Friday, June 22, 2007

Hardball: Michael Moore Takes on Big Medicine

Best Night Ever

The Word

Another presidential candidate?

Maybe or Maybe Not

You and I

Michael Moore Espouses Jesus, Yet He Mocked the Crucifixion, Supports Pro-Choice, And ... | NewsBusters.org

Michael Moore Espouses Jesus, Yet He Mocked the Crucifixion, Supports Pro-Choice, And ... NewsBusters.org:

"On Tuesday's episode (6/19/07) of The View, Michael Moore advocated socialized
medicine by saying that 'Jesus told us that we would be judged by how we treat
the least among us.' (Video at Hot Air.)
The problem? For one, starting many
years ago, Michael Moore has displayed behavior that many followers of Jesus
would find offensive. Moore also reportedly has a dubious history in dealing
with 'the least' around him in his own life."


I am sure that Jesus is used to the fair weather friends of all sorts by now.

PoliPundit.com » “Tribes help U.S. against al-Qaeda”

PoliPundit.com » “Tribes help U.S. against al-Qaeda:

"More than 10 Iraqi tribes in the Baghdad area have reached agreements with U.S.
and Iraqi forces for the first time to oppose al-Qaeda, raising the U.S.
military’s hopes that a trend started in western Iraq is spreading here.
Some of the groups, which have members who fought alongside al-Qaeda in the
past, have been providing useful intelligence to U.S. forces about their former
allies, according to the U.S. military."


A lot of people have condemned the White House for this move, saying that we are using the logic that the enemy of our enemy is our friend. I think they are missing the point, this isn't about us. I think the point is that they are reaching the tribes in Iraq and showing them that the terrorists are a greater threat to them than the Americans are. Not only that but by working with the Americans they can get the Americans out of the country faster.

Tom DeLay.com - Home - SICKO is SCARED-O

Tom DeLay.com - Home - SICKO is SCARED-O:

"Turns out Michael Moore isn't as willing to debate conservatives as he
wants the public to think. The plus-sized publicity hound is booked on ABC's
This Week with George Stephanopoulos for this Sunday and upon booking him as a
guest, they all agreed to have a conservative on with him to make it a debate on
health care policy. I was asked to go on with him, and after thinking it over a
bit I told them I couldn't agree until I had actually seen the project and knew
what exactly he was debating. They all agreed to overnight a copy of the film, I
would view it this morning, and let them know ASAP. "


Tom goes on to claim that the movie never arrived and that the debate was canceled. While I don't know the merits that Delay has to discuss the topic of health care, it would have been a good debate. It is not shocking to me that it would be true that Moore would back out of a debate, if this is true. I think he is more interested in standing on top of his own soap box, than having honest discussion.

Michelle Malkin » The North Tower collapse: A computer simulation

Michelle Malkin » The North Tower collapse: A computer simulation:

"A computer simulation of the 2001 World Trade Center attacks supports a federal
agency’s findings that the initial impact from the hijacked airplanes stripped
away crucial fireproofing material and that the weakened towers collapsed under
their own weight.
The two-year Purdue University study, funded in part by
the National Science Foundation, was the first to use 3-D animation to provide
visual context to the attacks, said Christoph Hoffmann, a professor of computer science and one of
the lead researchers on the project.
“One thing it does point out… is the
absolute essential nature of fireproofing steel structures,” Hoffmann told The
Associated Press. “This is something that wasn’t done originally in the World Trade Center when
it was built. It wasn’t code at that time.”"


I doubt that any number of studies will change someones mind on this. I know one person who thinks this is all a scam, and he still thinks that we never went to the moon. I don't know why people get these ideas locked into their minds, but no amount of logic or data is going to get it out.

Idol Eating Disorder

lgf: Breaking: Muslims Angry

lgf: Breaking: Muslims Angry:

"ISLAMABAD (AFP) -
Muslim anger flared Thursday after Britain defended Salman Rushdie’s
knighthood, with fresh protests against the novelist and Pakistani clerics
bestowing a title on Osama bin Laden in response.
Hundreds of
demonstrators took to the streets in Indian Kashmir and Pakistan, while
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, criticised the timing of the
honour. ..."


One this whole anger is about a title that means really very little.

Two, are they suggesting that a man who planned a number of attacks that killed thousands of innocent people is equal to a man who wrote a book that spoke poorly of a religion?

I think it is time for the Arabs to stop throwing fits like three year olds every time something happens that they don't like. Why don't they grow up, start acting like adults and become a responsible part of the global community.

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Video: Michelle gives Rosie, Truthers some “tough love”

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Video: Michelle gives Rosie, Truthers some “tough love”

Video of Michelle talking to Fox News about a new study that supports the governments findings about collapse of the towers on 9/11.

Daily Kos: Senate Raises Fuel Standards

Daily Kos: Senate Raises Fuel Standards:

"Feinstein has released a statement on the vote: 'The compromise
legislation raises the fleetwide average fuel economy standards for all cars,
trucks and SUVs by 10 miles per gallon over 10 years — or from 25 to 35 miles
per gallon by Model Year 2020.' By 2025, the fuel economy increases for cars and
light-duty trucks would:
— Save between 2.0 and 2.5 million barrels of oil
per day, nearly the amount of oil imported today from the Persian Gulf.

Achieve up to 18 percent reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from anticipated
levels, or the equivalent of taking 60 million cars off the road in one year.
— Save consumers $79-98 billion at the pump, based on a $3.00 gas price.
"


I think this is an important move, auto makers have little incentive to produce more gas efficient cars. Price isn't always a good factor, because there will always be people who just buy the cheapest car out there, or that can't afford to purchase a more expensive car, based solely on gas mileage. With the whole industry operating under higher standards, companies will have to develop the technology to increase mileage, while keeping prices down.

TV Squad Daily with Brigitte: 06-21-2007

lgf: A Visit to Fatah's Torture Chamber

lgf: A Visit to Fatah's Torture Chamber:

"In the room next to the guard booth, large puddles of blood are drying
out, surrounded by swarms of flies. “Fatah used this room to shoot people,” says
the al-Qassam militiaman.
But why the security force would have performed
executions in a room with two windows, directly adjacent to the gate of the
complex, remains unclear. One can’t help but suspect that Abu Mohammed’s men may
have used the room to shoot Fatah men who wanted to surrender.
Eyewitnesses
last Thursday reported that the Fatah members who were defending the building
were shot in the head, one after another, when, with their shirts removed and
their hands held above their heads, they had attempted to surrender. “We didn’t
kill a single one of them,” counters Abu Mohammed. “That would be
un-Islamic.”"


I see no reason to assume that they both didn't use the same room to kill people for the same reasons. Israel and America are blamed unfairly for the mess that the Palestinians find themselves in. While I don't support everything that the US and Israel have done, I think that the Palestinians own leaders have harmed them more than anyone else.

lgf: US to Close Gitmo?

lgf: US to Close Gitmo?:

"WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is nearing a decision to close the
Guantanamo Bay detention facility and move the terror suspects there to military
prisons elsewhere, The Associated Press has learned.
President Bush’s
national security and legal advisers are expected to discuss the move at the
White House on Friday and, for the first time, it appears a consensus is
developing, senior administration officials said Thursday.
The advisers will
consider a new proposal to shut the center and transfer detainees to one or more
Defense Department facilities, including the maximum security military prison at
Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, where they could face trial, said the officials.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing internal
deliberations."


If this means that those in Gitmo will get a trial and be held to reasonable standards of justice this is a good news. If that means that those at Gitmo will be moved to secret prisons that the military is operating in unknown locations, it is bad news. In the end I would be willing to bet that some go to secret prisons and some get justice fairly.

Is Bloomberg Too Short to Be President?

Daily Kos: Republicans block alternative energy measure

Daily Kos: Republicans block alternative energy measure:

"Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a $32 billion package of tax breaks for
renewable energy that would have been financed mostly by new taxes on major oil
companies.
Democrats came three votes short of overcoming a threatened GOP
filibuster that was keeping the measure from being attached to a broader energy
bill. Republican senators argued that the nearly $29 billion in additional taxes
on major oil companies would have led to reduced production and higher gasoline
prices."

I support this mainly because I think that there are costs in using carbon based fuels that are absent in reusable fuels. These costs are not properly accounted for under our current system which gives carbon based fuels an unfair advantage. Taxing carbon based fuels to develop the renewables is just a way of making the field level.

John Edwards - The Cooper Union (excerpts)

Daily Kos: Parliamentary Procedure: What the hell are they doing in the House?

Daily Kos: Parliamentary Procedure: What the hell are they doing in the House?:

"What you were watching was the result of bringing those appropriations
bills to the floor under 'open' rules -- that is, a special rule controlling
debate, adopted by the House before consideration of the bill itself (called the
'underlying bill'), which essentially allows for an unlimited number of
amendments to be considered. When the opposition party is feeling feisty, they
can gum up the works with literally hundreds of amendments, calling for a vote
on each one. This sometimes leads the majority to consider legislation under a
closed rule, which allows no amendments, or only those pre-approved by the Rules
Committee (usually at the suggestion of the Chair of the committee that wrote
the bill). In between, there are varying types of rules. Modified open rules,
modified closed rules, plus wacky hybrid rules like the King/Queen of the Hill,
which are ridiculous enough that we'll set their discussion aside for
now."


Read this whole post by clicking on the link. It deals with some of the workings of the Congress, something that I think everyone should have some understanding of.

Crooks and Liars » OVP: Our Fourth Branch of Government?

Crooks and Liars » OVP: Our Fourth Branch of Government?:

"On Countdown, Keith Olbermann talks about the startling and deeply disturbing
assertions that the Office of the Vice President is making regarding oversight."


Some great video from Countdown on this.

Crooks and Liars » Guiliani’s SC Campaign Chairman Indicted

Crooks and Liars » Guiliani’s SC Campaign Chairman Indicted:

"The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has just announced that State
Treasurer Thomas Ravenel has been indicted by federal jury on cocaine
distribution charges. Ravenel, who was elected last fall, was named the
Chairman of presidential candidate Rudy Giualiani’s (R-N.Y.) South Carolina campaign in
April. "


Remember how many times Nixon ran for the White House, and remember what he did with the power once he got it. I see Guiliani failing in this run for the White House, and attempting again in a couple years. His stand on the issues is not right for those on the right, or those on the left. Now it looks like his staff is falling apart as well.

Stephanie Miller: Operation Arrowhead Ripper!!!

Schooling Michael Moore

American Thinker: Prepare to be Sickened by SiCKO

American Thinker: Prepare to be Sickened by SiCKO:

"From start to end, SiCKO, the latest “documentary” from notorious writer
and filmmaker Michael Moore, is a stunning example of the Big Lie. Almost
shockingly devoid of fact and context, it's instead based on highly selective,
emotionally-driven, and deeply flawed anecdotes, strung together by
writer-director-producer Moore's trademark folksy, soft-spoken, whimsical
personal narrative. SiCKO (the unusual capitalization is Moore's conceit)
is not a documentary at all, but a naked propaganda exercise on behalf of
full-bore socialism. A better title for it would be Pinko. "


This is a well written review of the movie and a discussion of the premise of the movie. It is much longer than I have shared, so click on the link to read it all.

Lieberman becomes liberal cash cow - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth

Lieberman becomes liberal cash cow - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth:

"This is actually kind of funny. Lieberman is appearing at a fundraiser for
pro-Bush GOP Senator Susan Collins of Maine. As a result, tons of money is
pouring into Collins' opponent, Tom Allen. Hopefully Lieberman will attach
himself to more GOP members this election cycle - he's a walking ATM for our
side."


I think that the targeting of Lieberman is a poor sign of the health of our democracy. There needs to be room in the middle of the political spectrum, I have to say that Lieberman has some courage to attempt to move into the middle. I question how many others are going to be bold enough to take a stand to the extremes.

r blog » weekend fix

r blog » weekend fix

So Rosie is still video blogging, she talks about the roll that she swallowed that is still stuck in her neck. Proclaims that she has no goals for her life and babbles about Broadway show.

Obama’s Challenge | Air America Radio

Obama’s Challenge Air America Radio:

"Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama has revealed 113 earmarks that he has requested while in the Senate. He has called for his challengers to do the same. Click
here to view Obama’s
earmarks."


When you work for a corporation, and you spend their money they want to know where and how each penny was spent. I don't see why it should be any different with the American peoples money. The information should be available to everyone who is asking for how much money to buy what. This is something that the American people want to know, well if you can slip it in between American Idol and Dances with Stars, or add it to your MySpace profile.

Cheney Power Grab: Says White House Rules Don't Apply to Him

The Blotter: Cheney Power Grab: Says White House Rules Don't Apply to Him

"Vice President Dick Cheney has asserted his office is not a part of the
executive branch of the U.S. government, and therefore not bound by a
presidential order governing the protection of classified information by
government agencies, according to a new letter from Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif.,
to Cheney.
Bill Leonard, head of the government's Information Security
Oversight Office (ISOO), told Waxman's staff that Cheney's office has refused to
provide his staff with details regarding classified documents or submit to a
routine inspection as required by presidential order, according to Waxman.
In pointed letters released today by Waxman, ISOO's Leonard twice questioned
Cheney's office on its assertion it was exempt from the rules. He received no
reply, but the vice president later tried to get rid of Leonard's office
entirely, according to Waxman."


Ok if he is not a part of the presidents office, why does he use the defense of executive privilege when it suits his needs to do so. This is a simple and blatant abuse of power, I think the Cheney took the office of Vice President with this sort of abuse of power in mind. He knew that the office operated with little public attention, which would allow him to exercise broad authority without oversight. I don't know if it can be done, or how it could be done,but I think steps should be taken to limit the power of the office of Vice President. Cheney has run a parallel administration, which is wrong.

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