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On Thugs and Boobs

by BooMan
Fri Aug 18th, 2006 at 12:18:50 PM EST

I wanted to write about the district judge that ruled that the NSA's warrantless domestic surveillance program is illegal. But Washington Post editor Fred Hiatt says her ruling is unhelpful. So, never mind. Apparently, the judge utilized "angry rhetoric" and is some sort of judicofascist. So, I guess it is still okay for the government to read the emails of any American that ever corresponded with a Pizza Hut delivery guy that delivered a pie to an Uncle of the brother-in-law of a possible bad guy. That's comforting and I won't write about it anymore.

I just watched Bush give a somber and depressing press conference from Camp David. He appeared unusually confused and was barely coherent. I don't even know if they can quote some of what he said because it will be incomprehensible in verbatim form.

His statement was about the economy, a subject that clearly fatigues the President and destroys his usual eloquence. He did note that we can now expect to halve the deficit by 2009 because we had a 30% smaller deficit than anticipated last year. I've leave it to the economists to parse that statement.

He also noted that Hizbollah "started it" and that their victory was a defeat. Never mind that Cheney started it and that a victory is a victory. Maybe Bush wanted to use a word like 'pyrrhic'. But he doesn't even know what that means.

Bush understands some things though. He understands how to run a government of thugs. Did you know that the Abu Ghraib whistleblower was granted assurances of anonymity. Did you know that Rumsfeld 'thanked' him by name during Congressional testimony? Did you know that he now requires protection? And why did we wonder about the motives for the outing of Valerie Plame Wilson?

I assume Rumsfeld will find several new people he wants to 'thank' after he reads this article.

At least it is Friday.

On Thugs and Boobs | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: On Thugs and Boobs (4.00 / 3)

Next Bush press conference: "We're gonna get Iran 'cause they're just a bunch of big pyrrhics".

You saw it here first.

Bush is "the first President to admit to an impeachable offense." --Former Nixon counsel John Dean

by DaveW on Fri Aug 18th, 2006 at 12:36:53 PM EST

On Thugs, Boobs, and the Unitary Executive (4.00 / 3)

Turley: "Every time a judge rules against the administration they are either too Democratic or too tall or too short or Pisces. All this spin - this effort to personalize it is doing a great injustice to our system. The problem is not the judge. The problem is a lack of authority. When Gonzales says `I got something back in my safe and if you could see it you would all agree with me'. Well, unless there's a federal statute back in his safe, then it's not going to make a difference."
Turley gives us a good explanation of what today's ruling means. The main thing to come out today is that Bush does not have this widespread Constitutional authority that he claims to be granted by the War Powers.

Video available at C&L wmp and qt versions

lTMF'sA...the revolution will not be televised...Peace

by dada on Fri Aug 18th, 2006 at 12:45:48 PM EST

Re: On Thugs and Boobs (none / 1)

I don't think the economy is as rosy as Bush (may have) said. Ford, Boeing, and filling the tank are telling us things are going to get a bit tighter for the average person.

His economic message was vague to say the least and where he is with Hezbollah is beyond me. Hezbollah was defeated? Don't think so. I think they won big time. Now they are going to repair all the damage done by those Jews, a victory beyond measure. Where are they getting all that money? Every time you fill your tank with mid east oil you put a few bucks in Hezbollah's pockets.

No one in Lebanon changed their minds in the positive direction. Hezbollah attacked Israel but that's not what the average Lebanon thinks. Hezbollah has to be the bad guys that caused the damage. Instead they are big brother putting the pieces back together. And they are using our money to do it. I'm surprised Bush hasn't offered Hezbollah gift tax dollars to help them rebuild Lebanon on the grounds they are a charitable organization, have faith, believe in God and all that rot. He did that with Katrina, used it as an excuse to gift to religions as "charitable helpers."

The people of the mid east have to make a change in their mental attitude. This is no different to what had to be done, 1939-1945 with the people of Germany and Japan. Piles of rubble are mind changers. They can't be allowed to be picked up until the mind has changed. So nothing has happened. Just a few more dead and wounded people that will happen again and again until the mind set of Islam is changed.

Big oil + big religion = big trouble. http://www.hoax-buster.org

by BC on Fri Aug 18th, 2006 at 01:10:16 PM EST

Judge Walker Was Absolutely Right (none / 1)

Why The Judge Made the Right Call
By Julie Hilden

(FindLaw) Aug. 15 -- In a two-part series of columns, I'll explain why I believe Judge Walker was absolutely right to decide as he did.

The Supreme Court Has Repeatedly Rejected Executive Exclusivity Regarding War-on-Terror Issues

The government's motion essentially repeated the same argument the Bush Administration has made repeatedly - that "war on terror" matters ought to be handled exclusively by the Executive Branch, with minimal, if any, participation by Congress or the federal judiciary.

So far, each time that argument has made its way up to the Supreme Court -- in Rasul v. Bush, and now in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld - the Court has rejected it.

NSA's Access to Our Phone Records: The Laws that Were Probably Broken, and the Likely Consequences

"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY

by Oui on Fri Aug 18th, 2006 at 01:24:59 PM EST

Re: On Thugs and Boobs (none / 0)

This is off-topic but does anyone here have any information whatsoever about the case Kinshishian v. Gonzales? I know the 9th circuit heard oral arguments last Wed. It seems the case involves someone from Iran who claims he (she?) needs asylum in the USA because the gov't was trying to force him (her?) to work for Hezbollah.

Thanks!

Pax

Night and day you can find me Flogging the Simian

by soj on Sat Aug 19th, 2006 at 02:49:37 AM EST

On Thugs and Boobs | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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