Month: February 2007

Former Moderate McCain: Roe v. Wade Should be Overturned

Jon Ponder

Former GOP moderate John McCain told an ultra-religious audience in South Carolina that he now supports over-turning abortion laws:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain, looking to improve his standing with the party’s conservative voters, said Sunday the court decision that legalized abortion should be overturned.

“I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned,” the Arizona senator told about 800 people in South Carolina, one of the early voting states.

McCain also vowed that if elected, he would appoint judges who “strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States and do not legislate from the bench.”

McCain did not say whether local, state or federal law enforcement officials would be charged with ensuring that every pregnancy is brought to term. He also did not say whether women who illegally terminate pregnancies early or their doctors, or both, should be imprisoned.

Rep. Goode: Opposing War Helps Terrorists Who Want to Replace Flag with ‘Crescent and Star’

Jon Ponder

Trish’s post on the juvenile antics of Rep. John Mica during the debate in the House on the Iraq war escalation reminded me of the anti-Muslim rant during the debate by Rep. Virgil Goode, the western Virginia Republican who gives Appalachian-Americans (like Trish and me) a bad name. To get the full effect of his nasally evil-sounding accent, ThinkProgress has the video. Here’s the best part:

When the commentary begins in the Middle East, in no way do I want to comfort and encourage the radical Muslims who want to destroy our country and who want to wipe the so-called infidels like myself and many of you from the face of the Earth. In no way do I want to aid and assist the Islamic jihadists who want the crescent and star to wave over the Capitol of the United States and over the White House of this country. I fear that radical Muslims who want to control the Middle East and ultimately the world would love to see “In God We Trust” stricken from our money and replaced with “In Muhammad We Trust.”

Goode is the same nutjob who made a stink when Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim in Congress, was sworn in on a Koran.

Somebody Missed Snack Time: GOoPer Mica Throws Another Hissy Fit

Trish

The first time my representative, John Mica (R-Winter Park, Fla.), pitched a tantrum against the new Democratic leadership in Congress, everyone figured he hadn’t had his nappie.

The story made national headlines as an embarrassing illustration of how badly the new minority party was adapting to its more humble status. Mica, the former head of the transportation committee, threw a hissy fit when he discovered the comfy chair in which his large GOP ass was formerly housed was reassigned.

Mica: “Google it yourself. This is tomorrow, 8:17 Mecca time, Al Jazeera: ‘Democrats Attack Bush War Policy,’ and the lead quote is from Speaker Pelosi”

Mica arrived for the roundtable and discovered that he did not have one of the nice, cushy chairs at the head of the table that were occupied by Oberstar, Shuster and other speakers…

According to sources, none of whom wanted to be anywhere near this story, Mica threw a fit and demanded to know from staff why he didn’t have a special chair of his own next to Oberstar and the others.

But before staff could rectify the situation, and as startled members looked on, a furious Mica stormed out of the room and ordered the other Republican members to leave. Among the uncomfortable departees was Shuster’s own son and successor, Rep. Bill Shuster.

Everyone gave him that one, especially after his staff said it was all just a big ol’ misunderstanding. But his comments when he got to speak on the Iraq resolution show Johnny’s scorn for Democrats knows no bounds. Hey John, sneer much?

[…]

USA Today Founder: I Was Wrong, Bush Is Worst President Ever

Jon Ponder

In his President’s Day commentary, USA Today founder Al Neuharth says that he once disputed the idea the George W. Bush was America’s Worst President Ever — but now he has seen the light:

Millions of people saw through Bush’s bluster from the get-go, while the people who control the media, and thus the message, completely bought into the packaging of Bush as a strong and decisive leader whose only failing was his stubbornness about protecting freedom.

A year ago I criticized Hillary Clinton for saying “this (Bush) administration will go down in history as one of the worst.”

“She’s wrong,” I wrote. Then I rated these five presidents, in this order, as the worst: Andrew Jackson, James Buchanan, Ulysses Grant, Hoover and Richard Nixon. “It’s very unlikely Bush can crack that list,” I added.

I was wrong. This is my mea culpa. Not only has Bush cracked that list, but he is planted firmly at the top.

Recognizing that we have a problem is a good first step, Al. But shouldn’t your hair be on fire? Our government is in the hands of the most incompetent, dimwitted and dishonest president ever. What are you going to do about it?

Hard reporting has been in short supply recently. What the USA needs today, Al, is the best journalism you can muster. The public needs to know the real reason Bush and Cheney took the country to war in Iraq. We still don’t know who from Enron was involved in writing Cheney’s energy policy in 2001. And — this may seem trivial and personal, but it isn’t — we need to know if Bush has started drinking again. Unlike Pres. Clinton’s sex life, Bush’s ability to cope with the pressures of the presidency are a matter of grave national security concern.

The Week in Gay

Jon Ponder

Enough to make your head spin:

Is Gay: Whoever heard of a British pro basketball player? John Amaechi played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic and the New York Nicks. He came out after he retired, and has written a book, “Man in the Middle.”

Is Not Gay: If Rene Zellweger hadn’t married him and then divorced him practically the next day on grounds of “fraud,” I would have no clue who Kenny Chesney is. I have still never heard him sing (and have no desire to) but I will say that just looking at his photo, well, sorry dude, but you look gay. My gaydar has been wrong before and he insists on “60 Minutes” this Sunday that he is not.

Protests Too Much: One of Amaechi’s former colleages, Tim Hardaway, made the kind of statement that always makes me suspicious: “I hate gay people. I let it be known, I don’t like gay people. I don’t like to be around gay people.” My experience is, guys who are secure in their sexuality just don’t think about homos very much, if at all. Anyway, Hardaway has apologized. Next step, rehab, probably.

Gay President: A Gallup poll from last week found that 55 percent of Americans would vote for gay person for president, while 43 percent would not. By comparison, 95 percent said they would vote for a Catholic (4 percent would not); 94 percent said they would vote for a black candidate (5 percent would not) and 67 percent said they would vote someone who was married for a third time (like Giuliani) and 30 percent would not.

Poll: D.C. Insiders Don’t Believe Bush on Iran

Buck Banks

More lies: For this week’s Insider Poll, National Journal asked inside-the-Beltway types their views on whether George Bush is gearing up to lead from behind in an invasion of Iran:

‘For the umpteenth time, we are not looking for an excuse to go to war with Iran.’
— Defense Secretary Robert Gates

The new insiders poll asked 40 congressional Democrats and 35 congressional Republicans to grade the administration’s handling of Iran. Bush received an average C-plus grade from his fellow party members and a D-minus from the opposition. The perception that Bush has already decided to act against Iran was commonly cited.

“I would have given him an F, but he has not invaded yet,” a Democratic insider who gave Bush a D grumbled. A colleague echoed that reasoning, adding that a military strike “would be an utter disaster with enormously negative consequences.”

Indeed, Democrats’ skepticism of the administration’s stated intentions for dealing with Iran led Defense Secretary Robert Gates to tell reporters this week, “For the umpteenth time, we are not looking for an excuse to go to war with Iran.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Thursday suggested she would try to nip Bush’s alleged Iran ambitions in the bud with a binding resolution requiring congressional approval for military invasion.

Predictably, Democrats were all but evenly split on whether Bush should receive a D or an F (not one gave him an A). Republicans were more forgiving: Forty-six percent gave him a B, 29 percent gave him a C and just 3 percent gave him an F. One of the 9 percent who gave him an A laid blame for the diplomatic crisis with Iran squarely on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: “It is difficult to work with a person who seeks world destruction.”

There are two popular lines of thought when it comes to the Bush administration and Iran. One is that a military strike would more likely be considered justified because of Tehran’s nuclear program, and a fresh war would entice the American public to rally behind the troops. The other is that the Bush administration is chastened by the Iraq war and is sincere in seeking a diplomatic solution with Iran.

But even if the latter is the case, insiders have more criticism to add to the pile. Groused a GOP insider who gave Bush a D: Bush “should not rely on the weak-kneed lefties at the State Department to manage our interests in Iran.”

Iconic Gay Novelist, Activist Patricia Nell Warren Running for West Hollywood City Council

Jon Ponder

Given the stereotypes about gay people, you might think the gay-dominated politics in the city of West Hollywood would be colorful and. well, interesting. You would be wrong. It turns out that keeping a liberal utopia clean, productive and affordable is rather mundane work. Wehoians tend to elect officials who get the job done and (usually) keep the drama offstage.

So it’s a bit surprising that internationally known author and activist Patricia Nell Warren has announced that she is running for a seat on the West Hollywood City Council. Warren is best known as the author of “The Frontrunner,” a groundbreaking novel published in 1974 about a college track coach, a conservative ex-Marine, who finds himself falling in love with a long-distance runner on his team. She also has published six other novels, including “Harlan’s Race,” a 1994 sequel to “The Frontrunner” — and is an activist and speaker on gay sports issues and a regular contributor to Outsports.com.

So why is an iconic author running for city council in one of California’s smallest cities? Here is what she told Outsports:

WeHo’s 25th anniversary is ahead in 2009, and the city faces some big decisions. It calls itself an “urban village,” yet it’s now the sixth most densely populated city in the U.S. Meaning 37,000 residents crammed into 1.9 square miles. And the population spikes to maybe 80,000 on weekends. Growing density has caused growing pains — scarcity of parking, traffic snarls, and need for affordable housing, especially for seniors and young workforce people. There are challenges around development and culture. So the people of West Hollywood, and its government, will be deciding how “urban” we want our city to be.

Nine other candidates are running with Warren for three seats on the council.Candidates include three incumbents, John Heilman, who currently serves as mayor, and who has served on the council since West Hollywood’s incorporation in 1984; Sal Gaurriello, who has served on the council for 16 years; and Abbe Land, who has served 15 years non-consecutively.

Other candidates include:

Former City Council member Steve Martin (eight years service), attorney heads a West Hollywood Neighborhood Alliance (WEHONA) slate including artist/historic preservationist Heavenly Wilson and community ethics activist and retired businessman Ed Buck…

Contractor Jim Sorkin, a 13-year resident, actor Steve Koller (18 months) and Medical Administrator Shawn Hoffman (one year) all fulfilled the requirements necessary to gain a spot on the ballot.

West Hollywood municipal elections will be held on March 6, 2007.

Libby’s Refusal to Testify Makes It a Cinch He’s Guilty

Jon Ponder

Now all his lawyers have to do is kick Libby’s appeal down the road to sometime after January 2009, so that Bush can pardon him as he he is leaving office — just like his father pardoned Cap Weinberger on his way out the door:

Think about it. Your whole life is at stake in the outcome of a criminal trial. You’re innocent. And you don’t testify in your own defense?

Libby is guilty. And he’s going to be found guilty. The jury might not convict him on all counts, but he has no chance of surviving the perjury count that was proved beyond a reasonable doubt with Tim Russert’s testimony.

The multi-million dollar defense, which provided no defense at all, did not call Libby to the witness stand for one very simple reason: Libby is very very guilty. Publicly, defense lawyers cling to the text book theory that the defendant has no burden of proof and that no negative inference should ever be taken when a defendant doesn’t defend himself on the witness stand. Practically, every defense lawyer knows that the jury desperately wants to hear from the defendant and that the only reason not to put him on the stand is that he is soooo guilty that every answer he gives after his name will eradicate any shred of reasonable doubt. Think about it. Your whole life is at stake in the outcome of a criminal trial. You’re innocent. And you don’t testify in your own defense? …

Libby’s defense gave up before the opening statements in the trial. They always knew Libby was too guilty to put on the witness stand. And they were never going to call the Vice President. Telling the judge that they were going to call Libby and Cheney was just a mirage they were trying to create to misdirect Patrick Fitzgerald’s focus. I’d be shocked if Fitzgerald was fooled for even a second.