April 30th, 2008
A friend of mine, and occasional Lean Left commenter, Angus Johnston, has started a blog focused on US student activism: studentactivism.net. Angus is completing his PhD in History this semester; his dissertation is on the history of student activist groups from the 60s. He is also currently hooked into nationwide student activist groups as they exist today, and has acted in an advisory role for some of them. (He was, you won’t be surprised to hear, more or less the Megaphone Mark of his own campus as an undergrad.) He comes to his subject with considerable experience and academic expertise.
studentactivism.net covers current controversies involving students or colleges, as well as student organizing, activism, and rights issues. Given the high representation of the academic world in the blogosphere, and the increasing politicization of campuses and the educational experience, it’s a valuable resource for anyone interested in what’s happening with campuses today, and the generations of young citizens they are turning out. Check it out!
Categories: Bloggin, Culture, Education, General, Politics, School |
No Comments
April 29th, 2008
Democrats in the Senate held hearings on contracting abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a woefully under-reported topic in our media. Some of the companies operating in Iraq have a deplorable record of over-charging the government, providing sub-standard and possibly even dangerous services to our soldiers, and abusing Iraqi civilians. Some of these companies make the war profiteers form the Second World War and the Civil War look like pikers by comparison.
The video for the hearings can be found here.
Categories: Economics, General, How Capitalism Will Ruin You, Iraq, Politics |
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April 29th, 2008
Because I like to talk about writing and stuff.
- The Art of Alchemy by Ted Kosmatka. Not a bad piece to start off the issue. In plot and idea, it is a fairly standard action-adventure piece centered n a fairly standard notion of how economics and new technology interact. The plot moves along at a fun clip and manages to be not quite predictable and not opaque. The writing was very nicely done and there were several very nice, very compelling moments between the main characters. Plus, the setting was in a part of the country I know fairly well and the author didn’t make too many obvious mistakes. B-
- The Salting and Canning of Benevolence D by Al Michaud. I gathered that this was supposed to be an amusing story, a kind of made-up folk story that Mark Twain was so accomplished at, with perhaps a bit of satire thrown in for good measure. If that was the author’s intent, he failed miserably. The plot centers around a group of friends and acquaintances who set off to end a haunting in an alternate America where Native American and European folk lore have bended together. In the hands of someone like Twain or Terry Pratchett, this could have been very good. In Michaud’s hands it was interminable and depressingly predictable. The characters almost all spoke like refugees from Gasoline Alley and the plot points could be seen lumbering toward the readers from miles and miles away. easily the worst piece in the issue. Still, the apparent recognition by one of the characters of just how asinine the rest of the characters apeared did lend some levity to the pice and the writing was solid if not spectacular. D-
- Litany by Rand B. Lee. This piece is a much better example of how to do made up myths. It blends hints of New age mysticism with Old Testament horror and a compelling main character. The story is about a man trying to find a way to escape a curse, or a sentence, and what prices aren’t worth paying. It is suspenseful, has many well drawn characters and is well written. It feels like a myth, like a story told to teach children lessons and remind adults of wisdom they had forgotten. It was my second favorite piece in the issue. B+
- Fegus by Mary Patterson Thornburg. This was my favorite piece in the issue. It’s not much of story, really, short on plot and action. It is more of an emotion. But its powerful emotion and it was presented well. Parents, I think, will understand. B +
- Character Flu by Robert Reed. In the same way Fergus was less of a story and more of an emotion, Character Flu is less of a story and more of an idea. It’s a semi-interesting idea told professionally enough to make me wish the author had written an actual story. But he didn’t, so the experience is pretty underwhelming. C
- Monkey See by P. E. Cunningham. This is a fun little action story set in a magical, samurai-era Japan centered around the danger of giving monkeys too much power. The piece is fun and light, written in a fast-paced, breezy style that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It was a fun read. B-
Beyond the stories, the two book review columns both convinced me not to buy any of the books reviewed. Which, I suppose, means they did their job. Lucius Shepard was in full-on Lord of the Curmudgeons mode for is movie review column, making himfunnier than anything ese in the magazine. All in all, a solid effort. Two very good stories and only one stinker in the lot.
Categories: General, Reviews |
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April 28th, 2008
The Sunday “why aren’t you wearing a flag pin?” edition of the TennViews intermittently weekly blog roundup showcasing the best bloggers in Tennessee and what they are talking about…
• 55-40 Memphis: I’m a Hillary-hater now
• BlountViews: Republican County Mayor charges Sunshine Law violation against commissioners helping citizen investigate county finances. Plus: Local paper discovers blogs, interviews yours truly.
• Carole Borges: Hillary please do go gently into that good night
• The Crone Speaks: Abstinence Only Doesn’t Work, and Barrack’s Senior Problem
• Cup of Joe Powell: Search For Terrorism in TN Nets Seatbelt Violations , plus: this is not a pipe.
• The Donkey’s Mouth: Tennessee’s Republican Congressional delegation votes against Medicaid Safety Net, TN GOP doesn’t get the memo and blames Bredesen.
• Enclave: Beth Harwell has no interest in protecting Tennessee kids from dangerous toys (wonder why?), and any effort to regulate dangerous toys at the state level usurps the federal government’s right to not regulate dangerous toys.
• Fletch: See Chattanooga on a Segway, plus Temple of the Gods: When the temple is occupied, the gods will command a magnificent air-conditioned vista of downtown, the Tennessee River, and Lookout Mountain, while processing the paperwork and making life and death financial and health decisions for the mere mortals down below who pay their tithes to the gods.
• KnoxViews: Straight talk about real life, plus McCain wins Pennsylvania primary. Bonus: KnoxViews voted best local blog by Metro Pulse alt-weekly readers. (Instapundit was a runner up.)
• Lean Left: McCain Opposed To New Benefits for Veterans, plus: Lean Left: You don’t stop doing business with Pizza Hut because you don’t like their corporate policies. You stop doing business with Pizza Hut because they have sh**ty pizza.
• Left of the Dial: No Deal
• Left Wing Cracker: It’s time for some MISSIONARY work, my Democratic brothers and sisters, plus: Democrats for LAMAR!
• Liberadio: Steve Gill’s Gas Problem, and Phil Valentine’s Lying Problem
• NewsComa: Now famous in Pakistan.
• Progressive Nashville: Lamar Alexander Votes To Deny Justice to Tennessee Workers: Alexander and Corker both feel safe in their seats, so they had the freedom to vote party line over common sense. They should both be ashamed. Plus: What do coral snake bites and German rooftops have in common? Hint: the so-called free market.
• Resonance: Is Conspicuous Consumption Out? Plus, People Get Outraged Over The Silliest Things: And somewhere near the bottom of the list would be the horror of having my precious snowflake exposed to a few seconds of Spanish over the school public address system one day a year.
• RoaneViews: Becky Ruppe Officially announced her campaign for State Senator
• Russ McBee: McCain’s Pander Bus stops in New Orleans, lies to the Lower 9th. Plus: happy blogiversary!
• Sean Braisted: Let the Caveats Begin: John McCain is backtracking on his tough talk over earmarks… Plus: Willie Horton Part Deux
• Sharon Cobb: Reverend Jeremiah Wright Gives First Interview: I bring all of this up to underscore how much your average white person does not know about the black churches, and how Rev. Wright is going to get his words twisted. Plus: Hillary Clinton Runs Her Campaign Like A Republican, And It Will Backfire
• Silence Isn’t Golden: Dear Senator Obama: Hi. I know you’re busy right now, and you’ve got a lot on your mind. But if you can spare a few minutes, then for God’s sake, call this woman! Bonus: Awesome spring break, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. (And the amazing thing is, she still found time to blog for Obama!)
• Southern Beale: Rep. Jim Cooper recounts an embarrassing trip aboard Air Force One (”These are astronaut mattresses!”) Plus: Back to the Kitchen!
• Tennessee Guerilla Women: Chelsea Clinton at Duke On Hillary’s Position On Feminist Issues: In the video clip below, Chelsea Clinton campaigns at North Carolina’s Duke University (on Equal Pay Day) and points out that numerous feminist, um, human rights bills fail to pass in even a Democratic Congress. Plus: NY Times Whines: Hillary Made Politics Mean!
• TennViews: Democratic Convention 101, Plus: Fight higher grocery prices: Buy local
• Vibinc: Harrowing Healthcare Hedge, And: Whiners and Hand Wringers
• Whites Creek Journal: WhitesCreek Journal: No She Can’t: Ohmygod!!! Obama is Willard Scott! Plus: Pictures from the Morning Hike: My yard is a bit unusual, lying in three counties and two time zones, and having over 800 feet of elevation change from bottom to top.
• Women’s Health News: Drug-Addicted Women Need Medical Care, Not Jail Plus: Happy Earth Day - Alternative & Reusable Menstrual Products
Categories: General |
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April 25th, 2008
Yes, I know two games are in the books, but I’m not modifying my predictions based on those results, and I didn’t see any of the games.
EAST:
Flyers vs. Canadiens: The Flyers are a physical, ugly team, while the Canadiens are more of a finesse team. In the playoffs, as much as Kevin hates it, brawn wins. Flyers in 7
Rangers vs. Penguins: The Penguins look for all the world like the team to beat in the East. And even though New York has good goaltending, so does Pittsburgh. Penguins in 6
WEST:
Avalanche vs. Red Wings: The Avs are a tempting upset pick, but I don’t think this is the round where Detroit falls. Goaltending will be the difference here. Red Wings in 7
Sharks vs. Stars: I’m sticking with my prediction that the Sharks will repeat their perennial playoff choke in the second round. They should have destroyed Calgary, and barely escaped in seven games. Plus, Turco’s playing as well for the Stars as he’s ever played. Couple that with the fact that a Wings-Stars conference final makes me want to vomit, and it seems pretty much inevitable. Stars in 6
Categories: NHL, Sports |
1 Comment
April 24th, 2008
I know, the games have started, but I haven’t looked at the scores.
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
- Flyers vs. Canadians Montreal did not look particularly good against the Bruins, but the Flyers almost gave upa 3-1 series lead, and probably would have if Ovechkin had chosen to take that shot. The Flyers don’t score particularly well and while thier defense is good it is not great. Montreal’s young goalie will probably give away a game, but the Habs offensive will eventually overpower the Flyers. Habs in Six
- Rangers vs. Penguins The Penguins just might be the best tam in the East right now. The big question is how much the long layoff has hurt them, though that is ususally overrated. The Penguins have a lot of firepower, but they also play solid defense and have, at least, above average goal-tending. They wont be pushed around by the Rangers and they will have to many offensive weapons for the Rangers to cope with. The Rangers might have the goalie playing better right now, but even if they do, the difference wont be enough. Penguins in Six
Western Conference Semi-Finals
- Avalanche Vs. Red Wings This should be a great series. These are both tough, veteran teams with a decent amount of firepower. They are both solid on the blue lines and have forwards who will score regardless of how much abuse they have to take to do it. There is a lot of bad blood between the franchises and so the games should be tight and exciting, filled with big hits and big plays. Much has been made of how old the Avs best players are, but I think Foresberg in particular is rounding into mid-season shape. In the end, I think that this comes down to goal-tending. Osgood had a nice last couple f games agaisnt the Predatos, but they played a good chunk of that time without there best offensive weapon. Considering that Osgood is a not-quite great goaltender and that Theodore is playing like a great goalie, and I think the edge has to go to the Avs. Avs in Seven
- Stars vs. Sharks Earlier I said that the Sharks were playing the best hockey in the league. Either the Flames were playing the second-best hockey in the league or the Sharks were exposed a bit. I think the Sharks were exposed a bit, but I also think they found their form in the last couple of games. Dallas is a little bit under rated, I think. The addition of Richardson (who should have been a Blackhawk, damn it) has made their offense more effective and they are a solid defensive team with solid goal-tending. But they are just a solid team; when the Sharsk starting clicking, though, they are just this side of unstoppable. Sharks in Six
Categories: General, NHL, Sports |
2 Comments
April 24th, 2008
How the times change. Three of the top five boy names in 2006 are names that greatly increased the likelihood of you getting your ass kicked on a regular basis back when I was a kid.
Categories: Culture, I do too have a life |
9 Comments
April 24th, 2008
SayUncle is getting all PSH over some gun nonsense, while missing the larger point: Pizza Hut’s pizza sucks, so their corporate policies are pretty much irrelevant. Of course, it’s possible he lives in Backwater, USA (His The City), and Pizza Hut may be his only choice (besides maybe Domino’s, which would be no choice at all, really…). But still, let’s get some perspective here. You don’t stop doing business with Pizza Hut because you don’t like their corporate policies. You stop doing business with Pizza Hut because they have shitty pizza.
Categories: Bloggin, Libertarian Problem Solving |
11 Comments
April 23rd, 2008
Let’s take a quick look at how Kevin and I did with our predictions:
EAST:
- Canadiens over Bruins in 7 — Kevin picked the Habs in 6, and I picked them in 4. So we both had the team right, but Kevin was closer on the degree of difficulty.
- Penguins over Senators in 4 — Kevin picked the Penguins in 6, while I picked them in 5. So again, we were wrong about the degree of difficulty, but this time in the opposite direction.
- Flyers over Capitals in 7 — Lookie there, I got one exactly right! Kevin, on the other hand, screwed the pooch, picking the Capitals in 5.
- Rangers over Devils in 5 — This time, it was my turn to screw the pooch, as I had the Devils in 6. Kevin correctly picked the Rangers, but had them winning in 7 games.
WEST:
- Red Wings over Predators in 6 — Hey, another one exactly correct! This time, both Kevin and I nailed it.
- Sharks over Flames in 7 — Again, Kevin and I both got the right team, but were wrong about difficulty. I had it taking 5 games, while Kevin had a four-game sweep.
- Avalanche over Wild in 6 — Kevin had this exactly right, while I had it going to 7 games. But we both correctly picked the upset here.
- Stars over Ducks in 6 — This was my second pooch-screw, as I picked the Ducks in 6. Kevin correctly picked the Stars, but had it taking 7 games.
Final Tally: Kevin 7 out of 8, with one exactly right; Tom 6 out of 8, with two exactly right.
Hopefully we’ll have our bad round two predictions later.
Categories: General |
2 Comments
April 22nd, 2008
Tonight, PBS is re-playing the Frontline special on the politics of Global Warming. I strongly recommend that you watch it, record it, TiVo it, or otherwise check it out.
UPDATE: If you missed it, you can watch the whole program on-line here.
Categories: Climate Change, Politics, Science |
1 Comment
April 21st, 2008
Ann VanderMeer knows …
Mermaid - A: “No, for the obvious reasons.” EM: “What if you marry one? Is that kosher? Will a rabbi marry you?” A: “Kosher is a term about eating, not about sex.” EM: “I’m not talking about sex–I’m talking about marriage!” A: “If the mermaid is Jewish, the rabbi will probably marry you. But only if you’re Jewish too. But you’ll definitely have to find the right rabbi…”
Mongolian Death Worm - A: “No, because you cannot eat anything that crawls on its belly.” EM: “Does that mean an injured kosher animal that is crawling along isn’t kosher any more?” A: “Yes, because you can’t eat an animal that’s been injured or is sick.” EM: “It’s a wonder you haven’t all starved to death.”
Categories: Culture, General, Humor |
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April 21st, 2008
I have hardly ever agreed with McCain on the issues, but I don’t think I have every held him in contempt. Until now
Disappointingly, Sen. John McCain, presumptive Republican candidate for president, so far declines to back the measure. He seems to be responding to concerns of the military brass that enhanced educational opportunities could negatively affect retention rates. Not only is it wrong to want people to stay in the military because they have no alternatives, but such thinking ignores the advantages enhanced educational benefits offer in recruitment. To meet recruitment goals, the military has offered bonuses and lowered some of its standards. Imagine being able instead to promise possible recruits a first-class college education.
these are combat veterans we are talking about. We owe these men and women every bit of help adjusting back to civilian life we can possibly give them and we certainly owe them the chance to improve their station in life. Unlike McCain, not every vet is going to be able to marry an heiress. But McCain doesn’t support this bill? Why: becasue he thinks it will hurt retention. McCain is afraid that if we actually reward soldiers who have risked their lives in the service of their country that they wont have any incentive to stay for extra tours.
McCain is afraid, at the end of the day, that if we treat our veterans with the decency they deserve and provide them with the opportunities due them from a grateful nation that he won’t have enough soldiers left to stay in Iraq for a hundred years or fight the wars he apparently confuses with “national greatness”. And so tough luck boys and girls: Johnny McCain needs you back on the front lines, not home with your families and certainly to in a college classroom backing a better life for you and yours.
Categories: Politics |
1 Comment
April 19th, 2008
- If you’re going to fuck up somebody’s truck, you’d better have a helluva lot better justification than “probably.” Just sayin’. Oh, and unless you want to pay for all the damage you’ve caused, carving your name into his leather seats probably isn’t a good idea.
- People who have read the book suck. If you’ve read the book, do yourself and everyone else a favor: Don’t go see the movie. They simply can’t fit a 400-page book into a two hour movie, so it’s going to be different. Deal with it, or stay home. Even if they did stay true to the book, you’d end up with something like 2001: A Space Oddysey, which makes absolutely no fucking sense to anyone who hasn’t read the book.
- If the ability to read from a teleprompter were the most important criterion for being president, Clinton would be defeated by Obama in a landslide. But for self-effacing humor, Edwards wins hands down. [Side note: Obama proves that he's anti-gun by removing James Brady from the "On Notice" board. I'm surprised Uncle isn't all over this.]
- While I’m on the subject of things absolutely nobody here cares about, the NBA playoffs start today. Whatever little semblance of traveling and charging rules the NBA may have, they’re officially null and void until next season.
Categories: I do too have a life |
4 Comments
April 16th, 2008
My Lord, that was awful. The first hour contained not a single question on any matter of policy. Not one. They asked about flag pins for crying out loud. They asked no questions, as far as I could tell, about the torture memos, about FISA, about health care, about deregulation, about the housing mortgage crisis, the world food crisis, global warming, al Qaeda or Pakistan. Not only did Gibson frame is economic question entirely in the terms of the discredit supply-side economics, he then argued with the candidates about their answers! They gave each person one minute to talk about gas prices! This was the worst debate I can remember watching. It was a complete travesty, a two hour object lesson in the complete and utter collapse of American media.
Categories: General, Politics |
3 Comments
April 15th, 2008
Geoff Davis, Republican from Kentucky, callled Obama a boy:
“I’m going to tell you something: That boy’s finger does not need to be on the button,” Davis said. “He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country.”
Then, when the furor erupted, he “apologized”:
My poor choice of words is regrettable and was in no way meant to impugn you or your integrity. I offer my sincere apology to you and ask for your forgiveness.
Though we may disagree on many issues, I know that we share the goal of a prosperous, secure future for our nation. My comment has detracted from the dialogue that we should all be having on legitimate policy differences and in no way reflects the personal and professional respect I have for you.
Notice what is missing? An apology for calling Obama “boy”. Boy, in that context, is a racist remark, period. Boy is what people in the South say when they want to say n*gger but don’t want to get called on it. It is as racist as it is possible to be, and yet Davis did not apologize for it. Lee Atwater would have been proud: not only did Davis blow the dog whistle but he then refused to mute it by apologizing for it.
This is going to be an ugly campaign. The GOP clearly intends to yell “n*gger, n*gger” or “b*tch, b*tch” for the entire campaign in a desperate attempt to divert attention away from the complete mess they have made of the country. If they did not, McCain wouldn’t have chuckled when the a questioner called Clinton a b*tch. If they did not, McCain would have fired the staffer that spread the email rumors about Obama instead of just suspending him/her. If they did not, Davis would have actually apologized for his use of racist terminology. But none of that happened.
Expect it tog et worse, folks. This kind of base “us and them” destructiveness is all they have left and they obviously feel no shame in using it.
Categories: Culture, General, Politics |
82 Comments
April 15th, 2008
Today is tax day, and that means that we’re bound to be “treated” to all sorts of anti-tax libertarian blog posts today about how horrible it is that the government rapes us, steals our money at gunpoint, takes “half” our money, etc., etc., whine whine whine, bitch bitch bitch. Now the part that these taxophobes don’t ever want to talk about is that while everyone hates paying taxes, people generally like most of the things that taxes pay for (unpopular wars aside). But I’ll let someone else write about that aspect. What I want to talk about, instead, is how horribly the anti-tax crowd exaggerates how much we’re actually taxed.
To counter that, without revealing too many personal details, I’m going to post a summary of my tax situation, and challenge the anti-tax folks to do the same. No specific numbers, just the generalities that I’m listing here.
To that end, for the tax year 2007: (Below the fold)
(more…)
Categories: Economics, Libertarian Problem Solving, Politics |
29 Comments
April 14th, 2008
I did not see all of the forum, so I something may have happened that would change this opinion, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the “compassion forum” CNN held last night. It seemed to me that the quality of the answers, if not necessarily the questions, was much, much better than during a normal debate. Debates have denigrated into a series of stupid “gotcha” questions and talking point regurgitation that very often have little to do with the actual issues facing the country. I think the format allowed for much more detailed, thoughtful responses that you usually find in a political setting. Yes, it did seem at times that Clinton was filibustering, but there did seem to be less pre-canned responses and fewer talking points. I would really like to see a couple more of these kids of discussion on different topics. I think a forum like this on foreign affairs, science, and the economy could be very useful.
Categories: General, Politics |
3 Comments
April 14th, 2008
The Sunday “spring has sprung but why is it so cold?” edition of the TennViews weekly blog roundup showcasing the best bloggers in Tennessee and what they are talking about…
• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: Add my voice to the “Bredesen Blew It” Chorus: Disappointing is becoming a real habit for you.
• 55-40 Memphis: Scary: In fact, some days I’m not absolutely certain he’s black, but I’ll take Obama’s word for it.
• Aunt B.: Why Does Nashville Have Such a High Incarceration Rate?: So, why is our jail a quarter full of illegal immigrants and Memphis’s jail not?
• BlountViews (yellowdog): TDOT Still Backwards After All These Years: The TDOT people and the consultants they hire are stuck in old and irrelevant system of transportation planning rules, and it will take public outcry and active engagement at the level of the regional transportation planning organizations (TPOs) to change it.
• Carole Borges: Mandated health insurance causing problems in MA: One thing we certainly don’t need in America is another law that involves the government making choices for citizens. The crisis in MA should make people stop and think before they jump on the mandated health insurance bandwagon. It just might be going nowhere.
• The Crone Speaks: Uninsurance Third Leading Cause of Death for Near-Elderly: How many people should die because they don’t have health insurance, before we recognize the need for a Medicare for All program?
• Cup of Joe Powell: Devilish Details In TN Cable Franchise Legislation: But it’s rather obvious the state legislature has crafted a plan to serve the needs of business first and residents second. Given the solemn claim by Tennessee House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh to push this plan through, your voice and the voices of other Tennessee residents has little impact, and this proposal will likely become the law in Tennessee.
• Don Williams: As KnoxVoice reinvents herself, so am I: I’m optimistic or naive enough to believe our old world and country are headed for a gentler blooming. Springtime is the season for hope, renewal, for celebrating touchstones and anniversaries.
• The Donkey’s Mouth: One more reason why Lincoln looks strong in ‘08: It does seem fishy that Lankford lives outside of the district and will probably be self-financed. A New York Times article, “Short of Funds, GOP recruits rich to run,” talks about the significant dearth of fundraising and legitimate recruits at the RNC.
• Enclave: Senate’s Foreclosure Prevention Act Forecloses on Families: Once again, in a crisis the U.S. Senate is going to come down on the side of the people who are hurting least in the housing industry. And as Republicans, the Senators of Tennessee can do no other.
• Fletch: Lackluster and Luster
• KnoxViews: State funded luxury hunting lodge audit findings: Apparently, most of the funds have gone to build a luxury hunting lodge and payment of Bittle’s salary. (Bittle sponsored the bill that created the specialty license plate and directed the proceeds to his foundation while he was a member of the Tennessee House.) The state audit recommends changes to state law to require better accounting of how such funds are spent.
• Lean Left: Lean Left: They have violated laws and common decency with impunity. They will probably get away with it — our press refuses to cover it and our Democratic leadership refuses to act. Plus: Petraeus and Crocker: Iraq Wrong War with No Way Out
• Left of the Dial: No Thanks: I received an offer to interview either Sean Astin or John Grisham tomorrow about their support of Hillary Clinton. I passed. I’m all for Hillary but, sorry, no free ad time.
• Left Wing Cracker: Stunning news from the Election Commission: This changes everything, folks, stay tuned…
• Liberadio: This week’s Liberadio(!) podcast You know what else John McCain’s not so strong on? Giving Martin Luther King his props., plus more.
• Loose TN Canon: Colin Powell supports Iraq withdrawal and praises Obama
• NewsComa: Meeting Mike Padgett: an extensive report
• Progressive Nashville: Closed-minded legislators: The Tennessee legislature, which has spent an inordinate amount of time this session trying to close records and operate in secret, is at it again with a plan to make it more difficult to obtain public records. Plus: Thompson floated as veep
• Resonance: “Success” In Iraq: Here’s my definition…
• RoaneViews: A Letter to Tommy Kilby, and His response: Don’t exclude “limited resource waters” from “waters” of the state
• Russ McBee: On the Olympic torch protests: Although the Olympics are supposed to be beyond politics and are supposed to rise above international disputes, the Chinese government itself is assuring that this cannot happen.
• Sean Braisted: Alexander and “Big Oil”: Bob Tuke, in an appeal for contributions, takes Sen. Lamar Alexander to task for being in the pockets of “big oil”. Plus: DSCC Forgets Tennessee
• Sharon Cobb: Hey Tennessee, Jon Stewart is coming To Nashville, plus: Total Bullsh*t That Hillary Calls On Boycott Of Olympic Games Now: While I am in total agreement that the entire planet should boycott the Olympics in China, why didn’t Hillary Clinton call for a boycott before this week?
• Silence Isn’t Golden: Silence Isn’t Golden: The Bitter Irony: Of all of the faux outrage over Obama’s statement, this has got to be the most ironic. Plus: Define “Women’s Issues”
• Southern Beale: Gus Puryear: Still A CCA Crony: Why is Democrat Thurgood Marshall Jr. endorsing Gus Puryear, Bush’s controversial pick for the federal bench in Middle Tennessee? Plus: Energy Saved Is Energy Found
• Tennessee Guerilla Women: Governor Rendell (D-PA): Obama Should Pay Keith Olbermann, plus: Photos of NYC Protest Against Hillary-Hating Media Bias
• TennViews: TN Senate 08 wrinkle: Questions arise whether Overbey is qualified to be on the ballot v. Sen. Raymond Finney. Plus: Republicans defeat Rural Health Act.
• Vibinc: Free Ride: The Tennessee Bush Dogs are on their way to re-election, some with less opposition than others.
• Whites Creek Journal: George W. Bush Should Stay Away from the Olympics!: No, I’m not proposing a boycott… I just don’t want George W. Bush representing America any more. Plus: Stoopid Human Tricks: A close second behind coal burning in the stupid human tricks department is damming rivers.
• Women’s Health News: 1) Think About Sex. 2) Design Undies. 3) Win!
Categories: Bloggin, General |
No Comments
April 13th, 2008
In 2002, high ranking officials — including Rice, Cheney, Ashcroft, and Powell — met to approve torture tactics:
Highly placed sources said a handful of top advisers signed off on how the CIA would interrogate top al Qaeda suspects — whether they would be slapped, pushed, deprived of sleep or subjected to simulated drowning, called waterboarding.
The high-level discussions about these “enhanced interrogation techniques” were so detailed, these sources said, some of the interrogation sessions were almost choreographed — down to the number of times CIA agents could use a specific tactic.
The advisers were members of the National Security Council’s Principals Committee, a select group of senior officials who met frequently to advise President Bush on issues of national security policy.
At the time, the Principals Committee included Vice President Cheney, former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell, as well as CIA Director George Tenet and Attorney General John Ashcroft.
As the national security adviser, Rice chaired the meetings, which took place in the White House Situation Room and were typically attended by most of the principals or their deputies.
…
Bush approved of those meetings and their objective:
“Well, we started to connect the dots, in order to protect the American people.” Bush told ABC New s White House correspondent Martha Raddatz. “And, yes, I’m aware our national security team met on this issue. And I approved.”…
Bush said the ABC report about the Principals’ involvement was not so “startling.”
At the highest level of government torture was planned and approved. Not even the smallest detail of the torture was left unexplored. They went so far as to choreograph individual torture sessions. Can’t you just see Cheney sitting there, watching someone act out the torture of another person in exquisite detail, Cheney leaning forward intently, bit of drool at the corner of his mount, shrivillveled little heart beating harder and harder as the grotesque play was acted out in front of him?
These are the acts of war criminals, of miniature monsters. They have abandoned all morality n their desperate attempt to prove to themselves that they aren’t the pathetical little cowards they know themselves to be. They have violated laws and common decency with impunity. They will probably get away with it — our press refuses to cover it and our Democratic leadership refuses to act. But hiding our collective heads in the sand wont change a thing. These people are tin-pot thugs and they have acted in the most despicable and cowardly fashion. They know it, their supporters know it, the world knows and we aren’t going to forget it.
This is what it means to be a Bush supporter today: so terrified by Al Qaeda that they turned themselves into cut-rate Pinochets. I have said this before, but Al Qaeda has beaten these people. They are so afraid that they willingly abandon the best of America and behave exactly as Al Qaeda wants them to behave. Pathetic is a good word to describe them. So is evil.
Categories: General |
5 Comments
April 11th, 2008
I’m pretty sure, I’ve linked this before, but it’s a brilliant piece of satire. Flame on!
Categories: Health, Humor, Satire, Weekend Flame Bait |
2 Comments
