Colorado Court Bars Execution Because Jurors Consulted Bible
Just when I thought we'd be getting back to actual news. More bullshit to feed the wingnuts.
You may have seen Jim Bunning, Republican Senator from Kentucky and hall of fame pitcher, testify in front of the House Committee on Steroids today. Bunning said that players who took steroid are "cheaters" and should "have their records wiped clean."
How can we go about wiping the results of the Kentucky Senate election clean?
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Jim Bunning's re-election campaign conceded Tuesday that the senator used a TelePrompTer during his opening and closing remarks during a television debate with his Democratic opponent, Daniel Mongiardo.
Bunning campaign manager David Young said the TelePrompTer use was permitted under the terms of a debate agreement worked out in advance between the two campaigns. Mongiardo's campaign, however, called the device "an outrageous violation of the agreement."
"Jim Bunning is so out of touch with Kentucky voters that he has to use a TelePrompTer as a crutch to address their concerns," said Mongiardo campaign manager Kim Geveden. "Jim Bunning cheated in the debate, just as he is cheating Kentucky's working families."
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The two-page agreement outlining the guidelines for the debate doesn't directly address the use of TelePrompTers. It says only that candidates could not rely on "props, signs, charts, graphs, photos, audio or video playback, or other demonstrative items."
Senator Hypocrite can't remember his lines, cheats at debate
Over at MaxSpeak, Max Sawicky warns of the bullshit we will probably see on Wednesday:
"Okay, maybe it’s not Shakespeare, but like Julius Caesar, we do have cause for concern. The 2005 Social Security trustees report is due out next Wednesday. It is important that people recognize that the projections in the report are made by the trustees, not the professional staff of the Social Security Administration (SSA). And four of the six trustees are political appointees of President Bush (e.g. Jack Snow and Elaine Chao). Among the two “independent” trustees is Thomas Savings, who has been vigorously pushing the case for Social Security privatization in recent weeks."
Meanwhile, David Brooks offers nothing new, as usual:
"Having skimmed decades of private-account proposals, Republicans did not appreciate how unfamiliar this idea would seem to many people. They didn't appreciate how beloved Social Security is, and how much they would have to show they love it, too, before voters would trust them to reform it. In their efforts to create a risk-taking, dynamic society, they didn't appreciate how many people, including conservatives, value security and safety."
Why didn't I think of that slogan? "Social Security Privitization: Offering a risk-taking, dynamic society" I'm sure the voters will love it. Also, Brooks seems genuinely pained that we all just couldn't agree there was a problem in the first place:
"More experienced negotiators might have put the solvency issue before the personal-accounts issue. That would have created a consensus on the need for change before we got to the divisive issue of how to fix the system."
Uh, I think that was exactly the strategy. Keep talking about a ginned up problem, declare a crisis and a need to "do something", steamroll a frightened public and cowed Congress with a right-wing plan that's been in the mill for years. Sounds like something...trying to put my finger on it....
Also, this is a gem:
"But the Democrats played the Yasir Arafat role at Camp David. They made no counteroffers. They offered no plan. They just said no."
Yes, asshole. They did. As did a lot of Republicans. And wasn't it GW Bush who "wasn't going to negotiate with himself"? What were those specifics again. You have a radical plan to "save" Social Security, huh? Let's here it, Tex.
"Fool me once, shame on....shame on you....fool me, uh..can't get fooled again!"
http://maxspeak.org/mt-bin/mt-tb.cgi/1217
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/15/opinion/15brooks.html?hp
Per Max's suggestion. A continuation of the debate under the comments section in "Extraordinary Rendition My Ass". Part One.
Max: “If President Bush had said two years ago that we would invade Iraq, defeat their army, depose Saddam, and hold free elections while losing fewer than 2,000 American soldiers and 20,000 Iraqi civilians you would have called bullshit.”
So I should “call my shots,” eh? Uh, no. I am not conducting a war and I don’t feel obligated to look into my crystal ball to predict casualty counts, etc. But let’s go through your list anyway.
On what would I have called bullshit exactly? The fact that the US army would whup the Iraqi Army? No. The death numbers? First of all, last time I checked, the war was still going on, racking up body counts in the dozens each day. Second of all, you low ball the Iraqi death count by some 80,000, possible less, possibly substantially more. Point here is that I never made predictions of a body count. It’s higher than it had to have been as a direct result of Bush administration policy. Full stop. The elections – witnessing a Sunni boycott and an electorate who didn’t even know the names of the people they were voting for, don’t qualify for the definition of “free elections.” See Juan Cole on this:
"The electorate had no idea for whom they were voting, since the candidates' names were secret until the last moment. The Sunni Arabs boycotted or were prevented from voting by the ongoing guerrilla war, which started right back up after the ban on traffic lapsed."
Max: “Bush called Afghanstan (a country that England and the USSR at the heights of their power both failed to conquer), he called Iraq, he called the idea of democracy in the middle east (which is no small feat), he called the idea that democratizing Iraq would pressure other arab countries (and Iran) to do likewise, he called the idea of isolating Arafat instead of feteing him. Surprise: Saudi Arabia holds municipal elections, Egypt is considering doing likewise, the palistinians hold a reasonable election, Libya hands over its nascent nuclear program, Syria appears set to leave Lebanon, and Afghanistan and Iraq hold their first ever free and fair democratic elections.”
Couple things here:
A) Bush “called Iraq”? Hold on, let me let that sink in. Bush “called Iraq.” Do you want to take that one back? Seriously. Bush called a massive weapons program, then deployed his surrogates to scare the shit out of the American public, including the infamous “mushroom cloud” quote from his National Security Advisor. Called Iraq? He and his administration deliberately lowballed estimates on the money, troops, and time this war would require? Called Iraq? Do you remember the “unmanned drone” allegations? Tony Blair’s 45 minutes? Al-Qaeda connections? Called Iraq? I don’t remember him “calling” that this was a war for democracy. I wonder what his missed shots look like.
B) I’ll repeat one of my claims here. Efforts to credit Bush for everything good under the sun in the Middle East are DELUSIONAL. Bush’s Israel/Palestine policy for three years consisted of, “You guys fight it out, I’ll be on the ranch.” Then Arafat dies, there’s so rumbling about working with the new guy….and Bush was responsible all along! Wow! This guy had the most hands off policy towards that conflict among any US president in the past thirty years. And yet….Iraq was somehow responsible for post-Arafat elections?
C) Saudi Arabia and Egypt aren’t doing anything anytime soon. Note here, I’ve always thought it unfair to bludgeon Bush with Saudi Arabia’s corruption. Yeah, I know their families are tight, and yes, Old Bush’s Carlyle contracts reek of conflict of interest, but that’s a separate issue. It’s repressive government has been a US ally under every president back to Eisenhower for various reasons, some of them good. Anyway…democracies those two places ain’t
D) Syria….that shot you called there looks pretty bad this week doesn’t it? And somehow…after half a million people rally in FAVOR of Syria this week in Beirut, I don’t see the National Review getting all misty eyed over democracy and David Brooks writing paens to our conservative “visionaries.” I guess, democracy is something to be trumpeted when it coincides with US interests.
E) Libya – Hooray. The US found all that mustard gas on the turkey farm. Except, that story turned out to be mostly bunk also. Turns out, that country didn’t really have shit, and thought it wise to make a big show of giving up “their program.” Shrewd move on their part. Actually, it’s a win-win. Libya gets renewed trade and conservative propagandists in the US get to trumpet Libya as example A in their Reverse Domino Theory.
Now, importantly, your main point, the Reverse Domino Theory part with the All Good Things In Mideast Began with Bush corollary only *slightly* ignores and dimisses homegrown middle eastern political movements. In the US conservative cartoon view of the world, the Lebanese saw a semi-free (yeah, semi-free is better than not at all free) election in Iraq and decided, “Huh! George Bush and his talk of freedom really resonated with me. I am inspired by his actions!” Buulllllshiiit. There have been democracy movements in places like Lebanon…and Egypt…and Iran for years! Here's Juan Cole again.
"The Lebanese have been having often lively parliamentary election campaigns for decades. The idea that the urbane and sophisticated Beirutis had anything to learn from the Jan. 30 process in Iraq is absurd on the face of it. Elections were already scheduled in Lebanon for later this spring."
I know you know this. I also think that you know that internal political changes, i.e. stuff that has nothing to do with Iraq, has been responsible for whatever recent political events we’ve seen in the region recently.
fucking christ.... Via Arianna
"A George Rogers Clark High School junior arrested Tuesday for making terrorist threats told LEX 18 News Thursday that the "writings" that got him arrested are being taken out of context.
Winchester police say William Poole, 18, was taken into custody Tuesday morning. Investigators say they discovered materials at Poole's home that outline possible acts of violence aimed at students, teachers, and police.
Poole told LEX 18 that the whole incident is a big misunderstanding. He claims that what his grandparents found in his journal and turned into police was a short story he wrote for English class.
"My story is based on fiction," said Poole, who faces a second-degree felony terrorist threatening charge. "It's a fake story. I made it up. I've been working on one of my short stories, (and) the short story they found was about zombies. Yes, it did say a high school. It was about a high school over ran by zombies."
Even so, police say the nature of the story makes it a felony. "Anytime you make any threat or possess matter involving a school or function it's a felony in the state of Kentucky," said Winchester Police detective Steven Caudill."
Spawn of The War on Terrorism. Unbelievable.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2005/290205studentarrested.htm
Like Peter Gammons' column, but with more curse words.
-While it's hard to find a team less likeable than the New York Yankees during any given year, the Boston Red Sox are my the early front runners for Biggest Bunch of Dicks, 2005. Why? First of all, any team with David Wells automatically merits strong consideration. The boob with the boobs is already acting like he's been in Boston all his life.
"Now New Yorkers can't chant '1918!' anymore," Wells said."
Ha ha hey...shut the hell up. Reason #2 centers on Curt Schilling. The guy has to run his mouth constantly, whether in an obnoxious "Open letter to baseball" some years back or whether it's taking cheap shots at an opposing player, etc. Yeah, I'm talking about A-Rod. I don't really care about A-rod one way or the other, but why the hell is Schilling taking shots at him after his team has won the World Series? Saying shit like, "I don't think this team would have won with A-Rod" is not only asanine it's just immature. You don't think your team, which was admitedly awesome, would have won with the best player in the league playing shortstop? Or is it just your ego that couldn't have fit inside the clubhouse along with A-rod? Reason #3 is Trot Nixon. Hey asshole, if you're gonna take shots at A-Rod also, try playing more than 140 games in a season for once. At least Schilling is good. You, Nixon, are just a tool. Reason #4, "Cowboy Up." That's stupid. Reason #5, Kevin Millar backing out of his contract with a Japanese club once the Red Sox made him an offer, then citing "concerns about being overseas during a possible war with Iraq" as an excuse. Yeah, buddy - I'm sure the fighting may reach Honshu any day now. Reason #6, They're all filthy beasts. I mean, physically filthy. Covering your helmets in pine tar is not cool - it just makes you look like a bunch of greasemonkeys. Seriously, I think I saw one Red Sox player actually living in the hair of another player last fall. They were that dirty.
-Mets look good this year. And by good, I mean "Not Horrendously Shitty" like they did last spring when they signed Mike ".230" Cameron as they're big splash. Opposing catchers are going to get lit by Jose Reyes this year (Jack Reyes to his friends). Pedro will be fine if his arm doesn't fall the fuck off, which is always a possibility. Bottom line: Mets = Not An Embarassment. Probably. Oh, and Piazza threw somebody out the other day. Savor it.
-I won't complain if the Cubs choose to mealt down again this year. But just try to keep it to yourselves, okay guys? None of this Zambrano throwing at Edmonds head type bullshit. Same for Kerry Wood. Actually, I've really had enough of Kerry Wood. If he throws at some Cardinals player this year, forget on the field retaliation. Wait until after the game, then send Julian Tavarez over to the Cubs clubhouse with his handgun.
-I've also had enough of the steroids story, but I will say that Giambi has been all class so far this spring. I don't know what he's guilty of, but he's handling himself well so far.
-Matt Morris's beard can kick Johnny Damon's beard's ass any day. Yeah, beards have asses.
-I like Ichiro, but I still feel bad for George Sisler. He's buried here in Des Peres cemetary and nobody knows his name. That's what happens to old ball players when their teams fold or move away. (St. Louis Browns - 1954 to Baltimore.)
-Yo, where's Fernando Vina at? At least his name was easier to spell than Grudzielanek.
=Fantasy Baseball is real nerdy, but that's not going to stop my team from laying waste to the Ridiculous Baseball league this year. The Orangutan Revolution is coming, and it will not be televised. It's online.
NYT has an article on Hillary Clinton and how well she's doing as a Senator, how relatively well-liked she is in New York State, etc. (Are you listening, Rudy?)
The article ends with some moderate praise from US rep Peter King:
"Mr. King also said that Mrs. Clinton had been anything but the liberal extremist that her conservative critics accused her of being. 'I'm not going to vote for her and probably disagree with her on 70 percent of the issues,' he said. 'But I think that too many Republicans who criticize Hillary Clinton sound like Michael Moore criticizing George Bush.'"
Okay, dick. This from the guy who last year declared. "John Kerry, The New York Times, and the UN constitute the New Axis of Evil."
Suck up to Hillary before she destroys you, King.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/06/nyregion/06hillary.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1110125340-PIvBmZyBfZP862wguXGIRg
Pointing out that Ann Coulter is a lunatic and a racist is usually a pointless drill. Actually, it’s worse than pointless, since all it’s doing is feeding the trolls. It’s not discussion the trolls are looking for, just more outrage to feed on.
But I will take issue with Universal Press Syndicate for cleaning up her racism. Writing on Jeff Gannon/J.D. Guckert, Annie offers us this piece of wisdom via Universal Press Syndicate.
"Press passes can't be that hard to come by if the White House allows that dyspeptic, old Helen Thomas to sit within yards of the president."
Or, you know, they must not be that hard to come by if you’ve been covering the White House for 50 years for major news outlets. That, or if you’re a talentless hack with a website like Jeff Gannon. By that rationale, I should get a press pass. But here’s the actual quote, straight from the horse’s mouth. Get it? Ann Coulter looks like a…fuck it.
"Press passes can't be that hard to come by if the White House allows that old Arab Helen Thomas to sit within yards of the president."
Hilarious, Annie. I wonder how long it would take net-dwellers, not to mention real news-outlets, to call for the head of the commentator that referred to “that Old Jew,” as in “that Old Jew William Safire.” Or someone. Doesn’t really matter who the example is. No one else is going to call Ann on this, partly because everyone knows her M.O., partly because this kind of passive racism towards Arabs is tolerated.
Editor & Publisher is all over this like Ann Coulter at a salt lick.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000818305