I must not fear.- Fear is the mind-killer.
- Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
- I will face my fear.
- I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
- And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
- Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
- Only I will remain.
- – the Litany against Fear, Frank Herbert
Remember, the whole point of terrorism is to sow terror. Every time a conservative or the Bush Adminsitration freaks out at a potential act of terrorism, the terrorists win. They don’t actually have to set off the bomb, they just need to scare people. So every freak out is a victory for the enemy. Fox News? One of the terrorists’ biggest allies. The Bush Administration? The terrorists couldn’t have done it without them. And those “manly men” conservatives that are perpetually wetting themselves in fear?
Well, when even the most hapless, incompetent, laughably unworkable plots get them riled up in a tizzy, you don’t even need competent terrorists to be effective.
Conservatives are truly the terrorists’ greatest allies.
– Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, aka “Kos“
Seems as if the wingnuts have been really pounding the fear-drum harder than usual. Too many people are refusing to stop thinking and be stampeded into whatever stupid-ass con the Cons have come up with, and it’s really pissing them off.
Michael Bloomberg, the Republican mayor of New York City, is under attack by Michelle Malkin and her rabid, fear-steeped cadre for the abominable crime of not being anywhere near as demented by fear as they are. Yes, they invoke 9/11. Again. Maha of the Mahablog, herself a Noo Yawkah who lived through 9/11, sticks up for Bloomie and patiently explains to the screeching howler monkeys what it means to be a grown-up person in New York City. And when he and his cohort aren’t drooling over Taylor Marsh’s adipose tissue, Jules Crittenden and Company are whipping themselves into transports of fear-ecstasy over Those Damned Scary Brown Folk. Where did I put my trank gun?
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A little Musical Snark
Self Esteem – The Offspring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6-qfETaNAU
Frank Herbert!
((((((Phoenix Woman))))))
I let downstairs know – they should be along shortly
If you want to see comments by people who need to repeat that litany over and over again, I’d suggest checking out Taylor Marsh’s site for the last few days. Seems like the right-wing bedwetting set has camped out there in earnest, and they’re probably about ready to feed.
radiofreewill @ 3
Oh, forgot. Those were a swollen pair of feet the other night, PW. Are they getting better yet?
I have more immediate things to fear than terrorists. Frankly, I am more afraid of my government. Also …. my parents and aunt, cousin, brother, and sister are all coming here for the weekend. Now THAT strikes fear in my heart.
Oh man, my lap top crashed. Had to come to the other ‘puter…
here it is…
P J Evans @ 143
LS @ 59
It was late-late nite Sat and talking-heads on Sun. Premonitions.
The long-hanging shoe is WRT our major transform fault, which has been locked between Cajon Pass and Parkfield for decades, maybe all the way back to the late 19th century: nothing over 2.0 for the last umpteen years (and d*mned few of those). This week, two 3 (3.7, 3.5) in the same area, middle of the locked section, in a 24-hour period. (This is not a good sign. Something’s breaking loose.)
TexB @ 7
Damn! Talk about a terrorist attack. I would be hiding under the bed by now.
TexB @ 7
And clowns. Especially clowns with Volkswagens.
Michelle Malkin attacking Michael Bloomberg? Say what you want about Bloomberg, but at least he has created something positive in this world.
Tex, you have teens – you can survive the parents, cousin, brother, sister, et al that are showing up this weekend – should be a piece of cake compared with trying to corral a teen.
KO covered the Bloomfield bit tonight iirc (geez, was that only a few hours ago). Was it KO?
TexB, thanks for the guac!
DMoore, that is scary. I worry about the San Onofre nuclear power plant. Hope your laptop is okay. Doncha hate it when tech doesn’t work right? Drives me CRAZY!
Helen @ 11
He told the bedwetters to “get a life”. Oddly, as someone commented already, that’s one way of interpreting the President’s instructions to us after the attack: Go shopping.
Suzanne @ 13
Bloomberg, Suzzanne :)
Yes, Suzanne, it was KO. How funny to see the reaction from the wingnuts. The plain truth is too much for them to handle.
Please stop ruining my irrational fear with your rational logic.
-GSD
I’m afraid Bloomberg will run for prez…he could possibly win!
Yes it was KO – Arrianna was on and they were talking about how Bloomberg (sorry for the typo in my previous comment) may be the crack in the fear fabric the rethugs are trying to keep up wrapped up in.
It is rather interesting that for all their blathering about the “nanny state”, it is the wingnuts who are constantly trembling under their beds demanding that somebody save them from their latest boogie man.
i know i am tired by the # of typo’s…
Suzanne @ 22
Yes but you are a mod and you can go back and fix them.
I second Loo Hoo’s guacamole thanks, but, hon, now I’m hungery. Do have the avocados, but not the energy to get up and make some.
I’d offer you a virtual vicodin, had dental stuff yesterday, but I don’t want to get either of us in trouble.
LH: later, PJ said it’s not expected until Thanksgiving…don’t know how they can predict that, but make sure your EQ supplies are up to date. Couldn’t hoit.
i use the same edit this comment button to fix my typo’s that ya’ll use, tex :)
Loo Hoo. @ 19
Well, he’d be a hellavalot better than ANY of the Republicans. Bloomie is really not a Republican by todays fascist, fear-mongering, religious fanatic standards.
-GSD
Cujo359 @ 2
Yup, it’s Frank. Paul Atreides , our hero, recites the Litany, as taught by his Bene Gesserit mother. But Frank Herbert wrote it, and yes, I commited it to memory as a teenager.
My question has always been, if a sci fi writer was going to inspire a whole religion, why wasn’t it Frank Herbert or Ray Bradbury? Or Arthur C. Clarke, whose fictional predictions so often come true? What the heck?
thanks, PW, for filling in so the therapod can have some recharge time. Thanks to all those who comment, you all are why i love the lake so much.
Usually i’m not done at work at this time, but tomorrow is one of my rare day shift appearances (somebody else on vacation) so it’s an early bedtime for me (the bed-cats are pleased).
Luv ya all.
TexB @ 23
As Nixon said “but that would be wrong” :-)
Also, to PW: were you thinking of Paul Atreides?
Well, I think it’s time to curl up with the kittehs and call it a night. Take care of yourselves and enjoy the snark.
Did anyone else here call the Judiciary Senators about the Habeus Corpus vote?
I called all of the Repubs and was very nice. Told their people that I’d seen Senator whomever and he seemed like a nice man and that HC is the cornerstone of our constitution and that I’m sure he’d see that it would be the right thing to reinstate.
PW had to go to bed but will be checking the comments in the morning, folks.
DrDick @ 30
sleep well my friend
sleep well, Dr (pause) Dick :)
You all saw Colbert give Libby some jailhouse advice? Get together with Cunningham and start a new gang called Los Elephantes. Gonna get a lot more members in the next few months!!!
http://www.crooksandliars.com/
Cujo359 @ 15
Not sure I understand your comment. Bloomberg was saying today to take the “threats” with a grain of salt. The comment you linked to was confusing too. Bloomberg was not the Mayor when 911 happened.
Oh, and BTW, the laptops back. Yeah. I prefer to be in the LR.
Thinking back to the WaPoo Death Cheney wiretap story (link downstairs), I wonder if perhaps it was NOT boosh that called Ashcroft’s hospital room.
Wonder if it was Cheney that sent them to Ashcroft’s hospital room?
Suzanne @ 22
What about the capitalization? *G*
Colbert was funny indeed tonight.
My 13 year old son falls down laughing about five times a night watching him.
Regarding fear: Hope is stronger!
Suzanne @ 38
That’s why we need Janet – not her husband on the stand.
GSD @ 26
I totally agree. If we’re going to have a republican, let it be him. I’m sick to death of republicans, and want us to have the power to fix things lickitysplitly.
“Fear is the mind killer…”
Wow, the Phoenix Lady is a Dune fan! A Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother at heart perhaps? :)
Fear leads to anger… Anger leads to hate… Hate leads to the Dark Side! ~Yoda
hey nate :)
Nate – bad link
Okay, maybe I’m not bright, but….I have a question. I’m reading the comments to this article and I find a reference to “Amanda at Firedoglake”. I know Jane, Christy, Pach, PW, TRex, and a lot of the others, but don’t know “Amanda”.
Could someone enlighten me?
Aloha {Suzanne}! :) It’s been too long… How ya doing?
Peterr @ 45
Fixed it… Thanks.
That’s why we need Janet – not her husband on the stand.
Exactly, Helen. It could very well be that Mrs. Ashcroft told Comey “the White House called” which he took to be boosh when it was Cheney.
I would love for them to interview her. I do not think they will do so in an open, televised way as was done with Comey. In fact, they could have already done so behind closed doors.
The true story of 9/11:
America won.
Within an hour of learning of the terrorist attacks using airplanes, ordinary Americans thrown arbitrarily together on Flight 93 organized themselves, regardless of party, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or creed, and fought back to prevent the fourth attack.
And they won.
We have nothing to fear but fear itself.
dmoore @ 31
Good for you. I didn’t call today, but I called and faxed a letter to set up an appt. with Issa. Got a call today that his District Director would meet with me on Friday. I’m nervous!
Helen @ 36
The remarks in question:
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/l…..60642.html
Fear? If I have gained anything by damning myself, it is that I no longer have anything to fear. : Jean-Paul Sartre
Shadowstalker @ 46
what # is the comment you are referencing? that would help me track it down for you
Helen @ 41
Hey. Isn’t it tomorrow that Senate Judiciary meets with Ashcroft tomorrow behind the scenes?
Loo Hoo. @ 51
I saw that earlier. Cool! You’ll be fine, but if you want a friend to go along…lemmee know.
Shadowstalker @ 46
I think the commenter to that article confused Amanda Marcotte of Pandagon with Jane & Co. at FDL.
Suzanne @ 12
Ding!
#17, down at the bottom.
OK – i found the comment #17 – I believe he was referencing Marcy Wheeler – who guest blogs over here in addition at her place, The Next Hurrah.
Seriously, I worked with some heavyweights in the tv industry for many years. No one scares me. They’re all just people. But, I would be glad to go along, if you want.
Shadowstalker @ 46
I don’t even remember a commenter “Amanda”. Not to say it couldn’t be, but I’m right next door to positive she isn’t a headliner.
Marcy certainly would fall under the heading of an investigative reporting. Or he could have been referring to Amanda as Peterr says.
newspaperbrat @ 58
For that matter, you’ve got SnarKassandra for backup. (Or vice versa — I’ll let you two sort that out.) It strikes me that it’d take quite a herd to get you two terrorized.
soyinkafan @ 27
Clarke’s an atheist, and would be appalled at the idea, I’m sure. I somehow doubt Bradbury would have appreciated it, either. Not that it would have stopped people.
Last Easter, I led a sermon at the church of Stargate, but very few people came. I suspect this is an idea whose time hasn’t yet come. At least, I hope so.
Helen @ 16
Suzanne’s a closet East/West Junkie? *GRIN*
albert fall, so true! What a great way to express it.
Cujo359@52
Sorry I still don’t get it. Which side are you on? Should we freak out at every perceived threat? or should we “get a life” and go forward? The “Go shopping” thing was about Bush being worried that commerce would stop; not about us going on with our lives. I just do not see the parallel in the two remarks.
larue @ 66
Got my mojo working, larue. How goes? Rough week last week at the pig for sure.
Suzanne @ 63
Here’s the comment:
The trio of FDL, TPM, and Juan Cole, all taking on the Libby Mess. Got to be Jane/Marcy/Christy, not Amanda.
(Amanda’s good, but “investigative reporting” isn’t her gig.)
Helen @ 68
Do both. Get good and crazy from trying to do both. Then get your doc to prescribe something from big pharma. And your insurance co can pay for 40% of the huge price.
Are you here, Deborah? Sorry if you already told me. I’d love it!
LH, okay, you probably don’t need anyone to chaperone you, but I’ll give you the same advice that Whatshrename Something of Education told (God, I can’t think) the blond who subbed for Tony Snow: Just wear your big girl underwear. Remember that?
Helen @ 68
What Bush was trying to say in his inarticulate way, I think, was go on with your lives. He certainly hasn’t asked us to do that since then, but I think that was the spirit of that remark. Certainly, the commenter at TM’s site did, and one could certainly take it that way if one wanted to, whether Bush actually meant it that way or not.
Yeah. How do we do this?
dmoore, yes I want you to come. She said 1:00 on Friday. Let’s get together tomorrow and get our questions together, K? What town do you live in?
brb
Margaret Spelling and Dana Perino?dmoore @ 73
I saw the photo the one-handed, hairy-palmed bloggers are talking about on Taylor Marsh’s site. Eh. It’s arguably racy. Ya gotta drill down so deeply into the site though, it reminded me of the fellow who was looking at some other student’s dirty magazine in our dorm lo, these many years ago:
“Oh, this is awful”
turns the page
“Aw man, that’s terrible!”
turn the page
“Tsk, tsk, tsk”
unfolds the centerfold
“Awful awful”
turns the page, etc.
Thanks, Suzanne. That just cracked me up.
Loo Hoo. Sylmar. Northeast end of the Valley.
Where are you? Oh boy. After we get our questions together, shall I call my friend Greg P. and maybe get some pointers for the interview?
I’m going to bed. Hope to stop in a bit but will be hard the next few days. I will miss you.
Cujo359 @ 74
Wow – that never occurred to me. Not sure I buy it, tho. Everyone was way worried about the economy back then. Bush especially.
take care, Tex – don’t overdue and be sure to make them kids help ya out.
pain free sleep wishes
Suzanne @ 83
thank you dear friend
YES! But can you come down? Issa’s in Vista.
Can you good people help us with good questions to ask Darrell Issa’s Director? I can ask Christy’s thread tomorrow too.
email tellblondie at xxxxxxxx dot xx dot xx dot com
let me know if you get this
You did. not. just. attribute the litany against fear to Frank Herbert’s son, did you?
Night Betsy
TexB @ 81
Sounds like you’ll have a full house but you can always dip into da lake and give us a wave and vice versa – cause we’ll be missing you too ((((((((((TexB!))))))))))
Cujo359 @ 74
If Bush was suggesting we “get on with our lives,” I think that theme was quickly abandoned. Instead, ever since then it’s been “terra terra, all the time.”
Okie, thanks, all! I thought I’d been stalking the shadows around here long enough to know most of the who’s-who, but wasn’t sure that maybe actually having to work a little here at work, maybe I’d missed something.
dmoore – would like me to spam proof your email after loohoo says she has it?
newspaperbrat @ 89
Awwww!
Cassie’s already told me that if the relatives are rude to her, she’s going into her room with the laptop and coming to the lake and her chat rooms. It will be a tricky weekend to navigate.
got it, dmoore.
Helen @ 82
Lots of times you hear what you want to hear, or need to hear. What Bush meant maybe Bush doesn’t even know, but we all read into these things what we do based on our experience and expectations. For my part, I view it as “go on with life”, whether it was actually meant that way or not. That strikes me as the healthy thing to do.
Of course, since then we’ve heard very little of that sort of thought from that quarter, and quite a bit of its opposite. That doesn’t make my interpretation wrong, though. It wouldn’t be the first time a politician talked out of each side of his mouth on successive occasions.
Suzanne @ 69
You sure got good taste in music, ma’am. *GRIN*
Wonder how many folks know of Bloomfield, Butterfield, Naftlin, Bishop, Davenport and Arnold . . *g*
I could loop their Work Song with Natalie Merchant’s version and drive all day along the coast . . *smile*
Goin is as good as goin can get.
Which leads me to someone’s “The Urge For Going” . . . was that Joni Mitchell’s tune?
KPIG is hanging tough, and the DJ’s are really pulling out all the stops to keep it oinkin . . . the music’s really reflecting something a bit deeper into the playlists, all the time now.
With NO disrespect to the dearly departed, I think they all got their groove on to support her like when KPIG was younger in the late 90’s early 00’s . . . . preMapleton, I guess is what I mean to say.
Music. I’d be an empty shell without it. Ain’t it grand . . .
Republicans are:
1) Peeing their pants
2) Hiding under the covers
3) Looking for terrorists under their bed
4) Dancing in a puddle of their own urine
5) Hiding in a tree
6) …add your own.
Suzanne — yes, please. And thank you.
Guess it pays to have friends in high places.
Goodnight, TexB.
Enoch Root @ 97
Hiding under the sofa? I had a cat who loved to do that when strangers came to the door.
Loo Hoo. @ 67
Thanks. Waiting for Dems to adopt Flight 93 as the true lesson of 9-11.
deborah-not-demi :) it is now xxx’d out
Loo Hoo
Just map quested Vista. Can Do. Road Trip!
I’ll call Greg Palast and see what he suggests in terms of questions. I bet he’ll give us some good advice, ya think?
When the mind of a gooper is killed by fear – it enflames his or her irrational sense of loyalty to ‘authority figures.’
What a two-fer for Rove: Using a “hot-button” issue – immigration, abortion, vote fraud, terror, pandemic, random white blondes disappearing, school shootings, etc – he can ’switch-off’ a goopers feeble capacity for logic-based-on-facts, and get them to leap en-pointe, ready to go like angry attack dogs – that’s a lot of fear!
The poor gooper sheep are being worked like animals by their trainers…
The sheep are transfixed by the ‘narrative’ being bullhorned to them by the Mighty Wurlitzer – “We’re always right, unless we’re victims” – and never seem to see the ‘manipulators’ behind the curtain manufacturing the ‘narrative’ out of whole cloth to fit an Agenda that benefits only a small percentage of their own ranks.
But, you know, if you’re right all the time then you get to call yourself a ‘winner,’ and everyone knows winners have overcome their fears…
Thanks Suzanne. But, I bet Demi might have got the meeting with Issa and not the DD. har har
sorry, dmoore – i forgot to add in to refresh your page to see how it changed – the refresh comments button will not do it – you have to refresh the entire page (F5 button on Firefox PC)
dmoore @ 103
And who better? I’m stoked now! Sent you an e-mail, but need to add another now. Forgot to give you my work e-mail in case you need it for tomorrow.
Hi Folks:
Any of you seen the series “The power of nightmares” It was by the BBC
I watched part one recently and it really rang true.
The question that I have is, “How are we positioning ourselves for a possible attack here?” If one happens well we be prepared to say, “Okay that’s bad, but let’s not start…” How about after a Democrat takes the White House? Can you just hear Rush if an attack happens after Bush leaves, “They were just waiting for a weak democrat! Bush kept them away!”
There is no downside to Bush if there is another attack here. Would people blame him? Or would they let him do more terrible stuff to ‘protect us more”
Would they get rid of more civil liberties? Concentration Camps for brown people?
You know what is interesting? They didn’t play the “Homeland Security card” during the pet food contamination from China. Why not? Because it didn’t serve them.
So there ARE times when they don’t use the fear card, when it would cost them.
Can’t wait for ET to show up so I can ask him about the latest over at TPM about Sen. Stevens
You know what is interesting? They didn’t play the “Homeland Security card” during the pet food contamination from China. Why not? Because it didn’t serve them.
So there ARE times when they don’t use the fear card, when it would cost them.
Excellent point, spocko.
Good point, Spocko. I’ll bet we can think of lots of times that the fear card wasn’t used…
I gotta go to bed. Dental meds must be kicking in. :)
Didn’t get anything yet, Loo Hoo. I’ll check in the am. But, if you don’t hear back from me, try again. I’ll also check the posts.
Woo Hoo! I’m psyched too. (and a poet)
Night everyone.
Nite nite Suzanne. Thanks for your help.
Enoch, are you still dabbling in Alchemy?
sleep well, dmoore and hopefully you don’t need the dental meds much longer
you are very welcome – twas my pleasure
Have a nice dental med sleep, Deborah.
TexB,
You’re the one who’s going to be missed.
Remember, when you absolutely can’t stand it another minute, say to yourself, “Go ye and do next thing.”
Maybe I’ve made it into something it’s not, but it makes me calm as anything.
I probably won’t even need them tomorrow. T’was a crown and lot of drilling. I’ll stash the rest in cast I get a migraine or stress headache. Doesn’t happen very often though. But I do appreciate your thoughful concern.
Am reading former President Al Gore’s new book, The Assault on Reason and allow me to share this from his last paragraphe on page 212:
“This is a moral moment. This is not ultimately about any scientific debate or political dialogue. Ultimely, it is about who we are as human beings and whether or not we have the capacity to transcend our own limitations and rise to this new occasion. It is about whether or not we can see with our hearts, as well as our heads, the unprecedented response that is now called for; whether or not we can—in Lincoln’s phrase – disenthrall ourselves, shed the illusions that have been our accomplices in ignoring the warnings that have been clearly given, and to hear clearly the ones that are being given now.”
ReElect President Al Gore in 2008. Accept no substitute. We can do this – we did before iirc.
newspaperbrat @ 118
I went to my local, red state Barnes & Noble today to see if they had Gore’s book. They had a display for it up front, but it was sold out. They had 42 copies on order. I reserved one. Go Al!
I wonder if Gore will jump in. He wanted it before, why wouldn’t he now? Is he fed up with all the fuckery of elections?
neurophius @ 119
Mine showed up in the mail today. Look forward to reading it next week.
Loo Hoo. @ 120
Elections sure have morphed into something akin to hell for the candidates. Sure is not what was imagined by our founding fathers.
I know I cant write but have always been a voracious reader. Where in the heck does any FDL addict find the time to get through a book?
newspaperbrat- If still here, do you like the book overall?
hey ES – you missed one heck of a spitball fight downstairs.
lol Suz, I was under the couch..)
Hey, pups!
I called Yetto today. It was 11pm in Lyon and she was a bit tipsy, having had a few libations upon the occasion of her 27th birthday. However, she was not so far gone as to neglect to express her happiness at her b-day present – a brand-new Macbook with padded carrying case! The crew at La Fourmi gave it to her earlier in the evening… she said they were acting like children.
We spent about 20 minutes telling each other “I Love You!” and wishing we were together… I can still taste the tears…
I made up my mind years ago, that I would consider my life complete if I, by will and act, were able to convince her that, indeed, there are some men on the planet that she can trust.
So far, so good…
LaFourmiRouge @ 126
Oh, that’s so sweet. I trust my brothers and my dad, so I know there are wonderful men out there. Right, Suzanne?!
That’s what I hear, LooHoo – but then I hear a lot of urban myths
Any Swedes on tonight?
Who is Yetto?
hey newtonusr :)
LooHoo – I should not have made a joke – yes, there are good, decent, wonderful men out there. It just has been my misfortune (and poor judgement) to marry two who were not.
Suzanne @ 109
Hiya, Suzanne!
Just back from being trained to test the water quality on our lake as a volunteer for the borough. What’s this about that mayor from NYC – is it Bloombergen or Bloomfeld or something like that – being a national contender? Nobody west of Binghampton even knows who he is.
I showed that video of Josh Marshall explaining very slowly the import of Veco’s involvement in remodeling St. Ted’s house to the communication director of the Alaska Democratic Party yesterday morning, along with how much other stuff has come up on Stevens outside of Alaska. Then I compared it to the very, very little in-depth coverage our state media is giving the guy. Pathetic, our Alaska press is. I’ve predicted for a long time that in the end, when the lower 48 press does a better job of investigating Alaska corruption than does ours, Alaskans will turn away from our press – as should happen.
I know exactly what you mean, Suzanneeeeee!
Loo Hoo. @ 120
I am certain he is completely fed up with all the fuckery of the current lawless administration from top to bottom. My take is it is up to We the People to make it clear to the honorable gentleman from Tennessee we will have his back through thick and thin, here, there and everywhere throughout our beleagured nation.
Among his other noble qualities Al Gore is a great patriot and IMHO the most qualified and experienced American presidential candidate in our postModern American epoch.
I regret that I am not articulate enough to succinctly argue the moral choice his candidacy presents yet I am certain he has more moral fiber and intellect and love of country to lead us out of the gloom and doom beyond the wildest dreams of the current crop.
Just imagine the cabinet he would choose – the relief worldwide among our allies and former allies and most especially the peoples of the world.
Well I’m prattling on too long and thanks firepups for indulging this ole brat’s fondest hopes.
Suzanne @ 131
Hi Suzanne. Gotta read most of the whole day – missed it all. I also missed the spitball fight – worth peeking back for it? I’ll be up for a while, digitizing the hearing from yesterday, so…
And for teh record, we men all have the “dawg” gene, but in some of us, it’s not turned on; the others, well…
prattle on, npb -I share those sentiments:
Gore: “I Would Love to be President”
Hey ET, hoped you would show up before I headed off to bed. Bloomberg showed some common sense in dealing with the latest “terror case” and the rethuglicrooks were agasp.
Perhaps the Stevens et al case(s) will wake up your press up there. Once again, it was not corporate media – it was the DFH bloggers pursuing a corruption story.
newtonusr, i think it is worth going back and looking at the spitball fight. TRex broke his fast (again) and showed up in the middle of it.
npb, i also like the way you prattle
Suzanne @ 138
That boy needs a boyfriend now!
How many floors down, please?
Lord,lord, did you see that Tim Griffin is officially joining Fred Thompson’s campaign, right along with Toesucker?
http://thinkprogress.org/
Suzanne @ 139
beat me to it…
newtonusr, just one floor down – PW’s tidbits
Eureka Springs @ 123
I like it so much that I broke my own rule and am using not one, not two, but three different colored markers highlighting portions to indulge my fantasy that I might find the courage to suggest certain passages that define great original nuggets for campaign speeches and, dare I say it, a convention acceptance speech. ;~)
Suzanne @ 143
tnx
Loo Hoo. @ 141
They’re signing up for the only campaign with free pole dances after the strategy sessions.
punaise @ 136
I especially like the part about “Get him to Yearly Kos.” Blockbuster!!
Ha! – Re: Yetto… it has been a long, hard road with my little one… she was taken from her family at age seven after ungodly molestation and abuse, raised in foster care and “La Salle de Jeune Filles” in Lyon, and lived on the streets for several years. Now she has managed to establish a small residence and she found me! So life is much better, now…
The legacy of child abuse is so horrible – the stuff of nightmares… her anger becomes a tornado of fury at times – she’s intelligent enough to know she has been dealt a wicked hand, and I like to think I am some cosmic compensation.
TexB @ 7
[panting] I just ran up from downstairs, only to find there are already more than 100 comments here! The Bush administration is losing, not only in Iraq, but possibly in Afghanistan, and Bush is losing to Al Qaeda (they’re bigger and stronger than ever), and losing right here in America (trashing our Constitution to “make us safe”). Bush is a loser.
I’ve been popping in and out, all evening, slipping over to DKos to read the important piece on Malek, which I nominate for the best tidbit of the night (so far), as well as writing to my Congress critter about it. And getting handouts ready for our Progressive Democrats of Hawaii meeting tomorrow evening, and chasing down noteworthy tidbits like Official: Cheney Urged Wiretaps. So I know that by the time I finish reading the comments, most of you will be sawing logs in slumber land.
So this is kind of a driveby to wave hello to my Firepup friends (Hi, Betsy!) who haven’t already signed off for the evening, before resuming my reading of the comments and getting ready to make lunch for tomorrow.
Life is full! Too full to live in fear!
In fear we lose; in hope, we win. FDL gives me hope.
Aloha,
Bob in HI
And bob dude is right about fear.. Also, Fear leads to the dark side, according to my heroes.
soyinkafan @ 27
Are you trying to tell me that Frank Herbert didn’t inspire a whole new religion?
No more spice for you, kid. *g*
Bob in HI
Where there are no sandworms
Suzanne @ 38
You’ve got a good point there. In fact, I’ll bet you’re right. The Cheney wire tap story is the second best tidbit of the day, right after the DKos essay about the Malek Manual.
Bob in HI
Thanks, Bob.
Bob Schacht @ 149
Words to live by.
While I was at water quality testing training this evening, an AC-130 flew over at less than 1,000 feet. None are stationed regularly in Alaska. One guy who recognized it as a very lethal gunship, asked “what’s that doing here? I hope WE’RE not being attacked now!”
I replied “Nah. Wargames up at Ft. Greeley.”
Given the extended 15 month tours of the Army in Iraq I wonder if anyone has any information where the new R&R facilities are in the region to satisfy the almost year an a half these guys (and gals)…or are they expected to remain abstinent?
I wonder if any of the current batch in the WH or Pentagon would display a similar “sacrifice”…or even thought a second aout the “social needs” of those in the service when separated from wives/husbands and boy/girlfriends for such long periods?
Bob,
Good luck at your meeting tomorrow night, and give the progressive big love! Thanks so much for your great links. I agreed, the Dkos news was hot tonight. Now, to read yours…
Just let the pooches out for a late late nite wee wee and turned on repeat of Hardball and a guest was extolling the virtues of Al Gore that make mine pale – and, he stated with conviction that should Gore jump in he would be the candidate to beat – and he would win not just the Nobel prize but the election, hands down.
Stop my pounding heart – pooches in but am gonna stay tuned to Chris Matthews in the hope I can source his guest’s name for ya all….
Nate @ 43
That’s a great opening quote! I’ve read about 4? of the Herbert Dune series. Loved ‘em, but the early ones are better than the late ones. The attempts to make a movie (2 of them?) were pretty awful.
Bob in HI
Egad, ET, that guy saw a military plane flying low and his first thought was to hope that we were not being attacked.
Geez, it does show just how deeply entrenched the fear mindset has its dark roots into the national psyche.
Suzanne @ 159
We see military aircraft all the time. Not that low very often, though. Plus no AC-130s are based here and they’re really obviously scary with all sorts of cannons drooping out the sides like some kind of pirate frigate in the sky. You’re right about the deep-seatedness of the fear, though.
cinnamonape @ 155
Great point! You separate 18-42 year olds for 15 months and expect them to be asexual? Didn’t they ever hear “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBeBQJHhIj4
My little puppers just went into heat, and ain’t nothing she can do about wanting some!
Found the name from Wednesday’s Hardball.
Donny Deutsch from CNBC on with Matthews yesterday said of Gore: “Unbeatable candidate” (for president)- “next president of the United States” – “Al Gore Has It All” and more. Entire video clip available on MSNBC Hardball site.
Sleep well all you remarkable firepups – as ever another memorable & meaningful late late nite gathered around da lake. A lovely link with sanity here in Dirty Harry Ville.
heh heh…….
g’nite npb. time for me to head off to bed also – the # of typo’s (not to mention the obvious lack of capitalization) tells me to leave before my fingers really fork up.
g’nite all
newspaperbrat @ 162
Funny you should mention that. As I came back from lunch with my new copy of Gore’s book, I opened my door and that segment was on. Printed across the screen was this: WHO LOOKS LIKE A PRESIDENT?
Exactly what Gore is talking about, no?
I remember reading Dune at about 12 or 14 for the first time. The Litany Against Fear stuck in my mind. To the point where i wrote it down and started using it to help asuage my stage fright and my sheer nerves of socializing in general at that age. My confidence had been destroyed by idiots and the usual pre-teen harassment in junior high. That litany did wonders in helping me get past those issues. That and my own stubborn will. I refuse to be beaten!
Definitely something the repuglicans need to learn. Fear does NOTHING, you can’t grow if you let it rule you. Now i’m one of those people that can handle a high pressure, high volume job without fear. I screw up, get up and start again. I thrive on that chaos. *evil grin* Makes me wonder what those bullies do nowadays, really. That’s all we’ve got right now. Bullies in the admin. I dont’ fear bullies anymore, i get annoyed with them and push back.
Is it NOT res ipso loquitur?
http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com…..html#links
Bob Schacht @ 151
I suspect Herbert was not really a fan of religion except as a means of social control
(I remember a line about “a mostly agnostic ruling class”) and wrote a novel, who’s title
I cant recall, about becoming a god..And was serious about Leto as the Great SAndworm being a God..
Good morning, pups. In the NYT today Timothy Egan says Arnold Schwartznegger should be at the Group of 8 meeting, and Nicholas Kristof is in Beijing, writing about repression there and here.
http://mgpaquin.wordpress.com/
Coffee and tea are ready, and the Thomas’ English muffins are just out of the toaster. Have a good day. When I get back from work I’m probably going to have to scrounge through the bookcases and find my copies of the Dune canon and re-read them. Thanks for the reminder, Phoenix Woman!
Mornin’ all!!
Good morning.
I’ve started my day with the news that N.Korea is launching missiles and Putin is still threatening to aim warheads at Europe. I said in 2004 that Bush would bring this country to its knees. I misunderestimated him. He’s bringing the whole world to the brink of disaster.
Good Morning from Trendy Blue Ridge GA Marion..
Did anyone notice the meiotic coverage the Washington post gave the Judiciary hearings?
No quotes from Leahy or any committe member, and it ended in a quote from a White house source who spoke under conditions of anonymity laying out an iffy legal justification of Scholzman’s crimes..
Report: 39 secretly imprisoned by U.S.
here’s something surely to get epu’d and I won’t be around to post it at the start of the next thread but it is what it is
“Prior to sending troops to Iraq, the Bush Administration promoted the terrorist nexus between Iraq and al-Qa’ida (and the attacks of 9/11) as a central part of its case to the American people that Iraq posed an imminent threat that only military action could extinguish, despite the Intelligence Community’s view that Iraq and al-Qa’ida viewed each other with suspicion and were not operationally linked,” said Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) in the report.
“What the Administration also kept from the American people were the sobering intelligence assessments it received at the time warning that the post-war transition could allow al-Qa’ida to establish the presence in Iraq and opportunity to strike at American it did not have prior to the invasion.”
The report reinforced Shinseki’s original contention — which further bolsters the image of a Bush White House that wanted to do the war their way regardless of expert opinion — that up to 400,000 troops might be required to “keep the peace” after the initial invasion due to a severely damaged national infrastructure and the ,b.virtual certainty of sectarian violence.,/b.
this is the president’s own report that tells us these things boys and girls the president’s own reports
there are plain too many things to highlight in this article and I don’t quite have the time but one thing is absolutely certain;
it is IMPOSSIBLE to read these reports and come to any comclusion BUT the president WANTED the results predicted by his own aids, generals, military advisors and inteligence
EVERY SINGLE report shows he was told IN NO UNCERCTAIN TERMS he will be facilitating the terrorists and the enemies against this country
somebody tell me they can POSSIBLY come to ANY conclusion that the preisident WANTED these results
you can read the entire document along with annotation here
catch all L8ter
if someone wants to repost this for me when it becomes more on topic upstairs, would appreciate it
Official: Cheney Urged Wiretaps
Stand-In for Ashcroft Alleges Interference
“Mr. Comey has confirmed what we suspected for a while — that White House hands guided Justice Department business,” said Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.). “The vice president’s fingerprints are all over the effort to strong-arm Justice on the NSA program, and the obvious next question is: Exactly what role did the president play?”…
“Honey I’m going to run over to Sears and pick up some more vacuum cleaner bags. Would you grab my bazooka for me?”
“Sorry dear Timmy took it to school. It’s ‘Stop Them in Their Tracks Day’ for all gr.5 classes nationwide.”
Shorter William Otis at WaPoo: OK, so what, Libby told a little fibby. But Fitz made him do it, he never broke the law until Fitz came around. Because Scootie is such an upstanding citizen, as all those nice letters from really important people prove, poor family man Irving shouldn’t do jail time.
Neither Prison Nor Pardon
Justice in the Libby Case Lies With Bush’s Third Option
Feel free to comment at the end of the article
Perris, if you’re still here, I tried your link but got a “404 not found” error. Can you tell us where you found this? I’d love to read it. Thanks.
Marion in Savannah @ 177
Marion, i think this is the link: Latest Intelligence Report Yet Another Smoking Gun on Bush
Thanks, twolf. I’ve got just the guy at the office whose nose I’m going to stuff that up… (Hey, we’re an ENT practice — one of the docs can extract it for him…)
Are we there yet?
Lurking Mod — oooh, did we do a relaunch with different layout of 3-column format??
mornin y’all. got all excited when my reminder popped up for another dose of Lurita Doan wth big Hank. alas, it’s been postponed until next wednesday. oh well. at least now I will have time to get some work done.
TiredFed — thanks for that, serves as a reminder that I need to check the calendar to see whether there have been any other changes to the House/Senate committee hearings. Trying to track the Judiciary and Oversight Committees – feel free to check this calendar for reference.
MR. Bill @ 171
Ah, not far from trendy East Ellijay!
Good morning! My screen looks different too. The comments are all the way on the left. Is that what you have Rayne?
Great post as usual PW. My fave quote from your prose: “Too many people are refusing to stop thinking and be stampeded into whatever stupid-ass con the Cons have come up with, and it’s really pissing them off.”
Keep it up! :) Kudos!
egregious @ 185
Yup, me too, all navigation now moved to the right…and there are a couple other programming tweaks, too, like changes to the Quote This Comment feature.
I don’t use WordPress, don’t know if this is in line with an upgrade in the software — but I suspect that there have been some needed changes for usability purposes.
edit: Oh, groovy, changes to the Edit This Comment feature, too, must be an upgrade as well as a change of drapes here in the living room.
This is probably getting EPU’d soon but there is a Horrid NYT Piece on Libby. While the piece proports to be about pardons, it totally whitewashes and Libby’s crimes and makes the standard rabid neo-con arguments about no-crime, Clinton-did-it-too, Armitage leaked it first, etc. and suggests the only reason Bush isn’t pardoning him is because he is afraid of the backlash from the Dems in congress. There is a little bit of talk about lack of contrition, etc but it is barely a mention. YUCK.
realworld @ 188
That bit in the NYT is really a PR piece, don’t you think? More like Comstock ghost-writing the reasons why Libby can’t be pardoned, or at least the ones they want to use as an explainer.
The real reason is that Libby is a firewall and if pardoned, would no longer be able to plead the Fifth Amendment on any questions that could incriminate him personally along with Dark Lord DeadEye.
edit: Ugh, I’m still reading that piece — here it quotes Kenneth Adelman, noting he is a Libby supporter, but I’m damned near positive I saw a letter from him in the letters to Walton asking for leniency. Why wasn’t that mentioned in the article? I hate to think it’s going to get worse…
hi good people,am back from a goodish stint in the bush(the real bush)and my,hasn’t the vibe changed for the better!yas children,jeer at the fear and the fearmongers.am off now to Dkos to check out the trolls and maybe do a little trollbaiting,if there are any around.
Cujo359 @ 6
Hi, Cujo! Yeah, they are. :-) Thanks!
g’mornin’, everyone!
Today’s WaPoo reports that CHENEY
And did the Poo put this on the front page? No, it was too busy covering vital items like prices for Nationals tickets, so it buried it on A3.
I’ll go get a link and be back.
S.O.S. from MA @ 186
Thanks, SOS! You’re so sweet!
Folksies, WordPress did an upgrade overnight. Not sure what all is involved, but make a note of any hinkiness and report it in the threads as the day goes along.
morning!
wow. looks like whoever was doing the spring cleaning got carried away and did some redecorating too.
very nice.
edit – ‘cuz i just got to try out the changes…
not sure, but looks like the entire comments thread is re-loaded when i submit my comment… if so, will that be a problem for folks on dial-up?
One thing I’ve already noticed: The Quote function only seems to grab the link to the post being “quoted” — none of the text is captured.
Phoenix Woman @ 195
Yup; I wonder if that’s now a set feature or if there’s other buttons that need to be selected. No skin off my nose if we weren’t able to quote text, makes for fewer margin busts from excessive ziggurating of quotes — or maybe this is the fix for margin busts.
Hmmm. Not sure if I like ALL the changes, Just have to absorb them for a bit and see. Mornin’ all…
Rayne @ 196
I thought they’d already fix’d that by doing the zig limit to three behind the scenes?
It’s going to make for a lot slower reading as people will have to keep scrolling back up thread to figure out what the comment is talking about. Like this one.
OH! It also doesn’t set off your entered comments with a different shade top now. That’s gonna be somewhat tough to find your own comments amongst everyone else if you’ve stayed on the thread or not done a hard refresh.
dakine01 @ 198
Just click on the link back to the comment; if you click on “dakine01 @ 198″ above, it takes you to the comment to which I’m responding. Bigger trick is getting back to where you were, but I think that’s simply pressing the back button…will check in a sec, as soon as I Submit Comment.
edit: yup, that works, just hit the Back button to revert to the comment you were reading after you’ve gone back upthread via active link.
switchover appears to have been after #167 as that’s the last with the embedded comment…
This gonna wind up EPU’d but Romney touching the third rail. From the Union-Leader in Manchester, he “praises” the private acocunts notion from Chimpenfuhrer’s SSA plan.
OK, I just submotted a comment with a link that seems to have disappeared
Phoenix Woman, thank you for making me laugh this morning. I loved Bloomberg’s response and it’s about damned time a high profile person said it – but the Mayor of New York, that makes it so much sweeter.
I too fear my government more than terrorists, much more. I never, ever thought I would say such a thing. I never though I would be saying things that sound so radical, like
New thread…
Christy has a new thread on No Pardon, No Commutation, No Nothing upstairs
woopsie, hit the button by accident! What I was going to say is that I never thought words like “fascism” would run through my head when thinking about my government, which I implicitly trusted for so many years. It is utterly tragic for all of us.
I remember, as a child, worrying about the bomb. So much so, that I would lay awake at night thinking about it. I wonder about these kids having the irrational fear of encountering terrorists around every corner being beaten into their brains every day.
My Dad finally put my fears to rest. I asked him about how we might be able to survive an attack. He said that wasn’t something one would want to do. You’d be better off to get hit and die instantly. You can’t do anything about it.
Well, I do hope I can do something about Iraq. I don’t quite have the fatalistic attitude that my Dad has: the only thing you can do to change things is vote. That’s his attitude. Needless to say, he’s not much of an activist. I guess he got burned after becoming involved with an attempt to unionize at his plant. He was blackballed by his company after that and, of course, the union movement was put down. Guess he just gave up. Plus, he was too busy working all hours, trying to provide for his family. Anyway, I’ll never forget that little bit of advice. My dad is an amazing man but it took me about 40 years to realize it cuz he was pretty tough growing up.
So I guess this person is saying Bush should give a flying f**k what the 29 percenters think. Even I don’t think he’s that stupid.
And what’s with the big rush to pardon? The man just got sentenced, for pete’s sake! If anything, the righties are the ones who have politicized this by climbing all over the body before it even has a chance to get cold.
oh dear, my quote from the NYT didn’t come through – I see from the comments that there are some problems
Frank Herbert. Dune! It’s funny I have that same mantra in my head. I guess I really am a Sci-Fi nerd.
I read Dune 23 years ago, and the litany against fear is the most memorable thing about the book. And yes, seeing as terror is the goal of terrorist attacks, it’s particularly galling to see domestic politicians themselves using fear for their selfish ends.
I remember the gom jabbar test the most and its lesson. But the Litany may be a close second.
MR. Bill @ 167
I just love finding other Herbert geeks. I guess it does qualify as a casual cult. Tho I couldn’t get past Dune Messiah. It just got so weird.
RickD @ 211
Yupper. After that, alas, it went downhill — slowly at first, but with increasing speed towards the end. The whole series is a nice example of the law of diminishing returns.
Uh-huh. But then again, Republicans are really good at creating a problem and then selling a bogus fix for it that makes the problem even worse.
albert fall @ 50
The more I see of Cheney’s involvement the more I think there’s a plan he hasn’t been privy to and he acts parallel to it, sometimes interfering with it and always as a fall-guy for Bushies.
I don’t like him, but he’s smart and tough and yet still allowing himself to be used by dear leader.
Consider this, with regard to his participation on 9/11:
Who took the call from Bush about shooting down airplanes?
Who said we’d shot one down in Pennsylvania and who has gotten all kinds of political benefit from the attacks?
It looked to me like Cheney was acting as a patriot trying to save America, despite the plan perhaps having been expected by Bush (no SS evacuation from Fla school). Was Cheney acting alone and messing up part of the plan? What building was the Penn airplane supposed to hit in Washington DC?
If Bush was in Florida, then that airplane could have been aimed at any building, including the Capitol or White House. Do any of us think it impossible the Bushies WOULDN’T do that if it served their purposes?
No, I don’t think Cheney is a nice guy, but I don’t automatically lump him in with the Bush regulars.
MarkH @ 215
WTF?