May This Poster's Days Be Numbered

 

Put Down The Rolaids Mr. G. Baker...

This matches what I've seen all day (from Charlie Cook):

All Monday there was considerable talk that the national picture had suddenly changed and that there was a significant tightening in the election. This was based in part on two national polls that showed the generic congressional ballot test having tightened to four (Pew) and six (ABC/Wash Post) points.

Seven national polls have been conducted since Wednesday, November 1. They give Democrats an average lead of 11.6 percentage points, larger than any party has had going into an Election Day in memory. Even if you knock five points off of it, it's 6.6 percentage points, bigger than the advantage that Republicans had going into 1994.

Furthermore, there is no evidence of a trend in the generic ballot test. In chronological order of interviewing (using the midpoint of field dates), the margins were: 15 points (Time 11/1-3), 6 points (ABC/Wash Post), 4 points (Pew), 7 points (Gallup), 16 points (Newsweek), 20 points (CNN) and 13 points (Fox).

In individual races, some Republican pollsters see some movement, voters "coming home," in their direction, and/or some increase in intensity among GOP voters. All seem to think that it was too little, too late to significantly change the outcome. However, it might be enough to save a few candidates. None think it is a major change in the dynamics of races, and most remain somewhere between fairly and extremely pessimistic about tomorrow's outcome.

An Image For Tomorrow

 

Chicago Code Words

Much has been written about Dear Leader's use of Evangelical 'code words' to signal that he's "one of them."

Here in the Windy City, the team you choose to trash sends a shout out to your 'hood. FYI: Governor Blagovich used to represent my Congressional District.

"Maybe he ought to run for manager of the Cubs. They're a bunch of losers, too, and need some help."

-- Illinois gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka (R), quoted by the AP, in reference to Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) who responded,

"If she wants to say I'm a loser and call me names ... God bless her, but leave the Cubs alone."

It Ain't Just The Christians

From Time:

In a Holy City fissured by faith, finding a consensus on anything among Jewish, Christian and Muslim clerics is a near-miraculous occurrence. Yet Jerusalem's rabbis, priests and imams have united, however briefly, to stop the city's Gay Pride parade.

For some of their followers, the issue is worth spilling blood over: An unknown extremist Jewish group pasted up signs announcing a $500 "reward" for every gay man or woman killed during the parade, which is scheduled for Nov. 10. Several ultra-orthodox rabbis have vowed to mobilize more than 100,000 protesters to shut down Jerusalem on the day of the parade, and police warn that some groups plan to pelt the marchers with apples jagged with razor blades.

Meanwhile, in a rare display of solidarity with Jewish extremists, an influential Islamic cleric is urging Muslims to stage a simultaneous protest inside the old walled city to draw away Israeli police who would otherwise be shielding the gay parade from harm. "Not only should these homosexuals be banned from holding their parade," says one Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ibrahim Hassan, who preaches at a mosque near Damascus Gate, "but they should be punished and sent to an isolated place."

Hatred, it seems, can be a bridge to inter-faith harmony.

High In The Middle(America)

From Political Wire:

In Ohio, Brown and Strickland Headed for Huge Victories

The final Ohio Poll for the 2006 election season projects Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) will unseat Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH) by a large margin, 56% to 44%.

In the gubernatorial race, Ted Strickland (D) crushes Ken Blackwell (R) [2004's Katherine Harris - GT12], 59% to 37%

110% Pure

So Repulsive and Dark - Another View

Republicans in NY want you to know that Democrat leadership leads to white women being terrorized by black men.

Kumbayah, ya'll 

Patti To The People

For Election Week, let this be our mantra:

People Have The Power

Not Just In Denial About Being Gay ...

Ted Haggard meets Richard Dawkins and demonstrates that he possesses less knowledge about evolution (and mankind) than he has about sexuality. And almost as little control...

Something To Keep Mr. G. Baker Distraught

You remember that some of our friends are sure that the election could still go the way of '00, '02 and '04. We can't blame them.

From Politcal Wire:

Poll Finds Race Tightening

A new Pew Research survey "finds voting intentions shifting in the direction of Republican congressional candidates in the final days of the 2006 midterm campaign. The new survey finds a growing percentage of likely voters saying they will vote for GOP candidates. However, the Democrats still hold a 48% to 40% lead among registered voters, and a modest lead of 47% to 43% among likely voters."

"The narrowing of the Democratic lead raises questions about whether the party will win a large enough share of the popular vote to recapture control of the House of Representatives. The relationship between a party's share of the popular vote and the number of seats it wins is less certain than it once was, in large part because of the increasing prevalence of safe seat redistricting. As a result, forecasting seat gains from national surveys has become more difficult."

Home State Update

Why was Jon Stewart there all last week? Read on...

From Political Wire:

Ohio Set to Turn Blue

"Fueled by a huge margin" favoring gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland (D) at the top of the ticket, Ohio Democrats "moved into position to sweep all statewide nonjudicial offices," a new Columbus Dispatch Poll shows.

Strickland now leads Ken Blackwell by 36 points. "The elephant graveyard also appears ready to claim two-term Republican Sen. Mike DeWine, who trails Democratic Rep. Sherrod Brown by more than 20 points."

"Ohio voters apparently are exacting their revenge for the scandals and corruption that have plagued state government; two-thirds of poll respondents said those factors were at least 'fairly important' in determining their votes.

"Here's a summary of the poll results.

We Are All Progressives (Or Conservatives) Now

From the Pat Buchanan-founded magazine 'The American Conservative':

GOP MUST GO

....It should surprise few readers that we think a vote that is seen—in America and the world at large—as a decisive “No” vote on the Bush presidency is the best outcome....

Faced on Sept. 11, 2001 with a great challenge, President Bush made little effort to understand who had attacked us and why—thus ignoring the prerequisite for crafting an effective response. He seemingly did not want to find out, and he had staffed his national-security team with people who either did not want to know or were committed to a prefabricated answer.

As a consequence, he rushed America into a war against Iraq, a war we are now losing and cannot win, one that has done far more to strengthen Islamist terrorists than anything they could possibly have done for themselves. Bush’s decision to seize Iraq will almost surely leave behind a broken state divided into warring ethnic enclaves, with hundreds of thousands killed and maimed and thousands more thirsting for revenge against the country that crossed the ocean to attack them. The invasion failed at every level...

The war will continue as long as Bush is in office, for no other reason than the feckless president can’t face the embarrassment of admitting defeat. The chain of events is not complete: Bush, having learned little from his mistakes, may yet seek to embroil America in new wars against Iran and Syria.

Meanwhile, America’s image in the world, its capacity to persuade others that its interests are common interests, is lower than it has been in memory. All over the world people look at Bush and yearn for this country—which once symbolized hope and justice—to be humbled....

There may be little Americans can do to atone for this presidency, which will stain our country’s reputation for a long time. But the process of recovering our good name must begin somewhere, and the logical place is in the voting booth this Nov. 7. If we are fortunate, we can produce a result that is seen—in Washington, in Peoria, and in world capitals from Prague to Kuala Lumpur—as a repudiation of George W. Bush and the war of aggression he launched against Iraq....

On Nov. 7, the world will be watching as we go to the polls, seeking to ascertain whether the American people have the wisdom to try to correct a disastrous course. Posterity will note too if their collective decision is one that captured the attention of historians—that of a people voting, again and again, to endorse a leader taking a country in a catastrophic direction. The choice is in our hands.

Common Cause

Our friend Alex at Unwired Labs will be reviewing some important races nationwide, providing an invaluable service to GT12 readers. Visit him

GT12 Approves this message.

There is part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I have been warring against it all my life,"

So says Ted Haggard in a letter to his congregation read today at services.

It is always the Lady that doth protest too much.

"In the letter read Sunday, Haggard took responsibility for his actions, saying "I am guilty of sexual immorality" and noted that "the things I did opened the door for additional allegations."

"He asked the congregation to also forgive his accuser, who Haggard said has revealed "the deception ... that was in my life."

"In a separate letter from Haggard's wife, also read by Stockstill, Gayle Haggard said while her heart is broken, she remains "committed to him until death do us part."

"An overflow congregation responded to the announcement with a standing ovation.

The closet has many victims, most of them innocent. And straight.

Please Read This

The First 10 Amendments to the Constitution
as Ratified by the StatesDecember 15, 1791

Preamble

Congress OF THE United States begun and held at the City of New York, on Wednesdaythe Fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.:

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.


Vote.

Habeas Non Corpus

In the last few days I have had several conversations with intelligent, concerned people who unlike me have a life and do more than obsess about politics.

I learned in those conversations that the death of the right of Habeas Corpus, a death brokered by John McCain, has not be noticed by normal people.

So let me do my part: Several weeks ago, after a 'show' of protest, John McCain backed down and allowed for the passing of a law which:

1. Allows anyone to be arrested under suspicion of providing support to (undefined) terrorists.

2. People arrested under this law DO NOT have the right to have a lawyer.

3. People arrested under this law may be detained in secret, without any acknowledgement of their whereabouts.

4. There is no requirement that any charges be filed in order to detain and maintain detention of these people.

5. This law will be in effect until we win the 'War On Terror'. Since Terror has been with us since time began, Terror will be with us until time ends. And so will this law.

6. This law invalidates 9 of the 10 Amendments comprising the Bill of Rights

Your congress has passed this law.

This is why, regardless of your general leaning, vis-a-vis Dem or Rep, you must vote to give us split government. You must vote, at least this once, against any sitting Republican.

It is the lockstep Republican House and Senate that has abandoned their constitutional responsibilities to provide Checks and Balances.

By the way, this bill also allows us to waterboard. Which we no longer define as torture. Although Japanese practioners of waterboarding during WW II were jailed with twenty-five year sentences for Crimes Against Humanity.

John McCain also gave the nod to this.

There is no defense for this. It is our responsibilty to protect ourselves from our government.

This Will (Probably) Be The Last Word

He Did It.

From The Denver Post:

Pastor confessed
Church review panelist says admission came Thursday
By Chuck Plunkett and Eric Gorski Denver Post Staff Writers

Colorado Springs - Ted Haggard, the beleaguered pastor of one of the nation's most influential evangelical churches, was fired Saturday after admitting "sexually immoral conduct."

Haggard's New Life Church issued a statement saying he had been removed. But the church's oversight board, which was investigating accusations Haggard had sex with a gay prostitute and used methamphetamine, offered no details of its findings.
Church officials said that Haggard was out of town with his family Saturday and that a letter and an apology from him would be read to the congregation today.
Haggard had denied publicly that he ever had gay sex, saying he had been faithful to his wife. As late as Friday morning, he continued to publicly deny sex with his accuser.

But a member of the four-member oversight board said in an interview Saturday night that Haggard admitted Thursday to sexual misconduct

We Know That This Won't Be The Last Word

I have little time to follow the, uh, blow-by-blow changes in the Haggard saga, but I thought that this snippet is as good of a sign as any that this story is far from complete:

Evangelist admits meth, massage, no sex

By CATHERINE TSAI, Associated Press Writer 58 minutes ago

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Evangelist Ted Haggard admitted Friday that he bought methamphetamine and received a massage from a gay prostitute who claims he was paid for drug-fueled trysts by the outspoken gay marriage opponent.

Haggard resigned Thursday as president of the National Association of Evangelicals and stepped down as leader of his Colorado megachurch while the two groups investigate the allegations.

Talking to reporters outside his house Friday, Haggard denied the sex allegations but said that he did buy meth from the man because he was curious.

McCain Marches Against The Course Of History

Even as McCain shills for the people who trashed him in '80, and participates in efforts to expand government and deny liberty, Salon takes a look at how uninteresting the Anti-Gay Movement is to Republican voters. Serves the craven fool right:

Marilyn Musgrave is, surprisingly, tacking in a different direction. She no longer wants to talk in public about the "radical homosexual agenda" and its malicious impact on the American family. "I am running on a platform of security. Economic security. Border security. National security," the corn-husk blond Republican announced at the start of a candidate debate last week in Windsor.

This is a dramatic departure from the Musgrave of old, the Pentecostal mother of four who came to politics in 1990 as a school committee member determined to stamp out sex education. As a state legislator in Colorado, she campaigned constantly against gay marriage and attempted to deny benefits to the same-sex partners of state employees. In Congress, she has twice served as the chief sponsor of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. "As we face the issues we're facing today, I don't think there is anything more important than the marriage issue," she announced, just six weeks ago, at a Washington conference for values voters. "If we have gay marriage, our religious liberties are gone."

But in her home district, despite its conservative pedigree, a call to arms in the culture war no longer plays the way it once did. In recent weeks, she has backtracked on her Washington comments, saying they were taken out of context. At the same time, Musgrave's Democratic opponent, Angie Paccione, has gone on the offensive, despite polls that suggest about 60 percent of the district supports a constitutional ban on gay marriage. "Marilyn Musgrave is out of touch," Paccione says in a recent television advertisement: "She said that her gay-marriage agenda is the most important issue facing the United States of America … Are you kidding me?"

The rest here.

A Special Post For My Favorite McCain-Leaning Friend

The Man Is A Phoney Tool. And is committing an unforgivable crime.

From TPM:

McCain Stars In Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Ads

John McCain appears to be as serious as ever about making nice with the conservative base. He's now starring in not one, but two ads backing Proposition 107, which would not only amend the state constitution to bar same-sex marriage of all kinds permanently, but also prohibiting cities, towns, and universities from providing benefits to unmarried domestic partners. The first of the ads -- which are paid for by the evangelical-backed group Protect Marriage Arizona -- is below; the second is after the jump.

Mobilize The KISS Army

To prepare for this post I slipped my copy of Kiss' Greatest hits into the Car CD player. The usual thing happened: I listened to "Strutter" twice, made it through 45 seconds of "Shout It Out Loud" and then turned on Springer On The Radio. Pretty boring stuff to this boy.

But ... They need to be in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Certainly they are a thousand times more influential than Blondie (sheesh!) or at least half the bands that have been inducted in the last five years.

Every metal head guitar player that started a band between 1973 and 1990 points to this band as the source of their passion. Has any other band more influenced the look of Rock shows, particularly Metal Shows?

That they have not made it in or even been nominated is a crime committed by the pasty nebbishy couldn't-get-laid aging hippies who have hijacked the spirit of Rock and Roll and tried to replace it with the spirit of Literary Criticism and pimply condescension.

Oh, and 'Strutter"? Interesting how much it sounds like a NY Dolls song played by people who can tune their guitars......

Rock and Roll All Night Kiddies! Write the Hall and give 'm Hell

If You Can See This It's True

Colbert hisself reports on Comedy Central's plan to have YouTube pull all copywrited material.

Also, fairly scathing on many levels. Stephen is just mad today I think. Good For Him.

The Decline of The Decline Of The West

Andrew Sullivan reports:

Gay couples have helped strengthen the institution (of marriage in Scandinavia). Money quote:

Seventeen years after recognizing same-sex relationships in Scandinavia there are higher marriage rates for heterosexuals, lower divorce rates, lower rates for out-of-wedlock births, lower STD rates, more stable and durable gay relationships, more monogamy among gay couples, and so far no slippery slope to polygamy, incestuous marriages, or "man-on-dog" unions.

Hope On The Right

The right side of this page, that is.

Our great and good friend and musical compadre’ Mr. G Baker is absolutely petrified that when he wakes up next Wednesday he will feel as bad (if not significantly worse) than he has the day after the last three elections. Mr. GB is a sensitive soul who has fought in the trenches (or at least in the ad writers garrets) for many years and has like all of us, watched Dems be outplayed time after time. Certainly John Kerry has facilitated GB’s latest shpilkes.

But look at the numbers today (see right): The polls show a Dem currently up 48 seats in the house. I do believe that that may be an insurmountable number for Rove, even given the importance of rural communities (NY Times today) to Rep get-out-the-vote strategies. It will come down, but not down 25 seats.

These polls of course do not reflect any effects that Kerry’s flameout may have on the electorate (look for those number to appear starting Saturday).

Check out also the latest Times poll on voter attitudes. Just awful numbers for Republicans (currently polling 3% of the African American vote)

I figure that chances of a Senate turnover is still about 20-30%, but GT12 thinks that the Senate goal should be something for Hillary to work on for the next two years instead of screwing up the ’08 Presidential race.

I’m as scared as the next guy, or at least Mr. G Baker but I am also a guy with graduate training in statistics.

The Way Our Military Sees It

These power-point slides are prepared for regular briefings for leadership in the Pentagon (this means Rumsfeld, Cambone, England and others) and NSC (Cheney, Bush, Rice).

They know all this.

So check this graph against the rhetoric that pours from their mouths (like Cheney's "they're doing remarkably well.")

They have no respect for the truth and no respect for the voters. They lie to us continuously.

Republican Trading Cards

 

 

 

John Kerry's Gift To All Of Us

He's just become one less distraction in the race for the Dem. Nomination in 2008.

We should thank him.

Watch 'Em While You Can

Google is making You Tube purge all Comedy Central postings. ... Watch all your fave Colbert's below before they go blank.

And The Nominees Are

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2007 nominees were announced today:

R.E.M., Van Halen, the Stooges and Patti Smith (GT12 Honoree) are among the nine acts on the ballot for the 2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, to be held March 12 at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Also on the ballot are the Dave Clark Five, Chic, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Joe Tex and the Ronettes.

Five artists will be chosen for the final list of inductees, to be announced in January. To be eligible for induction, the 2007 class had to release their first single no later than 1981.

Black Sabbath, the Sex Pistols, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blondie, Miles Davis and record moguls Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss were enshrined in the Hall earlier this year.

The Dave Clark Five?

Yeah, Well, You Know

Caveat: this is from FoxNews:

Studio 60' Cancellation Imminent

Here we go: despite receiving an order for three more episodes on Friday, the Aaron Sorkin NBC drama "Studio 60 on Sunset Strip" is about to be put out of its misery.
Cast members are already confiding in friends that the end is near. It's likely NBC will pull the plug shortly I am told by insiders.

Last week, Studio 60 had 7.7 million viewers. Compare that with competing "CSI: Miami," with 17.5 million. That gap cannot be closed.

The Rest In Peace Here

Tharp-er Image

For the last year I have been spending a lot of time with Bob Dylan’s music. Inspired by some strange turns of musical fate and by Marty Sorcese’s documentary, Mr. G Baker, Mr. JK and myself (and later Mr. B.O.B.) have been putting together a new perspective on Bobby’s oeuvre’.

I come to Dylan with more distant ears than some of my slightly older compatriots. While Blood On The Tracks remains a touchstone album for me, I was raised on The Beatles and the Stones. Dylan has had some great moments since then and some real disasters. My one Dylan in concert experience still ranks as one of the worst ever. Early Dylan was stuff I read about or had played to me by well meaning teachers trying to heighten my consciousness. I have never really understood the overall passion for ‘Blonde On Blonde’ (Still don’t really know what ‘Sad-eyed Lady Of the Lowlands’ is all about – though it was interesting to hear a melody from George Harrison’s ‘Long Long Time’ in the epynonymous lyric).

I have enjoyed being confused by the irony inherent in the joining of the ardor for him by old sensitive folkie-granola types and Zimmy’s rather scabrous view and treatment of those very people. “How does it feel?” indeed. Watch those clips from the ‘goes electric’ performance at The Newport Folk Festival. Lost in all the reports of the event is the fact that Zimmy chose three songs with a common theme: “Fuck You All, I Am Beholden To No One.”

So far be it for me to criticize other people’s takes on Mr. D., but who the hell thought that a jukebox musical was a good idea?

Now I love Twyla. I have wept real tears during a performance of ‘In The Upper Room’. But this? It should be noted that Tharp’s biggest failure during her time with American Ballet Theater ('The Bum's Rush') was also set in a circus. I can’t imagine that this is any better.

This is why the country turned against liberals…..

Slate talks about it here.

NYTimes here:

 

Why We Don't Want To Win The Senate

Losing the senate in this atmosphere can not be good for Harry Reid, current Dem Minority Leader. It will though, put us in a better position for getting control in '08. But just maybe Harry will not be positioned to become Majority Leader.

But Hillary could be.

And she can join forces with the Dem Pres Nominee to take over the remaining two branches of government.

And not run for president herself.

Dave Does Bill

Letterman, clearly right leaning in 2000 and even 2004 has come back from the Dark Side.

BillO comes to visit and gets no spin.

Bill Maher Celebrates Halloween

A Country Ruled by Faith

This essay by Garry Wills, America's pre-eminent writer on history, politics and religion gives us the whole picture of how unlike any other administration our current one is.

It Starts Like This:

The right wing in America likes to think that the United States government was, at its inception, highly religious, specifically highly Christian, and even more specifically highly biblical. That was not true of that government or any later government—until 2000, when the fiction of the past became the reality of the present.

And Later, this:

The deputy undersecretary for defense intelligence, General William (Jerry) Boykin—a man leading the search for bin Laden—made headlines during the Iraq war with a slide- show lecture he gave in churches. He appeared there not in his dress uniform but in combat gear. He asked audiences (this was after the 2000 election and before the 2004 one):

"Ask yourself this: why is this man in the White House? The majority of Americans did not vote for him. Why is he there?... I tell you this morning he's in the White House because God put him there for such a time as this. God put him there to lead not only this nation but to lead the world, in such a time as this."

... God's war needs God's warriors, and the White House was ready to supply them. Kay Coles James had been the White House personnel scout for domestic offices. The equivalent director of personnel for the Iraq Coalition Provisional Authority (headed by Catholic convert Paul Bremer) was the White House liaison to the Pentagon, James O'Beirne, a conservative Catholic married to National Review editor Kate O'Beirne. Those recruited to serve in the CPA were asked if they had voted for Bush, and what their views were on Roe v. Wade and capital punishment.[39] O'Beirne trolled the conservative foundations, Republican congressional staffs, and evangelical schools for his loyalist appointees. Relatives of prominent Republicans were appointed, and staffers from offices like that of Senator Rick Santorum. Right moral attitude was more important than competence.[40]

That was proved when the first director of Iraqi health services, Dr. Frederick Burkle, was dismissed. Burkle, a distinguished physician, was a specialist in disaster relief, with experience in Kosovo, Somalia, and Kurdish Iraq. His replacement, James Haverman, had run a Christian adoption agency meant to discourage women from having abortions. Haverman placed an early emphasis on preventing Iraqis from smoking, while ruined hospitals went untended. This may suggest the policy on appointments that put Michael Brown in charge of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but the parallel is insufficiently harsh. Chris Matthews brought it up on his television show while interviewing the Washington Post reporter who had covered the CPA in Iraq, Rajiv Chandrasekaran, who said, "There were a hundred Browns in Iraq."[41] But there were Bible study groups in the Green Zone.

The rest is here. It's Long but it's Wills. You'll be a better person after you've read it.

True conservatives At Least Know What They Are Trying To Conserve

"Not since the medieval church baptized, as it were, Aristotle as some sort of early — very early — church father has there been an intellectual hijacking as audacious as the attempt to present America's principal founders as devout Christians. Such an attempt is now in high gear among people who argue that the founders were kindred spirits with today's evangelicals, and that they founded a 'Christian nation,'"

- George F. Will, New York Times.

And Another

Because he, it and you are all fabulous.

Countdown from Out Of The Cradle

Music For A Busy Day

GT12 will be traipsing all over Northeastern IL and Northwestern IN today. After work in IN we travel back to beloved Chicago to catch our God Lindsey Buckingham at the best music venue in the country, The Park West.

For all of you then, we give Lindsey doing a song that you all know:

Late Snark Is Still Good Snark

And Who could pass up that photo?

Last Week our Dear Leader observed National 'Character Counts' Week by campaigning for Rep. Don Sherwood of PA.

Dana Milbank takes it from here:

So it has come to this: Nineteen days before the midterm elections, President Bush flew here to champion the reelection of a congressman who last year settled a $5.5 million lawsuit alleging that he beat his mistress during a five-year affair.

I'm pleased to be here with Don Sherwood," a smiling president told the congressman's loyal but dispirited supporters at a luncheon fundraiser Thursday. "He has got a record of accomplishment."

Quite a record. While representing the good people of the 10th District, the married congressman shacked up in Washington with a Peruvian immigrant more than three decades his junior. During one assignation in 2004, the woman, who says Sherwood was striking her and trying to strangle her, locked herself in a bathroom and called 911; Sherwood told police he was giving her a back rub.

Never Is Just Another Word For "I Am A Liar"

The "Stay The Course Compendium". Count The number of times our Pres never says "Stay The Course".

Rahmbo Check

My Representative is the subject of a WaPo piece today. My Fave quote:

"Well, I never said Rahm was a diplomat who spends a lot of time schmoozing," says Pelosi, who picked Emanuel last year to run the campaign. She tapped him over more senior lawmakers, she says, because she knew he'd be "coldblooded enough" to push the party relentlessly. And to those who came to have their feathers unruffled, she says she made it clear that Emanuel has her full support. "I said to them: 'We're here to win this election. What is this conversation about?' I don't think we can be better served than by having Rahm at the DCCC."

"He's abrupt with me all the time," she adds with a laugh. "I call him the Field Marshal."

The Name's The Thing

CNN just released a poll which showed that Hillary Rodham Clinton beats John McCain 51% to 44%, but John McCain beats Hillary Clinton 48% to 47%.

Throwing in Hillary's maiden name wins her 8 percentage points. Supposed they asked about Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton vs. Sen. John McCain or New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton vs. Arizona Sen. John McCain, or New York's junior senator Hillary Rodham Clinton vs. Arizona's senior senator John McCain?. The results might be radically different.

And We Never Said Saddam Had Anything To Do With 9/11 Either

This morning, on "This Week," George Bush said "Well, listen. We've never been 'stay the course.'" (Think Progress has the video.)

"We're making steady progress, A free Iraq will mean a peaceful world. And it's very important for us to stay the course, and we will stay the course." George Bush July 2003.

"This conflict is a long way from over, It's going to be a battle that will last for a very long time. It is absolutely essential that we stay the course." Dick Cheney, July 21, 2006

It's All There For Those Who Want To Find It

Mark Kleiman's Page observes:

The following headline links appeared thus, all together, on today's WaPo web page at about 4PM CDT:

• Gunmen Kill 15 Iraqi Police Recruits, Wound 25

• No Big Changes on White House Iraq Policy

• U.S. Death Toll for Month Is Highest in a Year

The writer "thought it deserved notice, and reflection."

And I couldn't agree more.

Democrats Are Hot

Scott Kleeb, running for Congress in Nebraska.

Talk about Your Attractive Candidate. 

Jack Bauer Policy

Well, it's just like I thought. The Republican philosophy is based on TV Fantasy Characters.

While Barney Frank handles the Leader of The Club For Growth well, I have to ask this:

"When people cite the success of techniques used in TV Dramas, why doesn't anyone point out that the people who write the hero's actions also write the end result of those actions?"

Using Jack Bauer's success at saving the U.S. in 24 hours once every year is as valid an argument as saying that we should all keep wild animals because the Man In The Yellow Hat had such success with Curious George.

But, of course, the Republican base's whole world view is grounded in fantasy anyway.

From a particularly intellectual Real Time this Friday:

Scarey Bible Belt George

Gerhard Schroeder has an autobiography coming out. From AP:

Several months [post 9/11], during Bush's 2002 visit to Berlin, Schroeder wrote he was surprised at what he described as Bush's "exceptionally mild" speech to the German parliament.

While meetings with Bush at that time were friendly, Schroeder said he could not reconcile himself with the feeling that religion was the driving force behind many of Bush's political decisions.

"What bothered me, and in a certain way made me suspicious despite the relaxed atmosphere, was again and again in our discussions how much this president described himself as 'God-fearing,'" Schroeder wrote, adding he is a firm believer in the separation of church and state.

Schroeder accused some elements in U.S. as being hypocritical when it comes to secularism in government.

"We rightly criticize that in most Islamic states, the role of religion for society and the character of the rule of law are not clearly separated," Schroeder wrote. "But we fail to recognize that in the USA, the Christian fundamentalists and their interpretation of the Bible have similar tendencies."

Georgie Gets Fabulous!

Nice Flag......Does James Dobson know about this? 

The Definition Of Talking Out Of Both Sides Of Your Mouth

John McCain is such a fraud. Straight Talk my heinie.

From Hardball:

"I think gay marriage should be allowed if there's a ceremony kind of thing if you want to call it that. I don't have any problem with that..."

Before your jaw drops too far, McCain went on to say

"I think private ceremonies are fine. I do not think gay marriage should be legal."

Gays To Save Marriage!

Colbert has the plan:

People Who Go To Twelve - Vision, Creativity and Rock & Roll Win (For Once)

Having kept all of GT12 Central on, well, pins and needles for many weeks, we are happy homos 2day. Even a last minute j'accuse from evil entitled ennui-generating Laura (I'm an Architect! I'm a Mommy! I'm a New Yorker! I Wanna be a Designer!) could not stop the first win by a Project Runway Bad Boy (Sorry Santino, Not Sorry Wendy,).

Jeffrey, who had more than a few dry drunk moments of petty meanness this year, cleaned the clocks of the competition last night.His collection was edgy and elegant. Grungy and Uptown. Young and timeless. He was helped by Michael's implosion into tackiness and threatened by Uli's successful recrafting of her signature look into something a little less Miami-Party girl and a little more warm weather socialite. Laura as always generated 12 versions of her, uh, 'classy' flapper matron look. (Mr Dan observes that Laura has become for me what Jackie O is to him - someone you just can't stand and can do no right).

We raise our goblet of White Grape Juice to you Jeffrey, You Go To Twelve.

From CNN. Jeffrey's most conservative look. 

Viral Success

Apple learns that the Mac's freedom from virus's is due to the fact that no one who matters owns one.

This is not true of iPods:

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- In another example of how mobile gadgets can carry malicious programs, Apple Computer Inc. said a fraction of its iPod players sold in the past month contained a virus that affects Windows systems.

The problem affected less than 1 percent of the video iPods that were available for purchase after Sept. 12, according to a posting on Apple's technical support Web site. The company has received less than 25 reports concerning the problem, Apple said.

The iPods got the virus from a Windows computer at one of its manufacturing plants, Apple said. The virus, RavMonE.exe, is known to spread through external data storage devices when they are connected to computers and affects only machines running the Windows operating system from Apple rival Microsoft Corp. Security experts say the virus opens up further security holes for hackers.

World's Most Shameful Catholic?

From Colbert... the astonishing Bill Donohue!

No Big Tents for Authoritarian Christians

From The LA Times:

Some Seek 'Pink Purge' in the GOP

WASHINGTON — In recent years, the Republican Party aimed to broaden its appeal with a "big-tent" strategy of reaching out to voters who might typically lean Democratic. But now a debate is growing within the GOP about whether the tent has become too big — by including gays whose political views may conflict with the goals of the party's powerful evangelical conservatives.

Some Christians, who are pivotal to the GOP's get-out-the-vote effort, are charging that gay Republican staffers in Congress may have thwarted their legislative agenda. There even are calls for what some have dubbed a "pink purge" of high-ranking gay Republicans on Capitol Hill and in the administration.

The long-simmering tension in the GOP between gays and the religious right has erupted into open conflict at a sensitive time, just weeks before a midterm election that may cost Republicans control of Congress.

"The big-tent strategy could ultimately spell doom for the Republican Party," said Tom McClusky, chief lobbyist for the Family Research Council, a Christian advocacy group.

"All a big-tent strategy seems to be doing is attracting a bunch of clowns."Now the GOP is facing a hard choice — risk losing the social conservatives who are legendary for turning out the vote, or risk alienating the moderate voters who are crucial to this election's outcome.

More Crisis In Hastertville

(The Candidate's House ^)

Candidate dies in crash

Death of Aurora man in sex-abuse case is called
'self-inflicted'

A Kane County Board candidate arrested last week on sexual assault charges died Tuesday when his vehicle slammed head-on into a concrete bridge support, Aurora police said.

Brent K. Schepp, 36, a father of four from Aurora, was traveling at "a very high rate of speed" on Eola Road and did not try to brake or take any evasive action, said Dan Ferrelli, police spokesman.

The Chicago Tribune Has The Rest

NYC Flashback

When we were in NYC this spring Mr Dan and I ran across this film company. What we saw entailed two guys in fish suits (above) running at and through a pack of marathoners.

Last night, while being forced by band members to watch the National League finals, I saw the end result of our tourist highlight: A Bacardi ad urging us to swim against the current.

I am sticking to micro-brews. 

They'll be here soon 

 

And there they go 

Kansas Health Update

We have followed the whole "What's the matter with Kansas?" issue for some time. More to the point, we've been watching Kansas seem to have less and less "the matter" with it.

The chairman of the Johnson County Sun, a paper that has endorsed 'a handful' of democrats over the last 56 years, will be endorsing nothing but Democrats this year.

Why? Because the worm is turning on America's Theocratic Party....

So, what in the world has happened?

The Republican Party has changed, and it has changed monumentally.

You almost cannot be a victorious traditional Republican candidate with mainstream values in Johnson County or in Kansas anymore, because these candidates never get on the ballot in the general election. They lose in low turnout primaries, where the far right shows up to vote in disproportionate numbers.

To win a Republican primary, the candidate must move to the right.

What does to-the-right mean?

It means anti-public education, though claiming to support it.

It means weak support of our universities, while praising them.

It means anti-stem cell research.

It means ridiculing global warming.

It means gay bashing. Not so much gay marriage, but just bashing gays.

It means immigrant bashing. I'm talking about the viciousness.

It means putting religion in public schools. Not just prayer.

It means mocking evolution and claiming it is not science.

It means denigrating even abstinence-based sex education.

Note, I did not say it means "anti-abortion," because I do not find that position repugnant, at all. I respect that position.

But everything else adds up to priorities that have nothing to do with the Republican Party I once knew.

That's why, in the absence of so-called traditional Republican candidates, the choice comes down to right-wing Republicans or conservative Democrats.

And now you know why we have been forced to move left.

What The Election Means

I ran across this figure last week. Krugman talks about it today:

The current Congress has shown no inclination to investigate the Bush administration. Last year The Boston Globe offered an illuminating comparison: when Bill Clinton was president, the House took 140 hours of sworn testimony into whether Mr. Clinton had used the White House Christmas list to identify possible Democratic donors. But in 2004 and 2005, a House committee took only 12 hours of testimony on the abuses at Abu Ghraib.

Culture of Life indeed. This will change.....

I Always Wondered About Those Log Cabin Guys...

HOMOSEXUAL REPUBLICANS ARE CLOSETED DEMOCRATS

By Cliff Kincaid
October 13, 2006
NewsWithViews.com

The complex nature of the “dirty trick” against the Republicans over the Mark Foley scandal is beginning to emerge. It doesn’t involve a George Soros-funded group or emails that had been in the possession of the media or shopped around by Democratic operatives. Instead, the GOP has played a trick on itself. The party brought so-called gay Republicans into positions of power in Congress only to realize that the confidential information they held about a secret gay network was political dynamite that could backfire.

[...]So if the gay Republicans are not really Republicans, what are they? One veteran observer of this network told AIM that the Foley scandal should make it crystal clear that the gay Republicans are in reality “liberal activists” who want to use the party to advance the same homosexual agenda embraced by the Democrats.

[...]It seems appropriate to note that one of the few Republicans financially supported by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, the pro-Democratic group to which Trandahl made his contributions in 2000, was Rep. Jim Kolbe. Was the first “openly gay” Republican member of Congress a closeted Democrat as well? It’s certainly the case that he started acting more like a Democrat once his secret life was exposed. He has, for example, become a prominent advocate of gays in the military and has denounced the proposed federal amendment protecting traditional marriage.

[...]It’s early in the probe, but we may be looking at emerging evidence of a homosexual recruitment ring that operated on Capitol Hill. It’s time to get beyond partisan politics and follow the evidence wherever it leads. Our media should not be intimidated by charges of “gay bashing.” They must lead the way in getting to the bottom of this terrible abuse of power.

Deeeetroooooiiiiiit!!!!!!

Tigers Going To The World Series!

Meanwhile, In The Real World

We have a new Global Aids Coordinator, and, as far as Condi's concerned, he's married too.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. Thank you very much. I am truly honored and delighted to have the opportunity to swear in Mark Dybul as our next Global AIDS Coordinator. I am pleased to do that in the presence of Mark's parents, Claire and Richard; his partner, Jason; and his mother-in-law, Marilyn. You have wonderful family to support you, Mark, and I know that's always important to us. Welcome.

Photo below (L to R): Laura Bush, Mr Dybul, Partner Jason, Sec. Rice.

Ohio turning Blue

 

Back To Blue

Ohio wasn't always the seat of Republican depravity and other foolishness. And it looks like my homies have sent the creeps running.....

Remember, a vote against Ken Blackwell is a vote against Stolen Elections And Authoritarian Christian Rule. He is, as we used to say in High School in '70's Ohio, a piece of shit.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - As the GOP scrambles nationwide to retain its majority, scandal-ridden Ohio appears to be falling off the financial radar screen.

Television time is being forsaken for House candidates. And national promotions of the state's gubernatorial candidate by the Republican Governors Association popped up, then disappeared.

Ohio Republicans are trying to regroup amid a guilty plea Friday by U.S. Rep. Bob Ney (news, bio, voting record) in a Washington influence-peddling case and the trial of GOP fundraiser Tom Noe — accused of stealing from a state investment in rare coins — set to begin next week. Their national counterparts are following suit, focusing every last penny on races they believe they can win.

Those include U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine (news, bio, voting record)'s seat, which is being hotly contested by U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown (news, bio, voting record); U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce (news, bio, voting record)'s seat, which Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy is seeking; and the seat Ney is vacating, which the party hopes state Rep. Joy Padgett can win over Democrat Zach Space.

"As races change, dynamics change," said Ed Patru, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. "We're not going to continue spending money in races where we're significantly ahead and, conversely, in some races if it looks to be out of reach, you're not going to dump a bunch of money into it."

In recent days, the committee pulled advertising it had planned in the race between Republican Craig Foltin and Democrat Betty Sutton for Brown's open House seat, which the GOP initially thought it could wrest from Democrats. The committee also viewed the seat being vacated by Democratic U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland (news, bio, voting record), who is running for governor, as a potential gain, but has backed away from that hope.

Strickland has held a double-digit lead in the polls in that race, which is drawing national attention because the winner's party will carry an edge into the 2008 presidential election. A narrow win in Ohio gave President Bush' the electoral votes he needed for re-election in 2004.

Meanwhile, after an aggressive early advertising push, Republican gubernatorial nominee Ken Blackwell, Ohio's secretary of state, has disappeared from the airwaves — a surprising turn of events for the leading candidate on the party's ticket.
A one-time strategy called for the RGA to air its own ads in support of Blackwell, but the governor's group appears to have written off the state.

Bill's Fault

At least that's What Colbert and Andrew Sullivan Say.... Some of my favorite people together again.... From Thursday's show.

Maggot Brain

With BOTH composer (the late) Eddie Hazel and long-time P-Funk Allstar Mike Hampton. Sometimes I think that white folk have brought nothing to Rock and Roll......

Forever

I say it alot, but reflection shows it to be true in this case:

This is one of my fave songs of all time. Buddha Bless Steve Van Zandt.

And Where Have You Been?

Ive been in Indiana and battling through final
extended tax returns this week. Also started Andrew
Sullivans The Conservative Soul and hoping he makes
some sense of that word.

Also... GO TIGERS!

Youll Never Prove Me Wrong

mark Warner says No Thanks to the chance of beoming
the anti-Hillary.

I still think he coulda done it. And I now wish he was
running against Sen. Maccacawitz.

Theres still the veepstakes...
Obama/Warner anyone?

And So Many More Hearts And Minds

How exactly was it we figured that they'd appreciate us?

From Raw Story:

A new study estimates that as many as 655,000 Iraqis died since the U.S.-led invasion in March of 2003, and roughly ninety percent of the deaths were directly related to violence, primarily victims of gunfire.

"A team of American and Iraqi epidemiologists estimates that 655,000 more people have died in Iraq since coalition forces arrived in March 2003 than would have died if the invasion had not occurred," David Brown reports for the Washington Post in Wednesday's edition.

The Post notes that this figure, "produced by interviewing residents during a random sampling of households throughout the country, is far higher than ones produced by other groups, including Iraq's government."

"It is more than 20 times the estimate of 30,000 civilian deaths that President Bush gave in a speech in December," Brown writes. "It is more than 10 times the estimate of roughly 50,000 civilian deaths made by the British-based Iraq Body Count research group.

Good Thing? Bad Thing?

Caught Chris Matthews' show this Sunday. Even with Tucker Carlson on Chris had to struggle to get anyone to say good things about the current administration. This interchange was telling:

CARLSON: It goes deeper than that though. The deep truth is that the elites in the Republican Party have pure contempt for the evangelicals who put their party in power. Everybody in ...

MATTHEWS: How do you know that? How do you know that?

CARLSON: Because I know them. Because I grew up with them. Because I live with them. They live on my street. Because I live in Washington, and I know that everybody in our world has contempt for the evangelicals. And the evangelicals know that, and they're beginning to learn that their own leaders sort of look askance at them and don't share their values.

MATTHEWS: So this gay marriage issue and other issues related to the gay lifestyle are simply tools to get elected?

CARLSON: That's exactly right. It's pandering to the base in the most cynical way, and the base is beginning to figure it out.

#@%*&^! Deadwood

Ah, The Poetry !

I Don't Give These Guys Enough Credit

An "I'm Not Dead Yet" news conference in front of a graveyard. I guess the subtext is to stress the word 'yet'. 

Back To The Boss

Our First GT12 Honoree deserves our first official YouTube.

This is 'The River' from The Rising Tour. Anyone who knows me knows I love heartbreak.

Testing ... With Bill

Let's Try This You Tube Thing

No Second Act

Jon Stewart speaking about Ann Coulter:

I actually feel sorry for her. Once your career is based on denigrating 9/11 widows, what's your second act? Unless you dig up Mother Teresa and stick a dildo in her eye, nothing could be more offensive.

Counting Our Chickens

Well, Political Wire is anyway......

Republicans in Free Fall

A new USA Today/Gallup Poll shows Democrats hold a 23-point lead over Republican candidates in the generic congressional ballot. "That's double the lead Republicans had a month before they seized control of Congress in 1994."President Bush's approval rating is now 37%, down seven points in the last month. The approval rating for Congress is 24%, down five points."Government corruption, Iraq and terrorism were the three most important issues to poll respondents. They said Democrats would do a better job on all three. The party had a 21-point advantage on handling corruption and a 17-point advantage on Iraq. A longstanding GOP advantage on terrorism vanished; Democrats had a 5-point edge."

"is reported to be a professed atheist"

The Authoritarian Christian Right attacks .... well, an American citizen's beliefs and equates those beliefs with Un-Americanism.

From Law.com:

Religion has entered the political fray in a race for an appellate court bench in east Texas.

The Austin-based Republican Party of Texas played the religion card in a Sept. 21 online newsletter. As alleged in the newsletter, Texarkana solo E. Ben Franks, Democratic nominee for a seat on the 6th Court of Appeals, "is reported to be a professed atheist" and apparently believes the Bible is a "collection of myths.'"
But Franks says he has never professed to be an atheist and is not a member of any atheist organization. Franks says no one with the Republican Party ever asked him whether he professes to be an atheist. However, he says he's not surprised by the allegation.

"I'm not surprised at anything anybody says in politics anymore," Franks says.
Anthony Champagne, a political science professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, says he has watched judicial races in Texas and other parts of the country for 25 years and has never before seen a judicial candidate accused of being an atheist.