Correction

My bad, I was wrong about Omar al-Farouq. He actually did escape and boasted as much in a video shown on Al-Arabiya on October 18th. It didn't garner any attention is the US press and it was only yesterday that the Pentagon confirmed the mistake.

Interesting

The above is a screenshot showing that someone in the Franklin County Municipal Courts visited this blog this morning after finding it by running an MSN search for "Mike Pirik". Is it someone goofing off or are Pirik's employees doing campaign work on the county dime? Inquiring minds want to know.

Poll Numbers

The new CBS poll has George Bush at 35%. That's bad, but not nearly as bad as Dick Cheney's 19% approval rating. Christ, that's Bob Taft bad. I don't think Bush can get much lower than 30% so he's getting pretty close to the bottom.

Andy Ginther & Betty Drummond

For Columbus School Board I am supporting Andy Ginther and Betty Drummond. Outside of Intelligent Design freaks, anyone, and I mean anyone, regardless of party deserves a pat on the back for running for any school board. It's a pretty thankless job. I often tell people who want to get into politics to run for their local school board. They're cheap campaigns to run and it gives the candidate real world experience in honing their campaign style. I also tell them that whatever they do, don't win. The job sucks.

That being said, on November 8th, I'll be pulling the lever for Andy and Betty.

Smells

I find the claim by the Pentagon that a detainee cannot testify in an Army abuse case because he has escaped to be highly dubious. From CNN.com:

A man once considered a top al Qaeda operative escaped from a U.S.-run detention facility in Afghanistan and cannot testify against the soldier who allegedly mistreated him, a defense lawyer involved in a prison abuse case said Tuesday.

Omar al-Farouq was one of Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants in Southeast Asia until Indonesian authorities captured him in the summer of 2002 and turned him over to the United States.

A Pentagon official in Washington confirmed Tuesday evening that al-Farouq escaped from a U.S. detention facility in Bagram, Afghanistan, on July 10. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.

An Army lawyer for Sgt. Alan J. Driver, a reservist accused of abusing Bagram detainees, asked Tuesday where al-Farouq was and what the Army had done to find him in time for Driver's court proceedings.

Capt. John B. Parker, a prosecutor, said al-Farouq and three others escaped from the Bagram detention center and have not been found.

"If we find him ... we will make him available," Parker said.

That smells like complete bullshit to me, but fuck it, lets take the Pentagon's word at face value. That means that somewhere in the US military is a person that ran a prison which allowed "one of Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants" escape. That seems like a pretty demotable offense to me. Who is this person and what punishment has been meted out to this individual? I say this person must be named so the entire nation can shame him or her. Also, why wasn't the public notified that this dangerous figure is now at large? I could have walked right by Omar al-Farouq and not recognized him with my Omar al-Farouq card sitting at home in the captured pile.

That's Donald Rumsfeld's Pentagon folks, so mismanaged that they have to fabricate a fuck-up to cover up a fuck-up.

Give 'Em Hell Harry

Harry Reid shut down the Senate yesterday to demand resolution into the investigation of prewar failures. FrankenFrist called it a slap to his cold dead face. If Fristybot 5000 had a human tongue he would realize that this is just a taste of things to come. Take off your debutante gloves Frist, the band is playing our song and we’re gonna dance, bitch!

I tried to reach Fristybot for comment, but his internal processor was busy conducting pre-session online trading in his blind trust. Merck has a new erectile dysfunction drug for robots called uprdownathol.

The Nuclear Option

Now is the time for the showdown on the nuclear option. If we don't force the republicans to invoke the nuclear option over this nominee, do we really have an effective filibuster anyway? It actually goes a lot further than that. We are in a can't lose situation.

First of all, I agree with Kevin Drum. Let's suppose the republicans successfully use the nuclear option to get Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. It that happens, the Christian right will demand the Senate use it in other places to pass God knows what loony legislation. What do you do then? Capitulate and completely lose the middle, or throw the right overboard? Either way it is over for the republican party.

Secondly, I don't think the republican party can do this without having 51 votes. I can't imagine there are many Senators wanting to go out on the campaign trail next year having been the vote that gave Dick Cheney the keys to the hen house. How would you like to be that vote which every yes voting Senator would be when Scooter Libby decides he likes his children more than the current VP and cuts a deal? Ouch.

As far as the Christian right is concerned, they are approaching the top of the mountain. They just don't understand it's all downhill from there.

Sam Herd

Since there is one week until the 2005 election, I'd like to take the time to tell everyone which candidates and issues I'm supporting this year. I'll start with Sam Herd for Cincinnati City Council if for the only reason that I am attending an impromptu fundraiser for her tonight at Metro on South High St in Columbus from 5:30 to 7:30. The ask is for $50, but any contribution is appreciated. If you can't attend but would like to throw her some coin, you can do so here.

You can read more about Samantha Herd at her website or at her profile at smartvoter.org

Oxley To Retire

Michael Oxley is retiring from the US House according to the Toledo Blade. A year ago I had five republican US House members on my wish list to take out in 2006 even if they were replaced by other republicans. Rob Portman is already gone, Michael Oxley appears to be retiring, and credible candidates have been found to run against Deb Pryce and Bob Ney.

Anybody want to throw their hat in the ring to take on Pat Tiberi?

Last Alito Today

Looking at some of Samuel Alito's other rulings, I'd have to think Mrs. Alito takes it in the ass quite often given his extreme aversion to vaginae.

More On Alito

Shake off your Fitzmas hangover, it's Boxing Day in America. Here is the skinny on Samuel Alito. Nick-named Scalito for his closeness in voting to Antonin Scalia, Alito is best known for being the only dissenting vote on the 3rd circuit in the Planned Parenthood v Casey case. This case had to do with spousal consultation before a woman could get a abortion. The Supreme Court went on to strike down the law 6 to 3.

On NPR this morning, an associate of Alito said that Alito respects precedents especially the intent of the precedent. For those of you that thinks Roe v Wade is safe because of that should note that the original intent of that case was to protect doctors that perform abortions, not the women seeking them. Alito will vote to overturn Roe.

This nomination is yet another example of President Bush yielding to radical right wing cultists.

This is a nomination we must fight to the end, but in the end I'm not sure this is a fight we can win. I hope I can count on my sisters that belong to NOW, Emily's List, etc. to screw Chafee's balls to the wall on this vote. If Chafee votes for this nomination, you had better unleash holy hell on him. We need to use this to target all pro-choice republicans who vote for this nomination.

Samuel Alito

Everybody is reporting at this early hour that the new Supreme Court nominee will be Samuel Alito.

Huh?

Cokie Roberts just said on this week that the current Plame scandal is exactly the reason we should repeal the 22nd amendment that limits the president to two terms. What the fuck is she talking about?

Local Hackery

I just saw Mike Pirik's ridiculous ad attacking Lori Tyack! on some tax issue. Hello, this is the race for local Municipal Court Clerk. Don't you hate it when your local muni court clerk raises your taxes? Or perhaps when your local dog catcher raises your taxes. Oh wait, neither of those positions have that kind of authority. Pirik looks simply stupid running on this issue.

Of course, with the scandal coming out of Pirik's office, it's kind of hard to run on your record.

If you're wandering about the explanation mark after Tyack!'s name, it is a subtle dig at her silly looking campaign shirts.

Bubbly Cracked

I'm enjoying the Fitzmas Champagne More later.

Flipping Scooter

It is pretty clear to me that Fitzgerald has indicted Scooter Libby in order to force a plea bargain for his testimony against an individual the indictment refers to as "Official A." From the indictment:

21. On or about July 10 or July 11, 2003, LIBBY spoke to a senior official in the White House (Official A) who advised LIBBY of a conversation Official A had earlier that week with columnist Robert Novak in which Wilson’s wife was discussed as a CIA employee involved in Wilson’s trip. LIBBY was advised by Official A that Novak would be writing a story about Wilson’s wife.

Who wants to bet that Official A is Karl Rove?

Libby Resigns

Scooter got creamed, then he got canned

Five Counts For Libby

The grand jury has indicted Scooter Libby on two counts of perjury, two counts of making false statements, and one count of obstruction of justice.

Fitzmas Goose

It looks like we will be carving the Fitmas Goose at noon with the silent knight giving a presser at two. It also looks like Fitmas is going to continue as a new grand jury will be convened to look into further charges.

Supply Siders Bemoan Supply Side Economics

Republicans in congress are up in arms over current oil prices. Dennis Hastert went as far as to threaten prosecution if it is found that any price gouging is taking place. From The Christian Science Monitor:

The soaring profits have already attracted the attention of many members of Congress. On Tuesday, House Speaker Dennis Hastert warned companies that any price gouging is "unacceptable, and any company who does it will be prosecuted." He urged the oil companies to explain to the American public what they are doing to bring down the cost of oil and natural gas. And he urged them to build new refineries and pipelines.

What are they doing to lower the cost of oil? What are you doing? You see, oil is a commodity. It is sold on the speculative market, therefore the buyer sets the price. It is a well oiled example of the supply side economics you champion every day. It is the way republicans think all business should be done. Yesterday, gold closed at $473.80 on the NY spot merc. I don't see you threatening jewelers for selling a commodity that's only intrinsic value is that it is shiny. What are you going to do now? Propose some sort of socialized form of oil sales? Impose some of those nasty government regulations you deplore?

If Hastert wants to place blame for high oil prices, perhaps he should look in the mirror. This republican led congress has failed miserably in pushing any meaningful alternative energy legislation leaving people with only a few petroleum based options for fuel. Hell, you even gave the oil companies billions in subsidies.

This is even the calm before the storm. Hastert's constituents might not be affected this winter, but his cold belt colleagues are likely to feel the voters wrath after this years heating bills come due.

When it comes to foresight in the republican party, the one-eyed man truly is king.