Oh, it burns.

Even JA (self important wanker that he can be) can hit one out of the park sometimes.

snark you very much

From commondreams

As the 1983 American Heritage Dictionary noted, fascism is: "A system of government that exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of state and business leadership, together with belligerent nationalism." (The US dictionary definition has gotten somewhat squishier since then, as all the larger dictionary companies have been bought up by multinational corporations.)

Edited CNN story, to save you 30 seconds -link-

CNN has confirmed that Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, has placed a hold on a bill that would require the government to publish online a database of federal spending.

snip

The bill was introduced earlier this year by Sens. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, and Coburn, R-Oklahoma.

snip

"Sen. Stevens has a series of concerns and questions about the bill. He wants a cost benefit analysis to make sure it doesn't create an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy and not meet its purpose," Saunders said.

snip

"His specific concerns were addressed at the hearings he skipped, and his office has yet to meet with us to discuss his concerns despite repeated requests."

snip

Last year a proposed $223 million for a "bridge to nowhere" connecting Alaska's Gravina Island -- population 50 -- to the mainland caused a nationwide furor.

snip, and payoff

When Coburn tried to block funds for the bridge, he was heavily denounced by Stevens on the Senate floor.

I mean, yeah, it's a total DICK move, and is also on the surface retribution for killing his pork project, but we shouldn't change a thing about it. I like that rule a lot. Fascism moves quickly. Democracy is supposed to move very very slowly.

This kind of BS is actually exactly what makes America so great.

Shhhhh, Nobody tell Rumsfeld...

Soldiers to be equipped with such blasters in future

I read it on the internet, it must be Pravda, er, true.

[Update: Marvin Martian released from Guantanamo Bay]

Godwins Law - real world applications

As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.

thanks wikipedia!

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Tuesday the world faces ?a new type of fascism'? and likened critics of the Bush administration?s war strategy to those who tried to appease the Nazis in the 1930s. In unusually explicit terms, Rumsfeld portrayed the administration?s critics as suffering from ?moral or intellectual confusion'? about what threatens the nation?s security.

Thanks Crooks and Liars, and that leads me to my point. The first corrolary to Godwians Law:

There is a tradition in many newsgroups and other Internet discussion forums that once such a comparison is made, the thread is finished and whoever mentioned the Nazis has automatically "lost" whatever debate was in progress.

Smart, but will it last? -link-

Vivendi Universal, the world's biggest music group, has signed a deal to make its music catalogue available on a free legal downloads service.

Un Marked Karr redux

What tbogg said

Name that church

In my day, Pure Evil required hundreds of tousands of soldiers, doing your bidding.

Mr. Stratten describes what he did as "pure evil," but he also calls it a turning point. He realized he had to find a better way to ease his guilt over not coming through for people. He is now hiring an assistant who will handle his email.

They don't call them boomers for nuthin'

this is the entire reason i rent.


tiiii-iiiii-iiiii-ime/ is on my side, yes it is.

Pelosi (D-CA)

"President Bush has devoted more time and preparation to this public relations blitz than to helping the people of the Gulf Coast. "

oh, it burns.

Un Marked Karr

Someone better chum the waters off Florida, we need a shark attack

(I have waited a whole anxious week to use that post title)

Someone explain this -link-

That is just sorta wild. Is it even a blog??

The Bwah-hah-hah position

The far bigger impact of Plan-B and other non-abortive solutions is that they essentially render the whole Roe v. Wade debate pointless too. So what that you've got all your Supreme Court justices lined up?Go ahead and outlaw abortion. Nobody will care if they can just walk into the pharmacy and buy a couple of pills. It's like finally getting the courts to outlaw hand-crank starters on cars. Go for it. Have fun. Or not. Whatever.

Exactly that.

(hat tip Crooks&Liars)

Easy Answers

Q: "At this point, it is extremely alarming. We fought that battle 50 years ago, and we won. Why is this happening again?"

A: Because, like everything from stem cells to the 4th amendment, fighting for it AGAIN will distract you from seeing the big picture agenda of this facist administration and the 10% of the nation who love it.

And 'the media' is quite happy to help you have that old fight, all over again

wrongheadedness is the new pink.


(hat tip STiTP)

The New England Patriots

Somehow, I will be rather close to the 40-yard line at Foxboro tomorrow night. Closer than I was while running the A/V equipment for the team when I was in high school.

How is it that whenever I score free tickets (which is, admittedly, rare) they are always awesome seats??

Blue Man Group in the raincoat seats, twice (front row center and second row)

Buena Vista Social Club, Front row center balcony at the boston orpheum (that is c-l-o-s-e)

Red Sox three rows above the home dugout.

Local minor league BB team (unlimited access to first row season tix, with waitress service!!!)

Pit passes to Lime Rock (GT/GTP racing, not just left turns)

bored now. back to life.

another personality test

messy, disorganized, social, tough, outgoing, rarely worries, self revealing, open, risk taker, likes the unknown, likes large parties, makes friends easily, likes to stand out, likes to make fun of people, reckless, optimistic, positive, strong, does not like to be alone, ambivalent about chaos, abstract, impractical, not good at saving money, fearless, trusting, thrill seeker, not rule conscious, enjoys leadership, strange, loves food, abstract, rarely irritated, anti-authority, attracted to the counter culture

Pluto

You're kidding.

a) I prefer planette.

b) Plutio, Xena, and all the other "dwarf planets" shall henceforth be called Planette's, otherwise any reference to any one of the "7 Dwarves" must be made, otherwise you must take a drink.

c) I am very afraid to look at the Wikipedia comments page on this one.

I've never heard of this -link-

Cool. Very Very Cool.

Prepare to Selective your Service

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush has authorized the U.S. Marine Corps to recall 2,500 troops to active duty because there are not enough volunteers returning for duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, Marine commanders announced Tuesday.

"Since this is going to be a long war, we thought it was judicious and prudent at this time to be able to use a relatively small portion of those Marines to help us augment our units," Stratton said, according to the AP.

Tours for recalled Marines could last 12 to 18 months, according to Marine officials.

tick, tock, tick, tock...

27 Storms -link-

Neat link. the 2005 Atlantic Season set to music. Thanks NASA.

Dear Media

I want to hear all about Jon Benet's killer,

just after the trial is over and the guilty have been found.

Until then, there is a war on, and you suck at your jobs.

thank you.

...

When soldier Gil Ovadia returned home, his commander made no mention of victory in an address to their battalion. Instead, the commander told them the war was over, said they did a good job, and advised that they be prepared to come back soon and fight again.

"We'll be back in Lebanon in a few months, maybe years," Ovadia said.

Why it's good to be rich and thin -link-

He was arrested at the end of July after being seen driving at 87mph (139km/h) in a 45mph (72km/h) stretch of Malibu's Pacific Coast Highway

I suppose there is an argument to be made that even if you're driving really well and with utmost attention, The Jews(TM) are going to pull you over anyhow.

But in a deal with the court two other charges - driving under the influence and having an open bottle of tequila in his car were both dropped.

Emphais mine, proving that DUI at 150% the limit is a victimless crime, and one not worthy of any serious jail-time. Clearly The Jews(TM) WERE just picking on him, but they don't want to get Mel started with any sort of martyr complex.

The prosecutor added the actor had volunteered to appear on a public service announcement on the hazards of drink-driving.*

Oy, the humanity. See now, BEAR WITNESS, brethren to how far Mel has fallen at the hands of The Jews(TM). Reduced to performing in a resumé building PSA.

I, for one, would rather see him drunk and ornery on the next installment of Malibu GONE WILD!!! That would prove to be a proper cautionary tale about thinking you're The King of the world.

Gibson was ordered to attend AA meetings five times a week for four-and-a-half months, and then three per week for another seven-and-a-half months.

Jeez. Now I actually feel REALLY BADLY for all those alcoholics. I'm not sure I've ever really pitied an alcoholic before, sure I've felt badly FOR them, but sharing your darkest days with God AND with Braveheart??? That's too much. I believe Solomon would have sentenced him to AA meetings at the local temple. They can probably keep himin the proper perspecive from in there.

*[sic]

p.s. Mel Gibson is a sick man, I hope his health, and not his career, recovers.

p.p.s I have not seen The Passion... but I did love Braveheart, and Mad Max.

p.p.s. Mel Gibson. The Dixie Chicks. Compare and contrast.

no overreaction here -link-

"These restrictions are a disaster for me," she wrote in a posting on the BBC's Have Your Say before flying to Zurich.

After her arrival in Switzerland, she recounted the ordeal of having to hand over the cello, valued at up to £10,000 ($19,000) and not covered by her insurance if carried in the hold.

"It is never safe enough in the hold and they don't treat instruments properly," she told
the BBC News website.

snip

Dreading the effect of the freezing cold in the hold on her instrument, she opened the case to find that one of the bows had been dislodged and there were scratches on the varnish.

I bet you could hide a tommy gun in that guitar case.

and the icing...

Confusion over the new restrictions extended into the cabin when a hostess asked passengers to switch off mobile phones and was met by loud laughter from the passengers, none of whom had been allowed to bring theirs aboard.

priceless.

AW, HELL NO

About 100 [National] guard members were deputized to help with security at the airport. They are a visible presence at Logan as part of the stepped up security in the wake of the foiled terrorist plot.

---screeeeeeech---

They're really not playing by the old rules anymore. These guardsmen are now state law enforcement, without that icky "martial law declaration" thingy.

This is turning into calvinball pretty damned fast.

I love this

Current Terror Alert Level



Elmo: Flights from the UK
Ernie: All commercial flights
Bert: Everything else


link in sidebar

Blame Connecticut

When your country is engaged in dangerous wars based on lies and obscure reasoning, it is immoral to say nothing simply because you are afraid it will make you look bad.

So, do you consider youself a Democrat? I never used to, but lately, yes. Consider me a Dean/Obama/Murtha Democrat. Even in public, but I try like heck not to talk politics in polite company. lately, since Dean is running the DNC, Obama got elected, and Murtha is at least trying to be a sane voice of reason and experience, sign me in.

I may even be a Lamont Democrat, but maybe not. My opinion, the whole state of Connnecticut kinda sucks. It's nothing personal CT, you're nice to look at and all, but as far as company goes, you do nothing for me but keep Manhattan at a healthy distance.

Remember people, CT was home to the first law school in the colonies. nevermind Canada, Blame Connecticut!

Someone must have had money on the game

Makes you wonder what they'll be doing for the half-time show on Transbuddha (link)

hat tip BobHarris dot com

"Yes, I'm a proud Democrat, but..."

"I think it's time for somebody to break through and say, Hey, let's cut out the partisan nonsense."

snip

"That's what this is all about: which one of us, Lamont or me, can do more for the future of our people here in Connecticut. And on that basis, I'm going forward with confidence, purpose and some real optimism."

snip

"So in the end, Matt -- the great thing about America is that the people will have the last word."

Todays 'last word' is partisan hack

My stab at foriegn policy analysis

So, Condoleeza Rice was turned down for an announced meeting in Lebanon. American Foriegn Policy(TM) has generally been only to announce a meeting that WILL occur.

This means one of two things.

A) Condoleeza Rice is ineffective and should be replaced. You do not tell a Secretary of State that you respect to take a hike, and the democratically elected government of Lebanon (which in theory we back) has done so. This is a bigger deal than you may think.

because option B) means it was a set-up, that the cancellation was planned to heighten tension, and that a significant number of our troops will be leaving Iraq by the Fall of 2007.

and heading for Syria.

Why I have not given up on DailyKos -link-

A needle in a haystack

DS: How did you drift from Republicanism to Progressivism?

Cammie: I grew up surrounded by right-wing views that essentially communicated the following: wealthy people and successful business people achieve because of their innate superiority, and they should be in charge because everyone else needs control and supervision. When I went out on my own, and had to make it on my own, and as I moved up in my defense industry career, I realized that the "real world" was not what I had been taught. The corporate world was full of corruption and incompetence. The defense industry was as much about cushy careers as it was national security. It was really a shock and I didn't want to believe it at first. It took a long time to shift my brain into "left gear" and I'm still moving in that direction as I have more human experiences and exposure to more diversity in the "real world."

amen

Nader in '08 - link-

ok, wow.

OK, we've done it. We've nailed it down: Every single contributor to the Pennsylvania Green Party Senate candidate is actually a conservative -- except for the candidate himself.

The Luzerne County Green Party raised $66,000 in the month of June in order to fund a voter signature drive. The Philly Inquirer reported yesterday that $40,000 came from supporters of Rick Santorum's campaign (or their housemates). Also yesterday, we confirmed that another $15,000 came from GOP donors and conservatives. Only three contributions, totaling $11,000, remained as possible legit donations.

Today, I confirmed that those came from GOP sources.

That is too awesome. Plans within plans. Green, yet very very dirty.

I wonder if I can still get a Romanelli for Senate T-shirt?

lifted from Sirota -link-

The fact that members of the 101st would resort to selectively editing an Army lieutenant's sincere letter to the editor in order to dishonestly heap praise on themselves and avoid facing the tough questions about their behavior tells you all you need to know about how unprincipled these people really are.