Month: March 2008

Stupid Republican Tricks11 Comments

In Explanation, A Script For Conversation With Wingnuts About Spitzer

Republican acquaintance: You haven’t posted anything about theSpitzer story, have you? You: No. RA: Why not? You: It doesn’t interest me all that much. RA: I bet if he was a Republican you’d be interested. You: Absolutely. You know why? RA: Because you’re a liberal? You: Because if he was a Republican, he’d have been caught on video with FOUR hookers doing blow off copies of classifed CIA documents about Iran while wearing only a wet suit and one nipple clamp, with a dildo shaped like Fran Drescher stuck in his ass and the stereo blaring the collected works of … Continue reading In Explanation, A Script For Conversation With Wingnuts About Spitzer

Political Crack4 Comments

Columnwhoring: DEMOCRATS!

Like a big rocking thing: Foster won the Republican stronghold despite the speaker’s history and the weight of John McCain’s endorsement of Foster’s opponent, Republican Jim Oberweis. He won it with the backing of Barack Obama, who did a TV ad for him, and by running strongly against President Bush. It was a shocking upset, but I really should have noticed the sea change Feb. 5, when I showed up to vote in the Illinois primary and there was electioneering going on near my precinct. Nobody in the history of elections has given a damn about my precinct; my Congressman … Continue reading Columnwhoring: DEMOCRATS!

Geek Cred15 Comments

The Worst Story Ever Written (About Blogs)

Holden already posted about the study itself, but this piece about the study is such a splendid bit of wood that I had to pull it out for further discussion. By which I mean, Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ: A majority of Americans do not read political blogs, the online commentaries that have proliferated in the race for the U.S. presidency, according to a poll released on Monday. Only 22 percent of people responding to the poll said they read blogs regularly, meaning several times a month or more, according to the survey conducted by Harris Interactive. In the first place, … Continue reading The Worst Story Ever Written (About Blogs)

Your President Speaks2 Comments

Your President Speaks! AGAIN!

Today, inNashville, Tennessee. What We Got We got people in Iraq who murder the innocent to achieve their political objectives — and we’ve got Americans, who heal the broken hearts of little Iraqi girls. Of course we alsohave got Americans whorape and murder 14-year-old girls and their families, Americans whotorture and murder Iraqis, and Americans wholie in order to initiate an unprovoked war. Continue reading Your President Speaks! AGAIN!

Political Crack4 Comments

Martina!

Heh. Nobody chose communism. Martina Navratilova, the nine-time Wimbledon champion, has regained her Czech nationality after saying she was “ashamed” of George Bush. [snip] In an interview last year with a Czech newspaper, Lidove Noviny, the tennis player said she was as ashamed of the US under Bush as she once was about Czechoslovakia, which split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia after communism fell in 1993. “The thing is that we elected Bush,” she said. “That is worse! Against that, nobody chose a communist government in Czechoslovakia.” Continue reading Martina!

Of Interest4 Comments

Your Blog Sucks!

Harris Poll: For every political persuasion, it seems like there is at least a handful of political blogs which chart attitudes and opinions on campaigns, issues and candidates relevant to that political leaning. One always hears about a blog breaking news before the “mainstream media” actually covers it. But are people really reading these blogs? The answer is no, as over half of Americans (56%) say they never read blogs that discuss politics. Just under one-quarter (23%) say that they read them several times a year and just 22 percent of Americans read blogs regularly (several times a month or … Continue reading Your Blog Sucks!

Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle1 Comment

Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

I TakeThat As A “Yes” Q Were there differences between Admiral Fallon and this administration about how to handle, for example, Iran, troop levels in Iraq? Were there differences inside? MS. PERINO: Well, as Secretary Gates said, when it comes to Iran he does not believe that there was a difference, but there had built up over a period of time a perception that there was a difference. And when it comes to foreign policy it’s critical that an administration speak with one voice. And if there’s a perception that they are not speaking with one voice, then that becomes … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Economy1 Comment

Here Comes Your Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown

Or arecession, whatever. NEW YORK (Reuters) – A U.S. recession has already started and the downturn is likely to last longer than in the recent past, with the economy recovering only late next year, according to a quarterly survey of corporate finance chiefs released on Wednesday. Fifty-four percent of the CFOs said the United States is in recession, and another 24 percent said there is a high likelihood of one starting later this year, according to a Duke University/CFO Magazine survey completed on March 7. Nearly three-quarters of the CFOs said they were more pessimistic this quarter than in the … Continue reading Here Comes Your Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown

Jude, Of Interest14 Comments

More Sexist Bullshit

Have we really not moved past this shit in 90 years? I’m going to make a confession. I have an unhealthy obsession with theToday Show on NBC. A good part of this is because I only have broadcast TV, so I only get five channels. However, there’s something else–something ineffable. I just can’t look away. It’s so awful. Rather than it being informative, I actually forget things I used to know while watching it. It basically serves as a validator of mostly-white, upper-middle-class, suburban values and stereotypes. At least they know their audience.  Anyway, this morning, like the rest of … Continue reading More Sexist Bullshit

So Called Liberal Media7 Comments

The Kids Are Alright, Vol. 367

Student journalism for the win: Grover Cleveland High School Principal Bob Marks has his limits. On Thursday, it was the labeled diagram of a vagina splashed across the front page of the student newspaper’s Valentine’s Day issue. Flustered teachers rushed to confiscate the publication, but with some copies already in circulation and the Reseda campus in an uproar, it quickly became a hot read for the school’s roughly 3,700 students. And some of the contraband issues made their way home, getting a quick reaction from parents. “My phone’s been ringing off the hook,” Marks said. Only one parent asked why … Continue reading The Kids Are Alright, Vol. 367

Your President Speaks6 Comments

Your President… Wait For It… SPEAKS!

Today inNashville, Tennessee. What His View Is Is My view is, is that if we press the enemy, if we bring them to justice, if we defeat them overseas, we won’t have to face them here — is the best strategy to protect America in the short term. Muslim Leaders Hate Peace And some day, if the United States is steadfast and optimistic, people — a President will be able to say, amazing thing happened: I sat down at the table with a leader of Muslim nations, all aiming to keep the peace, to spread freedom and keep America secure. … Continue reading Your President… Wait For It… SPEAKS!

Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle

Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Yo, Dana — What’s With All The “Terra Terra Terra”? Q Dana, I have questions on two topics. Today’s speech — what’s the strategic value in discussing the tactics of the enemy? What’s to be gained by that, and why now? MS. PERINO: I think it’s important that everyone recognize who we are dealing with. [snip] Q Well, just to quickly follow up on that, it’s five years, almost, into the war. Is there a sense from the White House that the American people has kind of lost track of this? People don’t know who the enemy is by this … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Faith11 Comments

New Sins

Stop that cloning. Stop it right now: Thou shall not pollute the Earth. Thou shall beware genetic manipulation. Modern times bring with them modern sins. So the Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of “new” sins such as causing environmental blight. The guidance came at the weekend when Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti, the Vatican’s number two man in the sometimes murky area of sins and penance, spoke of modern evils. Asked what he believed were today’s “new sins,” he told the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano that the greatest danger zone for the modern soul was the largely … Continue reading New Sins

Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle1 Comment

Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Dana, Just How Incompetent Is Condi? Q Dana, the Secretary of State was just in the Middle East, she’s just back — I mean, was there something — what was there that she didn’t accomplish that the President thinks the Vice President — and is this any way, would you say, a comment on the state of the peace process? Is this a rescue mission? MS. PERINO: Kathleen, I think that that is really — I think it’s a little bit outrageous to suggest that. Poland Needs Missiles To Protect Our Missiles That Are Not Aimed At The Russians From … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

War in Iraq5 Comments

More Good News For Republikkkans

Stay the Course! The flow of blood may be ebbing, but the flood of money into the Iraq war is steadily rising, new analyses show. In 2008, its sixth year, the war will cost approximately $12 billion a month, triple the “burn” rate of its earliest years, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz and co-author Linda J. Bilmes report in a new book. Beyond 2008, working with “best-case” and “realistic-moderate” scenarios, they project the Iraq and Afghan wars, including long-term U.S. military occupations of those countries, will cost the U.S. budget between $1.7 trillion and $2.7 trillion — or more … Continue reading More Good News For Republikkkans

Your President Speaks4 Comments

Your President Speaks!

Today, at theWhite House. Polish The Forces The United States recognizes the need for Polish — the forces to be modernized. Brainwreck It’s important for our allies to — when they are worried about the modernization of their forces that friends respond, and we’re responding. Beware Dangerous Materials! Along those lines we talked about the need for mutual security, and that the significant threat to the 21st century, or perhaps the most significant is the launch of a missile with dangerous materials in its warhead. Such Types Technologies are developing that will enable the free world to be able to … Continue reading Your President Speaks!

Pony, Bitches!1 Comment

Pony Up!

Newsweek Poll:32% of Republikkkans now seeing the light. McCain faces obstacles on several fronts. He would be the oldest person to start a first term as president, and three in 10 survey respondents think he is too old for the job. McCain is also in danger of overplaying the endorsement he received this week from President George W. Bush. Campaigning side by side with the unpopular president could hurt McCain’s chances; the president’s approval rating hovers around 30 percent. Even among Republicans, almost a third (32 percent) of survey respondents said they disapprove of the job Bush is doing. Continue reading Pony Up!

Geek Cred8 Comments

One Last Thing We’ve Both Still Got

I hate meta, but boy, is it easier to write meta than to keep trying to outline your just-started novel and keep realizing you can’t keep straight the nine sisters with whom you’ve burdened your protagonist. One of them married an Italian guy, and I don’t remeber if it was supposed to be Vera or Martha. Therefore: Is it possibe we’re being a little dramatic here? Granted, I’m not tremendously invested in either candidate, and granted, this isn’t my first time at the your-candidate-sucks dance (hello, Dean asplosion of 2004, Kerry asplosion of later in 2004, would you two like … Continue reading One Last Thing We’ve Both Still Got

Economy4 Comments

The R-Word

Hoo-boy. Q And what is the prospect of the economy heading into a recession? CHAIRMAN LAZEAR: Again, we think that the growth rate this quarter will be low. There are indicators suggesting that growth will pick up, and pick up quickly. So the question is how quickly will it pick up. We think it will pick up — as I mentioned, we think it will pick up by the summer. The consumer is going to get a pretty big influx of cash in May; we think those checks will go out — it will go out to a large number … Continue reading The R-Word

War in Iraq4 Comments

Rejected Title: ‘If I Did It’

Via caliph garrett in comments, Dougie Feith blames the dog for eating his war: Among the disclosures made by Feith in “War and Decision,” scheduled for release next month by HarperCollins, is Bush’s declaration, at a Dec. 18, 2002, National Security Council meeting, that “war is inevitable.” The statement came weeks before U.N. weapons inspectors reported their initial findings on Iraq and months before Bush delivered an ultimatum to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Feith, who says he took notes at the meeting, registered it as a “momentous comment.” [snip] Others have criticized Feith’s plan as relying too heavily on Iraqi … Continue reading Rejected Title: ‘If I Did It’

Political Crack5 Comments

Today on Athenae’s Obsession with Republican Social Networking Sites

Athenae, you’ve been asking me, how are Mick Huckabee’s supporters taking his decision to withdraw from the presidential race? The fine Americans who friended him on MySpace and posted to his Facebook page, how are they coping? Not well: Governor- I pray that the Lord blesses you in the days ahead and that He also bless those that are now looking for jobs. Huckabizzle! haha. I can’t wait til next year because i’ll be able to vote for you again for your 2nd term in office as President! It’s cool to finally see a good, Christian guy that has character … Continue reading Today on Athenae’s Obsession with Republican Social Networking Sites

Jude, Of Interest5 Comments

Rich Lowry: Idiot

His finest hour. This particular bit of Lowry’s idiocy has been bugging me since the middle of the week, and I finally have a chance to say something about it. How incredible is it that Bush and McCain are having a love-fest at the White House, and Democrats are at each others throats in an increasingly bitter contest that involves the hot buttons of race and gender? Somehow, Rich Lowry gets paid to write down his thoughts. Let’s see here. Sens. Clinton and Obama are vying for the same job. Sen. McCain and Pres. Bush are not. How incredible is … Continue reading Rich Lowry: Idiot

Political Crack1 Comment

The Editors Should Have My Baby

Wait. No.I have that backwards: McCain can’t run against a candidate until a candidate exists. Right now, John McCain is tasked with attacking a cypher, a genderless, ethnicityless everyperson who is too insidery/inexperienced, did/didn’t oppose the Iraq War, does/does not support NAFTA, and so on. But, consider – what if Hillary doesn’t win? I kid – I kid because I love. But before beginning a proper campaign, the Republicans have to decide to howl about the threat to the Republic posed by the imminent election of a possible Lesbian In College or a dusky, foreign Manchurian candidate. Unless it turns … Continue reading The Editors Should Have My Baby