The Hamster

Posted by Eric at 11:59 PM | Comments (5)

Tied in Penn

Poll shows Bush and Kerry locked up in Pennsylvania:

Kerry had the backing of 44 percent, Bush 43 percent and independent candidate Ralph Nader 7 percent in the Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.

In May, Kerry had 44 percent and Bush 41 percent — a statistical tie. Bush had a slight lead in the state in April.

In a two-way matchup, Kerry leads Bush 49 percent to 43 percent in the state with 21 electoral votes.

Posted by Eric at 09:10 AM | Comments (16)

Tied in Penn

Poll shows Bush and Kerry locked up in Pennsylvania:

Kerry had the backing of 44 percent, Bush 43 percent and independent candidate Ralph Nader 7 percent in the Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.

In May, Kerry had 44 percent and Bush 41 percent — a statistical tie. Bush had a slight lead in the state in April.

In a two-way matchup, Kerry leads Bush 49 percent to 43 percent in the state with 21 electoral votes.

Posted by Eric at 09:10 AM | Comments (4)

Fahrenheit 9/11 Strong in 2 NYC Theaters

The two are showing early previews of the film, and doing well:

Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 has set house records at the two New York cinemas in which it opened on Wednesday.
It was sellout at all screenings, and is reported to have taken $49,000 at Loews Village 7 (a mainstream venue whose previous house record was for Men in Black), and $31,700 at Lincoln Plaza (an arthouse cinema where the film beat the record held by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).

Both places were showing the film on three screens. Tom Ortenberg, the president of one of the film's distributors, Lions Gate, told Variety that he was "thrilled" with the news, "particularly that the film is playing so well at the arthouse and the commercial theater."

Posted by Eric at 08:26 AM | Comments (5)

Fahrenheit 9/11 Strong in 2 NYC Theaters

The two are showing early previews of the film, and doing well:

Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 has set house records at the two New York cinemas in which it opened on Wednesday.
It was sellout at all screenings, and is reported to have taken $49,000 at Loews Village 7 (a mainstream venue whose previous house record was for Men in Black), and $31,700 at Lincoln Plaza (an arthouse cinema where the film beat the record held by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).

Both places were showing the film on three screens. Tom Ortenberg, the president of one of the film's distributors, Lions Gate, told Variety that he was "thrilled" with the news, "particularly that the film is playing so well at the arthouse and the commercial theater."

Posted by Eric at 08:26 AM | Comments (0)

400 Grand on First Day

Setting a nonfiction record:

Bill Clinton's autobiography, "My Life," sold more than 400,000 copies in the United States on Tuesday in its first day of release, the most ever for a nonfiction book and double the believed previous record holder, wife Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's "Living History."

The former president's publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, announced an additional printing of 725,000 copies, bringing the total to 2.25 million.

"My Life" is Amazon.com's best seller in the United States, England, France and Japan. The audiobook, read by Clinton, sold 35,000 copies in the United States, also a first-day record.

Posted by Eric at 06:38 AM | Comments (8)

400 Grand on First Day

Setting a nonfiction record:

Bill Clinton's autobiography, "My Life," sold more than 400,000 copies in the United States on Tuesday in its first day of release, the most ever for a nonfiction book and double the believed previous record holder, wife Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's "Living History."

The former president's publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, announced an additional printing of 725,000 copies, bringing the total to 2.25 million.

"My Life" is Amazon.com's best seller in the United States, England, France and Japan. The audiobook, read by Clinton, sold 35,000 copies in the United States, also a first-day record.

Posted by Eric at 06:38 AM | Comments (0)

No Audio for CNN = Ratings for MSNBC

That's right, dead audio for CNN gets just about the same ratings as an audio-powered MSNBC, reports the Washington Post:

Alightning strike at its Atlanta headquarters left CNN without audio for nearly half an hour Monday afternoon. And yet the cable news network managed to average nearly as many viewers as rival MSNBC in that time.

The outage occurred between 1:03 and 1:27 p.m., according to Nielsen Media Research's records. That was smack in the middle of a town-hall-style segment from Dubai called "The Arab Pulse," hosted by CNN's Jim Clancy and featuring prominent journalists in the Arab world discussing the Iraq conflict and the war on terrorism.

CNN continued to telecast the live segment without sound, putting a "technical difficulties" bug on the screen after the first commercial break.

After CNN lost audio, its audience plunged by nearly 300,000 viewers from the 420,000 who had been watching between 12:30 and 1 p.m., when the network was still offering the convenience of sound.

Still, from 1 to 1:30 p.m., CNN averaged 121,000 viewers; simultaneously, 139,000 people watched "MSNBC Live" with anchors Alison Stewart, Laurie Jennings and Sam Shane talking about former president Bill Clinton's autobiography, the South Korean then held hostage in Iraq, and the murder trial of Scott Peterson.

Posted by Eric at 02:54 AM | Comments (46)

No Audio for CNN = Ratings for MSNBC

That's right, dead audio for CNN gets just about the same ratings as an audio-powered MSNBC, reports the Washington Post:

Alightning strike at its Atlanta headquarters left CNN without audio for nearly half an hour Monday afternoon. And yet the cable news network managed to average nearly as many viewers as rival MSNBC in that time.

The outage occurred between 1:03 and 1:27 p.m., according to Nielsen Media Research's records. That was smack in the middle of a town-hall-style segment from Dubai called "The Arab Pulse," hosted by CNN's Jim Clancy and featuring prominent journalists in the Arab world discussing the Iraq conflict and the war on terrorism.

CNN continued to telecast the live segment without sound, putting a "technical difficulties" bug on the screen after the first commercial break.

After CNN lost audio, its audience plunged by nearly 300,000 viewers from the 420,000 who had been watching between 12:30 and 1 p.m., when the network was still offering the convenience of sound.

Still, from 1 to 1:30 p.m., CNN averaged 121,000 viewers; simultaneously, 139,000 people watched "MSNBC Live" with anchors Alison Stewart, Laurie Jennings and Sam Shane talking about former president Bill Clinton's autobiography, the South Korean then held hostage in Iraq, and the murder trial of Scott Peterson.

Posted by Eric at 02:54 AM | Comments (4)

FEC May Ban ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ Ads

Too political, the FEC may rule. The Hill:

In a draft advisory opinion placed on the FEC’s agenda for today’s meeting, the agency’s general counsel states that political documentary filmmakers may not air television or radio ads referring to federal candidates within 30 days of a primary election or 60 days of a general election.

The opinion is generated under the new McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law, which prohibits corporate-funded ads that identify a federal candidate before a primary or general election.

The proscription is broadly defined. Section 100.29 of the federal election regulations defines restricted corporate-funded ads as those that identify a candidate by his “name, nickname, photograph or drawing” or make it “otherwise apparent through an unambiguous reference.”

Posted by Eric at 02:01 AM | Comments (34)

FEC May Ban ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ Ads

Too political, the FEC may rule. The Hill:

In a draft advisory opinion placed on the FEC’s agenda for today’s meeting, the agency’s general counsel states that political documentary filmmakers may not air television or radio ads referring to federal candidates within 30 days of a primary election or 60 days of a general election.

The opinion is generated under the new McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law, which prohibits corporate-funded ads that identify a federal candidate before a primary or general election.

The proscription is broadly defined. Section 100.29 of the federal election regulations defines restricted corporate-funded ads as those that identify a candidate by his “name, nickname, photograph or drawing” or make it “otherwise apparent through an unambiguous reference.”

Posted by Eric at 02:01 AM | Comments (0)

Michael Savage on Clinton Book: "Mein Kampf"

More interesting rants from the former MSNBC commentator:

SAVAGE: So there it is -- you wanna read Mein Kampf, go read it -- I mean My Life, excuse me, I keep mixing up the two titles -- of Bill Clinton's and the other fella who ran Germany for awhile.

SAVAGE: [H]ave you gone out and bought Clinton's new book, Mein Kampf? ... [T]he English translation is My Life, but I suppose in German it's gonna be translated into Mein Kampf. It should be a big seller over there.

SAVAGE: In this hour we'll talk about all the topics that America really wants to talk about that the media's hiding. And it's not about Clinton's new book, My Battle -- excuse me, My Life ... and in German I think it translates I think into Mein Kampf, or does it? I'm not sure.

Posted by Eric at 01:56 AM | Comments (35)

Michael Savage on Clinton Book: "Mein Kampf"

More interesting rants from the former MSNBC commentator:

SAVAGE: So there it is -- you wanna read Mein Kampf, go read it -- I mean My Life, excuse me, I keep mixing up the two titles -- of Bill Clinton's and the other fella who ran Germany for awhile.

SAVAGE: [H]ave you gone out and bought Clinton's new book, Mein Kampf? ... [T]he English translation is My Life, but I suppose in German it's gonna be translated into Mein Kampf. It should be a big seller over there.

SAVAGE: In this hour we'll talk about all the topics that America really wants to talk about that the media's hiding. And it's not about Clinton's new book, My Battle -- excuse me, My Life ... and in German I think it translates I think into Mein Kampf, or does it? I'm not sure.

Posted by Eric at 01:56 AM | Comments (8)

Next Oil Stop: Great Barrier Reef

Australia "has increased tax concessions to encourage oil exploration in the far reaches of the Great Barrier Reef," reports Reuters:

The world-heritage listed Great Barrier Reef stretches 2,000km north to south along Australia's northeast coast and attracts nearly 2 million tourists a year.

Environmental groups warn an oil spill on the reef, unlike the Exxon Valdez leak in Alaska in 1989, could not be cleaned up or washed away because the oil would permeate the living coral.

"It's not like rocks. You can't walk around on it and sponge it up and soak it up. Once it's into that porous structure, that reef will be contaminated for decades," said James McLellan, coordinator for the Northern Queensland Conservation Council.

Prime Minister John Howard last week released a major energy policy, "Securing Australia's Energy Future," which identified four oil basins on the outer edge of the reef for exploration.

"Encouraging further exploration in these areas is in Australia's interest and is a high priority for government," the report said.

Posted by Eric at 01:10 AM | Comments (13)

Next Oil Stop: Great Barrier Reef

Australia "has increased tax concessions to encourage oil exploration in the far reaches of the Great Barrier Reef," reports Reuters:

The world-heritage listed Great Barrier Reef stretches 2,000km north to south along Australia's northeast coast and attracts nearly 2 million tourists a year.

Environmental groups warn an oil spill on the reef, unlike the Exxon Valdez leak in Alaska in 1989, could not be cleaned up or washed away because the oil would permeate the living coral.

"It's not like rocks. You can't walk around on it and sponge it up and soak it up. Once it's into that porous structure, that reef will be contaminated for decades," said James McLellan, coordinator for the Northern Queensland Conservation Council.

Prime Minister John Howard last week released a major energy policy, "Securing Australia's Energy Future," which identified four oil basins on the outer edge of the reef for exploration.

"Encouraging further exploration in these areas is in Australia's interest and is a high priority for government," the report said.

Posted by Eric at 01:10 AM | Comments (3)

Bloomberg Irks Republicans

With reelection next year in the Democratic city of New York, Mayor Bloomberg is stepping up criticisms of Republicans in Congress:

Until recently, Bloomberg had taken a low-key approach to the city's campaign for more homeland security funding. But the gloves came off when the mayor disinvited Bob Ney, R-Ohio, to a luncheon with wealthy New Yorkers expected to donate to Republicans.

The mayor was angered by lawmakers, including Ney, who voted 237-171 against an amendment that would have shifted about $450 million in anti-terror funding from rural areas to big cities like New York at high risk of attack. Voting against the measure were 147 Republicans, 89 Democrats and an independent.

The canceled lunch left a bad taste in the mouths of a number of politicos. And chief among them was Ney, who holds a key insider position in Washington as an official with the National Republican Congressional Committee, which helps elect Republicans to the House.

The mayor's remarks "crossed the line" by implying Ney wasn't taking the war on terrorism seriously," Ney said Wednesday.

Posted by Eric at 01:09 AM | Comments (45)

Bloomberg Irks Republicans

With reelection next year in the Democratic city of New York, Mayor Bloomberg is stepping up criticisms of Republicans in Congress:

Until recently, Bloomberg had taken a low-key approach to the city's campaign for more homeland security funding. But the gloves came off when the mayor disinvited Bob Ney, R-Ohio, to a luncheon with wealthy New Yorkers expected to donate to Republicans.

The mayor was angered by lawmakers, including Ney, who voted 237-171 against an amendment that would have shifted about $450 million in anti-terror funding from rural areas to big cities like New York at high risk of attack. Voting against the measure were 147 Republicans, 89 Democrats and an independent.

The canceled lunch left a bad taste in the mouths of a number of politicos. And chief among them was Ney, who holds a key insider position in Washington as an official with the National Republican Congressional Committee, which helps elect Republicans to the House.

The mayor's remarks "crossed the line" by implying Ney wasn't taking the war on terrorism seriously," Ney said Wednesday.

Posted by Eric at 01:09 AM | Comments (4)

John Kerry - Ronald Reagan '04

Now wouldn't that be interesting. Anyway, Ronald Reagan Jr. on Larry King Live:

REAGAN: Absolutely, a terrible mistake. Terrible foreign policy error. We didn't have to do it. It was optional. And we were lied to. The American public was lied to about WMD, the connection between Osama bin Laden and Saddam, which is virtually nonexistent except for fleeting contacts. But they're still trying to pull that one off now, Cheney and all are out there flogging that.

KING: Can I gather from that, that you will not support this president?

REAGAN: No, I won't.

KING: Will you support his opponent?

REAGAN: I will vote for whoever the viable candidate is who can defeat George W. Bush, yes.

KING: So, you might vote for Ralph Nader?

REAGAN: If he were a viable candidate I might.

KING: So the obviously you're going to vote -- what did you think your father would say, if he were here and listening to this?

REAGAN: I don't think he would have gone into Iraq. I think he would have been much more interested in going after Osama bin Laden, who after all planned the 9/11 transactions.

KING: Would he be mad at you for saying, I'm not going to vote for this Republican?

REAGAN: I can't imagine he would be. So long as I was telling the truth he'd be okay with that. And I am. So -- no, I don't think he'd be upset. Again, these are just my personal feelings you've asked, so I'll answer.

Posted by Eric at 01:04 AM | Comments (15)

John Kerry - Ronald Reagan '04

Now wouldn't that be interesting. Anyway, Ronald Reagan Jr. on Larry King Live:

REAGAN: Absolutely, a terrible mistake. Terrible foreign policy error. We didn't have to do it. It was optional. And we were lied to. The American public was lied to about WMD, the connection between Osama bin Laden and Saddam, which is virtually nonexistent except for fleeting contacts. But they're still trying to pull that one off now, Cheney and all are out there flogging that.

KING: Can I gather from that, that you will not support this president?

REAGAN: No, I won't.

KING: Will you support his opponent?

REAGAN: I will vote for whoever the viable candidate is who can defeat George W. Bush, yes.

KING: So, you might vote for Ralph Nader?

REAGAN: If he were a viable candidate I might.

KING: So the obviously you're going to vote -- what did you think your father would say, if he were here and listening to this?

REAGAN: I don't think he would have gone into Iraq. I think he would have been much more interested in going after Osama bin Laden, who after all planned the 9/11 transactions.

KING: Would he be mad at you for saying, I'm not going to vote for this Republican?

REAGAN: I can't imagine he would be. So long as I was telling the truth he'd be okay with that. And I am. So -- no, I don't think he'd be upset. Again, these are just my personal feelings you've asked, so I'll answer.

Posted by Eric at 01:04 AM | Comments (3)

Halliburton Copes with Fallout

From the Financial Times:

Halliburton is facing half a dozen official investigations into its conduct around the world, including allegations that it routinely overcharged the US government for services in Iraq. However, the Nigerian bribery case is the only one that includes a period when Mr Cheney was at the helm of the company.

US regulators and law enforcement officials are acutely aware of the political sensitivity of this case and have held several high-level meetings to determine how to proceed, people close to the investigation say.

The case seems doubly sensitive as it has been unearthed by a French investigating magistrate, Judge Renaud van Ruymbeke. He has been examining whether $180m (?149m, £99m) in commissions paid by the TSKJ consortium to its agent, Tri-Star, was used as bribes to win contracts worth billions of dollars to build a liquefied natural gas complex off the coast of Nigeria.

"We have no information. All we know is he's dead," Richard Zbryski said. "We have no information where or when or how or why he was killed, just that we have to bury him. The body was autopsied and was six days in a coffin but not embalmed. We don't know what condition the body is in."

"They sent us grief counselors, but nobody has any information of his final payment," Richard Zbryski said, referring to the $100,000 in life insurance benefits the family is owed. "According to the benefits, he was supposed to get $50,000. ... We were told Halliburton would cover the burial expenses, then we're told it has to come out of the $50,000. This is how Halliburton is treating their people they send over there to die."

He said he was told that the family would get an additional $50,000 in benefits, but not a penny has come in.

Posted by Eric at 12:57 AM | Comments (32)

Halliburton Copes with Fallout

From the Financial Times:

Halliburton is facing half a dozen official investigations into its conduct around the world, including allegations that it routinely overcharged the US government for services in Iraq. However, the Nigerian bribery case is the only one that includes a period when Mr Cheney was at the helm of the company.

US regulators and law enforcement officials are acutely aware of the political sensitivity of this case and have held several high-level meetings to determine how to proceed, people close to the investigation say.

The case seems doubly sensitive as it has been unearthed by a French investigating magistrate, Judge Renaud van Ruymbeke. He has been examining whether $180m (?149m, £99m) in commissions paid by the TSKJ consortium to its agent, Tri-Star, was used as bribes to win contracts worth billions of dollars to build a liquefied natural gas complex off the coast of Nigeria.

"We have no information. All we know is he's dead," Richard Zbryski said. "We have no information where or when or how or why he was killed, just that we have to bury him. The body was autopsied and was six days in a coffin but not embalmed. We don't know what condition the body is in."

"They sent us grief counselors, but nobody has any information of his final payment," Richard Zbryski said, referring to the $100,000 in life insurance benefits the family is owed. "According to the benefits, he was supposed to get $50,000. ... We were told Halliburton would cover the burial expenses, then we're told it has to come out of the $50,000. This is how Halliburton is treating their people they send over there to die."

He said he was told that the family would get an additional $50,000 in benefits, but not a penny has come in.

Posted by Eric at 12:57 AM | Comments (3)

June 23, 2004

Kerry Campaign Attacks Cheney re: Halliburton

In an email to supporters, Mary Beth Cahill, Campaign Manager for Kerry for President, sent talking points about Dick and Halliburton:

Vice President Dick Cheney was Halliburton's CEO from 1995-2000. In addition to providing him with a massive salary and bonus for just eight months of work in 2000, Halliburton's board of directors voted to give Cheney a $20 million retirement package when he resigned. Following his departure from Halliburton, Cheney retained possession of 433,333 options of Halliburton stock. [Washington Post, 9/26/03; Richard B. Cheney Personal Financial Disclosure, May 15, 2002; May 15, 2003; New York Times, 8/12/00; LA Times, 7/24/00; AP, 7/18/02]

For months, Cheney denied any involvement in Halliburton contracts. On "Meet the Press," he even said "...I have absolutely no influence of, involvement of, knowledge of in any way, shape or form of contracts..." [NBC News, "Meet the Press", 9/14/03]

Time Magazine recently reported on a smoking gun email between the Department of Defense and the Vice President's office showing that Cheney's office "coordinated" a multi-billion dollar, no-bid government contract for

Halliburton, his former employer. [Time, 5/30/04]
As an example of overspending, Halliburton billed the government for 36 percent more meals than were served. In all, Halliburton charged $186 million for meals that were never delivered. [Detroit Free Press, 6/16/04]

A Halliburton subsidiary was criticized for abandoning numerous $85,000 trucks with flat tires, housing company officials in a five-star Kuwaiti hotel, raising prices for gasoline deliveries in Iraq and ordering empty trucks to crisscross the country to run up the gas bills. [Detroit Free Press, 6/16/04]

Posted by Eric at 05:09 PM | Comments (12)

Kerry Campaign Attacks Cheney re: Halliburton

In an email to supporters, Mary Beth Cahill, Campaign Manager for Kerry for President, sent talking points about Dick and Halliburton:

Vice President Dick Cheney was Halliburton's CEO from 1995-2000. In addition to providing him with a massive salary and bonus for just eight months of work in 2000, Halliburton's board of directors voted to give Cheney a $20 million retirement package when he resigned. Following his departure from Halliburton, Cheney retained possession of 433,333 options of Halliburton stock. [Washington Post, 9/26/03; Richard B. Cheney Personal Financial Disclosure, May 15, 2002; May 15, 2003; New York Times, 8/12/00; LA Times, 7/24/00; AP, 7/18/02]

For months, Cheney denied any involvement in Halliburton contracts. On "Meet the Press," he even said "...I have absolutely no influence of, involvement of, knowledge of in any way, shape or form of contracts..." [NBC News, "Meet the Press", 9/14/03]

Time Magazine recently reported on a smoking gun email between the Department of Defense and the Vice President's office showing that Cheney's office "coordinated" a multi-billion dollar, no-bid government contract for

Halliburton, his former employer. [Time, 5/30/04]
As an example of overspending, Halliburton billed the government for 36 percent more meals than were served. In all, Halliburton charged $186 million for meals that were never delivered. [Detroit Free Press, 6/16/04]

A Halliburton subsidiary was criticized for abandoning numerous $85,000 trucks with flat tires, housing company officials in a five-star Kuwaiti hotel, raising prices for gasoline deliveries in Iraq and ordering empty trucks to crisscross the country to run up the gas bills. [Detroit Free Press, 6/16/04]

Posted by Eric at 05:09 PM | Comments (1)

FAIR: "Fox News Spins 9/11 Commission Report"

Among the evidence from the liberal watchdog group:

On Fox's Special Report newscast (6/16/04), anchor Brit Hume charged that the media were mischaracterizing the report: "The Associated Press leads off its story on a new 9/11 commission report by saying the document bluntly contradicts the Bush administration by claiming to have no credible evidence linking Saddam Hussein to the September 11 terrorist attacks." Hume maintained that the AP story was inaccurate: "In fact, the Bush administration has never said that such evidence exists."

In fact, it's Hume that is misrepresenting the AP story-- quoting from the story's lead, but then changing its meaning through an inaccurate paraphrase. The story actually begins: "Bluntly contradicting the Bush administration, the commission investigating the September 11 attacks reported Wednesday there was 'no credible evidence' that Saddam Hussein had ties with Al Qaeda."

Hume changed the allegation, from Hussein having ties with Al Qaeda to his having ties to the September 11 attacks, in order to knock it down, claiming that the Bush administration never linked Iraq to September 11. But that is not accurate either: Bush's letter to Congress formally announcing the commencement of hostilities against Iraq (3/18/03) explained that the use of force would be directed against "terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001." In his "Mission Accomplished" speech aboard the U.S.S. Lincoln (5/1/03), Bush declared that the invasion of Iraq had "removed an ally of Al Qaeda."

And during an interview on NBC's Meet the Press (9/14/03), when Vice President Dick Cheney was asked if he was "surprised" that so many Americans connected Iraq to the 9/11 attacks, Cheney responded:

"No. I think it's not surprising that people make that connection.... You and I talked about this two years ago. I can remember you asking me this question just a few days after the original attack. At the time I said no, we didn't have any evidence of that. We've learned a couple of things. We learned more and more that there was a relationship between Iraq and Al Qaeda that stretched back through most of the decade of the '90s, that it involved training, for example, on BW and CW [biological weapons and chemical weapons], that Al Qaeda sent personnel to Baghdad to get trained on the systems that are involved. The Iraqis providing bomb-making expertise and advice to the Al Qaeda organization."

Posted by Eric at 02:32 PM | Comments (28)

FAIR: "Fox News Spins 9/11 Commission Report"

Among the evidence from the liberal watchdog group:

On Fox's Special Report newscast (6/16/04), anchor Brit Hume charged that the media were mischaracterizing the report: "The Associated Press leads off its story on a new 9/11 commission report by saying the document bluntly contradicts the Bush administration by claiming to have no credible evidence linking Saddam Hussein to the September 11 terrorist attacks." Hume maintained that the AP story was inaccurate: "In fact, the Bush administration has never said that such evidence exists."

In fact, it's Hume that is misrepresenting the AP story-- quoting from the story's lead, but then changing its meaning through an inaccurate paraphrase. The story actually begins: "Bluntly contradicting the Bush administration, the commission investigating the September 11 attacks reported Wednesday there was 'no credible evidence' that Saddam Hussein had ties with Al Qaeda."

Hume changed the allegation, from Hussein having ties with Al Qaeda to his having ties to the September 11 attacks, in order to knock it down, claiming that the Bush administration never linked Iraq to September 11. But that is not accurate either: Bush's letter to Congress formally announcing the commencement of hostilities against Iraq (3/18/03) explained that the use of force would be directed against "terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001." In his "Mission Accomplished" speech aboard the U.S.S. Lincoln (5/1/03), Bush declared that the invasion of Iraq had "removed an ally of Al Qaeda."

And during an interview on NBC's Meet the Press (9/14/03), when Vice President Dick Cheney was asked if he was "surprised" that so many Americans connected Iraq to the 9/11 attacks, Cheney responded:

"No. I think it's not surprising that people make that connection.... You and I talked about this two years ago. I can remember you asking me this question just a few days after the original attack. At the time I said no, we didn't have any evidence of that. We've learned a couple of things. We learned more and more that there was a relationship between Iraq and Al Qaeda that stretched back through most of the decade of the '90s, that it involved training, for example, on BW and CW [biological weapons and chemical weapons], that Al Qaeda sent personnel to Baghdad to get trained on the systems that are involved. The Iraqis providing bomb-making expertise and advice to the Al Qaeda organization."

Posted by Eric at 02:32 PM | Comments (1)

Bill O'Reilly Compares Al Franken to Nazi, Then Lies About It

Link via Atrios, from CAP's Progress Report:

During his appearance last night on "the Factor," Bill O'Reilly asked John Podesta for "one example where I smeared somebody." Podesta noted that O'Reilly compared Al Franken to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels. O'Reilly – displaying his notorious command for the facts – denied it, saying "I did not refer to him [Al Franken] as Joseph Goebbels, that was Michael Moore." O'Reilly accused Podesta of misstating "what I said." Apparently, O'Reilly is having a little trouble with his short term memory. On his June 10 show, O'Reilly said "Joseph Goebbels was the Minister of Propaganda for the Nazi regime and whose very famous quote was, 'If you tell a lie long enough, it becomes the truth'...And that's what Stuart Smalley [O'Reilly refers to Al Franken as Stuart Smalley, Franken's played on Saturday Night Live], and Michael Moore and all of these guys do." E-mail Bill O'Reilly at oreilly@foxnews.com and tell him to correct the record on his show tonight lest he destroy the sanctity of the "No Spin Zone."

Posted by Eric at 02:23 PM | Comments (6)

Bill O'Reilly Compares Al Franken to Nazi, Then Lies About It

Link via Atrios, from CAP's Progress Report:

During his appearance last night on "the Factor," Bill O'Reilly asked John Podesta for "one example where I smeared somebody." Podesta noted that O'Reilly compared Al Franken to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels. O'Reilly – displaying his notorious command for the facts – denied it, saying "I did not refer to him [Al Franken] as Joseph Goebbels, that was Michael Moore." O'Reilly accused Podesta of misstating "what I said." Apparently, O'Reilly is having a little trouble with his short term memory. On his June 10 show, O'Reilly said "Joseph Goebbels was the Minister of Propaganda for the Nazi regime and whose very famous quote was, 'If you tell a lie long enough, it becomes the truth'...And that's what Stuart Smalley [O'Reilly refers to Al Franken as Stuart Smalley, Franken's played on Saturday Night Live], and Michael Moore and all of these guys do." E-mail Bill O'Reilly at oreilly@foxnews.com and tell him to correct the record on his show tonight lest he destroy the sanctity of the "No Spin Zone."

Posted by Eric at 02:23 PM | Comments (4)

Chicago Newspapers Slam Ryan

The Chicago Sun-Times says it's time for US Senate hopeful Jack Ryan to exit:

When we endorsed Ryan, we said he would "best represent the highest principles and traditions of the Republican Party." In light of his unprincipled behavior in handling this crisis -- which doesn't reflect well on how he would handle a crisis in office -- we can no longer say that. And it's safe to say that Ryan has alienated such staunch party figures as state Republican chairman Judy Baar Topinka, who is furious at Ryan for letting her think there was nothing embarrassing in the court papers -- if these revelations aren't embarrassing, what does he think is? -- and former Gov. Jim Edgar, who also was kept in the dark about the sex clubs. Ryan should now do the honorable thing, which is to step down from the nomination and let the party choose someone else to run against Democrat Barack Obama. The scandals of one Ryan, former Gov. George Ryan, have already damaged the political fortunes of the Republican Party; the GOP can do without this Ryan dragging it down further. And Illinois voters deserve a better choice in the November election for U.S. Senate.

More troubling--and more certain than the allegations in a divorce file-- is that Ryan was not honest with Republican primary voters, nor with party leaders who asked him, before the election, if his divorce records would embarrass him or the party. He said they would not.

In a statewide automated phone message put out by the Ryan campaign just before the election he encouraged voters to "ignore these false attacks" supposedly planted by GOP opponents.

Ryan assured people that he had released everything except for documents pertaining directly to his 9-year-old son. He said he wasn't trying to hide embarrassing information. "The only thing that we've kept sealed--meaning my ex-wife and I together--are those documents involving the custody of my son," Ryan was quoted as saying in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The allegations contained in the files released Monday have nothing to do with his son.

Posted by Eric at 02:05 PM | Comments (2)

Chicago Newspapers Slam Ryan

The Chicago Sun-Times says it's time for US Senate hopeful Jack Ryan to exit:

When we endorsed Ryan, we said he would "best represent the highest principles and traditions of the Republican Party." In light of his unprincipled behavior in handling this crisis -- which doesn't reflect well on how he would handle a crisis in office -- we can no longer say that. And it's safe to say that Ryan has alienated such staunch party figures as state Republican chairman Judy Baar Topinka, who is furious at Ryan for letting her think there was nothing embarrassing in the court papers -- if these revelations aren't embarrassing, what does he think is? -- and former Gov. Jim Edgar, who also was kept in the dark about the sex clubs. Ryan should now do the honorable thing, which is to step down from the nomination and let the party choose someone else to run against Democrat Barack Obama. The scandals of one Ryan, former Gov. George Ryan, have already damaged the political fortunes of the Republican Party; the GOP can do without this Ryan dragging it down further. And Illinois voters deserve a better choice in the November election for U.S. Senate.

More troubling--and more certain than the allegations in a divorce file-- is that Ryan was not honest with Republican primary voters, nor with party leaders who asked him, before the election, if his divorce records would embarrass him or the party. He said they would not.

In a statewide automated phone message put out by the Ryan campaign just before the election he encouraged voters to "ignore these false attacks" supposedly planted by GOP opponents.

Ryan assured people that he had released everything except for documents pertaining directly to his 9-year-old son. He said he wasn't trying to hide embarrassing information. "The only thing that we've kept sealed--meaning my ex-wife and I together--are those documents involving the custody of my son," Ryan was quoted as saying in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The allegations contained in the files released Monday have nothing to do with his son.

Posted by Eric at 02:05 PM | Comments (0)

Nader Rebukes Black Leaders; Stays Course

The Congressional Black Caucus asks Nader to quite race, Nader refuses:

Ralph Nader had a testy meeting Tuesday with black members of Congress and rejected their request that he quit the presidential race. At the same time, Arizona Democrats prepared to challenge Nader's qualifications to appear on that state's ballot as an independent candidate.
The developments reflect Democrats' increasing frustration with Nader and his potential to woo liberal votes away from John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

Shouts could be heard from inside the meeting with more than a dozen Congressional Black Caucus members, including Nader's voice, in what proved to be a rancorous session. One female shouted, "You can't win," to which Nader shot back an inaudible response.

"It became abundantly clear to us that this was about Ralph Nader and we were sorely disappointed," caucus chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md, said afterward. "If nothing else, we believe we've had an impact on his conscience. Now we pray he'll synchronize his conscience with his conduct."

Posted by Eric at 02:01 PM | Comments (43)

Nader Rebukes Black Leaders; Stays Course

The Congressional Black Caucus asks Nader to quite race, Nader refuses:

Ralph Nader had a testy meeting Tuesday with black members of Congress and rejected their request that he quit the presidential race. At the same time, Arizona Democrats prepared to challenge Nader's qualifications to appear on that state's ballot as an independent candidate.
The developments reflect Democrats' increasing frustration with Nader and his potential to woo liberal votes away from John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

Shouts could be heard from inside the meeting with more than a dozen Congressional Black Caucus members, including Nader's voice, in what proved to be a rancorous session. One female shouted, "You can't win," to which Nader shot back an inaudible response.

"It became abundantly clear to us that this was about Ralph Nader and we were sorely disappointed," caucus chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md, said afterward. "If nothing else, we believe we've had an impact on his conscience. Now we pray he'll synchronize his conscience with his conduct."

Posted by Eric at 02:01 PM | Comments (1)

Minorities, Gays: Bush Divides, Not Unites

No duh:

A majority of gays and racial minorities voted Democratic in 2000, according to interest groups and academics that track such trends. Bush could gain hundreds of thousands of votes in 2004 by making inroads among these groups if these voters think he has kept his promise.

Instead, some Hispanic, black and gay voters are disappointed with the president — but for different reasons — political scientists, minorities and gay groups say.

Bush appointed blacks to high-ranking positions, including Secretary of State Colin Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice. But he has done little else to reach out to black voters, said Ron Walters, a University of Maryland professor and expert on blacks in politics. Fewer than one of 10 blacks voted for Bush in 2000, exit polls and interest groups say.

Four years ago, about one of three Hispanics backed Bush, according to the National Council of La Raza, a nonpartisan organization that advocates improving Hispanic Americans' lives. But Bush may not increase support to his two-of-five-voter goal, said Clarissa Martinez, La Raza's voter mobilization director. Some Hispanics say Bush has not helped create many new jobs nor provided adequate money for his No Child Left Behind educational reforms. The economy and education are the most important issues for Hispanic voters the Republican Party heavily courts.

Posted by Eric at 01:54 PM | Comments (16)

Minorities, Gays: Bush Divides, Not Unites

No duh:

A majority of gays and racial minorities voted Democratic in 2000, according to interest groups and academics that track such trends. Bush could gain hundreds of thousands of votes in 2004 by making inroads among these groups if these voters think he has kept his promise.

Instead, some Hispanic, black and gay voters are disappointed with the president — but for different reasons — political scientists, minorities and gay groups say.

Bush appointed blacks to high-ranking positions, including Secretary of State Colin Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice. But he has done little else to reach out to black voters, said Ron Walters, a University of Maryland professor and expert on blacks in politics. Fewer than one of 10 blacks voted for Bush in 2000, exit polls and interest groups say.

Four years ago, about one of three Hispanics backed Bush, according to the National Council of La Raza, a nonpartisan organization that advocates improving Hispanic Americans' lives. But Bush may not increase support to his two-of-five-voter goal, said Clarissa Martinez, La Raza's voter mobilization director. Some Hispanics say Bush has not helped create many new jobs nor provided adequate money for his No Child Left Behind educational reforms. The economy and education are the most important issues for Hispanic voters the Republican Party heavily courts.

Posted by Eric at 01:54 PM | Comments (0)

Senior Intel Officer: Al Qaeda Will Attack US to Ensure Bush Victory

This was in The Guardian over the weekend, but it deserves a bump:

A senior US intelligence official is about to publish a bitter condemnation of America's counter-terrorism policy, arguing that the west is losing the war against al-Qaida and that an "avaricious, premeditated, unprovoked" war in Iraq has played into Osama bin Laden's hands.
Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror, due out next month, dismisses two of the most frequent boasts of the Bush administration: that Bin Laden and al-Qaida are "on the run" and that the Iraq invasion has made America safer.

In an interview with the Guardian the official, who writes as "Anonymous", described al-Qaida as a much more proficient and focused organisation than it was in 2001, and predicted that it would "inevitably" acquire weapons of mass destruction and try to use them ... Anonymous, who published an analysis of al-Qaida last year called Through Our Enemies' Eyes, thinks it quite possible that another devastating strike against the US could come during the election campaign, not with the intention of changing the administration, as was the case in the Madrid bombing, but of keeping the same one in place.

Imperial Hubris is the latest in a relentless stream of books attacking the administration in election year. Most of the earlier ones, however, were written by embittered former officials. This one is unprecedented in being the work of a serving official with nearly 20 years experience in counter-terrorism who is still part of the intelligence establishment.

The fact that he has been allowed to publish, albeit anonymously and without naming which agency he works for, may reflect the increasing frustration of senior intelligence officials at the course the administration has taken.

Peter Bergen, the author of two books on Bin Laden and al-Qaida, said: "His views represent an amped-up version of what is emerging as a consensus among intelligence counter-terrorist professionals."

Posted by Eric at 02:47 AM | Comments (26)

Senior Intel Officer: Al Qaeda Will Attack US to Ensure Bush Victory

This was in The Guardian over the weekend, but it deserves a bump:

A senior US intelligence official is about to publish a bitter condemnation of America's counter-terrorism policy, arguing that the west is losing the war against al-Qaida and that an "avaricious, premeditated, unprovoked" war in Iraq has played into Osama bin Laden's hands.
Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror, due out next month, dismisses two of the most frequent boasts of the Bush administration: that Bin Laden and al-Qaida are "on the run" and that the Iraq invasion has made America safer.

In an interview with the Guardian the official, who writes as "Anonymous", described al-Qaida as a much more proficient and focused organisation than it was in 2001, and predicted that it would "inevitably" acquire weapons of mass destruction and try to use them ... Anonymous, who published an analysis of al-Qaida last year called Through Our Enemies' Eyes, thinks it quite possible that another devastating strike against the US could come during the election campaign, not with the intention of changing the administration, as was the case in the Madrid bombing, but of keeping the same one in place.

Imperial Hubris is the latest in a relentless stream of books attacking the administration in election year. Most of the earlier ones, however, were written by embittered former officials. This one is unprecedented in being the work of a serving official with nearly 20 years experience in counter-terrorism who is still part of the intelligence establishment.

The fact that he has been allowed to publish, albeit anonymously and without naming which agency he works for, may reflect the increasing frustration of senior intelligence officials at the course the administration has taken.

Peter Bergen, the author of two books on Bin Laden and al-Qaida, said: "His views represent an amped-up version of what is emerging as a consensus among intelligence counter-terrorist professionals."

Posted by Eric at 02:47 AM | Comments (3)

Hooo Boy

No comment.

Posted by Eric at 02:30 AM | Comments (43)

Hooo Boy

No comment.

Posted by Eric at 02:30 AM | Comments (18)

11 States and 14 Environmental Groups File Brief Against Bush re: Global Warming

Earthjustice on the legal action:

A coalition including 11 states and 14 environmental groups today filed a brief in a case challenging the Bush administration's continued failure to confront global warming. The plaintiffs are targeting the Environmental Protection Agency's unprecedented ruling that summarily disavowed the agency's long-standing Clean Air Act authority to regulate global warming emissions. The states, cities, and groups challenged EPA's decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.

"EPA's policy reversal is a crude attempt by the Bush administration to tie its own hands, and then claim that it is powerless to address the critical issue of global warming," said David Bookbinder, Washington Legal Director for the Sierra Club.

On August 28, 2003, EPA officials reversed long-standing policy with an administrative ruling that denied authority to control heat-trapping emissions like carbon dioxide, claiming they do not meet the Clean Air Act definition of a "pollutant." The ruling came in response to a 1999 petition by the International Center for Technology Assessment, Greenpeace, and other environmental organizations asking the EPA to comply with the law, which requires the agency to protect Americans against all harmful pollutants, including emissions that damage the climate.

"The Bush administration tried to say yet again that it's not their job to fight global warming. In fact they have both the legal and moral responsibility to tackle global warming pollution," said Bookbinder.

Posted by Eric at 02:05 AM | Comments (40)

11 States and 14 Environmental Groups File Brief Against Bush re: Global Warming

Earthjustice on the legal action:

A coalition including 11 states and 14 environmental groups today filed a brief in a case challenging the Bush administration's continued failure to confront global warming. The plaintiffs are targeting the Environmental Protection Agency's unprecedented ruling that summarily disavowed the agency's long-standing Clean Air Act authority to regulate global warming emissions. The states, cities, and groups challenged EPA's decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.

"EPA's policy reversal is a crude attempt by the Bush administration to tie its own hands, and then claim that it is powerless to address the critical issue of global warming," said David Bookbinder, Washington Legal Director for the Sierra Club.

On August 28, 2003, EPA officials reversed long-standing policy with an administrative ruling that denied authority to control heat-trapping emissions like carbon dioxide, claiming they do not meet the Clean Air Act definition of a "pollutant." The ruling came in response to a 1999 petition by the International Center for Technology Assessment, Greenpeace, and other environmental organizations asking the EPA to comply with the law, which requires the agency to protect Americans against all harmful pollutants, including emissions that damage the climate.

"The Bush administration tried to say yet again that it's not their job to fight global warming. In fact they have both the legal and moral responsibility to tackle global warming pollution," said Bookbinder.

Posted by Eric at 02:05 AM | Comments (5)

June 22, 2004

Tuesday

Posted by Eric at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)

Hamster Numbers: Budget Cuts

Bush as another Reagan? The conservative AEI:

Table 1. How Many Departments' and Agencies' Budgets Have They Cut?

President and Term, Number of Budget Cuts

Johnson, 4 out 15
Nixon, 3 out 15
Carter, 5 out 15
Reagan 1, 8 out 15
Reagan 2, 10 out 15
Bush 41, 2 out 15
Clinton 1, 9 out 15
Clinton 2, 0 out 15
Bush 43, 0 out 15

Posted by Eric at 07:16 AM | Comments (223)

Hamster Numbers: Budget Cuts

Bush as another Reagan? The conservative AEI:

Table 1. How Many Departments' and Agencies' Budgets Have They Cut?

President and Term, Number of Budget Cuts

Johnson, 4 out 15
Nixon, 3 out 15
Carter, 5 out 15
Reagan 1, 8 out 15
Reagan 2, 10 out 15
Bush 41, 2 out 15
Clinton 1, 9 out 15
Clinton 2, 0 out 15
Bush 43, 0 out 15

Posted by Eric at 07:16 AM | Comments (3)

Moyers = Mao Zedong

Someone needs to stop this man. Media Matters with the good work again:

O'REILLY: Bill Moyers on PBS, he's -- hides behind the label of objectivity. He's about as objective as Mao Zedong, all right. I mean he's a Far-Left bomb-thrower who actually runs a foundation that funds left-wing organizations. I mean the guy's a joke. Get out of the news business, Bill.

Posted by Eric at 06:01 AM | Comments (22)

Moyers = Mao Zedong

Someone needs to stop this man. Media Matters with the good work again:

O'REILLY: Bill Moyers on PBS, he's -- hides behind the label of objectivity. He's about as objective as Mao Zedong, all right. I mean he's a Far-Left bomb-thrower who actually runs a foundation that funds left-wing organizations. I mean the guy's a joke. Get out of the news business, Bill.

Posted by Eric at 06:01 AM | Comments (3)

"America the Beautiful" Written by Gay Woman

Interesting factoid, considering the song has often been appropriated by red-blooded conservatives for conservative pursuits.

Posted by Eric at 05:09 AM | Comments (7)

"America the Beautiful" Written by Gay Woman

Interesting factoid, considering the song has often been appropriated by red-blooded conservatives for conservative pursuits.

Posted by Eric at 05:09 AM | Comments (0)

New Books: Gag Rule and Politics: Observations and Arguments

Penguin Books sent me two review copies of political interest books. The first, from Lewis Lapham, editor of Harper's, is a book extolling First Amendment freedoms and condemning the Bush administration's use of the Patriot Act, among other things. The cover describes Lapham's book as "an urgent new polemic about the stifling of the American public's capacity for meaningful dissent, the lifeblood of our democracy, at the hands of a government and media increasingly beholden only to the country's wealthy few."

Publishers Weekly says of the book:

Lapham, editor of Harper's, plays the role of a modern-day Tom Paine, propelling stinging criticisms and scathing indictments at the Bush administration and its supporters for what he claims are their bald-faced deceptions about the justifications for the war in Iraq and for establishing policies—especially the USA Patriot Act—he sees as aimed at silencing dissent about its policies and the war in Iraq. Lapham argues that the muting of dissenting voices has contributed to the erosion of democracy, because policy disagreements form the heart of a democratic republic. Most disturbing, says Lapham, is the complicity of the media in its support of the steady erosion of individual civil liberties in the name of national security. Lapham also levels forceful criticism at our educational system: "An inept and insolent bureaucracy armed with badly written textbooks instills in the class the attitudes of passivity, compliance, and boredom." This, charges Lapham (30 Satires; Theater of War; etc.), results in schools producing citizens who blindly accept the pronouncements of their leaders. The United States, he points out in a strong historical sketch, has a deep history of quashing dissent when politicians have raised alarms over perceived threats to the well-being of the country, most notably with the Sedition Act of 1798, the Espionage Act of 1917 and, he asserts, the Patriot Act. Lapham's compelling book reminds us that "democracy is an uproar, and if we mean to engage the argument about the course of the American future let us hope that it proves to be loud, disorderly, bitter and fierce."

The second, from Hendrik Hertzberg, Jimmy Carter's chief speechwriter, claims to break "down American politics into component parts-campaigns, debates, rhetoric, the media, wars (cultural, countercultural, and real), high crimes and misdemeanors, the right, and more-and draws the choicest, most telling pieces from his body of work to illuminate each, beginning each section with a new piece of writing framing the subject at hand."

The 512 pg book, as Publisher's Weekly notes, has "plenty of direct criticism of George W. Bush and his handling of the war on terror, in the context of Hertzberg's longstanding dissatisfaction with neoconservatives and self-appointed protectors of "Judeo-Christian" values."

Posted by Eric at 05:00 AM | Comments (10)

New Books: Gag Rule and Politics: Observations and Arguments

Penguin Books sent me two review copies of political interest books. The first, from Lewis Lapham, editor of Harper's, is a book extolling First Amendment freedoms and condemning the Bush administration's use of the Patriot Act, among other things. The cover describes Lapham's book as "an urgent new polemic about the stifling of the American public's capacity for meaningful dissent, the lifeblood of our democracy, at the hands of a government and media increasingly beholden only to the country's wealthy few."

Publishers Weekly says of the book:

Lapham, editor of Harper's, plays the role of a modern-day Tom Paine, propelling stinging criticisms and scathing indictments at the Bush administration and its supporters for what he claims are their bald-faced deceptions about the justifications for the war in Iraq and for establishing policies—especially the USA Patriot Act—he sees as aimed at silencing dissent about its policies and the war in Iraq. Lapham argues that the muting of dissenting voices has contributed to the erosion of democracy, because policy disagreements form the heart of a democratic republic. Most disturbing, says Lapham, is the complicity of the media in its support of the steady erosion of individual civil liberties in the name of national security. Lapham also levels forceful criticism at our educational system: "An inept and insolent bureaucracy armed with badly written textbooks instills in the class the attitudes of passivity, compliance, and boredom." This, charges Lapham (30 Satires; Theater of War; etc.), results in schools producing citizens who blindly accept the pronouncements of their leaders. The United States, he points out in a strong historical sketch, has a deep history of quashing dissent when politicians have raised alarms over perceived threats to the well-being of the country, most notably with the Sedition Act of 1798, the Espionage Act of 1917 and, he asserts, the Patriot Act. Lapham's compelling book reminds us that "democracy is an uproar, and if we mean to engage the argument about the course of the American future let us hope that it proves to be loud, disorderly, bitter and fierce."

The second, from Hendrik Hertzberg, Jimmy Carter's chief speechwriter, claims to break "down American politics into component parts-campaigns, debates, rhetoric, the media, wars (cultural, countercultural, and real), high crimes and misdemeanors, the right, and more-and draws the choicest, most telling pieces from his body of work to illuminate each, beginning each section with a new piece of writing framing the subject at hand."

The 512 pg book, as Publisher's Weekly notes, has "plenty of direct criticism of George W. Bush and his handling of the war on terror, in the context of Hertzberg's longstanding dissatisfaction with neoconservatives and self-appointed protectors of "Judeo-Christian" values."

Posted by Eric at 05:00 AM | Comments (2)

Poll: 95 percent of African Americans Feel Country Headed in Wrong Direction

According to poll commissioned by Mother Jones.

Ordinarily, as a challenger, your first job would be to get the voters inflamed about the way they've fared under the incumbent. According to the Mother Jones poll, you can dispense with this step. The voters are plenty angry. Sixty-two percent of Americans feel that the country is headed in the wrong direction. Among single Americans, that number is 73 percent. And among African-Americans, it's an astonishing 95 percent.

Indeed, the poll shows the country edging past anger into rage, or benumbed hopelessness. Sixty-four percent of Americans see the country as more divided than ever before, and only 18 percent expect that divide to lessen in the years ahead. Among those few optimists, the largest bloc think things have got to get better — because there's no way they could get any worse!

Posted by Eric at 04:40 AM | Comments (3)

Poll: 95 percent of African Americans Feel Country Headed in Wrong Direction

According to poll commissioned by Mother Jones.

Ordinarily, as a challenger, your first job would be to get the voters inflamed about the way they've fared under the incumbent. According to the Mother Jones poll, you can dispense with this step. The voters are plenty angry. Sixty-two percent of Americans feel that the country is headed in the wrong direction. Among single Americans, that number is 73 percent. And among African-Americans, it's an astonishing 95 percent.

Indeed, the poll shows the country edging past anger into rage, or benumbed hopelessness. Sixty-four percent of Americans see the country as more divided than ever before, and only 18 percent expect that divide to lessen in the years ahead. Among those few optimists, the largest bloc think things have got to get better — because there's no way they could get any worse!

Posted by Eric at 04:40 AM | Comments (1)

Find a F 9-11 Theater Near You

Go to F911tix.com and find a theater near you for the 6/25/04 opening.

Posted by Eric at 03:56 AM | Comments (4)

Find a F 9-11 Theater Near You

Go to F911tix.com and find a theater near you for the 6/25/04 opening.

Posted by Eric at 03:56 AM | Comments (0)

Quotable Quotes: Ronald Reagan Jr.

"What's his accomplishment? That he's no longer an obnoxious drunk?" Ronald Reagan Jr. on George W. Bush in 2000.

"The Bush people have no right to speak for my father, particularly because of the position he's in now. Yes, some of the current policies are an extension of the '80s. But the overall thrust of this administration is not my father's -- these people are overly reaching, overly aggressive, overly secretive, and just plain corrupt. I don't trust these people." Ronald Reagan Jr. to Salon in 2003.

Posted by Eric at 02:09 AM | Comments (8)

Quotable Quotes: Ronald Reagan Jr.

"What's his accomplishment? That he's no longer an obnoxious drunk?" Ronald Reagan Jr. on George W. Bush in 2000.

"The Bush people have no right to speak for my father, particularly because of the position he's in now. Yes, some of the current policies are an extension of the '80s. But the overall thrust of this administration is not my father's -- these people are overly reaching, overly aggressive, overly secretive, and just plain corrupt. I don't trust these people." Ronald Reagan Jr. to Salon in 2003.

Posted by Eric at 02:09 AM | Comments (6)

Poll: Majority Want Stricter Gun Control

However, gun control "is not likely to be much of an issue" in the 2004 elections. From a Harris poll:

* A modest 52% majority favors stricter gun control, with 22% wanting
less strict control and 20% wanting no change.

* A slightly larger 57% majority favors stricter laws relating to the
control of handguns, with 18% favoring less strict laws and 19% wanting
no change.

* By 29% to 25% a modest plurality thinks President George Bush would be
better on the gun control issue than Senator John Kerry, but 22% see no
difference, and 24% are not sure.

* Small and equal proportions (23%) prefer a Republican-controlled and a
Democratically-controlled Congress on the gun control issue. Most
people see no difference (31%) or are not sure (24%).

Posted by Eric at 12:58 AM | Comments (0)

Poll: Majority Want Stricter Gun Control

However, gun control "is not likely to be much of an issue" in the 2004 elections. From a Harris poll:

* A modest 52% majority favors stricter gun control, with 22% wanting
less strict control and 20% wanting no change.

* A slightly larger 57% majority favors stricter laws relating to the
control of handguns, with 18% favoring less strict laws and 19% wanting
no change.

* By 29% to 25% a modest plurality thinks President George Bush would be
better on the gun control issue than Senator John Kerry, but 22% see no
difference, and 24% are not sure.

* Small and equal proportions (23%) prefer a Republican-controlled and a
Democratically-controlled Congress on the gun control issue. Most
people see no difference (31%) or are not sure (24%).

Posted by Eric at 12:58 AM | Comments (0)

Shell Boss on Environment: "really very worried for the planet"

Geeez, when the head of one of the largest oil companies starts to worry about global warming, you'd think it's about time our president show some concern. From The Guardian:

In an interview in today's Guardian Life section, Ron Oxburgh, chairman of Shell, says we urgently need to capture emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, which scientists think contribute to global warming, and store them underground - a technique called carbon sequestration.

"Sequestration is difficult, but if we don't have sequestration then I see very little hope for the world," said Lord Oxburgh. "No one can be comfortable at the prospect of continuing to pump out the amounts of carbon dioxide that we are pumping out at present ... with consequences that we really can't predict but are probably not good."

His comments will enrage many in the oil industry, which is targeted by climate change campaigners because the use of its products spews out huge quantities of carbon dioxide, most visibly from vehicle exhausts.

Posted by Eric at 12:52 AM | Comments (39)

Shell Boss on Environment: "really very worried for the planet"

Geeez, when the head of one of the largest oil companies starts to worry about global warming, you'd think it's about time our president show some concern. From The Guardian:

In an interview in today's Guardian Life section, Ron Oxburgh, chairman of Shell, says we urgently need to capture emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, which scientists think contribute to global warming, and store them underground - a technique called carbon sequestration.

"Sequestration is difficult, but if we don't have sequestration then I see very little hope for the world," said Lord Oxburgh. "No one can be comfortable at the prospect of continuing to pump out the amounts of carbon dioxide that we are pumping out at present ... with consequences that we really can't predict but are probably not good."

His comments will enrage many in the oil industry, which is targeted by climate change campaigners because the use of its products spews out huge quantities of carbon dioxide, most visibly from vehicle exhausts.

Posted by Eric at 12:52 AM | Comments (0)

Whole Bunch O' Sean Hannity Lies

Yes, Virginia, Sean Hannity lies.

O'Franken Factor blog with lies about Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich.

The Center for American Progress with Hannity lies, such as this one:

HANNITY: "It doesn't say anywhere in the Constitution this idea of the separation of church and state." (8/25/03)

FACT: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." (1st Amendment)

"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." (Article VI)

COLMES: But look, I have my differences with conservatives. I'm not going to call them liars, but I mean, I do believe they have done a better job in many respects using the media, on talk radio for example.

Posted by Eric at 12:48 AM | Comments (30)

Whole Bunch O' Sean Hannity Lies

Yes, Virginia, Sean Hannity lies.

O'Franken Factor blog with lies about Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich.

The Center for American Progress with Hannity lies, such as this one:

HANNITY: "It doesn't say anywhere in the Constitution this idea of the separation of church and state." (8/25/03)

FACT: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." (1st Amendment)

"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." (Article VI)

COLMES: But look, I have my differences with conservatives. I'm not going to call them liars, but I mean, I do believe they have done a better job in many respects using the media, on talk radio for example.

Posted by Eric at 12:48 AM | Comments (5)

June 16, 2004

More O'Reilly Lies?

Oh geez, when do they ever stop? Lloyd Grove:

Give Fox News Channel star Bill O'Reilly credit for even attending Monday night's lefty celeb-glutted premiere of Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" - even if he walked out of the 110-minute Bush-bashing movie halfway through ...

"Don't you want to stay and watch the whole film?" the director demanded.

A Lowdown spy reports that O'Reilly blushed, shook Moore's hand and muttered something about having to "tape something," and then slunk off into the night.

But "The O'Reilly Factor" tapes in the afternoon, hours before it airs at 8 and 11 p.m. - and well before Monday night's premiere.

Moore - who didn't return Lowdown's call for comment - was apparently skeptical. When his wife, Kathleen Glynn, came inside the theater a moment later, the filmmaker excitedly repeated O'Reilly's alibi in a scoffing tone.

Yesterday, a Fox News spokesman explained: "The movie started 40 minutes late, and Bill had a previous commitment to go to."

The flack added that O'Reilly was simply confirming Moore's booking on his Fox News show next week and that O'Reilly had already asked "Fahrenheit 9/11" producer Harvey Weinstein's office for a screener.

Again, problematic: A source close to the movie says no videotapes are being given out to anyone under any circumstances.

Posted by Eric at 06:00 PM | Comments (7)

More O'Reilly Lies?

Oh geez, when do they ever stop? Lloyd Grove:

Give Fox News Channel star Bill O'Reilly credit for even attending Monday night's lefty celeb-glutted premiere of Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" - even if he walked out of the 110-minute Bush-bashing movie halfway through ...

"Don't you want to stay and watch the whole film?" the director demanded.

A Lowdown spy reports that O'Reilly blushed, shook Moore's hand and muttered something about having to "tape something," and then slunk off into the night.

But "The O'Reilly Factor" tapes in the afternoon, hours before it airs at 8 and 11 p.m. - and well before Monday night's premiere.

Moore - who didn't return Lowdown's call for comment - was apparently skeptical. When his wife, Kathleen Glynn, came inside the theater a moment later, the filmmaker excitedly repeated O'Reilly's alibi in a scoffing tone.

Yesterday, a Fox News spokesman explained: "The movie started 40 minutes late, and Bill had a previous commitment to go to."

The flack added that O'Reilly was simply confirming Moore's booking on his Fox News show next week and that O'Reilly had already asked "Fahrenheit 9/11" producer Harvey Weinstein's office for a screener.

Again, problematic: A source close to the movie says no videotapes are being given out to anyone under any circumstances.

Posted by Eric at 06:00 PM | Comments (0)

New Bush Book: Bush Must Go!

The cliffs-notes list, from BillPress.com:

Reason #1 –-The War In Iraq: He Misled Our Nation Into War

Reason #2 – The War on Terror: He Made Us Less Safe from Terrorism

Reason #3 – Jobs: He Put 3 Million Americans Out of Work

Reason #4 – The Deficit: He Spent Money Like a Drunken Sailor

Reason #5 – The Patriot Act: He Undermined Our Most Basic Freedoms

Reason #6 – Crony Capitalism: He Sold America Out to Special Interests

Reason #7 – Foreign Policy: He Ruined America’s Standing in the World

Reason #8 – The Environment: He’s the Worst President Ever

Reason #9 – Broken Promises: He’s a Divider, Not a Uniter

Reason #10 – The Credibility Gap: He Never Tells the Truth

Bonus Reason – Florida: He Stole the 2000 Election

And why you shouldn't buy the book! From this astute Amazon.com reviewer:

zero stars, June 16, 2004
Reviewer: A reader from Raleigh, NC
I'd give this a zero star rating if possible. The books is full of lies. I hope the author is sued for slander. I suggest that readers view Fox News for a more objective picture and some facts.

Posted by Eric at 05:41 PM | Comments (39)

New Bush Book: Bush Must Go!

The cliffs-notes list, from BillPress.com:

Reason #1 –-The War In Iraq: He Misled Our Nation Into War

Reason #2 – The War on Terror: He Made Us Less Safe from Terrorism

Reason #3 – Jobs: He Put 3 Million Americans Out of Work

Reason #4 – The Deficit: He Spent Money Like a Drunken Sailor

Reason #5 – The Patriot Act: He Undermined Our Most Basic Freedoms

Reason #6 – Crony Capitalism: He Sold America Out to Special Interests

Reason #7 – Foreign Policy: He Ruined America’s Standing in the World

Reason #8 – The Environment: He’s the Worst President Ever

Reason #9 – Broken Promises: He’s a Divider, Not a Uniter

Reason #10 – The Credibility Gap: He Never Tells the Truth

Bonus Reason – Florida: He Stole the 2000 Election

And why you shouldn't buy the book! From this astute Amazon.com reviewer:

zero stars, June 16, 2004
Reviewer: A reader from Raleigh, NC
I'd give this a zero star rating if possible. The books is full of lies. I hope the author is sued for slander. I suggest that readers view Fox News for a more objective picture and some facts.

Posted by Eric at 05:41 PM | Comments (2)

House Conservatives Pick Races

In the DC paper The Hill, the right-wing of the GOP is pushing funds to many fiscal conservatives:

House conservatives want to focus their financial support initially on Senate races in four states: Colorado, where former House conservative Bob Schaffer is squaring off against beer scion Pete Coors in a Republican primary; South Carolina, where Rep. Jim DeMint (R), a Republican Study Committee member, is facing former Gov. David Beasley (R); Oklahoma, where former Rep. Tom Coburn (R), a one-time leading House conservative who clashed often with his leadership, is running against two Republicans; and Louisiana, where Rep. David Vitter is the only Republican in an open primary.

More than 20 House conservatives met recently at the Hunan Dynasty on Capitol Hill to discuss how to put some conservative backbone into the Senate, among other political and legislative priorities. Many of them believe that Republican centrists in the Senate are as much to blame as Democrats for their policy frustrations.

For example, centrist GOP Sens. Olympia Snowe (Maine), Susan Collins (Maine), Lincoln Chafee (R.I.) and John McCain (Ariz.) have infuriated many of the House conservatives by insisting that budgetary limits be applied to tax cuts, stalling progress on a joint budget resolution.

As a result of that and other factors, House conservatives have decided to start giving more financial help to fellow conservatives locked in contentious Republican primaries.

Posted by Eric at 02:19 PM | Comments (0)

House Conservatives Pick Races

In the DC paper The Hill, the right-wing of the GOP is pushing funds to many fiscal conservatives:

House conservatives want to focus their financial support initially on Senate races in four states: Colorado, where former House conservative Bob Schaffer is squaring off against beer scion Pete Coors in a Republican primary; South Carolina, where Rep. Jim DeMint (R), a Republican Study Committee member, is facing former Gov. David Beasley (R); Oklahoma, where former Rep. Tom Coburn (R), a one-time leading House conservative who clashed often with his leadership, is running against two Republicans; and Louisiana, where Rep. David Vitter is the only Republican in an open primary.

More than 20 House conservatives met recently at the Hunan Dynasty on Capitol Hill to discuss how to put some conservative backbone into the Senate, among other political and legislative priorities. Many of them believe that Republican centrists in the Senate are as much to blame as Democrats for their policy frustrations.

For example, centrist GOP Sens. Olympia Snowe (Maine), Susan Collins (Maine), Lincoln Chafee (R.I.) and John McCain (Ariz.) have infuriated many of the House conservatives by insisting that budgetary limits be applied to tax cuts, stalling progress on a joint budget resolution.

As a result of that and other factors, House conservatives have decided to start giving more financial help to fellow conservatives locked in contentious Republican primaries.

Posted by Eric at 02:19 PM | Comments (0)

Claim: Delay Accepts Bacardi Bribe

U.S. Rep. Chris Bell, D-Houston has accused Rep. Tom Delay of accepting a $20,000 contribution to his PAC in exchange for favors to benefit the liquor company, reports the Houston Chronicle:

The allegation is part of a wide-ranging ethics complaint that Bell, whose congressional district borders DeLay's, filed Tuesday. As first reported in Monday's Houston Chronicle, Bell is asking the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to investigate claims that DeLay, a Republican, engaged in extortion, bribery and abuse of power in separate incidents during the last two years.

Bell's decision to proceed against DeLay pushed a simmering Texas political feud onto center stage this week on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers for seven years have observed an unofficial truce in filing such complaints against each other.

DeLay denied all of the allegations in Bell's ethics complaint, which he described as the work of a disgruntled partisan.

Posted by Eric at 02:08 PM | Comments (1)

Claim: Delay Accepts Bacardi Bribe

U.S. Rep. Chris Bell, D-Houston has accused Rep. Tom Delay of accepting a $20,000 contribution to his PAC in exchange for favors to benefit the liquor company, reports the Houston Chronicle:

The allegation is part of a wide-ranging ethics complaint that Bell, whose congressional district borders DeLay's, filed Tuesday. As first reported in Monday's Houston Chronicle, Bell is asking the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to investigate claims that DeLay, a Republican, engaged in extortion, bribery and abuse of power in separate incidents during the last two years.

Bell's decision to proceed against DeLay pushed a simmering Texas political feud onto center stage this week on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers for seven years have observed an unofficial truce in filing such complaints against each other.

DeLay denied all of the allegations in Bell's ethics complaint, which he described as the work of a disgruntled partisan.

Posted by Eric at 02:08 PM | Comments (0)

Ad Claim: Bush and Reagan Similar

At least, according to a new ad from Club for Growth, which "aligns [Reagan] with President Bush and criticizes Democratic presidential candidate John Kerr."

Posted by Eric at 02:04 PM | Comments (2)

Ad Claim: Bush and Reagan Similar

At least, according to a new ad from Club for Growth, which "aligns [Reagan] with President Bush and criticizes Democratic presidential candidate John Kerr."

Posted by Eric at 02:04 PM | Comments (1)

Fox Tops in Reagan Coverage

The Fox News Channel had the better ratings of the cable nets, reports CableNewser:

Reagan: FOX's Coverage Was The #1 Basic Cable Program Last Week
FOX's coverage of Reagan's Farewell ranks atop the list of basic cable programs for the week of June 7. FOX's coverage between 10 and 11pm on Friday was the #1 show -- it even beat the 2004 MTV Movie Awards (a 4.7 for FOX vs. a 4.6 for MTV). Other segments of FOX's coverage ranks as the #3 and #4 rated shows. (The shows even beat Spongebob and WWE.) All in all, the coverage accounted for 5 out of the top 10 (and 7 out of the top 20) programs during the week. 12:35:57 AM

Posted by Eric at 01:35 AM | Comments (6)

Fox Tops in Reagan Coverage

The Fox News Channel had the better ratings of the cable nets, reports CableNewser:

Reagan: FOX's Coverage Was The #1 Basic Cable Program Last Week
FOX's coverage of Reagan's Farewell ranks atop the list of basic cable programs for the week of June 7. FOX's coverage between 10 and 11pm on Friday was the #1 show -- it even beat the 2004 MTV Movie Awards (a 4.7 for FOX vs. a 4.6 for MTV). Other segments of FOX's coverage ranks as the #3 and #4 rated shows. (The shows even beat Spongebob and WWE.) All in all, the coverage accounted for 5 out of the top 10 (and 7 out of the top 20) programs during the week. 12:35:57 AM

Posted by Eric at 01:35 AM | Comments (0)

Hamster Numbers: Hooters

Posted by Eric at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)

The Boss Attacks the Prez

The American icon Bruce Springsteen, on his website, has posted Al Gore's NYU speech.

During his past concerts, Bruce promoted Al Franken's newest book and occasionally attacked Bush. Also this:

Aside from a few private benefit performances, Springsteen has been quiet since ending his world tour with the E Street Band in support of his 2002 Columbia album "The Rising." Although rumors of new studio work have yielded little concrete information, there is a possibility that the Boss may make a loud statement when the Republican National Convention gets underway in New York at the end of the summer.

The New York Daily News reported in May that Springsteen may play a free concert somewhere in the city on Sept. 2, the day Bush is due to address the convention and accept the Republican nomination for a second term as President. A representative for the Springsteen disavowed knowledge of any performance