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The Code of DeLay: A Baroque Guide
The way that money moves in Washington and throughout government is obviously a Baroque dance, full of delicate complex patterns, furtive asides, bowing and scraping, and intrigue rivaling that of the Louis’ courts.
![AimableVainqueur[1].gif](http://www.democracycellproject.net/blog/archives/AimableVainqueur[1].gif)
A Notated Baroque Dance
Having never learned the money dance, but knowing a bit about Baroque dance, I offer the following guide to the choreography of Monsieur DeLay’s latest troubles:
L’etat du Texas has a rule: a candidate for state office cannot accept money from a corporation.
Enter Monsieur DeLay, dressed in lace and silk stockings. The outcome he hopes for: more Republican seats in Congress. The pathway to that: Seize control of the Texas state legislature and then redistrict so as to assure the election of more Republicans to the U.S Congress.
The challenge: to assure that the corporations, who are complicit in this scheme whether they know it or not, are able to give large sums to the candidates for the Texas legislature indirectly, in order to achieve the redistricting required, in order to increase Republican seats in Congress.
Opening: The stately entrance of TRMPAC, a receptor for corporate money in the state of Texas. With open arms and sweeping gestures, the dollars are gathered up and placed delicately into:
TRMPAC’s bank account
Upon which:
A check is issued from TRMPAC to the Republican National Committee.
(let us consider the balanced ornateness of this movement—how crude it would appear if money went directly from the corporations to the RNC. And how rude if the money then disappeared into unknown destinations. Control is everything in Baroque World).
The RNC deposits the check from TRMPAC into an account set up to accept corporate money. (the passepied, or passing of the buck).
The next day, the RNC sends a check for roughly the same amount back to: TRMPAC! (the renverse, or reversal). This is legal, as the RNC is not a corporation. It is also balanced and elegant, something at the top of the list of goals for true Baroque-ness. It does not need to be democratic.
TRMPAC disburses the newly cleansed money to the candidates in Texas. The Reverance—the bows, ensue. Many of the Republican candidates win their elections.
The Contredanse Section:
The pairing of man and money produces a patterned segment of the dance involving the Allemande and similar dance steps, which eventually evolved, upon their arrival in the young United States, into something that goes like this:
ALL JOIN HANDS AND CIRCLE TO THE RIGHT, ALLMANDE LEFT, BACK TO THE RIGHT, AND DO-SI-DO YOUR PART-EN-ER…YOUR CORNER, AND SWING THAT GIRL BACK HOME…
Further groupings and regroupings occur until, interestingly, the sets of couples (man and money) are redistricted so that the Republicans are sitting quite pretty, occupying the center of the hall, as well as most of the oxygen.
The Democratic state legislators do not like the way the dance is evolving, as it is clearly leaving them partner-less and on the sidelines. They leave the state.
Enter Mr. DeLay once again:
The Inquiry:
Monsieur DeLay inquires delicately of the FAA where the Democratic legislators might have landed their planes.
Brief pause. The briefest of pauses.
APOTHEOSIS:
The dance resumes as planned and all goes well, until the entrance of:
Ronnie Earle. The Decoder.
Monsieur Earle enters, dressed as Apollo, the balancer. “J’accuse”, he says, pointing at Monsieur DeLay.
“I am innocent”, cries DeLay, his overly powdered wig slipping off his damp pate. He fans himself furiously but elegantly, trying not to appear red-faced and vulgar.
Enter the Muses and Graces, draping flowers and ribbons upon Mr. Earle. “Merci, Merci”, they cry.
CODA: Bravo, Ronnie Earle, the bi-partisan defender of democracy and voting rights . It is only through such elegant balance that our democracy will be restored.
Next Time: Earle as Marat and Rove as De Sade in the 21st Century production of the play that made the French Revolution so memorable...coming soon to a country near you.
Karen,
This is hilarious and so well described. What a smart artistic comparison!
Madame Grieser and I are laughing madly at it in Paris.
When is Monsieur Delay supposed to face the Tribunal Révolutionnaire?
So when someone is actually charged with conspiracy..
It is ok to be proud to wear a tin foil hat again..?
Christy,
BE PROUD;)
Andree and DiAnne,
Hoping you are being elegant and balanced, as always...
and not OVERLY ornate...
Karen, that is exquisite...
Many kudos to the author.
Thank God the Toledo Blade is reporting about Tom Noe. More information on how he ran his illegal scam.
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050929/DEVELOPINGNEWS/50929031
Karen --
You've outdone yourself, dear... Incredible.
A favor...
please go hit the recommend button on this diary item at daily kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/30/105323/722
A MUST READ at Daily Kos by Barack Obama - my senator!!!
Tone, Truth, and the Democratic Party
by Barack Obama
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/30/102745/165
I twisting up hats for everyone
Damn I look good in tinfoil
You have got to be kidding
STEALING PENS!!!??????
'Able Danger' officer's clearance revoked
By Kimberly Hefling, Associated Press Writer | September 30, 2005
WASHINGTON --An officer who has claimed that a classified military unit identified four Sept. 11 hijackers before the 2001 attacks is facing Pentagon accusations of breaking numerous rules, allegations his lawyer suggests are aimed at undermining his credibility.
The alleged infractions by Army Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, 42, include obtaining a service medal under false pretenses, improperly flashing military identification while drunk and stealing pens, according to military paperwork shown by his attorney to The Associated Press.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/09/30/able_danger_officers_clearance_revoked?mode=PF
omg we live now totally in the relm of the lowly rediculous
I mean this guy is a REAL menace
As for the pens and other office supplies taken, he blamed that on "youthful indiscretions" more than 20 years ago.
According to the paperwork, the alleged infractions against Shaffer also include:
-- Falsely claiming $341.80 in mileage and tolls fees. He said he filed travel expenses based on what he was told by human resources staff.
-- Obtaining $67.79 in personal cell phone charges. He said the amount was a legitimate expense accrued so he could forward calls.
-- Going over his chain of command to do briefings. Shaffer said he was providing briefings to higher-ups on projects even his direct superiors did not know about, and he received superior review ratings for that time.
-- Showing irresponsibility with $2,012 in credit card debt. He said he paid off the debt.
Karen,
What a great blog header.
And more on Delay from think progress here:
DeLay Will Prove His Conspiracy Theories “When It’s Timely” »
Tom DeLay says he has “very good evidence” of a massive conspiracy between Ronnie Earle, Nancy Pelosi and other liberals. He just can’t release that information yet, can’t explain why he can’t and can’t say when he will be able to do so:
(listen here: http://thinkprogress.org/ )
to add to the intrigue:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/3228
A coalition of 120 liberal and progressive groups calling themselves VelvetRevolution.us has launched what they call the "Government Accountability Reward Fund," a $100,000 prize for information leading to the arrest and conviction of "high government officials." Specifically, they are asking for information about the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame, purported fraud in the 2004 Ohio presidential election, and bribes allegedly given to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, as reported in Vanity Fair.
A press release issued by VelvetRevolution.us is even more specific. An excerpt follows:
#
The information provided must be new and not previously provided to the press or government entity or official. The information must be verifiable and be a major contributing factor in the arrest and conviction of the government official(s). In the case of the Valerie Plame, the evidence must implicate and convict a senior White House official or officials. In the case of Dennis Hastert, the evidence must implicate and convict him. In the case of Ohio, the evidence must implicate and convict persons who actually and knowingly rigged the 2004 Presidential election in such a way that it changed the true outcome.
There have been credible news reports that senior White House officials conspired to and did knowingly and intentionally disclose the identity of Valerie Plame. Other news reports have indicated that Dennis Hastert took bribes from foreign interests and hid those bribes through political action committees. Moreover, many news reports have stated that persons rigged the election in Ohio to favor the Republicans, and now top Republican officials are under investigation and indictment in Ohio for corrupt practices.
Go to velvetrevolution.us/ for more information
On a lighter note... Ellen's birthday is today. Please post birthday wishes here:
http://www.democracycellproject.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=890
Madame:
Just read Obama. I voted for Boxer, and wish I could have dual citizenship, live in Illinois and vote for him too. The man is a true leader and great thinker.
Posted by: Fe at September 30, 2005 11:19 AM
Most definitely, Fe. I truly hope he considers representing our nation as its leader. Then you can vote for him. Think of the integrity & pride he could restore to our country... It gives me hope.
Watchdogs, Times lawyer says Justice Department
aims to plumb leaks in another case: Developing...
www.rawstory.com
PENS!!!!!
Unbelievable.
We should ALL call the Pentagon.
I'm so insulted I cant move without gagging.
PENS!!!
Next thing you know he'll be accused of stealing $400 dollar toilet seats and $200 hammers...
Military Industrial Congressional Complex.
That is the truth of it as it was initially named by Roosevelt.
This is why we must clean our house and start over.
All of them must go with the gentle message...
You're Fired!!!
My, my, we are at our most witty and thoughtful today.
dwahzon, duly recomended and commented on.
madame defarge, think you or oncall would let me register from your address? Seriously, don't you just hate it when someone makes you think! I'm still annoyed at my Sen., but Barack Obama makes a compelling case for forgiveness here.
Next thing you know he'll be accused of stealing $400 dollar toilet seats and $200 hammers...
Posted by: Indy at September 30, 2005 12:11 PM
Oh how you make me giggle.
Hahahahaha
I held an $800 dollar screwdriver once. My Air Force husband borrowed it from the bunker shop and never returned it.
No shit $800 dollars. It looked exactly like the one I bought to replace it same name and everything for 4 bucks.
Excellent article from the Washington Post describing Miller, her decision to go to jail, and the information about the leak from Scooter Libby to Judith. (Great analysis of each person's role.)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/09/30/BL2005093000669.html
While you were not looking
In this case, however, the Justice Department extended the cloak of secrecy beyond the Pentagon, quietly expanding the power of the government to jail those who talk to the press, watchdogs and reporters’ advocates tell RAW STORY.
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Israeli_lobby_spy_case_suggests_new_0930.html
Three-fourths of those surveyed, including a majority of Republicans, said overthrowing Iraq's authoritarian government and establishing a democracy there was not a sufficient reason to go to war in Iraq.
http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050929215309990003
rummys boy is on now lying through his damn teeth spinning nowhere fast.
They are desperate
The thing that surprises me, it is still painful to watch.
now rummy is chasing rabbits..
Omg this is..hes just so damn EVIL
and desperate...
Hehehehehe
Look at him flush
is anyone else watching this??
Rummy is getting SHRILL
Im not kidding turn on cspan
... and in today's episode of "The Pot Calling the Kettle Black"...
White House criticizes Bennett for comments
Ex-education secretary tied crime rate to aborting black babies
WASHINGTON - The White House on Friday criticized former Education Secretary William Bennett for remarks linking the crime rate and the abortion of black babies.
“The president believes the comments were not appropriate,” White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.
“The president believes the comments were not appropriate,” White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.
Posted by: monkey at September 30, 2005 01:30 PM
Well, finally-a rational belief!
Still, check out today's Five Minutes for what we can do to share our no-doubt temporary and brief moment of agreement with the President.
Karen,
BRILLIANT!
Encore, si vous plais.
“The president believes the comments were not appropriate,” White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.
Posted by: monkey at September 30, 2005 01:30 PM
"There's an ongoing investigation..."
"We need to let the process follow its course..."
"I'm just not going to get into commenting on it from here..."
Same old, same old. I think what's appropriate is that there be a daily White House press briefing that actually conveys real information instead of canned lines of crap.
Jazz Urbanism
The power brokers named to oversee New Orleans’s reconstruction must take pains not to destroy the city’s unique character—and should listen to everyone.
WEB-EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY
By Cathleen McGuigan
Newsweek
Updated: 8:33 a.m. ET Sept. 30, 2005
Sept. 30, 2005 - New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin is expected to announce Friday a blue-ribbon commission to oversee the city’s reconstruction. But ideas about how to rebuild started flowing almost as soon as the extent of the damage was known. Local power brokers and urban planners, community leaders and outside experts have all been talking for weeks about the “opportunities” that the devastating hurricane left in its wake: to improve the city’s infrastructure, alter the lowest-lying neighborhoods, upgrade housing, schools and transportation—all part of the silver lining of a horrendous disaster. “We have a clean sheet,” Joseph C. Canizaro, perhaps the city’s most powerful real estate developer and a member of the new commission, told The New York Times.
Article Continues vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9534113/site/newsweek/
A better idea of what we are all up against...and in a few weeks I will be right in the middle of the brawl...
I have one hell of knock-out punch!
Think Progress has a comment from the grand jury regarding Delay. They seem to feel there is sufficient evidence for a conviction.
http://thinkprogress.org/2005/09/30/delay-foreman-speaks/
THIS IS A TEXAN I CAN GET BEHIND: The Fabulous Ms. Ivins weighs in on Le Scandale du jour---
The DeLay defense
Troubled speaker attacks prosecutor, signs defense dream team
Molly Ivins
09.30.05
AUSTIN, Texas -- Jeez, that was quite a hissy fit Tom DeLay had, calling Ronnie Earle a rogue prosecutor, a partisan fanatic and an unabashed partisan zealot out for personal revenge.
Ronnie Earle? Our very own mild-mannered -- well, let's be honest, bland as toast, eternally unexciting, Mr. Understatement, Old Vanilla -- Ronnie Earle? If the rest of Tom DeLay's defense is as accurate as his description of Ronnie Earle, DeLay might as well have himself measured for a white jumpsuit right now.
For the one-zillionth time, of the 15 cases Ronnie Earle has brought against politicians over the years, 12 were against Democrats. Earle was so aggressive in going after corrupt Democrats, the Republicans never even put up a candidate against him all during the '80s. Partisan is not a word anyone can honestly use about Ronnie Earle, but that sure doesn't stop the TV blabbermouths. So many of them have bought the Republican spin that Earle is on a partisan witch-hunt, the watchdogs like Media Matters can hardly keep up.
On the other hand, I've never liked conspiracy charges. They are notoriously weak and often just an add-on when a prosecutor wants to make someone look bad going in: "... and he's been charged with six felonies!"
Conspiracy as a stand-alone charge is particularly hard to prove without evidence of other concrete acts. Was there a conspiracy to move corporate cash from DeLay's federal PAC to influence Texas legislative races? On the basis of what we have already known for months, that's a "Does a bear poop in the woods?" question. But as all watchers of "Law and Order" know, what anyone with common sense would conclude can be a long way from what can proved in a courtroom.
On the other hand, Earle has already had one spectacular failure trying to prosecute a high-profile Republican. His 1993 case against Kay Bailey Hutchison was a flame-out: The judge indicated in pre-trial hearings he had doubts about the admissibility of Earle's evidence, so Earle withdrew the charges -- no point if he couldn't present his evidence. The judge wasn't satisfied and directed the jury to acquit Hutchison. Hutchison had an unbeatable legal team -- Dick DeGuerin and Mike Tigar. For Earle, this is a case of once-stung.
Speaking of the aforementioned Dick DeGuerin, he is now defending Tom DeLay. Want to know how good DeGuerin is? One of his recent clients was Robert Durst, heir to a New York real estate fortune, who admitted killing and dismembering an unfortunate victim in Galveston. Durst was a suspect in a California killing at the time and had moved to Galveston posing as a deaf-mute woman.
Durst jumped bail on the Galveston charge and was arrested in Pennsylvania for stealing a chicken sandwich while carrying two guns and $38,000. DeGuerin got him acquitted on the murder charge on the grounds of self-defense, but they nailed him for the guns and tampering with evidence -- that would be dismembering the corpse. They let him slide on the chicken sandwich charge. I swear, I'm not making up any of this. That's how good Dick DeGuerin is.
If I were fool enough to give DeGuerin advice, it would be, "Don't let DeLay on the stand." The man just can't help himself -- he's just too mean, he always pushes it that step too far, like the cheap shot about Earle not coming to work unless there's a press conference on. (Ronnie Earle comes to work every day -- you can ask anyone at the county courthouse.)
That DeLay always takes things a step too far is apparent from his record. This is the man who pushed Bill Clinton's impeachment when everyone knew it would end with acquittal. He fixed his repeated troubles with the House ethics committee in typical fashion by going after the committee itself. His bludgeoning style earned him his nickname, "The Hammer."
Sometimes, but not that many, it is hard to tell the difference between playing political hardball and operating with no moral compass whatever. But in DeLay's case, we have a very long record, and what it is shows is that this is a man who has repeatedly crossed ethical and legal lines, and then claimed he was just playing hardball politics -- and that anyone who complained about it was just a partisan whiner. Whenever he is really threatened, DeLay plays the Jesus card and claims he is standing up "for a biblical worldview in everything I do and everywhere I am."
Back in 2003, when DeLay was involved in a sleazy legislative payoff to a big donor, his press secretary offered this defense, "It is wrong and unethical to link legislative activities to campaign contributions." It is precisely that upside-down quality about DeLay's bulletproof sense of moral rectitude that makes it so bizarre. Suddenly, it is not wrong or unethical to try to slip an unrelated amendment to help a campaign donor into the defense appropriations bill, it's wrong and unethical to raise questions about it.
To tell the truth, I don't think Tom DeLay is smart enough to keep getting away with this stuff.
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=19686
Karen,
Brilliant analysis. With all this elegant double-dealing going on within these traditional Baroque and Rococo dance forms, it's no wonder that the solidly egalitarian Beethoven banished the Minuet and Trio form from his Symphonies, and replaced it with a Scherzo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scherzo
Persuasion 101
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathleen-reardon/how-to-win-an-election-_b_8138.html
Salazar: Bush 'acts like a king'
By M.E. SPRENGELMEYER
Scripps Howard News Service
September 30, 2005
WASHINGTON - Saying President Bush sometimes acts "like a king," Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., warned Friday that he would vehemently oppose Bush's next Supreme Court pick if it turns out to be one of two controversial U.S. Circuit Court judges or someone else he considers an unqualified ideologue.
During a conference call with reporters, Salazar said he would oppose Janice Rogers Brown or Priscilla Owen, two circuit court judges the Senate recently installed on the bench following a blistering confirmation process.
By singling out Brown and Owen, Salazar made his most specific warning to the White House yet, calling for more advance consultation before the president makes a nomination to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
"This president, frankly, sometimes acts like a king," Salazar said. "He's imperious. He believes he controls Washington and controls our country, and does so sometimes in a way that, it's his way or the highway, and doesn't take into account what other people are thinking...when they have a different point of view or are (from) a different party."
Salazar wants the president to take an unprecedented step of publicly releasing its so-called "short list" of Supreme Court candidates before making an official nomination, which could come at any time.
"I have never filibustered a judicial nominee and I hope that I never have to," Salazar said. "I'd hope that if the president does move forward with someone like Janice Rogers Brown, many Republicans would join us in basically telling the president, 'No, we won't accept somebody who is professionally unqualified and is an ideologue...'"
Although Salazar voted this week to approve John Roberts as chief justice, Colorado Republican Party executive director Hans Gullickson issued a strongly worded statement this week urging him to live up to a campaign promise to give all of Bush's judicial nominees up-or-down votes.
"I'm disappointed that Senator Salazar is even considering following Howard Dean and liberal Democrats in calling for a filibuster of a yet unnamed nominee," Gullickson said. "It appears Salazar has serious reservations about fulfilling his campaign pledge to allow President Bush's judicial nominees an up-or-down vote."
Salazar is expected to play an important role in the next confirmation fight. If Republicans stay united in favor of a Supreme Court pick, as they were on the Roberts nomination, then the only way Democrats could block the nominee would be through a filibuster, causing an indefinite procedural delay.
That would put Salazar on the spot, since he was one of seven Democrats who signed an agreement earlier this year pledging to oppose the use of a judicial filibuster except in "extraordinary circumstances."
Salazar would not say whether he would filibuster Brown or Owen, instead saying he hoped enough Republicans would join Democrats in opposition to make that unnecessary.
Ask CBS to run the 60 minutes story on the niger that they refused to run last August.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/30/122924/550
New Alert Issued by the CDC
The Center for Disease Control has issued a warning about a new virulent strain of Sexually Transmitted Disease. This disease is contracted through dangerous and high-risk behavior.
The disease is called Gonorrhea Lectim (pronounced "gonna re-elect him"). Many victims contracted it in 2004, after having been screwed for the past 4 years, in spite of having taken measures to protect themselves from this especially troublesome disease.
Cognitive sequelae of individuals infected with Gonorrhea Lectim include, but are not limited to: Anti-social personality disorder traits, delusions of grandeur with a distinct messianic flavor; chronic mangling of the English language; extreme cognitive dissonance; inability to incorporate new information; pronounced xenophobia; inability to accept responsibility for actions; exceptional cowardice masked by acts of misplaced bravado; uncontrolled facial smirking; ignorance of geography and history; tendencies toward creating evangelical theocracies; and a strong propensity for categorical, all-or-nothing behavior.
The disease is sweeping Washington. Naturalists and epidemiologists are amazed and baffled that this malignant disease originated only a few years ago from a Texas Bush.
Check out this interview with Republican Congressman Curt Weldon in Drexel University student newspaper (via dailykos poster topdog08)
Weldon accuses Bush administration of 9/11 coverup
No joke. Conservative Republican Congressman Curt Weldon:
So, what I've had to do is to fight with both of them, both the 9-11 Commission and the [Bush] administration, who I think neither of whom wants this information to be put out to the American people. Now, what bothers me is that the bulk of the information in Able Danger acquired was open-source information; it wasn't classified. To deny these military officers, who are very dedicated, loyal Americans, to tell their story not only flies in the face of everything this country stands for, but it is also a personal attack against them. It also flies in the face of the legitimate role of Congress in oversight of the executive branch. So as Senator Grassley said yesterday, this is a lot of bigger than Curt Weldon or Able Danger: It's about Congress exercising its legitimate roll in oversight.
This is the first place I'm aware of that Weldon has actually accused the Whitehouse of a coverup.
http://www.dailykos.com/hotlist/add/2005/9/30/16752/9233/displaystory//
The entire interview:
http://www.thetriangle.org/media/paper689/news/2005/09/30/EdOp/Triangle.EdOp.Interviews.Congressman.Curt.Weldon-1005360.shtml?page=2
IMPORTANT FUNDRAISING DEADLINE TONIGHT!
Help Bob Casey close the $ gap on Rick Santorum:
No matter where I've traveled across Pennsylvania over the last few months, I always hear the same thing: Pennsylvania needs a new U.S. Senator. I'm working night and day to defeat Rick Santorum, but I need your help.
It's time that Pennsylvania had a representative in Washington that is focused on Pennsylvania priorities. I will represent the people of Pennsylvania, instead of catering to special interests or blindly supporting flawed Bush policy.
But in order to build a better tomorrow, I am going to need your help today. Midnight marks the end of a very important fundraising quarter and we need to close the fundraising gap starting today. Please make a contribution before tonight's critical deadline and help show the strength of our grassroots support.
Make a contribution now: https://secure.ga3.org/01/contribution?source=2005fy_don_eo3q2
oops, here's the link for Bob Casey:
https://secure.ga3.org/01/contribution
If Scooter Libby was the source of the Plame leak does that not mean that Cheaney was a co conspirator and should be a target defendant of the special prosector Fitzgerald?
Arnold today vetoed the Gay Marriage bill in California.
However, groping of women in gyms and on movie sets still earns the Gubernator's seal of approval.
For what it's worth:
Mark Shields on the Newshour:
"I don't think that Earle would have brought the case unless somebody inside flipped".
Great. Bush's Health and Welfare Dept has screwed up orders of bird flu vaccination from Roche and only ordered 2 million vaccinations for the 300 million of us says ABC news.
Lets pray that their incompitence doesn't kill all of us.
the local tv network on their evening news is making DeLay look like some kind of local hero and oh what a nice guy said our anchorman Dave Ward. What have they been smoking?
"What have they been smoking?"
Money?
Karen,
Thanks so much for the dance and current events lesson.
It is quite a treat!
First of many, I hope.
Posted by: NativeTexan4Kerry at September 30, 2005 05:30 PM
Hi NT4K,
It's nice you're supporting him, but remember the DCP does not specifically endorse any candidates.
Oh yeh,they're running with the "news" of the day,being Bill Bennet and his comment about black babies,so another rovian tactic at LARGE. Just go get another "news" story to take the pressure off Delay. These guys are unbelievable!
Posted by: Patti Ferschke at September 30, 2005 10:24 PM
I agree. The timing they use is notorious--make an evil comment to take the pressure off the prior crime.
We still haven't uncovered the Plame incident,and more "blankets" layer over the other. You can tell winter is acoming,and it's going to be a loooooooong one at that,let alone another THREE years!!
Cognitive sequelae of individuals infected with Gonorrhea Lectim include, but are not limited to: Anti-social personality disorder traits, delusions of grandeur with a distinct messianic flavor; chronic mangling of the English language; extreme cognitive dissonance; inability to incorporate new information; etc.....
Posted by: Cyrano at September 30, 2005 04:04 PM
So that EXPLAINS it!! It's a DISEASE! Is there any cure, because I have scientific data that indicates that this strain does not respond readily to treatment. There is a short period during the progression of the disease when it appears treatable, but then it gets aggressive again, and does not respond to any treatment at all. The only time I have seen the disease start to recede is when money was taken out of the pocket of the patient. But then, unfortunately, the patient stuck his head back in the sand, and treatment is impossible in that case.
Patti Ferschke at September 30, 2005 11:23 PM
Don't give up-- Plame Grand Jury soon
A Survey of Today's News and Opinion . . .
(Food for Thought)
Arrest of Procurement Policy Chief Could Undercut Contracting-Out Agenda (Washington Post)
Buying of News by Bush's Aides Is Ruled Illegal (New York Times)
DeLay Indictment Big Trouble for Bush (Village Voice)
N.Y. Times' Miller Tells Grand Jury About 2003 Talks With Cheney Aide Libby (Washington Post)
Immoral Majority (Washington Post)
The Republican Culture of Corruption (Dailykos)
Great. Bush's Health and Welfare Dept has screwed up orders of bird flu vaccination from Roche and only ordered 2 million vaccinations for the 300 million of us says ABC news.
Lets pray that their incompitence doesn't kill all of us.
Posted by: Ira at September 30, 2005 06:59 PM
THERE COULD BE A PANDEMIC.
What is the agency and what is the title and name of the person who was/is (ir)responsible for ordering the correct number of bird flu vaccinations?
WHERE is the money that was alloted to purchase the bird flu vacinations?
An audit should be called forth for the agency responsible.
Arnold today vetoed the Gay Marriage bill in California.
Posted by: Cyrano at September 30, 2005 06:08 PM
What a bad day. John Roberts becomes Chief Justice, and now this?!?
Arnold is one reason why we shouldn't be taking the immigrant communities (which, btw, make up 1/4 of California) for granted. It was the socially conservative immigrant communities that passed the initial gay marriage ban (Proposition 22) back in 2000 in the first place.
An audit should be called forth for the agency responsible.
Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at October 1, 2005 12:08 AM
Audit EVERYTHING
Brilliant Mistake
by Elvis Costello
He thought he was the king of america
Where they pour coca cola just like vintage wine
Now I try hard not to become hysterical
But I'm not sure if I am laughing or crying
I wish that I could push a button
And talk in the past and not the present tense
And watch this hurtin' feeling disappear
Like it was common sense
It was a fine idea at the time
Now it's a brilliant mistake
She said that she was working for the abc news
It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use
Her perfume was unspeakable
It lingered in the air
Like her artificial laughter
Her mementos of affairs
Oh I said I see you know him
Isn't that very fortunate for you
And she showed me his calling card
He came third or fourth and there were more than one or two
He was a fine idea at the time
Now he's a brilliant mistake
He thought he was the king of america
But it was just a boulevard of broken dreams
A trick they do with mirrors and with chemicals
The words of love in whispers
And the axe of love in screams
I wish that I could push a button
And talk in the past and not the present tense
And watch this lovin' feeling disappear
Like it was common sense
I was a fine idea at the time
Now I'm a brilliant mistake
Note this blog comment on Kos, in response to assertions that buying favorable new coverage -- though illegal, has no criminal penalty. Does anyone want to join in the law suit. How about it Vana. Could it work?
"What about a civil penalty?
Could we come up with a class action lawsuit and sue the various executive officers who authorized the payments? Or the administration itself?
I am thinking of the Americans with Disabilities Act as a model. The provisions were designed to be enforced through civil actions, as I understand it.
Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. - Lewis Carroll"