LiveBlog for Tuesday, May 19, 2009
• CNN’s Larry King joins us at 6:30am Pacific to talk about his new book, “My Remarkable Journey”
• Eric Boehlert, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, calls in at 7:30am Pacific to talk about his new book, “Bloggers on the Bus: How the Internet Changed Politics and the Press.”
• Top Republicans are demanding an apology from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or proof to back her claim that the CIA misled Congress about the use of torture. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, the top GOPer on the House Intelligence Committee, said yesterday that if Pelosi’s accusations aren’t true, she may need to step down. House Minority Leader John Boehner demanded Pelosi provide evidence to support her accusations.
• President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday held their first face-to-face meeting since each took power. The two met at the White House to discuss, among other things, the endorsement of a two-state Palestinian solution and relations with Iran.
• President Obama is expected to adopt higher mileage standards for automobiles today. New cars and trucks will have to get 30% better mileage starting in 2016 under Obama’s move to curb emissions tied to smog and global warming.
• Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), 91 and the longest-serving senator in history, was hospitalized last Friday with a temperature spike caused by a minor infection. He is being treated and is expected to be released from the hospital in a few days.
Tags: Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Eric Boehlert, John Boehner, Larry Kin, Media Matters for America, Nancy Pelosi, Pete Hoekstra, Robert Byrd
This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 at 2:39 am and is filed under liveblog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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(In my best Larry King voice, which sadly, is not as good as Jim’s) “Birthday Boy, hello!”. A very Happy Birthday to Jim Ward. Hugs from all your friends and fans here on the Live Blog.
Hiya, Bloggoes!
Happy Birthday, Jim!
Line of the day: “if President Reagan were here today he would have no patience for Americans who looked backward.” That gem is from Michael “puppy lover” Steele.
#2 Also (too), if President Reagan were here today, he’d be hungry for brainnnnnnz! *zombie lip smack*
Jim Ward is 50? AARPocryphal but true!
Too early in the morning for bad puns?
#4 Actually, I liked it (AARP!)
never too early for puns, Tim. good one.
Happy Birthday, Jim!
not to be a downer but ever since I died (only for a few seconds) my attitude towards birthdays have transformed. Yay! Jim’s fifty!
Morning, shaf, and madduane.
Madduane? hey, nice to see you here so early!
As glad as I am that more stringent fuel economy / greenhouse gas regs are going to happen, they don’t take effect until 2016 and could (and should) have been enacted a decade ago.
#4 Tim – too early for ‘bad’ puns, yes — but that was a great one *Matthews’ HA!*
Happy Birthday Sir Jim!
#6 Carol, I agree. It didn’t take a near-death experience for me to understand that being over 50 is far preferable to ‘not-being’. Ironically, I feel better (physically and mentally) in my 50′s than I did in my 40′s. The great cosmic joke is that once we get the wisdom from half a century of accumulated experience, your bod is already starting to check-out. Unfair!
What better offering for Jim on his big birthday than this instructional video on cat yodeling:
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2009/05/18/funny-pictures-video-cat-yodeling/
4: your heart is in the right place, but it’s more like this: our beloved jim louise ward is fiddy today. he’s more than a jolly good
fellow; he’s a porky fool, but true.
#10
Love It!
10: thank you. klusman’s genius comes thru again. those edits took a lot of care and skill. i was so inspired that i tried it right away. unfortunately, only my rottweiler “theodoric” was available. heavy, but still a fun hobby.
Here’s something that I just sent to Scarborough today:
To: Joe Scarborough
Subject: Stop being lazy and do your damn job! Read this stuff about Nancy Pelosi! Your ignorance is causing an injustice!
Body:
The Plum LineGreg Sargent’s blog
Fox News: Focus On Pelosi Changes Subject From Whether To Prosecute Bush Officials
Check out this surprisingly candid moment on Fox, where a top network correspondent says that the GOP’s attack on Nancy Pelosi over what she knew about torture is a winner for the GOP because it changes the subject from whether Bush officials should be prosecuted:
The Fox correspondent, Jonathan Hunt, says the Pelosi focus is a distraction from a real debate about torture:
“Instead of this debate being about national security, what is and isn’t torture, what the Bush administration should and shouldn’t have allowed and whether anybody in that administration should now be prosecuted, the Republicans are now able to frame this debate as to whether Nancy Pelosi is fit to continue as Speaker. So they are not about to let their foot off the gas in any way, shape, or form.”
This mirrors what many Republicans, excited about the way this one is going, are saying privately. It’s also interesting that this level of candor is only likely to fire up the GOP base, which is hungry for a display of GOP aggressiveness and a win at all costs.
Greg Sargent on Plum Line
Who Runs Government?
Media out of touch on Pelosi-CIA flap
The Huddle: Changing conversation
By MARTIN KADY II | 5/18/09 7:27 AM
Recess can’t come fast enough for Pelosi and her staff and Republicans are enjoying the implosion.
Wow, this Nancy Pelosi-vs-CIA story must be really awful for Pelosi, huh? Sounds like people just aren’t buying her statement that the CIA misled her.
But wait, what’s this? Polling shows that more people do think it’s likely the CIA misled Pelosi?
How likely is it that the CIA misled Pelosi about the use of waterboarding when interrogating prisoners?
20% Very likely
23% Somewhat likely
19% Not very likely
22% Not at all likely
16% Not sure
Media Matters
TOPICS Torture
Diggs
Sen. Bob Graham backs up Pelosi and says he was never briefed on waterboarding by the CIA
By John Amato Friday May 15, 2009 2:00pm
DOWNLOADS: (1579)
PLAYS: (2371)
This is a block buster. Former Sen.(D)Bob Graham, the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee told David Shuster that he never was briefed about waterboarding by the CIA on MSNBC. He also said that he was never allowed to take real notes about the CIA briefings, but he did log the topics and the amount of times he was briefed. They don’t match up with the CIA’s version. And of course, George “Slam Dunk” Tenet’s outfit never was wrong or misled us before. James Fallows backs up Graham’s honesty and integrity by the way. And Graham also sees the real motives behind the smearing of Pelosi. As he says it’s an attempt to shift the blame away the Bush administration and their use of torture.
Graham: David, when I was briefed about three weeks after The Speaker, the subject “waterboarding” never came up. Nor did the treatment of Abu-Zubaydah or any other specific detainee.
Shuster: And that’s significant because by the time of your briefing and the Speaker’s briefing we now know that Zubaydah had been waterboarded 83 times, so again was their a requirement, was it incumbent on the CIA to tell you as the Chairman of Senate Intelligence Committee or a ranking member, was there an obligation on them to tell you what was going on?
Graham: Yes, they’re obligated to tell the full Intelligence Committee not just the leadership. This was the same time, within the same week in fact that the CIA was submitting their National Intelligence Estimate or NIE report on WMD’s in IRAQ which proved so erroneous that we went to war and that have had thousands of persons killed and injured as a result of misinformation.
David, I think fundamentally what’s happening is there’s an attempt underway to try and shift the discussion away from what’s really important and that is did the US use torture? Was that within the law? Who authorized and what were the consequences of that. Those are the important issues. Whether The Speaker or anybody else knew about it is frankly sort of off on the edges.
Graham blasts the CIA for also misleading us in the IRAQ WAR, but they would never try to mislead Pelosi or smear her now. He also calls for a Truth Commission on Torture. Can Republicans now keep denying that we need a special prosecutor to get to the bottom of all this torture business?
Crooks and Liars
Scarborough, you pop off as if you know the facts when you know nothing! You say that the people are more favorable to the CIA, well here’s the Rassmussen view! Rassmussen!
Rassmussen Report
3* How likely is it that the CIA misled Pelosi about the use of waterboarding when interrogating prisoners?
20% Very likely
23% Somewhat likely
19% Not very likely
22% Not at all likely
16% Not sure
Sorry, I forgot to put the quotes in boxes. Check the links. The quotes are there! I’m just sooo mad at Scarborough!
#14 Yes, George. It was a surprising moment of truthfulness (as opposed to the GOP’s typical ‘truthiness’).
last chance for you drinking game people to get ready to deal with stephy saying “FAWTHEOWWAAAHHHH!”
#17 Today’s drinking game… one drink for each “Hello!”
shaf, that’s evil. have you stock in jack daniels?
Miller Time, hello!
too funny Lar!
it’s dismissive in the first place, when you label somebody “nyet-n-yahoo”.
Great diary on Daily Kos…
GOP wants torture investigation? Bring it on.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/5/18/732862/-GOP-wants-torture-investigation-Bring-it-on.
stephy should give jim a birthday lapdance FAWTHEOWWAAAH
Yay, Shane-O! Outstanding job!
Happy Birthday Jim! Fifty and Fabolous!
Mike Huckabee – the “tele-journavangelist”
Sounds more like lame white rap.
Uh, Folks, Morning Joe just crucified Pelosi again, and I just posted the gaping holes of ignorance the media is showing concerning this! Now just what will do you think Stephy be talking about with Eric Boehlert of Media Matters “FAWTHEOWAAAHHH” during the drinking game? Sorry, but I’m P.O.ed!
a weirdo whose head had no fillin’
went for poetry, but had no skill in
this quite simple endeavor,
as in most attempts ever,
at anything, huckabee illin’
Jim! Jim! It’s your birthday! Happy Birthday and my jealous best wishes (I guess :-/) to you and Janequa as you celebrate your 5 decades on this earth.
I don’t care what the optimists say. When you turn 50 you can’t help but look back at your life and say “Oh crap!” But then you move on…
Pelosi, GILF material.
I can’t stay. Just had to drive by and throw out a Happy Birthday. Have fun bloggeurs.
shaf, white rap has fallen a long way since “one night in bangkok” and “convoy”.
Morning all! Happy B-day Jim!
Good morning, all. Hope you are having a good day. I’ve been productive on this gorgeous, sunny morning in the Washington area.
I changed the water in my fish tanks, watered all of my plants, and blogged on Is Buy and Hold Dead?
So now I’m going to waste some time with you guys before I hop in the shower and get ready for work!
Also, I’m glad that Obama is pushing for health care reform and that he’s made some progress. A $2 trillion savings in health care is awesome. $2 Trillion in Health Care Savings Pledged
#34 – aw! “One Night In Bangkok” — loved that song…
harrow! b-day for Jimbo, huh? and right we
had a couple yestidday.
Whutup?, just regained consciousness.
Happy birthday, Jim!
The guy who is NOT Steve Doocey
but ann coulter says waterboarding is so easy that people would pay to have it done. people pay to get into disney to get splashed with water, according to coulter, so what’s all this torture nonsense?
oh yeah, keep hammerin’ Pelosi, Rethugs… that’s
gonna get you the torture hearings you really don’t
wanna have… but you’re too dumb to figger that out
yet
#34 Although, Weird Al Yankovic redeemed us with “It’s All About the Pentiums”.
#41 Gee, maybe we can add that to the Spy Museum as an attraction – Waterboarding, it’s good clean fun!
Here’s the thing that cracks me up.
I’ll bet you that if you asked the typical American what he thought about where he’d put torture as an issue, it’d be down with toilet bowl replacement.
Both parties are playing inside the Beltway grabass with torture, and most people who don’t live inside the bubble don’t really give a rat’s ass about it, one way or the other.
Most of them care about things like the economy, health care, getting the troops out of Iraq, and education.
Torture?
Not so much.
The GOP on Pelosi are sounding like a Brady kid- Nancy, Nancy, Nancy!
#24, what do you think is happening during the commercial breaks?
It wasn’t torture and we didn’t do it and it was
all Pelosi’s fault and it got results and you can’t
come after us ’cause we were just following orders…
Hey, screw you Rethug bastardes. A giant shit-hemorrhage
of an apocalyptical Accounting is gonna catch up with you
ProducerChris has been reading the LB again (bump music)
k – more evidence that ProducerChris LOVES SMS livebloggers… #34
What does bother me about the “all torture, all the time” focus in the media is that it distracts from things like $2 trillion in health care savings, and cap and trade legislation.
Could we actually have intelligent, rational discussions on those things, which actually affect people, instead of a fixation on torture in the media?
It’s as about as fun as being dunked as a witch! Or, if you float you’re guilty, if you drown you’re innocent! That kind of fourteenth century logic!
What’s classified about McConnell being a liar?
The CIA didn’t lie about WMD. They told the truth, that there weren’t any, which is why Cheney sidelined them in favor of his Office of Special Plans in the Pentagon, since the latter was built to fix the facts around the policy.
#47 between commercial breaks they are all:
1) doing crystal meth
b. doing each other
IV – sitting there with blank looks on
3 bickering
so adorable that Steph is nervous about interviewing Mr. King!
looking forward to this!
51 I’m with you Tony. Enough about the torture.
Put the Rethug NeoCon PNAC Bastards on trial, convict
them, punish them and be done with it.
Otherwise a quaint little thing we used to have called
the Rule of Law goes out the window. That’s why.
and it will be such a relief to hear Steph and Lar without Lars Larson – grrr!
Can’t decide who is my favorite white rapper of all time . . . but obviously it would have to be either Burl Ives or Walter Brennan.
56 Steph is so silly. What an adorable girl. Larry King
on the other hand is an ancient decrepit fossil of a lizard
in suspenders… why she’d be nervous about him I can’t
understand. He’s the one oughtta be nervous. She gets too
close his tres broken down ticker might seize up…
ISDN? – damn – sounds great!
#57, it really would go faster if an aggressive investigation and prosecution got started sooner rather than later. The drip drip drip of news will guarantee it continues to dominate the news.
oh geez, thanks Larry for damning Steph with faint praise
and undervaluing her intelligence
Steph is ::blushing:: awww!
Listen to Larry putting on the moves.
Larry King singing show tunes to Steph in hair and makeup…
is he wearing a corset fishnets and heels, too? or is that
Steph?
Yep, Larry must be on a ISDN line. Sounds like he’s in the room.
k – Steph may be sober – what about Lar?
VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! MEANS YOU ARE GETTING OLD!!!
59 Walter Brennan! way to go Scoot
Cue “onion belt”
VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!! VIVACIOUS HAAA!!!
Now Larry King admits he watches baseball while
interviewing Steph… nice way to pay no attention
to your guest. He prolly watched the game while being
married, not to mention while consummating his marriages…
And all the kids said “Trick or Treat, hello!”
yaee! beverly hills .. yaee!
makes me angry that so many partisan “journalists” chastize Mr. King as a “soft” interviewer — BS – total BS. charm gets more info. charm brings honesty.
When you say “stiffed” that means?…
Is Larry King a great guest or what?
why is it I can’t shake the image that Larry was dressed
only in a mask and black socks while being interviewed this
morning… never mind…
@ suspenders
76 Larry IS the king of softball questions. The whole
damned media has gone soft. Olbermann is about the only
one who I’d trust to hold somebody’s feet to the fire. Or Jim.
Mark, I’ll bet you $1000 that torture prosecutions will not happen in a first Obama term.
Obama is a politician. He knows torture prosecutions are a losing proposition politically. He wants a second term.
You figure it out.
Then decide on whether you want to pay me in cash or by check.
And this progressive will be just fine with that if it means we get things like universal health insurance, cap and trade legislation, and a balanced budget.
If Larry King had the opportunity to interview Hitler in hell,
I doubt he’d ask about anything except dolf’s dogs paintings
and vacation plans…
82, thanks Tony but I ain’t takin’ that bet. You’re right,
it won’t happen. Pat Leahy is trying, or maybe the Spanish
courts will indite these suckers, but it’s not Obama’s job
and he does have more important things like saving the
economy. But that’s not what I was talking about.
#81 – nope – can’t agree there.
derisive, confrontational, screaming over one-another “news” may be entertaining — gets us nowhere. same as the WWF. Not illuminating at all.
primary material is best. next is civil discourse.
#85, you’re right. Obama is not the AG. It’s Holder’s job.
And when the SCOTUS rules against the government on the torture photo release (as the trial and appeals court ruled), it will be his job to release them.
Mark, if you agree it won’t happen, and that there are more important things to worry about, then why are you cool with the all torture all the time media?
If we know that we will not have torture prosecutions, then shouldn’t we move on to things that we CAN get done?
84: by then, larry’s bumper music will be by the white rapper, “the fresh MC zyklon B. – actually, larry does do the harsh interview. – often, the format is to keep the hard stuff built right into a declarative sentence right in the premise; the “soft” part comes in taking a weird unpredictable direction. “ADOLF HITLER IS OUR GUEST – FELLATRICE OF SATAN – PRECURSOR OF HANNITY – SO DOLPH, EVERYBODY MUST BE WONDERING… WHY A SQUARE MUSTACHE?…”
al libby? is that arabic for “the scooter”?
86 I’m with you Shane-O on the screaming over the top stuff.
However as Steph is saying just right now, no one will ask
Cheney about his lies.
You gotta agree the media is mostly lap-dog to power.
It was sposed ta be more than that. A counterbalance in
society.
89 ROFLMAO! Salvo for the Junior Ensign! flomb, yer crushing me
The CIA actually did very little of the torture; most interrogators wouldn’t have any more part of it than the FBI would – which is why they has to bring in contractors.
#90 Not that Libby… this guy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Faraj_al-Libbi
softball questions??nah… how about tee-ball questions?
88 Tony, we can agree that Obama has better things to do.
Holder and the Congress on the other hand is supposed to
go after crime. And these were the worst crimes in history.
ok, next topic. What about Steph’s ass? Spectacular!
but on hannity’s premise, we would lose dubya by 1998.
Nancy Pelosi, the San Francisco treat!
Tony’s $2 trillion in health care savings is bogus – an empty talking point. It relies entirely on voluntary industry promises to control cost growth, promises industry associations have already backtracked on. It’s smoke and mirrors.
should we get rid of Faux Snooze™ for “national security reasons?”
hannity a la condi: the chicken and rice combo
Mark, you need a little perspective on things. Worst crimes in history? Because Hitler killing six million; Stalin killing 10 million and Mao killing 60 million is less of a crime than waterboarding.
Come on, man, do you really believe that waterboarding a few dozen people compares to that?
On that note, I am out. See you folks tomorrow, when I can stick around for the whole show.
#91 – YES — and Olbermann (SMS blasphemy here) is just the O’Reilly of the left…
No real guests (they are on Ed’s and Rachel’s shows) – same people every night – in the liberal fishbowl – Alter, Wolffe, etc. — constantly Google-ing himself – self-promoting BS (e.g. the Hannity waterboarding crap) — I agree with Olbermann more – but he annoys me with the same O’Reilly mannorisms. Constant ratings (whip it out ans measure crap) comparisons.
Hannity is an idiot, “render the CIA impedent”?? Think sexual inuendo much Shawn?
100 naw Brian, let Faux go on spouting their poison, it’s
fine, the rethugs are killing themselves. Let’em keep
doing it. More and more people are waking up. Waking up
homeless, unemployed, with no more 401K or health insurance…
you can fool most of the people most of the time, but when
they’re utterly f#%KKed they tend to start figgering it out…
#105, very few people have significant money in 401Ks. While a lot of people have them, the typical amount in them for all but upper class professionals is just a couple thousand bucks. The people who are heavily invested in 401Ks, by being affluent, are more influential on the body politic, of course.
The average person should be more worried about their defined benefit pension plan going under.
Good morning board.
Did anyone see Ventura hand bleached blonde right wing ditz Elizabeth Hasselrag her butt yesterday on The View?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8HDGu4dFrE
102 No Tony, ya missed it. Try poisoning Iraq for a million
years with depleted uranium. That’s a world historic crime.
Take a look at the birth defect pictures, if you got a strong
stomach.
Try ruining the world economy. Try destroying the rule of law
in this country. Try devastating millions of people’s livelihoods
and retirements. These fuKKErs are world-class criminals, make
no mistake. Just cause they didn’t get to implement the death
camps doesn’t make them ok. Did they have to do the same things
as Hitler for you to want to go after them? Hiter was in Germany;
these Scum are here. That’s enough for me. Aw WTF? you’re not
even gonna read this anyway. I said next topic. Next Topic!
#107, Elizabeth Haggisbarf is such a mental lightweight. Ventura totally clobbered her.
good morning all!
106 you knew what I meant.
#102
despite the fact that Mao, Stalin and Hitler aren’t a problem anymore, we still need to police ourselves.
Hilary Rosen – “frankly” – u rock!
#108, poisoning for a million years? Seriously, that’s hyperbole. I assume you’re referring to the radiation: here’s a little factoid – depleted uranium is less dangerous from a radioactivity standpoint than granite.
It is a nasty heavy metal toxin, but that applies to dust, and will have a shorter impact timewise.
hi Cindy. good trade we got you for Tony who had to go.
#111; I did – but I think it’s important to point out that the stock market directly impacts the retirement of relatively few people.
114 OK, Pete, mebbe it’s ONLY ten thousand years. You’re right
the prollem is the dust. You do agree it’s a major problem,
and we did it with malice aforethought. The scientific community
was warning against DU munitions well before we used them.
It’s a crime against humanity.
Hey Jim – congratulations on the 10th anniversary of your 40th birthday and on getting another free trip around the sun!
#117
DU babies:
the least discussed side effect of the Iraq occupation.
116 thanks Pete
You’re right about the pensions. Major sh%tstorm still to happen.
UCLA? — lousy school
119 Yep! And don’t they attribute Gulf War Syndrom to DU also?
Happy Birthday Jim!!
I still don’t have my computer back so I can’t make you another b-day card … so lat one will have to do … in your head just change the 49 to 50 http://www.stephaniemiller.com/wp-content/gallery/photoshop-fun/jimsbirthday.jpg
#103 Agreed. What’s missing from Olbermann is a special guest segment. The interview should be down the middle, neither fawning or combative, but should include a wide variety of players. Jon Stewart does this so well.
One thing I like about Olbermann is that guests are interviewed mostly one at a time, not in that “head-in-a-box” rat-a-tat clustereff that is typical of cable news.
get Phil a NordicTrack…
ROTFLOL
Happy Birthday, my friend!
There is a Voice Deity named Jim
Who does everyone fron Darth to Kim
Then there’s Squeezy and Nigel, the Queen and the Wingers,
But he’s best when he takes down the slag with his zingers.
Happy Birthday Jim!
Did you guys watch Olberman last night? They had Praise Chessus and they now have a WTF moment. A little plagerism (sic) going on again?
1. Republicans have decided you don’t deserve any more apologies
117 thank you Brian
I like DU as much as the next guy, when I’m a M-1A1 Abrams tank
gunner going up against a T-80 who’s trying to kill me. But
there was really no reason to use it in Bosnia or Iraq. For
that matter we poisoned our own country with it. Try not to
drink the water or breath anywhere near a state-side tank
gunnery range, Killen Texas.
Nice way to get rid of our unwanted spent fuel rods. Nuke power
is a crime itself.
Happy Birthday , Jim
as I told my son’s over the weekend to end an argument a study fond that a majority of women (whether they publicly admit it or not) are bisexual to some degree
I’d buy that for a dollar!
#124 – yup! one-on-one interviews, rather than the Brady Bunch boxes are better.
But people crab at Mr. King for “softballs” — while KO just gets into the “how can I agree with you more” discussions with Jon Turly – please…
2. This Is How You Shut Down The Right Wing Talking Points on Torture (Update)
so what Jim himself ISN’T delicious?
122 yes. Most Americans think there were only about
100 casualties from the 1991 war. NOT. Over 10,000 I think.
Gulf War Syndrome doesn’t exist and had nothing to do with
DU or Nerve Gas munitions being blown up or the vaccines we
all had to take… just ask all the crippled vets.
Happy Birthday Jim! Have you three ever spoken about the fact that one of the ships stormed during the actual Boston Tea Party was named …… The Beaver….
133 [squeezy moment] Do Tell Cindy!
#117, I don’t know it’ll even be that long. It’ll either get buried, sequestered in plant matter, and the like. Decades, for sure.
We did not use it with malice aforethought; we used it because DU’s density makes it an excellent armor piercer. There was no malicious intent per se. I suspect it’s also cheaper than the alternative, tungsten.
People in the military don’t think DU is dangerous because they’re around it all the time – in solid form; unfired munitions, tank armor, etc. In that form, it’s quite inert.
Once it’s used, though, it turns to dust which (though not proven) is reasonably suspected to be a heavy metal hazard.
It’s become a cause celebre among libs because it’s nominally radioactive – but it’s an alpha emitter (can be stopped by a piece of paper, or by the dead epidermis, unless taken internally), and the rate of radioactive emission is tiny precisely because its lifetime is so long. But the concept of “radioactive” tends to override a lot of libs, because of the (justified) concerns they have about nuclear power. DU is radioactive, but barely so.
#122, Gulf War Syndrome, last I heard, seems to be a mix of a bunch of different things, not a single syndrome.
#133 Masters & Johnson pretty much said that we’re on the sliding scale of sexual preference. The bit I don’t get is people sliding from one end (of the scale) to the other within a few months. Anne Heche much?
139 Carrie! nice ‘Stack material.
Jim is such a scamp
shane-O I find I enjoy Keith and Rachel together but if I can only listen to one generally it’s keith
why? because after a day of getting pissed off at republicans and who weak dems seem to be, and teenagers (and a 22 yo) who think THEY know everything that there is to be known and I am just their cook, laundress, secretary and chauffeur I think hearing someone agree with me (and Turly) IS refreshing
maybe that’s why keith is so popular among women
141 thank you, you’re obviously informed. The best stuff
I’ve read about DU came from the US Army scientist who
studied it for the Army, and whom they then completely ignored.
That’s why I maintain it was deliberate and a crime.
Yes, Gulf War Syndrome is not nailed down to one thing, there
are maybe seven different possible causes. However DU is really
really bad and certainly one of the causes. And we should not
have used it.
Jim, I have a birthday present for you…
The following video from The Onion – Police Slog Through 40,000 Insipid Party Pics To Find Cause Of Dorm Fire:
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/police_slog_through_40_000
Enjoy during a break!
#135 Yeah, “how can I agree with you more” pretty much sums up Olbermann’s nightly chats with the regulars. At least the Jonathon Turley and John Dean have somewhat of a scholarly feel to them, but those segments with the some of the other talking heads have a real “here’s what’s happening and how you should think about it” feel that I find kinda insulting.
Jim, I’ve been tearing up and throwing away everything from AARP for years. They sold out to Bush years ago during the medicare kerfuffle. They can GET OFF MY LAWN!
Shaf – I think Gaylin’s Feelings Our Vital Signs said it very well that we are on a spectrum (like a gas tank gage) and most of us fall somewhere around 1/2 tank
very few of us fall on the “E” or the “F” — being totally gay or totally straight
wow that’s weird … I think some one is in my back yard or the glint sun of an aircarft wings just hit my window …
OK, with this I’m done on DU for the day:
Depleted Uranium – A Hidden Looming Worldwide Calamity
by Stephen Lendman
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=1754
next topic! Human Polymorphous Perversity
#151
…or the archangel Gabriel has some news for ya.
K to the G .. then liberals need to take over again … it’s like PBS
153 … I haven’t been a virgin for 30 years … and if he’s here to take me home Azreal must be sick
147 thanks Shaf love me some Onion on my belt
#145 – I, too, enjoy watching both their shows!
But Ms. Maddow seems to be getting the guests more, KO – more opinion stuff.
#141, let me correct; it’s a known heavy metal hazard that can damage kidney and reproductive function, and possibly is carcinogenic. But I don’t think anyone ever showed exposure levels in battle zones rose to the level where this would be a strong issue. There was no major rash of diseases related to DU after the Yugoslav conflict.
Gulf War Syndrome, according to a 2008 NAS study, seems to relate in large part to a class of chemicals used both in chemical weapons/pesticides and also present in drugs given to counteract the potential effect of nerve agents.
I’m not opposed to using DU on the battlefield – but its use needs to be restricted to anti-armor (which is mainly what it’s good for anyway).
this is really weird. the woods front my backyard are too thick to allow any relfection of light to travel and the closet neighbor is on the other side of the house anyway … so it the home heating oil port
shane-O- keith is the Fox lightening rod … I think he’s glad to take the flack so Rachel can get the guests
155 Have you read Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and
Terry Pratchett? very funny take on the Apoc.
Good morning, peeps!
#45, Cindy – I love your post and can totally identify with the sentiment.
3. Conspiracy Theorist Military Chaplains Promote Anti-American Militia Activity
159 lock the doors get the gun
LOL
Terri
Mark, – doors are always locked but I don’t have a gun
Cindy, Let’s storm AARP headquarters and occupy it like the old days! (bathrooms could be an issue though)
#159 If you hear the sound of blackhawk helicopters, run!
#160 – yeah – you’re probably right. it’s all a balance – and KO ain’t hurtin at all!
from twitter
radioguychris RT @mmfa Scarborough attacks Jesse Ventura over waterboarding remarks: “It seriously should be a crime to be that dumb”: http://bit.ly/1Phu0
There is no serious journalism remaining on TV. It’s all about ratings (CNN) or moving an agenda (Fox).
#166
“Cindy’s got a gun
Cindy’s got a gun
Her dog day’s just begun
Now everybody is on the run…”
(sing to the tune of “Janie’s Got a Gun” by Aerosmith)
Go Eric and go San Diego! We FINALLY have one progressive radio program on 1700am from 3pm to 6pm with Jon Elliott. It’s only the beginning – can’t wait till we add Stephanie, Randi and more!
Ya gotta love Lt. Colonel Michael Aquino USAR, author
of “From PSYOP to MindWar: The Psychology of Victory”
This guy is creating the US Army doctrine on Psychological
Warfare while founding his own Church of Satan. And getting
it recognized by the US Army as a legitimate church. He had
to leave Anton LaVey’s Church of Satan cause it wasn’t
Satany enough. I bet the Chaplain’s insignia for Church of Set
is way cool though.
How The F%^K can we be the good guys with guys like this
on our side? Cheney et al was nothing new; Aquino is old news.
He’s also an alleged child molester with ties possibly to
the Jeff Gannon/James Guckert White House Gay Prostitute
200 overnight visits Fake Journalist thing…
k to the g —AARP is actually a punch line with the high school class … because I did a whole funny about them including photoshopping MY walker … complete with bike horn, pink bike basket and handle bar streamers
Brian -
Cindy shot her JROTC marksmanship badge the first time she picked up a rifle. While Cindy does not own a gun Cindy still knows how to shoot.
Cindy even shot a perfect grouping a distance the first time she picked up a recurve bow some 5 years ago.
at distance that should read
update Cindy, are you ok?
oh darn
that should be
shot a perfect grouping at the bulls eye at distance
I’m okay .. not sure what that was … maybe someone tromping through the woods
#180
Yeti!!!???
Yeti .. ooooh cool! I’ll get my camera
Caller, Presidents who try to kingmake in Congress have historically been spanked.
Mr. Sullivan – The Atlantic — great writer
STEPHANIE YOU NEED TO READ THIS
Cheney, Nuremberg and aggressive war: the day the smirking stopped
Not a fan of Pelosi, but even if she did step down Steny Hoyer takes her place. He isn’t much better.
Well that’s too fine a point for the GOP, explaining the difference of the CIA under the Bush regime versus the CIA under Obama.
will wheaton has some stupid tweets too
that’s why I un-followed him
OMG!
regular old humans bother us yetis
175.
does your walker have tennis balls on the front legs?
ktotheg -
no, I forgot to photoshop those on
I’d argue that Pelosi is criticizing the rogue elements that Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld tapped for Iraqi ‘Intelligence’ in the run-up to the war.
Talking point.
Well then why don’t we repeal the Telecommunications Act to breakup the so-called liberal media.
#176
BrianMonster fun fact:
I have only ever fired two weapons a few times between them, one was a pellet gun.
was I a good shot? actually hit the soda can w/ the pellet gun.
No, Mama, a lot of people did because they were afraid of being on wrong side electorally, some did it because they like war and sincerely think it’s the best way to settle disputes.
awwright troops, mount up, long way to Sparta only an hour
Good morning, MookenBloggsters. I hope you are all doing well.
Has Tony the Torture Advocate gone, so it is safe for me to log on? Sorry, thinking out loud.
#195 – Amen. (spoken as a deist – but, I agree)
#198 “We have the tools and we have the talent!”
#199
careful! …he might break out an ironing board and a pitcher, try and demonstrate waterbaording on ya!
Here is my “Sound Off” to my local newspaper, the Las Cruces Sun News:
“Who’d a thunk it? It wasn’t Dick Cheney and the Bush Administration
committing illegal torture and other war crimes – it was Speaker Nancy Pelosi, responsible for it all, by not complaining when the CIA briefed her about it. Thank you Republicans!”
We’ll see if it gets printed..
#202
pardon my typo. I meant “waterboarding”
Wonder why we can’t talk about the other House and Senate members who were briefed by the CIA? Oh, they’re not San Francisco LIBERALS? nevermind. The truth will out (after we’re all tortured by the media)
#204, or perhaps “waterboring”.
203. Good on you. Even if they don’t print it, it makes an impact on them.
Steele: “I wanna party” — “I wanna party like it’s 1980?” huh?
Netinyahu is happy to negotiate and concede nothing while he continues to terrorize and butcher them. Likud considers negotiation a stalling tactic to create facts on the ground. Granted, so did Labor and Kadima.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM,MR. SQUEEZY MCFEEL PANTS!
Happy Birthday, Jim!!! You’re the bestest voice deity in the whole world!!
Is it bone-headed or Boehner-headed?
Restless Leg Syndrome, Jim? — be humble, third leg, yah…
Jim, just wait til the hemmorroids get bigger than the hoo-ha’s
Happy birthday, Voice Deity Jim Ward!!!
which wife?
5 principles for a successful life can be summed up in one. MASSIVE HYPOCRACY.
Quit talking about torture!
Start Prosecuting those who ordered it!
damn, Steph can speak SO quickly – yikes! like a Fed Ex ad!!
Hypocrisy is THE rethug value
Radical Militant Librarian M Faye!
No lie – Darth Cheney was speaking across the street from where I work. Before he arrived, it was a sunny day. While he was here, the skies were dark and gloomy. After he left, the sun came out again. Swear to Cheesus.
I feel honored that as a youngster my evening news was brought to me by Jack Cafferty and Sue Simmons (who is rumored to be able to keep up with Mama in a drinking contest).
Onward christian soldiers.
Will you take the Mark of the Beast? For how much? $100? $1000?
Not surprising, the Iraq War was painted as a Crusade (complete with Bush’s comment about it being one).
The ultra Christiany Air Force is creepy and wrong
Put your armor on, Rummy? How can the soldiers do that, when you won’t issue them armor?
Bush/Cheney left America looking like a Walmart among nations
I hope Pelosi is taking poker lessons from Obama
#209 God Bless Matti Peled and others like him
#229 True on so many fronts, k to the g. Sadly, so!
Happy Birthday Jim Ward, my idol. Hero and mentor..
I wish I were 50 again and know what Jimbo knows now.
232. Time to tesr the mother down and build a real nation.
223 I like Sue Simmons for being a drunken broad caster
Momma and Sue at the bar, that’s news I’d watch
okay, can we NOT mention Pelosi for the rest of the show? No? PLEEEEEASE?
exactly, Jeff! YAY!
More Steele-isms…
Michael Steele Hails End Of “Era Of Apologizing”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/19/steele-hails-end-of-era-o_n_205095.html
Excerpt:
half and hour and 61 posts to go to Sparta and I’ve got to
leave you… have a great afternoon, good luck on getting
to Sparta
It is indeed a fact that Republicans and right wingers in general take silence or non-response to be tacit agreement with them. That’s why being all Zenful at work when they are up in your grill praising Rush Limbaugh with their hot, stinky breath and spittle on you doesn’t work. You must overtly express your disagreements with them.
#238 English teachers everwhere rejoice, Michael Steele is bringing adverbs back to the Republican party (Democrat is a noun, Democratic is an adjective, unless you’re a dittohead).
5. BOO HA HA HA HA!!!!!
Gallup: Moderates, liberals flee GOP
Thank you caller! Even Rachel Maddow forgot about the anthrax.
#238 In Steele’s world, apparently adhomenim attacks are part of “beauty of the Republican Party”
as I said yesterday we could be hammering home that unlike the Clinton administration the Bush administration had a pre 2/93 mindset
remember all that wagging the dog bull shit
Bye Mark! Drink, bike, and junp!
Steele is operating in some orthogonal universe. How about trying to gen up anti-gay marriage sympathies by telling small businesses how it WILL COST THEM MONEY..?
#245 And unlike the Bush administration, Clinton caught and punished the guys who attacked the World Trade Center. Republicans forget about that so often.
or jump
the road to Sparta is paved with corrections to previous posts
245 & 245 And Clinton kept us safe for “7″ years since the WTC bombing.
Here’s a goodie…
John Weaver, a top adviser to Utah Governor John Huntsman, said this week that the Republican party is headed for an electoral “blowout” if it continues to be defined by “Palin and Limbaugh and Cheney.”
Details:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/18/john-weaver-gop-headed-fo_n_204695.html
Oops 245 & 248.
Jim, as a hypochondriac, you might want to get a magnifier to read those drug store labels. They somehow got smaller.
All this talk about whether or not to release the torture pictures made me think.
If there weren’t pictures of Auschwitz and Dachau, then maybe it didn’t happen? Never mind that it was wrong and horrible – it was the pictures.
Are we as Americans really that shallow and easily led?
replay the LAR!!
Love me some Hillary Rosen!
#252 Oh he’s only saying that because Obama offered to make his boss ambassador to China.
At least that’s what Republicans will say if you bring up that point.
Rosen is SO right! I love her, too!
Most people who haven’t been tortured, don’t have the life experience to make torture seem real until they see pictures. It’s not about being shallow, it’s a way our brains protect us and keep us focused on our lives — keep in mind brains evolved (or were designed!) before mass media.
“A flaming pile of dog poo, politically speaking.”
Netinyahu is a pure, unapologetic master racist.
Latest Gallup Poll shows that the GOP has lost 9% of moderates and 8% of liberals from the party in the last eight years. Soon, they will be left with their crunchy white center.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/118528/GOP-Losses-Span-Nearly-Demographic-Groups.aspx
#263, it’ll be crunchy and white, but there’ll be no center left!
260:
One more reason to realease the pictures – and stop the artificial argument about whether to release them or not. The arugument has to be whom to prosecute.
#264 Tru ‘dat!
265 And another reason would be to light a fire under Congress’ collective butts to shut down Gitmo!
#266 Should probably referred to it as the “bitter, racist white core”.
Is there a Sparta on the horizon? This pointless post will help pave the way.
265 – I see your point. If we could release them to politicos and the die-hard fans of “24″ I’d say hell yeah. The froth of hatred that would follow their release would make everything else look like free beer. I grew up in the Middle East during the Carter/Reagan years and I’d hate to see that.
It’s a big decision and I am glad it’s not mine.
If the police have to move your drunken ass off the railroad tracks at noon on a Sunday, you might have a drinking problem.
http://www.northjersey.com/towns/Drunken_slumber_nearly_resulted_in_tragedy_on_railroad_tracks.html
Mama, it’s more important we do the right thing than something.
If they ditch a robust public option, and don’t allow (or require) employers to use it as an alternative to private insurance, we will get nowhere. And that’s the minimal requirement.
Talk of $2 trillion in voluntary industry cost control is a fraud, and we’d be fools to fall for it.
Slim chance for Sparta today.
270- So my point again is, since the pictures of Auschwitz and Dachau were so inflammatory – they shouldn’t have been shown (anti-German sentiment is still strong 64 years later)?
And I really think GITMO is our Auschwitz. Why is it that only illegal things American’s do should not see the light of day, but the rest of the world is held to a higher standard. We get to choose whether or not to acknowledge our bad behavior?
S
Good morning, remarkable bloggers
Predicting that Larry will bring Chris’ error up again when he’s in-studio next week.
S-P
Good morning, Sarah!
S
S-P-A
S-P-A-R
S-P-A-R
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy.
With a load of iron ore – 26,000 tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early
S-P-A-R-T
The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconson
As the big freighters go it was bigger than most
With a crew and the Captain well seasoned.
S-P-A-R-T-A
Are ya bastids gonna make it to Sparta, or what?!?!
Sparta – HELLO!
Larry’s stories… inspiration for Abe Simpson’s ‘Onion Belt’ tale?
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ships bell rang
Could it be the North Wind they’d been feeling.
Close to Sparta.
The wind in the wires made a tattletale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the Captain did, too,
T’was the witch of November come stealing.
Sparta, Sparta, and more Sparta
289. We ho’s are too!
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashing
When afternoon came it was freezing rain
In the face of a hurricane West Wind
SPARTA?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JIM
A Sparta for you!
SPARTA!
Sparta!
Three cheers and a Sparta for Me!
Skyhawk did it! Congratulations!
Woo-Hoo! Whew! Nice kill, Skyhawk!
#277 – how much fun will it be to have the Lar in Steph’s studio?
And… ProducerChris is fallible? – NO WAY! Impossible. :p
Thank you ladies.
Glad you could Sparta today.
Congrats on your Spartaness, Skyhawk! *bows*
Larry King is awesome. Be afraid, Stephanie. Be very afraid. Chris, leave town.
I went out to dinner last night (before seeing Star Trek) with an old and dear friend who has been everywhere and done everything. She’s an amazing person. And she told me a story about Dick Cheney last night that I will share with you all tomorrow. This is before political office.
Larry King, a pretty spry old fart!
311-Yup!
FoxSting meets SMS DramaSting? – Greta?
“Same Time, Next Election”??
Bye all! Party til at least 7:30 Jim!
wasn’t me — have a great day, all!
See you all tomorrow! Happy B-day Jim!
Great show and blog (as always).
Have a great birthday, Jim!
Everyone else, have a great day as well.
Happy trails to you,
until we meet again
Happy trails to you,
keep smilin’ until then
Stephanie is my muse. I wrote a song for my dog about the Bark Park. You can read her story here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/5/19/733149/-My-Stem-Cell-Miracle-Woozle-Has-a-Hit-Record!
All Regan CIA liars and convicts
Thomas G. Clines, Central Intelligence Agency agent—Indicted February 22, 1990, on four felony counts of underreporting his earnings to the IRS in the 1985 and 1986 tax years; and falsely stating on his 1985 and 1986 tax returns that he had no foreign financial accounts. On September 18, 1990, Clines was found guilty of all charges. U.S. District Judge Norman P. Ramsey in Baltimore, Md., on December 13, 1990, sentenced Clines to 16 months in prison and $40,000 in fines. He was ordered to pay the cost of the prosecution. The Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., on February 27, 1992, upheld the convictions. Clines served his prison sentence.
Alan D. Fiers, Jr. , Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Central American Task Force during the Reagan administration—Pleaded guilty July 9, 1991, to two misdemeanor counts of withholding information from Congress about secret efforts to aid the Nicaraguan contras. U.S. District Chief Judge Aubrey E. Robinson, Jr., sentenced Fiers January 31, 1992, to one year probation and 100 hours community service. Fiers was pardoned December 24, 1992.
Clair E. George, Deputy Director for CIA Operations —Indicted September 6, 1991, on 10 counts of perjury, false statements and obstruction in connection with congressional and Grand Jury investigations. George’s trial on nine counts ended in a mistrial on August 26, 1992. Following a second trial on seven counts, George was found guilty December 9, 1992, of two felony charges of false statements and perjury before Congress. The maximum penalty for each count was five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth set sentencing for February 18, 1993. George was pardoned on December 24, 1992, before sentencing occurred.
Joseph F. Fernandez, CIA station chief in Costa Rica —Indicted June 20, 1988 on five counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstructing the inquiry of the Tower Commission and making false statements to government agencies. The case was dismissed in the District of Columbia for venue reasons on the motion of Independent Counsel. A four-count indictment was issued in the Eastern District of Virginia on April 24, 1989. U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton dismissed the four-count case November 24, 1989, after Attorney General Richard Thornburgh blocked the disclosure of classified information ruled relevant to the defense. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Va., on September 6, 1990, upheld Judge Hilton’s rulings under the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA). On October 12, 1990, the Attorney General filed a final declaration that he would not disclose the classified information.
. Duane R. Clarridge, career CIA officer —Indicted November 26, 1991, on seven counts of perjury and false statements about a secret shipment of U.S. HAWK missiles to Iran. The maximum penalty for each count was five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. U.S. District Judge Harold H. Greene set a March 15, 1993, trial date. Clarridge was pardoned December 24, 1992.
Oliver L. North, National Security Council staffer in the Reagan administration and point man in the Iran-Contra scandal—Indicted March 16, 1988, on 16 felony counts. After standing trial on 12, North was convicted May 4, 1989 of three charges: accepting an illegal gratuity, aiding and abetting in the obstruction of a congressional inquiry, and destruction of documents. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell on July 5, 1989, to a three-year suspended prison term, two years probation, $150,000 in fines and 1,200 hours community service. A three-judge appeals panel on July 20, 1990, vacated North’s conviction for further proceedings to determine whether his immunized testimony influenced witnesses in the trial. The Supreme Court declined to review the case. Judge Gesell dismissed the case September 16, 1991, after hearings on the immunity issue, on the motion of Independent Counsel
Caspar W. Weinberger, Secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration until 1987—Indicted June 16, 1992, on five counts of obstruction, perjury and false statements in connection with congressional and Independent Counsel investigations of Iran/ contra. On September 29, the obstruction count was dismissed. On October 30, a second indictment was issued, charging one false statement count. The second indictment was dismissed December 11, leaving four counts remaining. The maximum penalty for each count was five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan set a January 5, 1993, trial date. Weinberger was pardoned December 24, 1992.
Robert C. McFarlane, National Security Advisor to President Reagan from 1983 to late 1985 —Pleaded guilty March 11, 1988, to four misdemeanor counts of withholding information from Congress. U.S. District Chief Judge Aubrey E. Robinson, Jr., sentenced McFarlane on March 3, 1989, to two years probation, $20,000 in fines and 200 hours community service. McFarlane was pardoned December 24, 1992.
I added North out of a feeling of nostalgia and McFarlane and Weinberger to keep Rice and Rumsfeld on edge.
Thanks for the SM Show.
Mornin’! Happy Birthday, Jim!
Hey, bloggers, here’s a gossip tidbit from a good friend of mine. This happened before Dick Cheney held public office. The Cheneys hired a caterer and crew, which included my friend, for a party at their vacation house. My friend didn’t know who the Dick was, but he scared her sufficiently to request that someone else serve him. She said he smiled crookedly and never blinked. After the party, the caterer had to pay the wait staff, as the Cheneys would not pay for them. It goes without saying that there were no tips for the wait staff.