Will Frist Call on Them to Enlist?

Senator Frist is set to speak at the big College Republican rally this Monday. I urge you to contact Dr. Strangelove and ask him if he's going to urge young GoOPers to enlist. Here's a sample letter for you to use:

Senator Frist-
I understand that you will be addressing the 'Finish the Job: Support Our Troops' Rally this coming Monday. I hope that included in your remarks will be a call for all able bodied, enlistment aged Republicans to volunteer for service.

As you are aware the military has failed to meet its recruiting goals recently. This is especially troubling given that so many College and Young Republicans are sitting on the sidelines during this time of great national crisis.

You must, as a leader of the Republican Party, call on these able bodied men and women to put their support where it really matters. Sure, they will tell you that they have better things to do, like be keyboard commandos and eat Cheetos, but you and I both know that wars are won on battlefields, not on blogs.

So, what do you say, Senator? Will you stand up and urge Young Republicans to enlist?

Good On Ya, John

Over the course of the 2004 election cycle, I took many opportunities to swipe at Senator Kerry. And although I take none of it back, I do believe in giving credit where it is due. Kudos to Senator Kerry for leading the charge to filibuster Alito. Kerry looked outside of the typical Beltway CW and realized that there was support for keeping this extremist Scalia-clone off SCOTUS.

While DC Dems were afraid to engage in anything more substantive than lamenting the rightward lurch of the Court, Kerry took a stand. A principled stand against overturning women's reproductive rights and against an imperial presidency.

Now, if he can convince the rest of the caucus to grow some balls, we might be able to spoil Chimpy's SOTU next week.

Site Update

Those of you paying attention will notice that the blog roll has been completely overhauled. Gone are all the links to non-profits and in their place are a plethora of political links. Among them are sites for many of the Democrats contemplating a run for the White House in '08. There are also links to what I think are some of the best left of center blogs, of special note is one of the newer ones firedoglake.

Oh, and you should make note of the media related blogs. As the so-called liberal media becomes more and more handmaidens of the Bush administration, it is imperative that we keep the pressure on them and remind them of their obligation to report facts, not GOP talking points.

A Bunch of F*cking Cowards

That is what the Senate Democrats are. Jumping on the Alito confirmation bandwagon today were Sen's Byrd and Johnson, just as Senator Kerry decides to lead a filibuster. In addition, Landrieu and Salazar plan to vote for cloture.

Johnson actually had the gall to say "I am troubled by Judge Alito's apparent views on matters such as executive power, his past opposition to the principle of one person, one vote, and his narrow interpretation of certain civil rights laws. Even so, I cannot accept an argument that his views are so radical that the Senate is justified in denying his confirmation." Give me a F*CKING break, Tim. Alito is far outside of the judicial mainstream and his views on Roe place him out of step with the vast majority of Americans, who are pro-choice. If Johnson is actually troubled by Alito's positions and if Johnson actually had a conscience, he would have no choice but to at least vote no on Alito, if not support the filibuster. But, as is all too common with DC Dems, Johnson lacks a spine and a set of testicles. He's just another emasculated Democratic wimp.

And Sen. Landrieu is too worried about Katrina clean up to focus on a filibuster. Sure, New Orleans needs to be rebuilt, but don't fundamental civil liberties and balance of power considerations carry enough weight that they merit your attention, Senator? Or maybe you're willing to sell out your fellow women's reproductive rights in order to get NOLA rebuilt and help your own reelection. Way to go, Mary! It's good to see such a principled leader.

With these morons representing us in DC is it any wonder that we've spent the last five years watching our country go down the God-damn drain. I am sick and tired of DC Dems who pay lip service to our values while the sit idly by and let the Right Wing ruin our f*cking nation. May there be a special place in hell reserved for you a$$holes.

F*ck Disney and the Religious Right Bigots They're Pandering To

Although they are loathe to admit it, Disney pulled the show Welcome to the Neighborhood because it might upset the Far Right Religious bigots. Here's why- the winners of the home were a gay couple and their adopted son. And, at the time the show was set to air, Disney was busy licking the boots of the Religious Right in support of The Chronicles of Narnia. The Christian bigots loved Narnia so much that they forgave Disney the sin of allowing gays and lesbians to come to their theme parks.

What is most interesting about this story is that the three neighbors who selected the winning family are all self described Republican Christians. The participant who was initially most opposed to a gay family moving in has a gay son. In the end, that man not only changes his mind, but rekindles his relationship with his son.

In the story linked above, the NYT actually speaks to some of the Right Wing Christians and they agree that had Disney aired the show they would have reconsidered lifting their boycott and support of Narnia. According to Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, "had the show been broadcast - particularly with an ending that showed Christians literally embracing their gay neighbors - it could have scuttled the Southern Baptists' support for 'Narnia'."

So, it would be wrong of Disney or any other company to air a show where Christians actually show compassion and tolerance towards others. Imagine, the nerve of some Christians to actually take Jesus' teachings to heart and not abide by the bigoted dictates of radical Right Wing preachers. Why, if we don't nip this in the bud, pretty soon some Christians might actually want to feed the hungry and clothe the homeless.

Friday iPod Randomness

1. Death Cab for Cutie- Bend to Squares
2. St. Thomas- Oh I Have Left the Ground
3. Of Montreal- I Was Never Young
4. The Coral- Arabian Sand
5. Alpha- Saturn in the Rain
6. Of Montreal- So Begins Our Alabee
7. Mull Historical Society- Instead
8. Nightmares on Wax- Ease Jimi
9. Do Make Say Think- Auberge Le Mouton Noir
10. Atmosphere- Good Times

Maybe I ought to have titled the post "I am way indier than you suckas."

Will the Senate Democrats Show a Spine?

Given the current Whip count on the Alito confirmation vote, it would seem that the Dems could potentially sustain a filibuster. And, given the gravity of this nomination they should. Alas, most Dems in DC are spineless jellyfish afraid to take a position on anything. With that in mind, let me offer them this advice.

To: Senate Democrats
From: musclehead
Re: Alito Filibuster

It is imperative that you filibuster the nomination of Samuel Alito to SCOTUS. Not only is it in the best interest of the country, but it provides you with an opportunity to show a characteristic all too often lacking in your caucus, resolve.

Perhaps you are concerned that a filibuster would provoke the GOP to follow through on its threat of going nuclear and eliminating the filibuster. Nothing could be better for the Party than for the Republicans to do so. This would provide the Democratic Party the opportunity to highlight the GOP's fealty to the Radical Right.

This would require a sustained effort by Democrats to highlight Alito's unwillingness to support Roe v. Wade as settled law of the land (as did Chief Justice Roberts during his confirmation hearings). A vast majority of Americans support a woman's right to chose and also believe that if Alito were to overturn Roe that he ought not be confirmed.

Here is your opportunity to connect to the American people on an issue they care about- abortion- while showing how out of step the Republican party is with these voters' values. Make the Alito filibuster all about ABORTION. It's very simple electoral calculus. We're right on this issue!

If the GOP succeeds in its attempt to end the filibuster then we have 2006 and 2008 gold. We can portray the GOP as so far outside of the mainstream that they overturned over a century of Senate rules in order to end abortion. How many soccer moms do you think are going to support such a party?

This really is a win-win situation. Hopefully, you won't, once again, wrest defeat from the jaws of victory.

Tweety.. Or Is It Twitty?

Fresh off the heels of his outrage over Hillary Clinton's plantation comments, Tweety compares Michael Moore to Osama Bin Laden. Honestly, the man is a moron. Here's my latest letter.

Mr. Matthews-
Although I thought you could sink no lower than your usual pandering to the GOP elite in Washington, tonight you did just that. Comparing a filmmaker who opposes the US invasion of Iraq to Osama Bin Laden is simply ridiculous. Michael Moore has never orchestrated an attack on the US. While one may disagree with Mr. Moore (as I do much of the time), comments such as your only coarsen political debate in this country.

Perhaps your time would be more productively spent analyzing why after four years this administration has FAILED to capture Bin Laden. But then that would require you to rock the most pleasant GOP boat you troll the Potomac on, wouldn't it? Until such time that you decide to actually hold our plutocrats in DC responsible for their actions you ought to call your show what it really is- Tee Ball for the GOPers.

Waa waaa waa

That is the sound of the WaPo's editors cries as they plug their ears in order to shut off criticism of their "reporting." Just today, Jim Brady announced that comments at the WaPo blog would be turned off. So, you know I just had to write him an email instead--

Dear Mr. Brady-
I understand that it is your and the WaPo's prerogative to turn off comments on your blog. However, please do not insult the public's intelligence by attributing your decision to "personal attacks, the use of profanity and hate speech." The Post has made it abundantly clear, both through Ms.Howell's decision not to respond to reader critiques of her or the Post's reporting and the supposed technical problem that made hundreds of critical comments disappear, that it no longer feels any sense of accountability to its readers.

What I find to be rather telling is Ms. Howell's, and others', concern about Mr. Froomkin's blog and how its title was confusing. Mr. Froomkin's dispatch seems to be one of the only sources of truth, as opposed to truthiness, found in the Washington Post. Given the accumulation of evidence recently, it would appear that the Post is charting a course to become the Washington Times second edition, where "journalists" dutifully transcribe the latest talking points issued from the White House and the RNC.

Because of these actions many people are rightfully disappointed and upset with the quality of your paper's writing and its editorial decisions. This is evidenced by the astronomical number of comments you have received. It is more than troubling that you have decided to put your fingers in your ears like a child and pretend not to hear. Perhaps someday adult leadership will regain control of the Post. Until then I place your paper in the same category as the Washington Times, Fox News and talk radio.

Why Can't We Have Better Leaders?

As many of you are probably aware, Minortiy Leader Pelosi has appointed Congressman Clyburn (SC) to head the "Clean House Team" that will spearhead Democratic initiatives to clean up Congress. There's one big problem, though. In 1997, Clyburn took a trip to the Northern Mariana Islands on Jack Abramoff's dime (actually the cost is reported to have been over $10,000). With that being said, this is the letter I sent to my congressman. I suggest you do the same.

Dear Congressman Lewis-
I write today to implore you to take whatever actions are necessary to prevent your colleague, Mr. Clyburn, from leading our party's "Clean House Team." It is imperative that the Democratic Party's efforts be lead by someone with an unrivaled and unchallengeable commitment to ethics. Unfortunately, Congressman Clyburn is not that person.

His decision, in 1997, to accept an Abramoff financed trip to the Northern Mariana Islands presents an easy target for the GOP and its bevy of stenographers in the press. This would allow the GOP, with the help of the media, to continue its claim that this scandal is truly bipartisan.

If we want the American people to trust us as the party of ethics and reform, then we must do better than Congressman Clyburn as our point person. Otherwise not only the voters, but our own party supporters, will see this as another political sleight of hand. The Democratic Party and the American people deserve much better.

Another Letter

(This one is to Deborah Howell, the ombudsman at the Washington Post.)

Dear Ms. Howell-
I am dumbfounded that the Washington Post and you continue to misrepresent Jack Abramoff's contributions. Mr. Abramoff did not give one penny of his own money to a Democrat. That information is quite easy to obtain, so I cannot fathom a reason for your misrepresentation other than laziness or your paper's increasing dereliction of journalistic duty to report FACTS.

Perhaps you and the editors of the Post worry about upsetting the current administration, thereby losing sources. But true journalism is about reporting facts, not about brainless reprinting of press releases and official talking points. A journalist is supposed to enlighten and elucidate, not provide a mouthpiece for obfuscation.

At the present moment it is difficult to discern a difference between the GOP mouthpiece Washington Times and the White House stenographers known as the Washington Post.

Another Unqualified Moron Joins BushCo.

This time it's a recess appointment as the head of State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. Bushie probably picked Sauerbrey because of her sterling opposition to abortion, sex education and emergency contraception. Quite the highly qualified nominee, n'est pas? Of course, Ms. Sauerbrey has absolutely ZERO experience in disaster management or refugee resettlement. But why appoint someone with actual qualifications? After all, if you can go from a solid C student to cokehead to failed businessman to the White House, who needs qualifications.