Johnny Flatline - Stephen Colbert

Thank you Stephen Colbert. I'm am so incredibly proud of what this guy did on behalf the moral thinking people of this country.

I urge all to go to www.thankyoustephencolbert.org and thank this guy.

Louis Lane - UAE Ports Deal

Its wonderful. Everytime Bush opens his mouth on this one, he sounds like a jackasss. Even Rove is having problems spinning the Bush camp out of this one.

Of course Bush is in charge. Bush didn't know. Bush is protecting everyone. The deal was done without Bush knowing it. But wait, he approves of it. Bush found out about it in the newspaper. Bush is protecting the US from terror. Bush never heard about it until 2 days ago. No need to be concerned about security. We gotta fight terror. Arabs are okay. Palestinians bad. Arabs good. Except insurgents. Terror. No worries, the arabs are friends. My friend who I gave the ports-commissioner job to is an Arab. Oh, he's not, he was CEO of the Arab firm. Our friends. Terror, I mean, the newpaper, ...just read about it in the paper. Its okay, he's my friend. We shook hands, NOPE! I didn't say that,...I mean, we're sending out the wrong message,...Karl?!!? What's the message? Terrror or er uhhhh, good arabs.

How many Americans ever reallized most ports are controlled by foreign companies, usually one and the same as the foriegn governnment? I bet 90% of people aren't okay with that.

Who cares if the coast guard is patrolling around containers and ships. Those guys'll burn and vaporize just as well as the west side of Manhattan.

Johnny Flatline - America's Torture Regime

Most Americans probably don't realize that our lovely CIA has spent billions of dollars over many decades trying to find the perfect way to torture people. We don't make very good cars because our government doesn't invest much in car research like the Japanese do. But by God, we are the best in the world when it comes to torture. Don't be fooled by these claims that the Suadies, Egyptians, or Syrians do the best torture. No, the Mercedez Benz of torture regimes is the United States of America. When you hear our government say that our foreign prisoners are treated well, and interrogated by trained professionals, following strict rules, don't be fooled by this arrogant nonsense. Our own government is trained to torture, and torture is what they are doing at Guantanamo and other secret locations. They call it interrogation. Their victims will explain it's reality to you.

If you want the full history, go read the newest book by Professor Alfred McCoy on the history of torture in the CIA [or see his interview by Amy Goodman at Democracy Now - highly recommended]. You will learn that American torture does not typically go for physical abuse. Beatings and shocks are far more humane that our top choices, and besides, physical abuse is not very photogenic. Instead, official American torture goes straight for the mind. Ask Senator McCain. He knows damn well that 'mental torture is far worse, and far more lasting than a good beating.

The techniques perfect by our CIA are extremely simply, yet extremely effective. Just look at any common Abu Graib photo, and the CIA manual is right before your eyes. Yes, they lost some control, as all instituted torture systems do. Some blood got into the pictures, which is politically displeasing. The people we charged with crimes, were not really guilty of not following orders. They were following orders alright. But their big sin was spilling some blood, or maybe the only big sin was having a camera around. The most famous image of the hooded guy, standing on a stool, with fake wires on the hands, now that's right out of the CIA training manual. Deprive the senses with the hood, and the self inflicted torture of maintaining uncomfortable positions kept for long periods of time does extraordinary damage to the victim.

Remember the jokes about this? Rumsfeld said he likes to stand all day. Why not make them stand longer? And Rush thought this was just a frat joke, not really harming anybody. But this is naive talk. Talk to the victims, and they will tell you, that after several hours of these perfectly applied techniques, you will be hoping somebody shoots you to put you out of misery. This stuff is not a joke, it's not funny, and it's not minor.

It's just too obvious that Abu Graib was a CIA torture operation. And General Miller, who ran Guantanamo, must be our Army Torture Czar. He went to Abu Graib, not to stop the torture. He went there to remove the cameras. He went there to remove the blood and guts from the torture. But I can assure you he did not remove the torture. If anything, it's probably only gotten worse, or better, depending on your point of humanity.

At Guantanamo they are building a psychiatric hospital. Don't you just love that word hospital? It sounds like a place to go get your health back. But I don't think that's what they have in mind there. In recent torture laws passed in Congress, Bush loopholed himself around the recent effort to end torture. He conveniently removed Guantanamo from all restriction, he removed himself, and he removed CIA agents from all judicial review. In other words, Bush and Company feel totally compelled to preserve their precious right to secretely torture people of their choosing.

Democrats and Republicans alike are letting this happen, turning away. They should all be put in prison for treason. The moral vacuum in Washington today is appauling. Our government officials are not human, and certainly not American. This past week, the UN asked the United States to shut down Guantanamo, and give these men their time in court. Who among us, ever thought that the UN would be making such civil requests of the United States? Where is our Constitutional idendity? Bush told his staff recently, while in a rage, that the Constitution was just a God damned piece of paper. Who among us is very worried?

The 4th Reich Might Already Be Here

I was a bit shocked, reading this article on Counterpunch.org, that assumed we, the literate, already knew that the Nicolas Berg beheading was a staged event. Huh? Turns out, there are many sources out there that think that maybe the US was involved in staging his beheading. The timing was certianly convenient. It was right after the exposure of Abu Graib. Some of the evidence is rather compelling when I read it.

I don't know if it was a US Sponsored act to motivate public opinion back to focusing on fear of terror, or not. But if it was, then we truly have our own Hitler, right here, right now. I mean, he's already proven he is Hitleresque in many ways. I'm sure no President in recent history has been compared to Hitler more than this one. But a staged beheading? You just can't go any lower than this. Maybe we have improved from the Holocost, but we certainly do some really nasty things to protect power. Lying about a war, turning spies, secret prisons, torture chambers, rigged elections . . . and beheadings to fool people into hating the enemy?

I have little doubt Cheney turned one of our own spies, arrogantly thinking that was ok. Perhaps this horrible mind has approved actions far worse. I know they are nasty, I'm just not completely sure yet, excactly how nasty they really are. Like a normal human, I keep trying to give them benefit of the doubt, and they keep exceeding my worst nightmares.

Johnny Flatline - Bush's Military Record

I finished the Mary Mapes book Truth & Duty - a complete recount of the story that became RatherGate. I find her story to be compelling and hard to refute. For the few thinking people who reside in this country, I encourage you to read this book. Unlike All the President's Men, the journalists get burned at the stake on this one. That's today's America. Good is not winning out over evil.

There is something horribly wrong with this country, and this story is a perfect example of the kind of 21st century American facism we are now living in. Being labeled a liberal nowadays is like being called a communist once was. Personal attacks are being used to preserve power, and facts and truth are the ultimate victim. The right wing bloggers chew people up with no regard for principals. That's why guys like me even exist, because the left wing boggers must at least try to defend honesty when they can.

We have a President who is rotten to the core. Of that I've been convinced for quite some time. And the smell that surrounds him is obvious by those barnacles that stick to his ship with greedy pride. We were once a nation of laws. I'm waiting for proof that we still are. Bush has been a spoiled child his entire life. The arrogance that comes from that upbringing is both harmful and dangerous with the power he's been given, as he continues to use his status to dodge reponsibility. And we still don't know how much harm will be done until this is behind us.

I need to get that bumper sticker that reads "2008, The End of An Error." But maybe that's also being too optimistic, because it pretends there will be an end to this mess.

Johnny Flatline - Mary Mapes

Remember the gloating of the right wing blogshere, when Dan Rather apologized for not having good evidence of Bush's military record? Wow. Must have been really serious. Some reportor named Mary Mapes was discredited. Dan Rather was fired. And a Warren Commission type of panel was put together to put a bow and ribbon on it all. Remember the "case closed" presentation? Remember the proof that the document was forged? That variable spacing and superscript was not around in 1968? Remember that? An coincidentally, this conclusion remained steadfast in the minds of most of America, right through election day, just as Carl Rove would have planned it. They even found a name to make it all sound so dirty - RatherGate.

And all along, I had to wonder. What happened? Was this a set up? Were liberals framed? Did Rover himself plant some papers. Nobody on the Bush side ever said the story was false. They seemed more interested in nailing the messenger than the message. That's typical. And suspicious, too. I had heard in previous accounts that Bush hired a lawyer to go research his past, and purge as many nasty records as possible, back when he was governor, back when nobody was really paying attention. What was that lawyer's name? Ah, yes. Some guy named Alberto Gonzalez, I think. And then I heard about Rather giving a speech in distant England, saying a burning tire had been placed around his neck. Now what on earth was that all about? Is Rather trying to say, on foreign land, that he was set up? Or is he saying the story was not false afterall? Why didn't he giver such speeches in America? Why did he apologize on TV? What in tarnation is going on here?

Yesterday, I tuned in my local Dallas NPR noon program, and they were interviewing a local Dallas resident journalist named Mary Mapes. Wow! The villain emerges. The liberal's Monica comes out in the sun. Does she carry a shadow? I finally got to hear from the horses mouth, what the hell happened? Turns out, Mary is striking back with a new book - Truth and Duty.

I don't have the desire to go read each and every book out there that explains call the Bush dirt out there. It's almost tiring to absorb. Most of it obvious. A good dose of Chomsky is enough for me every so often. I did read Richard Clarke's account, because at the time, I thought for sure his word would toast Bush. Plus, he had a front row seat to it all. But as usual, they attack the messenger, rather than the review the message, just as Swiftboat attacked Kerry. Dukakis and McCain certainly can relate. Clarke's book was very telling, however, of what I had always suspected. It was simply confirmation of the obvious.

But Mary Mapes, as it turns out, must be at the very top of Carl Rove's black list. Think about it for a second. This is the same lady who helped bring out the Abu Graib scandal - one of the worst black eyes ever hoisted on the Bush Administration. One of the hardest embarrassments to discredit. I mean, Cheney and Rummy had to go on TV for weeks to deny that one. Then, this same Mapes helps expose some paperwork on Bush's military record right as he is in the midst of trying to make Kerry out to be a military embarrassment. How inconvenient.

And look at how hard CBS, I mean, Viacom, worked to oust this threat of our government's precious image. They publically flogged their elite staff. Nobody paid much attention to exactly who they chose to be on their review panel. I'm told there's certainly a story there, of which I'm willing to bet money on. But the bottom line is, Mary Mapes is still standing behind her story to this day with all of the straightforward talk that we similarly hear from Cindy Sheehan.

I'm going to book store right now to get this book. I want to see what happens when you pose this kind of threat to corrupt power. I pulled a video clip off the web, showing a recent inteview of Mapes on ABC's morning show over her new book. And contrast between that interview and NPR's couldn't have been more stark. The attitude, questions, and editing was all perfectly geared to present this lady with a strong corporate snear. They brillaintly presented her in the most negative way they could. It was so obvious, especially after hearing something so radically different on NPR. So ABC is all too willing to join CBS in making sure the guilt of Mapes remains strongly intact among the minds of the lynch mob.

Let us not forget the true cornerstone of evidence that was hurled against Mapes - the hand grenade of joy, found on any two bit right wing blog review. Oh, yeah, and they didn't find time to include this in the ABC clip. Are you ready? Remember the hard evidence presented by our top notch right wing blog researchers, that variable spacing and superscript was not available technology on type writers back in 1968? Remember that slam dunk? Well, guess what? Maybe that technology wasn't found on daddy's type writer back home. But it was around alright. Anybody care to venture when this technology was first invented? I think you'll find it traces back in IBM history to 1941. And I am so sorry to report this to my right wing idiots. I hate to break it to you like this, but, yes, large corporations and some parts of the government, like the military, did in fact have variable spaced typing as well as superscripts on their machines. You can even find some old retired military secretaries who can tell you about it.

I know facts don't matter in a right wing world. But if they did, this not only helps to validate those papers. It actually increases the odds of their validity, being that such rare technology was used back then, in fewer places. But don't worry. I won't expect to see any of these same authority worshippers issue any apologies or retractions. Funny thing is, Mary Mapes was open to the possibility that maybe she screwed up. She actually had to go research this type technology issue to confirm her own innocence. But that's a liberal for you. Facts matter the them, and they don't rush to judgement of even themselves until they find it. Now, I'm going to go read that book. And if I find I said something wrong here, I'll admit it and correct it. Afterall, I'm not nearly as perfect Dubya.

Johnny Flatline - Idiots Attract

We have now seen the first votes of John Roberts, and it's not a pretty sight. Our Supreme Court has 2 confirmed idiots on it - Scalia and Thomas. There is little argument about that. And Bush wants to appoint new judges in the idiot mold. Well, congratulations Dubya. You succeeded. In the decision over the right to die, an easy case, the vote was 6-3. The three idiots were Scalia, Thomas, and [welcome new boy] John Roberts. He actually sided with them on this.

It's always sad to see such ignorance in a position of power. And to think Congress was so happy with Roberts for his good looks and charisma. And now Alito, I'm quite sure, will be worse than Roberts. So the idiot court will be up to 4 guys. God forbid if Bush should get a chance to raise the idiot count on the court to 5 before his term is up. That would definitely spell the end to our democracy.

This is a sad commentary about our Congress as well. I've got a novel idea for Congress. Why don't you find a guy who is a total asshole, who is very ugly, with zero charisma, but with a real brain and intelligent sense of justice, to be on the Supreme Court? Just what kind of credentials are important? A constitution that is intact, with real checks and balances? Or some good looking fascists?

When Nixon was impeached, I thought that was the healthiest thing to happen to American in quite some time. But there were others who thought the USA was very damaged from that public smear. I suppose they would have preferred to sweep the problem under a rug, rather than expose it. These are the same kind of people being loaded up on our Supreme Court. They are so in love with order and obedience, they are even willing to choose Presidents themselves, rather than be burdened with the messy imagined risks of democracy. Don't expect Alito or Roberts to lead any charge against Bush for illege wire taps. That would be too messy. For them, it will be more important to protect authority at all costs.

Johnny Flatine - Gays and Tree Huggers

I think you got it backwards. It's the Republicans who are too wrapped up in gays and tree huggers and abortors and democratrs. They are too wrapped up in obliterating them. The Dems are more wrapped up in leaving people to themselves. Didn't you notice how calm things were under Clinton? I mean the only thing people could get mad about, was Clinton having too much fun. And the closest scandal they could dig up, was 20 years old - Whitewater. You got it bassakards. It's the Republicans who are wrapped up in this stuff, and blaming it all on Democrats. Just because a gay wants to get married, doesn't mean it was a Dem's idea. The Dem just doesn't bother to worry about it, while the Republican stays up all night sweating, thinking, the gays are coming, the gays are coming. The muslims are coming, the muslims are coming. the slave owners and witch burners of the past, are now what are known as Republicans in today's world.

The Knopfler - Gays and Tree Huggers

That's another problem for the Democrats - they're too wrapped up in their own self interest. They need to appeal to a broader group rather than try and appease a bunch of small self-interest groups. They are way too concerned with gays, tree huggers, etc. Find topics of broad appeal.

Grizzly Grapenut - Alito Court

No doubt. I’ll never understand the military families with dead or maimed family members that still vote for the man who lied to justify taking them into a needless war. Or they vote for the party that cuts their school loans and school lunch funding. I’ll give them this: the GOP is smart——they know that many people, especially when fear is introduced, will vote for vague, social jihads (guns, abortion, homosexuality, school prayer, etc.) over their own self-interest. All while the politicians are making sure to take care of THEIR self-interest via illegal scandal after illegal scandal. I hope Alito gives the Court enough votes to overturn Roe. Then when one of these conservatives’ teenage daughters gets raped, we’ll see how much they like the abortion prohibition.

MC Midnight - On Alito

Who cares? Talking about all this stuff has just become depressing. If america wants to fuc itself let it. I'm laughing at the pathetic idiots, only because I can afford it. I bet most of those miners voted for Bush- cause he would 'protect their guns' and I'll bet their survivors will all buy into the Republican crap and vote for every flag wrapped charlatan too. And you know, I don't blame them. the Democrats have offered no good response to the obvious idiocy of Bush, when it should be the simplest thing in the world. Give up on America, it's a dead issue, go have fun.

Mr. Rogers - On Sharone

You have to love the news coming out on Sharone. Well it depends on what news program you watch or what newspaper you read. He's described as a saint in the local news and newspapers here. This is the guy who virtually created the modern day middle east crisis with his invasion of Lebanon, creator of the settlements, building of the "fence", unwelcomed visit to mulsim holy sites in Jerusalem, sabre and shatila massacre (of which he was convicted of murder and is officially an international criminal, which means he can be arrested if he travels to most countries except the US).

Mr. Rogers - Spying on Americans

Let's not forget the spying on ordinary citizens without the permission of the court. and I love his rational for the spying. If someone is talking to el qaeda, we want to know. DUH! Since when do peace activists speak to el qaeda and furthermore, you are right GWB (alias idiot), we should know, but we should also have a court which acts as a "checks and balance" to the decision the president makes, otherwise we have nothing but a totalitarian state (you know like the former Soviet Union). I tell you, goddam pesky Democracy is always getting in the way of "defeating the terrorists."