tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-128545122012-01-17T19:04:42.943-08:00I'm not an actor, but I play one on TV.Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16913454099479251559noreply@blogger.comBlogger1021100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-7269797121027706162010-12-14T12:19:00.001-08:002010-12-14T12:19:00.517-08:00

Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16913454099479251559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-38645516890035667022010-12-08T09:08:00.000-08:002010-12-08T09:11:36.988-08:00

        (Thanks to www.edsteinink.com for the cartoon.) In yesterday's news conference, President Obama defended his deal with Republicans to extend the Bush tax cuts at all income levels, including the richest 2% of Americans. He said "I've said before that I felt that the middle-class tax cuts were being held hostage to the high-end tax cuts. I think it's tempting not to negotiate with

Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16913454099479251559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-72385734808528555862010-12-07T16:48:00.000-08:002010-12-07T17:00:45.349-08:00

I was a young man of 24, working at a radio station in northeast Wisconsin. I heard the news after I'd gotten home from work; a colleague called me. I then turned on my small black and white TV to check the CBS Evening News. I remembered being sorely disappointed that Walter Cronkite treated it as if it was so unimportant. The only news story he had on following the announcement was a recycled

Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16913454099479251559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-53044992157190561652010-11-10T09:57:00.001-08:002010-11-10T09:57:56.126-08:00

Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16913454099479251559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-23686750187935394762010-11-08T14:38:00.000-08:002010-11-08T14:39:03.025-08:00

Question on HuffPo: "Do we want to give the government virtually unlimited power to control our purchases now and forever in exchange for greater access to healthcare?" This is a valid question, but let me ask the same question in other arenas: Do we want to give the government virtually unlimited power to... Defend our country against military attack? Regulate the flow of vehicles, goods

Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16913454099479251559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-48679372987455388672010-10-25T16:10:00.000-07:002010-10-25T16:11:30.598-07:00

I don't often agree with Dowd, but I do this time. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/opinion/24dowd.html?_r=1

Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16913454099479251559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-73995007066844823962010-10-14T15:34:00.000-07:002010-10-30T16:52:20.747-07:00

When I was a young man, still living with my folks, I went through the same thing my older siblings did. Creeping in at two in the morning, only to be confronted by my mother. In her best and most outraged English accent, she'd gently but firmly demand "Where've You Been?" Okay, maybe my older brother and especially my older sister got that more than me. But still, it was memorable. Especially

Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16913454099479251559noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-88011489778832952007-12-17T20:31:00.000-08:002007-12-17T20:33:24.481-08:00

Harry Reid today pulled the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act from the floor of the Senate.This is not the war, but this particular battle has been won. Kudos to Senator Chris Dodd for showing the Democrats what a man with a backbone looks like.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-68647473749252990692007-12-17T09:32:00.000-08:002007-12-17T09:35:22.268-08:00

Major telephone companies (telcos) have been collaborating with the Bush administration for years to spy on our personal communications. This goes back to well before 9/11. Yet now the Senate is considering a bill which will grant telcos retroactive immunity!It's appalling, especially in light of this little bit of text..."The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-29472391753417149752007-09-07T15:37:00.000-07:002007-09-07T15:39:58.005-07:00

Sally Kohn published a screed on Huffington Post today accusing Democrats of hypocrisy regarding the anti-gay backlash against Senator Larry Craig today. It's quite a reach. Here was my response:----------Are you implying that because of the Larry Craig situation 'push has come to shove' for Democrats? Your argument doesn't hold water. You claim basically states that when the going gets tough,

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-5271138607999862242007-07-30T17:13:00.000-07:002007-07-30T17:16:00.292-07:00

I have seen again on the blogs the canard that the Clinton administration somehow 'failed' in their handling of the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center because it failed to prevent 9/11. This begs the question: Can someone be labeled a failure if they haven't anticipated and prevented every possible bad thing that could happen to them?This line of thinking is ridiculous. The United States

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-41428135817513920672007-06-25T08:58:00.000-07:002007-07-30T17:16:23.667-07:00

As a progressive I am horrified at what our government is trying to do to combat terrorism. I am against a lot of it as being unconstitutional, elitist and wrong.However, it's important to remember that radical Islam is a real and valid threat and those who perpetrate it's horrors are even more deserving of our scorn and opposition. Witness this video. It's a delightful rant which I highly

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-45744671155419362902007-06-21T14:57:00.001-07:002007-06-21T15:03:59.992-07:00

Caught this quote today in a story about John Edwards:"We need to reform our tax code," Edwards said. "Our current system favors the unearned income of people already doing incredibly well instead of rewarding the work of families trying to get ahead. It has all kinds of loopholes and shelters that lawyers can twist for their wealthy clients. It forces millions of families to hire help to figure

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-5528957946645018622007-06-21T11:47:00.002-07:002007-06-21T11:51:24.562-07:00

This is vile.According to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, "Vice President Cheney exempted his office from the presidential order that establishes government-wide procedures for safeguarding classified national security information. The Vice President asserts that his office is not an “entity within the executive branch.”After further back and forth, "The Vice President's staff

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-15570585329059394842007-06-19T13:58:00.000-07:002007-06-19T14:23:12.608-07:00

I've been seeing a lot of 'All or Nothing' in various conservative posts and replies around the blogosphere. I've even encountered it in a personal conversation with a few old friends who, surprisingly to me, have become diehard conservatives.So let me address a few of these misperceptions."Liberals want someone else to pay for their health care." This makes us sound like lazy, shiftless bums,

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-14754109337312836622007-05-01T11:15:00.000-07:002007-05-01T11:15:30.612-07:00

Great post by Lane Hudson on HuffPo:The Blog | Lane Hudson: Democrats Poised to Abandon Troops AND American People? | The Huffington Post

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-89877293054852039542007-05-01T08:46:00.000-07:002007-05-01T09:00:19.538-07:00

Doonesbury is engaging in a powerfully prescient series of "I Told You So" reruns. Click each image for the full size version.The next president should put Garry Trudeau in his foreign affairs cabinet.See the series at www.doonesbury.com

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-31283533508172209362007-04-26T20:53:00.000-07:002007-04-26T21:04:41.367-07:00

Okay, this is unfair, but ....I'm looking at my Yahoo! home page today and under 'Most Viewed Photos' I see two images...This one...And this one...Now, these are up there on the same day, people.Totally unfair, I know. Still....How am I supposed to not do anything about it? [g]Click each picture for the link.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-75752665347405978052007-04-26T09:49:00.000-07:002007-04-26T09:49:33.182-07:00

Watch this. Tell your friends to watch it.WATCH IT.Bill Moyers Journal . Buying the War . Additional Interviews | PBS

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-87030808362989246892007-04-24T17:17:00.000-07:002007-04-24T17:20:07.686-07:00

Do a Google search for 'faster than light travel' and you'll get a lot of scientists saying it's not feasible... but a Google Ad from lowfares.com says it can be done and they're selling it now!

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-68113061572368649702007-04-23T13:34:00.000-07:002007-04-23T13:36:12.195-07:00

Here's an interesting and potentially damning set of information here that suggests Republican operatives conspired with computer technicians to manipulate the computer-counted votes of Ohio in 2004, giving Bush the presidency.The GOP's cyber election hit squadMy only question is this: Specifically, what sort of outrage will really make the nation sit up and take notice? Talk radio has become

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-81393196629059672422007-04-19T15:05:00.000-07:002007-04-19T15:07:41.386-07:00

Amazing."I now understand there was a conversation with myself and the president." - Alberto Gonzales in testimony to the Senate Judiciary CommitteeMan, I'm so glad he understands that now. Huffington Post

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-48511486740886403442007-04-19T09:31:00.000-07:002007-04-19T09:37:34.851-07:00

I really like the look and content of this blog. Colorado Bob seems to have his head in the right place...COLORADO BOBI especially like this image...

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-85598629508890704502007-04-17T15:40:00.000-07:002007-04-17T16:07:35.266-07:00

There has been talk on the Virginia Tech shootings on HuffPo. It's hard not to join in.I'm in favor of gun control. I'm not in favor of banning guns, however. Owning a gun is a huge responsibility. You should have to pass rigorous tests. You and the gun you buy should have a license, just like your car. Technology to lock your gun down or to prevent anyone but you from firing it is available and

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-75907778197362130562007-04-17T12:17:00.000-07:002007-04-17T16:19:26.954-07:00

If we can get so worked up about Don Imus, why can't we get worked up about this?Bloody appalling.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-19852572397051752262007-04-17T11:12:00.000-07:002007-04-17T11:16:21.022-07:00

This is interesting.Evidently things become popular not just because they're good, but because people glom onto what other people think about how good they are.Required reading for those (like myself) who suspect they're not rich and famous because they weren't good enough. It could have just been bad luck. No, really, it could. Honest. (Don't interrupt me while I'm reinforcing my denial..)

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-90620103027217637192007-04-17T09:12:00.000-07:002007-04-17T16:40:05.309-07:00

I'm tired. I'm tired of it. I'm tired of the corruption, of the lies, of the malfeasance, of the bullshit.A president who 'comforts' a grieving Western Virginia Tech with a proclamation in favor of gun rights.Lawyers arguing that eventgoers can be evicted from events when they disagree with the president.An attorney general that lies to Congress about firing US district attorneys for political

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-28825454155897798232007-04-04T17:07:00.000-07:002007-04-17T16:20:26.102-07:00

Amazing how RFK speaks so eloquently to today.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1164135066754128702006-11-21T10:42:00.000-08:002006-11-21T11:18:59.006-08:00

This is a letter I wrote in response to 'Hippies still trying to ruin the country' by Jenean Mcbrearty, contributing columnist for Kentucky's Lexington Herald. I have to take strong issue with your article in the Lexington Herald, "Hippies Still Trying To Run the Country." You engage in a number of gross oversimplifications in your arguments. You also make a number of unsupported assumptions,

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1163025816035191242006-11-08T14:42:00.000-08:002006-11-08T14:43:36.046-08:00

BOOM Baby!

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1162577802297902512006-11-03T10:11:00.000-08:002006-11-03T10:18:51.526-08:00

So now George Bush is asking Democrats "What's your plan for Iraq, then?" My response would be what the hell's YOUR plan, Mr. President?However, there is some validity to Bush's question. It's hard for a party full of free thinkers to come up with a single coherent plan that will deal with the train wreck that is Iraq.So here's the analogy/parable/joke. George Bush is driving his SUV down the

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1161731874941639952006-10-24T16:17:00.000-07:002006-10-24T16:17:54.956-07:00

Just thought I'd do my bit to cement public opinion...Miserable Failure

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1153414007095069992006-07-20T09:46:00.000-07:002006-08-10T20:10:37.266-07:00

Jon Stewart on Lebanon, CNN and 'The Pump'

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1153181375417320142006-07-17T17:04:00.000-07:002006-07-17T17:09:35.436-07:00

The reason gay marriage is such a hot button issue is that, for gosh sakes, gay sex is icky. Of course, I used to think the same about broccoli, sushi, chinese food, red wine and oral sex. But then I grew up.But there are those who gosh darn it just DON'T want to even THINK about icky things. Lucky for them the Bible has some pretty harsh language to back up their beliefs and feelings, giving

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1152728979009084282006-07-12T11:28:00.000-07:002006-07-12T11:32:01.623-07:00

As a programmer I often become embroiled in complex, sometimes passionate discussions about the best way to solve a problem. As a blogger and frequent contributor to online political forums, I frequently see others engaging in heated debate, complex rationalizations, scatological name-calling, etc. in an effort to reach consensus or (far more commonly) make their own point and stick a finger

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1152553538574797092006-07-10T10:45:00.000-07:002007-04-19T14:29:02.991-07:00

It's both amusing and frustrating to hear the hysterical right deny the fact of global warming and to rant and rail against doing anything about it.If we act on the assumption that it's true, then we have to learn how to live our lives while putting less carbon dioxide into the air. This may mean some hard choices - research into and the adoption of alternative energy sources, using more public

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1151344398722739322006-06-26T10:52:00.000-07:002006-06-26T11:34:16.680-07:00

Last night I had the distinct pleasure of watching "Pride and Prejudice" on DVD. This is a wonderful film, beautifully acted, deliciously topical despite it's 18th century setting and breathtakingly photographed. (I had to resist the urge to yell "painting" during the opening shot of many a scene.) However, the thought that stayed with me after the movie was the class system in England as

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1149621265667396502006-06-06T12:11:00.000-07:002006-06-26T10:55:00.513-07:00

Regarding Michelle Malkin's article about Haditha. I wrote her, and here's what I said...You make a number of statements that just can't be backed up."...there is this incontrovertible fact: There are countless numbers of anti-war zealots on the American Left rooting for failure."How can you use the word 'fact' and 'countless' in the same sentence? Any poll numbers, hmm? Any one done a phone poll

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1149353724525966752006-06-03T09:53:00.000-07:002006-06-03T09:55:24.540-07:00

I keep returning to the thought that we meddle too much in the affairs of other nations, usually with consequences that are disastrous in the end. Since WWII we've been undermining or overthrowing governments, installing puppet regimes, engaging in proxy wars and propping up dictators for financial reasons.When has this EVER worked out to our long term gain? Oh sure, we got some short-term

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1149264908645845482006-06-02T09:13:00.000-07:002006-06-02T09:15:19.810-07:00

Bill O'Reilly lies about the WWII Malmedy massacre -- TWICE -- saying it was US servicemen who slaughtered unarmed Germans when in fact it was the other way around. He does so -- TWICE -- while debating General Wesley Clark, as if O'Reilly knew more about war than Clark.Finally, and most obnoxiously, O'Reilly reads an email on his show, correcting him on the facts, and he does not issue a

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1149132783480203622006-05-31T20:32:00.000-07:002006-05-31T20:41:21.870-07:00

Great video on YouTube! Tell your friends.AdblockHi-res version at peacetakescourage.com/whoarewe.html

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1149034298463615162006-05-30T17:10:00.000-07:002006-06-19T15:09:02.626-07:00

Jonah Goldberg recently lambasted Al Gore in the LA Times, remarking how the left (including Arianna Huffington) are all aglow over the "new" Al Gore. (See "Same Al Gore, Different Day.") Goldberg's assertion that Gore somehow lied about a summer trip to France in that the timing of said trip conflicted with Gore's tales of working on the family farm.ThinkProgress took Mr. Goldberg to task:

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1148587650837819262006-05-25T13:04:00.001-07:002006-05-28T19:57:47.940-07:00

Regarding Ann Coulter's screed on the Rohe speech: To say that Rohe's speech did not take courage is ignorant. Sure, you may take some comfort that the masses agree with you. But in the end you're up there in front, in front of figures of authority, sticking your finger in their eye. It's hard, and it's scary. Aside from Coulter's anile dismissal of Rohe's all-to-real fear, she also disses

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1146769943303525632006-05-04T12:08:00.000-07:002006-05-04T13:54:03.156-07:00

Dear Mr. Cohen: I just read your editorial about Stephen Colbert's appearance at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. You said Colbert was 'not funny' and that he was 'rude.' You said "speaking truth to power" is a tired phrase and that it's meaningless, that mocking Bush's shortcomings to his face will result in no consequences at all. Such a claim is either incredibly naive

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1146698618418837792006-05-03T16:22:00.000-07:002006-05-03T16:24:40.890-07:00

More good stuff on HuffPo from Tom Gilroy here.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1146514172664328222006-05-01T12:52:00.001-07:002006-05-01T13:16:35.463-07:00

In the immortal words of Cuzco the Emperor... "BOOM Baby!"Stephen Colbert delivered a flaming bag of doo-doo to the president's doorstep -- as the president stood there with the door open! This has got to be the high point of political satire for the new millenium.Yet there is very little in the major news outlets about it. Maybe that's because Colbert reserved another, only slightly smaller

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1146254876618607072006-04-28T13:02:00.000-07:002006-04-28T13:07:56.636-07:00

With all the blathering on about high gas prices, Thomas de Zengotita makes the point on Huffington Post that the really repellent spectacle is that THIS is what is getting Americans all up in a lather. Not Iraq, not Katrina, not the Thousand Points of Scandal emanating from the Second Bush Presidency. Sad but true, there are no quick solutions to our energy situation; yet our elected

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1144264806314788972006-04-05T12:14:00.000-07:002006-04-05T12:20:06.340-07:00

This just in from the "No Shit, Sherlock" department of the New York Times... The first data to document the effect of President Bush's tax cuts for investment income show that they have significantly lowered the tax burden on the richest Americans, reducing taxes on incomes of more than $10 million by an average of about $500,000.An analysis of Internal Revenue Service data by The New York

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1144192007890922502006-04-04T16:02:00.000-07:002006-04-05T12:22:58.370-07:00

I had a friend who responded to my previous post -- Time To Talk War Crimes, Indeed) -- with the rhetorical question, "what would you have done if you were Bush?" Here is my response...Well, since you asked...If I were Bush I would NOT have attacked Iraq since there was no true proof they were a threat to us. (There were no WMDs. None. How could there have been proof?)If I were Bush I would

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1144187645821171092006-04-04T14:50:00.000-07:002006-04-04T16:10:46.913-07:00

In "Time To Talk War Crimes", Robert Parry lays out a powerful argument for charging George Bush with war crimes. In the Neuremberg trials after World War II, "...U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, who represented the United States at the Nuremberg Tribunal, made clear that the intent was to establish a precedent against aggressive war." The idea was that it should be against

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1141591993176373242006-03-05T12:48:00.001-08:002006-03-05T12:53:13.190-08:00

I came across an excellent post from Doug Dickerson in a guest column on The State... "The partisan rhetoric coming from the liberal and conservative camps is part of a vital open debate in our republic. Yet when the rhetoric of extreme partisans from both sides goes unchecked, the message and the messenger are somehow perceived as being credible, and that is dangerous. "When Harry

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1141409309770556672006-03-03T10:00:00.000-08:002006-04-04T14:58:43.313-07:00

About 150 high school students walked out of class to protest a decision to put a teacher on leave while they investigate remarks he made about President Bush in class, including that some people compare Bush to Adolf Hitler. The full report from ABC News is here. This is a tricky issue. The discussion of the merits of both sides here can leave you turning your head left and right like the

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1140568489288626872006-02-21T16:32:00.000-08:002006-02-21T16:46:39.296-08:00

There are some in Congress that are concerned about a deal permitting a Dubai company to manage six major US seaports. The opposition includes several prominent Republicans, including Bill Frist and Dennis Hastert. They claim the review was not thorough enough and have expressed concern about ceding management of these ports to a company owned and run by the Dubai government. But President

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1140114371704846522006-02-16T10:24:00.000-08:002006-02-27T20:27:07.626-08:00

The government's use of Orwellian Terminology is reaching a subtle point of saturation Here are some examples. Reject: Whenever the government doesn't like something, they 'reject' it. When the UN says conditions at Guantanamo Bay are 'tantamount to torture,' White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan 'rejects' the claim. When Al Gore claimed that the government "has been caught

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1139878987267284242006-02-13T17:02:00.000-08:002006-02-21T16:41:46.753-08:00

The huge controversy over the Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed and offending Muslims boils down to a single conflict: what's more important, free speech or religious sensitivity? I believe free speech is paramount. Yes, there is the old bromide that free speech doesn't protect you if you needlessly yell "fire" in a crowded theater, but publishing a picture is not tantamount to

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1139595660699557552006-02-10T10:19:00.000-08:002006-02-10T10:27:10.850-08:00

I heard this story on NPR last night and I was shaking with rage when it was over, sick to my stomach. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5199188 It is about the barbaric way that our soldiers have 'ended' the hunger strike by prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.Strap 'em down, force feed a 'nutritional supplement,' then force feed them laxatives. Then leave them there,

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1139528821793406982006-02-09T15:45:00.000-08:002006-02-09T15:49:26.226-08:00

There are many on the right wing who accuse others of 'emboldening the enemy' or 'giving the enemy aid and comfort.' Horsehockey. The enemy doesn't need emboldening. They've already proven they don't need aid or comfort from us. What we do need to do is have free and vigorous public discourse about what works and what doesn't. After we determine what does work we DO it. That will bring us

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1139002120180851292006-02-03T13:25:00.000-08:002006-02-03T13:32:32.670-08:00

If you can stomach all of the conservative advertising ("Be the first to read Ann Coulter and Robert Novak each week!" -- gag), this is a compelling read by none other than Pat Buchanan. "Bush Is Running Out of Alibis"It's a truly terrifying world when I even partly agree with Pat Buchanan.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1138825122977173542006-02-01T12:17:00.000-08:002006-02-01T12:18:43.016-08:00

I have always regarded Dwight Eisenhower as a great general who led us to victory in an extraordinary war. I also, with more than a little ignorance, sometimes thought of him as an ordinary, perhaps even boring president who presided during ordinary times.Nothing of course is farther from the truth. But in viewing the events of today with great concern, I was reminded of Eisenhower's

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1138661495753789592006-01-30T14:49:00.000-08:002006-01-30T14:52:42.503-08:00

Being a fan of Robert Reich, here's a link to a fine article on his web site, "A Covenant With America." These are the things we should be working on.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1138640655124518692006-01-30T09:02:00.000-08:002006-01-30T09:04:15.136-08:00

Infringements on privacy are a slippery slope. How far could it go? Check out this ad from the ACLU.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1138564000015158172006-01-29T11:43:00.000-08:002006-01-30T09:05:19.883-08:00

A lovely little bit from Time.com. See their cartoons of the week at http://www.time.com/time/cartoons/20060128/

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1138411613133518272006-01-27T17:22:00.000-08:002006-02-10T15:10:16.226-08:00

"We have met the enemy, and he is us." Walt Kelly, in the comic strip 'Pogo'To truly win any conflict we have to be morally superior to our enemy. If we are not, then in the long run our victory will turn to defeat as everyone around us, friend and foe alike, come to view our actions with distaste.I'm sure Rome started out quite nicely, quite idealistically, quite moral, until it turned

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1138311202570217622006-01-26T13:30:00.000-08:002006-01-28T09:04:52.670-08:00

We've seen tremendous, revolutionary upheaval only a few times in our history. The original Revolution, of course, was the most profound. We kicked off the chains of monarchy and created a democracy "of the people, by the people, for the people." The war of 1812 nearly stifled the infant nation in it's cradle, while the Civil War nearly sundered us as a nation. The Great Depression was our

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1137802334678726182006-01-20T16:11:00.000-08:002006-01-23T19:43:08.563-08:00

Yesterday I posted on the need to separate money from government. I am not at all sure such a thing is even possible, but money is -- once again -- the root of all evil in the government. In my post yesterday I said we must "create a disconnect between those who seek or wield political power and those who wield economic power." We can't keep people with money from trying to influence our

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1137710106776603752006-01-19T14:34:00.000-08:002006-01-20T06:37:48.016-08:00

So how can we really, REALLY clean up government? Sweeping rules? Undoubtedly. Absolute restrictions? Most likely. The key point is to remove any quid pro quo, or even the appearance of one.; there should be no direct financial benefit to any decision made by any Senator, Congressman, judge or president or their friends. That's an amazingly tall order. Can it be done? It might require a

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1137621997714768382006-01-18T14:05:00.000-08:002006-01-18T14:45:05.890-08:00

Great little Graphic from The Onion.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1137521457234202502006-01-17T10:10:00.000-08:002006-01-17T10:34:02.843-08:00

This morning we get an article from the Washington Post about the torrent of information about potential terror suspects gathered by the NSA and sent to the FBI for analysis. Bottom line; "...virtually all of them, current and former officials say, led to dead ends or innocent Americans." Just like torture, it's illegal and it doesn't give you the results you want. This disconnect between

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1137446164554384232006-01-16T13:15:00.000-08:002006-01-16T13:16:04.566-08:00

The media seems to be taking note of Gore's Speech. Take a look at this search of Google News.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1137441228714848322006-01-16T11:53:00.000-08:002006-01-16T11:53:48.726-08:00

This just plain has to stop. The president is illegally wiretapping persons in this country, deliberately bypassing the FISA court in direct defiance of the law. There's really nothing more to this. The president is breaking the law, repeatedly, deliberately, willfully, unapologetically. The president declares he has the power to imprison American citizens indefinitely, with no access

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1137440200143174592006-01-16T11:34:00.000-08:002006-01-16T12:31:57.846-08:00

Al Gore has given another major policy speech, and he has once again laid it on the line in fine form. If only, if only he had become president... Thanks to the Raw Story for posting the text of his speech. More thoughts after I digest it.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1137192389485807382006-01-13T14:45:00.000-08:002006-01-13T19:21:03.770-08:00

I have been casting about in vain for a clear exit strategy for Iraq. On the one hand, now that we're there we should stay to ensure the job gets done. On the other hand, our simply being there makes things worse by making us a target for opposition, a rallying cry for the insurgents. What do to? Why, John Murtha's plan, of course, further elucidated on by this article by Zbigniew Brzezinski

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1136834389254041162006-01-09T10:43:00.000-08:002006-01-10T12:30:39.986-08:00

I am sick of the phrase "War On Terror." This is like declaring a "War on Lying" or a "War on Cheating," or a "War on Poverty" or a "War on Drugs." (Oops, they already did that. How is that going, anyway?) Terrorism is a behavior, not a thing. We can declare war on a country. We can defeat it, or be defeated by it, at which point the war is over. Terrorism is a disease, a scourge. It is

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1136489185546314222006-01-05T11:26:00.000-08:002006-01-05T11:32:21.780-08:00

Great post by Bill Maher on Bush here on DarkStar. "So, yes, God does speak to you. What he is saying is: 'Take a hint.' "

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1136487471893028772006-01-05T10:57:00.000-08:002006-01-05T15:16:12.070-08:00

The Bush Administration appears intent on running the country all by itself. Consider the following:The president authorized illegal wiretaps on persons in this country, specifically and deliberately bypassing the FISA courts, in direct contravention of specific laws and rules that mandated he first obtain warrants. He also deliberately misinformed or underinformed members of

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1136402594322638172006-01-04T11:22:00.000-08:002006-01-04T14:13:53.010-08:00

If I lived in a bubble and only watched last night's guest appearance by Bill O'Reilly on Late Night with David Letterman, I'd equate the conversation with two reasonably intelligent people arguing at a party. Unfortunately for both personalities concerned, this is not good enough. I thoroughly dislike O'Reilly. He lies, he misinforms, he deserves all the mud slung at him for his radio and

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1136307752260888002006-01-03T08:53:00.000-08:002006-01-03T09:12:02.320-08:00

From a story in Reuters: "Rep. John Murtha, a key Democratic voice who favors pulling U.S. troops from Iraq, said in remarks airing on Monday that he would not join the U.S. military today." Damn. This is a man who served in the Marines (the toughest branch to serve in, if you ask me) for 37 years, retiring as a colonel. After all that service, he served some more in Congress. Lots of

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1136065572519823032005-12-31T13:45:00.000-08:002005-12-31T13:46:12.533-08:00

Today I saw an image of an American flag painted on a water tower in our town. I usually have warm, patriotic thoughts when I see that flag. I think of the nobility and high ideals of our founding fathers, the courage and character of Abramham Lincoln in fighting to preserve the union. I think of Teddy Roosevelt busting the trusts, fighting big business and providing for the common man, and in

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1129937791260707612005-10-21T06:35:00.000-07:002005-10-21T16:36:31.270-07:00

The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country.The New York Times is read by people who think they should run the country and who are very good at crossword puzzles.USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don't really understand The New York Times. They do, however, like their

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1121960703119134562005-07-21T08:43:00.000-07:002005-07-21T08:45:26.750-07:00

One to deny that the light bulb needs to be changed; One to attack the patriotism of anyone who says the light bulb needs to be changed; One to blame Clinton for burning out the light bulb; One to arrange the invasion of a country rumored to have a secret stockpile of light bulbs; One to give a billion dollar no-bid contract to Halliburton for the new light bulb; One to photograph Bush,

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1121796778928094342005-07-19T07:11:00.000-07:002005-07-19T11:13:26.396-07:00

Yeah, MoveOn is partisan. Yeah, MoveOn attacks like a shark. But here, the White House is damned by it's own words and actions. Click here to donate money to run this ad.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1121705113064165082005-07-18T09:44:00.000-07:002005-07-21T08:46:24.596-07:00

Once again our administration is carefully crafting it's words to look like it's saying one thing while saying another. Previously, President Bush said anyone 'involved in leaking' Valerie Plame's identity would be fired. Sounded pretty good, pretty sweeping. Now we get a more qualified statement. Now Bush says anyone convicted of a crime will be fired. This comes on the heels of Rove saying

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1121705083677196892005-07-18T06:44:00.000-07:002005-07-18T11:18:36.430-07:00

Here's a great post, laced with obscenities and good points. Not for the under-17, but interesting reading none the less. Click here for a bracing blast of vitriol. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1121448498744717942005-07-15T10:21:00.000-07:002005-07-15T10:30:01.963-07:00

There's an email circulating about that can also be found on the internet. It's called "When WWIII Started: A must read historical account of Terrorism against the US." You can read it here.. There are any interesting facts here, and certainly a disturbing pattern of aggression. However, I take issue with the implied premise that America is the center of the universe, making attacks on us

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1120244928266892122005-07-01T12:07:00.000-07:002005-07-01T12:11:36.726-07:00

Here are some Action Items from Daily KOS. Do 'em. Whatever happens with the Supreme Court nomination battle that is about to ensue, it's going to happen fast. Here are some things you can do right now: If you have a cell phone, sign up for People at the American Way's Mass Immediate Response site. This way, you'll be able to receive text message action items instantly as events break. (If

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1120236355714052262005-07-01T07:45:00.000-07:002005-07-01T09:45:55.720-07:00

Why is this not surprising? In this article in USA Today, Jim Drinkard outlines how big corporate donors to the GOP are getting the rule changes they want. Bigger profits, fewer lawsuits, less regulation. "Just six months into a new term for President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress, some of their heaviest donors are scoring victories on the legislative and regulatory

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1119292410638294262005-06-20T11:31:00.000-07:002006-03-17T22:35:40.140-08:00

The Bush administration has called the fight against terrorism a 'war.' They have made this 'war' a central point of their national and foreign policy. They use the rallying cry of 'war' to motivate the public and Congress to support it's initiatives. They use this designation to silence opponents, since if you're anti-war you 'hate America' and 'want it's enemies to win.' Terming the effort

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1119282123273819822005-06-20T07:41:00.000-07:002005-06-20T08:42:03.276-07:00

In an interview with Time Magazine, Porter Goss now says he has an 'excellent idea' where Bin Laden is. He claims that the only thing preventing us from capturing him is a sense of 'fair play.' Here's the quote: "But when you go to the very difficult question of dealing with sanctuaries in sovereign states, you're dealing with a problem of our sense of international obligation, fair

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1118938842462018432005-06-16T07:18:00.000-07:002005-06-16T09:20:42.466-07:00

Dear Senator Feinstein: I've been trying to call your office but the line is busy.I urge you to oppose any closure of debate on the nomination of John Bolton until the Senate receives the information requested from the White House. It is the job of the Senate to advise the president and provide consent. Such advice and consent *must* be informed. For the White House to say you have 'all the

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1118177946002953172005-06-07T06:58:00.000-07:002005-06-07T14:01:07.163-07:00

My minor quibbles of today about President Bush... He said he'd get Osama "dead or alive." He didn'tHe said there was a link between Al Quaeda and Iraq. There was none.He said there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. There weren'tHe said Iraq was an immediate threat we had to respond to. It wasn'tHe said Iraqis would greet us with 'flowers and chocolate.' Not quite.He says the world is

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1117579933480693262005-05-31T06:51:00.000-07:002005-05-31T15:52:13.490-07:00

This is the most egotistical of posts. I was fantasizing the other day that it was January 20, 2009, and that I had just been elected president. "Whaddaya gonna do?" is the big question. The answer is not "I'm goin' to Disneyland!" If I were president, this is what I'd do. Close Guantanamo. Close it completely. Level the entire complex and give the whole parcel of land back to the Cubans

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1117124660339922822005-05-26T07:55:00.000-07:002005-06-01T09:56:05.656-07:00

A lot is being made these days of the importance of balance in news reporting. There are those on the left who accuse the media of 'right-wing' bias and those on the left who claim the opposite. I would posit that balance is not the most important consideration. Accuracy and Truth are paramount. Fact-checking is utterly and completely fundamental to any journalistic effort. Sadly, fact-checking

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1117048146881449952005-05-25T07:08:00.000-07:002005-05-25T14:30:05.450-07:00

This is simply disgusting. A Halliburton employee, injured in a bombing attack in Iraq, is having trouble getting health insurance benefits. This line, though, REALLY smacked me between the eyes: "Because he worked for Halliburton's KBR, which uses Cayman Island subsidiaries to employ 70 percent of it's workers, Baltazar is not eligible for unemployment." Read the story here. There is an

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1116435891977284142005-05-18T06:56:00.000-07:002005-05-18T10:24:35.590-07:00

Former British Minister of Parliament George Galloway willingly appeared under oath before a Senate subcommittee investigating the Oil For Food Scandal. He was questioned by Republican Senator Norm Coleman. It ended up being an interesting episode where the steak grilled the cook. Galloway pilloried Coleman, the Republicans and the right-wing RadCons in ascendancy in this country. The quotes

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1116353557533322422005-05-17T11:10:00.000-07:002005-05-17T11:18:45.710-07:00

Many thanks to my buddy Ed for this wonderful story.. One evening an old Indian told his grandson about a "battle" that goes on inside people.He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride,superiority, and ego.The other is Good. It is joy, peace,

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1116282616996059642005-05-16T15:24:00.000-07:002005-05-16T15:34:42.703-07:00

Hey, even more news about Jeff Gannon! Quoting from an article in The Raw Story... "In what is unlikely to stem the controversy surrounding disgraced White House correspondent James Guckert, the Secret Service has furnished logs of the writer’s access to the White House after requests by two Democratic congressmembers. "The documents, obtained by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY)

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1116189361490714092005-05-15T07:29:00.000-07:002005-05-16T15:30:43.186-07:00

I've just been listening to the audiotape version of "Buddhism Plain and Simple" by Steve Hagen. He describes an interesting concept...What if I told you I had a diamond in my closed fist? Would you believe me or not? You might consider how well you know me, how trustworthy you think me to be and how likely it is I might come across a diamond. In the end, however, all you'd have is belief.

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1116001634656879042005-05-13T09:21:00.000-07:002005-05-17T11:21:21.200-07:00

So now the Army is offering 15-month enlistments, according to USA Today.Quoting from the ariticle:"Recruits in the new 15-month program could serve in 59 of the more than 150 jobs in the Army, including the combat infantry, and then serve two years in the Reserve or National Guard. They would finish their eight-year military obligation (emphasis mine) in the Guard or Reserve, volunteer programs

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1116029465586663632005-05-13T06:48:00.000-07:002005-05-13T17:22:36.033-07:00

Once again the corporate media forgets to do it's job. At least, that's the charitable way to put it. More than two weeks ago the British Sunday Times published an article describing a secret British intelligence memo that suggested the Bush administration was fixated on war with Iraq and was fixing the 'data' and 'facts' to support the course of action they had already decided upon, i.e. to

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12854512.post-1115934315829760112005-05-12T14:44:00.000-07:002005-05-12T14:57:23.790-07:00

I saw this on other blogs and must repost it here. Great Stuff!http://www.dailykos.com/images/user/3/jesusbush.jpg If you have a fast internet connection, see an animated version here: http://wiseass.org/html/content-jesus.html

Bimplebeannoreply@blogger.com0