buzz twang

While President Bush “…asserted executive privilege Thursday and rejected lawmakers’ demands for documents that could shed light on the firings of federal prosecutors…” at the same time Vice-President Cheney is apparently “backing away from the claim” that his office isn’t part of the Executive Branch and is in essence a “fourth branch of government” even though the VP has claimed use of Executive privilege in the past.

Not even a good fiction writer could come up with stuff like this…

Go read the entire thing. Good catch.

How much denial can an ideological conservative minded victim stand? Ponder the following quote from John Hawkins of Right Wing News, as he laments the plight of his beloved GOP and the abysmal approval poll numbers of the currently Democratically controlled Congress:

Yet, despite all these woes, the voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on 10 out of 10 “key issues” that Rasmussen tracks — which raises an interesting question — how bad do the Republicans have to be to be keep losing to the Democrats?

It’s like going on Jeopardy and being crushed by Paris Hilton. It’s like getting beaten up by Woody Allen. But, the Republicans are still somehow managing to be soundly defeated politically by the worst, most incompetent, least politically astute group of morons to ever reign on Capitol Hill.

And, yet… ideologues such as John still continue to support their GOP leaders.

Mull on that a moment. And, know that John and his brethren aren’t mulling on the reality, but on their denial of reality which is frightenly simple: The GOP leadership failed us to such an alarming degree on a myriad of issues that they have become a joke. Yet, the faithful trudge on. Why? Because they are unable to embrace anything beyond their myopic world view. Their hatred for anything beyond is all they know. And, what is one to do but hold onto the sinking ship as it goes down? Listen to those who told you the ship wasn’t sea worthy to begin with? Ha! That would be weak!

Drowning in a shallow pool of your own making. Brilliant.

Talking Heads.

Not only is Digby a great writer, she can speak the speak…

From The Campaign for America’s Future / Take Back America. (c/o Main Street USA via Cursor)

File under ‘obvious” but worth noting…

Over at Liberal Oasis, Bill Scher takes notice of the recent approval polls for President Bush and Congress ,which are abysmally low, as strong indicators of the complete lack of leadership in the US government. Seems NYC Michael Bloomberg agrees.

It’s been a long time coming. Now that the old news that Congress eschewed its responsibility in regard to legislative oversight in the run up to the Iraq War is “new” news once again, perhaps people will begin to realize that the reason that Iraq, which the Conservatives swore they were invading in order to save it from Hussein, is now at the brink of total collapse is because of very specific reasons, and not just the folly of events or bad luck.

Personally, it’s been like watching a three legged dog try to sit down without falling over and never quite realizing that it can’t if it doesn’t relearn what it has learned.

Charles Gibson shits where he eats, but sometimes you gotta clear the room:

[D]on’t disparage the mainstream media. The editor of your hometown newspaper or the producers of network newscasts don’t have 30 or 40 years of experience for nothing. When you see a news organization get fixated on non-stop coverage of Paris Hilton, or Anna Nicole Smith, or Michael Jackson, go elsewhere.

When an announcer says, “It’s a report you have to see,” you probably don’t. When an anchor says, “shocking details,” they probably aren’t. When a reporter claims his news is “fair and balanced,” it probably isn’t. And, when politicians say, “I’m going to level with you,” they probably won’t.

This reminds me of the time in first grade when the nice police officer came to visit us and teach us about how we should beware of strangers with candy. We live in a world of information perverts as well. Beware of strangers with falafel.

Soren Kierkegaard wrote that truth can not be found in a crowd. (The actual quote was “untruth is the crowd” as I recall.) An interesting article at Cosmos asks the question and looks at the community info site. A commenter below the article notes that perhaps requiring editor to a Wiki to use their real names and supply a valid email address is a positive step towards establishing a bit of credibility to Wikipedia. I have to agree. Being one of many in a crowd allows for nonsnese. But, having to stand by your words… that’s something else entirely.

Via Avedon from Atrios come some pertinent words that everyone should read:

People can not understand how great armed forces, like the U.S.army and marines, can not help restoring electricity, water not even cell phones so people can cooperate with the authorities at least.

Please don’t let the people remember your country in this way; making cities full with cemeteries more than it is already (some people in Fallujah buried their sons in their home gardens in 2004).

It is unfair to my people in Fallujah. It is unfair thing to do to the mothers of the soldiers who thought that they are sending their beloved sons to help millions of Iraqis. It is unfair thing to do to the good American citizens that I knew and met.

Please help not to change the name of Fallujah to the city of cemeteries.

Nuff said.

You think these two items are connected?

The Times Picayune reports that FEMA may have actually authorized insurance companies to overbill:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency may have told the insurance industry that it was OK to load up damages on the taxpayer-funded flood program while shorting people on their wind damage payments.

In the now controversial Sept. 21, 2005 memo explaining the expedited flood adjustment procedures that were developed in consultation with private insurance companies, flood program director David Maurstad said:

“FEMA will not seek reimbursement from the company when a subsequent review identifies overpayments resulting from the company’s proper use of FEMA depth data and a reasonable method of developing square foot value in concluding claims.”

Not “if” a subsequent review identifies overpayments, but “when” a subsequent review identifies overpayments.

Keep in mind, this is taxpayer money that is being spent.

Then comes this from the Sun-Herald:

The cash-strapped city of New Orleans is turning to foreign countries for help to rebuild as federal hurricane-recovery dollars remain slow to flow.

Kenya Smith, director of intergovernmental relations for Mayor Ray Nagin, said city leaders are talking with more than five countries. He wouldn’t identify the countries, saying discussions were in the early stages. But he said the city is “very serious” about pursuing foreign help.

“Of course, we would love to have all the resources we need from federal and state partners, but we’re comfortable now in having to be creative,” Smith said. He did not know if the city would have to overcome any obstacles if it got firm pledges for aid, but “we want to make sure we’re leaving no options unexplored.”

For months Nagin has complained bureaucracy is choking the flow of much-needed federal aid dollars to New Orleans – slowing the city’s recovery. As of June 8, the city said it had received just over half of the $320 million FEMA has obligated for rebuilding city infrastructure and emergency response-related costs. The city has estimated its damage at far more than that – at least $1 billion. And that doesn’t include other improvements – such as raised neighborhoods – meant to help build the stronger city promoted by Nagin and his recovery director.

Now of course, I’m all for any and all aid – foreign or domestic – to get the job done and get New Orleans back on track. But, that said, it’s interesting that the federal money is a mess and not flowing and the need to go for foreign aid has become required.

Do the math.

I think we are in fact on our way to getting on top of the whole Katrina exercise.” –Vice President Dick Cheney, Sept. 10, 2005

“I believe the town where I used to come – from Houston, Texas, to enjoy myself, occasionally too much – will be that very same town, that it will be a better place to come to.” –President Bush, on the tarmac at the New Orleans airport, Sept. 2, 2005 (Source)

Everyone has been weighing in on the Soproano’s. My take on the Soprano’s finale: Tony got whacked by the guy who walked into the bathroom. It was a bit of an homage to the Michael Corleone scene in The first Godfather movie. David Chase is a filmmaker, and as he said, everything is there if you look. All scenes mean something. There’s no reason to focus on a total unknown character entering, sitting down, looking around, and then going to the bathroom, unless it means something. Tony got whacked.

But, at least he wasn’t alone.

What I see in NYC. Athena, 200 BC