Dirty Hippies
As Holden used to ask all the time, why does America hate America? A. Continue reading Dirty Hippies
Month: August 2009
PBJ Takes Home the Bronze
From2Millionth Web Log Last night our guv walked off withthird place on Countdown’s Worst Person segment, demonstrating sufficient hypocrisy invying for transit funds he specifically derided during hisKenneth debut last February. That said, wow but it would be nice if–at long last–passenger rail service was restored between Red Stick and NOLA. Indeed, it’s almost enough to make me ignore PBJ’s double standard. Almost. I wonder if the media’s going to call him out, or if this gets conveniently swept under the rug. The same media that, in comparison, questioned Barney Frank for getting angry when someone asked if he demonstrated … Continue reading PBJ Takes Home the Bronze
I So Totally Want To Tongue-Kiss Barney Frank Right Now
This World Is Full Of Dipshits
Here’s to you, fucktards.This picture will never be overused, apparently. Seriously,what the fucking fuck? Regarding A’s remarks about the comments to the article below. Fuck you people. Now, quite a few of the comments there expressed shock, sympathy, outrage, and, you know, humanity. But then you get the stinknuggets who blame a girl for, uh, being in the path of a bullet. How lovely. I’m so glad that these people have lived perfect lives, devoid of any tragedy, and that they can look down from their lofty perches to grace us unwashed masses with their omniscience. In other words: Yeah, … Continue reading This World Is Full Of Dipshits
When they come back against him, and they will
p>All Barney Frank is waiting for is for someone to condemn him for ridiculing this “real American,” a poor concerned citizen just trying to express her fears. I hope they do because then he gets to go on television and restate his point even louder: that it is, in fact, obscene, vile, not to mention idiotic, for low-information pissed-off culture warriors to compare a sitting US president on the opposite side of the political spectrum from them with a psychopath who murdered six million humans. I do not care how angry you are, what life has handed you, how scared … Continue reading When they come back against him, and they will
Do It
About time.Look, I’m all for this rope-a-dope shit where we try to make the marriage from hell work for a while, but we saw what we got out of it. Crazy people screaming. The Republicans could have marshaled some sort of thoughtful opposition here but they chose to cede the debate to Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck. What they got was every militia-belonging nutball with an AK who wanted to be on TV. So, we’re done with that now, and maybe next time we can start out by not even bothering to ask them what they think. Seriously, it’s time … Continue reading Do It
Print is Dead
If only newspapers could make some money. A. Continue reading Print is Dead
The Guns
Via the Crack Den, somethingAmanda said here caught my attention: Gun nuts in genuinely rural Texas can afford to be a little more laid back, because their geographic isolation somehow proves their bona fides, butthese suburbanite twits have all that much more to prove, because their shiny suburban existence just makes them feel even more emasculated. It’s the idea of guns as status symbols that interests me, because I grew up with and around hunters and I can’t say any of them spent a serious amount of time talking about their guns. These were guys who ate what they killed … Continue reading The Guns
The Tyranny of Pretty People
ViaHoneyBearKelly, Mad Men and sex and power: Joan’s rape was not a particularly “hard case,” as lawyers like to say – in the middle of it HER FIANCE IS HOLDING HER FACE DOWN. There was nothing subtle about the message, and still, it appears, there are people watchingMad Menwho didn’t get it. An even better example of cognitive dissonance inMad Men‘s audience happened in last season’s famous scene between Don Draper and Bobbie Barrett. In a stunningly physical display of male domination, Don grabbed Bobbie’s hair, inserted his hand into her vagina, and ordered her to compel her husband Jimmy … Continue reading The Tyranny of Pretty People
Dealing with Protests
Remember when Bush needed 14,000 cops in a country where owning handguns was illegal? Scotland Yard is in overall charge of security for Mr Bush’s visit – which begins on Tuesday – and on Monday said it had increased from 5,000 to 14,000 the number of officers it will have on the streets during the visit. Mr Bush will also be protected by hundreds of armed guards from the US. They will not be granted diplomatic immunity, and will be subject to the British legal system if they shoot anybody, the Home Office has promised. Not that I’m all that … Continue reading Dealing with Protests
The Senate: Appendix or Brain Stem?
One of the more interesting themes to come out of last week’s discussion of possible amendments to the Constitution was the idea that the Senate is a crummy institution and ought to be done away with. I can certainly understand that these days, what with Max Baucus holding health care reform hostage to his monumental ego. I know the Senate has always gotten a bad rap–it’s hard to overcome the idea that it was designed to keep the hoi polloi like you and me from screwing up the government. But given some of the wacky things that have made it … Continue reading The Senate: Appendix or Brain Stem?
Nobody Likes The Chimp
Chimpy is stuck at his all-time low job approval rating of 35% in the latest Diageo/Hotline Poll. Bush Job ApprovalApprove: 35%Disapprove: 62% This marks the second consecutive month he’s been judged at 35% job approval and the third month out of the last four. But wait, it gets worse for The Chimpster. A majority of those polled, 51%, strongly disapprove of the job he is doing. Bush Job ApprovalStrongly approve: 14%Somewhat approve: 21%Somewhat disapprove: 11%Strongly disapprove: 51% Yet a plurarlity of those polled approve of the job Nancy Pelosi is doing as Speaker of the House. Pelosi Job ApprovalApprove: 44% … Continue reading Nobody Likes The Chimp
Shameless shit
I had the line in my head today but damn ifMatt Taibbi doesn’t bring it: I’ll say this for George Bush: you’d never have caught him frantically negotiating against himself to take the meat out of a signature legislative initiative just because his approval ratings had a bad summer. Can you imagine Bush and Karl Rove allowing themselves to be paraded through Washington on a leash by some dimwit Republican Senator of a state with six people in it the way the Obama White House this summer is allowing Max Baucus (favorite son of the mighty state of Montana) to … Continue reading Shameless shit
Feeling Nostalgic
From a time of such stupidity one would have thought it could not be surpassed… …yet I’m notso sureanymore Continue reading Feeling Nostalgic
All Of This Has Happened Before
This kind of thing is why I say our national punditry isn’t so much biased as it’s lazy and stupid. Because historical perspective is one of those things you’re supposed to provide in your stories, in your commentary, in your tasks informing the public. Checking the clip file in case this sort of thing has ever occurred before in the world is something you’re supposed to have pounded into you as a must-do. Conservatives have become adept at playing the media for suckers, getting inside the heads of editors and reporters, haunting them with the thought that maybe they are … Continue reading All Of This Has Happened Before
Today on Tommy T’s Obsession With The Freeperati – Town Brawl edition
Good Monday morning, gentle people! As the Freeperati contract away from reality like a slug from salt and retreat into their shrinking fantasy world where everybody thinks just like they do, and nothing’s really been right in this country since Leave It To Beaver, it just gets weirder and weirder. The insularity of this group has reached astounding new heights of late.They used to proudly take every chance to proclaim that they only listed to or read “conservative”-approved news and opinion.These days, that’s just taken as read. Lately, (as your humble narrator has observed here) even that’s not enough.LGF, FOX, … Continue reading Today on Tommy T’s Obsession With The Freeperati – Town Brawl edition
What Oliver Said
Quit getting rolled. A. Continue reading What Oliver Said
Possibly Bill Clinton Could Get Involved
He’s good at freeing journalists. A. Continue reading Possibly Bill Clinton Could Get Involved
Weekend Question Thread
What does your dream house look like? A. Continue reading Weekend Question Thread
Albatross
No self-respecting Republikkkan wants to be caught dead with Chimpy. President Bush plans to visit New Jersey today to help raise money for the state’s cash-strapped and victory-starved Republican Party. If southern New Jersey Republicans are any indication, though, the welcoming party will be rather small. State Sen. Nicholas Asselta, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlan-tic, will be busy attending events in his district. So will U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd. Cape May County Republican Party Chairman Donald Von Savage will not be there, either. State Sen. James “Sonny” McCullough, R-Atlantic, said he would like to go see the president in Edison … Continue reading Albatross
Saturday Blogwhoring Thread
Post away. A. —– Continue reading Saturday Blogwhoring Thread
Quitting Time Booster Shot
Welcome back to the Booster, where we understand both stupid and pain, especially when they come together as one… Spending a couple extra days in Detroit gave me plenty of time to ponder some QTBS moments. Of course, they’re a half week old, but hey. Thus, I’ve interspersed them here, with a quick * to note the ones written while dealing with this crap. The rest were put together once I got home and was sedated. You might notice a palpable difference… *From the “Path of least resistance” department: We got off the plane 40 minutes late and yet it … Continue reading Quitting Time Booster Shot
Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle
Pony Blow Sets Helen Straight
MR. SNOW: Helen, to answer your question from this morning, the President met this morning by secure video teleconference with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki and two members of the Presidency Council, Vice President Tariq Hashimi and Vice President Adel Mahdi. It’s the first time the President has met this group, the Prime Minister plus the Presidency Council, via secure teleconference.
[snip]
Q Length —
MR. SNOW: It was about 40 minutes.
Q Did they discuss an exit strategy?
MR. SNOW: No. There was gratitude for America’s continued support.
Q Did they talk about the five British citizens who were —
MR. SNOW: No.
Q And do you have anything more on that?
MR. SNOW: No.
The Fifty Year War
Q Tony, on Iraq, for the gaggle you were asked about U.S. troops and just how long the presence would be there, the vision. And you compared it to the Korean model. Can you explain that?
MR. SNOW: Yes. It was actually a question that Helen raised and Helen used to create an analogy, but the President has used it before.
MS. THOMAS: Thank you. (Laughter.)
MR. SNOW: That is Helen Thomas, front row veteran. (Laughter.)
Q Spell it right. (Laughter.)
MR. SNOW: Here is — what the President means by that is that at some point you want to get to a situation in which the Iraqis have the capability to go ahead and handle the fundamental matters of security. You have the United States there in what has been described as an over-the-horizon support role so that if you need the ability to react quickly to major challenges or crises, you can be there, but the Iraqis are conducting the lion’s share of the business — as we have in South Korea, where for many years there have been American forces stationed there as a way of maintaining stability and assurance on the part of the South Korean people against a North Korean neighbor that is a menace.
[snip]
Q For 50 years?
Q Now, the Korean model, you’ve got thousands of U.S. troops there for some 50 years. I mean, how is that comparison and vision in that —
MR. SNOW: Wendell just asked the same question. I don’t think — again, that’s not strictly comparable because what you have is a North Korea that continues to be a threat, I mean as we’ve seen with the development of nuclear weapons. We’re hoping that the Iraqis, in fact, are going to have the kind of security and stability they need so that what you’re really dealing with is the internal security of Iraq, rather than trying to provide reassurance against an external foe.
Q So you’re not suggesting that U.S. troops would be there for over 50 years in a —
MR. SNOW: No, no, I’m not. I don’t know. It is an unanswerable question, but I’m not making that suggestion.
Q You’re not suggesting that there’s a parallel between the Korean model today and the Iraqi model today in terms of U.S. force posture?
MR. SNOW: No, what I’m saying is you get to a point in the future where you want it to be a purely support role. But, no, of course, we’re in active combat.
Q Tony, while there’s no way of telling whether we’ll be there 50 years, or not, but isn’t there planning going on for a significant number of troops to be there for a long time? I mean, do you still consider this a long war?
MR. SNOW: Well, the war on terror is a long war.
Continue reading “Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle”
Get Out of the Argument Free
Oliver: Every time a case comes up involving racism and police, we hear about Tawana freaking Brawleyfrom 22 years ago. Yes, she lied. Yes, Al Sharpton is a fool. But every single time, it’s always “remember Tawana Brawley”. That one screwjob of a case is simply not the get out of jail free card for racism that conservatives so often think it is. Because expanded out this is the whole arguing tactic they count on, wingnuts do. “Oh yeah, what about the fat person who smokes, do I have to pay for his health care? What about the lady who … Continue reading Get Out of the Argument Free
One-Up-Yours
This is one of those weeks I’d like to forget. Seems the folks at North-Worst Disoriented couldn’t manage to get one plane to land in Detroit before any one of three others took off. Thus, I was stuck in one of the top ten murder cities for a night, despite the fact my plane was slated to leave Boston at 4:20 p.m. When I got home, I had jury duty on the brain. Seems this is the price you pay for trying to make sure we didn’t have four years of Grandpa Cranky and You Betcha running the country. In … Continue reading One-Up-Yours
Happy Democrat Photo: Harkin Edition
Kick the useless fuckers out. Though: Great, remove him now after he mucked up health care reform. That’s like concluding that microwaving a tin can of chili is a bad idea after you blow up your kitchen. A. Continue reading Happy Democrat Photo: Harkin Edition
We Love Our Children!
Hunter puts his whole hand on something I’ve been struggling to put my finger on: The hostility goes back to what I was pondering in mySunday essay: that the aggressive, furious attempts to even shut down the possibility of a political discussion isreminiscent of the anti-desegregation movement, a point that becomes noteworthy when you aggregate the motives of the “birthers”, who loudly deny Obama’s citizenship, the “teabaggers”, who loudly declare that the same taxes they paid under Bush are tyrannical under Obama, the “deathers”, who loudly assert that healthcare reform is secret plot to euthanize seniors and others that the … Continue reading We Love Our Children!
Friday Ferretblogging: Triumvirate Edition
So. It’s been an eventful week. Come Saturday we decided Riot’s sulking wasn’t natural and also wasn’t entirely Bucky-related and so off he went to the vet, where he was diagnosed with some kind of stomach problem and then put on a cocktail of meds that made him barf. Yeah. You’ve got me, there, too. After some adustments, he kept some of the meds down and started eating again, and by today has recovered enough to join in some good old fashioned Little Brother Thrashing: Overall, though, they’re getting on well. Bucky prefers Puck of the two, I think, because … Continue reading Friday Ferretblogging: Triumvirate Edition
‘Palin Junior’
Sweet Jesus. The fracking ZOO? Wow! What a great turn-out for the Zoo Rally yesterday despite the heat. Thank you for coming; thank you for not being deterred to stand for Truth. The zoo is just one example where God has been dishonored. We have all observed other areas in our city where He is dishonored as well. Why is it we have no problem allowing in anything and everything except God?” Tulsa readers, and you know who you are, can you please straighten this shit out? Also: You already have God. You’ve got God on the corner where the … Continue reading ‘Palin Junior’
AP: Giant Hypocrites or TEH GIANTEST HYPOCRITES EVAR?
That seems to be the choice we’re facing. At the bottom of a very brief, kind of stupid story about a crime: Information from: Fort Collins Coloradoan What information? The whole entire story? The pertinent facts, rewritten hastily to shove out onto the wires? Some of the facts? All of them? The AP, that guardian of our democratic press, that bastion against journalistic malfeasance, does not say. The Coloradoan is an AP member paper and thus pays the AP to carry itsRon Fournier bullshit content and the AP gets to pick up whatever it wants from the paper’s journalists. I … Continue reading AP: Giant Hypocrites or TEH GIANTEST HYPOCRITES EVAR?