Saturday, December 16, 2006

Happy ChristmaHanaKwanzica to you and yours!

A holiday message to readers of "emailstosms":
The postings will be less frequent over the next two weeks as Stephanie & crew will be on vacation - returning to the airwaves on Tuesday, Jaunary 2, 2007. Just a reminder, a StephCast (http://www.stephaniemiller.com/premium_registration/Itemid,118/Gift,1/) makes a loverly holiday gift for all your progressive friends and is sure to drive your right-wing acquaintances around the bend. Steph also has a fabulous assortment of t-shits, ball caps and other crap that you can order from her web site (http://www.cafepress.com/stephaniemiller), so go and load up on as much of the StephStuff as you can, and don't forget the boxed wine (I actually prefer this year's Beaujolais Nouveau, although if you didn't stock up, you may have a difficult time finding a bottle at your favorite liquor store - it sold out especially quickly this year). In all honesty (which is a hallmark of this blog), please know that I'm wishing you and all of the folks in your life a very happy holiday season and if you wish for anything this year, let it be peace.
In Peace and For Justice,
mfhadley

Friday, December 15, 2006

Darth "Secrecy" Cheney Appeals

White House Contests Post On Providing Visitor Logs
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/13/AR2006121301923.html
Thursday, December 14, 2006

The Bush administration asked an appeals court yesterday to overrule a federal judge and allow the White House to keep secret any records of visitors to Vice President Dick Cheney's residence and office.

To make the visitor records public would be an "unprecedented intrusion into the daily operations of the vice presidency," the Justice Department argued in a 57-page brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

"The Bush administration asked an appeals court yesterday to overrule a federal judge and allow the White House to keep secret any records of visitors to Vice President Dick Cheney's residence and office."

The government was responding to an October order, by U.S. District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina, to release two years of White House visitor logs to The Washington Post. The Post, researching the access that lobbyists and others had to the White House, sought Secret Service records for anyone visiting Cheney, his legal counsel, chief spokesman and other top aides and advisers.
In his ruling, Urbina questioned the government's primary argument against releasing the records: that the logs are protected by Cheney's right to executive privilege.

The government's response was twofold, focusing largely on the ownership of the records.

Senatorial Disability

Dear Stephanie,
I hope that this doesn't even, ever become an issue for Senator Johnson, but if he does need time to recover (and who wouldn't after having brain surgery) there is certainly precedent for him staying in office. See the information below.

Karl Earl Mudnt - Republican Senator from SOUTH DAKOTA

After suffering a severe stroke in 1969, he remained in office through the end of his term on January 3, 1973, but was unable to attend sessions of Congress and was stripped of his committee assignments by the Senate Republican Conference in 1972. He did not seek reelection in 1972. He was succeeded in the Senate by James Abourezk.

Senator Mundt NEVER stepped foot in the Senate Chamber again after suffering his stroke.

It is also known that Senator Strom Thurmond was non compos mentis for many of his final years in office where he was propped up to wink and smile.

Senator Johnson will recover fully from this problem, I hope, anyway.

Quote for our times

Stephanie,
I can't believe the audacity and ignorance of this man (boy). He has the nerve to delay his decision ("Don't rush me!") while brave men and women are dying in Iraq and untold numbers of Iraqis are being blown to bits. I don't think he should be sleeping at all - there should be no rest for the wicked.
Happy Holidays ;(

"I must tell you, I’m sleeping a lot better than people would assume."
George W. Bush - People magazine, December 14, 2006

Thursday, December 14, 2006

George Bush: A dangerous, cornered animal

"Fuck 'em. I'm the President. I'm the one who decides what's best for this country."
George Bush

"Whatever the 'real figure' is or is not, one inescapable fact remains: Many more Americans will die in Iraq and/or other actions spawned by Bush's illegal invasion of a country that posed no threat to this nation. And many, many more will come home physically maimed and/or emotionally scarred for life."
Doug Thompson

George W. Bush: A dangerous, cornered, rabid animal
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/news2/2006/12/george_w_bush_a.html
December 13, 2006

By DOUG THOMPSON

My gut tells me the President of the United States has become a cornered animal - wary of a party that has all but shunned him, distrustful of even his closest advisors, angry at an American public that has rejected him and fearful of his own inability to cope with his growing madness. White House insiders tell me George W. Bush grows more sullen and moody with each passing day. His paranoia, they say, is increasing to manic levels as he launches into tirades about traitors in his own party, in the press and among his allies.

They describe a man living on the edge and stepping too often over it. Bush, they say, feels betrayed by former Secretary of State James Baker who he now feels held his administration up for public humiliation in the Iraq Study Group report. Although he told the press after meeting with ISG co-chairs Baker and Lee Hamilton that the White House will take the group's recommendations "very seriously," Bush says privately that he has no intention of going along with their plan.

Dobson Denounced as Hack

Stephanie,
Here is the real truth behind the Dobson piece in Time magazine, right from the professors' mouths. I think that Time owes its readers an apology, plus I think that they should denounce Dobson as a hack.

Yale Professor Says James Dobson ‘Cherry Picked’ His Research In Time Magazine Article

Kyle Pruett, M.D., is Second Professor In Two Days To Challenge Dobson’s Use Of Research
Miami Beach, FLA. - Truth Wins Out urged Time Magazine today to renounce a guest column written by James C. Dobson in this week’s magazine after a second professor, Kyle Pruett, M.D. of the Yale School of Medicine, expressed concerns that the Focus on the Family leader “cherry picked” his work. In a letter to Time and Dobson, Dr. Pruett asked that Focus on the Family, “not quote from my research in your media campaigns, personal or corporate, without previously securing my permission.”

Yesterday, New York University Professor Carol Gilligan, PhD, also wrote a letter to Time and Dobson saying that her research was distorted and twisted.

“Time Magazine should take Dobson’s article off the web and pledge that they will never again use his group as a source on family issues,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “Focus on the Family has damaged its credibility and should stop misleading Americans by misquoting respected researchers.”

New Judge in Cobell Case

"We want to see this case resolved quickly. We will work in good faith with Judge Robertson to end this century-long injustice that the government has done to Native people."
Elouise Cobell, Lead Plaintiff in Cobell v. Kempthorne

Indianz.Com
http://www.indianz.com/News/2006/017364.asp

New Cobell judge has experience with DOI
Wednesday, December 13, 2006

The new judge for the Cobell trust fund lawsuit has experience with the Interior Department, though it hasn't always been a positive one.U.S. District Judge James Robertson has sat on the bench since 1994, after being appointed by President Bill Clinton. In those years, he has several Indian law disputes on topics like land-into-trust, gaming and sovereignty.But it's a recent case on federal recognition that tested Robertson's patience with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

He blasted the agency for failing to make a timely decision on the petition for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe."The people involved in making the decisions at the BIA have completely lost track of the whole concept of deadlines," Robertson said at a February 2005 hearing.

Here's a link to the entire history of this case (including all documents filed):
http://www.indiantrust.com/

People Trust Dems More than Bush

Please hold Senator Tim Johnson (D - South Dakota) in the Light and send him good thoughts for a speedy recovery!

New Congress Is More Trusted Than President
By Charles Babington and Jon Cohen
Washington Post Staff WritersThursday, December 14, 2006

Americans trust Democratic lawmakers more than President Bush to handle the nation's toughest problems, including the Iraq war, and a quarter of Republicans are glad that Democrats have won control of Congress, a Washington Post-ABC News poll finds.

At the same time, however, most Americans want lawmakers and the president to work together rather than pursue separate agendas. They also have modest hopes about how much the new Congress will be able to accomplish.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

JibJab's Homage to 2006

Nuckin' futs
http://www.jibjab.com/nuckin_futs

The fellows at JibJab have put up their latest animation. It's a fairly apt and amusing summary of 2006, once again, demonstrating why "I believe that children are the future..."

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Ada Woman Attacked

Stephanie,
Having lived in Oklahoma for the last five years I am not surprised to learn that sexual oreintation is NOT a protected category here, dismayed, but not surprised. I think that this woman should sue the pants off the Ada Police Department - I can't believe that they didn’t even take any photos.

Local woman attacked
http://www.adaeveningnews.com/local/local_story_345113821.html
By Derek Frazier

Violence continues to trouble Ada as one resident found out Monday evening.

According to 20-year-old Ada resident Sarah Kaspereit, she said she was attacked late Monday evening after returning home from work.

"I was driving home from work and saw a small pickup in front of my house," she said. "It really wasn't a strange sight. There are different cars there [at my neighbor’s] every day and I didn't think anything of it, so I went ahead and pulled in my driveway, and when I got out of my car, two guys got out of the truck. One called me a 'faggot' and they started running towards me. One guy wrestled me to the ground and pinned me down while the other carved on my arm."

The word "Lesbian" was carved into Kaspereit’s forearm.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Open, Ready to Mentor!

Stephanie,
Courtney makes a sponsor I'd be proud of, especially if I just started A.A.. I'm sure Britney will need a sponsor or is it Lindsay Lohan ? Any of them could definitely hook you up... ;


L.A. Judge Dismisses Cases Against Love
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/sns-ap-people-courtney-love,0,5019185.story?coll=la-celebrity-news
By SOLVEJ SCHOU,
Associated Press Writer
December 11, 2006

Courtney Love

LOS ANGELES -- Sobbing with joy, Courtney Love thanked a judge Monday after he terminated her probation and dismissed three misdemeanor cases, including two drug-related charges.

"Thank you for not taking me into custody," Love told Superior Court Judge Rand Rubin. "Thank you for giving me an opportunity. You've been a good, fair judge. Sorry for crying."

After the hearing, Allred and Deputy District Attorney Gina Satriano both declined to comment. Allred's client passed by Love and said loudly, "Ah karma."

Love, kissing and hugging her attorney and manager outside court, said she would remain committed to her sobriety.

"All she has left to do is continue as she's been doing," talking to Alcoholics Anonymous counselors and mentoring others, Weitzman told The Associated Press.

"Out of my own free will!" Love added.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/sns-ap-people-courtney-love,0,5019185.story?coll=la-celebrity-news

Nicole needs a meal!!!

Stephanie,
I believe that the real crime here is that Richie only weighs 85 pounds!!!

Nicole Richie arrested for DUI
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/la-121106richie,0,4906333.story?coll=la-headlines-entnews
By Andrew Blankstein

Peace Prize Winner Speaks Out

"Till now over $ 530 billion has been spent on the war in Iraq by the USA alone I believe terrorism cannot be won over by military action. Terrorism must be condemned in the strongest language. We must stand solidly against it, and find all the means to end it. We must address the root causes of terrorism to end it for all time to come. I believe that putting resources into improving the lives of the poor people is a better strategy than spending it on guns."
Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Winner 2006

From DemocracyNow!
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/11/155220

Frank Rich on the ISG

"As bad as things may seem now, they can yet become worse, and not just in Iraq. The longer we pretend that we have not lost there, the more we risk losing other wars we still may salvage, starting with Afghanistan. The members of the Iraq Study Group are all good Americans of proven service to their country. But to the extent that their report forestalls reality and promotes pipe dreams of one last chance for success in this fiasco, it will be remembered as just one more delusional milestone in the tragedy of our age."
Frank Rich

From Mr. Rich's column in Sunday's NYTimes (12/10/06)
The Sunshine Boys Can’t Save Iraq
http://select.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/opinion/10rich.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists%2fFrank%20Rich

Got Christians?

Christianists force conversion on the powerless using your tax dollars

http://www.correntewire.com/christianists_force_conversion_on_the_powerless_using_your_tax_dollars

"The program — which grew from a project started in 1997 at a Texas prison with the support of George W. Bush, who was governor at the time — says on its Web site that it seeks 'to ‘cure’ prisoners by identifying sin as the root of their problems' and showing inmates 'how God can heal them permanently, if they turn from their sinful past.' Actually, the program reaches farther back into the dank recesses of Republican theocracy-building than Bush; the corporation (InnerChange, 2006 revenues $56 million) that runs the Iowa program is Prison Ministries, run by Nixon hatchetman and Watergate felon Chuck Colson. The past isn’t dead. It isn’t even past."
Lambert on CorrentWire.com (blog)

"For Robert W. Pratt, chief judge of the federal courts in the Southern District of Iowa, this all added up to an unconstitutional use of taxpayer money for religious indoctrination, as he ruled in June in a lawsuit challenging the arrangement. Judge Pratt noted that the born-again [SIC] Christian staff was the sole judge of an inmate’s spiritual transformation. If an inmate did not join in the religious activities that were part of his 'treatment,' the staff could write up disciplinary reports, generating demerits the inmate’s parole board might see. Or they could expel the inmate."
Lambert on CorrentWire.com (blog)

"Jay Hein, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, said the Iowa decision was unfair to the ministry and reflects an 'overreaching' at odds with legal developments that increasingly 'show favor to religion in the public square.' Yeah, what’s wrong with using public money to finance conversions to Christianity? My goodness, I can’t imagine! Yet another Bush program that should not be compromised with, in some Moderate, Centrist, Bipartisan way, but repudiated and eradicated. Not only does this crap finance our enemies, it finances enemies of the constitutions, and it’s evil to use your power over others to force your beliefs on them."
Lambert on CorrentWire.com (blog)

Leave Iraq Now

"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there's only one way to leave Iraq: Load our people up on their trucks and tank transporters and Bradleys and Humvees and head for the border. Now."
Joe Galloway

From Leave Iraq Now, by Joe Galloway December 08, 2006
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,120227,00.html

Outsourcer-in-Chief

"According to U.S. News & World Report, President Bush has told aides that he won’t respond in detail to the Iraq Study Group’s report because he doesn’t want to 'outsource' the role of commander in chief. That’s pretty ironic. You see, outsourcing of the government’s responsibilities — not to panels of supposed wise men, but to private companies with the right connections — has been one of the hallmarks of his administration. And privatization through outsourcing is one reason the administration has failed on so many fronts."
Paul Krugman

"In July 2004, Government Executive magazine published an article titled 'Outsourcing Iraq,' documenting how the U.S. occupation authorities had transferred responsibility for reconstruction to private contractors, with hardly any oversight. “The only plan,” it said, 'appears to have been to let the private sector manage nation-building, mostly on their own.' We all know how that turned out."
Paul Krugman

These quotes were taken from today's NYTimes Op-ed piece by Paul Krugman (http://select.nytimes.com/2006/12/11/opinion/11krugman.html?hp).

Sunday, December 10, 2006

ISG Report

Here's the best series of articles and commentary that I've read thus far on the ISG Report and its reception (or lack thereof) by BushCo. It, of course, comes from across the pond:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/article2054657.ece

Quotes from Krugman's Friday Column

“I am increasingly troubled by the seemingly shifting justifications for an invasion at this time. ... When the administration moves back and forth from one argument to another, I think it undercuts the credibility of the case and the belief in its urgency. I believe that this practice of shifting justifications has much to do with the troubling phenomenon of many Americans questioning the administration’s motives.”
Senator Russ Feingold

“I am deeply concerned that the course of action that we are presently embarking upon with respect to Iraq has the potential to seriously damage our ability to win the war against terrorism and to weaken our ability to lead the world in this new century.”
Al Gore

"When we go in, the occupation, which is now being called the liberation, could be interminable and the amount of money it costs could be unlimited.”
Speaker Nancy Pelosi

“The outcome after the conflict is actually going to be the hardest part, and it is far less certain.”
Representative John Spratt

“I don’t oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other armchair, weekend warriors in this administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne.”
Senator Barack Obama

“I firmly believe that the president is focusing our diplomats, our military, our intelligence agencies, and even our people on the wrong war, at the wrong time. ... Iraq is a divided country, with Sunni, Shia and Kurdish factions that share both bitter rivalries and access to large quantities of arms.”
Governor Howard Dean


They Told You So
http://select.nytimes.com/2006/12/08/opinion/08krugman.html
NYTimes
Paul Krugman