Pregnant Women Beware of Utah

Apparently, to those crazy conservatives in Utah Miscarriage = Criminal Homicide.

“If a woman has a miscarriage but didn't know that she was pregnant, she cannot be charged with criminal homicide. So while this law does not criminalize all miscarriages, anything that could be defined as "knowing" or "reckless" would leave a woman at risk for criminal prosecution.”

Worse still:

“Women in physically abusive relationships could be criminally liable for not leaving their partner, regardless of their ability to do so safely or securely. Women seeking lawful abortion may be guilty of criminal homicide if her physician failed to follow exact procedures set forth in the law.”

And from the ACLU:

“A woman who fails to wear a seatbelt and is in a car accident could be charged with reckless homicide, should she miscarry. Likewise, a woman who has a substance abuse problem is likely to forego necessary prenatal care out of fear that she could be prosecuted for "knowing" or "reckless" homicide by continuing to use illegal substances while pregnant.”

Yay for "Free" Market Monopolization

Barry C. Lynn and Phillip Longman wrote a great article on Who Broke America’s Jobs Machine? over at Washington Monthly. Their argument is that market monopolization across all sectors (Food, Banking, Retailing, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, etc.) over the last few decades has been the major factor in destroying job creation. They acknowledge the other traditional explanations that may curtail job creation such as machinization/automation, outsourcing, lack of government R&D, and business taxes and regulation. However, the real issue is monopolization.

I'm glad they pointed out that business taxes and regulation were gutted over the last decade, so perhaps with this umpteenth example, we can finally put and end to the notion that tax cuts solve everything. Obviously, elected Republicans and talking heads will never get this as they tend not to live in the reality-based community.

Corporate consolidation and monopolization is nothing more than schadenfreude.

Such is the case that Andrew Johnson made in his first state of the union address.

“Wherever monopoly attains a foothold, it is sure to be a source of danger, discord, and trouble. We shall but fulfill our duties as legislators by according "equal and exact justice to all men," special privileges to none.”

Denying Liberalism

I really liked what They gave us a republic... had to say about Dems who don't or won't acknowledge that they are liberals.

“Democrats who support civil and human rights including gay marriage; reproductive freedom; fact- and reality-based education; separation of church and state; a social safety net; good jobs at good pay with good benefits; strong regulations to prevent corporations from stealing from, maiming and killing people; diplomacy and working with allies in foreign affairs; a rational drug policy; a defense budget that supports troops, not private contractors; public investment in public infrastructure, and the Rule of Law are liberals.”

Amen.

Cons love porn more than Liberals

I just saw the posting Conservatives consume more porn at stelpavlou.com.

Yet, further proof that Conservatives are the biggest hypocrites when it comes to practicing what you preach. Strike another up for their traditional family values and conservative principles. Gay marriage is evil and sinful, yet they have higher divorce rates. Welfare is bad for people down on their luck, yet Conservatives states are welfare queens. And now this, rail against porn for its immorality, yet go buy more and more of it.

Dems Remain Better on the Economy

John Perr posted Bush Latest GOPer to Show Democrats Better for the Economy at Crooks & Liars and his blog.

As should be self-evident by now, deregulation to the degree that Republicans consistenly promote doesn't actually help the overall economy. It only stuffs the pockets of the top 1%. The 2 major indexes of economic growth (GDP and Employment) do much better on average under Democratic administrations compared to Republican.

It is nice to see how much a failure Bush was overall (to help disprove Conservative economic philosphy, not the fact he harmed the American economy), by starting and ending on a recession and having the worst average drop in the S&P 500 since Hoover.

Its time to wake up and think like Truman.

“If you want to live like a Republican, vote Democratic!”

McSame's Mythical Earmark Estimate

ginandtacos nails McSame/McBush on his made up earmark estimate by Searching for the Trillion-Dollar Earmark.

The really important point is that the entire earmark amount for FY2008 is less than fighting/occupying Iraq in 2 months.

John McCain: earmarks = $100 billion
Anti-tax hawks Citizens Against Government Waste: FY 2008 earmarks = $17.2 billion
Anti-tax hawks Taxpayers for Common Sense: FY 2008 earmarks = $18.3 billion

Iraq War in FY 2008: $12.9 billion per month

How Federal Dollars are Distributed

GINANDTACOS.COM has an interesting article up about America’S Welfare Queens showing how some of the poorest and conservative states benefit from the tax policies they say they oppose. For example, Mississippi receives back $2.97 for every $1 it sends to Washington. If these people are so against tax and spend policies, why are they constantly reaping the benefits?

Read the article yourself.

A Look at the Bush Terrorism Timeline

Over at Firedoglake, emptywheel provides Some Perspective on the Bush Administration Fight Against Terrorism.

December 2000: Richard Clarke develops policy paper entitled, "Strategy for Eliminating the Threat from the Jihadist Networks of al Qida: Status and Prospects." It calls for identifying and destroying known Al Qaeda camps and pressuring Pakistan to cooperate in the fight against Al Qaeda.

January 25, 2001: Clarke sends the "Strategy for Eliminating the Threat" document to Condi Rice, noting that "we urgently need ... a Principals level review" of the threat posed by Al Qaeda.

September 4, 2001: Condi holds first Principals Committee meeting dedicated to Al Qaeda.

February 14, 2003: The Bush Administration unveils the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism, which includes the objective: "Eliminate terrorist sanctuaries and havens."

July 22, 2004: The 9/11 Commission releases its report. The first recommendation is:

“The US government must identify and prioritize actual or potential terrorist sanctuaries. For each, it should have a realistic strategy to keep possible terrorists insecure and on the run, using all elements of national power. We should reach out, listen to, and work with other countries that can help.”

June 23, 2006: The Bush Administration announces the indictment of the Liberty City Seven, an alleged terrorist cell the FBI admits is "more aspirational than operational."

August 3, 2007: The Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act signed into law. It requires:

“(1) REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON STRATEGY.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report, in classified form if necessary, that describes the long-term strategy of the United States to engage with the Government of Pakistan to address the issues described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of subsection (a)(2) and carry out the policies described in subsection (b) in order accomplish the goal of building a moderate, democratic Pakistan.”

December 13, 2007: The first trial of the Liberty City Seven ends in a mistrial, with one defendant, Lyglenson Lemorin, acquitted of all charges.

April 16, 2008: The second trial of the Liberty City Seven ends in a mistrial.

April 17, 2008: 87 months after Richard Clarke first insisted that the Bush Administration develop a strategy to combat Al Qaeda, 62 months after the Bush Administration announced its intention to eliminate terrorist sanctuaries, 45 months after the 9/11 Commission called for the Administration to develop a strategy to eliminate terrorist sanctuaries, 258 days after Congress required the Administration to submit a strategy to combat terrorist safe havens in Pakistan within 90 days, and one day after the Bush Administration insisted it may try a group of aspirational terrorists a third time, GAO releases a report finding:

“The United States Lacks Comprehensive Plan to Destroy the Terrorist Threat and Close the Safe Haven in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas

No comprehensive plan for meeting U.S. national security goals in the FATA has been developed, as stipulated by the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism (2003), called for by an independent commission (2004), and mandated by congressional legislation (2007).”

The report also states:

“al Qaeda is now using the Pakistani safe haven to put the last element necessary to launch another attack against America into place, including the identification, training, and positioning of Western operatives for an attack. It stated that al Qaeda is most likely using the FATA to plot terrorist attacks against political, economic, and infrastructure targets in America "designed to produce mass casualties, visually dramatic destruction, significant economic aftershocks, and/or fear among the population.”

1778

1,778 is the number of days since Bush declared Misson Accomplished on major combat operations in Iraq. That's approaching 5 years now since this disatrous war was started. For those keeping track that's 3,987 American soldiers killed to occupy a non-aggresive nation and not protect "the Homeland^a".

_a Homeland is quiet an odd term in American English as it was used by the National Socialist German Workers Party (the Nazis) for propangda purposes leading to and during World War II

Bonnaroo 2008 Initial Artists announcement

Today Bonnaroo made its first Artist announcement. The list looks promising, but Metallica, really?!?! I really don't understand these promoters. Its not like they weren't selling out before changing the lineup to include bands that aren't on the jam band, bluegrass, alt-country or indie circuit.

• Pearl Jam
• Metallica
• Jack Johnson
• Kanye West
• Robert Plant and Alison Krauss featuring T-Bone Burnett
• Phil Lesh & Friends
• My Morning Jacket
• The Allman Brothers Band
• The Raconteurs
• Willie Nelson
• Death Cab for Cutie
• B.B. King
• Sigur Ros
• Levon Helm and the Ramble on the Road
• Ben Folds
• O.A.R.
• The Bluegrass Allstars Featuring Luke Bulla, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Bryan Sutton
• M.I.A.
• Umphrey's McGee
• Iron & Wine
• Yonder Mountain String Band
• The Swell Season
• Talib Kweli
• Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival
• Gogol Bordello
• Broken Social Scene
• Rilo Kiley
• Mastodon
• Lupe Fiasco
• Against Me!
• Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
• Pat Green
• Ozomatli
• Tegan & Sara
• Solomon Burke
• Drive-By Truckers
• !!!
• The Avett Brothers
• Israel Vibration
• Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck
• Robert Randolph's Revival
• Aimee Mann
• Ladytron
• The Fiery Furnaces
• Orchestra Baobab
• Ghostland Observatory
• Jose Gonzalez
• Dark Star Orchestra
• Minus the Bear
• Donavon Frankenreiter
• Lez Zeppelin
• State Radio
• Battles
• Jakob Dylan
• Two Gallants
• The Sword
• Vampire Weekend
• Little Feat
• Nicole Atkins
• The Felice Brothers
• Mason Jennings
• MGMT
• The Lee Boys
• Black Kids
• Serena Ryder
• Steel Train
• Grupo Fantasma

Hard questions for GOP

I read these Questions For The Candidates who claim they would be so tough on terror by torturing people and anti-abortion.

1. Would you have sex with a man to stop a terrorist attack?


2. If lowering taxes results in increased revenues then would lowering taxes to zero result in infinite revenues?


3. If you had a time machine, would you travel back in time and abort Bin Laden?


4. Would you torture and kill Jesus to ensure mankind’s salvation? And how does that work?


5. If you believe abortion should be illegal, how much jail time should women receiving an illegal abortion receive? Should prosecution be retroactive

Feds flunk audits

As reported by the AP the other day, Federal agencies flunk their audits. What does that mean for you and me? We have no way of knowing what we are really paying for as taxpayers. Congress passed legislation 11 years ago so that taxpayers could have more accountability and transparency, yet 2 of the largest departments (Defense and Homeland Security) cannot even meet the basic accounting requirements.

Even better, there are no repercussions for continued failure or wasteful spending. If a public company had performed this way, they would no longer be able to continue trading on the market as they would have had their stock delisted.

Congress really needs to step up and make these agencies accountable. Then again, if we had a real leader instead of a do-nothing President, perhaps some of these agencies would have cleaned up their act.

Further proof Justice Dept is broken

Justice Dept. Opposes Network Neutrality

"Internets" Senator's House Raided

Cranky, old, Alaska Republican Senator Ted Steven's house was raided today by the FBI. Its about time somebody started to look into this old loon. This is the same guy who thinks the Internets is series of tubes and wanted to build the $315 millon Bridge to Nowhere.

Vegoose 07 Artist Update

The Vegoose music festival sent out an artist addition e-mail today with some good news enclosed. What good news?

1. moe. (+ a Vegoose at Night show)
2. Robert Randolph & the Family Band

Let's hope they keep adding good artists.

I need more love everyday of life

Vegoose 07 Initial Lineup

The initial lineup for Vegoose 2007 was announced today and I was rather disappointed compared with 05' and 06'.

I took a screenshot from the Vegoose site.



With the exception of Rage, Umphrey's, Queens of the Stone Age and Michael Franti there isn't much of a draw for me. Why in the hell would Daft Punk take second billing? Who cares about Iggy Pop?

Right now, $146.50 + fees just isn't worth it. Hopefully, future annoucements will include bands worth seeing. The 05 festival had such acts as Dave Matthews + Friends, Trey Anastasio, North Miss Allstars, moe., Gov't Mule, Jack Johnson, Phil Lesh + Friends. Even 06 had a kickass lineup (though I missed it) Phil Lesh + Trey Anastasio, Tom Petty, Keller Williams Incident, Black Crowes, The Roots, Damian Marley, G. Love, Yonder Mountain, Guster.

Enemy Friends

The article Deals in Iraq Make Friends of Enemies in todays Washington Post revists this bone-head approach that was first reported by the New York Times a month ago. The US is informally making friends with our insurgent enemies.We are now arming insurgents.

Jon Stewart of the Daily Show described it beatifully a month ago.

Its a plan so crazy, it might just be...FUCKING crazy. What are you thinking?

He broke down this catastroFUCK of a plan.

For example, Al Qaeda is our enemy.

ENEMIES	FRIENDS
Al Qaeda

Now the Sunni Insurgency is becoming their enemy, so Sunni Insurgency, they're our friends!

ENEMIES	FRIENDS
Al Qaeda	Insurgents

Of course the Sunni Insurgency is most responsible for the IEDs used to attack our troops making them our enemies.

ENEMIES	FRIENDS
Al Qaeda	Insurgents
Insurgents

And the Shii Death Squads who have been targeting Sunnis are thus our friends!

ENEMIES	FRIENDS
Al Qaeda	Insurgents
Insurgents	Death Squads

But they are controlled by Muqtada Al-Sadr and Iran who have sworn to defeat us, making them our enemies.

ENEMIES	FRIENDS
Al Qaeda	Insurgents
Insurgents	Death Squads
Al-Sadr
Iran

Although, Muqtada Al-Sadr, of course targeted by Al Qaeda, thus making them..

ENEMIES	FRIENDS
Al Qaeda	Insurgents
Insurgents	Death Squads
Al-Sadr	Al Qaeda
Iran

Old New Rule

This New Rule from March 31, 2006 was just as true a year ago, as it is today.

People who run everything can't complain that they're underdogs. To whit, this week, there was a highly-attended conference in Washington called "The War on Christians." Because nothing quite says "I'm oppressed," like the opulent Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

Ah, yes, whatever happened to that plucky little cult, Christianity? Oh, that's right, they're 80% of the American people, and have taken over all three branches of government, country music, public schools, the bestseller list, and until recently, Katie Holmes. You know, Christians, I don't mind that you're part of a dress-up cult that hates sex and worships magic but the paranoia, that does scare me.

Did you know that the Missouri legislature recently felt the need to propose a resolution declaring Christianity Missouri's majority religion. No kidding. Really, you mean people ar

en't saying, "Gosh, I'd like to go to Missouri, but...to Jewish." In Savannah, recently, a children's book about a baby penguin who is raised by two male penguins - ahh! - was removed from the library for its homosexual overtones. Because you know penguins, in those tuxedos, with the dreamy eyes. Huge fags!

The Christian right are now officially the party of paranoia. Secularists are attacking Christmas! Gays are attacking marriage! Liberals are attacking values! White girls are being abducted at an alarming rate! You know, if you're going to be that paranoid all the time, just get high.

And the worst part is, the people bitching loudest about being persecuted for their Christianity aren't Christians at all. They're demagogues and conmen and scolds. And the only thing they worship is power. If you believe Jesus ever had a good word for war or torture or tax cuts for the rich, or raping the earth, or refusing water to dying migrants, then you might as well believe bunnies lay painted eggs.

And Jesus - and Jesus never said a word about gay marriage. He was much too busy hanging out with 12 guys. Now - now I know George Bush says Jesus Christ changed his heart. But believe me, Dick Cheney changed it back. The only thing Bush has in common with Jesus is they both went into their father's business and got crucified for it.

Thomas Jefferson called the type of Christian who trumpets his own belief in the divinity of Jesus rather than the morality of Jesus "pseudo-Christians." And that's who's running our country today. And since they thrive so much on turning water into "whining"—and get off on their endless pretend persecution, this Easter season, let's give them what they want. Let's go to the zoo, get some lions, and feed them Tom DeLay.

All right. That's our show. I want to thank my guests: Seth Green, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, Erica Jong, Robert Wuhl and Jorge Ramos. Thank you very much, folks. We'll see you next week.

New Rule #2

Another rule from Real Time with Bill Maher that makes me angry. Bill made several great points about what a fuckup the President and his henchmen are in his New Rules segment. The fact that these jackasses have this idiotic mentality and call people who don't agree with them unpatriotic disgusts me. George W. Bush truly is destroying America.

I copied an excert from New Rules March 23, 2007 below:

Traitors don't get to question my patriotism. What could be less patriotic than constantly screwing things up for America? You know, it's literally hard to keep up with the sheer volume of scandals in the Bush Administration. Which is why I like to download the latest scandal right onto my iPod. That way, I can catch up on this week's giant fuck-up on my drive in to work. In fact, Bush has so many scandals, he could open a chain of "Bush Scandal and Fuck-up" theme restaurants. "Ooh, should I get the Harriet Miers meatloaf or the Katrina crab cakes?

You know, not to generalize, but the 29% of people who still support President Bush are the ones who love to pronounce themselves more patriotic than the rest of us. But just saying you're patriotic is like saying you have a big cock. If you have to say it, chances are it's not true.

And, indeed, the party that flatters itself that they protect America better is the party that has exhausted the military, left the ports wide open and purposefully outed a CIA agent, Valerie Plame.

That's not treason anymore? Outing a spy? Did I mention it was one of our spies? And how despicable that Bush's lackeys attempted to diminish this crime by belittling her service, like she was just some chick who hung around the CIA. "An intern, really. Groupie, if you want to be mean about it."

No. Big lie. Valerie Plame was the CIA's operational officer in charge of counter-proliferation. Which means she tracked loose nukes. So, when Bush said, as he once did, that his absolute, number-one priority was preventing terrorists from getting loose nukes, okay, that's what she worked on. That's what she devoted her life to, staying undercover for 20 years, maintaining two identities every goddamn day. This is extraordinary service to your country.

Valerie Plame was the kind of real-life secret agent George Bush dreams of being when he's not too busy pretending to be a cowboy or a fighter pilot.

CIA agents are troops. This was a military assassination of one of our own, done through the press, ordered by Karl Rove. He said, of Valerie Plame, quote, "She's fair game." And then Cheney shot her.

George Bush likes to claim that he doesn't question his critics' patriotism, just their judgment. Well, let me be the first of your critics, Mr. President, to question your judgment and your patriotism. Because, let's not forget why they did it to her. Because Valerie Plame was married to this guy, Joe Wilson, who the Bush people hated because he busted them on one of their bullshit reasons for invading Iraq.

He was sent to the African country of Niger to see if Niger was selling nuclear fuel to Iraq. They weren't. It was bullshit, and he said so. In fact, his report was called, "Niger, Please!"

Valerie Plame's husband told the truth about their lie, so they were willing to jeopardize an entire network of spies to ruin her life. Wow, even the mob doesn't go after your family.

Mark Twain said, "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." And I say Valerie Plame is a patriot because she spent her life serving her country. Scooter Libby is not, because he spent his life serving Dick Cheney.

Valerie Plame kept her secrets. The Bush Administration leaked like the plumbing at Walter Reed.

In the year, 2008, I really think that Hillary Clinton should run for president on a platform of "restoring honor and integrity to the Oval Office."

New Rule #1

I've been watching alot of Real Time with Bill Maher and like most things political, it makes me angry. The New Rules segment from several weeks ago covered what the majority of Americans don't realize they've sacrificed for the "War on Terror". Sadly, its the one thing I hold most dear than any inalienable rights bestowed upon us by the Constitution. Liberty.

I copied an excert from New Rules March 16, 2007 below:

Liberals must stop saying President Bush hasn't asked Americans to sacrifice for the war on terror. On the contrary, he's asked us to sacrifice something enormous. Our civil rights.

Now, when I heard George Bush was reading my emails, I probably had the same reaction you did: George Bush can read?! Yes, he can. And this administration has read your phone records, credit card statements, mail, Internet logs. I can't tell if they're fighting a war on terror or producing the next season of "Cheaters." I mail myself a copy of the Constitution every morning just on the hope they'll open it and see what it says.

So -so when it comes to sacrifice, don't kid yourself. You have given up a lot. You've given up faith in your government's honesty, the goodwill of people overseas, and six-tenths of the Bill of Rights. Here's what you've sacrificed: search and seizure, warrants, self-incrimination, trial by jury, cruel and unusual punishment. Here's what you have left: hand guns, religion, and they can't make you quarter a British soldier. If Prince Harry invades the Inland Empire, he has to bring a tent.

You know, in previous wars on the home front made a very different kind of sacrifice. During World War II, we endured rationing, paid higher taxes, bought war bonds, and in the interest of national unity, people even pretended Bob Hope was funny. Right, like you laughed at him.

Okay, women, donated their silk undergarments so they could be sewn into parachutes. Can you imagine nowadays a Britney Spears or a Lindsay Lohan going without underwear? Bad example.

But, look, George Bush has never been too bright about understanding "fereigners." But he does know Americans. He asked this generation to sacrifice the things he knew we would not miss: our privacy and our morality. He let us keep the money. But he made a cynical bet that we wouldn't much care if we became a "Big Brother" country that has now tortured a lot of random people.

And yet no one asks the tough questions like, "Is torture necessary?" "Who will watch the watchers?" "And when does Jack Bauer go to the bathroom?" I mean, it's been five years. Is he wearing one of those astronaut diapers?

In conclusion, after 9/11, President Bush told us Osama bin Laden could run but he couldn't hide. But, then he ran and hid. So, Bush went to Plan B: pissing on the Constitution and torturing random people.

Conservatives always say the great thing Reagan did was make us feel good about America again. Well, do you feel good about America now? I'll give you my answer, and to get it out of me, you don't even have to hold my head underwater and have a snarling guard dog rip my nuts off. No, I don't feel very good about that.

They say evil happens when good men do nothing. Well, the Democrats prove it also happens when mediocre people do nothing.