Month: November 2007

So Called Liberal Media12 Comments

Tell It and Think It and Speak It and Breathe It

An announcement: My new book is now available for pre-order. It Doesn’t End with Us is the history of the Daily Cardinal, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s 115-year-old student newspaper. It is the story of deadlines and datelines, dating and mating, rock and roll, indie films, and protest politics. It’s the story of two World Wars and two worker strikes, a shutdown, a bombing, and a centennial birthday. It’s the story of long nights and longer days in a windowless basement, of journalism on the edge, and of college kids discovering their dreams. The cover, by a dear friend whose ownjournalism … Continue reading Tell It and Think It and Speak It and Breathe It

War in Iraq5 Comments

Wacka-Wow, Wacka-Wacka Wow-Wow…

No comment. Sex Determined Army Iraq Contracts A former employee of a Tennessee defense company is accused of sleeping with an Air Force contracting officer to secure Iraq contracts. Eric W. Barton, who worked for EOD Technology Inc., which won at least $2.5 million in Iraq contracts, is accused of having a six-month relationship with Air Force Capt. Sherrie Remington, who at the time was in charge of awarding some contracts for work in Iraq, The San Antonio Express-News reported Nov. 11. A report by the U.S. Army urges the company be debarred, which means the company — which has … Continue reading Wacka-Wow, Wacka-Wacka Wow-Wow…

Your President Speaks4 Comments

Your President Speaks! Again!

Today, inNew Albany, Indiana. What Indiana Got I appreciate the fact you got great people — and great basketball. What The Economy And The Markets Have Got At the same time, this economy has got some strains, and you know it as well as I do: High oil prices, the housing market is challenged, the financial markets have got uncertainty. There Is Some Challenges Sure, there’s some challenges facing us, but the underpinnings of our economy are strong, and we’re a resilient economy. What You Got To Understand As we debate the decisions, you got to understand there are two … Continue reading Your President Speaks! Again!

War in Iraq3 Comments

US Casualties Down In Iraq

Is it because Gen. Betrayus decided not to report them? Seems likethe incident described herewas pretty devastating, yet no deaths or injuries were reported. A U.S. army armored vehicle was completely destroyed when an explosive charge went off near a patrol vehicle in eastern Baghdad, Iraqi police said on Monday. “An explosive device planted by unknown gunmen in Falasteen Street blew up at a late hour on Sunday evening, totally destroying a U.S. Hummer-modeled vehicle that was passing the location,” an official security source, who requested anonymity, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). The source did not … Continue reading US Casualties Down In Iraq

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood

Road Home to get $3 billion for shortfall

Bushvetoed one bill today but signed another. Fortunately for Louisianans, Democrats attached a Road Home appropriation to the defense spending bill. Sen Landrieu with thehelp of Senators Byrd and Patty Murray were able to have $3 billion for the Road Home program attached to the defense bill whichBush signed today. The Road Home program was going to run out of money at the end of this year and would have left as many as 76,000 homeowners eligible for the program“empty-handed.” The $3 billion in aid is of course great news but itwill not meet the need entirely… The LRA estimates … Continue reading Road Home to get $3 billion for shortfall

Stupid Republican Tricks3 Comments

Today on Athenae’s Obsession with the Freepi: They Hate Minnesota

Bridge collapses? Tough shit: LAWYERS have waltzed us down this path, preying on the taxpayers’ deep pockets, and with the windfalls of “class action lawsuits” (i.e, Microsoft, Big Tobacco, AT&T breakup, etc., etc.), we’ve been warning-labeled to oblivion in the name of “safety”, and paying billions to those who do stupid things, or happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, etc. Pouring billions into the pockets of Lawyers for “victims” of fate Katrina, 9/11, smoking, flooding, etc. has not eliminated accidents or natural disasters. I’m a victim of Global Warming! where’s my check…? “So, when the … Continue reading Today on Athenae’s Obsession with the Freepi: They Hate Minnesota

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood1 Comment

What FEMA knew and when they knew it

FEMA responds at theirwebsite to theCBS news story on how emails show the agency prohibited their employees from entering trailers due to dangerous formaldehyde levels. It is a great example of truthiness as FEMA focuses on unoccupied trailers and testing at their request. In their release, FEMA reports that the emails in which employees asked for guidance on entering trailers “applies only to the stored and sealed trailers on storage lots.” FEMA is making a distinction between occupied and unoccupied trailers stating employees enter occupied trailers “everyday.” They maintain that formaldehyde “dissipates in the open air when a window or … Continue reading What FEMA knew and when they knew it

Your President Speaks3 Comments

Your President Speaks!

Saturday, inCrawford, Texas, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Spoken By What Is A Dumbass And we were able to have a meaningful discussion on a lot of issues. And then we completed our discussions here in what is my office. I’m Really You Madam Chancellor, I’m really glad you gave me an excuse to come down to Texas. And I’m really you and Professor Sauer came. How Conducive Is It? You can imagine how conducive it is to have meaningful, strategic discussions in an environment outside of our respective capitals. And that’s what we did. Two-Martini Breakfast And I believe … Continue reading Your President Speaks!

Geek Cred

What You’re Supporting

“ Hit the Tip Jar for First Draft! You know, the Freepi raised something like $60,000 this pastquarter to fund their daily hatefests, their Gore derangement syndrome and “I’m not racist BUT” blank-verse and jokes about how women and their ovaries are all infecting them with pussitude and donkey show T-shirts and such. I’m not saying that because I want to be in some kind of contest with them. That would put me closer to the Freepi than I like to get without a decontamination suit. Ew. I’m saying that there’s a lot of well-funded hate out there, a lot … Continue reading What You’re Supporting

So Called Liberal Media3 Comments

Teh Sexy Combover

The DC Madam snaresSam Donaldson; ABC News covers for him. Big Head DC has independently confirmed that a phone number belonging to longtime ABC newsman Sam Donaldson appears within the escort records of Deborah Jeane Palfrey. Palfrey, who is better known as the “D.C. Madam,” owned the Washington-based Pamela Martin & Associates escort business for several years through 2006. [snip] Big Head DC has determined that several media organizations, including ABC News – the employer of Donaldson – have long been holding information that indicates Donaldson’s number was listed within the records of the alleged “DC Madam.” ABC News interviewed … Continue reading Teh Sexy Combover

War in Iraq2 Comments

Doin’ The Condi Cover-Up

Are you a career State Department employee hesitant to volunteer for service in Iraq or Afghanistan? Well, if your worst fears are realized and you are killed at one of those posts Condi has already arranged foryour death to be ignored. If terrorists attack the U.S. embassy in Iraq and injure or kill American diplomats serving there, the State Department does not have to investigate the incident as it would if it occurred anywhere else in the world, thanks to a tweak to federal law. Two years ago, the State Department quietly requested — and received — a legal provision … Continue reading Doin’ The Condi Cover-Up

Geek Cred4 Comments

First Draft Fundraising Week Begins!

Edit: New Posts begin below this one! It’s that time of year again. That time of year when we ask you to support what you care about. I know you care. You’re here, you’re reading and commenting and participating and kicking back and talking about the primaries and Pelosi and hockey and Happy Democrats and Gaggles, you’re here pushing to rebuild New Orleans and do it right, you’re here for the crack vans and silly stuff, kittens and chainsaws and baboons, but mostly you’re here because the kinds of stories we tell here mean something to you. And that means … Continue reading First Draft Fundraising Week Begins!

Pony, Bitches!1 Comment

Sunshine Ponies

Chimpy hits an all-time low in a new poll ofFlorida’s voters. Florida twice put President Bush into the White House, but a new poll shows him hitting an all-time low among voters in the nation’s most populous swing state. The survey shows that voters are troubled by Bush’s handling of the war in Iraq, support withdrawing troops “as quickly as possible,” and are overwhelmingly convinced — 68 percent — that the country is on the wrong track. Just 33 percent of the state’s registered voters rated Bush’s job performance “excellent” or “good,” and 50 percent called his handling of the … Continue reading Sunshine Ponies

Political Crack

Hands Off

I’m waiting for the media to tell me how this isgood for Republikkkans. The latest Harris Poll finds that support for Roe v. Wade has increased fairly significantly in a relatively short time. A majority – 56 percent – now favors the U.S. Supreme Court decision, the highest level since 1998 and an increase of seven percentage points from just last year when a slender 49 to 47 percent is supported the decision. Furthermore, only 20 percent of U.S. adults favor not permitting a woman to get an abortion under any circumstances. Continue reading Hands Off

So Called Liberal Media7 Comments

I’m Going To Be Sick: Journalism Edition

Okay: With tuition-gouged and cash-strapped college students already barely making it through unpaid or poorly-paid internships, I’m truly horrified to find — if true, and I hope it’s not — an internship at Harper’s Bazaar being sold to the highest bidder. Even if the beneficiary is charity, the charity is counting on the desperation of some of the least-affluent members of society to line its own pockets; e.g. the poor robbing the poor. And why should the ability to rack up debt or beg your parents for some cash trump someone’s merits for the job? And what employer would want … Continue reading I’m Going To Be Sick: Journalism Edition

Political Crack5 Comments

Priorities, Chimpy-Style

Chimpy threatens to veto a bill that would rescue 23 million members of the middle class from the Alternative Minimum Tax because it would make up for the lost revenues by making 50,000 millionaires pay the same tax rate as you and I. House Democrats on Friday pushed through an $80 billion bill to block the spread of a dreaded tax on middle-income people. The White House and Republicans, protesting tax increases in the bill affecting mainly investment fund managers, maintained that it would never become law. [snip] What is certain is that if Congress and the White House do … Continue reading Priorities, Chimpy-Style

Uncategorized9 Comments

Heckuva job…Minnesota Edition

Brownie may have to move over. Sonia Pitt, Minnesota’s Emergency Manager isunder investigation for not returning to Minnesota for 10 days after the catastrophic collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge. Her travels and relationship with a federal official are now under scrutiny… The Minnesota Department of Transportation’s investigation of Sonia Pitt — the emergency response executive who failed to return to Minnesota for 10 days after the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed — is scrutinizing her relationship with a high-ranking federal highway official in Washington, D.C. Daniel M. Ferezan, the Federal Highway Administration’s program manager for transportation security, has been questioned … Continue reading Heckuva job…Minnesota Edition

Pony, Bitches!5 Comments

Buckeye Ponies

Sucks to bethe Chimp. Bush didn’t fare nearly as well in the poll, with 31 percent of all Ohio registered voters approving of his performance, 66 percent disapproving and 3 percent with no opinion. This is the lowest approval rating Bush has received during his presidency, down from an 89 percent approval rating in November 2001, the Ohio Poll said in a news release. Most Republicans (60 percent), say Bush is doing a good job, but 68 percent of Independent voters and 95 percent of Democratic voters disapprove. Some of the specifics on Bush’s performance: 50 percent of voters who … Continue reading Buckeye Ponies

Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle3 Comments

Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Third-String MouthpieceGordon Johd’oh Opens With A Statement FromThe President…

We join the people of Pakistan in their continued concern about the state of emergency and curtailment of basic freedoms. We urge Pakistan’s authorities quickly to return to constitutional order and democratic norms. All parties in Pakistan agree that free and fair elections are the best way out of the current situation there. Free and fair elections require the lifting of the state of emergency. We, therefore, continue to call for an early end to that state of emergency, and the release of political members and peaceful protestors who have been detained. We also continue to call on all sides to refrain from any violence, and to work together to put Pakistan back on the path to democracy.

…Leaving Himself Wide Open

Q Gordon, why doesn’t that statement mention Musharraf by name?

MR. JOHNDROE: Well, we call on all Pakistan authorities. We have talked about this with President Musharraf. He made some comments that we noted yesterday; it’s good that he clarified those for the people of Pakistan, that elections will be held early next year and that he will remove his uniform.

But there are certainly a number of people involved in the situation on the ground there, and so we call on all of them.

Q Is that an indication that the administration has given up on him doing what you’re desiring?

MR. JOHNDROE: No, absolutely not. I think his remarks yesterday were notable for calling for elections early next year, as well as removing the uniform. So we expect him to uphold those commitments that he’s made.

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

Uncategorized6 Comments

Packer fans…Best in the World

Now don’t argue with me onthis one. This is just so cool. HBO’s “Inside the NFL” followed Door County Gulf Coast Relief Fund volunteers who traveled during the Packers bye week to Kiln, MS the hometown of Brett Favre. It wasn’t a one time trip and it wasn’t just to see Brett’s hometown… But the volunteers, who have ranged in age from 18 to 70, don’t just roll off their couches, switch off their remotes and decide to spend the Packers bye week rebuilding homes in Mississippi. The latest convoy of about 30 volunteers who headed south last Saturday marked … Continue reading Packer fans…Best in the World

Your President Speaks3 Comments

Your President Speaks!

Yesterday, at Brooke Army Medical Center inSan Antonio, Texas, which he visited in an attempt to justify billing millions to US taxpayers to cover his travel expenses to two Republikkkan fundraisers. San Antonio Now A State I am here to highlight one of the world’s top rehabilitation facilities — right here in my home state of San Antonio, Texas. There’s Obvious Some Disagreements Now, look, there’s obvious some disagreements between me and the Congress, but there’s no disagreement over the amount of money we’re going to spend for veterans. Forgot To Add “In An Unnecessary War” I’ll never forget looking … Continue reading Your President Speaks!

Uncategorized1 Comment

He was a contender…

December 3, 2004: THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I’m proud to announce my nomination of Commissioner Bernard Kerik as the Secretary of Homeland Security. Bernie Kerik is one of the most accomplished and effective leaders of law enforcement in America. In his career, he has served as an enlisted military police officer in Korea, a jail warden in New Jersey, a beat cop in Manhattan, New York City corrections commissioner, and as New York’s 40th police commissioner — an office once held by Teddy Roosevelt. In every position, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to justice, a heart for the innocent, … Continue reading He was a contender…

Geek Cred8 Comments

I Love Joss Anyway

But even so, I really love him: “All the trappings of a union protest were there… …But instead of hard hats and work boots, those at the barricades wore arty glasses and fancy scarves.” Oh my God. Arty glasses and fancy scarves. That is so cute! My head is aflame with images of writers in ruffled collars, silk pantaloons and ribbons upon their buckled shoes. A towering powdered wig upon David Fury’s head, and Drew Goddard in his yellow stockings (cross-gartered, needless to say). Such popinjays, we! The entire writers’ guild as Leslie Howard in The Scarlet Pimpernel. Delicious. Except … Continue reading I Love Joss Anyway