Politics As Usual

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
If that's your thinking, you're wasting your money. The next Senate minority leader would be no better, and the GOP is never going to get the 60 senators necessary to bypass Dems entirely.

Who replaces him as minority leader? Hadn't really thought about it, but I still feel good about Thune (his letters address issues consistent with my beliefs).

Still, name me a counterpart worth backing on your side, and I'll at least look into it. I know there's a dem somewhere worth voting for. Is Di Fi running (in a contested race)?

Hello

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
Who replaces him as minority leader? Hadn't really thought about it, but I still feel good about Thune (his letters address issues consistent with my beliefs).

Still, name me a counterpart worth backing on your side, and I'll at least look into it. I know there's a dem somewhere worth voting for. Is Di Fi running (in a contested race)?

I like Daschle more than I like most senators, Democrat or Republican. I certainly like him more than Feinstein (who isn't up for re-election) or Boxer (who is). I think he's a decent guy, and that he gets targeted by the GOP mostly because he represents the untidy fact that the conservative movement often runs into political reality. Not to say that I like everything he does -- e.g., his support of ethanol and the energy bill -- but on the whole he seems like a good person, and not an empty suit.

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2629683

Chris Bell, one of our local Representatives here in Houston, has filed a formal ethics complaint against Tom Delay. The complaint generally focuses on Delay's involvement with the redistricting mess last year. Bell's seat was lost due to the redistricting. ...
One Republican was quoted as saying "you kill our dog, we'll kill your cat."

So was this a threat, or a summary of the events so far? It would appear that Bell's animal has already been slain, and now he's looking for retribution.

Hello: here's your race. Delay needs to go (it's hopeless, but he needs to go).

[Gattigap]

So what does a former Speaker of the House/visionary do once the Speaker's gig is over?

Well, if you're Newt Gingrich, you drop off the radar after being pushed out in the 1990s, and while you cool you heels at the AEI and other think tanks, and dabble in aborted attempts to become Sec of State midstream during Bush's term,* what you really enjoy doing is working your way up the list of Amazon book reviewers.

Yes, Newt is ranked number 488 among the highly respected Top 500 Amazon Book Reviewers.

To earn this honor, Gingrich wrote 137 reviews, which were deemed "helpful" by 2,002 people. "Newt Gingrich," we learn from his extensive About Me page, "is an avid reader. He does not review all of the books he reads. You will not find any bad reviews here, just the books he thinks you might enjoy." From the same page, we learn that in addition to being called an "exceptional leader" by Time magazine (which made him its Man of the Year in 1995), Newt Gingrich is "credited with the idea of a Homeland Security agency," "widely recognized for his commitment to a better system of health," and that he was the March of Dimes 1995 Georgia Citizen of the Year.

Unfortunately, he still has some work ahead of him. Gingrich "shares the rank of Amazon reviewer #488 with "boudica" who describes herself as "Witch and Editor of the ZodiacBistro.com and a free lance reviewer." She's also a "Craft teacher with the CroneSpeak.com group" who has "recently published article in the Llewellyn Wicca Almanac."

Good company, yes, but climbing over the dead bodies of worthy adversaries such as this are much more satisfying than savaging your run-of-the-mill Democrat, no?

Gattigap

*"Well-informed sources in Washington told EIR that the Gingrich appearance at AEI was part of an orchestrated campaign by the neo-conservative crowd, including Vice President Dick Cheney and Donald H. Rumsfeld, to force Colin L. Powell's ouster as Secretary of State, and his replacement by none other than—Newt Gingrich." Yes, I know, the source is kooky, but this far-right vs. kooky-right intrasquad sparring is more fun to watch than reviewing the bland version found on
WaPo or something.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by baltassoc
So was this a threat, or a summary of the events so far? It would appear that Bell's animal has already been slain, and now he's looking for retribution.

Hello: here's your race. Delay needs to go (it's hopeless, but he needs to go).

Delay seems a bit like an extremist and hey, who doesn't like Replaced Texan's modest moderating moderationenss.

Someone say a few nice things about Bell please.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by baltassoc
So was this a threat, or a summary of the events so far? It would appear that Bell's animal has already been slain, and now he's looking for retribution.

Hello: here's your race. Delay needs to go (it's hopeless, but he needs to go).

Richard Morrison. Plaintiff's attorney that generally works on environmental issues, four kids, stay-at-home wife, catholic, fairly reasonable platform for Sugarland and Clear Lake. Pro-choice. Making a name for himself in the last few weeks, and raising a shit load of money and endorsements. Has a very strong base in Clear Lake and Kemah (where Delay redistricted himself). Has a hell of a lot of volunteers, and I keep on running more and more people from the Morrison campaign. I think that all the frustrated anti-bush people in Houston have rallied around Morrison (and Nick Lampson, a Dem fighting for his newly formed district) in an effort to feel effective in the national campaign. There are a lot of anti-bush people in Houston.

The good news is that there's also an independent also running in District 22, so the Republicans that can't stand Delay, but can't bring themselves to vote for a Democrat may vote for the Independent (that's what they've historically done in that district).

ETA: Link to Morrison's site http://www.richardmorrisonfordistrict22.com/index.php and to say that the shooting of animals statement sounded like a threat of things to come, but it was on the local news radio this morning, and I can't find a link.

ETA2: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...1568_2004jun14 Link to cat and dog statement.

• A DeLay ally, Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.), said Republicans "are going to have to respond in kind" by filing ethics charges against key Democrats. From now on, he said in an interview, it's a matter of "you kill my dog, I'll kill your cat." Doolittle said he plans to file ethics charges against a prominent Democrat but would not name the target.

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2629683

Chris Bell, one of our local Representatives here in Houston, has filed a formal ethics complaint against Tom Delay. The complaint generally focuses on Delay's involvement with the redistricting mess last year. Bell's seat was lost due to the redistricting. ...
One Republican was quoted as saying "you kill our dog, we'll kill your cat."

Originally posted by baltassoc
So was this a threat, or a summary of the events so far? It would appear that Bell's animal has already been slain, and now he's looking for retribution.

Hello: here's your race. Delay needs to go (it's hopeless, but he needs to go).

So what is it with Republicans and animals? Amusing affectation, or sick obsession? As FNC says, You Decide.

Republican SC Govenor brings pigs to state house, who promptly dump on the legislature.

Gov. Mark Sanford brought live pigs into the House chamber Thursday to make a point about pork barrel spending but ended up with a bipartisan firestorm hot enough for a barbecue.

"Insulting" and "childish," said House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville. "This is beneath the dignity of the Governor's Office, and I am embarrassed for him."

Minority Leader James Smith, D-Columbia, said, "I don't know if (Sanford) has any credibility or reputation left that gives him any ability to lead."

Adding insult to injury, one of the pigs promptly defecated on the marble floor of House lobby after Sanford put them down.

Obviously, the Governor's office neglected to check in with bilmore, who could've warned them about this precise risk.

Gattigap

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
Delay seems a bit like an extremist and hey, who doesn't like Replaced Texan's modest moderating moderationenss.

Someone say a few nice things about Bell please.

He's a "Really Earnest Anglo" trying to bring a "mountain of soul to District Nine."

http://www.houstonpress.com/issues/2...hairballs.html

[Not Me]

This is a wierd story. .

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe....ap/index.html

• MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Bodyguards for President Bush's daughter Jenna Bush were entangled in a fistfight with two men trying to steal a cell phone in southern Spain, a U.S. Embassy official said Tuesday.
  
  The fight happened last Thursday while Jenna Bush was vacationing with some friends in the coastal city of Tarifa, continental Europe's southernmost point and a famous destination for wind surfers, embassy spokesman John Law said.
  
  The 22-year-old Bush was sitting at a hotel terrace when two men tried to steal a cell phone on a nearby table. Law said it wasn't clear to whom the cell phone belonged, but Bush's bodyguards reacted immediately.
  
  One secret service agent punched one of the suspects in the mouth, Law said, adding that he had no other details of the altercation.
  
  He could not confirm reports by state news agency Efe that one of the secret service agents pointed his gun at a suspect.
  
  Jenna Bush was not hurt and did not press charges against the men, who were not arrested, Efe reported.

[Not Me]

If this was indeed a mercy killing, this guy used incredibly poor judgement in making that call.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...212242,00.html

• U.S. Officer to Be Charged With Murder
  
  Wednesday June 16, 2004 8:46 PM
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Army has decided to charge a 1st Armored Division officer with murder in the May 21 death of an Iraqi civilian who was wounded during a high-speed chase, then shot again at close range, an Army official said Wednesday.
  
  The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Army's Criminal Investigation Division has not yet publicly announced its decision, said the 1st Armored captain will be charged soon.
  
  The officer's name was not disclosed.
  
  The U.S. Central Command announced on June 4 that the case was being investigated but provided few details. It said the matter involved a potential violation of U.S. rules of engagement which govern the use of deadly force.
  
  In its announcement, Central Command said the driver of an Iraqi vehicle in a motorcade was seriously wounded and a passenger was less seriously wounded when U.S. troops opened fire near the city of Kufa. It said initial reports indicated that the wounded driver was then shot at close range by a U.S. soldier and died.
  
  The Army official who said Wednesday that a 1st Armored Division officer would be charged with murder in the case said the soldier reportedly shot the badly wounded man to end his suffering.

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Gattigap
So what is it with Republicans and animals? Amusing affectation, or sick obsession? As FNC says, You Decide.
Gattigap

When I started reading this post, I thought it was going to be about Frist, what with the cat killing and all.

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by baltassoc
When I started reading this post, I thought it was going to be about Frist, what with the cat killing and all.

Certainly a fair assumption, but Frist's "research," while arguably wacky, could credibly be called an amusing affectation only by Frist's mother and the TX Republican that RT heard quoted on the radio. I tried to go for something a bit lighter.

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
ETA2: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...1568_2004jun14 Link to cat and dog statement.

• A DeLay ally, Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.), said Republicans "are going to have to respond in kind" by filing ethics charges against key Democrats. From now on, he said in an interview, it's a matter of "you kill my dog, I'll kill your cat." Doolittle said he plans to file ethics charges against a prominent Democrat but would not name the target.

Un-fucking-believable. Delay's actions during the Texas redistricting debacle were reprehensible. The man tried to get Federal law enforcement agents to arrest Democratic representatives for the crime of being out of the state.

This makes me so angry I can't even rant. I'm just giving my Yankee* liberal money to Morrison instead.

*I'm not changing my position on the Yankee/Southernor thing, but I know enough about Southernors to know that when I give money to Morrison, I'll be thought of as a good-for-nothing Yankee liberal meddler.

[Not Me]

Originally posted by baltassoc
This makes me so angry I can't even rant. I'm just giving my Yankee* liberal money to Morrison instead.

*I'm not changing my position on the Yankee/Southernor thing, but I know enough about Southernors to know that when I give money to Morrison, I'll be thought of as a good-for-nothing Yankee liberal meddler.

Texas is not part of The South. The continental US has several distinct regions, and Texas is in a category of its own. There is the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, the South (does not include TX), the Mid-West, Texas, the Southwest (which arguably could include TX), the West, California, and the Pacific Northwest.

[Not Me]

It is only a matter of time before terrorists get ahold of a nuclear weapon. Good thing we are making progress in stabilizing the middle east by bringing democracy to Iraq. But we need to start making progress on an effective missle defense system, too.

[confidential to Hello]See all the good work all those petro dollars you send Iran's way are doing?[/confidential to Hello]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0617/p08s02-comv.html

• The Nuclear Threat in Iran
  
  The world needs a new way to contain the spread of nuclear weapons among nations, especially in an age of big-shock terrorism.
  
  The current system, which relies mainly on the 1968 Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT), could start to unravel this week in a standoff between the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran over that nation's nuclear ambitions.
  
  Iran threatens to pull out of the treaty, as North Korea did in 2002, if the IAEA board reprimands it, as expected, for blocking a probe of its nuclear facilities. Iran claims it has a right to develop nuclear weapons, even though the oil-rich nation says it's developing nuclear power only for electricity. But the IAEA caught Iran lying about technical capabilities that suggest it's developing bomb-grade material. The US claims Iran is bent on being a nuclear power, which would destabilize the Middle East.
  
  Although Libya recently gave up its nuclear-weapons program, as did Taiwan and South Africa in decades past, Iran could thus join North Korea, Pakistan, India, and Israel as nuclear powers outside the NPT's constraints. That would make it even easier for other nations to join that club.
  
  The NPT was meant to prevent such proliferation. The deal was that nuclear weapons would be limited to the United States, China, France, Britain, and the Soviet Union (now Russia), while other countries could obtain nuclear technology for peaceful uses - subject to IAEA inspections. The nuclear powers, meanwhile, promised to phase out their weapons.
  
  The latter has never happened. Nor did the US constrain Israel in the 1960s from developing its nuclear arsenal. If Iran makes good on its threat to leave the NPT, it should force the international community to come up with a comprehensive new solution to nuclear proliferation.
  
  The Bush administration has proposed a global freeze on the export of nuclear-power technology to prevent any more nations from cheating, as Iran appears to have done. But European allies agreed to only a one-year ban at a G-8 summit this month. That's a start, but more action is needed to prevent regional nuclear wars and keep such weapons from falling into terrorist hands.