How Will This Play and What is Going on Here?
 

I see your C train died, too. Bloomberg sure ain't no Churchill.

How Will This Play and What is Going on Here?
 

I thought it was Mussolini who made the trains run on time.

The best part of the C train fiasco was finding out that half the subway system depended on a bunch of vacuum tubes, toggle switches from Frankenstein's laboratory and William Alva Edison's pocket watch all locked up in a little room that nobody's been inside since 1937. Sweet. One day someone's gonna take a penny out of a fusebox somewhere and the whole city will grind to a screeching halt.

How Will This Play and What is Going on Here?
 

If that was your point, I missed it.

"Giving information" in a vaccuum strikes me as pissing into the wind. I doubt that a discussion of the broad strokes of abortion philosophy with a disinterested kid means 1/1000th as much as that same talk when the kid is sitting there pregnant. A "these are your choices now" discussion is a bit more meaningful than "these would be your choices if this ever happened." Try to have the second type with a 13-year-old, and you're gonna lose their attention in about four minutes. This is a discussion that needs to occur between parent and kid at the time.

Like I said - there's no middle ground here. I won't budge off of that last sentence, and you won;t budge off of yours. Let's talk weather.

How Will This Play and What is Going on Here?
 

Well, Bloomberg may well be a Mussolini.

(I sat in bars and couldn't smoke. Effin' barbarian city.)

Does this count as PLF irony?
 

"GLENDALE, Calif. (AP) - The suicidal man who authorities say caused the chain-reaction train derailment that killed 11 people has been charged with multiple counts of murder and could face the death penalty, the district attorney said Thursday."

Smoke Gets in your Eyes
 

We only do that to the out-of-towners. After the tourists leave we all have a good laugh and light up.

Seriously, though, there is a speakeasy kind of thing going on in some neighborhood bars, after-hours in some Manhattan bars, and (thank god) the bar where we watch the Celtic matches on the weekend.

It is still a barbarian city, though, and rapidly becoming third world in terms of public transportation.

Does She Have GMAIL?
 

The following was apparently sent in an email from Condi to the entire state department:

• Colleagues, today is the first of many days ahead that we will work together to help our country build a safer, better world. I am honored to lead the State Department at this critical time -- a time of challenge and hope and opportunity. And, like you, I owe a special debt of gratitude to our dear friend Colin Powell, who has served our nation with distinction, and has done so much to strengthen the Department of State.
  
  September 11, 2001, was a defining moment for our nation and the world. Under the vision and leadership of President Bush, our nation has risen to meet the challenges of our time; fighting tyranny and terror, and securing the blessings of freedom and prosperity for a new generation. The work that America and our allies have undertaken, and the sacrifices we have made, have been difficult. And necessary. And right. Now is the time to build on these achievements-to make the world safer, and to make the world more free. We must use American diplomacy to help create a balance of power in the world that favors freedom. And the time for diplomacy is now.
  
  In these momentous times, American diplomacy has three great tasks. We will unite the community of democracies in building an international system that is based on our shared values and the rule of law. We will strengthen the community of democracies to fight the threats to our common security and alleviate the hopelessness that feeds terror. And we will spread freedom and democracy throughout the world. That is the mission that President Bush has set for you and me, and the great mission of American diplomacy today.
  
  As we begin our work together, President Bush and I will expect great things from each of you in the service of your country and of a great cause. More than ever, you will be active in spreading democracy, fighting terror, reducing poverty, and helping to protect the American homeland.
  
  I want each of you to know that I have no higher priority than the well-being and personal development of the men and women of the Foreign and Civil Services and the Foreign Service Nationals who work beside us. I know from experience how hard you work and the many risks you take. And I am especially aware of the hardships and sacrifices that your families endure as they also serve our nation. I want you to know that I will personally work to help ensure that you have the tools you need to do your jobs -- from training to budgets to mentoring to embassy security.
  
  Colleagues, I am honored to be your Secretary during these historic times. Together, we will serve our wonderful country and the cause of freedom for which it stands.

Does She Have GMAIL?
 

Shouldn't she be out diplomatting or something?

Does She Have GMAIL?
 

(P.S. You're all fired.)

Does She Have GMAIL?
 

Yours very truly,

Douglas Feith
Assistant Secretary of State

Does this count as PLF irony?
 

I wonder if they put him on suicide watch down at the jail.

Does this count as PLF irony?
 

Round the clock.

I suppose it's barbarous to suggest that there's a cheaper way here somewhere . . .

(ETA - Okay, they are alluding to his mental illness, so, yeah, it would be barbarous. Never mind.)

Gitmo Luv
 

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...th_2&printer=1

A former Gitmo translator has written a book on the practices of female interrogators. gatti, get busy. I want to option the movie rights.

Sugar-mamas from Vermont
 

The bunny banning by the new Education Secretary caused me to raise eyebrows before, but the more I read about it the more its pissing me off even more:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/27/ar...on/27bust.html

Seems appropriate that this administration would encourage the trailer trash but ban the gays.

How Will This Play and What is Going on Here?
 

To my recollection, none of the school search cases rest on the status of the searchee as a child.

those of you who still think the Democratic party has some legs- please read this.

By 2030, the 2-party system will be anti-abortion Reps. and pro-choice repubs.

Adder I can just imagine this to be true, but do you see the Party of Ms. Boxer as being around still? First read this----

by Barbara Boxer
Thu Jan 27th, 2005 at 14:11:07 PST

(From the diaries — kos)

I can’t thank all of you enough — the Daily Kos community, and the blogosphere as a whole — for all of your effective work during the recent debate over Condoleezza Rice’s nomination. Your support and participation in this critical debate meant so much to me.

More than 94,000 Americans from across the country signed my petition and stood together to demand the truth from Condoleezza Rice. It was truly an overwhelming response — much more than I could have anticipated. You helped to get our message out to millions of Americans — I couldn’t have done it without you.

And you made a difference. You gave me the voice I needed to ask the tough questions during Dr. Rice’s confirmation hearings. And you gave the entire United States Senate the voice it needed to take its “advice and consent” responsibility seriously. In fact, Condoleezza Rice received 13 votes against her confirmation — the most votes against any Secretary of State’s nomination since 1825.

Two weeks ago, who would have thought that Condoleezza Rice’s nomination would allow us to have a full debate about our policy in Iraq? Who would have thought that we’d have the chance to truly expose all of the misstatements and misjudgments that led us into that conflict and continue to plague this Administration to this very day?

The Republican Senate leadership intended to easily approve Dr. Rice’s nomination in a routine voice vote last Thursday afternoon, after President Bush’s Inauguration and before the Inaugural balls got into full swing.

But you didn’t let them ram this nomination through the Senate. You forced the Republican leadership to give us the debate we wanted on the floor of the United States Senate, and you gave us the opportunity we desperately needed to hold Dr. Rice and the Bush Administration accountable for their failures in Iraq and in the war on terrorism.

The American people deserved no less.

As you and I both know, this is just one more of the many battles we’ll be having as we fight for our nation’s future. It started with contesting the Ohio vote, it continued with the debate over Dr. Rice’s confirmation, and it will certainly continue over the Gonzalez nomination and on many other looming issues. We’re going to need to keep working together to make our voices heard and build a better America.

I enjoyed the dialogue we started over the past few weeks, including the chat I had with Armando and DavidNYC on the eve of the committee hearings, and I look forward to future interactions with the Daily Kos community. I hope to have the time to drop by here and participate in the discussion from time to time — I value your input, and I thank you for caring so much about the future of our country.

Thanks again for all of your hard work. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your continued support. And I look forward to standing with you in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

In Friendship,

Barbara Boxer

Kerry/Boxer 2008!

I'm starting my own 527. Get your donations in now.

The most interesting thing about the Rice fight is that it is fucking up DEM stronghold constituencies. Many black civil rights leaders have lined up with the President and publicly condemned the left. Bush has also started gaining traction with his efforts to marginalize the NAACP, and is instead going directly to the black church leaders. Setting aside the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement (which, indeed is a large set aside), blacks, being more culturally conservative than the average American, are a natural constituency for the GOP. By 2012, I bet the GOP will have 30-40% support in the black community.

Cite?

40% in 6 years? You're smokin dope!

Where I come from, your exclamatory would be considered the highest of chiming-in praise.

Yeah, imagine that - the silly assholes think they have a right to ask questions about foriegn policy during the Sec. of State confirmation process, and actually fuck up W's carefully planned party schedule.

Why don't they get with the program, bend over and spread like the rest of us? Victory is at hand and things have never been better. In fact, I think Barbara Boxer is a fucking traitor.*

* Apologies if Anne Coulter already invented this.

Ah! So that's how the R's have been making policy. Suddenly, it all makes sense...

Apparently you forgot that Dems are required to support anyone who is black. Isn't that Hank's point?

No. I didn't mean that at all. Kos is a wack job blog. she posts a letter there telling it that she was so grateful etc. It would be similar to a Rep. leader posting on LGF.

People are sick of the insanity- she challenged Ohio results for god's sakes. You will lose the middle of the road voter permanently. In 2008 you will lose Pennslyvania. In 2012 Michigan. You are doomed by your wacky fringe.

Leave ltl/fb out of this.

But you have a point. Maybe the thing to do is put the wacky fringe in control of the party. Worked for the GOP.

Tom DeLay, January 4, 2005, shortly after the tsunami
Matthew, shortly after Jesus died

This is common knowledge. See e.g., the treatment of gays in the black community and the related topic of gay marriage.

Da Whackadoo Fringe
 

If only both parties would be doomed by their wacky fringes, we could start over and actually get somewhere. On the Repub side, Pat Buchannon isn't even whackadoo fringe anymore. And it's sad that Boxer is hogging all the press like she thinks she's some Dem poster child, but Hillary is considered unelectable nationally.

I propose the sane amongst us found the Liberal Party.

Oops! They DId It Again!
 

Another right-wing columnist caught with his hand in the Bush propaganda cookie jar --

• "One day after President Bush ordered his Cabinet secretaries to stop hiring commentators to help promote administration initiatives, and one day after the second high-profile conservative pundit was found to be on the federal payroll, a third embarrassing hire has emerged. Salon has confirmed that Michael McManus, a marriage advocate whose syndicated column, "Ethics & Religion," appears in 50 newspapers, was hired as a subcontractor by the Department of Health and Human Services to foster a Bush-approved marriage initiative. McManus championed the plan in his columns without disclosing to readers he was being paid to help it succeed."

Yesterday (or was it Wednesday?) Maureen Dowd announced she was leaving the left wing liberal media elite to enlist with the right wing media elite, because "They get paid better."

Caption, please -
 

Cheney in Auschwitz -

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com...ary_aus118.jpg

I suggest you tend first to your own wacky fringe.

eta: This guy too.

Da Whackadoo Fringe
 

I'm in, where do I sign?

What's most scarry about him is that he's actually held real position in the past.

Caption, please -
 

Come to Wyoming and see how you feel in your girly coats.

ETA: link to WaPo article panning his choice of attire.

It's probably supplanted Bremer's work boots w/ suit ensemble we apparently wore all the way from Iraq at the signover ceremony back to the West Wing reception the next day upon his return.

Caption, please -
 

Wouldn't be so bad if he didn't still have the lift ticket hanging on the front.

Difference seems to be, our whacky fringe isn't the driving force for our legislative agenda. When Keyes or Buschanan or Moore are leading the way in session, you may have a point.

Yeah, we both have our whacks. We roll our eyes at ours. You allow yours to lead caucuses. I fear such a move will lead to a two-party system consisting of moderate R's versus Right-wing R's. I think the system needs more diversity in choice, but allowing Boxer to be perceived as the D leader just marginalizes their chances for building more of a base.

On our side, I'm willing to give up the guy who proposed the boxing gloves for chickens.

Caption, please -
 

you dissing the seal of the Vice President?


http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-s...hp1-28-05c.jpg http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-s...hp1-28-05b.jpg

Then I bet your eyes nearly fall out of your head every time W says god speaks to him, through him, etc. Or is that not wacky?

I confess to being uncertain as to where the line is these days. Just f'rinstance, guy on the subway yelling at us that Jesus told him we're all going to hell unless we accept JC as personal savior = wacky, whereas POTUS saying he consults with JC/God/Higher Father before making important decisions is fairly mainstream. So, near as I can figure the difference must have something to do with public transportation.

Caption, please -
 

I'm not entirely sure that Mr. Putin, also in attendence albiet sans parka, is unfamiliar with sub-arctic temperatures.

That said, being a coldphobe and a Texan, like the Vice President, I am sympathetic to Mr. Cheney, as I have also been known to sacrifice style for comfort when confronted with the possibility of frostbite. I bet PETA was pissed, though, when they saw the fur.