From Holden: When Scottie lied nobody died. Continue reading Will This Be The Wingers’ New Slogan?

From Holden: Lawmakers cast doubts Thursday about the Bush administration’s decision to steer NASA toward lunar and planetary exploration while cutting back on some of the space agency’s science projects such as the Hubble telescope. “Congress has never endorsed, in fact has never discussed, the vision,” House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., said in reference to President Bush’s January 2004 declaration that the United States would return humans to the moon in the next 10 to 15 years and ultimately launch manned flights to Mars and beyond. Boehlert said he “stood and applauded” when the president made that speech, … Continue reading Lameduckitis – Mars, Bitch! Edition

From Holden: I’m not even going to try to come up with my own on this one. Have at it. joshowitz5’s comment inspired me: Kid: “I see dead people.” Continue reading Bonus Caption Contest

From Holden: Chimpy: “Sometimes Jeff was a bit rough on the lips.” Continue reading An Afternoon at the Captions

From Holden: Wingers have been bloviating about the U.N. Oil-for-Food program for months now. But the fact is Saddam reaped substantially larger profits from oil sales outside of the Oil-for-Food program. Today Sen. Carl Levin released e-mails confirming that the Bush assministration authorized illegal Iraqi oil sales as late as March 2003. Link. [An] e-mail, along with others released this week by Sen. Carl M. Levin (Mich.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Governmental Affairs panel’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, provides evidence that the Bush administration directly abetted Jordan’s efforts to build up its strategic reserves with smuggled Iraqi oil … Continue reading How the Bush Administration Aided Saddam on the Eve of Invasion

From Holden: Every blogger on the left must get press releases from Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), she has really caught on to the idea that the blogs can massively and rapidly disseminate her message. I like her wording in today’s release [emphasis mine]. “It has been a week since I wrote President Bush seeking answers in this matter. I have not yet received a reply. With each new revelation it becomes more and more clear that the relationship between the White House and Jeff Gannon was anything but typical,” said Slaughter. “It is time for this Administration to stop the … Continue reading Rep. Louise Slaughter Knows How to Turn a Phrase

Oh, for the love of God. Bloggers are now “vigilantes.” In the age of blogging, what you say or do can be used against you quickly and repeatedly until you surrender. [snip] The bloggers who went after Jordan claim him as another trophy. From their perspective, he hangs next to Dan Rather, who announced he would retire as the “CBS Evening News” anchor after bloggers pointed to flaws in his report about President Bush’s service in the Texas Air National Guard. [snip] Blogger Gannon’s blogging adversaries found that his real name is James Dale Guckert, that his website belongs to … Continue reading Scalp Collecting 2: Vigilante Edition

maker Seeks to Amend Wording Dating to Mason By Rosalind S. Helderman Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, February 17, 2005; Page B01 RICHMOND — Del. Charles W. Carrico Sr. is convinced that judges and school principals have been misinterpreting the words of George Mason, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson concerning religious freedom. So he has written an extra paragraph to help, and he hopes it eventually will become part of the Virginia Constitution. Carrico, a Republican from Grayson County in southwestern Virginia, said he would be “humbled” if the General Assembly and voters choose to insert his words among those … Continue reading Paging Orwell, Mr. Orwell, please pick up the red alert phone…

From Holden: skippy’s cookie jill on the latest example of Young Republican Moral Values. Continue reading Reno 911

From Holden: Two quick hits from this morning’s press conference. BUSH: Let’s see. Have I gone through all the TV personalities yet? QUESTION: Yes. (LAUGHTER) QUESTION: Mr. President, good morning. BUSH: Face made for radio, I might add. QUESTION: Thank you. My mother appreciates it. Continue reading The Return of President Asshole

From Holden: I, “Holden Caulfield”, wish to be the first to state clearly that I support the right of former U.S. Marine/former truck painter/former (?) prostitute/former Talon News White House correspondent Jim “J.D.” “Jeff Gannon” Guckert and former White House Political Director/former Bush-Cheney ’04 Campaign Manager/Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman to enter in the holy bonds of matrimony if they so choose. Go for it, guys! I support you 100%. Continue reading Stand Up For Ken and Jeff

From Holden: How long will it be before Congress has had enough of Don Rumsfeld? Two dozen members of the House Armed Services Committee had not yet had their turn to question Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld at yesterday’s hearings when he decided he had had enough. At 12:54, he announced that at 1 p.m. he would be taking a break and then going to another hearing in the Senate. “We’re going to have to get out and get lunch and get over there,” he said. When the questioning continued for four more minutes, Rumsfeld picked up his briefcase and … Continue reading Grumpy Old Men Man

Today’s Actions comes from NRDC — and it’s easy.� NRDC is starting a blog that will focus on efforts to prevent the Bush administration from destroying the environment.� Check out their new blog today and bookmark it so you can visit frequently. ***** Dear NRDC Action Fund Supporter, Right now, the Bush Administration and its allies in Congress are working to pass sweeping, pro-industry legislation that would sacrifice our heritage and health for decades to come. For all of us at the NRDC Action Fund, that can mean only one thing: it’s time to fight back. Now more than ever, … Continue reading Action Alert – New Blog for environmental issues

From Holden: Chimpy is spending more on war than ever before. With military costs since Sept. 11, 2001, now expected to exceed US$300 billion, the Pentagon is spending more per soldier to fight in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere than it did during earlier conflicts. [snip] According to government figures, the war in Iraq costs about US$4.3 billion a month, and the war in Afghanistan runs another US$800 million. That money goes for a variety of things, including fuel, ammunition, hazard pay for the soldiers and repair and replacement of weapons and vehicles. [snip] The United States spent US$623 billion on … Continue reading Hey! What Happened to ”War on the Cheap”?

From Holden: Chimpy is spending more on war than ever before. With military costs since Sept. 11, 2001, now expected to exceed US$300 billion, the Pentagon is spending more per soldier to fight in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere than it did during earlier conflicts. [snip] According to government figures, the war in Iraq costs about US$4.3 billion a month, and the war in Afghanistan runs another US$800 million. That money goes for a variety of things, including fuel, ammunition, hazard pay for the soldiers and repair and replacement of weapons and vehicles. [snip] The United States spent US$623 billion on … Continue reading Hey! What Happened to “War on the Cheap”?

From Holden: Mark Leon Goldberg of The Prospect’s Tapped points us to this Washington Times article. My shorter version: Judith Miller and Donald Rumsfeld could be roommates in less than two weeks. A judge in Washington has warned Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld he could face contempt for ignoring a ruling on Pentagon anthrax vaccinations. In October, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan largely struck down the U.S. military’s involuntary vaccinations for weaponized anthrax. The judge said the program could not be administered unless individual service members give “informed consent” to the vaccinations, President Bush issues a specific waiver or the Food … Continue reading The Contemptible Don Rumsfeld

From Holden: Your president has a bad case. Where previous requests for more money to throw down the Black Hole of the Near East were met with red, white and blue calls to Support Our Troops we know hear breast-beating about budget deficits and the appropriateness of “emergency” appropriations for easily anticipated costs. House Republican leaders said yesterday that they may cut some of the nonmilitary parts of President Bush’s $82 billion budget request for Iraq and anti-terrorism efforts because they are not emergencies. The sharp comments they made in challenging the budget request marked an abrupt departure from the … Continue reading Lameduckitis

By my count, “Jeff Gannon” is now at least the sixth “journalist” (four of whom have been unmasked so far this year) to have been a propagandist on the payroll of either the Bush administration or a barely arms-length ally like Talon News while simultaneously appearing in print or broadcast forums that purport to be real news. Of these six, two have been syndicated newspaper columnists paid by the Department of Health and Human Services to promote the administration’s “marriage” initiatives. The other four have played real newsmen on TV. Before Mr. Guckert and Armstrong Williams, the talking head paid … Continue reading All I can say is: Frank Rich

I wrote this yesterday about the labeling of what bloggers have done to corrupt, criminal, stupid or just plain politically naive people in recent days “scalp collecting:” The Boston Globe busted the extra ball and brought down a Cardinal who enabled child molesters. Was that “scalp collecting?” The Washington Post busted the extra ball and brought down a corrupt president’s entire administration. Was that “scalp collecting?” It wasn’t? Why not? Why are we now pissed off at bloggers for doing what, if t’were done by a TV station during sweeps, would be rewarded with an Emmy? [snip] I hope the … Continue reading Scalp Collecting

From Holden: This is an awfully funny thing for a man who set up his own secret intelligence-gathering operation to say. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld refused to estimate the size of the insurgency facing US and Iraqi forces in Iraq (news – web sites), telling members of Congress the numbers were classified, and that he did not have much confidence in them in any case. “I am not going to give you a number for it because it’s not my business to do intelligence work,” Rumsfeld said. Continue reading Oh, The Things Rummy Says

From Holden: In today’s gaggle Little Scottie plays dumb. Q And did you see the reports that Iran and Syria apparently now are saying that they’re going to have some sort of cooperation with each other, because of what the U.S. is doing? You know, what — how, you know, concerned are you about that? MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, I saw the statement, I guess, from an Iranian official in news reports. I’m not sure exactly what their referring to, from the comments that I saw. But our views are very clear on Syria and Iran. The President expressed those views … Continue reading Today on Holden’s Obsession with the Gaggle

From Holden: Your president was in New Hampshire today pimping his plan to demolish Social Security. Here are a few lowlights. A principle that does not apply to the budget deficit. Before I begin on other things, I just want you to know what I think my is [sic], to confront problems, and not to pass them on. The assault on the full faith and credit of the United States of America continues. And by the way, there’s not a Social Security trust. In other words, people think your money goes into the trust and it’s held for your account … Continue reading The Road Show Continues

From Holden: Washington, January 11, 2005: Asked about reports of putting women closer to land combat, the president said: “There’s no change of policy as far as I’m concerned. No women in combat. Having said that, let me explain, we’ve got to make sure we define combat properly: We’ve got women flying choppers and women flying fighters, which I’m perfectly content with.” The question came up in light of the Army’s transforming its 10 active-combat divisions and re-examining women’s roles. Instead of the normal three brigades per division, each division will have four or more “units of action.” They are … Continue reading Let A Million Winger Heads Explode

From Holden: The Bush administration’s global AIDS program last fall awarded a grant to promote abstinence in African youth to a politically connected Washington advocacy group, even though the expert committee reviewing requests for government money judged the request “not suitable for funding.” [snip] The Children’s AIDS Fund, which has an office in Sterling and a post office box in Washington, is an 18-year-old AIDS service organization that has become a leading proponent of abstinence-based AIDS prevention. The organization is headed by Anita M. Smith, a writer and researcher whose views on strategies for reducing risky behavior by teenagers were … Continue reading The Spoils System

From Holden: Chimpy failed to secure a seat on the bench for William G. Myers III last term, but he re-nominated Myers this week. Here’s some more ammunition to use against him. The Interior Department’s inspector general has criticized the actions of a judicial nominee who is seen by some Republicans as the best hope of breaking Senate Democrats’ long-standing resistance to some of President Bush’s choices for federal judgeships. The judicial nominee, former Interior Department solicitor William G. Myers III, bypassed normal procedures in dealing with a Wyoming rancher who repeatedly violated federal grazing laws, according to a letter … Continue reading Another Wonderful Judicial Nominee

From Holden: Newspeak at the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), where the words “gay,” “lesbian,” “bisexual” and “transgender” are verbotten. At issue is a conference on suicide prevention to be held Feb. 28 in Portland, Ore., and organized by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center of Newton, Mass., a SAMHSA contractor. On the program is a talk that, until recently, was titled “Suicide Prevention Among Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Individuals.” Everyone seems to agree the topic is important. Studies have found that the suicide risk among people in these groups is two to three times … Continue reading The Seven Four Dirty Words

From Holden: William E. Jackson Jr. writing in Editor & Publisher clearly states why there is no valid argument to support Judith Miller in her attempt to avoid testifying in the Plame case. Just what is principled about Miller’s stand against divulging her sources, since she never wrote a single article on the subject of the investigation? Why can the courts not distinguish between protected press privileges for Time reporter Cooper — who wrote about Plame in the time period in question — and Miller? Is a reporter criminally exempt when not actually working on an assigned story, just by … Continue reading Miller’s Crossing

From Holden: In U.S. relations with Syria, the Bush assministration policy is Fire! Ready! Aim! Q The fact that the U.S. has recalled Ambassador Scobey from Syria, is that an indication that you believe that Syria was involved in yesterday’s attack in Beirut? MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Ambassador Scobey met with Syrian officials, I believe, yesterday, and delivered a very clear message about what our concerns are. Secretary Rice has decided to recall Ambassador Scobey for consultations and that’s what will be taking place. She will be leaving Syria and coming back for consultations here. [snip] Q But, sorry, again, just … Continue reading Today on Holden’s Obsession with the Gaggle

From Holden: Dan Froomkin helpfully provides an updated List of White House Correspondents . Update: although Froomkin does not specify, I’m guessing that this is the “hard pass” list, as many of the irregular gagglers (like my buddy Les) are not listed. Froomkin discusses some of the “irregulars” here. Continue reading Enabling the Gaggle-Obsessed

From Holden: Last week I commented on Jose Canseco’s new book in which he accuses George Bush of turning a blind and smirking eye to rampant steroid use among Texas Rangers baseball players when Bush was part-owner of the franchise. When President Bush was the managing general partner of the Texas Rangers franchise in the early 1990s, Bush and Tom Grieve, the general manager, “would have seen all three of those guys [Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez and Ivan Rodriguez] getting bigger before their eyes, starting within weeks after I joined the team,” Canseco says in the book. “But they never … Continue reading Bulking Up for Bush