Saturday, May 29, 2004
Four More U.S. Troops Killed in Afghanistan
This is going to get much worse unless we get our act together.
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This is going to get much worse unless we get our act together.
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CNN Sues FL for the Right to See Voter Rolls
Greg Palast has done tireless work to bring the story of Katherine Harris and the Florida voter-purge debacle of 2000 to the world. It was given little attention in the States when Al Gore was robbed. But recently, thankfully, the story is making a comeback. This article in The Nation a couple of weeks ago reminded people that the problem is still very much in existence and may have actually spread to other states.
CNN has just sued the State of Florida for the right to see their list of purged voters:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As Florida county election boards review a list of thousands of potentially ineligible voters -- including some who may be felons -- CNN is suing the state, claiming the public and media should also be able to review the list.
The move comes four years after the state's voter rolls were at the center of one of the closest elections in U.S. history.
The state Monday denied a CNN request for a copy of the list of up to 48,000 people. These people, according to the state, could be ineligible to vote because they are felons or have multiple registrations -- or have died since the last election...
Here's hoping that this brings illegal voter purges to the forefront of the media landscape and helps to bring attention to the other potential problems with electronic voting machines & Diebold.
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Greg Palast has done tireless work to bring the story of Katherine Harris and the Florida voter-purge debacle of 2000 to the world. It was given little attention in the States when Al Gore was robbed. But recently, thankfully, the story is making a comeback. This article in The Nation a couple of weeks ago reminded people that the problem is still very much in existence and may have actually spread to other states.
CNN has just sued the State of Florida for the right to see their list of purged voters:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As Florida county election boards review a list of thousands of potentially ineligible voters -- including some who may be felons -- CNN is suing the state, claiming the public and media should also be able to review the list.
The move comes four years after the state's voter rolls were at the center of one of the closest elections in U.S. history.
The state Monday denied a CNN request for a copy of the list of up to 48,000 people. These people, according to the state, could be ineligible to vote because they are felons or have multiple registrations -- or have died since the last election...
Here's hoping that this brings illegal voter purges to the forefront of the media landscape and helps to bring attention to the other potential problems with electronic voting machines & Diebold.
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WaPo Calls it Like it is: Homicide
Prisoner abuse? I think murder is a more appropriate description. The first and last grafs from an editorial in today's WaPo:
PRESIDENT BUSH'S persistence in describing the abuse of foreign prisoners as an isolated problem at one Iraqi prison is blatantly at odds with the facts seeping out from his administration. These include mounting reports of crimes at detention facilities across Iraq and Afghanistan and evidence that detention policies the president approved helped set the stage for torture and homicide. Yes, homicide: The most glaring omission from the president's account is that at least 37 people have died in U.S. custody in Iraq and Afghanistan -- and that at least 10 of these cases are suspected criminal killings of detainees by U.S. interrogators or soldier
(...)
It is horrifying to contemplate that U.S. interrogators have tortured and killed foreign prisoners and that their superiors have ignored or covered up their crimes -- and yet that is where the available facts point. Pentagon officials say they will pursue investigations vigorously and that those guilty of crimes will be brought to justice. It is essential to the preservation of this country's fundamental values that they do so. It is essential also to examine the consequences in the field of policy decisions made by the most senior officials in Washington. But the sorry record of the Bush administration -- and the president's own refusal to speak the truth about it -- suggests that justice will require vigorous and sustained intervention by outside parties, beginning with Congress.
Explicit details in between.
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Prisoner abuse? I think murder is a more appropriate description. The first and last grafs from an editorial in today's WaPo:
PRESIDENT BUSH'S persistence in describing the abuse of foreign prisoners as an isolated problem at one Iraqi prison is blatantly at odds with the facts seeping out from his administration. These include mounting reports of crimes at detention facilities across Iraq and Afghanistan and evidence that detention policies the president approved helped set the stage for torture and homicide. Yes, homicide: The most glaring omission from the president's account is that at least 37 people have died in U.S. custody in Iraq and Afghanistan -- and that at least 10 of these cases are suspected criminal killings of detainees by U.S. interrogators or soldier
(...)
It is horrifying to contemplate that U.S. interrogators have tortured and killed foreign prisoners and that their superiors have ignored or covered up their crimes -- and yet that is where the available facts point. Pentagon officials say they will pursue investigations vigorously and that those guilty of crimes will be brought to justice. It is essential to the preservation of this country's fundamental values that they do so. It is essential also to examine the consequences in the field of policy decisions made by the most senior officials in Washington. But the sorry record of the Bush administration -- and the president's own refusal to speak the truth about it -- suggests that justice will require vigorous and sustained intervention by outside parties, beginning with Congress.
Explicit details in between.
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Tillman Killed By Friendly Fire?
Apparently so, according to an unnamed Afghan official. This account contradicts what was originally reported, that Tillman's platoon had faced enemy fire.
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Apparently so, according to an unnamed Afghan official. This account contradicts what was originally reported, that Tillman's platoon had faced enemy fire.
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Friday, May 28, 2004
The Whiskey Bar is Open!
Do yourself a favor and read this post from Billmon. After a brief hiatus he's come back with one of the most informative, passionate posts you'll ever read about the Iraq war and all of the problems that face the "coalition of the willing."
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Do yourself a favor and read this post from Billmon. After a brief hiatus he's come back with one of the most informative, passionate posts you'll ever read about the Iraq war and all of the problems that face the "coalition of the willing."
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800
Let's not forget:
As of Thursday, May 27, 800 U.S. service members have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq last year, according to the Defense Department. Of those, 585 died as a result of hostile action and 215 died of non-hostile causes.
The British military has reported 58 deaths; Italy, 18; Spain, eight; Bulgaria, six; Ukraine, four; Poland, three; Thailand, two; Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia and the Netherlands have reported one each.
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Let's not forget:
As of Thursday, May 27, 800 U.S. service members have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq last year, according to the Defense Department. Of those, 585 died as a result of hostile action and 215 died of non-hostile causes.
The British military has reported 58 deaths; Italy, 18; Spain, eight; Bulgaria, six; Ukraine, four; Poland, three; Thailand, two; Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia and the Netherlands have reported one each.
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Stupid Quote of the Week
Winning hearts & minds:
"...today, in Iraq as in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan, we've tied ourselves to Muslim people. We're helping them. In the long run, they'll understand that and appreciate that."
- Rich Tucker, The Heritage Foundation
Does a hood on their head and electro-shock coercion count as helping them?
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Winning hearts & minds:
"...today, in Iraq as in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan, we've tied ourselves to Muslim people. We're helping them. In the long run, they'll understand that and appreciate that."
- Rich Tucker, The Heritage Foundation
Does a hood on their head and electro-shock coercion count as helping them?
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They're Not Like Philly Fans
In this article a Tampa newspaper says Philadelphia sports fans are easy to hate...
You wanna say that to my face?
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In this article a Tampa newspaper says Philadelphia sports fans are easy to hate...
You wanna say that to my face?
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Thursday, May 27, 2004
Janklow Pardoned Son
Former Congressman Bill Janklow's got some explaining to do:
Former Gov. Bill Janklow pardoned his son-in-law in 2002 for three drunken-driving and marijuana-possession convictions, according to documents unsealed Thursday on orders from South Dakota's highest court.
Of course you remember Janklow. He was convicted of manslaughter for running a stop sign and killing a motorcyclist.
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Former Congressman Bill Janklow's got some explaining to do:
Former Gov. Bill Janklow pardoned his son-in-law in 2002 for three drunken-driving and marijuana-possession convictions, according to documents unsealed Thursday on orders from South Dakota's highest court.
Of course you remember Janklow. He was convicted of manslaughter for running a stop sign and killing a motorcyclist.
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Spammer Goes To Jail
We'll miss you. Not.:
A New York state man who sent out millions of 'spam' e-mails was sentenced to 3-1/2 to seven years in prison, the state attorney general's office said on Thursday.
UPDATE: I heard on the news this morning that this guy sent out 850 million pieces of spam. He was also hit with a $16.5 million judgement.
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We'll miss you. Not.:
A New York state man who sent out millions of 'spam' e-mails was sentenced to 3-1/2 to seven years in prison, the state attorney general's office said on Thursday.
UPDATE: I heard on the news this morning that this guy sent out 850 million pieces of spam. He was also hit with a $16.5 million judgement.
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Michael Moore Filmed Nick Berg
I'm glad he's doing the right thing:
The footage, of an interview with Berg, "is approximately 20 minutes long. We are not releasing it to the media," Moore said in a statement. "It is not in the film. We are dealing privately with the family."
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I'm glad he's doing the right thing:
The footage, of an interview with Berg, "is approximately 20 minutes long. We are not releasing it to the media," Moore said in a statement. "It is not in the film. We are dealing privately with the family."
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Iraq Council Slams Plan to Destroy Prison
Does everything this Administration touch turn to merde?
Apparently, the answer is yes.
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Does everything this Administration touch turn to merde?
Apparently, the answer is yes.
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More of This Needed
Comcast & T-Mobile have announced they will be launching one of the largest free outdoor hotspots in the country.
It will be located on Headhouse Square, just off South Street in Philadelphia.
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Comcast & T-Mobile have announced they will be launching one of the largest free outdoor hotspots in the country.
It will be located on Headhouse Square, just off South Street in Philadelphia.
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Terrorist "Facilitator" Caught in London
I hope this turns out to be the real deal:
Abu Hamza al-Masri, a Muslim cleric suspected of ties to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist organization, was indicted by U.S. authorities for his role in a 1998 hostage-taking plot in Yemen.
But then I saw this line in the story:
A new treaty that took effect Jan. 1 doesn't require the U.S. to provide evidence of al-Masri's crimes, British officials said.
Has the Patriot Act gone international?
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I hope this turns out to be the real deal:
Abu Hamza al-Masri, a Muslim cleric suspected of ties to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist organization, was indicted by U.S. authorities for his role in a 1998 hostage-taking plot in Yemen.
But then I saw this line in the story:
A new treaty that took effect Jan. 1 doesn't require the U.S. to provide evidence of al-Masri's crimes, British officials said.
Has the Patriot Act gone international?
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Neo-Cons Get Visit from FBI
We've covered Ahmed Chalabi's deception before and now we're seeing that investigations are under way to determine who provided classified information to this scallywag:
At a well-appointed conservative think tank in downtown Washington and across the Potomac River at the Pentagon, FBI agents have begun paying quiet calls on prominent neoconservatives, who are being interviewed in an investigation of potential espionage, according to intelligence sources. Who gave Ahmed Chalabi classified information about the plans of the U.S. government and military?
The Iraqi neocon favorite, tipped to lead his liberated country post-invasion, has been identified by the CIA and Defense Intelligence Agency as an Iranian double agent, passing secrets to that citadel of the "axis of evil" for decades. All the while the neocons cosseted, promoted and arranged for more than $30 million in Pentagon payments to the George Washington manqué of Iraq. In return, he fed them a steady diet of disinformation, and in the run-up to the war he sent various exiles to nine nations' intelligence agencies to spread falsehoods about weapons of mass destruction. If the administration had wanted other material to provide a rationale for invasion, no doubt that would have been fabricated. Either Chalabi perpetrated the greatest con since the Trojan horse or he was the agent of influence for the most successful intelligence operation conducted by Iran, or both...
(Emphasis mine. From Salon, Free daypass or subscription needed)
I think the NEOs were so desperate to have things go our way in Iraq that they "overlooked" some of the more unsavory aspects of Chalabi's character. They figured if we give him a total of $30 million he'll make sure we're taken care of. Alas, this is more than just a nasty case of buyer's remorse. It's a tragedy whose effects won't be felt for another generation.
This also brings the number of espionage investigations against the Bush Administration to two. We should've never learned the name of Valerie Plame. And I suspect W and the boys are starting to wish they'd never heard of Chalabi either.
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We've covered Ahmed Chalabi's deception before and now we're seeing that investigations are under way to determine who provided classified information to this scallywag:
At a well-appointed conservative think tank in downtown Washington and across the Potomac River at the Pentagon, FBI agents have begun paying quiet calls on prominent neoconservatives, who are being interviewed in an investigation of potential espionage, according to intelligence sources. Who gave Ahmed Chalabi classified information about the plans of the U.S. government and military?
The Iraqi neocon favorite, tipped to lead his liberated country post-invasion, has been identified by the CIA and Defense Intelligence Agency as an Iranian double agent, passing secrets to that citadel of the "axis of evil" for decades. All the while the neocons cosseted, promoted and arranged for more than $30 million in Pentagon payments to the George Washington manqué of Iraq. In return, he fed them a steady diet of disinformation, and in the run-up to the war he sent various exiles to nine nations' intelligence agencies to spread falsehoods about weapons of mass destruction. If the administration had wanted other material to provide a rationale for invasion, no doubt that would have been fabricated. Either Chalabi perpetrated the greatest con since the Trojan horse or he was the agent of influence for the most successful intelligence operation conducted by Iran, or both...
(Emphasis mine. From Salon, Free daypass or subscription needed)
I think the NEOs were so desperate to have things go our way in Iraq that they "overlooked" some of the more unsavory aspects of Chalabi's character. They figured if we give him a total of $30 million he'll make sure we're taken care of. Alas, this is more than just a nasty case of buyer's remorse. It's a tragedy whose effects won't be felt for another generation.
This also brings the number of espionage investigations against the Bush Administration to two. We should've never learned the name of Valerie Plame. And I suspect W and the boys are starting to wish they'd never heard of Chalabi either.
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Bush Knew Violation of Geneva Conventions Likely
From Intervention Magazine:
President George W. Bush knew for over two years that his administration has been promoting policies that qualify as war crimes under the 1996 federal War Crimes Act, the international Third Geneva Convention, and the Torture Convention.
An article in the May 24 issue of Newsweek titled 'The Roots of Torture' reveals that White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales wrote a January 25, 2002 memo to Bush, urging him to disregard the 'obsolete' and 'quaint' provisions of the Geneva Convention. He advised the Bush administration to do this precisely because the interrogation methods it was already using on prisoners captured in Afghanistan violated the Convention, leaving US officials open to prosecution for war crimes.
If you're looking for more information that Alberto Gonzales was "thinking ahead", check this out:
In his January 25 memo, Gonzales urges Bush to declare the war in Afghanistan, including the detention of Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters, exempt from the provisions of the Geneva Convention. This could be accomplished, Gonzales advised Bush, by inventing a technicality: declaring the detainees arrested in the "war on terror" to be outside the Geneva Convention -- and by extension, beyond the Torture Convention and the U.S. War Crimes Act. He gave his assurances that such a technicality "renders obsolete the Geneva's strict limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners." Thus the ambiguity of Bush's newly created and constantly repeated "war on terror" gave his administration carte blanche to do anything it pleased with anyone labeled an "enemy combatant."
War on Terror=Arrest whom you please, with or without proof, torture them and then let them rot.
America. Home of theBrave.
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From Intervention Magazine:
President George W. Bush knew for over two years that his administration has been promoting policies that qualify as war crimes under the 1996 federal War Crimes Act, the international Third Geneva Convention, and the Torture Convention.
An article in the May 24 issue of Newsweek titled 'The Roots of Torture' reveals that White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales wrote a January 25, 2002 memo to Bush, urging him to disregard the 'obsolete' and 'quaint' provisions of the Geneva Convention. He advised the Bush administration to do this precisely because the interrogation methods it was already using on prisoners captured in Afghanistan violated the Convention, leaving US officials open to prosecution for war crimes.
If you're looking for more information that Alberto Gonzales was "thinking ahead", check this out:
In his January 25 memo, Gonzales urges Bush to declare the war in Afghanistan, including the detention of Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters, exempt from the provisions of the Geneva Convention. This could be accomplished, Gonzales advised Bush, by inventing a technicality: declaring the detainees arrested in the "war on terror" to be outside the Geneva Convention -- and by extension, beyond the Torture Convention and the U.S. War Crimes Act. He gave his assurances that such a technicality "renders obsolete the Geneva's strict limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners." Thus the ambiguity of Bush's newly created and constantly repeated "war on terror" gave his administration carte blanche to do anything it pleased with anyone labeled an "enemy combatant."
War on Terror=Arrest whom you please, with or without proof, torture them and then let them rot.
America. Home of the
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Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Another Blog
It's time. The subject I wrote about in this space before has inspired me. My new photoblog is called passyunk and is hosted by Phlog. For starters, I'm going to focus on Philadelphia. I work about five minutes from some of the most picturesque areas of the city. So I figure during my two-and-a-half-hour lunches I can get some good pictures. By good, I mean subject matter. I'm hoping to become a better photographer. We'll see if that happens. Regardless, I'll try to update it as often as I can.
I'll be adding the link to my blogroll on the right. I'm not sure what possessed me to think someone would buy me presents just because I had an 'Amazon Wish List' link at the head of my blogroll. My photo blog link now takes it's place.
(If you're in the giving mood, I've moved it down with my email address.)
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It's time. The subject I wrote about in this space before has inspired me. My new photoblog is called passyunk and is hosted by Phlog. For starters, I'm going to focus on Philadelphia. I work about five minutes from some of the most picturesque areas of the city. So I figure during my two-and-a-half-hour lunches I can get some good pictures. By good, I mean subject matter. I'm hoping to become a better photographer. We'll see if that happens. Regardless, I'll try to update it as often as I can.
I'll be adding the link to my blogroll on the right. I'm not sure what possessed me to think someone would buy me presents just because I had an 'Amazon Wish List' link at the head of my blogroll. My photo blog link now takes it's place.
(If you're in the giving mood, I've moved it down with my email address.)
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1,000 Boots
These symbolize the 500+ troops killed in Iraq. Brought to you by the American Friends Service Committee. This display will be at the Capitol building in Washington for another couple of days.
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These symbolize the 500+ troops killed in Iraq. Brought to you by the American Friends Service Committee. This display will be at the Capitol building in Washington for another couple of days.
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Health Savings Accounts
Thanks to David Sirota for digging up this:
CLAIM:
"We've passed what's called Health Savings Accounts...It's a good way to help control costs."
– President Bush, 5/25/04
FACT:
"Sharply higher health insurance deductibles may hit workers in the next two years as employers embrace newly created tax-free Health Savings Accounts...widespread adoption of the plans could drive up the annual deductible paid by workers.”
– USA Today, 4/25/04
It's funny the way the President just throws out these statements. It's almost like, "I'm saying this. I'm the President. Don't question me. It's true." He's probably given a list of talking points for the week, no more than three or four points per policy/topic. He then just regurgitates them from memory. He's given the mantra and he chants it at every opportunity.
That's the way his press conferences are too. Karl will tell him, "...stick with what you know." So he'll answer the questions he wants and nothing more.
Do you think he could explain the Health Savings Accounts?
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Thanks to David Sirota for digging up this:
CLAIM:
"We've passed what's called Health Savings Accounts...It's a good way to help control costs."
– President Bush, 5/25/04
FACT:
"Sharply higher health insurance deductibles may hit workers in the next two years as employers embrace newly created tax-free Health Savings Accounts...widespread adoption of the plans could drive up the annual deductible paid by workers.”
– USA Today, 4/25/04
It's funny the way the President just throws out these statements. It's almost like, "I'm saying this. I'm the President. Don't question me. It's true." He's probably given a list of talking points for the week, no more than three or four points per policy/topic. He then just regurgitates them from memory. He's given the mantra and he chants it at every opportunity.
That's the way his press conferences are too. Karl will tell him, "...stick with what you know." So he'll answer the questions he wants and nothing more.
Do you think he could explain the Health Savings Accounts?
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Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Happy Day
Ever since Christmas I've been ripping CDs into iTunes and then transferring them into my iPod. I was finally able to get the iPod working in my car. The sound is a little off, but it was good enough to do a little jamming on my way home from Best Buy.
Sweet.
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Ever since Christmas I've been ripping CDs into iTunes and then transferring them into my iPod. I was finally able to get the iPod working in my car. The sound is a little off, but it was good enough to do a little jamming on my way home from Best Buy.
Sweet.
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Quote of the Year
From Iraq Dispatches:
“The Americans brought electricity to my ass before they brought it to my house!”
Dark humor seems somewhat apropos for the quaqmire we've immersed ourselves in.
UPDATE: Fixed a spelling error. Thanks to loyal reader and Bush devotee Hoges for pointing this out.
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From Iraq Dispatches:
“The Americans brought electricity to my ass before they brought it to my house!”
Dark humor seems somewhat apropos for the quaqmire we've immersed ourselves in.
UPDATE: Fixed a spelling error. Thanks to loyal reader and Bush devotee Hoges for pointing this out.
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NEWS FLASH: I agree with the RNC Chairman!
I think Ed Gillespie needs a prescription refill:
"Unfortunately for angry Democrats like Tim Johnson, Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy, terrorists aren't responsible for the deaths of U.S. soldiers, their commander-in-chief is."
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I think Ed Gillespie needs a prescription refill:
"Unfortunately for angry Democrats like Tim Johnson, Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy, terrorists aren't responsible for the deaths of U.S. soldiers, their commander-in-chief is."
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Webster Winces
Hatchet job during his speech last night. President Bush took the "phoenetical collar," going 0-3 in trying to pronounce Abu Gharib, the prison where U.S. soldiers tortured Iraqi prisoners.
Here's the box score (quoted pronunciations are from Bush's speech on 5/24):
Bottom of the first: "abugah-rayp" - Struck out, looking
Bottom of the fourth: "abu-garon" - Grounded out to 1B
Bottom of the seventh: "abu-garah" - Lazy fly ball to RF
For those scoring at home the correct pronunciation is "abu-grabe".
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Hatchet job during his speech last night. President Bush took the "phoenetical collar," going 0-3 in trying to pronounce Abu Gharib, the prison where U.S. soldiers tortured Iraqi prisoners.
Here's the box score (quoted pronunciations are from Bush's speech on 5/24):
Bottom of the first: "abugah-rayp" - Struck out, looking
Bottom of the fourth: "abu-garon" - Grounded out to 1B
Bottom of the seventh: "abu-garah" - Lazy fly ball to RF
For those scoring at home the correct pronunciation is "abu-grabe".
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Sanchez: Perjurer?
1. A soldier is accused of torturing an Iraqi prisoner.
2. General Ricardo Sanchez testifies (under oath) that he was unaware of the abuses at Abu Gharib prison.
3. In preparation for a trial, his lawyer says that General Ricardo Sanchez was present at Abu Gharib prison during a torture session.
4. The Pentagon denies the charge.
5. The Pentagon will replace Sanchez with a yet to be named military official.
6. Rumsfeld is, "...is very mindful that the perception (of punishment) might arise. But it simply is not the case."
7. One, Two, Three: Everybody lie!!!
Ah yes, the "perception" of punishment. Perception is something our government is working very hard at right now.
Rummy should be canned, although my blogging might suffer. But I'm willing to pay that price.
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1. A soldier is accused of torturing an Iraqi prisoner.
2. General Ricardo Sanchez testifies (under oath) that he was unaware of the abuses at Abu Gharib prison.
3. In preparation for a trial, his lawyer says that General Ricardo Sanchez was present at Abu Gharib prison during a torture session.
4. The Pentagon denies the charge.
5. The Pentagon will replace Sanchez with a yet to be named military official.
6. Rumsfeld is, "...is very mindful that the perception (of punishment) might arise. But it simply is not the case."
7. One, Two, Three: Everybody lie!!!
Ah yes, the "perception" of punishment. Perception is something our government is working very hard at right now.
Rummy should be canned, although my blogging might suffer. But I'm willing to pay that price.
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Monday, May 24, 2004
Light-to-Zero Blogging Today
I'll be away from the computer all day at a golf outing. I'll update late tonight if I win a car or a trip to Bora Bora.
If they have a "closest to the lake" prize I'm sure I'll be in the running.
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I'll be away from the computer all day at a golf outing. I'll update late tonight if I win a car or a trip to Bora Bora.
If they have a "closest to the lake" prize I'm sure I'll be in the running.
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Sunday, May 23, 2004
Filmmaker Ken Burns Picks His Spot Wisely
As the commencement speaker at Yale University, Ken Burns knew the President's daughter was graduating. And that he would have an audience that would be tuned in to whatever he said. So what did he do? Without naming the President, he criticized Bush's policies:
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- With presidential security helicopters circling over the Yale University campus, filmmaker Ken Burns denounced the war in Iraq on Sunday and told graduating seniors to remember history as they work to repair divides in American culture.
(...)
'Steel yourselves. Your generation must repair this damage, and it will not be easy,' Burns told the seniors.
Burns quoted famed jurist Learned Hand as saying, 'Liberty is never being too sure you're right.'
'Somehow recently, though, we have replaced our usual and healthy doubt with an arrogance and belligerence that resembles more the ancient and now fallen empires of our history books than a modern compassionate democracy,' Burns said, to applause from the 1,300 graduates and their families and friends.
(...)
Students also poked fun at Bush, who spoke at Yale's 300th commencement in 2001.
The president earned a history degree from Yale in 1968, earning what was politely called "gentlemen's C's."
Bush told the class of 2001: "To the C-students, I say, you too can be president of the United States".
In seniors' spoof of the class of 2004's history Sunday, they recalled the quote as: "To all the C-students out there, I'd like to say, you too can be president , if your dad was president."...
Nice.
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As the commencement speaker at Yale University, Ken Burns knew the President's daughter was graduating. And that he would have an audience that would be tuned in to whatever he said. So what did he do? Without naming the President, he criticized Bush's policies:
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- With presidential security helicopters circling over the Yale University campus, filmmaker Ken Burns denounced the war in Iraq on Sunday and told graduating seniors to remember history as they work to repair divides in American culture.
(...)
'Steel yourselves. Your generation must repair this damage, and it will not be easy,' Burns told the seniors.
Burns quoted famed jurist Learned Hand as saying, 'Liberty is never being too sure you're right.'
'Somehow recently, though, we have replaced our usual and healthy doubt with an arrogance and belligerence that resembles more the ancient and now fallen empires of our history books than a modern compassionate democracy,' Burns said, to applause from the 1,300 graduates and their families and friends.
(...)
Students also poked fun at Bush, who spoke at Yale's 300th commencement in 2001.
The president earned a history degree from Yale in 1968, earning what was politely called "gentlemen's C's."
Bush told the class of 2001: "To the C-students, I say, you too can be president of the United States".
In seniors' spoof of the class of 2004's history Sunday, they recalled the quote as: "To all the C-students out there, I'd like to say, you too can be president , if your dad was president."...
Nice.
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Bush Twins Quit The Boozing to Help Dad
That was the headline on this article from The Australian. Of course there was no reference at all about them getting off the sauce. The first two grafs:
NEW YORK: George W. Bush's daughters, 22-year-old twins Barbara and Jenna, are better known for their underage drinking busts than their love of politics.
Asked once whether she was a Republican, Barbara is said to have made a face, rolled her eyes and replied: 'I really wouldn't label myself that.' On a visit to Paris, Jenna let slip that she was against the bombing of Afghanistan...
Underage drinking busts?
Read the short article. It looks like the Melbourne Junior High newspaper is now online.
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That was the headline on this article from The Australian. Of course there was no reference at all about them getting off the sauce. The first two grafs:
NEW YORK: George W. Bush's daughters, 22-year-old twins Barbara and Jenna, are better known for their underage drinking busts than their love of politics.
Asked once whether she was a Republican, Barbara is said to have made a face, rolled her eyes and replied: 'I really wouldn't label myself that.' On a visit to Paris, Jenna let slip that she was against the bombing of Afghanistan...
Underage drinking busts?
Read the short article. It looks like the Melbourne Junior High newspaper is now online.
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Bush Keeps Interrogation Rules Classified
How is the Senate Armed Services Committee supposed to do their job if the deck is stacked and they don't know it?
The Bush administration is doing its best to keep secret the policies it has developed for handling foreign prisoners and to stifle congressional examination of the issue. Rules for the interrogation of detainees used to be published in widely available Army manuals. But the Bush administration has classified the procedures it has approved for the Guantanamo Bay prison, Afghanistan and Iraq -- even though it claims that all are in compliance with the Geneva Conventions. It has been slow to release the procedures even to the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is leading the way in investigating the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. The Pentagon still has not met the committee's request for the legal memos that supposedly justify such techniques as hooding, putting prisoners in stress positions, sleep and dietary deprivation and intimidation by dogs...
At this rate, the Bush Administration will have the left, right and everyone in between alienated by July 4th. Happy Birthday America!
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How is the Senate Armed Services Committee supposed to do their job if the deck is stacked and they don't know it?
The Bush administration is doing its best to keep secret the policies it has developed for handling foreign prisoners and to stifle congressional examination of the issue. Rules for the interrogation of detainees used to be published in widely available Army manuals. But the Bush administration has classified the procedures it has approved for the Guantanamo Bay prison, Afghanistan and Iraq -- even though it claims that all are in compliance with the Geneva Conventions. It has been slow to release the procedures even to the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is leading the way in investigating the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. The Pentagon still has not met the committee's request for the legal memos that supposedly justify such techniques as hooding, putting prisoners in stress positions, sleep and dietary deprivation and intimidation by dogs...
At this rate, the Bush Administration will have the left, right and everyone in between alienated by July 4th. Happy Birthday America!
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New Nickel
I can't be the only one who didn't know the Mint was printing new nickels along with the state quarters. I got a funny looking coin back at Arby's and was about to protest them pawning off a Canadian coin with the...uh...Louisiana Purchase featured on the back. My laughing 10 and 8 year old boys knew about the new money, but not me. Shouldn't they announce this stuff? Alas, they probably did, it just wasn't in the blogosphere or on Sportscenter.
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I can't be the only one who didn't know the Mint was printing new nickels along with the state quarters. I got a funny looking coin back at Arby's and was about to protest them pawning off a Canadian coin with the...uh...Louisiana Purchase featured on the back. My laughing 10 and 8 year old boys knew about the new money, but not me. Shouldn't they announce this stuff? Alas, they probably did, it just wasn't in the blogosphere or on Sportscenter.
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Wall Street to Throw Parties for GOP at Convention
Doesn't this sound a little untoward?
Despite the talk about protesters overwhelming the Republican National Convention in New York City this summer, one sector of the city is rolling out the red carpet: Wall Street and its investment banks. They are showering the conventioneers with money for parties and other events to make the Republicans feel right at home.
Some of the main parties will be for Republican members of Congress who oversee the financial services industry. There will be brunches, dinners, dancing and late-night concerts for the conventioneers throughout the city.
One of the most celebrated guests will be Representative Michael G. Oxley of Ohio, chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, which oversees Wall Street, banks and the insurance industry. Mr. Oxley will be toasted at a dinner party in the Rainbow Room, at a loft with sweeping views of the Hudson River and at a financial services round- table brunch, according to people who work in the financial industry, who say their firms plan to contribute to the three events...
Many more examples in the article.
Sounds like good old-fashioned payola.
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Doesn't this sound a little untoward?
Despite the talk about protesters overwhelming the Republican National Convention in New York City this summer, one sector of the city is rolling out the red carpet: Wall Street and its investment banks. They are showering the conventioneers with money for parties and other events to make the Republicans feel right at home.
Some of the main parties will be for Republican members of Congress who oversee the financial services industry. There will be brunches, dinners, dancing and late-night concerts for the conventioneers throughout the city.
One of the most celebrated guests will be Representative Michael G. Oxley of Ohio, chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, which oversees Wall Street, banks and the insurance industry. Mr. Oxley will be toasted at a dinner party in the Rainbow Room, at a loft with sweeping views of the Hudson River and at a financial services round- table brunch, according to people who work in the financial industry, who say their firms plan to contribute to the three events...
Many more examples in the article.
Sounds like good old-fashioned payola.
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