I did not buy anything today.

To complete the Deja Vu, we need to take back the House in 06, so we can get impeachment started. I want these guys' names to be forever associated with crime, filth, treason.

Brad, It may seem like De'ja' Vu, but when the machinations of the Bush Cabal are made public, and eventually they will be, it will make Nixon and the Watergate burglars look like Saints.

{ed. note: Comment written by Atty Jim as if he was someone else, deleted}

{ed. note: Comment written by Atty Jim as if he was speaking to "Jack Frost" deleted.}

Dressed in black...will not buy anything today, as Dredd stated...am writing Boxer and Kerry, thanking them for their courage not to support Rice during the confirmation hearings for obvious and valid reasons. Also writing to Ted Kennedy and others to stand united with Boxer and Kerry next week. Very disappointed that Biden engaged in direct confrontational grilling of Ms. Rice, only to vote for confirmation.

Apologies...couldn't post on the Rice page-just a tad too scary!

Agree with Pushcat; Watergate seems like *child's play* as compared to this group.

{ed note: Comment deleted at commenter's request.}

Brad, Could you remove post #7 for me, thanks.

You guys are stupid!

Hey Lori, You just couldn't resist, the in house nit wit trolls could ya. LOL

Paul, just curious, could you tell us all if you did or did not sign a petition to Impeach Bill Clinton before he was even sworn in as President before his first term.

Let us know!

re #11:

Don't hold your breath, Brad. Trolls don't usually answer questions. And we need you to keep breathing!

Trivial point- Since Johnson is in the picture, isn't that his first Inauguration?

Your point is well made. Though Nixon's crimes are indeed very small compared to those of King George.

Brad, a bit of trivia --- if that is LBJ slightly to the left in the photo, then that would be Nixon's first inaug; not 2nd.

In any event, by Jan 1973 he was only months away from the wonderful joint congressional hearings that helped purge him from office.

As pushcat correctly notes, the bungled burglary at 'watergate' is a nit-of-history compared to the vast, and already well documented, criminality of the bush cabal.

BE THE BUSH OPPOSITION; 24/7

re #13 and #14

I have no doubt that you guys are right. This photo was from 1969. That is indeed LBJ on the left side.

You can also tell by looking at Pat Nixon. Her husband's predicament took a horrible toll on her, and by '73 she looked about 200 years old.

A day that will live in infamy.

Good luck with the impeachment but don't hold your breath, if only it was the Ukraine.

Hey Paul-Go Cheney yourself!
Peter

re comments #3, #6, and #13 suggesting that Nixon's crimes were trivial compared with those of the current administration:

I agree, to a certain extent. But please remember that the crimes of the Nixon administration extended well beyond one bungled "third-rate burglary".

For example, the illegal and secret bombing of Cambodia deposed a stable government which had existed there for a long time, and left a power-vacuum which was filled by Pol Pot and his traveling horror-show. The genocide which followed was the direct result of the criminal acts committed against Cambodia by Nixon and his pal Henry Kissinger.

This is just one example. There were many others. In my opinion, Bush and his cronies could never do anything that would "make Nixon and the Watergate burglars look like Saints". But I have no doubt that they will try.

Winter Patriot, not only are you a very good blogger, but an excellent historian as well. You are correct about the many crimes of Nixon and Henry Kissinger. From Cambodia, Laos, even South America, and Central America the Nixon ,Kissinger crowd cast a very wide and very crimanal net.

Stayed home w/Democratic Flu today. Was watching some of the coronation. W's speach was uninspiring, and I don't know if I caught it right, but I think there's stirrings of a draft, although I didn't hear that particular word. May be wrong, I often am, but what do you think? I was proud to watch on C-Span some of the A.N.S.W.E.R. and others protest, and from what I saw on t.v., there were anti-war, anti-W signs all along the route, or at least what was shown.

I would add one thing to my previous post. History has not yet played out with the current criminals in the White House, when comparing them to Nixon, Kissinger. I still believe history will judge them more harshly.

Nixon had a history of political criminality going back into the mid 1940's, but even so this Deserter-in-Thief has certainly eclipsed that notorious scoundrel already.

As far as impeaching this bungling fool goes, certainly a more compelling case of actual "high crimes" can be made against Bush than what the RadCons manufactured against Clinton. But, of course, it will require a Democratic majority in the House just to raise the issue in the Judiciary Committee for discussion. It would take an overwhelming majority for the issue to gain any steam at all, and the Senate is a whole 'nuther story altogether.

Clinton lied to Congress, $40M investigation, 0 dead, he was impeached (overturned).

Bush lied to Congress, $0 investigation, thousands dead, no impeachment.

Clearly it is not going to happen.

Famous Presidential Quotes:

Richard Nixon - "I am not a crook." (Watergate)

Ronald Reagan - "I cannot recall." (Iran-Contra)

George Bush Senior - "No new taxes." (Sheer stupidity)

Bill Clinton - "I did not have sexual relations." (Monicagate)

Georgy Boy Jr. - "???????" (Vote Fraud, Iraq, 9/11, Social Security, Tort Reform and lots more)

The wrath is coming Mr. President. Prepare your quote for history.

re #'s 13, 14 & 15

You folks are all correct. It is LBJ, and his presence indicates that the photo is from Nixon's first inaugural in 1969. Another indicator is that the oath of office is being administered by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Warren retired in June of that year.

"All The President's Men" is on HBO right now...

re #23

Very Worried:

I follow you're reasoning, and agree with your conclusion.

However, I do have a quibble with the equivalence drawn between Clinton and Bush. I have followed both very closely. Bush lied; Clinton did not.

But no matter what anyone's position is on Clinton's facile use of language, it was not used to convince the American public of an immediate need for a preemptive war... a war which has killed untold tens of thousands --- our soldiers and their innocent civilians --- has cost the taxpayers billions, and has ruined the reputation of the United States around the world.

Further, in lying as he did and about what he did, Bush IMHO has committed "high crimes" whereas Clinton did not.

Paul #9 - Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha - Thanks for the comic relief.

PJBurke #22 - Do we have to wait for the Judiciary - can't the people bring charges against DUMYA? e.g., a class-action suit? won't millions sign on as a party to the suit?

My "neighbors" in the early/mid '70s included Mitchell, Kissinger, Erlichman, Halderman, and others. Disdain would be a gentle description of my utterances as they passed on the street.

First hand knowledge of the treacherous dishonesty regarding Cambodia.

The point of the comparison of the illegal activity represented by the Watergate burglary and the subsequent lying by many, including Nixon, is that it was sufficient to exit a President, in disgrace and requiring of a Presidential pardon to avoid being prosecuted, as well as, landing many of the other bungling liars to prison.

By comparison, lying to Congress, starting an illegal war, sanctioning torture, killing large numbers of innocents, sacrificing the lives of more than a 1000 US soldiers, and disabling many more (for starters) represent crimes of an entirely different quality and magnitude.

And, long before Nixon became President, his unconscionable collaboration with McCarthy at the start of his career in DC assured that every opportunity I had to criticize him, I did so.

Just for clarification, of my earlier terser comments.

BE THE BUSH OPPOSITION; 24/7

Ya Know........
Today is a great day because I believe that it will prove to be **sh's highwater mark. The celebration is over and it's all down hill for this murderous regime after today. I sense a convergence of opposition coming from many different directions, not the least of which are all the fine fighters here on this one site, which is duplicated many times over around the country and the world. Much will be asked of all of us in the coming months, and we must stay united and strong so that we can hurry along the inevitable demise of these criminals and put this sad and tragic chapter of our history where it belongs......in the past.

Peace

:-)

Right there with you, Supersoling.

Was at Westlake plaza in Seattle earlier this afternoon --- packed with folk, all committed to clearing some shrub, sooner rather than later.

We will in_DEED prevail.

BE THE BUSH OPPOSITION; 24/7

Reuters calls it a few dozen anti-Bush demonstrators while DCIndy Media reports this:

http://dc.indymedia.org/

What is with mainstream media and the refusal to objectively *report* news instead of ignoring or creating it?

Absolutely beautiful, Supersoling... #31.

I feel it to.

Happy Inauguration Day Almighty Bradbloggers!!!

Note to Brad, re my # 31 post. Never meant to imply that any other website or blog could duplicate what you have going here! Thanks

Thank you Cheryl #34 - I have no TV, but was only interested in the protesters anyway.

My favorite line is "3:11 "Fuck Bush" can be heard live on CNN as protesters out-shout Bush supporters"

These protesters are my heros and heroines. Now we just need the police to join the protesters. I'm sure most of them are anti-Bush, too. Praying, praying, praying.

Welcome to the "BUSH OLIGARCHY"

Government of the people by a “few people”

G.

It looks like the Mighty Dictator fell on his ass. I heard the speech was a dud.
Now just a few drunken Hee Haw brawls. and we're on our way.

On to the Velvet Revolution!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I live in Washington, DC. My apartment building is sandwiched between two large hotels that are playing host to this week's festivities. Seeing lots of people who have come from out of town to celebrate with Bush. So far, I haven't seen a single black person, or Hispanic. I have, however, spotted lots of middle-age blond ladies in fur coats (something I rarely see in this heavily Democratic neighborhood).

It speaks volumes about who actually got this president re-elected.

Oh! It's just another few days at the corporate trough, where those paying for the "BALLS" attend to try and collect on their payments, plying their wares, "lobbyists" making deals - so boring and disgusting. Then they all go back to their hotels and SHOWER, but the dirt and smell just doesn't come off - we all see it and smell it, and it's polluting the planet!

Hi, Lewis #40 - They're probably mostly wives/girlfriends of the creeps who are locked away counting all the money they plan to make over the next four years, or more. But hopefully some of them are spies for our side.

You know what? Let them have their money.
Just imagine the incredible emptiness that dwells inside their jewel encrusted, fur covered bodies. They will rot from the inside.
And the planet will recover.

MY FREE COUNTER-INAUGURAL ADDRESS:

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

The only thing that saved our last KING GEORGE from the blade of a guillotine was the fact he ran his tyranny from outside of America in merry olde England. So as we honor today's historic moment, the "peaceful transfer of power" from one term of corporate royalty to another, we must rediscover why we had an American Revolution and why soon we will bring on its brother.

As I look out upon the growing sea of protestors and the rumblings of revolutionary resistance, I take solace in the volcanic tremors that quake under the feet of a corrupt corporate legal and political heirarchy. One which for two centuries has evolved from the tyranny of a familial monarchy to the corruption of a corporate oligarchy.

So as the ten percent of Americans who own ninety percent of our wealth celebrate the reincarntion of their corporate presidential standard bearer, they look down from on high to bless the second term of their annoited one. The financial transactors, the oil and gas royalists, the military industrialists, and the fortunate ancestors, who lived long enough to inherit all their wealth and power by doing nothing other than to be born. They join together with those of new wealth and commerce to carry on that age old tradition, watching one of their own lead their free enterprise system into a GOD made financial heaven fit for a KING and the seating of their leader upon his political throne.

As the subservient Democrats fall into their line, representing the "loyal" opposition to give the masses false hope, they wait their turn when once again they can serve their corporate puppet-masters...at the head of the service line in competition for a bone. And as the corporate royalty toys with all their subjects, as either toy soldiers of their battle plans or gluttonous satiated consumers, they laugh and smirk with their chosen one, back to watching their stocks ticker, their mutual funds frolic, and their offshore accounts grow. Birds of a feather all lined up in a row, the pecking order long established and for the rest of you...eat crow!

And as they celebrate another coup, they toast the success of the five frauds they knew:

ELECTION FRAUD - as corporate control of voting machine companies, campaign spending, and who and how elections are run, they know how to make democracy work like a business for business, of the corporation, by the corporation, and for the corporation that won;

WAR FRAUD - and as corporations control foreign policy instead of you, they plan wars and coups, and corrupt corporate democracies too, knowing that profits will accrue with the wars that benefit a few. A Military Industrial Complex made it is said just for me and you, as the largest arms dealers in the world make ready for the wars that make oil and gas spew;

ENERGY FRAUD - and on to the greatest corporate con game on Earth, the wealth of oil, gas, coal, uranium, nuclear, and electricity too, combines around the world to make sure their fuel pumps and utility meters remain plugged into your wallets and purses, suppressing the clean free energy alternatives that will bring an end to their fraud and their still untapped riches;

RELIGIOUS FRAUD - and to insure the masses remain divided amongst themselves, the great corporate fraud continues exploiting the fears, passions, prejudice, hatred, and violence of a culturally diverse world. Stoking the rage and wars of religion by supporting Islamic Jihads and Christian Crusades, the attack of tall buildings, keeping oil and gas flowing, and the cheering for military parades;

MEDIA FRAUD - and if that wasn't enough to keep them in power, to keep the people muddled and confused, understanding that the lifeblood of democracy is knowing what's what and who's who, corporate America buys up mainstream media to make sure you remain stupid and ignorantly amused.

Even though the UNITED CORPORATIONS OF AMERICA fight at their own level for control and competition, they can agree that GEORGE BUSH will make a good President for their corporate owned nation. And while the people are given a victory or two every now or then, and even a bone, the corporate royalty knows they will outlast any reform...and once again make the government in Washington their own.

So the moral of this address is one that hits home, we either take back our country or continue to live under corporate corruption we left standing alone. The corporate royalty that defrauds us must be put on notice...its days are numbered...and it will soon be dethroned!

Freebird

Brad! your picture speaks of a 1,000 words!

44 cheers for comment #44

Where, oh where are the PETA people when you need them?

Thank you Freebird for your mighty, mighty words.
Awesome

Oh shit Cheryl, that's hilarious!

:laugh:

Re: comment #44. Freebird touched on several subjects in his great comment. Fraud, Corporatism, Religious Fundamentalism. So what shall we call it. Corporate Christian Fundamentalist Fraud, or some variation therof. It needs a name.

oilygarchy?

BUMCREW FRAUDS: Bush's Media & Corporate Religious Energy Warmongering Fraudsters.

Peggy, I've created a monster LOL

pushcat, I've never met you so I hope you don't mind my verbal contribution. It's so much fun I can't stop myself. And of course it doesn't have to be a real choice. Just trying to brighten up this dreary world of greedy bastards.
Here's a Peggy-bluebird hybrid:

holywarmongering oilygarchy

Hope you don't mind Peggy. Please feel free to use mine in any way you wish. I like your go -fucking-get em style. It's got punch.

A friend just sent me something he attributes to John Stewart Mill (it's not in quotes). I've never read him , but might now: "While not all conservative people are stupid, most stupid people are conservatives."

THE OILYCREWD FRAUDS: The Oily Corporate Religious Energy Warmongering DUMYA Frauds

THE CREWD OILYGARCHY

Peggy.
love it, really do. But for brevity I go for just the OILYCREWD
FRAUDS. The other part's sort of like an explanatory subtitle.
No, now that I read it again, I go for the whole damn thing. It's really funny.

f

Okay, now I see a certain, shall we say ,refining process going on here. Words fail me. It's perfection.

Thats why I like this blog so much, is that the people on here, besides being extremely intelligent. Have a sense of humor also.

Pushcat for president!

OH MY!!!!

What can be said about a corporate-funded inauguration that celebrates a corporate-aided fraud aimed at suppressing democracy and keeping a puppet in power??

This inauguration is as meaningless and fake as Bush's version of "democracy".

The only thing it isn't... is cheap!! (at least... fiscally!!)

I'll finish up eloquently... F**k Bush and his pathetic, corporate-funded mockery of an inauguration... The 6th of January didn't demoralize us, this waste of corporate money is nothing but a joke, the mainstream media are becoming redundant to those of us who are awake or are waking up to the truth. Idiotic Bush supporters and their continued denial will not stop us fighting for the truth to be exposed and spread far and wide... even to the point that they cannot deny it any more.

Most importantly... I know we'll keep fighting for those responsible (all of them... Blackwell, Moyers, Feeney, Diebold, Triad, ES&S, etc.) to be held accountable and punished for their crimes accordingly. So screw 'em all.. let them have their inauguration.. let them have their calm before the storm... their fall from disgrace will soon come. - peace!!

What will you do during your first term?

Where is Peggy after her stunning verbal coup?

BE THE BUSH OPPOSITION; 24/7

Status report:

http://www.velvetrevolut...hpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=82

Please do read the post and consider signing and distributing the impeachment document (a most fitting inaugural gesture to *).

* is all ours now, everyone.

We are going to ensure he has the most unique legacy of any President of the USA --- we're going to remove him from office, assist in his conviction and send him to prison. Never happened before; aren't you totally energized to know you will be making history happen.

ONWARD.

CRAMPS - Corrupt Right-wing American Military Police State shall now be:

Corporate Right-wing American Military Police State

LOL

or any variation thereof

or

Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious...if I remeber that right

or

MEET THE FRAUDSTERS!...

a new movie nightmare!

Whatever you want to call them the best one would be:

Bush - Prisoner # 275978
Cheney - Prisoner # 473666
Rice - Prisoner # 177912
Rove - Prisoner # 945223
Rumsfeld - Prisoner # 000009

and so on...

:-) LOL

Freebird

Lament of a Former Republican

I liked Ike,
and felt sorry for Dick,
but George W. Bush really makes me sick.

You guys are nuts!!! Love it.

News Junkie -

You are an honest person. I like you very much.

You guys really ARE nuts - nuttily wonderful! Good night. I'll think about all of us...

There is warmth, truth, hope, and fun at this site, and I love it.

May the Oilygarchy slip on their own slicks.

'News Junkie'

I liked Ike (a bunch)
I admired Barry
I detested Dick
down hill since!

You are, as Peg C notes, an honest person and it's neat to share thoughts of the past with you.

As you know Ike's son endorsed Senator Kerry as did many honorable Republicans.

The BE THE BUSH OPPOSITION; 24/7 "tent" is open to all who simply want to preserve and advance our Constitution; our franchise of democracy; and, try to find ways to repair all the fractured lives that the Bush neocon cabal have perpetrated.

Peace.

Freebird, I think someone let you out of your cage. I've been out of mine all night. tweet.

I would love to visit Bush while he was sitting in jail cell dressed in a very baggy thrift store suit. I would be sitting outside on a little chair. First I would try to learn his chimp language by mimicking him for an hour or so. Then I would do the unthinkable: I'd say something really icky about his father. He would have no way to bomb me, he couldn't call for a coalition of the willing. He couldn't topple me off a pedestal while dressed in a flight suit. I wonder what would happen if he couldn't kill someone he really really wanted to kill? would he just explode?

I know that sounds mean. Oh well...

I think that's just the problem... he can't kill the one he really wants to kill:

his father

Teresa, I like that.

Agree with Teresa. "Daddy, are you proud of me yet? See, I'm not a complete failure".

> Paul, just curious, could you tell us all if you did or did not sign a petition to Impeach Bill Clinton before he was even sworn in as President before his first term.

Yes I did. I was at a gun show and I signed an NRA petition. Clinton tried to take away our guns but he failed. He was impeached though. For lying under oath, obstruction of justice, etc., in a federal court for trying to fix a sexual harassment civil case.

Bush has not lied. Believing that something is true and then it turns out to be false is not lying. Lying is when you know the truth but then try to hide it. Kind of like what Clinton did with "I did not have sexual relations with the woman" as he looked America straight in the eye.

Everything Bush has said about WMDs has been said by every Democrat politician and the UN since 1991. Clinton just did not have the courage to do anything about it other than drop a few bombs. I knew Bush was going into Iraq before he was elected and it was about time! 17+ UN resolutions later!

Bush has done no impeachable offense.

Since you guys were "wrong" about gas price going down before the election due to Bush connections to Saudi, the economy, Bush not being certified, etc., you will also be wrong about any impeachment!

Peggy #29: "Do we have to wait for the Judiciary..."

That's a good question, given Daddy RankWhist & the Supreme's curious decision in Clinton v. Jones to open up the presidency to harassment from civil lawsuits over "unofficial acts." But the president remains immune, according to that decision and others --- particularly Nixon v. Fitgerald [457 U.S. 731 (1982)] --- to civil suit over matters of policy.

And so, if it were a fair Court (which we already know that it is not), then Bush ought to be just as open to civil suit by a private citizen for an unofficial act. But I would not put any hope in that.

Impeachment, on the other hand, is a matter specifically assigned by the Constitution to the Congress... and particularly to the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives as the starting point. Without a majority in the House --- or a stunning re-awakening of conscience amonst Republicans --- it simply will not happen.

re: COMMENT #76

Oh fer chrissakes, Paul. Go get at least a passing degree of familiarity with actual facts, rather than blather opinion masquerading as such. Lincoln once said: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

Paul: "Lying is when you know the truth but then try to hide it."

Is that kinda like when Condi said, "who would have thought of using airplanes?"

Just asking.

re #79

Good point, Cheryl. Most people (quite intentionally, I assure you) have never heard of CSEPP, the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (which was administered at one time by FEMA), but one of the main scenarios for attack --- around which the preparedness exercises were built --- involved the deliberate crashing of a fuel-laden airliner into the stockpile, thus creating the huge fire required to turn the particular chemical agent stored there into a deadly plume of poisonous gas.

Point being that for at least a decade the professionals charged with emergency preparedness had indeed thought of defending against the use of airplanes, and as Richard Clarke, Bob Graham and the 9/11 Commission made abundantly clear it was Condi Rice who decided to ignore these professionals.

Understanding life #30

Some of these guys joined me in the joint.

Erlichman and Halderman to be specific, were sent to the prison where I was. After their conviction for crimes and my conviction for selective service violations.

I was in the hole. I was in prison for refusing to take up arms (3 yr. sentence), and was in the hole for refusing to work on missile cables at the factory in that joint.

They were sent to the minimum security camp outside the secure prison.

CBS showed some of the protesting last night on the news,PBS had a better view of them and they discussed it more.Our better options are to win back one of the houses in 06,and to keep on our Senators butts with emails and faxes,and phone calls.Lets let them know we mean business.We are in for a hard ride with Bush,my advise is read your Bibles's,Pray hard and be ready for anything.Jesus is coming!! (and I am not a religious nut)I am a educated 60 year old woman,we need to figure out what to do,not just post to vent.

reply to comment #20:

"Stirrings of a draft?" indeed...

How about this: a story in the Gaurdian about the Pentagon reviving local draft boards.

http://www.guardian.co.u.../0,12271,1077906,00.html

I didn't find the reference cited in the article on DefendAmerica.mil (a lovely bit of tax-funded Agitprop from the Pentagon, btw, quite shocking and awesome) but I did find how to sign up to be a member of my local draft board at the Selective Service website. Wouldn't that be a hoot?

http://www.sss.gov
(click on Board Member Application at bottom of page)
From the application:
"Qualifications for becoming a Local Board Member:

Must be 18 years old or older
Must be a citizen of the United States
Men must have registered with the Selective Service,
except those born from March 29, 1957 through December 31, 1959.
Must not be an employee of any law enforcement organization
Must not be an active or retired member of the Armed Forces
Must not have been convicted of any criminal offense. "

How about it fellow-travellers? Wouldn't that put the warmongers' collective panties in a bunch- revive the draft and find the local boards run by a bunch of peaceniks!
I'm tempted to try it myself, but I may be just a bit too paranoid (read: chicken).
On the other hand, there's the horror of actually having to choose who fights and who stays home, if the kids are forced to go.

Maybe not such a hoot after all...

Bluebird #72 - You have me laughing hysterically!

Dredd #81 - I am horrified and awed. If only America's sons and daughters would refuse to fight their dirty wars.

ROBW #83 - Absolutely brilliant - just remember to nod your head furiously when they say nice things about Bush - I know actually mouthing the words might be a bit too much. Get control of these Boards. Do it - for YOUR COUNTRY.

P.J.

There is an old Russian proverb that cautions:

"Never argue with a fool because a passerby might not be able to tell which one of you is the fool."

Having said that, I refer you to Ambrose Bierce's definition of a fool:

"FOOL, n.
A person who pervades the domain of intellectual speculation and diffuses himself through the channels of moral activity. He is omnific, omniform, omnipercipient, omniscience, omnipotent. He it was who invented letters, printing, the railroad, the steamboat, the telegraph, the platitude and the circle of the sciences. He created patriotism and taught the nations war --- founded theology, philosophy, law, medicine and Chicago. He established monarchical and republican government. He is from everlasting to everlasting --- such as creation's dawn beheld he fooleth now. In the morning of time he sang upon primitive hills, and in the noonday of existence headed the procession of being. His grandmotherly hand was warmly tucked-in the set sun of civilization, and in the twilight he prepares Man's evening meal of milk-and-morality and turns down the covers of the universal grave. And after the rest of us shall have retired for the night of eternal oblivion he will sit up to write a history of human civilization."

And idiot...

"IDIOT, n.
A member of a large and powerful tribe whose influence in human affairs has always been dominant and controlling. The Idiot's activity is not confined to any special field of thought or action, but "pervades and regulates the whole." He has the last word in everything; his decision is unappealable. He sets the fashions and opinion of taste, dictates the limitations of speech and circumscribes conduct with a dead-line. "

All things considered, I'd rather be a fool than an idiot. You are neither, but I think Paul might have an uphill battle trying to attain status as a fool. Bierce didn't bother to include a definition of "moron" in his lexicon, but he did define "monkey" for us in an illuminating way:

"MONKEY, n. An arboreal animal which makes itself at home in genealogical trees."

A.B.
The Devil's Dictionary

>May the Oilygarchy slip on their own slicks.

Excellent. Cries out to be on the bumper of every SUV in the country.