Henry Waxman: No More Karl Roves!

Congressman Henry Waxman already made my "favorite people" list today, by threatening the Attorney General with Contempt of Congress, and now this: Threatening to stop future "Karl Roves"! Mr. Waxman, you're now number 1 with a bullet.

I often wondered (loudly and vocally as The Other Half would attest) why we were paying Karl Rove's salary. Why was this vile man making a (very nice) living off the backs of taxpayers, half of which were being demonized daily from his office? I'm glad to see that someone with the power to do something about it was thinking the same way.

[Excerpt]

Taking Aim At The Next Karl Rove

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who has primary jurisdiction over the executive branch, is considering legislation to eliminate Karl Rove-type advisers in future administrations. [snip]

"Why should we be using taxpayer dollars to have a person solely in charge of politics in the White House?" Waxman said in an interview. "Can you imagine the reaction if each member of Congress had a campaign person paid for with taxpayer dollars?"

Read more at: Huffington Post

Turley: 4th Amendment to Be Eviscerated Tomorrow

Constitutional scholar, Johnathon Turley was on Countdown with Keith Olbermann tonight with guest host (and Greenlee Gazette favorite) Rachel Maddow, discussing the likely passing tomorrow of the FISA bill in the Senate. If you're wondering what all the fuss is about, if you can't understand why I've been harping on this for months and months. . .watch this clip.

And as a side note, where are all of those "gun clingers" who were high-fiving each other over last week's Supreme Court decision on the 2nd amendment? Is that the only amendment that matters?

Should The Fairness Doctrine be Re-Instated?

Let me state right upfront: I don't want the Fairness Doctrine reinstated. I think it infringes upon free speech. While the abolition of the Doctrine paved the way for "all conserva-talk, all the time" radio formats on multiple frequencies, and for a $400 million payday for one Rush Limbaugh, I still think reinstating it would be a bad idea.

What I would be in favor of, is content advisories. We have them on music, movies, video games, TV shows. . .heck, we even have them on food, drink and smokes. Why not radio and cable news?

For Rush Limbaugh: The following is an entertainment program, from a partisan perspective. The views expressed in this program are not those of this radio station, and do not constitute "news." They are also not necessarily true. Listeners are encouraged to seek out multiple sources before concluding that the content in this program is true.

And that's a very gentle disclaimer for a program such as Rush's, which disseminates false information as a matter of course. But the disclaimer may not need to even be that lengthy. There should just be a clear distinction between news and opinion. Right now there isn't.

And if that means that Countdown with Keith Olbermann gets a disclaimer, so be it. Perhaps it would get a "N-PC" or "news with political commentary" label. Hannity and Colmes, while ostensibly balanced, would get a "PC-n" or "political commentary with a little news" or something.

[Excerpt]

Fairness Doctrine? No!

My "Barack and Rush" blog created a relative storm of comments and disagreements on the issue of reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. In that blog I wrote that Sen. Obama does not support reinstating it and that Rush Limbaugh would help Obama by criticizing John McCain. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Waxman Threatening Attorney General with Contempt

Photo from source, Raw Story

As well he should. Why is it that members of the Bush Administration seem to think that they're exempt from the law? If Congress compels you to appear before them, you shouldn't just be able to say, "nahhh." You go, and if you think you're within your rights not to testify, then you give your reasons. You don't get to pick and choose what laws apply to you.

[Excerpt]

Waxman threatens AG with contempt unless he gets FBI's Cheney transcripts

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) says his committee will vote next week to hold Attorney General Michael Mukasey in contempt if the Bush appointee continues to refuse to hand over transcripts of an FBI interview with Vice President Dick Cheney. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Antibiotic Cipro Gets New Warning

Photo from source, LA Times

I was surprised to see this on the news. Apparently, the antibiotic Cipro must now carry a warning, because a side effect can be ruptured tendons. That's a strange side effect for an antibiotic, but I already knew about it. I needed to take the drug last year after a minor infection, and the doctor at the Quick Care place warned me plainly of the issue.

Whether by the power of suggestion, or by a real side effect, both of my Achilles tendons felt tight and sore while walking about three days after taking the drug. Simple solution: take it as an excuse to be lazy. As if we need any encouragement. . .

[Excerpt]

Cipro joins the 'black box' club

. . .the class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones will now bear a boxed warning, also known as a "black box," because of reports that the drugs increase the risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture. The FDA has told the manufacturers that the label, the agency's most serious warning, is necessary to ensure that the drugs' benefits outweigh the risks. . .

Read more at: LA Times

Mystery of "Faceless Alien People" Revealed

Photo from source, Telegraph

I covered this story last week, and even took a stab at an explanation. I was part right, it was a "viral" advertising campaign, not for DC Comics' The Question--but for automaker, Lotus. Good job guys! You got some people talking.

[Excerpt]

'Faceless people' revealed as marketing stunt

. . .It appears the publicity stunt is part of a viral marketing campaign by manufacturers The Lotus Group, to drum up interest in its forthcoming new car, the Eagle. . .

Read more at: Telegraph

CBS' Swingtown Losing Advertisers

Image from source, Ad Age

How lame is this really? Swingtown, a CBS show about the swingin' 70s has advertisers skittering. Why? Yes, the subject matter is racy. But it is a 10 pm show, and the "swinging" element is only a part of a rich, fun drama series. There isn't much in Swingtown that is racier than a typical Desperate Housewives, or any weekday soap opera. In fact, one of the advertisers jumping ship is Procter & Gamble--one of the major sponsors of the soaps. Silly.

But trust me folks, this is a great show, particularly if you are old enough to remember the 70s first hand. Attention to detail--while not perfect--is several notches higher than most nostalgia pieces. The music is great. The fashion is terrific. It's good, guilty pleasure fun. Maybe if it gets too rough for CBS, they can put it on one of the other Viacom-owned properties.

[Excerpt]

Advertisers Don't Party With CBS's Swingers: Broadcasters Pay the Price for Competing With Cable

You wouldn't think Philips North America, the company whose Bodygroom razor offers American males an "extra optical inch," would be easily fazed. But it was rather taken aback by consumer reaction to its advertising on "Swingtown."

'Swingtown' features characters who enjoy the occasional skinny dip, wife swap or threesome. . .

Read more at: Ad Age

And if you'd like to see what all the fuss is about, you can find clips--and entire episodes--here.

George W. Bush Censors Thomas Jefferson

Image from source, Wonkette

Thomas Jefferson wrote tons of great stuff. . .volumes in fact. He even wrote his own version of The Bible, with the supernatural stuff taken out. But for some reason--perhaps because Jefferson died on July 4--George W. Bush decided to quote Jefferson (presumably by the context) on his deathbed.

Just one small hitch. Jefferson was slamming religion in that quote. The Decider can't have that, so he decided to do a bit of editing. Typical.

[Excerpt]

July 4 Bush Speech Censors Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson invented July 4, by writing the Declaration of Independence for “Independence Day,” and later writing the Constitution, and then patriotically dropping dead on July 4. This is why George W. Bush went to Jefferson’s famous slave brothel, Monticello, to read a July 4 speech that quoted Jefferson except for the part of the quote where Jefferson said Christians were idiots. . .

Read more at: Wonkette

Improv Everywhere: Twins on a Train

I love practical jokes, as long as they aren't mean spirited, or making someone the butt of a joke. Improv Everywhere stages pranks in public places, and then records the results. It's absolutely pointless, and a lot of fun.



See more at: Improv Everywhere

Presidential Conventions to Use Sci-Fi Weapons?

Image from source, Raw Story

OK, exactly what kind of protesters are they expecting at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions? Maybe those faceless aliens or something? I didn't even know we had sci-fi weapons! I'm tempted to say cool, except for the prospect of using phasers or some shit on people exercising their first amendment rights. . .

[Excerpt]

'Science fiction like' weapons on tap for political conventions

The political parties are arming themselves, in preparation for their respective conventions.
Congress has approved $100 million to pay for security expenses at this summer's presidential nominating conventions, with $50 million dedicated to each party. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Rachel Maddow on Barack Obama's Non-Flip-Flop

My favorite political pundit, Rachel Maddow filled in for KO on Countdown with Keith Olbermann again tonight, and once again did a great job. She's the only guest host of that program that makes the show just as entertaining as when Olbermann is there.

Tonight, she did a particularly good job jabbing the rest of the press for their "Obama Flip-Flop" theme they've been pushing. And she proves them wrong. Check it out.

John McCain's Creepy Giggles

We've just spent almost eight years with a Commander in Chief prone to inappropriate humor, odd smirks, and a creepy laugh. John McCain is now auditioning to be his replacement, and I'll say this for him. He's got the giggle down. Ugh.

Wonder Woman Lynda Carter's Confession

Image from source, People

While it is great that Lynda Carter overcame an addiction, and has remained sober for almost a decade, I'm not sure it's newsworthy. What it is is an excuse for me to put one of my favorite pop-culture icons on the blog (again).

And just to give it a bit more relevance, not only is Carter making an admission of addiction, she was also recently in the news--for a very odd thing. So, I'm posting a link to both stories, a fabulous picture of the actress today, and of course, some classic Wonder Woman!!!

[Excerpt]

Wonder Woman Lynda Carter: 'I'm an Alcoholic'

To children of the '70s, she was a glamorous TV icon with her bullet-proof bracelets and Star-Spangled corset. But now Wonder Woman Lynda Carter has turned the "Lasso of Truth" on herself, admitting publicly that she's an alcoholic. . .

Read more at: People

[Excerpt]

Wonder Woman finds body

Wonder Woman is a mortal after all and a good citizen. Lynda Carter, best known for her portrayal of the superhero on TV in the '70s, didn't have her lasso, bulletproof bracelets or a cell phone when she discovered a body floating in the Potomac River. . .

Read more at: NJ.com

And now, some classic Wonder Woman!

Religious Discovery: Ancient Hebrew Tablet

Photo from source, New York Times

Religious artifacts offer something for everybody. For the devout, they offer affirmation, and excitement. For the irreligious, they often offer a chance for debate. Like, does this prove that the religion is true, or does it merely lay the groundwork for a fabrication that came after it?

Either way, it can be fascinating.

[Excerpt]

Ancient Hebrew tablet sparks debate on Messiah

A 3-foot-tall tablet with 87 lines of Hebrew that scholars believe dates from the decades just before the birth of Jesus is causing a quiet stir in biblical and archeological circles, especially because it may speak of a messiah who will rise from the dead after three days.

If such a messianic description really is there, it will contribute to a developing reevaluation of both popular and scholarly views of Jesus, because it suggests that the story of his death and resurrection was part of a recognized Jewish tradition at the time. . .

Read more at: New York Times

Thanks again to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link.

Veteran From Famous Photo Dies After PTSD Fight

Photo from source, Army Times

I haven't got much to add to this, other than to say it is quite sad.

[Excerpt]

Medic in famous photo dies after PTSD struggle

During the first week of the war in Iraq, a Military Times photographer captured the arresting image of Army Spc. Joseph Patrick Dwyer as he raced through a battle zone clutching a tiny Iraqi boy named Ali.

The photo was hailed as a portrait of the heart behind the U.S. military machine, and Doc Dwyer’s concerned face graced the pages of newspapers across the country. . .

Read more at: Army Times

Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link.

Same-sex Marriage Still Illegal in All 50 States?

Shocking image from source, Town Hall

Wait a minute, you say, isn't same-sex marriage legal now in California and Massachusetts? Not according to the author of this piece. But his whole theory is based upon the notion that State Supreme Courts are not authorized to override public resolutions that are unconstitutional (insert Scooby Doo "hunh?" noise here).

Yes, according to the author, only the public can vote to undo what the public has voted to do. Extending this theory logically, if there was a resolution to re-establish slavery, or to force Democrats into work camps, or to mandate mullets for all males over the age of 18--and it passed--that's just the way it would be!

Suffice it to say, I vehemently disagree with the author. But I am presenting this piece for a couple of reasons. First, to show how pretzel-twisty same-sex marriage opponents are with their logic. Second, to highlight a point I've tried to make on this blog before: you can say anything you want--no matter how derogatory--about gay people in America. Especially when you cloak it in religion. If you can stomach it, read through some of the comments. Then imagine that the issue was interracial marriage. It isn't hard to do. . .

[Excerpt]

Same Sex "Marriage": Illegal in All Fifty States

About a month ago, the California Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, issued a declaratory opinion that Proposition 22, which states that, “Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California,” enshrined into statutory law by 61.4% of California voters in 2000 (over four million voters), was “unconstitutional” on the basis that "gender discrimination" violates the equal protection clause of the state constitution. . .

Read more at: TownHall.com

America For Sale, Cheap!

Image from source, CNBC

Remember back in the 80s, when there was conservative paranoia about Japan buying up the United States? Well, they got it half right. According to this article, we're for sale, and we're cheap! So why aren't the conservatives up in arms about it now?

[Excerpt]

Falling Dollar Makes America Dirt Cheap

Things in the U.S. sure are tough. Brother, can you spare a euro?

Signs saying "We accept euros" are cropping up in the windows of some Manhattan retailers. A Belgium company is trying to gobble up St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch, the nation's largest brewer and iconic Super Bowl advertiser. . .

Read more at: CNBC

Conspiracy Corner: WTC7 Collapse Explained?

Photo from source, Raw Story

I've expressed my concerns and doubts about the "official story" of 9/11 a couple of times in the short history of this blog. I'm pretty agnostic about the whole thing, neither buying that story, nor fully swallowing the many and varied "conspiracy theories." But my gut tells me that what happened that September morning has never been fully--or truthfully--explained to us.

One of the sticky points in the accepted series of events has always been World Trade Center Building 7. The building wasn't directly hit, but collapsed almost perfectly into its footprint at nearly free-fall speed. Things like that are not supposed to happen to steel-frame buildings. Now comes word that the collapse has been explained--but in a report that has not yet been released.

Expect much buzzing from all sides of the discussion until, and even after it is released.

[Excerpt]

World Trade Center 7 mystery 'solved'?

A new report by BBC 2's "Conspiracy Files" claims that the US National Institute of Standards and Technology is preparing to release a long awaited report on the collapse of World Trade Center 7, which fell on Sept. 11, 2001, about seven hours after WTC 1 and 2 were downed. . .

Read more (with video) at: Raw Story

NYT: When FOX "News" Becomes the Story

I don't like to use the same source too many times close together, but this story from the New York Times had to be covered here. As often as I've criticized FOX "News" and its stable of "journalists," it's high time I found some high-powered backup.

[Excerpt]

When Fox News Is the Story

Like most working journalists, whenever I type seven letters — Fox News — a series of alarms begins to whoop in my head: Danger. Warning. Much mayhem ahead.

Once the public relations apparatus at Fox News is engaged, there will be the calls to my editors, keening (and sometimes threatening) e-mail messages, and my requests for interviews will quickly turn into depositions about my intent or who else I am talking to. . .

Read more (it's good) at: New York Times

Young Turks: Conservatives Hate Wall-E

Yeah, I know, another Young Turks video. But hey, I really like them, and we're coming off of a holiday weekend, where interesting blog stories are few and far between. And why am I apologizing?

Anyway, here The Young Turks discuss the crazy conservative outcry over the liberal, fascist movie. . .Wall-E. Seriously. I haven't seen Wall-E yet, but I might now!