Bumper Stickers 'R Us

 

Georgia on My Mind

From Stupid to Moronic to Evil

 

Paul Craig Roberts was not only Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under Ronnie Raygun, but was also once an associate editor on the Wall Street Journal. His essay published today at Information Clearing House gives a different view of what's happening in the faraway Georgia from that promoted by the Crawford Caligula and his sychophants in the mainstream media.

 

.....today, August 9, 2008, as I write, it is the “liberal” Washington Post that has written an editorial urging the US to go to war with Russia.

 

With its editorial, “Stopping Russia: the US and its allies must unite against Moscow’s war on Georgia,” the Washington Post has established a world record for the maximum number of lies in the minimum number of words.

 

Except for the Washington Post, the entire world knows that Georgia (the birthplace of Joseph Stalin, not Georgia USA) initiated the aggression that killed Russian peacekeepers and hundreds of civilians in South Ossetia, peacekeepers who were there with the blessing of Georgia and international agreements.

 

The true facts are available all over the world press. But the “liberal” Washington Post serves up the lie that Russia has attacked Georgia and conceivably plans to conquer all of Georgia. “This is a grave challenge to the United States and Europe,” thunders the Bush Regime’s mouthpiece, aka, “the liberal media.”

 

Thirsting for blood, the “liberal media” declares: “The United States and its NATO allies must together impose a price on Russia.”

 

Here we see the combination of idiocy and delusion in one sentence. The United States has proved that it is incapable of occupying Iraq, much less Afghanistan. Russia has a large trade surplus. America’s NATO allies are dependent on Russian natural gas. Yet the “liberal” Washington Post wants a bankrupt US and “its NATO allies” who are dependent on Russian energy “to impose a price on Russia” for defending its peacekeepers!

I would recommend reading the complete article (follow link in title above) which is mainly about the MYTH of a "liberal" media.

 

He prefaces this essay with one of my favorite quotes from John Stuart Mill:

 

Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative.

The Clowns of Torture

If you find yourself strapped to a gurney or appliance moving dolly and see this crew approaching, especially if Condi is outfittted in her thigh high black high heeled boots, you should probably hope that the morphine is just about to kick in real good. According to ABC News:

 

President George W. Bush's most senior advisers approved "enhanced interrogation techniques" of top al-Qaeda suspects by the Central Intelligence Agency

 

....../snip

 

ABC reported that the so-called "principals" discussed interrogation details in dozens of top-secret talks and meetings in the White House.

 

Then-national security adviser Condoleezza Rice chaired the meetings, which took place in the White House Situation Room and were typically attended by a select group of senior officials or their deputies, ABC said.

 

......./snip

 

In addition to Rice, the principals at the time included Vice President Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell, CIA Director George Tenet and Attorney General John Ashcroft, the report said.

 

Not surprising none of the "principals" could be reached for comment on these revelations. John Ashcroft of the lovely tenor voice so easily offended by Lady Justice's bare bosom was quoted by another official as saying at the time -

 

"Why are we talking about this in the White House? History will not judge this kindly."

 

No doggy biscuits for you today however Mr. Ashcroft. I'm sure you were fine with what was being proposed actually happening, but only concerned that by discussing it in the "White House" you had all perhaps lost "plausible deniability." But I'm of the impression you are a religious man, John, so in that case God will billet you in the lower reaches when that time comes. I hear torture is kinda the Soup de Jour, everyday, down there, if you catch my drift.

April Fool's Day

For the last eight years including today, the incumbent in the White House has had the honor of having his very own holiday. It may not be a statutory paid holiday, but it is a time we can reflect on the man it was named after and hopefull laugh a bit rather than the more appropriate gagging and crying. For the First Fool, well this is your day.

 

I wonder how often the executives over at CNN thank their lucky stars for the existence of Faux News. I mean if it wasn't for Faux, CNN would very likely be the worst, most condescending, most patronizing and in general the biggest chancre on what passes for media in the Land of Nod I mean Amerika. Only Faux can consistently outdo CNN at catering to the lowest common denominator while they guarantee to lower that denominator almost daily.

 

I guess it shouldn't be surpising that the comment board of the second dumbest channel would attract a somewhat less than intellectually stellar group of commenters. However some genius using the handle xxxxxxxxxx (Mod - name removed to protect the mentally challenged), which come to think of it almost sounds like a real name. Maybe I should look up her phone number and give her a call, just to remind her of the importance of remembering to breathe. Anyway, this is in serious contention for being the very, very, very BEST reason to NOT vote for Obama - ever! Are you ready? Here's the reason, not to vote for Obama!

(He even bowls like a girl. lol)

 

Remember, you read it here first, that is unless you are a mouth breather that reads the comments over at CNN.

March Madness!

 

I'm not talking about the NCAA Tournament with the title of this post. Though the Tournament does signal the start of one of my favorite times of year, for spectator sports. Next come the Stanley Cup Playoffs and then the NBA Championships. Then it is time to get outside away from the tube.

 

No, I'm talking about the state of the rogue nation to my south, the United States of Greed, or as my youngest son used to call it the "Excited Snakes." I mean it's all crazy madness, the primaries, the economy, the Spitzer takedown and of course anything escaping from the mouth of the First Fool. Not that we don't have our own insanity and inanities in Ottawa, Alberta and Victoria, but that stuff is for another post.

 

Last week the first big thing was the fall of Eliot Spitzer the Governor of New York. Since he had been the "steamrolling" D.A and Attorney General, excising crime and unethical behavior where ever he found it, including busting "prostitution rings," it was at the least hypocritical for him to be availing himself of the services of a high class prostitute, I assume $4300 still purchases "high class" goods. Of course the fact that it was supposedly suspicious "banking transactions" that led to the discovery of Client #9 (Spitzer), one can only wonder how much his enemies among bankers and on Wall Street may have had to do with the "break" in the case. Greg Palast, as so often he does, provides a somewhat different perspective on the Spitzer Takedown in Eliot's Mess.

 

While New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was paying an ‘escort’ $4,300 in a hotel room in Washington, just down the road, George Bush’s new Federal Reserve Board Chairman, Ben Bernanke, was secretly handing over $200 billion in a tryst with mortgage bank industry speculators.

 

Both acts were wanton, wicked and lewd. But there’s a BIG difference. The Governor was using his own checkbook. Bush’s man Bernanke was using ours. ..../snip

 

Up until Wednesday, there was one single, lonely politician who stood in the way of this creepy little assignation at the bankers’ bordello: Eliot Spitzer.

 

Who are they kidding? Spitzer’s lynching and the bankers’ enriching are intimately tied. ..../snip

 

Not all crimes lead to federal bust or even public exposure. It’s up to something called “prosecutorial discretion.”

 

Funny thing, this ‘discretion.’ For example, Senator David Vitter, Republican of Louisiana, paid Washington DC prostitutes to put him diapers (ewww!), yet the Senator was not exposed by the US prosecutors busting the pimp-ring that pampered him. Naming and shaming and ruining Spitzer – rarely done in these cases - was made at the ‘discretion’ of Bush’s Justice Department.

 

Or maybe we should say, 'indiscretion.'

 

A man as smart as Mr. Spitzer demonstrably was (he is "alleged" to have scored perfect on the LSAT)should have known that if he wanted to be in public life AND cavort with prostitutes, he should have joined the Republican Party!

 

Meanwhile even oily, sleaze-bag, neo-con enabling traitor Robert Novak in his Chicago Sun-Times column hinted at GOP involvement in Spitzer's takedown.

 

Predicting Spitzer's departure

 

Republican political operative Roger Stone, Eliot Spitzer's longtime antagonist, predicted his political demise more than three months in advance.

 

''Eliot Spitzer will not serve out his term as governor of the state of New York,'' Stone said Dec. 6 on Michael Smerconish's radio talk show. He gave no details.

 

Asked about his possible involvement in Spitzer's fall Stone said, "No comment," but did add that, "My work isn't done there. Just watch."

 

Just so we don't get the wrong impression of how classy Roger Stone is - he currently runs an anti-Clinton political 527 group, Citizens United Not Timid, a acronym of which, understandably, has sparked fury among liberal groups.

 

Other forms of the madness to the south will have to wait until another day. Things like the economy (if there still is one by the time I get around to discussing it) or the silliness over the pastor of the church attended by Barack Obama. In the meantime...

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Presidents' Day

When I was a young lad we used to celebrate Lincoln's birthday on the 12th of February and George Washington's on February 22. In recent times somebody decided to split the difference and celebrate ALL presidents (including the current incompetent and evil example) on the third Monday in February (otherwise known as Black History Month). One good thing about this Presidents' Day in America is that is should be the last with the W as the incumbent - barring the imposition of Martial Law and/or coronations, of course. With a little help from Marty Kaplan (link from title) on the captions - let's celebrate in style.

 

...one of the most
loathsome,
preening,
hubristic
degradations of the presidency
in all of American history

 

his guitar-strumming indifference
to Katrina

 

There are many more highlowlights of the Shrub's time in office, but really, it is too easy, so I'll leave it at that. One benefit of the holiday in the USA and parts of Canada is that the North American securities markets are closed for one more day, making it likely that the impending crash will have to wait at least another day. Many of the economic wise men think there is light at the end of the tunnel, unfortunately I fear that it is a train of economic payback that will run over many of the people of the world, including many who had nothing to do with creating the monster we have yet to truly face down.

 

It's not normal in February for me to want to be in Manitoba, but at least there, today is Louis Riel Day.

So, Happy Louis Riel Day

Treason's Boy Toys

Some inexplicable streak of masochism prompts me to subject myself to PunkinHead Russert and his supposedly hard hitting political discussion Meet the Press on Sunday morning. It's all I can do to not type that as "Press the Meat" and lose my breakfast as I watch the Punkin' lob softballs at Republicans. Also, I wonder how he lives with himself after being outed by Mary Matalin during the Libby trial as Dick Cheney's go to guy for propaganda campaigns. Pardon me Timmeh, but one would think you would address these concerns sometime on your sorry excuse for a show, but that would only be the case if you and your show were actually.......like.......relevant.

This morning Robert Novak crawled out from whatever rock he lives under to add his wisdom to a discussion focused mainly on the Democratic primary season. I'm always surprised to see Mr. Slime and unctiousness himself, not in jail and all, since he is pretty much a self confessed traitor who in a normal world would be guilty of treason. Then I remember that his treasonous butt buddy, Karl "Turdblossom" Rove, is now a columnist for the New York Times. Yep, that New York Times, the one that used to be a respectable newspaper before it became an enabling broadside for the neo-cons and Zionists. And of course KKKKarl isn't in jail either, even though he had to appear before Patrick Fitzgerald's Grand Jury FIVE times just to correct or obscure the impression that he was lying his face off.

Then I remembered that it is almost Spring in Washington D.C. and Treason is the fashion of the day. The Constitution, that quaint document, went out of style when the thugs on the Supreme Court SELECTED George W. Bush as President, if not before. Since then the secret proliferation of Nuclear weapons to countries that are not only not necessarily friends, but not even necessarily stable, the quashing of any science that could reduce the profits of big oil and other such patriotic(?) concerns have become the business of government. Of course the only constituent of government that matters has become business, well BIG BUSINESS, that is.

Democracy - American Style

The form of democracy practiced in America (see Florida 2000, Ohio 2004 etc.) is catching on around the world. McClatchey, odd man out among the U.S. based media has drawn attention to the fact that the Attorney General has been captured on tape discussing the massive rigging planned for the Pakistani election coming around on the guitar tomorrow. Most likely the US will support the egregiously unpopular and un-democratic Bushareff until he too blows up in their faces like another propped up dictator known as the Shah of that country once known as Persia.

For more on the taping of the Pakistani AG see: Tape caught Pakistani official saying vote will be rigged

One would think Americans would learn, but there's no accounting for arrogance and stupidity. To paraphrase an old cowboy buddy, "You can tell Americans, but you can't tell 'em much!"

 

Breaking News!

 

Maybe Michael Vick got off Easy

 

Suicide Bomber Kills 80 at Outdoor Dog Fight in Afghanistan; Deadliest Attack Since 2001

 

I sincerely regret any harm
..........done to any dogs by this bombing!

2008 - Could it be Great?

Today is the anniversary of the famous Battle of New Orleans, which was fought AFTER the war had been ended, too bad those guys didn't know yet. The tune (titled The Eighth of January) was written back in those days and the words to the Johnny Horton song came much later. I tend to remember this war as the one when we (Canadians) burned down Washington D.C. Unfortunately they rebuilt it.

As usual, after Christmas, under cover of winter,another year sneaks up to the plate. The older I get, the shorter they seem and the greater becomes the total of years with which I am familiar. I'm sure 2008 will be a particularly good year for some folks. Those enjoying sweet good love or those making real progress with their careers. For the world in general, it's difficult to be so optimistic. Those who get bombed, blown up or other wise become the victim of war, tyranny and terrorism (and greed), undoubtedly won't have such a great year.

So what might happen this year?

It will be Gee Dubya's last year in charge, barring WWIII and a declaration by Bu$h-Cheney that they must rule for life, to protect us, of course.

Maybe there will be a trial involving the sale of BC Rail, and then again, maybe not. Perhaps Dave Basi will become the new leader of the BC Liberal Party.

Maybe the Canucks will win the Stanley Cup this spring, then again, maybe not.

Maybe Stephen Harper will win his coveted Majority Government. If so, it was nice knowing you Canada, and how many states do we get to be?

Gordon Campbell may utter a true statement and fall over paralyzed, then again, maybe not. His brother Michael hearing the news will go through a whole economic update on GlowBall Tee Vee with his jaw frozen open and stunned into silence.

Canned Waste Paper Producer Can/West might actually report on a news story, then again, probably not, unless it is sensational and/or entertainment oriented.

Maybe Brian Mulroney will write a check for 2.1 million dollars and issue an apology to the Canadian People, then again, probably not.

Perhaps the current re-adjustment or small bubble correction in the US economy will begin to make people nostalgic for the 1930s, especially combined with an attack on Iran or Pakistani implosion and $2-300 a barrel oil. The Straits of Hormuz could be the Tonkin Gulf of the New American Century.

Perhaps I'm just being pessimistic and the seeds for success planted by the Bu$h Administration will germinate and the world will break out in Peace and Prosperity.

Wal-mart will encourage its employees to join the Teamsters, so the family doesn't get swamped in the profits.

Having covered all my bases, I'll take this opportunity to wish you all-

 

Happy New Year!

 

One thing I do intend to start using this year is the so far blank "Books" section. I intend to put up books that I like, liked or otherwise recommend. I may or may not say much (or anything) about the book in question. I will start with what is definitely one of the most important books of last year The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein, one of Canada's own.

 

Another Year-End type of Activity:

This website/blog started back in 2002 as rkewen.com, which was kindly hosted at that time by Tom Clegg. My son Trev had kindly made me a gift of the domain. I started tracking stats/visitors with my own PHP scripts in the Spring of 2003. There was an interruption of the stat collecting when I let the rkewen domain go and moved to the space on my ISP. It took awhile to get the scripts working again as I didn't have access to a version of PHP from this millenium at my new location. As the following chart shows the trend has been generally toward more traffic. Generally the more I update the content here, the more traffic seems to come. I can't explain this recent November however, perhaps when I've looked at more of the information it will make more sense why the visits for November 2007 went literally "off the chart." I haven't posted here since last October.

There is a lot of interesting information among that which I collect, like countries and states where visitors originate as well as the outsourced surveillance firm that didn't seem to have the smarts to follow my move when I changed servers. They appeared, combing through my site once each month, after I had written a non congratulatory letter to The First Fool. Now my feelings are hurt because apparently I'm not important enough to monitor anymore. I keep meaning to send them an e-mail complaining about the lack of attention.

Each year the monthly average of visitors has increased as follows.

2003- 305.13
2004- 330.17
2005- 430.80
2006- 1072.36
2007- 2138.50