I’m having a bit of an Abba moment courtesy of TRex last night. It didn’t take much and the dogs and I were dancing around our empty living-room (which is in the process of being painted) to Dancing Queen this morning. I was going to try and justify this by trying to prove I had indie street cred to burn and buttress my opinion with the fandom of John Lennon and Pete Townsend, also big Abba fans, but realized it was all just hopeless rationalization. I admit it, Fernando makes me want to grab a carbine and a copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls and join the International Brigade. You know you’re in trouble when even your own dogs are looking at you like you’re a giant dork.
The other thing that has dominated my weekend is a conversation I keep having with people that we are in the midst of a constitutional crisis and that nobody in a position to do anything about it seems to be aware of it. The President has gone completely lawless and out of control, and the Democratic majority in the House and Senate can’t seem to get their act together. There is no branch of government with the power to check him, or at least no willingness to use the power that they have to do so. I realize that progressives seem to wake up and smell the collective coffee sooner than others (we were onto that crap war rather early), but what kind of recklessness is it going to take before they do anything? I truly do believe the only thing keeping us out of war with Iran is the fact that the military just won’t stand for it. It’s frightening when the guys whose business is war are the only things keeping the country out of another one.
From Abba to Dubya, the floor seems quite wide open for what’s been occupying your mind this weekend.
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Jane!
{{{{Jane}}}}
bada bing?
cha-ching!
Hi Jane!
HowDEE
LoudounLib @ 5
Hi LoudonLib.
I wanna know why the Tillman story doesn’t seem to have any legs.
BigMitch @ 6
Good quote from Moyers in the last thread, Big Mitch.
Hi Jane. Happy Saturday Night!
jayt @ 8
Somebody said the sports shows should pick it up. I agree, it needs to reach a broader audience.
Hi Jane!
JANE!
Today is Bastille Day and we seem to be stuck in a country that is full of people seemingly hell bent on recreating the conditions of France circa 1789 or Russia circa 1917.
This from tomorrow’s NYTimes reinforces things in an article with many folks justifying the New Age Robber Barons without a hint of irony.
Thing one: It is always people who have known war who try to avoid it. It is posers needing to look tough who start wars.
Thing two: From Bill Moyers journal last p.m.
John Nichols, author of “The Genius of Impeachment” and writer for Nation.
Not one, but TWO, ridiculous abuses of Exec privilege last week and all I hear is crickets.
(((Jane)))!!! Nice write up in the ‘Wall Street Journal’!!! 8-)
Jane @ Top:
Hmm. I’m not a *big* Abba fan, but there are a few songs by them that I like.
And I *always* justify it by referring Pete Townsend. So glad I’m not the only one that thinks that way.
Indie street cred and $4.25 will buy one an exquisitely frothy beverage…Leave the cred on the table when you leave.
;>)
OMG this song is just awful.
Don’t understand the Abba thing myself although I’m sure if my iTunes were gone through there would be a few items that would pose as head scratchers for other folks.
EPU’d for LS. Racist old cartoons.
LS @ 230
Loo Hoo. @ 229
Sorry for all the double triple comments, I don’t know what was wrong.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I thought you were mad at me.
No, and I wasn’t worried about you being racist. So many of the old cartoons are, though. Ever seen Disney’s Dumbo? Eeeek. When I see an Elephant Fly?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zGaqWiYPP8
BigMitch @ 14
John Nichols, author of “The Genius of Impeachment” and writer for Nation.
This is a key part of the problem, the idea that it provokes a constitutional crisis rather than resolving the constitutional crisis we’re in.
can we pleeasse impeach now
jayt @ 8
Me, too!
But more importantly, how can we of the blogosphere shape the landscape so that it does get noticed.
This story is perfect for making Joe Sixpack understand that the SOB’s in the White House are worthless pieces of shit. He J.6pack> will never understand or give a shit about firing U.S. Attorneys and caging. But a
bona fidereal life “Merican hero, who put country ahead of personal comfort or wealth, got shot by American troops, and the asswipe known as W doesn’t have the decency to say, “Woops!”darkblack @ 18
I’ve got indie street cred to burn. Like Stephen Malkmus says, on Pavement’s ‘Watery, Domestic EP’ — which you will note I bought when it was still *import only* in the early 90’s:
I’ve got style
Miles and miles
So much stule that’s it’s wasting…
(Ok, I admit it, I’m just a big dork too.)
.
Impeachment: It’s not just for blow jobs anymore.
The (political) things that consume my mind, unless voiced with the upmost care, would in all liklihood perhaps land me in jail.
At every venue, the Presidential candidates need to be asked if they will retain the massive imperial “unitary executive” powers that W. claims. They should be spelled out in gory detail, the intrusion into private communications, arrest or detention indefinitely without trial, the power to hide what is going on in the White House…
Make these claims a central issue of the election, right there with Iraq. Do we want an accountable executive or a king accountable to no one?
(Jane, hope you are well.See you at Yearly Kos?)
CTuttle @ 16
Thanks. Me & Newt. That was fun.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 26
Thank God, I have a family. I would never want to do anything that would bring shame on them.
Eureka Springs @ 19
I say Phooie to all those Abba haters out there! I happen to like them a lot! So, Jane, dance away!!! *g*
chun yang @ 27
I will be there.
CTuttle @ 16
Wonderful photo doesn’t hurt either!
Jane Hamsher @ 29
Yeah, you were runnin’ with a strange crowd there. Digby had some fun contrasting your wise words with Tom Wolfe’s whiny confusion…
Rock Steady Baby:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9yQtxAJB40
I am sick of this helpless feeling, with our side not fighting and the other side acting like this is some kind of game. I want to do something, something physical.
Words! Words! Words!
I’m so sick of words!
I get words all day through;
First from him, now from you!
Is that all you blighters can do?
Don’t talk of stars Burning above;
If you’re in love, Show me!
Tell me no dreams filled with desire. If you’re on fire, show me!
Eliza is speaking for me.
CTuttle @ 16
Well, the article sucked. Jane was the only redeeming quality, and she made it all worthwhile.
chun yang @ 27
At every venue, the Presidential candidates need to be asked if they will retain the massive imperial “unitary executive” powers that W. claims. They should be spelled out in gory detail, the intrusion into private communications, arrest or detention indefinitely without trial, the power to hide what is going on in the White House…
Make these claims a central issue of the election, right there with Iraq. Do we want an accountable executive or a king accountable to no one?
How do we get Olbermann to be the moderator of a Dem debate?
Seriously.
we are in the midst of a constitutional crisis and that nobody in a position to do anything about it seems to be aware of it. The President has gone completely lawless and out of control, and … There is no branch of government with the power to check him…
In the bloggy vernacular, we have gone from being held hostage in the bus while the madman at the wheel heads for the cliff, to full Thelma and Louise sailing off into the wild blue yonder.
I think we should figure out how to get Bruce Fein on 60 Minutes. While I have so infinitely more respect for John Nichols the fact that Fein wrote articles of impeachment against Clinton makes him so much more credible when he says Bush’s offense are so much more credible to those who haven’t thought about the issues.
From me to my party:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pyfP36_4fE
Well, the article sucked. Jane was the only redeeming quality, and she made it all worthwhile.
“What are these strange ‘blog’ things you speak of?”
BigMitch @ 25
Cafe Press?
JGabriel @ 24
Unlike the well-heeled sellout riffraff, shivering themselves to sleep in their palatially empty digs without the love of the common hipster to keep them warm.
O Lucky Man
;>)
Jane Hamsher @ 29
Is it a comparable ‘Odd Couple’ as Hillary and Newt??? ;-)
GLOUCESTER, Mass. (AP) – The federal government is melting thousands of pounds of unused ice left over from the flawed Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
It has cost $12.5 million to store for two years at a Massachusetts facility and 22 similar facilities nationwide. That’s added to the $900 a day truckers had been paid to transport the ice to the Gulf Coast and then to storage sites around the country.
Ok, so I have been waiting for the right thread to state a bunch of things, and I think this is it. I lurk here a tremendous amount, don’t often have much to add to the conversation, but am extremely grateful for the voices here who keep me sane while I really fear for the country. This week had me in a really insane funk as I think the administration has gone off the edge. My husband tried to back me off my own edge, telling me that he thinks at least public opinion is finally on the same side with our thinking (gosh, 70 per cent against the war, you’d think so). I decided to change my routine, stop working non-stop, and garden this afternoon (I know that is generally a topic for the morning bunch, but I am on the west coast and too many comments are in the thread by the time I join them). I am waiting for my husband’s movie to green light so I can send a chunk of change your way (college tuition gets first priority while were are in limbo). That said, I can at least say THANK YOU to this group for being so diligent. Maybe the tide is turning, but we certainly have to stay on top of the crap out there.
Aha: The direct translation of Take on Me, means “touch me”..JFYI..in case anyone ever wondered what the heck they were saying:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mp;search=
Everytime the W and cheney do something like shoot an old man in the face or flip congress the finger (aka signing statements) or direct Harriet Meiers not to appear in Congress, or fuck-up massively Hurrican Katrina or pardon (half-assidly) Scooter Libby, or essentially ignore the will of the American people re Iraq, I say to myself, “this must be the tipping point.”
But it never is. And I never learn.
If the Tillman/abuse of the “We stepped on our dick, so we aren’t telling” privilege gets any ink –ANY INK AT ALL — then this must be the tipping point.
But, as they say in the chat rooms, WTFDIK.
… “the floor seems quite wide open for what’s been occupying your mind this weekend.”
Madre de dios (smacking forehead) I forgot about the guests … adios amigos/amigas !!!
jayt @ 37
How do we get Olbermann to be the moderator of a Dem debate?
Seriously.
Settle for David Shuster.
belle1 @ 46
Welcome and thanks for de-lurking.
Safety in numbers?
;)
A truly awful video, but Bruce speaks for me.
“kick at the darkness ’til it bleeds daylight.”
BigMitch @ 50
beggin’ your pardon, but I don’t think going to Shuster is “settling”
belle1 @ 46
I resemble that.
Compartmentalization helps a lot. So go garden (I listen to books on tape while I engage in such activities). And hope there are enuf of us to make a difference.
Loo Hoo. @ 42
Original with me, but you are welcome to it.
Ah, Dancing Queen. Memories of an 8th grade dance, a great age for Abba appreciation. Thanks for the memory-stroll, Jane!
Thanks, too, to you & the pups for helping me feel not so alone in this. Moyers helped, as well. If we can only get everyone else to pay attention to him, Nichols and, above all, that crazy lib BRUCE FEIN, for cryin’ out loud!
Finally — and I’ve been away so I apologize if this has already made the rounds here — courtesy of Campaign for America’s Future by way of TPM, apparently, SIRIUS satellite radio has 2 political talk channels, for libs & conservatives, respectively: SIRIUS Liberal and SIRIUS Patriot. So we’re not patriots?!?Arrrgh!
Go here for more, plus contact info to speak up.
jayt @ 41
Vile, disgusting swamp creatures. Pay them no mind.
masaccio @ 35
Words are all we have left, the days of mass and constant protests seems to have given way to howls of protest in cyber space. They remedy to this lay in other hands take do not seem to be moved by words, and I must admit a certain fear of my own government should I protest, with the way in which the new laws are enforced. I mean if you can’t have certain bumper stickers on your car, or words on a t-shirt, its hard to get people out for a small bit of civil disobedience (in a peaceful way). So I leave it out there inspire me that there is more than talk we/I can do.
The Swedes have partially redeemed themselves for giving us ABBA with The Hives, and more recently Ok Go. Check ‘em out!!!
ccmask @ 45
Melting them using fossil fuels, no doubt.
Sigh. Yeah, they trucked a bunch of that ice back up here to Maine. And we still had a crappy hockey season.
re ABBA … This was fun. The video at the top was playing, but froze about 45 seconds in. I clicked the pic again and YouTube itself came up on a new page and BOTH pages started up together.
It was a round (”Row, row, row your boat”-style) and sounded wonderful, too. Dubbel-ABBA, and precisely on the beat.
Reminds me of a time out in the country when we put on an ABBA album and one of the songs — I swear I’m not making this up — was sung by baritone voices and never happened again, no matter how many times we put it on.
Elliott @ 22
EPU’d..John Dean’s latest at FindLaw puts in writing what I have been thinking for the past several weeks. That is, that the WH now knows that the Federal Courts up to and including SCOTUS will back them. Bush is going to push the House and Senate until he gets his court case. Meirs was the latest attempt. Dean thinks the House should force the issue using Inherent Contempt. My read of what he says is that SCOTUS will uphold the Congressional right to do this. He bases this on Scalia’s Opinion in Young v. US. I think times have changes and Nino has gone totally insane. I Inherent Contempt comes before SCOTUS again, the House looses 5-4. To me, the most ominous event in the past two years was Justice Kennedy’s vote in the Brown reversal. John Dean is counting on precedent to carry the day before SCOTUS; well precedent is so pre 9/11.
sorry.. forgot the link http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20070713.html
ccmask @ 45
I think it would only be appropriate if they design and build some really gas guzzling heater machines to melt it. Surely there’s a company in need of a government handout.
There are two kinds of people in the world:
– those who love ABBA,
– and those who won’t admit to loving ABBA.
;-)
Sorry… I just meant to say: “Impeachment — It’s the RIGHT thing to do!”
GordonM @ 60
I thought ya’ll made it to the ‘Frozen Four’???
Thanks all for the welcome….one of the best things about this site is the good manners, and grace (even Trex actually).
Singing, dancing, drinking and playing. Good ideas.
BTW — Nichols and Fein were not stingy in their criticism of the press.
Wow — same wave length — I haven’t been able to get Winner Takes It All out of my head since Late Nite– it usually takes me a day or too to get over that — and it’s been crashing into the Bush crisis all day long, like we’re very close to getting it all back or losing it all, and we don’t know which.
Bush has this history — when he gets caught, instead of backing off, he throws down another gauntlet — daring people to do something about it, and each time they don’t he moves further and further into lawlessness and arrogance.
There are only a handful of people who are thinking out loud about how to game this out — and that makes me nervous, because we need to be talking about this openly. Our President is psychotic and dangerous, and the men around him are unscrupulous. The media seem oblivious.
I read Booman’s scenario, and I’m not sure he’s right — I think the grownups need to step up and explain to the public what we’re facing and what needs to happen. We need to talk it through, openly. I just don’t trust that someone out there has got it sorted out and it will all be taken care of behind the scenes. If we want to keep our republic, our democracy, we have to behave as citizens. What would patriots do?
I don’t read Tom Wolfe anymore, so I guess we’re even.
okay, since Jane brought up Pete Townsend, how did The Who keep the song “Who Are You” on the airwaves for years when it contains the lyric “Who the fuck are you” ?
please don’t tell me I’m the only one who ever heard it that way…..
Robert Fisk has an article in today’s Independent which discusses an article T E Lawrence (better known as Lawrence of Arabia) wrote on guerrilla warfare for the Encyclopedia Britannica in 1929. The piece, in which only teasers from Lawrence’s article appear, is well worth reading.
http://news.independent.co.uk/…..768261.ece
Here’s a link to Lawrence’s article, a must read:
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~eshaw/lawrence.htm
Some things never change.
sojourner @ 62
so can we pleeasse impeach now?
Quick drive by.
We’re in PA. Signed papers on house offer today. Will settle on August 9 but we have a house to move to and it is in Sestak’s district. Room for guests. Come on over . . . . after we move in, of course.
That’s what’s on my mind right now. We drive back to MA in the morning.
What does it take to melt ice? And why keep it around for 2 years. I am definitely missing something. Can’t they just dump the ice in the ocean?
And wouldn’t you know, they’re showing V on cable. Love this movie.
Scarecrow @ 70
I don’t know who should be more frightened by this, but I have a feeling it’s you.
jayt @ 74
I think they had a “PG” version that says “Who the hell are you”
I’m not sure demonstrations are the answer, but at least we would be doing something. Even the main stream media noticed the Immigration marches.
RevDeb @ 75
Mazel Tov!
Scarecrow @ 77
V for Vendetta? That’s what’s playing on my idiot box right now…
Scarecrow @ 70
My son used to do that, too, when he was about 3. Now that he’s a big 6-year-old, he’s kinda outgrown it.
Good thing SCOTUS appointed a guy who never did.
Ugh.
(Hi, Scarecrow! Enjoying your recent stuff a lot, even if I’ve been a bit quiet.)
belle1 @ 46
Welcome to Belle from another Left Coastie and ‘evenin’ all,
I hope your hubby’s movie is perhaps an expose that Bush is not God?
RevDeb @ 75
yay!
Thanks, Jane, I for one am late to the party because I played the song twice….
As for dancing with dogs, it’s the best. My old boxer always used to bark and jump excitedly if I was up and singing, she knew it was a good thing and loved it.
My old roommate’s dog used to go bonkers when I’d sing to Faith No More (dating myself). I’d be yelling and getting into it and this huge Akita would spin in circles and jump around and eventually literally tackle me down to the ground. It was pretty funny.
We are Citizens Not Subjects!
cafepress
any profits go to FDL.
Speaking (briefly) of cafepress, and the “blow job” reference….I was inspired to design a shirt recently myself to wear here in Texas in honor (or dishonor, rather) of my old “dumber than a post” friend George. Here’s to him!
http://www.cafepress.com/lauriekay16
In Intelligence World, A Mute Watchdog
Panel Reported No Violations for Five Years
By John Solomon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 15, 2007; Page A03
An independent oversight board created to identify intelligence abuses after the CIA scandals of the 1970s did not send any reports to the attorney general of legal violations during the first 5 1/2 years of the Bush administration’s counterterrorism effort, the Justice Department has told Congress.
The President’s Intelligence Oversight Board — the principal civilian watchdog of the intelligence community — is obligated under a 26-year-old executive order to tell the attorney general and the president about any intelligence activities it believes “may be unlawful.” The board was vacant for the first two years of the Bush administration.
The FBI sent copies of its violation reports directly to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales. But the board’s mandate was to provide independent oversight, so the absence of such communications has prompted critics to question whether the board was doing its job.
snip
more at the link
masaccio @ 80
shake awake your neighbor
Maine hockey:
CTuttle @ 67
Yeah, but only the first round. Got knocked out of the regionals at the quarters. Sigh. And our hero, Paul Kariya, switched to Nashville, so he only made it to the first round, too. Between no Kariya and losing the “Mighty”, I had little interest in the NHL finals.
dakine01 @ 79
If anyone can decipher exactly what the lyrics to this are, you may be a “Winner”…of something:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FhwTZPSe0c
Now this I like! Where do I get the bumper sticker?
BigMitch @ 25
Scarecrow @ 77
I assume you’re referring to V for Vendetta?
I liked the comic a lot more. But they managed to keep some of the good stuff in the film, so I enjoy it for that.
Jane, did you read much of Alan Moore’s stuff when you produced From Hell?
masaccio @ 80
Thinking back to the ’60s, there were demonstratons, but there were also teach-ins. There were moratoria. There were petition drives. There were boycotts. And just as there is more technology today, there are more imaginative people who can help to shape public opinion. The thing I worry about is that we are only preaching to the choir. And, as I said before, I think Tillman/executive privilege story can cut through that.
Are we stuck???
speaking of constitutional crisis… guanatanamo is still going strong…
ccmask @ 88
Boy, Stenographer Solomon is getting some interesting stories fed to him these days.
The honest and disgruntled Fed employees are probably the best bulwark against the treasonous acts of the Chimpenfuhrer we have.
What’s on my mind?
I think we are in the middle of a bloodless coup of democracy by the insane Bushies who think they speak for God.
I think democracy is too messy for black and white thinkers. If God is on our side then why did He tolerate a two party system for so long. Are these the birth pangs of a “new democracy” for us? Abortion for rape victims is still a viable thing.
I think Bush should open an divinity school for others like him who know God is a powerful debate opponent. He always wins the argument.
I’m reading tragic legacy and it’s like watching open heart surgery on our government. It’s important, we have the tools and surgeons, I don’t know if I can watch and the outcome is uncertain.
I think we cannot simply wait until the next election. We must impeach to teach our children well.
belle1 @ 68
What do you mean EVEN TRex? He is a perfect southern gentleman.
How do I get my Facebook profile icon next to my name?
do-si-do
Nope, husband is mainstream movie maker. Can make you crazy if you are in the business (Jane gets this) but he likes and it plays to the best of his creativity. I on the other hand, am an academic….that has it’s own joys and sorrows.
One good thing about our reality is that we don’t live in LA (I do spend time there and love the museums…I just don’t like it all the time). We live in northern CA…but that means he is there and I am here with the kids. We have a VERY progressive representative (hubby wrote her passionate letters this week) and at least she represents our views.
I am from the mid-west though, and the folks back there seem just as angry as I am. That is a tide turning moment for me.
The latest iteration of my current obsession (Congress’s unused war powers):
Here are the stated objectives of the 2002 Iraq War Resolution (AUMF Public Law 107-243, which was based on the 1973 War Powers Resolution) as passed by Congress:
Still in effect? Still valid? Still covering ongoing operations in Iraq? Who knows.
Here’s Section 1544(c) of Title 50, Chapter 33 (the 1973 War Powers Resolution which distilled inherent Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 Constitutional war powers of the Legislative Branch into a legislative act):
And note Section 1547(d) of Chapter 33:
Why is Congress pretending it takes a signature from President Bush to end our involvement in Iraq??? They can write a few “Whereas” clauses explaining that their 2002 AUMF is now null and void because thoroughly accomplished, and therefore irrelevant and moot, and by concurrent resolution (no presidential signature required) “Therefore resolve” to vote to direct the Commander in Chief to bring our Armed Forces out of Iraq at a time chosen by the Legislative Branch. All without ever mentioning (unless they so choose) their inherent Constitutional Clause 11 powers to unilaterally ‘undeclare war,’ to which they all seem to be allergic.
Http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..v=hcmodule
Lahoma. I will be gone long before you get here tonight. I will be back before the sun wakes the birds. I know you are looking for me here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pyfP36_4fE
ccmask @ 88
In any other time this would be a huge scandal, but the standards are now so low. The AG lied to congress, and said there were no civil rights violations, when the FBI told him otherwise. Business as usual for these crooked dicks.
BigMitch @ 94
Have you raised hell with the Ancorage paper on their lack of coverage of Tillman and the other stories? Like Toobz Ted and Don Young and his Florida earmarks for campaign contributors? Every little bit helps.
OT..from Howie Klein..worth reading
THIS WEEK’S PASTORAL HOMILY– AND A DAY EARLY!
http://downwithtyranny.blogspo…..d-day.html
SouthernDragon @ 101
To the right of post #15, sign into Meta.
My guilty pleasure:
Keep on Dancing
The DJ finally refused to take my requests for this song, when I was 12.
It was great to burn off energy after school. ;)
I remember in the late 60’s and early 70’s the underground papers were full of descriptions America as a totalitarian nations.And I thought it can’t happen here we would not stand for it. The I lived through Nixon, I thought this will never happen again in my lifetime, with a strong press and a Senate and Congress will to do it’s job no one will ever get away with this. Now most of the dystopian fiction of the last 30 years has come to pass in some form or another. Now more than ever I need ABBA, and strong drink.
Scarecrow @ 70
LS? Got your YouTube handy?
I’m thinking this must be the main focus at YearlyKos. What does it matter who’s elected if we’ve lost our Constitution?
Barbara Starr on CNN pushing the Iranian “involvement in Iraq” meme. I for one feel a bit overwhelmed these days because it’s clear the Rovian PR machine works 24/7/365. It’s impossible to get away from it.
Also, Rove and his minions would never make the Friday night/Tillman mistake that Waxman made. It appears as if the Rethugs are working from a plan and just never stop no matter what roadblocks they unexpectedly encounter.
Am certain they didn’t expect the Vitter mess but it hasn’t slowed them down. They just don’t acknowledge it and plow right ahead.
As long as bellies are full, the torches and pitchforks will stay in the shed. As long as the torches and pitchforks are in the shed, the occupants of the castle really have no reason to change.
belle1 @ 101
Belle1, 101,
Thank you for posting! Go or it!
I have to admit. Last night when I was writing my “When Peggy Cries” post and I put up that Abba song to be clever and ironic, but about halfway through the song, I thought, “Man, this is a good song!”
I even started to get a little choked up.
Loo Hoo.
Well TREX does stomp around now and then and tear up the place on occasion. Given his gene structure this is highly appropriate. ;-)
Certainly his southern roots require gentlemanly behavior. I get this with a southern dad. Still say yes sir on occasion without thinking.
belle1 @ 101
Belle1, 101,
Thank you for posting! Go or it!LS @ 114
Go “for” it. :>
RevDeb @ 75
Such HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS, RevDeb!!!
Welcome to the lake belle 1, Great post last night Trex. Had lots of fun, as usual.
Jane (nyc) @ 112
65 million Americans believe that the “Left Behind” series of books is “reality”.
Jane Hamsher @ 28
And as funny as him trying to hit up on my dear friend who’s been a waitress far too long. Laughed out of the diner after demanding a photo op.
BigMitch @ 96
Well we are preaching to the choir, but more people log in every day to see what ‘the other side’ says. The choir is growing as long as we keep singing beautifully.
Here is a potential state by state project:
Since the Dems can’t find their _________s, I seem to remember that the constitution allows the states to start pulling strings. Yes, this was easier when the senate was there to oversee the states’ interests, and therefore that was how impeachment was to begin: the Governor or legislatures were to begin the processes and tell the senators how to act.
Well, “we the people” can start the project. Lets start a movement (on Bastille day – the day of citizen uprising) wherein we draft 50 DC PR articles of impeachment and get our states to approve it. If these were presented to all 50 governors and all the legislators from every state, it would be real news.
This is how the 1776 revolution began. Paul Revere was a Pachutec, running the gauntlet. firedoglake.com is as good a vehicle as any. We say we want it to change, well lets do it. Anyone interested? Jane can be our General Washington, and Christy our Patrick Henry. This is how it starts folks. It is called citizen democracy for a reason.
ccmask @ 88
Lovely, just lovely:
Big Mitch @ 94
I remember the other stuff from the Viet Nam era, teach-ins and other things, but those were limited to the universities, and were driven by students as well as faculty. That isn’t going to happen this time. Student interest was driven by the draft, and the fear of being forced into the war. That’s off the table. People knew people who were in the service, and their friends children were wounded and dying. That’s not happening.
And just like last time, our side was cowardly in the confrontation with the Republicans over the war. It took years to stop the war, and it took Watergate to weaken the president to the point that he could not go forward. That’s not going to happen this time.
I am one of the grown-ups this time, I call and talk from a position of authority and some small status, and nothing changes this time either. I just want something to change.
TRex @ 115
I would have preferred “Lay All Your Love On Me” — takes less time to recover.
Oooh, belle, your husband’s in the movie business? You know I’ve never been able to break back into the industry since my role in “Jurassic Park”. I don’t know what happened. All the offers dried up overnight. Maybe it was the scene where I ate the lawyer. You know how those things go. Divine does something like that at the end of “Pink Flamingos” and it makes her a cult icon. I eat ONE LOUSY LAWYER and it ruins my career.
Sigh.
So, EJ Dionne, Jr, Op-Ed Columnist for the WAPO, is rooting for Vitter (R-Diaper Derby) to survive:
snip
But a big part of me is rooting for Vitter to survive because I so want to return to a time when we — that “we” includes the media — chose to pay little attention to the extracurricular sexual activities of our politicians. The magnitude of our public problems does not afford us the luxury of indulging in crusades about politicians’ private lives, even those involving a high degree of hypocrisy.
PS: A lot of comments at the EJ Dionne link above, as you can imagine.
dead last @ 122
I’ll help….My friends already call me Israel Bissell
TRex @ 126
LOL!!!
TeddySanFran @ 123
They’re having so much trouble filling vacancies, you can’t have anyone important conveying bad news.
BigMitch @ 94
Not being a political scientist, I can only look at what I have seen in my lifetime. I graduated from high school during the time of the Viet Nam war protests.
For those of you my age (plus/minus) remember how that felt? It was a feeling of empowerment that no signing of an online petition can compare to. It is time to get back to the streets. With music. With passion. With brethren.
The media, such as it is, will not ignore a huge grassroots march. It wasn’t ignored in the sixties, and it wasn’t ignored in 2006 with the Immigration marches.
Imagine our best leaders (JANE?) planning what our Constitutional Founders envisioned. People telling our elected officials what they must do.
Don’t know about Dionne but what about DeMint with his “it could be any of us” comment when asked about his good buddy Vitter?
Tampa Bay 4 — Yankees 6 Final
THUUUUUUHHHHH Yankees WIN!!!
:-)
Just one day after the Iraqi government received failing marks in President Bush’s surge interim progress report, Americans learned that the Iraqi parliament is proceeding with its plans to take off the month of August. But while the American people may be up in arms, President Bush’s amen corner is predictably silent. After all, given Bush’s own record-setting penchant for vacationing during crises here at home, Republicans are understandably reticent to criticize the absentee government in Baghdad.
For the details, see:
“Republicans Quiet on Iraqi – and Bush – Vacations.”
belle1
Tell LA to stop taking all our water! ;) I was only jesting about the God movie, sorta.
I was heartened by a youtube video (sorry no linky) to midwesterners who picketed Mitch McConnell’s house on the fourth of july. They’re regular Americans like you and me, not easily dismissed as radical dirty hippies.
Anyway, the reason Bush is so “calm” is because he is right and everybody else is wrong. God told him so. So he hums “this little light of mine…”
Like belle1 I’m a perpetual lurker — sustained by the firepups over these past years. My twin brother is ‘righter’ than the bushites…and that has been quite a trial since he’s also my boss. I just don’t know where the outrage is. I sent notes to Feinstein and Boxer this week that their yea votes on the run up to War on Iran means they will never (not ever!) get another vote from me. There are so many issues….isn’t it time, finally, to take to the streets?
—D8
Ok Trex,
Reality is my hubby worked with you on Jurassic Park…he makes you do scary things. Part of the job.
Don’t worry. You’ll get another chance. These things go in cycles.
I would have been happier with Fein on Moyers if he hadn’t used the GOP line about Clinton committing perjury. I expect lawyers to know better.
I got wound up and wrote Boxer a long (and passionate) letter last night (and saved it to the sent folder). May need to write a few more, but my city councilperson’s pamphlet of Useful Information had e-mail addies for her and DiFi, so I didn’t need to go throught the web form.
You know you’ve hit tyour tipping point when you start thinking about what changes need to be made to the Constitution to prevent this kind of crap … not that it won’t happen, but I want to slow it down. I’d add an Article with miscellaneous definitions and stuff, just to put in the things that the ’strict constructionists’ claim aren’t there because they aren’t called out explicitly.
Today’s guilty pleasure: a ripe peach, cut into peices and decorated with a teaspoon of sugar and some nutmeg and cloves. And playing Minesweeper.
TRex @ 127
He was a corporate lawyer. Stick to the tort guys.
Lou Costello @ 130
That We Do!
TRex @ 131
you know, Brian Lamb abruptly got married after a life-time of bachelorness. I’m know I’m implyin’ but I’m just sayin’
masaccio @ 125
I agree with you both, yet as I a real nobody I have the ear of no one who matters (I mean I live in Matt Blunts state where they are thinking about trying a 12 year old as an adult) but yet I have hope and maybe hope with what little I can do will be enough to encourage those who are far higher up the food chain to continue the work.
TRex @ 127
And you were lucky to get that, after the punk rock tantrum you threw over the craft service buffet table on Carnosaur.
;>)
Loo Hoo. @ 111
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mp;search=
I like this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3p2hnmgYnhs
BigMitch @ 137
So do the BoSox! 9-4 over the Blue Jays!!! :P
CTuttle @ 149
:})
masaccio @ 125
Not to worry thing are going to change..for the worse. The WH is really pushing hard to provoke a showdown in the courts..the “fix” is in. Unless the Dem. leadership has something hidden in reserve, SCOTUS will markedly increase Presidential Power within the next six months.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/07…..-congress/
http://writ.lp.findlaw.com/dean/20070713.html
D8 @ 138
Congrats on the delurk. My sales Manager resigned 2 weeks ago–true righty to the core. I don’t miss him. I got so tired of his telling me about the 90 grand in Jefferson’s freezer….
I can play too: Eliza Sings, or at least Marnie Nixon sings and Audrey Hepburn acts.
But I’m ready for my close-up now.
dakine01 @ 150
Shaka Bra!!! ;-)
TRex @ 127
Hey, you know, on that eating the lawyer note…my tax atty hubby notices that it’s always the TAX attorney that dies.
Exhibit 1: the aforementioned Jurassic Park.
Exhibit 2: the very first episode of LA Law opened with the guy face down in the tax code glued to his mug with his microwaved dinner
Exhibit 3: Little Shop of Horrors, the man-eating plant goes for the briefcase toting tax guy
And so on…my theory is that entertainment business and business attorneys don’t mix?
dakine01 @ 149
The Bosox have already had a world championship in this century. And one in the last, no?
Scarecrow too fast for me by half!
Everythingseemssoneat @ 148
Great choice. Love’d him.
BigMitch @ 157
Starting to creep up on that 26 WS titles!!! :P Only twenty more to go!!!
TRex @ 154
Just keep that ferocious look in your eye and writing and I am sure someone will eventually notice.
belle1 @ 161
Lookin’ ‘em in the eye Worked for Reagan and his talks with the Ayotollah and it can work for you too!
TRex @ 127
I’m hoping there are more references to Divine’s signature movie moment now that John Travolta’s playing Edna Turnblatt.
belle1 @ 138
Yeah, you’re problem, TRex, is that velociraptors are in right now. You know, the sleak, slashing, svelte look. Temporary. Spend some time in the gym working on those forelimbs. But none of those Stallone bulking up tricks – that’s only for big stars making comebacks. Apologizing to the ABA might help, too.
I loved that House of the Rising Sun the other night.
Okay, that was fun, but now back to business.
So, at least 3 or 4 times a week, I call into a local talk radio show. The hostess likes me, because, well, I’m likeable. (Polite, funny, knowledgable, and I think before I speak)
I called her on Friday 13, and broke the news to her about Tillman.
She went ballistic! She was so outraged.
So, in answer to an earlier question, no, I didn’t lobby the Anchorage Daily News, but it’s not like I didn’t do anything, either.
I recommend to wannabe political activists, that they call radio shows that are locally produced daily, and get on their good side. Even if, like me you have to pretend to be likeable.
CTuttle @ 161
It has made a great improvement in those frown lines. I think it is a great advancement for society.
CTuttle @ 148
Ah, now you’re redeemed ;-).
BigMitch @ 167
Wow. Way to go!!!! I can’t believe they are not all over it…yet…
OT..maybe they will save us from our chimp:
Found: the giant lion-eating chimps of the magic forest
James Randerson, science correspondent
Saturday July 14, 2007
The Guardian
http://rawstory.com/showarticl…..28,00.html
woo hoo, our gyros lose again to the dogs, even with a grand slam. go giants!
BigMitch @ 166
Pretend we do!!! *g*
Great Video: Blast from the Past
Please Mr.Custer, I don’t wanna go…
ccmask @ 128
No pundit should be allowed to opine on Vitter unless he (or *she*) is willing to take the Peter Baker Pledge:
Peter Baker: I’m sure there are. Fortunately, I can say my number’s not on there.
“MY number’s not on there.”
Otherwise, how can we tell that the exhortation to move on or absolve isn’t in the lowest self-interest? Wouldn’t it be in the interests of someone whose number may yet appear to entreat us to move along, nothing to see here??
E.J.?
belle1 @ 139
Now I remember you, belle1! You hung around here on Oscar nite, right? Hi again!
There is a very interesting photo of the presidential component at Lady Bird Johnson’s funeral I hadn’t realized that Bill Moyers was the speaker. The photo lineup has on the aisle Nancy Reagan, then Rosalind Carter, Jimmy Carter, Laura Bush, Bill and Hillary. In the row behind Hillary is Babs. But neither 41 nor 43 attended. I wonder how Laura and Babs felt knowing that Bill just aired the impeachment episode of Frontline, and that the I word is very much on the table?
Jane – I was grateful that you were quoted in the WSJ story. What you have done to move the national conversation forward in enormous! Many, many thanks!
do-si-do @ 171
Even with no rubber chickens, Bonds whiffed 5 times and hit into a double play!!!
Nequals1 @ 175
Thing one: It is a disgrace that the former governor of Texas is not there. Absolutely shameful (to people capable of experiencing shame.)
Thing two: Frontline?
Nate @ 143
Lou Costello @ 129
Another action to take:
Write, call and visit your state legislators. Demand they vote on impeaching BushCo. A few states have started this binding process but we need more to do it.
do-si-do @ 170
Dem dogs is da bums.
BigMitch @ 178
Ack! Too tired – Bill Moyers’ Journal. And the word I meant to use was contingent, not component. Drat dyslexia and stupidity, anyway!
jayt @ 37
How do we get Olbermann to be the moderator of a Dem debate?
Seriously.
I’d love to see him as moderator of the Republican debate. That oughta destroy them!!!
Agh…I am going to have acquire a taste for ABBA.
My likely future daughter-in-law is Swedish, a cute little thing that makes me think of Pippi Longstockings. She says Abba is still very popular at home; my stepson says the Swedes actually sit around entertaining themselves singing and playing guitar at home, and will often play Abba songs since everybody knows them.
Harmless and sweet, kind of like the ’70’s were. Kind of like the little Pippi Longstocking that my stepson adores.
Nequals1 @ 176
Maybe that’s why 41 and 43 didn’t attend!!! ;-)
It is important to vote for likeable people, too.
TeddySanFran @ 175
Yep. That’s me. Had something to offer that night. Now…if you all want to talk museums I can elaborate all over the place.
Rayne @ 185
Story of my early teenagehood. Your stepson is lucky.
P.S. — I smiled at Jane’s piece and thought about how my kids laughed (with pleasure) as they caught me dancing to ABBA and whoever else while I was raising them during the 70’s, 80’s, early 90’s. What a simpler time. No abject fear of an impending depression. No concern that martial law might be declared by a bunch of bozos. It was nice then.
–D8
Catching up from downstairs -
Tanbark – near Southport. Been meaning to ask tommy yum about a get-together for NC firepups but seldom cross paths with him. Both Carolinas combined would be even better. If not that, wanna meet up half-way sometime?
GordonM & CTuttle -
Extra scoops of ice cream for you guys! Thank you both so much for the poll linkies. Fading fast tonight but will check both of them out tomorrow.
That Luci — always a fashion trendsetter! Pants at yer mom’s funeral; imagine! *g*
boing – reverse one and a half somersaults with three and a half twists, in the free position, no splash
g’evening everyone (waving to jane)
Fleetwood Mac doesn’t really even count as a guilty pleasure, do they? They’re just a pleasure like the Beatles.
P.S. I like all kinds of music as long as it’s Dylan.
I don’t know if anyone noticed the line from Kate O’Bierne in that EJ Dione Jr. article….she says:
Interestingly, the party that has preached loudest about “family values” has the greater interest in avoiding too fastidious an examination of such matters. Kate O’Beirne, the conservative writer, deserves a place in the annals of political commentary for her remark on the divorce rate among the top Republican presidential contenders. She noted that the only one with “only one wife would be the Mormon,” Mitt Romney.
No guilt with Fleetwood Mac at all, TRex.
belle1 @ 188
Jeepers y’all. The poor girl delurks and pops out the movie biz and you’re on her like spots on dice. Let’s give her some breathing room! You just come on over here with me, Belle…. :P
Nequals1 @ 182
Moyers was LBJ’s press secretary. Kind of a hell of a contrast between him and Tony Snowjob doncha know…
Question I asked earlier this a.m. but no response then -
Does Schuster routinely host MSNBC on Saturday mornings? He did today for several hours and what little I caught of it was much less objectionable than the usual garbbbbaaaage.
DarkBlack! O Lucky Man! … brilliant music, wonderful movie … thanks!
And Jane is so hep, she gives ABBA indie cred.
TRex @ 194
Depends on which era of Fleetwood Mac: Peter Greene, Bob Welch & Denny Kirwan, or Buckingham & Nicks
Suzanne @ 192
9.9! Bon Soir, Ma Cheri!!!
Lots of stuff on the brain right now. Occasionally it gets a bit jumbled together. Like, I’d been working for a couple days on Harry Potter inspired designs, but then tuned in to watch Bill Moyers show about impeachment last night. So then this happened in my brain.
BigMitch @ 182
Yeah, it’s easy to be a dodger fan. Makes you a winnah! same appeal as the GOP, no platform, they just win.
Good evening dear friends.
Most of my guilty pleasures are old TV shows rather than music.
TRex @ 192
I never knew it was possible to use “Fleetwood Mac” and “guilty” in the same sentence.
ccmask @ 194
Others have made this observation, each thinking s/he was clever or original.
The real deal is to look at the States with the highest and lowest divorce, and unwed pregnancy,and abortion rates and compare to see which states truly believe in so-called Family Values. “Liberal” states kick ass in these categories.
Waccamaw @ 200
Don’t know the answer about the gig but he was also the host last Saturday AM. He does a really good job…he actually listens to and responds appropriately to the guests. He seems much more secure than your average host….less invested in how he appears or in some personal agenda.
Renee in Ohio @ 202
Beautiful!
TRex @ 194
Depends on the era, I suppose. Those who like Albatross may find Sentimental Lady problematic, and the latter camp might never forgive the sprawling expressiveness of Tusk.
;>)
Siun @ 201
That she does, Siun. Ta and good wishes.
:)
TexB @ 205
How are you doing on this fine evening, Ma’am?
Renee in Ohio @ 202
Brilliant!
I love the fact that some of the impeachment stuff is indeed…made in the USA! as it should be.
Thanks, TexB!
Rayne @ 183
Get used to it. You’ll have to be a:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR6H-LfKOpk
ccmask @ 196
I think the O’Biernes will be “voting” for a third Bush term, of infinite length. Real authoritarian cultists, those two. I can’t imagine any of the GOP08s impress them much.
Renee in Ohio @ 212
My patronus is taking the shape of Patrick Fitzgerald.
CTuttle @ 210
I am doing well sir, and you?
Rayne, how long have you give Pippy Longstocking a chance?
You may love her someday too. If they have children, it’s all your wealth!
Hi Suz!
Hi Tex!
Jane (nyc) -
Don’t know the answer about the gig but he was also the host last Saturday AM. He does a really good job…he actually listens to and responds appropriately to the guests. He seems much more secure than your average host….less invested in how he appears or in some personal agenda.
Excellent analysis! Hope two Saturdays are a pattern……..would definitely help feed my news junkie addiction for the weekend…..especially since the Sunday talking heads are so worthless.
TeddySanFran @ 218
Good evening Teddy
(waving across the peninsula to TSF)
CTuttle @ 150
CT, do I detect a BoSox fan?
ONE thing the WaPo sports section does right: when the Yankees and anyone else are tied for second behind the Sox, they always list the Yanks in third place. Tee-hee.
As far as guilty pleasures, I’m kind of missing my Tetris-playing days. Played that game *way* more than I should have back when I was in grad school. Lately the kids have taken out the old Nintendo and been playing Super Mario. So I decided to try out the Tetris cartridge.
Oh sure–MY game is the one that doesn’t work any more.
I’ve tried to play it on the computer, but it’s just not the same.
Pach has Late Nite upstairs
Renee in Ohio @ 203
Hey, the children’s librarian here would go nuts if I wore a button like that. I remember her saying, “You just hate Bush!”
I like it.
TRex @ 127
Maybe if you eat John Yoo, you’ll be forgiven.
Loo Hoo. @ 217
Oh Loo Hoo, she’s as cute as a bug’s ear. My kids like her, too. Welcoming her into the family is not a problem at all. The problem now is whether my stepson, still suffering from PTSD after his tour in Iraq, will be able to get through college while working full-time and trying to manage a long-distance relationship. Our little ‘Pippi’ has applied for a diversity visa, but who knows if she’ll get it.
Now the ABBA part? Hmm…that will take more time than acquiring a taste for akvavit.
For those who want to hear a little bit more of Bill Moyers, there’s a link to his eulogy of Lady Bird Johnson here. He was magnificent!
Abba couldn’t hold a candle to Shocking Blue.
What is on my mind.
All of the above. The country is going to hell in a hand basket and no one seems to notice except the people on the blogs.
Constitutional crisis, war without end, possible escalation of war without end, continuing fascination by the public with Vitter diaper fetish instead of Vitter Abramoff connection and radicalism, subprime meltdown, deeeeep recession soon to follow subprime meltdown, hard landing for US economy because of all of the above, falling dollar when I am going to Euroland in a week…
No wonder I have a knot in my shoulder and arm the size of a softball.
Oh Sicko was fing brilliant. The reaction from rightwing media to even discussing this topic with any sort of honesty is very telling. The people who want to keep the status quo are very afraid of universal healthcare. Very afraid. They should be sheeple with healthcare might just turn into people.
Nola Sue @ 56
Sounds to me like they’ve decided the word “Conservative” is now taboo. Time to call ‘em all Conservative Bush Republicans.
I followed your link to Fernando, I remember it was playing on the radio when I heard that Anwar Sadat had been assassinated. Anwar fought as a gorilla with Abdul Nasser to free Egypt. I never new if it was a coincidence or if the Dj knew, as I did, Anwar’s history.
These past few weeks I have been thinking that Bush is like one of those serial killers who want to be caught and that is why he is tempting Congress to impeach him. And then I think Dick Cheney is pushing everything because he is having wet dreams every night thinking of his chance to replay his loss when he was with Nixon.
But John Dean said something that seems more to the point and more frightening because it hints that there is some sort of reasoned intelligence behind what they are doing – not just the idiot W F-ing up again.
Prof. Dean said that the WH wants congress to issue contempt charges so that they can go to court over it. Dean says they think they have DOJ and the courts stacked and they will establish a vastly more powerful presidency, and congresses oversight ability greatly reduced for ever.
Can’t progressives find a candidate to challenge Pelosi for the Democratic nomination in her district?
Unlike Lieberman, she couldn’t win as an independant in San Francisco, where the people are totally fed up with her inaction on impeachment.
Any comments, ideas, support for this?
The current situation is worst than a constitutional crisis.
If the opposition (Democratic) party cared enough to actually
DO SOMETHING EFFECTIVE
it would be a constitutional crisis.
If the fourth estate acknowleged that there is actually a problem, there would be a constitutional crisis.
This is something else, I don’t know what, maybe a crisis of spirit.
America, go back to your wide-screen TV viewing.
No one cares enough to act.
Here’s what I always think the words to Fernando are supposed to be:
http://khaosworks.org/filk/pipes.html
“Chiquitita Tell me what’s wrong ?You’re in chains by your own sorrow.
In your own eyes there is no hope for tomorrow…”
Love ABBA’s Happy/Sad lyrics–and really enjoy seeing Frida trying to keep her hair from blowing into her face.
BUCK UP EVERYONE!!!
INHERENT CONTEMPT
AND IMPEACH IMPEACH IMPEACH!!!!
Let’s keep up the pressure…
“……try once more like you did before, sing a new song Chiquitita.”