MOVING

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Hurry now before I change my mind.

Morning Readings

I have other projects today.

• Go here to read about Larry Craig and his bathroom behavior. It must all be true because Michelle Malkin called him a weasel.

• Robotic defenses of Alberto Gonzales

• The world's only penis museum has appealed for a human specimen.Curator Sigurdur Hjartarson opened the museum in 1974 in Husavik, Iceland, and has collected 195 penises from various animals.
  
  His collection includes penises from hamsters, horses and whales.
  
  But now he is appealing again for a human organ.
  
  He said people from the UK, Germany and the US had contacted him offering their penises in the past but that none of the offers had ever been serious. (Ananova)
  

Senatorial LEWD Behavior-Larry Craig

Damn! The only way I am going to get any action is by switching to Republican!

Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, was fined earlier this month for a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge stemming from his arrest in June at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, according to Minnesota criminal records. While the criminal records did not provide details of why Craig was arrested, Roll Call newspaper reported Monday that he was apprehended by a plainclothes police officer investigating complaints of lewd behavior in an airport men's room. In a statement released Monday evening, Craig denied any inappropriate conduct and said he now regrets his guilty plea. "At the time of this incident, I complained to the police that they were misconstruing my actions. I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct," he said. "I should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter. In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously." Craig, 62, paid a $500 fine when the case came up for disposition Aug. 8 in Hennepin County Municipal Court in Bloomington, according to state criminal records. (CNN)

Everyone else wants some action from Senator Craig also. His Senate site " is experiencing technical difficulties. The Webmaster has been alerted."

The Congressional webMASTER must be busy these days.

Delusional Days Come to an End

Alberto Gonzales Resignation- Video

Bush loves Alberto. LOVES HIM I SAY! He will miss his little pet. AND, Gonzales does not need praise for the Patriot Act and the Military Commissions ACT! Jeebus me! Alberto also has integrity! HA!!!

Transcript is on the White House site.

Here is Bush's pet announcing his resignation by his little old self.


Transcript

Update:

Here is Senator Chuck Shumer's remarks about Gonzales' resignation.

Morning Readings

Another Monday morning, another resignation. This one is bigger than Karl Rove. I swear I am going to have to get my ass out of bed earlier on Monday mornings

Bush Best Friend For Life, Alberto Gonzales resigns. It's about damn time!

The Washington Post

Gonzales' resignation marks the loss of another Bush loyalist at a time when his support in public opinion polls has been lagging. Though Bush had voiced continued support for Gonzales, a longtime ally from Texas, the attorney general's support in Congress had withered after a series of run-ins that prompted some lawmakers to allege he had committed perjury.

The New York Times

Mr. Gonzales, who had rebuffed calls for his resignation, submitted his to President Bush by telephone on Friday, the official said. His decision was not immediately announced, the official added, until after the president invited him and his wife to lunch at his ranch near here. Mr. Bush has not yet chosen a replacement but will not leave the position open long, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the resignation had not yet been made public. Mr. Bush had repeatedly stood by Mr. Gonzales, an old friend and colleague from Texas, even as Mr. Gonzales faced increasing scrutiny for his leadership of the Justice Department, over issues including his role in the dismissals of nine United States attorneys late last year and whether he testified truthfully about the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs.

The Washington Times

A frequent Democratic target, Gonzales could not satisfy critics who said he had lost credibility over the Justice Department's botched handling of warrantless wiretaps related to the threat of terrorism and the firings of several U.S. attorneys. As attorney general and earlier as White House counsel, Gonzales pushed for expanded presidential powers, including the eavesdropping authority. He drafted controversial rules for military war tribunals and sought to limit the legal rights of detainees at Guantanamo Bay – prompting lawsuits by civil libertarians who said the government was violating the Constitution in its pursuit of terrorists

USAtoday

Michael Chertoff, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, is a possible successor, according to the official. A second administration source, who also confirmed the Gonzales resignation on condition of anonymity, said that if Chertoff should move over to the Justice Department, a likely contender for his successor is Clay Johnson, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Comcast Cuts Off Heavy Internet Users

If this is true, this is not a good sign.

Comcast has warned broadband Internet customers across the country to curb their downloading or wind up on the curb. The company has a bandwidth limitation that, if broken, can result in a 12-month suspension of service. The problem, according to customer complaints, is that the telecom giant refuses to reveal how much downloading is too much. The company, which a few years ago advertised the service as “unlimited” has an “acceptable use policy” which enforces the invisible download limit. The 23-part policy, states that it is a breach of contract to generate “levels of traffic sufficient to impede others' ability to send or retrieve information.” But nowhere does it detail what levels of traffic will impede others. Michael, of Speedway, Ind., uses Comcast Internet to transfer large work files while his son uses it for school research. In 2004 he received letters threatening to disconnect his Internet if he doesn't restrict his bandwidth. “Unfortunately, neither the letter, the AUP, the Comcast websites, nor any printed Comcast materials specify what those bandwidth usage limitations are,” Michael wrote to ConsumerAffairs.Com. “Essentially, what they are doing is drawing an invisible line, then threatening to disconnect anyone who crosses it. "I am more than willing to curb my usage to meet any limitations set by Comcast...if only they would actually make those limitations available to their subscribers,” he said. (Consumer Affairs)

Bob Schieffer

I always enjoy Bob Schieffer on Face the Nation. He still gets to the meat of an interview and isn't afraid to ASK a question. His commentary at the end of the show is pointed and sometimes fun. Today's commentary involved New Hampshire and wacky campaigns of the past.

Here we are back in New Hampshire – sooner than ever but not too soon. The way these other states keep moving their primaries up, New Hampshire may have to hold this year's contest before Christmas if it wants to be first. Whenever it happens, what I love about New Hampshire is the wackiness it always brings out. Like back in '84 when Democrat Gary Hart showed that he could throw an axe better than anyone. Now, there's a skill that every president needs. (Transcript)

John Warner on Meet the Press

Old Warner sat down with DC buddy Tim Russert for another episode of "Whose showing teeth?" I am sick of everyone acting like Warner is calling for some grand exit of Iraq. Warner is merely appeasing the Republican base who are conflicted about the President and Iraq. There are no teeth to his plan and Senator Warner can play the "elder statesman" role as much as he likes. He and Arlen Specter are the same creatures. They act all tough, but then relent when President Bush needs his ass wiped.

MR. RUSSERT: If the president on September 15th receives these reports but decides not to withdraw troops, decides to go forward with the surge, what do you do? SEN. WARNER: That’s his right to do that, and I will respect it. But I would say, “Mr. President, in the absence of trying to do something like I’m suggesting to get the Iraq government motivated to begin to perform, Mr. President, what they committed to you circa January 10th of this year as a predicate, as a foundation, as a reason for starting the surge—namely, the coalition forces, notably the United States working with Iraqi forces, will give you the security, then prime minister and the government, you make national reconciliation.” Now, that hasn’t been filled, I would—I’m looking for, in that message of the 15th, what the president’s going to do to get this government jump-started to deliver on its commitment to our troops, “You fight and die, get the security, I will deliver Iraq as a reconciled unity government.” (Transcript)

Regardless of anything Warner says with "symbolic teeth," he continually holds that the President is Commander-in-Chief and he will "respect" his decisions. What's the point of offering recommendations when he knows damn well Bush is going to do what he likes?

Warner needs to shut-up till he truly develops "teeth" and votes to correspond with his words. IF he truly wants the troops home, then offer something more substantial than tepid recommendations to the president.

Previously Elizabeth Taylor's Ex-Husband Gums the President

The Forgotten Toy Box

Skull Crushing Entertainment and Channel Frederator.

Three shorts. The Forgotten Toy Box by Mike Bell, Bad Ass Mofos by James "Bad Ass" Jaculina, CF Promo by Justin Johnson & Lee Rubenstein, Monkey Business by Alex Donne Johnson

I am partial to Bad Ass Mofos around the 7:30 mark, but a giant baby causing havoc in the Forgotten Toy Box is very engaging and shows the true threat to America! HA!

God's Warriors

Thursday's airing of Christine Amanpour's God's Warriors featured Christian Warriors. Here are two segments.

This segment is titled Patriot Pastors. Amanpour interviews Rick Scarborough of Vision America and Russell Johnson of the Ohio Restoration Project. (Ohio needs allot of help, but I don't think Christ is the answer.) Both men believe in "restoring" this country to the "Original American Vision." The only "restoring" I want done is to a house, not a backwards bastardization of founding father's intent!

The term "patriot pastors" pisses me off. In particularly, the way these men use it. They see it as doing something good for America and patriotic to dictate what is best for everyone and "restore" what they see as traditional values. It would be one thing if they merely did this from the pulpit, but they are on a crusade to change legislation and suspend any sort of equality for all.



Pastor Greg Boyd, whom Amanpour calls the heretic, has a simple plan. Worship Jesus' teachings and get out of politics because Jesus didn't like them.

Greg Boyd writes on his blog:

Jesus was a revolutionary on social issues, so his followers are to be revolutionaries on social issues. Jesus entered into solidarity with the poor, so his followers are to enter into solidarity with the poor. Jesus revolted against racism by the countercultural way he treated and spoke about non-Jews , so his followers are to revolt against all forms of racism. Jesus revolted against classism by the way he embraced social and religious “rejects,” so his followers are to revolt against classism. Jesus revolted against sexism by the counter-cultural way he treated women -- even women of ill-repute -- so his followers are to revolt against sexism. Jesus revolted against legalistic religion that oppressed people, so his followers are to revolt against legalistic religion that oppresses people. Jesus was a radical social activist, so his followers must be the same. It’s just that Jesus never once placed any trust in the government of his day to address social issues. He rather just addressed social issues by how he lived and taught. So too, we who are Jesus' followers are to place no trust in government to address social issues. We’re simply called to address them by how we live. Following Jesus’ example, we’re to place our trust in the power of the cross – the power of self-sacrificial love – not the power of the sword. We’re to trust the power of Calvary, not Caesar. And this is why I believe those who spend their time and energy trying to control the political arena “in Jesus' name” are profoundly missing the point. Our job is to love, serve and sacrifice for sinners – not argue about passing laws against them. For we are to know that, whatever sin we see in others, our sin is much worse (Mt. 7:1-3).

hmmm...

Creationism Videos on A Saturday Morning

This first video is from BBC NewsNight about the Creationism encroachment in UK schools. I love Professor Lewis Wolpert of the British Humanist Association. When the moderator asks him if Darwinism is a merely theory, he shrieks, "CERTAINLY NOT! There is a theory, but there are millions of experiments relating to Darwinism and genetic selection."

Unfortunately, even Springfield Elementary teaches Creationism.

Coy Privette Pleads Guilty

Former NC State Representative, Cabarrus County Commissioner and President of the North Carolina Christian Action League, Coy Privette pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting prostitution.

Cabarrus County commissioner Coy Privette pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to charges of aiding and abetting prostitution. Privette, 74, faces six charges -- all are misdemeanors. According to the warrants, Privette rented a hotel room and paid for sexual acts six different times between May 4 and June 25. Rowan County district attorney Bill Kenerly revealed Wednesday that the woman Privette hired for sex took pictures of him with her camera phone and gave the pictures to investigators. He also said Privette used his own name to check into two local motels and security cameras at those motels showed Privette and the woman at the motel on several different dates. (News 14)

Nice to see that Coy accepts his god-fearing pimping ways!

previously- He Ain't Coy About Ho's

Bill Kristol on Senator Warner's Symbolic Gesture

If I believed in Hell, I would so be heading there. Bill Kristol of the Weekly Standard was on the Today Show this morning to defend the Surge and the National Intelligence Estimate (PDF), but also comment on Senator Warner's "recommendations" to the president for 5,000 troops home by Christmas. I never, ever, never, ever agree with Bill Kristol, but regarding Warner I do.

I hope it doesn't happen again.

General Peter Pace Wants SIGNIFICANT Troops Cuts.

While Senator John Warner wants a symbolic 5,000 troops redeployed by Christmas, The Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, General Peter Pace recommends deeper cuts in troop levels.

From the LA Times.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is expected to advise President Bush to reduce the U.S. force in Iraq next year by almost half, potentially creating a rift with top White House officials and other military commanders over the course of the war. Administration and military officials say Marine Gen. Peter Pace is likely to convey concerns by the Joint Chiefs that keeping well in excess of 100,000 troops in Iraq through 2008 will severely strain the military. This assessment could collide with one being prepared by the U.S. commander in Iraq, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, calling for the U.S. to maintain higher troop levels for 2008 and beyond.

Homo Hating, Marine General Pace wants more troops home than Elizabeth Taylor's ex-husband. What a muddied web in Washington. Pace's comments WILL "collide" with the Petraeus report, written by the White House. If the CHAIRMAN of the Joint Chiefs of Staffs, who supposedly has the pulse of the military, wants such a huge reduction of troops, Warner's recommendations yesterday are completely impotent, regardless of his standing on the Armed Services Committee.

Morning Readings

• The John Warner Express chugging along. The Washington Post calls him the " one of the most influential Republican voices in Congress." The New York Times calls Warner's withdrawal plan "symbolic" and "a demand, if you will." The Politico classifies Warner's troop withdrawal as a "suggestion" and "political cover for Republicans. "

• I call it bullshit. (see below) Watch Warner tow the Republican line when time to vote.
  

• "Britain's long-awaited and much-postponed pull-out from the Basra palace, its last remaining base in the Iraqi city, is imminent, sources have told the Guardian."

• A Scottish Koala Bear met an Austrian Koala Bear and it's all sex, sex, sex. (Ananova)

• Romanov remains in Russia- "The remains of the last czar's hemophiliac son and heir to the Russian throne, missing since the royal family was gunned down nine decades ago by Bolsheviks in a basement room, may have been found, an archaeologist said Thursday." (Yahoo)

• The Okinawa dugong threatened by US Military base. (NG)

• Dark side of Uranus reveals dramatic changes. (SCIAM)

• The Beat Museum in San Francisco.
  

• Plans are underway for the 2009 Darwin Festival-the bicentenary of Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal work ‘On the origin of Species’.

• Mitt Romney could care less about the film, September Dawn, that depicts the killing of 120 Arkansas settlers by Mormons in 1857 Utah. (MSNBC)
  

Elizabeth Taylor's Ex-Husband Gums The President

My "don't give a shit" attitude changed after watching this press conference.

Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia held a press conference today to offer “recommendations” to the President. Warner spent four days in the region and is ready to tell the world and the president what his “respectful” recommendations are.

One of the many comments he made at the presser was:

WARNER: It seems to me the time has come to put some meaningful teeth into those comments, to back them up with some clear, decisive action to show that we mean business when those statements and others like it have been made. And so, therefore, I make a recommendation to the president. I respectfully say to them in his consultation with the military here in the coming weeks — actually, that consultation is going along quite steadily. Excuse me, I’ve got a bit of a cold. That consultation is ongoing. Take into consideration the need to send a sharp and clear message throughout the region, to the United States, and one that people can understand. I think no clearer form of that than if the president were to announce on the 15th that, in consultation with our senior military commanders, he’s decided to initiate the first step in a withdrawl of our forces. I say to the president, respectfully, pick what ever number you wish. You do not want to lose the momentum, but certainly in 160,000- plus, say, 5,000 could begin to redeploy and be home to their families and loved ones no later than Christmas of this year. That’s the first step. Let the president establish the timetable of withdrawal, not the Congress. Under the Constitution, as commander in chief, he has that authority. He need not lay out a totality of a timetable. I would advise against it. Take each step at a time, then make an evaluation of the impact of that step, that it did not lessen the momentum, did not lessen the ability of our forces to continue to supply a greater degree — provide a greater degree of security, be it Baghdad or where else we can do it, and to determine what is the reaction of the neighboring countries and the region. Perhaps they’ve all been sitting there, waiting to see what we would do. And given the NIE, which says, Mr. President, it’s up to 12 months before we can expect any particular degree of reconciliation, we simply cannot, as a nation, stand and put our troops at continuous risk of loss of life and limb without beginning to take some decisive action which will get everybody’s attention. That simple announcement of a single redeployment of some several thousand individuals under the military tradition — first-come, first-served in Iraq, first to depart — you’ve got to be careful how those selections — they can pick them from various units; put together a group and send them back. Then evaluate, re-evaluate how successful it has been. Then perhaps, at the president’s discretion, select a second date and time for a contingent to be redeployed.

Hmmm… These comments taken at face value, sort of, kind of, seem that Warner is calling for some real action. He isn’t. If this is showing teeth, someone get my dentures off the nightstand. Warner isn’t calling for anything more than what FOX NEWS calls “a symbolic gesture.” He wants the president to redeploy 5,000 troops by Christmas to show the Iraqi government that the US means business and that US troops are not going to be there forever. Is Senator Warner not aware of Bush’s 50 year Korean model for Iraq? I guess he forgot to turn on his hearing aid. This entire press conference is nothing more than a floorshow for Warner to gum the president and don his motorcycle jacket and proclaim, "I am a Rebel with a Cause." He wants a withdrawal of troops by December, BUT since the President is Constitutionally Commander in Chief, he is the DECIDER and must ULTIMATELY decide what is best.

Warner feels it is necessary to issue an impotent recommendation yet congratulates the president for a job well done. The TROOP SURGE is working as Warner saw it, in his four day whirlwind trip with stops in Jordan and Kuwait. Since the surge is working, Warner advises to bring home 5,000 troops and show America what a compassionate president Bush is. This whole sham of a press conference was to make Warner look more appealing at re-election because the majority of public sentiment is against the war. He stood up to the president and “asked respectfully” for him to bring home 5,000 out of 160,000+ by Christmas. WOW! I am in awe!

Many sites are spinning his words because he is a Republican, but Senator Warner’s recommendations are of no value and have no teeth.

Hell, at least Fox News reported the insignificant 5,000 number that Warner seeks. CNN didn’t even bother to report it.

After that 5,000 redeployment, Warner recommends an evaluation, of no determined duration, to formulate the next increment of redeployment. All of this is at the president’s leisure and what the Defense Department feels is necessary. I’ll place my bet on this lame horse.

Warner "politely and respectfully" recommends his plan during the entire press conference before agreeing with Bush’s Vietnam analogies (which before weren't popular) and informs the press that he spent 5 years, 4 months, and 3 days in the Defense Department during Vietnam. What about the hours, minutes, and seconds, Senator Warner? He agrees with Bush that a withdrawal from Iraq as in Vietnam would be disastrous, but then tries to distance himself by proclaiming that these are two different countries and that Vietnam wasn’t a threat to American security as Iraq is. He also throws in some sound bites about Iran and Syria aiding the insurgents to cover all his bases. This imbecilic, symbolic withdrawal plan that he asks of our “brave” president is all that seems to matter.

The only thing he said that makes the damndest of sense is that the soldiers in Iraq are not getting the necessary equipment they need to perform their god forsaken duty. He did proclaim that Congress would do something about it. Hmmm… Congress had four+ years to do something about it, but they didn’t seem in any hurry. Now, it is imperative! Keep supporting the troops because Bush lackey General Petraeus says so on that guided tour of the safer sections of Iraq.

This press conference is a tactile move to position his political career as he has done for the last eight months. The majority of Americans understand what Iraq is doing to this country without having to read a National Intelligence Estimate declassified by the White House that Senator Warner so graciously uses as his guide for this press conference. Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers, Husbands, and Wives are dying and Senator Warner’s puny "bring 5,000 home as a show of faith" is an insult. The only faith this President understands is his own self importance and the “respectful” recommendations of this Senator have already been flushed.

Here is Senator Warner’s press conference in segments via YouTube. You decide if he is worthy of praise. There is also a download link for the full press conference.

One of the more humorous aspects of this press conference is Warner announcing that he has “telephonic” communication with the White House. Work that technology!

Part One


Part Two


Part Three


Part Four


Full Download 150MB Divx.



Thanks to Icaia and Melissa.

Morning Readings Rituals

I have an extreme case of the "don't give a shit." No morning readings, but rituals.

• Wake-up!
• Deal with hungry kitty who demands love and tuna.
• Open eyes.
• Gulp one cup of coffee, sip the second.
• Receive phone call from Icaia, who knows better than to call me in the morning. She is lost and needs guidance. HA!
• Survive frustrating call from Icaia, and drink another cup of coffee.
• Don sunglasses and brave the morning sun to water the garden. I really need one of those PhilipTreacy veils for Alexander McQueen.
  
• Avoid neighbors who are always pulling weeds. ALWAYS, EVERY DAY! They must have OCD issues.
  
• Return to the safety of indoors.
• Drink another cup of coffee-moderately awake.
• Try to watch and flip maddeningly to Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and CSPAN. Take something for the pain and start watching 120 minutes that VH1 Classics shows at 4 in the morning. Groovy, XTC- the Mayor of Simpleton.
• Stare at this console in the middle of the room and wonder where the fuck to put it.
  

• Drink more coffee.
• Contemplate existence.
• Smoke a cigarette.
• Read yet another article about Bush and Vietnam.
  
• Smoke another cigarette
• Dance around a bit to The Jam- A Town Called Malice
• Remember simpler times.
• Complain out loud about achy bones.
• Bob head to The Cure- Close to Me.
• Drink more coffee, light another cigarette.
• End this post bobbing my head to Midnight Oil- Power and Passion.
  

Update: Checking site statistics and one of my friends is googling herself. hehehe...
Hey Heather, Here is the back of your head on page 26 and my southernly gentleman ensemble is on page 27. God that photo makes me look fat! Never wear VESTS!

White House Proclamations- Something Will Kill You Month!

Blogger was broken this morning, so I said "boo hoo" and did something else than sit my miserable ass in front of the computer.

I love a White House Proclamation and Bush issued a slew of them for September, of which WE WILL ALL DIE!

If the alcohol and drugs don't kill ya, the prostate or ovarian cancer will. O' beautiful September will bring a harvest of death.

Three cheers for Bush's awareness and keeping the citizenry informed.

National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

Remember to mark your calendars for Women's Equality Day on Aug 26 and Constitution Day on Sept 17. There will be a bonfire at the White House to celebrate.

An Announcement

With the Dynasty fascination that emerged over the last few weeks, it is time for another theme day here at Petulant Rumblings. On the left hand side, there are links for the previous theme days- Butt Pirate and Cunt Day. The next theme day is from a quote by Blake Carrington in season one of Dynasty.

“The American Psychiatric Association had decided that it (homosexuality) is no longer a disease. That’s too bad. I could have endowed a foundation- the Stephen Carrington Institute for the treatment and study of Faggotry.”

THE INSTITUTE OF FAGGOTRY Coming soon!

Thanks to Aaron Logan for the fabulous image he made accessible to all.

Hell, it might last more than a day! HA!
Unlike Blake Carrington, this Institute is Pro-Faggotry.

More Sluggish Bush!

He sure gets animated when he talks about Iraq though! More video from the Conference of Security and Economic Issues with Canadian Prime Minister Harper and Mexican President Calderon.

PRESIDENT BUSH: The way I view Iraq is from the security perspective and a political perspective. I made a decision to send more troops into Iraq to provide enough security for reconciliation to have the time to take place. It appears to me -- and I certainly don't want to prejudge General David Petraeus's report back home -- but there is some progress being made. In other words, one aspect of my decision is working. There are two types of political reconciliation that can take place in a new democracy: One is from the top down, and one is from the bottom up. Clearly, the Iraqi government has got to do more through its parliament to help heal the wounds of years -- having lived years under a tyrant. It's not easy to go from a tyrannical society where the tyrant brutalized his people and created deep suspicions into one in which people are willing to work more closely together. The Iraqi people made a great step toward reconciliation when they passed the most modern constitution in the Middle East, and now their government has got to perform. And I think there's a certain level of frustration with the leadership in general, inability to work -- to come to get, for example, an oil revenue law passed or provincial elections. On the other hand, I do want to point out that the Iraqi parliament has met and passed 60 different pieces of legislation. They do have a budgeting process that is in the process of distributing a significant amount of money from the central government to the provincial governments, and the money they're distributing is oil revenues. So there may not be an oil revenue distribution law, but there's oil revenues being distributed. There's bottom-up reconciliation taking place. It's noticeable and tangible and real, where people at the grassroots level are sick and tired of the violence, sick and tired of the radicalism, and they want -- and they want a better life. And they're beginning to reject the extremists that have the desire to have a safe haven, for example, from which to launch further attacks on America. In other words, there's a process taking place. And the fundamental question is, will the government respond to the demands of the people? And if the government doesn't demand -- respond to the demands of the people, they will replace the government. That's up to the Iraqis to make that decision, not American politicians. The Iraqis will decide. They have decided they want a constitution, they have elected members to their parliament, and they will make the decisions, just like democracies do. And the question that we have to face in America is, is it worth it? Does it matter whether or not this young democracy survives? Is it in our national interests that this difficult experiment with democracy in the Middle East work? And I've come to the conclusion that it is. It's in our interests, because a failed Iraq could easily yield a safe haven from which the extremists and radicals who once attacked us could attack us again. A failed Iraq would become a recruiting tool for the very same people that still want to attack America. And so it's in our interests. I told you the other day at a press conference -- I don't know if you were there or not -- but if you don't believe it's in American interests to be there, you won't find any political reconciliation that is -- that is worth defending. If you do think it's in our interests, our security interests, then you'll be able to see political reconciliation taking place, some at the top and some at the bottom. Now, Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus will be coming back to brief the Congress in about a month's time, and I'm looking forward to hearing their briefing. And I would hope that members of Congress from both political parties listen very carefully to the report they bring back, as we all make decisions about what's best for our national security in regards to this one theater in the war against the extremists and radicals. (WH)

Download 37MB

Bush Talks Real SLOW

President Bush was at a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Harper and Mexican president Calderon for the Conference on Security and Economic Issues. One of the questions was asked by a Fox News correspondent about the dreaded joining of the United States with Mexico and Canada. Bush doesn't really answer the question but the sluggish nature of his answer makes me wonder about other things. Hmmmm...

Question from FoxNews: Thank you. As you three leaders meet here, there are a growing number of people in each of your countries who have expressed concern about the Security and Prosperity Partnership. This is addressed to all three of you. Can you say today that this is not a prelude to a North American union, similar to a European Union? Are there plans to build some kind of superhighway connecting all three countries? And do you believe all of these theories about a possible erosion of national identity stem from a lack of transparency from this partnership? Bush answers:"We represent three great nations. We each respect each other's sovereignty. You know, there are some who would like to frighten our fellow citizens into believing that relations between us are harmful for our respective peoples. I just believe they're wrong. I believe it's in our interest to trade; I believe it's in our interest to dialogue; I believe it's in our interest to work out common problems for the good of our people. And I'm amused by some of the speculation, some of the old -- you can call them political scare tactics. If you've been in politics as long as I have, you get used to that kind of technique where you lay out a conspiracy and then force people to try to prove it doesn't exist. That's just the way some people operate. I'm here representing my nation. I feel strongly that the United States is a force for good, and I feel strongly that by working with our neighbors we can a stronger force for good. So I appreciate that question. I'm amused by the difference between what actually takes place in the meetings and what some are trying to say takes place. It's quite comical, actually, when you realize the difference between reality and what some people are talking on TV about."

Download 10MB

YouTube is giving me the hassle from hell this evening. Hopefully, I will have this video and more posted to my channel in the morning.

Life Lessons from Dynasty

Over the last two weeks I watched Dynasty Seasons One and Two. Through these hours and hours of viewing, I learned a few pertinent life lessons.

• Even the sick have to face reality.

• Scotch and Champagne are good while pregnant.

• Liquor, if decanted, is appropriate at any time of the day.

• If there is ever a problem, just look in the mirror for the source.

• When accessorizing, more is better and furs are mandatory regardless of season.
  

• Homosexuals pretending to be straight are major Drama Queens.

• If Heather Locklear struts around in hot pants and Candies, men pay attention and homosexuals will marry her.

• ONE lit stick of Dynamite is an efficient way to blow-up a limousine.

• Fucking in the afternoon is called a matinee.

• Saxophone solos during sex are cheesy.

• If someone is having a heart attack, it is best to slap their face repeatedly.

• Dragged miles by a horse may cause a miscarriage, but hair will remain perfectly coiffed.

• In a fit of anger, never start a shoving match with your son’s homosexual lover as death will ensue. Of course, only homosexuals die. So if straight, you are safe.

• Homosexual experimentation is acceptable if performed outside of the home.

• Catfights should only occur when there is a full servant staff to clean the mess.
  

• Drug use in Middle Eastern countries leads to arrest and eventual suicide.

• Oil is a precious commodity and all who block the flow will be squashed.

• ALWAYS be wary of shotgun-wielding women dressed in red.
  

I will probably add to this as I feel the impact of Dynasty in my daily life. If anyone else has some important life lessons learned from Dynasty, please leave a comment and I will add to the list. Since I lack the Soap Channel, I will wait eagerly for the release of season three and hopefully learn how to live my life to its potential.

Here is the ultimate catfight between Alexis and Krystal from season two ep. 31 The Baby.

See also Dynasty and My Inner Fag which Icaia thinks is redundant.

Morning Readings

• Bush Hates The Children! "The Bush administration, continuing its fight to stop states from expanding the popular Children’s Health Insurance Program, has adopted new standards that would make it much more difficult for New York, California and others to extend coverage to children in middle-income families." (NY)

• They are coming to get you! "The research, the Marijuana Signature Project, relies on stable isotopes, which are forms of an element like nitrogen or oxygen, that have distinct atomic masses. Long employed in ecological research, stable isotopes are increasingly used for forensic purposes, including investigations into blood doping, arson and trafficking in contraband like drugs and endangered species." (NY)

• Virginia loves gun. "Law enforcement authorities traced more than 10,000 guns recovered in Virginia, Maryland and the District last year -- and nearly half came from Virginia, according to federal data released yesterday." (WP)

• Wal-Mart is secretive. (Yahoo)

• NOT THE DWARVES! Please not the DWARVES! "A dwarf performer at the Edinburgh fringe festival had to be rushed to hospital after his penis got stuck to a vacuum cleaner during an act that went horribly awry." (Raw Story)

• Two Students play frisbee with land mine. (Ananova)

• Vampire bats attack cattle. (NG)

• "Chemical Ali" goes to trial. "Former commanders of Saddam Hussein's military go on trial in Baghdad on Tuesday for their role in crushing a Shi'ite rebellion in southern Iraq at the end of the 1991 Gulf War in which tens of thousands were killed.

  Standing alongside the military officers are Saddam's former defense minister at the time and his personal secretary. The most high profile of the 15 defendants is Saddam's feared cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majeed, known as "Chemical Ali". (Reuters)

• Hamlet.doc? Literature in the digital age. (Chronicle)

• Rational Atheism (SciAm)

Away

Icaia's baby must have spread her germs through the telephone. I am a snotty mess and miserable!