10/01/2004 - 11/01/2004

An Army of One...

Just saw an “Army of One” commercial that showed empty workstations, and lonely office spaces. They were empty because the army reservists who used to work there are out doing heroic deeds like “Training Iraqi policemen,” or, “Hunting Osama bin Laden.”
<>

--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> It was SO EFFING ROMANTIC.

If only they’d shown a sad-eyed dog lost without his master...

it would have been perfect. <>
Remember all the crap about Michael Moore’s ads for F9/11 being soft-money anti-Bush ads for Kerry? <>

--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->

Well what in the name of Caesar’s ghost are Army commercials that go out of their way to romanticize the war in Iraq and give the impression that we’re doing everything we can to capture Osama?

has always been a blogger after my own heart, and he's come out of retirement for one more post.

To begin with his blog Whiskey Bar takes its name from a the "Alabama Song" which (for those not in the know) wasn't written by Jim Morrison and the Doors.

The song comes from Mother Courage and Her Children, by Bertolt Brecht with music by Kurt Weill.

For this post Billmon has all but rewritten one of my favorite pieces by Brecht, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.

Billmon writes:

Now as I at the time, history is filled with examples of bad things that happened because the military of a powerful state decided to dabble in partisan politics -- which is why the code of military justice generally frowns on stunts like the LaCrosse rally. Authoritarian political movements, like trees, from tiny acorns may grow:

If the t-shirt design catches on, then some other party hack might well develop a proprietary patriotic logo -- something distinctly identifiable as a Republican Party symbol -- to go on those t-shirts.

(With their "I am an American soldier" slogan, the LaCrosse GOP is half way there already) Having the troops all wear arm bands with the new party logo on them would also look kind of cool.
But standing around in the sun waiting for the leader to appear can be hot work, so it wouldn't be too surprising if some local GOP chapters started giving the soldiers baseball caps with that patriotic party logo on the front.
And since you now have all these splendid young hunks standing around in their snazzy party outfits, and since their drill sergeants are also on hand, why not do something fun to entertain the crowd -- like having the troops parade in formation past the leader on his podium.

What would be the harm in that?
And if the troops are going to parade, why not have them salute? Of course, using the standard military salute might be a little obvious.

So why not create a new party salute -- like, say, banging a clenched fist on the heart, or, better yet, extending a stiffened right arm, fingers pointed towards the leader in a gesture of obedience and respect.
Imagine the effect it would have on the crowd -- all those handsome young heros, marching in perfect lockstep, showing their loyalty to their commander in chief. And if the leader were to give the party salute back, expressing his dedication to the sacred cause of defending the homeland .

..
Hah!

Let's see the Democrats try to compete with that!

That's pretty much the story Brecht wrote in order to show how easily evil men like Hitler rise to power bourne on the shoulders of good people.

All I can say to Billmon is
America NEEDS a Brecht---- not a Communist mind you (and Brecht was certainly that) but writer that can strip away the ornamental facade and show us the clockworks inside the American Dream Machine.

I know you want to be a playwright Billmon. GO FOR IT!

I've asked before, and I'll ask again: Where's the big splashy network news special about the organized effort to keep Democrats from voting?

Here's more ugliness in Ohio:

PAINESVILLE -- It is an outright case of election fraud in Lake County.
The phony letter says newly registered voters signed up by the Kerry or Capri Cafaro campaigns or the NAACP, their registrations are illegal and they will not be able to vote.
“That was not authorized by the Board of Elections, said Elections Director Jan Clair.

“It was not mailed by the Lake County Board of Elections.”
A real board mailing would have Clair’s signature.
The letter was brought to election officials by Ron Colvin, a longtime registered voter and head of the Lake County NAACP.

Sheriff Dan Dunlap is investigating. “It will be a federal offense because you have
interfered with the constitutionally protected right to vote,” he said.
Congressional candidate Capri Cafaro says she’s sure the letter came from the other side.

“So it seems to me the Republicans will stop at nothing to win and this is just another voter suppression tactic,” she said. “I believe it came from someone with significant political motivation.”
In a race where the mud’s been flying, Cafaro’s opponent, Steve LaTorette, decided to sit this one out and said he would have no comment on her charges.

Whether it was Republicans, or Democrats wanting to make it look like Republicans, or some guy sitting in his pajamas at his home computer, the sheriff says from now to Election Day, ignore any message that tells you not to come out and vote.
[snip]

Where's Bobby Kennedy when you need him. This is organized crime and somebody needs to bust it up pronto.

Dude, My Head is SO Going to Explode I just have to write all of this down to make sure I’ve got it all straight.
On Monday, Robo-Scott McClellan said,"the Pentagon, upon learning of [the disappearance of the al Qa Qaa explosives], directed the multinational forces and the Iraqi Survey Group to look into this matter and that's what they are currently doing."
Meanwhile back in Baghdad Charlie Duelfer, Chief of the Iraq Survey Group, says that’s all a bunch of wholesale pig pucky.

BUT, Duelfer ALSO says we shouldn’t sweat the mysterious disappearance of 377 tons of explosives.
"It's hard for me to get that worked up about it," Duelfer told CBS adding that Iraq is awash in hundreds of thousands of tons of explosives.
America went to war in Iraq because we were (wrongly) afraid that Saddam Hussein was giving toxic ooze, exploding thermonuclear robots, and the occasional handjob to Osama bin Laden, Montana bin Laden, and all the little bin Ladens.

Now the attitude is, “Dude, our enemy’s got like SO MANY guns, and rockets, and explodie things, what’s another 377 tons more or less?”
That’s only enough to knock 1,154,000 commercial airliners out of the sky. Ain’t no big thang.

This is possibly my favorite media-related post by a EVER.

In a very silly way it gets right to the heart of what's effing wrong with TV news. Here's the whole damn thing.

Some Channel 5 news guy named thinks my post about is " ."

I believe this blog belongs to one of the webmasters at the (local paper). It's interesting then that he should take so strong a position regarding their commercial partner, WREG.

Right. So why is that interesting? Channel 5 coverage sucked too from what I've been told.

I wonder if Mr. Phillips would find it interesting if the paper reported some scandal at WREG or published an op-ed criticizing them for some actions. Because it would happen, if warranted.

The facts are the facts and it looks like ALL local news went crazy this past Monday with their severe storm coverage. My criticisms would have been leveled at Channel 5 if I actually watched Channel 5, which I don't at all. Except for "Scrubs.

" That's a good show.
My main gripe is that the local news and their apologists use the "if it saves one life" issue to justify their stupid actions. That's so disingenuous.

Sure, there are good times to totally preempt scheduled coverage but those times are rare and should be used sparingly. I've heard all the excuses and bleeding heart justifications but it's all posturing. And anyone who complains is labeled a cold-hearted jerk who would rather watch "Fear Factor" than save lives.

Did you know wearing a helmet while driving a car would probably save at least one life each year? Yeah, it's true. So why don't we do it?

Because it's stupid and a freaking inconvenience. Same principle applies to the local weather coverage. The "if a little is good, then a lot is better" philosophy drives me insane, because it's a lie.

Sometimes a little is better and a lot is worse.
I have no earthly idea who Darrell Phillips is and the only two names of local news folks I can name off the top of my head is Joe Birch and Tim Simpson (both weather people). Oh, and Andy Wise but I'm not sure if he's still around.

My point, I don't watch local news...

at all. Maybe it's my newspaper and Web bias but I just do not watch local news. So maybe that's why I say it sucks when I see local news (from any channel) instead of the shows I expect to see.

[snip]


Holy Crap! I just sat down and looked at all the press materials I’ve gotten concerning David Gest’s little shindig at the Canon Center and in doing so discovered that the ad rates (mentioned below) are NOTHING when you consider the ticket price. The best seats are going for $25,000.

The second best seats go for $15,000. Third-rate seats cost $10,000, and fourth rate seats cost $1000.
$1000 is the cheapest ticket listed.

And I thought The Who was overcharging for their last round of concerts.
For those not in the know, Gest is Liza’s ex-hubby, and a prime example of how truly creepy show business can be.

--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->
Yeah, I know this isn’t politics, but Gest is a new Memphian and his presence here promises many surreal possibilities.

In terms of bizarre behavior he might even outdo the City Council AND the Mayor’s office combined.

asks her fellow Memphians an important question, "Why did David Gest move to Memphis?

"


"Seriously," she asks, "WTF? Why do we deserve this? And he's throwing himself a housewarming party.

<>Performers listed on his advertisement for the event include The Doobie Brothers, Al Green, Gloria Gaynor, Crystal Gayle, Dionne Warwick, Stephanie Mills, Lou Rawls, Shirley Caesar, Archie Bell, Barbara Mason, Billy Gilman, Mya, The Original Box Tops, Freddie Jackson and others. Academy Award nominee Topol will re-create his character from "Fiddler on the Roof."A salute to legendary movie stars is to include guest appearances by Patricia Neal, Jane Russell, Esther Williams, Carroll Baker and Celeste Holm among others.

Who the eff are they?"

Sadly, Rachel failed to mention the MOST ABSURD EFFING PART OF THIS.

I got a rate card for idiots (um, I mean folks) who might want to advertise in the special program commemorating David's little housewarming party at the Canon Center featuring Topol, and Mya, and Patricia Neal who I swear died 20-effing YEARS AGO .

Anyway, if so inclined you may buy the eight page center spread in David's program for a mere $35,000.

No, I didn't add a zero.

$35,000 buys the spread: color or black and white.

Well, don't everybody vomit at once.

<> The Right Wing infrastructure is astounding. Since Watergate embarrassed the entire party the GOP has bought the best minds in the nation, and put them to work in think tanks.

They have constructed a biased media empire, and assembled pressure groups out the wazoo. They have funded professorships, and built massive public relations machines.

Although Nixon brought disgrace to the Whitehouse the GOP held on to the top position for 16 of the following 20 years.

And during Clinton’s reign the same machine that was built to head off future GOP scandals used its vast experience to bombard the President with a series of headline-grabbing non-scandals until they finally scored with Monica. Throw it all at the wall. Something will stick.

Even as GOP voter suppression is being exposed throughout the country the attack dogs of wingnut radio are crowing about “Democratic thugs” out to steal an election. The seed is being planted by Rush and his wannabes that there can’t be a Democratic victory without dirty tricks, obscuring the fact that all significant voter suppression coming from the Right.

They are already inciting the rabble to action.

<>

--[endif]-->
So what happens when Kerry gets elected? The think tanks won’t dry up. Rush isn’t going anywhere, and even if he does there's always Savage to contend with.

Money will still buy chairs for ideologues in the halls of academia. The Right will go back into the same attack mode that limited Clinton’s effectiveness, and wrecked Al Gore’s reputation.

As proven in Florida 2000, they can also mobilize an angry, potentially dangerous mob in no time flat.

--[endif]-->I’ve got no answers here. I’m asking. We know what they’ve got.

The question is, how will they use it this time around? And how do we stop it?

The DC Bureau chief of Sinclair Broadcasting, Jon Lieberman, is denouncing his employer's plan to air an hourlong, unpaid Swift Boat ad later this week, according to the .

[snip]

Yep, like we , among the jobless.
Well, I guess you didn't have to be a psychic..

.

On a happier note Sinclair's stock dropped nearly 8% today. Here's to flipping off your stockholders, that's what makes our economy strong!

LITTLE ROCK -- Since 2001, when Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act, federal funding for education in Arkansas has risen by more than 50 percent.
The total is expected to reach as much as $948 million this year, up from $618 million in 2001, according to the U.

S. Department of Education.
The No Child Left Behind law, an initiative of President Bush, calls for all students to score at their grade level on annual state tests in math and literacy by 2013-14.

States are to measure school progress toward that goal yearly. Schools that do not meet state achievement targets in two consecutive years must permit students to transfer to higher-achieving schools and, in some cases, pay for tutoring for those who don't transfer.
The Reading First grant program, the Improving Teacher Quality grant program, and Title I grants for schools with high numbers of low-income children are the largest No Child Left Behind programs in Arkansas.

The Bush administration has been criticized by some for underfunding the act. Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican, is not among the critics.

"I think it is the greatest single reform that has ever happened in education in my lifetime," Huckabee said.
This is a story. It is not a press release.

It was written by a writer. It wasn’t written by a third grader.
Passive voice and choppy sentences aside, the article went on to list all of the things NCLB is supposed to do without going into any detail as to whether or not any of those things are getting done in Arkansas.

But that’s not even the point.
Here’s another taste.
"I think a person who complains about the lack of money doesn't understand No Child Left Behind," [Huckabee] said.

"The No Child Left Behind Act has poured more federal money into states than has ever been poured into education. It is funded for what it was intended to do, which is to give us the diagnostic tools to determine where our deficiencies are. It's not the federal government's responsibility to fix what is wrong.

They are giving us the tools to decide what is wrong."
Here Huckabee makes a rather bold argument for an alleged conservative: more federal money means a better system of education. Though the reporter mentions that there are critics their specific criticisms are never pointed out, and no critic of the plan is given equal time on the record.

NOBODY has ever denied that NCLB has opened up the federal coin purse. The criticism has been that the funding hasn’t been enough to cover the requirements, and the states—as strapped for cash as they have ever been—are forced to meet requirements that aren’t properly funded.
There was a time when conservatives stood for less money and smarter spending.

Education is an area where we can’t afford to cut corners, but we still need smarter spending. And we need an effing media that knows journalism from a press release.
Of course the CA now proudly runs press releases as bylined stories.

They call that community journalism.

Yeah, it's a little old, but still worth thinking about.

KOPPEL (10/14/04): As I mentioned to you before the broadcast, Mr.

O'Neill, we're just going to have time to focus on the one issue that we have looked at tonight. That is the Silver Star issue. And if I could—go ahead.

O’NEILL: May I say, Ted, that's a real shame. It's a shame that you focused only on the one minor accomplishment of John Kerry, and refused to ever cover the sampan incident where the small family was killed, the two times he fled that are described in the book, or the time he visited the North Vietnamese.
[snip]

Of course only one child was killed, and the survivors were taken on Kerry's boat.

Big John's never denied this, and neither have his buddies. But to turn it into "a small family,"is, to quote President Bush, "one of those exaggerations."

Was Koeppel ready, willing or able to call O'Neill on his lie?

Not a chance .

Yesterday Atrios ran a big picture of Mars with the headline, “Our Symbol of Victory.” He was alluding to President Tweak’s bizarre announcement that he was ready to plant an American flag on Martian soil.

The announcement—or “diversion,” to give it its most proper name— came at a time when the country was beginning to second-guess the President’s attitudes toward Iraq.
President Tweak’s reign has so closely followed the dramatic arc of a Greek tragedy one would SWEAR old Sophocles was somehow writing the script. There’s been no shortage of treachery, deceit, death or even torture.

In recent month’s Tweak’s love/hate relationship with his father has been more visible than ever. He loses his cool whenever anyone compares him to his one-term Daddy who never “finished the job” in Iraq, and who never followed through on his own proposed mission to the Red Planet. And let’s not forget Hubris, the tragic pride that allows a man to “stay the course” when he’s got more than enough reasons to suspect he’s on a collision course with certain doom.

There’s been an awful lot of that going around lately.
I think it’s fitting that Mars—the planet named for a petty, hotheaded, and decidedly unstable God of War— should be the symbol of our victory.
If there is a force that governs the cosmos he/she/it LOVES to spread the irony on with a trowel.

It doesn’t make the bullshit worthwhile, but the catharsis of victory in November will be that much sweeter.

EFFING BEAUTIFUL! There's too much going on to write about everything, so I'm lifting this straight from Kos.

Something tells me he won't mind a bit.

[snip]

Found the following links which all seem to point to the same company that is suspected of tearing up Democratic voter registration forms in Las Vegas. It has set up registration drives in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Florida and Nevada and is accused of the same things in most if not all of these states.

Sproul Associates is a Republican consulting firm run by Nathan Sproul, former head of the Arizona Republican party and Arizona Christian Coalition. :
Voters Outreach of America AKA America Votes tears up Democratic voter registration forms in Nevada.
:
Company claiming affiliation with non-partisan 'America Votes' to register voters in Oregon is actually GOP consulting firm Sproul Associates, Inc.

:
Sproul Associates AKA America Votes workers in WV and PA refuse to register Kerry voters.

Democrats in Oregon have complained that canvassers for Arizona based Sproul Associates have been pressuring residents to register as Republicans so that they can get paid.

Arizona Nader campaign was assisted in its petition drive by an unlikely figure: the ultra-conservative former executive director of the Arizona Republican Party, Nathan Sproul.

:
Good background story on Sproul and his political track record, cached on Google.
:
Here is the direct link between Sproul and Voters Outreach of America.

According to several sources, two of the contractors Sproul hired to oversee petition gathering for No Taxpayer Money For Politicians -- Aaron "A.

J." James, who directs Voters' Outreach of America, and Diane Burns -- were also paid by Sproul to get as many signatures as possible for Nader.

Good stuff, so far.

But the reader then asks the key question -- who is paying for these efforts? The answer?

, Las Vegas:
"The company has been largely, if not entirely funded, by the Republican National Committee.

" :
Help wanted ad for Voters Outreach of America says "Paid for by the Republican National Committee".

The Republican Party is funding these efforts. The link is direct and unambiguous.

Meanwhile, Bob Johnson has got a diary with on this developing scandal. As he says,

[C]ritical is the fact that Sproul and his organization misrepresented themselves to voters as a legitimate, nonpartisan GOTV organization. That is fraud, my friends.

The Googlemonkeys are ferreting out all sort of great info. Might be time for a dKosopedia entry on this to consolidate all this info.
(Two great examples of participatory journalist at its finest.

)

[snip]

This is revolting. The next time a Rethug calls any Democrat un-American or unpatriotic this news should shut them up and fast. There is NOTHING more unpatriotic or anti-American than trying to take away the votes of American citizens.

I'm a peaceful man and would like to see every death row in America eliminated. But voter fraud of this size should be considered a serious a viscious attack on the constitution of the United States. Those who are behind it should be considered TRAITORS to their country.

Lets see how much the Rethugs LOVE the death penalty when some of their top players are staring down that lethal injection.

Over the top?

Here's the definition of Treason from dictionary.

com: Violation of allegiance toward one's country or sovereign, especially the betrayal of one's country by waging war against it or by consciously and purposely acting to aid its enemies.

Attempting to deny citizens their vote in order to insure a political victory that isn't in accordance with the will of the people is--without question--a violation of allegiance toward one's country. And last time I checked, treason was punishable by death.

Now I'm against killing people, but there's nothing wrong with scaring the living bejesus out of these assholes.

John Ashcroft, being the caution that he is, has attempted yet another assault on American civil liberties.

As says at The Note, watch out for Tucked into these "plans" for a complete Intel overhaul there are provisions allowing the justice department to SELL YOUR RECORD to potential employers.


Clemons hopes Kerry can use this in the next debate:

--[endif]-->

From The Note:

The questions should be: President Bush, if you had been held accountable for misdeeds that only you know about from your self-described wild youth, would you have been hired by the people of the United States as President?
If your employers and business partners had known that you broke laws (not saying you did..

.but you and Jesus know) because this information had been plugged into a national data base and shared with anyone who wanted it and paid the Justice Department, "a reasonable fee," would you have gotten where you are today?
Did you read Orwell's 1984?

Do you think sharking records of all criminal offenders with employers around the nation fits with compassionate conservatism?

".

..those stalwart souls capable of sticking out the Friday night Presidential debate may well recall that there was a point where Gee Dub, in all his hot-blooded feral glory, was asked about importation of drugs from Canada.

He replied that he wanted to make sure that any imported drugs were actually safe for the sake and protection of the American people before he was going to jump head-long into such a program. If only he could effectively communicate this concern for our health to the Food and Drug Administration..

.. .

..onThursday, Sen.

Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa and chairman of the Finance committee, had received heavy pressure to hush up about his concerns about the arthritis drug Vioxx weeks before it was voluntarily pulled from the market by it's manufacturer.

Dr. David J.

Graham, associate director for science in the FDA Drug Center’s Office of Drug Safety, told Senate investigators he faced stiff resistance within the regulatory agency to his findings. "Dr. Graham described an environment where he was 'ostracized,' 'subjected to veiled threats' and 'intimidation,'" Grassley said in a statement after Finance Committee investigators interviewed the researcher Thursday.

And that's not where this little story ends either.

If you’re part of the wealthiest class in the wealthiest nation in the world what do you care if jealous outsiders hate America?

You’ve lived with this social burden for your entire life and it’s never stopped you from buying a diamond.

Update:
America is divided like never before. It seems like there’s almost nothing that everyone can agree on.

But I think there is still one thing we can all agree on. John Kerry looks like Lurch from the Addams Family

Anybody who thinks Kerry didn’t slaughter Bush in the second debate is blinded by the soft bigotry of low expectations. It’s not that President Tweak rushed the moderator’s desk flailing his arms and demanding the right to respond even if the rules were against him.

Charles Gibson, stunned by President Tweak’s aggression, was already offering additional time, but blustering anger headed Tweak was too busy reacting to something that never happened, to see that he was already getting his way. He looked like a spoiled, petulant manchild who discovers one day that his riches are squandered, and his outlook uncertain. The outburst made him seem cornered, unstable and weak.

The President’s meltdown was a major victory for the Democrats. It proved that when Tweak starts barking orders, he can’t hear what anybody else in the room is saying. It’s a damning image that meshes perfectly with the narrative John Kerry has been pushing; a narrative that suggests our Tweak is wholly unfit to command, and dangerously out of touch with the needs, if not the actual values of the American majority.

Kerry explained in easy to understand detail why small numbers of well-trained, well-equipped troops can win a battle, but can’t win a sustained peace. He showed that our inability to secure Iraqi ammo dumps is now costing American soldiers their lives. He made it clear that the General who warned poor Tweak that we needed more men on the ground was put out to pasture.

All because our Tweak—a man who makes Howard Dean look like a novice ranter—just can’t listen. Not even when he’s getting his way.
John Kerry went down to the Show Me state, and he did exactly that.

“If Missouri, just given the number of people from Missouri who are in the military over there [in Iraq] today, were a country, it would be the third largest country in the coalition, behind Great Britain and the United States,” he said.
It was like hearing the coffin lid slam down on Bush’s campaign. Now everybody in America has a simple, concrete example of what our “grand international coalition” means in human terms.

That my friend is “plain language.” That kind of talk solidifies your base, and wins previously forgone votes from the other team. That kind of simple, illuminating talk wins landslide elections, and shames opponents.

Steam poured from President Tweak’s ears, and his forced smile turned into a smirk. He tried to make a little joke about his inability to suppress his anger and disgust, but it fell flatter than a period on onionskin. His logic fell apart like a $20 car.

“Nobody is going to follow somebody who doesn't believe we can succeed and with somebody who says that war where we are is a mistake,” Tweak said, and in an instant a new Global policy was born: Let’s call it The Lemming Theory.
One charge President Tweak refused to rebut in any real or consistent way was Kerry’s claim that recent tax cuts are only beneficial to the richest one percent of America. Instead he looked into the eyes of America and declared his disastrous economic policies a smashing success.

The fact that Tweak actually managed to put together a few coherent sentences may fool the Heathers and Whores of our 24-hour telepunditry, but poor and middle class people know when times are good, and when jobs are few and far between. Bush can’t fool anybody on this issue, and his retreat to wedge issues like abortion and stem cell research only appeals to the clear minority who vote a straight Jesus ticket.
Yes, this came from the same mouth that lied 1000+ American soldiers to their death in the increasingly bloody sands of Mesopotamia where the civilian body count is the equivalent of fifty 9/11’s.

As the debate wound down Kerry took Tweak on a very literal trip to the woodshed by showing how, under the GOP’s plan the President’s own modest timber interests qualify him for “small business” tax incentives. Poor Tweak, caught totally off guard, reached out like Benny Henn on a healing jag and asked his loyal lifelines if he really had wood.
Factcheck.

org, the Dick Cheney recommended website says:
"President Bush himself would have qualified as a 'small business owner' under the Republican definition, based on his 2001 federal income tax returns. He reported $84 of business income from his part ownership of a timber-growing enterprise."
Bush seemed astonished to discover he even had timber interests, and his limp attempts at laughing it off quickly devolved into an advertisement for natural male enhancement.

Time and time again Bush tried to smear Kerry with the taint of ambiguity, but as it turns out the lanky New England Senator is made of Vulcanized rubber and the increasingly hunched POTUS is straight up Crazy Glue.

In case you haven't heard already, the Sinclair Broadcast group--a media giant penetraiting at least 25% of American households will be screening a MOONIE-MADE ANTI-KERRY DOCUMENTARY just a few nights before the election.

Some folks are looking to Maybe you want to help

UPDATE: I'm just lifting this from Kos.

"From what I'm hearing, the local Sinclair stations have no say in airing the anti-Kerry program. Doesn't matter, the harder we hit them, the more they'll pressure HQ to back off the program. But if you want to go straight to the top, here are the three who made the decision:

(Mark Hyman, host)
(David Smith, president)
(Joe Defeo, news director) Main telephone: 410.

568.1500
Main Fax: 410.568.

1533

As a fun aside, Atrios that David Smith, conservative stalwarth, likes the hookers.

The president of Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., which owns the local Fox television affiliate, was arrested Tuesday night and charged with committing a perverted sex act in a company-owned Mercedes, city police said.

So yeah, your typical hypocritical brand of conservatives."

--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->Some cable news channel is running a piece about Bush’s behavior on 9/11. They're talking about how noble it was that, upon discovering America was under attack, Bush kept mum, and continued reading to the students he’d come to visit.

Imagine what a great campaign commercial Dubya would have if he’d stood up and said, “I’m sorry class, but I’m going to have to leave you all a little early today. The office of President is one of great responsibility.

You will soon discover what has happened, and I hope you’ll forgive me for running out on you. But America must be protected. That’s my job.

God bless you all, and God bless America.” He would have seemed like Superman, and not like a hard-luck gambler who just heard Vito was waiting outside to collect his pound of flesh.
History is FILLED with great leaders who, in times of crisis, overcame their handicaps and human frailties to become heroes and saints.

It’s the obstacles that make great leaders into heroes.

That's the story, Alpha to effing Omega.

Poor Dubya, forever a victim to the soft bigotry of low expectations, can only be considered a brave leader and statesman by virtue of affirmative action.

Can Bill O’Reilly hear himself? Tonight on the Daily Show he compared Dubya’s pursuit of consistency over correctness to a comedy routine gone south.

O’Reilly told Stewart, “You know when you’re doing a comedy sketch and it dies? You don’t pull the sketch, you go through with it.” Or something very close to that.

Yeah Bill, but when a comedy routine dies 1000 American soldiers don’t die with it, you DIMWIT!

O'Reilly actually tried to pass himself off as an undecided voter. And Mr.

Stewart was gracious enough to pretend to believe him.

Atrios and the gang are

"Writing a blog post is not enough.

Reading a blog post is not enough. Commenting on a blog is not enough. Being educated is the first step toward political change.

But the next step requires doing something.
BlogPac.org is that next step -- a group of bloggers not content to simply write words or read them, but eager to take action on the pressing issues of our day.

We will not sit idly by and merely chatter as everything we care about burns. And you join us in our efforts."

Headed North on Front Street, very near The Pyramid I spied a ramshackle jalopy —I couldn’t begin to guess the make or model.

Its back window was covered in pro-Bush bumper stickers. I was amazed at how this one car window represented EVERYTHING that’s wrong with the modern American Right.
The first sticker simply said “Bush/Cheney” in red, white, and blue.

The second sticker simply said, “God,” in red white and blue. The third wasn’t so much a sticker as a homemade sign, crudely stenciled and Duct-taped to the rear window. It said, “Osama bin Laden for John Kerry.

”
The implication: Our Dubya is a modern Moses, leading God’s latently pagan children through the wilderness on their way to a Promised Land overflowing with oil and honey. John Kerry favors the God and Freedom-hating terrorists.
Basing one’s politics on divine right and cultural fear mongering isn’t retrograde; it’s DARK AGES retrograde.

You know, like back when the church was more powerful than the state, and Europe was in the grips of a great black plague, exacerbated by a pandemic of ignorance? Back when the church used all that poverty and ignorance to amass great wealth and unimaginable power? Remember?

And now, once again, the Dark Ages have returned.
For the umpteenth time.
George W.

Bush lied 1000 American soldiers into their graves.
He gives tax breaks to the wealthiest members of the leisure class, but taxes hard-earned wages.
Dick Cheney voted against Head Start and Meals on Wheels for Christ’s sake.

Are these REALLY the people anybody’s God wants at the helm of the most powerful country in the world?
Did any of these Wingnut idiots ever read that part of the Bible where Jesus tells us all to mistrust people who make ostentatious displays of faith, and admire those who quietly give everything they can afford? Of course not.

They never got past that part where a Dynasty of Pharaohs ruled the world, each one the living embodiment of God on Earth.