Well, is it the end of times?

the october surprise will be the stock market crash.

who the hell would want that thing? it's hideous...hmmm Open thread..Phelps got his THIRD Gold....wow...watching the Olympics...the Chinese may be really good...but man they are like robots- they don't even smile...kinda creepy....

Hey LIEberal! Aren't you supposed to be calling that an "upside-down Holiday Tree"?!?!?!

Sold out? I wonder how many of us will see a tree like that other than here or in a catalogue?

I guess that tree is emblematic of our time. Things are so screwed up and backwards in this country, it only makes sense that a Christmas tree be displayed upside down.

enigma4ever @ 6:

Dear Gretchen of number4=
I think that Hideous tree would break the pee habit- it is toooo ugly to even pee on...

Never underestimate the mighty greyhound. Ugly has nothing to do with it; the $600 price tag does. The more expensive the item is the more likely it is to get soaked in pee. Hence our large collection of garage sale furniture.

Gretchen @ 4:

Now that picture makes me happy to light the Menorah. I gave up on the tree long before I gave up on Christmas - large male dog + hard midwestern winter + indoor tree = loads of dog pee.

Wait'll the cat starts climbing this one. Instant depreciation.

5 months and we hopefully will be free
of both assholes in the whitehouse
bush and cheney. with an luck we could
get them out earlier if pelosi would
actually follow the Constitution and
start Impeachment proceedings.

I don't understand. Why is it upside-down? What does it mean?

mr.ed @ 15:

Gretchen @ 4:

Now that picture makes me happy to light the Menorah. I gave up on the tree long before I gave up on Christmas - large male dog + hard midwestern winter + indoor tree = loads of dog pee.

Wait'll the cat starts climbing this one. Instant depreciation.

Well, that was a bit of a problem too. We have eight cats....

Bush hates
endangered species. He's also the pot
calling the kettle black. Too bad his huffing and puffing is meaningless. Apparently, a neurologist in a wheelchair is a "high-security risk".

looks like tan may have cost the american men a medal in the team competition, as he slipped on the pummel horse

Cindy Sheehan has officially qualified to run for Nancy Pelosi's seat.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR200808...

Looks like a giant Christmas minge.

Metaphors used in high school essays

Just in case you need some writing inspiration. Every year, English teachers from across the country submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year. Here are last year’s winners:

1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.

2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.

3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. coli, and he was room temperature Canadian beef.

5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.

8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife’s infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.

9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn’t.

10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.

11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you’re on vacation in another
city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30

12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.

14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.

15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan’s teeth.

16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.

18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.

19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.

20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.

22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.

23. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.

25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

McDuff @ 31:

Metaphors used in high school essays

Just in case you need some writing inspiration. Every year, English teachers from across the country submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year. Here are last year’s winners:

I'm sure some other teacher will mention this--"as teachers are wont to do"--but when you use "like" or "as" to make a comparison, it's a simile, not a metaphor.

Sorry to be erudite. Please pass the arugula.

An apt visual metaphor for a world upside down.

Strange, these hairless turbo-monkeys !

Thanks McDuff. I've read that before but it always makes me laugh.

It reminds me.....three things invented in Idaho;

1)finger steaks
2)the tv
3)the back-up beep beep thingy

McDuff, that was metaphorically hilarious !

America gets Bronze In Men's Gymnastics

Just testing out a new handle.

enigma4ever @ 26:

Unca Joe...Sasha got it done though;-)

ya...i saw that routine

he's gotta be a fav for a medal on the horse

pretty amazing....no hamm bros and they got the bronze...and had they been a bit stronger of the horse, they coulda gotten silver

kudos to the men

Since this is an open thread..... for those who posted comments in past posts related to the South Ossetia situation talking about the Russians being responsible for long term ethnic re-orginization please take the time to actual research the historic demographics of that republic.*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Ossetia

*(hint - it's not a Georgian demographic)

McDuff @ 31:

Metaphors used in high school essays

Just in case you need some writing inspiration. Every year, English teachers from across the country submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year. Here are last year’s winners:

1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.

2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.

3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. coli, and he was room temperature Canadian beef.

5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.

8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife’s infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.

9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn’t.

10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.

11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you’re on vacation in another
city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30

12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.

14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.

15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan’s teeth.

16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.

18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.

19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.

20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.

22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.

23. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.

25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

Best and only laugh all day.

want to see your future? watch grapes of wrath! nothings to good for our folks, so nothings what youll get!

The individuals who have purchased this tree - are announcing to the world how weird they are and that they are happy to spend their money frivolously.

Personally - I have to say - I miss having discretionary income . . . .
*

RobertD @ 27:

Cindy Sheehan has officially qualified to run for Nancy Pelosi's seat.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081102012.html?hpid=topnews

http://www.cindyforcongress.org/

I'm glad you guys find those metaphors funny. Open threads are like John McCain on the campaign trail, anything goes.

Wait, that was a simile, right? Oh shucks. ;)

tyree @ 51:

want to see your future? watch grapes of wrath! nothings to good for our folks, so nothings what youll get!

Good movie

What does it mean when they turn a pagan symbol upside down?

Edwin Hussein @ 20:

When I was visiting Canada last week, my dyed-in-the-wool, ultra-conservative, Republican-supporting father finally said, "I hate Bush, the neocons, and this GOP." It was one of those "if pigs could fly moments". I clapped my hands through his entire oration, and said, "Never in my life did I ever think I'd hear you say that, but am I ever glad you did." With allies like that, that once praised all of American history and all American foreign policy strategies, turn their backs, you can be sure you're really ALONE on the world stage anymore.

I hope that a lot of the folks like your father realize that we're not against them, but are against the same people they oppose.

enigma4ever @ 22:

Number 20....
wow..that is a Flying Pig Moment....It's like my neighbors peeling off the Bush Cheney stickers off their cars...makes me smile from ear to ear...

time to get some 'impeach' stickers, pop them in your neighbors mailboxes :)
or have a neighborhood 'impeachment' street barbecue, hand out stickers, flyers and info packs.

obama....."exotic".....creating a mindset as far as i am concerned
short NPR sound bite from today

http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/48592-cokie-roberts-smears-barack-obama-again

Pictures of Dubya drunk out of his gourd at the Olympics . You won't see those pics in the MSM.

StirFry @ 70:

StirFry @ 69:

Pictures of Dubya drunk out of his gourd at the Olympics . You won't see those pics in the MSM.

He had to replace golf with something else. He chose Jäger.

Born Again..........Drunk Again........it's all good....5months he's gone

Judging from the looks on the faces of chimpy's handlers, they have been down that road many times in the past. Or, to borrow Raygun's phrase, 'There he goes again'.

This guy has access to the red phone and the 'nucular' button? Gah !

GNA!

I saw another photo with Dubya's daughter looking horrified and totally embarrassed.

Classic dysfunctional family behaviour. I felt sorry for her.

Night, Ron. I'm signing off as well, 'tis late.

ferrofluid @ 78:

this is old and out of date sort of but funny
pretty much summed up their approach to world affairs

ignore the first part thats just sound effects, starts proper at 0:30

ferrofluid @ 79:

ferrofluid @ 78:

this is old and out of date sort of but funny
pretty much summed up their approach to world affairs

ignore the first part thats just sound effects, starts proper at 0:30

Maybe it's just late, and post-midnight giddies prevail- but that was way too funny. Dumb and Dumber....

greezyolMcTaint @ 81:

ferrofluid @ 79:

ferrofluid @ 78:

this is old and out of date sort of but funny
pretty much summed up their approach to world affairs

ignore the first part thats just sound effects, starts proper at 0:30

Maybe it's just late, and post-midnight giddies prevail- but that was way too funny. Dumb and Dumber....

The Goon Show aka Peter Sellars, Harry Secombe, Spike Milligan, Michael Bentine and the others just hit the mark,
stupidity in politics and life hasnt changed one iota since the fifties.
We are doomed to replay the same ol.. over and over again, its like living in a worldwide 'Groundhog Day' movie.

OMFG! From "The Great State of Texass" 2008 State Rupugnuckle Party Platform- This has to be seen/read to be believed....

(For the full document, visit http://www.texasgop.org/site/DocServer/FINAL_2008_PLATFORM.pdf?docID=5841)

((Excerpts))

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, PROTECTING LIFE AND PROMOTING HEALTH
CELEBRATING TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE

Family and Defense of Marriage - We support the definition of marriage as a God–ordained, legal and moral commitment only between a natural
man and a natural woman, which is the foundational unit of a healthy society, and we oppose the assault on marriage by judicial activists. We call on
the President and Congress to take immediate action to defend the sanctity of marriage. We are resolute that Congress exercise authority under the
United States Constitution, and pass legislation withholding jurisdiction from the Federal Courts in cases involving family law, especially any changes
in the definition of marriage. We further call on Congress to pass and the state legislatures to ratify a marriage amendment declaring that marriage in
the United States shall consist of and be recognized only as the union of a natural man and a natural woman. Neither the United States nor any state
shall recognize or grant to any unmarried person the legal rights or status of a spouse. We oppose the recognition of and granting of benefits to
people who represent themselves as domestic partners without being legally married. We advocate the repeal of laws that place an unfair tax burden
on families. We call upon Congress to completely remove the marriage penalty in the tax code, whereby a married couple receives a smaller
standard deduction than their unmarried counterparts living together. The primary family unit consists of those related by blood, heterosexual
marriage, or adoption. The family is responsible for its own welfare, education, moral training, conduct, and property.

Marriage and Divorce - We believe in the sanctity of marriage and that the integrity of this institution should be protected at all levels of government.
We urge the Legislature to rescind no–fault divorce laws. We support Covenant Marriage.

Marriage Licenses - We support legislation that would make it a felony to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple and for any civil official to
perform a marriage ceremony for such.

Homosexuality – We believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and
leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been
ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an
acceptable “alternative” lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should “family” be redefined to include homosexual “couples.” We are
opposed to any granting of special legal entitlements, refuse to recognize, or grant special privileges including, but not limited to: marriage between
persons of the same sex (regardless of state of origin), custody of children by homosexuals, homosexual partner insurance or retirement benefits.
We oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values.

Texas Sodomy Statutes - We oppose the legalization of sodomy. We demand that Congress exercise its authority granted by the U.S. Constitution
to withhold jurisdiction from the federal courts from cases involving sodomy.

Pornography – We urge our governmental bodies to enforce laws regarding all forms of pornography. We urge more stringent legislation to prohibit
all pornography including virtual pornography and operation of sexually–oriented businesses.

Ethics in Broadcasting - We call upon the Federal Communications Commission to revoke broadcast licenses of stations that air programs and
advertisements in violation of existing laws and FCC guidelines......

((More insanity))

Child Support and Visitation - We support equity between responsible parents in child support, custody, and visitation rights and costs, as well as
the strengthening of laws designed to protect children from abuse. No parent/grandparent should be denied court ordered visitation, because of
jurisdictional disputes between states. We also believe that no homosexual or any individual convicted of child abuse or molestation should have the
right to custody or adoption of a minor child, and that visitation with minor children by such persons should be prohibited but if ordered by the court
limited to supervised periods.

Adoption – We support reducing the time, bureaucratic interference and cost of adoption. The law should assure mothers of a choice in selecting a
traditional home for their children at the time of terminating their rights for adoption. We oppose mandatory open adoption and adoption by
homosexuals.

Foster Care - We support eliminating bureaucratic prohibitions on corporal discipline and home schooling in foster homes to help alleviate the
shortage of foster parents......

((Yet more))

AIDS / HIV - We recognize that the preventable diseases of AIDS and HIV infection represent a threat to human health. We view with compassion all
people infected with HIV. We call for appropriate levels of research to find a cure for the disease and ask that the government give full disclosure of
the causes. However, because AIDS represents such a severe threat to both the health and economic well–being of our citizens, we insist that the
epidemic be de–politicized and that as a society, we take all appropriate steps to protect our citizens from this epidemic. All people, no matter what
disease they may contract, are worthy of deep respect as humans; however, behavior has personal and social consequences. We call upon the
P-16
United States Public Health Service and all states to declare HIV a “dangerous, yet preventable, infectious, communicable disease.” It should be
legally reported in the same manner as any communicable disease. We oppose the needle exchange and bleach kit programs. We urge the return to
the requirement of blood testing in order to obtain a marriage license with the previous reporting responsibilities to prevent the spread of dangerous,
infectious, and communicable diseases.

Americans with Disabilities Act - We support amendment of the Americans with Disabilities Act to exclude from its definition those persons with
infectious diseases, substance addiction, learning disabilities, behavior disorders, homosexual practices and mental stress, thereby reducing abuse
of the Act...........

((Enough already!!))

Health Mafia Organizations will extort us another 10% next year.

seevee @ 46:

Edwin Hussein the arugula eater @ 43:

Just testing out a new handle.

Edwin Hussein the exotic vacationing arugula eater?

You noticed me. I feel a bit special.

Karl Rove is in Houston, TX today, August 12 for a fundraiser. He's in Dallas August 13 and in El Paso August 18. Bounty Hunters everywhere. This is your mission.

Seems fitting after almost a decade of the GOP controlling alll 3 branches of government. The backwards clock is probably is making a return in popularity as well.

Centrocitta @ 90:

Karl Rove is in Houston, TX today, August 12 for a fundraiser. He's in Dallas August 13 and in El Paso August 18. Bounty Hunters everywhere. This is your mission.

Here's the poster already, you just have to change the face. http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blwanted.htm

You may want to add though "For high treason against the United States of America" This is how they used do chase down fugitives in Texas right?

After following George Bush's lead by launching an attack against a sovereign nation, Russian now announces major combat operations in Georgia is over http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080812/ap_on_re_eu/georgia_russia

Mission Accomplished banner going up any day now.

Chimp sets the precedent for the world to follow.

The scary thing is that I would totally buy that Christmas tree. If I, like, had any money left after putting gas in my car, anyway.

And I'm not even Christian.

.......Centrocitta @ 90:

Karl Rove is in Houston, TX today, August 12 for a fundraiser. He’s in Dallas August 13 and in El Paso August 18. Bounty Hunters everywhere. This is your mission.

Well, congress won’t bring him to justice so somebody’s gotta do it......

93 Ruthless. Your mind would be boggled if you only knew the truth about how ordinary citizens are targeted in Texas for asserting their rights to be gainfully employed and not lose everything they worked so hard for on the East Coast, particularly when those citizens happen to come from a long line of prominent Democrats. Your mind would also be boggled if you knew the truth about the harassment campaign leveled against such citizens even after they have left the country. Believe me, with ruthless criminals like Rove running things, it doesn't hurt at all to have a second passport.

"Evoking a 12th century Central European tradition of hanging a tree from the ceiling at Christmas..."

Yea, it was done, but they hung it the RIGHT WAY! The only reason it was hung from the roof was that it was sometimes hard to let it stand on its own without a proper christmas tree foot. How friggin stupid is it possible to be?

YES, fear for our "culture" and our country...but then why be surprised that very RICH people would follow in line and buy glittery crap because it's THERE...ever read (or seen video of) THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS??? We need more Mr. Toads..."It's shiny, it's new, it's SPECIAL...must have it!"

So... here's another barrel of kerosene to add to the blazing mess known as the "mortgage crisis". Apparently, all those banks and investment firms are able to write off all their losses due to legalized gambling, such that they won't pay taxes for many years. Ain't that nice? Not only do they get bailed out with taxpayer money, but they're not even going to pay anything back for at least a decade.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aYhqIluVHh7U&refer=home

Daily Reading pt 1...

Why McBush must lose in November: 'Unprecedented' melt sinks hope for Arctic ice recovery - http://www.desmogblog.com/unprecedented-melt-sinks-hope-for-arctic-ice-r...
The Canadian Ice Service is warning that the disintegration of Arctic Ocean ice cover may be worse this year than last - which, until now, was the worst on record.

ANWR Drilling, Dick Cheney, & Halliburton....For country? No, for cash - http://www.wacotrib.com/search/content/news/opinion/stories/2008/08/07/0...
"Hear the drill-at-all-cost chorus and it will tell you that exploration in ANWR is about “energy security,” or “energy independence.” No. Like an American girl playing in Russia or Dick Cheney doing business with Saddam Hussein, it’s about money.
Not a drop of the oil that would be harvested in ANWR is “ours. ” It’s the world’s. It’s as much the dreaded Ruskies’ as yours or mine. That’s the definition of a global market. Any free-market con-servative, say, Dick Cheney, ought to be able to explain it to you. ANWR oil would go in the same collective vat as any other oil.
Proponents of drilling in ANWR point out Alaskans’ general support thereof. Well, it’s not about supplying oil for Alaskans. It’s about jobs, and profits.

Free market Government Iraq Update: Busheviks at work: 7 years later and still no water in Iraq? - http://waronyou.com/2008/08/us-iraqi-officials-seek-to-ease-water-shorta...
"Dehydrate them over there so we don't have to dehydrate them over here." - kjlovell

Bush lets trash collect on ocean sanctuary he 'promised to protect' - http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/analysis/353
In 2006, President Bush established 140,000 square miles of Hawaiian island and surrounding ocean as a national monument, citing the need to protect the extensive reef and the 7,000 rare species living there. Two years later, officials say the clean-up efforts were better before Bush's designation.

Fellow Prisoner of War: 'McCain POW Story a Lie' - http://www.ocregister.com/articles/miller-mccain-war-2121488-pow-says
John McCain does not deserve 'war hero' label - http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/OPIN...
Bob Menamin: McCain should answer POW questions - http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/letters/300148
There is some accusation that McCain was a collaborator with his captors in order to get better treatment. The military code of conduct specifies that prisoners are only to give name, rank and serial number. It is alleged that McCain gave information about what aircraft carrier he was based on, the number of U.S. pilots that had been lost, and information about the location of rescue ships.
Investigators have attempted to get POW information that could possibly clarify some of these issues, but McCain has helped block the release of the information.

Is McCain fit to be president? - http://www.examiner.com/x-243-Progressive-Politics-Examiner~y2008m8d10-I...
McCain hasn't accomplished much in the Senate. Even his own campaign doesn't trumpet his successes, probably because the few victories he's had still rankle Republicans. His campaign finance law failed to significantly reduce the role of money in politics. He failed to get a big tobacco bill through the Senate. He's failed to change the way Congress spends money; his bill to give the president a line-item veto was declared unconstitutional, and the system of pork and earmarks continues unabated. He failed to reform the immigration system.
McCain has done one thing well -- self promotion. Instead of working on legislation or boning up on the issues, he's been on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" more than any other guest. He's been on the Sunday talk shows more than any other guest in the past 10 years. He's hosted "Saturday Night Live" and even announced his candidacy in 2007 on "The Late Show with David Letterman."
McCain fits neither style. He's neither a dreamer, nor a detail guy. His major accomplishment, in Vietnam and in the Senate, has been merely to survive. Just surviving doesn't make you're a hero, or a decent president. America needs to do more than survive the next four years.
While John McCain now feels no compulsion to be decent and no reticence about attacking Obama's character, my sense is Obama will hold back and not want to destroy McCain's reputation and status.
I hope it doesn't cost him the presidency.

The Devil is in the Details: Corporate Media Misses McCain's Pandering to Paranoid Christians with Tall Tales of Obama as Antichrist -- A BuzzFlash News Analysis - http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/analysis/352
But McCain's ad clearly reinforces latent fears of Evangelicals who are familiar with the conservative religious narrative pushed by Hagee and other dispensational Christians. What the rest of us should be afraid of is a presidential candidate who would align himself with a group that is against world peace and human enlightenment.

A Truth Squad for John McCain, By Norman Markowitz - http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7243/

Black farmer being threatened—Again! - http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/08/10/18525095.php
An 81 year old black farmer in Kentucky has endured threatening phone calls, vandalism, and shots fired at his house and yet he continues to speak out for himself and other middle class family farmers of all races. He has testified at several congressional hearings in Washington and continues to lobby various members of Congress to act. Now he's being threatened and the sheriff advises him to carry a gun at all times.
Harry Young, out of Owensboro Kentucky continues his efforts to reclaim his farm from what many far activists say is an illegal auction.
Mr. Young inherited his land from his father, who added to the family holdings that his own father, Harry Young’s grandfather purchased. All told, Mr. Young is the last black farmer in three Kentucky counties and the loss of his ancestral property through alleged fraud, forgery and misrepresentation has been devastating.
The Young property contains millions of dollars worth of coal and oil. The coal reserves alone are reportedly worth as much as $750,000,000. That’s three quarter of a billion dollars in coal alone.
Young has been on the receiving end of terroristic threats and unconstitutional actions from within and outside the federal farm loan bureaucracy. He says he still has faith in the United States as a nation, but the actions of some of its citizens and government employees leave him bitterly disappointed.
As a sign in his front yard reads, “How can this happen in America?”

The RoveCyberGate Campaign - http://www.velvetrevolution.us/prosecute_rove/
Whistleblowers, including Republicans, say that several of these and other national elections have been rigged through various invisible and illegal means, including vote tabulation manipulation, improper partisan use of the Justice Department to target Democrats and uncooperative US Attorneys, and the laundering of hundreds of millions of corporate dollars funneled into fake advocacy groups directed against Democrat candidates running for public office. Ex-Alabama Governor Don Siegelman has stated publicly that Rove was the person who directed Siegelman’s rigged election and criminal prosecution. Here GOP cyber sleuth Stephen Spoonamore has stated publicly that the leadership of the GOP has been "lying and stealing elections"

Daily Reading pt 1...

Why McBush must lose in November: 'Unprecedented' melt sinks hope for Arctic ice recovery - http://www.desmogblog.com/unprecedented-melt-sinks-hope-for-arctic-ice-r...
The Canadian Ice Service is warning that the disintegration of Arctic Ocean ice cover may be worse this year than last - which, until now, was the worst on record.

ANWR Drilling, Dick Cheney, & Halliburton....For country? No, for cash - http://www.wacotrib.com/search/content/news/opinion/stories/2008/08/07/0...
"Hear the drill-at-all-cost chorus and it will tell you that exploration in ANWR is about “energy security,” or “energy independence.” No. Like an American girl playing in Russia or Dick Cheney doing business with Saddam Hussein, it’s about money.
Not a drop of the oil that would be harvested in ANWR is “ours. ” It’s the world’s. It’s as much the dreaded Ruskies’ as yours or mine. That’s the definition of a global market. Any free-market con-servative, say, Dick Cheney, ought to be able to explain it to you. ANWR oil would go in the same collective vat as any other oil.%0

100 Chico Hussein

Actually, when I'm surrounded by a lot of scantiily clad women, I have a hard time standing up too.

As an Atheist I put up the ever green solstice tree to celebrate Winter Solstice. Satanist Christians can call it what they like, the more ancient traditions of mutually assured respect and dignity for soveriegn individuals call it something quite different.

Dec.21st - Merry Winter Solstice everyone !!!

When I saw that horrible thing I thought of the poor Abu Ghraib guy!

Centrocitta @ 110:

69 Stir Fry --

Personally, I think the family of the Americans killed and injured by an angry Chinese should sue Bush. He should not have been permitted to fraternize with the athletes or with any American citizens overseas if they don't have access to body armor.

Olympic athletes need body armour to protect them from boosh?

Besides, I heard he was bi, where's his boy-toys?

Isn't an upside down Christmas tree the international signal of distress?

this is first time I've read the threads at C & L arugula eaters are smart buggers

LibertyLover @ 61:

What does it mean when they turn a pagan symbol upside down?

More room for presents! Seriously.

The upside down Christmas tree is old news but I am still amazed at its popularity. The reason it is popular is because it has a minimal foot print, more room for presents, better presentation of ornaments, safer for kids and animals, and the tree lasts longer.

it's not xmas until gibson pops his head out of his ass----!

Nada @ 124:

We don't kill trees to celebrate jebus day. I prefer halloween decor anyway.

Word!

liberalNmoderation @ 127:

Nada @ 124:

We don't kill trees to celebrate jebus day. I prefer halloween decor anyway.

Word!

I get a hanging tree.

Jebus is an ancient name for Jerusalem.

raye @ 121:

LibertyLover @ 61:

What does it mean when they turn a pagan symbol upside down?

More room for presents! Seriously.

That's what a pentamorph is, an inverted pentacle or pentagram. It's not necessarily evil, although uneducated Satanist may pretend to. It's representative of the five horned animals, goat, ram, bull, steer, the horned god (someone like Cernunnos, Pan, Faunus, not the devil). I understand in some circles it was used as an early sign of initiation before further advanced training. These would be more than likely Gardnerian or Alexandrian trads.

edgarallenpoe @ 117:

Isn't an upside down Christmas tree the international signal of distress?

I thought it was the best way to cure it.

constituent @ 71:

StirFry @ 70:

StirFry @ 69:

Pictures of Dubya drunk out of his gourd at the Olympics . You won't see those pics in the MSM.

He had to replace golf with something else. He chose Jäger.

Born Again..........Drunk Again........it's all good....5months he's gone

With all his swagger and fullo'shitness...I have a feelin he's not gonna just walk away from all that power without a fuss.

Although I think this is stupid, it's just another thing showing that the rich are getting richer. Who would waste $600 in this economy for this?

rider3 @ 137:

Although I think this is stupid, it's just another thing showing that the rich are getting richer. Who would waste $600 in this economy for this?

Whilst I agree that it's frivolous to pay 600 clams for that...but you could hit the salvation army, and fine a ratty old fake xmas tree, and fix it up like that...and do it for cheap!
To me it would be worth it, to see the looks on peoples faces.

LibertyLover @ 61:

What does it mean when they turn a pagan symbol upside down?

It's a combination of the Nordic world tree Yggdrasil (Prince Albert came from Germany and brought many such customs to England that made their way to USA). The Phrygian God Attis was worshipped with decorated trees, there was the Judaic neighbors with their Asherahs, and the Celts worshipped a number of trees: Beth, Luis, Nion, Fearn, Saille, Uath, Duir, Muin, Coll, Tinne, Gort (not the killer robot), Ngetal, and Ruis (Birch, Rowan, Ash, Hazel, Vine, Ivy, Willow, Oak, Reed, Elder.) Of course they're well known for their veneration of oak.

I think even the Osirian priests decorated poles and trees in rites.

ysbaddaden @ 144:

138 liberalNmoderation Says: Centrocitta @ 132:

119 Bob. I agree. Smart people here. Is it anything specific you noticed about the intelligence in this blog?

Smarties….yeah we got more than our share…and ALOT more than our share of smartASSES!

Which am I?

I'd like to think the latter.

But don't have the disposable income to enjoy that hobby anymore.

YSB my friend...you are a wiseASS! HA! ;)

Rusty The One Shackleford @ 132:

I kinda like the upside-down tree.

Makes it harder for the family dog to pee on it.

I remember when I was a teen our dog did that.

Made unwrapping the presents the next morning a memorable event.