weakened over the past 25 years and will be less efficient in the future. Such weakening of one of the Earth’s major carbon dioxide sinks will lead to higher levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide in the long-term.
Dr Paul Fraser, who leads research into atmospheric greenhouse gases at CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, says the international team’s four-year study concludes that the weakening is due to human activities.
“The researchers found that the Southern Ocean is becoming less efficient at absorbing carbon dioxide due to an increase in wind strength over the Ocean, resulting from human-induced climate change,” Dr Fraser says.
“The increase in wind strength is due to a combination of higher levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and long-term ozone depletion in the stratosphere, which previous CSIRO research has shown intensifies storms over the Southern Ocean.”
http://www.csiro.au/news/CarbonSinkWeakened.html
landofthefree @ 79
Thank you for that, I applaud your pragmatism. The commenter to which you responded has a nasty habit of denigrating all candidates and indulging in virtual gestures of throwing up his hands in air in useless rage, while doing little to actually change the political landscape. This may be fine once in a while, but on a regular and systematic basis it begins to look like deliberate efforts to undermine others’ efforts.
If HRC were to survive the primary, she would not only have to make it through a highly energized fundie base to be elected and their regular and systematic efforts afterwards to remain in office. It would be oversight like we’ve never seen before.
Gnome de Plume @ 78
the coup was judicial, and already fait accomplis.
the busheviks ‘crossed the rubicon’ in 2000, overthrew the Constitution on Sept, 12, 2001, and cemented their position in 2004…
they have ‘risked everything in a toss of the die…
the USofA is NEVER going to return to those days, to the social and political mores that obtained prior to Nov 22, 2000.
so the answer is “yes” and “yes”…it ain’t ‘either/or’. it’s a done deal…
.
OT – The secret Iraq documents my 8-year-old found
With a couple of keystrokes, you too can read the hidden history of the Coalition Provisional Authority, America’s late, unlamented occupation government in Iraq.
You can get Tom Delay on Stephen Colbert here…Scroll to fifth video down in the list. LINK
And how about this from Salon today?
A reminder that Bill Moyers will be looking into the recent trade deal. David Sirota has been tracking this closely.
Oh flick. The in-laws are on their way here, have to scramble.
Have fun taking back our country, gang, check in later.
selise @ 23
The RFID chips are being touted as a wonderful way for people to protect themselves in case of a medical emergency. The chips encoded with your medical history would be implanted so the info could be read by a scanner at any hospital with the technology.
Of course, there would be other things on there I’m sure such as a tracking module and other nefarious devices.
Didn’t Tim McVeigh say that he’d had a RFID chip implanted in his neck during the First Gulf War so that the army could keep track of people electronically? With the capabilities we now possess to run wars from high above the ground using AWACS and other platforms for control, this scenario that he mentioned is not far-fetched at all.
perris @ 83
M. de Plume has long predicted that this will happen.
IMO, they are doing everything they can to steal another election. Despite all the outrage, Griffin is still AUSA in Arkansas, digging up all he can on Hillary. And there are 92 others doing the work of the republican party. We KNOW this and yet nothing has changed. There will be purged rolls, votes discounted, intimidation, long lines in dem. districts and everything else they can do. And lets not forget the ‘felon sweeps’ they conducted a few wks before last election.
On top of everything else, I think we will see even more control of the press and all sorts of internet disruption.
landofthefree @ 78
How is the veiled threat of “all options being on the table” against Iran respecting human life???
all options include pre-emptive use of nuclear weapons against a country that poses no threat to the USA… how can anyone of conscience support a candidate who says such a thing?
arguably such a threat, from a head of state such as from Cheney on an aircraft carrier, is itself a crime against peace as defined by the Nuremburg standards, which Clinton, Obama, Edwards, etc are renouncing.
and from the UN Charter, which also has the force of law:
Lou Costello @ 89
Hilarious! DeLay actually believes that Colbert is a straight-up conservative, and doesn’t get the send-up at all. Completely clueless…
Excuse me folks, i’m kinda new around here, and i’d like to know the ground rules?
Is this a BIG D Democratic or a little d democratic site?
what counts as orthodoxy and inviolable, if anything?
why were my comments NOT moderated yestiddy, and ‘now being moderated’ today?
just askin?
Pach has a new thread — an action alert.
Back for a drive-by…
Has anybody done any research into the parties offering to buy Clear Channel and why?
Think we need to be on this one. Stat.
cbl: The best part of your Jon Stewart link was Rudy saying that his government in NY was the most conservative in 50 years and John saying “Congratulations to the thinest man at fat camp”. bwwwaaahhhhhh
Glenn Greenwald reaches a conclusion in Salon today:
Ron Paul certainly seems to have ruffled some feathers:
You think they’d be giving out Rudy’s phone number? I don’t think so.
wgg: tokin librul @ 45
I’m not quite that cynical. It’s obvious now how they have gotten away with so much baloney; the game was fixed. For example, remember how here in Ohio Kerry was winning (and winning big by the way) in the exit polling only to eventually lose the state? Well, we now know this:
The key to that reversal may be electronic. It has now become widely known that the same web-hosting firm that served a range of GOP websites, including the one for the Republican National Committee, also hosted the official site that Blackwell used to report the Ohio vote count.
Now, that’s just ridiculous! Ridiculous! To allow the Secy. of State in Ohio to be co-chair of Bush’s campaign in the state is lunacy enough, but to not have bipartisan oversight of the vote count was just asking for fraud, and we got it.
Without trickeration they know they can’t win. I realize they’re not gonna stop trying, but their avenues are rapidly drying up.
sporkovat @ 97: like I said, she’s not my first choice. However, she’d be far better at respecting human life, our constitution and our people than any Republican candidate.
I don’t see that comment by HRC as a “veiled threat.” I see it as a generic comment she’s putting out there because she’s positioning herself for the general election. (See Rayne’s excellent last paragraph @ 87). I don’t like it, but I understand it.
I don’t want to get into a pissing contest about how Hillary Clinton is not the ideal candidate. In my opinion, she is not… but as I said, if she gets the nomination, I will happily support her over any Republican or independent candidate. Any Democratic president will do much more to establish liberty and justice than their opponents. America can’t risk another 4 years of Republican madness.
Rayne @ 87 – thanks for the tip. Good analysis. I think you’re very correct that if HRC got the nomination (which I don’t think is a done deal), and if she can beat the well funded Republican nominee with an energized anti-Hillary base, she will be quite a force (especially with a Democratic party-controlled Congress). She will go after the vast right wing conspiracy, I’m sure!
perris @ 70
In case you haven’t been paying attention, just last week it was announced that the Department of Defense would make personnel available to help in cases of national emergencies such as a natural disaster or A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
With the national guard units of the various states federalized that means we’ll be seeing armed forces personnel in whatever cities “they” decide to have host their public health emergencies.
Again, in case you haven’t been paying attention, since the realignment of the armed forces under Rumsfeld, mercs such as people who work for BLACKWATER, TITAN, AND CACI all qualify under the Department of Defense definition of “personnel.”
They don’t plan on leaving willingly and as a former Marine and combat veteran, those barriers and other obstructions they have around the White House and other government buildings aren’t there for protection; they serve as cleared fields of fire to defend against assaults by us, the outraged citizens, when Rove et al declare martial law or whatever they have planned.
Jane at 104 – hillarious!
I’d love to see Saul go to Cuba. :)
(hugs to you) Hope you are feeling well and healing well.
Scarecrow @ 91
once again the DFH were right (see seattle, 1999, wto) and the friedmans were blindingly stupidly wrong.
i’ve made a promise to myself – never, never, never dismiss the arguments of the DFHs again.
apologies to mods in advance: my next comment, brought forward from Late Nite, somehow trips the filters.
And they’re going to cut off our HEADS! Run away! Run away!
Are Republican die-hards the biggest bunch of sissies or what?
EPU’d, with “moderate” assistance from Suzanne (please don’t “quote this comment” as it trips the filters):
current Harper’s Magazine (June issue) cover story:
“Undoing Bush: How to Repair Eight Years of Sabotage, Bungling, and Neglect”
(subscription firewall, sorry). brief excerpts:
Rayne @ 87 said:
If HRC were to survive the primary, she would not only have to make it through a highly energized fundie base to be elected and their regular and systematic efforts afterwards to remain in office. It would be oversight like we’ve never seen before.
Which, in my opinion, is an extremely important reason to not only concentrate on the WH in ‘08, but to keep a close eye on holding both houses of congress, as well.
-MS
wgg: tokin librul @ 97
the mods were asleep on their delete switches yesterday – 3rd party advocacy or vehement criticism of Dem betrayals is barely tolerated…
certain Official Stories or master narratives are not to be questioned or the tea party all leaves the room, pinching their noses at the “trolls”.
merci, mod(s)
Hypothetically, could the republican candidates have any objection to waterboarding AGAG for the purpose of testing his memory for the identity of who actually is responsible for the firing list of US Attys?
sporkovat @ 97
DON’T FEED THE TROLL!!!
Leave him under the bridge..the three billy goats Gruff are on their way.
The biggest reason I don’t want HRC to be our nominee is her electability. The repubs are getting ready for her big time. Plus, she invokes strong emotion from the repub base. And I don’t want them energized.
Solai @ 118
that’s been my mindset for a long time. I’m in the ABC camp (anybody but Clinton) inititally for just that reason – since augmented by many others, specificaly her war belligerance. That said, I’ll reluctantly have to vote for her if she gets the nomination.
Solai @ 118
Agreed. On both counts. Because of that and pressure from this side of the party, I don’t think she’ll get the nomination. If she does, I’m in agreement with those that say they’ll support her, but she won’t get it.
Gore or Edwards will be the candidate.
Al Gore in 2008: accept no substitutes
clichy @ 117
If you are referring to me as a troll, you are very mistaken. Take a look at my posting history.
clichy @ 105
excellant post clichy
forgive the zugsarat keepers at the lake
firedogs, pay special to my bold
our national guard is now in the hands of this adminsitration, their very purpose WAS to guard against a unitary executive
I missed the discussion, but landofthefree is no troll in my book
punaise @ 124
What punaise said.
I heard, or read, some “conservatives” recommend that GOP loyalists vote for Clinton. After all, they reason, the GOP is going down and HRC is the Democrat least likely to upset the BushCo agenda.
I cannot cite where I heard this, but I know I didn’t make it up. It makes sense to me, though.
Michael in Park Slope @ 113
My personal goal is to concentrate on the Senate. We absolutely must have a veto-proof Senate, no matter who is president.
Frank Probst @ 80: excellent post.
Hello firepups, still trying to catch up…My view of GOP for a long time is summed up in one quote from Syriana:
“Corruption is what makes us winners!”
The most important thing to that Fox audience is being a winner. That is the only lens available. We’re winners, not losers who care about other people, care about the environment, or anything other than our bank account. The only scorecard is the bank account. Rules are for the other guy. I’m busy winning.
That is why it drives Gop’ers crazy when they see a rich Democrat. Cognitive dissonance.
Looseheadprop is upstairs: No Confidence — Priming the Pump
Frank Wilhoit @ 41
Agreed. Bush has proved beyond all the doubt that the model Republican candidate is a combination of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz – no brain, no heart and no courage.
punaise @ 111
he just hasnt gotten to the “quartering of soldiers” yet. he will.
landofthefree @ 11
—–
See Palast article at BuzzWatch saying that Rove has already stolen 08 and how to steal it back from him/them.
This is not about illegal surveillance, but about how some things have changed for the worse in the Rethuglican Party and how some have remained the same, particularly the religious wingnuts.
Dumbya’s grandfather, Prescott, had a different perspective on some social issues than his fanatic grandson.
“Bush was a typical New England Republican of his time; as a former banker, he was a pro-business conservative, but held many positions today considered socially moderate. Conservatives distrusted and at times openly opposed him.
Bush was involved with the American Birth Control League as early as 1942, and served as the treasurer of the first national capital campaign of Planned Parenthood in 1947. Bush was also an early supporter of the United Negro College Fund, serving as chairman of the Connecticut branch in 1951.”
http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=Prescott bush&gwp=13
“Bush’s ties with Planned Parenthood also hurt him in heavily Catholic Connecticut, and were the basis of a last-minute campaign in churches by Bush’s opponents; the family vigorously denied the connection, but Bush lost to Benton by only 1,000 votes.”
I would like to see some non-douchebag MSM journalist interviewer, there might be one or two, ask both the RP candidates and baby Bush what they think about this type of Republican?
But that type seems to have disappeared to be replaced by the greasy Rethuglican crowd of today.