tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62454992012-01-21T01:56:44.029-08:00Anti-right rants from an obnoxious lumpen proletarian. Aiming to Arm the Choir.Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.comBlogger10361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1091365269961118362004-08-01T05:44:00.000-07:002004-08-01T06:01:09.960-07:00

"Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well- warmed, and well-fed." - Herman MelvilleAll these years later the Repukes have their "thinktanks" workin' overtime to find ways to blame the poor for their plight. They don't work enough, they don't get married enough, they use drugs and

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1091203430127840702004-07-30T07:30:00.000-07:002004-07-30T09:03:50.126-07:00

There were reports not so long ago that Bushco was pressuring Pakistan to capture major terrorist figures before the election, and especially on July 27, 28, and 29. And now this report: Embassy bombings figure captured in Pakistan A major al-Qaeda operative, who had a $25 million bounty on his head for his alleged role in the 1998 bombings at U.S. embassies in East Africa, has been captured by

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1091134095732604922004-07-29T13:42:00.000-07:002004-07-29T14:31:39.970-07:00

Dum Luks posted the following in the comments section regarding the Repukelican House o' Reps attempt to destroy the independent judiciary and all rights for everybody. Kevin Drum gives the constitution quote which may be interpreted to give congress the power to make 'exceptions' to the judiciary's power. -- ml Article 3, Section 2 of the United States constitution outlines the jurisdiction of

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090780765206624462004-07-25T11:27:00.000-07:002004-07-25T11:39:25.206-07:00

Report: Bigger breasts offered as perk to soldiers NEW YORK (Reuters) -- The U.S. Army has long lured recruits with the slogan "Be All You Can Be," but now soldiers and their families can receive plastic surgery, including breast enlargements, on the taxpayers' dime.That's quite a perk - if you're dumb enough to let a military doctor do elective surgery on you. My wife has a scar on her belly 12

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090774703387614052004-07-25T09:45:00.000-07:002004-07-25T09:58:23.386-07:00

What ever happened to conservative Republicans? by Gerald Plessner Plessner says we need a new term to describe Republicans because they're obviously not conservative any more. I agree. He suggests the term orthodox. Orthodox what I'm not sure, except in the case of Republican Libertarians, who he would call orthodox Libertarians. I disagree. I like to call them radicals, but in the cases

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090619380858201952004-07-23T14:32:00.000-07:002004-07-23T14:49:40.856-07:00

Because they're evil rat bastards, that's why. Decent people don't sign on to this sort of bullshit. Hysteria, race, and reality, from Orcinus. The [Seattle] Times also ran columns by noted conservative Henry McLemore, who frequently attacked the presence of Japanese descendants on the West Coast. In one column, headlined, "This Is War! Stop Worrying About Hurting Jap Feelings," McLemore

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-109060739690305872004-07-23T11:11:00.000-07:002004-07-23T11:29:56.903-07:00

Actually I think he's pandering to whites who don't want to think they belong to a racist party. He's gotta know he ain't gonna swing a significant number of black votes. Bush Urges Blacks Not to Back Democrats The president suggested perhaps the Democratic Party had started taking black voters for granted. "I know plenty of politicians assume they have your vote," he said. "But did they earn

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090544669173101772004-07-22T17:50:00.000-07:002004-07-22T18:04:29.173-07:00

How do you tell when the fascist wing of the GOP is lying? Their lips are moving. (That's also how you can tell when the lead singer's off key.) Cheney Urges Cap on Malpractice Awards A report by the Department of Health and Human Services found that expenses traceable to legal liability fears contribute between $60 billion and $108 billion a year to the total $1.6 trillion health care bill.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090543738209227722004-07-22T17:17:00.000-07:002004-07-22T17:48:58.210-07:00

House Votes to Curb Same-Sex Marriage Their headline gets it wrong, mine gets it right. If I had more room I'd have added Removes Annoying Check/Balance That Founding Fathers Foolishly Placed in Constitution. The House measure, also supported by the administration, offers a different approach. It would forbid federal judges from requiring one state to recognize a same-sex marriage licensed in

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090527978213468852004-07-22T13:18:00.000-07:002004-07-22T13:26:18.213-07:00

Report Reveals Bush Administration Has Blocked Court-Approved Payments to Black Farmers Aggressive legal tactics by the Bush administration have deliberately undermined a landmark 1997 civil rights settlement with African-American farmers, turning the claims process into another chapter in a long history of discriminatory treatment by the US Department of Agriculture. A report released today by

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090448474188455882004-07-21T15:10:00.000-07:002004-07-21T15:22:28.703-07:00

Not long ago I posted about how some Muslims think that non-Muslims are less than human, or at least less than Muslim humans. Just more evidence of the evil nature of Islam. Uh-huh. Security Remains an Issue, but U.S. Envoy Is Hopeful On one point, Negroponte was clear: The United States would oppose any effort by the Iraqi interim government to grant amnesty to fighters who have participated

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090163898116312712004-07-18T08:10:00.000-07:002004-07-18T08:18:18.116-07:00

Former HBS Prof Blasts Bush Bush called the film, The Grapes of Wrath, corny. Corny. I think we can fairly assume that he never read Steinbeck's book. It's the response of a man who has no idea what compassion is. Tsurumi - now a professor of international business at Baruch College in the City University of New York - said he remembers the future president as scoring in the bottom 10 percent

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090162456287382762004-07-18T07:12:00.000-07:002004-07-18T07:54:16.286-07:00

Civil Service Has Morphed Into U.S. Inc. Diminishing the government workforce increases the role of private contractors, and the mixed results go undebated. Heh. Mixed results is too generous an assessment. Largely unknown results is more like it. BOSTON — For two decades, Congress has been engaged in a bipartisan effort to shrink the size of government. But today, although fewer people appear

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090107963273809302004-07-17T16:16:00.000-07:002004-07-17T16:46:03.273-07:00

Bush Extends Debate on Values to Children Drug use and violent crime among teenagers have decreased dramatically, while children raised in households with married parents are less likely to live in poverty, the president said Saturday in his weekly radio address. He cited a newly issued government report to claim progress. "My administration is acting to encourage teens to make healthy choices,

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090080174204139732004-07-17T08:54:00.000-07:002004-07-17T09:02:54.203-07:00

Then there's them pro-family values Republicans: Sex pros get ready for party With thousands of Republicans set to invade the city this summer, high-priced escorts and strippers are preparing for one grand old party. Agencies are flying in extra call girls from around the globe to meet the expected demand during the Aug. 30-Sept. 2 gathering at Madison Square Garden. [snip] Clubs have

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090074840599544412004-07-17T07:28:00.000-07:002004-07-17T07:34:00.600-07:00

NLRB Nixes Unions for Graduate Students, posted at From the Trenches, shows how much the Repukes and their NLRB care about basic human rights. The right of workers to organize is considered fundamental to democracy in less fascist parts of the world.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090073372411483362004-07-17T07:08:00.000-07:002004-07-17T07:09:32.410-07:00

FOX guest cited phantom poll to blast NAACP and boost Bush From the July 15 edition of FOX News Channel's Special Report with Brit Hume: ANGLE: Let me ask you first, in your view was the president right or wrong to pass an opportunity to speak? WOODSON: He was absolutely correct in passing this up opportunity. [...] WOODSON: And his [chairman of the board of the NAACP, Julian Bond]

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090071219080085872004-07-17T06:18:00.000-07:002004-07-17T06:33:39.080-07:00

Cable coverage of Whoopi Goldberg's v. Dennis Miller's remarks: 19-2 In the July 15 edition of The Washington Post, Leiby quoted Miller: "Those two cannot keep their hands off each other, can they? ... I think I have a new idea for a new campaign slogan -- use the bumper sticker 'Hey, Get A Room.' " So Whoopi compares Bush to bush and her jokes are used to denounce both she and Kerry for going

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1090003531080160822004-07-16T11:34:00.000-07:002004-07-16T11:45:31.080-07:00

I'm not sure I like the title of this piece, but I sure like what it talks about.   U.S.: Patriotic Pride and Fear While some critics of US President George W Bush have charged that his administration is pursuing policies of madness, such a charge is clinically incorrect, but it may convey an extraordinarily disturbing reality. Both an eminent psychologist and a noted political scientist

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089961096782568222004-07-15T23:27:00.000-07:002004-07-15T23:58:16.783-07:00

One Man's Flip Is Another Man's Flop , from CJR's Campaign Desk. The Bush campaign has been remarkably successful at getting the press to buy the notion that John Kerry is a flip-flopper. And this despite the fact that it can be, and has been, thoroughly documented that Bush is the flip-flopper-in-chief. The incredible pro-Republican bias of the media can only be explained if it is the result

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089957138360239342004-07-15T22:40:00.000-07:002004-07-15T22:52:18.360-07:00

Gas wealth fuels populist experiment in Bolivia SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA – For centuries, Bolivian laborers toiled to unearth silver, gold, and tin, only to see most of the wealth benefit a small number of elites and foreigners. On Sunday, this poor landlocked Andean nation will try something novel: Voters will decide whether to nationalize the country's 55 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089956340628916632004-07-15T22:23:00.000-07:002004-07-15T22:39:00.626-07:00

And over, of all things, cultural issues.  I used to have parents-in-law from Illinois who were rock-ribbed Republicans.  You can imagine how thrilled they were with me.  One time my father-in-law, a devout Catholic who never used foul language, called me the worst epithet he could think of.  "Oh," he said,  "you're a free thinker."  I'd never heard that phrase used as a curse before.    Like a

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089954072679870272004-07-15T21:38:00.000-07:002004-07-15T22:01:12.680-07:00

I am writing to you and a few other bloggers asking for help. My name is Tom Mauser and my son Daniel was killed at Columbine High School. If we don’t stand up to President Bush and the NRA right now, the assault weapons ban will expire and AK47s and Uzis will be back on our streets. ++++++++++ Here is what you can do to help: 1) Sign my petition to extend the assault weapon ban: http://

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089925664846530672004-07-15T14:04:00.000-07:002004-07-15T14:07:44.846-07:00

Inequality Kills YouIn fact, inequality in status leads to higher stress for those with less power and status, so argues a new book, Status Syndrome: How Your Social Standing Directly Affects Your Health and Life Expectancy. I've made that argument meself and now Nathan Newman helps back me up.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089924193266418582004-07-15T13:41:00.000-07:002004-07-15T13:43:13.266-07:00

Passengers Give Troops First-Class Seats Bra-vo.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089808355670088652004-07-14T05:29:00.000-07:002004-07-14T05:32:35.670-07:00

New York Post rewrote 2000 election history Like they're the only ones.A July 12 New York Post editorial informed readers that there was no evidence Florida voters were disenfranchised in the 2000 presidential election. The paper -- owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch -- editorialized: "There is no credible evidence that a single voter was disenfranchised in 2000 for any reason whatsoever. Not

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com89tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089804810555412742004-07-14T04:28:00.000-07:002004-07-14T04:33:30.556-07:00

Also via Brad DeLong:Matt [Yglesias] is bewildered, perhaps because he read Max Weber's Politik als Beruf at too early an age, found it convincing, and cannot conceive of people who approach politics not as a way to fight for a better world but as an arena for self-expression. If he could grasp that today's Naderite left is concerned with little other than striking an aesthetically correct

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089804423637695442004-07-14T04:13:00.000-07:002004-07-14T04:27:03.636-07:00

From Michael Isikoff via Brad DeLong:The CIA official quickly responded: "Let's keep in mind the fact that this war's going to happen regardless of what Curve Ball said or didn't say," he wrote. "The Powers That Be probably aren't terribly interested in whether Curve Ball knows what he's talking about."The benefit of the doubt in this case amounts to, "Yeah, I believe that in the run-up to the

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089564462480028432004-07-11T07:39:00.000-07:002004-07-11T10:14:12.510-07:00

I'm sick to death of "leftists" and "progressives," who know about as much about the labor movement as your average ignorant, half-wit right winger, dumping on unions. The AFL-CIO has started a community affiliate organization, Working America, for non-union folks. From the NYT, via Nathan Newman:The A.F.L.-C.I.O. quietly began this effort last year in two cities and has expanded it to a total

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com95tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089555755418332542004-07-11T06:43:00.000-07:002004-07-11T07:22:35.416-07:00

Nathan Newman links to a commentary by Stephen Roach, of the notoriously left wing firm Morgan Stanley. Roach argues that the jobs created in this "recovery" have skewed largely toward the low wage sectors. I know, this is supposedly still arguable. But Roach also notes:An even more dramatic picture of the quality of recent job growth emerges from the survey of households. According to the US

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089502592977331342004-07-10T16:12:00.000-07:002004-07-10T16:36:32.976-07:00

Bush Presses Case Against Gay MarriageWASHINGTON - President Bush says legalizing gay marriage would redefine the most fundamental institution of civilization and that a constitutional amendment is needed to protect it.What in the fuck is it with the right wing and the downfall of civilization? Gay marriage will threaten civilization! Terrorism, if not utterly eliminated from existence, will

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089501017895031032004-07-10T16:07:00.000-07:002004-07-10T16:10:17.896-07:00

Fla. Scraps Flawed Felon Voting List But if a judge hadn't ordered the state to release the list, the public would never have known about the serious flaws.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089499306494896282004-07-10T15:28:00.000-07:002004-07-10T15:41:46.493-07:00

BushCo initially claimed that Bush couldn't address the NAACP due to scheduling conflicts. Not surprisingly, that was a lie. It turns out Bush won't address the NAACP because they hurt his widdle feelings. Seeing the Forest has a little exercise in, well, seeing the forest on this issue. All I gotta say is it's way past time for the Repukes to quit whining that blacks don't vote Repukelican.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089479502558277462004-07-10T10:08:00.000-07:002004-07-10T10:11:42.556-07:00

Unintentional, My Ass Somehow, Florida managed leave nearly all Hispanic felons off their voter purge list, and Florida may be the only state in the union where Hispanics are more likely to vote Republican than Democrat. Feature that.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089474962654906122004-07-10T06:55:00.000-07:002004-07-10T10:31:56.013-07:00

First things first, I criticized Richard "Little Dick" Cheney for transforming "American values" into "conservative values" in attacking John Kerry. At the time I was unaware that Kerry actually had said he represented conservative values. I don't know what the hell Kerry was thinking, but that lets Cheney off the hook for this one relatively minor issue. I try to correct my mistakes when I

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089414965765740272004-07-09T16:14:00.000-07:002004-07-09T16:16:05.766-07:00

President Bush: Flip-Flopper-In-Chief This is way too good to be missed.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089405100566178222004-07-09T13:26:00.000-07:002004-07-09T13:33:20.763-07:00

At least it woulda been before Dubya got selected. Everything's Ideological--Even ScienceMore than 4000 scientists, 48 of them Nobel Prize winners, got together to blast the [Bush Administration's] politicization of science for ideological reasons. 4000 of them.Of course, the Bushies are denying it. They'll tell any lie, any lie at all. Lying is a way of life for them.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089395910663094362004-07-09T10:36:00.000-07:002004-07-09T10:58:30.663-07:00

In The Minimum Wage and the EITC, Brad DeLong quotes Steven Landsburg's article in Slate:Now that we've re-evaluated the evidence with all this in mind, here's what most labor economists believe: The minimum wage kills very few jobs, and the jobs it kills were lousy jobs anyway. It is almost impossible to maintain the old argument that minimum wages are bad for minimum-wage workers. In fact, the

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089374397001244102004-07-09T04:54:00.000-07:002004-07-09T04:59:57.000-07:00

PAKISTAN FOR BUSH. July Surprise?A third source, an official who works under ISI's director, Lieutenant General Ehsan ul-Haq, informed tnr that the Pakistanis "have been told at every level that apprehension or killing of HVTs [high-value targets] before [the] election is [an] absolute must." What's more, this source claims that Bush administration officials have told their Pakistani counterparts

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089368470571628242004-07-09T02:57:00.000-07:002004-07-09T10:16:39.816-07:00

"We are trying to change the tones in the state capitals -- and turn them toward bitter nastiness and partisanship," Grover Norquist told the Denver Post. "Bipartisanship is another name for date rape." And "liberal" pundits are saying to the rapists, "Here, let me help you get my clothes off." Rob Salkowitz at Emphasis Added gets it. Defining Dissent Down We live in a time when liberal

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089348028405108632004-07-08T21:35:00.000-07:002004-07-08T21:40:28.406-07:00

House GOP Defends Patriot Act PowersBut the victory came only after GOP tactics infuriated Democrats and a number of Republicans. The vote, scheduled to last 15 minutes, dragged on for 38 minutes despite outraged shouts and a unified chant of "shame, shame, shame" from Democrats across the aisle. [snip] "The Republican leadership is out of control," said Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Mass.). "

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089346170878859622004-07-08T21:01:00.000-07:002004-07-08T21:16:48.066-07:00

AP: Iraq Insurgency Larger Than ThoughtBAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraq insurgency is far larger than the 5,000 guerrillas previously thought to be at its core, U.S. military officials say, and it's being led by well-armed Iraqi Sunnis angry at being pushed from power alongside Saddam Hussein. Although U.S. military analysts disagree over the exact size, dozens of regional cells, often led by tribal

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089296663088413762004-07-08T07:17:00.000-07:002004-07-08T07:24:23.086-07:00

The lie that killed my son Reading all the critics of Fahrenheit 9/11, you haven't heard much about Lila Lipscomb, have you? I know I haven't read much about her, yet she is the most powerful argument in Moore's F9/11. She tears your heart out. Why doesn't the right deal with her? They don't dare, that's why. They don't dare much, cowards that they are.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089294542073715322004-07-08T06:46:00.000-07:002004-07-08T06:49:02.073-07:00

S. Africa as Seen in a Mirror South Africa's transformation amazes me. I know it's not perfect (What is?), but it's amazing nonetheless.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089293625740237802004-07-08T06:29:00.000-07:002004-07-08T06:33:45.740-07:00

Cosby Paying for Education of 2 Students Mark Twain, who I think was the greatest American writer, did a similar thing. He felt whites owed it to blacks because of what we've done to them. I'm glad Bill Cosby is doing it, but when will American society take responsibility for the past, and the present?

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089292494771669822004-07-08T06:09:00.000-07:002004-07-08T06:14:54.773-07:00

Land of the Free Factoid We imprison more of our population than any country in the world. Many times more than most countries. Either our incarceration rates are too high, in which case shouldn't we ask, "Why?" Or our crime rate is way too high, in which case shouldn't we ask, "Why?" Are there any "conservatives" asking why?

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089292007228481932004-07-08T06:03:00.000-07:002004-07-08T06:06:47.226-07:00

Prudence, Progression, and Permanence: The Conservative Philosophy of Russell KirkRussell Kirk outlined ten conservative principles; below I've excerpted those which a progressive would have the most difficulty disagree (sic) with:But the right wing sure ain't.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089290194624385232004-07-08T05:21:00.000-07:002004-07-08T05:36:34.623-07:00

Juan Cole tries to separate truth from lunacy. Mylroie as Bush RasputinePeter Bergen, veteran journalist and al-Qaeda expert, raises the question of whether the bizarre and crackpot theories of Laurie Mylroie have undue influence high in the US government. Mylroie alleges that Iraq was behind the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, a thesis for which there is no evidence whatsoever. Yet she

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089251734222947262004-07-07T18:42:00.000-07:002004-07-07T18:55:34.223-07:00

Yah, Ok, socialists can be dull people. But I ain't lookin' for perfection, I'm lookin' for a better world. I don't know that socialism wiill lead to that. But I know that money is not the measure of all things that matter to human beings. Is Orwell wrong? I don't know. But I know that greed is not the measure of all things. Follow the links. See what you think.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089249581282028492004-07-07T18:12:00.000-07:002004-07-07T18:23:12.043-07:00

The Conservatives attempts at attacking Langston Hughes Follow the links. Let Langston Hughes defend him self. If you don't cry at his self defense, then fuck you. Fuck you in the ass. Assuming you wouldn't like that. I'd as soon kill you as look at you. Langston Hughes was a decent, honest man. Can a right winger say the same?

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089222007079600692004-07-07T10:32:00.000-07:002004-07-07T10:40:07.080-07:00

Report: Bush Legal in Medicare Withholding Yeah. Legal, maybe. But any way you cut it the Bush Administration told a major lie about major legislation to both congress and the public. Bush is the only member of the Administration who bears responsibility for what his Administration does. Nobody's been fired. Bush is directly responsible for that lie, and ignorance is no excuse. How can

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089216428579159072004-07-07T08:58:00.000-07:002004-07-07T09:07:08.580-07:00

Pentagon Deputy's Probes in Iraq Weren't Authorized, Officials SayWASHINGTON — A senior Defense Department official conducted unauthorized investigations of Iraq reconstruction efforts and used their results to push for lucrative contracts for friends and their business clients, according to current and former Pentagon officials and documents.Where are all the right wingers we usually depend on

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089215549119084182004-07-07T08:45:00.000-07:002004-07-07T08:52:29.120-07:00

The Bush/Cheney campaign and many on the right are floating the meme that John McCain was John Kerry's first choice as running mate. Maybe I'm too sophisticated to get campaign propaganda. I don't know. I rarely get accused of sophistication, that's all I know. But hasn't Bush/Cheney been portraying John Kerry as much too liberal? And isn't claiming that Kerry's first choice for VP was a

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089213983122392422004-07-07T08:10:00.000-07:002004-07-07T08:26:23.123-07:00

Doubts grow over religious hate lawDavid Blunkett could face severe difficulties getting his resurrected pledge to criminalise incitement to religious hatred through parliament, it emerged today. The home secretary revealed in a speech this morning that he would again press ahead with measures to outlaw attacks on religions which "stirred up hatred" along the lines of the existing legislation on

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089209429020648762004-07-07T07:06:00.000-07:002004-07-07T07:51:06.203-07:00

Orcinus sez:I don't give enough credit to serious conservatives who make real efforts to repudiate the racist element of the right. Tacitus deserves a round of applause.I got to agree with Orcinus so I'm going so far as to put Tacitus on the blogroll. At least until I come across something he's written that's truly stupid. If you read on to the comments section, be prepared for some seriously

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089167581483368062004-07-06T18:31:00.000-07:002004-07-06T19:36:00.153-07:00

The shame of American homelessnessThe economic crunch faced by America's working poor is stark. Since 1979, U.S. housing costs have tripled. Some of that growth is the result of well-meant initiatives, such as slum clearance and rigorous building-code enforcement that forces rents upward. But governments have not compensated for the low-income housing deficit with more rent subsidies or more

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089141227699684012004-07-06T11:51:00.000-07:002004-07-06T12:13:47.700-07:00

Not the official result, but the result of a fair and reasonable count. I don't know for sure. Right wingers think they do know. They cite the Florida consortium recount as proof that Bush would've won the recount. That's certainly what most of the headlines said. In this example, it's even in the lead. Florida recount study: Bush still wins WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A comprehensive study of the

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089056089459894222004-07-05T12:29:00.000-07:002004-07-05T12:34:49.460-07:00

Soros Invests in His Democratic PassionFor two decades, [George] Soros has spent billions of his own money on an international network aimed at building civil society in authoritarian or onetime communist countries. In recent years, he has focused on the former Soviet states of Central Asia — places where governments may welcome his money but feel threatened by his commitment to democracy. [

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089042081244082172004-07-05T08:35:00.000-07:002004-07-05T08:41:21.243-07:00

Brad DeLong sez:A normal person, reading Jonathan Weisman in the Washington Post on June 8, would conclude (i) that Steven Moore is an economist, and (ii) that Kevin Hassett, Eric Engen, Glenn Hubbard, Greg Mankiw, and many other economists are "reevaluating" the view that budget deficits are a significant minus for the economy, believe that "the argument against deficits is more about

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089041128852692282004-07-05T08:14:00.000-07:002004-07-05T08:25:28.863-07:00

A Failure of FairnessWhen corporate executives gush over any bill with the word "fairness" in its title, consumers had best check their wallets. The proposed Class Action Fairness Act, which big-business leaders and their friends in the U.S. Senate may pass Tuesday after years of trying, is a distressing example. [snip] The more than 400 corporate lobbyists who have spent some $40 million to

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-108903842967404472004-07-05T07:35:00.000-07:002004-07-05T07:40:29.673-07:00

MORE THAN 100 CHILDREN IMPRISONED; REPORT OF ABUSE BY U.S. SOLDIERS.The TV Magazine also reported of evidence and eye witness reports according to which U.S. soldiers also abused children and youthful detainees. Samuel Provance, a staff sergeant stationed in the now infamous Abu Ghraib prison said that interrogating officers had pressured a 15 or 16 year old girl. Military police had only

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1089036845233589242004-07-05T07:02:00.000-07:002004-07-05T07:14:05.233-07:00

That's what the right claims, but. . . Moore: pirate my film, no problemControversial film-maker Michael Moore has welcomed the appearance on the internet of pirated copies of his anti-Bush documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 and claimed he is happy for anybody to download it free of charge. The activist, author and director told the Sunday Herald that, as long as pirated copies of his film were not

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088974220938121962004-07-04T13:48:00.000-07:002004-07-04T13:50:20.936-07:00

Endangered Species: The Crusading Press Follow the links. It's damned interesting.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088970472596027962004-07-04T12:43:00.000-07:002004-07-04T12:47:52.596-07:00

This is the second story on the president's appearance in West Virginia that uses the word. Both stories paraphrased, one citing "experts," this one citing "analysts," so I don't know what was actually said, but one synonym for "magisterial" is dictatorial. Sounds about right to me. Bush Extols American 'Values' in West VirginiaAnalysts said the Independence Day appearance gave the president a

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088969681523719202004-07-04T12:30:00.000-07:002004-07-04T12:34:41.523-07:00

This is an X song, but it was written by Dave Alvin, formerly of the Blasters. 4th Of July She's waitin' for me when I get home from work oh, but things ain't just the same She turns out the light and cries in the dark won't answer when I call her name On the stairs I smoke a cigarette alone Mexican kids are shootin' fireworks below Hey baby, it's the Fourth of July Hey baby, it's the Fourth

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088967513223813672004-07-04T11:38:00.000-07:002004-07-04T11:58:33.223-07:00

I didn't see this earlier. It is the LA Times companion piece to Michael Moore's version of The Patriot's Act below. I'm sure not approving of everything he says, but maybe if more of the right wing would talk and write like this we would be within reaching distance of understanding that we are Americans who disagree, often vehemently, it's true, but not enemies out to eliminate each other. It

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088956274546462422004-07-04T08:43:00.000-07:002004-07-04T09:20:49.776-07:00

The Reincarnation of Saddam Hussein According to the Los Angeles Times, "U.S. and Iraqi authorities took pains to make the court proceedings appear to be solely an Iraqi undertaking." In spite of the Statute of the Iraqi Special Tribunal's mandate of public hearings, no one save the two dozen or so people present in the courtroom were supposed to hear Saddam's words. But an audiotape of the

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088955020085930752004-07-04T08:24:00.000-07:002004-07-04T08:30:20.086-07:00

Voter-Purge List Of Felons Made PublicFlorida's error-prone list of 47,763 suspected felons who could be tossed from voter rolls before November's presidential election contains nearly three times as many registered Democrats as Republicans. Almost half are racial minorities.Course, the political and racial make-up of the list is prolly jus' a co-inky-dink. And Jebby and the boys was jus' doin'

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088954375037406802004-07-04T08:12:00.000-07:002004-07-04T08:43:31.916-07:00

The Patriot's Act, by the awful Michael Moore.For too long now we have abandoned our flag to those who see it as a symbol of war and dominance, as a way to crush dissent at home. Flags are flying from the back of SUVs, rising high above car dealerships, plastering the windows of businesses and adorning paper bags from fast-food restaurants. But these flags are intended to send a message: "You're

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088953456378682092004-07-04T07:50:00.000-07:002004-07-04T08:04:16.376-07:00

Cheney Fires Back in Debate Over Values Why can't we have a headline like, "Cheney Lies His Ass Off Over Values?" Kerry in recent days has been invoking values with increasing frequency, promising a crowd in Minnesota on Friday, for example, that he would "honor the values that built our country." Cheney, serving notice that the Bush campaign won't cede what has traditionally been a favorite

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088952260233282472004-07-04T07:35:00.000-07:002004-07-04T07:44:20.233-07:00

Rumsfeld 'Can't Imagine' Revived Military Draft [At least until after we've lied our way through this election.]"As a matter of fact, despite all the talk about the stress on the force, today we still are having very good results with respect to recruiting and retention. And we do not have a problem of attracting and retaining the people we need in the military," Rumsfeld said.As long as we don't

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088893577866584112004-07-03T15:17:00.000-07:002004-07-04T06:31:55.696-07:00

The Daily Howler points out what no one else will. That our "liberal" pundits only whine when Republicans are being justifiably abused. They keep their prissy, elite, millionaire mouths shut when a Dem or a leftist is being unjustifiably abused. If you think the "liberal" media are on the side of the people in this country, then you should read The Daily Howler daily until you have been

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088889262137590512004-07-03T14:11:00.000-07:002004-07-03T14:14:22.136-07:00

U.S., U.N. Raise Pressure World leaders weigh sanctions on Sudan and say that Khartoum has little time to stop ethnic violence. I hope this is a step in the right direction. It appears to be, and thank goodness for that.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088876952937182362004-07-03T10:45:00.000-07:002004-07-03T10:49:12.936-07:00

In "Fahrenheit 9/11," Michael Moore says, "They serve so that we don't have to. They offer to give up their lives so that we can be free. It is, remarkably, their gift to us. And all they ask for in return is that we never send them into harm's way unless it is absolutely necessary. Will they ever trust us again?" I want to know, was that dishonest too? Is that unfair? And to the Moore critics

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088875356198535302004-07-03T10:16:00.000-07:002004-07-03T10:37:08.046-07:00

Nader Backers Abandon Ariz. Ballot Effort Apparently, they submitted a whole lot of pretty funky signatures. I just want to remind everyone that the GOP is backing Nader. Probably because they really, really believe in doing the will of the people. Uh-huh. They know that if Nader's not in the race Bush has virtually no chance. They don't give a good Goddamn about the will of the people.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088874715911815022004-07-03T10:07:00.000-07:002004-07-03T10:11:55.910-07:00

The Rush to Wedlock PoliticsThe Senate Republicans' maneuver to stage a hurried, red-meat floor debate for President Bush's proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage is nothing more than low-grade political mischief. The majority leader, Bill Frist, has opted to trash Senate procedure and bypass proper consideration in the Judiciary Committee to revive the Bush amendment, deservedly

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088870990067099962004-07-03T09:07:00.000-07:002004-07-03T09:09:50.066-07:00

Does US Election Require International Watchdogs? Of course it does, which is why nine members of the House have asked the UN to provide them. What's the GOP afraid they might see?

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088867255202612222004-07-03T07:55:00.000-07:002004-07-03T08:07:35.203-07:00

The right wing is always trying to argue that single payer universal healthcare will be a total disaster. Oh, they say, you ask anyone from Canada. Yeah, well, I've done that. The few Canadians I talked to loved it. Every Western industrialized democracy except the US has universal care, and none of them are taking steps to eliminate it. Isn't that odd? Illogical, ya might say. So how have

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088861732106961862004-07-03T06:20:00.000-07:002004-07-03T06:35:32.106-07:00

TCF reports:According to hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, Will Smith held a voter registration event in his hometown of Philly and signed up 25,000 new voter. Puffy did the same in NY, and signed up 80,000. I'll see what info I can find, but let's spread this kind of news, too!Yeah, that's nice and all, but in the 2000 election 2 million ballots were declared spoiled. Half of those ballots were

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088859604315481622004-07-03T05:58:00.000-07:002004-07-03T06:13:05.780-07:00

At last we have proof of the GOPs complicity in the 9/11 attacks! Note the direct physical connection between Hussein and known GOP thug Donald "Rumfuck" Rumsfeld. It demonstrates an inarguable link between Hussein and the terrorist American right wing. Hey, it makes as much sense as BushCo's claims of Iraq - Al-Qaeda links.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088857380959414792004-07-03T05:04:00.000-07:002004-07-03T05:23:00.960-07:00

The Media Blackout: Single Payer Healthcare There's actually a chance the California Legislature could pass a bill establishing single payer. The gist of this post is that no major news media have covered this, not even the "liberal" San Francisco Chronicle or the "liberal" Los Angeles Times. It's not as if this is an isolated event. The "liberal" media that gave Bush an easy ride to war in

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088802395601737472004-07-02T13:48:00.000-07:002004-07-02T14:06:35.600-07:00

VOT has been banned from the comments. Of course, he accused me of censorship when I threatened to do so, to which I say, "Goddamn right." I've got every right to censor my own blog. It's mine, I own it. You can't come into my home and spew racist, Social Darwinist, and fascist bullshit. You can't do it on my blog either, unless for some odd reason I decide to let you. That said, right

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088799628287125722004-07-02T13:11:00.000-07:002004-07-02T13:33:13.353-07:00

The Miami Herald has a story today, Thousands of eligible voters are on felon list. Dave Anderson at In Search of Utopia has asked all bloggers to link or trackback to him on this story. We have to stop the deliberate disenfranchisement of black voters, and any voters, this election. In 2000, many people in Florida who were purged from the rolls weren't even felons, they just had names similar

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088788570192436452004-07-02T10:03:00.000-07:002004-07-02T10:16:10.193-07:00

Net Politik links to this piece in the Nation: The increasing power of the state and the declining power of institutions intended to control it has been in the making for some time. The party system is a notorious example. The Republicans have emerged as a unique phenomenon in American history of a fervently doctrinal party, zealous, ruthless, antidemocratic and boasting a near majority. As

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088787230926610702004-07-02T09:50:00.000-07:002004-07-02T09:53:50.926-07:00

From Crooked Timber:This is for real. I’ve just spoken to a representative of Focus on the Family who has confirmed that Focus on the Family did, indeed, give out Moore’s home address. The person that I spoke to didn’t want to be quoted. I’ve asked the media relations department to see if they have any comment that they are willing to make, and I’ll update with any comment that they have.But

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088784903922362622004-07-02T09:12:00.000-07:002004-07-02T09:15:03.923-07:00

Brad DeLong makes it pretty obvious that Donald Luskin isn't even close to being an economist, though he claims to be. Fun meaningless chart included.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088774476789115442004-07-02T05:58:00.000-07:002004-07-02T08:41:43.376-07:00

VOT is startin' to get on my last nerve. He writes:Simply put the genocide in that part of the world is being carried out by the establishment arab/muslims against subsaharan christians and animists. Which part of that statement do you find false. Answer, none. It is a Fact BTW, Islamophobia is RATIONAL, how do explain 3000+ Americans killed, Turks killed, bangladeshis killed (for daring to

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088737661783686202004-07-01T20:02:00.000-07:002004-07-01T20:07:41.783-07:00

VOT dropped by again for a friendly chat about maturity. Or something. I would love for the international community to step in and stop the genocide in the Sudan, but the problem is if the U.S. did it they would be accused by childish leftists like you of being "racist" and "islamophobic". Simply put the genocide in that part of the world is being carried out by the establishment arab/muslims

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088736132274212772004-07-01T19:33:00.000-07:002004-07-01T19:42:12.276-07:00

In part by pointing out that Kristof is pretending he doesn't know the dictionary definition of lying. Maybe he doesn't. It's not as though he's a professional writer. Actually, he does, but he claims to think it's just more persuasive to call a spade a shovel. Or an airplane. Anything but a spade. Or maybe he's just self-deluded, like Bush. David Corn believes in plain speaking. I'm

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088726382397637722004-07-01T16:30:00.000-07:002004-07-01T16:59:42.396-07:00

The media has been all over Michael Moore like stink on shit. Eric Alterman wonders why they didn't critique Bush's case for war with the same vigor. So should we all. Think Again: Michael Moore, Cause for War?The media, apparently, have finally decided to take a stand for truth in reporting. Their target? Alleged America-hater Michael Moore and his apparently epoch-making "Fahrenheit 9/11."

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088722533511939382004-07-01T15:19:00.000-07:002004-07-01T15:55:33.513-07:00

We've all heard it. Liberal academia, liberal academia, liberal academia. Kinda like, liberal media, liberal media, liberal media. Advertising slogans designed to convince the gullible that something is true without having to resort to actual facts. Ya know how them facts are. They's kinda inconvenient. From The Contradictions of Cultural Conservatism in the Assault on American Colleges:

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088709002724891402004-07-01T11:28:00.000-07:002004-07-01T12:16:35.383-07:00

I'm not sure why "moderate liberal" commentators feel such an overwhelming need to criticize Michael Moore. If I were inclined to give in to my darkest suspicions I could probably lay out a theory or two, but the truth is I don't really know. Maybe they feel the need to appear "balanced." Tell me, is it fair and balanced to compare Moore to Rush Limbaugh? Al Franken to Bill O'Leilly? Ann

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088705363820807332004-07-01T11:03:00.000-07:002004-07-01T11:09:23.820-07:00

Former head of GOP consulting group pleads guilty to jamming Democratic phone linesCONCORD, N.H. (AP) The former head of a Republican consulting group has pleaded guilty to jamming Democratic telephone lines in several New Hampshire cities during the 2002 general election. Allen Raymond, former president of the Alexandria, Va.-based GOP Marketplace LLC, waived indictment and pleaded guilty in

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088656743871476292004-06-30T21:26:00.000-07:002004-06-30T21:39:03.870-07:00

MoveOn has another left wing, socialist cause to which the coalition of the wild-eyed must flock:Dear MoveOn member, A major human tragedy is unfolding in Sudan, one that has reportedly claimed at least 30,000 lives, and could claim hundreds of thousands more unless the world community works together, starting immediately, to end it. But despite the growing catastrophe, the U.S. State

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088635961499199992004-06-30T15:35:00.000-07:002004-06-30T15:52:41.500-07:00

Adam, at A Violently Executed Blog, links to a piece that tells the real truth about the media. I know something about it because I was a janitor at a newspaper. Oh, sure, a lowly job, but I roamed all over the building and regularly talked to reporters. This shit ain't no lie. And it confirms what I originally said, that Christopher Hitchens is full of shit when it comes to Michael Moore.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088624373598371232004-06-30T12:33:00.000-07:002004-06-30T12:39:33.596-07:00

Damn it! The left wing GAO refuses to give us the good news on Iraq. Iraq's basic services worse now than before war, GAO saysIn a few key areas — electricity, the judicial system and overall security — the Iraq that America handed back to its residents Monday is worse off than before the war began last year, according to calculations in a new General Accounting Office report released yesterday.

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088621052988701302004-06-30T11:12:00.000-07:002004-06-30T11:44:12.986-07:00

In Calling Bush a Liar Kristof writes:In the 1990's, nothing made conservatives look more petty and simple-minded than their demonization of Bill and Hillary Clinton, who were even accused of spending their spare time killing Vince Foster and others. Mr. Clinton, in other words, left the right wing addled. Now Mr. Bush is doing the same to the left. For example, Mr. Moore hints that the real

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088618252640805282004-06-30T10:46:00.000-07:002004-06-30T11:02:14.960-07:00

Islamic Sites Debate Beheading of Muslims I'm not gonna get into the details, click the link if you're interested. Short version is that some Muslims clearly consider non-Muslims to be less than fully human. Just as some Americans, especially right wingers, consider Muslims less than fully human. Same as some people consider blacks, or brown, or Asians (I'm not sure what people think about

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088617155319460782004-06-30T10:03:00.000-07:002004-06-30T10:39:15.320-07:00

Of course, being a right winger means never having to admit you're nearly always wrong. I still remember what they said before the Iraq war, and they've turned out to be wrong almost across the board. Haven't heard many admit to being even partially wrong, though. Drug Prices Rose After Medicare Law, Group Says And the "group" is AARP. An' I don't wanna hear that crap about their high

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245499.post-1088614526522313822004-06-30T09:46:00.000-07:002004-06-30T09:55:26.523-07:00

Campaign Desk sez:It's only Wednesday, but The Boston Globe's Glen Johnson is already in the hunt for this week's unsupported lead prize. Today Johnson kicks off his story with this: "To detractors and even some supporters, John F. Kerry's decision this week to cancel his speech to the US Conference of Mayors because of a picket line was typical of how he makes many judgments: protracted, messy,

Phaedrushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13640571288468404013noreply@blogger.com3