Blogressive February 7, 2006
End of the "Status Joe" or just a temporary loss of "Joe-mentum"?
If Bush's coattails can't help a Republican in the general election, it's doubtful that they will help a Democrat in a Democratic primary.
Activists and bloggers unhappy with Senator Joe Lieberman's coziness with the Bush administration have been longing for a progressive candidate to challenge him. The fact that Bush gave Lieberman's face a big smooch as he entered the gallery for the State of the Union address doesn't help matters. (Joe may have other parts of his anatomy reserved for his own party to kiss.)
Now it looks like that wish may be granted in the form of millionaire cable-guy Ned Lamont, who is poised to challenge Lieberman in Connecticut's primary. Mr. Lamont's website, nedlamont.com, is seeking volunteers:
"Ned is considering running because, like most Connecticut Democrats, he is tired of being represented by a senator who is not willing to stand up to the President on the war — and on the rest of his extreme right wing agenda which is so harmful to our country."
If Lieberman emerges from the primary, which the good money is still on, he may still have to face independent Lowell Weicker, who is sitting on the sidelines. Weicker has, for now, blessed Lamont's run:
"In public comments made in December, Weicker said he would be strongly induced to run against the incumbent if no other viable candidate stepped up to the challenge. But, since then, former Greenwich selectman Ned Lamont revealed that he is considering challenging Lieberman for the Democratic nomination. ' I can assure you, if Ned Lamont wins the Democratic nomination for United States Senate, at that point I would be gladly willing to step aside,' Weicker said."
Source: greenwhichtime.com
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Free speech... a tough concept for religious extremists, Capitol Police
"With Danish people and their democratic free speech principles under violent attack from fanatical Muslims around the world, I choose to stand with the Danes. As a gay man in San Francisco, all this coming week, I will proudly display the Danish flag on my front door and on my jacket lapel to express symbolic solidarity with the Danes, who are not cowering in the face of death threats."
Quotable
“For some reason, the most vocal Christians among us never mention the Beatitudes. But, often with tears in their eyes, they demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. And of course that’s Moses, not Jesus. I haven’t heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere. 'Blessed are the merciful' in a courtroom? 'Blessed are the peacemakers' in the Pentagon? Give me a break!”
Even ultra-conservative Grover Norquist thinks Bush broke the law. "Referring to what some see as a conflict between fighting vicious terrorists and upholding all civil liberties, Norquist said: 'It's not either/or. If the president thinks he needs different tools, pass a law to get them. Don't break the existing laws.' Even ultra-conservative Grover Norquist thinks Bush broke the law. "Referring to what some see as a conflict between fighting vicious terrorists and upholding all civil liberties, Norquist said: 'It's not either/or. If the president thinks he needs different tools, pass a law to get them. Don't break the existing laws.'" Source: sfgate.com
Is Is 24's Jack Bauer a Democrat? Argue all you want, but there's no way he's a Democrat. He's on FOX. "The reason I bring this up today is that Rush Limbaugh and the Republicans have decided that Jack Bauer is a Republican. Today on the air, Rush Limbaugh, of all people, started talking about how tough Jack Bauer is, while inferring he's one of them. Like Rush would know about bravery. His idea of courage is skipping his Oxycontin daily dozen. Jack Bauer is a Democrat. Meet your reality, Mr., Mrs. and Ms. Republican. Jack Bauer continually saves Clueless President from himself, thus saving the nation from the incalculable incompetence of a man who should never have been president. Sound like any situation you know?" Source: taylormarsh.com
iPAC... Buying iPods for Senators. "Senator Stevens, the 82-year old committee chairman from Alaska, surprised the audience by announcing that his daughter had bought him an iPod. Suddenly, Stevens had a much greater understanding of the many ways innovative technology can create choice for consumers. Content industry representatives at the hearing found themselves answering much tougher questions than they typically receive.That's why we think all Senators ought to join Stevens' esteemed company as iPod owners. Rather than wait for every Senator's daughter, we're taking matters into our own hands and buying a video iPod for the campaigns of Senators who work on legislation affecting technology. Plus, we're going to pre-load each one with examples of the cultural richness made possible by sharing and collaboration - public domain content, Creative Commons content, and audio messages about the importance of balanced copyright policy. It will be engraved with the words 'listen to the people.' And it will arrive at each Senator's campaign office with a letter of explanation and a list of all the people who helped pay for it." iPAC... Buying iPods for Senators. "Senator Stevens, the 82-year old committee chairman from Alaska, surprised the audience by announcing that his daughter had bought him an iPod. Suddenly, Stevens had a much greater understanding of the many ways innovative technology can create choice for consumers. Content industry representatives at the hearing found themselves answering much tougher questions than they typically receive.That's why we think all Senators ought to join Stevens' esteemed company as iPod owners. Rather than wait for every Senator's daughter, we're taking matters into our own hands and buying a video iPod for the campaigns of Senators who work on legislation affecting technology. Plus, we're going to pre-load each one with examples of the cultural richness made possible by sharing and collaboration - public domain content, Creative Commons content, and audio messages about the importance of balanced copyright policy. It will be engraved with the words 'listen to the people.' And it will arrive at each Senator's campaign office with a letter of explanation and a list of all the people who helped pay for it." Source: ipaction.org
USA and Iran fighting it out for "Most Negative" nation on earth. Iran wins. There's always next year. "Iran is the country most widely viewed as having a negative influence in the world, with the US in second place, a new poll for the BBC suggests. The survey for the BBC World Service asked how 39,435 people in 33 nations across the globe saw various countries.. The US has lost ground in some key allied countries, the survey suggests. In France, 65% had a negative view of the US, up from 54% in the 2004 poll. In Britain the numbers went from 50% to 57%. Negative views of the US are also up by 20 points in China, eight points in Australia and nine points in Brazil." USA and Iran fighting it out for "Most Negative" nation on earth. Iran wins. There's always next year. "Iran is the country most widely viewed as having a negative influence in the world, with the US in second place, a new poll for the BBC suggests. The survey for the BBC World Service asked how 39,435 people in 33 nations across the globe saw various countries.. The US has lost ground in some key allied countries, the survey suggests. In France, 65% had a negative view of the US, up from 54% in the 2004 poll. In Britain the numbers went from 50% to 57%. Negative views of the US are also up by 20 points in China, eight points in Australia and nine points in Brazil." Source: bbc.co.uk
Vote early, vote often. Republicans even cheat in their own elections. "House Republicans are taking a mulligan on the first ballot for Majority Leader. The first count showed more votes cast than Republicans present at the Conference meeting." Vote early, vote often. Republicans even cheat in their own elections. "House Republicans are taking a mulligan on the first ballot for Majority Leader. The first count showed more votes cast than Republicans present at the Conference meeting." Source: cbsnews.com
Brokeback Montana. "For months now, a chorus of televised talking heads has been predicting that the vast majority of Americans wouldn't stand -- let alone stand in line -- for Brokeback Mountain. Bill O'Reilly, who memorably promised that red-staters would stay home, predicted, 'They're not going to go see the gay cowboys in Montana. I'm sorry. They're not going to do it.' But Brokeback Mountain isn't just playing in red states like Montana; it has been doing quite well, even before it became the Oscar front-runner this week. In Missoula, Mont., a town of just under 60,000, the film has been a big hit since it opened at the cavernous Wilma Theater on Jan. 6, grossing $33,006, cumulatively, in its first four weekends there. A representative for Focus Features calls the movie's performance in Missoula 'amazing.' And Bill Emerson, who manages the 85-year-old theater, confirms that Brokeback's draw has been 'one of our best starts for a movie we've ever had.' " Source: salon.com
Today's Video: Stephen Colbert says, "Thank You."
Today's Video: Stephen Colbert says, "Thank You."
"You American workers haven't seen an increase in real wages since the 1970s...But are you rioting? No. You're voting for Republican candidates who give people like me tax cuts. You know what? I think that's your way of saying 'thank you.' " Video via crooksandliars.com
Today's Site Pick: Put the Constitution on your iPod
Today's Site Pick: Put the Constitution on your iPod
Just the way our visionary founders imagined – minus the iSlavery and iMuskets. acslaw.com
(Technically, you don't need to actually read the Constitution to be considered an "expert" by team Bush. Just ask Gen. Michael Hayden, principal deputy director of National Intelligence with the Office of National Intelligence and a self-described "expert" on the Constituion. Hayden, speaking before the National Press Club, did not know the actual content of the 4th amendment.)