YANKEES SUCK

Tomorrow night I will be at the first Yankees/Sox matchup of the year, at Fenway Park. I have tickets in the center field bleachers, 8 rows up from the field, behind one John Damon. I will boo him, jeer him, and shout obscenities until my face falls off. Go Sox.

A Couple More for the Weekend...

A few posts below I uploaded some great politcal music (sorry Doug, no Neil Young!) .

I did, however, forget a couple I meant to post below, so instead of making everyone scroll down I thought I'd tack them up here. Oh, and in case you're unfamiliar, System of a Down ROCKS. Have a good weekend everyone.

How could I have forgotten one of the most pertinent songs about the Iraq war recorded since the invasion?

BYOB
Listen:

Why do they always send the poor?
Barbarisms by Barbara
With pointed heels
Victorious victories kneel
For brand new spanking deals
Marching forward hypocritic and hypnotic computers
You depend on our protection
Yet you feed us lies from the tablecloth!

Everybody's going to the party, have a real good time
Dancing in the desert, blowing up the sunshine.

Kneeling roses disappearing into Moses' dry mouth
Breaking into Fort Knox stealing our intentions
Hangars sitting dripped in oil
Crying FREEDOM!
Handed to obsoletion
Still you feed us lies from the tablecloth!

Everybody is going to the party, have a real good time
Dancing in the desert, blowing up the sunshine.
Everybody is going to the party, have a real good time
Dancing in the desert, blowing up the sunshine.

Blast off! It's party time!
And we don’t live in a fascist nation!
Blast off, it's party time!
And where the FUCK are you?

Where the fuck are you?
Where the fuck are you?

Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?

Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?

Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?

Kneeling roses disappearing into Moses' dry mouth
Breaking into Fort Knox stealing our intentions
Hangars sitting dripped in oil
Crying FREEDOM!
Handed to obsoletion
Still you feed us lies from the tablecloth

Everybody is going to the party
Have a real good time
Dancing in the desert
Blowing up the sunshine
Everybody is going to the party
Have a real good time
Dancing in the desert
Blowing up the sun

Where the fuck are you?
Where the fuck are you?

Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?
They always send the poor
They always send the poor!!!

As I've said about Neil Young, Bob Dylan is obviously a great lyricist, but I much prefer the versions of those covering his songs than the recording by the original artist. Here's a classic, performed live by Pearl Jam.

Masters of War
Listen:

Come you masters of war
You that build the big guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
While the death count gets higher
Then you hide in your mansion
While the young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead

Any Other Bright Ideas, Jerks?

The Republican plan of putting $100 back into the hands of consumers was laughed at by Democrats, but now the conservative Cato Institute has joined in:

"It could be one of the dumbest ideas of the year," said Jerry Taylor, a senior fellow at the conservative Cato Institute. "I haven't looked at all of the ideas yet, but it's got to be right up there."

Taylor pointed out that as proposed, the rebate would go only to people who paid federal income tax last year, meaning it would be no help at all to the millions of low-income Americans who pay no income taxes but arguably suffer the most in times of rising fuel prices. About 100 million taxpayers would qualify for the rebate, which would be limited to filers with incomes under $150,000 for couples or about $100,000 for singles. It would cost more than $10 billion.

Not only that, but the same tax rebate would go to the Wall Street trader who takes the subway to work every day and to the rural Wisconsin farmer who uses thousands of gallons of fuel in his business, Taylor noted.

It's not really a compensation for higher gas prices," Taylor said. "It's simply a please-vote-for-me-in-November payment."

John Berthoud, president of the National Taxpayers Union, which like Cato generally supports lower taxes and a more limited government, described the GOP proposal as "almost 100 percent political pandering."

Read on

No Oil Exec Left Behind

But first, a message from our oil execs:
Listen:

I’ve been watching as much news coverage as possible regarding the latest gas prices. And no, not the “I’m standing here at the Gulf station in Omaha where it’s $3.23/per gallon!” type of coverage, but real debate on the reasons behind it, the supply/demand talk and how what is going on internationally effects how much it just cost you to fill up your Jetta on the way to your parents’ place for the weekend.

Honestly, I’ve been hesitant to weigh in on all the gas talk, for several reasons. Here are my thoughts in a nutshell, about the entire situation:

1). I think this rapidly developing headline is just that – a nice headline to print articles about what people are generally frustrated about. It’s classic water cooler talk. “Hey, just filled up my car for $47.00.” “No shit, me too?” This will go away in 2 months, or until the next pretty white teen is reported missing on CNN.

2). Let’s face it. We’ve got a LOT more important stuff to worry about. Iraq is still a complete mess, we’ve generated talk about nuking Iran, generals and CIA officials in an unprecedented manner accusing their former commander-in-chief of lying us into war, and Oprah is getting ready to yell at another guest on her show. Honestly, gas going up $.90 is the least of our concerns and frankly it’s a distraction from what we really should be talking about. This president has lost two twin towers, a piece of the pentagon, the entire city of New Orleans, the world’s respect, and our national security in 5 years. Let’s talk about that instead.

3). As Democrats/Liberals/Progressives, crying about higher fuel costs is almost counter-intuitive and a bit hypocritical considering the environment has always been a major issue for us. If we care as much about the planet as we say we do (and believe me, we do), then higher gas prices might be a good thing.

4). The real argument many progressives make around high gas prices – and rightfully so - is that this is the time for us to really be considering alternative energy sources. With all of the research dollars spent on cell phone reception and aging and beauty and the benefits of prayer, it is staggering to see how little progress we’ve made regarding alternative energy sources.

5). We’re sitting on the second largest oil field on the planet after the invasion of Iraq, and it just cost me $47.00 to fill my car?

6). I realize most people think that slapping a yellow ribbon on your SUV makes you patriotic and sacrificial during a time of war, but our President has really never rallied this country to sacrifice ANYTHING. How about riding your bike to work, fatty?

7). This is the most energy/oil-related administration in the history of the United States. Getting advice from them about how to reduce oil dependency is like asking my butcher advice on how to switch to a vegan diet.

8). I am not one to talk ANYTHING about saving energy, although I’ve decided to buy a Toyota Hybrid as my next vehicle. My family owns a 30 foot Grady White with twin 225 HP engines on the back of it. If you think it hurts filling up your car, trying paying $650 in gas every time you fill your tank. I should mention we have environmentally friendly 4-stroke engines, but I’m hardly contributing to any environmental causes by gunning my boat around Casco Bay chasing around blue fish .

9). I was listening to Rush Limbaugh this afternoon (know thy enemy) and he was pissed at all the people angry at big oil, as he provided a red-faced defense of the oil corporations and their profits (shocking, I know). However, my biggest argument against the high gas prices is not that I need to pay $39 dollars at the pump instead of $47. Saving 8 bucks every 2 weeks would be nice, but not doing so doesn’t put me in the poor house.

What irritates me is the enormous subsidies and profits given to giant corporations who are making record profits. I know big-Capitalist, Wal-mart Republicans hate to have a limit on how much you can gauge the American public in the free market, but for Christ’s sake, enough is enough. As I wrote back in November, during the Katrina prices, oil companies were pulling in record quarters (and still are) in much of the free market sector, across the board. So while I may be out on a big boat doing some weekend fishing, I tend to wonder if the guy in the 57-foot Carver Yatch beside me is the VP from Exxon whose pockets I just helped fill. Although I suppose these guys do need a backup ivory back-scratcher in case the first one breaks.

10). Finally, let me say this. The more I read/educate myself on high gas prices, the more I realize this truly is about supply and demand in a fairly free market. However – to the “culture-of-responsibility” Bush supporters out there – you know, the ones who blame Clinton for 9/11, Iraq, the deficit, gay marriage and your wife’s infidelity – I have this to say:

When the market gets nervous, prices go up. The market is nervous in part due to supply issues, international affairs have everything to do with threatening supply.

I.E. WHEN YOUR PRESIDENT HAS *NUKING IRAN* ON THE TABLE FOR POSSIBLE MILITARY OPTIONS, AND WHEN IRAQIS ARE BLOWING UP THEIR OWN PIPELINES, AND WHEN AL QAEDA IS RUNNING HALF OF NORTH AFRICA, IT’S GOING TO COST MORE TO FILL YOUR GOD DAMNED 4-RUNNER, OK?

In the meantime, perhaps Californians have the right idea regarding the gas prices…

Some California drivers are resorting to desperate measures to beat the surge in
petrol prices at the pump - deliberately running dry on the state's freeways and
simply waiting for rescue.

Lujan's 20 trucks roam the busy freeways of Orange and Los Angeles counties as part of a publicly funded patrol that gives a free gallon of gas to drivers who have run out of fuel. It also offers other basic assistance to drivers whose vehicles have broken down.

Read on.

This Ain't Your Daddy's Protest Music

I was first tipped off by Laurie to the video of Pink performing Dear Mr. President live, and have subsequently noticed it posted all over the place. As I told Laurie, I've never really been a fan of Pink, but I think this song is very well done. If you're not in a place where you can watch the video, feel free to read the lyrics here.

Anyway, it inspired me to think about what I consider to be my own outlet for protest/political music. Anyone who knows me or who has visited the "greatest guitarists" section of my site knows that music is probably my most called upon vice, so I thought I'd merge the concept of song with the politcal theme of the site, and post my favorites here (some of which have the greatest guitarist playing in the songs below!)

I've never, ever liked most of the protest songs from the 60’s (i.e. “1, 2, 3 what are we fightin’ for?” kind of crap), but obviously respect the origins and people in the movement of the time.

Below you will find nothing of the sort, and many of you won’t like the heavy, guitar driven songs. However, if you can talk about politics given the state we’re in now and not raise your voice, you are one step ahead of me my friend.

Most who read this site will be familiar with the music below. Just click the blue play arrow under the song title, put the kids to bed, and enjoy. To those who are not, I ask that you give at least a 30 second listen, or at least read the lyrics.

(Oh, and to those Bush-supporting "let the rich get richer" type, please feel free to report my posting of copyrighted MP3's to your nearest music industry hotline. Metallica is eating well and living quite comfortably despite my posting their music here, thanks. )

I figured, why not start with the band for which this site is named? If you're looking for an outlet, fueled by deadly combination of anger and intelligence, I urge you to look no further than Rage Against the Machine.

Know your Enemy
Listen:

Yeah, we’re comin’ back then with another bombtrack
Yo, so check this out...

Know your enemy!
Come on!
Born with insight and a raised fist, a witness to the slit wrist, that’s with
As we move into ’92, still in a room without a view
Ya got to know, ya got to know, that when I say go, go, go
Amp up and amplify, defy. I’m a brother with a furious mind

Action must be taken, we don’t need the key we’ll break in
Something must be done about vengeance, a badge and a gun
’Cause I’ll rip the mike, rip the stage, rip the system. I was born to rage against ’em
Fist in ya face, in the place, and I’ll drop the style clearly.

Know your enemy.
Know your enemy!

Hey yo, and dick with this...

Word is born. Fight the war, fuck the norm!
Now I got no patience, so sick of complacence.
With the d, the e, the f, the i, the a, the n, the c, the e... Mind of a revolutionary
So clear the lane, the finger to the land of the chains!

What? The land of the free? Whoever told you that is your enemy.
Now something must be done about vengeance, a badge and a gun
’Cause I’ll rip the mike, rip the stage, rip the system. I was born to rage against ’em
Now action must be taken. We don’t need the key, we’ll break in!

I’ve got no patience now.
So sick of complacence now.
I’ve got no patience now.
So sick of complacence now.
Sick of sick of sick of sick of you.

Time has come to PAY!!!!

Know your enemy!

(Tom M Solo)

Yes I know my enemies!
They’re the teachers who taught me to fight me!
Compromise.
Conformity.
Assimilation.
Submission.
Ignorance.
Hypocrisy.
Brutality.
The elite.

All of which are american dreams.
All of which are american dreams.

Wake Up
Listen:

Come on, although ya try to discredit, ya still never read it.
The needle, I'll thread it, radically poetic
Standin' with the fury that they had in '66.
And like E-Double I'm mad Still knee-deep in the system's shit.

Hoover, he was a body remover. I'll give ya a dose, but it can never come close
To the rage built up inside of me. Fist in the air, in the land of hypocrisy.
Movements come and movements go.
Leaders speak, movements cease when their heads are flown.'

Cause all these punks, got bullets in their heads. Departments of police, the judges, the feds.
Networks at work, keepin' people calm.
You know they went after King, when he spoke out on Vietnam.
He turned the power to the have-nots. And then came the shot!

With poetry, my mind I flex. Flip like Wilson, vocals never lackin' that finesse.
Whadda I got to, whadda I got to do to wake you up?
To shake ya up, to break the structure up?

'Cause blood still flows in the gutter. I'm like takin' photos, mad boy kicks open the shutter.
Set the groove, then stick and move like I was Cassius.
Rep the stutter step, then bomb a left upon the fascists.

Yea, the several federal men, who pulled schemes on the dream. And put it to an end.
Ya better beware of retribution with mind war.
20/20 visions, and murals with metaphors.

Networks at work, keepin' people calm.
Ya know they murdered X, and tried to blame it on Islam.
He turned the power to the have-nots...And then came the shot!

What was the price on his head?
Who put the price on his head!!!!

I think I heard a shot...
I think I heard a shot...
I think I heard a shot...
I think I heard a shot!

I think I heard a shot!
I think I heard, I think I heard a shot...

"He may be a real contender for this position should he abandon his supposed obediance to white liberal doctrineof non-violence...and embrace black nationalism."

''Through counter-intelligence it should be possible to pinpoint potential trouble-makers... and neutralize them."

"Through counter-intelligence it should be possible to pinpoint potential trouble-makers... and neutralize them...and neutralize them...and neutralize them...and neutralize them..."

Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!

How long? Not long. Cause what you reap is what you sow!

Freedom
Listen:

Solo, I'm a soloist on a solo list
All live, never on a floppy disk.
Inka, inka, bottle of ink. Paintings of rebellion, drawn up by the thoughts I think!

It's set uplike a deck of cards. They're sending us to early graves.
For all the diamonds They'll use a pair of clubs to beat the spades
With poetry I paint the pictures that hit.
More than the murals that fit, don't turn away, get in front of it

Brotha, did you forget my name? Did ya lose it on the wall Playin' tic-tac-toe?
Yo, check the diagonal, three brothers gone, come on, doesn't that make it three in a row?

(Anger is a gift.)

Yo, check the diagonal, three million gone, come on.
'Cause ya know they're counting backwards to zero.
Environment. The environment exceeding on the level of our unconsciousness.

For example, what does the billboard say?
Come and play, come and play, forget about the movement.

(Anger is a gift.)

YEAH!!
Awww, bring that shit in!

Freedom...yeah.
Freedom...yeah, right.
Freedom...YEAH!!!!!!

FREEDOM!!
YEAH!!
FREEDOM!!
YEAH, RIGHT!!
FREEDOM!! YEAH!! RIGHT!!

One of my favorite bands ever. For those unfamiliar with the lineup, this is Maynard from Tool, Jeordie White from Marilyn Manson, James Iha from the Smashing Pumpkins, Josh Freese from the Vandals/Suicidal Tendencies, and song writing genious Billy Howerdel. The song below was written right around the start of the Iraq invasion.

Pet
Listen:

Don't fret precious I'm here. Step away from the window.
Go, back to sleep.

Lay your head down child, I won't let the boogeymen come.
Count their bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums.
Pay no mind to the rabble, pay no mind to the rabble.
Head down, go to sleep, to the rhythm of the war drums.

Pay no mind, what other voices say. They don't care about you, like I do, (like I do).
Safe from pain, and truth, and choice, and other poison devils.
See, they don't give a fuck about you, like I do.

Just stay with me.
Safe and ignorant...Go,back to sleep.
Go, back to sleep.

Lay your head down child, I won't let the boogeymen come.
Count their bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums.
Pay no mind to the rabble, pay no mind to the rabble.
Head down, go to sleep, to the rhythm of the war drums!

I'll be the one to protect you from, your enemies and all your demons.
I'll be the one to protect you from, a will to survive and a voice of reason.
I'll be the one to protect you from, your enemies and your choices son.
They're one and the same, I must isolate you. Isolate and save you from yourself.

Swayin' to the rhythm of the new world order, and!...
Counting bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums!
The boogeymen are coming, the boogeymen are coming.
Keep your head down, go to sleep to the rhythm of the war drums!

Stay with me. Safe and, ignorant.
Just, stay with me.
I'll hold you and protect you from the other ones.
The evil ones, don't love you son.
(whispered) Go back to sleep.

For the record, I really cant stand Green day. However, they’ve seemed to throw a lot of political stuff in their most recent record, and I’ve decided to bend a little and post one of the songs here (that everyone has heard a million times by now, I’m sure).

Holiday
Listen:

Say, Hey!

Hear the sound of the falling rain.
Coming down like an Armageddon flame (Hey!)
The shame, the ones who died without a name.

Hear the dogs howling out of key.
To a hymn called, "Faith and Misery"
And bleed, the company lost the war today

I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies.
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday.

Hear the drum pounding out of time.
Another protestor has crossed the line (Hey!)
To find, the money's on the other side .

Can I get another Amen? (Amen!)
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (Hey!)
A gag, a plastic bag on a monument.

I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies.
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday


"The representative from California has the floor"

"Zieg Heil to the president gasman
Bombs away is your punishment!
Pulverize the Eiffel towers
Who criticize your government!
Bang bang goes the broken glass and
Kill all the fags that don't agree!
Trials by fire, setting fire
Is not a way that's meant for me!
Just cause, just cause, because we're outlaws yeah!

I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies.
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives.
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies.
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives.

This is our lives on holiday!

Pre-1992 Metallica is some of the best music ever recorded, in my humble opinion. The song below will probably offend some, but I don't think Metallica is necessarily slamming the military. I think they're making a point about the brainwashing and the lack of honor and respect for their lives, using them as expendable bodies.

Disposable Heroes
Listen:

Bodies fill the fields I see, hungry heroes end
No one to play soldier now, no one to pretend
Running blind through killing fields, bred to kill them all
Victim of what said should be, a servant `til I fall

Soldier boy, made of clay, now an empty shell
Twenty one, only son, but he served us well
Bred to kill, not to care, do just as we say
Finished here, greetings death, he's yours to take away!

Back to the front!
You will do what I say, when I say
Back to the front!
You will die, when I say, you must die
Back to the front!
You coward, you servant, you blind man.

Barking of machinegun fire, does nothing to me now
Sounding of the clock that ticks, get used to it somehow
The more a man, more stripes you wear, glory seeker trends
Bodies fill the fields I see, the slaughter never ends.

Soldier boy, made of clay, now an empty shell
Twenty one, only son, but he served us well
Bred to kill, not to care, do just as we say
Finished here, greetings death, he's yours to take away!

Why, Am I dying?
Kill, have no fear
Lie, live off lying
Hell, Hell is here

I was born for dying!!

Life planned out before my birth, nothing could I say
Had no chance to see myself, molded day by day
Looking back I realize, nothing have I done
Left to die with only friend, alone I clench my gun.

Soldier boy, made of clay, now an empty shell
Twenty one, only son, but he served us well
Bred to kill, not to care, do just as we say
Finished here, greetings death, he's yours to take away!

Back to the front.

One of my favorite bands of all time. As many of you know, their guitarist, Darrell Abbot made national headlines, when he was gunned down on stage while playing a show with his most recent band Damage Plan a couple of years ago in Ohio. I was a huge fan of his, and have had the opportunity to meet him a couple of times during college. Pantera has always been a huge musical influence in my life.


Fucking Hostile
Listen:

Almost every day, I see the same face
On broken picture tube, it fits the attitude

If you could see yourself, you put you on a shelf
Your verbal masturbate, promise to nauseate

Today I'll play the part of non-parent.
Not make a hundred rules For you to know about yourself
Not lie and make you believe, what's evil.
Is making love and making friends and meeting God you're own way.
The right way.

To see
To bleed
Cannot be taught
In turn, you're making us
Fucking hostile!

We stand alone

The truth in right and wrong, the boundaries of the law
You seem to miss the point, arresting for a joint?

You seem to wonder why, hundreds of people die
You're writing tickets man, my mom got jumped -- they ran!

Now I'll play a public servant
To serve and protect by the law and the state
I'd bust the punks that rape steal and murder
And leave you be, if you crossed me
I'd shake your hand like a man
Not a god!

To see
To bleed
Cannot be taught
In turn, you're making us
Fucking hostile!

Come meet your maker, boy, some things you can't enjoy
Because of heaven/hell, a fucking wives' tale

They put it in your head, then put you in your bed
He's watching say your prayers 'cause God is everywhere

Now I'll play a man learning priesthood
Who's about to take the ultimate test in life
I'd question things because I am human
And call no one my father who's no closer that a stranger

I won't listen!

To see
To bleed
Cannot be taught
In turn, you're making us...
Fucking...Fucking....Fucking HOSTILE!!

Another Senior CIA Official Hating America

Accountability-promising Bush-supporters love to dodge their responsibility for the war in Iraq by blaming everything on the CIA. You know, the same bureau from which they’re outing agents.

They won’t talk to you about the Downing Street Memos, because the British are total liars. They will blame congress getting fooled as well, despite the fact that Congress doesn’t see the same intelligence as the President. They’ll tell you that Bush reacted to the threat as any other president would have, yet a senior intelligence officer for the Near East and South Asia says the intelligence was clearly manipulated.

Almost on a daily basis, high-ranking generals, ambassadors, senior intelligence officers and the like are actually spilling the truth about how Cheney, Rummy, and Wolfie wanted this war and were going to cherry-pick what they needed, using 9/11 as an irrational, emotional background to get it.

Although for the past several months, more Americans regret having gone to war than the few that still support it, there are literally millions of our fellow citizens who ignore all of what has developed since the invasion. They’re convinced Iraq was or has attacked us, that 9/11 was related to Baghdad, that Al Qaeda was running free in Iraq before the war, and that Iraq was a fanatical Islamic state, similar to Iran and Saudi Arabia.

I’ve even had some conservatives tell me, right here on this site, that we’ve found WMD’s in Iraq. I’m not kidding.

Therefore I’m convinced there is a small population that no matter what evidence is presented to them, they’re always going to side with the federal government (as long as there is a Republican in office), never question or even be absolutely certain about war, and no amount of casualties is going to change their mind.

So when the latest from the chief of European CIA operations, 26-year veteran Tyler Drumheller was aired Sunday on 60 Minutes, conservatives told you that 60 Minutes is a liberal newsmagazine that smeared their President’s unaccounted for, and frankly, shameful military record, and consequently anything they report on should be ignored. They will shoot the messenger because they can’t debate the message, while sites like Powerline and Little Green Footballs will do everything they can to dig up dirt on Drumheller himself. The line of generals, war heroes, CIA experts and other whistleblowers to Swift-Boat is getting longer and longer every day.

For the rest of us who are still paying attention, here’s some of what you may have missed on 60 minutes:

"It just sticks in my craw every time I hear them say it’s an intelligence failure. It’s an intelligence failure. This was a policy failure…The policy was set. The war in Iraq was coming and they were looking for intelligence to fitinto the policy,” said Drumheller.

"So, let me see if I have it correctly. The United States gets a report that Saddam is trying to buy uranium from Africa. But you and many others in our intelligence community quickly knock it down. And then the uranium story is removed from the speech that the President is to give in Cincinnati. Because the head of the CIA, George Tenet, doesn't believe in it?" (Ed) Bradley asked.

"Right," Drumheller appeared.

It then appeared in the State of the Union address as a British report.

"The American people want to believe the president. I have relatives who I've tried to talk to about this who say, 'Well, no, you can’t tell me the president had this information and just ignored it,'" says Drumheller. "But I think over time, people will look back on this and see this is going to be one of the great, I think, policy mistakes of all time."

So the liberal media must have eaten this up right? After all, this is more or less a smoking gun!
Well... (from media matters):

-None of the three major networks reported on the story on either their morning shows or evening news broadcasts. (Remarkably, this included CBS, the network that originally aired Drumheller's disclosure.)

-While CNN.com ran an April 23 article on the 60 Minutes interview, CNN and Fox News have yet to mention the story on the air. The April 24 edition of Countdown with Keith Olbermann included MSNBC's only report on the story. Drumheller, however, is scheduled to appear on the April 25 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews.

-The New York Times published an April 22 article on the Drumheller interview, based on partial transcripts released by CBS. But no major newspaper -- on either April 23, 24, or 25 -- printed an additional article on the story.

-Both the Associated Press and United Press International published brief April 23 articles on Drumheller's revelations before his 60 Minutes interview aired on CBS. UPI ran a subsequent article on April 24. These represent the only wire reports on Drumheller's disclosure.

Comments from Conservatives

If you look at page ranking sites such as those found at wholinkstome.com, it's quite apparent that the big guns of the liberal blogosphere (such as Kos, Americablog, C&L, Eschaton, etc) have triple or more traffic share than their conservative counterparts. As for the smaller guys, some rough estimates put the ratio of liberal to conservative blogs in the political forum today around 4 to 1.

Perhaps it's for reasons such as these that Bush-supporters bring their hilarious, self-embarrassing comments to my site and to those you see in my "blogs to read" section over in the column to the right on a fairly consistent basis.

I must admit - the comments from those who support the current administration are actually a self-affirmation to myself and others who share my political views. Most of us hold the stereotypes of today's Bush voting conservative as inarticulate, uninformed, brainwashed people who are not interested in critical thinking, light research or avalanche-prone mountains of facts that make their understanding of current events at about the same level as my 14 year old golden retriever. Reading what these people say in the comments each day simply perpetuates our stereotype, and reminds us daily of what we as progressives are fighting for.

I've decided to make a collection of some of the comments from this site and from others around the progressive blogosphere, and post them here. Some will make you laugh, and some will make you a little nervous that you're actually sharing roads, ATM's and breathing space with some of these people.

NOW, keep in mind this list is just a start. I'm sure you all have your share of Bushies leaving comments on your sites as well. Please feel free to leave me some of their quotes in the comments section, and I'll post them here as well. I think it would be fun to get a collection going :-)

Nevertheless, the following answers the request of, "show me the average person who pulls the lever next to Bush's name at election time."

Without further ado, I bring to you, the Bush-supporters:

Hellpig: "They are far from innocent and Islam is not a religion it's a cultand I don't advocate killing all Muslims just the Islamonazi's you know the one's you sypathize with.Can't wait Bush is going to drop so many american made bombs on Iran just the thought gets me excited." [Rage Against the Right, 4/16/06]

Hellpig: "What's up you America hating mother fuckers? you have quite the circle jerk here, too bad the war will continue for the next ten years so buckle down." [Rage Against the Right 4/16/06]

Underground Logician: "Besides, the practice (of being gay) is completely AB-NORMAL. I'd like to know how the medical community deemed it normal. Ejaculation into a same sex partners rectum is normal? I suppose hamster in the rectum are normal too, right?" [Genious of Insanity, April 1, 2006]

Iggy Dude: "Vietnam turned into what it did, because of politics and tree hugging liberals against their OWN Democratic President! (Johnson, socialism’s final nail in the coffin and the worst screw up second only to Carter and the Millionaire Clintons) This Movement in the sixties; selfishly and almost literally slit our fighting troops throats. It is ill moral and treasonous to bash our fighting men and women via their Commander and Chief." [Moxiegrrrl.com, April 15th, 2006]

Heir to the Throne: "All I know to 80%+ of the Mainstream Media vote Democrat. To change the subject, I believe that my feminazi label (that took me to task for) fits the Duke 'femme' studies women (referring to the woman raped by members of the Duke lax team a month ago)." [Moxiegrrrl.com, April 12th, 2006]

Iggy Dude: "SEYMOUR M. HERSH is doing this so his name will make every newspaper in the world.Does the hate Bush banwagon realize how much Seymour stories can damage Ameerica?Treason! Seymour's last hoorah was about a secret film of our Solders sodomizing little boys." [Moxiegrrrl.com, April 9th 2006]

Anonymous: "Stop trying to paint the current conservative movement as some segregationist, racist scumbags. No one in our Government is standing in the way of women or black people moving forward." [Rage Against the Right, Feb 7th 2006]

Anonymous: "someone needs to look up the word legislate. And needs to do some research on how many judges do that from the bench (the answer was provided to this person here). [Rage Against the Right, Feb 1st 2006]

Tighty Righty: "Not like some who support the troops, but not the mission. Thats like supporting local musicians, but not supporting the MUSIC. Have a good one. " [Rage Against the Right, March 28th, 2006]

Hellpig: "What's your great point you are trying to make SKANK. Heros are patriots. liberalists are hypocrites." [Rage Against the Right, April 19, 2006]

Hellpig: "Fuck you pussyI heard you like yours in the ass at least thats what your dad told me." [Rage Against the Right, April 16, 2006]

Hellpig: "I find you paranoid and delusional,Just to think that Bush controls the Flamming left MSM is a joke in it's self.The MSM have been slamming Bush since day 1,and you think he has manipulated them for his own propaganda.Please the only fake stories coming out are from Leftists.VIVA LA BUSH " [Rage Against the Right, April 13, 2006]

Unknown Reader: "You are a fucking idiot.I would explain my opinion further, but I do not believe you could grasp or understand how big of an uninformed hypocrite you are. Please do evolution a favor and don't breed.Thanks for your time and concern, now get off you soap box, shut up for 5 seconds, and take a little more time to think before you create a whole website making you look like an idiot." [posted via the feedback link on the site, April 22, 2006]

Anonymous: "We're (in Iraq) for many reasons, reasons lnked to WMD, Terrorism, Deomcoracy in the middle east.And it is working. Pay attention a little better. " [Rage Against the Right March 24th, 2006]

It's the Stupidity, Stupid!

In a previous entry, I discussed my feelings about Bush’s awkward disastrous manner of communicating when the answers haven’t been scripted or written down for him. I feel then and currently feel now, that the President’s verbal skills and countless documented “misspeaks” are the least of our concerns. The President fumbles through discussion on policy, not because the English language fails him, but rather because knowledge about the specific topic does. Previous examples of this include both:

An answer to a reporter’s question regarding tribal sovereignty (audio: ) and trying to explain his own social security plan (audio & commentary by Mike Molloy: ).

Recently, Bush has taken his lack of knowledge to the street in very carefully orchestrated PR events to answer questions from Bush supporting Americans, just like you and me. Here are a couple of clips:

Question 1:
Question 2:

I’d like to underscore the two different aspects of how he discusses policy, because there is a strong distinction that needs to be understood. I have attempted to cite examples of each:

BEHAVIOR INDICATING POOR COMMUNICATION SKILLS (annoying, unprofessional, but not life endangering)
-The fact that you hear him “appreciate” every question he answers
-The stuttering
-Using terminology such as “duddunt” rather than “doesn’t”
-The hyperventilating-sounding laugh similar to that of a cat dying

BEHAVIOR INDICATING LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, DEPTH, OR COMPREHENSION:
-Cracking jokes several times throughout the answer to distract or entertain rather than provide insight
-An almost sheepish demeanor
-Deferring the answer to one of his secretaries when he should have some thoughts of his own
-Excessive, run-on answers that really don’t seem to address the issue or go anywhere
-Exhibiting behavior similar to when we were in high school and were covering our embarrassment for not knowing the answer when called on in class


Again, deferring to cabinet members for specific details of policy that are pertinent to the secretaries that oversee those particular issues is totally fine. But consider the fact that these questions are asking for basic comment from the leader of the free world on important issues, including prostitution, the plan for social security and laws governing civilian workers in Iraq.

I’m not sure about you, but I’d feel a little more comfortable about giving this guy the power to kill people and wipe out sovereign governments he didn’t like if he could field questions from college kids with a little more depth.

Generally Hating America

On this site I’d like to call out people who hate the troops and/or America, so they can get the public scorn they deserve. So far, we’ve had several guilty of this unforgivable sin. I’d like to review them now.

-Christian Coalition members hate America because they believe we deserved 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina
-Britt Hume hates the troops because he said that the amount of casualties we’ve had in Iraq are really negligible (just what grieving family members want to hear)
-The college Republican leadership hates the troops because they mock those leaving campus to go serve
-Bill O'Reilly doesn’t hate America, he just hates the west coast and would like to see them more vulnerable to a terrorist attack.
- 10 of the 12 veterans of the Iraq war hate the troops because they’re running as Democrats for Congressional seats upon their return
- The Pentagon hates the troops because it issued a report claiming we cannot defeat the insurgency with current troop levels
-Right wing bat shit Christians hate the troops because they protest at their funerals
- Fox News hates the troops because they are encouraging Civil War in Iraq
- The troops in Iraq hate the troops the most because almost 75% of them think we should cut and run within the next year!

Now who are the latest troop-haters criticizing how Iraq is being handled, including calling for members of the administration to step down? Those chicken shit, commie 4-star generals who commanded troops on the ground, that’s who!

CNN has more -
Audio:

Here’s a list of the traitors, and what they’re saying about the Bush Administration. Keep in mind, these comments were stated during a time of war.

Retired Army Major Gen. John Riggs

Bio: A 39 year veteran, Riggs earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery during the Vietnam War. He is a retired 3-star general.

Thoughts on Rummy: He “should step aside and let someone step in who can be more realistic. They only need the military advice when it satisfies their agenda. I think that's a mistake, and that's why I think he should resign.”


Retired Army Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack

Bio: Former commander of the elite 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq. He is a retired 2-star general.

Thoughts on Rummy: "Well I don't agree with Secretary Rumsfeld's management of the war. Specifically, I feel he has micromanaged the generals who are leading our forces there to achieve our strategic objectives. I really believe that we need a new Secretary of Defense because Secretary Rumsfeld carries way too much baggage with him.

And I'll speak briefly about that. But it goes back to insufficient forces to attack north to Baghdad and subsequently fight the insurgency. And I believe he has culpability associated with the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and so rather than admitting these mistakes, he continually justifies them to the press and all you all in the press corps and that really disallows him from moving our strategy forward. I believe…he is culpable then for what happened at Abu Ghraib. I don't think our generals feel comfortable providing Secretary Rumsfeld their honest beliefs. I think it almost boils down to explain the party line and stay loyal to me or you might end up like General Shinseki did, at odds with Secretary Rumsfeld."

Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste

Bio: Commander of the 1st infintry division in Iraq. He was offered a promotion to three-star rank to return to Iraq and be the No. 2 U.S. military officer there but he declined because he no longer wished to serve under Rumsfeld.

Thoughts on Rummy: "I believe we need a fresh start at the Pentagon... We need leadership up there that respects the military as they expect the military to respect them. We need a leader who understands teamwork, a leader who knows to build teams, a leader that does it without intimidation.

"I have nothing to gain in doing this. There is no political agenda at all. For 31 years I was a loyal subordinate and did not tolerate dissension in the ranks. My sole motivation, pure and simple, are the service men and women and their incredible families."


Retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni

Bio: Was head of United States Central Command in the late 1990's, in charge of all American troops in the Middle East. In retirement, the Bush administration thought so highly of Zinni that it appointed him to one of its highest diplomatic posts -- special envoy to the Middle East.

Thoughts on Rummy - ''I think he should [resign]. This is not personal, believe me. We grew up in a culture where accountability, learning to accept responsibility, admitting your mistakes, and learning from them was critical to us."


Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold

Bio: Three-star Marine Corps general who was the military's top operations officer before the invasion of Iraq.

Thoughts on Rummy: After 9/11, I was a witness and therefore a party to the actions that led us to the invasion of Iraq--an unnecessary war. Inside the military family, I made no secret of my view that the zealots' rationale for war made no sense. And I think I was outspoken enough to make those senior to me uncomfortable. But I now regret that I did not more openly challenge those who were determined to invade a country whose actions were peripheral to the real threat--al-Qaeda. I retired from the military four months before the invasion, in part because of my opposition to those who had used 9/11's tragedy to hijack our security policy. Until now, I have resisted speaking out in public. I've been silent long enough.

(The invasion of Iraq) "was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions — or bury the results. The cost of flawed leadership continues to be paid in blood".


Retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton

Bio: 32 year veteran, commanded the training of Iraqi security forces in the year after Baghdad fell. Served as the commanding general at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Ga.

Thoughts on Rummy: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is not competent to lead our armed forces. First, his failure to build coalitions with our allies from what he dismissively called "old Europe" has imposed far greater demands and risks on our soldiers in Iraq than necessary.

Second, he alienated his allies in our own military, ignoring the advice of seasoned officers and denying subordinates any chance for input. He has shown himself incompetent strategically, operationally and tactically…and has put the Pentagon at the mercy of his cold warrior's view of the world and his unrealistic confidence in technology to replace manpower. In the five years Mr. Rumsfeld has presided over the Pentagon, I have seen a climate of groupthink become dominant and a growing reluctance by experienced military men and civilians to challenge the notions of the senior leadership.

It is all too clear that General Shinseki was right: several hundred thousand men would have made a big difference then, as we began Phase IV, or country reconstruction. There was never a question that we would make quick work of the Iraqi Army. "


These decorated generals clearly don't know what it's like to lead America to battle. I call on all Republicans who supported the purple heart band-aid project to put these guys back in their place, before they start burning flags and turning our churches gay.

Of course the only question now becomes, should Rummy stay or should he go?
Audio:

Cartoons of Mass Deception

In the Iraq War portion of this site, I have cited many instances of intelligence either ignored or manipulated to support the march to war in Iraq. The corporate media fed line of “Bush didn’t get it wrong, the CIA did,” is bullshit, and most people who have done any small amount of research not only know this, and became more reassured when the man Bush blamed for those mistakes was given the medal of freedom.

Following this pattern of misrepresenting the intelligence, it was revealed that the cartoons of “mobile biological labs” Colon Powell held up during his UN speech were not only weak evidence at the time, they were actually lied about later.

Here’s a refresher, thanks to the Randi Rhodes show...
Audio:

Now, here’s the truth, from the Washington Post:

On May 29, 2003…President Bush proclaimed a fresh victory for his administration in Iraq: Two small trailers captured by U.S. and Kurdish troops had turned out to be long-sought mobile "biological laboratories." He declared, "We have found the weapons of mass destruction."

The claim, repeated by top administration officials for months afterward, was hailed at the time as a vindication of the decision to go to war. But even as Bush spoke, U.S.
intelligence officials possessed powerful evidence that it was not true.

A secret fact-finding mission to Iraq -- not made public until now -- had already concluded that the trailers had nothing to do with biological weapons. Leaders of the Pentagon-sponsored mission transmitted their unanimous findings to Washington in a field report on May 27, 2003, two days before the president's statement.

"There was no connection to anything biological," said one expert who studied the trailers. Another recalled an epithet that came to be associated with the trailers: "the biggest sand toilets in the world."

This is a huge development that isn't going to get a lot of play on the evening news, but it does underscore the absolute sadness of Bush supporters who still cling to the argument that this administration wasn't cherry-picking intelligence (read through some of the comments on this site, and you'll even see a Bush guy who actually thinks we've found WMD's in Iraq...I'm not kidding, this is the level of person you're dealing with here).

But if you stop and think about it - with all the intelligence we have - all the satellites, spies, everything - and all we could come up with were cartoons for evidence?

Shame on us, shame on our press, and shame on Democrats for not asking more questions and getting tougher with this president.

Even our president agrees -
Audio:

Dick's Aim Ain't Much Better on the Diamond Either

Most have heard (or have viewed the video over at Crooks and Liars) about the warm reception for one Richard Cheney at the Washington Nationals' home opener Tuesday. In case you didn't, here is a little of MSNBC's coverage:

Audio:

Dick Cheney had this to say about what might be his "last throw" at a baseball game:
Audio:

Smearing Seymour

The Republicans have already started the campaign of smearing Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh. Here's a taste of what you might hear...

Audio:

More. Fake. Media. My. God.

While all presidencies have used PR to their advantage, the techniques used by the Bush administration are unprecedented. In Bush's defense, the less your policy makes sense, the more you’re going to have to spin in order to sell it. However, whenever I update the blog regarding Bush Administration fake media, I like to recap what we've found so far:

- Fake news stories that are prepared and sent to local television stations to pass actors off as real journalists.

- Fake town hall meetings where pre-screened Bush supporters get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ask tough questions of their President, such as, “I just want you to know my family and I pray for you and Laura every day.” (Although it should be noted, sometimes an intruder sneaks past security.)

- Fake journalists, paid with tax dollars to construct stories in newspapers/magazines you’ve purchased to tout Bush administration policy.

- Fake Q&A’s with the troops using them as props for carefully organized PR stunts.

- Fake members of the White House Press Corps providing cushy “recovery questions” those in the administration depend on to rally from a difficult questions posed by an actual reporter.

- Fake photos of White House events not taken by journalists, but by hired hands asked to take pictures of the President in a positive light, limiting the chance of a more actual portrayal taken by an independent photographer actually working for the press.

Some of what you see above has earned the White House a few scoldings from the bipartisan Government Accountability Office, finding the Bush administration actually violated propaganda laws. Despite the fact that political scientists typically measure a nation’s legitimate Democracy and “freedom” by the extent to which the press operates without government interference, this doesn’t bother freedom-spreading Bush supporters in the least (and yet the Bushies who comment on this site tell me I’m the one who hates America). And chances are, neither will this:

The U.S. military is conducting a propaganda campaign to magnify the role of the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, according to internal military documents and officers familiar with the program…The documents explicitly list the "U.S. Home Audience" as one of the targets of a broader propaganda campaign.

"The long-term threat is not Zarqawi or religious extremists, but these former regime types and their friends," said (Col. Derek) Harvey, who served as a military intelligence officer in Iraq and then was one of the top officers handling Iraq intelligence issues on the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

So what’s the problem with propaganda such as this?

Specifically, it hinders and obstructs the truth coming out of Iraq that not just the bulk or most of the insurgency – but the overwhelming majority of the insurgency, is coming from the Iraqis themselves. You’ll remember them as the group of people for whose liberation we are fighting, according to conservatives. Of course, the more we link an Al Qaeda member like Zarqawi to Iraq, the more we’re linking the Iraq effort to “fighting the terrorists over there so we’re not fighting them over here,” and the more the Bush administration can provide a relationship between Al Qaeda and Iraq.

In other words, not only did this relationship not exist before the war, it actually hardly exists now!

So, the Democracy loving, pro-fight-them-over-there group that loves America more than they love their own kids isn’t bothered by:

1). The damage to Democracy state-run media can cause to our own nation
2). The irony that we’re trying to free a nation from a government that used propaganda to stay in power.
3). The fact that we’re fighting not insurgents or Al Qaeda or terrorists in Iraq, but rather the very people we are told we’re liberating.

And they call LIBERALS the friend of Saddam? Right.

I can’t say this enough about Bush supporters – Black is White, Up is Down.

Great Post to Visit

I was going to post something here this morning, but will save it as a draft until later today. I'd rather post this for now...

Please visit this entry at Carbon Paper when you get a chance. I realize this means nothing to the Bush supporters who read this site, but perhaps this will stir some energy in the rest of us.

Leave God Out of My Science Lectures, and I Won't Think In Your Church

Add one more scientist to the list of enemies of the Religious Right.

This time, the target of their wrath isn’t NASA scientist James Hansen or his crazy facts that nearly the entire global community of experts agrees with. It’s Bill NYE, who as a scientist has been educating kids (and adults) for years.

Bill NYE, whose list of enemies is probably shorter than Kermit the Frog’s, made the mistake of trying to teach excitable fundamentalist Christians something as unholy as how the moon gets its beautiful glow.

The Emmy-winning scientist angered a few audience members when he criticized
literal interpretation of the biblical verse Genesis 1:16, which reads: “God made two great lights — the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.”

He pointed out that the sun, the “greater light,” is but one of countless stars and that the “lesser light” is the moon, which really is not a light at all, rather a reflector of light.

A number of audience members left the room at that point, visibly angered by
what some perceived as irreverence.

“We believe in a God!” exclaimed one woman as she left the room with three young children.

And these are the kinds of people you want to vote into your boards of education? They hate knowledge so much they’re like little kids who don’t want to go to school.

And speaking of little kids...you can rehash this story with the women's poor kids who were "removed" from the lecture when they're pumping your gas at a Sunoco outside of Ft. Worth in another 20 years.

Stop Republican Adoption

The following was obtained from a taped phone call archive, involving the man on the right.

Audio Here:

It’s almost as if the news imitates the words of the progressive bloggers sometimes.

About 3 days ago, I wrote about fear tactics used by Republicans, and specifically highlighted instances where gay men were painted as predatory toward children, while the real criminals overwhelmingly tend to be heterosexual in their adult relationships.

Well, almost as if on cue, the arrest of Mr. Brian J Doyle (that’s B.J. Doyle for all of you keeping score at home) occurs and gives us all another living breathing example of how the gay father next door to you shouldn’t raise your eyebrows as much as the cranky Republican asshole living right across the street.

Now, are all Republican assholes pedophiles? Well, it's a good question but no, not all of them. But I thought I’d share the list of some of my favorites (more than a hat tip to DKos). Forward this to your homophobic, PTA attending, “what about the children” cousin in Spokanne the next time she lobbies against her kid having a gay Cub Scout leader.

Edison Misla Aldarondo, Republican legislator, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for molestation of his daughter and her friend for eight-year period starting when they were 9.

Randal David Ankeney, Republican activist, arrested on suspicion of sexual assault on a child with force. He faces 6 charges related to getting a 13-year-old girl stoned on pot and then having sex with her.

Merrill Robert Barter, Republican County Commissioner, pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact and assault on a teenage boy.

Robert Bauman, Republican congressman and anti-gay activist, was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar.

Louis Beres, chairman of the Christian Coalition of Oregon. Three of his family members accuse him of molesting them when they were pre-teens.

Howard L. Brooks, Republican legislative aide and advisor to a California assemblyman, was charged with molesting a 12-year old boy and possession of child pornography.

Andrew Buhr, Republican politician, former committeeman for Hadley Township Missouri, and former Tom Delay aide was charged with two counts of first degree sodomy with a 13-year old boy.

John Allen Burt, Republican anti-abortion activist, convicted of sexually molesting a 15 year old girl at the home for troubled girls that he ran.

Keola Childs, Republican County Councilman, pleaded guilty to sexual assault in the first degree for molesting a male child.

Kevin Coan, Republican St. Louis Election Board official, arrested and charged with trying to buy sex from a 14-year-old girl whom he met on the Internet

Dan Crane, Republican Congressman, married, father of six. Received a 100%
"Morality Rating" from Christian Voice, had sex with a minor working as a congressional page. On July 20, the House voted for censure Crane, the first time that censure had been imposed for sexual misconduct.

Richard A. Dasen Sr., Republican benefactor of conservative Christian groups, convicted of sexual abuse of children, promotion of prostitution and several counts of solicitation, enough to add up to a sentence of 126 years in prison. Investigators estimated that he spent up to $5,000,000 on prostitutes.

Richard A. Delgaudio, Republican fundraiser and Bush pioneer, was found guilty of child porn charges.

Peter Dibble, Republican legislator pleaded no contest to having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl.

Nicholas Elizondo, Director of the Young Republican Federation molested his 6-year old daughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Larry Dale Floyd, Republican Constable in Denton County, Texas Precinct Two. Arrested for allegedly crossing state lines to have sex with an 8-year old child and was charged with 7 related offenses.

Jack W. Gardner, Republican Councilman, had been convicted of molesting a 13-year old girl, when the Republican Party, knowing of these crimes, put him on the ballot.

Richard Gardner, a Nevada State Representative (R), admitted to molesting his two daughters.

Matthew Glavin, president and CEO of the Southeastern Legal Foundation, big player in the Clinton Impeachment, has been arrested multiple times for public indeceny, one time fondling the crotch of the officer who was arresting him.

Mark A. Grethen, Republican activist, convicted on six counts of sex crimes involving children.

Mark Harris, Republican city councilman who is described as a "church goer," was convicted of repeatedly having sex with an 11-year-old girl and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Howard Scott Heldreth, anti-abortion activist who gained fame during the Shiavo media-circus, was convicted of two charges of raping a child in 2002.

Mike Hintz, a First Assembly of God youth pastor, introduced by Bush on the campaign trail, and promoted his policies. Two months later, this married father of four turned himself into police, charged with the sexual exploitation of a child.

Paul Ingram, Republican Party leader of Thurston County, Washington, pleaded guilty to six counts of raping his daughters and served 14 years in federal prison.

Jon Matthews, Republican talk show host in Houston, was indicted for indecency with a child, including exposing his genitals to a girl under the age of 17.

Nicholas Morency, Republican anti-abortion activist, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his computer and offering a bounty to anybody who murders an abortion doctor.

Jeffrey Patti, Republican Committee Chairman, was arrested for distributing what experts call "some of the most offensive material in the child pornography world" - a video clip of a 5-year-old girl being raped.

Mark Pazuhanich, Republican judge, pleaded no contest to fondling a 10-year old girl and was sentenced to 10 years probation.

Beverly Russell, County Chairman of the Christian Coalition, sexually molested his step-daughter, Susan Smith, who later drowned her two children.

Larry Jack Schwarz, Republican parole board officer and former Colorado state representative, fired after child pornography was found in his possession.

Tom Shortridge, Republican campaign consultant, was sentenced to three years probation for taking nude photographs of a 15-year old girl.

David Swartz, Republican County Commissioner, pleaded guilty to molesting two girls under the age of 11 and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

Robin Vanderwall, Republican strategist and Citadel Military College graduate, director of Faith & Family Alliance, (a Christian Coalition spin off), member of Ralph Reed's inner circle who funneled money to from lobbyist Jack Abromoff to Reed, convicted in Virginia on five counts of soliciting sex from boys and girls over the
internet.

Keith Westmoreland, a Tennessee state representative (R), was arrested on seven felony counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition to minors under 16.

Stephen White, Republican preacher. Was arrested after allegedly offering $20 to a 14-year-old boy for permission to perform oral sex on him.

So of course people on both sides of the aisle are caught doing this stuff, and I won't even challenge anyone to find a list of Democrats this significant (although I doubt the Democrats are doing this as often).

However, even if you could, the Democrats are not typically aligned with the Christian Coalition, are not accusing gays of being pedophiles, and are not typically drafting anti-gay legislation. Liberals are not climbing mountain tops in order to preach morality and wag their shame-on-you finger at those who are different from them, and are not basing their entire campaigns on claiming to know God better than their opponent.

Therefore this is not necessarily a lesson in which party abuses children more. It's about hypocrisy.

Maine Tied for First

Well, we may not be playing in the national championship, but Maine comes out in first place regarding another feat: Bush Disapproval Rating.

That's right, for the first time since they've been polling the states, Maine is tied with it's friend to the south, Massachusetts with the highest percentage of people unahppy with bush. The magic disapproval numbers?

Maine
Approve: 28%
Disapprove: 71%

That's right Massachusetts, we're right on your ass, and we're about to leapfrog over New Jersey's net approval!

Get the full poll here.

Wisconsin Gets Ass Kicked, 8PM EST, ESPN2

***Udate: Wisconsin Maine gets ass kicked, 8PM, ESPN2.

That's right - for the 10th...count 'em, TENTH time in the past 18 seasons, the UMaine Black Bears have returned to College Hockey's Frozen Four.

Unfortunately, all 17,800 tickets at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee have been sold out for several months now, and about 99% of those by Wisconsin fans. Maine faced the same hostile crowd for the national championship in Minnesota 3 years ago, so they’re used to this kind of thing.

Either way, I’ve decided to take a political break and post the Maine Fight Song here for good luck…the only college fight song in the nation that contains references to drinking. Enjoy, and GO BIG BLUE!!

Fill the steins to dear old Maine.
Shout! till the rafters ring!
Stand and drink a toast once again!
Let every loyal Maine man sing.
Drink to all the happy hours,Drink to the careless days.
Drink to Maine, our Alma Mater,The college of our hearts always.

To the trees, to the sky,To the Spring in its glorious happiness;
To the youth, to the fire,To the life that is moving and calling us!
To the Gods, to the Fates,To the rulers of men and their destinies;
To the lips, to the eyes,To the girls who will love us some day.
Oh, fill the steins to dear old Maine.
Shout! till the rafters ring!
Stand and drink a toast once again!
Let every loyal Maine man sing.
Then drink to all the happy hours,Drink to the careless days.
Drink to Maine, our Alma Mater, The college of our hearts always.

Relating to the Post Below...

I've got the transcript for Bill Maher's brilliant ending to the "New Rules" on Friday, and thought I'd post it here. One of these days...I'll be able to articulate my thoughts with this kind of clarity and humor, but until then, I'll be posting as much Bill Maher as I can. Enjoy:

And finally, New Rule: People who run everything can't complain that they're underdogs.

To whit, this week, there was a highly-attended conference in Washington called “The War on Christians.” Because nothing quite says “I'm oppressed” like the opulent Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel. [laughter] [applause]

Ah, yes, whatever happened to that plucky little cult, Christianity? [laughter] Oh, that's right, they're 80% of the American people, and have taken over all three branches of government, country music, public schools, the bestseller list, and until recently, Katie Holmes. [laughter][applause] You know, Christians, I don't mind that you're part of a dress-up cult that hates sex and worships magic—[laughter]—but the paranoia, that does scare me.

Did you know that the Missouri legislature recently felt the need to propose a resolution declaring Christianity Missouri's majority religion. No kidding. Really, you mean people aren't saying, “Gosh, I'd like to go to Missouri , but…too Jewish.” [laughter] [applause]

In Savannah , recently, a children's book about a baby penguin who is raised by two
male penguins – ahh! [laughter] – was removed from the library for its homosexual overtones. Because you know penguins, in those tuxedos, with the dreamy eyes. [laughter] Huge fags! [laughter] [applause]

The Christian right are now officially the party of paranoia. Secularists are attacking Christmas! Gays are attacking marriage! Liberals are attacking values! White girls are being abducted at an alarming rate! You know, if you're going to be that paranoid all the time, just get high. [laughter] [applause] [cheers]

And the worst part is, the people bitching loudest about being persecuted for their Christianity aren't Christians at all. They're demagogues and conmen and scolds. And the only thing they worship is power. If you believe Jesus ever had a good word for war or torture or tax cuts for the rich, or raping the earth, or refusing water to dying migrants, then you might as well believe bunnies lay painted eggs. [laughter] [applause] [cheers]

And Jesus – and Jesus never said a word about gay marriage. He was much too busy hanging out with 12 guys. [laughter] Now – now I know George Bush says Jesus Christ changed his heart. But believe me, Dick Cheney changed it back. [laughter] The only thing Bush has in common with Jesus is they both went into their father's business and got crucified for it. [laughter] [applause]

Thomas Jefferson called the type of Christian who trumpets his own belief in the divinity of Jesus rather than the morality of Jesus “pseudo-Christians.” And that's who's running our country today. And since they thrive so much on turning water into “whining”—[laughter]—and get off on their endless pretend persecution, this Easter season, let's give them what they want.

Let's go to the zoo, get some lions, and feed them Tom DeLay. [laughter] [applause] [cheers]

Meet Your 2006 Spokespersons For God

Have you heard the news?

Audio:

As the audio above mentions, Christians are in fact being persecuted, and the leaders of the Christian Right gathered last week to tell you why. If you’d like a 1st person view of the account, I’d strongly recommend reading CampusProgress.org’s undercover investigation of the 48 hour gathering.

Meanwhile, if you really want to get a feel for those who are leading the fight against Christian persecution in a nation made up of 80-90% Christians with 43 consecutive Christian presidents including our current one who speaks openly of his faith daily, I’ve created a lineup of who’s who of speakers at the “War on Christians and the Values Voter in 2006."

Sam Brownback

(R)-Kansas

Best Known For: Hating, and I mean hating anything federalized. Upon entering Congress in 1994, he wanted to abolish the departments of education, energy and commerce (Because after all, Jesus hated education). He considers fetuses citizens of this country, and draws analogies between slavery, the Holocost, and the freedom he wants for fetuses. See this site for more info.

Actual Quote: "I have been and continue to be a strong believer and protector of traditional marriage. I think it's an important issue for society and for the country,"

Family Values: His wife proudly states that she “lives in the kitchen.” His older kids opt out of sex education at school.

John Cornyn (R)- Texas

Best Known For: Making excuses on the Senate floor for violence toward members of the judiciary if they are perceived too liberal, and comparing gay marriage to marrying a box turtle. As the former Texas Attorney General, there are emails between Ralph Reed and Tom Delay detailing help they received from Cornyn. (Read more here). As with our other Christians, he has an A+ rating from the NRA (because Jesus was a big fan of the A-K 47 and Bushmaster).

Actual Quote: “I wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception in some quarters on some occasions where judges are making political decisions yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in -- engage in violence.”

Family Values: In 2004 along with other Christian conservatives, voted against an amendment to increase funding for child care. Women should be at home, not meddling around in the work force.

Tom DeLay

(Christ do I even have enough space?)
Best Known for: Indimidating judges during the 2000 election, using Enron money to finance political racketeering, taking bribes from energy companies in Kansas, receiving multiple indictments for his hand in illegal corporate fundraising, getting rebuked by the Republican-lead House ethics committee for bribing and subsequently threatening a Michigan Congressman, getting rebuked yet again by the committee for voilating FAA rules, obstructing justice for low-paid sweatshop workers on the island of Saipan by taking large campaign contributions from Saipan's chief lobbyist and blocking any Congressional investigation of the appalling conditions there (including forced abortions, rape, and torture), shoving Rep. David Obey (D-WI) and while calling him "chicken shit" on the House floor, getting addmonished for threatening Electronic Industries Alliance for not hiring a Republican as its president, and much, much, much more.

Actual Quote(s): "A woman can take care of the family. It takes a man to provide structure, to provide stability," and "It has never been proven that air toxics are hazardous to people, " and "So many minority youths had volunteered…that there was literally no room for patriotic folks like myself," and "Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare, the teaching of evolution in the schools, and working mothers who take birth control pills."

Family Values: Of of the most fervent advocates for keeping Terri Schaivo in a coma, DeLay pulled the plug on his own father when he was in a similar situation.

Phyllis Schlafly

Best Known for: Her strong opposition to both feminism and the Equal Rights Amendment, and being anti-woman in general; looking like someone's grandmother trapped in 1940 - forever.

Actual Quote(s): Schlafly credits improvement in women's lives over the years with inventions such as clothes dryers and disposable diapers. "When I got married, all I wanted was a dryer so I didn't have to hang my diapers on a clothesline. Now, mothers have paper diapers. Et cetera, et cetera."

Family Values: Schlafly has dedicated much of her life in the past 20 years to opposing gay rights, gay marriage or recognition of any bias toward gays whatsoever. Her son, John Schlafly, is gay.

Janet Parshall - Talk Show Host

Best Known for: Attacking women, hating Hillary Clinton, former spokesperson of the Right Wing hate group Family Research Council.

Actual Quote(s): "But, in reality, I understand that Matthew (murdered because he was gay) was somewhat of a person who hung around some of the gay bars and was coming on to some people. So, was he looking for trouble in all the wrong places?"

"What I have against (gay parents adopting children) is that it's a pretend family."

"I think when two people of the same sex get together and they decide to use the moniker of a marriage, I think it's a grotesque misrepresentation, and actually, if that union decides that they want to then adopt children 'cause biology says they can't create children, then I think what you have in many respects is state-sanctioned child abuse..."

Family Values: Parshall is a closet lesbian.

Gary Bauer (R) Presidential Hopeful

Best Known for: Half of his staff, including the head of his campaign, quitting on him after it was discovered he was having an affair with his 27-year old presidential campaign aide in 2000. He was part of the neocon PNAC movement to invade the Middle East, yet received two deferrments and avoided the draft during Vietnam. As with other Christian Conservatives, he strong ties to Jack Abramoff, and has co-chaired, served on panels with and launched organizations with Abramoff.

Actual Quote(s): "I believe if more American children read the Ten Commandments and are taught what they mean, they will predictably engage in less crime. "

"Public Education, as the government’s means of influencing the next generation of Americans, should gratefully acknowledge the presence of religious belief in our country…Religion offers what even the best public school cannot: eternal hope, purpose and meaning, and redemption for the child’s soul."

Family Values: To read more about the man who claims to be the spokesperson for sacred institute for marriage, Google "Gary Bauer affair."

Alan Keyes (Senate Hopeful)

Best Known for: Perhaps fighting for anti-gay legislation more than anyone on this panel. He has called abortion the "genocide" of African-Americans, and abortion doctors as terrorists, and referred to Dick Cheney's daughter as a "selfish hedonist" because she is gay.

Actual Quote(s): "(Barrak Obama) stands for the position that has been identified by the Catholic Church as objectively evil...Catholics who vote for him make themselves part of that evil, just as the folks in Germany who voted for the party that eventually led to the Holocaust."

Family Values: Like other Christian conservatives who hate homosexuality, Keyes has said that those who are gay should pray to God for help dealing with that sin. Alan's daughter Maya, is gay.