Jon Stewart hands Elizabeth McCaughey her ass, and then she promptly resigns from her post

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Exclusive - Betsy McCaughey Extended Interview Pt. 1

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Exclusive - Betsy McCaughey Extended Interview Pt. 2

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On did what we should all do when confronted by these spinmeisters: call out their lies, point out their tactics, and marginalize them. Then wonderful things like this happen...

Betsy McCaughey — an outspoken proponent of the myth that Democrats’ health care reform proposals will lead to the creation of “death panels,” as well as a former lieutenant governor of New York and adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute — has stepped down from her position as a director of Cantel Medical Corp., which bills itself as a “leading provider of infection prevention and control products in the healthcare market.”

Sometimes life is good.

Good News!!!

My brother called early this morning and informed me that my father has been found. He didn't know all the details but what I gleaned from our conversation was that this incident was the direct result of my father refusing to take his medication. About a year ago he was diagnosed with acute psychosis and did a stint in a mental institution. When he was released he was somewhat back to normal, but his condition regressed as a result of him not keeping up with his pill regimen.

Obama to Bush: I Can Release Your Records. Don't Like It? Sue.

Excerpted from Mother Jones:

On his first day in office, President Obama put former president Bush on notice. His administration just released an executive order that will make it difficult for Bush to shield his White House records--and those of former Vice President Dick Cheney--from public scrutiny by invoking the doctrine of executive privilege. Shortly after taking office, Bush handed down his own executive order, amending the Presidential Records Act to give current and past presidents, along with their heirs, veto power over the release of presidential records, which are considered the property of the American people.

"[Obama]'s putting former presidents on notice that if you want to continue a claim of executive privilege that [Obama] doesn't think is well-placed, you're going to have to go to court," says Anne Weismann, the chief counsel for Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington (CREW).

Meanwhile conservatives are ringing their hands over whether or not Obama is really the President because Chief Justice Roberts got the words wrong the first time, and the second time there were no cameras and a bible. So to all you Libertarian jack off who claim there is no difference between the two parties, take note.

Democrats sneak Net neutrality rules into 'stimulus' bill

Excerpted from Cnet News:

The House Democrats' $825 billion legislation released on Thursday was supposedly intended to "stimulate" the economy. Backers claimed that speedy approval was vital because the nation is in "a crisis not seen since the Great Depression" and "the economy is shutting down."

That's the rhetoric. But in reality, Democrats are using the 258-page legislation to sneak Net neutrality rules in through the back door.

The so-called stimulus package hands out billions of dollars in grants for broadband and wireless development, primarily in what are called "unserved" and "underserved" areas. The U.S. Department of Commerce is charged with writing checks-with-many-zeros-on-them to eligible recipients, including telecommunications companies, local and state governments, and even construction companies and other businesses that might be interested.

The catch is that the federal largesse comes with Net neutrality strings attached. The Commerce Department must ensure that the recipients "adhere to" the Federal Communications Commission's 2005 broadband policy statement (PDF)--which the FCC said at the time was advisory and "not enforceable," and has become the subject of a lawsuit before a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C.

One interpretation of the "adhere to" requirement is that a company like AT&T, Verizon, or Comcast that takes "stimulus" dollars to deploy broadband in, say, Nebraska must abide by these rules nationwide. (It's rather like the state of Nebraska demanding that a broadband provider filter out porn nationwide in exchange for a lucrative government contract.)

In addition, recipients must operate broadband and high-speed wireless networks on an "open access basis." The FCC, soon to be under Democratic control, is charged with deciding what that means. Congress didn't see fit to include a definition.

Now aside from the obvious libertarian assclownery of Declan McCullagh, this article is good news for those who believe in freedom of information. The only reason the progressive movement has even gained momentum is because of the universal access of the Internets. Should there be a two tiered system like the telecommunication companies want, mainstream (read corporate thought)would have faster download times than say a site like mine. As for Declan McCullagh's wanking about the stimulus package reshaping the infrastructure of the telecoms, well they don't have to take the money do they?

Free market unrestricted capitalism is dangerous and dead. Get over it, y'all had your chance and the end result was 2008.

O.J. Simpson found guilty

O.J. Simpson found guilty
Originally uploaded by Mildly Brilliant

Guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping. You got away with murder you piece of shit, but you fell victim to your own stupidity. I don't believe in karma, but this is a nice turn of events.

This calls for a celebration: drinks all around!!!

Rage Against the Machine to play at Target during RNC

Excerpted from The Star Tribune:

Political rap-rock giants Rage Against the Machine will give a rare performance at Target Center in Minneapolis on Sept. 3, which not so coincidentally is the same week as the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. for $60.

Target Center's news release for the concert makes no mention of any political overtones, but fans know to expect plenty of verbal fireworks. Rage guitarist Tom Morello has already committed to perform with country-rocker Steve Earle at a union rally Sept. 1 at St. Paul's Harriet Island, the first day of the convention. The band has lashed out at the Bush administration at other shows this year, including last weekend's Lollapalooza festival in Chicago. Morello expressed interest this summer in performing during both party conventions.

This ought to be amusing... It is about time RATM got off their asses and played. If there ever was an administration to rage against, it is this one.

ever need a source of information?, howabout disinformation?

i don't know about all of you but i like to read about interesting news not based on fox noise or the O'really(?!) factor. so today i found the prefect web site that counters modern politically enslave news companies. at www.disinfo.com stories are rated on how popular THE READERS believe they are now you migt think that this is a bad thing but unlike other website that have reader opinionated stories, these people are mostly actually intelligent. i think that anyone with a sane mind should go check this site out. on example of a story is that defense attorney for the west memphis 3 has found new evidence concluding that they are innocent but the attorney general may take months even years to finally admit that they were wrongly imprisioned.

go forth and prosper mentally, spiritually, and physically
silently SCREAMING

Candidates taking a stand against torture

It seems the good folks at the American Freedom Campaign have taken it upon themselves to send a pledge to all the presidential candidates stating:

“We are Americans, and in our America we do not torture, we do not imprison people without charge or legal remedy, we do not tap people’s phones and emails without a court order, and above all we do not give any President unchecked power.

"I pledge to fight to protect and defend the Constitution from assault by any President."

This is an important, the Constiution should be the law, and as you may well know, all civil servants swear an oath to uphold the Constitution. The fact that the Bush Administration has violated this oath repeatedly should be grounds for impeachment, but thanks to the acquiescence of congress and the "liberal" media, it will take nothing short of a blowjob to remove this dictator. So the question is, which candidates pledging to support the Constitution?

Senator Joe Biden (D-DE)
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT)
Senator John Edwards (D-NC)
Senator Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM)

Not one Republican candidate has signed, but to be fair one Republican candidate has signed a similar pledge from American Freedom Agenda. That candidate is the only Republican running who isn't a frothing at the mouth fascist: Ron Paul.

Patriot Act Provisions Voided

I know this is a few days old but I thought I might post some good news in light of the depressing post I just wrote.

Excerpted from The Washington Post:

A federal judge in Oregon ruled yesterday that two provisions of the USA Patriot Act are unconstitutional, marking the second time in as many weeks that the anti-terrorism law has come under attack in the courts.

In a case brought by a Portland man who was wrongly detained as a terrorism suspect in 2004, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled that the Patriot Act violates the Constitution because it "permits the executive branch of government to conduct surveillance and searches of American citizens without satisfying the probable cause requirements of the Fourth Amendment."

"For over 200 years, this Nation has adhered to the rule of law -- with unparalleled success," Aiken wrote in a strongly worded 44-page opinion. "A shift to a Nation based on extra-constitutional authority is prohibited, as well as ill-advised."

It's news like this that gives me hope that this country may yet become a democracy...

Federal Judge strikes down part of Patriot Act

Excerpted from Raw Story:

U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero today stated that a section of the updated USA Patriot Act
"offends the fundamental constitutional principles of checks and balances and separation of powers,"
and struck down the provision in the law allowing the government to secretly obtain personal records,
according to The Whore AP.

Marrero ruled that the National Security Letter provision of the Act, permitting the FBI to demand the
private information and then gag those who received the order, violated the the 1st amendment to the
Constitution protecting free speech and also threatened separation of powers. Read article...

Alright... let's see how long this lasts.