Friday, January 27, 2006

Coulter: Poison Justice Stevens

Apparently she thinks it's funny, because she calls her idea that "We need somebody to put rat poisoning in Justice Stevens' creme brulee," a joke.

Thursday, January 26, 2006

The Disappearing Abramoff Photos

Josh Marshal has a post detailing his experience with Reflections Photography, "official photographer for Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign events and for the 2005 inauguration". The company previously had a photo available of President Bush with Jack Abramoff. That photo has now not only disappeared from the company's web site, but also, it seems, from the archival CDs the company has for sale. Josh says he called the company and spoke to Joanne Amos, the company president.

Amos very straightforwardly told me that the photographs had been removed and that they had been removed because they showed Abramoff and the president in the same picture. The photos were, she told me, "not relevant."
He's now asking if anybody involved with the White House asked Reflections to remove the photograph. So far, no one is answering.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Mine Safety Admin Walks Out on Senate

David Dye, President Bush's top mine safety official walked out of a Senate hearing on Monday, even after being urged by Senator Specter to stay because his "presence will be required here for at least one more hour". Instead Mr. Dye said he was too busy to stay.

"We have been diverted, dealing with these matters. We were happy to prepare for the hearing, but we really need to get back and attend to all this. There’s 15,000 mines in the United States, and we’ve got some really pressing matters."
While Mr. Dye wasn't under subpoena, and thus legally able to leave, the Senator was said to be surprised and looking to "find a way to take appropriate note of it."

A Good Day for Dissent

Law students at Georgetown University reminded the Attorney General yesterday that just because he says warrentless domestic spying is legal, it doesn't make it true.

via BoingBoing

Joel Stein is a Wussie

No matter what he says. He certainly doesn't speak for me. And when Joel climbs down from his little tower, perhaps he'll learn that there are many reasons that people sign up for military service. But of course, he did it for attention, and in that it seems he's succeeded.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

2005: Hottest. Year. Ever.

NASA is reporting that 2005 was the warmest year ever recorded for the planet Earth. Well, at least our President is working fully with the global community in addressing this issue, instead of spending trillions of dollars on some folly.

Friday, January 20, 2006

MSNBC: Critics = Osama

That seems to be the line coming out of the right-wing media today. First there was the news about Chris Matthews comparing Osama's recent audio tape to Michael Moore. That lead to a number of folks asking how the neo-cons would have reacted if it was Mr. O'Reilly or Hannity who was compared to a murderous terrorist. The comment counter on this issue at OpenLetterToChrisMatthews has broken because of the amount of feedback. Demands for an apology are mounting.

Now, word of more bashing over at MSNBC as Kellyanne Conway (wife of long-time anti-Clinton activist George Conway) and Joe Scarborough go falling all over themselves to equate critics of the war with Bin-Laden.

Conway: If you held a piece of tissue paper between some of the comments that Bin Laden today and some of the comments that the president's detractor's say-it would be very difficult to stick more than a piece of tissue paper between--there's not much of a difference.

Scarborough: When you look at what Osama Bin Laden said it sounds an awful lot like what we hear the President's political enemies domestically---not only like what a lot of democratic senators have been saying, but also what one or two movie makers have been saying over the past several years...

So, got that? Here it is again, in case you missed it: "sounds an awful lot like what we hear the President's political enemies domestically". Yea, and Scarbourough is sounding a lot like a different Joe: McCarthy.

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Cindy Sheehan, "Pretty Big Prostitute"

Well, that's how Glenn Beck reportedly characterized her during a recent radio broadcast. Beck, who was recently hired by CNN as a "cordial" conservative included Sheehan, John Kerry and Howard Dean in his "search for the biggest prostitute," which also included actual prostitute Heidi Fleiss and big whiny baby Terrell Owens. He later amended his characterization of Sheehan to "tragedy pimp."

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Bush Authorized Domestic Spying Before 9/11

That's what Jason Leopold is saying has been revealed by a declassified document from the NSA.

via TruthDig

Alberto Gonzales Spreading Lies?

That's what some blogs are claiming. Whether it's smearing or lying, it seems the Attorney General's most recent comments on Larry King are false. Given CNN's continued right-wing shift, it's probably not surprising that these false claims were not challenged or disputed by the host or network.

CNN Hires Glenn Beck

In a move even further to the right-wing, CNN has hired Glenn Beck, the pro-war, conservative who reportedly hates 9/11 victims, loves torture, and wants Michael Moore murdered. Wikipedia has more. No mention if CNN is considering hiring a similarly extreme liberal.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Robertson: God is Punishing Sharon

Media Matters is reporting that religious extremist Pat Robertson is saying that Ariel Sharon's stroke is God's punishment for "dividing God's land".
God considers this land to be his. You read the Bible, he says, "This is my land." And for any prime minister of Israel who decides he going carve it up and give it away, God says, "No. This is mine."

via Atrios

MS Confirms Blocking Chinese Blogger

Microsoft has confirmed that it, and not the Chinese government, has blocked the MSN blog of "Anti", described as "one of China’s edgiest journalistic bloggers".

Saying it's only complying with local laws, Microsoft seems to be suggesting it has no part in the suppression of free speech in China. Rebecca Mackinnon has been following this closely and has an excellent post today on Why Microsoft censorship in China matters to everybody.

via BoingBoing

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Marine Arrested for Avoiding Vietnam

Jerry Texiero was a private in the Marines when he left Camp Pendleton in 1965, never to return. Instead of going to Vietnam, he went to Florida. The Marines have now found and arrested Texiero. He's been charged with desertion and is being held at Camp Lejeune. His lawyer indicates Texiero will fight the charge.

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Papers Call for Prez to Resign

President Clinton that is.

Greg Mitchell has an article today remembering all the newspapers which called for the resignation of President Clinton back in those innocent '90s. If these papers think resignation is appropriate because of Presidential fellatio, one can't help but wonder why they aren't calling for President Bush's resignation over illegal domestic spying, secret prisons, and support for torture.

Unless that whole Liberal Media thing is a lie.

MSN Blocking Chinese Bloggers?

Rebecca MacKinnon has a post on her blog detailing Microsoft's practice of taking down bloggers the Chinese government doesn't like. It seems the blocking is not being done by the government, but by MSN itself, and has become even more severe in recent days.