Yesterday's QUOTES ...

Even the baby? In Blackwater's only statement regarding the Sept. 16 incident, Anne Tyrell, the company's spokeswoman, denied that the dead were civilians. "The 'civilians' reportedly fired upon by Blackwater professionals were in fact armed enemies," she said in an e-mail, "and Blackwater personnel returned defensive fire."

[Michael] Moore at least has a vision of getting everyone in that pool and making sure that neither the least of us, nor those who got hurt in their finest hour, get left out. Which is a hell of a lot more than can be said for most of those attacking him and defending the status quo.

The issue is how to make politicians fear the public as they should.

One embarrassment from Texas in the White House ...

and another one (make that two) from Arizona.

The inbred children of the 'successful' get stupider and stupider with each generation. What a showcase reason for opening the door to immigration and no scarier reason for the stupid to want to keep them out.

C & L has a clip of Chris Matthews interviewing Jim Moran (D-VA) and Trent Franks (R-AZ) ...

Watch the clip: Hardball: To withdraw immediately or not to withdraw immediately, that is the question

I don't remember ever seeing Trent Franks before (one of the very few drawbacks of not watching TV). Does he always appear to be such an uninformed dullard? Why did anyone in Arizona vote for him? Never mind ...

Yesterday's QUOTES ...

Instead of being RUBBERSTAMP Democrats ... Force them [the Republicans] to sit there with that filibuster for days. No need for Democrats to speak. Leave the GOP obstructionism front and center. For days.

Let's see if they really have it in them to obstruct change in Iraq if the spotlight is truly on them.

Krushchev and Ahmadinejad; that was then, this is now ... In the post Cold War-era, it’s easy to forget the context, but the USSR was the most dangerous rival the United States had ever seen. And we welcomed Khrushchev with open arms, anxious to show him and the world our greatness. ... during the Cold War we had bomb shelters and practiced hiding under our desks in school, but the US did not wet its pants daily on TV.
Timing is everything ... Where in the hell was George Casey last week when his soldiers needed him to stand up for them? Was he having a lunch with Colin Powell where they discussed the merits of being in a position of leadership without really having the stomach—or, fortitude—to exhibit real, actual leadership? Because, like Powell—who failed to protect his soldiers in 2003 by standing up to the Bush administration—Casey failed the men and women under his command last week. Instead of rocking the boat by challenging the Bush administration and its Republican lackeys in the Senate, Casey chose to remain silent. ... ... and the military 'leaders' masochistically march for the Republicans, and not the country ... until they retire, that is.

Now here's something to be really afraid of ...

Blackwater guards killed 16 as U.S. touted progress by Leila Fadel

Since Americans are, or at least the Senate and House still are, so into fear that they will agree to anything as long as that embarrassment in the White House says he will 'protect' them, just imagine Blackwater patrolling your streets during some national disaster or because Bush has decided he doesn't like your city, or to discourage you from voting in the 2008 election, or for any reason whatever. Or Blackwater in Washington DC's streets as a warning to Democrats to be good little rubberstampers like the Republicans.

Think this is far fetched?

Wolf Blitzer only thinks about Bush's desires ...

The Washington Post reports that two provisions of the UNpatriot Act have been judged unconstitutional: Patriot Act Provisions Voided --Judge Rules Law Gives Executive Branch Too Much Power by Dan Eggen

What caught my attention, though, was a C&L clip showing how Wolf Blitzer views these events. As setbacks for Bush. Not as hope for our country.

• A rubberstamp Democratic 'controlled' Congress is a win for the most unpopular president in the history of the U.S. But Blitzer would never think of this as a disaster for the rest of us, oh no.

• And a court ruling enforcing the Constitution is a setback for Bush's desire to tear the document up, not hope for a turn-around in the destruction of our country.

Here's the clip: BREAKING: Two more provisions of Patriot Act struck down (UPDATED with video)

I take it back ...

... maybe Hilary is being 'counseled' by the moron [ADDED 092707: that's the moron in the White House, just in case anyone is confused].

Hillary said months ago that she would support legislation to rescind the 2002 AUMF, and yet she voted for this today, giving this administration what they wanted. Can someone explain to me how Hillary can come out just last week against further funding for the Iraq war, and then today vote in favor of military action if necessary against Iran? What was new in Ahmadinejad’s appearances and comments over the last two days to convince Hillary that Iran was suddenly a threat that required such a vote, especially after al-Maliki said yesterday that Iran’s threat to Iraq was overstated?

Katie Couric, news zombie?

Please read this post:

Snapshot: The Death of American News by Kagro X

Please read all the way to the end. What to say ...

There must be an unlimited supply of fools in our society or one couldn't have reached the White House, Fox News couldn't be staffed with them and they wouldn't be the faces of choice on the major networks.

Yesterday's QUOTES ...

Now this is a real surprise, is it not? ... Worries about jobs and the overall economy flared in September, driving a key barometer of consumer sentiment to its lowest level in nearly two years ... Fantasy euphoria wearing thin? Years late, but what the hey!

The irony ... "In Cuba, the long rule of a cruel dictator is nearing its end," Bush said. "The Cuban people are ready for their freedom. And as that nation enters a period of transition, the United Nations must insist on free speech, free assembly and, ultimately, free and competitive elections." ... how to choose between hypocrisy and a complete lack of understanding of the meaning of his words?

A handful of crazy people have brought us to a state of lawlessness. I don't just mean the Department of Justice, I mean the whole world. The United States was a significant part of an international agreement to lawfulness, and the Bush-Cheney administration has announced a reversal of that charter.

The rule of law only works if people generally agree to it. When that breaks down, all bets are off.

The rest of the world has noticed. They are quietly taking steps to try to minimize the damage to themselves. I don't know if they can; it's probably too late for them, too. They waited for 2004 to see if we would handle our problem, and we didn't. They have stopped waiting. That's probably going to hurt us a great deal in the future. I'm glad I don't have children.
... I've wondered for sometime about those who are raising families and how they see the future. I thought working through the Democrats would help. It didn't! I have no solutions, at least none that I can effect. The politicians are not leaders and I do not know if leaders can get through the noise. But Americans have become followers and they followed Bush. All, apparently, that's needed is a tall, slim, faux cowboy to destroy the world.

Bush is counseling that Clinton modulate her rhetoric? Do I laugh or cry? President Bush is quietly providing back-channel advice to Hillary Rodham Clinton, urging her to modulate her rhetoric so she can effectively prosecute the war in Iraq if elected president. ... does anyone really think Bush could counsel his way out of a paper bag much less a women a million times more intelligent and knowledgeable than he is? He could attempt to threaten her but certainly cannot counsel her.

Weeds ...

I'm watching Weeds (via netflix). What an enticing modern day fairy tale. I'm just starting the second season. Who knows it may just turn into a soap opera after this, which happens to so many long running shows, but so far it has more human peccadilloes and crimes and tragedies (somewhat like the convoluted writings of Shakespeare) than I would ever believe possible rolled into each episode and it's still [or because of this] hilariously funny.

Though I have enjoyed such shows as Firefly, the new Dr. Who and the original Stargate (TV show, not the movie), I have not seen anything this good from TV in a long time. I think the quality compares with the British Cold War spy drama Sandbaggers (don't expect anything funny from this one). Though photography is not one of Sandbaggers strong points, compelling drama is. And that includes a real life drama where the show's creator disappeared in a small plane toward the end of the show's run, or rather the show ended because the main creator rather mysteriously disappeared.

Violent crime rises for 2nd year in row ...

Of course, the rise in violent crime can have nothing to do with the economy which is great for millionaires (or is that billionaires) and the pits for most every one else. It can have nothing to do with mentally impaired and untreated and increasingly homeless returning soldiers. It can have nothing to do with an unjust justice system. It can have nothing to do with jobs that do not provide a living wage. It can have nothing to do with increasing bankruptcies and financial organizations that operate similar to your neighborhood scam artist. It can have nothing to do with the lack of health care for an increasing number of Americans. It can have nothing to do with no hope and a bucketful of desperation.

Just wait a few years while increased lead in the water, and toys, and other products (if BushCo has its way) takes hold.

Article: FBI: Violent crime rises for 2nd year in row --Murder, robbery lead increases across the nation

Arizona 'cell phone industry' makes threats ...

... Last week, when the Phoenix City Council passed an ordinance banning texting while driving, the Arizona cell phone industry promptly countered by announcing its intent to write a proposed state law that would ban all activities that could be considered "distracted driving."

That could be eating, fiddling with the radio or yelling at the kids in the back seat. ...

So because there is obviously no safe way to write text messages while driving and Phoenix had the temerity to pass an ordinance about such activity, my cell phone company threatens me with a law that would make sipping my drink or tuning my radio against the law.

Corporate hypocrisy and interference in our lives only gets worse and worse thanks to BushCo's rule.

Oh, really ...

For an article with no substance but many detail-empty quotes read: McClatchy's Bush's pick for attorney general garners widespread support by Marisa Taylor

It couldn't be that Marisa Taylor was primarily looking for those supporting Mukasey? Or does she define tepid opinions such as 'nothing can be as bad as Gonzo' as support for Mukasey?

Notice those few oblique references to Mukasey's rulings and opinion that don't quite give any worthwhile information.

Which actions were those that demonstrated Mukasey's "independence and a willingness to stand up to this administration."

Why do we have this ridiculous spectacle. Bush doesn't want and will not get someone who is 'independent.' And should the inconceivable happen and Mukasey actually does have some integrity and independence then BushCo will destroy him. But what kind of integrity (or independence) does a ruling that an American citizen can be imprisoned forever without trial suggest?

Independence is it? 'Conservative Organization' get first crack at finding out:

A senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as a matter of policy, said Mukasey met individually with six representatives from conservative organizations on Sunday in an effort to answer their questions.

What's a little issue of perpetual imprisonment at the hands of the president ...

"He's perceived as a lawyer's lawyer — someone who is smart and fair," said Sale, who worked alongside Mukasey as an assistant U.S. attorney in New York. "People will have to really strain to find anything negative about him."

Right, negatives are only for Democrats anyway.

Imagine, this McClatchy reporter, Marisa Taylor, managed to find someone who isn't 'falling all over' themselves to praise Michael Mukasey:

"I see somebody who falls over himself to justify some of the worst practices that the administration has carried out," Kadidal said.

Yesterday's QUOTES ...

Farcical ... The White House Calls Obama Intellectually Lazy
Even Markos can't think of anything positive to say about the performance of the supposed majority party in Congress ...

We should know by now that we go to DC with the Democrats we have, not the ones we wish we had.

And we should definitely know that cleaning up DC and getting a stronger and fearless Democratic Party is (and always has been) a long-term project -- decades long.

But damn, it would be nice if our current bunch were a little less useless.