This should say it all......but of course, it won't.

As we all know, it's the tax and spend Democrats that have created all the financial problems in this country. If it weren't for the tax cuts and budget cutting done by the repigs, this country would be in much worse shape.

I have to go throw up now.

Very clever and true!

Mike Barnicle Calls Bloggers "Nit-Wits."

Another wingnut pundit afraid of citizens finding out the truths hidden by corporate media.

Thats hilarious.

haha nice!

Really nice... I'll have to bookmark this.

Dude two burns in a row.....THAT'S A SECOND DEGREE BURN!

lol

ok, this is off topic but seeing the tax and spend liberal's caricature reminded me how bugged I am about hysteria around the announcement that Bill Clinton is speaking at the convention. it's hard to stay engaged in an election that's been turned into a mind-numbing soap opera.

Re: Ben Stein rant:

And we especially don’t like being told how to vote by porn stars.

But politicians who impeach a guy for blowjobs, while cheating on a mistress, speak for the rest of us.

The Drug War leads to a MD. mayor getting his dogs shot by pigs. Also from yesterday, but a hospital director rips off the feds more than any lawyer issuing a "frivolous" lawsuit.

Let's see. If I remember my "goddamned piece of paper" correctly, congress controls the purse strings and can kill pretty much anything it doesn't like by refusing to fund it.

Reagan: Democratic controlled congress
Bush I: Democratic controlled congress
Clinton: Democratic controlled congress that killed universal health care; then a republican controlled congress that pushed Clinton to limit welfare entitlements and accept a balanced budget. His actions led Michael Moore to dub him "our greatest Republican president ever." Clinton kept vetoing balance budget amendment proposals.
Bush II: Republican controlled congress who spent like college kids with credit cards in an attempt to bury Democrats once and for all. They even rejected some of Bush's proposed spending cuts intended to offset his tax cuts. This was followed by Democratic controlled congress which has done nothing to stop spending or war funding and has, in fact, voted to increase both.

There's no one fiscally responsible in Washington D.C. and no one fiscally responsible running for president in either of the two major parties. As long as we the people want and allow the government to give us stuff there will be members of congress and presidents willing to cater to our whims in exchange for votes. They will do it whatever the cost and regardless of what the "goddamned piece of paper" says. To pretend otherwise is silly.

But did you click the link at the bottom of the page "Obama ‘08 bumper sticker on the back of the Straight Talk Express" ?

The Straight Talk Express bus crashed into a minivan in Miami today.

All this cartoon reveals is the bone-crushing stupidity of most republicans.

motorfingaz @ 20:

Dems don't even have the strategic sense to let this cartoon say it all.

Im still waiting for Dems to say fiscal conservatism is dangerous to America.

I'm still waiting for you to claim that repugnants are fiscal conservatives. Why do people like you walk in to your own shit?

Mr. Blather...So I'll bet you can't wait for the debates. The debates sponsored by corporate members of the CFR, moderated by media members of the CFR, who are hosting both presidential candidates who just happen to be members of the CFR.

Amurikans, you have been duped. Again.

That is this story:

"Mayor wants federal probe after SWAT raids house, kills dogs"

A Maryland mayor is asking the federal government to investigate why SWAT team members burst into his home without knocking and shot his two dogs to death in an investigation into a drug smuggling scheme.

Mr. Blather @ 21:

Let's see. If I remember my "goddamned piece of paper" correctly, congress controls the purse strings and can kill pretty much anything it doesn't like by refusing to fund it.

Reagan: Democratic controlled congress
Bush I: Democratic controlled congress
Clinton: Democratic controlled congress that killed universal health care; then a republican controlled congress that pushed Clinton to limit welfare entitlements and accept a balanced budget. His actions led Michael Moore to dub him "our greatest Republican president ever." Clinton kept vetoing balance budget amendment proposals.
Bush II: Republican controlled congress who spent like college kids with credit cards in an attempt to bury Democrats once and for all. They even rejected some of Bush's proposed spending cuts intended to offset his tax cuts. This was followed by Democratic controlled congress which has done nothing to stop spending or war funding and has, in fact, voted to increase both.

There's no one fiscally responsible in Washington D.C. and no one fiscally responsible running for president in either of the two major parties. As long as we the people want and allow the government to give us stuff there will be members of congress and presidents willing to cater to our whims in exchange for votes. They will do it whatever the cost and regardless of what the "goddamned piece of paper" says. To pretend otherwise is silly.

"As soon as the American people discover they can vote themselves money from the Treasury the American experiment in democracy will be over."

.. or words to that effect ..

Who said that?

I thought it was de Tocqueville, but can't frind the reference.

Anyway, it wasn't so much that We People figured out how to vote ourselves money from the Treasury as it was the People Who Run The Corporations who figured that out.

OT Scary:

MIAMI - A man who authorities said was keeping weapons and military-style gear in his hotel room and car appeared in court Thursday on charges he threatened to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

A search of Geisel's 1998 Ford Explorer and hotel room in Miami uncovered a loaded 9mm handgun, knives, dozens of rounds of ammunition including armor-piercing types, body armor, military-style fatigues and a machete. The SUV, which has Maine license plates, was wired with flashing red and yellow emergency lights.

the pattern of economic ineptitude goes back even further...
the Republican policies sunk the US into the GREAT DEPRESSION... then and now

The greedy fucking republicans always think they can get it all NOW! by killing the goose. The have proven it over and over and over again.

Jesus, they are so fucking blind-ass greedy even the S&L fiasco didn't stop and make 'em think. They just continued on their greedy fucking way deregulating everything else under the sun.

Now we have to suffer the consequences as we watch those fuckers impose socialism for the corporations and cold-hearted fucking free enterprise for the rest of us.

They need to be publicly hanged.

Case against Ivins not airtight - Yahoo! News

Oh, and there were plenty of pig stupid fucking democrats that went along for the ride.

Great cartoon.

socialist economy...talk tough like a darwinian capitalist but
secretly use the public for bail out

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/eleven-reasons-america-new-top/sto...

Charles @ 31:

That is this story:

"Mayor wants federal probe after SWAT raids house, kills dogs"

A Maryland mayor is asking the federal government to investigate why SWAT team members burst into his home without knocking and shot his two dogs to death in an investigation into a drug smuggling scheme.

SWAT twats.

msg from Tengrain for ya :)

Welcome to police state Amerika.

Please stop spreading the meme that there was a surplus under Clinton. As one can easily verify at the U.S. Treasury site, the total federal debt increased each and every year under Clinton. There was never a surplus. Only in Washington can ever increasing levels of debt be defined as a "surplus."

Also, please look into taking a basic civics course at a local community college. A class that covers the appropriations process in congress.

The Clinton years were when private debt and the whole derivative mess, which is a much bigger problem than public debt, really started to explode in this country. This is because the Clinton administration followed the same, stupid loose monetary policies and had the same love affair with Wall Street as the current Bush administration. The Democratic party is the party of Wall Street after all. Follow the money.

Have we forgotten the technology and internet bubble, which burst more than 6 months before Clinton left office? Don't forget all of the federal tax revenue that was based on those fake asset prices.

jax @ 52:

Please stop spreading the meme that there was a surplus under Clinton. As one can easily verify at the U.S. Treasury site, the total federal debt increased each and every year under Clinton. There was never a surplus. Only in Washington can ever increasing levels of debt be defined as a "surplus."

Also, please look into taking a basic civics course at a local community college. A class that covers the appropriations process in congress.

The Clinton years were when private debt and the whole derivative mess, which is a much bigger problem than public debt, really started to explode in this country. This is because the Clinton administration followed the same, stupid loose monetary policies and had the same love affair with Wall Street as the current Bush administration. The Democratic party is the party of Wall Street after all. Follow the money.

Have we forgotten the technology and internet bubble, which burst more than 6 months before Clinton left office? Don't forget all of the federal tax revenue that was based on those fake asset prices.

It's one thing to have the tech bubble bulging but the repugnants got out the BB guns and started shooting at it.

jax @ 52:

Please stop spreading the meme that there was a surplus under Clinton. As one can easily verify at the U.S. Treasury site, the total federal debt increased each and every year under Clinton. There was never a surplus. Only in Washington can ever increasing levels of debt be defined as a "surplus."

Also, please look into taking a basic civics course at a local community college. A class that covers the appropriations process in congress.

The Clinton years were when private debt and the whole derivative mess, which is a much bigger problem than public debt, really started to explode in this country. This is because the Clinton administration followed the same, stupid loose monetary policies and had the same love affair with Wall Street as the current Bush administration. The Democratic party is the party of Wall Street after all. Follow the money.

Have we forgotten the technology and internet bubble, which burst more than 6 months before Clinton left office? Don't forget all of the federal tax revenue that was based on those fake asset prices.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-07-27-deficit_N.htm?csp=34
check out this graph....some info regarding deficit over the last presidents
site monitor i had trouble earlier with this graph but it was quickly allowed thanks

angryspittle @ 32:

This country has lost any semblance of decency, compassion, and humanity.

When, pray tell, did it ever posses those traits?

Hey, Amato, why does my browser -- Firefox -- freeze on the URL "www.google-analytics. com" when I select the comments link from the main page? I did't use Google to get to your site? Would you like to share with your fellow bloggers?

C & L and John Amato in particular seems to like the Anthrax case as of late. Help them out by sending him any links you think are pertinent to uncovering the truths on this. Peace.

Ron @ 58:

Proud2bHumble @ 56:

Ron @ 53:

Proud2bHumble @ 48:
Always looking for attention, aren't you.

Elaborate, please?

You posted your web page again.

Tengrain of Mock, Paper, Scissors left a compliment for Charles on that particular entry and I have no other way to reach him... I'm sure I'll never approach the record volume of "look at me's" you posted around 7/4, and I hardly comment here anymore because I'm busy with other things and I find this type of childish internecine sniping counterproductive here at C&L.

This continues a pattern of random attacks on me by you. What's your real problem with me? Is it a chemical imbalance, meds, something like that? I really want to know.

I refuse to shred a fellow well meaning progressive, though in your case, it wouldn't be technically difficult, just against my personal policy. You have a lot to learn about how to be a friend, Ron.

Proud2bHumble @ 63:

Ron @ 58:

Proud2bHumble @ 56:

Ron @ 53:
Elaborate, please?

You posted your web page again.

Tengrain of Mock, Paper, Scissors left a compliment for Charles on that particular entry and I have no other way to reach him... I'm sure I'll never approach the record volume of "look at me's" you posted around 7/4, and I hardly comment here anymore because I'm busy with other things and I find this type of childish internecine sniping counterproductive here at C&L.

This continues a pattern of random attacks on me by you. What's your real problem with me? Is it a chemical imbalance, meds, something like that? I really want to know.

I refuse to shred a fellow well meaning progressive, though in your case, it wouldn't be technically difficult, just against my personal policy. You have a lot to learn about how to be a friend, Ron.

It sounds like you are getiing a little sensitive. No harm meant.

Ron @ 65:

Proud2bHumble @ 63:

Ron @ 58:

Proud2bHumble @ 56:
You posted your web page again.

Tengrain of Mock, Paper, Scissors left a compliment for Charles on that particular entry and I have no other way to reach him... I'm sure I'll never approach the record volume of "look at me's" you posted around 7/4, and I hardly comment here anymore because I'm busy with other things and I find this type of childish internecine sniping counterproductive here at C&L.

This continues a pattern of random attacks on me by you. What's your real problem with me? Is it a chemical imbalance, meds, something like that? I really want to know.

I refuse to shred a fellow well meaning progressive, though in your case, it wouldn't be technically difficult, just against my personal policy. You have a lot to learn about how to be a friend, Ron.

It sounds like you are getiing a little sensitive. No harm meant.

Well then, throw a little friendly snark clue in there somewhere, dickhead, haha(see?)... I have a soft side for my friends and try to save teh nasty mean shit for the contards... Hugs? lol ;-}

a short aljazeera video 3min does china really deserve the olympics
i believe in fair free trade but we are being basically forced to buy a huge amount of goods from the chinese(many u.s companies) who have terrible working conditions,under paid,nationalized healthcare
and questionable fair currency value. corporations want no rules. i say china steps up on human rights or limit buying/imports

http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/48162-critics-examine-china-s-human-rights...

The GREATEST EVER Olympics since the 1936 Berlin Games are upon us, so excuse me if I can't think of anything else for the next two weeks

"I have examined all the known superstitions of the world, and I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology. Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the earth."

- Thomas Jefferson

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/missouristatenews/stor...
Here is another one to chew on:
Mo State Rep-R indicted for sexual assault on 14 year old.

From Hollywood Elsewhere, Jeff Wells confronts
O'Reilly over his blacklist fantasy comment.

BTW, the site's conservative, but that's the only place I could find a video of the debate.

Anti-War Website Operator Threatened By Armed Thugs: Information Clearing House editor victim of home invasions, warnings to “stop what he is doing on the Internet, NOW!”

Anthrax Letters NOT In Ivins' Handwriting

John McCain is FUCKING Stupid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWX5u69hmzY

Orangutan. @ 84:

John McCain is FUCKING Stupid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWX5u69hmzY

He's a fooo, a fooor, a ffffffoooor, four dollar moron.

Remote-control warriors suffer war stress

Predator operators prone to psychological trauma as battlefield comrades

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. - The Air National Guardsmen who operate Predator drones over Iraq via remote control, launching deadly missile attacks from the safety of Southern California 7,000 miles away, are suffering some of the same psychological stresses as their comrades on the battlefield.

Working in air-conditioned trailers, Predator pilots observe the field of battle through a bank of video screens and kill enemy fighters with a few computer keystrokes. Then, after their shifts are over, they get to drive home and sleep in their own beds.

But that whiplash transition is taking a toll on some of them mentally, and so is the way the unmanned aircraft's cameras enable them to see people getting killed in high-resolution detail, some officers say.

In a fighter jet, "when you come in at 500-600 mph, drop a 500-pound bomb and then fly away, you don't see what happens," said Col. Albert K. Aimar, who is commander of the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing here and has a bachelor's degree in psychology. But when a Predator fires a missile, "you watch it all the way to impact, and I mean it's very vivid, it's right there and personal. So it does stay in people's minds for a long time."

He said the stresses are "causing some family issues, some relationship issues." He and other Predator officers would not elaborate.

But the 163rd has called in a full-time chaplain and enlisted the services of psychologists and psychiatrists to help ease the mental strain on these remote-control warriors..

Pity those poor boys who have to see the consequences of their own actions.

Great to hear the Chaplains, Psychologists & Psychiatrists are all helping ease the pain of participating in the Empire's Killing Machine.

Charles @ 86:

Orangutan. @ 84:

John McCain is FUCKING Stupid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWX5u69hmzY

He's a fooo, a fooor, a ffffffoooor, four dollar moron.

wow.....personally i respect my elders man this guy is over his head. but i guess he'll be perfect for the real people who run this country. he'll basically be a rubber stamp/mouthpiece.
what gets me is they don't call him on much of this....this is bush all over again. mccain should hang it up. when obama farts they're on it....did you hear him at the sturgis rally bumbling and stumbling it's not like public speaking is new for him. there are ignoring it or saying see public he's just like you and for the seniors they don't want to step on their toes..........geeze

Our respected media asks if Obama is too thin to be President. How about is McCain too fucking stupid and too uninformed and too full of Amnesia to be President. NEVER. We suck.

Orangutan. @ 91:

constituent @ 90:

Charles @ 86:

Orangutan. @ 84:

He's a fooo, a fooor, a ffffffoooor, four dollar moron.

wow.....personally i respect my elders man this guy is over his head. but i guess he'll be perfect for the real people who run this country. he'll basically be a rubber stamp/mouthpiece.
what gets me is they don't call him on much of this....this is bush all over again. mccain should hang it up. when obama farts they're on it....did you hear him at the sturgis rally bumbling and stumbling it's not like public speaking is new for him. there are ignoring it or saying see public he's just like you and for the seniors they don't want to step on their toes..........geeze

I respect my elders too, but this man is running for president of my country and he has fucking alzheimer's mixed in with some dementia and he's a superstitious idiot. That is just too much. I want him to enjoy his scrambled eggs in a comfortable retirement home, but I don't want his stupid ass ruining my country. That has nothing to do with respect for elders, but more to do with respect for our children and our fellow man than anything. I posted that god damn awkward as hell speech at Sturgis by the way. It's up there under "absolutely fucking awful".

i'm with ya dawg..........i mean orangutan
his policies are wrong for the majority. the rich want more of what they have had the last four years.........this country has reached a tipping point four more years of this NEOCON crap will put us back another generation of going forward.

Orangutan. @ 92:

Our respected media asks if Obama is too thin to be President. How about is McCain too fucking stupid and too uninformed and too full of Amnesia to be President. NEVER. We suck.

... or too OLD?????!!!!! yeah that's it... he's too fuckin' old!

hey moveon.org consider doing a nice happy birthday ad for mccain
he turns 72 the end of this month....let the public know he accepts
social security payments

Most Americans hate their health care.

constituent @ 98:

hey moveon.org consider doing a nice happy birthday ad for mccain
he turns 72 the end of this month....let the public know he accepts
social security payments

Better yet, how about reminding people that he was eating birthday cake with Bush on Aug. 29 2005 while New Orleans was drowning. Talk about a Let Them Eat Cake Republican.

Obama invited Bill Clinton to speak at the Convention and he accepted. They are putting to rest the idea of division that the media so wants to beef up ratings.

On another note:
"WASHINGTON, YOU'RE FIRED"
A film about the destruction and rescue of the United States Constitution

http://www.washingtonyourefired.com/

The cartoon above is great! It speaks volumes about our fiscal history!

.

The Internet is a Series of Tubes...
http://www.johnconyers.com/node/228#comment-8433

Congressman John Conyers Issues another Sternly Worded letter... in BOLD TYPE this time[/snark]...
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Conyers_reiterates_demand_for_RNC_document...

.

The culture of corruption Republicans are nothing more than Rip-off Artists.

Ronald Reagan was the first to push for privatization of public institutions and services, turning our non-profit government into a Republican profit-making scam.

This is why, under culture of corruption and deceit Republicans, the federal government has run massive deficits, while there was temporary disruption during the Clinton years of this Republican greed factory.

This is the Republican version of a "welfare state," with massive amounts of taxpayer money being redirected toward Republican profiteers for their aggrandizement, while the Republicans financially strangled (like Grover Norquist advocates) all the social programs that help all U.S. citizens, regardless of their political or religious affiliation.

It's as if the Communists took over our country and started allocating taxpayer money solely for their crony Communist pals, while shortchanging everyone else, including anyone disagreeing with the Communists and their selfish policies.

The Republicans have done more damage to our democracy, though, than the Communists could have ever imagined doing.

That cartoon is spot on. All the Republicans ever do is spend, spend, spend yet they give out tax breaks which in reality means huge Government tax shortfalls. When they do this all they are doing is adding their expenditures onto our national debt balance. Republicans aren't any sort of "fiscal Conservatives". They are more a kin to hugo Chavez in my opinion.

Pericles @ 62:

If Greenberg were willing to convert that cartoon INTO bumper stickers and posters, and SELL them, I'd gladly place an advanced order for 100. In fact, if MoveOn.org, or one of the other PACs wanted to sell them to raise money, I'd place an order, too.

The cartoon says what WE already know, but which the rest of America doesn't. This is a quick way to show them.

I couldn't agree more! Remember Ross Perot and his charts? Most people are visual learners and these would be very simple and effective. Rovian tactics are simple (minded?) but direct, and are repeated again and again. Remember too, Animal Farm and Britt's 14 points of Fascism where minds are controlled or at least swayed by clever manipulation and repetition. Sorry, but they use it (and much more) and the Dems need to fight fire with fire!

Daily Reading pt 1...

Exxon/McCain '08 - http://www.democrats.org/page/content/exxon-mccain/

Jason Leopold: McCain Adopts Cheney's Energy Plan - http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/080608b.html
John McCain, who once was regarded as a top Republican ally of the environmental movement, has embraced an energy plan nearly identical to Vice President Dick Cheney’s National Energy Policy, which was drafted largely by industry executives and which pushed their desire for more oil drilling and nuclear power.
Yep...that's correct, the exact same 'energy plan' that has brought us to today's high gas prices...and if McBush is in the White House, will continue to rise because ExxonMobil will be running our energy policy....
OBAMA 08

HOW'S THIS FOR EXPERIENCE: 'Barack Obama already has more pre-presidential experience in government than three of the four guys on Mount Rushmore. Of those greats, only Thomas Jefferson surpasses Obama's 11-plus years in elective office, comprising almost eight years in the Illinois Senate and 3 1/2 years in the U.S. Senate.' - http://www.ocregister.com/articles/years-experience-government-2111870-p...
In contrast, how about this for experience: member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate (with multiple terms in each body), not to mention secretary of state, ambassador to Russia and ambassador to Great Britain.
Sounds pretty solid, right? It seems to have it all: state and federal, legislative and executive, domestic and foreign. It's even more impressive than Sen. McCain's 25 years in Congress. In fact, it's arguably the most extensive and expansive government resume of anyone ever elected president of the United States.
And it belonged to James Buchanan – often ranked by modern historians as the worst president ever.
Luckily for the country, Buchanan was followed by Abraham Lincoln, perhaps our greatest president. But Lincoln's prior experience was modest at best: eight years in the Illinois Legislature and a single two-year term in the House.
OBAMA 08

Probably Inspired by Sean Hannity & his lunatic pal Hal Turner: Man, loaded to the brim with guns, held in Fla. on charge of threatening Obama's life - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obama_threat;_ylt=AvZWB07SXnFKq.CfILGVeMSs0NUE
The right wing is the bane of human existence....period. Obama will not be another JFK, MLK, Bobby, or Lennon....

PARTY UNITY: Bill Clinton to Speak in Prime Time at Democratic Convention on Wednesday. Hillary "Clinton is scheduled to deliver a speech on the second day of the convention, which is also the 88th anniversary of the day women were granted the right to vote." - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26074785/

Andrew Sullivan: The Age Issue, Cognitive Impairment without Dementia in Older Adults - http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/the-age-iss...
"McCain clearly falls in the population susceptible to this"

Greg Palast: The McCain Plan: Homer Simpson without the Donut; D'oh(n't) vote for him - http://www.gregpalast.com/the-mccain-plan-homer-simpson-without-the-donut/
Check out the picture...as well

500; Past three months deadliest for U.S. troops in Afghanistan - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080807/ap_on_re_mi_ea/afghan500_deaths_1;_y...

No Military, Political or Moral Justification to Initiate War With Iran: Declaration Signed by Over 200 Israelis - http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9756
Declaration Signed by Over 200 Israeli Academics and Peace Activists. There is no military, political or moral justification to initiate war with Iran A constant flow of information bears witness to the fact that the Israeli government is seriously considering attacking Iran, in order to disrupt its nuclear plans. We do not disregard irresponsible actions by the Iranian government - we also oppose atomic weapons in principle and support the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction from the region.
However, it is clear that the main source of the immediate danger of a new, widespread war stems from the policies of the Israeli government and the flow of threats from it, backed by provocative military maneuvers. After serious consideration, we reiterate our position that all the arguments for such an attack are without any security, political or moral justification.
Israel might get caught up in an act of adventurism that could endanger our very existence, and this without any serious effort to exhaust the political and diplomatic alternatives to armed conflict. We are not certain that such an attack will occur. But the very fact that it is being weighed as a reasonable option, makes it imperative that we warn and caution against the destructive results of an offensive strike against Iran.

Air Force Think Tank: Don't Attack Iran! - http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=3388&issue_id=123
"Tone down U.S. policy statements advocating regime change in Iran," recommended a major study prepared for the US Air Force on how the US should redefine its relationship with Iran. On July 10, 2008, RAND Project Air Force (RAND PAF)--a division of the defense think tank the RAND Corporation--released a major study recommending alternatives to military conflict with Iran. The study concludes that an attack on Iran is "likely to have negative effects for the United States".
As the majority of Iranians support Iran's uranium enrichment program, "if Iran’s facilities were to be bombed, public support for retaliation would likely be widespread." While fomenting instability and risking a great loss of lives, such "an attack would be unlikely to stop the Iranian [nuclear] program."
The 156 report entitled, "Iran's Political, Demographic, and Economic Vulnerabilities," warns that threats for regime change are counterproductive, concluding that in today's context of Iranian politics: "[...] U.S. policy statements calling for regime change are more likely to serve the interests of Iranian government agencies interested in cracking down on those who advocate expanding civil liberties rather than to advance U.S. policy interests." "

Bolton: Regime Change In Iran ‘Would Lead To Greater Stability In The Region’ - http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/06/bolton-stability-in-region/
John 'impossible mustache' Bolton...playing the fiddle to the idiotic lemmings of the Fox Noise Network....please see above links for reality & sanity...

How to win: Playing the Economic Card - http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080806_playing_the_economic_card/
After enduring the silly debate over who injected race into the presidential campaign, let’s look at some recent numbers that indicate how Barack Obama could win this close election.
The economy is McCain’s greatest weakness. The old sailor sounds like he’s out to sea when he talks about it. The economy, along with high prices and medical care, is what Obama should be talking about. Everyone knows he’s black. It’s up to Obama to make them say, “So what?”

Daily Reading pt 3...

Political Irony: http://politicalirony.com/2008/08/06/damn-kids/
UPDATE: Was it the shock of learning they had acquired an Obama bumper sticker? The Straight Talk Express bus crashed into a minivan in Miami today. Does this mean they will take away McCain’s driver’s license?
Editorial cartoons - http://politicalirony.com/2008/08/07/obama-too-good/ http://politicalirony.com/2008/08/08/the-big-issues/

Big LED Breakthrough at Purdue University Could Change the World - http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/led-lights-technology-breakthrou...

116 Drilling solves nothing (aka right wing hater) Says: Daily Reading pt 3…

Political Irony: http://politicalirony.com/2008/08/06/damn-kids/
UPDATE: Was it the shock of learning they had acquired an Obama bumper sticker? The Straight Talk Express bus crashed into a minivan in Miami today. Does this mean they will take away McCain’s driver’s license?
Editorial cartoons - http://politicalirony.com/2008.....-too-good/ http://politicalirony.com/2008.....ig-issues/

Big LED Breakthrough at Purdue University Could Change the World - http://www.treehugger.com/file.....ersity.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiL1sjGIcew

Aw...motherfucker...

The Russians are about to steamroll a small country again. Welcome to Russian Imperialism, Mk. 2.

Fiscal conservatism would work if these so-called "fiscal conservatives" would realize that we are so far into debt that in order to balance the budget, we need to raise taxes somewhere. Also, if they are really serious about fiscal conservatism (and free-market ideals) they would stop giving billions to already rich corporations in the forms of subsidies and tax breaks. Finally, a true fiscal conservative would fight against the billions of wasted dollars in the defense budget. We buy so much junk we don't need and not enough of what we do need, add to it the exclusive contracts with vendors charging $250 for a shower head you can get at Home Depot for $25 (true story, happened when I was in). I estimate we could gut the defense budget in half and still have plenty of money to pay the troops and give them the equipment they need. Hell, we could probably give everyone a pay increase too and still have money left over.

There's stuff we can cut on the discretionary budget, but we can't cut anything on the mandatory spending. That's where these guys get into trouble. Last I checked (2 years ago) mandatory spending was about 1.4 trillion. This includes Social Security and interest on the national debt. When you pay your taxes every year, it goes to mandatory spending (payroll taxes to SS and income taxes to the interest on the debt). We fund our federal government completely on credit, not taxes. A real fiscal conservative would try to pay down that debt as quick as possible so we could go back to funding government on taxes and maybe make some sound investments in the form of endowments to allow certain aspects of the discretionary budget to pay for itself. At least that's what I'd do.

But then, I'm not a "Charge and Spend" conservative.

Tequila @ 19:

The Drug War leads to a MD. mayor getting his dogs shot by pigs.

This is a true disgrace. I've never been a big fan of the whole "law enforcement" community, and this incident does nothing to change my opinion.

I realize this isn't a clear Dem vs Rethug issue, but I wish C&L would have a thread on this.

You know what the really insane thing is? These are simple facts. Each president left office with those numbers. And yet, the "fiscal conservatives" will simply insist that Clinton was just enjoying the payback from the last 12 years, and King George is now dealing with the fiasco of the Clinton presidency. They can make whatever claim they want, the truth be damned.

ysbaddaden @ 127:

They've developed a new spectrometer now that can detect on fingers where they've been like drugs and poisons.

If McCane gets in, just watch. This device will be standard equipment in cop cars everywhere. Expect them to just pull over anyone and test any "suspicious-looking" person and jail them based on this.

Probable cause? What is WAS that?

It's interesting to listen to the Media, Americans and Law Makers all say how much they hate Bill Clinton and even Blacks who say he did nothing for Black people. What is the USA smoking? All Americans lived better during the Clinton years as President. Republicans and Democrats made money and had savings accounts. Bill Clinton has the only White House staffed with all the people of the United States race, creed, color and religion. Oh how people forget or just really are users. Now the Voters are faced with Obama or McCain. With the GOP bringing back racism it will be interesting to see how the GOP deals with World Leaders of color when they seem to hate an American of color Obama.

angryspittle @ 39:

The greedy fucking republicans always think they can get it all NOW! by killing the goose. The have proven it over and over and over again.

Jesus, they are so fucking blind-ass greedy even the S&L fiasco didn't stop and make 'em think. They just continued on their greedy fucking way deregulating everything else under the sun.

Now we have to suffer the consequences as we watch those fuckers impose socialism for the corporations and cold-hearted fucking free enterprise for the rest of us.

They need to be publicly hanged.

I'll gladly supply the rope if you can get the angry mob.

This comic should be on billboards from coast to coast.

Tax cuts and wars are what help an economy thrive. Just look at what Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy and preemptive war have done for America -- the top 1 percent has never been richer!

fastfeat @ 131:

ysbaddaden @ 127:

They've developed a new spectrometer now that can detect on fingers where they've been like drugs and poisons.

If McCane gets in, just watch. This device will be standard equipment in cop cars everywhere. Expect them to just pull over anyone and test any "suspicious-looking" person and jail them based on this.

Probable cause? What is WAS that?

The number of these devices will depend on how much of Michael Chertoff's GUT they can get ahold of.

Classic! A keeper. I don't think I've seen these deficit figures until now, with Bill sandwiched in-between. The GOPS were calling Clinton a tax and spend liberal all the way to the general elections, but George W. has proved record title holder of the I-Never-Saw-An-Earmark-I-Didn't-Like race. It should be obvious to the electorate, thanks to informative comics like this that the neocon philosophy has seized upon Reaganomics even when Ron's own finance czar, David Stockman, told the media he thought Reagan understood the economist was only joking. But lo and behold, there was "trickle down" incorporated into the Internal Revenue Code.

The McShame ads continue to falsify imaginary statistics showing that the middle class would suffer from Obama's draconian new taxes to prop up the government, though it should be widespread knowledge by now that Obama only wants to tax the super rich more equitably, given such anomalies as the Golden Parachutes of CEO's who get caught with their hands in the till (Dennis Koslowsky) or damn near ruined a good company with mismanagement (Carly Fiorina) and get shown the door. Once again we see fear used as a GOP tool to scare people away from the Dem candidate.

Next, we're going to hear that the woman who outed Edwards was paid to do so by the Gold Ore Party. Sniff, sniff, sniff -- do I smell a certain porcine person, the guy Ariana Huffington dubbed, "Turdblossom"?

O'Really @ 144:

Not quite accurate,But who cares.
My point would be is guess who in charge of the purse strings at the time.
REAGON was DEMS - BUSH 1 was DEMS - CCLINTON was REPUGS - ??? probably dems
THINK ABOUT IT

While Congress technically has the power of the purse, most Congresses these last few decades have all given their presidents what they want, by and large. Also, the presidents are just as at fault for not vetoing overspending, if that be the case.

Two sides to every coin, this is true, but these presidents had just as much, if not more, control over fiscal policy as their Congresses did.

It's a little early to be fretting about probable cause about mass spectrometry, since it can be likened to the precedent of finger-printing.

And probable cause is not the end all-be all, there's what could be called the hot-to-trot rule, which is what I called the exceptions for movable places like cars, and places where you don't have a total reasonable expectation for privacy like hotels. (Hot-to-trot which is largely sexual now, originates with the Scottish lairds of border communities, the border guards--my ancestory. Once they were on the hunt for a notorious outlaw or traitor they could demand the help of any laird they found on the way, or hang him on the spot for his refusal.)

Very good point
James in Colorado
Another thought is some or most legislation that may bust the budget dont go into effect til way after the president who sign it is LONG gone.