I Guess the Seeds of Democracy Grow Better in Blood

Iraqi workers clean debris near a large pool of blood at the scene of a suicide attack in the city of Hilla, February 28, 2005.

Gannon, Norquist and Armstrong Williams. A closer look at the Leadership Institute.

Maybe it's my early spring diet and the time of day, but I just went to the newly minted jeffgannon.com. Following the links I realized I was getting physically ill. Nauseous.

First off there's the Fear and Loathing headline -- we're all guilty of using it, in COLLEGE. Using "Fear and Loathing" when you are an ADULT instead of thinking of your own headline is just embarrassing. It was cliché almost as soon as Hunter penned it. If you are going to borrow it, you better live up to its pedigree (you sir, are no Hunter Thompson). To use it now, considering the recent suicide of its creator, is so lazy and to, well, make you sick.

Wanting to better understand The Guck's ideological identity, I went to a place where there's a public record of ideology. GOPUSA and Talon have a mission and plenty of material to peruse, but the Leadership Institute claims Karl Rove himself used their workshops to learn about politics and leadership. This is a place where yu ind everyone is on the same page.

On their website they sell a video called The Roots of the Ultra Left. As a matter of fact, it is the ONLY item for sale on the Leadership Institute website. Sure, they offer "workshops" in "journalism" and "leadership" -- but how much you wanna bet if spent the cash and attended, you would watch the video and break out into groups to use the rhetorical foundation of The Roots Of The Ultra Left to form various strategies.

I think we can use this resource to glimpse their inner mind.

Even though the script itself is only 90 or so pages, it took a while to digest because there's an historical figure the Leadership Institute references -- Robert Owen -- who the Leadership Institute basically thinks is The Supreme Evil One himself. Despite the fact that studied Marxism and other forms of utoptianism in graduate school, I had never heard of this Owen -- so off to educate myself which was very easy. Owen's got a lot of web presence despite the fact he died more than a century ago. He has a museum and is considered on the I wondered what Owen's offense was and was intrigued by his status as The Root Man of the Ultra Left. I've been a lefty since birth and I had never heard of this guy.

Robert Owen

He was a British industrialist and reformer who fought to establish child labor laws and other civic commitments we take pretty much for granted, most prominently, public education. For this, the Leadership Institute compares him to Hitler and Stalin. It's a long story and a boring read, but The Roots of the Ultra Left are workers' rights and public education which to these people, are The Root of All Evil.

This is THE ONE MESSAGE the Leadership Institute spends its time and apparently generous budget promoting.

Now for the tasty bits.


Guess who is on the appears on this video as guests of the Leadership Institute:
Grover Norquist
Robert Bork
Ann Coulter
David Horowitz,
Walter Williams, George Mason School of Economics
Dan Flynn, author of Why The Left Hates America
Mike Pence, Indiana Republican Congressman
and,
ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS.

Armstrong Williams. Paid partisan hack.
Ann Coulter, Partisan hack. Possibly insane.
Dan Flynn, Partisan hack. Not as photogenic as Coulter.
David Horowitz, Partison hack. Former Salon conservative pustule.
Then there's the brains of the operation.
Grover Norquist, Grand Pooh Bah
Robert Bork, Grand Pooh Bah
Walter Williams, Pooh Bah
Mike Pence, Little Pooh. Bah Wannabe

The script outline has the inelegant tone of a 1940s racist screed. Get a load of this:
Section One:
Profit Comes From Evil Greed
Socialists must get all your property
Tax all income at 100%
Support big government. No new tax cuts.
Why work when you can loot those who do?
Socialism has never been tried

Section Two:
What Socialists Really Think About Your Family And Our American Culture
Traditional morality is always bad
Do what feels good now. Make taxpayers pay the bill
Break all family ties
Make God illegal
Masculine is bad; feminine is also bad
Kill it. Why give your baby to a moral couple?

Section Three:
What Socialists Really Think About Liberty
Give the Left all power.
Stamp out liberty. It's unfair.
Everything not compulsory must be prohibited
Re-write history or stop teaching it
Keep campuses conservative-free zones
In the media, any conservatives are too many
No free speech for conservatives
Only groups have rights
Give up your guns. We want you defenseless.
Pay the union boss or we'll crack your skull
Save the environment. Kill off all the people.
Destroy all non-government education
Teachers unions -- more important than teaching kids
When judges give us what we want, forget the laws and the Constitution

blah blah blah -- there's more -- go see for yourself.

My husband has been talking to a guy at work (another software developer) who has been upset about the "socialists" for some time now. We've been perplexed at this because, well, the Cold War is over and has been for some time now. Having studied Marxist theory in school, this made my brain lock. So I ignored it. It makes my brain lock because saying there is a Socialist threat in America (now!) is like saying there is a gravitational threat and therefore are an Anti-Gravitarian. This is a Capitalist country. We all buy and sell stuff. The scruffy communists in Lafayette Park don't run things. No one it taking anyone's property -- except the Republicans in taking our sons and daughters off to war.

But there it is. These people really believe there is a Socialist Threat and if you read the material you find out that what these people hate most is public education and workers' rights. These are the Angry White Men, who, despite having great jobs and stay-at-home wives and home-schooled chunks of children, they truly believe the world is out to get them. The feminists want their masculinity. The schools want their religion. The government wants their money. They are middle class and operating out of fear they might lose their footing. they are one lay-off or serious illness from bankruptcy (for as long as that exists).

What they don't see is that these are projections, that the only people out for their shit is the conservatives. So, it's sad to say the least. These folks benefit the most from "transfer payments" in the form of roads and government services and they are being used to tear down their world brick by brick at the behest of Grover The Defunder Norquist.

What gets me most is that the tyranny of the masses is ignorance and it's public education they are most fiercely opposed to. Wake up people.

ultraLEFT_script.pdf

Gannon/Guckert -- the entire JC Forum collection

GAY MILITARY SHAVING FETISH CONSUMES COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF -- Friday, February 11, 2005


Question of GAY SEX surrounding White House reveal who we have become -- Saturday, February 19, 2005


Guckert/Gannon and Republican GAY-ness -- Monday, February 21, 2005


Working the GUCKERT angle does not equal HOMOPHOBIA -- Tuesday, February 22, 2005

GAY PORN TO BRING DOWN WHITE HOUSE -- Wednesday, February 09, 2005

OMG! bush's nickname for Victor Ashe is BULLDOG! -- Sunday, February 20, 2005


What you need to know to work for Talon News -- Wednesday, February 09, 2005


Hey, it's me again -- questions for McClellon from Bill


UPDATE: vermin scribe identified! and he's into GAY PORN! -- Tuesday, February 08, 2005


Kill Insect Scribes Dead: The Stop Government Propaganda Act -- Saturday, February 05, 2005

Our lives begin to end when we fall silent about the things that matter

(hey ya'll -- here's a little post i ran across this morning. as i drink my morning. enjoy)

"This is something that Martin Luther King said once. I refer to that quote often now, as I delve deeper and deeper into speaking out against this immoral and dishonorable war in Iraq as a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War and also as a conscientious objector who refused to participate in it.

'Our lives begin to end when we fall silent about the things that matter.'

I refer to this quote when I encounter people who advocate just keeping one's mouth shut and looking out for one's self, even to the point of advocating that even if we disagreed with the Iraq war, that we have to support our government in what they're doing now.

'Our lives begin to end when we fall silent about the things that matter.'

I remember this statement when I feel anger creep over me at the thousands of US service members who were betrayed by our high officials in sending them to a war of choice, rather than one of a last resort. And especially I reference it in regards to those Democratic members of Congress who, while not directly sending them to war, failed to speak out against it at the time. From where I stand, 'political pragmatism' is hardly an excuse for failing to take a moral stand against such a grave injustice.

'Our lives begin to end when we fall silent about the things that matter.'

Most of all, I remember these words to inspire me that a better future isn't something that comes about immediately -- the goals we place may not even be achieved within our lifetimes -- but that the important thing is that we never waver in seeing the better world we want to help create, and that we keep the hope alive in making that world a reality.

'Our lives begin to end when we fall silent about the things that matter.'

Martin Luther King not only spoke these words, he lived them. And even though his tireless work toward a better tomorrow resulted in the loss of his own life, he created the ripples in still waters that affected millions of others to carry on his vision of peace with justice and brotherhood into the future. Thank you, Martin."

Happiness

For every moment of triumph, for every instance of beauty, many souls must be trampled.

Better To Burn Out Than Fade Away?

Damn, HST. We needed you now more than ever.

It's a giant walnut!

Female Urination

Hey, it's me again

I think that in light of the latitude given Talon news by the White House, as shown by allowing them to have a reporter in the press room a month before they existed, it is only fair that our Brook also receive press credentials (a daily pass would be fine I am sure,) She could ask softball questions like:

“When Gannon visited the White House was he paid $200 per hour or did you take advantage of his $1500 weekend saver rate?” (This would surely appeal to fiscal conservatives...)

or perhaps Brook could ask:

“Given the following statement that appears on the Talon news web site;

“Talon News will be offline while we redesign the web site, perform a top-to-bottom review of staff and volunteer contributors, and address future operational procedures.”

is it safe to assume that GOPUSA staff will be assisting in the bottom portion of that reveiw?”

Any other questions for the press secretary? Put ‘em in comments!

A Parody---But Gospel to Half of All Americans

The U.S. went to war in Iraq to remove an evil and dangerous political adversary from power. Now that we have done that, the American troops must remain in Iraq until the country is a fully functioning democracy, able to spark change throughout the entire Middle East. While I find this obvious, there are still a lot of people in our country who fail to grasp it. I support Bush-administration foreign-policy goals, but I stand firmly against the individual men and women on the ground in the Persian Gulf.

Yes, occupying Iraq does require troops, but they are there for one reason and one reason only: to carry out the orders of the U.S. Defense Department. As far as their overall importance goes, they are no more worthy of our consideration than a box of nails. Ribbons and banners in ostensible "support" of the troops miss the whole point of the invasion, which is to gain a strategic hold over that volatile and lucrative geopolitical region.

Need I remind the reader that it is our flag, not the troops, that we salute? It is our nation-state, not a bunch of 20-year-olds in parachute pants, that deserves our allegiance. As a patriot and true American, my heart sings at the thought of the Pentagon, and the zealous, calculating measures undertaken by the proud military bureaucracy of this great superpower. I feel a surge of pride when I think about our high-tech GBU laser-guided bombs, capable of carrying a 2,000-pound warhead. I tied a ribbon around my tree for the safe return of our nation's F-16s, because our military aircraft are instrumental to finishing our work in Iraq. And on the back of my car, I have a sticker stating my support for the CIA's ongoing efforts in Iraq.

I support the occupation, and the occupation alone, because when we start to support the troops, we pave the way for irrelevant concerns about their families back at home. Before you know it, questions about who is and isn't going to be home in time for Christmas will be interfering with the crucial decision-making process of our commander-in-chief.

I'd like to ask those currently trumpeting their support for the troops a question: Have you ever actually met any of these soldiers in person? Well, I have, and believe me, they are no more impressive than any other low-level functionary of a large institution.

In all honesty, my soul swells with pride at the thought of the military-strategy papers and cost-analysis reports in which the troops are represented as numerical figures. But, as for the men and women—well, in almost every respect, they are average. Although they are no less intelligent than any other American, it is certainly fair to say they lack the ability to devise the complex strategies and tactics to manage their own divisions, much less grasp the nuanced reasons for their deployment.

It is ridiculous that my "heart" is somehow morally or ethically obliged to "go out" to the troops. In fact, had the troops not been put to productive labor by the sheer might and institutional authority of the U.S. military, a good number of them would be sitting around bars, drinking and gambling. In short, we shouldn't view the troops as objects of sympathy, because their very contribution to our society is their ability to carry out simple commands on a battlefield.

When I say that, while I do not wish death for any of the troops, death tolls should not be our greatest concern. All that matters is the pursuit of the foreign-policy goals of this great land, the land I love. America.

The bums lost. condolences.

I was reading something the other night where it was espoused the most overused literary tool was the coming-of-age gig. Simple rules for hacks like me: Don't try to describe sunsets, don't pull a catcher-in-the-rye.
After my last tome of a rant, to no response (is anyone in the forum actually in JC anymore?) I thought I'd hold off in the future, save for the occasional cough. Bad etiquette you know - i didn't know. But then Brook slapped down those ol' chestnuts of that unfortunate working girl with former city manager John Campbell (and one of JC's finest whose name I forget), and something came roaring back, and I just leaned back and thought... holy shit.
I'm not sure why Brook had me be the guy to go right into the belly and interview Campbell about these. I remember I was so nervous I went to the library first to draw up a couple of sheets of bogus, softball questions to ask first. Kind of like buying condoms at the grocery store. And some milk. And maybe this gum here. And a TV Guide. You get the idea.
I think Brook found the photos slipped under the door of the expansive mildewed basement office the Beat inhabited then. I think David told me it was from a disgruntled ex of the police force, some redneck with a grudge. Why they didn't go to the JC Press with it was beyond me, but I didn't care. Holy shit. I mean, holy shit - pay dirt, a damn miracle. A stripper (and, unfortunately, a prostitute). In what was obviously city hall. With laughing, leering officers of the law. And cash money. In the city manager's hand. Who seemed to be having a really good time, and stupidly didn't seem to think the camera in the room was such a bad idea. Obviously, he thought he was among friends.
I remember the photos hit the table one at a time, me trying to do it quickly but consciously without some sort of spinning flair or anything. They slid to a halt, one by one, and then I just held my gaze and leaned back in this plastic chair that was already making my underwear bite into my soft, clammy ass.
(I had been watching the unheralded officer standing in the doorway with the reflection from the cheap glass of some stupid fox hunting print on the scuffed wall, opposite. The guy's silhouette stood up higher to see over me at what I'd put on the desk, and then sank about eight inches. For some reason it occurred to me that he'd spread his feet -- ready for anything. Man of action.)
John Campbell was a fat man. He was fat in the way that career obese people aren't. There was something corrupt about it. Like the baron from Dune.
I actually watched the sweat bead out on his head, and that stale sweaty polyester smell immediately filled the room. The interview lasted less than ten minutes more. Campbell and his officer made two obvious suggestions that I leave, but I stayed seated and kept my face passive. I think they thought I was some sort of hard case, that I really knew what I was doing. They didn't know I was so scared I didn't think to move.
I went to the Beat office immediately after. Well, after drinking my first three beers in a row, ever, over at The Cottage, for some reason. I had worn a sportcoat to the interview. The waitress asked me if I'd gotten a new job and was celebrating, with my briefcase against the bar rail. I was afraid to let it leave my site. It had occurred to me what I'd done. This wasn't just a eye-poke, this was a conspiracy we'd uncovered. This was Tittygate.
What Campbell told me after I totally ambushed him in his own office was that it wasn't his idea, some of the boys had arranged it for his birthday. But, I said, that's money in your hand, there. You are smiling. This is a woman, barely dressed, on city property, on tax payer's time. Didn't you think this was the wrong thing to do? The man was absolutely blindsided. He actually teared up. I almost felt sorry for him.
Then, late one night while coming home from ETSU, I got stopped on one of the blind roads near the Shamrock. Two officers, one car.
Then again, a week later, on the road behind the baseball fields near the university. Same two officers, one car, another joining after ETSU security was waved off and I was asked to step onto the asphalt.
The third time, it was different. A moustache with one of those under-uniform turtlenecks and a real hard-on (He called me "cowboy") got testy and held me onto my hood by the back of my neck, telling me some story of an identical blue blazer that went over the radio just a few minutes before. He stank of cologne. I told him, I don't doubt that, you guys have been stopping me all winter. I haven't done anything, ever. I'm clean. My wallet's in my back pocket. Search my truck. Write me a ticket. But let me up, and get me my coat. I got a couple of bruises that time from rough handling. They found a dusty, empty Pete's rolling around in the very back and a pair of long-lost forceps I had used for trout fishing, and gave me a hard time about it. I talked to a lawyer.
The fourth stop, I mainly remember being jammed into the cruiser, trying to breathe, sitting on a broken finger. At some point my hand had been slammed in my own door. My entire hand made little internal crunchy noises if I shifted in the seat. My left index is still a little crooked.
Johnson City had always been a sort of gritty estuary for me, right from when I was sneaking into Quarterbacks under-aged to see the Nightmares and choke down a beer and watch the University High girls dance, right until about that moment I slapped those photos down on Campbell's desk. I was a late learner, but I learned it all in a very short time. Before spring I'd leave JC, leave school, leave period. Despite all that bullshit, no where has felt quite like that particular flavor of home since. That's weird, isn't it?
OK, I know I'm not David Sidaris. I'll either keep my submissions shorter or start my own damn blog.

Country Bracing For Draft The Lone Star Iconoclast Online

CRAWFORD — The United States has not had a military draft since 1973, but fears are growing throughout the country that there might soon be a return to the Selective Service.
Students are beginning to take the looming threat seriously as they consider ways of making themselves “draft resistant” as they gear up for conscientious objector status, establishing advance proof that they will qualify.
Lawmakers are scrutinizing the military commitments of the United States. If the numbers fall short, a military draft could quickly follow.
According to Sen. Joseph Biden, (D-Del.) “Our ability to have any flexibility with ground forces anywhere else is diminished. If we had to move into Iran, Syria, North Korea, or anywhere else, we’d be in real difficulty.”
He added, “We have absolutely spent, exhausted, and in some instances misled the National Guard and the reserves. I’ve been in Baghdad and Fallujah and I’ve spoken with them. When they enlisted in the Guard, they never anticipated being sent for two tours of duty in Iraq lasting a year or 18 months. We can’t keep asking citizen soldiers to do that.”
A draft, if enacted, could be up and running quickly, thanks to former President Jimmy Carter who in 1980 put into place a program requiring young men to register with the government when they turn 18."

Let's Party Like it Was 1933

T-Shirt Hell

Check out the shirts. You won't regret it.

http://www.tshirthell.com/hell.shtml

Unknown Kid Blasts Gannon/Guckert!

Mister T Blasts Gannon/Guckert!

FALLING DOLLAR: what it means to you

Price of a barrel of oil when George W Bush took office: $18
Price of a barrel of oil today: $51

Saddam Blasts Gannon/Guckert!

google and you shall find

Democratic leadership joins call for Gannon inquiry

The Senate Democratic leadership is privately circulating a letter calling for other senators to join a call for an investigation into discredited White House reporter Jeff Gannon, RAW STORY has learned.

The letter, issued from Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL), calls on President Bush to “order a full inquiry” into how a “fake” journalist working for a “sham” news organization got access to the president."

Working the GUCKERT angle does not equal HOMOPHOBIA

"Political movements arise from the spadework of intellectuals, not politicians."
-- David Brock, Blinded By The Right

One of the things I love David Brock's Blinded By The Right is that it illustrates step-by-step how the Neo-Cons and the right wing usurped old-school radical rabble-rousing techniques to win the war against, well, old-school rabble-rousing liberals. They conducted an insurrection with Gingrich bringing up the rear in 94, and have not much changed their strategy since then.

Basically their strategy is this: we are at WAR with the Democrats and anything less than all-out warfare on ALL FRONTS will not be tolerated. They went after us in the media by launching personal attacks; they have defunded our institutions; and now they are emptying our communities of our young adults so that they may steal oil from the rest of the world. They have won on all fronts.

And yet here we are, day after day, digging and pecking -- fighting for every last morsel of political capital we can throw into the pot latch. We have may irons in the fire. The election fraud front is going strong and has the distinction of introducing us to a class of statesman who will fight with us. I'm talking about Conyers et al here. We have the elevation of Barbara Boxer as a freedom fighter with her elegant refusal to let Condi Rice get away with soiling the Senate chambers with lies and innuendo. We have a diverse and vibrant anti-war movement and finally we have a real Democrat in the DNC.

Slowly but surely we are making progress.

Then, along comes Guckert.

Amid our confusion that this story received no ink upon first glance, and the FIGHT to get it in the evening news, now we must toil with our identity as progressives vis a vis Guckert's homosexuality, because like it or not there are progressives gays who feel prickly about using Guckert as an issue, AND you have to expect that the Rovian response to this battle is going to be an all-out war on our gay-cred. "Well, well, well -- what do we have here? Homophobia on the LEFT?"

Friends and neighbors, don't let this deter you. It is an illusion. A straw man. We are not homophobic. We have the RESPONSIBILITY to our party and our causes (war, poverty, judicial appointments) to follow this story and unveil the machinations behind the Velvet Curtain. There is political capital sitting on the table and the only ethical thing to do is to pick it up and walk away with it.

I wrote the piece on Guckert's ball-shaving, chest waxing and wrestling called: Guckert/Gannon and understanding REPUBLICAN GAY-ness.
You can find it here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x107970

See also a more serious deconstruction here:
Question of GAY SEX surrounding White House reveal who we have become.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x330564

It's humor. Irony. I had to affect a voice of shock that I can only imagine from knowing weird "normal" people in my family. I don't care if you shave your balls or your head or your dog. I don't care if you wrassle or square dance or participate in animal sacrifice to get your freak on. BUT, I'm guessing most "normal" people do. Most "normal" people who supposedly voted for Bush. Most "normal" people who look at your piercings and tattoos as a sign of the devil. Or worse, sexual! Most normal people who are being lead by the nose to destroying Social Security and the Bill of Rights.

We are a tribe and we are fighting the same devils. As such we should be keenly aware of our potential for accruing political capital. This is called TACTICAL STRATEGY. In Rules For Radicals, Saul Alinsky outlined 13 Rules of Power Tactics for outsider political action:

RULE NUMBER ONE
Power is not only what you have, but what your enemy thinks you have.
Guckert is not a pawn to us. He is at least a Bishop or Rook. He know's everything about the Velvet Mafia and they are running from him as if some big cockroach somewhere just yelled, "RAID." They no longer control him and they have no idea what he'll do next.

RULE NUMBER TWO
Never go outside the experience of your people.
I think we are much more comfortable talking these issues than your basic Southern Baptist. Ball-shaving, chest waxing -- whatever. This, I can talk about and not lose my balance.

RULE NUMBER THREE
Whenever possible go outside the experience of the enemy.
See above.

RULE NUMBER FOUR
Make the enemy live up to their own book of rules.
Well, well, well. Seems like this rule was tailor-made for the Guckert scandal. This one little controversy PROVES they can't live up to their standard of reporting, or of personal conduct. Extra points.

RULE NUMBER FIVE
Ridicule is your most potent weapon.
Indeedy-do. When the Clinton scandal broke, remember the meme of the day was that political discourse was to become the domain of late night television -- that only the Jay Lenos and David Lettermans of the world possessed the ability to speak openly of blowjobs and spoo-stains. And ridicule they did; night after night for like three years. They had independent panels and spent millions of dollars on this ridicule. Guckert provides the means to keep this pot boiling -- take it off the heat at your own peril.

RULE NUMBER SIX
A good tactic is one that your people enjoy.
See above, again. What's more fun than ridiculing Republicans and having it STICK. Here's an illustration:
img src="http://johnsoncity.blogspot.com/morans.jpgmf3937.jpg

See how good that feels to see this dumb-ass holding a sign that ironically impugns his own message. Ah, that's good!

(i'm going to save you some of the padding and skip ahead thru the rules now)

RULE NUMBER EIGHT
Keep the pressure on.

RULE NUMBER NINE
The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.
Examine this in action on US -- the threat of being labeled homophobes is, I"M SURE keeping people out of this discussion. Everyone knows that the Dems and left wing have supported the gay community thru thick and thin. We have paid heavily for it in some cases. It'd be nice if some gay-folk would get behind this and reveal as much as they know about the Velvet Mafia -- like this guy:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/19/204254/937
Padraig Pearse's piece on DailyKOS entitled Gay Facts and fantasies in Propagannon Research
The Republicans are shaking in their cowboy boots on this one, folks -- make no mistake. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

RULE NUMBER THIRTEEN
Pick a target; freeze it; personalize it; polarize it.
The Velvet Mafia goes all the way up to Rove. The connections are there plain as day.

We will not let go of the Guckert/Gannon story until this whole mess is unraveled. If you are uncomfortable with that, there's lots of other places we can use your help. Just know that are purpose is not to trade in stereotypes and Ann Coulter-esque hate mongering. [b]We have fought the gay battles right along side of ya'll for YEARS. [/b]Don't reject the most potent weapon in our arsenal. We are not criticizing "being gay." We are using TACTICS AGAINST OUR COMMON ENEMY.

google "famous racist republicans", then click on IMAGES

just do it.

FROM THE VAULT: whose your city manager now? Bill "that's not a dollar" Campell

good times.

Poncharello Blasts Gannon/Guckert!

GirlieMEN: a primer

Guckert/Gannon and Republican GAY-ness

It's going to be the news of the week -- unless Bush decides to bomb something -- that gay prostitution infiltrated the Republican's side of the journalistic bullpen. I can't wait to see what we bomb.

As a 30-something woman, I'm having a difficult time digesting all this new, gay culture I'm being introduced to via the Guckert/Gannon story. Who knew men prefer chest-waxing to a good old manly rug? Personally, I'm for the rug. It's how I can tell my partner is of age. Oh, I guess that's the point.

Who knew their heads weren't the only thing they shaved. Not a bad idea in my opinion, but it seems risky. Is there a special styptic pencil for that? On the one hand, shaving one's balls seems a generous and romantic gesture. On the other, I'm thinking why waste a good shave on wrestling. That's how I know they aren't just wrestling. You aren't going to waste a set of freshly shaved balls on pinning a guy down without showing him who is boss -- so to speak. We're talking about SHAVED BALLS HERE FOR GOD'S SAKE! He's going to feel unattractive if you don't fuck him. Look at all the thought he put into your encounter!

The ins and outs of this gay underworld are fascinating. Imagine how special you would feel if your honey went to a fraction of the lengths that men go to have sex with men. Set aside the hair removal for a moment. There's classified advertising. Boudoir photography. There's weekends of travel to exotic places. High society social events with an accepted language and a tacit agreement of secrecy. Imagine if straight folks enjoyed such openness in their affairs. Wow. We'd all be fucking each other constantly. I'd be madness. You'd never get anything done.

Speaking of that -- where do these guys find the TIME for all this messing around? They are running the country (into the ground), which has to be time-consuming. They have the campaigning and the fundraisers and the leaking of stories -- who among them has time for wrestling? There's the war and dismantling Social Security, these are busy men. Do you think they all shave their balls? I can't stop thinking about the shaved balls. I'm imagining Bush giving the State of the Union address with itchy undies. Am I to understand that dangling beneath Rove's pleated sans-a-belts hang a pair of pink ping pong balls. It's almost too much to bear.

And who knew the homo chickenhawks in the administration really longed for love in the fox hole. Rove and the rest of the Velvet Mafia cruise for HOT MILITARY STUDS. You'd think since they can't resist a man in uniform they would have JUMPED at the chance to serve in Vietnam. Were they deferred for priapism? They apparently don't want gays in the military because they want them out here in civilian life where they are available to answer their page.

Best of all, who knew that gay men find gay-bashing attractive. It's such a topsy-turvy world. You have to appear manly on the outside, while looking like a boy on the "inside." You have to wrestle and otherwise beat each other up to show your love. And finally, you must look like a Drill Sergeant in order to attract draft-dodgers.

Thank you Jim Guckert, for this insight into your world. I guess I can take you at your word, that gays are sick. My experience up until now has been that gay men want pretty much what anyone else wants -- acceptance, security, and equal protection under the law. But then again, all the gay men I know are Democrats. Maybe that's the difference.

In his own words: Hunter Thompson

It had been a bad trip...fast and wild in some moments, slow and dirty in others, but on balance it looked like a bummer. On my way back to San Francisco, I tried to compose a fitting epitaph. I wanted something original, but there was no escaping the echo of Mistah Kurtz' final words form the heart of darkness: "The horror! The horror!...Exterminate all the brutes!"

crazy fucker

"Objective journalism is one of the main reasons that American politics has been allowed to be so corrupt for so long," Thompson told interviewers in a characteristic pronouncement on both institutions. "

"You can't be objective about Nixon," he said. "How can you be objective about Clinton?"

"Among the writers and works he cited as major influences were most of the classic American authors, including Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway, many or most read early in life. He also named the Biblical book of Revelation. "

HST, rip...

Learned not to do this in j-school...

GROPEr's untie

I know I will miss a bunch of shit, but since this GROPE(GAY REPUBLICANS OPERATING PRESS conferences for political EQUALITY) session started, alot of shit has been going on:

class action lawsuits: GONE!

John Negroponte, no more Hondurans to fuck, well shit, come on over here and FUCK EVERYBODY!

Condi went to europe, licked ballsacks and had ABSOLUTELY NO AFFECT ON THE WAY THE EUROPEANS feel about us cowfolk.

(Somebody threw a fucking shoe at R Perle at least.)

the Swift Boat assholes are now going after the AARP. sorry grandma.

dont fool yourself! George Bush would bbq on a pit and then eat Jenna on the "Factor" if he thought we'd all forget about these fucking insurgent issue over yonder.

oh, but after he gets back from bagdad, of course to spend 90 minutes delivering balonie sandwiches and "Promise Keepers" gay porn calendars, to the troops in a lil detour over itl'y and spain, of course.


there's a bunch of shit happening under the radar y'all.

Author Hunter S. Thompson Kills Himself

ASPEN, Colo. - Hunter S. Thompson, the acerbic counterculture writer who popularized a new form of fictional journalism in books like 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,' fatally shot himself Sunday night at his home, his son said. He was 67.

'Hunter prized his privacy and we ask that his friends and admirers respect that privacy as well as that of his family,' Juan Thompson said in a statement released to the Aspen Daily News.

Pitkin County Sheriff Bob Braudis, a personal friend of Thompson, confirmed the death to the News. Sheriff's officials did not return calls to The Associated Press late Sunday."

OMG! bush's nickname for Victor Ashe is BULLDOG!

whaddya know! bow WOW.

http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/bulldogdc.html

WATCH Gannon on Anderson Cooper

Excellent interview. Note how he refers to his journalism career as "what he was ASKED to do."

i don't know about you, but this seems an interesting way to become a White House reporter. who knew this was something you were "tapped" for.

and to think i've been wasting all my time reading, writing and studying to learn to be a writer. this is so much simpler.

Putting a Face on Genocide.

While the West was grappling with grunge rock and Pulp Fiction, an African nation saw nearly 1,000,000 of it's citizens hacked to death with machetes in a little over three months.

Hotel Rwanda, now showing at Real to Reel.

"We'll watch it on TV, say 'that it's terrible,' and go right on eating our dinner. "

(P.S. We woulda helped---but they don't have any oil)

Neked Lunch, Grover...

When GW said his favorite philosopher was JC, everyone paid attention. But when he told Bret Hume his favorite author was Will'm Burroughs, no one batted an eye.

Now we know why.

At a speech last friday in Raleigh, NC, the president vowed, "Personal retirement accounts for working amerikans,... (applause) and to return 'Steely Dan' to it's proper literary meaning." (Standing ovation)

Velvet Texas Mafia/Gannon/Gay Facts And Fantasies

hey ya'll -- Daily KOS has been doing some fantastic research on the Gannon controversy and I'm posting a piece of this article because it's one of the best I've seen. Please follow the link for the rest (click on title).



Daily Kos
Gay Facts And Fantasies In Propagannon Research
by padraig pearse
Sat Feb 19th, 2005

Lots of well-meaning Kos's are reluctant to explore the gay aspects of this story for fear that it unfairly targets people because of their sexuality and distracts from the "real" issues.

My hope here is to help narrow the discussion along lines of probability as narrowed by an experienced perspective.

As a seasoned gay man of a certain age I'd like to examine some of the facts that have been unearthed and to infer these facts' larger meaning from the perspective of a gay "insider". And I can tell you, from the amount of hand-wringing over the horror of lefty bloggers making a big deal over poor Jeff's former, and, overlapping career, that they are terrified that the extent of Bush's intimate Gay network will be exposed.

Given their monstrous treatment of our nation's Gays, they deserve it. Having ridden to electoral victory by unleashing the worst homophobic bigotry we've seen in decades, it is fit and just that this maelstrom of hate turns against them. I'm sure they know the Bible quote?: "He who sows the wind, reaps the whirlwind"?. In an earthier version I've heard the same principal expressed as "He who stirs the shit, gets to eat it."

But the Gay network may also provide substantial clues as to the Dirty Tricks department of Team Bush. I think it likely there is huge overlap.

REPUBLICANS AND THEIR GAY UNDERWORLD

That many Gay Republicans should prefer the closety games of the 1950s over the open Gay culture that arose out of the post Stonewall era should come as no surprise. They are reactionaries after all. In fact, I know Gay men of a certain age and income who routinely excoriate "the fags" while nonetheless indulging appetites and behaviors that would leave Margaret Sperling's head spinning. But since the lights are out in their orgy rooms, good Republicans are happy to just overlook and pretend not to see. It is the public avowal of affection that makes them crazy over the gay marriage issue. To compare Gay marriage to a perversion, as right next to bestiality is on the face of it insane. Gay people seeking to have stable monogamous relationships accepted into their families and their communities are, in key respects, far more conservative and traditional than the many gays in the republican party who scuttle around in the shadows, procuring illicit sex and using sites like MilitaryEscortM4M.com.

I have been with my partner 25 years this summer and I personally am sick and tired of being told that my only option is to have a lavender marriage with an understanding lesbian or a loveless marriage with an unsuspecting woman while trolling public toilets and internet chat rooms on the side. You tell me which of these is the more honorable?

GANNON, GAY PROSTITUTION AND THE WHITE HOUSE

While it might seem thrilling to imagine that Gannon found a sponsor through his website the chances of that are actually next to nil. Far more likely is that he met his sponsor in a more refined setting. In New York there is a piano bar on the East Side that fancies itself a bit of a British gentlemen's club. The place is filled with older men of means and younger men on the make. Prostitution is never mentioned. For a young gay to quote an hourly rate would be a fatal error. In this refined atmosphere we're not talking about by the hour rent-boys but long-term investments: what I've always called mortgage boys.




lots more at DailyKOS!

Giant squirrels rescue humanity from evil monkeys

Knightrider Blasts Gannon

Question of GAY SEX surrounding White House reveal who we have become

Who here has ever attended an elite prep school? Anyone been to jail? Well, I'm sure everyone has been to the zoo.



The kind of behavior associated with Gannon's flavor of "services," and Bush's affair with Vicktor Ashe, have nothing to do with what most people consider sex. I know this is difficult to understand because we *are* talking about the act of eventually bumping uglies. Make no mistake, that happens in the end (pun intended), but it's not "romantic." All the well-groomed bachelors of a certain age in surrounding the GOP and the While House, they aren't all looking for love. They are "establishing order."

Homo-erotic social ordering is at the center the Lord of the Flies world inhabited by the orphans of privilege who attend elite private schools. It's also common in public schools, and in neighborhoods. You most certainly see it in prison. Who is whose bitch. It's certainly not a behavior exclusive to the wealthy. I grew up in central Florida and the cracker kids in my neighborhood did it. I've witnessed it in the corporate world where you have the bullying in a hereto-erotic manner. Hell, my 14-pound female Italian Greyhound asserts her authority over her roomie, an 18-pound male Iggy. I love it when we have guests over in the summer for BBQ's and Astra is humping away at Trouble. "Well you see, they are establishing dominant order. It has nothing to do with sex-drive. If she were in heat, believe me, she would be acting much different."

Skull and Bones is supposed to be the final stopping place for the adolescent ready to leave that ordering process behind. Or is it? Does the behavior serve a purpose beyond the developmental ordering of youth? I would say it most certainly does. Who wouldn't want to be privy to your opponent's vulnerability? If you were the bully, I imagine you could use your reputation for mad ruthlessness against your peers forever -- given you maintain the rep through continued ruthlessness.

This is base nature, folks. It's what we form social institutions to guard against. The Enlightenment, humanity in general, the arts, music. Our entire culture until now has been centered on progress and The Social Contract. Now, it is Hobbe's State of Nature re-created by men in power in order to fill a need -- most likely a garden variety narcissist need with Daddy-issues thrown in. Always needing to show oneself to be "the boss," or "the big Man," is not normal behavior. It's aberrant. Transgressive.

Everyone who has an angle on the Gannon story wants to assert their reason "why the sex is relevant," or why it's not. I'm no exception. I believe the issue of sex is important because it tells us something about this administration's sense of social ordering. It's claw to jaw. It's pre-modern. It's Old Testament.

When Clinton was fooling around with his little muffin, it wasn't about him being a big man. He's not proving to the world and to his Father that he is better. Clinton had to become his own father. He had to grow up fast and nurture his mother. I have some experience with that. When you come from those roots, you don't have anything to prove, anymore. But you do get lonely. When you are everyone's parent, there is nothing left for you.

In the Clinton dalliance there was yearning for connection. In Bush's case the yearning is to stand over the vanquished -- this is called "annihilation."

We must get better at articulating what this is about because it seems to me that whether or not you believe any of the Left Behind crap, Bush The Annihilator, does. Those are the rules he is playing by. He is a sick man and he is going to take all of us with him on his Odyssey to prove to Poppy once and for all, who's The Man.

Mental Intercourse

Mental Intercourse: the act of engaging in intelligent and interesting conversation.

I enjoyed our mental intercourse today. Perhaps again, tommorrow?

From the interesting

http://www.urbandictionary.com/

The End of the World---in Flash

www.ebaumsworld.com/endofworld.html

More accurate than you might think.

gann-none!

i really hate these pics of this guy and am loosing my sense of humor over the whole event. so as a sort of compromise, can we at least make them smaller jpgs? i still have dial up and it takes so long to load and then i look and have to see this guy still? You know, in another 3 years he'll have his own talk show on fox, "like oliver north, the war hero", hosts "war stories", we'll have, 'anonymous' gay republican presents "news conference: whore stories".



so my plea is that folks write or call your senator and complain about the fact that this could happen(person with fake name, access, etc. i don't care if the guy likes to sleep with a pillow that has geo's picture on it or not). this is serious and like the plame game, there is no real oversite. I used to think the constitution was yellowing with age, now i guess its just been pissed on a bunch...

my senator is jim bunning and he is about as usefull as bowling ball without three holes drilled in it, so I need your support, you people of other states, red and blue and purple, alike, to get your senator/congresspeeps to act.

My mom has been sick off and on for a few years now, so I have been making more mercenary trips over Sam's Gap late at night.
The new highway, despite my best efforts in my Earth First! days, does indeed rock harder than a Korean washer with a full load of Wranglers. It's not a lot faster, but it's a lot safer. And pretty. Despite the well-lit truck ramps and other lights there are still several places up there without so much light pollution where you can stop to stretch the legs, maybe throw down a downward-facing dog, or have a smoke, or look over gorgeous black peaks silhouetted against a starlit navy-blue sky before getting on your way.
On the Tennessee side, the whole road is pretty dark until Erwin. Once I pass the Okolona Road sign on the right, and then the Doozy Truck Covers neon on the left, come around the turn and pass the cut in the hill, the glow from my college town floods the dusty night sky all around and it stays that way, kinda envelopes you all the way to Sulpher Springs.
Since I moved to Asheville, oh, eight years ago, Johnson City's obvious growth could be gauged annually from the ambient light of well-fed capitalism lapping either shore of the guardrail. I've watched these indicator lights of humming humanity grow in intensity and number: lots more people, stuff going on. Intriguing, but I never got off the interstate on these night flights until the Gray exit. Good job, folks. Wish you well. But just passing through.
But last weekend I spent multiple days at my parent's house. I had occasion to wonder just what sort of growth this is. Dad was in Daytona. Sis was out of town training for a new job. Mom needed company and a safety net for her improving condition. So hold on, I'm coming, and I'm bringing my work with me, I said. Have laptop, will travel.
On Saturday, Mom said she'd like to go out to eat. Mom likes Cheddars and Cootie Brown's. Heck, I decided I liked Cootie's -- they had for-real vegetarian options and for-real handicapped access. Their black bean tamales were tasty. And there was a close proximity to Mr. K's Used Books, a hill-top home-bound mom-magnet if there ever was one.Lots of cool stuff, I thought, business makes marvels, who'd a thunk it.
I said to Mom, how great is this - this couldn't make it here when I was a young'un. Apparently the new folks moving in, their money, the economy, whatever; this apparent silver lining to urban sprawl almost made up for the condos in the cornfields. Yet, I found when it came time to check the email and turn the crank and check the news, I couldn't even get on the bubble. Anywhere.
You know, the internet, y'all. No wireless access. I had no way to do my thing. First time, ever. I was . . . paralyzed. And shamed, obviously I've become uber-geek if this would bother me so much. And then, pretty grumpy. I mean, what kind of civilization is this?
Back home, I did a search. Within 20 country miles of 37659 there were 3 wi-fi hotspots: Panera Bread, Tri-Cities Regional, and the Hampton Inn on St. of Franklin. This doesn't include places like the Barnes & Noble where I could download a special app and use it to access their wireless network for a fee (The B&N in A'ville has free access). I don't want to do that, that's stupid.
Right now I'm marking this up to differing cultural values. Fruity Paris Of The South vs. workman's Little Chicago. Remaining Johnson Citians: is this assessment accurate? But wow - if so, pretty telling indicator of what JC deems necessary. Hooters and NASCAR cafes, yes. Internet hubs, no. Surely I'm missing at least one cool bookstore, independent coffeeshop or cafe where I could drink some coffee and burn a battery down. Someone post suggestions if you got 'em, I'm due back this upcoming week.

BREAKING NEWS: Gannon reportedly knew about "Shock and Awe" four hours before it happened

A news producer for a major network just told me that Gannon told the producer the "shock and awe" campaign launching the Iraq war was about to happen four hours before President Bush announced it to the nation.



According to the producer, Gannon specifically told them that in four hours the president was going to be making a speech to the nation announcing the "shock and awe" campaign had begun. The producer told me they were surprised that Gannon, working with such a small news outfit, could have access to such information, but "what did you know, he was right," the producer said today. The producer went on to say that Gannon often had correct scoops on major stories, including information about Mary Mapes and the Dan Rather BUSH/AWOL scandal that this news outlet got from Gannon before any had the information publicly.

read the rest here at Americablog!

Talon News Makes New Hire

Talon News Replaces Jeff Gannon in White Press Core with Scott McClellan's ex-lover Duke.
Borrowing a play from Iraqi insurgent's book, Talon News hires action figure.


Duke(left, nude) shown asking first question of ex-lover Scott McClellan

MUST READ: Maureen Dowd on GANNON/GUCKERT & white house credentialing

Bush's Barberini Faun


I am very impressed with James Guckert, a k a Jeff Gannon.

How often does an enterprising young man, heralded in press reports as both a reporter and a contributor to such sites as Hotmilitarystud.com, Workingboys.net, Militaryescorts.com, MilitaryescortsM4M.com and Meetlocalmen.com, get to question the president of the United States?



Who knew that a hotmilitarystud wanting to meetlocalmen could so easily get to be face2face with the commander in chief?

It's hard to believe the White House could hit rock bottom on credibility again, but it has, in a bizarre maelstrom that plays like a dark comedy. How does it credential a man with a double life and a secret past?

"Jeff Gannon" was waved into the press room nearly every day for two years as the conservative correspondent for two political Web sites operated by a wealthy Texas Republican. Scott McClellan often called on the pseudoreporter for softball questions.

Howard Kurtz reported in The Washington Post yesterday that although Mr. Guckert had denied launching the provocative Web sites - one described him as " 'military, muscular, masculine and discrete' (sic)" - a Web designer in California said "that he had designed a gay escort site for Gannon and had posted naked pictures of Gannon at the client's request."

And The Wilmington News-Journal in Delaware reported that Mr. Guckert was delinquent in $20,700 in personal income tax from 1991 to 1994.

I'm still mystified by this story. I was rejected for a White House press pass at the start of the Bush administration, but someone with an alias, a tax evasion problem and Internet pictures where he posed like the "Barberini Faun" is credentialed to cover a White House that won a second term by mining homophobia and preaching family values?

At first when I tried to complain about not getting my pass renewed, even though I'd been covering presidents and first ladies since 1986, no one called me back. Finally, when Mr. McClellan replaced Ari Fleischer, he said he'd renew the pass - after a new Secret Service background check that would last several months.



click on link (title for rest of column)

DAMN RIGHT you can't sniff my bookbag. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! "Student's defiance leads to suspension" -- CHICAGO

A claim that her civil rights were being violated got Pleasant Valley High School junior Meghann Trott suspended for three days.

A drug-sniffing dog visited the school for a random drug check Tuesday afternoon and Trott refused to leave her belongings in Dan Beadle's sixth-period science class. She claimed it violated her civil rights to be subjected to random searches.

According to Ginger Picchi, assistant principal, the dogs are provided by an outside service and have been used at both Pleasant Valley and Chico high schools since the beginning of the 2004-05 school year.

The decision to use Interquest Detection Canines at the high schools was approved by the Chico Unified School District's board of trustees in August 2004.

Picchi explained that the school conducted assemblies in the fall to inform the students about the process.

'This is the first student who has refused,' said Picchi, and she had not heard complaints from any others. 'Students have been very receptive.'"

(we can't understand it -- up until now the sheep willing lead themselves to slaughter. we figure we better get rid of her. she will spoil the rest with her uppity-ness! YOU GO GIRL!)

DEMAND answers on GAY PORN-REPORTER -- send slaughter kudos for bravery!

Slaughter demands more answers on Gannon; Other Democrats remain mum

The following statement is from Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY). Sen. Lautenberg’s office, seen as leading the drive for an inquiry lead, did not immediately return calls for comment today.

Washington, DC - During the February 10 White House briefing, Press Secretary Scott McClellan stated that Jeff Gannon, “…like anyone else, showed that he was representing a news organization that published regularly” in order to receive his day pass to press briefings. It has been confirmed that Jeff Gannon was in the White House briefing room, actively participating in these briefings, as early as February 28, 2003 a full month before Talon News even existed.

Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (NY-28), Ranking Member of the House
Committee on Rules, who has led the call for answers in this matter, today called on the White House to explain their relationship with the discredited “reporter” once and for all.

“It has been a week since I wrote President Bush seeking answers in this matter. I have not yet received a reply. With each new revelation it becomes more and more clear that the relationship between the White House and Jeff Gannon was anything but typical,” said Slaughter. “It is time for this Administration to stop the stonewalling and come clean with the American people,” she added."

Can't Sleep

Clowns being shitbags like Karl Rove and Condi Rice...

Kid Rock nabbed at nibby club

(file this under He Ain't No New Messiah, but close enough for rock and roll)




Police Arrest Kid Rock

First on NewsChannel5.com: Metro Police arrested musician Kid Rock who was accused of assaulting a DJ at a Nashville strip club early Wednesday morning.

An arrest warrant was issued for Robert Ritchie, 34, who’s better known as rock singer Kid Rock, after a scuffle broke out at Christie’s Cabaret, located on 8th Avenue South, around 3 a.m.

The fight with the club’s DJ was over the music the DJ was playing, police said. The DJ, Jay Campos, was punched in the face, police said. He had a red mark on his face and his glasses were broken.

Kid Rock was booked through night court and his bond was set at $3,000. He asked reporters there to cover the story if his hair looked okay.

He posted bond and was released. As he left he said, "Everything is wonderful. It was a beautiful night."



Kid Rock was in Nashville to attend the funeral services of Merle Kilgore. Kid Rock performed at the funeral.

This story was first reported online on NewsChannel5.com.

THIS would make my month 

Taxation Nation

What is the Tennessee Unauthorized Substances Tax?
The unauthorized substances tax is a state excise tax levied on controlled substances (marijuana, cocaine, crack, methamphetamine, etc.) and certain illicit alcoholic beverages (untaxed liquors and spirits).

I crap you negative.

www.state.tn.us/revenue/misc/unauthsubfaq.htm#unauth1

This Would Make My Month

Does anyone remember a few years back when the Shapeshifters opened for Junior Brown at the Paramount?.....and the LONG onstage introduction from the concert promoter who thought (until that moment) that we were a true country act?
This whole church sign thing brought it all back to me, somehow.
From behind the drums I remember seeing two audience members with their jackets over their heads as we played a very brief set.
These are the memories I feel compelled to write about.

I also have some new views on cymbal-choking and it's relation to time travel but I'm afraid no-one will be interested 'cause this is a real smart group.

Your friend,
Mark Ryalls

communion

wakey wakey, eggs and bakey...

"Gannon claims in his 'bio' to have "taught in the public school system". Since Guckert’s degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania is in Physical Education, he presumably was a gym teacher. Many (red state)parents will be unhappy that boys’ gym was taught by a gay prostitute who likes to wrestle, even if they can accept a discretely gay English teacher."

if we really had a "liberal media" this gannon guckert thing would be non-stop on the telly until bush resigned. hell at least they could derail some bullshit.

Q: How many rockstars does it take to murder a Beatles song?
A: Bono

altercation

"Of course, journalism is by definition a process of selection and omission, so it can be a little unfair to single out what reporters failed to report about Bush's speech. But the unhappy fact is that almost everything this Administration tries to sell to Americans is snake oil, and the mere act of reporting it without comment implicates the media in the fundamental dishonesty that is this President's modus operandi. When he says "freedom," he means the freedom of the United States and its allies to jail and torture anyone they choose. When he says "liberty," he means the liberty of other governments to profess to share the alleged aims of US foreign policy and then--like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Egypt--jail and silence all critics without inconvenient criticism from the United States. (If you play the game right, you can even provide weapons to anti-American terrorists and fund anti-American and anti-Semitic propaganda on behalf of the terrorists, all the while remaining a close friend of Bush & Co.)

This is apparently what NBC's Andrea Mitchell had in mind when she spoke of the Administration's "democracy agenda that Condi Rice is going to be bringing to Europe and the Middle East." Or perhaps she meant an American invasion of Iran; or the destruction of Social Security. It's hard to know in a post-truth society what anything means anymore, except more nonsense and lies, dutifully reported."

read the whole story at link

Tragedy + Timing

The (Yawn) Grammys

Not only could Sting fart in a Ziploc and win (I stole that), but Norah Jones must have some pictures of Grammy execs fucking monkeys. As Dieter might say, "how tiresome."

bald heads may be fun but THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA HAS BEGUN

IF YOU DO ONE THING today, CLICK ON THE ABOVE LINK AND WATCH THIS QUICKTIME.

This is an amazing film from the written word thru the performance and production. I just saw it for the first time and wanted to get it up here fer ya'll, so I have searched for a script or a list of participants. I thought I recognized Ntozake Shange.

Bottom line, it was like going to church. I feel re-born.

Our King's Fantasy Number One, or How to get a head in a bureaucracy

The More Things Change.....

A Thousand Words

"It's IMPOSSIBLE to get a WH pass using an alias"... DU

"Having worked in the White House, I can assure everyone that not only would it be impossible to get a White House pass using an alias, it is impossible even to get past the gate for an appointment using an alias. Thorough FBI background checks are required for the former and a picture ID is necessary for the latter. Therefore, if Gannon was using an alias, White House staff had to be involved in maintaining his cover."

-Bruce Bartlett
http://poynter.org/forum/?id=letters

I LIKE THIS ONE BETTER

i am SOOOOO unemployed

GAY MILITARY SHAVING FETISH CONSUMES COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

It's a fact of life that people acquire fetishes for all sorts of odd, common-place things. Like, shaved heads, for instance.

It has been asserted that Gannon's fabulous cue ball wound up in the White House Press Corps because of his affiliation with gay military fetish and bald fetish escort services. The theory goes that his client list might include some embarrassing names. Or maybe, that Bush just feels better when there are bald heads around.f

They say that fetishes emerge in early adolescence and the need to feed the fetish thru life indicates a kink in development -- that the individual needs to travel back to this PERFECT place to be calm and happy.

We know Bush had some major issues with growing in Poppy's household, and has throughout his life had trouble taking responsibility and being a GROWN-up. Given this, I think the GAY MILITARY SHAVED HEAD FETISH fits right in. Maybe he HAD to start a war to feed his sexual needs. Maybe he had no control of himself. Maybe he regrets being such a pussy when he was in the national gaurd and skipped the war. Who knows, but i'm betting dimes to dollars that the Bush gets woody when he rubs the fuzzy nubs.

Fake Reporter Linked To Plame Investigation Allowed In White House Briefing Room

Feb. 10, 2005 – An unprecedented coalition of citizen DailyKos Diarists have recently investigated and uncovered important details regarding Talon News reporter, James “J.D.” Guckert (AKA Jeff Gannon). These details, along with other information reported by Media Matters and other blog sites, have led to Mr. Guckert’s resignation from his position as Washington Bureau Chief for Talon News yesterday amid a flurry of controversy.

Prompted by a Jan. 26 report by MediaMatters.org regarding Guckert’s “softball” questions to White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan and President Bush, members of DailyKos, an online community, began investigating the matter.

The information discovered by this investigation was in the public domain, readily available to anyone with internet access. Much of the information was derived from Guckert’s own sites which he published himself on the internet, or from comments he himself posted on various sites.

In his Talon News profile, Guckert claimed he had a degree in Education from the “Pennsylvania School System.” His only journalistic “experience” was attendance at the Leadership Institute Broadcast Journalism School. The Leadership Institute describes its mission as increasing “the number and effectiveness of conservative public policy leaders” and to “place conservative leaders in the public policy process.” Guckert’s “training” at the Leadership Institute was a two-day seminar, tuition for which was $50.

Despite his lack of journalistic experience, Guckert used an assumed name and was granted access to the elite White House Press Corps. His application for a press pass to the House and Senate galleries was rejected because Talon News shares ownership with GOPUSA.com and did not meet press pass standards. Yet somehow he was still given a daily press pass to White House Briefings for over two years.

In a press briefing on Feb. 10th, White House Press Secretary McClellan claimed that Guckert was granted White House access because he “showed that he was representing a news organization that published regularly.” (emphasis added).

However, Talon News came into existence on March 29, 2003. It was granted White House Press Corps access just four days (approx. 96 hours) later. During that four-day time period, Talon News published a total of nine “stories.”

During briefings, Guckert’s questions frequently revealed not only his conservative bias, but also a possible coordination with White House Press Secretary McClellan. Guckert’s questions were frequently leading, unabashedly partisan, and at times inflammatory. Moreover, Guckert apparently had unprecedented access, and even claimed at one point to be “entertaining the Prime Minister of Great Britain.”

The researchers at DailyKos discovered another issue that suggested close coordination with the administration. According to the Washington Post, Guckert may have had access to a leaked internal CIA memo which revealed the identity of Ambassador Joe Wilson’s wife, then an undercover CIA operative. In fact, because of his possible tie to the leak, Guckert was one of a small number to be subpoenaed to testify in the federal grand jury investigation into the matter.

The Guckert incident is part of a larger story involving attempts on the administration’s part to “plant” friendly commentators and journalists in the media to advance their political agenda. In the last month, investigations have revealed that in addition to having an illegitimate conservative “reporter” in its Press Corps:

The Bush Administration paid conservative commentator Armstrong Williams $240,000 to advocate the No Child Left Behind Act , even though previous to the payments, he was publicly critical of the policy. Williams has since admitted that “there are others” paid by the government to promote its agenda.

The Bush Administration also paid conservative commentator Maggie Gallagher, who claims no credentials as a marriage expert, to promote its traditional marriage agenda.

Recently, in a letter to President Bush, Representative Louise M. Slaughter (NY-28) demanded an explanation, writing that “’Mr. Gannon’ is a Republican political operative, uses a false name, has phony or questionable journalistic credentials, is known for plagiarizing much of the ‘news’ he reports, and according to several web reports, may have ties to the promotion of the prostitution of military personnel.” Rep. Slaughter asked the President to answer the critical question: “why the individual known as ‘Mr. Gannon’ was repeatedly cleared by your staff to join the legitimate White House press corps?”

Additionally, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) has written a letter to White House Press Secretary McClellan, asking for the immediate release of all documents relating to Guckert’s credentials. Senator Lautenberg, echoing the sentiment of many concerned citizens, has asked for an explanation of “how Mr. Guckert/Gannon passed muster for White House press credentials.”

(DailyKos is an online community, with over 40,000 members. Membership is free, and the site is one of the web’s most popular political websites, with an average 470,000 hits per day. The research was conducted and this statement was released by DailyKos Diarists, not officially associated with Markos Moulitsas, but working with his full support.)

Bush balences budget number of screwed people with number of rich getting $19,000 refunds

Bush’s new budget finds an equal number of rich people to reward, and poor people to screw!

Bush’s budget cuts about 300,000 working families with kids off food stamps, and cuts child care to about 300,000 poor families. At the same time, the Bush budget finds the same number of rich people to give an average new tax cut of $19,000!

The Bush rolls back a tax provision that his dad put in place – 97% of people who will benefit from the change make over 200,000 dollars. Over half are millionaires. Their average benefit from the change will be about $19,000 per family.


Paul Krugman points out, “It costs a lot more to give a millionaire a break than to put food on a low-income family's table: eliminating limits on deductions and exemptions would give taxpayers with incomes over one million an average tax cut of more than nineteen thousand dollars.”

The Administration wants you to think that the budget cuts will help slash the deficit. In reality, Bush is slashing aid to American families who need it most.

old news

Dateline (Washington) June 12, 2003- Scott McClellan to appear on "Pimp My Press Conference" on mtv2 later this year. Will have consultation and conservative-eye makeover personally via jeff gannon.

why sponge bob won't fuck you...

Careful Not to Get Too Much Education...Or You Could Turn Liberal
by Dr. Teresa Whitehurst


I've been giving a lot of thought lately to a conversation I overheard at a Starbucks in Nashville last winter. It was a cold and rainy night as I worked away at my laptop, but the comforting aroma of cappuccino kept me going. My comfort was interrupted, however, by two young men who sat down in upholstered chairs near my table. One was talking, the other listening, in what appeared to be an informal college orientation.

"The only trouble with David Lipscomb (a conservative Christian college nearby) is that old man Lipscomb apparently didn't like football. So we don't have a football team, but we have a great faculty."

"But you do have to be careful about one thing," he said more quietly, coming closer and speaking in hushed tones, "My professor-I have this great professor-told me that you have to be careful not to get too much education, because you could lose your foundation, your core values."

The neophyte nodded solemnly, his eyebrows raised with worry.

"If you get a bachelors," the seasoned student reassured, "you'll probably be okay. But my professor said that when you get a master's, and definitely if you go beyond that, you can lose your values. He said that college students have to be watchful because if you get too much education, you could turn LIBERAL. He's seen it happen to a lot of good Christians."

The Franklin Coverup Scandal: The Child sex ring that reached Bush/Reagan Whitehouse

This scandal came and went pretty fast in 1989. I'm posting this just as a reminder that the Gannon allegations are not entirely unique in Bush Family history.

Former Republican Senator John Decamp helped produce a documentary called 'Conspiracy of Silence' it was to air May 3, 1994 on the Discovery Channel covering the scandal. This documentary exposed a network of religious leaders and Washington politicians who flew children to Washington D.C. for sex orgies. At the last minute before airing, unknown congressmen threatened the TV Cable industry with restrictive legislation if this documentary was aired.

Almost immediately, the rights to the documentary were purchased by unknown persons who had ordered all copies destroyed."

Follow the link to read the original newspaper articles and find the online copy of Conspiracy of Silence. It's really bad. I've watched as much as I can. Terrible production and reproduction. Who knows if this story is true? The fact that the Moonie Times broke it might suggest an internal Republican smear campaign. But that's never been proven.

NPR : Conservative Reporter Resigns Amid Controversy

NPR : Conservative Reporter Resigns Amid Controversy: "Conservative Reporter Resigns Amid Controversy

by David Folkenflik 

Web Extra: Hear an Extended Interview between Jeff Gannon and NPR's David Folkenflik

All Things Considered, February 9, 2005 · A reporter for the conservative news site TalonNews.com resigns. The reporter, who went by the pseudonym Jeff Gannon, drew critical attention at President Bush's Jan. 26 press conference when he referred in question to Democrats 'who seem to have divorced themselves from reality' on the issue of retooling Social Security."

Congresswoman Asks for Probe After 'Gannon' Quits WH Reporting Post

By Joe Strupp

NEW YORK Jeff Gannon, the controversial reporter for conservative Web site Talon News who drew complaints for gaining access to White House press events, resigned from his job last night amid liberal blogs' allegations about his real name and his personal and professional life.

Today, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to President Bush asking him to 'address the matter' in light of 'mounting evidence that your Administration has, on several occasions, paid members of the media to advocate in favor of Administration policies.'
"

Thanks

Thanks to the liberal media hate machine,
I'm off to abu grahib for a little conservative-on-conservative action!
Going to let off some steam,s uper-freaky-limbaugh-style, yo!


Caio BEE-atches!

GAY PORN TO BRING DOWN WHITE HOUSE

Randi Rhodes points out that a GOP thug, who has been greasing up Scotty McClellan for months, has been forced to publicly resign from a FAKE NEWS organization (not The Daily Show) that has DIRECT ACCESS TO THE PRESIDENT! Jeff Gannon (not his real name) is also known as one of the *reporters* fed the Valerie Plame leak from the White House. At a time when innocent people are being rounded up by the dozens under the Patriot Act, as Enemy Combatants and put away without counsel, without charge -- this bastard participated in outing one of our few deep assets working on Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East. That is treason. But if it's treason, and Gannon was clearly working for Rove -- then what do we have?



You can have it any way you want, apparently.

In what has to be recognized as this century's most obsequious moment, Gannon penned an editorial on Bush's famous 16 Words, called:
Media Strategy: The Making of George W. Nixon
Here's the lead:

It hasn’t been called “Intelligence-gate” yet, but it won’t be long before somebody uses the term. The media feeding frenzy over the “16 words” in the President’s State of the Union address continues to overshadow all other news. Despite official explanations, the release of intelligence reports and a White House spokesman calling the implication that the President deliberately misled the nation “nonsense”, it seems that nothing will stop the media’s quest for a pound of flesh. Even the fact that George W. Bush’s statement about Iraq’s attempts to purchase uranium from Africa is “technically accurate” doesn’t seem to be an obstacle for the agenda-driven press corps.

The first thing I noticed about this editorial is that the writer uses double-spaces after the period. That simply isn't done in professional writing either journalism or marketing. My typographic obsessions aside, drink in the self-serving tone of Gannon's voice, knowing what we know today.

Despite official explanations, the release of intelligence reports and a White House spokesman calling the implication that the President deliberately misled the nation “nonsense”, it seems that nothing will stop the media’s quest for a pound of flesh.

Mmmm, flesh.

So, despite the fact that "officials" offered "explanations;"
and "intelligence reports" were "released;"
AND, by golly, "a White House spokesman" said all of this was "nonsense," the reason why these "explanations" are not being taken seriously is because the "press-corps" is "agenda-driven."




This, from a guy on the GOP payroll.

A pattern emerges. Everything these guys accuse anyone else is doing, is exactly what they are doing. This goes a long way to explain why conservative like Gannon are so obsessed with homosexuality and various sexual perversions. Remember when Bush went before the UN after blowing them off to start the war. He went on that bizarre rant about international child porn rings and such. What the hell was that about? I wonder, because now we know Gannon is connected to bunch of gay escort services and porn sites that (get this) specialize in MILITARY themes!

I'm not saying that everyone who supports Bush has psyccho-homosexual tendencies -- but you DO have to choose your friends carefully.

In case you didn't know, there's been plenty of evidence over the years that George himself enjoys a little man love. Kitty Kelley wrote in her last book The Family, of Bush's homosexual relationship, since about puberty, with Victor Ashe (long-time Mayor of Knoxville -- and Repub-hottie). When some in Congress began smelling around in this in 2003, Ashe retired as Knoxville Mayor and was appointed by George W. Bush as the U.S. Ambassador to Poland ("don't forget Poland" as Bush implored during the first debate).

Now think about all the gay tortue themes coming out Iraq. This has baffled me. Why do all the torture stories in homosexual themes? It's always about getting in a room of naked, manly Iraqi men and touching pee pees. And pee-peeing. And wearing women's underwear on their head for the pleasure of cameras, everywhere. Then, they are suffocated under water.

Where are they learning this? here maybe?
at the School of the Americas

Back to Gannon. His resume has loser written all over it, complete with pyramid marketing. Basically he's a guy without a past and no name anyone is certain of. That, to me, adds up to criminal. I'm using the Mother Test. He doesn't have a checkable past where you have him working for a company for a known period of time that can be verified. My mother would say he is up to no good. Add to this the gay porn and prostitute service, and you have a thug who I bet you ten dollars, has been involved in shadiness in an organized and powerful fashion.

Finally we may have the key and power to connect all the dots, because Jeff Gannon, I bet again, "earned" his cherry job on the Press Corps as the result of doing someone a "favor." And he has a client list that could be quite incriminating. He wanted the vanity position of being a White House reporter, and the administration was looking for a few fake reporters to call on when the real reporters asked too many hard questions. Questions there might not be an answer for. Questions that, if answered, would be political suicide.

The thing no one expected is for themes of HOMOSEXUALITY and TORTURE and MILITARY-FETISHISM (where the recruit is mostly forced to serve and service the commander) to resonate throughout this story (and this administration), but hey, it does. This is extra creepy because most of these crazy people have read that Left Behind novel and have had the dissociative reaction that we really are living in the ends times. That's why so many conservative Republican men are acting out transgressive homosexual behaviors -- because they believe the world is going to end anyway, and they will be forgiven, and all the guys who gave them blowjobs will still be down here on earth with the rest of the us sinners trying to figure out what to do with all the Christians' ugly clothes.

There's a real live war going on. There's a bad wind blowing. Kali's done stretching, she's winding up for the Thanatotic climax. I know what it's like to wake up irritable, and I'm afraid we are heading for a big shit storm.

Here's my hope. Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame have a civil case against the people who outed her and compromised our national security. Watergate started with the help of a civil suit so sayeth John Dean.
http://archive.salon.com/opinion/feature/2003/10/03/dean/

So far Wilson and Plame haven't been shrinking violets. The way out of our mess right now might be to follow these threads and unravel the beast by it's sweater.

There is only ONE DEGREE OF SEPARATION between Gannon and Rove. That link is Morton Blackwell, famous for handing out the purple bandaids at the "RNC Convention and Round Up" in New York last year. Indicating that veterans awarded the purple heart were really just a bunch of whiners. These band-aids were a big hit at the convention. When people held up blue fingers at the State of the Union signaling victory in the Iraqi vote, all I could think of were the band aids. Memorable. http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/extra/archives/001437.html

The White House knew Talon News wasn't real. It's funded by a TEXAN GOP INITIATIVE and these people know where their money is. If we play our cards right, we might just end up with Gannon, Novak, Rove, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Bush all up on treason. It's in there -- it just has to be unravelled carefully.



Here's a list of articles Gannon wrote for Talon News that have since been deleted --
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=talonnews.com%2F+gannon&sm=Yahoo%21+Search&toggle=1&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-tab-web-t&vst=0&vs=www.talonnews.com

here's an archive of some of his own words: go to web.archive.org and proceed on to jeffgannon.com by typing http://www.jeffgannon.com into the search.

What you need to know to work for Talon News

This is an outline of a DVD Movie available for purchase through the "school" (not it's real definition) of "journalism" that "Jeff Gannon" (not his real name) attended (paid $50 to).

You know, if you can't actually attentend classes, you can purchase this DVD and learn all you need to know. There's trailers and a full PDF too!




The Leadership Institute's Resources: Roots of the Ultra Left Script: "Roots of the Ultra Left Script
Browse the Script By Topic








Introduction



Section One:
What Socialists Really Think About Economics


Profit Comes From Evil Greed



Socialists must get all your property



Tax all income at 100%



Support big government. No new tax cuts.



Only government creates wealth



Bureaucrats spend your money better than you do



To elect more socialists, destroy the economy



Government jobs good; private employers bad



'Something for nothing' fools almost everyone



Why work when you can loot those who do?



Socialism has never been tried



Section Two:
What Socialists Really Think About Your Family And Our American Culture


Traditional morality is always bad



Do what feels good now. Make taxpayers pay the bill



Break all family ties



Make God illegal



Masculine is bad; feminine is also bad



Kill it. Why give your baby to a moral couple?



Section Three:
What Socialists Really Think About Liberty


Solve all problems. Give the Left all power.



Stamp out liberty. It's unfair.



Everything not compulsory must be prohibited



Re-write history or stop teaching it



Keep campuses conservative-free zones



In the media, any conservatives are too many



No free speech for conservatives



Only groups have rights



Give up your guns. We want you defenseless.



Pay the union boss or we'll crack your skull



Save the environment. Kill off all the people.



Destroy all non-government education



Teachers unions -- more important than teaching kids



When judges give us what we want, forget the laws and the Constitution



Section Four:
What Socialists Really Think About The Future Of America In The World.


America causes all world problems



Eliminate patriotism



Bring on world government



Next time, Marxist-Leninists will get it right"

ultraLEFT_script.pdf

Daily Kos : JOE WILSON interview RE: GANNON (not his real name)

DAILY KOS: "How did the interview with Gannon come about, given that it was a small-time conservative news outlet?

JOE WILSON: Gannon called me and identified himself as the White House Correspondent from Talon News, a conservative news organization.  He wanted to do a wide-ranging interview on my position on the war as well as the Niger mission and the leak.

While I had never heard his name or the name of his organization before, I was happy to do it.  I have long felt that it is readers and viewers of conservative media who could benefit from a more balanced discussion of what is at stake in our policy and the actions of our government.  At one point I recall Gannon as saying he was a traditional conservative (distinguishing himself from the neoconservatives, who in my judgement have totally captured our foreign policy).  Speaking to the Times and other mainstream media is fine but those readers and viewers are generally better informed and often of the same perspective.  It is those on the other side to whom we need to address the issues even more than to those with whom we already share views."

click on link above for the whole interview!

gay PIMP exposed as WHITE HOUSE reporter -- GANNON, not his real name

WASHINGTON  -  Yesterday,  infamous gay pimp Jeff Gannon was exposed for his secret double life as a White House reporter.   Known for his popular escort service websites,  (HotMilitaryStud.com,  MilitaryEscorts.com and HunkyManOfWar.com)  many of Gannon's customers were shocked at this revelation.

'I couldn't believe my ears when I heard the news,'  said long-time HotMilitaryStud.com customer Everett Plemish,  'He was the best gay pimp of them all.   He had so much going for him.   I don't know why he decided to throw it all away as a member of the White House Press Corps.'

'He always had someone to fulfill my fantasy of the evening,  whether it was  'Navy Seal Nathan',  'Private Peter O'Tool'  or even  'Five-Star General Gary','  said Plemish,  'On nights when all his Johns were servicing other customers,  Jeff himself would even make a special trip just for me.'

'He was a great pimp,  but he was one of the best prostitutes I've ever had,'  he said,  'Well,  I had no idea how much of a prostitute he really was.'

'Oh my god,'  said Plemish,  'Just the thought that I licked the anus of someone who at the time was constantly kissing President Bush's ass...   It just makes me feel dirty all over.   Promiscuous types like myself don't usually care,  but for some reason I feel totally betrayed'

Working under a pseudonym,  Gannon was infamous for his inquisitive,  pointed questions at White House Press Briefings,  such as  'Why isn't Congress acting to defend marriage?'  and  'Isn't President Bush just the greatest?'"

jeff gannon quits!

Daily Kos :: Political Analysis and other daily rants on the state of the nation.: "Jeff Gannon
A Voice of the New Media

The voice goes silent.

Because of the attention being paid to me I find it is no longer possible to effectively be a reporter for Talon News.  In consideration of the welfare of me and my family I have decided to return to private life.

Thank you to all those who supported me."

Pentagon to broadcast to millions of U.S. homes

Pentagon to broadcast to millions of U.S. homes: "Wednesday 9th February, 2005

Pentagon to broadcast to millions of U.S. homes   

Big News Network.com     Tuesday 8th February, 2005    



The U.S. military is to beam its own news coverage to millions of Americans.

Moving on from its phase of embedding journalists, or as some would say, 'a policy of restricting and contolling the flow of information,' the Pentagon will now produce and disseminate the news itself. It will be beamed to the public at no charge. The servic will emanate from what is known as the Pentagon Channel, an internal public relations television unit within the Department of Defense. It was set up nine months ago.

The government-run TV service will be channeled to the public through EchoStar Communication's Dish Network which will offer the Pentagon Channel to its more than 11 million viewers on a no-cost basis. Programming will appear on the network's public interest channels and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Dish viewers will be kept up to date with current military news and information including Department of Defense news briefings, military news, interviews with top defense officials, and short stories about the work of military people.

'We appreciate Dish Network's decision to carry the new Pentagon Channel on their satellite TV system,' said Defense Department spokesman Larry Di Rita. 'Their support helps us fulfill our mission of providing timely military news and information.'
"

Bush sympathizes with working mothers!

In Omaha on Friday, a divorced single mother named Mary Mornin tells the president, "I have one child, Robbie, who is mentally challenged, and I have two daughters."

"Fantastic," the president exclaims, and he tells her she has "the hardest job in America, being a single mom."

Later, the 57-year old Mornin tells Bush that she works three jobs, which the president deems "uniquely American" and "fantastic." He asks her if she gets any sleep.

UPDATE: vermin scribe identified! and he's into GAY PORN!

here's an update on the VERMIN SCRIBE -- "jeff gannon" (not his real name).

Holy crap
by John in DC - 2/8/2005 07:03:41 PM

Let me say again, holy crap.

The blogosphere has dug up some really really really creepy stuff about that pseudo-reporter with the pseudonym who the White House lets ask all the softball questions about their briefings. His pseudonym is Jeff Gannon, and well, the folks at DailyKos, and Eschaton, have been doing a little digging around on him.

It's a long and sordid tale, but let me give it to you in a nutshell. Mr. Gannon's home page is JeffGannon.com. Well, JeffGannon.com is owned by a person and company that owns the following Web addresses as well:

Hotmilitarystud.com
Militaryescorts.com
Militaryescortsm4m.com

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/02/holy-crap_08.html

FOX censors GoDaddy ad during Superbowl

GoDaddy Ad Pulled During Super Bowl

GoDaddy.com CEO Bob Parsons reports that the NFL pressured FOX to can the second running of the GoDaddy.com ad during the Super Bowl telecast.

As you may have noticed our Super Bowl ad only appeared during the scheduled first quarter spot. It was scheduled to run also in the second ad position during the final two minute warning. Our ad never ran a second time. Instead, in its place, we saw an advertisement promoting "The Simpsons."

The NFL persuaded FOX to pull our ad.

We immediately contacted Fox to find out what happened. Here's what we were told: After our first ad was aired, the NFL became upset and they, together with Fox, decided to pull the ad from running a second time. Because we purchased two spots, we were also entitled to a "Brought to you by GoDaddy.com" 5 second marquis spot. They also chose to pull the marquis spot.

http://wizbangblog.com/archives/005007.php

Church Sign Generator

http://www.churchsigngenerator.com/index_1.php

Enjoy.

WCYB wins national contest to get set, newsroom makeover

Kill Insect Scribes Dead: The Stop Government Propaganda Act

In response to continued revelations of government-funded "journalism" -- ranging from the faked news stories put out by the drug czar's office to the recently uncovered payments to columnists Armstrong Williams and Maggie Gallagher (who are just the tip of iceberg according to Williams) -- Sens. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) will introduce a bill, The Stop Government Propaganda Act, in the Senate next week.

The revelation that the New York Times killed a story that would have swung the election, (Bush cheating with a listening device during the debates), The Stop Government Propaganda Act seems a day late and dollar short as we are stuck with Bush for another four years with help of a this same propaganda network that has been schlepping the shit for conservatives since the Nixon administration. Under Bush, these cockroaches have come squealing out of the woodwork and in to the light of day. Their new, higher profile is evidence of that we are offcially over-run with the vermin scribes.

Meet Jeff Gannon. The bald guy. He is the one who greased Bush's ego with "divorced from reality Democrats question" at his most recent White House press conference.



"Jeff Gannon" isn't his real name, and he is the ONLY "reporter" in the White House press corps EVER allowed to use an alias. My aunt used to say that the only people who change their names are wives and criminals, and guess what -- even married women have to use their maiden names in the Press Corps. Gannon (sic) gets a pass and that alone should raise eyebrows. He also works for something called Talon News which is no more than a GOP propaganda mill with connections to well-known dirty trickster, Bobby Eberle who also runs GOPUSA.com, a "conservative news, information, and design company dedicated to promoting conservative ideals." Again, this has never been "allowed" in the press corps. It used to be that you had to actually work for a news organization to be in the press corps. This is one of those rules that everyone can understand. I can't just go up to the White House Press Corps receptionist and get a pass for JC Forum. Wish I could. They stretched the definition of "legitimate news organization" when they let the Moonies in and if I worked for the Washington Times I'd be pissed Talon/Gannon (not his real name) was muscling in on my beat. Moonie News Correspondent "Stretch" Sammon the college sports fan looking guy sitting next to Gannon, should be getting red under the collar that he has to share turf with this gorilla (and possible criminal).

But here's the thing: Talon "News" and "Jeff Gannon" (not his real name) were PUT IN THE PRESS CORPS. They didn't just show up. An invisible hand put them there.

Which brings me to my next point. We have eyes. Look at these two in the picture again. Gannon (not his real name) has affected an amazing G. Gordon Liddy imitation. You have to watch the guys who shave their heads, anyway -- that's just a given. But this particular bald head has School of the Americas written all over it. If Gannon (not his real name) hasn't been trained in the military, he has at least been personally obsessed. One of those guys who haunts the gun section of the magazine rack in airports and creeps out little children.

He is a thug.

Now, read the question again for the first time. What do you pick up? What's the temperature?

Senate Democratic leaders have painted a very bleak picture of the U.S. economy. Harry Reid was talking about soup lines, and Hillary Clinton was talking about the economy being on the verge of collapse. Yet, in the same breath, they say that Social Security is rock-solid and there's no crisis there. How are you going to work -- you said you're going to reach out to these people -- how are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?

You expect him to follow-up with "Would you like me to take care of them, sir?" And he looks like he is there to do just that. The sad truth is, he has been put there to serve up softballs when McClennon and Bush get tired of obfuscating the truth to real reporters. In a blatant nod to this fact, Bush called on Gannon (not his real name) at the press conference RIGHT AFTER he was asked about Armstrong Williams and if the White House intended on continuing with the Propaganda Campaign. Yikes! It's like you expect Bush to just moon us at any point. Like he's going to be in Tulsa promoting the privatization of Social Security and he's just going to be like, "Fuck it. You know what, we don't give a flip what you people think. You think you can stop us?" Now watch this drive.

Digging deeper -- as in going to the GOPUSA.com website and reading some of the commentary, you find that these thugs in the press corps are being cheered on by the like of Jennifer King (pictured below) who is calling for Ted Kennedy to be brought up on sedition charges for questioning the war in Iraq. In her own words, "On the eve of Sunday's historic elections in Iraq, Senator Ted Kennedy took to the podium in order to stage a stunning display of defeatism, pessimism and vicious anti-Americanism... The malignantly magniloquent Massachusettsan further insisted that Iraq be "given back to the Iraqis" and that American troops should leave forthwith.

Senator Kennedy is a bloviating blowhard whose most outrageous libels are nevertheless overlooked by most of the media. Kennedy has called the war in Iraq, "A war made up for political gain", "George Bush's Vietnam" and - of course - the favored "quagmire." blah blah blah

Jennifer (if that's her real name) has obviously read Ann "The Theasarus" Coulter. "Bloviating" is essentially a Coulter trademark. And "malignantly magniloquent Massachusettsan," -- holy shit! Someone needs to check and see if she didn't bust a blood vessel tapping that out on her Vaio.



Here's the really funny thing -- at the bottom of her commentary piece, there's this disclaimer from GOPUSA: "Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA."

There whole stated reason for being for GOPUSA is to disseminate their brand of conservative Republicanism and they can't even endorse the words they publish as their LEAD editorial. Wow. For people who blow a mighty wind about Responsibility and Ownership -- you'd think they'd be able to own their own mission statement (although I can personally understand if Jennifer might want to disown her press photo).

The elephant in the room is that if you open your eyes, the administration has plum become cartoonish in their misbehavior.

So, unless we want everything you read to be written by the likes of Jennifer and Jeff (not his real name), it's time to make those calls and send those emails. And use those eyes.

tour

to commemorate our president's multi-state tour to push "soylent security" down the throats of all the "freedom-loving" people, i came up with this commemorative t-shirt.



they cost $427US trillion and are available in extra small over the next 40 years.

conspiracy of head(and head of state)

"LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Feb 4, 2005 — President Bush, on a campaign-style road trip to pressure recalcitrant Democrats and reluctant Republicans on a Social Security overhaul..."


isn't this child abuse? should be. would be if the kid had two moms.



oh, but the real reason he went to little rock:

"Out on the road for forty days
Last night in Little Rock put me in a haze
Sweet sweet Connie was doin' her act
She had the whole band and that's a natural fact"

is it a coincidence that SPIN magazine did yet another expose of Ms Hamzy, (who will soon be eligible for benefits) recently, or is this SSI thing really that big a deal?

SCORE: Chomsky:500; (il)liberal media:0)

Are you scrolling? are you scrolling through me? you must be, there ain't nobody else here...

"The Emperor's New Hump
The New York Times killed a story that could have changed the election—because it could have changed the election

Extra! January/February 2005

By Dave Lindorff

In the weeks leading up to the November 2 election, the New York Times was abuzz with excitement. Besides the election itself, the paper’s reporters were hard at work on two hot investigative projects, each of which could have a major impact on the outcome of the tight presidential race.

One week before Election Day, the Times (10/25/04) ran a hard-hitting and controversial exposé of the Al-Qaqaa ammunition dump—identified by U.N. inspectors before the war as containing 400 tons of special high-density explosives useful for aircraft bombings and as triggers for nuclear devices, but left unguarded and available to insurgents by U.S. forces after the invasion.

On Thursday, just three days after that first exposé, the paper was set to run a second, perhaps more explosive piece, exposing how George W. Bush had worn an electronic cueing device in his ear and probably cheated during the presidential debates."

The so-called Bulgegate story had been getting tremendous attention on the Internet. Stories about it had also run in many mainstream papers, including the New York Times (10/9/04, 10/18/04) and Washington Post (10/9/04), but most of these had been light-hearted. Indeed, the issue had even made it into the comedy circuit, including the monologues of Jay Leno, David Letterman, Jon Stewart and a set of strips by cartoonist Garry Trudeau.

That the story hadn’t gotten more serious treatment in the mainstream press was largely thanks to a well-organized media effort by the Bush White House and the Bush/Cheney campaign to label those who attempted to investigate the bulge as "conspiracy buffs" (Washington Post, 10/9/04). In an era of pinched budgets and an equally pinched notion of the role of the Fourth Estate, the fact that the Kerry camp was offering no comment on the matter—perhaps for fear of earning a "conspiracy buff" label for the candidate himself—may also have made reporters skittish. Jeffrey Klein, a founding editor of Mother Jones magazine, told Mother Jones (online edition, 10/30/04) he had called a number of contacts at leading news organizations across the country, and was told that unless the Kerry campaign raised the issue, they couldn’t pursue it."

read all at link

Hard to scroll thru? Maybe...

...but hopefully you'll read! Bill Moyers is the man.

Bill Moyers: There is no tomorrow

One of the biggest changes in politics in my lifetime is that the delusional is no longer marginal. It has come in from the fringe, to sit in the seat of power in the Oval Office and in Congress. For the first time in our history, ideology and theology hold a monopoly of power in Washington.

Theology asserts propositions that cannot be proven true; ideologues hold stoutly to a worldview despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality. When ideology and theology couple, their offspring are not always bad but they are always blind. And there is the danger: voters and politicians alike, oblivious to the facts.

Remember James Watt, President Ronald Reagan's first secretary of the interior? My favorite online environmental journal, the ever-engaging Grist, reminded us recently of how James Watt told the U.S. Congress that protecting natural resources was unimportant in light of the imminent return of Jesus Christ. In public testimony he said, "after the last tree is felled, Christ will come back."

Beltway elites snickered. The press corps didn't know what he was talking about. But James Watt was serious. So were his compatriots out across the country. They are the people who believe the Bible is literally true -- one-third of the American electorate, if a recent Gallup poll is accurate. In this past election several million good and decent citizens went to the polls believing in the rapture index.

That's right -- the rapture index. Google it and you will find that the best-selling books in America today are the 12 volumes of the "Left Behind" series written by the Christian fundamentalist and religious-right warrior Timothy LaHaye. These true believers subscribe to a fantastical theology concocted in the 19th century by a couple of immigrant preachers who took disparate passages from the Bible and wove them into a narrative that has captivated the imagination of millions of Americans.

Its outline is rather simple, if bizarre (the British writer George Monbiot recently did a brilliant dissection of it and I am indebted to him for adding to my own understanding): Once Israel has occupied the rest of its "biblical lands," legions of the antichrist will attack it, triggering a final showdown in the valley of Armageddon.

As the Jews who have not been converted are burned, the messiah will return for the rapture. True believers will be lifted out of their clothes and transported to Heaven, where, seated next to the right hand of God, they will watch their political and religious opponents suffer plagues of boils, sores, locusts and frogs during the several years of tribulation that follow.

I'm not making this up. Like Monbiot, I've read the literature. I've reported on these people, following some of them from Texas to the West Bank. They are sincere, serious and polite as they tell you they feel called to help bring the rapture on as fulfillment of biblical prophecy. That's why they have declared solidarity with Israel and the Jewish settlements and backed up their support with money and volunteers. It's why the invasion of Iraq for them was a warm-up act, predicted in the Book of Revelations where four angels "which are bound in the great river Euphrates will be released to slay the third part of man." A war with Islam in the Middle East is not something to be feared but welcomed -- an essential conflagration on the road to redemption. The last time I Googled it, the rapture index stood at 144 -- just one point below the critical threshold when the whole thing will blow, the son of God will return, the righteous will enter Heaven and sinners will be conde! mned to eternal hellfire.

So what does this mean for public policy and the environment? Go to Grist to read a remarkable work of reporting by the journalist Glenn Scherer -- "The Road to Environmental Apocalypse." Read it and you will see how millions of Christian fundamentalists may believe that environmental destruction is not only to be disregarded but actually welcomed -- even hastened -- as a sign of the coming apocalypse.

As Grist makes clear, we're not talking about a handful of fringe lawmakers who hold or are beholden to these beliefs. Nearly half the U.S. Congress before the recent election -- 231 legislators in total and more since the election -- are backed by the religious right.

Forty-five senators and 186 members of the 108th Congress earned 80 to 100 percent approval ratings from the three most influential Christian right advocacy groups. They include Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Assistant Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Conference Chair Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Policy Chair Jon Kyl of Arizona, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Majority Whip Roy Blunt. The only Democrat to score 100 percent with the Christian coalition was Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia, who recently quoted from the biblical book of Amos on the Senate floor: "The days will come, sayeth the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land." He seemed to be relishing the thought.

And why not? There's a constituency for it. A 2002 Time-CNN poll found that 59 percent of Americans believe that the prophecies found in the book of Revelations are going to come true. Nearly one-quarter think the Bible predicted the 9/11 attacks. Drive across the country with your radio tuned to the more than 1,600 Christian radio stations, or in the motel turn on some of the 250 Christian TV stations, and you can hear some of this end-time gospel. And you will come to understand why people under the spell of such potent prophecies cannot be expected, as Grist puts it, "to worry about the environment. Why care about the earth, when the droughts, floods, famine and pestilence brought by ecological collapse are signs of the apocalypse foretold in the Bible? Why care about global climate change when you and yours will be rescued in the rapture? And why care about converting from oil to solar when the same God who performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes can whip up a few billion barrels of light crude with a word?"

Because these people believe that until Christ does return, the Lord will provide. One of their texts is a high school history book, "America's Providential History." You'll find there these words: "The secular or socialist has a limited-resource mentality and views the world as a pie ... that needs to be cut up so everyone can get a piece." However, "[t]he Christian knows that the potential in God is unlimited and that there is no shortage of resources in God's earth ... while many secularists view the world as overpopulated, Christians know that God has made the earth sufficiently large with plenty of resources to accommodate all of the people."

No wonder Karl Rove goes around the White House whistling that militant hymn, "Onward Christian Soldiers." He turned out millions of the foot soldiers on Nov. 2, including many who have made the apocalypse a powerful driving force in modern American politics.

It is hard for the journalist to report a story like this with any credibility. So let me put it on a personal level. I myself don't know how to be in this world without expecting a confident future and getting up every morning to do what I can to bring it about. So I have always been an optimist. Now, however, I think of my friend on Wall Street whom I once asked: "What do you think of the market?"I'm optimistic," he answered. "Then why do you look so worried?" And he answered: "Because I am not sure my optimism is justified."

I'm not, either. Once upon a time I agreed with Eric Chivian and the Center for Health and the Global Environment that people will protect the natural environment when they realize its importance to their health and to the health and lives of their children. Now I am not so sure. It's not that I don't want to believe that -- it's just that I read the news and connect the dots.

I read that the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has declared the election a mandate for President Bush on the environment. This for an administration:

• That wants to rewrite the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act protecting rare plant and animal species and their habitats, as well as the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires the government to judge beforehand whether actions might damage natural resources.

• That wants to relax pollution limits for ozone; eliminate vehicle tailpipe inspections, and ease pollution standards for cars, sport-utility vehicles and diesel-powered big trucks and heavy equipment.

• That wants a new international audit law to allow corporations to keep certain information about environmental problems secret from the public.

• That wants to drop all its new-source review suits against polluting, coal-fired power plants and weaken consent decrees reached earlier with coal companies.

• That wants to open the Arctic [National] Wildlife Refuge to drilling and increase drilling in Padre Island National Seashore, the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world and the last great coastal wild land in America.

I read the news just this week and learned how the Environmental Protection Agency had planned to spend $9 million -- $2 million of it from the administration's friends at the American Chemistry Council -- to pay poor families to continue to use pesticides in their homes. These pesticides have been linked to neurological damage in children, but instead of ordering an end to their use, the government and the industry were going to offer the families $970 each, as well as a camcorder and children's clothing, to serve as guinea pigs for the study.

I read all this in the news.

I read the news just last night and learned that the administration's friends at the International Policy Network, which is supported by Exxon Mobil and others of like mind, have issued a new report that climate change is "a myth, sea levels are not rising" [and] scientists who believe catastrophe is possible are "an embarrassment."

I not only read the news but the fine print of the recent appropriations bill passed by Congress, with the obscure (and obscene) riders attached to it: a clause removing all endangered species protections from pesticides; language prohibiting judicial review for a forest in Oregon; a waiver of environmental review for grazing permits on public lands; a rider pressed by developers to weaken protection for crucial habitats in California.

I read all this and look up at the pictures on my desk, next to the computer -- pictures of my grandchildren. I see the future looking back at me from those photographs and I say, "Father, forgive us, for we know not what we do." And then I am stopped short by the thought: "That's not right. We do know what we are doing. We are stealing their future. Betraying their trust. Despoiling their world."

And I ask myself: Why? Is it because we don't care? Because we are greedy? Because we have lost our capacity for outrage, our ability to sustain indignation at injustice?

What has happened to our moral imagination?

On the heath Lear asks Gloucester: "How do you see the world?" And Gloucester, who is blind, answers: "I see it feelingly.'"

I see it feelingly.

The news is not good these days. I can tell you, though, that as a journalist I know the news is never the end of the story. The news can be the truth that sets us free -- not only to feel but to fight for the future we want. And the will to fight is the antidote to despair, the cure for cynicism, and the answer to those faces looking back at me from those photographs on my desk. What we need is what the ancient Israelites called hochma -- the science of the heart ... the capacity to see, to feel and then to act as if the future depended on you.

Believe me, it does.

Bill Moyers was host until recently of the weekly public affairs series "NOW with Bill Moyers" on PBS. This article is adapted from AlterNet, where it first appeared. The text is taken from Moyers' remarks upon receiving the Global Environmental Citizen Award from the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School

the beast

This is Sam. He's Gozer's new friend. So fucking cute he makes me wanna vomit.

The Hummer H2 Salute

href="http://http://www.fuh2.com/">http://www.fuh2.com/

The H2 is the ultimate poseur vehicle. It has the chassis of a Chevy Tahoe and a body that looks like the original Hummer; i.e. it's a Chevy Tahoe in disguise.

The H2 is a gas guzzler. Because it has a gross vehicle weight rating over 8500 lbs, the US government does not require it to meet federal fuel efficiency regulations. Hummer isn't even required to publish its fuel economy (owners indicate that they get around 10 mpg for normal use). So while our brothers and sisters are off in the Middle East risking their lives to secure America's fossil fuel future, H2 drivers are pissing away our "spoils of victory" during each trip to the grocery store.

The H2 is a polluter. Based on G.M.'s optimistic claim that it gets13 mpg, an H2 will produce 3.4 metric tons of carbon emissions in a typical year, nearly double that of G.M.'s Chevrolet Malibu sedan.

The H2 is a death machine. You'd better hope that you don't collide with an H2 in your economy car. You can kiss your ass goodbye thanks to the H2's massive weight and raised bumpers. Too bad you couldn't afford an urban assault vehicle of your own. Or could you...?

The H2 is a tax loophole. Under Bush's new tax plan, business owners can deduct the entire cost of their $55,000 H2. If you are in the highest tax bracket, that's a tax savings of nearly $20,000! The government rewards you more savings for buying an H2 than you'd get for buying an electric car.

Check out the hilarious submissions. These owners have no idea they've purchased a marginally-reliable Chevy Tahoe giddied-up to look like the real deal---an H1 at a starting price of $120K.

PROTEST! tomorrow? yes, tomorrow in Nashville at the SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE on Nolensville Pike

the TN Democratic Party is spreading the word about a direct action event at the Social Security office here in Nashville TOMORROW... that's Friday.

(just passing this along... i'll try to get out that way and snap some photos--brook)
________________________

This is our opportunity to tell President George W. Bush that we do not want him to take away our Social Security. President Bush will be in Little Rock, AR promoting his plan to privatize and dismantle Social Security as we know it. We want to send a clear message that Tennesseans will not accept this hollow rhetoric and sales pitch.



Join other democratic activists tomorrow, Friday, February 4th, to protest President Bush’s sales pitch in Arkansas. We will be protesting this Social Security plan in front of the

Nashville Social Security Administration office on Nolensville Pike.


Please note the details of the protest below:
Date: Friday, February 4th

Time: 12:30-1:15pm
Location: 4527 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211

(Parking is available in the Food Lion parking lot next to the Social Security office)
If you need more information, please call the Tennessee Democratic Party at 615-327-9779. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow, just look for the signs and you are more than welcome to bring homemade signs!!

Thank you!

Marine general: It's 'fun to shoot people'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A three-star Marine general who said it was "fun to shoot some people" should have chosen his words more carefully, the Marine Corps commandant said Thursday.

Lt. Gen. James Mattis, who commanded Marine expeditions in Afghanistan and Iraq, made the comments Tuesday during a panel discussion in San Diego, California.

"Actually it's quite fun to fight them, you know. It's a hell of a hoot," Mattis said, prompting laughter from some military members in the audience. "It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up there with you. I like brawling.

"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil," Mattis said. "You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."

Mattis' press office has not yet responded to a request to answer questions about his comments.

Of course the Corps doesn't want you long-haired civilians to know this, but it IS a powerful attraction to the armed services. To kill without fear of reprisal. What makes it REALLY fun is when the "soldiers" mix with the general populace. Now yer talkin' ! Fire for effect!

is booing a boo boo at the SOTU?

from the Senate Democratic Communications Center: a short history of SOTU BOOING.

1999: Republicans Booed Clinton's Entrance
Many Republican lawmakers gave him a cool, though not impolite, reception. There were a smattering of boos when Clinton first entered the House chamber, but they were quickly drowned out by applause. Some Republicans barely applauded, or refused at all to clap. House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) and U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) were conspicuously silent. [Boston Herald, 1/20/99]

1998: Republicans Booed Clinton's Medicare Proposal
Clinton's health-care initiatives, chiefly in the form of a medical bill of rights, found support on both sides, especially his attack on managed-care health-care plans. ... Clinton's proposal to expand Medicare to allow Americans as young as 55 to buy into the system drew shouts of "no" and some boos from Republicans during his speech. [Chicago Tribune, 1/28/98]

1997: Republican's Booed Clinton's Opposition to the Balanced Budget Amendment
The Republican response was far warmer than perhaps any of Clinton's previous four State of the Union speeches. Time after time, Republicans jumped to their feet to join Democrats in applauding the president. Only once did they unmistakably and collectively show their disapproval--when Clinton spoke disparagingly of a GOP-sponsored constitutional amendment to balance the budget. Many Republicans hissed and some booed. [LA Times, 2/5/97]

1995: Republicans Booed Clinton and Walked Out During Speech
The upheaval wrought by the Republican election landslide was visible throughout the president's State of the Union address - from the moment Speaker Newt Gingrich took the gavel to the striking silence that often greeted Clinton from the GOP. At one point, Republicans even booed. About 20 of them left as Clinton went on and on for an hour and 20 minutes. [AP, 1/24/95]

I am so embarrassed to admit this, but I used to record Clinton's State of the Union speeches on the VCR and listen to them...taking notes! It was a habit that started at the student newspaper -- covering lectures from a tape recording. His speeches were so moving and eloquent, it was a pleasurable habit to get into. Cross-stitching for a political junkie. It's ugly and there's no methadone for a political habit.

Since it was during a time when I was taking notes and deconstructing Clinton for fun, I find it interesting that I don't remember these incidents.

There's possibly a few things going on here. I have an open mind about it:

A) It happened (people booed and WALKED OUT) and it got attention and my memory is failing me. It might have garnered repeated play on Crossfire or whatever yell-fests were popular back then, and I just don't remember.

B) It happened and didn't get any attention and that's why I don't remember it. It didn't make it into SOTU mythology because no one thinks it was unusual that Republicans would act like that.

C) It happened and didn't get any attention because no one was cutting Clinton any slack.

Probably a combo of all the above and stuff I haven't yet thought of. Strange, though.

more on this later... who are these guys?

quote of the millennium, so far...

"Do not let anyone mislead you."

-G W Bush 2/2/05, state of the union speech.


somewhere in the middle of all the blah blah blah.

I Got Your State of the Nation Right HERE!

Listening to Herr Bush on WETS---I don't think I could stomach the bastard on the idiot box. Sounds like the Nazis coming to power in 1933.

Funny, I don't remember anyone giving a tinker's dam about whether Iraqis lived or died (much less had a democratic government) before the current administration. (Oh, sorry. I was drunk in 1991 and missed the entire Gulf "war"---all 3 days of it)

I thought democracy was supposed to be hard-won by the citizenry---not handed out like a fucking Target gift card to undeserving nations too goddamned lazy, unorganized and unmotivated to rise up against the boot "stamping on (their) human face -- forever" (thanks, Orwell). Democracy or else! What a marketing tool! The Chinese students who actually risked their lives in the Tiananmen Square Massacre could teach these fucks to get off their collective asses if they want meaningful, permanent change. But Middle Eastern mores value familial/clan allegiances (and attendant feudal tendencies) over Western ideals.

Let's see how this ill-conceived democratic experiment at the end of a gun barrel turns out. America is just over 200 years old. We're still fighting Vietnam.

I'm so glad I'm not in my early twenties.

awards etc...

who will get the award for longest-almost-impossible-to-scroll-thru-blog-entry?

2004 Ethnic Cleansing Awards

2004 Ethnic Cleansing Awards

Reality Show Attention Whores

Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth managed early in 2004 to set the bar high for ruthless, backstabbing TV opportunists. While Omarosa may be just a blip on the radar screen of shrew-like reality show quasi-celebs, the first season Apprentice star still managed to alienate most of America in a stunning display of delusion meets evil meets brazen laziness. After her Norma Desmond-inspired media junket following her brutal removal from from The Don's boardroom, this business woman/pageant model/actress/political appointee (read:unpaid intern with fake tits) also enjoys, according to her own bio, "working as an image consultant." I swear we're not making this stuff up. Flashing her pearly whites to Katie Couric, she spoke of television offers, a new clothing line and maybe even a movie career. It's nearly 2005 and we're still afraid. But not nearly as afraid as her husband.

People Who Drive Hybrid Cars And Won't Shut Up About It

Okay, you drive a fuel efficient car that runs on electricity and gas in some kind of horrible Earth-friendly compromise that makes no sense to anyone. Fine. See if we care. But can't you just shut up about it? To all the vegetable-eating, do-gooders driving them, the idea of a hybrid isn't new. The moped was the first actual hybrid, using a combination of footpower and a gas engine. At least with a moped you can still look like a big homo without spending all the cash and annoying your family and friends. Sure, we all want to get off the Arab oil nipple, but can't they design something that doesn't scream "I'm an assclown." Even John Kerry drives a Land Rover. Outspoken hybrid drivers rank at #24.

Here are a list of hybrid drivers: Larry David (no girlfriend, no sex) Bill Maher (no girlfriend, no sex) Billy Crystal (married, no sex) Woody Harrelson (too stoned for sex) Cameron Diaz (hot enough to overlook car)

Here are a list of well known SUV drivers: Arnold Schwarzenegger Shaquille O'Neal M C Hammer Roger Clemens Mike Tyson

Conservative, Middle-Aged Talk Show Hosts with Horrifying Sexual Proclivities

Bill O'Reilly has a big mouth. He has an even bigger penis, if you believe what he repeatedly told former "O'Reilly Factor" producer Andrea Mackris between tales of happy endings with Vietnamese masseuses, Thai sex shows and the shock when foreign-born cleaning ladies realize he's not hiding a stack of ones under his towel. Look, we understand that outspoken, middle-aged television millionaires like O'Reilly can debate vibrators, oral sex and masturbation in much the same way they debate the war in Iraq or whether or not Jon Stewart and his "audience of dope-smoking burnouts" can possibly thrill a woman like he can, but gross is gross and Mackris deserved whatever money she got. Conservative America needs a new voice and the rest of us need a long, hot, collective shower.

Dr. Phil

Dr. Phil McGraw has a hot wife. He's got two well-adjusted sons, plays in charity tennis tournaments and gives pragmatic advice to hateful couples, wifebeaters and sociopaths who he exploits for 12 minute segments before they're sent back to the trailer park to find their "authentic self." By "authentic self," we mean "big fat loser." Now, in the second season of his own show sans Oprah, multiple self-help books and a gazillion dollars, no amount of witty, down-home Philisms are going to get these people to stop banging the married chick in the next doublewide. So why would we want to ethnically cleanse a guy that seems to want to help average schlubs who can't afford real therapy? We resent anyone who is happy, content, smart and rich. You can just imagine him on the sidelines of his kids soccer games. Nobody should have a father that loving and supportive. So when he says, "how's that working for you?" or "it's time to get real," it makes us want to ram that tennis racket up his keester. There's a Philism in there somewhere. Dr. Phil ranks a respectable #22.

Star Jones/Women of "The View"

The once enticing soccer mom/MILF fantasy of cohost Meredith Viera has since been overshadowed by a solar eclipse-size wake left by Star Jones and the rest of the women of "The View." Dino-journalist Barbara Walters blushes as her younger contemporaries (now that's funny) spend each morning pondering life and their [sexually active] place in it. Faking illness and staying home from work or school used to mean a happy, stressfree day of Barnaby Jones reruns, Judge Judy and rampant masturbation. Now it means a window into the world of how middle-aged dunces talk when there are no men around. The only thing worse is a frank discussion of Star Jones' wedding and honeymoon. There are not enough meds to dull the pain.

Kabbalists

Scientology boasts celebs like Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley and John Travolta, but Kabbalists have Madonna, Britney, Demi, Ashton, Paris and Lindsay Lohan. That's an asskicking if I've ever seen one. Many argue that Kabballah isn't really a cult, it's basically advanced-level Judaism, reserved for older male students who actually took Judaism 101 and didn't just jump right into graduate school just so they can hang out in the faculty lounge and sleep with the professor. While Kabbalah may simply be for Christians who aren't satisfied with all the "fun holidays" and must now get the big Bar Mitzvah party they never had when they were 13, others are just doing it to piss off the Arabs. For those interested in Kabbalah but want to avoid all that pesky studying and adherence to religious rules, you can spend $50 for a Kabbalah kit, replete with red string to ward off the "Evil Eye." Everyone hates the dreaded Evil Eye, a.k.a., the look people give you when they realize you've just spent $50 on a red string. We at BFA have our own Kabbalah kit: Mix one part Madonna, two parts Lindsay Lohan (the good parts), then add cream of Ashton Kutcher. Grow beard and move to Israel. They'll make fun of you there too.

The F.C.C./Nipple Ornament Wearers (tie)

It's so hard to decide who is worse, an overzealous FCC led by Colin Powell's son Michael or the slightly-less-freaky-than-Michael, nipple- adorned pop star Janet Jackson. Therefore, we rule it a draw. It's hard to remember the days when nipple ornamentation was once a back alley practice nobody spoke of until the fateful day in early 2004 when Superbowl family fun included a "wardrobe malfunction" and nipple decoration sales skyrocketed -- especially among the middle school set. Try as they might, the F.C.C can't legislate morality but it can slap a big fine against anyone who displays their metallic mammaries or even broadcasts an unedited version of "Saving Private Ryan," with all the cursing, cigarette smoking and dying. Thank God there were no nipple ornaments on Omaha Beach. Or were there? The FCC and nipple decorators are ranked at #19.

People Who Insist They Can Multitask

For those who think simple multitasking is effortless, just get behind a female driver on the highway as she applies her makeup and shifts lanes to the exact cadence of her argument with her boyfriend on the cell phone. People just can't multitask no matter how many times they type it on their resume (read: women can't drive and do anything else simultaneously). For those who will scream gender discrimination, just remember that Brady Bunch episode where Marcia and Greg battled it out on who was a better driver. Okay, Marcia won, but that was a shitty, poorly-written television show created in the days before cell phones, when women only drove to get groceries. Fuck women's lib. Car phone gabbers rank at #18.

Beer Throwing Sports Fans

Last year it was Cubs fan Steve Bartman, this year it's "regular guy" John Green who single-handedly initiated one of professional sports greatest -- I mean most obscene-- brawls. We will all pretend how outraged we were when they were beating the crap out of each other and we watched it on TiVo again and again to our delight -- I mean disdain. In the end, there were five suspensions and Pacer Ron Artest is out for the season. Turns out that John Green has a lengthy police record including four DUI's, and some kind of anger management issue. How else would you explain tossing a $9 beer at a total stranger. This wackjob gets more unwanted but totally deserved exposure on our list.

Liza Minnelli/Michael Jackson (tie)

Best buddies and freakshow partners Liza Minnelli and Michael Jackson are tied on our current list. Both suffered yet another tabloid-filled year of sexual depravity, delusions of grandeur and annoying haircuts. Both are involved in lawsuits, where we will eventually be forced to hear the sickening minutae of their sex lives. Michael spent 2004 hiding stashes of Blue Boy magazines and giving DNA samples, while Liza battled a lawsuit brought forth by her equally crazed milquetoast ex-husband David Gest as well as a brand new lawsuit filed by her former driver/body guard, who claimed he was forced to sleep with Minnelli repeatedly in order to keep his job. There is no job worth that kind of degradation. Let's hope in both cases, the lights were turned off. Liza and Michael are tied at #16.

Inbred Americans Fucking up Everything in Iraq

Pfc. Lynndie England has got to be the biggest fucktard in her entire home state of West Virginia. And that's saying a lot. Perhaps the sloping forehead, narrow eyes and too-dyky-even-for-the-army appearance should have alerted her superiors that leaving her unchaperoned at the Abu Gharib prison was one of the biggest mistakes of the war. Thanks to memories provided by Kodak, we can finally put a face on stupidity. Couldn't the face of stupidity look more like Jessica Simpson or even Anna Nicole Smith? While England showed bad judgment when she slept with half her troop without even removing her boots, it also clearly demonstrated that our troops have sunk to new lows of desperation. We will give her the benefit of the doubt that forcing naked Iraqi prisoners to stack up in a pyramid was just a sad reminder of the freaky, penis-obsessed girl who dropped out of high school before she would have been excluded from the cheerleading squad. She didn't mean any harm. Lynndie ranks at #15.

Lip-Syncing, Manufactured Pop Stars

Ashlee Simpson has spent the bulk of 2004 distinguishing herself from famous sister Jessica by dying her hair black, having premarital sex and demonstrating an uncanny ability to do a jig/retard dance during moments of complete discomfort or when she has to pee. Add to that a complete lack of guilt for lying about lip-syncing, blaming her band and saying things like "everyone does it, doncha know." She might just be telling the truth: Jessica lip syncs every time she speaks and newbie singer and overexposed star Lindsay Lohan allegedly lip synced on Good Morning America just last week. In the end, we learned that it really wasn't Ashlee's fault. She has a serious case of acid-reflux disease, which sadly removes any lingering desire we have to make out with her. She needs to go. Ashlee ranks at #14.

Cartoonishly Pumped Steroid Abusers Who Lie...Badly

Barry Bonds might just be the Ashlee Simpson of baseball. Bonds went from skinny player to pumped up power hitter at the ripe old age of 36. Turns out, his growing manboobs and shrinking testicles were due to a cocktail of peformance-enhancing steriods supplied to him by his trainer who only said they were "ego enhancers" made from flaxseed oil and roofies. It's not just Bonds that's guilty of being a cheat and a fraud. There's Jason Giambi, Marion Jones, and even Sammy Sosa has been spending a lot of time stroking his corked bat and mouse nuts. Bonds outdoes the rest of them for the simple reason that we hated him way before he started hitting home runs. Bonds ranks our list at unlucky #13.

Canada

While France and even the entire continent of Europe was singled out in years past, Canada makes this year's ethnic cleaning awards. Where's the love? Where's the appreciation? We know it's cold and you're irritable this time of year, but you've been holding a grudge since we admitted we like the Brits better. While we can forgive French-speaking Canada for not assisting our armed forces in Iraq, it's harder to forgive members of Parliment for heckling our elected leaders or dropping Celine Dion on us. Canada claims they have a unique culture that differentiates them from the United States, despite the fact that 90% of Canadians live within 50 miles of the U.S. border. They share our economy, they see our television shows and they fantasized about banging the cast of "Friends," just like the rest of us. What the hell do we get in return? It's like they're stealing our space heater and we always have to pay the electric bill. Screw Canada. They are ranked at #12

Clay Aiken

Where oh where should we start? It's so difficult to pin down Clay Aiken's ears let alone all the reasons why we feel the American Idol runner up should be ethnically cleansed. Sure, he's a raging bone smuggler and expert on the jousting circuit. But he's also a nice Christian guy who claims he's saving himself for marriage (teehee). He's also kind to the kids on the short bus. Maybe it's the horror that his recent Christmas album sold more than 250,000 copies in a single week. Maybe it's that his fans are known as "Claymates." Maybe it's that annoying twangy voice and a complete lack of facial hair. Maybe it's that every girl wants him and not us! We've been sent angry letters about our well-known position before. And even more angry letters Clay ranks at #11.

Freakishly Smart and Completely Uninteresting Game Show Millionaires

Not since Herb Stempel cheated his way to into the hearts and minds of ordinary, uneducated Americans in the 1950's quiz show scandal has one game show contestant captured so much money combined with a complete lack of attention from anyone with breasts. Ranked somewhere between Screech and Rush Limbaugh in overall sexiness, even $2.5 million in prize money won't get this guy laid. Although it will probably get him beat up when he goes back home. Ken Jennings ranks at a respectable #10.

Kofi Annan/U.N. (tie)

Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan spent much of 2004 under attack for corruption, kickbacks and a longer-than-comfortable embrace with PLO leader Yassir Arafat. Then, just recently, Iraq's food for oil program came under scrutiny when it was learned that Saddam Hussein and his thugs spent half the money on weapons and the other half on Annan's new wardrobe and Park Avenue condo. Add to that his wagging finger, hatred of all things American and his unflagging support for terrorists and rigged elections. Kofi and his band of talking windbags at the U.N. need to pack their bags. Let's give the U.N. building to Trump. The U.N. can hold their meeting at the YMCA. Or better yet, the J.C.C.

Nick and Jessica

America's favorite retarded couple makes the rest of us see how beautiful marriage can really be when muscles and good hair meets great tits and ... well, great tits are enough in a beautiful marriage, aren't they? Adorning the cover of dozens of magazines, the "it" couple of 2004 even made avoiding premarital sex seem quaint. In 2004 the newlyweds appeared all over television, even hosting a Nick and Jessica Christmas Special. By "special," we mean shitty singing surrounded by not-quite-as-attractive and just as retarded cousins. It's destined to be a holiday classic. Rumors abound that the happy retarded couple aren't that at all. Some people say they're just retarded. They rank at #8.

Ben Affleck's Agent/Ben Affleck (tie)

We refuse to jump on the "we hate Ben Affleck" bandwagon before equally jumping on the "we hate Ben Affleck's agent" bandwagon (which we've just now invented) Sure, Ben is not the greatest talent to come out of Hollywood, but this beer-loving Celebrity Poker playing Red Sox fan never asked to be posted on every tabloid and magazine, week in and week out during the past year. He just wanted to be left alone to bang J-Lo and Jennifer Garner —both very, very good choices, we might add. Ben Affleck can pick hot celebrities, but he just can't pick good movie roles, which is precisely why he gives millions of dollars to his agents and managers. How they happened to send him the scripts for "Gigli" or "Surviving Christmas" is beyond understanding and will likely be a study in agency ineptitude for years to come. So Ben Affleck, 10-percenter Patrick Whitesell of Endeavor and publicist Ken Sunshine can all share the blame equally. Unfortunately, no amount of blame-shifting will reduce the culpability of Matt Damon, who, strangely enough, tends to date down.

Totally Ungrateful Iraqi Insurgents

Iraqi insurgents running around screaming "Allahu Akbar" before they kill a bunch of their own citizens are given the #6 spot in this year's ethnic cleansing awards. If it weren't for the fact that these people are dangerous killers using human shields to hide from Coalition Forces, these track suit-wearing idiots would be almost laughable. Invariably posed with the oversized RPG (the Iraqi rebel's equivalent to our electric guitar), the one-size-fits-all head scarf (to keep bugs out of their mouth), they seem more concerned with photo opps then considering the stupidity of their plight. Would someone please tell them we don't want to be there. The idea of us sticking around to steal their resources is almost as absurd as sticking around to steal their women. Get a fucking job!

Paris Hilton/Olsen Twins (Tie)

Paris has really grown as a performer during the last year, adding to her resume yet another installment of the semiscripted "fish-out-of-water" reality show "The Simple Life." By semiscripted we only mean that Paris is unable to memorize anything but her tan lines. During 2004, Paris developed a clothing line, handbags, perfume and even had time to appear in another amateur sex tape -- although we're not sure it's fair to refer to it as amateur porn anymore. While some people see Paris as the new Marilyn Monroe (not the young vibrant version of Marilyn who married a sports legend, but the slightly older, no-longer-alive corpse version), we, at BFA, see her for what she truly is: a savvy, no-nonsense business woman in the same vein as Martha Stewart. Both of whom will most likely spend time on all fours this year.

In another year of overexposure for perhaps the richest and most famous of all strangely sexy, monkey-faced girls, the twins became perfectly legal monkeymeat in 2004. But now it just doesn't seem like such a treat. Somehow after removing the pixie-pedo fetish, all we're left with are two actresses who, after a lifetime in front of a camera, still can't act or carry on a particularly interesting conversation. Both are now sharing their public woes on the NYU campus, where Washington Square's homeless population fight tooth and nail for Mary-Kate's regurgitated lunch while offering advice on how to get over silly body esteem issues. It remains to be seen whether either twin can balance Prada bag shopping and college classes in order to actually graduate. We're not saying the Olsen Twins are stupid, but let's face it, for nine months they shared a small womb with one oxygen line. Even Paris can beat that. Barely.

Gloating Republicans/ Sore Losers Who Threatened to Move to Canada But Never Did (tie)

No need to rehash the results of the 2004 presidential election, but the post-election world of national politics brought the real losers to the forefront and they share the ranking evenly. While Democrats annoyed the crap out of us by accusing the Republicans of gloating over their all-encompassing victory, while brushing off talk of a presidential mandate, Republicans equally annoyed us by actually gloating and actually claiming a mandate to do whatever they wanted. The arguments further escalated by reports of group therapy sessions for depressed liberals who vowed to continue to be a thorn in Bush's side -- or else move to Canada. The Republicans shot back by taunting the Democrats to move to Canada like they promised months ago. It's hard to decide who's worse: the arrogant, environmentally-dangerous conservatives bent on continuing an unwinnable war and making the world hate us, or the sore losers who do nothing but complain, and instead of trying to share a few toys in the sandbox, they jump right out and run for momma's apron. No doubt, it's a tie. They both rank at #4.

Celebrity Political Endorsers

We've always been annoyed by the likes of self-important celebrity activists Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins and Barbra Streisand, who have spent years shamefully pushing their agenda on the American public at the most inappropriate moments possible. The 2004 presidential race saw new lows in the ridiculous posturing by the predominately liberal celebrities who wrongly thought their celebrity appeal would bring millions of votes to whatever guy they were supporting. The Democrats, always a majority among Hollywood types, boasted the unhelpful support of Matt Damon, Linda Ronstadt, P. Diddy, Cameron Diaz, Sharon Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio and Bruce Springsteen. The Republican celebrity minority, while both sad and pathetic, was just as vocal and just as annoying. They boasted the completely unhelpful support of The Governator, comedian Dennis Miller, B-list movie actor Ron Silver, Rick Schroder, Stephen Baldwin and Bo Derek. I think you can see where we're going with this.

CAMERON DIAZ ON OPRAH: "We have a voice now, and we're not using it, and women have so much to lose. I mean, we could lose the right to our bodies. We could lo--if you think that rape should be legal, then don't vote. But if you think that you have a right to your body, and you have a right to say what happens to you and fight off that danger of losing that, then you should vote, and those are the...." (trails off after becoming foggy)

LINDA RONSTADT: "People don't realize that by voting Republican, they voted against themselves...I worry that some people are entertained by the idea of this war. They don't know anything about the Iraqis, but they're angry and frustrated in their own lives. It's like Germany, before Hitler took over. The economy was bad and people felt kicked around. They looked for a scapegoat. Now we've got a new bunch of Hitlers.

P.DIDDY: " I predict record numbers of young people will vote...."

William Hung

After much debate, the editorial staff here at BFA felt that, more than anyone else in 2004, American Idol first-round contestant William Hung and all who are like him, deserve to be banished forever from the planet Earth. It's not just that Mr. Hung can't sing or dance. He can't. He also can't go away. For those of you who thought the "Disco Donger" ended his 15 minutes of fame last February or March, you obviously missed his studio-released CD, his website, dozens of public appearances and just last week a prime spot in the Hollywood Christmas Parade (okay, Cindy Williams and Erik Estrada were also invited)

Let's face it, we all know that William isn't in on our "little joke." We laugh at him the same way we laugh at those chubby kids at the Special Olympics all those funny comedians on TV.

This past year of horrific torture we certainly brought on ourselves. It's not really even William Hung's fault if you really get down to it. It's societies' fault for putting Hung on the developmentally challenged pedestal he has ridden for the past 11 months. Where are his parents? Who is looking out for his best interests? Who is making sure he's not been exploited by money hungry handlers looking for a quick buck? Why does he keep saying "erection" instead of election? These are questions that must be answered.

Thankfully, we have no fear that William Hung will either 1) find this website or learn how to correctly spell his name in order to, 2) Google himself and discover what has been said and written about him by us. With no fear in bestowing upon him BFA's highest (or lowest) honors, we confidently award William Hung the coveted #1 spot.

Let us never speak of him again.

When life seems too much and all the headlines are just tragedy after tragedy..........

dickcream.com

(It's clean)