The Resistance

Damn

2007-07-19T23:05:00.000-05:00

That's all I've got to say at the moment.

These Guys All Suck

2006-10-25T10:53:00.000-05:00

--AZ-Sen: Jon Kyl
--AZ-01: Rick Renzi
--AZ-05: J.D. Hayworth
--CA-04: John Doolittle
--CA-11: Richard Pombo
--CA-50: Brian Bilbray
--CO-04: Marilyn Musgrave
--CO-05: Doug Lamborn
--CO-07: Rick O'Donnell
--CT-04: Christopher Shays
--FL-13: Vernon Buchanan
--FL-16: Joe Negron
--FL-22: Clay Shaw
--ID-01: Bill Sali
--IL-06: Peter Roskam
--IL-10: Mark Kirk
--IL-14: Dennis Hastert
--IN-02: Chris Chocola
--IN-08: John Hostettler
--IA-01: Mike Whalen
--KS-02: Jim Ryun
--KY-03: Anne Northup
--KY-04: Geoff Davis
--MD-Sen: Michael Steele
--MN-01: Gil Gutknecht
--MN-06: Michele Bachmann
--MO-Sen: Jim Talent
--MT-Sen: Conrad Burns
--NV-03: Jon Porter
--NH-02: Charlie Bass
--NJ-07: Mike Ferguson
--NM-01: Heather Wilson
--NY-03: Peter King
--NY-20: John Sweeney
--NY-26: Tom Reynolds
--NY-29: Randy Kuhl
--NC-08: Robin Hayes
--NC-11: Charles Taylor
--OH-01: Steve Chabot
--OH-02: Jean Schmidt
--OH-15: Deborah Pryce
--OH-18: Joy Padgett
--PA-04: Melissa Hart
--PA-07: Curt Weldon
--PA-08: Mike Fitzpatrick
--PA-10: Don Sherwood
--RI-Sen: Lincoln Chafee
--TN-Sen: Bob Corker
--VA-Sen: George Allen
--VA-10: Frank Wolf
--WA-Sen: Mike McGavick
--WA-08: Dave Reichert

They Write Letters

2006-03-07T15:30:00.000-06:00

This was a letter to the editor printed by the Strib

Plenty to be scared of

Katherine Kersten asks, "Why are DFLers scared of voting on same-sex union?"

I don't represent the DFL; I can only answer for myself. But I am scared of living where we vote on whether members of a minority get privileges automatically granted the rest of us. I am scared of elections where winners are likely to be chosen by their commitment to discrimination. I am scared of politicians who speak of "tradition" just like those who once outlawed interracial marriages. I am scared of bigotry.

I am scared of being governed by the same superficial interpretations of scripture that once justified slavery. I am scared of polluting my religion with "principles" of hateful behavior. I am scared of a government that lets fanatics control its agenda. I am scared of theocracies.

I am scared of people who claim children are damaged because they disapprove of their family's makeup. I am scared of people who struggle to freeze society in some design they prefer, but accuse their opponents of social tinkering. I am scared of hypocrites.

I am scared of people who don't care who gets hurt as long as their side wins. I am scared of writers who bury our consciences in heaps of argument. I am scared of Katherine Kersten.

I am, and always have been, scared that when you've finished with the least (or least powerful) of these my brethren, you will do the same to me.

Well Said

2005-08-25T21:58:00.000-05:00

Digby:

I have never been much of a revolutionary. Even when I was young I tended to cringe at any kind of earnest, "to the barricades" kind of thinking. I tend to think in smaller strategic and tactical terms rather than large sweeping movements. However, I have come to realize that this is one of those times when something has to happen from the ground up. Washington has become a kind of aristocrisy, with all the attendant inbred, insular, corruption that eventually befalls a ruling elite.

The biggest sickness in our politics is this top down, elitist mentality in which people are fed a diet of information, entertainment, products and ideas that are focus grouped, soulless and commercial --- and which are then filtered through a ruling media class that is so psychologically cramped, so emotionally sterile, so stuck in their own feedback loop that they are presenting a totally distorted version of reality. It's important that we look elsewhere for wisdom and leadership.

Separation of Church and State

2005-08-09T16:35:00.000-05:00

In case you are too ignorant to understand why keeping the government out of the religous sphere (and vice-versa) is not only important for the protection of religious freedom but also crucial for a functioning democracy, Digby explains.

Government Defies an Order to Release Iraq Abuse Photos

2005-07-25T21:34:00.000-05:00

NYTimes: "Lawyers for the Defense Department are refusing to cooperate with a federal judge's order to release secret photographs and videotapes related to the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal." Read article here.

It is amazing how much damage can be done during these stalling techniques by the Administration. For example, the Bush Administration's lawyers argued to have the investigation of the Plame/CIA outing incident completed after the election. As a result, Bush remains president. There is no way he would have won if this Rove trickery had come out before the election. Now, we have the release of more Abu Ghraib photos being delayed. How many more people will die in Iraq as this evidence is stalled?

Just so We're Clear

2005-07-22T22:30:00.000-05:00

These guys are fucking crazy.

Note the source, it's not moveon.org.

This Is What We're Dealing With

2005-07-09T17:59:00.000-05:00

A recent Zogby Poll shows"
"42% of voters, and 25% of Republicans, say Bush should be impeached "if" he lied about reasons for Iraq war"

Only 25% of Republicans think he should be removed even if it is a GIVEN that the bastard lied!! I don't understand. What kind of society is this? Freedom and justice just don't seem to be a concern for these people. What do they care about? Tax cuts? Pushing Christianity on the rest of us...the world? Thousands of people have been killed in our name, for supposed noble purposes, and you take away those reasons and it makes no difference to these people?! Other human lives mean nothing to them as long as their SUV is juiced up?! I can see how Hitler got to where he did through democratic processes, now.
My outrage is becoming such a constant emotion, it's now mundane. I'm actually numb from the never-ending, day-to-day, incessantly appalling way my fellow Americans have twisted their thinking to appease their selfishness.

Pack of Lies

2005-07-09T15:33:00.000-05:00

If your computer has the capability, I highly recommend looking at the flash presentations this guy puts together. His latest one is great, you can see it here. He does a really good job of documenting the outright lies that Bush and his administration have told us over the years.

We're Lucky to Have Him!

2005-07-08T21:18:00.000-05:00

President Bush:

I was most impressed by the resolve of all the leaders in the room. Their resolve is as strong as my resolve

Can there be any question that this guy is the most arrogant motherfucker on the face of the planet?

A Call To Breed

2005-06-27T20:11:00.000-05:00

What is the Supreme Court Doing?!

2005-06-26T12:31:00.000-05:00

I am baffled by what the Supreme Court did last week. Apparently, they OK'd the use by local governments of eminent domain to take land from private entities for PRIVATE use. This tool has been used forever for PUBLIC-use projects, such as building roads. But, now they're saying that the local city counci may seize people's homes and businesses, even against their will, for PRIVATE economic development.

So, basically, local governments can bulldoze a few houses in a prime "retail" strip because Wal-mart's consultants show the location would provide the most foot traffic. Doesn't this just open up our system for total fraud and corruption? I mean I can hear the bribes to the local city council people by the big corporations being put in envelopes now!

So, in my disgust, I assume this decision is the work of Scalia and the other conservative judges, but to my dismay, it's the LIBERAL judges that led this decision! I can't believe it! I thought we were the party of the little guy? Someone explain this to me, please!

Story here.

F*ck the Geneva Conventions

2005-06-26T12:25:00.000-05:00

Italian judge orders arrest of 13 CIA agents for smuggling prisoners to torture destinations. Maybe Rush Limbaugh will help the Conservatives explain this one away, like he did with the Abu Garib tortures....just call them fraternity pranks.
Story here.

Let There Be Nudity

2005-06-26T12:18:00.000-05:00

Now that John Ashcroft is gone as Attorney General, the two statues in the Justice Department, Spirit of Justice and Majesty of Justice, are free to expose themselves again, as nature intended. In case you hadn't heard, he had them covered with velvet, because he didn't like being photographed by the press with statues of nude women in the background. Story here.
Too bad he left, but his paranoid, evangelical, totalitarian ideas and policies have remained.

Holy Spin

2005-06-24T22:44:00.000-05:00

An Honset Conversation

2005-06-22T21:48:00.000-05:00

Steve Gillard:

What I want people to do is be honest.

If you will not serve in Iraq, and no one you know will serve, stop expecting someone else to do what you will not.

Therefore, it is time to stop calling for more troops, or the US to make Iraq safe. We cannot do this and even Americans are refusing to join the fight. It is time to look at your actions and realize, that despite your ideals, you oppose continuing this war. In practical terms, you have decided that this war is not worth your life or anyone you know. And million of Americans have joined you in this decision.

So, with this fact evident, it is time to call for US troops to withdraw from Iraq. Not save it, not add more boots on the ground. You have already voted by your actions. It is time that you match it with your words.

Do You Feel A Draft?

2005-06-20T19:19:00.000-05:00

George Orwell was right. In order to consolidate power and oppress the people, one must control the language of the war. Why are we attacking Iraq? Because they won't let inspectors in? Because they aren't complying with U.N. regulations? Becuase they have WMD's? For regime change? For freedom and democracy?

And no one seems to notice the moving target. All the sheeple on Animal Farm play right along, and regurgitate whatever the Neo-cons' talking points are this week - their memory as maleable as silly putty.

The latest game of stealth semantics swapping is taking place regarding the length of the U.S.'s commitment in Iraq. Before the war began, anti-war advocates warned of the financial and human costs a lengthy occupation would incur. They called it a "quagmire" which would likely bog down our military for years and years. These people were attacked viciously, and told their Vietnam comparisons were ridiculous. Rumsfeld and his buddies suggested the operation would be a quick, shock-and-awe victory, and we'd be out quick and easy. Well, the language is changing...

Condoleeza Rice was recently on Fox News Sunday, and was asked if the Bush administration fairly [can] be criticized for failing to level with the American people about how long and difficult this commitment will be?�

Rice responded: "The administration, I think, has said to the American people that it is a generational commitment to Iraq." (see the video here: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/06/19.html#a3526)

A GENERATIONAL committment?! That's not what they sold us! Do you feel that draft? They've already instituted a stealth draft by lengthening tours of duty. When the mandatory draft comes, it certainly won't be called a "draft." Look for something along the lines of "Patriotic Freedom Fighter Opportunity."

Question of The Day

2005-06-16T19:42:00.000-05:00

Is there any idea how long a last throe lasts?

Check out the whole exchange. Hilarious.

I'm a Bad Blogger

2005-06-08T08:58:00.000-05:00

I haven't been posting much lately, mainly because watching as our Democracy is dismantled and our country's moral standing demolished by our government (mainly the Republicans but the aquiesence of many of our Democratic elected officials is also quite disheartening) has left me too depressed for words. The other reason is that there are many more eloquent voices out there saying all the things I think, only better. One of them is The Poor Man, so if you read nothing else today, read this.

Truth and Deceit: the Media's choice

2005-06-03T09:32:00.000-05:00

This quote is from Pat Tillman's mother....Pat Tillman is the former NFL player who was killed by our own forces, an event which was covered up by a military establishment that is exercising absolute control over the media. Read the whole editorial from Bob Herbert editorial in the New York Times.

"'The military let him down. The administration let him down. It was a sign of disrespect. The fact that he was the ultimate team player and he watched his own men kill him is absolutely heartbreaking and tragic. The fact that they lied about it afterward is disgusting.'"

Will the outing of Deep Throat give the media the balls to recover their sense of obligation to the American people and the truth? Or is it too late?

Real Impeachment

2005-06-03T07:33:00.000-05:00

I don't know if ya'll saw this article by Ralph Nader and Kevin Zeese, but it's certainly worth a read.

"President Clinton was impeached for perjury about his sexual relationships. Comparing Clinton's misbehavior to a destructive and costly war occupation launched in March 2003 under false pretenses in violation of domestic and international law certainly merits introduction of an impeachment resolution."

Hell ya! It's about time someone said this! Full article here.

Mr. Floatie, the environmental champion

2005-05-21T18:14:00.000-05:00

Saw this great entry in The Poutine Diaries:

"A man dressed up as a giant piece of faeces has been refused entry to a government meeting in Canada.

James Skwarok arrived as 'Mr Floatie' to represent POOP, People Opposed to Outfall Pollution, reports Canada.com.

But the cross-party meeting in Victoria-Beacon Hill refused him entry.

Skwarok said he wanted to protest against the daily dumping of 120 million litres of raw sewage into the Pacific ocean.

He said he was 'a little bummed out' by the politicians' refusal to meet him and that British Columbia province should look good for the 2010 Olympics if it didn't want to get a 'brown medal'."

I think we need to follow this example of creativity if we want to win the media war.

We Killed Tillman, Not the "Evildoers"

2005-05-16T18:40:00.000-05:00

"Writing in an army report, Brigadier General Gary Jones admits that the official cover-up even included 'the destruction of evidence': the army burned Tillman's Ranger uniform and body armor to hide the fact that he had died in a hail of American bullets, fired by troops who had 'lost situational awareness to the point they had no idea where they were'."

Tell Rall is great! Read his hilarious cartoon 3 times a week, here.
Read above quote in article, here.

Conservatism

2005-05-15T21:05:00.000-05:00

Kevin Drum pretty muchsums it up:

"Among advanced economies, the United States is by far the richest, youngest, and fastest growing country in the world. By far. And yet, we're supposed to believe that an increase in Social Security costs from 4% of GDP to 6% over the next 50 years is cause for panic. We're supposed to believe national healthcare would bankrupt us - never mind that our current dysfunctional system is the most expensive and most unfair on the planet. We're supposed to believe that broader unionization would ruin American industry, home of the highest profits and most highly paid executives in the world. We're supposed to believe that the nation's millionaires, having already had their tax rates slashed by a third over the past two decades, are still being bled to the bone by federal taxes."

The Battle for Jesus

2005-05-12T13:39:00.000-05:00

So I have been wondering how long it would take for some more liberal Christians with actual moral values to stand up to the religious opportunists who have hijacked Christianity in order to advance their economic agenda. So file this under it's about fucking time (via Kos):