You say there are no gays in Iran?

Andy Samberg has a song for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

(h/t Melissa McEwan @ Shakesville)

A good Republican

(h/t NTodd @ Dohiyi Mir)

For the time being

“I know you are but what am I?”

AP via NTodd:

Iran’s parliament on Saturday approved a nonbinding resolution labeling the CIA and the U.S. Army “terrorist organizations,” in apparent response to a Senate resolution seeking to give a similar designation to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Next up, House and Senate nonbinding resolutions condemning Iran for calling the CIA and US Army “terrorist organizations.”

Related post:

• Neocon dreams of Al Qaeda everywhere

Steady, as she goes

Steady as it comes right down to you

Hey, look!

(image from Chandra)

Give me a sign

(h/t Buck Batard @ Bad Attitudes)

If you don’t know / whose signs these are / You haven’t driven / very far

The incomparable Barbara O’Brien @ The Mahablog:

The Tao Teh Ching says nothing is softer or weaker than water, yet water wears down what is hard and strong. Whatever happens in the next few days, the monks of Burma will, eventually, prevail.

What percentage of Americans believe that cannabis is less dangerous than alcohol?

Interesting fact: Cannabis is less dangerous than alcohol.

The SHUT UP America Act of 2007

Jeffrey Feldman @ Frameshop presents the

Senate-House Unruly Times & Upholding Principles in America Act
(S.H.U.T. U.P. America Act)

The United States Congress hereby declares that any American citizen–either individually or as a member  of a volunteer citizen association–who feels the need to express a viewpoint about politics in print, in public or otherwise with words and out loud, shall not do so if it risks in any way shape or measure disturbing the delicate sensibilities of the elected members of the state and federal governments.

To wit, should any American be so moved to issue forth in disturbing or indelicate tones, such that may bring about a general or specific assault on the principles of peace and quietude of members of the American government, than such citizen should make every effort to keep such statements to himself/herself, or at the very least to write them down on a piece of scratch paper and then throw it away without making too much noise.

Any mouthy citizen or mouthy citizen group that does uphold this Congressional principle so jointly endorsed will hereby, from this point forward, be condemned by separate non-binding resolutions in each chamber of Congress at regular intervals.

Related post:

• Are US military generals now shrinking violets?

Launching Rockit, in 3 2 1…

Blackwater

[odeo=http://odeo.com/audio/16869233/view]

(h/t Charles @ Mercury Rising)

Neocon dreams of Al Qaeda everywhere

Douglas Farah begins the neocon invention of Al Qaeda in Iran.

Congress gives cover by approving Lieberman-Kyl, effectively declaring the Iranian military a terrorist organization.

Now we’re going to be fighting Al Qaeda all across the Middle East, because we decided to name them all Al Qaeda and who can tell those dark skinned people apart anyway?

• Hey, where’s Osama?
• When will they start talking about Al Qaeda in America?
  (Perhaps it will be code for all those dark skinned people in America, some of them are even Muslims!)
• Who killed Mychal Judge?
• Free Mychal Bell.
• Daniel Ellsberg (he of the Pentagon Papers) says a coup has occurred. (h/t Pygalgia)
• D r i f t g l a s s has word and commentary on another massive toy recall.
• “Do childrens learn” when they are poisoned with lead?

Update: Mychal Bell has been freed.

Time to go, Bill-O

Doctor Biobrain:

I normally don’t do this kind of thing, but I feel compelled to defend Bill O’Reilly for his revelation that black people can sometimes act just like white people. He is absolutely correct. I’ve seen it. They can ask for things without saying “motherfucker,” they can eat food that sometimes isn’t fried chicken or watermelon, and they can often go long periods of time without copulating or flinging their poop at the bystanders watching them.

I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true. I’ve seen it. I can state unequivocally that, were it not for their skin color, you’d almost think some of them were white.

digby:

I am expecting that we will see a motion in the House and Senate condemning Media matters for criticizing Bill O’Reilly any day now…

“During the course of Defendant BILL O’REILLY’s sexual rant, it became clear that he was using a vibrator upon himself, and that he ejaculated.”

Big Oil, incorporated

In this case, the reality is considerably worse than the satire.

(h/t Monkeyfister)

Why do Republicans hate America?

They are practically singing God Damn America.

(h/t PortlyDyke @ Shakesville)

Speaking of illegal orders…

Associated Press (h/t NTodd @ Dohiyi Mir):

Army snipers hunting insurgents in Iraq were under orders to “bait” their targets with suspicious materials, such as detonation cords, and then kill whoever picked up the items, according to the defense attorney for a soldier accused of planting evidence on an Iraqi he killed. Gary Myers, an attorney for Sgt. Evan Vela, said Monday his client had acted “pursuant to orders.”

“We believe that our client has done nothing more than he was instructed to do by superiors,” Myers said in a telephone interview.

Which is no defense if it was a manifestly illegal order.

“To prevent the enemy from learning about our tactics, techniques and training procedures, we don’t discuss specific methods targeting enemy combatants,” said Paul Boyce, an Army spokesman.

Boyce also said there are no classified programs that authorize the murder of Iraqi civilians or the use of “drop weapons” to make killings appeared to be legally justified, which is what Vela and the two other snipers are accused of doing.

That sounds manifestly illegal.

Civilian speaking.

BadTux the Snarky Penguin @ Mockingbird’s Medley compares Adolf Hitler to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:

Okay, so unlike Hitler, Ahmadinejad hasn’t invaded anybody. Indeed, he *can’t* invade anybody — the Supreme Ruler (Ayatollah Khamanei) is head of the Iranian armed forces and has sole power to declare war, the President of Iran only has power over limited internal affairs. So unlike Hitler he doesn’t have any armies under his control. Ahmadinejad hasn’t exterminated any Jews either, indeed there are Jewish members of the Iranian parliament. And because he has no power to declare war under Iran’s constitution, obviously he hasn’t declared war against anybody. But… but…Ahmadinejad has SAID MEAN THINGS ABOUT ISRAEL! And saying bad things about Israel MAKES BABY JESUS CRY! WAHHH!!!! So *obviously* he’s Hitler. Despite having no armies. Despite invading nobody. Despite exterminating nobody. Saying bad things about Israel is WORSE than all that, because saying bad things about Israel, like, HURTS THEIR FEELINGS! SOB!

As an ethnically Jewish American, I want Israel to seek peace. I want America to seek peace. I want all nations to seek peace, and to speak together peacefully.

What Mahmoud Ahmadinejad thinks about Israeli politics is his opinion. His opinion of America as a bully would not be disabused by invading his country.

There is no casus belli in Iran. It would be a war crime to invade. Now is the time that members of our armed forces must recognize that an invasion of Iran cannot be considered a defensive act, and refuse illegal orders.

Update: Charles @ Mercury Rising has more thoughts worth reading.

Related post:

• I will not go to war with Iran.

Mitt Romney on gun control, directly and candidly

(h/t Melissa McEwan @ Shakesville)

Please click to choose your preferred internet pricing plan

Net neutrality is important. You don’t want this future.

WWJD?

Watertiger @ Dependable Renegade has a picture.

Manufactured outrage, of course

Jon Swift (a “reasonable conservative”):

Ahmadinejad’s plans to visit Ground Zero and lay a wreath there evoked outrage from many. “Assisting Ahmadinejad in touring Ground Zero — hallowed ground for all Americans — is outrageous,” said former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani. If anyone should know how sacred Ground Zero is to Americans, it would be Giuliani, who was there just as much as, if not more than, the rescue workers were, taking such dignitaries and celebrities as Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov, Donald Rumsfeld and many others on guided tours of this consecrated burial ground. Of course, it is unconscionable for a politician to use Ground Zero for a photo op or to try to score political points on the tragedy of September 11 and I am glad the New York Police Department listened to Giuliani and denied Ahmadinejad permission to go there. What kind of a message would it send the world if we let someone like that use Ground Zero for a publicity stunt? Even though most of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia and Iran has not been conclusively linked to the 9/11 attacks, I am sure that there are people working on making a connection and one will be revealed before we declare war on Iran.

Of course we know that Iran had nothing to do with 9/11 or Osama bin Laden. Of course neither did Saddam Hussein or Iraq. Of course this does not matter to those who have covered up the crime scene and prevented investigations. Of course there should be a criminal investigation of 9/11.

Sorry if that’s not ironic enough.

Related post:

• I will not go to war with Iran.

free the jena six

skippy the bush kangaroo wonders why the big box blogs haven’t been covering the jena, louisiana story.

Heavy manners

Prince Far I:

Family values

Rudolph Giuliani, September 5, 2007:

The reality is that I think someone’s private life, someone’s family life is something that you all look into to determine how are they going to conduct themselves in public office, and in my case, you have about 30, 35 years of experience to figure out how I would.

h/t Steve Benen @ The Carpetbagger Report (via The Xsociate @ State of the Day), who points out:

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s personal life has been a mess for quite a while. No one needs to go dumpster diving to learn the details; they’re all out in the open — three marriages (including one to his cousin), repeated extra-marital affairs, left his second wife by way of a press conference (he told reporters before telling his spouse), estranged from his kids. “Family Man of the Year” he is not.

Personally, I’m not so much interested in a pissing match between him and Hillary Clinton. Clearly Rudolph Giuliani does not represent the kind of family values that his party pretends to stand for. Hillary Clinton did stand by her man even after infidelity and deception. I’m not sure I’d want him back in the White House either.

I won’t vote for either of these people, at any rate.

Whereas we think seniors r teh awesome;

d r i f t g l a s s hits another one out of the park.

Related posts:

• AARP is one of the good ones, in America;
• Are US military generals now shrinking violets?

Short film

(h/t Len Hart @ The Existentialist Cowboy)

Congratulations

to PJ @ Groklaw, for winning a Knowledge Masters Award for Innovation from the Knowledge Trust and the Louis Round Wilson Academy.

Impeachment

Federal rules of evidence:

Rule 608(a): The credibility of a witness may be attacked or supported by evidence in the form of opinion or reputation, but subject to these limitations: (1) the evidence may refer only to character for truthfulness or untruthfulness, and (2) evidence of truthful character is admissible only after the character of the witness for truthfulness has been attacked by opinion or reputation evidence or otherwise.

Are US military generals now shrinking violets?

Mustang Bobby @ Shakesville:

By the way, in all of this, I haven’t heard a word of outrage or a tearful plea for mercy from General Petraeus himself. I’m pretty sure that he didn’t get to be a general in the United States Army by letting a schoolyard name-calling taunt get to him.

Watch MSNBC coverage of George Bush trying to be offended on behalf of his toady:

As for the Democratic members of the senate who voted with the idiots to condemn the first amendment, wake up.

Related post:

• Mandela is very much alive

Hemp for victory

Ubuntu

Mandela is very much alive

Burying the troops

WaPo/Reuters, via Cookie Jill:

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas (Reuters) – A Kansas military cemetery has run out of space after the burial of another casualty of the Iraq war, officials said on Thursday.

“We are full,” said Alison Kohler, spokeswoman for the Fort Riley U.S. Army post, home of the 1st Infantry Division.

U.S. Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, both Kansas Republicans, on Thursday sent a letter to William Tuerk, the under secretary for memorial affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, urging for full funding for a new cemetery for Fort Riley.

* * *

Fort Riley can bury bodies on top of other bodies if family members want to share a plot, said Kohler.

Bury the Republican party.

Tasers are substitutes for lethal force, not to be used in subduing people

The NYPD should be prosecuted.

(h/t Melissa McEwan @ Shakesville)

Related post:

• Police brutality

AARP is one of the good ones, in America

(h/t Maha)

Just getting started…

Paul Krugman has a blog! (h/t Maha):

In fact, let me start this blog off with a chart that’s central to how I think about the big picture, the underlying story of what’s really going on in this country. The chart shows the share of the richest 10 percent of the American population in total income – an indicator that closely tracks many other measures of economic inequality – over the past 90 years, as estimated by the economists Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez. I’ve added labels indicating four key periods. These are:

Coming in with the golden light

Dreamtime for me. Goodnight y’all.

Ninja Warrior (squirrel edition)

(h/t Ellroon @ Rants from the Rookery, who is worrying about Squirrel Qaeda)

Your move

For Charles @ Mercury Rising.

Kaneh Bos, Etz Chaim

God has nine million seven billion uncountably many names

Yahweh is an aspect, and Jesus is another. Allah is a name for God.

Namasté.

Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-Olam, creator of cannabis, the tree of life.

Sh’ma Yisrael Adonai Elohenu Adonai Echad.

(h/t Phydeaux Speaks for the video)

Police brutality

See video at the Washington Post.

A student was arrested immediately after asking Sen. John Kerry, “Also, are you a member of Skull and Bones… Are you in the same secret society?”

He was then tasered.

Update: John Kerry responds to taser incident:

In 37 years of public appearances, through wars, protests and highly emotional events, I have never had a dialogue end this way. I believe I could have handled the situation without interruption, but I do not know what warnings or other exchanges transpired between the young man and the police prior to his barging to the front of the line and their intervention. I asked the police to allow me to answer the question and was in the process of responding when he was taken into custody. I was not aware that a taser was used until after I left the building. I hope that neither the student nor any of the police were injured. I regret enormously that a good healthy discussion was interrupted.

For the record, I wouldn’t mind hearing his answer to this (somewhat garbled) question.

I’d like to hear that music, very much.

Jeremy Zilar @ silencematters writes:

There is music aboard the Voyager 1 space probe thanks to Carl Sagan and Frank Drake. (via – CP)

“Containing photographs, natural sounds of Earth and 90 minutes of music from all over our world, the record was intended to preserve something of human culture beyond what an intelligent extraterrestrial, encountering the craft at some far-distant time and place, might infer from the spacecraft itself” – NYT

If you cannot read the NYT links, just wait until after midnight.

Update: Audio here.

And the walls came tumbling down

Straight from the source:

The New York Times will stop charging for access to parts of its Web site, effective at midnight Tuesday night.

The move comes two years to the day after The Times began the subscription program, TimesSelect, which has charged $49.95 a year, or $7.95 a month, for online access to the work of its columnists and to the newspaper’s archives. TimesSelect has been free to print subscribers to The Times and to some students and educators.

In addition to opening the entire site to all readers, The Times will also make available its archives from 1987 to the present without charge, as well as those from 1851 to 1922, which are in the public domain. There will be charges for some material from the period 1923 to 1986, and some will be free.

Related post:

• Mr. Sulzberger, tear down this wall

Mary-Kate Olsen is all grown up

I’m happy.

Related post:

• Because women don’t smoke pot, part 2

Not that there’s anything wrong with someone being gay…

Don Corrigan (h/t Melissa McEwan @ Shakesville):

Not so long ago, folks used to brand a guy as gay simply if he had a sashay in his gait, or a soft handshake, or a preference for pink shirts. This kind of prejudicial stereotyping is finally going the way of the dodo bird.

We now know that tracking gay proclivities requires a more sophisticated approach and involves tracking different kinds of tendencies:

For example, if the gentleman in question is a manly mountain state conservative politician who regularly denounces godless homosexuality — there’s a good chance he is gay.

If the gentleman in question is a congressman who continually sponsors bills to declare that marriage can only be between a man and a woman — there’s a good chance he is gay.

If the gentleman in question is a noisy, raspy minister who preaches family values and calls America a modern Sodom and Gomorrah — there’s a good chance he is gay.

Recent evidence for this hypothesis has been manifested by remarkable fellows like: Larry Craig, Mark Foley, Rev. Ted Haggard… and many more. Consider these recent headlines:

• “Rev. Haggard Resigns After Sex With Gay Prostitute”
• “U.S. Rep. Foley Sought Sex With Male Pages”
• “GOP’s Craig Busted In Bathroom Sex Caper”

It’s the hypocrisy of these fellows, rather than the lurid details of their behavior, that makes their stories so intriguing. Their hypocrisy casts a veil of suspicion over all “well-meaning” homophobic politicians and religious leaders. If they protest gays too much — will we suspect they are gay?

Come out of the water closet.

When was the constitution amended to prohibit cannabis, anyhow?

(h/t Tanya @ Blame the Drug War)

Related post:

• Prohibitia-chloride, take as directed

In a nutshell, part 2.

Sally Field, via Crooks and Liars, uncensored (h/t Meme):

“Surely this [award] belongs to all the mothers of the world. May they be seen, may their work be valued and raised. Especially to the mothers who stand with an open heart and wait. Wait for their children to come home from danger, from harm’s way, and from war. I am proud to be one of those women. If mothers ruled the world, there would be no….”

“…god-damned wars in the first place.”