Jeralyn Merritt at Talk Left is reporting that the Iraqi Provisional Government's trial of Saddam Hussein may be televised. I look forward to the dignified cable coverage of this important event, which will no doubt include the following:
-- Nancy Grace bragging about how she never lost a war crimes trial in her career as a prosecutor, and pronouncing Saddam guilty by virtue of the fact he grew a beard.
-- Gloria Allred signing up Saddam's second wife as a client.
-- Rita Cosby petitioning Saddam for an exclusive interview, citing the support voiced for her by Uday and Qusay, and expressing her "deep concern about this possible violation of [his] freedom of speech" and her desire to make public his "many valuable insights."
-- Larry King, for the full hour, with an All-Star Panel of experts on international law, including Sylvia Browne, Linda Tripp's attorneys and that guy from JAG.
-- And Geraldo going to the rat hole in Adwar, to see if it's the one down which he pissed his credibility.
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
A Whore On Hollywood Boulevard(s)
I speak of David Brooks -- the right's cheap knock-off of Faith "Popcorn" Plotkin -- who seeks to portray Howard Dean as a Hollywood liberal. Hear Brooks babble:
"Howard Dean is the only guy who goes to the Beverly Hills area for a gravitas implant. He went to the St. Regis Hotel, a mile from Rodeo Drive, to deliver a major foreign policy speech, and suddenly Dr. Angry turned into the Rev. Dull and Worthy."A serious national candidate speaking on foreign policy only a mile from Rodeo Drive? Clearly it's unacceptable!
Why, none but a boob would speak of international affairs and national defense so close to a high-end retail shopping district. Any man who would do such a thing is unqualified to be president, and likely insane....
If you don't know where this set up is going by now, you've been in a coma for six months and you've never read this blog before.
Yes, that's right, on June 27, 2003, George Bush held an election fundraiser at the Century Plaza Hotel, which is a brisk 30-second walk away from the St. Regis. You'll recall that Bush's warmup act on that occasion was the washed- and sobered-up beer and satellite teevee pitchman, Dennis Miller. And Bush spoke at length on Iraq and Afghanistan to the assembled throng of Hollywood rightys who paid handsomely for the privilege of Bush's company.
And you thought the Times couldn't find anyone with less insight into politics than Maureen Dowd. Maybe Lazy Davey's job is part of Times' liberal plot to only publish conservatives who couldn't craft a solid argument if their lives depended on it.
...Does Your Conscience Bother You?
To those on the right who say that the left has shown insufficient glee at the capture of Saddam Hussein, and especially those who sing the praises of Saint Ronnie, I say: My hands have always been clean; don't expect me to applaud when you get a little blood out from underneath your fingernails.
Sunday, December 14, 2003
A brutal dictator who killed and tortured thousands of his country's citizens during the decades of his rule has been captured. What should be done?
Let's ask President Bush.
On second thought, let's not.
Grand Old Police Blotter: The Entire Fucking Connecticut G.O.P. Edition
"But the Republican governor [of Connecticut, , John G. Rowland] acknowledged last week that he did not pay for these improvements to his cottage. Instead, he relied on gifts -- of time and money -- from a prominent state contractor and several of his closest governmental aides. And he acknowledged that he lied when he claimed on Dec. 2 that he alone had paid for the improvements. ...
"Several prominent Rowland appointees have tripped into the political muck of late. Earlier this year, Rowland's former deputy chief of staff pleaded guilty to steering contracts in exchange for cash and gold coins, which he buried in his back yard. (That same former deputy helped pay for a water heater at Rowland's cottage).
"Another commissioner was forced to resign this year after evidence emerged that he had accepted gifts from businesses working with the state. And four years ago, the former state treasurer -- a Rowland appointee -- pleaded guilty to racketeering and money laundering.
"In fact, it has been a bad year for Connecticut politicians, as the former mayors of Bridgeport and Waterbury marched off to federal prison. In the latter case, federal prosecutors had investigated contract corruption in Waterbury when they discovered that Mayor Philip Giordano had forced two girls to perform oral sex at City Hall. This past June, a judge sentenced Giordano to 37 years in prison for the sex crimes."
The Post article quoted above fails to mention that girls Giordano abused were 8 and 10 years old.
Giordano should have plenty of friends visiting him soon, for extended periods of time.
The malls will be packed today, no doubt.
On to Saudi Arabia!
Friday, December 12, 2003
The Bear Inanities
A man pretending to be a bear is outraged that certain lefty bloggers are sexually molesting Google. Or something.
Calling a certain unelectable doofus a "miserable failure" is just ruining Google for our furry friend.
"There is something fundamentally wrong about weblogs being used to such a purpose: in a medium which allows anyone to express their own ideas and logic, this isn't an argument: it's just a rude noise. Using your weblog to hack Google like this is like using a master's paintbrush to scrawl obscene graphiti [sic] on the bathroom wall. Sure, you can do it, but aren't there better uses for the instrument?"You see, Google is "mapping the territory of the internet," so if you, for example, link to a certain unelectable politician using the phrase miserable failure, you are "gaming" Google's "system" and "messing with other people's stuff."
But if Google's task is mapping the territory of the internet, then lefty bloggers are only giving Google some more territory to map. If Google is engaged in mapping or reporting or some other objective objective, then bloggers -- or anyone else who publishes anything anywhere -- aren't "messing with" or "defacing" anything. They are creating content. The fact that they are aware of (or intend) certain consequences doesn't ruin Google or interfere with its functioning.
I'm not sure that metaphor works either. If Google is the shithouse, what difference does it make what kind of brush is used to deface it? Does it hurt the brush? Is it okay to use a Made-in-Korea brush from the Home Depot to deface Google? How about a Sharpie?
The bear should have left this particular dump in the woods.
Thursday, December 11, 2003
The Koufax Awards 2.0
It's the most wonderful time of the year. Yes, it's time for the 2003 Koufax Awards, honoring progressive bloggers.
Roger Ailes is in the running for two awards this year: "Biggest Sophomore Slump" and "Most Regretted Vote From Last Year." The awards are hosted by Mary Beth W. and Dwight Meredith, at Wampum. And I hear they'll be telecast on VH1 this year.
As Dwight says, "[The awards are] a chance to say a lot of nice things about a lot of people. We hope to help build and promote a feeling of community among lefty bloggers. This is supposed to be fun for us and for you." You can offer nominations until the end of December; the voting is in January.
Meet Trevor Boswell, Clownhall idiot du jour. Trev recently sat on his ass for an hour, eating Cheetos and watching the tube, and then pinched off the following:
Jennings stumps for socialism
December 10, 2003
Considering all the hysterics who go apoplectic at the mere hint of liberal media bias, Peter Jennings and ABC didn't do much to console the emotions of the media elite's chronically offended Monday night (Dec. 8) when they ran this so-called documentary: "How to Get Fat Without Really Trying."
In a nutshell, the ABC program blamed the federal government for "contributing to obesity by giving subsidies (to farmers) to create fattening food." This is obviously as ridiculous as blaming ice for figure skating injuries, but what was most astonishing (even for a mainstream media outlet) was its complete lack of objectivity.
Surely, ever since Michael Moore proved that documentaries don't necessarily need to be based in truth to be popular, it shouldn't come as a total shock that Jennings editorialized throughout his report. But shouldn't a primetime news broadcast at least hold out the possibility that there just might be more than one cause of our current obesity "epidemic?"
Yes, you read that right. That evil, evil man, Peter Jennings, is stumping for socialism by stating that government subsidies -- you know, the redistribution of wealth -- have negative consequences. What a clever bastard.
Later, Bothwell says:
If Jennings & Co. are so concerned about government farm subsidies making us fat, why not just call for their elimination?
Uh, but wouldn't that be, uh, editorializing? You know, Trev, the thing you were against a couple of paragraphs ago?
Bothwell then suspects that what ABC really wants is "government regulation of junk food commercials to kids under eighteen." Yes, it's a near certainty that ABC wants the government to force corporations to stop advertising sugar-laden chocolate-coated crap like this so it can broadcast more of Fidel Castro's speeches, live and uninterrupted.
Perhaps realizing that coherent thought is not his strong suit, Trev pulls out an old Clownhall favorite, Clinton's hummer:
Apparently, Bill Clinton can teach second graders about oral sex and Abercrombie and Fitch can market porn to ten-year-olds, but we're supposed to believe our kids will be warped ad infinitum if they go cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.
Apparently.
Trev must have concentrated on oral sex in the second grade, because he sure as hell wasn't learning English. The only thing worse than the reasoning of this piece is the writing: "consoled the emotions," "in an increasingly senseless and litigious climate," "ABC practically used this program to throw its hat in the ring to advocate the Big Food lawsuits on the horizon." You get the drift.
The amazing thing is that Trevor is an instructor in English composition at a community college, according to a press release that's even more poorly written than his column. So much for standards.
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
The funniest part was Lott getting bitch-slapped by another Freeper named "Clinton Is Scum." And liking it.
And Lott's back peddling his shinola about Electiontheft 2000 to the faithful at National Review Online.
How The Righty Have Fallen
Whatever you think about National Review, you've got to feel a little saddened by the fact that it's been reduced to publishing a mathematician and the imbecile son of racist message board operator pretending to be dogs.
What do they do for an encore? Sniff each others' asses? Let Dick Morris's PayPal spank them with a rolled up issue of Commentary?
Ken Starr Bites A Big One
And so does Mitch McConnell.
More thoughtful analysis to follow.
Or you can crash your computer and download all 298 .pdf pages here.
Through The Looking Glass
Here's how the British tosser, Sully, reported the arrest of the Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo Bay on suspicion of espioniage:
"THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: Here's how the British newspaper, the Independent, reported the arrest of the Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo Bay on suspicion of espionage. In this age of terrorism, everyone is innocent except the U.S. government. Notice especially the invocation of Lynne Stewart. " (Note: Independent link is now to a for-pay article.)
And here's the tosser today:
"THE FRAMING OF YEE: The case that Muslim military chaplain James Yee was a spy for Syria or anyone else has been falling apart. It's not even clear that the documents he was carrying - the original basis for the charge - were in any way classified. For this, he was put in solitary confinement for three months. Worse, the military - having failed to make their case - subsequently used their search warrant to reveal an extra-marital affair by Yee and are now prosecuting him under military law for this indiscretion. This is called framing someone. The trial has now been suspended because the prosecution cannot prove the classification of the documents in question. This seems to me to be a text-book case of military abuse of basic standards of fairness. A Muslim-American, who may well be completely innocent of all espionage charges, may now face years in jail for having an affair."
In this age of phony wars on terror, Sully shows no remorse for pissing on the presumption of innocence. A textbook case indeed.
Cheer Up, Joe
You lost the Gore endorsement, but you won the coveted Sully primary.
Of course, Sully is also endorsing Michael Jackson, too. But not for president.
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
Senator Paul Simon, 1928-2003
I spoke too soon. Until today, the correlation between bow-tie wearers and stupidity was not 100 percent.
Rest in peace, Senator Simon.
I doubt you'd take legal advice from me, Governor Predator, but if I were you I'd consider an "anti-SLAPP" motion to strike the Miller complaint.
But don't take my word for it -- ask your media consultant, Don Sipple.
Miller's Court
Forget Terminator vs. Predator. This is the real battle royale: Miller v. Predator and his Campaign Manager. While I have little admiration for the theatrics of publicity-hound attorney Gloria Allred, Rhonda Miller's choice of attorney is irrelevant to the merits of the suit. It looks like the Predator won't be putting his past misconduct behind him as quickly or cleanly as he would have liked.
(Link via Mark Kleiman, whose reaction was the same as mine.)
Thomas Sowell's Book Bag
Note: World O' Crap beat me to this one and is funnier to boot!
Of all the things to be thankful for at Christmas, not being on Thomas Sowell's gift list is the one for which I'm most grateful. Here's what you might get -- from Sowell's stack of review copies, no doubt -- if he likes you:
If you like big, blockbuster books on broad themes, then "Human Accomplishment" by Charles Murray is the book to read on that long trip or in installments at home. It shows how landmark performances in many fields tend to cluster at particular times and places and among particular groups. This book is a landmark performance itself.
If you like take-no-prisoners attacks against the political left, three new books of this sort are "Treason" by Ann Coulter, "Scam" by Jesse Lee Peterson and "When I Was a Kid, This Was a Free Country" by G. Gordon Liddy. These are books with devastating facts and penetrating analysis, as well as verbal fireworks.
And if the stores are sold out of these fine tomes, you can just throw battery acid in your loved ones' faces to celebrate the birth of Christ.
The Digital-Rectal Examination
Andrew Sullivan, quoting failed TV Guide filler writer Jeff Jarvis, resorts to the hoariest and most insipid of all virtue-of-blogging cliches, the digital-rectal examination:
"And we watch what we say because somebody's fact-checking our ass. And we take on the responsibilities that come with all that."
Oh, the burden. Heavy is the head that writes like a clown. It's like noblese oblige, but with a proctoscope.
Unfortunately for Sully, someone is checking his veracity. Seb at Sadly, No! informs us that the white man's burden isn't as burdensome as the white man wants us to think. Responding to Sully's claim of "tens of thousands" of words per month for his blog, Seb says:
Oh no no no no -- no no no! We shall limit our research to a single week of the Daily Dish (last week for no reason in particular.) Microsoft Word reports that it contained 7,603 words. A rough count shows that about half of that consists of quotes from articles, poseur alerts, and emails fromSullivan's other personalitiesreaders. Once you count the part of the DailyDish Sullivan recycles into the WeeklyDish for the Washington Times, one is left with a couple of long posts on Reagan and AIDS or gay marriage, and a whole lot of linking to articles that argue the opposite of what Sullivan pretends they do. (i.e. sullivan, v. To base your argument on a source that actually argues the opposite what you claim it does. And yes, we coined that phrase!)
Now cough, Mr. Sullivan.
Monday, December 08, 2003
Update (12/9): Admitting was too generous.
The Blogsphere's Biggest Tool
There have been a lot of recent comments on the fascist fantasies of a cretinous Canadian named Adam Yoshida. When I read this guy, I just have to laugh.
Take this December 6 post from Yoshida, quoted in full here:
Schizophrenics for Dean
The perils of having too many supporters:
hope that you will see fit to visit this blog over the course of the campaign to hear the voice of the mentally ill, which is so often ignored in our society. As you will see, the voices of the mentally ill, from New York City to Los Angeles, are lined up behind Governor Howard Dean!
posted by Adam at 15:35 PM
Get it? Schizophrenics support Howard Dean! You'd have to be mentally ill to support Dean! Ahaha!
If you check out the linked site, you'll see the post quoted by Yoshida was created just 16 minutes before Yoshida's post. It takes an eagle eye to find new sites so quickly. And look! The author of the Schizophrenics for Dean site is also named Adam! What are the odds of that?
Without consulting my esteemed colleague, Doctor Krauthammer, I'm unable to identify the syndrome which best describes the kind of nut who would create a fake website and then mock the fictitious author of that website and the presidential candidate supported by the make-believe author. Or the one describing the jackass who thinks the nut "has some interesting observations" on anything.
But didn't another Harvard man start out this way?
(And don't tell me it's meant to be a gag. It's got to be funny to be a gag.)
Meanwhile, On JAG....
"What does it mean to have a sexual relationship?" Colonel Trimble asked. "We had sex together," she said, estimating that the couple had done so about 20 times, at his quarters and hers. She said that she knew he was married because he had told her.
Captain Yee's wife, Huda, who was born in Syria and wore a Muslim head covering today, left the courtroom and began sobbing on a bench. When she saw Lieutenant Wallace walk out shortly afterward, she pursued her with her daughter, Sarah, in her arms. "You happy now," Mrs. Yee shouted at Lieutenant Wallace. "Destroying a family?"
As she turned away, Lieutenant Wallace stepped toward her, lightly touched Mrs. Yee's arm and said: "You know what. You need to speak with HIM." Mrs. Yee responded with a mild epithet.
Yes, the Muslim serviceman who caused Mona Charen, Michelle Malkin, Frank Gaffney, Jnr. and John Leo to fear for their worthless lives stands accused of ... copulation in the first degree.
The real question: why is the military pursuing charges against Yee when it granted Wallace immunity for the same conduct?
More On The Politics of Personal Responsibility
From the Washington Post:
Janklow has long been an unapologetic speeder, as witnessed during a 1999 speech to the Legislature.
"Bill Janklow speeds when he drives -- shouldn't, but he does," Janklow said then. "When he gets the ticket he pays it, but if someone told me I was going to jail for two days for speeding, my driving habits would change."
In one well-known instance, two reporters were riding with Janklow when he made a 99-mph mad dash, through heavy smoke, down a mountain highway in the Black Hills during a raging forest fire in 2002. Janklow had tried to go faster, but the computer in his sport utility vehicle kept the engine from going past 99 mph.
Janklow received 12 speeding tickets from 1990 to October 1994. He was elected to a third term as governor a month later and never received another ticket in the state.
The jury was not allowed to hear about the tickets, but the prosecution was granted permission to present evidence of a close call at the same intersection where Scott died.
Jennifer Walters said a speeding white Cadillac ran the stop sign and missed their pickup by mere feet last December. She called 911 to report it and Moody County Deputy Sheriff Tony Aas said that about 10 minutes later he stopped the Cadillac. Janklow was the driver and he was doing 92 mph, though the officer locked his radar on at 86, he testified.
Walters said she did not pursue charges against Janklow because he was governor at the time. On the stand, Janklow denied running the stop sign.
Ten and ten should do it.
Grand Old Police Blotter: Speed Kills Edition
"FLANDREAU, S.D. -- A South Dakota jury has found Rep. Bill Janklow guilty of all charges against him in a manslaughter trial.
"The jury foreman read 'guilty' to each of the four counts: speeding, running a stop sign, reckless driving and second-degree manslaughter in the death of a motorcyclist.
"The last is a felony and carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine."
Apparently, it takes an enormous amount of work -- around the clock, day in, day out -- to pull boners like these (all from the last 24 hours):
advertizing
red-bloeded Englishmen and women
We have no idea at his point in history how this will or will not work out.
an Iraqi colonel who claims he was the3 source
And don't forget "95 percent of all our income comes from you. ....and you're our only means of support." (By the way, if you're reading this, Crackhammer, note the proper use of ellipses.)
Sorry, Andy. I expect a little more effort and pride of authorship for my Jacksons.
A Half-Point To Howie the Putz
Below, I wondered aloud whether any wingnuts would raise the issue of Charles Krauthammer's smear of Howard Dean. Well, one has, sort of.
In today's online chit-chat, Howie Kurtz actually permitted a participant to criticize Quackhammer's misrepresentation of Howard Dean's words. (See below.) Typically, however, Kurtz followed up with a weaselly non-response: It "would have been better" if Krauthammer hadn't lied. So kudos to Raleigh, N.C. (and Bob Somerby, who first raised the issue), and half-kudos to Howie.
(Of course, Howie then loses his half-point by suggesting that John Kerry was pandering to Rolling Stone readers by saying fuck.)
Raleigh, N.C.: Charles Krauthammer recently wrote in a column,
"Chris Matthews: Would you break up Fox?
Howard Dean: On ideological grounds, absolutely yes, but...I don�t want to answer whether I would break up Fox or not...what I�m going to do is appoint people to the FCC that believe democracy depends on getting information from all portions of the political spectrum, not just one."
This looks pretty awful, but those of us aware of the mendacity in modern journalism are drawn to the ellipsis. So we go to the online transcript and find,
MATTHEWS: Would you break up Fox?
(LAUGHTER)
MATTHEWS: I�m serious.
DEAN: I�m keeping a...
MATTHEWS: Would you break it up? Rupert Murdoch has �The Weekly Standard.� It has got a lot of other interests. It has got �The New York Post.� Would you break it up?
DEAN: On ideological grounds, absolutely yes, but...
(LAUGHTER)
MATTHEWS: No, seriously. As a public policy, would you bring industrial policy to bear and break up these conglomerations of power?
DEAN: I don�t want to answer whether I would break up Fox or not, because, obviously
(CROSSTALK)
MATTHEWS: Well, how about large media enterprises?
DEAN: Let me-yes, let me get...
(LAUGHTER)
DEAN: The answer to that is yes.
I would say that there is too much penetration by single corporations in media markets all over this country. We need locally-owned radio stations. There are only two or three radio stations left in the state of Vermont where you can get local news anymore. The rest of it is read and ripped from the AP.
MATTHEWS: So what are you going to do about it? You�re going to be president of the United States, what are you going to do?
DEAN: What I�m going to do is appoint people to the FCC that believe democracy depends on getting information from all portions of the political spectrum, not just one.
Now, when an op-ed writer uses the ellipsis to completely change the meaning of an exchange and (unintentionally ironically) calls into question someone else's mental stability, can you tell my why I should ever trust the writer again? Or why a presumably reputable paper (why, look here, WaPo Writer's Group!!) would employ him?
I just don't think should be my responsibility, as a reader, to fact check on that level.
Howard Kurtz: Some ellipses are justified, but it probably would have been better if the joking nature of the break-up-Fox answer had been mentioned.
Meanwhile, Bob Somerby has more on the disgraceful doctor Quackhammer.
Disgrace In Media Award Winner
Howie the Putz Kurtz continues his un-distinguished service for Bush Administration. Today, Kurtz turns over his column to Joe McQuaid of the Manchester Union-Leader, where McQuaid praises Bush and bashes most of the Democratic candidates. What a surprise. And this is newsworthy for what reason, Putz?
Truth In Media Award Winner
Reuters ruins the Freepers' playtime:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A company that sells foot-tall "action figures" of President Bush has added a new "Top Gun" model sporting a fighter pilot's flight suit in time for Christmas.
The new doll comes with helmet and visor, goggles and oxygen tank, recalling the president's May 1 landing on the flight deck of a Navy aircraft carrier when he declared an end to major combat operations in Iraq.
Since then, 190 U.S. service personnel have been killed in action in Iraq.
Saturday, December 06, 2003
A Lott Of Time On His Hands?
Tim Lambert suspects that "a reader from Swarthmore, PA USA" posting anonymous reviews at amazon.com is one John R. Lott, Jnr. There are six reviews on Amazon with that identification, including one posted using Lott's full name, one ostensibly written by a pro-gun-controller, one bashing Michelle Malkin (who previously bashed Lott), one by an author who Lott has debated, and one bashing an AEI-er (where Lott is a "scholar"). Very interesting.
I suppose there is one other possibility: someone other than Lott wrote all six and falsely claimed to be Lott in the last one. But there's an abundance of coincidences here.
The AEI-er, Kevin Hassett, co-authored at least one National Review article and one New York Post op-ed (note: .pdf file) with John Lott. Also, Hassett's a graduate of Swarthmore College (where Lott, a resident of Swarthmore, spoke in September), and Lott shows up a lot on Tech Central Station, which is the astroturf-cyberrag fronted by Hassett's "D'oh 36,000" co-author, Jimmy "James" Glassman.
What does it all mean? Beats me.
Weekly Standard: Clinton Haters Are Liars
The Weekly Standard has a piece by Andrew Ferguson (reprinted here by the oh-so-liberal CBS News) on "Bush bashing books." The article serves quite well to illustrate the difference -- in truthfulness, substance and tone -- between the anti-Clinton books and the books addressing the Bush Administration.
Ferguson admits that the anti-Clinton books were full of lies:
It's true that for sheer fantasy, none of these anti-Bush books contains anything to rival such Clinton-era classics as Terry Reed and John Cummings's "Compromised," which asserted that Clinton had been installed as president on the say-so of Ronald Reagan's CIA director William Casey, or Ambrose Evans-Pritchard's "The Secret Life of Bill Clinton," which implicated Clinton in drug-running and even murder. Still, the anti-Bush books I've been reading through are undeniably . . . overdone. Pick one up, turn it over in your hands, and you can hear, if you listen closely, the faint sound of veins popping.
Ferguson fails to mention many anti-Clinton liar-authors: Gary Aldrich, Babbs Olson, Chris Ruddy, the Weekly Standard... you get the idea.
More significantly, here's the best Ferguson can do in critiquing the anti-Bush books:
Paul Krugman used a similar phrase in his introduction and in one of the columns collected in the book. And he's become shrill.
Jim Hightower's index is anti-Bush, so I don't even have to read this one.
Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose use a lot of statistics and charts, yet they write about real people too. And if Bush had done something different, they'd criticize that too.
David Corn says Bush is a liar, yet he undercuts his own thesis by admitting that presidents other than Bush have lied! So there's no reason for his book.
Geez, if that's the best Fergie can do.... At least Ferguson (who is often better than this) maintains the perfect correlation between bow-tie wearing and stupidity.Half-Assery At Its Best
It's nice to see someone doing even more of a half-assed job with his blog than I am. Gregg Easterbrook not only posts an incredibly lame gag in response to the Air Force One/British Airways story, he sloppily attaches the explanation of his gag to the end of an entirely different post. And if you have to explain a joke, how funny can it be?
The point of his post is incoherent too. Is he saying the White House should have stayed with a "too good to check" version after people did check and confirmed it was a lie?
Hack Like Mickey
Bobby Kaus is up to his old tricks again:
The L.A. Times is still living in its anti-Schwarzeneggerian alternative universe. Here's the hopeful lede of a November 20 story by Gregg Jones (whose name seems to be on all the most egregiously blindered pieces) and Evan Halper:
SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ambitious legislative agenda bumped into political reality on Wednesday as Senate Democrats thwarted a quick repeal of a law that would give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants and Republicans raised concerns over his proposal to borrow up to $15 billion to address a projected budget gap.
Kaus crows that license law was repealed on December 1. But as the article clearly states, the Times reporters were reporting on a specific event that happened on Wednesday, November 19 -- they weren't trying to predict the future. Only an idiot like Kaus would call reporting facts "anti-Schwarzeneggerian."
And Kaus fails to mention that the other piece of the Predator's legislative agenda addressed in the article -- his $15 billion borrowing plan -- has, as Jones and Halper suggested, gone down the crapper. And quickly.
Like Kaus's credibility.
Friday, December 05, 2003
Big Pharma
And when I say big, I mean big. Allegedly, Biggie Ph was getting more than one scrip per week for six months.
(Inspired by SullyWatch.)
Let's see how many of the wingnuts who bitched about MoDo's use of ellipises will chastise Dr. K. for his fraudulent quote.
It's time for your straightjacket, Dr. K.
Thursday, December 04, 2003
Shop 'Til You Drop
"From March to September [2003], Limbaugh picked up 1,733 hydrocodone pills, 90 OxyContin pills, 50 Xanax tablets and 40 pills of Kadian -- time-release morphine, search warrant records show. The court documents indicate that sometimes less than a week would lapse between him getting different doctors' prescriptions for the painkillers."
Paging Doctor Riviera. Doctor Nick Riviera.
No, Norco, Niacin, OxyContin, Xanax and Lorcet is not a criminal defense firm.
Truth In Advertising
From Slate's homepage:
Worst Franchise Ever: Slate stories on NPR's Day to Day.
day to day, Dec. 4, 2003, 2:06 PM PT
You said it!
Join Roger's Crusade To End Censorship
"By Daniel J. Wakin
"In October, a film student at New York University pitched an idea for her video-making class: a four-minute portrayal of the contrast between unbridled human lust and banal everyday behavior.
"Her professor approved. The student, Paula Carmicino, found two actor friends willing to have sex on camera in front of the class. The other students expressed their support. But then the professor thought he should double-check with the administration, which immediately pulled the plug on the project.
...
"In Ms. Carmicino's view, the university was censoring a work about how people censor their own behavior. She said her video, titled "Animal," was supposed to depict the contrast between public and private behavior: 'The whole concept of it was to compare the normal behavior of people in their everyday lives versus the animalistic behavior that comes out when they are having sex.'
"She planned to intersperse 30-second clips of passionate sex with scenes of the couple engaged in more mundane activities, like watching television and reading a newspaper.
"Simulating the sex would have defeated her purpose, she said. 'That's censoring the sex part. My thing is how we censor ourselves during the day when we're not having sex.'"
That's one interpretation. I see it as a thing about how we censor ourselves during the day when we have sex instead of simulating sex. Others might see it as a thing about how we censor ourselves by filming others having sex instead of filming ourselves having sex.
Meanwhile, Carmicino's fellow auteur, Lisa Estrin, was greenlighted on a clearly derivative work "showing simulated sex between two stuffed toys, Minnie Mouse and Lamb Chop." If that doesn't simultaneously arouse and disgust Brent Bozell, nothing will.
Roger's Book Sack
I'm not a fan of most historical fiction. Often the author is mediocre at best and the historical figures are, as characters, are so underdeveloped and wooden that the book is painful to read. Take Jeff Shaara, for example. Or Colleen McCullough and her Caesar books.... John Jakes.... You get the idea. If the writing is deadly, it doesn't matter how good -- or interesting -- the history is. (On the other hand, if the history's off, I don't care so much because I know it's a novel.)
Mark Kleiman's recommendation/review of Neil Stephenson's Quicksilver, along with a profile I read concerning the author, has gotten me interested in that book. The size of the book (given my lack of spare time) still intimidates me, as does the fact that it's part of a planned trilogy, but it sounds like it's worth the effort.
If anyone has any favorite historical fiction titles, let us know.
For The Birds
Turns out it's an homage to Hitchcock. Or maybe John Waters' Pecker.
One of the defenses to the alleged anti-Semitism in Mel Gibson's Passion is that Gibson's film was faithful to the biblical text. (Here's a somewhat contradictory version of that argument from Fredo L.) In other words, "Don't blame me, blame God."
But now that persons other than drooling wingnuts have seen the film, that defense is falling apart. Not only is there that table scene with Kitty Lopez gets (and again. and again), but there's this:
Hallinan also questioned the depiction, during the crucifixion, of Gestas, the bad thief, having his eyes plucked out by a crow after he questions Christ's divinity.
Cool! There's not enough eyeball plucking in the original.
Based on a story by St. John, with additional dialogue by Wes Craven.
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Moonie Blogging!
Correction: There are so many wingnut publications that it's hard to keep track of them. World magazine is not a Moonie rag. Moon's glossy rags are The World & I and Insight magazine. Thus, Marvin Olasky is not a willing tool of the Moonies (unlike so many other fundies). Although no one (yet) has written to correct me, I don't want to associate Olasky with a bigoted, delusional tax criminal. I'm sure Marvin would join me in condemning Moon and all those who take his money.
Hey, the Reverend Moon's got a blog, presided over by Marvin Olasky. I wonder if Marvin knows that Moon's God (himself) says he can beat up Marvin's God.
And it's got a Comments section! Those inclined to elevate the discourse might want to add their comments on Holy Moonie Matrimony (or Moon's thoughts about American women) at the end of this post on gay marriage and polygamy.
"Listen to Gov. Clinton and Ozone Man," Bush shouted at one campaign stop. "This guy [Gore] is so far off in the environmental extreme, we'll be up to our neck in owls and out of work for every American. This guy's crazy. He is way out, far out. Far out, man."
Bush added, "My dog Millie knows more about foreign affairs than these two bozos."
That's just a taste. The link highlights many of the other dirty tricks and smears of Bush/Quayle 92.
The G.O.P.: A Big Top, Not A Big Tent
Clownhall.com is rockin' with stupidity today.
Bozo Jay Bryant demonstrates his ignorance of democracy while explaining how Geo. "Out of the Loop" Bush sowed the seeds of his own defeat in 1992 by introducing Willie Horton in 1988.
The Democrats remember how, by screaming the words "Willie Horton" in 1992, they intimidated Bush the Elder's campaign into avoiding any serious negative messages, a prime cause of his loss that year.
Marxist scholar Gary Flub-a-Dub Aldrich shows his determination to be the last wingnut to let go of the Clenis:
I hate the sickness that takes over a woman�s mind, allowing her to snatch every opportunity to misuse her moment in time, to keep that kind of hate alive.
But I cannot hate the persons of Hillary or Bill Clinton. I feel sorry for them. They have been especially privileged and lucky, and now they are especially rich, having sold books they did not write � and I would posit, never could write.
And yet they remain unhappy. They want to tear down this country. They support an ideology that will eventually destroy Democracy and Capitalism, if not stopped now.
And, of course, Krusty-Ben Shapiro, plays a lively round of "Jew/Not-A-Jew":
But for most liberal Jews, authentic Judaism is an afterthought. These Jews are born Jewish, but they don't think Jewish, and they certainly don't act Jewish. When American Jews are identified as a demographic group, observers should note that the vast majority of them do not practice authentic Judaism -- they practice secularism....
Liberal Jews may not like what they hear, but Ann Coulter is right. The Democratic Party has played the demographic Jewish community like a gefilte fish. If liberal Jews want the right to start screaming anti-Semitism, they need to start acting in concert with authentic Jewish values first.
What a bunch of freaks.
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
With Bush, Kaus's criteria is not whether Bush is lying, but whether his lies are good for the country. With Hillary, Kaus's criteria is not whether her views are good for the country, but whether he can bash the Senator without the effort involved in considering the merits of her views.
Being a fucking moron: It's just that easy.
Anatomy Of A Smear
Now I wish I had retyped my entire comment on Geoff Metcalf. It seems Metcalf was not a lone, mustachio-waxed wacko when he pegged Senator Clinton as a traitor for stating that the military outcome in Iraq is not assured. Rather, Metcalf was just a foot soldier in an army of lying wackos.Bob Somerby at the Daily Howler details how the Hillary-is-a-traitor smear is spreading through the right-wing media like a case of herpes. Bob also points out that Metcalf, like Hannity and the other lying liars at Fox News, is claiming that a statement Senator Clinton made to the Associated Press was actually made to U.S. troops.
Another perfectly executed play from Koach Karl's playbook.
Nooners or K.Lo.? -- You Make The Call
It�s just a great, humanizing scene (a good relief point in a brutal film, too) which ends with the mother and son joking around. It shows Christ--who we would otherwise only really see in the context of his suffering and death--as an attractive guy who can work with his hands, has a great sense of humor, and loves his mother with a deep and abiding gratitude. And she is a women (sic) who adores her son. While the table isn�t in the Bible, it�s just a great scene. That�s subjective, of course, but it is one of the many signals from Gibson that he truly gets it. It�s the kind of thing I want a priest to get.
And then there's this:
No one in the theater I was in could sit still. You felt it. And again. And again. Which, considering the subject matter, seems quite appropriate.
I'm speechless.
(Answer later.)
Update: Yes, it's Special K.
Buy Thomas Sowell's Organs On EBay
Yes, the organ donor bureaucracy hates the poor so much it is willing to prevent them from selling their kidneys.
I kid you not.
There's good news and there's bad news: The good news is that "[t]hree economists have estimated the cost of buying an organ in a free market at a price well within most people's budgets." The bad news is that the economists are Donny Luskin, Cokie Kudlow and Thomas Sowell.
Monday, December 01, 2003
Circus Freaks
I had a lengthy post on bulbous, small-time radio hack Geoff Metcalf and his fatuous accusation that Hillary Clinton is a traitor for supposedly stating that the outcome of the war in Iraq is not certain. You can read Geoff's crapulent commentary here.
Something happened with Blogger and I lost the post, and I really don't feel like retyping the whole thing. Anyway, the real point was to call Metcalf a "failed circus ringmaster." And so I have.
Alternate Hed: Morgan Smith's brother, yes, Mounds, no.
Correction of the Month
The New York Times: "The article said that Morgan Smith died of testicular cancer and that his brother, in response, had his own testicles removed. That account was given to The Times by a friend of both men. It should not have been published unless it could be verified and attributed. After the obituary appeared, Monica Smith, the daughter of Morgan Smith, told The Times that her father had had prostate cancer and that her uncle did not have his testicles removed."
Or maybe they had him confused with the Times under Bill Keller's leadership.
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Roger's Book Sack
As everyone and their dog has already commented upon, President Clinton recently listed his 21 favorite books. I'm not sure I have 21 favorite books. I mean, I've read more than 21 books, and I suppose I could chose the 21 out of those I liked best, or 21 of those I would recommend to others, but I don't know I would call all of those "favorites." A favorite would be something I would read multiple times, and would pick up at any time just to re-read favorite sections.
So instead, I will list the one book that is a favorite that I wish I still had a copy of:
1. The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book by Brendan Boyd and Fred Harris
Anyone who has read this book will know what I mean. It's obvious President Clinton has never read this book, or The Evolution of Civilizations: An Introduction to Historical Analysis wouldn't have made his list.
No Facts Lives Up To His Name
Bob "The Traitors' Toilet" Novak not only buries the lede, he omits it all together:
WASHINGTON -- Chairman Orrin Hatch angered fellow Republicans last week by opening Senate Judiciary Committee Republican e-mails to investigators probing leaks of Democratic e-mails.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist ordered full cooperation in the investigation of how Republicans obtained the committee's Democratic e-mails, which detailed the strategy for blocking President Bush's judicial nominations. Hatch responded with his order to open GOP e-mails to investigators. The Republican chairman also put one staffer on administrative leave.
The investigation was triggered by Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the assistant Democratic floor leader who received some of the more important leaked e-mails. Rank-and-file Republican senators grumble that Frist and Hatch have permitted Durbin to obscure the substance of the e-mails, which showed left-wing special interest groups behind the filibusters preventing judicial confirmations.
A GOP staffer placed on administrative leave, but why, Bob? Don't ask No Facts.
(Also don't ask him the name of the staffer, or the names of the Republican senators who are bitching. In fact, don't ask him anything newsworthy.)
For those interested in the facts, click here.
In The Line of Fire
On Meet the Press, Mike Allen recounted how Air Force One was fully stocked with bulletproof jackets. I'm guessing that's why Trembly-Weepy was wearing that dorky warm-up jacket, to hide the body armor he was wearing.
It's not surprising he wanted to keep it hidden.
Henrietta Township - A couple helped raise $1,500 to buy the military's best bulletproof vest to send their soldier son in Iraq because the government has not been able to get the vests to all troops.Shouldn't the priority go to those whose tour of duty isn't under two hours?
Charles and Marilyn Zvosechz didn't want their 32-year-old son to wait. Army Sgt. David Zvosechz is stationed at the Baghdad Airport....
Nearly one-quarter of the 130,000 American troops in Iraq had not been issued the newest body armor as of last month. Delays in funding, production and shipping mean the last of the needed 30,000 sets of body armor won't be delivered to Iraq until December - more than eight months after the war began.
(Link via BuzzFlash.)
Meet Your Liberal Media
Howie the Putz has a rundown on whores not named Russert:
The surprise visit produced upbeat, sometimes gushing coverage on the cable networks, which kept rerunning video of Bush with a turkey platter and his pep talk to the troops. "This is a show of power. . . . This has significance in terms of showing the power of the presidency," Fox anchor David Asman said.
Time's Vivian Walt said on CNN that "an electric shock went through the room" and that for Bush, crying and trembling, it was "a taste of victory."
The message, retired Col. Ken Allard said on MSNBC, is that "you underestimate George Bush at your peril. It was a gutsy call, a Hail Mary pass, and he pulled it off."
Crying and trembling? Is Bush supposed to be President or Rush Limbaugh?
Thanks For Asking
For those curious about Roger Ailes' whereabouts on Thanksgiving, I decided to follow the inspirational example of Geo. W. Bush. I headed to the local food bank, where I posed for pictures handing cans of food to the less fortunate. As soon my lackeys in the press got their snaps, I got the hell out of there, leaving the destitute to suffer and die in obscurity. Then I went to Tim Russert's house and received a blow job.
Pumpkinhead Pie
Veteran observers of the Meet the Press host confirm that Pumpkinhead Tim Russert's performance today is the closest he's been to achieving orgasm since the morning of Little Russ's conception. The bloated broadcaster reveled in the details of Bush's deception of the press concerning his trip to Baghdad. A slight moan escaped Russert's lips as Mike Allen recalled the confiscation of reporters' cell phones. Russert's eyes rolled back in his head as he crowed that Bush upstaged Senator Clinton's visit to American troops, and his well-hidden pelvis began thrusting uncontrollably as he compared Bush to Presidents Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt.
Later, Russert shared a cigarette with Doris Kearns Goodwin and David Broder.
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Reasons To Be Thankful
Roger Ailes will be counting his blessings at an undisclosed location this year. Posting should resume on Saturday, barring unforeseen trichinosis.
We leave you with this year's shortlist of reasons to be thankful (listed in no particular order):
Only 13 more months of misrule.
The Bill of Rights.
Public libraries.
George Soros (That's rogerailes@fastmail.fm, George).
Crossword puzzles.
(What's left of) the California coastline.
Family.
Friends.
The fine men and women whose sites are listed to the right, who make this world a wiser, fairer and more enjoyable place.
Two Questions
What are the names of these punks?
Can Hannity be prosecuted for recieving stolen property?
And when will a certain Tennessee cracker call for the subpoenaing of Hannity?
Okay, that's three questions.
Any answers to the non-rhetorical questions will be greatly appreciated.
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Kevin McCullough of WorldNutDaily, last seen slandering Ed Anser as a Stalin apologist, has set his sights now on crap clothier Abercrombie & Fitch. McCullough claims the latest Christmas catalog from the company contains forty-five "specific portrayals of sexual imagery" (sic), including the kinds of depraved acts Neil Bush would indulge in if only someone else would pay for it. Apparently this year's holiday motif is "teens/young adults frolicking in a river engaging in sexual activity in multiple group settings." I hate it when group river sex becomes commercialized.
Apologies, Anyone?
Let's review how some of the nation's most respected opinion leaders previously characterized Captain James Yee, an American serviceman and chaplain who stands accused of adultery and browsing internet porn.
There's something terribly wrong when an American soldier overseas can't receive Scriptures in the mail, but a Muslim chaplain can preach freely among al Qaeda and Taliban enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay.
This is a story of two soldiers, one Christian, one Muslim. It's a cautionary tale that suggests how religious double standards and politically driven hypersensitivity threaten not only our troops, but us all.
This ought to shut up our European detractors who've been screaming that we are torturing prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Not only do we provide the inmates there with medical care, surgery, dentistry, reading matter, familiar and religiously permitted foods, copies of the Koran and religious services -- we've also provided spies. Two, at least -- and counting -- to judge from news reports.
The first is Capt. James Yee, 35, who served as a Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo. Yee is a Chinese American who was raised a Lutheran but converted to Islam while in the military.
The military prison at Guantanamo Bay is the most secure facility the United States has ever built. At least it�s supposed to be. But it�s beginning to look as though Muslim terrorists or their sympathizers may have already figured out how to penetrate it.
One can only hope that the surveillance that resulted in Yee�s arrest is part of a wider effort to ensure that chaplains ministering to Muslims in the U.S. military are promoting the sorts of moderate, pro-American views he purportedly held in 2001, rather than the sort of radical, intolerant and jihadist views of the so-called �Islamists.� Otherwise, the danger is very real that serving members of the armed forces could be subjected to ominous proselytizing intended to give rise to clandestine Fifth Column activities in this country and a whole new front in the War on Terror.
To be sure, these blowhards all inserted "allegedly" or the like somewhere in their columns, no doubt at the insistence of their syndicates' lawyers. But from their prose you know they were all well lubricated by the idea of a Muslim traitor in the U.S. Army.
These cretinous columnists have two things in common: (1) The source of their reports: The Moonie Times; (2) You know they won't revisit Captain Yee's story any time soon.
Way to Go, Matt
Matt Yglesias is not afraid to throw down when wingnuts start to smear. Commenting on a Washington Times profile on George Soros, Yglesias says:
"Worst of all, he backed the McCain-Feingold bill, but now is contributing money to liberal political causes in ways that don't violate the McCain-Feingold rules. Scandal! Leaving this aside, let's note that the Times, financed as it is by a deranged cult, is not exactly well-positioned to complain about where the left gets its cash." (Emphasis added)
Those are the words that everyone needs to hear every time the Moonie Times is mentioned.
Sanctify Me, Baby
President Bush criticized Tuesday's ruling by Massachusetts' highest court striking down the state's ban on same-sex marriage and said he would work with Congress to "defend the sanctity of marriage."
"Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman," Bush said in a statement released shortly after he arrived in London for a state visit. He said the ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court "violates this important principle."
How ... sacred ... is ... it? Just ask Neilsie:
The Bush divorce, completed in April, was prompted in part by [Neil] Bush's relationship with another woman. He admitted in the deposition that he previously had sex with several other women while on trips to Thailand and Hong Kong at least five years ago.
The women, he said, simply knocked on the door of his hotel room, entered and engaged in sex with him. He said he did not know if they were prostitutes because they never asked for money and he did not pay them.
"Mr Bush, you have to admit it's a pretty remarkable thing for a man just to go to a hotel room door and open it and have a woman standing there and have sex with her," Brown said.
"It was very unusual," Bush said.
Sacred like room service. Motherfucker didn't even leave a tip.
Monday, November 24, 2003
Hey, Professor Milton Rosenburg of WGN's "Extension 720" has his own blog. I think Milt's far to the right of me, but his show is thought-provoking and literate and Milt's unfailingly polite to his guests. (Just the opposite of this site.) And he links to Kieran Healy and Crooked Timber!
You'd think WGN would pay to get rid of his Blogspot ad, though. C'mn you cheap bastards, show Milt some respect.
KURTZ: Jonah Goldberg, is Michael Jackson being convicted by the media?
JONAH GOLDBERG, "NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE": I think somewhat, yes. I mean, I think...
KURTZ: And you're not troubled by this?
GOLDBERG: Not terribly, because I actually think he's guilty. But -- and I think James raises a very good point about how this is a continuation of a story. In many ways, I liken it to the O.J. Simpson case.
In many ways, I liken Jonah Goldberg to a used condom. Very profound, JoJo.
Despite Jonah's efforts to suck all intelligence out of the program, Wolcott got off a great line: " Also, I have to say that my favorite new TV personality is Michael's personal magician, Majestic Magnificent. I mean, you would think calling yourself Majestic would be enough. But no, he's majestic and magnificent."
And James Wolcott really nailed Rush to the mast with this comment:
And apparently over a number of years it adds up to $300,000 or $400,000, which he said was for gratuities and travel and paying off the contractors. I mean, you know, it sounds like he's throwing out thousand-dollar tips to the bellhop. That's a very interesting development, and that blows up the -- you know, the mode of Rush's personal saga, that it's all about him beating drugs. Now we know.We can assume James won't be called as a character witness during the sentencing phase of Rush's money laundering trial.
Hack to Basics
Little Mickey Kaus is back to his old tricks again. The plagiarists' pal is criticizing Howie Kurtz for not commenting on Bernard Weinraub, a NYT journo who lifted paragraphs from a website for a showbiz story in the Times. Kaus wonders why Kurtz wrote about a Denver Post plagiarist but is silent on Weinraub.
If you click on the link to Howie's story, you see the Denver plagiarist was guilty of 13 separate incidents of plagiarism, which might make his misdeeds more newsworthy than a single incident by Weinraub. But Mick doesn't have a hardon for the Denver thief like he does for the Timesman. (Kaus could try to find 12 more incidents (or even one) by Weinraub, but that would require actual effort.)
And why isn't Kaus kvetching about Howie's lack of coverage for Slate's own resident web-plagiarist, Margo Howard? Does Kurtz have to clear all his plagiarism stories with Kaus to make sure he's writing about a Kaus enemy?
And let's not forget Kaus' own friendship with the woman who invented cut-and-paste journalism, Ruth Shalit. I don't recall Kaus waxing moralistic when any of her many thefts were disclosed.
Southern Heritage ... Gun Ownership ... Tennessee...
This story has it all.
Where's Professor Reynolds with the in depth coverage?
(Via Atrios)
Sunday, November 23, 2003
Mr. Krugman, for his part, said he did not remember seeing the cover until prepublication copies were sent to reviewers. "I think it was intended to be ironic," he said.
The cover images of Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney were borrowed from puppets carried by protesters outside the World Economic Forum in New York in 2002. Mr. Krugman said that he took part in the forum and does not share the protesters' views. He noted that his columns have defended free trade and argued that the administration's war in Iraq was not about oil.
"It is a marketing thing, not a statement," he said. "I should have taken a look at that and said, `What are you doing marketing me as if I am Michael Moore? This is silly.' "
Incivility is one thing, he said, but the book cover "may be undignified, which would be a reason to object."
Krugman did not go on to say "If you can't argue with the facts, attack the cover of the English edition." But he should have.
Saturday, November 22, 2003
Mary Loves Bernie
Bernie "Ignorance" Goldberg is so desparate to pad his latest tome that he's been carrying John Lott's water. And Goldberg comes out the chump again.
Bob Somerby, in a rare weekend Howler, and Tim Lambert have the details.
Update (11/25): The Tim Lambert link is now fixed. I hope.
Friday, November 21, 2003
Reading Yesterday's Bush Blog
What's Happening on Friday, November 21, 2003?
...
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld participates in a Pentagon Town Hall meeting.
I'm sure that was a frank and open exchange of ideas.
It's OxyClear To Me Now
Like many folks, I was scratching my head when Rush "Chunky Junkie" Limbaugh said the following while revealing his drug addiction:
"I can no longer try to live my life by making other people happy."
But now, after reading this article, it's all so clear.
Rush wanted to withdraw $10,000 a pop but he agreed to withdraw just under 10k because the bank wanted him to.
Rush wanted to pay his contractors with a check, but they all demanded he pay in cash so he not only complied but also lugged the loot down to Florida to boot.
Rush was so generous to others he had to withdraw nearly 10k 30 or 40 times just to cover "gratuities."
Of course, I can't still figure out how wanting please others caused Limpballs to use drugs. Maybe someone wanted him to become an addict, and he just couldn't say "no."
Politicizing The War on Terror
Hey, Pistoff Kristoff! Here's a subject for your next column on civility in politics: The G.O.P. is running ads saying those who oppose Bush support terrorism. I'll even send you a nasty email you can quote if that'll motivate you.
Pub Crawlers
Not only does Bush bring five chefs with him to replace Buckingham Palace's fare, he then goes down to the pub for a photo op with a plate of greasy chips and mashed veg.
As Bush digested his fish, chips and mushy peas and the presidential entourage swept out of town toward the airport, the pub's landlady Mishy Rayner reflected on the visit from the world's most powerful man.He mixed with everybody, even though the public wasn't let in. How sociable.
"He seemed thrilled to be here," she said as the pub prepared to open its doors to the public again. "He was lovely and mixed with everybody. He looked really well and is very good looking in real life."
"They were very appreciative and seemed to enjoy it," she added as staff arranged daffodils and irises in vases on the dark wooden tables in the low-ceilinged, traditional pub.
Too bad he didn't just stop by the Old Vic and have a few pints with Peggy Mitchell and Dirty Den. It would've been more authentic.
Tell me again: What idiot still thinks Mickey Kaus is a Democrat?
(Note: No link this time, y'all know where to find him.)
Grand Old Police Blotter: Dirty Linnen Edition
The great and good Pandagon.net has exposed us to a Republican attorney who stands accused of public indecency, assault, felony kidnapping and gross sexual imposition. Authorities say that Stephen P. Linnen briefed the Ohio Speaker of the House, Republican Larry Householder, in camera during the day, and worked with camera, sans briefs, at night.
THE SO-CALLED �naked photographer� has struck 39 times � including confrontations with three women Wednesday � often wearing only a baseball cap, police said.
According to police, Stephen P. Linnen, 32, allegedly approached two women Wednesday and was arrested when police spotted him nude in an alley behind a supermarket near where one victim reported being confronted. Police found a camera, stocking cap and sunglasses stashed by a nearby garbage bin.
Linnen, 32, deputy counsel for Republican House Speaker Larry Householder, was charged with public indecency and assault, and posted bond.
He was rearrested Thursday on felony kidnapping and gross sexual imposition charges after a search of his apartment, where authorities found incriminating photographs, police Lt. Jeff Spence said.
Was Flash Moron wearing an Indians cap, or does he support the Columbus Clippers?
Linnen has not been convicted of anything, but would be well advised to offer free legal aid to his fellow convicts in the event that he is.
Thursday, November 20, 2003
Don't miss it!
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Shalitting
You can't read Romensko anymore with coming across a story of some journalist cut-and-pasting a chunk of their article from some website. The New York Times, Slate and practically every sportswriter you've never heard of -- They're all doing it. I propose calling this technique "Shalitting," after an early practitioner of this form of theft.
But there's a subtle variation on the theme that's been getting more attention lately. It seems a lot of wingnut book authors are conducting the "research" for their books simply by surfing the web, relying on bogus sources like WorldNutDaily and the Media Research Center, and passing those sites' false claims off as fact.
Earlier, I mentioned that I suspected David Limbaugh was simply retyping inaccurate press releases from fundy websites and printing them as gospel in his book, Persecution. Now Bob Somerby has caught Bernie Goldberg recycling misquotes which earlier appeared on Brent Bozell's Media Research Center website.
It doesn't bother me that the wingnuts do this, since I don't buy their shoddy tomes. But you'd think the suckers who do buy these books would demand a better product for their hard-earned dollars.
Yeah, and The New York Post never tells "Junior Jumble" and "Family Circus" what to say either. You're filler, dude; they don't give a shit what you say.
Blacks and whites they sometimes mix/
but black girls only want your money cause they're dumb chicks....
Don't date a black girl/
if you do it once you won't do it twice....
Black girls are dumb, and white girls are good chicks.
The author of this divisive rhyme, which warranted its own news conference? No, not Ol' Dirty Kaus, but Eminem. One can hardly imagine the women who coveted the fortune of the 18-year-old Marshall Mathers.
In his defense, Eminem says that he has since promoted the cause of racial unity by recording numerous songs imagining the murder of and/or assaults upon white women, including his mother and wife.
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
(Let's Do) The Obtusi
How dense can one person be?
When one reads the following words
"Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman. Today's decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court violates this important principle. I will work with congressional leaders and others to do what is legally necessary to defend the sanctity of marriage."
a sentient being can have many rational responses, but this
"I'm not sure what this can mean"
is not one of them.
The only way to read Sully's response is that he's fantasizing Bush won't lead the fight for a federal constitutional amendment, but will allow other G.O.P. leaders to front for him. Then he can pretend Bush doesn't mean what he says. (Which is often the case, but not this time.)
Sully certainly knows that this has always been Bush's position. Surely he also knows that Bush admires anti-gay judges like Scalia and is seeking to fill the federal benches with more and more judges like him.
Playing dumb won't make the real George Bush go away. And it won't cause him to alienate his base either.
He's Really Het Up About This Issue
Bush is so twitterpated about gay marriage that he's posted his official condemnation of the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision on his campaign website. I hope this won't put a damper on drinkies with Prince Charles.
Meanwhile, according to the flaming heterosexual Bush Blog:
"Secretary of State Colin Powell's Schedule participates in the U.S.-European Union Ministerial meetings in Brussels, Belgium."
Colin's so out of favor with the neocon cabal that they're only sending his schedule to meetings now.
The Reviews Are In
Kevin Drum calls Mickey Kaus's latest blog entry a "tiresome," "annoying" "smear" and "the cheapest of cheap shots." He also calls the tiny hack a "media shill."
Kevin's being overly kind to the shill, but he's absolutely right. Kaus spins a complete fantasy to bash Howard Dean. Dean's worst enemy would be embarassed to quote Kaus's drivel. What the hell is Slate thinking when it publishes crap like this?
Uh, not if George "the W. is for Wallace" Bush has his way. The moral paragon and pussyhound says:
"Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman. Today's decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court violates this important principle. I will work with congressional leaders and others to do what is legally necessary to defend the sanctity of marriage."
Sorry, dude, but you can't have what Poppy and Bar and Jennifer or Neilsie and Sharon and Maria and the Bangkok hookers have. Wouldn't be sanctified.
Monday, November 17, 2003
Oxymoron Of The Year
A journalism award named after Babbs Olson.
This year's recipient: Wesley "Klan 2.0" Pruden beat out Snitchens for the Twisted Teeth Trophy.
I'm Going To Be The Best Me That I Can Be
"I can no longer try to live my life by making other people happy. I can no longer turn over the power of my feelings to anybody else, which is what I have done a lot of my life. I have thought that I had to be this way or that way in order to be liked or appreciated or understood - and in the process, I denied myself who I was and I denied the other people I was talking to and relating with who I really am, and that isn't good.
"You can boil it down to one real simple essence: I can't be responsible for anybody's happiness but my own, and if I allow somebody else the power to determine my happiness, then...well...that's something I don't want to do. I can't do any longer. I put myself first. Doesn't mean be rudely selfish. It just means I can't depend on other people to make me happy. I have to do that myself." -- Stuart Smalley, Stuart Saves His Family
So "Stuart's" problem is that he isn't egotistical enough. Who knew?
As Bob Somerby says, "It�s hard to find polite English words to describe Goldberg�s utter contempt for his readers�or to describe his contempt for American democracy, which he�s determined to shit on again."
Bill Bennett, gambling addict and friend of Clarence Thomas, pornography addict, sings the praises of his buddy, Rush Limbaugh, the plain old addict addict.
And yet Mr. Bennett said that Mr. Limbaugh deserved to be judged less severely than former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat and perennial Limbaugh target, who was impeached in 1999 over his deceptions regarding an affair with a White House intern. "He's not president of the United States," Mr. Bennett said of Mr. Limbaugh. "He's not blaming his accusers. He's not lying. He's not lying under oath."
"He was manly," Mr. Bennett added of Mr. Limbaugh. "He was straightforward."
That's very butch of you, Bill.
Sunday, November 16, 2003
Reading The Bush Blog
"What's Happening on Sunday, November 16, 2003?
First Lady Laura Bush is in Dallas, TX where she will tour the Nasher Sculpture Center. Following the tour, Mrs. Bush will participate in a media availability at the museum."
"Mrs. Bush, does this work remind you of anyone?"
"The only way to make the case that FOX is not fair and balanced is to not give me my due," [Alan Colmes] said halfway through a recent phone interview about his new book, Red, White and Liberal, his voice rising for the first time. "I'm half the show and I get exactly half the time. To suggest that I'm less potent is just absurd."
I thought only dogs could hear Alan when he raises his voice.
Pretzel Logic
The kind so irrational it would make a dimwit choke.
See also Feith-Based Foreign Policy.
"No evidence of any Iraqi effort to transfer weapons of mass destruction or weapons to terrorists," Cordesman wrote of Kay's briefing. "Only possibility was Saddam's Fedayeen [his son's irregular terrorist force] and talk only."In other words: We were right to claim that Saddam planned to give biological agents to terrorists because our intelligence wasn't good enough to prove he didn't plan to.
One of the concerns the Bush administration cited early last year to justify the need to invade Iraq was that Hussein would provide chemical or biological agents or weapons to al Qaeda or other terrorists. Despite the disclosure that U.S. and British intelligence officials assessed that Hussein would use or distribute such weapons only if he were attacked and faced defeat, administration spokesmen have continued to defend that position.
Last Thursday, Undersecretary of Defense Douglas J. Feith defended the administration's prewar position at the Council on Foreign Relations. "The idea that we didn't have specific proof that he was planning to give a biological agent to a terrorist group," he said, "doesn't really lead you to anything, because you wouldn't expect to have that information even if it were true. And our intelligence is just not at the point where if Saddam had that intention that we would necessarily know it."
Or, in still other words, I know that Douglas J. Feith intends to bugger a mountain goat because I can't prove he doesn't intend to.
Saturday, November 15, 2003
"I Laughed, I Cried, I Stained Myself...."
The print ads for the film version of The Human Stain feature a rave review from, of all people, Ward Connerly. That ad's not online, but here's a Lloyd Grovel column quoting Connerly's endorsement. Connerly says, "every generation has its race movie � from 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' to 'To Kill a Mockingbird' � and I believe that 'The Human Stain' is the race movie for this generation."
Well, I have to disagree. "Soul Man" and "True Identity" are the race pictures of this generation.
Grovel claims that Connerly's "crusade against affirmative action and racial identification has earned him savage personal vilification and death threats." What Grovel and Connerly leave unsaid is that Connerly's crusade also has earned him speaking fees and a place on the University of California Board of Regents, not to mention early screenings of Miramax films.