Open thread 3/10

thread

282 Comments

  1. Herbert West III/Pub
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 6:49 am | Permalink

    Where are all the stories that pertain too us, the tax paying citizens, when it is not an Election year?? The Representatives seem too represent their personal opinion and refuse too include the people they are suppose to represent. They dont ask us anything. They vote and decide their views and then state “it is what we wanted”. I hope my fellow citizens decide to put people in the House and Senate this year that communicate with us, BEFORE”, they vote or decide what we want. Ask us, then vote/decide for us. They refuse to use their ears. They only see personal agenda and chant, “You voted for me”. Vote them out, Herbert West III, west.herb@yahoo.com

  2. swallow my nickel
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:02 am | Permalink

    To pick up from yesterday’s open thread about Obama’s Senate record for writing laws….
    ++++++++++++++++++
    His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included

    1. Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law,
    2. Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, - became law,
    3. Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
    4. 2007 Government Ethics Bill, became law,
    5. Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee, and many more.

    Here’s the link to read it for yourself…
    http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message509824/pg1

    The numbers quoted by :: include his 8 years in the Illinois State Senate, which is not the same thing.

  3. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:05 am | Permalink

    Well, yesterday’s election to fill Dennis Hastert’s vacated House seat (and a large, large seat to fill it is) doesn’t appear to have gone so well for the NRCC: they spent over half their available funds ($1.2), and their guy Oberweis lost a reliably Republican seat, Illinois’ 14 Congressional District, by four points.

    Gotta love how Rep Tom Cole (R-OK) and his boys at the NRCC tried to spin it, though:

    “The one thing 2008 has shown is that one election in one state does not prove a trend. In fact, there has been no national trend this entire election season. The presidential election is evidence of that. The Democratic candidates are trading election victories from week to week and the nomination could hinge on a few news cycles. The one message coming out of 2008 so far is that what happens today is not a bellwether of what happens this fall.”

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/

    Oh, really, Tom Cole? Because there IS a trend we’ve seen in every single state primary and caucus to date: record high turnouts among Democrats, and much, much lower rates of turnout among Republicans.

    It doesn’t matter which Democratic candidate wins the nomination: John McCain is losing come November. His only real constituency, the press, seems to have gotten the memo on his intemperance and lack of self control, as well as the more mundane sorts of influence peddling. No, the only real questions are, by what margin the Democrat beats the Republican, and whether the victor’s coattails are sufficient to deliver large enough Congressional majorities that can silence Republican obstruction.

    If THAT happens, we could see some major course correction, both domestically and in our disastrous, hapless foreign policy.

  4. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:11 am | Permalink

    And on the subject of course correction, Senator Obama told a crowd in Wyoming that “he would restore respect for law in the White House by reviewing every executive order issued by President Bush and discarding any deemed unconstitutional.”

    http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_8498322

    Imagine that: a President who doesn’t try to usurp the powers of the Congress and Supreme Court. Who ever heard of such a thing!

  5. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:13 am | Permalink

    Obama like Hillary will promise you the moon for your vote. Talk is cheap.

  6. Hud
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:22 am | Permalink

    “he would restore respect for law in the White House by reviewing every executive order issued by President Bush and discarding any deemed unconstitutional.”

    1. Since when has a President been allowed to issue Executive Orders which are unconstitutional?

    2. If an Executive Order is unconstitutional should not Congress do something about it now?

  7. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:24 am | Permalink

    AmWay,

    Talk is cheap–indeed, as George Bush has shown.

    Until you can demonstrate that Obama–or Hillary, for that matter–is as apt to deliberately lie and mislead as is George W. Bush, they will continue to receive the benefit of the doubt from me, thanks. And whichever one of them gets to be the next occupant of the Oval Office, you may be sure that if they DON’T do as they now say they will, I’ll make just as many phone calls to the White House switchboard as I currently do.

    As for proof that George Bush is a serial liar, the latest in a long line of evidence comes from the new book from Doug Feith (noted by as “the dumbest f*cking guy on the planet” by General Tommy Franks, Ret). If I may be forgiven a cut and paste from Digby,

    ************************************************

    “‘Among the disclosures made by Feith in “War and Decision,” scheduled for release next month by HarperCollins, is Bush’s declaration, at a Dec. 18, 2002, National Security Council meeting, that “war is inevitable.” The statement came weeks before U.N. weapons inspectors reported their initial findings on Iraq and months before Bush delivered an ultimatum to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Feith, who says he took notes at the meeting, registered it as a “momentous comment.”

    Oh boy. I sense another round of hissing and spitting among the ex-Bush advisors don’t you?

    If that last is true, the Codpiece went out and lied repeatedly after he made that momentous statement. Why just a few days later, he said this:

    “Again, I hope this Iraq situation will be resolved peacefully. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to work to deal with these situations in a way so that they’re resolved peacefully. But thus far, it appears that, first look, that Saddam Hussein hasn’t heard the message.”

    And a few days after that there was this:

    “Q If we do have to go to war and –

    THE PRESIDENT: With which country?

    Q With Iraq. And if — and with our economy stagnating, what makes you confident that we can afford –

    THE PRESIDENT: First of all, you know, I’m hopeful we won’t have to go war, and let’s leave it at that.”

    So, AmWay, given the lies, deception, and cover-up we’ve seen these last eight years, and given the lack of interest among our DC elites and media lackeys, I suspect that the arrival of a new DEMOCRATIC President will inspire official Washington DC to rediscover its ardent desire for the truth.

  8. daves
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:24 am | Permalink

    re hud:
    1. Since George Bush got into office

    2. YES

  9. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:29 am | Permalink

    “So, AmWay, given the lies, deception, and cover-up we’ve seen these last eight years,”

    How is that any different from the Clinton 8 years?
    The man lied under OATH and was caught (I’d say with his pants down).

    Bush is an angel in comparison to the first Hillary/Bill Clinton years.

    Too bad you have nothing. Or else your democrats in Congress FAILED to enforce the laws you think Bush broke.

    Zip. Nada. Zero.

  10. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:34 am | Permalink

    Hud,

    Misleading questions on your part. Presidents aren’t ALLOWED to issue such orders, but the present occupant of the White House has done so on numerous occasions.

    -”A Los Angeles federal judge has ruled that key portions of a presidential order blocking financial assistance to terrorist groups are unconstitutional, further complicating the Bush administration’s attempts to defend its aggressive anti-terrorism tactics in federal courts.”

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/28/AR2006112801438.html

    There’s lots one could say as well about the use of Presidential ’signing statements’ to invalidate the terms of legislation passed by Congress, as well as the claim that the President has sole jurisdiction over the interpretation of the Constitution.

    As for your second question, here’s a bit of Wikipedia:

    “Congress may overturn an executive order by passing legislation in conflict with it or by refusing to approve funding to enforce it. In the former, the president retains the power to veto such a decision; however, the Congress may override a veto with a two-thirds majority to end an executive order. It has been argued that a Congressional override of an executive order is a nearly impossible event due to the super majority vote required and the fact that such a vote leaves individual lawmakers very vulnerable to political criticism. [2]”

    So, de facto, Hud, no: if a President is determined to use the power of the Executive in a specific way under the auspices of an Executive order, and has enough support in Congress, then he or she cannot be held to account under Constitutional principles.

  11. Political_mama
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:36 am | Permalink

    Amway, you’re an idiot. Only republicans would consider lying about a blow job worse than lying to get us into war, crapping on the constitution, and spying on the American people.

    and that’s a very short list of Bush’s bad qualities.

    Of course, unless it’s the republican getting the bj, then it’s high fives…unless it came from another man.

  12. Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:37 am | Permalink

    I can see why you like Bush so much, AmWay.

    You pretend to be an “independent” but then defend to the death every boneheaded decision and outright lie with the logical fallacy “you do it too.”

    Two wrongs never did make a right yet.

    As for me, I am an unapologetic liberal–actually “activist leftist” is closer to it.

    So Bill Clinton is no friend of mine. He was as many have said, “the best Republican President we’ve ever had.”

    But that’s a damn sight better than

    Worst.

    President.

    Ever.

  13. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:38 am | Permalink

    AmWay,

    Jump sharks much?

    I guess starting wars based on lies and causing the death of a million people, allowing the destruction and then the ethnic cleansing of a major American city, using the Justice Department to illegally prosecute and then jail political enemies, and wiretapping American citizens prior to 9-11 don’t amount to a hill of beans. Cum-stains on a dress, though–now THAT’s a big deal to AmWay.

    Forgive me if I fail to take you very seriously, AmWay–your ‘nyah nyah nyah’ regarding George Bush’s ability to get away with mass murder doesn’t enhance my estimation of your moral or ethical sensibilities.

  14. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:39 am | Permalink

    political mom,

    “Unless it came from another man”–HA HA HA HA HA!

  15. outlander
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:45 am | Permalink

    Yawn…..

  16. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:46 am | Permalink

    “can see why you like Bush so much, AmWay.”

    Come on Capn, you know I have posted many times my displeasure with Bush. I shouldn’t have to qualify every post with that.

    You all have an irrational hate for Bush, that is fine. But remember there are those who feel similiarly about the Clinton’s and that is only fair. You guys go overboard, so I respond likewise.

    Like I said, talk is cheap. The two democratic candidates are appealing to your anger/hate. Obama even commented on it (regarding Hillaryspeak).

    They have promised you more free stuff, without any money to pay for all the programs.

    At least I have been willing to post negatives about Republicans, and accept their shortcomings.

  17. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:52 am | Permalink

    AmWay,

    So pointing out that George Bush lied, repeatedly, in the run-up to the Iraq War, and pointing out that he instituted domestic wiretapping PRIOR to 9/11 amounts to “irrational hatred” of Bush. Riiiiiiiight.

    Refer to my decision, above, not to take you seriously. AmWay.

  18. Regular
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:54 am | Permalink

    Of course, just four years ago Obama admitted to his lack of experience.

    It’s on you tube, look it up. :D

  19. Regular
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:55 am | Permalink

    Bush is listening in on CF2K’s phone conversation as we speak, because he thinks he’s hiding WMD. :D

  20. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:55 am | Permalink

    Political Mom, your post provided nothing factual, just hate. But it wasn’t about the BJ.
    That’s what some of you don’t understand. Integrity used to mean something. Apparently, for you it only means something, when republicans are concerned.

    “1. President Clinton lied under oath in his civil case when he denied a sexual affair, a sexual relationship, or sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky.

    2. President Clinton lied under oath to the grand jury about his sexual relationship with Ms. Lewinsky.

    3. In his civil deposition, to support his false statement about the sexual relationship, President Clinton also lied under oath about being alone with Ms. Lewinsky and about the many gifts exchanged between Ms. Lewinsky and him.

    4. President Clinton lied under oath in his civil deposition about his discussions with Ms. Lewinsky concerning her involvement in the Jones case.

    5. During the Jones case, the President obstructed justice and had an understanding with Ms. Lewinsky to jointly conceal the truth about their relationship by concealing gifts subpoenaed by Ms. Jones’s attorneys.

    6. During the Jones case, the President obstructed justice and had an understanding with Ms. Lewinsky to jointly conceal the truth of their relationship from the judicial process by a scheme that included the following means: (i) Both the President and Ms. Lewinsky understood that they would lie under oath in the Jones case about their sexual relationship; (ii) the President suggested to Ms. Lewinsky that she prepare an affidavit that, for the President’s purposes, would memorialize her testimony under oath and could be used to prevent questioning of both of them about their relationship; (iii) Ms. Lewinsky signed and filed the false affidavit; (iv) the President used Ms. Lewinsky’s false affidavit at his deposition in an attempt to head off questions about Ms. Lewinsky; and (v) when that failed, the President lied under oath at his civil deposition about the relationship with Ms. Lewinsky.

    7. President Clinton endeavored to obstruct justice by helping Ms. Lewinsky obtain a job in New York at a time when she would have been a witness harmful to him were she to tell the truth in the Jones case.

    8. President Clinton lied under oath in his civil deposition about his discussions with Vernon Jordan concerning Ms. Lewinsky’s involvement in the Jones case.

    9. The President improperly tampered with a potential witness by attempting to corruptly influence the testimony of his personal secretary, Betty Currie, in the days after his civil deposition.

    10. President Clinton endeavored to obstruct justice during the grand jury investigation by refusing to testify for seven months and lying to senior White House aides with knowledge that they would relay the President’s false statements to the grand jury — and did thereby deceive, obstruct, and impede the grand jury.

    11. President Clinton abused his constitutional authority by (i) lying to the public and the Congress in January 1998 about his relationship with Ms. Lewinsky; (ii) promising at that time to cooperate fully with the grand jury investigation; (iii) later refusing six invitations to testify voluntarily to the grand jury; (iv) invoking Executive Privilege; (v) lying to the grand jury in August 1998; and (vi) lying again to the public and Congress on August 17, 1998 — all as part of an effort to hinder, impede, and deflect possible inquiry by the Congress of the United States.”

  21. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:57 am | Permalink

    “So pointing out that George Bush lied, repeatedly, in the run-up to the Iraq War, and pointing out that he instituted domestic wiretapping PRIOR to 9/11.”

    You can “point out” all you want. Where were your democrats in Congress throughout all this? No impeachment hearings?

    I guess not: The majority of democrats signed and voted to go to war - and allow federal wire tapping (spying on Americans).

    Where is your outrage at democrats?

  22. Posted March 10, 2008 at 8:01 am | Permalink

    Anyone wonder what happened with the New Hampshire vote recount. Kinda odd that it fell off the news the same day it started. Hundreds of boxes of ballots showed up that were obviously tampered with. No chain of custody. And no news stories.

    Hmmmmmmmmm.

  23. Door King
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 8:02 am | Permalink

    1. Since when has a President been allowed to issue Executive Orders which are unconstitutional?

    Since the Supreme Court became packed with the vice president’s hunting buddies?

  24. Posted March 10, 2008 at 8:14 am | Permalink

    Vote fraud.

    http://www.democracyfornewhampshire.com/node/view/5511

  25. P Heroni
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 8:19 am | Permalink

    Good news from China. They are Pro Choice there, at least for cats:

    Report: Shocking Death Camps for Cats Result of Beijing Olympics Clean-Up

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,336276,00.html

    Thousands of pet cats in Beijing are being killed in secretive government pounds to prepare the Chinese capital for the Olympic Games, it is being reported.

    According to the U.K’s Daily Mail newspaper, hundreds of abandoned cats are being rounded up and sent to what some animal welfare groups describe as death camps.

    Terrified cat owners started dumping their pets after the Beijing government recently warned that cats carry diseases, and that — according to Chinese officials — they contributed to the deadly respiratory SARS outbreak, according to the Mail.

    Residents have become so afraid of the animals, it is reported, that six stray cats — including two pregnant females — were beaten to death with sticks at a Beijing kindergarten by teachers who feared the felines might make the children sick.

    Some 500,000 cats are believed to have been culled as part of an overall crackdown by communist leaders to clean up Beijing ahead of the Summer Olympics. The extreme measures have provoked anger among some animal rights groups, who say a similar strategy was used to round up stray dogs across the country.

  26. Posted March 10, 2008 at 8:33 am | Permalink

    Finnish computer security expert Harri Hursti, featured in the Emmy-nominated film Hacking Democracy, explains to the NH State Legislature how his hack and studies by the University of California expose the vulnerabilities of NH’s Diebold optical scanners. With these machines counting 81% of NH votes, how does the State justify not banning them immediately? Hursti testified in September 2007.

    No word yet of any action from the State.

    http://www.democracyfornewhampshire.com/node/view/5297

    hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

  27. Posted March 10, 2008 at 8:40 am | Permalink

    ITA-approved voting machines have lost thousands of votes. In Carteret County, NC, vot-
    ing machines irretrievably lost 4,400 votes during the 2004 election. The votes were never
    recovered2. In 2002, vote-counting software in Broward County, Florida, initially mis-tallied
    thousands of votes, due to flaws in handling more than 32,000 votes; fortunately, alert election
    officials noticed the problem and were able to work around the flaws in the machines. In 2004,
    the same problem happened again in Broward County, changing the outcome on one state
    proposition3 4, and in Orange County5. In Tarrant County, Texas, an ITA-approved voting
    system counted 100,000 votes that were never cast by voters.

    http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~daw/papers/testimony-house06.pdf

  28. Posted March 10, 2008 at 8:44 am | Permalink

    The ITAs are paid by the vendors whose systems they are evaluating. Thus, the ITAs are
    subject to conflicts of interest that raise questions about their ability to effectively safeguard
    the public interest.

    • The process lacks transparency, rendering effective public oversight difficult or impossible.
    ITA reports are proprietary—they are considered the property of the vendor—and not open
    to public inspection. Also, if a voting system fails the ITA’s tests, that fact is revealed only
    to the manufacturer of that voting system. In one widely publicized incident, one Secretary
    of State asked an ITA whether it had approved a particular voting system submitted to the
    ITA. The ITA refused to comply: it declined to discuss its tests with anyone other than the
    voting system manufacturer, citing its policy of confidentiality18.
    2
    In addition, the secretive nature of the elections industry prevents independent security ex-
    perts from performing their own analysis of the system. Technical information about voting
    systems is often considered proprietary and secret by vendors, and voting system source code
    is generally not available to independent experts. In the rare cases where independent ex-
    perts have been able to gain access to source code, they have discovered reliability and security
    problems.

  29. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 8:50 am | Permalink

    Great point AmWay.

    If Bush LIED about the war and supposedly broken all kinds of laws regarding wire-tapping and internal spying, then the Democrats are completely incompetent in FAILING TO IMPEACH BUSH!

    IF Bush did 1/4 of the things the Dems accuse him of, why didn’t the Dems IMPEECH BUSH ALREADY?

    The Answer of course, is that the Dems GOT NOTHING! No evidence at all. Just lies defaming the President of the United States.

    Democrats are like children crying, screeming (and now with Hillary - Screeching!) because they don’t always get their way. Yet they do nothing productive and nothing positive for America.

    Good whiners though.

  30. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 8:57 am | Permalink

    That’s a good point Max. But society needs a way to allow whiners to vent. Without it, the frustration leads to higher urban crime, divorce, and social misconduct.

    That’s why we have sports and blogs. It allows whiners to work off their frustration, without causing harm to others.

  31. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:05 am | Permalink

    If the Democrats would have had free public pre-school, they wouldn’t whine so much.

    Darn incompetent parents.

  32. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:15 am | Permalink

    I guess voter fraud only matters if you don’t win:

    Meanwhile, Clinton lawyer Lyn Utrecht alleged that Hillaryland has received hundreds of complaints from supporters, many of whom she said have not been able to get through to a state Democratic Party hotline because it is “jammed.” “We’ve identified witnesses and spoken to them,” Utrecht said. “There are numerous locations across the state where Obama supporters have taken over caucuses and locked out Clinton supporters … We have lawyers all across the state observing all of this.” Utrecht refused to rule out a lawsuit or promise that Clinton would concede Texas if she loses. “All options are open at this point,” she said when asked about the possibility of legal action.
    http://www.newsweek.com/id/118854?from=rss

    March 4, 2008, 9:58 pm
    Clinton Camp’s Conference-Call Surprise
    Elizabeth Holmes reports on the presidential race.

    As caucuses around Texas began Tuesday evening, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign convened a last-minute conference call with reporters to hurl allegations of wrongdoings by supporters of Sen. Barack Obama.

    The campaign’s accusations were two-pronged. They said Obama supporters took the packets designated for precinct captains earlier than allowed and had the sign-up sheets at the polling places. They also accused Obama supporters of locking out Clinton supporters from the caucuses.

    “It’s really disturbing and undemocratic what’s going on,” said Ace Smith, the Clinton campaign’s Texas state director.” WSJ

  33. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:19 am | Permalink

    More of the same in Ohio:

    “In a stunning, and perhaps partisan, act of election administration oddness, Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner exploited a good independent study of voting machine vulnerabilities (the (EVEREST study) to install mitigations that don’t actually match the report’s findings. Among these “mitigations”: reduction of the number of polling places, and introduction of a high-risk central count model in Cuyahoga County.

    Central count systems do not count ballots at the polling places, but instead transport all ballots to a central location for counting. The transportation phase is perhaps the single riskiest phase in the entire election, especially when there is no record of the count BEFORE the ballots are transported.

    Absentee voting, ballot transport, and central count systems are traditional strongholds for the Democratic party machine’s election tampering, hence the raised eyebrow regarding whether there is a partisan flavor to Democrat Jennifer Brunner’s unusual actions.”

    http://blackboxvoting.org/

    This HAS to be the action of those dirty republicans again.

  34. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:31 am | Permalink

    Clinton’s one of the biggest whiners, now that she’s losing.

    Can you believe Clinton had the nerve to say that she would accept Obama as her VP running mate!?!

    How can you Democrats tolerate this?

  35. Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:34 am | Permalink

    Paypal has frozen the fundraising account of the Granny Warriors, a Ron Paul supporters group who had been pushing for a recount in New Hampshire, causing a 3pm Tuesday deadline to be missed and the application rejected for lack of payment.

    The Granny Warriors had raised the necessary $55,600 deposit for the recount but at the last minute before it was transferred to the New Hampshire Secretary of State, Paypal blocked access to the funds.

    No explanation has been forthcoming from Paypal as to why the corporation froze the account.

    “Emergency efforts by our folks on the scene in New Hampshire to push the recount through the Secretary’s office were not successful and a lot of frustration has been expressed on both sides as a result,” writes a recount volunteer.

    http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/january2008/011608_paypal_freezes.htm

  36. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:35 am | Permalink

    The only right way to handle Florida and Michigan is to have a complete re-vote.

    If ya can’t get it right the first time, do it again.

    Obama’s name wasn’t even on the MI ballot! How can you give MI to Clinton? CHEATERS!

    This suggested mail-in campaign would be a total fiasco with massive voter fraud. Can you imagine how many little Hillary workers would be stuffing thousands of letters with fraudulent ballots?

    However, the taxpayers should not have to pay for another election just because the Democrats couldn’t get their act together.

    The Democrat party should have to pay for it. THEY screwed it up!

  37. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:37 am | Permalink

    Bottom Line:

    Hillary Clinton WILL STEAL THE NOMINATION!!!

    Koolaid drinkers will line up and vote for her anyway, in November.

    slurp, slurp

    PS. Nice try Obama! You can be Hillary’s running mate! Whoooooooopppppppeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

  38. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:38 am | Permalink

    Strange things in our drinking water. This is just a few cited in the article:

    “Anti-epileptic and anti-anxiety medications were detected in a portion of the treated drinking water for 18.5 million people in Southern California.

    _Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey analyzed a Passaic Valley Water Commission drinking water treatment plant, which serves 850,000 people in Northern New Jersey, and found a metabolized angina medicine and the mood-stabilizing carbamazepine in drinking water.

    _A sex hormone was detected in San Francisco’s drinking water.” Foxnews.

    Isn’t the SFRAN finding a little odd?

  39. Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:46 am | Permalink

    “IF Bush did 1/4 of the things the Dems accuse him of, why didn’t the Dems IMPEECH BUSH ALREADY?”

    Math.

    The Republicans impeached Clinton KNOWING that they did not have the votes to convict, but they did it anyway. Clinton, by the way, had an approval rating of 67% on the day he was impeached.

    The Democrats realize that they do not have the votes to convict Bush, so there is no point in impeachment. The Senate is evenly divided - Lieberman being a DINO, so there is no possibility of gaining the 67 votes required for conviction.

  40. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:48 am | Permalink

    Where is the government!?!? Are these children, and adults victims of an education system that lacked pre-school? This is ripe for government regulation. We need warning labels on sandboxes:

    “EVERETT, Wash. — A 10-year-old Everett area boy is listed in critical condition at Children’s Hospital in Seattle after being buried in a sandbox by his playmates.

    The boy has been identified by his family as Cody Porter.

    His half brother, 30-year-old Joshua Quantrille, says Cody was playing with Quantrille’s three sons and several other children on Saturday in the back yard of a home belonging to a family friend.

    There is a sandbox in the back yard, and Quantrille says his children told him Cody came up with the idea that they should bury him, head first, in the sand.

    Quantrille says the children came up with the idea from a cartoon they watch on television.

    Quantrille says Cody was buried about from his head to his chest. At some point, he began thrashing around, but the children apparently thought he was playing.

    Eventually they figured out that something was wrong. They pulled Cody out and called the adults inside the home, who administered CPR until an aid car arrived.

    Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputies interviewed the five children who were in the sandbox with Cody. None of them were detained or taken into custody.” Foxnews

    The gubermint must do somfin.

  41. Hud
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:49 am | Permalink

    “Clinton, by the way, had an approval rating of 67% on the day he was impeached.”

    Indicating what? Maybe that it is okay for a Democrat to lie.

  42. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:50 am | Permalink

    No conviction no wrongdoing.

    Still got nothin’

  43. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:50 am | Permalink

    Dear Fascist,

    Looks like your fascist leader Bush has set up a driftnet that basically spies on everybody, all the time.

    http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/todays_must_read_292.php

    I suspect that when President Hillary Clinton takes office, you’ll be screaming like a stuck pig fascist. Right now, not so much.

  44. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:50 am | Permalink

    Maybe the sex hormones in the San Fran drinking water is causing something there?

  45. TDT
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:51 am | Permalink

    Political_mama
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 7:36 am | Permalink
    Amway, you’re an idiot. Only republicans would consider lying about a blow job worse than lying to get us into war, crapping on the constitution, and spying on the American people.

    and that’s a very short list of Bush’s bad qualities.

    Of course, unless it’s the republican getting the bj, then it’s high fives…unless it came from another man.

    Exactly Pmom. I would have laughed at Amway’s comment if I hadn’t known he was serious. It floors me that the Bushites can compare lying about a bj and a neverending war, and come to the conclusion that the bj is worse. Unbelievable. It’s people like that with whom you can’t even have an intelligent debate with, since their thinking is so irrational and flawed!

  46. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:57 am | Permalink

    Lotsa whining noises on this blog.

    You Democrats need some Ex-Lax.

  47. Posted March 10, 2008 at 9:59 am | Permalink

    “Indicating what? Maybe that it is okay for a Democrat to lie.”

    Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm…………………….. only about 39% of Americans are Democrats, the rest, about 37% are Republicans and independents, 24%.

    Clinton’s approval rating was bipartisan, unlike Bush’s 19% which is exclusively Republican.

  48. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:00 am | Permalink

    Max,

    It is more likely the people of SanFran are the cause. The drinking water is the effect. Unfortunately, it’s another stunning example of government failure to disclose or investigate.

    If the government cannot provide clean drinking water, how the heck will they ever manage healthcare?

    And drinking water is fundamental. Sheep have to drink.

  49. Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:03 am | Permalink

    Most Republicans are just jealous that Clinton got his “head” for free - they have to pay for theirs.

  50. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:05 am | Permalink

    The real reason why the DNC is going to allow Clinton to steal the nomination is they are truly afraid a black man cannot be elected President.

    The DNC looks down on the black man so much, they are willing to help Clinton cheat in order to get Clinton nominated.

    It’s an easy decision for the DNC. They will sacrifice the black vote to get the white vote, and the hispanic vote - cause the hispanics have more numbers and are their population is increasing the fastest.

    The DNC didn’t really CARE about the blacks anyway. Look at how their social programs keeps them in poverty for generation after generation.

  51. TDT
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:07 am | Permalink

    Amway - As WSC pointed out, Clinton wasn’t convicted. And of course, they had to hold an impeachment hearing after spending millions of tax dollars on the witch hunt. After all the time and money spent, they impeached without conviction. Kind of like the resolutions the Dems have passed about the war, worthless.

  52. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:11 am | Permalink

    AmWay, ya gotta see this movie: Idiocracy.

    http://www.moviecynics.com/item/841

    Since the Government can no longer provide safe drinking water, they will now fill all of the water towers with a special kool-aide. This miracle kool-aide will also be used to irrigate crops.

  53. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:11 am | Permalink

    It’s people like that with whom you can’t even have an intelligent debate with, since their thinking is so irrational and flawed!

    I don’t even try anymore, TDT. Not even worth reading their posts. I generally read posts, then when I think, “Who could possibly be so short-sighted and ignorant using such convoluted non-logic in a feeble attempt to validate their stand?” do I check the author. Now I check author and just skip over many. Unfortunately, I end up catching a bit of the ends of their posts when returning to a previous tab.

  54. Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:12 am | Permalink

    “The president will give his full-throated endorsement to Senator McCain.” — Dana Perino

    Could have been phrased better.

  55. Steven Davis
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:17 am | Permalink

    WSClark
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:12 am | Permalink
    “’The president will give his full-throated endorsement to Senator McCain.’ — Dana Perino

    “Could have been phrased better.”

    Actually, not.

  56. Hank Price
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:30 am | Permalink

    Things are really looking up for the Grand Old Party! The dems aren’t even capable of running a primary in two states!

    Their top two candidates are conducting themselves like adolescent school children. If Obama doesn’t watch out while he’s hoping for change the Hildebeast will steal the nomination.

  57. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:33 am | Permalink

    When you’re lower’n whale shit, everything’s looking up.

    There! I’ve resorted to the Republican way.

  58. Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:33 am | Permalink

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/world/middleeast/11iraq.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

    Five American Soldiers killed in Baghdad today.

    That makes the total 3985. Only fifteen more to go before the 19th of March, and it’ll be 4,000 dead in five years.

  59. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:35 am | Permalink

    And the Democrats are perched on the edge of their seats, watching CNN waiting for the magic number 4,000 so they can celebrate.

    And the Dems keep voting to fund the war…..

    SSDD

  60. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:35 am | Permalink

    Capn it almost sounds like you are looking forward to it.

  61. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:44 am | Permalink

    ghoti, we miss you when you are not here.

  62. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:46 am | Permalink

    Still waiting for those tax forms Hillary:

    Since 1984, only one major-party presidential candidate — Bill Clinton in 1992 — has refused to release the tax forms he sent to the Internal Revenue Service.
    abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=3165953&page=1

    White House Refuses to Release Pictures. White House Seizes and Hides Pictures of Drug Smuggler With Clintons
    http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/CAB/document-10.23.1996.5.html

    Hillary, running on her record of as First Lady, refuses to release those records.
    Hillary Clinton refuses to demand National Archives release documents. Source: NYT (10-31-07)
    hnn.us/roundup/entries/44273.html

    CIA Refuses to Release Documents on Corrupt Deals involving President Clinton.
    archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/10/16/173247.shtml

    1998 Clinton refuses to tell the truth and accept responsibility for his own actions
    http://www.garymcleod.org/1/ConstitutionSoc/release.htm

    Six Front Runners including Sens. Hillary Clinton refuse to release their tax records
    fromtheleft.wordpress.com/2007/05/16/five-of-six-front-runners-refuse-to-release-tax-returns/

    Clinton Refuses Subpoena For Material on Clemency 1999 NY Times
    query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0DE2DE123CF934A2575AC0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

    Bill Clinton refuses to report and is not inducted into the military. (just for fun)
    http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/29325.html

    Saw this one and saved it for links.
    But I believe we are still waiting…..

    And waiting…….

  63. Regular
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:48 am | Permalink

    Of course Capn “Never served one minute in the military)America is looking forward to more deaths of U.S. Military.

    People of his ilk (radical leftist Libs) love to trample the graves of military men and women to score political ideological points.

    In that regard, they are no better than Fred Phelps and his protesting lunatic mob at military funerals. In fact, they are worse, because they keep revisiting the same statistics and repeating the same ghoulish mantra.

  64. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 10:52 am | Permalink

    ghoti, we miss you when you are not here

    KFG, I get frustrated with inanity so easily. I’ve lurked a time or two and realize much of this is like Days of Our Lives from the 60s (last time I stooped to watching it LOL) when the Horton family took 6 years to figure their ‘Nam MIA son, Peter, was actually living in their house as a border. Same twits using the same idiotic logic and name calling just to say, “I’m great and you ain’t squat!”.

    I do miss many of the rest of you guys though. BTW, How’s wheat?

  65. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 11:01 am | Permalink

    AmWay,

    Read minds much? You’d have to, to be able to impute to the Cap’N what you impute to him.

  66. Political_mama
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 11:32 am | Permalink

    Amway, do you believe that anyone who breaks the law should pay the penalty of such law?

  67. Heckler
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 11:36 am | Permalink

    Here kitty kitty…..

    The Epicycles of Global Warming

    How good are the assumptions in these models? Well consider the fate of Ferenc M. Miskolczi (pronounced Ferens MISkolshee), a first-rate Hungarian mathematician, who has published a proof that “greenhouse warming” may be mathematically impossible. His proof involves long equations, but the bottom line is that the warming models assume that the atmosphere is infinitely thick. Why? Because it simplifies the math. If on the other hand, you assume the atmosphere is about 100 km thick (about 65 miles) — which has the big advantage of being true — the greenhouse effect disappears! No more global warming.

    Miskolczi once worked for NASA, but resigned in disgust when they would not allow him to publish his work. (It appeared in the peer-reviewed Hungarian journal Weather, and looks legit). So it’s the global warming faithful of NASA Goddard Space Center, notably True Believer Godfather James Hansen — who are always complaining to the media about Bush Administration censorship — but who have ended up censoring their own scientific skeptic. Cosmic justice for NASA, you might say.

    http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/03/the_epicycles_of_global_warmin.html

  68. Political_mama
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 11:38 am | Permalink

    Does anyone else have the entire first right letter cut off of the display? Makes it awfull hard to read the posts.

  69. Heckler
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 11:39 am | Permalink

    “When this farce is finally exposed, heads must roll. Not for being wrong about the global warming hoax, because anybody can be wrong — but for politicizing normal scientific debate. Politicized science kills science. This is one festering boil that has to be lanced. “

  70. outlander
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 11:45 am | Permalink

    We have a similarity, Heckler, in the systematic silencing of scientists who are dare question Darwinism. That is also about to hit the light of day.

    http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=58119

  71. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 11:46 am | Permalink

    Not I, PoliMom. The posts have about 3″ margin to the left and a 4″ margin to the right (if I understood your question a-right). Could someone’ve fudged your monitor settings?

  72. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 11:48 am | Permalink

    Personally, I agree with Frank Tippler’s view from the 70s that the existence of God is totally dependant on the total matter of the universe.

    Then again, Velikovsky is Da Man!

  73. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:02 pm | Permalink

    In 1982, People magazine erroneously declared him dead. Vigoda took the error with good humor, posing for a photograph showing him sitting up in a coffin, holding the magazine in question

    hadda google him. doesn’t list a death, so I guess he’s still kickin’

  74. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:03 pm | Permalink

    oops, wrong tab–belay that.

  75. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:11 pm | Permalink

    Darn. It’s official. It is now a sin to be rich.

    “The Vatican has brought up to date the traditional seven deadly sins by adding seven modern mortal sins it claims are becoming prevalent in what it calls an era of “unstoppable globalisation”.

    Those newly risking eternal punishment include drug pushers, the obscenely wealthy,” BBC

    What a sad day.

  76. Heckler
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:13 pm | Permalink

    Amway

    From Boortz

    The Vatican has gone to meddling again. They’ve decided that the original seven deadly sins just aren’t enough. We need some new ones. So here you go, but first, a review. For those of you who don’t remember the original seven, here you go, courtesy of Pope Gregory back there in the 6th Century.

    Pride Broken on the wheel
    Envy Put in freezing water
    Gluttony Forced to eat rats, toads, and snakes
    Lust Smothered in fire and brimstone
    Anger Dismembered alive
    Greed Put in cauldrons of boiling oil
    Sloth Thrown in snake pits
    Hold on a minute! What are those phrases after the sins? Why those are the punishments originally established by the Catholic Church for transgressors.

    Moving right along to the new magnificent seven!

    Genetic experimentation
    Tampering with the order of nature
    Pollution
    Social injustice
    Causing poverty
    Accumulating excessive wealth
    Drug abuse
    Now you know. Adjust your behavior accordingly.

    Yeah .. right.

    http://boortz.com/nuze/index.html

  77. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:14 pm | Permalink

    For over 30 years I’ve said there is only one commandment–thou shalt not steal. Went to see G. Carlin last time he was in town and when he started cutting the 10 down, my wife started slapping me saying, “that’s what you always say!”.

    (My version has Moses coming down from the mountain saying, “God gave me the ONE COMMANDMENT”. Then Aaron moseys up to him saying, “Three days on the mountain for one stinkin’ commandment??? No wonder the sheep are bow-legged”)

  78. Heckler
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:15 pm | Permalink

    “Social Injustice”

    JR will be hailing the Catholic church any minute…..

  79. American Way
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:30 pm | Permalink

    As will Cosmos.

  80. Regular
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:31 pm | Permalink

    Hmmm, maybe some suggested punishments for the Vatican? :D
    ========================
    Heckler
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:13 pm

    Moving right along to the new magnificent seven!

    Genetic experimentation - Daily extraction of bone marrow via a highly pressurized milking machine

    Tampering with the order of nature - Having to live in a fire ant colony coated with honey.

    Pollution> - Permanent assignment to the toliet cleaning crew in the house of the Perpetual Bolemic

    Social injustice - Placed in an eight by eight cell with a rabid wolverine and a seeping leg wound

    Causing poverty -Permanent access to an endless supply of paper money,that spontaneously combusts when touched, looked at or thought about

    Accumulating excessive wealth - Sent to a Martian Outpost with no means or method to spend the wealth.

    Drug abuse - Suffering permanent withdrawal symptoms while living in the House of Placebo.

    Now you know. Adjust your behavior accordingly.

    Yeah .. right.

    http://boortz.com/nuze/index.html

    ——————
    (chortles)

  81. cosmos
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:31 pm | Permalink

    Heckler posted March 10, 2008 at 11:36 am

    … — the greenhouse effect disappears!

    Heckler, dress warmly if you go outside — the Earth just cooled by about 60 degrees F.!

    Not to mention large swings between day and night temperatures.

  82. writerdog
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:32 pm | Permalink

    As for crimes committed by the President of the United States, he can not be charged unless impeached first. He is above the law in that respect, but once out of office he is open to all civil and criminal charges that are warranted. It could be a combination of things, in a impeachment there would have to be a trial by Congress and a majority to convict. If the majority is in question it would be foolhardy to have an impeachment. Simpler to block his actions until the President is out of office and than open to criminal charges. Also as we have seen with the Congress’s indictments of two Bush staff members and the refusal of the DOJ to follow through. in contempt of Congress. To bring these charges against President Bush and seek criminal actions would be pointless. After Bush is out of office look to see him charges with many crimes. Clinton did lie under oath and that was the grounds for the impeachment, not the BJ.

  83. Political_mama
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:34 pm | Permalink

    Well, if you’re going to pick and choose your religious beliefs to live by, why will this matter either?

    We all know that baptists seem to capitalize on the poor especially, perhaps that’s why the Catholic church is trying to stop that from happening to their ranks.

    There is nothing more disgusting to me than flaunting wealth. And baptists are the WORST.

  84. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:37 pm | Permalink

    Perpetual Bolemic

    did you mean bUlimic, or Polemic?

  85. Regular
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:39 pm | Permalink

    Yeah, ‘bulimic’ that finger down the throat thing. :D

  86. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:40 pm | Permalink

    LOL, PoliMom, you’ve not been to my wife’s baptist church. they’re poor as church mice.

    (yeah, my wife’s a fundamentalist, and I’m anti-religion. But we get along great. She says I’m one of the most religious persons that she knows. I just don’t need a book)

  87. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:40 pm | Permalink

    that finger down the throat thing.

    I coulda read it either way and it still woulda made sense.

  88. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 12:43 pm | Permalink

    Were these hate crimes? If 2 black women were killed by white men, would it be a hate crime?

    2 College Women Murdered. Too bad they were not prepared to defend themselves. Stuff like this doesn’t happen here.

    http://www.usnews.com/blogs/paper-trail/2008/03/06/students-at-unc-and-auburn-killed-in-shootings.html

    Students at UNC and Auburn Killed in Shootings
    March 06, 2008 05:08 PM ET | Alison Go | Permanent Link

    The University of North Carolina student body president was found dead early Wednesday morning, while police at Auburn University are investigating a student’s Tuesday murder just outside of campus. Authorities do not think the two murders are connected. Eve Carson, a senior at UNC from Athens, Ga., apparently was shot multiple times around 5 a.m. Wednesday, the Daily Tar Heel reports. Her body was left in the middle of an intersection about a mile away from her home. Police have no suspects in the case and are still looking for her blue 2005 Toyota Highlander, which they believe was stolen during the attack.

    At Auburn, freshman Lauren Burk, 18, of Marietta, Ga., was found shot along a highway 5 miles north of campus around 9 p.m. Tuesday, the Auburn Plainsman reports. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead from a single gunshot wound. Soon after finding her body, Auburn police also discovered her car set afire back on campus.

  89. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 1:03 pm | Permalink

    There goes the Fascist again, using the freshly killed bodies of young women to make his point about…what, precisely? Oh, yeah–that he’s the victim of reserve discrimination.

  90. Political_mama
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 1:06 pm | Permalink

    Amway you never answered my question, should all people who break the law suffer the consequences?

  91. Vaughn Tolle
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 1:06 pm | Permalink

    Phantom,

    If you are out there lurking or whatever, a little something to think about. I appreciate his comments on the Fed and the government being misled (perhaps) by concentrating only on “core inflation”, especially in light of the cost of food and energy now being governed by different dynamics and demand (for the latter) that in the 1970s. Historical note: at an inflation rate of 4.3%, Pres. Nixon tried wage and price controls, a wrong answer then as well as it would be now. Inflation rate now: 4.3%, and, due to the actions of the Fed, IMHO, just going higher for the foreseeable future.

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120511152715823437.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries

  92. outlander
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 1:07 pm | Permalink

    So New York Governor Elliott Spitzer is going to resign. Involvement in a prostitute ring.

    And so it goes.

  93. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 1:08 pm | Permalink

    As for Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D-NY) and his forthcoming admission of having used prostitutes, well, remember: you heard it from CF2K first. Not that I’m claiming to be bipartisan.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/nyregion/10cnd-spitzer.html?hp

    At least he isn’t accused of paying to have prostitutes defecate on him, as was the case with Senator David Vitter (R-LA).

  94. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 1:08 pm | Permalink

    Damn, outlander–beat me to it!

  95. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 1:35 pm | Permalink

    Brilliant defense! Brilliant!

    I was waiting for the “victimless crime” defense from the Dems.

    Culture of Democrat Corruption Continues…….

    ====================================================

    CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 1:08 pm | Permalink

    At least he isn’t accused of paying to have prostitutes defecate on him, as was the case with Senator David Vitter (R-LA).

  96. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 1:39 pm | Permalink

    Max, you can talk about the victim-ful crimes of halliburton&subsidies, Titan, CACI, Blackwater and all those others getting the free gov’t handouts on their corporate welfare. BTW, just how many starving kids can you feed with haliburton’s 4 billion dollars of killing truckers driving empty loads through battle zones and poisoning our troops with unprocessed water?

  97. Political_mama
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 1:40 pm | Permalink

    Spitzer is resigning…Vitter is still in office.

    Who is the party of hypocritical corruption?

  98. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 2:01 pm | Permalink

    I love this website that gives you objective information about the political candidates.

    Not a victimless crime for his wife and three daughters.

    http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=2298

    Governor Eliot Spitzer (NY)

    Current Office: Governor
    First Elected: 11/07/2006
    Last Elected: 11/07/2006
    Resigned in Disgrace: 3/10/2008
    Next Election: Never
    Party: Democratic

    Gender: Male
    Family: Wife: Silda Wall
    3 Children, Elyssa, Sarabeth, Jenna.
    Birth Date: 06/10/1959
    Birthplace: Bronx, NY
    Home City: Manhattan, NY
    Religion:

    Education:
    JD, Harvard Law School, 1984
    BA, Princeton University, 1981.

    Professional Experience:
    Assistant District Attorney, Manhattan, New York, 1986-1992
    Partner, Constantine & Partners
    Former Editor, Harvard Law Review
    Associate, Paul Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, and Garrison
    Attorney, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom
    Clerk, United States District Court Judge Robert W. Sweet.
    License Plate Stamper.

    Political Experience:
    Butt Boy New York State Pen
    Governor, State of New York, 2006-2008
    Attorney General, State of New York, 1998-2006.

    Organizations:
    Co-Founder, Children for Children Foundation, 1996.

  99. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 2:02 pm | Permalink

    Spitzer was another one of those nasty rich Democrats:

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,336509,00.html

    Eliot Laurence Spitzer was born in 1959 in New York.

    • Described as the most feared man on Wall Street, Spitzer has made a name for himself as a crusader by fighting organized crime and political corruption. He has been dubbed the “sheriff” of Wall Street.

    • When Spitzer successfully ran in the fall of 2002 for his second term as attorney general, he was 43 years old. That campaign, like his previous runs, was financed by a small personal fortune.

    • The son of a Manhattan real estate developer, Spitzer grew up in Riverdale, N.Y., and attended an elite private school before heading to Princeton University.

    • “He’s from a rich family,” pollster Maurice Carroll told U.S. Banker. “Good schools. A high-powered lawyer. He’s not going to be intimidated by some guy who sells stocks and bonds.”

    • His parents, Anne and Bernard, were first-generation New Yorkers.

    • After earning his law degree from Harvard, Spitzer practiced corporate law for a number of years.

  100. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 2:14 pm | Permalink

    Ah good, the Haliburton defense. Didn’t imagine you’d dream that up.

    Why not the Nixon defense?

  101. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 2:15 pm | Permalink

    No accountability from Democrats.

    Gotta blame somebody else ALL of the time!

    Can’t you just admit Spitzer screwed up and get over it?

  102. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 2:20 pm | Permalink

    Nixon had no defense. An immensely intelligent person doing something so insanely stupid. He had the brains to do something really good with the world (unlike many of those who followed him for decades) and he threw it away.

    At least the haliburton gambit has some substance to it. Now it’s your turn to tell us how bad sex is and the stoopid gummermint don’t let ya have enuff guns to kill them stinkin’ commies.

    El-Keeta is behind you…run, hide, hoard!!!

  103. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 2:29 pm | Permalink

    Power Couples

    Eliot Spitzer & Silda Wall

    (Such a loving picture is here)

    It’s 2:30, the photo shoot is ready to start, and Silda Wall is running a bit late. Eliot Spitzer is already at the midtown Manhattan studio, sporting an American flag lapel pin and the hyped-up expression of someone in the middle of a hectic day. Within moments, out comes the BlackBerry.

    “Where are you? . . . Okay. Love you.”

    She arrives a few minutes later, as her husband is suffering through a quick session with the makeup artist. A coat of lip gloss is going on; Wall seems amused.

    “There are two things I hate in politics,” Spitzer says as they settle in. “Raising money and posing for pictures.” Wall would probably agree with the first point; she was reportedly not happy when an October fundraiser fell on their 19th wedding anniversary.

    As for his second claim, they are remarkably relaxed subjects. He shares news from the campaign trail; she straightens his lapel; they chat with the photographer about his baby daughter.

    Wall would probably agree with the first point; she was reportedly not happy when an October fundraiser fell on their 19th wedding anniversary. As for his second claim, they are remarkably relaxed subjects. He shares news from the campaign trail; she straightens his lapel; they chat with the photographer about his baby daughter.

    Since becoming New York’s attorney general in 1998, Spitzer has cultivated a reputation as a bull in a china shop—he is the “sheriff of Wall Street,” all sharp elbows and strident intelligence. But to say that Wall softens his image would be to ignore the crackling energy between them. They met during law school, and she pursued a fast-track career (in mergers and acquisitions at Skadden, Arps, then in international transactions at Chase Manhattan) before deciding to stay home with their three daughters. A native of North Carolina, she campaigned vigorously for her husband and, Spitzer has said, is sure to be one of his closest advisers in Albany.

    On the trail, Wall, who speaks with a subtle drawl, reminded voters that Spitzer is also a family man who likes to grill on weekends, wear sneakers, and watch NASCAR.

    In 1996, in response to what they saw as excessive spending on children’s birthday parties in their social circle, the couple started a nonprofit, Children for Children, which promotes more volunteerism and less self-indulgence in youth.

    Asked if she and her husband take time together, just the two of them, Wall laughs. “With three kids and two dogs at the ages they are—the ages they all are—and our careers and community engagement, it’s hard to say that we do.” They devote their free time to their daughters, Elyssa, 16, Sarabeth, 14, and Jenna, 12. On Election Day, they set aside the afternoon for Jenna’s soccer match.

    After Spitzer takes office, they plan to divide their time between Albany and Manhattan. The girls will continue to attend Horace Mann, and to be the center of their parents’ lives.

    http://www.02138mag.com/lists/PC/1105.html

  104. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 2:45 pm | Permalink

    I wonder if the timing is right for Hillary to take the NY Governor job?

  105. Regular
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 2:53 pm | Permalink

    Good idea Max, if can’t be Queen of the Kingdom, she might as well be the Princess of the Province. :D

  106. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 3:03 pm | Permalink

    I think she’s qualified to be Governor, isn’t she?

  107. ksagnostic
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 3:20 pm | Permalink

    “No accountability from Democrats.

    “Gotta blame somebody else ALL of the time!

    “Can’t you just admit Spitzer screwed up and get over it?”

    I am looking on this thread and don’t see anyone defending Eliot Spitzer.

    Max, you talking to yourself?

    Keep it up. You are exactly the sort of individual who turns off the foul weather voters in this country.

    As for discussions as to which party has the slimiest candidate who got caught doing something wrong.

    Waste of time.

  108. lindainks55
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 3:32 pm | Permalink

    “Defense contractor Blackwater, which drew criticism last fall for the conduct of some of its contractors in Iraq, was today accused of tax evasion, illicit contracts and labor abuses.”

    http://www.financialweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080310/REG/205693408/1036

  109. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 3:34 pm | Permalink

    linda, it doesn’t matter. Just more excuse to take food outta starving babies mouths. they obviously own stock. Even ole Eb Scrooge finally found a heart.

  110. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 3:47 pm | Permalink

    Fascist,

    Can’t you just admit that Vitter screwed up, and “get over it?” More to the point, did anybody NOT say that Governor Spitzer patronized prostitutes?

    So, let’s review Fascist and his views:

    Republicans who pay to have prostitutes shit on them: OK, get to keep their offices.

    Democrats who pay prostitutes to have sex with them: not OK, have to leave their offices.

  111. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 3:48 pm | Permalink

    Spitzer complaint details:

    http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/nyregion/20080310spitzer-complaint.pdf

    I wonder if Silda, Elyssa, Sarabeth, and Jenna have read this yet?

    Victimless crime.

  112. parkay
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 3:49 pm | Permalink

    A whistleblower lawsuit claims that Planned Parenthood overcharged Californicatia taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars on birth control, then fired an abortion mill whistleblower. P. Victor Gonzalez, the whistleblower who was the vice president of finance and administration for Planned Parenthood of Los Angles, says his own internal audit estimates that Planned Parenthood overcharged California taxpayers for purchasing birth control by at least $180 million, in a 6-year criminal plot beginning in the late 1990s. A 2003 state audit found at least $5.2 million in overbilling in 2003 alone from just one of the nine California Planned Parenthood affiliates. The 3-year-old lawsuit was unsealed last week following a prolonged review by the U.S. attorney’s office.
    Planned Parenthood bought contraceptives and other medicines at deeply discounted rates because of their status as a charity, then billed the state Medi-Cal program for 12 or more times their purchase price. Both state and federal law explicitly forbid such over-billing.
    Other irregularities include sneaking payments out for lobbying and advocacy, posting political signs in violation of IRS policy, misuse of grants and donations, doctored financial projections in applying for a state-financed loan, falsified monthly reports to budget and finance committee, and various credit card abuses, including using a corporate American Express card for Victoria’s Secret and private video purchases.
    Since Planned Parenthood is a nationwide chain of abortion mills, enforcing nationwide policies, we may well suppose that Kansas and Missouri taxpayers are getting bilked and defrauded, as well.
    We await the media silence and political cover-ups.
    - - -

    The number of British post-20-week abortions has increased by 44% during the last 10 years, to nearly 3000 in 2006, mostly elective abortions, 25% of them to prevent the birth of a possibly disabled baby by contract killing. Ann Furedi, the chief executive of the pro-abortion British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said this is not a problem, that these mothers are better off with a dead baby.

  113. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 3:49 pm | Permalink

    Y’know Max, for 20 bucks and a stroll down S. broadway you wouldn’t be so obsessed with other people getting some.

  114. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 3:52 pm | Permalink

    I wouldn’t know Ghoti. Never had to pay for it.

    What time is it anyway?

    Say Eagle - turn your clocks forward 1 hour!

  115. ghotiphaze
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 3:54 pm | Permalink

    Never HAD to either, but for 50 cents in Rota, Spain, it was just to good to pass up.

    BTW, 50 cents in Rota a few days before military payday got you the high class stuff.

  116. CF2K
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 3:57 pm | Permalink

    More interesting than the Fascist’s glee at getting to wax self-righteously is the fact that apparently, Spitzer was caught in a wiretapped domestic telephone call by a Federal agency. Given the Justice Department’s railroading of Gov. Don Siegelman, let’s just say one begins to wonder why no REPUBLICAN heads are rolling in the current investigation.

  117. Max
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 3:58 pm | Permalink

    Parkay, EVERY taxpayer dollar charged by Planned (Abortions) Parenthood is a dollar overcharged.

    You Pro-Abortion people should pay for your own abortions.

    It’s bad enough you have to kill your own kids, but you make all the taxpayers pay for your murder fees!

    I bet those abortion “doctors” go home feeling really truly proud of themselves. Wonder if they wash the blood off their hands before or after they go home?

    “Say honey I’m home! Busy day at the office today. Set a record, 25 culled in one day! Had to buy 3 extra garbage cans. What’s for dinner?”

  118. Political_mama
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 4:42 pm | Permalink

    So Max when are you going to start insisting on vitter’s resignation? I don’t see anyone defending Spitzer.

    As far as Parkay, remember, all of his alleged statements have always been proven false in a court of law or grand jury.

  119. Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:00 pm | Permalink

    Max asks, “Can’t you just admit Spitzer screwed up and get over it?”

    Okay, Spitzer screwed up.

    I’ll ask for his resignation if you ask for diaper-boy Vitter’s and toe-tapping Larry Craig’s.

  120. Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:06 pm | Permalink

    Max writes, And the Democrats are perched on the edge of their seats, watching CNN waiting for the magic number 4,000 so they can celebrate.

    While the CONs just tee up for another 18 holes pretending like nobody is dying for the oil they squander in their Hummers.

    I won’t be celebrating the 4,000th American death in Iraq.

    I’ll be protesting it, like every decent Son of Liberty should do . . .

  121. J R
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:10 pm | Permalink

    Larry Craig proved that if you just wait long enough, and for the American people that is about 8 seconds, people will forget anything.

  122. Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:18 pm | Permalink

    Max, Max, who the heck are you talking to?? the woodwork?? My my what an obsessive bunch of rants!!

  123. Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:19 pm | Permalink

    No kidding, J R.

    How is this guy still in the Senate?

    And how does anybody shake hands with him without wearing disposible plastic gloves . . .

  124. : :
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:21 pm | Permalink

    You are dead wrong nickel… The figures I quoted yesterday are from the Senate Record, and cover Obama’s SENATE time since January, 2005, just as posted yesterday… Why dont you people learn to READ??

  125. : :
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:22 pm | Permalink

    I mean, nickel, the constant LYING of you people is getting really old!! The 2004 swift-boating style is not going to work for you all this time around!!

  126. : :
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:23 pm | Permalink

    And from the looks of things here, seems like even Max’s buddies are tired of him ranting at thin air!

  127. Political_mama
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:23 pm | Permalink

    Wait a second hold the boat. MSNBC is reporting that it was the result of a wiretap that this information came to light.

    WHO is wiretapping the Gov of New York, and IF it was a national security deal they aren’t SUPPPOSED to be worried about small crime stuff like this.

  128. Regular
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:24 pm | Permalink

    Since prostitutes were involved, maybe it was an “underwire” tap.

    (chortles)

  129. : :
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:26 pm | Permalink

    What is it that Spitzer is supposed to have done?

  130. phantom
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:26 pm | Permalink

    Shame, Spitzed did some good work. Vitter and Criag, not sure, never heard of them before they got caught.

  131. Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:28 pm | Permalink

    Hey, ::

    If they could read, they wouldn’t be RepubliCONs.

  132. phantom
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:29 pm | Permalink

    VT, good article. I think by food and energy not being in the inflation measure they are saying that these expenses are only significant to the middle and lower class and thereby not important. Also, it is a way for the Admin. to tout their management of the economy, and its low inflation rate.

  133. Regular
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:29 pm | Permalink

    No wonder Bill has stayed in New York - Spitze was supplementing his herd of fillies. :D

  134. : :
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:31 pm | Permalink

    Yea, you got a point there, CapN!! LOL

  135. Regular
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:33 pm | Permalink

    Hi Chas, I mean :: :D

    Let’s see, that news story is worth another look. :)

    Spitzer to Resign Following Reports of ‘Involvement’ With Prostitution Ring

    Monday, March 10, 2008
    Fox News

    New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer is expected to submit his resignation to the New York General Assembly Monday night after allegations surfaced earlier in the day that he is “Client 9,” named in a federal prostitution case.

  136. : :
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:37 pm | Permalink

    Regular shows paranoia again :-)

    Regular says: “Hi Chas, I mean :: ”

    How long you going to keep up your fantasy world, Regular? Huh?

  137. Regular
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:39 pm | Permalink

    CYA later Chas/Sugar/: :

    I have to take this starchy collar off, tired of playing E-Priest.

    (chortles)

  138. writerdog
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:39 pm | Permalink

    A few moments ago I watched the effect of the Revolution on the Senate as I watched Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma was dressing down the other Senators. He addressed both sides of the aisle for wasteful spending, caring more about their person gain and best interest rather then that of the people and the nation.
    Condemning them for their over abundance of earmarks instead of being stewards of the people’s money.
    That every year there are over 350 billions in waste that could be addressed. AND HERE IT COMES, he stated he was going to be the Senate’s “Dr. NO” and of course we all know to whom he is inferring! Thank you Dr. Paul, not just “WE THE PEOPLE” have been listening it would seem.

  139. : :
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:40 pm | Permalink

    Regular believes that nobody can accuse him of using any other Nics. So, instead, he accuses others of doing what he says he doesnt do. Real smart there, Regular! Really takes brains to do to others what you dont want done to you!

  140. Regular
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:41 pm | Permalink

    You have a unique writing style Chas : :

    :)

  141. phantom
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:43 pm | Permalink

    VT, as I recall, Nixon was very concerned because there was wage pressure being exerted on the economy. And, to show where his concern was placed, he froze wages some time before he froze prices.
    In the current environment wage pressure is minimal due to outsourcing, so not that big of concern to the Admin.

  142. poster
    Posted March 10, 2008 at 5:43 pm | Permalink

    3am cartoon