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October 31, 2007

Rules for trick or treating my house

1) If you don't have a costume, fuck off you little twerp.

2) If your costume is 'teen slut' without even a hint of irony, then fuck off skank.

3) If you have obvious teenage acne, get a job you shiftless loser and buy your own candy.

4) The greeting is 'trick or treat' not 'can I have some candy'. 'Tard.

5) If you're old enough to drive WTF are you doing asking me for candy? Why aren't you out drive by egging your friends?

6) Don't. Comment. On. My. Candy. I have good shit and bad shit. Say something and see which I give you.

7) Yes. I'm drinking and smoking. Get over it.

Happy Halloween!

Posted by mcblogger at 08:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

It's OK to be gay and Republican now...

Coby has a post up discussing the reaction of one right wing talk show host in Houston regarding Senator Craig's attempt at finding love in all the wrong places.

The Republican party is making conservatives look bad. Hell, even Chris Baker, the right wing Republican idiot of KTRH was defending Senator Craig's behavior claiming it was OK to be a gay Congressman or Senator as long as you voted like a conservative.

Well, if you say so, Chris. Still, I'd like to see someone gay run and win against Speaker CradDICK before I believe that the Republican party has changed. Until then, you're all the same group of racist homophobes you've always been.

(As a personal note.. I've been through MSP many times and can tell you it was a RARE event for me to see someone I'd even remotely consider fucking. People in the midwest, while extremely nice and pleasant, are kinda gross)

Posted by mcblogger at 07:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

HouChron : You SUCK, Cornyn

Well, maybe they do write it a bit more eloquently. However, I'm sure that's what they were thinking when they wrote this piece beating up Senator Loser McLamerson for voting to kill the DREAM Act.

No, John. No one is buying your lame excuses anymore.

Posted by mcblogger at 02:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Travis County Chair's race... and then there were two

What was looking to be a three way race for Travis County Democratic Party Chair has evolved into a two way race with the withdrawal of local CPA and longtime Democratic activist, Rosie Mendoza

That is why I wanted to be the first to inform you that after much deliberation, I have decided to withdraw as a candidate for Travis County Democratic Party Chair. This was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made, but I wholeheartedly believe that it is the right decision for the future of our Party.

In recent elections, there has not been a contested race for Chair of the TCDP but this year there are three declared candidates, including myself. The race has already caused divisions in a community that should be united as we move into the 2008 election year. Current developments put us on a course for a highly contested Democratic primary, plus a likely primary run-off in April. With that in mind, even conservative estimates show that we (the three candidates) will end up spending several hundred thousand dollars combined to win this campaign.

I cannot, in good conscience, contribute to a campaign that risks fracturing us on the eve of the most important election in our lifetime nor can I justify spending tens-of-thousands of dollars from donors for an intra-Party campaign while some of our incredible incumbent Democrats like Representatives Donna Howard and Valinda Bolton need every available dollar to win re-election over well-funded Republican opponents next Fall.

When families disagree (and we are family, bound by our shared values) we must consider the consequences of our actions. We must be prepared to place the success of our Party over the success of the individuals. Today, I am taking that individual first step, and I sincerely hope that the two remaining candidates - Andy Brown and Fidel Acevedo - will consider our shared vision and values before continuing toward a costly race in March.

The 2008 election presents enormous opportunities and challenges for Democrats across Texas. The next Chair must enter his/her term with the credibility to unify the Party, keep it on solid financial ground, clearly communicate our vision and values and substantially increase voter turnout in all the communities of our Democratic base. Then, and only then, Travis County can live up to its full potential as not just a blue oasis in a red state, but as a driving force behind statewide Democratic victories in 2008 and 2010!

I gotta tell you, I met her and I loved her. She's extremely genuine and has a fantastic reputation. So why did I choose to support Andy? Mostly because I know him better and I love his giant novelty checks. I also have a lot of respect for Fidel 'Ace' Acevedo. The real deciding factor, at least for me (and I know many others)? Kirk Watson. Mendoza was seen by many as his preferred candidate. The only thing that could have been worse these days in Travis County Dem circles was support from CradDICK The Whiney himself. Kirk's got a ton of fence mending to do.

I did want to take some time thought to thank (I know, I know...serious moments are lame) Andy, Fidel and Rosie for putting themselves out there for Travis County Democrats. Win, lose or withdraw, you're all amazing people.

Posted by mcblogger at 01:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Dallas : Bag the Trinity Tollway

(via Texas Cloverleaf)

Posted by mcblogger at 11:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Iran : Russia and the US face off...

The US is working hard to get the UK on board with possible military action against Iran.

The Pentagon is keen to have the Royal Navy's cooperation in the event of an attack, to prevent Iran from introducing mines to the Persian Gulf to block oil exports in retaliation.

The White House and Downing Street would rationalize such an attack as a protective measure to protect troops in Iraq. But moderates in the US government are concerned that the counterterrorist justification can be used as a cover for military action that could escalate into all out war with Iran.

What they should be doing is effectively negotiating with the Russians. Except Condi and Bush are too dumb to do that.

Posted by mcblogger at 09:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Case of Mike McCaul and the fake Panel

Vince is, to say the least, spot on...

Number one, McCaul is wrong. The public and private sector have focused a lot of energy on protecting tech infrastructure from e-terrorists.

Number two, McCaul has to realize he’s in trouble next fall if he is going out and creating Blue Ribbon Panels for himself to be involved in so that he can look important.

Let me go one further. Even if this little 'blue-ribbon panel' was real, the people on those are usually, you know, smart. McCaul is the last person I'd want on it, given that he's functionally a 'tard. How else can you explain his lock step voting record with our failure of a President. He'd probably spend all the panel's time working on a firewall to protect a Trash 80.

What a douche.

Posted by mcblogger at 08:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Senator Pickles?

The lovely folks over at Belo's Trailblazer blog have a bit of comedy up on the site...

CNN just ran a piece speculating that First Lady Laura Bush, fresh from forays into foreign affairs -- a Wall St. Journal op-ed denouncing the anti-democracy crackdown in Burma, a Middle East trip to promote breast cancer awareness and rebuild America’s image – might foreshadow an interest in elective office.

CNN noted that Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison plans to give up her seat by 2012. Texas Republican National Committeeman Bill Crocker was on camera saying that Mrs. Bush is so popular, she’d be a strong contender for the Senate if she wants it.

The CNN headline on the story: “Signs Laura Bush may run”

Rock! Running against her will be a blast! I can see the campaign slogan now... Laura Bush : The Bush who still drinks!

Yeah, even in Texas the last name Bush is going to be a non-starter for a long time.

Posted by mcblogger at 12:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 30, 2007

CradDICK whines about the trials

The big, bad, mean 'ol trial lawyers are out to get CradDICK. According to CradDICK, who has decided to implement a strategy of calling himself a martyr. And everyone is laughing at the goofy old man whose paranoid ravings are about as crazy as Kucinich's visits with aliens.

Tom, that breath you feel on the back of your neck isn't from some trial lawyer trying to stop corporate abuse. It's the breath of Texas voters, the vast majority of whom (regardless of party) ARE out to make sure you NEVER sit on the dais again.

Posted by mcblogger at 07:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Cleland v. Chambliss... the rematch?

Saxby Chambliss (R-Chickenhawk) beat Sen Max Cleland in 2002 due mostly to a series of ads that questioned Cleland's patriotism and called him everything, including Osama bin Laden's best friend. Cleland lost both legs and one arm as a result of his service in Vietnam. Saxby didn't serve in the military. He didn't have to because of people like Max.

Needless to say, Chambliss isn't someone you'd want to dine with. He'd probably stab you with a fork, blame the terrorists and then accuse you of cooperating with them. The interesting thing is that someone is doing polling on a rematch for next year... and Chambliss could be in trouble.

A new InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion survey in Georgia finds that a rematch of Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) versus former Sen. Max Cleland (D), who lost to Chambliss in 2002, might be the Democratic Party’s strongest hope for reclaiming the Senate seat.

The poll found Chambliss leading Cleland 36% to 24%, with 40% undecided.

Said pollster Matt Towery: "The key to this survey versus other surveys that have been conducted with other potential U.S. Senate candidates is that when you add Cleland to the mix, the undecided vote soars, leaving Chambliss well below the 50 percent mark."

Wonder if people in GA realize that good ole Saxby voted to allow the Administration to tap their phones?

Posted by mcblogger at 02:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Even the Brits have dumb judges

A British judge has ruled that An Inconvenient Truth is not science. IBD recaps the take down without a bit of critical thinking.

Gee, Justice Burton, we knew about the islands being evacuated that have subsequently been swallowed by the sea. We blogged about it. The problem with the argument that the movie isn't science is flawed by the notion that it's a legal argument being made. It's not. The film is a documentary and all the evidence used to make it is available from the producers and their company. Not to mention on the web with just a bit of research.

Actually, let's take a look at just one more of Justice Burton's mistakes...

Error 3 - This one is pretty easy since the gulfstream depends on a delicate balance of salinity and temperature to drive it. Should that be altered by higher levels of freshwater or higher/lower temps in the wrong zones and the current COULD shut down rapidly. We just don't know and the point of the movie was to show it was something that warming could make happen. Could 'slow down' in his 'expert' opinion? Ha. I love me some judges but when it comes to climate science the last person I'm going to listen to is a JD. I read the IPCC report... 'slowdown' was the best we could expect.

Now, take a look at what Justice Burton posted above and then consider why a judge should never be the one deciding something like this. Specifically, look at Errors 5-7 and Burton's rebuttal. When WILL they start teaching Occam's Razor to the kids in law school?

Posted by mcblogger at 10:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Catching a killer

I heard about this last night while doing something I rarely, if ever, do... watching local news. They said the Kilgore KFC murders had been solved. Color me confused as well. I knew there was a place called 'Kilgore' since I went to some kind of weirdo oil field museum there as a child. Given the existence of a strange small town in East Texas, it can be generally assumed it has a KFC. None of that was really throwing me off, it was the talking head referring to the murders as 'solved'. Actually, it sounds like the killer just confessed.

On Sept. 23, 1983, five people were abducted from a Kentucky Fried Chicken during a holdup in Kilgore. Their bodies were found the next day along an oilfield road in Rusk County, about 15 miles from the restaurant. Four of them were restaurant employees, the fifth one of their friends.

On Monday, Romeo Pinkerton, 49, right, pleaded guilty to the five deaths as a part of a plea deal that will save his life, but for which he will have to serve five life sentences. The victims' families approved the deal.

Pinkerton and his cousin, Darnell Hartsfield, were accused in the killings. Hartsfield is expected to stand trial next year.

If I'm ever kidnapped I'd really like to ask for the following...

1) Not to have these bumbling cops on the case. 24 years to solve this and in the end the guy turns himself in?
2) That it not be from a KFC. I really have more than enough to hide... I don't need people to know about my repulsive fast food addiction.
3) That my kidnapper/would-be murderer be a little easier on the eyes.

Posted by mcblogger at 09:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Roundup time in the TPA 10/30

It's Tuesday, and that means it's once again time for the Texas Progressive Alliance Blog Round-Up. This week's round-up is compiled, as always, by Vince from Capitol Annex.

Refinish69 from Doing My Part For The Left is outraged with certain politicians in Fort Worth,Texas. Homophobia Rears Its Nasty Head in Fort Worth City Council Race tells who is being a jerk and how to contact one of them.

Muse was at Armando Walle’s campaign kick-off and reports why it’s time for a change in Texas House District 140. Kevin Bailey (Craddick D) has been serving Craddick and not the district. Walle, who is from the district and has a proven track record of service and leadership, already has a large group of supporters lined up to help him take back 140 for the people.

Phillip Martin of Burnt Orange Report provides a detailed chart and analysis updating what's going on with the Craddick D's. The post brought forward an interesting reader response as well.

TXsharon at Bluedaze gives the Texas Railroad Commission Protection Money Breakdown. and makes it easy for you to take action. So, please take that action before you become the next victim of RRC Malpractice.

Hal at Half Empty wonders whether FEMA has finally taken a page out of George Orwell's book when they held a 'news conference' this past week without a single journalist in attendance.

WhosPlayin notes that he would gladly pay the $13.30 per year per person to pay for SCHIP.

McBlogger takes a look at the strange world of Focus on the Family and the very odd people that attended their Values Voters conference.

CouldBeTrue at South Texas Chisme notes that Perry appointed a public corruption figure to the UT System Board of Regents.

Johncoby at Bay Area Houston finds the highest and lowest costs for electricity in the Houston area. Power Watch: Highest and lowest electricity rates for November.

Stace at DosCentavos features the trailer to the upcoming Jesse Salmeron film, This Is America. "This is America" is the story of a family torn apart by deportation.

NatWu at Three Wise Men exposes the truth about why we need Net Neutrality, especially with all the recent Telecom shenanigans.

North Texas Liberal's Texas Toad gives a breakdown on the factions of the "Trinity Vote" in Dallas Weighs Pros and Cons of Trinity Toll Road.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson wonders What Will John Carter's Excuse Be This Time For Voting Against Health Care For Children?

Off the Kuff gives his recommendations for the state and local bonds and propositions.

NYTexan at BlueBloggin asks how many wars and how many enemies can Bush have?

Vince at Capitol Annex notes that Tom Craddick has borrowed a page from Warren Chisum in announcing that trial lawyers were behind efforts to remove him during the 8oth Legislative Session and wonders why, since he reported it some months ago, it is suddenly "news" to the mainstream media.

In the wake of the Houston Chronicle's announcement of a "position-elimination program", PDiddie at Brains and Eggs recounts his personal experience with Hearst newspapers, budgets, and staff cutbacks in The Trouble with the Newspaper Bidness.

Posted by mcblogger at 09:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Fox Financial News Anchor or Porn Star?

Go take the quiz at Radar... I only scored 5/10.

Posted by mcblogger at 01:23 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

There are smart people in Longview

And one of them is named Sarah White...

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, was one of the members of Congress who voted against SCHIP reauthorization this month — despite recent polls showing about 80 percent of Americans support it nationwide.

Gohmert declares, "Low-income children should not be left without health care ..." But he excuses his no vote by criticizing "earmarks" in the bill and claiming that it "included a dramatic expansion of the program to many children who are not from poor families ..."

I guess it all depends on what you mean by "poor." A single parent with one child who makes $13,690 per year qualifies as poor

in America. That child would actually qualify for Medicaid. But CHIP was designed for children from families whose incomes are just above that level — it subsidizes private coverage for low-income working families so that kids can go to a primary-care physician, not just the ER. Earmarks, unfortunately are routinely added to all kinds of bills for such pork-barrel projects as Alaska's infamous "Bridge to Nowhere." Congress could and should end the practice of earmarks altogether — as one of several necessary steps to make itself accountable to voters again. But they make a lame excuse for voting against SCHIP.

Gohmert and others seem to be trying to scare us Americans into just accepting the status quo — expensive and inequitable private health insurance policies (if you can get one). Yet you don't hear them propose abolishing the generous government plan for their health care — a plan most Americans would feel fortunate to have.

Remember when the insurance industry first rolled out HMOs in the 80s? They promised that we would enjoy lower health care costs — and it would be easier to get in to see the doctor.

Instead, costs have soared and today's health insurance industry has become a gargantuan gatekeeper — fighting to keep our health care claims from storming the castle and raiding its treasure.

Gohmert claims that the Democrats "have taken the SCHIP program designed for poor children and used it to expand Hillary-care to unbelievable proportions." This 'ad feminem' attack seems to refer to his objection that states could enroll children of families who earn up to three times the poverty level. That's still only a total of $41,070 for a single parent and child to live on — and it may take a fourth of that to pay for private health insurance.

If recent history is any guide, the cost of private insurance will keep going up — and more working and middle class people will be unable to buy it. Yet anything that could cut into profits for the financial sector will usually get labeled "socialistic, communistic" or downright left-handed by some detractors.

Despite the mudslinging against so-called "Washington-controlled" health care, there's nothing really so scary about a government-supported health care program. Since the 1960s Medicare has helped secure health care for America's seniors. Our children deserve the same kind of concern.

Won't someone, ANYONE, run against the absurdly stupid Gohmert?

Posted by mcblogger at 12:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 29, 2007

Tolls : TURF wins!; TXDoT to slow down 35 and more

Posted by mcblogger at 06:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Checking up on the Iscariot Caucus

Phillip at BOR has a post up about what's happening with the Iscariot Caucus. Apparently, only 5 five remain solidly behind CradDICK, many have primary opponents and a few have come back from the dark side.

Posted by mcblogger at 01:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Analysis : Jindal's win means Landrieu is in trouble

Part of the electoral math that plays into a 60+ D Senate Majority in January, 2009 is retaining all Democratic seats up for re-elect.

That may not happen, given the results of LA's gubernatorial primary last week which saw Former Rep. and Bush Apologist Bobby Jindal functionally elected in a traditional LA free-for-all primary with 54% of the total vote. How will this effect Landrieu? It isn't that R's have made massive gains in LA, it's that the D's haven't recovered from Katrina...

And next year the Democrats' top officeholder, Ms Landrieu, looks like facing an uphill battle. When she was last elected, in 2002, she won in large part thanks to a landslide in her home city, heavily Democratic New Orleans. Whereas the city's predilections haven't changed dramatically, its size has, and its electoral significance along with it. In 2002 almost 133,000 New Orleanians voted in the Senate race. On October 20th less than 60% of that number turned up at the polls, a sign of the city's post-Katrina shrinkage. Ms Landrieu won New Orleans by almost 80,000 votes in 2002, twice her overall margin of victory. This time, that was more votes than all the candidates got combined in the city that was once the alpha and the omega of Louisiana politics.

Posted by mcblogger at 10:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

More on the US Attorney scandal

Congress is continuing it's hearings and a Republican former AG dropped Bush and his minions in the grease...

Richard L. Thornburgh, who served as attorney general under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, accused the Justice Department yesterday of prosecuting a prominent Pennsylvania Democrat for political reasons, one of a series of cases singled out by House Democrats as examples of alleged GOP meddling at the Justice Department.

Thornburgh, who served as attorney general from 1988 to 1991 and whose law firm represents Cyril Wecht, a nationally known coroner from Pittsburgh, testified yesterday that Wecht had been indicted for mail fraud and a "hodgepodge" of other charges by overzealous prosecutors keen on pleasing political appointees in Washington.

"He has always been a contentious, outspoken, highly critical and highly visible Democratic figure in western Pennsylvania," Thornburgh told the House Judiciary Committee. "In other words, he would qualify as an ideal target for a Republican U.S. attorney trying to curry favor with a department which demonstrated that if you play by its rules, you will advance."

Posted by mcblogger at 09:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 28, 2007

Peak Oil was last year?

Yes, according to a report in The Guardian (via ELLN)

World oil production has already peaked and will fall by half as soon as 2030, according to a report which also warns that extreme shortages of fossil fuels will lead to wars and social breakdown.

The German-based Energy Watch Group will release its study in London today saying that global oil production peaked in 2006 - much earlier than most experts had expected. The report, which predicts that production will now fall by 7% a year, comes after oil prices set new records almost every day last week, on Friday hitting more than $90 (£44) a barrel.

"The world soon will not be able to produce all the oil it needs as demand is rising while supply is falling. This is a huge problem for the world economy," said Hans-Josef Fell, EWG's founder and the German MP behind the country's successful support system for renewable energy.

The report's author, Joerg Schindler, said its most alarming finding was the steep decline in oil production after its peak, which he says is now behind us.

Can we please move on from crap about drilling our way to energy independence and supply, a la this little retard decorator?

Posted by mcblogger at 12:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 27, 2007

You just know this will be at Whataburger soon

From Forbes

CKE's Hardee's began serving its new Country Breakfast Burrito to the dismay of health nuts everywhere. The so-called breakfast sandwich contains bacon, sausage, ham, cheese, potatoes and gravy. With 920 calories and 60 grams of fat the sandwich accounts for approximately two-thirds of an average person's daily caloric intake, according to the U.S. government's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.

St. Louis-based Hardee's makes no apologies for its new burrito. Marketing chief Brad Haley said: "The burrito offers the sort of big breakfast item normally found in sit-down restaurants with an added advantage. It makes this big country breakfast portable."

But health advocacy groups disagree. Jayne Hurley, the senior nutritionist of The Center for Science in the Public Interest called the burrito "another lousy invention by a fast-food company."

"We don't try to hide what these are," said Haley. "When consumers go to other fast-food places they feel like they've got to buy two of their breakfast sandwiches or burritos to fill up. This is really designed to fill you up." Hardee's is known for marketing to young males whose primary concern is for size and taste, not nutrition. Products like the Monster Thickburger are not intended for the health conscious consumer.

'Really designed to fill you up' and make you a giant fatass.

Posted by mcblogger at 10:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 26, 2007

The Jena 6 : When not everything is as it appears

I've held off on posting anything about this because it was hard to get my head around some things. In fact, it still is. Granted, every place in this country has it's share of racist assholes, from Louisiana to Michigan (trust me, they're there) racism is national thing. However, it certainly seemed like a lot of them were living in the Gret Stet of Louisiana. An 'all-white tree'? Noose being used for decoration? Kids getting in fights because of color? Kids being indicted for attempted second-degree murder?

The biggest issue I had was simple... why were SIX kids beating ONE kid unconscious? Frankly, I don't care about the provocation. Six on one may be great for sex (no, I've never tried it) but not so much for a fight.

The Christian Science Monitor ran an article from someone who actually lives in Jena and writes for the Jena paper. After reading it, I'm almost certain that while well intentioned, he's a little clueless about how things are for blacks in Jena. The picture he paints is one of everyone being go-along, get-along which I don't think may be wholly accurate. The excuse regarding the noose hanging from a tree is really interesting...

Myth 2: Nooses a Signal to Black Students. An investigation by school officials, police, and an FBI agent revealed the true motivation behind the placing of two nooses in the tree the day after the assembly. According to the expulsion committee, the crudely constructed nooses were not aimed at black students. Instead, they were understood to be a prank by three white students aimed at their fellow white friends, members of the school rodeo team. (The students apparently got the idea from watching episodes of "Lonesome Dove.") The committee further concluded that the three young teens had no knowledge that nooses symbolize the terrible legacy of the lynchings of countless blacks in American history. When informed of this history by school officials, they became visibly remorseful because they had many black friends. Another myth concerns their punishment, which was not a three-day suspension, but rather nine days at an alternative facility followed by two weeks of in-school suspension, Saturday detentions, attendance at Discipline Court, and evaluation by licensed mental-health professionals. The students who hung the nooses have not publicly come forward to give their version of events.

Lonesome Dove? Yeah, right. However, this is where he starts making a good point... these kids got punished, despite their ridiculous story about razzing their shit-kicker friends, far worse than what was reported by the media which made it sound like they got a slap on the wrist.

Then there was the DA who 'threatened' the black students...

Myth 4: DA's Threat to Black Students. When District Attorney Reed Walters spoke to Jena High students at an assembly in September, he did not tell black students that he could make their life miserable with "the stroke of a pen." Instead, according to Walters, "two or three girls, white girls, were chit-chatting on their cellphones or playing with their cellphones right in the middle of my dissertation. I got a little irritated at them and said, 'Pay attention to me. I am right now having to deal with an aggravated rape case where I've got to decide whether the death penalty applies or not.' I said, 'Look, I can be your best friend or your worst enemy. With the stroke of a pen I can make your life miserable so I want you to call me before you do something stupid.'"

Mr. Walters had been called to the assembly by police, who had been at the school earlier that day dealing with some students who were causing disturbances. Teachers and students have confirmed Walters's version of events.

Stupid thing to say? Oh hell yeah, but largely typical of a powertripping asshole. Racist? Maybe or maybe not. You really can't tell from the accurate version of events. You could make the case for him being racist from his seeking attempted murder indictments for the six black kids. However, you could also say he was doing it because of the brutality of the attack which seems just as, on balance, likely. And the reality is, not all these kids were the saints they were made out to be...

Myth 10: Jena 6 as Model Youth. While some members were simply caught up in the moment, others had criminal records. Bell had at least four prior violent-crime arrests before the December attack, and was on probation during most of this year.

Bell is the one whose conviction was just overturned. Note these are arrests, not convictions. Juvenile records are usually kept closed so we don't know his conviction history. He was, coincidentally, the kid who started the attack.

Myth 11: Jena Is One of the Most Racist Towns in America. Actually, Jena is a wonderful place to live for both whites and blacks. The media's distortion and outright lies concerning the case have given this rural Louisiana town a label it doesn't deserve.

Myth 12: Two Levels of Justice. Outside protesters were convinced that the prosecution of the Jena 6 was proof of a racially biased system of justice. But the US Justice Department's investigation found no evidence to support such a claim. In fact, the percentage of blacks and whites prosecuted matches the parish's population statistics.

11 may be true, but coming from a white newspaper reporter it's hardly evidence. Just as the ultra rich think the economy is great and that gas price increases are nuisance, white folks in a small town usually don't see just how bad things are for their black neighbors. As for 12, who could argue with the Bush Justice Dept. Honestly, I'm surprised they had the staff to send out to investigate.

At the end of the day I still have questions. However, I finally have some answers and a clearer narrative. I know there is still racism in this country. And I know some will use it as a reason for violence.

Posted by mcblogger at 06:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Oversight... Waxman at work

For those of you who, like me, have been disapointed in the Democratic Congress not taking on the Administration directly, the WaPo reminds us that investigations are ongoing. Lot's of them. And we have Henry Waxman to thank for finally forcing Congress to do it's job by checking Presidential power...

Waxman has become the Bush administration's worst nightmare: a Democrat in the majority with subpoena power and the inclination to overturn rocks. But in Waxman the White House also faces an indefatigable capital veteran -- with a staff renowned for its depth and experience -- who has been waiting for this for 14 years.

These days, the 16-term congressman is always ready with a hearing, a fresh crop of internal administration e-mails or a new explosive report. And he has more than two dozen investigations underway, on such issues as the politicization of the entire federal government, formaldehyde in Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers, global warming, and safety concerns about the diabetes drug Avandia.

"We have to let people know they have someone watching them after six years with no oversight at all," said Waxman, 68. "And we've got a lot of low-hanging fruit to pick."

Republicans have their share of complaints. They say that Waxman's staff cuts corners, plays "gotcha" with witnesses and committee Republicans, bypasses GOP staff members by interviewing witnesses rather than depositioning them, and would rather investigate than legislate. But even some of them speak with grudging admiration.

"For the administration, and for a lot of others, people need to be careful now," said Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (Va.), the ranking Republican on the committee. "Someone is looking over their shoulder."

Republicans and Democrats say that Waxman has marshaled three ingredients from his staff -- tenacity, experience and loyalty -- to make it one of the brightest spots on the new Congress's otherwise mixed record. The number of Democratic staff members has doubled, to about 75, since the party took control. About 25 investigators make up the core of Waxman's team.

We all have to remember that oversight is a painstaking process and the American people are lucky to have someone like Henry Waxman taking on the task. When the final chapter is written in the book on the history of Republican incompetence during this era, it'll be Waxman who comes out the hero. Not just for saving taxpayers billions, but by taking those responsible to task for their illegal actions.

Posted by mcblogger at 12:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Democrats roll out S-CHIP, Part 2

With some slight modifications to make Connecticut native George W. Bush and his Republican killjoy's happy, the Democrats are advancing S-CHIP v. 2.1

Just one week after failing to override President Bush's veto, House Democrats will put a new version of their $35 billion expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program to a vote today, hoping that minor changes will win enough Republicans to beat Bush this round.

The new version will underscore that illegal immigrants will not have access to the expanded program. It will ease adults off the program in one year, rather than the two in the vetoed version. And it establishes a firmer eligibility cap at 300 percent of the federal poverty line, just more than $60,000 for a family of four.

The move took Republican leaders by surprise. Bush administration officials yesterday voiced conciliation, suggesting the president could accept legislation that would expand the program by about $20 billion over five years, far bigger than the $5 billion expansion that Bush initially proposed. At the same time, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt has been meeting with House and Senate Republicans, urging them to hold the line against an even larger bill. And Bush continues to oppose the tobacco tax increase that Democrats want to fund the measure.

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) has been meeting all week with some of the 45 House Republicans who voted for the first bill, looking for ways to win the dozen or so votes that supporters needed to override another veto. But Democratic leaders have yet to reach out to the Republicans who voted against the measure.

"When they need my vote, they don't even have the courage to ask me for it," complained Rep. Ric Keller (R-Fla.), who has suffered through a barrage of advertisements from Democratic allies accusing him of forsaking children.

Oh, Congressman Keller... you have no idea how bad it can get. Think those ads are bad? Just wait for the ones that'll roll next summer. Real tear jerkers.

EOW wants to know how fatass John Carter is going to vote (oh, don't look at me that way... bitchboy is starting to look like a bleached out version of Rerun from What's Happening!) and I want to know how Mike McCaul (R-ClearChannel Communications) will be voting. Will Mike vote for the health of children AND lower property tax bills for his constituents, or will he vote to make some idiot from Connecticut happy?

People are watching...

Posted by mcblogger at 09:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Welcome to a new member of the team!

We're pleased to announce that Fry Kid has joined us here at Team McBlogger where he will use his detailed knowledge of everything to delight and entertain you.

Or, maybe he'll piss you off. I told him that was OK as well.

Posted by mcblogger at 08:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 25, 2007

GOP: Not just stupid...really fucking stupid

A recent Rasmussen poll revealed that in a 3-way Clinton-Guliani-Colbert match up, Steven Colbert would net 13% of the vote (about the same amount any "well known" 3rd party candidate would get, according to Ed Kilgore ). The kicker is that Colbert is pulling more support from Guliani than he is from Hillary.

To quote the Democratic Strategist:

Are there actually a lot of Colbert viewers who don't understand that his Fox Bloviator shtick is a joke? Or is Rudy benefitting from a hitherto-undiscovered segment of the electorate that doesn't understand he's dead serious?

Posted by Fry Kid at 05:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Rangel's tax bill : EXCELLENT WORK

FINALLY, the Democrats roll out a great tax bill that fixes the AMT, closes corporate loopholes (while dropping corporate rates a little to keep job growth good) and fairly distributes the tax burden by cutting taxes on the middle class and raising them on the rich and super rich.

Under the plan unveiled today, tax burdens would be altered through an array of changes affecting ordinary households and businesses. Some of the highlights:

* Eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax. This proposal is intended to prevent the AMT from hitting 23 million households this year. The AMT was imposed in the late 1960s to make sure that the wealthiest Americans paid at least some tax, but it has applied to a growing number of households because it is not indexed for inflation. Given the difficulty of passing his overall plan, Rangel plans to move forward with a short-term bill to defuse the AMT for this year.

* Impose a surcharge on higher-income people. The most affluent taxpayers, earning at least $200,000 for couples filing joint returns, would face a new surcharge of 4%, moving up to 4.6% for those earning over $500,000.

* Reduce the corporate income tax. The top rate for the corporate income tax would fall from 35% to 30.5%, a move supported by the Bush administration to enhance U.S. competitiveness. At the same time, the plan would seek to end a range of provisions that Rangel views as loopholes.

* Ease burdens for working families. To accomplish this, the plan would increase the standard deduction, make the Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor more generous, and increase the amount of the refundable child tax credit.

* Increase taxes for managers of private-equity funds, the investment pools that often buy publicly traded companies and take them private. Executives of these funds have claimed earnings at a 15% capital gains tax rate, rather than the 35% they might otherwise pay for ordinary income. Rangel said today that such favorable treatment was not justified.

Stick with this plan, Democrats. Across the board. No one listens to the Republicans tax policies. Why? Because they are all geared toward income stratification (concentrating money with the richest Americans). Further, we have got to start paying the debt and reining in future deficits which are about to balloon back up because of the Bush tax cuts. It's the only way to secure the long term future of the United States.

Now we'll be able to talk about infrastructure improvements and securing entitlement programs, two things that'll help the economy and business more than a tax cut.

Fantastic job, Congressman Rangel!

Posted by mcblogger at 01:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Irrelevant Republicans?

Michael Crawford over at Bilerico Project has a great post up about whether or not the Republicans will learn their lesson before they become completely irrelevant.

The Value Voters Summit showed just how out of the mainstream the Republican Party has become after decades of pandering to the increasingly extreme views of white conservative evangelicals who place a greater value on tax cuts for the wealthy, bashing gays, vilifying anyone with skin darker than former KKK member David Duke and cheerleading the Iraq war than on solving issues around poverty, joblessness, HIV/AIDS and global climate change. Meanwhile, President Bush has vetoed a bill that would have increased the number of poor kids who have access to medical care while asking for $46 billions more for his failed war.

The conference attendees also spent an inordinate amount of time deifying former president Ronald Reagan in clear violation of the first commandant which states: I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me.
Your Ad Here

More important is the refusal of the GOP to evolve as our nation becomes increasingly diverse and as the global economy increases the need for diplomacy and international cooperation over America's big stick. The GOP continues it blind obsession with the straight male voters at its own peril.

Posted by mcblogger at 11:53 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Help us help the children

Well, sort of, in a rather circuitous way. By donating to these worthy Democratic causes you can help children around the United States. Your pennies a day, less than the cost of a cup of coffee, will help elect Democrats who will help the children in America. For less than the cost of your after work tallboy at 7-11, you can help elect people who actually care about their constituents. So, take a moment and do something for your kids and the ones I hope to purchase (if I can find a variety that haven't already been adopted by some ridiculous celebrity).

Won't you please help? Help the children?

Posted by mcblogger at 09:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Obama and Hillary stick with Dodd

At least, on immunity for the illegal actions of some telecom companies they are supporting Dodd.

Posted by mcblogger at 08:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Weak sisters kill a DREAM

Well, the cloture vote on the DREAM Act failed... Dos Centavos has the deets. Honestly, this is really getting old. Has anyone thought about what we're going to do when these dummies get their way and remove 11 million people from the workforce?

Republicans (and a few D's) are really, really stupid.

Posted by mcblogger at 12:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 24, 2007

Since when do kids have checking accounts?

Oh, this is a little insane... apparently, the children of wealthy donors are becoming big contributors to campaigns in what appears to be an effort to skirt campaign finance laws.

Elrick Williams's toddler niece Carlyn may be one of the youngest contributors to this year's presidential campaign. The 2-year-old gave $2,300 to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

So did her sister and brother, Imara, 13, and Ishmael, 9, and her cousins Chan and Alexis, both 13. Altogether, according to newly released campaign finance reports, the extended family of Williams, a wealthy Chicago financier, handed over nearly a dozen checks in March for the maximum allowed under federal law to Obama.

Such campaign donations from young children would almost certainly run afoul of campaign finance regulations, several campaign lawyers said. But as bundlers seek to raise higher and higher sums for presidential contenders this year, the number who are turning to checks from underage givers appears to be on the rise.

"It's not difficult for a banker or a trial lawyer or a hedge fund manager to come up with $2,300, and they're often left wanting to do more," said Massie Ritsch, a spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics. "That's when they look across the dinner table at their children and see an opportunity."

And don't worry, Republicans... you people are doing it as well...

A supporter of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (R), Susan Henken of Dover, Mass., wrote her own $2,300 check, and her 13-year-old son, Samuel, and 15-year-old daughter, Julia, each wrote $2,300 checks, for example. Samuel used money from his bar mitzvah and money he earned "dog sitting," and Julia used babysitting money to make the contributions, their mother said. "My children like to donate to a lot of causes. That's just how it is in my house," Henken said.

My checking account, which I opened at 12 with my Dad, never had more than $500 in it. What the hell kind of dog is little Samuel 'sitting' for? And they consider Romney a 'cause'? Bet these two are a barrel of laughs with their peers.

As always, the WaPo finds a MOTO to really hammer the point home. For those whose brains don't work...

"What's driving it is a desire by maxed-out donors to max out on their maxing out," said Fred Wertheimer, president of campaign finance reform organization Democracy 21, who sought, unsuccessfully, to outlaw child donations five years ago. "More often than not, you're dealing with people who are simply trying to circumvent the limits of what they can give."

No... really?

Posted by mcblogger at 01:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

TPJ : Austin's Spendthrift City Council

With the city council elections coming up next year, it's worth talking about all the great incentives that our marvelous city council has lavished on companies that promise to move or expand here. Simply put, as this TPJ report discovered, the incentives cost Austinites more than $100 mm and, as it turns out, weren't even necessary.

In August, city development staff made a presentation to a subcommittee of the Austin City Council on existing incentive agreements. Council members wanted to review the effectiveness of this program. The presentation estimated that the city had committed itself to $80 million in development incentives. Yet a Texans for Public Justice review of the underlying agreements found that this estimate omitted at least $37 million of program costs, including subsidies from city-owned Austin Energy and rebates of city fees.

The total $117 million cost of the city’s incentive deals is equal to the city giving away the average annual property-tax revenue for 128,635 homes.3 The city says it must divert some public funds from such public assets as parks, libraries and public safety programs to entice private businesses to generate jobs and economic growth.

Yet the city counts torrid growth among its most urgent challenges and it even earmarked $5.4 million of its 2008 budget for managing this growth. For the foreseeable future, businesses will continue to invest in Austin en masse without a publicly subsidized handout. While depressed areas can make an argument for such incentives, does publicly subsidized growth constitute smart growth in the Live Music Capital of the World?

Let's be honest... if the economy in Austin were in the toilet (it isn't) or our citizens were a bunch of uneducated trash (they aren't) or if Austin was a relatively high tax area (which it sooo isn't) then abatements would make sense. However, none of that is true and that's why giving the abatements just to give them is stupid, short sighted, and (probably the most offensive) VERY anti-capitalist.

Check out the rest of the article for information on companies that either came here or expanded without the incentives. And of course, the most offensive of the abatements, the one for the Domain. Unfortunately, bad tax policy and ridiculous development incentives aren't limited to Austin. Even Hutto has been touched by them.

EOW a few weeks ago posted about the City of Hutto granting a massive tax break to the Carmel Creek developer. The funniest thing is the idiot Hutto Mayor Love (via the AAS)...

Hutto approves incentives to retail developments on a case-by-case basis, City Manager Ed Broussard said. The recently approved package provided the city leverage in reaching a separate agreement that gives it more control over landscaping, parks and other infrastructure on the site, he said.

Giving up a portion of the sales tax was necessary for Hutto, Love said.

“If the complex wasn’t there, what sales tax would we have?” he asked.M

Hutto is rapidly expanding due to cheap housing and the higher relative cost of living in Travis and Southern WillCo. Since people are moving there, retail is going there as well. Because retail goes where the people are. Retail should never receive abatements. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Mayor Love, much like some of our leaders in Austin, you don't understand how and when incentives should be used. You're like very green salesman, willing to give up everything just to close the sale and then finding excuses as to why it was a great deal. Problem is, there's always someone better and smarter than you to burst your dumb little bubble.

Posted by mcblogger at 10:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Roundup time in the TPA

It's another week and that means it's time to show some love for the best posts from the members of the Texas Progressive Alliance for the preceding week. Check out the best that the Alliance has to offer, brought to you this week by Vince at Capitol Annex.

PDiddie at Brains and Eggs has an advance of the Max Cleland-Karl Rove debate, coming up this Friday, October 26.

Diarist Scott Cobbat Texas Kaos updates us on the growing movement to hold rogue Judge Sharon Keller accountable for her callous disregard for the responsibility of the Appeals court while she displays her intoxication with its power.

State Senator Craig Estes, Senate District 30, was given numerous examples of Texas Railroad Commission malpractice, negligence, incompetence and cronyism at his recent Town Hall Meeting in Wise County. TXsharon at Bluedaze asks: Will Senator Estes Investigate the RRC's Malpractice?

Adam at Three Wise Men looks into the future to give us his expert opinion on the 2010 Texas Gubernatorial race.

McBlogger has been keeping a watchful eye on what's happening in Congress with FISA expansion.

At Half Empty, Hal ponders the question: which Republican candidate can the evangelicals support for President?

Muse vs. State Senator Eltife. A whole lotta safe sex going on or should the the State of Texas get involved in adults getting free condoms on campus?

Todd Hill at Burnt Orange Report interviews Dan Barrett, the only Democrat in the special election race for HD 97 in Fort Worth.

WCNews at Eye on Williamson reports on some unbelievable statements made by County Commissioner Cynthia Long on the children that are being detained at the T. Don Hutto facility in Taylor, Texas.

Vince at Capitol Annex takes a look at a State Representative, Fred Brown (R-Bryan), who has scheduled an oversight hearing of an agency that is investigating his business partner.

Bradley at North Texas Liberal celebrates one of the first and only times Sen. John Cornyn has been on the right side of the issue: securing H-2B visas for seasonal workers and joining with Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland to help save small business... at least for another year.

Are government emails covered by open record laws? Off the Kuff takes a look.

CouldBeTrue at South Texas Chisme wonders if a Dallas minister will lose his church's tax exempt status by slamming Mitt Romney because 'he's not a Christian.'

Nytexan at BlueBloggin wonders why Homeland Security purchases products from China when Americans industry is disappearing and jobs are declining.

The Texas Cloverleaf looks into the pending libel and slander lawsuit against Dallas Republicans, including State Rep. Tony Goolsby.

Gary at Easter Lemming Liberal News updated on political news and gossip in the Pasadena area. Like most gossip one item was wrong.

Think arbitration is fair? Think again. John Coby at Bay Area Houston notes that the bottom line from the data is clear. In the nearly 20,000 cases where NAF [National Arbitration Forum] reached a decision, First USA prevailed in an astonishing 99.6 percent of cases.

Refinish69 at Doing My Part For The Left thinks Texas State Senator Kevin Eltife Needs Some Education.

Posted by mcblogger at 09:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 23, 2007

Britney. Arrested. Again.

This time, it's for hit and run...

The charges stem from an Aug. 6 wreck during which paparazzi filmed Spears steering her car into another vehicle as she tried to turn into a spot in a Studio City parking lot. The video showed her walking away after assessing the damage to her own car.

The owner of the other car, Kim Robard-Rifkin, filed a police report three days later.

Would someone please just beat this bitch down?

Posted by mcblogger at 02:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Yes, Kay Granger SHOULD know better...

...than to vote to sustain Bush's veto on S-CHIP.

Of course, she should also know better than to give people a recipe for liquid ass.

Posted by mcblogger at 01:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Early Voting (or, Is it Fall already?)

Early voting started yesterday apparently and we missed it. If you're in the Austin area, just go to Randalls and be done with it. You can also pick me up a pack of cigarettes while you're there (I LOVE holding up the line for cigarettes... it's SOOO annoying).

If you're looking for how to vote, EOW has some great links up to a variety of sources (I would totally plagiarize but I haven't got that kind of time). Here's how I'm voting...

1-3 YES

4-6 NO - Prop 5 is the dumbest. No more tax breaks for businesses. If your business plan only works through some ridiculous tax scheme, then you need to reprice and increase your margins.

7-11 YES

12 - Road Bonds. NO. Is accountability just not an issue for you folks? General revenue? Come on. The Lege and the Lege alone needs to fix transportation financing, especially before we give the state the authority to issue another $5 bn when the first $3 bn we authorized a few years ago hasn't even been issued. Oh, and let's not forget the unreliability of the Texas Transportation Commission's numbers regarding the funding gap and the fact that TXDoT's estimate is based on what it cost to eliminate all congestion, all the time.

Nah, vote against this turkey and let the Lege know that it's time for real solutions, not gimmicks.

13-15 NO. The possibility of abuse is too great on 13. 14 gets tired, old people off the bench (let's be honest, some of these folks have to have one foot in the grave before they'll leave). 15 is a slush fund for 39%, just like the Texas Enterprise Fund we approved a few years back. Not to mention that we'll be paying over $1.6 Bn in interest on these bonds and that $3 bn is a drop in the bucket compared to what's being spent elsewhere. What about just budgeting the money with the surplus?

16 - NO. I'm so glad they saved this for last... this is the 'Shitty Developer Bail-Out Amendment'. Basically, a developer builds a subdivision on raw land and doesn't put in adequate water and wastewater facilities. That's what the State is now asking us to cover the cost of improving. Nope. A better idea would have been to create an responsibility on the part of the developer to improve the facilities at cost. And allowed homeowners to sue the shit out of them if they don't. The idea that companies can not or should not be sued into bankruptcy has created a big problem in business ethics which is that it's more cost effective to do the wrong thing. That's gotta change and this isn't what the Lege should have sent to us.

More on this at the Star-Telegram...

Posted by mcblogger at 11:19 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Watts Withdraws

Per the release...

"For the last five months I have been exploring a race for the United States Senate because I believe that our junior senator, John Cornyn, has let Texas down and is more concerned with his cronies and friends in Washington than with what's best for Texas.

"After spending the last several months putting everything into this
campaign, I have seen the toll this effort has taken on my young children.
For these reasons, my wife and I have made the decision that I will not be
seeking the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in 2008. I
was brought up to believe that public service is a noble endeavor and I will
continue to be involved at some level in the future. However, I realize that
my time now should be devoted to serving my children so they may grow up in
a healthy environment with both parents at home to meet their needs.

"The reasons for creating my exploratory committee still exist. As I have
criss-crossed the state and met and talked with tens of thousands of good
Texans, it is evident how much the people of Texas want and need a Senator
who will fight every day for their interests and not the special interests.
We need to elect a new Senator in Texas and I will personally do everything
possible to support the Democratic nominee.

"It is hard to express the gratitude I feel for all the support my family
and I have received as we have pursued this effort. I know that our vision
for the future of Texas is one that all of our friends and supporters share.
It's been one of the greatest blessings of my life for their faith in me,
and for all of their hard work over the past months. While the decision not
to seek the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate has been a
difficult one, I know that it is the right one for my family at this time."

I gotta tell you, running for office is a pain in the ass, especially statewide. It is unbelievably hard on families and I can completely understand this, especially since he has younger children. While I didn't like him as a candidate for Senate against Cornyn, I do have a tremendous amount of respect for the man and what he's accomplished in this life.

Thank you, Mikal, for exiting as gracefully as you entered and for helping to bring attention to this race.

Posted by mcblogger at 09:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Stealing is wrong...

Oh, I too feel the pinch from the excessive cost of gasoline. However, I don't have nearly the balls to do this.

Posted by mcblogger at 09:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 22, 2007

Al Qaida in Iraq dealt a serious blow?

According to the WaPo, yes. Which will make, what, the 18th time we've heard this story? Not everyone is as sure as the White House...

"I think it would be premature at this point," a senior intelligence official said of a victory declaration over AQI, as the group is known. Despite recent U.S. gains, he said, AQI retains "the ability for surprise and for catastrophic attacks." Earlier periods of optimism, such as immediately following the June 2006 death of AQI founder Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a U.S. air raid, not only proved unfounded but were followed by expanded operations by the militant organization.

There is widespread agreement that AQI has suffered major blows over the past three months. Among the indicators cited is a sharp drop in suicide bombings, the group's signature attack, from more than 60 in January to around 30 a month since July. Captures and interrogations of AQI leaders over the summer had what a senior military intelligence official called a "cascade effect," leading to other killings and captures. The flow of foreign fighters through Syria into Iraq has also diminished, although officials are unsure of the reason and are concerned that the broader al-Qaeda network may be diverting new recruits to Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Of course, today was a big day in geopolitics, with Syria voicing support for Turkey (strange) and bin Laden (who doesn't matter, remember?) staged a comeback with another tape on al Jazeera.

Osama Bin Laden has called on fighters in Iraq to unite and stand shoulder to shoulder in a new audiotape. In the tape broadcast by Al Jazeera on Monday, a voice sounding like bin Laden admitted that mistakes have been made in Iraq and exhorted the fighters to rectify them. "Some of you have been lax in one duty, which is to unite your ranks," bin Laden said. "Beware of division ... The Muslim world is waiting for you to gather under one banner."

Again, I'd just like to ask... why isn't this guy dead yet?

Posted by mcblogger at 02:23 PM | Comments (0) |