Friday Open Thread
The VT killer stuff is still dominating the news coverage. It doesn't look good for Attorney General Gonzales. Even some Republican Senators are not supporting him. (link ) Even Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, who I listened to on Talk of the Nation yesterday, wasn't very optimistic about the AG's future. In a related story, there was a piece in the Baltimore Sun yesterday about efforts by the Bush administration to diminish voter turnout. (link
) As Senator Kennedy noted previously, many of the fired US Attorneys were in battleground states. (link
)So that is the connection? Also in the news is the continuing saga of the missing e-mails, over which the White House is now trying to claim executive privilege. (link
)
So what's on your mind?
Comments :
yup
I think it's time for Gonzales to go. Bush has to nominate some good man - like maybe Sean Hannity or something.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
I expect Harriet Miers
to be his first choice though she may not be the eventual nominee. Hannity? That's funny! :)
hehehe
maybe a consensus compromise candidate... Rove?
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
hmmm......
hahaha
Here's an example of the comics
imitating real life
via today's Bizarro.
oh my
That's funny.
Orrin Hatch
He was the only Republican senator who defended Gonzales yesterday and he's been campaigning heavily to replace him.
Et tu, Orrin?
qui tacet consentire
What would he do about
The Hatch Act
(not named after him)
Let's not forget Lurita Doan. She doles out tax payer dollars to GOP under the guise of taking care of govt business.
I see a trend here.
It is the economy, stupid.
Bush nominating Sean Hannity?!?
Now......that would be a circus and a half!
I don't see Gonzales quiting and I don't see dubya
firing him. I think they're plan is to just hunker down and take the heat. I think the Administration is daring Congress to Impeach Alberto, cause I think the Administration thinks that Congress won't do it. Sadly, they may be right. I hope I'm wrong on that one though.
It's a hardcore game of chicken though. I mean, once Congress starts impeaching members of this administration, the game is over. If Congress does it for Alberto, they won't be as hesitant to do it to higher ups in the Administration then. The barrier having been broken an all, it won't be such a big thing to do.
And I understand Rove's position too. They think that giving in on ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHING, any issue, is a sign of weakness and they'll fight it even if they know they're wrong and will lose because, as we've seen with this administration, they consider IMAGE to be EVERYTHING. More important than substance even.
hmm
you keep talking about impeachment a bit too lightly. It's not that simple and in the end I think Gonzales will be pushed out without any drastic measures.
There is no political will to impeach anyone else so no, you are wrong, congress will be hesitant to do it for anyone at all.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
What if Bush refuses to fire him?
Should we just put up with him for the rest of the term?
What do you think should happen if Bush says, "Screw you" to everyone who wants a new AG?
qui tacet consentire
I think we'll have to
decide then. I think this whole thing is embarrassing but it is nowhere near being impeachable. So it might just turn into a really embarrassed AG continuing in office...
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
It's way too late to impeach G. W. Bush anyway.
Bush can't afford to lose him or keep him
What will he do.
I don't think Orin Hatch is enough of a bible thumpin texas republican to suit bush's needs. Whoever gets the job will find himself surrounded with Regent grads with little or no experience...... but whose religon is "right".
Bush the optimist surrounds himself with "folks whose heart is in the right place", which is why young Monica Goodling the Bible U grad was assigned as the liason between the White House and the Attorney General. If you get my drift.
It is the economy, stupid.
Hatch is almost perfect
He's a bonafide right-winger and if he resigns to be AG the Republican governor would appoint his replacement.
The only thing going against Hatch is that he is friends with Ted Kennedy.
qui tacet consentire
Training Iraqi troops to replace US forces is no longer a
priority
. Kevin Drumm has a great link to McClatchy's report from yesterday 
:
"Military planners have abandoned the idea that standing up Iraqi troops will enable American soldiers to start coming home soon and now believe that U.S. troops will have to defeat the insurgents and secure control of troubled provinces."
We're screwed. That's all there is to it.
The United States should at least pull our troops out and
then let the U. N. deal with it, since the US has created such a quagmire that we can't fix it.
Secretary of State Fareed Zakaria?
Link
qui tacet consentire
I think the job
should go to Bill Richardson.
It is the economy, stupid.
But Bill is competent
and therefore unsuitable.
It'll be Asimo with flesh.
Although the strategic thing would be to put Lieberman in there and replace him with a Republican appointee.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
Ewww.
I'd hate to think that this is where we're going these days.
Not Sec of State
for Fareed, who has long been a favorite of mine. But maybe a place on some sort of special policy advisors group for the Middle East.
Or national security advisor
qui tacet consentire
US to Sell Weapons to our Real Enemies
Gates Says US to Sell Smart Bombs to Saudi Arabia
Placating the Saudi's fears, will this create yet another future enemy for the US.
I don't see how this is good, unless you sell smart bombs. The price of oil is certainly helping our enemies to be flush with cash for such purchases.
It is the economy, stupid.
Bush Stands Up for Pelosi
Backtracking
It is the economy, stupid.
that's because
he likes her... you know
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
I will say
that Bush seems to have a knack for getting along with political foes in person (e.g., the Clintons, McCain).
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
But....
I thought McCain and Bush were buddies. Didn't Dubya fly out to Arizona during the heyday of Katrina to celebrate McCain's birthday and eat birthday cake with him? From what I understand/heard/read, he did.
Or, is this just snark?
Yeah, that's what I'm saying
Even after the bitter 2000 primary campaign, McCain and Bush seem to get along.
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
And that is a poor reflection on McCain
The Bush campaign spread rumors in South Carolina that McCain had a black love child. McCain and his wife adopted a daughter from Bangladesh.
How McCain can stand to be in the same room with that ass is beyond me. I used to give McCain the benefit of the doubt and assume that he was just lying in wait and would carve Bush up like a turkey at the first good opportunity, but it appears he decided to sell out his family's integrity for the White House.
qui tacet consentire
manipulatively, also, to boot.
What is sad.
Is that Bush is just playing a game and he knows it.
Behind the scenes he is just a goof off frat boy at heart.
It is the economy, stupid.
Yup...
Bush is an overgrown fratboy at heart.
Bush LIKES her??
Now....that's new to me. LOL
Interesting news items
The partitioning of Iraq begins as the US will erect a wall
to separate the Shiites and the Sunnis. I thought it wasn't a civil war?
The Vermont senate impeaches Bush
as a symbolic gesture only (unfortunately).
And in reference to the abandonment of 'stand-up/stand-down' above, Gates tells Iraqis that this time we are serious, I mean we really mean it, and this time we are not kidding. You guys better get along
or else we will, um, we will . . . well, we will keep doing what we are doing.
MoveOn makes ad from McCain singing bomb Iran
Says we can't afford another reckless president.
This strikes me as silly on two counts: first, it's an overreaction to a joke, and second, McCain is among the more reasonable GOP candidates when it comes to foreign policy. Perhaps he's overly optimistic about Iraq but he's also been one of the few Republicans to point out specific mistakes made by the administration in general and Rumsfeld in particular. I guess from a political perspective I can understand trying to attack the strongest candidate but from the perspective of a citizen I'd like to be able to choose between the best of each party.
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
McCain is a hawks hawk
and imho is much much more conservative than the impression he gives.
From a political perspective most liberals, democrats, indepedents and some republicans are sick to death of unnecessary wars.
Of note is the little boo boo he let slip, which insiders know is true, we have already lost the war in Iraq, caught on a video clip on the Daily show.
As has been discussed he is held hostage by the religious right and has been pandering to beat the band. That's just politics. And what was appealing about McCain was that he seemed above the fray in this arena. McCain has been a huge disappointment.
It is the economy, stupid.
somehow I don't think
anyone is going to care about that ad or McCain's joke outside of the hard left and some other assorted loonies. It's such a non-issue.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
War is
a non-issue? News to me. I think the general populace would disagree.
a silly joke about bombing Iran
is a complete non-issue. Like McCain said - people who make an issue out of it need to get a life. That's putting it very mildly.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
I'm not saying
it should be the focus of the election or anything, but jokes sometimes reverberate. Remember Kerry's 'little joke' about how the uneducated get shipped to Iraq? That cost him his election this time around didn't it?
How could we forget!
Because they wouldn't let us.
It is the economy, stupid.
it didn't cost him election
since it was right before the 2006 and not the 2004 election. But the Dems were not amused. Kerry's misspeaking was seen as slamming our military which is why it went down so poorly. McCain is not joking about anyone we respect so no one will be outraged.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Ok
but I was talking about this (2008) presidential run. He kept hinting that he was in until the GOP
would not let this joke go.
I agree that the targets are different so it won't have as much of an impact (especially this far out from the election--Kerry's joke was just short of a week before the '06 elections and could've hurt the democrats chance of gaining more congressional seats), but I do not think the majority of Americans want to hear McCain's war jokes necessarily either in the present political climate. I think people are understandably a little war-weary at the moment.
Overall, I think it is a black eye (more so his sad presentation and look than the joke, but the joke doesn't help either) than a knockout.
ah gotcha
yeah I forgot that he was actually thinking of running again then...
I doubt this McCain joke will get wide enough coverage to affect anything.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
McCain has proven himself too much of a loose cannon
and far too unstable to boot. Look at his uncontrollable displays of temper
that he's had recently. Will people really want to even think of voting someone like that into office?? Oh, no!! I really don't think so.
Stuck in Iraq
He wasn't joking about how the uneducated get shipped to Iraq, he was joking about how an uneducated PRESIDENT had gotten us stuck in Iraq.
From the prepared comments
I understood
the original intention when I heard it, but it is ambiguously phrased (especially the 'you') which led to a lot of the 'attack on the military' arguments/interpretations.
Well.....
"He wasn't joking about how the uneducated get shipped to Iraq, he was joking about how an uneducated PRESIDENT had gotten us stuck in Iraq."
if it wasn't for the fact that Kerry was right on both of those counts, it would be a joke.
Catch the footage if you get a chance
IN a pro-war crowd, a man asked a question about letting Tehran get away with "it". McCain in the background, blows his nose on a hanky, blows it some more, wipes his eyes, picks his nose with the hanky, fumbles for a place to put the hanky, wipes his eyes again, finally finds a pocket to deposit used hanky in, tries to look alert, and then proceeds with his little song.
No one in the room full of hawks thought it was especially funny.
The whole clip is the picture of an old sad man, with no zest or energy, who has lost even the confidence of the war vets.
Let's just say he looks less than Presidential.
My thought was, the poor guy, just doesn't have the energy for the campaign any more.
I also read he was cutting back his campaign staff.
It is the economy, stupid.
Here
is the footage
, hanky and all.
(edited for a better version)
I saw it
Yeah, he is kinda pathetic and I don't think he is going to make it in the crowded GOP field because of his age and his past history of going against the GOP.
But that clip was not that bad. I think you are a bit too biased to judge it well. :)
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Who me????
Actually Specter's clip is much more flattering than the one I saw, which was much closer to the front of the stage, and gave a better view of his apathetic watery eyed expression. He actually looked disgusted.
I feel bad for McCain. I was hoping he was a maverick. I was so excited when he called out the Congress on their earmarks and infuriated Ted Stevens. Where did that guy go?
He would have done better if he had refused to pander to the Jerry Falwell crowd. That is when he lost a lot of supporters.
He should have set the example of how you can get elected without pandering to the religous right. That would have been a recipe for success and a new refreshing direction for the GOP. He could have been a winner.
It is the economy, stupid.
"He could have
been a winner."
Well-said. He's not a maverick. He's a carbon-copy of all that is wrong with the GOP. I'm saying this as objectively as I can and not as a partisan dem. I wish the GOP would lose the religious right element and focus on their strengths which are economics and 'small government' platforms rather than force religious morals on everyone. The GOP needs a fresh outlook and McCain is not delivering.
Here's the rub, Ender:
If it wasn't for the fact that this administration has such a dark history, including our war on Iraq, not to mention tons of other stuff, this really would be a laughable joke. Given the dark circumstances, it's not.
The joke is a non-issue
The general kind of careless, casual, listless, almost bizarre behavior of McCain overall in his campaign however is a huge issue. His January 21st Meet the Press performance was among the worst I'd ever seen... he just seemed worn out and not well. The way he's dressed in this video, the blowing the nose in the hanky, the corny joke that falls flat... he's just not someone that inspires a lot of confidence. He's gone from front-runner and odds-on favorite to somebody who may not even make it to the first primary. He's just not into it, doesn't have the heart for another campaign, looks like to me. Kinda sad to see a true American hero go out this way, to be honest.
skymutt: wise and powerful... enlightened...
Agreed
I actually think he might've (ha, understatment of the year) made a better president than Bush, but the Bush machine swiftboated him
, well before swiftboating was a political term, in the 2000 election.
I haven't been impressed with his campaign either
but look at the competition. Giuliani has no chance once people start looking beyond the 9/11 hero soundbites, Romney makes Kerry look consistent, and the minor GOP candidates generally play well with the base but are hopelessly outside the mainstream. Plus, I get the impression Bush would back McCain as payback for him staying reasonably on board in 2004 (unless it turns out to be true that he approached Kerry -- whatever happened with that rumor?).
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
The big story of the Republican
campaign so far has been McCain's low poll numbers among the party faithful. The Weekly Standard has a big front cover story on Fred Thompson this week. The inability of other candidates (except Guiliani) to catch on has created an opening for Thompson, if he decides to run. It's a long, long campaign season with the first primary 10 months away.
name the enemy, win the war
If Fred Thompson gets in the race...
I predict he will suck up most of McCain's support and McCain will slip to the single digits within 3 months-- at which point he will probably withdraw from the race. Thompson has all kinds of opportunity here, if he wants in.
But then again, what do I know about Republicans? A couple months back, I thought Huckabee was the GOP up-n-comer. I thought he had good conservative credentials to appeal to the base, in a soft, nonthreatening package that could attract moderates also. But he hasn't gotten going at all, seems like.
skymutt: wise and powerful... enlightened...
These links reveal what 's been quite obvious all along:
That the 2004 Presidential Election was stolen by the G. W. Bush and the Republicans......twice, the first time in Florida, and the second time in Ohio. The link about voter disenfranchisement pointed that out succinctly and accurately. The Presidential Election of 2004 was stolen in Ohio!.
Yes and We were Lied into a War
but that still leaves in a pile o crap.
It is the economy, stupid.
This is WHY Alberto Gonzales Must Go
Quite frankly this is very alarming, and gives more reason that the DOJ has been used for highly questionable and political reasons.
Watch This
Sheldon Whitehouse gets to the heart of the matter.
It is the economy, stupid.
Senate majority Speaker Harry Reid declared yesterday that
the military war in Iraq has already been lost, and that only a diplomatic effort there can now succeed. Not surprisingly, the White House and it's minions have tried to drum up bad press about that. Also not surprisingly, Several military folk agree with Senator Reid
.
Now our bretheren over at RedState have declared harry guily of treason
. I can only guess what Michelle Malkin is saying right now. (please don't tell me, I really don't want to know).
The war was lost
when President Bush was given control. He's had free reign to wage it as he wanted (except for these few months of 2007, which have not actually inhibited him in any way) and he called the shots. This is his baby.
If the Republicans really cared about the war, they'd insist that he and Cheney resign. Last year. Instead they continue to cheerlead a failed leader. I am not impressed by their supposed bravado.
They only care about keeping political power. It's Democrat Derangement Syndrome. With our country at stake. Nice work, blind partisans.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
pathetic
alarming and disturbing.
exactly...... if the republicans really cared about the war.... they would get rid of these incompetents..... well said and an excellent point!
It is the economy, stupid.
She's probably
posted the name, phone number and home address of all of his children, his grandchildren and family cousins, so that "patriotic" americans can threaten him with harm.
I don't want to know either. I rarely click on her site and on the rare occasions when I do I feel like I have just taken a not so thirst quencing sip of battery acid.
I have a million things to do and am procrastining horribly. If you see me post one more comment on this site..... nag me to get off the computer and get my work done ..... sigh ;=)
It is the economy, stupid.
Oh come on.
Stay here and have some fun with us. Who needs sleep? :) I have many other obligations to tend to also. Maybe I should step away from the keyboard too.
Ditto
I cannot shake this mood and should probably take missL's advice and disconnect for a while.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
I am kinda tired
and not in a very good mood. Just need some sleep...
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Wow
everyone tired, bored, and gloomy all at once, must be an e-virus going around...
Watch the Sox-Yanks game, that should help =)
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
For the gloomy,
check out the videos I posted
in the 'Culture' forum. Videos 2 to 5 will definitely make you crack a smile. When the world is absurd, just go along for the ride.
just watched the
rock and roll mcdonalds and didn't crack a smile yet... let's see if others are funnier.
[edit] oh man, the last one is hilarious as hell
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
The funny,
or rather sad, thing about Wesley Willis is he is not trying to be funny; that is a real attempt at a song (same with Jan Terri). They are in a genre called 'Outsider Music
' which comprises:
It's not so much the video I like (which he did not make), but the song. His other song I linked to is called "Oprah Winfrey" and it is basically the same thing as "Rock n' Roll McDonalds".
however on the "I wanna love you tender"
I smiled all the way through. Never even heard of this song. Awesome! Swedes rock!
[Edit] Or Finns... :) And the dancing! wow
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
I think
you are right about the Finns part. Close enough, heh. :)
Glad you liked the preacher. He also has the most incredible mullet I have ever seen.
that preacher rocked
"I DON'T GIVE A F*** WHAT YOU THINK BITCH!
cut that bitch off....next caller!"
and
"John.. Go ahead.. Hey wuts-happenin'.. Say what? ... Say what? You trust in the devil, huh? Well if God sent the devil in the name of Jesus by the power of the holy spirit, then muthaf***a you F***ED UP huh? You F***ED UP huh??! You know YO' ass is doomed."
beautiful stuff
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Michelle Malkin is on The List
When The Revolution comes she will be among the first group sent to Re-Education Camp Streisand.
And that should be OK with her since she thinks the WWII internment camps were a good thing.
qui tacet consentire
Well, for those of you who need to take time away,
today, being 4-20, is the high holy day for Rastafarians and other individuals.
You could always re-live your college days.
Earth day?
Or some other reason?
Edit: Oh, nevermind. I remember. We didn't use that term back in my day. Had to get the kids at work to fill me in.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
Honored!
Rastafarians live on! That was back when it was still legal to have fun.
It is the economy, stupid.
Friends
of mine back in the day even had an official mascot, the '4-20 bunny'. :)
For Pico
an interesting blog alicublog.
Original thoughts, wry wording.
It is the economy, stupid.