I listened to Peter Werbe for about an hour tonight as he was subbing for Mike Molloy. I was going to write that Werbe sucks but that would be unduly strong. Mediocre is probably the best description. He does have a nice FM voice but not much to go along with it. I was struck by both his lack of general knowledge and his ignorance about the Internet.
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Earlier, I heard an ad supporting the misguided Regional Transit Plan on one of the wingnut stations (KNST or KVOI). It was paid for by contractors, realtors and Jim Click. Since this is a pro-development proposal, one can easily understand why the first two groups support it but for those unfamiliar with Tucson, Jim Click is probably an unknown. He happens to be a large Bush contributor and is the largest automotive dealer in Tucson.
Googling turned up this article from the local paper:
Click's $50K backs roads plan
Car dealer one of 4 contributors ponying up at least $10,000
By Tim Ellis
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona Published: 02.16.2006
Car dealer Jim Click put up $50,000 to help sell Pima County voters on the proposed Regional Transportation Authority road and transit plan and half-cent sales tax to pay for them.
Click, Southern Arizona's biggest car dealer, was one of four big-money contributors who gave $10,000 or more, providing almost the entire $114,600 raised by Yes!! for Regional Transportation by the Dec. 31 cutoff date for this financial report.
By now, the organization has raised "substantially more," said Larry Hecker, the organization's treasurer. He wouldn't say exactly how much, but noted, "Contributions range from very small amounts to very large amounts."
Besides Click, other big contributors were:
● Roger Yohem, vice president of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association — $25,000.
● Granite Construction (no individual named on the report), a construction firm based in Watsonville, Calif. — $25,000.
● Bill Ketchum, with The Ashton Co., a Tucson-based construction and engineering firm — $10,000.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
RADIO TIDBITS
Yesterday, Fats was going on about the "economic terrorism" of the labor unions at the Port of Los Angeles and decrying their lack of interest in national security. According to Fats, they went out on strike because they objected to placing GPS trackers on shipping containers. Just before the show ended, a longshoreman told him that they didn't strike, they were locked out, and that they were in favor of the GPS trackers but they wanted the job of attaching them to the containers.
I've read that the Republicans may be trying to put some distance between themselves and Pres. Fredo because of his low poll numbers and bad decisions (e.g., UAE port deal) but yesterday there is some evidence that even the wingnut radio hosts may be jumping ship. Shammity, a staunch defender of almost all things Fredo, is trying to repackage himself as a "Reagan conservative," whatever that means.
I've read that the Republicans may be trying to put some distance between themselves and Pres. Fredo because of his low poll numbers and bad decisions (e.g., UAE port deal) but yesterday there is some evidence that even the wingnut radio hosts may be jumping ship. Shammity, a staunch defender of almost all things Fredo, is trying to repackage himself as a "Reagan conservative," whatever that means.
Monday, March 06, 2006
THINKPROGRESS VS. ASSROCKET
Judd did a nice takedown of an AR post that attacked John Murtha and asked us to send e-mails to the AR clones who propagated the nonsense. I sent one to Ian Schwartz and I got a reply.
Here's a snippet of his reply:
On Hinderaker's piece, all you did was take the 'extreme' of each statistic and state it as fact.
And here's my response to this snippet:
Sounds familiar:
"We know for a fact there are weapons there." - Ari Fleischer, Jan. 9, 2003 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030109-8.html
Unsurprisingly, Ian didn't respond.
Here's a snippet of his reply:
On Hinderaker's piece, all you did was take the 'extreme' of each statistic and state it as fact.
And here's my response to this snippet:
Sounds familiar:
"We know for a fact there are weapons there." - Ari Fleischer, Jan. 9, 2003 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030109-8.html
Unsurprisingly, Ian didn't respond.
ANOTHER SECRET SERVICE VISIT
The same two agents who came by Friday came again today, at about 1:07 PM. They knew that Det. Woodward had come by and I told them to speak with him but they want to speak directly to me. I told them that I would not do so unless a lawyer was present and they seemed to get that. I gave them my e-mail address and I expect to hear from them soon.
Here's what the local cop sent to me today after our talk:
Mr. Jandreau,
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me this morning. I do appreciate it. As we discussed the Secret Service is concerned over some "postings" that were made by you that seemed to indicate that you either wanted to harm the President of the United States or that you endorsed or encouraged such action. I am convinced after speaking with you that that is not the case. Please keep my e-mail address and phone number in case you have any questions or concerns that you think I can help you with.
I spoke with the agent from the Secret Service after our conversation and he is interested in meeting with you briefly on your terms. If you would let me know if that is still a possibility, I would be happy to facilitate such a meeting.
Again thanks for you time today.
Detective Woodward
520-547-8945
Here's what the local cop sent to me today after our talk:
Mr. Jandreau,
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me this morning. I do appreciate it. As we discussed the Secret Service is concerned over some "postings" that were made by you that seemed to indicate that you either wanted to harm the President of the United States or that you endorsed or encouraged such action. I am convinced after speaking with you that that is not the case. Please keep my e-mail address and phone number in case you have any questions or concerns that you think I can help you with.
I spoke with the agent from the Secret Service after our conversation and he is interested in meeting with you briefly on your terms. If you would let me know if that is still a possibility, I would be happy to facilitate such a meeting.
Again thanks for you time today.
Detective Woodward
520-547-8945
THE SECRET SERVICE TRIES A LOCAL
I got up a little before 11 AM and went to open the inside front door to let the cats look out and provide a little ventilation. At just that moment, a local police officer had come for a talk and intially I agreed to talk but after a few seconds I told him that I would have to have a lawyer present.
Unlike the secret service agents, he did mention the reason for his visit, e-mails, and I decided to talk to him. He seemed to be a decent guy and we did chat for about 12-15 minutes. I also noticed that there was a black unmarked SUV parked on Jacinto Street, about 75 feet away, and I assume there were Secret Service agents inside.
I gave him my e-mail address and explained to him that I used the Ann Coulter remark to bait the wingnut trolls. He asked what they were and I said it would take a bit to explain. He asked for the Reader's Digest version and then I said Sean Hannity is a wingnut troll. (The example he thought of was the War on Christmas/Bill O'Reilly fuss and I said O'Reilly was also a wingnut). He also asked about another post I made that riffed on John Gibson's "five in the noggin" remark and I explained that to him.
He then asked straight out if I would harm the President and I said no, that would be a terrible thing to do. He also asked what I thought of the President and I said he's a fuckup. (I may have the order of the questions reversed here. I am kind of suprised how sketchy my memory is for an event that happened less than an hour ago as I type this and wasn't at all complicated.)
The cop asked if I would talk to the agents and I said I wouldn't do that without a lawyer present. He said he'd like to save me that expense and I said I had contacted the ACLU. I mentioned that today, one can get busted for wearing a t-shirt that says "Protect the 1st Amendment" and he brought a request he had made to the FBI for information about some people who were involved in some sort of local incident and the report that came back (6 out of a total of 117 pages) was all newspaper clippings and even then parts were blacked out!
We also talked about some local issues, such as the meth epidemic and the proposed 20 year transit plan and he asked if I was upset with the local politicians. I said no. We also talked a bit about extremists such as the Aryan Nation and we both agreed that their problem is they think they are the only ones who have the Truth. (I did mention that I was a Yankee fan and he got a chuckle out of that).
At the end, I think he asked if he could do anything for me and I said tell the secret service agents to go away. He laughed and said they just have a job to do. I also made a dig about the agents, telling the local cop they didn't do much digging about me, otherwise they would've known what I was about.
At the end, he said he'd send me an e-mail. Overall, this was a pleasant exchange.
Unlike the secret service agents, he did mention the reason for his visit, e-mails, and I decided to talk to him. He seemed to be a decent guy and we did chat for about 12-15 minutes. I also noticed that there was a black unmarked SUV parked on Jacinto Street, about 75 feet away, and I assume there were Secret Service agents inside.
I gave him my e-mail address and explained to him that I used the Ann Coulter remark to bait the wingnut trolls. He asked what they were and I said it would take a bit to explain. He asked for the Reader's Digest version and then I said Sean Hannity is a wingnut troll. (The example he thought of was the War on Christmas/Bill O'Reilly fuss and I said O'Reilly was also a wingnut). He also asked about another post I made that riffed on John Gibson's "five in the noggin" remark and I explained that to him.
He then asked straight out if I would harm the President and I said no, that would be a terrible thing to do. He also asked what I thought of the President and I said he's a fuckup. (I may have the order of the questions reversed here. I am kind of suprised how sketchy my memory is for an event that happened less than an hour ago as I type this and wasn't at all complicated.)
The cop asked if I would talk to the agents and I said I wouldn't do that without a lawyer present. He said he'd like to save me that expense and I said I had contacted the ACLU. I mentioned that today, one can get busted for wearing a t-shirt that says "Protect the 1st Amendment" and he brought a request he had made to the FBI for information about some people who were involved in some sort of local incident and the report that came back (6 out of a total of 117 pages) was all newspaper clippings and even then parts were blacked out!
We also talked about some local issues, such as the meth epidemic and the proposed 20 year transit plan and he asked if I was upset with the local politicians. I said no. We also talked a bit about extremists such as the Aryan Nation and we both agreed that their problem is they think they are the only ones who have the Truth. (I did mention that I was a Yankee fan and he got a chuckle out of that).
At the end, I think he asked if he could do anything for me and I said tell the secret service agents to go away. He laughed and said they just have a job to do. I also made a dig about the agents, telling the local cop they didn't do much digging about me, otherwise they would've known what I was about.
At the end, he said he'd send me an e-mail. Overall, this was a pleasant exchange.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
BYRD BRAIN
One of the giants at PoliPundit has latched onto Gov. Blanco's early Monday assertion that the levees weren't breached to defend Fredo's claim the following Thursday that "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees."
Sayeth the giantess:
Note the "or whatever it was" - the sign of a top-notch investigative blogger. If you don't KNOW what Fredo said Lorie, how could you know it was taken out of context?
Sayeth the giantess:
Hmm. Maybe that is why Bush was so surprised the levees were breached (or whatever it was he said that so many have taken out of context). Maybe he actually believed Blanco.
Note the "or whatever it was" - the sign of a top-notch investigative blogger. If you don't KNOW what Fredo said Lorie, how could you know it was taken out of context?
MORE ON THE ZOGBY TROOP POLL
Mystery Pollster has a reality-based critique. Here's a snippet:
So what can we say about the degree to which the Zogby survey used random probability sampling to survey U.S. troops? Again, as I wrote earlier in the week, the method Zogby used to gain access to the undisclosed locations constrained his ability to select them. The selection was not random, but since he will not disclose the locations, we cannot take their identity into account in evaluating the results. The release specifies a sampling error of 3.3% (a statistic that, given the sample size, is based on the assumption of simple random sampling), but that margin is a bit deceiving. Plus or minus 3.3% compared to what? All we know for certain is that the poll was not a random sample of the population of all U.S. troops in Iraq.
As to the selection of respondents at those unspecified locations, we also do not know the procedures used to select respondents. Again, I did not press Zogby on the details of those procedures in our conversation because I would not have been able to report them here. I believe MPs readers deserve more than "trust me" as an explanation. Obviously, for me to speculate now about what Zogby might have done would require getting into the details I promised I would not reveal.
So what can we say about the degree to which the Zogby survey used random probability sampling to survey U.S. troops? Again, as I wrote earlier in the week, the method Zogby used to gain access to the undisclosed locations constrained his ability to select them. The selection was not random, but since he will not disclose the locations, we cannot take their identity into account in evaluating the results. The release specifies a sampling error of 3.3% (a statistic that, given the sample size, is based on the assumption of simple random sampling), but that margin is a bit deceiving. Plus or minus 3.3% compared to what? All we know for certain is that the poll was not a random sample of the population of all U.S. troops in Iraq.
As to the selection of respondents at those unspecified locations, we also do not know the procedures used to select respondents. Again, I did not press Zogby on the details of those procedures in our conversation because I would not have been able to report them here. I believe MPs readers deserve more than "trust me" as an explanation. Obviously, for me to speculate now about what Zogby might have done would require getting into the details I promised I would not reveal.
SECRET SERVICE UPDATE
It's 1:24 PM here and I was expecting them to show up. I did ask them what time was good for them & one of them said anytime, so I chose Sunday at 1 PM.
A BRICK WALL FOR THE REALITY-BASED COMMUNITY
I'm all for pointing out the lies of the Right but we have to realize that some people, too many in my opinion, simply can't be reached. Here's just one example from Captain's Quarters:
Hannity ripped up the Liberal lies & distortions regarding Katrina on his program today. Like it or not Liberals, Hannity has an audience of about 14 million. Hannity provided interviews, sound bites, and many sources of data to completely destroy the whining and lieing Liberals talking points.
Posted by: Keemo at March 2, 2006 03:34 PM
Never source CNN for anything and expect to be taken seriously.
Posted by: Keemo at March 2, 2006 09:33 PM
I know you guys hate Rush and consider him to be a propaganda machine; however he has an audience of over 20 million listeners for a valid reason; he has an accuracy rate of 98% which is why your kind hates him so much. The release of data regarding these tapes will come out.
Posted by: Keemo at March 3, 2006 10:01 AM
Just like their president, they live in a bubble world, shut off from recalcitrant facts.
Hannity ripped up the Liberal lies & distortions regarding Katrina on his program today. Like it or not Liberals, Hannity has an audience of about 14 million. Hannity provided interviews, sound bites, and many sources of data to completely destroy the whining and lieing Liberals talking points.
Posted by: Keemo at March 2, 2006 03:34 PM
Never source CNN for anything and expect to be taken seriously.
Posted by: Keemo at March 2, 2006 09:33 PM
I know you guys hate Rush and consider him to be a propaganda machine; however he has an audience of over 20 million listeners for a valid reason; he has an accuracy rate of 98% which is why your kind hates him so much. The release of data regarding these tapes will come out.
Posted by: Keemo at March 3, 2006 10:01 AM
Just like their president, they live in a bubble world, shut off from recalcitrant facts.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
TILLMAN ON IRAQ
Now that there is a new investigation into Pat Tillman's death, it's time to learn what he thought of the Iraq War:
FAMILY DEMANDS THE TRUTH
New inquiry may expose events that led to Pat Tillman’s death
Robert Collier, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Baer, who served with Tillman for more than a year in Iraq and Afghanistan, told one anecdote that took place during the March 2003 invasion as the Rangers moved up through southern Iraq.
“I can see it like a movie screen,” Baer said. “We were outside of (a city in southern Iraq) watching as bombs were dropping on the town. We were at an old air base, me, Kevin and Pat, we weren’t in the fight right then. We were talking. And Pat said, ‘You know, this war is so f— illegal.’ And we all said, ‘Yeah.’ That’s who he was. He totally was against Bush.”
UPDATE:
A little more from the same article:
Mary Tillman said a friend of Pat’s even arranged a private meeting with Chomsky, the antiwar author, to take place after his return from Afghanistan — a meeting prevented by his death. She said that although he supported the Afghan war, believing it justified by the Sept. 11 attacks, “Pat was very critical of the whole Iraq war.”
Another soldier in the platoon, who asked not to be identified, said Pat urged him to vote for Bush’s Democratic opponent in the 2004 election, Sen. John Kerry.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Stephen White — a Navy SEAL who served with Pat and Kevin for four months in Iraq and was the only military member to speak at Tillman’s memorial — said Pat “wasn’t very fired up about being in Iraq” and instead wanted to go fight al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
FAMILY DEMANDS THE TRUTH
New inquiry may expose events that led to Pat Tillman’s death
Robert Collier, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Baer, who served with Tillman for more than a year in Iraq and Afghanistan, told one anecdote that took place during the March 2003 invasion as the Rangers moved up through southern Iraq.
“I can see it like a movie screen,” Baer said. “We were outside of (a city in southern Iraq) watching as bombs were dropping on the town. We were at an old air base, me, Kevin and Pat, we weren’t in the fight right then. We were talking. And Pat said, ‘You know, this war is so f— illegal.’ And we all said, ‘Yeah.’ That’s who he was. He totally was against Bush.”
UPDATE:
A little more from the same article:
Mary Tillman said a friend of Pat’s even arranged a private meeting with Chomsky, the antiwar author, to take place after his return from Afghanistan — a meeting prevented by his death. She said that although he supported the Afghan war, believing it justified by the Sept. 11 attacks, “Pat was very critical of the whole Iraq war.”
Another soldier in the platoon, who asked not to be identified, said Pat urged him to vote for Bush’s Democratic opponent in the 2004 election, Sen. John Kerry.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Stephen White — a Navy SEAL who served with Pat and Kevin for four months in Iraq and was the only military member to speak at Tillman’s memorial — said Pat “wasn’t very fired up about being in Iraq” and instead wanted to go fight al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
ON "LEVEE BREACHING"
We have Fredo claiming that no one could've anticipated that but that's exactly what was anticipated in a Homeland Security Report:
Documents show govt forewarned on Katrina
By LARA JAKES JORDAN
Associated Press Writer
Jan 24, 7:54 AM EST
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government had advance warning of the danger and potential damage from Hurricane Katrina before the storm hit, newly released documents show.
The documents show that the Homeland Security Department, which directed the Pam exercise, was warned a day before Katrina hit that the storm's surge could breach levees and leave New Orleans flooded for weeks or months.
An Aug. 28 report by the department's National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center concluded that a Category 4 or 5 hurricane would cause severe damage in the city, including power outages and a direct economic hit of up to $10 billion for the first week.
"Overall, the impacts described herein are conservative," stated the report, which was sent to Homeland Security's office for infrastructure protection.
"Any storm rated Category 4 or greater ... will likely lead to severe flooding and/or levee breaching, leaving the New Orleans metro area submerged for weeks or months," said the report.
Documents show govt forewarned on Katrina
By LARA JAKES JORDAN
Associated Press Writer
Jan 24, 7:54 AM EST
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government had advance warning of the danger and potential damage from Hurricane Katrina before the storm hit, newly released documents show.
The documents show that the Homeland Security Department, which directed the Pam exercise, was warned a day before Katrina hit that the storm's surge could breach levees and leave New Orleans flooded for weeks or months.
An Aug. 28 report by the department's National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center concluded that a Category 4 or 5 hurricane would cause severe damage in the city, including power outages and a direct economic hit of up to $10 billion for the first week.
"Overall, the impacts described herein are conservative," stated the report, which was sent to Homeland Security's office for infrastructure protection.
"Any storm rated Category 4 or greater ... will likely lead to severe flooding and/or levee breaching, leaving the New Orleans metro area submerged for weeks or months," said the report.
CALVIN BALL IN THE SENATE
Remember when Hastert changed the members of the House Ethics Committee to protect Tom Delay?
From Glenn Greenwald:
Majority leader Frist, worried that the Senate Intelligence Committee might actually do some oversight over the NSA domestic tapping program, has threatened to change the membership of the committee. For 30 years, the Committee has had an equal number of members from each party and now WATB* Frist wants to make the composition as partisan as the other committees.
*© Atrios
Mr. Hastert showed open contempt for the House ethics process last year when he fired the Republican chairman of the ethics committee and ousted two Republican members after they did their duty and reprimanded Tom DeLay for three violations of standards. Mr. Hastert then appointed two members to the committee who had given large sums to the DeLay legal defense fund - when the main matter pending before the committee involved Representative DeLay.
From Glenn Greenwald:
Majority leader Frist, worried that the Senate Intelligence Committee might actually do some oversight over the NSA domestic tapping program, has threatened to change the membership of the committee. For 30 years, the Committee has had an equal number of members from each party and now WATB* Frist wants to make the composition as partisan as the other committees.
*© Atrios
IT'S ABOUT TIME
About a year ago, I thought it would take liberals about 10 years to achieve a rough parity with the Republican Noise Machine but recently I thought that maybe 5 years would be enough, primarily because of the growth and influence of the liberal blogosphere. Here's another reason to think 5 years might be just about right:
Democratic group targets Senate GOP
Daschle aiding project to gather, spread criticism
By Rick Klein
Boston Globe Staff
March 2, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Hoping to strike back at Republicans who mounted a yearslong effort to oust him from office, former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle is helping raise millions of dollars to form a new political advocacy group aimed at creating a clearinghouse of opposition-research information against all Senate Republicans.
Senate Majority Project is to formally launch today, with Daschle and other Democrats looking to bring in more than $2 million to collect and disseminate political information critical of all GOP senators, not just the handful of vulnerable incumbents whom Democrats have targeted this year. The project is the first concerted attempt by Democrats to create a permanent opposition-research arm focusing on all Republicans.
Democratic group targets Senate GOP
Daschle aiding project to gather, spread criticism
By Rick Klein
Boston Globe Staff
March 2, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Hoping to strike back at Republicans who mounted a yearslong effort to oust him from office, former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle is helping raise millions of dollars to form a new political advocacy group aimed at creating a clearinghouse of opposition-research information against all Senate Republicans.
Senate Majority Project is to formally launch today, with Daschle and other Democrats looking to bring in more than $2 million to collect and disseminate political information critical of all GOP senators, not just the handful of vulnerable incumbents whom Democrats have targeted this year. The project is the first concerted attempt by Democrats to create a permanent opposition-research arm focusing on all Republicans.
Friday, March 03, 2006
1998
From the Poorman, another quote about Clinton:
Get rid of the guy. Impeach him, censure him, assassinate him.
Rep. James Hansen (R-UT) 11/1/1998**as reported by journalist Steve Miner of KSUB radio who overheard his conversation,... (Via PaperWight)
SOUTHEAST STATES: FREDO SUCKS!
(Via Aspe4 at DKos)
Elon University Poll shows support for Bush at 43 percent in Southeastern states
The poll, conducted Feb. 20-23 and Feb. 26-March 2 by the Elon University Institute for Politics and Public Affairs, surveyed 1,277 residents in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents disapprove or strongly disapprove of the way Bush is handling the war in Iraq, while 39 percent approve or strongly approve.
Among current military members, reservists, retired military and military veterans, 50 percent approve or strongly approve of the job Bush is doing as president, while 46 percent disapprove.
When asked about Bush’s handling of the war in Iraq, 49 percent of those with a military affiliation disapprove or strongly disapprove, while 47 percent approve or strongly approve.
“What is notable here is the intensity of disapproval among those affiliated with the military,” said Bacot.
Elon University Poll shows support for Bush at 43 percent in Southeastern states
The poll, conducted Feb. 20-23 and Feb. 26-March 2 by the Elon University Institute for Politics and Public Affairs, surveyed 1,277 residents in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents disapprove or strongly disapprove of the way Bush is handling the war in Iraq, while 39 percent approve or strongly approve.
Among current military members, reservists, retired military and military veterans, 50 percent approve or strongly approve of the job Bush is doing as president, while 46 percent disapprove.
When asked about Bush’s handling of the war in Iraq, 49 percent of those with a military affiliation disapprove or strongly disapprove, while 47 percent approve or strongly approve.
“What is notable here is the intensity of disapproval among those affiliated with the military,” said Bacot.
GREAT FATS 1990 TV CLIP
I've read about this but I never saw it. Fats gets a little pushback when guest hosting on The Pat Sajak Show.
SECURITY MADNESS
From Atrios:
O'REILLY: Orlando, Florida, Mike, go.
CALLER: Hey Bill, I appreciate you taking my call.
O'REILLY: Sure.
CALLER: I like to listen to you during the day, I think Keith Olbermann's show --
O'REILLY: There ya go, Mike is -- he's a gone guy. You know, we have his -- we have your phone numbers, by the way. So, if you're listening, Mike, we have your phone number, and we're going to turn it over to Fox security, and you'll be getting a little visit.
HILL: Maybe Mike is from the mothership.
O'REILLY: No, Maybe Mike is going to get into big trouble, because we're not going to play around. When you call us, ladies and gentleman, just so you know, we do have your phone number, and if you say anything untoward, obscene, or anything like that, Fox security then will contact your local authorities, and you will be held accountable. Fair?
HILL: That's fair.
O'REILLY: So, just -- all you guys who do this kind of a thing, you know, I know some shock jocks. Whatever. You will be held accountable. Believe it.
FireDogLake has more, here's a snippet:
O'REILLY: Orlando, Florida, Mike, go.
CALLER: Hey Bill, I appreciate you taking my call.
O'REILLY: Sure.
CALLER: I like to listen to you during the day, I think Keith Olbermann's show --
O'REILLY: There ya go, Mike is -- he's a gone guy. You know, we have his -- we have your phone numbers, by the way. So, if you're listening, Mike, we have your phone number, and we're going to turn it over to Fox security, and you'll be getting a little visit.
HILL: Maybe Mike is from the mothership.
O'REILLY: No, Maybe Mike is going to get into big trouble, because we're not going to play around. When you call us, ladies and gentleman, just so you know, we do have your phone number, and if you say anything untoward, obscene, or anything like that, Fox security then will contact your local authorities, and you will be held accountable. Fair?
HILL: That's fair.
O'REILLY: So, just -- all you guys who do this kind of a thing, you know, I know some shock jocks. Whatever. You will be held accountable. Believe it.
FireDogLake has more, here's a snippet:
I just got a phone call from the head of Fox Security, Anthony Burti, #212-XXX-XXXX. I got the call on the phone I used to call him from the head of Fox News security. He said that harassing phone calls were coming from my phone. I asked him how many? He did not know. I asked him what was said that was harassing? He said that he did not know but that it did not have to be what was said, but how many calls were being made. He tried to make like I made 20 phone calls instead of one, and that I cursed O'Reilly out. All I said was that I was grateful to O'Reilly for turning me on to Olberman. Then he hung up.
GOP C.O.C.. - COLORADO DIVISION
NOTE: COC is short for "Culture of Corruption." While looking for the local coverage about the school teacher caught telling the truth about Fredo, I came across this item:
GOP chooses new House minority leader
following resignation
Dan Viens Web Producer
3/3/2006 2:19 PM MST
DENVER (AP) - Rep. Mike May (R - Parker) will succeed Rep. Joe Stengel (R - Littleton) as Colorado's House minority leader, after Stengel resigned amid questions about his ethics.
Stengel stepped down as House minority leader Thursday, saying questions about the state pay he claimed while on a Hawaiian vacation were becoming a distraction.
Stengel's problems stem from $891 he collected while in Hawaii and while taking the bar exam. Stengel says he also did legislative work during that time, but would return the payments.
$891 isn't even pocket change for Tom DeLay but I guess you have to start out small.
GOP chooses new House minority leader
following resignation
Dan Viens Web Producer
3/3/2006 2:19 PM MST
DENVER (AP) - Rep. Mike May (R - Parker) will succeed Rep. Joe Stengel (R - Littleton) as Colorado's House minority leader, after Stengel resigned amid questions about his ethics.
Stengel stepped down as House minority leader Thursday, saying questions about the state pay he claimed while on a Hawaiian vacation were becoming a distraction.
Stengel's problems stem from $891 he collected while in Hawaii and while taking the bar exam. Stengel says he also did legislative work during that time, but would return the payments.
$891 isn't even pocket change for Tom DeLay but I guess you have to start out small.
WHO'S THAT KNOCKING ON MY DOOR?
I think they expected me to welcome them with open arms. Anyway, one knocked on my door and the other one knocked on a window on the side. To the one at the window, I told him to go away and after a bit I turned up my speakers to mask the knocking.
Still here after about an hour.
Still here after about an hour.
STILL THERE
Their vehicle is still parked on Estrella (I live at the corner of Estrella and Jacinto). It's a dark metallic green 4 door SUV. I can't see the license plates.
SECRET SERVICE VISIT
Just now, two Secret Service agents showed up at my place and asked to talk to me. I said no, not now and asked them to come back Sunday at 1 PM. They are still outside but as you can see I am busy making this entry.
WINGNUT THINKING
Once in a while, I engage in debates on wingnut blogs and I am never disappointed about the failure of winger blog commenters to miss the point and attack the person (me in this case) instead of the arguments the person made. In one discussion of Fredo's "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." statement, I was eventually accused of sedition by one half-wit at Captain's Quarters:
On Neo-neocon's blog, I entered into a discussion about the role fear plays in the world views of conservatives and liberals. Part of this devolved into a discussion about the Vietnam War and once again I wasn't let down by a commenter:
SKIP: but that will not stop people like SteveJ. Traitor is perhaps too strong a word. this is more like sedition I should think. Nobody much cares about SteveJ's sedition here on a website.
On Neo-neocon's blog, I entered into a discussion about the role fear plays in the world views of conservatives and liberals. Part of this devolved into a discussion about the Vietnam War and once again I wasn't let down by a commenter:
GRACKLE: Steve has exactly the same type of giddy hero-worship of the North Vietnam Communists that the anti-warriors of that era did.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
MR. TRUMAN VS. MR. JACKSON
YOUNGSTOWN SHEET & TUBE CO. ET AL. v. SAWYER.
343 U.S. 579
Decided June 2, 1952.
MR. JUSTICE JACKSON, concurring in the judgment and opinion of the Court*.
With all its defects, delays and inconveniences, men have discovered no technique for long preserving free government except that the Executive be under the law, and that the law be made by parliamentary deliberations.
*The Founders of this Nation entrusted the lawmaking power to the Congress alone in both good and bad times. It would do no good to recall the historical events, the fears of power and the hopes for freedom that lay behind their choice. Such a review would but confirm our holding that this seizure order cannot stand.
The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.
343 U.S. 579
Decided June 2, 1952.
MR. JUSTICE JACKSON, concurring in the judgment and opinion of the Court*.
With all its defects, delays and inconveniences, men have discovered no technique for long preserving free government except that the Executive be under the law, and that the law be made by parliamentary deliberations.
*The Founders of this Nation entrusted the lawmaking power to the Congress alone in both good and bad times. It would do no good to recall the historical events, the fears of power and the hopes for freedom that lay behind their choice. Such a review would but confirm our holding that this seizure order cannot stand.
The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.
ANOTHER FREDO GAFFE
I have a record in office, as well. And all Americans have seen that record. September the 4th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. It's a day I will never forget.
Pres. Fredo, 10/18/04
LINK
Pres. Fredo, 10/18/04
LINK
WHEN WE LOST VIETNAM
I have written in several places that the real turning point in the war was in 1967. Here's my evidence:
(sorry, no link)
How North Vietnam won the war
Wall Street Journal. (Eastern edition).
New York, N.Y.: Aug 3, 1995. pg. A8
Copyright Dow Jones & Company Inc Aug 3, 1995
(relevant excerpts)
Bui Tin, a former colonel in the North Vietnamese army, answers these questions in the following excerpts from an interview conducted by Stephen Young, a Minnesota attorney and human-rights activist. Bui Tin, who served on the general staff of North Vietnam's army, received the unconditional surrender of South Vietnam on April 30, 1975.
Q: What about Gen. Westmoreland's strategy and tactics caused you concern?
A: In January 1967, after discussions with Le Duan, Gen. Thanh proposed the Tet Offensive. [snip] Only in July was his plan adopted by the leadership. Then Johnson had rejected Westmoreland's request for 200,000 more troops. We realized that America had made its maximum military commitment to the war. Vietnam was not sufficiently important for the United States to call up its reserves. We had stretched American power to a breaking point. When more frustration set in, all the Americans could do would be to withdraw; they had no more troops to send over.
(sorry, no link)
How North Vietnam won the war
Wall Street Journal. (Eastern edition).
New York, N.Y.: Aug 3, 1995. pg. A8
Copyright Dow Jones & Company Inc Aug 3, 1995
(relevant excerpts)
Bui Tin, a former colonel in the North Vietnamese army, answers these questions in the following excerpts from an interview conducted by Stephen Young, a Minnesota attorney and human-rights activist. Bui Tin, who served on the general staff of North Vietnam's army, received the unconditional surrender of South Vietnam on April 30, 1975.
Q: What about Gen. Westmoreland's strategy and tactics caused you concern?
A: In January 1967, after discussions with Le Duan, Gen. Thanh proposed the Tet Offensive. [snip] Only in July was his plan adopted by the leadership. Then Johnson had rejected Westmoreland's request for 200,000 more troops. We realized that America had made its maximum military commitment to the war. Vietnam was not sufficiently important for the United States to call up its reserves. We had stretched American power to a breaking point. When more frustration set in, all the Americans could do would be to withdraw; they had no more troops to send over.
"WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS"
Fredo's War keeps on hurting all of us.
Ex-official: Iraq abuses growing worse
By ED JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer
Mar 2, 9:23 AM EST
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Human rights abuses in Iraq are as bad now as they were under Saddam Hussein, as lawlessness and sectarian violence sweep the country, the former U.N. human rights chief in Iraq said Thursday.
John Pace, who last month left his post as director of the human rights office at the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq, said the level of extra-judicial executions and torture is soaring, and morgue workers are being threatened by both government-backed militia and insurgents not to properly investigate deaths.
"Under Saddam, if you agreed to forgo your basic right to freedom of expression and thought, you were physically more or less OK," Pace said in an interview with The Associated Press. "But now, no. Here, you have a primitive, chaotic situation where anybody can do anything they want to anyone."
Pace, who was born in Malta but now resides in Australia, said that while the scale of atrocity under Saddam was "daunting," now nobody is safe from abuse. "It is certainly as bad," he said. "It extends over a much wider section of the population than it did under Saddam."
Ex-official: Iraq abuses growing worse
By ED JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer
Mar 2, 9:23 AM EST
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Human rights abuses in Iraq are as bad now as they were under Saddam Hussein, as lawlessness and sectarian violence sweep the country, the former U.N. human rights chief in Iraq said Thursday.
John Pace, who last month left his post as director of the human rights office at the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq, said the level of extra-judicial executions and torture is soaring, and morgue workers are being threatened by both government-backed militia and insurgents not to properly investigate deaths.
"Under Saddam, if you agreed to forgo your basic right to freedom of expression and thought, you were physically more or less OK," Pace said in an interview with The Associated Press. "But now, no. Here, you have a primitive, chaotic situation where anybody can do anything they want to anyone."
Pace, who was born in Malta but now resides in Australia, said that while the scale of atrocity under Saddam was "daunting," now nobody is safe from abuse. "It is certainly as bad," he said. "It extends over a much wider section of the population than it did under Saddam."
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
THE "DODGED A BULLET" LIE
Now that Katrina is back in the headlines, let's take a look at another one of the TeamBush lies.
From SOURCEWATCH:
Director of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff "told Meet the Press's Tim Russert on Sunday, September 4, 2005, that one reason for the delay in getting federal aid to Katrina victims was that 'everyone' thought the crisis had passed when the storm left:
"I remember on Tuesday morning picking up newspapers and I saw headlines, 'New Orleans Dodged The Bullet,' because if you recall the storm moved to the east and then continued on and appeared to pass with considerable damage but nothing worse. It was on Tuesday that the levee--may have been overnight Monday to Tuesday--that the levee started to break," Chertoff told Russert.
Clearly posted on the Wonkette blogspot are the front pages of The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Washington Times, and The Times-Picayune, none of which say that New Orleans had "Dodged the Bullet."
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard B. Myers, in a live Department of Defense press conference September 6, 2005, with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on the Defense Department’s response to Katrina, repeated DHS Director Michael Chertoff’s previously "debunked claim that newpapers on Tuesday had said, New Orleans Dodged a Bullet," AMERICAblog reported.
However, Myers "went a step further" and "claimed that 'most of the papers' carried that headline on Tuesday, [August 30th] and that the Defense Department’s response to Katrina was developed with 'those words…in our minds'."
Fact: None of the 477 newspaper front pages from 46 countries presented alphabetically dated Tuesday, August 30, 2005, stored in the Newseum show the headline "New Orleans 'Dodged the Bullet'." This can easily be confirmed by looking here.
From SOURCEWATCH:
Director of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff "told Meet the Press's Tim Russert on Sunday, September 4, 2005, that one reason for the delay in getting federal aid to Katrina victims was that 'everyone' thought the crisis had passed when the storm left:
"I remember on Tuesday morning picking up newspapers and I saw headlines, 'New Orleans Dodged The Bullet,' because if you recall the storm moved to the east and then continued on and appeared to pass with considerable damage but nothing worse. It was on Tuesday that the levee--may have been overnight Monday to Tuesday--that the levee started to break," Chertoff told Russert.
Clearly posted on the Wonkette blogspot are the front pages of The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Washington Times, and The Times-Picayune, none of which say that New Orleans had "Dodged the Bullet."
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard B. Myers, in a live Department of Defense press conference September 6, 2005, with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on the Defense Department’s response to Katrina, repeated DHS Director Michael Chertoff’s previously "debunked claim that newpapers on Tuesday had said, New Orleans Dodged a Bullet," AMERICAblog reported.
However, Myers "went a step further" and "claimed that 'most of the papers' carried that headline on Tuesday, [August 30th] and that the Defense Department’s response to Katrina was developed with 'those words…in our minds'."
Fact: None of the 477 newspaper front pages from 46 countries presented alphabetically dated Tuesday, August 30, 2005, stored in the Newseum show the headline "New Orleans 'Dodged the Bullet'." This can easily be confirmed by looking here.
ANOTHER BUSH LIE
Tape: Bush, Chertoff warned before Katrina
By MARGARET EBRAHIM and JOHN SOLOMON
Associated Press Writers
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In dramatic and sometimes agonizing terms, federal disaster officials warned President Bush and his homeland security chief before Hurricane Katrina struck that the storm could breach levees, put lives at risk in New Orleans' Superdome and overwhelm rescuers, according to confidential video footage.
Bush didn't ask a single question during the final briefing before Katrina struck on Aug. 29, but he assured soon-to-be-battered state officials: "We are fully prepared."
A top hurricane expert voiced "grave concerns" about the levees ...The National Hurricane Center's Mayfield told the final briefing before Katrina struck that storm models predicted minimal flooding inside New Orleans during the hurricane but he expressed concerns that counterclockwise winds and storm surges afterward could cause the levees at Lake Pontchartrain to be overrun.
"I don't think any model can tell you with any confidence right now whether the levees will be topped or not but that is obviously a very, very grave concern," Mayfield told the briefing.
Bush declared four days after the storm, "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees" that gushed deadly flood waters into New Orleans.
If you think this might be enough for BushBots to finally start questioning their devotion to Fredo, you'd be wrong. Here are excerpts I found on the AOL message board about this revelation:
wrth703:
President Bush said a day after nobody anticipated the break of the levees: and so far, that is true.
God should send mother nature back to finish off that wicked nasty filfty city: sins beget sins.
my dear loser, GOD will send mother nature back this summer to wipe that sinful damn city off the face of this earth:
PWEB:
I CAN'T SAY ABOUT THE KATRINA STORM I WAS NOT THERE I JUST THINK SUCH A BIG COMPANY LIKE AOL KEEPS BUSH BASHING AND I FIND THAT STRANGE.
PSnyder225:
So what if President Bush knew that the levees were not going yo hold!
Bdn608:
Bush was referring to the storm passing to the east of new orleans and it looked like new orleans had been spared in early going.
Treyiou:
We know the AOL agenda and know intelligent adult could consider AOL a News source.
StatMaster:
This story if read carefully does not tell us anything except that the president (and local officials!) was warned of the forthcoming damage that could incurred. So what!
By MARGARET EBRAHIM and JOHN SOLOMON
Associated Press Writers
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In dramatic and sometimes agonizing terms, federal disaster officials warned President Bush and his homeland security chief before Hurricane Katrina struck that the storm could breach levees, put lives at risk in New Orleans' Superdome and overwhelm rescuers, according to confidential video footage.
Bush didn't ask a single question during the final briefing before Katrina struck on Aug. 29, but he assured soon-to-be-battered state officials: "We are fully prepared."
A top hurricane expert voiced "grave concerns" about the levees ...The National Hurricane Center's Mayfield told the final briefing before Katrina struck that storm models predicted minimal flooding inside New Orleans during the hurricane but he expressed concerns that counterclockwise winds and storm surges afterward could cause the levees at Lake Pontchartrain to be overrun.
"I don't think any model can tell you with any confidence right now whether the levees will be topped or not but that is obviously a very, very grave concern," Mayfield told the briefing.
Bush declared four days after the storm, "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees" that gushed deadly flood waters into New Orleans.
If you think this might be enough for BushBots to finally start questioning their devotion to Fredo, you'd be wrong. Here are excerpts I found on the AOL message board about this revelation:
wrth703:
President Bush said a day after nobody anticipated the break of the levees: and so far, that is true.
God should send mother nature back to finish off that wicked nasty filfty city: sins beget sins.
my dear loser, GOD will send mother nature back this summer to wipe that sinful damn city off the face of this earth:
PWEB:
I CAN'T SAY ABOUT THE KATRINA STORM I WAS NOT THERE I JUST THINK SUCH A BIG COMPANY LIKE AOL KEEPS BUSH BASHING AND I FIND THAT STRANGE.
PSnyder225:
So what if President Bush knew that the levees were not going yo hold!
Bdn608:
Bush was referring to the storm passing to the east of new orleans and it looked like new orleans had been spared in early going.
Treyiou:
We know the AOL agenda and know intelligent adult could consider AOL a News source.
StatMaster:
This story if read carefully does not tell us anything except that the president (and local officials!) was warned of the forthcoming damage that could incurred. So what!
ATRIOS NAILS TWEETY!!!!!
(For those of you who don't know, "Tweety" is the nickname given to Chris Matthews by liberals.)
Tweety looked like he ate a turd when Newsweek's Richard Wolffe pointed out that in the latest CBS poll Bush's favorability rating is only 29% - even lower than his job approval rating of 34.
Tweety after Wolffe said "People don't think he's a nice guy anymore."
Tweety said recently:
Tweety looked like he ate a turd when Newsweek's Richard Wolffe pointed out that in the latest CBS poll Bush's favorability rating is only 29% - even lower than his job approval rating of 34.
Tweety after Wolffe said "People don't think he's a nice guy anymore."
Wait a minute. You just jumped there. Are you sure of that last part. They don't like him anymore? Where do you find that in the numbers? What was it
Tweety said recently:
Everybody sort of likes the president, except for the real whack-jobs.
OUR DEMOCRAT SENATORS
A couple of days ago, Atrios made a good point about them. We have two kinds of senators, those mostly concerned with issues in their states and those who have a national presence. Unfortunately, neither are helping to develop the national party. Here's how Atrios put it:
The problem is that neither type of Senator is concerned enough with the national Democratic message. Biden's looking out for Biden, Lieberman's looking out for Lieberman, the state-focused Dems are looking out for their seats. We don't have enough of the third type - the safe seat Democrat who is concerned with helping bring the party along with him/her.
AZ CARDINALS BACK DOBSONISM
No, not the lousy football team, the Catholics.
Gay union ban gains Catholic backing
Arizona bishops sanction it, will allow petitions at church
By Stephanie Innes
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona Published: 03.01.2006
Arizona's three Roman Catholic bishops are endorsing a proposal to ban gay marriage — and petitions of support may be circulated in local parishes.
The three bishops on Tuesday released a statement supporting a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would prohibit same-sex marriage, nine months after the proposal, dubbed "Protect Marriage Arizona" was announced.
The three are Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of the Diocese of Tucson, Bishop Thomas Olmsted of the Diocese of Phoenix and Bishop Donald Pelotte of the Diocese of Gallup, N.M., which includes parts of Northern Arizona.
Backers of the amendment* from the Scottsdale-based Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative public-policy group, say couples who are not legally married shouldn't receive the benefits of marriage, and voters should have an opportunity to weigh in on the matter. Supporters must gather 183,917 signatures for the proposal to appear on the 2006 Arizona general election ballot.
The initiative's broad language would not only affect same-sex couples but also would bar the state, as well as counties, cities and school districts, from creating or recognizing any legal status for unmarried heterosexual couples. Health benefits that Tucson and Pima County offer the domestic partners of their workers, as well as the city's domestic partner registry, would be nullified.
*"To preserve and protect marriage in this state, only a union between one man and one woman shall be valid and recognized as a marriage by this state or its political subdivisions and no legal status for unmarried persons shall be created or recognized by this state or its political subdivisions that is similar to that of marriage."
Gay union ban gains Catholic backing
Arizona bishops sanction it, will allow petitions at church
By Stephanie Innes
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona Published: 03.01.2006
Arizona's three Roman Catholic bishops are endorsing a proposal to ban gay marriage — and petitions of support may be circulated in local parishes.
The three bishops on Tuesday released a statement supporting a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would prohibit same-sex marriage, nine months after the proposal, dubbed "Protect Marriage Arizona" was announced.
The three are Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of the Diocese of Tucson, Bishop Thomas Olmsted of the Diocese of Phoenix and Bishop Donald Pelotte of the Diocese of Gallup, N.M., which includes parts of Northern Arizona.
Backers of the amendment* from the Scottsdale-based Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative public-policy group, say couples who are not legally married shouldn't receive the benefits of marriage, and voters should have an opportunity to weigh in on the matter. Supporters must gather 183,917 signatures for the proposal to appear on the 2006 Arizona general election ballot.
The initiative's broad language would not only affect same-sex couples but also would bar the state, as well as counties, cities and school districts, from creating or recognizing any legal status for unmarried heterosexual couples. Health benefits that Tucson and Pima County offer the domestic partners of their workers, as well as the city's domestic partner registry, would be nullified.
*"To preserve and protect marriage in this state, only a union between one man and one woman shall be valid and recognized as a marriage by this state or its political subdivisions and no legal status for unmarried persons shall be created or recognized by this state or its political subdivisions that is similar to that of marriage."
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