GOP Syndrome...lie about EVERYTHING

Sorry, hunting twice in sixty years does not make you a "hunter". I would imagine the people he's pandering to would clearly agree with myassessment.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/05/romney.hunting.ap/index.html

I used to fish when I was a kid...doesn't make me a fisherman. I'vealso played Lazer Tag 3 times, it doesn't make me a Laser Tager Guy. Oh yeah, I've raced go-carts on a track a few times, that doesn't make me Michael Schumacher.

The WH hates this...

Diplomacy again...

I can't wait to hear the Bushies talk about why Syria talking withIsrael about peace is a bad thing.

After all, Bush's little invasion of Iraq that was going to cause Democracy to flower in theMiddle East has worked out so damn well, why wouldn't invading Syria. This has got to kill the Bushies. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070404/ts_nm/syria_usa_pelosi_dc_10

It just keeps getting better

Terror Watch: A fired U.S. attorney strikes back

The Justice Department called David Iglesias, the U.S. attorney in
NewMexico, an 'absentee landlord'-a key reason listed for his firing
lastDecember. Just one problem: Iglesias, a captain in the Navy Reserve, was off
teaching classes as part of the war on terror. Now Iglesias is striking back,
arguing he was improperly dismissed.

WEB EXCLUSIVE By Michael Isikoff and Mark HosenballNewsweekUpdated: 12:26
p.m. MT

April 4, 2007April 4, 2007 - When he wasn't doing his day job as U.S.
attorney in NewMexico, David Iglesias was a captain in the Navy Reserve,
teachingforeign military officers about international terrorism.But Iglesias's
military service in support of what the Pentagon likes tocall the Global War on
Terror (GWOT) apparently didn't go down well withhis superiors at the Justice
Department. Recently released documentsshow that one reason aides to Attorney
General Alberto Gonzales cited injustifying the decision to fire Iglesias as U.S
attorney late last yearwas that he was an "absentee landlord" who was spending
too much timeaway from the office.That explanation may create new legal problems
for Gonzales and Justice.Iglesias confirmed to NEWSWEEK that he was recently
questioned bylawyers for the Office of Special Counsel, an independent
federalwatchdog agency, to determine if his dismissal was a violation of
theUniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), afederal
law that prohibits job discrimination against members of theU.S. military.At the
encouragement of Office of Special Counsel director Scott Blochand his deputies,
Iglesias said he is this week filing a formal legalcomplaint with OSC against
the Justice Department over his dismissal onthis and other grounds. (While the
Justice Department normallyprosecutes USERRA violations, the OSC, an independent
federal agencythat protects the rights of whistle-blowers, takes the case when
thepotential violator is the federal government itself.) "I want to makesure
they didn't fire me because of my military duty," Iglesias said."When I was away
from the office, it wasn't like I was going on vacationin Europe." (A Justice
Department spokesman did not respond for arequest for comment on whether
Iglesias's firing might have been aviolation of the law.)

Why the lies if they did nothing wrong?

Attorney’s do serve at the pleasure of the president…no argument there. But if there was nothing nefarious going on why did they lie about it?

1- “The attorney’s were fired for performance”. (Many had stellar reviews and Gonzales’s chief of staff has admitted that he NEVER saw performance evaluations of at least one of the attorney’s fired for “Performance” issues)
2- Gonzales said he didn’t know about the firings (In fact, he approved them)

If there is no story here, why all the lying? That is why they are in trouble with America. The lying. If the Attorney General is a liar with the full support of the President it makes it even clearer to Americans that the White House if full of liars.

Making them hate Democracy...good job

Here is some more data on the impacts of Bush's policy.

He's making them Hate Democracy: (well done GW)

A 43% plurality say democracy would be the best political system for Iraq, a marked decline in 16 months. In an ABC News survey beforeelections in 2005, 57% chose democracy.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-03-19-iraq-poll-day2_N.htm?csp=34

and more data:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-03-18-poll-cover_N.htm?csp=34

Face-to-face interviews with 2,212 Iraqis - a survey sponsored jointlyby USA TODAY, ABC News, the British Broadcasting Corp. and ARD, a GermanTV network - find a nation that in large measure has fragmented intofear. Six in 10 Iraqis say their lives are going badly.

Only one-third expect things to improve in the next year...Even some of those whose sect suffered under Saddam recall that time fondly. "I miss those good old days," said Jasim Mahmood Rajab, 60, aShiite businessman. "I had my work and my social life, and now -nothing. I'm ready to pay everything I have to sit at Abo Nowas Streetand eat fish at night."Before the war, Abo Nowas Street, which runs along the Tigris River, was lined with outdoor cafes. They are shuttered now>"

"I always talk to other girls in the bank remembering our old days when we were going shopping, or even walking in the streets," Solaf MohamedAli said. "Now we speak about all those things like a nice dream that is hard to get."And the next generation? Shiites are the most optimistic that their children will have a betterlife than they have had; two-thirds express optimism about that. So do half of the Kurds polled. But seven of 10 Sunnis predict that their children's lives will be worse.The pessimism was universal among the Sunnis who live in Baghdad: 100%of those surveyed said their children would have a worse life than theyhave had.

Lies Lies and more lies

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17702224/"

Sure, they'll talk but we need them to lie so we won't let them speakunder oath.

Disgusting.

The problem with their use of "executive privilege" is that they trot it out every time they do something illegal or immoral. Like, say the King of England would have in 1638, or some South American despot 50 years ago. The President is not above the law, he answers to the people and Congress when he's asked to. He should read the Constitution, or at least have someone read it too him. For all his spouting off about Democracy and ridding the world of dictators he spends a hell of lot of time acting like a dictator with a true disdain for the People's Checks on his power.

Under the Bus

It looks like they might be preparing for just that (under the bus). Alberto has been with the President a VERY long time, I don't think he does much with out talking to him (or at least Cheney), so to talk of this growing divide between them is hard to believe. More likely that he's just taking the blame.

Hey, remember when George Bush forget completely that he and Ken Lay were really good friends? "Ken Lay? Rings a bell, but not sure I know him". Or Jack Abramoff "He came to the WH once for a Hanukah party"So there is a pattern.

Don't you feel safer?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/03/14/med.marijuana.ap/index.html

Our ports are unprotected, and yet our government wants to prosecute thedying for smoking weed. The puritanical drive behind this effort would make the Taliban proud. Thank god, the government is there to protect this dying woman from hurting herself.

The problem with torture

The problem with torture is that people don't necessarily tell the truth, they say what you want to hear so the torture will stop (Interrogation 101).

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/14/guantanamo.mohammed/index.html

In addition to confessing to every terrorist plot of the past 15 years. Mohammed also confessed to the Kennedy Assassination, being the Zodiac killer and kidnapping the Lindbergh baby. He also confessed to being tangentially involved in the Lincoln Assassination by providing horses to Booth and others.

The Bushie version of accountability

In the Bush WH all you have to do is say "I accept responsibility" and let your underlings go to prison, get fired, etc and somehow you'reaccountable.
"I'm accept full responsibility, which is why I've fired mysubordinate". Is a classic Bushie line.

Not only are they immoral and criminal, but they are cowards too.

Shameful:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/13/fired.attorneys/index.html

Dick Cheney's future employer or Why does Halliburton hate America?

No bid contracts, war profiteering, shoddy work, endangering the lives of American Soldiers and NOW maybe trying to avoid paying taxes. Why does Halliburton hate America?

Another proud day for the Bush administration and it's personal money making machine. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17577926/

Has there ever been a more amoral and corrupt administration?

Sure, Nixon was corrupt, but at least he did something good in foreign policy with China. Bush has done nothing postivie in any area. He didn't meet any of his promises to the people that elected him and his party is in shambles due to the corruption and immorality that he not only allowed but embraced and encouraged.

His will go down as the worst Presidency ever. It effects will be felt for years to come. I have NO DOUBT that Scooter Libby is not the last Bushie to be found guilty of crimes.

The corruption and depravity knows no bounds. It permeates this administration and he ran on "restoring integrity to the Office". He's nearly destroyed it.

Hypocritical Bastards

Is there a single member of the GOP who isn't an adulterous hypocrite criminal?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17527506/

YIKES

Cheney said the attackers were trying "to find ways to question the authority of
the central government."

Let me suggest, that if the Taliban can drive up to the entrance of a US Military installation, I’d say the central government is already in question. But we’ve been saying that for years. If Bush had only finished the job in Afghanistan, then our hand picked president might actually have some legitimacy outside of the capital. Not to mention, the Taliban must have had knowledge of where and when Cheney would be, that should be the scariest part of all. How would they get that information?





And to think, Afghanistan is the one that is going "well". --------------

Afghan blast kills 23; Taliban says Cheney targeted

By ALISA TANG The Associated Press BAGRAM, Afghanistan -- A suicide bomber
attacked the entrance to the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan today during
a visit by Vice President Dick Cheney, killing up to 23 people and wounding
20.
Cheney was unhurt in the attack, which was claimed by the Taliban and was
the closest that militants have come to a top U.S. official visiting
Afghanistan. At least one U.S. soldier, an American contractor and a South
Korean solder were among the dead, NATO said.
Cheney said the attackers were
trying "to find ways to question the authority of the central government." A
Taliban spokesman said Cheney was the target.
About two hours after the
blast, Cheney left on a military flight for Kabul to meet with President Hamid
Karzai and other officials, then left Afghanistan.
The vice president had
spent the night at the sprawling Bagram Air Base, ate breakfast with the troops,
and met with Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez, the commander of U.S. troops in
Afghanistan.
He was preparing to leave for a meeting with Karzai when the
suicide bomber struck about 10 a.m., sending up a plume of smoke visible by
reporters accompanying him. U.S. military officials declared a "red alert" at
the base.
"I heard a loud boom," Cheney told reporters. "The Secret Service
came in and told me there had been an attack on the main gate."

They don't care about cheating

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17136318/

If NASCAR was serious about stopping cheating they wouldn't suspend crewchiefs they'd suspend drivers. You send Jeff Gordon home for cheatingat Daytona, people will take notice, especially the sponsors. Right now there is NO incentive not to cheat. I have no doubt that these crews can still change tiresand understand gas consumption without their chief trackside.

NASCAR's current actions make about as much sense as suspending theDefensive Line coach of San Diego for Shawne Merriman's steroid use...or maybe the team doctor.

This is a nice switch on the "I don't remember" defense to the "He don't remember" offense. The halls of Washington are supposed to be filled with the best minds in America, if not the world. Sure, many elected officials can't claimthat but for the people who work there it should be true. YET, everysingle time someone gets in trouble they "Can't remember anything".This isn't a partisan slam, b/c it works for both parties. As if beingan incompetent idiot is a defense for being corrupt.

When asked about this stuff, it's always "I don't recall". That's bullshit. I guarantee you that any one us could be questioned about infinitely more mundane matters and remember 95% better than any politico that ever gotinto trouble. Whether it's Reagan or Bush selling Arms to our enemies or Clinton getting some in the oval office. There is NO WAY those men get to power without having some intelligence, and memory would be at the most basic level.

No doubt when George Bush goes on trial for his crimes, he'll forget everything even though this guy supposedly can remember everysingle nickname he ever handed out.

New rule: if you use "I don't remember" as a defense for your corrupt actions, you should be deemed "mentally incompetent", removed from office and forever banned from working in any position of governmentalresponsibility.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17128427/

Shins New CD ...disappoints (and it pains me to say it)

The fine people at SubPop were nice enough to send out the new Shins CD
a few days early and I got it yesterday (hits the streets today). So,
I've given it a listen and a half and maybe my expectations were too
high, but I'm disappointed. As you may know, I don't think bands
should necessarily "grow" or "move in new directions". If it ain't broke
don't fix it. It's a small group of bands that can change it up and pull it
off. (think Stones doing Country or the Beatles doing whatever they
want)

That said, the new CD has a few (2 or 3) songs with the "classic" Shins
sound; guitar-driven popiness with very abstruse lyrics. The ambiguous
lyrics are there, but the guitars are missing. At times it feels like
Beck broke into the Studio and added synthesizers. I also think (and I
mentioned this when the single was released) that James Mercer was
listening to a lot of Beach Boys, and I still think he did try to
channel Brian Wilson on a few tracks.

When "Chutes Too Narrow" came out, I didn't love that either, but it
grew on me. It's still no "Oh, Inverted World", but it's a great CD.
At this point "Wincing the Night Away" is not and it hurts me to say
that.

What will Zach Braff do?

New Shins CD

I pre-ordered my Shins CD months ago directly from SubPop. Have you? When I ordered it I also order two CD singles. Oh James, why so long b/t CDs?

Also, the past week...I can't get enough of The New Pornographers "Twin Cinema". I liked it when I bought it, but I have seriously listened to that CD a dozen times all the way through in the past week and it is pure brilliance.

Some more of that ""Bush is doing everything he can to protect America"

"Bush is doing everything he can to protect America" (that's how the Bushies always explain when they are imprisoning Americans while ignoring the COnstitution)

OR

"Just following in Daddy's footsteps by selling arms to our enemy, Iran."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16648850/

Will Bush use this to invade Syria

Are these the Weapons that my Bushie friend has been talking about for four years?



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16655063/