Monthly Archives: April 2009

We Lock Up Governors, Why Not Presidents?

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“…he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed,”

The United States Constitution, Article II, Section 3

I’ll be perfectly honest with you. I don’t know what to say. I was watching Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and I remember growing numb as I listened to what I was hearing. I’m still kind of numb, even as Rachel Maddow interviews Rep Adam Schiff about what we learned today, and I don’t know how to admit it, but I can’t quite remember exactly what it was that they say our former president, George W. Bush, the man who stood before the American people and said, “We do not torture!”, authorized be done in my name, in your name, in all our names, to the people we captured after September 11. I remember this: It was torture. And we did it.

I’m not going to tell you that I stood by our president the whole time and said, “Well, if he says we aren’t torturing anybody, then I take him at his word.” I’m not stupid. I’m not insane (by certain definitions). I’m not naive. At the time he stood before us and said those words, those four words far more nefarious than the sixteen words, I knew what kind of person was telling me that. A pathological liar. A sadistic man-boy. A spoiled child who was given everything he had in life, including his millions of dollars, and never once understood the concept of responsibility. A man who didn’t know how to admit a mistake, even when it was obvious to people less intelligent than he. A man who could not make the mental connection between the the things that he did and the events that resulted from them. Or between cause and effect in general. His mind simply does not operate from a factual basis. He makes decisions based on things that he believes, not necessarily things that are actually, provably, demonstrably, inconclusively true. He knows that torture is not legal. But he was told that what we were doing was not considered torture. And he believed that. So it was, as far as he was concerned, if he had any concern at all about the subject, true. And so he told us, “We do not torture.” Except that it was. And it was done in our name. It was torture. And we did it.

No, I knew immediately that when George W. Bush uttered the words, “We do not torture,” that we were, possibly at that very minute for all we knew, torturing people. Continue reading →

Tortured Thoughts

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While watching Countdown tonight, something struck me.   Absorbing all of the new information regarding the torture memos;  reading the unambiguous objections of several JAGs against the torture techniques; hearing Richard Wolffe’s eloquent words - all against the background of the lies, lies, and more lies from the Bush Administration now being contradicted by the flood of information which has come out over the last few days - I finally was hit by the full and terrible realization that our country, my country, which I love for so many reasons, had died.

As I began to weep, varied images and thoughts jostled in my mind Continue reading →

Lawrence O’Donnell Smacks Down Liz Cheney

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Liz Cheney was allowed to spew lies on MSNBC with Norah O’Donnell. That video is everywhere. What doesn’t show up here is right after that segment Lawrence O’Donnell was visibly angry that he wasn’t on to refute Ms. Cheney’s claims. He pointed out that just like her father, Dick Cheney, Liz would never appear in a segment where somebody could point out her lies.

Thursday’s Comedy Corner

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Young Frankenstein is one of my favorite comedies.  Here are two of my favorite scenes in the movie.  The first is “Puttin on the Ritz.”

One of the best lines in the movie:  Wilder asks Igor: “Give a hand with the bags.” Igor: “You take the blonde, and I’ll take the one with the turban.”

Old Electronics Should Not Be Disposed With Garbage – Recycling Options Available

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Since we are perpetually updating our electronics from cell phones to PC’s our old electronics are somewhere out of sight, gathering dust or in a landfill where they can leak dangerous chemicals into the earth.

These potentially harmful substances include lead (large, old CRT [cathode-ray tube] monitors can contain up to 7 pounds), mercury, flame retardants, and cadmium.

Computer monitors, televisions and other electronic equipment should NOT be disposed of with regular garbage. Working TVs, monitors, computers and other consumer electronics can be sold or donated thereby prolonging their useful life. Nonfunctioning TVs, computer monitors and other obsolete electronics should be recycled by an organization equipped to handle them.

Here are a few options to help you dispose of those old electronics, in my case, I had three DVD players stop functioning in one year.

Office Depot (www.officedepot.com) is one place to dispose of your old A/V equipment. The Tech Recycling Service is Office Depot’s program to “turn tech trash into useful raw materials.” You can acquire a recycling box in one of three sizes: Small for $5, Medium for $10, and Large for $15. Check the list of Office Depot’s Acceptable Items before you fill your box—this is a wide-ranging list including DVD players, MP3 players, and cables, however, you cannot submit items such as cracked monitors, leaking electronics, or potentially radioactive material (of course).

At Earth 911, type the name of your electronic device in the search box next to Start Recycling. Then, fill in your ZIP code and click Go. Earth 911 produces an extensive list of locales that offer recycling services, accept donations, or facilitate reuse. Suggestions can include recycling companies, thrift stores, volunteer programs, national CE retailer branches, or academic institutions. 

Continue reading →

TYT: Cenk blasts Chuck Todd on shoddy journalism!

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Cenk is angry that “Chuck Todd reiterated three Republican talking points, while pretending to be neutral.”  ”It is a Republican talking point to say we have different legal opinions here, what are you going to do prosecute people for having difference of opinion on the law?”    ”Not hey it is a clear violation of the law, we have the War Crimes Act and torturing and waterboarding are clearly illegal.”  ”We ignore that.”

Cenk takes issue with Chuck Todd’s assertion that “this is all politics it is not a matter of law or that a crime was committed here.  No this is a hard left verses hard right.”  ”Did Chuck Todd check any of his facts before he came on and said that?”  ”No he just came on said it.”

“Here is an interesting number, 44% of Republicans say, there should either be a criminal investigation of the possible torture by the Bush Administration or an investigation that involves independent counsel.”

TYT – Cenk link.

To bad the MSM doesn’t hire Cenk to replace say Morning Joe or Wolf Blitzer! That would be an improvement :)

President Obama Signs Bill To Triple Size Of AmeriCorps

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Bravo!

Ted Kennedy, “You have inspired a new generation of Americans and your own example and your own call has recognized that.”

Calling on Americans to volunteer, President Barack Obama signed a $5.7 billion national service bill Tuesday that triples the size of the AmeriCorps service program over the next eight years and expands ways for students to earn money for college. “What this legislation does, then, is to help harness this patriotism and connect deeds to needs,” said Obama, a former community organizer in Chicago.

Fox anchor: ‘This is America! We do not fucking torture’

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Fox News’ Shepard Smith is pissed…

“We are America! I don’t give a rat’s ass if it helps,” Smith declared. “We are America! We do not fucking torture!”


On an earlier Fox News television broadcast, discussing the latest torture news with Judith Miller and Cliff May, Shep Smith said:

“We are America, we don’t torture! And the moment that is not the case, I want off the train!

“This government is of, by, and for the people — that means it’s mine,” Smith quipped. “That means — I’m not saying what is torture, and what is not torture, but I’m saying, whatever it is, you don’t do it for me! I want off the train when the government starts — I want off, next stop, now!”

(I will take the opportunity to make the observation that Cliff May is absolutely looney tunes… I just found myself shaking my head..)

Janice Karpinski to Cheney: Where Were You Five Years Ago?

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Dick Cheney on Fox News:  “I formally asked that they be declassified now. I haven’t announced this up till now, I haven’t talked about it, but I know specifically of reports that I read, that I saw that lay out what we learned through the interrogation process and what the consequences were for the country.”

Former Brigadier General Janis Karpinski  wonders why Cheney did not  make these claims when active service members were facing charges for abuses at Abu Ghraib.  She claims that Donald Rumsfeld  and his subordinates ordered these activities and that he and Cheney remained silent during these prosecutions.

A few bad apples

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So, where’s Rice…?

Rice, Cheney Approved Waterboarding

Karpinski on Abu Ghraib: ‘We were following orders’

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Nick Anderson, Houston Chronicle Editorial Cartoonist and Animation Artist.
For Nick’s animations, visit Nick Anderson: Animation Archives.
For Nick’s cartoons, visit Nick Anderson.

Something for the secessionists (and open thread)

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Secession is so extreme –but there’s relocation

by David Sarasohn, The Oregonian

“Love it or leave it” has never seemed the ideal slogan for a bumper sticker, let alone a country. But as long as folks have brought it up, there does seem to be a place that fits ideally with the values expressed by the deeply concerned conservatives.

This place has hardly any taxes, certainly not estate taxes, transit payroll taxes or subchapter(S) corporation taxes. It seems to operate on what you might call contributions from its citizens.

Nobody there would imagine any limitations on gun ownership. In fact, far from any questions about limiting ownership of handguns or assault rifles, it’s considered entirely appropriate to set up an anti-aircraft gun on the bed of your pickup.

Certainly, motor vehicle folks won’t object.

There’s no annoying government regulation of business, and none of that character-destroying safety net –although there are a lot of chains and ropes.

The place runs on strong religious values, with no picky questions about separation of church and state. In fact, a lot of bureaucratic and judicial red tape is avoided with quick religious rulings.

In that atmosphere, of course, there are no irritating questions about gay marriage. Homosexuals are firmly shown the error of their ways, often with specific religious citation –and the certainty that it won’t happen again.

The conservatives’ promised land is, of course, Somalia, land of minimal government paperwork or zoning limits. You could say the country even has another, more particular appeal to Obama’s critics:

Nobody with a Kenyan background is ever going to be elected president of Somalia.

More at the link (and apologies in advance for the horrible Oregonian website).

Florida Republicans Back Tax Breaks For Plane & Yacht Owners

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Florida’s House Republicans said “This isn’t about raising revenue.  Oh no! This is about fair and balance taxation system.”   Well, that is certainly obvious that it isn’t about raising money.

Buyers of yachts and private airplanes in Florida would be spared from paying the full 6 percent sales tax on their purchases. But magazine subscribers would now start paying taxes.

Those were among the decisions the House Finance and Tax Council made Monday as it weighed revisions to Florida’s tax system in a wide-ranging bill that creates two sales tax holidays for shoppers and leaves the budget $25 million in the red.

They were confident they would find the needed money by the end of the legislative session on May 1.

Continue reading →

Dennis Kucinich: Victory Against Privatization

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Common Dreams

DFAS takes away Contract from Lockheed Martin, Government to Perform Services

Following a relentless effort by Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) to challenge the Bush administration’s efforts to privatize Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) jobs since 2001, DFAS today announced that that it will cancel agreements with Lockheed Martin and employ government workers to perform all areas of retroactive pay and benefits for veterans.

“This is a great day for veterans and a victory for government oversight. This decision will finally end the six-year nightmare of privatization of retired and annuitant pay services that resulted in the degradation of services to veterans and an increased cost to taxpayers. I thank Director McKay and Comptroller Robert Hale for their choice to serve veterans first, rather than perpetuate a lucrative contract with the nation’s largest military contractor,” stated Kucinich

Continue reading →

NSA Wiretap: Rep. Harman Promising to Intervene for AIPAC

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CQ Politics

Rep. Jane Harman , the California Democrat with a longtime involvement in intelligence issues, was overheard on an NSA wiretap telling a suspected Israeli agent that she would lobby the Justice Department reduce espionage-related charges against two officials of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, the most powerful pro-Israel organization in Washington.

Harman was recorded saying she would “waddle into” the AIPAC case “if you think it’ll make a difference,” according to two former senior national security officials familiar with the NSA transcript.

In exchange for Harman’s help, the sources said, the suspected Israeli agent pledged to help lobby Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., then-House minority leader, to appoint Harman chair of the Intelligence Committee after the 2006 elections, which the Democrats were heavily favored to win.

For the full article use the link at the top of page.

CBS: Banks Racked Up Billions In Penalty Fees

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Banks have retaliated for people defaulting, by raising their rates and credit card fees.  Chase has added $120.00 fee to it’s no fee cards. American Express has raised it’s late fees from $29.00 to $39.00. Chase and Bank of America have double interest rates on some customers up to 30%.