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Republicans running on terrorism is like Hoover running on the economy.
Axelrod accused Republicans of seeking to exploit last week’s attempted bombing and predicted that their effort would fail with the American people. “There are those who want to solve the problem, and there are those who want to exploit it,” he said. “This is not the time for politics.”
The Republican strategy is further complicated by the fact that the nation’s counterterrorism intelligence and security procedures were created after Sept. 11, 2001, by Bush and congressional Republicans. Current watch-list systems were put in place years ago and have not changed. In addition, the former Guantanamo Bay detainees who showed up in the al-Qaeda leadership in Yemen were released by Bush two years ago.
Pfffffft. The fact that the terrorist wannabe was able to board that plane has nothing to do with “policies” and is clearly the result of Obama’s refusal to admit we’re at war.
[/GOP]
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Good morning BT.
Is 2009 over yet?
American terrorists have killed hundreds of thousands of people in the last few years…. a killing spree to be proud of.
Mornin’, BT, pups
I’m goin’ with the less conventional choice.
Chatty Cathy Dick(less) Che-Knee. Me likee.
Killing spree goes on. democracynow just had an item on the latest civilian slaughter by U.S. in Afghanistan.
Ding!
Greenwald’s got a piece at Salon that may make good companion reading to you this morning.
And Huffington Post’s on the march to community banks instead of the big boys. Looks like lotsa corporate trolls, must be working… first you get their attention.
The one that folks were allegedly pulled from their beds and murdered?
I came in at the end, so I’m not sure of the details. Could be the one you refer to.
Good morning BT and thanks for the Rachel. Happy New Year to you my fellow Austinite.
Good morning SoDrag. I will stay with the less conventional as well.
Greenwald’s the guest on democracynow to recap 2009.
I do hope a lot of folks make the switch. I have to deposit a couple owner’s checks at BofA. The place is like a graveyard. The forced smiles are really evident.
heh Methought bikes was conventional for youse.
I worry a lot less about whether the near miss downing of the airliner was preventable by a more diligent Obama and a lot more about the fact that those passengers had to bear that risk in the first place.
The back and forth between Obama and the Republican’s makes not a whit of difference to the fact that the US campaign to antagonize the Muslim world has led to innocent Americans having to endure mortal risks.
Most commentary always falls back on claiming that we are now in a post 9/11 world as if that represented some tragic global plague that befell us from above, like an unprovoked scourge we will now forever have to endure. But of course the very opposite is true. This scourge is of our making and can very easily be lifted.
All that is needed is for the US to stop raining down so much death and ruin on the Muslim world.
I have to go to Chase Bank once a month to deposit money in my daughter’s account, and the people there are always really nice. They sometimes try to lure me away from my Credit Union. Ain’t gonna happen.
Republican’s ideas of good govt.
One terroist somewhere …go bomb a country with oil.
Or in the case of lieberman..bomb every country surrounding Israel..maybe he will squeeze out a smile for you . If you are lucky.
Exactly what Greenwald is pointing out on democracynow.
And stop arming our bff Israel.
Anyone who has savings in a bank is not paying attention. Glad Huff Po is recommending small banks.
Guess 1929 came as a surprise too.
I have a story to tell about trying to wrest my home back from Citi… hope you like the interest payment on that $11 balance that’s left, Citiguys.
Interesting conversation at Morning Joe [yes, as Craig Ferguson would say, I know!] on what Joe’s dubbed The Great Re-set.
Indeed.
BofA, some time ago, was a small community bank that did a world of good in and around SanFrancisco. Founded by an Italian immigrant and very well run. Again, some time ago.
Ya know, it’s funny. Only once in 10 years has a teller at BofA asked me to open an account. Must be the long hair and moustache. And the look of disgust/contempt.
Were there breakdowns in security? Certainly if this man was able to board a plane with explosives. Pointing fingers is the political gamesmanship that’s going on rather than the more practical effort to move forward and fix what’s wrong with the system. If an investment has to be made to develop and put in place scanners at airports then get it done.
We bailed on BOA last month, nice feeling.
LOL yeah, a hundred years. They really screwed me when I had an account there after I got back from Nam. Had my dust in a credit union ever since.
I don’t know if it’s the hair or the clothes. If you wore your wedding tuxedo, they might think you were some kind of bizarre millionaire.
when you leaving?
Anyone have the phone number to the Politico, I’d like to give ‘em a ring and ask if they saw Rachel last night.
Good Morning, BOAless Raven,
How was the lake and the snow? Haven’t seen you since your Christmas travels.
Like Fox News, Politico.com is becoming an Axis Of Evil! Someone tell Politico that DICK Cheney needs a filter.
Oh, the word I was searching for, unsuccessfully, was eccentric. :)
Democrats have such short memories. When the thugs make those spurious attack on Dems over security, you would think we could at the least recall how the republicans failed miserably and unapologetically in the months leading up to 911.
If Gore had taken office and ignored all the warnings before 911 there would not be a day go by that the thugs would not remind us of that failure. Not…a …day….would… go…by without a reminder. What is our problem?
Yeah, I guess the shorts and tee shirt do make me look like a beach rat.
I don need no steenking tux to look eccentric. *g*
It was ok thanks. Foot and a half of snow covered the 73 steps down to the lake so I go on it with the ol’ shovel!
About the same time I parted company with them. Credited a deposit a day later than made and wanted an overdraft fee as a result. Called them thieves and moved to a CU.
Good morning demi. Making me laugh as always.
My kinda dude.
Love that Rose is Rose cartoon. Thanks.
My version of rebellion would be me on a horse, though. In a bikini.
Goin’ back up is the hard part.
Groovy. It’s the best medicine. Actually, the only kind I can afford.
politico:
1100 Wilson Blvd., Suite 601
Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 647-7999
It was easier since I had no fish!
I’ve known young ladies who wore short short cut offs on rides. Bet they didn’t do it again.
LOL
Yikes. That’s a white Christmas, alright.
Mine was pretty sweet and not to crazy. Played my flute with my mister on the piano for Christmas Eve service at church. That was my favorite part of everything.
You can wear a bikini on a motorcycle. Ask CBL. It’s a pretty good story.
Sounds good. You gettin crazy tonight? We’re headed to the Peach Bowl.
Growing up in Shadow Hills, near where you did, we used to ride with bare back pads, so we didn’t get chaffed. But the bikini top with shorts and cowgirl boots was a fav look of mine. Back then. Sniff. When I was, you know, young and cute. Sniff, again.
I see that alla time here.
Oh, Lord. Chris Matthews on MSNBC now concern trolling about 9/11, blithely ignoring everything he personally and his fellow travelers in the media did in furtherance of the propaganda of BushCo.
We don’t quite have a democracy….
At least he’s got a clue there.
When I was a kid in LA you could rent horses and run, unsupervised, in the riverbeds. That’s a ship that sailed.
I haven’t been horseback since OR and I love to ride.
I saw a dude eat in on a bike in Negril wearing shorts, not good.
Haven’t made plans further than the steaks and champagne. Maybe I should drag the mister out. Hmmmmm. Shall check on what’s happening.
I had the flu for three days this week and have been kind of out of the loop.
Some credit unions pay much better interest on checking and savings. The big banks pay almost nothing.
The post office credit union in Houston ,”Plus4″, for the past year, has been paying 5% on accounts up to $25,000. (Open to everyone who gets mail) You just have to use their credit card and a couple other minor things.
Happened to see that just now. Repulsive innit?
At least they finally got off of their Big Story of the Year; a golfer had sex with wimmin not his wife.
When I first got here there was no helmet law. Then there was. Then they repealed it. Dudes and dudettes in shorts or bathing attire about 8 months out of the year. I haven’t seen anybody go down but I’ve heard about it and seen the aftermath. Not pretty.
Stay home, going out with all those weenies sucks. (except for a bowl game of course)!
Hi, Prairie. How ya doin’ this season? Hanging in there, sweets?
I’m continually amazed at the obsession with celebrities.
I rode without a brain bucket for years. I broke my back in a van wreck in 75 and, after a year in a full body cast, I didn’t want my head alive and the rest of me dead.
Yeah. We had talked a movie here and the fireplace roaring. But, maybe we should run down to the local beer bar and shoot a few rounds of pool too. I might even put on some lickstick.
Last time I went out on New Year’s Eve was 5-6 years ago when Donna the Buffalo was playing for WMNF’s bash. Went straight from BayWalk (it was on a Sat) to the bash, totin’ about 30 pounds of canned goods for Second Harvest.
I met a gin soaked barroom queen in Memphis
My ex-bil lost in on a bike years ago. Drunk, shorts and flip flops. He was in the hospital a long time and then was humble for a short time.
You know the type. Got my truck, my guns and the old lady. Not saying All guys with guns and trucks are like him, tho. *g*
straight? a man after my own heart. . .these days anyways!
you have seen my 66 chevy longbed, no?
It’s a disease.
Dang I love me some Rachel Maddow!
Hey, what’s all this happy talk, let’s get back to bitchin!
Divorcee in New Orleans.
Actually, it’s a funky little joint. Only serves beer. One table. Never saw a fight there. Total local and 5 minutes from the house.
Si, Senor. She’s purty. Oh, and your wife is too.
The terrorists, that intrepid group of medevial Islamic extreemists hunkering down in mountain caves and desert wadis, will always fail to defeat the United States, but they do have this going for them: They have completely dominated the right wing and their fellow travelers in the Republican Party and the corporate media.
With every threat of terror in the U.S. the right wing tramples each other in their eagerness to show submission to terrorists, cheered on by the corporate media. It’s not enough to capture and try and imprison terrorists. No, according to the right, the proper reaction to even attempted terrorism is complete and utter panic, fear, and submission.
The right are cowards whose way was pointed out by the obviously frightened Cheney and Bush, men who were so scared that they themselves might be in some way harmed that they led the nation in a near decade of trashing the Constitution. I’m really tired of hearing these un-American, anti-American bastards bleating fear that is so great you can practically smell the stink of them coming through the television screen.
And when the government does act with deliberation and seriousness in response to terrorism, actual or attempted, what is the reaction? Condemnation from the corporate media and the right that sufficient panic is not evident in word and deed.
Home of the brave? Gah!
Five more minutes, please? And, just warning you. I’ve started to write happy talk diaries on Sundays here. That darn demi!
that’s the lead in to Honky Tonk Woman
Yea, I need to get off my ass and get’s to that honey-do
Went home straight, too.
Be good and have a great one.
Happy New Year, Raven. Enjoy the ballgame.
Off to swim in the great capitalist cesspool.
US KIA Irak: 4,371
US KIA Afghanistan: 949
US MBS 2009: 45,136
Be good to yourselves, and all other living things.
Namaste
Why Ax is not the press secretary is completely beyond me. I thought he should get the job a year ago and I think he should have it now. This admin made an understandable but nonetheless freshman mistake: It believed its own PR, thinking that merely stating a desire for bipartisan cooperation would make it so.
In the broadest sense, the left is warm and fuzzy (socially conscious), the right is ruthless (will say/do anything, truth/greater good be damned). Gibbs whole bearing and demeanor invites attacks, and he has so far proved not equal to them. Glad to see we’re loosing the Ax; hopefully it’s just the beginning.
TheMalcontent.com
Be good to your old eccentric self too, Dragon.
Okay, oldnslow, it’s just you and me, kiddo. Don’t tell your wifey. :)
Hey, what do you think of Jane’s fundraising for Kucinich? Got to the goal right away and extended. Pretty cool, huh?
O/T
Thank you Jane and the rest of the FDL crew for continuing to show me the difference between real change and reshuffling of deck chairs on the USS Status Quo.
I appreciate and admire all of you.
Please continue to fight the good fight.
Happy New Year.
Oh, and Bob.
Look in the mirror when ya say that, Pilgram *in my best John Wayne accent* *g*
As usual, Rachel is barking up the wrong tree again.
1. Opinions from Middle East “experts” are as plentiful as buttholes, and about as different, and about as useful for an opinion.
2. What do you want the Afghanistani people to “stand up” for, or to? Why are you there? How about talking about getting the heck out of someone else’s country, Rachel?
Axelrod is just “Rove Light”. The problem is the complete war hoax. When did you join “911 World”, Rachel? And for gods sake, stop barking every day, on the wrong issues.
Rachel not only nailed the RNC but everyone who calls themselves a reporter. She’s a JEWEL, shining brightly in a pile of horseshit!!
RACHEL AND JANE for P and VP, not necessarily in that order.
BT,
Thank you for Morning Swims. Your efforts keep me healthy.
Have a Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all the swimmers too!
Well, I’m with you…
Allow me to strike an off note here and this is what I thought of last night, since I believe deep in my heart that all the “terraism” has been false flag from the git go:
President Obama, in spite of needing this “incident” to prolong and promote the wars, at least didn’t kill a bunch of people like his predecessor did.
I guess Ft. Hood wasn’t clear enuff. So, the “underwear bomber” and now everyone’s reminded of why they loved GW in the first place and the necessity of these endless wars while the old folks eat catfood at home.
So, Obama is the kinder, gentler version of in country attacks.
Just IMO
Oh:EVIDENCE MOUNTS FOR U.S. COMPLICITY IN TERRORISM
http://www.veteranstoday.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9951
Love it.
Fact check and put it into context or just copy the GOP talking points and hit “send.”
It’s your choice. It’s your country.
Rachel is a gem.
Is someone forcing you to watch?
Really. Like George Carlin said of Donald Wildmon, the southern minister who complained about “obscenity” on the radio, “Didn’t anyone ever tell you, Reverend, that there are two KNOBS on the radio?! Yeah! KNOBS on the radio! One turns it off and the other (*snap*) CHANGES THE STATION!! That’s right, Reverend, you can actually CHANGE the station! ‘Course, I’m sure the Reverend isn’t too comfortable with anything having KNOBS…”
I, for one, think Rachels spot-on with covering all the topics of today. I believe I see a “Peabody” in her near future. IMO she is the best investigative reporter in the media today. Her and KO have more guts and fortiude than anyone to uncover the truth.
I hope Matthews was watching Rachel and learning that POLITICO is not the only “news source” out there and that, by doing some simple Internet Searches, he can find the same video clips that show how hypocritical these people are that he deems “the truth tellers”.
The best thing about wearing a helmet and leathers? When it’s all over and the dust settles, all your pieces are still there. Maybe a little hard used and banged up, but at least they are not some red screech mark in the asphalt.
Just watched the segment. There’s a method to Cheney’s madness.
The content of his words is almost irrelevant; what matters is their impact. He’s using words in an almost purely mechanical fashion, a hallmark of the propagandist. Ads don’t have to make sense, right? They just have to move the product. Items on the MMPI don’t have to make sense, either, they just have to predict behaviors.
What’s the difference between deceiving people to death and shooting them?
What’s the difference between Cheney going ballistic and a sniper?
Cheney isn’t making sense, but I doubt that’s his goal. He’s using weapons-grade propaganda on us, same as he ever has. It started back when Rummy ran the Pentagon.
Cheney and his gang of neocon practitioners of political lying jacked us to war in Iraq not with facts, but with myths, right? Myths speak directly to our emotions, bypassing (for the most part) our rational neocortex. Thus the inchoate support for even the worst of demagogues, like Cheney: their supporters have been jacked by weapons-grade rhetoric running on the power of myths. They don’t know and can’t say why they support them, they just do.
Obviously, weapons-grade “influence ops” are the rhetorical analogue of the “flashy thing” from the movie, Men In Black. I wonder how many billions have gone into researching and developing them? I’m betting it’s the product of the notorious neocon “crazies” and their torturing pals at APA, building on the long history of “strategic domestic disinformation campaigns” by CIA and others.
When Cheney talks in such a fact-free manner, it’s a dead giveaway that he’s shooting to kill with weapons-grade myths. The answer is not to chase down his every lie, but to point to where he’s coming from. You don’t stop a firehose at the nozzle, right? You go to the source.
Whence comes Cheney’s faith in war? His problem with Obama is, he’s not war-loving enough. So Obama’s defenders say, oh yes he is! Wonderful.
We have to look right at our conceptions of certain fundamental units of society. What does it mean to be human: are we best imaged as beings, or machines? Are we citizens, or are we subjects?
As Marcy Wheeler has been pointing out lately, America’s worst problem is our continuing use of a feudal way of being in the world.
We’re not the Newtonian automata our sciences and politics imagine us to be. That image of being human turns out to be a voodoo doll. It’s an homunculus, a distorted model of ourselves that can be useful, but on the whole is doing more harm than good.
Can’t you just see Cheney huddling over a voodoo doll of the American people, fiendishly needling us to ever more war?
Propagandists have the advantage of being able to make shit up, as long as it moves the targets in the intended direction. Like I said, advertising and agit-prop don’t have to make sense, right? They just have to impact the audience enough to change their behavior against their will.
Cheney isn’t making sense, he’s making myths.
That’s right, astute ones: we have icons on the control panels of our psyches, and Cheney is pushing them for all he’s worth.
That’s why it’s so profoundly offensive. He’s using the power of our own dreams, terrors, and aspirations, to jack us around like so many toy soldiers in his world of perpetual bogus holy wars. We need to bust the myth that’s creating this world of pain and powering Cheney’s weaponized rhetoric.
You are Oh sooo right!
It seems that the only lefties with a set when it comes to calling out the whackos on the right and the “right, wrong or truthful who cares – just report the talking points memos” that the MSM gets from them are RM & JH!
Most lefties don’t know how to say “You’re a lying sack of shit” and leave it up to “the girls” to punch these right wing jack-offs in the face….
“Home of the brave” – Sure, if you’re a progressive female.
Cowboy up you latte drinkin’girlie men that dominate the liberal left media! The rethuglicans will just go all pee-pants on ya’ when you clock them one in the nuts. Besides, our semi-literate Rambo-esque society loves ya when you do! We gotta get some PR workin’ to show that dems and lefties ain’t the bunch of pussies the rethugs have made us out to be…
D’oh, left out the citation for the comparative mythology quote.
Joseph Campbell. (1968). Masks of God: Primitive Mythology, p.41. New York: Penguin.
Maddow’s mission statement segment, TRMS Investigates, on a mission, is an almost perfect example of exactly what I’m on about. I’m thrilled with the work they’ve done so far. But of course, TRMS can’t do it all themselves.
It would be too much to ask Maddow to apply that same ferocity to busting all public opinion-jacking myths, no matter the source. It’s a lot to expect, to ask for someone to challenge the interests of the people who give them their bully pulpits. I’m thinking specifically of people to whom Maddow doesn’t give the full force of her cross-examination, like “Mika’s dad,” Zbigniew Brzezinski, and Madeline Albright, and the Democratic Party’s other State Department and intelligence community superdelegates.
Naturally, as in baseball, we’ll have to back her up.
Maddow questions things while Her network like all the rest lets the GOP have the MIC and the Floor to sell ther shit.
I have actualy been forced to change channels to keep from upchucking at some of the GOP guests they put on.
You don’t have to watch Fox to get the GOP line, it’s all over.
Every show I turned to was reading what Cheney said, and then had on GOP operatives to back Him up.
This is not NEWS, but the promoting of one mans opinion, and then the letting of others on to support that opinion.
A sick Media leads to a sick Country.
Yes Israel, the only country on earth which is a self declared theocracy and will henceforth be called the Jewish state of Israel.
Our dearest and closest theocracy in the middle east which can’t understand why it is despised by the people whose land it has reduced to 8% of its original size. Or why it is hated by those countries that surround it just because it inserted itself in their midst by force with no claim to the place whatsoever.
It is truly a wonder the contempt the US government has for its people. How impotent the public has become in determing who we are meant to support or who we are meant to go out and kill. We should not get caught up in defending Obama despite his words to the contrary he is an accomplice to this killing.
One difference seems to be that Obama out of weakness and cowardice says he is a reluctant participant.I’m sure the dead are comforted by that thought.