Saint McCain's Got Cute Friends... Well Some People Think Katie Couric is Cute.

Here is the video that should prove to McCain that somebody does love him. Who else would show the level of care it takes to throw out the only news worthy part of the interview. You know the part where McCain shows how little he understands about the Iraq War (his supposed strong point), and erases his actual answer with his answer to another question. Got that... McCain totally screwed up and pretty much lets us know how ignorant he is on this war thingy, and CBS replaces his real answer to the question with an answer to another question. Yes, well how nice. How nice of CBS for covering such a major gaffe. Otherwise I may have been informed, and well who the hell wants that.

Obama Better Just Stay In Europe...

Because McCain's got a new ad and, well its over. We will go back and look at this couple of minutes and remember how McCain rose like a Phoenix from the ashes to give Bush a 3rd term. Hello Canada.



H/T Wonkette

Why I Like Rachel Maddow...

Its all good, but getting to minute 2:08 was a treat.

U.S. Allowed Chinese to Interrogate and Abuse Gitmo Prisoner

What have we allowed these clowns to do in our name. How many steps down have these last 8 years taken us. Torture the lowest of all Family Values.

read more | digg story

On Appeasement...

Why Is Gasoline So Expensive?

The rise in the price of oil in recent years involves four components:

— The effects of supply and demand. Exxon Mobil senior vice president Stephen Simon testified the supply-demand equilibrium is at “somewhere around $50-55 a barrel” — about half the current price.

– The weaker dollar. Since 2001, “the dollar has lost 45% of its value” against the euro. In 2003 one gallon of gas in the U.S. cost $1.50 and 1.50 Euro. Today’s $3.60 gallon of gas costs only 2.25 Euro.

– Geopolitical risk. Since 2003, the United States has been committed to a three-trillion-dollar war in Iraq, the heart of the turbulent oil-producing world. Furthermore, the burning of oil is continuing to increase global warming, “one of the greatest national security challenges ever faced.”

– Speculation. “Investors have looked to commodities not only as a hedge against inflation but as a hedge against the tumbling greenback.

H/T Think Progres's Wonk Room.

see also Energy Information Administration

Choosing War: The Decision to Invade Iraq and Its Aftermath

New report from Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University. Here is a bit from the author. I guess the War in Iraq is a perfect representation of the abilities of the Worst President Ever.

About the Author Dr. Joseph J. Collins has been Professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College since 2004. Prior to this assignment, he served for 3 years as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Stability Operations. From 1998 to 2001, Dr. Collins was a Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where he researched economic sanctions, national security policy, and homeland security. In 1998, after nearly 28 years of military service, Dr. Collins retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel. His many publications include books and articles on war in Afghanistan, Operation Desert Storm, military culture, defense transformation, homeland defense, and the way ahead in Iraq.
Dr. Collins holds a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University and two master’s degrees and a doctorate in political science from Columbia University. In 2004, he was awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, its highest civilian award.

"A Solitary War: A Diplomat's Chronicle of the Iraq War and Its Lessons"

Fom the Washinton Post...

The rough-and-tumble diplomatic strategy has generated lasting "bitterness" and "deep mistrust" in Washington's relations with allies in Europe, Latin America and elsewhere, wrote Heraldo Muñoz, Chile's ambassador to the United Nations, in his book "A Solitary War: A Diplomat's Chronicle of the Iraq War and Its Lessons," set for publication next month.

Don't Piss Jimmy Off

I Got What America Needs Right Here

Sometimes I'm a little stupid, maybe, a little slow in the head, so I'm wondering if you can help me get something straight....

This I Want To Hear... Why Is So Much Money Missing?

It's official: embattled State Department Inspector General Howard "Cookie" Krongard will finally testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday.

Krongard, for the uninitiated, is the IG voted most likely to... not investigate waste, fraud and abuse. In September, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), the oversight committee chairman, accused him of scuttling investigations into corruption in State activities and contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Matters got worse when Krongard's subordinates told Waxman that his aides threatened retaliation against them for going public. Condoleezza Rice promised that Krongard would answer the charges. The FBI got involved. It's a whole to-do.

By Spencer Ackerman - November 12, 2007, 11:56AM

Where is our money! This is the guy who was supposed to look after us. C-SPAN will have it.

H/T to the Muckraker.

Let Me Tell You Something About The Irish... or how to interview Bush

They can interview better than American reporters...

H/T to Agitprop

Col. Steven A. Boylan, the Public Affairs Officer and Fire Pants Wearer

A bizarre, unsolicited e-mail from Gen. Petraeus' spokesman

THIS IS A GREAT STORY!!! It starts here, then here. (just click thru the ad)

Man this one is good H/T to Glenn Greenwald.

Well Thank You So Much Mr. Greenspan

...I can only imagine the courage it took to come out with your conclusion that the Iraq War is about oil. Yes the way you kept your opinions secret until its too late is classic. Here are the the words from his new book:

"I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil."

Thanks for the heads up... heck of a job Greenie.

Its Cheney's World We Just Live In It... Pt. II

To paraphrase Saint McCain... "bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran". Yes Cheney wants to bomb Iran for some reason. The easy thing to say is that Iranis are going into Iraq and attacking our soldiers.

Well here's a bit of facts that show how Iran is involved:

Now you might say:
"Dune you are sooo wrong, Iran is not even on that chart"

...you may even point out that according to your graph reading skills Saudi Arabia is definitely spanking Iran in their efforts to give credence to Dick "Shooter" Cheney's blood lust.

Yes you may say that...

...and then you would remind me how 28 of the 19 terrorists that hit the towers were from Saudi Arabia and that 0 of the 19 were from Iraq.

This is where I would stop you and question your patriotism and call you a coward cut and runner who hates Jesus, and I would win the debate.

Then without another thought I would passively allow this administration run by people who did their best to not serve in the armed forces brake our armed forces over a country that never attacked us.

One last thing: What the hell Italy? I'm boycotting the Olive Garden for 2 weeks. HospItaliano my ass, why is your name in that chart. I thought you were part of the mighty coalition.

On Iraq... The Contractors

Military officials estimate that 125,000 contractors are working in the country, nearly the number of American troops. The figures on those who carry guns vary widely, depending on the source, but seem to settle on about 20,000. As of June 30, government figures show, 1,001 contractors had died in Iraq since the start of the war.

Study: Iraqis May Experience Sadness When Friends, Relatives Die

I like The Onion, it is consistently funny. But this piece is BRUTAL.

Some of the ouch:

Iraqis have often been observed weeping and wailing in apparent anguish, but the study offers evidence indicating this may not be exclusively an outward expression of anger or a desire for revenge. It also provocatively suggests that this grief can possess an American-like personal quality, and is not simply a tribal lamentation ritual.

...and

"We are, in truth, still a long way from determining if Iraqis are exhibiting actual, U.S.-grade sadness," Mayo Clinic neuropsychologist Norman Blum said. "At present, we see no reason for the popular press to report on Iraqi emotions as if they are real."

...it feels like even the clowns are disgusted with us and they can barely conceal their contempt.

Why are we in Iraq?

Live Blogging the Filibuster

It is so telling how Lieberman always has to qualify his statements by saying "...and these are not the (Bush/Cheney)administrations numbers..."
Lieberman Loves War. Ok, thats not fair. Lieberman Loves THIS War... then why does he look so down? so droopy?

Deeper Moats Make Better Neighbors

Yes our grand experiment in Irag now requires that MOATS be built to protect the citizens. F'ing MOATS!!! Freedom is on the march alright.
I wonder if Cheney's Halliburton has a moat division? Blackwater can provide the sharks with laser beams attached to their heads.
Go read it for yourself at the McClatchy Newspapers website.

What is up with this?!?

Maybe Bush does not have authority to continue this war.

"During his questioning of Gates, Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) noted that the authorization listed two purposes for the use of force: 1) to defend the United States against Saddam Hussein and 2) enforce U.N. resolutions against Hussein’s government. Byrd asked Gates, since Hussein’s government no longer exists, “do you agree that this authorization no longer applies to the ongoing conflict in Iraq?”"

Thanks Think Progress

What is 1,714,285,714 (an IF THEN riddle)

If 500 billion dollars for the war in Iraq so far,

and 350 million Americans,

of which 1.2 million live in San Antonio,

Then San Antonio's share of the war is 1,714,285,714 dollars.

...that's 1.7 BILLION!!!

Hear that San Antonio, please call your elected representatives and tell them how happy you are that they can be trusted with our money. Thank you Mr. Cornyn, thank you Mrs. Hutchinson. 1-800-459-1887 free call to congress, just ask for your Senator or Representative.

Now that's what I call a Death Tax.