Threat To Blogosphere Discovered

Onion Radio news has this important report on a threat to the blogosphere. Forewarned is forearmed.

(h/t the Atlantic's Andrew Sullivan)

Buh-bye

The Bush-appointed administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) has resigned, after being asked to submit her resignation. Lurita Doan entered the spotlight last year when it was disclosed that she urged the use of Federal GSA resources to help elect Republicans in 2006, in violation of the law (we don't need no stinkin' law, right?). This makes, what, 133 or so resignations of Bushies under a cloud of scandal? Heckuva job.

Final Trip

Albert Hofmann, the "father" of LSD, has died in Switzerland at the ripe age of 102. Hofmann discovered the psychedelic drug in 1938, and initially hoped that it would be used to treat mental disorders. Ironically, the abuse of LSD did more to create mental disorders than to resolve them.

In his later years, Hofmann wrote and lectured, taking many foreign trips. Using an airplane.

Hmmmm, Strange. . . .

The New York Daily News' Errol Louis reports (via Huffington Post) that the organizer of Rev. Jeremiah "Wrong" Wright's angry and bizarre appearance at the National Press Club was Dr. Barbara Reynolds, a supporter of Sen. Clinton.

Strange coincidence.

UPDATE: While it's most unlikely that Dr. Reynolds was acting on behalf of the Clinton campaign, bringing Wrong Wright to the National Press Club brought his idiocy to a head, and allowed Obama to break with it once and for all. So, thanks Dr. Reynolds. . .maybe.

Update: Where Is My Keyes?

Earlier this month, we alerted you to the plans of Alan "I Hear Voices Telling Me to Run" Keyes to leave the Republican Party and go for the nomination of the Constitution Party. Sadly, that didn't pan out. (As you check out Alan's comparing himself to a fetus, remember this is the guy the Republican Party in Illinois and Maryland ran for the United States Senate!)

The Wages of Cannibalism

... or "How the Democrats Blew the 2008 Election." We know, we know. It's not even May, but we see evidence piled on evidence that the ongoing battle between Obama and Clinton is in clear and present danger of wrecking the party. The "pro's" who insist there's still time to heal, and that the divisions created in this primary are nothing compared to past divisions, we believe are whistling past the graveyard (or are Clintonistas willing to wreck the party in fruitless pursuit of the nomination). We've been watching elections for well over 40 years, and this. is. not. good.

Meanwhile, the Rethugs and their wholly-owned media are trying (and so far succeeding) in remaking this into a "small" election, with no "small" assist from Rev. Wright. E.J. Dionne explains it best.

Hold On To Your Wallets

The price of a barrel of crude oil has reached a record $120. Just a few weeks ago, it had been $101.

With no energy policy in place that would lessen our dependence on foreign oil, we are taking it in the shorts every time we fill up the tank. We also know that some of that money is ending up in the hands of Islamic fundamentalist extremists, thanks to extortion money paid by our Saudi "allies" who fear a fundamentalist revolution in Saudi Arabia. But it's good to know we have a friend in high places of the Saudis.

McBush Roundup

The Daily Kos has a good summary of the "McBush's Rich Wife's Plane" kerfuffle. The gist is that McBush was using his beer- distributor- millionaire- wife's corporate jet in the campaign -- not technically illegal, but somewhat hypocritical based on McBush's earlier statements. Once again, it is the appearance of fudging, of shading the truth, of being less than the straight talker that may cause this to resonate for a few days before the McBush-adoring, short attention span media move on.

Also, following his Pennsylvania primary showing (completely ignored by the media), where Ron Paul (nominally still in the race) and Mike Huckabee (out for some time) together polled over 25% of the Republican primary vote, another bad sign for the presumptive Rethug nominee, this time from Nevada.

Heckuva Week To Stop Inhaling Helium

On this morning's "Fox and Friends" show, as reported by the Huffington Post, the show's anchors took turns inhaling from helium-filled balloons, after seeing a clip of singer Lionel Ritchie doing the same. They then proceeded to chirp out their lines from the teleprompters. Seriously.

We suggest that they run a story about sniffing airplane glue, and then go for it themselves.

(photo: "This glue ain't bad. Back to Fox and Friends in the studio")

Af-gone-istan: All Is Not Well

The assassination attempt on Afghan President Karzai in Kabul should remind everyone just how tenuous the situation is in Afghanistan, and for that matter in neighboring Pakistan. It comes only a few months after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan by extremists.

In the nearly seven years after 9/11, the Taliban and al Qaeda have mobilized and reestablished themselves in Afghanistan and nuclear Pakistan. The bulk of our forces remain trapped in Iraq, acting as armed referees for their sectarian conflicts. The ragtag group known as "al Qaeda in Iraq" was always a minor presence, and can now be seen as al Qaeda's diversion to draw our attention and resources away from Afghanistan/Pakistan. It worked. Our occupation of Iraq became al Qaeda's recruiting poster in the Muslim world, and Dumbya happily peddled the lie that Iraq was the war on terror's "central front," as the group that attacked us on 9/11 gathered strength on the true central front: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Nobody Left To Blame

Now that former Pentagon #3 man Doug "Whiz Kid" Feith has written his fictional version of the lead up to the Iraq War, one theme stands out: everybody else but Whiz was to blame for the fiasco. The WaPo has a synopsis of his statements from his book, where Whiz makes covering your backside an art form. Among the people he blames are (deep breath) Colin Powell, Richard Armitage, Condi Rice, Tommy Franks, Paul Bremer, Donald Rumsfeld, and, yes, Dumbya for not stifling objections at the State Department.

This is the guy that Gen. Tommy Franks once called "the dumbest f*cking guy on the planet," and that former administrator Gen. Jay Garner called "incredibly dangerous. . . a smart guy whose electrons aren't connected." Whiz said in a "60 Minutes" interview that he didn't think the case for the Iraq war needed to be based on their having WMD. Oh really? That was far and away the main reason for the preemptive strike. Saddam was going to provide WMD to al Qaeda, remember the story?

If there's any justice in the world, someday Whiz will be confined to a small prison cell, where he can commune with the cockroaches, and blame the warden and guards for his predicament.

Still Not Adding Up

McCainsian economics is still not adding up. Jonathan Weisman, in today's WaPo, has this piece detailing McBush's support for tax policies he once opposed (or, as the Rebunglecans would say "He was against them before he was for them.").

Also, this inadvertent "point-counterpoint" from the op/ed page of today's WaPo:

"Voters who might wonder about Sen. John McCain's economic policies need look no further than [McCain advisor] Phil Gramm and his decades of service as Congress' most fiscally responsible member." Lawrence Di Rita, former issues director for Phil Gramm's (Rethug-TX) 1996 presidential campaign, letter to the WaPo.

"While both Democratic candidates would spend far more on new programs than Mr. McCain would, the Republican's proposals for new tax cuts dwarf the Democrats' plans. The Democrats are clearer than Mr. McCain -- though that's a relative term -- about how they would foot the bill. Still, no one's winning any awards this campaign season for fiscal responsibility." Editorial, 4/25/08 WaPo.

Not to worry, Mr. Di Rita, we're looking no further.

Already Forgetting The Forgotten

Sen. John McBush has finished his "Forgotten America" photo opp tour of economically depressed areas. He must have wanted to discuss his policy on capital gains taxes with the poor. Well, yesterday he ended his "tour" in Baton Rouge as a guest speaker at a banquet. Sponsored by Business Report and Junior Achievement, the banquet had tables priced from $550 (seating 8) to $700 (seating 10). After posing with the poor folks, it was nice that McBush was able to return to the people he's more comfy with.

Science And Dumbya Don't Mix

Think Progress notes that the Union of Concerned Scientists have issued a report that says some 60% of the staff scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency have experienced at least one instance of political interference over the last five years from Bushies. Some of the examples include use of selective or incomplete data, misrepresentation of scientists' findings, and inability to openly express concerns. Undoubtedly, a review of other Federal agencies involved in scientific or medical studies would disclose similar abuses of power.

The sheer lawless arrogance of this Assministration is breathtaking. Playing with the health and wellbeing of American citizens to push a rightwing political agenda is unforgiveable.

What The?

Via Talking Points Memo, we see where Clinton Campaign Chairman Terry McAuliffe praises Fux News for being the first to call the Pennsylvania primary for Sen. Clinton. That's not such a big deal, but he goes on to mouth the Rethuglican network's slogan: "fair and balanced." McAuliffe's always been a rather slippery gladhander, but this was an unsolicited pander to the Rethug network. Maybe he's looking for work after the end of the campaign.

(photo: McAuliffe, left, with his friends, Tony "Blows" Snow, and Tom "Bug Man" Delay)

Oh, By The Way...

Did you notice there was a Republican primary in Pennsylvania yesterday, too? The results? Oh, yeah:

McBush: 72.7%
Ron Paul: 15%
Mike Huckabee: 11.4%

More than a quarter of Republican voters in Pennsylvania chose to stick it in McBush's eye, even though he's the presumptive nominee of their party! Looks like some of the "bitter" voters are on the Republican side, too.

Temper, Temper! and "McCainsian Economics"

On the same WaPo op/ed page this morning that had former Bush speechwriter Michael "Mushroom Cloud" Gerson attempting to refute the facts of Sen. McBush's volatile temper and tendency to make and keep enemies (the one telling episode Gerson does lament is McBush lacing into the Falwell/ Robertson Telebangelists in 2000), Ruth Marcus analyzes the McCainsian Economic treatise: "The General Theory of Getting Elected." Her method is to contrast McBush's past positions on tax cuts for the wealthy (against them before he was for them) and government spending (for it before he was against it). McBush and all his trickle-down, tax cuts for the wealthy advisors are hoping this approach will work again (it always has in the past). It's up to the Democrats to keep exposing this ruinous pseudo philosophy of wealth redistribution up the economic ladder that has marked this Rebunglecan era of cupidity and selfishness.

"It Is Past Time..."

Sen. Clinton's home state newspaper, the NY Times, had an editorial this morning about the price paid for the Democratic campaigning thus far: "It is past time for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to acknowledge that the negativity, for which she is mostly responsible, does nothing but harm to her, her opponent, her party and the 2008 election." Sen. Obama is also criticized, to a lesser extent, in the editorial.

Let's see if maybe we can enter the end game of the final primaries in a more positive, substantive mode, shall we?

On, And On, And On, And On

This slow bleeding to death of the Democratic Party's chances to win the White House in November is beyond sad. McSame smiles from the sidelines feeding doughnuts to his adoring press entourage, who will never ask: why doesn't McSame wear an flag lapel pin? does he like Catholics more than his supporter Rev. "Catholic Church is a Whore" Hagee? is he out of touch, given his statements that the economy has done just fine under the Bush Assministration, and that the mortgage crisis can fix itself?

On and on and on.

Dance, Chimpy! Faster, Faster!

In two days of meetings in New Orleans with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts, the Presidunce, to no one's surprise, voiced his belief that NAFTA shouldn't be amended or cancelled. In fact, he dismissed criticism of NAFTA as a political "throw away line" despite the widespread anger among working Americans over the trade deal.

However, the highlight of his New Orleans visit was his impromptu dance at the Chamber of Commerce. Never let it be said that Chimpy doesn't know how to have a good time, even if dancing in the city that he let drown might be a little, um, inappropriate.

He's been dancing quite a bit lately (waiting for McBush to arrive at the White House, etc). Getting ready for a post-Presidential gig on "Dancing With The Stars" are we, Chimpy?*

*UPDATE: Or maybe this Stepford Wife has the answer.

Dumbya's In The Dumps

The Gallup Poll released yesterday has the Presidunce at an all-time low in terms of job approval: 28%.

This should be precisely the percentage of votes John McBush gets in November if voters are paying attention.

Hard Luck or No Sense?

Today's WaPo has a piece by snarkmeister Dana Milbank, "In This Forgotten Town, Obama Can Forget About It", in which the views of several presumably representative Clinton Democrats in McKeesport, PA, are noted. This is a town that was in the heart of steel mill country until the mills closed in the 1980's, and the town and region have never really recovered (Milbank: downtown McKeesport is "a place for repo lots and pawnshops"). What does Milbank find in talking with some of the blue-collar voters of McKeesport? Well, they're racist, although some cloak their racism in whatever convenient rationale they can "cling" to (Rev. Wright, "bittergate", etc.). But, as one honestly points out,

"It's a racial component, too...A lot of black people are voting for him [and her older, white neighbors] won't vote for a woman or a black man."

Another says,

"I think he just wants to be president because he's black." (No. You're not thinking.)

And,

"His father's from Nigeria, right?" (Wrong. Kenya. But it's still black Africa to a numbnut.)

Milbank quotes most of these voters as implying or outright saying they'll vote for McBush in November if Obama is the Democratic nominee. He says "The discontent is common among the valley's hard-luck residents."

Well, we'd like to say sometimes people make their own "luck" by their decisions. A decision by a blue-collar voter to vote Rethuglican based on racial, cultural, or any other "wedge" issues is not going to change his economic circumstance for the better (see: "What's the Matter With Kansas"). Period. John McBush is not going to bring jobs or universal health insurance to McKeesport or anywhere else. "Hard luck?" These people have only begun to experience "hard luck" if they keep the Rethuglican economic trickle-down royalists in power.

This whole thing is starting to make even the Hackwhackers... bitter.

"Fighting the Radical Right"

The subhead for the Tennessee Guerilla Women blog is "Fighting the radical right in Tennessee and the nation." Based on this post and the toxic comments, we propose they amend that subhead to "... except if it means voting for #*%@$# Barack Obama." These intolerant harpies and other dead-enders like them (hereinafter dubbed "The Vaginaban") seem to get ever more angry in inverse proportion to their candidate's prospects.

(h/t to Jesus' General)

(Photo: Vaginaban Tennessee Guerilla Women attacking Sen. Obama - via www.kosoof.com)

Charlie Rose Interviews Charlie Rose

Hackwhackers are feeling rather punchy today, given this primary season, with tomorrow's Pennsylvania primary looming and the Democratic candidates' circular firing squad expected to continue ad nauseam. So enjoy this gem of a video we saw on Gawker, and try to keep a straight face.

Now for a Final Word...

...Here's Jon Stewart's definitive extended analysis of the ABC debate debacle. Once you understand that these "news" people are in the entertainment business (Stewart says, "Stop doing my job!"), you see why having them host debates is folly.

(Photo: Georgie in his cups?)

Heh Heh

YouTube has Al Gore's voice mail. Love the message from Obama about the little dog.

The State of the Media

This CNN guy, Richard Quest, he's definitely Fox News material. Watch out, O'Really (especially if Quest reaches for his boot!).

"McNasty"*

Well, well. Someone at the WaPo is finally doing their job. This article provides ample evidence why McBush/ McSame/ McAncient/ oh, hell, McNasty! shouldn't be anywhere near "the button." Now, for balance of course, we expect to see something on Obama's third cousin by marriage, the guy he used to have a locker next to at the Y, how his desk is cluttered, or some other disqualifying outrage.

(* One of McSame's nicknames in high school; another one being "Punk." Niiiiice!)

Oh, And By The Way. . . .

. . .where was John McSame's American flag lapel pin today when he appeared on This Week with George "How's My Hair" Stephanopoulos? Hair didn't ask.

Traitors.

When Winguts Wig Out, Cont'd.

We have to note the item at Sadly, No! that compares the artwork on two covers, one being the newest Time Magazine cover that has driven wingnuts over the edge, pounding their tiny fists (see our Friday 4/18 post), and the other by Lynne "Wife of a Dick" Cheney that has been met -- surprise surprise -- with absolute silence from the wingers.

An Ominous Warning from al Sadr

CNN is reporting that Iraqi Shiite cleric Muktada al-Sadr is threatening "open war" if the Iraqi government, backed by U.S. forces, don't call off attacks on his Mahdi army. al-Sadr complied with the government's order to vacate his headquarters in Basra, but the government wants the Shiite militia to vacate all buildings its control, and is using force to speed that up.

Not long after Dumbya's invasion of Iraq, the U.S. initially courted al-Sadr, who was an enemy of Saddam Hussein's regime, but when it became clear that al-Sadr wanted U.S. forces out of Iraq, he was seen at cross purposes with Dumbya's grand vision. Now we're seeing the result of that flawed "vision" about to erupt in another round of their civil war.

Out Of Touch Much?

Rethug presidential nominee-to-be John McSame is claiming that there's been "great progress economically" under the Bush Assministration. He also plans to extend Bushit's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans if elected. Think Progress notes that McSame's net worth has risen by $18 million since 1999, so maybe he's confusing his own good fortune with the significant number of Americans who have lost their jobs, their homes, their pensions, and their health care. Those hanging on to the middle class by their fingers, working two or more jobs just to stay even, have seen their real incomes fall under Dumbya's mismanaged economy. Funny how we haven't heard much from the mainstream media about this gaffe.

(image: Parker Brothers)

When Winguts Wig Out

The incomparable TBogg, noting the outrage spewing from the wingnutosphere over Time Magazine's new cover depicting the raising of a tree on Mt. Surabachi, recalling the famous World War II image:

"You really have to wonder what's wrong with these people that their rage richters are constantly cranked up to 11. These are the kind of people you read about whose crushed lifeless bodies are found underneath capsized vending machines all because they went DEFCON 1 when their Zagnut refused to fall."

"A Major War and A Major Debacle"

Those are the words of a new report by the National Defense University about Dumbya's Iraq adventure. The report documents the extensive harm that the war has done to our military men and women, the fight against al Qaeda, to the economy, to millions of Iraqi civilians, and to our reputation and leadership in the world.

TPM has an excerpt from the report that's well worth reading.

McSame promises to give you more of this adventure if he's elected president.

Quote of the Day

"At least we'll have an adult in office who can lead and can accomplish something."
New York Mayor Bloomberg, when asked who he plans to support for President, while throwing a little poo on Dumbya.

A "Shoddy, Despicable Performance"

WaPo's tv critic Tom Shales has the "debate" last night nailed. Whose performance was "shoddy, despicable?" One of the candidates? Not really. It was ABC "News" and its moderators Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopolous. In a desperate fight with CNN to claim the mantle of "Fox News Lite," ABC News (and its Disney ownership) betrayed the public interest by wasting valuable air time on the most inconsequential, lame topics, while consigning important issues to whatever time can be spared after "bitter," "Rev. Wright," etc. What mindless creeps inhabit today's media.

Interestingly, there's evidence that Stephanopoulos got his question to Sen. Obama about William Ayers directly from Sean Hannity when he called in on Hannity's show on Tuesday. Not surprising. The mainstream media feeds off of the Hannitys and Matt Drudges of the right wing for "tips", gossip, rumors, and outright lies. They then present this tabloid-worthy crap in the major media, while thoughtfully knitting their brows and looking concerned. This is a major factor in our democracy getting more debased and dysfunctional, and unable to deal with the problems of real people.

(Note: The blogosphere is humming with commentary, but one of the best we've seen so far is Hunter's at Daily Kos. Check it out.)

Doug Schoen, Concern Troll Wanker

If you were in a deep hole, "pollster" Doug Schoen's advice would undoubtedly be "Keep on digging!!" That pretty much sums up the advice the former advisor to Bubba Clinton is offering Hill's campaign in this dopey op/ed in today's WaPo. Schoen, the "estranged" partner of Uberass Mark Penn in the p.r. firm Penn, Schoen, and Berland, is an acolyte of the Penn/Rove scorched earth, stay negative, win-at-any-cost playbook. TPM has a scathing analysis of Schoen's op/ed and modus operandi. Memo to Schoen: check out the polls reported on page A6 of the same paper your op/ed appears in to see how well her negative campaigning has been going. (Schoen, we might add, is thought to be in league with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the independent party movement of this past fall/winter, so he has nothing to lose and something to gain by telling Democrats to "keep digging.")

Remembrance

Today marks the sad first anniversary of the mass killings at the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. Thirty-two students and teachers were randomly shot by a lone gunman, who later killed himself.

Memorials, and ceremonies remembering the killed and wounded are scheduled at the campus today. We hope that tragedies of this kind never occur again.

The Boss Endorses

Bruce Springsteen, Hall of Fame rocker and all-around decent guy, has endorsed Barack Obama. To us, some "celebrity" endorsements mean more than others, although in a perfect world none should influence how a person votes. But having men of Springsteen's character and intelligence, as well as Dan Rooney the other day, endorse Obama make you proud that you're on the same team.

Bonus endorsement: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette endorsed Obama today, too.

An Endorsement With Weight

Pittsburgh Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney endorsed Barack Obama yesterday, joining former Steelers Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis in the Obama camp. Rooney's endorsement means a lot in the Pittsburgh area and around the state, as the Rooney family is much admired for their community consciousness and as seminal NFL franchise owners. As Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), who represents Pittsburgh and the surrounding area, said, Rooney's endorsement "carries a hell of a lot more weight" than the recent media-fed "bittergate." Also, on Sunday, the Scranton Times-Tribune endorsed Obama, saying he was the right choice for Pennsylvania Democrats.

(Photo: AP)

Let Them Eat Doughnuts

Rethug Presidential nominee-to-be Sen. John McSame gave a little talk yesterday to the annual meeting of Associated Press editors, where he attacked the press in his remarks. No problem. He was treated to a standing ovation, and in the question and answer period that followed, he was given the treat that he serves to fawning reporters on his mis-named "Straight Talk Express" bus: doughnuts and coffee. He joked that it was his "health plan," and everyone had a good chuckle. Why should the AP cover something as dull as positions on health care, when they can joke about it with their pal? Guess they didn't have time to whip up some barbeque to thank him for his "picnic" for them last month.

You have to view the video clip to get an appreciation of how shamelessly in the tank these people are for McSame. He plays the game of giving them significant access in return for their softball treatment. Breaking the press' suction on McSame's ass will be a major task in this campaign.

UPDATE: AP is apparently now in the business of editing out embarrassing moments of Bushie officials.

Mr. 28 Percent

Gallup's latest poll puts Preznit Chimpy at 28% approval, the lowest of his sorry Assministration. He's managed a 60 point drop since his high point after 9-11.

For the Preznit and his boss, Dead-Eye Dick Cheney, public opinion is of no concern. We remember Dead-Eye's response recently in an ABC News interview when asked about the public's disapproval of the war: "So?"

"Hillary, Permanent Victim"

We're trying not to hammer this woman and her scurrilous campaign all the time... really. I, personally, will try to take the pledge like my brother Hackwhacker has done, to largely ignore this political black hole. A blogger we've come to admire, John Cole, is also trying to kick the habit. Wish us all well.

Robert Reich on "Bitterness"

This right-on blog by former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich on the silly flapdoodle revolving around Sen. Obama's remarks about bitterness in small-town America, says it all about the cynical spinmeisters and the numbnuts in the media who've jumped on this like it was the next Rev. Jeremiah Wright clown car leaving town.

Ronnie, We Hardly Knew Ye

YouTube has an audio of Ronnie Raygun from 1948 making, um, liberal, pronouncements, of course before Nancy Davis turned his head inside out and he realized, as a fading actor, that corporate money (General Electric) was to be made shilling for right wing causes. Enjoy the irony.

(photo: "I got mine, now you get yours!")

"Go Fox Yourself!"

In this morning's WaPo, Wanker Extraordinaire Howie "Wowie" Kurtz (who is married to Rethug consultant Sheri Annis* -- what a surprise!) has a huge wet kiss for Faux News anchorette Megyn Kelly. Howie waxes on for about 4 columns about Kelly, portraying her as a budding anchor superstar. Here's a sampling of what Howie thinks is evidence of Kelly's anchor superstardomness:

"On this particular morning [the senior producer] tells Kelly that she may need to do an unexpected interview with Sen. Charles Schumer on the economy. During a break, Kelly e-mails a couple of financial analysts for suggested questions. But, she says, 'I generally try not to know too much about complex financial news, because then you try to conduct an expert interview. Our viewers aren't experts.'"

First, on that last sentence: no shit, Sherlock. Second, why would you want to have knowledge get in the way of your interviews when uninformed opinion will do just fine?!

Better yet, just check out The Daily Show's John Oliver's Fox smackdown, featuring Ms. Kelly and many of Faux's "news" trolls. It is wonderful beyond further description, and a far more "fair and balanced" view of Faux News than you'll ever get from Howie.

(* - As a professional team, they would be known as "Anus and Annis.")

Sex, Rethugs, and Videotape

Cumberland County, PA Rethug Commissioner Bruce "Candid Camera" Barclay has resigned his position in the wake of video evidence that he engaged in hundreds of encounters with men that he videotaped in his home and office. The video evidence came to light when Barclay had to defend himself against charges of rape by Marshall McCurdy. The rape charges were dropped against Candid Camera, but the videos were hard to 'splain for a Rethug values kinda guy.

Exit, stage right.

Exchange of the Week

"We had two very good men, and men of faith, run for president in 2000 and 2004. But large segments of the electorate concluded that they did not really understand or relate to or frankly respect their ways of life." Fabulist Hillary "Annie Oakley" Clinton (left) dissing John Kerry and (as-yet-undeclared superdelegate) Al Gore, April 13, Grantham, PA.

"I know Al Gore was mentioned earlier. By the way, I have to say, I think Al Gore won." Barack Obama, same time and venue.

Bonus quote: "She's talking like she's Annie Oakley. Hillary Clinton is out there like she's on the duck blind every Sunday. She's packing a six-shooter. Come on, she knows better. That's some politics being played by Hillary Clinton. I want to see that picture of her out in the duck blinds." Barack Obama, April 13, referring to Clinton's recalling her childhood "hunting experiences," in a attempt to show how she "respects" "relates to" and "understands" supposed small-town values.

Check, Please!

Former Rethug Senator and Majority Leader Trent "Not A" Lott says that, in his years in Congress, he never had to pay for lunch. "I haven't paid for lunch in 30 years," said the Senator-turned-lobbyist in an interview with the WaPo. Now he's on the hook to pay for his lunch and those of his "prey." Poor baby, life's sooo unfair. Of course, he's making at least triple what he made as a U.S. Senator, plus the lunches are written off as business expense to his lobbying firm.

(photo: Former Sen. Not A Lott attending a Mississippi weenie roast sponsored by some guys in white hoods; they picked up the check)

Nailing It

A YouTube video of Senator Obama's response to charges that the he doesn't understand the people of Pennsylvania. The standing ovation he gets from the Indiana audience at the end tells you that he nailed it. He needs to run an ad in Pennsylvania that captures this moment.

Give It A Rest, Big Dog

Realizing that there's no benefit in rehashing this incident, Sen. Hillary Clinton has asked her husband to stop commenting on the Bosnia sniper flap that set her campaign back recently. Former President Clinton claimed to an Indiana audience that his wife made the sniper claim once late at night when she was tired, and that she apologized for it. Not so. She made the claim several times in prepared speeches delivered over several days, and while she has said she "misspoke", it fell short of an actual apology. Senator Clinton has asked him to leave the questions about the Bosnia trip to her from now on.

Them Meskins Kids Is. . . Um. . . .Anti-Semitic!

That's the ticket! The Washington Monthly captures the anti-immigrant wingnuttery here. Don't let Latinos in to the U.S. because they might be more anti-Semitic than other Catholic immigrants. Does everyone need to pledge their allegiance to the right-wing Likud faction in Israel to be considered worthy of U.S. citizenship?

Also, Charles "Dr. Strangelove" Krauthammer thinks that the U.S. needs to provide a "nuclear umbrella" for Israel vs. Iran, despite the fact that Israel has some 200 nuclear warheads at its disposal, and seems to be a hell of a lot better at using their military resources than we are. And it's soooo likely that the Iranians would use nuclear weapons to annihilate, oh say, Jerusalem - - the third most holy site in Islam. Joe Klein, writing in Time's Swampland blog, has a sharp rebuttal. Israel is respected and feared in the region because they don't broadcast what they would do in every situation, unlike blowhards like Kraphammer.

UPDATE: Kraphammer's statement that Israel has to rely only on a land-based deterrent falls apart when one realizes that Israel has submarine launched cruise missiles that carry nuclear warheads.

Dick Wad's Next Most Excellent Adventure

Former Sen. George "Macaca" Allen's staffer Dick "Dick Wad" Wadhams has morphed into the manager of Rethug hopeful Bob "The Shaft" Schaffer's goofy campaign for the Colorado Senate seat being vacated by Wayne Allard. Ah yes, Dick Wad, building on a record of success.

This should go well. The Shaft has a rather bizarre economic policy that supports slave labor and child prostitution in the U. S. Marianas islands. Throw in a little Jack Abramoff's scuzzy scent, and you get the picture. Go Shaft!! It's basically an application of the Rethug philosophy of survival of the fittest, and screw government regulations, that's at work here. Can you spell M-A-C-A-C-A? We know you can!

So it looks like Dick Wad has chosen another winner to cast his lot with.

(photo: Dick Wad practicing for his eventual mug shot)

Everything's OK. . . .Just Trust Us

Aside from mortars and rockets lobbed into the Green Zone in Baghdad, and the poor showing of the Iraqi deserting "Army" against the Shiite militias in Basra and Sadr City, things are going JUST GREAT! So great that we can stay many more years, until things are greater still!!

Word of this assasination should add to the overall wonderfulness of the situation in Dumbya's, and now McSame's, War. Stay the course people.

Keyes to Victory!

Is there a term to properly categorize Alan Keyes? "Wingnut" seems far too tame. "Kook" is getting warmer. "Wild Man?" Maybe. But possible Constitution Party presidential nominee? Why not! We'll just have to wait until April 15 to see what, er, Wild Man has to announce. Maybe he's only got a radio talk gig at a 15-watt station somewhere. Anyway, if he does bolt the Rethuglican Party, there will be space for Sen. Joe Loserman to step into the breach!

(Photo: Alan Keyes - "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout?!... on April 15, that is.")

Oops!

It seems that Bush/Petraeus proposal to "pause" the drawdown of U.S. troops in Iraq for the immediate future is meeting with more than just Democratic (and increasing Rebunglecan) opposition. From some other know-nothing surrender monkeys? Why, no! From none other than Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Al-Maliki told Dumbya yesterday in a 20-minute phone conversation that he disagrees with the "pause" notion and want U.S. troops to be pulled out of Iraq "as the situation permits." Al-Maliki is willing to have Iraqi forces take more of the security role now, as opposed to the endless occupation envisioned by Dumbya and McSame. Would anyone like to offer odds on Dumbya taking al-Maliki's views into positive consideration?

Teenie Weenie Strikes Again

Teenie Weenie Rep. Patrick McHenry (Rethug-NC), one of the Hill's most poorly closeted gay men, is in hot water with the Pentagon for a little video production he made while in Baghdad. Seems Teenie Weenie (he's around 5'4" in his pantyhose) had a video on his Congressional website that he had shot in the Green Zone where he was bragging about being bombarded by rockets, and about the effectiveness of that bombardment - a no-no since the Pentagon believes it helps terrorists with target location and damage assessment. (Hearing about this, we couldn't help but think of the Al Franken SNL skit where Al was a "correspondent" during the "shock and awe" phase of the Iraq war, complete with a large satellite dish strapped to his back - which of course served as a homing device for a smart bomb, heard just before the screen went snowy.)

You know where we're headed on this: If the little feller wants to make a real contribution to his war effort, he should just go down to the recruiting office and enlist. Added bonus for Teenie Weenie: the military has lots of men!!

(Photo: Teenie Weenie McHenry with his favorite chickenhawk)

Afghani-gone

In yesterday's hearing, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Biden asked Ambassador Ryan Crocker if al Qaeda in Iraq or al Qaeda on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border was more of a threat. Crocker's response? al Qaeda in Afghanistan/Pakistan. Even Ohio Rethug Senator Voinovich noted that al Qaeda must be celebrating that they are helping to bankrupt the U.S., as Dumbya foolishly pursues the endless occupation of a country that wasn't an al Qaeda stronghold to begin with.

So, since we were attacked by al Qaeda operating out of Afghanistan on 9/11, and not by anyone operating out of Iraq, why hasn't the Afghanistan/Pakistan region been our major front in the war in these past 5 years? In fact, al Qaeda forces were only in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein, drawn there in their zeal to fight Americans. Perhaps Dumbya's Freudian need to one-up his father by toppling Hussein, along with the promise of cheap oil, might be a good place to begin with the answer.

Surge Regurge

General David "Dumbya's Man" Petraeus gave his testimony this morning to the Senate, and was generally cautious and mixed in his views on progress. No wonder. Despite attempts by war cheerleaders Sens. John Mc Same and Lindsay "It's A Guy's Name, Too" Graham to go the "rah rah" route, Petreaus played it as much down the middle as he could afford to. But, it's far from over. . .

In real-world Iraq, Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr is ready to call off the Mahdi Army cease fire, which has been a boon to the "surge" in that it's lessened violence among Iraqis. He's evidently pissed that the Maliki government is more concerned with self-preservation and with perpetual U.S. occupation. Going to be a bumpy ride if the Mahdi Army is unleashed.

Temper Temper, McAncient!

Cliff Schecter has a new book out, "The Real McCain", in which he documents McAncient's barely contained rage. He's been known to call other politicians "assholes" and "shitheads", but when he called his wife Cindy a "cunt" while campaigning for the Senate in 1992 he may have set a new standard for misogyny and lack of class.

McAncient, who owes his financial (and therefore, his political) status to Cindy, his wealthy, trophy second wife, has a legendary temper, which may prove to be a fatal flaw in the election. One Rethug (!) Senate colleague, Thad Cochran from Mississippi, said not long ago:

"The thought of him being President sends a cold chill down my spine. He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper, and he worries me."

Worries us too, but for the mainstream media, he's just Straight Talking John.

Penn Takes A Powder

Clinton campaign chief strategist Mark "Pig" Penn has resigned his position in the campaign, according to CNN. Last week, Penn acknowledged meeting with Colombian officials to discuss a free trade agreement with the U.S that his company, Burson-Marsteller International, was lobbying Congress for. Unfortunately, Sen. Clinton opposes the agreement, and Penn didn't really make it clear to the Colombians that he wasn't representing Clinton. The Colombians also dropped Burson-Marsteller after the flap.

Penn is extremely unpopular within the Clinton campaign, and is known to have had frequent shouting matches with her senior team. Many Clinton insiders blame him for the failure to plan for primaries after super Tuesday and for his inept spinning to the press. You can be sure they are planning a big farewell party, but won't be inviting him.

Just A Question. . . .

When Oscar-winning actor, and National Rifle Association chairman Charlton Heston died yesterday, did anyone have to pry a rifle from his "cold dead hands?" We don't think firearms are allowed in the afterlife.

Echo Chamber

MSNBC headline: "Bush Listens Closely to His Man In Iraq"

"His man" indeed. It's well known that Petraeus was in the minority in the Pentagon when it came to recommending a surge of troops in Iraq. Most, including Army Chief of Staff General Casey and former ground commander General Abazaid, were either opposed or lukewarm at best. Dumbya chose and promoted the commander that echoed his preconceived notions about what it would take for "victory" in Iraq. Dumbya routinely bypasses the military chain-of-command (remember Admiral Fallon? What about Chief of Staff Casey?) when he wants to hear what he wants to hear. In this week's hearings, Congress should have insisted on a panel of Pentagon officials - - including the Joint Chiefs - - to assess the damage the extended war in Iraq is doing to our military readiness.

Symptoms Of Multiple Tours In Iraq

Army officials are expressing serious concern over the effect of multiple tours of duty in Iraq are having on troops' stress levels and mental health. Many soldiers are on their third or fourth tours in Iraq, and the Army is indicating that one in four soldiers are showing signs of anxiety, depression, and acute stress. This concern comes on the eve of General Petraeus' testimony to Congress, in which he is not expected to endorse any troop reductions beyond those already planned through July.

However, according to Dick "Five Deferment" Cheney, the soldiers are volunteers, so they can just be quiet and suck it up. Unlike Five Deferment during the Vietnam War, they may not have had "other priorities."

Was It Time For His Nappie?

News item: Bush abruptly leaves NATO meeting early, without participating in the group photo.

Absolut-ly Hilarious

John Cole at Balloon Juice has a great take on Michelle "Our Lady of Perpetual Outrage" Malkin's campaign against an Absolut Vodka ad running in Mexico. The ad, which shows a map with Mexico incorporating Texas, California and most of the west and southwest U.S, has prompted outrage among Our Lady's army of dim, chairbound Cheeto-eaters. They've bombarded the Absolut ad's creator with nasty emails, which he's been . . . .deleting without opening. Excuse us for a second. Bwahahahahahahahaha.

OK, while we understand that Our Lady views the ad as a major assault on our national sovereignty, her call to battlestations may have been a bit of an overreaction, you think? Besides, it's not a major assault on our national sovereignty until Lou "Meskin Menace" Dobbs says it is.

Wrong Track

The New York Times cites a poll that has been taken since the early 1990s, asking whether the country is on the right track or the wrong track. Some 81% now say we're on the wrong track, the highest percent recorded, up from 69% a year ago. With the economy faltering, and the war in Iraq continuing, the public's mood is especially sour. According to the article, "the unhappiness presents clear risks for Republicans in this year's elections, given the continued unpopularity of President Bush."

Wish we could get Dumbya out to start campaigning daily for Sen. McSame.

April Fool Award

Despite many worthy competitors, the April Fool award goes to Rush "Pills" Limpballs, who had this to say about Hillary's and Barack's supporters:

"You have to understand the mindset of a lot of these feminists and women. They think they're owed this -- just like Obama supporters think they're owed this."

Never mind that Hillary is getting much of the ethnic white male vote, and Barack is getting a significant number of young white voters. You have to read Media Matters' account of Limpballs' brain-dead rant to get a grasp of his twisted viewpoint. He's got to stop the Oxycontin.

. . .And Bring A Defibrillator With You!

Presumptive Rethug presidential nominee John McAncient is saying that he's got about 20 potential vice presidential candidates in mind. Probably not a bad idea that he think along these lines, considering that McAncient would be 72 should he be inaugurated as President, and potentially, he may not last his first term.

Of course, he could go with this guy, who has had some experience.

(photo: McAncient interviewing a younger, prospective VP candidate)

Reptile Relocation Underway

We're belatedly noting that reptilian political "consultant" James "Alien" Carville and his equally hideous spouse Mary "Quite Contrary" Matalin are departing from their digs in Alexandria, VA to New Orleans. New Orleans' loss is Alexandria's gain. Their home is up for sale at $4.5 million, having purchased the home a while back for $3.9 million. Here's hoping the depressed market will ensure that they take a major loss on the sale.

They always played the argumentative spouses on TV, but both shared the same gutter instincts in politics, one Rethug and one Democrat. Although we would hope that these two would never threaten to crack another Meet the Press or CNN camera lens again, their nasty approach to politics and the mainstream media's fascination with it, are likely to remain.

(photo: Carville and Matalin after a makeover)

"Great American Hypocrites"

One of Hackwhackers' favorite people, Glenn Greenwald, is out with a new book, "Great American Hypocrites - Toppling the Big Myths of Republican Politics." Glenn has an appetizer of the book, which is available for order through Amazon and will be on bookshelves on April 15. The buzz is already in full, uh, buzz. Perhaps this would make a good Fathers Day gift?

(Photo: Author Glenn Greenwald)

The Endorsements Continue

Two more Democratic superdelegates have come out for Sen. Barack Obama today: former Indiana Rep. Lee Hamilton, who was co-chair of the September 11 commission, and Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal. Obama already won the Wyoming primary and it's believed that Hamilton's endorsement, as a respected senior statesman, will help in the upcoming Indiana primary, which is essentially a toss-up at this point.

McSame and His Economic Darwinists

We told you about some of the dubious characters who are Walnuts! McSame's band of economic advisors. Well, Harold Meyerson, in today's WaPo makes a case why these economic Darwinists shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the levers of the American economy. In his op/ed "Bailing Out The Reaganites," Meyerson addresses how McSame and his crew are seeing the fruits of Ronnie Raygun's laissez-faire policies, especially in the unregulated, speculative financial sectors, at the same time he and his fellow Rebunglecans have fallen over themselves asking, "What would St. Ronnie do?":

"Now, the task of squaring the Reaganite worldview with the collapse of the Reaganite world under the weight of its own doctrines has fallen squarely on McCain and those Bush administration officials charged with averting an economic catastrophe... Until recently, McCain's economic message consisted chiefly of abolishing congressional earmarks in appropriations bills - a classic Reaganite proposal that would have no effect on our economic situation."

So who does McSame turn to for the economic expertise he admits he sorely lacks? Why former Sen. Phil Gramm (Rethug- TX), who authored the 1999 legislation that repealed the New Deal law restricting the speculative activities of banks! Gramm also lobbied Congress "to overturn state laws restricting predatory lending and the issuance of mortgages to prospective home owners who could not afford them."

Meyerson also tags Bush Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (former Goldman Sachs co-chair) for his "ambivalence toward regulation" and for his proposal that "would actually lead to less government oversight of Wall Street." Meyerson concludes:

"In their unwillingness to do what it takes to save the economy, McCain, Paulson & Co. are treading a familiar path. From 1929 through 1932, Andrew Mellon, Herbert Hoover's Treasury secretary [and ancestor of Richard Mellon Scaife, Hillary's new BFF on the far right] and owner of one of America's largest banks, saw no role for the government in helping the economy other than to encourage companies to lay off their employees."

Ah yes, the wonderful legacy of laissez-faire Rebunglecans!

Own Worst Enemy

The HuffPo has an interesting account (from Associated Press) about Bill Clinton's recent "meltdown" in a private meeting of 15 California superdelegates. In a tirade triggered by a delegate's comment about James "Alien" Carville's description of Gov. Bill Richardson as a "Judas", the former President went ballistic, claiming that the Governor promised "5 times" not to endorse anyone but Sen. Clinton. The delegates were apparently stunned by the outburst, and California Democratic leader Art Torres was enlisted to call each of the delegates and apologize for the tirade. Not a good way to win over delegates for his wife.

For the record, Richardson denies that he ever promised his former boss that he would endorse Sen. Clinton. Who to believe? Never mind.

"Law? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Law"

The newly-declassified Justice Department memorandum to the Pentagon in 2003 demonstrates just how far the Bush Assministration was willing to flout the law. The memo, written by a senior official, asserting that federal laws barring assault and other crimes didn't apply to military interrogators, because the President's commander-in-chief authority supposedly trumped such laws. Must have been a change to the Constitution that nobody else noticed. . .

The memo is breathtaking in its broad assumption that the executive can ignore laws. Eugene Fidell, Yale Law military justice scholar, said that the memo was "a monument to executive supremacy and the imperial presidency." Although the Justice Department had to recind the ill-advised memo nine months after it was issued, it's an example of the Bushits' enduring contempt for the law.

McAncient On "Memories Tour"

Rethug presumptive nominee Sen. John McAncient (aka McBush, McSame) is on a "memories tour" of significant spots in his life. His tour will include stops in New Orleans (where he "fit the British" in 1814), Gettysburg (1863), San Juan Hill (1898), and Bastogne (1944, where he earned his nickname "Walnuts!" ). McAncient has been greeted by his usual crowds that have averaged in the 80's (both in age and numbers).