Mas Oyama

This karate master is what I strive to achieve. I wish I had the ability to train as he did; alone, in the mountains, pushing myself to the limits both mentally and physically. Check out what this man achieved.

Tool of the Day: Pat Buchanan

What must be going through this man's mind when he says things like this ? I really have no idea how someone can say this, much less on television. This shows me how some in this world really have no comapssion for others, no regard for a fellow human being.

That is really all we are, just human beings trying to find are place and way around this world. Can we all not just get along?

By the by, it is no suprise that Fox gave this racist the pulpit to spread his hate speach.

The sad state of the press

After reading this story, I wonder what is the problem with reporters? Either they are completely incompetent or partisan hacks who do not care about reporting the truth. Either way, both options are bad.

Tool of the Day: Kenny Tomlinson

What a complete rupe.

The opiate of the masses

My friend turned me on to this trailer of a documentary about the evangelical right's bible camp movement and how they, well, indoctrinate children to the most radical aspect of fundamentalist christianity. Note that the one person make an analogy to muslim fundamentalist indoctrination. My question is: if one is evil (muslim terrorist ideology, isn't the analogous, christian extremism just as evil? How can one really make a principled distinction without positing the "My God is the true God" argument which works for either side.

I think I will try to catch this one.

Thanks for your service, now Screw You!

Here is what is really important to the republican leadership.

World O' Crap

Here is a funny blog that I read from time to time. She (I think) takes the likes of Town hall and such to task with wit and intelligence. Check it out if you have the time.

Boss, if you are reading this, I am on hold with IBM because you do not have a clue! So I have to do something while on hold.

Tool of the Day: George W. Bush

See the post below. It is a sad day to be an American. See the video here.

Lying liars

I was watching NBC nightly news (on accident) and a reporter asked BoBo what did Iraq have to do with the attack on the Trade Centers. His response: NOTHING.

Now, this brings up all kinds of questions as to what the hell were BoBo and Darth Vader(Cheney)saying all along about the link between the two. Will the MSM pick up on this or just give another of the infinite free passes they have given this administration since 9.11.01?

Should this answer now be proof that this administration lied to the public about the link in the run up to the war? Should this be the hard evidence of possible impeachment articles being drawn? Obviously, this will not happen since the Republicans control the three branches of the government.

But what this should tell all voters is that the Republicans CAN NOT BE TRUSTED to govern honestly and in the best interest of the people. Only themselves.

Change must come.

Tool of the Day: Tramm Hudson

This is simply mind boggling. One has to know as they are saying this kind of vitriol that it is racist. I do not believe for a second that this tool did not mean to degrade African Americans. What is wrong with people?

NSA Wiretap Unconstitutional

A judge in Detroit came down with this ruling. For the full transcript go here.

Tool of the Day: George Allen

This guy is a grade A, first class tool. This type of racial slur does not belong in the public discourse. A co-tool of the day goes to the crowd who laughed it up at the insensitive and vulgar remarks.

The voodoo that you do

I love this Daily Show spot (Quicktime required). Really, George Bush is the WORST PRESIDENT EVER . I cannot say this any more clearer and believe more deeply. It is unvarnished truth.

Remember the second attack after 9/11?

Many have forgotten about this: Tom Daschle and several people at NBC news were mailed letters containing anthrax. What has Bush's Justice Department done to capture the individual(s) responsible? The next time someone tells you that Bush is winning the war on terror, ask them about the anthrax (and Osama Bin Laden....you remember him too, don't ya?)

Btw, notice the panel they have: the Surgeon General David Satcher (Bush appointee) and Bill Frist (whackjob "doctor" who "diagnoses" Terry Schiavo's mental capacities via video tape). Fair and Balanced, indeed. Shame on Public TV, especially given the Republican's attempts to close it down.

And its been 1764 days since it the anthrax letters.

Thanks to AMERICAblog for the reminder.

Really, if you voted for Dubya, how DO you sleep at night?

"My relative gives good head"

Check out this video that seems to be a training video for Japanese prostitutes so that they can talk up the gaijin (foreigners who know English).

"My grandmother gives good head"

"Come on! Come on, Toshi! Come on!"

Heh. Hilarious.

Bush: Bin Laden 'prime suspect'....NOT.

I love the Internets. All those tubes....

Seriously though, here is where Bush vows to get Bin Laden.

And here we are 1,789 days later. Don't you feel safe? I sure do.

Inspired by Think Progress.

Jeebus: US Ranks above Turkey in Evolution Acceptance!

Take that Turkey!

Check this out. Help us Jeebus from your believers.

Ok. I read Daily Kos.

Man, they have some good posts in the past few days over at DailyKos. Here SusanG makes a point that our retarded pundit class cannot seem to grasp: the Bush Administration cannot wage a war against Teletubbies, much less extremist terrorists:

Got that, Mr. Bush? While the terror cells were comprised of Islamic extremists, other Muslims were the ones who saved the world from a terrorist strike that could have been the worst since 9/11. Moderate British Muslims, Mr. Bush, who - thank the Lord for favors - are currently being addressed in their country by John Reid and not you.

Indeed.

Egads - More Repub Disgraces

Get this one. What do you do when a terrorist plot has been foiled? Why, you try to raise money! Really and truly: if you voted for a republican in the last 4 voting cycles, how DO you sleep at night?

November 2006 - I am Nostradamus

Well, so is Kos. See here. And more here. And here. The Republican smear machine is at it again and man, is it uglier then ever. It seems the more desperate Republicans get, the more vicious their attacks. We now see what November will be like.

Really, how could anyone call themselves republicans and tie their wagon to these assholes?

BoBo and the freedom of the press

This is very scary. The eradication of the checks and balances marches on. I am tired of weeping for the future. But I must. I care.

The Brits and BoBo

After hearing about the arrests of actual terrorists that seemed to really be prepared to do some serious damage, my mind wonders to what the FBI has done. They have the ability to break up some nuts in Miami that had the logistical ability to blow their nose and nothing else. How can anyone not laugh when KoKo the president says that we are more safe under his and his party's leadership.

This really makes me wonder how much our country is WORSE off than before 9.11. Our foreign ploicy has done nothing but ferment an already sizeable enemy's hatred of us and given them a rallying point (Iraq) and a place to hone their terrorists skills (again Iraq).

I imagine that it will take no less than a generation to ease the hatred toward the U.S. I look forward to how the historians will look back on this administration. My bet is that is will be one of the worst in history.

Tool of the Day: Joe Lieberman

I have tried to stay out of this whole topic, but something I read made me have to weigh in. From Atrios:

The question now is how deep into the gutter Mr. Lieberman’s ego will drag him.

There’s an overwhelming consensus among national security experts that the war in Iraq has undermined, not strengthened, the fight against terrorism. Yet yesterday Mr. Lieberman, sounding just like Dick Cheney — and acting as a propaganda tool for Republicans trying to Swift-boat the party of which he still claims to be a member — suggested that the changes in Iraq policy that Mr. Lamont wants would be “taken as a tremendous victory by the same people who wanted to blow up these planes in this plot hatched in England.”

This man obviously has completely lost his grip on his sanity. This is not what you say about someone in your own party, much less anybody else. I agree with Atrios when he says Joe maybe beyond redemption.

Tool of the Day: Roy Blunt

Why, you may ask? Because of this absolute toolish statement If anyone listened to the clip from Bill Clinton below, this is example number one that the ideologues simply do not care about reality or facts, much less scientific fact, if it does not suit their needs.

Bill Clinton at his finest

Listen to this. It reminds me how I miss having a cogent, articulate president that can speak unscripted, as this speech is. I long for the past and still weep for the future.

Juan Cole on Hizbullah

A great post on what exactly is Hizbullah.

Who would of thunk it?

Winning the hearts and minds. That is what we need to win the "war on terror": cutoff the seeminly endless, radicalized Muslims willing to be martyrs for "The Cause". Has the relationship between Israel and Lebanon/Hizbullah had any affect? Yes. From the inimitable Juan Cole of Informed Comment.

The Onion, again and again.

Clicking through on The Onion can be so fun:

Here:

His sole piece of luggage—a black duffel bag—was lost upon his arrival in New York.

Despite hours of waiting, and several U.S. Airways check-in counter workers and Transportation Security Administration screeners joining in the search, the Yemen-born 32-year-old had yet to hear any positive updates. Finally, a baggage claim representative approached him.

"Afraid I've got some bad news," the worker said to Yousef.

Airline personnel had searched the plane, the tarmac, and the gate, but were still unable to locate his bag containing his homemade dirty bomb.

"My trip was ruined," Yousef said. "But Allah will right this wrong."

And here:

NEW YORK—Wikipedia, the online, reader-edited encyclopedia, honored the 750th anniversary of American independence on July 25 with a special featured section on its main page Tuesday.

Heh. 750th Anniversary.

The Onion, again.

The Onion, as usual, captures the truth as only true political satire can:

"WASHINGTON, DC—In a decisive 1–0 decision Monday, President Bush voted to grant the president the constitutional power to grant himself additional powers."

Zen

In the awakened eye
Mountains and rivers
Completely disappear.
The eye of delusion
Looks out upon
Deep fog and clouds
Alone on my zazen mat
I forget the days
As they pass
The wisteria has grown
Thick over the eaves
Of my hut.

- Muso (1275-1351)

Founding Fathers take a roll

For those of you who can stomach 26 pages of gut wrenching truth, check this out. This is truly a sad time to be an American.

Growing up I was told that if I broke the law, I would be punished. But what do we tell the kids of today. You can not brake the law, but the president can. Not only that, but he can because he is always right. What complete bullshit.

Prosecute them all.

Upon further review: Tool of the Day

A thanks to Wholeflaffer for getting me to think about what was actually said by Dean. Him saying "this is not Russia and she is not Stalin" is quite different than saying "she is Stalin".

Also, Wholeflaffer makes a good point about Dems using fighting words. But I would strongly suggest that given the climate of skewing of comments on on the right side of the aisle and in the blogoshere that Dems walk a very fine line with comments such as these.

I stand corrected and will be more vigilant in my posting.

But Dean is still a tool for the scream.

Rousseau on civilization

I took a class on Rousseau for my undergrad philosophy degree and I was struck with the lyrical prose Rousseau fired like hot lead. A passage mentioned on Crooked Timber reminds of how prescient he could be and how his insights are eternal:

I open the books of law and morality, I listen to the sages and the philosophers of law, and, imbued by their insidious speeches, I am led to deplore the miseries of nature, and to admire the peace and justice established by the the civil order. I bless the wisdom of public institutions and console myself about my humanity through seeing myself as a citizen. Well instructed concerning my duties and my happiness, I shut the book, leave the classroom and look around. I see wretched peoples moaning beneath a yoke of iron, the human race crushed by the fist of oppressors, a starving and enfeebled crowd whose blood and tears are drunk in peace by the rich, and everywhere I see the strong armed against the weak with the terrifying power of the laws.

All this takes place peacefully and without resistance; it is the tranquility of the companions of Ulysses shut into the Cyclops cave and waiting their turn to be devoured. One must tremble and keep silent. Let us draw a permanent veil over these horrible phenomena. I lift my eyes and I look into the distance. I notice fires and flames, deserted countryside, pillaged towns. Ferocious men, where are you dragging those wretches? I hear a terrible sound. What a confusion! What cries! I draw closer and I see a theatre of murders, ten thousand men with their throats cut, the dead trampled by the hooves of horses, and everywhere a scene of death and agony. Such is the fruit of these peaceful institutions. Pity and indignation rise up from the the depths of my heart. Barbarous philosopher: try reading us your book on the field of battle.

Retract Tool of the Day?

I would suggest to Fafu that one reconsider their position on Dean. Check out this. What Dean said That Bill Nelson, running against Harris, is "going to beat the pants off Katherine Harris, who didn't understand that it is ethically improper to be the chairman of a campaign and count the votes at the same time. This is not Russia and she is not Stalin."

Now that is not comparing her to Stalin. And it pains me to see some in the lefty Blogoshpere running with the "comparing Harris to Stalin" line.

And isn't it about time that Dems are using fightin' words?

Talk about a Lemon

Found this. A $1.7 million car that lasted all of 10 blocks before breaking down. Poor rich people cannot get a break.