Bush. Reads. A. Lot.

I don't buy Bush's story that he read 60 books this year. (So far.) Brian Williams asks Bush about this. I still have a heard time believing Bush reads French writers and Shakespeare. Note Bush doesn't answer Williams "backstory" question.



60 books?!? A well-read retiree would have a hard time keeping that pace.

Tampa Gold: Candidate Valhalla

Let's play the trivia game Jeopardy.

Answer: Candidates who have no chance of winning.

Question: What politicians did interviews with Tampa Gold?

The Scott Farrell interview, with the phone ringing in the background, has a Rod Smith helicopter vibe to it. The Brian Becker video leaves you wondering why he is not facing the camera while talking. Who exactly is he facing? Becker speaking skills makes Joe Lieberman sound like Bill Clinton. I dare people to listen his nearly five minutes of droning. If you don't know who Becker is you don't need to. He's a Green Party candidate. He received a 52 cent donation from PayPal. That is the lowest contribution I've seen a candidate receive this cycle.

Bart Birdsall actually can speak, but why is he running for the school board on a pro-yoga platform? Birdsall is openly gay. Which means voters will be too scared to put him on the school board. Thank you, Ronda Storms.

Willis K.C. Bowick is a black Republican running for the Florida House of Representatives. He says he has passion. He looks like he needs a nap. Bowick has a campaign website with his stance on the issue that doesn't give his stance on the issues.

Dorothy Admire comes off as a polished speaker. She has no campaign website and has raised zero dollars.

Last is the candidate with no chance in hell of winning. Yes, people. I'm talking about Joe Redner. Redner's Division of Election finance reports states he has not received a single donation. Not that he needs the money to run his campaign. Redner has the money to buy TV ads. Why doesn't he if he's serious? He could even use the chair-throwing incident in the commercial.

Rod Smith's Sugar Daddy Makes Blunder

The US Sugar-sponsored ad for Rod Smith seems to be backfiring. The ad attacked Jim Davis for voting against paying compensation to the wrongfully convicted Freddie Pitts and Wilbert Lee. Both men are black and spent 9 years on death row. What the ad states is true and Freddie Pitts still has misgivings about Davis's vote. Pitts is more angered about the radio ad using an actor saying quotes he gave. Many are under the impression that Pitts did the radio spot.

"The thing is I'm not that found of either one," Pitts said on Jim DeFede's radio show (audio link).

Democrats should take Rod Smith to task for making race a wedge issue. That doesn't let Jim Davis off the hook. Why did he not want Pitts and Lee to have compensation? It's a fair question.

Area 51 Loves Cheap Labor

It looks like there really are aliens at Roswell.

ROSWELL, N.M. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents today arrested 15 illegal aliens who were working for a local company here that is under contract to paint U.S. military aircraft, including Lockheed C-130 military aircraft.

Some of the aliens were in the process of painting these aircraft when they were arrested.

I always believed the immigration fuss was all election year politics. Businesses love cheap labor and politicians love those campaign donations from businesses. I expect border security to be operated with the same level of incompetence in 2007.

Meet Mr. Bob

Tampa has a local running for Governor. Yes, folks. Meet Mr. Bob.

I did some Googling and Mr. Bob is also known as Robert Wirengard. He ran for Congress and lost. He wishes to end federal income taxes and abolish minimum wage. Bob feels the latter drives jobs out of the country. I wrote before about how employment went up with minimum wage increases. In fact, low labor wages, keeps Americans away from farm and labor jobs. Unskilled migrant workers take these positions. How many people do you know want to pick oranges for 12 hours in the Florida heat for shitty pay. I did it for one day once (when I was 20) and it's a bitch.

Bob also believes in a flat tax and gay marriage. Short answer: he is a libertarian.

Gay Rights & Florida Politics

Pam Spalding is wondering if Charlie Crist and Tom Gallagher are battling to see who can be the biggest homophobic. They both have a long way to go before they sink to Ronda "Ban Gay Pride" Storms level. Floridians need to understand that the anti-gay campaigning makes the state into a laughing stock. The 2000 elections were bad enough.

I held back on this from this article. (I really don't want to know the sex lives of candidates.) If Tom Gallagher wants to keep pretending he is a social conservative then I'm more than happy to tell people he sure doesn't practice what he preaches. Journalist John Sugg can tell you so from his encounters with Gallagher.

Gallagher then proceeded to tell me, in great detail, of his recent escapades with women. He'd broken up with his first wife, and his Grove home was party central. Gallagher's stories were disturbing -- not that I'm a prude, God forbid.

After Gallagher made several references to adventures he implied I was knowledgeable about, but which I couldn't possibly have been, I asked: "Tom, who do you think I am?" He replied: "Huh? You're my accountant."

"Uh, no, Tom," I said, sharpening the mental knives for a column, "I'm John Sugg with the Miami Herald, and I'd sure as hell like to hear more about these exploits for the entertainment of our readers." He fled.

My experience is that people who are concerned with the sex lives of others are usually morally bankrupt. Jimmy Swaggart is my favorite example. He would kill a gay man who wanted to have sex with him. He has a problem paying a woman for sexual favors.

Write A Caption: Katherine Harris Edition

Blackwater Security

Apologies to The Doobie Brothers...



Blackwater Security may have a little trouble.
Iraq For Sale...just like the New New Orleans?
Blackwater and other Mercenaries are Big Business


political, political cartoons, cartoons, Bush, Terrorism, Homeland Security, War on Terror, Blackwater, Doobie Brothers

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Keith Olbermann On Donald Rumsfeld

Keith Olbermann has given his most powerful piece of political commentary, yet. What set him off was Donald Rumsfeld's remarks at the American Legion National Convention.

The fact that Rumsfeld is comparing himself with Winston Churchill is mind-boggling. Great leadership requires one to take responsibility for his actions. Not blamed others for condemning others for pointing out your incompetence. That includes Republicans like John McCain and Chuck Hagal.

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL: I have no confidence in Rumsfeld's leadership.

Crooks and Liars has the Ken Olbermann video. It's important to watch. Below is a transcript. via Mr. Black.

It was a time when a certain amount of cynicism and moral confusion set in among Western democracies. When those who warned about a coming crisis, the rise of fascism and nazism, they were ridiculed or ignored. Indeed, in the decades before World War II, a great many argued that the fascist threat was exaggerated or that it was someone else's problem. Some nations tried to negotiate a separate peace, even as the enemy made its deadly ambitions crystal clear. It was, as Winston Churchill observed, a bit like feeding a crocodile, hoping it would eat you last.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/08/30/keith-olbermann-delivers-one-hell-of-a-commentary-on-rumsfeld/

The man who sees absolutes, where all other men see nuances and shades of meaning, is either a prophet, or a quack.

Donald H. Rumsfeld is not a prophet.

Mr. Rumsfeld’s remarkable speech to the American Legion yesterday demands the deep analysis—and the sober contemplation—of every American.

For it did not merely serve to impugn the morality or intelligence -- indeed, the loyalty -- of the majority of Americans who oppose the transient occupants of the highest offices in the land. Worse, still, it credits those same transient occupants -- our employees -- with a total omniscience; a total omniscience which neither common sense, nor this administration’s track record at home or abroad, suggests they deserve.

Dissent and disagreement with government is the life’s blood of human freedom; and not merely because it is the first roadblock against the kind of tyranny the men Mr. Rumsfeld likes to think of as “his” troops still fight, this very evening, in Iraq.

It is also essential. Because just every once in awhile it is right and the power to which it speaks, is wrong.

In a small irony, however, Mr. Rumsfeld’s speechwriter was adroit in invoking the memory of the appeasement of the Nazis. For in their time, there was another government faced with true peril—with a growing evil—powerful and remorseless.

That government, like Mr. Rumsfeld’s, had a monopoly on all the facts. It, too, had the “secret information.” It alone had the true picture of the threat. It too dismissed and insulted its critics in terms like Mr. Rumsfeld’s -- questioning their intellect and their morality.

That government was England’s, in the 1930’s.

It knew Hitler posed no true threat to Europe, let alone England.

It knew Germany was not re-arming, in violation of all treaties and accords.

It knew that the hard evidence it received, which contradicted its own policies, its own conclusions — its own omniscience -- needed to be dismissed.

The English government of Neville Chamberlain already knew the truth.

Most relevant of all — it “knew” that its staunchest critics needed to be marginalized and isolated. In fact, it portrayed the foremost of them as a blood-thirsty war-monger who was, if not truly senile, at best morally or intellectually confused.

That critic’s name was Winston Churchill.

Sadly, we have no Winston Churchills evident among us this evening. We have only Donald Rumsfelds, demonizing disagreement, the way Neville Chamberlain demonized Winston Churchill.

History — and 163 million pounds of Luftwaffe bombs over England — have taught us that all Mr. Chamberlain had was his certainty — and his own confusion. A confusion that suggested that the office can not only make the man, but that the office can also make the facts.

Thus, did Mr. Rumsfeld make an apt historical analogy.

Excepting the fact, that he has the battery plugged in backwards.

His government, absolute -- and exclusive -- in its knowledge, is not the modern version of the one which stood up to the Nazis.

It is the modern version of the government of Neville Chamberlain.

But back to today’s Omniscient ones.

That, about which Mr. Rumsfeld is confused is simply this: This is a Democracy. Still. Sometimes just barely.

And, as such, all voices count -- not just his.

Had he or his president perhaps proven any of their prior claims of omniscience — about Osama Bin Laden’s plans five years ago, about Saddam Hussein’s weapons four years ago, about Hurricane Katrina’s impact one year ago — we all might be able to swallow hard, and accept their “omniscience” as a bearable, even useful recipe, of fact, plus ego.

But, to date, this government has proved little besides its own arrogance, and its own hubris.

Mr. Rumsfeld is also personally confused, morally or intellectually, about his own standing in this matter. From Iraq to Katrina, to the entire “Fog of Fear” which continues to envelop this nation, he, Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney, and their cronies have — inadvertently or intentionally — profited and benefited, both personally, and politically.

And yet he can stand up, in public, and question the morality and the intellect of those of us who dare ask just for the receipt for the Emporer’s New Clothes?

In what country was Mr. Rumsfeld raised? As a child, of whose heroism did he read? On what side of the battle for freedom did he dream one day to fight? With what country has he confused the United States of America?

The confusion we -- as its citizens— must now address, is stark and forbidding.

But variations of it have faced our forefathers, when men like Nixon and McCarthy and Curtis LeMay have darkened our skies and obscured our flag. Note -- with hope in your heart — that those earlier Americans always found their way to the light, and we can, too.

The confusion is about whether this Secretary of Defense, and this administration, are in fact now accomplishing what they claim the terrorists seek: The destruction of our freedoms, the very ones for which the same veterans Mr. Rumsfeld addressed yesterday in Salt Lake City, so valiantly fought.

And about Mr. Rumsfeld’s other main assertion, that this country faces a “new type of fascism.”

As he was correct to remind us how a government that knew everything could get everything wrong, so too was he right when he said that -- though probably not in the way he thought he meant it.

This country faces a new type of fascism - indeed.

Although I presumptuously use his sign-off each night, in feeble tribute, I have utterly no claim to the words of the exemplary journalist Edward R. Murrow.

But never in the trial of a thousand years of writing could I come close to matching how he phrased a warning to an earlier generation of us, at a time when other politicians thought they (and they alone) knew everything, and branded those who disagreed: “confused” or “immoral.”

Thus, forgive me, for reading Murrow, in full:

“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty,” he said, in 1954. “We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law.

“We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular.”

And so good night, and good luck.

Christian Fundamentalist Man Becomes Monoploy Man

I gotta admit: the attack website the Charlie Crist supporters group, Floridians for Truth and Integrity in Government, is running against Tom Gallagher is hysterical. Note to Republican candidates - never dress up as Monopoly Man.

The wonderful thing about the internet is it skirts campaign finance laws.

Floridians for a Better and Brighter Future - $1.3 million
Greg Eagle - $750,000
U.S. Sugar - $100,000

Christopher LaCivita is infamous for the Swift Boat ads. We can take a wild guess as to who help create the website and ads.

All I got on the Florida Department of State's website on Greg Eagle was $638.60 in contributions.

Rilo Kiley - "Potions For Foxes"

And the talkin' leads to touchin'
and the touchin' leads to sex
and then there is no mystery left



Those lyrics take on a whole new meaning sung by someone as hot as Jenny Lewis. "Bad news," indeed.

Update: I had to add this. It's an infectous live cover of Pete Townshend's My Love Open the Door.

Charles Krauthammer: All Roads Lead to Hitler

Brendan Nyhan noticed that Charles Krauthammer loves to liken all things to Hitler. Krauthammer can't decide if China, Russia, North Korea or Iran will be the next Nazi Germany. Rumsfeld is running with a quote Krauthammer has used several times.

“Lord, if only I had talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided!”

Karen Kwiatkowski worked in the now-defunct Office of Special Plans. She noted how the neoconservative crowd stays on message.

I suspected, from reading Charles Krauthammer, a neoconservative columnist for the Washington Post, and the Weekly Standard, and hearing a Cheney speech or two, that these talking points left the building on occasion.

You can play six degrees of separation with the neocons and find that they all know one another. Dick Cheney presented Krauthammer with the Irving Kristol Award. The question you are now asking is who the hell is Irving Kristol.

Irving Kristol (born January 22, 1920, New York City) is considered the founder of American neoconservatism. He is married to conservative author and emeritus professor Gertrude Himmelfarb, and is the father of William Kristol. He describes himself as a "liberal mugged by reality".

His son is Bill Kristol. Who edits the neoconservative Bible The Weekly Standard. A publication that has advocated for military force against Iraq for years. Irving Kristol was award a Medal of Freedom in 2002 by President Bush.

Fascism has also become another neoconservative talking point. Watch the CNN video.

Civility Has No Place In the Fantasy-Based Community

Crooks & Liars has a video of Christopher Hitchens giving Bill Maher's Real Time audience the middle finger. Hitch's behavior reminded me of what I observed with Vilmar's Katrina rant. This is what I wrote in Lindsey Beyerstein's comments.

When people resort to the finger or ad hominem attacks that means they are insure with their viewpoints.

Dick Cheney suggestion to Patrick Leahy to try a sexually impossible act is another perfect example. If people behaved like Hitchens, Cheney or Vilmar in a bar they would get thrown out by the patrons. In the post-Jerry Springer universe, politicians, pundits and bloggers can behave in a way that wouldn't be tolerated in the real world. If I said "go fuck yourself" to people, whenever I felt like it, I would have an expense medical tab.

Alan Keyes and Randall Terry: Wingnuts Unite

Will someone out there please Youtube this event. It's rare when two foaming-at-the-mouth-wingnuts are in public together.

This just in from a RightMarch.com email:

"This is a SPECIAL MESSAGE from Dr. Alan Keyes, on behalf of Randall Terry:
Dear Fellow Conservative: In less than 48 hours, I will board a plane and fly into the epicenter of one of the most critical and hotly contested campaigns in the nation. And I'm asking you to join me..."

Alan Keyes will use that campaigning magic, that served him so well in Illinois, to aid Randall Terry. Jeb Bush has endorsed Terry's opponent Jim King and issued this public dissing.

"Randall Terry made no positive contributions related to the issues related to Terri Schiavo," Bush said.

Terry does have the endorsement of Thomas Croom. Newspapers have not been so kind to Terry. It's that evil liberal media.

Terry and Kayes both don't live by their own families values. Keyes threw his daughter Maya out of his home when she told him she was gay. Terry has a son who is gay and another daughter who became a Muslim. The Youtube video contains more on the story. My experience is people who are extremely intorant have serious personal issues.

Winning In Connecticut

Chalk this up in not surprising. Joe Lieberman is having Jack Kemp campaign for him. What surprises me is that the Republicans have 3 House seats that are vulnerable in Connecticut and the big gun the GOP is giving Lieberman is Kemp. If I was Ken Mehlman or Karl Rove, I would have John McCain or Rudy Giuliani stump for Joementum.

The polls I see has independents favoring Lieberman. Alan Schlesinger has been a horrible candidate and fundraiser. The GOP has abandoned him for Lieberman. I like Matt Yglesias's idea of having Democrats throw money at Schlesinger so he can run negative ads at Lieberman. Republicans did it with Ralph Nader in 2004. Get those Schlesinger numbers up and Lieberman is history.

John Lee Hooker: Tupelo, Mississippi

A relatively recent version of this song that John played for many years. The more things change, the more things stay the same.

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Write A Caption: Ronda Storms Edition

Tags: Ronda Storms

Win For Democracy

I'm glad this got shot down.

A Florida judge on Monday barred enforcement of a state law that imposed fines on civic groups for failing to meet state deadlines in their voter registration drives, ruling the law violated free-speech rights and discriminated against the groups.

The order was a victory for the League of Women Voters of Florida and other groups that claimed the law effectively shut down non-partisan voter registration drives while allowing political parties to continue to register voters.

The Florida Department of State will appeal. Jeb Bush sign this into law. The goal was to scare groups away from registering voters. Democracy should make laws that make it easier for people to vote. Not harder. Voting is one of the few things where people can have a voice in politics. This requires checks and balances and people like the League of Women Voters to stand up against this corruption.

Compassionate Conservatism: Vilmar Edition

Vilmar bravely calls Katrina victims whiners in a post called "I'm Sick of This Crap."

For almost a week before today and I am sure for the rest of the week we will get bombarded about stories dealing with the “horrors of Hurricane Katrina” and how awful things still are. The Lame=-Stream, Drive-By Media will do everything they can to try and place all the blame for the misery on President Bush. Little will be said for the scumbags that just sit around expecting someone to make their lives better. Little will be said of the gross corruption and incompetence of the Mayor of New Orleans, the governor of Louisiana and Lousy-ana’s worthless senator.

Almost all the stories will focus on New Orleans. Hell, they had a bunch of asswipes ringing bells earlier today commemorating when the levees were flooded. Bells?!?!?! For inanimate objects the had their banks overrun?

This is nothing more than a bunch of faggotty over-sentimentality and an incredible waste of emotional energy. If these whiny sons of bitches would spend as much time trying to rebuild as they spend on planning all these ceremonies or standing around whining to the press, the damned place could have already been repaired.

He refers to flood victims as "inanimate objects" and sentimentality for the 1,836 who died as "faggotty." Vilmar views the hurricane strictly as a partisan issue. Me, I'm shocked that Ray Nagin was re-elected with all his incompetence and corruption. That might be because most New Orleans natives are still scattered across the country. People are still displaced as trailers sit empty. That's FEMA's responsiblity. Now President Bush is calling residents back when the levees are not ready for another Katrina-level hurricane.

Vilmar's answer to all this is to issue ad hominem attacks and complain that people are overreacting to Ernesto. If Ernesto became a major hurricane, do you think he would admit he was wrong. Would Vilmar not blame Democrats if Republican Governor Jeb Bush did not take the storm serious? (Fortunately, Bush is.)

Here's my challenge to Vilmar. Write a 2,000 word essay on how the Bush administration handled Katrina. Cover the preparation before the storm hit land to now. Think Progress has an excellent timeline of the events. That will be a good place for Vilmar to start his research. I suggest Vilmar do his homework on posts. He wasn't sure if Russ Feingold was running this year.

Their Lies Were Mocking God

I heard a piece on NPR yesterday about the contracting and sub-contracting of debris removal in the aftermath of Katrina. I don't remember the exact number, but there was about 7 or 8 levels of subcontracting. The initial bid got $23 a cubic yard, and by the time it got down to the last level of contracting, the company doing the actual work was getting $3 a cubic yard. This is your Republican controlled, "Conservative" government at work.

Shakespeare's Sister is doing a round-up of links for a Hurricane Katrina blogswarm.



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Write A Caption

Idea stolen from Stonegauge.

Katrina Photo-Op Now and Then

PresidentBush goes down to the Gulf Coast for Operation Photo-op. The President is trying desperately to make people forget how badly he handled Katrina. A New York Times/CBS News poll found 51% disapprove of Bush's handling of Katrina. As Bush poses for the press, let us not forget another photo-op he staged for the media. This time last year.

.

The problem with Bush is all he knows is photo-opportunites. We all remember mission accomplished.



Problems are not solved by photo-ops. This administration lives by the photo-op then try to explain away the more embarrassing PR disasters. Scott McClellan disgracefully blaming the whole thing on the sailors of the USS Lincoln.

"It was an idea that was suggested by those on the ship as a way to honor the sailors and crew on board the USS Lincoln for accomplishing their mission."

Scotty then had to explain why it was the White House who had the banner made. None of this bring peace in Iraq or helps to living conditions of Katrina victims who are still homeless. Perhaps Bush and Rockey Vaccarella can explain to Janice Tambrella where these million FEMA trailers are.

It has been 11 months since Hurricane Katrina hit and Janice Tambrella still does not have a home. She doesn't even have a trailer of her own.

Tambrella is currently jammed in with 10 other relatives in a single trailer delivered to a luckier relative. Sleeping on the floor, living out of cars surrounded by overgrown grass and storm-felled trees, she sighs, "I need a place to stay."

So do a lot of people. But the President has photo-ops to go to. That doesn't leave much time for governing. Especially, for an administration that believes that image is everything and substance is nothing.

Update: those great results that makes Rockey wish Bush could do a third term.

Of the $110 billion allocated by Congress and the administration to help victims of last year's three hurricanes, $86 billion has been obligated in signed contracts or sent to the states, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget. At least $44 billion has been spent.

The money that has been spent was mainly split between flood-insurance payments and the FEMA disaster-relief fund, which has doled out more than $21 billion.

FEMA faced the toughest early challenge in the disaster in providing housing and money for thousands of displaced people. The results were riddled with mismanagement, the Government Accountability Office said in a June report.

Samm Simpson Interview

Awhile ago, Samm Simpson's people asked me if I wanted to interview her. I said sure. I submitted interview questions. The problem is I'm fairly certain she sent me responses to the Kenneth Quinnell's questions. Go read the interview there. Welcome to the wonderful world of internet journalism.

Democrats Leading In Senate Races

The conservative Wall Street Journal's blog Washington Wire reports that a Zogby poll shows Democrats leading in 12 of the 18 Senate races. The biggest news is George Allen is now behind Democrat James Webb.

Kids, this is the year that Democrats can take control. I'm asking you to to do your part to help out. Congressional candidate Physllis Busansky needs the help.

In the race for U.S. Congress District 9, Republican frontrunner Gus Bilirakis raised three times as much money than Democratic candidate Physllis Busansky between July 1 to Aug. 16 and finished the cycle with four as much cash on hand, according to new Federal Elections Commission campaign finance reports. Here are the numbers:

* Bilirakis ended the cycle with $1,189,620 cash on hand, after having raised $316,718 and spent $146,886. Campaign contributions over the entire election, have totaled $1,802,948.

Go down the page.

Ned Lamont (CT-Sen)	$
Bill Nelson (FL-Sen)	$
Clint Curtis (FL-24)	$
Rick Penberthy (FL-05)	$
Kathy Castor (FL-11)	$
Christine Jennings (FL-13)	$
Samm Simpson (FL-10)	$
FL-11 General Election Fund	$
Phyllis Busansky (FL-09)	$
Sherrod Brown (OH-Sen)	$
Florida State Democratic Committee - Federal Account	$

"You Want to Make Party"

This is a great rarity. The Afghan Whigs do a killer live cover of Prince's I Could Never Take the Place of your Man.

19 Ronda Storms Contributions From 931 FAIRFAX PARK TUSCALOOSA, AL

Second update on my Ronda Storms post. Hurrican Ronda has received 19 campaign contributions from the Alabama zip code of 35406. That adds up to $9,500.00 in contributions from the same address.

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006- 500.00
CIVIC CENTER HEALTH REALTY, LLC
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006- 500.00
CROSSVILLE HEALTH REALTY, LLC
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
DIVERSIFIED MEDICAL SPECIALTIES, INC.
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
MILLENNIUM HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
NHS MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
NORTHGATE SERVICES OF MISSOURI, LLC
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
NORTHPORT HEALTH SERVICES OF ARKANSAS, L
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
NORTHPORT HEALTH SERVICES OF FLORIDA, L.
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
NORTHPORT HEALTH SERVICES OF MISSOURI, L
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
NORTHPORT HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
NORTHPORT HOLDING, LLC
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
OAK KNOLL HEALTH REALTY, LLC
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
PARK MANOR HEALTH REALTY, LLC
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
SENIOR CARE PHARMACY, INC.
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
SOUTH HEALTH REALTY, LLC
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
SUMTER HEALTH REALTY, LLC
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
TALLASSEE HEALTH REALTY, LLC
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
SUMTER HEALTH REALTY, LLC
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

Storms, Ronda (REP)(STS)
07/24/2006 - 500.00
VALLEY VIEW HEALTH REALTY, LLC
931 FAIRFAX PARK
TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406

I sent this email to Storms's office.

Dear Commissioner Storms. I'm curious as to why you received 19 campaign contributions from the address 931 FAIRFAX PARK TUSCALOOSA, AL 35406. The businesses who contributed to your State Senate campaign belong to J Norman Estes. Have you met Estes or is he a personal friend?

I'm not expecting a response, but I thought I give it the old college try in the name of journalism.

You can email Storms here. Her office number is 813-272-5740.

Estes has also donated to Kim Berfield (REP), Skip Campbell (DEM), Joe Negron (REP), Ed Jennings (DEM), and Ted Deutch (DEM). Voters should really be concerned about how these candidates will handle healthcare issues for the enderly.

He Nuts Featuring Heckuva Job Brownie

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More On J. Norman Estes

Here is an update on the "Ronda Storms Is Very Popular In Alabama" post.

Edward Slink has a post on candidates who have recieved campaign contributions from Estes. He asks other bloggers to check to see if Estes has given contributions in their states.

Tommy Duncan sent me this list of contributions.

ESTES DAVID ALLEN MR. (NORTHPORT MANAGEMENT
L.L.C./NURSING) (Zip code: 35405) $2000 to
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC. on 12/31/03

Estes J. Norman (NHS Management LLC/President) (Zip
code: 35406) $1000 to COMMITTEE TO ELECT ARTUR DAVIS
TO CONGRESS on 03/08/04

Estes J. Norman (NHS Management LLC/President) (Zip
code: 35406) $1000 to COMMITTEE TO ELECT ARTUR DAVIS
TO CONGRESS on 05/29/04

ESTES NORMAN (NORTHPOINT HEALTH SERVICES) (Zip code:
35406) $1000 to FRIENDS OF BLANCHE LINCOLN on 09/18/03

ESTES NORMAN (NORTHPORT HEALTH SERVICES) (Zip code:
35406) $1000 to FRIENDS OF BLANCHE LINCOLN on 05/11/04

Estes Rebecca Mrs. (Northport Health Services
Inc./Owne) (Zip code: 35406) $1250 to AMERICAN HEALTH
CARE ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AHCA-PAC)
on 02/07/03

Estes Rebecca Mrs. (Northport Health Services
Inc./Owne) (Zip code: 35406) $1250 to AMERICAN HEALTH
CARE ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AHCA-PAC)
on 04/14/03

Estes Rebecca Mrs. (Northport Health Services
Inc./Owne) (Zip code: 35406) $2500 to AMERICAN HEALTH
CARE ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AHCA-PAC)
on 12/01/03

Estes Rebecca Mrs. (Northport Health Services
Inc./Owne) (Zip code: 35406) $1250 to AMERICAN HEALTH
CARE ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AHCA-PAC)
on 02/17/04

Estes Rebecca Mrs. (Northport Health Services
Inc./Owne) (Zip code: 35406) $2500 to AMERICAN HEALTH
CARE ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AHCA-PAC)
on 07/12/04

Estes Rebecca Mrs. (Northport Health Services
Inc./Owne) (Zip code: 35406) $1250 to AMERICAN HEALTH
CARE ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AHCA-PAC)
on 09/13/04

Estes Norman Estes (Northport Health
Services/Executive) (Zip code: 35475) $1000 to BACHUS
FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE on 03/11/03

Florida CFO candidate Tom Lee received several $500.00 Alabama donations on May 9, 2006. The addresses are different.

Valley View Health Realty, LLC
931 Fairfax Park
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Business Real Estate
05/09/2006 $500.00

Tallassee Health Realty, LLC
420 N 20th St, #3100
Birmingham, AL 35203
Business Real Estate
05/09/2006 $500.00

Wetumpka Health Realty, LLC
1825 Holtville Rd
Wetumpka, AL 36092
Business Real Estate
05/09/2006 $500.00

Oak Knoll Health Realty, LLC
824 6th Ave West
Birmingham, AL 35204
Business Real Estate
05/09/2006 $500.00

Park Manor Health Realty, LLC
2201 McFarland Blvd
Northport, AL 35476
Business Real Estate
05/09/2006 $500.00

Northport Health Services of Missouri, L.L.C.
3111 McClellan Blvd.
Joplin, MO 64804
Business Health Services
05/09/2006 $500.00

Crossville Health Realty, LLC
8922 Alabama Hwy 27
Crossville, AL 35962
Business Real Estate
05/09/2006 $500.00

Jacksonville Health Realty, LLC
931 Fairfax Park
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
Business Real Estate
05/09/2006 $500.00

And there is even more donations from Alabama healthcare companies.

Northport Health Services, Inc
931 Fairfax Park
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
Business Health Services
03/06/2006 $500.00

Northport Health Services, Inc
931 Fairfax Park
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
Business Health Services
03/06/2006 $500.00

Senior Care Pharmacy, Inc
931 Fairfax Park
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
Business Pharmacy
03/06/2006 $500.00

South Heath Realty, LLC
12201 7th St
Birmingham, AL 35205
Business Real Estate
03/06/2006 $500.00

Civic Center Health Realty, LLC
420 N 20th St, #3100
Birmingham, AL 35203
Business Realty
03/06/2006 $500.00

Millennium Health Services, Inc
931 Fairfax Park
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
Business Health Services
03/06/2006 $500.00

Northport Holdings, LLC
931 Fairfax Park
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
Business Real Estate
03/06/2006 $500.00

Northgate Services of Missouri, LLC
961 Fairfax Park
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
Business Med. Equipt.
03/06/2006 $500.00

Diversified Medical Specialties, Inc
961 Fairfax Park
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
Business Medical Services
03/06/2006 $500.00

NHS Management, LLC
931 Fairfax Park
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
Business Real Estate
03/06/2006 $500.00

That's 18 $500.00 contributions from businesses owned by Estes. I seem to remember Lee saying how he was going to stand up to special interests.

I appreciate the help from other bloggers. What I'm curious is if his companies have been in several medical malpractice lawsuits. We already know about his federal plea bargain deal and the Arkansas Department OF Human Services revoking Northport Health Services provider agreement. Estes is very concerned about lawsuits. Judgement by his pass ethical behavior he should be. I still have my challenge to journalists. Who is going to be the first one to ask Ronda Storms about J. Norman Estes.

Tags: Ronda Storms, Tom Lee, J Norman Estes, campaign contributions, Northport Health Services

How Evil Are You?

Readers, I know want to know how evil you are. Tell me in the comments

You Are 56% Evil

You are evil, but you haven't yet mastered the dark side. Fear not though - you are on your way to world domination.

How Evil Are You?

Prescription Drug Petition

Bill Nelson has a pettion to ease the ban on Canadian prescription drugs. Go over and sign it.

Too Much Monkey Business

Heh.

It seems that George Allen can't catch a break. Youtube has videos on Mr. Sensitivity.

Ronda Storms Is Very Popular In Alabama

Some entrepreneuring reporter should look to see if Ronda Storms is pulling a Mitchell Wade and having one person funneling several 500 dollar donations through different companies. Storms received $500.00 donations these companies.

NORTHGATE SERVICES OF MISSOURI, LLC
NORTHPORT HEALTH SERVICES OF ARKANSAS, L
NORTHPORT HEALTH SERVICES OF FLORIDA, L.
NORTHPORT HEALTH SERVICES OF MISSOURI, L
NORTHPORT HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

They all have the address 931 Fairfax Park Tuscaloosa, Al 35406. Storms received another $500.00 donation from Park Manor Health Realty, LLC. The address is 931 Fairfax Park Tuscaloosa, Al 35406.

The list continues.

CIVIC CENTER HEALTH REALTY, LLC
CROSSVILLE HEALTH REALTY, LLC
DIVERSIFIED MEDICAL SPECIALTIES, INC.
OAK KNOLL HEALTH REALTY, LLC
SENIOR CARE PHARMACY, INC
SOUTH HEALTH REALTY, LLC
TALLASSEE HEALTH REALTY, LLC

That's $6,500.00 dollars worth of campaign contributions from 931 Fairfax Park Tuscaloosa, Al 35406. Google Maps shows the location to be in an industrial park off of Watermelon Road. I'm curious as to why health businesses for the states of Florida, Arkansas and Missouri would all be in one Alabama. Someone should pay a visit to this office and find out who is giving the donations from these companies. By law, a person can only give up to $500.00 per candidate.

Update: the second top Google search for the address is Northport Health Services Inc. The President and CEO is J. Norman Estes. Now here is where it gets interesting the company has facilities in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and Missouri. Estes is not listed as a campaign contributor. His companies certainly are.

Estes has also testified to the Senate against medical malpractice lawsuits. Estes is in the nursing home business and gave $100 thousand during the 2000 election cycle.

Update: Things just get more interesting.

It's official: Nick Bailey, Don Siegelman's famously loyal aide and longtime driver who frequently joined the Siegelman family on vacations, has provided evidence in a criminal investigation of his former boss.

On Friday, Birmingham-based federal prosecutors filed a brief disclosing that Bailey is a witness in the case against Siegelman, his former chief of staff Paul Hamrick and Dr. Phillip Bobo, a Tuscaloosa physician.

In May, the office of U.S. Attorney Alice Martin indicted the three, accusing them of manipulating bids for a multimillion-dollar Medicaid contract to provide maternity care to poor women. Specifically, Siegelman and Hamrick are accused of funneling $550,000 from the state's education budget to the Alabama State Fire College in Tuscaloo sa for Bobo's use in buying off a competitor.

Estes was given a deal by the FEDS. THey would not procecute if he testified. Estes set up meetings with Bobo and government officials for Medicaid contracts. Ronda Storms certainly has some very interesting supporters.

Update: I emailed Alabama blogger Edward Still. He's familiar with state politics and voting law "I'm as confued as you are," he told me. He was kind enough to steer me towards state records. Northport Health Services, Inc was incorporated in 1981. J. Norman Estes is listed as the President. Keith Benton the Secretary. Northport Health Services of Florida, L.L.C started up in 1999.

Update: the Arkansas Department OF Human Services terminated Northport Health Services provider agreement. How this company runs nursing homes is sickening.

Mutuality is discerned from the arbitration clause in the Agreement, which is analyzed in light of Northport’s business. As a nursing home, Northport reaps virtually all the benefits of this distinctly one-sided agreement, because Northport is free to seek judicial relief for any claims that it is likely to have against residents, while residents are precluded from bringing any significant tort action that they are likely to have against Northport. Additionally, residents give up the right to any protections afforded by ombudsmen, and may even give up the right to have involuntary discharge hearings as provided by state and federal law. Northport gives up virtually nothing because it retains the right to sue for any foreseeable cause of action it may have against a resident. Residents, however, give up important substantive rights, including the right to sue Northport for significant injuries, the right for an heir to sue for wrongful death, and perhaps even the right to have an involuntary discharge hearing as provided by federal and state law. And Northport may modify the Agreement whenever it wishes simply by changing its handbook. Residents have no modification authority at all, and because Northport can unilaterally modify the terms, residents even give up the right to sign any amendments before the amendments take effect.

Will some reporter asks Ronda Storms if she knows J Norman Estes? That's my challenge.

For those who don't know, Storms is running for the District 10 of the Florida State Senate. I have previous posts on below.

Pork v. Pork
Public Access & Gay Pride: Ronda Storms Gets Two For the Price of One
Vindation = $500,000
Ronda Storms Shuts Down Myspace Parody Site
Joe Redner Files Suit On Gay Pride Ban
Ronda Storms Quotes
Weak Excuse

Alex Sink On Private Contracts

CFO candidate Alex Sink outlines her position on private contractors.

Alex Sink, a Tampa Democrat running for state chief financial officer, has come up with a unique campaign pledge: She says she will "make sure that taxpayers are getting their money's worth. If we aren't - if we're being ripped off - then I won't pay the bills."

I don't have a problem with private contractors who do their jobs well and honestly. Companies like Corrections Corporation of America should not be getting contracts from state or county governments.

"Tampa's own Sink has the best shot at landing one of those Cabinet-level offices," wrote Wayne Garcia. "Several polls have put her ahead of both Republican opponents. She credits Floridians' desire to see balance restored in state government."

You can find out more about Alex Sink at her website.

Veterans Rally with Max Cleland

The Veterans Rally with Max Cleland is tomorrow. Congressional candidate Phyllis Busansky will also be there.

Event Date: Sunday, August 27, 2006
Event Time: 12:30 PM

Venue Name: Ramada Inn Bayside
City: New Port Richey
State: FL
Zip Code: 34652
Phone Number: 813-435-5103

Save the Florida Manatee

There is a petition to save the Florida manatee. Kenneth Quinnell has more on the story.

There is good news. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled in favor of gray wolves in Wisconsin.

"Simply put," she wrote in her decision, "the recovery of the gray wolf is not supported by killing 43 gray wolves."

The killing them to save them is as bizarre a rationale as I've heard.

The Bush administration tried to steer around the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the approval of pesticides. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour ruled against the EPA and wrote that the review process had a "total absence of any technical and scientific evidence to support or justify" The White House's distain of science is so common it's not even news, anymore. It does bring to light the lack of intellectual understanding these people have. It's not surprising they try to dismiss the Big Bang as a theory.

"It is not NASA's place, nor should it be to make a declaration such as this about the existence of the universe that discounts intelligent design by a creator."

I miss the old days when conservatives were trying to make ketchup into a vegetable.

Dick Cheney Generator

Have fun making the Vice-President say offensive things.

Phyllis Busansky Wants Donald Rumsfeld Fired

Phyllis Busansky goes on the offensive on the Denfense issues.

Press Release

“Secretary Rumsfeld should be fired; greedy contractors who unpatriotically steal from taxpayers need to be held accountable; and we need to look at a three-state solution to avoid civil war and allow us to bring our troops home.

“It is morally wrong to send US troops into harm’s way without proper body armor, equipment and up-armored Humvees. Congress must demand this administration support our soldiers with the proper gear and weaponry.

“War profiteering is unpatriotic. Congress must also do its job by holding contractors in Iraq accountable. That’s why I support a new ‘Truman Commission’ tasked with investigating and ending fraud and abuse among contractors – and, if warranted, charging serious offenders with treason.

“Finally, we need a new strategy in Iraq. I support Senator Joseph Biden’s plan which calls for a three-state solution in Iraq – separate, self-governing regions for the Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites – under a central government in Baghdad tasked with border security and management of oil revenues. This will allow us to strategically redeploy our troops – thus avoiding civil war. We must shift the burden of governing to these three self-governing regions.

“It’s time to change Congress. It’s time for accountability. And it’s time to begin bringing our troops home to the heroes welcome they deserve.”

Go make a donation to Phyllis Busansky's campaign.

Rockey Vaccarella Makes The Daily Show

Told you so.

Stewart: "Wow, ‘Mission Accomplished’! You got the President to meet with you, his arch friend. Wow! All you news folks were right. He is just like Cindy Sheehan, except a life-long Republican"

A Mighty Wind Blows

Tom Gallagher

"I'm very concerned that the conservative voice we've had in Tallahassee in the Governor's Office, there's a good chance of it not being there," Gallagher said. "We're certainly not going to get it from either of the Democrats, and I'm afraid we're not going to get it from my opponent."

And they aren't going to get it from Gallagher since he is not going to be elected.

Friday FUBIR Blogging: Rockey Serenades Bush

AnntiChrist S. Coulter on Rockey Vaccarella


political, cartoons, Political Cartoons, Humor, Satire, Bush, Hurricane Katrina, Katrina, Rockey Vaccarella, FUBAR, FUBIR, Katrina and The Waves

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Pundits Jumping Ship

Check out the headline that ran on the conservative shrill fest Scarborough Country.

Quote of the Day

"Fuck you."
– Donna Brazile to an Election Integrity Advocate at the annual DNC gathering last weekend in Chicago after being asked where the party was in Ohio after Election 2004.

Republican Party of Florida Running Scared

The Florida Republican Party is running scared of Jim Davis and Rod Smith. They sent out Terminator Jeb to to say "there wasn't a whole lot of discussion about issues and ideas" during the debate. Terminator Jeb said he wasn't impressed with either Democratic candidate.

"I don't think they're showing that they have a compelling agenda or a vision for the state," Bush said. "Being the anti-Jeb isn't going to cut it ... I think I know the people of this state pretty well. They want to know what's in these candidates' hearts and they want to know what's on their minds."

Being anti-Republican certainly will. A Strategic Vision poll taken by Floridian voters found 47% disapprove to 39% approve. 56% do not want Roe Vs Wade overturned. The poll does show Terminator Jeb receiving a 57% approval rating and Crist polling better than the other three candidates. The Republican Party of Florida sent out a negative press release of the Davis-Smith debate. The RPOF's press release for the Crist-Gallagher debate was hysterically-titled "REPUBLICAN DEBATE SHOWCASES IDEA-ORIENTED CANDIDATES". It was so full of ideas that it was only worth two paragraghs. After reading both press releases, I'm certain that the writer (or writers) didn't watch the debates. These things are usually written before the debates and sent out to the media. That's the way it usually works.

We now know that the talking point is the Republicans have ideas and the Democrats don't. To have Terminator Jeb enter the fray, so harshly, means that their enternal polling data shows that a Democrat could win the Governor's mansion. Having Katherine Harris in a statewide race doesn't help matters.

Jim Davis' Attendance

This got play in the debate last night. I thought I mention it. Jim Davis ranks 434 out 435 in least votes cast. Davis does have the excuse that he is running for Governor. I think if this is Rod Smith's best ammo against Davis than he is in trouble. Most voters could care less. George W. Bush didn't spend much time in the Governor mansion - when he ran back in 2000. Smith's job was to sell himself. I'm not sure he did that.

Update: Howard Troxler gives the debate to Jim Davis.

Told You So

More proof that abstinence-only education does not work.

An Ohio school board is expanding sex education following the revelation that 13 percent of one high school's female students were pregnant last year.

There were 490 female students at Timken High School in 2005, and 65 were pregnant, WEWS-TV in Cleveland reported.

The Canton school board will now trach a combination of safe sex proventive measures and abstinence.

The Old Find Whack Jobs In the Comments Section To Attack the Entire Left Tactic

I saw the Nat Hentoff op-ed in the print edition of the Tampa Tribune. I immediately could tell what Hentoff cherry-picked, from comment sections of blogs, to make his case. "Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman -- now an insistently independent Democrat," wrote Hentoff. "was pilloried during his losing primary contest with Ned Lamont, not only for his stand on the Iraq war but also because he is a Jew." That's a bold statement.

As Lanny Davis, special counsel to President Clinton, and a Lieberman supporter, reminded us in the Aug. 8 Wall Street Journal, blogging anti-Semites had Mr. Lieberman in their sights back on the Daily Kos Web site on Dec. 7 from a contributor: "... as everyone knows, Jews only care about the welfare of other Jews; thanks ever so much for reminding everyone of this most salient fact." And on July 8 of this year, on the Huffington Post Web site: "Lieberman cannot escape the religious bond he represents. Hell, his wife's name is Haggadah or Muffeletta or Diaspora or something you eat at Passover."

Those two statements were not blog posts. They are comments left by readers. Here and here. I don't feel the need to defend the comments. As a blogger, the words of others do not reflect my views. Some of my commenters are Republicans! I certainly am not.

Myself and others have noticed that Michelle Malkin started the wingnut tactic of finding a few nutty comments to lay blame on the whole lefty blogosphere. Conservatives don't like it when we blast the comments in Little Green Footballs. Charles Johnson constantly reminds people that he is not responsible for the comments. That's like saying the letters to the editor reflect a newspaper's political views. Untrue. If people want to take individual commenters or bloggers to task then that's their right. The blame the blogger for the commenters view or vice versa.

Malkin and Hentoff are third-tier columnists who aren't very knowledgable on policy. Malkin has backed the Minutemen. Hentoff's own publisher, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon preaches that Jews are responsible for the Holocaust because they rejected Jesus. I guarantee these two won't write op-eds about that. Malkin and Hentoff are partisan hack zealists. I have no problem with them attacking bigots on the left. I know it has everything to do with politically scoring points and nothing with racial justice.

PowerPoint Fiasco

Donald Rumsfeld planned the Iraq war with PowerPoint slides. I shit you not. Click the photo and see if you can make sense of it. A slide that disorganized wouldn't last five minutes in the business world. This is an excerpt from Washington Post reporter Thomas Ricks' book Fiasco.

[Army Lt. General David] McKiernan had another, smaller but nagging issue: He couldn't get Franks to issue clear orders that stated explicitly what he wanted done, how he wanted to do it, and why. Rather, Franks passed along PowerPoint briefing slides that he had shown to Rumsfeld: "It's quite frustrating the way this works, but the way we do things nowadays is combatant commanders brief their products in PowerPoint up in Washington to OSD and Secretary of Defense…In lieu of an order, or a frag [fragmentary order], or plan, you get a bunch of PowerPoint slides…[T]hat is frustrating, because nobody wants to plan against PowerPoint slides."

That reliance on slides rather than formal written orders seemed to some military professionals to capture the essence of Rumsfeld's amateurish approach to war planning. "Here may be the clearest manifestation of OSD's contempt for the accumulated wisdom of the military profession and of the assumption among forward thinkers that technology—above all information technology—has rendered obsolete the conventions traditionall governing the preparation and conduct of war," commented retired Army Col. Andrew Bacevich, a former commander of an armored cavalry regiment. "To imagine that PowerPoint slides can substitute for such means is really the height of recklessness." It was like telling an automobile mechanic to use a manufacturer's glossy sales brochure to figure out how to repair an engine.

I have read that senior Bush, Rumsfeld and Ashcroft did not want to read documents. They would have department officials recite key passages. These people just don't like to read. That's why I find it hard to believe Bush read 60 books this year.

The Daily Show Photo-Op

I started laughing my ass off when I saw this. How many Katrina victims act like Rockey Vaccarella.

"I just wish the president could have another term in Washington," he said as cameras rolled on the South Lawn, where the two appeared together after coffee.

"Wait a minute," Bush interjected with a laugh.

"You know, I wish you had another four years, man," Vaccarella said. "If we had this president for another four years, I think we'd be great."

This is the same President who said, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job" and "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." Bush was briefed that the levees were unstable. Bush didn't find out that Brown resigned until the White House press corp told him.

Keep running those photo-ops boys.

Update: Rockey Vaccarella ran as a Republican in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. I actually was relieved knowing that the man was just a PR plant for a photo-op. Otherwise, he would be certifiably insane. Then I read his Myspace profile.

My journey will start in St. Bernard Parish, LA and end at the White House where an authentic Louisiana chef will prepare a good old fashioned Cajun dinner for President Bush. To make the occasion even more memorable, the dinner will take place inside my trailer where I will personally deliver my message to the President on behalf of the people who have lost so much.

Looks like I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.

Update: Vaccarella's story doesn't make sense. How can he take a FEMA trailer to Washington D.C. FEMA has a policy that the trailers are not to be moved by the occupents. FEMA has passed out flyers saying: "YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU! DO NOT MOVE YOUR FEMA TRAILER ANYWHERE ELSE OR SELL IT! THIS TRAILER BELONGS TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND CANNOT BE MOVED BY ANYONE OTHER THAN FEMA/U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS."

Tripping The White Fantastic

The BackPedaling on Tippling The White Fantastic continues


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Tags: Jeb Bush

Things I Find Unfunny

What the world doesn't need - a farting Bush doll. That humor will probably go over well for people who think Kevin Smith is a comedy genius.

Side note: is it me or does Kevin Smith wear that same black & red shirt with him wherever he goes.



Okay gang. Tell me what it is you find lame, but other find hilarious. That includes you lurkers who don't comment.

Carol Lynn Price: Super Patriot

The film was made by Tina Dupuy. She should watch out for the first asshole she quotes in the kudos.

Rhode Island Senate Race

Rhode Island is a possible Senate seat for Democrats to pick up.

Sheldon Whitehouse (D) - 46%
Lincoln Chafee (R) - 41%

Chafee may lose the primary to Steve Laffey. Chafee is running a negative ad against his opponent. Laffey will get crushed in a general election matchup against Whitehouse. The Republicans better hope Chafee wins the primary.

Lamont-Lieberman Poll

MY DD posted the latest Rasmussen poll on the Connecticut Senate Race.

Lieberman: 45 (46)
Lamont: 43 (41)
Schlesinger: 6 (6)

I don't have a paid membership to Rasmussen. I don't know who took the poll.

Lamont sat back and let Lieberman come out swinging. Politics is like football. It's all about who has the momentum (or Joementum.) Lamont should have come out and said Lieberman can't win. He didn't. Now he is going to have to grind it out. Which isn't impossible. Skippy reminds progressives to keep our chins up.

Damn Straight I Am

You're a Playful Kisser

Kissing is a huge game for you, a way to flirt and play You're the first one to suggest playing spin the bottle at a party Or you'll go for the wild kiss during a game of truth or dare And you're up for kissing any sexy stranger if the mood is right!

What Kind of Kisser Are You?

Revisionist History

For conservatives who are now playing revisionist history in the comments of my Quote(s) of the Day post.

"The reason I keep insisting that there was a relationship between Iraq and Saddam and al Qaeda: because there was a relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda," Bush said after a Cabinet meeting. As evidence, he cited Iraqi intelligence officers' meeting with bin Laden in Sudan. "There's numerous contacts between the two," Bush said.

I wouldn't be surprised if this meeting took place. The problem is no one can confirm it. The Sudan meeting story came from intelligence from the Office of Special Plans. Former Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith ran that group in the Pentagon. In a rare move, the Department of Defense shot down Feith's statements to Senate. Tommy Franks called him, ""the fucking stupidest guy on the face of the earth." Who knows if the meeting took place. Bush sttod by all this bogus intelliigence.

The Bush administration has said the terrorist network and Iraq were linked.

In response, a senior administration official traveling with President Bush in Tampa, Florida, said, "We stand by what Powell and Tenet have said," referring to previous statements by Secretary of State Colin Powell and CIA Director George Tenet that described such links.

The White House played on the public's fear of 9-11 to invade all for the benefit of pro-Israel neoconservatives. The Iraq war hasn't made America or Israel safer.

The White House also presented bogus intellignce that Iraq was training al-Qaeda to use WMDs. Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi was tagged as a known liar by the intelligence community. The White House passed his BS as fact. al-Libi was saying these things because he was tortured.

Al-Libi's capture, some sources say, was an early turning point in the government's internal debates over interrogation methods. FBI officials brought their plea to retain control over al-Libi's interrogation up to FBI Director Robert Mueller. The CIA station chief in Afghanistan, meanwhile, appealed to the agency's hawkish counterterrorism chief, Cofer Black. He in turn called CIA Director George Tenet, who went to the White House. Al-Libi was handed over to the CIA. "They duct-taped his mouth, cinched him up and sent him to Cairo" for more-fearsome Egyptian interrogations, says the ex-FBI official. "At the airport the CIA case officer goes up to him and says, 'You're going to Cairo, you know. Before you get there I'm going to find your mother and I'm going to f--- her.' So we lost that fight." (A CIA official said he had no comment.)

Apple sauce.

1998 Cat Power Radio Performance

I throw this out for Sine.qua.non. A blogger posted an entire in-studio radio performance by Chan Marshall. It's fucking amazing. I thank the blogger for posting this, but his crush is wasted.

Chan has a breakdown and cries during the first track. I sense the song is autobiographical.

Quote(s) of the Day

"Nobody’s ever suggested that the attacks of September the 11th were ordered by Iraq."

George W. Bush.

In the same press briefing, Bush finally admits Iraq had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks.

QUESTION: What did Iraq have to do with it?

BUSH: What did Iraq have to do with what?

QUESTION: The attack on the World Trade Center.

BUSH: Nothing. Except it’s part of — and nobody has suggested in this administration that Saddam Hussein ordered the attack.

Apparently, Bush doesn't read Instapundt, Little Green Footballs or listen to his own Vice-President.

The moral is that the White House never believed their own deception. As for the wingnut/neoconservative bloggers - George Carlin once said, "Some people are just fucking stupid."

Think Progress has the video.

Rod Smith & the Fundamentalists

Rod Smith filled out a questioniare for the Christian Coalition of Florida. Smith answered that he supports gay adoption and civil unions. I actually think Democrats should talk to these groups and be upfront about our positions.

The Hanging Chad Tree

I have lost track. Correct me if I am wrong, but is this the 26 staffer to quit the Katherine Harris campaign.

Rhyan Metzler, Katherine Harris' political director of three months, left her Senate campaign.

The departure came on Thursday, the same day that Harris held an Orlando campaign rally that was attended by only about 30 to 40 people, none of them the expected elected officials.

Get this. Harris blamed the low turnout on a fallen tree. The woman is insane.

Airport officials later said no tree fell on a hangar and the rally was held in the hangar where it had been scheduled.

Metzler got blamed, and maybe fired, for a tree that never fell. If A Republican hack's candidacy fell in the forest; would anyone hear it?

Update: Proof that the low turnout had nothing to do with a tree.

U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris came to Sen. Bill Nelson's hometown Thursday to try to prove she could unseat him in the fall, but the help she hoped for didn't come.

It was expected to be one of Harris' biggest events leading up to the Republican Senate primary next month, with a host of prominent public officials standing by her side.

But no elected official showed up at Orlando Executive Airport for Harris' fly-in - just 30 to 40 people, in a hangar that could hold hundreds.

Mel Martinez and Tom Feeney were both in town. Martinez's people said a last minute meeting came up. Tom Feeney had an appointment with a dermatologist. The latter is lamer than Martinez's usual lame excuses.

Rod Smith-Jim Davis Debate Shindig

Democracy For America is having a get together for Rod Smith supporters for the debate on Wednesday.

Friday Cat Blogging: Meow Mix Remix

Riggsveda, on the Emerging Face Of America



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Quote of the Day

From O'Blog:

As I was reading an article in the Orlando Sentinel about rumors that Tom Gallagher will drop out of the Florida gubernatorial race, I couldn't help but think, "Wow, he's just as delusional as Katherine Harris."

Tramm Hudson Caught On Video

Tramm Hudson is a Republican running for Katherine Harris's former 13th congressional district seat. He recently made this unguarded statement.

"I grew up In Alabama, and I understand, and I know this from my experience, but blacks are not the greatest swimmers or may not even know to swim."

He is doing some backtracking now.

“I said something stupid. I apologize for it and would apologize in person to anyone hurt by my comments. To those who are understandably offended, you have my deepest apologies and I want you to know that it was out of character for me and those who know me know that to be a fact. This was a thoughtless remark that does not reflect my lifetime commitment to treating everyone fairly and without bias. I apologize to everyone who is offended by this comment.”

I report. You decide.

Mudslinging

Things are getting ugly in the GOP Governor primary between Charlie Crist and Tom Gallagher. Both are airing campaign ads attacking each other. Gallagher's ad makes Crist sound more liberal than the late Paul Wellstone. Crist counters by saying is misleading voters. And I am enjoying every moment of watching these two guys tear each other apart. Heh.

Katherine Harris Nonendorsements

The lying on Katherine Harris's part has gone beyond pathological.

Several members of the U.S. House called the Harris campaign to complain Wednesday after the St. Petersburg Times notified them of the endorsements listed on Harris' Web site. Minutes later, their names were removed.

The list of politicians whose names came down includes Reps. Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville, Cliff Stearns of Ocala, Mark Foley of West Palm Beach and Jeff Miller of the Panhandle.

Former campaign staffers Chris Ingram and Glenn Hodas said Harris told them to use their names as endoresements. Even if the House members didn't return letters stating support for Harris. Now that's a way to earn the respect of the people.