Republican leadership candidate distributes "Barack the Magic Negro"

Top three reason's why Chip Saltsman is a total dick:

1. It's bad enough the guy's name is Chip Saltsman


2. It's worse that he's such a cheapskate that he makes mix tape CDs for gifts


3. It's worst of all he's a racist pig

(I had more but I'm trying to be less wordy.)

RNC candidate Chip Saltsman’s Christmas greeting to committee members includes a music CD with lyrics from a song called “Barack the Magic Negro,” first played on Rush Limbaugh’s popular, yet asinine radio show.

“I look forward to working together in the New Year,” Saltsman wrote in a note that came with the CD. “Please enjoy the enclosed CD by my friend Paul Shanklin of the Rush Limbaugh Show.”

Chip denies being a total dick: "I think that RNC members have the good humor and good sense to recognize that his songs for the Rush Limbaugh show are light-hearted political parodies.”

Glad to see that the GOP has read the will of the electorate accept that they have nearly screwed the country with their agenda, and with humility (not to mention newfound wisdom) are moving forward with an eye toward reconciliation.

Now look at the picture above... do you think he became a total dick BECAUSE his mother named him Chip Saltman, or he looked like a dick right from infancy and his mom merely gave him a name to fit?

Read more at The Hill

If you must, listen to the song.

The way to an Afghan chieftain's heart is through his...

From the Washington Post:

"The Afghan chieftain looked older than his 60-odd years, and his bearded face bore the creases of a man burdened with duties as tribal patriarch and husband to four younger women. His visitor, a CIA officer, saw an opportunity, and reached into his bag for a small gift.

Four blue pills. Viagra.

"Take one of these. You'll love it," the officer said. Compliments of Uncle Sam.

The enticement worked. The officer, who described the encounter, returned four days later to an enthusiastic reception. The grinning chief offered up a bonanza of information about Taliban movements and supply routes -- followed by a request for more pills.

"Whatever it takes to make friends and influence people -- whether it's building a school or handing out Viagra," said one longtime agency operative and veteran of several Afghanistan tours."

FULL STORY by Joby Warrick

2008's Heros of the Evolution: Tina Fey and SNL

What good is a blog without an end of the year recap?  Here is my version.

Our friend Tina sure had a good year.  Taking circumstance by the balls, she became a 5 foot 4 inch antidote against the weaponized cheesecake they called "Sarah from Wasilla."

It was the GOP's ruling class that first saw Sarah Palin – the rookie Governor from Alaska – and could calculate her vast potential; the folksy wit, the shapely legs, the effortless star power, and the unfettered ambition.  McCain unleashed the pitbull with lipstick soon after, and Americans who valued the ability to relate to a candidate (or for the men, good old fashioned T&A) over intellectual acumen started piling in.  It was starting to look rocky for Obama, whose own sensational newness had begun to fade by late August.  I know that I for one was damn nervous.

Luckily, the fresh face of the GOP war machine had two fatal flaws; she wasn't well versed in affairs beyond Anchorage, and she looked A LOT like Tina Fey.  So much so that Tina quickly was able to jump back into her former gig at Saturday Night Live, dress up in a suit and up-do, and start turning public perception of Palin from serious VP potential to parody that spread across YouTube like wildfire.  Before long "I can see Russia from my house!" was a national joke.

Of course, Palin did as much damage to her own prospects as Fey, from horrific interviews to racially tinged hate mongering to alleged abuses of power.  That aside, it was Tina Fey and the excellent writers at SNL that were able to expose what was behind the curtain.  As a bonus, we were able to laugh our asses off in the process.

Thanks Tina, you helped us dodge a bullet.

2008's Heros of the Evolution: Economist Paul Krugman

If you need an antidote from the gray-faced economists that talk in jargony circles and make your brain hurt, meet Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman.

Krugman is both professor of economics and international affairs at Princeton University and op-ed columnist for the The New York Times, but he does a hell of a lot more than that.  

He is smart, practical – and most importantly – KICKS TOTAL ASS.

Since 1988 Krugman has written extensively for non-economists. Because of  him, I've had the surreal pleasure of sitting in my truck riveted by economic theory.  Yeah, riveted.  His insights into political movements and their effect on American economic prosperity fly in the face of economics 101, but recent events have backed-up  his theories.  

In particular, his recent book The Conscience of a Liberal dissects the past 150 years of American history and comes to the conclusion that the GOP's takeover by extreme factions of the right (inspired by Reagan and perfected by Bush 2) precipitated a systematic attack on the advances made in economic equality from FDR's New Deal to the ever-improving middle class of the 1960s.  Erosion of health care benefits, lower wages, and the disintegration of the middle-class resulted.

It's an persuasive proposition, and especially prophetic in the 2 years since he wrote the book's first edition. Especially fascinating is that you can watch his theories work in real-time as you read the papers.

What's even better, Politico recently reported that President-Elect Obama has been accessing Krugman's ample intellect.

This is the best financial news I've heard in a long time.  Rock on, Economics Geek!

Karl Rove's IT Guru Killed in Plane Crash, Said Recently Threatened by Rove, Had Been Key Witness in OH '04 Election Fraud Case

I would encourage people to look into this developing story on their own, as there is a lot of conjecture. That said, I am deeply suspicious of anything involving Rove.

So far, web searches are showing this has only showed up on local news. Coverage has been totally missing from CNN, CBS, ABC (except from a brief summary of the crash lifted from the Associated Press), FOXNews, NPR, MSNBC (besides local news stating the crash occurred). The Wall Street Journal did post a press release.


Was the computer guru who helped Karl Rove allegedly steal votes that swung the 2004 election ready to talk? And if so was he killed to shut him up?

From Raw Story:

The Republican consultant accused of involvement in alleged vote-rigging in Ohio in 2004 was warned that his plane might be sabotaged before his death in a crash Friday night, according to a Cleveland CBS affiliate.

45-year-old Republican operative Michael Connell was killed when his single-passenger plane crashed Friday into a home in a suburb of Akron, Ohio. The consultant was called to testify in federal court regarding a lawsuit alleging that he took part in tampering with Ohio's voting results in the 2004 election.

Without getting into specific details, 19 Action News reporter Blake Renault reported Sunday evening that 45-year-old Republican operative and experienced pilot had been warned not to fly his plane in the days before the crash.

"Connell...was apparently told by a close friend not to fly his plane because his plane might be sabotaged," Renault said. "And twice in the last two months Connell, who is an experienced pilot, cancelled two flights because of suspicious problems with his plane."

Connell [was alleged to have been involved] in a ploy to "flip" votes from then Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry to then-President George W. Bush.

Amy Goodman of Democracy Now interviewed Mark Crispin Miller, professor and author, took the story even further into motives:

"Velvet Revolution, a non-profit investigating Connell’s activities, revealed this weekend that Connell had recently said he was afraid George Bush and Dick Cheney would “throw [him] under the bus.” Cliff Arnebeck had also previously alerted Attorney General Michael Mukasey to alleged threats from Karl Rove to Connell if he refused to “take the fall.”

AMY GOODMAN: Alright, well, we had you on right before the election, because that’s when Mike Connell was being deposed. This news that came out of his death in a plane crash on Friday night, talk about what you understand has happened.

MARK CRISPIN MILLER: ...I think we’re obliged to investigate this thing very, very thoroughly. And that means, first of all, taking a close look at some of the stories that were immediately circulated to account for what happened, that it was bad weather. That was the line they used when Wellstone’s plane went down. There had been bad weather, but it had passed two hours before. And this comes from a woman at the airport information desk in Akron. We’re told that his plane was running out of gas, which is a little bit odd for a highly experienced pilot like Connell, but apparently, when the plane went down, there was an explosion, a fireball that actually charred and pocked some of the house fronts in the neighborhood.

When asked about Connell's methods and motivations, Miller said this:

MARK CRISPIN MILLER: [Connell was believed to have said that] one of the primary reasons why he helped Bush-Cheney steal elections was to save the babies. He was an ardent anti-abortionist, it’s true, but he wasn’t quite as hardcore as the others. And in fact, you know, he was a little bit alienated from the others, and that’s one of the reasons why he was inclined to talk, and so on.

READ MORE AT:

- UPDATED 12/25: HUFFINGTON POST
- RAW STORY
- DEMOCRACY NOW
- BRAD BLOG
- VELVET REVOLUTION
- Sourcewatch
- Wikipedia

MORE ON CONNELL:
BRAD BLOG

See how Connell fits into the big picture in the 2004 Ohio Election according to "FREE FOR ALL!: The High-Tech HighJack of Ohio":

FOX News ridicules PETA, Children, Eat KFC

As someone who takes my little blogging outpost here seriously, I feel obligated to get my info so I can be "fair and balanced". That said, I try and avoid FOX News, as it is neither, though claims both. I just can't take that kind of a hit for readers. Turning into Uncle Rupert's brainchild is a little too much like having my brain starved and raped simultaneously.

That said, many others do. Many consider it their primary source of news/talking points. Fox usually returns their loyalty with standard issue corporate mindfucking, feeding those with lazy minds with plenty of information that supports their simplistic world views. Too harsh?

Here's a case in point: Listen to them rag on PETA during a protest of KFC...



These hosts are so half-witted, I'm shocked that FOX actually archives their videos online. Not only slamming PETA people as "a bunch of lonely people," they give KFC on-screen product placement as well. They also slam the bikini girls PETA is using to attract attention as sexist while having the Ann Coulter look-alike with them in the mini and open blouse.

After that, they go after kids who are trying to get their parents to think more eco-conscious, then top it off by mocking people who think you should avoid having large families.

I would actually feel bad for them, if they went hurting the country.

By the way, KFC has an awful track record in regards to chicken cruelty, etc. It's not just a protest of eating chicken. Here's a clip from last year showing some KFC workers bash the living shit out of some poor animals. Don't watch if you are squeamish.



Story originally found on ecorazzi.

Mr. Spock gets deported

This animated short, Don't Deport Me, Scotty, is a promo for the human rights organization Breakthrough, and their campaign to restore due process for US immigrants. Nicely done. :-)

Thanks to io9, the awesome sci-fi blog.

In ever so slightly related news, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry – Nurse Chapel of the original Trek, and the voice of the Enterprose computer in most of the movies – has joined her husband and Trek creator Gene Roddenberry in the great beyond. She was 75. Thanks for the great sci-fi, Majel. Full scoop here.

I DARE YOU TO PLAY THESE TWO VIDEOS AT THE SAME TIME

Both our current and future leaders released some videos recently... I will show you both.





If this Barney thing was made with tax payer dollars, I am going to lose my shit.

Bush's initial reaction to the meltdown...

As reported in the New York Times

It was Sept. 18. Lehman Brothers had just gone belly-up, overwhelmed by toxic mortgages. Bank of America had swallowed Merrill Lynch in a hastily arranged sale. Two days earlier, Mr. Bush had agreed to pump $85 billion into the failing insurance giant American International Group.

The president listened as Ben S. Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, laid out the latest terrifying news: The credit markets, gripped by panic, had frozen overnight, and banks were refusing to lend money.

Then his Treasury secretary, Henry M. Paulson Jr., told him that to stave off disaster, he would have to sign off on the biggest government bailout in history.

Mr. Bush, according to several people in the room, paused for a single, stunned moment to take it all in.

“How,” he wondered aloud, “did we get here?”

Simply fascinating. Oddly, reminds me of a line from Lord of the Rings. Enjoy!

Your chance to toss a shoe at the President!

All the fun of beaning a Buster Brown off of W's noggin without the 15 years in an Egyptian prison!

PLAY IT NOW!

Stop Bush from selling off Utah's red rock wilderness

Actor Robert Redford is mobilizing a campaign against Bush's Giveaway gift of America's Redrock Wilderness to big energy.

Redford states in the Huffington Post:

"In three days, this Friday, 110,000 acres of majestic Utah wild lands go on the auction block, to be sold to the highest bidders in the oil and gas industry. It's a last-ditch effort by a corrupt administration to further enrich its friends in the dirty fuels business. If they succeed, they'll leave a wasteland behind them."

If you agree, you GO HERE and send a message to the Obama transition team, your Congressperson and you Senators and tell them your wishes.

600 pound shark killed for a fin: Is this really necessary?

A commercial fisherman reccently caught a 663-pound hammerhead off the Coast of Volusia County, Florida. The shark measures more than twelve feet long. To further prove this planet will be much better off when the last human is dead, the asshole decided he just had to kill it.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Some user comments on this video say it better then I could:

"Commercial fishing has nothing to do with subsistence or sustainability; it is motivated by unbridled greed, just as surely as the yuppies trading derivatives on Wall Street."

"as an avid fisherman i can tell you that anyone who keeps a fish just to sell its fins and have the fish mounted is a neanderthal. the fins are the only edible part of a shark because its meat smells and tastes of amonia. the fins are an unnecessary delicacy that have to specially cured. a taxidermist makes a fiberglass replica and only needs the specimen for measurements and markings. something a fishermen can do with a tape measure and a camera before releasing the fish.
catch and release or only keep what you can eat ."

"I live on the coast where this shark was caught. Although we do have a high proportion of shark attacks here in Volusia County, the attacks are usually concentrated in areas where sharks feed like Ponce Inlet, a popular surfing spot. Vary rarely do hammerheads attack humans here. Sad end to a beautiful animal."

"Sad. Just sad."

Barney Frank slams Obama over Warren

Rep. Barney Frank (D - MA) is so upset in President-Elect Obama's choice for Reverend Rick Warren to participate in his inauguration.

In the Huffington Post, Frank states:

"I am very disappointed by President-elect Barack Obama's decision to honor Reverend Rick Warren with a prominent role in his inauguration."

Mr. Obama has explained his choice clearly:

"A couple of years ago I was invited to Rick Warren's church to speak despite his awareness that I held views that were entirely contrary to his when it came to gay and lesbian rights, when it came to issues like abortion," he said. "Nevertheless I had an opportunity to speak, and that dialogue I think is part of what my campaign's been all about, that we're not going to agree on every single issue, but what we have to do is to be able to create an atmosphere where we can disagree without being disagreeable, and then focus on those things that we hold in common as Americans."

Rep. Frank, perhaps your time would be better spent on the economic meltdown we are in, rather than spending your time writing critiques on the President-Elect's judgement. After all, as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, this disaster is happening on your watch.

I don't agree with Obama's choice either, but I do have some faith in his leadership, which is more than I can say for you at the moment.

PLEASE keep your eye on the ball and let the rest of us backseat-drive Mr. Obama until Jan 20. You can complain all you want then.

Iraqi Fun Fact: Tossing shoes is a way of honoring national hero

Did you know that Curly was a Suni? Check it out:

Sarah Palin's home church was badly damaged by arson

As much as I loathe the woman politically... this is deplorable on many levels. Kids were still in the church at the time.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Gov. Sarah Palin's home church was badly damaged by arson, leading the governor to apologize if the fire was connected to "undeserved negative attention" from her failed campaign as the Republican vice presidential nominee.

Damage to the Wasilla Bible Church was estimated at $1 million, authorities said Saturday. No one was injured in the fire, which was set Friday night while a handful of people, including two children, were inside, according to Central Mat-Su Fire Chief James Steele.

He said the blaze was being investigated as an arson but didn't know of any recent threats to the church. Authorities didn't know whether Palin's connection to the church was relevant to the fire, Steele said.

"It's hard to say at this point. Everything is just speculation," he said. "We have no information on intent or motive."

STORY

Iraqi Throws Shoes At Bush During Press Conference – "This is a goodbye kiss, you dog!"

An Iraqi television journalist hurled two shoes at President Bush on Sunday during a joint news conference Bush was holding with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki to mark the signing of a U.S.-Iraq security agreement.



Bush had just finished his prepared remarks in which he said the security agreement was made possible by the U.S. surge of troops earlier this year, whhen the journalist, Muthathar al Zaidi pulled his shoes off and hurled them at the president. "This is a goodbye kiss, you dog," Zaidi shouted.

Bush dodged the shoes and was not struck. Bodyguards quickly wrestled Zaidi to the floor and hauled him, kicking and screaming, from the room. Two other Iraqi journalists were briefly detained after one of them called Zaidi's actions "courageous."

CNN notes that this is considered an insult among Muslims.

The White House transcript from the news conference labels the incident an "audience interruption."

President Bush said. "Okay, everybody calm down for a minute."

Then, indicating Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the president continued: "First of all, thank you for apologizing on behalf of the Iraqi people. It doesn't bother me. And if you want some — if you want the facts, it's a size 10 shoe that he threw. (Laughter.) Thank you for your concern, do not worry about it."

"I don't know what the guy said, but I saw his sole," he joked.

Not bad on that last pun, actually. I'll giggle at that while my house gets foreclosed.

STORY

Fetishists around the world in morning

Bettie Page dies at 85 (1923 - 2008). She had a heart attack last week and after a week on life support, did not recover. Thanks for the... well... thanks!

The recession is hurting all of us.

Jack Black as Jesus in 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Brilliant! Look at all the stars in this one... and it's funny too.

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

I guess it's a video clip kinda day.

JUST RELEASED: Big Three CEO roadtrip footage

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

CEOs of the Big Three automakers testified before Congress after making a ten hour roadtrip from Detroit in company brand vehicles. This morning, MSNBC aired footage from the drive.

This is from 23/6

I am filled with hope. Obama's practical, intelligent approach is spot on. Below he discusses the auto industry on "Meet the Press".



More at Huff

When perfect isn't perfect enough

These are shots of super thin Jessica Alba — before and after retouching — for an Italian Calendar. Note hips, waist, legs and boobs have been pushed pulled and pinched.

As someone constantly trying to lose weight and coming to grips with the fact I'll never have Brad Pitt's abs, stories like this make me feel better for myself, and worse for the millions of girls (my daughter included) who will spend a large part of their lives feeling like shit because the don't look thin enough...

Full Story and more pics at Celebitchy

Bush readies to move to new White House... meaning no black people allowed.

As was reported this week, George Bush has bought a new house in a wealthy part of Dallas, called Preston Hollow, to live in after he leaves office.

Until 2000, the neighborhood association's covenant said only white people were allowed to live there, though an exception was made for servants. The document, enacted in 1956, reads:

"Said property shall be used and occupied by white persons only except these covenants shall not prevent occupancy by domestic servants of different race or nationality in the employ of a tenant."

FULL STORY

O.J. Simpson sentenced to long prison term for Murder Armed Robbery

Will this delay his efforts to finding the true killer of his wife? Guess so. See you in 10, Juice,

STORY

Obama appears to be kicking ass and chewing bubblegum.

Obama, not being a President or a Senator, continues to make bold, practical decisions. Is it January yet?

Obama's latest "computer-side chat" discusses his pledge to get people working again via the biggest works program since the 1950s.

"We won't just throw money at the problem," Obama said in his weekly radio address and Internet video. "We'll measure progress by the reforms we make and the results we achieve — by the jobs we create, by the energy we save, by whether America is more competitive in the world."

Woah... did that sound... like he actually knows what the hell he is doing? Is that still part of the job description???



Meanwhile, President Bush ponders if adding cheese to his taco is the right move.

All and all it's just another Bush in The Hall.

Above: Jeb Bush ponders his future, hurts brain.

Jeb Bush, former Florida Governor of Florida, has big dreams, including a possible run for Senate, and god-knows what else.

President Bush's brother Jeb says the Republican party should not cave to a Democratic majority. Rather, they should set up a "shadow government" to provide a counter-agenda.

"The party should establish a loyal opposition and "organize ourselves in the form of a shadow government" that would address key issues, providing the public with "a loftier debate about policy" rather than mere partisanship"

I have no words that are adequate in expressing how much all Bushes need to get as far away from running this country as possible.

Disaster Junkies Rejoice!

Awesome website let you monitor global disasters better than the Justice League.

Ever wonder if there is a bio hazard going on in Africa while you do your Christmas shopping? Well, NOW YOU CAN! Through the power of the Internet and an assist from a Google Map-ish UI, yoy get two great sites.

The Havaria Information Service Alert Map – Gives devistationitas the skinny on biological hazards, earthquakes, volcanos erruptions, or large storms across the globe. As a bonus, you can get the Google Earth file for download.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/?area=〈=eng&lang=eng

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! Get the Global Warming Disaster tip-off through the Climate Change Monitoring site. Drought, Sea Level Rises, Migratory Disruption, and Glacier Melts all well documented here.

http://cc.rsoe.hu/?pageid=alertmap_index

Put on your favorite Smiths Album and embrace the crushing horror. Enjoy!

Sampling the Alien

Oopsie!? Coldplay's awesome new song may be an awesome old song.

It seems like Viva La Vida (what my daughter refers to as "Coldplay 7") was quite probably lifted from Joe Satriani 2004 instrumental "If I Could Fly." For those who may recall Joe, he had some big hits as while back with his Surfing the Alien album. He also was Steve Vai's teacher.

Reuters continues:

Satriani's copyright infringement suit, filed on Thursday in Los Angeles federal court, claims the Coldplay song "Viva La Vida" incorporates "substantial original portions" of his 2004 instrumental "If I Could Fly."

The 52-year-old guitar virtuoso is seeking a jury trial, damages and "any and all profits" attributable to the alleged copyright infringement.

Perhaps the most damning illustration of the debate comes from a YouTube video that compares them to devistating effect.



As a huge fan of both, I suggest that Coldplay quickly pay up, and have Joe guest on a rerecording, because alone, they are chocolate and peanut butter... together (as head in the video) they are a PERFECT PEANUT BUTTER CUP.

Excuse me while I go buy a copy of Joe's album, cause it rocks.

Kinda funny, easy on the eyes, retro feel.

Super Tuesday seems like a million years ago, doesn't it?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a slice of turkey.

It's nice to have someone in charge that sounds like he's in charge.

Today's Obama Presser. About half way in he defends his cabinet picks, whom some have labeled "rehash from Clinton era." As usual, his reply is thoughtful and articulate. Where did they find this guy? Most of the 20 minutes focuses on his forming of an economic task force and the public's concerns over the situation.



Meanwhile, George Bush is busy elsewhere:



I see two turkey's in this picture. The one being held is about to be pardoned. The other with the goofy smile should be in jail.

William Shatner furious over new Star Trek.

As seen in this off the record video, you can see his obvious rage at being replaced by a younger, non-toupee'd verson of himself. Utterly shocking.



See the whole new trailer here: startrekmovie.com

Ann Coulter proves existence of God

It's being reported that right-wing wing-nut Ann Coulter has broken her jaw, and has had it wired shut.

This obviously means only one thing. God exists and is back to the punishing evil.

Here latest rant (in writing) continues to claim that the poor right wing "I'm a victim" culture is under attack by the "liberal media."

Of course, if this is true, then the media and God are on the same side, attacking Ann Coulter.

Image above is of Ann posing for a calendar called "Make Mine Mink" which has other like-minded conservative women showing their distain for any form of life that does not look white, thin lipped and heartless.

Enjoy the silence.

Bored reporters crawling up Obama's ass on his church attendance

From the usually useful Politico:

"President-elect Barack Obama has yet to attend church services since winning the White House earlier this month, a departure from the example of his two immediate predecessors.

On the three Sundays since his election, Obama has instead used his free time to get in workouts at a Chicago gym."

Are you kidding? Are we really going to dig on Obama's religious views again? I don't care if he EVER goes to Church. I mean EVER. EVER. Ever.

W's Church record is probably perfect... and that was helpful, huh?

Let's stay on topic, people: ECONOMY, WAR, CIVIL RIGHTS, ENVIRONMENT.

President for 60 more days, Bush tearing apart protection for America's wilderness

Our favorite fuckwad is busy ignoring the economy to do some more corporate giveaways.

Originally posted on the fantastic blog ecorazzi.com/:

George W. Bush is working hard, ya’ll! Bet you never heard that sentence uttered before! But it’s true! As he gets ready to leave office, Bush is actually finally working at record speed… to dismantle at least 10 major environmental safeguards protecting America’s wildlife, national parks and rivers. AWESOME!!!!!

“There are probably going to be scores of rules that are issued between now and January 20,” said John Walke, a senior attorney at the National Resources Defence Council. “And there are at least a dozen very controversial rules that will weaken public health and environment protection that have no business being adopted and would not be acceptable to the incoming Obama administration, based on stances he has taken as a senator and during the campaign.”

Now it’s common for a president to try and pass these “midnight regulations” before leaving office, but never before has a president fought so hard for deregulation - not regulation.

Included in some of the new rules are a provision that would free industrial-scale pig and cattle farms from complying with the Clean Water Act so long as they declare they are not dumping animal waste in lakes and rivers. Because corporations are ALWAYS honest! Mountain-top mining operations will also be exempt from the Clean Water Act, allowing them to dump debris in rivers and lakes. This rule is still under review. Coal-fired power plants will no longer be required to install pollution controls or clean up soot and smog pollution. Sexy!

To read more about how Bush is murdering the planet in his last five minutes, visit Guardian.Co.Uk!

Sarah Palin Does TV Interview While Turkeys Are Slaughtered In The Background

Happy Thanksgiving from "Sarah from Alaska."

On Thursday, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin appeared in her hometown of Wasilla in order to pardon a local turkey in anticipation of Thanksgiving. After the pardon, Palin proceeded to do an interview with a local TV station while the turkeys were being BEHEADED in the background!

Seemingly oblivious to the slaughter going on over her shoulder, Palin carries on talking for over three minutes. Watch the video below to see for yourself. BE WARNED: It's kind of gruesome.



Originally on HuffPo

Decision to oust Dingell must be right, cause Republican Boehner is pissed

A good sign:

House Republican Leader John A. Boehner didn't have a vote in the contentious race for chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, but that didn't stop him from leveling a pretty harsh assessment of the result.

"This decision sends a troubling signal from a Majority that has promised to govern from the center," Boehner said in a statement from his office.

"They moved away from Chairman [John] Dingell [D-Mich.] because he is committed to approaching energy and environmental issues in a manner that protects American jobs," Boehner continued. "It is a disturbing sign that the leaders of the next Congress will be making decisions based not on what is best for the country, but for well-funded special interests whose priorities are far different from those of the vast majority of Americans."

Mr. Boehner, if we kill the planet, what is the fucking point of someone keeping their job? You had 8 years on the bully pulpit to fix it all up. Too late to stroke the shaft of the free market on this one.

FULL STORY on POLITICO

Flawlessly logical: Waxman wins powerful Chair

Above: Queen to King's Level One.

Like my favorite Vulcan, Obama seems to be good at playing 3-dimesional chess. This from Politico:

California Rep. Henry A. Waxman on Thursday officially dethroned longtime Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell, upending a seniority system that has governed Democratic politics in the House for decades.

The ascension of Waxman, a wily environmentalist, recasts a committee that Dingell has chaired since 1981 with an eye toward protecting the domestic auto industry in his native Michigan. The Energy and Commerce Committee has principal jurisdiction over many of President-elect Barack Obama's top legislative priorities, including energy, the environment and health care.

Waxman’s win is a big victory for environmentalists who want a more aggressive stance on global warming from the committee, and the vote showed the powerful hand of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Waxman ally, even though she officially remained neutral in the race.

The ousting of the ultimate Old Bull — just three months before Dingell was set to become the longest-serving chairman in the House — is also a shot across the bow for other senior lawmakers who have enjoyed a comfortable and unchallenged ride in their chairmen’s seats.

And the news of Dingell being dethroned has allegedly sent stocks lower today, another sign that big-business was hoping to keep him around. Sorry guys. It's hurts less if you just rip the band-aid off fast.

Read full Politico article here.

Waxman and Dingell both handily lose Congressional beauty contests, but one will soon be very powerful

This is a small machination in the Democratic caucus that could be very meaningful to making some real progress in Washington. Henry Waxman (California) is trying to unseat long time Democratic juggernaut John Dingell (Michigan) for chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Dingell has held that Chair for quite a while.

As I understand it, this critical position is key in making sweeping changes on environmental issues. Dingell, who seems to be catching on to the climate crisis, has nonetheless been in ardent opposition to auto industry regulation (including seatbelts, airbags, and fuel efficieny). Beholden to Michigan auto workers/voters and well funded by the auto industry, he may continue to hold back progressive legislation. He has been called the "go to" guy for the auto lobby.

In a recent interview on Frontline called "Heat", Dingell denies these allegations.

All that being said, he's not an overall bad guy. He's pushed for regulation and health care in his own right. He's just been a dumb ass on auto regulation.

Waxman, on the other hand, is a bulldog on reform, from what I can see. I believe he has been sent on a secret mission from Pellosi and Reid to unseat (or at least scare) Dingell to help the Obama agenda.

Here's some Bloomberg reporting on it:



Click here to see an clip from the excellent "Heat" Go 2:40 in for the part on Dingell.

TIP OF THE HAT: Cornel West

Princeton Professor/philosopher/critic/activist Cornel West is an impressive fellow. I've only started to learn about him, but I like what I hear very much. In today's Democracy Now! radio program, Cornel easily slid back and forth through a variety of topics including Obama, civil rights, and economics.

In particular I admired points he made concerning Obama's election and while supporting him, he's not giving him a blank check by any means. He doesn't expect Obama to just go and fix things while we passively watch. Rather, it is the American people who need to push Obama forward to make the kinds of real change that he may be intellectually capable of achieving, even when the political survivalist in him will settle for less.

He strikes me as intelligent, practical and an idealist. And anyone who can make it to 55 and keep his idealism is worthy of respect just for that!

I enjoyed his interview, and you may to: INTERVIEW

And here's a short clip from another source that is interesting as well, also discussing Obama and some insight into the whole Reverend Wright issue that became cannon fodder during the election.



West's website HERE.

Someone must have told Obama about his little maneuver at the Battle of Tanaab

This could be the new Attorney General – Eric Holder.

On the bright side, he seems experienced and may uphold the Constitution. On the downside, he lost the Millennium Falcon in a game of cards.

STORY HERE. Sounds like a good guy.

UPDATE: DAMN! WONKETTE BEAT ME TO IT. And they got 1600 comments, one of which was funnier than my Lando joke, so I stole it for the post title. Thanks Wonkette commenter "superfecta"!

Obama buyer's remorse?

We're going to have to get over our deep skepticism of the Executive branch long enough to give the guy a chance.

I think I got mental whiplash while listening to one of my favorite public radio stations yesterday.

Where the news from the week before was still basking in the heady afterglow of the Obama Election Orgasm (OEO), Monday was one dreary review after another criticizing Obama's administration picks... both real and imagined. Reporters and pundits were panning his selections for his transition group, in particular, including leaving Robert Gates in the Secretary of Defense position — a Bush pick (replacing Donny Rumsfield). Other Washington insiders that Obama is rumored to be eyeing have equally caught scorn from the left-wing. "Where's the change we can believe in?", someone growls. "The administration isn't diverse enough!", another warns. The reversal of lovefest to Bushesque disapproval was jarring.

Is this Obama buyer's remorse?

After thinking about this awhile, I have come to conclusion. We all need to shut the fuck up... for just a little while.

I know we've all become a bit wonkie lately. It seems like people have never been so engaged in politics. Since when did we start discussing Washington staff picks like Yankee trades? While generally his is a great thing, and this level of involvement may have help keep us all out of trouble in the past 8 years, we also need to strike a balance between star-struck fawning and healthy criticism.

We all picked Obama, and we don't want him to fuck it up. If he does turn out to be just another assembly line political hump, many will have their fragile new idealism crushed forever. But at the same time, we have to let the guy we picked to make the best choices to execute his plan.

In short... we need to trust our government. Ouch. That felt wrong to type, but it's true. We need to give him some time to figure out all the angles – political and personally – to set up a viable cabinet and staff. We may not like all these people. Some, like Gates, may have some history we don't care for. But there is a new person in the Big Chair. We put him there.

So let's protect that fragile sense of hope — and watch what Obama does carefully — without damning his Presidency 2 months before it even starts. There will be plenty of time to hold his feet to the fire.

After all that has gone before, giving Obama a chance to sink or swim may be the hardest thing we've ever done.

Daffy Duck wins decisively over Bugs Bunny, Bunny demands recount

Some exciting results in Florida's write-in for President Results:

234 HILARY CLINTON
174 RON PAUL
23 NONE OF THE ABOVE
23 JESUS
21 MIKE HUCKABEE
14 MITT ROMNEY
8 COLIN POWELL
6 GOD
6 LEFT BLANK
5 UNDECIDED
4 AL GORE
4 BISHOP V.M. MCLAUGHLEN
4 FRED THOMPSON
4 OBAMA
4 RUDY GIULLIANI
4 STEVEN COLBERT
3 DONALD DUCK
3 DONALD FOY
3 MICKEY MOUSE
3 T. BOONE PICKENS
2 BILL COSBY
2 BILL McMILLON
2 BILL NYE
2 CHUCK NORRIS
2 CONDOLEEZA RICE
2 FRANK HARDEN
2 FRANKLIN GRAHAM
2 LOU DOBBS
2 PAGO POSSUM
2 SARAH PALIN
2 SEANATOR BROWNBACK
2 GARY BENZENBERG
2 GEORGE W BUSH
2 JOHN EDWARDS
2 LEE GODDARD
2 TIM TEBOW

Among those getting a single vote: Abstain, Against All, Alfred E. Newman, Bill Clinton, Bill O'Riely, Bill Richardson, Bobby Bowden, Bugs Bunny, May the best man win, Me, Morgan Freeman, Mr. Bill, Newt Gingwrich, None (Anarchy), Oprah, Pat Buchannan, Ralph Nader, Hilary Bush, Homer Simpson, Jay Plotkin, Jimmy Carter, Joe the Plumber, John Doe, Lieberman, Theodore Roosevelt, They Both Suck '08, Tiger Woods, Tommy Chong, Truman, Weird Al Yancovic, William Crosby and Willie Nelson.

The Evil Bush Mash-up

Someone worked hard on this. It's creepy, an yet... refreshingly candid! :-)



And one more for the lighter side:

I just read this on "The Internets": CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER IN THE NEW CABINET

No more "Internets"?

No more "I used The Google"?

No more "The Internet is a series of tubes"?

"In preparation for his visit to Google headquarters today, presidential candidate Barack Obama released a nine-page statement outlining his plan to improve technology (if elected). His first order of business would be to appoint a Chief Technology Officer, a new government official who makes sure Obama's ideas are put into action."

Can I get a "WOOT" in the house?

READ IT BABY!

You can not be a part of Obama's new Administration

Don't feel bad, neither can I. I wouldn't pass the muster based on Obama's questionnaire given to all potential Administration staff. Just this blog alone would screw me.

On the bright side, anyone locked in an attic since birth may be able to get a good gig.



It's a shame that some otherwise intelligent, qualified people will need to be left behind in order to minimize giving red-meat to the opposition.

Obama's first international "online summit" leads to first critical disaster

Click to view this leaked screen shot from a bi-lateral "online summit" with other international leaders. It went terribly.

I though he'd have better judgement that this.



This is a 23/6 exclusive. What a disaster.

This Week's Address from the President-elect

Transcript HERE.

A Rip-Off You Can Believe In

As a website designer, I find the power of design to sell a product endlessly facinating. In many cases, a clever design can take a old clunker of a product and give it a fresh face without having to make the product any better.

Case in point: Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu has a new website that looks oddly familiar:



Doesn't it remind you of something? Maybe this:



In my business this is called a very technical term. We call it a fucking rip-off. But it does something powerful, politically. By knicking Obama's design, Netanyahu presents himself visually as being like Obama. Now, I seem to recall Netanyahu's past, and I don't think he's a fresh corruption free politician who brings change... but he can play one on the Internet.

“Imitation is the greatest form of flattery,” noted Ron Dermer, one of Mr. Netanyahu’s top campaign advisers.

How do you say "BULLSHIT" in Hebrew?

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: NEW YORK TIMES

No Communion For Obama Supporters, Says South Carolina Priest

Despiration of Church and State, anyone?

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."

The Rev. Jay Scott Newman said in a letter distributed Sunday to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion before doing penance for their vote.

REST OF THIS INSANITY

Priest's response letter to his flock

Painting by Chris Woods without his permission.

Get Your War On: Obama Bandwagon

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

Hitting the ground running...

by Chan Lowe

Why John, why?

During the election, I spent a lot of time saying "Where's the old John McCain from 2000?" Like a lot of other people, I saw a distinct change in McCain over the Bush years, culminating in his fear-mongering, Palin-picking, uninspired Presidential run. After he lost the election, I thought that he was now free of Bush and the Republican far right he had to pander to. Soon, he would regain his footing as the Senator/Elder Statesman and spend the rest of his political career free to live up to his reputation as a "straight-talker".

But that seems all but lost as the first post-election political event he attends is campaigning for Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

Back in 2002, when Chambliss ran attack ads portraying his Democratic challenger, Vietnam Vet Max Cleland, as weak and unpatriotic, McCain called the ads "disgusting" and "reprehensible." A brave, non-partisan defense for a fellow Viet Nam veteran. Chambliss received five student deferments and avoided serving in Vietnam.

"I've never seen anything like that ad," McCain, a Vietnam prisoner of war, said in 2003. "Putting pictures of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden next to a picture of a man who left three limbs on the battlefield, it's worse than disgraceful, it's reprehensible."

But that McCain seems to have disappeared for good in 1999 after Bush gutted him for the Republican nomination, and with nothing left to lose, he doesn't seem to know his way back to the Straight-Talk Express.

But why, John? What are you doing it for?

Sorry to see you go so soon, John. You died too soon.

Here's the Chambliss attack ad.

THE YES MEN STRIKE AGAIN!

The Yes Men, a small group of performance artists/activists/pranksters have struck again! They managed to distrubute a million fake copies of the New York Times with headlines from the future. Read below an excerpt from HuffPo:

New York City woke up this morning to find that some committed satirists had delivered unto them a remarkably well-rendered facsimile of the New York Times, filled with earnest and hopeful headlines from the future -- specifically July 4, 2009 -- in which the Iraq War is over, Bush is indicted for treason, and columnist Thomas Friedman has confessed: "I have no business holding a pen, at least with intent to write."

These guys are really sensational. They have posed as members of the World Trade Organization in the past, and have infiltrated WTO conferences to give absurdist presentations in a dead pan style so professionally that the audience actually believes their evil schemes. With dead seriousness they propose to, say, take the shit from western McDonald's customers and reprocess it to make reconstituted hamburgers to sell to the third world (tagged "reBurger"). They have also given lectures proposing that slavery should be reconsidered as a valid and cost effect means of improving corporate profits, or use human corpses as a source of renewable energy.

It's an odd form of protest, and it's awesome. Big tip of the hat to The Yes Men.

You can see the online edition of their New York Times rip off here. It's amazing in it's detail and well written.

Here's the article.

UPDATE: And an interview with them.

Here are a few excerpts from their pranks. They film most of them, some of which can be seen on an excellent documentary.

McDonalds Hoax: reBurgers


Exxon Hoax: Vivoleum

Bailout money to GM? Let them die.

I have grown increasingly resentful of General Motors, who have proved time and time again that they lack any sense of decency or business acumen. From purchasing public transportation in the 1930s in order to dismantle it and replace it with gas guzzling buses, to scrapping the electric car, GM – in concert with the oil industry - have helped to keep Americans chained to the internal combustion engine. They keep politicians in both parties well funded to make sure the status quo is kept, and oppose progress at every turn.

Now, after years of mismanagement and insatiable greed, they pull out their hats to the Government for MY TAX MONEY so they can stay afloat. What's worse, they hold a gun to the economy while doing so, saying that if we fail to give them the money, millions of American's will lose their jobs and the economy (all ready weakened by greed) will further collapse.

I say, let them die. I'd rather put my taxes to bailing out those workers than keep a sick dog like GM alive. Same goes for the other American car makes who are swarming around Washington trying to get some free money.

Capitalism demands they collapse, and throwing good money at them prolongs the suffering.