The stonewalling of any and every effort of this Congress' efforts to exercise it's constitutional duties by the Bush Administration and it's toadies has been painful to watch. Maybe they will finally get the hint that the only way they're going to get ANYTHING is to use the bare-knuckled approach. Start the impeachment of Mukasey or send over the marshalls and arrest his sorry ass for Christ's sake if he doesn't respond to a lawful request. It's long past time to kick over some freaking tables!!

Posted at June 30, 2008 3:17 PM in response to DOJ to Oversight: DENIED

Right on, raider99. There are very few journalists today that would warrant the adulation pouring out for Russert. Certainly not Russert.

In this time of historic consequence for this nation, very few passed the test. In my book, Bill Moyers and the McClatchy team come to mind and a few of the old pros like Walter Pincus and Seymour Hersh. And, I'm liking Dan Rather lately for some of his stands, especially his speech the other day at the National Conference on Media Reform.

And, as you point out, Jon Stewart comes far closer to the truth with comedy than the MSM EVER will.

Posted at June 15, 2008 1:09 PM in response to RIP Mr. Russert but I'm still pissed

Maybe it's just me, but I feel compelled to set the record straight when I see the kind of over-the-top adulation at the time of an important person's death that overlooks the (see the death of Ronald Reagan). In most cases, I don't think it is polite to bring up the dearly departed flaws but, in the case of someone as public and influential as Russert, it's not out of line to mention that he epitomized the "conventional wisdom" of the MSM - and that's not a compliment.

I too was appalled at the UFO question Russert asked Dennis Kucinich in one of the debates. He tried to marginalize a decent and intelligent candidate for the presidency of the freaking United States with a question designed to make him look like a loony. NO. OTHER. PURPOSE. That ONE question forever doomed Russert in my estimation. He was just another purveyor of "conventional wisdom" limited and narrow in his understanding and, therefore, dangerous because of his power.

Nonetheless, RIP Tim.

Posted at June 15, 2008 3:41 AM in response to RIP Mr. Russert but I'm still pissed

Rumsfeld, under oath, in front of the Congress.

Any questions? I didn't think so.

Posted at June 5, 2008 8:25 PM in response to Sen. Wyden: Rumsfeld Should Be Held Accountable

After the international war crimes trials are over and all of the scum-sucking maggots of the Bush Administration are either in jail or unable to travel without risking capture and imprisonment (hopefully in a prison that at least comes close to Gitmo in human rights violations), there will inevitably be movies made looking back on this time.

I can see these characters portrayed like B-movie, Nazi villains - especially the woman noted above who bends an inmates thumbs back while grabbing his balls. This is so B-movie Nazi. I can't wait to see who they get to play these parts. I'm guessing some actors and actresses can have a whole career doing these parts as these movies proliferate like WWll movies. I can hear the crowds hissing as the U.S. villians appear on screen wearing their tight, black-leather S@M wear with snarling attack dogs.

And (sigh), this is America - what's left of it.

Posted at May 21, 2008 5:47 PM in response to Today's Must Read

There's so much wrong in this case that it's hard to know where to begin.

The judge, Mark Fuller, who oversaw the Siegleman case is a good place to dig. The conflict of interests were obvious as was the highly unusual shackeling and failure to allow Siegleman to post bail when Siegleman was found guilty. Ditto the fact that Siegleman can't appeal until he gets the court transcripts and Fuller refuses to release the transcripts. (And the Justice Department is doing what as this is happening???)

For what it's worth, here's a link to more background on Fuller that looks like tin-hat-wearing conspiracy nut stuff but EVERYTHING to do with this case stinks to high heaven so this could be true as well: http://www.insider-magazine.com/MarkFullerStory.html

And what's up with 60 Minutes not mentioning the egregious "irregularities" of the election the Republicans seem to have stolen with impunity from Siegelman in '02?? Isn't that relevant? Ditto the Jack Abramoff and Ralph Reed connections and the reports of the burning of Jill Simpson's house and that she was run off the road as well as a breakin of Siegleman's house and the ransacking of his lawyer's office.

And, why air a premier investigative piece during the freaking ACADEMY AWARDS!!?? WTF??

Posted at February 26, 2008 6:31 PM in response to Siegelman's Attorneys to Call for Special Counsel in Wake of 60 Minutes Report

I observed in the past few weeks the same thing John did - the "internalization" by people in the Clinton's own party of the hatred against them bought and paid for by the "vast, right-wing conspiracy". Many are understandably tired of the negativity that follows in their wake but seem to forget that much of it is the result of an effective propoganda campaign that was ginned up by big money from Richard Mellon Scaife - the eccentric gazillionaire that paid for a full-time disinformation campaign that eventually led to Clinton's impeachment. Obama benefits by being the un-Clinton and his never-ending fount of positive rhetoric doesn't hurt. He's become the great black hope.

That being said, Hillary - and Bill as well - have done their part to allienate many in their own party by their careful, calculated, conservative slant on some issues. But I don't think she deserves the level of animosity that she gets.

As a footnote, Scaife is currently in divorce proceeding for . . . (drum roll, please) . . CHEATING ON HIS WIFE. You got to love the irony. Oh yeah, and he had lunch with Bill Clinton a few months back and came away charmed and singing his praises. Go figure.

Posted at February 13, 2008 9:15 AM in response to Hating Hillary:We've Become What We Detested

Un FREAKING believable!! T

he President get's to assert executive priviledge and there is no recourse. He says it's so and that's it. So, no subpoena is enforceable if the President doesn't want it to be. This is what it has come to with this mother fucking country thanks to people like Bush and Mukasey. God, it's past time for a revolution. Fuck Bush and the horse he rode in on!!

Posted at February 7, 2008 8:50 PM in response to Mukasey: No, I Will Not Enforce Citations for Contempt of Congress