Table Talk | O'Reilly = chump: Lowering the tone

Table Talk | O'Reilly = chump: "This more or less popped into my head on my way to work, so I must be meant to share it. Any disbelievers who say that God did not want me to share it are clearly valueless nihilists and part of the War on Easter.

My name's Sergeant O'Reilly
And I've fought in many fights
Had frigid GAY producers
And Al Franken in my sights
I won the nightly ratings wars
By yelling very loud
And down in Buenos Aires
There I fought the shopping crowds
No, Susannah
I cannot go to mass
For I come from the Westbury part of Levittown
With a d___o up my a__."

Early Morning Report On Iraq Elections

      10% of Iraqis in America registered to vote and a 90% turn out expected. 8% of voter turnout expected in Syria. 13 million registered to vote in Iraq. 300,000+ in military camps are unable to vote. Media is only allowed to visit secure polling places where voter turn out is expected to be high. 10-20% of polling places did not open due to poll workers not showing up. Finger prints are being taken as voters leave the polling places. If some of the regions don't get the representation that it is expected, the US has said that it will impose it's own representative to balance out the parties. Men are herded into one line and woman into another as they line up to vote. Complaints are coming in from all over Iraq

      These are just some of the numbers and information that were reported this morning on CNN International on the Iraqi elections. Is this a successful democratic election? It is not enough to just hold an election, but to hold a fair election that the people participate in. While there are no credible exit polls and we won't know the real numbers for days still, don't fall for the line that the White House will tout that having the elections is a success on it's own. There are no election monitors on the ground. We do not know the level of fraud there may be. We do not know what the fall out will be. We do not know what tomorrow will bring.

      While I am sure we all hope for the best for Iraqis during these elections, we must stay grounded in reality. History shows us that elections are not enough. As a press conference was held, outstanding numbers were being thrown out with the emphasis of how the government was very happy with the turnout. When pressed about the numbers, it was found that the numbers they were talking about were only registered voters and not voter turnout. The press ended up very confused. This is the type of propaganda that we must keep an eye out for. Remember that with limited press access to only high turnout and secure polls, early numbers will be very bright on the surface. The real numbers will take weeks to finish and with so many candidates and parties, the numbers will be next to meaningless to Americans.

      With the threat of a civil war and the excuse of poor voter turnout being an incentive for the insurgents, there are going to be trying days ahead. Earlier this week we held a small unscientific poll in the channel and the numbers of deaths expected were between 50 - 300. I think we can all be happy if these numbers can be kept low. At the time of this writing, the current count of the dead from various attacks, is about 25 with unknown wounded.

The Iraqi Blogosphere

Found this page today... pretty interesting site!
A Family in Bhagdad

It's nice to get their perspective....

Also, sign the Petition by that is being promoted by Sibel Edmonds on her website.

Have a good day!

Torture must not stand for the US

(edited at 9:45 am on Jan. 28, 2005)

When I first heard the stories of the torture in Abu Ghraib, it physically hurt. I couldn't believe we had done this. Not my country. I'm the daughter of a military judge, this just can't happen. Not against innocent people that we were there to liberate from the very practices of the tyrant that ruled their country. We were told before the war, that he would boil alive people in oil, that he had "rape rooms", etc, all kind of atrocities, that really turned the stomach of our nation. Now we know that not only did we not stop those practices in Abu Ghraib and in other places around the world (Guantanamo and Afghanistan and outsourced prisons) we are CONTINUING it.

And now, on this 60th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz, the man being considered for the top law enforcement officer in the US government, that of Attorney General, is none other than the author of the memos that have left a deep stain on the collective soul of our country, Alberto Gonzales. Our very own modern day Himmler. What on EARTH have we become?

Today, yet another hideous story reached our newswires. This is a more mild form of torture and coercion that we have inflicted on people who've not been charged with any crime, but it still breeds further contempt for America, and endangers our soldiers and our standing in the world. We can thank Roberto Gonzales for this travesty of justice, who was nominated for Attorney General by our own Fredo Corleone, George W. Bush. And today, I became aware of yet another story of abuses from the Los Angeles Times

The argument that torture endangers our troops and wrecks our position in the world, are very valid points, but really, TORTURE is just ethically wrong. None of us would want our fingers cut off, would want to be raped, would want electrodes placed on our genitals, would want to hang for hours in tight fitting handcuffs, etc. For that matter would want our children or wives to be raped before our eyes, or to see our father die of heart failure due to torture. To know that the "Rapture Right" is actively advocating Gonzales' confirmation means that these people haven't gotten the message of their own savior, to treat others as they want to treated. I'm surprised it even has to be pointed out that this is wrong.

90% of the victims of our torture were innocent people, in fact the infamous photo of the man in the hood was revealed to me in the magazine "The Week", who gathered their information from Vanity Fair. He was picked up by our soldiers on the street because he had a bandage on his hand and they suspected him of doing roadside bombings. He was a mosque administrator. His pseudonym is Haj Ali, he is afraid of harassment by our military to go public.

Our behavior at Abu Ghraib and elsewhere is not just torture, but murder according to legal briefs:

On 11-04-2003, the Iraqi detainee Manadal Al-Jamadi died in Abu Ghraib during questioning by officers from the CIA. His death was caused by a brain hemorrhage, hich resulted from injuries he had received when a Marine hit him with the barrel of his shotgun during detention. The picture of his corpse, wrapped in plastic, went all around the world. (cf. Bob Drogin, op cit.)

Another:
Manadel al-Jamadi, an Iraqi prisoner in CIA custody, died in Abu Ghraib on November 4, 2003. He had originally been taken captive by Navy SEALS and hit on the head with shotgun barrels. Two CIA agents then secretly took Jamadi to Abu Ghraib without going through the normal admittance procedure there, which includes a medical examination. The agents placed Jamadi in a shower with a sandbag on his head. Three-quarters of an hour later he was dead. A CIA superior ordered Jamadi’s corpse to be left in the prison for another day, saying he would ring Washington. There are photos showing Jamadi’s battered corpse in a body-bag filled with ice. (Hersh, Chain of Command, p. 45) The next day US officials secretly removed the man’s corpse from the prison, putting him on a stretcher so that it looked as if he were ill and not dead. At least three SEALS have been accused of his maltreatment, but no officer from the CIA has been yet. (Fay/Jones report, pp. 87, 89, 109, 110, Jamadi is identified in the report as PRISONER 28)

There are more examples of this at The Center for Constitutional Rights. It's a discouraging accounting of the atrocities we've committed at Abu Ghraib, and quite depressing to realize our own people are doing this.

The US made a HUGE issue about the mistreatment of women in Afghanistan when we were going over there. And personally, at the time, I wanted to see the Women of Afghanistan to be freed of their Tali Ban oppressors. But now, according to Tara Mckelvey, a senior editor of the American Prospect
our soldiers have probably raped Iraqi women at Abu Ghraib, and probably elsewhere.

There is so much more to share and to explain, but I will conclude with this... we join Daily Kos in their objection to the confirmation of Alberto Gonzales. We cannot condone or support an appointment to the highest law enforcement in the land of a man who has advocated this treatment of the helpless and innocent victims of our war. This also sets a precedent for American citizens to suffer the same abuse in our own nation. We object strongly to the confirmation of Alberto Gonzales as the Attorney General of this United States. He will do nothing except destroy any credibility we have and further darken the stain that is already on our soul.

Joy Williams
AKA Fancypantselitist

P.S. The ACLU has Action Alerts on this and other critical issues at their website. Join with me today in contacting your Senators to let them know you object to torture and those who would encourage it.
And supported by blogger: SteveL

The Woman Of Abu Ghraib

What happened to the women held at Abu Ghraib?

On the morning of September 24, 2003 -- five weeks after the suicide bombing of a United Nations compound in Baghdad killed 23 people, including top envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello, signaling an intensified phase of Iraqi insurgency -- a group of American soldiers burst into Selwa’s villa near the banks of the Tigris River in Samarra, Iraq. Samarra, at the time, was under siege; after the team burst in, one of the soldiers pointed his rifle at Selwa (she asked me to use a pseudonym), a 55-year-old wife and mother, and her daughters and grandchildren began screaming. She, and everyone in the villa, was terrified -- and with good reason. The soldiers had raided their house exactly four months earlier, and she remembered vividly what had happened that night.

Keep Your Laws Off My Body

" President George W. Bush told abortion-rights opponents that he shares their support for a "culture of life," as they mark the 32nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion."
Well excuse me but since when did being president give him rights over women's bodies?!?!? George W. Bush will try as hard as he can to take away the rights of every woman in this country. He says he believes in freedom but really all he believes in is letting his personal religious beliefs dictate his presidency. I urge anyone who is concerned with protecting a women's right to an abortion to visit NARAL and The National Organization for Women.

Irresponsible Journalism

Yesterday thousands took to the streets of Washington, D.C. to protest the Inauguration. Unfortunately CBS, ABC,and NBC all down played it by reporting hundreds of protestors in the Washington, D.C. area and along the parade route. Anyone that saw the coverage first hand on CSPAN 2 knows very well that there were thousands of protestors at the ANSWER Demonstration alone and thousands more along the parade route. I am sick of the media not covering events such as this responsibly. Regardless of who the president is or who signs their paychecks the media still owes it to the people of this country to give us the whole truth. They are running scared from the current administration and going against their own professional codes of ethics. If they can not see fit to report the truth and quit downplaying any story that may be critical of the President and the administration then they should find another field to work in. This country needs a balanced media where both sides are told and not one where it's just about positive news for the President..

Joe Conason to be the Prospect's Investigative Editor!!!

Welcome Aboard, Joe:
The American Prospect hires Joe Conason to be investigative editor.

By The Editors
Web Exclusive: 01.18.05

Print Friendly | Email Article

American Prospect Executive Editor Michael Tomasky announced today that the Prospect has hired Joe Conason to serve in a new position as the magazine’s Investigative Editor. Conason, the well-known investigative journalist, political columnist, and best-selling author, will oversee the Prospect’s new emphasis on investigative reporting. He will assign, edit, and write articles, and he will join the magazine formally on January 24."

Social Security Repeal Dead in the Water

American Prospect Online - ViewWeb: "For the first time, a signature Bush initiative could go down, before it is even put into legislative form. And there is only one reason: Democrats are unified in their opposition and are hanging tough.

Bush, after all, has legislative majorities in both Houses. But privatizing Social Security requires either raising taxes, or cutting benefits, or increasing the national debt. Any one of these approaches causes some group of Republicans to get off the bus. That's why the Republicans are looking so desperately for bipartisan cover."

Police Spray Protesters.

      Police pepper spray what looks like an obvious threat of a radical angry mob storming the gates. Wait, that is the police that are an obvious threat in the form of a radical angry mob storming the gates. This pic is an example of some of the action that was taken at 'The Cage' earlier today where police used pepper spray and tear gas on protesters. Please, if you find more images, use our comments section and share them.

Cheney Limo Balled

      Protesters let the snowballs fly today and Cheney's limo was one of the well intended targets and protesters let loose at police when they could. We hope to have some images from 'The Cage' later.

Code Pink Disrupts Presidents Speech

      Code Pink disrupted Bush's Inaugural speech today and the protesters were quickly led away by police.



      More protest coverage.

Ways to participate in Black Thursday

Today is Black Thursday also known as Inauguration Day. Participate by not spending one damn dime, and participating in other sites organizing against the inauguration such as Counter Inaugural 2005, United for Peace and Justice, and the DC Anti War Network .

Caption This

Book Spotlight: The Jonathan Schell Reader

The Jonathan Schell Reader by Jonathan Schell

      Jonathan Schell sat in with MR last night and shared his many views on the ongoing issues of this country. Jonathan is a writer for The Nation and an accomplished author. If you enjoyed his interview, we encourage you to purchase his book.

Family Guy Censored Due To FCC Fears

      The FOX cartoon Family Guy which will be resuming with new shows in the Spring, has had an old episode censored. In the episode, Peter exposes his butt. In an effort to stem off any fines, FOX has pixelated it. Are we so worried about things in our current culture that we are now censoring cartoon butt in primetime? I thought the V-Chip was supposed to take care of these problems.

Pentagoon Hardliners Prepare For Iran

      The Guardian reports that Pentagon hardliners are prepared to dismantle any 'secret wepaons' program Iran has. I am sure the UN can't wait to see the evidence. The trick will be to see if the UN can keep a straight face when the US presents it's case.

However, the Guardian has learned the Pentagon was recently contemplating the infiltration of members of the Iranian rebel group, Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) over the Iraq-Iran border, to collect intelligence. The group, based at Camp Ashraf, near Baghdad, was under the protection of Saddam Hussein, and is under US guard while Washington decides on its strategy.

The MEK has been declared a terrorist group by the state department, but a former Farsi-speaking CIA officer said he had been asked by neo-conservatives in the Pentagon to travel to Iraq to oversee "MEK cross-border operations". He refused, and does not know if those operations have begun.

"They are bringing a lot of the old war-horses from the Reagan and Iran-contra days into a sort of kitchen cabinet outside the government to write up policy papers on Iran," the former officer said.

Michael Moore Encourages Student Walkout on Thursday

Michael Moore encourages students to walk out of school on Thursday in protest of the inauguration. Ways to hold a student walkout

Kerry Speaks Out About Elections

      Kerry took a moment on MLK Day to discuss last Novembers election problems to which he lost. In his speech he criticized the election process which saw people standing in lines for hours and in poor weather conditions. Many voters were known to leave the polling places and return to work or home.

"Voting machines were distributed in uneven ways. In Democratic districts, it took people four, five, eleven hours to vote, while Republicans (went) through in 10 minutes — same voting machines, same process, our America," (Kerry) said.

Out Of The Way Cripple

      MSNBC reports that American's with disabilities may have their benefits cut under the proposed Social Security cut. Disabled Americans who have to work less or not at all draw from Social Security at an earlier age than retirees. The White House has yet to address a way to transfer funds from a SS Tax to a private investment account and still have money to take care of those who are unable to work. There is no lack of speculators though.

Retirement and disability benefits are calculated using the same formula, so if future promised retirement benefits are cut, then disability benefits also would be reduced — unless the program is somehow separated.

The 53 List

      53 Companies have paid $250,000 to president Bush's inauguration. I thought the list would be of interest to those who use such lists.

Correction And Apology To Atrios

      Let me start off by offering an apology to Atrios for any thing that I may have written that was incorrect in a recent article I wrote. In the article I had incorrectly stated that Atrios had recieved money from the Dean campaign. Atrios in fact did not recieve money from Dean and regret any misconceptions or damage this may have done to him. I have thought and still think Atrios is a fine blogger and performs a very needed service to the blogging community. I thank Atrios for bringing this to my attention.

Obviously I've taken ads from candidates, and I've plugged a few advertisers before, but there's never been any pay-for-plug on this site...
-Atrios 5:10 PM

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2005_01_09_atrios_archive.html#110539562691890267

Hey, Nice IT's

      In an attempt to get more qualified woman into computer jobs, The Philippine Computer Society will hold a beauty pagent and judge competitors on their .... umm, hard drives. This has to be the worst thing I have heard in years and is a major set back for woman around the world.

Martin Luther King Day

      Doctor King made a great many speeches throughout his life that touched so many. Some will call him an American Gandhi and yet still in these modern days, others will still call him a nigger. I recognize that we have come a long way in these many years since his marches in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and DC, but we still have a lot more to do. We must carry King's message of equality to the current generation of children to help overcome racism and hatred due to the color of a man's skin. We must not judge a man because he is black or white, smart or uneducated, poor or rich, but rather what resides in his heart. Abolished should be the white's only country club as well as the black only beauty pageant. It was not King's vision to raise blacks to the level of creating their own racial divides, but to strive for equality. White's need to not open up NASCAR to blacks, but rather remove the condonation that it is a white's only club and see people as equal competitors. It is only when both blacks and whites stop using such terms as "I saw this black guy today" and "This white guy came up to me" that we can start to teach our children the more important things in society.

      My mother's generation had to deal with the German's and WWII. They had to live with blacks sitting at the back of the bus and white and black water fountains. They had the hardest changes to over come as King brought about change in the minds of American's. It was up to my mother's generation to then teach my generation to be tolerant of skin color. My growing up was very different from hers as I shared a learning and living environment with blacks and whites together. I reached a point in my life where she was unable to teach me any more and it became my role to teach her about racial harmony. It has now come upon my generation that we must pick up the torch and finish the job with our children. We must teach them the basics we have learned and allow them to teach us as we get older and stuck in our ways. We must finish the job.

      The sad part though is that throughout my many years of work and attempts to understand, I have seen some real shitty things. On one occasion not too long ago, a woman parked in a handicap spot. She was not disabled in the least and gave no concern for the fact that someone with a disability may need that space more than her 10 minute in and out. She was perfectly able to park just in the next aisle and walked an extra 20 steps. I raised this to her telling her that what she was doing was not only illegal as well as just wrong, and I was then promptly threatened. "What right do you have to tell me what to do 'cracker'!" Cracker? I have dated Blacks, Whites, Asians, Indians, Native Americans, and a few mutts. I have friends of all races. I have stood up against Nazi skinheads and been on so many marches I lost count. I have spoken before a crowd, signed petitions, donated, and shopped at ethnic stores. I have been beaten up for defending my fellow man of all races. Who the hell was she to call me cracker? The fact was though that despite all my work to better myself and educate and work to make others see that there is more to man than skin color, that there are some people, black and white, who find no shame, in fact they find comfort, in being racists.

      An asshole is an asshole no matter what the color of their skin. If a clerk is a jerk, then he is a jerk, not a nigger. If a guy cuts you off, he is not a cracker, just an asshole. When you tell a story at work, don't start it off with "this black/white guy", but just "this guy". Color has no bearing in the end result of the story. Catch yourself when you can and make small changes to your thoughts. Note that I have not labeled people African-Americans and Anglo's but black and white. I do not know if it is correct or not. I do know though that the PC terms are wrong. There are white people who are African. There are black people in Europe. Blacks and whites who live in America are Americans and not some hyphenated American. On this day we should try to treat it like a resolution to remove the separations and find our common grounds.

      While I have focused on the many wrongs that are still going on in our society, we must also remember the many steps that have been taken that have provided a positive atmosphere for today's races. Gone are many of the sins of man in this country. For a large number, race is no longer a hindrance to success, but rather ones own will and self determination to work hard and learn. America can be a great place for all people and we must not forget the sacrifices of those who have fallen before us, both black and white. We must not forget that it took both races, working together, to bring an end to many of the prejudices in this country and it will take a continued effort to finish.

      On this day I offer up one of Dr. King's speeches that I read early in my life that had an impact on me. It is not the "I have a dream" speech that I would hope that you have heard or read already, but a lesser distributed speech from when he received the Nobel Peace Prize. Some day in our lifetime we may hear a similar speech once again given by other great men as they try to bring equality to their children and fellow man. Maybe in Iraq, China, Russia, or even right here in America. The war is not over, just a battle. New battles are created with each generation. Will you be a general, a grunt, or a diplomat?

Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
December 10, 1964

Oslo, Norway

I accept the Nobel Prize for Peace at a moment when twenty-two million Negroes of the United States of America are engaged in a creative battle to end the long night of racial injustice. I accept this award in behalf of a civil rights movement which is moving with determination and a majestic scorn for risk and danger to establish a reign of freedom and a rule of justice.

I am mindful that only yesterday in Birmingham, Alabama, our children, crying out for brotherhood, were answered with fire hoses, snarling dogs and even death. I am mindful that only yesterday in Philadelphia, Mississippi, young people seeing to secure the right to vote were brutalized and murdered. And only yesterday more than 40 houses of worship in the State of Mississippi alone were bombed or burned because they offered a sanctuary to those who would not accept segregation.

I am mindful that debilitating and grinding poverty afflicts my people and chains them to the lowest rung of the economic ladder.

Therefore, I must ask why this prize is awarded to a movement which is beleaguered and committed to unrelenting struggle; to a movement which has not won the very peace and brotherhood which is the essence of the Nobel Prize.

After contemplation, I conclude that this award which I receive on behalf of that movement is profound recognition that nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral question of our time -- the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression.

Civilization and violence are antithetical concepts. Negroes of the United States, following the people of India, have demonstrated that nonviolence is not sterile passivity, but a powerful moral force which makes for social transformation. Sooner or later all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace, and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood.

If this is to be achieved, man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love. The tortuous road which has led from Montgomery, Alabama, to Oslo bears witness to this truth. This is a road over which millions of Negroes are traveling to find a new sense of dignity.

This same road has opened for all Americans a new ear of progress and hope. It has led to a new Civil Rights bill, and it will, I am convinced, be widened and lengthened into a superhighway of justice as Negro and white men in increasing numbers create alliances to overcome their common problems.

I accept this award today with an abiding faith in America and an audacious faith in the future of mankind. I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history. I refuse to accept the idea that the "isness" of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal "oughtness" that forever confronts him.

I refuse to accept the idea that man is mere flotsom and jetsom in the river of life unable to influence the unfolding events which surround him. I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.

I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.

I believe that even amid today's motor bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow. I believe that wounded justice, lying prostrate on the blood-flowing streets of our nations, can be lifted from this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men.

I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, men other-centered can build up. I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land.

"And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid."

I still believe that we shall overcome.

This faith can give us courage to face the uncertainties of the future. It will give our tired feet new strength as we continue our forward stride toward the city of freedom. When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds and our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, we will know that we are living in the creative turmoil of a genuine civilization struggling to be born.

Today I come to Oslo as a trustee, inspired and with renewed dedication to humanity. I accept this prize on behalf of all men who love peace and brotherhood. I say I come as a trustee, for in the depths of my heart I am aware that this prize is much more than an honor to me personally.

Every time I take a flight I am always mindful of the man people who make a successful journey possible -- the known pilots and the unknown ground crew.

So you honor the dedicated pilots of our struggle who have sat at the controls as the freedom movement soared into orbit. You honor, once again, Chief (Albert) Luthuli of South Africa, whose struggles with and for his people, are still met with the most brutal expression of man's inhumanity to man.

You honor the ground crew without whose labor and sacrifices the jet flights to freedom could never have left the earth.

Most of these people will never make the headlines and their names will not appear in Who's Who. Yet when years have rolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvelous age in which we live -- men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization -- because these humble children of God were willing to suffer for righteousness' sake.

I think Alfred Nobel would know what I mean when I say that I accept this award in the spirit of a curator of some precious heirloom which he holds in trust for its true owners -- all those to whom beauty is truth and truth beauty -- and in whose eyes the beauty of genuine brotherhood and peace is more precious than diamonds or silver or gold.

--MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Republicans Will Rue The Day

      Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid said on Sunday that the Republicans "would rue the day" if they try to change the rules of filibuster on the Senate floor. Frist has labeled this the 'nuclear trigger'. At present it takes 60 votes to end a filibuster, but if the GOP has it's way, they would reduce this to a 51 vote, ensuring that the current majority would dominate control. While the current debate revolves around judicial nominees, the consequences would go well beyond and into other areas of debate.

"If they want to carry that through, it's a short-term victory for them, because they're not going to be in the majority forever," he said. "We're going to be in the majority. That's the way history is. And I think that they would rue the day they did that."

Gore Vidal Debates William F. Buckley Jr.

      Sorry this is not a new debate between Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr., but rather a debate from 1968. Any Gore Vidal fan will know one of these debates as the one where Vidal called Buckley a "pro-crypto-Nazi,". There are a variety of media of the exchange and it is true history. If you have 1/2 an hour in your day, I highly suggest a listen.

At the Aug. 22 debate in Chicago - the penultimate encounter in the series, with an estimated 10 million people watching - things began with relative calm. But it didn’t stay that way, and before long the men began exchanging words that one simply didn’t hear on TV at that time (see box below). Vidal called Buckley a "pro-crypto-Nazi," a modest slip of the tongue, he later said, because he was searching for the word "fascist" and it just didn't come out. Inflamed by the word "Nazi" and the whole tenor of the discussion, Buckley snapped: "Now listen, you queer," he said, "stop calling me a crypto-Nazi or I’ll sock you in you goddamn face and you’ll stay plastered." Smith attempted to calm the exchange with "gentlemen, let's not call names," but the damage had been done. The two men, considerably subdued, met the following night for the last of their week of debates.

Channel Discussion Tonight Refined And Posted

      It has come to my attention that some may not be happy with the ways our OPs operate the channel. To this I must remind everyone that our OPs are volunteers and are not paid or represented by Air America Radio in any way. Our OPs do the best they can when they are on duty and try to not only govern the channel but also participate in it. We will not ask our OPs to not be a part of the discussion as their role when asked was to simply help maintain some order and ensure our guidelines and rules are followed. Not sit and watch text without getting involved in a passion they hold for politics and Air America Radio.

      The key rule is that OPs have total discretion in their actions as many things may come up in a political chat room that may not be foreseen in advance. Our rules are derived by committee and are not subject to public debate and are NOT made by one person. ALL OPs agree to our rules before they are passed or they do not get passed. Some OPs may be more forgiving with the rules than others depending on the time of day or the situation. This should not be seen as a weakness or inconsistency, but rather a judgment call at the time. Any attempt to divide the OPs will fail and will have a negative impact on yourself, so we suggest that you just stay to topics you are more familiar with. We are also not some "Other" or "My" channel. We have our own way of doing things in here and will continue to do them that way. Our channel is not a democracy, but a private place that has been made open to the public.

      To use tactics such as calling our OPs Nazi's, Fascists, or Dicks, is not only unfair and hurtful, but uncalled for and untrue. To press such an issue may cause a disruption in the channel and our OPs will act for the benefit of the channel. Our primary goal is to network the community around Air America Radio not serve your personal needs. If you are not here to discuss politics and Air America Radio, then you may have the wrong room. I know how we all spend a good deal of time together and form close bonds and friendships, but as OPs and participating members of the community, we do have greater responsibilities. Do not mistake an OPs job for one of a personal attack.

      If an OPs actions are seen as inappropriate, it is reviewed. If you ever have a question or complaint about an OP, you may personal message them or mail any of our OPs at (nick)@mrirc.com. Your feedback and support in this channel has made this a great place and we welcome it. Petty debates about what the OPs do should not be a talking point in this channel. War, Torture, Civil Rights, Protests, Murder, Rape, Injustice, Elections, and Randi Rhodes latest rant would be stronger, more productive areas to focus on.

      For those who have been with us since last April, you have seen us make HUGE steps in becoming what AAR-IRC is today. From our blogs, to our OPs, to the people who visit. We have had show guests, liberal icons, and AAR reps visit and talk with us. We have learned more about the world and each other. It is easy to forget why we are sometimes here when we are here so often. What better time to reflect than this weekend when we can remember all the people who died for just wanting to be an American but were denied because they were black, considered a lesser citizen by some at the time. At a time when a Nobel Peace Prize winner may go to prison for being a woman and educated. When a telethon was held to help those who's lives were totally ruined beyond any concept we may understand, through an act of god. With the worlds bigger problems going on, does it really meet the needs of over discussion in channel about why an OP enforced a rule?

      On behalf of all the admins here at AAR-IRC, we want to extend our thank you for your time, listening, and support for the channel and Air America Radio.

Kos, Atrios, And Armstrong. Right Or Wrong?

CORRECTION:

Atrios is mentioned here in error. A correction has been posted. The original article remains unedited in the interest of historic reference. I apologize for any misrepresntation.


********** Original article **********

      I was hoping that this was an issue that I would not have to voice my opinion on, but the fact that bloggers Kos and Atrios won't stop commenting on it just compels me even more. If you have not been paying attention, the right wing is trying to compare the fact that these bloggers got paid by Howard Dean during the campaigns is somehow related to the Department Of Education paying a pundit (Armstrong Williams) to push the No Child Left Behind Act. I know for a fact first off that these bloggers did in fact disclose that they were being paid by Dean and that Armstrong Williams did not disclose this information.

      Being a reader of Kos and Atrios every day then makes this next statement difficult. Guys ... you were wrong. Not the same wrong as Armstrong as what he did should be illegal to take money from the White House to push a policy using tax payer money and not disclose it. What was wrong was a journalistic ethical type of wrong. When you are a part of the media, even blogging, you have to remain unbiased. Compound this with an election year cycle, many candidates, and receiving money from a party or candidate, just taints your writing. As journalists, you must take a higher road. If approached by a candidate, you say NO!

      I had a similar situation in the 1992 presidential campaign. I was working to start up another political/music magazine and was finalizing to get out my first issue. To my surprise I got a call from the Jerry Brown campaign. I was thinking, "Cool, this will be a great opportunity to maybe get an interview with the candidate for the first issue." Instead though what it was, was an invitation to be a delegate for their candidate. Because I had classified myself as a journalist (Also I did not like Jerry), I turned them down. They tried very hard to get me to be a delegate with 3 follow up phone calls and several letters. Each time I turned them down. For me to of accepted the offer would have put me in an odd position and my readers in an unfair position. My readers would not have known if I was being political or just representing a biased interest. If I had taken the offer, I think it would have been proper for me to remove my self from journalism for at least a year after my final day of representation.

      At the end of the day it comes down to journalistic ethics. It is one thing to take an ad, but another to take direct funds for services. Even the Dean campaign admits that they had hoped to buy favor without actually asking for it. Because of the actions of Kos and Atrios, every time we see a write up on their site supporting Dean, it will be hard to know if it is an unbiased position, or if it is because of the fact that they were once paid by his campaign. I offer no slack to these great bloggers for their actions as it was clearly an error in judgment that they must now live with. Any efforts on their part to become unbiased political writers is forever damaged because of this and any mention of Dean will be closely monitored. I had felt this way before this new controversy broke, and I will feel this way in the future. The fact that they continue to beat this horse and see no wrong doing in their actions, is the only reason I feel compelled to comment. Sorry guys.

      My advice for them is to shut up. Put the information out there for others to decide. Invite yourself to defend yourself on TV. Then drop it like a rock. You are only digging a deeper hole for yourselves and keeping the debate active. You don't think the pundits are reading your sites and getting fuel for the fire? Think again.

What does really bad breath, angry wasps and amourous desire have in common?

Most people wouldn't see the connection, but according to the Jan 15th edition of The New Scientist Magazine, there is a connection... The Pentagon has had a program that had a six year reseach plan at the cost of $7.5 million to look into "non-lethal" chemical weapon research. Never mind the weapon that makes one's skin feel on fire, this research included a chemical that would drive enemy comabatants into uncontrolled sexual attraction to each other, a chemical that would attract swarms of angry wasps and ravenous rats to invade troop positions to make them "run away" and another chemical weapon to make troops breath have a distinctly bad odor to indicate whether they are friend or foe. Add to that, another chemical to make troops extremely vulnerable to sunlight.

These proposals date from 1994 and were introduced by the Dayton, Ohio USAF Wright laboratory, after being prompted by the Pentagon to develop weapons that were "harassing, annoying and 'bad guy'-identifying chemicals" If you want to see them, you will have to go to "The Sunshine Project" to get the initial reports.

As Steve L posited: "Scientists found that when they mixed the chemicals, they got angry homosexual wasps with bad breath" Who knows how long it will be until those wasps are also sensitive to sunlight?

Grin...
Fancypantselitist

Texas Has A Diebold In It

      Texas is at it again in an attempt to cover up electronic voting. The ACLU and a voter in Texas have filed suit to open the Texas voting examiners meetings to be open to the public for openness and feedback. It is believed that by keeping the meetings closed to the public that it actually does a disservice to the community by denying important feedback and preventing issues of irregularities from popping up in the future. Having closed meeting would also allow people to question the legitimacy of votes cast in a heavily red state.

"Closed meetings about these controversial voting machines create a troubling perception," said Jonathan Lebkowsky of the Texas Safe Voting Coalition. "How can a citizen trust a certification process that's hidden from view? This sort of thing is exactly why we have an Open Meetings Act."

Social Security And ABC

      ABC News today chimed in on it's take on Social Security.

The only thing to argue here is whether "now" is the time to act. Actuaries agree that the existing pay-as-you-go formula — in which revenue collected from the payroll taxes of current workers pays the benefits of current retirees — will fund benefits at current levels through 2018. After that, there will be too few workers and too many retirees for payroll tax revenue to fully cover retiree benefits. But actuaries estimate there is enough money in the Social Security trust fund to make up the difference through 2042.

Janeane In Hollyweird

      Many have wondered what Janeane Garofalo was doing while she was on vacation in December of 2004. She was off filming a movie for the Oxygen Channel.

Our Tech Notes

      Today the Daily Kos released some of it's numbers for browsers using it's site. I thought I would follow up with some info as well as I am sure some of you are a little more than curious.

Operating Systems:

Windows XP: 68%
MAC: 7%
Windows 2000: 6%

Browsers:

IE 6: 53%
Firefox 1: 25%
Safari 1: 6%

Some interesting search terms that sent people to our site:

Fetal
Fingered
Torture
Pirate
1677
Taco
Marriott
Inhofe
DMajorityReport.com
Oakly

(you guys are friggin' weird)

Nothing To See Here

      When it comes to national security, we must take every measure to ensure Fearless Leaders safety. Next weeks inaugural will be no different. In addition to the military taking to the streets, snipers in the towers, sticks prohibited, and drug, erm bomb sniffing dogs, we must not forget the most important thing. Don't Look At The President! In an effort to protect the president from any witchcraft, voodoo, X-Men, and general onlookers, the Secret Service has advised people who will be in the parade, to not look at Fearless Leader. Maybe the reason is because the president will actually be a body double and doesn't want anyone to get a close up look or perhaps they will notice that instead of the president, there will be a 2D cut out will only look real on camera. Or perhaps the reason is that he is shy. Whatever the reason, this surely has to be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard and reminds me of some Chinese military protocol viewing. In the end, I think it is being done to do nothing more than look good on TV, make the president feel important, and make as much pomp and circumstance as they can. This is just another embarrassment to an already fantasy living presidential reign.

Anti-abortion protesters have been warned to leave their crosses at home. Parade performers will have security escorts to the bathroom, and they've been ordered not to look directly at President Bush or make any sudden movements while passing the reviewing stand.

No Pundit Left Behind

      Armstrong Williams has started a mudslide of problems for himself and the White House in accepting money in exchange for promoting the republican agenda on the airwaves without disclosing that he was paid to do so. Today, the FCC has released a statement saying that they will investigate if Williams did anything that violated the law and rules of the FCC.

A member of the Federal Communications Commission said Thursday the agency should investigate whether conservative commentator Armstrong Williams broke the law by failing to disclose that the Bush administration paid him $240,000 to plug its education policies.

Anyone can send in letters to complain that someone may have violated a FCC regulation. Hmmmm, sounds like a good idea to me.

Adding salt to the wounds, Senate leaders have asked the Department of Education to turn over records to flush out if there is a history of sponsoring propaganda.

Titan Rewarded For Torture

      The Titan Corporation, who's employees are a part of the abuse and torture of prisoners in Iraq, got rewarded today by the US government with more contracts.

The Titan Corporation, a leading national security solutions provider, announced today that the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command has awarded the company a competitive contract having a potential value of $163.9 million with options, if exercised.

Your Crimethink Has Been Registered

      Ever hear the term NewSpeak and wonder where it came from? Or hear about Big Brother and don't know what it really means? Ever read George Orwell's 1984? All this can be summed up at a site called The NewSpeak Dictionary. They discuss all things related to Owells language and thoughts as related to his book 1984. A great read for any fan. So give it a read or we shall call the thoughtpolice. Remember, Big Brother is watching you.

I Will Gladly Pay You Tuesday ...

      Republicans gathered today to celebrate a debt of $3.44 billion for December 2004. With 2004 having a record deficit in dollar terms of $412.3 billion, we are still spending an incredible amount of debt and not paying off a cent of it. Add into it Bush's many government spending proposals such as tax credits and privatized Social Security and Pensions and there is no freedom from this giant weight that will straddle American workers for decades to come. The White House has yet to give out a year when we will be in the black again. The closest they can come is saying that in 10 years we will have a spending deficit of $65 billion. That is money spent for the fiscal year, not the overall deficit. I have been crunching numbers for months and it all falls short of White House estimations. No matter how I slice it, the White House underestimates it's spending into 2016 by about $600 billion and that is without any new proposals, surprises, or wars.

The CBO estimates making Bush's tax cuts permanent would add $2.2 trillion to the shortfalls through 2014, including the government's added borrowing costs. Easing the alternative minimum tax's impact on middle-income earners would cost another $435 billion.

Non-Stick Cancer

      A story broke today that affects every person in America and your potential to get cancer. It appears that DuPont failed to report to the EPA for over 20 years that Teflon can cause cancer. Teflon comes in a variety of products, but the one that affects most people will be on your cookery. That wonderful coating that keeps your eggs from sticking to the pan can cause cancer. Please be sure to use wood or plastic utensils when cooking and dispose of damaged or scared cookery. Do not continue to use cookery that is flaking.

The agency's draft assessment found unusually high exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, caused liver and testicular cancer in animals, and those effects might occur in people. The study will be reviewed next month by a panel of scientists outside the agency, Charles Auer, the director of EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics, said today.

The Blue And The AQ

      Some conservatives are speaking out about the elections in Iraq. Many fear that the elections will lead to civil war and that this is being thrown together.

If the Iraqi elections are held as scheduled, it would "grease the slide to civil war," Diamond told The Washington Post. Calling Bush "a very stubborn man," he said there is "a fine line between Churchillian resolve and self-defeating obstinacy, and I think he's going over the line on this."

Take This Town And Bushit

      A man in Wausau, Wisconsin was ticketed for hanging a sign that said "BUSHIT".

Donald Downs, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor and author of several books on political speech, said the ticket violates Wallschlaeger’s right to freely exercise political speech based on a 1971 U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Words Are Wasted

The picture below is one of several that were circulated in the chat room tonight that were part of the American propaganda during WWII. In this instance, I think the poster writes it's own story here.

Retreadament -or- Die Before You Get Old

      Fresh on the heels of president Bush saying that we need Social Security reform, he now insists that we need private pension reform and to put more burden on businesses. It would appear that Bush is anti-retirement planning altogether. Under Bush's ideals, you should get rich while you are young and stay that way or go to hell.

"If nothing is done, the financial integrity of the federal insurance system will be compromised and the pension security of 34 million workers and retirees will be more at risk," Chao said in a luncheon speech.

"The time to act is now. This system is unsustainable," she said. The administration proposal would force companies to better fund their pensions, and pay more to insure them.

Republicans To Challenge Washington Vote

      While many have been reporting on elections across the country, I have taken the Washington State battle for AG to heart and have been reporting on it for several weeks. In this battle that saw the Dem lose, lose in a machine recount, and win in a hand recount, the republicans are preparing to take it to court and try for a new election entirely.

“No court will find this election should be set aside,” Democratic Party attorney Jenny Durkan said. Even if illegal votes were cast, she said, “it would not change the outcome of the election.”

Moore Lunches Before Sunday's Peoples Choice

      This Sunday is the People's Choice Awards on CBS, where Fahrenheit 911 is up for Favorite Movie (Best Picture). Before that though was the traditional luncheon with the press. With Michael Moore in the ring though, things are bound to be a little different than a typical lunch with the stars where they discuss projects, other actors, and typical Hollywood gush. Katrina Vanden Heuvel reports on the event.

Q: What do you think of those who say Americans don't trust Democrats on national security?

MM: Think it's a problem. The country was brutally attacked. People were afraid. In those conditions, understandable that people want a crazy motherfucker on their side, the guy who will kick ass. Americans need to believe that person in that chair will kick some ass. Dems should have been asking, right away, where's Osama bin laden, where are the special forces to track him down. Not waiting for Richard Clarke to write a book.

Yes Virginia, Women have no rights in that state

From Evil-Doer in the chat
HB 1677 Fetal death; report by mother, penalty. State of Virginia.
Report of fetal death by mother; penalty. Provides that when a fetal death occurs without medical attendance, it shall be the woman's responsibility to report the death to the proper law-enforcement agency within 12 hours of the delivery. Violation of this section shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor

Bush's Approval Rating Falls in AP Poll

By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) is entering his second term with the lowest approval ratings of any recent two-term president, even as he talks about an ambitious agenda of change, an Associated Press poll finds. Congress is viewed even more negatively.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=7&u=/ap/20050107/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_poll

Projection and Lies dissected - Coulter: "Liberals love America like O.J. loved Nicole"

Coulter: "Liberals love America like O.J. loved ... [Media Matters for America]:

Note the telling metaphor that precisely describes the far right's love of America. Here, Coulter is NAILED politicizing the tsunami - by a Sri Lankan newspaper, posted by a Sri Lankan. - Marion

"I don't have any love or hate for Castro and Cuba but the following is factually incorrect in the case of Sri Lanka and Cuba relationships. Coulter says'Speaking of world leaders admired by liberals, why isn't Fidel Castro giving the tsunami victims some of that terrific medical care liberals tell us he has been providing the people of Cuba?'

The FACT is Sri Lanka government newspaper Daily News says this

Cuban help for Lanka

The President of the Republic of Cuba on behalf of the Cuban Government and people, has sent a special flight carrying a medical team of 21 specialists in emergency, epidemiology and general medicine. They will arrive in Colombo today.

This group also include Cuban technicians to lead the application of rodenticide and biolarvicide donated by Cuban Government, very effective in eradicating malaria and dengue fever in other parts of the world.

The brigade is carrying six tons of medicine for the relief of the affected by the tidal wave.

-- Chandrasoma

P.S cuba has always helped Sri Lanka with medical needs in the history specially since weather of both countries are similar.They were helping with controlling mosquito bourn diseases."

From a Sri Lankan

Major Advertiser Quits Sinclair News

      Staples Inc today announced that based on pressure from supporters from Sinclair Action, that it will halt all advertising on all Sinclair owned stations local news feeds starting on January 10th, 2005. One must wonder if this will spill over into all it's programming or if it is just a token win for a time slot. In any case, the PR war has begun and we have our first win.

Staples, Inc. recently replied via email to consumers who registered concerns about Sinclair newscasts, stating: "As a result of Staples' ongoing review of its advertising media buy activity, Staples will no longer be airing advertising on any Sinclair station's local news programs as of Jan 10, 2005."

Katrina Tasty Bit

      Katrina vanden Huevel is a regular guest on The Majority Report and editor of The Nation.It has occurred to me though that many may not have read much of her work and I found this to be as good a time as any to introduce her work to you. In this post, by Katrina, she goes after Ken Lay and the Bush agenda to destroy Social Security.

Rehnquist Speaks Against Activist Talk

      Supreme Court Chief Justice Rehnquist today spoke out against the political pressure that is being put on judges. Rehnquist again called for caution in the talk of calling for the impeachment of judges and politicizing their roles. In the past few years the term 'activist judge' has become a popular phrase by the right to describe a judge whose judgments they do not agree with. Rehnquist spared no words to shun this terminology and shoot down these power mad trouble makers.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), for example, has repeatedly threatened to impeach liberal-leaning judges for their rulings, such as the ban on school-sponsored prayers.

"A judge's judicial acts may not serve as a basis for impeachment. Any other rule would destroy judicial independence," Rehnquist said. "Instead of trying to apply the law fairly, regardless of public opinion, judges would be concerned about inflaming any group that might be able to muster the votes in Congress to impeach and convict them."

RNC Protester Busts Cop

      During NeoCon 2004, you may have been in our channel where we gave live up to the minute protest information and the stories that came from those arrested. In a follow up, at least one protester has busted a cop for fabricating charges and his story. Turns out that the arresting officer was not even on the scene.

At one point, Wohl testified that his captain told him to arrest everyone within a certain area. Later, he stated that he could not really tell the difference between protestors, bystanders, and people merely coming and going from the library. The combination of an officer unable to discern between supposed suspects and innocent pedestrians, and an order from superior officers to make mass arrests based on geographic location rather than specific incidents, would seem to suggest there is a very real potential that large numbers of detainees were wrongly arrested and incarcerated.

Dennis Kyne’s attorneys expressed their concern that Officer Wohl’s testimony may be part of a larger pattern. Attorneys Lewis Oliver and Gideon Oliver mentioned the possibility that police had used massive sweeps to round up large groups of people during the RNC, and then relied on officers like Wohl (who were not necessarily actually involved in the arrests) to provide testimony intended to legitimize the arrests.

Call For General Strike In US

      An internet site, Black Thursday, is calling for a US General Strike on January 20th to protest the re-election of Bush and the failures of his first term.

There is, though, a language that they understand, and it's one that you speak: The language of dollars. The dollars they make from your purchases, the dollars they make from your labor, and the dollars that flow into federal coffers when you pay your taxes.
Your dollars are their power. The more of your dollars you give to them, the more power they have. Conversely, the more you keep for yourself, the more power you have. It's that simple.

Who Has The Largest Army In Iraq?

      Al-Jazeera today has released a story that says that the insurgent Iraqi army may in fact be larger than the US military force in that country. It quotes the Iraqi intelligence service in saying that insurgent numbers are around 200,000 people and may even be double that. These numbers are in direct contradiction of the US's estimation of 5000-20000 full time and part time insurgents.

Defence experts have broadly accepted the new assessment as valid.

Bruce Hoffman, who served as an adviser to the US occupation in Iraq and now works for US-based thinktank Rand Corporation, said he believed the estimate, though it said it was impossible to know for sure.

No Taxation With Representation

      The White House Office Of Faith Based Community initiatives is rather disappointed that states have not acted more aggressively to enact aid for faith based programs. President Bush has spent a great deal of time getting in touch with states personally to make them aware that they are eligible for grants for faith based programs on a state level and is encouraging them to spend the money and open their own faith based offices. [more]

Federal regulations now allow federal agencies to directly fund churches and other religious groups. Bush acted alone to rewrite these regulations after failing to persuade Congress to change the law.