Richard Cohen on "Clinton Wars"
But the book's reception reminds me of the events it chronicles -- a warped obsession with this or that tree when Ken Starr and his Republican allies were clear-cutting much of the forest. Blumenthal's book, describing what a madhouse Washington became back then, has for some reason been given to the inmates to review."
[03:00 p.m. PDT, June 24, 2003
Saturday, June 28, 2003
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Robert Byrd speech: Cover-up leads to ruin
The face of Osama bin Laden morphed into that of Saddam Hussein. President Bush carefully
blurred these images in his State of the Union Address. Listen to this quote from his State of
the Union Address: "Imagine those 19 hijackers with other weapons and other plans – this time
armed by Saddam Hussein. It would take one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this
country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known." Judging by this speech, not only
is the President confusing al Qaeda and Iraq, but he also appears to give a vote of no-confidence
to our homeland security efforts. Isn't the White House, the brains behind the Department of
Homeland Security? Isn't the Administration supposed to be stopping those vials, canisters, and
crates from entering our country, rather than trying to scare our fellow citizens half to death
about them?
The face of Osama bin Laden morphed into that of Saddam Hussein. President Bush carefully
blurred these images in his State of the Union Address. Listen to this quote from his State of
the Union Address: "Imagine those 19 hijackers with other weapons and other plans – this time
armed by Saddam Hussein. It would take one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this
country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known." Judging by this speech, not only
is the President confusing al Qaeda and Iraq, but he also appears to give a vote of no-confidence
to our homeland security efforts. Isn't the White House, the brains behind the Department of
Homeland Security? Isn't the Administration supposed to be stopping those vials, canisters, and
crates from entering our country, rather than trying to scare our fellow citizens half to death
about them?
Monday, June 23, 2003
The Pentagon's Laughable Weapons Test
Fire missile. Miss target completely. Success!
By Fred Kaplan
Posted Friday, June 20, 2003, at 11:23 AM PT
It looked like a headline from the Onion, but it was from CNN and the story was real: "Missile
Misses Target, Officials Call It a Success." The Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency had
conducted a test the afternoon of June 18. A Standard Missile-3, fired from a Navy cruiser 160
miles off the Hawaiian island of Kauai, tried—but failed—to intercept a target missile that had
been launched a few minutes earlier from the island's test range. And so it seemed another
setback had afflicted President Bush's most cherished military program.
However, the Missile Defense Agency's spokesman, Chris Taylor, saw the test differently. "I
wouldn't call it a failure," he told CNN, "because the intercept was not the primary objective. It's
still considered a success, in that we gained great engineering data. We just don't know why it
didn't hit."
Fire missile. Miss target completely. Success!
By Fred Kaplan
Posted Friday, June 20, 2003, at 11:23 AM PT
It looked like a headline from the Onion, but it was from CNN and the story was real: "Missile
Misses Target, Officials Call It a Success." The Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency had
conducted a test the afternoon of June 18. A Standard Missile-3, fired from a Navy cruiser 160
miles off the Hawaiian island of Kauai, tried—but failed—to intercept a target missile that had
been launched a few minutes earlier from the island's test range. And so it seemed another
setback had afflicted President Bush's most cherished military program.
However, the Missile Defense Agency's spokesman, Chris Taylor, saw the test differently. "I
wouldn't call it a failure," he told CNN, "because the intercept was not the primary objective. It's
still considered a success, in that we gained great engineering data. We just don't know why it
didn't hit."
Sunday, June 22, 2003
Circus Amok - Homeland Security
Today, in Tompkins Square I watched the best political satire of these times!
Giorgio Bushwhack, the freedom fries, Officer Friendly Fire were all interspersed with juggling,
acrobats and clowns and an excellent klezmer music band. A bearded woman was the
ringmaster, there were mohawks and a lot of cross dressing - reminded me of the Cockettes -
just as funny only rated G. The crowd went wild and United for Peace was getting a lot of
attention and new members. I'll go again at 5 with my video camera. Georgio Bushwhack was a
lion tamer (so terrible, that when he was born they had to slap his mother)who in the end loses
his head in a lion's mouth. The troop then comes out to celebrate with such signs as :
"SECURITY" "FOOD" "SHELTER" "GOOD ART" . Some hung up signs listed: SECURITY, SEQUINS,
GOOD SHOES, NO KILLER COPS, ARHUNDATI ROY and B61 BUS(?)
They'll perform in parks in NYC all June - look for them! (circusamok.org)
Today, in Tompkins Square I watched the best political satire of these times!
Giorgio Bushwhack, the freedom fries, Officer Friendly Fire were all interspersed with juggling,
acrobats and clowns and an excellent klezmer music band. A bearded woman was the
ringmaster, there were mohawks and a lot of cross dressing - reminded me of the Cockettes -
just as funny only rated G. The crowd went wild and United for Peace was getting a lot of
attention and new members. I'll go again at 5 with my video camera. Georgio Bushwhack was a
lion tamer (so terrible, that when he was born they had to slap his mother)who in the end loses
his head in a lion's mouth. The troop then comes out to celebrate with such signs as :
"SECURITY" "FOOD" "SHELTER" "GOOD ART" . Some hung up signs listed: SECURITY, SEQUINS,
GOOD SHOES, NO KILLER COPS, ARHUNDATI ROY and B61 BUS(?)
They'll perform in parks in NYC all June - look for them! (circusamok.org)
Clark's exposing WH lies - burried in the media:
CLARK: "There was a concerted effort during the fall of 2001, starting immediately after 9/11, to pin 9/11 and the terrorism problem on Saddam Hussein."
RUSSERT: "By who? Who did that?"
CLARK: "Well, it came from the White House, it came from people around the White House. It came from all over. I got a call on 9/11. I was on CNN, and I got a call at my home saying, 'You got to say this is connected. This is state-sponsored terrorism. This has to be connected to Saddam Hussein.' I said, 'But--I'm willing to say it, but what's your evidence?' And I never got any evidence."
CLARK: "There was a concerted effort during the fall of 2001, starting immediately after 9/11, to pin 9/11 and the terrorism problem on Saddam Hussein."
RUSSERT: "By who? Who did that?"
CLARK: "Well, it came from the White House, it came from people around the White House. It came from all over. I got a call on 9/11. I was on CNN, and I got a call at my home saying, 'You got to say this is connected. This is state-sponsored terrorism. This has to be connected to Saddam Hussein.' I said, 'But--I'm willing to say it, but what's your evidence?' And I never got any evidence."
Friday, June 20, 2003
Thursday, June 19, 2003
Eat your shoes, Tucker!
That Won't be Crow on Carlson's Plate
Shoe leather will be on the menu for "Crossfire" host Tucker Carlson if "Living History" sells a million copies. (CNN)
It's hard to see how Tucker Carlson can get out of it.
On repeated occasions in the past six weeks, the CNN "Crossfire" host has vowed on the air to eat his shoes if Hillary Rodham Clinton's book sells a million copies. He has also pledged to eat his shoes if Simon & Schuster recoups its $8 million advance. Sometimes he has promised to eat his tie, too, and to buy co-host Paul Begala dinners for a month.
Edit ...
But last Friday, the day Simon & Schuster announced that Clinton had already sold 600,000 copies, Carlson didn't sound quite so confident. "There are not 400,000 more gullible people in this nation," he said.
Yesterday he told us: "I feel a little sick to my stomach just thinking about it." In a self-pitying tone, Carlson added: "I am probably going to end up being punished for attempting to be honorable. I'm still betting on America, but I'm probably going to end up like Al Gore. I'm going to contest the results and demand recounts, but ultimately I'm going to give in and do the right thing."
Carlson predicted that he'll soon be consulting fetishistic Web sites for edible footwear. But he won't eat his tie. "There's only so much humiliation one man can take." As for Begala's month of dinners, Carlson said: "They'll be Mrs. Lee's tuna sandwiches."
More ...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6689-2003Jun17.html
That Won't be Crow on Carlson's Plate
Shoe leather will be on the menu for "Crossfire" host Tucker Carlson if "Living History" sells a million copies. (CNN)
It's hard to see how Tucker Carlson can get out of it.
On repeated occasions in the past six weeks, the CNN "Crossfire" host has vowed on the air to eat his shoes if Hillary Rodham Clinton's book sells a million copies. He has also pledged to eat his shoes if Simon & Schuster recoups its $8 million advance. Sometimes he has promised to eat his tie, too, and to buy co-host Paul Begala dinners for a month.
Edit ...
But last Friday, the day Simon & Schuster announced that Clinton had already sold 600,000 copies, Carlson didn't sound quite so confident. "There are not 400,000 more gullible people in this nation," he said.
Yesterday he told us: "I feel a little sick to my stomach just thinking about it." In a self-pitying tone, Carlson added: "I am probably going to end up being punished for attempting to be honorable. I'm still betting on America, but I'm probably going to end up like Al Gore. I'm going to contest the results and demand recounts, but ultimately I'm going to give in and do the right thing."
Carlson predicted that he'll soon be consulting fetishistic Web sites for edible footwear. But he won't eat his tie. "There's only so much humiliation one man can take." As for Begala's month of dinners, Carlson said: "They'll be Mrs. Lee's tuna sandwiches."
More ...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6689-2003Jun17.html
Posted on BC Forum by Samela:
"Felix, you have hit the core of the issue ..."
...and have said it so eloquently. Unleashing the policy of preemption is the crux of the matter, and it is a crucial matter, because it will be difficult to put the genie back in the bottle.
I'm trying to get the chronology of things straight in my head. Bush unveiled the preemption policy publicly, I believe, at a speech at the Westpoint graduation in May or June of 2002. (Correct me on the details if I am wrong here; I am relying on my fuzzy memory instead of research.) It was a major and wholly unprecedented shift in US policy, and thus worthy of significant debate that really never took place.
The vote on the Iraq resolution came in October (?) of 2002. At that point, again if my memory serves correctly, our public discussion focused largely on the legitimacy of a preemptive attack, although the question of whether Iraq actually had WMDs was being discussed. (This was the period during which Scott Ritter was on TV a lot.) I recall thinking at that time that Congress, of course (or at least members of the intelligence committees), must have access to intelligence information that we did not, and that therefore it was difficult to assess the real status of WMDs. My thinking at the time was that the real issue involved the novel application of the unilateral policy of preemption, not whether Iraq actually did or did not have biological or chemical weapons. Many of us conceded that they probably did have some. But we still opposed the resolution that would give Bush free hand in initiating a unilateral, preemptive war in the absence of any "imminent" threat. We kept saying, if you have some evidence of an imminent threat, then show it to the UN. Do an Adlai Stevenson. That wasn't happening yet. I wrote to both Senator Kerry and Representative Markey before the vote, and called their offices, expressing my conviction that they should oppose the resolution. Both voted for it. I am inclined to believe that Rep. Markey was indeed misled on intelligence, because the letter I received from him (I never received one from Kerry), after the vote, explained his grave concern with the nuclear aspect of the thing .... he has been a long, long-time leader in the fight for non-proliferation. His letter was extensive and explicit. If he had been given the information in the El Baradei report, I do wonder if he would have voted differently. I may write him and ask.
But back to my chronology. It was only later, during the buildup to the war in the subsequent months, as peace marches and rallies began to be held and grow and as the administration began to make their case at the UN and in the SOTU address, that information contradicting the validity and strength of their evidence began to become really apparent to us. (The photos of trucks outside a building that Powell held up; the fake Niger document---which was known by us BEFORE the invasion; the El Baradei report that debunked the nuclear claims and said the aluminum tubes were not for this purpose.)
It was at this point, if I am correct (either just before or just after the war), that Tom Harkin came out and said he was lied to, and that he would not have voted for the resolution if he had known. I said then that every Democrat who voted for that resolution should be coming out and saying "we were lied to and we wouldn't have voted that way if we had known." No one did.
So, Kerry if finally saying it, or at least the "lied to" part of it. I asked him to do that, and whether it is true or not (I expect not ... I feel he would have voted anyway), at least he said it. He has not, however, said he would have voted differently because of this. That is the crucial next step, and I urge him to say it.
It is the only way he can extricate himself from the charge that he fully supports the preemptive policy (which, after all, he DID support at the outset of the war, in a statement you all know I was very angry about). But this is a step forward. It's a political step, but I can accept that. He has to go further, however.
© samela 2003. All rights reserved.
"Felix, you have hit the core of the issue ..."
...and have said it so eloquently. Unleashing the policy of preemption is the crux of the matter, and it is a crucial matter, because it will be difficult to put the genie back in the bottle.
I'm trying to get the chronology of things straight in my head. Bush unveiled the preemption policy publicly, I believe, at a speech at the Westpoint graduation in May or June of 2002. (Correct me on the details if I am wrong here; I am relying on my fuzzy memory instead of research.) It was a major and wholly unprecedented shift in US policy, and thus worthy of significant debate that really never took place.
The vote on the Iraq resolution came in October (?) of 2002. At that point, again if my memory serves correctly, our public discussion focused largely on the legitimacy of a preemptive attack, although the question of whether Iraq actually had WMDs was being discussed. (This was the period during which Scott Ritter was on TV a lot.) I recall thinking at that time that Congress, of course (or at least members of the intelligence committees), must have access to intelligence information that we did not, and that therefore it was difficult to assess the real status of WMDs. My thinking at the time was that the real issue involved the novel application of the unilateral policy of preemption, not whether Iraq actually did or did not have biological or chemical weapons. Many of us conceded that they probably did have some. But we still opposed the resolution that would give Bush free hand in initiating a unilateral, preemptive war in the absence of any "imminent" threat. We kept saying, if you have some evidence of an imminent threat, then show it to the UN. Do an Adlai Stevenson. That wasn't happening yet. I wrote to both Senator Kerry and Representative Markey before the vote, and called their offices, expressing my conviction that they should oppose the resolution. Both voted for it. I am inclined to believe that Rep. Markey was indeed misled on intelligence, because the letter I received from him (I never received one from Kerry), after the vote, explained his grave concern with the nuclear aspect of the thing .... he has been a long, long-time leader in the fight for non-proliferation. His letter was extensive and explicit. If he had been given the information in the El Baradei report, I do wonder if he would have voted differently. I may write him and ask.
But back to my chronology. It was only later, during the buildup to the war in the subsequent months, as peace marches and rallies began to be held and grow and as the administration began to make their case at the UN and in the SOTU address, that information contradicting the validity and strength of their evidence began to become really apparent to us. (The photos of trucks outside a building that Powell held up; the fake Niger document---which was known by us BEFORE the invasion; the El Baradei report that debunked the nuclear claims and said the aluminum tubes were not for this purpose.)
It was at this point, if I am correct (either just before or just after the war), that Tom Harkin came out and said he was lied to, and that he would not have voted for the resolution if he had known. I said then that every Democrat who voted for that resolution should be coming out and saying "we were lied to and we wouldn't have voted that way if we had known." No one did.
So, Kerry if finally saying it, or at least the "lied to" part of it. I asked him to do that, and whether it is true or not (I expect not ... I feel he would have voted anyway), at least he said it. He has not, however, said he would have voted differently because of this. That is the crucial next step, and I urge him to say it.
It is the only way he can extricate himself from the charge that he fully supports the preemptive policy (which, after all, he DID support at the outset of the war, in a statement you all know I was very angry about). But this is a step forward. It's a political step, but I can accept that. He has to go further, however.
© samela 2003. All rights reserved.
Page 1: WH lies about Global warming study:
White House officials ... deleted a reference to a 1999 study showing that global temperatures had risen sharply in the previous decade compared with the last 1,000 years. In its place, administration officials added a reference to a new study, partly financed by the American Petroleum Institute, questioning that conclusion. (snip)
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/19/politics/19CLIM.html
White House officials ... deleted a reference to a 1999 study showing that global temperatures had risen sharply in the previous decade compared with the last 1,000 years. In its place, administration officials added a reference to a new study, partly financed by the American Petroleum Institute, questioning that conclusion. (snip)
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/19/politics/19CLIM.html
Wednesday, June 18, 2003
$2000/plate buys Repubs hot dogs, "White Castle", and nachos
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/06/17/bush.fundraising/index.html
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Declaring he would continue to advance "compassionate conservatism," President Bush kicked off a two-week fund-raising blitz for his 2004 re-election campaign with a $2,000-a-plate dinner Tuesday night that raised at least $3.5 million.
Campaign spokeswoman Nicolle Devenish estimated between 1,200 and 1,400 people attended the dinner of hot dogs, hamburgers and nachos at the Washington Hilton.
From Paragon: Judy Woodruff reported on CNN's Inside Politics that attendees complained that the "hamburgers" were smaller than White Castle's infamous "sliders".
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/06/17/bush.fundraising/index.html
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Declaring he would continue to advance "compassionate conservatism," President Bush kicked off a two-week fund-raising blitz for his 2004 re-election campaign with a $2,000-a-plate dinner Tuesday night that raised at least $3.5 million.
Campaign spokeswoman Nicolle Devenish estimated between 1,200 and 1,400 people attended the dinner of hot dogs, hamburgers and nachos at the Washington Hilton.
From Paragon: Judy Woodruff reported on CNN's Inside Politics that attendees complained that the "hamburgers" were smaller than White Castle's infamous "sliders".
Posted on BC Forum by "Repuke word association game"
Author Auberon
I say a word, you say the first thing that comes to your mind (repukes response most likely to be made)
Book..........Doorstop
Education.....Waste of Time
Missile.......Defense
Blood.........Shed
Clinton.......C*CK
Enron.........Nothing wrong there
Free Market...Solution to all the world's problems
Reagan........GOD
GUN...........MUST HAVE
2nd Amd.......MY GUN RIGHT
PROCHOICE.....BABY KILLER
SMART WOMAN...DEVIL SLUT
CLINTON.......C*CK
LIBRARY.......(BLANK STARE)
MEDIA.........LIBERAL
TAXES.........BAD
MILITARY......PATRIOTISM
PATRIOTIC.....FLAG WAVING
FLAG..........STARS AND STRIPES!!!
CLINTON.......C*CK
TANK..........TOP
BOTTOM........FEEDER
RUSH..........GREATEST RADIO SHOW HOST
TOP 1%........OVERTAXED
BOTTOM 65%....LAZY WELFARE BLACK MOTHERS
STAR WARS.....REAGAN
IRAN CONTRA...DIDN'T HAPPEN
BUSH PARDONS..DIDN'T HAPPEN
CLINTON.......C*CK
GOOD ECONOMY..REAGAN'S
BAD ECONOMY...CLINTON'S
BLUE DRESS....C*CK
UGLY DRESS....PICKLE'S IS DRESSED JUST FINE, LEAVE HER ALONE!
DRUNK.........YOUTHFUL INDISCRETION
FLIGHT SUIT...REAL AMERICAN HERO
CLINTON.......C*CK
Author Auberon
I say a word, you say the first thing that comes to your mind (repukes response most likely to be made)
Book..........Doorstop
Education.....Waste of Time
Missile.......Defense
Blood.........Shed
Clinton.......C*CK
Enron.........Nothing wrong there
Free Market...Solution to all the world's problems
Reagan........GOD
GUN...........MUST HAVE
2nd Amd.......MY GUN RIGHT
PROCHOICE.....BABY KILLER
SMART WOMAN...DEVIL SLUT
CLINTON.......C*CK
LIBRARY.......(BLANK STARE)
MEDIA.........LIBERAL
TAXES.........BAD
MILITARY......PATRIOTISM
PATRIOTIC.....FLAG WAVING
FLAG..........STARS AND STRIPES!!!
CLINTON.......C*CK
TANK..........TOP
BOTTOM........FEEDER
RUSH..........GREATEST RADIO SHOW HOST
TOP 1%........OVERTAXED
BOTTOM 65%....LAZY WELFARE BLACK MOTHERS
STAR WARS.....REAGAN
IRAN CONTRA...DIDN'T HAPPEN
BUSH PARDONS..DIDN'T HAPPEN
CLINTON.......C*CK
GOOD ECONOMY..REAGAN'S
BAD ECONOMY...CLINTON'S
BLUE DRESS....C*CK
UGLY DRESS....PICKLE'S IS DRESSED JUST FINE, LEAVE HER ALONE!
DRUNK.........YOUTHFUL INDISCRETION
FLIGHT SUIT...REAL AMERICAN HERO
CLINTON.......C*CK
Letterman: Top 10 Things going through W's mind falling off the Segway:
10. "Damn you, Al-Qaeda!"
9. "I'm sure Thomas Jefferson fell off his Segway every now and then"
8. "It looked so easy on 'The Jetsons'"
7. "I misunderestimated my center of gravity"
6. "Thank God no one got a picture of this"
5. "Only 4 days 'til Hulk! Only 4 days 'til Hulk! Only 4 days 'til Hulk!"
4. "Damn, this thing would give Cheney, like, 3 heart attacks"
3. "Congratulations, Segway -- you just joined the axis of evil"
2. "To distract everyone, bomb the hell out of Syria"
1. "AHHHHHHHHH!"
10. "Damn you, Al-Qaeda!"
9. "I'm sure Thomas Jefferson fell off his Segway every now and then"
8. "It looked so easy on 'The Jetsons'"
7. "I misunderestimated my center of gravity"
6. "Thank God no one got a picture of this"
5. "Only 4 days 'til Hulk! Only 4 days 'til Hulk! Only 4 days 'til Hulk!"
4. "Damn, this thing would give Cheney, like, 3 heart attacks"
3. "Congratulations, Segway -- you just joined the axis of evil"
2. "To distract everyone, bomb the hell out of Syria"
1. "AHHHHHHHHH!"
Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Posted on DU by proud patriot
Remember When We Were 8 percenters
Remember when It seemed like we were all alone .
We didn't give up then , I'll be damned if I giving up now .
Remember when we lost close friends .
Are they coming back to you as my friends are to me ?
Remember when Senator Byrd stood up on the Senate floor
and spoke directly of our potential , knowledge and love
of the Constitution . I'll never forget it .
He was right you know. We are ones to be watched for we are
doing great things .
We are not Summertime Soilders or Sunshine Patriots
We are the ones who stood firm through firestorms of
attacks upon our founding principles .
They will write about us . As Well as Barbara Lee and
other Patriots who put love of Country and Humanity
above the fear and hate of these perilous times we are
living in .
Individually we may be only be a small part of the
puzzle , but without us the puzzle is incomplete .
The future holds great things .
Remember When We Were 8 Percenters .
Remember When We Were 8 percenters
Remember when It seemed like we were all alone .
We didn't give up then , I'll be damned if I giving up now .
Remember when we lost close friends .
Are they coming back to you as my friends are to me ?
Remember when Senator Byrd stood up on the Senate floor
and spoke directly of our potential , knowledge and love
of the Constitution . I'll never forget it .
He was right you know. We are ones to be watched for we are
doing great things .
We are not Summertime Soilders or Sunshine Patriots
We are the ones who stood firm through firestorms of
attacks upon our founding principles .
They will write about us . As Well as Barbara Lee and
other Patriots who put love of Country and Humanity
above the fear and hate of these perilous times we are
living in .
Individually we may be only be a small part of the
puzzle , but without us the puzzle is incomplete .
The future holds great things .
Remember When We Were 8 Percenters .
Monday, June 16, 2003
Toronto Star on The Big Dunce (ugh, Dace?)
Jun. 1, 2003. 01:00 AM
9/11 movie paints Bush as hero
http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1052251698534&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795
LINDA MCQUAIG
Isnip
The film, which qualifies for generous Canadian federal and provincial cash incentives for film
production, is sure to help the White House further its two-pronged re-election strategy: Keep
Americans terrified of terrorism and make Bush look like the guy best able to defend them.
Lionel Chetwynd, the writer-producer of this heartily pro-Bush movie, is a kind of west coast
David Frum — a Canadian who has fully embraced the Bush revolution and even joined the
administration (sitting on a White House arts committee).
His film — unlikely to enhance the reputation of Canadian filmmakers — portrays Bush as
decisive and in-charge on 9/11, commanding officials on Air Force One to take him to
Washington. "If some tinhorn terrorist wants me, tell him to come and get me! I'll be at home!
Waiting for the bastard!"
Whoever was driving Air Force One apparently wasn't listening; as we know, the president was
flown instead to Nebraska and only returned that evening to the White House, where Laura Bush
was holding the fort.
Jun. 1, 2003. 01:00 AM
9/11 movie paints Bush as hero
http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1052251698534&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795
LINDA MCQUAIG
Isnip
The film, which qualifies for generous Canadian federal and provincial cash incentives for film
production, is sure to help the White House further its two-pronged re-election strategy: Keep
Americans terrified of terrorism and make Bush look like the guy best able to defend them.
Lionel Chetwynd, the writer-producer of this heartily pro-Bush movie, is a kind of west coast
David Frum — a Canadian who has fully embraced the Bush revolution and even joined the
administration (sitting on a White House arts committee).
His film — unlikely to enhance the reputation of Canadian filmmakers — portrays Bush as
decisive and in-charge on 9/11, commanding officials on Air Force One to take him to
Washington. "If some tinhorn terrorist wants me, tell him to come and get me! I'll be at home!
Waiting for the bastard!"
Whoever was driving Air Force One apparently wasn't listening; as we know, the president was
flown instead to Nebraska and only returned that evening to the White House, where Laura Bush
was holding the fort.
Sunday, June 15, 2003
Posted on DU by Yavin4
. The Bottom Line on Boortz
Boortz's job, like the legion of other RW radio talk show hosts, is to propagandize White middle and working class men and women into voting for Republicans by playing on their greed, racial fears, and any other socializing tool that they use to get working class people to vote for politicians that will increase the power and the money of the powerful and the rich.
For instance, the RW's incessant demonizing of Democrats and Progressives has resulted in the entire government being controlled by Republicans. One of the agencies of the government has just voted to allow major media corporations to increase their holdings of public airwaves.
. The Bottom Line on Boortz
Boortz's job, like the legion of other RW radio talk show hosts, is to propagandize White middle and working class men and women into voting for Republicans by playing on their greed, racial fears, and any other socializing tool that they use to get working class people to vote for politicians that will increase the power and the money of the powerful and the rich.
For instance, the RW's incessant demonizing of Democrats and Progressives has resulted in the entire government being controlled by Republicans. One of the agencies of the government has just voted to allow major media corporations to increase their holdings of public airwaves.
Deadbrain.co.uk weighs in on the scooter:
A White House spokesman told visibly amused journalists that Bush is fine and only came off
the device because it had been the victim of sabotage.
"There is absolutely no truth in the rumour that Bush fell off his Segway because
he is an incompetent fool," insisted Douglas Ramsbottom.
A White House spokesman told visibly amused journalists that Bush is fine and only came off
the device because it had been the victim of sabotage.
"There is absolutely no truth in the rumour that Bush fell off his Segway because
he is an incompetent fool," insisted Douglas Ramsbottom.
Saturday, June 14, 2003
Max Cleland's speech:
"We still haven't gotten a full
accounting to the American people on what happened on 9/11 and the
failures of our intelligence agencies and the misjudgments of our
governmental team. Now we have another failure. What was it? Who knows?
Now the American people, especially those families who lost loved ones .
. . need to have a full accounting. Why did we go to war?"
"We still haven't gotten a full
accounting to the American people on what happened on 9/11 and the
failures of our intelligence agencies and the misjudgments of our
governmental team. Now we have another failure. What was it? Who knows?
Now the American people, especially those families who lost loved ones .
. . need to have a full accounting. Why did we go to war?"
NO BOOKS< PLEASE!
Computer columnist John Dvorak is guestblogging the sidebar on boingboing this week. He has an interesting story about Bushies and gifts:
This ABC News story floating around outlines the odd meeting between Dean Kamen and GW bush and how he ended up with a Segway Some years ago when George Sr. was in office and was making noise about computers I had my book publisher send copies of a couple Dvorak Books on the topic to the President, figuring they would be good for him. The books came back from the Secret Service with a long condemnation about how the President can't accept "gifts" and this was improper and blah-blah-blah. So I was a little surprised by this Segway situation. These things are worth $8000, my book was $24 or so.
http://boingboing.net
Computer columnist John Dvorak is guestblogging the sidebar on boingboing this week. He has an interesting story about Bushies and gifts:
This ABC News story floating around outlines the odd meeting between Dean Kamen and GW bush and how he ended up with a Segway Some years ago when George Sr. was in office and was making noise about computers I had my book publisher send copies of a couple Dvorak Books on the topic to the President, figuring they would be good for him. The books came back from the Secret Service with a long condemnation about how the President can't accept "gifts" and this was improper and blah-blah-blah. So I was a little surprised by this Segway situation. These things are worth $8000, my book was $24 or so.
http://boingboing.net
Friday, June 13, 2003
ITV (UK):Nice trip Mr President?
13.43PM BST, 13 Jun 2003
US President George Bush has been photographed falling off a high-tech scooter near his family's summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
A sequence of photos show President Bush stepping onto a two-wheeled high-tech scooter and then lurching forward before recovering his balance.
The electric powered, self-balancing Segway scooter was touted as the "next wave in transportation" when it made its debut several years ago.
The scooter relies on a series of gyroscopes and tilt sensors to mimic human balance and keep the rider vertical.
Mr Bush was not injured in the fall.
13.43PM BST, 13 Jun 2003
US President George Bush has been photographed falling off a high-tech scooter near his family's summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
A sequence of photos show President Bush stepping onto a two-wheeled high-tech scooter and then lurching forward before recovering his balance.
The electric powered, self-balancing Segway scooter was touted as the "next wave in transportation" when it made its debut several years ago.
The scooter relies on a series of gyroscopes and tilt sensors to mimic human balance and keep the rider vertical.
Mr Bush was not injured in the fall.
ush okay after Segway attack
By Ashlee Vance in San Francisco
Posted: 13/06/2003 at 05:38 GMT
President Bush has fallen victim to a weapon of minimal destruction - a Segway scooter.
Bush took a nasty tumble on the fabled Segway, during a stay at the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, ABCNEWS.com reports. The president strode up to the space-age scooter with a tennis racket in hand, jumped on and then stumbled right off the machine .
By Ashlee Vance in San Francisco
Posted: 13/06/2003 at 05:38 GMT
President Bush has fallen victim to a weapon of minimal destruction - a Segway scooter.
Bush took a nasty tumble on the fabled Segway, during a stay at the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, ABCNEWS.com reports. The president strode up to the space-age scooter with a tennis racket in hand, jumped on and then stumbled right off the machine .
Thursday, June 12, 2003
Fearless leader - riding scooter: Photo caption:
Thu Jun 12, 4:59 PM ET
President George W. Bush (news - web sites) (C) falls forward over the handle bars of a Segway personal transporter as he tries out the scooter while his wife first lady Laura Bush (L) looks on in the front driveway of his parents' summer home June 12, 2003 in Kennebunkport, Maine. The president recovered from the fall and was uninjured. He is visiting his parents home on the coast of Maine for five days. REUTERS/Jim Bourg
Thu Jun 12, 4:59 PM ET
President George W. Bush (news - web sites) (C) falls forward over the handle bars of a Segway personal transporter as he tries out the scooter while his wife first lady Laura Bush (L) looks on in the front driveway of his parents' summer home June 12, 2003 in Kennebunkport, Maine. The president recovered from the fall and was uninjured. He is visiting his parents home on the coast of Maine for five days. REUTERS/Jim Bourg
CIA Rejects Blame for Bush's Iraq Uranium Claim
Updated 3:06 PM ET June 12, 2003
By Jim Wolf
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The CIA rejected any blame on Thursday for the use of a faulty intelligence report by President Bush as he built his case for war against Iraq.
A spokesman, Bill Harlow, voiced confidence that "a careful reading" of documents supplied to congressional oversight committees would show the spy agency "did not withhold information from appropriate officials" about Iraq's purported attempt to buy uranium in Niger.
The Central Intelligence Agency, he said, had shared hundreds of pages of material with the panels looking into charges, from lawmakers and others, that the administration and the intelligence community oversold the weapons threat to foster public support for ousting President Saddam Hussein.
>>>>>
Updated 3:06 PM ET June 12, 2003
By Jim Wolf
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The CIA rejected any blame on Thursday for the use of a faulty intelligence report by President Bush as he built his case for war against Iraq.
A spokesman, Bill Harlow, voiced confidence that "a careful reading" of documents supplied to congressional oversight committees would show the spy agency "did not withhold information from appropriate officials" about Iraq's purported attempt to buy uranium in Niger.
The Central Intelligence Agency, he said, had shared hundreds of pages of material with the panels looking into charges, from lawmakers and others, that the administration and the intelligence community oversold the weapons threat to foster public support for ousting President Saddam Hussein.
>>>>>
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
posted on DU by Diplomats: * polls at 57 - info hidden in a Hillary story:
""President Bush easily beats the new author and the big-three declared Democratic candidates." The poll did find Bush's approval rating slipping -- 57 percent in the new poll, down from 73 percent in an April poll from Quinnipiac -- due largely to concerns about the economy, according to Carroll.
""President Bush easily beats the new author and the big-three declared Democratic candidates." The poll did find Bush's approval rating slipping -- 57 percent in the new poll, down from 73 percent in an April poll from Quinnipiac -- due largely to concerns about the economy, according to Carroll.
Posted on DU:Jacobin
When Diane Sawyer disses Bush*........
On Good Morning America (ABC) June 11, 2003 . (A day I will remember)
I'm still in shock. I just watch the smarmy mediawhore interview Hans Blix.....with great sympathy...asking him how it felt to be smeared by Bush* about WMD, when all along it appeared Blix is right. She asked him what he thought about the "vaunted" (HER words) American intelligence....she asked him if he thought Bush* wished too hard for WMD to be true to justify their actions. She made Blix look like a hero (which he is in my mind)
IMHO, the tide has turned.
When Diane Sawyer disses Bush*........
On Good Morning America (ABC) June 11, 2003 . (A day I will remember)
I'm still in shock. I just watch the smarmy mediawhore interview Hans Blix.....with great sympathy...asking him how it felt to be smeared by Bush* about WMD, when all along it appeared Blix is right. She asked him what he thought about the "vaunted" (HER words) American intelligence....she asked him if he thought Bush* wished too hard for WMD to be true to justify their actions. She made Blix look like a hero (which he is in my mind)
IMHO, the tide has turned.
Harold Pinter:
In conversation on stage with Michael Billington, the Guardian's theatre critic, Pinter said the US government was the most dangerous power that had ever existed. ...
The playwright said: "The US is really beyond reason now. It is beyond our imagining to know what they are going to do next and what they are prepared to do. There is only one comparison: Nazi Germany.
....
Pinter blamed "millions of totally deluded American people" for not staging a mass revolt.
He said that because of propaganda and control of the media, millions of Americans believed that every word Mr Bush said was "accurate and moral".
The US population could not be let off scot-free for putting the country under the control of an "illegally elected president - in other words, a fake".
In conversation on stage with Michael Billington, the Guardian's theatre critic, Pinter said the US government was the most dangerous power that had ever existed. ...
The playwright said: "The US is really beyond reason now. It is beyond our imagining to know what they are going to do next and what they are prepared to do. There is only one comparison: Nazi Germany.
....
Pinter blamed "millions of totally deluded American people" for not staging a mass revolt.
He said that because of propaganda and control of the media, millions of Americans believed that every word Mr Bush said was "accurate and moral".
The US population could not be let off scot-free for putting the country under the control of an "illegally elected president - in other words, a fake".
Monday, June 09, 2003
Sitting on lies...
STEPHANOPOULOS: That claim was later discredited by the International Atomic Energy Agency, found out to be based on forged documents.
So how did it make it into the State of the Union address?
RICE: At the time that the State of the Union address was prepared, there were also other sources that said that the Iraqis were seeking “yellowcake,” uranium oxide, from Africa.
And that was taken out of a British report.
Clearly, that particular report, we learned subsequently – subsequently – was not credible--
http://www.liberaloasis.com/archives/060803.htm#060903
OK, so how come Bush didn't come out and tell us about the mistake? The SOTU address was way before we went to war--how come they didn't set the record straight until Condi was hammered with questions on a Sunday talk show?
STEPHANOPOULOS: That claim was later discredited by the International Atomic Energy Agency, found out to be based on forged documents.
So how did it make it into the State of the Union address?
RICE: At the time that the State of the Union address was prepared, there were also other sources that said that the Iraqis were seeking “yellowcake,” uranium oxide, from Africa.
And that was taken out of a British report.
Clearly, that particular report, we learned subsequently – subsequently – was not credible--
http://www.liberaloasis.com/archives/060803.htm#060903
OK, so how come Bush didn't come out and tell us about the mistake? The SOTU address was way before we went to war--how come they didn't set the record straight until Condi was hammered with questions on a Sunday talk show?
Clinton Wars revelation: NYT Jeff Gerth inserted himself in the investigation:
"Still, Gerth called the FBI office in Little Rock to inform an agent there of what Hale was saying about Clinton. The agent sent a teletype to Washington: "Gerth alluded that this is why the US Attorney Casey would not deal with Coleman when he was attempting to work a suitable deal for his client"
"Still, Gerth called the FBI office in Little Rock to inform an agent there of what Hale was saying about Clinton. The agent sent a teletype to Washington: "Gerth alluded that this is why the US Attorney Casey would not deal with Coleman when he was attempting to work a suitable deal for his client"
Sunday, June 08, 2003
Lord Zontar on BC Forum:
Sooo, where are the WMDs?
As the entire rationale for Operation Iraqi Liberation continues to collapse, and our "peaceful occupation" slowly turns into Vietnam in the Sands, the Regime and its flacks become ever more desperate to Protect The Lie. We will be hearing the most outrageous horseshit lies and contortions of logic imaginable. No matter what they say at this point, they may as well try to float the notion that Saddam Hussein was secretly being aided by the Klingon Empire, who decided to cover up their involvement by beaming up all the weapons to their orbiting battlecruisers. Because for every increasingly transparent lie that's put forth, "the WMDs were all beamed up by the Klingons" theory makes as much sense as any other.
Zontar
The more corrupt the State, the more numerous the Laws
—Tacitus
Sooo, where are the WMDs?
As the entire rationale for Operation Iraqi Liberation continues to collapse, and our "peaceful occupation" slowly turns into Vietnam in the Sands, the Regime and its flacks become ever more desperate to Protect The Lie. We will be hearing the most outrageous horseshit lies and contortions of logic imaginable. No matter what they say at this point, they may as well try to float the notion that Saddam Hussein was secretly being aided by the Klingon Empire, who decided to cover up their involvement by beaming up all the weapons to their orbiting battlecruisers. Because for every increasingly transparent lie that's put forth, "the WMDs were all beamed up by the Klingons" theory makes as much sense as any other.
Zontar
The more corrupt the State, the more numerous the Laws
—Tacitus
From Byrd remarks in the Senate:
What amazes me is that the President himself is not clamoring for an
investigation. It is his integrity that is on the line. It is his truthfulness that is
being questioned. It is his leadership that has come under scrutiny. And yet he
has raised no question, expressed no curiosity about the strange turn of events
in Iraq, expressed no anger at the possibility that he might have been misled.
How is it that the President, who was so adamant about the dangers of WMD,
has expressed no concern over the where-abouts of weapons of mass
destruction in Iraq?
What amazes me is that the President himself is not clamoring for an
investigation. It is his integrity that is on the line. It is his truthfulness that is
being questioned. It is his leadership that has come under scrutiny. And yet he
has raised no question, expressed no curiosity about the strange turn of events
in Iraq, expressed no anger at the possibility that he might have been misled.
How is it that the President, who was so adamant about the dangers of WMD,
has expressed no concern over the where-abouts of weapons of mass
destruction in Iraq?
Thursday, June 05, 2003
History lesson - Clinton's Wars - p.20:
But Bush presided over the Republicans' fall. The party's manifest destiny proved less predictable than events foreseen by Nancy Reagan's astrologist. Issues Repoblicans deployed to divide and conquer the Democrats perversely turned against them.
snip
After the spending as if there was no tomorrow, tomorrow arrived- on Bush's watch. Paralyzing government through deficits, manipulating "vedge" issues on race and women to tear apart the democratic coalition, and accusing the Democrats of apeasement in the face of the Red Menace were all policies that now had a reverse effect"
But Bush presided over the Republicans' fall. The party's manifest destiny proved less predictable than events foreseen by Nancy Reagan's astrologist. Issues Repoblicans deployed to divide and conquer the Democrats perversely turned against them.
snip
After the spending as if there was no tomorrow, tomorrow arrived- on Bush's watch. Paralyzing government through deficits, manipulating "vedge" issues on race and women to tear apart the democratic coalition, and accusing the Democrats of apeasement in the face of the Red Menace were all policies that now had a reverse effect"
Wednesday, June 04, 2003
Rummy quote:
Look, the primarily difference -- to put it a little too simply -- between North Korea and Iraq is that we had virtually no economic options with Iraq because the country floats on a sea of oil. In the case of North Korea, the country is teetering on the edge of economic collapse and that I believe is a major point of leverage whereas the military picture with North Korea is very different from that with Iraq. The problems in both cases have some similarities but the solutions have got to be tailored to the circumstances which are very different.
http://dod.mil/transcripts/2003/tr20030531-depsecdef0246.html
Look, the primarily difference -- to put it a little too simply -- between North Korea and Iraq is that we had virtually no economic options with Iraq because the country floats on a sea of oil. In the case of North Korea, the country is teetering on the edge of economic collapse and that I believe is a major point of leverage whereas the military picture with North Korea is very different from that with Iraq. The problems in both cases have some similarities but the solutions have got to be tailored to the circumstances which are very different.
http://dod.mil/transcripts/2003/tr20030531-depsecdef0246.html
The Guardian:Wolfowitz: Iraq war was about oil
George Wright
Wednesday June 4, 2003
Oil was the main reason for military action against Iraq, a leading White House hawk has claimed, confirming the worst fears of those opposed to the US-led war.
The US deputy defence secretary, Paul Wolfowitz - who has already undermined Tony Blair's position over weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by describing them as a "bureaucratic" excuse for war - has now gone further by claiming the real motive was that Iraq is "swimming" in oil.
The latest comments were made by Mr Wolfowitz in an address to delegates at an Asian security summit in Singapore at the weekend, and reported today by German newspapers Der Tagesspiegel and Die Welt.
George Wright
Wednesday June 4, 2003
Oil was the main reason for military action against Iraq, a leading White House hawk has claimed, confirming the worst fears of those opposed to the US-led war.
The US deputy defence secretary, Paul Wolfowitz - who has already undermined Tony Blair's position over weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by describing them as a "bureaucratic" excuse for war - has now gone further by claiming the real motive was that Iraq is "swimming" in oil.
The latest comments were made by Mr Wolfowitz in an address to delegates at an Asian security summit in Singapore at the weekend, and reported today by German newspapers Der Tagesspiegel and Die Welt.
Tuesday, June 03, 2003
Posted on BC Forum by Quahog:Reagan also had vision"
While I never agreed with his politics, I had to admire the man for having beliefs based on some
kind of a vision for America, and for being able to communicate that vision in a way that
resonated with so many people. Of most of the truly scandalous, horrible shit that happened on
his watch he was probably blissfully unaware. That whole Iran/Contra thing stinks of the Bush
family; I believe Reagan was just a convenient tool for them, easy to manipulate as long as they
smiled and nodded when Ronnie went on one of his ideological jags.
Smirk has nothing. No vision, no morals, no ideology, no meaning behind his words. He is like a
shark, that eats, swims and makes baby sharks. Only with W it is just greed. That "creed of
greed" line of Kerry's is so totally appropriate for this being. Greed drives absolutely everything
he does.
Every costume he tries on, Christian, Patriot, Compassionate Conservate, whatever, is a phony
disguise to cover up the fact that his only goal in life is to take, and to lay waste to anyone or
anything that gets in the way of his taking. He's as Christian as Stalin, as patriotic as Benedict
Arnold, and as compassionate as Genghis Khan.
And frankly, all three of those guys had more vision and character than the chimp. W's evil isn't
elevated by some sort of grand ideological scheme, as Stalin's was. Arnold didn't sell out his
country for money, he did it because he thought his country was in the wrong. Khan was the
successful conqueror and plunderer he was because he had a stunning amount of courage and
drive.
Smirk has none of the admirable qualities of these other evil men. Questions of ideology, of right
and wrong, or courage and cowardice never enter his hollow head. If I thought Smirk really
wanted to rule the world because he had some vision for that reign, I could afford him at least a
modicum of respect. But all he wants to do is fill his bulging pockets. He is a cheap and vulgar
insult to the presidency, and to all that his position has represented in the history of the USA
and of the world.
It's fatiguing hating this guy, it truly is. I've already gone through anger and disgust, and now I
just feel exhaustion. I can't even whip up a good argument against his supporters, because
there's nothing positive they can say about W, unless they're deluded or lying. And what kind of
argument can you have with someone who's lying or delusional?
God bless the USA. Is 9:30am too early for a drink?
"If I know you you'll bang the drum like monkeys do." - © 1985 by Michael Scott and Karl Wallinger
This post © 2003 by Quahog Bullrake. Reservations recommended.
While I never agreed with his politics, I had to admire the man for having beliefs based on some
kind of a vision for America, and for being able to communicate that vision in a way that
resonated with so many people. Of most of the truly scandalous, horrible shit that happened on
his watch he was probably blissfully unaware. That whole Iran/Contra thing stinks of the Bush
family; I believe Reagan was just a convenient tool for them, easy to manipulate as long as they
smiled and nodded when Ronnie went on one of his ideological jags.
Smirk has nothing. No vision, no morals, no ideology, no meaning behind his words. He is like a
shark, that eats, swims and makes baby sharks. Only with W it is just greed. That "creed of
greed" line of Kerry's is so totally appropriate for this being. Greed drives absolutely everything
he does.
Every costume he tries on, Christian, Patriot, Compassionate Conservate, whatever, is a phony
disguise to cover up the fact that his only goal in life is to take, and to lay waste to anyone or
anything that gets in the way of his taking. He's as Christian as Stalin, as patriotic as Benedict
Arnold, and as compassionate as Genghis Khan.
And frankly, all three of those guys had more vision and character than the chimp. W's evil isn't
elevated by some sort of grand ideological scheme, as Stalin's was. Arnold didn't sell out his
country for money, he did it because he thought his country was in the wrong. Khan was the
successful conqueror and plunderer he was because he had a stunning amount of courage and
drive.
Smirk has none of the admirable qualities of these other evil men. Questions of ideology, of right
and wrong, or courage and cowardice never enter his hollow head. If I thought Smirk really
wanted to rule the world because he had some vision for that reign, I could afford him at least a
modicum of respect. But all he wants to do is fill his bulging pockets. He is a cheap and vulgar
insult to the presidency, and to all that his position has represented in the history of the USA
and of the world.
It's fatiguing hating this guy, it truly is. I've already gone through anger and disgust, and now I
just feel exhaustion. I can't even whip up a good argument against his supporters, because
there's nothing positive they can say about W, unless they're deluded or lying. And what kind of
argument can you have with someone who's lying or delusional?
God bless the USA. Is 9:30am too early for a drink?
"If I know you you'll bang the drum like monkeys do." - © 1985 by Michael Scott and Karl Wallinger
This post © 2003 by Quahog Bullrake. Reservations recommended.
Sunday, June 01, 2003
Robin Cook on destroyed WMD:
Isn’t it possible that Saddam Hussein ordered their destruction, as U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has suggested?
No. I don’t think it’s even remotely possible. I just cannot follow the Rumsfeld logic; that watching CNN and seeing the American build-up Saddam said to his generals, “It’s obvious that the U.S. is going to invade; we had better destroy our biggest weapons, so that when I am toppled there might be some very difficult questions for Donald Rumsfeld to answer.”
http://www.msnbc.com/news/920238.asp
Isn’t it possible that Saddam Hussein ordered their destruction, as U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has suggested?
No. I don’t think it’s even remotely possible. I just cannot follow the Rumsfeld logic; that watching CNN and seeing the American build-up Saddam said to his generals, “It’s obvious that the U.S. is going to invade; we had better destroy our biggest weapons, so that when I am toppled there might be some very difficult questions for Donald Rumsfeld to answer.”
http://www.msnbc.com/news/920238.asp
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