Friday, June 19, 2009

Obama Justice Dept.: Protect ing Poor Big Dick Cheney From the Heartbreak of Satire

No, I'm not making this up. I don't have to. I never have to.

Justice Department attorney Jeffrey Smith said. “I don’t want a future vice president to say, `I’m not going to cooperate with you because I don’t want to be fodder for ‘The Daily Show.’”


Psst, Jeffrey: Cheney's been fodder for The Daily Show for 4 everrr. And he'll never cooperate, ev-errr. Duh.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

A Fly on the Wall at Gitmo: An Antidote for Compassion Fatigue

Here's an opportunity to do the right thing: via RobinElliot at Kos, via Major Barry Wingard, a Gitmo detainee's lawyer.
Let’s recap: Some guy made a couple of afghanis by selling Fayiz to our guys so that the thug-infested Bush administration could justify their fraudulent little war and all its torture-y perks.

And what did Fayiz get? This:

While in U.S. custody in Kabul in December 2001, Al-Kandari was shackled in various stress positions for as long as 36 hours at a time. He was beaten with a chain and water hose. Photographs documenting his condition have not been released.
In early 2002, Al-Kandari was transferred to Bagram and held in a roofed tent with no sides where overnight temperatures typically reached below freezing. Photographs again documented his condition, but they have never been released. [...] He was transferred to Kandahar in early 2002, ... [where] his entire body was shaved (except for a cross on his chest, which was later shaved off) and he was initially kept awake in solitary confinement for five straight days. The abuse continued and resulted in broken ribs and severe bruising documented by medical exams performed months later.
Before being placed on the plane out of Kandahar, his sound-proof headgear was lifted and a female voice whispered, "You are going to hell in GTMO." At the time, he was also drugged, sandbagged, and placed into a head harness for the 24 hour trip.
At Guantanamo, he was again shackled into stress positions for extended periods of time. He was also urinated on and subjected to sleep deprivation, strobe lights, ear piercing music, cell extractions, and extreme heat and cold conditions in his cell via temperature controls. All told, Al-Kandari has been interrogated approximately 400 times and abused throughout the time he was in U.S. custody.


Wait, sidebar: I smell a reason for releasing those pesky torture photos everyone's talking about... evidence. Sidebar over.

So... all that torture must have worked, right? I mean, who could withstand that kind of abuse and not spill what’s left of their guts, because, you know, "some" say torture works and-- What’s that? Sorry, something’s coming through my imaginary earpiece:

A Department of Defense legal review of Al-Kandari’s case found the evidence against him "is made up almost entirely of hearsay evidence recorded by unidentified individuals with no first hand knowledge of the events they describe."
Oh.
In short, the U.S. learned nothing of value from its abusive treatment of Al-Kandari and in all likelihood exculpatory materials confirming Al-Kandari’s whereabouts and accounts of abuse will be classified and withheld from public view.
Oh.

So what options are available to Fayiz and those like him? Not many. It all boils down to those infamous military commissions, Wingard's skills, and a judge who will believe Fayiz's testimony, because with the word "classified" popping up everywhere, that's all detainees like him have.

Sidebar #2: Per Barry Wingard, "the military is not behind the commissions." Sidebar #2 over.

However, Major Wingard did share one silver lining with me: He could get a sympathetic judge. Maybe. If he's lucky. But—and there’s always a pesky but-- delays and more delays are kicking that silver-lined opportunity down the road, and Fayiz is still in prison.

But at least he has one hell of a caring, persistent, ethical lawyer.

Vice-President Cheney insists that enhanced interrogations were only used on "hardened terrorists" after other efforts failed, that such efforts prevented the deaths of thousands, and that the U.S. never lost its moral bearings in its treatment of detainees. Al-Kandari is living proof he is wrong on all counts.

Re Fly Swat: PETA Declares Obama "Not Buddha"

No shit, Sherlock.

Obama, Unafraid of Offending His Buddhist Constituents, Kills Fly, Is Pleased With Self, Accrues Karma


It's part of the Pussy Frame, is it not? Why would one have compassion for, you know, a fly?

Compassion is just soo pussy!

WTF? Don't getcha panties in a twist, eh?

It's trivial! Haha.

And, who cares if it, you know, technically, that one act creates a perfect karma: intending the action, completing the action, and being satisfied with the result. One action. We have so many. Big f*cking deal.

Kill fly? Meh!

Merely to think that would be so -- well, so weak, so pussy!

Besides the Pussy Frame, there is another all-important frame, the Fly Frame.

Which is what makes it possible to torture sentient beings. Including human ones.

We've seen it at Abu Ghraib, at Gitmo, everywhere. Once you declare someone to be the "enemy" and then dehumanize them, insectize them -- then you can talk yourself into doing whatever the f*ck you want to them, can you not?

Ragheads. They ain't yoooo-man!

If they're no better than insects, who gives a flying f*ck?

Mirror Neuron Retardation Syndrome.

A pandemic.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Matthieu Ricard: Habits of Happiness

Iran Govt. Shuts Up Media After Election

Iran curbs media after election.

In America, a democracy, the government doesn't have to shut up the mainstream media.

The media whore media here are already blind, deaf and dumb.

GOP Reichwing Hatespeak Alive & Well in South Carolina

Freedom of speech means prominent Republican activists get caught having Macaca moments. Not to worry. This one was just "jesting" with racist comment.. Haha. Really. Just joking. Do not get panties in a twist.

Trey Walker, an advisor to S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster, posted an innocuous Facebook update about this morning’s escape of a Western Lowlands Gorilla from Columbia’s Riverbanks Zoo.

Walker’s harmless update, however was followed by a highly-questionable comment from longtime SCGOP activist and former State Senate candidate, Rusty DePass.

“I’m sure it’s just one of Michelle’s ancestors — probably harmless,” DePass wrote.

An early South Carolina supporter of former President George W. Bush, DePass has been active in Republican politics in South Carolina for decades.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Department of Oh Who Really Cares About the Post-Born?

Caring for the post-born is waay too pussy. Let's just keep on weeping for the feti.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

The thing speaks for itself.

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

VastLeft: An Atheist's Lullaby



From the inimitable Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy:

An Atheists' Lullaby

Sunday, June 07, 2009

Krauthammer: Sotomayor Is a Racist

So Sonia's a racist, is she, Charlie?

Not to worry, dude.

Hillary was a racist, too.

Same mud. Different face.

Saturday, June 06, 2009

Pakistan Refugee Crisis


Queen Noor of Jordan:
Yesterday in Cairo, President Obama eloquently underscored the importance of human security, and the need for everyone to have a safe, dignified and prosperous place in the world. Realizing this aspiration is a daily challenge in the face of widespread human rights violations and vulnerability caused by persecution and conflict.

One challenge to the world's capacity to care for its citizens is taking place right now in Pakistan, where the conflict between the government and militants in the northwest has forced almost three million people from their homes. According to the UN Refugee Agency, this is the most rapid large-scale displacement the world has witnessed since the movement into the Congo after the Rwandan genocide.

More than 80 percent of the displaced are staying with host families, posing a tremendous burden to already poor people, and making it difficult for humanitarian agencies to reach the most vulnerable. While food needs are largely being met, there are severe shortages of shelter, medicine, clean water, and sanitation facilities.

Reports from relief workers in daily contact with the displaced suggest that they are discouraged by the meager response to their plight so far. A crisis of such proportion has the potential to create a mass of people who, out of despair and hopelessness, might become part of another vicious cycle of frustration and violence. The risk to Pakistan's overall stability is very real, and this ultimately poses risks to the United States and its interests in the region as well.

As someone deeply committed to refugee causes for many years, in the Middle East and beyond, and as a member of the Board of Directors of Refugees International, my plea is that the world respond more effectively to this crisis than it has to date. The most immediate need for action is simple -- for funding to be made available to agencies that can deliver assistance directly to the refugees at the village level .


Donate here:Interaction: American Council for Voluntary International Action.

Friday, June 05, 2009

Department of Better Late Than Never



See previous post(s).

HuffPo Smears the Secretary of State -- Again.




A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.




Not sure how long they'll keep it, but right now there's a huge headline at HuffPo about an embassy couple who've been spying for Cuba. Its sole illustration is a picture of the Secretary of State, above.


Follow up is an article-- and its sole illustration is a picture of -- the Secretary of State.















Interesting philosophy of illustration they got there goin' at HuffPo. Walter Ken Myers -- no pix of the perp?


What, they couldn't get a picture of a palm tree? Or Gitmo?

Think Arianna's got um -- CDS issues?

Monday, June 01, 2009

Huffington Post Posts Sexist Post Because None Dare Call It Sexist?

Don't get your panties in a twist, ladies.

Or gentlemen.

As the case may be.

Just want to assure you that it's SO not sexist to write articles where readers get to rate the clothing of the Secretary of State of the United States.

Along the prettiness/non-prettiness continuum.

Because -- why not? It's a free country!

We used to do it for Henry Kissinger and George Schultz and Colin Powell!!

All-the-time.

Really. Don't you remember? Sure you do.


"COLOR HIM BAD . . . AND GOOD. VOTE FOR AL HAIG'S PRETTIEST AND NOT-SO-PRETTY PANTSUITS"

Department of Karma, Cause & Effect: O'Reilly's "Tiller the Baby Killer" Rant


Malicious words. Like shouting "fire" in a crowded theater, is it not, Billy?

Bill O'Reilly has blood on his hands for this nasty piece of work: Tiller the Baby Killer.

I have never agreed with Billy's fetal position: that fetuses trump the post-born in terms of being worthy of our compassion.

Bill O'Reilly, in addition to being a sexual harasser, is a loudmouth and a narcissist. One who conducts himself in a way that makes him complicit in murder by domestic terrorism. As is Cheney, and the rest of the shrieky hysterical mirror-neuron-deficient, pro-torture, anti-life Talibangelical terrorists: by their works shall ye know them.

How can anyone claim to be Christian, yet fail to follow the golden rule?




---
Jesus' General on O'Reilly, God's Destroying Angel.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Sexism and Judge Sotomayor

Really, you've gotta love this.

Hat-tip to Tennessee Guerilla Women.

The evolution of headlines at the New York Times.

Sotomayor's Sharp Tongue Raises Issues of Temperament 5.28

Sotormayor's Blunt Style Raises Issues of Temperament 5.28

And then there's this one, not available online, but available as an actual newspaper arrived at our doorstep yesterday. Love that sub-head.


Assertive Style Raises Questions on Demeanor
Colleagues Call Sotomayor A Potent Force



Oh my.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Clueless Self-Injurious Behaviorist Gordon Liddy Fears Sotomayor: re: Riding the Cotton Pony!!

Little Gordy don't know much about women, do he?

bwahahaha.

How embarrassing for him. Someone needs to send him a book on physiology, do they not?



hat-tip to bluegal.
Corrente: big tent watch

Thursday, May 28, 2009

US Military Rape: STFU

The rightwing Talibangelical government-forced maternity crowd likes to protect a rapist's right to breed. Now the government is protecting rapists' identities.

There are pictures that depict the US military, carrying out the "get tough" orders of George W. Bush, using warcrime rape as a weapon of torture.

There are pictures. Videos. We heard of them long ago. Haven't seen them.

The still unreleased photos relate to abuse alleged to have taken place between 2001 and 2005 in Abu Ghraib and six other prisons. Taguba, now retired, supports Obama’s decision to block the release of the photos, which Obama had previously said would be released according to a court ruling in support of a lawsuit filed by the ACLU.

“These pictures show torture, abuse, rape and every indecency,” Taguba told the Telegraph. “I am not sure what purpose their release would serve other than a legal one and the consequence would be to imperil our troops, the only protectors of our foreign policy, when we most need them, and British troops who are trying to build security in Afghanistan.

“The mere description of these pictures is horrendous enough, take my word for it,” Taguba said.


Horrendous. Right. The description is enough.

Hunh? They're too awful for anyone to see? So we really really have to keep them secret. Because if everyone saw what the US really did, they'd really might get their panties in a twist, and hey, that would really suck.

Yes, it's heinous. So heinous. Just calling the pix "heinous" is really enough.

But not heinous enough to prosecute the rapists, for example. Why not? The pictures are just too hot to handle? They'd just make everyone upset? Obama's ok with helping everyone to just STFU?

Why would shutting up about atrocities be a good thing? Why would letting people get away with comitting atrocities be in any way acceptable?

If there are images, there are victims and perps.

Why are happy to have our tax dollars spent protecting a rapist's right to rape?

Sunday, May 24, 2009

James Dobson: Jesus Hates

Darth Cheney: Suddenly Scared About Karma, Cause & Effect

So morally bankrupt torture enthusiast and mirror neuron retard Big Dick Cheney's scared about going to jail?

So he should be.

The Pussy Frame: Just Like the Nigger Frame Except It's Acceptable

It's all about insult.

You want to insult a guy, you call him a girl.

If you're the governor of california, you call a guy a "girlie-man." If you're a politician, you call a yappy little dog you don't want a "girlie-dog" or you call a woman "sweetie." And you can get away with it.

If you're casting aspersions on candidates, you imbue them with female characteristics: you tar them with stereotypical female qualities/weaknesses: vanity, superficiality, etc. -- complaining about their haircuts, clothes, their color choices: Edwards as "Breck girl," Gore's "earth tones," Clinton's $400 haircuts, Kerry windsurfing like a sissy. You're about to fake-waterboard some loudmouth Con radio host, you tell him he's gonna "moan like a little girl." You want to justify torture, you frame your opponents as wimps and wussies.

You want to insult the [female] Speaker of the House of Representatives to further your rightwing political agenda, you call her a pussy.

And -- you can get away with it.

Mancow Waterboard




People who do not suffer from Mirror Neuron Retardation Syndrome don't have to BE waterboarded like this guy had to, in order to realize that waterboarding is torture.

Is it "torture"?

Watch conservative Radio host Mancow attain sudden and complete enlightenment.




Waterboard Cheney. Waterboard Rummy. Waterboard Rush, Bush. Waterboard Geoffrey Miller. Waterboard the whole entire pro-torture crowd. Then we'll talk.