I’m listening to Wait, Wait! Don’t Tell Me!, and their celebrity guest is Dana Perino, the White House press secretary. They’ve made her laugh and feel more comfortable, as they know she’s had a tough week. First, her boss was unwavering in his position, even when it was eroding out from under him like the sands of time at high tide. Someone told him last summer they had “news for him” regarding Iran, and he accepted the news that there was news with gravity, but didn’t actually inquire as to what the new news was. Because he’s not that kind…
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I am thankful that so far, the administration of this country hasn’t found a way to blame the following on a Congress that won’t hand him their war budget on a silver platter: kdka.com – Military Asks Wounded Soldiers To Return Portions Of Signing Bonuses PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back signing bonuses because they are unable to serve out their commitments. To get people to sign up, the military gives enlistment bonuses up to $30,000 in some cases. Now men and women who have lost arms, legs, eyesight, hearing…
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He may actually try to get on the ballot in South Carolina, and he may have a decent shot at a Pat Paulsen-like campaign that serves to highlight the absurdities of the American political process. He’s going to try to get on both the Democratic and Republican primary ballots. And apparently, there’s nothing to prevent him in the rules. Oh, delicious! He’s a native son of the state, he’s within his rights, and the SC Democrats are okay with it as long as he pays their low-low filing fee of $2500 or gets 3,000 signatures. They’re rather amused by the…
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Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Report (mind the silent Ts) hijacks Maureen Dowd’s NYT column to note that although his hat is not in the ring, it’s not on his head… and his new book is in stores now. Also, he ghost-writes Frank Rich’s column too. His work there done. Actually, if Stephen Colbert ran for office, he should seriously think about an extremely manly religious blogger/Saviour as a running mate: Jesus’ General. I Am an Op-Ed Columnist (And So Can You!) By STEPHEN COLBERT Surprised to see my byline here, aren’t you? I would be too, if I read…
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Former CEO Says U.S. Punished Phone Firm A former Qwest Communications International executive, appealing a conviction for insider trading, has alleged that the government withdrew opportunities for contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars after Qwest refused to participate in an unidentified National Security Agency program that the company thought might be illegal.Former chief executive Joseph P. Nacchio, convicted in April of 19 counts of insider trading, said the NSA approached Qwest more than six months before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, according to court documents unsealed in Denver this week. Details about the alleged NSA program have been redacted…
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This interview with Paul Krugman is fascinating – why is it, after all, that right-wing ideologues seem to lack empathy or compassion for people less fortunate than they are? Mostly, it’s about race, and a lot of of it is about “get your hands offa my stack, Jack.” Conservatives keep their ilk in line by attacking anyone that criticizes them out of all proportion to the criticism – and as Krugman notes, in conservative circles, you can say anything about a liberal or a Democrat, no matter how untrue it is, and never be called on it. But say something…
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That earlier note about Fitzmas? This is a story that will keep on giving, as it wasn’t just screwy prosecutions in Alabama, it was Mississippi, Wisconsin, and probably lots and lots of other places… anywhere that state justice officials took calls from the White House, probably. Not that it couldn’t happen in a Democratic-controlled state – I live in Illinois, and the recent trial of a former (Republican) governor generated a lot of controversy. But in tit-for-tat, the Republicans in the IL General Assembly are forever trying to get some dirt to stick on the current Democratic governor, Blagojevich. The…
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Oh pleaseohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseletitbetrueletitbetrue, we can has Fitzmas cheer? Rove Linked to Alabama Case – TIME A Republican lawyer claims she was told that Karl Rove — while serving as President Bush’s top political adviser — had intervened in the Justice Department’s prosecution of Alabama�s most prominent Democrat. Longtime Alabama G.O.P. activist Dana Jill Simpson first made the allegation in June, but has now provided new details in a lengthy sworn statement to the House Judiciary Committee. The Committee is expected to hold public hearings on the Alabama case next week as part of its investigation of possible political interference by the…
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Evangelical Movement – Voters – Religion – Politics – Christians and Christianity – Republicans – New York Times The “old lions” of the Religious Right aren’t roaring as loudly as before, and the Republican Party is turning an increasingly deaf ear on their “RALLY BASE!” hot-button issues. Hurrah.
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First of all, what a good thing the New York Times no longer hides the good stuff behind a paywall, so now you can read Paul Krugman in the clear without depending on someone blogging his entire column. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, because information should always be free. Second of all, it seems Paul is a Talking Heads fan. Same Old Party – New York Times People claim to be shocked at the Bush administration’s efforts to disenfranchise minority groups, under the pretense of combating voting fraud. But Reagan opposed the Voting Rights Act, and as late…