Self-Immolation, How to Lose a GOP Seat

If you are going to be a guy who says he wants to end all abortion and nod at the idea of executing physicians who perform abortions then it probably will not endear you to your supporters if you are a hypocrite.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Tom Coburn, hypocrite.

On the death penalty, he said: "I favor the death penalty for abortionists and other people who take life."

Now, of course, I am pro-choice so I think that is just nutty, the hypocrisy comes in when he admits that he has performed the procedure twice.

And there is more hypocrisy from Mr. "Pro-Life" that I would imagine the GOP pro-life base will not like much. From the New York Times:

Dr. Tom Coburn, a physician and Republican Senate candidate who is facing accusations that he sterilized a young woman without her permission 14 years ago, now says he performed similar procedures on "lots" of under-age women at their request.

Wah? You are against abortions period, but it's okay for you to steralize a minor, once without authorization and "plenty" of times when you let a minor make that decision by themselves?

WTF?

Dig this explanation right out of the "brain-stem logic" handbook:

He replied: "I've done this lots to women who have come in with emergency things who have asked me to sterilize them, under-age. When they've already had three babies."

I cannot imagine the GOP holding this seat, which is a shocker in Oklahoma. Granted Brad Carson is not my ideological cup of tea, but he's no Zell Miller either.

Other things that Rummy likes

After Rumsfeld's strange pronouncements that Iraq is no less dangerous than cities in the United States, it is high time to investigate other things that Rumsfeld believes are "not so bad." After painstaking research at the official headquarters of the Rising Hegemon (in an undisclosed location), we have constructed a list from files and notes in Rummy's own handwriting:
-=-=-=-
Things not so bad -- share with the press only after Iraq war goes to Hell
1. Deficits
2. Gigli
3. Choking on a pretzel -- come on we all do that after drinking... ok, leave out that part.
4. Long drawn out wars without end -- ok, need to rename this... perpetual war... no that is not gonna work, how about fighting for democracy ... good, good getting closer...
5. The Washington Times
6. Reverend Moon... maybe #5 and #6 are the same one...
7. Bad speechafying
8. Televangelists who want to kill gays
9. Humble pie... no wait... humble pie is always bad
9. Chuck Norris movies... yeah, yeah
10. John Ashcroft's singing... that man has a beautiful voice.
11. Being beheaded. Its the unfair media coverage that's bad.
-=-=-=-
We hope that bringing this list to light will help the American public think that maybe its Rumsfeld that is "pretty bad."

Ironically they cannot call this a broadcast of happy hour

In a desperate effort to obtain ratings lower than Dennis Miller or John McEnroe, CNBC is calling their two regular viewers into the studio when Christopher Hitchens and Andrew Sullivan discuss how great they are with Li'l Russ.

That's right, if by some accident you happen to swallow poison around 7 p.m. or 10 p.m. eastern on Saturday, or 1 p.m. Sunday, just turn to CNBC and you'll be able to easily induce vomiting.

It's Syrup of Ipecac on video.

Paging the Spirit of Johnny Cash

Inspired by the NY Times and Kim Jong-Il (he be Illin').



The Sea of Fire (to the tune of "Ring of Fire")

Jong-Il is an Angry Thing
And Bush his bell does Ring
Bound By Will to Power
They'll make Japan a nuclear sea of fire

CHORUS:
They'll make Japan A nuclear sea Of Fire
Bombs blow up, up, up
And The Flames Go Higher
And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Sea Of Fire
The Sea Of Fire

The Taste Of Fear Is Sweet
When Hearts Like Ours Meet
I Fell For You Like A Child
Oh, But The Fire Went Wild

CHORUS
They'll make Japan a nuclear sea of fire
Bombs blow up, up, up
And The Flames Go Higher
And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Sea Of Fire
The Sea Of Fire

Riverbend: Not Appreciating the Dog & Chimpy Show

Riverbend, the Iraqi blogger -- who unlike most of us mere electronic bloviators actually has to live through this shit, didn't appreciate the displayed benevolence of McFlightsuit and Ayad Cap-Yo-Ass.

I sat listening, trying not to focus too much on his face, but rather on the garbage he was reiterating for at least the thousandth time since the war. I don't usually talk back to the television, but I really can't help myself when Bush is onscreen. I sit there talking back to him- calling him a liar, calling him an idiot, wondering how exactly he got so far and how they're allowing him to run for re-election. E. sat next to me on the couch, peeved, "Why are we even watching this?!" He made a jump for the remote control (which I clutch to shake at the television to emphasize particular points)- a brief struggle ensued and Riverbend came out victorious.

You know things are really going downhill in Iraq, when the Bush speech-writers have to recycle his old speeches. Listening to him yesterday, one might think he was simply copying and pasting bits and pieces from the older stuff. My favorite part was when he claimed, "Electricity has been restored above pre-war levels..." Even E. had to laugh at that one. A few days ago, most of Baghdad was in the dark for over 24 hours and lately, on our better days, we get about 12 hours of electricity. Bush got it wrong (or Allawi explained it to incorrectly)- the electricity is drastically less than pre-war levels, but the electricity BILL is way above pre-war levels. Congratulations Iraqis on THAT!! Our electricity bill was painful last month. Before the war, Iraqis might pay an average of around 5,000 Iraqi Dinars a month for electricity (the equivalent back then of $2.50) - summer or winter. Now, it's quite common to get bills above 70,000 Iraqi Dinars... for half-time electricity.

After Bush finished his piece about the glamorous changes in Iraq, Allawi got his turn. I can't seem to decide what is worse- when Bush speaks in the name of Iraqi people, or when Allawi does. Yesterday's speech was particularly embarrassing. He stood there grovelling in front of the congress- thanking them for the war, the occupation and the thousands of Iraqi lives lost... and he did it all on behalf of the Iraqi people. It was infuriating and for maybe the hundredth time this year, I felt rage. Yet another exile thanking the Bush administration for the catastrophe we're trying to cope with. Our politicians are outside of the country 90% of the time (by the way, if anyone has any news of our president Ghazi Ajeel Al Yawir, do let us know- where was he last seen or heard?), the security situation is a joke, the press are shutting down and pulling out and our beloved exiles are painting rosey pictures for the American public- you know- so everyone who voted for Bush can sleep at night.

There's more, much more, go read.

Operation BoBorossa: An Alternative Herrstory

Austria Ready for Unification's Message

Vienna Times, March 10, 1938

Yesterday, Chancellor Schuschnigg announced a plebiscite on whether Austria will remain independent, or follow the natural dictates of its ethnic composition and join with growing Germany, now seemingly reborn under the steady and determined leadership of its Fuhrer, Austrian native, Adolf Hitler.

To some this seems to be an example of Schnuschnigg caving in to the pressures of the more dynamic and strong-willed German leader, but those with this view are clearly a minority.

It is true that the intellectuals of Vienna bemoan the apparent loss of an Austria identity through an alliance with the German Reich. However, as one who has traveled throughout the Tirol on many a skiing vacation, rather than just confining myself to effete coffee-houses, like Herr Krugmann, I can tell you that the feelings of those in the city favoring non-confederation, let's call them "pessimists", are not shared by the common Austrians that make up the back bone of this land. I like to call them, "anschlussmists"

These common people, the people of the beer halls, sausage factories, clock makers, puppeteers, and all those wearing the brown-shirt and leiderhosen of pride agree that it is better for Austria's future to join in league with its powerful and upward-moving neighbor to the north than to remain in a state of meaningless independence.

It is true the pessimists, comprised as they are of intellectuals, artists, and financiers, all have financial or religious reasons for opposing the plan so advocated by Herr Hitler and now the strong-willed Schuschnigg. However, their claims and concerns seem both overwrought and unduly dour, especially to the average hard-working Austrian of the Alps who unarguably have made this country what it is. What the family in Innsbrook wants may not seem right and proper to the academic in Vienna, but that does not mean that the bulk of the former will not have their voices heard.

It is true that Herr Hitler has, while rising to power in Berlin, made statements regarding Jews that are strident and even accurately called impolite. However, now that he has taken political power in Germany, other than minor changes in the law, he has yet to put this rhetoric into practice. There is little evidence at this point that even if that language was something he was serious about, which it is likely he was not, it is language of the past and not of policy. Appealing to one's base through hyperbole is part and parcel of any political process and there is little evidence of any pending actions against jews*. It seems unlikely that Austrians have anything to worry about on this score and indeed such assertions now seem to be simply "fear mongering".

In the coming hours, Austrians will have to make the faithful decision, we must make sure that we respect the will of the majority and not let fear and use demogougery to cloud what should be evident to all.

Miscellaneous LIfeform Blogging Friday

The former miscellaneous lifeforms we have saluted have been somewhat apolitical. I'm sure if the majority of the world's animals had a vote, that the overwhelming variety of species would vote for Kerry. However, variety will not matter much, when the world's flies, roaches, viruses and other pests vote overwhelmingly for Bush/Cheney -- even though their sworn enemy, Tom DeLay, also supports that ticket.

But today's lifeform does take a poltical tack. Today we salute the world's largest rodent.



I'm sorry, I was speaking literally, not figuratively, besides...

This guy is bigger.

Nonetheless.

Today, we salute the Capybara, the spaniel-sized denizen of the amazonian swamps and the animal we only wish Thomas Nast would have known about.

Renewing Old News Items and why they should be Big News Again

Emanuel Goldstein Al Zarqawi is being bandied about by the Chimperor and his court again. And now come additional stories of how Al Zarqawi is building up a global terror network, one already quite sizeable.

So remember how they decided not to go after him so they could have their war.

But NBC News has learned that long before the war the Bush administration had several chances to wipe out his terrorist operation and perhaps kill Zarqawi himself — but never pulled the trigger...

The Pentagon drew up a second strike plan, and the White House again killed it. By then the administration had set its course for war with Iraq.

“People were more obsessed with developing the coalition to overthrow Saddam than to execute the president’s policy of preemption against terrorists,” according to terrorism expert and former National Security Council member Roger Cressey...

Military officials insist their case for attacking Zarqawi’s operation was airtight, but the administration feared destroying the terrorist camp in Iraq could undercut its case for war against Saddam.

I'm not the first person to suggest Kerry confront Bush with this.

When the Title Alone Says, "This is Beyond Your Knowledge"

Chuckles Krauthammer:

The Art Of Losing Friends

Um, wouldn't you have to know how to "make" friends in order to have any knowledge of how you lose them?

Well, I guess if you are just parrotting White House talking points you don't have to speak from your own experience.

...that's how they can talk about war too.

Pathetic Desperation II: Biblical Sin Edition

Golly, the Republicans admit sending out a mailing saying Democrats would ban the bible.

Sweet.

The Republican Party acknowledged yesterday sending mass mailings to residents of two states warning that "liberals" seek to ban the Bible. It said the mailings were part of its effort to mobilize religious voters for President Bush.

The mailings include images of the Bible labeled "banned" and of a gay marriage proposal labeled "allowed." A mailing to Arkansas residents warns: "This will be Arkansas if you don't vote." A similar mailing was sent to West Virginians.

A liberal religious group, the Interfaith Alliance, circulated a copy of the Arkansas mailing to reporters yesterday to publicize it. "What they are doing is despicable,'' said Don Parker, a spokesman for the alliance. "They are playing on people's fears and emotions."

In an e-mail message, Christine Iverson, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, confirmed that the party had sent the mailings.

"When the Massachusetts Supreme Court sanctioned same-sex marriage and people in other states realized they could be compelled to recognize those laws, same-sex marriage became an issue,'' Ms. Iverson said. "These same activist judges also want to remove the words 'under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance."

The mailing is the latest evidence of the emphasis Republicans are putting on motivating conservative Christian voters to vote this fall. But as the appeals become public, they also risk alienating moderate and swing voters.

An editorial on Sept. 22 in The Charleston Gazette in West Virginia, for example, asked, "Holy Moley! Who concocts this gibberish?"

"Holy Moley! Who concocts this gibberish?"

Oh, I have a guess.

It's called pathetic desperation

From Milbank at the Washington Post:

President Bush and leading Republicans are increasingly charging that Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry and others in his party are giving comfort to terrorists and undermining the war in Iraq -- a line of attack that tests the conventional bounds of political rhetoric.

Appearing in the Rose Garden yesterday with Iraq's interim prime minister, Ayad Allawi, Bush said Kerry's statements about Iraq "can embolden an enemy." After Kerry criticized Allawi's speech to Congress, Vice President Cheney tore into the Democratic nominee, calling him "destructive" to the effort in Iraq and the struggle against terrorism.

It was the latest instance in which prominent Republicans have said that Democrats are helping the enemy or that al Qaeda, Iraqi insurgents and other enemies of the United States are backing Kerry and the Democrats. Such accusations are not new to American politics, but the GOP's line of attack this year has been pervasive and high-level.

• On Tuesday, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said terrorists "are going to throw everything they can between now and the election to try and elect Kerry." On Fox News, Hatch said Democrats are "consistently saying things that I think undermine our young men and women who are serving over there."

• On Sunday, GOP Senate candidate John Thune of South Dakota said of his opponent, Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle: "His words embolden the enemy." Thune, on NBC's "Meet the Press," declined to disavow a statement by the Republican Party chairman in his state saying Daschle had brought "comfort to America's enemies."

• On Saturday, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (Ill.) said at a GOP fundraiser: "I don't have data or intelligence to tell me one thing or another, [but] I would think they would be more apt to go [for] somebody who would file a lawsuit with the World Court or something rather than respond with troops." Asked whether he believed al Qaeda would be more successful under a Kerry presidency, Hastert said: "That's my opinion, yes."

• The previous day in Warsaw, Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage said terrorists in Iraq "are trying to influence the election against President Bush."

Such accusations have been a component of American politics since the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 and surfaced in the modern era during the McCarthy communist hunt and the Vietnam War protests.

There is the obligatory Bill Schneider idiocy at the end unfortunately.

This is, of course, a lesson that Republicans are teaching Iraqis.

Democracy is such a precious thing, not even Americans should be allowed to have it.

That About Sums it Up

Conan O'Brien:

"Cheney said if you vote for Kerry, we will get hit again, but if you vote for us, I'll call it off".

Am I missing Something?

What is this about at Atrios I wonder?

I mean the picture has some meaning, but taking over the whole site?

Next Up, John C. Calhoun Impressions

That Alan Keyes, popular sovereignty supporter.

Keyes speaks before a statue of Stephen Douglas.

Worryin', Watchin' and Worryin some more

I would not be surprised if some of the Democratic backroom boys and girls do not really want to win this election. I mean, the Democrats already had their VietNam. Being at war with religion is a lot messier than being at war with material ideology. It is probably more important to them to win back at least one of the two houses of Congress over the next two cycles.

Thinking historically... Hitler won because the German middle class was troubled by a lack of homeland security. And today all the pundits have been saying that former pro-Gore soccer moms have become pro-Bush 'security moms'. If war is the extension of politics, then politics is war without physical violence (to a point). Therefore, in politics, like in war, truth is the first casualty, and critical thinking must die necessarily as a consequence of that.

When the Germans retreated from Russia, Goebbels said that the German armies were just 'straightening out the frontlines'. When the Russians penetrated into Germany, he said that "it is much easier to beat them on home soil'. And the German soldiers kept fighting and dying. Bush's BS is not all that different from Goebbels' BS. Since everything repeats itself so nicely,
we humans (not just Americans) are either immensely stupid (because we have choices), or human nature rectricts us from smartening up (because we are less able to make true choices than we are willing to acknowledge).

But then, as I have learend to accept, the two candidates do not
represent as much of a choice as I would like. The less the difference, the louder they have to get. But while Kerry may be much better on several fronts (the supreme court, gay and lesbian rights, health care), is he really fundamentally different?

Well, maybe. But my concern isn't about telling people to not vote for Kerry. My problem with this situation is that real change does come from struggle in the streets, work places, and schools, and the building of a mass movements of people who care about people and not winning an election or fattening the bottomline can easily be undermined by people having all this faith and energy invested in Kerry.

Recall that the Clinton-Kerry supported the embargo against Iraq that killed more people each month than have died each month under Bush's folly of a war. Of course, Bush supported the embargo also--I'm obviously not defending him. I am just concerned that if Kerry wins, people will heave a sigh of relief, when they/we should be just as concerned and committed to struggle in either case.

The level of discussion about the election for all the crap thrown at the wall is so very low.

Kerry supporters do try, sometimes, to talk about issues, though they sometimes degenerate into a "if you disagree with me, you want women to die from illegal abortions in order to protect your philosophical purity" types of arguments, which is the same type of "bullying/isolating/ganging up" type of argument that Bush supporters use.

Bush supporters, on the other hand, seem to ONLY use that type of argument. I had someone tell me that he really likes Bush. I asked "why?" He said, "I just do. I really do." And this person could not explain why they felt this way.

Perhaps that is the scariest point of all.

The [SIC] President

The President is [sic]. I know that the White House transcribers realize it. I think it is a new meme. President SIC.

From that aneurysm that was called a press conference today:

The Prime Minister said something very interesting a while ago, and it's important for the American people to understand. Our strategy is to help the Iraqis help themselves. It's important that we train Iraqi troops. There are nearly 100,000 troops trained. The Afghan (sic) national army is a part of the army. By the way -- it's the Afghan [sic] national army that went into Najaf and did the work there. There's a regular army being trained. There are border guards being trained. There are police being trained. That's a key part of our mission.

Does Karzai know about this?

Is Bush's drinking getting the best of him?

Recent statements from Bush seem to be quite erratic of late. What is going on with W?

Here's an example from MSNBC, Bush also said his top commander in Iraq has not asked for more troops but if he did, "I'd listen to him."

Gen. John Abizaid, commander of U.S. troops in the Middle East, said Wednesday it was possible that more U.S. troops would be needed to secure Iraq's elections, but that Iraqi and perhaps international troops may be able to do the job instead.

"I think we will need more troops than we currently have," Abizaid said.

I no longer think that Bush is an idiot who constantly lies, I am beginning to believe that he is a drunk. That would explain a great deal of his erratic behavior, his lack of concern with consequences, all of his detached expressions, and reckless and careless misuse of facts.

Why is Bush always getting that little smirk on his face? Such as today when he said that I've seen polls that say the right track/wrong track numbers of Iraq are better than they are here in america. Does he have some secret that he is not sharing with the rest of us -- that the little nip of alcohol makes the world seem a little "off," a little funny.

If indeed he is drinking, he should get the help he needs so that we all can fix the problems in this country.

Wow, that was a real acid trip man...

I just got done watching romper room the presser starring the Chimp and the man who he grinds an organ for and, well, it was an existential experience.

Things are thought of as being worse here than Iraq.

I'm sorry, I think either I or the Preznit need a drug test.

Was Walmart Peddling Racism?

Walmart still has a listing for this:

The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion
Marsden, Victor E.
Paperback, Book Tree, 1999, ISBN # 1585090158
Paperback List price: $24.95
Our Price: $22.46
You Save: $2.49 (10%)

Is just selling of this antisemetic pablum racism? Some think so.

Wal-Mart reverses course,
says it takes ‘Protocols’ off site
By Rachel Pomerance

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 (JTA) — After getting heat from Jewish defense groups, Wal-Mart said it would halt the sale of a quintessential anti-Semitic tract on its Web site.

The world’s largest retailer will cease sale of “The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion” — a forgery that describes an alleged Jewish plan for world domination — spokeswoman Amy Colella told JTA by e-mail Tuesday night.

The move followed a JTA article Tuesday regarding concerns over the book’s sale by the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Anti-Defamation League.

Colella insists the store’s swift response was due to its customers.

“Based on significant customer feedback regarding the book titled ‘The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion,’ we have made a business decision to remove this book by author Victor E. Marsden from our site,” Colella said.

“As an online retailer, Walmart.com is committed to providing customers with quality media merchandise, and continues to make case-by-case decisions on our broad book assortment dependent on what we believe our customers want.”

The book, however, was still available on the site as of Wednesday afternoon.

The switcheroo came only hours after Colella wrote an e-mail to JTA insisting the online store wanted “to provide our customers a choice within our broad, online book selection at every day low prices” that “appeal to our broad customer base.”

Observers say the move may have had as much to do with Wal-Mart’s attempt to save face in the midst of recent bad publicity.
In addition to widespread resentment at the superstore’s expansion, which drives out mom-and-pop retailers, Wal-Mart is fighting the largest private civil rights case in American history.

The class-action lawsuit, filed this summer, represents up to 1.6 million current and former female workers who claim they were passed up for promotion and paid less than their male counterparts.

Additionally, the federal government is investigating the store after finding illegal immigrants working as janitors in stores in 21 states. Wal-Mart also conceded that it routinely locked up its overnight workers, The New York Times reported earlier this month.
In an attempt to shore up its image, Wal-Mart has launched a P.R. blitz, spending millions on an ad campaign and on acts of goodwill like sponsoring National Public Radio and minorities at journalism schools throughout the country, the Times added.

The Anti-Defamation League welcomed the decision.

The group had only asked for a disclaimer — as it had successfully done years ago regarding the sale of the book by Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Specifically, it took issue with Wal-Mart’s description of the book, which put its status as a forgery in question.
“Wal-Mart has shown great corporate responsibility by listening and responding to the concerns of customers, especially those who may have been offended by the sale of the ‘Protocols’ and the misleading description on the Walmart.com site,” said the ADL’s national director, Abraham Foxman.

For his part, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the associate dean of the Wiesenthal Center, hopes the victory may inspire other booksellers to follow suit.

“We therefore hope that in wake of the Wal-Mart decision, others, including Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com would consider replacing this hateful screed with any of the numerous works that clearly refute the book that has rightfully been labeled a ‘warrant for genocide,’ ” he said.

Cooper said his group did not intend to limit information about the “Protocols,” but to marginalize its impact by providing the text in an annotated version — the way, for example, Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” is sold in Germany.

Cooper had asked Wal-Mart to instead sell a book published by the Simon Wiesenthal Center on the subject, “The Big Lie: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” which debunks the “Protocols” chapter by chapter.

But Cooper said he is satisfied with alternative books provided on Wal-Mart’s Web site and commends the retailer, which he says was probably unaware of causing any controversy.

They have taken a classic anti-Semitic screed and said, “We’re not going to make a buck off of it,” Cooper said. “It has to do with community responsibility and also corporate responsibility. I think they made the right decision.”

Religious Right willing to Kill?

Jimmy Swaggart apologizes after remark about 'killing' gay man

Jimmy Swaggart does it again. Boy, this guy is a font of compassionate conservatism. Of course, the righties can say what they want so long as they apologize later.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Christian evangelist
"And I'm going to be blunt and plain: If one ever looks at me like that, I'm going to kill him and tell God he died," Swaggart says, to laughter and applause from the congregation.

On Wednesday, Swaggart said he's jokingly used the expression
"killing someone and telling God he died" thousands of times, about all sorts of people. He said the expression is figurative, and not meant to harm.

"It's a humorous statement that doesn't mean anything. You can't lie to God - it's ridiculous," Swaggart told The Associated Press. "If it's an insult, I certainly didn't think it was, but if they are offended, then I certainly offer an apology."

One complaint was sent to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, a self-regulating industry group that enforces broadcast standards, after a Toronto television station broadcast the service, said Ann Mainville-Neeson, the group's executive director.

Audio recordings of the Sept. 12 statements have circulated on gay-themed Web sites.

Gay rights advocates have said comments such as Swaggart's encourage violent hate crimes. Cheryl Jacques, head of the Washington, D.C.-based
Swaggart was a popular television evangelist during the 1980s until a 1987 sex scandal involving a prostitute that he met in a seedy New Orleans motel. Swaggart never confessed to anything more than an unspecified sin. A few years later, he was stopped by police while driving in California with a suspected prostitute in his car.