It's hard to say 'Good-bye'

First they extended their tour...then they pulled a "stop loss" on them and now retired and discharged soldiers are being pulled back into Iraq. And this is after the much ballyhooed successful turn-over of "sovereignty" to the Iraqi people. Man, our soldiers are getting the royal screwing by our Commander-in-Chief. With each passing day, Bush & Co. dig themselves deeper and deeper. Look for real regime change this November.

Dick with a capital "D" Cheney

Vice President Dick Cheney pushes old women down stairs!
Okay, that's a slight mischaracterization but it's almost believable, isn't it? In case you took a blow to the head and are only now coming out of a coma let me remind you that Ronald Reagan died earlier this month and the nation tacitly agreed to forget abou Iran-Contra, the bombing of the marine HQ (resulting in the death of over 243 US soldiers), and an historically massive tax increase because Granpa Ronnie was just such a swell guy. Now whatever disagreement one might have with the man's politics, no one could deny the inspiring bond of love between the late president and his now widowed Nancy. While ten years his junior, Mrs. Reagan is still getting along in years and is not as spry as she once was. Still she was the picture of class during the funeral procedings and was treated with honor and respect...well, mostly. According to an interview in the New York Times Magazine with the president and Nancy's son Ron Reagan, he reports:

"Cheney brought my mother up to the casket, so she could pay her respects. She is in her 80's, and she has glaucoma and has trouble seeing. There were steps, and he left her there. He just stood there, letting her flounder. I don't think he's a mindful human being. That's probably the nicest way I can put it."

Hard to believe such a big-hearted humanitarian would tell someone like Senator Leahy to go f--- himself, isn't it? Especially when such words would get him into such trouble with his puppet, I mean his boss...

"I will restore civility and respect to our national politics." -- George W. Bush (at an RNC Gala, August 26, 2000)

"I will live and lead by these principles: to advance my convictions with civility, to pursue the public interest with courage, to speak for greater justice and compassion, to call for responsibility and try to live it as well." -- George W. Bush (Inauguration speech, January 20, 2001)

During CNN's coverage of the 2000 GOP Convention, William Schneider, their senior political analyst, noted: "Cheney was picked because of his quality of authority, and maturity, and most of all, civility. But having those qualities is one thing and being able to communicate them effectively to a national audience, that's something else."

Are you f---ing kidding me?!

God Bless (Air) America!

In Sacramento on KSQR 1240AM, we've been receiving Air America Radio for several weeks now. Unfortunately, it's a smaller-wattage station and the signal just barely penetrates the building where I work. But even the massive Clear Channel stations don't come in with a clean signal. I work in a metal framed building and only the more powerful FM stations get in with good sound. Still, I'm able to listen on my way in and out of work. I'm not as fond of Unfiltered which runs during drive time out here but The O'Franken Factor and The Majority Report are quite good. Franken is very fair and very knowledgable and loves to skewer the pompous windbags that are O'Reilly, Hannity, and Limbaugh. This is the show I would want to do if I had the time and resources (and endurance) to listen to those neo-con noisemakers and research the inevitable refutations. To be fair, I think Janeane Garrafalo and Sam Seder on The Majority Report let their bias shine more than Franken but they have a better raport with each other and, frankly, are better radio hosts than the flagship "star" Al Franken. And, too, I think I'm falling in love with Janeane.