Republicans have goldfish-like memory

I understand faux pas, I understand slips of the tongue. But what I don’t get is how a republican governor can say “tar baby” without thinking it would cause a ruckus.

“The best thing politically would be to stay as far away from that tar baby as I can,” [Mass Gov. Mitt Romney] told a crowd of about 100 supporters in Ames, Iowa.

…he didn’t know anyone would be offended by the term some consider a racial epithet.

Of course not. It’s not like Tony Snow did the exact same damn thing back in May. Because that would make Romney look pretty stupid for totally forgetting about that.

[tags]massachusetts, republican, racism[/tags]

Israel continues to reject ceasefire proposals

I’m really getting sick of this. All of the civilian deaths are on Lebanon’s side, and yet Israel still says no to a ceasefire.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at the end of a trip to Israel that a ceasefire could be achieved this week. But despite an international outcry over an air strike on Sunday that killed 54 civilians, most of them children, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said there would be no ceasefire for now.

“The fighting continues. There is no ceasefire and there will not be any ceasefire in the coming days,” Olmert told local officials, drawing sustained applause.

This is not defense. This is offense masking as defense. It’s the US strategy of blowing up people you don’t like “so they can’t get us first”. And it’s all being defended with statements like “hezbollah is hiding behind civilians”. Which is just a way for Israelis and their defenders to kill a few hundred children and not feel guilty.

[tags]israel, lebanon, hezbollah, ceasefire, war[/tags]

Quick shots 7/31

Bush’s ridiculous logic claims more violence is a sign that his policy works.

Another big blast in Iraq kills 25.

Elderly realizing Bush’s Medicare plane sucks as they’re forced to pay out of pocket to get coverage.

More US troops going to Iraq.

Hamas may attack Israel in response to Lebanese bombing.

Evangelical pastor breaks ranks with GOP and denounces idea of “Christian Nation”.

Bush’s brilliant terror bill

Gettin’ sick of this icon. So Bush is proposing citizens with “terror ties” be detained indefinitely with no access to civilian courts. America, I hope you enjoyed that Constitution, because it’s frittering away.

Legal experts said Friday that such language is dangerously broad and could authorize the military to detain indefinitely U.S. citizens who had only tenuous ties to terror networks like al Qaeda.

…
The administration’s proposal, as considered at one point during discussions, would toss out several legal rights common in civilian and military courts, including barring hearsay evidence, guaranteeing “speedy trials” and granting a defendant access to evidence. The proposal also would allow defendants to be barred from their own trial and likely allow the submission of coerced testimony.

And the biggest question of all: if defendents are not allowed to defend themselves, no access to evidence, and possible “coerced” testimony, what guarantee do we have that any citizens swept up in this bill are guilty of anything? If there’s no concern for evidence and the defendents can’t testify, anyone could be arrested and held as a “terrorist”.

You make me sick, Bush.

[tags]bush, terrorism, detainees[/tags]

UK almost fought Israel in 1948

Keeping in mind that the UK was one of three nations to oppose a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, finding out they sided with the Arabs back in 1948 is a bit of a shocker. Well, not really given the situation, but it’s still interesting.

A transcript of Cabinet deliberations in November 1948 — six months after the birth of the Jewish state — reveal his concerns that Israeli troops could clash with the Arab Legion, the British-officered Jordanian army.

The Cabinet agreed that Britain was treaty-bound to protect what was then Transjordan and expressed anxiety that the Arab Legion was poorly-equipped to face Israeli forces.

Though it is revealing that Britain would war with Israel to protect their own interests. Boy there’s some strong morals, huh? And today their own interests are keeping in lockstep with whatever Bush says.
[tags]israel, middle east, arab, war, britain[/tags]

Worldwide outcry at deaths in Qana

I expressed some optimism earlier thanks to Israel’s decision to pull back some forces in favor of beefing up border security. However, the recent strike that killed 60 civilians in Qana just sickens me. But what gets to me is the White House response.

The White House expressed its condolences for the “terrible and tragic incident” in Qana, Lebanon, saying in a statement: “We continue to urge the Israeli government to exercise the utmost care so as to avoid any civilian casualties.”

Soft talk is getting no progress. The White House seems to have no interest in taking any action against Israel. Now, one can say that a citizenry is in part responsible for its government, but that’s like saying we deserve to get bombed by Iraq because of Bush. I don’t subscribe to that theory at all.

This has to stop. From a pure humanitarian side, this has to stop. And unless the US starts to push for a unilateral cease-fire, it isn’t happening.

[tags]israel, hezbollah, qana, lebanon[/tags]

Clinton: “Only gay when it comes to…”

This isn’t an official response, but it’s one of the funniest bits I’ve seen on Letterman in a while. For those unaware, Ann Coulter made the… peculiar assertion that Clinton’s multiple scandals mean he’s a latent homosexual, which is kinda like saying Mike Tyson fights so much to hide that he’s really passive. Enjoy.

Awesome. Letterman’s really been on fire when it comes to the right pundits. I hope it continues.
[tags]ann coulter, letterman, clinton, gay[/tags]

Israel pulling out of ‘Hezbollah stronghold’

Good news, I’d say. However, I find it odd that Israel would say they completed their mission given what I’m reading about the incident.

Israeli warplanes blasted bridges and demolished houses in southern Lebanon, killing seven people, including a woman and her five children.

And then…

The woman and her children were crushed in their home by a strike outside the market town of Nabatiyeh, which also killed a man in a nearby house.

So for those keeping track, the seven killed in the warplane blasts were all civilians. Awesome. But at least they’re moving out. And then there’s the US proposition:

…disarming Hezbollah and integrating the guerrilla force into the Lebanese army; Hezbollah’s return of Israeli prisoners; and a buffer zone in southern Lebanon to put Hezbollah rockets out of range of Israel. And … a commitment to resolve the status of a piece of land held by Israel and claimed by Lebanon; and the creation of an international reconstruction plan for Lebanon.

More one-sided “peace” talk. It doesn’t even say who’ll get that land, just it’ll be “resolved”. This ain’t helping, folks.

[tags]israel, hezbollah, lebanon[/tags]

NSA whistleblower subpoenaed.

Russell Tice, the NSA whistleblower, is being subpoenaed as part of an investigation into government leaks. What are we to make of this?

In a statement issued by the National Security Whistleblowers Coalition, Tice said the subpoena was designed to stop others who had evidence of illegal conduct by U.S. intelligence agencies from coming forward. “This latest action by the government is designed only for one purpose: to ensure that people who witness criminal action being committed by the government are intimidated into remaining silent.”

That’s right. There is a full coalition of whistleblowers. The problem is that bad. I’ve been saying for a while that if we want to stop leaks, you pop the leakers and not the reporters. What we’re seeing here, however, is not in the interest of national security. Tice is being investigated for leaking an illegal program. Sigh.

[tags]nsa, spying, investigation, bush, illegal, security[/tags]

132 dead in CA from the heat

The heat’s breaking records all over, and people are dropping dead in California from it.

State Sen. Dean Florez said he called on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency in the Central Valley to make more financial and personnel resources available.

“The conditions, staying this hot for this long, are simply too much for the most vulnerable residents,” Florez said.

It’s a state of emergency in California. 2005 was the hottest year on record and 2006 is already looking to eclipse it. I hate to make another global warming comment, but when the hottest year of all keeps getting topped by the next? Hard to avoid that conclusion.

[tags]global warming, california, heat, death[/tags]