Mike's Blog Round Up

Consortium News: Republicans are furious that some Democrats threatened to filibuster Samuel Alito's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. But 15 years ago, the Republicans mounted a crucial filibuster of their own to block an investigation that might have destroyed the legacy of the Reagan-Bush era. There's actual history, and then there's the GOP version.

Deep Thought: Interpreting the Hamas victory--and where from here?

The Bushistas seem to be going to a helluva lot of trouble to scrub the planet of photos G-Dub claims are "not relevant." Most Americans disagree.

Zaphod's Heads: Taking another page from the Saddam playbook, the US army has detained the wives of suspected insurgents in order to force them to surrender to authorities...

Facing South: The right-wing fraud about race and Katrinatrouble to scrub the planet of photos G-Dub claims are "not relevant." Most Americans disagree.

Zaphod's Heads: Taking another page from the Saddam playbook, the US army has detained the wives of suspected insurgents in order to force them to surrender to authorities...

Facing South: The right-wing fraud about race and Katrina

Pensito Review: Cowardly Bush terrified of octogenerian reporter.

Pensito Review: Cowardly Bush terrified of octogenerian reporter.

Coretta Scott King: R.I.P

"Coretta Scott King, who turned a life shattered by her husband's assassination into one devoted to enshrining his legacy of human rights and equality, has died at the age of 78. Flags at the King Center were lowered to half-staff Tuesday morning...read on"

Former Justice Nominee Bork blasts O'Connor's Legacy

He is not a very happy man.

Download | play -WMP

Untidy Lying Media Bastards

Sy Hersh tells us that the Bush administration made plans to covertly influence the outcome of the 2005 Iraqi election, attempting to win votes for specific candidates. Yes, I’m sure you’re all shocked.

Apparently Congress opposed this plan, so the White House had to do this covert action… uh, double ultra secret covertly. This just proves that either the Bush administration has never fucking cared about bringing democracy to Iraq, or that they define “democracy” much differently than the rest of us. Honestly, I think it’s both of the above.

Of course, the US has a long history of secretly supporting one candidate over another in foreign countries. And if that doesn’t work, overthrowing the opponent after he takes power. Or, destablizing the entire country, and then overthrowing the opponent. I once again recommend the book Killing Hope for examples.

Juan Cole reminds us of a long legacy of Western powers interfering in Middle Eastern democracy. To the point that I imagine many in the region think “democracy” means “the white people are gonna fuck with us again.”

The post about Cardinal Law got me riled up. Here're some thoughts

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The resulting distrust is in fact a neglected reason for the shortage of priests. Entirely aside from the public uproar over celibacy, potential clergy have proven unwilling to put themselves in a position that supports dishonest teachings.

A look at history will reveal the papacy's stubborn resistance to the truth, beginning with the challenges posed in the nineteenth century by science, democracy, scriptural scholarship, and rigorous history. The legacy of that resistance, despite the brief flare of John XXIII's papacy and some good initiatives in the 1960s by the Second Vatican Council (later baffled), is still strong in the Vatican.

Superhappyfun Blog

That's the title of this exciting article at Business Reform Magazine, the business journal of WorldNetDaily.

You may remember that Ebbers, the former CEO of WorldCom, was convicted on Tuesday of taking part in an $11 billion accounting fraud, the largest in U.S. history.

Well, this didn't sit well with Business Reform, who only two years ago had named Ebbers as their "#1 Christian Entrepreneur."  Let's see if they've changed their assessment of him now that he's a convicted felon (long story short: Sadly, No! ):

In introducing the original list, Business Reform did not clearly define the criteria, but seemed to hint that candidates needed to be professing Christians and needed to "have been recognized by the world as successful entrepreneurs - each had an idea, saw a problem, took steps to serve others in his respective corner of the market, and then did so in such a way that provided well for himself, his immediate family, and his progeny. Innovation, business savvy, and an attunement to legacy - each of these qualities was rooted in each man's faith and led to the success of both his life and the life of his company."

With the exception of providing well for his progeny (he's childless), I'd argue that Mr. Ebbers belongs at the top of that list!

Right, so as long as you say you're a Christian, make a lot of money and aren't gay, you have Business Reform's approval.  It doesn't matter that Bernie ruined a lot of people's lives, because the Bible doesn't really discuss proper accounting methods (which is why True Christians generally let Jews handle such ungodly matters).  Plus- he's not gay.Business Reform Magazine, the business journal of WorldNetDaily.

You may remember that Ebbers, the former CEO of WorldCom, was convicted on Tuesday of taking part in an $11 billion accounting fraud, the largest in U.S. history.

Well, this didn't sit well with Business Reform, who only two years ago had named Ebbers as their "#1 Christian Entrepreneur." Let's see if they've changed their assessment of him now that he's a convicted felon (long story short: Sadly, No! ):

In introducing the original list, Business Reform did not clearly define the criteria, but seemed to hint that candidates needed to be professing Christians and needed to "have been recognized by the world as successful entrepreneurs - each had an idea, saw a problem, took steps to serve others in his respective corner of the market, and then did so in such a way that provided well for himself, his immediate family, and his progeny. Innovation, business savvy, and an attunement to legacy - each of these qualities was rooted in each man's faith and led to the success of both his life and the life of his company."

With the exception of providing well for his progeny (he's childless), I'd argue that Mr. Ebbers belongs at the top of that list!

Right, so as long as you say you're a Christian, make a lot of money and aren't gay, you have Business Reform's approval. It doesn't matter that Bernie ruined a lot of people's lives, because the Bible doesn't really discuss proper accounting methods (which is why True Christians generally let Jews handle such ungodly matters). Plus- he's not gay.

Undoubtedly, a few of you will argue that there's no way Bernie Ebbers should be considered a great Christian Entrepreneur. By the time you read this, it's possible that the jury will have returned a verdict in the government's case against Bernie Ebbers. As I'm sure you know, poor Bernie faces charges on securities fraud that could send him up the river for the rest of his life.

Ooh, poor Bernie!  All he did was bankrupt his company after lying to the Securities and Exchange Commission about his earnings!  Sure, his shareholders and employees lost a fortune, but nobody put a gun to their head and made them invest in WorldCom!  read on...

We Also Recommend...low culture...go look!

Undoubtedly, a few of you will argue that there's no way Bernie Ebbers should be considered a great Christian Entrepreneur. By the time you read this, it's possible that the jury will have returned a verdict in the government's case against Bernie Ebbers. As I'm sure you know, poor Bernie faces charges on securities fraud that could send him up the river for the rest of his life.

Ooh, poor Bernie! All he did was bankrupt his company after lying to the Securities and Exchange Commission about his earnings! Sure, his shareholders and employees lost a fortune, but nobody put a gun to their head and made them invest in WorldCom! read on...