cognitorex

Don't ya hate ethnic gangs!

2009-01-08T09:20:00.001-05:00

.Uncle Sam sits in an alley....mostly naked, bruised, bloody, band aids here and there....who did it ? the cops ask...a gang he says...who, blacks, hispanics, homeless people ?? ask the cops...no, they all were wearing designer suits and bright pastel ties.....

Don't you just hate those welfare cheats

2008-11-08T20:15:00.002-05:00

.My favorite irony (of the moment, there are so many, such as the Bush/Cheney/GOP modus operandi of putting “Party” members over all important policy decisions which is/was the chief evil of Communism) is that there are still hordes of voters that vote for the GOP because they hate having a perceived group of poor shiftless welfare persons having access to their tax dollars.Meanwhile every eight

Greenspan should feel the shame of his inaction

2008-10-30T10:49:00.003-04:00

Circa 1986 I sat high up over the New York City financial area with a prominent bank's Executive VP and Director.He said, "Where do you think we should be looking for future profits, we'd like to have of our equity 'at play.'I was flattered that he should court my opinion. I also remember thinking, "Half your equity at play, what are you, nuts?"The bank is no more in existence.The thinking that

CEO taxation is not a big election issue

2008-07-08T10:59:00.003-04:00

The CEOs and corporate executives that regularly perform embezzlement by committee are immune to tax increases. They and their board of directors' henchmen, with no institutional opposition, can and will raise their personal payouts to ameliorate or obviate any Obama inspired increase in fat cat taxes.Note that fat cats and Wall Streeters are giving two to one or more to the Obama campaign. They

McCain's tortured views

2008-07-06T08:32:00.001-04:00

McCain is an aging man from a war making military family. In service to a dumb war in Asia he was incarcerated and tortured. His DNA is rigid. "We should have stayed the course in Vietnam" is his dumb guns first, intelligent diplomacy second (or never) rigid mental status in foreign policy.This fact, that his genetic military being and his 'tortured' view of what the military and diplomatic

MSNBC losing big time to FOX quoth a liberal

2008-06-28T10:37:00.002-04:00

FOX News provides more news and analysis than the constant gossipy drivel from MSNBC's Chris Matthews (Hardball) and David Gregory (Race to the White House.)Set aside the fact that, say, 10% of FOX's broadcasts are patently right leaning. Then analyze how much of the remainder is new items of the day presented with facts and analysis. FOX is three to ten times more educational than MSNBC's mix of

Iraq, Stay or Leave? (a reprint)

2008-06-08T06:31:00.004-04:00

June 29, 2007Iraq, Stay or Leave? If the Iraqi's stopped all fighting, formed an exemplary democratic national government and bid all American troops to leave Iraq this would be a great victory to 'progressives' and liberals. They would offer money and services to restore Iraq to health while all the while grinning madly that peace and prosperity had been the result of America's intervention

Pittsfield UU Meditation Sangha

2008-06-06T08:29:00.002-04:00

Pittsfield UU Meditation Sangha is, for the moment, the name for our group that sits each Thursday at 6:00 PM at the Wendell Ave UU Church.Linda, Ron and Craig, founding members, and James, Tim, Mike, Doris and Michael all voted after some group discussion that this name sufficed.Personally I would like it to be called "The Nose Focusers."Craig mentioned in this quasi business meeting what he

Clinton and media dysfuncion fandango avoided

2008-06-05T09:15:00.003-04:00

.I am so relieved that the fan-dango-dysfunction-ings of the Clinton family re-inhabiting the White House won't be the next eight years' daily gossip seeking (what passes for political media) fodder blared night and day in between Paris and Brittany lower cleavage sightings.Ah Bill, we knew thee well. Too damn well for a rerun, say I.

McCain's is a one-note campaign: "more war"

2008-06-04T06:38:00.004-04:00

.Step back and summarize who McCain is. He's an old man from a military family that says "we must win, we must win", in between his gaffs and misstatements and saying "we are winning, we are winning." If we win in Iraq and leave, then we are 'surrendering' is Senator McCain's baffling call to keep fighting.He can't lead on health care, the economy, taxes, jobs or ecology.Saying he's for change is

Obama to McCain: "John, my America is not losing."

2008-05-29T07:50:00.006-04:00

.Obama to McCain: "John, my America is not losing."Surrender is a figment of your imagination. - - .I will not surrender, John McCain proclaims, as dramatically as he can.Obama should declaim, "John, John, John. What are you thinking about when you say I, or our military or anybody else, might surrender.Militarily, our warriors have won all the required battles to give the Iraqis a new start..

Baker and Appeasement; My scoop on the 2006 Video!

2008-05-23T12:24:00.004-04:00

cognitorex wrote:The original reporting of the Baker Hannity discussion on negotiating and appeasement report is attributable to Craig Johnson aka cognitorex, that's me, right here, how fun to get a scoop, on Op-Ed News October 2006 and his blog cognitorex dot blogspot dot com (Baker flummoxes Hannity). It was also first ressurected/reported in this cycle in Talking Points Memo (TPM Cafe) on

MSNBC Hardball: meanness below the narcissism

2008-05-04T10:14:00.004-04:00

.Sightings of Brittany's and Paris' un pantied lower cleavage are down in news coverage due to Wright mania.Only in America.Remember Dean's scream. If the true sound level masking his scream from that podium had been played, it's affect would have been significantly less.I wonder if the press and particularly MSNBC's Hardball don't go bat doodle when they smell that by amplifying and fixating on

Barack Elitism Gas Tax Truthiness

2008-05-02T09:19:00.002-04:00

As for looking at elitism and the truth, this week has seen a great example.Hillary and McCain offer voters a half of a torn band aid in a gasoline tax rollback that depends on and presumes that the average American voter is plug stupid.Barack, in stark contrast says, "You guys who want change; let's start right here." "This gas tax rebate gimmick is simple pandering and serves no positive

Obama shows trust and respect for voting public: Hillary not so much

2008-04-15T14:30:00.010-04:00

.Obama has embarked on a profound sociological and political gamble. He gambles by offering the electorate a deep respect by quietly and firmly telling truths. His campaign, to a degree unparalleled in normal campaigning, constantly and repetitively gambles that voters of all stripes, indeed, can handle the truth. It must be at times agony to watch the 'gotcha' spin from opponents and the press

Hillary talks 'cracker': her days of guns and food stamps

2008-04-14T07:57:00.002-04:00

.Hillary says. "When in Pennsylvania cracker land, talk cracker.""That is in no way condescending" she said, "It's simple political play book, page one tactics. Talk guns and beer.""Barack, however, is different" she said. "Even tho' he was telling a known version of cracker truth, he used a five syllable word plus complicated syntax. That, my friends, is elitist. Knee slappin' elitist.""Back

The Crooked Citizen takes a Mortgage

2008-04-04T11:29:00.006-04:00

.John and Jane, brokers, sit in their mortgage originator store front office. They spy a couple reading their window adverts."Come in, come in. And how are you lovely folks today?""Good." "Good.""May we ask you if you rent or own?""Ah, you rent. $900 a month and it's tight. We see." (They huddle a moment.)"Folks, we've assessed your case and our thinking is if you sign right here for a thousand a

"Leverage" An off off Wall Steet Drama

2008-04-04T11:23:00.004-04:00

. "Who's knocking on our door ?" the CFO of a huge investment bank asked."Why it's the government Banking Auditor. It's his day of the week to ask us to mark our assets to market.""Are we in shape for his visit?""Uhm, Yes and no. Sorta good news, bad news.""What's the good news?""We've done the math and we figure our remaining mortgages on the books, good and bad, are worth $43 billion, so

McCain perfects shadow corruption

2008-03-31T13:43:00.004-04:00

.Nobody seems to have noticed that McCain has a methodology he uses to push lobbyist causes without doing so in the daylight. In two recent reported incidents, one where his , ahem, donor friend wanted a favorable communication industry ruling and one where he took money from the non US military air tanker competitor, McCain wrote letters to the committee Chairmen.He doesn't

Buying and Selling Housing Accounts as a Commodity

2008-03-28T13:50:00.002-04:00

.What Greenspan (and Paulson) euphemistically call 'mis pricing risk' by the nation's financiers is more aptly described as their collective purchasing of 90% to 100% leveraged commodity accounts. At the end of the day, homes are a commodity. There are laws regulating the purchase and financing of commodities; there are strict margin requirements and lots of bold print that purchasing a

US troops off on voter suppression duty; Deaths to follow.

2008-03-28T12:12:00.002-04:00

America's young men and women will now be marching South to the oil important Basra area.The purpose of the next 200 deaths in this region will be to promote voter suppression against MqSadr's political party.Maliki and the central gov't are being paid well to follow US policy for gaining control of the oil resources. Sadr represents the nationalist interest for Iraq and our boys and girls must

Florida Michigan delegation issue is resolved.

2008-03-20T15:36:00.003-04:00

By Craig Johnson aka cognitorex - March 20, 2008, 12:22PM Revote, no revote the Super D's will still be the deciders. The issue is moot.First I'll say I agree with the general pooh-pooh sentiment regarding Greg Sargent's post on Talking Points Memo about a new plan being floated in Florida.. Why someone would call this a new plan when it is patently unworkable and useless is over my

Dolphin rescues Whales AP Story

2008-03-13T08:07:00.003-04:00

.By RAY LILLEY/ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER/3.13.08 View related video WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Most days, Moko the bottlenosed dolphin swims playfully with humans at a New Zealand beach. But this week, it seems, Moko found his mojo. Witnesses described Wednesday how they saw the dolphin swim up to two stranded whales and guide them to

Rush Limbaugh hearts Hillary: The McDelegates

2008-03-12T10:51:00.005-04:00

.Without Rush Limbaugh supporters voting for Hillary, Obama would have won the Mississippi primary 64% to 34%. (Registered GOP voters were 12% of Democratic primary voters, going 3 to 1 for Mrs. Clinton.)Someone should keep a scorecard of the delegates that Rush and his insurgent GOP spoilers ring up for Hillary. Rush exhorts his GOP minions to vote for Hillary in the Democratic primaries as best

Kipling calls out McCain on his war lust

2008-03-11T09:04:00.004-04:00

.Take up the White Man's burden—Send forth the best ye breed— Go, bind your sons to exileTo serve your captives' need; To wait, in heavy harness,On fluttered folk and wild— Your new-caught sullen peoples,Half devil and half child._______________________________________________ Far-called, our navies melt away;On dune and headland sinks the fire: Lo, all our pomp of yesterdayIs one with

Rush Limbaugh's cocktail prescription for John McCain

2008-03-08T08:28:00.006-05:00

.Rush Limpbaugh has been known to order up a pill or two for that feel good life of the ultra conservative.The word is that he has recently prescribed to John McCain a cocktail of Bourbon and Viagra to be taken when John has one of his periodic fits of integrity."The booze'll numb your pangs of conscience towards your fellow citizens," says Rush, " and the Viagra will stiffen your conservative

McCain's Straight Talk Express crashes: Integrity is major Casuality

2008-03-04T14:46:00.004-05:00

.McCain has come out for private accounts.(Wall St. Journal Bob Davis 3/3/08)This mechanism will allow the financial types to take a fee out of each person's social security transactions. They will invent new and better accounts and trade the public's assets ad infinitum in a manner quite similar to getting their hands on the mortgage industry.After they take their cut and their fees out of all

Hillary and Mark Penn's im-pyrrhic-al spin

2008-02-29T16:01:00.003-05:00

.Translated, what Mrs. Clinton and her campaign executive staff are now actually trying to (ill) logically conjure into a spin is:"Obama's overall campaign is so superior to ours in terms of attracting adherents, attracting donations, attracting and organizing primary state volunteers and placing advertisements that if he doesn't beat us handily everywhere we will attain a quasi pyrrhic victory."

Simple compromise to get the spying bill passed

2008-02-26T16:20:00.002-05:00

.I seriously suggest a horse swap to get this bill passed.Give the telecoms blanket immunity in return for George Bush agreeing to remain open to serving one year in jail if the ACLU and the nasty trial lawyers can successfully convict him of being a party to breaking our nation's privacy laws.You take the money out of the equation and the American people get their just reward, a pound of George

Dear Hillary, more crude attacks, please!

2008-02-26T14:47:00.002-05:00

.Bash Obama now, see what for how long might stick,Surviving, nay thriving, he's way more the November pick.For news cycles can be a friend,Particularly as and when they end. You know those trey stupid socialistic European countries that provide safety nets for their citizens?They're kicking our butts.

Hua Hu Ching of Lao Tzu #10

2008-02-23T12:17:00.004-05:00

.Hua Hu Chingby Lao TzuTen The ego is a monkey catapulting through the jungle:Totally fascinated by the realm of the senses, it swings from one desire to the next, one conflict to the next, one self-centered idea to the next.If you threaten it, it actually fears for its life.Let this monkey go.Let the senses go.Let desires go.Let conflicts go.Let ideas go.Let the fiction of

The true nature of the standing ovation for Hillary's debate closing remarks

2008-02-23T06:36:00.004-05:00

. Hillary used the pronoun 'we' exclusively in her closing remark. It was an inclusive remark, inclusive of her, Barack, the attendees and all Democrats and voters.Those standing in ovation were applauding themselves, the Democratic party, high ideals and the fine decent manners forthcoming from Hillary. They were also celebrating the debate itself as it closed.If someone had conveyed to the

"9/11 Changed everything": from Jon Swift

2008-02-22T16:38:00.003-05:00

There is no love lost between John McCain and conservatives. But as much as we hate McCain, we hate the New York Times even more and the newspaper's hit job on McCain, accusing him of having a "close" relationship with an attractive young telecommunications lobbyist and doing favors for her, is causing conservatives to circle the wagons and rally around McCain. Even Rush Limbaugh, who hates John

The Shuster pejora-bomb? Adjetoxic language.

2008-02-13T10:32:00.004-05:00

.I want a new word.I want the word adjetoxic to be used when somebody makes a reasoned comment but goofs by using a hugely negative descriptive noun verb or adjective in their statement.I.e., the golf announcer Kelly Tilghman used the word lynch in reference to Tiger Woods when 'beat the crap out of' would have not caused, well, such an adjetoxic uproar. (adjective plus toxic)David Shuster

Nanderthals for Change

2008-02-11T09:06:00.000-05:00

.Fay Buchanan, Romney spinmeister, arch Republican Villager and sister of Pat Buchanan was being interviewed. The reporter broached the topic of change, that Romney had joined the verbal band wagon of and for change."We're definitely for changing the old prevailing ways of Washington" said dear Fay.But you're in the process of adding White House insider types, Bush confidants and Cheney genes to

MSNBC offers 'pimp' programming payback, how slutty is that?

2008-02-10T16:33:00.000-05:00

.MSNBC carries entire hour of Hillary's life/bio/documentary on Saturday 2/9/08 eve just prior to WA, NE, La primary results programming.Is Obama getting future offsetting hour or is this the Network bending its knee in abject apology?Kelly Tilghman's 'lynch': Shuster's 'pimp-ing'.Can we call the use of toxic words be they nouns, verbs, adjectives or whatever an adjetoxic comment? Lynch, to lynch

Buffet buffets Greenspan's buffeted risk pricing

2008-02-07T16:08:00.000-05:00

."Risk was mis priced due to euphoria" was Greenspan's adorable euphemism describing how 'banks' make - package - trade - buy and retrade and repackage crappy investments (for commissions) until their demise.Read Warren Buffet's commentary in (Reuters) Buffett: Bank woes are "poetic justice"http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0631767220080207Page two second paragraph "risk has been

Hillary okays FOX debate - "Day One" brain lock

2008-02-05T16:57:00.000-05:00

.FOX might just as well have used the N’ word(my recap of the FOX coverage of the Democratic S. Carolina primary) As Obama was piling up the votes in South Carolina the FOX pundits kept repeating over and over again, ”The black man is getting the black vote.”It was obnoxius, so obnoxius in fact that FOX’s imported experts refused to pick up their black-man black-vote spin. Up popped Heraldo, ”ah

Immigrants send Mitt Romney back across border

2008-02-02T12:36:00.000-05:00

.Nate Newman on TPM Cafe gives us these numbers and analysis.If 12% of a population votes 54% to 14% for a candidate, this will add 5% to that candidate's vote total.Apparently the Florida immigrant population, the Latinos, the border jumpers or swimmers as the case may be, added the entire margin of victory, McCain's 5% margin, to so cause McCain's victory in Florida.That means that Romney's

Get down with the down-ticket candidate

2008-01-31T10:47:00.000-05:00

.It's cut and dried that Obama will bring significantly more Democratic voting voters to the general election than will Bill/Hill.He will increase the House and Senate Democratic majorities over a Bill/Hill ticket and inter alia, will thus be the superior leader for augmenting change in D.C.("Day One.")Get down with the down-ticket candidate, Barack Obama.

Thank you Ralph Nader for Obama

2008-01-30T15:29:00.000-05:00

.When we awake in November, McCain having lost to Obama and both the Senate and House firmly Democratic we need give thanks to the prime mover of these events.Ralph Nader declared that there was no discernible choice between the parties and personally engineered eight venal years of 'win at all cost' Republican rule.That right versus wrong and ethics and honor are being aired as themes of action

Capitalism, Binge Lending and Spillage

2008-01-25T12:18:00.000-05:00

.As the big boys say in Alcoholics Anonymous, "I've spilled more booze than you've even thought of drinking." Likewise the shear waste and uneconomic spillage in US capitalistic practice is an unseen, mind boggling sum of money. Having personally inked $$ billions of loan deals and met folks destined for both the White House and for jail the most important thing I would like each voter (and

"Double Occupancy" - Two Presidents in the White House

2008-01-23T11:52:00.000-05:00

A husband retires and starts going grocery shopping with his wife, the long serving cook and Mother of the family. By trip two he not only catches on but envisions he can shop smarter and better.Oochy Momma!His out loud suggestions should engender a cartoon like humor response but they're actually grating to the ear. Human nature is not logical and certainly some parts of human nature don't bear

Bush and Bernanke push corporate socialism

2008-01-17T13:33:00.000-05:00

The financial types made, packaged and sold huge numbers of poor mortgages. As they traded these shoddy assets back and forth amongst themselves they, (Wall Street) paid themselves $25 billion in bonuses for 2006 and $32 billion for 2007.Now Bernacke and Bush recommend a stimulus to replace the missing equity capital in the financial system. How can this not be called socialism? Or is socialistic

The "Fairy Tale" in the Clinton campaign

2008-01-14T15:47:00.000-05:00

.Bill Clinton nakedly lied to the nation and the fact that the Democrats are not discussing it in no way means that it has gone away. His national standing was then so hemorrhaged that he became quasi toxic in the 2000 election thus single handedly denying Gore his Presidential due. It somehow seems dead wrong that a process has begun, the culmination of which will be to again place this once

Conjugate America: I torture, you torture, we torture.

2008-01-03T07:16:00.000-05:00

.Ode to Bush and Cheney ( February 2004 )Thugs in suits,wearing crosses,speaking Jesus,doing trash.Blood of Inquisitors,long cold,warmsThugs in suits,wearing crosses,speaking Jesus,doing trash.Read this poem as a poetic prediction as to where this evango' phony amoral mercenary hiring administration was going to lead America.It was written before Abu Ghraib and water boarding became verbal

Rush Limbaugh and Hillary’s wrinkles

2007-12-22T08:48:00.000-05:00

.It would behoove everybody to remember that Monsieur Limbaugh is a comedian. He and his arch supporters only have to sit back and wait to hear the howls from Democrats and feminists before then doubling over in great gales of laughter. If you can step back from the stage, so to speak, and gain some perspective you can enjoy a master vaudevillian doing his shtick (at your expense.) Personally,

Greenspan's adorable euphemism for the housing debacle and Free Market mythology.

2007-12-19T14:56:00.000-05:00

.There are some interesting side issues to the sub prime housing crisis that are not so generally discussed. Are free markets efficient, as the GOP/corporate mantra goes, or prone to excess and economic dislocation? Who pays for the economic dislocation, those receiving the bonuses prior to the crash or John and Jane Doe? If the total housing market is in effect a commodity subject to ups and

Sunnis to kick Shia butt -repost from 11/26/06

2007-12-17T12:57:00.000-05:00

. The Sunni insurgents are now literally and actually in their "last throes."But now this statement means they have won.A knowledgeable source basically says that it is an open secret that the Sunni insurgents will kick the Shia's butt when we leave.And, our staying will serve no useful purpose.Let events take their course.Tis a shame we didn't go in with 300,000 troops or not disband the

Obama Drug use: Lessons from Turd Blossom

2007-12-15T14:56:00.000-05:00

The press timorously asked, "George, what about your drug use?"George replied, "I'm not going there." "It's rule one of gotcha politics that each answer to a query such as "What about your drug use?" only results in 'gotcha scenarios' and more questions. Therefore, I am not going there."He did not go there and the media quit, no digging, no witnesses, no nada because George had learned from Karl

Make Corporate Tax Breaks a Competition (Woot)

2007-12-14T10:03:00.000-05:00

.Corporations thirty years ago or so contributed over twenty percent of the tax revenues collected by our IRS. That number is now only seven percent.Presumably this has come about in part because of the modern ability with computers to instantly reallocate costs, profit centers and scheme like deductions on a global scale.It has also come about as the hordes from K Street each win a tax break

March '05 Dollar Oraclation -repost

2007-12-13T13:19:00.000-05:00

."Pete Rose & Social Security" Employ the Pete Rose option.Borrow a trillion or three to fund private accounts. Place half or all of these accounts in foreign stocks, currencies or bonds. The dollar careens yet lower and these account are massively rewarded. Zee problem is solved. Of course, zee barrel of oil then becomes quoted in les stable Euros, rising to $75 a pop, read three bucks

Saving bad mortgages and the Free Market

2007-12-11T14:07:00.000-05:00

.I see writings everywhere that people are upset with legislation to not allow a few tens of thousands of 'resetting' mortgages to default. Damn those stupid borrowers they say. Let the free market work. To me this is horrendously uninformed and naive thinking. I say.What you espouse seems so right; so logically straight forward. It, however, for the most part is simply dead wrong and off

Huckabee's Likability Factor

2007-12-11T11:52:00.000-05:00

.Setting aside socio political planks as sole arbiters, he seems a personable and nice man. Mitt and Rudi do not.Over all candidates he appeals as the guy you'd most want to have as a Principal at your children's school. As a neighbor, he appears most likely to show up at the door with a pie or a meal when a wife is ill or facing a surgery.I find his "God speaks to me" platform and his smattering

Romney's Renaissance

2007-12-08T11:16:00.000-05:00

From liberal Massachusetts where Romney campaigned on what the electorate wanted to hear, i.e. religious and social tolerance re gays, abortion, etc, to Philadelphia, thoughts of enlightenment heralding reason and science were the philosophical backbone of a great new country.Voltaire on hearing Romney's new mantra invoked in his "Freedom requires religion" line sat bolt upright. Actually he

Sex Education and Papal Protection

2007-12-08T10:56:00.000-05:00

.The Pope's Prophylactics I have this vision of acolytes preparing the Pope's food in the Vatican kitchens.In this day and age they are appropriately wearing latex sheaths on their hands. Each finger is covered; ten little condoms for the Pope's oral hygiene.But when it comes to genitalia..icky, icky...Pius and Paul...forswear protection in Christ's name...you'all.

Establish a Federal 'Credit' Insurance Corp.

2007-11-30T12:08:00.000-05:00

.2006 Wall Street bonuses; $25 Billion. 2007 Sub prime losses: $25 billion. As the big boys on Wall Street direct trillions in capital flows to derivatives, rank speculation and the latest hot packaged products like sub-prime mortgages they wet their beaks, like the mob, at every turn.Why not place a one one hundreth of a per cent tax on these flows to fund the financial and social

Iraq Peace Accords..Its a Chalabian World

2007-11-28T12:51:00.000-05:00

.A cunning, brilliant, spectacularly amoral solution. (Opening thoughts on the US Executive Branch signing an agreement for a major long term military presence in Iraq.) As Malaki accepts the Honorary post of Shah of Iraq once promised to Chalabi, the Iraqi nationalists and the Iraqi fundamentalists are sold down the river. Who said that two wrongs could not make a right or that a continuous

Crashing Dollar - Silver Lining

2007-11-28T10:23:00.000-05:00

.This is the Bush enviromental plan at work.Increase deficit and off-the-books' war spending to create record level obligations to the Chinese, eventually whacking the dollar. Oil prices soar to $6.00 US (Franc and Euro no increase) and hybrids, walking and bikes come into vogue.Our McDonalds fat kids' crisis beautifully abates as a cunning benefit of the process.Ta da! One man's incompetence is

Presidents Bubbas and the Performing Arts

2007-11-27T11:40:00.000-05:00

.What I have never understood is how red state Bubbas, both those with guns and pickup trucks and their metaphorical kin, the socially angry anti gay working folks, could have voted into office a guy who participated in the manly arena of organized sports as a cheerleader.Rah, rah,"Give me an A", all neatly gussied up in matching outfits. Come on guys, give me a break.Now we have Rudi who all

Social Security: Got a dog in the hunt?

2007-11-27T11:00:00.000-05:00

"Have you got a million dollars in the bank? No? Half a million? NO? Then you're not a capitalist. You don't have a dog in the hunt. You're a worker.Do you get richer when oil prices go up and trade deals are signed making it easier for foreigners to take American jobs? No? Then you haven't got a dog in the hunt. You're a worker.""When the Republican Party comes after your social security checks

Computer Era Corporate Innovations

2007-11-22T07:59:00.000-05:00

.From "Innovations of the Paperless Age", Cognitorex Press. Hire basic labor force at less than full time thereby shedding the cost of health care, pensions and seniority benefits. Transfer savings to executive management.Transfer previously tax paying internal accounting divisions to Offshore Tax Havens. Transfer savings to executive management.Underfund pension obligations, then enter

MOTILITY MATTERS

2007-11-20T08:32:00.000-05:00

. Stem cells, brain cells, idiocy and imbeciles.I am again reminded of the November 04' Daily Mirrors' front page picture of our just reelected president and this question:"How can 59,054,087 People be so STUPID?"

Re: Diamonds or Pearls. CNN

2007-11-19T09:52:00.000-05:00

.CNN seduces viewers with inane, sexist debate questionI thought Clinton's laughing response, "I know I'm sometimes accused of not being able to make a choice," "I want both." showcased the bright wit that insiders say she possesses.That should be part of the story as well as the "MSM does Narcisism Part 386" bit, as the media makes the election discussions about itself, the media, and not about

Pakistan: Bribery in Limbo

2007-11-14T11:18:00.000-05:00

.Salman Rushdie's take on Pakistan is that you either get a dictatorship and rolling promises of future elections or massive corruption with the Bhutto family. Considering this, it dawned on me that this explained the oddity of continuously seeing hordes of demonstrators dressed in suits and ties, the lawyers in waiting.(Notes from Rushdie lecture on "The Culture Wars" Nov 6, 2007, Gt. Barrington

PANDORA'S THONG

2007-11-10T11:05:00.000-05:00

.THE ISLAMIC WOMEN’S VOTE:IS IT ALL THAT IT’S CRACKED UP TO BE??The Setting: a MIDDLE EAST WOMEN'S RIGHTS RALLY: an Arabic Mother & Daughter are speaking as Laura Bush approaches the podium.Mom: Doesn't Mrs. Bush look lovely? She somehow reminds me of Mary Tyler Moore.Dghtr: You actually know other American rights' activists?Mom: (laughing) Oh no. Mary Tyler Moore is a TV character. She

There's Gold in Them Ther' Hills

2007-11-08T12:24:00.000-05:00

.Camel Thongs Don’t Cut the Mustard(An old Western fable)“Lookee here Mister Chief Native, I’ll trade you guns and firewater for the land you call “Gusher Canyon”. You know which area I mean, where we put up those oil derricks years ago.”“Sorry, today is a Sacred Day, ’all praise to Mother Bear‘.”“Look, screw a bunch of Sacred Days, we’ll throw in fifty aisles worth of jeans. Your daughters will

Da Papacy

2007-10-28T08:19:00.000-04:00

.In search of Papal logic. One of the Catholic Church's Papal-blessed apologia denial statements was that the incident of abuse by Priests was statistically the same as the greater population.The Doctrine of In phallus ability?(cognitorex, away, away beyond the shore, for a week)Peace to all!

"Da Guard" February 04'

2007-10-28T08:04:00.000-04:00

If a high scion,Takes up flyin(g)Surreptitiously avoiding a war.That’s not news now,Nor some big wow,In glorious times of yore.But to don clothes,as our RamboA warrior, all Honest and True.Seems de and con ceitful,Something perhaps,One should big time oughta eschew!February 17, 2004I am flying coop for a week: will charge up batteries and return November 4.

Apparatchiki and our Soviet Commissariat Government

2007-10-24T17:47:00.000-04:00

.Below is my take on Steve's Benen's (Carpetbagger 10.24.07) report that the White House eviscerated the draft of Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prior to her testifying before a Senate panel yesterday on the impact of climate change on public health. References to potential health risks were removed; one CDC official said, and details on how

John Burns - New York Times 'Baghdad' Man

2007-10-22T11:47:00.000-04:00

.--letting the cat out of the bag--If you listen to John Burns publicly speak, his bird's nest hairdo dominating the visual, you arrive at the conclusion that to him history's best friend, unemotional time, will say that America did what the world needed and placed it's military boots in the Middle East.When I heard him, he disclosed in his speech that his Dad was a NATO Officer, a uniformed

Embezzlement by Salary

2007-10-19T15:33:00.000-04:00

.Now that the founding families of many of America's leading corporations no long have or exercise control over the management, 'Embezzlement by Salary' is standard fare. This is one area in which both Adam Smith and Lenin could easily agree.

Plutonic humor from George Will

2007-10-11T09:38:00.000-04:00

George has a new op-ed, A Lexus in Every Garage, bemoaning the lack of sympathy for how hard it is to stand out from the crowd when so much wealth abounds. ..My take is further down concerning all the commenters who knee jerk hurl abuse on Mr. George when there exists a teensy possibility that 'softer' might be better for this particular piece. If pols and their warrior enablers should be held

Burning security assets not new to Bushco

2007-10-10T10:38:00.000-04:00

Mary Poppins has a take on relative values of this White House.Dim wittery, dim wittery, dim wit do dooFeed Fox news propaganda,that's simply not new.Dim wittery, dim wittery, dim wit do dooIf burning security serves politics,Then that's what we'll do.Let's see. Fifteen of the 911 terrorists were Saudi, an Egyptian, Lebanese and two UAE. So, destroy Iraq. dim wit do doo. Burn Valerie and disclose

Iraqi Gestalt Government appears: Bushco uptick is frightening possibility

2007-10-09T11:26:00.000-04:00

.Iraqi discussions below, but definitely not conclusions, are copied from Washington Monthly blog.Iraqi leaders argue that sectarian animosity is entrenched in the structure of their government. Instead of reconciliation, they now stress alternative and perhaps more attainable goals: streamlining the government bureaucracy, placing experienced technocrats in positions of authority and improving

Mission Statement for Peace

2007-10-06T10:50:00.001-04:00

Open the site for the U.S. Department of Peace or the Peace Alliance site (http://www.thepeacealliance.org/). There are forty cosponsors working to enact a Department of Peace bill in the works.Organizers need a Senate sponsor and are working to bring out Ted Kennedy to sponsor this bill in the Senate.Check out the site. See who is sponsoring the bill.See what your representative thinks or is

"Don't Ask...Don't Tap"

2007-10-05T11:29:00.000-04:00

.There are four basic sexes and accommodations and conventions applicable thereto. There are men who are physically attracted to women, men who are physically attracted to men and women vice-versa.The Republican party rules are quite clear. You can serve your country in the military if you are a male attracted to males or female attracted to females as long as you keep your sexual orientation

Basic Palmocracy Do's and Don'ts

2007-09-26T13:29:00.000-04:00

.My Mother often tells the story how, some 60 years ago, a local small town official, to explain politics to her said, "When it comes to politics, its like this. Spit in one hand and put money in the other and see which way their head starts tilting."Think of the upturned palms in Washington. Think of the K Street money machinery. Think of the billions we hand out to dictators and despots

Imagine if Bush Cheney Kristol had succeeded

2007-09-26T12:20:00.000-04:00

.Worse than all the losses to America from the criminal incompetence of Kristol/Bush/Cheney etc was that they set out to enthrone Chalabi as the new Iraq leader. It turned out that he is thick as thieves with Iran and simply 'played' these guys. I mean, like, if their plan had come to fruition we would have been even worse off. It boggles the mind.

Bush Cheney Legacy in 100 Words

2007-09-24T11:11:00.000-04:00

.At the Global Affairs group blog, Barnett Rubin imagines what he would say about accountability and the Bush administration if he were a politician rather than an analyst:' The Bush-Cheney administration has surrendered much of Afghanistan to the Taliban and much of Pakistan to al-Qaida. They have turned most of Iraq over to Iran, creating the very danger over which they now threaten another

Dollar tanks on lower U.S. interest rates

2007-09-21T10:03:00.001-04:00

.Jane and John Doe must now pay to bail out the culprits.When I gas up my vehicle I will be paying extra because the dollar's buying power has taken a hit.The financial types that made the suspect mortgages walk off with big commissions from making the loans, packaging the loans, reselling the loans and repackaging and reselling the loans until the "Ring around the Mortgages' game came full

Allah or Ally?

2007-09-21T09:41:00.000-04:00

.The story's told that once upon a time George Bush, Rummy and Darth Vader happened to visit a Mosque at evening prayers.Rummy turns to Cheney and says, "Why does the President seem so happy?"Cheney faintly lights up his malicious leer and says, "He thinks they're repeating ally, ..ally."

Bush denies possibility of 'victory' in Iraq

2007-09-17T13:53:00.000-04:00

If the public has hugely come on board that 'victory' in Iraq is ephemeral or bullshit as it were, then the Bush Propaganda Commissariat has rightly jettisoned the phrase for the new word 'success.'That in itself is newsworthy.GOP jettisons concept of victory.

Senator Craig's stall becomes historic site. Placard?

2007-09-17T12:45:00.000-04:00

.U.S. voters and celebrity addict mavens are seeking out Senator Craig's hallowed stall in the Minneapolis Airport.Bring me your huddled masses,...leering to be free...tapping into the roots of celebrity.....BBC Newshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6998619.stm

THE BUSH PRESIDENCY IS A BOON TO MANKIND

2007-09-17T12:09:00.000-04:00

.The more he infuriates foes, allies, terrorists and disrupts oil markets, spreading fear and dismay about our planet the better off all us opposable-thumbers are.At $3.00 or $5.00 per gallon of gas, gasoline consumption plummets, carbon dioxide levels abate, global warming reverses, the United States gets a new manufacturing gig for non hydrocarbon technology and in the meantime sis and junior

Cloture this ! Time for Iraqi War surtax.

2007-09-12T12:29:00.000-04:00

.Time to put GOP money where their strategic mouth is.A net blogger, "Larkrise" makes a key point re American continuation in Iraq....."but I suspect that the loss of any financial comfort will be the only means to effect substantive change for the better."I agree and see a potentially win win solution.The GOP wants to continue the Iraq war at its present level.The GOP is the party of corporate

U.S. National Interest in Iraq left Undefended?

2007-09-12T12:22:00.000-04:00

.We and the Brits have left the oil rich part of Iraq and its vital international port for shipments, i.e. the most important part of Iraq, to Iranian influenced warring bands of Shiites.Elsewhere our troops are attacked one hundred and seventy five times a day.(177.8 attacks a day on troops Reuters 7.20.07)What in the holy christ are we exactly doing there? Defending the contractors in non

Defense Secretary Gates has been "disappeared"

2007-09-10T16:05:00.000-04:00

.Two or three times since Sec Gates took office he has been caught out for simply telling the truth. In each instance he clearly made truthful statements that were at odds with the White Houses propaganda delivery for such facts in question. In each instance he took my breath away for such rogue behavior. I laughed but I also felt concern for the hostility which was certain to befall him.I don't

Finally the 'Ghost of Arafat' appears

2007-09-10T09:35:00.000-04:00

For years I wrote letters to editors in my head and waited for some similarly prescient paid or unpaid scribe to get the same thought published. When Mayor Gavin N. started blessing gay marriages in S.F. I thought and decided that what all the pundits were missing was that the gay marriage issue is an actuarial issue. I.e. young people could care less and as they replace older voters by dint of

Iraqi tribal structure constitutes Mid East democracy?

2007-09-05T11:54:00.000-04:00

.The GOP think tanks are busy working on a new paradigm.It turns out, they say, that the predominant Iraqi Tribal political structure is amazingly akin to a/our Democratic structure.Ergo, should the Sunni sheikhs we are now championing as paragonic leaders prevail in a pan-Iraq consolidation, it should be argued that Bush has brought democracy to the Middle East.Such a spiritually tingling

Rock, Paper, Toilets

2007-09-05T11:11:00.000-04:00

.Rocks breaks scissors, paper covers rock, scissors cut paper.In recent national elections prior to Mark Foley, the religious right and the GOP operatives that manipulate the gay hating right have owned a significant edge in votes when the aura of gays, queers, marriage is invoked.Thanks to the unveiling of Foley, Larry Craig, Ted Haggard and other lesser public toilet and non public toilet GOP

Read Shaun at Kiko's House

2007-09-05T10:25:00.000-04:00

http://kikoshouse.blogspot.com/2007/08/911-anniversary.htmlGood recap, great writing!

SEC and FASB Mull CEO Emolument Accounting Change

2007-08-31T09:53:00.000-04:00

.America's Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chiefs are close to deciding that salary and perks exceeding five million dollars annually can not rationally be deemed pay for work expended. Payouts of five million to hundreds of millions would quite boggle the minds of both Adam Smith and Karl Marx, said one insider, "off, off, off the

The Chinese Que for Reincarnation Permits

2007-08-30T15:47:00.000-04:00

.Kvatch at his Blognonymous site picks up on Chinese government pronouncement.China Bans Buddhist Monks FromReincarnating Without Permission- Matthew Philips, NewsweekTo which he humbly submits his comment/snark, as in:.""Buddhists Worldwide Respond In Protest By Refusing To Die ""I think this is simply a way brilliant response.

A Capital Tax Idea

2007-08-28T15:18:00.000-04:00

.2006 Wall St bonuses; $25 BillionAs the big boys on Wall Street direct trillions in capital flows to derivatives, rank speculation and the latest hot packaged products like sub-prime mortgages they whet their beaks, like the mob, at every turn.Why not place a one one hundreth of a per cent tax on these flows to fund social security and health care.It would be a manifest boon to American workers

Women's Reproductive Choices: Scientific/Historical or Jungian/Hysterical?

2007-08-28T10:56:00.001-04:00

.The first sentence of the second paragraph from "How to deal with a falling population", (The Economist, 7/26/07), is as follows;"Overcrowding and a shortage of resources constrain bug populations. The reasons for the growth of the human population may be different, but the pattern may be surprisingly similar."What a wonderful article, setting the scientific/historical time line for sustainable

The Bottom Line GOP Bumper Slogan

2007-08-27T12:11:00.000-04:00

. Finally, I believe that I have cobbled together the ultimate message of William Kristol, Rudi Giuliani, neocons everywhere and all Rove' propaganda adherents."If you're not afraid, you're a coward."

Congress and Fed Collude to Cause Mortgage Crisis

2007-08-27T09:28:00.000-04:00

.Lessons of Great Depression give way to greed.The history behind the mortgage fiasco and bank liquidity is a complex long intertwined affair.After the Great Depression new financial regulations were put in place. For one, banks were barred from equity deals or brokerage operations. Then, fairly recently, Congress and the Fed gave in to the natural greed of the banks and let them return to

The Evolution of the Republican Presidential Contenders

2007-08-21T10:35:00.000-04:00

."When the Truth came knocking"The moderator says to the assembled Republican Presidential contenders, "This is an open question for the candidates."Evolution theory holds that man is a direct genetic descendant of hairy, arm swinging, tree climbing African apes who apparently survived despite having only crude rudimentary mental processing skills. The scientific process of carbon dating confirms

Rudy Giuliani; Another Bush like Leader Who Needs to be Surrounded by Yes Men

2007-08-20T12:12:00.000-04:00

.Rudy, another needy ego driven emloyer like Bush?I think we've all had enough of a President that insists on being surrounded by toadies and umbili-cytes. It always leads to incompetent and class insular policy. I therefor recommend to you the following paragraph: “Rudy surrounded himself with a very small group of people. The ‘Shrewdies,’ some called them—because they all said yes to Rudy. I’ve