Da Polls

When is Enough Enough?

Americans are increasingly pessimistic about the U.S. mission in Iraq, saying the United States should reduce its spending and scale back its efforts there, according to the latest NEWSWEEK poll.

Against this backdrop, President George W. Bush’s approval ratings continue to decline. His current approval rating of 53 percent is down 18 percent from April. And for the first time since the question was initially asked last fall, more registered voters say they would not like to see him re-elected to another term as president (49 percent) than re-elected. Forty-four percent would favor giving Bush a second term; in April, 52 percent backed Bush for a second term and 38 percent did not.

Is America waking up from The Matrix at long last?

Hear and OW!!!

Yahoo! News - Say What? Man with Ear Ache Gets Vasectomy

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - A Brazilian (news - web sites) man who went to a clinic to have an aching ear checked ended up having a vasectomy after mistakenly believing that the doctor had called his name.

A manager at the Doctor Jose Carlos de Espirito Santo clinic in the town of Montes Claros in southeastern Minas Gerais State told Reuters on Wednesday Valdemar Lopes de Moraes, 39, entered the vasectomy room when Aldemar Aparecido Rodrigues' name was called.

Jeez, simple mistake and life altering after effects. DOH!

Doc Dean vs. Herr Ashcroft - Round One

Blog for America

We're planning on delivering the stop Ashcroft petition to Ashcroft himself tomorrow. As of this afternoon, 42,938 Americans had signed the stop Ashcroft petition. We are 7,062 people away from 50,000 signatures. Open up your email address book -- do you know people who are angered by Ashcroft and his efforts to expand the Patriot Act? This petition gives them the chance to transform that anger into positive action and speak out, publicly and directly. Our strength is in numbers -- take this link and PASS IT ON!:

This should be interesting to see.

For the few who will find this before it's too late -- visit Here in order to sign the petition.

Food for the Conspiracy theorists

ABCNEWS.com : Blackout Probe Focuses on Ohio Utility

Consumer groups say FirstEnergy has been able to avoid tight scrutiny because it has spent millions of dollars on lobbyists and campaign contributions.

In 2002, FirstEnergy gave $1,044,807 to political parties — 70 percent to Republicans and 29 percent to Democrats — the 10th-largest amount contributed by an energy and natural resources company and the sixth-largest amount contributed by an electric utility, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. FirstEnergy spent another $2,259,975 on lobbying in 2002
In June, the CEO of FirstEnergy, Peter Burg, hosted a fund-raiser for Vice President Dick Cheney that raised $600,000 for President Bush's re-election campaign.

And when he first prepared to move into the White House, Bush appointed the president of FirstEnergy, Anthony Alexander, to serve on the administration's energy transition team.

"That kind of connection buys you access," said Tyson Slocum, research director of Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy Program. "And they've had an enormous amount of access in Washington, D.C., and as a result there hasn't been enough scrutiny of the company's investments and business operations."

I just find it interesting that Bush holds the president of a sloppily run energy company that values campaign contributions over safety regulations and is responsible for the largest blackout in North American history in such high regard that he'd give him a temporary cabinet post.

Power struggle

Just a bit of humor from Worth1000.com

And then there were 10?

CNN.com - Clark talks like candidate, bashes Bush - Aug. 17, 2003

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Wesley Clark, who once served as NATO commander and might have presidential aspirations, attacked the Bush administration Sunday for launching a war with Iraq on "false pretenses" and spreading the military too thin amid the global war on terrorism.
"You'd be taking them to the Better Business Bureau if you bought a washing machine the way we went into the war in Iraq," Clark said on CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer."

OK, I thought Mosley-Bruan was out fo the race after Howard Dean's campaign scooped up her campaign manager... That proved to be false.

Now Gen. Clark is spouting off like a candidate with more of what we hav eheard before from Dean and Graham... Could we be seeing the 10th candidate stand up soon? When will we see the Democratic pack thin?

Finally some GOOD virus news

'Good' Worm Fixes Infected Computers (TechNews.com)

A new Internet worm emerged today that is designed to seek out and fix any computer that remains vulnerable to "Blaster," the worm that attacked more than 500,000 computers worldwide last week.

More of the same for the Iraqis?

I was going across people's blogs and came across Gem of a snippet" from the Baghdad Blogger as posted on Alison's Place...

She actually described Paul Bremer as another Saddam; we see him every day on TV, and the news is all about what he says and what he does. Next we'll have statues of him in the streets. Somehow you feel like he lives in a bubble and has absolutely no idea what the people are saying.

The reporters of Iraq Today were not allowed to get to the press conference and they went ballistic. "This is my friggin' government, what do you mean I can't get in?"

Nice, to see that that there are certain people in the US that still believe the Iraqis are thankful that we got rid of their ruthless dictator in Saddam Hussien and are "throwing flowers" at US Servicemen wherever they go.. You tell me, if your government was treating you like this, would YOU want to throw flowers at them?

MINITRUE back from the dead... kinda.

Just an announcement that I've just rolled out the new MINITRUE.com in honor of National Fair and Balanced Day.

True, true, all the content on MINITRUE right now is just stuff I'm writing for GWBush04. But Christ, I'm only one person here with a full-time job -- what do you want? The long-term plan is that after the election, MT will be the hub of my creative writing (although I also have TheGrandOldParty.com to contend with as well. Hmmmm.)

Please note that any similarity between the new MINITRUE and the website for Fox News is purely coincidental.

another great statement from El Presidente Estupido

Bush park visit fuels controversy

After California finance chairman and close pal Brad Freeman introduced him, Bush said: "I thought for a moment he was going to announce for governor, he spoke so long."

Gee, George, can't you even speak straight? Yes, I get your gist, but WTF was that? Engnoramious or broken English?

Dubya: I'll fix the grid

Somehow, I don't believe him... Probably because he said he'd get Osama, he said he'd get Saddam, he said he'd leave no child behind and he said he's a uniter and not a divider.

Flock fo Seagulls

Commander in Thief indeed

ajc.com | News | Troops in Iraq face pay cut

Troops in Iraq face pay cut
By EDWARD EPSTEIN
San Francisco Chronicle

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon wants to cut the pay of its 148,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, who are already contending with guerrilla-style attacks, homesickness and 120-degree-plus heat.
Unless Congress and President Bush take quick action when Congress returns after Labor Day, the uniformed Americans in Iraq and the 9,000 in Afghanistan will lose a pay increase approved last April of $75 a month in "imminent danger pay" and $150 a month in "family separation allowances."

"Bring'em On"

Soldiers are there just for Special interest will... They aren't supposed to be respected or supposed to be paid as they should - they are just there for special interest will -- at least that is how the philosophy of the Commander and Thief is making things out to be.

Great job, George. Maybe you should go and take a pay cut too seeing how you were passing yourself as a Naval Aviator a few months ago.

Another missile system set up by the government - sorta

ABCNEWS.com : Less in Missile Plot Than Meets the Eye?

The missile shipped into the New York area last month was not a real missile — just a mockup — also arranged entirely by the government. The government also arranged the meetings at a New Jersey hotel and elsewhere, where Lakhani allegedly told undercover agents posing as al Qaeda terrorists about his support of bin Laden.
"One would have to ask yourself, would this have occurred at all without the government?" said Gerald Lefcourt, a criminal defense attorney.

So, the entire "Thwarted missile attack" was bullshit from start to finish. They got the black market consumer, but how many of them are out there? How many times will faked operations fool the masses?

The Death of a Green by the hands of the Greens

There was an article I posted yesterday on Kill the Web along with Deanfilter.com from Alternet which spoke of support from the far left for Howard Dean:

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16592

This article shook me to the core because of my agreements with it and how it seemed to understand the arguments I had been hearing from Greens over and over again.

Now, I am a registered Green but I will be changing that to Democrat or Independent once again after the reaction this article got after I posted it on the local Green Party mailing list on Yahoo groups...

I was termed a "rubber spined....coward" by a member of the group -- who actually thought Dennis the K, Carol Mosely Braun and Al Sharpton should be supported and had a chance in this election, or a Green candidate for that matter -- because I was compromising the Green Ideals. It was right then and there that it occured to me how much of a sham the Green Party has become and how non-realistic the members of the Green Party seem to be, if they are so dyed-in-wool to put the Party's future over the future of the United States of America and the world in whole.

For 3 years I've dealt with the "Looney Left" element that made up the local Green Party (those on the left that are in no way near the majority of Americans), I pitty the party's future if that is the element that they are going to let control the course of the party. It used to be a valid alternative to the Democratic Party and is actually something that Democrats should actually bless and accept -- that is, if they ever get the clue that both parties are on the same side.

I thought I was doing something good by trying to help the Green Party along, but now they have become irrelevant in their own rubber spined stubbornness that the principled idealism is the only way to be. The truely cowardly faction happens to be the ones that believe the political ideal is the only acceptable course. becasue any other ideal would be an unknown path.

Will the Greens please read the following?

AlterNet: The Progressive Case for Howard Dean

I passionately supported the Greens in 2000 and 2002. I traveled 125 miles to see Dennis Kucinich speak when he came to Los Angeles in May, and had the pleasure of introducing him to a crowd of several hundred when he visited Santa Barbara recently. Kucinich is a guiding light in Congress and, of the nine Democratic presidential contenders, his views most closely mirror my own.

Yet I won't be voting for Kucinich in the Democratic primaries, nor will I vote Green in the general elections. My support will go to Howard Dean.

Yes, I've read the unfavorable commentaries on Howard Dean by writers whose opinions I greatly respect, like Norman Solomon and Alexander Cockburn. And yes, I know that I disagree with some critical components of Dean's platform. Progressives should be well aware that they're going to disagree on a range of issues with every individual who has a chance at being in the White House two years from now. Our choice is not between Howard Dean and the-even-better-candidate who-has-a-shot-at-winning the-Democratic-nomination and-defeating-George-Bush; that other candidate doesn't exist. Neither Kucinich nor Al Sharpton nor Carol Moseley Braun nor any Green will be President. Progressives should incorporate these realities into their electoral strategy, however disappointing they may be.

This piece by Nico Pitney absolutely floored me - not as in "I was rolling on the ground laughing" floored me, but he hit so many things that I have complained about tot he local Green Party members here in Pinellas county... That running a candidate for the Green Party in this most serious of elections was ego or going after an ideal when we can't afford ourselves that luxury.

Nico went on to disprove the talking heads by quoting various sources. If you are a progressive or farther to the left than the normal Democrat, read the article. It'w worth it.

Um....

What was that that some were saying about Bush-Nazi references? That it's "being too extreme" to call him one? (like it's being too extreme to call every liberal a "Communist")

This picture doesn't help things...

"If you haven't suited up to defend this country, you shouldn't be allowed to speak"

Online Mail Call

And another Seattle reader complains Alter’s assertion that both Dean and Bush “figured out how to avoid serving in Vietnam. "Though Bush somehow got a spot in the Air National Guard (and then failed to show up for much of his duty), Dean went to his induction physical and was turned away by the military doctors—it was their call, and not something he did to 'avoid' service."

In cloising, George W. Bush has no right to speak one damned word, and the blind military support needs to start thinking about who they believe they shoudl blindly support and how much they really should support an AWOL (Asshole Who Outright Lied along with Away with Out Leave) soldier who didn't have the nerve to fight for his country.

Satire directed at a Democratic candidate!

Or more like "Satire directed at Bush-Lite. Please visit www.joseph2004.org

God: With Us All The Way

Isn't this great? If we'd invaded Iraq 5 years ago, like I suggested, we'd only have 10 to 15 more years of occupation left. By now, we'd have lost many hundreds of soldiers to hostile forces, killed thousands, violated the human rights of millions, and lit an eternal flame of hatred for the west in the hearts of an entire generation of Iraqis.

Now we'll be lucky to reap the benefits of our invasion by 2010.If I'm elected, I promise that delays like this will be a thing of the past.

Reader mail for GWBush04.com

I just got this message with a phony return e-mail address:

In your dream world, there is no evil. Yeah, the Prez may be distracting us from other probs, but if you haven't defended your country, you should not have the right to speak.

Since I can't e-mail the person, I'll do it here...

Evil? That's a pretty inadequate word for what I think you're trying to say: that there are people who want to kill us. The problem is, they all have a reason. Calling somebody "evil" just tugs at your primitive emotional element and prevents you from thinking about what reasons they have for wanting to do us all in.

My advice to you is to evolve, figure out why these "evil" people hate America, and try to come up with the best plan to deal with it. In some cases, intelligent people will come to the conclusion that bombing the fuck out of them isn't always the best course of action (and that rather, has the opposite effect instead). That's all.

Anyway, what are you doing e-mailing websites when you should be out on the front lines fighting evil? Go to it, and take some holy water with you! Evil must be overcome!

I'm dedicating my brand-spanking-new t-shirt design to you, friend. By your logic, the President wouldn't have a right to fuck up our country. Which, actually, I do agree with in this case. Our President is a G.I. JOKE who should have no right to send Americans off to die as part of his re-election campaign.

Peace, out.

And you thought you'd never use Algebra after High School...

Yahoo! News - Algebra Points the Way to a Happy Marriage

LONDON (Reuters) - A mathematician says he can predict with almost total accuracy which newly wed couples will enjoy a happy marriage -- using two lines of algebra.

Professor James Murray says the two formulae he devised have a 94 percent success rate when it comes to forecasting whether a couple will stay together, the Daily Telegraph said Friday.

Gee, I think I may need to contact my High School Algebra teacher and beg her forgiveness for any grief I caused over the fact Algebra wasn't going to be useful in my life. Maybe it will be after all? :-p

Reminds me of 2000

First, Gore gives a great speech.

Then, all the haters rise up and attempt to explain that Gore is lying.

Finally, Pandagon sets the record straight with the facts that matter.

Update: See Left Coaster's brilliant timeline for "Why Americans Believe There Was an Al Qaeda/Iraq Link."

This is the End, Beautiful friend...

Dean Campaign Gains Braun Key Staffer -- GOPUSA

BURLINGTON, VT (Talon News) -- In a move that could foretell the end of one campaign and signify the growing chances of another, Democrat presidential contender Howard Dean announced Thursday the addition of Carol Moseley-Braun's campaign manager to his campaign staff.
The former Vermont governor announced that Andrea "Andi" Pringle had jumped from the former U.S. Ambassador's campaign. Pringle, who brings with her a wealth of connections to the African American community, has agreed to serve as Dean's deputy campaign manager.

Well, one down, 7 to go... at least.

DO THE INDEPENDENT SHUFFLE!!!

Yahoo! News - Survey: Independents Wary of Vote in '04

WASHINGTON - Independents, who outnumber Democrats or Republicans, need a good reason to head to the voting booth, according to a survey released Thursday.

The poll, conducted for the New Democratic Network, found that slightly more than 40 percent identify themselves as independents, 32 percent called themselves Republicans and 27 percent said they were Democrats.
But these so-called "swing voters" were more than twice as likely not to vote than people who consider themselves Republican or Democrat, a factor for the candidates running in the 2004 election.

This explains Joe Lieberman trying to influence the right on his lackluster campaign... Trying to talk these potential voters into doing so.

THe problem? Nothing he has to say excites.

Gore in '04?

Charleston.Net: News: World/Nation Schwarzenegger to test political muscle as California candidate 08/07/03

Former Vice President Al Gore is prepared to deliver a highly promoted attack on the Bush administration today, prompting a new flurry of speculation he may be testing the waters to enter the presidential race, though his office insists he will not.

The speech, which will focus on Bush's Iraq policy but probably will touch on the economy and the environment, comes as some of Gore's supporters have begun urging him to reconsider his decision to skip the 2004 race. While his aides have said he will not run for president, Gore sought out the influential online political activist group Moveon.org two weeks ago to promote the speech to media around the country.

This adds a new twist to the political race IF Gore is contemplating stepping in.... Braun, Sharpton, possibly Lieberman and Bob Graham would be forced out as non-possibilities while Gephardt would hang on by a shoe string, same with Edwards, while Kerry and Dean gun for that 2nd position.

Yes, Al Gore would be the leader immediately if he stepped into the primaries... But Howard Dean (as of right now) would be his chief rival.

GWBush04.com on Metafilter

Thanks to specialk420 for posting a link to my site on MeFi.

Go read the comments over there if you're interested in the critics' take. There aren't many, but most seem to think it sucks or can't stay on topic. Hurrah! It's a success!

Seriously, I enjoy negative comments as much as positive ones. When I started on the web I was pretty thin-skinned, but after a while you just move on. Especially when you know you're producing stuff that at least half the population will respond to negatively by default.

These days, I appreciate the time anyone takes to inform me of their opinions, good or bad. It's blatantly Kaufmanesque, but I'm happy to have just spurred a reaction.

That'll happen....

Yahoo! News - Oops-Bank Hands Woman $48.7 Million Check

MIAMI (Reuters) - A Florida woman thought she was getting a certified check for $85 but her bank mistakenly made it out for more than $48.7 million.

Letha Schmitt of Pensacola walked around for three days with the check, unaware of the error, until the bank called on Wednesday to tell her of the mistake, the Pensacola News Journal reported on Thursday.
"I just thought it was a hoot," Schmitt, 50, told the newspaper.

Can inventions get any more strange?

WiFi Speed Spray

WiFi Speed Sprayâ„¢ is designed to eliminate these harsh conditions selectively. Only the radio wave path is affected. There are no side-effects*.

"I really didn't think it would work, but now I'm a believer. I just ordered another case of WiFi Speed Spray™ and I recommend it to all of my friends." - Ted Smith, New York

Ehhhh?

Total Cali Recall

Arianna Huffington jumps into California's gubernatorial race

Campaign-spouse-turned-commentator Arianna Huffington pledged Wednesday that she will end special interest tax breaks and decrease college tuition fees if elected California's governor in October.
Huffington, 53, said she would run as an independent and would try to galvanize "people who have given up on politics."
"Today I am announcing that I'm running for governor of the great state of California," said Huffington, who spoke at a rally at a youth center announcing her candidacy. "Those are 16 words I never thought I could hear myself say."

OK, I am not in California but Arianna has my vote... Why? Politically Incorrect and Real Time with BIll Maher - that's why :)

Republicans helping tank Republicans

The Washington Dispatch spewed a nice vile piece of garbage today, calling Gov. Dean "Karl Rove's wet dream".

The next obvious step is for Republicans to register as Democrats where necessary and vote in the Democrat primary for the GOP dream opposition candidate. Is the GOP confident enough that Dean’s bandwagon will drive off the cliff in the 2004 general election that they are willing to take the necessary step to keep Dean’s momentum going? The answer is clear.

Talk about low balling the candidate. Didn't Republicans desperately try to win voters over with Ralph Nader in swing states (Wisconsin specifically) because they were so uneasy about defeating Al "Stiffy" Gore?

Pathetic... Especially if they follow this proposed formula and watch as George W. Bush is fed defeat.

GWBush04.com Update

Just want to take a moment to thank John F for being the force keeping this place going. Me, I've been spending most of my free time trying to turn GWBush04.com into a viable, visible, and funny site.

And things are going well. Traffic is up, the liberal blogosphere is taking notice, and hate mail is trickling in. I truly appreciate every link I get to GWBush04. Thus, I'd like to send a shout-out to skippy the bush kangaroo, Democratic Veteran, and uggabugga. All three should be visited regularly, in my opinion. Bookmark 'em.

Backing up, and speaking of John's devotion to all my wacky web projects, there's the newest: DEANfilter.com. In my absence (while I've been trying to make the funny), John has pretty much been running the place by himself.

DEANfilter.com is designed to be a cool site when it has lots of traffic. The "hook" is supposed to be that you contribute your own news, and post/read comments, and you get to moderate other comments -- more like slashdot than a true "filter" site. It still hasn't taken off: it needs more traffic, active posters, and maybe even a few more admins to help John out.

If you're interested, head over to DEANfilter.com, sign up for a free account, and submit some news. If you want to try being an admin, your test is to start a new topic in the forums over there telling us about yourself. Good luck.

Joey Joe -- the True evil of the Democrats

They brought a post from On line Beat over at Blog For America today. In that little nifty little article, they pointed out one very true fact:

Democrats who counsel compromise going into the 2004 contest are likely to find themselves disregarded in much the same way that Republican compromiser were in 1980. And rightly so. If the party chooses a candidate who is confident enough to aggressively challenge George W. Bush, Democrats might well find that steering an uncompromising course is far more appealing to the great mass of American voters that the circumnavigations proposed by Joe Lieberman.

Joe Lieberman insists that Democrats have to be Bush-Lite to beat Bush. Gov. Dean, John Kerry and others insist we need to stay the course in order to beat Bush - of course they all have different ways to do it but the topic they agree on is beating bush. Which side do you believe? If it's Joe's side, please take the label "Democrat" and turn it to "Republican" -- because those who have the choice between voting for a Faux Republican and a Republican will chose the real thing every time (mean Joe vs. Bush in 2004 would be a slaughter ).

Got Support?

Well, this is just www.meetup.com but...

The Precedent to be President?

Taken from a transcript of Howard Dean on Larry King Live:

We need to get them energized, and then we need to bring new people into the process. You saw the Web site, DeanForAmerica.com. That Web site has generated over a quarter of a million people who are now supporting us. The fund-raising, you talked about the fund- raising, we raised more money than anybody else in any quarter. We did that because 93,000 people gave us money. Most have never given money to a political campaign, and the average gift was well under $100.

That's how you beat a president who can get as many $2,000 checks as he wants, is to bring three or four million new people into the process, give them a reason to vote, and then you can beat George Bush.

How many guys in Washington have the nerve to try that? Try to reach DEMOCRATS? What a concept. Now someone needs to introduce it to Joe Lieberman and the DLC.

RIAA? What RIAA?

Just when you thought it was too dangerous to share files any more...

The Friendster network is born

How soon until Metallica and others file a lawsuit against consumers in general?

Rats deserting a sinking ship?

Oh, that title sure was mean.... But I can't help but invoke that image when I see the latest news: Colin Powell will not be returning to the George W. Bush Administration if they are re-elected.

Powell has sparred with the administration over policies and plans and that he didn't want to quit earlier, even though the Administration didn't think he was "with them".

Yet influence of his choice was supposedly from his wife.... Which reminds me of 24 Season 1

You hate buying Toiletries -- now think of the cashiers

Well, in a rather fucked up twist of things, it seems Cashiers in an Argentinian Supermarket chain need to wear diapers in order to avoid breaks.

It may save time - but how much more productive would you be with a load in your drawers?

Identity

The Democratic Identity Crisis continues.

Lieberman, Connecticut's mild-mannered junior senator, is emerging as the leading voice of the party's moderate wing. In a speech Monday before the National Press Club, he was making the case that Democrats who focus on peace, raising taxes and expensive social programs are out of step with the country's mood.

...Where as wreckless spending, wreckless warfare, wreckless environmental regulations, carelessness with the citizens best interests and letting corporate greed go unchecked is chic, huh Joe?

It's great to know the President is healthy

George W. Bush is healthy, by god, and he's going to go ahead and reward himself with a month long vacation!

The nitweit who regularly takes days off at Camp David as well as trips to Kennybunkport to chill with Daddy is going to take a month off - again - to rest up. Not only that but This vacation time is going to be political FUNDRAISER time out west! -- all at taxpayer expense.

Hail to the chief -- rewarding the rich and ripping off the rest.

Kobe Bryant and the Spoils of an NBA Star

I think by now all of you Kobe Bryant case. Maybe you're thinking his accuser is just a gold digger, maybe you're thinking Kobe is just another sports-star-turned-human?

In all likelihood, this is a guy who's spoiled life from the age of 18 has finally caught up with him.

Think about it - Kobe went in the NBA draft, forgoing college, and was selected by the now relocated Charlotte Hornets. What did he do? He whined, saying he wouldn't play in the Carolina's and manipulated his way to Los Angeles.

Nice start to a career, isn't it? Being handed millions upon millions of dollars just to suit up for a team and then saying "No! I don't want to! Not there! Nooooooooo!"

He's played some great games but he's also been a selfish bastard at times, complaining he wants more, wants more, "I wanna be featured!"

There's no I in team, Kobe.

And of course, even if things get settled in his favor, he's gotta patch things up with his wife... a 4 million dollar ring helps for starters but... Um... That just proves how materialistic a society we are, and if she really wants to prove that with him - take him for half of everything he owns in divorce.

Kobe needs a wake up call -- and this experience will be that, unless things are manipulated in his favor once again.