What It Says

Soggy Is Right

The wife and I live in Sonoma County, about 20 miles from the flooding of the Russian River in Guerneville.

MsJan has a nice article on a drive we took with a couple of picks. We couldn't get very close. But things were sure a mess.

Just Go Read

Here.

What have we wrought?

The Plot to Seize the White House

Anyone aware of a plot to take over the U.S. government in the 1930's? Well, there's a book about it. And apparently the book is rare and out-of-print. Tinfoil-hat types are pretty serious about it.

Haven't read it myself. I did download it an plan to read it. But given the times (the 30's), it wouldn't surprise me.

Oppressive Thoughts

As I begin this tome, I want to make something clear. I am not a socialists. And I'm not a capitalist. My belief is the optimum economic model for our country is a seamless blending of the two. Capitalism is important in providing incentive and innovation. Socialism offers fairness and equal opportunity. Since the Depression, the United States has done a relatively fine job of blending the two, creating the first world-wide middle class in history, and affluence beyond anyone's wildest dreams.

Onward....

The past decade or so of politics has been particularly fasinating for me. As a total political junkie, I've watched the unfolding events with great interest. Through it all, one question has kept popping up in my mind (over and over and over):

How can voters support Republican policies, and specifically George Bush? The case against Bush is so incredibly crystal clear, I'm continually confounded by his supporters. Why?

On Perps and Tribes

Two of my favorite bloggers, Digby and Arthur Silber, have through various posts addressed this question. I'm going to briefly summarize my understanding of their positions here. Please go read them. (Note: Silber may be closing his blog down so links may be termporary). My clumsy summaries will do no serious justice to their thoughts which are spot on.

Arthur Silber has written a series of posts which he is fortunately recreating on his new site. One of them is here, containing many links to his others posts. In short, Arthur examines the Bush policies and support for those policies through the prism of childhood abuse. He contends (and I certainly agree) that the brutality of our society and current leadership is rooted in the integration of, and acceptance as normal of the pain, dissociation, and disillusionment of abused children who have grown into adulthood. His perspective is certainly one I've personally confirmed in the sphere of individuals, families and small organizations.

Digby has (through various posts like this one) discussed the unreasonable adherence to self-defeating politicians in terms of tribalism. In short Digby discusses how the need to affiliate with individuals who share common values leads to the ability to rationalize policy positions consistent with the tribe. He shows how the old south (geographically and emotionally) is one such large tribal unit, and how current politics is a continuation of the fight over the original sin of the United States slavery.

I'd like to take a look at this voter behavior from a very similar, but slightly different perspective.

The Economics of Oppression

I've been reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, A Team of Rivals . On pg. 133 she quotes from a speech given by William Henry Seward in 1850:

"There are two antagonistical elements of society in America", Seward had proclaimed, "freedom and slavery. Freedom is in harmony with our system of government and with the spirit of the age, and is therefore passive and quiescent. Slavery is in conflict with that system, with justice, and with humanity, and is therefore organized, defensive, active, and perpetually aggressive". Free labor, he said, demands universal suffrage and the widespread "diffusion of knowledge". The slave-based system, by contrast, "cherishes ignorance because it is the only security for oppression". [emphasis added] Sectional conflict, Seward warned, would inevitably arise from these two intrinsically different economic systems, which were producing dangerously divergent cultures, values, and assumptions.

Seward lays out an economic principle that stands today despite the civil war, civil rights movement, labor movement, and various Constitutional amendments. He also identifies an underlying principle for the current ideology war between Democrats and Republicans.

A portion of the United States was built on the economics of oppression ... slavery as free labor to build wealth in the south. The only way for slave holders to rationalize owning slaves is to internalize the value of seeing slaves as "unequal", or to take a "the end justifies the means" attitude towards their own economic well-being. In contrast, a portion of the United States was built on the idea of freedom/equality, with workers seen as citizens who are paid for their works. Citizens of this portion of the country/economy internalized the values of equality and freedom into their daily work lives, and into their culture.

The underlying premise of each approach to the split regional economics revolves around the acceptablity of oppression for economic gain. Beginning with the founding father's constitutional compromises, the idea of oppression as an acceptable economic principle has been ingrained in a portion of the United States psych since inception, nevermind the hypocrisy associated with these same Americans roundly hating to be oppressed themselves.

Before I continue, allow a disclaimer. I have no illusions about the quality of life for the 1850's working man in the north. There were abusive conditions, indentured servants, lousy wages and all manner of attempt to maximize the use of human capital. Still, the underlying premise of the worker was different. It's one thing to abuse a worker, it's another to own a worker. And progressives have led the fight ever since to improve the workers rights and condition throughout the United States.

Despite the issue of slavery technically being settled with the civil war, the underlying competing views of human capital continues today. And throughout our history and the many compromises to try and reconcile these two views, none has held and we continue to fight over it to this day. But ironically, the political parties that represent each side have switched 180 degrees since then. In 1850, it was the Democratic party representing the slaveholders, rural interests, and monied (the oppressors). The Whigs, later the Republicans, were the party of abolition, the growing industrial interests, and the north (freedom/equality).

A Tale of Two Towns

I want to tell you a brief story to illustrate the differences in northern vs. southern values. A book came out a year or so ago, "The King of California". This book alone could justify and series of blog posts, but I want to focus on just one aspect brought out by the authors.

In a nutshell, "The King of California is about the Boswell family. The Boswell family relocated from Georgia in the early 1900's to the small, and thriving, community of Corcoran California. The Boswell's brought with them the technology for growing cotton, and the penchant for using oppressive labor, political and cultural techniques to build the largest farm business in the world. Long story very short, the Boswell family has significanlty influenced U.S. and California politics while dominating Kings County and the town of Corcoran ever since, essentially making it a company town. The modern day legacy is a virtual ghost town of few merchants, few businesses, a few mega rich who occasionally visit, and many poor farm workers. The residents are surrounded by over 100,000 (yes thousand) acres of cotton which is grown in a former lakebed, now desert, that is irrigated with water brought from the Sierra Nevada (incidently, brought at tax payer expense). The Boswell company is still privately held and is one of the largest, most influencial political forces you've never heard of. Again, the story of the development of the Boswell empire is fasinating and worth the read. As a side note for your southern Californians, it's estimated that Boswell can, and likely will, ultimately sell it's water rights to southern California for over $3 Billion (with a B).

In contrast, the town of Reedley California is located approximately 50 miles from Corcoran. It, too, is a small farming community with a long history. It derives it's water and labor from the same sources. However in Reedley, no single family, crop, or cultural entity has ever gained a dominating foothold. Instead, the area is riddled with a number of competitive family farms or small farming businesses. No farm labor is luxuriously paid, but laborers have many more options in Reedley. The result of a more diverse, and free labor oriented environment is a thriving downtown community with many competing small businesses, a growing population, an attractive community, and a middle class.

So What About George?

George Bush won the election of 2004 by cobbling together a voting block anchored by the wealthy, the white upper middle-class, the religious right, and corporate interests. Bush's campaign was well funded and strongly supported with grassroots action by true believers. What is it that all these groups share? And why would those of less economic means, the oppressed themselves, blithely support Bush?

Belief in oppression. And this includes an ingrained belief that being oppressed is the normal state of affairs. Silber would call it the perpetrators abusing without cognizance, and the traumatized accepting their lot (trauma-bond). Digby would call it the members of the tribe who share common experiences and beliefs, hanging together (literally). Whether it's the affluent "I've got mine" attitude, the corporate "what's good for corporations is good for America" or the pious "we're right" religious right. All are based on the oppression of others and the denial of their perpetration.

Take the religious right. They don't want co-existence with other dissparate groups. They want it their way because it for "your own good".

Sounds like a slave holder to me.

How about Wal-Mart's terrible working conditions, poor pay, and poor benefits that are really little more than indentured servants in communities where workers have few choices. And Republican legislation? Let's see, the Patriot Act, tax cuts, deficit spending, energy policies, Terry Schiavo, NSA spying, and on and on. At the root of the legislative agenda is to oppress others in a paternalistic way for personal economic gain among the powerful.

Take a look at Democratic policies. Whether it's health insurance, social security, government budgets, labor laws (to name a few), the legislative agenda is different. Democratic policies are, in general, about trying to help the greater number lift themselves economically rather than be oppressed. Indeed, the modern Democratic party born during the New Deal was all about creating a middle class in a country made up of haves, and have nots.

And as far as business? Well all know that there are dramatic differences in treatment depending on your employer. Contrast the WalMart employee with the Costco employee. Costco is a company that delivers a capitalist dream of massive amounts of goods across the nation at very competitive prices while still paying it's employees well, including a benefits package that's the envy of many workers, nevermind the envy of retail workers.

So?

Arthur Silber points out the importance of confronting our abusive society as a way toward progressivism. Digby notes that appealing to our tribal instincts is important in messaging and organizing our politics. I would like to add another element to these astute observations.

I contend that the United States has reverted since the Reagan years to the domination of oppressive values that were common in the pre-civil war, and pre-depression periods. In both instances, it took economic abuses at unprecedented levels by those in power to energize populist uprisings. Progressives need to re-energize any and all movements that strengthen the economic rights and positions of our population. We need to message these movements in a way that point out our positive heritage of freedom, individuality, and equality .... the patriotism of individual freedom vs. oppression. The general population needs to be disabused of the well-sold messages of "trickle-down" economics and "what's good for (fill in the corporate blank) is good for America". And most importantly, we need to dispute the other well-sold GOP idea that government is the problem, not the solution.

One particular instrument that needs focus is the renewal of the labor movement. Unionize those businesses that refuse to act responsibly with their employer responsibilities while crafting/supporting legislation that continues to advance workers rights.

Finally, the left also needs images that convey the corruption of oppression, and virtue of freedom. For example, how about the patriotic portrayal of James Stewart in the 1939 classic, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington , a dramatic and patriotic story in which a naive local is appointed to the Senate where he finds corruption, even by his mentor. Throughout the movie, Stewart, a heroic Mr. Smith, repeatedly hammers home the virtues of being in support of real American ideals and fighting against the corruption of power. Compare this to the common scenes in the recently popular television show, "24", in which the hero routinely uses an "end justifies the means" approach to problem solving, including torture, to rescue the free world from the scrouges of terrorists. Where are our media portrayals of hero's who fight against corruption such as that epitomized by the Bush administration? All The Presidents Men is the last such portrayal that comes to mind (ironically).

I hope we don't require a civil war or economic collapse to energize the average person to move away from the domination of that half of our economic roots that was allowed to survive by the founding fathers. I think history has shown not only that economic oppression is wrong, but that it also does not work as a successful political/economic model. I believe that in the long run, it's doomed to fail. I simply hope that too much damage isn't done before getting there.

Tropical Storm Warning...On Dec. 30th?

Via Brad DeLong's blog:

Atlantic SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT : WONT41 KNHC 301605
DSAAT
SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1100 AM EST FRI DEC 30 2005

SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES THAT AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IN THE EASTERN ATLANTIC HAS DEVELOPED INTO A TROPICAL STORM ABOUT 1000 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF THE AZORES. A SPECIAL ADVISORY ON TROPICAL STORM ZETA IS IN PREPARATION AND WILL BE ISSUED IN AN HOUR OR SO.

FORECASTER FRANKLIN

Nothing to see here...move along...

CD Sales

A nice chart of CD sales via The Big Picture:



Care to guess which years Napster emerged as a free music shairing service?

Just a thought.

Guess Who? UPDATED

Who could win less than enough votes to qualify for a single seat in the Iraqi parliament and still get an appointment to the oil ministry?




That's right...Judy Miller's boyfriend!

UPDATE: Swopa reminds us to chill out.

Beating the Drum

I've been beating the messaging drum for some time. Digby has been doing it much longer, and with a much nicer beat. Here's another must read on how Dem's can effectively message.

OUCH

It's the biggest one I've ever heard of......

Secular Bulls and Bears

As a follow-up to the 100 year chart of the Dow, Barry at the Big Picture has provided us with a nifty little chart showing what a "flat" period looks like up close (click to enlarge):


He puts us today at an equivalent to right around 1972. I totally agree with his assessment and think the market will be down next year. Like I said in the previous post, this may not be a good time to "buy and hold" stocks long term.

Quotable

William Arkin:

... it was the administration's WMD nightmare that led to the war, and it is their conviction that they are barely hanging on saving America from the WMD threat that justifies violations of privacy and civil liberties, renditions, torture, etc. You've heard it all here before.

I can't resist the old Cold War joke: Heard that the Soviets have developed a suitcase nuclear weapons? They have perfected the bomb, now they are working on the suitcase.

Mum Is The Word

How about this little beauty from Newsday:

In the days following revelations that the Bush administration ordered the National Security Agency to spy on domestic telephone and Internet communications without a court order, one involved party has remained silent.

The nation's telephone giants--which control the data pipelines--have neither commented on nor denied their reported participation, nor have they reacted to the charge that they may have been complicit in violating privacy rights.

But historically the telecom companies have cooperated with the government on wholesale wiretapping, and the Bush administration's anti-terrorism programs appear to be no exception.

Without commenting directly on a classified topic, industry officials--when asked--suggested that they would not stand in the way of a request for help.

"Our members have worked for years with law enforcement with an objective to preserve lawfully authorized surveillance," said Tom Amontree, a spokesman for the US Telecom Association, the industry group representing most phone companies. "We have no comment on national security matters."

The only thing missing in the story is the ubiquitous, "on the advice of attorney's". When it's found that these guys went along with Bush on the illegal wire taps, let the civil suits fly!

The Year Ahead in Economics

The Big Picture:

Is it possible that an 18 year Bull market could be followed by a 3 year Bear, and then launch into another multi decade Bull? Sure, anything is possible. But as the chart below shows, it would be historically unprecedented.

One other thing worth noting: The steepness of the gains from 1924-1929 are very much parallel to the 1996-2000 moonshot. Both ended with near 80% drops (Dow for 1929, Nasdaq for 2000).

It took 25 years -- until 1954 -- for the Dow to regain its 1929 highs. I don't believe it will necessarily take that long for Nasdaq -- but I am aware of the outside possibility.

If you invest in the stock market, take note. There will likely be brief bull markets, but the "buy and hold" philosophy may be problematic right now.

Also, on the economic front, it should be noted that the bond yield curve officially inverted this week. I'm not going to take the space here to try an explain the technicals of this phenomena. Go here and read if you're really interested. To explain the meaning, I'll simply put this quote up from SmartMoney.com:

Inverted yield curves are rare. Never ignore them. They are always followed by economic slowdown — or outright recession — as well as lower interest rates across the board.

It's only slightly inverted and only for a short time so far. The longer and deeper the inversion, the more significant.....definately something to watch.

Tidal Wave

Get ready for a tidal wave of litigation since our fearless leader decided to break the law and spy on U.S. citizens. TalkLeft outlines the specific cases here and ReddHedd has a good take here.

The fact this is happening is no surprise. Any good defense lawyer will gladly jump on government misconduct to get their client freed. It's unlikely Congressional Republicans will do anything to hold Bush accountable. But there are many judges throughout the nation that will gladly smack down the feds due to the illegal searches.

What should be particularly interesting to watch is how the Supreme Court rules. Some of these cases, plus many others, inevitably will make it to the Supremes. What a wonderful opportunity for Roberts et. al. to demonstrate their loyalty to fearless leader......or not?

Remember.......

Remember after 911 when anthrax was sent to all those offices?

Haven't heard much about that investigation lately, have we?

Unmerging the Peshmerga

If they do this, get ready for some serious problems including Turkey.

By Tom Lasseter
Knight Ridder Newspapers

KIRKUK, Iraq - Kurdish leaders have inserted more than 10,000 of their militia members into Iraqi army divisions in northern Iraq to lay the groundwork to swarm south, seize the oil-rich city of Kirkuk and possibly half of Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city, and secure the borders of an independent Kurdistan.

Five days of interviews with Kurdish leaders and troops in the region suggest that U.S. plans to bring unity to Iraq before withdrawing American troops by training and equipping a national army aren't gaining traction. Instead, some troops that are formally under U.S. and Iraqi national command are preparing to protect territory and ethnic and religious interests in the event of Iraq's fragmentation, which many of them think is inevitable.

The soldiers said that while they wore Iraqi army uniforms they still considered themselves members of the Peshmerga - the Kurdish militia - and were awaiting orders from Kurdish leaders to break ranks. Many said they wouldn't hesitate to kill their Iraqi army comrades, especially Arabs, if a fight for an independent Kurdistan erupted.

"It doesn't matter if we have to fight the Arabs in our own battalion," said Gabriel Mohammed, a Kurdish soldier in the Iraqi army who was escorting a Knight Ridder reporter through Kirkuk. "Kirkuk will be ours."

The opening shot in a civil war?

Quote of the Day

"Let the student decide."

-- Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), quoted by the Arizona Daily Star, summing up his view on the teaching of "intelligent design" along with evolution in public schools.

That's ok with me. As long as we also let the student decide about sex education, gay education, ethical relativism and any number of other issues that the right hates.

Oh, and let's not forget things like that pesky math. Whenever an algebra student gets a question wrong, I think they should now have the option of philosophically challenging the correct answer in favor of their own answer on grounds of "theory".

Right All Along?

I've always been skeptical. Their reputation has not been good. But in this article, he definitely makes his point.

Breaking News

Accounting Mogul Repudiates GOP

By Claire N. Balanced
Published: December 26, 2005

NEW YORK, Dec. 25 - Yesterday the accounting titan Ebenezer Scrooge held a press conference repudiating his past ties to the Republican Party. Scrooge, known for decades as one of the largest contributors to conservative causes, announced that he had undergone a "revelation" and that he now believes that Republican principles are mean-spirited and "flawed".

"I've seen the future under the Republicans and I don't want any part of it People deserve an even break and we all are responsible human beings to all humanity". Wearing a large overcoat, Scrooge displayed an unusual degree of merriment and mirth as he took questions from reporters.

"I used to be a big supporter of prisons and work houses, but they just don't work. Ordinary citizens need a fair wage, good working conditions and to be able to provide appropriate health care for their children and families. The scourge of illness that affects children, particularly small children with crutches, is something we can and must overcome".

Ebenezer Scrooge, the chief partner in the accounting partnership of "Scrooge and Marley", the company that was instrumental in helping the global giant "Wal-Mart" set up it's merchandising plan, has historically been the "go-to" fundraisers for the Republican elite and are well known figures in the Republican corridors of Capitol Hill. Last year, rumors circulated that Scrooge was the funding behind payoffs made by Jack Abramoff to various Republican House Members.

As recently as last month, employees of "Scrooge and Marley" had filed two class actions suits charging the company with not allowing employees heated offices, breaks, time off for holidays, and paying employees below minimum wages. Scrooge attorneys announced this morning that they expect those suits to be settled out of court. "Mr. Scrooge has definitely changed his mind on company policies and we believe employees will be pleased with the results".

Mr. Scrooge's announcement sent company stock (SM) on a downward spiral. Stock market officials halted trading briefly due to order imbalances. "You can't just come out and change company positions 180' without scaring shareholders. We're very concerned about the 1st quarter results now given the companies CEO positions" said stock analyst Mackin Muney of Prudential.

When contacted for comment, Republican leaders were dismayed. Scott McClellan, White House Press secretary said "Scrooge has always been an eccentric, but we never thought he would go off the edge into the deep end. President Bush is saddened by Mr. Scrooges defection from core American values".

Senator Bill Frist, Senate Majority Leader said, "as a doctor, it appears to me like Mr. Scrooge is suffering from the early stages of alzheimers. No one in their right mind would turn their back on solid American values that Americans died for in the 9/11 attacks. It's tragic to see a great American patriot turn away from his country this way. He must be ill".

Tom DeLay, who is linked to the Abramoff scandal, refused to comment on advice of his attorney. But one of his closest friends, Sam Dimwiddy of Sugarland Texas was appalled. "We have brave soldiers dying over in Eye-raq this very day. It's a callous disregard of America for Scrooge to announce his near-traitorous behavior at this time. Scrooge used to be someone that we in the business community could look up to, leading the way in using the legislative agenda to improve business conditions in the United States. Now? You've just got to wonder".

Anonymous sources close to those in the Scrooge and Marley leadership reported that Scrooge has been complaining of gastrointestinal difficulties of late after having eaten excessive bits of beef, pieces of cheese and undercooked potatoes. However, they reported bizarre "unscrooge-like" behavior recently indicating that he seemed "haunted". Many have worried that since Mr. Marley's death, Mr. Scrooge is not well and that his most recent announcement may be the result of mind control tactics of those vying for control of the company.

Democratic leaders were contacted for a response to these developments but were unavailable.

You Better Watch Out

HealthCentral Special Report:

SATURDAY, Dec. 24 (HealthDay News) -- A "Naughty or Nice" machine based on Santa's special ability to detect which children have been bad or good has been developed by researchers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Santa Institute.

The researchers used specially designed Santa Claus Emission Tomography (SCET) to scan Santa's brain. They then discovered that the jolly old elf has a special lobe. It's this "frontotemporoperiotaloccipital lobe" that enables Santa to determine children's behavior over the previous year.

"If a child has been nice, a special part of Santa's brain will become active. If a child has been naughty, we have noticed that a different part of his brain lights up. As a result of this study, we think we've figured out how Santa knows who has been naughty or nice," Santa Institute member Dr. David J. Dzielak said in a prepared statement.

He and his colleagues used that information to create a prototype "Naughty or Nice" detector - a wireless silver headset that uses Bluetooth technology to connect to a shiny silver box. The box has a green light that signifies "good" and a red light that signifies "naughty."

The Santa Institute scientists recently tested the machine on 100 first graders at Jackson Academy. All the students registered "nice," although there were a few close calls.

Fellow Santa Institute member Dr. Andrew W. Grady enlisted the children's help in an ongoing study to determine the optimal reindeer snack.

Each child was asked to sprinkle the contents of "Reindeer Test Diet A" or "Reindeer Test Diet B" on their lawns on Christmas Eve. The children have been asked to report back on which treat seemed more popular.

As for the mystery of how Santa's reindeer fly, Grady said he and his colleagues haven't yet found a definitive answer.

"We know the reindeer are very strong, and that they have hollow bones. But another good reason may be Santa's magic. That's perhaps the best explanation I know," Grady said.

Santa's real age is another perplexing matter, noted Santa Institute member Dr. William H. Sorey.

"Nobody really knows. We know he is at least 347 years old, but he may be as much as a couple of thousand years old. The real question is not how old he is, but how does he live so long?" Sorey said.

The secret to that may be Santa's generosity, the researchers said.

"You have to have a lot of love in your heart and a lot of joy to give so many gifts. And that's the secret to a long life," Sorey said.

Tagarino

Ok, Lynne asked, so I do it. There's probably some kind of karmic consequence if I don't, so I'll just get to it:

7 things to do before I die:

1. Re-learn to play guitar
2. Visit the Normandy beaches of WWII
3. Make a really fine wine
4. See my grandchildren graduate from college
5. Write/video my autobiography
6. Be even more crumudgeonly than I am
7. Bench press 300 lbs.

7 things I can't do:

1. Sing
2. Fix a car
3. Run the 100 yd. dash in under 12 sec.
4. Paint/dry/sketch
5. Play the saxaphone
6. Be a politician
7. Install crown molding

7 things that attract me to blogging:

1. Writing
2. Hating Bush
3. Ineptitude by the Dems
4. The need to know
5. Outlet for emotions
6. Doing more research
7. The arrogance of thinking I have something important to say.

7 things I say most often:

1. Seeya, would wanna beya
2. Swell
3. Pie
4. Pally!
5. Gator!
6. What a dumb motherf#!$%#
7. I'm hungry

7 books I love:

1. The Winds of War
2. Hawaii
3. The Glorious Cause
4. Dr. Seuss (any)
5. Nightwork
6. The Hardy Boys series
7. A Thousand Acres

7 movies I watch over and over:

1. War of the Worlds (the original)
2. Original Sherlock Holmes series
3. Dirty Harry series
4. The Monolith Monosters
5. The Thing (the original)
6. Godfather/Casino/Goodfella's
7. Mildred Pierce
(I only get seven?)

7 people I want to join in too:

1. Mr. B
2. Marla
3. Mikevotes (Born at the Crest of Empire)
4. The Spook
5. Dionysus
6. Gang Bangin' in Little Rock
7. Lugosi

Fundamentalism

Wanna know who this babe is? Why, it's Wafah Dufour, who's real name is Wafah bin Ladin. Yes, that bin Ladin. This is Osama's niece. She's fighting a little image problem, trying to make a name for herself in America. She has a write-up in GQ Magazine.

Guess going to Mosque was less of an issue on that side of the family.....

Lunch at WalMart

You've all heard of the WalMart lunch break case? The jury awarded the plaintiffs $172 million in damages because that cheezy WalMart didn't give lunch breaks to it's employee.

I just wanted to add to this that the attorney for the plantiffs was none other than Fred Furth, a San Francisco attorney who lives in Sonoma County and who also owns Chalk Hill Winery.

Good job Fred! Get em....... It's good to live in a liberal place.


Attorney Fred Furth, right, of Healdsburg talks with Wal-Mart attorney Neal Manne on Thrusday after Alameda County Superior Court jury awarded $172 million to the 116,000 current and former Wal-Mart employees he represented.

Closed For Xmas

I ran across this letter to the editor from the local paper of the town that I used to inhabit:

Church closure is one version of a nightmare

I had a dream the other night. In this dream I was standing in front of a church and on the front door of this church was a simple sign of three words, "Closed for Christmas." I shook my head sadly, turned, and as I walked away Satan laughed.

This brief was interesting to me for two reasons. First, it's just the kind of letter you'd find in this part of the bible-belt of California. But second, this reader apparently doesn't get around much. It's been reported widely that many of the "mega-churchs" around the country have opted to close for Christmas day.

I guess Satan has invaded the thinking of those local pastors.

Good Question?

Josh Marshall asks a good question. When was the last time we had a terrorist alert? They were like every five minutes in the run-up to the election. But lately?

Fitting

This, is a very fitting ending to the story of Linda Tripp:

Weihnachts Markt is a traditional German Christmas market plunked down along the Middleburg's main drag.

Middleburg resident Linda Tripp (yes, of Clinton scandal fame) and her husband, German architect Dieter Rausch, are serving up bratwurst and other German delights to hungry, if not curious, passersby.

Longtime sweethearts Tripp and Rausch were married last year. They split their time between Middleburg and Germany, where they also have a home.

The couple opened their "magical" little house of treats three years ago. They took last holiday season off, much to the chagrin of many loyal patrons, and reopened for a second season this year.

...

"People love it," Tripp said, peeking out from under a wide-brimmed hat. "They come from far and wide."

She added that customers have traveled all the way from New York for a taste of their authentic German bratwurst, which comes directly from a German butcher.

You know, you just can't make this s**t up. Linda Tripp, rich German Bratwurst vendor. Something that only John Madden could love.

Correction: Middleburg is NOT in Germany, but rather in Virginia (thanks spook!)

Su-prise, Su-prise!

Well, another "fact" shot down. Remember the old canard (repeated over and over) that we tracked down bin Laden via a satellite phone he was using, and that the leaking of this fact blew and intelligence operation? WaPo:

President Bush asserted this week that the news media published a U.S. government leak in 1998 about Osama bin Laden's use of a satellite phone, alerting the al Qaeda leader to government monitoring and prompting him to abandon the device.

The story of the vicious leak that destroyed a valuable intelligence operation was first reported by a best-selling book, validated by the Sept. 11 commission and then repeated by the president.

Well, on cue, it turns out that this "fact" is a myth.

Why would we think that a terrorist operation that uses box cutters to take down the twin towers, would use technology to communicate. Undoubtedly, bin Laden communicates with his people by something like carrier pigeon, indigenous birds, that go undetected when flying overhead.

Opacity

Well, is it any wonder that I stopped taking The New Republic some time ago? Jason Zengerle from The Plank:

After all, liberal bloggers have been heaping almost as much scorn on the New York Times as they have the Bush administration. Atrios is calling for Keller and Sulzberger to resign over their handling of the NSA story. The folks over at DailyKos are demanding a fuller explanation of the Times's internal decision-making.

...

First of all, is it really the Times's duty to reveal in its pages that Bush summoned its editor and publisher to the Oval Office to try to talk them out of running the [NSA] story? In its original article, the paper reported that the "White House asked The New York Times not to publish this article, arguing that it could jeopardize continuing investigations and alert would-be terrorists that they might be under scrutiny." Why does the paper have to go into more detail than that? Indeed, why does the paper have to go into any more detail than it already has about the decisions it made regarding the NSA story--beyond saying that the White House asked the paper not to publish the piece, the paper delayed publication for a year, and, after concluding that the administration's concerns were unwarranted, it finally went ahead with publication?

Well Jason. That's all swell and good. But it's when newspapers forget their jobs and take an over-inflated view of themselves that they get in trouble.

Tell me. What is the first job of a newspaper? That's right Jason, (said very very slowly) to inform the public, to act as a fourth estate in our system of governance.

When is it ok to not fulfill that prime directive? Almost never. It better be a damned good reason, and you should be held accountable when you don't do your primary job properly ..... again.

The publishing of the story, despite Bush's appeals, is proof that a re-evaluation of their earlier judgement yielded a change of mind. Why publish now if it was such a nifty decision?

And what about resignations for this past poor judgement? This isn't like Keller took a cab from a little old lady. This was a decision by the "paper of record" in the United States, to assist the President of the United States, and then current candidate for President of the United States, to violate the Constitution and to break criminal law.

And none of this happens in a vaccum. The New York Times has given up it's right to the benefit of the doubt a long time ago. With it's numerous, continuing, and ongoing screw ups, it seems to me to be completely appropriate for the blogosphere (and NYTimes readers btw) to be asking for an examination into the ethics of the paper and to be demanding a new management.

Breaking Story

Accounting Mogul Repudiates GOP

By Claire N. Balanced
Published: December 17, 2005

NEW YORK, Dec. 16 - Yesterday the accounting titan Ebenezer Scrooge held a press conference repudiating his past ties to the Republican Party. Scrooge, known for decades as one of the largest contributors to conservative causes, announced that he had undergone a "revelation" and that he now believes that Republican principles are mean-spirited and "flawed".

"I've seen the future under the Republicans and I don't want any part of it People deserve an even break and we all are responsible human beings to all humanity". Wearing a large overcoat, Scrooge displayed an unusual degree of merriment and mirth as he took questions from reporters.

"I used to be a big supporter of prisons and work houses, but they just don't work. Ordinary citizens need a fair wage, good working conditions and to be able to provide appropriate health care for their children and families. The scourge of illness that affects children, particularly small children with crutches, is something we can and must overcome".

Ebenezer Scrooge, the chief partner in the accounting partnership of "Scrooge and Marley", the company that was instrumental in helping the global giant "Wal-Mart" set up it's merchandising plan, has historically been the "go-to" fundraisers for the Republican elite and are well known figures in the Republican corridors of Capitol Hill. Last year, rumors circulated that Scrooge was the funding behind payoffs made by Jack Abramoff to various Republican House Members.

As recently as last month, employees of "Scrooge and Marley" had filed two class actions suits charging the company with not allowing employees heated offices, breaks, time off for holidays, and paying employees below minimum wages. Scrooge attorneys announced this morning that they expect those suits to be settled out of court. "Mr. Scrooge has definitely changed his mind on company policies and we believe employees will be pleased with the results".

Mr. Scrooge's announcement sent company stock (SM) on a downward spiral. Stock market officials halted trading briefly due to order imbalances. "You can't just come out and change company positions 180' without scaring shareholders. We're very concerned about the 1st quarter results now given the companies CEO positions" said stock analyst Mackin Muney of Prudential.

When contacted for comment, Republican leaders were dismayed. Scott McClellan, White House Press secretary said "Scrooge has always been an eccentric, but we never thought he would go off the edge into the deep end. President Bush is saddened by Mr. Scrooges defection from core American values".

Senator Bill Frist, Senate Majority Leader said, "as a doctor, it appears to me like Mr. Scrooge is suffering from the early stages of alzheimers. No one in their right mind would turn their back on solid American values that Americans died for in the 9/11 attacks. It's tragic to see a great American patriot turn away from his country this way. He must be ill".

Tom DeLay, who is linked to the Abramoff scandal, refused to comment on advice of his attorney. But one of his closest friends, Sam Dimwiddy of Sugarland Texas was appalled. "We have brave soldiers dying over in Eye-raq this very day. It's a callous disregard of America for Scrooge to announce his near-traitorous behavior at this time. Scrooge used to be someone that we in the business community could look up to, leading the way in using the legislative agenda to improve business conditions in the United States. Now? You've just got to wonder".

Anonymous sources close to those in the Scrooge and Marley leadership reported that Scrooge has been complaining of gastrointestinal difficulties of late after having eaten excessive bits of beef, pieces of cheese and undercooked potatoes. However, they reported bizarre "unscrooge-like" behavior recently indicating that he seemed "haunted". Many have worried that since Mr. Marley's death, Mr. Scrooge is not well and that his most recent announcement may be the result of mind control tactics of those vying for control of the company.

Democratic leaders were contacted for a response to these developments but were unavailable.

To Good To Excerpt

Maiming, decapitation and being put in the microwave oven are just some of the tortures that Barbie dolls are subjected to by young girls, say researchers at Bath University in the U.K.

They found that the doll provoked rejection, hatred and violence among many girls, aged seven to 11. The researchers attributed the girls' feelings and actions to the fact that Barbie is a feminine icon, "plastic," and an unwelcome reminder of their childhood, BBC News reports.

"It's as though disavowing Barbie is a rite of passage and a rejection of their past," Dr. Agnes Nairn said. "The types of mutilation are varied and creative and range from removing the hair to decapitation, burning, breaking and even microwaving."

The Barbie findings are part of research by Nairn and her colleagues into children's attitudes towards branded goods and marketing. Among their other findings - children seem to be more engaged by celebrities than toys.

"We were surprised to find that the most resonant discussions among the children did not center around toys and games, but on sports celebrities, pop stars and TV shows," Nairn told BBC News

I knew that.

IIWSTIWBF

From a NY Times story via Needlenose:

The Victorious Army Group, a [Iraqi] band of guerillas, issued two Internet statements on Monday clarifying rules for a Web design contest, according to the SITE Institute, which tracks militant postings. The group said contestants should simply submit their designs rather than making comments to each other over the Internet. The group also reminded contestants that the deadline is Jan. 5, already a one-month extension over the original deadline.

The winner gets to fire three long-range rockets at an American base in Iraq. "May Allah reward you," the group said.

I wish it were a joke. But it's not.

With a few changes here and there, it could become a new ABC reality series.

Shocking

Richard Engel, blogging for NBC from Bagdad had this to say about the election results thus far:

Instead, the Shiite Islamic list, despite the horrible performance of the Shiite-led government led over the past eight months, did much better than generally anticipated.

Sunni Arabs faired a bit worse than experts had predicted, and far worse than the unrealistic impression they had of themselves; many Sunnis believe they are the majority in this country.

One insider said Allawi ended up competing with Sunnis for seats, instead of taking power from the Shiites.

In the end, it looks like we can expect a Shiite prime minister from the Islamic bloc close to Iran. The big battles will be over the defense and interior ministries.

Bush's guy is getting killed (not literally....yet). The group closely affiliated with Iran is taking more than expected. Sunni's are not doing as well as their over-inflated ego's suggested they should. And everyone has plenty of firepower.

Any guesses about what's next?

(BTW, that's not the Iraqi flag above :)

NSA Update

I think a conventional wisdom that makes sense is developing regarding Bush and illegal spying. Kevin Drum lays it out in some detail, but the short version is that Bush avoided the FISA courts because of new technology. None of his public statements have made any sense. But the use of a new, sweeping, data mining technique that is very secret, and probably very invasive, would explain the need for a P.R. story. It would also explain the unwillingness to go to Congress for a change in the FISA law because it would a) take too long, b) be unacceptable to more than a majority.

Crux of the Issue

I heard an interview on PBS last night whereby Senator John Cornyn tried to defend Bush's illegal spying. He was "debating" Russ Feingold. Today, there's a quote from that interveiw on Political Wire:

“None of your civil liberties matter much after you’re dead.”

-- Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), quoted by The Hill.

“Give me liberty or give me death.”

-- Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), responding to Cornyn with the quote made famous by Patrick Henry during the American Revolution.

Now tell me.

Doesn't that just get to the crux of the matter? Bush and his supporters see their lily-white asses as the single most important thing in the whole wide world. More important than country. More important than ideals. More important than the Constitution.

Let's just suppose for a moment, just a moment, that there really is a serious threat. Mind you, I'm not convinced there is any larger threat now than there's ever been and that you are in far more danger getting into your car than from al Qaeda. But, Ok, suppose there is a real threat as envisioned by the fear-mongering Bush. The way I learned it, Americans should be willing to die for their beliefs. When there were real threats, i.e. World War II, the sacrifice of death was not only expected, but sought when necessary.

Mind you. I don't want to die in a terrorist attack. No one does. But do I want to sell out this greatest of human government experiments called the United States of America because a very few religious fanatics are willing to die for their belief? I got news for Bin Laden. I'm just as willing to make sacrifices, yes including my own life, if necessary to show these bastards that the Constitutions means something important. If the battlefield is on civilian turf. So be it.

It's incredibly ironic to me that the GOP, the party of "patriots", advance an argument that is in actuality quite cowardly. Unfortunately, they have a lot of equally cowardly voters behind them who have forgotten what it means to have something more important than your personal well-being.

And Bin Laden is counting on it.

Impeachment? Ah huh

I'm reading all the froth over the internets about Bush having violated the constitution. I don't think there's any doubt that he violated the Constitution, and FISA.

The first is impeachable.

The second is subject to civil and criminal penalties.

But these aren't the first offenses. And probably won't be the last. Wait until we get more information about who and how many were being survailed. It's going to be worse than you think. I suspect it's going to include spying for other reasons than terrorism, which is the only (other) explanation for Bush foregoing FISA

There are a number of folks pushing the impeachment meme, including Barbara Boxer. And I support anyone in contacting their representatives and demanding accountability (something that everyone should have been doing for years). And any campaign that comes along to push impeachment gets my support.

But does anyone actually believe it's gonna happen? Set aside the good politics of trumpeting Bush's dictatorship and building on it. Just looking at likelihood, I have to conclude that nothing will come of it. The Republican party is too disciplined, the American public too short sighted, the media too cowed. The conditions that led to an accountability moment for Nixon no longer exist.

What worries me more than anything is the precedent. No President, no matter what party, is going to want to give back power. In an interesting essay, John at AmericaBlog says it better than I did in postulating about a President (a liberal future President?) unilaterally declaring, via Homeland Security laws, that guns are illegal. It's a good read. And the wingnuts just don't get it.

Any power for rebalancing will have to be taken. That may happen with a split government or not. It certainly won't happen unless Americans begin to fear their government. And so far, that just doesn't seem to be happening....... still. This apathy, above all, is what depresses me most. Actually, it's enough to make me drink.

Off to the Cabernet to drown my BushBlues.

OMG

Take a second and good read Jay Rockefeller's letter back to Cheney after he was "informed" of the White House domestic spying actions.

There's no doubt it proves that the White House didn't give a flying f*&k what Congress thought...and that Rockefeller had his hands tied but knew it was illegal and did a good job of covering his behind.

How many impeachable offenses do we have piled up now?

Get a Clue

I had to laugh when I read this:

According to Barrons, there "has been a mutiny by West Coast donors" unhappy with the Democratic party's leadership, "and it may be spreading to other parts of the country."

"This fracturing of the Democratic Party is a piece of good luck for Republicans, who are low in the polls because of profligacy and scandal by their members in Congress and policy blunders in Iraq and at home by the Bush presidency. Unless it can coordinate with the upstarts, the DNC's funding disadvantage will mitigate against an electoral upset. Money is the mother's milk of campaigns and the GOP already has a significant cash advantage."

Markos disagrees: "Hogwash, it means funders are taking their money out of an ineffective establishment and building the institutions to challenge the VRWC [vast right wing conspiracy]. That's not a party divided -- that's a party re-prioritizing its spending."

Looks like Barrons has a Democratic establishment source for their story.

When are these guys, particularly the DLC, gonna get a clue. There are a lot of people in the Democratic party who are very unhappy about how our party has been run, how our money has been spent. Thanks to the internets, we can now directly spend our money as we please, eliminating the Bob Shum's of the world.

Chait Gets Taken

I didn't watch Bush's speech last night. Nor did I watch his news conference today. I just can't stomach watching the man. Besides, I read incessiantly so I get the content without the nauseating image of Scrub.

Anyway, I guess the media spin is that Bush's speech was a bit of "fresh air". The content looked no different to me. But, The New Republic's Jonathan Chait may be representative of some reactions:

I am not, to say the least, a fan of President Bush. But a portion of his speech tonight genuinely moved me and made me think more highly of him. It was the part where he addressed opponents of the Iraq war, said he understand their passion but asked that they think of the stakes of defeat now that the war had happened and asked that they not give in to despair. I cannot remember this president ever speaking to his political opponents except to mischaracterize their views and use them as a straw man. (His post-Florida speech did to some extent, but it was so vague and struck me as so patently disingenuous that it didn't produce any similar reaction in me.)

Some people never learn.

P.T. Barnum (or more correctly, David Hanum, a circus rival) had it right, "there's a sucker born every minute". Despite nearly six years of the message NEVER equaling the behavior, there are still some on the left who just don't get it.

Bush will say absolutely anything, anytime, with as much sincerity as his horse sized brain can muster in order obscure the fact that he is going to do exactly what he wants to do....no matter what. It's really quite distrubing to find out just how many people are prey to con men.

Boiling Frogs

No, not Tom DeLay (although it's an enticing thought)

No, I'm talking about the old parable:

They say that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling water,it will leap out right away to escape the danger.

But, if you put a frog in a kettle that is filled with water that is cool and pleasant,and then you gradually heat the kettle until it starts boiling, the frog will not become aware of the threat until it is too late. The frog's survival instincts are geared towards detecting sudden changes.

Well, like many such stories, it turns out that a frog will jump out no matter what. But for just a moment, suspend literal interpretation and focus on the lesson of the parable.

I think of this little story many times when thinking of public policy, the Democrats, Republicans, and the voting public. It seems to me that of late, the Democrats have been in the unenviable position of pointing out that we, the frogs, are in the pot. The water hasn't gotten very hot, but the burner is definitely on. However, due to our collective short attention span, the slow heating of the pot of water is not very sexy news, not very sexy politics.

Take peak oil. Many on the left have been pointing out that petroleum depletion is a problem for literally thirty years. It's been pointed out that dependency on foreign oil will only get worse and will have negative consequences on the American economy and foreign policy. Lo and behold, these predictions have come to pass. But it's taken thirty years of gradual, incremental changes for us to get to this point. And we have further to go. We know that oil availability will inevitable get worse, and with worse consequences. But it may occur slowly, gradually. How do you mobilize the voting public on an issue like peak oil when the consequences are like very, very slow Chinese water torture?

You can look at many other issues that the left screams about in the same light. Global warming, health care, deficits, a declining middle class, perscription medication and many other core Democratic issues are slow boiling concerns.

Compare this with the Republican "blow-torch issues" such as gay-marriage, tax cuts, fighting terrorism and tax reform. These are issues with immediate impact that people can visualize and experience within their lives. An ordinary citizen may not be able to detect changes in global temperatures, but they can cash a tax cut. Ordinary citizens can deny the impact of petroleum dependence on our culture, but they are easily appalled by two men getting married. Just exactly why do you think the administration has announced the capture of al Qaeda's "number 3 man" on about ten different occasions? We used to be a culture that could delay gratification for the greater good over the long haul. That trait is quickly disappearing as the voting public gets ever more immediate gratification oriented.

It's incumbent on the Democrats to find a way to make their core issues have "immediacy". Conservation, as a public value, became important when Iron Eyes Cody made some thirty second commercials with a tear in his eye as idiots driving along the highway threw trash out the car window. The caption, "people start pollution, people can stop it" was the commercial message. Messaging such as this made conservation a "here and now" issue, not a frog in a slow boiling pot. A recent missed opportunity is Polar Bears. The increase in drowning polar bears due to global warming can mobilize public opinion around the need to reduce greenhouse gases. People can relate to that impact immediately, personally. Seen any liberal media polar bears lately?

Like the frog, we can't wait for the water temperature to reach boiling and have these problems become crisis. It's incumbent on all of us, but particularly our leaders in the liberal movement, to create images and messages that speak to the need for immediate action in concrete, tangible terms. Throwing up a global temperature chart and screaming that the sky is falling is effective when preaching to the choir, but is useless when messaging to voters.

Iron Eyes

I heard something on the radio the other day that absolutely broke my heart.

Anyone of my generation will remember "Iron Eyes Cody", the native born actor who starred in a number of westerns. Additionally, he was the poster boy in all the 1970-71 commercials on pollution. Remember the line? "People start pollution, people can stop it" as a tear rolled down his cheek.

Well, it turns out that his tear was glycerin, and that Iron Eyes is Italian:

Iron Eyes Cody was born Espera DeCorti on 3 April 1904 in the small town of Kaplan, Louisiana. He was the son of Francesca Salpietra and Antonio DeCorti, she an immigrant from Sicily who had arrived in the USA in 1902, and he another immigrant who had arrived in America not long before her. Theirs was an arranged marriage, and the couple had four children, with Espera (or Oscar, as he was called) their second eldest.

I guess we were being played then as well as we're played now.

A Rose By Any Other Name

dictatorship

n : a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.) [syn: absolutism, authoritarianism, Caesarism, despotism, monocracy, one-man rule, shogunate, Stalinism, totalitarianism, tyranny]

Are we there yet?

Wingnutofsphere

One very entertaining aspect of blogging, and reading blogs, is to read wingnut blogs. The right wingers have been twisting like pretzels lately to justify the illegal wiretapping of Americans by Bush. Firedoglake has a message for them:

What you have in this life is your own integrity. If you are willing to sell it so cheaply for a fleeting moment of power, that is your choice. But don't come crying to me the next time someone wiretaps your phone, searches your house and business without a warrant while holding you at gunpoint, hauls you off to an undisclosed location without any access to legal representation, applies coercive interrogation methods to get you to confess to a crime you didn't commit in the first place, and holds you for years before letting you go without ever actually charging you with a crime, all because you fit a certain profile based on your ethnic background or political beliefs.

If you think it can't happen in America, think again. We have laws in place for a reason, and when you allow the President to start selectively ignoring them, it sets a precedent for every other law enforcement official in the nation. We fought a revolution in this country to prevent just this sort of behavior -- we are a nation of laws, and not of imperial whim.

I think one of the reasons the right-wing is so willing to sell their souls to the devil is that they don't really believe it can happen to them. Keeping power = staying safe, remaining immune from such abuses by "collegues".

What they miss is something that I think is very very important. Abuse of power is not a right-wing phenomena. It's a human phenomena. There have been examples in history of brutal left-wing governments. The Soviet Union for example, or Red China. Who do you think was rounded up and killed by Stalin? It wasn't liberals.

Sure, Bush and the Republicans are currently in power. And Bush is setting all kinds of precedents of Presidential fiat and abuse. Will the next President roll back this new power? It's unlikely. So who gets wiretapped in a Democratic Presidency that has a Democratic Congress?

These issues of civil liberties are not about politics. They are about checks on natural human tendencies to abuse power. Remove those checks and anyone can end up being the victim......eventually.

Narcissistic Sociopathic Alcoholic

Gee. Who could I be about to speak about?

:)

Anyway, one of the hallmarks of these seriously flawed individuals is that they lie when they don't need to. TalkLeft has an excellent analysis of the FISA laws. In case you don't know it, FISA stands for Federal Intelligence Security Act. It's a law that's been around for awhile that makes provisions for collecting clandestine intelligence while protecting civil liberties. One of the main provisions is to allow government officials to survail U.S. citizens after going through a subpoena procedure with a secret court.

FISA is obscene enough. In the history of these secret courts, the government has been denied what they've requested four times (out of thousands of requests), and those four instances were ultimately approved with modification. Bush sees even this rubber stamp as a limitation to his "power". He ignored it, signing an illegal executive order to require NSA to spy on U.S. citizens. Mind you, he didn't really even need to violate the law to accomplish his goal. He did so capriciously. A true hallmark of a sociopath.

Looking at the FISA numbers, there have been a total of over 20,000 requests since the law was enacted in 1979. Four have been denied (and later approved). The twenty six year average of FISA requests is 738/year. The FISA request average since Bush came into office is nearly double, 1330/year. And these numbers do not include the illegal spying done by Bush.

As a side note. Several NSA employees refused to participate in the intelligence gathering, citing it's illegality. Patriots...each one.

Attaturk Writes

Attaturk has written a letter to President Cheney, making it easier to find him for survelliance purposes.

He pretty much expresses what I feel too.

I May Go Crazy

This latest revelation of domestic spying on U.S. citizens by the administration has me all wound up...... again..... still.

Each one of the arguments for Bush's actions by his wingnut friends has been roundly discounted. It's plain and simple. Bush openly and repeatedly (over 30 times he is reported to have ordered tapping) violated the Constitution as well as criminal and civil statutes. Again...... still.....

And make no mistake. We don't know it all. The Bush administration is like an iceberg. What you see is only the top 1/3 of what's really going on. Again ..... still....

This whole administration can only result in two possible scenarios:

1). The voters come to their senses, vote out the Republicans whenever they have the opportunity, and the Democrats repeal the damage done. The country returns to some sense of adherence to it's roots.

2) The voters, with the help of the fourth non-estate, continue to hibernate with their Paris Hilton video's and Bibles. The GOP stays viable as a party and keeps control of one or both houses of Congress. The presidential contest in 2008 is hotly contested, with the Democrat adopting GOP tactics and values in order to compete. The Bush administration leaves as a legacy a new concept of government that is much, much closer to a dictatorship.

What will happen?

I ..... just ..... don't ..... know ......

But I am afraid.

Double Back Flip

Sometime back, I had an inkling that Bush would make some wholesale administration personnel changes at the beginning of the year. Now this comes out:

"Senior Defense Department officials say Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has told them nobody should stay for just another year; he wants them for the rest of President Bush's second term. That is read as a signal that Rumsfeld intends to serve out the next three years," Robert Novak says.

"By finishing his term, Rumsfeld would contradict wide speculation that he will quit soon after Iraqi parliamentary elections. That is now considered unlikely even if he does not complete the full term.

"A footnote: White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card has said flatly there is no truth whatsoever to reports he is about to move to the Treasury to replace Secretary John Snow."

I should know better. Anything. I mean anything, that is good politics, good leadership and good management is exactly NOT what Bush would do. So if it's a good idea to turn staff over periodically, or to get rid of problems, Bush specifically WON'T do it. Besides, it was already decided that Rummy has to stay as long as he's incompetent. I should know that that means he'll never leave.

You really have to think stupid when you try to predict Bush.

But then again, look at the source of the above story. I may end up doing a double, double back flip.

Nilsson Schmilsson

I ran across this story of the greatest artist/songwriter you probably never heard of:

NEW YORK (Billboard) - A documentary focusing on the life and career of late singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson will be released next year.

"Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)" features interviews with Yoko Ono, Randy Newman, Micky Dolenz, Eric Idle, the Smothers Brothers, Brian Wilson and Robin Williams, as well as home videos, portions of Nilsson's recently discovered oral autobiography, and more than 60 songs.

...

Nilsson is perhaps best known for his 1969 hit "Everybody's Talkin'," which served as the theme song for the film "Midnight Cowboy." He also wrote Three Dog Night's classic "One" and scored a No. 1 pop hit in 1971 with "Without You," written by Badfinger's Pete Ham and Tom Evans.

But after years of hard partying in Los Angeles (including a famous incident when he and John Lennon were ejected from a club for heckling the Smothers Brothers), Nilsson damaged his voice and was never subsequently able to match his earlier achievements. He died of a heart attack in 1994, aged 52.

During the heyday of rock music (IMHO), the 1960's to early 1970's, Harry Nilsson had his finger in all the pies. He was most well-known as a songwriter, but also had several albums that were quite good.

I look forward to this documentary.

Post the List

I completely agree with Steve Clemons.

Post the list of everyone the NSA listened in on.

Bush Takes Question From God

Via Big Fat Liberal..... see it here.

I do have a beef with the piece. Thirty thousand Iraqi's dead is just propoganda according to Lancet.

Pain Management

Edna discusses a topic that is a big one...pain management.

It's a difficult and complicated treatment made much much more complicated by the Feds. Seems there's not enough for DEA folks to do, so they have to go around targeting pain management doctors.

Shhhh...They're Listening UPDATE

We now know that Bush signed a secret executive order for the NSA to spy on U.S. citizens. We also know the NY Times held the story for one year at the administrations request. We also know that this executive order violates the 4th amendment of the Constitution of the United States. We also know that domestic spying carries criminal and civil penalties. We also know nothing will happen because of it.

Is it any coincidence that the NY Times decided to release the story just as the Patriot Act renewal was coming before the Senate? Steve Clemons thinks the long knives are out:

There is momentum now behind those who want to clip the wings of the Bush White House. A genuine battle is breaking out. . .finally.

In the past, those who would preserve our system of checks and balances, our system of justice, and civil society have been too weak compared to a White House that had become intoxicated with a passionate belief in its own infallibility.

Are the patriots emerging? It seems the NY Times is trying for some redemption after holding the story for a full year. Too little, too late? I just don't know. I wish folks would get it..... you can't negotiate with BushCo.

Clemons closes with this:

The White House is being handed one defeat after another, but the President and his team despise being beaten. I suspect that we are entering a dangerous period where the White House feels trapped and prone to excess to try and get back in control.

Well...at least on paper they're losing. I'm not so sure. You know how you can tell if Bush is conniving and undermining an agreement with you?

If he shakes your hand and agrees.

I do agree that our country is in for a very dangerous three years. The more institutions step in to counter BushCo, the more they will undermine secretly.

UPDATE: The story is getting some legs. But will it last?

Novakula Gone From CNN?

Hall-a-freakin-luya:

"After 25 years of serving as a CNN commentator and program host, our colleague Bob Novak's tenure on the network will come to a close (effective 12/31). Through the years, Bob has offered incisive analysis for much of CNN's programming, including Crossfire, The Capital Gang, Inside Politics, Evans and Novak, The Novak Zone, and Novak, Hunt and Shields. Bob has also been a valued contributor to CNN's political coverage. We appreciate his many contributions and wish him well in future endeavors," said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S.

Seeya...wouldn't wanna beya.

UPDATE: He's going to Faux. That didn't take long. It's where he belongs anyway....

Torture Agreement Part Deux

I wrote about the big agreement between the White House and John McCain regarding torture. I also warned of the slithery, slippery Bushies who will find a way to lie and cheat their way out of adherence to any actual intent to change their policy on torture:

As a WP editorial reminds, there are still potential loopholes to McCain. For one thing, the administration has a minimalist approach toward what constitutes "cruel, inhuman, or degrading" treatment. And as Slate's Emily Bazelon details, an amendment set to be approved along with McCain's contains a "big, fat exception" on detainee treatment. Namely, it specifically allows military tribunals to use testimony gained through "coercion."

It depends on what the meaning of "is" is. And to be sure to beat a dead horse, let's not forget about those pesky field manual changes that are still in the works. I suspect that it's McCain who really caved...or at least took the bait. A "victory" for him means a boost to his Presidential ambitions, which means that he would be quite willing to be baited.

It is impossible to reach agreement with any party that has contempt for the basics, and a lack of conscience. In this case, the basics include respect for the law, respect for the Congress, and respect for principles. BushCo is quite simply sociopathetic:

Glibness/Superficial Charm
Language can be used without effort by them to confuse and convince their audience. Captivating storytellers that exude self-confidence, they can spin a web that intrigues others. Since they are persuasive, they have the capacity to destroy their critics verbally or emotionally.

Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They dominate and humiliate their victims.

Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as "their right." Craves adulation and attendance. Must be the center of attention with their own fantasies as the "spokesman for God," "enlightened," "leader of humankind," etc. Creates an us-versus-them mentality

Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and able to pass lie detector tests.

Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion, it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

Incapacity for Love
While they talk about "God's love" they are unable to give or receive it. Since they do not believe in the genuineness of their followers' love, they are very harsh in testing it from their devotees and expect them to feel guilt for their failings. Expects unconditional surrender.

Need For Stimulation
Living on the edge, yet testing the beliefs of their followers with bizarre rules, punishments and behaviors. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal.

Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them. Their skills are used to exploit, abuse and exert power. Since the follower cannot believe their leader would callously hurt them, they rationalize the behavior as necessary for their (or the group's) own "good" and deny the abuse. When devotees become aware of the exploitation it feels like a "spiritual rape" to them.

Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others. The followers only see them as near perfect.

Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.

Irresponsibility/Unreliability
Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blame their followers or others outside their group. Blame reinforces passivity and obedience and produces guilt, shame, terror and conformity in the followers.

Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Totalist leaders frequently practice promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts. This is usually kept hidden from all but the inner circle. Stringent sexual control of their followers, such as forced breakups and divorces, removal of children from parents, rules for dating, etc.

Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future. Many groups claim as their goal world-domination or other utopian promises. Great contrast between the leader's opulent lifestyle and the followers' impoverishment. Support by gifts and donations from the followers who are pressured to give through fear and guilt. Highly sensitive to their own pain and health.

Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
Changes their image and that of the group as needed to avoid prosecution and to increase income and to recruit a range of members. Is able to adapt or relocate as needed to preserve the group. Can resurface later with a new name, a new front group and a new twist on the scam.

Is there really any doubt that this describes our Preznit and his administration? I know this description has floated around awhile. But anyone watching BushCo must remember this at all times. And what really concerns me is that this personality type is becoming the norm for Presidents. Says something about the voting public, eh?

There is no way that BushCo will adhere to the intent of the McCain anti-torture amendment. The only way that administration policy is going to change is if Bush is removed. Just like serial killers, who are also sociopaths, you can only jail them. You can't negotiate. You can't reason. You can't expect empathy.

They don't know how.

Iraqi's Vote

All the papers are tut-tutting the huge turnout in the Iraq elections. This is good news as most of the improvement in turnout was Sunni's. In fact, I ran across this interesting tidbit in today's news roundup:

The Post also has a tidbit from Ramadi, where there were some particularly persuasive get-out-the-vote workers: "Masked guerrillas of the anti-U.S. Iraqi Islamic Army movement, wearing tracksuits and toting AK-47 assault rifles, went out among houses to encourage people to vote. Witnesses said the guerrillas told them: 'Do not be afraid, we will protect you.' "

I've worked in GOTV efforts, but never with an AK-47. Bet that would work though when you have those stubborn voters who don't answer the door when you knock!

Why would guerrillas be part of a get-out-the-vote effort?

They want us out. All of them.

Every major candidate and slate of candidates ran on an agenda of expelling the Americans. The Iranian backed Shiites have successfully used Bush and the Americans to remove Saddam and the Baathist. Why do Baathist want the U.S. out? Because Baathist have been the leaders, technocrats and military in Iraq for several generations. They believe that once the Americans are gone, they will be free to regain control. Why do the Kurds want us out? Because they want a partitioned Iraq with Kurds controlling the north and expanding into Turkish Kurdish areas.

I wonder if the neocons have figured this out yet? What about all those American bases being built for permanent occupancy?

No matter what happens in the future, one thing stands out. The neocon ideal of "Democracy in the Middle East" that would be more moderate towards the west in general, and Israel in particular, is a failure. The U.S. will not be allowed a permanent presence in Iraq and Iraq will not be friendly towards Israel.

One other thing is sure. The dead and wounded of this war will still be dead and wounded.