Well, I'm certainly glad that Washington has been cleaned up to the point that even legal gifts to lawmakers are now under close scrutiny. The John Solomon article for AP does just that as he looks into boxing tickets that Harry Reid accepted from the Nevada Athletic Commission while he was pursuing legislation that was against their interest.
Reid broke no laws or ethic regulations as the Senate's rules allow lawmakers to receive gifts from federal, or state and local governments, but of course Solomon finds some ethics experts (3) to claim that Reid should have paid for the tickets.
The whole thing is crap.
Note: I don't exerpt from AP articles, but you can read the whole thing here.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
John Snow to Resign
It will be up to Goldman Sachs CEO Henry Paulson to replace John Snow as Treasury Secretary after attempts to reincarnate PT Barnum failed to produce results.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Insane If True
As you probably have already heard, woman reported seeing a gunman and gunshots were reported in the garage at the Rayburn Office Building which holds Congressional offices.
Raw Story is reporting that, "The aide also said that videocameras in the Rayburn garage often do not have tape in them and are not monitored."
Umm, they can't really still be using cameras that require videotape, can they? Also, why the hell wouldn't these be monitored?
Raw Story is reporting that, "The aide also said that videocameras in the Rayburn garage often do not have tape in them and are not monitored."
Umm, they can't really still be using cameras that require videotape, can they? Also, why the hell wouldn't these be monitored?
3rd Open Letter To Rick Santorum
Senator Santorum
In the past, I've written to implore you to think of the safety of your children concerning your house located in Penn Hills. This time, I'm writing to ask that you consider the burden your house puts on the US Postal Service.
The courageous civil servants of the US Postal Service brave rain, sleet, snow, and your overgrown yard only to find that mail is not deliverable to this address. You also have left no forwarding address which means the Post Office must incur the cost of returning your letter to the sender.
It's truly unfair to these letter bearing patriots to burdens them with your indolence concerning receiving mail.
Also, I saw a Seinfeld rerun last night where Kramer attempted to drop out of the mail system. Apparently the Postal Service takes this sort of thing very serious.
Phlip
In the past, I've written to implore you to think of the safety of your children concerning your house located in Penn Hills. This time, I'm writing to ask that you consider the burden your house puts on the US Postal Service.
The courageous civil servants of the US Postal Service brave rain, sleet, snow, and your overgrown yard only to find that mail is not deliverable to this address. You also have left no forwarding address which means the Post Office must incur the cost of returning your letter to the sender.
It's truly unfair to these letter bearing patriots to burdens them with your indolence concerning receiving mail.
Also, I saw a Seinfeld rerun last night where Kramer attempted to drop out of the mail system. Apparently the Postal Service takes this sort of thing very serious.
Phlip
Bush Seals Records
As long as you're not in Congress, you can pretty well be on whichever side of the debate over President Bush sealing the records of William Jefferson seized by the FBI and be disturbed over these actions.
Jefferson had filed a motion with the courts to have just that done. Bush stepping in to grant Jefferson's motion means he backed off of the toes of the Legislative branch only to put his feet directly on top of the Judicial branch. It's either constitutional or it isn't, let the courts decide.
Consider this statement by Jefferson's lawyer. From the Washington Post:
Not every day? Try virtually never, and never is how often it should be.
Jefferson had filed a motion with the courts to have just that done. Bush stepping in to grant Jefferson's motion means he backed off of the toes of the Legislative branch only to put his feet directly on top of the Judicial branch. It's either constitutional or it isn't, let the courts decide.
Consider this statement by Jefferson's lawyer. From the Washington Post:
"It's not every day a lawyer has his motion granted by the president of the United States," Trout said. "We're obviously pleased with this decision."
Not every day? Try virtually never, and never is how often it should be.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Battle Lines Drawn
Well as I expected, the Jefferson affair has sided the CBC versus the activists. The Hill has the CBC's side right here. Steve Gilliard answers for the activists here. I happen to lean towards the activist's side in this disagreement. I think the least Jefferson could do is resign his committee position, and as far as the CBC goes, the likely recipient of that seat would be CBC member Arthur Davis.
As noted in the above referenced Hill article, Davis did not attend the meeting of the CBC where they expressed their displeasure with Nancy Pelosi, but the Hill Article contains this:
As noted in the above referenced Hill article, Davis did not attend the meeting of the CBC where they expressed their displeasure with Nancy Pelosi, but the Hill Article contains this:
“Congressman Jefferson is a friend. [Davis] admires his work during his time in Washington and doesn’t feel it is appropriate to comment now,” the [Davis'] spokesman said.Granted, this comes from his spokesman as Davis refused to comment, but this sounds exactly like the kind of thing you say right before you knife your "friend" in the back.
Skillings, Lay: Guilty
Ken Lay and Jeffery Skilling were both found guilty on a variety of charges in the Enron case, 19 counts for Skilling, 10 for Lay.
There's really nothing for me to add here.
There's really nothing for me to add here.
A Short Stop Indeed
Yesterday, I wrote that on the slippery slope of civil liberties, from the raid of William Jefferson's office, "it is only a short stop down the slope to raiding offices for political means, probably under the guise of national security."
Roll Call is reporting today that the FBI wants to interview top House members from both political parties regarding the NSA surveillance leak. That is indeed a short stop, but both parties? Yea, right. Sounds like a witch hunt is about to start.
Although, I have to admit, I can wait to see Pat Roberts meekly utter, "Well, you have no civil liberties when you're dead." as Alberto Gonzales has him bent over a sawhorse with a speculum stuck up his ass looking for terrorists.
Found via Raw Story
Roll Call is reporting today that the FBI wants to interview top House members from both political parties regarding the NSA surveillance leak. That is indeed a short stop, but both parties? Yea, right. Sounds like a witch hunt is about to start.
Although, I have to admit, I can wait to see Pat Roberts meekly utter, "Well, you have no civil liberties when you're dead." as Alberto Gonzales has him bent over a sawhorse with a speculum stuck up his ass looking for terrorists.
Found via Raw Story
2nd Open Letter To Rick Santorum
Senator Santorum
While I previously wrote about the interior of your Penn Hills house, I also must take issue with your lawn as well. As you may or may not know, the flea and tick season is rapidly coming upon us, and the knee high grass at your property as seen above is the perfect habitat for fleas and ticks, which have been known to carry lyme disease.
For the sake of your wife and children, whom you claim occasionally stay at this house, I implore you to have either one of your sham charities or your campaign take time away from buying you groceries or Starbucks coffee long enough to hire a quality lawn service to manicure your lawn. Proper landscaping is one of the precautions the CDC recommends as a safeguard against lyme disease.
Won't you please think of the children?
Phlip
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
It's Just That Easy
During a speech at the Regency Hotel in New York, John McCain laid out his comprehensive plan for how he would win the peace in Iraq if he was president. From the New York Observer:
I see, that should definitely solve the multi-layered problems plaguing the war torn country. Actually, the fact that McCain gave this speech behind close doors to possible 2008 supporters, and not to George Bush make me think that McCain is putting politics above patriotism.
How many more US soldiers must die while McCain withholds this comprehensive approach to Iraq? How many could have been saved if he would have only let the current commander in chief this wisdom?
How does anyone take this jackass seriously?
“One of the things I would do if I were President would be to sit the Shiites and the Sunnis down and say, ‘Stop the bullshit,’” said Mr. McCain, according to Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, an invitee, and two other guests.
I see, that should definitely solve the multi-layered problems plaguing the war torn country. Actually, the fact that McCain gave this speech behind close doors to possible 2008 supporters, and not to George Bush make me think that McCain is putting politics above patriotism.
How many more US soldiers must die while McCain withholds this comprehensive approach to Iraq? How many could have been saved if he would have only let the current commander in chief this wisdom?
How does anyone take this jackass seriously?
Pelosi In No Win Situation
Nancy Pelosi is in a no win situation. She wrote the following letter to William Jefferson:
Jefferson politely declined, so what does she do now? It's a tough call. Any serious attempt to push Jefferson out will probably cost her the support of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), who is reportedly protecting Jefferson, in any future leadership races. On the other hand, party activists, who view Jefferson as a hindrance in the attempt to retake the House, are out for blood. If Pelosi isn't seen as being firm enough with Jefferson, they will probably exert enormous pressure on their Congressperson to vote for someone else when the next Congress is convened.
If we take back the House, I don't look for Pelosi to be speaker. She simply got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, which is becoming exceedingly easy to do in the brave new world of the ever shortening news cycle. Jefferson will probably be indicted by the middle of June, but that's an eternity for the the now, now, now crowd. (Which I am certainly sometimes guilty of) In the old days she could have simply waited for this thing to run its course. Those days are gone.
May 24, 2006
Congressman William J. Jefferson
2113 Rayburn House Office Building
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Jefferson:
In the interest of upholding the high ethical standard of the House Democratic Caucus, I am writing to request your immediate resignation from the Ways and Means Committee.
Sincerely,
Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader
Jefferson politely declined, so what does she do now? It's a tough call. Any serious attempt to push Jefferson out will probably cost her the support of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), who is reportedly protecting Jefferson, in any future leadership races. On the other hand, party activists, who view Jefferson as a hindrance in the attempt to retake the House, are out for blood. If Pelosi isn't seen as being firm enough with Jefferson, they will probably exert enormous pressure on their Congressperson to vote for someone else when the next Congress is convened.
If we take back the House, I don't look for Pelosi to be speaker. She simply got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, which is becoming exceedingly easy to do in the brave new world of the ever shortening news cycle. Jefferson will probably be indicted by the middle of June, but that's an eternity for the the now, now, now crowd. (Which I am certainly sometimes guilty of) In the old days she could have simply waited for this thing to run its course. Those days are gone.
Searching A Congressmans Office
Prominent republicans have now raised a furor over the searching of Congressman William Jefferson's office, which indeed was unprecedented. I found two of their statements especially infuriating.
First up is Newt Gingrich who said the raid was, "the most blatant violation of the Constitutional Separation of Powers in my lifetime." Newt has a remarkable vocabulary for somebody who must have only been born last Saturday. This is far, far, far from the worst violation the separation of powers that the Bush administration has perpetrated on this country. I could make a list, but you know the big ones.
The other comes from Dennis Hastert who was quoted as saying, "The actions of the Justice Department in seeking and executing this warrant raise important constitutional issues," House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, said in a statement last night. ''I expect to seek a means to restore the delicate balance of power among the branches of government that the founders intended.''
First things first, Hastert and the other republicans who are now running the country have no right to use the phrase founders intent, they have forfeited it. If the founding fathers could be resurrected to see how the current republicans are running the country, the first thing they would do is march on the Treasury Department to demand we take their faces off of our fucking money.
Secondly, Hastert, and everyone else in Congress has no one to blame but themselves. Civil liberties always sit on a slippery slope, and Hastert and the rest of the republicans have spent the last five years icing down the track for the Bush administration, so don't piss and moan to me when someone from the executive branch cock punches you as they race by you on a fast moving sled. Did you really think they were going to stop at the rest of our civil liberties? If you did, you're either awfully smug, or just plain stupid.
Sadly though, Hastert is also correct, this is a violation of the separation of powers. I'm sure it was meant as a wake-up call to Jefferson, who seems more plainly guilty than even Bob Ney, but it is only a short stop down the slope to raiding offices for political means, probably under the guise of national security.
And while I indulge in some schadenfreude watching these guys get pissy about suffering the same intrusions that we the people have for the last few years, I also do hope that this shakes the tree hard enough to get them to stand up not just for their rights, but ours as well. Of course, the odds on that are roughly the same as Barbaro coming back to win the Belmont. We must rid ourselves of these assholes come November.
First up is Newt Gingrich who said the raid was, "the most blatant violation of the Constitutional Separation of Powers in my lifetime." Newt has a remarkable vocabulary for somebody who must have only been born last Saturday. This is far, far, far from the worst violation the separation of powers that the Bush administration has perpetrated on this country. I could make a list, but you know the big ones.
The other comes from Dennis Hastert who was quoted as saying, "The actions of the Justice Department in seeking and executing this warrant raise important constitutional issues," House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, said in a statement last night. ''I expect to seek a means to restore the delicate balance of power among the branches of government that the founders intended.''
First things first, Hastert and the other republicans who are now running the country have no right to use the phrase founders intent, they have forfeited it. If the founding fathers could be resurrected to see how the current republicans are running the country, the first thing they would do is march on the Treasury Department to demand we take their faces off of our fucking money.
Secondly, Hastert, and everyone else in Congress has no one to blame but themselves. Civil liberties always sit on a slippery slope, and Hastert and the rest of the republicans have spent the last five years icing down the track for the Bush administration, so don't piss and moan to me when someone from the executive branch cock punches you as they race by you on a fast moving sled. Did you really think they were going to stop at the rest of our civil liberties? If you did, you're either awfully smug, or just plain stupid.
Sadly though, Hastert is also correct, this is a violation of the separation of powers. I'm sure it was meant as a wake-up call to Jefferson, who seems more plainly guilty than even Bob Ney, but it is only a short stop down the slope to raiding offices for political means, probably under the guise of national security.
And while I indulge in some schadenfreude watching these guys get pissy about suffering the same intrusions that we the people have for the last few years, I also do hope that this shakes the tree hard enough to get them to stand up not just for their rights, but ours as well. Of course, the odds on that are roughly the same as Barbaro coming back to win the Belmont. We must rid ourselves of these assholes come November.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Much Ado About Not Fucking
Countless thousands of words have been written today about the New York Times article by Patrick Healy in which he interviewed some fifty odd sources to determine how often Bill and Hillary Clinton either do or do not fuck. It's a yawner for me as I really don't care how often people entering their sixties fuck. Think about this then close your eyes. How often do your parents fuck? Ha ha, made you think about your parents fucking.
Seriously, what is the deal with how much fucking Bill Clinton is doing? It's as if the right is worried that if Hillary gets elected president there will once again be some sort of über-cock roaming the White House with the ability impregnate their hymen reconstructed born again virgin daughters from miles away, only for them to be abducted by teams of tactical abortion providers intent on harvesting fetuses for some future army of female (Bill only has girls) fuck toys only capable of longing for other future über-cocks.
Hollywood doesn't even dream up these kinds of movies, well there is a place in North Hollywood where they do the über-cock thing, but that's another story.
I have some sad news for the people pushing this story, which could even be handlers of other Democratic presidential hopefuls, in fact it probably is. The usefulness of the Bill Clinton über-cock meme is as stale as the old Wendy's Where's the Beef? ads of which we all know the answer. It's in Bill Clinton's über-cock.
Jesus, I just read what I wrote. Did I mistake my Marlboros for someone else's crack? Oh well, it takes a post as silly and stupid to respond to an article that silly and stupid, plus I spent some time today reading some old local entertainment guides to a town I don't even live in by Daria O'Neill so I was already feeling silly and stupid anyway.
Side note: Google's spellchecker doesn't recognize über-cock, huh.
Seriously, what is the deal with how much fucking Bill Clinton is doing? It's as if the right is worried that if Hillary gets elected president there will once again be some sort of über-cock roaming the White House with the ability impregnate their hymen reconstructed born again virgin daughters from miles away, only for them to be abducted by teams of tactical abortion providers intent on harvesting fetuses for some future army of female (Bill only has girls) fuck toys only capable of longing for other future über-cocks.
Hollywood doesn't even dream up these kinds of movies, well there is a place in North Hollywood where they do the über-cock thing, but that's another story.
I have some sad news for the people pushing this story, which could even be handlers of other Democratic presidential hopefuls, in fact it probably is. The usefulness of the Bill Clinton über-cock meme is as stale as the old Wendy's Where's the Beef? ads of which we all know the answer. It's in Bill Clinton's über-cock.
Jesus, I just read what I wrote. Did I mistake my Marlboros for someone else's crack? Oh well, it takes a post as silly and stupid to respond to an article that silly and stupid, plus I spent some time today reading some old local entertainment guides to a town I don't even live in by Daria O'Neill so I was already feeling silly and stupid anyway.
Side note: Google's spellchecker doesn't recognize über-cock, huh.
Feel The Love, Damnit, Feel It
The local republican party, perhaps taking a cue from the state party, is trying to get independent candidate Charles Morrison stricken from the ballot in the OH-15 US House race. Morrison filed as an independent, yet the republican party apparently thinks they have some sort of dominion over Morrison. From the Dispatch:
"Charles Morrison was, is and remains a Republican," said Franklin County GOP Chairman Doug Preisse, who filed the protest along with his counterparts in Madison and Union counties.I didn't know the republican party was a cult, where you can't leave. One other thing, if the republican party is worried that this clown is going to syphon off enough votes to cost Deborah Pryce her seat in Congress, they've got a lot bigger problems than Morrison whose name recognition is only slightly greater than mine.
To TEL The Truth
I don't like the TEL amendment and fully plan to vote against it in the fall. In fact, I don't like statewide initiatives in general. They've made a mess of the California ballot and we don't need that sort of thing here. That being said, the Ohio Constitution does allow for rights of petitioners, and those requirements have been met.
Speaking of the Ohio Constitution, one word that doesn't seem to appear in it is oligarchy, which is exactly how the state Republican Party is currently acting by deciding among them what can appear on the ballot. Whatever the back room deal they cut with the committee that filed the petitions for TEL, they are usurping the will of the voters with this unconstitutional legislation to remove it from the ballot.
What’s next, a Soviet style single party ballot?
That's the letter to the editor I just sent to the Dispatch in response to the republican's attempt to strip the TEL amendment from the fall ballot. But here I have the space to look at some other aspects of this.
I think the republican leadership is really screwing the pooch with this. They would have been a lot better off simply using their organization to defeat it much like some Cleveland area Democrats did with the redistricting effort last fall.
This is bound to not sit well with a portion of their electorate, and in this coming election they can't afford many more defections. Pretty bad idea all around.
Speaking of the Ohio Constitution, one word that doesn't seem to appear in it is oligarchy, which is exactly how the state Republican Party is currently acting by deciding among them what can appear on the ballot. Whatever the back room deal they cut with the committee that filed the petitions for TEL, they are usurping the will of the voters with this unconstitutional legislation to remove it from the ballot.
What’s next, a Soviet style single party ballot?
That's the letter to the editor I just sent to the Dispatch in response to the republican's attempt to strip the TEL amendment from the fall ballot. But here I have the space to look at some other aspects of this.
I think the republican leadership is really screwing the pooch with this. They would have been a lot better off simply using their organization to defeat it much like some Cleveland area Democrats did with the redistricting effort last fall.
This is bound to not sit well with a portion of their electorate, and in this coming election they can't afford many more defections. Pretty bad idea all around.
Monday, May 22, 2006
NOAA Way We're Gonna Say Global Warming
NOAA today released their predictions for the upcoming hurricane season with 13-16 named storms, 8-10 hurricanes, and 4-6 major hurricanes.
Just to be sure you don't get any ideas about global warming, NOAA's prediction contains the phrase multi-decadal signal six times in the release. I wonder which Bush appointed hack was responsible for its abundance. Anyway, get used to hearing that buzz phrase, you'll be sick of hearing about the multi-decadal signal by the end of year, especially if the number of storms once again outpaces the prediction.
Just to be sure you don't get any ideas about global warming, NOAA's prediction contains the phrase multi-decadal signal six times in the release. I wonder which Bush appointed hack was responsible for its abundance. Anyway, get used to hearing that buzz phrase, you'll be sick of hearing about the multi-decadal signal by the end of year, especially if the number of storms once again outpaces the prediction.
Open Letter To Rick Santorum
Senator Santorum,
You published a letter on RedState.com today that you sent to the Casey campaign in which you claim that:
Mr. Santorum, if you do indeed allow your six children to stay in a three bedroom house with no curtains or furniture, you and your wife should immediately turn yourself into Children's Services for the sake of your children. No child deserves to spend their youth living in such squalor.
Children's Services is in a position to put your children into homes that contain not only curtains and furniture, but also the other amenities that your Penn Hills home is lacking.
Please, think of your children and act with haste.
Phlip
Update: While my letter is snark, even the Red State commenters are unimpressed with Santorum's letter.
You published a letter on RedState.com today that you sent to the Casey campaign in which you claim that:
We are writing to express our outrage regarding the actions of your campaign, which have put our six young children at a serious safety risk. Last night, we learned with deep dismay that a Casey operative admitted on KDKA-TV to trespassing on our property and viewing the inside of our home. Further, your campaign issued a press release yesterday that falsely says that we do not stay in our Penn Hills home. This reckless statement is not only a lie, but alerts those who may want to enter the home illegally. Your despicable actions have greatly endangered our children's safety.
Mr. Santorum, if you do indeed allow your six children to stay in a three bedroom house with no curtains or furniture, you and your wife should immediately turn yourself into Children's Services for the sake of your children. No child deserves to spend their youth living in such squalor.
Children's Services is in a position to put your children into homes that contain not only curtains and furniture, but also the other amenities that your Penn Hills home is lacking.
Please, think of your children and act with haste.
Phlip
Update: While my letter is snark, even the Red State commenters are unimpressed with Santorum's letter.
Let's Not Make A Deal
Monte Hall: Ok, Little Bo Peep, you can keep your civil liberties, or you trade them for what's behind door 641A.
Little Bo Peep: That's a tough choice Monte, you know, one time a few years ago, al-Queda managed to kill almost as many people as handgun violence claims every year.
Monte Hall: You want to be safe, don't you? As Pat Roberts says, those civil liberties won't do you any good when you're dead.
Little Bo Peep: I'll take the door!
Monte Hall: Jay Stewart, tell her what she's won.
Jay Stewart: Behind door number 641A, located in the AT&T building at 611 Folsom Street in San Francisco in cabinet position 060903.01 is a Narus STA 6400, which allows the NSA to spy on you and yours. Congratulations Little Bo Peep.
Monte Hall: Wow. It's no wonder the Bush administration sought to have the lawsuit that held this information quashed.
Jay Stewart: That's right Monte, and I guess that gag order in the case is no longer worth the paper it's printed on.
Little Bo Peep: I think I fucked up, Monte.
Monte Hall: You certainly did, Little Bo Peep. You certainly did.
Jefferson Has To Go
Now that the revelation has been made that the FBI videotaped William Jefferson of Louisiana receiving a $100,000 bribe from an informant, he has got to leave Congress. If not, the Democrats should be the leading force on removing him.
While I believe that everybody has a right to a fair trial, the bar has to be set higher for those serving as public officials. Jefferson took the money, then proceeded to hide it in his freezer in frozen food packages. That certainly merits expulsion from the US House of Representatives.
And if the Democrats want to run on a platform of reform, you have to prove that you have the resolve to actually follow through on that policy, and Jefferson's ouster would help provide that proof.
While I believe that everybody has a right to a fair trial, the bar has to be set higher for those serving as public officials. Jefferson took the money, then proceeded to hide it in his freezer in frozen food packages. That certainly merits expulsion from the US House of Representatives.
And if the Democrats want to run on a platform of reform, you have to prove that you have the resolve to actually follow through on that policy, and Jefferson's ouster would help provide that proof.
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