[Grumpasaurus.com] Whoaaaah-bama

'Whoaaaah-bama'

Dude. I don’t like you, but it’s embarrassing to see you do this. It’s not hard to correct: Take a deep breath. Think of the optics. Stop saying stupid shit.

I think it's fair to say that the Republicans were the party of ideas for a pretty long chunk of time there over the last 10-15 years in the sense that they were challenging conventional wisdom.

(this is from the back end of the talk we discussed earlier)

Jesus fuck, who’s your advisor? Bob Shrum? The tone deafness is astounding. For such a “charismatic” guy who has been so successful politically, this is embarrassing. I don’t care if you don’t agree with those ideas, I don’t care if you disagree with those ideas, this is one of those sound bites you just can’t do.

You know who calls the GOP the “party of ideas”? The GOP.

Idiot.

And it’s not just the right you’re handing these openings to: Bill Clinton immediately got on Obama’s ass with a mischaracterization of what Obama said and Bulldog Edwards attacked him for it too. And these guys are pussycats compared to the GOP slime machine, and you know what the GOP guys are calling Obama right now? “Meat.”

How about these ideas: universal health insurance, protecting the environment, protecting civil liberties,¹ fairness, respect, an end to oligopolies, freedom of speech, religion, and association,², fair hours, fair wages, equality, respect, suffrage, education, and justice for all.

You know why the GOP had these “ideas”? Because they were radical abominations that had been rejected time and time again by good thinking people the world over for the last 70 years? They weren’t ideas so much as totalitarian fantasies that Newtie thought up when he was between fart bubbles playing with his GI Joes in the bathtub (and whatever the prehistoric version of the same would be. Neanderthals lived the Contract on America. Look where it got them!).

The wingnut welfare machine was specifically designed to incubate “thinkers” in “think tanks” who would “think” out “ideas.” Crappy, unoriginal ideas, but that’s what they called them. Then they would sell these “ideas” to via more wingnut welfare through their well-lubed connections to the corporate media. The media would then report these “ideas” as something “new.”

Sigh. Gimme Edwards. Please. At least he stays on message (actually, he’s almost inhuman in that ability. Unsinkable Johnnie Ed!)

Be sure to point out that they are bad ideas you do something this stupid, would you? kthx.

1. Note: FAIL last 7 years

2. eternal vigilance = new ideas required to counter the forces trying

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/19/whoaaaah-bama/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Atlas the Welfare Queen

'Atlas the Welfare Queen'

What the fuck is this socialist welfare begging shit that Juggs is doing?

Atlas does not live by words alone, contribute to the damn thing!
Seriously, it takes enormous time and effort to build this alternative media outlet, help Atlas run. Go here, or I’ll have to get a day job (as opposed to this day and night job).

UPDATE: Checking out the PO Box thing….at $40 bucks a month, not going there. Email me offline at AtlasShrugs2000 at 1 o l and I’ll give you an address.

Pick yourself by your own bootstraps, you big whiner!

The best part is that her legion (well, troop. OK, squad… squadlette) of supporters can’t figure out to get her any money. Read the comments. Savor them. Especially this one:

Call me a dummy if you will. I had to make a pay pal account. that done, now in the dang box of where to send money..where do I send it? WHERE? Please explain. don’t tell me to Atlas Shrugged it has only a place for an email address. DUH!!!

Juggyfreude! Hahahaha. The sockpuppet/pump primer comments are equally awesome. And by awesome, I mean risible.

I tried to figure out a way to send some custard, but I couldn’t find the appropriate button. Guess I’m just a big dummy.

Via the best site in the universe¹, we get the best comment ever (which totally stole my idea, bitches!).

Went over to Titz-on-a-Blintz to see how Pammy's fundraising was going and inquired if she paid for her breast implants with a similar blog beg. First time I ever had a comment deleted anywhere.

Generally I’m sympathetic to dispossessed women with children in tow. Not so much this fucktard. She should be mocked. Mercilessly. Maybe she can take those fake tits that her ex paid for and leverage them into her 2009 calendar. “Genocidal Hobag ‘09″ does have a certain ring to it, no?

1. That is not a plea for a blogroll or anything. I seriously dig those guys. They’re fun-nay.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/17/atlas-the-welfare-queen/

[Grumpasaurus.com] The GOP Work Ethic

'The GOP Work Ethic '

Lucky duckies working longer hours and having two jobs == FANtastic! (now stay away from my inheritance the death tax!)

I am so proud to be from the state of Minnesota. We're the workingest state in the country, and the reason why we are, we have more people that are working longer hours, we have people that are working two jobs.

To me, the statement is an indictment on our country and current way of life. How is it that we can live in the wealthiest, most advanced¹, bestest country in the world… and our people have to work harder and longer than any other developed nation just to scrape by? We’ve got more than we need of food, toys, things, and space. Why is it that our society is like this?²

But I didn’t say that. Michelle Bachmann did.

Who is she? Michelle Bachmann (R-MN), a bosom buddy of Bush the lesser and a christianist of the strongest sort. She graduated from a nonaccredited law school (and still got a job being an attorney for the IRS) that was an adjunct of Oral Roberts university (gee, that situation sure sounds familiar) and her stances are strongest when they are anti-gay, anti-choice, and anti-separation of church and state.

But it’s not like her statement is out of the norm for for her social circle. Just ask “never had to work a day in my life” Bush!

GEORGE W. BUSH: Good. Okay, Mary, tell us about yourself.

MS. MORNIN: Okay, I’m a divorced, single mother with three grown, adult children. I have one child, Robbie, who is mentally challenged, and I have two daughters.
…
MS. MORNIN: That’s good, because I work three jobs and I feel like I contribute.

GEORGE W. BUSH: You work three jobs?

MS. MORNIN: Three jobs, yes.

GEORGE W. BUSH: Uniquely American, isn’t it? I mean, that is fantastic that you’re doing that. (Applause.) Get any sleep? (Laughter.)

MS. MORNIN: Not much. Not much.

You know, when he said “Uniquely American,” I think he meant that it was something we should be proud of. What a moron.

On a political note: why on earth do the poor or middle class ever vote Republican? ³ GOP has none of your interests at heart. None! Seriously, the GOP are the Whigs of the 21st century. It’s just embarassing.

1. Depending on your definition. I’m going with the “meaningless cliche” one here, since I can’t really pick out any area besides defense spending where we don’t at least have a near peer.

2. Yeah, yeah, I’ve read Weber. And I’ve already discussed the new Gilded Age in depth. No, seriously. The question was rhetorical this time.

3. We all know it’s about race of course, but I like to think in the, you know, rational world, not the I-hate-you-for-no-rational-reason one.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/17/the-gop-work-ethic/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Fire up the Shredders!

'Fire up the Shredders!'

Just like the Enron they so resemble and admire (and used to work for), the Bush administration just happened to destroy all records of pre-Iraq war emails. How convenient!

The White House has acknowledged recycling its backup computer tapes of e-mail before October 2003, raising the possibility that many electronic messages — including those pertaining to the CIA leak case — have been taped over and are gone forever.

The disclosure came minutes before midnight Tuesday under a court-ordered deadline that forced the White House to reveal information it has previously refused to provide.

Among the e-mails that could be lost are messages swapped by any White House officials involved in discussions about leaking a CIA officer’s identity to reporters.

Note that this, in addition to, you know, hiding the crimes, is almost certainly in violation of the Federal Records Act. To be in compliance with the FRA, records may only be destroyed under the authority of a records disposition schedule approved by the Archivist of the United States.

NARA issues a General Records Schedule (GRS) that gives record descriptions of records that are common to most Federal agencies and authorizes record disposals for temporary records. The Department is responsible for developing agency record schedules-with the approval of the Archivist of the United States-that are tailored to our own agency-specific records that are not provided for in the GRS.

Record schedules are mandatory instructions of what to do with records (and nonrecord materials) no longer needed for current Government business. The records schedules indicate how long a document must be kept before it is transferred to a Federal Records Center, destroyed or transferred to NARA for permanent preservation.

Now, gentle Congresscritters, who is going to be the first to query the record schedules to see if these documents were on the list? Who is going to be the first to issue a subpoena? Who is going to be the first to mention “criminal conspiracy to obstruct justice”?

I’m going with “no one,” but they should. Not only did Congress let the administration get away with rampant lawbreaking for 7 years… they’re going to let them destroy the evidence while they sit around and have bullshit investigations about fucking steroids in a sport?!? Jesus fuck that makes me want to find the nearest protruding object and run into it full force with my eyeball.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/17/fire-up-the-shredders/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Obama Hearts Reagan

'Obama Hearts Reagan'

I know people are kicking Obama’s ass for saying something so fucking stupid as to praise Reagan, but contextually he has a point. Reagan was a paradigm shift.

Watch for yourself and decide:


I’ve expressed my lack of preference for Obama before, but this on this one, I can understand what he’s saying. If you were charting a map of where the country was heading, Reagan would definitely be a hard right turn (into a dead end, filled with spikes, toll roads run by the oligopoly, and minorities in press gangs maintaining the shrubs). Clinton was not a strong turn away from the pro-business, mushiness of HW Bush, more like a left bank. Nothing inherently wrong with that.

That said, given his position as a candidate, a speaker for “change” and the people, to not take a moment to express that not all change is good and that Reagan’s change was the wrong direction is unconscionable. Maybe he just forgot a clause in his sentence. Or even an adjective. But these are things he shouldn’t forget.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/17/obama-hearts-reagan/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Warrior for the Cause

'Warrior for the Cause'

Mark Deli Siljander, a former Republican congressperson from Michigan was indicted today as part of a conspiracy to funnel money terrorists who have threatened US troops in Afghanistan.

A former congressman and delegate to the United Nations was indicted Wednesday as part of a terrorist fundraising ring that allegedly sent more than $130,000 to an al-Qaida and Taliban supporter who has threatened U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan.

The former Republican congressman from Michigan, Mark Deli Siljander, was charged with money laundering, conspiracy and obstructing justice for allegedly lying about lobbying senators on behalf of an Islamic charity that authorities said was secretly sending funds to terrorists.

Siljander is a true warrior for the true GOP cause - money. It’s not about nationalism, jingoism, saving the troops, saving the unborn, saving christmas… it’s all about the benjamins. With regards to his true orthodoxy, Siljander is surely going to spend eternity with his 72 bags of glittery gold. Or the gold may be from the fronts of his soon-to-be cellmate smiling down at Siljander as Siljander performs his patented 72-lick salad toss. Hard to tell on these things. It’s heaven for one of them!

I give it approximately 30 10 minutes before Faux news “inadvertently” labels the GOP Republican GOP Republican GOP Republican GOP Republican GOP Siljander as “(D-MI)”. Oopsies! How’d that D get in there?

Read the indictment in my newly-opened “unfinished” legal bits section.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/16/warrior-for-the-cause/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Ayatollah Huckabeenie

'Ayatollah Huckabeenie'

Mike Huckabee in Michigan two days ago

I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution, but I believe it’s a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god. And that’s what we need to do — to amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards rather than try to change God’s standards so it lines up with some contemporary view.

This, ladies and gents, is the true voice of the base of the current GOP. Ye reap what ye sow, piggies.

One question: which god are we talking about here? The petulant spoiled brat of the first half of the book or the dirty fucking hippie of the second? Actually, which gawdly book are we talking about? I want the one with the free slurpees and fields of bubble wrap to roll around in.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/16/ayatollah-huckabeenie/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Warriors for Cheetos and Dough

'Warriors for Cheetos and Dough'

They came out to play-ee-ay the only way they know how, by (ironically) coordinating a fascist campaign to remove the best takedown EVAR!! of a shitty book from Google results. Pussies.

And yet it appears that Google has decided to punish this modest blogger despite the fact that I am actually a victim of this nefarious attempt to hijack Google. Google has now erased all traces of my piece “Jonah Goldberg’s Shining (Liberal Fascism with LOLCats)” from search results for the phrase “Liberal Fascism.” While it was once in the Top 10 of results for a search on the words “Liberal Fascism” it is now missing from that search entirely. Despite the fact that my piece has 94 links, according to Technorati, Google has decided that after the Amazon page for the book, the most informative links for the words “Liberal Fascism” include a Think Progress piece from two years ago that is not really about the book, with 9 links; a piece from The Corner (0 links) about all the great reviews the book has received; a piece by Cactus from the Angry Bear (1 link), who, like me, has not actually read the book; another piece from two years ago by Brendan Nyhan (4 links) ridiculing the book; and a page from the Urban Dictionary (27 links) defining a word that I cannot repeat here since this is a family-safe blog. (Update: The Urban Dictionary page has now moved into the Number One slot ahead of the Amazon page.)

In case you didn’t see it before, here’s the article again.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/13/warriors-for-cheetos-and-dough/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Jimmy Carter '08!

'Jimmy Carter '08!'

Once again, the Onion kicks everyone else’s ass

You actually seem to think one a’ these assholes is gonna prance in and wave a magic wand and make everything all nice again. Look at you, sitting there like a common fucking schnook and eating all their bull about bi-fucking-partisanship, and how they have all the goddamn answers. Let me tell you something: These fags are dogshit compared to Jimmy fucking Carter, all right? I was arbitrating Mideast crises when this bunch was still sucking on their mamas’ titties.

But who comes to me, huh? Fucking nobody. Why ask old Jimmy anything? What the fuck could he know about peace in the Middle East? It’s not like he fucking won the Nobel Peace Prize for that shit. You myopic pricks. Back in ‘79, I sat Sadat and Begin right down and made those two dicklicks shake hands. It was beautiful—I had all the pieces lined up and I smiled and waved in my best fucking suit and tie right there on TV. And what do you do, you pieces of shit? You screw the whole goddamn pooch.

Cocksuckers.

Oh, what’s that I hear? The weather’s all screwy? You got a global warming problem? Boo-fucking-hoo! I was telling you morons to turn off your lights and unplug all your shit at night to conserve energy in 19-fuckin’-75, for chrissake. Gee, I wonder what woulda happened if we’d all switched to solar power like I fucking did back when we had a fucking chance to do something about it. Think we’d still be sucking Saudi Arabia’s dick like a five-dollar whore? I sure as fuck didn’t get no fancy Oscar for that little spiel, though, did I? No. But Al Gore, that cum-sucking pig, steals the shit from me and now he’s the greatest thing since Jesus Christ made a fucking sandwich.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/11/jimmy-carter-08/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Just wait until Barack's the nominee

'Just wait until Barack's the nominee'

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/11/just-wait-until-baracks-the-nominee/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Spitzer 2016

'Spitzer 2016'

I just want to be first on the bandwagon. From today’s state of the State address

In addition, next week that tradition of service continues as roughly 2,000 of New York's citizen soldiers will be shipping out to Afghanistan. On behalf of the State, I will be there to wish them well, share our pride, and offer our prayers for their safe return.

And when they do return, we owe them our gratitude, but also something more – we owe them the chance to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities at home they have so honorably fought for overseas. In the name of all of those who have served on our behalf, I will send you a bill guaranteeing New York's returning combat veterans a benefit that covers the full cost of SUNY or CUNY tuition, and that can be used at any college or university in New York State.

That’s a fantastic idea and a great, if inadequate to the debt owed, tribute to those who have served this demonspawned administration in their ill begotten war.

Spitzer’s taken on a number of highly powerful, highly funded, anti-People interest groups since his time as an AG. Right on, Elliot.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/10/spitzer-2016/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Wingnut Egg, Meet Wingnut Face!

'Wingnut Egg, Meet Wingnut Face!'

Yesterday

Watch the tape for yourself–no one but an apologist for the Iranian regime could possibly claim that the boats shown were not acting in a threatening and reckless manner. And Majd has absolutely no evidence on which to base his accusation that the Pentagon manufactured or concocted any of this.

Today

Just two days after the U.S. Navy released the eerie video of Iranian speedboats swarming around American warships, which featured a chilling threat in English, the Navy is saying that the voice on the tape could have come from the shore or from another ship.

The near-clash occurred over the weekend in the Strait of Hormuz. On the U.S.-released recording, a voice can be heard saying to the Americans, “I am coming to you. You will explode after a few minutes.”

The Navy never said specifically where the voices came from, but many were left with the impression they had come from the speedboats because of the way the Navy footage was edited.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/10/wingnut-egg-meet-wingnut-face/

[Grumpasaurus.com] It's like 2004 all over again

'It's like 2004 all over again'

Polling is as accurate as a 19th century weather forecast.

They might as well just pull their numbers out of thin air and deem them golden. They’d be just as likely to be accurate.

(for the record: Clinton won with 39%, Obama 36%, Edwards with 17%. Not even close to the polls above)

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/08/its-like-2004-all-over-again/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Professional Victims

'Professional Victims'

The right ain’t got nothin if they don’t have an aggrieved self-perception of victimhood. Latest example, the whiny idiots at RedState

Dear RedState Reader:

I have, as they say, some good news and some bad news.

(Short version: We need you to open your wallet and give what you can to build RedState 3.0. Go here to help. We need the money ASAP.)

The good news first: RedState.com is about to embark on a major upgrade of our website that will make it easier, more informative, and just plain more fun for you to visit.

The bad news: our liberal "friends" – you know, the ones who believe so strongly in free speech and open debate – have done what they can to prevent us from making these improvements, so that our influence will be minimized just as we head into the 2008 presidential primary season.

No, our Blue State buddies haven't succeeded in stopping us from improving our website. But they've made it more difficult and more expensive – which is why I'm coming to you for help.

Let me explain …

You see, when we started RedState in May of 2004, we used a website program called Scoop — the same program a lot of similar sites on the left used. But, as the number of visitors to our site grew, Scoop kept crashing on us.

If we'd been a liberal website, we would have been able to fix the problem quickly and relatively cheaply. The online left loves Scoop. Unfortunately, there weren't really any conservative Scoop developers out there to help us. We kept crashing and were out of money. We had to close down or take drastic action.

Well, we didn't close down. We ditched Scoop and moved to the best alternative at the time, a program called Drupal. But, in accomplishing the switch, budget constraints forced us to sacrifice some popular site features in order to alleviate the strain on our overused servers.

Needless to say, we always regarded those "downgrades" as temporary, and we hoped to restore the eliminated features – and to add new and even better ones – as soon as we could afford to.

Unfortunately, we still can't afford to. But we're convinced that America can afford even less to have us operating at anything less than our absolute peak potential during the coming presidential election season.

So we've decided to move ahead with our upgrades without delay, and despite not having the cash on hand – hoping and praying that RedState.com readers like you will help us make up the shortfall with a generous donation.

Here, specifically, is what we're planning to accomplish with your generous financial support …

Hahahahah… so, let me get this straight: the liberals, through their creation of the entire free-as-in-speech and free-as-in-beer software known as Scoop and Drupal were purposefully ratfucking conservative sites because… conservative programmers wouldn’t work for free?

Let me try again: Hi, we’re conservatives! We’re using socialized software that we aren’t paying for and we don’t want to pay anyone the value of their labor to code for us, so can you please give us some welfare money? kthxbai

Self awareness? Not for this bunch.

Side note: RedState is owned by a conservative media organization that had more than $8MM in sales last year, and they still can’t keep a shitty site operative. And people think conservatives are the successful business party?

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/07/professional-victims/

[Grumpasaurus.com] The End of the Clinton Candidacy

'The End of the Clinton Candidacy'

The problem, you see, is that she’s a woman

How voters interpret Sen. Hillary Clinton’s composure - emotional, cold or just plain tough -could be a deciding factor in her campaign for the presidency, political analysts told ABCNEWS.com.

Earlier today at a campaign event in New Hampshire, Clinton’s voice broke and her eyes welled up with tears as she spoke to 16 undecided voters about her passion for the election as well as for the country.

You see, she can’t win. If she’s strong and businesslike, then she’s a frigid bitch. If she’s actually emotional, then she’s a crazy bitch (you know how wimmin are!). The Cligina never stood a chance. I give it about -30 minutes before one of the denizens of right blogistan declares that the display of emotion was a calculated move.

For a man, this would be OK (and a classic example of leveraging dominant stereotypes against type to your benefit) because he would be showing his compassion. For a woman in our narrative, there’s no benefit in either direction (see also: how the media treats those who were right about Iraq).

It’s a sad, sad state of affairs and an embarrassment for our country that our sexism and misogyny is so ingrained that this is our level of discourse. Jesus fuck, even Pakistan has had a female Prime Minister (sure she’s dead now and was a corrupt nepotist when alive, but she still had two X chromosomes. Reportedly. I haven’t checked).¹

Also, fuck you, Edwards.

“I think what we need in a commander-in-chief is strength and resolve, and presidential campaigns are tough business, but being president of the United States is also tough business,” Edwards told reporters Laconia, New Hampshire.

While anything can be a political, there are far, far classier ways to address this issue. You know, like ones where you don’t come across as callous and sexist. Like, oh, how Obama handled it.

“I didn’t see what happened,” he said, but added, “I know this process is a grind. So that’s not something I care to comment on.”

Score one for wooooo!bama

Side note: “Jesus fuck” is my new favorite expression of exasperation

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/07/the-end-of-the-clinton-candidacy/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Proud to be an Amurrikan!

'Proud to be an Amurrikan!'

where at least I know my GDPeeeeeeeee

For the first time in more than 100 years, British living standards have risen above those of Americans, a report has declared.

Increasing incomes, longer holidays and “free” healthcare have all contributed to making Britons better off than our friends across the Atlantic, according to the respected Oxford Economics consultancy.

Can we have that talk about socialized medicine v. free market health care discussion again now? How about that “Republicans are good for the economy” one?

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/06/proud-to-be-an-amurrikan/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Take your pick

'Take your pick'

Michael Scherer is either the most brilliant satirist since Ambroce Bierce, or he’s the best fluffler since Linda Lovelace.

Here’s one thing you need to know about John McCain. He’s always been the coolest kid in school. He was the brat who racked up demerits at the Naval Academy. He was the hot dog pilot who went back to the skies weeks after almost dying in a fire on the U.S.S. Forrestal. His first wife was a model. His second wife was a rich girl, 17 years his junior. He kept himself together during years of North Vietnamese torture and solitary confinement. When he sits in the back of his campaign bus, we reporters gather like kids in the cafeteria huddling around the star quarterback. We ask him tough questions, and we try to make him slip up, but almost inevitably we come around to admiring him. He wants the challenge. He likes the give and take. He is, to put it simply, cooler than us.

You can make your own choice on this one, but me? I’m going with “Toothless” Gormy Gorm.

Please also note that this … person … is employed by Time magazine and constitutes an official member of our modern media corps.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/05/take-your-pick/

[Grumpasaurus.com] An Overrripe Mellon

'An Overrripe Mellon'

Yet another story of hypocrisy, addition, sexual peccadilloes, and abhorrent behavior by the slimiest of the slimy slimesters that have so degraded our nation.

Richard Mellon Scaife, billionaire bankroller of conservative crusades, spent heavily to expose Bill Clinton's "Troopergate" misbehavior. Now Scaife's divorce from his second wife, Ritchie, is providing another unsavory saga—adultery! addiction! assault! dognapping!?!—as both parties let loose

Hahahahaaaaa… definitely the best schadenfreude moment o’ the year.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/05/an-overrripe-mellon/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Fear of a Barack Planet

'Fear of a Barack Planet'

Given how the dog whistles have already begun (1, 2, 3, 4) and in preparation from November’s massive hate-n-bigotry fest that’s going to come from the right in November1, I just wanted to get ahead of the curve on this one.

By the way, this one is (tm, me), bitches. Y’all betta reckognize!

1. It’s going to be a hatred and bigotry fest no matter who the Dem candidate is, of course. Fear and hatred is the only way the right knows how to operate. The most obvious form is going to be racism, but that’s just one of their legion ways of getting their ragegasm on.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/05/fear-of-a-barack-planet/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Further Thoughts on Iowa

'Further Thoughts on Iowa'

Dem turnout: awesome. We’re gonna smear the GOP this year.

Obama
Thoughts: good speaker, if you can ignore the manic hands; turnout almost totally in his favor; I still hate his pandering run-to-the-right plus teh GAWD! and “end partisan” shit, but I could handle him as prez; I’m encouraged by the youth breaking for him and what that means for race relations, I’m discouraged that I think the “cool” won over the “best”; rhetoric works well, empty though it may be. Best part: Michelle. She rocks. His supporters love this guy. Then again, kids are great for initiating retarded three-syllable chants (”USA” and “Obama”… cf. Hillary’s supporters who couldn’t even keep up a tepid “Hi-la-rie!” chant for more than 15 seconds).

Bonus: the media doesn’t hate him. Yet. I think Chris Matthews gets wood every time he says “Obama.”

His “unity” and “hope” talk does nothing for me. I want retribution. I want to kick some major troglodyte ass, not hold hands and sing kumbaya. I want vengeance for knowing I would be first against the wall for so long.

Concerns: already covered. He’s still black, which hurts in the general election and he’s still running a Clinton/Lieberman strategy with piety thrown in, which hurts with my appreciation. You thought Nixon’s Southern Strategy has poisoned our country? Just wait until November’s ugliness.

Edwards
Thoughts: populist message works well, lots of fight!fight!fight! rhetoric, feels most authentic of the populists. Elizabeth == teh awesome. Health care and jobs focus should score well with the real people (the Villagers be damned). I love that he never concedes anything. Kerry was a wimp.

Concerns: needs more closing vision in addition to the rhetoric; Iraq vote; money; even I am tired of the mill worker talk. Also, the media hates him.

Clinton
Thoughts: dead in the water. From her wooden speaking, the media dislike, uninspiring message, obviously dispirited support, she’s just toast. She outstaffed Obama in Iowa, she spent more than $10M… and still finished third. Add in her pro-war centrism and absolute insiderism and she’s got no chance in a “change” election. I’ll be glad to get her out of the way after typhoon Tuesday.

Media hate hate hate haaaates her. Chris Matthews’ issues with wimmin are in full force every time he mentions her.

Huckabee
Thoughts: his aw shucks conversationalism goes over well with the “who would I like a beer with” crowd; the actual content of his talk brings shivers (of terror and rage) to my spine, and I can hear the vaginas of America preparing for the assault on their sovereignty. High likability factor, hound dog face helps with Matlock Americans.

Bonus: the GOP establishment is freaked the fuck out by Huck and will do anything they can to destroy him. He is the embodiment of the crazy religion wing of the party to whom they pander, but now he’s come out from under his rock. Once the country realizes his views are mainstream among the governing policies of the GOP, they will be diminished for a decade.

Mitt Romney
Thoughts: toast. He’s weird. He has no rapport. He has a wooden ear. Classless (his speech was the same time as Huckabees). The more people get to know him, the more people don’t like that formless freak. Bigtime doofus.

Fun fact: Mormonism is fanfic Christianity. I’m waiting for the Furry edition of the Book of Mormon.

Rudy Giuliani
Thoughts: The cousin fucker is starting to look amazingly like Willem Dafoe in Shadow of the Vampire. Compare:
-
Rudy’s thinner now, it was more apparent on TV. Anyway, he’s toast too.

McCain
Thoughts: 4th place in Iowa (behind zomThompson) was good for him. Just ask the media.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/03/further-thoughts-on-iowa/

[Grumpasaurus.com] I'm with Mrs. Grumpy on this one

'I'm with Mrs. Grumpy on this one'

Bill Richardson can sit n’ spin

Kucinich has thrown his second-round support behind Obama, and the rumor is Richardson will do the same. The Iowa Independent chalks it up to a desire to hurt Edwards’ chances with second round votes, damaging his campaign and potentially elevating Richardson into the #3 spot as the race moves forward.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/03/im-with-mrs-grumpy-on-this-one/

[Grumpasaurus.com] And you thought the media was shameful in 2000

'And you thought the media was shameful in 2000'

Imagine these sophomoric little heathers in a Clinton-St. John McCain general election:

In a noble attempt to warm up reporters on caucus eve, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton made a surprise jaunt onto the press bus on Wednesday morning, bearing coffee and bagels. “It’s been a long campaign,” she said, standing at the front of the bus. “I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s been a great experience.” Dumbfounded by the appearance (her first and only on board the bus since she started campaigning almost exactly a year earlier), the traveling press corps watched in silence as she handed off the goods to Phil Singer, her spokesman, making a rare appearance on the press bus himself. Clinton then turned and left.

Just to restate: a/the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination steps onto the press bus, bringing gifts and yummies and the press, the defenders of our freedom and bringers of light into the darkness of untruthiness … sat mute. Not a single question. Just the cold shoulder.

Now, imagine if the bagels n’ coffee were brought by McCain. Or Bush ‘00.

Looking at the current results, Obama wins (unfortunately, that pandering choda scrubber), Edwards looks strong (he was outspent by more than 2:1 by both Obama and Hillary (each)), Hillary looks like toast. Huckabee creams the pathetic GOP crop and sends party aparatchiks into conniption fits, Romney’s toast and McCain looks utterly unelectable (he’s in 4th behind the animated corpse known as Thompson).

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/03/and-you-thought-the-media-was-shameful-in-2000/

[Grumpasaurus.com] The Panoptic Era continues

'The Panoptic Era continues'

Sears distributing spyware edition

It’s not that Sears fails to notify users it intends to spy on them. Indeed, the email sent to users states that the application “monitors all of the internet behavior that occurs on the computer on which you install the application, including…filling a shopping basket, completing an application form, or checking your…personal financial or health information.”

The rub is that this unusually frank warning comes on page 10 of a 54-page privacy statement that is 2,971 words long. Edelman, who is a frequent critic of spyware companies, said the Sears document fails to meet standards established by the Federal Trade Commission when it settled with Direct Revenue and Zango over the lack of disclosure about the extent of their snoopware.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/03/the-panoptic-era-continues/

[Grumpasaurus.com] C'mon Edwards, c'mon!

'C'mon Edwards, c'mon!'

I know I just said how much I like Dodd, but c’mon… dude’s dead in the water. Let’s go for option 1A: John Edwards.

Here’s some powerful populism for you:

It’s effective because it focuses on the voter, not the candidate. More, please.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/02/cmon-edwards-cmon/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Dem primaries - who cares what I think edition

'Dem primaries - who cares what I think edition'

Alright, there’s been time enough to decide who to back in the Dem primaries. My choice for 2008?

Chris Dodd

aside from tasteful name, he is right on the issues and is actually using his position of power to do the good, the right, and the gasp democratic actions.

From watching the debates, it is obvious that there are a slug of people on stage running for President of the United States and one person who is there to lead the country.

That leader is Chris Dodd.

Naturally, he hasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell due to our shitty media and an unfortunate lack of photogenic qualities and being rather height-challenged, but check out his most recent actions - fighting against the telecom immunity, voting against Lieberman-Kyl, healthcare, energy, and openly discussing the need to restore our Constitution.

The full panoply, in order of preference:

• 1. Chris Dodd - half-gnome, half kickass leader in a time of need
• 2. John Edwards - most responsible for pulling the party back to the center-left, populist. Ironically, and tragically, way too young looking. He should grow a goatee.
• …
• 30. Dennis Kucinich - like his policies and history, no charisma and kinda freaked by his ongoing Damien-meets-Frankenstein demeanor.
• 33. Hillary Clinton - she’s a centrist Republican who happens to be in the Democratic party. Biggest hawk of the bunch. She’ll make a fine president, if you’re into that whole Eisenhower-Ford part of the political spectrum. Downside: guaranteed to unite the right into a frothy lather. Fuck it. Bring ‘em on! Zombies are easy to kill, despite what the movies try to tell you.
• 99. Barrack Obama - I’ve long had misgivings about his loose interpretation of that whole Establishment Clause (you know, the separation of Church and State thing), but this past week’s pandering to bigoted homophobes in a pathetic Mistah Souljah attempt combined with his almost Lieberman-esque pandering platitudes about “bridging the divide” and “reaching across the aisle” and “ending the bitter rancor of partisanship” was just too much. Listen, there is no middle. There is no across the aisle to be had. In today’s climate, and until this gilded age is ashes, there is only “us” and “them.” Seriously, I’m so pissed at his blatant stupidity and political cowardice I’m spitting tacks (my dentist thanks you). There are those who lead (i.e. Dodd) and those who talk about the need for leadership while occupying positions of power. Obama’s the latter. So much promise, so little actuality. Bonus points: the only thing that would galvanize the right more than Hillary would be the prospect of a black man in the White House (check out those SC primary numbers). Our country really is that retarded.
• 50688203. Biden, Gravel, my dead cat, and Trixie the whore from Deadwood - who cares, really? They all have equal shots at the presidency, but at least I like the latter two.

I fully expect Dodd to end up where my former favorite primary candidates ended up (that is, eating snickerdoodles in green rooms nationwide), but I can’t help myself…

Feel the Doddmania!

Update: fuck Kucinich. Damian-turned-candidate just asked his supporters to vote for “I’m running to the hard right of the base… just like Bill did!” Obama as a second choice in the Iowa primaries tomorrow. On the issues, Edwards is clearly the logical support for Kucinich. Simply put, Dennis was bought, lock, stock and barrel.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2008/01/02/dem-primaries-who-cares-what-i-think-edition/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Because I hate you, that's why

'Because I hate you, that's why'

The worst thing since Pammy’s Dontcha Wish vlog

Here’s Pantless Jugs, for reference:

See also:
Bush Was Right

(p.s. Billy Joel’s lawyers wants a word with you, boys)

and, of course, Mann Maltmouse drunk vlogging

OK, Annie wins in a runaway due to the overwhelming accrual of pathetic narcissism points.

Sorry, I’ve done so much good this year, I needed to balance that out lest I find a solid platinum Bentley under my tree this year.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/12/18/because-i-hate-you-thats-why/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Dodd wins! Dodd wins! Dodd wins!

'Dodd wins! Dodd wins! Dodd wins!'

along with the Bill of Rights

Harry Reid just pulled the telecom bill

This is like the 1980 winter Olympics all over again.

Side note: the bill will back in 2008. Stay sharp, people.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/12/17/dodd-wins-dodd-wins-dodd-wins/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Feel the Doddmania

'Feel the Doddmania'

Chris Dodd is going to filibuster the pro-authoritarian “fixed” FISA bill tomorrow. The site has links to how you can offer your support (things he can read, how to contact your congresscritters). AFAIK only Kennedy and Feingold have his back so far. Encourage your senator to help out.

Thank you for standing up for the Bill of Rights, Chris.

http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/12/16/feel-the-doddmania/

[Grumpasaurus.com] Like chocolate and peanut butter

'Like chocolate and peanut butter'

only where the chocolate and peanut butter are both made from different consistencies of offal… Lieberman (Asshatovillistan-CT) steps to the plate to once again show his deaf, dumb, and blind political instincts and serial tendency to support bad ideas and lost causes … (drumroll) … endorses McCain for preznit

This event should come as no surprise to anyone except for Harry Reid. Brace yourselves for 2 weeks of Dean Broder and the other Unity 2008 fetishists to be swooning in their eggnog. I think I heard Sam Waterston’s fly unzipping when the news came out.

Now you’ve got the megalomaniacal DINO-Republican whose former party loathes him “making a splash” for the “maverick” christianist megalomaniacal Republican whose current party doesn’t trust him or his fealty to the party line.

Sounds like win-win to me.
+ =

… alternate math: .

(I couldn’t decide. So sue me. You’re just lucky I couldn’t think of a decent image for “crap sandwich.”)

http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/12/16/like-chocolate-and-peanut-butter/

So you trust wikipedia, eh?

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'So you trust wikipedia, eh?'

You might want to check who is writing the entries

The gospel of truth according to fake penis experts and nerds with chips on their shoulders, Wikipedia, has been edited by a Bush friendly member of the US House of Representatives.

Apparently the person was so concerned that people no longer bought the story about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that he or she took to tampering with the Whackypedia entry.

The entry was edited by someone with a House of Representatives IP address to make the bizarre claim that there was a link between the terrorist organisation al Qaeda and the Iraq government.

Orwell wept. See also, the CIA and Vatican.

A US hacker’s homemade program to pinpoint origins of Wikipedia edits indicates that alterations to the popular online encyclopedia have come from the CIA and the Vatican.

Virgil Griffith’s “Wikiscanner” points to Central Intelligence Agency computers as the sources of nearly 300 edits to subjects including Iran’s president, the Argentine navy, and China’s nuclear arsenal.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/12/13/so-you-trust-wikipedia-eh/

Impeach them all

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Impeach them all'

It’s the only solution.

In September 2002, four members of Congress met in secret for a first look at a unique CIA program designed to wring vital information from reticent terrorism suspects in U.S. custody. For more than an hour, the bipartisan group, which included current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), was given a virtual tour of the CIA’s overseas detention sites and the harsh techniques interrogators had devised to try to make their prisoners talk.

Among the techniques described, said two officials present, was waterboarding, a practice that years later would be condemned as torture by Democrats and some Republicans on Capitol Hill. But on that day, no objections were raised. Instead, at least two lawmakers in the room asked the CIA to push harder, two U.S. officials said.

…

With one known exception, no formal objections were raised by the lawmakers briefed about the harsh methods during the two years in which waterboarding was employed, from 2002 to 2003, said Democrats and Republicans with direct knowledge of the matter. The lawmakers who held oversight roles during the period included Pelosi and Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) and Sens. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), as well as Rep. Porter J. Goss (R-Fla.) and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan).

Now you know why impeachment is off the table. All their hands are dirty.

Solution: impeach them all.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/12/09/impeach-them-all/

Daly is no student of Twain

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Daly is no student of Twain'

It is better to let people think you’re a cocksmoking douchebag than to act it out and remove all doubt.

NBC late night host Carson Daly, who today announced that he is returning to the air in the face of the ongoing writers strike, wants his friends and family to help with his scab efforts. In an e-mail, Daly asked a small group of contacts to call in “suggested jokes” to a telephone hotline, noting that he would “play some, most, or all of your jokes on the air.”

That’s Scab Daly to you, bitches.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/11/27/daly-is-no-student-of-twain/

We are a Rogue Nation

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'We are a Rogue Nation'

I haven’t blogged in a long while for a confluence of reasons, primarily work-related. However, I’m also disheartened, sickened, and at a loss as to what we, the People, can do to reclaim our nation from the bloodthirsty authoritarian junta that has destroyed the America I know and love.

So far… I’ve got nothin’.

Absent large scale collective action we, the People, have lost any voice in the direction of our country. Even “our” side is absolutely worthless - the Democrats have done nothing but further the imperialist, disgusting, nation-destroying agenda of the Republican administration. They’ve backed down from every fight, they’ve condemned MoveOn.org, they’ve continued unrestricted funding for our adventure in Iraq all for no purpose. A huge majority in this country is on the side they are supposed to be representing, and they’ve abandoned us. Whether because of cowardice, cooption, or political calculation that the lefties aren’t going to vote GOP so they should take votes from the right (which isn’t going to happen). Let me rephrase, whehter because of cowardice, cooption, or stupidity is of no matter to me. The Democrats have failed we, the People, and we have no one left to turn to except each other. And we cannot collectivize - They own the government, They own the media, and They have the money.

It’s depressing and it makes me spitting mad.

Now, the latest from the megalomaniacal Cheney administration is ramping up to attack Iran. He’s wanted to do this for a long time (he’s so delusional, I would not be surprised if he was suffering from late-term syphillitic corruption), but the military brass was against it sufficiently to make it only a low-likelihood option, though real nonetheless. In the past couple weeks, things have changed: the Lieberman-Kyl amendment (to which Hilary fucking Clinton voted aye) is the equivalent of the Iraq war resolution on Iran passed last week. Then a Senate resolution designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization passed. And now, today, Sy Hersh reveals that the Navy brass (in particular) is on board, the strategy has changed from ‘invade’ to ’surgical strikes’, and the PR campaign is ramping up.

This summer, the White House, pushed by the office of Vice-President Dick Cheney, requested that the Joint Chiefs of Staff redraw long-standing plans for a possible attack on Iran, according to former officials and government consultants. The focus of the plans had been a broad bombing attack, with targets including Iran's known and suspected nuclear facilities and other military and infrastructure sites. Now the emphasis is on "surgical" strikes on Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities in Tehran and elsewhere, which, the Administration claims, have been the source of attacks on Americans in Iraq. What had been presented primarily as a counter-proliferation mission has been reconceived as counterterrorism.

Make no mistake, we attack Iran and we are fucked. Our troops in Iraq will be waging Khe Sanh on a nationwide scale, isolated, alone, and attacked in a fashion that is going to chew up our military. Dien Bien Phu will look like a logistical success compared to the meatgrinder our troops are going to be in. Plus, Iran has far more power globally than Iraq did. If we attack them unprovoked, expect them to bring the war here (I’m sure the irony will be lost, yet again, on the Caligulistas in charge). The attacks here will remove all vestiges of the Constitution to which we still cling and we will be living in an outright police state. Less safe and more warlike with every passing day.

I used to think we had about 50 years until the end of the American hegemony, maybe 70. The signs of our collapse were there from the time of Nixon, but it was a slow decline. I would like to thank the Cheney administration for acting as the catalyst that has reduced that number to approximately 0. Their foreign policy combined with their fiscal policy has already put us past the point of no return in terms of our dominance. We’re approximately a hairsbreadth away from cementing the timeline as “yesterday.”

There is no suffering sufficient for what the members of the Cheney administration deserve. There is no forgiveness for any of us either. I hope I meet Cheney in hell so I can pull him further down his impaling stake. It still would not be enough.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/09/30/we-are-a-rogue-nation/

What liberal media? pt. 4050

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'What liberal media? pt. 4050'

Now with objective numbers

The results show that in paper after paper, state after state, and region after region, conservative syndicated columnists get more space than their progressive counterparts. As Editor & Publisher paraphrased one syndicate executive noting, “U.S. dailies run more conservative than liberal columns, but some are willing to consider liberal voices.”

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/09/11/what-liberal-media-pt-4050/

Rat, meet sinking ship

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Rat, meet sinking ship'

Sinking ship, rat

Karl Rove, President Bush’s close friend and chief political strategist, announced Monday he will leave the White House at the end of August

That’s ratfucker to you, bub

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/08/13/rat-meet-sinking-ship/

Mr. Reaperman

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Mr. Reaperman'

Please try harder next time

Chief Justice John Roberts suffered a seizure at his summer home in Maine on Monday, causing a fall that resulted in minor scrapes, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said.

He will remain in a hospital in Maine overnight.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/07/30/mr-reaperman/

Not the America I know, pt. 467

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Not the America I know, pt. 467'

Cop goes apeshit over upside down flag, assaults citizens

The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office arrested activists Mark and Deborah Kuhn in West Asheville Wednesday morning after a complaint that the couple was desecrating an American flag. They say a deputy invaded their home and used excessive force.

If you think this is an isolated example of this behavior, I’ve got a nice bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/07/28/not-the-america-i-know-pt-467/

Mitt Romney, torturer

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Mitt Romney, torturer'

His brand of substance-free pussified blowhard sociopathy fits right in with the modern GOP. I can’t imagine why he doesn’t have more followers.

The incident: dog excrement found on the roof and windows of the Romney station wagon. How it got there: Romney strapped a dog carrier — with the family dog Seamus, an Irish Setter, in it — to the roof of the family station wagon for a twelve hour drive from Boston to Ontario, which the family apparently completed, despite Seamuss rather visceral protest.

Let me repeat: rather than kennel his animal or make room in the car, he strapped it to the roof for a 12 hour drive. 12. hours.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/06/27/mitt-romney-torturer/

War is hell

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'War is hell'

Even for the KBR contractors

Samuel Walker saw combat in Iraq firsthand: He was splattered with human flesh and shrapnel in a dining hall when a suicide bomber blew himself up just a few feet away.

When Walker got back to the U.S., he brought some of the battlefield home with him. He heard phantom screams in broad daylight, smelled gunpowder that wasn’t there. A loud noise would send him into a defensive crouch. He’d been eating French fries in the mess hall at the time of the blast, and the sight of a McDonald’s restaurant now brought back violent memories.

Two doctors diagnosed Walker with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, directly related to his close encounters with violence in Iraq.

But Walker was not a combat soldier. He was a civilian recreation supervisor for KBR, the largest contractor in Iraq. And instead of getting the medical and counseling help he sought, Walker, a U.S. Army veteran, found himself caught in a morass of red tape and rejected insurance claims.

I post this for a few reasons including, inter alia, our country’s inability to treat mental illnesses as illnesses, the ridiculousness of our so-called “health-care system”, my interest in (and prediction that) the major systemic healthcare burden for our veterans (contactors included) is going to become increasingly psychology-focused rather than physicality-focused as field medical technology and other protective war tech preserves people’s bodies but leaves our minds as exposed as they’ve always been, and that the government has essentially been paying for Huguenots, but refuses to acknowledge them as such (no VA for you, buddy!)

That may be a record for longest run-on in the history of this blog. Probably.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/06/17/war-is-hell/

Elections have consequences

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Elections have consequences'

Too bad this one is that the zombies of America have stuck us with a regressive group of misogynistic sadists on the Supreme Court.

Mr. Bowles, an Ohio inmate, challenged his conviction in federal district court and lost. The court told Mr. Bowles that he had until Feb. 27 to appeal. He filed the appeal on Feb. 26, and was ready to argue why he was wrongly convicted. But it turned out the district court made a mistake. The appeal should have been filed by Feb. 24.

The Supreme Court ruled, 5 to 4, in a majority opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas, that Mr. Bowles was out of luck, and his appeal was invalid. So much for heeding a federal judge.

A special shout out to the cowardly Dems who were “keeping their powders dry” when they chose not to fight first Roberts then scAlito.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/06/17/elections-have-consequences/

R.I.P. Steve Gilliard

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'R.I.P. Steve Gilliard'

Steve Gilliard died after a long fight with illness. His cantankerous energy was always a welcome part of my reading day. He was 41.

Goodbye Steve, you will be missed.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/06/03/rip-steve-gilliard/

Hey Democrats

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Hey Democrats'

Don’t want to be thought of as a bunch of pussies? Then stop acting like a bunch of pussies.

Media analysts are casting the Democrats’ decision to pass an Iraq spending bill without a pullout provision as a win for the White House. MSNBC’s Hardball, for example, said “after weeks of refusing to back down to the White House, today Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did just that.” NBC Nightly News reported, “The Democrats will argue they took a tough stand here, but the reality is that facing a veto threat, they backed off.” USA Today describes the Democrats as “flinching,” the New York Times calls “the decision to back down” a “wrenching reversal for leading Democrats,” and the Washington Times titles its front-page story “Democrats Capitulate On War Funds.”

You were elected in 2006 to end the war. Over 2/3rds of the American populace wants us out and out ASAP. Bush’s support is under 30%, and this is what you do? You capitulate on a nonnegotiable item to a weak Caligula and a weaker congress.

The only against you right now are Caligula, his enablers, and the media. If you can’t stand up to the opposition party and the idiotsphere, then you don’t deserve to be in Congress.

Poorly played, Dems, poorly played. You now own this war just as much as the GOP. You fucking cowardly idiots.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/05/23/hey-democrats/

Welcome to Alaska

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Welcome to Alaska'

Here’s your letter to the editor (reg req’d, use BugMeNot)

It’s time to wrap up the comic strip “Sally Forth” and put her in the recycle bin.

I was appalled at Wednesday’s comic making light of Ted stealing a computer from his office. When the next comic didn’t go anywhere toward explaining that he didn’t mean it or that he was getting his comeuppance, that finished any interest I had in the strip. The comeuppance may show up in a few days, but with our short memories and occasional neglect of the comics page, it will be too little too late to do any good.

I haven’t liked “Sally Forth” for some time; it’s tiresome that she always, always gets the last word. When this feminist comic star first appeared in print, it was a delightful change. But that was then. It’s gone on too long and is too one-sided.

Please get rid of it and bring back “Arlo and Janice.” They have a very intelligent cat.

Beverly Haywood

Juneau

and here’s the strip at issue:

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/05/21/welcome-to-alaska/

Lack of posting

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Lack of posting'

Sorry, there’s been a job search going on and big networking changes at work made the blogging more difficult (well, sorta. I was also burnt out).

But … I’ve got a new job… which will keep me super busy and I’ll be a Very Important Person and all that now, but also requires moving to a whole new area where I figure I’m going to have nothing to do in the evenings except comment about the world. And how hot it is there.

Apologies for the absences, but I figure I just want to beat billmon to the punch on the whole Lazarus thing.

See you soon.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/05/18/lack-of-posting/

I'm sure he's toasty and warm now

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'I'm sure he's toasty and warm now'

Falwell dies at age 73

The Rev. Jerry Falwell has died, a Liberty University executive said Tuesday. He was 73.

Earlier, the executive said Falwell was hospitalized in “gravely serious” condition after being found unconscious in his office.

Toodles, fucker.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/05/15/im-sure-hes-toasty-and-warm-now/

Amnesia

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Amnesia'

Giuliani warns of ‘new 9/11′ if Dems win

Rudy Giuliani said if a Democrat is elected president in 2008, America will be at risk for another terrorist attack on the scale of Sept. 11, 2001.

But if a Republican is elected, he said, especially if it is him, terrorist attacks can be anticipated and stopped.

“If any Republican is elected president â€"- and I think obviously I would be the best at this â€"- we will remain on offense and will anticipate what [the terrorists] will do and try to stop them before they do it,” Giuliani said.

If only there had been a Republican government in power on 9/11, then all of this could have been stopped!

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/04/24/amnesia/

Limbo's only for beach parties now

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Limbo's only for beach parties now'

Catholic Church buries limbo after centuries

The Roman Catholic Church has effectively buried the concept of limbo, the place where centuries of tradition and teaching held that babies who die without baptism went.

In a long-awaited document, the Church’s International Theological Commission said limbo reflected an “unduly restrictive view of salvation,” according to the U.S.-based Catholic News Service, which obtained a copy on Friday.

The thumbs-down verdict on limbo had been expected for years and the document, called “The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptised,” was seen as most likely to be final since limbo was never formally part of Church doctrine.

Pope Benedict authorized the publication of the document.

Seriously? WTF?

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/04/20/limbos-only-for-beach-parties-now/

The Bank

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'The Bank'

Great work, creator o’ vid!

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/04/20/the-bank/

Libby is Guilty as Charged

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Libby is Guilty as Charged'

Ahhh… the rule of law

In the biggest news story of the year so far out of Washington, I Lewis “Scooter” Libby, a former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, has just been convicted by a jury for lying about his role in the public outing of a covert CIA officer whose husband, a former diplomat, had strongly challenged the Bush administration’s case for going to war against Iraq.

Now, given the testimony and what we know, it is obviously time to impeach Cheney. Granted, he and Bush should have been impeached long ago, but we have even stronger evidence of his felonious activities now.

Impeach Cheney before that blood clot finally kills the evil bastard.

Iran

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Iran'

Stop this insane, bloodthirsty authoritarian administration before they kill again.

Some view the spiraling attacks as a strand in a worrisome pattern. At least one former White House official contends that some Bush advisers secretly want an excuse to attack Iran. “They intend to be as provocative as possible and make the Iranians do something [America] would be forced to retaliate for,” says Hillary Mann, the administration’s former National Security Council director for Iran and Persian Gulf Affairs. U.S. officials insist they have no intention of provoking or otherwise starting a war with Iran, and they were also quick to deny any link to Sharafi’s kidnapping. But the fact remains that the longstanding war of words between Washington and Tehran is edging toward something more dangerous. A second Navy carrier group is steaming toward the Persian Gulf, and NEWSWEEK has learned that a third carrier will likely follow. Iran shot off a few missiles in those same tense waters last week, i n a highly publicized test. With Americans and Iranians jousting on the chaotic battleground of Iraq, the chances of a small incident’s spiraling into a crisis are higher than they’ve been in years.

Yeah, we’re totally not attacking Iran. Totally.

Clarkeggedon

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Clarkeggedon'

Rumor is, the General is in.

Which is a good thing, since Clarke is, until he is officially out of the race, the officially endorsed candidate of this here site. Go check him out and when you find yourself nodding in agreement and saying “hell yeah, Wes!” then come on back here and… well, OK. You don’t have to come back here. But remember Clarke and get ready for primary season.

You want electable? How about a brilliant southern general who did not lose a single soldier in a shooting campaign? How about an aggressive liberal/moderate who believes in the social good, rational international relations, and logical economic policy? A guy who is already experienced in diplomacy and highly regarded internationally.

Let’s go, General. Your country needs you. Again.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/02/06/clarkeggedon/
You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted.
Best regards,
Grumpy
csmoore@gmail.com

Second verse, same as the first

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Second verse, same as the first'

Where have we heard this before?

The Bush administration has postponed plans to offer public details of its charges of Iranian meddling inside Iraq amid internal divisions over the strength of the evidence, U.S. officials said.

Am I dreaming or does no one else in the media remember 2002? Jebus on a stick, we’re stuck in an endless loop of idiocy and evil perpetuated by the administration and abetted by the media and spineless Dems.

For the Dem examples, two of the announced front runners, both of whom voted for the Iraq resolutions apparently learned nothing from the worst foreign policy blunder in our nation’s history or the administration’s mendacity. Both Clinton and Edwards have come out and essentially said that war is still on the table with regards to Iran.

Here’s Clinton:

“U.S. policy must be clear and unequivocal: We cannot, we should not, we must not permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons,” the Democrat told a crowd of Israel supporters. “In dealing with this threat … no option can be taken off the table.”

Here’s Edwards:

Iran must know that the world won't back down. The recent UN resolution ordering Iran to halt the enrichment of uranium was not enough. We need meaningful political and economic sanctions. We have muddled along for far too long. To ensure that Iran never gets nuclear weapons, we need to keep ALL options on the table, Let me reiterate – ALL options must remain on the table.

Make no mistake, we all know exactly what they mean by no option: a preventive strike on Iran by US forces. That’s the stated presidential philosophy, that’s what our options are: do nothing or attack.

Here’s my message to both of you: you’re not getting my support now, let alone my vote. Attacking Iran is a mistake of monumental proportions. In addition to the illegality of it. In addition to the inhumanity, immorality, and cowardice of an attack, it will result in the death of thousands of our troops in Iraq and in the Gulf and make us a pariah state on the scale of a late-80s South Africa or an anytime Israel.

If we let this happen, we have all failed, but none so much as those with a voice and the power to derail this train who instead add coal to the furnace.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/02/02/second-verse-same-as-the-first/
You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted.
Best regards,
Grumpy
csmoore@gmail.com

Get on the phone. Now.

Grumpasaurus.com has posted a new item, 'Get on the phone. Now.'

Before the attack on Iran becomes a fait accompli

The Air Force is preparing for an expanded role in Iraq that could include aggressive new tactics designed to deter Iranian assistance to Iraqi militants, senior Pentagon officials said.

The efforts could include more forceful patrols by Air Force and Navy fighter planes along the Iran-Iraq border to counter the smuggling of bomb supplies from Iran, a senior Pentagon official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was discussing future military plans.

Such missions also could position the Air Force to strike suspected bomb suppliers inside Iraq to deter Iranian agents that U.S. officials say are assisting Iraqi militias, outside military experts said.

Note: this is in addition to making a Naval officer (with specialty in air strikes) head of CENTCOM and the current bullshit whispers about us killing Iranian agents who were mixed in with the Iraqi militias.

Look, they - the authoritarian nutbags in the administration - are going to attack Iran unless we do something about it.

So do something, already.

You may view the latest post at
http://grumpasaurus.com/2007/01/31/get-on-the-phone-now/
You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted.
Best regards,
Grumpy
csmoore@gmail.com

Blind squirrel, meet nut

An actual, honest to goodness, straight talk from a pol. A Republican no less:

Credit where credit is due. Bravo, sir.

(I’m at a conference all week, hence the light posting)

Alright, Barack

I’m starting to really dislike you

“Our leaders in Washington seem incapable of working together in a practical, commonsense way,” Obama said in a video posted on his Web site. “Politics has become so bitter and partisan, so gummed up by money and influence, that we can’t tackle the big problems that demand solutions. And that’s what we have to change first.”

Remind you of anyone? Like, oh, Lieberman.

Listen, you triangulating, do-nothing, gasbag… there is no need for you to adopt the GOP talking points and DC punditocracy formulations of “reality” in order to be accepted.

No one likes a triangulator. Except perhaps Clinton, Bill… and his presidency was an ahistorical aberration… and you’ll also remember that that particular triangulator was despised by the DC ruling class.

So don’t excuse the rabid GOP destruction of our governance as “partisanship” that applies equally to both Dems and Repubs… use your parliamentary power. Don’t talk about the challenges to big problems that demand solutions… solve them.

Everything you need to know about Big Pharma

They’re evil and they only care about your health if it helps their profitability.

It is expected there would be no problems securing funding to explore a drug that could shrink cancerous tumors and has no side-effects in humans, but University of Alberta researcher Evangelos Michelakis has hit a stalemate with the private sector who would normally fund such a venture.

Michelakis’ drug is none other than dichloroacetate (DCA), a drug which cannot be patented and costs pennies to make.

It’s no wonder he can’t secure the $400-600 million needed to conduct human trials with the medicine - the drug doesn’t have the potential to make enough money.

Michelakis told reporters they will be applying to public agencies for funding, as pharmaceuticals are reluctant to pick up the drug.

At roughly $2 a dose, there isn’t much chance to make a billion on the cancer treatment over the long term.

According to research on DCA, formerly used to fight metabolic disease in children, the drug apparently revitalizes damaged mitochondria in cancer cells, effectively triggering cell death and shrinking the cells.

“One of the really exciting things about this compound is that it might be able to treat many different forms of cancer,” explained Michelakis.

This is also a large part of what’s wrong with the American medical system.

Who would ever want a $2 pill that shrinks/kills tumors with no side effects? Don’t be ridiculous. The mere idea of such a thing being desirable is absurd.

Say No to Attacking Iran

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Frogs... the water is starting to bubble

Military Is Expanding Its Intelligence Role in U.S.

The Pentagon has been using a little-known power to obtain banking and credit records of hundreds of Americans and others suspected of terrorism or espionage inside the United States, part of an aggressive expansion by the military into domestic intelligence gathering.

The C.I.A. has also been issuing what are known as national security letters to gain access to financial records from American companies, though it has done so only rarely, intelligence officials say.

Banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions receiving the letters usually have turned over documents voluntarily, allowing investigators to examine the financial assets and transactions of American military personnel and civilians, officials say.

What we’ve got here is an agency that is forbidden from spying on citizens… spying on citizens… without a warrant… keeping the information in a database (read: forEVER)… and using this information in completely unaccountable, untold ways. Oh, and the Pentagon, NSA, and FBI are also in the act.

This is unconstitutional, illegal, and exceedingly dangerous. Whatever remained of our democracy is teetering on the brink of elimination.

Interesting how the righty jackasses screaming about jackbooted thugs in powder blue helmets are totally OK with this when there’s a Republican administration in charge. Idiots. Don’t you know that your names too are going to be on the list eventually?

Speak of the devil...

Attack Iran? You betcha!

I’m putting the over/under on “some time in the next 3 months… whenever that best weather month is.” From last night’s speech

Though President Bush’s national address Wednesday night was about Iraq, his most provocative comments focused on her neighbor, Iran.

Early in his speech Bush raised the matter of Iran, suggesting that if U.S. efforts to secure Iraq failed, “Iran would be emboldened in its pursuit of nuclear weapons.”

Bush blamed both Syria and Iran in helping radical insurgents within Iraq.

“These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq,” he said.

He then singled out Iran, adding that she “is providing material support for attacks on American troops.”

Bush made an implied military threat against both nations: “We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.”

The President continued in this vein, suggesting a larger U.S. goal of stopping Iran’s nuclear program:

“We are also taking other steps to bolster the security of Iraq and protect American interests in the Middle East. I recently ordered the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region. We will expand intelligence sharing — and deploy Patriot air defense systems to reassure our friends and allies.

So you’ve got a 30% approval president pursuing a 12% approval strategy of escalation pumping a sub-5% new attack on a new target that is not threatening us… tell me again how we’re living in a democracy instead of an authoritarian banana republic?

Because it's stuck in my head, that's why

Enjoy.

No Surge

Though We, the People, are essentially powerless to stop this insane escalation of an idiotic war as perpetuated by an unaccountable authoritarian/Caligula-liite, I cannot stand idly by as the AWOL preznit sends more of your sons and daughters to die in the sands of Iraq.

No Surge.

No McCain/Lieberman magic pony plan.

No Surge.

No Bush/Cheney oedipal dreams of imperial grandeur.

No more.

If you can call your congresscritters to register your opposition to this latest infernal idiocy (which, by the way, is also a precursor to the likely upcoming naval and air strikes on Iran - this is America, how?). You are not alone and maybe, just maybe, enough voices working together can stop this insanity.

Quite possibly the best Sadly, No! ever

Ann-a fanna Falthouse edition.

I’ve commented on the worthlessness of Althouse before. In case you don’t know who I’m talking about, Altmouse shows you everything you need to know.

Seriously, though. Listen to Brad. Play that song in the background as you read the story (and the comments). Good times, good times.

McCain's 13 biggest flipflops

From The Carpetbagger Report .

Now, I don’t think McCain has a chance in hell of winning the GOP nomination - outside of the DC media, he’s got zero love and his narcissism and plain batshit crazy is going to do him in (and, oh, did I mention he’d be older than Reagan when Reagan was first elected?) - … but he’s still the GOP frontrunner du jour, so it’s nice that we’re getting the lists going now.

Vote McCain for more of the same in 2008!