The Weekly Rewind

Told you we were back and better than ever… no pomp, no circumstance. Just the Weekly Rewind…

Applaud: to all the people who are in the path of or have been affected by Hurricane Ike. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Heckle: to more proof that we not only have a man-child frat-boy in the Oval Office but the entire administration is making it up as they go along. In his new book “The War Within,” Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward details a telling White House meeting on Iran in the spring of 2007 attended by Bush, CentCom commander Adm. William Fallon and others. I’ll let Mr. Woodward detail it himself;

“I think we need to do something to get engaged with these guys,” Fallon said. Iraq shared a 900-mile border with Iran, and he needed guidance and a strategy for dealing with the Iranians. “Well,” Bush said, “these are assholes.” Fallon was stunned. Declaring them “assholes” was not a strategy. Lots of words and ideas were thrown around at the meeting, especially about the Iranian leaders. They were bad, evil, out of touch with their people. But no one offered a real approach.

Shocking, isn’t it? No real approach… no strategy… just name calling. Is this a presidential administration or a high school locker room? Sad and pathetic.

Applaud: to Bill O’Reilly (hold the tar and feathers and hear me out for a moment) for defending Obama during “PiglipstickGate” this week. The man who we all love to hate and ridicule led off one of his shows this past week with a piercing critique of the McCain campaign’s character and tactics in trying to tie Obama’s “lipstick on a pig” line as sexist criticism of Palin. (One of two things made this happen; Obama so impressed Bill during his appearance this past week or Hell has frozen over and pigs are flying. My vote is for the latter… but regardless of the provocation, I applaud O’Reilly for not following the lemmings over the cliff and creating faux outrage over this. Way to go Bill… we’ll go back to heckling you next week I’m sure…)

Heckle: to something that sounds as if it came out of a Dime Store potboiler… The Interior Department’s inspector general revealed earlier this week that 13 government officials improperly engaged in sex with employees of energy companies they were dealing with while also receiving gifts… with an investigation revealing a “culture of substance abuse and promiscuity.” (Lovely… throw in some Soap Opera actors in there and you could have a hit on your hands. This is about as disgusting as anything done by this administration’s hirings, not only should be ashamed of themselves but also arrested)

Applaud: to a mild-case of showing some balls… finally. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told Sen. Joe Lieberman (I r-CT) that he can “no longer attend Democrats’ weekly caucus lunches” or the biweekly chairmen’s lunches that are usually designed to formulate policy.” (About effin’ time… he should have been removed from this – and his committee-ships – a LONG time ago. Hopefully this is a hint of things to come…)

Heckle: to kowtowing Democrats in Congress. Instead of forcing the republicans to vote on something politically difficult in an election year, Congressional Democrats have thrown out plans for another vote on their proposed SCHIP expansion, concluding that since “President” Bush would not sign their legislation and that didn’t have the necessary votes to override his veto, they would just shelve it until next year. (Dumb. Asses. Regardless of the end result, holding the vote would have still forced republicans to make a decision that has even their electorate split down the middle… but nooooooo, they chicken out once again. Way to go guys…)

Appleckle: to a new a new CQ analysis that shows federal lawmakers in both parties have oppo the president far more often than at any other time since he’s been in the White House this year. On top of that, the erosion in support is most dramatic among Republicans, with House gop members supporting Bush 94% of the time in 2001 but just 63% so far this year. (Two words: Election. Year. Anyone that thinks otherwise is naïve…)

Heckle: to less than stellar witnesses. The U.S. military has been denying charges that an Aug. 22 attack on Azizabad, Afghanistan killed scores of civilians even though Afghan witnesses, the United Nations, and other human rights and international officials all disagree and say about 90 villagers were killed. Earlier this week the military changed course and, in light of “emerging evidence” have requested an investigation. Who was behind the US’ staunch refusal up to this point you ask? Well, according to the Times of London, it was an embedded journalist from Fox “News.” Did I mention the reporter was Oliver North? (It’s the ‘Oliver North’ part of this story that makes it art… talk about false witnesses… whose word will we take next, Moammar Gadhafi.. oh, wait…)

Applaud: to CNN Baghdad correspondent Michael Ware for taking McCain to task earlier this week about his constant spewing about his support of the “surge” and how it’s “succeeded” and that “we are winning in Iraq.” Earlier this week Ware took issue with McCain and his concept of “winning”, saying that if McCain seriously believes that increasing troops was the only factor in reducing violence in Iraq, then McCain “has no idea what is going on” there…(Well said Mr. Ware. It’s becoming blatantly obvious that McCain doesn’t know much about what’s going on anywhere… and further supports my argument that he’s not fit to be CIC)

Heckle: to still seeing things with blinders on. Ignoring her recent non-endorsement endorsement of Sen. Obama, SS Condi Rice told Bob Woodward; “I have believed from day one that Iraq was going to change the face of the Middle East. I’ve never stopped believing that. […] There’s nothing that I’m prouder of than the liberation of Iraq.” (Uh-huh… how about that. What color is the sky in your world Mr. Rice?)

Applaud: to former republican representative and current Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr. Appearing at this week’s 15th Annual Funniest Celebrity in Washington Contest, he said one of the best lines of the campaign season, “Does anybody know what the difference between a bulldog and a hockey mom is? The bulldog gets vetted.” (Truth stings, so this has to hurt McCain like a million stings. It’s funny cause it’s true…)

Heckle: to news that shouldn’t surprise anyone with a brain to call their own. A congressional budget analysis released earlier this week said that the federal budget deficit will reach a “near-record” $407 billion when the budget year ends later this month, which means the next president will probably face a January shortfall of well over $500 billion… oh, and McCain’s economic plan (which I swear was created ad at Amway rally) would drastically increase yearly deficits well beyond that projected $500 billion… (but remember; republicans are fisally sound…)

Applaud: to CBS late night host Craig Ferguson. Earlier this week Ferguson told his studio audience; “If you don't vote, you're a moron” before handing out voter registration cards to everyone in attendance. (Way to go Craig… nice job. And thank you…)

Heckle: to strange dinner companions. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had dinner with Libyan leader (and terrorist sponsor) Moammar Gadhafi last week where Gadhafi presented Rice with several gifts, including a locket with an engraved likeness of himself inside… eeewwwwwwwww

Applaud: to this quote from Lyda Green, republican president of the Alaska state senate; “Palin's not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president? Look at what she's done to this state. What would she do to the nation?” (Well said Lyda… thank you. Anyone want to answer? Anyone? Hellooooooo? Are those crickets I hear?)

Heckle: to repeating a false, already-disproven, dropped-by-fellow-republicans, talking point. Earlier this week Ms. Palin linked the Iraq war to the 9/11 attacks. Speaking to a brigade of soldiers shipping out to Iraq (including her son) she told them that they would “defend the innocent from the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the death of thousands of Americans.” NO NO NO NO NO!!!! The ridiculous idea that Iraq had ANY responsibility for the attacks on 9/11 has been rejected by hundreds, including “President” Bush himself… so either she truly believes this and doesn’t pay attention to the news, or someone told her this and she believed it. Either way, it shows Ms. Palin truly has no idea what’s going on in the world except for her little corner of it. Sad and pathetic

Applaud?:Heckle?: Undecided: to biting the hand that feeds your tax-exempt status. In an act of defiance on IRS rules, the socially conservative Alliance Defense Fund are recruiting pastors to join them on Sept. 28th in a protest to declare that clergy have the “constitutional right to endorse political candidates from their pulpits.” (This should end well… I am mixed on this and have no opinion to offer up at this time…)

Applaud: to the best description I’ve seen yet about the media’s coverage of politics this election season from Elyas Bakhtiari; “Most news outlets cover politics like a pack of dogs chasing a flashlight beam. They don't care where that bright spot on the wall is coming from. They see it and think, "Go get it!" Then it moves to the floor, and they run as a wild pack, barking at the top of their lungs, coming up with nothing. Over and over. Meanwhile, the guy sitting in the chair with the flashlight is doubled over in laughter at how easy it is to fool these simple beasts with such a basic tool.” (very well said Elyas… wish I had said it so eloquently)

Heckle: to Sen. Lieberman who introduced a formal amendment this past week that “expresses the sense of the Senate recognizing the strategic success of the troop surge in Iraq.” Before he introduced the amendment, he said he wanted to introduce a resolution that would applaud the success of the surge “against enemies who attacked America on 9/11.” (Sigh… Wow, using this debunked myth as fact shows a level of stupidity usually reserved for reality show contestants…way to go Joe. Though the fact that he and Palin used this same argument this week suggests that he’s coaching her… and doing a piss-poor job of it. Hopefully that continues…)

Applaud: to former Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee, republican turned Independent, who told a Washington Think Tank earlier this week that Gov. Palin is a “cocky wacko.” (Honestly, does anything else really need to be said? I didn’t think so…)

Heckle: to the continuing Democratic kowtowing in the House. The House is going to vote on a bill to allow expanded offshore drilling very soon, perhaps as early as next week. Trying to put “lipstick on a pig” (fake media outrage in five, four, three…), the updated energy package would allow drilling but would also repeal tax breaks for oil companies and invest in renewable energy sources. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said; “So we’re saying: OK, you want to drill, this is how it will be. No more subsidies.” (Interesting… stay tuned to see if it works or not)

Applaud: to the fact that the Large Hadron Collider didn’t destroy the world this past Wednesday; Whoo-hoo

This week’s conservative Tool of the Week goes to the executive director of the Christian Coalition of Florida, Dennis Baxley. Speaking with the Miami Herald this past week, he said that he was “suspect” of Sen. Obama’s “Muslim roots and training”, saying; “He’s pretty scary to us. […] I think his Muslim roots and training — while they try to minimize it — it’s there. […] I can’t speak for anyone else but I’m probably typical of all of the people who are suspect of those Muslim roots. We all know what early intervention with children is all about, and I am really wondering what the influence was on him from his father’s background and being in a Muslim country.” (Jesus H. Christ… - blasphemy intended – who the hell is this person and why are people listening to him??? Obama’s NOT a Muslim… he’s never been a Muslim… and he’ll never be a Muslim… he’s a committed Christian… get the fuck over his name and let it go. And a note to anyone that still believe this nonsense, you are too stupid to vote and should stay home on Election Day as to not spread your hate and stupidity to others) And because of those comments, Baxley is our Tool… of the Week.

Runner-Up: White House spokesperson Dana Perino, for this exchange earlier this week in a WH briefing; Q: “But Osama bin Laden is the one that — you keep talking about his lieutenants, and, yes, they are very important, but Osama bin Laden was the mastermind of 9/11… Perino: “No, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was the mastermind of 9/11, and he’s sitting in jail right now.” (The stupid; it burns!)

All I have, take ‘em as you will…