Month: November 2007

Uncategorized7 Comments

Hostages held at Clinton campaign office

From theUnion Leader ROCHESTER –Part of downtown Rochester has been evacuated as police respond to an armed standoff with hostages at Hillary Clinton’s local headquarters. Two volunteers are believed to be hostages. The incident began at about 1 p.m. In an interview with WMUR, Lettie Tzizik, an employee of a nearby medical supply company, said a woman who had been released with her small child by the intruder fled to her nearby worksite to seek help. The woman said a man with pepper-and-salt hair in his 40s with what appeared to be a bomb duct-taped to his chest had entered … Continue reading Hostages held at Clinton campaign office

Uncategorized2 Comments

Gotta Laugh

From Chris Rock (video atThink Progress) “This is how [Bush] dealt with catastrophe. The fires in LA he was there the next day,” Rock said. “White people burning he was there. Black people drowning he don’t care… He was putting out the fires with Katrina water!” Jeffrey at Library Chronicles with agood one here shows potential for a job at WaPo or Time… Update: I’m hearing whispers that Bacchus this year will be Jack Nicholson. But the sources are questionable so… naturally I’m publishing it immediately. Hmmmm Jack… Continue reading Gotta Laugh

Stupid Republican Tricks2 Comments

Oglethorpe Needs Your Help

Go suggest some people to sit on their panels: Hold The Date [Jonah Goldberg] Joe Knippenberg posts this over at No Left Turns: The day after Super Tuesday (or is that Stupor Tuesday?)—Wednesday, February 6th, for those who aren’t paying attention—Jonah Goldberg will be keynoting a conference at Oglethorpe. He’ll be talking about his new book. I’m looking for professor and blogger types to fill out a couple of roundtables, one on the future of liberalism and conservatism in America, the other on the nomination marathon/sprint. Contact me by email (jknippenberg@oglethorpe.edu) if you’re interested. I could come up with airfare … Continue reading Oglethorpe Needs Your Help

Stupid Republican Tricks8 Comments

Columnwhoring: War on Christmas, Bitches!

We won’t go until we get some: I’ve spent the past week getting ready for the War on Christmas. Nativity scene? Check. Numerous CDs of the loudest, most annoying carols ever recorded? Check. Garlands, trimmings, cards and candles? Check. Figgy pudding? Check and (burp) check. I am ready to do battle with the secular forces of evil determined to destroy my holiday. Armed with nothing but a DVD of “The Muppet’s Christmas Carol” and an inflatable plastic snowman, I will beat back the horde of invading bah-humbuggers and save the Navidad. I’ve even been rehearsing my battle cry, courtesy of … Continue reading Columnwhoring: War on Christmas, Bitches!

Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle2 Comments

Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Chimpy, The Great Economic Prognosticator On “The Facts”, August 9, 2007:

Q What’s going on in the housing market, is it a correction or a crisis, in your view? Can you assess that?

THE PRESIDENT: Yesterday I did comment upon that, that there was a — I talked about the different scenarios that I had been briefed on about whether or not there would be a precipitous decline in housing or whether it would be what one would call a soft landing, and it appeared at this point that it looks we’re headed for a soft landing. And that’s what the facts say.

Dana Peroxide, Today:

Q The administration has released its updated economic forecast, cutting the 2008 growth. Many people are worried about the risk of a recession. What’s the White House’s take on that?

MS. PERINO: Well, Eddie Lazear, the President’s Chairman of the Council on Economic Advisers, did a conference call. The transcript will be out soon. I understand a lot of people weren’t able to listen to it because the news cycle came out as it did. But it’s been clear to everyone that the fall-out from the housing market is going to have an effect. And that’s not a surprise.

Continue reading “Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle”

Stupid Republican Tricks4 Comments

My Endorsements. Let Me Show You Them.

The power of the mullet compels you! Chuck Norris, the martial arts expert and tough-guy actor who is backing former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, said the dust-up helped Huckabee. “You know what I did? I tuned them out,” Norris said. “I don’t listen to mud-slinging. I want to know what the issues are.” Good Lord, when I made this I was kidding: A. Continue reading My Endorsements. Let Me Show You Them.

Uncategorized2 Comments

Support The Troops, Bitches!

Well, what do you know? It turns out that the Pentagon has underreported the number of US servicemen and women wounded in Iraq by awhopping 40%. At least 20,000 U.S. troops who were not classified as wounded during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have been found with signs of brain injuries, according to military and veterans records compiled by USA TODAY. The data, provided by the Army, Navy and Department of Veterans Affairs, show that about five times as many troops sustained brain trauma as the 4,471 officially listed by the Pentagon through Sept. 30. These cases also are not … Continue reading Support The Troops, Bitches!

So Called Liberal Media8 Comments

On Making Mistakes

It gets more pathetic by the hour, but let’s talk about the one-day story. A friend of mine who’s writing a journalism book was talking with me about blogging and feedback, about the amount of response you get and the crit and whatnot, and what the difference was between that and “real journalism.” And of course my point, as always, ad infinitum, was that it’s pretty much the same response you give when you get 15 phone calls about something. You fuck up, you make a mistake, you get something wrong, you admit it, apologize, fix it and move on. … Continue reading On Making Mistakes

War in Iraq4 Comments

Not counting their sacrifice

Last month Iread in my local media about the death of Sfc. Anthony Raymond Wasielewski from Ladysmith WI. He had been injured in Iraq last May and died at his home in early October. It appeared his death was related to his comabat injuries but from the article that was not conclusive. I wondered if he would be counted as a casualty of the war. I checkedIraq Coalition Casualty Count site and found he was not listed. Recently I checked back at the site and found that Sfc. Anthony Raymond Wasielewski is listed in a separate count of“Post Iraq Deaths … Continue reading Not counting their sacrifice

Stupid Republican Tricks3 Comments

Today on Athenae’s Obsession with the Freepi: Let the Huckabee Purge Begin!

He’s a liar! And a fraud! And a (wait for it) huckster! Bush, on the other hand, sincerely wanted me to peeance and freeance I feel like he is trying to snow me every time I hear him speak. Just a “gut” thing with me. Maybe I’ll change my mind with time. The “Unclear on the Concept” Award goes to … I have to vote for a guy because he’s a member of a message board I hang out on? Sharper than a serpent’s tooth Corsi has just about zero credibility. He writes this crap for mindless boobs who will … Continue reading Today on Athenae’s Obsession with the Freepi: Let the Huckabee Purge Begin!

War in Afghanistan1 Comment

Hearts and Minds

Splattered along a new road in Afghanistan. KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 28 — A NATO airstrike killed 14 laborers working for an Afghan road construction company that had been contracted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to build a road in the mountainous province of Nuristan in eastern Afghanistan, officials said. The strike occurred late Monday night in the Norgram district of Nuristan when the Afghan workers of Amerifa Road Construction Company were sleeping in tents after a day’s work. “Fourteen of our mechanics and laborers were killed as they were asleep in their tents,” said Nurullah Jalali, the … Continue reading Hearts and Minds

Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle

Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Sigh. I GuessDana Thinks That Thirty Civilian Deaths Would Be OK Q Thirty-five Iraqis, including women and children, were killed by Americans yesterday. Do you still consider that we’re having a big success there? MS. PERINO: I don’t think that that number is correct, as far as I know. Obviously, we regret the loss of any innocent life. I know that our military takes great pains to make sure that they are protected in this war zone. I’d refer you to the Multinational Force In Iraq for more. Q — newspapers today — MS. PERINO: I don’t think that that … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle5 Comments

Today On Holden’s Obsession With [Yesterday’s] Gaggle

Do They Have Fudgicles In Israel? I Bet He Would Go If He Knew They Had Fudgicles

Q Dana, is the President planning any trips to Israel and the West Bank?

MS. PERINO: He was asked — he made no announcements, in terms of travel, today. One of the things he said is that you don’t need to be in the region in order to help facilitate getting to this point. In fact, the President, as you know, has not traveled to Israel as President; he went as governor of Texas. And so he said that if there are plans and news of a future trip, that he’ll let us know.

Q But he doesn’t think that would send a signal that he’s fully engaged in this? I mean, he just doesn’t —

MS. PERINO: I think that you saw — what you saw today is that the President is fully engaged, and that it’s because of his actions — if you go back to 2002, where he — 2001, where he said, we are no longer going to stand for terror; in 2002, he calls for — he’s the first President to call for a Palestinian state.

[snip]

Q And then just back to his visit — or lack thereof — to Israel, is there a reason that he hasn’t gone to Israel during the course of his presidency?

MS. PERINO: No, not that I’m aware of. Obviously he’s — he has said several times that he really loved his trip to Israel when he was governor and that of course he would like to go again. If there can be an agreement and plans come together, then we’ll let you know.

[snip]

Q Dana, why do you think it is the President never has gone to Israel over the last six-and-a-half years? He has been a strong supporter; it is unusual for a President not to make a trip to that part —

MS. PERINO: I’m not going to speculate as to why he hasn’t gone. There could be a variety of reasons, including security. But I know that he would like to go again and if those plans come together he’ll let us all know.

Continue reading “Today On Holden’s Obsession With [Yesterday’s] Gaggle”

Economy5 Comments

Vote Of No Confidence

Huh-oh. With Christmas only a month away, American consumers became more pessimistic about the economy in November, sending a widely watched barometer of confidence to the lowest level in two years amid worries about rising fuel costs and a housing market slump. The New York-based Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 87.3, marking a four-month slide and continuing down almost 8 points from the revised 95.2 in October. It was the lowest reading since 85.2 in October 2005 when gas and oil prices soared after hurricanes flooded New Orleans and shut down a large chunk … Continue reading Vote Of No Confidence

Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle4 Comments

Today On Holden’s Obsession With [Yesterday’s] Gaggle

When WillDana Peroxide Simply State That Your President Is Not A Crook?

Q I have a question on executive action. This is specific to the Office of Government Ethics, and specifically, there’s a few provisions in here dealing with the disclosure of classified information to unauthorized persons, as well as making false statements about any knowledge of that. I’d like to know, since the President has authorized — and only the President is authorized to allow the disclosure of this information to unauthorized persons — why, when he became aware that this happened, did he not remove from office any members of the executive branch that either disclosed this information, or had knowledge that it happened?

MS. PERINO: Paula, we have gone through this so many times, I’m just — I don’t have anything to add to the public record.

Q Well, I just have to ask about the timing, because prior to the criminal investigation by Patrick Fitzgerald, the President said that anyone that was involved in the disclosure of the identity of Valerie Plame would not longer work for the White House. And it was only after that criminal investigation began that he changed the ground rules to anybody that commits a crime will no longer work for the White House.

MS. PERINO: Paula, the person who revealed her name has said so publicly, and that person did not work at the White House.

Q But there was also the person that told Scott McClellan that he was not involved. And he was.

MS. PERINO: Thank you.

Continue reading “Today On Holden’s Obsession With [Yesterday’s] Gaggle”

Uncategorized3 Comments

Morning Links

The Guardian: “A woman with an artificial arm has been given the sense of touch following a pioneering operation to reroute some of her nerves.” Dallas Morning News: Interesting — Mike Rawlings, former CEO of Pizza Hut and now the “homeless czar” of Dallas (a title he calls stupid) is working on the plan to end homelessness in Dallas. New Orleans City Business: You may remember the story of Times Picayune photographer, John McCusker, who while distraught urged police to shoot him. An officer was injured in the incident. Now McCusker is set to go on trial December 13th. His … Continue reading Morning Links

Uncategorized3 Comments

Just Depressing

First, here is a line so grotesque in its nature and what it says of our nature that I want to weep…or vomit: A number of hospice providers said ethical and legal constraints would prevent them from discharging patients who outlived their profit potential. That is from a NYT article on the “catastrophic financial consequence” to hospice care facilities of patients living longer than expected resulting in the “federal government to demand that hospices exceeding reimbursement limits repay hundreds of millions of dollars to Medicare.” The charges are assessed retrospectively, so in most cases the money has long since been spent … Continue reading Just Depressing

Stupid Republican Tricks9 Comments

Two Words for You: Buh and Bye

Adios, Trent: No reason for Lott’s resignation was given, but according to a congressional official, there is nothing amiss with Lott’s health. The senator has “other opportunities” he plans to pursue, the official said, without elaborating. Lott was re-elected to a fourth Senate term in 2006. Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, who helped broker a bipartisan immigration bill that went down to defeat this year despite President Bush’s support for it, will run to replace Lott as the Republicans’ vote-counting whip, said spokesman Ryan Patmintra. Lott’s colleagues elected him as the Senate’s Republican whip last year, a redemption for the Mississippian … Continue reading Two Words for You: Buh and Bye

Geek Cred20 Comments

Had To: Galactica Thread

Jacob, from the recap of “Maelstrom:”

Guy gets on a train with a box, airholes in the side. The man he sits down next to asks him about it, and he admits that he’s got a mongoose in there. Dude B is like, “Not something normal, like a bunny or a cat?” No, there’s more to the story. “It’s because of my older brother. He’s a drunk, among other things, and at this point he’s just completely out of his tree. He sees serpents, everywhere. Everywhere he looks, he’s seeing these snakes and they make him terrified.” And Dude B is like, “So they’re imaginary?” Yeah. “So then why the mongoose?” And the first guy smiles and looks very meaningfully at the box, which is empty. “Imaginary mongoose.”

Spoilers for “Razor” underneath the cut.

Continue reading “Had To: Galactica Thread”