Open Thread Friday

Apologies for the rare postings - I have been fighting a mostly-losing battle with my home network and dealing with, well, reality-related stuff, so I have scarcely looked at the news.

I cling to a secret hope of being back, well-informed, and maybe even interesting.  But probably not today.

Comments

[cathyf]

***pout*** You do like H&R best! ***sob***

[Rick Ballard]

Well, then best wishes for whatever.

Or something.

[Jeff Dobbs]

I'M FREE!!!!

I'M FREE!!!!!

I'M FREEEEEE!!!!!

I didn't like to have to go on strike. It was killing me not to post, but, if that's what it takes.....

Tom, whatever reality-related stuff is going on, all our best.

I'm glad *you* can put JOM down when duty calls, I'm only able to do it when mrs hit and run threatens to leave. Or kick my [REDACTED].

[Jeff Dobbs]

FWIW, cathyf, I heart you A LOT.

I know...I'm no Tom.

But I'm no Dick or Harry either.

[maryrose]

TM:
You are allowed to have a life! Thank you for all that you do. I never worry where you are because I always know you will return to the JOM faithful.

[clarice]

Glad to hear you're ok, TM. Man I hate reality-based stuff.
H & R, it's time to open that keg.

[Neo]

Is the Jessica Lynch "myth" a whole cloth invention of the WaPo ?

[cathyf]

Opinionjournal piece on Wolfritz today:

One of the most revealing subplots in the European coup attempt against World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz is who is coming to the American's defense. The rich European donor countries want him to resign, while the Africans who are the bank's major clients are encouraging him to stay.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Clarice:
H & R, it's time to open that keg.

Mmmmmmmm. Yes.

And I really need a drink -- I am just absolutely shattered to pieces because Obama has "cynicalized" me again.

[Lew Clark]

Since "Dear Leader" has implied he still has personal stuff to attend to, I'm holding off the celebration of his triumphant return until we get his ok. We'll keep the parade vehicles in the lot, but the guys will have to go ahead and hang the banners and just cover them with tarp. Those 200' by 100' posters of DL are a bitch to get hung, especially if you've got some wind.

[clarice]

Heh H & R-- I don't know how we can ever de-cynicalize you...

[Neo]

I suppose that all degrees of those admitted are now worthless.

[Jeff Dobbs]

I don't know how we can ever de-cynicalize you...

It's easy. That's what the keg is for.

[clarice]

Well, it's all I could think of.

[clarice]

Red State has more great stuff on Haditha--

http://congressmanmaccollins.redstate.com/stories/war/an_interview_with_the_haditha_defense_team> Time to investigate the NCIS?

[Jeff Dobbs]

Tom:
so I have scarcely looked at the news.

I hope for your sake that includes sports.

[PatrickR]

My theory on TM's absence is that the American League East standings have put him into clinical depression.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Lew:
I'm holding off the celebration of his triumphant return until we get his ok.

Sage advice. I will do the same.

Although, there are other things to celebrated. Like...did you know that today, Friday, ends in y? I love days that end in y's.

Here's to days that end in y!!!!

[Jeff Dobbs]

Patrick:
the American League East standings have put him into clinical depression.

I Blame Bush.

[PatrickR]

Does anyone believe George Tenet:

'Mr. Tenet admits that he made his famous “slam dunk” remark about the evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. But he argues that the quote was taken out of context and that it had little impact on President Bush’s decision to go to war. He also makes clear his bitter view that the administration made him a scapegoat for the Iraq war.

'...Mr. Tenet described with sarcasm watching an episode of “Meet the Press” last September in which Mr. Cheney twice referred to Mr. Tenet’s “slam dunk” remark as the basis for the decision to go to war.

'“I remember watching and thinking, ‘As if you needed me to say ‘slam dunk’ to convince you to go to war with Iraq,’ ” Mr. Tenet writes.

'As violence in Iraq spiraled beginning in late 2003, Mr. Tenet writes, “rather than acknowledge responsibility, the administration’s message was: Don’t blame us. George Tenet and the C.I.A. got us into this mess.”

'Mr. Tenet takes blame for the flawed 2002 National Intelligence Estimate about Iraq’s weapons programs, calling the episode “one of the lowest moments of my seven-year tenure.” He expresses regret that the document was not more nuanced, but says there was no doubt in his mind at the time that Saddam Hussein possessed unconventional weapons. “In retrospect, we got it wrong partly because the truth was so implausible,” he writes.

'...Mr. Tenet says he decided to write the memoir in part because the infamous “slam dunk” episode had come to define his tenure at C.I.A.

'He gives a detailed account of the episode, which occurred during an Oval Office meeting in December 2002 when the administration was preparing to make public its case for war against Iraq.

'During the meeting, the deputy C.I.A. director, John McLaughlin, unveiled a draft of a proposed public presentation that left the group unimpressed. Mr. Tenet recalls that Mr. Bush suggested that they could “add punch” by bringing in lawyers trained to argue cases before a jury.

'“I told the president that strengthening the public presentation was a ‘slam dunk,’ a phrase that was later taken completely out of context,” Mr. Tenet writes. “If I had simply said, ‘I’m sure we can do better,’ I wouldn’t be writing this chapter — or maybe even this book.” '

[PatrickR]

Here's Dick Cheney on Meet the Press, September 10, 2006:

MR. RUSSERT: In fact, there is grave doubt, because they did not exist along the lines that you described, the president described, and others described. Based on what you know now, that Saddam did not have the weapons of mass destruction that were described, would you still have gone into Iraq?

VICE PRES. CHENEY: Yes, Tim, because what the reports also showed, while he did not have stockpiles—clearly the intelligence that said he did was wrong. That was the intelligence all of us saw, that was the intelligence all of us believed, it was—when, when George Tenet sat in the Oval Office and the president of the United States asked him directly, he said, “George, how good is the case against Saddam on weapons of mass destruction?” the director of the CIA said, “It’s a slam dunk, Mr. President, it’s a slam dunk.” That was the intelligence that was provided to us at the time, and based upon which we made a choice.

[TimUSSRR]

Hey man (TM).

Somedays you just got to duck or life will take your head off.

On Jessica Lynch, she looked mighty pretty and grownup on TV at the hearing. She was a pretty wild child back in the day though. You should see the video. We had it playing all around here for a while.

But seriously Jessica is right. Her friend who passed was more a hero than Jessica, but I don't disparage the little lady at all.

Sometimes all you can do for your country is show up and try to survive, and the little lady did that.

So I say "well done little lady!"

[Daddy]

Bless you TM for returning from wherever and sincere good luck with your real world endeavors. Unfortunately Congressman Henry Waxman doesn't buy your explanation, so the subpeona to testify in front of his committee is in the mail...So what's it gonna' be, "I can't recall", or "I Plead the Fifth."

[clarice]

And --just a friendly reminder--if you say "I don't recall" or words to that effect, he will ask you weekly to supplement your answer.

[Daddy]

"Word's to that effect is in center field"
"What?"
"No, Whats on second."
"Who's on second?"
"No, What's on second, Who's on first."
"Who is on first base?"
"Precisely."

[Sue]

I told the president that strengthening the public presentation was a ‘slam dunk,’

I don't understand this explanation. Is he saying he told the president he could help him juice up the evidence to present to the public? I think he was probably better off letting everyone think he said WMDs were a slam dunk, since the whole world thought the same thing. This makes him look like he was in on the Bush lied, kids died...

[Jeff Dobbs]

Going back and reconstructing the timeline on Tom's absence, I am led to believe that Tom is currently battling the insurgency in the Maguire household after poor, well-intentioned TM tried to implement the Sheryl Crow "One Square is All You Need" plan to save the earth.

As Harry Reid would say, Tom, this war is lost.

[cathyf]

Ok, so I've said before that I'm on a quest to decide the best method of playing the Arkansas Alzheimers game. The problem with "I don't recall" is that if you do recall, it's perjury. So I'm thinking of "I'm sorry, I don't understand the question," as the mantra of choice. Well, ok, that's perjury, too. Better to stick with "I don't understand the question," repeated endlessly.

I think it has an especial practicality when dealing with congressional gasbags. Because given the slightest chance to hear their own voices, they will compulsively explain themselves, over and over, and barely give the witness the chance to even be on the hotseat...

[clarice]

HEH, cathy. My best offer is this:
My memory is fallible. I have vague recollections of the event, but being under oath or subject to perjury laws under the Martha Stewart and Libby precedents, much as my first inclination is to assist your work with a caveat that I am not certain if my memory of the event is perfect, I see no choice but to state that I feel my memory is too imperfect to offer it up in this context.

[Rick Ballard]

I have tested my memory on numerous occasions and found the likelihood of error in my responses to be about 50%. The other third of the time I'm mostly right.

What was the question again?

[Appalled Moderate]

SENATOR COSTELLO: Is it not a fact, Mr. Abbott, that You Don't Know Who is on First Base.

ABBOTT: I certainly do know Who is on First, Senator.

SENATOR: What about second?

ABBOTT: What is on, Second. That is correct, sir.

SENATOR: Wouldn't that be "Who is on Second"?

ABBOTT: No sir. What is on Second.

SENATOR: Obviously, they don't teach you Republicans proper grammar. Who is on Second? That's the way you say it.

ABBOTT: But who is on first, senator.

SENATOR: You asking me?

ABBOTT: I'm telling you.

SENATOR: What?

ABBOTT: He's on Second.

SENATOR: Who?

ABBOTT: He's on first.

SENATOR: May I remind you Mr. Abbott that you are under oath.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Hillary! on FDL.....

h/t newsbusters...who asks if Hillary really wants to be posting on the site that blackfaced Lieberman...

[clarice]

The always provocative and often right Edward Luttwak has a plan for the ME--Ignore it.
http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=9302

Oh, and though it will never garner the same headlines as the charges against him--Berlusconi has been cleared of charges he bribed judges.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2105773,00.html

[PatrickR]

General Michael DeLong say right back at you:

'In the case of Ms. Lynch, overzealous politicians and a frenzied press distorted facts. For these politicians to step forward now and accuse the military of capitalizing on the Jessica Lynch story is utter hypocrisy.'

[Jeff Dobbs]

Hillary stuck around FDL to chat....not much there, a lot of star-crazed folks...and most of Hillary's comments were bland, like:

Q -- What is your plan to protect women from our government?

Hillary -- We need more women to join our government and make the laws and policies that affect us.

Unfortunately, this was after Clinton had left, but a prominent lefty blogger had a pointed question...

Matt Stoller says:

April 24th, 2007 at 2:16 pm

Thank you for showing up here and spending some time with us. Here’s my question, and I hope you don’t mind if it’s a bit frank. If you couldn’t even get a hearing or creatively work to generate attention for this legislation in the last Congress, why should we trust you to be able to pass this legislation?

[Lew Clark]

After the Libby fiasco, I have thought long and hard how I will testify (about anything anywhere) if called to do so. I have decided to do a perfect imitation of one of Ted Kennedy's speeches. Even with the best computers and decrypting software, they will never have a clue what I said. You can't be charged with perjury, if they can't understand what you said.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

You can't be charged with perjury, if they can't understand what you said.

I didn't understand what Libby said and he not only got charged, but convicted.

[centralcal]

From Breitbart via Drudge:

" 'I think America is ready for a multilingual president,' [Hillary] Clinton said during a campaign stop at a charter school in Greenville, S.C."

She was referring to her fake Southern drawl that she hauls out when addressing African-American crowds. That is mutilingual? Multilingual - sheesh!!!

Living in California where there are bilingual requirements for just about every job, I used to joke that I was bilingual. I spoke English and profanity equally proficiently. And, yes, in my younger days I knew some Mexican profanity, some Portugese profanity, some Basque profanity, and some Italian profanity. Now, that was multilingual.

[PeterUK.]

"A State Department report on terrorism due out next week will show a more than 25 percent increase in terror attacks worldwide in 2006 to over 14,000 -- almost all of it due to incidents in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. officials said Friday."

There is a secret report that there was an increase in aerial bombardment between 1939 and 1945.

[Lew Clark]

Not to mention the tremendous rise in totally unexplainable deaths by "other than natural causes" in Europe during that same period.

[clarice]

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2007/04/bloomberg_and_the_gongos_din.html>Tranzis

[Rick Ballard]

From the article posted by dipstick:

"Worldwide, about 5,800 people were killed in terrorist attacks, also up from 2005."

From the 2005 Report (page 8):

"Individuals worldwide killed as a result of incidents of terrorism 14,602" (That's from the executive summary.)

The al-McClatchy reporter needs to adjust his hijab. It appears to be blocking his brain sight.

Secretary Rice might want to spend a little time with the people doing the compiling - give'em a few tests to see if they take off their shoes when counting beyond ten.

[PeterUK.]

Tranzis A suspension of reality.

[PeterUK.]

"give'em a few tests to see if they take off their shoes when counting beyond ten."

That's why they wear sandals,though most of them wear socks.

[Maybeex]

Sue-
You asked what Bush accepted Abe/Japan's apology for. It was for Japan's use of comfort women- forcing women from occupied countries during WWII to be sex slaves for often-abusive Japanse soldiers.
As I understand it, Abe recently made some comments that sought to diminish the horror of it. In general, it is something the Japanese don't like to discuss.
However, part of what Japan wants help with in dealing with North Korea is the Japanese abductees NK still holds,that they took as sex slaves. So Japan is now making an effort to apologize for its comfort woman past, so that the six party talks might address getting Japanese women back to their families.

[Other Tom]

It's my understandting that bombing the home islands of Japan caused an astronomical increase in the number of volunteers for the Kamikaze corps in 1945.

Terrible mistake, that bombing. What was needed was a political solution.

[Other Tom]

I forgot: up there in progressive Marin County, by 1943 they had mounted sixteen-inch coastal defense guns in the hills (they're still there). What in God's name were they thinking? Couldn't they have simply declared Marin a sanctuary for Nipponese invaders?

[PatrickR]

No Connections Between Iraq and Al Qaeda File:

----------quote--------
The US says it has arrested one of al-Qaeda's highest-ranking operatives, as he was on his way home to Iraq to plan future attacks.

....According to information about him provided by the Pentagon, Mr Hadi was a key paramilitary commander in Afghanistan during the late 1990s, before taking charge of cross-border attacks against US and coalition troops from 2002 to 2004.

....BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera says Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi is one of al-Qaeda's most senior operational commanders.

According to the Pentagon information, he served in Saddam Hussein's Iraqi army, reaching the rank of major before crossing into Afghanistan to join al-Qaeda.

'Well-respected'

Born in Mosul, Iraq, apparently in 1961, he allegedly rose to a position of power and responsibility within al-Qaeda.

He is described by the US state department as one of Osama Bin Laden's "top global deputies", personally chosen by the al-Qaeda leader to monitor operations in Iraq.
--------endquote------

[PeterUK.]

"Born in Mosul, Iraq, apparently in 1961, he allegedly rose to a position of power and responsibility within al-Qaeda."

Impossible,liberals have clearly told us Iraq is a secular country with no connection to al Qaeda,are you implying they are liars,or worse, mistaken?

[clarice]

Tsk PUK he was on leave from Saddam's army at the time.

[PeterUK.]

Clarice,
Have you noticed he's another bloody baby boomer?

[Other Tom]

"WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The CIA has captured a senior al Qaeda commander who served as a liaison between al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan and the terrorist group's franchise in Iraq. U .S. military and intelligence officials announced Friday that Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, a native of Mosul in northern Iraq, was captured in late 2006 as he tried to re-enter the country.

"This week, after more than four months of interrogations, the CIA transferred him to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay. Al-Iraqi joined 14 other designated high-value detainees, including Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States."

Question for the next Dem debate: "Do you approve of the decision to move Mr. al-Hadi al-Iraqi to Guantanamo?" Follow-up question: "If not, what do you think should be done with him?"

And another: "In your view, does Mr. al-Hadi al-Iraqi have the right of habeas corpus under the US consitution?"

Oh, there's more: "Do you believe Mr. al-Hadi al-Iraqi should be subjected to the kind of aggressive interrogation techniques to which George Tenet has referred?"

And here's one for JOM'ers: anybody think any of these questions will be asked?

[Other Tom]

The folks at Powerline have absolutely shredded Sen. Dick Durbin's claim that those on the Intelligence Committee were aware that the administration was lying during the run-up to war, but were powerless to say so because they were sworn to secrecy. Some select quotes from Democratic members of that committee at the time:

"Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) September, 2002): '[Saddam] has ignored the mandates of the United Nations, is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them.'

"Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV), October, 2002: 'There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons. And will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years.'

"Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), March, 2003: 'Bill, I support the president's efforts to disarm Saddam Hussein. I think he was right on in his speech tonight. The lessons we learned following September 11 were that we can't wait to be attacked again, particularly when it involves weapons of mass destruction. So regrettably, Saddam has not done the right thing, which is to disarm, and we're left with no alternative but to take action.'

And Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), September, 2002: “'Saddam Hussein, in effect, has thumbed his nose at the world community. And I think that the President's approaching this in the right fashion.'”

Come on, Durbin--tell us what it was that you knew that your fellow Democrats didn't know?

[PeterUK.]

Other Tom,
Obviously Mr. al-Hadi al-Iraqi should be driven in splendour to Capitol to receive the surrender.Very fortunate of him turning up when he did,Mullah Lite Harry can make the obeisance personally.

[Rick Ballard]

I'm sure that Mullah al-Hari Reid, Abu Obama and Pelosi Bey will confer with their allies in Damascus and Teheran concerning the proper treatment of a party loyalist. The least that they can do is go down to Guantanamo to meet with him and make sure he's comfortable.

[hoosierhoops]

" well it looks like Tom M. is heading back to the dugout"
other announcer: " Of course it's been a tough year for Tom..the skipper looks to be giving Mac some down time..the '08 White house playoffs are approaching."
" yep..he needs to be at the top of his game.."
*****************************************
Everybody misses ya tom and look forward to some impacting blogs from you...
CentralCal:
To comment on you..
Most jobs in central cal do not require you to speak spanish..( a minor sticking point..but i get what you are saying..)

[clarice]

Maybe Durbin new Tenet and his folks were utter idiots --something many of us found out afterwards.

[topsecretk9]

OtherTom
The folks at Powerline have absolutely shredded Sen. Dick Durbin's claim that those on the Intelligence Committee were aware that the administration was lying during the run-up to war, but were powerless to say so because they were sworn to secrecy.

I think --since no one calls them on it - they just make up crap by the truck load (probably to pretend to the nutroots what they want to hear, but still)...Reid did this with Bush recently, James Webb and some other kooky Dem claimed they gave Bush and the latter Rove also a what for, Laurie David and Sheryl Crow BS'd that Rove was a big meanie to them (when really they were aggressively rude wankers) and now?

ACE:
Awesomely Awesome: Democrats Lie About Petraeus' Secret Briefing, Believing They Can Get Away With It; But Mudville Gazette Proves Them Liars

I think commenter Sherlock is right (and salty)

Some Republican should throw down the gauntlet on this bastard -

"Harry Reid, you are lying about what Petraeus said, and that's with no ifs, ands, buts, or maybes. If you cannot be trusted to report faithfully on what was said by our military commanders to you in confidence, you are not fit to be part of a loyal opposition in this country. Either fully recant or resign, or I will produce the testimony and prove you a liar for all to see!"

[PeterUK.]

"Either fully recant or resign, or I will produce the testimony and prove you a liar for all to see!"

The word "or" is redundant here.

[topsecretk9]

Clarice

It is funded by the same left oriented tax-exempt foundations that fund most of the anti-Administration "public interest" groups, including the Stewart Mott Foundation, Soros' Open Society Institute, the Tides Foundation (of which Teresa Heinz is a large contributor), and the Ford Foundation.

Karl at Protein Wisdom has branded the lefty blogs - Sorosphere (probably not new, but I hadn't heard it before I don't think, anyways I will use to from now on)

[Rick Ballard]

Tops,

We're just damned lucky that McCain-Feingold got all the money out of politics. Otherwise some leftist screwball billionaire could try and buy a party and do whatever he pleased.

[Jane]

You asked what Bush accepted Abe/Japan's apology for.

Actually it was me. And thanks for the answer!

(typepad is giving me fits)

[clarice]

Sorosphere is good..Now let's come up with a tag for all the Soros funded NGO's..If Tera and Soros and Lewis closed their pocketbooks or the IRS finally lowered the boom on these guys they'd have to get real jobs.

[Specter]

So Hillary says it is time for a Multilingual President - and that based on her southern accent, she fits the bill.

I think this is Hillary's "Imus Moment". It is an insult to people who are truly multilingual.

[Rick Ballard]

SoroboNGO drifts through my mind - vision's of Bubba's African Adventure and all - probably too esoteric. Peter has a dab hand with these and H & R is no slouch.

It will come.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Clarice,

If Tera and Soros and Lewis closed their pocketbooks or the IRS finally lowered the boom on these guys they'd have to get real jobs.

Lowered the boom for what? Didn't McCain- Feingold make buying a party legal?
Seems to me the question is where are the conservative Soroses and Lewises and Teresas. Spending their money on yachts and mansions while these creeps buy our government, that's where.

[clarice]

Larry, these are 501(c)(3) operations which are not allowed to use contributed funds for partisan purposes. Do you suppose CREW could pass a serious audit?PFAW? Any of them?

[Dan S]

"So Hillary says it is time for a Multilingual President - and that based on her southern accent, she fits the bill."

Stop reading so much into this. She just means "it's time for a Dem." They all speak with two (or more) tongues.

[PeterUK.]

Presumably Hillary can speak some really useful languages,one of the 23 official languages ( including English) of India perhaps,or Mandarin,Cantonese,Hakka or other dialects of China.

I really want to hear her say "Aah feeyall yawer payun" in Mandarin.

[Specter]

LOL. Speaka wita forked tongue.....

Nice view Dan S. Cracked me up.

[clarice]

Last night I said we needed Natalie Holloway to turn up or something to get attention off all these stupid non-scandal hearings.
Not saying I have any special powers or anything (just being modest here LOL) TA DA:
"Natalee Holloway Search Resumed
Something of a jaw dropper for crime aficionados.

About 20 investigators arrived from the Netherlands on June 16, van der Biezen said. She said they also searched the home, but she could not say why. They left after a couple hours inside the walled property.

A statement from the prosecutors' office said: "The team has indications that justify a more thorough search."

Fox Birmingham has something up but not much more.

Sources tell FOX6 News that Aruban authorities have setup tents and brought in jackhammers to the Aruban home of Paul Van der Sloot.

I suppose it's possible someone finally opened their mouth. But the way this thing went when it was active it's hard to tell. Archives here."

http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2007/04/natalee_hollowa.html>Byew Waxman, Hello Aruba!

[clarice]

The more I think about it the more certain I am that Roce whispered in the wars of the Dutch prosecutor. Think about it..........

[Specter]

I love conspiracies

[clarice]

Rove is everywhere..

[clarice]

I know there is no evidence he did this....yet..but under Schumer rules of evidence that proves it.

[topsecretk9]

Rick...

SoGo's?

[topsecretk9]

I just painted my house! It looks spectaculascious! I drove a crooked way around the neighborhood so I could behold the beauty...a seaside cottage! - 12 year old said YEP! Seaside cottage alright...except for they aren't up as high and the windows aren't up as high and they don't have lava rock! BRAT!

after weeks spent staring at all times of day trying to find the perfect color to swallow up that lava rock instead of the other way around!

Argh!

[clarice]

Sorry, TS--Maybe you could faux paint the lava rock to look like seashells and seagrass.

[topsecretk9]

Clarice...believe me I thought about it, but everyone I know freaked - people are allergic to painting 'rock" - my only hope is it will be vogue soon - I see it popping up in commercials and movies - so who knows.

[Other Tom]

If we didn't have this poor, sad dunce DEMO, I'd have to invent him.

No one asked the people in the poll whether they approved of cutting off funds if a dealine weren't reached. And no one asked them if they thought the consitution was wrong in making the president the commander-in-chief.

That's what he is, and that's what he will remain until January 20, 2009. Take a poll on that one if you like.

Shall we discuss Mr. Tobias without discussing the homosexual's pimp, Mr. Barney Frank? C'mon, DEMO, I'm sure that up in progressive Marin they approve of both guys' conduct, right? Or do they only condemn one of them? Why?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

clarice,

Larry, these are 501(c)(3) operations which are not allowed to use contributed funds for partisan purposes.Do you suppose CREW could pass a serious audit?PFAW? Any of them?

My mistake. I thought you were referring to organizations like moveon and mediamatters.

My question still remains though.
When, if ever, will the conservative Soros emerge? If he did maybe Tom could afford to hire somebody to fix his home network or do his plumbing or whatever reality related stuff he's dealing with.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Shall we discuss Mr. Tobias without discussing the homosexual's pimp, Mr. Barney Frank?

Geez OT, I'm glad typepad made me change my name.

[Other Tom]

For DEMO, this just in from Drudge:

"The White House will not attempt to assess until September whether any of the major objectives of the troop increase in Iraq are being achieved, and now accepts that it will take far longer to achieve the results than President Bush envisioned when he announced the strategy, the NY TIMES fronts in Saturday editions.

"The timeline administration officials discussed, in on-the-record statements and background interviews, suggests that the White House is now planning to extend the increase in troops well into next year.

"That is a radically different timeline from the one envisioned in legislation that passed the House and Senate this week, which the president has vowed to veto."

God, it's good being commander-in-chief!

[Rick Ballard]

Tops,

Pop a few of these in strategic locations and he'll feel like he's in Hawaii by the end of the summer. (Tell him that all he has to do is keep them trimmed.)

Heh.

[Rick Ballard]

Rioting in Iran

via Michael Ledeen at NRO:

Fred Thompson, the politician and actor considering a White House bid, said Friday he favors helping the Iranian people overthrow the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad if the chance arises.

The former Tennessee senator accused Tehran of "playing a larger part in killing our soldiers" in neighboring Iraq.

Many Iranians don't like their government, "and I think we ought to capitalize on that," Thompson told The Associated Press. "There is a chance they may mobilize themselves, and we need to assist them if that happens."

I hope it's the start of spring "blow up a mullah" week. Good luck, kids.

[topsecretk9]

Excellent Rick - I mean it! Man, they aren't even that expensive, thanks.

OH and believe me- he's my pack mule. My brother, father of 2 boys has a 1/3 acre and has hired help cut the lawn, etc. etc. - I tell him he is insane and he says they just do a poopy job - I told him to plant a lawn chair in the middle of the yard with a big pitcher of Ice Tea and critique their every move...they won't suck at lawn work for long.

But he's a lefty - so....

[topsecretk9]

C'est la vie (vie via Insty)

The New Quinnipiac Poll: Good News for Republicans and Terrible News for Hillary

Quinnipiac is out with a new set of polls and it’s good news for the Republicans and very bad news for Hillary Clinton.

What the polls show is that Rudy Giuliani leads Clinton in the key swing states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida, while John McCain leads in the first two and is tied with Clinton in Florida. Since the Democrats need to win at least two of these three to win the presidency – and perhaps all three – this is terrible news for Clinton. It’s especially depressing when one considers that Ohio was considered to be leaning to the Democrats – after a strong Dem showing in the ’06 elections.

There’s an additional reason – beyond the results themselves – why this hurts Clinton. NBC News and the Wall Street Journal also came out with a poll this week that showed that 39% of the Democratic respondents – a plurality – felt that Hillary has the party’s best chance to win the presidency. As a factual matter, at least now, this is clearly incorrect and the Quinnipiac poll shows it. Obama might be a stronger candidate (he isn’t now but he has much more to room to grow than Hillary because he is still relatively unknown). But Edwards would almost definitely be stronger than Hillary because he doesn’t have her negatives and he would be competitive in border states such as Virginia and North Carolina.

In other words, when Democratic voters slowly come to the realization that Hillary is not their strongest candidate for the fall campaign, her support will likely dissipate further.

as he insty says - HEHI ( Did someone say polls? Polls, schmools

[Barry]

Tops, I do not believe the Silk Pony (aka "the Breck Boy") can win in NC.

[cathyf]

Sorosphere? How about Soroswhorehouse?

[Daddy]

What an amazing coincidence. In all the photos I've seen concerning the French election, Segelena Royale, the Socialist underdog, looks amazingly gorgeous, glamerous, friendly and upbeat, as opposed to the grimacing, somewhat conservative frontrunner Sarkozy, who looks like he's got a permanent bad case of intestinal gas.
If I wasn't so convinced in the absolute non-partisan objectivity of the Press, I'd be tempted to believe they had a preference for one candidate over another.
Thank goodness I know better.

[Sue]

"So Hillary says it is time for a Multilingual President - and that based on her southern accent, she fits the bill."

If it wasn't so sad, it would be funny. I think she really believes it.

[topsecretk9]

Soroswhorehouse

SoWHOREoshouse....

there...aren't we good?

[topsecretk9]

Tops, I do not believe the Silk Pony (aka "the Breck Boy") can win in NC.

I don't think he wins in any southern or mid-western, but that's just me. He's a "John Kerry" only smarter - while liberals love an uppity rich white man - most middle and lower class think huh?

Someone said last night -- you only get on shot at being tiny tim - I think if Edward's goes national? You only get one chance at hairspray, nail files and orange spandex pants - don't play GREENVILLE again! HAH (I lived there for 7 years when my dad was transfered)

[topsecretk9]

DEMO Tells the People of Iraq --GAS BOMS ARE KOOL!

Washington D.C. In the wake of a gas balloons descending on families and mothers and children of Iraq, DEMO stood in a gas mask and demonstrated the joys of kite flying in Iraq. As little gas filled bombs floated down on the heads of little bright eyed innocent Iraqi children...

[topsecretk9]

Want an insider's peek into the life of a sitting congressman?

This might be your chance.

For $1,300 per month, U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, offers the attic of his Uptown home for rent, complete with a pair of off-street parking spaces and access to the in-ground, backyard swimming pool.

It's the same house, at 1922 Marengo St., that FBI agents swarmed on Aug. 3, 2005, as part of coordinated raids that also targeted the nine-term congressman's government office and his Capitol Hill home. They discovered $90,000 in marked bills in the freezer of the Washington home. Agents left the Marengo Street house carrying a half-dozen boxes.

Jefferson won re-election in December despite the specter of the federal probe and with much of his traditional base dispersed by Hurricane Katrina. He has not been charged with a crime and has promised to provide "an honorable explanation" against allegations of corruption tied to his business dealings in Africa.

Jefferson's spokeswoman said Friday that the "For Lease" sign in the front yard of the century-old New Orleans property does not mean the congressman and his wife are leaving the neighborhood they have called home for three decades.

I dunno, maybe all democrats have 90 marked in their freezer, and that's why they all protecting this corruption. Well, Democrats are always OK with Democrat corruption, so that doesn't make sense.

[Maybeex]

McClatchy Newspapers are reporting the Bush administration considered canning 12 U.S. attorneys last year before it whittled down its purge to the eight it forced to resign.

Didn't they also consider canning all of them? And Patrick Fitzgerald? Is 12 more of a "scandal" than all? Is it more or less of a scandal than 8? Let me know when the critics have decided what evidence this provides.

[topsecretk9]

I was just surfing and I have to say, the little firedogswap - wapo - hillary thing was hilarious.

Before i went out to paint I read the WAPO - and thought - you and Joe Lieberman's guy are in for it -- cuz you know, the most secure, self assured, razor eating feminist in the sorosphere can ALWAYS handle a little criticism and won't designate her little paid attack dog t-rex to do her bidding?, but then I thought, if she hosted Hillary, and the "swamp" is legitimate and big-time - she won't employ her paid attack dog t-rex - the swamp will rise above --

FAT CHANCE

T-Rex -who makes Pavlov look like a 6th graders science fair project- like clockwork takes position and then they go and do a bunch of retarded photoshops! When NEW people might be checking in from the publicity... - anyways, mad me, I actually thought Hamsher did have a brain - but it turns out it's an ego, and it is to attack anyone who dare criticizes her --- and who is running for office exactly?

The point was - is it a liability to be on the swamp?

Blackmail is what hamsher's after? HEH.

[topsecretk9]

Maybee...

It's funny, but all I saw was...McClatchy Newspapers, and noted their "sharp' dive in cir and ads...so didn't go on.

[Lew Clark]

I think Jefferson walks. I'm pretty sure members of congress are still paid in cash. You know, it's an institution steeped in tradition. And where do you put all that cash on payday? Pretty logical explanation, if you ask me.

[Sara]

Clarice:

My memory is fallible. I have vague recollections of the event, but being under oath or subject to perjury laws under the Martha Stewart and Libby precedents, much as my first inclination is to assist your work with a caveat that I am not certain if my memory of the event is perfect, I see no choice but to state that I feel my memory is too imperfect to offer it up in this context.

LOL. Love it.