Bush At War

This article by Seymore Hersh has all you need to know. Fascinating reading.

Okay, So Maybe I Was Wrong

The test hasn't appeared yet. But at least they appear someday. So when I get 10 minutes off from work I'll blog once more. I hope there are still people out there.

Let's Try This Again

Blogger has been eating my posts. This is a test. This is only a test. Had this been an actual blog, you would have been directed to the nearest main stream media outlet. This has been a test. We now return you to your regularly scheduled snark.

Showcasing the Most Ignored Story Yet

You can guess what it is. It's the environment. It's been completely ignored by all the powerhouse media, not counting the home video of the latest tornado. Ignored. Completely.

Yanno, it's almost Christmas. I know there are meteorological reasons why there have been tornadoes this last week or so. But god damn. It's November. I would think that tornadoes in November would warrant a little more attention than, say, the updates on Natalie Holloway. Silly me.

But then, today, there was this:

"Yellowstone bears to lose protected status
Move could clear the way for hunting

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hunters eventually could be allowed to kill grizzly bears in three states if the government is successful in removing federal protections."

The government says there are 3 times the number of bears now than there were 30 years ago. So let's go shoot 'em, bygawd.

Stories like this make me physically ill. Those in power have done so much damage to the environment, to animal habitats, have been so pro-business and pro-development, and the damage is only starting to become clear. We all know how dangerous these people are with regard to war, but the environment has just been left in the dust. Sometimes I feel powerless to do anything. All I can do it point out the incoherent sleaziness with which they operate on all fronts. And hope that someone stops these things from happening. It's a dream, I know, but it's mine.

Anyway, now maybe we can take up the fight to arm bears. Shitbags of liberty.

Referendum on Republicans?

If that's the case, don't even bother to put your name on the ballot in 2006, Republicans. You've been given notice that you're no longer welcome. NJ Governor, Democrat wins. So you say, 'sure, but they're a Democratic state.' Okay, fine. VA Governor? Democrat won there as well. Bush, both of the last two elections. This was to be the true test for Republicans. Didn't do so well. And that was before the new CIA leak investigation/outcry.

Remember the Post story about the secret CIA prisons? Eastern Europe, et. al? Black sites? Seems that information was classified, and some dipshit leaked it to the reporters at the Post. The CIA wants an investigation, and the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, along with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, have written a letter asking for an official investigation.

"Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee, the Senate majority leader, and Rep. Dennis Hastert of Illinois, the House speaker, asked the chairmen of the House and Senate intelligence committees to look into the report, saying the disclosure could damage national security."

But wait.

Trent Lott, former Senate Majority Leader:

"Lott told reporters the information in the Post story was the same as that given to Republican senators in a closed-door briefing by Vice President Dick Cheney last week.

"Every word that was said in there went right to the newspaper," he said. "We can't keep our mouths shut."

Lott, a former Senate majority leader who was pushed out in 2002, suggested the information was passed along by a senator to a staff member."

Atrios has the best finisher to this story:

"Senate Majority Leader Frist telling reporters he has not officially signed the letter that he and Hastert drafted earlier today..."

Referendum on Republicans?

If that's the case, don't even bother to put your name on the ballot in 2006, Republicans. You've been given notice that you're no longer welcome. NJ Governor, Democrat wins. So you say, 'sure, but they're a Democratic state.' Okay, fine. VA Governor? Democrat won there as well. Bush, both of the last two elections. This was to be the true test for Republicans. Didn't do so well. And that was before the new CIA leak investigation/outcry.

Remember the Post story about the secret CIA prisons? Eastern Europe, et. al? Black sites? Seems that information was classified, and some dipshit leaked it to the reporters at the Post. The CIA wants an investigation, and the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, along with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, have written a letter asking for an official investigation.

"Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee, the Senate majority leader, and Rep. Dennis Hastert of Illinois, the House speaker, asked the chairmen of the House and Senate intelligence committees to look into the report, saying the disclosure could damage national security."

But wait.

Trent Lott, former Senate Majority Leader:

"Lott told reporters the information in the Post story was the same as that given to Republican senators in a closed-door briefing by Vice President Dick Cheney last week.

"Every word that was said in there went right to the newspaper," he said. "We can't keep our mouths shut."

Lott, a former Senate majority leader who was pushed out in 2002, suggested the information was passed along by a senator to a staff member."

Atrios has the best finisher to this story:

"Senate Majority Leader Frist telling reporters he has not officially signed the letter that he and Hastert drafted earlier today..."

Why You Should Care About Prince Charles' Visit

Wait. You shouldn't. Never mind....

Go Figure

There I was, watching Joe Wilson on Larry King, and flipped during a commercial to Hannity and Colmes. Then something awful happened...

I actually agreed with a comment from Sean Hannity. I expect the Four Horsemen of the Apacolypse at my door any second. Holy cow.

Hannity was talking about the bird flu, and said that he believes that officials know more than they're saying, and they believe this flu will be the worst case scenario, and are scared crazy by it.

I agree with him.

Readers of this blog know I've pounded the drum for months about the bird flu, and our criminal unpreparedness for it. I've been practically begging for the powerhouse media to pay more attention to it. Then CNN spent a day or so scaring the shit out of the country.

After awhile, the talk calmed down. But I think the turning point for the government came when HSS Secretary Mike Leavitt went to Asia and saw for himself what a nightmare this could become. I think it scared him. Because it was after that visit that the President started talking about it more, all leading to today's speech about howevermany points of preparedness he thinks we need. But...

Be careful what you ask for, because you may get it. An off-the-cuff remark made by the president on the flu during the hurricane crisis made everyone take notice (however brief) about the military's use of controlling its citizens in crisis. He made mention that perhaps a bird flu crisis could be a good use of the military. Everyone blinked, then moved on. But then in today's speech, he said containment of outbreaks is necessary. Think about that. How in the hell can you contain an entire city? I'm thinking not easily, at least not without the military.

Also in the speech, the President introduced us to thepandemic flu website. Even the name is designed to scare the hell out of the public. So once again, the media will help Bush go beyond the rational into the insane.

But what the hell do I know, I am meeting the Four Horsemen later for drinks.

The Senate Melt-Down

Just now on CSPAN and other cable nets, the Democrats shut down the Senate to have a discussion of the CIA leak case. The Republicans are pissed. Bill Frist spoke briefly about how this was a "personal affront" to him. Trent Lott, the previous Majority Leader, was pissed because the room wasn't swept for bugs. Usually, according to Trent, that sweeping process can last up to 2 hours. (cricket chirp)

The Republicans are trying to portray this as settling political scores, and they want to discuss the deficit. (more crickets chirping)

Where the fuck have you been? You've had ample opportunity to discuss the deficit. You had ample opportunity to put forth a Select Committee on Intelligence report that accurately reflected the issues around the leak case, instead of allowing Pat Roberts to hijack it into some ass-covering for the Vice President's office. You want to allofasudden slow the spending.

Ladies and gentlemen, you tax dollars are hard at work....furthering the cause of the Shitbags of Leadership.