Friday, September 29, 2006
I Write Letters
I sent the following to my 'Democratic Senator', Menendez:
Dear Senator Menendez:
As a New Jersey voter and American patriot, I felt that I had to write to inform you that I will not be voting for you this November. This will mark the first time that I have failed to vote for the Democratic Congressional candidate in the twenty-five years I've been voting.
You had my vote, and that of my wife, secured until yesterday, when you cast your vote in favor of the Torture Bill (S. 3930). This bill is a travesty, an abomination that can only serve to weaken and tarnish this country. Don't take my word for it, just listen to what Senators Clinton, Obama and Kerry and Feingold said about it on the Senate floor. You have entrusted our freedoms to an administration that has, time and again, proven that it cannot be trusted. I can't imagine what political machinations and misconceptions led you and other Democratic Senators to vote for this execrable piece of legislation when many of your Democratic peers had the fortitude to vote against it.
If you lose to your Republican opponent in the upcoming election, I feel that your 'YES' vote on S. 3930 will be one of the major causes. Unfortunately, the bill has passed, and America will be years in recovering from this grave legislative error, among others. I am sorely embarrassed by the representation from my state in this matter. Please feel free to pass my concerns on to your colleague, Senator Lautenberg, from whom I will also withhold my vote at the appropriate time.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Kip Hawley Is An Idiot
DHS | Department of Homeland Security | Director, Transportation Security Administration: Kip Hawley: Idiot
Idiot
Idiot
Idiot
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Idiot
Idiot
Idiot
this GoogleBomb has been brought to you by xenophile
more here.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
Bush Torture Doesn't Stop
Flies all green and buzzin',
in this dungeon of despair.
Prisoners grumble and piss their clothes,
and scratch their matted hair.
A tiny light, from a window hole,
a hundred yards away,
is all they ever gets to know
about the regular light in the day.
And it stinks so bad, the stones been chokin',
and weepin' greenish drops.
In the room where the giant fire puffer works,
and the torture never stops.
The torture never stops.
Slime and rot, rats and snot,
and vomit on the floor.
Fifty yoogly soldiers, man,
holdin' spears by the iron door.
Knives and spikes, and guns and the likes
of every tool of pain.
And a sinister midget, with a bucket and a mop,
where the blood goes down the drain.
And it stinks so bad, the stones been chokin',
and weepin' greenish drops.
In the room where the giant fire puffer works,
and the torture never stops.
The torture never stops.
The torture.. the torture..
The torture never stops.
Flies all green and buzzin',
in this dungeon of despair.
An evil prince eats a steaming pig,
in a chamber right near there.
He eats the snouts and the trotters first.
The loins and the groins is soon dispersed.
His carvin' style is well rehearsed.
He stands and shouts:
All men be cursed!
All men be cursed!
All men be cursed!
All men be cursed!
And disagree?
Well, no one durst.
He's the best, of course, of all the worst.
Some wrong been done, he done it first.
And it stinks so bad, his bones been chokin',
and weepin' greenish drops.
In the night of the iron sausage,
where the torture never stops.
The torture never stops.
The torture.. the torture..
The torture never stops.
Flies all green and buzzin',
in this dungeon of despair.
Who are all those people,
that he's locked away down there?
Are they crazy?
Are they sainted?
Are they zeroes,
someone painted?
And it's never been explained,
since it first it was created.
But a dungeon, like a sin,
requires naught but lockin' in,
of everything that's ever been.
Look at her.
Look at him.
That's what's the deal we're dealin' in.
That's what's the deal we're dealin' in.
That's what's the deal we're dealin' in.
That's what's the deal we're dealin' in.
The Torture Never Stops
Zoot Allures
Frank Zappa
in this dungeon of despair.
Prisoners grumble and piss their clothes,
and scratch their matted hair.
A tiny light, from a window hole,
a hundred yards away,
is all they ever gets to know
about the regular light in the day.
And it stinks so bad, the stones been chokin',
and weepin' greenish drops.
In the room where the giant fire puffer works,
and the torture never stops.
The torture never stops.
Slime and rot, rats and snot,
and vomit on the floor.
Fifty yoogly soldiers, man,
holdin' spears by the iron door.
Knives and spikes, and guns and the likes
of every tool of pain.
And a sinister midget, with a bucket and a mop,
where the blood goes down the drain.
And it stinks so bad, the stones been chokin',
and weepin' greenish drops.
In the room where the giant fire puffer works,
and the torture never stops.
The torture never stops.
The torture.. the torture..
The torture never stops.
Flies all green and buzzin',
in this dungeon of despair.
An evil prince eats a steaming pig,
in a chamber right near there.
He eats the snouts and the trotters first.
The loins and the groins is soon dispersed.
His carvin' style is well rehearsed.
He stands and shouts:
All men be cursed!
All men be cursed!
All men be cursed!
All men be cursed!
And disagree?
Well, no one durst.
He's the best, of course, of all the worst.
Some wrong been done, he done it first.
And it stinks so bad, his bones been chokin',
and weepin' greenish drops.
In the night of the iron sausage,
where the torture never stops.
The torture never stops.
The torture.. the torture..
The torture never stops.
Flies all green and buzzin',
in this dungeon of despair.
Who are all those people,
that he's locked away down there?
Are they crazy?
Are they sainted?
Are they zeroes,
someone painted?
And it's never been explained,
since it first it was created.
But a dungeon, like a sin,
requires naught but lockin' in,
of everything that's ever been.
Look at her.
Look at him.
That's what's the deal we're dealin' in.
That's what's the deal we're dealin' in.
That's what's the deal we're dealin' in.
That's what's the deal we're dealin' in.
The Torture Never Stops
Zoot Allures
Frank Zappa
Is There an honest GOP candidate anywhere out there?
G.O.P. Nominee for Governor Worked With Legislature on Stock Sale - New York Times
The NY GOP just can't win. What a joke. Maybe they should find a cute puppy to run against Spitzer. The puppy couldn't do any worse than Faso.
The NY GOP just can't win. What a joke. Maybe they should find a cute puppy to run against Spitzer. The puppy couldn't do any worse than Faso.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Some Lies Are Too Blatant Even For Bush Officials
Justice Dept. Amends Remark on Torture Case - New York Times
The Revenge of Alberto El Mentiroso
What Abu Gonzales meant was that he and John Yoo didn't personally clap the handcuffs on Arar and put him on the plane. Gonzalez and Yoo then placed their hands over their ears and went, "La La La..." really loudly so they wouldn't hear about the torture. "We were both playing golf that day, I swear," said Gonzalez.
The Revenge of Alberto El Mentiroso
Asked at a news conference on Tuesday about a Canadian commission’s finding that the man, Maher Arar, was wrongly sent to Syria and tortured there, Mr. Gonzales replied, “Well, we were not responsible for his removal to Syria.” He added, “I’m not aware that he was tortured.”
...
On Wednesday, a Justice Department spokesman said Mr. Gonzales had intended to make only a narrow point: that deportations are now handled by the Department of Homeland Security, not the Department of Justice.
What Abu Gonzales meant was that he and John Yoo didn't personally clap the handcuffs on Arar and put him on the plane. Gonzalez and Yoo then placed their hands over their ears and went, "La La La..." really loudly so they wouldn't hear about the torture. "We were both playing golf that day, I swear," said Gonzalez.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Bush in a Nutshell
Press Conference of the President
"It's unacceptable to think..."
- George W. Bush
Sept. 15th, 2006
And a nutshell is such an aprropriate place, don't you think?
"It's unacceptable to think..."
- George W. Bush
Sept. 15th, 2006
And a nutshell is such an aprropriate place, don't you think?
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Right-Wing Terror
Man Who Shot Up Montreal Campus Is Identified - New York Times
Despite what right-wingers and their friends at the Justice Department think, most terrorism has right-wing roots. It includes elements of nationalism, religious fundamentalism, gun worhsip, racism and social intolerance. Where is the left-wing equivalent of Oklahoma City? Of Columbine? Of September 11th? There are no left-wing equivalents. Nothing even close.
While the FBI focuses on PETA and Greenpeace, the real terrorists, Christian, Muslim and whatever else, are plotting the deaths of innocent citizens. You know, real terrorism. The clowns running this country, along with their twisted priorities, represent a clear and present danger to the American people.
Despite what right-wingers and their friends at the Justice Department think, most terrorism has right-wing roots. It includes elements of nationalism, religious fundamentalism, gun worhsip, racism and social intolerance. Where is the left-wing equivalent of Oklahoma City? Of Columbine? Of September 11th? There are no left-wing equivalents. Nothing even close.
While the FBI focuses on PETA and Greenpeace, the real terrorists, Christian, Muslim and whatever else, are plotting the deaths of innocent citizens. You know, real terrorism. The clowns running this country, along with their twisted priorities, represent a clear and present danger to the American people.
Butter Beans in Tomato Sauce (Gigantes)
This is my attempt to reproduce the butter bean casserole they used to make at Mike's Deli around the corner from my grandparents old house near 95th St. & 4th Ave. in Brooklyn. They also had great custard, rice pudding, fish cakes and other stuff. I understand that the recipe may be Greek in origin. It's fairly simple and well worth a try if you can get a supply of butter beans.
Ingredients:
1 lb. - Dried Giant Butter Beans (Gigantes)
(you can find them here at Kalustyan's)
26 oz. - Tomato Puree (I use Pomi Strained Tomatoes)
1-1/4 cup - Fresh Dill, chopped fine-medium
2 med. cloves - Garlic, crushed and chopped fine (or use a Zyliss press)
2 Tbsp. - Olive Oil
1-1/2 tsp. - Lemon Juice
1 Tbsp. - Sugar
2 tsp. - Salt
1/2 tsp. - Black Pepper
Soak the beans overnight in a large pot in plenty of salted water. Rinse, refill, re-salt and boil until tender, about 2 hours (they're BIG!). When done, drain and rinse in cold water.
Abut twenty minutes before the beans are done, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Saute the garlic in the oil for a few minutes, then add the tomato puree, then the salt, pepper, sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a low boil and simmer for about fifteen minutes. Add all the chopped dill and continue to cook for five more minutes.
Add the tomato-dill sauce to the drained beans and mix well. Transfer everything to large baking dish and place it in the oven. Cook at 375 degrees for about an hour. Remove from oven and let cool.
This dish can be eaten hot, but it's better at room temperature. It refrigerates well for a few days. I haven't tried freezing it, but I suspect it wouldn't work too well. Remove what you're going to serve from the fridge for a couple of hours beforehand to let it warm up.
It makes a great side dish for vegetarian meals, lamb or chicken, and just about any barbecue or picnic situation.
Ingredients:
1 lb. - Dried Giant Butter Beans (Gigantes)
(you can find them here at Kalustyan's)
26 oz. - Tomato Puree (I use Pomi Strained Tomatoes)
1-1/4 cup - Fresh Dill, chopped fine-medium
2 med. cloves - Garlic, crushed and chopped fine (or use a Zyliss press)
2 Tbsp. - Olive Oil
1-1/2 tsp. - Lemon Juice
1 Tbsp. - Sugar
2 tsp. - Salt
1/2 tsp. - Black Pepper
Soak the beans overnight in a large pot in plenty of salted water. Rinse, refill, re-salt and boil until tender, about 2 hours (they're BIG!). When done, drain and rinse in cold water.
Abut twenty minutes before the beans are done, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Saute the garlic in the oil for a few minutes, then add the tomato puree, then the salt, pepper, sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a low boil and simmer for about fifteen minutes. Add all the chopped dill and continue to cook for five more minutes.
Add the tomato-dill sauce to the drained beans and mix well. Transfer everything to large baking dish and place it in the oven. Cook at 375 degrees for about an hour. Remove from oven and let cool.
This dish can be eaten hot, but it's better at room temperature. It refrigerates well for a few days. I haven't tried freezing it, but I suspect it wouldn't work too well. Remove what you're going to serve from the fridge for a couple of hours beforehand to let it warm up.
It makes a great side dish for vegetarian meals, lamb or chicken, and just about any barbecue or picnic situation.
Time To Be Afraid?
Item 1 - The Republican election strategy: generate fear of terrorism to garner votes.
Item 2 - Iraq strategy: remedy inadequate troop numbers by using tactical nukes (what horrific trigger event would be needed to provide Bush and Rummy political cover to use nukes? Another 9/11?)
Item 3 - Blast from the Past: The PNAC "A New Pearl Harbor" justification (still proudly available on their web site):
Conclusion: expect a terrorist attack very soon. New Yorkers, remember that the Bush administration considers New York expendable (except for Wall Street, which is probably disater-tolerant with fail-overs by now).
Tip for Karl Rove: If you want to minimize casualties among the upper classes, consider targeting mass transit. (that's a joke, for all you tight-assed types)
Item 2 - Iraq strategy: remedy inadequate troop numbers by using tactical nukes (what horrific trigger event would be needed to provide Bush and Rummy political cover to use nukes? Another 9/11?)
Item 3 - Blast from the Past: The PNAC "A New Pearl Harbor" justification (still proudly available on their web site):
Any serious effort at transformation must occur within the larger framework of U.S. national security strategy, military missions and defense budgets. The United States cannot simply declare a “strategic pause” while experimenting with new technologies and operational concepts. Nor can it choose to pursue a transformation strategy that would decouple American and allied interests.
A transformation strategy that solely pursued capabilities for projecting force from the United States, for example, and sacrificed forward basing and presence, would be at odds with larger American policy goals and would trouble American allies.
Further, the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event – like a new Pearl Harbor.
Conclusion: expect a terrorist attack very soon. New Yorkers, remember that the Bush administration considers New York expendable (except for Wall Street, which is probably disater-tolerant with fail-overs by now).
Tip for Karl Rove: If you want to minimize casualties among the upper classes, consider targeting mass transit. (that's a joke, for all you tight-assed types)
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Synergy
C.I.A. Said to Find No Hussein Link to Terror Chief - New York Times
Obviously, Chalabi and other INC characters were Iranian spies, agents provocateur whose job it was to goad America into attacking Iraq. Obviously, somebody in Iran has a passing familiarity with Machiavelli, chess and/or John Le Carre Cold War novels.
So our President, and his administration, were duped, right?
Our none-too-bright Commander-in-Chief swallowed the bait hook, line and sinker, and let himself be led into a war for Iran's benefit by a bunch of slimy Iranian used car salesmen, right?
If only it were that innocent. Bush wanted this war. The neocons wanted this war. Cheney wanted this war. Why throw away a the ultimate PR event, the September 11th attacks? When those planes hit the towers, an identical impact resonated through the psyches of top Republican strategists throughout the country. You don't waste an opportunity like that, you seize it and spin it for all it's worth. And they did. To this day, they're still milking it (it's all they've got left).
Yes, there was plenty of stupidity involved, by many people on many levels. But it's the dishonesty that's the issue here. The worst kind of dishonesty, dishonesty that starts a war. Chalabi didn't use Bush for Iran's benefit, Chalabi and Bush used each other. Unfortunately, like all those before him who dealt with the devil, Bush forgot to read the fine print.
Obviously, Chalabi and other INC characters were Iranian spies, agents provocateur whose job it was to goad America into attacking Iraq. Obviously, somebody in Iran has a passing familiarity with Machiavelli, chess and/or John Le Carre Cold War novels.
So our President, and his administration, were duped, right?
Our none-too-bright Commander-in-Chief swallowed the bait hook, line and sinker, and let himself be led into a war for Iran's benefit by a bunch of slimy Iranian used car salesmen, right?
If only it were that innocent. Bush wanted this war. The neocons wanted this war. Cheney wanted this war. Why throw away a the ultimate PR event, the September 11th attacks? When those planes hit the towers, an identical impact resonated through the psyches of top Republican strategists throughout the country. You don't waste an opportunity like that, you seize it and spin it for all it's worth. And they did. To this day, they're still milking it (it's all they've got left).
Yes, there was plenty of stupidity involved, by many people on many levels. But it's the dishonesty that's the issue here. The worst kind of dishonesty, dishonesty that starts a war. Chalabi didn't use Bush for Iran's benefit, Chalabi and Bush used each other. Unfortunately, like all those before him who dealt with the devil, Bush forgot to read the fine print.
The Fix is In Again
Comments by Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism czar under Presidents Clinton and Bush, and current ABC News consultant:
As someone who was directly involved in almost every event depicted in the fictionalized docudrama, "The Path to 9-11," I believe it is an egregious distortion that does a deep disservice both to history and to those in both the Clinton and Bush administrations who are depicted.
Sadly, ABC's Entertainment Division hired a production company and screen writer who were apparently unqualified to deal with this historically important subject matter. That error appears to have been compounded by the failure of some of the docudrama's consultants to insure that the account was accurate. Some of the most outrageous scenes were removed after a recent senior level review. What remains, however, is not the true story as told by the 9-11 Commission.
Although I am not one to easily believe in conspiracy theories and have spent a great deal of time debunking them, it is hard to escape the conclusion that the errors in this screen play are more than the result of dramatization and time compression. There is throughout the screenplay a consistent bias and distortion seeking to portray senior Clinton Administration officials as holding back the hard charging CIA, FBI, and military officers who would otherwise have prevented 9-11.
The exact opposite is true. From the President, to all of his White House team, and NSC Principals (Lake, Berger, Albright, Tenet, Reno) there was a common fixation with terrorism, al qaeda, and bin Ladin. The President approved every counter-terrorism operation presented to him, including many that CIA proved unable or unwilling to implement. He increased counter-terrorism spending by 400% and initiated the first homeland security program in forty years. Even though the US had taken relatively few casualties from al qaeda at the time, the President repeatedly authorized the use of lethal force against bin Ladin and his deputies and personally requested the US military to develop plans for "commando operations" against
them. Even though he knew the timing of an attack aimed at killing bin Ladin would be labeled by critics as a political diversion, Clinton decided to follow the advice of his national security team and pay the price politically.
All of us who worked on these issues, then and now, hold some responsibility for the failures to stop al qaeda. I bear that burden every day.
But if history is to know where to assign some of that culpability, it should not be guided by this fictionalization. It might better focus on leaders of the FBI who held back John O'Neill, leaders of the CIA's Clandestine Service whose risk aversion prevented the Counter Terrorism Center from doing its job, and senior generals who strongly urged the Commander-in-Chief not to use our military to go after the al qaeda leaders in Afghanistan. Somehow, all of that is missing from this not too subtle televised politicization of history.
As is so often the case, the best advice about how to think about these things comes not from people like me or others in Washington, but from the families of the victims of 9-11. Several family members issued this statement, which I strongly commend to all:
"Families of September 11 believes the best way to honor those who were lost is to make sure that what happened to them never happens again. As such, we must understand exactly what took place, and not allow "entertainers" to promote misleading or incorrect information as fact to the public.
If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Any depiction of 9/11 that is not accurate and factual propagates myths, myths that may cause us future harm.
In order to make our country safer and more secure, we owe it to those who were lost to acknowledge that which took place, so that we can ensure it never happens again."
Thanks to TPM Cafe for the quote
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Friday, September 08, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Our Good Ally Pakistan: Not!
Asia Times Online :: South Asia news - Pakistan: Hello al-Qaeda, goodbye America
Fuck Iran! Pakistan already has nukes AND missiles to deliver them! They sold off their nuclear secrets to North Korea and other scummy regimes then told America to piss off when we demanded that proliferator AQ Khan be jailed. They've now confirmed how Al-Qaeda-friendly they are, and will not pursue bin Laden or al-Zawahiri. They won't even hand over Saud Memon, a Pakistani suspect in the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl. What has evil despot Musharref done for us lately? Pakistan is harboring terrorists! Why don't Bush's threats against terrorist-harboring governments apply to Pakistan now? Shouldn't we bomb their nuclear facilities with an urgency greater than that which we assign to the Iranian threat?
via TPM
Fuck Iran! Pakistan already has nukes AND missiles to deliver them! They sold off their nuclear secrets to North Korea and other scummy regimes then told America to piss off when we demanded that proliferator AQ Khan be jailed. They've now confirmed how Al-Qaeda-friendly they are, and will not pursue bin Laden or al-Zawahiri. They won't even hand over Saud Memon, a Pakistani suspect in the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl. What has evil despot Musharref done for us lately? Pakistan is harboring terrorists! Why don't Bush's threats against terrorist-harboring governments apply to Pakistan now? Shouldn't we bomb their nuclear facilities with an urgency greater than that which we assign to the Iranian threat?
via TPM
Tony Blair will step down
British Leader Announces Plans to Resign in Next Year - New York Times:
"Bending to pressure, Prime Minister Tony Blair announced today that he would leave office within the next 12 months, heralding the end of a remarkable three terms in office during which he has lifted the nation’s mood at home but plunged it into unwelcome wars in Afghanistan and Iraq."
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Friday, September 01, 2006
Flood
I just had a flashback while viewing footage of flooding in Norfolk from Ernesto. I lived in Norfolk during a very similar flood, I remember wading through it in the street in front of our house. The neighborhood kids loved it! I must have been four or five years old.
I'm sitting on the New Jersey coast, on vacation, enjoying the lovely weather.
I just had a flashback while viewing footage of flooding in Norfolk from Ernesto. I lived in Norfolk during a very similar flood, I remember wading through it in the street in front of our house. The neighborhood kids loved it! I must have been four or five years old.
I'm sitting on the New Jersey coast, on vacation, enjoying the lovely weather.
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