Month: January 2006

God Considering Changing Parties

Trish

Columnist Tom Krattenmaker noted how far afield those who claimed they were God’s chosen have strayed.

The GOP was being cast as “God’s Official Party”

Just 17 months ago, President Bush and the Republican Party seemed to be riding a divine tide. At the GOP convention in the summer of 2004, religious rhetoric flew through the air like streamers and confetti.

The GOP was being cast as “God’s Official Party.” Typifying the spirit of the campaign season, one alternate convention delegate, Judith Manning, declared to the press, “President Bush supports God, and God supports President Bush, absolutely.”

As if God needed Bush’s support. Or that God could not accomplish His work without Bush. Puh-leaze.

Tellingly, the president and his political brethren aren’t invoking the divine as frequently or boldly these days…

The past year has been anything but triumphant for Bush. The president’s approval rating dipped below 40% this fall before rebounding somewhat. Criticism of the Iraq war is steady, along with doubts that the president has been completely honest with the American people both before and during the war. The Bush White House has found itself associated with cruel deeds such as torture and prisoner abuse…

The past year has brought a series of scandals involving prominent Republicans…

Along with these woes have come the president’s other debilitating domestic problems, chief among them his administration’s widely perceived failure to respond effectively and compassionately to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The picture of the Bush administration that emerged from Katrina — one of indifference to suffering by New Orleans’ poorest residents — seems not to square with Christian ideals of loving and caring for the least among us.

Oh God, why hast thou deserted us Repugs? Haven’t we helped sort out the wheat from the chafe? Haven’t we leaped to expose as evil so many things we know you abhor, like gay people, unwed teen mothers, and husbands who want to take their brain-dead wives off feeding tubes, so they can at last be with you? Why have you turned your back on us? Where did you take the wrong turn, God?

Liberals Online Push Alito Filibuster

Jon Ponder

Once more into the breech: We’ve been having a discussion in the Pensito Review garret about the possibility of a filibuster against the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.

Trish has come out in favor of it in rather big way, and is considering quitting the Democratic Party if something isn’t done.

Buck, a registered Independent, and I, the quintessential yellow dog Dem, are a bit squishy on it. My concern is that this battle ended on election day last November when voters picked President Bush over John Kerry.

On the other hand, our poor hapless Democratic representatives in the Senate have very little lose — and a lot to gain — by attempting to embarrass Mr. Bush by stopping this nomination.

Right now, C-SPAN is reporting that 90 senators have stated their position on the Alito nomination. There are 56 “yes” votes and and 34 confirmed “no” votes.

To move the vote forward, Republicans must have 60 votes. Sen. Lincoln Chaffee, the liberal Republican from Rhode Island, has said he will vote for cloture — in other words against the filibuster — and then vote against Alito in the floor vote on the nomination.

Undecideds as of 12:30 PST:

Democrats

  • Bayh
  • Cantwell
  • Dorgan
  • Landrieu
  • Rockefeller
 Republicans

  • Snowe

You can keep up with the progress of the push to filibuster at Democrats.com — along with contact info for undecided senators — here.

Update: Correction: Cousin Trish is not necessarily in favor of the filibuster, but wants the Dems to vote Alito down.

I omitted Sen. Robert Byrd, Democrat of West Virginia, above. He is also voting for Alito.

In the past couple of hours, the New Jersey senators, Lautenberg and Menendez, have announced they are voting against their homestate boy.

Republican Blue-stater Lincoln Chafee surprised me by indicating he’ll vote “no,” but he is canceled out by the fact that Democrat Red-stater Kent Conrad will vote “yes.”

At 12: 20 PM Pacific, there are 57 “yes” votes and 37 “no’s.”

Last Chance for Democrats — and Democracy

Trish

I’m going to say something that will have my ancestors whirling in their graves, something I never thought I would say, something that even to me seems incomprehensible.

I’m willing to abandon the Democrats. There it is.

I’m tired of wondering if George Bush will have to roast babies in the Rose Garden before anyone who represents me will stand up.

Understand, I come from a line of Democrats so long it has no known end. My peeps have forever been Dems, in registration if not always in action. My Uncle Bill, who like me was Democrat at birth, once told a former Republican friend who changed to our side, “It’s O.K. buddy. Before I was a Democrat I wasn’t nothing either.”

But times change. And I’m tired of our team losing, mostly at its own hands. I’m not for one minute suggesting that I would go over to the Dark Side. I’m saying I’m willing to entertain the idea of a third party if it will do what mine isn’t — saying what needs to be said and doing what needs to be done.

If Samuel Alito gets on the Supreme Court, it won’t be entirely the fault of the conservative whack jobs of which he is one. It will because good Democrats were too busy listening to themselves talk, since talk is all we can do. Others are trying so hard to please everyone that they end up pleasing no one, least of all “the base.”

The problem is that this matters so much. George Bush wants to stand democracy on its head, to abandon the constitution, to literally do what terrorists can’t — kill America and replace it with a fundamentalist totalitarian regime. All he needs is a compliant Supreme Court to go along with his compliant Congress.

I’m tired of being in the sheep party. I’m tired of hoping the next election will be the one that turns it all around. I’m tired of wondering if George Bush will have to roast babies in the Rose Garden before anyone who represents me will stand up.

I have emailed Sen. Bill Nelson, who has always done the right thing before, and asked him to vote no on Alito. Wherever you are, please let your own Democratic elected officials hear from you on this. They need to know we will back them up if they will just make this one brave move. They also need to know we aren’t kidding anymore. We are looking for a better party, either our own or a new one.

Bush Does Know Jack

Jon Ponder

Joe Conason:

It is obvious that Mr. Abramoff was no stranger to the Bush White House from the very beginning. Well before the President took office, Mr. Abramoff was named to the Bush transition team for the Department of the Interior. He may not have had any discernible qualifications to oversee that department’s appointments, but he had clients on tribal reservations and in the Marianas Islands whose businesses were regulated by Interior officials.

He has been a friend of Karl Rove, the deputy chief of staff and Presidential political advisor, for more than a quarter-century. His personal assistant soon showed up as the personal assistant to Mr. Rove. His associate David Safavian, since indicted, became the administration’s chief procurement officer. He told his friends and clients that he could get into the Bush White House — and get whatever he wanted there.

He proved that boast on May 9, 2001, only four months into the first Bush term, when the President met with two Native American tribal leaders represented by Mr. Abramoff. According to a report published in the Texas Observer last June, that meeting was arranged in cooperation with conservative strategist Grover Norquist, another longtime comrade of Mr. Rove. The Texas magazine uncovered documents showing that Mr. Abramoff and Mr. Norquist used their White House access to squeeze money from clients. There are probably photographs of that May 2001 event, and they must be among the photos that the White House is refusing to release.

Eight years ago, the Clinton White House released photos and videos of President Clinton’s coffee meetings with campaign donors and potential donors, following angry demands from politicians and the press. How fortunate for Mr. Bush that his scandals and prevarications provoke no such outrage.

Great Buzzflash Headline: Biden Should Be Greeter at Wal-Mart

Jon Ponder

The editors of Buzzflash are the kings of catchy headlines, but this one takes the crown:

Biden Should be a Greeter at Wal-Mart. He’d Be More Use There Than in the Senate. Biden to Oppose Filibuster. The Guy is in the Tank of the White House or Just a Marshmallow Brain. 1/28

Biden is the definition of bloviator — one of those guys who loves to hear himself talk, on and on.

And what was he doing during the Alito hearings wearing a Princeton cap during the proceedings? Maybe it was casual Friday but that was just dumb, and we can expect to see that photo turn up in his opponents’ advertising if — and heaven forfend — Joe follows through on his threat to run for president again.

Gay for Pay: 82nd Airborne Caught Appearing on Porn Site

Jon Ponder

For the money: Members of the 82nd Airborne stationed in Fort Bragg, NC, have apparently been nabbed appearing on a gay porn site that originated in nearby Fayetteville. Via Pam’s House Blend:

This apparently goes on a lot — a whole lot — but only comes to the surface on rare occasions like these when the story goes public.

Army officials are investigating allegations that members of the celebrated 82nd Airborne Division appear on a gay pornography Web site, a spokeswoman said Friday.

Authorities at Fort Bragg have begun an inquiry into whether the paratroopers’ actions violated the military conduct code.

Division spokeswoman Maj. Amy Hannah declined to say how many paratroopers are involved or identify their unit within the division. A defense official speaking on condition of anonymity said up to seven soldiers are involved.

Hannah said soldiers questioned will be allowed to seek legal assistance, but she declined to say if any one had been charged.

“Once the investigation is complete, the chain of command will take appropriate action,” Hannah said.

The military-themed Web site does not appear to make any direct reference to the 82nd Airborne or Fort Bragg. The registered owner of the Web site’s domain name lists an address in Fayetteville, the city that adjoins Fort Bragg.

There was a very similar situation here on the West Coast a few years back. The upshot was, these young guys are on leave with no money. The pornster buys them beers, offers to pay them if they’ll pose for him.

This apparently goes on a lot — a whole lot — but only comes to the surface on rare occasions like these when the story goes public.

From the perspective of 20/20 hindsight, it seems to be a pretty risky thing to do, but the military guys apparently make the calculation that anyone they know in the service who might see the photos is probably gay and closeted, and so won’t rat them out.

What’s interesting is that the military apparently does not have a problem with personnel appearing in porn — as long as it’s straight porn.

The military is currently looking into the matter and will likely persecute the men involved under the “don’t ask, don’t tell charade.”

Pam at the Blend found the link to the website (which no one in the local traditional media seemed to be able to do) — here’s the link — but the site has apparently been taken down.

Bush Removes Abramoff Prosecutor by Promoting Him to Judge

Jon Ponder

New low: Just when you think you’ve seen the bottom of the Bush team’s depravity and corruption — or is it just monumental cluelessness? — they manage to come up with something new that is positively jawdropping.

Hillman serves as chief of the department’s public integrity section. Must be that special Republican “integrity” that allows you to take a cushy job in return for pulling the investigation off the White House.

Yesterday President Bush nominated Noel Hillman, the lead prosecutor in the Abramoff case, to a lifetime judicial appointment.

Just to make it even more perfect, Hillman serves as chief of the department’s public integrity section. Must be that special Republican integrity “integrity” that allows you to take a cushy job in return for pulling the investigation off the White House.

Yup! No appearance of impropriety here. Just move along folks, move along.

Late word: Hillman has already resigned from the Abramoff case in order to get fitted for his new black robes.

No telling what evidence about Rove, Cheney, Bush and Abramoff was shredded in Hillman’s office yesterday.

Pensito Review: Off the Wires

Buck Banks

New Bolivian Leader Cuts Salary in Half
LA PAZ, Bolivia – New President Evo Morales cut his salary by half and ordered that no Cabinet minister collect a higher wage than his own, with the savings earmarked for hiring more public school teachers. In totally unrelated news, today the U.S. Congress voted itself a raise and cut education spending.

Chinese New Year Banquets Get Flashier
BEIJING – Picture this: Lobster cooked eight ways. Sharks’ fin bathed in a rich brown sauce. Stewed bird’s nest sweetened with apricots. Abalone braised until tender. The bill: $24,500. Getting your stomach pumped — priceless.

Vatican May Reach Out to Other Religions
VATICAN CITY – The Vatican is exploring whether to expand its Catholic-Jewish dialogue to include Muslims, although talks are at a very early stage, a Vatican official said Friday. He added that there are no plans to expand the dialogue to include American evangelical Christians. “We won’t parlay with a bunch of mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging, Bible-thumping Jesus freaks,” he said.

Judge to Rule on Merit of Christ Case
VITERBO, Italy – An Italian judge heard arguments Friday on whether a small-town parish priest should stand trial for asserting that Jesus Christ existed. The priest could face additional charges for claiming that Jesus was a white man with long brown hair and blue eyes, “just like in the pictures.”

Activists Hold Separate Forum in Venezuela
CARACAS, Venezuela – The World Social Forum started as an alternative to the market-friendly World Economic Forum, but now there’s an alternative to the alternative. Call us when there’s an alternative to the alternative’s alternative.

Canada Reasserts Arctic Sovereignty
TORONTO – Canada’s next prime minister used his first news conference Thursday to tell the United States to mind its own business when it comes to territorial rights in the Arctic North. “Thanks to George Bush’s environmental policies, your part of the Arctic has already melted,” he added.

Playing Bush’s Get Out of Jail Free Card

Trish

Leonard Pitts can just quit writing now because I don’t think he will surpass this essay.

Remain true to the ideals that have guided us for 230 years or surrender them on the altar of expedience because we were too scared to live up to them

Karl Rove said in a speech last week that this year’s midterm election will be about security. So you know it will be about fear…

Hurricane Katrina has shown that the government could not effectively manage a catastrophe whose place and time it knew in advance…So yes, a national conversation about security could hardly be more timely. But it would be naive to think that’s what Rove meant.

…Experience tells us that with this crew, ”security” is just a code word for fear. So this election will hinge on making people think terrorists are going to get ’em if they don’t vote Republican.

A ruinous war fought under false pretenses? Sept. 11.

Indefinite detention of alleged terrorists? Sept. 11.

Torture? Sept. 11.

The right of the people to dissent? Sept. 11.

Spying on Americans in violation of federal law? Sept. 11.

A growing record of incompetence and lies? Sept. 11.

Fear is the president’s Get Out Of Jail Free card.

…what is at stake this year is not the fortunes of a party but the character of a nation. The choice is simple: remain true to the ideals that have guided us for 230 years or surrender them on the altar of expedience because we were too scared to live up to them.

Make no mistake: America is not for wimps. It takes guts to be an American, to believe in the rule of law, the freedom of dissent, the dignity of woman and man even when — especially when — it is more expedient not to. To be an American is to commit a daily act of faith.

NSA Stayed On-Task Under Clinton

Trish

The Week Magazine:

Every three hours, the agency’s spy satellites pull in enough information to fill the Library of Congress

The National Security Agency — so secret it is jokingly referred to as “No Such Agency” — has “wrapped the earth in a spectral web of electronic surveillance,” says Patrick Radden Keefe, author of the book, Chatter. Every three hours, the agency’s spy satellites pull in enough information to fill the Library of Congress. Its main antenna farms — one in West Virginia and the other in Washington state — can capture all international communications with the U.S. The NSA, which is the largest employer of mathematicians in the world, can then “mine” the data to detect suspicious patterns of communication that indicate the possibility of terrorist ties or activity. During the Clinton administration, the NSA reportedly inaugurated a sophisticated electronic eavesdropping system called Echelon. Though the NSA has never acknowledged Echelon’s existence, numerous press reports indicate that the system monitors telecommunications all over the world for words that might signal discussion of terrorist plots.

So what you’re saying is the last time anyone took effective action to defuse terrorism was during the Clinton administration?