Wow! Our blog got two nominations for the 2004 Koufax Awards in the category of "Best Post" of 2004. The two nominations are for the posts:

- Timeline of Terror Alerts

- Chart: Terror Alerts Vs. Bush Ratings

These two posts got lost of media attention and were spread far and wide. Many people have pointed that realizing that Ashcroft gave up on the bogus terror alerts after this chart became widely available. I'd like to think this blog had a positive effect in turning around (a bit) the politics of fear of this administration, and making people aware of the kind of games they play with our minds. I wold also like to point out that because we posted the Timeline and the chart, we were the subject of a nasty denial of service email attack, vicious hate mail, and numerous virus email attacks. As a consequence of it, we lost a hard drive last summer. Fortunately we were able to recover a great deal of data from the wreckage of that attack.

Please use the following link if you want to VOTE for our two nominations in this category (one vote per person, etc, etc.):

http://wampum.wabanaki.net/archives/001670.html

Simply go to the bottom of the page and post there your votes for the Best Post category. Thank you!

We knew they were going to do it, but we are surprised it took them this long. That club of chicken-hawk, low life utopians known as the Project for the New American Century, the same guys who brought you the Iraqi invasion, are calling for the draft:

"So we write to ask you and your colleagues in the legislative branch to take the steps necessary to increase substantially the size of the active duty Army and Marine Corps. While estimates vary about just how large an increase is required, and Congress will make its own determination as to size and structure, it is our judgment that we should aim for an increase in the active duty Army and Marine Corps, together, of at least 25,000 troops each year over the next several years.

There is abundant evidence that the demands of the ongoing missions in the greater Middle East, along with our continuing defense and alliance commitments elsewhere in the world, are close to exhausting current U.S. ground forces. For example, just late last month, Lieutenant General James Helmly, chief of the Army Reserve, reported that "overuse" in Iraq and Afghanistan could be leading to a "broken force." Yet after almost two years in Iraq and almost three years in Afghanistan, it should be evident that our engagement in the greater Middle East is truly, in
Condoleezza Rice's term, a "generational commitment." The only way to fulfill the military aspect of this commitment is by increasing the size of the force available to our civilian leadership.

The administration has been reluctant to adapt to this new reality. We understand the dangers of continued federal deficits, and the fiscal difficulty of increasing the number of troops. But the defense of the United States is the first priority of the government. This nation can afford a robust defense posture along with a strong fiscal posture. And we can afford both the necessary number of ground troops and what is needed for transformation of the military."

http://www.newamericancentury.org/defense-20050128.htm

I wonder when these cowardly bastards will sign up. We are waiting for Kristol, Perle, and the rest of the chicken-hawks to do their duty and volunteer to the glorious Iraqi imperial adventure of their creation.

These days I read the headlines and I feel like I'm trapped in a weird dream. Having endured the MOAB, the new napalm, the tons of depleted uranium, the Iraqi people now will have to endure the latest neocon fantasy.

Gun-slinging robot headed for Iraq combat

The Army is preparing to send 18 of these remote-controlled robotic warriors to fight in Iraq beginning in March or April.

Made by a small Massachusetts company, the SWORDS, short for Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection Systems, will be the first armed robotic vehicles to see combat. (...)

Interesting way to get around the draft... Too bad these thingies will evolve into intelligent evil machines and take over the planet, then the few human survivors will have to travel back in time to stop this aberration from being built. Have they not seen the movie?

Now seriously, the use of these little robots will make war even less humane, more like a video-game for its operators. It even removes the guilt and remorse from shooting civilians! See where this is leading?

... or so says the FEMA. Who in their right mind thought of this one? In an attempt to educate children about a natural disaster like a Tsunami, the FEMA decided to make it "fun."

Your tax dollars at work:

http://www.fema.gov/kids/games/tsunami/



PS: on edit, the FEMA has removed the Tsunami game for children from their website.

Check out BusyBusyBusy's take on the latest screed from Tom Friedman.

How can anybody take this clown seriously anymore?
He is the champion of sweeping generalizations based on "anecdotal evidence." I like to call his technique "a Muslim walks into a bar..." (he, he,he) as it always involves Neocon Tom talking to some anonymous guy in a bar. Then Tom extrapolates the conversation to represent all people of the specific ethnic group of the guy he was chatting with. If he talks to an Iraqi exile, then the opinions of this guy represent the views of the entire Middle East. Tom talks to a Chinese guy in a bar, then his words are the exact representation of the thinking of 1.6 billion Chinese.

He does it all the time, and it's embarrassing. What's worse, he's using that technique to sell us the same neocon fantasy that when we carpet-bomb the shit out of a country, they'll open their arms and welcome us with flowers and candy. Sounds familiar?

Tom Friedman: putting the "con" in "neocon."

Some Democrats in the Senate should take note. Vanity Fair editor Judy Bachrach stood her ground and was able to tell several TRUTHS about the obscenities of the inauguration, live right on Fox News, of all places.

Check out the video, courtesy of Oliver Willis:



A TV moment for the ages!!!

Cartoon roundup. At least we have the humor:

Today the Repubs are spending $40 million to party with their rich donors.

D.C. told to pay the bill.

Today the New York Times brought the war home. Modern warfare has detached the average American from the realities of armed conflict, the horror and tragedy of it all. That infamous picture of the girl running after being doused with napalm will forever be the image of Vietnam in the minds of millions around the world. The Iraqi war may as well be forever remembered by this heart-wrenching photo:

New York Times. An Iraqi girl screamed Tuesday after her parents were killed when American soldiers fired on their car when it failed to stop, despite warning shots, in Tal Afar, Iraq. The military is investigating the incident. Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Newsday has the full series of photos of this unfortunate event.

This image alone is horrific beyond description. I don't think I can possibly say anything else today.

------------------------
PS: (on edit, 1-21-05) I think blogger Letterman does a great job in his post expressing much of what needs to be said about these haunting photos.

Bush last Saturday, regarding a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage:

THE PRESIDENT: The point is, is that senators have made it clear that so long as DOMA is deemed constitutional, nothing will happen. I'd take their admonition seriously.

The Post: But until that changes, you want it?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, until that changes, nothing will happen in the Senate. Do you see what I'm saying?

An overjoyed Andy Sullivan tripped all over himself to post:

The FMA has gone unmentioned by Bush since the election - and it appears more and more like a pre-election ploy rather than a principled stand. (Of course, that's a relief but it's also an indication of how bald-faced a political maneuver this was in the first place). But this piece of sanity from the President deserves praise and reciprocation from those of us who support equality in marriage.(...)

Very soon, it will be clear that Massachusetts' judicial decision will be endorsed by its own legislature, making this case a matter not simply of judicial activity but democratic legitimacy. And then we should bide our time and let the example of Massachusetts set in. I'm convinced that once the reality of this reform sinks in, fears will recede. The president has given us this opportunity. It would be crazy not to reciprocate. But for the record: thanks, Mr president.

Ooops! Too fast, Randy Andy! Here's Bush the next day:

The White House sought on Sunday to reassure conservatives that President Bush would work hard on behalf of a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, backtracking from remarks Mr. Bush made in an interview suggesting that he would not press the Senate to vote on the amendment this year.

Me: HA HA!

The delusion and denial of Andy is reaching comedic levels.

There's a blogger I don't link enough. The Rude Pundit is definitely not for everyone, but he's quite funny, and he's usually quite right. Yesterday I read his post about Social Security reform and people who vote against their own interests:

Taking the Fight To Where They Live, Part 3a

I found his comments to hit the spot. I've seen many people live in complete denial, so alienated within their own bubble that they are unable to grasp reality. These individuals, usually poor or right on minimum living standards, live under the pretense that any day, just any day, they may strike gold and become instant millionaires, therefore they side with conservative politics. They are well aware that most of the policies they support favor millionaires at the expense of working classes. Still, they feel they can become rich out of the blue so they need to favor tax-cuts for the rich, social security reform and dismantle the social safety net.

Reality seems an alien concept for many people living under that pretense.

Say hello to the Muffin Mary:

http://www.muffinmary.com

Very interesting Bush quote in the usually execrable Washington Times:

"I think people attack me because they are fearful that I will then say that you're not equally as patriotic if you're not a religious person," Mr. Bush said. "I've never said that. I've never acted like that. I think that's just the way it is.

Pretty revealing Bush-speak right there. Notice he says the following:

1. Some people accuse me of saying you can't be as patriotic if you are not a religious person.
   
2. I've never said anything like that...
   
3. But that's the way it is, anyway.

Nice. So basically, some people accuse of him of saying stuff that, although he didn't say it, he still believes it's right. Just like his daddy. His father once said atheists are not as American as Jeebus people:

"I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."
George H.W. Bush, August 27, 1987

This week it has been revealed that conservative African American radio host and pundit Armstrong Williams received $240K directly from the Bush administration (through the Education Department) in order to push in his radio program propaganda about the ill-named "No Child Left Behind" program.

A few things come to mind after learning about Williams' practices:

1. Who's surprised, really? The right-wing punditry and media-machine have lowered the bar so much that the government can engage in this type of practices and devote public money (your tax dollars) to disseminate partisan propaganda on private media. These are the same people that have turned opinion and innuendo into mainstream journalism. Payola doesn't seem too strange to this bunch.

2. How many other right-wing pundits/journalists/blabber-mouths are getting paid to spread propaganda as legitimate news or opinion? Given the current sorry state of our media environment, I would guess quite a few. In a recent interview, Williams revealed that "there are others" engaged in this corrupt practice, without naming specific names. I wonder if anybody would file a FOIA requests to find out, and I'm sure it would reveal quite a few big names in conservative punditry.

3. Last but not least, this example proves once again that when Republicans want to pretend they have support from African Americans, they actually have to pay for it. The same Republican party that put on a minstrel show in the 2000 Convention is bringing pundit payola to fake African American support. It's very sad, actually, as sad as it is infuriating.