Streak's friend

While Streak is credited with his own blog, his good friend Alafair provides a lot of the inspiration and assistance. And she likes to nap.

102-0217_IMG Originally uploaded by streak541.

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Posted by streak541 from Flickr.

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Cheney, swearing, and the Bush administration: "there is intense anger over the White House's revealing the identity of Plame, who may have been active in a sting operation involving the trafficking of WMD components. Plame was outed in a White House attempt to discredit the finding of her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, that there was no evidence that Iraq tried to buy yellowcake uranium from Niger. 'Only a very high-ranking official could have had access to the knowledge that Plame was on the payroll' of the CIA, an intelligence source told me."

This Valerie Plame issue has been so unbelievable. Had this happened under Clinton, we would have heard immediate calls for impeachment, but under this administration, this is just called political. And by political, they mean the investigation, not the outing. The question this (and other things) raises for Bush supporters is, do you really think this administration puts this war on terror above politics? I don't.

Yahoo! News - Frist Won't Criticize Cheney for Cursing: "Cheney shot back an obscenity. He later confirmed to Fox News his use of the obscenity and said he felt better after saying it."


I have noted to friends that this is actually the first thing that Cheney has done that I like. But I really don't appreciate the hypocrisy of this administration. Evidently the only bad use of language is when critics of the administration use it. Just as everything else. It is fine for the administration to demean their opponents

Just read Pandagon and he said it all so much better than I could. Short version: fuck them, it is all ok. election year, emotions, we can say what we want! WooHoo!

Yahoo! News - Bush Says Europe Supports U.S. on Iraq: "'I wouldn't have made the decisions I did if I didn't believe the world would be better. Why would I put people in harm's way if I didn't believe the world would be better?' said Bush, who arrives in Ireland Friday night for a summit the next day with European Union (news - web sites) leaders.

Good Question. Why would you do that?

Bush was asked whether he was satisfied with the level of political, economic and military support coming from European nations in Iraq.

'First of all, most of Europe supported the decision in Iraq. Really what you're talking about is France, isn't it? And they didn't agree with my decision. They did vote for the U.N. Security (news - web sites) Council resolution. ... We just had a difference of opinion about whether, when you say something, you mean it.'"

Germany? What about the millions of Europeans that opposed the war?

Welcome to Ethics Daily.com!: "America is no Christian nation and needs no theocracy,” said Robert Parham, executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics. “What we need is a stronger commitment to a high wall of separation between church and state, as well as fewer politicians and preachers preying on people of faith for their voters.”"

Exactly. What a concise statement of the problems of integrating religion and politics.

New Scientist: "Some dogs can predict when a child will have an epileptic seizure, a new study has revealed. These dogs not only protect their charges from injuries, such as falling, but also seem to help kids deal with the daily struggle of epilepsy.


Nine of the 60 dogs in the study (15 per cent) were able to predict a seizure by licking, whimpering, or standing next to the child. These dogs were remarkably accurate - they predicted 80 per cent of seizures, with no false reports."

this is just so damn cool!! Is there anything dogs can't do? Streak says "Nyet!"

Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/20/2004 | Editorial | Bush and Iraq: "First, preparation for the invasion's aftermath was tragically inept. That easily predictable failure has cost many Iraqis, Americans and others their lives.


Second, the prison abuses, which stem from poor planning for occupation and a bid to place U.S. behavior above international law, have lost America the moral high ground it rightfully occupied on Sept. 12, 2001.


Now, ask yourself, along with those 27 American diplomats and warriors: Have the last two years made America more secure, more respected?


The answer is obvious and appalling. The answer is no."

Finally, a paper that actually reports.

Jesus Politics: Jesus Gay Politics at the Southern Baptist Convention: "Gaines listed numerous problems and challenges being faced by America, such as terrorism, an uncertain national economy, finding a cure for AIDS, civil rights, global warming and nuclear disarmament.

'As important as these issues are, ... I believe they pale compared to two other issues that I believe will determine the future of America,' Gaines warned. 'I personally believe with all of my heart that the two issues that will determine what God will do not only with America but to America are abortion and homosexuality. ... America's economy and America's safety are more tied up with what's going on in those courts in Massachusetts than what's going on in Wall Street or over in Iraq.'"

This is really unbelievable. The SBC main sermon says that terrorism, global warming, nuclear war--all threats that pale in comparison to the threat from my gay friends.

Warblogging.com: Atrocity — Read in the White House: "The infidels who did this to Mr. Johnson must be tracked down, they must be tried, they must be brought to justice. They must be given no quarter, the Johnson family must get justice. These men who would do such things, they are not Muslims. They are not people of the Book. They are not civilized. They are not fit to be called human.



It may be too late for some of us, but do not allow your anger to get the best of you. That's why they do this. Al-Qaeda beheads these men because it knows that it will inflame America, and that America's angry actions will serve as recruiting advertisements for al-Qaeda.

We cannot fall into their trap any longer. We must react stoically, we must face their inhumanity with humanity. We must let their actions be a recruiting poster for America, not the other way around."

I think this right how we should respond. We should be outraged, we should seek justice, we should seek these people out. We should not over-react as that is exactly what the terrorists want. They would love nothing better than more Abu Ghraib torture, or carpet bombs. They would love more bad from us, justified by their barbarism. We should not give it.

Yahoo! News - Pistons Rip Lakers 100-87, Win NBA Title
: "Without a superstar among them and without being given much of a chance, the Detroit Pistons humiliated the Los Angeles Lakers 100-87 Tuesday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals for their first title in 14 years."

I must say this makes me smile a bit. It isn't just that I dislike the Lakers, but more that it makes a nice story that we all like. (And I am very aware of the irony of me cheering for a Rashaad Wallace team.) We like the underdog winning at least some of the time. I also kind of like the fact that the Lakers tried to buy another championship and it really didn't work out--though had Karl Malone been healthy, it might have been a closer series. In the same vein, I am kind of please that my Colorado Avalanche lost early in the playoffs after picking up two of the best scorers in the league. People looked at those pickups very similarly to the additions of Malone and Gary Payton to the Lakers. In both cases, we learned that in professional sports, players are not "plug and play." I like that.

Flag Etiquette: "The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. They are:

The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard
The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.


When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously."

From Pandagon, a reminder that the flag burning amendment to the constitution is still lurking out there. But here, from the US Flag org are some guidelines for treating the flag, including this list of things you are NOT supposed to do with it. Anyone else wonder what would happen to political advertisement or pandering from either side if these were actually followed? Why is desecration only considered burning, while draping in the flag for political purposes is, what? Patriotic?

DallasNews.com | News for Dallas, Texas | Latest News

Interesting little turn of events. The Feds prosecuted Terry Nichols and got a life sentence. That wasn't enough for the good people of Oklahoma. Justice, in their minds, meant some kind of horrible death. That was all regardless of the facts of the case, and the fact that the guy was already spending the rest of his life in jail. Well, now the good people of Oklahoma have spent millions of dollars to put a guy in jail who WAS ALREADY IN JAIL FOR LIFE!

Well done. Well done, indeed.

Jesus Politics: More on Ronald Reagan: "By 1982 California cities were inundated with homeless people, with more than 30 percent of them having mental disabilities. Turns out that Reagan, as governor, had pretty much dismantled the mental health system (among other things) in California.

As Reagan's social policies were implemented in the early 80s, the rich got richer and the poor got - well, precious little, if anything. One columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle summarized Reagan's policies as 'unleashing greed.'"

If that is the Reagan years, then how do we describe this administration? I think revising the term greed to that it is now a glowing positive.

washingtonpost.com: Legalizing Torture: "Perhaps the president's lawyers have no interest in the global impact of their policies -- but they should be concerned about the treatment of American servicemen and civilians in foreign countries. Before the Bush administration took office, the Army's interrogation procedures -- which were unclassified -- established this simple and sensible test: No technique should be used that, if used by an enemy on an American, would be regarded as a violation of U.S. or international law. Now, imagine that a hostile government were to force an American to take drugs or endure severe mental stress that fell just short of producing irreversible damage; or pain a little milder than that of 'organ failure, impairment of bodily function, or even death.' What if the foreign interrogator of an American 'knows that severe pain will result from his actions' but proceeds because causing such pain is not his main objective? What if a foreign leader were to decide that the torture of an American was needed to protect his country's security? Would Americans regard that as legal, or morally acceptable? According to the Bush administration, they should."

This very clear editorial from the Wash Post lays it out there pretty well. Bush and his administration seem to have forgotten some of their own theology, in that they are supposed to treat others the as they might want to be treated. They don't do that.

Another blog noted that Bush's statements from the G8 summitt are not comforting. He claimed that his administration had ordered his people to follow the law. But they didn't follow the law and not just a few bad apples. So, is the President in charge?

American Prospect Online - ViewWeb

This is a wonderful little letter to Peggy Noonan written by Ronnie after a week in heaven.

President Jesus returns. Again

President Jesus returns
I have been reading Fafblog lately (it is the only source for Fafblog) and struck by just how damn creative this blog is. Meanwhile, mine continues to rant and angrily link to stories that make me angrily link and swear. So, I have decided to try and do a little more of my own brand of comedy. If you guys don't like it, you can watch cable news like the rest of the world. So, here is another episode of President Jesus.

[Remember that our President said that his favorite philosopher was Jesus, so this series imagines Jesus (as Bush sees him, evidently) as President. Scene opens with President Jesus holding yet another press conference. (Oddly enough, President Jesus holds more of these than President Bush. Hmm. May have to add to the set budget.) ]

Reporter: Mr. President Jesus, how are you responding to the death of former President Reagan?

President Jesus: I am heartbroken, as would anyone who loses their father. But don't worry, I will be just like him in every way. Except acting with a monkey.

Reporter: Uh, your father? Oh well. Nevermind. Mr. President, there are a lot of other issues in the news. Can you address the supposed torture memo?

President Jesus: Let me just say that my administration hates torture. It is not the kind of America that I know and love. But we must also recognize that we are on a war-footing. We have to do what we have to do. We must act to stop the evil doers.

Reporter: Does that mean that America now uses torture in the war on terror?

President Jesus: No, it means that we have redefined what torture is. It is just like how we have redefined certain sins. You used to be able to sin with money and keep your clothes on. No more. Now sin only refers to the druggies, the fornicators and the sodomites and gomorrohites. Only sin you can do with money is to have sex with it, or buy a hooker. Same thing with torture. What we used to see as torture is now just talking. It used to be torture to stick a light stick up someone's rear, but now that is just a friendly discussion. Even if we kill them, that isn't necessarily torture. Hell, in Texas, we kill people all the time. Perfectly legal.

Reporter: Sin?

President Jesus: I just signed an Executive Order to recategorize sin to only include sex (like that horrible fellow before me) or doing drugs. Oh, and killing someone while having sex or doing drugs. That is a sin too. Getting rich is fine. Good. Great. Go forward and get rich. I think I said that before. Maybe in Matthew. I know I said that "blessed are the rich because they are so much like me."

Reporter: Mr. President Jesus, how do you explain your administration's relationship with Ahmed Chalabi?

President Jesus: Who, now?

Reporter: The guy your administration was paying over 300 thousand dollars per month.

President Jesus: Doesn't ring a bell.

Reporter: He was the guy who stood right behind your wife during the State of the Union.

President Jesus: What wife?

Reporter: Ok, on to a different topic. Mr. President Jesus, can you tell us why former Disciple Tenet is a "former" disciple?

President Jesus: Who now?

Prison Interrogators' Gloves Came Off Before Abu Ghraib : "However, the memos also show that Secretary of State Colin L. Powell warned the White House that a tougher approach toward interrogation 'will reverse over a century of U.S. policy and practices in supporting Geneva Conventions and undermine the protections of the law of war for our troops, both in this specific conflict and in general.'"

Once again, Powell comes across as the one voice of reason in an otherwise borg-like administration. The rest of the LA Times piece argues that Rumsfeld authorized harsh treatment starting with John Walker Lindh, and did so with an eye toward expanding the options for interrogations. All of that makes sense, I guess, in an us v. them world, but as is true with most decisions like this, they fail to take into account the complexities of the real world. You justify harsh treatment toward potential terrorists, but then because you don't really know who is the real terrorist and who is the guy in the wrong place at the wrong time, you mistreat them all (and let God sort them out, I guess). But instead of revealing the great intelligence you hope, you end up alienating those who just disliked us before and now who think there is no reason not to support terrorism or participate against us. And, as Powell points out, you endanger every future American captured either by terrorists or by just enemy states.

CJR Campaign Desk: Archives: "Even C-SPAN, which is basically a video transcript, is now found 'credible' by only 23 percent of Republicans, down from 35 percent in 1998."

This is really troubling. Has the mantra of "liberal" media been so loud that now actually viewing our process is considered liberal?

One good note here, is that even Republicans don't find Fox news that credible. They watch it, but don't believe it? I hope that is true.

LarkNews.com

should have read the Parish before my satire below. He links to Larknews.com, where they are doing this better than I can.

Recent events have inspired me once again to move to the fictional world--especially that which appears truer than life. I give you, the new Church:

Nashville, Tenn. (BP)--Baptist and other evangelical officials announced Wednesday that starting with the Reagan Funeral this coming Friday, business as usual in conservative churches was officially over. "We are hearing the clarion call of our Exodus brothers," said John Salem, "and will return the church to its true godly leadership." Salem said that after Friday, several landmark churches would rename themselves after the former President. Ronald Reagan First Baptist Church of Nashville would unveil their logo and flag first, followed by similar changes in Atlanta, and Fargo. "We know where our hearts are," said Salem, " and we can no longer act as if Democrats and liberals aren't going to hell." It was time for the church to speak the Biblical truth, Salem noted, and those changes would lead to a revival in the nation.

Salem also noted other changes pending for churches across the nation. Some, since all could not be RR churches, would be George Walker Bush Churches, or possibly the standard of the Republican Baptist Church would suffice. In other news, the churches were going to start recruiting corporate sponsorship. "We have been preaching the gospel of wealth and prosperity for a long time anyway," Salem said, "and it is time that our churches reflected that. Many of our parishioners are too busy building their own portfolio and wealth to spend time 'giving' at a local church. With corporate sponsorship, we can reduce the need for member gifts." Churches would include credit-card machines in pews, and start selling indulgences muffins and coffee to raise money. Other advances like online application forms (both for the Church credit card and health club), payroll deductions, and family friendly wireless internet access in churches were coming soon. Salem admitted that many churches would start including advertisements in bulletins and logos on church buildings, but claimed that was in no way a problem. "These people truly know that capitalism and democracy are based entirely on the Bible. It is time for the old thoughts about that to fade away." Salem lectured for a bit about history, noting that capitalism and government were problems when "not controlled by Christians, but now that they were firmly in the hands of the believers, there is no need to preach about accumulation of wealth. It is all God's, after all, and as long as it is controlled by his people, there is almost nothing you can't do with it. Except sex, of course, which is the hallmark sin of the church."

When asked why the changes happened, Salem noted the recent "outrage" over Abu Ghraib, gay marriage, and how godless Democrats responded to the holy leadership of George W. Bush. "Torture is perfectly justified when fighting against heathens and infidels," but gay marriage was "an abomination in the sight of God and the Holy Republican Party."

Recent events have inspired me once again to move to the fictional world--especially that which appears truer than life. I give you, the new Church:

Nashville, Tenn. (BP)--Baptist and other evangelical officials announced Wednesday that starting with the Reagan Funeral this coming Friday, business as usual in conservative churches was officially over. "We are hearing the clarion call of our Exodus brothers," said John Salem, "and will return the church to its true godly leadership." Salem said that after Friday, several landmark churches would rename themselves after the former President. Ronald Reagan First Baptist Church of Nashville would unveil their logo and flag first, followed by similar changes in Atlanta, and Sarrasota. "We know where our hearts are," said Salem, " and we can no longer act as if Democrats and liberals aren't going to hell." It was time for the church to speak the Biblical truth, Salem noted, and those changes would lead to a revival in the nation.

Salem also noted other changes pending for churches across the nation. Some, since all could not be RR churches, would be George Walker Bush Churches, or possibly the standard of the Republican Baptist Church would suffice. In other news, the churches were going to start recruiting corporate sponsorship. "We have been preaching the gospel of wealth and prosperity for a long time anyway," Salem said," and it is time that our churches reflected that. "Many of our parishoners are too busy building their own portfolio and wealth to spend time 'giving' at a local church. With corporate sponsorship, we can reduce the need for member gifts." Churches would include credit-card machines in pews, and start selling indulgences muffins and coffee to raise money. Other advances like online application forms (both for the Church credit card and health club), payroll deductions, and multi-media stations in churches were coming soon. Salem admitted that many churches would start including advertisements in bulletins and logos on church buildings, but claimed that was in no way a problem. "These people truly know that capitalism and democracy are based entirely on the Bible. It is time for the old thoughts about that to fade away." Salem lectured for a bit about history, noting that capitalism and government were problems when "not controlled by Christians, but now that they were firmly in the hands of the believers, there is no need to preach about accumulation of wealth. It is all God's, after all, and as long as it is controlled by his people, there is almost nothing you can't do with it. Except sex, of course, which is the hallmark sin of the church."

When asked why the changes happened, Salem noted the recent "outrage" over Abu Ghraib, gay marriage, and how godless Democrats responded to the holy leadership of George W. Bush. "Torture is perfectly justified when fighting against heathens and infidels," but gay marriage was "an abomination in the sight of God and the Holy Republican Party."

Yahoo! Sports - NFL - NFL won't throw flag at Parcells: "Bill Parcells won't be fined by the NFL for calling surprise plays used in practice 'Jap plays,' a remark for which he later apologized. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Tuesday that no action would be taken by the league against the Dallas Cowboys coach.

Parcells made the remark, an apparent reference to Japan's 1941 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, while talking to reporters during the Cowboys' minicamp Monday. Later in the day, Parcells issued a statement apologizing.

'I made a very inappropriate reference, and although I prefaced it with the remark, 'no disrespect to anyone intended,' it was still uncalled for and inconsiderate,' he said. 'For that I apologize to anyone who may have been offended.'"

Yeah, good little lesson there. If you have to say "no disrespect intended" several times as you are saying something, maybe you shouldn't say it! What a moron.

COMEDY CENTRAL

Must see Daily Show Headlines where Jon addresses the President's lapsed memories regarding Chalabi. Come on, folks! How are you all defending this guy?

DallasNews.com | News for Dallas, Texas | Religion: "While a source of opportunity and progress, markets focus on monetary rewards, according to Ms. Blank. A greedy mindset can lead to ethical abuses in the market, she said.

Mr. McGurn, a Catholic, said he rejects the idea the market is based on greed. 'A God that designed wealth based on greed seems like a perverse God,' he said during the panel discussion."

This book looks interesting. These two debate the morality of the market, and at a glance, I agree more with Ms. Blank on this. She says elsewhere in the interview, that the market is based on different assumptions than faith.

As for Mr. McGurn's arguments, I hope he was misquoted. "A God that designed wealth based on greed seems like a perverse God." Begs the question, doesn't it? While at least conceding that greed is bad, he assumes that God designed the market. Since God couldn't design something bad, therefor it can't be greedy? What kind of effing logic is that? What about all the other options--most apparently that mankind developed the market?

Most disturbing for me is the realization that for most Christians, especially in the conservative evangelical set, capitalism is completely compatible with Christianity. The odd thing about it is that the market system is Darwinian--a philosophy that most Christians hate. It rewards the strongest, not the weakest. It rewards those who are first, not those who are last.

Welcome to Ethics Daily.com!: "Hinkle said the public schools were in the beginning “thoroughly Christian.” Southern Baptists supported public education that emphasized “non-denominational Protestantism.” This arrangement, supplemented by Sunday school stressing particular doctrines of the various denominations, “proved satisfactory to Protestants and precluded the need for private schools,” Hinkle said.

But that all changed in the last half century, Hinkle wrote in a 3,200-word editorial blaming Southern Baptists for “50 years of sinful apathy” concerning the decline of public schools.

Hinkle blamed the National Education Association teachers’ union for pushing a “liberal, socialist” agenda, the U.S. Department of Education for removing schools from local control and federal courts for imposing the separation of church and state.

One little thing that is often ignored in this debate is the rest of the historical context of both public schools and the increased federal and judicial presence in local schools. For the creation, Baptists supported public education because it was not Catholic, and they welcomed a more secularized education setting. Now, however, that doesn't meet their purpose. Second, the increased federal presence also occurred because of a little thing called "civil rights" and the critics of federal oversight like to omit that. Absent a strong federal presence, we could easily have segregated schools and public places.

He specifically criticized the NEA-backed “values clarification” for promoting moral relativism.

“I am often perceived as being blunt with my opinions, so let me reinforce that perception,” Hinkle wrote. “The notion that truth is relative is straight from the pit of hell for it mocks the ultimate absolute Truth--Jehovah God and His inerrant, infallible Word.”

I like this too. I have heard for years about relative morality, and the secular humanists like myself who supposedly operate that way. The alternative, apparently, are fundamentalist Christians who address the truth of an issue regardless of how it impacts them. Right. Let me just say that I am unimpressed with that argument. I have watched conservative Christians oppose Clinton for one reason, then support Bush for a similar reason. I have watched them make excuses for greed and excess, while at the same time chastising the sexual sinners without compassion.

Hinkle also blamed advocates of gay-rights and sex education for “insidious indoctrination” to “a host of things” once thought of as unmentionable."

Yeah, like sex. Or like two loving women trying to make a life together.

Eden Collections.: "This beautifully hand painted angel is sure to bring patriotic sentiment to any home. Plaque displays the words to 'God Bless America' below a waving American flag. Display it proudly in front of your window or in your family room. Perfect for this upcoming 4th of July!"

This feels very similar to Mel's licensed nails. Query: is it patriotic to say God Bless America?

I recently viewed the Chris Rock "Head of State" film where Rock runs for President. His opponent ends all his speeches with "God Bless America. And no place else." That is how all of this feels to me.

Body and Soul: Politics and Poetry: "It is very hard to talk about the promise of America without falling into self-congratulation and delusions, or worse, into a sense of entitlement. The language has been sullied, maybe beyond cleansing, by too many speeches in which our 'values' are a nicely wrapped package we can hand someone else, or even force on someone who doesn't want them. America as an inheritence from a rich daddy, which allows you to take whatever you want, screw up repeatedly, and never pay for your mistakes, and still believe that your the best piece of work God ever created."

A real nice essay by Body and Soul on the tension between loving this country and being exasperated by its problems.

Historians vs. George W. Bush : "Several charges against the Bush administration arose repeatedly in the comments of historians who responded to the survey. Among them were: the doctrine of pre-emptive war, crony capitalism/being “completely in bed with certain corporate interests,” bankruptcy/fiscal irresponsibility, military adventurism, trampling of civil liberties, and anti-environmental policies."

Historians rate Bush at the bottom of the Presidents. Bottom. Compared with Harding. Though one called him "the best president since Clinton." That is funny.

I also liked this one:

"GRANT: “He ranks with U.S. Grant as the worst. His oil interests and Cheney’s corporate Haliburton contracts smack of the same corruption found under Grant.”

“While Grant did serve in the army (more than once), Bush went AWOL from the National Guard. That means that Grant is automatically more honest than Bush, since Grant did not send people into places that he himself consciously avoided. . . . Grant did not attempt to invade another country without a declaration of war; Bush thinks that his powers in this respect are unlimited.”

Ted Rall online

Good cartoon.

It's a Crock!: "(Time) — When Saddam Hussein was rousted from his spider hole (he) was clutching a pistol. He is now in detention at an undisclosed location, being questioned by American authorities and awaiting charges for war atrocities and crimes against humanity. But what ever happened to the pistol?

The sidearm has made its way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Sources say that the military had the pistol mounted after the soldiers seized it from Saddam and that it was then presented to the President privately by some of the troops who played a key role in ferreting out the old tyrant. Though it was widely reported at the time that the pistol was loaded when they grabbed Saddam, Bush has told visitors that the gun was empty—and that it is still empty and safe to touch. 'He really liked showing it off,' says a recent visitor to the White House who has seen the gun. 'He was really proud of it.'"

Ok, and I know that R will hate this, but I think that this has far more to do with Bush and Daddy than it does anything else. Think about it. Every time 41 comes to visit, 43 can show him his little memento of his successful attempt to unseat Saddam. "See Daddy, I am better than you."

On another note, it is just sick.

San Francisco Examiner: Last straw for art gallery: "A North Beach art gallery owner who has been attacked and threatened for showing a controversial painting of American soldiers torturing Iraqi prisoners has decided to call it quits."

This is why we should all fear "patriotism." See how this has worked out? The actual abuse, torture and murder were just "hijinks" and "pranks" (Rush), or really only a problem because of digital cameras (Rummy). And now we blame, not those who created the environment for this kind of abuse, but those who comment on it. The media is to blame. And artists who might be disgusted by it are unamerican. Not the people who did it, mind you, but those who are disgusted by it. (Inhofe).

Quiz for Conservatives

As a so-called academic, I have a natural inborn need to occasionally test those around me. I try to repress this urge, but it has always been there, since youth. Others teased me and called me names, like "tester" and "quizzy" but I am what I am.

Anyway, here is a quiz for the conservatives. As a non-conservative, I watch our Prez stumble around and lose more and more respect for him. But that not necessarily fair. After all, I never thought that much of him. But you conservatives love this guy, so I thought now is the perfect time to assess (that an education term) your take on GWB.

Please answer the following question with regards to the listed events: "This issue/event makes me more likely/less likely/as likely to vote for GWB this fall."

Administration invades Iraq based on faulty intelligence. Blames CIA and also states that the intelligence was fine--that there areWMD in Iraq.

Administration outs a CIA operative--an act that would have had Clinton sent to Siberia--in pieces.

Long line of former administration officials write books saying that administration is not very good. In almost every case, administration says that these people unhinged and crazy.

Administration pledges to show Iraq and Arab world real America. Stands by while many high-ranking officers warn of prison abuses. Blames few bad apples, and fires no one over emerging scandal. Oh, and scandal also includes people beaten to death.

Administration key source in Iraq, Ahmad Chalabi, now accused of spying for Iran. CIA always thought he a big fat liar, but Bushies loovvee this guy. Now, Prez Bush says, "Chalabi? Who that?"

Take your time.

the parish: It's a Meal, Folks. A Meal!: "Catholics will view the withholding of communion as critical because the Eucharist has a salvific role. Protestants are so confused about what it is they can't even agree whether they should take it weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually, or give up on it altogether. They withhold it out of ignorance in most churches on a weekly basis. However, once the idea that this is an extension of Jesus' mealtime fellowship with believers and unbelievers is introduced, we can dispense with the silly notion that ordination gives me the right to call some and not others to the table. The Lord extends an invitation to whomever is thirsty to come drink, and to whomever is hungry to come buy bread with no money (that's in the Bible). So, all you priestly types, try sitting down with your flocks and eating with them. Hell, try eating with unbelievers. They're good to be around. They keep your ass from puckering overmuch."

Damn! Well said, well said.

The Washington Monthly

this is a very interesting issue for the Bushies to defend. The other day, evidently, Bush was asked about Chalabi and his falling credibility. Bush asks "Chalabi?" as if, you see, he couldn't quite remember him. Then says some stuff about how he had met with him very briefly, you know, at the State of the Union, and perhaps one other meeting with other people.

Kevin Drum has a good accounting here of how Bush demonstrated a quick knowledge of the man during the Russert interview that also talked about relying on him for future Iraq. Oh, and that other thing? He stood right behind Laura Bush during the SOTU speech! Is Bush really trying to now say he never relied on this man for his invasion?

This just more proof that this guy has no character. He is incapable of acknowledging any mistakes.

CBN News - John Kerry's French Connection

See what the right is doing here? Kerry is to be faulted for not overtly claiming his French ancestry, but Bush is still thought to be a working class hick from west Texas.

SBC Baptist Press - FIRST-PERSON: Passing the baton of history: "The sins of America are many. Among the most blatant are the insistence on the right to kill pre-born humans, the protection of pornography and the legitimizing of perversion as normal and healthy. While these and other moral failings are signs that the United States is far from healthy, a more subtle sign could be just as telling.

In his book "When Nations Die," historian Jim Nelson Black cites 10 warning signs of a culture in crisis. Among the trends that indicate a society has stopped making history and is in the process of becoming history is ?the loss of respect for tradition.?"

Thanks to the Parish for pointing to this example of stupidity from the Baptist Press.

The stupidity is wide spread in this post, and Parish points to the obsession with the military as well as extending rights and recognition to gays and other minorities. I would like to point to a few other stupidities.

I love the fact that he bases this moronic column on someone he calls "historian" Jim Nelson Black. I did some google searching and except for being lauded by such luminaries as D. James Kennedy, and supposedly teaching at Dallas Baptist University, I can find no background on this guy. He evidently has a doctorate, but in what and from where I have no idea. But you can see how this works. People like this pastor would probably dismiss me as a part of the liberal elite and not take my Ph.D., in American history seriously. My analysis would be tainted by secularism, or beer, or my association with gays, or something. But that doesn't mean that thumpers like this guy don't respect academic authority. No sir! It just means that they look elsewhere until they find someone they can reference with the title "historian."

This guy has written a book called "When Nations Die." And how do nations die? Evidently, because they forget tradition. The good author of this essay evidently uses Black's book to support this, waxing all sorts of nostalgic over the issue of Memorial Day. He moans that "only 28%" of Americans recognize the significance of this day and takes it back to its roots in post Civil War America.

All of it is true, as far as it goes. But this just goes to show how bad some "history" is. This analysis (or should I say "analysis") misses the underlying sentiment of that Memorial day creation to heal the wounds of the Civil War. To do that, many from the North recognized that they would have to figure out a way to give the Southern fighters a pass. After all, these were traitors who had taken up arms against their own government. In a different reality, they could have all been imprisoned (or worse) for this crime. So, to give the South an "out," people started discussing the war as one fought honorably between honorable men over a difference of opinion. No where in this "memorialization" was the recognition not only of the treason, but also the odious institution that sparked such a vigorous revolution. No one wanted to recognize that Southern culture was so wedded to racial slavery that they were willing to rebel against their own country. (Yeah, yeah, I know there are other underlying reasons for the war. But take slavery out of the mix and convince me that southern crackers take up arms over Internal Improvements or tariffs.)

Anyway, back to this great memorialization. This was part and parcel of figuring out how to incorporate all these disaffected southerners back with a distrustful north. To do so, it became very convenient to romanticize the glorious war and the honorable Southern gentlemen and Southern (Moonlight and Magnolias) culture. Left out of this? Oh, right. The former slaves. Dammnit. Well, one way to do that was to buy the Southern argument for slavery and racial inferiority. So, as a result of memorializing the gallant (white) soldiers who died in this family dispute, blacks became violent and subhuman rapists (all over again) who really liked slavery.

Now, does that mean that Memorial Day is somehow racist? No, not necessarily. But this kind of history is dangerous. It exalts romantic nostalgia over the nuanced past. It allows greedy industrialists who exploited people and resources to become "captains of industry" and name colleges and universities after them. It allows the growth of the industrial revolution to become a time when people had a "work ethic" rather than a time of tremendous exploitation and abuse when children were put in mines and immigrants were exploited. Western expansion becomes the romantic wagon trains instead of the ethnic cleansing of California Indians.

We should be asking serious questions about our past, and that includes respect for those who gave their lives in battle. But it also means thinking about the black men and women killed in a rage of racism and fear. It also includes those people who put their entire lives on the line to oppose a war, not because they hated their country, but because they loved America and wanted it to reflect the ideals of a free and democratic society.

Anyway, this guy is a tool.

Eschaton: "As the mother of a gay son, I've seen firsthand how cruel and misguided people can be.

Many letters have been sent to the Valley News concerning the homosexual menace in Vermont. I am the mother of a gay son and I've taken enough from you good people.

I'm tired of your foolish rhetoric about the 'homosexual agenda' and your allegations that accepting homosexuality is the same thing as advocating sex with children. You are cruel and ignorant. You have been robbing me of the joys of motherhood ever since my children were tiny. "

A touching and angry letter from a woman tired of the attack on homosexuals.