Month: January 2008

War in Iraq8 Comments

War President

February 8, 2004: I’m a war president. October 26, 2006: You know, when I campaigned here in 2000, I said, I want to be a war President. January 15, 2008: “My image [is] ‘Bush wants to fight Muslims.’ And, yes, I’m concerned about it. Not because of me, personally. I’m concerned because I want most people to understand the great generosity and compassion of Americans,” he said. “I’m sure people view me as a war monger and I view myself as peacemaker,” the president said. Continue reading War President

Your President Speaks3 Comments

Your President Speaks!

Today, inSharm el Sheikh, Egypt. There’s A Wonder And I told the President I’m going to stay — there’s a wonder whether or not the American President, when he says something, whether he actually means it. A Clear Signal Egypt is an important nation — that sends a clear signal. Not Only I’m A Proud Father I appreciate the fact that women play an important role in your society, Mr. President. I do so because not only I’m a proud father of two young professional women, I also know how important it is for any vibrant society to have women … Continue reading Your President Speaks!

Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle1 Comment

Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Dana Peroxide Proves That Hope Is Not A Plan Q Dana, you just said that the — that as a result of the conversations, OPEC would be encouraged to increase oil production — MS. PERINO: I said there is a hope. Q “There is a hope,” — okay, I’m sorry. Q Dana, I didn’t hear what you just said. MS. PERINO: I said there is a hope that as a result of these conversations, that OPEC may be encouraged to authorize an increase production to help deal with the tight supply problems in this time when we have growing economies … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Economy3 Comments

The Second Bush Recession

Baby, it’shere. Frugal shoppers cut back on their spending at the nation’s retailers by 0.4 percent in December, the most in six months, in a gloomy report that fanned fears of a recession. The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that the drop in retail sales, which followed a brisk 1 percent gain in November, marked the worst showing since June, when merchant sales declined by 0.8 percent. [snip] Excluding sales of automobiles, which can swing widely from month to month, sales at all other retailers also fell by 0.4 percent in December, the biggest decline since August. The report was much … Continue reading The Second Bush Recession

Of Interest15 Comments

If There Is Any Reason

Why Anthony Bourdain and I should not be joined in Internet matrimony, I’d like to know what it is: I admit I’m genuinely annoyed by the occasional internet poster who suggests that whatever I might have to say about food, about travel–about anything–is somehow gravely diminished by the fact that I’m no longer working in a professional kitchen. That proximity to the line, the actual job of cooking dinner for the public enhances one’s powers of perception, focuses the mind and builds vocabulary and that “keeping it real” necessitates dying behind the stove, a broken, broken kneed and broke-ass geezer … Continue reading If There Is Any Reason

Your President Speaks5 Comments

Your President Speaks! Saturday Edition

The sophisticates at First Draft bring you Dear Leader’s Freedom Nuggets™.Now Powerline Approved! Saturday, inManama, Bahrain . Betcha He Sits When He Pees I am really honored to be the first U.S. sitting President to have visited your country. Saturday, inKuwait City, Kuwait. What The Freedom Agenda Says All Participants In Society Have Got I happen to believe very strongly in the freedom agenda and I think an integral part of that agenda is making sure that all participants in society have got an equal voice. The First Ran I Ever Ran We’ve had people here at the table who … Continue reading Your President Speaks! Saturday Edition

Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle5 Comments

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

Dana Peroxide Is AClueless Twerp Who Can’t Be Bothered To Keep Up With What’s Going On In The World Q On the Strait of Hormuz incident, do you have a current understanding of the details of what happened — how close they got, what they dumped overboard, what they said when they said it — that you could run over for us? MS. PERINO: No, I haven’t received any additional since we’ve been on the trip. Q And the questions raised about exactly what happened? MS. PERINO: No, I would refer you to the Pentagon for more. The Navy is … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With [Saturday’s] Gaggle

Your President Speaks2 Comments

Your President Speaks! Again!

Today, at theGuest Palace, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their Budget Moving So I can’t remember the exact moment; I would say it was maybe 10 days ago or something like that, when we were getting word that their budget moving, the deBaath law was on its — it had gone through two readings I think before the holidays. It’s Like A Meeting I meet with Ryan Crocker and David — General Petraeus weekly, and it’s like a meeting. About This Forward I’m not going to predict, Steven Lee, about this forward. Part of the Issues And the definition of federalism, by … Continue reading Your President Speaks! Again!

Your President Speaks2 Comments

Your President Speaks!

Today, inRiyadh, Saudi Arabia. What’s For Certain One thing that’s for certain: The United States benefits when people come to my country. The Global War On Articles Continues And one of my concerns was after September the 11th that our visa policy, particularly for Saudis, was tightened to the point where we missed opportunity to show young and old alike what our country is really about. What Rich Saudis Educated In The US Got I love the fact that some of you were educated in America. I think you’ll find you got a good education there, but more importantly, Americans … Continue reading Your President Speaks!

Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle1 Comment

Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Ed “The Weasel” Gillespie Discusses Chimpy’s Efforts On Your Behalf Q One of the things on a lot of people’s minds back home is the price of oil. Has that come up, or does the President plan to bring that up with the King? MR. GILLESPIE: It has come up. It’s come up in different context. There’s been questions about — and again, I don’t know about the President’s conversation with the King; I’m talking more generally about conversations in the region. There was interest in reducing* — alternative fuels and the efforts there, and how that’s going. There has … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood3 Comments

Professor’s Lessons for Mookie

Last weekI beat on the silly $3 quadrillion story for its lack of context and perspective. It’s the kind of story that brings out the stupid and of course it did just that as Oyster points out. In his postOyster calls the matter of aMr Vandeleun’s stupid to the attention of Ashley Morris in hope that Ashley will deliver his “trademark subtelty and finesse” to one Mr. Vanderleun.Ashley in turn delivers and I highly recommend reading all of it but here is a taste… He calls New Orleanians “legions of hustlers, grifters, drunks, junkies, pathics and drooling layabouts“. Hmmm…I wonder … Continue reading Professor’s Lessons for Mookie

So Called Liberal Media1 Comment

What We Love and Lose

The best thing I’ve read about newspapers in a while: Mostly, it was a daily grind. We’d bicker. Fight. Bitch. Moan. Drink together. Often at the same time. We all knew we were on a sinking ship — the water was already up to our knees. We complained to each other. We talked about getting out. We tried for big scores — tried to be noticed. It wasn’t much use. Every so often we’d break a big story, but it wouldn’t make any waves until the Enquirer reported it the next day. Every so often, we’d take a hard stand, … Continue reading What We Love and Lose

Stupid Republican Tricks3 Comments

Rudy’s Stalker

Scary. As with most of his previous visits to South Florida, Giuliani stumped Sunday in the politically influential Cuban-American community. He addressed thousands of parishioners at El Rey Jesus church in Miami and got out in front of tens of thousands of people who lined Calle Ocho for the Three Kings parade. [snip] Former U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, who’s fallen out of public view since her disastrous bid for the U.S. Senate in 2006, was spotted at the church. Giuliani staffers said her visit was not planned by the campaign. Continue reading Rudy’s Stalker

Your President Speaks11 Comments

Your President Speaks!

Today, inRamallah, during a presser with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He Just Wasn’t Somebody President Abbas was elected on a platform of peace. In other words, he just wasn’t somebody who starts talking about it lately, he campaigned on it. The Valley Girl President Now, look, there are some in the world who don’t believe in the universality of freedom. I understand that. They say, like, freedom is okay for some of us, but maybe not all of us. Like, Radical I said, nudge the process forward — like, pressure; be a pain if I need to be a pain … Continue reading Your President Speaks!

Uncategorized9 Comments

Oh Yeah!

The Packers are in the NFC Championship game. Whether throwing TDs, snowballs or urging Coach McCarthy to throw the red challenge flag…Brett was The Force After fumbling the ball twice Ryan Grant had an incredible day rushing for a Packer playoff record 201 yards Greg Jennings is really becoming a great receiver What a great game. Oh yeah…Go Giants–So that Championship game is in Lambeau! Continue reading Oh Yeah!

Political Crack16 Comments

As a Writer, That Speech? Swoon

The words just fucking sing: For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we’ve been told that we’re not ready, or that we shouldn’t try, or that we can’t, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people. Yes we can. It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation. Yes we can. It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom through the darkest of nights. Yes we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out … Continue reading As a Writer, That Speech? Swoon

Economy10 Comments

Chimpy’s Second Recession

It’scoming. An already weak holiday shopping season turned out to be even worse than expected for many of the nation’s retailers, who reported Thursday they had disappointing sales results for December. The poor performance raised more concerns about consumer spending, and in turn, the health of the economy. The weak results came from across all retail categories, and prompted many stores to lower their fourth-quarter earnings forecasts. Particularly hard hit were apparel sellers including Limited Brands Inc. and AnnTaylor Stores Corp., as well as department stores including Macy’s Inc. Among the few bright spots was Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which posted … Continue reading Chimpy’s Second Recession

Geek Cred13 Comments

The Book Arrives At My House

Because I am a ginormous dork, I took a picture: So far the tour plans include readings in Madison and the launch party in the Chicago area, and I’ll let you know when we have those dates firmed up because you all are very much invited. If anyone’s in the Madison vicinity and wants to hit the University Bookstore, they have it there as well. The rest of you can buy your copyhere. A. Continue reading The Book Arrives At My House

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood12 Comments

Extra! Extra! Read about a big ass number!

I believe this story begins withUSA Today’s terrible article that seems straight out ofArmy Corps of Engineers headquarters Wichita. The story was titled “Katrina victims swamp corps with trillions in claims.” Its lead screams… WASHINGTON — Tens of thousands of people whose property was destroyed when Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed New Orleans’ protective levees have filed claims demanding the government pay astronomical sums that would be enough money to make multimillionaires of everyone in Louisiana. Hooweee let’s all move to Looziana where they’ll be shitting golden turds. It just gets worse from there as the article focuses on 247 claims of … Continue reading Extra! Extra! Read about a big ass number!

War in Iraq2 Comments

Military Families With Brains

Gallup finds that a majority of Americans with a close family member who has served in Iraq or Afghanistan say the invasion of Iraq was a mistake. An analysis of recent USA Today/Gallup polls shows that Americans with close family members who have served in the military since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — including those who have served in Afghanistan or Iraq — are divided in their overall views of the war. About half of this group says it was a mistake to send troops to Iraq. Most Americans who do not have a close relative who has served … Continue reading Military Families With Brains

Your President Speaks2 Comments

Your President Speaks!

Today, inIsrael, during his presser with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert. He’s A People I’m an optimistic people — people say, do you think it’s possible during your presidency, and the answer is, I’m very hopeful and will work hard to that end. To Convince Other Secondly, the knowledge of how to convert any materials into a bomb. We don’t know whether they have that knowledge or not. However, for the sake of peace, we ought to assume they do, and therefore, rally the world to convince other that they’re a threat. In Which They Can Use To Deliver Third, they’ve … Continue reading Your President Speaks!