Bachus: Shut Up and Get to Work

Bachus: Shut Up and Get to Work

I've got ten words for a legislator I've never really heard much about before today.

The only reson I'm hearing about him now is because he thought he'd try to score himself some political points with the folks back home in Alabama by whining about a famous American satirist who, in Mark Twain fashion, all too often gets all too close to the truth.

I just love it when politicians waste time by lashing out at those who remind them that they haven't done their jobs. Don't you?

I'm sick to death of our Congress going nowhere because of partisan hacks, far right conservative freak shows, and witch-hunters to rival Cotton Mather.

To Spencer Bachus R-Ala, who slams Bill Maher for pointing out the fact that the military's falling short on its recruitment goals and who is going as far as to insanely rant about how that amounts to treason, I say:

Shut up and get back to the work of America.


*Hat tip to PSoTD

Sun paid U.S. official for Saddam Hussein photos

Sun paid U.S. official for Saddam Hussein photos

The Sun, owned by Rupert Murdoch, confirmed that they’d paid a U.S. official about $900 for the pictures of Saddam in his underwear. The tabloid says it was a U.S. military official, but it did not identify him. The official had allegedly hoped the release of the photo would deal a "body blow" to 'the rebels'.

That's right. Keep blaming Isikoff and Newsweek for sparking a wave of anti-Americanism....and yet American officials shove this kind of thing - these nearly-naked Saddam photos - in the Muslim world's faces like brave, Fox News-ish, Murdoch-ish, official he-men. (No girly-men are they!) Will anyone be held accountable for this cheap Saddam photo sale? I'll bet not.

Musing's Musings in WaPo

Musing's Musings in WaPo

Congratulations go out to my Liberal Coalition colleague Michael (Musings Musings) for being quoted by Howard Kurtz in the WaPo

I particularly enjoyed Michael's 14 non-random CD tracks in honor of the "Felonious Fourteen".

Newsweek and Afghanistan Deaths

Newsweek and Afghanistan Deaths

World Net Daily is calling upon all reasonably skeptical readers to wonder: Who are the 15-to-18 rioters killed in Afghanistan for their alleged anger over the Koran toilet-flushing incident? No U.S. officials contacted can provide any corroboration for any deaths. Every search turns up to be a dead-end and it is insinuated that these rioters had planned their riot long before the information from the infamous Newsweek story could have reached them.

I think it was very convenient for the Bush administration and the pundits who love them to push emotional buttons with those right-wingers who are paranoid about what they call "liberal media". I suspect that Newsweek got a raw deal on the PR end of all of this. I'm not saying that news sources should not be named when possible, but when journalists are intimidated into being judge and jury about some non-existent 'ironclad truth' before writing anything down for the public, it will limit the ability of free and critical thinkers to decide what is true for themselves. After washing information gained in anonymity from news pieces, all that is left is propaganda.

Blaming Newsweek for anti-Americanism is just another way for the Bush administration to escape accountability for decisions they have freely and proudly made themselves.

I'd like to know who those Afghanistanis were myself - and the full circumstances surrounding their deaths. How about you? Until we know the truth, I don't think we should shoot our mouths off about blaming Isikoff.

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Related - Ben Bradlee on Newsweek/Isikoff

A past blogpost from Rhetorica about the concepts of "discipline of verification" and "custodian of fact", which I think we can easily relate to the Newsweek situation:

"...as long as professional standards of verification are followed, I believe we may begin to accept that reporters, as players in the game, can and should tell what they know on the authority of the news organization. Yes, there are a thousand things that could go wrong here. I am asserting only a shift in the rhetoric of journalism that I believe is well underway. What the best practices should be in this regard must be debated....Information (statements about facts in the world) does not exist without a human intention. Every little bit of information relayed by the media everyday springs from some human intention to communicate it. And, I would further argue, that those intentions are rhetorical, i.e. to move hearts and minds. For information to become knowledge (information embedded in a context), news consumers must know something of its origin, context and purpose. Whether information is cited from anonymous sources or stated on the authority of the news organization, it is politically useless without trust, accuracy, and an understanding of its origin, context and purpose. To be good, journalism, whether it relies on anonymous sources or not, must meet these needs."

Pat Tillman/Liar-Pentagon Scandal Unfolds

Pat Tillman/Liar-Pentagon
Scandal Unfolds

Yesterday's WaPo front page told the story of Pat Tillman's family and how they resent having been lied to by the military about the circumstances surrounding their son's death. They are angry, knowing that politicians used their son's memory and the false circumstances surrounding his unfortunate death to bolster themselves and their agenda.

Today at Editor and Publisher, Greg Mitchell asks why the recent Newsweek (decided) error was so horrendous, while the Pentagon's lying to the Tillman family (and America) is acceptable? Where is the outrage in the mainstream media? In the blogosphere?

BradBlog is talking. So is Rachel Campbell. Bill Gallagher is talking.

The question should be: Who's listening?

In January 2004, Rush Limbaugh used Pat Tillman to blast the NY Times, accusing them of using "subtle ways" to impugn Tillman's motives for joining the military.

How subtle was the Pentagon when they deliberately lied to Pat Tillman's family about the circumstances of his death? Will Rush Limbaugh talk about the not-at-all-subtle ways the Bush administration used the persona of Pat Tillman to promote their their foreign policy?

Burlington Blast: Greensboro Citizens Report Last of Landmark

Burlington Blast:
Greensboro Citizens Report Last of Landmark


photo credit: Lenslinger

Greensboro's former Burlington Industries building was imploded yesterday to make room for a new shopping center. People gathered to see the building come down.

This blogpiece by Lenslinger, in my opinion, is a great example of citizen reporting as it should be.

David Wharton, Chewie and Weaver contribute to the story as well.

I had such a great time in Greensboro last week - I thank y'all for your hospitality and I plan to blog about it for this week's Tar Heel Tavern, which I'll be hosting here at Iddybud. I can clearly see how the LA Times would conclude that we may soon be calling Greensboro "Blogsboro".

Frist Loses in Battle for GOP Soul

Republican Moderates Win Battle for the Soul of the GOP

Frist loses.

I'm not sure that Democrats came out of this any better for the battle. Somehow, I am not jumping for joy at the fact that the Democrats offered any deal whatsoever, because look at the result - Pryor, Brown, and Owen are far right ideologues, unqualified by the bar, who will benefit from these "moderate Democrats" trying to look like heroes. I think they wind up looking like suckers who have facilitated "The Battle for the Soul of the GOP" and who sold out the moderate-left faction of the Democratic party in the process.

All that for a feather in John McCain's 2008 cap. Was it worth it?

(See the actual Compromise Agreement here).

"All that for a feather in John McCain's 2008 cap. Was it worth it?"

Listen to Russ Feingold:

"This is not a good deal for the U.S. Senate or for the American people. Democrats should have stood together firmly against the bullying tactics of the Republican leadership abusing their power as they control both houses of Congress and the White House. Confirming unacceptable judicial nominations is simply a green light for the Bush administration to send more nominees who lack the judicial temperament or record to serve in these lifetime positions. I value the many traditions of the Senate, including the tradition of bipartisanship to forge consensus. I do not, however, value threatening to disregard an important Senate tradition, like occasional unlimited debate, when necessary. I respect all my colleagues very much who thought to end this playground squabble over judges, but I am disappointed in this deal."

I'm with Senator Feingold on this one. I think this "compromise" was of no real benefit to the People, other than to protect the filibuster. But really - was the filibuster ever in any true danger? Do you think moderate Republicans would have gone for the Nuclear Option, if only the Democrats would have stood their ground with conviction - and had it come down to the nitty-gritty? I almost wish the Democrats would have left the GOP out there flying on their witch's broomstick a while longer. I was rather enjoying watching Frist play the whining baby who doesn't get his way.

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Mad Kane offers a clever song parody, "The Don't Compromise Song", which can be sung to Let's Twist Again, by Hank Ballard and made famous by Chubby Checker.

Mad had hoped there would be no compromising. She added:

Bill Scher over at Liberal Oasis explains why compromise is such a bad idea for Democrats, but Josh Marshall isn't nearly as horrified by the idea. Meanwhile, Political Wire (Taegan) has some info on the "moderates'" attempts to conjure up a deal, and Hunter at the Daily Kos gives us a mini history lesson on the background of the filibuster fight. And these two Lean Left posts provide more essential background and insights on the subject.

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My favorite line from Josh Marshall's post is:

"If the Republicans, either as a whole or because of a few defectors, let the filibuster stand, the Dobsonites will simply go nuts, though I admit in one sense of the word that may seem redundant."

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E.J. Dionne has a column in today's WaPo about those wacky dudes from the far right and this battle for the soul of the GOP. (The battle that has cost left-to-moderate Democrats a price, in lost-ground, which I believe is too large.)

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Read Harry Reid's statement and contemplate:

"The integrity of future Supreme Courts has been protected from the undue influences of a vocal, radical faction of the right that is completely out of step with mainstream America. That was the intent of the Republican "nuclear option" from the beginning. Tonight, the Senate has worked its will on behalf of reason, responsibility and the greater good.

We have sent President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and the radical arm of the Republican base an undeniable message: Abuse of power will not be tolerated, and attempts to trample the Constitution and grab absolute control are over. We are a separate and equal branch of government. That is our founding fathers' vision, and one we hold dear.

I offered Senator Frist several options similar to this compromise, and while he was not able to agree, I am pleased that some responsible Republicans and my colleagues were able to put aside there differences and work from the center."

Reid's statement is one of relief in the notion of compromise. I can't help but see, in that statement of relief, how much power the Democrats have lost over these past four years - and just how much ground the moderate left has lost.

"The message may have to come in a revolutionary format, such as a citizen's press which will effectively compete with the mainstream media for advertising dollars. I'm sick and tired of our message being watered down and buried on page sixteen by the "old press"."

The public needs to understand what has happened here. The fact that most citizens have no clue what a filibuster IS, let alone why it is such an important tradition, leads me to understand how easily they can be manipulated by politicians and that we must become more confident and honest ideological communicators if we ever expect to actually win any of these battles with the extreme right. If we Democrats do not improve on the message we send to American citizens, I shudder to think about the types of "compromises" the centrist-left will be making in another four years.

The message may have to come in a revolutionary format, such as a citizen's press which will effectively compete with the mainstream media for advertising dollars. I'm sick and tired of our message being watered down and buried on page sixteen by the "old press".


Related: See Mahablog's summary of opinions on "the deal" throughout the blogosphere.

Elizabeth Edwards is an inspiration

Elizabeth Edwards is an inspiration

At the One America site, Elizabeth Edwards reports that her treatment for breast cancer is winding down and she is thankful to all who expressed their hope and prayer these past months.

She also has some thoughts on the Senate's ongoing "nuclear option" fight. See "Blue Magic Marker and the Nuclear Option".

It's refreshing to see Elizabeth communicating her opinions at the One America site. As far as I'm concerned, she is a leader and inspiration for other internet writers.

I hope we'll hear a lot more from this intelligent and graceful woman in the months to come.

Chris Dodd Gives Impassioned and Wise View on Nuclear Option

Chris Dodd Gives Impassioned and Wise View on Nuclear Option

Senator Chris Dodd from Connecticut, who clearly respects and understands the Founding documents of America and who has a healthy respect for the rules and traditions of the Senate, gave impassioned and wise counsel to his fellow Senate members this morning on the Senate floor. I hope to locate the transcript and/or video and ask you to watch or read it.

Dodd gave this statement to MSNBC radio host Don Imus yesterday:

Senator Chris Dodd:

"It comes down to this...the framers created the Legislative Branch...the House of Representatives where the rules are specifically designed to guarantee the rights of the majority. That's why they're the House of Representatives. They created the Senate as a counterweight to that. Where the rights of a minority would prevail or at least would have greater influence than the rights of a majority would. That was to soften things up and what you're doing here is of course, by voting to eliminate the right to filibuster, which is the heart and soul of why the Senate is different than the House of Representatives, is you eliminate the ability then for the minority to be heard. And that's the reason why a Senate was created. Otherwise you would have just a House of Representatives, never bothered to have a Senate.

And secondly, and the more important rule and issue in many ways, is not just the right to filibuster, but what they want to do here is to change the rules of the Senate with 51 votes. Over the years it's taken 67 votes to change rules of the Senate, and the reason they made it a high number was because of the fear that any majority when confronted with the rights of a minority could become frustrated with them, as you're seeing today over these judges, and therefore try to change the rules to accommodate the majority.

And two things are important about this.

One as I mentioned is the right for minority voices to be heard. The second is, it has forced over the years the Senate to be moderate, more moderate. People who have power over time, despite their intentions, if you got the votes to do what you want to do, why would you bother listening to the other side? That's what happens in the House in many cases. But in the Senate, the reason you have to listen is because of that 60 vote threshold and so you end up working things out. Exactly what they're doing today with 12 Senators who assigned a couple to compromise here. If you didn't have to compromise, then you wouldn't bother with it. Over the years we've benefited tremendously in this country because Senators have been forced to compromise with each other, to be more moderate.

And the problem is today you've got 35 of the 55 Republican Senators, and I say this with all due respect to these new members, they haven't been here long enough. None of the 35 have ever served in the minority in the United States Senate. One day they will, and when they're in the minority they'll understand the value of having a place where minority voices must be listened to. It's been a great source of strength for our country over the years. They've been here about a week in many cases, and yet they're acting as if they have some great knowledge of the institution and the value of it. So my hope would be that some of the cooler, older heads would prevail around here upon these newer members to listen carefully about what they're saying and remember the day will come when they will be where we are."

Good Advice from Rev. Peter Gomes

Good Advice from Rev. Peter Gomes

"Discover something in life that is worth doing, not simply something you're good at, or that's profitable.That means doing the very best you can to conquer this culture of mediocrity, to destroy the mendacious second-class set of values that permeate our culture. Excellence is what you have been called to exercise, and you have the capacity to do so."

Rev. Peter Gomes, American Baptist minister and member of the faculty of Harvard's Arts and Sciences and Divinity school, gave the commencement speech at UNC/Chapel Hill on Sunday morning.

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I will be away from the blog for a few days. Because of an unfortunate string of meaningless and fruitless offensive attacks lately, I have my Comments section on 'moderation mode' and may not get to them until I return. I hope you will read and enjoy what I've provided here for your reflection.

I may be reached at iddybud@yahoo.com if you have any questions or messages for me.

Have a great week!

Byrd Option

Byrd's Option

Republican talking points are misleading these days. So, what's new, right?

The Right (for example, Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell on one of yesterday's Sunday morning talk shows) is trying to skate away with categorizing the nuclear option as "the Byrd option".

The Nuclear Option battle is a fight for the soul of the GOP - and I wonder if the radical wing of the Republican party will win?

This is NOT a fight for the soul of the Democrats. The GOP's center is dissolving and their armor of "party unity" is melting away.

You cannot blame any Democrat as they have no majority power at this time..and they are having their only bit of minority power in Judicial matters stolen by the GOP, who wants to change every rule when they cannot get their way. (The Founding Fathers would spin in their eternal resting places like chicken rotisserie if they knew!)

Only, the GOP doesn't want America to figure that out, so they look for a Democratic scapegoat. Byrd was once a bigot. Most of the white guys who were the real bigots, however, ran to the Republican Party in the sixties.

I wish to talk about Byrd's real option. Senator Byrd had an option to remain a bigot in 1964, or to move on with the times.

Sen. Byrd is one of the 'coolest' of all Congressmen, if you ask me. He has learned many lessons in his long, long political life and is not afraid to share his experience and political evolution with us. You see, he changed over the years, whereas white guys like Strom Thurmond decided to remain in the old southern Dixiecrat mode....by becoming a Republican (and Trent Lott loves the fact to this day)! Bigot that Strom was, God rest his soul, he switched from the Democratic to the Republican party in 1964 to join the like-minded bigotry, mid-Civil Rights era...and Byrd stuck it out with the Democrats - with courage and real ideological change - surely NOTHING of which to be ashamed.

I'm a Pundit Blogger

You Are a Pundit Blogger!

Your blog is smart, insightful, and always a quality read. Truly appreciated by many, surpassed by only a few. The fellow in the picture looks like Bora, and it's a weird coincidence that I found this quiz at Bora's blog.

What kind of blogger are you?

First Poet Laureate of the Blogosphere Named

First Poet Laureate of the Blogosphere Named

There is a new poet laureate out there in America tonight. She is the very first Poet Laureate of the Blogosphere. Billy Jones announces:

Ladies and gentlemen, bloggers and citizens of the world, please allow me to introduce you to Jilly Dybkla, Poet Laureate Of The Blogosphere, and writer of the Poetry Hut Blog Congratulations Jilly, I’ll bet folks over in your neck of the woods are smiling and cheering for you.

Jilly hails from Kingston Springs TN.

Personal Democracy Forum: Too Expensive

Personal Democracy Forum: Too Expensive

I would have loved to have attended the Personal Democracy Forum Conference taking place at CUNY tomorrow, and I think I could have contributed much to the conversation and gotten a lot out of it..... but I couldn't afford $295 plus the expense for traveling to New York.

I do look forward to mini-conferencing with my blogging friends in Greensboro, NC later this week. It's too bad the Chapel Hill blogging group meets the exact same night/same time. Sigh. If only I could be two places at the same time.

Bolton Mania

Condi Rice introduces John R. Boltonto a dismayed planet


"There is no such thing as the United Nations..if the U.N. secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference."

"It is a big mistake for us to grant any validity to international law even when it may seem in our short-term interest to do so ­ because, over the long term, the goal of those who think that international law really means anything are those who want to constrict the United States."

"...most skilled diplomat...."
"....I am honored...."

...honored........honored..........I am honored?..........................honored??
................................honored?????


HONORED?!?





*This was originally posted March 8. It's an oldie, but a goodie!

Does the GOP Value American Freedom and Democracy?

Does the GOP Value American Freedom and Democracy?

When the state becomes the church, we no longer live in a free country. The government becomes similar to the one that spurred the American Revolution.

Congress has the lowest public approval rating that it has seen in years. The far right pundits will lead you to believe it is the fault of "Democratic obstructionists", but the reality is that moderate, liberal, and progressive citizens are disgusted with the radical right holding the reins of leadership in Congress - pandering to the Religious Far Right.

John McCain denounced the Religious Far Right's influence today on ABC's This Week, yet he aligned himself closely with George W. Bush at last year's Republican Convention with fear-mongering rhetoric and an obvious ommission of any talk about domestic issues. I don't see Bush denouncing the GOP leadership that is coddling the religious extremists. So, isn't McCain a hypocrite or a pathetic dodger, at best? In his Convention speech, McCain said "We have to love our freedom not just for the material benefits it provides, not just for the autonomy it guarantees us, but for the goodness it makes possible." What goodness comes of enriching the richest and creating a Godzilla-deficit with which our poor children will be enslaved?


The state of the American faith-based conscience is sickened with worldly interests that are not 'good faith' approaches to Christian action. The secure harbor of the promise of increased wealth, which is guaranteed to the richest Americans by GOP policies, bars the way from their heresy to the Christian truth.

It is sad irony that the GOP should try to co-opt God and Christianity in their politics, while in reality, they perpetrate the roadblock to Christian truth. At the same time, they run against the U.S. Founding principles.

We cannot allow their lies and deceit to destroy our free and democratic country.

Watch the GOP in the next couple of weeks. They will not be able to blame the Democrats for any obstruction on the "nuclear option" issue because the Democrats aren't the ones who hold the power to make or break the filibuster rule. This, my friends, will be a fight for the soul of the GOP...by the GOP.

In the next couple of weeks, we'll see what value the GOP places on the American freedom and democracy which was purchased by the blood of our ancestors.

technorati category: Politics

BushFish Is American Heresy

If this isn't heresy, the word has no meaning. Not only is it Christian heresy, it's American heresy.
Tip o'the hat to Tim and Carlos.

Jimmy Martin RIP

Jimmy Martin RIP

Bluegrass singer Jimmy Martin has died at the age of 77, after a long battle with bladder cancer. Earlier this week, Jimmy had made it clear to his family that he was ready to leave this world. He was moved to hospice care last Thursday night and his feeding tube was removed. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. You may send cards and letters of support to his children - Jimmy Jr., Ray, Lisa, and Buddy at the following address:

PO Box 646
Hermitage, TN 37076

Republican Governor Speaks Against Grassroots Political Activity

Republican Governor Speaks Against Grassroots Political Activity

Attack on House Parties
From: DFA Blog

Vermont Governor James Douglas
(R-VT) has come out against Democracy for America's House Parties for Health Care, saying these community-driven gatherings, "raise the level of partisan discourse" and are "unconstructive." Funny, we happen to think raising the level of discourse in general is a good thing.

What will the GOP do next? Move to stop Americans from assembling?

He should talk

He should talk

Democrats blow clumps of snot from their noses that are bigger (and far more interesting) than this little guy.

We should be heartfully ashamed of having this sort of person being able to call himself one of the most powerful "statesmen"(?) in the nation. Anyone who could use these words about his colleagues is surely not a leader we can trust to get the work of the nation accomplished in the spirit of compromise or unity.

While his partisan cronies celebrate in a glitzy room with tuxedos and ballgowns and dine on their filet mignon and salmon, Joe Sixpack down on Main Street USA works harder (if he can find a job) and becomes poorer because of the policies shoved down his throat by the glitzy greedy Goobers.