Jane!

Is it safe?

Shuster and KO:

The only sets of stones in MSM.

Hello Jane…

Blackburn is unsurprisingly a social conservative who prefers to be called “Congressman Blackburn” and she was considered a top candidate for Governor of Tennessee in 2010.

Any woman who prefers to be addressed with a male title is someone I cannot handle.

I watched this twice; I had to stop the first time because of her prattling (great word, Jane). David Shuster is a helluva of a commentator. Tell me again, why Tucker Carlson is even allowed on TV let alone have his own show?

damn! so that’s what a free media looks like!

so thats what an adversarial journalist can do to a hypocritical politician!

more.of.THAT!

Smack!

Jane thanks for all you do. Hope you are well.

MSNBC’s programing decision re: David Shuster may have to wait for new manager:

MSNBC said today that Dan Abrams, who has been the host of a 9 p.m. news hour called “Live with Dan Abrams” temporarily since July, will stay in the job permanently, leaving behind the managerial position he had occupied for a little over a year.

Blackburn seems ignorant, self-righteous, narrow-minded, and holier than thou…just hopeless.

Wordsmith @ 5

Blackburn is unsurprisingly a social conservative who prefers to be called “Congressman Blackburn” and she was considered a top candidate for Governor of Tennessee in 2010.

Any woman who prefers to be addressed with a male title is someone I cannot handle.

I watched this twice; I had to stop the first time because of her prattling (great word, Jane). David Shuster is a helluva of a commentator. Tell me again, why Tucker Carlson is even allowed on TV let alone have his own show?

My guess is he has some juicy blackmail pics of someone in authority at MSNBC/NBC/GE. YMMV

Jane Hamsher:

Thanks for making that point in the last paragraph. Enough befuddlement about why they don’t give a shit about ratings.

Schuster is always the best guest correspondent on Countdown. I’d love to see him with his own show, and if they put him on after Keith, they could probably hang onto most of that audience. (If they were actually interested in making money, that is.)

I listened to Rush rant today about this “ambushing” of Blackburn. He told his listeners that the young man killed in Iraq wasn’t even from her district.

Just thought I would pass that on.

Senate to vote on Iraq division plan

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Senate is expected to vote as early as Tuesday on a Bosnia-style plan to subdivide Iraq on ethnic lines, touted by backers as the sole hope of forging a federal state out of sectarian strife.

all hell will break loose.

The bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which delivered recommendations in December warned partition could trigger mass population flows, the collapse of the fragile Iraqi security forces and ethnic cleansing by strengthened militias.

Jane!!!

Hope you are well. You are the best

Call Senators about Lieberman-Kyl. I’m calling Reid at 202-224-3542 and thanking Webb at 202-224-4024. Embark on Armageddon with clean conscience.

Biodun @ 8

MSNBC’s programing decision re: David Shuster may have to wait for new manager:

MSNBC said today that Dan Abrams, who has been the host of a 9 p.m. news hour called “Live with Dan Abrams” temporarily since July, will stay in the job permanently, leaving behind the managerial position he had occupied for a little over a year.

Darn. Abrams is a big improvement over Scarborough, but that’s not saying much. But maybe if he’s taking over permanently, he’ll cast the bits of the old format that he’s retained and do something more with the show.

Wordsmith @ 5

Blackburn is unsurprisingly a social conservative who prefers to be called “Congressman Blackburn” and she was considered a top candidate for Governor of Tennessee in 2010.

Any woman who prefers to be addressed with a male title is someone I cannot handle.

I watched this twice; I had to stop the first time because of her prattling (great word, Jane). David Schuster is a helluva of a commentator. Tell me again, why Tucker Carlson is even allowed on TV let alone have his own show?

I remember Blackburn from the FISA vote. Payback is a to a bitch.

Re Tucker: Maybe he was originally to be considered comic distraction? Then MSNBC realized that there were wingnuts not only not getting the joke, but endorsing his warped little view?

Hey, what’s a little fascism between friends?

annie @ 14

Senate to vote on Iraq division plan

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Senate is expected to vote as early as Tuesday on a Bosnia-style plan to subdivide Iraq on ethnic lines, touted by backers as the sole hope of forging a federal state out of sectarian strife.

all hell will break loose.

The bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which delivered recommendations in December warned partition could trigger mass population flows, the collapse of the fragile Iraqi security forces and ethnic cleansing by strengthened militias.

Iraq sovereignty?

Bobby C @ 13

I listened to Rush rant today about this “ambushing” of Blackburn. He told his listeners that the young man killed in Iraq wasn’t even from her district.

Just thought I would pass that on.

Gawd…and it doesn’t matter, because she still didn’t know the answer to the question, period. I’d like to know if she could have named 3 who have ever been killed from her district. She will never make that mistake again. I’ll bet she’s been frantically trying to memorize names..heh.

annie @ 14

Senate to vote on Iraq division plan

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Senate is expected to vote as early as Tuesday on a Bosnia-style plan to subdivide Iraq on ethnic lines, touted by backers as the sole hope of forging a federal state out of sectarian strife.

all hell will break loose.

The bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which delivered recommendations in December warned partition could trigger mass population flows, the collapse of the fragile Iraqi security forces and ethnic cleansing by strengthened militias.

Yeah, and out of all the issues currently being fought over, this is the bill Barbara Boxer sent out email asking supporters to call in favor of. Feh.

I just love the way Shuster set her up for that smackdown. Just love it!

annie @ 14

Senate to vote on Iraq division plan

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Senate is expected to vote as early as Tuesday on a Bosnia-style plan to subdivide Iraq on ethnic lines, touted by backers as the sole hope of forging a federal state out of sectarian strife.

all hell will break loose.

The bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which delivered recommendations in December warned partition could trigger mass population flows, the collapse of the fragile Iraqi security forces and ethnic cleansing by strengthened militias.

A few naifs around here persistently argued that there was something innocuously “inevitable” about that antiseptic sounding (to the historically illiterate) idea of “partition”. Well, now it doesn’t just have the imprimatur of Joe Biden and Tom Friedman.

We’re the Nazi Germany of the 21st century.

Congressperson Blackburn claims to take great interest in the military personnel who live in her district.

Anybody out there who can check with local vet’s groups and see how see has responded to their needs? Anybody out there with access to voting records that would show if she’s supported our troops and vets needs for equipment, health care, decent pay ? how many military families in her district need food stamps to get thru the month? Does Congressperson Blackburn take money from the usurious ‘pay day’ loan business that crowd the streets around virtually every base? How long is the wait for veterans to get health care at the local VA hospital?

I’m sure she’s from a very red district, but if a Dem steps up to challenge her, just to force her voting record and views out into the open, I’ll give up my iTunes budget until the election to support that Democrat.

Schuster often seems like an actual reporter, with a grasp of the facts that he’s not afraid to use, even in public. Good on him.

Yes indeed. The video is a CLASSIC example of how you ATTACK. You do not sit back and wait to make your wonderful little intellectual counter-points….you do not sit back and scoff and sniff at foolishness uttered by the opponent. You ATTACK! That means YOU define the battleground and the point of conflict.
Good for Shuster….but he’s a news guy. We (the Democrats) must not always rely upon a news guy to do our work for us. Democratic members of Congress must learn how to take the initiative. ARE YOU LISTENING, D teamers in Congress????

Ghostman

annie @ 14

Senate to vote on Iraq division plan

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Senate is expected to vote as early as Tuesday on a Bosnia-style plan to subdivide Iraq on ethnic lines, touted by backers as the sole hope of forging a federal state out of sectarian strife.

all hell will break loose.

The bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which delivered recommendations in December warned partition could trigger mass population flows, the collapse of the fragile Iraqi security forces and ethnic cleansing by strengthened militias.

Buh-bye Kurds. Hello Turks.

Who would get Kirkuk? If that city goes to the Kurds, they get attacked on the other side by Sunni’s.

Brilliant idea.

Let me get this crooked straight:

First, the Senate voted to attack the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

Now, the Senate will vote to partition Iraq along ethnic sectarian lines. One question though: Whowill enforce the partition? The US armed forces? And how are they gonna do that?

brendan @ 23

annie @ 14

Senate to vote on Iraq division plan

all hell will break loose.

A few naifs around here persistently argued that there was something innocuously “inevitable” about that antiseptic sounding (to the historically illiterate) idea of “partition”. Well, now it doesn’t just have the imprimatur of Joe Biden and Tom Friedman.

We’re the Nazi Germany of the 21st century.

Compartmentalization. It is exactly what Adolf did in Poland. Divide and conquer.

nomolos @ 19

annie @ 14

Senate to vote on Iraq division plan

all hell will break loose.

Iraq sovereignty?

The question mark says it all. They are sovereign until their colonial masters tell them different.

Bobby C @ 13

I listened to Rush rant today about this “ambushing” of Blackburn. He told his listeners that the young man killed in Iraq wasn’t even from her district.

Just thought I would pass that on.

The soldier was ambushed.
The ‘congresman’ was merely hornswoggled.

Bobby C @ 13

I listened to Rush rant today about this “ambushing” of Blackburn. He told his listeners that the young man killed in Iraq wasn’t even from her district.

Just thought I would pass that on.

So when a loyal Bushie is called on the carpet for something, she’s being AMBUSHED? (Or does she prefer to be called “He”?)

Okay, now I TOTALLY agree with Bill Maher when he says the current Republicans are just a bunch of crybabies.

(And if you haven’t heard it, it’s from this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41teI8A66p8 )

But of course. The troops to them are nameless, faceless, interchangeable, expendable automatons — less than human. So why would they bother to memorize their names?

Comey’s speech at Washington & Lee is up on CSPAN 3 just caught it dunno how long it’s been on.

OT for sure, but I thought the pups would find it interesting. Apparently, “Israel is looking to a U.S.-India nuclear deal to expand its own ties to suppliers, quietly lobbying for an exemption to non-proliferation rules so it can legally import atomic material..Besides India, only Pakistan and North Korea are known to have nuclear weapons and be outside the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Israel is considered an undeclared weapons state, with a doctrine of “nuclear ambiguity.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....ear_israel

I watched the clip and loved every minute of it, especially when he repeated the point several times (just in case you didn’t get it the first time!) And I love David Schuster. He does more of his homework and remembers every nuance than any of the other reporters. What I like is that he deals with facts and doesn’t tend to drift into BS like most of the others. He’d be great in his own show, as I think he’s shown whenever he subs for Tucker. I just wish I knew when he would be on so I could watch him more. I don’t usually see any of Tucker if I can help it.

“Any woman who prefers to be addressed with a male title is someone I cannot handle.”

Wordsmith - question - Why?? I’ve been a draftsman before and see absolutely nothing wrong with being labeled as such. It’s a description of an occupation, not who the person is.

Jane!
Rushing by at the end of lunch hour:

1-Saw that Shuster/Blackburn piece - what a whiny spinner/idiot, etc. Congressman”? WTF?

2- Just made my calls to congressman (really) Lamar Smith (ugh, but that’s who it is, for now) on SCHIP, and Sen. Hutchison re Von Spakovsky. Hee hee. So satisfying. Surprisingly quick.
And now - back to the afternoon at work. I’ll catch up al the wonderul comments tonight.

OT, DHS number two resigns for “personal financial reasons.” couldn’t make ends meet at $168K per annum. From MSNBC

christine @ 36

“Any woman who prefers to be addressed with a male title is someone I cannot handle.”

Wordsmith - question - Why?? I’ve been a draftsman before and see absolutely nothing wrong with being labeled as such. It’s a description of an occupation, not who the person is.

Perhaps so, but it certainly smells like she feels that being called a “congresswoman” is somehow an insult.

Biodun @ 27

Let me get this crooked straight:

First, the Senate voted to attack the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

Now, the Senate will vote to partition Iraq along ethnic sectarian lines. One question though: Whowill enforce the partition? The US armed forces? And how are they gonna do that?

The other thing is that this amendment is sponsored by Boxer, et al. WTF??

LS:

“Partition” is also ultimately the plan for Iran. The country’s oil, concentrated in Khuzestan, falls to an imagined Shiite Arab puppet state

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/M.....6Ak01.html

while the rest of the state descends into an Iraq-style bloodbath among Persians and non-Persian ethnic minorities.

Here is that neoconservative fantasy map:
http://www.payvand.com/news/07/sep/1254.html

Israel is considered an undeclared weapons state, with a doctrine of “nuclear ambiguity.”

How positively Bush-ian.

“Will ah nuke Iran? Maybe I will - maybe I won’t…”

Jane!!

jane –

the above is one beautiful piece
of youtube-ic-ized un-spun-free-thinking. . .

t h a n k s!

now, check this nightly nolo – only
1:30! — of mcconnell, dissembling
today, before the senate judiciary
committee, under questioning from
chairman patrick leahy. . .

great work here fdl-pups!

p e a c e

Yep, that was a truly wholesome experience watching Shuster tackle ‘ol Blackeye Blackburn. When the segment was over I immediately drove to my local Giant Eagle grocery and stocked up on Swanson Dinners (for Tucker). Then e-mailed the Blackburn web site, incognito, twice. I wanted to speak with her staff today, but the line was always busy. Imagine that.

tejanarusa @ 37

Jane!
Rushing by at the end of lunch hour:

1-Saw that Shuster/Blackburn piece - what a whiny spinner/idiot, etc. Congressman”? WTF?

2- Just made my calls to congressman (really) Lamar Smith (ugh, but that’s who it is, for now) on SCHIP, and Sen. Hutchison re Von Spakovsky. Hee hee. So satisfying. Surprisingly quick.
And now - back to the afternoon at work. I’ll catch up al the wonderul comments tonight.

I think it’s quick to call them as all they do is mark a form yea or nay. At best.

peanutbutter @ 40:

Boxer puzzles me. Sometimes she can be so right on. And then other times…

Bobby C @ 13

I listened to Rush rant today about this “ambushing” of Blackburn. He told his listeners that the young man killed in Iraq wasn’t even from her district.

Just thought I would pass that on.

Rush is pathological. I know everyone here knows that. Schuster started the exchange with a clip of Rush making fun of Hagel’s name. He asks Blackburn if she wants to censure Rush in anyway and she demurs. Hah!

Rush also used his radio to sic his attack dogs listeners on Lantos during the very first minutes of the Petraeus hearings, lying about what Lantos was saying to his listeners and telling them that Lantos was insulting to the General etc. etc. Lantos’ office was bombarded with calls from all over the country, with rabid Rushies cussing at the staff all day long. All for Rush and his lies.

And I’ll bet Blackburn “works with families” by sending a form letter. Thanks for caring.

christine @ 36

It’s that she wants to be addressed as ‘Congressman’, even though she’s really ‘Congresswoman’. Not that it hasn’t been done before, with some titles, but I can think of only a few, and those not complimentary to her. (Pharoah Hatshepsut is first in mind.)

Toby Wollin @ 39

christine @ 36

“Any woman who prefers to be addressed with a male title is someone I cannot handle.”

Wordsmith - question - Why?? I’ve been a draftsman before and see absolutely nothing wrong with being labeled as such. It’s a description of an occupation, not who the person is.

Perhaps so, but it certainly smells like she feels that being called a “congresswoman” is somehow an insult.

True. I just really don’t care if the congress critter is called ‘congressman’ or ‘congresswoman’, but would probably go with congressman because I see it more as a job title. Then I wouldn’t also expect everyone to address me as congressman or congresswoman either. Both work for me. I guess I just come from an older time where fireman, policeman, draftsman, etc were seen as job titles or descriptions, not a lable of personal identity.

But, I’m glad some congress critter is being called to the carpet for what they’ve done!!

Biodun @ 27

Let me get this crooked straight:

First, the Senate voted to attack the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

Now, the Senate will vote to partition Iraq along ethnic sectarian lines. One question though: Whowill enforce the partition? The US armed forces? And how are they gonna do that?

That’s a lot of borders to police.

MSNBC, with 50% ownership by one of the country’s biggest defense contractors, General Electric, probably has bigger fish to fry.

thanks for saying that
we are overdue for a conversation about whether it is appropriate for a defense contractor to own a news broadcast liscense

when I hear “congressman” I have to actively remember if that congressman is a senator or a representative, with the implication that a senator may have more stature. I believe the intent of insisting on congressman is a simple ploy to include oneself with the cool kids in the senate. JMHO

Thank you to Pvt. Jeremy S. Bohannon.

I’m glad Schuster called Blackburn on here policy/politcs.

selise asked late in the last thread:

selise says:
September 25th, 2007 at 12:02 pm

i’m completely behind on today’s events… anyone know if there’s been action on kyl/lieberman today? i just heard that in the house lantos’ bill to sanction iran was passed. i’ll check on that later, but was mostly concerned about the senate’s response to kyl/lieberman.

I’m not up to speed on what happened this morning either, selise, BUT for one HUGE development, thanks to a heads-up from perris via Think Progress:

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/.....lieb-iran/

JIM WEBB DEFIED HIS CAUCUS LEADERSHIP TO TAKE A PRINCIPLED STAND ON IRAN, AND TO CONDEMN THE LIEBERMAN/KYL/ALEXANDER AMENDMENT!

This is extremely important for the cause of justice, and as a pull-back on the insane rush to indulge in more hateful and dangerous rhetoric about the Persian people in Iran and their ruler(s).

What I don’t yet know is whether the Lieberman/Kyl amendment about which Webb spoke this morning has yet made it to the floor. Same with the despicable Biden/Brownback/Boxer amendment, which ignores the 98% will of the Iraqi people who oppose an Iraq divided along sectarian lines - per the BBC/ABC/NHK poll - to advocate for the three-way partition of Iraq (even as the Executive Branch and its corporate army continues to force Iraq to splinter into as many as 18 different provinces).

I have been monitoring the Senate on C-SPAN2 since it returned from its 12:30-2:15 lunch break - Harry Reid made some motions (to recommit the Defense Authorization Bill to committee in order to add certain amendments, and to amend that motion) and called for the yeas and nays on same, and also moved to prevent any cloture motions for the rest of the day - but no roll call votes have yet been taken on those motions. No unanimous consent requests have come forward so far this afternoon. At 3:30 p.m., the Senate has just recessed again for an hour and a half to honor Robert Byrd (the Senate will return at 5:00 p.m.).

If no vote was held this morning on the Biden amendment - then SOME DEMOCRAT MUST HAVE OBJECTED behind the scenes to proceeding to that measure as originally planned. Last Friday, the plan was to vote today shortly after 10 a.m. on the Biden amendment, and to then proceed to the Lieberman/Kyl amendment. That UC request was then being drafted, according to Levin and Reid (and McCain). What I don’t know is whether that UCRequest came to the floor this morning, in revised form, or not. [I did briefly see Brownback spewing about Iran this morning doubtless in support of Lieberman/Kyl.]

Webb may have spoken before the UCRequest was proffered or passed. But, if in fact Webb spoke after the amendment was successfully brought up for debate, then the next obstacle that can be placed in its way is a 41-member Democratic filibuster of the Lieberman/Kyl propaganda, assuming the Democrats won’t stay united to oppose it by simple majority (see Levin, see Reid).

In the meantime: THANK YOU!! Senator Webb, from all the humane and law-abiding American citizens for whom you spoke this morning.

The Republicans LOVE the MoveOn ad — because it gives them an “issue,” which they’ve been desperate for. Their bitching is really ersatz-bitching — it plays well for their cult.

dakine01 @ 38

OT, DHS number two resigns for “personal financial reasons.” couldn’t make ends meet at $168K per annum. From MSNBC

Is “personal financial reasons” the new “spend more time with my family”?

Alice @ 52

MSNBC, with 50% ownership by one of the country’s biggest defense contractors, General Electric, probably has bigger fish to fry.

thanks for saying that
we are overdue for a conversation about whether it is appropriate for a defense contractor to own a news broadcast liscense

Kinda ties in with Liberty Lee’s VoertID rhetoric.

brendan @ 41

LS:

“Partition” is also ultimately the plan for Iran. The country’s oil, concentrated in Khuzestan, falls to an imagined Shiite Arab puppet state

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/M.....6Ak01.html

while the rest of the state descends into an Iraq-style bloodbath among Persians and non-Persian ethnic minorities.

Here is that neoconservative fantasy map:
http://www.payvand.com/news/07/sep/1254.html

Holy smokes!! That map just about says it all. How terrifying. The neocons are not going to leave office, because they are hell bent on getting what they want. I feel sick.

And it’s just my two cents, but I think that a David Shuster show which had a more confrontational style with guests (a la, and I hate to say it, Bill O’Reilly) would be a perfect pairing with Keith Olbermann’s show — or at least it would be to any network that cared about ratings. MSNBC, with 50% ownership by one of the country’s biggest defense contractors, General Electric, probably has bigger fish to fry.

Dead right on all points. Ultimately, we need another network.

She’s got that smug fucking syrupy southern bullshit voice and she’d screw you in a heart beat.

What a bubblehead this woman is.

Fern @ 57

Is “personal financial reasons” the new “spend more time with my family”?

I think it’s code for “I’m getting off this sinking ship to make millions as a lobbyist corrupting the department I once worked in”

House Representative: Congressman/Congresswoman

Senator: Senator

One thing that struck me when I saw this on the tele yesterday was the last fallen soldier in the congress womans district was in early August. So one fallen soldier in roughly six weeks was beyond her ability to remember. And all she did was run for cover behind other soldiers families for the rest of the interview. Nice, really really nice.

christine @ 50

Toby Wollin @ 39

Perhaps so, but it certainly smells like she feels that being called a “congresswoman” is somehow an insult.

True. I just really don’t care if the congress critter is called ‘congressman’ or ‘congresswoman’, but would probably go with congressman because I see it more as a job title. Then I wouldn’t also expect everyone to address me as congressman or congresswoman either. Both work for me. I guess I just come from an older time where fireman, policeman, draftsman, etc were seen as job titles or descriptions, not a lable of personal identity.

But, I’m glad some congress critter is being called to the carpet for what they’ve done!!

Congesslut work?

Biodun @ 64

House Representative: Congressman/Congresswoman

Senator: Senator

But “Member of Congress” covers both

Like to see more of this video?. It is hard to imagine anyone defending their vote against freedom of speech. Nice to see people give any idiot politician a question they aren’t prepared for and then wait for an answer. It would be, well… journalism.

Shuster was clearly held in high regard by the other media folks at the Libby trial.

This is one hell of an interview. More please?

Hello again, this is from poster CDN Grit who posted this a few threads back (thanks!)

Somewhat off topic, but figured people here would like to see it. “How George Bush became the new Saddam” from McLeans.CA
linky

pow wow @ 55

thank you! for the great report. I hope selise is around. :)

dakine01 @ 67

Biodun @ 64

House Representative: Congressman/Congresswoman

Senator: Senator

But “Member of Congress” covers both

Yep. Since Congress means both House and Senate…

No doubt the wingnuts are hitting the fan after that interview. I hope Chris Matthews and others have Shuster’s back.

Re: Link from Redshift @17–now that Abrams is out as general manager, do we know anything about Phil Griffin, senior VP of NBC News, who is taking over the reins for now at MSNBC?

Also, re: NBC, found this interesting little tidbit in the personality news from WaPo the other day (9/22). Just a reminder of how cozy the relationship of NBC News “talent” with their GE “parent company:”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....02088.html

“Meanwhile, NBC’s Tim Russert, Lisa Myers, and David Gregory dined with 13 others at Cafe Milano, toasting Jeffrey Immelt, the CEO of General Electric, NBC’s parent company.”

Toby Wollin @ 39

christine @ 36

“Any woman who prefers to be addressed with a male title is someone I cannot handle.”

Wordsmith - question - Why?? I’ve been a draftsman before and see absolutely nothing wrong with being labeled as such. It’s a description of an occupation, not who the person is.

Perhaps so, but it certainly smells like she feels that being called a “congresswoman” is somehow an insult.

I agree. Calling someone a “chairman” or “congressman” in the abstract is one thing…..but a woman who insists on being referred to as a man, imo, has some serious “issues.”

unless, of course, she is in the process of being transgendered. Then it’s understandable.

dakine01 @ 67

Biodun @ 64

House Representative: Congressman/Congresswoman

Senator: Senator

But “Member of Congress” covers both

But Congressman’s member, is particular to Larry Craig?

I also think that David Shuster should have his own show! Let him replace Tucker Carlson who is a zero. ;o)

Let’s hear it for the democratization of MSNBC. HOOOraay.

Fern @ 51

Biodun @ 27

Let me get this crooked straight:

First, the Senate voted to attack the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

Now, the Senate will vote to partition Iraq along ethnic sectarian lines. One question though: Whowill enforce the partition? The US armed forces? And how are they gonna do that?

That’s a lot of borders to police.

It’s not about enforcing a partition, it’s about endorsing one. It won’t be a about “policing” violence, it will be about incentivizing it. It’s about making the pulverization of a sovereign state the express goal of U.S. policy and lending that obscene goal the patina of respectability and “seriousness”: after all Iraq is “tribal”, “artificial” (Sykes-Picot!) and its breakup is “inevitable”: we’re just oh so gently shepherding the Iraqi people to their killing pens, er, safe havens.

Odd experience recently. Thousands of people, mostly older and whiter than the average, stood up at a cultural event while the orchestra played “The Star-spangled Banner”. They sang in full voice. It was a lovely sound. Why, then, did I have the sharp feeling as I listened that in 50 years or fewer that song would become hated internationally? Would it be because the country which once had had it as its anthem used up the resources of the world? Because it had not cared what happened to its own people, other countries’ people, other countries’ land? Because it had precipitated the collapse of not only civilized life, but life itself across much of the globe? Who is it who is left in 50 years to think these thoughts?

raven @ 66

christine @ 50

True. I just really don’t care if the congress critter is called ‘congressman’ or ‘congresswoman’, but would probably go with congressman because I see it more as a job title. Then I wouldn’t also expect everyone to address me as congressman or congresswoman either. Both work for me. I guess I just come from an older time where fireman, policeman, draftsman, etc were seen as job titles or descriptions, not a lable of personal identity.

But, I’m glad some congress critter is being called to the carpet for what they’ve done!!

Congesslut work?

LOLOLOLOLOL Sure, why not?!?!? Most of them are anyway.

Alice @ 52

MSNBC, with 50% ownership by one of the country’s biggest defense contractors, General Electric, probably has bigger fish to fry.

thanks for saying that
we are overdue for a conversation about whether it is appropriate for a defense contractor to own a news broadcast liscense

It’s a Media-opoly!

Speaking of Wingnut Barbeques, here’s Ehrenstein vs. Breitbart Round Two.

We’ll be here all week!

dakine01 @ 67

Biodun @ 64

House Representative: Congressman/Congresswoman

Senator: Senator

But “Member of Congress” covers both

I *like* it! MC for short, like MP in Britain…

brendan @ 77

It’s not about enforcing a partition, it’s about endorsing one. It won’t be a about “policing” violence, it will be about incentivizing it. It’s about making the pulverization of a sovereign state the express goal of U.S. policy and lending that obscene goal the patina of respectability and “seriousness”: after all Iraq is “tribal”, “artificial” (Sykes-Picot!) and its breakup is “inevitable”: we’re just oh so gently shepherding the Iraqi people to their killing pens, er, safe havens.

o.O
You scare me.

I would sort of object to Congresswoman, myself (but I would NOT lobby for Congressman, either). I prefer neutral terms and no distinction to be made. Senator, Governor, President all are good without modification. Even though “governess” exists, it’s not needed because governor is neutral enough to use both ways.

Anyway, I do like Member of Congress, and that’s what I’ll run with ;-)

behindthefall @ 78

Odd experience recently. Thousands of people, mostly older and whiter than the average, stood up at a cultural event while the orchestra played “The Star-spangled Banner”. They sang in full voice. It was a lovely sound. Why, then, did I have the sharp feeling as I listened that in 50 years or fewer that song would become hated internationally? Would it be because the country which once had had it as its anthem used up the resources of the world? Because it had not cared what happened to its own people, other countries’ people, other countries’ land? Because it had precipitated the collapse of not only civilized life, but life itself across much of the globe? Who is it who is left in 50 years to think these thoughts?

How about because in its offensive militarism the lyrics perfectly echoe the actions of the nation? There is plenty in that song to dislike.

Lou Costello @ 80

Alice @ 52

MSNBC, with 50% ownership by one of the country’s biggest defense contractors, General Electric, probably has bigger fish to fry.

thanks for saying that
we are overdue for a conversation about whether it is appropriate for a defense contractor to own a news broadcast liscense

It’s a Media-opoly!

that’s a classic.

I’ve always wondered how many really useful patents they’ve shelved for their own profit.

Fern @ 85

behindthefall @ 78

Odd experience recently. Thousands of people, mostly older and whiter than the average, stood up at a cultural event while the orchestra played “The Star-spangled Banner”. They sang in full voice. It was a lovely sound. Why, then, did I have the sharp feeling as I listened that in 50 years or fewer that song would become hated internationally? Would it be because the country which once had had it as its anthem used up the resources of the world? Because it had not cared what happened to its own people, other countries’ people, other countries’ land? Because it had precipitated the collapse of not only civilized life, but life itself across much of the globe? Who is it who is left in 50 years to think these thoughts?

How about because in its offensive militarism the lyriks perfectly echoe the actions of the nation? There is plenty in that song to dislike.

This country is no more disliked now than it was 40 years ago. If you don’t believ it you could look it up!

johnSwifty @ 75

dakine01 @ 67

But “Member of Congress” covers both

But Congressman’s member, is particular to Larry Craig?

Congressmember?

Excellent stuff! A journalist actually asking questions that are not softballs of a politician. Shuster knocked it out of the park!

I love it! I’m tempted to get a case of Chapstik and send it to her, cause the *sskissing must leave her with shredded lips!

Fern @ 85

behindthefall @ 78

Odd experience recently. Thousands of people, mostly older and whiter than the average, stood up at a cultural event while the orchestra played “The Star-spangled Banner”. They sang in full voice. It was a lovely sound. Why, then, did I have the sharp feeling as I listened that in 50 years or fewer that song would become hated internationally? Would it be because the country which once had had it as its anthem used up the resources of the world? Because it had not cared what happened to its own people, other countries’ people, other countries’ land? Because it had precipitated the collapse of not only civilized life, but life itself across much of the globe? Who is it who is left in 50 years to think these thoughts?

How about because in its offensive militarism the lyrics perfectly echoe the actions of the nation? There is plenty in that song to dislike.

It’s got too wide a vocal range to be liked in any case ;-)

MY preference is for This Land Is Your Land. It’s the *perfect* subversive song.

jwbaseball @ 89

Excellent stuff! A journalist actually asking questions that are not softballs of a politician. Shuster knocked it out of the park!

I hope people remember this the next time he pursues a not so direct path in his interviews. I think he does a really good job most of the time.

raven @ 87

Fern @ 85

How about because in its offensive militarism the lyriks perfectly echoe the actions of the nation? There is plenty in that song to dislike.

This country is no more disliked now than it was 40 years ago. If you don’t believ it you could look it up!

You won’t get an argument from me on that.

I’ve preferred “America The Beautiful” since Viet Nam.

dov12348 @ 56

The Republicans LOVE the MoveOn ad — because it gives them an “issue,” which they’ve been desperate for. Their bitching is really ersatz-bitching — it plays well for their cult.

I think that the flavor of the ad (but not its content) was something of a tactical error. But now that the republicans are working so hard to draw attention to it, I think that MoveOn should not back off and should make a real issue of Petraeus’s competence and character and the fact that his past performance and announced presidential aspirations make him fair game. There is lots of ammunition:
- What his chain of command says of him.
- What his troops say.
- His announced presidential aspirations.
- The fact that he injected himself into the 2004 campaign.
- His dubious statistics.
- The fact that he is being shaken down for protection money by Al Qaeda in Iraq (Greg Palast)
- The fact that he is arming opponents of the Iraqi government government, whom Bush described last week as an ally of the United States (address to the nation), and whose ability to protect its citizens is per Bush the central objective of our presence in Iraq (VFW speech).

behindthefall @ 78

Odd experience recently. Thousands of people, mostly older and whiter than the average, stood up at a cultural event while the orchestra played “The Star-spangled Banner”. They sang in full voice. It was a lovely sound. Why, then, did I have the sharp feeling as I listened that in 50 years or fewer that song would become hated internationally? Would it be because the country which once had had it as its anthem used up the resources of the world? Because it had not cared what happened to its own people, other countries’ people, other countries’ land? Because it had precipitated the collapse of not only civilized life, but life itself across much of the globe? Who is it who is left in 50 years to think these thoughts?

I know what you mean. Instead of being the world’s protectors of freedom, champions of the underdog, we are now oppressors (some will argue we always were) but now every one knows it. and if they don’t they are in serious denial.

My own odd experience was realizing that I feel, er, stronger powerful resentment when I see our President on the TV than when I see a picture of Iran’s President….that’s weird.

itwasntme @ 94

I’ve preferred “America The Beautiful” since Viet Nam.

not “Onward Christian Soldiers” ?