julst like the helmet law

which there isn't one in iowa, cellphone talkers are just as impaired as drunk drivers, and we all know how drunk drivers are treated.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who talk on cellphones while driving, even using "hands-free" devices, are as impaired as drunk drivers, researchers said on Thursday.

--source

how many more horrific tales must we hear

coming out of iraq regarding our soldiers. it seems that the armed forces lowered the threshold of quality when these men went to enlist. that's what it is. all these stories about our soldiers raping and killing innocent women and children are the direct result of not filtering out the bad seed during enlistment.

BEIJI, Iraq - Five U.S. Army soldiers are being investigated for allegedly raping a young woman, then killing her and three members of her family in Iraq, a U.S. military official told The Associated Press on Friday.

The soldiers also allegedly burned the body of the woman they are accused of assaulting in the March incident, the official said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

The case represents the latest allegations against U.S. soldiers stemming from the deaths of Iraqis. At least 14 U.S. troops have been convicted.

--full story

Letter of the Day

I heard on the news in Iowa last winter we had thousands of Iowans who had their utilities cut because they couldn't pay their heating bill. But what are Republicans worried about? Flag-burning.

How many thousands of Iowans do you know who have burned the flag? If Iowans burned the flag, it was because they tried to get some heat last winter. Are Republicans out of touch?
- D. A. Benda, Toledo.

attribution

Quote of the Day

"Are we supposed to just sit back and take it?"
--Dam Bartlett in response to the White House attacking the media for leaks made by SAO.

attribution

what a laff.

do you know which colony is a "monkey coloney"?

To Abramoff, African Client was "Monkey Coloney" Jack Abramoff was a devout and observant Jew, we're told. But his religiosity slipped at times -- especially when talking about the clients he considered his marks.

For instance, the tiny African nation of Gabon -- whom Abramoff tried to swindle for $9 million in exchange for setting up a meeting with President Bush -- he referred to as "a monkey coloney [sic]."

We already knew his pet name for some Native American tribes ("troglodytes"), although apparently his nefarious sidekick, Michael Scanlon, didn't know what the word meant. “What am I, a dictionary? :) It’s a lower form of existence, basically,” Abramoff e-mailed Scanlon. Just to be clear, Jack added that the indians were "morons." (Roll Call)

--more muck HERE

jack was king in republican circles. i'm not exactly sure where he stands in democratic circles.

toda's MUST READ of the day

Transvestite gang pesters Magazine Street

--read the rest

bush: i am above the law

WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) thought he had a deal when
President Bush, faced with a veto-proof margin in Congress, agreed to sign a bill banning the torture of detainees. Not quite. While Bush signed the new law, he also quietly approved another document: a signing statement reserving his right to ignore the law. McCain was furious, and so were other lawmakers.
...
Rather than give Congress the opportunity to override a veto with a two-thirds majority in each house, he has issued hundreds of signing statements invoking his right to interpret the law on everything from whistleblower protections to how Congress oversees the USA Patriot Act.

--story

saddam would be proud

One of the actions undertaken by the Americans and Iraqis was the expulsion of about 50 Iraqis from a three-block area where the new outpost was being set up. The Iraqi civilians were told to gather their things and go—where to was not clear.

--story

counter to the repuke talking points

Bush and Rove's campaign themes include:

Tax cuts: Make them permanent and prosperity will follow.

Seal the border: A guest worker program isn't amnesty.

Medicare: Democrats talk about it; the GOP reformed it.

Energy: It's time to just say no to Mideast oil.

God and family: Increase faith-based programs and confirm conservative judges who promote family values.

Blame the media: They hate us anyway, and now their leaks are damaging national security.
--story

and the way to counter that? from klook:

Tax cuts: Make them fair and prosperity will follow. Tax cuts that favor the mega-wealthy don't help middle-class families.

Seal the border: Our ports are not secure, thanks to Dubai Dubya.

Medicare: Democrats saved it; the GOP is trying to destroy it.

Energy: It's time to just say no to Mideast oil. So let's actively support alternative energy sources, let's mandate that vehicles consume less fuel, and let's stop buddying-up to oil sheikhs (photo of Bush holding hands with one of his turbaned petro-sweeties).

God and family: Let's honor the vision of the founders and keep government from meddling in church and family matters.

Blame the media: They hate us anyway, and now their lack of oversight is damaging national security.

And on the "cut and run" meme - most Americans can understand the concept of "good money after bad." At this point, it's clear that the invasion of Iraq was a huge mistake. To continue slogging it out in a baseless, unproductive, expensive war is to throw good money (American lives, military resources, etc.) after bad. Never forget: The majority of American voters are with the Democrats on Iraq.

i say HELL yeah, BRING IT ON!

betcha didn't know THIS:

There is a lot of touching detail about the relationship between Buffett, 75, and Gates, 50. The NYT says the two "have become extremely close business associates and confidants since they met in 1991," traveling together, advising one another, and "regularly playing online bridge games."

warren buffett gives his fortune away

i didn't believe it either until i read the story:

FORTUNE EXCLUSIVE: The world's second richest man - who's now worth $44 billion - tells editor-at-large Carol Loomis he will start giving away 85% of his wealth in July - most of it to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
--more

sounds like moi

i should have made this Quote of the Day:

There are two ways to fight a battle like ours. One is to whisper in the ear of the masses, try subtlely and gradually to change the gender expectations and mythic structures of our culture. That's me. The other is to step up and confront the thousands of atrocities that are taking place around the world on an immediate, one-by-one basis. That's a great deal harder, and that's Equality Now. It's not about politics; it's about basic human decency.

speaking of Q's that have faded away

what happened to Q television network? all their webs are down and mail bounces. they had a good thing going, didn't they? i just got this PR on june 17th. if anybody knows what happened here, please, drop me a line.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Network adds to its line up of Hollywood Stars and National Leaders

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - June 13, 2005 -- QTELEVISION NETWORK, the television network for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community, announced today that it has signed Cheryl Jacques on as special political commentator of the weekly "Political IQ" segment of "On "Q Live" as well as a special guest host for other events.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have Cheryl join our team. She is a true professional and national leader for the GLBT community - we couldn't have asked for a better person and politician to join our network," said Frank Olsen, President and CEO of QTelevision Network. "We are always looking to add to our dynamic team, and this is a great score for us - we anticipate that Cheryl will add great value."

A national leader in the gay civil rights movement, Cheryl Jacques was the first openly gay State Senator in Massachusetts history. She served as the President of the Human Rights Campaign and successfully spearheaded the defeat of the Federal Marriage Amendment. Cheryl Jacques is a sought after national speaker on gay civil rights and politics. She appears frequently as a commentator on such shows as the CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, ABC's World News Tonight, The O'Reilly Factor, CrossFire, ABC's Good Morning America, Nightline, Fox News, CNN, NPR and many other television and radio broadcasts. Jacques is of Counsel to the Boston law firm of Brody, Hardoon, Perkins & Kesten.

"I am excited about being part of the QTelevision team and having the opportunity to speak to the GLBT community about the impact politics has on their lives" said Jacques. "QTelevision is a dynamic network that offers a variety of educational and informative programming."

QTelevision Network is unique in that it was built by and for the gay community. The company offers a channel that will unite gay and lesbian audiences through a network that educates, entertains and informs. The network is currently traveling across the country to present live, national coverage of gay pride celebrations during the entire month of June.

About QTelevision Network: This television network was organized to create and develop a network devoted to providing television programming for the gay and lesbian community. While the company expects much of its subscriber base to be comprised of members of the gay and lesbian population, management also believes that quality programming about the gay and lesbian experience, designed to entertain, educate and inform, will attract many other segments of the viewing public. The company's programming will be available on a subscription basis to those desiring its programming. The network will broadcast 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Providing distribution via satellite ensures availability of the network across the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. QTelevision Network is the Network for the Gay Games VII. For further information on programming and subscriptions, please visitwww.qtelevision.com.

Press Release Information Source: QTelevision Network

say it again, sam

from today's papers:

"In the general's briefing, the future American role in Iraq is divided into three phases. The next 12 months was described as a period of stabilization."—Today's NYT.

"The president said that we have moved from a period of major military conflict to a period of stabilization."—Donald Rumsfeld, press conference, May 2, 2003.

the report on indian gaming interests

and how money influenced lawmakers' actions. iow, a briefing on how corrupt our government has become. it can be seen HERE.

FARPOINT.FACTOID

the number of civilians who have lost their lives in iraq since our invasion: 50,000... 20,000 higher than the administration admits to. that puts george bush ahead of saddam in how many people's blood is on his hands.

Letter Of The Day

Rear Adm. Harry Harris has described the suicides of three prisoners at the U.S. facility at Guantanamo Bay as an act of "asymmetrical warfare." Harris would have us ignore the fact that these men have been held for four years without charges, contact with an attorney, contact with their families; they are subject to torture and "stress positions" with absolutely no idea if or when they will ever get out.

These were not acts of desperate men who had lost all hope, according to Harris.

Rather, they were carefully choreographed and conducted military operations intended to strike at the United States and our freedoms from their prison cells. They attacked America by killing themselves.

What a load of dung. I do not know anyone foolish enough to drink that Kool-Aid. You exemplify everything that is wrong with the U.S. military and America today.

— Larry Wohlgemuth, Vietnam-era veteran, Ankeny.

attribution

this is just sad.

Thousands of veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan are facing a new nightmare -- the risk of homelessness. The government estimates that several hundred vets who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan are homeless on any given night around the country, although the exact number is unknown.

--source

count me in

Americans have a third fewer close friends and confidants than just two decades ago — a sign that people may be living lonelier, more isolated lives than in the past.

--full story

Letter Of The Day

If Congressman Steve King thinks it safer to live in Iraq than Washington, D.C., King and his wife should move to Baghdad and live outside the Green Zone.

And if King is correct, we should bring all the troops home to make Washington, D.C., safer for people.
— Dan Malloy, Des Moines.

attribution

why i hate big corp

In fact, a CEO earned more in one workday than an average worker earned in 52 weeks, said the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. The typical worker's compensation averaged just under $42,000 for the year, while the average CEO brought home almost $11 million, EPI said.
...
For example, the chief executives of 11 of the largest companies were awarded a total of $865 million in pay in the last two years, even as they presided over a total loss of $640 billion in shareholder value, a recent study from governance firm the Corporate Library, found.

--story

from the GOOD NEWS dept.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Episcopal clergy and lay delegates Tuesday rejected a demand from fellow Anglicans that they temporarily stop electing gay bishops, leaving little chance the proposal could be revived at a national church meeting.

--story

saddam would be proud

Reporters Without Borders voiced dismay today at recent government initiatives aimed at imposing censorship and self-censorship about the security situation and the presence of foreign troops. News media editors and executives were summoned by intelligence officials and given instructions. Then a list of banned subjects was sent out to editors."

--story

two steps forward, one step back

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Pentagon document classifies homosexuality as a mental disorder, decades after mental health experts abandoned that position.

--story

why does science scare republicans so much? what are they afraid of? they're more sissie than the sissies they're beating up on.

two steps forward, one step back

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Pentagon document classifies homosexuality as a mental disorder, decades after mental health experts abandoned that position.

--story

why does science scare republicans so much? what are they afraid of? they're more sissie than the sissies they're beating up on.

read for yourself

a cable from the baghdad ambassador to washington:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/graphics/iraqdocs_061606.pdf

sooo, things AREN'T all honkey doory.

they're ALL crooked

The Journal has a campaign contribution analysis showing corporations hedging their bets in the last year and cranking up their donations to Democrats.

via slate's today's papers

watching mcbride

and i can't help but remember my time in san francisco. that magical city of nighttime lust. where the leather-crowd intermingles with the suit-crowd and pounds of semen is wasted nightly. mcbride reminds me of my friend who took me under his umbrella of wealth and we workd on several projects together. there was always this 'if we fuck, we'll never be friends' air about us, someething similar to mcbride and his sidekick. i don't even know if mcbride is filmed in san francisco or even whether the story is set in san francisco. but it could, and probably should. but mcbride is a decent crime-drama show. i give it an 8.

Quote of the Day

"By the time you add up the extreme cost of human lives,the cost of the "toys" of war,the maiming of troops,the total disruption of families on every side of the war,the destruction of land and livelyhoods,the cost which has to be taken out of the pockets of those not even born yet...how can they preach about "winning"? Only those with no sacrifice,those with ample stock in the companies who deal with war products and those who seem to thrive on all those ribbons,badges and flags seem to gain from any confligration."
--send in the clowns

attribution

when do they call it corruption?

The law forbids government officials from lobbying their former department or agency for a year after their departure. Homeland Security officials have shrunk that timeline by a variety of methods, many not unique to that department. But the piece identifies one key rule change, "created in late 2004 at the request of senior department officials, when the first big wave of departures began." The department was divided into seven components for purposes of the lobbying laws, so now a former official can lobby DHS officials right away, as long as the lobbyees are from one of the six components the official did not work for before.

ah HAH.... the 2004 WAS stolen!

By late afternoon on November 2, 2004, nationally, all the exit polls showed John Kerry winning with 50.8% of the votes and showed George W Bush with 48.2%, meaning Kerry had a 2.6% lead over Bush. But when the vote counts came in at the end of election day, Bush had 50.9% of the votes, and Kerry had 48.1%, meaning Bush received 2.8% more votes than Kerry.

Ohio was the most important state to Bush. He could not win without it. He spent so much time in the state that people began to wonder whether he had left a forwarding address to Ohio. At his last campaign rally in the state, a mere 4 days before the election, Bush bestowed special praise on a husband and wife team who in hindsight, were more helpful to Bush than any other politicians in Ohio, as far as rigging the election....

--source

isn't that how concentraation camps were created?

A federal judge in Brooklyn ruled yesterday that the government has wide latitude under immigration law to detain noncitizens on the basis of religion, race or national origin, and to hold them indefinitely without explanation.

--story

they're going to get what they want no matter what

from TPM:

Remember John Pondexter's Total Information Awareness (TIA) program? The ill-conceived datamining effort is back, and worse than ever -- they've stripped privacy protections and abuse safeguards from the system, and opened it up to users from all over the intelligence community, according to a new report from National Journal.

how many people do you know

who can tell which season a particular versionof the song for gunsmoke was written for. i can tell you beginning, middle or latter part of it's life on tv. tvland plays gunsmoke daily, and recently they've dug up some episidoes i haven't seen before which is crazy since i watch gunsmoke every day, and on weekends all day sundays. to catch an episode i haven't seen already is a rarity.

my email to mediacom

I thought it was about time I sounded off to you folks at mediacom. My last three bills saw increases, for one thing or another, expiration of past offers, and likewise, and it has come time for me to ask you: why do you hate us so much? We are your loyal customers who have stuck with you for years when we could have chosen other, much cheaper services that have become available. I could choose 8mb/sec downloads from dsl, yet I remained with your pithy 3mb - in real life it's only 1.5mb.

Well, it's time to tell you, either cut me some slack or I'll take my business elsewhere. Enough is enough.

Letter Of The Day

The widows of our soldiers in Iraq should be just as eligible for millions of dollars as the widows of 9/11.
— Bob Martin, Ankeny.

attribution

the reaction of the commander in chief?

"it's a number"

"It's a number." That's the reaction from White House press secretary Tony Snow to word that 2,500 American soldiers have died since the Iraq war began.

--story

bush now has the blood of 2500 people on his hands

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - U.S. military deaths in Iraq have now topped 2500, three years after the U.S.-led forces invaded the country and removed President Saddam Hussein the Pentagon announced Thursday.

--story and where is cnn?

Confidential Messaging Memo – Floor Debate on Iraq and the Global War on Terror

read the memo HERE.

it's interesting to see the comments made:

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/14/boehner-memo

Editorial of the WeeQ

Detainees in Despair

I WAS released from the United States military's prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, in July 2004. As I was about to board a plane that would take me home to France, the last detainee I saw was a young Yemeni. He was overwhelmed by emotion.

--full story

Letter of the WeeQ

If the Republican Party and the Christian right do not loudly and repeatedly reject the venomous hatred and bigotry dripping from the fangs of Ann Coulter, they can be neither Christian nor right.
— William C. Green, Fort Madison.

attribution

bwahahaha

Letter Of The Day

Mohamed ElBaradei, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the last week of May that Iran does not pose an immediate nuclear threat. He cautioned that the world shouldn’t jump the gun with erroneous information, as he said the U.S.-led coalition did in Iraq in 2003. Nor should it push the country into retaliation as international sanctions did in North Korea.

The Bush administration will not be deterred by these facts. It is hellbent on pressing for U.N. sanctions for what Iran has not done — making enemies instead of friends is its strong point. This delusional administration is out of control.
— Frank P. Belcastro, Dubuque.

attribution

this is how warped our government has become

when emails to leaders of agencies refer to the president as 'the leader'

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2006/images/06/09/email.pdf

Letter Of The Day

If a group of thugs targets Hispanics, African-Americans, gays, Jews or any other minority group, then their crime is considered especially egregious because its primary motivation is hate. It is a hate crime.

So what does that tell us about our president and the thugs in Congress who are pushing for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union only between a man and a woman?

The sole motivation is to deny gay Americans the same rights and privileges as held by heterosexual Americans.
— William C. Green, Fort Madison.

attribution

editorial of the day

over at the new york times:

The Million-Dollar House on the Hill

--story

more administration lies

Although U.S. officials had said Zarqawi was dead by the time they arrived on the scene, new information revealed otherwise.

and

A U.S. general also told reporters that besides Zarqawi, two men and three women were killed in the blast. Contrary to earlier reports, a child was not killed.

what this means is that you can NEVER believe someone who lies every time they open their mouths.

when do they call it corruption?

seems another GOPr got busted and, i hope, gets nailed to the wall.

The LAT fronts new troubles for Republican Rep. Jerry Lewis, who's chair of the über-powerful appropriations committee. The feds are investigating Lewis, and now we learn that a defense-contractor-funded PAC sent plenty of checks to Lewis' stepdaughter. The contractor, of course, was later earmarked for contracts via Lewis' committee. NBC just interviewed another defense contractor who said Lewis once tried to shake him down.

more reason to celebrate

A victory for same sex couples today as the United States Senate rejects President Bush's proposed constitutional marriage amendment. The vote was 49 to 48, but far from the amount needed to move.
--source

well, what would you think would come from known liars?

The Post explains that the nuclear deal endorsed by the White House "leaves open the possibility" that Tehran can enrich uranium in-country. The administration said it will take years, at least, before it would greenlight that. Still, the offer, as the WP puts it, "differs significantly from the Bush administration's stated determination to prevent Iran from mastering" nukes technology.

the 18th state, 32 left to go

Bigot-for-pay Tim Eyman's efforts to hold a referendum on the hard-won civil rights law passed this last March have failed. This evening, Eyman announced at a press conference that Referendum 65 had collected only 105,103 signatures, 7,337 short of the 112,440 valid signatures needed to keep the bill from taking effect tomorrow and putting it instead on the November ballot. Washington now becomes the 18th state in the US with state-wide protections for gay civil rights.

--source