After almost five years of blogging, I admit to a certain cynical level of outrage fatigue. I expect politicians to be pandering asses and I expect journalists to be stenographers at best. But this moment on Meet The Press kicked my butt out of my complacency and squarely right back to outrage.

One of the newer memes that Republicans have been floating to paint the Democrats (and in particular, this administration) as weak on terror and defense is to suggest that by giving a suspect his Miranda rights is to somehow weaken our ability to catch terrorists.

Excuse me, but WTF???? So following the "rule of law" (something that the Republicans claim they are for) is now making us weak? By what measure? The insinuation is that these suspects clam up when they know they have a right to remain silent. Well, do we think they don't know that already? Gregory apes the RWNJ of saying that once a suspect is "lawyered up", our ability to get information stops. Even with Holder confirming that Shahzad continues to talk to authorities after acknowledging his Miranda rights, somehow this is still a concern?

Let's be clear. Shahzad, despite his alleged attempted acts, is an American citizen. That he has a Middle-Eastern surname does not mean that his rights as an American should be forfeited. Was there discussion of not giving Roeder his Miranda rights when he killed Dr. Tiller? Or Tim McVeigh when he successfully bombed the Murrah Building? Why not? The "changing nature" of the threats we face is not limited to the color of someone's skin. And even more importantly, not every person arrested is guilty of the crime of which they are accused. Can we really say that modifying Miranda rights on a case by case basis will result in better justice?

Proving once again that the White House responds to those who are the loudest and most fear-mongering over what's right and most grounded in our justice system, this law is an affront to all Americans. If any citizen's rights can be adjusted like this, we are all threatened by it.

Transcripts below the fold:

Continue reading »

From Paul Hinrichs at The Aristocrats:

Hey! - Let's all stick corncobs up our butts and march around the White House, stiff-legged, butt stuck way up in the air, white as can be, with signs that say "9/13 - yo' mama!" and "Where is Reagan's Death Certificate?" We'll call ourselves the "cornholers" and we're gonna take back America from the Russians who crossed the Bering Straits while Palin was out signing books.

Open thread below... And happy birthday to our Video Cafe maven, Heather!

Tweety really let "Americans for Prosperity" President Tim Phillips have it on Hardball last night. Boy, he's really got a bug up his butt about health-care reform and he just won't let go:

MATTHEWS: "How do we get around the problem that there's so many people out there, and this is why we're having this debate, sir ... the question that's bothered the American people since, what? since Teddy Roosevelt's time, is some people have health insurance and some don't. How do we reconcile that with our sense in this country of looking out for each other, to some extent, to some extent."

"Here's my problem with you guys. The conservatives talk reasonably when the Democrats get in power and say 'well, we've got an alternative that's more free-market, it's less onerous, it's less big-shot, big-government stuff...' but when you guys are in power, you don't do anything on health care. And that's what happens, and that's why for, god, almost a century of foot-dragging on this, the Democrats get in power, whether it's Truman or it's Bill Clinton, or it's Hillary Clinton, or it's Barack Obama, they try something and it fails, because you guys are good at playing negative politics. You're really good at destroying Democrats plans, chances for reform..."

The Jimmy Carter Op-Ed piece at The Onion is satire. It is full of obscenities. It is not safe for work, and most of all it does not reflect in the least the dignity, intelligence, and morality of the 39th President of the United States.

I laughed my butt off.

Open Thread below...

Hey folks. I'm still Manila Ryce from The Largest Minority signing in for Mike.

T. Boone Pickens of BP Capital Management is feeling mighty stupid and it's not just because he was named after a steak house. No, it's because Pickens is soon to owe John Kerry 1 million dollars if he can disprove even one Swift Boat allegation. Doesn't it feel good seeing billionaires lose money to lowly millionaires like you and me?

As a follow up to Nova's "Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial", Happy Jihad's House of Pancakes covers the conservative rage over the episode's misrepresentation of Intelligent Design as a religious belief and not a scientific one. No matter how many fundamentalist Christians insist that Intelligent Design is indeed science, the scientists just won't listen.

Tommy Boy Friedman has come up with the best combination since nuts & gum. Obama & Cheney in '08! After Bush leaves office, Cheney's trigger finger is gonna get cold. Freidman apparently thinks Obama's butt is ripe for the puppetmaster to strongarm.

Some advice to the conservatives out there: Insulting someone by calling them a "communist" just doesn't carry the same level of stigma that it did in the 1950's. This is especially true when said person is simply suggesting that we follow our constitution and impeach Cheney (I hope that won't affect the unity ticket mentioned above).

Zeno presents us with probably the most uneven match I've ever seen - Dinesh D'Souza vs Mark Twain! D'Souza bases his solid belief in God on the fact that he can make a mess whenever he feels like it. There's no doubt that he does, and his article is just one example, but I think D'Souza's actions prove the existence of Satan rather than God.

Got submissions? Email me at John (dot) William (dot) Harrison (at) Gmail (dot) com

I just got in from DC to learn that Webb is the winner, Rummy is out on his butt and Bush lied about it. Wow, Bush Lied. I would have never thought that possible.

I hope somebody has made a nice map that shows all our gains and plasters it over at FOX News...I might actually watch Hannity tonight and enjoy it...Well, not really...

Former Air America host Mike Malloy and right wing talk show host Steve Malzberg were on MSNBC yesterday to discuss the idea of teachers having guns in classrooms. Within moments, Malzberg tried to switch the argument to terrorism and MSNBC host Contessa Brewer tried to move the subject back to teachers having guns. Malzberg turns very defensive and the whole segment turned into a comedy routine with the wing nut coming off as the butt of all the jokes.

Download | play - WMV Download | play - QT

The segment ends with Malzberg telling Contessa it is no wonder MSNBC is in last place. He defends that statement saying "I have never been shut up like this on a talk show". It seems like Malzberg must be accustomed to being on FOX. Perhaps he should look at the latest ratings comparing Olbermann to O'Reilly and rethink his "last place" comment.

There was an earlier segment on MSNBC with Malloy and Malzberg, discussing Foleygate. Malzberg acted the same during this segment, which you can view here.

Josh sums it up about right.
Josh Marshall:

If you aren't watching the Michael Brown senate hearings, you just missed a real treat. Sen. Norm Coleman (R), doofus senator from Minnesota, just managed to get his butt kicked by disgraced former FEMA Director Michael Brown. That's a singular accomplishment.

Download | play -WMP Download | play -QT

"At the end, Coleman actually used the fact that he had run out of time to run away from the encounter with Brown. I'm not sure I've ever seen that happen before...read on

The General: "My fellow cadremen and cadrenotmen from the Red Guard of the Glorious Conservative Christian Cultural Revolution are freeping my Amazon review of Sen. Santorum's book. I can't tell you haw betrayed I feel. Without the Free Republic, I have no mental template for my thoughts."

I have to tell you it's been my absolute pleasure working with the General. Only he could have a dedicated thread on Free Republic over a book review on Amazon. Read and laugh your butt off.

Hume takes a much kinder tone than he usually does during one of his debate sessions and asks the good Gen. Clark to rspond to the President's speech. Wesley spoke in a very even manner and took the Prez to task about his plans for the future of Iraq.

Download | play -WMP /QT coming Wed. morning

I guess Brit figured this General could whip his butt like Bill Kristol just did.