Category: Republicans

It has been Five Years…..

Posted on

That’s right folks, Five years since this War began…. Unreal.

Looking Back at Five Years in Iraq (via New York Times)

FIVE years on, it seems positively surreal.

On the evening of March 19, 2003, a small group of Western journalists had grandstand seats for the big event in Baghdad, the start of the full-scale American bombing of strategic targets in the Iraqi capital. We had forced a way through a bolted door at the top of an emergency staircase leading to the 21st-story roof of the Palestine Hotel, with a panoramic view of Saddam Hussein’s command complex across the Tigris River.

It has been five years it hardly seems conceivable. However, unfortunately, for the American people, it is a harsh reality of life. It has been five whole years, since the Bush Administration launched a preemptive strike against the sovereign nation of Iraq. This Strike, based upon bad, if not, outright false CIA intelligence. It was termed a “Slam Dunk,” by the then CIA Director George J. Tenet. Tenet resigned when this “Slam Dunk” turned out to be nothing more than a foul ball.

The thing that amazes me is the fact that the Bush Administration continues, to this day, to attempt to move the goalposts in regards to this so-called “War on Terror.” This is really, in all honesty, a case study exercise in fear mongering and Neo-Conservative Propaganda. Just ask Senator Barack Obama; he has been the victim of the fear mongering, and Republican Propaganda, all because of his racial and religious backgrounds. This information was mostly gleaned from white nationalist websites. This information was recycled, and revised to make it sound believable. It was and continues to be distributed by well meaning and very loyal people within the Republican Party and Conservatives who, quite frankly, just do not know any better.

The war however, is dragged on, all but forgotten by the mainstream media, because, I believe, they realized that people were just tired of hearing about the blood and carnage. The right wing camp, says that we are winning the war and that George W. Bush’s “Surge” is working. The reality is, that violence levels are back to down to what they were, before the civil war broke out between the two factions in Iraq. The Republicans call it progress, the rest of us that are still in touch with reality call it returning to pre-civil war levels. Some call it semantics; I prefer to call it a realist observation.

The toll of this war has been more than just physical, more than just dead bodies, although, that is a great part of it, lives ruined, lives lost, families devastated, it is quite the sad affair. However, there is a greater loss, our nation’s economy. A good friend of mine, Matt Gacht, is an auto mechanic; he specializes in working on Hummers. Since this war started, business has been bad, horribly bad. He also has a side business; he does electrical wiring in racecars. Since this war started, the cost of electrical wire has skyrocketed. It does cut into his profit margin. He would raise his rates, but if he does that, he cannot remain competitive. He is not the only person in this business. There are others in the business, people that have much more capital that he does, so, he has to be able to keep up with the big people. Sometimes, Matt Says, he feels like banging his head against the wall, because he feels like he is trapped in a difficult situation. It is tough, but his customers like him, because he takes pride in his work and he is almost disturbingly thorough.

Because I am a balanced person, I can also make this observation. The plain fact of reality is this, if this country pulls out of Iraq too fast. The country will, in fact, fall into chaos. The far left adamantly refuses to believe or accept this and it is quite sad. However, I do not believe that continuing the President’s policy and course will be a wise decision. There needs to be a change, as to what kind of a change? That will have to be decided and hashed out. There will have to be some very tough decisions made. I just hope and yes, I do pray, that there will be some wisdom used, that decisions made based upon facts on the ground and not based upon political ideologies.

Others on this: The Belmont Club and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS and more via memeorandum

McCain sneaks off to Iraq……again

Posted on

As if this guy couldn’t get any lamer…

This Happens: News Via AP: McCain makes unannounced trip to Iraq (via Yahoo News)

Sen. John McCain, the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee for president who has linked his political future to U.S. success in Iraq, was in Baghdad on Sunday for meetings with Iraqi and U.S. diplomatic and military officials, a U.S. government official said.

Details of McCain’s visit were not being released for security reasons, the U.S. Embassy said.

McCain’s visit was not announced and he was believed to have been in the country for several hours before reporters were able to confirm his arrival. It was unclear who he met with; no media opportunities or news conferences were planned.

McCain, a strong supporter of the U.S. military mission in Iraq, is believed to be staying in the country for about 24 hours.

"Senator McCain is in Iraq and will be meeting with Iraqi and U.S. officials," said Mirembe Nantongo, spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Gee, I wonder if he had half of the United States Armed Forces with him this time? I wonder what he said to those people in Iraq, "Well Boys, It looks like we will be here for 100 years. Get used to it."?

Oh, to be a fly on the wall during those meetings!

Others: DownWithTyranny!, Political Punch, Right Wing News and Fausta’s blog and more via Memeorandum

You see, this is what happens when you don’t play the Neo-Con Game with Bush.

Posted on

You get tied up and blindfolded like an animal.

Read the story over at the New York Times:

The Baiji refinery, with its distillation towers rising against the Hamrin Mountains, may be the most important industrial site in the Sunni Arab-dominated regions of Iraq. On a good day, 500 tanker trucks will leave the refinery filled with fuel with a street value of $10 million.

The sea of oil under Iraq is supposed to rebuild the nation, then make it prosper. But at least one-third, and possibly much more, of the fuel from Iraq’s largest refinery here is diverted to the black market, according to American military officials. Tankers are hijacked, drivers are bribed, papers are forged and meters are manipulated — and some of the earnings go to insurgents who are still killing more than 100 Iraqis a week.

“It’s the money pit of the insurgency,” said Capt. Joe Da Silva, who commands several platoons stationed at the refinery.

Five years after the war in Iraq began, the insurgency remains a lethal force. The steady flow of cash is one reason, even as the American troop buildup and the recruitment of former insurgents to American-backed militias have helped push the number of attacks down to 2005 levels.

In fact, money, far more than jihadist ideology, is a crucial motivation for a majority of Sunni insurgents, according to American officers in some Sunni provinces and other military officials in Iraq who have reviewed detainee surveys and other intelligence on the insurgency.

Yeah, them Neo-Conservative, Rockefeller-type, Republicans wouldn’t want those pesky jihadists tapping into their oil profits.

You see, we went into that country, based on totally false intelligence, and now the people that don’t think we belong there. The jihadists, who want to defend their land, is now getting their money supply cut off. Do I defend the one’s who blow up our troops? Hell No. But I am realist, that says, if we’d attacked the RIGHT DAMN COUNTRY IN THE FIRST FUCKING PLACE, we wouldn’t be in this situation.

In case anyone forgot, there was a report this week, that said, despite what the feckless, idiot, bastards on the far right want to believe, that there were NO OPERATIONAL ties between Saddam and Al-Qaeda.

Like I’ve said before, we need change, badly. November 2008 cannot came fast enough for me.

Saturday Short takes

Posted on

I am going to be away from the Computer and Blog, and basically news coverage for the rest of the afternoon.

So, here are your Saturday Political and News Short takes…..

Chick that was being "Pimped Out" to Governor of New York, is now mad because her photos got out to the press.

Obama Pastor-Gate continues on Saturday, I can’t believe people are still writing about this.

Living proof that far right wingers should not drive cars, Much less write Blogs and magazine articles.

A fine example of the legal system being abused…..in DAKAR.

There is progress in Iraq, or as this guy puts it, "The Surge is Working"… Some disagree, But I digress. Funny thing is, they put this story on page A13 in the Washington Post.

The Michigan and Florida Delegate-Gate Battle Continues. 

The House votes to tell President George W. Bush to kiss their collective backsides, in regards to telecom immunity. 

Oh Yeah and Obama Resko-Gate Continues as well.

These stories and more are available over on the best source for the pulse of the Blogosphere, and that’s Memeorandum.com

See you all either Tomorrow or much later tonight.

Breaking News: Controversial Minister leaves Obama campaign

Posted on

This story in from MSNBC:

Minister leaves Obama campaign – Decision ’08- msnbc.com

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., condemned racially charged sermons by his former pastor Friday and urged Americans not to reject his presidential campaign because of “guilt by association.”

Obama’s campaign announced that the minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., had left its spiritual advisory committee after videotapes of his sermons again ignited fierce debate in news accounts and political blogs.

Obama did not clarify whether Wright volunteered to leave his African American Religious Leadership Committee, a loose group of supporters associated with the campaign, or whether the campaign asked him to leave.

 

Here is the Interview by Keith Olbermann, from Countdown on MSNBC:

 

No Transcript Available at this time, one will be posted when it becomes available at MSNBC’s site.

I think Obama has done a good job on dousing this fire. Keith Olbermann actually came in, on a day off to get this story and interview Obama himself, as to get the story straight.  That says much about Olbermann. I commend him for doing that.

Hopefully this will die down, Because I think it’s a little overblown, myself. However, realistically, I do know that some idiotic 527 group will try their best to "swiftboat", Obama on this issue. You can bet on that.

More on Obama’s Pastor-Gate

Posted on9 Comments

As I previously reported, Senator Barack Obama’s Pastor, Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr has made some seriously flammable statements.

Well, the story has caught on like wildfire in the MSM. The Wall Street Journal, who is, by the way, owned by Rupert Murdock, An Republican Operative, has done a rather damaging piece on Barack’s Pastor.

True to form and very well done, Senator Barack Obama has issued a very well worded statement at the Huffington Post:

The pastor of my church, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who recently preached his last sermon and is in the process of retiring, has touched off a firestorm over the last few days. He’s drawn attention as the result of some inflammatory and appalling remarks he made about our country, our politics, and my political opponents.

Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it’s on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue.

Because these particular statements by Rev. Wright are so contrary to my own life and beliefs, a number of people have legitimately raised questions about the nature of my relationship with Rev. Wright and my membership in the church. Let me therefore provide some context.

As I have written about in my books, I first joined Trinity United Church of Christ nearly twenty years ago. I knew Rev. Wright as someone who served this nation with honor as a United States Marine, as a respected biblical scholar, and as someone who taught or lectured at seminaries across the country, from Union Theological Seminary to the University of Chicago. He also led a diverse congregation that was and still is a pillar of the South Side and the entire city of Chicago. It’s a congregation that does not merely preach social justice but acts it out each day, through ministries ranging from housing the homeless to reaching out to those with HIV/AIDS.

Most importantly, Rev. Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life. In other words, he has never been my political advisor; he’s been my pastor. And the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn.

The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign. I made it clear at the time that I strongly condemned his comments. But because Rev. Wright was on the verge of retirement, and because of my strong links to the Trinity faith community, where I married my wife and where my daughters were baptized, I did not think it appropriate to leave the church.

Let me repeat what I’ve said earlier. All of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn. They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country.

With Rev. Wright’s retirement and the ascension of my new pastor, Rev. Otis Moss, III, Michelle and I look forward to continuing a relationship with a church that has done so much good. And while Rev. Wright’s statements have pained and angered me, I believe that Americans will judge me not on the basis of what someone else said, but on the basis of who I am and what I believe in; on my values, judgment and experience to be President of the United States.

I also overheard on MSNBC, Chris Matthews said that Senator Barack Obama will be appearing on Keith Olbermann’s Show Countdown to give his side of the Story.

I do truly hope that this douses the fire on this rather silly story. Because it does seem to be a bit overblown and it does show the hypocrisy of the MSM. Because in case anyone has forgotten, Senator John McCain was endorsed by Baptist Minister John Hagee and Pentecostal Pastor Rod Parsley. Both of which have been quoted making anti-Islamic statements. But yet, Obama is getting the "White Glove" treatment? I just wonder, is there a racial bias amongst the Main Stream Media?

Further, could it be that the Jewish owned, financed, and backed Main stream media has it out for this Black Christian, whom they feel might be a threat to their way of life? Before anyone accuses me of being anti-Semitic, it is a fact, that if the corporate controlled media decides to make you the new story, it can ruin you. it is also a fact that most of the networks are Jewish owned, controlled and financed. It is not anti-Semitic to ask such questions.

Update: I guess I should point out that John McCain is simply distantly associated with Parsley and Hagee. However, Barack Obama is a MEMBER of this Church, The man married him and his wife and baptized his children, so, it is more than just a casual association, Senator Obama is directly associated with him.  This is why this story is so huge and why the Conservatives and some liberals are up in arms about it.

There are other Bloggers in on this discussion, here’s the one’s that I choose to link to: Washington Wire, The New Republic, The Swamp, The Jawa Report, The Sleuth, The Opinionator, Hot Air, American Street, TPM Election Central, Obsidian Wings, Donklephant, The Caucus and The Page, American Power, Confederate Yankee, Little Green Footballs, A Blog For All, Riehl World View, Hot Air, Gawker, The Field, Dick Polman’s American Debate, Reasoned Audacity, Hugh Hewitt’s TownHall Blog, NO QUARTER, ABCNEWS, Macsmind, Attytood, The Strata-Sphere, Centerpoint Review, BizzyBlog, QandO, Firedoglake, JammieWearingFool, GINA COBB and PrestoPundit and More via Memeorandum

Detroit, Michigan’s mayor, A Case Study of Abject Stupidity.

Posted on

 Check this out…

The Story: Mayor’s Office Defends Use of ‘N-Word’ (via WXYZ.COM)

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR’S OFFICE…
The Mayor acted with courage and conviction in making the public aware of the threats against his life and the lives of his wife and children.  He did so for no other reason than to rebuke the bigots and hate mongers who issued the threats.  As he said in his address; “we must turn to each other, and not on each other.” 
It is not the Mayor who has resurrected the n-word, nor is it the Mayor who inserted race into the discussion. 
The people who are responsible are those who sent the despicable emails, letters, and telephone calls, all of which use the n-word in describing the Mayor and his family.  We urge those criticizing the Mayor regarding this issue to focus their condemnation on those who spewed the hatred rather than the victim of the hatred.
Denise Tolliver
Press Secretary
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick

This is a full glimpse into the idiotic logic of the Mayor of Detroit.

"They called me a Nigger first, I just repeated the term."

What an idiot.

Live by Identity Politics, Die by Identity Politics.

What is it?

identity politics
n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb)

Political attitudes or positions that focus on the concerns of social groups identified mainly on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation: “However, identity politics, whether in the guise of nationalism, feminism, or some other form of political expression is on the defensive these days” (Clarence Lusane).

 

The point I am trying to make is. This man is joke of a Mayor. He will forever be remembered as the Mayor of Detroit, who could not keep his penis in his pants or for his wife. Who was absolutely corrupt and when confronted, he played the race card……towards his own people. 

Quite a Legacy, No Doubt. 

Barack Obama is not a Covert Muslim….It’s Worse…

Posted on

He’s a Black Nationalist…….or at least his Pastor is.

This is seriously not good, at all.

The story via ABC News:

Sen. Barack Obama’s pastor says blacks should not sing "God Bless America" but "God damn America."

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s pastor for the last 20 years at the Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago’s south side, has a long history of what even Obama’s campaign aides concede is "inflammatory rhetoric," including the assertion that the United States brought on the 9/11 attacks with its own "terrorism."

In a campaign appearance earlier this month, Sen. Obama said, "I don’t think my church is actually particularly controversial." He said Rev. Wright "is like an old uncle who says things I don’t always agree with," telling a Jewish group that everyone has someone like that in their family.

Rev. Wright married Obama and his wife Michelle, baptized their two daughters and is credited by Obama for the title of his book, "The Audacity of Hope."

Video:

Money Quote:

JEREMIAH WRIGHT: "The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law, and then wants us to sing God Bless America? No, no, no! Not God bless America. God damn America! It’s in the Bible, for killing innocent people. God damn America for treating its citizens as less than human!"

This could be possibly deadly for Obama’s Campaign. If people fear this man, and know Obama is connected to him, they will not vote for him.

Whether the Liberals want to hear this or not, White people are going to see this, and quite frankly, freak out. Honestly? It kind of freaks me out.

The only way that Obama might be able to deflect this sort of thing, will be to sever ties with that Church, totally. I highly doubt that this will happen, because that would be going against his own people. I mean, that would be the equivalent of John McCain severing ties with his own Mother. It just isn’t going to happen. Passions run deep among the black community.

So, who is to blame for this vicious Black Nationalism? Our white forefathers. Whether the Conservatives want to hear it, or not. How? When you import a race of people as slaves and keep them as slaves, like we did, and treat them as sub-par human beings, like the United States did, for many, many years, this sort of thing fosters and it has been fostering for many years.

Obama’s Pastor’s faulty interpretation of the Bible aside, His rage and rhetoric are legit, and the United States dirty past is responsible for this. What will stop it? Nothing. The damage has been done, you cannot undo what people have done, the rage and bitterness in the black community is still there, it will always be there. The United States fickle attitude towards slavery and mistreatment toward blacks, in the south, is the reason for this.

Others: The Moderate Voice, michellemalkin.com, Instapundit.com, TownHall Blog, Little Green Footballs, Outside The Beltway, The Corner, NO QUARTER, The Carpetbagger Report, Oliver Willis, Once Upon a Time, Sweetness & Light, Confederate Yankee, Riehl World View, American Spectator, Pat Dollard, Taylor Marsh, PunditGuy, Sister Toldjah, PrestoPundit, Hot Air, Balloon Juice, A Blog For All, Macsmind, The Campaign Spot, Gateway Pundit, Maggie’s Farm, Cold Fury, USS Neverdock, The Mahatma X Files and INSTAPUTZ (and More via Memeorandum)

The Story that GWB wishes the world would forget about….

Posted on

I must confess, I find this most funny. Hee hee 

Pentagon Report on Saddam’s Iraq Censored? (via Rapid Report)

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl Reports: The Bush Administration apparently does not want a U.S. military study that found no direct connection between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda to get any attention.  This morning, the Pentagon cancelled plans to send out a press release announcing the report’s release and will no longer make the report available online.
The report was to be posted on the Joint Forces Command website this afternoon, followed by a background briefing with the authors.  No more.  The report will be made available only to those who ask for it, and it will be sent via U.S. mail from Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. 
It won’t be emailed to reporters and it won’t be posted online.

Asked why the report would not be posted online and could not be emailed, the spokesman for Joint Forces Command said: "We’re making the report available to anyone who wishes to have it, and we’ll send it out via CD in the mail."
Another Pentagon official said initial press reports on the study made it "too politically sensitive."

I would guess so, this is like red meat for the left.

If you think that the Democrats won’t use this, for campaign purposes come November, You’re crazy.

Others: Hullabaloo, Donklephant, News Hounds, TPMMuckraker, democracyarsenal.org, The Newshoggers, Liberal Values, Talking Points Memo, Bang the Drum, The Carpetbagger Report and The Washington Independent

Editorial: Mr. Mayor, You are wrong!

Posted on

While the national media today is focusing on the moral failure of the Governor of the State of New York.  We here in the State of Michigan and those in the city of Detroit and the many suburbs of this great city are watching in utter horror as a Mayor is attempting to turn a failure, of his own making, into a race war.

Mr. Mayor, You sir, created this mess.  You were the one, who had the extra-marital affair, you sir, were the one, who used a device, bought by your own governmental organization, to provide accountability to your office.  You sir, were the one, who foolishly used this device to commit criminal offenses and were the one, who was caught.

This whole mess was created by you and you alone.  It was not created by the local media.  The local media did not have sex with another woman, while still married to your wife, the local media did not lie to a federal judge and a grand jury and give a settlement to people trying to sue the city of Detroit.  Further more the Media did not attempt to cover this up either.  These things were committed by you and you alone.

As if this all were not enough, YOU have the blatant audacity to turn this scandal of your own doing, into a racial matter! This and the utter abject “pimping” of your wife and children to rally your supporters around you, is utterly detestable.

Mr. Mayor, You said something that troubles me, you said and I quote:

“In the past 30 days, I’ve been called a nigger more than any time in my entire life.  In the past three days, I have received more death threats than I have in my entire administration.  I’ve heard these words before, but I’ve never heard people say them about my wife and children.”

Mr. Mayor, while I personally think that it is reprehensible that someone would threaten to harm your wife, children, and yes, even you.  The fact remains, the people that are attempting to investigate your wrong doings, are not those of the Anglo Saxon race; like me, they are your own people!  They are black; they are African-American, Just like you! 

Therefore, for you to go up on a stage, and complain that the “big bad media” is picking on you and use terms like “unethical, illegal lynch-mob” is totally out of bounds, and further it smacks of something that the Republicans constantly accuse the Democrats of partaking in, that being Identity Politics.

Further more, Mr. Mayor, This is not 1964, this is the year 2008, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of racial equality has been realized, the Selma, Alabama bridge has been crossed already, so, why are you attempting to turn back the clock?  Why are you trying to go back across the bridge and stir up something that has been resolved for years?  It does not make any sense, at all.

Mr. Mayor, you have totally disgraced this city, this state, and your office as a whole.  Please, for the sake of the city of Detroit, the State of Michigan and for the viable future of it.  Do the one thing left that can provide atonement for the sins that you carried out while in office:

Resign.

Resign and reclaim what little dignity you still have left.

This nation is at a crossroads; the Bush Administrations reign of warmongering is about over, the democrat party has the nation’s first African-American Presidential candidate that is about to take office.  We have already had one scandal in the State of New York; we do not need another dent in the party’s armor.  

However, realistically, I know that you will not listen, you will do, just what our embattled President in Washington DC is doing, surround yourself with people, that will tell you exactly what you WANT to hear.  Instead of people that will tell you, what you NEED to hear.  

I thought that a man from the City of Detroit, and a democrat, no less, would be better than that sort of political tone deafness.  I must have been mistaken, because what I am seeing from you, Mr. Mayor, is just that, George W. Bush, with black skin.

I hope, Mr. Mayor that you will awake from your Political tone deafness soon, because the future and the legitimacy of the city of Detroit rests in that awakening. I just hope that you do not wait, until that moment has come and gone.

And that’s the way I see it…..

Cross-Posted on my Blog @ Detroit Free Press

Another one from the "Oy" file

Posted on

Just when you think you’ve heard it all today… There’s this:

Dr. Laura blames Spitzer’s wife for scandal. – (via Think Progress)

When the wife does not focus in on the needs and the feelings — sexually, personally — to make him feel like a man, to make him feel like a success, to make him feel like her hero, he’s very susceptible to the charm of some other woman. […]

The cheating was his decision to repair what’s damaged and to feed himself where he’s starving. But yes, I hold women accountable for tossing out perfectly good men by not treating them with the love and kindness and respect and attention they need.

Melissa McEwan at Shakesville weighs in:

Secondly, it’s absolutely true that if someone’s (reasonable) needs aren’t being met by a spouse, then something will eventually and inexorably give. But that doesn’t justify cheating; it justifies ending the relationship. That’s true whether it’s husband or wife (or both) failing to deliver; it’s not a one-way street.

But most importantly, this idea that spouses cheat solely or mostly because they are lacking "love and kindness and respect and attention" at home is antiquated horseshit. Yeah, some spouses cheat for that reason. And plenty of others—especially men in positions like Spitzer’s—cheat because it’s exciting and fun and because they are self-indulgent narcissists who are stupid enough to believe they’ll never get caught. Many people who cheat have spouses who dote on them like they’re the very sunshine; sometimes the problem is not a lack of love, but the cheat’s utter failure to appreciate being loved.

Well Put Melissa!

I’ve no doubt Dr. Laura is in possession of the capacity to wrap her mind around these simple concepts, but I guess it’s not as thrilling as being a woman-hating victim-blamer.

Rolling on the floor

I must say, I agree…. and I’m a right of center type of a guy, imagine that!

Others: Jezebel, New York Magazine, Shakesville and ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES (via Memeorandum)

Mittins is dreaming……again

Posted on

Keep dreamin’ Dude!

Romney says he’d take Veep (via Politico.com)

Mitt Romney said in his first interview since departing the GOP race that he would accept the number two position on the ticket and that there is no lingering bitterness between him and John McCain.

Ha! Yeah right…. He acted like an total asshole to McCain and he thinks he’s going to welcome him with open arms? Pleeeeeeese! Rolling Eyes

“I think any Republican leader in this country would be honored to be asked to serve as the vice presidential nominee, myself included," Romney told FOX’s Sean Hannity in a broadcast set to air tonight.  "Of course this is a nation which needs strong leadership. And if the nominee of our party asked you to serve with him, anybody would be honored to receive that call … and to accept it, of course.”

Yeah and Monkeys will fly out my butt too! Tongue

According to two separate reports, Romney is being talked up as a running mate by members of the Bush inner circle.   But McCain and his closest advisers have little regard for their former rival thanks to the bitter, year-long race waged between the two Republicans.

Well, I would guess so! The way he trashed him, I wouldn’t give that rich asshole the time of day. Go back to Utah, Mormon freak! Leave the politics to the grown ups, please, thank you………. Loser

More on this @ Memeorandum

From the "say what?" Dept.

Posted on

Poll: Most Americans don’t read political blogs (via  Reuters)

A majority of Americans do not read political blogs, the online commentaries that have proliferated in the race for the U.S. presidency, according to a poll released on Monday.

Only 22 percent of people responding to the poll said they read blogs regularly, meaning several times a month or more, according to the survey conducted by Harris Interactive.

Political blogs, in which writers, pundits and other participants voice opinions in online forums, burst into the spotlight in the 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns. Some of the most high-profile blogs are influential on campaign strategies, media coverage and public perception of the candidates and issues.

Unlike traditional, mainstream media, blogs often adopt a specific point of view. Critics complain they can contain unchecked facts, are poorly edited and use unreliable sources.

You don’t think them old, dead wood, media types don’t like us, do you? I dont knowHee hee

Can you say, Biased? I knew you could! Rolling EyesLoserTongue

You say, "Why would you say this?"

Well, it’s like this here, We’re a threat to their sacred little profession. Most of the time, they get their information from us.

We report the stuff that they can’t or won’t, due to fearing losing those ever coveted sponsors.

I know their strategy, "we’ll tell everyone, that no body reads them political blogs, and the everyone will stop writing." HA!  Rolling on the floor Little late for all that guys. Raised Eyebrow The Genie is out of the bottle now. They should have do this story, in….maybe, 2003?

Morons.

Others on this: HotAir

Gov. Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring

Posted on2 Comments

This is not good.

The Story: Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring (Via New York Times)

Gov. Eliot Spitzer has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month, according to a person briefed on the federal investigation

The wiretap recording, made during an investigation of a prostitution ring called Emperors Club VIP, captured a man identified as Client 9 on a telephone call confirming plans to have a woman travel from New York to Washington, where he had reserved a room. The person briefed on the case identified Mr. Spitzer as Client 9.

The governor learned that he had been implicated in the prostitution probe when a federal official contacted his staff last Friday, according to the person briefed on the case.

The governor informed his top aides Sunday night and this morning of his involvement. He canceled his public events today and scheduled an announcement for this afternoon after inquiries from the Times.

Of course, The right is screaming, "HA HA!" and "Hypocrite!" and the Left is basically hunkered down and not saying much. I think it’s sad and it will hurt the democrats. I only imagine the feelings of the people in New York. I know, I would be highly annoyed, if I knew my Governor was involved with something such as this.

It’s a sad thing, in more ways than one.

Of course, let us not forget the scandals of the Republicans under our current President.

This is all the rage in the Blogosphere. Here’s the listing of them all:

Mr. Spitzer, who was huddled with his top aides early this afternoon …

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Marc Ambinder, Associated Press, The Corner, Ace of Spades HQ, MoJoBlog, Weekly Standard Blog, Megan McArdle, The XX Factor, The Fix, Matthew Yglesias, TigerHawk, The Jawa Report, Open Left, TalkLeft, The Agitator, michellemalkin.com, The New Republic, The Swamp, Little Green Footballs, The Carpetbagger Report, Trailhead, Gawker, Guardian Unlimited, Eschaton, American Street, JammieWearingFool, The Campaign Spot, JustOneMinute, Taylor Marsh, New York Post, TVNewser, Outside The Beltway, New York Magazine, Jonathan Martin’s Blogs, Real Clear Politics, The Strata-Sphere, QandO, The Raw Story, Telegraph, protein wisdom, StephenBainbridge.com, 2008 Democratic …, Top of the Ticket, AlterNet.org, NewsBusters.org, No More Mister Nice Blog, Emptywheel, Stop The ACLU, Wonkette, Gothamist, Political Machine, Don Surber, The Agonist, Shakesville, Hullabaloo, PrairiePundit, About.com US Politics and FP Passport (Via Memeornadum)

Tucker Carson’s show canceled on MSNBC

Posted on

I must say, that I am quite saddened to hear this….

The Story: Tucker Carlson’s Show Canceled (via mediabistro.com: TVNewser)

Quote:

Insiders tell TVNewser Tucker Carlson‘s 6pmET show Tucker is getting the axe, but Carlson stays on as a political contributor to all MSNBC shows at least through the 2008 election. The official announcement, expected tomorrow, will include details about who will replace Tucker at 6pmET as well as other political programming additions. Sources say the network is going to beef up its schedule with more NBC News talent.

In recent days, Jossip, as well as other blogs, ratcheted up the talk that Tucker would be replaced "for a new project." In its 33-month run, Carlson’s show has had two names, four time slots and multiple formats. At 6pmET, it builds on its Harbdall lead-in on some days, but loses audience on others.

Carlson is expected to host the show through next week, with his new role and title to take effect March 17. We’re told he’ll also be reporting from the campaign trail.

I must say, that I am quite disappointed to hear this. Tucker Carlson was about the only Conservative person that I could listen to, without wanting to throw stuff at the T.V. I mean, yeah, he had his quirks, He could be a bit of asshole, but you know, can’t we all?

I never considered Tucker to be, what I call, a "Fox News" Conservative. besides, he’s more of a Libertarian Conservative.

Of  course, the Liberal’s are squealing with delight and glee. That is to be expected, and I can see their point, But now I feel like MSNBC is losing the balance, that made me leave CNN and tune in over there to that network in the first place.

Others might be happy to hear this, but I’m not.

It’s a sad day indeed. Sad

Others, Mostly Liberals who are happy to hear about it: Crooks and Liars, Think Progress, The Bilerico Project, The Seminal, I Am TRex, Patterico’s Pontifications, Pandagon, Hoffmania! and Liberal Fascism

Democrats win Seat held by Rep. Dennis Hastert

Posted on

Read about it here.

There is quite a bit that could be said about this. Many other Bloggers have already written much of it.

The writing is simply on the wall. I do not place the blame squarely on Bush himself. Because I am keenly aware of how things operate in Washington D.C., I know that the blame does not all go to him.

I blame the advisers who went to him, the ones who were the dye-in-the-wool Neo-Conservatives, who went to him and said, "We can change the shape of the middle east, by invading Iraq." He, of course, bought into that foolish mindset and the scramble for intelligence began and when they found a piece of questionable intelligence, they proceeded to cherry pick it, to suit their needs.

What followed was the quagmire that we are involved with now. This will end up costing this Nation for many years to come. Current cost estimates are at 3 trillion dollars.

Of course, this all did happen and it is not a nightmare, and at what cost? Conservatism is now in it’s death throws, Republicans are now the scourge of American, Obama is the new messiah for America and the Democrats will, most likely, hold the majority in the both houses of Congress.

America wants change and Obama and, somewhat, Hillary are offering that. But what kind of a change are they really going to bring?   What will we see? An end to a war, ended so fast that Iraq descends into chaos? Will we see Churches being closed because they dare to speak out against the Homosexual lifestyle? America’s tax system changed to force churches to pay income tax? Our civil liberties being taken away, the ability to set up a blog and criticize the government, taken away as a threat to national security?

Some of us have not forgotten the tragedy, which happened in Waco, Texas.  I often ask myself, if the liberals take the White House again, will there be more Waco’s? Will they be more Ruby Ridges? Will they be more out of control Government Police action?

I have always believed in balance in Government, the balance of two political parties, both checking one another and each preventing the other gaining total power in the houses of Government. However, what we are seeing now, with the Conservatives being chased to the fox holes, is possible throwing of our Government into a total liberal state, and quite frankly, that scares me to death. I believe in freedom, in all it’s forms, whether it be Speech, Religion, Expression, Press, or whatever else, and I am quite afraid that the Liberals do not believe in total freedom, oh they believe in freedom of speech, as long as it fits their political ideologies.

There are those who say that the Iraq War will bankrupt this Nation. I disagree, I believe that National Healthcare plan will bankrupt this Nation or at worst, place a bigger demand of foreign currency from China and other countries. This is totally eroding our Nation’s sovereignty, with each deposit that we take. 

It is going to be an interesting four years, after the liberals win Congress and the White House. I just have a sinking feeling that the United States is going to be stuck with buyers remorse, because many people are, to coin a phrase, "Betting the farm", on this new messiah, and I have sinking feeling that there is going to be this massive let down, when he gets in office and absolutely nothing changes. It is a grim outlook, but I am afraid it is the reality of the situation at hand.

Not everyone in the Obama camp agrees with him on FISA and Telecoms

Posted on

Interesting… 

Check it out

Quote:

In a new interview with National Journal magazine, an intelligence adviser to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign broke with his candidate’s position opposing retroactive legal protection for telecommunications companies being sued for cooperating with a dubious U.S. government domestic surveillance program.

"I do believe strongly that [telecoms] should be granted that immunity," former CIA official John Brennan told National Journal reporter Shane Harris in the interview.  "They were told to [cooperate] by the appropriate authorities that were operating in a legal context."

"I know people are concerned about that, but I do believe that’s the right thing to do," added Brennan, who is an intelligence and foreign policy adviser to Obama.

That wasn’t just a personal opinion, Brennan made clear to Harris. "My advice, to whoever is coming in [to the White House], is they need to spend some time learning, understanding what’s out there, identifying those key issues," including the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, he said — the law at the heart of the immunity debate.

"They need to make sure they do their homework, and it’s not just going to be knee-jerk responses," Brennan said of the presidential hopefuls.

On one hand, this is good thing, he’s taking opinions from other people. On the other, what if he decides to agree with this guy and the President gets away with breaking the law?

Should be interesting.

Others: The Newshoggers, American Street, Weekly Standard, The American Mind and The Campaign Spot

Related Articles and such @ Memeorandum

The stupidity of the Obama/Clinton flap.

Posted on

You know, I’ve always said this idiotic crap between Obama and Clinton was quite stupid.

Josh Marshall agrees:

Let me stipulate to one thing: if this were two Republicans squabbling, I’d be laughing my head off at the moment. And I can assure you a lot of them are.

The Clinton campaign has gotten so deep inside the Obama campaign’s collective head it just ain’t funny — or, depending on your political persuasion, it’s very funny.

Late Tuesday night I wrote that the upshot of the March 4th contests was that Clinton had beaten Obama up a bit and he hadn’t responded. She’d not only bloodied up his poll numbers a bit by throwing all sorts of stuff at him. She also showed that it wasn’t at all clear that Obama was enough of a fighter to stand up to this stuff or get back in her face. More than the delegate numbers, that was the challenge March 4th had left him with.

But since then she’s just been slapping this guy around like crazy. She’s on the offense every day, dictating the terms of the discussion and getting results.

This "monster" thing is a good case in point. That’s a pretty over-the-top thing for a key campaign advisor to say. But what it tells me more than that is that the Clinton campaign has these guys rattled really bad. Some of this is no doubt due to the fact that Power is a bit out of her element. She’s more from the academic/policy world than the political/policy world. But, again, rattled. The Clinton folks have been bashing Obama like crazy. Now they follow up by explicitly demanding that Obama fire one of his key foreign policy advisors and … how, long did it take? An hour? And she’s gone.

If boxing is our metaphor she’s got him cornered on the ropes on one side of the ring and she’s just landing punch after punch. And all he can manage are the defensive moves that her constant attacks dictate.

Well said.  I believe before it’s over with, whomever comes out on top, there’s going to be bad blood on either side. That’s not a good thing. It could hurt the Democrats in November.

Others on this: Comments from Left Field, Cogitamus and TalkLeft

Related Discussions via Memeorandum

Temper Temper….

Posted on

Seems old McBush lost his cool today.

Eh, He’s 71 years old, He’s got permission to be cranky. Tongue

A will say this, the press can be such jerks at times. Especially the "Liberal" press towards the Republicans.

Hopefully, This will blow over and they won’t keep harping on it.

Others: Riehl World View, Salon, The Gun Toting Liberal™, Macsmind, Sister Toldjah, Jonathan Martin’s Blogs, The Swamp and No More Mister Nice Blog

(via Memeorandum)

Will someone please tell Hart Coulter to shut up?

Posted on

Um…. Didn’t Karl Rove say NOT to do this?

The Video:

Transcript:

From the 3 p.m. ET hour of the March 6 edition of MSNBC Live:

COULTER: I don’t think — I must say, I tend not to think that the Democrats are gonna need my help. I mean, it looks to me as if it’s going to be Bob Dole redux. I mean, terrorism does throw things off this year, but if you assume, as I tend to, that this is going to be a Democrat year, the choice is between B. Hussein Obama and Hillary Clinton. And I do think Hillary Clinton would be tougher with the terrorists. I think she’d probably be worse on domestic policy, but right now, the war on terrorism has me more concerned.

ROBACH: And you say, "B. Hussein Obama."

COULTER: Yes.

ROBACH: Why don’t you like to say "Barack Obama"?

COULTER: Because I think it’s funny. I mean, it wouldn’t be — this hysteria from the Democrats about how you can’t call him by his middle name. Well, we’re calling him by his middle name precisely because it makes Democrats hysterical. Of course there’s a reason we call him that.

ROBACH: All right. And it’s interesting you bring up obviously the war on terror, because I was just actually reviewing your YouTube moment with Sean Hannity.

I included this clip because, I want you to see the mentality of the far right. They think this is funny. I will say this, as a Right of Center type of a person, that this sort of thing. Will do absolutely nothing, but alienate the majority of Americans.

Of course, people like Ann Coulter aren’t exactly known for their overreaching brilliance. Rolling Eyes

Employment Situation

Posted on

This is a interesting report.

Nonfarm payroll employment edged down in February (-63,000), and the
unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 4.8 percent, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  Employment
fell in manufacturing, construction, and retail trade.  Job growth continued
in health care and in food services.  Average hourly earnings rose by 5 cents,
or 0.3 percent, over the month.

Unemployment (Household Survey Data)

   The number of unemployed persons (7.4 million) and the unemployment rate
(4.8 percent) were essentially unchanged in February.  Over the month, the
unemployment rates for adult men (4.3 percent), adult women (4.2 percent),
teenagers (16.6 percent), whites (4.3 percent), and Hispanics (6.2 percent)
showed little or no change.  The jobless rate for blacks fell to 8.3 percent,
in line with the average rate for 2007.  The unemployment rate for Asians was
3.0 percent, not seasonally adjusted.  (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)

Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)

   Both the civilian labor force, at 153.4 million, and the labor force par-
ticipation rate, at 65.9 percent, declined in February.  Total employment 
(146.0 million) and the employment-population ratio (62.7 percent) were little
changed over the month.

Of course, the conservatives are saying that the AP misreported the story. I will admit, the wording did leave a bit to be desired. But I will say this, I am in Michigan, and we’re in a one State recession. 

This does mean, that I am unemployed. The good thing is, I don’t have any serious debt, as I did file for bankruptcy in 2004. Before they changed the laws. However, it does kind of stink, I enjoy writing, I would like to get a job doing this professionally. But that would require college degrees and such, none of which I have, of course. So, I’m stuck to blogging. I just wish I could get this blog, some serious traffic. 

I don’t pity myself, at all. I made my mistakes when I was younger, I was born with a learning disability, that I inherited from my Father. I don’t want people to pity me, I’ve been blessed beyond measure, I’ve had a good life, It could be better, but everyone could say that. There are many people out there that have it much worse than I.

Others: NewsBusters.org, The Swamp, Calculated Risk, Angry Bear and The Big Picture (H/T Memeorandum)

Ron Paul calls it quits.

Posted on

Read about it Here

Of course there are some that are still living in denial.

To be honest, I kind of liked the old guy. I didn’t agree with everything that he said, But he was an interesting person.

His old school Conservatism appealed to me. Unlike the Neo-Con crap we’ve got now.

Anyhow, I feel for the many who gave to his campaign and didn’t get anything out of it.

I wish Rep. Ron Paul all the best in any future endeavors.

Others on this: Hot Air, Political Machine, The News Buckit, Liberal Values and Salon (via Memeorandum)

Bush endorses John McCain

Posted on

On one hand this endorsement will be a good thing, amongst hardcore Republicans. However, amongst the Independent voters and those who are not pleased with the Bush Administration, this is basically a death sentence.

The Story: Bush endorses John McCain for president (via MSNBC.COM)

President Bush endorsed Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain on Wednesday, two bitter rivals from the 2000 presidential race joining together now in hopes of preventing Democrats from winning the White House this fall.

"John showed incredible courage, strength of character and perseverance in order to get to this moment and that’s exactly what we need in a president — somebody who can handle the tough decisions, somebody who won’t flinch in the face of danger," Bush said, appearing with McCain in the Rose Garden.

The Video:

Again, while this may seem to be a great thing for John McCain and his campaign. To the Democrats, this is just fresh bait. For John McCain to say, "Yeah, I’ll let George W. Bush campaign for me!" is a death sentence amongst the Independent voters.

Because quite frankly, the President has like a 19% approval rating. You think Bush will be a helpmate to his Campaign? I highly doubt it. More like a paperweight!

I look for him to lose and lose hard, sorry to say it, But if the majority of America sees him as an extension of the current President, he doesn’t stand a chance in the general election.

The snort worth comment was the "I will tell him to be careful in who he has choose his running mate". A very funny reference to Dick Cheney. Bush’s dancing before the conference was quite funny too.

Before anyone calls me an Anti-Republican, please, hold your fire, I’m just a realist. I also have issues with the Democrats as well, especially Hillary.