So after we give the boys a bath, they get towelled off and go into these terrycloth bags, where they can flop around and shake themselves dry to their hearts’ content without getting water all over the house and/or us. Fox has been trying for six years to find a way out of the sack on his own. He has yet to succeed: A. Continue reading Friday Ferretblogging: Fox In A Sack
I agree with Oliver, mostly. Now’s not the time to think small, absolutely. I don’t think 1996 was the time to think small, either, is where Oliver and I differ, because frankly, thinking small and thinking achievable and thinking what can be done as opposed to what must be done is the cause of most of the perpetuating misery in this country and in the world, but especially, especially, now is not the time to think small. (Nor electable. I’ve said it before, I’ll keep saying it until it works its way up the food chain of Democratic thought: the … Continue reading Thinking Big
The lovely and talented Pervez Musharraf. President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said he would not allow two former premiers who are also his main political rivals to return to Pakistan to take part in upcoming elections, according to a report Friday. The announcement seems likely to deepen Pakistan’s political crisis, in which the military leader faces accusations of authoritarianism as well as a growing challenge from Islamic extremists. Musharraf was asked during an interview with the private Aaj television channel about the aspirations of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to return from exile to lead their parties in parliamentary elections, due … Continue reading Out Partner In Democracy And Moderation
Mark at Wet Bank Guide writes about the difficulty and importance of remembering those who lost their lives due to Katrina. Continue reading Remember
Today, at the White House, during his presser with Tony Blair. Almost Called Him A Poodle! I do congratulate the Prime Minister for being a — when he gets on a subject, it’s dogged. It’s His Government Now I’ve instructed my Secretary of State to be actively engaged. She represents the position of the Bush government, which is two states living side by side in peace. Just Can’t Help Himself I’ve instructed Josh to stay in touch with leaders — Josh Bolten, Chief of Staff — stay in touch with leaders, both Democrat and Republican, about moving a supplemental as … Continue reading Your President Speaks!
A few graphs from the NYTimes’ analysis of Wolfowitz’s multiple failures. A ‘Second Chance’ at Career Goes Sour Paul D. Wolfowitz was ready to move on from the Pentagon in early 2005. He had been thwarted in his effort to become defense secretary or national security adviser. And the war in Iraq had deteriorated. So when the World Bank presidency came open, he jumped at the opportunity. It offered him a “second chance” to redeem his reputation and realize his ambitions, says a friend who has known him for decades. Months later, another friend ran into the new bank president … Continue reading This Time, Nelson Muntz Is Shouting, “Sha-Ha!”
In which we learn it’s really, really hard not to be a racist, sexist prick: Smerconish settled in, did his usual show and emerged unscathed. But his concern is shared by broadcasters from coast to coast as a strange sound echoes across the nation’s airwaves: radio hosts walking on eggshells, trying to avoid Imus’ fate. Jeff Vandergrift and Dan Lay could not, and now they’re scrambling for work. The co-hosts of “The Dog House with JV and Elvis” were permanently pulled last weekend from WFNY-FM for an offensive prank phone call, replete with ethnic and sexual slurs, made to a … Continue reading Today’s Random Bit of Dumbassery and Whining
Crap, these people can’t do anything right. For all those who keep whining about how the government can’t do anything right, we’re happy to report that the massive New Embassy Compound in Baghdad, the biggest U.S. embassy on earth, is going to be completed pretty much as scheduled in August. The bad news is that it appears it’s not going to have enough housing for all the employees who’ll be moving to the 27-building complex on a 104-acre tract of land — about the size of the Vatican, two-thirds the size of the Mall — within the Green Zone. In … Continue reading The Biggest US Embassy Ever Is Too Small
Yepper. Iraq faces the distinct possibility of collapse and fragmentation, UK foreign policy think tank Chatham House says. Its report says the Iraqi government is now largely powerless and irrelevant in many parts of the country. It warns there is not one war but many local civil wars, and urges a major change in US and British strategy, such as consulting Iraq’s neighbours more. [snip] The Chatham House report, written by Gareth Stansfield, a Middle East expert, is unremittingly bleak, says BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins. Mr Stansfield argues that the break-up of Iraq is becoming increasingly likely. In large … Continue reading Failed State
Because it’s a’comin’. A closely watched gauge of future U.S. economic activity fell in April, nearly reversing the previous month’s gain and easing concerns about whether the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates. The Conference Board said Thursday its index of leading economic indicators dropped 0.5 percent, higher than the 0.1 decline analysts were expecting. The drop follows a revised 0.6 percent climb in March, which came after two months of declines. The reading is designed to forecast economic activity over the next three to six months. The reading tracks 10 economic indicators. Two of those readings were positive in … Continue reading I Hope You Are Ready For The Next Recession
Damn. As a young lawyer giving his first significant public speech at the age of 28, Abraham Lincoln warned that a persistent period of dysfunction and unresponsiveness by government could alienate the American people and that “the strongest bulwark of any government, and particularly of those constituted like ours, may effectively be broken down and destroyed—I mean the attachment of the people.” Many Americans now feel that our government is unresponsive and that no one in power listens to or cares what they think. They feel disconnected from democracy. They feel that one vote makes no difference, and that they, … Continue reading Happy Democrat Photo: Al Edition
One in three Americans is a “minority”. The number of people in the United States from ethnic or racial minorities has risen to more than 100 million, or around one third of the population, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released Thursday. Continue reading And The Entire Republikkkan Party Just Shit A Brick
I usually steer clear of all posts related to NOLA and hurricanes in deference to our fabulous scout prime, but…GODDAMN! The federal government is spending millions of dollars on a publicity campaign while its hurricane forecasters are struggling with budget cuts, the National Hurricane Center’s director said Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is spending up to $4 million to publicize a 200th anniversary celebration, said Bill Proenza, who heads the hurricane center, part of the National Weather Service, which is a NOAA agency. At the same time, it has cut $700,000 from hurricane research, he said. “No question … Continue reading Craptacular
On the pain and suffering wrought by Falwell. Here is just one part of that legacy, just one. But a very important one that has affected millions of lives world wide to this day… Following discovery of the first cases in 1981, it soon became clear a national health crisis was developing. But President Reagan’s response was “halting and ineffective,” according to his biographer Lou Cannon. Those infected initially with this mysterious disease — all gay men — found themselves targeted with an unprecedented level of mean-spirited hostility. A significant source of Reagan’s support came from the newly identified religious … Continue reading Let us reflect…
In last year’s case of the capture and slaughter of US soldiers in Iraq our Iraqi allies sat and watched. Three U.S. soldiers slaughtered in a grisly kidnapping-murder plot south of Baghdad last June were not properly protected during a mission that was poorly planned or executed, a military investigation has concluded. Two military officers have been relieved of their commands as a result of the litany of mistakes, but neither face criminal charges, a military official familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press on Wednesday. A report on the investigation said the platoon leader and company commander — … Continue reading Our Iraqi Allies
Chimpy is trying to legitimize some of his recess appointments made during the Easter break. Nominations Sent to the Senate Andrew G. Biggs, of New York, to be Deputy Commissioner of Social Security for a term expiring January 19, 2013, vice James B. Lockhart III, to which position he was appointed during the last recess of the Senate. Let’s see what SourceWatch has to say about Mr. Biggs. Biggs is a researcher at the Cato Institute, a Washington, D.C., Libertarian think tank. Biggs “has been an outspoken proponent of converting Social Security benefits into self-directed retirement accounts, which Bush favors … Continue reading Shoot ‘Em Down!
I’ve always assumed that there were plenty of artillery pieces laying around Iraq, left over from Saddam’s powerful land-based forces. But I also assumed that the insurgency would never use proper artillery because of American air superiority. It’s one thing to pop off a few mortar rounds or let fly with an RPG and then disappear with your easily concealable weapon. It’s quite another thing to set up and fire an artilery peice, then take it down and get it into hiding before a US Cobra attack helipcopter eliminates you. But now it looks like all bets are off. Baghdad, … Continue reading Artillery? What the Fuck?
As the Rude Pundit said today of Christopher Hitchens’ appearance on AC 360 to discuss the death of Jerry Falwell…he can be exhilarating when he’s on your side. Tonight Hitchens continued on the subject of Falwell on Hannity and Colmes. He got into it with Hannity and later dished out taunts of Abramoff to Faux News for the other guest of the segment–Ralph Reed– including… “And why not a word now from the friend of Jack Abramoff” and “That’s all it needs now let’s hear from the Abramoff faction…you should be ashamed of yourselves.” And there was more. This was … Continue reading Hitchens To Faux News/Ralph Reed…”Tell it to Jack Abramoff”
What’s left of Iraq seems to be disintegrating. Sprawling street battles between militia gunme and Iraqi security forces erupted in three cities on Wednesday on a day of wide-ranging violence that underscored the grave security situation across much of Iraq. In the northern city of Mosul, more than 200 Sunni Arab insurgents carried out a sophisticated attack on several targets using suicide car bombers, rocket-propelled grenades, assault rifles and improvised bombs, said Major General Watheq al-Hamdani, the top police commander in Mosul. [snip] Earlier in the day, in the southern city of Diwaniya, scores of militiamen loyal to the Shiite … Continue reading Running Street Battles
That’s the compassionate condescending conservative response to the people of the Gulf Coast living in FEMA trailers with unhealthy levels of formaldehyde… WASHINGTON — Complaints that mobile homes and trailers housing hurricane Katrina and Rita victims have unhealthy levels of formaldehyde were dismissed by Federal Emergency Management Agency Director David Paulison on Tuesday. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., asked Paulison about the complaints at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on FEMA’s ability to respond to the 2007 hurricane season. Paulison said he was unaware the trailers posed any health threats. The Sierra Club and other environmental groups, however, say high … Continue reading FEMA head: “air those trailers out”
Author Douglas Brinkley won’t be a NOLA resident for long. He is moving to Houston to take a position at Rice University. Continue reading Brinkley moving to Houston
Giuliani and the ferrets. Worst band ever. A. Continue reading Columnwhoring
Pony Blow Was Playing DumbToday
Q Is the Wolfowitz saga going to play itself out today, or is it — what do you know about that?
MR. SNOW: I don’t know — again, we’ve made our position known. We know there are meetings ongoing. But I don’t have anything new.
Q And they asked for an adjournment for some discussion. Do you have any idea what that was about?
MR. SNOW: No, I’d refer all questions back there. I don’t — I mean, we’re led to believe they are going to be meeting further today, but I don’t have anything new.
[snip]
Q This morning you said there were a lot of conversations going on regarding Wolfowitz.
MR. SNOW: Regarding what?
Q Wolfowitz. Are administration officials involved in those negotiations?
MR. SNOW: Again, I’m just — you’re going to have to — look, let me put it this way — we do have a representative on the board of governors, it is the Treasury Secretary. But beyond that, I’m not going to get into anything that may be transpiring.
Q Are you denying, then, that the administration is negotiating some kind of a deal —
MR. SNOW: I’m not discussing it, yea or nay.
He Might Also Have Been LyingJust A Little Bit
The World Bank’s executive board has dismissed a proposal floated by the Bush administration aimed at delivering the resignation of the institution’s embattled president, Paul D. Wolfowitz, according to senior officials at the bank.
The proposal, pressed with foreign finance ministers by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr., would have had the bank’s board reprimand but not fire Wolfowitz for engineering and covering up a substantial raise for his girlfriend, with the bank expressly sharing some of the blame for the ethics controversy. Following that, the Bush administration would have agreed to replace Wolfowitz, said administration sources who spoke on condition they not be named, citing the sensitivity of the issue.
But the board rejected that formulation in discussions last night and today, the sources said. The board is deliberating over a report by an investigating committee that finds Wolfowitz breached his contract, broke ethics rules and undermined the reputation of the bank. The board’s leadership was hoping to resolve the matter and take action — perhaps declaring a lack of confidence in Wolfowitz or even firing him — by the end of today.
Continue reading “Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle”
Matt at Fix the Pumps has a new post which examines “a set of condititions which are more likely to cause flooding in New Orleans than before Katrina.” Central to those conditions is the decision by the Army Corps of Engineers to not fix the outfall canal walls in NOLA and instead put up floodgates. I highly recommend reading Matt’s entire post but here is the concluding paragraph… The Corps will not fix the walls. They will rely on their beloved yet untested, unproven, and defective floodgates (we won’t really know they work until a storm hits), leaving New Orleans … Continue reading Warning on New Orleans flood protection “system”
Green Zone hit again. At least nine apparent mortar rounds slammed into the U.S.-controlled Green Zone on Wednesday, the second such attack in as many days, an official said. A U.S. Embassy spokesman said two Iraqis were killed and 10 people were wounded. No American casualties were reported. The explosions occurred shortly before 4 p.m., about the same time the Green Zone was hit Tuesday.</i> Continue reading Soon To Be Known As “The Red Zone”
Today, in Washington, on immigration reform. The Bill That Is That Bill The best way, and, frankly, the only way to get a comprehensive bill done that will matter and deal with this issue once and for all is for the bipartisan approach that we’re now working on to come to fruition, that it’s got to be a bipartisan bill that is — is that bill our Secretaries are working on with members from both parties in the Senate. Continue reading Your President Speaks!
The GAO begs to differ. A U.S. government report released Tuesday showed that the recent U.S. troop increase and security crackdown has had little effect on the high number of attacks in the country. The average number of attacks rose from 71 a day in January 2006 to a high of 176 per day in October, according to the report from the Government Accountability Office. In February, when the troop increase began to take effect, daily attacks dropped slightly to 164. Daily attacks averaged 157 in March and 149 in April, the report said. The report, which cited the U.S.-led … Continue reading The Surge Is Working!
Dan Baum of the New Yorker has some from New Orleans. Continue reading Signs of the Times
Give him the keys to the henhouse. A senior lobbyist at the National Association of Manufacturers nominated by President Bush to lead the Consumer Product Safety Commission will receive a $150,000 departing payment from the association when he takes his new government job, which involves enforcing consumer laws against members of the association. The lobbyist, Michael E. Baroody, wrote recently to the commission’s general counsel that the severance was an “extraordinary payment” under a federal ethics rule, requiring him to remove himself from agency matters involving the association for two years. Under the rule, a payment is “extraordinary” if an … Continue reading There’s a Fox!
The Canadians are being subtle. The World Bank should be allowed to deal with the problem of what to do with embattled head Paul Wolfowitz, a senior Canadian finance ministry official told reporters on Wednesday. The comments were in line with those made by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on Tuesday. Sources in Washington say that behind the scenes, Canada is urging that Wolfowitz step down. The Germans? Not so much. Germany’s development minister said Wednesday that World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz would be doing his organization a favor if he resigned and said he would not be welcome at a … Continue reading Could Be Wolfowitz’s Last Day