Support Ted’s Work

•
Ted Rall
Waitin’ for the Commutation
posted by TheDon
The AP is reporting that Sabri Benkahla received a 10 year sentence for lying to a grand jury, obstruction of justice and making a false statement. Benkahla’s defense team argued that

prosecutors were bitter because the 32-year-old Benkahla, born and raised in the U.S., had been acquitted of giving aid to the Taliban and that they were setting a perjury trap by hauling him in front of the grand jury in 2004.

The prosecutors had a different take on the situation.

Under normal sentencing guidelines, Sabri Benkahla would have received at most a three-year term for his convictions this year on charges of lying to a grand jury, obstruction of justice and making a false statement.

But for the first time, prosecutors were able to obtain a stiffer sentence by arguing that Benkahla’s lies effectively promoted terrorism by obstructing a wide-ranging terror investigation.

Prosecutor Gordon Kromberg argued that Benkahla stymied an FBI investigation by giving a grand jury misleading information about his contacts on a 1999 trip to a training camp run by a group called Lashkar-e-Taiba, which the U.S. has since designated a terrorist organization and Kromberg said has links to al-Qaida.

I’m assuming that right-wing radio will be all over this one. I mean, the idea! No underlying crime, and all he did was lie to a grand jury, and he got TEN YEARS?!?!? It’s outrageous, and I’m sure they won’t let up until President Bush pardons this man who was never in any kind of legal trouble before. I’m guessing Fred Thompson will run the defense fund?

•
Ted Rall
TNN – Headline News
Posted by TheDon
Since the Don Imus firing, I’ve been watching MSNBC in the morning. I tried watching when he was still on the air but just couldn’t take more than a few minutes of the cranky old drunk routine. Although I don’t like the reasons they used to pull him off the air, I always wondered why they didn’t get someone on in the mornings who was watchable. It seemed like there was a real opportunity to grab the audience of people who wanted a serious news show in the morning. Nobody else has.

During the interview process they tried some really good people as well as some really bad ones. Sadly, they settled on Joey the Scar, but he has a good supporting cast, and the format is great. Long interviews with people who matter, long news segments when needed, less fluff than most (although it is there). This morning’s headlines have so many notable stories that I had to grab the keyboard.

In the NYT, MaDo says that W has turned the Republicans in her family into Democrats. I think there are two factors at work. First, the goalposts have been moved so far to the right that Nixon would have to run as a liberal today. They have finally become too obnoxious for all but the true believers. Second, there’s Bush. Who would want to be associated with him? He can’t be defended in any debate or argument, only in the safe harbor of incestuous television discussions and printed screeds.

Fort Lewis Washington joins other military bases in eliminating individual memorials for fallen soldiers, opting for once-a-month Memorial Days. I’ve written about this before, and it really makes me angry. Whether you support the current wars or not (and I don’t), you can’t support the destruction of our army and the disrespect towards people who died after they volunteered to fight for us. Where is the outrage from the “Support The Troops” crowd?

The Pentagon is now targeting Summer 2009 to bring stability to Iraq. “The plan is in keeping with President Bush’s surge strategy.” Ummmmm… That would be the brief surge which would last a couple of months? The one which would bring us “a bloody Summer”? The one we would be able to judge very quickly? The one which continues to make Al-Qaeda stronger? That one? Dammit. ITMFA to stop these wars.

The Pentagon is going for some quick, easy bandaids to fix the VA medical system. Here’s my fix – universal health care! You don’t need a separate health care system when it’s free for everyone.

Gonzo lied repeatedly to Congress, and in easily provable ways. Impeach that clown, and his bosses.

The Arab League is offering full recognition of Israel in a plan which involves returning to pre-1967 borders. Call me a starry-eyed optimist, but this sounds like a pretty good way to go. If enough people are finally tired of the bloodshed, and if the Arab League governments will really commit to enforcing the plan, it could be the solution we’ve been looking for.

The TSA is trying to scare us some more, with stories of terrorist dry runs. I see that support for the Iraq war is inching up, and I’m guessing that the loyal Bushies believe that the current strategy of referring to every man, woman and child that we torture or kill in Iraq as Al Qaeda is responsible. So bring on the fear! It’s working, boys!

What a morning of headlines! More shows like this, please!

•
Ted Rall

Short Conversations
posted by TheDon
I just had this telephone conversation:
(caller): Hi, I’m Ron from the Republican National Congressional Committee, and I’d like to ask you a question.
(TheDon): OK.
(caller): So do you think it would be a good thing or a bad thing if a Democrat like Hillary Clinton would be elected president?
(TheDon): I think it could save the country.
(caller): So you think it would be a good thing.
(TheDon): The very best kind of thing.
(caller): Thank you. Goodbye.

I guess they were just wondering. Heh.

•
Ted Rall

and don’t come back
posted by TheDon

A local station is reporting that two-sport star Michael Vick is about to take a leave of absence. Nobody is sure if the leave will be paid or unpaid, or who forced the issue, but they are reporting it as a done deal. I have been predicting that Vick will never play for the Falcons again, and this is probably the first step towards kicking him off the team. The image of Vick throwing puppies to the ground as hard as he can to kill them has completed the fall from grace for this athlete who was embraced by the whole city 6 years ago.

He won’t be missed. This story, with the revelations about the extensive involvment of professional athletes and musicians in this vicious gutter sport, has made me rethink my attitude towards professional sports. I have been able to smother my concern over the upside-down societal priorities which make people who can throw and hit balls fabulously wealthy, but keep the people who teach our children in poverty. It’s the whole modern gladiator thing, where we cheer for our local heroes – I get that. But I think I’ve reached the tipping point. At least for now, I’m through with the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc. I’m sending them packing from my house, and asking them to not come back.

•
Ted Rall

Sunday Funnies
posted by TheDon

Meat The Press
The NIE on the terrorist threat to the “homeland”. Director of National Intelligence Admiral Mike McConnell.
Admiral Mike says the most serious threat facing our country is that plotters who are being observed will be successful penetrating our defenses and completing an attack. Either chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear. WOW! That really narrows it down. Thanks Mike! We don’t face suiciders here because we have erected barriers. Or our erections have barriers. Or something. He seems quitely proud.
Daaaaaamn! He just mentioned Al-Qaeda plotting against us “in their safe haven in Pakistan”. Was he supposed to say that? The “Bush Doctrine” says we have to attack Pakistan now, doesn’t it? He also understands the difference between strategic warnings and tactical warnings. How the HELL did this guy get into this administration? He worried that there are “sleeper cells” in the US but doesn’t know.
Timmeh asks why, one year after an NIE said AQ was ineffective and scattered, a new NIE says they are a grave threat to our country. Doesn’t mention that we have killed 29/30s of AQ leadership, according to John Stewart. Admiral Mike mentions the safe haven in Pakistan again. Ok, I get it. He says that Pakistan reached a political agreement with AQ leaders instead of “pushing them out”. This is the new talking point that you have to kill, kill, kill, bomb, bomb, bomb everyone. It’s a new scapegoating technique. He leaves out the part where Pakistan tried “pushing them out” and failed miserably, then decided to deal with them politically to save the government which controls the nukes. I know… details…
Timmeh asks why we haven’t captured OBL. Admiral Mike goes with “it’s hard to capture an individual”. Leaves out “we weren’t really trying.” Timmeh asks if capturing OBL is worth the probable loss of the Musharref government. Admiral Mike doesn’t buy the scenario. Praises our “strong ally, valuable ally” Pervey.
Timmeh asks about the new, improved torture memo. Admiral Mike demurs, says the US doesn’t engage in torture. Same lie, different day. Says he was horrified by Abu Garhib, but must not be bothered by waterboarding. Won’t address a direct question on waterboarding. Mentions doctors being involved in decisions, and supervising, says we don’t “torture”. Interestingly claims people don’t face heat and cold. That sounds like a lie. It still comes down to the definition, doesn’t it. Bastards. Says they “cause uncertainty”, forcing someone to talk to them. Yeah, they are uncertain if they are about to die. By definition, that’s torture.
Timmeh brings up the NIE assessment that the Iraq war is a great recruitment tool for AQ. Admiral Mike doesn’t disagree, but tries to muddy the waters. Brings up Anbar, as always. This really plays into the “we’re fighting AQ” argument. Timmeh asks about that, and Admiral Mike almost tells the truth. Almost. Timmeh keeps pressing on the deceptive claims that we are mostly fighting AQ over there. Admiral Mike almost agrees, but still pushes AQ as an instigator.
Timmeh brings up an interview where Admiral Mike called the Cheney administaion a bunch of political hacks who cooked the intelligence and ended up with a disaster. I’m not making that up. Admiral Mike acknowledges it, then goes after the Cheney/Feith connection. Daaaaaaaaamn. They let this guy on the teevee? And by “they” I mean the administration and the network. This is surprising. He stops short of saying that the intelligence was hyped, but just barely.
Good stuff.
And now my choice for President, Senator Russ Feingold. In. My. Dreams.
Feingold thinks congress will stop the war. From his lips… He’s encouraged by recent activities. Little Russ asks Senator Russ if he’s afraid that withdrawal will lead to cataclysmic violence and genocide. Senator points out the current situation, which includes cataclysmic violence and genocide. Goes with “we leave, the other players will get involved out of self-interest, and help stabilize when the occupation is over.”
Feingold is going to do something serious – push a censure resolution. Sigh. How about something VERY serious? ITMFA! Timmeh points out that the last censure resolution died with only 4 aye votes. Senator Russ says that one stopped the illegal wiretapping program. Feingold isn’t ready to tie up the Senate with impeachment. It can’t be any more of a waste than the current state of affairs.
Round table. Jeebuz. A couple of idiots (Bob Woodward, David Brooks) and Stephen Hayes. This could be a fast-forward-fest. I’ll skip the Republican talking points when possible.
Money quote from BoBo, speaking of Bush,”You might think that’s strong leadership, you might think that’s deranged.” I’m pretty sure it’s not “strong leadership” when you haven’t seen 30% support in HOW LONG?, and your party got spanked in the last election. So BoBo actually got one right!
Blah-blah-blah about Cheney and about how this administration views the Iraq war. Nothing new here, except Cheney has figured out that the insurgency wasn’t in its last throes.

Fawkes News

Fran Townsend (Bush’s Homeland Security Advisor). I’m going to skip right over this lying shill.I watched her lie all week, don’t need any more.
“Democrats see political advantage in the Threat Assessment.” Guess that’s the fair and balanced view. If you’re a partisan hack. Evan Bayh and Kit Bond to debate whether Iraq is part of the War on Terra. That’ll save some viewing time as well.
Panel Time!
Cat fight between Elizabeth Edwards and Senator Clinton – I’ll pass.
The Pentagon attacks Senator Clinton in a disgusting, dishonest, partisan way. Smug Kristol smirks his way through a “serious proposal to have a debate between the spouses”. Juan scores a three-pointer immediately with “you have to include Jerri Thompson, the trophy wife.” He’s normally heroic on Sunday, and this one doesn’t look like it will disappoint. He then defends the Senate’s right to oversight. Sadly, this isn’t done nearly often enough.
Turning to Republicans, when will Fred declare? It makes Brit smile, but I’ve read good reasons that he is legally required to start reporting donations. Brit jumps to “pro-choice Fred’s” defense. Whores are allowed to sell it to anyone with money. Mara thinks it’s no big deal, I think she’s wrong. This will be pushed by the “true conservative” crowd. Juan points out that “none of the above” is winning in R polls.
The fillibuster by the Republicans – theater or principled stand? Brit seems thoughtful, almost admiring. Odd. Chris Wallace seems puzzled that Harry Reid was unwilling to give political cover to Republicans and Bush. Mara seems to share his puzzlement. Kristol is idiotic as always. Actually says that in one FU, when the war has turned around, Democrats will be crucified for voting against the war just as it was starting the turnaround. It’s sweet how much he cares about the Democratic presidential candidates. Then takes time to go after YearlyKos. Juan points out that what Kristol calls “left” is the center. Nice. Kristol comes out for staying in Iraq 4evah. Again. Juan comes out for actually going after AQ and (a little strangely) the Taliban.
Brit thinks that there will be notable military progress to report in September. Says we’re winning. Juan points out that Hume has been saying the same thing for years. Brit claims that this time it’s really, really, really true. Just like every other time he’s claimed that he’s one shovelful from the pony.
Power Player: Richard Branson.
Curtain

This Weak

Not on this week because of the British Open. So if you really want some elitism with a pinch of racism you won’t entirely miss out.

•
Ted Rall
ITMFA – Imperial Presidency edition
posted by TheDon
We’ve all marvelled at the Cheney administration’s dismissive attitude towards the legislative branch. Glenn Greenwald points out that this is just the tip of the unconstitutional iceberg. He has sussed out the strategery being used to run the clock out until January, 2009. It’s two pronged, with the first prong being a delaying tactic – don’t cooperate with investigations, stop the prosecution of your own gang members:

(the Cheney administration) has the power to block the Justice Department, and its U.S. Attorneys, from criminally prosecuting Executive Branch employees who refuse to comply with Congressional subpoenas, notwithstanding a statute enacted by the American people through their Congress requiring such prosecution where Congress issues a contempt citation.

The second part hasn’t gotten any real attention, even among the people most alarmed by the Unitary Executive Theory. They don’t think they are subject to the rulings of the Judicial branch either:

The great unanswered question of the Bush administration has been, and continues to be, whether, upon losing a judicial battle, they would explicitly claim the right to defy the judicial order on the ground that the order exceeds proper judicial authority.

…

Always lurking at the core of these radical assertions of executive power is the belief that they can defy court orders due to the claimed “constitutional limitations on the judicial power.”

We have known for a long time that this administration would stonewall Congress and lie to it, so it was no surprise when they showed a strong commitment to that philosophy. We now know that even after years-long court battles end with rulings against them, they will not be bound by our court system. The only way to remove this cancer is (all together now)
ITMFA!

•
Ted Rall
TGIF – You-Know-Who edition
Posted by TheDon
As usual, this week was full of grim news, maddending news, and news which is sadly unsurprising. There were, however, some stories which were happy, or at least gave us hope for the future. Harry Reid pulled the Defense Appropriations Bill. Michael Vick was indicted. We’ve apparently killed 29/30s of Al-Qaeda leadership. The last installation of Potter-mania comes out. SPOILER ALERT: the wizard did it.

So in honor of some of the top stories, I made a yellow drink. Use it to toast the news story of your choice. And don’t give away your stickiness.

The Golden Snitch
or
Piss on Vick
or
The Cheney Stripe

Fill a double old-fashioned glass halfway with ice
Add 3 oz vodka
Pour in 2 oz Galliano (Don’t stir, just watch; it’s a lovely effect.)

•
Ted Rall

Attention non-virgins: you’re nothing but a used-up linty piece of tape
Posted by Mikhaela Reid

Saw this in the NY Times a few days ago:

“You have to look at why sex was created,” Eric Love, the director of the East Texas Abstinence Program, which runs Virginity Rules, said one day, the sounds of Christian contemporary music humming faintly in his Longview office. “Sex was designed to bond two people together.”

To make the point, Mr. Love grabbed a tape dispenser and snapped off two fresh pieces. He slapped them to his filing cabinet and the floor; they trapped dirt, lint, a small metal bolt. “Now when it comes time for them to get married, the marriage pulls apart so easily,” he said, trying to unite the grimy strips. “Why? Because they gave the stickiness away.”

Huh? More on this from Feministing.

•
Ted Rall

Why I Don’t Care

Saturday’s cartoon “Profile of a Suicide Bomber” prompted pro-genocide, fascist racist blogger Michelle Malkin to launch into one of her whiny pro-censorship tirades. It’s a fairly straightforward cartoon; I was reading a list of character traits ascribed to Muslim suicide bombers and was taken by the obvious similarities to traits required to serving in the military: blind obedience to authority, religiosity, etc. Both the suicide bombers and the soldiers are victims of a vicious con: die for someone else’s benefit, without questioning whether the sacrifice is worth it (which, in the case of the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, it isn’t). Here’s what Malkin had to say:

Rall is beyond contempt. He has accused our troops of being murderers for Halliburton*, mocked soldiers as sexual deviants**, and derided the late Pat Tillman as an “idiot” and “sap”***. Now, all in one cartoon, he shows his naked contempt for the very traits of the American soldier that helped give birth to this country and secured it for 231 years: willingness to sacrifice, faith, courage, respect for the commander-in-chief****, and determination to complete their mission.

*Her point is…?
**Only the soldiers who shove flashlights up Muslim asses in de Sade-ian dungeons at Abu Ghraib and Bagram and Gitmo and and pee on them and rape them.
***It’s since become evident that Tillman was no idiot. Sap, however, applies to anyone who jointed the armed forces after 9/11, when Bush made clear that he had no intention of defending the U.S. or going after the murderers of 9/11.
****Why on earth would anyone respect Bush? His own father doesn’t. But anyway…

Nothing unusual there. Her fawning fanboy blogger allies, apparently under the delusion that they have a shot at scoring with this “hottie” (ewwww!) if they parrot her every outburst, formed a glorious online pile-on. Again, nothing new.

What caught my eye during the past few days, mixed into the usual urine stream of inarticulate outrage at anyone who questions the fucked-up racket of jingoism and militarism, threats of violence and death against yours truly (aren’t these the same folks who criticized Muslims for their violent reactions to the Danish Mohammed cartoons?), was the wonderment at the fact that I don’t seem to be bothered by their anger at me. Why doesn’t Rall care?

A few choice samples of comments from a typical Republican blog. I’m only including a few because there isn’t enough room on my server to handle it all:

Anyone who whips his ass will be a hero. I’d be glad to post the video
I’m thinking Ted Rall is a jihadi delight! One of the 72 smooth virgins.
60 years ago Ted Rall would be charged with treason and be sitting in a tent in the 120 degree heat of Arizona right now. One more reason they were the “Greatest Generation”. Our generation is weak and we deserve what we are getting.
You mean to tell me this bitch has been drawing since he was 17, and he still sucks that badly? Wow
Remember the guy from Seattle who crapped on the American flag? Maybe someday I can do that on Ted Rall’s grave.
I’m not defending Ted Rall by any stretch of the imagination, but something has gone very wrong with this guy’s head. I would like to ask him that question as I’m kicking his ass.

Actually, I’m relieved that these uneducated morons hate me. Who’d want these violent closeted homosexual lunatics to like them? I’d have to double security at my book signings.

•
Ted Rall

ITMFA – Stop the War edition
posted by TheDon

I’ve been working late nights finishing my pirated Harry Potter book completing some research for work, so it was nice to have the company when the lesser known Harry pulled an all-nighter. The Democrats want to illustrate the fact that Republicans won’t let any real bills come to the Senate floor, and the media generally won’t call the Republicans on it. The Democrats have a point, of course, but only to a point.
Republicans can keep you from voting for a good bill, but they can’t make you vote for a bad bill. Any money you spend on this war is YOUR fault. You won’t be able to pass a bill stopping the war explicitly, but you don’t have to send The Decider any more money, either.
This, of course, won’t stop the war. A couple of signing statements here, some money shuffling there, and this administration will “decide” to keep fighting. They’ll shut down some children’s insurance programs, some medical benefits, whatever, but they will keep fighting.
Then you will have the rock-solid impeachment case you seem to be looking for. If you won’t impeach him for any of the hundred reasons you already have, you would have to impeach him for spending money on an unfunded and deeply unpopular war. You’ll be praised in history books for all time for stopping this blood-thirsty, power hungry gang of criminals.
Or you could keep playing co-consipirator. ITMFA.
keyboard_arrow_up
css.php