The Garlic: 07/27/2008

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Jesus, It Sounded Like A Violation of the Rico Act!

Actually, though humor and satire, certainly, can be sucked out of it, it was, when you really think about, pretty disgusting.

We speak of the Bush Clan (the former lackey President 41, the Court-Appointed President 43, and the one that will, mainly due to the previously-mentioned two, never get to be President) calling the "cheeseburger that sweats" (H/T Barry Crimmins), aka Rush Limbaugh, to congratulate him on 20-years of polluting the airwaves.

Much is being made of the Elder 1000-Points-of-Light giving away the secret handshake, asking the drug-addicted radio host "Do you see our man Ailes at all", referring to the Faux News Network chieftain, Roger Ailes.

And the dark anniversary had CBS News publishing this kind of tripe;

What Rush Limbaugh has provided this country far exceeds his lucrative income, the result of what Rush calls “confiscatory advertising rates.” For every dollar he has earned over the years, his encouragement to millions of loyal Dittoheads has surely generated much more in new wealth for us all.

Go over to Hullabaloo, and read Digby's post of the transcript of the call, and note the specious boot-licking of the riot-inciting Dittonoggin, done by 1000-Points-of-Light Jr.

Its' a hoot!

Bonus Dittohead Cow Pies

The RICO Act

John Amato: Rush Limbaugh attacks Michael J. Fox: ” …he was either off the medication or he was acting. He is an actor, after all.”

Top Ten Cloves: Things Overhead While The Nobel Peace Prize Committee Reviewed Rush Limbaugh's Nomination

Logan Murphy: Limbaugh At It Again - Mocks Voice Of 12 Year Old Graeme Frost

John Amato: BREAKING: Limbaugh’s “Barack the Magic Negro,” on-air song has workers up in arms

Bob Herbert Calls Out Stumblin' Bumblin John McCain!

Make no mistake about it.

Bob Herbert kicks Stumblin' Bumblin John McCain's ass today, than knocks his teeth out for mumbling about it.

In his column, "Running While Black", Herbert eschews the games most of the MSM pundits have been playing all, week, looking at this issue as if there were two sides of it, and calls out the McCain Campaign (and RNC as well) for what they are doing - playing the race issue on Obama, no If, Ands, of Buts about it.

Spare me any more drivel about the high-mindedness of John McCain. You knew something was up back in March when, in his first ad of the general campaign, Mr. McCain had himself touted as “the American president Americans have been waiting for.”

There was nothing subtle about that attempt to position Senator Obama as the Other, a candidate who might technically be American but who remained in some sense foreign, not sufficiently patriotic and certainly not one of us — the “us” being the genuine red-white-and-blue Americans who the ad was aimed at.

Go read "Running While Black" ... It's excellent, and so dead on the money (you know, those dollar bills with the presidents that don't look anything like Barack Obama).

Bonus Riffs

BooMan: Who Got Dealt the Race Card?

John Cole: Bob Herbert Absolutely Nails It

Jill at Brilliant at Breakfast - Saturday Big Blue Smurf Blogging: What They Said

Maha: Playing the Race Card

Creature: Bob Herbert steps up to expose McCain's disgraceful campaign

Melissa McEwan: McCain blows the dog whistle - By linking Barack Obama with Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, Republicans tap racist fears of black men and white women

ABC's Jake Tapper Walks Away With The Golden McPenis!

As the bathrobe-clad Stumblin' Bumblin John McCain continues his stumblin' and bumblin, the John McCain Fan Club media can't make the donuts fast enough ...

And John Cole, over on Balloon Juice, captures it perfectly

The Voices In Jake Tapper’s Head

The title of his post is “Did Obama Accuse McCain of Running a Racist, Xenophobic Campaign?” He then goes on at length to extol the virtues of John McCain, who does not have a racist bone in his body, we learn. The piece would have been embarrassing for the stupidity alone, but the shameless boot-licking really put it over the top.

For his excellent work, Jake Tapper is the first ever winner of the new Balloon Juice award for shameless media fluffing of John McCain, The Golden McPenis. Congratulations, Jake. The award is below the fold as it is NSFWish.

As another great Bush Grindhouse fluffer once said;

"Suck on this!"

Go get'em Jake!

Is John McCain Buggering Little Boys?

No, he isn't, but that isn't the point.

With the brouhaha this past week, over the negative, and outright false, charges in Stumblin Bumblin' John McCain's campaign ads, particularly attacking Barack Obama for not visiting troops in Germany, and then defending the ad, and the lies, as "creating a narrative", Jill, over on Brilliant at Breakfast takes the SB McCain gameplan, and extends it out.

"Narrative." Even if it isn't true, even if it's utter horsepuckey, they believe that outright "lies" constitute a legitimate "narrative."

I propose we create a "narrative" in which John McCain has a habit of buggering little boys in the choir loft in the Baptist church he makes a point of saying he attends.

So what if it isn't true. It's a "narrative."

Well, like we stated the other day, "Why Do You Think We've Been Calling Him "Stumblin' and Bumblin"?"

Citizen's Arrest ... Brilliant!

Well, Well, Well ...

We've finally seen some movement on our call of a year ago.

Last July, The Garlic put forth, since the 110th Congress wasn't going to do anything (apparently, due to a lack of tables) regarding the lawlessness of the Bush Grindhouse, that it would be up to us, everyday Americans, to jump into action, and make a "Citizen's Arrest".

And there would be benefits to it;

There must be some tiny hamlet, some Main Street USA berg that would be willing to put themselves on the map, become the saviors of our nation. A Sheriff with balls, a U.S. Attorney ready to swing back for justice.

Think Truth or Consequences, New Mexico... You can change your name to Citizen's Arrest and really cash in on it.

Leave history for a moment. For starters, think of the economic boon it would be.

The MSM media camped out for weeks, eating in your diners, sleeping in your motels (if you have a hotel, even better), shopping in your stores. Same for the protesters that will show up.

We're talking millions here.

Well, say hello to Des Moines, Iowa!

Via Think Progress;

Last Friday, police in Des Moines, Iowa arrested four people who attempted to make a citizens’ arrest of former top White House aide Karl Rove, who was in town to speak at a GOP fundraiser. A retired minister and three members of the Des Moines Catholic Workers community were cited for trespassing. However, according to a press release, the judge presiding over the case praised their efforts ...

Bravo!

They've broke the ice, and the aim needs to be higher, but there you go.

The first, of hopefully many more, effort to bring this criminal regime to justice.

Let's go people ... The clock is ticking ...

This Date ... On The Garlic

2 August 2006... On The Garlic

Top Ten Cloves: Possible Acts Of Atonement For Mel Gibson

2 August 2005... On The Garlic

Annan To Welcome Bolton, But No Share In Profits; U.N. Leader Says Must Be "Approved" To Get Cut of Illegal Gains

Bush Defends Rove: Wants More Leaks; Has "Complete Confidence" and Big Agenda For Top Political Advisor

Top Ten Cloves: Ways To Screw Up On Your First Day As U.N. Ambassador

Friday, August 01, 2008

This Date ... On The Garlic

1 August 2007... On The Garlic

Breaking News! Bush Grindhouse Backs Up Letter With Wiretap Poll Showing Overwhelming Support For Gonzales; Massive Overnight Data Mining Rings In Big Number For Embattled Crony General; "They Want Him To Lie More"

Barry Crimmins ..."Support Our Dupes!"

Quick, Get Condi The Cliff Notes on al Qaeda ... The Results - The Garlic's Weekly Poll

1 August 2006... On The Garlic

Breaking News! ... Baseball Bombshell Expands Steroid Scandal; Giants’ Bonds Tests Positive For Landis Testosterone; Cyclist Said To Be Kingpin Of Lucrative Doping Ring, Selling His Own DNA

Top Ten Cloves: Things President Bush Is Thinking About With The News Of Castro’s Illness

1 August 2005... On The Garlic

Bush To Give Bin-Laden Contract To Brits; Round-Up of London Global Extremists Impressive; U.S. To Bring In "Blair's Boys"

Congress Says Gun Makers Can Sue Victims; Extraordinary Bill Passed; NRA Happy But Wants More

Top Ten Cloves: Reasons Why Hewlett Packard Stopped Selling the Apple iPod

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Top Ten Cloves: Interations of New McCain Ad, Before Settling On Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and the Biggest Celebrity In The World

News Item: New McCain Ad Attacks Obama As A "Celebrity"

10. The Biggest Somalian-dressed candidate in the World

9. The Biggest Defeatocrat in the World

8. The Biggest Bitter Person in the World

7. The Biggest Worst Bowler in the World

6. The Biggest Friend of William Ayers in the World

5. The Biggest American with a Muslim name in the World

4. The Biggest Arugula Eater in the World

3. The Biggest Ears in the World

2. The Biggest “Arrogant” Martini Drinking Country Club Member in the World

1. The Biggest Cousin of Dick Cheney in the World

Bonus Stumblin Bumblin McCain Ad Links

Bill Press: John McCain Plays the Race Card

McCain: 'We're Proud of That Commercial'

Wonkette: Hilton Family FURIOUS Over McCain Insulting Paris Hilton

Warren Street: McCain Will Have to Go With Pity Before Too Long

Oliver Willis: McCain’s Britney Moment

Marc Ambinder: Weaver, McCain's Former Strategist, Calls "Celeb" Ad "Childish"

This Date ... On The Garlic

31 July 2005... On The Garlic

Israeli Pause, And No Bombs Falling, May Force Cable News To Go Dark; Look For Pump Up Of Mel Gibson Tirade To Carry Through Labor Day

Top Ten Cloves: How Joe Lieberman Handled New York Times Editorial Endorsing Ned Lamont

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Why Do You Think We've Been Calling Him "Stumblin' and Bumblin"?

I've been taking it easy the past week, or so ... Partly due to the flow of things on the homefront, and also, kicking back a bit, an unannounced venture into "summer hours", and to catch a rest before the busy August on the horizon, with the Olympics and both conventions.

And, what do you know, all hell breaks loose!

WTF is going on with Stumblin' Bumblin' John McCain?

Jesus, he might as well just start walking around in a bathrobe, like that old Mafia guy did, to play out that he was crazy.

Just ride around in the Dead Campaign Express, make some stops (kicking away the empty beer bottles to exit), shuffle around in the robe and slippers, shake a few hands, maybe pick up a few Slim Jims at a convenience store ...Toss out a few bon mots on his heroism, his POW days, as he rips off a piece of Slim Jim, perhaps dribbling some of the dark juice on his bathrobe.

I mean, he's down to just makin' shit up now ... Seemingly not caring what he says, how it sounds, what it looks like ... Just blathering on like ... Well ... Like an old guy shuffling around in a bathrobe, muttering incoherently

He couldn't do much worse than he has for the past two weeks.

And I am too tired to break down the multitude of faux pas, errors, lies, and the Stumblin' Bumblin John McCain campaign version of their kitchen sink, they've been tossing overboard.

So, rather than wax on, we'll keep it short and simple.

First, a tune that is likely to be playing by the time the Dead Campaign Express hits Minneapolis, and will grow louder and louder as we hurtle towards November.

The bonus of it, it is being sung by a good, staunch Republican - Sammy Davis Jr.

Sammy Davis Jr. - Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)

So You Can Catch Up With Stumblin' Bumblin' John McCain

There are three great posts out on the World Wide Web that can give you a good running start in, knowledgeably calling McCain's bluff, and tracking the death of his campaign.

1. TPM Election Central's exhaustively-researched "Critic or Cheerleader? The Definitive McCain Iraq Timeline" ("A comprehensive time-line of John McCain's statements on Iraq, from the inception of the conflict to the present")

2. The Carpetbagger Report's Steven Benen's "Jukebox John keeps changing his tune" (72, and counting, flip-flops)

3. The Jed Report's Jed Lewison's "John McCain's Neverending War" (McCain "in his own words -- the lie behind his claim that he was the war's "greatest critic." It demonstrates his chilling commitment to fighting this war no matter what the people of America -- or Iraq -- want.)

John McCain's Neverending War

From here, to November, whatever Stumblin Bumblin' John McCain does, well, it's just icing on the cake.

Bonus Stumblin' Bumblin' John McCain Riffs

Things Younger Than McCain

Jon Perr: McCain Fails McCain’s Commander-in-Chief Test

The Bob Dole For The New Millennium

Good Post Alert: Unitarian Forgiveness

We haven't done a great many posts on the idiocy of the 2nd Amendment, and the "right to bear arms".

Most recently, we covered the tradegy at Virginia Tech, and, of course, we had to give Chuck Heston a proper send-off.

So, rather than rail against the nitwit that shot up the Unitarians last weekend, we give way to a better voice.

Over on Crooks and Liars, Nicolle Bell hosted Guest Blogger NonnyMouse, who penned "Unitarian Forgiveness".

Here's a snip of it;

What is, however, was his target - Unitarians. Members of a church renown for its pacifism, compassion and tolerance. We welcome anyone - men and women of any colour and nationality, of any religious or ethnic background, or sexuality. We even welcome conservatives.

My anger instead is concentrated on those people who callously use such vulnerable people, stirring up their bigotry and discontent, egging them to acts of violence. People like Michelle Malkin, Michael Savage, Bill O’Reilly, and Rush Limbaugh who have made lucrative careers out of liberal-bashing. People who write things like “Liberalism is a Mental Health Disorder”, “Let Freedom Ring,” and “The O’Reilly Factor,” - all literature found in Adkisson’s home after the shooting. People like Ann Coulter who advocated attacking liberals with baseball bats. The hate-filled spewage from the right-wing media mavens is and should be held accountable for inciting such acts of violence and murder, those heartless, soulless, conscienceless opportunists who have gleefully participated in encouraging the Adkissons of America to take out their anger and hatred and frustration on liberals.

And in the wake of the anger is pride. Despite my sadness that people were targeted for their choice of church, I have never before been so proud to be a Unitarian, as well as a liberal. Those liberals the rightwing continue to denigrate as weak-kneed cowards proved to be anything but. McKendry was the first to confront Adkisson, to stop him from going any further into the church, before several men rushed Adkisson after several shots had been fired, his victims already covered in blood. They have names too: A history professor, John Bohstedt, and Jamie Parkey, just ordinary people. But people who still prove the very best in America still exists. ‘Someone grabbed the gun and we just kind of dog-piled him to the floor’, Parkey said. His wife, Amy, described Adkisson - not as a villain, not as an evil man, not with hatred - but as ‘a man who was hurt in the world and feeling nothing was going his way. He turned the gun on people who were mostly likely to treat him lovingly and compassionately and be the ones to help someone in that situation.’ I wept when I read those words.

Go check out "Unitarian Forgiveness", it's a good read.

This Date ... On The Garlic

30 July 2007... On The Garlic

Swedish Film Icon Ingmar Bergman Dead At 89 ; Police Depressed, Working Through Emptiness, Not Ruling Out Foul Play

30 July 2005... On The Garlic

Weekend Special - Sautéed Cloves

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Retro Garlic: Is Monica Goodling Just Like Batman?

Maybe it will take another day, or two.

Some Right Wing Freak Show blog, or publication - perhaps the Wall Street Journal, again - will run an essay comparing the newest Brokeback Batman, err, The Dark Knight, to Monica Goodling.

After all, in her Pat-Robertson-educated mind, she was fighting for the American Way.

She could be equally tough and ruthless, coming out with The Commander Guy's "You're either with us, or against us" ethos, asking prospective Justice Department hirees "What Is It About GWB That Makes You Want to Serve Him?"

Oh boy, is that a loaded question ...

(Knowing, during the Bush Regime, the Republicans healthy, lusty carnal appetites, I wonder if anyone answered that question with "the twins")

So, you ask, why is this Lady Injustice back in the news again?

Well, yesterday, The Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility released findings on the investigation of how Crony General Alberto Gonzales, and his cronies Monica Goodling and Kyle Sampson, stacked the deck at the Justice Department (turning it into the Injustice Department), by skewing the hiring, dumping qualified candidates because they didn't Goose Step to the Bush Grindhouse, and hiring lame GOP lackeys for career positions.

In sum, we concluded that the evidence showed that Goodling violated both federal law and Department policy, and therefore committed misconduct, when she considered political or ideological affiliations in hiring decisions for candidates for career positions within the Department. In particular, the evidence showed that she considered political or ideological affiliations in deciding several waiver requests from interim U.S. Attorneys, in promoting several candidates for career positions, and in disapproving a candidate for an EOUSA career SES position

Yeah, I know, another "I'm shocked, shocked to find gambling going on here ..."

It may become easier to line up all the people, all of them, who worked in, and for, the Bush Grindhouse the past eight-years, and ask whoever hasn't broken the law, violated the Constitution and otherwise went about their work completely unethically, to take one step forward.

You could probably count them on one hand.

Now, one would think of the terrible scandal, the hours of hearings, followed up by indictments, trials and perp-walks to jail, however, you only need to remember that it is the 110th Congress in session, so, likely, this will slowly fade away, no trials, no jailbirds, just quietly falling off Nancy Pelosi's infamous table.

Anyway, the Retro Part;

Top Ten Cloves: If Monica Goodling's Wedding Plays Out Like Her Last Job

Bonus Lady Injustice Links

Larisa Alexandrovna: Speaking of Monica "The Good American" Goodling... did you know...

John Cole: Crooks

Think Progress: Goodling ‘frowned’ when applicant said he admired Condi Rice: ‘But she’s pro-choice.’

Greg Palast: Palast Exclusive: The Goods on Goodling and the Keys to the Kingdom

This Date ... On The Garlic

29 July, 2006... On The Garlic

Special Essay - 2006: A Second-Quarter Scorecard from Barry Crimmins

29 July, 2005... On The Garlic

Spitzer Now Sets Sights On Crayola Scandal; Says Could Be Bigger Than Sony Case; Charges Company With Predatory Practices

Boy Scouts Fall For Bush - Literally 300 Felled By Heat After Presidential Blow-Off

Top Ten Cloves: What Congress Will Do During It's August Recess

Monday, July 28, 2008

A Little More Whine, A Little Less Facts ...

Little Billy Kristol is shaking in his one-piece, footed Batman pajamas.

He sweating and panting,

He's afraid the Germans have already elected Barack Obama.

He's bummed out over a Obama bumper sticker that asks "Got Hope?"

And he is dreading, fearful like that the old bed wetting problem may surface, and to the point of hyperventilation, of a Obama Presidency, presiding over a Democratic-majority Congress;

He's afraid;

"Later that day, I read a report of a fund-raising letter from Obama on behalf of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, arguing that “We must have a deadlock-proof Democratic majority.”

Yikes.

But then it occurred to me that one man’s “deadlock-proof” Democratic majority is another’s unchecked Democratic majority. Given the unpopularity of the current Democratic Congress, given Americans’ tendency to prefer divided government, given the voters’ repudiations of the Republicans in 2006 and of the Democrats in 1994 — isn’t the prospect of across-the-board, one-party Democratic governance more likely to move votes to McCain than to Obama?

So I cheered up once again. For it will become increasingly obvious, as we approach November, that the Democrats will continue to control Congress for the next couple of years. But if the voters elect Obama as president, they’ll be putting Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in untrammeled control of our future.

He later relieved the tension and pressure, with some flailing masturbation, how Stumblin' Bumblin' John McCain will raise his dying campaign from the ashes, swat down Obama, and give the German writer a "Dewey Beats Truman" slap in the face.

Now, if you were a 'Brother from Another Planet', just recently beamed down here and happen to read Little Billy's boogeyman swipe, you might think, God, what an awful thing to happen.

But then, someone comes along and presents the reality, apparently overlooked by the NYT Editors, that Little Billy Kristol completely, and disingenuously, ignores in his shaking boots;

GOP Obstruction Has Shattered Previous Record

Such inaction would strike a more depressing note if it were not the norm. Republicans in the Senate have filibustered more than 70 pieces of legislation (73) in the current session of Congress. Not all of these attempts have ended in success. Bills have passed. But the modern rate of obstructionism has been historic, far surpassing the previous record of 62 cloture votes.

And Steve Benen, in his "Congratulations to the record-breaking Senate GOP — Most. Obstructionist. Ever.", points out what those action-taking Republican blocked out;

What have conservatives obstructed this year? Here’s just a partial list:
Ending the disastrous occupation of Iraq.
Providing health insurance to millions more kids.
Empowering Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices.
Taking away handouts to Big Oil so we can invest in renewable energy.
Repealing the effective ban on embryonic stem cell research.
Investing more in health research.
Making it easier for workers to join unions.
Investing more in fighting poverty and training workers.
Is obstructing all of that popular legislation “working” for Republicans?

And that doesn't take into consideration, the pre-2006, Republican-majority Congress, that rubber-stamped everything and anything the Bush Grindhouse wanted, including dragging us into the false choice of invading and occupying Iraq.

Considering Stumblin Bumblin' John McCain's considerable campaign skills, a convey of bulldozers and payloaders won't "move votes to McCain than to Obama".

If Little Billy Kristol is lucky, Stumblin' Bumblin John McCain will give him a ride in the golf cart, to the nearest cheese aisle and they can commiserate, and just hope the President Obama secures the Iraq-Pakistan border before something really bad happens.

Boy, That Karma Thing Works Fast ...

It was just last Wednesday, that we wrote about Right Wing Freak Show columnist Robert "No Facts" Novak running down a pedestrian in his black Corvette, fleeing the scene and claiming he didn't realize he hit anyone.

Then comes the news today;

Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak says he has brain tumor

Novak said he was diagnosed Sunday with a tumor and will soon begin treatment at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

He issued the following statement:

“On Sunday, July 27, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I have been admitted to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, where doctors will soon begin appropriate treatment. “I will be suspending my journalistic work for an indefinite but, God willing, not too lengthy period."

Boy, that karma thing works fast ...

Bonus Links

Think Progress: Robert Novak diagnosed with brain tumor

Los Angeles Times: Robert Novak undergoing treatment for brain tumor

Carl - Simply Left Behind: OK, but just where did you have cancer again?

Good Read - Baseball's Greatest Scandal ... It Wasn't Steroids

The fact that "Manny gets to be Manny", and a whole bevy of today's other baseball players are tremendously rich fat cats is, to a large degree, possible, due to the efforts of one man.

Marvin Miller.

Peter Dreier and Kelly Candaele have a great post up - "Baseball's Greatest Scandal ... It Wasn't Steroids" (it appeared in The Nation, initially) - that's worth taking a few minutes to read.

Miller became the first director of the baseball players union, and soon, the word "collective bargaining" become as often used as "take me out to the ballgame".

Miller cut the chains and created free agency and every player since the early 1970's has benefited from it, or, at least, has the opportunity to do so.

With the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies yesterday, Miller, again was odd-man-out, being excluded of inclusion, less to do with the odds of such a thing, but more to the efforts of those that control baseball, and the Hall of Fame.

Many high-profile Hall of Fame players agree. Pitching great Tom Seaver said that Miller's exclusion is a "national disgrace." "Whether you agree or disagree, he was one individual who had as large a ramification as anybody on the history of the game," Seaver, a Hall of Famer, told the New York Times a few years ago. "If the Hall of Fame is an historical repository, he deserves to be there."

Hank Aaron wrote that "Miller should be in the Hall of Fame if the players have to break down the doors to get him in."

When he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999, legendary pitcher Nolan Ryan devoted part of his speech to paying tribute to Miller. Ryan reminded the audience that when he broke into the major leagues in 1966, he had to spend the winter months working at a gas station from 3 pm to 9 pm, while he wife worked at a local bookstore, to make ends meet. Because of Miller's efforts, Ryan said, "we brought that level up to where the players weren't put in that situation."

And, for good measure, Red Barber;

In 1992, the Hall of Fame broadcaster Red Barber said, "Marvin Miller, along with Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, is one of the two or three most important men in baseball history."

Check out "Baseball's Greatest Scandal ... It Wasn't Steroids", it's a good read

Bonus Links

Via award, O'Neil forever part of Hall; Inagural O'Neil award given to namesake, accepted by Morgan

Allen Barra: Players Need To Make Stand for Marvin Miller

Hal Bodley: It's time for Marvin Miller to get his Hall of Fame pass

Dave Zirin: Why Curt Flood Belongs in the Hall of Fame; An Interview with Marvin Miller