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huckabee guards the globe from zaiusnation.blogspot.com Zaius makes his Presidential Race predictions...Here Huckabee guards the globe against illegal immigration. See the rest here.

Open Thread below.

About Bluegal aka Fran
Bluegal aka Fran's picture
Executive Producer of The Professional Left Podcast. On staff at Crooks and Liars since 2007. Master's degree from Harvard. Happy wife of Driftglass. Mother of three geniuses. Obsessive knitter. Blogs at http://bgalrstate.blogspot.com. .
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Orangutan.'s picture

"The Truth is an Offense, But not a Sin!" ~ Bob Marley

Don Davis's picture

I've now got the Conclusive, Definitive Proof That the ‘Iranian Speedboat’ Was a Hoax

L.A. Confidential's picture

Quiz

Disgraced CEO's have been backing their vans up to company loading docks to fill it up with up to $160 million in bonus-and-termination payments after presiding over billions in losses starting last August.

Multiple choice: A. They are crooks. B. They want to get while the getting's good. C. They have jobs on BoDs just waiting for them. D. Ex-CEOs make great Ambassadors to countries that need looting. E. Any or all of the above.

al-fallujah's picture

why are certain white people so preoccupied with keeping people out when they are busy barging in all over the world looting, plundering and pillaging?
and have the nerve to demand 'open doors' and 'free access'?

thepoetryman's picture

It appears from the artwork that Huckster's privates are lounging in Canada and Alaska and Russia is treated to what I can only imagine is a very foul wind!

thepoetryman's picture

al-fallujah @ 4:

why are certain white people so preoccupied with keeping people out when they are busy barging in all over the world looting, plundering and pillaging?
and have the nerve to demand 'open doors' and 'free access'?

Indeed!

Tequila's picture

Air pollution messes with Texas
and wins. A Republican House Intelligence Committee member suggests the tape destruction was illegal. The housing market collapse seems to hurt people who can afford housing, too.
Apparently, being against the Confederate flag in SC is considered a minus
for McCain...Gates continues to be the pot calling the kettle black with NATO.

Tequila's picture

McConnell continues to lie
for Dubya...

thepoetryman's picture

L.A. Confidential,
My money's on E... Is there a prize? Perhaps a booby prize?

Karen's picture

Hmmmm. Well, as long as we're doing predictions, I'll do some prognosticating of my own. :)

Here are the Republican Presidential candidates and . . . [wait for it] . . . their likely VeeP nominees! (Just read my predictions, and you'll soon be calling me psychic!)

And for good educational measure, I'll lay out their basic campaign platforms and agendas.

MITTENS / Ozzie Nelson
• • Look good • Smile • Keep every single hair in place.
• • Divert Attention from Mormonism to Atheism
• • Fix World's Problems w/o Resorting to Progressivism.

~

GONE InSANE / Holy Joe Lie-to-them

• • Stay in Iraq for 10 million years
• • End Torture ~ Torture ~ Sort of Torture ~ Legal Torture
• • Maintain Church/State Separation ~ Integrate Church/State ~ Discuss Church/State
• • Suck Thumb

~

RELIGIOUS HUCKSTER / St. Paul

• • Erase Constitution, Replace w/Christian Theocracy
• • Announce new title: Pontiff of the United States.
• • Await Rapture

~

CAPTAIN 9/11 / 9.11 Million Dollar Man

• • Declare Martial Law Because of 9/11
• • Conquer World to Prevent Another 9/11
• • Do 9 Push-Ups and 11 Sit-Ups Daily for Strength

~

RON & THE PAUL BEARERS / Jefferson Davis

• • Resurrect Original Constitution (by erasing/ignoring Amendments)
• • End Federal Wars, Programs, Oppression, Tyranny
• • Resurrect State Oppression, Tyranny

~

FRAUDERICK of HOLLYWOOD / Whoever

• • Whatever

Op Ed's picture

I Got What America Needs Right Here
By Jimmy Carter
January 9, 2008 |
The Onion Issue 44•02
Sometimes I'm a little stupid, maybe, a little slow in the head, so I'm wondering if you can help me get something straight. Maybe you can help me understand one fucking thing right now, America, and explain to me what in the Christ is going on here. 'Cause, unless I'm missing something, this country is in the middle of a motherfucking shitstorm, and I have no fucking idea what you're gonna do to get out of it. I mean, are you seriously considering voting for one of these shitbags you got here in '08? Fat fucking chance.

[Edited. You may not reprint lengthy text from your own works or those of others, including news articles. You may link to them. This was the subject of last night's open thread, BTW-Sitemonitor]

tyree's picture

ol huck rapeing the earth at gunpoint!!!!!!!!!!!!!

L.A. Confidential's picture

thepoetryman @ 9:

L.A. Confidential,
My money's on E... Is there a prize? Perhaps a booby prize?

Well no. But I learned today the reason Grunge Rockers wore flannel. It wasn't because they were trying to start a fashion trend it was because they were so god damn poor.

Radically Moderate's picture

In the news today baseball commissioner Bud Selig attempting to remove an annoying booger from his nose accidentally removed his brain and his skull collapsed.
Paramedics were not able to restore Mr. Seligs brain, however they were able to pump air into the collapsed cavity and Mr. Selig was able to function as normal.
http://wwhttp://www.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2008/1/16/Bud-goes-...

Steve's picture

Did anyone catch the guest on Dan Abrams tonight who said that Huckabee's desire to rewrite the Constitution based on Biblical law was better than having someone who believes in Darwinism managing healthcare? It was a new twist that I hadn't heard from that crowd before.

L.A. Confidential's picture

Tweetys on Leno

Radically Moderate's picture

Radically Moderate @ 14:

In the news today baseball commissioner Bud Selig attempting to remove an annoying booger from his nose accidentally removed his brain and his skull collapsed.
Paramedics were not able to restore Mr. Seligs brain, however they were able to pump air into the collapsed cavity and Mr. Selig was able to function as normal.
http://wwhttp://www.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2008/1/16/Bud-goes-to-workw.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2008/1/16/Bud-goes-to-work

In the news today baseball commissioner Bud Selig attempting to remove an annoying booger from his nose accidentally removed his brain and his skull collapsed.
Paramedics were not able to restore Mr. Seligs brain, however they were able to pump air into the collapsed cavity and Mr. Selig was able to function as normal.
http://wwhttp://www.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2008/1/16/Bud-goes-...
Oops try this:
http://www.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2008/1/16/Bud-goes-to-work

budda's picture

illegal immigration is a real problem and it fucks up our ability to create great social programs like universal health care, but it's not something I care too much about one way or the other

I gotta say the most hilarious and really sad thing in this whole election is how terrible Rudy has been. Who knows - perhaps his crazy "strategy" will work, but I just don't see how. He's getting lower vote counts than Ron Paul. I think he's got one delegate. Putting everything on FL? He's even running low in New Jersey, which was supposed to be an easy win. If Mr. 9/11 does win the nomination he is a genius, but right now he looks a fool. We'll see.

And I think this whole "super delegate" thing in the democratic party has to go. It's just stupid to let the establishment have such a voice.

Lastly I really like John Edwards, but it seems he is really only hurting Obama at this point by splitting the "anyone but hillary" vote. I was wondering if it is possible that Edwards could give all his delegates to Obama. Can that happen? Could he play king maker and make Obama the winner?

tyree's picture

budda @ 18:

illegal immigration is a real problem and it fucks up our ability to create great social programs like universal health care, but it's not something I care too much about one way or the other

I gotta say the most hilarious and really sad thing in this whole election is how terrible Rudy has been. Who knows - perhaps his crazy "strategy" will work, but I just don't see how. He's getting lower vote counts than Ron Paul. I think he's got one delegate. Putting everything on FL? He's even running low in New Jersey, which was supposed to be an easy win. If Mr. 9/11 does win the nomination he is a genius, but right now he looks a fool. We'll see.

And I think this whole "super delegate" thing in the democratic party has to go. It's just stupid to let the establishment have such a voice.

Lastly I really like John Edwards, but it seems he is really only hurting Obama at this point by splitting the "anyone but hillary" vote. I was wondering if it is possible that Edwards could give all his delegates to Obama. Can that happen? Could he play king maker and make Obama the winner?

fuck obama let him earn it!!!!!!!!!!!!

skippy's picture

the media's insistence on propping up john mccain't's feeble campaign is disgusting. witness the current meme that "there is no gop front runner," which is true, if you don't count actual delegates.

JTM's picture

budda @ 18:

Lastly I really like John Edwards, but it seems he is really only hurting Obama at this point by splitting the "anyone but hillary" vote. I was wondering if it is possible that Edwards could give all his delegates to Obama. Can that happen? Could he play king maker and make Obama the winner?

What a coincidence. I was just thinking that Obama is really only hurting Edwards and ought to pull out. Weird.

Ruthless People's picture

JTM @ 21:

budda @ 18:

Lastly I really like John Edwards, but it seems he is really only hurting Obama at this point by splitting the "anyone but hillary" vote. I was wondering if it is possible that Edwards could give all his delegates to Obama. Can that happen? Could he play king maker and make Obama the winner?

What a coincidence. I was just thinking that Obama is really only hurting Edwards and ought to pull out. Weird.

if Obama pulled out Edwards would win in a landslide.

tr's picture

Ruthless People @ 22:

JTM @ 21:

budda @ 18:

Lastly I really like John Edwards, but it seems he is really only hurting Obama at this point by splitting the "anyone but hillary" vote. I was wondering if it is possible that Edwards could give all his delegates to Obama. Can that happen? Could he play king maker and make Obama the winner?

What a coincidence. I was just thinking that Obama is really only hurting Edwards and ought to pull out. Weird.

if Obama pulled out Edwards would win in a landslide.

which is why the clintons ran obama in the first place.

budda's picture

Ruthless People @ 22:

JTM @ 21:

budda @ 18:

Lastly I really like John Edwards, but it seems he is really only hurting Obama at this point by splitting the "anyone but hillary" vote. I was wondering if it is possible that Edwards could give all his delegates to Obama. Can that happen? Could he play king maker and make Obama the winner?

What a coincidence. I was just thinking that Obama is really only hurting Edwards and ought to pull out. Weird.

fair point

i like edwards, but have given up hope because at this point it is all about stopping hillary

if Obama pulled out Edwards would win in a landslide.

mo_dems's picture
simon's picture

"blue versus red" can duck my sick

StirFry's picture

On CNN, I caught the lazy Fred advising the nation to ignore the recession....the lazy man's solution . "sleep through it like me, it will pass." I can't find the video anywhere.

gladnottobeamerican's picture

budda Says:...if Obama pulled out Edwards would win in a landslide.

I agree.

Janey's picture

Has Hickabee announced lil' baby jesus as his running mate yet?

Porco Rosso's picture

Did anyone catch Jonah Goldberg on "A Daily Show" tonight?

WTF? I don't think I can recall an interview with so many obvious edits. What was going on?

Avid Reader's picture

Jon Stewart prefaced the interview by saying that it was too long and that they edited it and that they did this crudely.

Why? . . . don't know

Avid Reader's picture

Dennis Kucinich was interviewed today about being excluded by "GE We Bring Good Things To Life (cluster bombs)" debates in Nevada and about the recount he started in New Hampshire . . audio here

Talcott's picture

"Florida law enforcement officials have been denied access to the office computers of disgraced former Congressman Mark Foley, despite a direct appeal to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for help in their investigation of sexually explicit messages sent to current and former teenage congressional pages.

In response to a letter sent to Pelosi last month by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, House Deputy General Counsel Kerry Kircher denied the agency's request, citing the Speech or Debate Clause of the Constitution, which protects congressional papers."

http://mparent7777-2.blogspot.com/2008/01/pelosi-wont-help-foley-investi...

Brad's picture

Talcott @ 33:

"Florida law enforcement officials have been denied access to the office computers of disgraced former Congressman Mark Foley, despite a direct appeal to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for help in their investigation of sexually explicit messages sent to current and former teenage congressional pages.

In response to a letter sent to Pelosi last month by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, House Deputy General Counsel Kerry Kircher denied the agency's request, citing the Speech or Debate Clause of the Constitution, which protects congressional papers."

http://mparent7777-2.blogspot.com/2008/01/pelosi-wont-help-foley-investigators.html

Is she saying she be breaking a law to turn the evidence over? Is there a precedent? Or does she always protect corrupt bedfellows?

Talcott's picture

Brad @ 34:

Talcott @ 33:

"Florida law enforcement officials have been denied access to the office computers of disgraced former Congressman Mark Foley, despite a direct appeal to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for help in their investigation of sexually explicit messages sent to current and former teenage congressional pages.

In response to a letter sent to Pelosi last month by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, House Deputy General Counsel Kerry Kircher denied the agency's request, citing the Speech or Debate Clause of the Constitution, which protects congressional papers."

http://mparent7777-2.blogspot.com/2008/01/pelosi-wont-help-foley-investigators.html

Is she saying she be breaking a law to turn the evidence over? Is there a precedent? Or does she always protect corrupt bedfellows?

Shhh...she's a democrat,

the one and only,

true and holy party.

tHeGaMeOfLiFe's picture

hahahaha

I was expecting a baby pic of obama, edwards and clinton. They're so adorable...HAHAHAHAHAHA

I don't know why the repugs believe that the WTC disasters is a feather in their caps. They didn't/don't protect us while they're in office. While under their watch. Unbelievable.

that's picture

Tequila @ 7:

Air pollution messes with Texas
and wins.

I hope all those pickup truck/SUV owners who feel no guilt about their participation in this problem remember what being "big" means when we're all melting under a Venusian atmosphere like the scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

ronhohn's picture

#10
MITTENS add

Avoid profile shot, it makes you look too evil.

Helena Montana's picture

Ewwww, he's NAKED in that picture. Creepy! Ick.

Tequila's picture

Global warming gives China a drought.

Michael's picture

That picture is awful, it looks like he's having his way with Canada...

Clement's picture

Looking at that picture, I would hate to live in Alaska...

Paul in LA's picture

Oh gee, what a shock:

NH CONTEST: DIEBOLD MISCOUNTS REPORTED ACROSS MANY CANDIDATES, WARDS, IN FIRST DAY OF ELECTION CONTEST HAND COUNTS

Also: Diebold Memory Cards Unaccounted For; Public Record Request by Election Integrity Advocates on Ground Reveal 550+ Votes Read as Blank by Op-Scanner in Stratham...

Clinton, Kucinich Observers There, Nobody from Obama or Edwards, Says Election Attorney...

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5568

The recount the media would rather you did not WATCH.

Paul in LA's picture

Yeah, see it turns out that the NH SecState has NO IDEA where the memory cards are for the Diebold machines used in the primary.

"Secretary of State William Gardner that his office doesn't get involved in tracking what happens to those memory cards. Some have reportedly been returned to LHS, and may have had their memory erased already."

TOTALLY ILLEGAL.

They also don't receive the problems logs from the districts -- why would the highest election official in the state be expected to monitor the voting progress?

Hillary's Tears, don't they know that the Internets are WATCHING?

Paul in LA's picture

Under federal law, they are required to keep those memory cards intact and secure for 22 months.

They weren't secure for 22 hours.

ashok's picture

Re: #24, #28 -- if Obama withdrew, Edwards would win in a landslide?

One of the things I have not kept track of is the contempt for Senator Clinton from the Left, and I'm curious to know more about this. I am more than familiar with the contempt the Clintons get from the Right.

Immigration Problem's picture

Immigration by the Numbers

Paul in LA's picture

47, 48 Racism Problem spreads more anti-poor hatred.

Hail to the Chimp's picture

Why doesn’t Crooks and Liars report how Clinton recycled an old NAACP endorsement? I said that the timing was suspicious.

http://thehill.com/leading-the.....01-17.html

The campaign of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) recycled a nine-month-old endorsement from an NAACP leader earlier this week when the discussion about race in the Democratic primary reached a fever pitch and a new poll indicated that black voters were sharply breaking for Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.).

The campaign announced that California NAACP President Alice Huffman endorsed the former first lady on Monday, adding that this coincided with the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday (which was on Tuesday).

However, an entry on Clinton’s campaign blog from April 27, 2007, shows that Huffman was among a slew of “leading Californians” who publicly supported the senator.

The endorsement announcement was clearly aimed at showing that Clinton had significant African-American support amid intensifying criticism of her remark on former President Lyndon Johnson’s involvement

Midwest Maggie's picture

An ad for Huck's favorite store, TARGET.

right wing hater's picture

Daily Reading pt 1....

'Bush Admin. admits to destroying e-mails from start of Iraq War, Leak of Valerie Wilson's name and DOJ investigation of leak'; That's, like, a crime, isn't it.
- http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/30775
The deletion of millions of email beginning in March 2003 coupled with the White House’s destruction of back-up copies of those deleted email mean that there are no back-up copies of emails deleted during the period March 2003 through October 2003.
The significance of this time-period cannot be overstated: the U.S. went to war with Iraq, top White House officials leaked the covert identity of Valerie Plame Wilson and the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into their actions.

White House Recycles Backup E-Mail Tapes - http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hsG0My2Q3Eu9Sj2PSupnj4xeQXxAD8U75L883
The worst environmental administration ever...finally decides to 'recycle' something....

Just Bomb 'Em to Smithereens. That Ended up Being the Tactic in Vietnam and Brought the Khmer Rouge to Power in Cambodia: "The U.S. military conducted more than five times as many airstrikes in Iraq last year as it did in 2006."
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/16/AR200801...

First Came Katrina, Then Came HUD - http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/011608H.shtml
Since Katrina, the homeless population of New Orleans has doubled to more than 12,000 people. Despite what the New York Times on Dec. 2 called an "acute rental shortage," HUD plans to spend $762 million to demolish public housing and replace it with only 744 new units of affordable housing.
HUD will spend an average of $400,000 for each new mixed-income unit, while statements by HANO'S own insurance company have shown that many of the multiple-unit buildings to be demolished could be repaired for less than $10,000 per building.

Greg Palast: George of Arabia: Better Kiss Your Abe 'Goodbye' - http://www.gregpalast.com/george-of-arabia-better-kiss-your-abe-goodbye/
The landlords of our currency - Citibank, theBush & The King national treasury of China and the House of Saud - are foreclosing and evicting all Americans from the US economy.
Let’s begin by stating why Bush is not in Saudi Arabia. Bush ain’t there to promote ‘Democracy’ nor peace in Palestine, nor even war in Iran. And, despite what some pinhead from CNN stated, he sure as hell didn’t go to Riyadh to tell the Saudis to cut the price of oil.
What’s really behind Bush’s hajj to Riyadh is that America is in hock up to our knickers. The sub-prime mortgage market implosion, hitting a dozen banks with over $100 billion in losses, is just the tip of the debt-berg.
Since taking office, Bush has doubled the federal debt to more than $5 trillion. And, according to US Treasury figures, on net, foreign investors have purchased close to 100% of that debt. That’s $3 trillion borrowed from the Saudis, the Chinese, the Japanese and others.
Bush is there to assure Abdullah that, unlike Dubai’s ports purchase debacle, there will be no political impediment to the Saudi’s buying up Citibank nor the isle of Manhattan.
The Bush Administration, rather than tax Americans to cover our deficits or make the banks suffer the consequences of their predatory lending practices, is allowing the Saudis to charge us big time at the pump with the understanding they will lend it all back to us - so the party never has to stop.
It has been reported that the President’s Secret Service men traveling with him seemed embarrassed by the eye-popping loads of diamond and gold gifts which they have to carry back for President Bush. They need not feel they have taken too much from their hosts: Bush has assured Abdullah that the King can suck it back out through our gas tanks.

Robert Scheer: Those ungrateful Saudis; They've been treated better than they should. - http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080115_those_ungrateful_saudis/
With Bush’s imperial fantasy fading into dismal reality, our nation saddled with record debt, an immense trade gap and an American public that has seen through his “What, me worry?” con, the president has bizarrely sought validation through visiting the scene of his foreign policy crimes.

A former congressman (ding ding, yes, a Republican) and delegate to the UN was indicted 'as part of a terrorist fundraising ring that allegedly sent more than $130,000 to an al-Qaida and Taliban supporter who has threatened U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan.'
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/16/AR200801...

Shadowgm's picture

I'm waiting for the inevitable mash-up of some of Bush's better smirks and frowns with the judge who criticized O.J. Simpson by asking if he was 'arrogant, ignorant, or both' and that if 'he did this again, he'd be back in the Clark County detention facility.'

right wing hater's picture

Daily Reading pt 2....

It's the Recession, Stupid - http://ourfuture.org/blog-entry/its-recession-stupid
This is a $13 trillion economy wounded by successive body blows. It will take a lot to get it turned around. Consider the last recession after the collapse of the dot-com bubble and the shock of 9/11.
The Fed lowered interest rates to the lowest levels in memory; Bush racked up record deficits with massive top-end tax cuts and increased spending on the military and homeland security; Chinese and Japanese central bankers lent the money needed to prop up the dollar and limit inflation – and still we witnessed a slow recovery in which employment as a percentage of the population and income never returned to pre-recession levels.

Now, More Troops in Pakistan as Bush Declares Iraq a Victory and Tries to Create an Excuse to Nuke Iran. Aren't There Some Issues More Important Than Race and Gender?
- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080116/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_pakistan;_ylt=A...

Jon Stewart makes fun of George Bush on what the definition of was, was. - http://rackjite.com/archives/1099-Jon-Stewart-makes-fun-of-George-Bush-o...
Next year at this time will anyone miss that rush of embarrassment of being an American whenever George W Bush opens his mouth?
Pay close attention to his nonsensical 'when history was written' comment....

Former Attorney General: Ashcroft’s No-Bid Contract Was ‘As Wrong As It Can Be’ - http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/15/aschroft-katzenbach/
John Ashcroft received a government contract, worth between $28 million and $52 million, directly from his former employee, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Chris Christie. No bidding. No RFP. No competition. Another former US Attorney General points out the illegalities of that contract.

Daily Kos: Say Goodbye to Howard Dean (not literally) - http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/16/131157/380/507/437830
How his 50 state strategy riled the establishment that has always had it in for him, now the DLC & Corporate Dems are trying to remove him after 08 election....
Someone do something to break the DLC into pieces & the establishment down to reality.....please.

Republican/GOP infested 'Justice Department officials have told Congress that they face serious legal difficulties in pursuing criminal prosecutions of Blackwater security/mercenary guards involved in a September shooting that left at least 17 Iraqis dead.' They shot someone without merit (allegedly), so what's the problem?
- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/washington/16blackwater.html?_r=1&oref...

right wing hater's picture

Daily Reading pt 3...

Chris Matthews, this week, becomes the first two-time BuzzFlash Media Putz Winner for His Sensationalistc, Misogynist, "Quips." His Ongoing Efforts to Boost His Ratings -- and Salary -- Through Reprehensible "Performances" Demean Individuals and Democracy.
- http://mediaputz.com/08/01/putz0117.html

House Passes Improvements for Miner Safety, key to Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller - http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=1048

Republican/GOP 'Great economy' update: Buddy, Can You Spare a Billion? - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/business/16capital.html

Bob & Harvey's 3-Step "Ohio Plan" for fair and reliable voting and vote counts - http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/12181

White House Exempts Navy From Sonar Ban, Angering Environmental Groups Concerned About Whales - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/us/17sonar.html?th&emc=th

Preacher Boob's picture

Whew! Bloggers no longer need feel guilty about putting the newspaper business into it's current rapid decline. No, the decline was created by the same force that has caused most of our nation's catastrophes, rampant Corporate Greed.

When the MSM was just newspapers, they grew and prospered based on the simple premise of putting a bunch of apes in a room with a bunch of typewriters, and printing the resulting copy each day. Then came radio, then TV, then cable, and the apes had to work harder and harder to keep up.

The pressure on the newspaper Magnates for more profits grew, and in order to please Wall Street, the Magnates cut costs. First, by reducing the number of typewriters. That helped a little, and no one seemed to notice the reduced output of 'stories'. Then the Magnates reduced the number of bananas per day per ape. Costs went down, stock went up. Then they cut down on the number of apes. Stock prices escalated, even as newspaper sales dropped.

HooAHH!, shouted the Magnates and Wall Street, we've discovered the Magic Principle. Since the 'economy's health' is measured by stock prices, all we have to do is keep dropping costs, stock prices will rise, Magnate pay will become phenomenal, and the American Dream will be fully realized.

So they applied the Magic Principle to all US businesses, and here we are. Not as many apes are needed, bananas per ape are down, apes are getting weak and sick, but stock prices, Magnate pay, and yacht sales are way up.

Nothing is getting produced except burgers, fries, heart attacks and foreclosures.

But hey hey, that's the new American Way.

andy's picture

main line repubs and dems are just different sides of the same coin, there is nothing between Romney/McCain/Obama/Hillary, if you think there is good luck to you, nothing will change.

tyree's picture

right wing hater @ 53:

Daily Reading pt 1....

'Bush Admin. admits to destroying e-mails from start of Iraq War, Leak of Valerie Wilson's name and DOJ investigation of leak'; That's, like, a crime, isn't it.
- http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/30775
The deletion of millions of email beginning in March 2003 coupled with the White House’s destruction of back-up copies of those deleted email mean that there are no back-up copies of emails deleted during the period March 2003 through October 2003.
The significance of this time-period cannot be overstated: the U.S. went to war with Iraq, top White House officials leaked the covert identity of Valerie Plame Wilson and the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into their actions.

White House Recycles Backup E-Mail Tapes - http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hsG0My2Q3Eu9Sj2PSupnj4xeQXxAD8U75L883
The worst environmental administration ever...finally decides to 'recycle' something....

Just Bomb 'Em to Smithereens. That Ended up Being the Tactic in Vietnam and Brought the Khmer Rouge to Power in Cambodia: "The U.S. military conducted more than five times as many airstrikes in Iraq last year as it did in 2006."
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/16/AR200801...

First Came Katrina, Then Came HUD - http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/011608H.shtml
Since Katrina, the homeless population of New Orleans has doubled to more than 12,000 people. Despite what the New York Times on Dec. 2 called an "acute rental shortage," HUD plans to spend $762 million to demolish public housing and replace it with only 744 new units of affordable housing.
HUD will spend an average of $400,000 for each new mixed-income unit, while statements by HANO'S own insurance company have shown that many of the multiple-unit buildings to be demolished could be repaired for less than $10,000 per building.

Greg Palast: George of Arabia: Better Kiss Your Abe 'Goodbye' - http://www.gregpalast.com/george-of-arabia-better-kiss-your-abe-goodbye/
The landlords of our currency - Citibank, theBush & The King national treasury of China and the House of Saud - are foreclosing and evicting all Americans from the US economy.
Let’s begin by stating why Bush is not in Saudi Arabia. Bush ain’t there to promote ‘Democracy’ nor peace in Palestine, nor even war in Iran. And, despite what some pinhead from CNN stated, he sure as hell didn’t go to Riyadh to tell the Saudis to cut the price of oil.
What’s really behind Bush’s hajj to Riyadh is that America is in hock up to our knickers. The sub-prime mortgage market implosion, hitting a dozen banks with over $100 billion in losses, is just the tip of the debt-berg.
Since taking office, Bush has doubled the federal debt to more than $5 trillion. And, according to US Treasury figures, on net, foreign investors have purchased close to 100% of that debt. That’s $3 trillion borrowed from the Saudis, the Chinese, the Japanese and others.
Bush is there to assure Abdullah that, unlike Dubai’s ports purchase debacle, there will be no political impediment to the Saudi’s buying up Citibank nor the isle of Manhattan.
The Bush Administration, rather than tax Americans to cover our deficits or make the banks suffer the consequences of their predatory lending practices, is allowing the Saudis to charge us big time at the pump with the understanding they will lend it all back to us - so the party never has to stop.
It has been reported that the President’s Secret Service men traveling with him seemed embarrassed by the eye-popping loads of diamond and gold gifts which they have to carry back for President Bush. They need not feel they have taken too much from their hosts: Bush has assured Abdullah that the King can suck it back out through our gas tanks.

Robert Scheer: Those ungrateful Saudis; They've been treated better than they should. - http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080115_those_ungrateful_saudis/
With Bush’s imperial fantasy fading into dismal reality, our nation saddled with record debt, an immense trade gap and an American public that has seen through his “What, me worry?” con, the president has bizarrely sought validation through visiting the scene of his foreign policy crimes.

A former congressman (ding ding, yes, a Republican) and delegate to the UN was indicted 'as part of a terrorist fundraising ring that allegedly sent more than $130,000 to an al-Qaida and Taliban supporter who has threatened U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan.'
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/16/AR2008011602361.html

repigs sell out cheaply!

Jared Wolfhope's picture

Doltberg on Morning Joe yuckfest is sickening.

His GOP top 3 is a good field comment is the most retarded thing I've heard in 2008.

YellowSnow's picture

Huckabee is personally solving the illegal alien problem. His staff is producing the following signs, which they are posting at all Mexican border crossings:

'No Spic'a da Ingles,

No Cum inna da Cuntry'

(? Does every one in Arkansas talk that way?)

tyree's picture

JTM @ 21:

budda @ 18:

Lastly I really like John Edwards, but it seems he is really only hurting Obama at this point by splitting the "anyone but hillary" vote. I was wondering if it is possible that Edwards could give all his delegates to Obama. Can that happen? Could he play king maker and make Obama the winner?

What a coincidence. I was just thinking that Obama is really only hurting Edwards and ought to pull out. Weird.

i got an idea!why dont we treat edwards like they do kucinich ! and keep him out of the debates? then wed be assured of obama winning , sure why not , fuck that noise ,edwards a better man then obama is, i wouldnt send obama a donation or the sweat off my cooches!!!!!!!

liberalNmoderation's picture

tr @ 23:

Ruthless People @ 22:

JTM @ 21:

budda @ 18:

What a coincidence. I was just thinking that Obama is really only hurting Edwards and ought to pull out. Weird.

if Obama pulled out Edwards would win in a landslide.

which is why the clintons ran obama in the first place.

I was thinkin the very same thing! I think ol' Bill Clinton was a great prez...but Hillary, I think she'd pull every trick in the book to be prez...including the ones made infamous by the GOP in the last two "elections"!

kravitz's picture

The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/opinion/17thu3.html?ref=opinion&pagewa...

"After watching the subject of race intrude on the primaries last week, and become even more prominent this week, we were relieved that Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama called a truce Tuesday night.

It was clearly her side that first stoked the race and gender issue."

Hillary is betting on the fact that white women can be made to fear black men in softer tones than yelling for help from the sisterhood.

A favorite quote of this morning so far...

"You know, if someone was married to a surgeon for years, would you consider them qualified to cut you open? Then why does she think being married to a president makes her presidential material?"

jr's picture

Huck and Chuck won't stop until there's a Scofield Bible in every classroom

ImpeachBushNowwww's picture

Texas Ranger (Chuck Norris) and Huckleberry Hound will
SAVE Yogi at camp jesus

thepoetryman's picture

YellowSnow @ 61:

Huckabee is personally solving the illegal alien problem. His staff is producing the following signs, which they are posting at all Mexican border crossings:

'No Spic'a da Ingles,

No Cum inna da Cuntry'

(? Does every one in Arkansas talk that way?)

Short answer- No.
Long answer- No. They do not.
Longer answer- I've lived here over thirty years...and I do not speak that way. By the way, there ain't none; narry a one Mexican border crossin' in de state o' Arkansas.

mystic's picture

#24: Ballot disparities during hand counts in NH primary are not surprising. Ditto for the Diebold memory cards unaccounted for. If the system hasn't been fixed in seven years, one EXPECTS fraud. One question: If disparities are verified, can Kucinich demand a recount in New Hampshire? It would be interesting. I betcha as in 2000, a recount will be suppressed by the Supreme Court. Also suspicious is that observers from Obama and Edwards campaigns are absent during hand counts. Ah fascism!!!

kravitz's picture

Judge: At-large precincts are OK

By David McGrath Schwartz · January 17, 2008 · 11:12 AM

Just minutes ago, District Court Judge James Mahan rejected the lawsuit that contested the nine at-large Strip caucus sites.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/early-line/2008/jan/17/judge-at-large-p...

ysbaddaden's picture

Why Sodom and Gomorroh were really destroyed.

In Ezekiel 16:48-50 God accuses Jerusalem of being worse than Sodom. He explains that the sin of Sodom was that "She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me."

Classical Jewish texts do not stress the homosexual aspect of the attitude of the inhabitants of Sodom as much as their cruelty and lack of hospitality to the "stranger."

However there's one thing between being an invited vs an uninvited guest, and especially being treated with the rights reserved for citizens.

Webbster's picture

This is very dodgy:http://tinyurl.com/2rkkrj

"FOX NEWS CHANNEL TO GET SUPER BOWL PUSH"

The Fox broadcast network, which is the only major broadcast network without a nightly newscast or a regular news magazine show -- and which rarely offers even news specials -- plans to showcase the talent at its corporate siblings, Fox News Network and F ox Business Channel, as well as the reporters at its local Fox stations, on Super Bowl Sunday, February 3. It announced Wednesday that it plans to air a three-hour special, covering February 5's Super Tuesday primaries, alongside its coverage of the football game, with Shepard Smith of Fox News anchoring from Glendale, AZ, the site of the Super Bowl.

gmsingh's picture

Thank God God invented guns.

zorro's picture

Actually all the debate in Homosexuality so far seems to be just opening up some real central core issues of Americas transition in the basic moral authority of life.

All bringing forward an honest partnership with God, for those who believe in God, yet challenge the individual free will, soul, propositioned by God through a wonderful discussion on the Internet that brings some interesting ideals that make me feel like a rookie in cultural development.

That ideal by a lot of posters that Huckabee is a “Fringe Extremist” is perhaps challenging rather then just a defining. Could be, Huckabee, has what he thinks is a divine reflection, his own mediation with the truth of God as Huckabee preconceives it. For all we know, Gods effort to shape us in his image is constantly shared with “All of us” not just George Bush or Huckabee, and its up to everyone to either decide to take a leadership roll or follow. In Huckabee’s case, he leads, and I don’t think he cares what people think about his believes in how they will justify whether he wins the Presidency or not.

In any case, Huckabee is putting the Constitution in adding, as a chapter, in our biblical believe. An ancient ideal forbidden, but a long list of ancient ideals considered abominations have already been abandoned. So, here we have the Constitution though calling for the separation of Church and State is a key controversial element in this experiment of American government. Perhaps there is a divine calling here. God is opening the door to free will and soul, granting humanity its wish for separation of Church and State, but God kindly saying “Hey yah all don’t forget about me”.

Barack Hussein Obama presents another side of the argument in the theory of separation of Church and State. To me something very striking and very scary that is not even in the mainstream Media.

In Obama’s book “Audacity of Hope” from the get go in the Prologue Obama states two serious contradictions in his political grandstanding the public is not aware of and Mainstream Media totally does not hold Obama accountable for. Obama admits in a passage that “The topic of this book how we might begin the process of changing our politics and our civic life. This isn’t to say that I know exactly how to do it, I don’t”.

America did you get that Obama does not know how he is going to change things yet rants “Change you can believe in”. That’s crazy.

Here, the monumental mental gap is a few lines later Obama said “I offer no unifying theory of American government, nor do these pages provide a manifesto for action, complete with charts and graphs, timetables, and ten point plans”.

An absolutely stupid statement for a man that who taught Law and the Constitution at the University of Chicago for something like eight to ten years. Sorry folks but for Obama to says he offers no unifying theory of American government, what kind of government was Obama teaching? Sheesh, I though the Constitution is the most significant unifying theory is be formed by civilized man. This is an idiotic statement, and he thinks he is a Presidential candidate? Obama not only lacks experience, he displays openly absolutely no vision when it comes to “written law”.

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