The Rutherford County Democratic Party (RCDP) launched our website today to help increase the party's profile and connect with one of the state's fastest growing populations. I am very proud to have worked with RCDP Chair Kellee Inskeep in designing and implementing this much-needed tool.
The website launch comes just a couple of months after the RCDP achieved its goal of opening a new office space off the square in Murfreesboro, TN. It also coincides with a visit to the county by Governor Phil Bredesen.
When President Bush set out to eliminate the gray areas in the war on terror, the option left for ally and foe alike was clear. "You are either with us, or with the terrorists. And if you are with the terrorists, you will face the consequences." The Saudi Royal Family continues to profit from the September 11, 2001 attack on our country by 15 Saudi nationals and continues to stoke the flames of theocratic fascism between the black and white choices in the war on terror.
A 2004 Saudi royal study group recognized the need for reform after finding that the kingdom's religious studies curriculum "encourages violence toward others, and misguides the pupils into believing that in order to safeguard their own religion, they must violently repress and even physically eliminate the 'other.' " Since then, the Saudi government has claimed repeatedly that it has revised its educational texts.
Prince Turki al-Faisal, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, has worked aggressively to spread this message. "The kingdom has reviewed all of its education practices and materials, and has removed any element that is inconsistent with the needs of a modern education," he said on a recent speaking tour to several U.S. cities. "Not only have we eliminated what might be perceived as intolerance from old textbooks that were in our system, we have implemented a comprehensive internal revision and modernization plan." The Saudi government even took out a full-page ad in the New Republic last December to tout its success at "having modernized our school curricula to better prepare our children for the challenges of tomorrow." A year ago, an embassy spokesman declared: "We have reviewed our educational curriculums. We have removed materials that are inciteful or intolerant towards people of other faiths." The embassy is also distributing a 74-page review on curriculum reform to show that the textbooks have been moderated.
The problem is: These claims are not true.
A review of a sample of official Saudi textbooks for Islamic studies used during the current academic year reveals that, despite the Saudi government's statements to the contrary, an ideology of hatred toward Christians and Jews and Muslims who do not follow Wahhabi doctrine remains in this area of the public school system. The texts teach a dualistic vision, dividing the world into true believers of Islam (the "monotheists") and unbelievers (the "polytheists" and "infidels").
This indoctrination begins in a first-grade text and is reinforced and expanded each year, culminating in a 12th-grade text instructing students that their religious obligation includes waging jihad against the infidel to "spread the faith." [This is a Saudi textbook. (After the intolerance was removed.) - Washington Post - 05-21-06]
The Saudi Royal Family also enjoys not having to live up to President Bush's brilliant proposal to ease the cost of gas prices.
"What I think the president ought to do is he ought to get on the phone with the OPEC cartel and say we expect you to open your spigots. One reason why the price is so high is because the price of crude oil has been driven up. OPEC has gotten its supply act together, and it's driving the price, like it did in the past. And the president of the United States must jawbone OPEC members to lower the price." [First in the Nation: The New Hampshire Debates -- GOP Presidential Candidates Square off - CNN - 01-26-00]
War in the Middle East is the perfect complication to the Saudi Royal Family's "supply act," and nothing has been more profitable for their empire than the instability inherent in a jihad against western interests in the region.
Despite the effort having no chance of passing a Senate vote, Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has scheduled a vote in the Senate on June 5, setting aside the American people's business for his own idea of America's priority.
The latest proposal from the Republican party to address the most important issues of intelligence gathering failures, emergency response failures, homeland defense, record deficit spending, a mismanaged war in Iraq, bribery scandals, criminal indictments of elected officials and ethics violations under the Congressional reign of Republicans is to add yet another disgrace to their legacy by attempting to write discrimination into the United States Constitution.
"Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman," reads the measure, which would require approval by two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of the states to take effect.
"Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman," it says.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has scheduled a vote the week of June 5. [Specter to Feingold: 'Good Riddance' - Washington Post - 05-19-06]
I'm so used to the nightmare of parking in D.C. that I can't help but feel lucky to have gotten a parking spot at the Bellcourt Cinema in Nashville's west end. It's probably easier than I thought, but I was sweating it. Vince and I were there to see a one-time showing of Tucker's World, a documentary on a Nashville homeless man named Tucker by local film maker Lee Cahn.
As we walked through the parking lot, I recognized the star of the movie we were there to see. He was standing with his family and another star of the movie, a shop owner who has known Tucker for years. I couldn't help but to think it must be very weird for them all to see what was about to play to a packed theater.
Neill waved from the door as he put on a shirt for Lee's production company 2.8 Productions. He motioned he was heading inside to start helping out as Vince crammed $3 into the parking attendant box. When we got to the door, Neill burst out saying something about it being a cluster fuck in there and lit up a smoke. Vince and I went in, bought our tickets and had a seat.
Like the people already there, we were about 30 minutes too early. Someone said the Nashville Scene got the time wrong. It wasn't really a big deal. Neill, who is working with Lee on an upcoming film project, sat with us.
After the movie, Tucker, who somehow made it through seeing himself describing life on the street while cracked out of his mind and visiting his family for Christmas while drunk, entered the theater. What happened next was just appalling. Rather than somehow expressing a sense of sadness for a man whose choice to remain a homeless drunk and drug addict, this crowd of seemingly liberal, educated people began to applaud and cheer Tucker. One woman even shouted "Bravo!" It was as disgusting and darkly humorous as the many scenes in the John Waters film Pecker where seemingly well-to-do art critics succumb to a cult of personality and fawn over Pecker's morally challenged photography subjects as they show up to see themselves in a New York showing of his work.
There is nothing to cheer about here. I was one of the first people in the audience to stand as Tucker entered the theater, but I wasn't applauding. I was trying to leave before everyone else did. The entire time I stood there, people began rising all around me, clapping and cheering. It was truly disgraceful as my first impression looking around the room when we got there was that I was among some of Nashville's smartest, intellectually curious, liberally minded citizens. Afterall, they all made time to see a one time showing of an obscur film about a local homeless man. These people just didn't get it.
Outside, we stood around chatting when Lee walked up. We were all wondering how Tucker's family took the film. Did they feel it gratuitously used Tucker's situation to make a film? Did it give them hope Tucker could now see who he is and the opportunity he has to put drugs and alcohol behind for a family that loves him? I asked Lee how the family took it. He hadn't spoken with them yet and quickly took off to catch them in the auditorium to make sure everything was alright.
Just as soon as he left, Tucker walked up.
"Hey Tucker, what did you think about the film," I asked.
He smiled and squinted as though to think for a minute. "They sure did lay it all up there, didn't they?"
"Yes, they did." I didn't know what else to say. I wasn't about to fawn all over him like the creepy audience inside, much less give him money. Thankfully, someone with me had much more class and just politely told Tucker he sure has a wonderful family. With that, Tucker looked down at the sidewalk, started walking into the night and waving bye. "I'm sure glad you all came out tonight."
In this episode: local TV stations are surprised by a competitor's purchase of a helicopter to cover breaking news.
I've worked at four stations that had helicopters. They are great in breaking news situations. The downside is they cost a fortune to run and maintain. As a news director you are always arguing with yourself at budget time about chopper costs versus putting more boots on the ground. I watched their stories online introducing Sky 5 and thought they did a good job. Will the benefits justify the costs is a question that's being debated here and I'm sure at channels 4 and 17. [Speaking Of News - WKRN GM Mike Sechrist - 05-17-06]
Even the President's closest economic advisors warned him that tax-cuts do not pay for themselves.
Mankiw reckons that over the long run (the long run being generous to his argument), cuts on capital taxes generate enough extra growth to pay for half of the lost revenue. Hello, Mr. President, that means that the other half of the lost revenue translates into bigger deficits. Mankiw also calculates that the comparable figure for cuts in taxes on wages is 17 percent. Yes, Mr. President, that means every $1 trillion in tax cuts is going to add $830 billion to the national debt.
Let's engage in what Bush might call the soft bigotry of low expectations and cut Republicans some slack. Hey, maybe they just overlooked that Mankiw paper? Or maybe, despite hiring Mankiw to head the Council of Economic Advisers, they later acquired reasons to doubt his judgment? In that case they should at least have listened to Douglas Holtz-Eakin, another conservative economist who worked in the Bush White House and who went on to run the Congressional Budget Office.
In a study published under Holtz-Eakin's direction last December, the CBO estimated the extent to which a 10 percent reduction in personal taxes might pay for itself. The conclusions confirm that the free-lunch mantra is just plain wrong. On the most optimistic assumptions it could muster, the CBO found that tax cuts would stimulate enough economic growth to replace 22 percent of lost revenue in the first five years and 32 percent in the second five. On pessimistic assumptions, the growth effects of tax cuts did nothing to offset revenue loss.
So Mankiw isn't with them. Holtz-Eakin isn't with them. Which raises a question: When top Republicans go around claiming that tax cuts pay for themselves, which economic authorities are they relying on? None, is the answer. These people's approach to government is to make economics up. [The Return Of Voodoo Economics - WashingtonPost - 05-15-06]
Are you better off now than you were 6 years ago? A majority of Americans say "no," and prefer the foreign and domestic policy, the taxes and fiscal responsibility and the vision for America we lived under President Bill Clinton.
In a new poll comparing President Bush's job performance with that of his predecessor, a strong majority of respondents said President Clinton outperformed Bush on a host of issues.
The poll of 1,021 adult Americans was conducted May 5-7 by Opinion Research Corp. for CNN. It had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Respondents favored Clinton by greater than 2-to-1 margins when asked who did a better job at handling the economy (63 percent Clinton, 26 percent Bush) and solving the problems of ordinary Americans (62 percent Clinton, 25 percent Bush).
On foreign affairs, the margin was 56 percent to 32 percent in Clinton's favor; on taxes, it was 51 percent to 35 percent for Clinton; and on handling natural disasters, it was 51 percent to 30 percent, also favoring Clinton.
Moreover, 59 percent said Bush has done more to divide the country, while only 27 percent said Clinton had. [Poll: Clinton outperformed Bush - CNN - 05-12-06]
Whoever the remaining 25% die-hard supporters are, First Lady Laura Bush dismisses the majority opinion admitting she keeps her distance from most Americans.
"I don't really believe those polls. I travel around the country. I see people, I see their responses to my husband. I see their response to me," she said.
"As I travel around the United States, I see a lot of appreciation for him. A lot of people come up to me and say, 'Stay the course'." [Laura Bush doesn't believe bad polls - Reuters - 05-14-06]
The First Lady really needs to get outside her husband's bubble more often and take a better accounting of what the true toll of staying this President's course has taken on the majority of Americans.
He thought he could just meet informally with the press away from the briefing room.
But it became barely controlled chaos when everybody from Time magazine to the Hokkaido Shimbun showed up, filling the room and pouring out the door. "There's a lot of us out here in the hallway, and we can't hear any of this conversation!" called out the Associated Press's Jennifer Loven, one of 60 jostling reporters.
Snow melted. "We'll move it back into the briefing room," he conceded. "I had this wonderful idea that this would be nice and collegial and relaxed, but it obviously at this point is just a mess."
It was 9:29. Snow's first official edict as press secretary had survived 11 minutes. [From the New Kid, Proceedings With Caution - Washington Post - 05-13-06]
Weird, huh? These are earthworm cocoons that came out of our worm bin. Funny to think their parents might have eaten January's Comcast bill. Each cocoon has anywhere from one to four baby worms inside. These will be placed in the larger compost bin in the back yard to hatch and live there.
Republican Strategy For a 2006 Mid-Term Election Victory
May 12, 2006
The exit polls for the 2004 elections were clear. The most important issue for voters were "moral issues" (22%) followed by "terrorism" (19%), and an overwhelming number of voters who identified these issues voted for George Bush (79% and 86% respectively).
No other moral issue was on more ballots in states across the country, the subject of massive state-by-state direct mail campaigns, state-wide rallies, and drove evangelicals to tour the nation on behalf of President Bush like the moral issue of gay marriage. While their are plenty of wishful pundits who dismiss this analysis for their own political realities, they are hard pressed to prove otherwise.
Following the 2004 re-election of President George Bush, an emboldened Republican Moral Majority demanded President Bush sweep aside fiscal responsibility, Iraq, terrorism, the economy, and ethics in Congress to act on the issue that mattered the most to them.
Dr. James Dobson - Focus On The Family
"This election is a resounding victory in the battle for American families. We applaud the re-election of President Bush, who has shown himself a true champion for the family and of traditional values. Those who care deeply about the moral issues facing this nation have cause to be encouraged by the prospect of the Bush administration promoting policies supportive of these values throughout his second term.
"We further celebrate the overwhelming successes of pro-family candidates in other races, and in the 11 states that passed amendments to their constitutions protecting traditional marriage. The victorious difference was made by 'values voters,' who have sent the clear message that morality in America is alive and well." [Dr. Dobson: U.S. Families Won - Newsmax - 11-03-04]
Rev. Jerry Falwell
"Following the sweeping re-election of President Bush and a new generation of conservative lawmakers nationwide, a new organization, The Faith and Values Coalition (TFVC), has been launched," said Falwell from his headquarters in Lynchburg, Virginia. "The group's central premise is to utilize the momentum of the November 2 elections to maintain an evangelical revolution of voters who will continue to go to the polls to 'vote Christian.' Essentially, TFVC is a 21st century resurrection of the Moral Majority."
Falwell said the three-fold platform of the new organization is: (1) the confirmation of pro-life, strict constructionist U.S. Supreme Court justices and other federal judges; (2) the passage of a constitutional Federal Marriage Amendment; and (3) the election of another socially- fiscally- and politically-conservative president in 2008, along with other state and national candidates. [Falwell Launches The Faith and Values Coalition - PRESS RELEASE - 11-09-04]
Robert Knight of the Culture and Family Institute
Robert Knight of the Culture and Family Institute called the success of the marriage amendments a reaction to the Massachusetts court ruling that legalized such unions in Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry's home state.
"What Bush should do first," Mr. Knight said, "is to send a bouquet of flowers to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret Marshall, whose clinically insane ruling against marriage ... set the tone for the showdown that occurred [Tuesday]." [Conservatives urge Bush to go his own way - Washington Times - 11-05-04]
Rev. D. James Kennedy - Coral Ridge Ministries (FL)
"Now that values voters have delivered for George Bush, he must deliver for voters," said the Rev. D. James Kennedy, a broadcast evangelist based in Florida. "The defense of innocent unborn human life, the protection of marriage, and the nomination and confirmation of judges who will interpret the Constitution, not make law from the bench, must be first priorities come January." ['Values voters' seek their reward in policy - Mercury News - 11-09-04]
Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition of America
Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition of America, made similar comments, saying evangelicals were mobilized by the same-sex marriage issue.
"We are pleased that both the executive branch and the legislative branch will be controlled by pro-family conservatives and that every one of the 11 state constitutional amendments to ban homosexual 'marriages' passed overwhelmingly," Combs said. "There is no doubt that because four radical left-wing Massachusetts judges ruled that homosexual 'marriages' are constitutional last year, there was a conservative backlash which played a major role in the election outcome yesterday. Christian evangelicals made the major difference once again this year." [Moral issues drove voters - World Net Daily - 11-03-04]
Dr. Bob Jones, III
In your re-election, God has graciously granted America—though she doesn't deserve it—a reprieve from the agenda of paganism. You have been given a mandate. We the people expect your voice to be like the clear and certain sound of a trumpet. Because you seek the Lord daily, we who know the Lord will follow that kind of voice eagerly.
Don't equivocate. Put your agenda on the front burner and let it boil. You owe the liberals nothing. They despise you because they despise your Christ. Honor the Lord, and He will honor you. [Congratulatory letter to President George W. Bush from Dr. Bob Jones III - 11-03-04]
Responding to these demands, President Bush's chief architect of the 2004 victory, Karl Rove, made a promise to the Republican Moral Majority.
"If we want to have a hopeful and decent society, we ought to aim for the ideal. And the ideal is that marriage ought to be and should be a union of a man and a woman," White House political guru Karl Rove told "Fox News Sunday."
Rove, who engineered Bush's victory last week over Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), said Bush will use the political capital he has accumulated to make a renewed push on moral grounds to outlaw gay marriage through a proposed constitutional amendment.
"Without the protection of that amendment, we are at the mercy of activist federal judges or activist state judges who could ... without the involvement of the people, determine, as the Massachusetts Supreme Court did, that marriage no longer consists of a union between a man and a woman," Rove said. [Gay-nups ban in cards, sez Rove - New York Daily News - 11-08-04]
After 2 years of taking the nation in the wrong direction and compounded consequences of record deficit spending by the Republican controlled Congress and White House, ethics scandals, corruption, and the largest government in American history, President Bush and Karl Rove have a plan. Starting this summer, the Republican strategy for victory in the 2006 mid-term elections is a shrewd political calculation that requires spending what little capital they have left to pander to divisive issues that matter the most to the Republican Moral Minority instead of addressing the issues that matter the most to a majority of Americans.
Karl Rove, Bush's top political adviser, and GOP leaders are well aware of the problem and planning a summer offensive to win back conservatives with a mix of policy fights and warnings of how a Democratic Congress would govern. The plan includes votes on tax cuts, a constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriage, new abortion restrictions and measures to restrain government spending. [Hard-Core Republicans Are Fleeing President - WashingtonPost - 05-11-06]
Minority Believes Bush Is Leading America in the Right Direction
May 12, 2006
These numbers should get a lot better among the President's right-wing base as the Republican controlled Congress and White House address corruption, ethics scandals, record deficit spending, gas prices and the war in Iraq by trying to ban abortion and deny gay families constitutional rights this summer.
President Bush’s job-approval rating has fallen to its lowest mark of his presidency, according to a new Harris Interactive poll. Of 1,003 U.S. adults surveyed in a telephone poll, 29% think Mr. Bush is doing an “excellent or pretty good” job as president, down from 35% in April and significantly lower than 43% in January. Approval ratings for Congress overall also sank, and now stand at 18%.
Roughly one-quarter of U.S. adults say “things in the country are going in the right direction,” while 69% say “things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track.” This has been the trend since January, when 33% said the nation was heading in the right direction. Iraq remains a key concern for the general public, as 28% of Americans said they consider Iraq to be one of the top two most important issues the government should address, up from 23% in April. The immigration debate also prompted 16% of Americans to consider it a top issue, down from 19% last month, but still sharply higher from 4% in March. [Bush Dips Into the 20s - Wall Street Journal - 05-11-06]
President Bush asserts that his domestic spy orders are constitutional and only target the enemy and those who support their efforts.
"We're not mining or trolling through the personal lives of millions of innocent Americans," he said. Instead, the NSA's efforts "strictly target al-Qaeda and their known affiliates." [Bush defends NSA data collection program - USAToday - 05-11-06]
The Bush Administration has already lumped political opponents with "the enemy" that President Bush today stated was the target of domestic spying.
Political opponents who dissent are committing treason by providing aid and comfort to the terrorists:
President Bush and leading Republicans are increasingly charging that Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry and others in his party are giving comfort to terrorists and undermining the war in Iraq -- a line of attack that tests the conventional bounds of political rhetoric. [Tying Kerry to Terror Tests Rhetorical Limits - Washington Post - 09-24-04]
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"Those who make such allegations about the revised version of USA Patriot are giving aid and comfort to the enemy and weakening American resolve." [John Ashcroft - 09-18-03]
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"To those who pit Americans against immigrants, citizens against non-citizens, to those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty, my message is this: Your tactics only aid terrorists for they erode our national unity and diminish our resolve," Ashcroft told the Senate Judiciary Committee. "They give ammunition to America's enemies and pause to America's friends. They encourage people of good will to remain silent in the face of evil. [Ashcroft: Critics of new terror measures undermine effort - CNN - 12-07-01]
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"Daschle's three years as Complainer-In-Chief have brought shame to the honor of his office, concern to our men and women in uniform, and comfort to America's enemies." [Republican Party Chairman Randy Frederick - fundraising letter - 09-04]
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"The Democrats are quitting, calling the war unwinnable while we have our men and women and their families sacrificing every day" charged Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Democrats are "basically giving aid and comfort to the enemy," echoed Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas. ['Unwinnable' comment draws GOP fire - CNN - 05-10-04]
The record shows Republicans have no problems associating American dissenters with terrorists. The concern of advocates for the Constitutional rule of law in America is that the Bush Administration has now created the means by which they can act against political opponents without anyone knowing and without any regard to the question of whether the American government has the right to spy on American citizens.
Peggy Noonan: 'Something Creepy' About Republicans
May 11, 2006
Former speech writer for President Reagan, Peggy Noonan, thinks there is "something creepy" about the Republicans in control of the United States Congress and the White House. They spend borrowed money into record deficits like immature teenagers.
The Republicans talk about cutting spending, but they increase it--a lot. They stand for making government smaller, but they keep making it bigger. They say they're concerned about our borders, but they're not securing them. And they seem to think we're slobs for worrying. Republicans used to be sober and tough about foreign policy, but now they're sort of romantic and full of emotionalism. They talk about cutting taxes, and they have, but the cuts are provisional, temporary. Beyond that, there's something creepy about increasing spending so much and not paying the price right away but instead rolling it over and on to our kids, and their kids. [Baseless Confidence - Opinion Journal - 05-11-06]
Noonan knows creepy when she sees it. Having worked for President Reagan, Noonan saw the enormous debt from the Reagan years the American people paid down a decade later to record surpluses under the leadership of Democratic President Bill Clinton.
Under Republican control of the United States Congress and the White House, America continues to endure the largest increase of government spending in decades and record deficit spending, record illegal immigration, bribery, ethics scandals, indictments, and corporate tax breaks for the oil industry.
That's the Republican record, and that's the Republican plan. Democrats warned the American people it was coming, and we are now living the Republican vision for America.
But over the next five months, Republicans don't want you talking about that and plan to shift the focus on what they believe will fix all these problems: denying rights to gays and banning abortion.
Karl Rove, Bush's top political adviser, and GOP leaders are well aware of the problem and planning a summer offensive to win back conservatives with a mix of policy fights and warnings of how a Democratic Congress would govern. The plan includes votes on tax cuts, a constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriage, new abortion restrictions and measures to restrain government spending. [Hard-Core Republicans Are Fleeing President - WashingtonPost - 05-11-06]
Chris Daughtry was just now voted out of the final four! I can't believe it. Vince tried all night to vote for him, but for the first time in the entire contest, we got busy signals all night. What was up with the voting system?
If the Republican controlled Congress and White House can't deliver fiscal responsibility and secure borders to their conservative base by the mid-term elections, maybe they can distract them with more important issues like defeating the gay agenda, abortionists and the secularist War on Christmas.
So what if Republican focus on these issues in 2000 and 2004 gave us record deficit spending, War in Iraq, outrageous gas prices, ethic scandals, indictments and jailed elected officials. Just think how many babies it saved from the cluthces of Satan, ask yourself 'What Would Jesus Do,' and GET OUT THERE AND VOTE!
Gingrich said he agrees with political analysts who believe a substantial number of conservative voters -- upset over unbridled federal spending and unsecured national borders -- could sit out the mid-term elections, giving Democrats an edge in close House races that might otherwise go to Republicans.
Although recent polls show a majority of Americans would rather see Democrats controlling Congress, it's not too late to turn that around before November, Gingrich said.
"If you have the White House, the House and the Senate, and if you have the natural majority in the country, you always have the potential to be able to pose the election on your terms," he said. [Gingrich: GOP can stop House loss - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 05-09-06]
As the winds picked up, we hopped in the Jeep and took Old Nashville Highway to the Toys R Us in Murfreesboro. We had been there before to get a birthday present for a nephew, so we knew exactly where to look. Tucked between games for the oldest kid's ages, there it was. The Rubix Cube! We got two and skadaddled across the parking lot back to the Jeep like fast-walkers in those black spandex thingies.
I've been writing online for over 6 years, so people come to this site by searching for virtually anything. Here are just some search strings people used today that brought them here.
Yet another poll confirms that there are still some Americans that support our President's decision to committ our nation to war in Iraq. One third believe our President is doing an amazing job. They are called Republicans, and they might even live a couple of houses away from you and I.
Personal evaluations of Mr. Bush are the lowest they've ever been during his presidency. On the public's confidence in Bush's ability to handle a crisis, 51% had been the previous low in September 2005. That figure is now at 50%. The President's handling of the Hurricane Katrina crisis is tied to that decrease.
There is also concern that Mr. Bush is spending too much time on foreign policy issues: 55% think so. Also, on the issues that are most important to Americans, Iraq and gas prices, Bush's ratings have dropped.
On handling the issue of rising gas prices, Bush's performance rating dropped four percentage points from what it was a month ago (from 17% to 13%).
With the Iraq war, Bush's approval rating dropped one percentage point (from 30% to 29%) since last month. Similarly, only 30% of poll respondents said they have some degree of confidence Bush will be able to end the war successfully. The poll also reveals that 56% of those polled said that United States should have stayed out of Iraq; this number is the highest it's been since the start of the war. [Poll: Dim View Of Bush, GOP - CBSnews.com - 05-09-06]
Three out of 10 Americans agree: President Bush is an amazing leader!
President Bush's approval rating has slumped to 31% in a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, the lowest of his presidency and a warning sign for Republicans in the November elections.
The survey of 1,013 adults, taken Friday through Sunday, shows Bush's standing down by 3 percentage points in a single week. His disapproval rating also reached a record: 65%. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. [Bush approval rating hits new low - USA Today - 05-08-06]
Now, I know there are some polls out there saying this man has a 32% approval rating. But guys like us; we don't pay attention to the polls. We know that polls are just a collection of statistics that reflect what people are thinking in 'reality.' And reality has a well-known liberal bias. [Stephen Colbert - White House Correspondents Dinner - 04-30-06]
Markos Moulitsas, more popularly known for his blog DailyKos, may become more popularly known for his amnesia of the Clinton years.
Hillary Clinton leads her Democratic rivals in the polls and in fundraising. Unfortunately, however, the New York senator is part of a failed Democratic Party establishment -- led by her husband -- that enabled the George W. Bush presidency and the Republican majorities, and all the havoc they have wreaked at home and abroad. Of course, it's still early.
[Hillary Clinton: Too Much of a Clinton Democrat? - Washington Post - 05-07-06]
Of course, it's still early, but Moulitsas's conclusion that Bill Clinton is at the center of a failed Democratic Party is intellectually retarded. Setting aside President Bill Clinton balancing the budget and delivering record surpluses, Moulitsas and his friends seem to have forgotten that it was Al Gore who lost to George W. Bush in 2000 for chosing not to run on the well documented successes of the Clinton Gore Administration. The hard loss in 2000 has finally brought Moulitsas and his friends full circle with the blame Clinton fruit cups on the right.
Polygamist child molester Warren Jeffs believes that having many wives, no matter how young they are, has been God's vision of marriage for over 5,000 years.
Jeffs is wanted in Arizona on criminal charges of sexual conduct with a minor. He also was charged in Utah with rape as an accomplice. He is accused of arranging marriages between underage girls and older men. "We are doing everything we can to track him down," said Tim Fuhrman, special agent in charge of the FBI's Salt Lake City field office. "We just made the determination that this is the next step that we can take as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, to potentially result in the apprehension of Mr. Jeffs." [Warren Jeffs placed on FBI 10 most wanted list - AP - 05-06-06]
Thank God for the law of the land which now protects children from this list of men who escaped the FBI's Most Wanted List because they are in Heavan.
U.S. President George W. Bush told a German newspaper his best moment in more than five years in office was catching a big perch in his own lake.
"You know, I've experienced many great moments and it's hard to name the best," Bush told weekly Bild am Sonntag when asked about his high point since becoming president in January 2001.
"I would say the best moment of all was when I caught a 7.5 pound (3.402 kilos) perch in my lake," he told the newspaper in an interview published on Sunday [Bush's best moment in office? Reeling in big perch - Reuters - 05-07-06]
"I don't think you can win it," Bush said in the interview on NBC's Today show. "But I think you can create conditions so that those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world." [Bush: 'I don't think you can win' war on terror - St. Petersberg Times - 08-31-04]
World War III
Bush said: "I believe that. I believe that it was the first counter-attack to World War III.
"It was, it was unbelievably heroic of those folks on the airplane to recognize the danger and save lives," he said. [Bush says fight against terror is 'World War III' - AP - 05-05-06]
But a future president can
QUESTION: Will there come a day -- and I'm not asking you when, not asking for a timetable -- will there come a day when there will be no more American forces in Iraq?
THE PRESIDENT: That, of course, is an objective, and that will be decided by future Presidents and future governments of Iraq. [Press Conference of the President - WHPB - 03-21-06]
If you can't be the head of the CIA under George W. Bush and not be able to do defense deals with friends over poker and hookers, what good is it being a Republican?
"It's all about the Duke Cunningham scandal," a senior law enforcement official told the Daily News in reference to Goss' resignation. Duke, a California Republican, was sentenced to more than eight years in prison after pleading guilty in November to taking $2.4 million in homes, yachts and other bribes in exchange for steering government contracts.
Goss' inability to handle the allegations swirling around Foggo prompted John Negroponte, the director of National Intelligence, who oversees all of the nation's spy agencies, to press for the CIA chief's ouster, the senior official said. The official said Goss is not an FBI target but "there is an impending indictment" of Foggo for steering defense contracts to his poker buddies. [CIA boss Goss is cooked - NY Daily News - 05-06-06]
"Enemy at the Gates. Dick Cheney made a Fulton speech in Vilnius," said business daily Kommersant's front page headline.
"Vice President Dick Cheney made a keynote speech on relations between the West and Russia in which he practically established the start of the second Cold War ... The Cold War has restarted, only now the front lines have shifted," it said. [Cheney speech spurs new Cold War: Russian press - Rueters - 05-05-06]
Rewind...
Since the mid-1990s, U.S.and Russian interests have clashed over Iraq. Russia strongly opposed military action against Iraq in connection with the U.N. inspection regime. Virtuallyall segments of the Russian political spectrum protested vehemently against the U.S.-led missile and air strikes against Iraq in December 1998. Russia supported Iraq’s call for an end to economic sanctions and limiting U.N. weapons inspections. It also sought to expand economic relations with Iraq and secure repayment of $7 billion of loans owed from the Soviet period.
After September 11, Moscow moved away from blanket support of Iraq. Some Russian officials suggested that under certain circumstances, U.S. military action against Iraq might not seriously strain U.S.-Russian relations — provided it was not unilateral and Russia’s economic interests in Iraq were protected.
Nevertheless, on August 16, 2002, Iraqi and Russian officials announced a long-term agreement worth $40 billion for Russian firms to modernize Iraq’s oil, electrical, chemical, agricultural, and transport sectors. [Russia - Foreign Affiars, Defense and Trade Division - Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress - Page 17 IB9208901-05-05CRS-14]
Dogged by $12 million in tax liens and other legal judgments, rap music titan Marion "Suge" Knight is down to $11 in his checking accounts and the bling on his back, according to a bankruptcy court filing. The Death Row Records founder, who filed for Chapter 11 protection last month, claims that his $4.4 million in assets is dwarfed by $137.4 million in debt. [Suge Knight Down To His Last $11? - Smoking Gun - 05-05-06]
Republicans Slam Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
May 05, 2006
Are their any Republicans that think Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist exhibited any leadership on gas prices that they want to see in a 2008 presidential candidate? Even in his position as the majority leader in the Senate, Bill Frist couldn't whip his own party behind his latest flop of an idea. There is a flicker of sanity in the Republican party after all.
"I made it clear in no uncertain terms to some of the staff that this was bad politics and bad policy." -- Sen. John Sununu (R-NH)
"I think it hurt all of us. It appeared to be a non-serious response to a serious problem." -- Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
"That's a stupid idea. It is short-term; it's not a fix." -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
"I never was in favor of that." -- Sen. John Thune (R-SD)
"It seemed reasonable to him." -- Eric Ueland, Chief of Staff to Bill Frist [Frist gas rebate plan shows ideas don't always become law - Tennessean - 05-05-06]
"I simply do not remember getting out of bed, being pulled over by the police, or being cited for three driving infractions," Kennedy said. "That's not how I want to live my life. And that's not how I want to represent the people of Rhode Island." [Rep. Patrick Kennedy to Enter Drug Rehab - AP - 05-05-06]
That's right, I said it: $230 for the Governor's throne. Read the live blogging of TN Gov. Phil Bredesen's Online Toilet Auction here and how a shirtless picture of Ponch from C.H.I.P.S. drove a last minute bidding frenzy.
INTERVIEWER: [Y]ou come from intelligence. This is what you did, this is what you know.
REP. GOSS: Uh, that was, uh, 35 years ago.
INTERVIEWER: Okay.
REP. GOSS: It is true I was in CIA from approximately the late 50's to approximately the early 70's. And it's true I was a case officer, clandestine services office and yes I do understand the core mission of the business. I couldn't get a job with CIA today. I am not qualified. I don't have the language skills. I, you know, my language skills were romance languages and stuff. We're looking for Arabists today. I don't have the cultural background probably. And I certainly don't have the technical skills, uh, as my children remind me every day, "Dad you got to get better on your computer." Uh, so, the things that you need to have, I don't have. [Rep. Porter Goss - 03-03-04 - Washington, DC]
more...
In a rare public appearance Wednesday, CIA Director Porter Goss said he is overwhelmed by the many duties of his job, including devoting five hours out of every day to prepare for and deliver intelligence briefings to President Bush.
"The jobs I'm being asked to do, the five hats that I wear, are too much for this mortal," Goss said. "I'm a little amazed at the workload." [CIA Director Goss Amazed at His Workload - AP - 03-02-05]
As Karl Rove would tell you, it's not technically lying when you simply don't share all the facts.
Protesters repeatedly interrupted Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld during a speech Thursday and one man, a former CIA analyst, accused him of lying about Iraq prewar intelligence in an unusually vociferous display of anti-war sentiment.
"Why did you lie to get us into a war that caused these kind of casualties and was not necessary?" asked Ray McGovern, the former analyst, during a question-and-answer session.
"I did not lie," shot back Rumsfeld, who waved off security guards ready to remove McGovern from the hall at the Southern Center for International Studies.
With Iraq war support remaining low, it is not unusual for top Bush administration officials to encounter protests and hostile questions. But the outbursts Rumsfeld confronted on Thursday seemed beyond the usual. [Rumsfeld Heckled by Former CIA Analyst - AP - 05-04-06]
TN Gov. Phil Bredesen's Toilet Auction Ends in 5 Hours!
May 05, 2006
In 5 more hours, TN Governor Phil Bredesen's Online Toilet Auction ends! The bid has gone up to $80 (cOwbOy). WKRN News Channel 2 did a great story last night promoting the first lady's $10,000,000 effort to clean up the Governor's mansion. Anyone need a toilet from the Governor's master bathroom? Bueller?
UPDATE 9:39am - 4 hours to go and yobm bid it up to $90. Do I have $100?
UPDATE 10:42am - 2 hours and 57 minutes to go, and I found the Tom Cruise appearance on Oprah in the TIVO.
UPDATE 10:44am - 2 hours and 55 minutes to go - false alarm. The TIVO snuck in a commercial for the Cruise interview. If I didn't know better, I would guess the TIVO was trying to promote his new movie all by itself. Speaking of toilets...
UPDATE 11:01am - 2 hours and 38 minutes to go - If Christopher Lowell can turn a shitty situation into a reason to live, imagine the things you can do with the Governor's throne. It's a steal for $100. Bueller?
UPDATE 11:22am - OMG! 2 hours and 18 minutes to go, and bcastro541 has bid $95! Something sounds soooo familiar about that name. I can't put my finger on it, and I'm not sure I want to. Can I get a Benjamin? Bueller? Anyone?
UPDATE 11:28am - 2 hours and 11 minutes to go - WE GOT A BENNY! tompettis has bid $100. Yo, Mrs Conte... Mad Money. Mad Money!
UPDATE 12:39pm- 59 minutes to go, and News Channel 4 has me completely captivated right now with a spot on how to make a spectatular cheese fountain for Cinco de Mayo! Pam Hogancamp of Ribbons of Chocolate says you need to call her at least two months in advance if you want her to show up at your event with this amazing cheese fountain. Speaking of cheese and limited time... GET TO BIDDING!
UPDATE 1:00pm- 39 Minutes and 26 seconds - Cinco de Mayo hot tamales!
UPDATE 1:32pm- 9 Minutes 11 Seconds - There is a full fledged bidding war for the Governor's toilet! Was it the picture of Ponch? tompettis has bid $145 to retain the throne. Can I get $150? Will this shirtless picture of Ponch from C.H.I.P.S. help?
UPDATE 1:34pm- 5 Minutes 8 Seconds - $170!!
UPDATE 1:36pm- 3 Minutes 55 Seconds - $175 !!!! Where is my pic of a pantless Ponch?
OK, after I help my sister in Christ, maybe I will help Rahm take back the house. I'm going to be rich!
Dearest in the Lord,
PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO USE IT FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
I am Mrs Vivian from Bahrain. I am married to Dr.Andrews Amana who worked with Bahrain embassy in cote d'ivoire for nine years before he died in the year 2000. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his deathwe were both born again Christians. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against.
When my late husband was alive hedeposited the sum of (1.5Million U.S. Dollars)with one BANK in cote d' ivoire. Presently, this money is still with the BANK. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would notlast for the next three months due to cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to church or better still a christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in.
I want a church that will use this to fund churches, orphanages and widows propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that Blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner. Hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bossom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace.
I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my healthbecause of the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development. With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the BANK in ivory coast.I will also issue you a letter of authority that will empower you as the original- beneficiary of this fund. I want you and thechurch to always pray for me because the lord is my shephard. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian.
Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and truth.Please always be prayerful all through your life. any delay in your reply will give me room in searching for a church or christian individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.
Maybe the Governor of Virginia shared my name forgetting that the thousands I gave was all in-kind. Or maybe Rahm just saw my updated MySpace account. I don't friggin know.
Paul Yandura said the DNC needed to change its approach to Republican pandering through anti-gay ballot measures.
Paul Yandura, a party loyalist, sent an open letter on April 20 to gay Democratic activists charging that Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee have failed to counter efforts by Republicans to promote anti-gay ballot measures as a wedge issue to win elections.
"For many months, a number of us have made appeals to Howard Dean and party officials to care about and defend the dignity of gay and lesbian families and friends, in the same way they defend the dignity of other key constituencies," Yandura said in his letter.
"All progressives need to be asking how much has the DNC budgeted to counter the anti-gay ballot initiatives in the states," he said. "We also need to know why the DNC and our Democratic leaders continue to allow the Republicans to use our families and friends as pawns to win elections."
In a comment that is certain to raise eyebrows among party leaders, Yandura added that until the party provides answers to these questions, "my advice is don’t give any more money to the Dems." [Prominent Dem slams party on gay rights - Washington Blade - 04-27-06]
The DNC responded by starting with change at the top, firing Paul Yandura's partner for a more "proven leader."
"It was not retaliation," Finney said of Hitchcock's dismissal. "It was decided we needed a change. We decided to hire a proven leader."
Hitchcock declined comment Tuesday night except to confirm that Dean informed him May 2 through a surrogate that he had been terminated. He said he was considering consulting an attorney to decide whether to contest the firing.
"This is retaliation, plain and simple," said Yandura. "This shows what they think about domestic partners."
Yandura said Tuesday night that Dean was using Hitchcock as a "scapegoat" for problems of Dean's own making.
"All I did was ask questions about what the party and Dean are doing about its GLBT constituency, Yandura said. "I have yet to see any answers."
Hitchcock's dismissal came after Yaundura created a stir among party activists, both gay and straight, by sending an open letter on April 20 to gay Democrats criticizing Dean and the party for not getting involved in state ballot measures seeking to ban gay marriage. [Dean fires Dems' gay outreach chief - Washington Blade - 05-03-06]
I strongly believe our time, money and talents as Democrats are undervalued when they are ungreatfully sucked up into the self-serving politics of state and national party structures, as well as national PACs and organizations claiming to represent our interests in Washington, D.C. As I've reported before, the Human Rights Campaign, for instance, spent 5 cents of every dollar given to them on local legislation directly affecting their members' lives.
In February 2005, I gave my time and talent to help a first time candidate prove Virginia's Democratic Party wrong, outraising their expectations by $175,000 and increasing the Democratic performance in Prince William and Loudoun Counties by 10%. There is no doubt the state party would not and could not have achieved this. People with the will to redirect their time and money to make it happen made it happen.
Here in Rutherford County, I recently in-kinded $1,500 worth of services and helped them launch the Rutherford County Democratic Party website. Even if I gave the state and national Democratic party $10,000, the chances of either helping my local county party with tools to step into the 21st century are virtually zero.
It's time we all start rethinking the impact of our contributions both philanthropically and politically by seeking the highest return on our investments. My good friend Paul Yandura is right. From my time in Washington, D.C., I can categorically and unequivocally tell you your money is being frivolously wasted in Washington. All politics is local, so put your money where your politics live.
It is a scientific fact that when women are forced to share confined spaces, like prison or working as tellers at your local bank branch, their menstrual cycles slowly sync with one another.
It might come to a surprise to many that right here on Gatewood Drive, it can be observed that men have a synced "ovulation" of their own so engrained in maleness it has to be observed to be believed. It happens about once a week. Sometimes it's on the weekend, and sometimes it's on a weekday after everyone is home from work.
The trigger is mysterious.
It all starts when one man is observed by others, some of whom were simply enjoying time with their kids while others were putzing around in the garage. Then, like fish simultanously changing direction in mid swim, or menstrating bank tellers, they begin to mow.
Help write the top ten reasons why Tennesseans should buy TN Governor Phil Bredesen's master bathroom toilet:
10. "I hope Tennesseans will take advantage of this unique opportunity to purchase a piece of history from The Tennessee Residence."
~~ First Lady of TN Andrea Conte
When it comes to politicians courting votes, there's the walk and there's the talk.
Bush Talk:
When the president was asked at a Rose Garden question-and-answer session whether the anthem should be sung in Spanish, he replied: "I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English, and I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English." [Bush Says Anthem Should Be in English - AP - 04-28-06]
Bush Walk:
When visiting cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, or Philadelphia, in pivotal states, he would drop in at Hispanic festivals and parties, sometimes joining in singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" in Spanish, sometimes partying with a "Viva Bush" mariachi band flown in from Texas. [EXCERPT: American Dynasty by Kevin Phillips - Case In Point - 01-24-04]
"It sure is good to see you young people getting out and voting."
Around noon, Vince and I drove to Joywood Baptist Church, the designated site for voting in our precinct. There are a lot of new residents in the area, but I was surprised to learn from the election officials that only 32 people had voted so far.
On closer look at the ballot, you can see why. Democrats have such a strong hold here in Rutherford County that Republicans rarely bother to run candidates at all.
Here is one lesson not missed in Rhea County's school system today: tax cuts = no education. Had enough?
The high price of diesel fuel for school buses meant children in one Tennessee school system got a holiday Monday _ their second in a row.
Some 3,800 youngsters got Friday and Monday off because of the action taken by Dallas Smith, superintendent of Rhea County schools in east Tennessee, to ease transportation spending.
"That kind of situation is probably the most extreme I have heard," said Mike Martin, executive director of the National Association for Pupil Transportation, based in Albany, N.Y., and a spokesman for the Washington-based School Bus Information Council.
Martin described the price of diesel, which has risen above $2.80 in the East and to more than $3 a gallon on the West Coast, as a "huge problem for not only public sector but private sector operators as well."
No other Tennessee systems have canceled classes in response to fuel costs. [Fuel Costs Prompt School Closings in Tenn. - AP - 05-02-06]
Not only has Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist led Republicans through one of the most corrupt, irresponsible deficit-spending reigns in U.S. Congressional history, Frist was more recently responsible for 1) trying to buy time for a Dubai-based firm's take over of U.S. ports, 2) an investigation into his alleged involvement in insider trading, and 3) now wants to give you and me $100 to treat those cash-strapped oil companies that are hosing the American people for the highest profits in American corporate history.
That's just how a Frist Administration would roll.
Limbaugh was right. This deal does insult the public's intelligence. A $100 rebate check would buy a measly two tanks of gas. For that, Americans are expected to get on board with oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a bad idea that has risen from the dead once again as an attachment to the rebate legislation.
Then there's the insult to financial sanity. Your $100 check wouldn't really be your money. It would be borrowed money, added to the frightful mounting tab this nation is leaving for your descendants to clean up.
Deservedly, the rebate plan has ignited an angry backlash from across the political spectrum. The New York Times reports a surge of constituent messages to Republican senators, "ridiculing the rebate as a paltry and transparent attempt to pander to voters in advance of the midterm elections."
This blowback hits hardest on Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee, the Republican leader who aspires to the presidency. The rebate stinker is mostly his baby. [The Senate Republicans' $100 Misunderstanding - Oregonian - 05-02-06]
How does Bill Frist plan to pay for his ridiculous plan? His solution is no different from any irresponsible teenager or how Republicans have paid for everything over the past 6 years: they charge the bill for their exploits to your credit card.
Frist, the Tennessee Republican, had proposed an accounting change that would have required oil companies to pay more taxes on their inventory of crude as a way to pay the one-time rebate which GOP leaders rolled out last week as they scrambled to find ways to ease public anger over soaring gasoline prices.
In a statement, Frist said he will still push the rebate, but abandoned the accounting change and said the Senate Finance Committee planned a hearing on the issue in the near future.
Frist gave no indication how the rebate, estimated to cost about $10 billion, will be paid for, although he said he still planned to "find a way to bring our proposals to the Senate floor for a vote." [Sen. Frist Backs Off Oil Co. Tax Increase - WashingtonPost - 05-02-06]
Now I see why the organizers of today's high profile protests didn't call it "a day without illegal immigrants." (via Bear Creek Ledger)
A van crammed with 54 illegal immigrants was detained Monday after the driver took them on a wild ride in the wrong direction on several freeways, ripping the van's tires on spikes near the Mexican border.
The blue Ford XLT 350 drove north over spikes in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 at the San Ysidro Port of Entry shortly after 3 a.m., according to the U.S. Border Patrol.
The van, which was believed to have silicon in its tires to prevent the tires from leaking, continued to travel north in the southbound lanes of Interstate 805 before exiting at the Palm Avenue on ramp, U.S. Border Patrol Agent Damon Foreman said.
A shredded tire eventually ended the ride and the driver pulled over on the freeway near the 43rd Street exit in San Diego. The driver and 53 passengers ran away. [Van Full Of Immigrants Goes On Wild, Wrong Way Ride In San Diego - NBC - 05-01-06]
You know a politician is divorced from reality when you can't tell the difference between their most avid supporters and the satire making fun of them.
"Now, I know there are some polls out there saying this man has a 32% approval rating. But guys like us; we don't pay attention to the polls. We know that polls are just a collection of statistics that reflect what people are thinking in 'reality.' And reality has a well-known liberal bias. . . .
"The greatest thing about this man is he's steady. You know where he stands. He believes the same thing Wednesday, that he believed on Monday, no matter what happened Tuesday. Events can change, this man's beliefs never will. And as excited as I am to be here with the president, I am appalled to be surrounded by the liberal media that is destroying America, with the exception of Fox News. . . .
"Listen, let's review the rules. Here's how it works: the president makes decisions. He's the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Put them through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know -- fiction." [Stephen Colbert - White House Correspondents Dinner - 04-30-06]
filed under: 
As the winds picked up, we hopped in the Jeep and took Old Nashville Highway to the Toys R Us in Murfreesboro. We had been there before to get a birthday present for a nephew, so we knew exactly where to look. Tucked between games for the oldest kid's ages, there it was. The Rubix Cube! We got two and skadaddled across the parking lot back to the Jeep like fast-walkers in those black spandex thingies.
Jeffs is wanted in Arizona on criminal charges of sexual conduct with a minor. He also was charged in Utah with rape as an accomplice. He is accused of arranging marriages between underage girls and older men. "We are doing everything we can to track him down," said Tim Fuhrman, special agent in charge of the FBI's Salt Lake City field office. "We just made the determination that this is the next step that we can take as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, to potentially result in the apprehension of Mr. Jeffs."
Are their any Republicans that think Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist exhibited any leadership on gas prices that they want to see in a 2008 presidential candidate? Even in his position as the majority leader in the Senate, Bill Frist couldn't whip his own party behind his latest flop of an idea. There is a flicker of sanity in the Republican party after all.
Protesters repeatedly interrupted Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld during a speech Thursday and one man, a former CIA analyst, accused him of lying about Iraq prewar intelligence in an unusually vociferous display of anti-war sentiment.
UPDATE 9:39am - 4 hours to go and yobm bid it up to $90. Do I have $100?
UPDATE 11:28am - 2 hours and 11 minutes to go - WE GOT A BENNY! tompettis has bid $100. Yo, Mrs Conte... Mad Money. Mad Money!
Rahm Emanuel called asking for money to 