Noam at His Finest

Distorting history once again, the world's foremost intellectual:

"Q: Do you regret supporting those who say the Srebrenica massacre was exaggerated?
A: My [Chomsky] only regret is that I didn't do it strongly enough

Hahaha. Chomsky is most certainly only concerned with people harmed by the evil empire in the West. When it comes to say, the Khmer Rouge or world history in general, he prefers to distort what actually happened, look at situations in a vacuum with no regard to surrounding circumstances, or just ignore facts that contradict his "the West is always evil no matter what" thesis.

Lord I hate Chomsky. Even more than O'Reilly. How the hell did he become the world's top intellectual?

This Would Definitely

Cap off Bush's best week. Oh if only we could be so lucky as to see Bush pardon Libby. That would be much bigger story/scandal than Clinton pardoning Marc Rich.

Alright Catholics

Lots of us good men and women (well just men) on the SCOTUS. Five if Alito is confirmed. If only most were moderates instead of hardline conservatives (Scalia, Roberts, Thomas, and possibly Alito).

Who Doesn't Want

People to own AK-47s. M-16s, or Uzis? New SCOTUS nominee Alito most certainly believes that it is every American's God given right to possess assault weapons and machine guns. Of course our astute Constitution designers, Madison and co. believed that all Americans should have the option of owning weapons that fire 600 rounds per minute. 2nd amendment anyone?

Maybe Alito favors legalizing anti-tank missiles and RPGs as well... Hey, our founders wanted us to have the power to overthrown a tyrannical government...

Who is the Next SCOTUS Nominee?

SCOTUS blog has a brief profile.

Quotes, Quotes, Quotes

Peter Beinart:

"The truth is this: Unless the Democratic Party can change its image on national security, its only realistic hope of winning the White House is the hope that the war on terrorism is a passing phenomenon that will be over in a few years. Unfortunately, most Americans don't believe that. Most experts don't believe that. Most people see this as a generational struggle. And yet, you have to go back pre-Vietnam to find a precedent for how the Democratic Party can respond in a way that will win the country's trust."

The vast majority of Americans do not identify themselves with the Cindy Sheehan and the far left peace at any cost Democratic wing. We could not even win the last election despite the growing unpopularity of the Iraq War. The anti-war hero Howard Dean could not even beat John Kerry in the Democratic primaries, how is he (and the peacenik movement) supposed to resonate with the general public if he cannot even garner the support of the core Democrat base?

More Harry Reids and Joe Bidens, less Howard Deans.

Hehe

Barone makes the case that actually this week was a success for President Bush.

"So on the whole, it was a successful week -- successful in that it gives Bush' administration the opportunity to rise above the low point that it has hit since Katrina's waters smashed through the levees in New Orleans two months ago."

Hell if you still want to stay on this sinking ship by all means, Mr. Barone.

I can only hope that our President continues to have such "successful" weeks leading right up to the elections in '06. Every week a new federal official indicted by a prosecutor, a new milestone in American causality results, a SCOTUS nominee humiliated, and a new low in the Bush's approval ratings. Yeah a "successful" week indeed for our president.

(Almost forget to mention the appointment of Bernanke to replace Greenspan as chairman of the Fed Reserve. That actually was something good that happened this week, but unfortunately for Bush no one in America knows who he is or really cares)

Who's It Gonna Be?

Washington Post:

Several GOP strategists said the most likely choice [for SCOTUS] seemed to be federal appeals judge Samuel A. Alito Jr., with judges J. Michael Luttig and Alice M. Batchelder also in the running.

Alito's judicial philosophy parallels Scalia's, as Alito has earned the nickname "Scalito." (That's not a good thing)

Mad Town Halloween Party

I am pretty sure that none of my friends were part of the hundreds arrested in Madison over the weekend.

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Damn Packers

Losing again. This time to the Bengals. Sigh...

Cleaning House Republican Style

Washington Post:

"And by a 3 to 1 ratio, 46 percent to 15 percent, Americans say the level of honesty and ethics in the government has declined rather than risen under Bush."

And wasn't it supposed to be the Democrats who are the dishonest bastards in DC under the slimeball Clinton?

Who's Who

In right wing punditry. Pseudo-journalist, columnist extraordinaire Michelle Malkin.

Via: crooks and liars

Never Would Have Guessed

That Rove would be official a.

Hehe

NY Times:

Dr. Richard Land, a top official of the Southern Baptist Convention and a close ally of the White House, said the president had named Ms. Miers, a friend and adviser whose legal views were virtually unknown to the public, to avoid a climactic Senate fight.

"The president took the advice of my East Texas grandmother: If you can skin a cat without getting the room all bloody, why not do it that way?" Mr. Land said.

Best analogy ever.

You Suck

Jonah Goldberg. To think that I respected you as a conservative commentator. Description of your new book, Liberal Facism

"Replacing conveniently manufactured myths with surprising and enlightening research, Jonah Goldberg shows that the original fascists were really on the Left and that liberals, from Woodrow Wilson to FDR to Hillary Clinton, have advocated policies and principles remarkably similar to those of HitlerÂ’s National Socialism."

Normally I would never prejudge a book based on its reviews, but this is unbelievable. Let me think here... who was the president who lead America against the fascists in Germany and Italy? Hmmm...couldd it have been the staunch Democrat FDR? Comparing the Left (ie Democrats) with Hitler, wonderful.

Say what you want about the "lefts" policies, but to parallel Democratic policies with Hitler is just reprehensible.
(and don't whine about how some of the left compares Bush to Hitler, those are crackpots too)

via: atrios

(I decided to remove the profanity. I do feel that Goldberg is despicable for writting this book, but I think that using profanity in posts is not appropriate... unless I am talking about Bill O'Reilly)

Hehe

I do like this Michael Kinsley article.

Finally

Something that Victor Davis Hanson and I agree on.

"Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other global humanitarian groups recently expressed criticism over the slated trial of the mass murderer Saddam Hussein. Such self-appointed auditors of moral excellence were worried that his legal representation was inadequate. Or perhaps they felt the court of the new Iraqi democracy was not quite up to the standards of wigged European judges in The Hague."

Sometimes Amnesty and HRW are too concerned with legalities and protocol, rather than focusing on the big picture. Saddam will be put on trial, and that is a good thing.

Of course that's the only point that Hanson and I agree on as he then proceeds to state:

"Now these global watchdogs are barking about legalities — once Saddam is in shackles thanks solely to the American military (which, too, is often criticized by the same utopian-minded groups). The new Iraqi government is sanctioned by vote and attuned to global public opinion. Saddam Hussein was neither. So Amnesty International can safely chastise the former for supposed misdemeanors after it did little concrete about the real felonies of the latter."

Last time I checked Amnesty and HRW have made numerous reports detailing the atrocities of Saddam. They were not silently standing by and watching Saddam slaughter Iraqi civilians.

The main point is that Saddam will be tried and that is good. Do I think that we should have gone to war just to rid the world of Saddam? No. But that is a subject for another time.

More Speculation

rawstory:

"While many people were left confused by news reports that said Rove wouldn't be indicted Friday, the lawyers said that Rove remains under intense scrutiny and added that Fitzgerald is betting on the fact that he can secure an indictment against Rove on charges of perjury, obstruction of justice, the misuse of classified information, and possibly other charges, as early as next week."

Libby Indicted, Resigns

Indictment. Five counts, 2 false statement, 2 perjury (max 5 years/charge), 1 obstruction of justice (max 10 years). Guidelines

Josh Marshall:

"An indictment is always the prosecutor's case, unrebuted by the defense. But Fitzgerald seems to make a very powerful case that Libby repeatedly made claims under oath that he simply must have known were false. We'll have time to go over the details as time goes on. But that's my sense from a quick read."

Fitzgerald just stated at his press conference that the inquiry is not finished, and did not give a date as to when it would be completed.

Fitz: "We might as well just give up our jobs" if we do not prosecute perjurers.

These charges are very serious. However, as of yet they are just charges not convictions. Remember there still will be a trial where Libby will present his case. But things are not looking good for Mr. Libby (and possibly other members of the Admin).

Rove Not Charged

NY Times:

"Karl Rove, President Bush's senior adviser and deputy chief of staff, will not be charged on Friday, but will remain under investigation, people briefed officially about the case said. As a result, they said, the special counsel in the case, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, was likely to extend the term of the federal grand jury beyond its scheduled expiration on Friday."

Remember this is from the NY Times, employer of Judith Miller. Take it with a grain of salt right now. I will wait until the press conference before I believe the story.

Russia

From an editorial written by Natan Sharansky (author of Bush's FP Bible, and someone I would consider to be living in right-wing la la land):

"the virus of freedom has spread among Russians for well over a decade. To reimpose Soviet-style tyranny in Russia would be virtually impossible."

Au Contraire. There is hardly a virus of freedom spreading. Freedom and Russians aren't going together like cookies and milk. From Foreign Affairs:

Enhancing personal freedoms and improving civil rights do not attract much support. When asked to choose between "freedom" and "order," 88 percent of respondents in Voronezh Province expressed preference for order, seemingly unaware that the two outcomes are not mutually exclusive and that in Western democracies they reinforce each other. Only 11 percent said they would be unwilling to surrender their freedoms of speech, press, or movement in exchange for stability. Twenty-nine percent, meanwhile, were quite prepared to give up their freedoms for nothing in return, because they attached no value to them (14). A survey conducted in the winter of 2003-4 by ROMIR Monitoring, a sociological research unit, found that 76 percent of Russians favor restoring censorship over the mass media (15).

The reemergence of a Russian autocracy is definitely something US must keep its eye on. Who knows what Putin is capable of?

Who's It Gonna Be?

rawstory:

"Fitzgerald intended to announce that he had secured indictments against I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, and Karl Rove, President Bush's deputy chief of staff, Wednesday afternoon as well as two people who work outside of the administration, those close to the case said.

"Rove was offered a deal when his lawyer met with Fitzgerald Tuesday, but did not accept, the sources said. Fitzgerald has sought indictments to charge Rove with perjury and obstruction of justice, they asserted."

We will find out (hopefully) tomorrow morning. For now, just more speculation.

Oh Shit

No he didn't. Bill O'Reilly released his list of cowards. Good Lord this man has too much time on his hands.

Via: atrios

Ain't it Sweet Being Right?

Krauthammer sure was. Just look at Mier's resignation letter. Notice some similarities?

So What's Going to Happen

K-Jo at the Corner:

"This presidency will be reinvigorated with a solid replacement nominee (a Luttig? an Alitto?)."

Let's see Bush's cabinet is crumbling beneath his feet, he is getting hammered on the Iraq War, and his nomination of Miers was a political disaster. Now by acknowledging his error, which for Bush is a sign of weakness, he can somehow salvage his presidency (or at least raise his numbers in the opinion polls)? I am sure that he will throw some dark red meat to his base and nominate some firebreathing conservative. Reid definitely sets the foundation for a vigorous opposition to Bush's next nomination in his reaction.

Reactions:

People for American Way:

"Harriet Miers' withdrawal...demonstrates that ultraconservatives are so determined to swing the Supreme Court sharply to the right that they pounded their own president's nominee into submission."

Hugh Hewitt:

"I think Ms. Miers has been unfairly treated by many who have for years urged fair treatment of judicial nominees. She deserves great thanks for her significant service to the country. She and the president deserved much better from his allies.

Schumer

"Harriet Miers is a fine and capable person, but this was clearly the wrong position for her. Her gracious withdrawal saves Harriet Miers and the nation from a difficult and agonizing process and decision. There is now one clear path for the President, to choose a knowledgeable and mainstream successor in the mold of Sandra Day O'Connor. These are very difficult times for the country and the nation cries out for unity. Mr. President, this is a time for leadership, please help bring America together with a choice that unites, not divides us."

Reid:

"I had recommended that the President consider nominating Ms. Miers because I was impressed with her record of achievement as the managing partner of a major Texas law firm and the first woman president of the Texas Bar Association. In those roles she was a strong supporter of law firm diversity policies and a leader in promoting legal services for the poor. But these credentials are not good enough for the right wing: they want a nominee with a proven record of supporting their skewed goals."

More at RealClearPolitics

Oh Damn...

She's outta here. Miers withdraws.

Andrew Sullivan on the Miers

You've Gotta Love

Paul Begala and his take on the what the hell is going on inside the White House. Bottom Line: It ain't pretty.

Dems and Repubs

They all spend our money on ridiculous pet projects. I did enjoy the response of Sen. Stevens from AL when confronted with potentially losing his "bridge to nowhere". He stated something to the effect that he would resign on the spot if Sen. Coburn's proposal was accepted, and would lose his $223 million bridge that will service 50 people (who already use a ferry to cross). Thats $4.46 million per person. Hell, if I were the potential beneficiaries of the bridge I would just ask for $1.0 million for each of us and call it even.

Quotes, Quotes, Quotes

Bush speaking today at Joint Armed Forces Officers' Wives' Luncheon:

"And Islamic radicalism, like the ideology of communism, contains inherent contradictions that doom it to failure. By fearing freedom -- by distrusting human creativity and punishing change, and limiting the contributions of half the population -- this ideology undermines the very qualities that make human progress possible, and human societies successful. The only thing modern about the militants' vision is the weapons they want to use against us. The rest of their grim vision is defined by a warped image of the past -- a declaration of war on the idea of progress, itself. And whatever lies ahead in the war against this ideology, the outcome is not in doubt: Those who despise freedom and progress have condemned themselves to isolation, decline and collapse. Because free peoples believe in the future, free peoples will own the future"

One of My Favorites

Josh Marshall is the guest blogger at the Washington Post.

Think There are Some Problems

Facing relations between the Sunnis and the Shiites in Iraq? Some of the results of the vote to approve the Iraqi Constitution.

"Fifty-five percent of Nineveh's voters rejected the charter. Voters in Sunni-dominated al-Anbar, in the west, rejected it by almost 97 percent, as did about 82 percent of voters in the majority-Sunni central province of Salahdin."

This compares with percentages approving the constitution as high as 99% in some Kurd and Shiite provinces.

Strength of the Moderate

47% of Americans are self-described moderates. So what's with all the polarization? Mort Kondracke asks.

I am not quite sure that this is the case of extremists taking hold of the country at least on the presidential level. (on the local level then yes, partisan redistricting has encouraged the rise of extreme candidates) The last Democratic president was Clinton, proponent of the "triangulation" strategy and staunch advocate of DLC politics including welfare reform. Even under our years of Republican rule it was hardly a real right wing conservative agenda. Abortion and assisted suicide (in Oregon) are still legal, government size and national debt have massively increased, and the prospect of nationwide gay unions is a real possibility.

I believe that even with all the rhetoric employed by both sides, with all the focus on single seemingly polarizing issues, the two parties have very similar messages. Our bicameral, non-proportional presidential democracy does not have political parties as ideologically different as many European parliamentary democracies, and this leads to the same basic presidential candidate from the right and the left. There will be no Howard Deans successfully winning the Democratic ticket in 2008, just as their will be no Pat Robertsons or Rick Santorums on the Republican side.

For better or worse the political situation reflects the interests of the American public in the long term. Our political situation is analogous to sailing down a river. We are not arguing the merits of staying on or leaving the river, but rather, what side of the river will allow for the smoothest sailing.

RIP

Ex-Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone. Tomorrow will be the third anniversary of his tragic death in a plane crash.

Uh Oh

NY Times:

"Lewis Libby Jr., Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, first learned about the C.I.A. officer at the heart of the leak investigation in a conversation with Mr. Cheney weeks before her identity became public in 2003, lawyers involved in the case said Monday."

I am sure that there's some serious sweating going on in the White House.

The question remains. Can Fitzgerald prove that Cheney or Libby knew that Plame was a covert agent, and if so did theydeliberatelyy intend to out her? If not obstruction of justice can be the only possible charge. Either way things are not looking good for the White House.

Damn

He must have been schwasted. How else can you explain wracking up $241,000 of charges in one night at a strip club? That's a load of lap dances for sure. Can only wonder what else the man received...

Blame Game

Juan Cole on the influence of Fox News' coverage on the NY Times especially in regard to Judith Miller.

I don't buy it. The supposedly pompous liberal elites at the NY Times, the newspaper of record, were somehow "brainwashed by Rupert Murdoch" into veering to the right? I think that its more a case of a veteran reporter given way to much leeway to produce sensational articles to bring the paper merit. And consequently, if it was the case that maybe the Times align itself more with American conservatives by seemingly siding with Bush and silencing some of its conservative critics I do not think that they would complain.

Dark Matter

I took an astronomy class last semester so this stuff interests me. Disproving the existence of dark matter would be a terrific feat, and a very notable scientific accomplishment. What will the consequences be? Beats the hell out of me. It most certainly will change the way astronomers think of the universe as they currently believe that 20-30% consists of dark matter, and would contradict the current thinking about the existence of stars in the outermost galaxies.

Its Just a Little White Lie

Is the excuse that hard line Republicans will endlessly repeat if Fitzgerald brings perjury charges against leading White House officials.

Sen. Kay Hutchinson:

"if there is going to be an indictment that says something happened, that it is an indictment on a crime and not some perjury technicality where they couldn't indict on the crime and so they go to something just to show that their two years of investigation was not a waste of time and taxpayer dollars."

Hmmm... last time I checked committing perjury means going to jail. Definitely not some minor offense. Lying to a grand jury is something that should not be taken lightly. If I do remember wasn't it a certain Democratic President who got into trouble for lying under oath? And lying about sexual misconduct is a little more innocent than deliberating leaking a covert CIA agent or obstruction of justice.

If You Have the Time...

Read this Reason article, which examines the role of a company in society, whether it should strictly follow Friedman's classic statement "the Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits" or to add a charitable element along with the drive for profit.

Money, Money, Money

Advertisers losing it due to TiVo. What’s the response? Trump's apprentices flipping burgers at BK, damn Coke cups featured at American Idol, in short, a huge increase in product placement.

"CBS Chairman Les Moonves has predicted that up to 75% of all scripted prime-time network shows will soon feature products paid for by advertisers and integrated into plot lines"

TV and film will soon become large and expensive commercials. Wonderful.

Ms. Judy

For some perspective on the Keller Memo, which details the lessons learned from the NY Times handling of the Judith Miller saga, turn to Howard Kurtz, Kevin Drum, and Arianna Huffington.

These Cute Twins Have

Blue eyes, blonde hair, and are ardent crazy white supremacists who's singing group is known as "Prussian Blue". The young ladies sing songs of hate because

"'We're proud of being white, we want to keep being white,' said Lynx [one of the two twins]. 'We want our people to stay white … we don't want to just be, you know, a big muddle. We just want to preserve our race.'"

Let me echo John Cole's take:

"Disgusting. People who teach their kids this shit should be caned in the public square."

Its so sad that parents teach their children to hate.

Hmmm...

I think this line of reasoning for why Bush nominated Roberts and than Miers gives altogether too much credit to Bush's intellectual capabilities. Does anyone really believe that nomination of Miers is really part of Bush's grand scheme to make the SCOTUS irrelevant? Has Bush ever been able to formulate a long-term plan? Iraq anyone... I think its just another example of Bush appointing one of his unqualified "buddies" for an important governmental job.

Complain, Complain

About universities including works that haven't been created by people other than old, white, males. Damn diversity. From Washington Times:

"There's an emphasis on multicultural studies and few campuses have escaped the disease"

This is an interesting claim:

" Other seats of higher learning have gone farther, creating synthetic pronouns, using "hir" for "her" or "his," and "ze" for "she" and "he". You thought "herstory" for "history" was a joke. "

Most certainly have never heard of this one, nor has anyone else that I know heard of this. Where the hell did the author hear this from? Oops, the author fails to mention the "other seats of higher learning" that have implemented this interesting choice of words.

Learning about literature from different cultures is a good thing. Expanding one's horizons is a positive not a negative.

A True Blue Dem?

I never knew Rush.

":..I set up exactly what the other side's position is. I'm the only one who'll do it honestly. If I have a liberal guest on this program, I'm not guaranteed the liberal guest is going to be honest about what he believes. So in order to establish what I believe and what I think, I set myself up by presenting the liberal point of view on whatever issue it is I'm talking about. So he's wrong about that."

So thats why you never have any liberal guest because you accurately represent liberal positions.
Here's some of his insights into "liberal positions"

"They [Democrats] probably have more fear of Christians than they do nuclear weapons being launched by North Korea."

Or this one.

"The left in this abortion business -- when I tell you that that's the sacrament to their religion of liberalism, you've got to understand. It's their communion."

Maybe you knew us Rush, before you started sucking down all those pain pills.

Democracy=No Terror?

F. Gregory Gause III, associate professor of political science at the University of Vermont thinks otherwise:

"Although what is known about terrorism is admittedly incomplete, the data available do not show a strong relationship between democracy and an absence of or a reduction in terrorism. Terrorism appears to stem from factors much more specific than regime type. Nor is it likely that democratization would end the current campaign against the United States. Al Qaeda and like-minded groups are not fighting for democracy in the Muslim world; they are fighting to impose their vision of an Islamic state. Nor is there any evidence that democracy in the Arab world would 'drain the swamp,' eliminating soft support for terrorist organizations among the Arab public and reducing the number of potential recruits for them."

My Response: Hell, the autocratic regimes in the Middle East have hardly done anything to combat terrorism and in fact encourage hatred of the West, so why not encourage the spread of democracy? How many terrorists originated from the secular, democractic West verse the autocratic, theocratic Middle East?

Via: CS Monitor

A Face

Only a mother could love. There's his arrest warrant there as well.

Details, Details, Details

Maybe Miers is just a big picture person.

From: Washington Post

"Earlier this year, I [Harriet Miers] received notice that my dues for the District of Columbia Bar were delinquent and as a result my ability to practice law in D.C. had been suspended. I immediately sent the dues in to remedy the delinquency. The non-payment was not intentioned, and I corrected the situation upon receiving the letter.

Wouldn't That be Something

TNR:

"Miers, obviously, is even worse than Roberts from a conservative standpoint. Her most unwavering opponents come from the right. To the extent that Democrats oppose her, they cite her qualifications rather than her ideology. She may well be confirmed only because of Democratic votes, a spectacle nobody has contemplated. "

The article also has an interesting look at the relationship between Social and Economic Conservatives, and concludes the Social Conservatives are getting the short end of the stick. Interesting idea considering Economic Conservative are becoming indignant over the budget deficit, increased federal spending, and massive subsidies directed at Hurricane Katrina relief.

Thought: Chait makes same basic argument as Thomas Frank.

Hmmm...

When the percentage of overweight children in America has tripled in the past twenty years is it really a smart idea to implement this?

God You Suck

Bill O'Reilly. Not only are you a bastard, but now you are a whiner. Your contemplating retirement because you say that "there's only so much aggression you [meaning Bill O'Reilly] can absorb." Think some of the hostility that comes flying at you is the result of you being an obstinate prick?

Check out Jon Stewart's Interview with O'Reilly when Comedy Central posts it.

Iraqi Election Results (Part II)

Juan Cole:

"Suspicions of irregularities in the voting tallies being reported in some provinces in Iraq have provoked the Higher Electoral Commission to conduct an investigation. In six Shiite-majority provinces in the South, 95 percent or more of voters are reported as having cast votes favoring the constitution. The proportion of those voting 'yes' was not in and of itself suspicious in those provinces, but the commission felt that anything over 90 percent should be looked at again."

He's the Top Intellectual?

Noam Chomsky? Interesting how his nemesis Christopher Hitchens finished fifth.

Once Again

The Daily Show delivers. Jon Stewart on Bush's teleconference, and other White House events.

Hmmm...

As many as 99% of the votes were in favor of the constitution in the 12 Shitte and Kurdish provinces?

Reminds me of a joke I heard about ex- Syrian "President" Hafiz al-Assad.

After a Presidential election, an aid came to Assad's office with the election results in hand. "Mr. President, Mr. President, 99.9% of the Syrian population has voted for you, only 0.1% voted against you!" Assad just stared at the young man. "What else could you want Mr. President?" The Syrian leader paused. "Their names."

Bizarre

Is the only word that comes to mind from this piece in TNR that calls Al Gore the only prospective candidate capable of challenging Hillary Clinton. Ryan Lizza states that "Gore is the only anti-Hillary candidate who can credibly attack her on both fronts." Meaning that Gore is the only prospective nominee that can challenge on left-wing ideological grounds for the primaries and still be "electable" in the general election.

True, Al Gore is an outspoken critic of the Iraq War, but it is absurd for Lizza to state that because Gore was a vice-president and sat through NSC meetings he "would be the only candidate in either party who instantly passes the post-9/11 threshold on national security issues." Hmmm. The Clinton/Gore tandem are now hammered mercilessly by conservatives for their supposed ineptness in dealing with matters of national security so I fail to see how Gore automatically has a free pass to be considered a national security guru. Especially in light of his recent speeches to MoveOn.org.

Also to state that Gore has an advantage because he would be "running as an outsider" in 2008 is ridiculous. I do not think that many people will forget that he has been a senator, vice-president, and the Democratic Presidential nominee who lost to Bush in 2000. Gore is the consummate insider, even though he has been running around working on his television network, growing a beard, and giving Bush-basing speeches the past few years.

Gore will not and should not be the Democratic Presidential nominee in 2008. We do not need to lose again.

Iraqi Election Results

The constitution referendum will pass, but there are signs that all is not well with Iraq's fledging democracy.

"'The statistics that we have show that 95% of the Sunni Arabs said no,' said Saleh Mutlak, a spokesman for the National Dialogue Council, an Arab nationalist political group. 'If 95% of a segment of the population can't stop the constitution, then who can?'"

Well, what will the effect be on the Sunni insurgents?

"'Now that Sunni Arabs probably have failed to vote down a draft constitution that they view as a Shiite-Kurdish-American document, the insurgency may well gain more strength and will surely retain enough strength to carry on strongly,' he [Wayne White, a former U.S. intelligence official who is now a scholar at the Middle East Institute] said."

Another expert:

"'This thing is an enormous fiasco,' said Juan Cole, a University of Michigan historian and a specialist on Shiite Islam. He said having such a solid bloc in opposition to the constitution 'really undermines its legitimacy, and this result guarantees the guerrilla war will go on.'"

Crackup, Crackdown, from a Crackpot

Rush Limbaugh:

"The Miers nomination shows the strength of the conservative movement. This is no "crackup." It's a crackdown. We conservatives are unified in our objectives. And we are organized to advance them. The purpose of the Miers debate is to ensure that we are doing the very best we can to move the nation in the right direction. And when all is said and done, we will be even stronger and more focused on our agenda and defeating those who obstruct it, just in time for 2006 and 2008."

Interesting theory Rush. Your own sides' conservatives are trashing the nominee because of her utter lack of qualifications, and all you have to say is this somehow shows the "strength of the conservative movement?" This might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back. The Republicans have been characterized by tight party discipline, but that's starting to unravel. The Republican base wants their red meat, and once again the Republican president did not deliver. Will disappointed Evangelical Republicans avoid the voting booths in 2006? It's a definite possibility.

Shameless

Lies and fairy tales spew from the mouth and pen of former FBI director Louis Freeh. On Meet the Press, the former director attempts to defend the baseless allegations he made in his book, My FBI. Freeh obviously just wants to deflect criticism of his horribly managed FBI away from himself. Freeh whined that:

"We asked in terms of new counterterrorism resources for 1998, '99 and 2000, 1,900 positions. We got 76. I asked for $381 million in 2000 for new counterterrorism resources, I got $17 million, etc, etc."

Tim Russert then hits Freeh with a counterpunch saying:

"Senator Charles Grassley, Republican, said you had plenty of money and he cites the comments you made before Congress in May of 2001, where you say, 'We received the human, technical and financial resources needed to keep the FBI at the cutting edge of investigations. ...Over the nearly eight years that I have been Director, Congress has increased the FBI's budget by more than $1.27 billion...That is a 58% increase ...'"

Just a taste of the lies and distortions inherent in the interview.

Our Federal Government at Work

From: Washington Post

One would think that 9/11, Mid East Terrorism, and the Iraq war would force our government to find and train more men and women to speak fluent Arabic. Nope, most certainly not the case. As of today the number of diplomats who speak fluent Arabic (can have complex interactions with hostile groups of people) is 27.

The Middle East is the most important region in the world and we only have 27 people who can effectively communicate complex policy questions? Unbelievable.

And the reasons why the Foreign Service is not training more men and women in Arabic is incomprehensible to me.

"Training goes only to officers assigned to "language-designated" positions -- slots that have been officially determined to require language skills. Thus, a diplomat assigned to Washington cannot get advanced Arabic training until he or she is actually assigned to a language-designated job overseas. And then there's no time to build real competency. This set-up creates a strong disincentive to designate positions as requiring language skills. No embassy wants to restrict its search to the comparatively few officers already qualified in Arabic or, even worse, effectively give up the position for the two years required to train an officer to a level 3 [competency in one on one interactions] -- and carry them on its budget the whole time they sit in language classes.

So no posts are designated above level 3, which means, naturally, that the Foreign Service does not offer training beyond the 3, either. If 3's want additional language training to improve their skills to a 4 [capable of explaining complex policy], they have to do it on their own time and their own nickel. (The Foreign Service Institute has a pilot "Beyond 3" program, but it had a mere two people in it as of the latest report.)

Via: Washington Monthly

Hmmm...

Could this development end the stem cell controversy?

College Kids Love

Beer Pong.

This Definitely

Epitomizes the sorry state of television news. The Today Show on NBC gets caught forging visual imagery and the response to this duplicity was it "one of television's inadvertently funny moments." Unbelievable.

Damn...

Harvard's got a lot of money to throw around. $25.9 billion in its endowment fund. With an average annual growth rate of 14% since 1990 the fund should be in good shape for years to come. Think some of that money could be used to lower Harvard's annual tuition of $28,752?

Lies, Lies, and More Lies

Powerline keeps spreading them, Think Progress keeps shooting them down.

Via: Crooks and Liars

Bill Bennett Responds

To charges that he is a racist stemming from a statement he made on his radio program.

Via: RealClearPolitics

Hmmm...

Was the Syrian Dept of the Interior murdered? Former United States-Middle East mediator Dennis Ross believes this to be the case.

Pure Speculation: Was he involved in the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri? And was his murder revenge to appease Lebanon to avoid an international incident? (This assumes the Syrian government took part in it)

This is not as ludicrous as it may seem. Remember how under the older Assad, Syria leveled and utterly destroyed one of its own cities (Hama) killing between 10,000 to 25,000 civilians in 1982 to put down an insurrection?

Hell Yeah

Milwaukee might be the first city to have city-wide wireless access at no cost to the taxpayers. Wi-Fi would be provided by companies on a subscription basis with reduced rates for low income households.

This would be a positive step forward for a city not known for technological innovation. With traditional manufacturing jobs stagnating or in decline, perhaps city wide wi-fi would boost the technology sector.

Quotes, Quotes, Quotes

From Al Gore regarding how our country would be different if he were at the helm:

"We would not have invaded a country that didn't attack us," he said, referring to Iraq. "We would not have taken money from the working families and given it to the most wealthy families."

"We would not be trying to control and intimidate the news media. We would not be routinely torturing people," Gore said. "We would be a different country."

Isn't There a War Going On?

And a SCOTUS nomination, and the Judith Miller story, a Tom DeLay scandal...

Instead the lead story on Minneapolis' FOX 9 News is about the Vikings Sex Scandal, which really isn't a scandal at all. No rapes, no violence, no possible criminal charges other than a possible lewd behavior charge.

Damn television news.

Good Ol' Fashioned Brawl

A brewin' in Texas.

Let's Take a Look (Again) at the Flat Tax Solution

As has been pointed out the chart by the TaxProf has different numbers than the iris chart. The difference between the two is that the TaxProfs numbers have been adjusted for inflation. (Via: Daily Bubble)

This does not change my argument. Correlation does not imply causation. The flat tax alone does not account for the rapid GDP growth in each of these developing countries. The rapid GDP growth can be attributed to the economic liberalization occurring in each of these nations. Free trade and privatization will naturally increase revenue. Flat taxes only allow governments in developing nations to collect revenue more efficiently (less loopholes, easier to enforce, etc.)

As for the "fair tax" of a 23% sales tax on all retail goods and services it ain't gonna work. Its not revenue-neutral at 23% and the minimum level set would have to be at 31%. This does not take into account the possible revenue lost due to people purchasing items under the table.

No matter how much conservatives state the benefits of the flat tax the idea will never catch on in the Western Europe and the United States where citizens are more concerned about the distribution of wealth rather than growth. Political suicide comes to mind when I think of legislators pushing the flat tax idea.

An interesting idea, but whose time has not come and probably never will. (At least for the United States and Western Europe)

Update: I understand that the flat tax did not kill Angela Merkel's political career, but it almost did.

Hahaha

Apply for a high-paying job at the White House.

Via: Andrew Sullivan

Conspiracy Theories

Interesting show on the Discovery Channel about the conspiracy theory that we did not land on the Moon. Obviously we did.

I will give a practical non-scientific proving we landed on the Moon, namely, how the hell could this be keep a secret? There would have to be hundreds and hundreds of people involved with maintaining this conspiracy now going on for over thirty-five years. Its just not practical that one of these men or women would keep their mouths shut. Come on, Watergate was between a select few individuals and even that was exposed.

Then there was our nemesis the Soviet Union. Wouldn't you think that any possible conspiracy by the Americans to fake the landing on the Moon would be exposed by the Russians? They listened in on every single one of the NASA's radio transmissions. What better way to spite the capitalist swine than to disprove the Moon Landing?

I cannot argue from a scientific basis. My one semester of astronomy just will not cut it. Just look at BadAstronomy for a scientific explanation.

Give it up. We did land on the Moon.

My Favorite Cartoon

A look back at Calvin and Hobbes.

Here's the Protest Poster

Shouldn't the protest be aimed at say, the business community, politicians, or organizations who support the Bush Administration, rather than universities where the students and faculty overwhelmingly voted Democratic?

(Just skipping class and going home does not seem like much of a protest, but hey that's just me)

Another thought: Either skip school or die? What the hell kind of metaphor is that?

Oh Lord... More Crazed Leftists

November 2 is now The World Cannot Wait--> Drive Out the Bush Regime's day where:

"There will be walk-outs, student strikes, and campus shut-downs, from elite universities to community colleges, to high schools and junior highs. Students will march to noon convergences joining people who have walked off their jobs, and all kinds of other people who have decided the future of the planet is worth taking some risks. One measure of the day's success will be how many people surprise you by wearing a button, or sending out an email blast, or opening their lecture, or slamming a poem, that takes aim at this hated regime- in sly ways and open declarations."

Hmmm... good stuff. There's more.

"People look at all this and think of Hitler -- and they are right to do so. The Bush regime is setting out to radically remake society very quickly, in a fascist way, and for generations to come. We must act now; the future is in the balance."

All that I can say is that I will be sure to be in school on November 2 even if I am deathly ill. Good Lord, Bush is incompetent, but comparable to Hitler? Come on.

Via: My hippy friend Andy Cary, who hates this protest just as much as I do.

Update: Of course at least one of the persons running this protest is a communist, a member of the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade.

From an Interesting New Yorker Article

By Malcolm Gladwell (author of Blink and The Tipping Point) on the selectivity of Ivy League schools and especially Harvard in regard to the admission process. Gladwell details Harvard's longstanding tradition of finding that perfectly handsome, athletic WASP that will enter, and that tradition still holds true even in recent years. The last paragraph:

"In the nineteen-eighties, when Harvard was accused of enforcing a secret quota on Asian admissions, its defense was that once you adjusted for the preferences given to the children of alumni and for the preferences given to athletes, Asians really weren't being discriminated against. But you could sense Harvard's exasperation that the issue was being raised at all. If Harvard had too many Asians, it wouldn'’t be Harvard, just as Harvard wouldn'’t be Harvard with too many Jews or pansies or parlor pinks or shy types or short people with big ears."

Quite a contentious statement from Gladwell. I personally have always admired the upstanding academic traditions of Harvard, and, even though it gives preference to the athletes and legacy children, I believe that it is a bastion of goodness and integrity.

What the Peaceniks Get Wrong

I have been reading up on Noam Chomsky and other anti-war leftists and this quote critiquing the "America is evil" crowd seems particularly relevant.

From Open Democracy:

"They [Anti-war leftists] assume that groups like al-Qaida are almost entirely reactive, responding to western policies and actions, rather than being pro-active creatures with a virulent homegrown agenda, one not just of defence but of conquest, destruction of rivals, and, ultimately and at its most megalomaniacal, absolute subjugation.

It misses the central point: that, unlike traditional “third-world” liberation movements looking for a bit of peace and quiet in which to nurture embryonic states, al-Qaida is classically imperialist, looking to subvert established social orders and to replace the cultural and institutional infrastructure of its enemies with a (divinely inspired) hierarchical autocracy of its own, looking to craft the next chapter of human history in its own image."

Conservatives Love...

Flat taxes!

Take a look at the chart. First as any first year political science student should know correlation does not imply causation. So assuming that a flat tax in each of these countries is solely responsible for their high GDP growth rates is facetious. Second all these countries have low GDP compared with the rest of the developed world. Obviously a Lithuania's GDP growth rate of 7.1% cannot be achieved for long periods of time by the massive American economy even with a flat tax. Its always easier to grow proportionally larger when you are small.

The flat tax works well in developing countries where collecting tax revenue from the rich is complicated due to a variety of loopholes the wealthy exploit to avoid paying taxes. The flat tax is a simple and efficient way for developing countries to collect revenue from the rich. Not for rich nations who desire a progressive and fair tax system.

Our tax system does need reform, but a flat tax is not the answer.

What a Wonderful Day...

My Golden Gophers beat the Wolverines and the WI Badgers lose. What a great start to the day.

What's So Good About Blogs Anyway?

Henry Farrell will tell you in a much more aptly phrased argument then I could ever make.

Via: OxBlog.

What a Novel Thought...

Instead of Karen Hughes being our representative to the Arabic world could:

"send someone in her place the next time Bush wants an American official to personally make his case in the Arab world. The ideal candidate? Well, someone who is Arab-American, or who speaks Arabic, or who has lived in the region would be nice. After all, if we want Muslims to listen to someone sing the praises of the United States, it would help if that person spoke their language--literally or figuratively."

Maybe someone who endlessly repeats "I love kids" in Arabic would be more effective...

Bush Cronies

How many of these hacks are running the government?

Update

From Andrew Sullivan regarding the Catholic Church's stance on homosexual priests.

Boo NY Times

Says Jay Rosen.

Should This Even be Asked?

From Slate:

"The debate within the Republican Party over Harriet Miers has quickly devolved into a simple question: Is the nominee qualified because of her religious faith, or unqualified by her lack of intellectual heft"

Since we do not live in a theocracy I fail to see why a SCOTUS nominee's religious beliefs should be on equal footing with their intellectual capabilities in regard to qualifications. The SCOTUS does not preach sermons about the religious beliefs, but rather, has the intellectually challenging job of interpreting the Constitution of the USA.

Does Harriet Miers have the mental capacity to become an effective justice? That is the one question that must be answered.

Does Anyone Have a Right to Die?

The right of an individual to have a physician assisted suicide is present case before the current SCOTUS. Here are the requirements that must be met in Oregon (the only state that allows this practice) before the drugs that kill the patient are prescribed.

"A: The law states that, in order to participate, a patient must be: 1) 18 years of age or older, 2) a resident of Oregon, 3) capable of making and communicating health care decisions for him/herself, and 4) diagnosed with a terminal illness that will lead to death within six (6) months. It is up to the attending physician to determine whether these criteria have been met.

The patient must meet certain criteria to be able to request to participate in physician-assisted suicide. Then, the following steps must be fulfilled: 1) the patient must make two oral requests to the attending physician, separated by at least 15 days; 2) the patient must provide a written request to the attending physician, signed in the presence of two witnesses, at least one of whom is not related to the patient; 3) the attending physician and a consulting physician must confirm the patient's diagnosis and prognosis; 4) the attending physician and a consulting physician must determine whether the patient is capable of making and communicating health care decisions for him/herself; 5) if either physician believes the patient's judgment is impaired by a psychiatric or psychological disorder (such as depression), the patient must be referred for a psychological examination; 6) the attending physician must inform the patient of feasible alternatives to assisted suicide including comfort care, hospice care, and pain control; 7) the attending physician must request, but may not require, the patient to notify their next-of-kin of the prescription request. A patient can rescind a request at any time and in any manner. The attending physician will also offer the patient an opportunity to rescind his/her request at the end of the 15-day waiting period following the initial request to participate.


The law makes every attempt to ensure that patients who engage in physician-assisted suicide are doing so voluntarily, fully informed, and with the ability to make rational health care decisions for themselves."

From the doctor's Hippocratic Oath:

"Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God."

Is state-assisted suicide moral? I honestly do not know. Would I ever want to terminate my own life? I think not, but I cannot put myself into the soul of another man who suffers immensely everyday and night.

I certainly am glad that I will have no part in deciding the outcome of this case.

Details of the case at:
SCOTUSblog.

You Suck Bill O'Reilly

Calling websites who correct your lies "assassins", and not letting any of these "far left" websites defend themselves against your baseless charges. Is it the weblogs fault that you decided to sexually harass a co-worker? Is it their fault that you are at the head of the right-wing "disinformation" campaign? Do you have the fortitude to bring on an opposing viewpoint, who will contradict and correct your lies on air?

No. Instead you sulk with fellow conservative, Jed Babbin, about these "vicious" people, and whine about how leftist blogs basically have taken over the media as they supposedly:

"have access to the major newspapers like The New York Times, the L.A. Times, the New York Daily News, Newsday, Washington Post. They have certain columnists that they are friendly with, and they spit this stuff right into those columnists"

God, you are a bad person.

Via:
Crooks and Liars

You a Broke Student?

Donate some plasma for some extra beer money. Its very popular around college campuses (I have done it), and is safe, quick, and you get to watch movies while they pump out your plasma.

Note: Somehow my school newspaper (MN Daily) plasma donation with a diatribe against skyrocketing tuitions. Now, I am not a fan of our high tuitions, but its a very strange connection to make without any supporting data.

Don't They Have Better Things to Do...

Like uncover prisoner abuse, create an energy policy, allocate resources for the Iraq War, cut surplus spending, investigate the Katrina response, or any of the other pressing needs of our nation. Instead the Senate decides to call for a resolution condemning Bill Bennett's remarks.

If You Have Lots of Time...

Check out this round-up of different opinions regarding the nomination of Miers. From The Moderate Voice. Very long, but very fascinating.

Conspiracy Theories

Powerline style.

SCOTUS Nomination

Andrew Sullivan:

"It seems to me at this stage that Miers might well be a quiet, decent judicial restraint conservative on the court. I'm still open to supporting her nomination. But a more fundamental issue is simply her intellectual and legal caliber. This is SCOTUS. After Roberts, we have gone from a clear A grade to a C +. It seems to me her nomination would be most successfully defeated merely by insisting that the court gets someone qualified in the most basic meaning of the term."

(My emphasis)

Laying the smackdown on Ms. Miers. Ouch.

Hahahaha

No Janice Brown, Michael Luttig, Edith Clement, John Coryn, or Edith Jones. Amongst others that hardline conservatives desperately wanted. Instead they get Harriet Miers, a women with no previous judiciary experience, and whose only claim to fame is that she is another one of Bush's pals. Already cries that she might be the next Souter are emanating from the right.

The only possible justification for this pick is that Miers is so well know by Bush that he doesn't need any previous judicial decisions to ascertain how she will rule on upcoming cases. Obviously no previous rulings will mean a severe grilling at the confirmation hearings, but hell, she can just refuse to answer, deflect the questions, etc.

Is Bush incapable of picking anyone outside of his inner circle? There are many more competent, experienced conservative judges that would have served the right-wings interests instead of her. I can only shake my head in astonishment. I actually respected Bush's nomination of Roberts, as I consider him to be a very competent legal expert, but this?

I am not even a conservative but this move baffles and shocks me.

(Not that I am disappointed. As a liberal I see a possibility of Miers being another Souter, and therefore, don't vote against her, senate dems)

Some links:
NY Times
RealClearPolitics
Red State
SCOTUS blog

An Outpouring of Generosity?

Or are people just shifting donations from local charities to the Katrina relief effort?

The outpouring of compassion and money (to the tune of 1.1 billion) for the people of the Gulf has been wonderful. But some local charities have felt a pinch.

The executive director of the Milwaukee Sojourner Truth House, whose organization is behind pace for its goal of raising 1.1 million:

"The response is certainly less," Executive Director Kathie Stolpman said. "This year is a very difficult year to raise funds."

Thankfully the shortfall will be shortlived, according to Patrick Rooney, the director of Center on Philanthropy at Univ of Indiana.

Just remember the little guys when giving this year. Many of them also assisted with hurricane relief and provided a place of sanctuary, along with their normal duties. Every bit helps.

Feingold

My senator from WI, and his presidential aspirations are detailed in a JS article. I may disagree with him on certain points, such as his anti-NAFTA views and desire to withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2006, but I do respect his firm commitment to his personal beliefs. Some of Feingold's positions and achievements.

Only senator to vote against 2001 Patriot Act

McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform

FAIRNESS ACT

Opposed the Iraq War

Opposed to bankruptcy reform and the recent energy bill

Voted to Confirm Roberts

Supports gun rights

Feingold will be the "dark horse" candidate if he decides to run. Indications are that he might, as he has traveled to six different states, the most recent being New Hampshire.

Would I vote for him? I don't know. He is probably a little to liberal for my taste, but then again his a fellow Wisconsinite.

Those Foolish Young Kids

Who like to teach to the poor after they graduate.

Or maybe its just to "put off big life decisions, like where to live and what career to choose, decisions that people in their 20's are delaying ever later in life."

Hmmm... lazy college grads who don't want to get a "real" job yet, or fresh faced idealists craving to make a difference?

You Can Go to Faith Camp, Summit Ministry Style

In Manitou, CO where young, college-age Christian men and women go and learn how to defend their faith against the evils of their liberal, secular universities.

Of course creationism is drilled into their heads using such metaphors as this to show the fallacy of Evolution.

Mr. Nutting shows a cartoon of a man standing next to a pile of lumber covered with dynamite. The cartoon man lights the fuse and -- boom! -- suddenly the lumber is gone and in its place is a lovely house. "That, folks, is evolution," Mr. Nutting says.

And the Summit shares its enlightened views on homosexuality with the attendees. They bring in "converted" homosexuals and family counselors to articulate that allowing same sex marriage will pave the way for such unions between father and daughter, brother and brother, grandma and granddaughter, and polygamous marriages featuring cousins, sons, and so on.

And its belief in the "stewardship of property" (ie unregulated capitalism) that a true "Christian believes the free enterprise system to be more compatible with his worldview than other economic systems."

Hell it must be good, James Dobson's kid attends. Sign me up.