Will He Be Indicted, Before DeLay Is Convicted?

Right Wing Jerk Of The Month

Roy Blunt (MO-R)

From Open Secrets:

• Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Rated 14% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
• Rated 17% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
• Rated 0% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
• Rated 0% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Rated 0% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-labor voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Rated 0% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)

Things that make you go hmmmmm....

Voted NO on disallowing the invasion of Kosovo.

Voted YES on authorizing military force in Iraq.

From Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics: Beyond Delay

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-K Street) has been listed by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington as one of the 13 most corrupt members of Congress.

And.... SURPRISE! SURPRISE! Look whose name crops up here:

Legislative Assistance for Jack Abramoff’s Client

Rep. Blunt and his staff have close connections to uber-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is the subject of criminal and congressional probes. In June 2003, Mr. Abramoff persuaded Majority Leader Tom DeLay to organize a letter, co-signed by Speaker Hastert, Whip Roy Blunt, and Deputy Whip Eric Cantor, that endorsed a view of gambling law benefitting Mr. Abramoff’s client, the Louisiana Coushatta, by blocking gambling competition by another tribe. Mr. Abramoff has donated $8,500 to Rep. Blunt’s leadership PAC, Rely on Your Beliefs.

If, as it appears, Rep. Blunt was accepting campaign contributions from Mr. Abramoff in exchange for using his official position so support a view of gambling law that would benefit Mr. Abramoff’s client, he would be in violation of the law.

Yes Congrats Mr. Blunt! You are the Right-Wing Jerk of The Month.

Bill Frist Contemplates the Future

Frist: I am sooooo fucked!

Arlen "Durante": Ha cha cha!

McConnell: Christ! that Durante thing kills me, every time!

Live from Washington DC.... Jimmy Durante!

Rink a Dink a a doo.... Good night Mrs Calabash! Wherever you are!

classic quote of the day

Courage is the resistance to fear, mastery of fear-not absence of fear
-Mark Twain

Captain, That Is Not Logical.

Main Article From Military.com (via AP)

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military, built for man-made battles, could end up leading fights against Mother Nature.

In the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita - and the federal government's sluggish response to the first - President George W. Bush is raising the possibility of putting the Pentagon in charge of search-and-rescue efforts for catastrophic natural disasters.

Such a precedent-setting shift would require not only some change in law but a greater degree of consensus. Congress is divided over the prospect of troops massed in U.S. cities and increasing the power of the federal government at the expense of the states.

And there's the question of what would be left for the recently created Homeland Security Department to do.

Whisky Tango Foxtrot?

This is just plain SNAFU folks. Why in the name of the Flying Spaghetti Monster would we have the National Guard in Iraq and the Regular Army handling natural disasters? What's next are we going to hand the police a hose and say fight that fire and a fireman a 9mm and say here ya go Batman?

Sweet Hammer of Thor, who in the Pentagon/White House thinks this shit up anyways?

A Fictionalized High Level Meeting:

Ya lets take the ones who are trained for natural disasters and put them in combat.... wait... wait... (takes puff off of joint)... and the ones trained in combat... we...we... (exhales)... put in charge of natural disasters.

Fortunately the VETERANS over at Operation Truth can place this in perspective for us.

Full Editorial at Op Truth:

This idea is definitely a step in the wrong direction for several reasons. First and foremost soldiers need to be trained on "Soldier Skills" and those need to be their primary function. Whether you are a infantry man, or combat engineer or an MP your first duty is to be proficient in those skills. Adding new skills to that will require more training time, and more time away from field problems and such. Just where do units train for these actions. Should each post that has a MOUT site, have to put in rain pipes and wind machines? Should the mout site be closed off for units that are rehearsing urban operations so that others can stand in the rain and search empty buildings? The military is prepared for large scale logistic missions, but they are not the only ones that are. When there is an airplane crash, does it take the NTSB and the FAA 3 days to get to the site of the crash? Of course not, because they are ready to go. Readiness that is the key

Head over to their site, read, learn, and then make a donation. Also a new Vets perspective book is out One Bullet Away : The Making of a Marine Officer by Nathaniel C. Fick, USMC. Best part, when you buy the book they make a donation to Operation Truth.

For Kid Charlemagne

Wensleydale

Description:
Traditional, hard cheese made from cow's milk. It has a shape of cylinder with natural rind. Wensleydale can be used as table cheese and is very tasty with apple pie. This cheese is based on the recipe that can be traced back to the Cistercian monks who came over with William the Conqueror in the 11 century. There are two types of the British classic Wensleydale: White, a flat disc that is highly-pressed and has a honey flavor to it and Blue or Yorkshire, which has blue veins, double cream and is a cousin of Stilton - the blue variety comes in large drums. Good Wensleydale has a supple, crumbly, moist texture and resembles a young Caerphilly. The flavor suggests wild honey balanced with a fresh acidity. It matures in two to four months and has a fat content of 45 per cent.

Country:	England
Milk:	cow milk
Texture:	hard
Fat content:	45 %
Producer:	Wensleydale Creamery

Cheese Blogging Thursday!!!

In honor of the good people of Eschaton

Stilton

Description:
Historically referred to as "The King of Cheeses" Stilton is a blue-mould cheese with a rich and mellow flavor and a piquant aftertaste. It has narrow, blue-green veins and a wrinkled rind which is not edible. Stilton is milder than Roquefort or Gorgonzola, and is equally excellent for crumbling over salads or as a dessert cheese, served with a Port Wine. There are two types of Stilton: Blue and White Stilton. Rennet is added to milk at 86 degrees F and after an hour curd forms. The curd is drained and moulded. One week passes and then Stiltons are allowed to mature for 6 to 8 months.

Country:	England
Milk:	cow milk
Texture:	semi-hard
Fat content:	55 %

Bill Maher Quote of the Day

And finally, New Rule: America must recall the president. That's what this country needs. A good, old-fashioned, California-style recall election! Complete with Gary Coleman, porno actresses and action film stars. And just like Schwarzenegger's predecessor here in California, George Bush is now so unpopular, he must defend his jog against...Russell Crowe. Because at this point, I want a leader who will throw a phone at somebody. In fact, let's have only phone throwers. Naomi Campbell can be the vice-president! Now, I kid, but seriously, Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you anymore. There's no more money to spend. You used up all of that. You can't start another war because you also used up the army. And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the Bush family nightmare: helping poor people. Yeah, listen to your mom. The cupboard's bare, the credit card's maxed out, and no one is speaking to you: mission accomplished! Now it's time to do what you've always done best: lose interest and walk away. Like you did with your military service. And the oil company. And the baseball team. It's time. Time to move on and try the next fantasy job. How about cowboy or spaceman?! Now, I know what you're saying. You're saying that there's so many other things that you, as president, could involve yourself in...Please don't. I know, I know, there's a lot left to do. There's a war with Venezuela, and eliminating the sales tax on yachts. Turning the space program over to the church. And Social Security to Fannie Mae. Giving embryos the vote. But, sir, none of that is going to happen now. Why? Because you govern like Billy Joel drives. You've performed so poorly I'm surprised you haven't given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man. Herbert Hoover was a shitty president, but even he never conceded an entire metropolis to rising water and snakes. On your watch, we've lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four airliners, two Trade Centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans...Maybe you're just not lucky! I'm not saying you don't love this country. I'm just wondering how much worse it could be if you were on the other side. So, yes, God does speak to you, and what he's saying is, "Take a hint."

Quote of the day

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted"
Albert Einstein

And So It Goes.

At the time of this posting:

US Military Deaths in Iraq: 1926

Since "Mission Accomplished" : 1789

Official US Military Wounded: 14362 (Est 15,000- 42,500)

Ways You Can Help The Survivors:

Operation Truth

Fisher House

Wounded Warrior Project

Bill Bennett..... Asshole!

I can't believe he freaking said this:

From Media Matters:

Former Reagan administration Secretary of Education, Bill Bennett on his radio show today. Holy Wingnut Batman!!!:

BENNETT: Well, I don't think it is either, I don't think it is either, because first of all, there is just too much that you don't know. But I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down. So these far-out, these far-reaching, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky.

This Truly Has Been A Great Day! Oh Turd Blossom...

From Bloomberg:


Frist Faces Heat as SEC Orders Formal Investigation (Update2)

Sept. 28 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist faces a near-term ordeal unwelcome to anyone, particularly an ambitious politician: an official probe into his personal financial dealings by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The SEC authorized a formal order of investigation of Frist's sale in June of HCA Inc. shares, people with direct knowledge of the inquiry said yesterday. The order allows the agency's enforcement unit to subpoena documents and compel witnesses to testify, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the order hasn't been made public.

``This turns the flame up under the kettle and keeps the water boiling,'' said Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the independent Rothenberg Political Report in Washington. ``It means he's going to continue to be peppered with questions about this stock sale, and no politician wants to be questioned about things like that.''

We don't need no water let that mother fu&^er BURN! BURN! MOTHER FU&^ER! BURN!

classic quote of the day

Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.
Mark Twain

YEEEEEE HAAAAAA!!!!!

From CNN:

BREAKING NEWS:

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay indicted on one count of criminal conspiracy by Texas grand jury, according to Travis County clerk's office.

Thank you Flying Spaghetti Monster! Thank You!

And So It Goes.

At the time of this posting:

US Military Deaths in Iraq: 1921

Since "Mission Accomplished" : 1784

Official US Military Wounded: 14362 (Est 15,000- 42,500)

Ways You Can Help The Survivors:

Operation Truth

Fisher House

Wounded Warrior Project

Our Daily Reading from the Book of Bill Maher

"George Bush must stop saying he owes all his success to Laura. George Bush owes all his success to his daddy, his daddy's friends, trust funds, legacy admissions, the National Guard, the Supreme Court, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, and AA"

from "New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer" by Bill Maher

WE GOT A NUMBER 2, DO YOU HEAR A NUMBER 2!

From Salon:

Sr. al-Qaida Leader Said Killed in Iraq

By THOMAS WAGNER Associated Press Writer

September 27,2005 | BAGHDAD, Iraq -- U.S. and Iraqi authorities said Tuesday their forces had killed the No. 2 official in the al-Qaida in Iraq organization in a weekend raid in Baghdad, claiming to have struck a "painful blow" to the country's most feared insurgent group.
(SNIP)

Al-Qaida in Iraq denied that Abu Azzam was the No. 2 leader of the organization and said "it was not confirmed" that he was killed. "Abu Azzam was one of al-Qaida's many soldiers and is the leader of one of its battalions operating in Baghdad," the group said in an Internet statement by its spokesman, Abu Maysara al-Iraqi.

Hard to believe but al-Qaida has finally run out of number three's. After years of picking them off the U.S. has finally moved up the number scale to the number two men in the terrorist organization.

When asked about this success, U.S. Commander of Futility in the Field, General Killdem Brown Folk responded, "It has taken a while for us to root out the last number three and the good news is their are obviously going to be less two's than three's."

Ah...Progress.

One More Piece Of Kindling For The Impeachment Pile.

NY Newsday reports:

Judge rejects argument that he is interfering with president's authority to wage war

By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press Writer September 26, 2005, 3:40 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- A judge Monday rejected a government argument that he was interfering with the president's constitutional authority to wage war by insisting that Guantanamo Bay detainees be asked if they want their names to be made public. The government argument was asserted after U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff last month ordered the Department of Defense to pose the question to detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, naval base.

The judge wrote that the argument was without merit, and he said it was offered improperly after he had already rejected the government's other reasons for insisting that the information should not be released to The Associated Press.

(SNIP)

Guantanamo holds 520 prisoners; more than 230 others have been released or transferred to the custody of their home governments. Most were captured during the U.S. war in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack. Only a few have been charged with crimes.

Why are we holding people, in some cases over four years without charge? I am not assuming their innocence or their guilt, but if you haven't found anything in OVER FOUR YEARS, then you are not finding anything period.

More important, this government makes a big to do about demanding other nations observe the rule of law. Who are we to flout it so capriciously?

The Bush administration designated them as enemy combatants, a classification that includes anyone who supported the Taliban or al-Qaida and which does not afford as many legal protections as prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. The designation allows indefinite detention without charges.

Again this administration has CHOSEN to turn the law on its head and the MSM just doesn't want to connect the dots. Forget the Geneva Conventions, for a moment and take a look at Title 18 Pt I Ch 113B of the US Code:

§242. Deprivation of rights under color of law

Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or to different punishments, pains, or penalties, on account of such person being an alien, or by reason of his color, or race, than are prescribed for the punishment of citizens, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.

And.....

§ 2334. Jurisdiction and venue

(a) General Venue. Any civil action under section 2333 of this title against any person may be instituted in the district court of the United States for any district where any plaintiff resides or where any defendant resides or is served, or has an agent. Process in such a civil action may be served in any district where the defendant resides, is found, or has an agent.

(b) Special Maritime or Territorial Jurisdiction. If the actions giving rise to the claim occurred within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, as defined in section 7 of this title, then any civil action under section 2333 of this title against any person may be instituted in the district court of the United States for any district in which any plaintiff resides or the defendant resides, is served, or has an agent.

The job of the judiciary is to oversee and adjudicate the laws of this country. Their jurisdiction extends to the lowest of the low and even as high as the POTUS. Nor can the executive pick and choose which laws he wishes to follow.

HMMM.... That Fresh Irony Smell

Oh save me, this is just rich:

The NYT reports:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Justice Department is investigating whether a company sold defective bulletproof vests for President Bush, federal agents and local police and then waited nearly two years to alert customers that the body armor could be unsafe.

A former research chief for Second Chance Body Armor Inc. is cooperating with the criminal investigation and testified this month that the Secret Service tested and bought some of the defective vests for the president and first lady Laura Bush. The Pentagon obtained the same armor for elite troops who guard generals, according to transcripts obtained by The Associated Press.

You go to the press briefing with the body armor you have, not the body armor you might want. Right Shrub? Rumsy?

In related news, Batsignal to be used in emergencies.

From the pages of the Daily News: Kelly irate over video game

Well, I’m relieved because it must be a pretty slow crime day if this is the top of our auspicious police commissioners TO DO list.

Essentially the game, 'True Crime: New York City', is set the tell the story of A detective in NY who takes the law into his own hands when the system is ineffective. Kelly argues this portrays the NYPD in a bad light and as such should be boycotted.
Wait a second, couldn’t the same be said of the movie classic “Serpico”? If memory serves correctly that film portrayed an entire squad as corrupt with only an individual who was honest. If Commisioner Kelly called for a ban on the DVD sales of “Serpico” we would all have a good laugh and talk about how daft he is.
People have been trying to vilify video games for some time now, due in a large part to the fact that they do not understand them. The individuals who become publicly vocal on this topic are those who need a quick shot in the arm in approvals polls. Yes Mrs. Clinton, I’m looking in your direction.
And no I will not even comment on the ‘Hot Coffee’ mod that has sparked one of the biggest scandals to date. It is a silly explosion over a badly rendered ‘sex’ scene which contains no nudity whatsoever, literally less than you would see on Showtime and certainly less than you can see in the current hit (and great game) ‘ God of War’. The M rating states that it is a game for 17 and older. I will remind you that hardcore pornography carries the same restrictions
The current witch hunt for video games that is brewing smells dishearteningly like the senate hearings in the 1950’s who’s purpose was to find a link between juvenile delinquency and the horror comics of William M. Gaines (Tales from the Crypt and such). That is to say, bullshit. The argument went, a selection of children who were juvenile delinquents were also readers of these comic books, ergo the comics made them delinquents. Not their poor living situation. Not abusive parents. It was clearly the comic books fault. And if I jump off a roof I can sue the pants off of DC because Superman made me do it. By the same thinking one can say that baseball is ruining our children.
Some children are delinquent. All children play little league. Therefore, it is baseballs fault. (This was a beautifully tongue in cheek article done in the Gaines created MAD magazine.)
Much like movies and books, video games like 'Grand Theft Auto' are merely art imitating life
This, folks, is life imitating art.


And because I love the fact that ill-informed people always pull out the ‘protect our children’ argument, I will remind all involved that this game has been given a Mature rating by the ESRB. Video games are a form of entertainment, just like movies. It is escapism, it is us at play. It is cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians and keep in mind that it is mainly people in their 20’s-30’s that are buying them and playing them. If your child is playing games you dissaprove of, don’t call your congressmen. Do what your parents did when you were caught reading ‘Catcher in The Rye’…parent them. Pay attention to your child. If you are too busy to pay attention to and personally limit what your child is exposed to, then maybe you’re just not trying hard enough.
I for one will not suffer because of your neglect.

Daily Reading From the Book of Bill Maher

"Priests should be allowed to marry. What better way to ensure celibacy?"

From "New Rules: Plote Musings From a Timid Observer" by Bill Maher

A Daily Reading from the Book of Bill Maher

Note to Virgil: You may want to delete the previous reading. There is only so much "divine inspiration" one can take! Hee!

"You can throw someone out of the library for how they sound but not for how they smell. A new law in San Luis Obispo says librarians can evict homeless people for their smell. Hey, lonely librarians - don't think of them as homeless; think of them as single. I know most librarians won't see much of a future with some babbling drunk with a drug habit and a messiah complex, but hey, it worked for Laura Bush."

From: "New Rules: Polite Musings From a Timid Observer" by Bill Maher

Our Daily Reading from the Book of Bill Maher

"North Korea doesn't need nuclear weapons - it need Ritalin. It's not a nuclear superpower. It's more like a 4 year-old who won't stop showing people his penis. There, we're all paying attention to you. Now, put that away. Maybe the real problem is being the little brother with the hand-me-down name, North Korea. Why don't we change its name to something nice, like Really Really West Hawaii?"

From "New Rules: Polite Musings From a Timid Observer" by Bill Maher.

Word From A Mother

I firmly believe that if you want to know more about a culture, you must look at its media. If that is true, then you and I, my fellow Americans, are royally screwed. I won’t even go into talk radio, which treats the average American like they are on mental life support – everything must be chewed and predigested before we can accept it. NO, I am casting my eye on television, and what the network executives call entertainment.
First, let’s start with the soap operas. Yes, the mom’s mental vacation. The viewer’s opportunity to tell his/her cranium “Take a rest. I’ll pick you up in an hour.” They used to call this “love in the afternoon” and one of the biggies used to be “All My Children.” However, there is no longer love in the afternoon – try violence. Recently we have seen a man abuse his girlfriend, a violent murder (man bludgeoned over a head by a shovel), a man shooting his brother in the chest – and that was just for fun! How about the hero of the program, who was last seen cocking a fist at his pregnant wife. But don’t you all worry about the morality of the show – the lesbian character left! It has gotten so bad that one of the major plotlines now involves asexual reproduction. Well, that may not be too bad, but I am waiting for someone to use the turkey baster to impale someone. Then again, maybe I should be thankful, since the last pregnancies involving intercourse were a rape and a “whose the daddy?” from hell. If THIS is what mom is watching, no wonder she is out buying Junior “Grand Theft Auto”. Her soaps are making his games look like Briar Rabbit in the Bunny Patch.
What is really alarming me is the mental effect the reality shows are having, especially the ones involving calling in and voting. The same person who sat back and lost their rights in the Patriot Act will try to sneak in two votes in “Dancing With the Stars” for Kelly Monaco. We have boys dying in Iraq, but Carrie Underwood got that recording contract so I guess all is right in the world. They are taking away our ability to control our own destinies, and are supplementing them with “bread and circuses”, AND WE ARE ALLOWING IT. Why? Because it is easier to sit there and watch Evander Holyfield try to mambo then realize that something is seriously wrong here that even Simon Cowel cannot cure. When will this end? When we all use Donald Trump’s immortal words from “The Apprentice” to the current administration and the Republican majority – YOU’RE FIRED!

A little corporate Scuffle with the French

From the pages of 1up.com: Ubisoft Helpless Towards EA

For those of you not in the know, Electronic Arts is essentially the 300 pound gorilla of the video game world. They carry a large amount of clout, due largely in part to the fact that they have been the largest third party distributor of software for quite some time (we’re going back as far as the Super Nintendo/Genesis days here folks), and have been steadily consuming other, smaller software companies. This in and of itself is really not that big a problem.
Hell, that’s the nature of ANY business and to anyone who does well I say more power to you. The problem comes when all that power leads to the rise of certain unsavory business practices.
Mistreatment of employees has seemingly become a staple of EA’s business model. This has a direct effect on us, the consumer, more than you could imagine.
In a business such as this creativity is tantamount to help it grow. There is always a tenuous and fragile line between the business end and the artistic end of video game making, as it is with films. Many times the drive to create something becomes bogged down in unnecessary red tape.
One need only look as far as the fiasco with Robert Rodriguez who wanted to do a ‘Sin City’ Movie so bad that he forfeited his directors guild membership which has some very real ramifications for his career. Read that link and tell me that it doesn’t just smack of bullshit.
A similar line can be drawn to EA and their acquisition of Bullfrog Studios.
Bullfrog was a great company that created interesting games like 'Populous: The Beginning', 'Theme park', 'Theme hospital' and 'Dungeon Keeper'.

When this fiercely independent company was bought out by EA most of the original team left due to EA's corporate method.

EA then ran the freaking franchises into the ground (anyone remember “Sim Themepark” for PS2...didn’t think so)
See EA has this nasty habit of churning out sub par software that has nothing more than a repackaged version of the previous edition.

Here's another one for you: Westwood Studios.
Creators of the seminal Command and Conquer series, Westwood was bought out by EA somewhere around 1999 and we immediately started seeing shovelware, software churned out faster than you could spit, offering only incremental upgrades each time. When was the last time anyone here was excited about a C&C game.....once again, didn’t think so.

Last bit of evidence: Maxis.
Will Wrights Company that gave birth to “Sim City” and the “Sims” series.
The Sims, some may say (not me personally), was an interesting and bold move in a different direction at the time it was released. Maxis was snatched up by EA and what did we get? Expansion packs. Six freaking years worth of expansion packs. No new game play ideas, no re imagining of the genre. A dog. A witches hat. This is the shit that we were expected to pay $30 bucks for? Instead of putting the programmers energies toward a worthwhile project we have the same crap over and over again.
Now, I can’t fault EA for acquiring companies...its smart business. Problem is of the three studios I mentioned; two are now all but defunct. EA knows this and looks at them as acceptable losses in the process of churnware.
Yes, EA does license some damn good games, but that’s because we have companies like Ubisoft, Konami and Namco all pushing the envelope while turning a profit. Competition is good for us and EA obviously fears the competition.
Case in point is their recent payoff of the NFL. The Madden series of football games have always been selling well, but have recently seen competition from the Sega brand sport series. In a bold move to beat EA last year, Sega priced their ‘ESPN NFL 2005’ title at $19.99. A bold move which obviously shook EA. Their response was not one of refinement or retuning; creating a better game next time around. No, instead they throw down the cash and say: you want NFL you buy us.
Weak. Without the perceived competition, where does that leave us consumers? I’ll tell you where: clutching the bishop and playing the same damn game year after year.

I just don’t want to see Ubisoft, who've really come into their own with boffo titles and the balls to do different games (Beyond Good and Evil and Prince of Persia being the best examples), go the way of bullfrog folks. And of course, a good bit of power lies with us. Don’t buy that $30 dollar expansion pack so that you can wear a new shiny shirt and raise pigs. Demand more.

Oh, and to all you Dungeon Keeper fans...."lets…party like its....1999"

A Worthy Cause, A Worthy, Worthy, Worthy Cause.

A unique idea whose time has come. All you have to do is donate to one of the worthy charities (Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, etc) and you gain access to donated boobs. Ah ... civic responsibilty has never been so much fun! Click this link to be take to Boobs 4 Bourbon St.

A Reading From the Book of the Prophet Bill Maher

Moses Had His Ten Commandments. Bill Maher Expands Upon the Vision of Old By Giving Us New Rules!

"The people in America who were most in favor of the Iraq war must go there and fight it. The army missed its recruiting goal by 42% a few months ago - more people joined the Michael Jackson Fan Club. We've done picked all the low-lying Lynndie England fruit, and now we need warm bodies."
" A Baptist Minister in North Carolina told nine members of his congregation that unless they renounced their 2004 vote for John Kerry, they had to leave his church. Well - if we're that certain these days George Bush is always that right sbout everything, then going to Iraq to fulfill the glorious leader's vision would seem the least one could do.
Hey, if it makes it any easier, just think of it as a reality show. Fear Factor:Shitting Your Pants Edition, Survivor: Sunni Triangle, or maybe a video game Grand Theft Allah.
I know, you're thinking, "But Bill, I already do my part with the "Support Our Troops' magnet I have on my Chevy Tahoe - how much more can one man give?"
Here's an intriguing economic indicator: It's been over a year since they graduated, but neither of the Bush twins have been able to find work. Why don't they sign up for Iraq duty? Do they hate America or just freedom in general?
That goes for everybody who helped sell this war - you gotta go first, Brooks and Dunn? Drop your cocks and grab your socks. Ann Coulter:Darling, trust me, you will love the army. You think you make stuff up? Curt Schilling? Bye-bye. You ended the curse on Boston? Good. Let's try your magic on Fallujah. Oh, and tha Republican Baldwin brother has to go, too, so that Ted Nugent has someone to frag.
But mostly, we have to send Mr and Mrs Britney Spears, because Britney once said, "..we should trust out president in every decision that he makes, and we should just support that and be faithful in what happens."
Somebody has to die for that. Hell, Britney's already knocked up, so that'll save the guards at Abu Ghraib about 10 minutes. And think of the spiritual lift it will provide troops and civilians alike when actual combat smacks the smirk off of Kevin Federline's face and fills his low-hanging trousers with duty.
In summation, you can't advocate for something you wouldn't do yourself. For example, I'm for fuel efficiency which is why I drive a hybrid car and always take an electric private plane. I'm for legalizing marijuana, so I smoke a ton of it. I'm for gay marriage, which is why - oh well, you get the point."

Shrub a Question: Who the F&@^ is Bianca?

During a question and answer session President Bush called for a reporter named "Bianca".

Transcript from First Draft, full presidential wackiness at whitehouse.gov


THE PRESIDENT: Bianca. Nobody named Bianca? Well, sorry Bianca's not here. I'll be glad to answer her question.

Q I'll follow up.

THE PRESIDENT: No, that's fine. (Laughter.) Thank you though, appreciate it. Just trying to spread around the joy of asking a question.

[snip]

Q Mr. President, could we talk more about --

THE PRESIDENT: Are you Bianca?

Q No, I'm not. Anita -- Fox News.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay.

Q Just a quick question --

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. I was looking for Bianca. I'm sorry.

Shades of the Guckert fiasco or Shrub is hittin' the sauce again.

ITS A MAD HOUSE! A MAAAAAD HOOOOUSE!!!

Beware the beast, man,
For he is the devil's pawn
He kills for sport or lust or greed
Yay, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land;
And let him not breed in great numbers,
For he will make a desert of his home and yours.

Check this out a little melodramatic for my taste but....

Even O'Lielly Must Fall To The Power Of Facts!

Crooks and Liars has the vid of Donohue reeming O'Lielly a new one. Is wonderful to watch. For the bandwith challanged or if your at work, NewsHounds has the transcript. Its a great read.

Could Not Have Said It Better Myself.

Over at the Randi Rhodes website she has posted some great pictures from her trip to Camp Casey. This is a personal favorite.

May You Be Touched by His Noodly Appendage!

The Left Handed Compliment Would Like To Extend Its Unwavering Support To Bobby Henderson, Prophet of The Flying Spaghetti Monster:

This is a excerpt of his letter to those beacons of enlightenment the, Kansas School Board:

I am writing you with much concern after having read of your hearing to decide whether the alternative theory of Intelligent Design should be taught along with the theory of Evolution. I think we can all agree that it is important for students to hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design.

Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was He who created all that we see and all that we feel. We feel strongly that the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing towards evolutionary processes is nothing but a coincidence, put in place by Him.

Brilliant!

Play the game here.

Buy the stuff here.

Read more about the fastest growing faith in America here.

And for an international perspective click here.

Houston Evacuation: Bring Your Own Ride

Full Announcement Here

September 21, 2005 -- The City of Houston and Harris County issued several statements regarding Hurricane Rita and Hurricane preparedness measures for the Greater Houston area.

At a live press conference at 9:30 AM Central, Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Robert Eckels announced the following:

• A request has been issued for voluntary evacuation of those living in flood-prone areas, storm surge areas and mobile homes. The map outlining those areas is available on the City of Houston Web site www.houstontx.gov/oem/hurricane.html or many media Web sites.
• Mandatory evacuations will begin for persons living in Zone A at 6 p.m. today, 2 a.m. Thursday for those in Zone B, and 6 a.m. Thursday for those in Zone C. The zone map is available at www.houstontx.gov/oem/hurricane.html Mandatory evacuation also will be in place for Houstonians living within the storm surge area, living in areas that typically flood, and for anyone who lives in a mobile home.
• Persons needing assistance with transportation are asked to contact family, friends, etc, to make arrangements. Please be aware that there are not enough governments vehicle to move everybody. People need to take responsibility for their own evacuation plans.
• Persons needing assistance and are unable to make transportation arrangements are asked to call 3-1-1. Those living outside the Houston area should call 713.837.0311. Extra personnel have been placed to handle the calls.
• Emergency management officials are asking that all employers dismiss non-essential employees from reporting to work on Thursday and Friday. However, certain essential businesses, including banks, gasoline stations, pharmacies, hardware stores and grocery stores should remain open as long as prudently possible to help Houstonians prepare for the hurricane's potential arrival.
• Officials are asking all schools to close on Thursday and Friday.
• The official communication network during Hurricane Rita is KTRH 740AM. Spanish broadcasts will be done on KLOL 101FM.

Well Houston and America we are now our own first responders. I guess Mayor White saw the writing on the wall after Katrina. The feds either can not or will not take responsibility for disaster relief or evacuation prior to a disaster. Hell, with all the man-made disasters this administration has caused or have been party to, is anyone really surprised anymore. What worries me is that Houston has a large poor population. Coupled with the refugees from Katrina, we may be in for a repeat of a national tragedy. All our hopes for the people of Houston.

Ice Shipped To Maine, Next Beer To Wisconsin! WTF?

From ABC affiliate WMTW 8

September 20, 2005

Dear Acting Undersecretary Paulison and Lt. Gen. Strock:

I am writing to request that you inquire into an apparent decision to send ice initially designated for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts to cold storage in Portland, Maine.

My office has been contacted with information that the federal government paid truck drivers $800 per day to haul bags of ice to the Gulf region for Hurricane Katrina victims, only to order them to turn around, leave the Gulf region, and drive to Portland for storage of the ice at a refrigerated storage facility. More than 200 trucks reportedly might arrive in Portland this week to store their loads of ice. As a result, the resources spent to procure this ice and retain these truck drivers will have been diverted from Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

If accurate, this situation raises concerns about whether the federal government is using relief resources efficiently in order to provide maximum benefits possible to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Please let me know as soon as possible: (1) how may trucks carrying ice intended for Hurricane Katrina relief have been diverted to Maine; (2) why the decision occurred; (3) who made the decision; (4) how much it is costing the federal government to transport and store ice in Maine; and (5) why substantially more ice than was needed was purchased in the first place
.

Sincerely, Susan M. Collins Chairman

Sheer freaking incompetence folks. With Rita coming all I can say is Houston, good luck you are going to need it.

If He Had Spoken Like This He Might Have Won.

Senator John Kerry (MA-D) released a letter stating his intention to vote against John Roberts' nomination for the Supreme Court. While it is welcomed it probably won't make much of a difference come the final tally. I do not believe the Democrats will waste a filibuster trying to keep Rehnquist II from replacing Rehnquist I. If they are planning to fight a nomination it would be strategically better to wait until O'Connor's next potential replacement comes up for confirmation. Kerry's letter:

Dear

Monday, I shared with you my Brown University speech setting out what needs to be said and done at this critical moment for our country. Today, in that same spirit of clarity and conviction, I want to tell you how I will vote on the nomination of John Roberts to serve as Chief Justice of the United States.

I will vote against this vitally important nomination.

Win or lose on this vote, it is essential that we act on our deepest convictions. And I refuse to vote for a Supreme Court nominee who came before the Senate intent on demonstrating his ability to deftly deflect legitimate questions about his views, opinions and philosophy.

With that much at stake, Judge Roberts needed to show us where his heart is.

Instead he recited case law and said little about what he really thought. He needed to engage the Senate Judiciary Committee and the American people in a genuine conversation. He failed that test. And, while I recognize that other members of the Senate will legitimately make a different choice, I will vote "NO" on the Roberts nomination.

Excerpts from John Kerry's Brown University speech are here.

Act Now. Act Blue!

Louise Slaughter, NY 28 Lois Murphy, PA 06 Nick Lampson, TX 22


Bill Nelson, Sen, FL Eric Massa, NY 29


These are the candidates that this blog chooses top support during this coming election cycle. Contributions can be made through our link to ActBlue.

Of the candidates, Bill Nelson and Louise Slaughter are the only incumbents. The others are vying for seats against Republican incumbents. These are seats that are winnable and the candidates are Progressive and at the very least left of center.

We also have a contribution link for the Democratic candidate that will run for Bill Frist's (TN-R) soon to be vacant Senate seat. More candidates will be added as the '06 races heat up.

Hell, I Thought My Family In Florida Was Nuts.

From the Gainesville Sun through Think Progress.

Jeb Bush Reveals His “Mystical Warrior” Friend

Last week, after “more than an hour of solemn ceremony” swearing in Rep. Marco Rubio (R-FL) as House speaker, Gov. Jeb Bush stepped to the podium to tell “a short story about ‘unleashing Chang,’ his ‘mystical warrior’ friend.”

Bush’s words, “spoken before hundreds of lawmakers and politicians”:

“Chang is a mystical warrior. Chang is somebody who believes in conservative principles, believes in entrepreneurial capitalism, believes in moral values that underpin a free society.

“I rely on Chang with great regularity in my public life. He has been by my side and sometimes I let him down. But Chang, this mystical warrior, has never let me down.”

Yes he has Jeb, this is evidence of that. That is actually the sword of Chang's brother Snarky. You see, if Chang is all you say he is, he would never let you make such an asshole of yourself.

I Love Eric Idle

Link to the Python alum Eric Idle's The FCC SONG.

Found it originally at One Good Move who was nice enough to post the lyrics.

Wound up humming this classic for two days.

Lindsey Graham Ideologue

This is almost too funny for words. Lindsey Graham one of the top conservative ideologues in the Senate is trying to convince America that Supreme Court Nominee John Roberts:

(From ABC)

"(is) not an ideologue but a true strict constructionist believing in a limited role of the courts in our society"

Lets see... who else is believed to be a "strict constructionist" on the bench: Antonin "Opus Dei" Scalia Clarence "What's that in my Coke" Thomas

Well if you buy this one:

"If your view of conservative is he'll have to decide your way, you'll be disappointed," Graham said. "Judge Roberts will listen to the arguments from those challenging it and those seeking to uphold it and make a decision not based on politics but the rule of law."

I have a bridge to sell you.

Perhaps the Republican machine thinks having one of its most conservative members saying these things will work as reverse psychology on the nation. Lets see why Graham has such a political hard-on for Roberts:

Lindsey Graham (Sen SC- R)
Voting Record from Issues 2000:

* Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
* Rated 0% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
* Rated 83% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
* Rated 27% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
* Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
* Rated 100% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
* Rated 12% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)
* Rated 17% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-labor voting record. (Dec 2003)
* Rated 20% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)

Robert's views in view (from Save the Courts)

* Roberts argued that even the Supreme Court could be stripped of the authority to consider
cases on abortion, school busing and public school classroom prayer
* After the US House, by a 389-24 vote, passed a bill restoring the Voting Rights Act's
prohibition on practices with discriminatory effect, Roberts helped lead administration
opposition to the bill, which passed in the Senate overwhelmingly.
*Roberts criticized a Supreme Court ruling striking down a Texas law that had allowed school
districts to exclude children of undocumented immigrants.
*In a recently-decided case brought by a Guantanamo Bay prisoner, Judge Roberts joined a
ruling holding that the government could try terrorism suspects without granting them basic due process protections.
*Roberts argued victims of sexual harassment by government officials under Title IX were not
entitled to monetary damages (his view was rejected by a unanimous Supreme Court -
including Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas).
*Roberts' record strongly suggests he believes the Constitution does not protect the right to
privacy, referring to a "so-called right to privacy" in a 1981 memo.

Lindsey Graham ideologue : John Roberts ideologue

Can't Hold It Anymore.....

Shrub: Mr. Annan may I please go to
the bathroom?

Walrus: Shrub, if he says no, can I
nuke em?











Annan: He! He! He! No.















Condi Spamalot: Dick its Condi, my husba... I mean Shrub has to do wee-wee again.
















Cardinal Cardiac: What! Christ, not again. Is Annan letting him go? No? Shit, just get a copy of the National Review and shove it under his seat.

Haloscan and gravatars now available for your pleasure

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

This Is Just Sad...Very Very Sad

Bush really had to go (Photo: Reuters)

I GOTS TO GO POTTY CONDI.





I HOPE HE DOESNT PEE ON MY NEW SHOES.... AGAIN!

Aren't There Starbucks In Baghdad Yet?

Crooks and Liars has a wonderful snipet from O'Lielly's interview with Condi Spamalot:

O’Reilly: The truth of the matter is our correspondents at Fox News can’t go out for a cup of coffee in Baghdad....

Rice: Bill, that’s tough. It’s tough. But what — would they have wanted to have gone out for a cup of coffee when Saddam Hussein was in power?

Bill: No, no-but after three years you expect a little security in the country...

Condi: ...there is security...

Bill: They can't get coffee...

Apparently the Mirror Universe Bill was hosting that evening.

Roberts' Record

While he most likely will be confirmed we should know what we are getting. People for the American Way has a summary of Roberts' career which I like to call:

The Mis-Education of a Conservative Hack

I Couldn't Help Myself.

This is just cheap on my part but I chuckled when I read this statement. It is a perfectly legitimate comment but when you read it a certain way.... From the Roberts' confirmation hearings:

Roberts said. "Look at my briefs and you'll conclude that's a person who respects the law."

Just having that kind of day folks.

Just Sick Degenerate Bastards.

The Republican Response to an American tragedy

Complete Article at Think Progress:

REFUSAL TO EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE: the White House appears cool to any expansion” of Medicaid for Katrina survivors, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist was “not convinced” it was needed. [WSJ, Katrina Lays Bare Medicaid Dispute,” 9/14/05]

“SEPARATE BUT EQUAL EDUCATION: The Wall Street Journal reports that Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings will ask Congress to waive a federal law that bans educational segregation for homeless children.

LOWER WAGES FOR HURRICANE RECOVERY CONSTRUCTION WORKERS: On September 8, 2005, President Bush suspended application of the Davis-Bacon Act, a federal law governing workers’ pay on federal contracts in the Hurricane Katrina-damaged areas.

LOWER WAGES FOR HURRICANE RECOVERY SERVICE WORKERS: The Washington Post reports, “the White House was working yesterday to suspend wage supports for service workers in the hurricane zone as it did for construction workers on federal contracts last week.

Maybe Limbaugh Should Go Back On Drugs?

From Media Matters:

LANDRIEU [clip]: Bill Clinton was running the largest deficit created by the Reagan administration before him and the Bush administration before him. President Bush was running a surplus. Yet, when he had a surplus, he didn't invest it in levees and flood protection for people from Miami to Orlando to New Orleans to Biloxi [Mississippi] or to Mobile [Alabama].

LIMBAUGH: This is sad. This is what [a previous caller] was talking about. But it's just patently sad that somebody with this limited amount of understanding and knowledge is actually in the U.S. Senate. The '90s were the greatest decade, uh, for economic activity in recent years, I thought. When was the peace dividend and all the surplus? The sur -- well, that came after, uh, the Soviet Union and the -- and the, uh, and the [Berlin] Wall fell. And the Clinton administration got rid of all those big deficits. This surplus that she's talking about, there never was a surplus. It was 10-year economic forecasts. But anybody with half a brain can tell you, folks, that two things are going to happen when a government report says there's a huge surplus in the, uh, in the out years: A) Government is going to suggest raising taxes, not cutting them; and B) They're gonna spend it. And this is precisely what happened. There never was a surplus. This is a Democrat [sic] mantra talking point about how the Bush administration squandered this giant surplus left by the Clinton administration.

That's right Rush when the facts don't match your disturbed, drug addled little world....LIE!

For more of Oxi-Rush Lintballs Katrina bullshit, click here.

Well There Is A First Time For Everything.

For the first time in his life Shrub actually took responsibility for SOMETHING! Obviously this hurt him as much as the night I found that all you can eat Taco place...

"To the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility..." Bush said.(AFP/Andrew Councill)

With the Aftermath of Katrina....

It might be easy to forget the other Bush fiasco, and its death toll:


US Dead in Iraq: 1896

US Wounded: 14396

Yep. Just about says it all....

From the archives of the Liberal Nymph.

I Am PROUD of A Republican From Texas!

The following is from the "Only Nixon Could Go To China" file. The following is a transcript of Rep Ron Paul (R- TX 14) speaking to the House on September 8th. This might be the Fullbright moment of the Shrub craptocracy. Just as Fullbright told LBJ that "a lie is a lie", in refrence to the precepts for involvement in Vietnam, Paul lets BushCo. know they were full of crap too.

Full Transctipt here

HON. RON PAUL OF TEXAS BEFORE THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Donators

On the Issues

September 8, 2005

Why We Fight

"Many reasons have been given for why we fight and our youth must die in Iraq. The reasons now given for why we must continue this war bear no resemblance to the reasons given to gain the support of the American people and the United States Congress prior to our invasion in March of 2003. Before the war, we were told we faced an imminent threat to our national security from Saddam Hussein. This rationale, now proven grossly mistaken, has been changed. Now we’re told we must honor the fallen by “completing the mission.” To do otherwise would demean the sacrifice of those who have died or been wounded. Any lack of support for “completing the mission” is said, by the promoters of the war, to be unpatriotic, un-American, and detrimental to the troops. They insist the only way one can support the troops is to never waver on the policy of nation building, no matter how ill-founded that policy may be. The obvious flaw in this argument is that the mission, of which they so reverently speak, has changed constantly from the very beginning.... The resolution, HJ RES 114, explicitly cited the Iraqi Liberation Act of 1998 as one of the reasons we had to go to war. The authorization granted the President to use force against Iraq cited two precise reasons:

1. “To defend the national security of the U.S. against the continuing threat posed by Iraq and”

2. “Enforce all relevant United Nations Council resolutions regarding Iraq.”

Many other reasons were given to stir the emotions of the American public and the U.S. Congress, reasons that were grossly misleading and found not to be true. The pretense of a legal justification was a sham."