This Is Hysterical...

...Whether or not you are a Hillary Clinton fan:



(h/t Matt Stoller)

Breaking

Court limits use of race in school admissions

NEW HEADLINE

Strict constructionist LIARS reverse Brown vs Board of Education and lay groundwork for All Poor Brown People School vs All Rich White People School Intramural Volleyball Tournaments.

BREAKING NEWS

Updated: 1 hour, 50 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected public school assignment plans that take account of students’ race.

The decision in cases affecting schools in Louisville, Ky., and Seattle could imperil similar plans in hundreds of districts nationwide, and it leaves public school systems with a limited arsenal to maintain racial diversity.

The court split, 5-4, with Chief Justice John Roberts announcing the court’s judgment. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote a dissent that was joined by the court’s other three liberals.

I literally feel sick.

Webb's Populism

Interesting article on Sen. Jim Webb in today's Washington Post. The article really highlights Webb's populist efforts to reshape the Party. However, I'm not sure that Webb is pitch perfect, as the below quote indicates.

Webb articulates what may be the wild-card issue of the 2008 campaign. There is a deep anger these days among middle-class Americans who feel abandoned by the elites in both parties. That anger surfaces on pocketbook issues that affect working people -- immigration, outsourcing of jobs, and the trade and tax boondoggles that broadcaster Lou Dobbs rages against each night on CNN.

"The average American worker sits there feeling the impact of globalization and immigration. They need people sticking up for them," says Webb. Though he doesn't criticize any politicians by name, he scolds what he calls "the Rubin wing" of the party, which supports the pro-investment policies advocated by Clinton administration Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin.

I think he is dead on in that the Middle Class feels abandoned by both parties. But I think he's wrong to dismiss pro-investment policies. As a parent, I think one of the best government policies in recent years has been the 529 accounts, designed to help families save money for college. I have no doubt that middle class families and Robert Rubin approve.

I've long felt that the American Dream is getting harder and harder to achieve for the middle class. Housing prices, insurance rates, tuition increases, child care costs, et. al. are making it more difficult to have the life your parents did. The Democrats have to speak to those middle class families getting squeezed.

That's not to say that raising the minimum wage and covering the uninsured, among other things, are not important goals. But we need to speak to a wider audience. I think it's too simplistic to say there are the "haves" and "have nots." I think there are also plenty of "have some, but not enough." Jim Webb wants the Democrats to speak to these people. I agree. We just disagree slightly on what needs to be said, but we seem to be going in the same direction.

So. Who the hell told them this was a good idea?

House members seek pay raise of $4,400

By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 26 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Despite low approval ratings and hard feelings from last year's elections, Democrats and Republicans in the House are reaching out for an approximately $4,400 pay raise that would increase their salaries to almost $170,000.

Oh my god. What a boneheaded move. Out here in the hinterlands, there is no love lost for our congress critters and this is NOT going to help.

Seemingly stymied at every turn, no major achievements under their belts, they're going to **** up with the one thing that everyone understands.

Keep an eye out for single digit approval numbers coming to a Congress near you.

Former Leaders of Ex-Gay Ministry Apologize for 'Bringing Harm'

LOS ANGELES — Three former leaders of an international ministry that counsels gays to change their sexual orientation apologized for their efforts, saying that though they acted sincerely, their message had caused isolation, shame and fear.

The former leaders of the interdenominational Christian organization Exodus International said Wednesday they had all, over time, become disillusioned with the group's ideas and concerned about what they described as the wrenching human toll of such gay conversion efforts.

Huge Rally For Habeas Corpus

Sponsored by the ACLU, there was a Day Of Action in DC. And some pretty cool people showed up to speak.

I'll link to a few of them over the next day. Here is our first entry, Senator Patrick Leahy, who while a strong speaker, doesn't come off quite as masculine as Ann Coulter.

Following up on Cliff's post from earlier....

Two really good ads.



and



In the comments, tell me what you thing. I'm curious.

I've got a favorite of the two ads, just wanting to know which one you guys like.

Mutt Romney is In the Doghouse

The incident: dog excrement found on the roof and windows of the Romney station wagon. How it got there: Romney strapped a dog carrier — with the family dog Seamus, an Irish Setter, in it — to the roof of the family station wagon for a twelve hour drive from Boston to Ontario, which the family apparently completed, despite Seamus's rather visceral protest.

Massachusetts's animal cruelty laws specifically prohibit anyone from carrying an animal "in or upon a vehicle, or otherwise, in an unnecessarily cruel or inhuman manner or in a way and manner which might endanger the animal carried thereon." An officer for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals responded to a description of the situation saying "it's definitely something I'd want to check out."

Ingrid Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals:

"...it is commonsense that any dog who's under extreme stress might show that stress by losing control of his bowels: that alone should have been sufficient indication that the dog was, basically, being tortured." Romney, of course, has expressed support for the use of "enhanced interrogation" techniques when it comes to terrorists; his campaign did not return repeated calls and emails about the treatment of his dog.

If I were Seamus, I'd have had quite a bone to pick.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the front-runner in many polls for the Republican nomination for President in 2008, admitted to the Christian Broadcasting Network that his sexual desires kept him from becoming a Catholic priest.

The Republican presidential hopeful, who is currently married to his third wife, said that he had planned to enter a Catholic seminary after he finished high school, but backed out.

He backed out of a Catholic seminary? That leaves so many openings (no pun) for unprintable one-liners, it's making my head (no pun) spin. But I digress.

"Sometimes when I was mayor, I was very, very close to Father Michael Judge..." ... He added that Judge, a Catholic priest in New York, had said of him, "You're kind of living out what you wanted to do as a child by being Mayor."

So Rudy growed-up big and got a real Mayor suit and toddled down the streets of New York and stuff. And big buildings collapsed while he played Mayor. And a bunch of people inhaled bad things, and they got sick. And now he wants to be President when he grows up. Someone send this infant to his room before he destroys more lives.

Here we go again:
Senate subpoenas White House over wiretapping

The Senate committee investigating the Bush administration's controversial domestic wiretapping program subpoenaed the White House, Vice President Dick Cheney's office and the Justice Department today for information regarding their legal justification for the warrantless secret surveillance.[...]

Legal experts suggested today that the administration would fight or ignore these subpoenas too, throwing the issue into federal court, perhaps even the Supreme Court. The outcome, they said, could be a kind of out-of-court compromise that gives lawmakers at least some insight into the legal machinations surrounding the top-secret National Security Agency program.[...]

...Leahy told lawyers for President Bush, Cheney and Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales that attempts to get senior administration officials to testify before Congress on the wiretapping issue "have been met with a consistent pattern of evasion and misdirection."[...]

"We're aware of the committee's action and will respond appropriately," Fratto said. "It's unfortunate that congressional Democrats continue to choose the route of confrontation."

Fratto said the so-called terrorist surveillance program was "lawful, limited, safeguarded and — most importantly — effective in protecting American citizens from terrorist attacks."

They have until July 18th to comply. Of course, why would they? Those bullies can't push them around! Where do they get off thinking they can challenge Rogue Nation Dick and Gonzo the WonderDork? Off with their heads!

Oh, and just in case anyone forgets: 911, 911, 911.

Ho Ho HO! (and I'm not talking about Ann Coulter)

Seems like Minneapolis jumped the gun a bit on wanting the 2008 RNC Convention in their city.... they're getting stuck with the bill.

Companies pressed for millions for GOP convention

Concerned about a "lack of production" pulling in donations toward the 2008 Republican National Convention, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and his allies hoped an intimate appeal to high-level business executives at the stately governor's mansion would shake loose more cash.

By Brian Bakst, Associated Press
The breakfast meeting was urgent and the list of invitees was exclusive.
Concerned about a "lack of production" pulling in donations toward the 2008 Republican National Convention, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and his allies hoped an intimate appeal to high-level business executives at the stately governor's mansion would shake loose more cash.

"We're looking for each Fortune 500 company headquartered in Minnesota to give at least $1 million; and some of you will be able to be far more generous than that," read Pawlenty's talking points for the June 6 meeting.

Let's put it this way. If they are any good at telling which way the wind is blowing, Govenor Pawlenty is looking at a steep bill for confetti & balloons.

Taking Back America

Dave Johnson over at Seeing The Forest has the best round up I have seen of the Take Back America conference. You should really go read the whole thing, but here is a taste:

I attended the Take Back America conference last week, and it was great. I am inspired, and you should be, too.

Two years ago I was at this same conference and it was a very different experience. I felt it was attending a tired, demoralized gathering of people associated with the older, Washington-based, established, celebrity-driven issue-organizations. I left discouraged, wondering when the liberal establishment would start to catch up with the ideas circulating around the blogosphere – especially with the ideas about building “progressive infrastructure” organizations for reaching out to the public and promoting core progressive values and ideas, instead of the focus on issues.

This time they really seemed to get it. Everyone seemed to be on the same side, ready to relegate the failed ideology of "conservatism" to the dustbin of history. Let's hope people keep working together, keep innovating and keep up the enthusiasm level, as 2008 could be a landmark year in the way that 1932 was, if we keep on fighting for what is right.

Or Maybe ....

There was a big article in the New York Times this morning about how the younger generation is more liberal than the rest of America. Andrew Sullivan took issue with the conclusion, saying ...

But what strikes me most about the latest poll of the next generation is the distinctions they make. Instead of seeing "drugs" as an amorphous category, they distinguish between largely harmless marijuana and an addictive upper like cocaine. Instead of conflating all the moral issues, they have no problem with gay dignity and equality, but retain many of the moral conflicts of their parents with respect to the far more troubling issue of abortion. This doesn't strike me less as a sign of their liberalism than of their intelligence and experience.

Permit me to whack this softball out of the park. Andrew, could it possibly be that having more intelligence and experience is how one comes around to having these "liberal" views?

I'd imagine that if you know a committed gay couple, you'd be less likely to believe that their union would affect your own marriage and you'd be less likely to compare it to bestiality (box turtle) or incest. If, Andrew, you believe this to be true, that intelligence and experience tend to lead one away from Republican views, what does that say about your association with the Party pre-2004?

Bush to name envoy to Islamic Conference

By Ben Feller, Associated Press Writer | June 27, 2007

WASHINGTON --President Bush announced Wednesday he will establish an envoy to a coalition of Muslim countries, with hopes of bolstering ties to the Islamic world and improving the image of the United States.
(snip)

"Our special envoy will listen to and learn from representatives from Muslim states, and will share with them America's views and values," Bush said in a ceremony honoring the 50th anniversary of the Islamic Center, a mosque and cultural center in Washington.

My nomination for Special Envoy?

Bill Donahue of the Catholic League

“Just this week, a report of Muslim violence against Iraqi Christians was released. The study, Incipient Genocide, describes in detail ‘the deaths of Christian children—including babies—laypeople, priests and nuns who were burned, beaten or blown up in car bombs throughout the past few years.’ Moreover, Christian girls are being raped and having nitric acid thrown in their faces for not wearing veils. And the Muslim silence is deafening.”

Hey, he's just as qualified as any other of President Bush's appointees!!!

Plus, he has one advantage. He actually knows what a Muslim is. He doesn't like them**, but that hasn't stopped Bush from appointing Industry lobbyists to Environmental posts, anti-Labor enthusiasts to Workforce positions, etc.



Bill Donahue, just the man to "share America's views and values".

**He doesn't like gays and jews either, but no job openings there.

The Addendum To BC's Post

All you need to know about what Norm Coleman was doing in college is right here...

Dueling Headlines

Americans favour Obama over Clinton as Prez: Poll

Early Gambling Line Says Hillary Wins It All

But this is the headline that deserves more attention than premature polling and betting:

Rise in Child Chronic Illness Could Swamp Health Care

As more American children eat poorly and exercise less, rates of chronic illness such as asthma and diabetes are continuing to rise, researchers are reporting.

And because childhood illness often sets the stage for adult health woes, the U.S. health-care system could be headed toward a crisis in coming decades, experts warn in a number of reports in the June 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

[...]

A surge in childhood illness will also have a big impact on the U.S. health-care system, another expert said.

"Given these high rates of [ill children] in the next decade, there are going to be tremendously higher rates of expenditures for health care and social welfare, because a lot of these people will have health disabilities, and they won't be employable," Dr. James Perrin, director of the Center for Child and Adolescent Health Policy at MassGeneral Hospital for Children, in Boston, told HealthDay.

The impact on the economy, the health care system, and pretty much everyone who isn't a billionaire citizen of Rogue Nation Dick is huge.

Mindless Post-o'-the-Day

Paris "dots-her-i's-with-hearts" Hilton and

Ann "wishes-death-upon-Democratic-family-members" Coulter aren't the only topical tasteless blondes in the news. I couldn't resist putting one more member of

the club up there. No reason in particular. I just liked the image.

All 3 are pretty deranged.

Republicans: The Party Who Hates Obstruction Except When They're Doing the Obstruction



Oh, and notice the prominent role played by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell here, a guy who probably has oil in his veins. As you know, we love Mitch at this site. I just wish we could find him.

It seems he's been hiding from the Senate floor since the immigration debate began, sending others down to object for him. For example on June 7th, as Republicans tried to kill the Immigration Bill, McConnell was nowhere to be found.

Hmm, it couldn't be that he is scared to stand up for what *he believes in?

*The corporations and communist Chinese government, who tell him how to vote.

Norm Coleman Gets The Munchies

In today's Roll Call (sub required), an old friend of Norm Coleman reveals just how big a hypocrite the former Mayor is. Coleman sent out a letter opposing the legalization of marijuana (not a totally unreasonable position for a Senator from Minnesota to take, btw). However, a friend of Coleman's from his college days, Norm Kent, published a letter revealing that the Senator had a different opinion of the wacky tobaccy back in his college days. Frickin awesome!

One of Sen. Norm Coleman’s old college pals wants to reminisce about their undergrad days, but the particular good times he’s recalling — like smoking joints in dorm rooms — are ones the Minnesota Republican probably wants to forget.

Norm Kent, a former classmate of Coleman’s at Hofstra University in New York, recently fired off a letter to his old pal reminding him of the high times they once shared, after Kent received a form letter from Coleman in which the Senator takes a tsk-tsk attitude toward marijuana usage.

Kent, an attorney and radio talk-show host, accused his former toking buddy of hypocrisy in a letter posted on CelebStoner.com, a site devoted to stoner news. “How about admitting that if the [current New York] drug laws were applied to Norman Bruce Coleman on Long Island in 1968, or to me, or to our friends, and fellow students, you, I and others we knew and loved might just be getting out of jail now?” asks Kent, who serves on the board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Among the stories he shares of their smoky high-jinks: They would cleverly tape their doors shut and burn incense to hide the smell, and Coleman once smoked pot while standing on the roof of a campus building during a protest.

Wal-Mart Warms The Heart...And Sends Jobs To China

Our favorite smiley face is up to its old tricks. Here is a sample of how much they value American workers:

Wal-Mart’s demands forced 14 suppliers — including Hasbro, Fruit of the Loom, and Procter & Gamble — to cut approximately 17,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs between 2001 and 2006. Thousands of these jobs were shipped to China

You can read the rest here. Make sure a steady supply of barf bags are in easy-reaching distance.

Where I Stand

Ok, assuming anyone is interested, here it goes. This comes from me by the way, Cliff Schecter, not cliffschecter.com. I have been accused of shilling for virtually every candidate so far, so why not share my thoughts.

First of all, I am on nobody's payroll. You got that trolls who like to send me J'accuse emails? I consult for Working America and have accepted a position at Brave New Films. You will find that neither has endorsed a candidate (or if they have, they haven't told me).

So now we are past that. So far, for being the strongest on a variety of progressive issues, from Iraq to habeas corpus, John Edwards and Chris Dodd round out my first tier. That does not mean this won't change.

My second tier is occupied by those with whom I disagree strongly on a substantive issue (Richardson and gun control) or haven't found to have spoken out strongly enough yet on important issues (Obama). But these are people I could enthusiastically support for President, were they the nominee.

Finally, there is the rest of the field. Let me get to the elephant in the room. Hillary Clinton. Here is my problem. I worked for Mark Penn during her husband's reelection in 1996, and quite simply find him to be one of the most detestable human beings I have ever met.

I could go into personal gossipy stuff about how he treated people, but why bother? Suffice it to say he's a scumbag with a capital SCUM. He is the anal leakage his client Olestra caused.

He will hurt our party, much like his old friend Dick Morris did, if he has the President's ear. He has run a union-busting outfit. Toiled for Big Oil. Worked with neo-Fascist Silvio Berlusconi in Italy, and advised Mike Bloomberg to switch parties and run as a Republican for Mayor of New York. He has advised Joe Lieberman. I could go on, but just read Ari's piece and you'll get the important stuff. Oh and there is this:

Lots of people are understandably curious to know what sort of messages Hillary pollster Mark Penn is testing on behalf of her boss right now. Well, we've got some answers to that question.

Penn's pollsters have been testing various negative messages on both Barack Obama and John Edwards. The messages tested on Obama were that he's inexperienced and that he's voted to fund the war at certain junctures.

A bit more surprising: Penn's firm polled on Edwards' $400 haircut, a line of inquiry that would seem more likely to come from a GOPer than from a fellow Dem's campaign. Penn has already created controversy for Hillary with his anti-union corporate clientele.

So Penn wants to reinforce right-wing attacks on our candidates. Wonderful. So here it is. Not only can I not support Senator Clinton in the primary while this man is by her side, I frankly will have a hard time pulling the lever for her against a Republican. And I live in Ohio.

Hopefully, that makes where I stand clear. Who I support could change (which by the way, might include Senator Clinton if she would dump that anachronistic, 90s ass, as Al Gore did in 2000). But for now it's Edwards and Dodd leading the charge. That is assuming Gore and Wes Clark don't get in, which would make me rethink things.

Now you can get back to accusing me of all manner of things :)

FYI

I spoke with my friend who works in one of Senator Lugar's offices, and he/she told me that the feedback on the Senator's position has been overwhelmingly positive.

No negative phone calls, and one solitary nasty email.

Not a bad start.

and



Mr Greenwald (AKA "The Smartest Man on the Blogosphere") has written himself a new book. It is, as you might think, excellent. Pre-ordering is available now.

Where most other voices inside our intertubes are snacks or fast food, Mr Greenwald's writing is prime rib, baked potato and a creamy chocolate mousse.

Enjoyable, nutritious and you leave the table better than you when sat down.

Poll results that should be everywhere.

Poll majority: Gays' orientation can't change

(CNN) -- A majority of Americans believe that gays and lesbians could not change their sexual orientation even if they wanted to, according to results of a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Wednesday.

It's the first time in a CNN poll the majority has held that belief regarding homosexuality.

Fifty-six percent of about 515 poll respondents said they do not believe sexual orientation can be changed. In 2001, 45 percent of those responding to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll held that belief. In 1998, according to a CNN/Time poll, the number was 36 percent.

(snip)

In a poll conducted May 4-6 that dealt with other issues regarding homosexuality, participants were asked whether openly gay people should be allowed to serve in the U.S. military, which currently has a "don't ask-don't tell" policy on homosexuality. Seventy-nine percent of poll respondents said openly gay people should be allowed to serve in the military. Eighteen percent said they should not.

On the question of gay marriage, 43 percent of respondents in May said they would not support same-sex marriage or civil unions, which provide many, if not most, of the same legal protections as marriage. Twenty-four percent said they supported same-sex marriage, while 27 percent opted for civil unions.

But a majority of poll respondents -- 57 percent -- said gay and lesbian couples should have the legal right to adopt children. Forty percent said they should not.

New Jim Webb Recipient

We haven't given out a Jim Webb in a while, our award to a Democrat and/or progressive public figure who decides they will not take the criminal behavior of the GOP sitting down. So here we have Congressman Heath Shuler, a former quarterback for the Redskins. Meaning I would probably not want to steal a sign from him and piss him off.

But Rep. Gomert Pyle of #*@& (R-Asshat) did just that. Childish to be sure. But he may want to find an undisclosed location soon, as this was Shuler's reaction:

"On Thursday, during House votes, a very angry Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) had some distinctly non-collegial words for Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas)," Emily Heil reports for Roll Call's "Heard on the Hill." "The words 'gutless,' 'chickens--t' and 'thief' were flung."

Now that is a fight I would pay to see...

Doolittle Being Done In

Oopsy. You definitely don't want your ex-chief of staff providing evidence to the FBI when you're up to your ears in Abramoff.

Start packing your bags Mr. Congressman, the Big House is calling.

Young Americans Leaning Left

More than half of Americans ages 17 to 29 — 54 percent — say they intend to vote for a Democrat for president in 2008. They share with the public at large a negative view of President Bush, who has a 28 percent approval rating with this group, and of the Republican Party. They hold a markedly more positive view of Democrats than they do of Republicans.

Thought I'd share something positive to cleanse us after Coulter's vile spew.

How low can it go?

Poll: GOP support for Iraq war beginning to waver

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Public support for the war in Iraq has fallen to a new low. Not only that, but Republican support is beginning to waver.

President Bush's troop buildup, or "surge," meant to quell the sectarian violence is now in place.

(snip)

But the public is already making an assessment, and it's not good. In the latest CNN-Opinion Research Corporation poll released Tuesday, 69 percent of those polled believe things are going badly in Iraq. Seventeen percent think the situation is improving. (View the latest poll results)

Thirty percent of Americans polled say they favor the war, the lowest level of support on record. Two-thirds are opposed.

I wonder if he really thinks this makes him look tough.

Giuliani Criticizes Bill Clinton

By BOB LEWIS
Associated Press Writer
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) -- Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani on Tuesday accused former President Clinton of not responding forcefully enough to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing or later terrorist attacks.

The former New York mayor criticized Democrats, accusing them of weakness and naivete in dealing with terrorism. Giuliani made the comments to about 650 business, corporate and political leaders at Regent University, the conservative Christian college founded by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson.

(snip)

Giuliani argued that Clinton treated the World Trade Center bombing as a criminal act instead of a terrorist attack, calling it "a big mistake" that emboldened other strikes on the Khobar Towers housing complex in Saudi Arabia, in Kenya and Tanzania and later on the USS Cole while docked in Yemen in 2000.

(snip)

Last September, however, Giuliani defended Clinton's record amid political bickering over which president - Clinton or George W. Bush - missed more opportunities to prevent the Sept. 11 attacks.

"The idea of trying to cast blame on President Clinton is just wrong for many, many reasons, not the least of which is I don't think he deserves it," Giuliani said during a stop in Florida. "I don't think President Bush deserves it. The people who deserve blame for Sept. 11, I think we should remind ourselves, are the terrorists - the Islamic fanatics - who came here and killed us and want to come here again and do it."