Thursday, June 30, 2005
Durbin is sorry, but what about Rangel?
Only eight days before Durbin's remarks, Rangel, on New York City's WWRL radio, attacked Bush for the "fraudulent" case for his War in Iraq: "It's the biggest fraud ever committed on the people of this country. This is just as bad as six million Jews being killed [emphasis added]. The whole world knew it and they were quiet about it, because it wasn't their ox that was being gored."
When the host asked Rangel to clarify, the congressman said, "I am saying that people's silence when they know terrible things are happening is the same thing as the Holocaust, where everyone would have me believe that no one knew those Jews were killed over there."
Larry Elder: The Anti-Defamation League demanded an apology. But where are the screaming editorials or the outrage from the pundit class? You see, Democrats like black attack dogs such as Rangel. They help to keep the black electorate angry and hostile toward Republicans, the better to ensure their 90 percent monolithic black Democratic vote.
This explains the Democrats' silence. But what about Republicans? Where is their demand for an apology from Charlie Rangel? This explains one of the reasons why Republicans fail to attract the black vote.
Republicans remain unwilling to challenge irresponsible accusations of racism -- especially from so-called black leaders -- which allows the Democrats to continue to define the Republican Party as a party of bigots.
When Rangel, back in 1994, said of the incoming Republican Congress, "They don't say [racial epithet for Latinos] or [racial epithet for blacks] anymore. They say, 'Let's cut taxes'," Republicans said little.
When Al Sharpton sought the Democratic Party presidential nomination, having reached national prominence by falsely accusing a former district attorney of rape, Republicans said nothing. When Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., former chair of the Black Congressional Caucus, called former President George Herbert Walker Bush a "racist," Republicans said little.
Rangel's remarks should have engendered the same kind of outcry brought about by Durbin's insidious remarks. Yes, Rangel made the comments on a radio show, as opposed to the Senate floor. But Al Jazeera and extremist websites would still have carried Durbin's remarks had the senator made them while standing in line at Starbucks.
Durbin serves as the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate. But Rangel is the ranking member on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He is serving his 17th term in the Senate.
The Democratic Party "earns" its 90 percent black vote by refusing to look at blacks as individuals, as opposed to members of an aggrieved group. Republicans make the same mistake by refusing to respond to "black leaders'" often silly accusations of racism.
When Republicans say nothing in the face of irresponsible charges by "black leaders," many other blacks quietly say to themselves, "They didn't fight back. Maybe they've got something to hide."
Rep. Rangel, your turn to apologize.
Only eight days before Durbin's remarks, Rangel, on New York City's WWRL radio, attacked Bush for the "fraudulent" case for his War in Iraq: "It's the biggest fraud ever committed on the people of this country. This is just as bad as six million Jews being killed [emphasis added]. The whole world knew it and they were quiet about it, because it wasn't their ox that was being gored."
When the host asked Rangel to clarify, the congressman said, "I am saying that people's silence when they know terrible things are happening is the same thing as the Holocaust, where everyone would have me believe that no one knew those Jews were killed over there."
Larry Elder: The Anti-Defamation League demanded an apology. But where are the screaming editorials or the outrage from the pundit class? You see, Democrats like black attack dogs such as Rangel. They help to keep the black electorate angry and hostile toward Republicans, the better to ensure their 90 percent monolithic black Democratic vote.
This explains the Democrats' silence. But what about Republicans? Where is their demand for an apology from Charlie Rangel? This explains one of the reasons why Republicans fail to attract the black vote.
Republicans remain unwilling to challenge irresponsible accusations of racism -- especially from so-called black leaders -- which allows the Democrats to continue to define the Republican Party as a party of bigots.
When Rangel, back in 1994, said of the incoming Republican Congress, "They don't say [racial epithet for Latinos] or [racial epithet for blacks] anymore. They say, 'Let's cut taxes'," Republicans said little.
When Al Sharpton sought the Democratic Party presidential nomination, having reached national prominence by falsely accusing a former district attorney of rape, Republicans said nothing. When Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., former chair of the Black Congressional Caucus, called former President George Herbert Walker Bush a "racist," Republicans said little.
Rangel's remarks should have engendered the same kind of outcry brought about by Durbin's insidious remarks. Yes, Rangel made the comments on a radio show, as opposed to the Senate floor. But Al Jazeera and extremist websites would still have carried Durbin's remarks had the senator made them while standing in line at Starbucks.
Durbin serves as the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate. But Rangel is the ranking member on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He is serving his 17th term in the Senate.
The Democratic Party "earns" its 90 percent black vote by refusing to look at blacks as individuals, as opposed to members of an aggrieved group. Republicans make the same mistake by refusing to respond to "black leaders'" often silly accusations of racism.
When Republicans say nothing in the face of irresponsible charges by "black leaders," many other blacks quietly say to themselves, "They didn't fight back. Maybe they've got something to hide."
Rep. Rangel, your turn to apologize.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Media Weakening U.S. Defenses
A new poll by the Pew Research Center shows that a rising number of Americans are now concerned that media criticism of the military is hurting the U.S.'s ability to defend itself.
Nearly half - 47 percent - say that by criticizing the military so frequently, news organizations are weakening the nation's defenses.
Forty-four percent say, on the other hand, that the media's criticism keeps the nation militarily prepared.
More than two-thirds of Republicans - 67 percent - objected to the way the press covers the military, while only 36 percent of Democrats disapproved of the media's anti-military coverage.
The number of those now saying that the press is anti-military has increased dramatically since the 9/11 attacks, when only a little more than a third of those surveyed thought the press was too critical.
A new poll by the Pew Research Center shows that a rising number of Americans are now concerned that media criticism of the military is hurting the U.S.'s ability to defend itself.
Nearly half - 47 percent - say that by criticizing the military so frequently, news organizations are weakening the nation's defenses.
Forty-four percent say, on the other hand, that the media's criticism keeps the nation militarily prepared.
More than two-thirds of Republicans - 67 percent - objected to the way the press covers the military, while only 36 percent of Democrats disapproved of the media's anti-military coverage.
The number of those now saying that the press is anti-military has increased dramatically since the 9/11 attacks, when only a little more than a third of those surveyed thought the press was too critical.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Iraqi Independence Day
The president -- and the nation -- have a tremendous amount at stake in the success of the Iraq mission, including stabilizing the Middle East, advancing freedom/democracy in the Muslim world and defeating Islamic terrorism.
In the face of the American public's cooling support for the Iraq war, President Bush's national address tonight -- noting the first anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty to the new Iraqi government.
Peter Brookes: The president must trumpet the (under-reported) successes since Iraq's Independence Day: Eight million Iraqis braving death to vote in democratic elections, establishing a free government and drafting a new constitution is no small feat -- and a good news story.
Tonight the president must help an increasingly skeptical public and Congress understand the nature of the struggle we're in - and why we can't simply cut and run in the face of an aggressive terrorist insurgency.
If the president doesn't effectively make his case, calls will very likely increase in an already-wobbly Congress to curtail -- or even end -- U.S. involvement in Iraq before the job is completed.
That would be a tragic mistake -- for Iraq, America and beyond.
The president must also soundly quash the idea of an early withdrawal from Iraq, now being tossed about on Capitol Hill. As Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld said last week in testimony before the Senate, setting a deadline for withdrawal "would throw a lifeline to terrorists."
Last Friday, President Bush welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al Jaafari to the White House. After a closed door meeting, Bush said, "Today we're at a critical moment in the history of this proud nation."
He was talking about Iraq, but the fact is that United States is also at a "critical moment" in its history. We are deeply involved in a Herculean effort to reshape the Middle East, "draining the swamp" of extremism and repression that feeds terrorism.
America must decide whether it will finish the job in Iraq, or let the region be plunged deeper into the darkness of the likes of Saddam Hussein, the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. President Bush should make that choice clear to the American people.
The president -- and the nation -- have a tremendous amount at stake in the success of the Iraq mission, including stabilizing the Middle East, advancing freedom/democracy in the Muslim world and defeating Islamic terrorism.
In the face of the American public's cooling support for the Iraq war, President Bush's national address tonight -- noting the first anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty to the new Iraqi government.
Peter Brookes: The president must trumpet the (under-reported) successes since Iraq's Independence Day: Eight million Iraqis braving death to vote in democratic elections, establishing a free government and drafting a new constitution is no small feat -- and a good news story.
Tonight the president must help an increasingly skeptical public and Congress understand the nature of the struggle we're in - and why we can't simply cut and run in the face of an aggressive terrorist insurgency.
If the president doesn't effectively make his case, calls will very likely increase in an already-wobbly Congress to curtail -- or even end -- U.S. involvement in Iraq before the job is completed.
That would be a tragic mistake -- for Iraq, America and beyond.
The president must also soundly quash the idea of an early withdrawal from Iraq, now being tossed about on Capitol Hill. As Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld said last week in testimony before the Senate, setting a deadline for withdrawal "would throw a lifeline to terrorists."
Last Friday, President Bush welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al Jaafari to the White House. After a closed door meeting, Bush said, "Today we're at a critical moment in the history of this proud nation."
He was talking about Iraq, but the fact is that United States is also at a "critical moment" in its history. We are deeply involved in a Herculean effort to reshape the Middle East, "draining the swamp" of extremism and repression that feeds terrorism.
America must decide whether it will finish the job in Iraq, or let the region be plunged deeper into the darkness of the likes of Saddam Hussein, the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. President Bush should make that choice clear to the American people.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Hillary Pressures Networks to Cancel Klein
In what may be an unprecedented act of media censorship, several major TV and cable networks – including NBC, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, Fox and CNN - have cancelled planned appearances of the author of the new, red hot book on Hillary Clinton.
(See Photo)
Edward Klein's sizzling new biography "The Truth About Hillary: What She Knew, When She Knew It and How Far She'll Go to Become President" has caused a storm of controversy after Sen. Clinton lashed out at it.
Though the celebrated author was scheduled to appear on more than a half dozen major TV network shows, all have cancelled except one, Fox's "Hannity & Colmes."
However, conservative host Sean Hannity did reveal that he was under immense pressure to cancel the program.
"I've had more political pressure than I've ever had in all my years in radio," Hannity said to Klein during a radio interview. "Do you know the number of requests I've had to cancel you and not have you on this program? I've never in the history of this program had more demands to cancel the guest."
Several shows apparently expressed a keen interest in booking Klein until pressure from the Hillary camp stopped them, among them ABC's "Good Morning America," NBC's "Today" show, and CNN's "Aaron Brown."
On the day of his only Fox News appearance, Klein's book hit the #1 spot on Amazon's coveted bestseller list, as well as top positions at online sellers like Barnes & Noble. "Truth" has also been the biggest selling book in the history of NewsMax's online store.
Last week, Klein kicked off his radio appearances on Sean Hannity's radio show, the second largest syndicated show - with 13 million weekly listeners. Since then Klein has begun a schedule of non stop interviews on major talk radio shows, including Salem Radio Network's Mike Gallagher, Westwood One's Jim Bohannon, and the Laura Ingraham Show.
But the TV cancellations are raising questions about the unusual effort by the Clinton Spin Machine to stop this book.
Last week, Fox News host Neil Cavuto told his audience, "Kitty [Kelley] was booked on shows. Ed is getting no bookings, period ... Could it be the media relished dirt on the president, less so on the woman who wants to be president?"
During his interview with syndicated radio host Laura Ingraham this past Wednesday night, Klein revealed just how radioactive he's become.
He related how a leading mover and shaker had called him to disinvite him for a dinner party in Manhattan honoring a liberal politician.
The host told Klein it wasn't personal against him. She simply explained: "Hillary will ruin the politician's career if she finds out you were there."
Klein's story underlines his central complaint that Hillary is dangerous and "Nixonian" with power. But that may be an understatement. Even Richard Nixon as President didn't have the power Hillary Clinton seems to wield today over the mainstream media.
In what may be an unprecedented act of media censorship, several major TV and cable networks – including NBC, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, Fox and CNN - have cancelled planned appearances of the author of the new, red hot book on Hillary Clinton.
(See Photo)
Edward Klein's sizzling new biography "The Truth About Hillary: What She Knew, When She Knew It and How Far She'll Go to Become President" has caused a storm of controversy after Sen. Clinton lashed out at it.
Though the celebrated author was scheduled to appear on more than a half dozen major TV network shows, all have cancelled except one, Fox's "Hannity & Colmes."
However, conservative host Sean Hannity did reveal that he was under immense pressure to cancel the program.
"I've had more political pressure than I've ever had in all my years in radio," Hannity said to Klein during a radio interview. "Do you know the number of requests I've had to cancel you and not have you on this program? I've never in the history of this program had more demands to cancel the guest."
Several shows apparently expressed a keen interest in booking Klein until pressure from the Hillary camp stopped them, among them ABC's "Good Morning America," NBC's "Today" show, and CNN's "Aaron Brown."
On the day of his only Fox News appearance, Klein's book hit the #1 spot on Amazon's coveted bestseller list, as well as top positions at online sellers like Barnes & Noble. "Truth" has also been the biggest selling book in the history of NewsMax's online store.
Last week, Klein kicked off his radio appearances on Sean Hannity's radio show, the second largest syndicated show - with 13 million weekly listeners. Since then Klein has begun a schedule of non stop interviews on major talk radio shows, including Salem Radio Network's Mike Gallagher, Westwood One's Jim Bohannon, and the Laura Ingraham Show.
But the TV cancellations are raising questions about the unusual effort by the Clinton Spin Machine to stop this book.
Last week, Fox News host Neil Cavuto told his audience, "Kitty [Kelley] was booked on shows. Ed is getting no bookings, period ... Could it be the media relished dirt on the president, less so on the woman who wants to be president?"
During his interview with syndicated radio host Laura Ingraham this past Wednesday night, Klein revealed just how radioactive he's become.
He related how a leading mover and shaker had called him to disinvite him for a dinner party in Manhattan honoring a liberal politician.
The host told Klein it wasn't personal against him. She simply explained: "Hillary will ruin the politician's career if she finds out you were there."
Klein's story underlines his central complaint that Hillary is dangerous and "Nixonian" with power. But that may be an understatement. Even Richard Nixon as President didn't have the power Hillary Clinton seems to wield today over the mainstream media.
Pictures Of The Day
More great pictures from You. The new website "Pictures Of The Day", will give us a place to share your pictures with others.
Hillary
More great pictures from You. The new website "Pictures Of The Day", will give us a place to share your pictures with others.
Hillary
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Late-Night Jokes
Leno
Thank you for coming out. Boy it was hot today. It was so hot today that the runaway bride, Jennifer Wilbanks had to put sunscreen on her eyeballs.
It was 96. I was sweating like Senator Dick Durbin at an American Legion convention.
It was so hot today, American flags were bursting into flames all by themselves!
Did you here about this? The house of representatives has voted to approve a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. Which is surprising because in the past congress has always rejected any flag burning amendment. See congress feels that any form of speech no matter how vial or insulting should be permitted. They believe that because that’s how they campaigned and got elected.
Earlier this week, the prime minister of communist Vietnam met with President Bush in the oval office. Before the meeting, President Bush asked the prime minister, "So, are you from the good Vietnam, or the bad Vietnam?”
The NBA has reached a new labor agreement between the owners and the players and they’ve agreed on a minimum age of 19 for the players. You must now be 19 years old to play in the NBA. I guess they feel that 18-year olds aren’t ready to become illegitimate fathers yet.
The American Film Institute did a survey of the greatest movie lines of all time. Do you know what was ranked #1 was? Clark Gable in gone with the wind, "Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” The least-popular movie line of all time? "Popcorn and your small soda, that’ll be $9.75.”
Letterman
I hate to talk about people when they’re not here but last nights audience was dumb! Just awful. They were so dumb I thought they were an L.A. jury.
It was so nice out today. A beautiful day. It was a great day to get drunk, steal a plane and fly around Manhattan for five hours.
Conan
Martha Stewart says she will be using a different phrase than "you’re fired” on her "Apprentice” show. Instead she will be saying, "Prepare to be beaten to death!”
Mattel has announced they are taking auditions for the role of Barbie in a Barbie musical. This announcement answers that old question – what could be gayer than Ken?
Leno
Thank you for coming out. Boy it was hot today. It was so hot today that the runaway bride, Jennifer Wilbanks had to put sunscreen on her eyeballs.
It was 96. I was sweating like Senator Dick Durbin at an American Legion convention.
It was so hot today, American flags were bursting into flames all by themselves!
Did you here about this? The house of representatives has voted to approve a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. Which is surprising because in the past congress has always rejected any flag burning amendment. See congress feels that any form of speech no matter how vial or insulting should be permitted. They believe that because that’s how they campaigned and got elected.
Earlier this week, the prime minister of communist Vietnam met with President Bush in the oval office. Before the meeting, President Bush asked the prime minister, "So, are you from the good Vietnam, or the bad Vietnam?”
The NBA has reached a new labor agreement between the owners and the players and they’ve agreed on a minimum age of 19 for the players. You must now be 19 years old to play in the NBA. I guess they feel that 18-year olds aren’t ready to become illegitimate fathers yet.
The American Film Institute did a survey of the greatest movie lines of all time. Do you know what was ranked #1 was? Clark Gable in gone with the wind, "Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” The least-popular movie line of all time? "Popcorn and your small soda, that’ll be $9.75.”
Letterman
I hate to talk about people when they’re not here but last nights audience was dumb! Just awful. They were so dumb I thought they were an L.A. jury.
It was so nice out today. A beautiful day. It was a great day to get drunk, steal a plane and fly around Manhattan for five hours.
Conan
Martha Stewart says she will be using a different phrase than "you’re fired” on her "Apprentice” show. Instead she will be saying, "Prepare to be beaten to death!”
Mattel has announced they are taking auditions for the role of Barbie in a Barbie musical. This announcement answers that old question – what could be gayer than Ken?
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Late-Night Jokes
Leno
What a crowd! You sound like the Saudi royal family when oil hit $60 a barrel.
As I’m sure you know by now, oil has hit a new high, $60 a barrel. In fact, the price of oil is so high that today President Bush called the Saudi prince he was holding hands with and said, "How about dinner and a movie?”
In fact, when asked today what effect these prices would have on the average car owner, President Bush said, "Not much because most Americans buy oil in little cans. They don’t buy the big barrels.”
Saddam Hussein is 100% certain that he will one day return to power. You know, kind of like the Clintons.
Speaking of that, former President Clinton said yesterday that the prison at Guantanamo Bay "should either be cleaned-up or closed down.” You know, there was a time when people were saying that about the Oval Office.
The founder of Adelphia Cable got 15 years in prison for looting the company. Isn’t that amazing? Even the cable company steals from the cable company!
Turns out the jury was made up of 12 people with satellite dishes.
Here’s some great news: an 11-year-old boy scout who disappeared in the mountains of Utah late last week has been found perfectly healthy. It turns out, when he heard about the acquittal; he was just hiding from Michael Jackson.
McDonald’s announced they are coming out with its own line of clothing aimed at McDonalds customers. Don’t we have that already? Aren’t they called moo-moo’s?
Letterman
The thing I like about New York City is that there’s always something going on. Like this week for instance is Gay Pride Week. So if you see a guy wearing tights, a cape and a mask – it may not be Batman.
It’s Gay Pride Week, or as the hookers in Time Square call it – a week off.
You can tell its summer because today Saddam switched to Cool Ranch Doritos.
Did you hear that? Saddam Hussein loves Doritos. You can’t buy publicity like that. If you’re a snack food company, you would want that endorsement.
Saddam got hooked on Doritos at Chemical Ali’s Super Bowl party.
Leno
What a crowd! You sound like the Saudi royal family when oil hit $60 a barrel.
As I’m sure you know by now, oil has hit a new high, $60 a barrel. In fact, the price of oil is so high that today President Bush called the Saudi prince he was holding hands with and said, "How about dinner and a movie?”
In fact, when asked today what effect these prices would have on the average car owner, President Bush said, "Not much because most Americans buy oil in little cans. They don’t buy the big barrels.”
Saddam Hussein is 100% certain that he will one day return to power. You know, kind of like the Clintons.
Speaking of that, former President Clinton said yesterday that the prison at Guantanamo Bay "should either be cleaned-up or closed down.” You know, there was a time when people were saying that about the Oval Office.
The founder of Adelphia Cable got 15 years in prison for looting the company. Isn’t that amazing? Even the cable company steals from the cable company!
Turns out the jury was made up of 12 people with satellite dishes.
Here’s some great news: an 11-year-old boy scout who disappeared in the mountains of Utah late last week has been found perfectly healthy. It turns out, when he heard about the acquittal; he was just hiding from Michael Jackson.
McDonald’s announced they are coming out with its own line of clothing aimed at McDonalds customers. Don’t we have that already? Aren’t they called moo-moo’s?
Letterman
The thing I like about New York City is that there’s always something going on. Like this week for instance is Gay Pride Week. So if you see a guy wearing tights, a cape and a mask – it may not be Batman.
It’s Gay Pride Week, or as the hookers in Time Square call it – a week off.
You can tell its summer because today Saddam switched to Cool Ranch Doritos.
Did you hear that? Saddam Hussein loves Doritos. You can’t buy publicity like that. If you’re a snack food company, you would want that endorsement.
Saddam got hooked on Doritos at Chemical Ali’s Super Bowl party.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Clinton 9/11 Reaction Proves Rove Right
Democrats are livid over Karl Rove's complaint that liberals reacted to the 9/11 attacks by urging "understanding" for terrorists.
But that was exactly the advice offered by ex-President Clinton, delivered in an address to Georgetown University less than two months after the attacks.
"First of all, terror, the killing of noncombatants for economic, political, or religious reasons has a very long history - as long as organized combat itself," Clinton lectured. "Those of us who come from various European lineages are not blameless."
Then the ex-president catalogued the terrorist abuses perpetrated by Europeans and Americans on Jews, Muslims and people of color.
"Indeed, in the first Crusade, when the Christian soldiers took Jerusalem, they first burned a synagogue with 300 Jews in it, and proceeded to kill every woman and child who was Muslim on the Temple mound," he noted.
"Here in the United States, we were founded as a nation that practiced slavery and slaves were, quite frequently, killed even though they were innocent."
The U.S. "looked the other way," Clinton charged, "when significant numbers of Native Americans were dispossessed and killed to get their land or their mineral rights or because they were thought of as less than fully human and we are still paying the price today."
By the time Mr. Clinton was done with his terrorism history lesson, it was clear America got what it deserved on 9/11.
Democrats are livid over Karl Rove's complaint that liberals reacted to the 9/11 attacks by urging "understanding" for terrorists.
But that was exactly the advice offered by ex-President Clinton, delivered in an address to Georgetown University less than two months after the attacks.
"First of all, terror, the killing of noncombatants for economic, political, or religious reasons has a very long history - as long as organized combat itself," Clinton lectured. "Those of us who come from various European lineages are not blameless."
Then the ex-president catalogued the terrorist abuses perpetrated by Europeans and Americans on Jews, Muslims and people of color.
"Indeed, in the first Crusade, when the Christian soldiers took Jerusalem, they first burned a synagogue with 300 Jews in it, and proceeded to kill every woman and child who was Muslim on the Temple mound," he noted.
"Here in the United States, we were founded as a nation that practiced slavery and slaves were, quite frequently, killed even though they were innocent."
The U.S. "looked the other way," Clinton charged, "when significant numbers of Native Americans were dispossessed and killed to get their land or their mineral rights or because they were thought of as less than fully human and we are still paying the price today."
By the time Mr. Clinton was done with his terrorism history lesson, it was clear America got what it deserved on 9/11.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Rove Criticizes Liberals on 9/11
"Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 in the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers," Mr. Rove, the senior political adviser to President Bush, said at a fund-raiser in Midtown for the Conservative Party of New York State.
Karl Rove came to the heart of Manhattan last night to rhapsodize about the decline of liberalism in politics, saying Democrats responded weakly to Sept. 11 and had placed American troops in greater danger by criticizing their actions.
Citing calls by progressive groups to respond carefully to the attacks, Mr. Rove said to the applause of several hundred audience members, "I don't know about you, but moderation and restraint is not what I felt when I watched the twin towers crumble to the ground, a side of the Pentagon destroyed, and almost 3,000 of our fellow citizens perish in flames and rubble."
White House adviser Karl Rove should either apologize or resign for saying liberals responded to the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes by wanting to "prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers," Democrats said Thursday.
Patrick Healy: Told of Mr. Rove's remarks, Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, replied: "In New York, where everyone unified after 9/11, the last thing we need is somebody who seeks to divide us for political purposes."
Mr. Rove also said American armed forces overseas were in more jeopardy as a result of remarks last week by Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, who compared American mistreatment of detainees to the acts of "Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others."
"Has there ever been a more revealing moment this year?" Mr. Rove asked. "Let me just put this in fairly simple terms: Al Jazeera now broadcasts the words of Senator Durbin to the Mideast, certainly putting our troops in greater danger. No more needs to be said about the motives of liberals."
Gov. George E. Pataki of New York, speaking after Mr. Rove, also touched on the Sept. 11 attacks. He promised that the proposed Freedom Tower, the new building at ground zero, would retain patriotic touches in its architecture, like a height of 1,776 feet, despite the concerns of some observers who fear that it would become a target for terrorists.
"We're going to have a Freedom Tower that soars 1,776 feet high, symbolizing our independence," Mr. Pataki said. As for the memorial, he said: "No one is going to turn it into something that is a negative statement about America and our belief in freedom, so long as I am governor of this state."
Read more on this subject in Related Hot Topics:
Dems Furious with Rove for 9/11 Remarks
"Karl Rove should immediately and fully apologize for his remarks or he should resign," Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in a statement. "I hope the president will join me in repudiating these remarks."
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean called on Bush to "show some leadership and unequivocally repudiate Rove's divisive and damaging political rhetoric."
"Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 in the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers," Mr. Rove, the senior political adviser to President Bush, said at a fund-raiser in Midtown for the Conservative Party of New York State.
Karl Rove came to the heart of Manhattan last night to rhapsodize about the decline of liberalism in politics, saying Democrats responded weakly to Sept. 11 and had placed American troops in greater danger by criticizing their actions.
Citing calls by progressive groups to respond carefully to the attacks, Mr. Rove said to the applause of several hundred audience members, "I don't know about you, but moderation and restraint is not what I felt when I watched the twin towers crumble to the ground, a side of the Pentagon destroyed, and almost 3,000 of our fellow citizens perish in flames and rubble."
White House adviser Karl Rove should either apologize or resign for saying liberals responded to the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes by wanting to "prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers," Democrats said Thursday.
Patrick Healy: Told of Mr. Rove's remarks, Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, replied: "In New York, where everyone unified after 9/11, the last thing we need is somebody who seeks to divide us for political purposes."
Mr. Rove also said American armed forces overseas were in more jeopardy as a result of remarks last week by Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, who compared American mistreatment of detainees to the acts of "Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others."
"Has there ever been a more revealing moment this year?" Mr. Rove asked. "Let me just put this in fairly simple terms: Al Jazeera now broadcasts the words of Senator Durbin to the Mideast, certainly putting our troops in greater danger. No more needs to be said about the motives of liberals."
Gov. George E. Pataki of New York, speaking after Mr. Rove, also touched on the Sept. 11 attacks. He promised that the proposed Freedom Tower, the new building at ground zero, would retain patriotic touches in its architecture, like a height of 1,776 feet, despite the concerns of some observers who fear that it would become a target for terrorists.
"We're going to have a Freedom Tower that soars 1,776 feet high, symbolizing our independence," Mr. Pataki said. As for the memorial, he said: "No one is going to turn it into something that is a negative statement about America and our belief in freedom, so long as I am governor of this state."
Read more on this subject in Related Hot Topics:
Dems Furious with Rove for 9/11 Remarks
"Karl Rove should immediately and fully apologize for his remarks or he should resign," Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in a statement. "I hope the president will join me in repudiating these remarks."
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean called on Bush to "show some leadership and unequivocally repudiate Rove's divisive and damaging political rhetoric."
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
The Gitmo-bashers
Newsweek. Amnesty International. Jimmy Carter. Dick Durbin. The Guantanamo Bay-bashing continues.
In a rant published Tuesday, the Minnesota Star Tribune actually castigated Durbin for "caving in" on his slanderous remarks comparing U.S. treatment of detainees at Gitmo to torture and genocide by Nazis, Soviets and Pol Pot. The paper wrote that Durbin shouldn't have apologized and decried the entire operation as a "hellhole."
Michelle Malkin: Debunking another Gitmo myth
It's not just unhinged liberals who keep piling on.
The "maverick" Sen. John McCain echoed one of the Left's most oft-cited and erroneous complaints about Gitmo on NBC's "Meet The Press" this weekend -- that detainees have been denied trials.
And now, the facts:
Every single detainee currently being held at Guantanamo Bay has received a hearing before a military tribunal. Every one. As a result of those hearings, more than three dozen Gitmo detainees have been released.
The hearings, called "Combatant Status Review Tribunals," are held before a board of officers, and permit the detainees to contest the facts on which their classification as "enemy combatants" is based.
Treating foreign terrorists like American shoplifters -- with full access to civilian lawyers, classified intelligence, and all the attendant rights of a normal jury trial -- is a surefire recipe for another 9/11. That is why the Bush administration fought so hard to erect an alternative tribunal system -- long established in wartime -- in the first place.
Do John McCain and the anti-Gitmo gang actually believe otherwise, or are they too clueless to realize the implications of their gulag-Pol Pot-Nazi-Eichmann-hellhole harangues?
Newsweek. Amnesty International. Jimmy Carter. Dick Durbin. The Guantanamo Bay-bashing continues.
In a rant published Tuesday, the Minnesota Star Tribune actually castigated Durbin for "caving in" on his slanderous remarks comparing U.S. treatment of detainees at Gitmo to torture and genocide by Nazis, Soviets and Pol Pot. The paper wrote that Durbin shouldn't have apologized and decried the entire operation as a "hellhole."
Michelle Malkin: Debunking another Gitmo myth
It's not just unhinged liberals who keep piling on.
The "maverick" Sen. John McCain echoed one of the Left's most oft-cited and erroneous complaints about Gitmo on NBC's "Meet The Press" this weekend -- that detainees have been denied trials.
And now, the facts:
Every single detainee currently being held at Guantanamo Bay has received a hearing before a military tribunal. Every one. As a result of those hearings, more than three dozen Gitmo detainees have been released.
The hearings, called "Combatant Status Review Tribunals," are held before a board of officers, and permit the detainees to contest the facts on which their classification as "enemy combatants" is based.
Treating foreign terrorists like American shoplifters -- with full access to civilian lawyers, classified intelligence, and all the attendant rights of a normal jury trial -- is a surefire recipe for another 9/11. That is why the Bush administration fought so hard to erect an alternative tribunal system -- long established in wartime -- in the first place.
Do John McCain and the anti-Gitmo gang actually believe otherwise, or are they too clueless to realize the implications of their gulag-Pol Pot-Nazi-Eichmann-hellhole harangues?
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Bush Should Make Recess Appointment For Bolton
Senate Democrats blocked John Bolton's confirmation as U.N. ambassador for the second time Monday and President Bush left open the possibility of bypassing lawmakers and appointing the tough-talking former State Department official on his own.
The vote was 54-38, six shy of the total needed to force a final vote on Bolton, and represented an erosion in support from last month's failed Republican effort. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, who voted in May to advance the nomination, switched positions and urged Bush to consider another candidate, while only three Democrats crossed party lines.
Democrats have demanded the administration check a list of 36 U.S. officials against names in secret national security intercepts that Bolton requested and received. They also want documents related to the preparation of testimony that Bolton planned to give in the House in July 2003 about Syria's weapons capability.
"I think it's time for the Senate to give him an up-or-down vote. Now," the president said.
Bush has the power to install Bolton during the Senate's upcoming break. The so-called recess appointment would only last through the next one-year session of Congress — in Bolton's case until January 2007.
Read more on this subject in Related Hot Topics:
Bolton Takes A Licking, But It's Not Over Just Yet
The Bolton charade
Bush: I Want a Vote on Bolton Now
U.S. Pushes for U.N. Reforms
Senate Democrats blocked John Bolton's confirmation as U.N. ambassador for the second time Monday and President Bush left open the possibility of bypassing lawmakers and appointing the tough-talking former State Department official on his own.
The vote was 54-38, six shy of the total needed to force a final vote on Bolton, and represented an erosion in support from last month's failed Republican effort. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, who voted in May to advance the nomination, switched positions and urged Bush to consider another candidate, while only three Democrats crossed party lines.
Democrats have demanded the administration check a list of 36 U.S. officials against names in secret national security intercepts that Bolton requested and received. They also want documents related to the preparation of testimony that Bolton planned to give in the House in July 2003 about Syria's weapons capability.
"I think it's time for the Senate to give him an up-or-down vote. Now," the president said.
Bush has the power to install Bolton during the Senate's upcoming break. The so-called recess appointment would only last through the next one-year session of Congress — in Bolton's case until January 2007.
Read more on this subject in Related Hot Topics:
Bolton Takes A Licking, But It's Not Over Just Yet
The Bolton charade
Bush: I Want a Vote on Bolton Now
U.S. Pushes for U.N. Reforms
Monday, June 20, 2005
Downing Street Memo Originals Destroyed
The so-called Downing Street Memo - which was presumed to be authentic when Bush administration critics began touting it last month as evidence the president committed impeachable crimes - is actually a manually recreated copy - with the source of the memo now admitting he retyped the document before destroying the originals.
British reporter Michael Smith, who broke the memo story in the London Times on May 1, revealed to The Associated Press over the weekend that "he protected the identity of the source he had obtained the documents from by typing copies of them on plain paper and destroying the originals."
Smith's admission means there's now no independent way to determine the accuracy of the Downing Street Memo, i.e., whether he made any typos or transcription errors that could have changed the memo's meaning.
The revelation has conjured up memories of the CBS News forged document scandal last year, where anchorman Dan Rather argued that damaging records he obtained from President Bush's National Guard file were essentially accurate, even though they had been faked by his source.
While British officials hadn't disputed the authenticity of the Downing Street Memo, a senior member of the Blair government who reviewed the memo in light of reporter Smith's admission could say only that its contents "appeared authentic."
That official, however, requested anonymity, refusing to make an on-the-record endorsement of the memo's accuracy.
New questions about the authenticity of the Downing Street Memo come at a particularly awkward time for Democrats in America. Only last week, House Democrats staged a mock impeachment hearing based on the re-created document.
Former presidential candidate John Kerry announced on June 2 that he intended to confront Congress with the Downing Street Memo, believing at the time that the document's authenticity was beyond reproach.
"I think it's a stunning, unbelievably simple and understandable statement of the truth and a profoundly important document that raises stunning issues here at home," he told a reporter.
Last week, a Kerry aide said his boss was sending a letter to President Bush demanding that he answer questions about the fake memo.
The so-called Downing Street Memo - which was presumed to be authentic when Bush administration critics began touting it last month as evidence the president committed impeachable crimes - is actually a manually recreated copy - with the source of the memo now admitting he retyped the document before destroying the originals.
British reporter Michael Smith, who broke the memo story in the London Times on May 1, revealed to The Associated Press over the weekend that "he protected the identity of the source he had obtained the documents from by typing copies of them on plain paper and destroying the originals."
Smith's admission means there's now no independent way to determine the accuracy of the Downing Street Memo, i.e., whether he made any typos or transcription errors that could have changed the memo's meaning.
The revelation has conjured up memories of the CBS News forged document scandal last year, where anchorman Dan Rather argued that damaging records he obtained from President Bush's National Guard file were essentially accurate, even though they had been faked by his source.
While British officials hadn't disputed the authenticity of the Downing Street Memo, a senior member of the Blair government who reviewed the memo in light of reporter Smith's admission could say only that its contents "appeared authentic."
That official, however, requested anonymity, refusing to make an on-the-record endorsement of the memo's accuracy.
New questions about the authenticity of the Downing Street Memo come at a particularly awkward time for Democrats in America. Only last week, House Democrats staged a mock impeachment hearing based on the re-created document.
Former presidential candidate John Kerry announced on June 2 that he intended to confront Congress with the Downing Street Memo, believing at the time that the document's authenticity was beyond reproach.
"I think it's a stunning, unbelievably simple and understandable statement of the truth and a profoundly important document that raises stunning issues here at home," he told a reporter.
Last week, a Kerry aide said his boss was sending a letter to President Bush demanding that he answer questions about the fake memo.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Late-Night Jokes
Leno
Well the big story, the Los Angeles Police Department announced they will no longer arrest famous people who break the law. What’s the point?
I bet Russell Crowe wishes he threw that phone at somebody in Los Angeles, huh?
Pretty amazing - the jury found Michael Jackson innocent. Robert Blake innocent. O.J. Simpson innocent. Now the big question, is Phil Spector famous enough to that same get out of jail free card. Hasn’t had a hit for awhile.
Today Michael Jackson thanked all those close to him that made it all happen. You know, the little people.
It’s kind of ironic when you think about it. The only Jackson you can accuse of committing a lewd act is Janet at the Super Bowl. The one we wanted to see.
Last night in a speech, President Bush called for a complete over haul of the tax code. He said he was shocked to find out that some millionaires in this country are still paying taxes. Can you believe that?
Yesterday the trade bank of Iraq issued the country’s first ever credit card, an Iraqi credit card. And now thanks to us, the Iraqi people are now free to borrow money at 30% interest.
As I’m sure you know, over in Iraq right now, they’re getting ready to put Saddam Hussein on trial. You know, I didn’t even know he liked little boys.
Here’s an interesting statistic - according to "Cosmo”, over 30% of men between the ages of 18 and 34 still live with their parents. These men are known as "Star Wars” fans.
Today is the opening of "Batman”. The super hero who fights for truth, justice and everything else that a California jury doesn’t.
Harley Davidson motorcycles announced they are coming out with a line of Harley pillowcases, shower curtains, soap dishes and bath rugs. Which of course means, time to sell the Harley.
Call me old fashioned, but I remember the days when Harley guys were known for not taking showers or using soap dishes?
Letterman
The New York Yankees are building a new stadium. It’s going to have a 1920’s feel to it – just like the hot dogs.
The new stadium will cost $180 million. For that price the Yankees could buy a weak hitting first baseman.
If Mike Tyson is watching – now is a good time to sell your own line of grills.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Signs Your Neighbor is Batman
1. He's a recluse in a weird outfit with a young sidekick ( Sorry, that's a sign your neighbor is Michael Jackson)
2. When he goes on vacation, asks if you'll water his plants and grease his bat pole.
3. On Thanksgiving, you see green lantern holding a JELL-O mold
4. You hear him on the phone asking J. Crew if they carry seersucker cowls.
5. Introduces his parents - Carl and Linda Batman.
6. Who's banging on his door at 4 AM but an angry, knocked-up Catwoman.
7. Is re-roofing his house to fix loose shingles and grappling hook damage.
8. His teen son drove to the prom in the Batmobile.
9.When you mention Superman, he rolls his eyes and mutters, "pantywaist".
10.Always complaining about his "rubber suit rash".
Leno
Well the big story, the Los Angeles Police Department announced they will no longer arrest famous people who break the law. What’s the point?
I bet Russell Crowe wishes he threw that phone at somebody in Los Angeles, huh?
Pretty amazing - the jury found Michael Jackson innocent. Robert Blake innocent. O.J. Simpson innocent. Now the big question, is Phil Spector famous enough to that same get out of jail free card. Hasn’t had a hit for awhile.
Today Michael Jackson thanked all those close to him that made it all happen. You know, the little people.
It’s kind of ironic when you think about it. The only Jackson you can accuse of committing a lewd act is Janet at the Super Bowl. The one we wanted to see.
Last night in a speech, President Bush called for a complete over haul of the tax code. He said he was shocked to find out that some millionaires in this country are still paying taxes. Can you believe that?
Yesterday the trade bank of Iraq issued the country’s first ever credit card, an Iraqi credit card. And now thanks to us, the Iraqi people are now free to borrow money at 30% interest.
As I’m sure you know, over in Iraq right now, they’re getting ready to put Saddam Hussein on trial. You know, I didn’t even know he liked little boys.
Here’s an interesting statistic - according to "Cosmo”, over 30% of men between the ages of 18 and 34 still live with their parents. These men are known as "Star Wars” fans.
Today is the opening of "Batman”. The super hero who fights for truth, justice and everything else that a California jury doesn’t.
Harley Davidson motorcycles announced they are coming out with a line of Harley pillowcases, shower curtains, soap dishes and bath rugs. Which of course means, time to sell the Harley.
Call me old fashioned, but I remember the days when Harley guys were known for not taking showers or using soap dishes?
Letterman
The New York Yankees are building a new stadium. It’s going to have a 1920’s feel to it – just like the hot dogs.
The new stadium will cost $180 million. For that price the Yankees could buy a weak hitting first baseman.
If Mike Tyson is watching – now is a good time to sell your own line of grills.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Signs Your Neighbor is Batman
1. He's a recluse in a weird outfit with a young sidekick ( Sorry, that's a sign your neighbor is Michael Jackson)
2. When he goes on vacation, asks if you'll water his plants and grease his bat pole.
3. On Thanksgiving, you see green lantern holding a JELL-O mold
4. You hear him on the phone asking J. Crew if they carry seersucker cowls.
5. Introduces his parents - Carl and Linda Batman.
6. Who's banging on his door at 4 AM but an angry, knocked-up Catwoman.
7. Is re-roofing his house to fix loose shingles and grappling hook damage.
8. His teen son drove to the prom in the Batmobile.
9.When you mention Superman, he rolls his eyes and mutters, "pantywaist".
10.Always complaining about his "rubber suit rash".
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Late-Night Jokes
Leno
I’m sorry if I’m a little groggy today. I was up all night at the big sleepover victory party at Michael Jackson’s place. Just Jesus juice all night long!
As you know Michael Jackson was found not guilty on all counts yesterday. In fact, the first thing Michael did after being found not guilty was throw away that back brace he’s been wearing. Don’t need that thing anymore!
Of course a lot of people were incredibly happy about the verdict. None of them children…
Legal experts say the key was that the defense really didn’t play the race card. Well duh. They didn’t know which race to play.
This trial lasted 14 weeks. Do you realize that’s 6 weeks longer than average NBC sitcom.
After the trial last night, Michael finally got a chance to relax. He went out and had a little Mexican. I believe it was a 14-year-old named Ramón.
Today on the news they showed up in Santa Maria, all the media packing up and getting ready to go home. Yeah, it’s always a sad day when the circus leaves town.
Happy Flag Day everybody. This is a day to celebrate when Betsy Ross made the first flag in 1776, which is the last time an American flag was actually made in America.
Howard Dean is in trouble for saying the Republicans are nothing but a party of white Christians. And today in their prayers, Republicans thanked God for Howard Dean.
MSNBC did a feature on the Howard Dean and all the trouble he’s been in for his comments. In fact some democrats are so upset the party leaders are calling on him to resign. Isn’t that unbelievable? The Democrats have leaders?
Mike Tyson has retired from boxing. In fact, he was so thoroughly beaten this weekend that today he was named an honorary member of the Detroit Pistons.
He finishes with a record of 50 wins, 6 losses, 21 felonies and 79 misdemeanors.
Letterman
It’s hot out! It was so hot out today that the toll booth operator was growing orchids inside the booth.
It was so hot today that over on 53rd Street at the Hello Deli, Rupert G was fanning himself with health code violations.
It was so hot that Michael Jackson went out for ice cream by himself!
As you know Michael Jackson was found not guilty on all ten counts. Now he says he wants to just go back to his normal reclusive whack job self.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Things Overheard During The Michael Jackson Verdict
1. Another case of a white guy getting preferential treatment!
2. Wait, have Tito, Latoya and Jermaine always been on the jury?
3. Michael, good news - I just saved 15 percent on my car insurance by switching to Geico.
4. We the jury find the defendant...creepy.
5. Do you think this'll be on the news tonight?
6. I'm a celebrity in an L.A. courtroom - I like my chances.
7. No, I think he'll do fine in prison.
8. Will Mr. Blake and Mr. Simpson please keep the laughter down?
9. Of course he's nervous - look how pale he is.
10. We the jury find the defendant not guilty - oh God, did I say the wrong one?
Leno
I’m sorry if I’m a little groggy today. I was up all night at the big sleepover victory party at Michael Jackson’s place. Just Jesus juice all night long!
As you know Michael Jackson was found not guilty on all counts yesterday. In fact, the first thing Michael did after being found not guilty was throw away that back brace he’s been wearing. Don’t need that thing anymore!
Of course a lot of people were incredibly happy about the verdict. None of them children…
Legal experts say the key was that the defense really didn’t play the race card. Well duh. They didn’t know which race to play.
This trial lasted 14 weeks. Do you realize that’s 6 weeks longer than average NBC sitcom.
After the trial last night, Michael finally got a chance to relax. He went out and had a little Mexican. I believe it was a 14-year-old named Ramón.
Today on the news they showed up in Santa Maria, all the media packing up and getting ready to go home. Yeah, it’s always a sad day when the circus leaves town.
Happy Flag Day everybody. This is a day to celebrate when Betsy Ross made the first flag in 1776, which is the last time an American flag was actually made in America.
Howard Dean is in trouble for saying the Republicans are nothing but a party of white Christians. And today in their prayers, Republicans thanked God for Howard Dean.
MSNBC did a feature on the Howard Dean and all the trouble he’s been in for his comments. In fact some democrats are so upset the party leaders are calling on him to resign. Isn’t that unbelievable? The Democrats have leaders?
Mike Tyson has retired from boxing. In fact, he was so thoroughly beaten this weekend that today he was named an honorary member of the Detroit Pistons.
He finishes with a record of 50 wins, 6 losses, 21 felonies and 79 misdemeanors.
Letterman
It’s hot out! It was so hot out today that the toll booth operator was growing orchids inside the booth.
It was so hot today that over on 53rd Street at the Hello Deli, Rupert G was fanning himself with health code violations.
It was so hot that Michael Jackson went out for ice cream by himself!
As you know Michael Jackson was found not guilty on all ten counts. Now he says he wants to just go back to his normal reclusive whack job self.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Things Overheard During The Michael Jackson Verdict
1. Another case of a white guy getting preferential treatment!
2. Wait, have Tito, Latoya and Jermaine always been on the jury?
3. Michael, good news - I just saved 15 percent on my car insurance by switching to Geico.
4. We the jury find the defendant...creepy.
5. Do you think this'll be on the news tonight?
6. I'm a celebrity in an L.A. courtroom - I like my chances.
7. No, I think he'll do fine in prison.
8. Will Mr. Blake and Mr. Simpson please keep the laughter down?
9. Of course he's nervous - look how pale he is.
10. We the jury find the defendant not guilty - oh God, did I say the wrong one?
Friday, June 17, 2005
White House Blasts Durbin for 'Nazi' Smear
WASHINGTON - The White House said a senator's comparison of American interrogators at Guantanamo Bay to Nazis, Soviet gulags and Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot was reprehensible and a disservice to those serving in the military.
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said it is "beyond belief" that Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin would compare treatment of dangerous enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay to the death of millions of innocent people by oppressive regimes.
"Our men and women in uniform go out of their way to treat detainees humanely, and they go out of their way to uphold the values and the laws that we hold so dear in this country," McClellan said.
Durbin, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, made the comparison during a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday after reading an FBI agent's report describing detainees at the Naval base in Guantanamo Bay as being chained to the floor without food or water in extreme temperatures.
"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others - that had no concern for human beings," Durbin said.
Said McClellan: "I think the senator's remarks are reprehensible. It's a real disservice to our men and women in uniform who adhere to high standards and uphold our values and our laws."
A Durbin spokesman said Wednesday that the senator did not plan to apologize for the comments. The senator issued a statement saying it's the administration that should apologize "for abandoning the Geneva Conventions and authorizing torture techniques that put our troops at risk and make Americans less secure."
Human-rights groups and other congressional Democrats have accused the administration of unjustly detaining suspects at Guantanamo. Amnesty International recently called the prison "the gulag of our time" and some Republicans have questioned whether it should remain open.
Several Republican senators, including John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas, also criticized Durbin's comments in speeches Thursday.
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Durbin Praised By Al-Jazeera
Don't Apologize, Senator Durbin.
You've Told Us Who Democrats Really Are
Do Durbin's Contributors Agree?
White House Castigates Durbin for Remarks
WASHINGTON - The White House said a senator's comparison of American interrogators at Guantanamo Bay to Nazis, Soviet gulags and Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot was reprehensible and a disservice to those serving in the military.
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said it is "beyond belief" that Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin would compare treatment of dangerous enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay to the death of millions of innocent people by oppressive regimes.
"Our men and women in uniform go out of their way to treat detainees humanely, and they go out of their way to uphold the values and the laws that we hold so dear in this country," McClellan said.
Durbin, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, made the comparison during a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday after reading an FBI agent's report describing detainees at the Naval base in Guantanamo Bay as being chained to the floor without food or water in extreme temperatures.
"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others - that had no concern for human beings," Durbin said.
Said McClellan: "I think the senator's remarks are reprehensible. It's a real disservice to our men and women in uniform who adhere to high standards and uphold our values and our laws."
A Durbin spokesman said Wednesday that the senator did not plan to apologize for the comments. The senator issued a statement saying it's the administration that should apologize "for abandoning the Geneva Conventions and authorizing torture techniques that put our troops at risk and make Americans less secure."
Human-rights groups and other congressional Democrats have accused the administration of unjustly detaining suspects at Guantanamo. Amnesty International recently called the prison "the gulag of our time" and some Republicans have questioned whether it should remain open.
Several Republican senators, including John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas, also criticized Durbin's comments in speeches Thursday.
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Durbin Praised By Al-Jazeera
Don't Apologize, Senator Durbin.
You've Told Us Who Democrats Really Are
Do Durbin's Contributors Agree?
White House Castigates Durbin for Remarks
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Sen. Durbin: Gitmo GI's Behaved Like 'Nazis'
Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin compared U.S. troops to Hitler's concentration camp guards on Tuesday, saying that the way American soldiers treated terrorists at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay reminded him of the "Nazis."
Citing FBI accounts of terrorist detainees forced to go without heat or air conditioning, Durbin told the Senate:
"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no concern for human beings."
"Sadly, that is not the case," added the number two Senate Democrat. "This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners."
Durbin's comments outraged radio host Rush Limbaugh, who was the first to broadcast the Illinois Democrat's remarks.
Senator Durbin Should Be Ashamed
"Senator, I'm embarrassed for you," Limbaugh told his audience. "I'm embarrassed that you are an American. I'm embarrassed that you are a United States Senator. This is just over the top for you to draw this analogy."
Limbaugh noted that the heat endured by detainees at Guantanamo is actually less extreme than conditions faced by U.S. troops in Iraq.
"In Iraq right now where our troops are wearing all that body armor, it's 130 degrees, senator. It's 130 degrees in Iraq! It's 130 degrees around the country where a lot of our troops are working. It's freezing in parts of the world where our troops are working. It's hotter in Iraq than it is in a cell at Gitmo, where we have a terrorists who wants to blow up Americans that we're trying to get information from them."
The Nazis were literally brutal. We have nothing in common with them. The Soviets and their gulags? The Soviets killed over 1.7 million people in their gulags alone. Many of their gulags were in Siberia, where it's often below zero on a daily basis. That's not Guantanamo Bay and what we did -- and Pol Pot? The Khmer Rouge in Cambodia? Pol Pot was a mass murderer of his own citizens.
Over two million Cambodians mass murdered by Pol Pot. Now, I don't care whatever you think of this description of what happened to this one detainee.
This is just absurd. We don't deserve to win this war as long as we have people like Dick Durbin in the US Senate. We don't deserve to win it when we got Durbin and his colleagues like Pat Leahy doing everything they can to undermine it.
We're not a great enough country. We are spawning people like this that idiots in Illinois elect to send to the Senate. We don't deserve to win it. We deserve to lose this war. If we're going to be led by such idiocy and such ignorance as this, we deserve to lose it, folks. There's a price to pay for having this kind of thinking at the highest levels of government.
Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin compared U.S. troops to Hitler's concentration camp guards on Tuesday, saying that the way American soldiers treated terrorists at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay reminded him of the "Nazis."
Citing FBI accounts of terrorist detainees forced to go without heat or air conditioning, Durbin told the Senate:
"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no concern for human beings."
"Sadly, that is not the case," added the number two Senate Democrat. "This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners."
Durbin's comments outraged radio host Rush Limbaugh, who was the first to broadcast the Illinois Democrat's remarks.
Senator Durbin Should Be Ashamed
"Senator, I'm embarrassed for you," Limbaugh told his audience. "I'm embarrassed that you are an American. I'm embarrassed that you are a United States Senator. This is just over the top for you to draw this analogy."
Limbaugh noted that the heat endured by detainees at Guantanamo is actually less extreme than conditions faced by U.S. troops in Iraq.
"In Iraq right now where our troops are wearing all that body armor, it's 130 degrees, senator. It's 130 degrees in Iraq! It's 130 degrees around the country where a lot of our troops are working. It's freezing in parts of the world where our troops are working. It's hotter in Iraq than it is in a cell at Gitmo, where we have a terrorists who wants to blow up Americans that we're trying to get information from them."
The Nazis were literally brutal. We have nothing in common with them. The Soviets and their gulags? The Soviets killed over 1.7 million people in their gulags alone. Many of their gulags were in Siberia, where it's often below zero on a daily basis. That's not Guantanamo Bay and what we did -- and Pol Pot? The Khmer Rouge in Cambodia? Pol Pot was a mass murderer of his own citizens.
Over two million Cambodians mass murdered by Pol Pot. Now, I don't care whatever you think of this description of what happened to this one detainee.
This is just absurd. We don't deserve to win this war as long as we have people like Dick Durbin in the US Senate. We don't deserve to win it when we got Durbin and his colleagues like Pat Leahy doing everything they can to undermine it.
We're not a great enough country. We are spawning people like this that idiots in Illinois elect to send to the Senate. We don't deserve to win it. We deserve to lose this war. If we're going to be led by such idiocy and such ignorance as this, we deserve to lose it, folks. There's a price to pay for having this kind of thinking at the highest levels of government.
Pictures Of The Day
More great pictures from You. The new website "Pictures Of The Day", will give us a place to share your pictures with others.
Anti-American Memorial
More great pictures from You. The new website "Pictures Of The Day", will give us a place to share your pictures with others.
Anti-American Memorial
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Laughable Liberals Haven't Learned Anything
CHENEY: Well, I think Howard Dean is over the top. (chuckles) I've never been able to understand his appeal. Maybe his mother loved him, but I never met anybody who does. He's never won anything, as best I can tell. He ran for president and lost all the primaries and now the Democrats have seen fit to make him their national chairman.
RUSH: Now, what's funny about this is that the media that I've seen today is just excoriating Cheney for keeping this alive. "You know, it's one thing for Dean to say this, but Cheney is real low-ball here to keep this alive. This is just horrible. Gotta mention his mother, I mean, that's just low politics, that's just low blow politics. Why in the world would Cheney do this?"
Then some Democrats are saying, "This is great, this is great, we're getting under their skin and so forth." Here is Dean's response.
DEAN: My view is that Fox News is a propaganda outlaw for the Republican Party and I don't comment on Fox News.
RUSH: The libs haven't learned anything. They haven't learned diddly-squat, and if they keep this up -- we talk about this all the time - this isn't inspiring anybody. This is not broadening their base. The media is not helping the Democrats like they think they are. Dean is not helping the Democrats. In fact, I think it's just laughable... You know, a party chairman is supposed to go out there and broaden the base and build the base and enlarge it. It's not happening.
CHENEY: Well, I think Howard Dean is over the top. (chuckles) I've never been able to understand his appeal. Maybe his mother loved him, but I never met anybody who does. He's never won anything, as best I can tell. He ran for president and lost all the primaries and now the Democrats have seen fit to make him their national chairman.
RUSH: Now, what's funny about this is that the media that I've seen today is just excoriating Cheney for keeping this alive. "You know, it's one thing for Dean to say this, but Cheney is real low-ball here to keep this alive. This is just horrible. Gotta mention his mother, I mean, that's just low politics, that's just low blow politics. Why in the world would Cheney do this?"
Then some Democrats are saying, "This is great, this is great, we're getting under their skin and so forth." Here is Dean's response.
DEAN: My view is that Fox News is a propaganda outlaw for the Republican Party and I don't comment on Fox News.
RUSH: The libs haven't learned anything. They haven't learned diddly-squat, and if they keep this up -- we talk about this all the time - this isn't inspiring anybody. This is not broadening their base. The media is not helping the Democrats like they think they are. Dean is not helping the Democrats. In fact, I think it's just laughable... You know, a party chairman is supposed to go out there and broaden the base and build the base and enlarge it. It's not happening.
Pictures Of The Day
More great pictures from You. The new website "Pictures Of The Day", will give us a place to share your pictures with others.
Howard
More great pictures from You. The new website "Pictures Of The Day", will give us a place to share your pictures with others.
Howard
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Late-Night Jokes
Leno
Kinda slow news day. Did anything happen today? Good news for Michael Jackson, not guilty on ten counts! The bad news - he's going to Disneyland!
I tell you Michael Jackson was so happy with the verdict, when he got back to the Neverland Ranch, he gave all the cleaning monkeys the rest of the day off.
Well it’s over. Thank god. Now Michael can go back to just being a regular guy. Watch the game, have a brewskie.
Did you hear about this? This is absolutely true - according to "Time” magazine, Christina Aguilera’s music is being used down at Guantanamo Bay to torture prisoners. They’re torturing the prisoners by playing Christina Aguilera’s music. You know I can’t help thinking if they’d only used John Tesh this war on terror could have ended so much sooner.
Some politicians now want to close Guantanamo prison. They want to get rid of our interrogators. Why can’t we outsource these jobs to India? If you want to torture people, put them on hold for that computer tech support line in New Delhi for half an hour.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has downplayed the idea of closing down the prison at Guantanamo Bay. He said it would raise questions of where to send the prisoners. He’s got a point. We can’t just leave them there in Cuba – because in a couple of days they’d all be here.
I went to see "Crash” this weekend. Not the movie, the Mike Tyson fight.
Kevin McBride defeated Mike Tyson Saturday night. Did you see it? Whew! What happened to Tyson? That desk clerk in New York put up a better fight against Russell Crowe.
McBride is not a good fighter, last week he lost to Hillary Swank!
Mike Tyson says he’s quitting boxing. You know when a boxer knows when it’s time to quit? When you start losing to white guys.
Evander Holyfield was shocked to hear that Mike Tyson was retiring. He said, "Tyson quitting? I can’t believe my ear!”
It’s happened again folks – this time a woman in Florida claims she’s found the image of Jesus on a sour cream and onion potato chip. The bad news: she didn’t notice the Jesus chip until she had already eaten the 12 apostles.
Letterman
The verdict is in and Michael Jackson is not guilty on all charges. However, his plastic surgeon was found guilty on all counts.
This just in…Saddam Hussein wants his trial moved to Santa Maria, California.
After the trial the press was talking to the jurors and one of the jurors said that Michael’s innocence was as plain as the nose on his face.
Michael had lots of supporters. In fact even if convicted his chimp said that he would wait for Michael.
We knew the jury was close to a verdict today because earlier they asked the judge to see O.J.’s glove.
Michael said he was thankful for the California legal system and a jury of 12 dumbasses.
Leno
Kinda slow news day. Did anything happen today? Good news for Michael Jackson, not guilty on ten counts! The bad news - he's going to Disneyland!
I tell you Michael Jackson was so happy with the verdict, when he got back to the Neverland Ranch, he gave all the cleaning monkeys the rest of the day off.
Well it’s over. Thank god. Now Michael can go back to just being a regular guy. Watch the game, have a brewskie.
Did you hear about this? This is absolutely true - according to "Time” magazine, Christina Aguilera’s music is being used down at Guantanamo Bay to torture prisoners. They’re torturing the prisoners by playing Christina Aguilera’s music. You know I can’t help thinking if they’d only used John Tesh this war on terror could have ended so much sooner.
Some politicians now want to close Guantanamo prison. They want to get rid of our interrogators. Why can’t we outsource these jobs to India? If you want to torture people, put them on hold for that computer tech support line in New Delhi for half an hour.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has downplayed the idea of closing down the prison at Guantanamo Bay. He said it would raise questions of where to send the prisoners. He’s got a point. We can’t just leave them there in Cuba – because in a couple of days they’d all be here.
I went to see "Crash” this weekend. Not the movie, the Mike Tyson fight.
Kevin McBride defeated Mike Tyson Saturday night. Did you see it? Whew! What happened to Tyson? That desk clerk in New York put up a better fight against Russell Crowe.
McBride is not a good fighter, last week he lost to Hillary Swank!
Mike Tyson says he’s quitting boxing. You know when a boxer knows when it’s time to quit? When you start losing to white guys.
Evander Holyfield was shocked to hear that Mike Tyson was retiring. He said, "Tyson quitting? I can’t believe my ear!”
It’s happened again folks – this time a woman in Florida claims she’s found the image of Jesus on a sour cream and onion potato chip. The bad news: she didn’t notice the Jesus chip until she had already eaten the 12 apostles.
Letterman
The verdict is in and Michael Jackson is not guilty on all charges. However, his plastic surgeon was found guilty on all counts.
This just in…Saddam Hussein wants his trial moved to Santa Maria, California.
After the trial the press was talking to the jurors and one of the jurors said that Michael’s innocence was as plain as the nose on his face.
Michael had lots of supporters. In fact even if convicted his chimp said that he would wait for Michael.
We knew the jury was close to a verdict today because earlier they asked the judge to see O.J.’s glove.
Michael said he was thankful for the California legal system and a jury of 12 dumbasses.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Late-Night Jokes
Leno
Still no verdict in the Michael Jackson trial. They say because of cash-flow problems at the Neverland Ranch, feeding time has been reduced from twice a day to just once per day. And that's just for Michael’s brothers.
Supposedly, Michael is 270 million dollars in debt. In fact, the last time Michael Jackson was in the black was, well...when he was black.
A large group of Democrats are going to Europe this week. Not on fact finding trip, they're just distancing themselves from Howard Dean.
A lot of Republicans have now come forward to criticize Howard Dean for his latest comments about the Republican Party. They say if he wants to insult people and make outrageous statements he should do what Republicans do get a talk show on the Fox News Channel.
A London man was hospitalized yesterday after being attacked by a crow. Apparently, the crow threw a phone at him.
In Washington, D.C. this week, passengers were forced off a greyhound bus when it caught fire. No one was injured. Of course greyhound used their usual evacuation procedure...women and drifters first.
What happened was apparently a spark from one passenger's crack pipe ignited another passenger's jar of moonshine, the whole thing totally exploded.
Tomorrow night, Mike Tyson is fighting on pay-per-view. Boy, it's great to see Mike punching people for money again.
Mike got a 60/40 deal for the fight. The IRS gets 60, Don King gets the other 40.
The film "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" opens today. Who’s in that? You haven't heard anything about the movie. It’s about a bored couple who constantly try to kill each other. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"? Sounds more like Mr. and Mrs. Clinton.
Tom Cruise has agreed to star in "Mission Impossible 3". In this one, his impossible mission is explaining the plots of the first two "Mission Impossible" movies.
Leno
Still no verdict in the Michael Jackson trial. They say because of cash-flow problems at the Neverland Ranch, feeding time has been reduced from twice a day to just once per day. And that's just for Michael’s brothers.
Supposedly, Michael is 270 million dollars in debt. In fact, the last time Michael Jackson was in the black was, well...when he was black.
A large group of Democrats are going to Europe this week. Not on fact finding trip, they're just distancing themselves from Howard Dean.
A lot of Republicans have now come forward to criticize Howard Dean for his latest comments about the Republican Party. They say if he wants to insult people and make outrageous statements he should do what Republicans do get a talk show on the Fox News Channel.
A London man was hospitalized yesterday after being attacked by a crow. Apparently, the crow threw a phone at him.
In Washington, D.C. this week, passengers were forced off a greyhound bus when it caught fire. No one was injured. Of course greyhound used their usual evacuation procedure...women and drifters first.
What happened was apparently a spark from one passenger's crack pipe ignited another passenger's jar of moonshine, the whole thing totally exploded.
Tomorrow night, Mike Tyson is fighting on pay-per-view. Boy, it's great to see Mike punching people for money again.
Mike got a 60/40 deal for the fight. The IRS gets 60, Don King gets the other 40.
The film "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" opens today. Who’s in that? You haven't heard anything about the movie. It’s about a bored couple who constantly try to kill each other. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"? Sounds more like Mr. and Mrs. Clinton.
Tom Cruise has agreed to star in "Mission Impossible 3". In this one, his impossible mission is explaining the plots of the first two "Mission Impossible" movies.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Late-Night Jokes
Leno
Of course the big story is Hillary Clinton will probably be running for president in 2008. You know why I think she's running? I think she wants to find out what it's like to sleep in the president's bed.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has asked bush to join him in asking other countries to forgive Africa’s debt. President Bush said he'd like to help but he's still trying to convince Americans to forgive him for our debt.
Howard Dean causing controversy again, or as he's now called Dr. Dean & Mr. Hyde.
In a speech yesterday in San Francisco he said the Republicans all look the same behave the same and are a white Christian party. Apparently it's not as diverse as his home state of Vermont!
The Coast Guard has apprehended a group of Cubans off of Key West trying to sail here in an old blue taxi cab. Turns out the cab driver was taking them the long way to the airport.
The Jackson jury only deliberated for a half day today and left without reaching a decision. The jurors said they didn't want to leave early but, a couple of them had publicity shoots for their book deals.
Former child star, "Home Alone" star, Macaulay Culkin pleaded guilty yesterday to drug charges. Which is kind of ironic, if he went to prison, he could wind in bed again with Michael Jackson.
Jesse Jackson has been Michael’s spiritual advisor through the trial. Michael Jackson has had spiritual advisors throughout his career. But none of them have really worked out. You know what they need out at that Neverland Ranch? Catholic nuns with rulers... "Keep you hands off that boy."
According to "Sports Illustrated", a winery has just come out with a NASCAR wine. It's pretty fancy too. It comes in the two or four gallon box for those special occasions.
Madonna has a new children's book out now that teaches kids that money can't buy happiness. It can buy a mansion in England, it can buy a bunch of cars, it can buy a private jet, but it can't buy happiness. And apparently it also can't buy you acting lessons either.
Letterman
Tonight’s program is a rerun. I’m actually in the hospital after being beaten senseless by Russell Crowe.
Russell Crowe was on the show last night. He’s everywhere, this morning he threw a plate of lasagna at Tony Danza.
Remember that Saddam Hussein? We invaded Iraq, found him hiding in a hole, there he was, pulled him out, now he’s on trial soon and he’s already picked out his courtroom underpants.
He’s being charged with invading Kuwait, attacking Iran and throwing a telephone at a hotel clerk.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Ways George Bush Can Regain His Popularity
10. Jump on Oprah's couch while professing his love for Katie Holmes.
9. Resign.
8. Ditch the librarian and make Eva Longoria First Lady.
7. Get Saddam to switch to boxers.
6. Use weekly radio address to give Americans a Van Halen twofer.
5. Replace his "country simpleton" persona with more lovable "hillbilly idiot" image.
4. Figure out a way for the Yankees to win a game.
3. Try fixing Iraq, creating some jobs, reducing the deficit and maybe capturing Osama.
2. Use diplomacy to bring peace to Brad, Jen and Angelina.
1. Dip into social security fund to give every American free HBO.
Leno
Of course the big story is Hillary Clinton will probably be running for president in 2008. You know why I think she's running? I think she wants to find out what it's like to sleep in the president's bed.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has asked bush to join him in asking other countries to forgive Africa’s debt. President Bush said he'd like to help but he's still trying to convince Americans to forgive him for our debt.
Howard Dean causing controversy again, or as he's now called Dr. Dean & Mr. Hyde.
In a speech yesterday in San Francisco he said the Republicans all look the same behave the same and are a white Christian party. Apparently it's not as diverse as his home state of Vermont!
The Coast Guard has apprehended a group of Cubans off of Key West trying to sail here in an old blue taxi cab. Turns out the cab driver was taking them the long way to the airport.
The Jackson jury only deliberated for a half day today and left without reaching a decision. The jurors said they didn't want to leave early but, a couple of them had publicity shoots for their book deals.
Former child star, "Home Alone" star, Macaulay Culkin pleaded guilty yesterday to drug charges. Which is kind of ironic, if he went to prison, he could wind in bed again with Michael Jackson.
Jesse Jackson has been Michael’s spiritual advisor through the trial. Michael Jackson has had spiritual advisors throughout his career. But none of them have really worked out. You know what they need out at that Neverland Ranch? Catholic nuns with rulers... "Keep you hands off that boy."
According to "Sports Illustrated", a winery has just come out with a NASCAR wine. It's pretty fancy too. It comes in the two or four gallon box for those special occasions.
Madonna has a new children's book out now that teaches kids that money can't buy happiness. It can buy a mansion in England, it can buy a bunch of cars, it can buy a private jet, but it can't buy happiness. And apparently it also can't buy you acting lessons either.
Letterman
Tonight’s program is a rerun. I’m actually in the hospital after being beaten senseless by Russell Crowe.
Russell Crowe was on the show last night. He’s everywhere, this morning he threw a plate of lasagna at Tony Danza.
Remember that Saddam Hussein? We invaded Iraq, found him hiding in a hole, there he was, pulled him out, now he’s on trial soon and he’s already picked out his courtroom underpants.
He’s being charged with invading Kuwait, attacking Iran and throwing a telephone at a hotel clerk.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Ways George Bush Can Regain His Popularity
10. Jump on Oprah's couch while professing his love for Katie Holmes.
9. Resign.
8. Ditch the librarian and make Eva Longoria First Lady.
7. Get Saddam to switch to boxers.
6. Use weekly radio address to give Americans a Van Halen twofer.
5. Replace his "country simpleton" persona with more lovable "hillbilly idiot" image.
4. Figure out a way for the Yankees to win a game.
3. Try fixing Iraq, creating some jobs, reducing the deficit and maybe capturing Osama.
2. Use diplomacy to bring peace to Brad, Jen and Angelina.
1. Dip into social security fund to give every American free HBO.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Late-Night Jokes
Leno
Welcome to "The Tonight Show”. A special welcome to the United States Navy. Let’s see what’s going on - as I’m sure you know, on Monday the Supreme Court ruled against the use of medical marijuana. Of course this came as a big shock to marijuana advocates, who showed up to argue the case today.
In a big speech at a fundraiser the other night, Hillary said, "I stay awake at night thinking about all the mistakes and bad decisions being made in Washington.” Well of course she was up anyway waiting for Bill to come home.
Bill Clinton’s book "My Life” is out in paperback. And he updated the book with stuff that wasn’t in the original. In fact, they mention it right on the cover. Joey, hand me that will you…. (Drop-in: Jay holds up Clinton book, on the cover we add "10 new chicks.”)
This story is everywhere. It’s been revealed that John Kerry’s grades were lower than President Bush. He had a lower grade point average than President Bush. That’s like losing a spelling bee to Jessica Simpson.
Did you hear about this? Up at the Canadian border they let a hitchhiker cross into Maine carrying a homemade sword, a hatchet, a knife, brass knuckles and a chainsaw stained by blood. It was Howard Dean.
The movie "Cinderella Man” made $18.6 million at the box office this past weekend. Or as Russell Crowe calls it, "bail money”.
You know about that? Russell’s been accused of throwing a telephone at an employee at a hotel in New York. To give you an idea what a macho guy Russell is, turns out it was a pay phone.
According to "Sports Illustrated”, a winery is coming out with a NASCAR wine. Which will finally answer the question, which wine goes with chili corn dogs?
Apparently there are two types of NASCAR wine: red neck or the white trash.
Conan
If Michael Jackson is convicted he could end up in the same prison as Charles Manson. Charles Manson heard this and said, "I hope not, that guy is nuts.”
Leno
Welcome to "The Tonight Show”. A special welcome to the United States Navy. Let’s see what’s going on - as I’m sure you know, on Monday the Supreme Court ruled against the use of medical marijuana. Of course this came as a big shock to marijuana advocates, who showed up to argue the case today.
In a big speech at a fundraiser the other night, Hillary said, "I stay awake at night thinking about all the mistakes and bad decisions being made in Washington.” Well of course she was up anyway waiting for Bill to come home.
Bill Clinton’s book "My Life” is out in paperback. And he updated the book with stuff that wasn’t in the original. In fact, they mention it right on the cover. Joey, hand me that will you…. (Drop-in: Jay holds up Clinton book, on the cover we add "10 new chicks.”)
This story is everywhere. It’s been revealed that John Kerry’s grades were lower than President Bush. He had a lower grade point average than President Bush. That’s like losing a spelling bee to Jessica Simpson.
Did you hear about this? Up at the Canadian border they let a hitchhiker cross into Maine carrying a homemade sword, a hatchet, a knife, brass knuckles and a chainsaw stained by blood. It was Howard Dean.
The movie "Cinderella Man” made $18.6 million at the box office this past weekend. Or as Russell Crowe calls it, "bail money”.
You know about that? Russell’s been accused of throwing a telephone at an employee at a hotel in New York. To give you an idea what a macho guy Russell is, turns out it was a pay phone.
According to "Sports Illustrated”, a winery is coming out with a NASCAR wine. Which will finally answer the question, which wine goes with chili corn dogs?
Apparently there are two types of NASCAR wine: red neck or the white trash.
Conan
If Michael Jackson is convicted he could end up in the same prison as Charles Manson. Charles Manson heard this and said, "I hope not, that guy is nuts.”
Friday, June 10, 2005
Amnesty Int'l Aided 9/11 Plotter
The human rights group Amnesty International - which accuses America of running a "gulag" at Guantanamo Bay - apparently aided in the escape of a key al-Qaida member who's suspected of helping plan the 9/11 attacks.
Just two months after the World Trade Center was destroyed, Amnesty issued one of its "URGENT ACTION" reports on behalf of Ahmed Hikmat Shakir, who was then being detained by Jordanian security forces in connection with a planning session for the 9/11 attacks.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Amnesty complained that Shakir was being held in "incommunicado detention and is at risk of torture or ill-treatment." Saddam Hussein - the only Mideast leader to publicly praise the 9/11 attacks - also weighed in on Shakir's behalf.
"Pressure from Amnesty and Saddam Hussein worked," the Journal said. "Mr. Shakir was released and hasn't been seen since."
Shakir was present at a January 2000 al-Qaida summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the 9/11 plot was reviewed. Two of the actual 9/11 hijackers were also at the same meeting.
When he was arrested in Qatar not long after the 9/11 attacks, Shakir had telephone numbers for the safe houses of the 1993 World Trade Center bombers.
But for the intervention of Amnesty International, Shakir might be in Guantanamo today - undergoing grilling by U.S. interrogators about al-Qaida's plans for the next 9/11.
The human rights group Amnesty International - which accuses America of running a "gulag" at Guantanamo Bay - apparently aided in the escape of a key al-Qaida member who's suspected of helping plan the 9/11 attacks.
Just two months after the World Trade Center was destroyed, Amnesty issued one of its "URGENT ACTION" reports on behalf of Ahmed Hikmat Shakir, who was then being detained by Jordanian security forces in connection with a planning session for the 9/11 attacks.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Amnesty complained that Shakir was being held in "incommunicado detention and is at risk of torture or ill-treatment." Saddam Hussein - the only Mideast leader to publicly praise the 9/11 attacks - also weighed in on Shakir's behalf.
"Pressure from Amnesty and Saddam Hussein worked," the Journal said. "Mr. Shakir was released and hasn't been seen since."
Shakir was present at a January 2000 al-Qaida summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the 9/11 plot was reviewed. Two of the actual 9/11 hijackers were also at the same meeting.
When he was arrested in Qatar not long after the 9/11 attacks, Shakir had telephone numbers for the safe houses of the 1993 World Trade Center bombers.
But for the intervention of Amnesty International, Shakir might be in Guantanamo today - undergoing grilling by U.S. interrogators about al-Qaida's plans for the next 9/11.
Pictures Of The Day
More great pictures from You. The new website "Pictures Of The Day", will give us a place to share your pictures with others.
Amnesty International
More great pictures from You. The new website "Pictures Of The Day", will give us a place to share your pictures with others.
Amnesty International
Thursday, June 9, 2005
Democrats Fear Christians
DEAN: The Republicans are not very friendly to different kinds of people. They're a pretty monolithic party, they're pretty much, you know, they all behave the same, they all look the same, and they all, you know, it's pretty much a white Christian party -- and the Democrats adopt everybody they can think of in our party.
RUSH: You have to understand that as Dean uses "white Christian party" is a pejorative. Let me tell you something. The Democrats are more fearful... They're more fearful of Christians than they are of Al-Qaeda.
The Democrats are more fearful of Christians than they are of Islamist terrorists living in this country. They are more fearful of Christians than they are of any enemy of the United States of America. They probably have more fear of Christians than they do nuclear weapons being launched by North Korea, and there's a reason for it.
There is a substantive reason for it. These people are secularists. The vast majority of the left -- not all, but the vast majority of the left and the vast majority of Democrats -- are secularists. They want no guardrails in life.
To them, government is God. Government is God. The Constitution that's being written by liberal judges is their Bible, and that constitution is something that is results oriented and always grows the government and is always institutionalizing their beliefs, and Christianity and related Judeo-Christian religions are nothing more than a threat.
They are a very solid competitor to the lack of values. What do you think moderates are? Moderates are people that don't have values and core. If they were, they wouldn't be moderates.
The liberals have their own values, but they are in direct opposition to many of the values that were established at the founding of the country. So they have a tremendous amount of fear, and if you don't understand it now, it would be wise to accept it.
DEAN: The Republicans are not very friendly to different kinds of people. They're a pretty monolithic party, they're pretty much, you know, they all behave the same, they all look the same, and they all, you know, it's pretty much a white Christian party -- and the Democrats adopt everybody they can think of in our party.
RUSH: You have to understand that as Dean uses "white Christian party" is a pejorative. Let me tell you something. The Democrats are more fearful... They're more fearful of Christians than they are of Al-Qaeda.
The Democrats are more fearful of Christians than they are of Islamist terrorists living in this country. They are more fearful of Christians than they are of any enemy of the United States of America. They probably have more fear of Christians than they do nuclear weapons being launched by North Korea, and there's a reason for it.
There is a substantive reason for it. These people are secularists. The vast majority of the left -- not all, but the vast majority of the left and the vast majority of Democrats -- are secularists. They want no guardrails in life.
To them, government is God. Government is God. The Constitution that's being written by liberal judges is their Bible, and that constitution is something that is results oriented and always grows the government and is always institutionalizing their beliefs, and Christianity and related Judeo-Christian religions are nothing more than a threat.
They are a very solid competitor to the lack of values. What do you think moderates are? Moderates are people that don't have values and core. If they were, they wouldn't be moderates.
The liberals have their own values, but they are in direct opposition to many of the values that were established at the founding of the country. So they have a tremendous amount of fear, and if you don't understand it now, it would be wise to accept it.
Wednesday, June 8, 2005
Jimmy Buffett Loses Cell Phone
The big names on Buffett's phone included Clinton, Al Gore and Jimmy Carter, country stars Clint Black, George Strait and Alan Jackson, actors George Clooney, Michael Douglas and Harrison Ford, and Microsoft chief Bill Gates.
If Bill Clinton was the victim of a crank telephone call, don’t blame the Republicans - he can thank his fellow Democrat Jimmy Buffett.
It all started when a 22-year-old busboy at a Delray Beach, Fla., restaurant, Jason Martin, found the singer's cell phone on May 29 after Buffett had left.
Martin and his friends "were scrolling down the list on Jimmy's phone, going 'Wow!'" Martin told Palm Beach Post "Page Two" columnist Jose Lambiet.
On May 30 a Buffett friend called the cell phone number and Martin answered.
"He said I was a thief and a liar," Martin told Lambiet. "Then I called [Buffett's wife] Jane's number and she was nasty to me. So I told them I wouldn't give it back."
Buffett called the restaurant's owner, who fired Martin and notified police.
Martin soon received a visit from cops and a U.S. Secret Service agent because of Clinton's and Carter's numbers on the phone.
Martin surrendered the phone – but the memory card containing names, phone numbers and some addresses is missing.
Martin claims he didn't call anyone on the list, but according to the police report, he said some of his friends might have crank-called Clinton.
Buffett confirmed to Lambiet that "whoever had the phone may have called a couple of my contacts.
"It's a person's worst nightmare."
The big names on Buffett's phone included Clinton, Al Gore and Jimmy Carter, country stars Clint Black, George Strait and Alan Jackson, actors George Clooney, Michael Douglas and Harrison Ford, and Microsoft chief Bill Gates.
If Bill Clinton was the victim of a crank telephone call, don’t blame the Republicans - he can thank his fellow Democrat Jimmy Buffett.
It all started when a 22-year-old busboy at a Delray Beach, Fla., restaurant, Jason Martin, found the singer's cell phone on May 29 after Buffett had left.
Martin and his friends "were scrolling down the list on Jimmy's phone, going 'Wow!'" Martin told Palm Beach Post "Page Two" columnist Jose Lambiet.
On May 30 a Buffett friend called the cell phone number and Martin answered.
"He said I was a thief and a liar," Martin told Lambiet. "Then I called [Buffett's wife] Jane's number and she was nasty to me. So I told them I wouldn't give it back."
Buffett called the restaurant's owner, who fired Martin and notified police.
Martin soon received a visit from cops and a U.S. Secret Service agent because of Clinton's and Carter's numbers on the phone.
Martin surrendered the phone – but the memory card containing names, phone numbers and some addresses is missing.
Martin claims he didn't call anyone on the list, but according to the police report, he said some of his friends might have crank-called Clinton.
Buffett confirmed to Lambiet that "whoever had the phone may have called a couple of my contacts.
"It's a person's worst nightmare."
Tuesday, June 7, 2005
Hillary Urges Press to Probe Bush
Mrs. Clinton repeated her call for the media to get tough with Bush, addressing reporters in absentia:
"I mean, c'mon, toughen up, guys, it's only our Constitution and country at stake. Let's get some spine."
New York Senator Hillary Clinton blasted the press on Monday for going too easy on President Bush, complaining that reporters are letting his administration get away with the worst abuse of power in American history.
"There has never been an administration, I don't believe in our history, more intent upon consolidating and abusing power to further their own agenda," said Mrs. Clinton, whose own administration collected FBI files on opponents and had accusers audited by the IRS.
Addressing a gathering of "Women for Hillary" in Manhattan, she urged journalists to go after the Bush White House.
"Where are the investigative reporters today?" she demanded, in quotes picked up by the New York Times. "Why aren't they asking the hard questions?"
Though the press has yet to question her, for instance, about an array of scandals - including reports last month that the Clinton administration's Viagra mandate ended up providing the impotence drug to sex offenders - Mrs. Clinton said she was shocked by the press' pro-Bush bias.
"It's shocking when you see how easily they fold in the media today," she complained. "They don't stand their ground. If they're criticized by the White House, they just fall apart."
Mrs. Clinton repeated her call for the media to get tough with Bush, addressing reporters in absentia:
"I mean, c'mon, toughen up, guys, it's only our Constitution and country at stake. Let's get some spine."
New York Senator Hillary Clinton blasted the press on Monday for going too easy on President Bush, complaining that reporters are letting his administration get away with the worst abuse of power in American history.
"There has never been an administration, I don't believe in our history, more intent upon consolidating and abusing power to further their own agenda," said Mrs. Clinton, whose own administration collected FBI files on opponents and had accusers audited by the IRS.
Addressing a gathering of "Women for Hillary" in Manhattan, she urged journalists to go after the Bush White House.
"Where are the investigative reporters today?" she demanded, in quotes picked up by the New York Times. "Why aren't they asking the hard questions?"
Though the press has yet to question her, for instance, about an array of scandals - including reports last month that the Clinton administration's Viagra mandate ended up providing the impotence drug to sex offenders - Mrs. Clinton said she was shocked by the press' pro-Bush bias.
"It's shocking when you see how easily they fold in the media today," she complained. "They don't stand their ground. If they're criticized by the White House, they just fall apart."
Monday, June 6, 2005
Late-Night Jokes
Leno
The Supreme Court has ruled that medicinal marijuana use is illegal. That ought to teach those people to come down with cancer!
I tried to call Russell Crowe today on the phone but couldn’t get through.
Did you hear about that? Russell Crowe threw a telephone at a hotel employee. Well that ought to teach them to charge $10 for a local call! I’m with Russell on this one.
The new Indiana Jones movie will have a younger sidekick. Hey a younger sidekick could be Wilfred Brimley.
Letterman
It’s summer time and getting hotter. It’s hot as hell right now in New York City. It’s so hot that today on my lunch break I took a walk through the park and saw a squirrel with an oven mitt on its nuts.
This just in…Russell Crowe has assaulted a hotel clerk with an ice bucket.
Conan
Huge news in the world of television. It was just announced that Ted Koppel will retire from "Nightline” this year after his contract expires. It’s now official…I will be the man with the dorkiest hair on TV.
Leno
The Supreme Court has ruled that medicinal marijuana use is illegal. That ought to teach those people to come down with cancer!
I tried to call Russell Crowe today on the phone but couldn’t get through.
Did you hear about that? Russell Crowe threw a telephone at a hotel employee. Well that ought to teach them to charge $10 for a local call! I’m with Russell on this one.
The new Indiana Jones movie will have a younger sidekick. Hey a younger sidekick could be Wilfred Brimley.
Letterman
It’s summer time and getting hotter. It’s hot as hell right now in New York City. It’s so hot that today on my lunch break I took a walk through the park and saw a squirrel with an oven mitt on its nuts.
This just in…Russell Crowe has assaulted a hotel clerk with an ice bucket.
Conan
Huge news in the world of television. It was just announced that Ted Koppel will retire from "Nightline” this year after his contract expires. It’s now official…I will be the man with the dorkiest hair on TV.
Sunday, June 5, 2005
Late Night Jokes
Leno
If Michael Jackson is acquitted he’s going to throw a big party at the Neverland Ranch. The party will be B.Y.O.B. – bring your own boy.
A recent study has found that baseball players are among the most superstitious in all of sports. The most superstitious thing a baseball player does is not to pee in a cup on drug test day.
Letterman
It was just a beautiful day here in New York. Just gorgeous. It was so sunny out that one of the guys in the "Star Wars” line was putting sun block on his light-saber.
At this time I would like to retract last night’s show and apologize for the rioting it caused.
It was such a slow news day that "Newsweek” couldn’t find anything to make up.
Leno
If Michael Jackson is acquitted he’s going to throw a big party at the Neverland Ranch. The party will be B.Y.O.B. – bring your own boy.
A recent study has found that baseball players are among the most superstitious in all of sports. The most superstitious thing a baseball player does is not to pee in a cup on drug test day.
Letterman
It was just a beautiful day here in New York. Just gorgeous. It was so sunny out that one of the guys in the "Star Wars” line was putting sun block on his light-saber.
At this time I would like to retract last night’s show and apologize for the rioting it caused.
It was such a slow news day that "Newsweek” couldn’t find anything to make up.
Saturday, June 4, 2005
Late-Night Jokes
Leno
Michael Jackson is broke. According to ABC he is broke and can’t make the payroll for the employees at the Neverland Ranch. It’s so bad that tonight the kids at the dinner table said, "Llama again?!”
Letterman
This is wonderful weather we are having. It’s a beautiful spring, everyone is in a great mood. As matter of fact over at St. Patrick’s I saw the priests loading their Super Soakers with holy water.
Are you following the "Newsweek” scandal? They published a false report on the Koran. It caused violence and rioting in Muslim countries against the U.S. Which is really too bad because up until then they really loved us.
Conan
The Vice Presidential debate was tonight. Experts say that Dick Cheney was at a disadvantage because he is short, fat and appears unhealthy. To make it worse the moderator introduced him as "The white Reuben Studdard”.
Leno
Michael Jackson is broke. According to ABC he is broke and can’t make the payroll for the employees at the Neverland Ranch. It’s so bad that tonight the kids at the dinner table said, "Llama again?!”
Letterman
This is wonderful weather we are having. It’s a beautiful spring, everyone is in a great mood. As matter of fact over at St. Patrick’s I saw the priests loading their Super Soakers with holy water.
Are you following the "Newsweek” scandal? They published a false report on the Koran. It caused violence and rioting in Muslim countries against the U.S. Which is really too bad because up until then they really loved us.
Conan
The Vice Presidential debate was tonight. Experts say that Dick Cheney was at a disadvantage because he is short, fat and appears unhealthy. To make it worse the moderator introduced him as "The white Reuben Studdard”.
Friday, June 3, 2005
Kerry Touts Bush Impeachment Memo
Failed presidential candidate John Kerry said Thursday that he intends to confront Congress with a document touted by critics of President Bush as evidence that he committed impeachable crimes by falsifying evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
"When I go back [to Washington] on Monday, I am going to raise the issue," Kerry said, referring to the Downing Street Memo in an interview with Massachusetts' Standard Times newspaper.
"I think it's a stunning, unbelievably simple and understandable statement of the truth and a profoundly important document that raises stunning issues here at home," the top Democrat added.
The Downing Street Memo, first reported on May 1 by the London Times, was drafted by a Matthew Rycroft, a foreign policy aide to Prime Minister Tony Blair. It is said to be minutes of a July 2002 meeting where Blair allegedly admitted that the Bush administration "fixed" Iraq intelligence to manufacture a rationale for war.
Citing the Downing Street Memo, former presidential candidate Ralph Nader called for an impeachment investigation on Tuesday in an op-ed piece published by the Boston Globe.
"It is time for Congress to investigate the illegal Iraq war as we move toward the third year of the endless quagmire that many security experts believe jeopardizes US safety by recruiting and training more terrorists," wrote Nader with co-author Kevin Zeese. "A Resolution of Impeachment would be a first step."
The British memo, however, contains no quotes from either Bush or Blair, and is notably slim on evidence implicating Bush in a WMD cover-up.
Though largely ignored in the U.S. outside of rabid anti-Bush Web sites like MichaelMoore.com, the Downing Street Memo won Sen. Kerry's endorsement in the Standard Times interview:
"It's amazing to me," the top Democrat said, "the way it escaped major media discussion. It's not being missed on the Internet, I can tell you that."
Failed presidential candidate John Kerry said Thursday that he intends to confront Congress with a document touted by critics of President Bush as evidence that he committed impeachable crimes by falsifying evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
"When I go back [to Washington] on Monday, I am going to raise the issue," Kerry said, referring to the Downing Street Memo in an interview with Massachusetts' Standard Times newspaper.
"I think it's a stunning, unbelievably simple and understandable statement of the truth and a profoundly important document that raises stunning issues here at home," the top Democrat added.
The Downing Street Memo, first reported on May 1 by the London Times, was drafted by a Matthew Rycroft, a foreign policy aide to Prime Minister Tony Blair. It is said to be minutes of a July 2002 meeting where Blair allegedly admitted that the Bush administration "fixed" Iraq intelligence to manufacture a rationale for war.
Citing the Downing Street Memo, former presidential candidate Ralph Nader called for an impeachment investigation on Tuesday in an op-ed piece published by the Boston Globe.
"It is time for Congress to investigate the illegal Iraq war as we move toward the third year of the endless quagmire that many security experts believe jeopardizes US safety by recruiting and training more terrorists," wrote Nader with co-author Kevin Zeese. "A Resolution of Impeachment would be a first step."
The British memo, however, contains no quotes from either Bush or Blair, and is notably slim on evidence implicating Bush in a WMD cover-up.
Though largely ignored in the U.S. outside of rabid anti-Bush Web sites like MichaelMoore.com, the Downing Street Memo won Sen. Kerry's endorsement in the Standard Times interview:
"It's amazing to me," the top Democrat said, "the way it escaped major media discussion. It's not being missed on the Internet, I can tell you that."
Pictures Of The Day
More great pictures from You. The new website "Pictures Of The Day", will give us a place to share your pictures with others.
The Bible
More great pictures from You. The new website "Pictures Of The Day", will give us a place to share your pictures with others.
The Bible
Thursday, June 2, 2005
Democrats Buying Snake Oil
At some point during last year’s Presidential campaign, several donkey watchers wondered aloud how the party of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy became the party of Michael Moore.
Terry Golway: The Moore hype has come and gone, and the Democrats seem to have put some distance between themselves and their de facto spokesman in Campaign 2004. But according to a recent and frightening article in The New Republic, the party of Michael Moore may be on the verge of becoming the party of George Lakoff.
Mr. Lakoff is a professor of linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley.
It’s worth knowing that top Democrats, including Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Dr. Dean and former Senator Minority Leader Tom Daschle, take the professor’s ideas very seriously. This is worth noting, because it will tend to confirm the widely held suspicion that highly placed members of the Democratic Party wouldn’t recognize the smell of fertilizer even if they were hip-deep in it.
We now have professors of linguistics like the distinguished George Lakoff, who advises Democrats that they ought to act more like nurturing parents in order to win the hearts of their children—or, in this case, their voters. A political boss or ward heeler would know what to do with an advisor who compares voters to children: Such an advisor would be dispatched to the sidewalk in Olympic-record time.
The Democrats, however, can’t seem to get enough of this sort of gibberish. Few could blame them for engaging in a bit of self-loathing after their awful record in recent years, but this is a bit extreme. Yes, Professor, tell us again why we are so miserable and how we might find success by becoming nurturing parents.
There are Democrats across the country, in City Halls and statehouses and township committees, who understand how to win elections. And yet, in their hour of need, top national Democrats feel the need to consult a Berkeley professor who, I’ll bet, has yet to carry his first nominating petition, work a phone bank or count heads at a county convention.
Of course, national elections require skills beyond those necessary to win local races. Republicans succeeded brilliantly in 1994 when they used overarching themes to turn local Congressional races into a national campaign based on national themes. And that example is instructive: The Gingrich revolution of 1994 was put in place and executed not by amateurs, but by bare-knuckled, head-counting political professionals.
Six years after that historic event, the 2000 Democratic Presidential candidate, Al Gore, had on his payroll somebody whose job was to advise him about the color of his clothes, in order that he might seem a more down-to-earth figure.
The problem with the Democratic Party, I’m convinced, is that its national leaders actually hate politics. That is, they hate the hard work of building a party from the bottom up, because so many of the party’s most prominent supporters, fund-raisers and advocates are used to dealing only with their fellow cultural elitists and socioeconomic meritocrats. They see each other at $1,000-a-plate dinners, but they’re hard to find at the $25-a-head affairs in the local V.F.W. hall.
No wonder they expect to find electoral salvation in campaign theory espoused by a professor of linguistics at Berkeley.
At some point during last year’s Presidential campaign, several donkey watchers wondered aloud how the party of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy became the party of Michael Moore.
Terry Golway: The Moore hype has come and gone, and the Democrats seem to have put some distance between themselves and their de facto spokesman in Campaign 2004. But according to a recent and frightening article in The New Republic, the party of Michael Moore may be on the verge of becoming the party of George Lakoff.
Mr. Lakoff is a professor of linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley.
It’s worth knowing that top Democrats, including Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Dr. Dean and former Senator Minority Leader Tom Daschle, take the professor’s ideas very seriously. This is worth noting, because it will tend to confirm the widely held suspicion that highly placed members of the Democratic Party wouldn’t recognize the smell of fertilizer even if they were hip-deep in it.
We now have professors of linguistics like the distinguished George Lakoff, who advises Democrats that they ought to act more like nurturing parents in order to win the hearts of their children—or, in this case, their voters. A political boss or ward heeler would know what to do with an advisor who compares voters to children: Such an advisor would be dispatched to the sidewalk in Olympic-record time.
The Democrats, however, can’t seem to get enough of this sort of gibberish. Few could blame them for engaging in a bit of self-loathing after their awful record in recent years, but this is a bit extreme. Yes, Professor, tell us again why we are so miserable and how we might find success by becoming nurturing parents.
There are Democrats across the country, in City Halls and statehouses and township committees, who understand how to win elections. And yet, in their hour of need, top national Democrats feel the need to consult a Berkeley professor who, I’ll bet, has yet to carry his first nominating petition, work a phone bank or count heads at a county convention.
Of course, national elections require skills beyond those necessary to win local races. Republicans succeeded brilliantly in 1994 when they used overarching themes to turn local Congressional races into a national campaign based on national themes. And that example is instructive: The Gingrich revolution of 1994 was put in place and executed not by amateurs, but by bare-knuckled, head-counting political professionals.
Six years after that historic event, the 2000 Democratic Presidential candidate, Al Gore, had on his payroll somebody whose job was to advise him about the color of his clothes, in order that he might seem a more down-to-earth figure.
The problem with the Democratic Party, I’m convinced, is that its national leaders actually hate politics. That is, they hate the hard work of building a party from the bottom up, because so many of the party’s most prominent supporters, fund-raisers and advocates are used to dealing only with their fellow cultural elitists and socioeconomic meritocrats. They see each other at $1,000-a-plate dinners, but they’re hard to find at the $25-a-head affairs in the local V.F.W. hall.
No wonder they expect to find electoral salvation in campaign theory espoused by a professor of linguistics at Berkeley.
Wednesday, June 1, 2005
Kerry: I Have Reread New Testament
While speaking to the educators and child advocates gathered in a hotel ballroom, it wasn't difficult to imagine his rhetoric, unchanged, being said at a campaign rally.
"I went back and reread the whole New Testament the other day. Nowhere in the three-year ministry of Jesus Christ did I find a suggestion at all, ever, anywhere, in any way whatsover, that you ought to take the money from the poor, the opportunities from the poor and give them to the rich people," Kerry said.
The Massachusetts senator, at a National Head Start Association conference to tout his plan to provide health care for uninsured children, hammered on familiar themes of values and unity while repeatedly criticizing the Bush administration and Republican leaders in Congress.
"We need to enlist and join together in a great cause across the country that puts a simple choice before our fellow Americans. It's a choice that, I think, is based on values," Kerry said.
"The fact is, 10 million more Americans voted for our idea of what we wanted to do than voted for Bill Clinton in 1996 when he was the sitting president of the United States," Kerry said. "The fact is, a million people volunteered. The fact is, across America we created an energy.
"And that energy is going to keep on going and keep on fighting until we achieve what we want to."
If Kerry decides to run, possible competition for the party's nomination include his former running mate, ex-N.C. Sen. John Edwards; N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton, and retired general Wesley Clark.
While speaking to the educators and child advocates gathered in a hotel ballroom, it wasn't difficult to imagine his rhetoric, unchanged, being said at a campaign rally.
"I went back and reread the whole New Testament the other day. Nowhere in the three-year ministry of Jesus Christ did I find a suggestion at all, ever, anywhere, in any way whatsover, that you ought to take the money from the poor, the opportunities from the poor and give them to the rich people," Kerry said.
The Massachusetts senator, at a National Head Start Association conference to tout his plan to provide health care for uninsured children, hammered on familiar themes of values and unity while repeatedly criticizing the Bush administration and Republican leaders in Congress.
"We need to enlist and join together in a great cause across the country that puts a simple choice before our fellow Americans. It's a choice that, I think, is based on values," Kerry said.
"The fact is, 10 million more Americans voted for our idea of what we wanted to do than voted for Bill Clinton in 1996 when he was the sitting president of the United States," Kerry said. "The fact is, a million people volunteered. The fact is, across America we created an energy.
"And that energy is going to keep on going and keep on fighting until we achieve what we want to."
If Kerry decides to run, possible competition for the party's nomination include his former running mate, ex-N.C. Sen. John Edwards; N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton, and retired general Wesley Clark.
