Day: December 16, 2005
Go Senate! Go Democrats! Go Us!
The U.S. Senate, led by its Democratic members and dragging a few brave Republicans, has voted not to reauthorize portions of the Patriot Act. A.P.:
Frist, R-Tenn., changed his vote at the last moment after seeing the critics would win.
Five Republicans voted against the reauthorization: Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, John Sununu of New Hampshire, Craig and Frist. Two Democrats voted to extend the provisions: Sens. Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Ben Nelson of Nebraska.
Who? Bill Frist?
Frist, R-Tenn., changed his vote at the last moment after seeing the critics would win. He decided to vote with the prevailing side so he could call for a new vote at any time. He immediately objected to an offer of a short term extension from Democrats, saying the House won’t approve it and the president won’t sign it.
Of course, Republicans are already figuring out how to gain political advantage from the defeat.
If the Patriot Act provisions expire, Republicans say they will place the blame on Democrats in next year’s midterm elections. “In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without these vital tools for a single moment,” White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. “The time for Democrats to stop standing in the way has come.”
Standing in the way? Hey Scottie, I’m an American and I can stand wherever I want. And for a little while longer, it looks like you’re stuck with that.
Robert Novak Out at CNN
Buh-bye: CNN has (finally!) separated itself from Robert Novak, whom Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show” dubbed the “douchebag of liberty.” Novak is, of course, the Republican propagandist who gleefully outed a CIA secret agent who was working under cover tracking black market trafficking in weapons of mass destruction overseas.
Recently, Media Matters for America took action to encourage CNN to oust Novak:
Media Matters for America delivered nearly 5,000 letters to CNN’s Washington Bureau today urging the network not to renew its contract with syndicated columnist and CNN contributor Robert D. Novak. Novak’s contract with CNN is reportedly set to expire in early 2006, but the controversial conservative pundit has not appeared on the channel since August 2005, when he was suspended after uttering an obscenity and storming off the set. In the two years since he exposed Valerie Plame, wife of former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, as a CIA operative, Novak has made several contradictory statements regarding crucial issues in the case; the ongoing leak investigation has so far led to the indictment of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.
“While Mr. Novak remains suspended by CNN for uttering an obscenity on live TV and storming off the set, I hope they take the next appropriate step of not renewing his contract,” said David Brock, President and CEO of Media Matters for America. “In addition to Novak’s long history of spreading conservative misinformation on CNN, his credibility as one of the network’s contributors has been severely compromised by his contradictory statements and accounts, as well as by his complete lack of candor, on the issue of his involvement in the outing of Valerie Plame.”
GOP Spin Drinking Game: Kill Your Liver Quickly
Just in time for the Holidays: The Yellow Dog Blog has developed a diversion to help all of us normal people to survive the next 11 months of the Republican occupation of the Capitol. When you find yourself expose to GOP spin, follow these instructions as needed (at least) until the congressional elections in November 2006:
1. Take a giant swig of your drink every time a Bush administration official says anything having to do with GOP corruption is “part of an ongoing investigation.”
2. Down a shot of Rumpleminze every time a Republican calls for an “up or down vote” on a judicial nominee. Warning: eliminate this component of game if Alito confirmations have begun.
3. Take a very small sip of your beverage every time you hear the phrase “Iraq is the central front in the war on terror.” You’ll hear this one a lot, so pace yourself.
4. If you notice any Republican saying “retreat and defeat” and/or “cut and run” take a good, long drink of water. This will keep you hydrated as you’ll hear these all night.
5. Take a stiff belt of Jack Daniels every time you hear a member of the GOP refer to the “liberal Democrats in Congress” or to Democrats as “the party of no ideas.” Also, pop an OxyContin or two in honor of Rush Limbaugh.
Read more at Yellow Dog Blog.
Christmas Wars: Operation Kris Kringle Is Online
Now you can follow the progress of the anti-Christmas insurgency as it advances toward the North Pole in an assault the pro-“Happy Holidays” rebel leaders have dubbed Operation Kris Kringle:
Top say’s its not a classified location. Guess thats why we didn’t scramble after that reindeer did a fly by. anyway sthat means I can post a photo so you can see what it’s like up here.
This is the forward post.
