David Corn

David,

Both parties are corrupt with power and money!

Neither party has a correct answer for fixing the mess were in. Were making China look better by the day!

Your hatred of republicans has blinded your denial of the democrats corruption, which is on the same level, if not more so, than the repugs.

This is what happens to rabid liberals that can't get enough revenge since the vietnam hippie days!

Ilene,

Why such hate for Christians? I thought liberals were supposed to be more tolerable of other people than that!

By the way, Michael Steele is a punk!

But, at least he's not a liar like Pelosi!

Meanwhile, Mike Huckabee, the former presidential candidate turned talk show host, has found another venue to bash Pelosi.

Who knew he was a poet?

The verses posted on his website begin:

Here's a story about a lady named Nancy
A ruthless politician, but dressed very fancy
Very ambitious, she got herself elected Speaker
But as for keeping secrets, she proved quite a "leaker."

And the poem later refers to the recent controversy:

She sat in briefings and knew about enhanced interrogation;
But claims she wasn't there, and can't give an explanation.
She disparages the CIA and says they are a bunch of liars;
Even the press aren't buying it and they're stoking their fires.

Again, you put words in my mouth Freddie. Just stating an observation.

DC,

"After eight years of Republican misrule--the Iraq fiasco, a poorly managed war in Afghanistan, Katrina, torture, no real action regarding climate change, the subprime crisis, and economic policies that did nothing to avert the worst economic downturn in decades"

Add - illegal wiretapping? (and a few others)

I hope the GOP continues down the rabbit hole.

New poll numbers confirm they are headed in the right direction:

"Gallup Poll: Republicans Lose In All Demographic Groups Except Conservatives, Churchgoers And Seniors"

http://tinyurl.com/r57dqq

Another Democrat Says CIA Records On Briefings Were Not Accurate

[...]

The letter makes Obey the fourth Democrat to allege that the CIA's record of which members of Congress were briefed on the Bush administration's enhanced interrogation techniques contained factual errors. Former Sen. Bob Graham, in an interview with the Huffington Post, noted that the agency's records initially had him being briefed four times in 2002 about the interrogation techniques. Upon contacting officials with the CIA, it was determined that he had only attended one such briefing. Similarly, Sen. Jay Rockefeller has said that the records kept by the agency and made public on May 7 contained errors in regards to his briefings.

All told, the testimonies of these three Democratic officials bolster the case made by Speaker Nancy Pelosi that the agency's own account of those now-controversial briefings is misleading. Pelosi -- like Graham -- has insisted that members of Congress were kept in the dark in the fall of 2002 about the Bush administration's use of waterboarding on terrorist suspects.

http://tinyurl.com/qecy5e

The Upside of a GOP Blowout

[...] In 2006 and 2008, it was that George Bush was not a true conservative because of his big spending. Or it was that the Republican-controlled Congress was seduced by the tempting ways of Washington. In 2008, they said McCain was a moderate. They look at the losses in the past elections and think the problem was that the party was “too liberal.”

They refuse to listen to the data which says the GOP is losing support. They brand anyone that thinks it’s okay to have civil unions or thinks the environment might be an issue, a Republican in Name Only or RINO. The brush off concerns that the party must be allowed to run more moderate candidates in blue states and pick off the moderates that are in office.

This far right wing has wanted to run the show in the party and I am sorely tempted to say, “It’s all yours.” Let them select candidates for Congress that will go down to defeat. Let them select a Mike Huckabee or Sarah Palin, candidates who have no chance in hell of winning in 2012.

The thing is, after such a devastating loss, ala Mondale and the Democrats in 1984, the far right will have no one else to blame. They could no longer live in denial that they only need to be “more conservative.” Maybe, just maybe, they would finally know that they need help and that the party needs to change.

Maybe. We will see in 3 years. Hopefully it won’t be too late.

http://tinyurl.com/qe4hsf

****

There really should be reasonable and thoughtful opposition. I think both the R's and D's fail that test in and out of power.

Another Democrat Says CIA Records On Briefings Were Not Accurate

~~

Another Democrat calling Leon Panetta a liar? Really?

News Flash at Politico:

Democrats concede on Gitmo

Obamas premature commitment to close Gitmo-down in flames by his own party!!!!!!

Does Barack Obama Want Nancy Pelosi to Fail?

Or is it someone else in the White House?
Posted by Mark Impomeni (Profile)

Monday, May 18th at 9:30PM EDT

As the scandal over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s and other top Congressional Democrats’ bald-faced lies to the American people about what and when they knew of enhanced interrogation techniques enters its second week, questions are beginning to be raised about the Obama Administration’s role in the release of information contradicting Pelosi’s account of briefings she received. Specifically, inquiring minds are wondering whether the White House signed off on CIA Director Leon Panetta’s internal agency memo responding to Pelosi’s accusation that the CIA had misled Congress in its briefings on the techniques.

That question has been answered. The White House knew about the memo, and alerted Pelosi that it was going public.

“The Central Intelligence Agency gave House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., advanced warning before CIA Chief Leon Panetta sent a memo to employees at the spy agency that countered Pelosi’s claim that the agency lied to Congress about waterboarding.

A CIA official, but not Panetta, made the call to Pelosi. [...]

The aide said Pelosi protested Panetta’s memo on the call to no avail.”

Now, new questions are raised. Pelosi must surely be wondering why a president of her own party is allowing the release of information that will make her look bad in the press; why he is remaining silent on the issue; and why he is taking no action to try and stem the feeding frenzy surrounding her.

Republicans have decided you don't deserve any more apologies

[...]

I don't know. Maybe I'm just being too optimistic in expecting change from a party that believes winning is everything and "doing" is a hassle. Maybe I expect people who have fleeced the greater masses for so many years to grow some kind of conscience, or at the very least follow the religious values they're so intent to force on us (maybe they should actually READ the bible rather than use it when it's politically expedient).

Maybe believing the party of nasty, arrogant pricks like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, Tom Delay, Newt Gingrich and others are more than the shallow, mean, indifferent, unapologetic bastards they present themselves to be.

Well, in any case, the apologies you've offered have been unheard or non-existent - and since actions speak louder than words, you better start acting like a party that gives a shit, because right now none of us give a shit about you.

http://tinyurl.com/pa3uaq

Steele says that the time to apologize for Republican mistakes is over???

Just when did the Republicans even admit that they made any mistakes? And when was it that they apologized?

Real Republicans will soon have to ask themselves if they are ready to stop living in fantasy land, if they ever hope to become relevant again to the political discussions in this country.

And if not, they can continue to sit on the sidelines.

Obama Makes Historic Gains On National Security Polling

[...]

Among many interesting data points include these:

61 percent of respondents approve of the job Obama is doing fighting terrorism.

67 percent approve of how he is handling Iraq.

68 percent approve of his policies for Afghanistan, and the same number says the president is improving Americans stand in the word.

Democrats are favored over Republicans by a margin of 52 to 35 percent on the question of which party better handles foreign policy.

Democrats are favored by a margin of 44 to 32 percent on the situation in Afghanistan; and 47 to 37 percent on the situation in Iraq.

On the war on terrorism, the two parties are trusted equally, 41 percent a piece.

Self-described moderates favored the GOP on national security by 25 points in 2003, but now favor Democrats by a decisive 23 points, 54 to 31 percent."

"Women trusted the GOP more on national security by 20 points in 2003; now they trust the Democrats more by 17 points."

"Voters under age 30 trusted Republicans more national security by a 27 point margin in 2003; now they trust Democrats more by 18 points, 50 to 32 percent.

http://tinyurl.com/o9by6l

*****

Pollstrology but if the trends are even close to being right . . .

Obama to New Orleans: Drop Dead?

Harry Shearer, 05.18.2009 Huffington Post

Actor, author, director, satirist, musician, radio host, playwright, multi-media artist

The farther we get into this administration, the clearer it becomes that New Orleans is now enjoying its second consecutive federal administration with a do-nothing approach to helping the city.

Obama Makes Historic Gains On National Security Polling

~~~~

The man hasn't been tested yet folks!

This poll is as premature as his policy to close Gitmo...

Rachel Maddow Finds Flaw In GOP's Pelosi Gambit (VIDEO)

http://tinyurl.com/ps9lz3

Obviously

Oh For Frakk's Sake, Obama is Awesome!

[...]

You'd think he was our last president (the mouth breather who got us into most of the problems I mention above, and then some) the way people fucking kvetch about any decision he makes, including, but not limited to, the White House's optics, like how the Ax is handling our moronic press (like their fucking children, btw, which is "quite right").

President Obama kicking ass, taking names, eating burgers, and has left all who opposed him in smoking ruins. And reportedly has a kung fu grip. He's hugely popular abroad, he's built up a huge reserve of trust with the American people, and he's reduced the GOP to babbling about socialism, going Galt and teabagging.

http://tinyurl.com/rb4p4y

Freddie,

Like you give a sh*t about what is happening in NO. Have you ever done anything constructive towards solving problems in this world? I have left my job to start a foundation in my brother's name. I have no idea where I am going to get funding for what I want to do. My family is not rich, my husband is self employed so now we don't even have employer paid health insurance. Yet, I feel that now is the time and that I can make a difference to try and change other people's lives for the better. Please tell me what you have done.

Steele: "This change is being delivered in a teabag!"

OMFG this guy (RNC chairman Michael Steele) is hilarious (and he doesn't even know it):

http://www.dailykostv.com/w/001345/

How did we get so lucky?

Transcript:

You know it’s real. You can see it, and you can feel it. This change, my friends, is being delivered in a teabag. And that’s a wonderful thing.

http://tinyurl.com/rb4p4y

*****

It's almost like Steele is a double agent!

Tomgram: Noam Chomsky, Unexceptional Americans

Murder, torture, abuse and photos of the same. We've seen some of them, of course. Now, evidently under pressure from his top generals, President Obama has decided to fight the release of other grim photos from the dark side of the Bush years of offshore injustice -- on the grounds that their publication might inflame opinion in the Middle East and our various war zones (as if fighting to suppress their publication won't). In this way, just as the president is in the process of making Bush's wars his own, so he seems to be making much of the nightmare legacy of those years of crime, torture, and cover-up his, too.

http://tinyurl.com/qslkqf

The sad thing is:

The mistakes Obama makes are when his policies are closest to Bush policies so the GOP are dizzy trying to oppose while not admitting the error of the past twoi (or more) terms.

As if Pelosi knew about torture (clearly a crime) but the torture itself was all legal and no problem - (see Maddow post above)

Let the real opposition come from the DLC and DINO's - the GOP can continue on their own course.

CIA Won’t Say Whether Panetta Disputes Pelosi Claim She Was Lied To

A spokesperson for the CIA is declining to clarify whether CIA director Leon Panetta is disputing Nancy Pelosi’s claim that the agency lied to her about the use of torture.

It has, of course, been widely reported that Panetta smacked back hard against Pelosi’s claim in that note he sent to CIA employees last week. But as Politico’s Josh Gerstein pointed out yesterday, a close reading of Panetta’s note shows clearly that he did not directly dispute Pelosi’s allegations.

The crux of Gerstein’s argument is that Panetta said: “It is not our policy or practice to mislead Congress.” That’s a statement of current policy and intent, not a rebuttal of Pelosi’s claims. And the part of Panetta’s statement that does address what was said in briefings is too vague to be conclusive.

So I asked a CIA spokesperson whether it was the CIA’s position that Pelosi was not lied to, as she has claimed. The spokesperson declined to elaborate, instead saying that Panetta’s note would have to speak for itself.

To be clear, this doesn’t prove one way or the other whether Pelosi was in fact lied to. She very well may have been told of the use of torture. Still, it’s sobering to think that while it’s been widely reported that Panetta disputes Pelosi’s allegations, this may not be at all true and may never have happened at all.

http://tinyurl.com/phrn48

*****

Maybe we need to return to who authorized and implemented illegal torture and harmful criminal acts?

Bush, Bush and Cheney, Cheney alone? Cheney and Gonzales?

There has to be a huge potential number of combinations.

Maybe someone should fall on their sword and get this mess out of the way and into the rearview mirror?

Hmmmmmm

(any GOPher with the stones to take the hit?)

Capt,

I agree. There are many things I think Obama can be doing better and that those areas are when he is more in line with the previous administration. I think he is afraid of a repeat of the Clinton Universal Health Care fiasco and doesn't see that now is the time. I don't agree with the bailouts. Yet, those on the right seem to ignore that Bush also gave billions to the bankers and that his economic and security policies (i.e. two illegal wars) caused the debt and the economic insecurities that were in play when he left office.

The fact that those of us who support Obama can disagree with some of his policies is a good thing, not a bad thing. That is called democracy.

Flan,

*High Fives*

We have to hold their feet to the fire.

Obama will never be "lefty" enough for me. Kucinich is closer to my positions on many issues.

Ilene,

Like I said ealier, I applaud you for the work your doing on behalf of your brother.

However, quitting your job to start a foundation without having any idea where the funding comes from sounds more like an emotional move than a thought out move (I'm not knocking you for it).

You say your husband is self employed, if so, he should have told you to develop a business plan before jumping in.

I am self employed and pay for my own health insurance (family rates) However, I have a budget for it.

Now, for what I do to give back is personal and I'm not looking for a pat on the back. But, the line of work I'm in keeps me involved in local community programs that give back to our children.

I can say that I've done more for my community than Obama will ever be capable of!

We have to hold their feet to the fire.

~~~

I fell off my chair laughing at this one!!!!

lol

Answer my question Freddie - what have you done?

We have to hold their feet to the fire.

~~~~

You can start with Pelosi...........

unless lying about national security to save your own ass isn't a biggy if you're a Dempug!

One of the particularly nonsensical and yet dearly held ideas that the Bush administration promoted. and the media cheerfully accepted, is that no matter how lawless the policy sounded -- waterboarding, warrantless wiretapping, etc -- briefing the Democrats immunized all parties and magically transformed these policies into perfectly legal activities. Of course, I was raised to understand that bringing multiple parties into the commission of a crime was indicative of an expanding criminal conspiracy, not a legalizing trump card.

But all of this has been placed into stark relief now that Nancy Pelosi has become the face of those Democrats briefed on torture, and last night, Rachel Maddow and Greg Sargent did an excellent job decoding the political gamesmanship at the center of a drive to revive Pelosi as a fundraising, base-rallying target without crossing the line into genuinely supporting an actual Truth Commission. Along the way, Sargent highlights that even as Pete Hoekstra has been "pursuing the notes and memos that supposedly will prove that Pelosi was briefed on torture," he's actually added to the murk. "He said clearly on Fox that he had looked at those and they wouldn't provide a clear picture of what actually happened," Sargent said, pointing out that this actually dovetails with Pelosi's self-defense, former Senator Bob Graham's remarks, and the CIA's own admission that their own reports aren't based on anything verifiable.

(from link above)

Freddie,

It's called a leap of faith - while I am not religious, I have faith in myself that I can make this happen.

From severe depression to recovery. Sometimes when you think you are at your lowest point in your life, you can turn it into an opportunity. When I went on leave due to my depression, I lost my job because the company was so small I did not qualify for family leave. Therefore, they were able to terminate my employment.

Now that I have recovered enough to get back on my feet, I have an opportunity to go back to work for them. Instead, I decided to use this time to see if I can do advocacy work full time. Luckily, I have enough in the bank to float me for a few months while I try my wings.

So don't give me this patronizing BS about getting advice from my husband like I am some dimwitted housewife.

Now really, tell me what you have done to make this world a better place.

By the way, I have developed a budget - on my own - without my husband's help, thank you very much. I am already laying out the groundwork to get the funding.

You don't know me. You have no idea what I am capable of and what my background is in (accounting/payroll/project management). So before you go off on another patronizing lecture, tell me what you have done to help those that cannot help themselves.

CIA: Like We Said Before, Briefing Document Could Be Wrong

The CIA has given another indication that the briefing document with which Republicans are trying to attack Nancy Pelosi is unreliable.

Yesterday, Rep. David Obey sent a letter to CIA director Leon Panetta pointing out yet another apparent error in the document. The Washington Independent's Spencer Ackerman asked CIA for a response to Obey's claim, and got the following statement:

http://tinyurl.com/ql257b

Ilene,

First of all....

I've raised three successful children who are giving back to society instead of taking from it.

I pay more than my fair share of taxes so liberals can get free mortgages, credit cards, cars, college tuition, health care, unemployment, ownership in GM and Chrysler, ownership in our banks and AIG.

I raise money through my business every year for March of Dimes and American Cancer Society as well as walk - run fund raisers.

I contribute as a business and personal level to our public music and arts programs. Member of local music program to raise money for music programs at our local schools. I personally offer a scholarship program for private music lessons to kids that can't afford them. I'm a proud sponsor of the AMBER Alert system.

I contribute to local police, local fireman and school for the blind each year.

Coached basketball and soccer. Coached for Boys and Girls club, Den leader for Boy Scouts.

Most of all, I'm just an awesome person to be around!!!! It rubs off and makes people more successful......

MSNBS: Congress Investigating Documented CIA Lying

Run time: 10:59

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwsMX659eeg

(via DU)

And another thing. Don't call me by my real first name like you know me. Flan will do fine for this venue.

Rep. Hoekstra: Only I’m Allowed To Accuse The CIA Of Lying

In recent days, conservatives have been on a media blitz accusing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) of lying last week when she said that she believed she had been “misled” by the CIA during intelligence briefings regarding the use of torture. Last night on Fox News’s On The Record, Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) continued this blitz, arguing that Pelosi did not want to “take accountability and responsibility for the actions that she took in 2002, 2003″ and is instead simply “blaming the CIA.”

When host Greta Van Sustern pointed out that “CIA has not been perfect” in recent years, Hoekstra explained that in his view it is okay to criticize the agency’s performance, but it is another thing to accuse the CIA of having misled Congress:

HOEKSTRA: I think you do go back and you break it into two different issues. One is the performance, how well, they’re doing their job. The second is whether they have misled or lied to Congress, two very, very different issues.

Watch it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRACH_I-XuU

http://tinyurl.com/puuccr

******

No small wonder the GOP are losing party in every demographic. Nobody can take their BS seriously.

IOKIYAR - eh?

So don't give me this patronizing BS about getting advice from my husband like I am some dimwitted housewife.

~~~

Wow! My point was about the self employment side of it, not a sexist thing! Why do liberals always have to be a victim? I don't get it!

"The way to procure insults is to submit to them: a man meets with no more respect than he exacts."

~ William Hazlitt (1778 - 1830)

Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today!

Do you think my kids don't give back to society? So you think I haven't done all of that and more? I paid most of my kids' tuition and they have taken out loans and worked jobs for the rest. We haven't ever gotten anything free from the government and we pay more than our fair share of taxes as well as you.

All you can do is regurgitate GOP talking points. You have nothing real to contribute to this and any converstation.

I am totally done with you.

OK Flan, don't call me Fredo then, cuz you don't know me either.

Flan, simmer down girl!

Yikes! You asked me a question about ME, not you.

How does my answer have anything to do with you?

I'm done with you girl, cuz you're just damn confusing!

Dick Cheney Donates Millions to Charity (77.89% of income given to charity)

In one of the largest sums ever donated to charity by a U.S. public official, Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne gave away nearly $7 million last year to help the poor and to medical research. According to income tax information released by the White House on Friday, the Cheneys' adjusted gross income in 2005 was $8,819,006. The sum was largely the result of Mr. Cheney's stock options from Halliburton and royalties from three books written by Mrs. Cheney. The Cheneys gave more than three-quarters of their income - $6,869,655 - to several charities, including George Washington University's...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And how much did Joe Biden contribute?

2008 tax return $1,885.00 or .70%

~~~~

Hows that for given back to society?

You'll never guess which states have most jobless
Labor could loom large in mid-term elections

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: May 18, 2009
9:45 pm Eastern

By Jerome R. Corsi
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

Unemployment in March was 20 percent higher in so-called "blue states" won by Democratic candidate Barack Obama in last fall's presidential election than in "red states" won by Republican candidate John McCain, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If unemployment numbers in the blue states do not begin improving soon, the Democratic Party may start expressing concerns about 2010 mid-term election losses in both governor races and in Congress, many political observers say.

The baseball statistician and political predictor at FiveThirtyEight.com already has forecast that Obama will need to sustain a 65-percent approval rating to avoid losing the House of Representatives in the 2010 elections in which voters traditionally weigh economic issues particularly strong.

Rachel on Pelosi Gate- the Diversion from War Crimes and Torture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m75o3jq2GY8

(some audio probs)

Marcy has a compendium of errors in CIA documents, including today's revelation from TPMMuckraker that while the CIA consistently uses the term "enhanced interrogation techniques" in the documents supposedly from 2002, though it wasn't using that terminology until 2004.

http://tinyurl.com/qxmsgc

*****

I don't think the CIA is even trying to be believable at this point.

Two years off on the use of EIT as terminology?

That does make for some eggs on their faces.

VR Moves to Disbar Bush Torture Lawyers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz9xDA2-k9g

A lawyer cannot violate the law and practice law at the same time. Who would've thunk it?

Bush-Cheney 2012?

by Reihan Salam

The Daily Beast's Reihan Salam on why Jeb Bush is the GOP's best hope for beating Obama—and a certain Bush family friend just might join him in the race.

~~~~~~~

Now that would really drive the libs nuts!!!

The three Stooges:

Reid joins Biden, Pelosi in misstatements

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid became the latest Democrat to stray into rhetorical trouble Tuesday, botching statements on three subjects in one news conference - including the fragile health of the chamber's most senior members.

Bar complaints filed against Yoo, Bybee, Addington, Ashcroft, Gonzales, Mukasey, 6 others

http://tinyurl.com/pnurjs

*dancing*

I'd like to see Jesse Ventura body slam Joe Scarborough after all the smack he talked this morning. The clip is here...

http://tinyurl.com/os7sf2

At the bottom of that post is the link to a hella resource page of documents/links proving torture doesn't work and it didn't work for bushie.
http://tinyurl.com/ogkfrz

Let's try that again. The resource link didn't work.

http://tinyurl.com/popp5o

attn: Fredo

Anatomy of a Myth
Here's a classic example of an inaccurate story instantly gaining mythological status.
========
In other words, non-thinkers like Fredo pass crap around amongst themselves, and worse yet, post it on a blog like they knew what they were talking about.
As soon as I read it, I caught the line that said when Chainee was locked down, this is "where his most trusted aides were stationed". I noticed it didn't say a thing about Chainee being there. But alas, there was even MORE wrong with the story. It wasn't even a basement bunker, but an UPSTAIRS room.

http://tinyurl.com/q2zoke

Also, I bet Fredo missed the article about the CIA lies that proved what I smacked him with the other day, that aides AREN'T ALLOWED in those classified briefings.

Kennedy to return in June; Sens. say health improved

Sen. Edward Kennedy’s brain cancer is in remission and he is expected back in the Senate after the Memorial Day recess to spearhead healthcare reform, according to Democratic colleagues.


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Kennedy’s Massachusett’s colleague, Sen. John Kerry (D), both expressed optimism that Kennedy’s yearlong battle with cancer was taking a positive turn.

http://tinyurl.com/o84mux