Saturday, December 28, 2002
No More Bigots In The G.O.P.Having removed the last vestiges of bigotry from its ranks by demoting Trent Lott, the Party of Lincoln was shocked to find intolerance within the faithful in Jesse Helms' home state.The Web site of a North Carolina county Republican organization today removed a link to another site with anti-Islamic statements after receiving criticism from a Muslim group.
The Guilford County Republican Party's site, guilfordgop.org, includes the usual color photographs of Senator-elect Elizabeth Dole and President Bush, and election information and meeting schedules. But among its links was one to a site called IslamExposed.com, which describes Islam as "one of the greatest evils on our planet."
"This false religion is nothing more than a barbaric occult invented by savages for savages," the site said.
Update (12/29) (via Atrios): Mark A.R. Kleiman and MWO scooped the Times by two months. Somehow, it's all Howell Raines' fault.
posted by Roger | | 11:18 AM
Postal Fraud UncoveredFrom Eleanor Clift, via Atrios:
To underscore that he�s not a captive of Washington, President Bush�s Christmas card this year is postmarked Crawford, Texas, although the return address reads, �The White House, Washington, D.C. 20500.� But the record 1.7 million cards the Bushes sent were too much to handle for the Crawford post office, which is a two-person operation. To accommodate Bush�s down-home image, the post office arranged for the cards to be stamped in Austin, where a special dye was ordered to authenticate the Crawford postmark. Bush, who spent Christmas at Camp David, is apparently the first president to insist on an out-of-town postmark. From 18 U.S.C. Sec. 503:
Whoever forges or counterfeits any postmarking stamp, or impression thereof with intent to make it appear that such impression is a genuine postmark, or makes or knowingly uses or sells, or possesses with intent to use or sell, any forged or counterfeited postmarking stamp, die, plate, or engraving, or such impression thereof, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
posted by Roger | | 8:49 AM
Tayloring His Resume To Fit This Year's Fascism One of Ken Starr's most useful idiots is at it again, currying favor with the politically powerful and hopelessly corrupt. In a recent edition of National Journal (and Atlantic online), Stuart Taylor Jr. sings the praises of that "brainy [and] technologically adept" criminal John Poindexter and Poindexter's Total Information Awareness program. Taylor praises Poindexter as a "a well-meaning patriot cursed with abysmal judgment...."
Just how patriotic is Poindexter? Well, in 1990, he was convicted by a jury of five felonies: one count of conspiring to obstruct official inquiries and proceedings, two counts of obstructing Congress, and two counts of false statements to Congress. He destroyed documents and computer records concerning his illegal Iran-Contra activities. He first claimed that he was acting without the President's authority, but then claimed at his criminal trial that he was following orders.
His activities were summarized by Independent Counsel Lawrence Walsh as follows:
-- Count One ... Poindexter conspired with North and Secord to obstruct congressional inquiries of Iran- and contra-related matters, to make false statements to Congress, and to falsify, remove and destroy official documents.
-- Count Two ... Poindexter obstructed Congress in 1986 when it was investigating media allegations that North was raising funds and providing military aid to the contras. In letters to three committees, Poindexter answered questions by repeating denials McFarlane made before Congress in 1985 of North's involvement in contra-support activities, even though Poindexter knew the denials to be false. He set up a meeting with the House Intelligence Committee in August 1986 in which he knew North would have to give false testimony, and afterward congratulated North on his performance.
-- Count Three ... Poindexter obstructed Congress in November 1986 by participating with North in the preparation of false chronologies of the secret U.S. arms sales to Iran and by making false statements to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Specifically, Poindexter falsely asserted that no U.S. official knew before January 1986 that HAWK missiles had been shipped to Iran in November 1985. The indictment stated that North as early as November 20, 1985, told Poindexter about the shipment in advance and advised him of it again after the fact in late 1985.
-- Counts Four and Five ... Poindexter made false statements about the HAWK shipment to the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986. As in Count Three, the false statement charges were based on North's informing Poindexter about the shipment in 1985. Now, that's patriotism.
Taylor, who is equal parts moron and hysteric, concludes that Poindexter's TIA is a great idea because: "I, for one, am a lot less worried about the government snooping through my credit card bills and psychiatric records than about being anthraxed in the subway or killed by a nuclear explosion in my downtown Washington office." Of course, if Taylor has no objections to the government reviewing his private information, he can easily drop it in a FedEx mailer and send it over to Johnno anytime he wants. What Taylor is really less worried about is the government snooping through everyone else's credit card bills and psychiatric records. Hysterical amnesia has caused Stu to forgot not only the crimes of Iran-Contra but also those of Watergate, the Hoover FBI and the Starr OIC.
What's missing from the article by the National Journal's Legal Affairs columnist (and a Harvard Law School grad)? That's right: any discussion of the role of the judicial branch of government. Poindexter's plan -- which Taylor endorses -- completely bypasses judicial oversight and constitutional requirement of probable cause. Stu either has forgotten about the Fourth Amendment, or is willing to piss it away in order to hand over power to criminals like Poindexter.
When last we saw Taylor, he was entertaining job offers from the corrupt Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr while simultaneously reporting on Starr's activities for the National Journal. (As one commentator put it, Taylor "turned down [the] Starr job offer to be his official spokesman [and] decided to remain unofficial.") There may be a job as Poindexter's official flack in Stu's future -- if there isn't one already.
posted by Roger | | 8:20 AM
Friday, December 27, 2002
Someone recently asked in the comments why I dislike Mickey Kaus -- is it because he used to be a Democrat? One reason is that he isn't much of a writer or, at least, he doesn't put any effort into his writing. For example:
Pareles also misses the most important, and highly relevant, geopolitical incident in which The Clash figures: The playing of the band's "Rock the Casbah" as the first song on U.S. Armed Forces radio in Saudi Arabia during the buildup to 1991's Operation Desert Storm -- this despite a lot of talk about the need not to offend delicate Saudi sensibilities. At the time, I remember thinking that the choice of this song --which seems to mock Wahabi repression and features the somewhat provocative line, "Drop your bombs between the minarets/Down the Casbah way" -- represented much of what's good about Americans. It was a big "F--- Y--" to Saudi censors, as in "You want us to defend your country, well you can't tell us what music to listen to, buddy!" Now I'm not so sure if gratuitously irritating strict Islamic moralists -- as if there really was no room for a culture without Britney Spears in a free, democratic world -- was such a brilliant idea. The premise of the post -- that Kaus gives a shit about the Clash -- is a dubious one to begin with. But look at this mess as a work of writing.
"At the time, I remember thinking..." is wrong. (Are you reminiscing about reminiscing, Mick, or remembering something at the same time you're thinking it? No.) "At the time, I thought" or "I remember thinking at the time" is the proper way to express the concept.
And what's with "F--- Y--"? Even if Kaus had a legitimate reason not to write "fuck," is there any reason to censor "you" as well?
Look at the last sentence. What does it mean? 9/11 was blowback from the decision to broadcast "Rock the Casbah" to U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia? Censorship of pop music you don't like is consistent with freedom and democracy? Saudi Arabia is a free, democratic country? Kaus may think he's making a point, but his sentence is so muddled that it's entirely meaningless.
Update (12/28): Somebody get this fool an editor. Here's his latest effort at sentence construction: "Trying to balancing the budget by cutting Medicare -- aggressive!"
Update II (12/29): Kaus re-writes again! Wee Mickey has again changed a comment without noting the fact. He's modified a second to last paragraph to add a fifth option to his closing query. The added option is option (c); (d) also has been modified. But he doesn't bother to change "Trying to balancing." Another good reason to loathe Mick? You, the reader make the call!
posted by Roger | | 5:33 PM
Thursday, December 26, 2002
One can only imagine Peggy Noonan's reaction if this is confirmed.
Update (12/27): According to the local news this morning, the child has been named Eve.
posted by Roger | | 9:48 PM
The Poll That Wasn't Was ThereLiberal Oasis cites a December 17-18 Time/CNN Poll which shows Bush's approval ratings at their lowest since September 2001. Liberal Oasis reports that the poll's not online, and skepticism about the existence of the poll has been voiced in some quarters. But CNN's site does reference a poll which confirms at least one of the numbers quoted by Liberal Oasis (Bush's trustworthiness rating). The CNN link also notes that only 54 percent of respondents approve of Bush's handling of foreign affairs and only 44 percent can stomach the Bush economy.
So why isn't the whole poll online? And why is CNN leading with the approval of Bush's advisers rather than the criticism of Bush himself?
(Story via Tom Spencer at Thinking It Through. CNN link also noted here.)
posted by Roger | | 9:37 PM
Alberto "Funeralgate" Gonzales White House's Top Pick To Replace Rehnquist That's one Hispanic person Rehnquist won't be able to stop from voting.
posted by Roger | | 8:52 PM
Sleeping With The Enemy Former HUD Secretary and failed Democratic primary candidate Andrew Cuomo is writing a "What Went Wrong For The Democrats" book for Random House, Newsday reports. Cuomo is soliciting contributions for the book from Peggy Noonan and J.C. Watts, in addition to Democrats. He is also quoted as stating "[w]e didn't have a philosophy. ... We had a critique of the Republicans, but we didn't have a Democratic vision."
Sounds like Cuomo's got J.F.K. Jr. disease: putting self-promotion above principle. Why would any sane Democrat solicit advice from a lunatic whose last bit of advice for the Democrats was "to get a good psychologist and a good holy man or woman...." (To add slander to insult, Nooner was claiming to speak for Paul Wellstone, one week after his death.)
If Andrew can't find a vision for the Democratic party, he might want to try this one:
[T]he first principle of our Democratic commitment ...[i]s the politics of inclusion, the solemn obligation to create opportunity for all our people. Not just the fit and the fortunate....[Para.] All the people, from wherever. No matter how recently. Of whatever color, of whatever creed, of whatever sex, of whatever sexual orientation, all of them equal members of the American family, and the neediest of them deserving the most help from the rest of us. That is the fundamental Democratic predicate. Surrender that Democratic principle and we might just as well tear the donkeys from our lapels, pin elephants on instead, and retreat to elegant estates behind ivy-covered walls, where, when they detect a callus on their palms, they conclude it's time to put down their polo mallet. Sound familiar, Andy? Your pals Peg and J.C. call it "class warfare." Others call it economic justice.
posted by Roger | | 8:28 PM
Wednesday, December 25, 2002
I'll Take Sansovino's Loggetta For $200
For those interested in an actual test of knowledge, try the 2002 King William's College General Knowledge Paper.
Reading it through once, I was only able to answer ten questions with certainty. According to the Guardian, the average score on the paper is two (when it was last scored), which I guess means I'm brighter than the average upper-class spotty 16-year-old enrolled in English private school.
posted by Roger | | 9:07 PM
Year-in-Review Quiz Test your recollection of the past year's events with this general knowledge quiz. You have one hour to complete the quiz. Please use a sharpened number 2 pencil -- to taunt Bill Frist.
1. Which of the following did Newsweek's Howard Fineman not write about George W. Bush in 2002:
a) "He�s the Texas Ranger of the World, and wants everyone to know it. He�s the guy with the silver badge, issuing warnings to the cattle rustlers."
b) "After questions were raised last week about ('What He Knew'), his numbers went UP, as the American people basically shouted, 'Leave him alone!' Why? For one, he�s done a good job so far as war commander, making the right decisions in the days and months after 9/11. ...[M]ost everyone else (including some Democrats) thinks he�s a straight-shooter and, more important, a rare and precious type to have found his way into the Oval Office: a regular guy with regular guy values and instincts."
c) "I'd put my integrity into a blind trust for Bush, but I don't really have any." 2. According to the FEC, what percentage of campaign contributions (including soft money, individual and PAC contributions) did Enron give to Republicans in the 2002 election cycle:
a) 50 percent
b) 78 percent
c) 94 percent
d) 110 percent, according to Arthur Andersen 3. In June 2002, George Bush said the following to Army Secretary Thomas White:a) "Afghanstan. Iraq. What's the difference? They all look the same from here."
b) "As long as they're hitting you on Enron, they're not hitting me. That's your job. You're the lightning rod for this administration."
c) "Karl knows where your children live." 4. According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most dangerous job in the United States is:
a) Truck driver
b) Firefighter
c) Meat packer
d) Altar boy, Boston Archdiocese 5. Who said in 2002: "My most enduring image of Ken Starr was formed in the men's room outside his office on the afternoon of Jan. 15, 1998."
a) Michael Isikoff
b) Robert Ray
c) Ted Olson
d) Lucianne Goldberg 6. Which corporation is responsible for the biggest domestic fraud uncovered in the past eighteen months?
a) Enron
b) Global Crossing
c) WorldCom
d) Random House, parent company of the publisher of Slander: Liberal Lies About The American Right 7. Match the Reverend Graham to the bigoted comment (Your choices are Billy and Franklin):
a) "The Arabs will not be happy until every Jew is dead. They hate the state of Israel. They all hate the Jews."
b) "This stranglehold [by the Jews] has got to be broken or the country's going down the drain." 8. Which is of the following is not an Andrew Sullivan comment regarding Bush's 2002 State of the Union Address:a) "He understands that the danger is still enormous; that the risks still huge; the price of failure unthinkable."
b) "Also surprising and perhaps important: Iran was mentioned before Iraq. For those of you who remember, this is a re-emphasis I've been arguing for for a while. It was extremely encouraging to see it in the speech."
c) "This is the Bush who started a 'stickball' team at college and christened it 'the Nads,' so as to ensure that the chants from the stands would be 'Go Nads! Go Nads!'" 9. Conservative commentators found highly significant the religious beliefs of which criminal newsmaker(s) from the year 2002: a) Andrea Yates
b) Fred J. Neulander
c) John Allen Muhammed
d) Irv Rubin
e) Clayton Lee Waagner
f) c. but not a., b., d. or e. 10. Which of the following Washington Times writers is not an apologist for the Confederacy, racial segregation and/or "scientific" theories of racial inferiority: a) Robert Stacy McCain
b) Wes Pruden
c) Paul Craig Roberts
d) Andrew Sullivan
e) None of the above 11. According to an unnamed "expert" quoted on CNN, Osama bin Laden is:
a) Alive
b) Dead
c) Both a. and b.
d) Neither a. nor b.
e) Either a. or b., but not both 12. Which of these did Peggy Noonan not say in print in 2002: a) "I have received not hundreds but thousands of the most personal and obscene denunciations; I have received death threats; I have been threatened with blackmail; I have been informed that I do not deserve to live."
b) "My friend sent the story because once, in conversation, I had told him I feared cloning was the key, that the big headline I feared is 'First Cloned Human Being Born: "We Call Him Adam!" Says Scientist.' I had told my friend I thought there would be few happy headlines after that one. Because, as the bible says and Sam Ervin quoted, God is not mocked."
c) "I don't care what any of you say, Ronald Reagan is the father of my son. Do you hear me?" 13. In a written statement issued in December, Trent Lott gave the following reason for withdrawing from his position as Republican Senate Majority Leader: a) "In the interest of pursuing the best possible agenda for the future of our country...."
b) So he wouldn't have to celebrate Kwanzaa.
c) Karl Rove threatened to tell Lott's home state supporters that Lott's toupee included mixed-race hair. 14. In December 2002, Mickey Kaus revealed in Slate that blogger Atrios is actually:a) Sid Blumenthal
b) Maggie Gyllenhaal
c) Thor Heyerdahl
d) Ten times the reporter and writer that Kaus is 15. George W. Bush's most formidible opponent in the year 2002 was: a) Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle
b) Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
c) Mr. Salty
posted by Roger | | 11:18 AM
Monday, December 23, 2002
Roger Ailes will not be publishing on December 24 or 25.
Tomorrow night, I'm going to be haunted by three spirits. Then, on Wednesday morning, I'll run to the window, open it, and shout out "What's to-day?" to an urchin or ragamuffin loitering below. So I'm pretty booked.
Beginning on Thursday, however, there'll be more year-end crap than you can shake a stick at, including a "Year-in-Review Quiz." And a longer-than-usual comment, "America's Hitler."
God bless us, every one!
posted by Roger | | 10:10 PM
Death or Glory"'N' every gimmick hungry yob digging gold from rock 'n' roll
Grabs the mike to tell us he'll die before he's sold
But I believe in this, and it's been tested by research
That he who fucks nuns will later join the church"
-- Joe Strummer and Mick Jones
posted by Roger | | 9:27 PM
Anyone having trouble coming up with enough candidates for Pandagon's Most Annoying Conservatives List should browse the Hardball transcripts page. In the last five shows, Tweety's guests included: Bill Bennett, Peggy Noonan, Pat Buchanan, Bob Dornan (twice), John Fund, Armstrong Williams, David Gergen, Mike Barnicle, Janet Parshall, Christopher Shays, Laura Ingraham, Joe Scarborough (twice), Mitch McConnell, J.C. Watts, Cliff May, Terry Jeffrey, Arlen Specter, Howard Fineman (twice), Frank Luntz and Pat Caddell. That's twenty right there; twenty-one counting Matthews himself.
Only a lunatic like Mona Charen could think that MSNBC is part of the "liberal media."
posted by Roger | | 9:10 PM
Buffalo Chickenhawk WingsHere's Pumpkinhead's smear: MR. RUSSERT: Cardinal McCarrick, you have a particularly delicate role as a member of the clergy, balancing support for our men and women in the armed service and also the morality of war. The Catholic bishops had a statement in November suggesting we still had not met the threshold in terms of Iraq. How do you wrestle with that? Supporting, being patriotic, and yet, the moral consequences of war. (Italics added.) For Russert, patriotism and support for members of the armed services are in direct opposition to concerns for the moral consequences of war. Russert can't concieve that opposition to a future war against Iraq is patriotic and/or supportive of U.S. troops. Funnily enough, it doesn't appear that Little Russ wrestled much with these issues in his own life.
posted by Roger | | 7:16 AM
Sunday, December 22, 2002
A Waksal And A Wake
Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but it kinda looks like Sam Waksal was doing both Martha and her daughter.
posted by Roger | | 10:45 PM
Advantage: Kausfiles! Senator Lott has adopted Mickey Kaus's theory: It's all Sid Blumenthal's fault.
Well done, Mick!
posted by Roger | | 9:29 PM
Shoplifters Have All The Fun
"The most commonly stolen items in Britain last year were razor blades, cosmetics, lingerie, whisky, condoms, magazines, designer clothes, shoes, smoked salmon and radios." -- The Observer
posted by Roger | | 11:40 AM
Meet-y, Beaty, Tim and Bouncy I only caught the latter half of G.E. Pumpkinhead's "Thoughts For The Holidays" program, but from the tone of the program it certainly looks like only one of the eleven questions below was even touched upon by Little Russ (as Maureen O. calls him). In full Bushlick mode, Tim asked Cardinal McCarrick how the U.S. Bishops "balanced patriotism" with criticism of the War against Iraq. (I will post the exact quote when the transcript becomes available.)
Yes, Pumpkinhead's "thought" for the holidays is that opposition to the Bush Administration's foreign policy is unpatriotic.
Update (12/23): The transcript indicates that Pumpkinhead did allude to the priest molestation scandal. Cardinal McCarrick interposed a Trent Lott defense, saying that the Church "handed the ammunition" to its critics. To be fair to McCarrick, I'm not aware of any molestation cover-ups in McCarrick's jurisdiction.
posted by Roger | | 10:20 AM
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