whew!

Man, it is hard to even come up with a synopsis of this whacked out free republic post! Basically, the writer is bitching about everyone harping on the fact that Iraq did not have the WMDs that bush said that they did as a rationale for war. But, he does so by saying that al Qaeda DOES have chemical weapons!
OK, which is a good reason why we should have tried to take out bin Laden while we had the chance and destroy al Qaeda, rather than going to Iraq for no reason whatsoever!
Somehow, though, this is supposed to excuse bush for laughing at the fact that he sent thousands to die in Iraq over his known lie about WMDs!
Man, these people are psycho!

no wonder he doesn't like polls!

42% of Americans would impeach Bush if there was proof he lied about Iraq, Bush got NO bump from Tuesday's speech

Bush got NO bump from Tuesday speech. From Zogby:

The Zogby America survey of 905 likely voters, conducted from June 27 through 29, 2005, has a margin of error of +/-3.3 percentage points.Just one week ago, President Bush’s job approval stood at a previous low of 44%—but it has now slipped another point to 43%, despite a speech to the nation intended to build support for the Administration and the ongoing Iraq War effort. The Zogby America survey includes calls made both before and after the President’s address, and the results show no discernible “bump” in his job approval, with voter approval of his job performance at 45% in the final day of polling.

And among Red State voters, he's sinking too:

In a more significant sign of the weakness of the President’s numbers, more “Red State” voters—that is, voters living in the states that cast their ballots for the Bush-Cheney ticket in 2004—now rate his job performance unfavorably, with 50% holding a negative impression of the President’s handling of his duties, and 48% holding a favorable view. The President also gets negative marks from one-in-four (25%)Republicans—as well as 86% of Democrats and 58% of independents. (Bush nets favorable marks from 75% of Republicans, 13% of Democrats and 40% of independents.)

But what's particularly intersting is that one in four Republicans would support impeachment.

A large majority of Democrats (59%) say they agree that the President should be impeached if he lied about Iraq, while just three-in-ten (30%) disagree. Among President Bush’s fellow Republicans, a full one-in-four (25%) indicate they would favor impeaching the President under these circumstances, while seven-in-ten (70%) do not. Independents are more closely divided, with 43% favoring impeachment and 49% opposed.

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This is pretty remarkable! Of course, there IS proof that he lied, so we'll see what happens...

repugs willing to lie,cheat, steal in order to destroy Social Security

A Moment of Clarity In Social Security Debate

In the past week conservatives have floated several contradictory Social Security reform proposals, making it difficult to discern their true intentions.

Luckily, there have been a few moments of clarity in the debate that cut through the rhetorical clutter and get to the core goal of the conservative’s fight: the abolishment of the principle of shared responsibility and sacrifice that Social Security embodies.

The most recent example came yesterday when Republican Rep. Jack Kingston (GA) explicitly stated the Republican strategy – get any Social Security bill through the House and Senate and then add private accounts in a conference committee:

“Anything they can get passed out of the Senate we should consider a major victory,” Mr. Kingston said, adding that if the Senate can pass any sort of Social Security bill — even without personal accounts — the House would “meet them in conference committee with personal accounts.”

This reaffirms what the White House’s endgame is as told to the New York Times last month:

“…they will seek to lure Democrats into negotiations on the program’s solvency and prepare for an endgame in which Mr. Bush will make an all-out push to convince the country that individual investment accounts will reduce the pain of benefit cuts or tax increases…”

more of what this admin means by "supporting the troops"

Army abandons 20 year old soldier in need
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Terrible story - they just don't give a damn about people once they have used them.

Spain believes in "freedom and equality"!

Spain OKs Gay Marriage, Defying Opponents

MADRID, Spain - Parliament legalized gay marriage Thursday, defying conservatives and clergy who opposed making traditionally Roman Catholic Spain the third country to allow same-sex unions nationwide. Jubilant gay activists blew kisses to lawmakers after the vote.
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The Netherlands and Belgium are the only other two countries that allow gay marriage nationwide. Canada's House of Commons passed legislation Tuesday that would legalize gay marriage; its Senate is expected to pass the bill into law by the end of July.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero noted this in debate before the vote.

"We were not the first, but I am sure we will not be the last. After us will come many other countries, driven, ladies and gentlemen, by two unstoppable forces: freedom and equality," he told the chamber.

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Maybe someday America will join the forces of freedom and equality!

testing pesticides on kids

And obstructionist repugs want to block a bill banning this! Talk about the "party of no"! They're are saying "NO" to an amendment prohibiting testing pesticides on humans!!!! And doing this simply to spite Dems! Yikes!
EPA Human Pesticide Testing & Anti-Democracy Republicans

isn't this a bit pompous?

Considering that this happens every New Year's and 4th of July in America?

Shouldn't this be kind of obvious?

BEIRUT (Reuters) -
Lebanon's top Shi'ite Muslim cleric issued a fatwa edict Wednesday banning shooting in the air after three people were killed by gunfire celebrating the re-election of the Shi'ite parliament speaker.

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It should be obvious to Americans, too, but obviously, it isn't!

more ideas from the "party of no ideas"

Last night the President had a chance to move the country forward by laying out a specific course of action to make our troops safer and rescue the mission in Iraq.

Instead, the President took us backwards -- backwards to campaign style rhetoric and unshakeable stubbornness.

Let me be clear about something. I've never met an American who doesn't want to see America succeed in Iraq. I've never met a veteran who doesn't fly the flag on the 4th of July with pride in our country. I've never met an American who doesn't believe in the greatness of our country and the strength of our ideals.

But I've met a lot of Americans who fear the President has no plan to get it right in Iraq -- and they woke up this morning feeling the same way.

The President and the administration need to get their story straight about what is
happening in Iraq -- and how they are going to get our mission back on track.

From their 24th different rationale for war, to the Vice President and Secretary Rumsfeld telling us the insurgency is in its "final throes" while last night President Bush said it is more dangerous than ever, Americans just want to hear the truth.

They want leadership equal to our soldiers' sacrifice, and they know we can't win if our leaders can't even agree on the facts. This is a time for leadership, and a time for responsible answers to difficult problems. Yesterday, I laid out a 9 point plan to get it right in Iraq. Here are 3 steps the President can take this weekend to start getting it right in Iraq and ensure greater security for our troops.

1) The President heads to Europe this weekend. He needs to bring home more commitments from our allies to shore up Iraq's borders, invest more in reconstruction and do more training of Iraqi troops. A secure and stable Iraq is in the best interest of every nation across Europe and the Middle East.

2) Send a message across the Middle East that Iraq's neighbor countries must do more to stop the rise of terrorism in Iraq. We need countries like Saudi Arabia to keep their commitment to help pay for reconstruction efforts in Iraq so the Iraqi people get electricity, water and better roads. We also need help from Iraq's neighbors in shoring up the borders so foreign fighters and terrorists can't get in and can't get out. The President needs to take his tough message to the region and enlist support for our mission. The best way to stop the growth of terrorism is by enlisting more Arab allies.

3) Truly honor our troops' sacrifices in Iraq by immediately covering the one billion dollar shortfall in funding for veterans care this year here at home and increasing funding for armor and necessary supplies for our troops over in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Senator Byrd, Senator Murray, I and others have an amendment pending right now to address the critical funding shortage for veterans. The administration could send a powerful message about sacrifice and national unity if they act now to address this shortfall for the VA.

We need more than just words to get it right in Iraq. We need actions and focus and
leadership. We saw what happened after 9/11, in the mountains of Tora Bora, when
the administration took its eyes off the ball when it came to hunting down and
capturing Osama Bin Laden. We can't afford to let the same thing happen in Iraq.
Our troops are depending on us and we can't let them down. It's time to bring the country together to get it right. No more excuses, no more spin, and no more dividing the country on partisan lines.

Americans have the resolve - we need action from the administration.
Sincerely,
John Kerry

the never ending hypocrisy (support our troops version)

On supporting our troops

To the Democratic leadership in Congress:
Consider the following statements from your Republican colleagues.

"You can support the troops but not the president" -Representative Tom Delay (R-TX)

"[The] President…is once again releasing American military might on a foreign country with an ill-defined objective and no exit strategy. He has yet to tell the Congress how much this operation will cost. And he has not informed our nation's armed forces about how long they will be away from home. These strikes do not make for a sound foreign policy."-Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA)

"American foreign policy is now one huge big mystery. Simply put, the administration is trying to lead the world with a feel-good foreign policy."-Representative Tom Delay (R-TX)

"If we are going to commit American troops, we must be certain they have a clear mission, an achievable goal and an exit strategy." -Karen Hughes, speaking on behalf of George W. Bush

"I had doubts about the bombing campaign from the beginning...I didn't think we had done enough in the diplomatic area." -Senator Trent Lott (R-MS)

"Well, I just think it's a bad idea. What's going to happen is they're going to be over there for 10, 15, maybe 20 years" -Joe Scarborough (R-FL)

"I cannot support a failed foreign policy. History teaches us that it is often easier to make war than peace. This administration is just learning that lesson right now. The President began this mission with very vague objectives and lots of unanswered questions. A month later, these questions are still unanswered. There are no clarified rules of engagement. There is no timetable. There is no legitimate definition of victory. There is no contingency plan for mission creep. There is no clear funding program. There is no agenda to bolster our overextended military. There is no explanation defining what vital national interests are at stake. There was no strategic plan for war when the President started this thing, and there still is no plan today" -Representative Tom Delay (R-TX)

"Explain to the mothers and fathers of American servicemen that may come home in body bags why their son or daughter have to give up their life?" -Sean Hannity, Fox News, 4/6/99

"Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is." -Governor George W. Bush (R-TX)

"Bombing a sovereign nation for ill-defined reasons with vague objectives undermines the American stature in the world. The international respect and trust for America has diminished every time we casually let the bombs fly." -Representative Tom Delay (R-TX)

more confirmation of what we knew all along

Captives: Terrorists hoped for Bush re-election

Two French journalists who were held hostage in Iraq told a British documentary program that their captors believed George W. Bush's re-election as US president would help radicalize Iraqis.

Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, who were seized in August and released after four months, told the British Broadcasting Corp.'s "Panorama" program that they were allowed to interview the leader of an Islamic militant cell within the group that seized them.

"We felt we were on planet bin Laden," Malbrunot said on the program, which airs
Wednesday night.

The cell leader trained with terror leader Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and told them the insurgents supported a Bush presidency because they believed it meant that "there will be confrontation, occupation and radicalization of the Iraqi people," Malbrunot said.

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Of course, anyone who thinks logically knew this - it was obvious! Everyone sane who has a blog talked about this, and i seem to remember that this idea even briefly (very briefly) made it to TV! Of course they would want bush in power - he's their biggest recruiting tool ever and he does exactly what they want him to! Why would they want someone in power who actually planned to track them down and take them out and who would have brought the world together against them (Kerry), rather than bringing the world together against the US (bush)?

hello - reality calling!

Congressman Pushes 9/11-Saddam Myth

President Bush might continue to intimate that there was a link between Saddam Hussein and the September 11th attacks but Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC), the vice chairman of the House subcommittee on terrorism, is stating it explicitly. In an interview on CNN, Hayes insisted, “Saddam Hussein and people like him were very much involved in 9/11.” When confronted with the findings of the 9/11 commission — who definitively concluded there was no evidence of a link between Saddam and 9/11 — Hayes retorted, “I’m sorry, but you must have looked in the wrong places.” Hayes then defended his position by asserting that “legislators have access to evidence others do not.”

We’re not sure what kind of evidence Hayes has access to but apparently he has higher clearance than U.S. weapons inspectors, CIA directors, counterterrorism experts, Secretaries of State, and even the President…because all those people have accepted the fact that Saddam was not connected to 9/11.

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When will these scumbags accept the truth and tell it to the American people?!

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More on this from Americablog

wow again!

Zarqawi

From the prereleased excerpts of Bush's speech:

"The terrorists can kill the innocent - but they cannot stop the advance of freedom. The only way our enemies can succeed is if we forget the lessons of September 11 ... if we abandon the Iraqi people to men like Zarqawi ... and if we yield the future of the Middle East to men like Bin Laden."

Ahem.

With Tuesday's attacks, Abu Musab Zarqawi, a Jordanian militant with ties to
al-Qaida, is now blamed for more than 700 terrorist killings in Iraq.

But NBC News has learned that long before the war the Bush administration had
several chances to wipe out his terrorist operation and perhaps kill Zarqawi himself -- but never pulled the trigger. [...]

Military officials insist their case for attacking Zarqawi's operation was airtight, but the administration feared destroying the terrorist camp in Iraq could undercut its case for war against Saddam.

See also Media Matters.
You know what would really help us win the war on terror?
Fighting the f---ing war on terror. Jackass.

bush STILL trying to tie bin Laden to Iraq!

See Americablog's review of the speech.
It is incredible how stupid he thinks the American public is! After all of the proof to the contrary he is still harping on 9/11 and thinking that people will still believe that there was some sort of tie to Iraq!
Man, could you imagine the shock if he actually leveled with the people for once?!

bush's "success" in the war on terror

Bush made Iraq the #1 training ground for Al Qaeda?

You gotta be kidding me. Stephanopoulos just said on ABC that the CIA said a few weeks ago that there were no real ties between Iraq and Al Qaeda before the war, but that now Iraq is THE NUMBER ONE TRAINING GROUND for Al Qaeda worldwide. Good God. Do people realize what that means? We basically handed Al Qaeda a new headquarters. They couldn't touch that country when the dictator Hussein controlled it. Now that Bush invaded, they own it. Lovely.

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This is the CIA saying this! Why isn't this story plastered all over the papers and airwaves?! Damn that "liberal media"!!!

more common sense from Dems

Sorely lacking from the repubs!

Harry Reid responds to Bush
REID STATEMENT ON BUSH IRAQ SPEECHDemocratic Leader Harry Reid released the following statement:

(Washington, DC) “Tonight’s address offered the President an excellent opportunity to level with the American people about the current situation in Iraq, put forth a path for success, and provide the means to assess our progress. Unfortunately he fell short on all counts.

“There is a growing feeling among the American people that the President’s Iraq policy is adrift, disconnected from the reality on the ground and in need of major mid-course corrections. “Staying the course,” as the President advocates, is neither
sustainable nor likely to lead to the success we all seek.

“The President’s numerous references to September 11th did not provide a way forward in Iraq, they only served to remind the American people that our most dangerous enemy, namely Osama bin Laden, is still on the loose and Al Qaeda remains capable of doing this nation great harm nearly four years after it attacked America.

“Democrats stand united and committed to seeing that we achieve success in Iraq
and provide our troops, their families, and our veterans everything they need and deserve for their sacrifices for our nation. The stakes are too high, and failure in Iraq cannot be an option. Success is only possible if the President significantly alters his current course. That requires the President to work with Congress and finally begin
to speak openly and honestly with our troops and the American people about the difficult road ahead. "

Our troops and their families deserve no less.”

bush "supports our troops" by cutting their health care

GOP Busted Trying to Screw Health Care for Vets

Nice. So don't give the troops armored vehicles or the right vests, then screw them on health care.

young conservatives fight "with words"

Interveiws from a recent College Republican National Convention in which young conservatives who support the war try to explain why everyone except themselves should be fighting in Iraq! Once again, repug hypocrisy knows no bounds!!

Generation Chickenhawk

I chatted for a while with Collin Kelley, a senior at Washington State... told me he's "sick and tired of people saying our troops are dying in vain" and added, "This isn't
an invasion of Iraq, it's a liberation--as David Horowitz said." When I asked him why he was staying on campus rather than fighting the good fight, he rubbed his shoulder and described a nagging football injury from high school.

Munching on a chicken quesadilla at a table nearby was Edward Hauser, a senior... When I broached the issue of Iraq, he replied, "I support our country. I support our troops." So why isn't he there? "I know that I'm going to be better staying here and working to convince people why we're there [in Iraq]," Hauser explained, pausing in thought. "I'm a fighter, but with words."

At a table by the buffet was Justin Palmer, vice chairman of the Georgia Association of College Republicans, America's largest chapter of College Republicans. ..he batted away my question about his decision to avoid fighting the war he supported with the closest thing I heard to a talking point all afternoon. "The country is like a body," Palmer explained, "and each part of the body has a different function. Certain people do certain things better than others." He said his "function" was planning a "Support Our Troops" day on campus this year in which students honored military recruiters from all four branches of the service.

Standing by Palmer's side and sipping a glass of rose wine, University of Georgia Republican member Kiera Ranke said she played her part as well. She and her sorority sisters sent care packages to troops in Iraq along with letters and pictures of themselves. "They wrote back and told us we boosted their morale," she said.

By the time I encountered Cory Bray, a towering senior from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, the beer was flowing freely. "The people opposed to the war aren't putting their asses on the line," Bray boomed from beside the bar. Then why isn't he putting his ass on the line? "I'm not putting my ass on the line because I had the opportunity to go to the number-one business school in the country," he declared, his voice rising in defensive anger, "and I wasn't going to pass that up."

And besides, being a College Republican is so much more fun than counterinsurgency warfare. Bray recounted the pride he and his buddies had felt walking through the center of campus last fall waving a giant American flag, wearing cowboy boots and hats with the letters B-U-S-H painted on their bare chests. "We're the big guys," he said. "We're the ones who stand up for what we believe in. The College Democrats just sit around talking about how much they hate Bush. We actually do shit."

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These people are true scum! They love the war and support everything about it, as long as they don't have to be involved personally! Typical repugs!

hannity calls reality a "conspiracy theory"!

Charlie Rangel takes on Sean Hannity

Rangel hits Hannity with President Bush's constant use of 9/11 and the trumped
up evidence that was used that led to the war.
Video-WMP-QT coming Wed morning

Hannity looked hapless trying to say Rangel was spinning conspiracy therories. Alan Colmes brought his best game to the table as he used the Downing Street Memo and the bombing runs before the war started to back up Charlie's claims.

Colmes: We got the same old tired rhetoric. No new information.

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This was outrageous even for hannity! He has nothing, knows that Rangel is referencing known facts and he calls them "conspiracy theories"!!! No wonder fox viewers are so ill-informed! When common knowledge is derided, how can the people who watch have any idea what is really going on in the world!
But Rangel continues to speak the truth and Colmes backed him up with more FACTS! hannity is truly pathetic and the other two did a great job!

wow - some media declining to be bush's lapdogs!

Three networks delay decision about Bush Iraq talk

"You want to be certain you are broadcasting something that is newsworthy and vitally important to the American people," said one network executive who asked not to be identified.

The networks, unconvinced in initial talks with the White House late last week that the speech would be newsworthy, asked for more information. Sources said a conference call was held at 12:30 p.m. ET with officials from the Bush administration and the networks' Washington bureau chiefs.
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"On the one hand, they recognize if the president actually is going to make substantial news on Iraq, they probably should cover it," Sabato said. "But on the other hand, they realize this White House is famous for constructing political rallies and convincing the networks to cover them with the sole beneficiary being the president, not the American people."

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This is truly incredible! Up until now, it seemed as if every word bush spoke was played endlessly on every station - and always solely for his benefit, not that of the American people! I am pretty astounded that these people are actually standing up to him!

what to see what a president should sound like?

The Speech the President Should Give By JOHN F. KERRY
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How can people say with a straight face the Dems have no ideas?! Here is a well-thought-out and reasoned approach to Iraq, something that the repugs obviously do not have! Instead, we get out-and-out lies and are told fairy tale stories about how well Iraq is doing, which helps no one. Sickening to think that the public voted against reason and for chaos....

never-ending bush hypocrisy (flip-flop anyone?)

In 1999, Bush Demanded A Timetable

In 1999, George W. Bush criticized President Clinton for not setting a timetable for exiting Kosovo, and yet he refuses to apply the same standard to his war.

George W. Bush, 4/9/99:
“Victory means exit strategy, and it’s important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is.”

And on the specific need for a timetable, here’s what Bush said then and what he says now:

George W. Bush, 6/5/99
“I think it’s also important for the president to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn.”

[ed. note: article originally ran in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on 6/5/99]

VERSUS
George W. Bush, 6/24/05:
“It doesn’t make any sense to have a timetable. You know, if you give a timetable, you’re — you’re conceding too much to the enemy.”

America wants neutral reporting - will they ever get it?!

Public Doesn't Want Media To Be Cheerleaders For War On Terror

Even though Fox News supporters will tell you that Fox is successful because they are delivering what America wants, a Pew Center poll out today disputes this. By a 68% to 24% split, respondents wanted the media to report the war on terror in a neutral manner, and not as a cheerleader for the Administration.

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I am starting to be impressed by the American public! I'm sure that they will continue to let me down, but its good to know that not everyone is a zombie!

more polls

52% Now Say Bush "Intentionally Misled The American Public" Into Iraq War

The Post has released the details of its poll that is running tonight on ABC News. Although this poll has a 48% approve/51% disapprove rating of Bush’s job performance, check out some of the down-questionnaire items:

First, note that for the first time, a full 40% say they "strongly disapprove" of Bush's job performance, which dwarfs those who say they "strongly approve" (27%).

Second, and again for the first time, a majority (52%) now say that the Bush Administration "intentionally misled the American public" in making its case for war in Iraq.

Third, 57% now say that the Bush Administration did intentionally exaggerate its evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

Fourth, 51% now say the war was a mistake.

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Sure, polls can be misleading, but wow! Once again i say, are people finally waking up? What would happen if news reporters actually reported REAL news? Some truth must be leaking out there! What would happen if the public really found out all of the stories that hasuppressedupressed?

kinda funny...

this site is trying to villify Dems, but the quotes that they offer all make perfect sense! Of course, since this is a "right"-wing site, they have to take quotes out of context and put in obnoxious remarks, but when you simply listen to what the Dems have to say, no matter where you hear them, they make sense!

McClellan the parrot

From First Draft:

Today on Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle
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It is kinda funny - McClellan is told his 2 or 3 lines to repeat for the day, and regardless of their pertinence, he repeats them endlessly.
Never actually answers any questions tho!

(since Karl brought it up) The differences between the Dems and repugs

Can YOU Pass the "Kooky Karl" Kwiz?

this week's top ten conservative idiots

From Democratic Underground

cuts for the poor, incentives for the rich

House Approves Cuts to Labor Programs

WASHINGTON - Funding for job training, rural health care, low-income schools and help for people lacking health insurance would face big cuts under a bill passed Friday by the House.
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In practice, that translates to an 84 percent cut — from $300 million down to $47 million — in training programs for doctors and nurses, and $806 million in cuts to Bush's No Child Left Behind education initiative, a more than 3 percent drop. Grants for local community-action agencies that help the poor would be cut in half, to $320 million.

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As Americablog says:

Imagine what would happen if the GOP made similar "tough decisions" targeting the likes of Halliburton, Big Oil, Big Pharma or our fantastic credit and banking sector? Not very likely with this bunch.

still waiting for armor for the troops

Safer Vehicles for Soldiers: A Tale of Delays and Glitches
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Yes, even as rove lies and claims that Dems want to put our troops in danger, this administration STILL - after 3 years - hasn't given our troops armored vehicles! Utterly sickening!

the never-ending litany of lies

Cheney Slanders Hagel: Worse Than You Think
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Look, i know that politicians play dirty and all, but has there ever been a party that has been so prone to lies and slander as the current repugs? Seriously, they really think that the public is made up of morons who cannot remember anything and who will believe any outrageous nonsense that they spout! They are so insulting!

repugs are even putting politics into baseball!

Stone Court:

You Gotta Lotta Bawls, Breathtaking Hypocrisy Edition

Via Atrios, the DCCC reports that Republicans are threatening Major League Baseball if it sells the Washington Nationals to a group that includes George Soros. A Soros critic, John Sweeney (R-N.Y.), asks, "from a fan's perspective, who needs the politics?"

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LOTS of examples to this hypocrisy in the above article!
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From the Stakeholder :Not Your Country
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From Americablog : GOP threatens Major League Baseball, you'd better not sell Nationals to Soros
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This is truly astounding! The repugs really think that they rule the world, don't they?

more corruption - Frist this time!

CREW FILES FEC COMPLAINT AGAINST SENATE MAJORITY LEADER FRIST

Frist Campaign Committee Failed to Disclose a $1.44 Million LoanWashington, DC –

Earlier today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and his 2000 Senate campaign committee, Frist 2000, Inc.The complaint alleges that the Frist 2000, Inc. failed to disclose a $1.44 million loan taken out jointly by Frist 2000, Inc. and by Frist’s 1994 campaign committee, Bill Frist for Senate, Inc., making it appear that Frist 2000, Inc. had significantly more money that it actually had.
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Melanie Sloan, CREW’s executive director, said “it appears that Senator Frist deliberately broke the law by failing to disclose the $1.44 million loan in Frist 2000, Inc.’s FEC filings. Senator Frist was clearly trying to hide the fact that his 2000 campaign was over a million dollars in debt. Given the large sum of money involved and the fact that the violation appears to have been knowing and willful, the FEC should refer this matter to the Department of Justice for possible criminal prosecution.”

showing the world that we have things to hide!

Rumsfeld Rejects Outside Panel on Gitmo

WASHINGTON - A new independent investigation of abuse allegations at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, "doesn't make sense," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Sunday.

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I guess it "doesn't make sense" to show that world that we want to stop any illegal activities that are going on at Gitmo. I guess it "doesn't make sense" to show good faith and to proof to the world that the many allegations that have come up are not the norm. I guess it "doesn't make sense" to try to curtail the bad feelings that Gitmo has created for Americans around the world and that has put our troops in danger.
No, i guess it just makes more sense to call people traitors for pointing out that our actions at Gitmo are not up to the standards that we Americans are supposed to stand for.
Why does this administration want to hide everything that they have done? This has to be the most secretive presidency ever.

Karl has really started something this time!

Check out the new blog, Taking the Fight to Karl - American servicemen and women who are furious with Karl's outrageous remarks.

there is no plan to ever leave!

In Through 2008

T

his Week:
George Will: There is the 2008 election in this country that could produce a victory for the insurgents."

George Steph: How is that?

George Will: By a crack in the American... by electing a president who says
'if elected I will withdraw.'

Fareed then gently reminded Will that our army is going to be fucked by the
end of 2006 unless Operation Yellow Elephant starts having more success.

Then Will said that Iraq is our Chechnya.

Someone pour me a drink.

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Wow - they have no intentions of anything changing THREE YEARS from now! Fuck, these psychos are scary! There is no plan of any sort, is there? In 3 years they expect to be exactly where we are now! Do they even want to succeed?!

responsibility

I know, i'm just copying from Americablog (as i tend to do), but check it out - its always good.

When are the red staters going to take responsibility for themselves?

I'm just watching ABC News, and saw an interview with a woman whose husband just got killed in Iraq. According to ABC, "she still supports President Bush" but if she could talk to him she'd ask him "when is enough enough," when will there be enough deaths for Bush to bring the troops home?

What is it with these people? So long as you "continue to support President Bush," then enough won't ever be enough. Seriously, what is wrong with these people? They have a 3 year old daughter who now doesn't have a father. Either you support the president or you don't. Either you support the war or you don't. Either you take responsibility for yourself and your vote, or you don't. Either you have a problem with the president lying to you in order to start a war, and not giving you and your loved ones the armor and equipment you need to live, OR YOU DON'T. But this "I support the president" while you then say "when is enough enough?" - what is that?

It's time to pose the question back to all these people: When is enough enough?

more "do as i say, not as i do" from the repugs

US having secret talks with insurgents - why does Bush love terrorists?

Wow. Remember the smear campaign photos of Kerry talking with Vietnamese leaders after the war and how they were used against him by the GOP? The US is now playing right into the hands of the enemy by having secret meetings with them. Why does this administration hate America? Why do Republicans love terrorists?

america-hating ad by conservative group!

Bush allies create commercial ready-made for Al Jazeera

Well, if Karl Rove was worried that Al Jazeera was going to broadcast Senator Durbin's words and create more anti-American terrorists, it seems some of Karl's buddies have done it for us. They even link Durbin to flag-burning. Funny, that apology from the Senator really put this issue to a close. Senator Durbin ought to speak up and slam this thing down.

So, is anyone in the media going to ask the White House to demand that this ad be
pulled, lest it get our troops killed?

---
The ad really is twisted! It changes the meaning of Durbin's words completely and ads wild imagery to it, as well! Damn, these people are sick and will do anything to hurt America!

conservatives show why blacks vote Dem!

Jesse Lee Sambo strikes again

However, I want to draw your attention to Jesse Lee Sambo's "speech" to his betters, er College Republicans.

Sometimes it's hard to maintain your sense of humor.

Thus, here are some highlights from Rev. Jesse Lee Petersen's speech. (He is the head of BOND: Brotherhood Organization of New Destiny, and he is basically Jesse Jackson's sworn enemy.)-

"I am an American, not an African-American."

- The Civil Rights movement destroyed black people's sense of self-respect and their compass for what's right.

- The Civil Rights Movement took the men out of their homes and prevented black people from thinking for themselves.

- It is not racism but lack of moral character that causes problems for black people.

- The black leadership succeeds by keeping black folks angry.

- Now Muslim folks are moving in and trying to take over.

- "I don't care what people say, but (Muslim people) don't like us!"

- America has already given black people all it has to give.

- On reparations, he emphasizes the fact that all the slaves are dead.

- On those who want reparations, he says, "Instead of reparations, how 'bout a free ticket back to Africa?" (Raucous laughter.)

- "The Democratic battle is ordained by the devil."

- "It's not white vs. black, it's good vs. evil."

- "White folks need to get over their fear of being called a racist."

Eric Holpin, current chairman of the CRNC, was grinning the entire time during Rev. Petersen's speech. They welcome this man into their midst, and they give him a standing ovation.

And conservatives still wonder why black people vote Democratic?

---
all i can say is - wow!

how bush "prepared for war" on sept 11

Via the Poorman

more talk on exit strategies

Oliver Willis brings you some interesting viewpoints on exit strategies! Check 'em out - it might surprise you (unless you expect hypocrisy!)

Bolton - now or never?

Biden says Bolton deal now - or never

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Joseph Biden, said on Thursday the White House had to provide information Democrats seek on U.N. nominee John Bolton by the end of the day or the nomination would be dead.

"If they don't have (the documents) by the end of the day, it's finished," the Delaware Democrat said of the bitter dispute over President Bush's choice to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

---
Is bush & co weren't be obstructionists and handed over the material that was requested, they could end the debates and have a legitimate reason to call for a vote. But, they won't and will still attack the Dems baselessly. They have proven time & again that they don't need "legitimate" reasons to attack!

John Kerry's petition condemning rove

Dear Friend,
I hope you will join me right now in signing an open letter to the President urging him to thoroughly reject Karl Rove's purposeful attack on the patriotism of those who dare ask the tough questions that best protect American troops.
http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/rove.php
Dear President Bush,
In the days following the 9/11 attacks, you movingly spoke of the unity of purpose emanating all across America. Now, Karl Rove, your top political aide, wants us to believe that you weren't telling the truth -- that Americans were offering "therapy and understanding to the attackers." You cannot remain silent as your most senior advisor purposely twists the truth about a great moment of American unity for political gain.

It isn't the first time Karl Rove has crossed the line. It needs to be the last. I call on you to thoroughly reject his cheap, divisive efforts to challenge the patriotism of
your political opponents. It's time to fire Karl Rove.

http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/rove.php
Thank you.

who really wants to hurt the troops

Wanting to Hurt the Troops
If I were motivated by a desire to hurt the troops, I'd underfund the Department of Veterans Affairs.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs told Congress that its health care costs grew faster than expected and left a $1 billion hole in its budget this year, lawmakers said Thursday.

House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer, the Republican from Indiana, said the department can meet this year's health care costs by drawing on spare funds and money from other operations, including building construction.

But next year's health care budget falls well over $1 billion short, said Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho.

"I was on the phone this morning with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson letting him know that I am not pleased that this has happened," said Craig, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

"This shortfall results from either deliberate misdirection or gross incompetence by this administration and the Department of Veteran Affairs," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington.

Senate Republicans voted against budget increases for Vets three times this year.

more...

Peter Daou eviscerates Karl Rove by John in DC - 6/23/2005 07:50:00 PM
From the Daou Report:

I'm devoting much of today's report to Karl Rove's vile comments denigrating half of the American public. My office overlooks Ground Zero, and I'm looking at the gaping footprint as I write this. My wife and I were in New York that day, on our way to the WTC for a morning meeting. A chance phone call dragged on a few minutes too long and most likely saved our lives. I lost friends in the towers, and when I walk past the site, as I do almost every evening, the pain is as real as it was on September 11th, 2001.

I spent my youth in Beirut during the height of Lebanon's civil war, and I fought the Syrian presence in Lebanon long before the "Cedar Revolution." I watched young boys give their lives and mothers cradle their dying children in blood-soaked arms. I've seen more bloodshed, war, and violence, and shot more guns than most of the 101st Fighting Keyboardists combined. I wouldn't presume to question the strength or dignity of a stranger, and I pity those who blithely push the right=strong, left=weak rhetoric. It says far more about their inadequacies than it does about the target of their scorn. Today, Karl Rove took that rhetoric to a new, filthy low.

not a surprise, but rove planned this

Of course we all knew he did, but not to this extent! They had their talking points and strategies already planned out! Man, no one can be scumbags better than these scumbags!

White House intentionally had Rove call Democrats and 57% of Americans traitors

It's pretty clear now that this was a set up orchestrated by the White House in order to deflect attention away from the disaster that is the war in Iraq, and Bush's plumetting polls.

1. The White House released the TEXT of Rove's speech today. According to my sources who know about such things, that NEVER happens. This is prima facie evidence that the White House coordinated this thing from the beginning.

2. The RNC put out talking points today about how the Democrats "blamed America" for September 11. Those detailed talking points were clearly prepared well in advance of this noon today when this thing blew up. WE BLAMED AMERICA?

3. The RNC today reportedly released a new attack web ad going after Durbin for his comments about Guantanamo Bay. Isn't that convenient that something that took at least a few days to prepare was suddenly ready today at the same time that Karl Rove made his comments that anyone who recognizes that Bush has no idea what's going on Iraq is a traitor who loves Osama.

Folks, these bastards dropped a nuclear bomb on us today, and it was intentional. Senator Durbin learned the hard way that you can't reason with these people. Durbin apologized and what did it get him? He's in every one of their press releases and attack ads today.

President Bush thinks 57% of Americans are traitors who hate America, want to kill our military, and love Osama bin Laden. 57% of Americans are apparently happy, or at least not outraged, by the murder of nearly 3,000 people in NY, VA and PA.

The Democratic Party had better realize that these people declared war today in a
big way. We do not let this issue go until Karl Rove resigns.

There IS no other issue in town, until Karl Rove resigns.If Ken Mehlman wants to have a public debate about who's a bigger man, then let's have it. And we'll start by talking about the President who just killed 1700 Americans in Iraq for a lie, and still hasn't bothered to attend a single funeral of one of the soldiers he killed.

---
Check out the talking points too - 99% of them make perfect sense and actually prove that the Dems DID want to take out Osama and didn't want to deflect from that and go to Iraq for no reason. Yes, some people said it would be a good idea to understand the enemies motives - again, a very logical statement - but no one said anything about "therapy" or bs like that.

even more on the "last throes"

Pentagon: Insurgency FIVE Times Larger Today Than 18 Months Ago

But in a related story on Iraq and the grilling of Rumsfeld, ABC News made an astute point. In trying to downplay the insurgency, the Pentagon estimated it was about 25,000 strong. Oops! In November, 2003, the Pentagon said the insurgency was about 5,000 strong. Some "last throes."

...and they think that Americans are stupid too!

Cheney explains what he meant by "last throes", holidays in the sun and more WWII comparisons

Uh, what?

"If you look at what the dictionary says about throes, it can still be a violent period, the throes of a revolution," he said. "The point would be that the conflict will be intense, but it's intense because the terrorists understand that if we're successful at accomplishing our objective -- standing up a democracy in Iraq -- that that's a huge defeat for them.

"We will succeed in Iraq, just like we did in Afghanistan.[Huh? Did we? That too seems to have plenty of political and violent problems, not to mention the increasing drugs problem.] We will stand up a new government under an Iraqi-drafted constitution. We will defeat that insurgency, and, in fact, it will be an enormous success story."

And on Gitmo, brace yourself for this because it's a new classic. The GOP obviously thinks that people are going to buy into the "pampered prisoner" stories, with images of oven friend chicken and tropical beaches.

"They're living in the tropics. They're well fed. They've got everything they could possibly want," the vice president said.

Once again trying to also raise the comparisons to WWII, Cheney is now saying that the insurgency is much like the Battle of the Bulge or Battle of Okinawa. Hmm, slight hiccup here Mr Cheney because neither battle lasted more than two months. I know that you skipped out on your military service but you can still read a book.

---
How many times are they going to try to re-define words?! They lie and their rationale is that we were just too dumb to understand their high-falooting words!! And they try to claim that a prisoner of war camp (where no one has been charged and a majority are most likely civilians picked up for no reason) is a tropical paradise!! gawd they are insulting!!

rove has pissed off our military (even more!)

If you're a Democrat in the US military, you're apparently a traitor

Kos is getting feedback that some US soldiers in harm's way are pissed as hell that Karl Rove just suggested THEY don't care about Osama bin Laden, not to mention Rove and Bush think they obviously don't care about whether their own comrades in arms die, and actually HOPE they'll do, according to Rove.

This is an email Markos just got:

Listen, I'm pissed as hell at Rove. I am a democrat and have been forever. (I'm 54) ... my two kids who just happen to be in the US Army serving are also democrats. My son and daughter both joined as soon as they possibly could after 9/11.

So far they are both safe from harm (no thanks to Rove...).

My son and daughter both emailed me last night wanting to know just who in the hell the Rove guy is. They both want to plaster his face everywhere around the bases they are stationed. It seems that Rove didn't know that a good percentage of enlisted folk were Democrats. They like to say around the bases that republicans don't volunteer.

So Karl Rove thinks ever Democrat in the military is a traitor who sucks up to Osama bin Laden and wants to see their fellow service members dead.

white house admits it is stupid!

White House Stands Behind Rove Comments

WASHINGTON - A White House official said Friday the administration finds it "somewhat puzzling" that Democrats are demanding presidential adviser Karl Rove's apology or resignation for implying that liberals are soft on terrorism.

"I think Karl was very specific, very accurate, in who he was pointing out," communications director Dan Bartlett said, contending the comments weren't aimed at all Democrats. "It's touched a chord with these Democrats. I'm not sure why."

Congressional Republicans earlier joined the White House in standing solidly behind Rove, saying he shouldn't apologize and that he was outlining a philosophical divide between a president who sought to win the war on terrorism by taking the fight to the enemy and some Democrats who questioned that approach.
---
Democrats said Rove, and his Republican allies, were now trying to change the subject when Democrats, and many Americans, are becoming increasingly critical of the course of the war in Iraq.

For Rove "to try to exploit 9/11 for political purposes once again just shows you how desperate they are," said House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, who in recent days has been the target of Republican attacks for saying that the Iraq war was a "grotesque mistake."

---
Incredible! These scumsuckers LIE and don't understand why people ask them to apologize and Dems tell the TRUTH and are villified and forced to apologize and are then STILL villified! Fuck, these jerkoffs have balls the size of watermelons! Even the defense is complete and utter bullshit! "Taking the fight to the enemy"?!?!?!?!? NO, bush took the fight to a country that had nothing to do with anything and in doing so, created a terrorist nation there! gawd-all-mother-fucking-mighty, the Dems had better be shouting from the rooftops about this! Of course, the media won't report when they do, but shit, this is outrageous!!! I hope that every single Dem is pointing out the repugs bullshit and telling the truth - the the American public was with the Dems in wanted to get Osama, but the administration went to Iraq for what has been proven to be personal reasons. Hammer this!!!!!!

another great Kerry speech

once again, the Dems tell the truth and fight against the repug lies.

its almost to the point where i feel sorry for McClellan!

From First Draft:

This edition of obsession is all Karl, all the time. And the phrase of the day is "different philosophies and different approaches".

---
Amazing! He has to defend the indefensible and can only repeat over & over & over the same stupid, meaningless phrase! Must be sad to not have a mind of your own!

families of sept 11 denounce rove

FOS11 Statement on Comments Made By Karl Rove

As families whose relatives were victims of the 9/11 terror attacks, we believe it is an outrage that any Democrat, any Republican, any conservative or any liberal, stakes a "high ground" position based upon the September 11th death and destruction. Doing so assumes that all those who died and their loved ones would
agree. In truth, some would and some would not. By definition the conduct is divisive and, because it is intended to be self-serving and politicizes 9/11, it is offensive.

We are calling on Karl Rove to resist his temptations and stop trying to reap political gain in the tragic misfortune of others. His comments are not welcome.


Families of September 11 is a non-partisan nonprofit organization founded by the relatives of those who died in the attacks of September 11, 2001. For further information, please visit our website at www.familiesofseptember11.org.

more on rove

The Left Coaster weighs in
---
As does Kicking Ass

man i knew she was sick, but this is too much....

she laughs at people dying....
but, of course, she thinks that iraq is a big joke too....
unbelievable slimy!

Fire karl rove!

Sign the petition here!

bush claims to think!

PRESIDENT BUSH:Adam, I think about Iraq every day -- every single day.....
And so, you know, I think about this every day, every single day, and will
continue thinking about it, ....
----

Nice to know he thinks about the war that he started for no reason! Wonder if he'll get around to doing anything about it?!?!

"liberal media" at work again!

WoW!

Fox News Poses The Tough Questions

Fox News Radio’s Tony Snow snagged an interview with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld earlier this week. Here’s a sample of his hard-hitting questions:

SNOW: Could one make the argument that far from being a charnel house on the order of Auschwitz, that in fact Guantanamo Bay may be the most humane prisoner of war camp ever?

RUMSFELD: …That place is, as you suggest, a model detention facility.

Thanks for having the courage to ask the tough ones, Tony.

they honestly believe that no one remembers anything they said or did!

Man, the lying is insanely blatant these days! They're not even pretending anymore!

Donald Rumsfeld, Pants On Fire

RUMSFELD: We know for a fact, I know for a fact that no one in the Administration lied about weapons of mass destruction. — Fox News Radio, 6/21/05

VERSUS

RUMSFELD: We know where they are. They’re in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat. — ABC’s This Week With George Stephanopoulos, 3/30/03

McClellan truly is in another universe!

I guess i don't blame him, since this one is not treating him very well!

more on rove's idiocy

More people denouncing rove, via Oliver Willis

world o'crap does it again!

WOC explains life to coulter and her ilk...

Daily Kos on rove's slime

Rove plays 9-11 for political gain
---
Read it!

the repugs are getting more & more insane!

They are desperate and holding on by their fingernails! My gawd, this is beyond the beyond!

Dems Allegedly 'Conducting Guerrilla Warfare on Troops'

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), who joined Pryce at the press conference, told Cybercast News Service that it "is just inconceivable and truly incorrigible that in the midst of the war, that the Democratic leaders would be conducting guerrilla warfare on American troops.
---
"The American taxpayer is already providing accommodations for detainees, who are currently more comfortable than most of our men and women in uniform," Wilson added.

---
The Dems tell the truth and try to make sure that Americans remain true to our beliefs and ideals and that we don't bring ourselves down to the level of vile regimes and that is conducting warfare on our troops?!?! This is getting so far gone that its difficult to even comment on!

See Wonkette's take on this

lots more on rove's abusive, insulting, divisive comments

All from Americablog:

White House says liberals don't care about September 11th

Karl Rove must resign, now.

This has got to be the most offensive thing yet to come from the White House.

Karl Rove, the White House chief political adviser, said last night in Manhattan only a few miles from Ground Zero that liberals didn't get 9/11. We didn't see the attacks as "savage." We didn't want to defeat our enemies. We simply wanted to give Osama bin Laden and the 19 hijackers "therapy."

Karl Rove can kiss my God damn ass.

I sat in my Washington, DC apartment on September 11, less than 2 miles from the White House, and watched the Pentagon burn outside my window. I sat in my apartment, alone, wondering if I was going to die, if my country was at war, and what the fuck was happening to the world. My liberal friends on the Hill had to evacuate while I was on the phone with them because there was a report that a plane was coming in. My friend liberal friend David was exposed to Anthrax. My liberal friend in California lost his friend in one of those airplanes. I interviewed the victims of September 11 and their families. I know the pain of September 11, and I don't need a God damn lecture from some White House operative about how I just didn't get it.

How fucking dare Karl Rove and the White House go to New York City, stand within miles of the World Trade Center remains, where nearly 3,000 Americans and foreigners of all political persuasions are forever buried, and say that liberals don't think September 11 was any big deal.

It's bad enough to have Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh and their ilk say that liberals hate America, and it's bad enough that Republicans pull this "liberals hate the military crap," but when the White House says that we don't "get" September 11, that we didn't think the murder of 3,000 innocents on that horrible day was "savage," that we simply wanted to give Osama bin Laden "therapy."

I have fucking had it with this White House. This is a story that we do NOT let die, people. Karl Rove's sorry ass needs to leave that White House or the Democrats in Congress shouldn't let ONE PIECE OF REPUBLICAN LEGISLATION ADVANCE, EVER AGAIN.

It's time to draw the line in the sand. Do our Democratic allies have the balls and self-respect to finally do it? Karl Rove must go.

"Liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers," Rove said. "Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war.... Conservatives saw what happened to us on 9/11 and said we will defeat our enemies. Liberals saw what happened to us and said we must understand our enemies.... No more needs to be said about the motives of liberals," Rove said.

---
Senator Reid says Karl Rove must apologize or resign
---

Rove also said that liberals want our troops to die!

Good fucking God. Fire this man, now.

Mr. Rove also said American armed forces overseas were in more jeopardy as a result of remarks last week by Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, who compared American mistreatment of detainees to the acts of "Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others."

"Has there ever been a more revealing moment this year?" Mr. Rove asked. "Let me just put this in fairly simple terms: Al Jazeera now broadcasts the words of Senator Durbin to the Mideast, certainly putting our troops in greater danger. No more needs to be said about the motives of liberals."

Get it? Our "motives" are to "put our troops in danger." No other way to read that. Fire this asshole, now.

---

White House stands by Rove's comments about Democrats and 9/11

AP:

The White House defended Rove's remarks and accused Democrats of engaging in partisan attacks. Rove, said spokesman Scott McClellan, "was talking about the different philosophies and our different approaches when it comes to winning the war on terrorism."

That's it, game over. The White House has confirmed what we already knew, that Rove was talking about different philosophies and different approaches to the war on terror. The Democrat approach, according to the White House, is to not consider 9/11 a savage attack, and to be motivated by a desire to kill our own troops. McClellan just stood by the comments and basically explained that Rove was IN FACT talking about the differences between our two parties.

Fire him.

---
How can these scumbags defend this creep?! They have declared a civil war!
Wait a minute!!! rove LIES about the Dems with unbelievable outrageous remarks and then the WH says that the DEMS are "engaging in partisan attacks"?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
goddamn, these people are just trying to make our brains explode!!!!

once again, IOKIYAR

Canada's medical gulag
---
WTF?! Comparing torture that is condoned in an American-run prison to a that of a gulag is a terrible thing, but a conservative columnist comparing Canada's health care system to a gulag is OK!??!?!?!?!?!?! This is seriously surreal!
(First seen at Americablog)

someone upstairs trying to say something?

Man dies after lightning strikes metal cross

surprise, surprise!

Top Commander Says Insurgency Still Strong

WASHINGTON - The top American commander in the Persian Gulf told Congress on Thursday that the Iraqi insurgency has not grown weaker over the past six months, despite a claim by Vice President Dick Cheney that it was in its "last throes."

---
I don't think that even the staunchest neo-cons believes cheney when he spouted this nonsense, but its good that a military man is telling us the truth!

yeah, i'm sure this will happen!

Senate Dems Want Consult on Court Pick

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats are urging President Bush to consult with them on a possible Supreme Court nomination to help avoid the kind of controversy that
engulfed his lower court picks.

---
SURE he will! This is the most divisive prick ever to enter into politics! The likelihood of him actually consulting the Dems (who he obviously views as mortal enemies rather than fellow politicians) is less than zero. That said, i do think that its a good idea for the Dems to go on record as saying that they tried to work with him. It will just show, once again, how opposed he is to representing the views of the entire country. He just wants what is best for his close, uber-rich pals.

WTF?!?! Absolutely Outrageous!!!!

These pricks really think that they can say anything they want to, don't they?! Rove should be crucified for this revolting statement!!!! Just because some people didn't agree with bush & rove's plan to attack Iraq instead of the people who attacked us on 9-11, that makes them weak on security?!?!?! What a bunch of BULLSHIT! This is among the most vile and disgusting and baseless remarks this slimeball has ever come up with! Just goes to show how scared he is of bush's failing numbers! They will do and say ANYTHING to stay in power!

Dems Say Rove Should Apologize or Resign

WASHINGTON - White House adviser Karl Rove should either apologize or resign for saying liberals responded to the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes by wanting to "prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers," Democrats said Thursday.

Adding to the rancor, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., suggested that Republican charges that Democrats were undermining the war on terror with their criticism of administration policies amounted to an act of desperation.

"The president wanted to go to Iraq in the worst possible way and he did," Pelosi said. "The president is on the ropes."

Rove, Bush's chief political adviser, said in a speech Wednesday that "liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers." Conservatives, he told the New York state Conservative Party just a few miles north of Ground Zero, "saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war."

Rove said the Democratic Party made the mistake of calling for "moderation and restraint" after the terrorist attacks.

Democrats were quick to respond — and in growing numbers.

"Karl Rove should immediately and fully apologize for his remarks or he should resign," Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in a statement. "I hope the president will join me in repudiating these remarks."

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean called on Bush to "show some leadership and unequivocally repudiate Rove's divisive and damaging political rhetoric."

During a Senate hearing on Iraq in which Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and other military leaders testified, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., read Rove's statement and urged them to reject the remarks.

"I would hope that you and other members of the administration would immediately repudiate such an insulting comment from a high-ranking official in the president's inner circle," Clinton said.

Earlier in the day, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said New York has had unity since Sept. 11. "To inject politics into this and to defame a large number of people" is outrageous, he said. "It's not what New York and America is all about."

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said nearly 3,000 Americans died on Sept. 11 and "we should not dishonor their memory by using that tragic day for political trash
talk."

Three days after the terrorist attacks, the Senate voted 98-0 and the House voted 420-1 for a resolution authorizing Bush to use "all necessary and appropriate force" against those responsible for the terrorism. After the votes, Bush said in a statement: "I am gratified that the Congress has united so powerfully by taking this action. It sends a clear message — our people are together, and we will prevail."

During the 2004 campaign, Bush dismissed the notion of negotiating with terrorists and said, "You can't sit back and hope that somehow therapy will work and they will change their ways."

On Wednesday, Rove also denounced Sen. Dick Durbin's comments comparing interrogation at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp to the methods of Nazis and other repressive regimes. He said the statements have been broadcast throughout the Middle East, putting U.S. troops in greater danger. The Illinois Democrat has since apologized for the remarks.

"No more needs to be said about the motives of liberals," Rove said.

Seven House Republicans also wrote Pelosi saying they were shocked by a statement in which she said the war in Afghanistan was over. "Messages like yours could demoralize our troops and undermine our efforts to fight terrorism in Afghanistan and around the world," they wrote.

Pelosi, who made the comment at a news conference where Democrats called for an investigation into detainee abuses at Guantanamo Bay, said Thursday that she was referring to the campaign to drive the Taliban from power in 2001. Fighting continues, she said, because the administration decided to divert its attention from Afghanistan to the war in Iraq.

good luck!

Koreas Agree to Resolve Nuclear Standoff

SEOUL, South Korea - The two Koreas agreed Thursday to seek a peaceful resolution to the international standoff over the North's nuclear program, but the rivals failed to set a date for resuming stalled disarmament talks.

The North has stayed away from arms talks for a year, citing "hostile" U.S. policies. Last week, North Korea leader Kim Jong Il said the communist state could return to the talks if it received appropriate respect from Washington.
---

Sounds like a big "if" to me!

torture reports since 2002!

U.N. Uncovers Torture at Guantanamo Bay

GENEVA - U.N. human rights investigators said Thursday they had reliable accounts of detainees being tortured at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, but the United States had not responded to repeated requests to check conditions there.

"The time is up," one investigator said.

The four independent specialists told reporters that U.N. experts had made numerous requests since early 2002 to check on the conditions of terror suspects at the U.S. Naval base in Cuba, as well as at U.S. facilities in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

They cited "information, from reliable sources, of serious allegations of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of detainees, arbitrary detention, violations of their right to health and their due process rights.

"Many of these allegations have come to light through declassified (U.S.) government documents," said a statement from the four, who report to U.N. bodies on different human rights issues.
---
The failure of the United States to respond is leading the experts to conclude that Washington has something to hide, said the specialist on torture, Manfred Nowak, a professor of international law in Vienna, Austria.
---
She also noted that U.S. policy "prohibits and condemns torture."
---
The specialists said they had yet to hear back from Washington on their latest request — made a year ago and renewed in mid-April — to visit the detention facility.
---
"We deeply regret that the government of the United States has still not invited us to visit those persons arrested, detained or tried on grounds of alleged terrorism or other violations," the experts said.

---
So, if the administration had listened, we could have nipped this in the bud and spared ourselves all of the embarassment and the violence that resulted from the actions at these facilities! F'king cretins! And by the repeated refusals, it just makes the US look even worse! But, oh yeah, talking about this puts our troops in harm's way!

once again, government screws the little guy!

Supreme Court Rules Cities May Seize Homes

WASHINGTON (June 23) - The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses - even against their will -
for private economic development.
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The 5-4 ruling represented a defeat for some Connecticut residents whose homes are slated for destruction to make room for an office complex. They argued that cities have no right to take their land except for projects with a clear public use, such as roads or schools, or to revitalize blighted areas.

As a result, cities now have wide power to bulldoze residences for projects such as
shopping malls and hotel complexes in order to generate tax revenue.

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So, once again, those with money can do whatever they want to people who don't have money!

a completely insane DeLay comment

Tom DeLay: Insurgent Violence Breaking Out In Houston
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It's been 2 years since he's been to Iraq and he tries to compare it to HOUSTON?!?!?!?! What a moron!

rove-speak

In the very near future accomplished will mean not accomplished

Karl Rove does Hardball:

GREGORY: But if you're talking about the number of troops necessary, the level of American casualties, the force and intensity of the insurgency…did the president mislead the American people about the cost of the war or was he just simply surprised by what happened?

ROVE: I would go back to the president’s statements over the last several years and I would defy you to find one speech which he talked about Iraq where he doesn’t say there would be difficult times ahead, that we had a long road to hope that a great deal of sacrifice was going to be called for by both the American people and by the Iraqis to achieve this goal.

But...but...it says... Oh. Never mind.

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and black means white and up is down....

fox in bad taste even when talking about sports

seriously, this is astounding that anyone can say this infantile, sexist, offensive shit on the air! where's the demands for "values" and "taste"?!
Raunchy? Poor Taste? You Bet - Shepard Smith Reports

funnies

get to work!
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bad reporter
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Both first seen at Atrios!

good one from Wonkette!

Ed Klein's Next Big Scoop?
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After all, what's fair is fair, right? There's a lot more reason to think bush is than there is to think that Hillary is!

more gaggle

man, this is getting good! Is anyone listening?!

Good Gaggle

Holden:

Q Scott, how concerned is the administration about the potential for Iraq to become a sort of training ground for Islamic extremists who may go back to their home countries and use these techniques to destabilize their governments? There's a new report on that recently.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, let me mention a couple things. As the President has said for some time now, Iraq is a central front in the war on terrorism. Wherever you stood before the decision to go into Iraq, I think we can all recognize that the terrorists have made it a central front in the war on terrorism.

[snip]

Q Just following up on that question, you said at the outset of that, the terrorists have made it a central front in the war on terrorism. I thought it was a central front in the war on terrorism before we invaded.

MR. McCLELLAN: It is. It's part of the war on terrorism, yes.

Q It was.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, it is.

Q It is now --

MR. McCLELLAN: Both.

Q Was it prior to --

MR. McCLELLAN: Both. It's part of the war on terrorism, David. Go ahead.

o'reilly goes over the top yet again

O'Reilly: FBI should arrest the "clowns" at Air America Radio for being traitors
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What a fucking joke this jackass is! Obviously, he is just babbling in order to get a reaction, but such bullshit should not be allowed on the air! Sickening!

AOL absurdity

Check out this absurd comparison at AOL.
"Cheney vs. Dean"!!! Christ, what a bunch of crap! The poll is especially offensive when they ask "does this type of exchange make politics more or less appealing?"! It is not very appealing when Cheney attacks Dean personally, but i have no problem whatsoever with Dean responding to the offensive remarks!

fox's idea of a liberal

Liberals to Susan Estrich: Drop Dead
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Check out the original article by Fox's token "liberal", which shows that she's about as liberal as Sean Hannity, and then DC Media Girl's rippin' retort! And she doesn't even mention the out & out lies, like the fact that John Edwards said that he DOES support Dean. Sickening that anyone could think that that sellout was a true liberal.
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Ohmigawd! See TBogg's take on this! Really, ya gotta see it!

bush's economy

June Jobs Massacre

I told you already how in May planned job cuts soared 42% over April, for a total of 82,283 pink slips during the month.

Then, in early June, I told you how GM was planning on cutting 25,000 jobs (30% of May's total).

Today, the massive supermarket chain Winn-Dixie announced plans to cut 20,000 jobs.

These two cuts alone total 45,000 jobs cuts planned in June. In other words, these two cuts alone are equivalent to over 77% of April's total US job cuts.

I hope nobody else loses their job, or it's going to be a massacre. And there's another week to go in the month!

...and as I type that, Ford announces 1,750 US job cuts.

more conservative "logic"

from free republic re the latest bs book on Hillary. Apparently, since even the wack-jobs can tell this book is total nonsense, they are now saying that Hillary purposely fed the author the insane stories! I guess its so she will get sympathy in the end!! Wow! The imagination is staggering!

Democratic Undergrounds Top Ten Conservative Idiots

#202!

still more on McClellan

From First Draft - here and here. Astoundingly, the press is actually starting to do its job! And, unfortunately, McClellan continues to do his - deflect and distract....

from Think Progress

The Ever Changing Definition of “Mission” In Iraq
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If it continues to change, how can it ever be "accomplished"? Kind of genius in its twisted way!

experts at avoiding any & all questions!

Today on Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle, Bolton Edition
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McClellan is amazing! I don't know how these repugs can talk so long and not address the question at all! What a talent!

more on christians as "victims"

Veteran Republican Alleges Democratic "War on Christianity" on House Floor

June 20, 2005
NJDC: "Enough is Enough; The GOP's Religion-Bating Must Stop"

Washington, DC: During a debate today surrounding an amendment by Rep. David Obey (D-WI) to fully examine allegations of proselytizing and religious intolerance at the United States Air Force Academy, six-term Republican Rep. John Hostettler (IN) rose to assert that "Democrats can't help denigrating and demonizing Christians." [Rush transcript.] Rep. Obey, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, interrupted Hostettler's deeply disturbing remarks and demanded that they be formally retracted; Hostettler ultimately agreed to retract one sentence from his diatribe.

Earlier in his remarks, Hostettler discussed the drive by Democrats to erase every "vestige" of Christianity from America; he also prefaced his remarks by noting that "The long war on Christianity today continues on the floor of the House of Representatives." During a meeting of the House Armed Services Committee on May 18th, while debating a similar amendment by Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), Hostettler referred to "the mythical wall separation (sic) between church and state that's been erected by the courts."

"Enough with the religion-bating already; the GOP and conservatives must stop attacking Democrats as being against Christians and against faith in America. Such ludicrous assertions and stereotypes coarsen our political debate, they have no place in civil discourse in this country, and they are utterly beneath one of America's two major political parties," said National Jewish Democratic Council Executive Director Ira N. Forman. "The heroic efforts by Representatives Obey and Israel supporting religious expression by people of all faiths at the Air Force Academy -- including people of no faith -- are hardly an attack on Christians, as Mr. Hostettler disturbingly alleged.

"In fact, Reps. Obey and Israel are working to protect the religious liberty of every American, which is exactly what our military has fought to protect again and again. If anything, Rep. Hostettler's shocking display demonstrates just the type of religious intolerance that Reps. Obey and Israel were seeking to address. But the GOP has had their say today, and sadly voted down the Obey amendment.

"Today on the floor of the U.S. House, we've seen Republicans overrule Democratic efforts to squarely address proselytizing and religious intimidation at the Air Force Academy, and perhaps more shockingly, we've seen a key Republican allege a Democratic 'war on Christianity.' On both counts, they just don't get it," Forman added.

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I really cannot see how defending everyone's freedom of religion is an "attack" on christianity! I guess i cannot see that because it isn't!!!!!! Disgusting!
More from Think Progress:

God Is Not A Political Pawn

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More of the religious lies touted by the repugs! Truly an unreal world where the party defending freedom of religion (the Dems) are being denigrated as "anti-religion" while the bigots (repugs) who want a world ruled by one religion (their own) claim to be victims!