Last Man Lying

Sen. James Inhofe (OK-R) sees himself as a beacon of clarity in a world of enviro-chicken littles; we, however, see him as a never ending geyser of crazy juice in a world of melting ice caps and drowning polar bears.

Sen. Inhofe appeared on Glenn Beck's CNN show and decalred Al Gore to "be full of crap" and global warming to be a "hoax."

Do I even need to say something snarky about this? Watching Inhofe is like watching a 45-year old who still believes in Santa: pathetic, creepy and mystifying.

Think Progress

Head Start Stopped

The Republican-controled Senate Appropriations Committee froze funding for early child development programs like Head Start and a number of grants for kids with special needs in the latest draft of a speanding bill. When I first read this I thought, Oh boy Bush is going to use his second veto on this spending bill because other than switch grass-related energy programs and snowflake babies, Head Start was his most favoritest domestic program ever! Por ejemplo:

1. "We got to make sure our Head Start programs start children off early with the fundamentals of reading. We want to make sure our high school diplomas mean something. We need an intervention programs for children who cannot read in junior high. We got to be emphasizing math and science." -George W. Bush at a campaign event in Beaverton, Oregon, August 13, 2004
2. "During the President's first week in office, he submitted a plan to reform our Nation's elementary and secondary schools to ensure that all children are proficient in reading and math by the 2013-14 school year. More Needs to Be Done: President Bush knows that more needs to be done to prepare our students for the future. The President's new education proposals build on his first successful reforms by: …Ensuring high-quality education opportunities so every child begins school ready to succeed. President Bush will expand efforts to strengthen early childhood education, including Head Start." -White House Press Release, September 26, 2004
3. "I believe that -- I know there's curriculum available for pre-schoolers that provide them the basics for reading. And I think our Head Start programs ought to be encouraged to adopt very simple curricula, but based upon the science of reading. My friend, Reed Lyons, at the NIH, is a pro, an expert. He understands how kids learn to read. And, therefore, it seems to make sense, since we're spending federal dollars on Head Start, as part of the core curriculum of Head Start, be to lay the foundation for little kids reading. We need intensive reading programs." -President George W. Bush at "Ask President Bush" Event in Annandale, Virginia, August 9, 2004

What do all of these quotes have in common? First, they seem to be very pro-Head Start, Ted Kennedy-esque if you will. And second, they were all stated at election time. A simple Nexis search turned up dozens of Bush quotes in support if Head Start, narry a one after 2004. The amazing thing is, Bush is threatening a veto. He is doing so because the Senate is appropriating too much money on domestic programs and not enough for the Pentagon, which has a budget of $420 billion.

In other news, Bush also thinks Mt. Everest needs to be taller, the sky bluer and the ocean deeper.


Senate Panel Freezes Head Start, Grants (Washington Post)

New Rules

Seems that the corrupt Ohio Senator Bob Ney is plagiarizing Bill Maher with his own version of "New Rules."

They are so new, actually, that they don't even exist yet.

In the Washington Post Ney is quoted telling confidants (and potential fundraisers and donors?) that the Justice Department cannot indict a pol within 90 days of election. Unfortunately that is just plain false, or as some call it, a lie.

In Ohio, Ney Claims Rule Will Help Him (Political Wire)

Lebanon-- A Nutshell-Sized Country in a Nutshell

The BBC has put together a handy little backgrounder on Lebanon's history, population, politics and economy for those of us relatively new to the field. It's appropriate for all those who, like me, covet pie charts, demographic percentages and colorful maps.

Lebanon: Key Facts (BBC)

Dipping a Toe in the Photo Blogging Pool

I don't often post pictures unless I have something to say about them, but some of the images from Isreal and Lebanon are incredible. Hats off to the photographers. If you click on the images, you will be connected to the stories from which they were taken.

From The "But How Will This Effect Me?" Edition

The American media have engaged in a laughable race to the bottom in a winner-takes-all battle to see which outlet can best cover the human suffering resulting from the latest Israeli bombscapades. Oh, did I say human? Pardon, I meant American.

As Jon Stewart waxed on (and on, and on, and on) about the other night, Americans are taking WWIII hard... at the pump and in their wallets.

So I am happy to report that while this country continues to fund myriad Middle East conflicts by buying all its oil, journalists have found another angle to cover where the sources leak like a sieve: Themselves.

A few Israeli journalists have renounced membership in their press organization because the Secretary General denounced Israel's total annihilation of Lebanon. It's always scary when free speech is questioned and assaulted by those who employ it professionally.

Israeli Journalists Renounce Membership in Press Organization (Editor and Publisher)

Ringtone Worse Than That "Sex and the City" Theme

Ringtones are to "music" what crusty maggot-filled cow pies are to "food." However, an anonymous Afrikaaner, a real go-getter type I'm sure, managed to make his cell phone music really mean something.

That something? Killing South Africa's black population!

According to the BBC, anyone can make ringtones and distribute them via the internet. Perhaps this was just a roundabout way of saying Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela who turned 88 this week.

Go get 'em big guy.

Outrage at Racist Rington in SA (BBC)

Japan Builds World's Longest Bar; Encourages World's Worst Pick-Up Lines

So, what's a short girl like you doing in a place like this?

And so on...

The War Was Terrible, And The Portions Were So Small

Just as social ills like racism and sexism are more covert in the United States today than they were a century ago, war is waged in smaller, less organized fits and spurts with dulled plateaus of violence. The world is unlikely to see anything on the scale of the first two World Wars again; technology has replaced some of the human cannon fodder and public support for all-out war has diminished. Thus, I am incluned to agree with (cough) Newt Gingrich (gag). What we are seeing in Israel, Iran, Lebabon, Syria and Iran by proxy is shit-your-pants terrifying and crawl-under-your-bed distressful. This is as close as we've come since 1982 to total regional warfare.

And, just in case you haven't yet shit your pants or scrawled under your bed, don't forget about Sudan! No, that wasn't solved either.

Sudan Faces Pressure to Accept U.N. Force (AP)

Can A Number Be Ironic?

Well, no but this is a coincidence. The UN is reporting that 3000 Iraqi civilians were killed in the month of June.

I don't want to make too big a deal of the obvious metaphor to September 11th, so I'll shut my trap. But remember: Come the midterm advertising craze of September and October, when Republicans are unabashedly inundating you with images of September 11th and eagles and pigtailed children picking daisies as a nuclear bomb falls from the sky, we are stuck in Iraq creating a national tragedy, not avenging or preventing one.

Over 3000 Iraqi Civilians Killed in June, U.N. Reports (NY Times)

Cuppa Joe

Joe Lieberman had better start performing some alliyahs before primary day if he wants to hold on to the Senate seat he so clearly does not deserve. A mere 6 years ago he was the Vice-Presidential nominee, thus catapulted into the upper echelon of Democratic politics. If he were a decent politician, Lieberman wouldn't be struggling to hold onto a seat-- let alone the Democratic primary!-- during a mid-term election most people understand to be a referendum on the President he-- Joe Lieberman-- ran against. The little pug-faced New Englander should slide right through with nary a scratch. So, and I quote my favorite fictitious child actor, Wha Happen?!

1.) Iraq. Yes, that. But if you're a Democratic Senator running for re-election and you're not Teddy Kennedy or Russ Feingold, you voted for this disaster, too. The only difference is, you recognize that Bush pissed on your leg. Lieberman, however, is still insisting it was just rain.

2.) The 2000 Election made Lieberman a truly national figure, subject to national scrutiny. Being a bit of a twat, he couldn't really afford the limelight; and he received tons of the blame. Then God told him to run again in 2004. Another bad idea. (Don't worry God, I don't blame you. Heck, I don't even believe in you!)

3.) Denial. Lieberman's biggest problem is that he refuses to take responsibility for a bad act- voting for the war- and refuses to hold anyone accountable for the barrage of lies America and the world was fed during the run-up to March 2003.

If you're interested in reading more about Lieberman, I recommend two recent articles.

Why The Left Is Furious at Lieberman (LA Times)

No Mojo (New Yorker)

Finally, I'll say this. I hope Joe loses in his primary fight against Ned Lamont. Lamont would make a fine Senator, yes. But mostly I just want Mr. MoJoe to fulfill his promise to run as an Independent from the Connecticut for Lieberman Party.

Pyrrhic Victories

Let's say there was something you didn't believe in-- like kicking puppies. The majority of Americans believe it is OK to kick puppies. You, being a God-fearing woman, think to yourself in between baking apple pies and puttin' the kiddies to bed, how do I stop puppies from being kicked? Well, if you are a modern-day Republican, the answer is: dress up like a veterinarian, buy an animal hospital and throw those canine cuties out with the bath water!

Now supplement "puppies" with a cluster of cells in a uterus, and you have just solved the Rubik's cube that is "Operation Rescue."

Pregnancy Centers Found to Give False Information on Abortion (WP)

New Tactic in Abortion-Foe Fight: Evicting Clinics (ABC)

I'm Back!

If I were famous, this 2 1/2 month absence would have been a sojourn into rehab. If I were a politician, I would have been "spending time with my family" (also rehab). If I were in the Bush Administration, I would be fighting an indictment (and in rehab). And if I were Conlon Nancarrow, I'd be in self-exile to Mexico City (and in need of rehab).

Sadly, I am a mere mortal and my excuse is far more pedestrian. I've been -wait for it- busy.

But now I'm back and promise to post often. Heck, I'll even have a blog-warming party. Send all gifts, i.e. decorative photographs of John Glenn, Gary Wilson, 3-legged dogs, Ann Coulter and Fergie, so I can fix Speak Easy up right nice.

See you on the interweb!