Politics: Where we struggle to kneel in the muck.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
The most interesting theory that I've heard so far - which is nothing more than a theory, it can't be proved - is that he was warned ahead of time by the Saudis. Now, who knows what the real situation is?

Ty! I long for you madly!

Goodness! -- T.S.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by The Larry Davis Experience
Yes. Courtesy doesn't trump integrity. Why court that appearance of impropriety? I have a hard time believing that you'd be so accommodating if the shoe were on the other candidate's foot.

I just don't think there's an appearance of impropriety at all here, and I assume that the other side is chatting with journalists all the time. How else do you explain CNN's craven state? They're journalists, not judges. Their stock in trade is making connections.

You wrote that you had a problem with the "kind" of stories Vlasto produced. Now you say that it's the number. Either way, I believe one is enough. I would hope that journalistic integrity is not a "fool me once, shame on me" proposition.

I'm sorry to be unclear. I also have a problem with the story Mapes produced. Specifically, I understand that it was inaccurate, in that they relied on documents which now appear to have been forged.

Since this is, apparently, the first time that Mapes has been gulled, I construe it as a mis-step. Since Vlasto has an appetite for such stories, I consider his integrity suspect.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

[Not Me]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Swifties Ad #6

• Opens With: Footage of Jane Fonda
  Cuts To: Stills of Kerry, protesters, then Kerry testifying
  
  Cuts to: Fonda at a press conference
  
  Announcer: "Even before Jane Fonda went to Hanoi to meet with the enemy and mock America, John Kerry secretly met with enemy leaders in Paris. Though we were still at war and Americans were being held in North Vietnamese prison camps. Then, he returned and accused American troops of committing war crimes on a daily basis. Eventually Jane Fonda apologized for her activities, but John Kerry refuses to. In a time of war, can America trust a man who betrayed his country?"

This stuff influences undecided voters. Let's hope that Rathergate gets pushed to the back burner so that we can focus on the real issues, like this.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Not Me
This stuff influences undecided voters. Let's hope that Rathergate gets pushed to the back burner so that we can focus on the real issues, like this.

As if Bush needed any more help with this election. The Chicago Tribune or Suntimes recently indicated that the Illinois Dems are actually beginning to worry about even Illinois falling as a Red state in this election, and they were glad Hillary stopped by (snicker, snicker). This in a state where there will be no Republicans in any significant office after November (and my boy the Senator is moving to McLean, VA in Fairfax Co. upon his retirement from the Senate after only one term as an excellent public servant).

Have there ever been 70 Republican Senators at one time? Its hard to believe, but the Massachusetts Democrats (and I did like Tsongas) are going to engineer the greatest defeat of the Democratic party in decades. Good job boys. OK, maybe not 70. How about 58-62 thought? When was the last time this sorta thing happened?

Hello

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Phoebe CatesYou don't see a difference between spin and rhetorical devices as compared to lousy fact-checking coupled with adament assurances that the network stands behind its reporting?

Sure, we all see that difference. But a month ago Bilmore would have been arguing that the former is worse than the latter.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Swifties Ad #6

• Opens With: Footage of Jane Fonda
  Cuts To: Stills of Kerry, protesters, then Kerry testifying
  
  Cuts to: Fonda at a press conference
  
  Announcer: "Even before Jane Fonda went to Hanoi to meet with the enemy and mock America, John Kerry secretly met with enemy leaders in Paris. Though we were still at war and Americans were being held in North Vietnamese prison camps. Then, he returned and accused American troops of committing war crimes on a daily basis. Eventually Jane Fonda apologized for her activities, but John Kerry refuses to. In a time of war, can America trust a man who betrayed his country?"

The swifties were in Paris, too? I think they're losing focus.

[Replaced_Texan]

32 indictments came down today in the investigation of corporate money headed to Republican candidates for office in the great State of Texas. Three of the 32 were top aides in the Delay camp, and many of the others were from companies that donated to the Texans for a Republican Majority. One can only hope that one or more of the indictees rolls over on Delay.

There was a lot of happy dancing in my household tonight.

http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/...dictments.html

Republican Majority officials indicted in fund-raising investigation
Attorney says seven companies, three individuals named
Advertisement
By Laylan Copelin

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

A Travis County grand jury on Tuesday indicted three top lieutenants of U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in connection with corporate money raised during the 2002 elections.

Indicted on one count of money laundering were John Colyandro, the executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee, and Jim Ellis, a former DeLay staff member now head of Americans for a Republican Majority, DeLay's national fund-raising political action committee.

[Hank Chinaski]

[Hank Chinaski]

http://www.honestreporting.com/artic...Terrorists.asp

Reuters official admits the reason it doesn't call terrorists terrorists is that it is afraid to do so, incredible. Do you think the fear ever influences the "facts?"

The National Post in Toronto and The Calgary Herald, which both use Reuters dispatches -[decided] to substitute the word "terrorist" in articles for terms like "insurgents" and "rebels."

"Our editorial policy is that we don't use emotive words when labeling someone," said David A. Schlesinger, Reuters' global managing editor. "Any paper can change copy and do whatever they want. But if a paper wants to change our copy that way, we would be more comfortable if they remove the byline."

Mr. Schlesinger said he was concerned that changes like those made at CanWest could lead to "confusion" about what Reuters is reporting and possibly endanger its reporters in volatile areas or situations.

"My goal is to protect our reporters and protect our editorial integrity," he said.

According to Mr. Schlesinger, members of Reuters' sales staff in Canada have asked CanWest to remove writers' names to conform to its guidelines for the use of "terrorist." Reuters has also asked that CanWest add its name to that of Reuters as the source of revised articles and to display that information only at the end of the articles. Alternatively, Reuters suggests that its name not be used at all.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
32 indictments came down today in the investigation of corporate money headed to Republican candidates for office in the great State of Texas. Three of the 32 were top aides in the Delay camp, and many of the others were from companies that donated to the Texans for a Republican Majority. One can only hope that one or more of the indictees rolls over on Delay.

There was a lot of happy dancing in my household tonight.

http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/...dictments.html

Republican Majority officials indicted in fund-raising investigation
Attorney says seven companies, three individuals named
Advertisement
By Laylan Copelin

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

A Travis County grand jury on Tuesday indicted three top lieutenants of U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in connection with corporate money raised during the 2002 elections.

Indicted on one count of money laundering were John Colyandro, the executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee, and Jim Ellis, a former DeLay staff member now head of Americans for a Republican Majority, DeLay's national fund-raising political action committee.

If they boil that ugly wart of a man in steaming Clorox, it will be too mild a penalty. No offense to Texas, but what cesspool do you all grow these people in? We have our share of scumbags up in the Mid Atlantic - lord knows PA/Philly is loaded up with them - but we never seem to create anything on par with the likes of Delay, Rove, et al. Its like these fuckers all snort Lee Atwater's ashes every morning and suck down a shotglass of bull testoserone for lunch. Delay all but goosesteps around the Capitol.

BUT, I must hand it to Tom. Graduating from managing pest controllers to managing the House is a hell of a career jump, so he can't be a fraction as dumb as he looks and sounds. But then again, managing imbeciles like Hastert probably isn't brain surgery. I mean, really... the guy's previous experience was being a fucking wrestling coach. He makes Truman look like a Mensa member. I guess its par for the course... garbage runs, garbage gets elected. If you've half a brain, you can probably get a lot further in the House than most folks would like to admit.

PS: I am not calling out solely GOP Texans as "folks deserving to be hit with a Louisville Slugger". As I recall, the Dems down your way have a rich history of below the belt punches dating back to LBJ's early House campaign where he accused his opponent of fucking pigs. But I gotta admit... I love that accusation. If only Kitty kelly had found some domestic farm animal beastiality in the Bush closet... "And then Jeb told his daughter, 'Listen, the camera's rolling... you either get in front of Sparky and do the scene or you don't get the Xanax! I've only got 20 minutes to get this thing right. Poppy wants his gin and tonic on the veranda, and if I don't make it right, I'll get the belt. You don't want dad to get the belt, do you?" The idea of Jeb getting belted by 41 at their present ages just nauseated me... I must now go...

[Say_hello_for_me]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/22/ny...agewanted=2&hp

Section 8 vouchers in the NYC area will be for lower values this year, because the value is now calculated based on a number that includes surrounding suburbs.

Now, if somebody points out that some of the suburbs don't have any section 8, maybe lights will start going off. OTOH, maybe the light that goes off will be to only include the rents of those suburbs that do have section 8. Something tells me, including only the suburbs that have section would probably bring the average down even further for a place like NYC (as compared to including all suburbs).

Boy, this could break either way at any time.

Hello

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
[Cartoon]

I think you'll enjoy this Hank:

I was having a conversation with my neighbor last night. Not my next door neighbor, but the one a couple of doors down, the one with the teenage son.

"Balt," he said to me, "I'm just at the end of my rope here.

"Last year George [that's his son] asked Mabelle* and I if he could start staying out late, try to hang out with Britney.* Mabelle and I talked it over and talked it over, and then decided to let him stay out to midnight. He could go anywhere, we told him, as long as he was home by midnight.

"Never really liked Britney too much, and I thought George hanging out with her was a bad idea, but we told him he could go out, and we decided we had to trust him.

"Of course he got her knocked up.

"At first I just yelled at him about how I can't believe he did it, and how I would have not done the same thing, but that doesn't really solve the problem.

"Now I had a conversation with him today about planning for the future, about how he's going to take care of the baby. He just laughed and called me a hypocrite.

"Balt, what do I do?"

"You're problem," I said, "is that you're a flip-flopper. Flip-flop, flip-flop. Flip-flop. Flip! Flop!

"First you say you and Mabelle trusted him, and told him he could use his own judgement. Now you say you would not have done the same thing! Flip-flop! And you say you never really liked Britney, but now you want your son to stay with her and take care of the baby! Flip-flop! And you say you wouldn't have knocked Britney up, how then can you have a plan for what to do now!?! Flip-flop! Flip-Flop! No wonder he hates you."

I think he would have punched me right then, if George's friend Dick hadn't pulled up in his Hummer just then a flipped my neighbor the bird. Dick's the one who introduced George to Britney, by the way.

*Not her real name, but it's fun, isn't it?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

eta: Please note that all of the text on this page above this here little note is from the guy who made the graphic, not me. -- T.S.

[Gattigap]

Mindful of the need for a multi-pronged campaign strategy, the "Vote for Kerry and We'll Kill this Dog" message is being supplemented below the radar with lovely social issues, thanks to the RNC:

Link to copy of GOP mailer.

Apparently, this is being used in Arkansas and several other states. Despite the RNC return address, Ed Gillespie expresses bafflement.