Liberaltruthsayer

PolsExam

2009-11-11T12:21:00.001-08:00

Cara A. Valente-Compton

Question 1:

In the Supreme Court Case of Marbury v. Madison, in which William Marbury sued Secretary of State James Madison for the commission to his “midnight appointment” as a justice of the peace, the issues central to the case were fairly concise: First, was Marbury rightly appointed and entitled to that appointment? Second, if it be the case that he was entitled to the appointment, is he due a remedy? And third, if he is due a remedy is that remedy a writ of mandamus from the Supreme Court to compel the delivery of his appointment? However obvious the facts of this case may be, Marbury v. Madison became a tool with which to examine the nature of the Constitution, the nature of the judiciary, and the powers and constraints of statutory law. Chief Justice John Marshall authored the opinion of the court, which was unanimous. Marshall’s assertions remain the fundamental assumptions of the nature of jurisprudence in America, the power of judicial review of law.

First, Marshall’s opinion of the nature of the Constitution is bedrock. “That the people have an original right to establish, for their future government, such principles as, in their opinion, shall most conduce to their own happiness, is the basis, on which the whole American fabric has been erected. The exercise of this original right is a very great exertion; nor can it, nor ought it to be frequently repeated. The principles, therefore, so established, are deemed fundamental. And as the authority, from which they proceed, is supreme, and can seldom act, they are designed to be permanent.” (Marbury, p. 75, col. 1, pp. 2) The people, according to Marshall, have drafted and ordained this Constitution as the oracular guide to American law, establishing specific and binding grants of authority to the three branches of government. The nature of this constitution is then specifically designed to be limiting, restrictive and permanent. “To what purpose are powers limited, and to what purpose is that limitation committed to writing, if these limits may, at any time, be passed by those intended to be restrained?” (Marbury, p. 75, col. 1, pp. 4) Indeed, what is the point of crafting limitations to power if those limited by the rules can simply change them through statutory law? Why would the framers give a general grant of authority to one body of government if that grant can be manipulated by another, equal, branch of government? This also cannot be the case, as it casts off the will of the people.

As to statutory law, Marshall’s opinion is also clear, “The constitution is either a superior, paramount law, unchangeable by ordinary means, or it is on a level with ordinary legislative acts, and like other acts, is alterable when the legislature shall please to alter it.” The latter could not possibly be what the framers of the constitution intended, as evidenced by Article V, which establishes that congress, “whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention, for proposing Amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by Congress.” (Epstein and Walker, Appendix 1, p. 691) Therefore, if the constitution is the supreme law, and the legislature enacts contradictory statute, Marshall sums “…an act of the legislature, repugnant to the constitution, is void.”(Marbury, p. 75, col. 2, pp 1). Ultimately, the Constitution, as the word of the people, must be supreme to the statutory laws of our government, lest the servant be greater than the master. The supreme law of the land, the constitution, can only be changed through amendment to that document, which requires the express consent of the people.

This brings us to Marshall’s view of the nature of the judiciary. Justice Marshall could not be clearer when he contends, “It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.”(Marbury, p. 75, col. 2, pp. 4). In cases where there is a conflict between laws and rules it is up to the court to “expound and interpret that rule…the courts must decide on the operation of each.” (ibid) Marshall goes further to say, “This is the very essence of judicial duty.”(Marbury, p. 75, col. 2, pp. 5). This is the most elemental and powerful tool of the courts, judicial review in a nutshell.

It is imperative at this point to discuss judicial reach, and the concepts of original and appellate jurisdiction. “The judicial power of the United States is extended to all cases arising under the constitution.”(Marbury p. 76, col. 1, pp. 2). Here Marshall quotes nearly directly from the Constitution, Article III section 2, which goes on to enumerate those domains where the Supreme Court is given the grant of authority by the people of the United States. The Constitution is very clear in specifying the boundaries between original jurisdiction; and includes cases dealing with Ambassadorships, other governments, and conflicts between states, among others. The Constitution provides that in all other cases the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, in other words that they need to originate in a lower court first before being taken to the Supreme Court for appeal.

Marshall turns to the Constitution to show us how the people explicitly granted powers to the various branches of government, then says “from these and many other selections which might be made, it is apparent, that the Framers of the constitution contemplated that instrument, as a rule for the government of courts, as well as of the legislature.” (Marbury, p. 76, col. 2. pp. 1). He uses, as example, the oath of office to which justices are compelled to swear, “How immoral to impose it on them, if they were to be used as the instruments, and the knowing instruments, for violating what they swear to support!”(Marbury, p. 76, col. 2, pp. 2) and further, “Why does a judge swear to discharge his duties agreeably to the constitution of the United States, if that constitution forms no rule for his government? If it is closed to him, and cannot be inspected by him?”(Marbury, p. 76, col. 2, pp. 4). This simply cannot be the case.

Resuming the examination of the issues of the case, it was ruled: First, yes William Marbury had been duly nominated and appointed and was therefore (secondly) entitled to the commission of his duties; Third, yes, Marbury is entitled to remedy, after all there can be no right without remedy. However, whether it was the role of the Supreme Court to confer that remedy is the crux of this case. By applying Marshall’s view that the Constitution trumps statutory law and that it is the role of the Supreme Court to decide the law, the obvious conclusion is that the Judiciary Act, by amending the role of the Supreme Court without a grant of authority from the people to do so by means of a Constitutional amendment, was unconstitutional. Further, it is the role of the Supreme Court to say what the law is, and in this case it is the opinion of the court that the provisions made by the Judiciary Act of 1789 were unconstitutional, and subsequently void. Thus these provisions cannot be applied, the Supreme Court is not in authority to issue writs of mandamus, and the case is dismissed.

Question 4:

Four cases that we have studied thus far illustrate the power of checks and balances, specific to the judiciary’s ability to examine the actions of another body, in these cases the Congress, to determine whether these actions are constitutional. This is the power of judicial review. Though the issues in these cases vary enormously, the common thread that unites them is the power of the courts to examine the actions of Congress and make determinations about the validity of their actions.

In the first case, McCullough v. Maryland, one of the two central arguments facing the court was whether the Congress had the power to establish a federal bank. In authoring the opinion of the court, Chief Justice Marshall explains for us the issue: “the conflicting powers of the government of the Union and of its members, as marked in that constitution…” (McCullough, p. 159, col. 2, pp. 1 of the case). Marshall goes further to illustrate the importance of the issue, the delicacy of it, and the reverence with which the court intended to treat the case. “On the Supreme Court of the United States has the constitution of our country devolved this important duty.” (ibid). It is clear that Marshall understood that the issue of the court speaking to the constitutionality of congressional action was potentially explosive.

Marshall speaks to the text of the Constitution on the question of whether Congress had the right to establish a bank. “Among the enumerated powers we do not find that of establishing a bank or creating a corporation. But there is no phrase in the instrument which, like the articles of confederation, excludes incidental or implied powers; and which requires that everything granted shall be expressly and minutely described.”(McCullough, p. 160, col. 1, pp. 1) In short, there is no language in the document preventing the establishment of a bank, or language excluding implied powers. In fact, should the Constitution enumerate every single power it confers “would partake of a prolixity of a legal code, and could scarcely be embraced by the human mind.”(ibid) According to Marshall, the nature of the Constitution speaks to the grander scope of powers and constraints, leaving the minutiae to be “deduced from the nature of the objects themselves.”(ibid). Further, Marshall discusses the expressed powers of the government, specifically obligations related to the power of “the sword and the purse,”(McCullough, p. 160, col. 1, pp. 2) and the logical assumption that should a government be entrusted with such enormous powers, it “must also be entrusted with ample means for their execution.”(McCullough, p. 160, col. 2, p. 1) The opinion then turns to the “necessary and proper” clause, “To its enumeration of powers is added that of making ‘all laws which shall be necessary and proper, for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this constitution, in the government of the United States, or in any department thereof.”(McCullough, p. 160, col. 2, pp. 3) Marshall sums, admitting that the powers of the government are limited; the obligations of the government to perform its enumerated duties necessitate it to have implied powers to execute its duties in a “manner most beneficial to the people. Let the end be legitimate, let it be within the scope of the constitution, and all means which are appropriate, which are plainly adapted to the letter and spirit of the constitution, are constitutional.” (McCullough, p. 161, col. 2, pp. 4) Thus Chief Justice Marshall, in delivering the opinion of the Supreme Court, acknowledges Congress’s right to establish a bank.

In the second case, Powell v. McCormack, Representative Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., in the wake of an investigation of ethics violations, was excluded from the US House of Representatives. Powell filed suit and Speaker of the House of Representatives John McCormack argued that, first, it is the right of the House to determine who is qualified to be a member, and to exclude those who failed to meet the standards, and second, that under the political questions argument this case was not appropriate for consideration by the court. Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution provides that qualified members of the House of Representatives shall be at least 25 years of age, live in the United States for a period of at least 7 years, and reside in the state they are elected to represent. Chief Justice Earl Warren spoke to the political question issue first, concluding that “Art. I sec. 5, is at most “’a textually demonstrable commitment’ to Congress to judge only the qualifications expressly set forth in the Constitution. Therefore, the “textual commitment” formulation of the political question doctrine does not bar federal courts from adjudicating petitioner’s claims.”(Powell, p. 138, col. 2, pp. 2) In short, the court was the proper venue for this case. As to the principal claim, that Congress, and Congress alone, should have the right to determine the eligibility of its members, it was ruled that, “since Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., was duly elected by the voters of the 18^th Congressional District of New York and was not ineligible to serve under any provision of the Constitution, the House was without power to exclude him from its membership.”(Powell, p. 138, col. 2, pp. 3) Here the Supreme Court has once again determined whether the actions of Congress are constitutional or not.

In the third case, South Carolina v. Katzenbach, South Carolina challenged the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which sought to penalize states for failing to conform to the act; alleging that “the legislation was not appropriate to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment, that it infringed on states’ rights, and that it had the effect of treating states in an unequal manner.”(Epstein and Walker, p. 185, col. 2, pp. 2) Chief Justice Earl Warren issued the opinion of the court, referring to the “insidious and pervasive evil which had been perpetuated in certain parts of our country through unremitting and ingenious defiance of the Constitution.”(Katzenbach, p. 186, col. 1 pp. 2) The opinion of the court was that “Congress may use any rational means to effectuate the constitutional prohibition of racial discrimination in voting…”(Katzenbach, p. 186., col 1 pp. 5) Warren invokes the wisdom of Justice Marshall, who in McCullough v. Maryland, who in sum said that as long as the goal is legitimate, and the means just, and carried out in accordance with the constitution, the actions are constitutional. Logically it follows, if the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 support and uphold the constitution, if it is thus constitutional, it cannot be unconstitutional.

In the fourth case, Mistretta v. United States, the courts were faced with the issue of whether the Congress could delegate their legislative authority. In an attempt to make more uniform the code for sentencing criminals for federal crimes Congress established the United States Sentencing Commission. This body, made up of seven members, nominated by the president, approved by the senate, including at least three federal judges and with a balance of political representation, would review criminal sentences according to strict guidelines established by the Congress. John Mistretta, convicted of three counts of cocaine trafficking, challenged the constitutionality of this commission, charging that the establishment of the commission violated the delegation of powers principle. The opinion of the court, however, as delivered by Chief Justice Harry A. Blackmun, does not agree with Mistretta. While the court acknowledges that the principle of nondelegation mandates that in accordance with our separation of power principle Congress cannot give away its grant of authority by the people of the United States to another branch of government, it does not prohibit Congress from seeking “the assistance of its coordinate Branches”(Mistretta, p. 273, col. 2, pp. 2) Blackmun continues, “…we harbor no doubt that Congress’ delegation of authority to the sentencing commission is specifically specific and detailed to meet constitutional requirements.” (Mistretta, p. 274, col. 1, pp. 1) In his closing, Blackmun describes the complexity of criminal sentencing as “precisely the sort of intricate, labor-intensive task for which delegation to an expert body is especially appropriate.”

Here, again, the Supreme Court has evaluated an action taken by Congress by the standards set forth in the Constitution of the United States. These four cases examined above are wildly divergent in their merits, however, a common thread runs through them. In each case, the court was asked to evaluate the constitutionality of actions taken by the legislative branch, using the power of judicial review as a check on the power of Congress.

Woman Gives Birth, Leaves Baby, in Port-A-Potty

2009-07-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

I hate to even go into one of these nightmarish, reeking, hellishly blue, upright coffins of doom. I remember twenty years ago at the UNM Fiestas out on Johnson Field, while dancing to this kick ass reggae band a crash and a roar of laughter as some one tipped a port-a-potty, and a guy emerged moments later, blue and puking. I cannot imagine stopping into one, giving birth, and leaving the kid there. I won't even let my kids go in one if I can help it.

Keith Olbermann, here is a candidate for today's Worst Person in the World.

A Personal Message for Governor Mark Sanford

2009-07-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

A few minutes ago I was having a conversation with my husband. He was talking about you. He asked me, "Did you hear about this? Sanford is claiming that this woman is his soulmate, and that this is a tragic love story, but he was going to 'learn to love his wife again'???"

Me..."Um, yeah."

Husband..."Now if I were to have an affair, and you found out, and forced me to break it off..."

Me..."Oh no need to worry, I would break "IT" off for you."

(Scared look. He knows I mean that.)

Husband..."Ok, so then I have to go back to Argentina just to make sure it wasn't a mirage or something and I get caught and I say 'I really love this woman but I will make myself learn to love my wife again' how would THAT go over?"

Me..."Not well my friend, I don't recommend you try it."

Just go away. You don't deserve your job. You don't deserve your wife. I am sure your state would be happy if you just went away. Go to Argentina and get your freak on. That's all.

LTS Gets a B

2009-03-24T21:26:00.000-07:00

I am taking this great class, "The American Presidency." Our professor is young, energetic and manages to make each class interesting. I have noticed that there are a lot of young girls in the class, no doubt in part to his tall, casual good looks. He is a really nice guy, and I am really enjoying the class on most days. There have been a couple of times where I have left close to tears. The professor stresses participation, but several times has waved me off, and even said "Anyone BUT Cara." Now, a couple of weeks ago we were facing our midterm exam, and I was worried about the general nature of the professor's review guidelines, and I also wanted to probe him a bit about his feelings regarding my participation in the classroom, so I paid him a visit during office hours.
Professor Rocca was very welcoming and warm. I asked him for a push in the right direction regarding the exam, given that I haven't done this in a long time and was experiencing a little anxiety about the format (three short answer and one essay, it was totally subjective.) He was gracious enough to provide both guidance and reassurance that even if I didn't get a score that I hoped for there was ample opportunity to make it up with my paper and future exams. I then asked him if he thought that I was too outspoken in class, and he seemed a little puzzled and said, "No, you know you aren't coming off as a 'know-it-all' and your classmates aren't rolling their eyes when you talk, I think you are doing fine." So maybe I was just being too sensitive, though I am the only one he has waved off in a discussion, so I am trying to jump in less often. It's hard, though, I am really passionate about this subject.
So the exam...I really studied for this thing. I read, reread, and reread again. I kept my nose in the books for days, and even skipped a class the morning before to do a final review for this exam. Here is what is funny. I got to class with my blue book, and a pen I had just purchased. I sat down, I had a bottle of water and coffee in my thermos and was ready to go. Rocca handed out the exam and I started to write my name on the blue book and the brand new pen would not write. I scribbled all over the blue cover trying to get it to work, and got nothing but a few splotches of weak ink in deeply carved grooves on the paper. The very nice young man to my right passed me another pen, which I continued to scribble with until I got it going, and I scrawled "This doesn't bode well" beside my desperate attempts to get the pen working. I was off my game, and I could feel it. One major flaw also was I left my mp3 player at home and I always listen to Cake's "Nugget" to pump myself up (nurturing my inner badass). Well I started the exam, and the short answer questions weren't bad. I got through those and moved on to the essay with plenty of time to spare. Well I looked at the question, which roughly read, "Describe in detail the evolution of the nominating process of the president, why each transition occurred and what its effect was." Now this was the area that I had most emphasized in my studies. I was so prepared for this. I began to giggle because at that moment I utterly and completely drew a blank. I forgot everything. The brokered conventions. The King Caucus. Gone. Blank. I don't know how it happened but I found myself at a complete loss. After several minutes of trying to recompose myself I managed to hack together a completely unacceptable essay. It rambled, sputtered and lacked detail (with the exception of a barely related oddly placed personal anecdote). I drew it to a weak conclusion and sat there with the blue book closed for a minute, hoping desperately for a second wind, a relevation, anything. Nothing came so I handed it in and walked out, dazed and confused, and not in a good way.
As I left I texted my mentor and beloved friend and said "A 'B' would be a gift".
I had to wait two weeks for the results, running into spring break. Today I went to class and got my results. 85. Not bad! Not great, not what I expect of myself, but given my mental breakdown I can't complain.

The Bitch is Back Redux

2009-03-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, it has gotten serious. I know that my level of slack cannot be easily explained away, but I promise I have been using my powers for good, not evil. I enrolled as a full time student at the University of New Mexico as a junior majoring in Political Science. So my writing is being directed in an academic way. I have to keep blogging though, so I will be here from time to time writing.
So much has been happening worthy of comment, the Rush Limbaugh/Michael Steele situation. President Obama's beautiful inauguration and the swell job he is doing as our new POTUS, bailouts and bonuses...and I just have been finding myself shaking my head in amazement or shaking my fist in anger.
So, I promise, I will be back...

Governor Richardson

2009-01-05T17:04:00.000-08:00

I am not one of the bloggers who will be jumping on the Bill Richardson attack wagon. Governor Richardson has been an exemplary leader for New Mexico and a loyal, hard working public servant. I am saddened that he will not be Commerce Secretary, but I am grateful that we get to keep the best Governor New Mexico has ever had.
Onward and upward Governor Richardson!

2008

2009-01-02T08:45:00.000-08:00

This year has passed by so quickly for so many reasons, but was so action packed politically and personally. What began as a field of what, 33 or something? ended with the election of a brilliant, eloquent and young new President of the United States. Barack Obama will be inaugurated in about two and a half weeks and I am so excited. I worked for an opponent in the primary, Bill Richardson, but proudly supported Obama after Richardson withdrew, at the urging of my 10 year old daughter Amanda. Amanda turns 11 on inauguration day, and I would love to take her to DC for the event, but finances and time are conspiring against me. So I think I will throw a party for her and celebrate our new President from a distance.

New Mexico became one of the most hotly contested states in 2008. Senator Pete Domenici announced his retirement due to health reasons, though it has been said that his departure from the US Senate had more to do with the US Attorney Scandal than a degenerative brain disease, but the announcement shook up NM politics. Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson faced off for the republican nomination, Pearce edging out Wilson. Tom Udall initially faced opposition from Marty Chavez, but Tom's overwhelming popularity was so evident Marty withdrew and Tom coasted through primary season. I was privileged to work for the Udall campaign this fall, and no one runs a cleaner race than Tom. I know this is biased but Tom Udall is a pillar of integrity and proof that there are ethical and dedicated public servants in politics. Pearce tried to slap him around, but Tom's record and ability to make people feel so at ease contributed to a huge 22.1% margin of victory, no small achievement in New Mexico.

The Senate race created a total vacuum of representation in the US House, as all three of our congressional seats were vacated for the run, by Tom Udall in CD 3, Heather Wilson in CD 1, and Steve Pearce in CD 2. Former Albuquerque city council leader Martin Heinrich, a young, energetic candidate faced off against Sheriff Darren White in CD 1, defeating him handily, despite narrow polling. Harry Teague also won a decisive victory in CD 2 despite narrow polling as well, and Ben Ray Lujan faced little opposition in the north. So, NM went from 3 republicans and 2 democrats in congressional representation to all five being democrats.

NM Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colon deserves a lot of credit with his "Blue State 08" strategy, which mirrored the national 50 state strategy in leaving no county uncanvassed. Of course, I again confess bias where Chairman Colon is concerned, but in my 20 years of politics in New Mexico I have never seen a more powerful, persuasive and committed chair, nor one who inspires enthusiasm and activism the way Brian does. Well done Brian Colon, I know you will continue to lead our party and our state to a better future!

November's election did not end the political drama in NM. Governor Bill Richardson has been nominated to serve President Obama as Secretary of Commerce. Initially I was disappointed by this post, as Richardson seems suited perfectly to Secretary of State, but the more I learn about Commerce the more I see the fit. Richardson has been incredible for business and economic development in our state and his international diplomacy skills combined with business savvy will serve our nation well. His departure as governor is causing the deck chairs to reshuffle here. Lt. Governor Diane Denish will serve out the remainder of his term and while there are rumors of primary opposition in 2010 at this time it is rather hard to say. Should Diane strike a commanding profile and steward New Mexico through the current budget shortfalls I think she will not see a serious opponent until the general, but it will be challenging. Who takes Diane's seat at LTG remains to be seen, and that will surely generate another vacancy (any bets on Hector Balderas???)

One thing is certain, while 2008 was very exciting in NM politics, 2009 promises to be another thrill ride, through the 2010 midterm election. Good for wonks like me!

More blogging to come. I need coffee!

Back again!

2008-12-17T20:54:00.001-08:00

I admit it. I have been more than just a lazy blogger. I have taken slack to a new level. For a while I was prohibited from blogging by a work contract, then I was just too busy. Now I have not worked since a week past the election, so about a month, and nada. Post-election depression, si. Lack of enthusiasm for the written word, perhaps. Laziness, most certainly. I have been reading, finding new favorite blogs, enjoying old favorites. Now I feel I must start again or lose the ability to look at the world with a critical eye, or sense of humor.

But it is late. I am exhausted. Tomorrow will bring a new Liberaltruthsayer.

Stay tuned!

The Republicans Call for a Bailout: McCain Does

2008-09-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

I have been giggling away the afternoon over this latest news of McCain suspending his campaign.

What a maverick.

I met Robert Redford!!!

2008-09-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

Robert Redford was the special guest at a fundraiser for Tom Udall, my candidate for US Senate (and boss). I was fortunate enough to get to help with the event and got to meet Redford, whom I have always admired...but haven't we all???

Quote of the Day

2008-09-11T12:50:00.000-07:00

Jesus was a community organizer...Pontius Pilate was a governor.

Michigan's Republican "Election Integrity" Voter Purge Scheme

2008-09-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

I don't know why we should be surprised that republicans in hotly contested Michigan think that purging thousands of voters from the rolls is a dandy idea to help push Mittensippi into the red column in November. Nor does it surprise me that they want to do similar challenges to voters based on foreclosures in Ohio. I suspect that there are lawyers for the republican party attacking the registrations of voters all over the country based on foreclosures.

It strikes me as absurdly ironic, that this party that has been responsible for the meltdown of the mortgage industry and has so thoroughly trashed our economy would futher disenfranchise people. They took our jobs, they took our homes, they ruined our credit and now they are going to take our votes. This coming from a party whose leader doesn't know how many homes he has. Who thinks that if you earn less than $5 Million you are in the "middle class".

If you earn less than $5 million, and thereby are middle class, make no mistake about my words here...IF YOU VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN YOU ARE AN IDIOT. If you condone this kind of electoral abuse...YOU ARE EVIL. If you believe it is ok to disenfranchise voters because they are poor and had their houses taken away...YOU ARE UNAMERICAN.

This election isn't about your religion. There are no doctors killing babies for fun, and there are no gays destroying your marriage. This is about rebuilding America's economy, restoring our international standing through diplomacy, and fixing the things that the past eight years of republican leadership have broken, like our infrastructure and our Constitution.

Things have gotten very bad. If we continue to allow republicans to ravage our economy and political sensibilities and disenfranchise our citizens economically and politically it is going to get a lot worse.

Vote Democrat November 4th.

2008-09-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

JUNEAU

2008-09-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

America's Favorite Comedy of Errors...

Paris Hilton Responds

2008-08-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

Word.

2008-08-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

Governor Richardson on this morning's Morning Joe on MSNBC, I think you are going to see more and more of this guy, with his credentials he makes the perfect running mate to Barack Obama!

Denver Post Endorses Richardson for Running Mate

2008-08-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Granted, I wanted him at the top of the ticket, but I will be happy as long as he is a part of the ticket...

This from the Denver Post yesterday...

"When Barack Obama comes to Denver later this month to formally accept the Democratic Party's nomination for president, we hope he will have a son of the West — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson — by his side as his running mate. Insiders suggest that Obama is mulling Richardson and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, among others, as potential vice presidential candidates.

"We think there's only one direction to go. The first test of a vice president is whether he or she is qualified to serve in the top job should the occasion arise. Richardson clearly leads all other Democratic contenders by that standard. His outstanding record makes him an ideal partner for Obama, not only on the campaign trail but at the vital job of shaping America's future...

(read more here...)

The editor at The Denver Post closes his case for Richarsdon, saying, "Richardson's record not only qualifies him to assume the presidency, it makes him an ideal partner to the visionary and eloquent Obama in the task of running this country. And as a leading figure in a Rocky Mountain West that has emerged as a swing political region, Richardson could do more than any other possible running mate to carry the Democratic ticket to victory in November."

I couldn't agree more, Richardson adds so much to the ticket, and does nothing to detract. He is bright, witty, and personable, and would be the perfect running mate for Obama.

2008-06-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

Public Financing

2008-06-26T10:28:00.000-07:00

A lot is being made of Barack Obama's decision to not accept public financing for his presidential bid. John McCain is labelling him a flip-flopper (shocking). However, everyone seems to be missing a very important point.

Barack Obama's campaign is entirely publicly funded.

Unlike McW, Barack is not taking PAC money, lobbyist money. His campaign is being entirely funded by the millions of people who enthusiastically support him. McCain just has nothing on this guy.

So let's put up a link for donations, shall we?

Go Barack!

The Nadir Campaign

2008-06-25T12:11:00.000-07:00

In a stroke (perhaps a literal one) of genius today, Ralph Nader claimed "There’s only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He’s half African-American. Whether that will make any difference, I don’t know. I haven’t heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What’s keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white?” [Rocky Mountain News]

Keep it up Ralph, you are killing your legacy and any hopes you may have had for relevance.

Ahhhh....It's a Profit Deal!

2008-06-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

pResident Bush today demanded that Congress let the oil barons drill off of American shores to help offset the cost of fuel and solve our gas crisis.

Look, how many people are left that are so stupid to believe that the cost of gas, and our current "crisis" aren't simply manufactured for the benefit of Bush and his friends in the industry. These bastards have it made. From absurd price gouging and wild investor speculation ratcheting up profits to obscene levels, to the Vice President setting energy policy in closed door meetings with oil robber barons, to tax breaks and subsidies, there is no stopping them.

Last week it was revealed that Big Dick lied when he said that China was drilling off the coast of Florida, raising the spectre of Communism's tenticles stretching under our very coastline and taking our precious resources.

Could it be any clearer that this all part of a long con for the Republicans to get what they wanted from the beginning? They want the right to drill in ANWR, and are going to use fear to get it, from the fear of the big RED SCARE to the fear of $15/gallon gas.

If you vote republican in November, shame on you.

John McCain's Creepy Performance as a Stalker

2008-06-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Daily Kos diarist Gramarye for posting this puppy...

What is Wrong With Cindy McCain's Arm?

2008-06-18T08:21:00.000-07:00

My grandparents passed away last year. I still get all their mail, which now has dwindled to shameless pleas for cash from Republicans. Yesterday they sent this picture of Icebat and Walnuts.

It seemed to me to be a very familiar pose, so I went looking...

Apparently Barbie's Great-Grandma is indeed made entirely of plastic, and needs to be posed. I bet her knees make that funky popping sound that Barbie's do when you bend them.
Icebat creeps me out.

Why is Impeachement Off the Table, Speaker Pelosi?

2008-06-14T19:30:00.000-07:00

This picture just has creepy all over it.

Speaker Pelosi, I was so excited about your ascension to leadership in the US House...until I discovered that you are totally unwilling to stand up to Bush. Listen, it is obstruction of justice NOT to pursue impeachement of this administration, and it is high time you did what we wanted you to do when you took power (this goes for all you congressional ninnies). Get us out of Iraq, get Bush and Cheney on a witness stand, and restore our faith in America, for crying out loud.

And keep your paws off the shaved ape.

Tim Russert is Gone

2008-06-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

You know those emails, everyone gets them, especially women. "Get to know your friends!" Change the answers to the questions and send out to all your buddies. Well without fail there was always a question, "What is your favorite sport?" and my answer was always "the Sunday morning pundit shows." For me, the slogan said it all, "If it's Sunday, It's Meet the Press."

Many liberals, certainly in the blogosphere, felt that Russert was too hard on Democrats. I saw it too, but I didn't disagree with the need to be. I have always said that you expect bullshit and pandering from the right, but you hold the democrats to a higher standard (and if they are bullshitting panderers best to root them out quickly).

From all accounts, Tim Russert was a guy you wanted to know. He was warm, likeable, and full of entusiasm and intellect. I am so sorry for his family, his friends, and for the rest of us who counted on Tim to cut through the crap and get to the heart of the matter. I am sorry for Tim, who won't get to see the outcome of this election that he cared so much about.

McBush Term III, Any Questions?

2008-06-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

McCain Says Obama Would Be Bad for Business

2008-06-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

Exhibiting just how out of touch he is with reality, McCain is on the stump railing against an Obama presidency and its potential effects on the economy. This is the guy who has voted with Bush 95% of the time, and under his "leadership" we have sunk our treasure in a protracted war (that he wishes to continue for the next 100 to 1000 years), and allowed the insurance industry, sub-prime mortgage industry, credit industry, and oil industry to rob us blind for the past eight years. His argument is that this is working, and we need to continue. Stay the course. A thousand points of light.

Give me a break, McCain. We are in desperate trouble, and you want to dig us in deeper. Stay the course is not an option. Your policies have dessimated the middle class, and increased the ranks of the working poor. We won't sign up for four more years.

You should be ashamed of yourself. Best of luck in the private sector.

Fox News ED Hill is Certifiably Insane

2008-06-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

According to Fox News's ED Hill (R-Blonde) the knuckle bonk (gimme some love) is a terrorist move. Rachael Maddow says that we should mock these freaks for making shameful allegations, and I agree. I find it hard to imagine that anyone with any sense would see terrorist intent in the affectionate knuckle bonk Michelle Obama gave to Barack Obama, or see anything but love and pride in their interaction. However, we are not talking about people with sense, we are talking about people who are willing to use any smear tactic to define Barack Obama as a Islamofascistic Liberation Theology Black Panther Terrorist. Well, to them I say that anyone with an IQ over 60 knows that this is garbage, and that the only threat Barack Obama poses is to the status quo corporate interests of this country, and to the citizens he offers hope for a better future.

Bonk for Barack!

Horizontal Blogging

2008-05-30T14:12:00.000-07:00

I can't decide if I would rather sit up and blog or take a nap, so I am compromising with some horizontal blogging, laying on the sofa with a pillow propping up the laptop.

What's new with you?

It's summer. It's hot. The kids are home. I want a nap!!!

So a couple of weeks ago my 10 year old and I were hanging out and watching "The Daily Show" and we were bombarded by a few dozen Enzyte ads, you know the ones, Smilin Bob and his sack full of pride. Well Amanda asked me, "Mom, what is male enhancement? Does it make them smarter? Handsomer?"

Ugh.

I wasn't ready for this line of questioning.

So I told her the truth, and she giggled and said, "Gross."

Well I decided it was time to fill her in on the mysteries of life, and so I made a date with her. I took her shopping for an "Ugly Doll" and then to dinner, to talk. She sat across the table from me, clutching her purple blob doll to her chest and glaring at me, while I tried to engage her in conversation. Finally she spoke, and said, "Mom...can't we just talk about animals?"

That was pretty much the end of it.

So, there have been some fun local political events here lately. Last Saturday was the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County's picnic. Candidates were there flipping burgers and serving hot dogs. A couple of judges played live music, and they were pretty good. One was actually named Charlie Daniels, but he didn't sing about ay-rabs. It was a beautiful afternoon, with kids and dogs and lots of happy little liberals.

Last night Tom Udall had his headquarters grand opening. It was a good event. Again there were burgers and dogs, and good political speeches.

More after naptime.

Houston, We Have a Problem...

2008-05-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

The potty is broken on the space station. I can imagine the panic.

Religious Loons Kill 11 Year Old Daughter

2008-05-02T19:38:00.000-07:00

I can't imagine letting my little girl get progressively sicker, paler, weaker and just saying, "Oh, if we pray she will get better."

I can't imagine seeing my beloved daughter suffering from untreated diabetes and saying, "She is sick because she is a sinner."

But proof that these people are just fucking lunatics who need to be locked away for the good of society comes in this quote..

"Madeline Neumann died March 23 — Easter Sunday — at her family’s rural Weston home. Her parents were told the body would be taken to Madison for an autopsy the next day.
“They responded, ’You won’t need to do that. She will be alive by then,”’ the medical examiner wrote in a report."

Apparently prayer can bring your children back from the dead, too.

Happy Fifth Anniversary!

2008-05-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it has already been five years since we rendered terrorism obsolete?

If you don't believe it, here is a picture of our fearless leader on that fateful day...

Georgie Walnuts here is proof. Five years of peace and prosperity...

Thanks Georgie!

UPDATE!!!

WASHINGTON — President Bush sent lawmakers a $70 billion request Friday to fund U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan into next spring, which would give the next president breathing room to make his or her own war policy.

Yep, I went to the belly of the beast, Faux News, for that link. I like to keep it fresh. To summarize, Bush is requesting $70 Billion more to fund the war we won five years ago...everyone likes to celebrate an anniversary!!!!

He Said...She Said

2008-04-23T21:46:00.000-07:00

Condi says she told Jimmy, "Don't talk to Hamas."

Jimmy says that while Condi is an honest person she may inadvertently be full of shit.

For more...click.

Meet the New Boss...Same as the Old Boss

2008-04-23T21:39:00.000-07:00

At the risk of opening up a Costello situation, who said, "we won't be fooled again?"

The latest chapter in the continuing saga of the "War on Terra" (for you tv junkies, we are now in season 6) General David Petraeus to head up "CentCom". No, not cent.com...it isn't a website. To sum up, nothing happened today.

Guthfeld

2008-04-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was chilling out, maxing and relaxing if you will, and decided to watch "Alice's Restaurant," an old film favorite of mine. And as I was watching I found myself staring at Arlo Guthrie, thinking..."Ok, I have seen this before, but who does Arlo look exactly like?" I have really state dependent memory, if I run into someone I have met before out of context from where I know them I am horrible at placing them. I think I would have problems with my own husband if I ran into him somewhere I don't usually. But this face...

was driving me crazy, for the first hour at least. Then it hit me. He looks just like Jerry Seinfeld!

Ok, if you still don't believe me, check THIS out!

Spooooooky.

2008-03-27T09:32:00.000-07:00

My friend Ken just sent this to me, and it is awesome. Awesome I tells ya.

LTS's Bold, Visionary Economic Stimulus Plan

2008-03-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

Ok, maybe I am getting a little ahead of myself here, but I do have a plan that I believe would do more for our economy than the "Economic Stimulus Package" presented by Bush. While I am someone who will benefit more than a lot of others because of the size of my family, and I do plan to spend this money on some things I have wanted and waited for, like some good lawn furniture, I don't believe this stimulus package will have much of an effect on the economy as a whole.

However there is one small thing that our government can do that would relieve considerable financial stress on all sectors of our economy, from the private individual to corporate America. Our government needs to rein in the cost of fuel, from heating oil to the gas we put in our cars.

Controlling the cost of fuel would have a huge impact on our general economy. Food prices would come down because the cost of transportation of these goods would decline. People would have extra money to spend on goods and services, and vacations would become feasible again.

Of course, this is not a simple solution, because the current administration is so soaked in oil futures and indebted to the robber barons that they will never, ever consider this step. The next administration will have to take this on. I don't believe a Clinton Administration would do it, so Go Barack!!!

Revelation Number Nine

2008-03-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

The revelation yesterday that Governor Eliot Spitzer, who rose to power on a record of integrity and ethics, was using the services of $3100 an hour hookers (where did I go wrong on my career path???) has scandalized New York, and stunned the nation.

LTS has come to expect this sort of behavior from republicans, though to his credit Spitzer was not trolling for strange in the Port Authority Men's Rooms. Still, the hypocrisy is just the tip of the iceberg in this developing story. Potential money laundering charges, and investigations into whether public funds were channelled to pay for these escapades, are still pending.

Stay tuned, looks like the Gov is going down. Again.

I'm Back!

2008-02-20T20:50:00.000-08:00

Yes, friends, I am back. I had planned to return last week, but sick husband and kids, and my own sinus infection, set me back. I am back, and I am ready to roll. Keep reading!

LTS is on Hiatus

2007-10-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

My dear friends and readers…

As you know I have been a strong supporter and blogger for Governor Bill Richardson for a very long time. I believe with everything that I am that Bill Richardson is by far the best candidate for president that our country has seen in years.

I have been offered the opportunity to take my support to the next level and help Governor Richardson in a more substantial way, coordinating volunteers for the campaign. This is a really exciting opportunity, and I am proud to answer the call. So, for now, I feel an ethical obligation to refrain from blogging altogether. I will be back when the campaign is over. Until then, you can email me at cvalentecompton@richardsonforpresident.com to volunteer!

Cara
aka Liberaltruthsayer

Conservative Christian Rubber Lover Dead at 41

2007-10-10T09:26:00.000-07:00

The latest chapter in the continuing saga of Christian Conservative Super Freaks may be the most amusing yet. Unfortunately for Rev. Gary Aldridge his happy ending culminated in a tragic one. Just as Larry Craig and Ted Haggard, Aldridge will "go down in history," but won't get a "crack" at rehab to redeem himself.

Rev. Gary Aldridge was found dead in his home Sunday after failing to show up for church services. He was hogtied and wearing two full wet suits, with flippers, mask, and at the risk of being indelicate, well, just click here for further details...

Word to the wise, if you are a hellfire and damnation right wing christian, yet like to get a whole lot freaky in the boudoir, make sure you have a trustworthy companion with you (so much more fun with two than one) who can hear your muffled cries as you try to utter your safety word...

Some fun safety words for superfreaky religious nuts...

Praise Jesus!

Hallelujia!

Swaggart

Leviticus

Ann Coulter

And, kids, don't forget the buddy system!

The Most Hideous Under-reported Story of the Week

2007-09-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

Few people have ever heard of Carlos Arredondo. I came across a little blurb on Daily Kos earlier this week, and it was a pretty ignored diary, but then Wonkette paid it a little attention, with a link to Crooks and Liars. After following the story around I became pretty enraged. In fact, it really depressed me.

Carlos is a dad in mourning. His brave young son, Lance Cpl. Alexander Arredondo, gave his life in Iraq, and Carlos went to DC to protest the war. He had a memorial to his son with him, and this enraged a bunch of fat Nazi assholes who call themselves "Gathering of Eagles." They knocked Arredondo down, kicked him repeatedly, and tore up photos of his son. The Gathering of Eagles calls themselves patriots, but what they really are is a band of neanderthal bullies who have no understanding of what patriotism really means.

I know these photos are already on the web but I think it is important to put them out there again and again, so here goes...

The Bitch is Back

2007-09-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have been a slacker of late. I admit it. My heart just hasn't been in it...

Oh I know, we have had some great stuff to work with, we liberal bloggers. And I admit, I have spent a fair amount of time giggling about (ok really just laughing hysterically for long, protracted periods of time until my sides hurt) Larry Craig, and thought about writing. After all, how rich does the bounty have to be for me to jump in and wallow in it. How is that for a mixed metaphor?

Ewww...put the little dog down, Senator.

And OJ! Heaping gifts upon gifts. Where was I? I wasn't blogging! I was sitting on the sidelines though, waiting for the white Bronco low speed chase to resume.

He just can't help himself.

So how could I have squandered this precious time, and all the riches that the universe could bestow on me? I have no excuse. I was just lazy. But I am back. Now, all I ask is that the universe keep spitting out these tasty nuggets; the skeevy republican closet jobs, the Britney Spears drunken sprawls, the really juicy chunks of Bush speak.

Such a pretty girl.

And I think I can rest easily, because we all know that Bush speak, perverted prudes and celebrity skanks are flowing like water these days!

Stocks: More Market "Correction"

2007-08-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

Yes, the blow-dried stock girl on CNN was calling it "market correction."

Remember "The Shining" and the chilling scene where Grady, the former caretaker and troublemaking dead guy says this to Jack?...

"My girls, sir, they didn't care for the Overlook at first. One of them actually stole a pack of matches and tried to burn it down. But I... CORRECTED them, sir. And when my wife tried to prevent me from doing my duty, I CORRECTED her."

Correction. Yep, that sounds about right.

Amy Winehouse "I've Not Quit Rehab"

2007-08-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

Last week it was reported that she was hospitalized for exhaustion. Yes, I can see how that happens, shooting up on an empty stomach is really tiring. Amy, you are fantastic, but you need to eat something. Something large.

Apparently, rumors started circulating that she had bailed on treatment after leaving to go get a guitar from her home. She reportedly is headed back...read more here.

Desperate Man Throws Sick Wife Off Balcony

2007-08-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

Kansas City, MO...

This is a human being, just like you and me. He is being held in a jail cell for the murder of his wife.

She was gravely ill, and had no insurance. Their assets were dwindling, and her medical care was costing them hundreds per week. Unable to provide her with any further medical care, this by all accounts loving husband gave her a kiss and dropped his 75 lb wife four stories to her death.

Coincidentally, today there will be a free screening of Michael Moore's expose on the health care industry, "Sicko", provided by Heartland Health Care for All, and will include personal appearances by locals in the documentary. If you happen to live in the area, even if you have already seen this brilliant film, go, and drop a few bucks in the hat to help these good people do their good work.

Good God, how far we have gone astray.

Shrubette Engaged

2007-08-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

Demure and delicate Jenna Bush, daughter of our beloved (shit I really can't type that with a straight face) Pretzledent, is engaged. Aw!

A nation of horny frat boys weeps.

Oh the joyous anticipation of the honeymoon photos...doubtless there will be countless Kodak moments of her face-down drunk on the beach, doubtless nude.

I wonder if the "Girls Gone Wild" crowd will cover the bachelorette party!

Oh and of course, the children that will come of this beautiful union, bundles of joy all...

Ohhhh the children....

He looks just like his grandpa!

He has his mother's eyes.

My Experience at Yearly Kos

2007-08-09T13:40:00.000-07:00

Wow. That is all I can really say right now. I have finally caught up with sleep, yay! Oh and my sprained ankle that was aggravated by the miles of walking through airports, convention centers, and up flights of stairs for my "HOTEL" room, is finally walkable and the swelling has gone down! YAY AGAIN!

It was a wonderful experience. I have to say a few things about the people helping Bill Richardson with this event. Joaquin and Andrea from the Richardson staff did an incredible job of getting us organized, and were so great at networking and just were full of energy and fun. I am so glad I got to spend some time with them.

My favorite part, though, was meeting Ken Camp of America for Richardson and Washington for Richardson. He and I have been in contact for several months, and I knew he was a great guy, but had NO IDEA. Ken is the kind of person that you feel like you have known for years, like one of your kid brother's college buddies or something. He helped me get my ginormous bag up to my penthouse suite at the Chinatown Hotel, was game for trying Greek food with me, and was an all around great guy to be with. We talked about our spouses, our kids, our extended families...it was just wonderful. It was just like being with an old friend. I hope that Ken and his family can come visit us in New Mexico soon, and I would love to haul the rugrats up to Washington, too.

Of course, seeing Governor Richardson was terrific, he did great in the Presidential Leadership Forum, and even better in the break out session, where Kossacks got to ask questions. It was really an amazing event.

I am looking forward to next year's convention, which will be called "The Netroots Nation".

Rep. Bob Allen Splains it All

2007-08-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

It makes perfect sense. Former Florida Co-Chair for McCain and current State Rep. Bob Allen offers a perfectly good explanation for his astounding arrest last month for offering to perform the job we call blow on an undercover cop in a public men's room AND pay him $20 for the honor...he was scared!

"This was a pretty stocky black guy, and there was nothing but other black guys around in the park," Allen, who is white, told police in a taped statement after his arrest. Allen said he feared he "was about to be a statistic" and would have said anything just to get away.

For MORE lurid and hilarious details, see this article...Click!

It makes sense, though, who among us hasn't been in the same situtation, frightened by a large black man, and offered to perform services and pay to do so?

Senator Allen, I wish you luck in the private sector.

Live from Yearly Kos

2007-08-03T10:57:00.000-07:00

Howdy from Chicago, which I will always call Sweatsville. Jeez, what is up with the humidity???

So I am sitting here in a blissfully air conditioned convention center with my pal Ken Camp from Washington for Richardson and America for Richardson. Don't we look fabulous?

We are live blogging here from the glorious "Bill O'Reilly fan club" aka the Yearly Kos Convention and manning the Bill Richardson for President booth. We have a hearty supply of biscochitos, the official cookie of the state of New Mexico, tons of campaign lit and swag, and a nearby Starbucks, so we will be fine!

Bullies in the Sandbox

2007-07-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

From the AP...

DETROIT (AP) - Democrats John Edwards and Hillary Rodham Clinton consider themselves among the top presidential candidates.
They were caught by Fox News microphones discussing their desire to limit future joint appearances to exclude some lower rivals after a forum in Detroit Thursday.
Edwards says, "We should try to have a more serious and a smaller group."
Clinton agrees, saying, "We've got to cut the number" and "they're not serious." She also says that she thought their campaigns had already tried to limit the debates and say, "We've gotta get back to it."

Hmm...how, oh I don't know, UNDEMOCRATIC. Look, no matter who the party's nominee is, I will be gung-ho for, but right now I would like for the field to remain large. I know the top tier candidates enjoy a distinct advantage over the rest of the field, but it is far too early to narrow the field. It's a big sandbox kids, play nice.

Another Christian Conservative Bites the...well, you know...

2007-07-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

Bob Allen (R-Water Sports Enthusiast and self loather)

Titusville police say they have arrested Florida State Rep. Robert "Bob" Allen, of Merrit Island, on second degree misdemeanor charges for soliciation for prostiution.Allen, 48, was arrested Wednesday afternoon at Veteran's Memorial Park on East Broad St. in Titusville. The park was under surveillance by a detail of undercover police officers. Officers say they noticed Allen acting suspicious as he went in and out of the men's restroom 3 times. Minutes later, he solicited an undercover male officer inside the restroom, offering to perform oral sex for $20. Officers realized he was a public figure after the arrest.

Allen, a Republican, represents District 32 of the State House of Representatives. The district spans parts of Brevard and Orange counties. Allen was first elected to the office in 2000.

Well, who could blame the guy, after all? Visiting dead soldiers really gets Republicans hot.

Breaking News! Osama Still At Large

2007-07-12T15:26:00.000-07:00

US Intelligence reports show that Osama and his band of thugs are still determined to attack within the United States. Should someone wake Bush at this point?

If You Build It, He Will Come

2007-07-12T15:19:00.000-07:00

Des Moines, IA--Governor Bill Richardson stopped along the campaign trail yesterday to visit the site of one of the all time greatest films, Field of Dreams, which according to Richardson he has seen 18 times, about half as many as my brother David has, and about twice as many as I have.

He also says that if he were president he would pardon Shoeless Joe. Atta boy, Bill. Just don't pardon Bush or Cheney or Rove, k?

Bill walks in 4th of July parades

2007-07-09T15:07:00.001-07:00

Governor Richardson was in New Hampshire over the holiday, and here is a great video....

Scooter Skates

2007-07-02T15:18:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's right, Scooter Libby has narrowly escaped learning just how bad his nickname would have served him in prison.

For the shameful story click here...

Gotta Love This...

2007-07-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

The resemblance is really quite chilling.

One Crazy Summer

2007-07-02T10:40:00.001-07:00

Well it is officially summer and the heat is making everyone insane I think. The Supremes decided that 50 years of struggle for civil equality was enough and called do-overs on Brown v. Board of Education. I am getting really sick of this court.

Also, second quarter fundraising totals are being released, on the subject of lunacy. Obama raised something over $32.5 million, Hillary Clinton about $21 million...are they talking about actual MONEY? Insane. Bill Richardson raised a cool $7 million. Now that may seem like chicken feed compared to his rivals' huge warchests, but it is a respectable amount and proves that he is able to increase his fundraising and poll numbers at the same time. I keep saying he is the one to watch in this race.

In other crazy news, some guy in New York strangled and beat a peacock for impersonating a vampire.

Get ready for a hot, wild one kids. It's only July 2.

The Supremes Strike Down "Bong Hits for Jesus"

2007-06-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

Reached for comment, Jesus was quoted as saying sadly, "Dude, that's bogus."

More at HuffPo.

Go Directly to Jail, Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200

2007-06-14T12:14:00.000-07:00

Scooter, seen here, rethinking his poorly chosen nickname.

A federal judge on Thursday ordered I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby to report to prison while his attorneys appeal his perjury and obstruction convictions.

Libby's attorneys asked that the order be stayed, but U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton denied the request and told Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff that he has 10 days to appeal the ruling.

read all about it!!!!

Richardson Was GREAT on Meet the Press

2007-05-31T06:25:00.000-07:00

Sorry peeps for my protracted absence. I have been in the midst of moving off the mountaintop and into the city so I can reconnect with the human species. In the midst of that I have had two laptops and a PC crash, and my beloved grandmother, Lee, passed away. It has been a rough few weeks.

So, I noticed that some of my brothers and sisters of the blog have been less than kind to my man, Bill Richardson, in my absence. This displeases me (in my head I sound like Don Corleone when I say this). Much of the fuss has been about Richardson's performance on Meet the Press Sunday with Tim Russert.

Seriously?

I watched that interview on Tuesday, once the dust had settled after this hectic weekend, and I didn't think he did a bad job at all, in fact I thought he handled most of the questions deftly. Here is the complete transcript:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18818527/

Of course, no matter how many times he answers the same old tired questions he will always be asked about them. I think that frustration and exasperation showed a bit. In my opinion he has answered the Gonzales, Whizzer White, and baseball draft questions satisfactorily. He was honest, and apparently honesty is not appreciated in today's political climate. I think that people want him to change his story so they can pounce on him as a flip-flopper and a liar. There is no satisfying this crowd.

What makes me really angry is Russert put up a bunch of statistics that made New Mexico seem like a poor cousin of the third world. Russert said, "This is New Mexico’s scorecard, and you are the governor. Percent of people living below the poverty line, you’re 48. Percent of children below, 48. Median family income, 47. People without health insurance, 49. Children without health insurance, 46. Teen high school dropouts, 47. Death rate due to firearms, 48. Violent crime rate, 46. You’re the very bottom of all those statistics of all 50 states, and you’re the governor for five years." When Richardson tried to answer the question Russert cut him off and said, "But these rankings are troubling." Yes, New Mexico is a state with poverty and crime, but great progress has been made, and the thanks belongs largely to our brilliant Governor. Thanks to Bill Richardson every child under the age of 5 is covered by health insurance. Richardon's pro-growth agenda has created 82,000 jobs, and that number should impress anyone, especially given New Mexico's population, which is not much over 1.5M. Many of these jobs are high paying jobs, because Governor Richardson has offered tax incentives to companies that were willing to bring jobs to the state that paid over the prevailing wage. Speaking of wages, Richardson has been instrumental to New Mexico raising the minimum wage...but I digress, back to the interview.

Russert slams Richardson for getting the name of a Marine killed in our war of terror wrong and using a conversation he had with the marine's mom on the campaign trail. This is really hideous, Richardson is nothing less than a hero. When he learned that the death benefit to reserve soldiers was only $11,000, he was horrified and raised it to $250,000. Richardson is a HERO for this. 36 other states have followed his lead, and now the federal government is, too.

And, as if this really matters at all, with all of the serious issues facing America today, there is the Boston Red Sox/New York Yankees issue, clearly the most salient and relevant issue of our time, and Russert devoted a lot of time to this. Listen, it is possible to be both a Sox fan and a Yanks fan as LONG AS YOU DO NOT LIVE IN EITHER PLACE. Let's talk about things that really matter. Let's talk about jobs, health care, energy, the environment, and the war. In all these areas Richardson has the best plan, if only we will listen.

Obama on the Kansas Twister

2007-05-11T15:16:00.001-07:00

Ten thousand dead?

How I Have Let You Down

2007-05-11T10:40:00.000-07:00

Bad! Bad! Lazy blogger!

Well, yes I am, but I have had a lot going on lately. These things include an impending move, a head cold, the death of a friend, my usual "four kids" busy life, and trying to keep up with the activities on the Snarkiest Spot on the Blogosphere...Daily Kos. I have been writing diaries for Governor Richardson, and some other topics as well, and it has consumed a lot of my online time, and mental energy. In between I have been trying to improve my Scrabble game, with not much success.

So here I am. I have some great stuff today that I am going to get on here. I can't believe I have neglected you in light of the Gonzo scandal, the Republican War Revolt, and the Wolfowitz Girlfriend Promotion Scandal. I am so sorry.

Bear with me for the next few weeks with the move, I may be sans internet service for a few days as service from one place will disconnect before I get fully moved into the second place.

Governor Bill Richardson Calls for US Leadership and Action to Stop Darfur Genocide

2007-04-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

Richardson tells Global Darfur Days rally time is running out- waiting just means more people will die

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today challenged the Bush administration to take significant and meaningful action to help end the deadly violence taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan. The Governor told the crowd of people attending the Global Darfur Days rally in San Francisco that the people of Darfur want to know when the world is going to help.
"Time is running out for the people of Darfur. The people there cannot wait much longer, for waiting means more death, more broken families, more children without a future," said Governor Richardson. "This is a defining moment for the United States. We have an opportunity to lead the world in taking action to end the killing in Darfur and we must not blow it."
The Governor, who is seeking the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination, is the only candidate who has toured the troubled Darfur region of Sudan, negotiated the release of hostages and prisoners from Sudan, and brokered a cease-fire between rebel groups and the Sudanese government.
Governor Richardson outlined his strategies for US leadership on Darfur:
First, America must make peace in Darfur a much higher priority. I agree with Save Darfur--we need full-time, high-level US diplomacy dedicated to ending this crisis.
Second, America must engage Sudan's economic and political partners--China Pakistan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the Arab League to build a multilateral coalition with real leverage. That could begin by endorsing the Arab League's commitments on Darfur--to aid the African Union's mission, to fund development in Darfur, and to support the UN hybrid force in Sudan.
Third, we should deploy a UN peacekeeping force to eastern Chad to prevent a regionalization of the conflict. America should join other wealthy countries to fund refugee camps in neighboring countries and assure that those weak states bend to accommodate, but do not break from the pressure.
Fourth, we should use our full diplomatic weaponry --offering incentives for compliance and threatening multilateral sanctions for resistance to both the Government of Sudan and the various rebel groups.
Fifth, we must develop agreed upon negotiating positions among the rebel factions, to assure that any common resolution won't be quickly undone by one dissatisfied rebel group.
Last, America should join the International Criminal Court.
"It's time for America to live up to its own ideals. It is time to do the right thing. It is time to Save Darfur," added the Governor.
Governor Richardson has dealt extensively with Africa and Sudan during his career, as a Congressman, US Ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary of Energy, and even as two-term Governor of New Mexico:
In 1996 Governor Richardson secured the release of pilot John Early of Albuquerque, NM, and two Red Cross workers who were being held hostage by Sudanese rebels,
In September, 2006 Governor Richardson negotiated with President al-Bashir and secured the release of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist (and New Mexico resident) Paul Salopek and two colleagues from Chad. The trio had been arrested and charged with espionage,
In January, 2007 Governor Richardson met in relocation camps with Sudanese people displaced by the fighting, and negotiated a cease-fire between the government and rebel leaders in Darfur.

Here is the complete text of the Governor's remarks today in San Francisco:
Global Days for DarfurSan Francisco RallySunday, April 29, 2007

Thank you for being here and showing your support for this urgent and worthy cause. I can tell you from experience the Sudanese people appreciate everything you do, they are crying out for help, and they are calling for the international community, and specifically for the United States to help stop the killing and restore peace in Darfur.
It is time for the United States to answer that call.
Throughout my career- as a Congressman, Ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary of Energy, and Governor- I have worked to bring people together to solve crises, to reach agreements, to get things done. I understand tough, direct diplomacy and international leadership. That's exactly what is needed here.
This is a defining moment for this country. The United States has an opportunity to lead the world in taking action to end the killing in Darfur and we must not blow it.
I have been to Sudan and to Darfur a number of times and I know the region well. In 1996 I worked with Sudanese President al-Bashir to secure the release of three Red Cross workers who had been captured by rebels. Last fall I convinced Bashir to release an American journalist and his two Chadian colleagues who had been arrested and charged with spying.
And in January, at the request of Save Darfur, and with their help, I returned to Sudan. I saw with my own eyes the frustration of the African Union force commander who is desperately undermanned and outgunned. I negotiated a fragile cease-fire among several rebel groups and the government forces and pushed Bashir to allow UN peacekeeping forces into Darfur.
We set the stage for an ongoing dialogue that could have, and should have reduced the violence and moved the peace process forward. Unfortunately, there was no on-the ground diplomatic follow-up and that cease-fire did not hold. The US Government dropped the ball- again.
We've wasted time hemming and hawing and hand-wringing about what we should do, when the truth is we need to act. We need to lead. We need to do everything we can to stop the violence.
Time is running out for the people of Darfur. The people there cannot wait much longer, for waiting means more death, more broken families, more children without a future.
400-thousand killed. Two-point-five million people displaced. Estimates are the killing could reach 100-thousand per month if the world does not act. That is not acceptable.
You know, the people of Darfur are remarkable. In the As-Salaam Camp near El Fasher, I met women who had lost everything- their husbands, their homes, and all their possessions. Many wait for weeks, sometimes months, under tents in stifling heat, to be processed into the camp, where they are issued a small plot of land and some meager supplies.
Despite the tragedy they have faced, despite what they have lost, they have incredible spirit- an optimism that you would not expect.
But they asked me a tough question. They want to know why the United States is not doing more to help, why we're not mobilizing the world to come to their aid. I couldn't answer that question.
My friends, we cannot let them down. This is a great human tragedy, time is running out, and we have to act.
America should have been engaged long ago, but continuing a pattern of intermittent and inconsistent, indirect and occasional involvement is not the America that we expect and we need a better, more urgent response.
Even tough guys will listen when you hold a big stick in one hand and have a carrot in the other. Talking to people is no guarantee of success, but refusing to talk is a guarantee of failure.
As Nelson Mandela once told me "If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner."
The White House has for months been working on a plan for Darfur, but for years has failed to assert its influence among our allies and friends to bring an immediate halt to this conflict. The administration's recent announcement falls woefully short of actions backing up words. We need a strategy that's aggressive, bold, and realistic and has a chance of achieving a workable and durable political settlement to this tragedy.
Time is running out.
First, America must make peace in Darfur a much higher priority. I agree with SaveDarfur--we need full-time, high-level US diplomacy dedicated to ending this crisis.
Second, America must engage Sudan's economic and political partners--China Pakistan, Malaysia, Saudia Arabia, Jordan and the Arab League to build a multilateral coalition with real leverage. That could begin by endorsing the Arab League's commitments on Darfur--to aid the African Union's mission, to fund development in Darfur, and to support the UN hybrid force in Sudan.
Third, we should deploy a UN peacekeeping force to eastern Chad to prevent a regionalization of the conflict. America should join other wealthy countries to fund refugee camps in neighboring countries and assure that those weak states bend to accommodate, but do not break from the pressure.
Fourth, we should use our full diplomatic weaponry--offering incentives for compliance and threatening multilateral sanctions for resistance to both the Government of Sudan and the various rebel groups.
Fifth, we must develop agreed upon negotiating positions among the rebel factions, to assure that any common resolution won't be quickly undone by one dissatisfied rebel group.
Last, America should join the International Criminal Court.
It's time for America to live up to its own ideals. It is time to do the right thing. It is time to Save Darfur.
You can help. Keep the pressure on Congress. Keep the pressure on the White House. We must keep raising our voices until the people in Darfur can hear us.
Time is running out for the people of Darfur. Fortunately, time is also running out on this administration.

Governor Richardson on returning from North Korea

2007-04-14T12:18:00.001-07:00

We are so lucky here in New Mexico to have this brilliant man, the good news for the rest of the country is Richardson is running for President!

Say Hey...Did I Drop Acid This Morning?

2007-04-14T09:21:00.001-07:00

This commercial is just plain strange.

CNN Sucks

2007-04-12T13:37:00.001-07:00

Breaking news! I get these alerts of breaking news from CNN in my email, because I am a hopeless news junkie. This is the garbage I have gotten this week...

BREAKING NEWS!
-- The local prosecutor who charged three Duke lacrosse players with raping a stripper apologizes to the athletes, The Associated Press reports.
(WOW!)

BREAKING NEWS!
-- An explosion has occurred in the cafeteria of Iraq's parliament building where members of parliament were having lunch and there are casualities, according to Iraqi state television.
(OK, that is real news...thanks for the information).

BREAKING NEWS!
-- Kurt Vonnegut, whose novels included "Slaughterhouse Five" and "Cat's Cradle," has died at 84, his wife tells The Associated Press.
(Sad, true, but at 84...hardly shocking, or breaking.)

BREAKING NEWS!
-- MSNBC is canceling its simulcast of Don Imus' radio show after he made racially charged remarks about Rutgers women's basketball team.
(Who really needs to know this???)

BREAKING NEWS!
-- David Evans, one of the three men exonerated today when the final charges in the Duke lacrosse sex case were dropped, said they went "to hell and back" and he hoped changes to the legal system would be made as a result of their case.
(Shocking!)

BREAKING NEWS!
-- Defense Secretary Robert Gates extends Army unit tours of duty to up to 15 months and says they will be given 12 months at home after a tour ends.
(Oh my goodness, some actual NEWS sneaked through the system!)

BREAKING NEWS!
-- North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper drops all sexual assault and kidnap charges against three men stemming from a Duke lacrosse team party.
(Ah nice, local news. I don't live in NC though!)

BREAKING NEWS!
-- Larry Birkhead is the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby, a court in the Bahamas rules. Birkhead said he hopes to have custody soon.
(All those sleepless nights I have spent worrying about this are over!)

BREAKING NEWS!
-- Controversial radio host Don Imus will be suspended for two weeks starting Monday April 16, NBC reports.
(Again, friggin wow.)

Does anyone care about the fact that the network news media has been almost singularly focused on Imus this week?

It seems to me there is plenty of real news going on without me needing alerts about Anna Nicole's baby or the Duke Lacrosse team.

Richardson's North Korean Breakthrough

2007-04-11T18:35:00.000-07:00

The following is an email I got from Governor Bill Richardson today...lts...

After years of confrontation with virtually the entire world, the regime in North Korea yesterday took its first steps away from its policy of nuclear confrontation.
The North Koreans agreed to begin shutting down their Yongbyon atomic reactor, the facility that provides fuel for their nuclear weapons, and say they will allow UN weapons inspectors back into the country for the first time in five years.
The world is a safer place today, and I am proud to have played a role in securing this agreement.
I was in Pyongyang this week to secure the remains of six American servicemen who died during the Korean War.
This is a very positive gesture on the part of the North Korean government. Hopefully it will help heal the wounds from the Korean War and start a process to bring closure to the thousands of American families awaiting word about their loved ones who perished.
My years of experience dealing with North Korea and my knowledge of the region allowed me to help facilitate this new resolution to end their nuclear weapons program.
It will take a while for the media to understand the impact of this historic accord. NBC's Andrea Mitchell was the only network journalist in North Korea with us, and she has been leading the way with forward-looking coverage of this week's events.
Click here to watch MSNBC's coverage of North Korea's breakthrough announcement.
The bottom line is that diplomacy works - there is no other lesson to draw from this monumental breakthrough. And we desperately need someone in the White House who understands this and can restore American international leadership.
In today's world, we have to be willing to engage our adversaries in tough and direct talks that lead to resolution, not more confrontation and isolation. I don't have to tell you that there are trouble spots all over the world that could use some of this tough and smart American diplomacy.
I'm running for President, in part, to keep our country safe and secure. I'm proud that yesterday in North Korea I was able to make a contribution to real progress toward that goal.
Sincerely,
Governor Bill Richardson

Sweet Jesus! Get a Load of Those Milk Duds!!!

2007-03-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

It's Sacri-licious!

Great article HERE

"Dear Easter Bunny....It would be so nice to find one of these in my basket this year. Also, come of those new orange creame Cadbury Eggs. Yum. Love, LTS"

Skankbeast Limpballs Slurs Edwards AGAIN!

2007-03-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

Rush Limbaugh, the drug addled nazi gasbag, took Ann Coulter's penis out of his mouth long enough to unleash another attack on John Edwards today, this time to posit that The Edwards's announcement that Elizabeth's "incurable cancer" would not derail the campaign was staged to give the campaign a boost. Now, I am a Richardson girl, but this makes my blood boil.

How long is this asshole going to be given a forum?

Here is a transcript: (source Media Matters)

LIMBAUGH: We will get to your phone calls here in a jiffy, folks, but first, three sound bites here. Two from John Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards, and then one from [Newsweek chief political correspondent] Howard Fineman.
Now, I made mention mere moments ago that the new website Politico has broken two scoops this week, both proving to be untrue. The first was that [Attorney General] Alberto Gonzales is going to quit and that the White House had asked Republicans out there to find potential replacements. The second one was just this morning, that Edwards was going to suspend the campaign. And just the opposite happened.
Now, I'm going to play these two bites. Edwards and -- John Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards to set up Howard Fineman, who commented on this later, because it provides perhaps a little insight into what happened.
Ben Smith is the blogger at The Politico who broke the story this morning that Edwards is going to suspend the campaign. He's got egg all over his face, and he's just put a post on his blog. "Hey, look, I talked to a source really close to 'em, and the source said they were going to suspend the campaign. And, you know, we were astounded. We were shocked by this. We apologize for this, but I trust this source. I'm not going to reveal the source's identity, but this source has never gotten anything like this wrong."
So you'll hear Howard Fineman's bite, and it might give you some insight here into what went on. Here, first, is Senator Edwards himself responding to a question, "What does this mean for your campaign? Are you going to suspend any activities, fundraising, travel?"
[...]
LIMBAUGH: Now, Howard Fineman -- I played those two bites to set this up. This is Howard Fineman on PMSNBC [sic] after the announcement that Elizabeth Edwards' cancer has returned but that Senator Edwards will continue his presidential campaign. This is Howard Fineman to Chris Matthews [host of MSNBC's Hardball].
FINEMAN [audio clip]: I think this is somewhat of a surprise. I think there were some websites here in Washington that were predicting that he would suspend or even drop out. That turned out not to be the case. This is an ongoing story, and this is a metaphor for how they want to fight for the country. They're willing to take the public-relations risk of analogizing their own family situation and the bravery that they've shown and the guts that they've shown to the kind of leadership that they want to offer the county. That's pretty bold, but that's the world that we live in now, Chris, where people's personal lives are analogized to their political beings. And that's what we're seeing with the Edwardses. I thought that was -- looked at politically -- diagnosed, if you will, politically, that was a 10-strike of a press conference. They showed guts. It was nothing short of remarkable and somewhat unexpected, and it's always great when something unexpected happens around here.
LIMBAUGH: Yes, it is great when something unexpected -- it's fabulous when there's a surprise. Isn't it sort of boring when we find -- what, Mr. Snerdly? Of course I know how that sounds. Of course I know. It sounds slavish. It sounds absolutely slavish.
But lookit -- he's right. There's been a -- people are sharing -- in the old days, this announcement would not have been public, and it certainly wouldn't have been tied to a campaign. It's a different era now. This is -- I'm telling you, this is to jump-start the campaign. This is to see if it'll jump-start the campaign. And we'll find out the next three or four days or whatever, week, if that happens.
But this business about this being a surprise makes me think that the leak that was planted today was purposely wrong to create surprise, to make sure everybody thought, "Oh, we know what's coming." And then have it blown away. The campaign's -- "Ooh, the campaign's going to go on. Oh, well, we thought it was going to be suspended."
You know, we all get all these press releases in advance of the State of the Union address. We all know what's going to be said before it airs. There's no surprises. This was a surprise. May have been done on purpose.
[...]
LIMBAUGH: The whole crew on the other side of the glass, apoplectic at a comment I just made before the break. And the comment about which they are apoplectic is when I responded to Howard Fineman. Howard Fineman, talking about how everybody was expecting Edwards to announce his campaign was going to be suspended because of a report on the Politico website this morning that that was the case. And he went on to say, "This was a total surprise. It was a 100 percent, total surprise." And I, reacting to that, said, "Yeah, it was a total surprise. And I wouldn't be surprised if whoever the source is purposely leaked something not true to The Politico in order to set up the surprise."
Because Fineman's right -- what good's watching a press conference when you know what's going to happen? Every time there's a press conference of something -- be it a presidential press conference, State of the Union address -- there's always the text of the speech or whatever before it goes out. Other than a, you know, a news conference, which is ad-libbed, you don't know what the questions are going to be. But, you know, we all know what's going to happen before it happens. That's the way public relations works.
Then all of a sudden, they set this up. This was a giant surprise, and everybody in Washington -- Fineman was talking about it -- everybody, CBS. CBS broke into programming at 11 o'clock when the Politico thing hit to announce that the Edwards campaign was going to be suspended. Now everybody in Washington and in the drive-by media circles is wondering how the hell this happened. Because it's so unusual. When something leaks from a source close to the campaign about what's going to be at a press conference, that's generally what happens.
Now, I have here the latest blog from Ben Smith at The Politico. I'm going to read it to you. It's called "Getting It Wrong."
"A single, confident source close to John Edwards told me this morning that Edwards was suspending his campaign, and I posted it to the blog at 11:06. My source and I were wrong. The source, whose anonymity I agreed to respect, spoke of the kind of grim prognosis Elizabeth Edwards herself just described hearing before a second round of tests came back. I trusted the source, somebody I've known for several years, and who has always been reliable. And with less than an hour before Edwards was to announce, I unwisely wrote the item without getting a second source. When the campaign pushed back harder than I'd expected, I added that information to the original item, but didn't undo the damage. My apologies to our readers for passing on bad information."
Is it not reasonable to think that perhaps the source purposely passed on something just to set up the surprise that Howard Fineman, drive-by media extraordinaire, thinks is just jolly? Thinks this is great, that something that -- we love surprises in these things.
This is not a criticism. This is -- look, this is P.R. This is how you play the media. People on the other side of the glass -- "I can't believe it. The left-wing blogs are going to be all over this. Limbaugh said that the Edwards campaign lied to The Politico." [inaudible] You know, in public relations and politics, just what is a lie and what isn't? It's all a game.
I want to go back and I want you to listen to this Howard Fineman bit one more time, and I want to ax [sic] you as you listen to this if there's something about it -- and I referred to it as "slavish" -- but is there something else about this that strikes you?
Now, let me put this in context. This is Howard Fineman reacting to the news he's just learned in a press conference with John and Elizabeth Edwards that she has incurable cancer. It has spread to the bones. It is Stage Four. Life expectancy here -- survival rate of five years, 20 percent. Survivable rate of five years. She's got -- cancer's treatable, but -- we've all just heard this press conference, essentially saying that she's dying and Edwards is going to keep the campaign going. She's going to be part of it.
See if there's anything that jumps out about -- there's not a secret sentence here that will give it away. There's not a single -- I'm not asking you to listen for something specific. Just the whole bite, and the concept and the tone of it. Is there something here that sort of makes you curious, raises red flags or whatever? Here it is.

Media Matters lists a variety of places where you can vent your anger...and I will here too....

Contact: Rush Limbaugh
rush@eibnet.com
Contact: Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Radio Networks Premiere Radio Networks, Inc. 15260 Ventura Blvd. 5th Floor Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 Main: (818)377-5300 Fax: (818)377-5333 Toll Free: (800)533-8686
Contact: The Rush Limbaugh Show
1-800-282-2882 rush@eibnet.com fax: 212-563-9166 The Rush Limbaugh Show 1270 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020

Sluts R Us Redux: Newtie Speaks

2007-03-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

"Hey...it's not the size of the boat, its the motion of the ocean!"

Newt Gingrich, republican candidate for president, has said he doesn't think that candidates' personal lives should be brought into the debate.

Oh really?

That's pretty funny stuff coming from Gingrich, who lead the witch hunt against Bill Clinton. Clinton was on trial for being on the receiving end of the game "Head of State" and at the time old Newtie was banging more than just a gavel. He was engaged in an affair with a staffer while married.

Curiously, only the republicans on the field seem to have issues with infidelity and divorce (multiple for each candidate) but one of them will be sure to get the "Focus on the Family" award and endorsement.

Across the aisle all of the candidates for the democratic nomination have been married just once.

Bush to Congress: No Subpoenas

2007-03-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

The rest of the story....

David Iglesias, Come to the Light!

2007-03-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

rico.....suave....

Ok, so David Iglesias may be jobless at the moment, but I think that he will miss a HUGE opportunity if he doesn't come over to the left. We liberals will welcome with open arms this gorgeous hunk of special prosecutorness, am I right ladies?

Here is his side of the story...

Why I Was Fired by David C. Iglesias

With this week’s release of more than 3,000 Justice Department e-mail messages about the dismissal of eight federal prosecutors, it seems clear that politics played a role in the ousters.Of course, as one of the eight, I’ve felt this way for some time. But now that the record is out there in black and white for the rest of the country to see, the argument that we were fired for “performance related” reasons (in the words of Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty) is starting to look more than a little wobbly.

United States attorneys have a long history of being insulated from politics. Although we receive our appointments through the political process (I am a Republican who was recommended by Senator Pete Domenici), we are expected to be apolitical once we are in office. I will never forget John Ashcroft, then the attorney general, telling me during the summer of 2001 that politics should play no role during my tenure. I took that message to heart. Little did I know that I could be fired for not being political.

Politics entered my life with two phone calls that I received last fall, just before the November election. One came from Representative Heather Wilson and the other from Senator Domenici, both Republicans from my state, New Mexico.Ms. Wilson asked me about sealed indictments pertaining to a politically charged corruption case widely reported in the news media involving local Democrats. Her question instantly put me on guard. Prosecutors may not legally talk about indictments, so I was evasive. Shortly after speaking to Ms. Wilson, I received a call from Senator Domenici at my home. The senator wanted to know whether I was going to file corruption charges — the cases Ms. Wilson had been asking about — before November. When I told him that I didn’t think so, he said, “I am very sorry to hear that,” and the line went dead.

A few weeks after those phone calls, my name was added to a list of United States attorneys who would be asked to resign — even though I had excellent office evaluations, the biggest political corruption prosecutions in New Mexico history, a record number of overall prosecutions and a 95 percent conviction rate. (In one of the documents released this week, I was deemed a “diverse up and comer” in 2004. Two years later I was asked to resign with no reasons given.)When some of my fired colleagues — Daniel Bogden of Las Vegas; Paul Charlton of Phoenix; H. E. Cummins III of Little Rock, Ark.; Carol Lam of San Diego; and John McKay of Seattle — and I testified before Congress on March 6, a disturbing pattern began to emerge. Not only had we not been insulated from politics, we had apparently been singled out for political reasons. (Among the Justice Department’s released documents is one describing the office of Senator Domenici as being “happy as a clam” that I was fired.)

As this story has unfolded these last few weeks, much has been made of my decision to not prosecute alleged voter fraud in New Mexico. Without the benefit of reviewing evidence gleaned from F.B.I. investigative reports, party officials in my state have said that I should have begun a prosecution. What the critics, who don’t have any experience as prosecutors, have asserted is reprehensible — namely that I should have proceeded without having proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The public has a right to believe that prosecution decisions are made on legal, not political, grounds.

What’s more, their narrative has largely ignored that I was one of just two United States attorneys in the country to create a voter-fraud task force in 2004. Mine was bipartisan, and it included state and local law enforcement and election officials.After reviewing more than 100 complaints of voter fraud, I felt there was one possible case that should be prosecuted federally. I worked with the F.B.I. and the Justice Department’s public integrity section. As much as I wanted to prosecute the case, I could not overcome evidentiary problems. The Justice Department and the F.B.I. did not disagree with my decision in the end not to prosecute.

Good has already come from this scandal. Yesterday, the Senate voted to overturn a 2006 provision in the Patriot Act that allows the attorney general to appoint indefinite interim United States attorneys. The attorney general’s chief of staff has resigned and been replaced by a respected career federal prosecutor, Chuck Rosenberg. The president and attorney general have admitted that “mistakes were made,” and Mr. Domenici and Ms. Wilson have publicly acknowledged calling me.

President Bush addressed this scandal yesterday. I appreciate his gratitude for my service — this marks the first time I have been thanked. But only a written retraction by the Justice Department setting the record straight regarding my performance would settle the issue for me.

David C. Iglesias was United States attorney for the District of New Mexico from October 2001 through last month.

Richardson Calls for Withdrawl from Iraq

2007-03-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

SANTA FE (AP) - Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson is again calling for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, says the troops have done all they can and it's time to bring them home.

His comments came the day before the fourth anniversary of the start of the US-led war in Iraq. Richardson also is asking Americans to say a prayer for U-S military personnel serving their country and for the family and friends of those Americans who have died in the conflict.

Richardson says President Bush is deaf to the will of the people. In his words, "This is not presidential greatness. This is a great tragedy."

Support Bill Richardson for President Website

2007-03-20T08:11:00.000-07:00

There is a brand new website up in favor of Governor Richardson's candidacy for the White House...Support Bill Richardson for President. I received an email from its creator, Jonathan Strong in Washington, DC. today directing me to it. I love Jonathan's message, that Richardson has the "Experience, Brains and Guts" necessary to lead our great nation. He also has some great bumperstickers!

Be sure too put this great site in your favorites, and add it to your blogrolls!

Sluts "R" Us

2007-03-09T21:04:00.000-08:00

One thing that we liberals have had to hear ad nauseum is how the conservatives have a lock on morality and marital fidelity and "family values" (the phrase that makes me most violently ill). How many of us heard our republican relatives admonish us for supporting Bill Clinton? "If his wife can't trust him, how can I?" was the talking point I heard time and again...

Well kids, the ho is on the other foot now. Three of the main contender for the republican nomination in 2008 are admitted, repeat offending, unrepentant adulterers. Let's review...

Rudy Guiliani, here doing his famous "Birdcage" act, was famously thrown out of the Mayor's residence for his very public affair, which has led to a very public estrangement from his children.

Here is why LTS adores politicians, they tend to talk with their hands a lot. Here Newt seems to be describing what he brings to the party. Sad.

Yes, friends, it is widely known that during the impeachment hearings against Bill Clinton for crimes involving an act known as "Head of State" Newtie was banging more than a gavel. He is also fondly remembered for serving his wife divorce papers in the hospital while she was suffering from cancer. What a wiener. A small, pathetic, limp little wiener.

Um, yeah. I don't think I even need to elaborate here...eeeewwww.

The other day I was chatting with a relative who had given me much crap during the Clinton years, and I must say when she was extolling the virtues of Newt to me, I just couldn't a resist the query...

"But if his wife can't trust him, then how can you?"

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I Don't Even Know What to File This Under....

2007-03-09T20:36:00.000-08:00

...but I ran across the strangest website tonight while scoping out photos for the old blog. Here it is...

Patriot Portrait Collectibles

Indignico, Inc.'s website offers a variety of portraits of republicans and sad clowns (no, I am not being snarky, honestly!) and promises "Quality you can feel." I am going to take their word for this.

Here is Bush...hey, they caputured his suave, sexy side!

...and Unca Dick, looking especially snarly!

I told you there were clowns...

even SCARY CLOWNS!!!!

I once bought "The Pop-Up Book of Phobias" and they have a very nice section on coulrophobia, the fear of clowns. The pop-up effect was pretty cool stuff.

I thought that this site might have been snark, but it seems like a genuine merchant. I went to their eBay auctions (there is a link of course) and you can get your very own John Ashcroft for about $500 with the "Buy It Now" feature. Sweet.

Scariest Photo Ever

2007-03-09T20:25:00.000-08:00

I was over at Wonkette the other day checking out her loverly site, and I happened on this photo.

I swear, the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

I have walked alone on the mean streets of some of America's largest cities at night, St. Louis (now that is one scary town), San Francisco, Seattle, Albuquerque...and never felt frightened like I would if I were walking through a park in broad daylight and saw THIS.

This picture reminds me of the nightmare you have when you are a kid when you happen upon aliens who want to eat your brains, and they chase after you with jars for the harvest, chanting "Marshmallows! Marshmallows!" and you try to run but you are waist deep in sand.

Yikes.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson Signs Landmark Clean & Renewable Energy Bills

2007-03-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

New independent poll cites Governor Richardson as a strong leader
on issue of global warming

SANTA FE, NM -- Governor Bill Richardson has signed two bills that enact major cornerstones of his clean energy agenda and make New Mexico one of the top two states for renewable energy requirements. The first law requires New Mexico utilities to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, or biomass, by 2015 and 20% by 2020. The second law creates a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority to develop clean energy resources and market them to other states.

“In the absence of federal leadership, I feel a real sense of urgency to take action at the state level to fight global warming and strengthen our energy security,” said Governor Richardson. “Ramping up our use of renewable energy and reducing carbon-based emissions is the first step. These strategies also help to protect the environment, create high-tech, high-wage jobs and grow our economy.”

The results of a new poll, conducted in New Mexico on behalf of the National Environmental Trust by Research & Polling, Inc.*, show a majority of respondents- 57% - say Governor Richardson is a strong leader on the issue of global warming. Governor Richardson is the only person perceived as a strong leader on this critically important issue by a majority of poll respondents.

59% of those polled believe global warming is a serious problem, and a large majority believes the new Democrat controlled US Congress should take the lead in addressing global warming, renewable energy, and environmental protection. In the absence of federal leadership on this issue, Governor Richardson has taken aggressive action to make New Mexico a leader in reducing carbon-based emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy.

In 2004 Governor Richardson signed New Mexico’s first Renewable Portfolio Standard into law. This mandated that 5% of New Mexico’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2006, increasing to 10% by 2011. The Governor’s initiative that he signed into law this week dramatically increases these requirements and continues New Mexico’s leadership in the area of renewable energy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

In the past few weeks alone Governor Richardson has signed a major, five state climate change agreement, announced a new Tesla electric car plant for Albuquerque, and a biodiesel plant in Clovis, NM.

US Near the Bottom of World View

2007-03-07T06:30:00.000-08:00

As you can see from the graph on the left the United States is viewed to have a mostly negative impact on the world, according to a poll conducted by the BBC World News Service.

The poll asked 28,000 people in 27 countries to rate a dozen countries plus the EU in terms of whether they have a positive or negative influence.

According to the graph, only Iran and Israel are believed to have a more negative impact on world affairs than the US, China is viewed to have a far more positive role in the world.

China.

I would have liked to see these numbers during the Clinton Administration. Bush and Company have done more damage to the US than any other administration. Worst president ever? Do we really even need to speculate anymore?

Scooter Libby Guilty on Four of Five

2007-03-06T19:03:00.000-08:00

"Oh, shit. I'm going to the pokey!"

Today I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was convicted on four out of five charges related to the leak of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity. Libby, who lamentably is headed to prison with one of the worst bottom nicknames in the history of the federal prison system, is screaming appeal, of course.

The only thing that remains to be seen is how long he is sentenced to serve and how long before Bush pardons his sorry ass.

LYINSAXASHEET

2007-03-06T18:56:00.000-08:00

Yep, Faux News has done it again. Why bother with revisionist history when you can revise the here and now?

A Letter to Hillary Rodham Clinton

2007-03-02T10:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Hillary,

I am sad to be writing this, because I do so without any malice whatsoever. Frankly, I have been a fan of you since 1992, and have hated how you were smeared by journalists and right wing nutjobs and the truly crazed hatebags, like Ann Coulter. Not that I haven't disagreed with you from time to time, (read Iraq) but I have generally respected and admired you for standing up to the VRWC for so many years.

I am asking you to stop your campaign for the democratic nomination.

Ok, you are saying, Right. Who is this stupid LTS? telling ME that I need to withdraw. True, I am a lowly blogger, but I have literally dozens of readers! That's some serious street cred there. I also have been a campaign vet going back to the Dukakis era, ok yeah I am an idealist. I come to you with this plea from a very pragmatic place.

My fear is that if you get the democratic nomination you will put into motion two really disgusting and cataclysmic forces. First, the republican far right will go into full feces flinging smear and destroy mode. They will paint you as a flip-flopping, Marxist, murdering harlot. The Robertsons and Dobsons of the world will beseech God to eradicate the world of you. It will, in short, get very ugly. Now I know you are tough, I know you can handle that. Part two is even more odious, however.

Ralph Nader has already declared that if you are our party's nominee he will jump in and run. This is disastrous. Nader sucks the air from the room and enough of our loose leaves from our branches of liberalism over to the dark side. He will make a race that shouldn't even be close another electoral college nightmare (do you remember 2000 and 2004?)

I know you love America Hillary. I believe in my heart that you are a good, intelligent person (sidebar: but what is up with you hanging with Rupert and Newt? I hope you took a long hot shower!) so I implore you to do what is right for America. We cannot take a repeat of the past two elections. I, in turn, will teach my children about your great sacrifice for our country, and to honor you as you rise to greatness in our Senate.

Yours very truly,

Liberaltruthsayer

Coming soon....A Letter to Barak Obama!

I am Outraged, and You Should Be Too....

2007-02-23T15:34:00.000-08:00

I received an email from long-time and highly recognized columnist Don Williams whose columns in the Knoxville News-Sentinel have been strongly critical of the Bush Administration for years. His column is no more. Following is the entire text, along with the content of the last column which the paper refused to publish. Please join me in expressing your opinion to the editors, Don was kind enough to include their email information!

LTS

The editors declined to publish this last column. It is available, however, at http://www.opednews.com/ , where lots of writers converge, www.moosemeals.com/oped.htm , where you may hear podcasts, and at http://www.newmillenniumwritings.com/ . If you’d like to write a letter to the editor, see instructions at the end of this. Or contact me at donwilliams7@charter.net . The column is no longer available at http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/opinion . The main number at the News-Sentinel is 865-523-3131.

My Last Column in the News-Sentinel
by Don Williams

Dear Reader,
Barring a change of heart on someone else’s part, this is my last column for the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Here’s what I know about the reasons why. On Monday, Editor Jack McElroy informed me he would be cutting my column to once every other week. On Tuesday I let him know I could not go along. It would mean letting too many people down, and waiting for the other shoe to drop, along with readership, would compromise my independence. So ends a 21-year association.
I won’t defend my record. Fan mail, awards and readership polls speak for themselves. My column draws more readers than most, as I can prove. This isn’t about quality or popularity.
Jack said he was trimming my sails because I don’t write enough on local issues. Some readers might remember this notion came up in 2004, after I wrote a series of columns opposed to the re-selection of George W. Bush, whom this paper endorsed. Shortly afterward, Jack asked me to begin writing about local issues.
In a widely read column that ran Feb. 4, 2005, I tried to put a smiley face on this development. Naively, I didn’t regard it as an attempt to “muzzle” me. I promised readers that, “should the time come that I can no longer go along with Jack’s request, I’ll recognize it and act according to my conscience.”
I believed then that going along would be easy. Most local issues worth writing about are tied to Washington. Our quality of air and water, the well-being of our soldiers and veterans, the role of Oak Ridge and TVA in nuclear weapons technology, healthcare of the disadvantaged, rights of people with alternative lifestyles, integrity of our elections, separation of church and state, health of public lands and much more around here are affected by national policies. I’ve tried to cite such local angles in about three-fourths of my articles since 2005. Even when I didn’t say so explicitly, I believe these issues were implicit, especially in columns my critics write off as “Bush bashing.”
Those are at the heart of my predicament, I believe. In 2001, months before 9/11, as Bush was rolling back environmental regulations, holding secret meetings with energy, religious and military strategists, busily appointing foxes to guard all the henhouses where treasured eggs are stored, I thought it should be obvious to anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear that George W. Bush was a disaster for our world, our country, our communities. As I’ve written in several columns over the years, had Bush set out with a goal of destroying the world, he could hardly have done worse than he’s done. Sadly, history bears me out.
Name an issue I’ve been very wrong on. Name a prediction I didn’t nail since 2001. The list of things I got right is a long one, and I’ll put my record up against any columnist in the country, liberal or conservative. Loss of civil liberties, outright torture, electoral malfeasance, war-profiteering, use of depleted uranium, banned weapons, strip-mining, species decline, media manipulation, broken treaties, soaring deficits, efforts to hide the truth about global warming, Dick Cheney’s many conflicts of interest, and the sad decline of our nation’s reputation have been borne out by clouds of witnesses.
To downplay such disasters the way most media do is akin to complicity in the Holocaust, for the destruction of this good earth is an ongoing holocaust in which millions of people and fellow creatures suffer and die. History proves the silence of good people makes a culture complicit in its own destruction. So I leave you with a question that courageous women and men from ages past have asked:
What then must we do?
To obscure America's fingerprint on global warming, the death of maybe a million people in the Middle East, the creation of millions of refugees, the maiming of millions more, the possibility of a trumped up war with Iran, is simply wrong. I won’t be a party to it. I often wonder how Bush apologists sleep at night. That’s a problem I’ll never have.
In keeping with the promise I made in that Feb. 4, 2005, column, I’m ending my News-Sentinel career rather than “go along” this time around. Pardon me if I don’t get all teary-eyed. This is not a time for making nice, it’s a time for taking stands. I’ll sail my opinion out on the Internet. I’ll write for other publications. I’ll finish books. If you’d like to come along for the ride, get in touch.
Finally, I’ve loved writing a weekly column these 21 years, mostly from home the past 11, and I’m letting go with no bitterness and little regret. Rather, I feel the way I’ve come to feel when my name’s held up to ridicule on the Letters Page. Why, looky here, Mama, I made the honor roll.

---

Don Williams is a prize-winning columnist and the founding editor and publisher of New Millennium Writings, an annual anthology of literary writing. His awards include a National
Endowment for the Humanities Michigan Journalism Fellowship, a Golden Presscard Award and the Malcolm Law Journalism Prize. He is finishing a novel, “Red State Blues,” set in his native Tennessee and Iraq. His book of selected journalism, “Heroes, Sheroes and Zeroes, the Best Writings About People” by Don Williams, is now available for ordering. For more information, email him at donwilliams7@charter.net. Or visit the NMW website at http://www.newmillenniumwritings.com/.

To write a letter to the editor follow these guidelines, which appear on the Letters Page:

* Letters must contain your street address and phone numbers, and if you have an online signature that would help, if emailing.
* Must be original material, or all sources cited.
* No more than 200 words.
* Mail to:
Letters to the Editor
News-Sentinel
PO Box 59038
Knoxville, TN 37950
* Email: letters@knews.com

Note: It's been my experience the NS does not typically run letters that have been copied to me, as I've been CC’d several others that never ran. Either way, I appreciate your support.

Thanks for reading. My editors' email addresses are letters@knews.com, editor@knews.com, canady@knews.com, and avent@knews.com . They've been having trouble receiving emails, however, so it may take several efforts should you try to reach them that way.

All my best,
Don

LTS NOTE/UPDATE:
In response to the comment by Jack, I have chosen to edit his email from this blog.
Jack, I am sorry for the error, and hope you have not been inundated by emails, and thank you for stopping by and pointing the error out to me.

Harry Headed for Iraq

2007-02-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

wow, who knew HE was the hot one?

Prince Harry is bravely refusing special efforts to keep him our of Iraq and is expected to be on the battlefield soon. I wish him luck and safety return.

President Bush, you should make sure your daughters are out there, too, as should every member of the House and Senate who supports the war. I forsee a new "Girls Gone Wild" video, featuring Jenna and Barbara in Jalalabad.

Yet Another Religious Whacko

2007-02-19T13:03:00.000-08:00

There's a new prophet in town, one bearing tattoos of 666. I wonder who this one is screwing.

Stranded Climbers Located

2007-02-19T12:55:00.000-08:00

CNN is saying that the three climbers did everything right...

Read more here

I disagree. Now, granted, I am no mountain climber, and you are about as likely to see me on top of Mt. Hood in the middle of winter as you are to see me on the cover of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Edition, but I think they are all wrong here.

When you go mountain climbing in white out conditions you are not doing anything right. While I believe you have the right to put your own life at risk if you should so choose, inevitably you are putting the lives of many others in peril, because they have to come rescue your dumb ass. There is also the wasted time, money and resources...

There are better ways to play in the snow.

Let the Bidding Begin!

2007-02-13T14:42:00.000-08:00

Internet rumors are starting that the former blogger for John Edwards's campaign is being wooed with offers from other campaigns. I want to get on the record with this...

I AM FOR SALE

Make an offer! I can write day and night, and am willing to get as controversial or noncontroversial as you want. All offers will be seriously considered.

Shocking Obama Announcement: He's IN!

2007-02-10T18:53:00.000-08:00

I know, I was as surprised as you are by the announcement today that Barak Obama, junior Senator from Illinois, has decided to run for the democratic nomination for president!

In other startling news the situtation in Iraq is reportedly very, very grim.

2008 Road to White House Paved in Platinum? (Redux)

2007-02-09T07:52:00.000-08:00

I initially published this entry some months ago, but in light of the current campaign craziness, and we are still a year out of the first primaries, I thought it was worth revisiting. If you are like me, the notion of candidates having to raise $100 Million to be considered serious contenders is an affront democracy itself. The more I think about it, the more I think this modest proposal of mine has some merit...so I resubmit to you...A More Honest Approach to Electoral Politics.

Could this be the answer?

This from the Washington Times, politics' answer to the Weekly World News:

"The chairman of the Federal Election Commission yesterday predicted that 2008 will produce the first $1 billion presidential race and that the $500 million that each party's candidate will need to compete will severely limit the field of contenders. "

Seriously.

Is this what we want or need in America? What will this give us for choice? LTS knows what...

Two less than sterling candidates of varying shades of vanilla, with boundless supplies of filthy lucre. Instead of voting for a leader, we will be forced to choose which collection of powerful interests we would rather see dictate our nation's policy for the next four to eight years.

I have a proposal. I don't know if it is a particularly unique proposal, but it is an honest one. If we are going to eschew public financing for political campaigns we need to do it honestly. Remove the option to contribute from our tax returns, return our tax dollars (yep all of them) and go for full disclosure.

Candidates for public office would have to openly pursue sponsorship. Candidates should be forced to wear their intentions. No more of this light blue work shirt rolled sleeves "I'm one of you" crap. They could be outfitted in NASCAR style jumpsuits and helmets to wear the badges of their sponsors, and the campaign buses would no longer be allowed to wear disingenuous slogans like, "Feeling America's Pain," or "Operation No Jive Talk." They would have to show who owns them....Pfizer, Merck, Winston, Anheiser-Busch, NRA, AFL-CIO...whatever.

The winning team would get a big trophy cup, and the corporate sponsors could spend the next four to eight years running the country (don't be fooled, they are already doing it) and pushing policy that favors them, but here is the catch. Instead of taxpayers paying the bills, the winning team's sponsors get to pick up the tab!

No more taxpayer subsidized East Wing makeovers. No more taxpayer subsidized trips across the country to sell unjustified wars or poorly planned policies for seniors. No more taxpayer subsidized anything. If our politicians want to hand our country over to special interests, then special interests should have to pay.

Hillary, Running for President, Discovers Darfur Situation is Bad

2007-02-09T06:49:00.000-08:00

Hillary calls for the redeployment of US troops to Darfur

Yes, the situation in Darfur is horrible. There exists no human crisis on our planet equalling the magnitude of the civil war in Sudan, but do we need another military conflict, when America's solution to a failing campaign in Iraq is sending another 21,000 soldiers in to be maimed or killed? (OH WAIT, that's right Bush lied about that number, I meant 48,000.)

It is great that Clinton wants to make Darfur a campaign issue. I am all about getting the word out that the world needs to intervene in Sudan and stop the violence, genocide and atrocities in the region. I applaud her bringing the issue to the forefront. The problem with Hillary, like so many other hopefuls, is that she has no diplomatic experience and only sees military intervention as a solution to conflict.

About a month ago Bill Richardson went to Sudan. He asked for an audience with President Al Bashir, and then went to the militia camps. He was able to broker a 60 day cease fire agreement after four days of talks. No one else could get a meeting with Al Bashir, not Jesse Jackson, not Barak Obama. Both men were turned away. Richardson is able to go into places no one else can and seek out peaceful resolutions.

">Richardson is seen here in a refugee camp in Sudan

And here, negotiating for peace...

Praise the Lord and Pass the Astroglide: Haggard Finds His Moral Center

2007-02-06T14:38:00.000-08:00

(Church officials wish him luck in the secular world and offer to help him pack, isn't that nice?)

Betty Bowers would be proud! The fundies of CoSprings have gotten together and asked one another WWJD (Why Wouldn't Jesus Damn?) and urged Pastor Ted Haggard to pursue a secular career, going further to suggest that the family relocate. Rev. Mike Ware said "It's hard to heal in Colorado Springs right now. It's like an open wound. He needs to get somewhere he can get the wound healed." (LTS thinks this sounds like a thinly veilled threat.)

Haggard and his family plan to relocate to a midwestern state.

In more upbeat news, Haggard says he is cured of his homosexuality and meth cravings.

Way to go Ted!

“Blogosphere” Buzz Builds About New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s Weekend Speech to DNC

2007-02-06T14:29:00.000-08:00

SANTA FE, NM- During the past 48 hours positive reaction to Governor Bill Richardson’s speech to delegates at the Democratic National Committee’s winter meeting has been building and spreading across the Internet. Bloggers have been calling Governor Richardson’s speech “Presidential” and The National Journal’s online political site “The Hotline on Call” calculated that Governor Richardson’s speech was punctuated by seven standing ovations from the audience, more than any other candidate who spoke at the event. http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/02/dnc_winter_meet_5.html

You can watch or read the Governor’s entire speech at www.richardsonforpresident.com. (Also at www.richardsonbringshope.com, LTS)

Here is a sample of some of the Blog postings about Governor Richardson’s speech:

University of Wisconsin College Democrats:
“New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson gave a hell of a speech. It was surprisingly energetic, was excellently delivered, and touched on many points that had been glossed over by other candidates such as sexual orientation, teacher pay, North Korea and his diplomatic experience, a developed strategy in Iraq ... I think, and the consensus in the room I'm sitting in agrees, that Richardson did the best job of putting out a solid plan for America with details where details were due while at the same time conveying a feel good message. Full disclaimer: I took home a Bill Richardson rally sign and put a Bill Richardson bumper sticker on my laptop. I was sold on him today.”http://www.uwmadisondems.org/blog/2007/02/dnc-gov-bill-richardson.php

From dailykos:
I'm here to tell you that I went into that room undecided about '08 but leaning to Edwards. That changed after Richardson spoke. He is an amazing speaker who had the audience, many of whom had never heard of him before, eating out of the palm of his hand and cheering wildly for a guy they had never seen before. ... Bill Richardson has rhetorical powers to rival any of the main three (and I think better than Hillary or even Edwards). He gave a powerful speech that had the entire room bursting into what must have been 7 or 8 standing ovations (more I think that Obama or anyone else) ... It was almost embarrassing to hear how experienced he is. .... But the best part was that he wasn't just listing his resume, he was actually mapping out a future plan for the country. He wants us out of Iraq by the end of the year. He wants to restore ties around the world. He wants to bring what he has been doing in New Mexico to the rest of the country. The man has a plan, and he has the experience. ... I don't know how the press is covering this, but he won a lot of converts yesterday. ... Hopefully people give him a chance. This race is not over. Richardson is one of those guys who not only could be President, but who I believe will win people over as they hear from him. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/2/4/104422/5584

Richardson is amazingly good at pumping up the room. I can feel that he really gets "it" and that he would be a top campaigner. ... Richardson is impressive in a very different way than Vilsack. Richardson has a palpable confidence when speaking of foreign policy and in particular--no surprise here--when speaking of diplomacy. Richardson also has a real charm that seems to bring people in the room to his side. I'm trying to find the right word to describe this..."magnetism," maybe? It's noticeable. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/2/3/91813/92941

"I don't need 7 minutes, I can do it in four words: 'Elect a Democratic President.'" Gotta love it!! He's got moxie, too, regarding having any of the other Dem candidates as his VP. ... He is surprising me as a speaker--he's pretty good. And I haven't really been considering him. ... He seems positive and is quite--if you will--articulate. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/3/91813/92941

Geez, I had no idea I would start swooning over Bill Richardson. I want to hear more from him. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/3/91813/92941

In a room full of very dull speeches his clearly stood out, as does his experience and record of success. If there's a dark-horse in this race it's him. I can see him going into Iowa knocking the socks off the room and finishing in the top 3 and riding that wave to Denver. I'm saying it here - today - February 3, 2007. Still flirting with Obama, waiting for Gore, but if I had the guts I'd be booking a flight to N.M. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/3/91813/92941

From drydendailykaz:
“He suggested that we need a candidate who can win in every region. He stated that the mission in Iraq was complete and it was time for "our troops to leave with honor." And he finished by saying "Stay loose--we've got a year to go." A real grownup, a terrific speaker, and he just brokered a cease-fire in Darfur. What more could you want?” http://drydendailykaz.blogspot.com/2007/02/speeches-rated.html

From Blue Mass Group:
“And here's some big news: one of the bits of conventional wisdom on Bill Richardson appears to be wrong. The guy's got plenty of charisma. His speech was funny, charming, plain-spoken, bold, passionate, and had the crowd on its feet cheering numerous times. And this was interesting -- few if any of the other candidates talked about this issue, and he got huge applause for doing so.
‘In New Mexico, our fight for equality extends to sexual orientation. For the first time in state history we have a hate crimes law. We've extended civil rights protections to include sexual orientation. And we're providing state health insurance for domestic partnerships.
Some call New Mexico the land of enchantment. I now like to think that we live in a state of enlightenment.’
Did he come out swinging for equal marriage? No. But no one else even bothered to talk about gay rights.
Also, I thought Richardson was excellent on Iraq:
‘The War in Iraq is not the disease. Iraq is a symptom. The disease is arrogance.
A struggle for human rights is worthy of military intervention. A true threat to our country's security is worthy of war. But a struggle between a country's warring factions, where both sides hate the United States, is not worthy of one more lost American life.
As someone who served in Congress for 14 years, I know the power they hold should they choose to wield it. The Congress passed a resolution authorizing war. They need to pass another that overturns that authorization and brings our troops home by the end of this year. You would think that when the Congress realized they were lied to, they would have done something about it. Well, they still can.’
If Richardson keeps wowing crowds like he did at the DNC, I'd look for him to be breaking into the alleged ‘first tier’ soon.”
http://www.bluemassgroup.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6199

From Oval Office 2008:
“It surprised me to find New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson delivering the best speech of the whole event - and it surprised me more that his speech was, in my view, better than the rest by some margin ... it was, I have to say, almost (Bill) Clintonesque in execution. He knew his strength was his track record as Governor, and he played on it remorselessly, before moving nimbly onto his foreign policy experience as well. He brought a clear sense of logic to his approach to Iraq, and expressed it with considerable eloquence. He also took the initiative with his call to his fellow candidates for a clean, positive campaign. It was the performance which, for me, most exceeded expectations. If he can do more of the same on the campaign trail and, importantly, get noticed doing it, I think Richardson has the potential to surprise in this campaign.”http://www.ovaloffice2008.com/2007/02/dnc-speeches-my-assessment.html

From Burnt Orange Report:
“Bill Richardson: Wow. Ok, remember my words here: Bill Richardson will be either of two things in this race - a spoiler for some other candidate much like Clark spoiled Edwards last cycle; or a sleeper candidate who could be thrust into the top tier and have an actual chance in the race. Remember how Bill Clinton did better in NH than expected and the other candidates did worse than expected; propelling him forward. Richardson is poised to do the same. He sure as hell did it this weekend. I had medium expectations of him and he blew me away. He was funny and smart and at-ease. And Presidential. He gave the best speech of the weekend when handicapping for the audience and purpose of the speech. Learn about this guy and pay attention to him. ... Just got back from Richardson's room. From the response he is getting from DNC members, he appears to be a 1st tier candidate. The excitement and size of his crowd was 2nd only to the 1st place tie for Obama and Clinton. I was not the only one heavily impressed with his speech today it appears. None of the other candidates had a reception anywhere close to those three. Well, Edwards might have if he'd stuck around.” http://www.burntorangereport.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2829

From Demnotes:
“[Richardson] was probably the surprise of the day in terms of his speech. Governor Richardson gave an energetic and exciting speech about what he's been able to accomplish next door in New Mexico, and what he wants to do nationwide. ... I think the best example of the power of Richardson's speech can best be seen by what we saw in the "meet and greet" rooms after the session this morning. Each candidate has a small conference room where DNC Members can come and meet the candidate personally and ask questions. Governor Richardson was the only candidate besides Hillary Clinton to need an ‘overflow room’ for DNC Members to wait because of the crowd in the main conference room assigned to him.”http://demnotes.com/?p=250 <http://demnotes.com/?p=250>

From Wood Co. Democrats:
“On Governor Bill Richardson: Though he went noticeably over the soft seven-minute time limit, he kept the audience with him -- not just because he had supporters strategically located throughout the hall but also because he gave a very good speech.”http://woodcodems.blogspot.com/2007/02/we-never-noticedhtml

Richardson at the DNC: Step Back, Here Comes the Next President!

2007-02-03T19:56:00.001-08:00

Ok, so I am a little late to the party. For those of you who do read my blog from time to time, many of you know that on weekends I work in a neonatal intensive care unit, and put in 12 hour shifts...so I didn't get to see the speech until just now. My husband, the ruggedly handsome and wonderfully witty Mr. Liberaltruthsayer, put the speech up on our grassroots website "Richardson Brings Hope" and I just saw it. I had to call him halfway through just out of my mind with excitement, wanting to share it with someone! Watching this video I know...KNOW...Richardson is the right choice for potus.

Haven't seen it? Really? Take a look here...(gratuitous plug for our website Richardson Brings Hope).

Richardson is witty, he is forceful, he is great with the crowd, he is even amazingly able to work all of his ideas and accomplishments into the meager seven minutes allotted by the committee. (Not really, but it was funny so I said it).

Richardson shows us time and again WHY he should be the nominee. I believe in my heart that if we nominate Richardson we have the best shot at winning the White House. I believe in my heart that if we elect Bill Richardson president we will begin to solve so many of the problems facing our country and indeed our world.

Governor Richardson, you absolutely blew me away today. I am so proud to call myself a consitutuent, a supporter, and a grassroots activist for your effort.

Viva Richardson!

Holy Sh!t Batman...Orange Snow!

2007-02-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's right...Orange Snow.

It smells bad, too.

And they say it's oily.

Here is the article about the funky snow in Russia...

Makes me feel a hell of a lot better about the white stuff all over my place, it may have been here since the week after Thanksgiving, and it may be here until June yet, but it isn't some unnatural color, and I am not afraid to let my kids go out and play in it.

Orange snow??? Yikes.

Maya Angelou: Molly Shook the Walls With Her Clarion Call

2007-02-02T06:35:00.000-08:00

It is not my policy to copy complete works and paste them, but Molly Ivins has gone, and was beautifully eulogized by the incomparable Maya Angelou. Below is her work in its entirety, with my thanks to The Washington Post, the best newspaper in America...LTS.

Molly Ivins Shook the Walls With Her Clarion Call

by Molly Ivins

(Special to the Washington Post)

Up to the walls of Jericho

She marched with a spear in her hand

Go blow them ram horns she cried

For the battle is in my hand

The walls have not come down, but they have been given a serious shaking.

That Jericho voice is stilled now.

Molly Ivins has been quieted.

The writer and journalist, dearly loved and admired by many, hated and feared by many, died <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/31/AR2007013101767.html> of cancer in her home on Jan. 31, 2007.

The walls of ignorance and prejudice and cruelty, which she railed against valiantly all her public life, have not fallen, but their truculence to do so does not speak against her determination to make them collapse.

Weeks before she died, she launched what she called "an old-fashioned newspaper crusade" against President Bush's announcement that he was going to send more troops to Iraq.

She wrote, "We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. Every single day every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. We need people in the streets banging pots and pans and demanding, 'Stop it now!' "

Years ago there was a fundraising gala for People for the American Way, and Molly Ivins was keynote speaker. I was a loyal collector and serious Ivins reader, but I had not met the author. Another famous journalist, who was to have introduced her, had his flight canceled in a Southern city. Norman Lear, founder of the organization, asked me to introduce her. I did not hesitate. I spoke glowingly about Ms. Ivins for a few minutes, then, suddenly, a six-foot-tall, red-haired woman sprang from the wings. She strode onto the stage and over to the microphone. She gave me an enveloping hug and said, in that languorous , and accent, "Maya Angelou and I are identical twins, we were separated at birth."

I am also six feet tall, but I am not white. She was under 50 when she made the statement, and I was in my middle 60s, but our hearts do beat in the same rhythm. Whoever separated us at birth must know it did not work. We have been in the struggle for equal rights for all people since we met on that Waldorf Astoria stage. We have laughed together without apology and we have wept when weeping was necessary.

I shall be weeping a little more these days but I shall never forget the charge. Joshua commanded the people to shout and the walls came tumbling down.

Molly,I am shouting,

With two voices,

Walls come down!

Dumb and Dumber: Idiot Stoners in Hot Water

2007-02-01T10:03:00.000-08:00

Boy I tell you, I have done some wild things in my life, but I have apparently never smoked what these kids have gotten into....

Yesterday the city of Boston was effectively shut down because of these two guys. Apparently they were being contracted for a marketing campaign for Adult Swim on Cartoon Network and were using guerilla marketing tactics, by placing electronic devices around the city that lit up and showed cartoon characters, like Spongebob, giving the one finger salute.

City officials were concerned at first that it was a terrorist attack, but then began a search for stoned pranksters. They found these two geniuses, Sean Stevens and Peter Berdovsky. At their own press conference, facing reporters eager to give us their side of the story, they said they would only address the topic of hairstyles of the 1970's.

Dudes, listen. Pot is supposed to simultaneously open your mind to new ideas and limit your ability to manifest them. It is a whole new world out there, and leaving suspicious packages and devices around a major metropolitan era could land you in Gitmo. But, if it was attention you wanted, well you got it! Next time, try baking cookies.

Introducing Richardson Brings Hope

2007-02-01T09:07:00.000-08:00

I would like to invite you all to join me at our new grassroots site for supporters of Governor Bill Richardson for President....

Richardson Brings Hope

We are concerned Americans who believe that this great nation must move beyond the clouds of fear and shadows of division and into a new tomorrow of hope and promise – and the destiny of the American dream.

These extraordinary times call for extraordinary leadership. We yearn for a peacemaker. We need to believe in honesty and promise and honor in our government. We need to believe once more in our dreams – as individuals, and as Americans. We need to believe in hope again.We need Bill Richardson.

Richardson brings hope and hope is the American dream.

Molly Ivins, Greatest Columnist on Earth, Dies

2007-01-31T16:26:00.000-08:00

I am almost too sad to write this.

Molly Ivins, the greatest political columnist on the planet, has left us.

Last year she revealed she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer, the details can be read here.

I just want to say that my heart is broken, my hero is gone. Molly is why I write what I write. Molly inspired me continually, and I will miss her so badly.

The world has lost a brilliant, witty, wonderful woman.

Scalia On Gore v. Bush: "Get Over It"

2007-01-26T10:37:00.000-08:00

In his own dismissive style, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, when asked recently about the Gore v. Bush case in 2000, where the Supremes ruled that counting all the votes would impinge on Bush's civil liberties (as for the rest of us, well, we don't count) said, "It's water over the deck, get over it!"

The flippant remark was made at Iona College.

I am among the many Americans who will never "get over it." That act was nothing less than a coup, and delivered unjustly control of the government to the hands of a corporate puppet, determined to suck every penny from the treasury of the United States, and as much oil from the middle east as possible. I think we can get it back, but it is going to require a great deal of strength and committment from our people.

Get over it...doesn't that tick you off too?