Wow, first for a change. I posted these on conyersblog...thought they would be appropriate here as well.

Imagine the following...

Any Democrat: I believe that stem cell research is potentially a helpful tool in the hands of researchers who are looking for cures to debilitating diseases.

Bush Response...

The liberals have no sanctity for life, they are crude, left-wing, evil-doers who don't care about babies.

next...

Bill Frist: I think the president needs to broaden his thinking on stem cell research and allow for greater use of available material to fight disease.

Bush response:

He must follow his heart.

Does anyone see hypocrisy hear?

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Obviously for many of us who frequent this and other like-minded sites, we find more than enough reason to complain, protest, object and disapprove of various components of the administrations actions. And along with our pleading, we hope that the democrats in government can muster the where-with-all to police the current leadership and stop or contain what we perceive as abuses. However, when one group holds the degree of influence and control as do the Republicans, it becomes nearly impossible to impede their power. So here we are. We observe the Republican Party as they exert their prohibitive muscle, hacking away at what has been our generally comfortable working system.

When this much power is possessed by one side, all we can hope for is common sense and restraint. I’m not only talking about policy decisions, but of behaviors as well. We assume that someone will recognize that “absolute power corrupts absolutely”. The side in power must monitor themselves, lest the seeds of authoritarian/despotism/tyranny and misuse take root. I am loathe to find an episode of self-monitoring, self-control, self-restraint, or self-policing within the Bush administration. Most noticeable is the astonishing lack of concern over clearly questionable behaviors within the Party…the rose-tinted ignorance of exploitation and manipulation, of questionable and possibly downright illegal actions. This both fascinates me and horrifies me in the same breath. I am fascinated by the ability to see a dubious circumstance, and turn a blind-eye as if it doesn’t exist. “SOUR GRAPES” does not implicate Karl Rove, Scooter Libby, (and others) in a legal/ethical scandal. “LIBERALISM” does not subject Tom Delay to scrutiny over illegal contributions. “LEFT-WING” does not connect Duke Cunningham with money laundering. “WING-BAT” does not incriminate Tom Noe in theft. “DEMOCRAT” does not force Bush to back-peddle on assertions.

I could go on forever, it seems, but I am hopeful that everyone gets my point.

I hope people like Hank, Hcocdr, Stoufi1, and Point of Order (Poo!) check in and read this posting. As much as you hear people on this site reporting on the absolute corruption of the administration, we all know that no one is all good, or all bad. However, people like you, and people like us constantly find that we are in 100% agreement with “our side” and in 100% disagreement with the “other side”. That is the nature of politics. But something is clearly missing here. IMHO, one aspect of what is missing is the ability of the current administration to even consider that some of its own members are making mistakes. If you turn a blind eye just because they are members of your own team, you will end up embarrassed, and maybe worse. I would be more accepting of Bush (perish the thought) if he would at least ask Delay to step down while investigations are underway…or…remove security clearance from Rove and Libby until a determination can be made…or…call for an investigation or wrong-doing by Cunningham…or…well, you get the idea! Power is as power does…and with no self-regulation or policing, it is no longer an administration, just a group of thugs.

Just to have the impression that he cares, that he is monitoring, that he is concerned, that he is watching, THAT IT MATTERS, would be a significant step in the desirable and reasonable direction.

Thanks, and sorry for the long posting.

Alan

Hey y'all, here's a repost - an interesting article that explains HOW Bush knows what he knows.

THE PLAME AFFAIR - Heart of darkness

Alan,

Just to touch on one aspect of your lengthy post, GWB handed out more pork to more special interests than any Democratic president ever. Just the increase in prescription drug coverage & the EITC & child tax credits dwarfed any democratic handout, ever.

The abuse will continue as GWB appoints Bolton. I think the Dems should tell GWB: "If you appoint Bolton, you don't get Roberts." This is a message that he will understand. The Dems can do this and should.

here

Jerry,

I think the problem is the administration has the power and the votes to do what they want. If IMBECILE recess-appoints Bolton, the senate always has the nuclear option as an alternative. Personally, I think they would be digging their own grave if they used it. The '06 elections would become a rout against them. But the option is there, and, as has been obvious since 2000, they are drunk with power and have shown massive amounts of poor judgment.

Alan

Dr Alan #1
It's like I agree with Frist on stem cells. What to do?
He has been hypocritical suck-up re Terri Schiavo.

# 1 Alan --- I certainly agree with much of your post. I do believe, however, that many in the administration didn't evolve into thugs since 2000, but have a long history of thuggishness in their relations with Enron, Halliburton, etc. - not to mention some connections with Iran-Contra and so on. I don't think we will get "caring" from the administration. They are corporate radicals with a plan, and frankly, they *are* thugs. In a just world, many of them would now be sitting in prison. I think it is something we have to face and deal with - somehow - on a political level.

The problem in Congress is - what *isn't" digging a grave? My own opinion - and I fully admit I may be wrong and you may be right - is that what is necessary is a full-scale political assault, including a number of "nuclear options - and a lot of honesty. I think many people despise Democrats as weak and ineffective and it is a major political problem. The fact that is largely true just allows the grave to continue to be dug. And it's our grave.

At some point, people will have to come to the conclusion that it is time to recognize the seriousness of the problem and to take decisive action - which will necessarily include taking chances, not in fear but in righteousness. I believe much of the foundation for such action is being built at the moment right here and in many other "bars" and taverns, so to speak - as Buckshot/Karla would say - just as significant movements have always arisen.

As someone with a great interest in U.S. history, I keep coming back in my mind to the Jacksonian era and what would have happened if the Jacksonians had less direct and hadn't been the fighters that they were. Sometimes it is time to fight and this is one of those time, IMO. Usually, the fight itself changes the political landscape positively.

My #8 - "...what would have happened if the Jacksonians had less direct..." Of course, I meant "...what would have happened in the Jacksonians had been less direct..."

I'm resigned to the fact that I can't post without a tyop..er typo.

Dr. Alan - Listening to Coleen Rawley last night gave me a bit of hope. She admitted it took her quite a while (years) to realize the Repub party of the past was no more - and that when she gives talks she meets lots of Repubs who feel the same. I think that was a huge step for her and anyone really. It's a hopeful sign that intelligent people of the old Repub party are waking up to the reality of what these thugs are.

When talking about 9/11, she said she thinks what the admin is hiding is the fact that they were incompetent, not that they're complicit. I think in time she will come to realize this regime is way worse than she could ever have imagined.

You guys are really great, you know that??? I hope everyone remembers that it's up to us to help Brad keep this place going and keep The Brad Show on the air!! Even if you can only afford a pittance, (like me...) something is better than nothing!

I picked the following link up earlier today, but with nowhere to post it, I saved it instead. A former CIA intelligence officer predicts an August attack on Iran, on the heels of a terror"incident" (or incidents) in this country.

Remember the uranium that disappeared in Iraq while in U.S. custody?

...What would have happened *if* the Jacksonians had been less direct..."

Good bye.

I saw in my local paper today, an article that the Iraq constitution will use Islam, the Koran, and Sharia as the basis. So, the first reason we went over to Iraq was fictitious WMD's. When that was debunked, the Bush administration said there was a link between Sadaam and Al Qaeda. Remember when they "twisted" Osama & 9/11 into Sadaam and Iraq? The 3rd reason is now debunked in my local newspaper. If Iraq is basing their constitution on Islam/Koran/Sharia, then reason number 3, that we went into Iraq to bring them Democracy, is not true! Let me be the first to say this, because I've only seen this story, but no one has pointed out that this means reason #3 is now debunked. We used our troops as cannon-fodder to bring an Islamic Theocracy to Iraq!!!

...this is the biggest blunder in miltary history, done by a Republican president, naturally. He can't spin in the Arab world, like he spins our MSM, that's his problem. The Arabs control the spin over there, he thought it would be easy like the American media. And he was told this by experts, before it happened, but his neo-con cabinet he picked, was running the show, and still are, but they are not as brazen after getting their asses kicked.

Jen #10:
Christine Todd Whitman has reached the same conclusion about the new Republican party and has written a book about it.
There's hope-four Republican senators have stood up to Cheney regarding torture, and then there's the Frist thing.
One convert at a time.

Dr.Allan great post.

I wonder at times if I'm crazy and see crimes where there are no crimes, corruption where there is no corruption, abuse of power where there is no abuse of power ,needless death and destruction where there is no needless death and destruction.............the list goes on.
Then I think how can it seem so obvious to me but nobody else gets it ,am I crazy ?
I don't feel any different ,all I did was started checking on news items on the internet to see if I could find more background on the things that were happening arround the world as reported by the MSM and to my surprise it was like a "different world" .With shocking things that effect the future of every man ,women and child on the planet under reported or not reported at all and trivial things reported to a level of sickening needless detail.

Who's watching our back ?
Is this all possible just by the lack of an independant media ,thats crazy.

Are we crazy ?

Arianna over at Huffington Post has Judy's number! These are from the last 3 or 4 days...

The Judy File

How Deep Do Her Connections Run?

Do We Want to Know Everything Or Don't We?

BOB #15 - Yup! there really is a little spark of light at the end of the tunnel! At least I thought so until reading Big Dan's #13... Arrrrgggghhh!!! Is it too late?

MMIIXX #16 - Yeah, you're crazy! Crazy like a fox!

"An able, disinterested, public-spirited press, with trained intelligence to know the right and courage to do it, can preserve that public virtue without which popular government is a sham and a mockery. A cynical, mercenary, demagogic press will produce in time a people as base as itself."
"Our Republic and its press will rise and fall together."
--Joseph Pulitzer

# 13 - Big Dan - What's tough is that a lot of people know its phony but go along with it every time anyway. That's when we get into the Twilight Zone.

Um, sorry, on #18 I meant to say:

...At least I thought so until reading Peg C. #11!!

The Dems need to fight the neocons with all of their available assets. I think that every major Democrat and progressive celebrity should make a trip to Texas in 2006 to support Delay's opponent. Clinton, Gore, Kerry, Carter, Edwards, Biden, Kennedy, Dean, Byrd et al. should all make the trip. They should show the country how important this is. The MSM could not ignore such an onslaught. We just cannot worry about what might backfire. This is too important. Exposing the neocons on their home turf sends a strong message. It is the right thing to do.

Sorry if I'm interrupting the thread. I just think its time to be proactive.

One of our resident limericists, Joan, has some recent pithy comments on Gun-makers immune from lawsuits and Rove (sorry Joan, that IP you gave didn't work).

from Joan:

Get Over It, You Whiners!

Kids get shot. No big deal. It's expected,
Say those righteous old boys we elected.
Thought you'd sue? Oh, too bad.
Best move on, Mom & Dad,
'Cause the the gun-maker's ass is protected.

Rover gets a Bone

Dubya's perks for ineptness are awesome.
(So's his temper, so try not to cross'm).
When the medals run low
Some new prize he'll bestow,
Like this gem for his favorite, Turd Blossom:

See, poor Turd Blossom's been feeling blue
(With that idiot name, wouldn't you?)
So to ease his malaise
Georgie gave him....a raise!
Wow, our prez'dent rewards TREASON, too!

Joan's original post is here on the Gergen thread.

Check out that same thread for many more hilarious and timely lims from Joan, RLM, Kira, Peg C. and more.

Jerry #21

No Prob. This is an open thread!

Interesting comments, all. I personally am against stem cell research using stem cells from fetuses. But that doesn't stop me from seeing the hypocrisy in the Republican hystrionics re. the welfare of the child before birth and coldheartedness about the child's welfare after birth.

As soon as you hit that cold air, you'd better have the bucks or life sucks.

Somewhat relatedly, I was watching a documentary about the painter Manet yesterday. Along the way, the documentary discussed the enormous growth of Paris during the 19th century and the social inequality that festered during industrialization. Breathlessly, it commented that an industrialist was 20 times better off than a worker.

We're so much better off today - if we are industrialists! What is it today? Ceo, for example, make 200 times what ordinary workers make, or is it more than that?

I believe that there is a pool of desperation in the hearts of ordinary people across this land, because in their boots and gust they know that the real necessities of life (housing, medical care, education) are skyrocketing madly. They know that they are deeper in debt. They know that the family needs multiple jobs and kids may be getting less guidance.

There's a lot of fear and the Republicans know how to work that fear like Putty. With it they create monsters. Ironically, they are able to turn the fear that their policies help create into political strength.

But of course, that's political strength founded on shifting sands and knowledge is the wind that can shift those sands. Dems need to stand their ground and stick to their message, which as I see it is essentially that when we pull together, there's nothing we can't accomplish.

Jen #10

I'm sure Brad would say *thanks* for the reminder to keep on contributing to the BB. Despite what some may think, THIS IS Brad's "day job". Right, Brad?

I've contributed $$ myself, and started to do so when I realized 1) what an incredible community this is, 2) how often I check the BradBlog, 3) what an incredible education I've gotten here via Brad and all of the links and comments posted by BBers, and 4) how easy it is to put money to a good cause, instead of wasting it. Re: 4, all I had to do was think about the rotten veggies that I've had to toss from my fridge, money wasted, better spent!!!

Here's one idea: get out an envelope, put a stamp on it, and address it to:

Brad Friedman
7095 Hollywood Blvd., #594
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Leave the envelope in a conspicuous place. Every time you throw out rotten food from the fridge (or whatever your spending weakness is) toss a few greenbacks into the envelope, and promise that you won't waste food (or whatever). When you feel that there are enough greenbacks in the envelope to send to Brad, lick the flap, and post it. I'm sure Brad accepts cash. Right, Brad?

(Actually, I use PayPal to deal with my refrigerator guilt, but to each her own, I say.)

p.s. If you contribute by snail mail, I suggest that you include your email address. Every time I have contributed (via PayPal, which includes my email) I have gotten a personal *thank you* back from Brad, in short order.

Right on, Valley Girl. And don't forget to grab up a couple of Brad Blog bumper stickers. If you don't want to ruin your car you can just buy some blank magnetic material here:

http://www.carryabigstic...om/magnetic_material.htm

It's only $3! I have several magnetic stickers I rotate on my car including the two Brad Blog stickers, Bush Cheated '04 and "One Person, One Vote (Not valid in all states. Some restrictions apply.)

Jen #17

Thank you so much for those links to the Huff post about Judy Miller. I just finished reading them, and I wouldn't have found them without your post... so many scandals, so little time!!!! Miller smells like a traitor to me.

VG

jIM cIRILE #27

Thanks, Jim. I discovered Brad and the BradBlog on the eve of the Nov 2004 "election". (More details on the Blogathon thread about how did you find BB and why do you keep coming back?)

My first $$ via PayPal was quite small, but I was pleasantly surprised to get a personal email thanking me, from Brad. I'd contributed much more to Dems and Kerry especially. No thank you there, especially from Kerry, who didn't even do what he promised (was it something like "make sure every vote is counted?) Kerry sure didn't do that!!!! On the other hand, Brad has never wavered in his efforts to do what he says he is gonna do. Brad holds himself accountable. So, in the future, my $$$ are gonna go to people like Brad, who are accountable. $$$ well spent for getting the word out, IMHO.

VG

9-11 TRUTH ALERT

More evidence the hijackers were just another CIA front for a CIA (bush) op.

Looks the "hijackers" didn't even buy there own tickets...

Heres an excerpt:

(excerpt)
Sunday 31st July 2005 (19h49) :
KOCO-TV Suppresses an Explosive 9/11 News Report
I have not been keeping this a secret all this time. I started putting this information online at my own website in December 2002.
In the fall of 2001, a librarian at the University of Oklahoma in Norman (OU) told me that she was present when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted an interview about the fact that an airline ticket for a 9/11 hijacker was purchased from a computer terminal at that school’s library. She said it was for United Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania.

This is very important. The purchaser was not a hijacker. He was a white American male and a temporary library employee. Apparently the FBI already knew the IP address of the terminal, and with that evidence librarians were able to locate it in the facility. The librarian speculated that he was a neo-Nazi who shared Al-Qaeda’s hatred for Israel.

Months passed, and no one was ever arrested for this. I began to suspect that the purchaser was a covert CIA operative infiltrating Al Qaeda, and that immunity from arrest was quietly arranged for him later. In response to Freedom of Information Act requests, the FBI has refused to identify him and will not answer the question about whether he was arrested. They have stated that the requested material "is located in an investigative file which pertains to a pending investigation." It occurs to me now that, if my suspicion is correct, they are relying on the 1982 Intelligence Identities Protection Act as justification for not answering my question.

If he were indeed a CIA operative and still alive, then Americans do not need to know his name (but I actually suspect that he is dead.) We do deserve to know whether he was a covert operative. If I am correct, then he clearly crossed a terrible boundary from legitimate surveillance to active participation in a horrendous crime. The U.S. Congress and the public deserve the opportunity to scrutinize this kind of "surveillance." It obviously was not effective in obstructing the 9/11 attack. On the contrary, it facilitated it.

A declassified CIA document confirms that the agency not only infiltrates terror cells, it also manipulates them (CIA-RDP85-00671R000200250001-4). I suspect that this 9/11 ticket purchase gives an example of their style of "manipulation." The president of OU is former U.S. Senator David Boren, patron and mentor of ex-CIA director George Tenet. I have earlier reported some details about this relationship to Bella Ciao : http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php...
(excerpt)
(source)
http://bellaciao.org/en/...cle.php3?id_article=7305

WHY OH WHY would supposed US goverment agents be buying tickets for future hijackers? *deductive reasoning kicks in* now, if the hijackers couldn't even buy their own tickets...how could they fly commericial airlines... into such precise targets... so precisionly.........perhaps....they had help there too...maybe some remote guidance tech... you know, the same tech, the US government wanted to use to control commericial airliners and crash them to start a war with cuba:
http://abcnews.go.com/se.../jointchiefs_010501.html

WHY OH WHY would foreign goverments be kicking US troops off their bases for suspecting that the US is *gasp* working with terrorist groups? http://www.libertyforum....=293836717#Post293836717

WHY OH WHY would the US government be staging fake trials for gitmo detainees? http://www.abc.net.au/ne...tems/200508/s1426797.htm

Oh my...

Another of our brilliant resident limericists, RLM, has been churning out a great Rove saga: here are his first verses, also archived here

from Robert Lockwood Mills:

There once was a hermit named Rove
Who kept a dead whore in a stove
If trouble was brewing, and a foe needed screwing
He'd cook up a meeting, by Jove

Karl's whore came to life in the oven
Where she'd given Karl's critics good lovin'
A sexy loose cannon, by the name of Jeff Gannon
A warlock was loose in the coven

His name wasn't Jeff, it was James
And Rove used him for partisan games
A very high ratio, included fellatio
All except Valerie Plame's

Now Jeff's nudie pics drew a sigh
From girlie men both far and nigh
Once out of the closet, it was easy to posit
That Scottie would let him come by

But then something awful went wrong
A Dick got ensnared in Jeff's thong
It might have been Cheney, and I know this sounds zany
But it's why he's been hiding so long

For more of RLM's brilliant topical verses, check the Gergen thread, on BB here..

Looks like others have been thinking about Rove's stove: Smoke From The Rove Stove

Hi SOJO #30,

Interesting information, indeed. However, it was kinda hard to find the links.

You can create clickable links using Torqued's Community Assistant, which you can get to by clicking on the "click here" message before the comment box. If you need more info, see my post here.

Don't get me wrong about the info you gave, but I urge you to try out CA, because a clickable link makes it so much easier for BBers to find the link cited. It took me a while to figure out how to make clickable links in BB, so I'm one of you!!!

VG

Karla WOW I laughed my ass off when I read that EXCELLENT commentary. Brad is like a small time pastor with just a handful in his flock, trying to tell them what they wish to hear, while gently and steadily prodding them for an increase in donations. Sadly, no new recruits. Any who would stop by for a visit would quickly be turned off by the very bullshit you mention. I can get that crap on Montel.

TNT for brains ,enough to blow ya hat off .........just

Sojo #30 -

Excellent stuff. But do as VG suggests and LINK to make info easier for readers to access.

TNT has blown himself up...leave the debris and body parts alone - old mines, you know.

Gee, Mmixx -

Great minds and all that...

Ray McGovern is a former CIA analyst who was interviewed on the BradShow on 6/11/05. The transcript of his interview is here, and the MP3 files are here, and here

He is articulate, smart and knowledgeable, so I was glad to find a recent article about him on a previous blog, in a comment posted by Dredd. Here is a shortcut to the link that Dredd posted.

I am a great admirer of Ray McGovern. To use Brad's lingo, maybe "I have a crush on" him.

So, I just gotta post some links about his recent words:

One-On-One Interview With Ray McGovern, Former CIA Senior Analyst

Iraq-Niger: Cheney and the Forgery

Plamegate: Dick Cheney's Role

Why Plame Matters

Call to 'Stay the Course in Iraq' Echoes Vietnam

McGovern is an unapologetic critic of the vice president, which may or may not be reason to discount his charges. But Vincent Cannistraro, a former CIA officer, backs McGovern's charges.

Enough!!! VG

Every petition I receive about a donation for the Dem Party, Kerry, Edwards - something about the states, Hillary and on and on, I can only say ELECTION. Until you solve the RIGGED election of 2004, future elections are hopeless. Bush did not win the last election, Kerry did and until the truth of Florida and Ohio surface, elections are a sham. Let's see, we have Jeb, Neal, George jr, and how many more of the Bush litter out there eager to take us to new depths. The Bush's are not intellectuals - not exactly the sharpest knives in the drawer - they buy their successes. So here we are! Concerned about the 2006 election. To be honest, I may not vote again!

MUGZI what about co-presidents,
the TWINS

BUSHW@CKER LMFAO

I saw a Condi 2008 sticker on a car the other day, so I guess she's being positioned too.

As drunk with power as Bush is, I can't imagine him giving up his position as President. Wasn't the Director of Homeland Security just given the authority and power to suspend all laws? In the case of another "attack" on American soil, couldn't elections be "delayed" and Bush become President indefinitely?

I think as far as rigging elections with electronic voting machines and fraud, the GOP operatives who are doing it, pick and choose the most important races. Just like Clint Curtis said about his vote-rigging program, there was code to make the outcome of a win 51-49, not to arouse suspicion, but still to rig a win. Still, to arouse less suspicion, only the most important races are rigged, like the presidency. The president is really like electing 25-or-so people, because he picks his cabinet and is one of the 3 branches of government. It would be "off-the-charts" obvious, if the GOP suddenly had a 100-0 majority in the Senate, for example. But, take notice of key races, which way they go on electronic voting machines, and key states, like Ohio and Florida for the presidential election. Notice, the most fraud was in Ohio and Florida? Also, take a look at the electronic voting machine tallies vs. non-electronic in the Gregoire vs. Rossi state of Washington governor's election. Was there ever a study done on Daschle's Senate election? It went too far for them with Daschle, because now they're stuck with Harry Reid. Be careful what you wish for! Even I would rather have Reid leading the Dems than Daschle. Does anyone care that the exit polls by 5 million votes, but lost the "final count" by 3 million? That story has just disappeared! Even on liberal blogs.

A NYTimes article says that prosecutors in the Gitmo cases privately are saying that the trials are rigged.

I just can't believe this isn't on TV news. Was it? These stories are BLOCKBUSTERS! I can't believe what this administration is doing!

How far are they going to go? They definitely do not represent the majority of American citizens. Name some things they've done for American citizens, in 2 terms. This is absolutely unbelievable!

Valley Girl #37

Yes, Ray McGovern says radical things, but he can also back them up, as you noted.

Chris Floyd at From the Wilderness also has some radical things to say.

I agree with his comments about nominee Roberts, who is slated to replace Sandra Day O'Connor (link here).

I also am suspicious when one of the more healthy members of the Court, Sandra Day O'Connor, retires and one walking around with tubes all over and who can't even come to work due to extreme sickness does not. I wonder if O'Connor was given "an offer she could not refuse"?

I can only imagine what the neocons would threaten her with. At any rate her retirement at this moment in time, when critical cases concerning presidential power are moving toward the court, is quite suspicious.

She had written the opinion that denied the president the right to put those he determined to be enemies of the state into prison without resort to the courts or lawyers. The president had the audacity to assume such power!

If the president gets what he wants on the cases moving up toward the Court, extreme danger, anyone can be named an enemy of the state and go to Gitmo or some other hell hole and stay there without recourse for life.

It could happen since the press and congress are asleep or in a trance.

...and in their official 9/11 story, the Bush administration themselves, admits (though it's not true) that 19 arabs with boxcutters took plane lessons, and outfoxed the greatest military in the history of the world! That, in itself, is no reason to believe their official story. If you were told all the possible scenarios of how 9/11 happened, and weren't told the source, our government's story would be labelled the "tin foil hat" theory, because of it's impossibility!

Here is a good article for Bush and Republican haters -

http://news.yahoo.com/s/...snews/bushbashingfizzles

big dan re: #46

Here's a few links to the breaking Gitmo story.
Here
and here.

BU$H has just appointed UN hater Bolton to job.

Well, he did it.

Bush installs Bolton as U.S. ambassador to U.N.

Sorry Bush@cker, didn't see your post before I posted, I should refresh more often

Ashes, ashes, we all fall DOWN!

News from Ohio...via Rawstory:

Ms. Noe's Own Scandal: Wife of Ohio GOP fundraiser does some election reform of her own

And of course Conyers is right on top of it:

Conyers to call for special prosecutor to investigate Noe scandal

This is from the AP story on Bolton, about which I have a question:

****Despite lengthy investigations, it was never clear that Bolton did anything improper. Witnesses told the committee that Bolton lost his temper, tried to engineer the ouster of at least two intelligence analysts and otherwise threw his weight around. But Democrats were never able to establish that his actions crossed the line to out-and-out harassment or improper intimidation****

Okay, just what is 'proper' intimidation if Bolton did not commit "improper" intimidation?

I would like to ask that the community here aT BB consider becoming a "Bigger Tent."

In early 1994, the Republicans did so prior to the midterms... and look at them now.

We need Republicans here to support our cause so that we can isolate the neocons. It is time to consider the "Divide and Conquer" method. Even if it doesn't work, at the very least we will expose the White House to the media and the whole world and then it will become obvious what kinds of criminals are there in the West Wing.

Please, people, read this carefully:

IT IS ONLY WHEN THE NATION IS SPLIT INTO TWO, RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE, THAT KARL ROVE CAN PLUNDER THE ELECTION. IF THERE IS STRONG, UNITED, AND, MOST OF ALL, BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO THE NEOCONS, THEN ROVE WILL GET BUSTED OUT OF POWER AND INTO PRISON. IF THE ELECTION IS NOT CLOSE, THEN STEALTH OF AN ELECTION IS IMPOSSIBLE.

But we will need help from our moderate Republican friends to stand with us.

This is just a suggestion, but one I deeply and sincerely ask of all BradBloggers.

This story in Raw Story........ {ed note: shortened link!}

......is related to this Toledo Blade story about the 2004 Democratic HQ's in Lucas County being "burglarized". IT'S THE SAME F***ING COUNTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only their sensitive computers and voting software stolen, was IGNORED by the MSM. The Raw Story article about Ms. Noe's scandal is also LUCAS COUNTY!!!!

Connect the DOTS because the MSM isn't:

2004 Dem Vote HQ burglary--->Coingate--->Ms.Noe pushing DIEBOLD machines no-bid into LUCAS COUNTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BE THE MEDIA! THE MSM WON'T CONNECT THE DOTS, BUT LET'S DO IT OURSELVES:

What's sad, is that I thought of this connection in 1 split second after I read the Raw Story article. Where is the MSM?

If this breaks wide open, Brad, do I get some kind of award? (that was a joke)

Oh Man, you guys have been busy! I've read most of the links and, of course, saddened and angered by the bolton installation. Criminal. Thanks for all the information and wise words.

I agree totally with you, MrBlueSky. I don't care what people call themselves - if they insist on a label, that's ok - as long as they want to rid our country of this blood-sucking tick that has attached itself to the heart of our democratic republic.

Don't you think most of us here are in agreement with this? I though we were (most times) being careful to point out the difference in the neoCon/theo/fascist/elitist/corporatists from true Republicans or Democrats.

What do you see & what do you suggest in the way of constructive criticism?

Thanks!

Hehe, Dan. You do get the award for stretching the width of this thread's "drawers!"

Y'all - please try out Torqued's Community Assistant (TCA) where you can make links that don't corrupt page width --- please !!

Did I do that?

Any comments on the Mr. Noe/Coingate/Ms. Noe/2004 Toledo Blade Dem HQ burglary/DIEBOLD connections? Is that a stretch? (no pun intended, KIRA...get it? stretch? stretched brad's blog? sorry........)

Brad has enough $$$ to insure that someone like me cannot possibly "stretch" his page with a link. Shape up, Brad! (more sarcastic, non-funny wit)

It seems often that it is the trolls that can't get out of the idea that we are all Democrats and that this blog is a Democratic thing.

If you have read my posts, you know I'm a registered Green. It may surprise you, but quite a number of Greens are ex-Republicans and there is a strong element of true conservatism in the party. I'm not saying this to advocate my particular political party but to indicate that there is an large field where views coincide or at least where rational discussion can take place - a field that is difficult to explore from the viewpoint of conventional wisdom and charged labels.

I suspect there are Republicans who share our viewpoints about democracy and justice who check out this blog regularly. I hope so.

A primary point is that we will not compromise with democracy and calling a crime a crime. That's not partisan.

Big Dan #62 ROTFLMAO!!! And, you are right. That's a HUGE and important connection.

I followed that Democratic Headquarters theft after it happend for awhile but the last report I remember reading (and haven't been able to locate a link for it, yet) stated that the police department (Chief Navarre, I believe) never worked on the case --- at least never did much with it. That sounded like some sort of collusion or complicity to me. Anybody got any more info on where that investigation went? Did it simply get shoved under the blotter?

Arry --- thanks for your post. It makes me think of the Venn Diagram which is used to find the point of convergence for attributes and characteristics of items or ideas.

The only way to get rid of this pox is to have a convergence of the Parties sans current labels. IMHO, of course.

Big Dan #45 -

I am so excited and anxious to SOON be able to share with you guys a very complete and comprehensive report written by ms in la - from CCN (Clark Community Network), edited and formatted by yours truly, and web design by Dorma, another Clarkie. It's called "Who's Counting" - it's about our insecure, hackable electronic voting systems. The information is undisputable, and literally eye popping!! The history of and owners of the different companies reads like a crime family novel!

The plan started back in Nov. 04 and it is very close to completion. We wanted to come up with something that would appeal to everyone - i.e. not turn people off thinking it a "sore loser/tin-foil hat" whining piece - and I think we've done it.

Once the site is 100% ready, we'll be taking it everywhere and asking people to spread it far and wide!! I'll be bringing the link here and trust me, once this starts getting out, a movement will be born!! It's filled with facts, is interesting and is referenced extensively. Should be another week or 2 for launch!!

ms in la gave a presentation at the NCCM (National Clark Community Meetup) a few weeks ago in Little Rock and people were blown away. The LA Dems approached her afterwards and asked her to come speak at their next meeting. Erik Massa, who is running for congress in NY's 29th district was there as well and wants to put the link on his website once it's up.

So already, pre-launch there's interest in it. It's going to piss people off which will in turn motivate people and we will be in a better position to get the crooks out of our election system! With no media reporting on this stuff, most people really don't know. Once they know the won't stand for it.

Oh, and also to Arry, crime is non-partisan. All the criminals should be busted and brought to justice.

Jen! WOW! Your post has me salivating

Thank you for your hard work and for keeping us abreast of this exciting news.

Arry. I never really considered myself a troll.

Kira, do you think I'm a troll?

I am an Independent. I was a Democrat until after the 2000 election. At that time, I looked to them to shield me from the neo cons that usurped (and then consolidated) control. The Dems let me down... big time. Some became a part of the neo con plan... but most just got the shaft along with the rest of the nation.

My beliefs are more moderate and are bent toward unification of a torn country.

Not all Repbs are bad... some are trying hard to nail the neo cons. We need to support those Repubs who are doing so. That's all I am saying Arry.

That's the only way we can clean the criminal scum out of Washington.

P. S. I do like the true conservatism of the Repubs; something we haven't seen since the 1980's.

No, MrBlueSky, I NEVER thought of you as a troll. I'm Independent, too, and always have been (living in the gray areas LOL!!)

Did I mis-read something?

I didn't think Arry's comment re:TROLLS was about you. I can't speak for Arry, but I read it as his comment about the handful (or 1 masquerading as a handful) of trolls who've been slithering about on Bradblog lately but NOT about you.

Sorry Kira! Must be getting paranoid in my old age (ripe old age of 35!)

TNT (Tri-Nitro TROLLuene)

Thanks, VG! Will we be heard? When something awful happens, will these forewarnings be remembered?

Bushw@cker #38 -

Ahhhhh...

Hi Doc Levinson! Good post! I don't agree with this line, though:

people like you, and people like us constantly find that we are in 100% agreement with “our side” and in 100% disagreement with the “other side”.

I don't believe in the 100% thing. I think there will always be some disagreement even among the most cliquish of groups.

However, the current regime is working overtime trying to develop a group of non-thinkers who rely on a list of canned rhetoric responses, and trained to cut off communication if the conversation wanders into an area for which there is no currently available partisan response.

As my relative from Ohio did when conversation drifted onto the issue of stem cell research --- (the acceptable method of shutting down meaningful discussion) stuck her fingers in her ears and chanted "la-la-la-la, I can't hear you!"

TREASONGATE: JULY 18th CHICAGO SUBWAY BOMB SCARE: Was The Dirksen Federal Courthouse a Target? Possible British MI6 and Major Cover Up IN Progress?

by Citizen Spook August1, 2005

http://www.citizenspook.blogspot.com

Sam #5

Your link didn't work

Is this the article you were trying to link to?

Carter: Guantanamo Detentions Disgraceful

#72 Citizen Spook --- verrry interesting.

Oh Sojo #30! That's an interesting story to keep following. I read & listened --- looks very well documented. Gahhh.

There's so much information on this Tin-hat Conspiracy Theory (the Government's version.) Bizarro World, indeed.

OMG Big Dan!!! Look at this:

July 2, 2005
Ohio Democrats victims of break-in Thieves grab computer from party headquaters in Columbus

By STEVE EDER and JAMES DREW
BLADE STAFF WRITERS

[snip] COLUMBUS — Thieves targeted the Ohio Democratic Party Headquarters this week, stealing a computer and a high-tech communications gadget belonging to party chairman Denny White.

Police said yesterday one or more burglars appeared to have climbed a wall Monday and crawled through an unlocked second-story window overnight at the party headquarters about three blocks from the Statehouse.

The break-in occurs at a time when the Ohio Republican Party is threatened by one of the largest scandals to hit the state’s government in decades.

Some Democrats also say the break-in is eerily similar to a burglary at the Lucas County Democratic Party Headquarters last fall, in which three computers were stolen. [snip]

**MORE ... MORE ... MORE ...** How much **MORE** can we stand before the weight of the DungPile crushes the life outta us?

KIRA, thanks. It seems even on this blog, this connection between the Toledo Blade/Dem HQ breakin, and the Noe's/Coingate scandel, and the Noe's further connection to installing DIEBOLD voting machines in Lucas County, and having partisan GOP operatives "doing things" behind closed doors to the machines during the 2004 election (the Raw Story story), is not being taken serious...well except for KIRA. The moment I read the words "LUCAS COUNTY" in the Ms. Noe story, I remembered the obscure Toledo Blade article that, I by chance, read a year ago, and remembered "LUCAS COUNTY", like a photographic memory. I don't know how I instantly recalled that Toledo Blade article, it's like a 1-in-a-million thing...that's why I'm trying to get the word out. It was lucky!

I have no idea how I came across the Toledo Blade article a year ago, can't recall. Someone was complaining on some blog, that the entire MSM (except for the Toledo Blade), was ignoring the breakin of the Dem HQ during the election, and that person, who I can't remember, said, "This is exactly as big, or bigger, than Watergate, and the only place in America that's covering it is the Toledo Blade". Like I said, it's just luck that "LUCAS COUNTY" rang a bell, when I read that Ms. Noe article. I couldn't believe it, I thought what are the chances I could find that article again, and what are the odds it would be LUCAS COUNTY? It was like hitting the lottery.

Big Dan - when that story came out in Oct. 2004, I naively believed it would start an unraveling that would absolutely wake up the zombies before the 2004 Prez Election. Boy, was I wrong!

Just like all the other scandals WE see every day, unfolding and then shuffled off to oblivion (at least for the MSM reliant crowd!) Thanks to Bradblog, RAW Story and other Bloggers/Alternative News Outlets we have a record of "What Really Happened!"

Keep it alive, boyz & girlz!

We think alike, I was going to use the work "Zombie" myself.

To Lucas County and the Toledo Blade:

GET YOUR FUCKING ASSES MOVING ON THIS STORY, BEFORE I TAKE A HELICOPTER OUT THERE MYSELF!

Are the people in Lucas County walking around like Zombies? GET YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!

I thank God (and Brad) for this blog.

Uniting Americans who want to rid the country of corrupt elections and neocons is a great idea. How are Dems, Greens, Indeps to actively reach/join with honest Repubs?

The UN should be able to take care of Bolton. If they can't or won't and don't, then they will have to suffer the consequences...If they are smart, they have been planning his "reception" and "treatment" for a long time and are fully prepared.

Finally, Bush knows exactly what Karla knows. I think they told traitor Judy Miller, whose role it was to tell Novak/whoever, who called Karla and Libby who pretended innocense, BUT confirmed the story. Karla's evil plan in action...so simple.

Ahhh - wondering what the incense aroma of smoldering Rove-Blossoms will be like ???

Gotta add this article to the mix (thinking of the Church of John Asscroft ...)

Attacks on the Nude, the Naked, the Naturist

Naturism is the philosophy of living in harmony with nature. This includes an affinity and respect for wildlife and the natural environment, an attempt to live a healthy lifestyle with natural foods, and the acceptance of the human body as naturally good and wholesome, hence a rejection of the culture of lust and shame regarding the nude human body. The latter belief by itself is, of course, nudism, the belief that there is nothing wrong with not wearing clothing, and a lifestyle that includes nudity.

The nudist movement has centered on private nudist clubs and resorts, while the naturist movement has focused on nude beaches, springs, and back yards. Both nudism and naturism have been under increasing attack by the so-called "religious right," and laws are being passed nationwide prohibiting nonsexual nudity even inside one's home.

Civil asset forfeiture, the confiscation of property without trial or conviction, is even being proposed as a weapon against the practice of nudity even in enclosed private property. In Arkansas, it is illegal even to advocate in favor of nudism.

Nudity is a prime example of a possibly offensive but victimless state of being. It is not even an activity or act, since it is not behavior, but simply the absence of clothing. The nude and the naked should therefore be protected by civil rights and liberties, including natural rights, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of association, and private property rights.

Of course, most folks don't want naked people to walk down the street. But anti-nudity laws extend way beyond this to prohibit nudity in one's property and even inside one's own house, and some places make it illegal to be nude in the company of a child even at home. In some place, breast feeding is treated as a crime. Art depicting nonsexual nudity is banned in some places, and many shops that develop film routinely destroy any film that depicts nudity, and if a child is shown nude, no matter how innocent the context, the shop reports it to the authorities.

Even in a liberal city such as Berkeley, California, the law extends to any nudity in "public view," which includes not only nude use of back-yard hot tubs, but even inside one's house if there is a window through which someone could possibly look. One man in Ohio was arrested because someone across the street using binoculars could see him nude inside his house, and in Florida, a child was taken from a woman who was dancing nude in the presence of her child because one could see her by looking up the closed Venetian blinds.

**MORE**

KIRA #82
Absolutely Breath-taking!

Haha, Bushw@cker --- did you mean #81? It took me awhile, but finally dawned on me that RoveBlossom Perfume would certainly take my breath away LOLOL!!!

MrBlueSky --- It never occured to me that you are a troll.

In fact, MrBlueSky, it was yours and Kira's postings I was replying to and agreeing with - and adding a bit of my own.

I'm not a blog saavy as some of you but I'm beginning to know real trolls when I see them!

So many scandals, so little time! Such great information is scattered in so many threads!!!!! I keep checking back to the "Has Rover Offered to Resign" thread, because I want to see if anyone has met Brad's challenge.

Long internet saga, but please bear with me.

I just noticed an interesting post from Dredd, on that thread. Dredd's post is here. Dredd gives a link to a NYT article Case of C.I.A. Officer's Leaked Identity Takes New Turn. I was trying to find the NYT article in a different format, and didn't find it in the NYT, but found it here. (here= mediachannel.org)

Scrolling down to the comments, I found a post that suggested that leaking of Plame's identity had a deeper motive. Here's a snippet:

"The untold story of Rovegate may be whether the White House not only leaked the name of Joseph Wilson's wife for purely political retaliation but also to close down her and her Brewster Jennings' team's work on counter-WMD proliferation. Some insiders believe that the CIA covert group was getting uncomfortably close to clandestine business deals that would have exposed members of the Bush family and their closest political and business friends. "

The poster (comment) said the article came from !!!!!! "www.waynemasdenreport.org". Actually that is not the correct address, as I discovered after some time spent. It is www.waynemadsenreport.com, here.

On the WM site, I tried to find the article that was referenced, but it looks like it has been *updated*. To find the update, scroll down to July31/ Aug 1, for the article that begins ---["U.S. intelligence insiders have pointed out that the White House is using "Rovegate" and "Who in the White House said what to whom?" as a smoke screen to divert attention away from the actual counter-proliferation work Mrs. Wilson and her Brewster Jennings & Associates team were engaged in. "]--- The article touches on the Israeli and Italian connections, which have been mentioned here before, on various threads.

Also, just above that are two articles, one that talks about Patrick Fitzgerald, and another re: Murdoch/ London bombings. Both are written in a confusing way (other is too) and I haven't had time to check them out.

So.... Inasmuch as this info comes from Wayne Madsen.... I'd really like to know what y'all think about the info, provide other links, etc., in your usual find fashion.

Thanks again, Dredd, for getting me going. (Last time it was re: Ray McGovern.)

VG

Just had time to check out one of the other stories, and it is well worth a read, not only bec. of the viewpoint from Britain (The Times UK), but also bec. it refers to many false reports about the recent bombings in London.

I name the four powers who are behind the al-Qaeda conspiracy (Matthew Parris, not me!!!)

The four powers (snips from the article follow):

First, the news media. Al-Qaeda is a “narrative” and a gripping one.

Secondly, the Government.

Thirdly, the security services.

Finally, of course, the terrorist himself. A reputation for fearsomeness and sophistication is nothing but a boon not only to his self-esteem, but also to his efforts to recruit others to his cause. Never think that speeches about the wickedness and cruelty of al-Qaeda do other than burnish the legend.

Valley Girl --- great links & research! Thank you!

MMIIXX just posted this on another thread:

The 7/7 Bombings - How To Set Up A Patsy

This bears watching, too.

Hi Kira!!!

Thanks for the "attagirl"!!!!!

I just saw a similar post on the Bolton thread-- from Peggy. I read that article/ link a while back, and that is one of the reasons I was so interested in the Parris article, and continue to be interested in the London bombings.

Hey, re: something you said on another thread-- should we be getting out of town (that town = south of Washington) before Aug. 6? Kinda creepy, no?

VG

Sorry KIRA, your brain is running rings round me this morning (having food fasted prior to a blood test - routine nothing to worry about), I was honestly refering to your #82 with my #83.
Although I now see my #83 equally applies to your #81 & #82, .....now that's economic don't ya think? as in killing two Turds (Rove & Asscroft) with one stone? Guess that would be FECALCIDE? I'd better stop now!
Love you all!

Transcript of the story by the Australian Broadcasting Commission
Prosecutors allege Guantanamo military commissions rigged.

Guardian UK.

ABC (Australia)News.

Are any Americans still detained in Gitmo Club Med?

Correction to my #89 The link was actually posted by Peggy on the Bolton thread. (Sorry Peg!)

Bushw@cker - you're a hoot! Deadly wit!

Gaahhh --- the news is unbearable!!!!! Thank goodness for all you wonderful Bradblogger friends!

Ok - another story about 7/7 similarities to 9/11:

The TruthSeeker: Former British MI5 Agent Says 'Many Similarities' Between London Bombings And 9/11

By Greg Szymanski – Arctic Beacon July 29, 2005

David Shayler, a former British intelligence agent, says he feels both the London bombings and 9/11 were most likely staged government events. Moreover, he claims the free people of the world are at war with an enemy within and either democracy will prevail or a fascist rule and martial law will take over.

..... Shayler added that what’s even more suspicious is the private security firm in charge of the training drills prior to 7/7 had ties to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Further, he also received information that one of the named suicide bombers, whose picture was released in the London press, has turned up alive and well in Pakistan.

***MORE***

Surely someone has already posted this on one of these threads, but I'm going to do it again. I just don't know what to say after reading Chris Floyd - Empire Burlesque July 12, 2005

BUSH / CHENEY INDICTED...?

Don't know if this is true, or not--

Vanity Fair to Reveal More on Sibel Edmonds' Case.

Novak Recycles Gannon on 'Plame-gate'.

Bob #95 if you don't want to be known as bad bob please keep your URL length down.

There are utilities here for helping you do that. The long URL makes the page center section too wide.

CIA's In-Q-Tel.

{spam deleted. WP}

Thanks for posting that link, Bushw@cker! Lookee ...

Diebold, ES&S linked to SAIC which is linked to In-Q-Tel

9/11 review.org re:In-Q-Tel & SAIC