New Docs: Pentagon Ignored FBI’s Warnings on Abusive Interrogations

By GottaLaff

After reading The Dark Side by Jane Mayer, this isn't all that new. But that's a book, and these are declassified Department of Justice-released documents:

Sadly, they reveal that the FBI knew perfectly well — and repeatedly warned Defense Department officials, as well as Justice Department lawyers — that the abusive interrogation techniques being used on detainees at Guantanamo Bay were likely to be ineffective and make subsequent prosecutions impossible.

As one memo says, while the interrogation techniques based on tactics used in the U.S. Army Search, Escape, Resistance and Evasion (SERE) training “may be effective in eliciting tactical intelligence in a battlefield context, the reliability of information obtained using such tactics is highly questionable, not to mention potentially legally inadmissible in court.”

Yes. Yes, that's what many of us have been saying for years...

That memo was written in May 2003. The “enhanced” interrogation techniques, such as stress positions and prolonged sleep deprivation, were still being used and justified in memos as late as July 2007. The memo raises several important questions. Did the Office of Legal Counsel lawyers drafting those later memos for the CIA not know about the FBI’s earlier objections? Or did they just dismiss them out of hand? Were they told to ignore those earlier conclusions?

Please read the whole piece. It's not long. It ends this way:

That they were so blatantly ignored suggests more than just bad judgment. It suggests a deliberate indifference to the facts and the law, which cries out for a more thorough investigation.

But remember, we can't look backwards, only forward. Move along.

******

All my previous posts on this subject matter can be found here; That link includes one specific to only Fayiz al-Kandari's story here. Here are audio and video interviews with Lt. Col. Wingard, one by David Shuster, one by Ana Marie Cox, and more. My guest commentary at BuzzFlash is here.

Lt. Col. Barry Wingard is a military attorney who represents Fayiz Al-Kandari in the Military Commission process and in no way represents the opinions of his home state. When not on active duty, Colonel Wingard is a public defender in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

If you are inclined to help rectify these injustices: Twitterers, use the hashtag #FreeFayiz. We have organized a team to get these stories out. If you are interested in helping Fayiz out, e-mail me at The Political Carnival, address in sidebar to the right; or tweet me at @GottaLaff.

If you'd like to see other ways you can take action, go here and scroll down to the end of the article.

Then read Jane Mayer's book The Dark Side. You'll have a much greater understanding of why I post endlessly about this, and why I'm all over the CIA deception issues, too.

More of Fayiz's story here, at Answers.com.

Only one network covered Speaker Pelosi's health care remarks live

By GottaLaff

This is ridiculous:

Tonight, Fox News was the only news channel [other than C-SPAN] to provide live coverage of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi making her way to the house chamber, then speaking to members ahead of tonight's vote on health care reform. CNN stayed with a taped replay of The Situation Room. MSNBC was airing a crime documentary, but mentioned that Pelosi was speaking during a scheduled live cut-in.

Credit where credit is due. But, overall:

The news is on sabbatical. How can there be an informed public and real democracy when we have no meaningful source of facts and information?

Midnight

By GottaLaff

Updating the health care debate time schedule:

Votes will start around 10 p.m. The final vote might happen close to midnight.

Sources: Pelosi, Dems lock up 218

By GottaLaff

We've heard this before, but from what appears to be more confident attitudes and body language, I believe it this time:

Hours before an expected vote on a sweeping health care bill, House Democrats believe they've secured the 218 votes they need to approve the bill, several party insiders said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took to the House floor about 6:30 p.m. to say, “Today we will pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act.. . .We will make history. We will also make progress for America's working families."

Thirty-two Democrats have publicly declared their opposition to the bill, giving party leaders the narrowest possible margin to push the bill across the finish line. But numerous sources said Democrats believe they do have the votes after a day of intense lobbying of wavering Democrats.

H/t: Chris LeVoie

Alabama county celebrates official Obama holiday

By GottaLaff

We hear a lot of criticism of President Obama, and how the honeymoon is long over, how people are disenchanted. Oh yeah? Well, we'll show them! Here are some who are still very enchanted:

The rural, mostly black county has proclaimed Monday as an official holiday celebrating the election of the nation's first black president, Barack Obama. It's one of Alabama's poorest counties, but it's sparing little during five days of festivities.

County employees, as well as city workers in Marion and Uniontown, will get a paid holiday Monday as government offices close, culminating a series of events including an old-fashioned civil rights rally and march, a golf tournament, a weekend carnival and a parade Monday through Marion.

"I feel great about the holiday," said county maintenance worker Leon Brown. "It's history. It's the first time ever we've had a black president. I hope it's not the last time ever." [...]

The Obama holiday was proposed by Commissioner Albert Turner Jr., whose father was one of the marchers beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the 1965 "Bloody Sunday" voting rights march in Selma. [...]

He said another reason for the holiday was to let the nation know the role Perry County played in protests that led to passage of the Voting Rights Act. Some of the events recall the demonstrations.

"It's not that we're celebrating Obama. We're celebrating America living up to it's creed that all men are created equal," Turner said.

Then a Rushpublic did his Rushpublic thing and found a way to spin a very positive moment into a negative:

But Michael Brooks, a Judson College professor who is a Republican Party official in Perry County, wondered if the five days of events celebrating Obama's election wasn't a little too much for the small, poor county.

"I question whether we needed another paid county holiday in the middle of a recession," Brooks said. "For the first year, it seems it could have been a bit more modest."

Yeah, celebrating is way too much for people bursting with pride to handle when they're trying to find a silver lining during tough times. What could they be thinking?

G.O.P.: Grumpy Old Poopyheads.

High school student Matt Morgan displays his Obama Day holiday tee shirt as he attends a rally at the Marion Military Institute in Marion, Ala., Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Obama leaning toward 34,000 more troops for Afghanistan

By GottaLaff

I've been consumed by the health care debate on CSPAN today, but thought it might be important to pass this along to you:

As it now stands, the administration's plan calls for sending three Army brigades from the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky. and the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y. and a Marine brigade, for a total of as many as 23,000 additional combat and support troops.

Another 7,000 troops would man and support a new division headquarters for the international force's Regional Command (RC) South in Kandahar, the Taliban birthplace where the U.S. is due to take command in 2010. Some 4,000 additional U.S. trainers are likely to be sent as well, the officials said.

The first additional combat brigade probably would arrive in Afghanistan next March, the officials said, with the other three following at roughly three-month intervals, meaning that all the additional U.S. troops probably wouldn't be deployed until the end of next year. Army brigades number 3,500 to 5,000 soldiers; a Marine brigade has about 8,000 troops.

This is a no-win for the president. Whether he adds troops or pulls them out, he'll hear about it. IMHO, get them out. But what do I know, right? I just happen to be one of those people who hates death and maiming and putting our military at risk without a clear reason or positive outcome.

VIDEO: Coal ash from U.S. blamed for Dominican town's birth defects

By GottaLaff

This is excruciating to watch, but it's a must:

Villagers in the Dominican Republic say coal waste from a U.S. power plant has caused birth defects. [...]

It has been six years since a contractor from Delray Beach, Fla., brought the black dusty residue to the province of Samaná, and three years since the ash was cleaned up. Several civil lawsuits and criminal cases later, just when everyone thought it was over, the other shoe has dropped.

A civil lawsuit filed Wednesday in Delaware charges that toxic levels of waste dumped at the Arroyo Barril port has made people nearby sick. After years of repeated miscarriages, women whose blood levels show abnormal levels of arsenic are giving birth to babies with cranial deformities, with organs outside their bodies or missing limbs.

The case highlights the debate over coal ash, an unregulated byproduct of coal energy, which when processed and recycled is used in everything from cement to the foundation for golf courses. Popular Mechanics magazine this month calls a concrete made from coal ash one of the "10 Most Brilliant Products of 2009.''

The ash, a concentrated form of naturally occurring contaminants, is what is left over from burning coal for power. It usually contains arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel. But as towns in Tennessee and Maryland clean up massive spills of the substance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is poised to rule on whether it should be classified as hazardous -- which would be a tremendous blow to influential power companies that have long lobbied against such a classification.

Much more here.

"Clean" coal, my ash.

VIDEO: Shadegg Uses Baby as Prop During Health Care Debate

By GottaLaff



I wanted to "spit up", and wished Maddy had.

Yes, John Shadegg actually used an innocent infant as a prop, spoke baby talk, and provided us with nothing more than what was most likely in Maddy's diaper at the time. And for this, he got applause.

The collective (im)maturity of the Rushpublic side of the aisle doesn't come close to measuring up to Maddy's level of sophistication.

How utterly humiliating.

Afterthought: Did the Rushpublics start up a new recession era business... Loaner babies?

PhotOH! Tea Partyless in D.C.

By GottaLaff

Via my Twitter pal Strawberry Blonde, we get a libs-eye-view of the Gigantic Overhwelming Not-Million-Schmuck Tea Party that went on during the House health care debate. She tweets:

"Crowd of abt 150 at e front of capitol. Or 500K using teabagger math."

(click to enlarge)

In the room with President Obama and the Democratic caucus

By GottaLaff

Via Todd Zwillich:

(click on image to enlarge)

Dep't. of Bad Advice -Memo to Deeds: To win, be wary of Obama, Kaine

By GottaLaff

Memo to Creigh Deeds: Stop reading misguided pollster's memos...

In early summer, pollster David Petts showed Virginia gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds (D) how he could the win the general election.

The advice in the memo obtained by Politico: "Go negative on the Republican nominee, capitalize on his natural advantage with independents, and be wary of two fellow Democrats -- incumbent Gov. Tim Kaine and President Barack Obama."

Great advice! Wow! Who could ever imagine that Deeds would lose by moving to the right and disassociating himself from a popular president?

VIDEO: The House Debates On Health Care, Obama Says 'Time to Finish Job'

By GottaLaff



I liveblogged this, but now you can see President Obama's remarks without all my typos and errors.

Palin: If "child in womb" isn't "valuable", then “perhaps the same mind-set applies to" elderly

By GottaLaff

The lying, self-absorbed little death panel-monger is at it again. She really should stick to posing for coloring books:

Speaking to a fund-raising banquet of Wisconsin Right to Life, the former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee asserted that if policy-makers don’t believe a child in the womb is valuable, then “perhaps the same mind-set applies to other persons.”

“What may they feel about an elderly person who doesn’t have a whole lot of productive years left,” Palin asked an audience of about 5,000 who paid $30 each to hear her speak in an airplane hangar-like exhibition hall at the Wisconsin state fairgrounds just outside of Milwaukee. “In order to save government money, government health care has to be rationed… [so] than this elderly person that perhaps could be seen as costing taxpayers to pay for a non-productive life? Do you think our elderly will be first in line for limited health care?

“And what about the child who perhaps isn’t deemed normal or perfect per someone’s subjective measure of their use or questionable purpose in the eyes of a panel of bureaucrats making our healthcare decisions for us,” she continued.

Palin did not expressly raise the prospect of government-mandated “death panels” to determine who lives or dies – the incendiary and inaccurate charge she made over the summer about Democratic health care plans—but repeatedly suggested that liberal social policies could lead to de facto euthanasia.

Speaking of euthanizing... How about ending her-- well, it's no longer a career... but whatever it is, it needs to be rationed and then death-paneled.

More here.

VIDEO: "I object! I object! I object!"

By GottaLaff

Since I'm out here in California, I miss a lot of the early morning newsy craziness that many of you witness on a daily basis.

This morning, Paddy called me screaming, "Turn on CSPAN! Turn on CSPAN!" Being a person who is right in tune with Paddy's subtleties and nuanced delivery, I went right over and flipped on the Tee Vee Machine, only to this jaw-dropping spectacle:



Mr. Chairman, I object to the objections. I move to remind my colleagues to STFU. I yield the rest of my time.

In an effort to delay and derail the proceedings, the Republicans continually talked over the Democratic women for half an hour. They sought to prevent the debate by calling for unnecessary “parliamentary inquiries” and requests for “expanding the debate” by an hour.

This was one of the most frustrating, embarrassing examples of Rushpublic obstruction that I can remember.

Here is one more teeth-gnashing mash-up from Media Matters:

Gasp! Another Obama secret off the record lunch with ...

By GottaLaff



That extremist zealot, Prez O. He's so clearly biased, constantly conducting clandestine meetings with evildoers like Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann and... wait, what? What's this?!

There was a secret off-the-record briefing that included... David Brooks? Disguised as a lunch? Why, I oughta...

And hey, how'd Josh Marshall sneak in? Isn't he a lefty liberal progressive commie ::dun-dun-dun-n-n!:: blogger?

Yes, shockingly, it's true. Today President Obama lunched with, per ABC News:

-Mike Allen, Politico
-David Brooks, New York Times
-Chris Cillizzaa, Washington Post
-Gail Collins, New York Times
-Howard Fineman, Newsweek
-David Gergen, CNN
-Mara Liasson, NPR and Fox News Channel
-Josh Marshall, Talking Points Memo.
-John Meacham, Newsweek
-Cynthia Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
-Andrew Rosenthal of the New York Times.

David Brooks is said to be courted regularly by the White House.

Ooo, I hope Davey liked the dozen long-stemmed roses and See's Special Ultra Deluxe Assorted Romantic Chocolates for Budding Lovers.

The inclusion of Josh Marshall, meanwhile, represents the White House's continued effort to reach out to the blogosphere.

Hey Paddy, have you noticed anyone over there reaching out to us yet? No? Me neither. Sigh.

The House debates, President Obama speaks on health care reform: liveblog

By GottaLaff

Liveblogging President Obama's comments about the House bill:

Now is the time to finish the job. The House bill will provide security, stability... affordable option for those who don't... assistance. It's fully paid for, will reduce long term federal deficit.

We urgently need this.

He's listing supporters: Consumers Union, AMA, AARP, American Nurses Association, National Farmers Union.

No bill can contain everything that everyone wants. What is possible is preventing a future where people lose insurance every day... and die without it.

We can choose a better future...

Millions are watching right now, counting on us, this is why they sent us here, to confront challenges that were put off for decades. leave country stronger than they found it.

I reminded reps. that opportunities come around once in a generation... make a difference. This is their moment, our moment, to live up to the trust American people placed in us... even, and especially, when it's hard.

I urge Congress to rise to this moment.

President Obama met with House Democrats, who hold press conference: Liveblog

By GottaLaff

I'm seeing hugs all around and a wave good bye by Prez O.

Presser by House Dems:

They look happy... smiles all around. Let's hope those aren't just pasted on.

Whip Jim Clyburn: Blah blah blah, historic, blah blah blah.... Today under leadership of Pelosi, Hoyer, etc...we are on the cusp of making a historical decision.

Pelosi:

ON this day we'll be making progress of the American people, and it's the 3rd anniversary of Democrats winning the House. So, the new direction we promised will be manifested today with the passage of this legislation.

Associate ourselves with those who passed Medicare and Social Security.

Couldn't help but think of Sen. Kennedy. It's about the character of our country, he said, in his letter to Prez O. Reminded that in that letter, he said: When I first came into public life we had a young pres. who inspired a generation, the world. As I leave, I have hope because we again have a young pres. who will inspire our country, new generation, and on behalf of our country, inspire the world.

He indeed is doing that, via his leadership. Today we will make not only history, but progress for America's working families.

Steny Hoyer, Majority Leader:

Thanking Jim Clyburn, others.... historic, blahblah... Insuring every American has opportunity to have quality affordable health care. First African American President... how proud we were that night in Chicago.... Barack Obama, the man from Illinois, said we need health care for every American, and he said it to every American. Every candidate who ran said the same thing. Today, we will reform health care for America in the House of Reps.

Every mom and dad will have hc for their child. That is not an option of them, it is a necessity for them. We'll vote for all those children and all those children...

Chairman of Dem. Caucus, John Larsen of Conn.:

Unbelievable caucus who create something unique for America. Must enjoin 36 million Americans who go without insurance, now they'll have that dream and commitment come true.

Becerra:

Pres. O urged us to be on the right side of history. It's a glorious day to write a page of American history...

Chris Van Hollen:

This is a historical moment, the 3rd anniversary of Dem majority in House. No more sweeping problems under the rug. HCR was at center of campaigns this week. Only 2 candidates would have a vote... those 2 were both Dems who were voted in... In one case, a district w/o a Dem for 150 years, Bill Owens. They're both here, joining to cast votes for HCR. Signal sent by American people on this issue.

Q: Stupak Amendment pass today?
Clyburn: We'll see. Not gonna predict, I never give out numbers.

Q: You were furious if included, true?
Pelosi: I recommended it come to floor as an amendment. But no, that was my rec.

Q: President add to numbers?
Clyburn: Don't know if he added to numbers, I haven't counted anything about numbers.

Q: Defeat purpose of meeting then?
Clyburn: Why would it do that? He's met with us many times before... We ask him to come when we need to come together as a caucus.

Hoyer: He came to emphasize how important this is. We're going to do it.

Alex Witt: I noticed an air of confidence.

Buchanan: Seemed like it, but then the body language said they feel confident about final passage, but unsettled on Stupak Amendment.

Fenn: Allowing Stupak vote was important enough that they recorded their feelings. Helpful in long term goal of passing. If they vote tonight, my sense is that they have 220-225 or even higher. President did stress the historic nature of this, my guess that resonated with them.

Mid Day Distraction

Milk Men - A Mad Men Parody

Atom.com: Funny Videos | Spoofs | TV & Movie Spoofs

Cartoon of the Day

Click to enlarge, via. Good luck today Mr President.

Video- Fox News' Colonel Peters calls Muslims "a protected species, a protected minority" in rant about PC culture in Ft. Hood tragedy

Ralphies back. More of Ralphies greatest hits here and here.

Man gets 36 months for Internet threats to assassinate Obama

Finally, one of the crazies that makes sense. /snark

A Wisconsin man who professes to be the second coming of Christ was sentenced Friday in federal court in Jackson to 36 months in prison for making Internet threats to assassinate then-President-elect Barack Obama.

In a nearly daylong sentencing hearing, Steven Joseph Christopher, 42, said at one point in court, "I'm not crazy."

He was living in Brookhaven in January when he made the Internet threat against Obama, about a week before the president was sworn into office.

Christopher admitted making the threat, but said he never had any intention of harming Obama. He said he made the threat to gain attention for his cause that he is the second coming of Christ and the Apocalypse is coming in 2012 and much of the world will be destroyed.

When U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate asked him what he thought his sentence should be, Christopher replied, "I think I should be let go. I want to meet with President Obama."

"I am the Christ, the returned Christ. I'm asking you to look at my heart. I think you (Wingate) are an honorable man and I hope you will see that I'm the Messiah and kiss me on the head."

Video- President's Weekly Address: Tragedy at Fort Hood

In the same room? Sarah Palin, Barney Frank to headline Gridiron Club Winter Dinner

By GottaLaff



Gay Jewish Congressman v. fancy pageant walkin' Wasilla Assembly of God Quitter:

Palin, the outspoken 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, will be the Republican speaker at the Dec. 5 gathering; the equally outspoken Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee is the Democratic speaker. A just published biography of Frank is titled, Barney Frank: The Story of America's Only Left-Handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman.

If she decides to actually honor her commitment and, you know, show up, this will be one interesting night. The Gridiron Club winter dinner will never be the same.

A Texas House Democrat leaves the party, citing Obama

By GottaLaff

When in doubt, and when you can't win a Democratic election, blame Obama:

Rep. Chuck Hopson, D-Jacksonville, will seek reelection, but as a Republican — a move that might save his neck while wrecking the party's chances at winning a majority in the House. [...]

"President Obama and the Democrats in Congress just don't reflect the values of this district," he said.

Guess what? My friend is an American hating terror-enabler!

By GottaLaff

UPDATE: I am now on equal airhead footing as Larisa. I wear that as a badge of honor, and am proud to be associated with my fellow comprehension-challenged pal, Larisa.

I posted something earlier by my pal Larisa Alexandrovna about not jumping to conclusions and condemning an entire group of people, in this case Muslim bashing. I found her to be very reasonable and quite clear in that post. I wholeheartedly agreed with her.

I remember a quote from it, in fact, designed to address those who would be, shall we say, less agreeable:

Extremism happens in all religions and political views. [...]

I am not excusing what the shooter did by any measure.

See how reasonable and clear she is?

Want to know what happened after she posted that? Here's what happened:

[A]ccording to professor of political science and professional fighter of 'teh Communistofascists' Don Douglas:

"And in response, Larisa Alexandrovna, who is one of the left's biggest race-baiting smear-merchants on the web - and now obviously an America-bashing terror-enabler - is excoriating those who are rightfully outraged at Obama's inappropriate nonchalance in a crisis deserving the deepest solemnity, "3, 2, 1... Attack Obama Over the Fort Hood Shooting" [...]

Yep, had to get the racist allegations in there. It's all about "race" and "hatred" with the Obama administration's apologists. Iran's going nuclear, unemployment's soaring past 10 percent, and this administration's own Department of Homeland Security -- as well as other federal officials and Army personnel -- knew of Nidal Malik Hasan's pyschological infirmities, and of his solidarity with Islamist suicide bombers. But for Larisa Alexandrovna, it's all about racist right-wing opportunism in attacking poor Obambi!"

How mature.

I see he read Larisa's piece carefully, thoughtfully, and then proceeded to process it as any 4-year-old narrow-minded, ill-tempered, dim-bulb tantrumer would.

I bet he's a swell debater. Anyone can see he really listens and has the patience and understanding to examine both sides of any issue.

Larisa responds:

The reaction to condemn all Muslims for this shooting is a reaction based in bigotry, not fact. That is what I am calling racist, not people outraged over the shooting - which would include me. But Douglas does not end with simply misleading what I wrote - once again - and basically calling me a terrorist. He also seems happy to show off his homophobia in an attack on right-wing, NON-glue sniffer Charles Johnson:

"Airhead" Alexandrovna joins her gay-flame man-crush buddy Charles Johnson in the radical left's terror-enabling hall of shame. See, "Charles Johnson Silent on Jihadi Evidence in Fort Hood Murder Rampage."

Wow. Seriously, Douglas is a professor of something? I don't know if Johnson is gay or not as I don't even know Johnson. [...] No my dear Don Douglas, the hall of shame on all counts is and continues to be yours.

This is pretty typical of the extreme shrillitude we have to contend with now. Larisa can easily fend for herself, but I couldn't ignore this.

America is overdue for a psychological tune-up.

VIDEO: Tom Tancredo storms off The Ed Show

By GottaLaff



A sight to behold. As Emptywheel tweeted, "He can't stand up to a Latino blogger?!?!"

Way to go, Markos!

The Michele Bachmann File: Pants on Fire!

By GottaLaff

This pretty much goes without saying, but it is fun to see the visuals:

Recent statements involving Michele Bachman:

Page 92 of the House health care bill "says specifically that people can't purchase private health insurance after a date certain."

She should read the other 1,989 pages

Ezekiel Emanuel, one of President Obama's key health care advisers, "says medical care should be reserved for the nondisabled. So watch out if you're disabled."

Academic musings make easy targets for opponents

ACORN will be a paid partner with the Census Bureau and "they will be in charge of going door-to-door and collecting data from the American public."

ACORN not getting money, not collecting data

Says the Constitution only requires her to tell the census "how many people are in our home."

Bachmann's claim wrong, and illegal

ACORN "could get up to $8.5 billion more tax dollars despite being under investigation for voter registration fraud in a dozen states."

"Access to" and "actually getting" are two very different things

VIDEO: President and First Lady Bartlet ask, "Hey Congress, which side are you on?"

By GottaLaff



This came with an e-mail I just got. Here's an excerpt:

While playing the President, Mr. Sheen and his "wife," Ms. Channing, regretted not being able to pass health care reform. Now, we have a once-in-a-lifetime chance. The best part? We're going to pass it for real, not on TV.

Click here to watch Mr. Sheen and Ms. Channing's video message to you, and then call your Representative and urge them to vote YES on health care reform tomorrow.

The House vote tomorrow is the first of the big votes on health reform. When they pass this bill, we'll be incredibly close to winning quality, affordable health care for everyone.

To your health

L'chaim.

Mob Rule: Special Comment by my 72-year-old friend

By GottaLaff

(click on image to enlarge)

My very caring, impassioned 72-year-old Twitter pal, who goes by the name 42bkdodgr, would like to share his feelings about the rampant out-of-control expressions of hatred that have been forced upon us recently. I am more than happy to oblige.

But first, a personal note from 42bkdodgr:

Many of you may wonder why I chose to use the “ 72 year old friend” as the introduction to my Special Comments. I selected the moniker so readers could see that from my age and life experiences I give a different perspective to the issues of today.

Now for his Special Comment:

The Mob Has Taken Over

In my first Special Comment on this site I said I hadn’t seen such hatred in this country since the Civil Rights movement; since then it has continued and has gotten worse.

I also said in another comment that the two most dangerous women in America were Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann. Since then I have come to the conclusion that Bachmann is the one to fear. She uses the same antics of Joseph McCarthy, making outrageous statements, and in some cases without any proof.

Some of Bachmann’s outrageous statements include:

* "What we have to do today is make a covenant, to slit our wrists, be blood brothers on this thing.” referring opposing the HCR Bill.

* Linking swine flu outbreak to Democrats.

* Liberals in Congress should be investigated for being anti-American.

* Thomas Jefferson has told us: having a revolution every now and then is a good thing

* Obama has anti-American views.

* “I want people in Minnesota armed and dangerous on this issue of the energy tax because we need to fight back.”

* Asking tea baggers attending Nov. 5th rally to go “ up and down through the halls, find members of Congress, look at the whites of their eyes and say “ Don’t take away my healthcare””

I believe when you look at the language of the Bachmann’s statements there seems to be a tone of a call to violence and is preaching to mob-like intelligence .

Because of her statements Bachmann has become the darling of the tea baggers, as evidenced by the reception she received at the rally on the Capital steps yesterday against the Democratic Health Care Reform Bill.

During the rally we saw such poster signs as “ Heath Care Reform is the Holocaust”, “Obama and his Marxist Buddies Are After Your Freedom”, Health Care In General, Is Just Like Nazi Germany”, I’m King Of The World (character of Obama) We Know What Happened To The Titanic”, “Kiss Mao Ass”, “Ken-ya Trust Obama”, Obama Takes His Orders From The Rothchilds”. These signs show that to some extent tea baggers are made up of radicals, racists and anti-Semites.

Yet with all these signs Rep. Boehner said he didn’t see any hate coming from the crowd; while he adds fuel to the growing fire saying that the health care bill is the “greatest threat to freedom that I have seen.”

When Bachmann, Boehner and the rest of the Republicans attending the rally make no statement regarding the inappropriateness of the signs being displayed, this only tells me that the mob has taken control of the Republican Party.

Until the moderates regain control of the Republican Party and denounce the antics, words and actions of the tea baggers, Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, Palin and Bachmann the hatred will continue and the division in the country will only get wider.

Lets hope the Republican party regains its senses before a horrific event takes place in this country.

Many thanks again for another timely, truthful, provocative piece, 42bkdodgr. You never fail to say what so many of us are thinking and feeling.

Dem: GOP attendance at protest 'saddest thing I've seen here'

By GottaLaff

The Million Anti-Semite March was marred even further with the appearance of Rushpublic Congress members. From dropping the American flag to botching the Pledge of Allegiance, it was a huge embarrassment:

A freshman Democrat on Thursday said that Republican lawmakers' attendance at the "House Call" protest was "the saddest thing I've seen here."

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) chided GOPers from skipping out on official House business, including the swearing in ceremony for a special election winner.

Debate on Rep. Weiner's single-payer amendment will not happen.

By GottaLaff

I just got this e-mail (emphasis mine):

Dear Healthcare-NOW! Supporter:

On the eve of what could have been the first vote on single-payer legislation in our nation's history, we have just learned that because of last minute developments, the vote and debate on Congressman Weiner's single-payer amendment will not happen.

Speaker Pelosi received a statement from Rep. Kucinich and Rep. Conyers, the co-authors of HR 676, that they do not think that this is the right time for a vote on national single-payer legislation. They made this statement despite the extensive mobilization in support of this vote across the country. In addition, Speaker Pelosi felt that offering a single-payer amendment would open the floodgates to amendments proposed to limit abortion funds, restrict immigrant access to healthcare, and other regressive legislation.

Let us remember that the potential vote on Congressman Weiner's single-payer amendment resulted from holding fast to our principles of universal, comprehensive healthcare with no financial barriers. These efforts have brought truth and clarity to a national debate on healthcare reform that has been polluted by the corporate influence over Congress. While the private insurance industry has sent 3,000 lobbyists to Capitol Hill this year, spending 1.4 million dollars a day to shape reform that protects their profits, our calls, faxes, and demonstrations have created the momentum to bring legislation based on HR 676 to the floor of the House and Senate.

The vote for Congressman Weiner's single-payer amendment would have allowed advocates to have their representatives on record as single-payer supporters.

But this legislative battle is not yet over. Our focus can now turn to two remaining efforts for single-payer in this Congress. Sen. Bernie Sanders will introduce S 703 in coming weeks, and we understand that he is considering editing it to be more like HR 676. We will have the opportunity again to see the first ever vote on single-payer in this Congress. In addition, Rep. Kucinich's amendment to allow states to more easily implement a single-payer system may be reinserted into the bill during the conference committee between the House and Senate.

All of these efforts are crucial to building the movement for the only solution to our healthcare crisis - single-payer national healthcare.

If this Congress passes inadequate legislation, there will no doubt be emboldened state movements in the coming years. We welcome them. But let us not forget the movement to push our federal legislators to meet the demands of the people, not roll that responsibility onto the states. Healthcare-NOW! and the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care remains committed to a national, single-payer solution to the healthcare crisis. Comprehensive, quality healthcare is a right that should be extended to every U.S. resident.

At this important time, let us not forget how far we have come. Either now or later, a single-payer national healthcare system must come to the table. We will keep building the movement to make that happen.

For healthcare justice,
Healthcare-NOW!
Physicians for a National Health Program
Progressive Democrats of America
Public Citizen
Healthcare for All Texas
Western PA Coalition for Single Payer
Alliance for Democracy

P.S. We need your support. Please donate today.

Maybe now is not the time, but I can't help yearning for a single payer debate to make its way in.

What Tea Baggers see: President Obama admits he needs to sober up!

By GottaLaff

See this headline from The Hill?

President Obama calls jump in unemployment rate 'sobering'

Based on that one line, Tea Baggers/many Rushpublics/conservatives (what do we call all these people now, anyway?) will most likely put out the new meme:

Obama admits to being an alcoholic! "Some say" Commie Fascist Socialist Marxist economics force President to sober up!

By the time the president's team shrugs it off, it has already made headlines and becomes the new cycle of truthinessitude.

Welcome to our Newsiverse.

President Obama is going to Alaska, you betcha

By GottaLaff

This will be Prez O's first trip to the state that Barbie McLipSchmutz quit:

President Barack Obama will visit Alaska next week, as he begins a longer trip to Japan, China, South Korea and Singapore.

I understand the president can see Alaska from his White House.

While in Alaska, he'll mark the Veterans Day holiday with the military personnel at the base, the White House said.

H/t: Dr. President

Rachel Maddow on Meet the Press Sunday

By GottaLaff

Once again, the novelty of MTP getting ratings and us getting facts:

(click on image to enlarge)

David Brooks, E.J. Dionne, Rachel Maddow and Ed Gillespie: Poor David and Ed. They're goners.

Saturday's a go, but House Dems need 10 more votes

By GottaLaff

Ten seems like a lot to me at this late date.

Democratic House leadership aides tell First Read "there will, in fact, be a vote tomorrow on health-reform legislation -- despite reports suggesting a vote could be pushed back to Sunday or even next week... The aide, however, conceded the vote could slip later into tomorrow evening."

Congress Daily:

The Obama administration and House Democrats are making a last-ditch effort to find approximately 10 more Democrats willing to vote for healthcare reform legislation Saturday.

10 is the loneliest number...

UPDATED-Blunt warning from White House: Do not go on Fox

By GottaLaff

UPDATE, via Greg Sargent:

The White House is strongly denying a story claiming that White House officials privately threatened to retaliate against a Democratic strategist for appearing on Fox News — a claim generating a big stir on the right as the latest example of the White House’s victimization of the network.

“While we have our disagreements with FOX, administration officials appear on the network and we have no issue with others who choose to do so,” White House senior communications adviser Dan Pfeiffer emails me.

Original post:

Not just any ol' warning, a blunt warning:

"At least one Democratic political strategist has gotten a blunt warning from the White House to never appear on Fox News Channel, an outlet that presidential aides have depicted as not so much a news-gathering operation as a political opponent bent on damaging the Obama administration," the Chicago Tribune reports.

The strategist said the message was, "We better not see you on again."

"In urging Democratic consultants to spurn Fox, White House officials might be trying to isolate the network and make it appear more partisan. A boycott by Democratic strategists could also help drive the White House narrative that Fox is a fundamentally different creature than the other TV news networks."

I'm not sure how much more partisan ClusterFox could be made to appear, but sure, go for it.

UPDATE- The strategist said it was said in an "intimidating tone":

An implicit suggestion, he said, was that "clients might stop using you if you continue.''

Shallow Thoughts: What religion was practiced by the Orlando shooter?

By GottaLaff

Today's Shallow Thought:

As our pal Wolfe Tone of A Bodenstown Perspective noted, will the media will go out of their media way to point out that this shooter is probably a Catholic?

Pfft, nah. As Wolfe said, "He's just another crazy person, because he's NOT a Muslim."

That was today's Shallow Thought. Thank you for wading in.

House health care vote may be postponed until Sunday

By GottaLaff

Delay, delay, delay:

A hotly anticipated health care reform vote by the full House of Representatives may be delayed until Sunday, according to two Democratic sources.

But the vote on the nearly $1.1 trillion bill is still tentatively scheduled for Saturday, the sources noted.

Just secure the 218 and get on with it.

"For someone who claims to be rogue... hypocritical to not let media...cover" her

By GottaLaff

Well guys and gals, Sarah the Quitter is quitting... again. This time she's washing her hands of media coverage on her not-so-excellent Wisconsin adventure. Going Mute:

[N]o press will be allowed into the Milwaukee auditorium where she will speak and those who have paid the $30 admittance fee are unable to carry in cell phones, cameras, laptops, or recording devices of any kind.

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate told the Wisconsin Radio Network he finds all these restrictions "bizarre."

"You know, for someone who claims to be a rogue and isn't afraid of what other people think it really is sort of hypocritical to not let the media, the press cover your event."

Come on, Wisconsin, would you want a record of your rancid, badly tossed, wilted Word Salad out there?

Fort Hood: a tragedy, not Islamic Jihad...

By GottaLaff



Once again, my buddy Larisa Alexandrovna nails it:

The drooling, knuckle-dragging racists calling themselves Americans are busy bashing Muslims and Islam over the Fort Hood shooting. It appears, however, that the shooter - who joined the military BEFORE 9/11 - right out of high school - was being harassed by the other soldiers. Indeed, we also now know that he was an American soldier, born and bred in the USA. He did not recently convert to Islam as some faux-news outlets are claiming. He was always a Muslim. So what made him suddenly go postal?

We are also now learning that he was allegedly afraid to be deployed because of the horrors of war and because he was afraid to go overseas with his harassers. The motive for the shooting seems to be that he simply went postal as a result of war and harassment. Yet the people who are busy bashing Muslims in reaction to the Fort Hood shooting are the exact type of people who harassed this man into a mental breakdown.

I am a Jew. But I have friends who are Muslim. I will always defend Muslims against this kind of hate as I would expect others to defend Jews against this type of hate. Extremism happens in all religions and political views. [...]

I am not excusing what the shooter did by any measure.

Please read the whole post here.

6 out of 7 GOP candidates for governor in Illinois will opt out of public option

By GottaLaff

I'm sure all those voters whose health and/or savings will be at stake based on your "opting out" politics will thank you. Way to play with the health and lives of fellow Americans:

All seven candidates, to varying degrees, competed to be the most conservative, the biggest "outsider," the most opposed to tax hikes, and the most opposed to increased government spending on health care.

"If I wanted to be part of socialized medicine, I'd move to Europe," said state Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale). [...]

Six of the seven candidates said that as governor, they would "opt out" of any new federal government-funded health care plan. Ryan said he'd want to see it first.

But wait! There's more!

Asked what the state could do to prevent disasters such as Thursday's mass shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, most of the candidates talked about better communication with the National Guard and the state's other law enforcement entities. Brady said a law allowing Illinois residents to carry concealed guns "would help to respond to incidents like this as well as the tragic incident that occurred on Northern Illinois University's campus."

Yes! Yes! By all means, more guns are needed to shoot more people who also have guns! What a healthy trend. And speaking of health...

Not only will people lose their lives due to lack of affordable health care, they'll also increase the likelihood of dying at the hands of a fellow gunslinger.

America just keeps on getting more civilized, doesn't it? Do unto others...

H/t: Windy City Watch

Twitter post: "I think Nidal Hasan is an absolute hero"

By GottaLaff

UPDATE: Look who was on "Hannity and Colmes" a couple of years ago. Apparently he loves attention, and yes, I gave him some here. However, my position has nearly always been that calling someone out and exposing them is preferable to turning our backs:



My Twitter pal Alan Colmes, and even ::shudder:: Sean Hannity, dealt with this twerp handily.

Meet:

(click on images to enlarge)

People like this exist. We see them on TV, we hear them on the radio, we read them on Twitter and Facebook.

We saw hatred spewed yesterday at the Tea Party rally. Whether this tweeter is doing this for "kicks" or is sincere, the fact is that he is putting more vicious, sick hate speech out there.

It's catching. It takes just one final utterance of encouragement to push some wacko over the edge, one last flip of the switch.

There has been a noticeable uptick in public bile like this. It is getting out of hand, and it is highly contagious. Sadly, America has come down with its own strain of virulent flu. T1P1, which is mutating as we speak.

H/t: whitk227

Liveblog: President Obama on Fort Hood tragedy + economy

By GottaLaff

Liveblogging President Obama:

Shootings: Let's not jump to conclusions. All the facts are not in. Expressing sympathies for families, etc. Ordered flags to be flown at half staff, as a modest tribute to the fallen and to the military in general for their bravery and service.

Signed a bill to grow economy. We lost fewer jobs than last month, but unemployment is over 10%. A challenge and reminder of things that lie ahead. The economy grew, but job growth lags. I won't let up until Americans find work, earn enough.

The bill will help that. Extends unemployment to up to 20 additional weeks. Additional 700K can sign up immediately. It will help over 1 million Americans, will also put $ into the economy after Americans spend. Creates new jobs. Larger tax cuts for smaller businesses. Extend tax credit for all home buyers through April.

The bill will not add to deficit, fully paid for. It builds on Recovery Act, will lead to more in mos. ahead.

Further steps to grow economy ikn the future: Investments in roads and bridges, energy efficiency, job growth, credit to small business, promote exports. Will take time and patience, but economy will recover.

Mid Day Distraction

Video- Today's Republican Party

They look like such a cuddly bunch. Via Media Matters.

House Democrats Line Up Votes

Taegan gathers up the info for us. Looks like Saturday just might have some news occurring for a change. Then we do it all again in the Senate.

House Democrats "are scrambling" to secure votes to pass President Obama's health care reform effort, "working to soothe last-minute concerns from rank-and-file Democrats ahead of a make-or-break vote," the AP reports.

Voting is set for Saturday on the 10-year, $1.2 trillion legislation.

The Washington Post says party leaders "were struggling" to "contain uprisings on the hot-button issues of abortion and immigration that have left them little margin for error as they attempt to push through a massive health-care reform bill this weekend."

Roll Call notes Obama will meet with House Democrats on Saturday "to make a last-ditch appeal for health care reform."