pods.swedesforobama.com

- - 2006-08-17 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It took a few years, but....

"US removes Swede from terror list"
The Local

The Swede, who has Somalian roots, worked for al-Barakaat, an informal banking network centred on the east African country. After the attacks of September 11th 2001, American authorities said the bank was linked to terrorism.

The UN and the EU later incorporated Yusuf and two other Swedes into their list of terror suspects. This meant that the men's assets were frozen, even though no evidence had been produced. After a long legal process, two of the Swedes were taken off the list, but the US refused to remove Yusuf's name until now.

- - 2006-08-16 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Once a blue, now a red
In our hearts you are dead

Find out which Democratic senators support Democrat Ned Lamont and who support Independent Joe Lieberman

"Senate Democrats Supporting Ned Lamont"
Bob Geiger

- - 2006-08-16 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kick Ass Lib Song Of The Day

Tears for Fears "Sowing the seeds of love"

This anti-Thatcher anthem still gets it done.

High time we made a stand & shook up the views of the common man
And the love train rides from coast to coast
DJ's the man we love the most
Could you be, could you be squeaky clean
And smash any hope of democracy
As the headline says you're free to choose
There's egg on your face and mud on your shoes
One of these days they're gonna call it the blues, yeah yeah

(Sowing the seeds of love) anything is possible
(Seeds of love) when you're sowing the seeds of love
(Sowing the seeds of love)
(Sowing the seeds of love) anything is possible
(Seeds of love) sowing the seeds of love (Sowing the seeds)

I spy tears in their eyes
They look to the skies for some kind of divine intervention
Food goes to waste, so nice to eat, so nice to taste
Politician Granny with your high ideals
Have you no idea how the majority feels
So without love and a promised land
We're fools to the rules of a government plan
Kick out the style, bring back the jam

(Sowing the seeds of love) anything (seeds of love)
(Sowing the seeds of love) (Sowing the seeds of love, seeds of love)

Sowing the seeds, the birds and the bees, my girlfriend and me in love
Feel the pain, talk about it, if you're a worried man then shout about it
Open hearts, feel about it, open minds, think about it
Everyone read about it, everyone scream about it
Everyone (everyone, yeah yeah)
Everyone (everyone) read about it, read about it
Read it in the books in the crannies
And the nooks there are books to read...Chorus!!!
(Sowing the seeds of love) Oh, the seeds of love
We're sowing the seeds, sowing the seeds

We're sowing the seeds of love. we're sowing the seeds
Sowing the seeds of love, we're sowing the seeds of love
(Mr. England sowing the seeds of love)

(Time to eat all your words, swallow your pride, open your eyes)
Time to eat all your words, swallow your pride, open your eyes
High time we made a stand (time to eat all your words)
And shook up the views of the common man (swallow your pride)
And the love train rides from coast to coast (open your eyes)
Every minute of every hour "I Love a Sunflower" (open your eyes)
And I believe in love power (open your eyes)
Love power, love (open your eyes) power

(Sowing the seeds of love, seeds of love…Sowing the seeds of love)
(Sowing the seeds of love, seeds of love)
We're sowing the seeds (sowing the seeds of love)
Sowing the seeds of love, we're sowing the seeds (seeds of love)
Sowing the seeds, an end to need, and the politics of greed with love
(Sowing the seeds of love, seeds of love, sowing the seeds of love)
(Sowing the seeds of love) anything (seeds of love) anything
(Sowing the seeds of love, Sowing the seeds of love, seeds of love)
(Sowing the seeds, an end to need, and the politics of greed with love)
(Sowing the seeds of love, seeds of love, sowing the seeds of love)
(Sowing the seeds of love, seeds of love, sowing the seeds of love)
(Sowing the seeds of love, seeds of love, sowing the seeds of love)
(Sowing the seeds of love, seeds of love)

- - 2006-08-16 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Vote Carter in '80
He'll work for peanuts

"Jimmy Carter's son wins Nevada primary"
Yahoo News

Jimmy Carter's son, Jack Carter, won the Democratic nomination Tuesday to face Republican U.S. Sen. John Ensign in November in Nevada...

- - 2006-08-16 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"I wish I knew how
to quit you Geraldo"

Ooh, that's right. It's not that hard.
Jo(h)n visits The Colbert Report C&L

- - 2006-08-15 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Average price of a gallon of gas in Sweden.

USD 6.20

It's down!!

- - 2006-08-15 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It's on baby, it's on!!

Even though he's an asshole, this is kinda funny. If you visited Iranian President Ahmadenijad's blog from computer with an Israeli IP-address, using Windows, chances are you got a virus or a trojan.

"Ahmadenijad Blog Contains A Little Surprise For Israeli Readers Using Windows and Internet Explorer"
O'Reilly Linux Dev Center Blog

Since there're Israeli computer sofware that will guide you to message boards which are anti-Israel or have anti-Israeli comments, so you can respond, we have to say that there's a bit of a "cyber-war" (silly phrase) going on. Sadly, we have to say that Iran actually won this round. The virus from the blog trick is funny and kinda clever, the guide-program is just propaganda. But remember, this is the first round.
Come on Israel, you can do it!!

- - 2006-08-15 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I love you Jesus
You like that don't you?
Yeah you do...

"Christians addicted to pornography"
Raw Story

"The poll results indicate that 50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women are addicted to pornography," said Clay Jones, founder and President of Second Glance Ministries.

As if that wasn't enough...

"Fundies launch national effort to ban
hotel room adult pay-per-view" Pandagon

- - 2006-08-15 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"President calls Lebanon a front in global war on terrorism" (sorry Afghanistan and Iraq) CNN

"Somalia potential safe haven for al-Qaeda"
Mail & Guardian Online

- - 2006-08-14 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Ball Was Right

"I think most people would give Condoleezza Rice credit for finally getting a resolution passed"
- Dubya, 14/8

In this pod. from 29/7 we saw the future...

NARRATIVE
Israel rejects the U.N:s offer, but when they accept it, the offer will turn into "the US deal". In the M$M, the peace talks will have started after the US got involved, not mentioning that the US blocked any action early on.

"The US continues to stall about Gaza and Beirut"
Another S.F.O. Pod

"Is the U.S. intentionally stalling on Mideast diplomacy" MSNBC

"US says UN resolution nearer, denies stalling diplomacy on Lebanon" Yahoo News (AFP)

"Cease-Fire Talks Stall as Fighting Rages on 2 Fronts" NY Times

- - 2006-08-14 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

What do Swedes think?

Not important, but maybe amusing (and perhaps insulting). Via the site "Swedes Speculate" (in swedish)

What will George W. Bush do in 2009?
(when no longer president)
1. Work for the oil lobby - 26%
2. Play golf with daddy - 21%
3. "Take care" of Michael Moore - 17%
4. Clear brush on the ranch - 12%
5. Sell WWJD armbands - 11%
6. Same as he's doing now - 10%

Who will be the Democratic candidate in '08?
(note, speculation ended jan-06)
1. Hillary Clinton - 65%
2. John Kerry - 11%
3. John Edwards - 9%
4. Howard Dean - 8%
5. Harry Reid - 1%
Someone else - 3%

UPDATE: current standing (17/8)
1. Hillary Clinton - 74%
2. John Kerry - 12%
3. John Edwards - 3%
4. Harry Reid - 3%
5. Howard Dean - 0% (Ha!!)
Someone else - 6% (Obama, Obama)

Who will be the Republican candidate in '08?
(ended jan-06)
1. John McCain - 34%
2. Rudolph Giuliani - 26%
3. Condoleezza Rice - 22%
4. George Allen - 2%
5. Bill Frist - 1%
Someone else - 13% (Newt?)

UPDATE: current standing (17/8)
1. Condoleezza Rice - 44%
2. John McCain - 21%
3. Rudolph Giuliani - 13%
4. George Allen - 2%
5. Bill Frist - 1%
Someone else - 16%

Who's next for the US?
1. Iran - 42%
2. North Korea - 16%
3. France - 13%
4. Syria - 10%
5. Pakistan - 5%
6. Saudi Arabia - 5%
Some other country - 5%

When will Condoleezza Rice
stop looking so angry?
1. The day she no longer has to babysit George - 34%
2. The day she meets the future Mrs Rice - 32%
3. The day she meets the future Mr Rice - 11%
4. The day she's sworn in as President - 11%
5. What? Condi doesn't look angry - 8%

- - 2006-08-14 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kick Ass Lib Song Of The Day

David Bowie "Heroes"

Nonviolence, freedom and gays all at once.
Just like we libs like it. Right?
Worth a listen any day.

I
I wish you could swim
Like the dolphins
Like dolphins can swim
Though nothing
Will keep us together
We can beat them
For ever and ever
Oh we can be Heroes
Just for one day

I
I will be king
And you
You will be queen
Though nothing
Will drive them away
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
We can be us
Just for one day

I
I can remember
Standing
By the wall
And the guns
Shot above our heads
And we kissed
As though nothing could fall
And the shame
Was on the other side
Oh we can beat them
For ever and ever
Then we can be Heroes
Just for one day

We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
We can be Heroes
We're nothing
And nothing will help us
Maybe we're lying
Then you better not stay
But we could be safer

- - 2006-08-13 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Politics Of The British Bust

"Disagreement over timing of arrests" MSNBC

British wanted to continue surveillance on terror suspects, official says. NBC News has learned that U.S. and British authorities had a significant disagreement over when to move in on the suspects in the alleged plot to bring down trans-Atlantic airliners bound for the United States.

A senior British official knowledgeable about the case said British police were planning to continue to run surveillance for at least another week to try to obtain more evidence, while American officials pressured them to arrest the suspects sooner. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case.

In contrast to previous reports, the official suggested an attack was not imminent, saying the suspects had not yet purchased any airline tickets. In fact, some did not even have passports.

"Legal surveillance, not illegal eavesdropping, stopped the U.K. terrorist attacks" Glenn Greenwald

As I noted on Thursday, Bush supporters have been attempting to exploit the U.K. terrorist plot to bolster support for an array of extremist and lawless Bush policies -- from warrantless eavesdropping to torture -- even though there is not a shred of evidence that any of those policies played any role whatsoever, either in the U.S. or England, in impeding this plot.

O'Reilly takes the same stance as the "far-left" on NSA wiretaps without even knowing it. C&L (video)

He would have known it had he payed any attention to what the "far-left" were saying about the NSA story.

The SJIHBO Webast also deals with this matter

- - 2006-08-13 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Once a blue, now a red
In our hearts you are dead

"I asked Lieberman if he thought we needed a Truman commision on Iraq. He said yes. I asked if he wasn't in a good position to make that happen. He didn't answer."
- Al Franken

- - 2006-08-13 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Viva La Revolution!!

"Man, these capitalist sure make
nice clothes and write sweet books"

Who's your favorite? Che Guevara reading Goethe or Fidel Castro sporting his Adidas outfit?

- - 2006-08-12 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Stage This!

Staged photos from Lebanon are sending the righties into spin-mode. Now every civilian death is questioned in trying to take focus away from... the civilian deaths.
But we do agree. Using death and destruction as photo ops to boost your own political agenda is tasteless, cynical and pure evil.

- - 2006-08-12 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The War on Science™

While riding on Jesus horses...

"U.S. Lags World in Grasp of Genetics
and Acceptance of Evolution" LiveScience

Among the factors contributing to America's low score are poor understanding of biology, especially genetics, the politicization of science and the literal interpretation of the Bible by a small but vocal group of American Christians, the researchers say.

UPDATE: "Evangelicals urge museum to hide man's ancestors" Daily Telegraph

- - 2006-08-11 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Football Rules

We did our Post-World Cup New Rules with the Huffington Post in mind. Well, they're at it again.

Fired? Fired? Beckham doesn't play for an english team and cannot be fired from one.
Do you mean the english national team? You get picked for the squad. It's not a job. You don't get hired or fired.

- - 2006-08-11 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Fighting Terrorism Like A Socialist

more good terror-fighting from socialist Tony Blair

"Arrested British national named" BBC

BUSH ADMIN HAD LITTLE TO DO WITH ARRESTS
The actual White House record is nothing to brag about. The former 9/11 Commission gave the administration “dismal” grades on homeland security in its latest report card, including an “F” for failures to improve aviation security. Commissioner James Thompson, the former governor of Illinois, “warned in particular of the failure to protect against terrorists smuggling a bomb onboard a plane.”
ThinkProgress

- - 2006-08-11 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dan Dennett Speech

Is the US gonna be a theocracy and stand still or move forward? How come a country that's so religious don't have religion in school? What have I.D. borrowed from Darwin?

Dan Dennett speech on TED Talks

- - 2006-08-09 6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Why does FOX News
hate democracy?

1) What lessons have your learned?
Looks like... none.

2) Occupying countries and overthrowing their democratically elected officials is bad news for democracy in Mideast.

3) Love that it's called "You decide 2006"
Not so much.

- - 2006-08-09 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Still a Non-Champion

SuperFrenchie have a great post about Floyd Landis and the ridiculous claims of a conspiracy.

The lab found synthetic testosterone in the A sample (Shouldn’t that be the P sample…) From what I understand, the test is also able to show whether synthetic testosterone has passed through the body, as it undergoes a chemical reaction when it does. In other words, to tamper with the sample, the lab technician would first have to absorb the substance himself, pee it, then mix it with Landis’ sample. Which, let’s not forget, is double blind (only numbers appear on the vial).
...yet in a current MSNBC Internet poll, 51% of respondents still believe Landis is “totally innocent.”

LANDIS ON LENO

Landis said yes, if one goes by the tests, and Leno shot back, "Why should we not go by the tests? Tell me why.'"

USA Today

- - 2006-08-09 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

More Culture Than War

Bill confusing Santa and the Bunny for christian symbols

Just in case you missed it. SJIHBO have
an early review of Billy Boy's new book.

Now we hate to say we told you so, but we proved this in our book, Sweet Jesus, I Hate Bill O'Reilly. It should be noted that when the PW review refers to the "resentful and self-pitying" O'Reilly, who suffers from bouts of "paranoia" and "battle fatigue," they are just trying to find a nice way of saying that the number one man in cable news is losing his mind.

He just needs a hug....

- - 2006-08-09 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Brown is the new Pink"

Bill Maher talks to Jay Leno about, among other things, how the Republicans plan to win in November.

Video at OneGoodMove

- - 2006-08-09 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Second greatest mullet
in history join H&C

"Hey, French women!!
Ever heard of a razor?
Haha ha ha ha.... ha"

LA Times

- - 2006-08-09 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - 2006-08-08 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Remember how this
whole thing started?

"Five myths that sanction Israel's war crimes"
Jonathan Cook at Common Dreams

Cook is kinda angry at David Horowitz,
but also kinda correct about the narrative.

The first myth is that Israel was forced to pound Lebanon with its military hardware because Hezbollah began “raining down” rockets on the Galilee. Anyone with a short memory can probably recall that was not the first justification we were offered: that had to do with the two soldiers captured by Hezbollah on a border post on July 12.
...
So the chronology of war has been reorganized: now we are being told that Israel was forced to attack Lebanon to defend itself from the barrage of Hezbollah rockets falling on Israeli civilians. The international community is buying the argument hook, line, and sinker. “Israel has the right to defend itself," says every politician who can find a microphone to talk into.

6: the number of Israeli civilians killed by
Hezbollah rockets between 2000-06

- - 2006-08-07 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Some girls are bigger than others
Some girls are bigger than others
Some girls mothers are bigger than
Other girls mothers

DIXIE CHICKS

"We're giving a shout out to Mel Gibson for our next song. Not for any reason in particular. But maybe if I claimed I was drunk on stage when I made my comments a few years ago [about George W. Bush], people might not have been as upset with us."
- Lead singer Natalie Maines RollingStone

Wonder if any of the conservative pundits that rushed to the rescue of Mel Gibson would have done the same for her? Nah.

MADONNA

- - 2006-08-06 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Summer of '69" or
"Why does Newt
hate Democracy?"

Remember back in the day when Newt Gingrich actually had ideas and own opinions? Now he's just burping talking points. And once again he's off from what a majority of Americans feel about the occupation of Iraq. So very sad.

Oh, by the way. He also supports Lieberman.

"Gingrich: There Is An ‘Insurgency’ in CT Which Says ‘Can’t We Come Home And Hide?’"
ThinkProgress

....you have what I think is a legitimate insurgency in Connecticut, which needs to be met head on and debated head on, which is people who say this is so hard, it is so frightening, it’s so painful, can’t we come home and hide?

- - 2006-08-06 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ExxonMobil's PR-firm go after Gore

ABC News exposes the fake anti-Gore spoof film posted on YouTube. We love conservative "grassroots" organisations!

- - 2006-08-06 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

New Dems in Connecticut

A lot of new Democrats in Connecticut
Hartford Courant

Since Bysiewicz started the Affiliate to Participate initiative in July, nearly 5,000 unaffiliated voters have become Democrats, compared with just more than 1,000 a month earlier. The number of unaffiliated voters who became Republicans rose slightly, from 117 in June to 161 in July.

Connecticut Democrats

- - 2006-08-05 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The War On The Real
Culture Of America™

"Survey: America's culture war
may be exaggerated" Raw Story

"Americans cannot be easily characterized as conservative or liberal ontoday's most pressing social questions," the Pew study reveals. "The public's point of view varies from issue to issue."

"They are conservative in opposing gay marriage and gay adoption, liberal in favoring embryonic stem cell research and a little of both on abortion. Along with favoring no clear ideological approach to most social issues, the public expresses a desire for a middle ground on the most divisive social concern of the day: abortion," according to the Pew Forum study.

- - 2006-08-05 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

One More Non-Champion

"Landis returns positive B sample" BBC

These guys pump themselfs full of shit. They keep within the legal limits - for the Tour. Landis samples have now failed two tests. It wasn't like people were just speculating before. His team wants nothing to do with him and has already fired him.

What now? Will he do the honorable thing or continue to claim his innocence?
Our guess is "it was tested wrong" and "only god can judge me" (which means he knew what he was doing).
Maybe Leno will just do a few boring jokes about the French and all will be forgiven. Yeah, that's right. It was the French. The French is to blame.

- - 2006-08-04 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Be an Expert on Anything

Some truthiness from Stephen Colbert (wired.com)

...or what say you, "Dr" Falwell?

PICK A FIELD THAT CAN'T BE VERIFIED. Try something like string theory or God’s will: “I speak to God. I’m sorry that you can’t also.” Security experts are in this category: They have security clearances, we don’t. We can’t question the expertise of the NSA because we are not in the NSA.

CHOOSE A SUBJECT THAT'S ACTUALLY SECRET. Dan Brown invented a secret subject for The Da Vinci Code, so now he is forever an expert on this secret subject that no one can challenge. Anybody who attacks the secret subject is, by definition, part of the cabal.

GET YOUR OWN ENTRY IN AN ENCYCLOPEDIA. In the media age, everybody was famous for 15 minutes. In the Wikipedia age, everybody can be an expert in five minutes. Special bonus: You can edit your own entry to make yourself seem even smarter.

USE THE WORD ZEITGEIST AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. Ideally, you want to find words that sound familiar but people don’t really know their definitions: zeitgeist, bildungsroman, doppelgänger – better yet, anything Latin. But avoid paradigm. It’s so 1994. If you say the word paradigm, everybody knows you’re a poser.

BE SURE TO USE LOTS OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS. Someone who says the words operations security may be educated, but the person who uses the military abbreviation Opsec is clearly an expert. If I use the term Gitmo, that means I’ve actually been there. If you say, “We’re going to Defcon 1,” it means you probably have the launch codes. Real experts don’t have time for extra syllables.

SPEAK FROM THE BALLS, NOT FROM THE DIAPHRAGM. In the expert game, you’ve got to have sack. That means speaking with confidence. In America, you’ve got to steer clear of nuance and ambivalence – and don’t even contemplate doubt.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO MAKE THINGS UP. Never fear being exposed as a fraud. Experts make things up all the time. They’re qualified to.

DON'T LIMIT YOURSELF TO CURRENT KNOWLEDGE. If you worry too much about being up-to-date, you miss out on vast territories of obsolete knowledge just waiting to be reclaimed. Think of leech-craft and all the lonely experts in the use of the little creatures, which are now experiencing a renaissance in health care.

GET AN HONORARY PHD. They work wonders. I have a doctorate in fine arts from Knox College in Illinois. All I did was give a speech, and now everybody has to call me Dr. Colbert.

MAKE A HABIT OF NAME-DROPPING. Say things like “I was talking to John Hockenberry yesterday for my story in Wired. Have you seen my cover?” I plan to use this issue of Wired to assert that I now know everything about wires.

BE FAMOUS. IT HELPS.

- - 2006-08-04 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Once a blue, now a red
In our hearts you are dead

"Gallup: Lieberman Now More Popular
With Republicans Than Democrats"
Editor & Publisher

- - 2006-08-04 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lebanon & Somalia

Can't be easy being 14-years old living in Lebanon with the last name Nasrallah. Especially not when Israeli commandos come knockin'.
Naharnet

"Baalbek: not exactly the image of terror central"
The Daily Star

"Hizbollah rockets hit Israel; Lebanon bridges bombed"
Reuters

"2 soldiers killed, 1 officer wounded in south Lebanon"
Ynet

THE TALIBAN 2.0

"Somali Islamic leaders to censor films"
Yahoo

More Somali ministers resign, PM Stays SudanTribune

Swede new UN Deputy for Somalia
Peoples Daily

- - 2006-08-04 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Friday Fun Mini Pods.

The top 50 movie endings of all time (spoiler warning, obviously) Filmcritic.com

Our pick: The film predicts the emo-boy nation that we swim in these days, but the ending, with the Pixies' raucous "Where is My Mind?" wailing in the background, sees self-terrorism and numb romance as the new, essential way of life.
What film?

His name is Moritz Volz, he plays right-back for Fulham and is German. He has no problem playing around with the (phony) image that Germans love Hasselhoff. Volzy.com

Do you pay extra attention to your beard?
Well that's nothing like the Team USA guys do.
The Beard Team USA Blog

No comment

- - 2006-08-04 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

An actual expert writes about Lebanon

"Lebanese Sovereignty: Will it be Restored?" SyriaComment

Israel and the States have also voiced the demand that European troops man the Lebanese ports and border crossings to inspect all goods coming into the country in order to interdict any arms shipments to Hizbullah from Syria or Iran.
Lebanon in the short run will lose its sovereignty to European troops should such a plan be carried forward.
The Western argument is that this will be a temporary loss of sovereignty until the Lebanese Army can be beefed up to replace UN troops.
...
But what promise is there that Lebanese troops will be able to replace Europeans in order to restore Lebanese sovereignty?
...when PM Siniora and Jumblatt traveled to Washington earlier this year, they went to ask for money and arms to build up the Lebanese Army. Washington promised them a trifling 4 million dollars. This insult was an indication that Washington believes the army is a useless instrument so long as Lahoud is president.
...
Nothing has changed in the leadership of the army or presidency of Lebanon to suggest that Washington can now expect the Lebanese government to deploy the army against Hizbullah. How will it ever be able to replace a French led UN force? How will Lebanon regain its sovereignty should Israeli and European troops be placed on its soil to take over the task of policing national and border security. Lebanon rid itself of Syrian troops last year. It looks like it has merely exchanged them for some combination of Western and Israeli troops.

- - 2006-08-03 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rumsfeld Stays In The Picture

Do I suck as Secretary of Defense? Yes.
Should someone else get my job? Yes.
Do I know what I'm talking about? No.
Do I care if I know? No.
Do people like me? No chance.
Am I defensive? Sure.
Do I sound like Bob Evans? You bet your ass.

"What happened in Iraq...." ThinkProgress

Transcript and video of the hearing RawStory

- - 2006-08-03 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Comic book Washington Times says they're sorry for lying about what rep. Dingell's said. Well sorta.
Pay to prey site PowerLine still doesn't care about truth and things of that nature.

"Washington Times Apologizes For Not
Including Mr. Dingell’s Complete Answer"
ThinkProgress

Washington Times editorial falsely claimed Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) refused to “condemn Hezbollah.” The editorial used a chopped transcript of a July 30 television interview, which originated on the right-wing blog Powerline, as evidence. In fact, immediately after the transcript was abruptly cut off, Dingell says “I condemn Hezbollah…”

- - 2006-08-03 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Once a blue, now a red
In our hearts you are dead

Millionaire businessman Ned Lamont has extended his lead against (millionaire) veteran Sen. Joe Lieberman less than a week before Connecticut’s Democratic primary, according to a new poll released Thursday.
Lamont, a political novice, has support from 54 percent of likely Democratic voters in the Quinnipiac University poll, while Lieberman has support from 41 percent of voters.
- Yahoo News

Watch ImpeachPAC's "Lie and Die" TV Ad
that will be aired in Connecticut.

- - 2006-08-02 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tweety is an idiot

"Ronald Reagan
didn't stop 9/11"

In a discussion with Mark Green, Democratic candidate for New York attorney general, and KT McFarland, a Republican running for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-NY) Senate seat, about President Bush’s efforts to protect New York City from terrorism on the July 31 edition of MSNBC’s Hardball, host Chris Matthews claimed that "[w]e know" President Bill Clinton "didn’t stop" the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the World Trade Center.
MM

This would be funny if it wasn't so f**king pathetic. Another proud moment for the lazy, lazy M$M and their hosts.
What's Tweety gonna say next? That "Clinton was offered bin Laden". Maybe he'll claim that Dick Cheney's "Terrorist Task Force" actually had meetings before 9/11. Idiot!

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Darwin: 3412834
Creationism: 0

"Anti-evolution forces lose power in state primary" Yahoo

The shake-up came after the Kansas State Board of Education voted 6-4 in November to approve new science standards that local and national science groups charged were a product of religious zealotry because they challenged Darwin's theory.

The Mayan god of Kukulcan is now angry cause his view of the world cannot be taught in science classes. You know, we have to take into account all believes, "let people make up their own minds" bladi bla bla bla.

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My e-mail to the Al Franken Show

It deals with the Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Personally I think every nation has the right to defend itself, but I'm saddened that Israel thinks that's what it's doing at the moment. Also thought we were beyond implementing apartheid systems on other nations. Plus I'm getting a bit tired of the burping of the same old (untrue) talking points.

Was on a bit of a adrenaline rush when
writing it, but that's what makes it so fun.

Al (or whoever reads it),

Just a few points I hope you will take into consideration when talking about Israel - Lebanon, and the protest taking place around the world against Israels attacks on Lebanon.

First. Please don't forget that many of the people protesting against Israel either fled from (the massacres that took place in) Lebanon in 1982 or are family members of these refugees.

For the rest of the protesters there is a lot of anger that Israel, the only super power in the region, can do whatever it wants and no one says anything (more about that below). That the treatment of Gaza now is happening to Lebanon.
Gaza is still, in theory, occupied and that means Israel has to follow certain rules, had they agreed to follow them that is. Israel don't follow the Geneva convention (not sure the country even recognize it officially) and many of the UN resolutions about how to treath refugees. This leaves the people of Gaza, and now Lebanon, in a horrible situation.
Many of the protest are equally as much against the EU and the US for allowing this to happen.

Also...
"The secretary-general blamed Hezbollah for triggering the crisis and accused it of holding Lebanon hostage with its campaign against Israel" - CNN, 20/7-06

Same statements comes for Amnesty International and pretty much every human rights group and EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
I think you are above just repeating the "they're only going after Israel"-talking point and keeping that narrative alive.
Remember, the UN rarely issues resolutions against Israel. The US vetoes all, including resolutions against the torture of prisoners in Israeli prisons, the treatment of the people of Palestine (the apartheid system now in place) and resolutions taking action against Israel for not following the Geneva convention.
Also note that there are very few countries in Europe (or elsewhere) that take action against Israel. There're statements - sure - but no real action.

Regards
Magnus

You could have commented on the e-mail
in a comment section, had we had one.
But this is not a blog.

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"The French responded by naming
American cheese - stupid cheese"
- SNL

One of our favorite stories of all time is the French fries/toast -> Freedom fries/toast one. Since the term "french" only appears in North America, cause these dishes really has nothing to do with France, it was a proud day in the history of the US Congress when they changed the names.
Now the freedom is gone and they're finally back to French fries and French toast.

No more "freedom" in the Congress cafeteria C&L

No WMDs in Iraq, no flowers and no peace either. The reality of the facts on the ground has caught up with this Congress, and while they will never admit it, the French were right on that one and they know it. Having Freedom Fries on the menu to remind them of it every day must have been more than they can bear.
- SuperFrenchie

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We brake for no one, but...

Bumper sticker from Gallery of the Absurd

Mel, Mel, Mel.... people normally
join cults to get rid of addictions.

Even though we love to poke fun at hypocrisy, we dearly hope Mel will take the time to get rid of his disease.

UPDATE: Bill Maher makes it far to easy for himself and "confuses" having problems with Israels foreign policy and the apartheid system that exists in Gaza (and now Lebanon) with anti-semitism. He also pulls the BS-line that "everyone is against Israel, but I don't hear anyone complaining about Hezbollah".
Then again, he's not the first one to do so...

"The World is Mel Gibson" Huffington

Still no word on when Spain will launch
air strikes against the Basque region.

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It's not about the war stupid

Once a blue, now a red
In our hearts, you are dead

Ned Lamont on the Colbert Report C&L

UPDATE: Lieberman was nowhere to be found, but Colbert has this invitation for Holy Joe C&L

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You say dictator, I say dictator

About freckin' time. Cuban dictator Castro gives temporary power to his brother NY Times

I was working in Havana with banana trees
I met a little cuban who filled all of my needs
Bananas were growing, we were doing fine
Until a long legged rebel came and *** my time
...
Now she lives in Havana in her luxury
When she pass by she never smiles at me
A cuban rebel walks by her side
With a his parted *** and his redneck tie

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Are you a f**king jew?

Mugshot from The Smoking Gun (of course)

"Random facts about Jews (according
to Mel Gibson)" Best Week Ever

- Jews created Arrested Development just
so they could piss us off by cancelling it.

Most obvious headline ever?
"ABC pulls Gibsons holocaust series" Reuters

"I woke up that morning, turned on the TV and saw that Braveheart had gotten a whole bunch of Oscars, and I cried. The only thing worse was Nicholas Cage getting one as well"
- friend of S.F.Obama

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Happy 25th!!

There're countries that offer more to their own citizens than the US. However no other nation offers more to others than the US. No, we don't mean money or "freedom", there're countries that have enough or even more of that than the US.
Weather you like it or not, American pop culture owns this planet. Everyones frame of reference is pretty much the same these days, making it easier to interact. You can compare how Sweden did when it was on the Simpsons with your Australian friend (the Aussies always win that one, "knifey-spoonie") or laugh together with a Japanese friend at the Brazilian who doesn't get that the O.C. is not the home of the Teutuls.
In a lot of ways MTV is in the middle of that global pop culture universe. MTV has probably done more to globalize this planet than it gets credit for.
So even though every time we turn you on, you give us nothing but crap. We still love ya MTV.

BONUS: President Beavis

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"In some countries they call that....
(pause for drama) ...Democracy"

Bill Frist is not following the rules.

Majority Leader Bill Frist hasn't been following all the Senate's rules when it comes to disclosing details about his finances.
...
Frist is (also) under federal investigation for selling other shares of HCA stock he owned last year around the time insiders were selling and when the stock price hit a 52-week high.

CNN