This is extremely funny. Prepare thyself!
Courtesy of the NonStampCollector
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Jon Meacham is losing it?
I don't know if Jon Meacham, editor of Newsweek, is losing it in his "old age" but that would certainly appear to be the case. All you need do is reflect on his discussion about whether to prosecute those involved in legalizing and carrying out torture in this country.From The Editor's Desk, Newsweek, May 4, 2009:
"The idea that our only options are to move on completely or to prosecute is a classic false choice. A third way would be a 9/11-style bipartisan commission that would include clear supporters of the Bush administration. Such a panel would meet largely in private, have the power to grant immunity to witnesses and be charged with answering, as clearly as possible, the central question of whether Bush's war on terror in its entirety saved lives. ... [Then he refers to "FBI agent Ali Soufan, who got intel from key terror suspects--without using torture".]
"Still," he continues, "it seems likely that the interrogations, among other things, including surveillance, helped us prevent further terrorist attacks. We may never know for sure--you cannot prove a negative--but the public interest would be served by knowing more rather than less about how the war on terror has unfolded. (With, to be sure, the appropriate caveats about not revealing ongoing sources and methods.)"
That is some of the most specious reasoning I have read in a long time! Was Meacham paid by the Bush people?
First of all, the option of a bi-partisan commission may be new to Meacham, but it has been suggested by several writers in the past few months. Harper's recently carried a long article arguing for just that sort of thing.
Furthermore, the nonsense about Bush's war on terror saving lives is, well, nonsense. The evidence is out there for everyone to see: Bush's war on terror killed hundreds of thousands if not millions.
And what does that have to do with authorizing the use of torture?
Secondly, a lot of people felt and still feel that the 9/11 commission's work was not adequate or complete and we know that its recommendations, unenforceable as they were, were simply ignored by the Bush administration!
Such a commission, infected with "clear supporters of the Bush administration" would likely be bogged down in partisanship and would be unlikely to shed any light on what really went on in the bowels of the Bush White House!
Meacham goes on to suggest, without any evidence, that "it seems likely ... the interrogations, among other things, including surveillance, helped us prevent further terrorist attacks."
Incredible! You might as well say my crazy aunt prayed to Zeus and "it seems likely ... these prayers, among other things, including surveillance, helped us prevent further terrorist attacks."
I agree with Meacham that we need to know more. But we do know quite a bit at this point. And I most emphatically do not agree with him and others who believe we do not "want to open criminal investigations ... and pursue criminal charges against officials at the highest levels ... [this] would set a terrible precedent."
Consider that statement: Seeking justice, indicting criminals for criminal actions that not only led to a number of murders, but severely crippled our nation's self-understanding and standing in the world community, is setting a "terrible precedent"?
What kind of reasoning is that?
Not only so, but we have the "smoking gun(s)." We have confessions! We have reams of material that is self-indicting!
NOT seeking justice; not indicting criminals (it doesn't matter their "level" as no one under our constitution is above the law!) is what would set a terrible precedent. It would say to the world that we are world-class hypocrites, establishing laws for some folks, like at Nuremberg, and establishing another set of laws for our own lawless!
Mr. Meaham is no doubt a fine man. But on this issue he is absolutely and totally wrong!
Federal judge rules against telling the truth
The judge is James Selna; a U.S. District Court judge. Selna was appointed to his judicial seat by then President George W. Bush. So far as I can tell, Selna had no qualifications for the post other than he was a lawyer and a Repugnican.
James Corbett is a high school history teacher. He said something in class that I probably would have said under the same circumstances. He said Creationism is "religious, superstitious nonsense," in a classroom lecture in 2007.
One of his students, a christianist creationist by name of Chad Farnan, sued his teacher claiming that Corbett was consistently hostile toward Christians in class and advocated "'irreligion over religion'" in violation of the First Amendments establishment clause."
Huh? That makes no sense whatsoever. And who said little Christian fundys are to be "protected" against the truth?
The whole thing went to court and Judge Selna ruled, incredibly, that the teacher had "violated the First Amendment by disparaging Christians during a classroom lecture." The Judge said that the teacher had no right to state that Creationism was religious hokum and superstitious nonsense. And further, this should remind all teachers "of their legal 'boundaries' as public school employees."
What?
So, a teacher can no longer tell the truth?
Evidently, Jesus didn't care, as he didn't strike Corbett down to protect the poor frightened christianist student.
Here's what an incredulous PZ Myers had to say at Pharyngula:
"I am astounded that Corbett was found guilty of anything.
"First of all, he told the truth: creationism is religious, it is a product of superstition, and it is nonsense -- it doesn't fit any of the evidence we have about the history of the world or life on it. ...
"Secondly, we are being told over and over again that Christianity is not equivalent to creationism. This teacher specifically said that creationism is nonsense, and the judge has equated a dismissal of a weird anti-scientific belief with making a rude remark about Christianity. So...where are all the Christians rising in outrage at the slander of their faith?
"Thirdly, and this must be said, Chad Farnan is a self-righteous moronic creationist wanker who deserves to have his stupidity pointed out publicly, in the classroom and out of it, far and wide. Spread the word."
And all the people said, Amen!
Orange County Register article here.
The judges 39-page ruling here. (PDF)
More on the judge here.
PZ Myers' article here.
If, perchance, you think creationism is not specifically Christian, watch the video. Have a barf bag close by!
James Corbett is a high school history teacher. He said something in class that I probably would have said under the same circumstances. He said Creationism is "religious, superstitious nonsense," in a classroom lecture in 2007.
One of his students, a christianist creationist by name of Chad Farnan, sued his teacher claiming that Corbett was consistently hostile toward Christians in class and advocated "'irreligion over religion'" in violation of the First Amendments establishment clause."
Huh? That makes no sense whatsoever. And who said little Christian fundys are to be "protected" against the truth?
The whole thing went to court and Judge Selna ruled, incredibly, that the teacher had "violated the First Amendment by disparaging Christians during a classroom lecture." The Judge said that the teacher had no right to state that Creationism was religious hokum and superstitious nonsense. And further, this should remind all teachers "of their legal 'boundaries' as public school employees."
What?
So, a teacher can no longer tell the truth?
Evidently, Jesus didn't care, as he didn't strike Corbett down to protect the poor frightened christianist student.
Here's what an incredulous PZ Myers had to say at Pharyngula:
"I am astounded that Corbett was found guilty of anything.
"First of all, he told the truth: creationism is religious, it is a product of superstition, and it is nonsense -- it doesn't fit any of the evidence we have about the history of the world or life on it. ...
"Secondly, we are being told over and over again that Christianity is not equivalent to creationism. This teacher specifically said that creationism is nonsense, and the judge has equated a dismissal of a weird anti-scientific belief with making a rude remark about Christianity. So...where are all the Christians rising in outrage at the slander of their faith?
"Thirdly, and this must be said, Chad Farnan is a self-righteous moronic creationist wanker who deserves to have his stupidity pointed out publicly, in the classroom and out of it, far and wide. Spread the word."
And all the people said, Amen!
Orange County Register article here.
The judges 39-page ruling here. (PDF)
More on the judge here.
PZ Myers' article here.
If, perchance, you think creationism is not specifically Christian, watch the video. Have a barf bag close by!
Lent2
Lent is, of course, over for this year. But it will return. What will you give up for Lent the next time it rolls around?
Who the hell is Lent?
Courtesy of Atheist Cartoons.
Cheney, the criminal - a danger to our nation!
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Pew Poll on Churchgoers and torture
Nuts to this poll! I don't think it "proves" much of anything about church going and torture.
In a nutshell: The Pew Research Center surveyed 742 adult Americans. The poll analyzed "white evangelicals, white non-Hispanic Catholics, white mainlines Protestants, and the religiously unaffiliated" ...
First off, the sample size is ridiculously small compared to a population of 300 million plus people.
And from that small sample, the Pew Research Center found that "White evangelical Protestants were the religious group most likely to say torture is often or sometimes justified -- more than 6 in 10 supported it. People unaffiliated with any religious organization were least likely to back it. Only 4 in 10 of them did."
Those who attended religious services at least once a week -- 54 percent -- thought "the use of torture against suspected terrorists is 'often' or 'sometimes' justified. Only 42 percent of those who 'seldom or never' go to services agreed."
From what I've read, some of my friends believe this proves something: like the more religious a person is, the least moral that person is.
Maybe. I think much more extensive research is needed before one can draw that conclusion, however.
What really cranks my gears is that anyway you look at it, we've got too damn many people in this country who don't have a problem with torturing the "enemy." How can this be? Torture is not only illegal in the United States and has been "officially" illegal for over a hundred years, but the ideals we espouse preclude the use of torture.
Other countries, under despicable dictators, may torture their perceived enemies, but not the United States. When our soldiers were tortured in World War II and Vietnam, the American people went ballistic! As Americans, we stand against torture. WE are different! WE don't believe in cruel and unusual punishment! WE don't torture! WE are the humane ones! WE are people under the law and the Constitution!
So, what's happened?
Be damned if I know, but eight years under the criminality of the Bush/Cheney gang may well have twisted the easily twistable minds of the rank and file who seem to have a hard time thinking clearly under the best of conditions.
It's getting hard to recognize this country that I once loved and at one time was proud of! And to all the so-called "patriots" who take issue with that statement, I say "Go to hell." I'm not proud of my country simply because it's my country. I'm proud of my country when it behaves in humane ways and when it reflects the values and ideals represented in our founding documents.
When Barry Goldwater ran for president, his supporters plastered bumper stickers on their pickups which read, "My country, right or wrong!"
Wrong! If my country is right, OK. If my country is wrong, not OK. Wrong needs to be righted!
[It might be helpful to remember that Goldwater was buried in a landslide in 1964!]
I cannot be proud of a country that has become known for its illegal actions and for signing statements whereby a president proclaims he'll obey the law only if he feels like it.
That's why President Obama needs to bring action against those involved in torture. He needs to ensure they are brought before the bar of justice. They need to be tried by a jury of their peers. Torture, which is illegal, they have admitted to. They've confessed. If they must spend time in prison, so be it.
Then we can all be proud of our country once again. And the next president, and the one after that, and the one after that, etc., will know that if he or she breaks the laws of these United States, he or she will be held accountable!
In a nutshell: The Pew Research Center surveyed 742 adult Americans. The poll analyzed "white evangelicals, white non-Hispanic Catholics, white mainlines Protestants, and the religiously unaffiliated" ...
First off, the sample size is ridiculously small compared to a population of 300 million plus people.
And from that small sample, the Pew Research Center found that "White evangelical Protestants were the religious group most likely to say torture is often or sometimes justified -- more than 6 in 10 supported it. People unaffiliated with any religious organization were least likely to back it. Only 4 in 10 of them did."
Those who attended religious services at least once a week -- 54 percent -- thought "the use of torture against suspected terrorists is 'often' or 'sometimes' justified. Only 42 percent of those who 'seldom or never' go to services agreed."
From what I've read, some of my friends believe this proves something: like the more religious a person is, the least moral that person is.
Maybe. I think much more extensive research is needed before one can draw that conclusion, however.
What really cranks my gears is that anyway you look at it, we've got too damn many people in this country who don't have a problem with torturing the "enemy." How can this be? Torture is not only illegal in the United States and has been "officially" illegal for over a hundred years, but the ideals we espouse preclude the use of torture.
Other countries, under despicable dictators, may torture their perceived enemies, but not the United States. When our soldiers were tortured in World War II and Vietnam, the American people went ballistic! As Americans, we stand against torture. WE are different! WE don't believe in cruel and unusual punishment! WE don't torture! WE are the humane ones! WE are people under the law and the Constitution!
So, what's happened?
Be damned if I know, but eight years under the criminality of the Bush/Cheney gang may well have twisted the easily twistable minds of the rank and file who seem to have a hard time thinking clearly under the best of conditions.
It's getting hard to recognize this country that I once loved and at one time was proud of! And to all the so-called "patriots" who take issue with that statement, I say "Go to hell." I'm not proud of my country simply because it's my country. I'm proud of my country when it behaves in humane ways and when it reflects the values and ideals represented in our founding documents.
When Barry Goldwater ran for president, his supporters plastered bumper stickers on their pickups which read, "My country, right or wrong!"
Wrong! If my country is right, OK. If my country is wrong, not OK. Wrong needs to be righted!
[It might be helpful to remember that Goldwater was buried in a landslide in 1964!]
I cannot be proud of a country that has become known for its illegal actions and for signing statements whereby a president proclaims he'll obey the law only if he feels like it.
That's why President Obama needs to bring action against those involved in torture. He needs to ensure they are brought before the bar of justice. They need to be tried by a jury of their peers. Torture, which is illegal, they have admitted to. They've confessed. If they must spend time in prison, so be it.
Then we can all be proud of our country once again. And the next president, and the one after that, and the one after that, etc., will know that if he or she breaks the laws of these United States, he or she will be held accountable!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Meaghan McCain to Rush Limbaugh...
The boss of the Repugnican Party, Rush Limbaargh, was having at Arlen Specter for defecting to the Democratic Party. As did others, the fat man implied that Specter had always been a closet Democrat.
Then this: "A lot of people said, well Specter, take McCain with you, and his daughter. Take McCain and his daughter with you."
Ha, ha.
Meaghan McCain, "his daughter," has, for some time, taken names and gone after the craziest of the crazies that make up the Republican Party, including Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham.
So, when she heard about the fat man's latest rant, she didn't actually say he could stick it up his ass, but close. Here's a paraphrase, plus my reading between the lines: she's not leaving the Republican Party; she loves the Republican Party; she's going to work to change the Republican Party so big fat, stupid, blowhards like Limbaargh will have less of a say.
Isn't it interesting, though, that in fact Rush Limbaargh is the "boss" of the Repugnicans. He has become the arbiter of what constitutes a Republican. Those who disagree, do so at their own risk. Those who dare counter his rabid ravings, soon come crawling on their knees begging forgiveness.
That's how low the Repugnican Party has sunk.
In the following video, Rachel Maddow interviews Meagan McCain.
Then this: "A lot of people said, well Specter, take McCain with you, and his daughter. Take McCain and his daughter with you."
Ha, ha.
Meaghan McCain, "his daughter," has, for some time, taken names and gone after the craziest of the crazies that make up the Republican Party, including Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham.
So, when she heard about the fat man's latest rant, she didn't actually say he could stick it up his ass, but close. Here's a paraphrase, plus my reading between the lines: she's not leaving the Republican Party; she loves the Republican Party; she's going to work to change the Republican Party so big fat, stupid, blowhards like Limbaargh will have less of a say.
Isn't it interesting, though, that in fact Rush Limbaargh is the "boss" of the Repugnicans. He has become the arbiter of what constitutes a Republican. Those who disagree, do so at their own risk. Those who dare counter his rabid ravings, soon come crawling on their knees begging forgiveness.
That's how low the Repugnican Party has sunk.
In the following video, Rachel Maddow interviews Meagan McCain.
Condi Rice - No moral base
This video will help confirm that many of our top leaders during the Bush years simply lacked any moral or ethical base. The theology under which they worked was built on the notion that they were doing God's work, therefore the ends justify the means.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Torture in Poland
You probably thought the title of this post referred to Bush giving a speech to the people of Poland.
Not so. Although it does have to do with Bush, it refers to his actions, not his speeches. His speeches were often filled with flowery phrases like "axis of evil," "democracy is us," "we is learning now Saddam had WMDs" -- things like that. None of which meant anything.
But when it came to torture, Bush meant every word!
So, under the authority of Bush/Cheney, the CIA set up secret prisons in Europe to which the US of A (the great moral leader of the world) would rendition prisoners caught in the so-called, misnamed "war on terror" and torture them.
At least one of these secret prisons was in Poland. An intensive investigation is going on in Poland now to find out how this happened; who knew about it; and who authorized it.
John Goetz and Britta Sandberg, writing at Salon.com, describe how, back in March of 2003, a CIA plane flew Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, "the architect of the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington", who had been captured in Pakistan, to a special CIA prison in northeastern Poland near the Szymany airport.
There he was tortured. Waterboarded, in fact. Up to eight times a day.
Other prisoners were brought to this CIA prison to be tortured. Which was and is, illegal! Thus "Flight routes were manipulated and falsified for this purpose and, with the knowledge of the Polish government, the European aviation safety agency Eurocontrol was deliberately deceived."
All of which has led Warsaw public prosecutor to investigate "former Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller's government on allegations on abuse of office." That investigation within Poland, along with other investigations into the role Polish intelligence played in Bush's tortureland, are ongoing.
Goetz and Sandberg have much more to say which you can read here. As you do, remember they're writing about deeply religious people, self-proclaimed Christians, one of which claimed to hear God talking to him, who think it is just hunky-dory to torture people if torture "works." Actually, even if it doesn't. 'Cause it might. Right, Dicky?
Not so. Although it does have to do with Bush, it refers to his actions, not his speeches. His speeches were often filled with flowery phrases like "axis of evil," "democracy is us," "we is learning now Saddam had WMDs" -- things like that. None of which meant anything.
But when it came to torture, Bush meant every word!
So, under the authority of Bush/Cheney, the CIA set up secret prisons in Europe to which the US of A (the great moral leader of the world) would rendition prisoners caught in the so-called, misnamed "war on terror" and torture them.
At least one of these secret prisons was in Poland. An intensive investigation is going on in Poland now to find out how this happened; who knew about it; and who authorized it.
John Goetz and Britta Sandberg, writing at Salon.com, describe how, back in March of 2003, a CIA plane flew Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, "the architect of the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington", who had been captured in Pakistan, to a special CIA prison in northeastern Poland near the Szymany airport.
There he was tortured. Waterboarded, in fact. Up to eight times a day.
Other prisoners were brought to this CIA prison to be tortured. Which was and is, illegal! Thus "Flight routes were manipulated and falsified for this purpose and, with the knowledge of the Polish government, the European aviation safety agency Eurocontrol was deliberately deceived."
All of which has led Warsaw public prosecutor to investigate "former Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller's government on allegations on abuse of office." That investigation within Poland, along with other investigations into the role Polish intelligence played in Bush's tortureland, are ongoing.
Goetz and Sandberg have much more to say which you can read here. As you do, remember they're writing about deeply religious people, self-proclaimed Christians, one of which claimed to hear God talking to him, who think it is just hunky-dory to torture people if torture "works." Actually, even if it doesn't. 'Cause it might. Right, Dicky?
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thank God for the older generation
A self-important college freshman walking along
the beach took it upon himself to explain to a
senior citizen resting on the steps why it
was impossible for the older generation
to understand his generation.
"You grew up in a different world, actually an almost
primitive one," the student said loud enough for
others to hear. "The young people of today
grew up with television, jet planes, space travel,
man walking on the moon. We have
nuclear energy, ships and cell phones,
computers with light speed...and many more."
After a brief silence, the senior citizen
responded as follows:
"You're right, son. We didn't have those things
when we were young...so we invented them.
Now, you arrogant little shit, what are you
doing for the next generation?
Those listening nearby broke into sustained applause.
Thanks to friend, Bob Poris, for this tidbit, which, at my age, I can thoroughly relate to!
First 100 Days - Keith Olbermann & Rachel Maddow
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Should Christians be afraid of the swine flu
Over at You Made Me Say It, Philly Chief comes right out and says it: "Jesus no protection from swine flu."
What?
Yup. But, but, but...what about prayer? Won't that work?
And why aren't all the rightwingnut religious fruitcakes calling for another National Day of Prayer, as obviously, the last one didn't work very well. I mean, Obama got elected and he brought us socialism and swine flu!
Nope, says Philly Chief, prayer will get you nowhere. And the Christian prelates and pompous priests know it! They're not even pretending anymore. Here's the proof: a message to the faithful from the Catholic Diocese of Dallas (By the way, you've got to take this seriously, 'cause Texas Catolics are really tuff!):
"If you are not feeling well, especially during this time of concern, please stay at home and do not risk spreading the infection to others."
That came from the Rev. Michael Dugan, diocesan director of the Office of Liturgy.
Philly Chief can't resist:
"That's right, don't risk infecting people. Very sensible advice, however, I thought Jesus was magic, and that little cracker they eat at mass was LITERALLY the flesh of Jesus. So a cracker of Jesus is not enough to either cure you or immunize you from swine flu. Perhaps you need to eat a whole box? I don't know. Then there's the most obvious question, what about prayer?"
What about prayer indeed? Philly Chief, knowing more about the Bible than most Christianists, pulls a couple of quotes from Jesus out of the Gospel According to Matthew:
Matthew 7:7 - "Ask, and it will be given you, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives."
I like this one best: Matthew 11:24 - "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
Oops. Doesn't work that way. Prayer doesn't work, and eating the magic cracker doesn't work. No wonder the priestly poohbahs want you to stay home.
Philly Chief has more to say, which you can read here.
What?
Yup. But, but, but...what about prayer? Won't that work?
And why aren't all the rightwingnut religious fruitcakes calling for another National Day of Prayer, as obviously, the last one didn't work very well. I mean, Obama got elected and he brought us socialism and swine flu!
Nope, says Philly Chief, prayer will get you nowhere. And the Christian prelates and pompous priests know it! They're not even pretending anymore. Here's the proof: a message to the faithful from the Catholic Diocese of Dallas (By the way, you've got to take this seriously, 'cause Texas Catolics are really tuff!):
"If you are not feeling well, especially during this time of concern, please stay at home and do not risk spreading the infection to others."
That came from the Rev. Michael Dugan, diocesan director of the Office of Liturgy.
Philly Chief can't resist:
"That's right, don't risk infecting people. Very sensible advice, however, I thought Jesus was magic, and that little cracker they eat at mass was LITERALLY the flesh of Jesus. So a cracker of Jesus is not enough to either cure you or immunize you from swine flu. Perhaps you need to eat a whole box? I don't know. Then there's the most obvious question, what about prayer?"
What about prayer indeed? Philly Chief, knowing more about the Bible than most Christianists, pulls a couple of quotes from Jesus out of the Gospel According to Matthew:
Matthew 7:7 - "Ask, and it will be given you, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives."
I like this one best: Matthew 11:24 - "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
Oops. Doesn't work that way. Prayer doesn't work, and eating the magic cracker doesn't work. No wonder the priestly poohbahs want you to stay home.
Philly Chief has more to say, which you can read here.
Every Repugnican wants to be Rush Limbaargh
David Lightman, writing for McClatchy, has noted that as Obama's reputation soars and as he makes good on a number of campaign promises, the GOP is becoming a gaggle of Rush Limbaarghs. Well, he didn't use those words; rather, he said "GOP rhetoric becomes extreme."Rhetoric is all the GOP has to offer. The GOP is drowning in a cesspool of their own creation. The GOP is screaming because they can't think of anything else that might save them.
Lightman explains how a "GOP Leader Alert" issued by Repugnicans in the House cried that Obama's budget was "The most harmful budget in American history." Hey, I'm not making this up: "The most harmful budget in American history."
How would they know? Most Repugnicans know less about American history than George W. Bush!
Then Mike Pence, the nogoodnik from Indiana, screeched that "the Democrats' global warming proposals" were gonna "change the complexion and economic fortunes of the heartland of this country for generations."
Did you get that? "Heartland" and "generations." How's that for heated rhetoric! How's that for playing to the base - the lowest common denominator? It's all a crock of shit, of course, but what Pence failed to mention in his diatribe was that if something isn't done about global warming the generations to come will be swarming all over the "heartland" because the coastland will be under water!
Then, as Lightman points out, the weeper, John Boner, said the Democratic budget was "the Bernie Madoff budget." Isn't Boner funny? Don't you want to laugh so hard you break into tears? Oh, but that's not all he said that was funny. I mean, who's not afraid of a "big socialist government" in Washington? And Boner reminded all Repugnicans everywhere that that's where Obama's budget will lead us - to a beeg socialist government! Yikes!
We must not forget Judd Gregg, the dimwit from New Hampshire who begged off from a secretaryship in the Obama administration 'cause he realized he was too damn dumb to make it work. Well, Judd Gregg is now pissing and moaning, not because Obama shook hands with Chavez -- except, of course, he doesn't think that was really the right thing to do -- oh no, it's because Obama has adopted Chavez's policies. Yup!
Wow! I didn't know that! And I'll betcha Obama is glad that his misguided attempt to put Gregg on his cabinet in a gesture of bipartisanship failed?
The worst, however, is a new ad by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. They really ought to do hard time for this one. Here's how it goes:
"'I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear,' then lists Cabinet nominees who had income tax problems before segueing into Chavez hollering, 'Go to hell 100 times.' At the same time, the viewer sees pictures of Obama and Chavez warmly greeting each other.
"'And that's just the first 100 days,' the ad says."
I've seen it. It's not pretty. It shows that swine flu as infected the brains of most all the Repugnican in the United States Congress.
Every Repugnican these days is competing to see if he/she can sink lower in the slime than Rush Limbaargh!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Joshua Holland takes on Michelle Malkin and Michael Savage
Joshua Holland takes two of the biggest haters in the hate business - Michelle Malkin and Michael Savage.These two hate-filled morons are blaming the swine flu on undocumental aliens! Isn't that amazing? It's the goddamn migrants from Mexico that have caused all this sickness and fear!
Malkin said, "I've blogged for years about the spread of contagious diseases from the around the world into the U.S. as a result of uncontrolled immigration."
Savage, not to be outdone in hate, pontificated, "Make no mistake about it: Illegal aliens are the carriers of the new strain of human-swing avian flu from Mexico."
But Savage went further, claiming the swine flu was a "radical Islamic" plot, which was undertaken because they knew that Janet Napolitano (head of Homeland Security) "would do nothing to stop the flow of human traffic from Mexico."
It wasn't only Savage. Other nitwits, including Neal Boortz and Bill O'Reilly climbed on that same bandwagon.
Ah, but, truth and common sense intervene. From Holland: "The flu virus is transmitted between humans, and the tiny organisms don't care whether those humans are Mexican immigrants or American tourists or truck drivers or corporate honchos traveling for business."
In fact, it appears that many college students, spring-breaking down in Cancun, brought it home to the U.S.
Holland begins this article noting how the Jews were blamed for the plague in the middle of the 14th century...which led "to a series of progroms in which thousands were burned alive."
Good Christians did the burning. Jews, like illegals, weren't welcome, and usually got blamed for anything that went wrong.
In the U.S., according to the FBI, hate crimes against Latinos are rising. That isn't surprising as millions of dumbnuts who never read a thing and know nothing get their information from the Malkins and Savages of our society and believe the bullshit they hear.
There lies the danger.
As Holland concludes: "The Savages, Glenn Becks and Malkins of the right-wing media may be clownish, but to the extent that they're helping to shape a climate in which all people with an outward appearance similar to that of a migrant from south of the border face discrimination, if not outright peril, their shtick is anything but funny."
Read the entire article here.
Democrats are at fault for swine flu says Michele Bachmann
Yup, it's all the Democrat's fault, this swine flu thingy. And it's very likely that every pandemic since God quit creating some 6000 years ago are the result of Democratic tinkering with God's creation...Bachmann would love to lay the previous pandemic at the feet of Jimmy Carter. Unfortunately for this ignorant twit, Gerry Ford was da prezident at the time!
Heading out for health care
In some circles it's called Medical Tourism. It refers to persons living in the United States who cannot afford medical care in their own country, who thus head out to obtain it at a far lower cost in another country.The latest issue of National Geographic Traveler (May/June 2009) describes what's involved in an article entitled "Medical Tourism Takes Off," pp. 10-14.
For example, one gentleman from Michigan needed surgery for an aortic aneurysm. A local hospital informed him that the cost of repair would be $450,000, thank you very much. He decided to go elsewhere--to India, where the procedure cost $9,000.
Health care costs, says John Rosenthal, author of this article, have gone up 6.5 percent a year since 2000. Many of our citizens cannot afford health care in this country, the so-called "richest country in the world." So, with limited options, they head out to other countries and in some cases combine medical procedures and vacations.
In fact, Rosenthal quotes stats from the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions which indicate that about 750,000 Americans headed out to foreign countries for medical procedures in 2007, and "[T]hat number is expected to reach six million by 2010 if health care costs in the U.S. continue to rise at the current rate."
The procedures performed overseas include not only things like aortic aneurysm repair, but dental procedures, cosmetic procedures, hip and knee replacements, and more.
"And the savings are substantial. Hip replacement surgery, which costs as much as $50,000 in the U.S., is just $12,000 in India, including airfare."
The AMA is "agnostic on medical tourism, saying 'it is too early to determine whether the risks outweigh the advantages.'" So, the recommendation is to use "only facilities that have been accredited by international organizations such as the Joint Commission International (JDI) or the International Society for Quality in Health Care."
Not a big problem. There are "more than 230 JCI-accredited facilities in 30 countries..."
A free market has no conscience. It's god is profit. That's not all bad, of course, unless unregulated or poorly regulated and poorly administered, such as our current health care system.
There is something seriously wrong when millions of people from the "world's richest country" have to seek health care overseas because of the daunting costs of health care in the United States.
Health care reform is high on President Obama's agenda. Whether the progressives will be able to pull it off is another story. The medical community has had its way for a long time usually hauling out the hoary old threat of "socialized" medicine. The medical community's lobbyists are working overtime to counter any perceived danger to the current system which lines their pockets at the expense of the people.
Which isn't to say reform is impossible. The hoi polloi need to yell and scream until they are heard and listened to. The hoi polloi need to tell every single member of Congress who opposes a national health care system they are raving hypocrites, sucking at the teat of government-subsidized health care for themselves and their families, while screaming "socialism" at the mention of any reform that would provide similar benefits for the rest of our citizenry.
Maybe health care reform would be a "tea party" worth having.
Ready to be waterboarded as promised, Mr. Hannity?
Methinks Mr. Hannity is all hat and no cattle! Like his friend, Mr. Bush. Another word I think might be appropriate is chickenshit. Hypocrite?
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Keith Olbermann on waterboarding
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Republicans fight for the rights of swine flu
That title is an exaggeration, of course. But not by much.This is not news anymore, but I just had to say something about these Repugnican nogoodniks who claim righteousness for themselves, and in pious phrases pander to their base with blatherings about family values, love for country, patriotism -- all of which is pure, unadulterated bullshit.
They don't believe any of it. They believe in the almighty dollar and power. The more of both, the better. They've still got the dollars, but they are out of power. So anything they can do to regain the power, they will do it, no matter how low, sneaking, dangerous or just plain evil it is!
That's why when certain Repugnicans read that the so-called stimulus package included funding for "pandemic preparation," they went nuts. What a waste of money! We don't need this! What the hell is this for! Get rid of it!
In fact, according to Jason Linkins, writing at the Huffington Post, the supposedly "moderate" Repugnican senator from Maine, Susan Collins, "who demanded cuts in health care spending in exchange for her support of a watered-down version of the stimulus, fumed about the pandemic funding: 'Does it belong in this bill? Should we have $870 million in this bill No, we should not.'
"Even now, Collins continues to use here official website to highlight the fact that she led the fight to strip the pandemic preparedness money out of the Senate's version of the stimulus measure."
Well, why the hell not? Most of the sick people will be poor and probably non-white. Who cares about them? Remember Katrina and the Repugnican response? Remember that Katrina may not have been nearly so devastating if the Bush folks hadn't pulled funding to rebuild the levees.
Who cares about the poor and minorities? Not the Repugnicans, for sure! They do care, however, for the rights of the "unborn" fetuses and they certainly wouldn't want to spend any money to hinder a swine flu or other epidemic!
Non-Navy Chaplain Klingenschmitt prays God to kill off his enemies
[Photo from Plaxo]We written several articles previously about this dipshit, ex-Navy chaplain, Gordon James Klingenschmitt, but he's back in the news for more illegal and immoral posturing. All in Jesus' name, of course.
You may remember when Klingenschmitt was a Navy chaplain, he made a big fuss about not being able to pray in Jesus' name at non-sectarian military events.
He never seemed to get that bit about obeying orders. So, he continued his defiant ways, even stood in front of the White House in uniform, and, according to Americans United, he violated military regulations by "speaking at a Religious Right rally," also wearing his uniform.
The U.S. Navy finally had enough of this clown and suggested he resign. He refused and demanded a court-martial. Heh. Heh. He got his wish. He was court-martialed which resulted in his being "drummed out of the service."
But the asshat hasn't gone away! On his website, Pray in Jesus Name, Klingenschmitt appears in uniform and he's referred to as "chaplain." Undoubtedly, Klingenschmitt hoped people would infer that he was an active-duty chaplain doing his best to save souls but hindered by the heavy hand of the godless Naval hierarchy.
Hmmm. Seems such goings-on are illegal. To use a military uniform by a non-military person to imply that non-military person is, in fact, in the military, is a crime.
So, American United for Separation of Church and State along with Mikey Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, wrote a nice little note to our U.S. Navy honchos suggesting that they might want to investigate Mr. Klingenschmitt and tell him to please quit pretending he's a U.S. Navy chaplain.
Klingenschmitt, being a man of some god or other, got really pissed. But, he did, all of a sudden put up a disclaimer on his website that he's not a Navy chaplain any more. Doesn't mean much because he's still described as a Navy chaplain and he signs his letters with the title of chaplain. A sneaky little asshole.
Then, [from Chris Rodda with a h/t to Hemant Mehta at Friendly Atheist], it appears Mr. Gordon James Klingenschmitt appealed to his almighty god of frustrated former chaplains for Jesus, and here's part of what he said in a morning prayer:
"Let us pray. Almighty God, today we pray imprecatory prayers from Psalm 109 against the enemies of religious liberty, including Barry Lynn and Mikey Weinstein, who recently issued a press release attacking me personally. God, do not remain silent, for wicked men surround me and tell lies about me. We bless them, but they curse us. Therefore, find them guilty, not me. Let their days be few, and replace them with Godly people. Plunder their fields, and seize their assets. Cut off their descendants, and remember their sins, in Jesus' name. Amen."
There doesn't seem to be much difference between the god of Klingenschmitt and the devil.
Years ago, while teaching geography in middle school, I had a little girl from Haiti become very angry with me because she was intellectually incapable of keeping up with the class. So one day she brought a voodoo doll to class, filled with pins. This was supposed to bring me great pain and suffering, perhaps even death.
There isn't a hill of beans bit of difference between Klingenschmitt's religion and the voodoo of the little Haitian girl!
Unless, of course anything untoward happens to Barry Lynn or Mikey Weinstein. Then Gordon James Klingenschmitt should be arrested and tried as the criminal he is.
One additional note. Klingenschmitt also tried to organize police chaplains in Virginia demanding that they be allowed to pray in Jesus' name at police events. It didn't work.
The video below, from the Christian Broadcasting Network, gives you a feel for the stupidity of it all.
Team Sarah - riding the rails for the prevaricator Palin
Would you believe Team Sarah has about 70,000 members? Would you believe there are that many dumbass nogoodniks who have actually joined together to support Sarah Palin?I guess these people constitute the famous "base" that wants to put Sarah in the White House. Yikes!
According to the Anchorage Daily News, Team Sarah, which is "a social networking site" has been actively working to derail the nomination of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas as Obama's secretary of Health and Human Services.
Why would they want to do that? You would think that if they really cared about his country, they would work with Obama to bring about change for the better even if they didn't agree with him on all the issues.
But these are the nogoodniks who don't care about our country. They are issue-driven and the rest by damned. And the issue for Team Sarah and so many others on the fringes of the right, is abortion.
Sebelius, they think, is too liberal on abortion. My god, Sebelius even believes that the government should keep its goddamn hands off a woman's body; that a woman should have a choice in the most personal matter of abortion!
Which brings up another interesting point. These Palinites are the nogoodniks who meet in faux tea parties and scream, like the governor of Texas, that the government is taking too much control of their lives, and then they turn right around and want the government to outlaw abortion for everyone.
Makes no sense. The government isn't telling anyone they MUST have an abortion! If a member of Team Sarah doesn't want to have an abortion, that's just fine and dandy. No one says she must.
So why do they insist on controlling the choices of all the other women in the country?
GOD TOLD THEM TO DO IT! AND GOD WANTS SARAH PALIN IN THE WHITE HOUSE! THE THIRD WAVE IS MOVING ALONG! SARAH WILL GET RID OF ALL THE DEMONS CAUSING ALL THE TROUBLE IN THE WORLD WITH THE HELP OF THE KENYAN NUTCASE, MUTHEY. SARAH WILL RID US OF THE WITCHES WHICH STIR UP THEIR EVIL BREW OF SECULARISM AND ABORTION!
And won't it be wonderful?
Actually, no. It would be, if it happened, hell on earth!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Jesus is my friend - he zapped me down inside
This is just for fun. I talked to Jesus a little while ago and he called the video, moronic," and said he'd absolve anyone who was driven to drink or blasphemy because of it.
H/t to The Freethinker.
H/t to The Freethinker.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
New Jesus license plate in Florida?
Only in Florida?
Amy Hollyfield, writing for the Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau, says "If you want Jesus on your license plate, the Florida Senate is looking out for you. ...
"Religious specialty plates offered by Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrice, and Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, made it onto a bill Friday even though many members had not seen the images of those plates and none was produced for the debate."
Siplin's "Trinity" license plate "has a picture of my Lord and savior Jesus Christ."
"Storms' 'I Believe' plate would benefit Faith in Teaching, an Orlando company that funds faith-based programs at schools. Its design features a cross over a stained-glass window." If I recall correctly, Faith in Teaching is a Roman Catholic outfit. Their website is currently inaccessible or has been taken down.
In the Senate, "After a not-so-simple vote (two voice votes, a voided roll call vote, two quorum calls and finally one that counted), the amendment with Siplin's tags was adopted 22-13. Storms' tag passed on a voice vote."
And so it goes. The religious fruitcakes in our midst continue, even as Florida is suffering a tremendously oppressive economic upheaval, waste time in the legislature puttering around with religious license plates which have no relevance to anything and are most certainly against the United States Constitution!
Morons!
Read more at Tampabay.com here.
h/t to yborcitystogie here.
Utah Republican going after Satan and godless liberals
[Image from here.]Don Larsen, a Repugnican from Utah County in the great state of Utah, hates the Ford Foundation. Click here and find out why the Ford Foundation is a pit of evil doing the work of Satan.
Larsen is so upset about this, and being a racist of the first magnitude, he intends to do something about all those goddamn nogoodnik immigrants sneaking into our country and messing up our families and whole system of Christian American family values which have made this country the greatest country on the whole earth, which was created by God hisself in six days 6000 years ago!
Larsen submitted a resolution at a gathering of Utah County Republicans up in Orem, which he claims reflects the Utah State Republican Platform.
Here's a few whereases:
1. "Whereas, the hate-American 'open borders' cabal emerged from the radicalism of the 1960s and matured in the fight over amnesty for illegal aliens in the 1980s. It gained mainstream status in the 1990s as the 'globalization' and 'multilateralism' fads of the decade encouraged talk of a 'world without borders' and the decline or demise of the nation-state. At the center of the movement is the Ford Foundation, the largest tax-exempt foundation in the world and one guided by the radical left new world order elite."
Wow! I didn't know that! Amazing.
I wonder if there's something in the water up in Utah that creates mental fatigue, mental deficiency and conspiracy theories.
Of course, I blamed the water for Larry Craig, too.
So, maybe it's not the water. Maybe it's...ah...Mormonism! That's it! I've got it! The Mormons are at fault! They're crazier than loons to begin with, so they must be feeding this crap to their members.
Oops! I don't know if Larsen's a Moron, er, Mormon.
Here's another whereas: "Whereas, traditionals and patriots throughout our country watch in nearly impotent dismay as the godless globalist elites destroy our heritage leaving us without memory of our past and with little hope for our children's future. Our globlist (sic) elites subvert every tradition and ethic that elevates men above beasts. In the United States of America an arrogant godless white elite champions globalization."
Oh dear. "Impotent dismay." That could refer to any guy over 50. "Godless globalist elites" - I don't know...is he talking about Bush, Cheney and Rove? What traditions and ethics elevates men above beasts? Notice he doesn't mention women.
In another whereas he tears into open borders and the goddamn illegal immigrants who are "bringing in dangerous diseases, drugs .... gangs, a corrupt Third World culture, terrorists, and more."
Shoot. I thought Texas and Oklahoma had most of the morons. Have to add Utah to the list. But it is good to know that Larsen is a Repugnican, the party of morons, asshats and dipshits who live in a surreal world that nobody recognizes except those as crazy as they are.
Read more here. Larsen blames Satan or the devil for immigration here. If you want to know what Satan looks like, click here.
Update: Larsen's resolution was rejected.
h/t to Adult Christianity
Why Texas should secede
I'm all for Texas leaving the union.Texas, these days, seems to be full of racists, rednecks, nogoodniks, neanderthals, stupids, morons, Repugnicans, and assholes. This became obvious when I watched a bit of the so-called Tea Parties held in Texas which had nothing to do with tea or anything else that made sense. What sense can be had from the fact that every idiot who participated in a tea party and makes less than $250K a year is being given a tax cut from the Obama administration? Huh?
As we've said before the Boston nogoodniks who tossed tea into Boston Harbor so long ago were pissed, not because they had to pay taxes, but rather because they had no representation in Parliament.
The present-day Tea Partiers, ignorant morons that they are, are not only represented in Congress but are actually getting tax breaks from the government!
Which means that most of this noise was pure racism. They just don't like a black president!
That's not to deny there are lots of good folks in Texas, but it looks like they're just gonna have to immigrate to the United States.
The secession of Texas would be wonderful! For one thing, it would save the rest of us a ton of money. Rick Perry, the moronic governor of Texas, is telling the people of Texas that the federal government is a like a vampire, sucking the financial blood of the hardworking folks living in the Lone Star State.
Rick Perry is a liar. For every dollar Texas sends to the federal government, Texas gets 88 cents back! That's one of the highest ratios of all the states and almost double what most receive in return for their dollar.
So, actually, we might say that Texas is like a vampire, sucking the financial blood of all the rest of us!
I've put together (quickly) a list of some of consequences of Texas' secession. You may think of many more and can add them to the list.
1. No FEMA in cases of natural disasters.
2. No FAA to keep airplanes from crashing into one another and into the ground.
3. No military to protect Texas.
4. All military bases in Texas will close and be transferred to the United States.
5. No more scientific research grants.
6. No grants to Texas' universities.
7. No federal loans for Texas college students.
8. No mortgage assistance for people buying homes.
9. No small business loans.
10. No Medicare.
11. No Medicaid.
12. No Social Security.
13. No federal aid for hospitals.
14. Texas will have to pay the United States for the Interstate Highways.
15. No federal money for road construction or other infrastructures.
16. No border patrol. Texas will have to set up its own border patrol.
17. No federal prisons.
18. No national parks.
19. No education funding.
20. The Houston Space Center will be relocated.
21. No more special allowances for oil companies located in Texas.
22. No federal courts.
23. No FBI.
24. No DEA.
25. No CIA
26. No OSHA.
27. No FCC.
28. No EPA.
29. No FDA.
30. No Veterans administration or veterans hospitals.
31. Here's a list of other federal assistance to Texas (and other states) and these will all be discontinued:
a. Aid to Families with Dependent Children
b. Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Services Block Grant
c. Child and Adult Care Food Program
d. Community Development Block Grant
e. Conservation Reserve Program
f. Federal Pell Grant (mentioned above: loans to college students)
g. Food Stamp Program
h. Head Start
i. Local Law Enforcement Block Grant
j. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
k. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
I know this list is woefully incomplete. Please feel free to add to it.
One other thing. Chuck Norris wants to be president of the Republic of Texas. That would serve 'em right. I'll bet he's almost as smart as Ronald Reagan, another B-grade movie actor who knew from nothing.
Oh, and George W. Bush could run for president of Texas. He damned near ruined the state while governor, and he did ruin the United States, but, what the hell, Texans will probably give him another change. Tom DeLay could be vice-president. He's even more immoral than Cheney! Karl Rove could be attorney general and waterboard everybody who didn't agree with him!
The NRA would be given a special seat in the Legislature to make sure that every single possible kind of weapon be available everywhere guns are sold to everyone without regard to race, creed, sex, or even age!
Lieberman the locust likes waterboarding
The material in this diatribe comes from ZP Heller of Brave New Films, via AlterNet.
Lieberman, the locust, in the following video doesn't want to call waterboarding torture and thinks that a president should retain the option if he/she thinks it will save us from another 9/11 attack.
He also spouts the old debunked crap that waterboarding works.
Lieberman should be tossed out of the Senate on his ass!
Heller's full article is here.
Lieberman, the locust, in the following video doesn't want to call waterboarding torture and thinks that a president should retain the option if he/she thinks it will save us from another 9/11 attack.
He also spouts the old debunked crap that waterboarding works.
Lieberman should be tossed out of the Senate on his ass!
Heller's full article is here.
Eric Cantor - It's the media's fault people think the Repugs stink
Eric Cantor - always good for a laugh. With Repugnican leaders like this, the Dems should stay in power for years!
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