From Holden: Of course the government will ignore the ailment it has created as it did after Vietnam and the first Gulf War. Chuck Hubert of Ocala fought in Iraq, and he said he believes he is suffering from the “new” Agent Orange. [snip] Hubert said he and thousands of others who have returned from the Iraq war are battling the effects of inhaling depleted uranium yet no one’s listening. “I just want answers. I mean simple answers,” Hubert said. [snip] Dreams of a continued Army career turned to dust. Hubert was medically discharged, strange symptoms emerged and he was … Continue reading The New and Improved Agent Orange

From Holden: All eceonomic signs continue to point downward. New orders for U.S.-made durable goods fell a much greater-than-expected 2.4 percent in July as civilian aircraft and car orders tumbled, a government report showed on Thursday. It was the first decline in orders for durable goods, items built to last three years or longer, in three months, a report by the Commerce Department said. Analysts polled by Reuters were expecting durable goods orders to fall by 0.5 percent. Continue reading My Bush Boom Is Not A Durable Good

From Holden:

Second-stringer Dana Peroxide subbed for Pony Blow today and had to field a question about Rockeygate.

Q Were you aware of Rockey Vaccarella’s political background? Was he invited to meet with the President because he supports the President?

MS. PERINO: I checked into that, and at the time of invitation, no, there was no knowledge of his political affiliation.

Q You didn’t know he had ever been a Republican candidate?

MS. PERINO: No, he was not invited — he was invited before anybody knew that. [Ah, so Vaccarella was invited to the White House, so much for his journey of “protest”.]

Q And were you aware that he was going to endorse the President for a third term? (Laughter.)

MS. PERINO: No. And, believe me, I think staff thinks that two are plenty. (Laughter.) I don’t think it was a secret that Rockey Vaccarella had been supportive of the federal effort and he had said supportive things about the President, as well. He asked to make sure that the President doesn’t forget the Katrina victims, and the President reaffirmed that he will not.

Q Why does the staff think two terms is enough?

MS. PERINO: Because I’m tired. (Laughter.)

Obsession continues below…

Continue reading “Today on Holden’s Obsession with the Gaggle”

From Holden: Chimpy’s new best bud, Rockey Vaccarella has a history. He ran for a St. Bernard’s Parish council seat as a Republican in 1999 and lost. District D: Ex-N.O.P.D. and now insurance writer, Joseph Gallodoro collected 40% to Rockey Vaccarella’s 16%. Unfortunately, during the race Rockey’s son got arrested. Maybe this had something to do with his lower totals. No incumbent in this race. Then in 2003 he sued his former employer who was running for Parish President at the time. But while [Republican Scott] Wolfe says his council and business experience as the founder of Wagner’s Meats and … Continue reading Rockey Vaccarella, Regular Guy

From Holden: We saw it coming, now it is here. Sales of previously owned homes plummeted in July to the lowest level in 2 1/2 years while the number of unsold homes peaked to a new record high as buyers waited on the sidelines for prices to come down. Sales of existing homes dropped 4.1 percent in July from June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.33 million, the lowest level since January 2004, according to the National Association of Realtors. “It’s worse than I thought,” said David Lereah, chief economist of the Realtors’ group. “The housing markets are … Continue reading Bubble Done Burst

From Holden:

Heckuva job, Georgie.

Iran’s standing in the Middle East has been bolstered by President George W Bush’s “war on terror” and its power will continue to grow unless stability is restored to its neighbors, a top think tank said on Tuesday.

London’s Royal Institute for International Affairs said wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians and with Lebanon’s Hizbollah had put Iran “in a position of considerable strength”.

“There is little doubt that Iran has been the chief beneficiary of the war on terror in the Middle East,” the RIIA said in a report on the region.

Continues…

Continue reading “Boosting Iran”

From Holden: Just out, Victory Enterprises Survey of Likely Iowa GOP Caucus-Goers (Margin of Error: 4.9%): Rudy Giuliani 30% John McCain 17.3% Bill Frist 6.5% Mitt Romney 4.5% George Allen 3.5% George Pataki 3.3% Mike Huckabee 2.5% Sam Brownback 2.5% And the astute analysis from National Review editor/massive Corner blogger K-Lo? Is McCain [Kathryn Jean Lopez] most worried about Romney in Iowa? Posted at 7:53 AM Continue reading K-Lo Calls it for Romney

From Holden: According to the right-leaning Hotline Blog. Murkowski is, according to our research, the first incubment governor to finish third in a primary since David Hall (D-OK) received 27% in ’74. And perhaps more importantly, Murkowski becomes the fourth incumbent to lose this month in what is shaping up to be a change election beyond just the lower 48. Continue reading Murkowski Loss A Bad Sign for GOP

From Holden: Just when you thought Chimpy’s Medicare drug plan could not possible get any more fucked up, we have this. About 230,000 Medicare recipients are getting checks that erroneously reimburse them for monthly premiums they have paid for prescription drug coverage this year. The checks average about $215. They are accompanied by a letter that mistakenly tells them the Social Security Administration will no longer deduct monthly premiums for drug coverage from their Social Security check. Medicare officials say they caught the glitch just after checks totaling nearly $50 million were sent out last week. As a result, they … Continue reading Little Scottie’s Smarter Brother

From Holden: Seems that all of Katherin Harris’ many problems are tracable to the advice of her staff. “One of the lessons is that when you are in Congress and being advised by your staff, you need to know how they are getting their information,” Harris said. “We are going to be keeping a log so that I know who my staff talked to and I can understand where their advice and decisions are coming from.” Continue reading Your Wednesday Morning Republican Juggernaut Update

From Holden: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Continue reading Sometimes JimmyJeff Made Me Eat It This Way, Too

From Holden: There’s a new CBS News/New York Times poll out this morning. George Bush’s Job Approval Rating Approve: 36% (unchanged from poll of 8/14) Disapprove: 57% (unchanged from poll of 8/14) Is the War in Iraq Part of the War on Terror? Yes 44% (50% in 8/14 poll) No 51% (46% in 8/14 poll) War in Iraq is Going… Well 37% (42% in 8/14 poll) Badly 62% (56% in 8/14 poll) Did the US do the Right Thing by Attacking Iraq? Right thing 43% (41% in 8/14 poll) Should have stayed out 53% (53% in 8/14 poll) Approval of … Continue reading Chimpy Mired at 36%

From Scout: I thought “`When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts” was excellent especially last night. What did you think? Continue reading Spike Lee Comments Thread

From Scout: I wasn’t going to do it but then I just had too. I’ll do a post Anniversary video also. (of course others in between) Let’s remember New Orleans not just this next week but everyday until the people receive Justice. Give your support. Give your care. Give your money. Give a Damn. Raise your voice Call your Congress Critters and tell them to Rebuild the Gulf Coast . Music: Marcia Ball Louisiana 1927 Continue reading Pre-Anniversary Video

Scott the biking liberal cabbie is on the road again: I sat outside the little City of Portage in its cemetery just west of town. Having biked all the way through without stopping, I sat with the dead to contemplated the fate of the place. Contemplation in Wisconsin cemeteries whilst reviewing the particulars of the deceased locals’ grave markers is often highly instructive to the biker wishing to get a sense of the territory he is passing through. Apprehension of this rich historic insight is, of course, greatly enhanced by the Molly Hatchet concert. And then came the sinking sensation … Continue reading Something About The Open Road

The Care and Feeding of Your Barista: I have a real espresso machine, and I pull real shots. This espresso machine is so painfully *real* that people come and take pictures of it for books and consulting purposes and shit. You, who are of course keeping it as real as it can possibly be kept, should understand. Do you see any flashing buttons back here behind my counter: Press Here for Caramel Macchiato? No, you don’t, because there aren’t any, and I don’t even know what the fuck a Macchiato is. It’s two o’clock in the afternoon, I KNOW you … Continue reading Coffee

From Holden: Maine is the third state that the Department of Justice has sued in order to cover-up Chimpy’s illegal activities. PORTLAND, Maine – Federal prosecutors sued state utility regulators and Verizon Communications Inc. on Monday to block the release of information related to the government’s domestic surveillance program. The Public Utilities Commission on Aug. 9 ordered Verizon to provide a sworn statement about the National Security Agency’s warrantless eavesdropping program. The PUC was reacting to alleged privacy law violations. Complying with the order would “place Verizon in a position of having to confirm or deny the existence of information … Continue reading Bush Assministration Sues To Conceal Info About Illegal Program

From Holden: The Bush Boom sucks. The Rasmussen Consumer Index decreased a by a point and a half today to 105.6. The Index, which measures the economic confidence of consumers on a daily basis is now very close to the full month average for July. The month of July featured the lowest level of overall economic confidence since last October. The Investor Index dropped five points today and is now at 125.5. This is its lowest level in over two weeks and is two points lower than the monthly average in July. Nationally, only 33% rate the U.S. economy as … Continue reading Vote of No Confidence

From Holden: Congress is poised to slash 50% of the funding for research and treatment of soldiers with brain injuries. Congress appears ready to slash funding for the research and treatment of brain injuries caused by bomb blasts, an injury that military scientists describe as a signature wound of the Iraq war. House and Senate versions of the 2007 Defense appropriation bill contain $7 million for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center — half of what the center received last fiscal year. Proponents of increased funding say they are shocked to see cuts in the treatment of bomb blast … Continue reading Support Our Troops!

From Holden: That’s one ugly, hate-filled, foul-mouthed, dumbass, war-mongering, fart-cutting president you got yourself there, America. AFP/Paul J. Richards Continue reading Holy Shit!

From Holden: They were better off under Saddam, and so were their lawyers. Since October 2005, some 38 lawyers in Iraq have been killed, many of whom were defending women’s rights. IRIN News, a United Nations humanitarian news and information service, reports that at least 120 lawyers have fled to surrounding countries since January because of the threats to their safety. Lawyers at special risk for death threats and murder are those who take cases involving violations of Islamic law, such as adultery, so-called honor killings, and cases of women asking for custody of their children. In July, Iraqi lawyer … Continue reading Women In Iraq

From Holden: Via Lambert we learn what everyone suspected was true. He loves to cuss, gets a jolly when a mountain biker wipes out trying to keep up with him, and now we’re learning that the first frat boy loves flatulence jokes. A top insider let that slip when explaining why President Bush is paranoid around women, always worried about his behavior. But he’s still a funny, earthy guy who, for example, can’t get enough of fart jokes. He’s also known to cut a few for laughs, especially when greeting new young aides, but forget about getting people to gas … Continue reading Juvenile In Chief

From Holden: Rasmussen claims to have new Lamont-Lieberman poll numbers but they’ve placed the results behind their subscription wall (despite the fact that all their previous Lamont-Lieberman poll results are free). Does anyone have the new numbers? UPDATE Anon comes through with a Kos link showing the results as Lieberman 45, Lamont 43. That’s up from Lieberman 46, Lamont 41 in the last Rasmussen poll less than two weeks ago. Ned is kicking ass. Continue reading New Lamont-Lieberman Poll?

Olmos: You’re talking about the last vestiges of the human species. When we enter the third season – we were 49,000 people when we left our planets at the very beginning, at the first episode of this journey to find another planet to breed humankind again. We’re now less than 38,000. We lost 11,000 people, man. Q: Are you surprised that the show can be that dark and that brutal and yet be so popular? Olmos: Yeah! Yeah! I’m totally blown away. We won the Peabody, man! Give me a fucking break. How in the world does that add up? … Continue reading October Still Seems Very Far Away

From Scout: Don’t forget Spike Lee’s four-hour documentary about Hurricane Katrina, “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts” begins Tonight on HBO. Continue reading Spike Lee Tonight

From Holden: That’s how U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke has described the Bush Assministration’s case against Jose Padilla. The U.S. government’s high-profile terror case against Jose Padilla and two other Muslims has suffered another serious setback as their Miami trial looms in January. U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke threw out the first count in the indictment — that the threesome conspired to murder, kidnap and maim persons in a foreign country — saying it repeated the main alleged “conspiracy to advance violent jihad” in two other charges. “There can be no question that the government has charged a single conspiracy … Continue reading “Very Light on Facts”

From Holden: That’s how U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke has described the Bush Assministration’s case against Jose Padilla. The U.S. government’s high-profile terror case against Jose Padilla and two other Muslims has suffered another serious setback as their Miami trial looms in January. U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke threw out the first count in the indictment — that the threesome conspired to murder, kidnap and maim persons in a foreign country — saying it repeated the main alleged ”conspiracy to advance violent jihad” in two other charges. ”There can be no question that the government has charged a single conspiracy … Continue reading ”Very Light on Facts”

From Holden: Well, we knew it was just a matter of time until someone had to pay for the miserable turnout at last week’s Harris for Senate campaign event (not to mention Rep. Harris’ lies about the reason for said miserable turnout), and the axe fell today. U.S. Senate candidate Katherine Harris has lost another key staffer in the wake of a disastrous political rally last week. Rhyan Metzler, who had been Harris’ political director, is no longer with the campaign, according to Harris spokeswoman Jennifer Marks. Metzler is the staffer that is being blamed for embarrassing comments Harris made … Continue reading Your Monday Afternoon Republican Juggernaut Update

From Holden: What an embarrasment this assclown is. Here are a few quickies from today’s presidential presser. A Clear Strategy No, I am aware that extremists and terrorists are doing everything they can to prevent Iraq’s democracy from growing stronger. That’s what I’m aware of. And, therefore, we have a plan to help them — “them,” the Iraqis — achieve their objectives. Part of the plan is political; that is the help the Maliki government work on reconciliation and to work on rehabilitating the community. The other part is, of course, security. It’s That What Leads Them From the beginning, … Continue reading Your President Speaks!

From Scout: I am busy getting ready to leave for NOLA on Wednesday and so have little time at the moment to offer a fact check on Bush’s statements today. But I had to respond to one part of his statements in today’s press conference. It looks like the blame is on locals for the slow progress on the Gulf Coast especially Louisiana. Now I offer no support of the mostly AWOL Ray Nagin (at this point he does deserve some blame for the halting recovery now). However today Bush stressed the responsibility for rebuilding housing on locals and by … Continue reading Bush’s Katrina Blame Game…Slo Poke “Local Folks”