reagan was far from “reaganesque”, the greatest tax raiser, they greatest government growth of any president

Thanks Jane, just placed my order.

Interesting how the letters “G” “A” “Y” and the word “hypocrites” stand out so prominently on the cover.

Or is it just me?

I think it’s just you.

Check Glenn’s site for his own description of the book and references to reviews, including a typically bad one from Publisher’s Weekly, which, like Jim Lehrer’s Comfy NewsHour, can’t abide anything but centrist, genteel criticism of people who don’t even deserve that.

Glenn reports that the book is already 10th on Amazon’s Top Ten! Thanks to those DFH’s on his site and others like this one. Go, go, go.

It’s just you. I was looking at the comparison between the toppling of Sadam and his toppler. The real target is the MSM, which has decided that fulfilling the responsibilities of the press in a free society is much less comfy and lucrative than supporting the GOP.

What do we know about the person who wrote the review for Publisher’s weekly? From the review on Amazon:

“More a partisan screed than a reasoned argument meant to persuade undecided readers, this repetitive text frequently devolves into personal attacks and vast generalizations. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved”

The review up to this point seemed rather positive. Does Reed have a Right Wing Hack on their staff that slipped the last comment in?

I was looking at the comparison between the toppling of Sadam and his toppler.

same here

Ordered!

I think it’s Glenn’s thesis that the Publisher’s Weekly review is typical of a certain strain of MSM criticism. They are intellectually honest enough to cite some of the book’s qualities, but congenitally obligated to bash it in the end for not being centrist, genteel and understated.

Glenn pierces that balloon’s hot air by pointing out what the MSM refuses to: centrist gentility is appropriate only in centrist times. Refusing to call a liar a liar because it’s impolite, when that liar is the president of the United States taking us to war, is neither genteel nor centrist. It is aiding and abetting the lie. I give you, the MSM.

They are intellectually honest enough to cite some of the book’s qualities, but congenitally obligated to bash it in the end for not being centrist, genteel and understated.

but when you are factual there is no center, there is correct or incorrect.

if a book is correct, there is no way to call it particent, though zealots might make the attempt, they are clearly wrong

Has Glenn been invited to the Daily Show? This would seem to be right up their alley

That would be wonderful. I’ll check their website and see if they allow input.

Jane,

Aren’t there two “n’s” in “Glenzilla?

Hey, lhp! I think Diane Benson broke $150,000 in donations before she collapsed on the floor before midnight yesterday…

Here is a form for submitting information about programming to Comedy Central.

Not me, I was distracted by Snorg Tees girl advertisement.

Dayum, distracted from the important by the bright, shiny object again!

hell, yes! I just pre-ordered it.

Good point. I think Glenn’s book addresses it, too. That is, the Bush White House, with MSM concurrence, debased the language of law, politics and public debate. From Orwellian named statutes – healthy forests and clean skies legislation that promoted neither – to “free speech zones” that suppressed speech, to calling repeated defeats in Iraq “successes”.

That debasement allowed Rove and his progeny to label all criticism – no matter how well-founded and supported by facts and popular opinion – as “political”. They use that as the rationale for ignoring it and pay no penalty. Thanks to the MSM. A political tactic that would probably have caused the MSM of an earlier era to hound FDR or Truman or LBJ out of office.

I think that’s the principal first-aid that keeps Bush’s Bubble (and those of his Base) from bursting.

very

well

said

Watching CNN report on the congressional hearings about big oil profits, record pump prices, and large tax breaks over lunch…

The anchor then let Glenn Beck break in and tell me that we should applaud the record profits because our retireement pensions and 401Ks are all invested in oil companies, and thus we all profit with them.

Since when is Beck doing real news? and where was Hugh when I needed him:)?

glen beck triggers nothing but stomach bile

I get pounding headaches when gas prices are explained away with “increases in the price of oil.” It’s as if nobody understands the basic economic reality that oil company profits mean income in excess of costs. Hel-lo? What would the price of gas be if the oil companies were breaking even??

And of course the fact that those cost-related price spikes always occur over busy travel periods, why, that’s just a coincidence.

Sorry OT, but with the Saudi’s revamping their nuclear fall-out procedures the day after the Dark Lord visits, this and the new moon coming up….

‘Israel has reportedly unveiled plans to prepare for missile strikes it believes will be launched by states like Iran and Syria.

During the five-day preparation operation, Israel will reportedly simulate conventional and non-conventional missile strikes to test emergency response against Iran and Syria as well as the evacuation of cities.

The operation is slated to begin on April 6, according to the WorldTribune.com.’

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.a…..=351020104

That is, the Bush White House, with MSM concurrence, debased the language of law, politics and public debate. From Orwellian named statutes – healthy forests and clean skies legislation that promoted neither – to “free speech zones” that suppressed speech, to calling repeated defeats in Iraq “successes”.

the thing i still have trouble grasping is how much (and why) the dems have aided this process.

for example, the “free speech zones” were not just a republican invention – we had them in boston for the DNC. apparently that is where kerry and the dnc wanted all the anti-war members of the party to hang out.

another example is on fisa – where for example, the house leadership claimed to have fought against the PAA in august when they did no such thing. or the senate leadership calling their capitulation by UC on jan 31 a success.

Geez, that’s appalling. Even leaving aside the blatant partisan slant, he should be mocked mercilessly by anyone claiming to be a journalists if he can’t do enough basic math to figure out that anyone in their audience who’s only invested through pensions and mutual funds is spending more on gas than they’re making on oil company profits.

Once bitten by Beck, you have about twenty-four hours to get the antidote, multiple injections into the abdomen with needles that are much too long. That’s true also when daubed with the sputum from Limbaugh; though with a scratch from Joe Klein, you’ve got about a week, because there’s so little there there.

Failing that, you’re doomed to a nasty case of pundit-phobia marked by intellectual death and endless foaming at the mouth.

Yeah — my response is always “Really? What other industry makes higher profits when the cost of raw materials goes up?“

thanks for the link.

does anyone know how fast a nimtz class carrier can travel? the USS Lincoln took 9 days to get from LA to Pearl Harbor on it’s way to the 5th fleet. any estimates on how long it should take to get from hawaii to the gulf?

the MIC.

“That’s the objective of this book — to put these right-wing leaders under that same microscope and to apply the same standards to them — the ones used successfully by them and their media allies to mock and destroy the personality and character of their opponents in order to win “elections.

Let’s start with Patrick McHenry

Actually, any in the raw material extraction business, but I get your point.

Bought it and Naomi’s Disaster Capitalism for the free shipping. Dam, there went my book budget for the month*g*

Nobody knows for sure, but they’re capable of bursts at almost 40 knots. They can travel for days at just under 35 knots, which is just over 40 mph.

I think Iran may have foiled the Dark-One’s first attempt at a casus belli by brokering the cease-fire deal in Iraq. But he’ll try again.

I put both those same books on my shopping list, while waiting for book budget to free up funds.

Just ordered Glenn’s new book and look oh so forward to reading and recommending to friends and family. And love the idea of Glenn on the Daily Show. woo hoo!

almost 1000 mi/day?

the USS Lincoln left Hawaii on 3/23. which, if i understand correctly means it could be in the gulf by the 6th of april… do i have that right?

the reason i’m asking is that the USS Truman is already with the 5th fleet, and not scheduled to return until july. so why do we need to send a replacement now?

and fyi – fallon announced his retirement on 3/11 and the USS Lincoln left for the ME on 3/13.

p.s. my apologies for not sharing this excellent link from hugh. where are our carriers?

Sorry OT –

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — The killing of four armed Palestinian fugitives in a hail of Israeli gunfire is raising new questions about the military’s practices during arrest operations in the West Bank.

The Israeli human rights group B’Tselem is calling for a criminal inquiry into the shooting, citing witness accounts claiming the men were summarily executed. B’Tselem says that would violate a ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court that troops must try to take wanted men alive.

thank you FDL news.

gah– does this bring up any other ‘great or civilized or democratized’ nation’s actions???

Vichy Democrats in Congress have certainly aided and abetted the Bush program. That’s one reason Blue America is trying to help progressive Democrats like Donna Edwards. My fantasy is that Jane Harman will lose her seat to Minnie Mouse.

As for the growth of free speech zones, I think that’s more complicated. I think the SS has much to say about using them now with everyone they protect. Rather than fight the feds, or because they agree with them, cities have gone along with the ruse because it hasn’t been successfully challenged in court frequently enough. (In the few cases brought, free speech usually wins; but sometimes only on appeal. An expensive and lengthy process that few progressives can afford.)

Some cities are so disgusted by fed-mandated “free speech” zones – and how the fed’s under Cheney/Bush generally treast folks peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights – that they’ve asked not to be visited again by the president of vice president. I think Milwaukee’s done that.

The feds are also in the habit of sticking the locals with millions in security costs then walking away – even when the speeches are at private, invitation only events, which, by definition, are GOP and not governmental events.

The MSM rarely covers that and it rarely makes the local news. One example that did was the Colorado “assault” claim by Cheney’s SS against a local dad. Last I heard – usually only the Rocky Mountain News cover it – the federal judge hearing the case asked Cheney to show cause why he shouldn’t be deposed.

John Amato has a post hawking Glenn’s book over at C&L right now.

i could be wrong, but my impression in 2004 was that boston did not request the free speech zone for the dnc. now, it could have been the SS who made the request – but certainly kerry et al. never spoke up against them. and the silencing of anti-war voices during the convention was consistent with the desire to keep those voices out of sight and out of mind during the convention.

Only big pharma and big ag come close, but I think big oil has it by a super tanker.

It’s not a complicated recipe: a pound of a tax credit, two pounds of tax subsidy, a dozen cheap offshore leases, toss the anti-competitive practices, add one Gringot’s Bank load of uncollected royalties owed the government and Indian tribes, bake in an oven fueled by legal immunities for twenty-four hours. Presto: profits. Guaranteed not to fall no matter how much the kids jump and shout.

OT, but I just couldn’t resist saying, things have gotten so stupid on David Gregory’s new show that Jay Carney just likened Barack’s attempt at bowling to Dukakis’ ride in the tank. This is just sickeningly stupid!

Hmmm, Why the hell is the Iraki ‘government’ making deals like this when most of the country doesn’t even have basic services? Maybe some back room deals/bribes being done?

BAGHDAD: ‘Iraq said on Monday it has signed a contract worth $5.5 billion with Boeing to buy 40 new aircraft, with an option to purchase 15 more. Baghdad has also signed a $400 million contract with Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier to purchase 10 passenger planes, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement.’
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/ar…..e_id=90467

Thanks.

Moonless nights in April, 3 – 7.

OT
NewsHour now
the 3 candidates’ campaigns on the Paulson plan

Speaking of myths, here’s what I’m likely to pair with Glenn’s book:

Unequal Democracy: The Political Economy of the New GIlded Age by Larry Bartels.

Here’s some discussion of it courtesy Mark Thoma.

Mind, exploration, production and marketing are difficult, sometimes deadly, and require considerable technical, financial and managerial expertise. But these guys have refined and automated those processes to the nth degree. Which leaves creative relationship building with domestic and foreign governments as a principal variable.

When an executive retires on a final year boing of $400 million, something’s wrong with that picture, IMHO.

I’m watching too. Mind boggling stupidity.

OT/OTR (off the reservation):

Clinton backer: Obama will win

(CNN) — A key Hillary Clinton supporter appeared to be a bit off message during a recent interview with a Canadian radio station.

“If I had to make a prediction right now, I’d say Barack Obama is going to be the next president,” Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver said in a Canadian public radio interview this weekend. “I will be stunned if he’s not the next president of the United States.”

Cleaver, an African-American, endorsed Clinton’s White House bid last year and formally remained aligned with the New York senator even as other black leaders shifted their support to Barack Obama.

*sigh* yet the primary rages on

I’m listening to Glenn now on Rachel Maddow’s show on Air America. He’s talking about Mukasey and FISA instead of the book.

I demand a book signing in Philly!!! After all .. a few prominent bloggers live here ;-)

The update to his post today said he’d mainly be speaking about Mukasey and FISA on Maddow’s show.

and I hear tell they Drink Liberally too

I’m sorry, but again I’m OT, but I have added Glen’s book to my growing list of books to get from the library!!!
Hmmm,
The reason this maybe interesting (or not) is that when Darth shot his lawyer, one of the other guests at the shooting party was Pamela Willeford who is/was the US Ambassador to Switzerland..

BERN, Switzerland – The U.S. has demanded to see a Swiss contract for natural gas supplies from Iran to see whether it violates an American sanctions law against Tehran, the U.S. Embassy in Switzerland said Sunday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..nd_us_iran

Wow rachel just smacked down Scarborough…couldn’t have happened to a better toad

Thanks, Jim, I put my 2 cents in over there. Appreciate the link.

another TV note
tonight on Frontline we have Bad VooDoo’s War

In June 2007, as the American military surge reached its peak, a band of National Guard infantrymen who call themselves the “Bad Voodoo Platoon” was deployed to Iraq. To capture a vivid, first-person account of the new realities of war in Iraq for FRONTLINE and ITVS director Deborah Scranton (The War Tapes) created a “virtual embed” with the platoon, supplying cameras to the soldiers so they could record and tell the story of their war. The film intimately tracks the veteran soldiers of “Bad Voodoo” through the daily grind of their perilous mission, dodging deadly IEDs, grappling with the political complexities of dealing with Iraqi security forces, and battling their fatigue and their fears.

Bye Bye Hillary.

http://www.northstarwriters.com/dc163.htm

and I’ll toss in Nova

“Voyage to the Mystery Moon” follows the story of NASA and the European Space Agency’s Cassini-Huygens mission, designed for multiple flybys past Saturn and Titan as well as an actual landing on the mysterious orange moon. It is an audacious undertaking, engaging scientists in the U.S. and Europe since 1990. These experts share with NOVA the inspiration, creativity, ambition, and near-obsessive dedication required of such a long-term venture. They have, after all, put all their eggs in one spaceship.

Wow rachel just smacked down Scarborough…couldn’t have happened to a better toad

I totally agree, and it’s about time she was able to get a word in edgewise with him! He seems to think if he’s just condescending enough and he justs talks over her to drown her out, he wins every argument, the little asshole!

I don’t have an opinion on the book one way or another, but for the reviewer to call it partisan seems pretty accurate, given Glenn’s purpose for writing as quoted in this post. And he is likely preaching to the choir – I mean who’s going to be buying it?

absolutely and he looked a little miffed at her comment. priceless

Christy has a whole new post up for us!

Ordered the book. He’s at 35 on amazon.

Ordered, Jane. Thank you.

You are amazing, and so is Glenn.

Ordered. He has done an amazing job on FISA.

Any book he writes is going onto my book shelf.