The Age of (un)Reason

As its been much talked about on the news today that Brian Bilbray managed - barely - to win the 50th congressional district of California.  Emphasis on barely.  He beat Francine Busby by a scant four percent.  By comparison, when Randy Cunningham won the seat the last time around, he won it by twenty percent.  So the question to be asked is will the Republicans maintain control in seven months when the seat is up for reelection again (Bilbray was elected to finish out Cunningham’s term)?  If the Democrats try harder than they did this time around, then yes.

Over at Daily Kos, the Kos-ter pointed out a great irony:

Democrats are not motivated to turn out. Sure, Busby exceeded Kerry’s 43 percent he got in the district in 2004, but not by much. She got 45.46%. If the "culture of corruption" message was enough to bring people out to vote Democratic, this would be the place to do it. This is Duke Cunningham territory, he of the million dollar mansions, yachts, and hookers. Regardless, district voters sent a lobbyist back to Washington to represent them.

So apparently more people in CA-50 really don’t give a shit about corruption of their representative in Congress or corruption in Congress itself.  That is truly fucked up.

How ya like them apples, Bush?

Atleast Congress and some Republicans aren’t completely in Bush’s pocket.

According to this report, they seem to be, finally.  A few excerpts on how they’re fighting back:

The Senate Intelligence Committee voted 9-6 two weeks ago to demand that the administration notify all members of the committees about intelligence operations. The administration has bypassed the intelligence committees to inform only eight congressional leaders about such sensitive programs as the National Security Agency’s warrantless-surveillance operation.

Congressional Republicans and Democrats in March upended plans for a Dubai-owned company to take over some U.S. port operations, forcing the firm to promise to transfer the operations to a "U.S. entity." Outraged lawmakers weren’t convinced when the president dismissed their national-security concerns as unfounded, and they weren’t deterred when he threatened the first veto of his presidency to protect the deal.

The White House and Congress continue to jockey over who has the last word on the treatment of terror suspects. Congress approved an amendment banning torture over the objections of Vice President Cheney. Bush signed the legislation in December but issued a "signing statement" in which he reserved the right to waive the ban, which he suggested violated his constitutional authority as commander in chief. Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner of Virginia and Arizona Sen. John McCain of Arizona, both Republicans, then issued a joint statement vowing "strict oversight to monitor" implementation of the law.

But one of them really caught my attention/ire.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, usually at war, issued a joint statement denouncing the FBI search last month of Rep. William Jefferson’s congressional office as a violation of the separation of powers between co-equal branches of government. Their ultimatum that seized documents be returned is now the subject of negotiations with the Justice Department, which is investigating bribery allegations against Jefferson, D-La.

What the hell?  Jefferson was CAUGHT ON TAPE ACCEPTING A BRIBE.  The FBI raid has nothing to do with excessive war powers and everything to do with smacking down the culture of corruption that is rotting away the nobility and honor of the United States Congress.

From today’s speech about the anti-gay marriage amendment.

Courtesy of Crooks and Liars.

And stupider.  Incase you haven’t been watching the news lately, Dubya has decided to try and ban gay marriage, again.  Yup, with his popularity in the upper 20s, herr dipshit is bring back the Federal Marriage Amendment.  Meanwhile, Bill "Can’t tell a corpse when he sees one" Frist is proposing an amendment banning flag burning.  Both are acts of desperation, borne out of low approval ratings and the need to bolster them.

They will both fail.  Amending the Constitution is extremely hard.  It requires a 2/3 supermajority of Congress (both chambers) and ratification of 2/3 of the states (38 states).  This is irrelevent, as the Republicans would need Democrats to help vote for either one, which will never happen.  Plus, mid-term elections are only a few months away, and the Democrats might gain control of the House, meaning that neither amendment will be passed.

Honestly, this just shows how out of touch the Republican leadership is.  Instead of focusing its attention important issues, such as gas prices and immigration, they’re spending their time chasing irrelevent social topics.

They fail to see the hypocrisy of their actions.  We’re supposed to be the land of the free, the equal, yet they want pass laws discriminating against a segment of our society.  They want to pass a law forbidding someone from practicing their first amendment right to express themselves.  If a person wishes to burn the flag, to make a statement, to express their feelings, then so be it.

Bush, Frist, just give it up. 

Not even Keystone Cops fucked up this much.

According to Taylor Marsh, Amir Taheri was invited to the White House to give his opinion on the situation with Iraq.  Who is Amir Taheri?  Remember that news story claiming that Iran was going to make its religious minorities (Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians) wear colored "badges", ala the yellow badges of Nazi Germany.  This story turned out to be untrue, despite what he says (he still stands behind the truthiness of it).

So the Bush Adminstration is relying on the opinions of an A-class bullshitter.

And the world goes "WTF?"

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday he will call a national referendum on accepting a Palestinian state alongside
Israel if Hamas does not agree to the idea within 10 days.

Wow, just wow.  I honestly didn’t expect this.  No one did, I’d imagine.  Well, atleast Abbas is working towards resolving this conflict with Israel.  Bully for him!

Then, it gets odder.  Israeli PM Olmert and Defense Minister Peretz are going to allow the transfer of weapons to Abbas’ security forces.  Nothing major it seems, just some weapons and ammo to protect the Palestinian President.  But of course, the question is raise: Why?  Apparently because its believed that he’s in danger and might be a target for assassination.

Thats right folks, Israel is helping to protect a Palestinian leader.  I bet hell just got colder.

Yahoo.

Gen. Michael Hayden moved a step closer Tuesday to becoming the nation’s 20th
CIA chief, where he will take over a spy agency looking for a leader to steer it through troubles ranging from al-Qaida to Washington politics.

Maybe they were distracted by his shiney stars?  That, or the twelve Republicans who voted in favor still have delusions that supporting Bush is a good thing.

It grows apparent day by day that this government is slowly but surely becoming more tyrranical, more fascistic.  The PATRIOT Act, illegal detention of people, secret prison camps, warrentless wiretapping, etc.  Now add another to the ever growing list.  Its been revealed today that the NSA is spying on a number of news agencies, including NYT, ABC, and the Washington Post.  Why?  Primarily to try and find out the names of confidential informats.

I could come up with a long winded post about how this is destroying what is/was a great nation.  But, I think I’ll just quote Huey Long instead:

"When fascism comes to America, it will come wrapped in an American flag"

Fascism disguised as patriotism, a truly frightening creature. 

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!?

President Bush told a German newspaper his best moment in more than five years in office was catching a big perch in his own lake.

"You know, I’ve experienced many great moments, and it’s hard to name the best," Bush told weekly Bild am Sonntag when asked about his high point since becoming president in January 2001.

Well, I guess with all the screwups he’s made in those five years, catching a fish could be considered a highlight.  I bet his neoconservative fanboys are probably confused as hell.  "But j00 freed teh Iraqis!"

Though it is bothersome that a fish beat out overthrowing the Taliban.