Phone Fun with Herr Hannity

Faux News Obergruppenspewer Sean Hannity got a little slap in his smug face when Rethug Senator George Voinovich hung up on Herr Hannity's radio interview. Hannity was interested in browbeating the Senator over his position on the immigration bill that was defeated in the Senate yesterday, but couldn't resist his usual demagoging. Voinovich told the good Obergruppenspewer that he wouldn't be intimidated by Hannity and his low-class bull. At which point, Voinovich abruptly hung up on the assclown. Good for him.

News From London

News of the thwarted bombing in London's theatre district is welcome news, without question. It's interesting, however, to watch the overblown reactions of the wingnut welfare chorus, who have instantaneously assumed it's related to al Qaeda. Given the recent knighting of Salman Rushdie, and British support for the U.S. in the Middle East, chances are that it will turn out to be a hater on his jihad. Then again, it could be one of these clowns, who have more in common philosophically with the aforementioned wingnuts. How about facts before flatulence?

"Bush Plans Envoy to Islamic Nations" -- News Item

Our nominee? Crazy Pam Oshrey, of course. She could start her meetings with the A-rabs with her July 14, 2007 statement:

"Islam must be crushed. . . .this cult is many things but it is not a religion. It is the anti-religion."

Plus, she'd look better in a burka.

More Than One Hung Low

Apparently, there's a move afoot by the Feds to have local/state election officials translate candidates names into Chinese characters in precincts with predominant Chinese-speaking populations. Some of the examples noted were for Willard "Mitt" (aka "Muff") Romney and Fred "Foghorn Leghorn" Thompson. Willard's name translated into "Sticky Rice" or "Uncooked Rice" (but apparently not "Condoleeza Rice"). Fred's comes out as "Virtue Soup," which we've never tasted but would imagine is pretty thin and unappetizing.

But how about some of the other Rebunglecan candidates? We would venture these guesses:

Sen. Walnuts McCain: "Gen. Bush's Bok Toy"

Rudy "McRomney" Giuliani: "Shady Man Who Likes to Dress as a Woman"

Sen. Sam Brownback: "Dances With Dinosaurs and Jesus"

Statistic of the Week

Sports Illustrated, in this week's edition ("2007 NASCAR Midseason Report"), reports it's polled NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers on a number of topics, one of which was party affiliation (18 responded, but not to all questions, hence the percentages don't add to 100). The results?
Republican 59%
Democrat 0%
Independent 18%

Actually, not surprising, given that they go around in circles, waste enormous amounts of energy, and often cheat (photo of local Rebunglecan party county chairman enjoyin' the racin', while showin' off his IQ).

Willard "Mitt" Romney Loves Those Pets!

There's a story in the Boston Globe about a road trip the Romney family took years ago. Apparently, Willard/Mitt put the family's pet dog in a carrier, strapped it to the roof of their station wagon, and sped off. Which caused the dog to have diarrhea on top of the car. He later hosed the dog and the car off.

Willard/Mitt recently said he'd like to double the size of Guantanamo. OK, let's put him in one of the new cages until he has diarrhea. But not hose him off.

With Experts Like This

Today's WaPo has an op ed by Rethug Michael Gerson, "An Exit to Disaster," in which he states:

"No one can confidently predict the outcome of a precipitous withdrawal, but the signs aren't good. Experts such as Fred Kagan at the American Enterprise Institute believe a full-scale Iraqi civil war would result in massive sectarian cleansing..." (my emphasis)

Isn't that the same neocon Fred Kagan (of the glorious Kagan Klan) who was one of the neocon "brain"trust that propelled us into Iraq and also is a prime author of the "surge" strategy? So, to get this straight, he's just out there flogging for a continuation of his own bankrupt policy, and Gerson is pointing to him as an expert?! My, aren't you Rebunglecans the clever ones!!

And More from the Rethug Crime Blotter

A sobbing J. Steven Griles, former Bush Assministration Deputy Secretary of the Interior, was sentenced yesterday to 10 months in prison for obstructing an investigation into the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling, Rethug pocket-lining scandal. Griles is the highest ranking Assministration official (so far) to be convicted in the l'affaire Abramoff. After Griles read his less-than-contrite statement to Judge Ellen Huvelle, she chastised him, saying, "Even now, you continue to minimize and try to excuse your conduct." She then gave him twice as much time in the slammer as prosecutors had recommended. Heh-heh.

She's Deeply Depraved

Anyone watching yesterday's "Hardball" had to be nauseous at the sight of (M)Ann Coulter slinging slime at Elizabeth Edwards. Even "Tweety" Matthews showed his growing disgust at the-pathetic-excuse-for-a-human Coulter, pressing her on why her extreme attacks were necessary. To her everlasting credit, Elizabeth Edwards kept insisting again and again that (M)Ann Coulter stop the vile personal attacks on her husband and others that she's smeared in the past (9/11 wives, etc.). Coulter kept flipping her bleached hair and was clueless, even after the crowd behind her (many of whom looked like Young Regthuglicans) applauded Elizabeth's sentiments.

(M)Ann Coulter is a deeply disturbed and vicious wingnut. Most mainstream conservatives have shunned her, but few if any confront her dispicable statements. One could begin by asking Coulter, who ironically specializes in sexual put-downs, what a 45 year old woman with no apparent history of lasting heterosexual relationships is doing in her own miserable life. (photo: apologies to the horse for the comparison)

UPDATE: Jon Swift has a delightful view on this smackdown.

Hey, It's Just Been 6 Years

Nearly 6 years after the 9/11 attacks, the Bush Assministration hasn't figured out how to get U.S. agencies to cooperate on counterterrorism operations overseas. The AP is reporting that a just released GAO study cited several examples of U.S. agencies not cooperating, or even communicating, during overseas missions (obviously, they're practitioners of the Dead Eye Dick Cheney fillosofee of gummint "management"). Among the examples cited by GAO: no agency is in charge of getting everyone to work together. Maybe the Klueless Kops of the Bush Assministration will figure things out in another 6 years (by then it will be into the second term of the next, Democratic administration).

Incompetence trumps experience every time.

Pantsed

The infamous $54 million civil suit involving a lost pair of pants has been settled in favor of the Washington, DC drycleaners. The plaintiff, Roy Pearson, lost his case in DC Superior Court, and the judge has ruled that Pearson pay the legal costs of the Korean immigrant drycleaners, the Chungs. Pearson gives new meaning to the phrase "taken to the cleaners."

Cheney: The Decider's Decider

There's a fascinating look into the machinations of "Dead Eye" Cheney in the Bush Assministration in the WaPo. His freewheeling disregard for coordination within the Assministration, his contempt for the rule of law, and his obsessive secrecy are all on display here. Dead Eye plays the commanding role in cooking up the policy on torture and domestic wiretapping with little concern for legalities. What comes across vividly is that he and his staff consider themselves to be a law unto themselves, not subject to oversight or questioning. It's also clear that Bush is either too incompetent and lazy to object, or has no understanding of what his nominal subordinate is doing, or both. In reality, Bush comes across as a figurehead, signing whatever's put in front of him by a sinister, power grabbing veep. (photo: Dead Eye lurking in the bushes while, er, Shrub speaks)

Headlines of the Week

Bush Prods Vietnamese President on Human Rights and Openness -- Washington Post, 6/23/07, p.2.

White House Defends Cheney's Refusal of Oversight -- Washington Post, same date, same page.

The Executive, The Legislative, The Judiciary, The Dick

We've been misinformed all these years when we believed that the U.S. government consisted of three branches. Now we discover there's a fourth branch: The Dick.
The Dick branch is composed solely of the Office of the Vice President, headed of course by "Dead Eye" Dick Cheney. As disclosed in today's WaPo, the Dick branch is refusing to follow rules set by the Executive branch (you know, the Decider) for reporting on classified materials to the National Archives. The Dick was so upset over the bothersome requests to report that they tried to get the offending office in the National Archives abolished. Now that Congressman Waxman's committee in the Legislative branch is seeking documents from them, The Dick is arguing that they're not governed by things like "rules". This may all end up in the Judiciary branch, which may have things to say about The Dick branch. (Photo: Dead Eye peeved that someone's asking him to follow "rules")

Progress, cont'd.

Fourteen U.S. soldiers have been killed in the last 2 days in and around Baghdad, as the NY Times reports. An additional 13 Iraqis died and 75 were injured in bombings near Kirkuk, north of Baghdad. This deadly game of "whack-a-mole" is expected to continue indefinitely, unbeknownst to the Bush Assministration.

Get Thee To A Shrink!

John Travolta (seen here modeling his favorite codpiece) says his thinking is in line with fellow Scientologist and cradle-robber Tom Cruise on psychiatry and the use of psychotropic drugs, adding:

"I think that if you analyze most of the school shootings, it is not gun control. It is (psychotropic) drugs at the bottom of it."

Ah yes, guns don't kill people, blah blah. Were any of the shooters -- Columbine, Virginia Tech, etc. -- in psychiatric treatment, on or off meds, when the shootings occurred? That's not what we recall. The shooters were all people who could have benefited from psychiatric care and intervention; the victims would be alive if the shooters' access to weapons had been restricted and their access to mental health professionals increased. Capt. Codpiece and Mother Hubbard would also benefit if they could be pried away from their "auditing" and deprogrammed into normal human beings.

More From the Rethug Crime Blotter

Law 'n' odor Rethug Rudy "McRomney" Giuliani's man in South Carolina, Thomas Ravenel, was indicted yesterday by a grand jury on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. When he's not distributing the blow and volunteering for Rudy, Ravenel is a millionaire real estate developer. We note this is not the first time Rudy has slipped up in his choice of "associates." Hmmm, let's see, there were wives one and two, and Bernie Kerik...

Oh, and it appears his conjoined twin Willard "McRudy" Romney also has an unsavory character deeply involved in his Utah franchise, er, campaign. Excuse me - I'll need to take that shower now.

Go See "Once"

It's nice to write about a movie that is so well made and so moving that you want others to see it. "Once" is playing in select theatres around the country. It made a splash at this year's Sundance Film Festival, and has gotten rave reviews. Filmed in Dublin, it's a romantic story about two musicians - - one an Irish street musician and the other a Czech pianist - - who come together to make stunning music together and who are dealing with their feelings. The song "Falling Slowly" is a killer, and is just now making it on to radio playlists. It is one of several songs in the film performed by professional musicians Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. No lip synching, no outlandish story, no phony sets. Really, really good film. I guarantee you'll get choked up watching it.

Take That, Tweety

Juvenile pundit Chris "Tweety" Matthews was heckled from the audience at yesterday's AFCME candidate forum after he asked Sen. Hillary Clinton about pardoning Scooter Libby. After the audience demanded that he ask a "real" question, Tweety acted surprised that anyone would interrupt him - - not that he's ever done that. Sen. Clinton jumped in and made it clear that the audience wanted a question about their concerns. The expression on her face as she stares Tweety down is priceless. I'm sure he would have wet his pants in a few more seconds. She's obviously aware of Tweety's "Hardball" act when he gets going on the Clintons' marriage, etc. Nice skewering.

Surprised?

The Associated Press is reporting that the e-mail records of 51 out of 88 officials in the White House with e-mail accounts with the Republican National Committee are missing. This has a direct bearing on the Congressional investigation into improper or illegal influence by the political arm of the Bush Assministration on the justice system. The more they try to dodge, coverup and stonewall, the clearer it is that they have something to hide. "Executive privilege" is the last refuge of these scoundrels, as it was for their icon, Richard M. Nixon.

The Fecal Phantoms

Almost lost in the day-to-day reporting of legislation, scandal, and other things that enliven the nation's capital was this story about some turds showing up in the Senate side of the Capitol. Other than the elected Rethugs, that is. No one has taken, uh, credit for originating the piles, but it appears that a Bushit follower has staked a claim (photo). S**t happens when you're in the minority.

Be Patriotic! Guzzle That Gas!

You may have heard the radio ads that the oil and gas industry and these monster polluters are sponsoring. The oil and gas patriots want Congress to be careful, lest we turn the clock back to the '70s with the long gas lines (not to mention disco) by imposing price restrictions (i.e., windfall profits tax) on the poor, struggling Mom & Pop oil companies. It's astonishing, isn't it, that as soon as Congress starts scheduling hearings on oil company profits and an energy bill is introduced, the escalating gas prices level off and start dropping (from about $3.20 a barrel just before the hearings were announced, to $3.03, national average, now)? What a strange (but not related!) coinkydink!

The hog-drivin' fools and their SUV Association of America are telling us that Congress needs to be careful not to pass too stringent fuel economy standards for these over-powered ego-massagers. These patriots use the logic of their NRA brethren ("To make this country safer, we need more people packing more guns, not less!"), saying in their logic-defying ads that to mandate stricter fuel economy standards means making vehicles smaller and less safe! No, what makes vehicles less safe is for cars to share the road with ever-larger land battleships that pollute, guzzle gas, and ensure that in a collision, the genes of these nimrods are passed along while you and I go to the happy huntin' grounds.

It's hard to imagine a Congress so closely divided (especially with Dems like Rep. Dingell, and Sens. Levin and Pryor representing the auto manufacturers in their states) that decent legislation will come out of this session. These ads, and others like them to follow, show that the other side is organized, focused and funded.

In Memoriam

On Friday, June 15, my father-in-law, Robert Kemelhor, passed away. He lived 95 wonderful years, most of them (67) with his wife Dorothy. To try to summarize the life of a man like him in a brief few words would be almost meaningless. To say that his family -- two daughters, four grandchildren and two great granchildren -- is his greatest legacy is without question. They and much of his extended family of nieces, nephews, and in-laws, as well as friends, are gathering today to memorialize his life.

I will always remember him as a kind and generous man with a dry sense of humor (once at a restaurant where the waiter was a little too friendly with his young daughter, he left one of those restaurant evaluation forms with the note, "The rolls were stale, but the waiter was fresh"). He was also a brilliant man who could easily do math computations without paper, pencil or calculator. He and a partner founded the Broil King company (he's the uncredited inventor of the table-top rotisserie oven). As I said, it's almost meaningless to try to summarize a life like this, so I won't.

I simply want to say "I love you and I'll miss you, Bop!" May your every eternal moment be a cloudless summer day on the deck at Southold.

Winger Quote of the Day

"Islam must be crushed. The ideology must be destroyed or it will destroy us. This cult is many things but it is not a religion. It is the anti-religion."
- - June 14, 2007, "Crazy" Pam Oshry (Atlas Shrugs), amateur theologian and bad mommy.

The Gonzo Saga Continues

Did Attorney General Alberto "Gonzo" Gonzales coach a staff member before she gave testimony before the Senate Judiciary committee on the U.S. Attorney firings? That seems to be the indication, as reported in the WaPo today. Meeting with aide Monica "Not" Goodling in mid-March, Gonzo apparently ran his version of events past Ms. Goodling before they both were to give testimony to the Senate, a clear case of potential witness tampering. Gonzo will, of course, say that this was an innocent pre-hearing "prep" session; but he clearly must have known that Goodling was going to be testifying later. Very simply, he was trying to bring her on board with his version of events. And although Gonzo survived a vote of "no confidence" earlier this week, his problems are not over with yet.

Scooter, Don't Bend Over!

This afternoon, Lewis "Scooter" Libby lost his appeal to delay imposition of his 2 1/2 year prison sentence while on appeal. Judge Reggie Walton's decision could result in Libby going to prison within weeks, although Walton's ruling is expected to be appealed. Judge Walton had received numerous letters from Rethug/ neocon "luminaries" and their brother wingnuts, who sent Walton threatening, harassing letters in an attempt to intimidate him. Mission Not Accomplished! By the way, Judge Walton is a Republican, put on the bench by President Moe Chimpy in his first term.

. . . .But It's Working!

Our post yesterday, "Progress," noted the bombing of the Shiite shrine in Samarra, and the attendant fears of new sectarian violence in Iraq. In the WaPo today, a new Pentagon report undercuts the constant claims of the surge's "progress" by the Bush Assministration and their deranged neocon cheerleaders. The level of violence remains high, curfews are needed to limit sectarian revenge killings, and insurgents have simply shifted away from Baghdad and Anbar province to attack elsewhere. The Iraqi government is far from meeting its political benchmarks, and the view is that the sectarian forces represented in the government have become so hostile to each other that the benchmarks may never be met.

The Myth of Conservative America

A fascinating report by Media Matters for America argues that, contrary to conventional wisdom, America is not fundamentally conservative but rather is progressive across a wide range of issues -- and getting more progressive all the time. Utilizing data from nonpartisan sources, the report demonstrates how, from issues such as the economy, security, role of government, health care, the environment and more, the public holds progressive positions and supports progressive solutions. This has been a steady trend over the last 3 decades, the report shows.

What makes this all the more interesting is the trend over the past decade, at least, of conservative media expansion and consolidation (the Murdoch empire, the Clear Channel and Sinclair radio empires, ABC/Disney, etc.), not to mention the "MSM" with its Glenn Becks, *ucker Carlsons, Mark Halperins, Tweetys, etc., trivializing politics with their focus on John Edwards' haircuts, Al Gore's weight, Barack Obama's middle name, and Hillary Clinton's "bitchiness." It gives one reason to hope.

Rudy McRomney At War With Itself

According to the Associated Press, Sen. "Walnuts" McCain has lashed out at Willard "Muff" Romney on the eve of Muff's appearance before the National Right to Bomb, er, Life Convention this Friday. Walnuts' campaign has circulated a video of Muff in May 2005 reiterating his vow to uphold Massachusetts' abortion rights laws -- well after Muff's "epiphany" on abortion in November 2004. Muff's campaign said Walnuts was showing "signs of desperation." And it's only June 2007! Next, we hope, Muff and Walnuts will go after the other Stooge's views on abortion rights, which of course are completely at odds with the Christian Right Rethug base.

Quote of the Week

"The one fact I've learned -- I can't get out of my mind -- is that Rudy Giuliani's been married more times than Mitt Romney's been hunting." Sen. Harry Reid at the Center for American Progess

"The breadcrumbs. . .have always led to 1600 Pennsylvania"

Subpoenas have been issued by the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to compel the testimony of former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and Political Director Sara Taylor regarding the U.S Attorney scandal, it's being reported. There is growing evidence that the Presidunce's brain, Rove, through the Justice Department, put pressure on U.S. attorneys to come up with "investigations" of bogus voter fraud by Democratic officials, and to avoid prosecution of Rethug politicians, around election time. House Committee chairman John Conyers put it this way: "The breadcrumbs in this investigation have always led to 1600 Pennsylvania." The White House will claim executive privilege in trying to block their testimony. They know that this use of the Justice Department was an attempt to subvert the elections, and they'll go down spinning.

"Progress"

As if we needed reminders about the downward spiral in Iraq, there comes word of an attack on the Shiite Imam al Askari mosque in Samarra, destroying more of that shrine that suffered an attack a year ago. Curfews had to be put in place in Baghdad and other cities to brace for retaliation against the Sunnis. Last year's bombing of the shrine triggered a deadly round of sectarian violence all over Iraq.

Other than that, everything's fine over there. Plus, we're making progress, according to the Presidunce, V.P. Dead Eye, and Sen. Loserman (Likud-CT). Would they lie?

Rabies Alert!

If you caught Scarborough Country last night, you would have seen this crackpot in full froth. His name is Michael Evans and he was arguing, in a three-way with Arianna Huffington and Pat Buchanan, that the U.S. needs to attack Iran immediately. The discussion was ostensibly about Joe Lieberman's recent pronouncements on the same subject (see next item). Your first impression in watching this loon (other than he made Buchanan look rational) might have been that he was yet another American Likudist, which he is, certainly. But his dementia goes deeper than that, it turns out. You see, Evans is one of those who believe that we are soon to experience The Rapture. He believes "These are the very last of the days." No doubt, he sees nothing wrong with helping God's mysterious plan along by having the U.S. bomb Iran. Ah, the Rethug base. It's a glorious thing.

Loserman On The Loose

Interviewed by Fox's Obergruppenfuehrer Sean Hannity this weekend, Sen. Joe Loserman (Likud-CT) indicated that he could see himself supporting a Rethuglican for president in '08. What a surprise. He's been supporting the Rethugs in the Senate for some time now, and generally stiffing his former Democratic colleagues while still caucusing with them (and no doubt passing on caucus strategy tidbits to the Rethugs).

Loserman also said on Face the Nation that he would support military attacks on Iran, stating that Iran was training and equipping Iraqi extremists - - like the ones that make up the Iraqi government's Mahdi base. So Joe wants to start yet another war in the Middle East, on top of the ones in Afghanistan or Iraq - - where we're barely holding on - - and the looming war in Lebanon, which will eventually involve us beyond logistical support, no doubt. Smart thinking. Maybe an endorsement from Loserman wouldn't be so good for the Rethugs after all.

Judge Borks Dork

Earlier this week, we were amused by the letters to the Court on behalf of Scooter Libby from a variety of wingnuts and Bushie gophers. Happily, the hilarity continues. An amicus brief for Libby by an assortment of right-wing legal academics, including Robert "Dork" Bork, has drawn a response from Judge Reggie Walton. It's priceless.

Incidentally, Dork, who has been raging on for tort reform, recently filed a personal injury lawsuit against the Yale Club, after he took a tumble from the dias at their function last year. The Yale Club should have insisted on a breathalizer test for Dork after the tumble, since there's no court-admissable test for hypocrisy.

Slammer Time

Two items hot off the police blotter this afternoon:

Well, Heiress Paris is going back to jail to serve the remainder of her sentence for probation violation. This follows a tsunami of outrage that washed across the nation after yesterday's decision by the LA County Sheriff to release Heiress Paris after serving only 5 (though we only counted 3) days of confinement. (Does this mean they have to give her another cavity search? Ouch!) At the hearing today, she cried and screamed "It's not right! Mom!" as the sentence was reimposed on her clueless, privileged heinie.

Also, Italia Federici, the head of a Rethug "environmental advocacy group" (an oxymoron if there ever was one), pleaded guilty to tax evasion and obstructing a Senate inquiry on her role as a bag lady between Jack Abramoff and J. Steven Griles, former Deputy Interior Secretary in the Bush Assministration. It is fondly hoped that Ms. Federici, who was also Mr. Griles' paramour, will sing long and loud in the period between now and her expected sentencing date in the fall, and we'll see more Rethugs doing slammer time.

Bindar Bin On The Take

A news report in the WaPo this morning indicates that Saudi Prince Bindar bin Sultan collected an estimated $2 billion in secret payments over 10 years, as part of a $80 billion arms deal between arms conglomerate BAE and the Saudi government. The oily prince is a close personal friend of the Bush family, and was instrumental in shepherding the bin Laden family out of the U.S. immediately after 9/11, despite all aircraft being grounded. Would anyone really be surprised if some of the payoff eventually found its way into Bush or Rethuglican coffers? Or supporting Islamist madrassas around the globe?

Down The Tubes, Ted?

Bad news for Senate internet expert Senator Ted "Tubes" Stevens (Rethug.-Porkland). He's acknowledging that the FBI has asked him to retain his records as part of an investigation into bribery and corruption involving his son and others in Alaska. Looks like some big bucks may have changed hands for favorable energy legislation, etc. Why is it that the senior Rethugs (Stevens, Duke Cunningham, and "Sneaky Pete" Domenici, to name a few) seem to think that they're above ethics and the law? Arrogance, contempt for government, and greed.

If "Tubes" is forced to do a stretch in the pokey, he can always assist fellow prisoners in mastering the internet tubes.

(Ed. note: If and when "Tubes" is sentenced to jail time, his lawyer should file a motion to have him serve his time at the LA Regional Detention Facility, where it's rumored the Sheriff goes easy on celebs.)

Heiress Paris Sprung

Heiress Paris Hilton was sprung from an LA County regional detention facility (a.k.a. jail) this morning due to an unspecified medical problem. She had spent a total of five days at the jail, and will serve out the remainder of her sentence confined to the Hilton estate. Heiress Paris will be fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet during her confinement (it's not known at this time whether she'll retrofit her bracelet with diamonds or emeralds).

It's already being speculated that the unspecified medical problem has to do with either having had to sleep on a lumpy mattress or with Heiress Paris' difficulties in doing without alcohol and blow for nearly a week. In any case it must have been something really serious, because when she was sentenced on May 4, the judge ruled that she would not be allowed any work release, furloughs or use of an alternative jail or electronic monitoring in lieu of jail. Ahem...nevermind!

"Take Deep Breaths, Vladimir!"

Preznit Moe is frantically trying to calm everyone's nerves about his "missile defense plan," which would deploy missiles along the Polish and Czech borders, ostensibly as a deterrent to rogue (Iran) states threatening Western Europe. On Wednesday, he told reporters that the plan is "not something we should hyperventilate about," thus trivializing Russian concerns about the placement of a system that looks more like it's aimed at deterring Russia than Iran. President Putin has already called out this rationale as "ludicrous."

At the same time, Moe is being criticized for his curious timing in (rightly) criticizing Russia, on the eve of the G8 summit, for derailing its democratic reforms. Moe & Co. have been quiet for years about the disturbing trends in Russia, only speaking up about an abuse when it wasn't possible to stay quiet. But to raise the issue just when tensions with Russia are peaking over the proposed missile defense plan demonstrates once again the tin ear and myopic vision of what passes for diplomacy in Moe's Assministration. One can also point out, as we expect President Putin has, that Moe doesn't occupy the moral high ground when lecturing Russia, given Gitmo, Abu Ghraib, warrantless wiretapping and the suspension of habeus corpus. Well played, Preznit Moe! Nyuk, nyuk!

Man Crushes

Digby has an amusing piece today on the drooling, swooning, and loss of other precious bodily fluids over some of the Rethug presidential candidates. Tweety's love of Fred "Foghorn" Thompson's manly manliness has already been documented. Seems Roger Simon has one on Willard "Mousse" Romney now. Not to mention Ann Althouse's (though she's technically a woman, we hear) continuing lubricity over Rudy. All this coming from the same genus of hyenas that love to mock John Edwards' looks.

Lying Bastard

While the compelling and official evidence says that there was no link between Iraq and 9/11, the despicable Dick "F**k Off" Cheney continues to lie about it. To high school students! Of course, this fabrication was one of the ones that Cheney used in manipulating public opinion after 9/11 and before the invasion of Iraq. The Senate Intelligence Report debunked this lie, yet Cheney persists. But then, we shouldn't be surprised that this deceitful and sinister clown has no shame or remorse for a bogus policy that's resulted in the deaths of many thousands.

(Related: Cheney aide Scooter Libby has been sentenced to 30 months in prison and a $250,000 fine. Good. This shows the price people pay for loyalty to a cheap liar like our Mr. Cheney.)

Jefferson Indicted

We would be remiss if we didn't note that Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) was indicted yesterday on 16 counts of bribery and other charges. Jefferson, who successfully ran for reelection in 2006 despite the cloud of a criminal probe and vigorous Democratic party opposition, had been the subject of a long FBI investigation that broke with the discovery of $90,000 in marked cash in Jefferson's freezer 2 years ago. Although he is yet to face trial, the evidence (including a videotape of Jefferson taking a bribe) seems compelling.

As much as the Rebunglecans have tried to corner the market on corruption and hypocrisy in the past, Jefferson is an unfortunate reminder that shady characters come in all races, religions and political persuasions.

Robert Kagan's Vision

It's been a day now, but getting neocon war whore Robert Kagan's Sunday op-ed excretion washed off takes time and effort. From his comfy office at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (wha?), Kagan surveyed the Iraq landscape from far away and discerned that it's al Qaeda that's causing all the problems, not the sectarian camps themselves. Therefore, we should stay the course with the surge and beyond, and not give in to the Islamofacisto terrists (who wouldn't even be a factor in Iraq had we not invaded it at the urging of neocons like Kagan). Then the same day, seeming to spoil Kagan's insights, along comes a report from Terry McCarthy in Baghdad that says,

"Sunni insurgents have been blowing up Shiite shrines, and Shiite militiamen have responded by attacking Sunnis leaving mosques."

No mention of al Qaeda in the entire report. Not. A. Word. But then, McCarthy's actually there in Iraq, and can't see the forest for the trees. Kagan sees the "big picture" of course, and isn't restrained by such bothersome things as details, and, you know, facts. He also has a war to promote and justify, from a distance of course. (Photo: Kagan researching his next op-ed piece)

Re-Branding

The Rebunglecans may be taking a short break in their ongoing efforts to "brand" the American public, in the manner depicted in this illustration. It appears, as reported in the June 1 WaPo and in DWT, that the Rethugs think new "branding" for the somewhat tarnished Rebunglecan nameplate is just what's needed to bring America back to its senses. Well, they need look no further than our April blogging, "What is a Republican" and "Who is a Republican" to find plenty of fertile ground for this Truth in Advertising effort. In fact, we think so much of the efforts of Rep. "Man Tan" Boner and his point man, Rep. John "Not Jimmy, Dammit" Carter, that we sent Carter copies of these postings to help stimulate the creative process. We patiently await his thanks.

Tweety Wuvs Ronnie Lite

If we had a dollar for every time Tweety Matthews and his "amen corner" friends on Hardball praised Fred "Ronnie Lite" Thompson, we could buy MSNBC. Media Matters has a thorough wrap-up on the phenomenon of Thompson's annointment by the media as "folksy" and "authentic", with Tweety being one of the former one-term Senator's foremost butt boys. This always produces a mirthfull hour of swooning and idol worship. Tweety should consider renaming his show "Whiffleball" when it comes to "Ronnie Lite." Thompson couldn't have better ads if he wrote them himself.

Gas Price Musings

We can't help but take note that every time the public's attention is diverted for a while (thank you? Anna Nicole and Paris), gas prices take an upward spiral - and that the spiral levels off mysteriously as soon as previously distracted Joe Sixpack contacts his Congressman and hearings are scheduled. Amid much chin music about "refinery capacity" and OPEC production that the MSM happily pass along without a critique, Big Oil continues to pile up the record profits. Hmmm... let me put in a fact-checking call to this oil industry PR firm, Dewey, Cheatham and Howe (apologies to the Three Stooges - no, not Rudy McRomney, the original Three Stooges).

Mr. Milbank, Meet Mr. Robinson

It's probably not a coincidence that Eugene Robinson's WaPo column today (no link) rebutted Dana Milbank's recent snarky Al Gore piece "Is It Wise to Be Smart?" Eugene, please tell Dana to stick with the Bush Follies. It's a much more entertaining and appropriate subject for serious journalists.

Message: Screw Your Sacrifice

Item in the WaPo's Reliable Source (no link): Elaine Johnson, who lost a son in Iraq in November 2003 said yesterday that she met with Presidunce Bush in Ft. Carson, CO a month after her son's death. There, Bush presented a presidential coin to families who lost soldiers in Iraq. When presenting the coin, the idiot prince is reported to have said,

"Don't go sell it on eBay."

Such class and awareness in one man. Such empathy with the families who lost family members in a war that he initiated for bogus reasons against a country that had no connection to 9/11. Wonder if he had his insipid smirk on his face when he said that?