By the Numbers

According to the CIA World Factbook there are almost 27 million people in Iraq with a population growth rate of 2.66 %. This week 500 people were killed in bombings and the Tel Afar bombing killed 152. At this rate how long will it take before no one is left in Iraq?

Don't worry I'll wait. So will the US. So will the world.

Bonus Credit: How long before Darfur and Mogadishu are wiped out? And then how long before Dennis Miller says its all liberals fault? Hint: Take my daily level of snarkyness, divide that my lack of faith in Bush, multiply that by Bill O'Rilley's daily serving of BS and take that result and put it to the Nth power, N being the number of words in Malkin's Joe Doe oath. And if you've gone that far, blow your brains out.

The Choco Jesus Wrap-Up

When it comes to matters like this I'll listen to David Kuo over William Donahue any day of the week. So much so I'll give Kuo Quote of the Day honors:

"It is easy for some religious leaders to decry a piece of art and say - as some have (apparently with a straight face) - it is "one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever." (I suppose that genocide in Darfur is merely an "affront" to Christian sensibilities?) But instead of getting all amped up over this "art," Christians should be spending time facing the real and very challenging Jesus found in the Gospels and encouraging others to do the same. I know that is what I need to do."

Why Do NYC Newspapers Continue to Ignore Giuliani?

Here's the front page of the New York Post:

And here's the NY Daily News:

Now here's what led on MSNBC.com at the same time:

"Giuliani’s ex-partner may face felony charges
Kerik counts said to include deception during Cabinet bid"

Interesting. At first I thought it was a pic of Andrew Sullivan and Giuliani which gave more sense to the pose and the 'ex-partner' thing. But then I realized that it was Giuliani and his crook pal Kerik and I said, "wow, this is news." But one would never know that reading the other NYC papers. The Post with it's totally non-biased (read non-biased, as more biased than the Klan) report of Nancy Pelosi's trip to Syria, makes it seem like she's going over there to give Hezbollah non-stop fellatio. [Really creative Photoshop by the way, whoever did that should go work for Fox News immediately], and the Daily News is so wrapped up in its Choco Jesus you would think that the Easter Bunny is the Editor-and-Chief and bitterly jealous to boot.

What a pair of frauds.

A Profile in Courage

You don't need to be American to understand the dignity and power of the freedom of speech.

Lies and Silence

You know every one was so eager to report the story that Sean Bell shot a Drug Dealer but the MSM was oddly silent when the Dealer denied the story the next day:



Hot potato no more? After the local papers seized on information (leaked by police sources) that a drug dealer claimed that Sean Bell, who was shot by police in November, shot him last summer, the man has come forward to deny he identified Bell as his assailant. Anthony Jeffers told the Daily News, "Here and there I sell drugs in the neighborhood. But I didn't say nothing about Sean Bell. I don't want no trouble with any of this. I called the cops today and told them that."

"But Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said Jeffers did tell police that Bell had shot him in a marijuana-dealing turf war. The Times reports the Commissioner as saying "I see no particular relevance to the events of Nov. 25, as far as this report is concerned."

"The Post says Jeffers was arrested "for riding his bike on a Queens sidewalk" on Sunday. Seriously - though cops did want to question him about a robbery as well. But riding his bike on a sidewalk is not against the law a criminal offense, if annoying. Anyway, police sources claim Jeffers said Bell shot him in hopes of getting a deal. Bell's family's lawyer is upset with these attempts to dirty Bell's name. But Detectives' Endowment Association president Michael Palladino told the Times "[the report] give us a little insight into what was going on in Bell’s mind when the officers approached. If you’re not guilty of something, and there’s no gun in the car, then why not stop the car?"

"Jeffers wants to be left alone. He also said, "I don't want nobody in the neighborhood saying I said Sean Bell shot me.""

I bet. Especially since your story was so NOT gangsta. Oh and it was faked. Color me surprised that the News didn't carry this on page 1. Color me even more surprised that the liberal media didn't care.

British Schools to Give Students PSPs.

From Engadget.com:

"The Nintendo DS may currently have the better reputation for educational-related activities, with Brain Age and similar titles molding minds young and old alike, but a school in England looks to be doing its best to sway things in the PlayStation Portable's favor, announcing that's it'll soon begin employing some of the handheld's non-gaming functions to take the place of old school textbooks. According to The Daily Mail, some 30 students will be given PSPs as part of the pilot program, which apparently could be expanded nationwide if it proves to be successful (one sure way to boost sales). While we're all for putting the PSP to some non-intended uses, we can't help but think that the school is overlooking some of the educational benefits of the PSP's gaming options. After all, you never know when the life skills learned from guiding all those LocoRocos to safety may come in handy."

Great, so now kids can log into Myspace while they're in class. Looks like Chris Hansen will be going to the UK soon.

Jenna Jameson Nude!

Not really, but she has pissed off movie producers who can't meet with her to discuss taking her autobiography, 'How to Make Love Like a Porn Star," which, by the way, was an excellent read, to the big screen. One theory:

"She underwent a vaginoplasty at a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, and she is very unhappy," said the source, who added, in perhaps an unfortunate choice of words, "she has decided to hole up and not speak to anybody."

She's decided to 'hole up.' That's great. What the hell is vaginoplasty anyway? Then again, I don't wanna know. Enjoy the pic.

PS: I'm still pissed off with the UN, and the cigarette in Jenna's hand only makes me wanna smoke. I must be getting old.

The Must Watch of the Day

Check out what is inadmissible to the UN's Human Rights Council. The video has to be seen to be believed.

Hat Tip: Sully

It's Friday right? I have to post my weekly cheesecake/ fluff, because the real world is pissing me the hell off. Any suggestions?

Sully Makes a Slip Up...

In his post here, he makes the statement:

"I can live within a coalition with people who oppose my right to marry the man I love. But I cannot live within a coalition that would amend the federal constitution to forbid it for ever in every state." [Italics mine]

I can understand Sully's loyalty to the GOP, after all I have the same loyalty to the DNC, but what I can't understand is that first statement. How can anyone ally themselves with an organization that stands against such a profound and important interest as choosing who they will decide to marry? This shouldn't be a subject of compromise for a gay person. I have had to make compromises with the DNC and their candidates on a number of issues, including their current Iraqi withdrawal program, which I consider vague and loose. But I can still hold my allegiance because regardless of the wiffy language their overall goal still coincides with my desire for US forces to leave Iraq. Likewise I am for a gas tax and a carbon tax. Now the DNC hasn't come out for one, but their overall goal of reducing carbon emissions and our dependence on foreign fuels, once again, coincides with my own. Compromise is based on the fact that you have a common goal but approach it from different directions, but there can be no compromise (and likewise, no partnership) when there is no common goal. The GOP has been pretty much stalwart in their stance against gay marriage and to ally yourself with a group that works directly against your goals because of loyalty isn't honorable it's just plain dumb.

The UN Wrap-Up

Cros gives more reasons why the UN sucks. Decisions like ignoring Iran and Darfur's human rights violations only adds more steam to the Neoconservative agenda. The AEI thanks you.

Very Funny...

If you were like me you were laughing out loud at NY1 this morning when Pat Kiernan announced today's snap poll:

"Should Judi Giuliani be allowed to attend cabinet meetings?

Yes
No
Sanjaya Malakar"

I laughed even louder when Kiernan, in his deadpan, snarky manner says, "Vote yes, no, or if you want to mess the whole thing up, or you don't care, vote for Sanjaya."

Personally I voted for Sanjaya--see my last post to find out why.

Here's What's Really Sickening

Take a close look at it--especially the front page. What do you see? If you said 'nothing' you're pretty much right. Page 1 features the stunning revolution that, if president, Rudy Giuliani would, SHOCK!, invite his wife to cabinet meetings. Well golly gee, that...what? What the hell would that mean? Hil supposedly never sat in, but again--so what? Hell invite Chris Rock for all I care, maybe we'd get something done. This is front page news?

Now let's look at the front page of the NYTimes...oh here's an interesting Giuliani story--"Testimony by Giuliani Indicates He was Briefed on Kerik in '00" Here's what they say:

"Rudolph W. Giuliani told a grand jury that his former chief investigator remembered having briefed him on some aspects of Bernard B. Kerik’s relationship with a company suspected of ties to organized crime before Mr. Kerik’s appointment as New York City police commissioner, according to court records.

Mr. Giuliani, testifying last year under oath before a Bronx grand jury investigating Mr. Kerik, said he had no memory of the briefing, but he did not dispute that it had taken place, according to a transcript of his testimony."

Hummm, this seems interesting, and definitely more important to his candidacy than the news that his wife would sit in on Cabinet meetings. But why would the News choose not to place this story on their front page? Oh questions, questions!

Then again we might find the answer below that story under the big 'SICKENING!' With a title like that could they be talking about deaths in Iraq? The Gonzalez scandal? Veterans' care? Why no, they're talking about some artist that made a chocolate Jesus:

"A controversial artist outraged city Catholics yesterday with plans to display a nude 6-foot chocolate Jesus during Holy Week.

"Cosimo Cavallaro's anatomically-correct candy Christ, titled "My Sweet Lord," was made from almost 200 pounds of dark chocolate. The sculpture is to be displayed in a street-level window at the Roger Smith Hotel's Lab Gallery on E. 47th St. starting Monday.

""It's an all-out war on Christianity," fumed Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. "They wouldn't show a depiction of Martin Luther King Jr. with genitals exposed on Martin Luther King Day, and they wouldn't show Muhammed depicted this way during Ramadan. It's always Christians, and the timing is deliberate.""

Oh my God! He's nude, anatomically correct and tasty! HOLY CAVITIES BATMAN! And yet we just can't understand when Muslims get upset when the West depicts Mohammad wearing a bomb turban? And yes I'm not saying that they're right for killing over it, they aren't; but, what are we saying when this trivial matter makes front page headlines when there are much graver matters on the horizon? The answer: The MSM isn't worth the paper its written on. What was supposed to be an honorable institution that watches the watchmen, and investigates dangers to the public welfare is now a political tool that at best is only interested in tabloid sensationalist news, and at worse is a propaganda tool for the most right-wing Republican issues. Either way The Daily News is what's really sickening.

Senate Passes Iraq Pullout Bill

Well Congress has done the will of the American public--but will Bush veto? The answer seems to be yes.

Giving Rick Stengel His Say

Rick Stengel, managing editor of Time Magazine, and member of the panel that laughed away the idea of hauling Darth Maul, er Karl Rove in front of Congress, and harshly criticized for it, explains why he thought that would be a bad move for the Democrats and the US:

"In reading your reaction to my comments on Chris Matthews, I realize that I've been caught out speaking as a citizen rather than as editor of Time. Lord knows, the Democrats going after Karl Rove is "interesting" in an objective way for Time and for journalists in general. It's hard to overstate Rove's role in this administration and it would certainly create yards of headlines and good copy if the Democrats manage to get some traction. But as a citizen, I think it's unfortunate and perhaps short-sighted for Democrats to be perceived as focusing on the past rather than the future. If people see the Democrats as obsessively concerned with settling scores, that's not good for the Democrats or the country. And I would make the exact same statement about the Republicans if they were in this situation. Meanwhile, the next time I’m on Chris Matthews, I’ll muzzle my citizen’s thoughts."

Sully slaps him here. What boggles my mind is that--as a journalist and a citizen--you would think that would be something he would have a personal interest in. Fact is though, journalists are a dying breed and the media is either for entertainment or the dissemination of lies. Turns out that the Justice department isn't the only institution whose 'trust is corroding'. And on that note I'd also like to mention that Barack Obama just happens to have really invented the Internet and George Bush eats babies. True story.

Good Luck

Britain to ask the UN for help in Iran Hostage crisis--part deux:

"LONDON - Britain said Thursday it is seeking United Nations condemnation of Iran for its capture and detention of 15 sailors and marines in disputed waters in the northern Persian Gulf.

The British announcement came as Iran rolled back on its promise to release the sole female British sailor among the captives. The Iranian military chief, Gen. Ali Reza Afshar, said that owing to the “wrong behavior” of the British government, “the release of a female British soldier has been suspended,” the semiofficial Iranian news agency Mehr reported."

The UK asking the UN for help is like that white dude on the Chappelle Show in the reverse 'Law & Order' skit. Literally, is there any one on the UN who the British hadn't conquered?

PS: Does anyone have that Law & Order skit? Couldn't find it on Youtube.

Right and Wrong

Aide to AG Gonzalez claims that Attorney firings were proper because they didn't support Bush's 'priorities':

"WASHINGTON - Eight federal prosecutors were fired last year because they did not sufficiently support President Bush's priorities, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' former chief of staff maintains, but a powerful Senate chairman called that motivation improper.

"It corrodes the public's trust in our system of justice. It's wrong," Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said as he gaveled open a hearing featuring the sworn testimony of Kyle Sampson, who quit the Justice Department over the furor.

But Sampson maintained that it's legitimate to judge federal prosecutors in large part on their fidelity to administration policy. He denied Democratic charges that the firings were a purge by intimidation and a warning to the remaining prosecutors to fall into line."

Both of them are correct. As I mentioned here--the executive both on the right and left has historically tried to stack the deck with judges who will support their policies. And yes, Leahy is right to say that it "corrodes the public's trust in our system of justice," but in all honesty--has the 'public' ever had a 'trust in the system'? Fact is, in the big picture what happened here was something politically common place, just as much as tax fraud or bribery is common in industry, but he was caught. Too bad, game over, but enjoy the consolation prize AG! No time spent, and a great job either on the lecture circuit or CEO of...whatever.

Lay the Smack Down Again...

...to those who claim Obama 'lacks substance':

"Compared to whom? Romney? Giuliani? I know of no candidate with less of a platform right now than Giuliani. Obama, in contrast, has made several policy speeches, and one philosophical homily which is far and away the smartest address yet in the campaign."

So Now They Have WMDs...

...Insurgents attack local government building with chlorine bombs:

"Fifteen Iraqi and U.S. soldiers were wounded in the blasts and many more suffered chlorine poisoning, the statement said.

“Numerous Iraqi soldiers and policemen are being treated for symptoms such as labored breathing, nausea, skin irritation and vomiting that are synonymous with chlorine inhalation,” a U.S. statement said."

In the meantime off duty Shiite security forces decided to get their own Sean Bells on killing 45 Sunnis:

"The policemen began roaming the town’s Sunni neighborhoods on foot early in the morning, shooting at Sunni residents and homes.

A senior hospital official in Tal Afar said at least 45 men ages 15 to 60 were killed and four others were wounded.

Other tolls were higher. “Between 50 and 55 people were killed. I’ve never seen such a thing in my life,” said a doctor, who refused to be named because he said he feared for his life."

Who said it was getting better?

Blogging Wars!

You gotta love them, especially when they're about boobs.

Note: The boobs that started it all are in the front row in the grayish shirt (I really wish I had a John Madden telestrator). Though just from the fact that Clinton's looking away proves that they didn't get his seal of approval.

Thank You Glenn Greenwald

I thought it was just the hangover.

I woke up Sunday morning, mind full of cotton balls, and my breath smelling like a septic tank, turned on NBC for my usual Sunday morning news shows, and Chris Matthews is on. They get to discussing the possibility that Karl Rove might be dragged in front of Congress to testify regarding the US Attorney scandal, and every member of the round table gives the most cavalier responses possible. As Greenwald says:

"Here are several of our media elites from our nation's most influential journalistic outlets -- including from Time, U.S. News & World Report, The New York Times, and NBC News -- all sitting around on the Chris Matthews Show giggling for three and a half minutes straight about the silly U.S. attorneys scandal. The whole thing is just a fun game for them, and it's absurd to them that anyone could take things like this seriously.


And what is most notable is that they express outrage at one part, and one part only, of this whole story -- namely, they are furious over the fact that the foolish, unfair Democrats would even dare to try to force Karl Rove to testify. Why, firing U.S. attorneys and lying to Congress and the country about it is all fair game, but that -- trying to get Rove to answer questions -- is really beyond the pale."

I mean I expect this stuff from Fox News, and Tony Blankley, but to see the entire table completely trivialize the issue...I thought it was the fuzz in my head. Thanks for the clarification Glenn.