This Pic Says it All

These marchers are carrying 966 coffins representing our brothers and sisters who died far away, are used EVERY DAY by Bush, and are forgotten while the media focuses on a bunch of swift boat liars.

Great Jimmy Breslin article "Marching Because Our Soldiers Can't"

-Prodigal Son

Nasty as it gets

Liked the now discredited swift liars for Bush boolsheet?

We ain't seen nothin' yet. Chimpy's minions are now doing push polls, (fake polls putting out lies as facts. Ex: "If you knew that some say Dick Cheney is a horse molester, would that change your mind?THAT WAS MADE UP ! THESE ARE THE JOKES PEOPLE!) that say Kerry has cancer.

Here is a letter excerpt from the Oregonian: CLICK HERE TO READ

. . . "Bush backers' scare tactics

A representative of the Bush campaign called recently, asking if she could count on me to vote for him in November. I am a registered independent voter.

After a short, respectful discussion, she asked if I knew that Kerry had had cancer. She added that a patient is not truly a "cancer survivor" until one is cancer-free for five years.

The message was clear: I should not vote for Kerry for fear that he will have a recurrence while in office." . . .

Disgusting, but we also find out today that the RNC is bragging that they have 144 active duty soldiers as delegates at Scumbag-con 2004 . CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.

One eensie prob: this violates DOD directive 1344.10 :

A member on active duty shall not
...
Participate in partisan political management, campaigns, or conventions (unless attending a convention as a spectator when not in uniform).

Nothing, NOTHING surprises me with these lying, thuggish, bastar**! They will DO ANYTHING to seize power!

A little backstory on tort reform...

When my firm was asked by a statewide group (three guesses :) to help fight HB3/HB4/Prop. 12 last year, I had a chance to spend some time digging in the trenches of the med-mal/tort reform issue and found a few things that surprised me...and some that didn't.

Of note:

*Insurance companies make a very small portion of their profits off the premiums they sell you and I. The vast, vast majority of their profits come from investments (mostly stocks) they've bought with their profits for the last century. So, the industry is even more hyper-sensitive to market fluctuations than day traders. When tech crashed, insurance rates went up across the board--home, life, auto, health, med-mal, whatever. The point: they were trying to recoup their stock losses on our backs. It's happens every 15 years or so, and has gotten so predictable that the term "insurance cycle" has made it into economics textbooks.

*We're being gradually sold on this. For the last 15 years, there has been a concerted, coordinated advertising campaign aimed at convincing us that 1) our courts are clogged, 2) we can no longer trust trained jurists (now activist judges) or our peers (now runaway juries), 3) there is no rhyme or reason to damage awards (now jackpot justice), and possibly most dangerous 4) lawsuits drive up insurance rates. None of the above claims are supported by the data. This campaign started right here in Texas with the birth of CALA. Now we have TLR (top political $$ giver in Texas) and TAB (subsidiary of US Chamber of Commerce, under investigation for stealing elections in '02). These groups wield enough power with the almighty dollar to muddy the truth, whitewash the effects of their agenda and make it damn hard to get elected in this state without their go-ahead.

* This is very political. Medical malpractice is a real problem, and while doctors are next in line for sainthood, they're not above reproach. Last year's tort reform bill sat began as two separate bills: one purporting to relieve doctors and the other a Big Business wishlist that warped of any cogent theory of liability. As our polling showed (and certainly the other side's), Texans would do anything to save their doctor but were oh, say 60 pts less excited about handing over their rights to megalocorporations. The writing was on the wall--these bills were gonna pass together or not at all. It's indicative of the communications model Repubs have used to put us over a barrell--marrying hot-button emotive issues ("don't ya hate gays/PlannedParenthood/greedy trial lawyers, etc") with super Pro-business policy. The pro-business policy perpetuates the system, but it's the fear and hate that keep the votes rolling in that legitimize the whole agenda.

*Damage caps have never worked. Whether it's the much-touted MICRA in California (rates actually went up until they combined with insurance refrom), or the recent study by the Congressional Research Organization that found damage caps can have AT MOST a 1-3% effect on premiums. For what does affect insurance rates, see above. Damage caps do two things: 1) they punish the victims of the worst, most egregious, most intentionally-caused injuries, and 2) they suck money out of the Democratic Party. The folks pushing damage caps have a vested interest in both.

To me the bottom line has always been that there is no limit to the amount of damage a corporation can do to you and your family. The only thing that keeps them honest is the X-factor of what some silver-tongued trial lawyer can coax out of a slack-jawed jury in Mississippi. If we let them set a price on our lives, they'll just figure it in to the bottom line. The Ivey memo, exploding Pintos, we've seen it before.

Corporations were specifically designed to disperse liability, to take the human face off of whoever's pulling the levers. Great for business, but...

New Slimy Attacks Just a Week Away!

Had enough of the Swift Boat Liars for Bush crapola?

The next round of attack ads that are going after Edwards and the so-called "Trail Lawyers" will be here in a week.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Ask yourself this. Has tort reform in Texas lowered malpractice insurance? NOPE.

From the Article Above:
. . ."In fact, rising malpractice premiums and "defensive medicine" account for less than 10 percent of rising medical costs. The bigger causes of medical inflation are new technology, an aging population -- and the 30 percent in profits and administrative costs taken by for-profit health insurers. Scapegoating malpractice awards is a handy diversion."

MORE INFO HERE

This slime headed our way comes by way of the US Chamber of Commerce.

-Prodigal Son

527's + Bush = fun

"A top lawyer working for the campaign of US President George W. Bush advised the Vietnam war veterans group behind a television ad discrediting the war record of his Democratic challenger."

Oh oh what a surprise! The latest ad being run in three swing states by the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" will cost $80,000 to be on the air for 2 days. That's quite a bit of change, but why oh why would these 527's need a lawyer? Why would they need Bush's lawyer, when they aren't allowed to associate with the candidate in any way? This isn't the first time someone in Bush's camp has admitted a connection with the group either. But they keep getting away with it because no one wants to oppose good old King George.

Bush renounced the outside attack ads, 2 weeks late. After Bush recited the obligatory, "Kerry is a decorated war hero" speech, he just had to say "But the question is, who's best to lead the country in the war on terror, who can handle the responsibilities of the commander in chief, who's got a clear vision of the risks that the country faces." Hell, it's sure as not Bush, this is the man that sees a terrorist behind every tree. Bush is REALLY worried about atleast one American's security, if you want to count HIS security. Screw the rest of us, we'll just keep them evil terra-rists back a little longer so he can get away ;)

The GOP is saying they are getting pounded as well by the "527 group", Moveon, isn't even a 527. I'm sure we've all seen the great "bush wrapped his car around a tree instead of protecting his country" ads they ran..but they haven't run any ads in atleast 3 or 4 months. They just want to look like victims like usual. The funniest thing is though, all they had to do was spend $80,000 to get an ad on the air, and then the internet and traditional medias picked it up and publicized them. Anti-Bush 527 groups have spent $60 million trying to oust good old George.

Swiftboat Veterans for Truth (or Misinformation) got off to a nice start with a $100,000 donation from Bob J Perry, Who's Bob J Perry one might wonder? He's the good friend of Karl Rove, one of Bush's top advisors. Yes that Karl Rove who spread nasty rumors about Ann Richardson, saying she was a lesbian helping Bush win the election for Governor. Harlan Crow is also a faithful donator, the trustee for Bush Sr.'s presidential library. Yes, someone in their family reads. Anyone with half a brain can see the connection. The FEC has enacted new laws that will restrict 527 groups a little but these laws don't pop into effect until January 1st.

Isn't anyone sick of hearing about Kerry's Vietnam record yet? I guess since the other little stories failed to work, like the ones about him voting no to feed soldiers and give them armor just didn't fly. You'd think with all these malicious people at his disposal they could find something more creative to b*tch about. Why not photoshop Kerry's head to someone in a BDSM bar? Come on, be a little creative!

So ends my crabby insomniac rant. :)

Let us not forget

Now that the swift liars for Bush have been exposed, we should not forget that another war is costing lives.

52 so far JUST IN AUGUST. This makes it a total of 964 American soldiers dead because Bush lied.

William Pitt does a great job, ya gotta read him. CLICK HERE TO READ HIS LATEST

Bush's moral cowardice is such that he has a long record of having others savage his opponents (See yesterday's post) and then denying any responsibility for it. Bush's life has always been a matter of others doing his gutter work for him, and still others bailing him out.

Bush is a complete moral coward.

Why? A moral coward is someone who lacks the courage to tell the truth, to accept responsibility, to demand accountability, to do what's right when it's not the easy thing to do, and clean up his or her own messes. That is Shrub to the 'T'.

Josh Marshall NAILS IT. . . "On the one hand you have Kerry, who already had doubts about whether we should be fighting in Vietnam before he went, and put his life on the line anyway. On the other hand, you have George W. Bush who supported the war, which means he believed the goal was worth the cost in American lives. Only, not his life. He believed others should go; just not him. It's the story of his life.

That is almost the definition of moral cowardice." . . .

Yep. . .

-Prodigal Son

New Boss same as the old boss

This campaign is taking on the trademark stamp of every Bush family national campaign since 1988. Scummy attack politics that tear down the Bush opponent while a compliant Washington press corps can’t believe the nice Bush family would play dirty

1988 Dukakis - crazy, loved criminals, no patriotism
1992 Clinton - KGB agent, paying for rumors of sex, cocaine, murder, virgins, etc.
1996 out of office, so Cheney-Halliburton built up Saddam's power
2000 McCain - crazy, black baby, betrayed POWs
2000 Gore - liar, delusional, unfit for office
2004 Now it's Kerry's turn

-Panhandle Truth Squad

John Kerry just says no

To boolsheet.

CLICK HERE and see some good Monday AM viewing.

-Prodigal Son

Swift Boat Liars for Bush

Damn these liars and republican funded scumbags.

Let's run it down. These quotes are handy to have, especially if you email the editor of your local Texas Panhandle Paper to stop this crap. CLICK HERE TO SEND YOUR LETTER. (Using Shrub's own site! Tee Hee!)

-Roy Hoffman, today: "John Kerry has not been honest."
-Roy Hoffman, 2003: "I am not going to say anything negative about him -- he's a good man."

-Adrian Lonsdale, today: "He lacks the capacity to lead."
-Adrian Lonsdale, 1996: "He was among the finest of those Swift boat drivers."

-George Elliot, today: "John Kerry has not been honest about what happened in Vietnam."
-George Elliot, 1996: "The fact that he chased an armed enemy down is something not to be looked down upon, but it was an act of courage."

-Larry Thurlow, today: "...there was no hostile enemy fire directed at my boat or at any of the five boats operating on the river that day."
-Larry Thurlow's Bronze Star citation, 1969: "...all units began receiving enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire from the river banks."

-Dr. Louis Letson, today: "I know John Kerry is lying about his first Purple Heart because I treated him for that injury."
-Medical records, 1968: "Dr. Letson's name does not appear on any of the medical records for Mr. Kerry. Under 'person administering treatment' for the injury, the form is signed by a medic, J. C. Carreon, who died several years ago."

-Grant Hibbard, today: "He betrayed all his shipmates. He lied before the Senate."
-Grant Hibbard's evaluation of Kerry, 1968: "Mr. Hibbard gave Mr. Kerry the highest rating of 'one of the top few' in three categories--initiative, cooperation and personal behavior. He gave Mr. Kerry the second-best rating, 'above the majority,' in military bearing."

Some more FACTS:
-Kerry has released his ENTIRE military record on his web site.
-There was a link: A Bush advisor just resigned after appearing in a SBLB ad AFTER Bushistas denied any ties.
-There was a link: The Bush camapign office in FL was passing out flyers promoting this sh** AFTER Bushistas denied any ties.
-The team that made this anti-Kerry ad is the same group that made commercials for Bush Sr. against Dukakis in 1988.
-This is the team who engineered the despicable smearing of John McCain in the 2000 South Carolina primary, on behalf of George W. Bush.

Bottom line here . . . We have a sitting President allowing a decorated veteran to be slandered in public in order to advance his political aspirations. An administration filled with men who had "other priorities" and important family connections when the call to service in Vietnam came. An administration who has sent 1,000 American soldiers home in steel coffins in the name of lies and war profiteering.

Disgusted? WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR! (Link Above)

-Panhandle Truth Squad

Republicans ain't Original

Truth seekers,

There are some new astroturf letters being printed around the country and they have made it into 60 different papers. Despicable. . .

Being proactive, we sent this email to the editors of the AGN and Lubbock AJ this AM. Keep your eyes peeled for astroturf in your local paper.

Dear Editor,

We wanted to take a moment to make you aware of the latest astroturf (Form letter templates disguised as grass-roots) being pawned off as legit LTE around the country.

For instance, 60 newspapers recently PRINTED LTE's using the same language and were all attributed as if they were genuine and individually written.

Please CLICK HERE to see the latest catchphrases being used (Right-hand side) so that your fine paper won't be snookered. A quick google search can stop this in it's tracks!

Thanks ahead of time for your vigilance,

Panhandle Truth Squad

PS: FUN WITH REPUBS! Why not have some fun today and use the Rethug-paid-for site to send YOUR OWN LTE to a bunch of papers at one time. Be original! (Heh, Heh) CLICK HERE

Again with the lying boolsheet!

It's bad enough that a right wing nutball writes a letter to the Amarillo Pravda News explaining (In a cutely rambling way. Awwww . . . he's trying SO HARD!) all about liberals. But . . . you don't get to make sh*t up Philip E. Hobson.

The whole incoherent hatefest deserves a thorough whipping, but let's look at this little gem:

"The so-called surplus is another lie. Simply look at the national debt each year of Slick's (The unstable right still cannot say 'President Clinton'!) tenure to see the debt increased all eight years."

Got that all you rubes out there? Shrub's deficits ain't so bad after all!

Calpundit blasts this tired, old boolsheet pretty well. CLICK HERE

But, the numbers never lie. Look at this chart (Does not even include Shrub's 2004 record-breaking deficits!)



CLICK ON THE CHART TO SEE BIGGER VERSION

The truth is that the Clinton deficit-reduction program took five years to phase in. (Over strenuous Republican whining) The reduced deficits meant that the Federal Reserve kept interest rates lower longer. Bond prices rose, and long-term interest rates fell.

With bond prices higher, banks that owned bonds were in better financial condition and proved willing to lend more, while companies seeing low interest rates proved willing to borrow more to finance investment.

The result?

The deficit-reduction program played a large role in the investment boom and the high-investment, high-employment, high-productivity growth recovery in the 1990s from the Bush I recession.

BTW, did you ever hear Clinton say he "Inherited a recession" like Shrub does? Nope. Clinton just went to work.

-Prodigal Son

EDIT: More good info HERE

Holy Economics Batman!

Ok, can we go ahead and just call bullsh** on Bush's leave no millionaire behind economic policy? (For all ya'll who yawn at this stuff, I understand, please bear with me.)

This is a HUGE campaign issue this year, and after more than $2 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy, Shrub's supply-side experiment has done nothing for America.

Let's run down a few facts:
__________________________________
-The wealthiest 20 percent of households in 1973 accounted for 44% of total U.S. income, according to the Census Bureau. Now their share has jumped to 50% by 2002. Everyone else’s fell. (THIS MEANS YOU)

-Three in five of Shrub's vaunted newly created jobs pay BELOW the national median hourly wage.

-Prices are rising, health care is going up 10-18% year (50% just while Shrub has squatted in the white house), and 80% of workers salaries are failing to keep up. (THIS MEANS YOU)

-Shrub announced that he wants to eliminate overtime pay for 8 MILLION AMERICANS. (THIS MEANS YOU)

-The result of Shrub's LNMB policy means that for the first time in history, the share of additional income that has gone to corporate profits is LARGER than the share of additional income that has gone to employee wages and benefits. Where are the jobs? The pay?

-Your taxes went UP under Bush. That's right, state and local taxes WENT UP, to offset the LNMB tax act losses.

-52% of Shrub's so-called "Tax Relief" goes TO THE TOP 1% ! (Those making $1.5 million a year). What? You can't get by on 1 1/2 million bucks a year?

-The biggest buyer of US Bonds is, ready? . . . CHINA. This means that we are BORROWING billions from China and giving it to Bush's rich friends. WTF?

OK, OK, SO WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?
___________________________________
#1- Shrub needs to get the boot in November.
#2- Unearned wealth and labor should be taxed at similar rates, so those profiting from investments pay as much as those working multiple jobs and long hours just to get by.
#3- NO NATIONAL SALES TAX.
#4- No more tax breaks to corporations and CEO's that move their headquarters overseas and pay themselves lavish salaries and perks while cutting pay and benefits for their employees.
#5- Stop the deficit bleeding. The more we have to borrow, the higher the interest we have to pay to make the bonds attractive, the less we have in Social Security, Medicare . . . get the cycle?
#6- Get off the oil tit as soon as possible. It's a drug. America needs an intervention. HUGE tax breaks for hybrids will jump start this.
#7- Tax breaks for middle class (making 60k or less a year), not the ultra-wealthy.
#8- Repeal Bush's failed tax cuts for those at the top end of the earning spectrum. It obviously has failed to stimulate the economy.
#9- Tie corporate tax breaks to job creation. Create a PERMANENT good paying job, get a tax break.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE KERRY/EDWARDS ECONOMIC PLAN

Sources:
MSNBC
CAP
EPI
CTJ

PHEW! Long post.

-Prodigal Son

One More Amarillo Globe Flop

Here is a letter sent to Les Simpson, Globe News publisher Sunday, August 15th:

Mr. Simpson,

Below is a chart listing August polls from a number of sources. In your Sunday edition, page 8 in your story captioned "Kerry ends tour of key states" you have a Bush campaign quote of Gallup poll with Bush up 50% to 47% (which is true of that ONE poll as of 08/13) but take a look at the rest. It would be nice if some of your reporters would take the initiative to do a little research (the internet is easy to use!) instead of cutting and pasting wire stories into your paper. Be honest with your public!

Here is the link to the chart: Click Here

Here is the link to the article: Click Here

Let the publisher know when we are misrepresented in our esteemed local paper!

The Liberalator

Porter Goss "Solid Choice"

Today's Amarillo Globe News did it's standard knee jerk fawning over Shrub's appointment of Republican political hack Porter Goss's appointment to head the CIA.

The AGN even called him a "Solid Choice". Is he?

Well . . . not according to Goss himself!

You see, he told Michael Moore's documentary crew in a TAPED interview, "I couldn't get a job with CIA today. I am not qualified." MORE HERE

And can Porter work, "To fix the CIA, to streamline its apparatus, to make it better able to communicate vital national security threats quickly and thoroughly to those who need to know about it." as the AGN says breathlessly?

During Goss's tenure as head of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Goss shredded any last iota of oversight by the committee, and turned it into a cheerleader for the CIA. Goss virtually pulled HPSCI out of the oversight business, repeatedly saying that he sees the committee’s role as a partner with the U.S. intelligence community, not as its overseer and watchdog. MORE GOOD DETAILS HERE

I know I will be writing to ask the AGN, if they could do just an eensie, teensie bit 'o' research, before drinking the koool-aid. It's called JOURNALISM.

Want to write with me? CLICK HERE!

-Prodigal Son

Scaring the Bejeezus out of 'Merica

You hear the nutball screamers on the right say, "How DARE you say Bush uses terra'ist alerts for political gain."

It should be obvious when Tom Ridge said last week, "But we must understand that the kind of information available to us today is the result of the president's leadership in the war against terror" . . .

Nope, not political at all.

Want the truth? Look at THIS AMAZING CHART

Some things stand out to us at PTS:

- Whenever Shrub's ratings dip, there's a new terror alert.

- Every terror alert is followed by a slight uptick of Bush approval ratings.

- Whenever there are many unfavorable headlines, there's another alert or announcement.

- As we approach the 2004 elections, the number and frequency of terror alerts keeps growing, to the point that they collapse in the graphic. At the same time, Bush ratings are lower than ever.

Now, we find out that the Bushistas did not warn Las Vegas of potential attacks.

What the he** is going on up in DC?

-Prodigal Son

MONDAY CALL TO ACTION: THIS ONE'S A BIGGIE!

Folks,
The Bush campaign is going to declare this September (The one before another close election and right after the Repub Natl Convention)
"National Preparedness Month"

Here's the Calendar of Events

So much for not politicizing our safety.

WHY NOW?
THREE YEARS after 9/11 and TWO MONTHS before the general election, The Bushistas are going to have a month long field day on YOUR dime to get Bush re-elected with THE ONLY ISSUE he has left.

WHAT IT COMPRISES OF:
There's a whole "educate the family" campaign, with kits available at various retailers; an in-school "Ready Deputy" duck-and-cover training program; and a website called Readykids.gov (not yet online), all to be launched in the first week. With it is the unspoken, undeniable implication: "vote for Bush if you want your kids to live."

WHAT TO DO:
Everyone who prefers actual security over campaign propaganda can DIFFUSE IT RIGHT NOW!

Send a Letter to the editor, call your local media, or call your elected officials.

You can get all the media contact info for your area CLICK HERE:

Please take five minutes to act, AND PASS THIS ON TO ANYONE YOU KNOW!!!

Thanks, good luck, and email us with any reponses you get.

-Panhandle Truth Squad

(Thanks to Tom Tomorrow for the catch, who has more info)

What We're Up Against

Last night, I saw a rerun of the King of the Hill episode in which Hank and the boys accidentally go to a gay rodeo. Your assignment for today: Compare their cluelessness in the face of contemporary tolerance to this Free Republic thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1186902/posts

Especially note the godawful "Lying is Their Norm" parody. And the snide bigotry of the "Kerry's New Cabinet" post. And the adolescent giggling of the photo-montage questioning Kerry's and Edward's sexuality.

Oh, hell, just read the whole thing. Then go take a shower.

SPACEDARK

Litmus Test: Are You Now or Have You Ever Been Diverse?

This morning, our Amarillo Globe-News, among others, reprinted a lovely little op-ed by wingnut Michelle Malkin. Malkin advocates against the mythological Liberal Media and demands more "diversity" in journalism (by which she means even more conservatives in journalism). Strangely, her advocacy includes the administration of a "Malkin Media Diversity Test." Test-takers must answer "yes" or "no" to the following statements:

1. I have never voted for a Democrat in my life.
9. I oppose gay marriage.
11. I believe racial profiling at airports is common sense.
16. I eat meat.
19. I cry when I hear "Proud To Be an American" by Lee Greenwood.
20. I don't believe The New York Times.

There are many more entries, some crudely stereotyping a la Mallard Fillmore ("I do not believe the phrase 'a chink in the armor' is offensive"), some demanding absolute cultural conformity in order to be considered "diverse" ("I shop at Wal-Mart"). And, Malkin insinuates, test-takers must receive a perfect score to be pass and be diverse like her. Say what?

Who is this "Michelle Malkin"? Check out this entry from The Blogging of the President.

SPACEDARK

Giving the Bird to Truth

Although we at the Panhandle Truth Squad hate hate hate hate hate Mallard Fillmore, "drawn" by wingnut cartoonist Bruce Tinsley, we rarely waste time and resources directly refuting the comics' outlandish claims. MF is worth a smart-ass, cheap-shot remark or two, but little else.

However, occasionally we just can't resist. Today, Tinsley's little bird lied so egregiously and misrepresented evidence so casually, that we've just gotta point it out.

Some scientists now say global warming may have less to do with 'greenhouse gasses' than with the sun getting hotter during some time periods,

MF lies, attributing this wisdom to the Max Planck Institute.

Here's a link for you, directly to the Max Planck Institute itself. Read the whole article, but the sub-headline by itself casts the harsh light of day, as it were, on the ugly bird's ugly lie:

Studies at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research reveal: solar activity affects the climate but plays only a minor role in the current global warming (our italics).

Satire is one thing. Parody is one thing. But this disgusting propaganda has no place sitting beside the sagacious Doonesbury (which, by the way, satires both sides, despite being drawn by a well-known liberal. Because that's just the way we are.).

I nominate Mallard Fillmore to be on the plate when Geo. Bush flies to Iraq this next Thanksgiving.

SPACEDARK

AGN Headlie of the Day

The Panhandle Truth Squad would like to express our sympathy to William H. "Buddy" Seewald this morning. It's a unique pain to toil on an editorial for the Globe-News only to have the editors slap a misleading healdine on it.

One of Seewald's main points was that the political conventions-- from both sides of the aisle-- are not as suspenseful as they once were. The carefully-crafted pep rallies are neither substantive nor entertaining. Seewald did use the recent Democratic convention as an example, but his point was larger.

The AGN headlie turned this argument into a direct criticism of Democrats alone: "Dems' smooze-fest more like snooze-fest."

This has happened before.

Liberals who dare to write guest columns or letters to the editors of the Globe-News find themselves in a tempestous microcosm of the Republican panhandle. Do those of us panhandlian progressives who were raised Christian remember our Bible School? The story of Daniel in the Lions' Den?

SPACEDARK

Clarity and Truth From Geo. Bush

It's all over the rest of the blogs, so it might as well be here, too:

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.

All I have to add is that I've tried, ever since Geo. was governor, to figure out whether he was evil, stupid, or both. James Fallows recently tried to make the case in the The Atlantic Monthly that Geo. was actually "keenly intelligent," using as evidence some old tapes from his debates with Ann Richards:

The man on the debate platform looked and sounded smart and in control. If you had to guess which of the two candidates had won the debate scholarship to college and was about to win the governorship, you would choose Bush.

Fallows' evidence for this astounding claim doesn't really convince this old debater (He fluently stated that schools' mission should be "excellence"! He said he was against casino gambling and that he didn't want to elaborate! He refused to talk about his business failures!) and Fallows surely feels like a dupe today. This latest and greatest Bushism certainly gives the final lie to the theory that Bush is astutely pulling the wool over his enemies' eyes and forcing them to "misunderestimate" him. If there's a reason why Geo. comparing himself and his allies with Al Qaeda and directly stating that he's trying to harm America actually helps him, it certainly eludes me.

SPACEDARK

AGN follies

Can someone please explain to me the point of this unsigned column in the AGN today other than as an excuse to bash democrats?

These sentences stand out. . .

. . ."I'm not one to complain. I was just glad to be there," said Potter County Commissioner and delegate Iris Lawrence."

. . ."Lawrence was more concerned with why the delegates were there - to get the ball rolling for John Kerry."

So . . . the delegates had no prob with their hotel/seats, they were not complaining, and yet the Hometown Pravda News bravely made a mountain out of a molehill per the RNC.

So, will the Amarillo Republican News treat us to coverage of how the blue state delegates will be treated at the NY Republican Convention?

Not a chance.

And why would they? They are stenographers for the Republican Party who uses this crap as a talking point.

This is a 2 front war people. Democrats vs. The Rethugs AND THE media.

-Prodigal Son

But I'M Not Going There to Tell Them That

Mark Lazar informs us that "Iowa is hotter than a burning cornfield" and refers us to this article.

Alls I got to say is, Iowa created John Kerry. Fickle oblivious Iowans better the hell come out of their enclosed porches to vote for him come November. Or a burning cornfield will be the least of their problems.

SPACEDARK

Update: North Korea

Shrub is making us safer? No way.

Jane's Defense Weekly is reporting this week that Kim Jong-Il, the unstable North Korean dictator may be able to target California with sea-launched missiles. His know-how, Reuters relates, comes from 12 ex-Soviet submarines that fell into his hands. They came with their original launch tubes and stabilizing gear intact. Where does Kim get those wonderful toys?

According to U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency documents, they were furnished by Reverend Moon.* Yep the guy who owns the right wing rag Washington Times.

Robert Parry, a reporter who broke the Iran-Contra story, obtained these files through the Freedom of Information Act while writing his 2000 story, "Rev. Moon, North Korea and the Bushes," about Moon's gifts to the Communist regime. Read on, if you dare.

GOOD THING WE BLEW THE SHEEET OUTTA THEM 'RACKEEES . . .

-Prodigal Son

Alert! Alert!

The REAL chart. . .


Ok, I am swamped, but I gotta post on Bush's despicable use of our fear for politics. Lets's do it by the book. . . long post, sorry.

-Early July-The New Republic magazine reports that the Bushistas want a terrorist capture to disrupt the DNC convention

-July 29th (Day of Kerry's acceptance speech)Pakistan announces the capture of Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani

-500,000 protestors expected for RNC convention in NY

-August 1st Tom Ridge moves us to Orange alert in NY, NJ, etc. just prior to Rethug convention based on THREE YEAR OLD INFO.

-August 1st Tom Ridge also says, " . . . The kind of information available to us today is the result of the President's leadership in the war against terror."

-August 2nd, Laura Bush and the daughters hold a photo-op at the Citigroup Center in New York City on Monday, one of the target buildings, according to Ridge. Whaaaaa?

-August 3rd Tom Ridge says, "We don't do politics in the Department of Homeland Security"

Sure Tom . . .

Ok, the evidence? IN YOUR FACE REPUBS!

A report came out this July by the New Republic magazine and was titled 'July Surprise'. The report read, "This spring, the administration significantly increased its pressure on Pakistan to kill or capture Osama bin Laden, his deputy, Ayman Al Zawahiri, or the Taliban's Mullah Mohammed Omar, all of whom are believed to be hiding in the lawless tribal areas of Pakistan.

Read THIS paragraph: "A third source, an official who works under ISI's director, Lieutenant General Ehsan ul-Haq, informed TNR that the Pakistanis 'have been told at every level that apprehension or killing of HVTs (High Value Targets) before [the] election is [an] absolute must.' What's more, this source claims that Bush administration officials have told their Pakistani counterparts they have a date in mind for announcing this achievement: 'The last ten days of July deadline has been given repeatedly by visitors to Islamabad and during [ul-Haq's] meetings in Washington.'... But according to this ISI official, a White House aide told ul-Haq last spring that 'it would be best if the arrest or killing of [any] HVT were announced on twenty-six, twenty-seven, or twenty-eight July'--the first three days of the Democratic National Convention in Boston."


Get it? Shrub was not pushing pakistan last year or the year before to get those terrorist bastards, but THIS ELECTION YEAR.

Shrub is worried about all the light not being on him for the convention, so NY IS LOCKED DOWN.

Don't tell me this is not Fear for politics. And the next time Ridge blabs about Chimpsters "Leadership" during a politically induced alert, we should howl for his resignation.

. . . I'm all better now. Disgusted, but better. Your thoughts?

-Prodigal Son

Way Too Little, Far Too Late

It was a small aside in a larger unsigned editorial about the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission, but today the Amarillo Globe-News took us back to the heady days of May, 2003, when fifty-two Democrats walked out of the Texas House in a doomed attempt to keep the Republicans from abusing their power and gerrymandering the state to their own advantage. Today's editorial by the AGN points out that redistricting was

a partisan process that proved many lawmakers, at least among the Republican leadership, take the GOP-leaning Panhandle for granted.

Thanks, AGN. Woulda been even better if you coulda stood up for the Panhandle when it counted. Back then, you took the side of that Republican leadership. On May 14, 2003, you chortled over State Rep. David Swinford side-splitting comment that "it's a good thing those guys weren't at the Alamo." Heh. You also called the walkout "unacceptable." A day later, AGN editorial writer Dave Henry called the legislators "knuckleheads."

In recent months, as the electoral process has made clear just how much the Panhandle got screwed by the redistricting process, the Globe-News has cautiously begun to oppose redistricting. A bit too cautiously. The stand should have been taken when it could have made some difference.

SPACEDARK

Old news, new tricks

So how do the Repubs respond to a national convention that showcases a new politics of hope, help and unity?

With fear, of course. On Sunday, soon-to-be-outgoing Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge upped the stakes to "Orange", restricting Manhatten traffic, forcing police in NY, Wash, and NJ to ramp up security, and keeping old ladies in Newark glued to Fox News.

As Kerry widens the gap in many polls riding a post-convention bump, the message from the Bushistas is clear: "Don't you softies dare forget we're in a war right now."

The only problem with the latest whirl of the public safety color wheel —- IT'S BASED ON INFORMATION THAT'S OVER THREE YEARS OLD. That's straight from Ridge's mouth. Link.

Hmmm. Three years—-that's like, August 2001. Okay...targeting financial centers in NY and Washington. Again, sounds familiar.

Not to make too huge a leap in logic, but is this intel that could've prevented 9/11???

And is Ridge now admitting they've had it for over three years??

And now are they using that same intel for political gain?? To muddle the perspective of a nation that's trying to sort out, post-convention, what regime change at home would mean??

Either I'm uber-paranoid, or these guys are getting predictable. Whatta y'all think??

DustBowl Dem

Help PTS!

PTS needs your help with something catchy to
put on stickers, signs, etc.

Throw us some ideas in "comments":

Some in the mix already . . .

Spacedark suggestions:
TRUTH HURTS . . . if you're Bush
TRUTH HURTS . . . if you're Republican
TRUTH HURTS . . . if you're the Amarillo Media

Sara suggestions:
"war is profitable, invest yourself"
"i'm the holywar president"
a picture of spam with "bush" on the can

Dustbowl Dem Suggestions:
THE PANHANDLE TRUTH SQUAD: JUST LEFT OF AMARILLO
HONEST MEDIA. SCARED POLITICIANS.
PTS: FRESH AIR IN POLITICS
PTS: PROUD TEXANS. SCARED LIARS.
PTS: QUENCHING YOUR THIRST FOR TRUTH IN THE DESERT
THE TRUTH HURTS, BUT LIES DESTROY-PTS

Prodigal Son Suggestions:
"Thanks for all the money! -Halliburton (Sorry about your kids!)"
"Osama Bin Forgotten"
"Nobody Died When Clinton Lied" -Panhandle Truth Squad


How about yours?

-PTS

Day in the life: Joe Republican

Goin' out to all you Repubs in Denial !
-PTS

A Day in the life of Joe Republican:



From a post on Kos



Joe gets up at 6:00am to prepare his morning coffee. He fills his pot

full of good clean drinking water because some liberal fought for

minimum water quality standards. He takes his daily medication with his

first swallow of coffee. His medications are safe to take because some

liberal fought to insure their safety and work as advertised.

All but $10.00 of his medications are paid for by his employers medical

plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid

medical insurance, now Joe gets it too. He prepares his morning

breakfast, bacon and eggs this day. Joe's bacon is safe to eat because

some liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.

READ THE REST BY CLICKING "COMMENTS" BELOW