Month: May 2007

War in Iraq

Memorial Day

Allison Hantschel

From quite possibly my favorite poet, Archibald MacLeish: Ambassador Puser the ambassador Reminds himself in French, felicitous tongue, What these (young men no longer) like here for In rows that once, and somewhere else, were young. . . All night in Brussels the wind had tugged at my door: I had heard the wind at my door and the trees strung Taut, and to me who had never been before In that country it was a strange wind, blowing Steadily, stiffening the walls, the floor, The roof of my room. I had not slept for knowing He too, dead, was … Continue reading Memorial Day

So Called Liberal Media3 Comments

Worst. Contest. Ever.

Allison Hantschel

So this is like a slapfight between two drunken mentally defective bears falling down a hill together. Several thoughts: 1. Wow, is Joe Klein happy with himself. 2. Somebody gave Bob Shrum money to write a book about how he keeps losing presidential elections. My checking account is off somewhere throwing up right now. 3. Joe Klein to mirror: “Who’s the sexiest? Who’s bringing sexy back? That’d be you, baby. That’d be you.” 4. Shrum will parlay his book into further media opportunities, spreading his bullshit to other arenas, and more candidates will hire him because he’s everywhere, giving his … Continue reading Worst. Contest. Ever.

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Scoutprime1 Comment

FEMA awarded nearly 4,000 no-bid contracts

scoutprime2014

From Govexec.com… The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded nearly 4,000 no-bid contracts, prompting House appropriators to seek explanations and to write legislation that would require competition for most contracts in the future. FEMA came under fire from lawmakers and government investigators for awarding no-bid contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the fall of 2005. But the list of 4,000 no-bid contracts, which FEMA recently sent to the House Appropriations Committee in response to questions, is one of the highest numbers ever disclosed for any agency across the government. SNIP … Continue reading FEMA awarded nearly 4,000 no-bid contracts

Economy4 Comments

Heckuva Job, Chimpy!

holdencaulfieldfd

This is what tax cuts for the rich will get ya’. American men in their 30s today are worse off than their fathers’ generation, a reversal from just a decade ago, when sons generally were better off than their fathers, a new study finds. The study, the first in a series on economic mobility undertaken by several prominent think tanks, also says the typical American family’s income has lagged far behind productivity growth since 2000, a departure from most of the post-World War II period. [snip] In 2004, the median income for a man in his 30s, a good predictor … Continue reading Heckuva Job, Chimpy!

So Called Liberal Media2 Comments

The Truth Be Banned!

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Via AMERICAblog, we find the ugh. Staffers at McClatchy’s Washington, D.C., Bureau — one of the few major news outlets skeptical of intelligence reports during the run-up to the war in Iraq — claims it is now being punished for that coverage. Bureau Chief John Walcott and current and former McClatchy Pentagon correspondents say they have not been allowed on the Defense Secretary’s plane for at least three years, claiming the news company is being retaliated against for its reporting. “It is because our coverage of Iraq policy has been quite critical,” Walcott told E&P. He added, “I think the … Continue reading The Truth Be Banned!

Political Crack9 Comments

Something I Think We Could All Use Tonight

Allison Hantschel

Scout’s most excellent video: I watch this anytime I’m feeling a little apathetic and it always kicks my ass. Your votes aren’t nothing. Your contributions aren’t nothing. Your letters and phone calls and e-mails and protests and signs and talking to somebody on line in the friggin’ grocery store, none of that’s nothing. We do what we can do. We don’t have to do more, but we can’t do less. We get back up, damn it. I’m glad I didn’t quit in 2002 and I’m glad I didn’t quit in 2004 and I’m glad I didn’t quit in 2006, and … Continue reading Something I Think We Could All Use Tonight

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Scoutprime2 Comments

That said…

scoutprime2014

I thought I may feel better today. I don’t. I doubt you do as well. Bits of phrases run through my head still…Americans voted for change last November…Prez at 30% approval…almost 2/3 of Americans supported a timetable…72% think we’re on the wrong track…Americans want leadership…They want OUT of Iraq…Man the Dems blew it big time. I’m disgusted. That said…I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that the bill which passed did 2 good things for New Orleans. First it waives the 10% match requirement that has held up Gulf Coast recovery. Second it replaces about a billion dollars … Continue reading That said…

Political Crack1 Comment

Just In Time For Hurricane Season

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Maybe we’ll get lucky and the next hurricane will hit Iraq. Because that’s where all of our National Guard equipmentis. The National Guard cannot respond efficiently to homeland security and domestic emergencies if it continues to lack the appropriate equipment, military personnel told a congressional committee Thursday. Witnesses at a House Committee on Homeland Security subcommittee hearing agreed that the National Guard’s equipment shortages, which total about 50 percent, result in slower emergency response times and the inability to adequately respond to disasters of extended duration or widespread impact. “No matter what your political beliefs about the wars in Iraq … Continue reading Just In Time For Hurricane Season

Political Crack6 Comments

Zombie Joke

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“The First George W.” — the stupid one-liner that will not die. January 9, 2004President Bush Addresses Members of His Team DAR Constitution Hall Washington, D.C. The first George W. hangs over the fireplace. That would be your George Washington. May 20, 2005National Catholic Prayer Breakfast Washington Hilton Hotel Washington, D.C. The Catholic contribution to American freedom goes back to the founding of our country. In 1790, a newly inaugurated George Washington — the first George W. — addressed a letter to all Catholics in America. September 14, 2005National Dinner Celebrating Jewish Life in America National Building Museum Washington, D.C. … Continue reading Zombie Joke

Political Crack13 Comments

The Earth Is Caving In

Allison Hantschel

“It’s shameful either way, Sol.” “It’s life either way, Seth.” — Deadwood So the three posts directly below, ie Holden’s poll/speaks posts and Scout’s video clips, illustrate pretty nicely what the Democrats gave in to this week. (Not all of them, and John Kerry, you’re back on the boyfriend list, and Russ, you never left it, but most of them.) It can’t be said often enough now: Democrats caved to a president the American people despise, in order to continue a war the American people want ended. And it’s things like this are what make me want to tear my … Continue reading The Earth Is Caving In

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Scoutprime1 Comment

Bush administration argues wind/water just like insurance companies

scoutprime2014

As we drove through the lower 9th ward in March I was explaining the Road Home program to A. and Mr. A. — $7 billion allocated for about 120,000 homeowners to get up to $150,000. It took less than a minute for Mr A. to say “Wait a minute I did the math and there’s no way all those folks will get anything close $150,000.” The Road Home program is short $2.9 billion. Louisiana had been seeking help from the feds but the Bush administration is taking a page from the insurance companies apparently (or is that the other way … Continue reading Bush administration argues wind/water just like insurance companies

Your President Speaks1 Comment

Your President Speaks!

holdencaulfieldfd

Today, in the Rose Garden, during his presser. Ready To Get His Farsi Freak On I’m sympathetic for the people of Iran. The Extent To Which He’s An Idiot Secondly, obviously, to the extent that these people are picking up innocent Americans is unacceptable. So They Can Do Whatever General David Petraeus laid out a plan for the Congress, he talked about a strategy all aiming — all aimed at helping this Iraqi government secure its capital so that they can do the — some of the political work necessary, the hard work necessary to reconcile. One of the Cross … Continue reading Your President Speaks!

War in Iraq3 Comments

The Afghanization Of Iraq

holdencaulfieldfd

Heckuva job, Chimpy. LONDON, May 23 (KUNA) — Farmers in southern Iraq have started to grow opium poppies in their fields for the first time, sparking fears that Iraq might become a serious drugs producer along the lines of Afghanistan, it was revealed here Wednesday. Rice farmers along the Euphrates, to the west of the city of Diwaniya, south of Baghdad, have stopped cultivating rice, for which the area is famous, and are instead planting poppies, Iraqi sources familiar with the area told The Independent newspaper. The shift to opium cultivation is still in its early stages but there is … Continue reading The Afghanization Of Iraq

Political Crack, Scoutprime2 Comments

Yes Indeed! Bush Presser

scoutprime2014

Bush had a press conference today. Here are 3 moments. (1 minute) Oh and the terrists are a threat to the children of David Gregory and some reporter named Jim. The rest of you stand down and rest easy but tell your kids to eat their hamburgers–there’s people in China who can’t. Maybe Bin Forgotten will start feeding them. Errrr something like that… Continue reading Yes Indeed! Bush Presser

Pony, Bitches!

And The Bottom Fell Out

holdencaulfieldfd

The latest New York Times/CBS News Poll is absolutely devastating for Chimpy and his Vanity War. President Bush’s approval ratings remain near the lowest point of his more than six years in office.Thirty percent of poll respondents approve of the job he’s doing overall, while 63 percent disapprove. [snip] Sixty-one percent of respondents now say that the United States should never have taken military action against Iraq, up from 51 percent in a CBS News poll in April and 58 percent in the same poll in January.Seventy-six percent say that things are going badly in the effort to bring stability … Continue reading And The Bottom Fell Out

Your President Speaks4 Comments

Chimp Alert!

holdencaulfieldfd

Chimpy is holding a surprise presser today in about half an hour. President Bush will hold a news conference at 11:01 ET on Thursday from the Rose Garden, The White House said. The president is expected to make his case for Iraq war funding legislation and for an overhaul of U.S. immigration policy, the White House said. The event will be streamed live on MSNBC.com. Atrios better stock up on ponies, everytime the Chimpster mentions immigration his job approval rating drops like a rock. Continue reading Chimp Alert!

War in Iraq

Grisly Harvest

holdencaulfieldfd

Surge advocates have been pointing to accounts of a decrease in the number of corpses found in and around Baghdad as a sign that their “plan” is reducing the intensity of sectarian violence. They can no longer make that argument. More than three months into a U.S.-Iraqi security offensive designed to curtail sectarian violence in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq, Health Ministry statistics show that such killings are rising again. From the beginning of May until Tuesday, 321 unidentified corpses, many dumped and showing signs of torture and execution, have been found across the Iraqi capital, according to morgue … Continue reading Grisly Harvest

Your President Speaks3 Comments

Your President Speaks!

holdencaulfieldfd

Reuters’ Steve Holland interviewed Chimpy aboard Air Force One yesterday (he wore his Commander in Chief jacket for the occasion). Reuter’s did a great job of cleaning up the transcript to make it seem like the president was semi-literate, but they left me a few gems. Can’t Help Himself There is a way forward, there’s a compromise to be had. My hope is that the Democrat leader sees it. Just Can’t Resist We hope that the Democrat leaders would seize it. It’s Your Fault The hard part about this debate has been — you know, the enemy has done an … Continue reading Your President Speaks!

Stupid Republican Tricks

Corporate Flunky Withdraws Nomination

holdencaulfieldfd

Of course this does not mean that Chimpy won’t give him a recess appointment somewhere down the road. President Bush’s pick to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission withdrew his nomination Wednesday amid strong opposition from some Senate Democrats. The White House said it was reluctantly accepting the decision by Michael Baroody after “some members in the Senate rushed to judgment.” Baroody is a lobbyist for the National Association of Manufacturers, and his critics on Capitol Hill said he would not provide the leadership the agency needed in order to protect consumers. Democrats also had raised questions about a $150,000 … Continue reading Corporate Flunky Withdraws Nomination