January 26, 2008
Well, that's about that
.
Dennis Kucinich officially dropped out of the presidential race today. While that death knell reverberates through my dark and cynical heart I can still muster up enough cheer to say, "Good fight, mate. Don't let the bastards keep you down."
The news pieces on DK's decision ranged from snide hackery to a somewhat respectful story by the AP's Joe Milicia.
As I've said before, I never was so pie-eyed about the congressman to believe he was going to be elected president, but as the candidate who matched my views ONE HUNDRED PERCENT how could I not support him? I had hopes of him gaining enough delegates to get a plum spot at the convention podium (would the cameras be on, even?), but things conspired heavily against that, such as the corporate debate stonewalling, the death of his youngest brother and vultures circling over his seat in Congress.
I know we have not heard the last from this man, in fact I think he's got bigger fish to fry than being president. A man of such conviction and character, who has the guts to make unpopular and politically costly stands when he knows he's right (most notably his tenure as Cleveland's mayor), cannot be kept down.
I don't know where this puts my vote right now. I assume DK is on the Georgia ballot and if so I'll mark him since I kinda paid for that honor already. I know that I declared just a few posts back that I'm done with the Democratic Party and won't vote for their nominee, but it's a long road to November and there's no telling how the Republicans are going to turd blossom between now and then. I can say that thanks to the inimitable Kelso preaching hard from his jungle outpost, I will certainly not cast a vote for B.O. I don't think H.R.C. would be a bad president but I feel that her presence in the White House would bring so much derision that she'd have a hard time accomplishing the things that make a good president. Edwards has gone all populist, mostly as a campaign strategy (though he does have the rural my-daddy-worked-in-a-factory cred), plus DK expressed reservations about the former senator's hedge fund ties. And right now I'm pretty cheesed with all of them for not saying a damn thing about Dennis' exclusion from the debates (why I'd expect otherwise I'm not sure).
Anyway, best of the best wishes to you, sir, especially getting back to Congress. Hundreds of thousands of Americans look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Dennis Kucinich officially dropped out of the presidential race today. While that death knell reverberates through my dark and cynical heart I can still muster up enough cheer to say, "Good fight, mate. Don't let the bastards keep you down."
The news pieces on DK's decision ranged from snide hackery to a somewhat respectful story by the AP's Joe Milicia.
As I've said before, I never was so pie-eyed about the congressman to believe he was going to be elected president, but as the candidate who matched my views ONE HUNDRED PERCENT how could I not support him? I had hopes of him gaining enough delegates to get a plum spot at the convention podium (would the cameras be on, even?), but things conspired heavily against that, such as the corporate debate stonewalling, the death of his youngest brother and vultures circling over his seat in Congress.
I know we have not heard the last from this man, in fact I think he's got bigger fish to fry than being president. A man of such conviction and character, who has the guts to make unpopular and politically costly stands when he knows he's right (most notably his tenure as Cleveland's mayor), cannot be kept down.
I don't know where this puts my vote right now. I assume DK is on the Georgia ballot and if so I'll mark him since I kinda paid for that honor already. I know that I declared just a few posts back that I'm done with the Democratic Party and won't vote for their nominee, but it's a long road to November and there's no telling how the Republicans are going to turd blossom between now and then. I can say that thanks to the inimitable Kelso preaching hard from his jungle outpost, I will certainly not cast a vote for B.O. I don't think H.R.C. would be a bad president but I feel that her presence in the White House would bring so much derision that she'd have a hard time accomplishing the things that make a good president. Edwards has gone all populist, mostly as a campaign strategy (though he does have the rural my-daddy-worked-in-a-factory cred), plus DK expressed reservations about the former senator's hedge fund ties. And right now I'm pretty cheesed with all of them for not saying a damn thing about Dennis' exclusion from the debates (why I'd expect otherwise I'm not sure).
Anyway, best of the best wishes to you, sir, especially getting back to Congress. Hundreds of thousands of Americans look forward to hearing from you again soon.
January 23, 2008
File under "No Shit?"
.
Study: Bush, aides made 935 false statements in run-up to war
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush and his top aides publicly made 935 false statements about the security risk posed by Iraq in the two years following September 11, 2001, according to a study released Tuesday by two nonprofit journalism groups...
... The overview of the study also calls the media to task, saying most media outlets didn't do enough to investigate the claims.
Read the full story...
P.S. - And Clinton got a blowjob
.
Study: Bush, aides made 935 false statements in run-up to warWASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush and his top aides publicly made 935 false statements about the security risk posed by Iraq in the two years following September 11, 2001, according to a study released Tuesday by two nonprofit journalism groups...
... The overview of the study also calls the media to task, saying most media outlets didn't do enough to investigate the claims.
Read the full story...
P.S. - And Clinton got a blowjob
.
Labels: Bush, Lies and Lying Liars, nuff said
January 15, 2008
DK gets ripped in Sin City
.
Having checked news reports into this evening I tuned in to MSNBC expecting to see four candidates at the Las Vegas debate. But alas, at the wire:
What's up with this same old MSM bullshit? In spite of the public overwhelmingly wanting him in the 2000 debates they excluded Ralph Nader in similar fashion. How dichotomous that the Supreme Court can rule that campaign contributions are a form of protected free speech but the two dominant political parties can conspire with the dominant corporatist media to shut out a dissenting voice from the free exchange of ideas?
Legal schematics aside, this is once again cowardice of the highest order on the part of the mainstream media and the Democratic Party as well. I for one am through with them. I will not vote for their nominee. They are caterers of a bland buffet of mashed potatoes with chicken gravy, cauliflower and navy beans. This country gets what it deserves for gorging at the Beltway sheep trough.
Go Air Obama ! We need change ! You got two fives?
Go Mike Huckabee ! May Earth live another 6,000 years !
Having checked news reports into this evening I tuned in to MSNBC expecting to see four candidates at the Las Vegas debate. But alas, at the wire:
Nevada Supreme Court Rules
In Kucinich Debate Dispute
Associated Press
January 15, 2008 8:45 p.m.
LAS VEGAS -- A lower court order that Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich be included in a MSNBC candidate debate Tuesday was tossed out a few hours before the debate by the Nevada Supreme Court.
Lawyers for NBC Universal Inc. had asked the high court to overturn the lower court order that the cable TV news network include the Ohio congressman or pull the plug on broadcasting the debate Tuesday night with Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards.
The Supreme Court's unanimous order said that blocking the debate unless Mr. Kucinich got to participate would be "an unconstitutional prior restraint" on the news network's First Amendment rights.
Justices also said the lower court exceeded its jurisdiction by ordering Mr. Kucinich's participation even though "he first requested and was denied relief" from the Federal Communications Commission.
"It's a matter of being on stage and answering questions. That's the issue," lawyer Bill McGaha argued for Mr. Kucinich during a hearing before four justices in Las Vegas. Three other justices participated by closed-circuit video conference from Carson City.
Donald Campbell, a Las Vegas lawyer representing NBC Universal, accused Mr. Kucinich of trying to make a jurisdictional "end run" around the FCC and federal courts by suing in Nevada state court to be added to the debate.
FCC broadcast rules do not apply to cable TV networks, Mr. Campbell said, adding that forcing MSNBC to add Mr. Kucinich or not broadcast the debate amounted to prior restraint and would be a "clear and unequivocal" violation in First Amendment press freedom.
"Mr. Kucinich's claim .. undermines the wide journalistic freedoms enjoyed by news organizations under the First Amendment," Mr. Campbell said in his appeal.
What's up with this same old MSM bullshit? In spite of the public overwhelmingly wanting him in the 2000 debates they excluded Ralph Nader in similar fashion. How dichotomous that the Supreme Court can rule that campaign contributions are a form of protected free speech but the two dominant political parties can conspire with the dominant corporatist media to shut out a dissenting voice from the free exchange of ideas?
Legal schematics aside, this is once again cowardice of the highest order on the part of the mainstream media and the Democratic Party as well. I for one am through with them. I will not vote for their nominee. They are caterers of a bland buffet of mashed potatoes with chicken gravy, cauliflower and navy beans. This country gets what it deserves for gorging at the Beltway sheep trough.
Go Air Obama ! We need change ! You got two fives?
Go Mike Huckabee ! May Earth live another 6,000 years !
Labels: Elect Shit Sandwich, Vote for Giant Douche
January 14, 2008
The Monthly Max
.
This month: The Great White North
Somebody loves me - it's Auntie Julie !
There are two doggies here, too !
We LOVE doggies!
Break a little sweat at the gym...
...and then a nice sink bath.
My first outdoor sports thrill
And the agony of the faceplant.
Labels: doggies, family, frolic, fun, Max, photography
January 13, 2008
That's 212-664-4444
.
UPDATE BELOW
Well it wouldn't be an election year and this wouldn't be my blog if I couldn't start things off on the left foot with a good rant and a plea for support. I'm sorry if I'm bouggin' ya (I don't mean to boug ya) but there's this thing that's got me a bit steamed, and I think it's important enough to post and try to roust up some help here at 2:00 a.m. (and I've only had three beers, okay?). It will only take a few minutes of your time if you are so inclined to read/act.
Here's a pared-down version of a letter I got from the Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign (obviously I'm a supporter, but you don't even have to be a Democrat to see the validity in this):
Okay, a little more background for those who may need some convincing.
In an email to the Kucinich campaign on Wednesday, January 9, Democratic Party debates consultant Jenny Backus wrote:
NBC also sent a congratulatory note and an invitation to Rep. Kucinich to participate in the debate in Las Vegas, but less than 44 hours later the network notified the campaign that it was changing the announced criteria, rescinding its invitation, and excluding Kucinich from the debate.
NBC Political Director Chuck Todd notified the Kucinich campaign that, although he had met the qualification criteria publicly announced on December 28, the network was “re-doing” the criteria, excluding Kucinich, and planning to invite only Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and former senator John Edwards. This marks the third time since the Iowa Caucuses that Kucinich has been excluded from a national debate for spurious, if any, reasons.
The criteria announced last month included a fourth-place or better showing in a national poll. The USA/Gallup poll earlier this month showed Kucinich in fourth place among the Democratic contenders. In the recent ABC/Facebook sponsored New Hampshire debate from which he was excluded, Kucinich, according to Facebook’s own figures, ranked fourth in popularity among Facebook members, AHEAD of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who participated in that event but who has since dropped out of the campaign. By the way, Dennis Kucinich has won more than a dozen major on-line polls and post-debate surveys, including Democracy for America, Independent Voters of America AND one conducted by ABC News. He also scored high if not on top of the exit polls of the debates in which he has participated.
The Kucinich campaign filed an emergency complaint with the Federal Communications Commission last week because of ABC’s decision to exclude the candidate from a nationally televised debate, and is considering legal action to address “the blatant disregard of the public interest in silencing public debate that dissents with the views of NBC, its parent company GE, and all of the military contractors and their candidate-funding corporate interests. Corporate control of the media is one issue. Corporate media control of the information that is allowed to reach American citizens is much more dangerous, much more sinister, and much more un-American.”
“When ‘big media’ exert their unbridled control over what Americans can see, hear, and read, then the Constitutional power and right of the citizens to vote is being vetoed by multi-billion dollar corporations that want the votes to go their way,” the Kucinich campaign said.
Folks, I'm not voting for DK because I think he has a chance, I'm doing it because I think his voice needs to be heard (quite specifically so that he could earn some delegates to the Democratic National Convention and be allowed to speak and influence the party platform). To exclude dark horse candidates like Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul from debates is to say to the American people, "Here's your monologue, folks, enjoy the show."
What is NBC/GE, afraid of? All I am asking is for the opportunity to have the person who represents the thoughts and feelings of a significant portion of our citizenry be able to share his views with the nation. Is that just too inconvenient for NBC and the front runners in this election? Could it be because Kucinich is the only remaining Democratic Presidential candidate who voted against the original Iraq War authorization in 2002 AND every war-funding measure since; voted against the so-called Patriot Act; advocates a national, not-for-profit health system that covers all Americans; has called for the repeal of NAFTA and withdrawal from the WTO?
Probably, but if you please, call NBC/MSNBC at 212 664-4444 and ask for the Comment Line or email them at letters@msnbc.com to tell them you don't think it's in the interest of democracy to exclude a U.S. Congressmen who has put forth a valid effort in the presidential campaign to be excluded from national televised debates. Feel free to forward this to anyone who may be interested and by all means encourage a friend or three to contact NBC as well.
Thanks,
Tim the crazy politico
THIS JUST IN:
Judge says MSNBC debate must include Kucinich
Andrew Malcolm of the Los Angeles Times:
A judge in Nevada has just ordered MSNBC to include Rep. Dennis
Kucinich in Tuesday's Democratic Party presidential debate in
Las Vegas or he will cancel the forum.
Senior Clark County District Court Judge Charles Thompson vowed
to issue an injunction halting the nationally televised debate
if MSNBC failed to comply. Kucinich had filed a lawsuit seeking
to be included just this morning.
The judge ruled it was a matter of fairness and Nevada voters
would benefit from hearing from more than just Hillary Clinton,
John Edwards and Barack Obama. Kucinich had been invited to
participate in the 6 p.m. Pacific debate Tuesday, but that
invitation was rescinded last week ... So set up a fourth
podium.
RIGHTEOUS ! ! But I would not be surprised if corporate sponsors pressure MSNBC to let the judge cancel the debate in order to give their lawyers time to file appeals that would keep DK out.
UPDATE BELOW
Well it wouldn't be an election year and this wouldn't be my blog if I couldn't start things off on the left foot with a good rant and a plea for support. I'm sorry if I'm bouggin' ya (I don't mean to boug ya) but there's this thing that's got me a bit steamed, and I think it's important enough to post and try to roust up some help here at 2:00 a.m. (and I've only had three beers, okay?). It will only take a few minutes of your time if you are so inclined to read/act.
Here's a pared-down version of a letter I got from the Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign (obviously I'm a supporter, but you don't even have to be a Democrat to see the validity in this):
Dear Friends,
Once again, America is faced with questions about the rights of Americans to decide for themselves who they should be allowed to vote for in this crucial Presidential election. In Nevada, it's a question of whether the GE-owned NBC television network should have the power to decide who your choices should be for President.
The decision by NBC to exclude Dennis from next week's Presidential debate - even though he met the criteria - is outrageous. NBC and MSNBC have made a corporate decision to exclude the one and only voice who represents you and those things that the Democratic Party should stand for. If you are as outraged as we are, please call NBC/MSNBC at 212 664-4444 and ask for the Comment Line or email them at letters@msnbc.com
PLEASE share this message with everyone you know so that the voice of the people will be heard.
Strength through Peace,
The Kucinich Campaign
Okay, a little more background for those who may need some convincing.
In an email to the Kucinich campaign on Wednesday, January 9, Democratic Party debates consultant Jenny Backus wrote:
“Now that New Hampshire is over, we are on to Nevada and our Presidential Debate on Tuesday January 15. This letter serves as an official invitation for your candidate to participate in the Nevada Presidential Debate at Cashman Theatre in downtown Las Vegas. You have met the criteria set by NBC and the Debate.”
NBC also sent a congratulatory note and an invitation to Rep. Kucinich to participate in the debate in Las Vegas, but less than 44 hours later the network notified the campaign that it was changing the announced criteria, rescinding its invitation, and excluding Kucinich from the debate.
NBC Political Director Chuck Todd notified the Kucinich campaign that, although he had met the qualification criteria publicly announced on December 28, the network was “re-doing” the criteria, excluding Kucinich, and planning to invite only Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and former senator John Edwards. This marks the third time since the Iowa Caucuses that Kucinich has been excluded from a national debate for spurious, if any, reasons.
The criteria announced last month included a fourth-place or better showing in a national poll. The USA/Gallup poll earlier this month showed Kucinich in fourth place among the Democratic contenders. In the recent ABC/Facebook sponsored New Hampshire debate from which he was excluded, Kucinich, according to Facebook’s own figures, ranked fourth in popularity among Facebook members, AHEAD of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who participated in that event but who has since dropped out of the campaign. By the way, Dennis Kucinich has won more than a dozen major on-line polls and post-debate surveys, including Democracy for America, Independent Voters of America AND one conducted by ABC News. He also scored high if not on top of the exit polls of the debates in which he has participated.
The Kucinich campaign filed an emergency complaint with the Federal Communications Commission last week because of ABC’s decision to exclude the candidate from a nationally televised debate, and is considering legal action to address “the blatant disregard of the public interest in silencing public debate that dissents with the views of NBC, its parent company GE, and all of the military contractors and their candidate-funding corporate interests. Corporate control of the media is one issue. Corporate media control of the information that is allowed to reach American citizens is much more dangerous, much more sinister, and much more un-American.”
“When ‘big media’ exert their unbridled control over what Americans can see, hear, and read, then the Constitutional power and right of the citizens to vote is being vetoed by multi-billion dollar corporations that want the votes to go their way,” the Kucinich campaign said.
Folks, I'm not voting for DK because I think he has a chance, I'm doing it because I think his voice needs to be heard (quite specifically so that he could earn some delegates to the Democratic National Convention and be allowed to speak and influence the party platform). To exclude dark horse candidates like Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul from debates is to say to the American people, "Here's your monologue, folks, enjoy the show."
What is NBC/GE, afraid of? All I am asking is for the opportunity to have the person who represents the thoughts and feelings of a significant portion of our citizenry be able to share his views with the nation. Is that just too inconvenient for NBC and the front runners in this election? Could it be because Kucinich is the only remaining Democratic Presidential candidate who voted against the original Iraq War authorization in 2002 AND every war-funding measure since; voted against the so-called Patriot Act; advocates a national, not-for-profit health system that covers all Americans; has called for the repeal of NAFTA and withdrawal from the WTO?
Probably, but if you please, call NBC/MSNBC at 212 664-4444 and ask for the Comment Line or email them at letters@msnbc.com to tell them you don't think it's in the interest of democracy to exclude a U.S. Congressmen who has put forth a valid effort in the presidential campaign to be excluded from national televised debates. Feel free to forward this to anyone who may be interested and by all means encourage a friend or three to contact NBC as well.
Thanks,
Tim the crazy politico
THIS JUST IN:
Judge says MSNBC debate must include Kucinich
Andrew Malcolm of the Los Angeles Times:
A judge in Nevada has just ordered MSNBC to include Rep. Dennis
Kucinich in Tuesday's Democratic Party presidential debate in
Las Vegas or he will cancel the forum.
Senior Clark County District Court Judge Charles Thompson vowed
to issue an injunction halting the nationally televised debate
if MSNBC failed to comply. Kucinich had filed a lawsuit seeking
to be included just this morning.
The judge ruled it was a matter of fairness and Nevada voters
would benefit from hearing from more than just Hillary Clinton,
John Edwards and Barack Obama. Kucinich had been invited to
participate in the 6 p.m. Pacific debate Tuesday, but that
invitation was rescinded last week ... So set up a fourth
podium.
RIGHTEOUS ! ! But I would not be surprised if corporate sponsors pressure MSNBC to let the judge cancel the debate in order to give their lawyers time to file appeals that would keep DK out.
Labels: couldn't we just TRY a hardcore lefty for four years folks?, Kucinich, media, politix, protest, terms of enragement
January 09, 2008
Screw tradition
.
Plans to keep the previous holiday decorative post up until March have been cancelled. Just your luck, neighbor.
UPDATE - By request, something to tide you over until the Monthly Max (in apx. 2 days):
.
Plans to keep the previous holiday decorative post up until March have been cancelled. Just your luck, neighbor.
UPDATE - By request, something to tide you over until the Monthly Max (in apx. 2 days):
.
