Editorial

Richard Gage on evidence for controlled demolition at the WTC

Here is a high-quality, 20 minute interview with the founder of Architects and Engineers for 9/1 Truth.  Gage  doesn't allow himself to be distracted into speculation or side issues; he sticks with what he knows, the evidence that WTC 1, 2, and 7 were brought down by controlled demolition. 

The host obviously has done no research and seems a little slow to catch on, but other than that this is a terrific explanation of the scientific facts behind the crime at the World Trade Center.

Fox News Goes Green

I don't know whether to laugh or cry--after a decade of ridiculing Al Gore, environmentalists, and the so-called "pseudo-science" of global warming, Rupert Murdoch finally gets it.  Maybe the fact, as he puts it, that "99 percent of scientists agree about the serious extent of global warming," finally overcame his inherent disdain for anything that smacks of liberal consciousness or, heaven forbid, government regulation.

On a side note, think of what our world would look like without  "regulations" against littering, or what your workday would be like if there were no "regulations" against smoking in the office.  Environmental regulation tells people who don't know better: "don't force us to deal with your garbage."  But dealing with garbage is expensive, something corporations will resist as long as they can get away with it.

Now, stories about climate change will be woven into Fox's programming, and Murdoch expects even stalwart skeptics like Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly to come around.  (If they want to keep their jobs, natch.)  Murdoch believes the focus on climate change will be, first and foremost, "good business," which is another way of saying, he read the polls and realized he's outnumbered.  "The younger generation gets the issue of climate change completely," he noted. 

Translation:  Jerry Falwell's generation is dying off,  it's getting harder and harder to find a scientist to support our extreme pro-business, anti-regulation, anti-environment agenda, so let's cave now before the whole world realizes what bloody fools we are.

Jon Stewart, I hope you have a good bodyguard

Remember the old TV spot, "Is it soup yet?"  We ask a similar question these days of our government, "Is it fascism yet?"  Fortunately, no.  I know we don't have fascism yet cause Jon Stewart is still on the air.  Jon, I hope you never travel anywhere alone.  You are a thorn in the side of this administration, hallelujah!

Jon was in top form last night, this clip is genius.  The best part is when CA Rep. (D) Maxine Waters asks Gonzales to turn over the documents the investigators have requested.  He replied that he has nothing to do with "production," that's not his area.  Rep. Waters calmly asks him to direct his subordinates to turn over the requested documents.  He replies that he can't do that, he's recused.  Why are you recused?  she asks.  With zero awareness of the irony, he replies:  "Because I'm being investigated."

So he cannot assist with the investigation into his own conduct...because he is being investigated.  This idiocy sounds vaguely familiar, where have I heard this before?  "All pigs are equal, but some pigs are more equal than others," from George Orwell's Animal Farm, a great satire of the double-talk politicians resort to, to keep the underlings down under and the goodies for themselves.

Oliver Stone directs VideoVets ad

The chorus of those calling for us to leave Iraq is now overwhelming.  Only someone who cares nothing for this country or its people would persist in keeping our soldiers there.  That someone is GW Bush.

What nefarious reason does he have for wanting to keep us there?  I suspect it's about the oil, the same reason we invaded in the first place.  By keeping permanent US bases there, he hopes to have first dibs on Iraqi oil.  If we leave now, bringing home every last soldier, what will become of all that oil?  That's what he and Cheney worry about. 

Looking for WMDs, bringing democracy to the Middle East, fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here, preventing a safe haven for Al Qaeda, waiting for them to stand up so we can stand down--that's all smoke and mirrors to keep our eyes off the real ball--the liquid gold in them thar Iraqi hills. 

Iraq War veteran John Bruhns speaks out about the immorality of the US occupation in a spot directed by Oliver Stone.

Major General John Batiste: Protect Our Troops

It's only the retired or fired generals who get to speak the truth.  While they're actually employed by the Army or Marines they're expected to toe (tow?) the party line.

Thank you John Batiste for speaking out.  But what took you so long?

Now Bush Debates Old Bush on the Daily Show

Jon Stewart got one of the loudest, longest reactions from his studio audience that I've ever seen with this bit:  it's terrific and pointed.  First term Bush debates second term Bush on the topic of timetables--time for the sanctions against Iraq to work (prior to the war) vs. time for them to stand up so we can stand down.  Love it!

Bush All Smiles About Gonzales Testimony

Jon Stewart's staff has put together a lovely little montage capturing the full glory and beauty of Alberto Gonzales' testimony. 

Today, President Bush said that Alberto's performance on Thursday had actually increased his confidence in the Attorney General:

"This is an honest, honorable man, in whom I have confidence," Bush said. Bush spoke about Gonazales during an Oval Office meeting with Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the Iraq war. "The attorney general went up and gave a very candid assessment, and answered every question he could possibly answer _ honestly answer _ in a way that increased my confidence in his ability to do the job," Bush said.

Why d'ya suppose that Bush loved this testimony that everyone else thought abysmal?  Because it accomplished the only thing Bush cares about:  covering the trail that leads to himself, Rove and Miers.  Never mind that the whole world thinks Gonzales is as dumb as a box of hair, he took the bullet for his Lord and Master, and that's one heckuva job.

Imitating the Inimitable Ricky Gervais

I loved the BBC's The Office, by Steve Merchant and Ricky Gervais, to a nearly pathological degree.  So it was with hope and trepidation that I watched the initial episodes of the NBC version--only to sadly conclude that we Yanks don't have the chops of the original gang from Slough. 

But a friend just sent me this clip, and I might have to reconsider.  I see the subtlety, the dark humor and the sheer ridiculousness of the original. 

There's hope for us!  Or at least for NBC!  We can too be just as small-minded, petty, egotistical and oblivious as the Brits.