The Blue State

Coulter wants Senator Chafee shot

Ann Coulter went over the top yet again -- which is nothing new.  In her column this week she lashed out at moderate Republican Lincoln Chafee.  The title reads, "They Shot the Wrong Lincoln."

The web site Media Matters has a list of some other times in which Coulter alluded to wanting to kill those she disagrees with:

• Commenting on radio host Melanie Morgan's assertion that if New York Times executive editor BillKeller were convicted of treason she "would have no problem with him beingsent to the gas chamber," Coulter said, "I prefer a firing squad,but I'm open to a debate on the method of execution." She later suggestedthat Times staff members shouldbe "executed."
• Coulter said ofthe media: "Wouldthat it were so! ... That the American military were targetingjournalists."
• Coulter suggestedthat Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA) is "the reason soldiers inventedfragging," -- military slang meaning the intentional killing of a member ofone's own unit.
• Coulter arguedthat the national debate during the Monica Lewinsky controversy should not havefocused on whether former President Bill Clinton "did it," but rather"whether to impeach or assassinate" him.
• Coulter saidof Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens: "We need somebody to put ratpoison in Justice Stevens's créme brulée.''

No wonder the USA Today and the Gazette of Cedar Rapids have dropped her weekly columns.  We are waiting for more newspapers to follow.
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Other sites blogging about Ann Coulter: Huffington Post, Chud, Club for Growth, Mad as Hell, Lazarus Rising, Crooks and Liars.

The debunking of Bush's speech at the American Legion

Hours ago, President Bush gave a foreign policy speech at the American Legion in Salt Lake City, Utah.  This followed a day of protests throughout the city.  Thousands of demonstrators -- senior citizens, the mayor, peace activist groups, and even parents carrying children on their shoulders -- marched to show their disapproval of President Bush and the Republican Congress.

This morning, the President continued where Donald Rumsfeld left off: portraying those who oppose the war as either incompetent or thoughtless.  But instead of covering the dirty rhetoric like most other blogs or some cable shows will provide you with, I would like to quote excerpts of his speech because it's important that we highlight why Bush's views about the war on terrorism represent a shift in American foreign policy thought over the last twenty years: from pragmatic realism to black and white idealism.

Midway through the speech, Bush tried invoking the Administration's revisionist history on what it was like before 9/11:

"We realized that years of pursuingstability to promote peace had left us with neither.  Instead, the lack offreedom in the Middle East made the region an incubator for terroristmovements.The status quo in the Middle East before September the 11th was dangerousand unacceptable, so we're pursuing a new strategy.

Two key points here.  First, Bush believes it was wrong for his father and Bill Clinton to pursue stability and promote peace.  He is indicating quite clearly that stability and peace are precursors to instability -- a statement that is a contradiction in of itself.  And second, Bush says that a lack of freedom leads to terrorism.  But among political scientists and historians, terrorism, commonly referred to as asymmetrical resistance, is dependent upon ideas, recruitment and the scarcity of resources, which are all interlinked.  In other words, you can't recruit just any average Joe willing to die for a cause.  What Bush is leaving out is the variable of resources.  Imagine what it would be like to believe that killing yourself and others would be more productive than living.  So what Bush left out, although freedom is certainly one factor, are the roles that poverty and a lack of education can play in producing young individuals that feel hopeless enough to kill themselves and others.

In the next quote, Bush generalized that democracies don't start wars:

Democracies don't attack each other or threaten the peace.  Governmentsaccountable to the voters focus on building roads and schools -- notweapons of mass destruction.

Just look at the latest Defense bill.  The FY2007 Authorization and Appropriations, submitted to Congress on August 7th, asked for $4.8 billion that will go towards the Department of Energy's nuclear program.  Last time I checked, nukes are a weapon of mass destruction.  And in response to the former, that democracies don't "threaten the peace," Bush can't say that the war in Iraq came to our shores first.

The third quote, well, it speaks for itself:

In the three years since Saddam's fall the Iraqi people have reclaimedsovereignty of their country.

Again, the ignorance there speaks for itself.

Next, Bush disagrees that Iraq was a diversion from the war on terrorism:

Some politicians look atour efforts in Iraq and see a diversion from the war on terror.  That wouldcome as news to Osama bin Laden, who proclaimed that the "third world waris raging" in Iraq.

Please don't quote Osama bin Laden to make a political point.  That's pretty cheap.

The last quote pretty much summed it all up:

We will not allowthe terrorists to dictate the future of this century -- so we will defeatthem in Iraq.

There you go, straight from the President.  We wanted all the terrorists to go to one place, so we started the war in Iraq.  Come on.  It's about time to start talking to fully-grown American adults as if they are adults.
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Other sites blogging about this issue: Freedom Eden, Outside the Beltway, The Democratic Daily, Americablog.

8.3 million children uninsured -- all-time high

With the prominence of the Iraq war, gas prices and all the Congressional scandals putting economic issues on the back-burner, people tend to forget that the latest Census Bureau numbers spell trouble for the middle class.  The number of uninsured is at an all-time high.

Robert Greenstein, Executive Director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, explained the significance of these numbers just released two days ago:

“It is sobering that 5.4 million morepeople lacked health insurance in 2005 than in the recession year of2001, primarily because of the erosion of employer-based insurance.”

Census data show that 46.6 millionAmericans were uninsured in 2005, an increase of 1.3 million from thenumber of uninsured in 2004 (45.3 million).  The percentage who areuninsured rose from 15.6 percent in 2004 to 15.9 percent in 2005.  Thenumber of children who are uninsured rose from 7.9 million in 2004 to8.3 million in 2005.

Any effort by John Kerry, John Edwards or any other Democrat to tackle this issue has been labeled as socialized medicine.  Even though foreign policy seems to trump every other issue now, middle class families want to hear the Democrats discuss the issue of health care a lot more.  This is a winning issue.

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Other sites blogging about this issue: Say Anything, Liberal Lucidity, Newsvine, Media Matters.

Bush tries to top Rumsfeld's threatening rhetoric

Between August 31st and September 11th, the Administration will use the fifth anniversary of the worst attack ever on U.S. soil to appeal to the conservative base ahead of the November 7th midterm elections.  While all political analysts would agree that the President is trying to score some political points by giving these speeches, he ironically is asking the Democrats not to politicize the national security issue:

“These are important times, and I seriously hope people wouldn’tpoliticize these issues I’m going to talk about,” Mr. Bush said after afund-raiser at a house in Little Rock, Ark.

This follows a week-long push by Donald Rumsfeld to compare those who disapprove of President Bush's war policy with Nazis appeasers in World War II:

"I recount that history because, once again, we face similarchallenges in efforts to confront the rising threat of a new type offascism," Rumsfeld said. "But some seem not to have learned history'slessons."

He continued: "Can we truly afford to believe that, somehow or some way, vicious extremists could be appeased?"

On a positive note, at least we will get to see whether Bush's rhetoric can top Rumsfeld as the lowest of the low.  According to one source, Bush's speech in front of the American Legion begins this morning at 11 AM -- not that I will be watching.  Only watch if you are okay with your blood boiling in the morning.

This speech should go much better for Bush than his disastrous interview with NBC's Brian Williams because he will be in a much more controlled environment.

8/31/06 Morning Clips with Breakfast

Here is your morning dose of videos for Thursday, August 31, 2006:

First up: Olbermann for President!  In wake of Donald Rumsfeld's comparison of all those who are against the Iraq war to Nazi appeasers during World War II, Countdown's Keith Olbermann delivered a blistering response to the Defense Secretary about what it truly means to live in a democracy.

Second: Jon Kyl in the doghouse.  There is an intriguing Senate race going on in Arizona that until now has slipped under the radar.  Republican incumbent Jon Kyl, who until now was a sure bet to hold his Senate seat, all of a sudden finds himself having to deal with Democratic challenger Jim Pederson, who now only trails Kyl by 10-points with 18% still undecided.  Here is Pederson's latest television spot that exposes Kyl's connections to big oil.

Third: Howard Dean's first appearance on Countdown.  Back to MSNBC's primetime show, where Mr. Olbermann interviewed Howard Dean.  He asked the DNC Chairman about Rumsfeld's reckless remarks towards those that disagree with the Administration's war policy.

Fourth: Mind control Lieberman style.  Even if you have watched this already, take another look at the Lieberman Campaign's mind control television ad.  The only thing that's missing is a bottle of Corona on the beach.  Honestly though, this is a really creepy ad.

Fifth, But Not Least: John Edwards Campaigns with Lamont. During a visit to Connecticut, John Edwards told an audience why he doesn't believe Joe Lieberman should be running after Democratic voters already voiced their opinion on August 8th.  The former vice presidential candidate also explained why he was wrong to vote for the Iraq war.

More videos tomorrow.

(Video) Bush: "I've got an ekelectic reading list"

You'd better bookmark this blog entry -- this is one for the history books.  40 years from now we will show our grandchildren this interview and they will finally understand why things were so hard during our lifetime. 

During an interview with NBC News, from an objective standpoint, President Bush looked more on his toes, out of place and verbally inept than we have ever seen him before.  The stress of knowing that his war policy is a failure is finally getting to him.  Watch this clip, and pay close attention to Brian Williams' reaction at the end:

Click to watch video clip (YouTube)

--- Partial Transcript ---

BUSH: "I've got an ekelectic reading list...Lemme, Lemme, look.  The key for me is to keep expectations low."

WILLIAMS: "Is that what everyone doesn't get?"

BUSH: "I don't know, Brian, what they get or don't get.  Let, let, you know, my line here here --"

WILLIAMS: "We see all the talk."

BUSH: "Here's the thing.  I don't listen.  Here's the thing.  The great thing about the presidency is your're totally exposed, and people spend a lot of time, particularly if you're making decisions and hard decisions, people spend a lot of time, not only analyzing the decisions, they analyze the decision-maker.  And I understand that.  But a President must never let him get off let let that get him off track."

WILLIAMS: "Even if you're frustrated that we're getting something wrong?"

BUSH: "You have to do what you think is -- if we're getting something wrong, we change it."

WILLIAMS: "How have you been read wrong?"

BUSH: "Oh I don't know about (inaudible) wrong.  I frankly don't pay that much attention to it.  I don't wanna hurt people's feelings about it you (inaudible)."

WILLIAMS: "Still not watching television, huh?"

BUSH: "Ah, I watch some good baseball game."

WILLIAMS: "Mr. President, thank you very much."

BUSH: "Yes sir."

This transcript was the most accurate that I could possibly make it.  And yes, he did say ekelectic -- which probably meant eclectic.  Now my grammar is going to start unwinding for having listened to the clip.  Brian Williams' reaction at the very end was priceless. 

I just would like to say thanks a lot to the 54 million people throughout the country that voted for George W. Bush in 2004.  Thanks for having the short attention span to not think for yourself when the Swift Boat Vets smear group viciously attacked John Kerry.  Thanks for having the one-track mind to believe the notion seriously that we are fighting the terrorists in Iraq so we don't have to fight them here.  Thanks for giving us four more years with a Defense Secretary who spends more time scaring people than finding progressive ways to defend America.  This is what you voted for.  Enjoy the next two years.
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Other sites blogging about this story: Crooks and Liars, Digg, The Democratic Daily, The Bush Diaries, Nevada Thunder, OH-12, True Blue Liberal, The Constant American, Wonkette, Carefully Selected Garbage, Huffington Post, Integral Opinions Cafe, Plays Well with Others, The Peace Blog, The Pennsylvania Progressive, The DCeiver, This Much Left, St George Blog, Left-Over, Strategic Outlook Institute, No More Apples.

CT-Sen: Kemp thinks Kerry and Clinton comments helping Iran

Joe Lieberman should have known better.  He should have known that by welcoming an attack dog like two-time former Republican vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp into his campaign, this kind of sick rhetoric would be recklessly thrown around.

Yesterday on the Fox news show Your World with Neil Cavuto, Jack Kemp went off on a tangent and suggested that John Kerry and Hillary Clinton were making things easier for Iran by favoring Ned Lamont over Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut Senate race:

It is pathetic for the Democratic leadership, including Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, who should know better, to really drop this type of political poison on their former Vice Presidential candidate that they proudly campaigned for in 2000, particularly so, Neil, after they voted for war, they voted for the appropriations to try to provide some democratic freedoms in Afghanistan and Iraq.  And now for them to come out for Ned Lamont, who wants to pull out tomorrow, which would leave a gaping hole in our Mideast policy.  It would redound to the benefit of Iran.  Iran has pledged to wipe out Israel off the face of the map.  I just think it's hypocritical, sad and pathetic.

Aside from Kemp suggesting that Clinton and Kerry were helping Iran by supporting Lamont, it's amazing how long Lieberman supporters have been getting away with distorting Ned Lamont's position on Iraq.  Jack Kemp is wrong to conclude that Lamont "wants to pull out tomorrow" from Iraq.  That's not true.  What he supports is a significant transition this year, and a phased withdrawal in 2007.  That is position is much more in line with the view of most Americans than Bush's go-it-alone stay the course policy without an end in sight.
 

Newest member of the Liberal Advertising Network

Today is a big day for this web site.  Just a few hours ago, Chris Bowers of the well-known progressive blog MyDD finalized the entry of The Blue State blog into the Liberal Advertising Network.  This is important because it allows me to join the list of nearly 100 other blogs -- such as Daily Kos, Crooks and Liars, Firedoglake, Americablog and others -- that contribute progressive ideas and momentum on a daily basis in an effort to use grassroots activist democracy to push back against the established elite that have a foothold on sources of power in Washington.

My goal with this blog is to help strengthen the progressive infrastructure in any way that I can.  Conservatives have their noise machine in the television and radio industries and in corporate America.  It is essential that progressives put all their energy behind utilizing the blogosphere.  Blogs are a great resource for bringing concerned citizens together to discuss, organize and rally for non-reactionary, solution-based ideas that can strengthen this country for future generations.

Between now and November, I will contribute my energy and ideas into helping better establish the netroots as a mainstream demographic of informed and involved taxpayers that demand accountability, transparency and honesty from the highest levels of power.

So thanks for stopping by.  Come back often.  Bookmark it.  Tell your friends.  And link to it if you have a blog!  There's about two months until election day, and we have a lot to accomplish.

Stevens admits he did it

Within the last hour or so, Ted Stevens' office now admits that their boss was indeed holding the bill up.  TPM Muckraker blog once again has the story:

A spokesman forSen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) just confirmed his boss was the man behind thesecret hold on the Coburn/Obama spending database bill, which has captivated  a segment of the political blogging community in recent days.

"Sen. Stevens does have a hold on the bill," said the spokesman, whowould only speak on the condition he not be named. He added that Sen.Tom Coburn's (R-OK) office was notified of the hold after it wasplaced. So Coburn's comments two weeks ago may have been duly informed.

Now this is where Stevens' rationale, if he had any, for holding the bill falls completely apart.  It's as if a teenager tip-toed down to the kitchen in the darkness of night to grab a beer, only to have the kitchen light immediately flipped on by his parents.  He's exposed.  What will be Stevens' next move? Will he chug the beer, or give up and hand it over?  Stay tuned.

Ted Stevens hates transparency

The earmark bandit has been caught!  Yesterday, I suggested that Ted Stevens may have been the annonymous senator who blocked a bipartisan bill that was specifically designed to deter lawmakers from secretly adding pork into their bills.  It would create a national database that monitors every bill on the Senate floor, especially those with earmarks.  The public list would also contain the name of the senators that added the pork and the special interest groups that would benefit.

Due to Stevens' checkered past, it didn't take a genius to guess that he might have had something to do with the roadblock.  As it turns out, according to The Times Record newspaper in Arkansas via TPM Muckraker blog, Stevens has been outed by Tom Coburn (R-OK):

One of the senators most criticized for hispersonal projects, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, has a hold of his own onCoburn’s bill to make public the spending patterns of the government.Called the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, thelegislation calls for the creation of a database open to the publicwhere citizens can track government spending.

“He’s the only senator blocking it,” Coburn said of Stevens.

There you have it!  So one senator, Ted Stevens, is desperate to deter accountability and transparency.  This is not a matter of a clear majority siding with Ted Stevens, or even a small minority for that matter.  Mr. Stevens is on his own, and his Republican Party is too stubborn to put a leash on him.

If you recall, Stevens was the senator who in 2005 secretly inserted $453 million into a budget bill to build a highway in Alaska that connected to two towns: one with a population 8,900, and the other with only 50 people.  As a result of bills like this, Alaska ranks number one in federal per capita spending.

Please e-mail your Senators and ask them to put pressure on Ted Stevens to stop blocking this transparency bill.  The National Debt is a serious problem, and it's about time we exposed those who waste our money.

(It should be noted that Ted Stevens is also the one who, on the Senate floor, said that the internet is "a series of tubes.")

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Other sites blogging about this issue: TPM Muckraker, Public Knowledge, MRDTalk, Bizzy Blog, Reality Well, Porkopolis, Impudent Domain.