and bush sr. could not say anything more than that david duke was a 'charlatan'.

Well, the President does have two horses running in the Connecticut race, so maybe he doesn't want appear like he's favoring one over the other.

I am writing Kevin about this, and I am putting pedal to the metal.

If Kevin can't figure out a way to raise revenue from the regular posters here to update his software and hire someone to do the update so this blog can be registered, I am fucking out of here.

I am *so* not playing around.

Bob

Golly. Why do you ask? Surely you understand that the president merely wants what's best for the country, and supports candidates regardless of party?

Kevin, the reason why Bush is not going to answer the trick question from you and the reporter is because the election is determined by the people of Connecticut, not by Washington. Bush believes we should respect the wishes of the people of Connecticut to choose their own representatives without having undue influence from outsiders. This is no different than giving his opinion on who should be elected dog catcher in a small town in Kansas. Just as Bush isn't going to butt into that election with his opinions, so Bush isn't going to involve himself in the Lieberman/Lamont election.

Needless to say, the above comment of mine from another thread was not posted here by me.

Bob

Why doesn't someone ask the same question but use another state than Connecticut?

Bush Tried To Cut Bomb Detection Funds: Congress Rejected $6 Million Cut For DHS Explosives Technology

Last year? Last month? Um, no, try last week.

Bush has officially killed satire.

Hmm...(tapping my foot) so everyone has forgotten that he's not supporting me either? WTF!

None of the comments in this thread were posted by me. Nothing you read in this thread will have been posted by me unless I say it was. But that might not be me either. Just sayin'.

Bob

They're trying to be awfully cute in Connecticut. But subtlety and complexity aren't really their strong suits. They may over-clever themselves if they aren't careful.

Al: Just as Bush isn't going to butt into that election with his opinions, so Bush isn't going to involve himself in the Lieberman/Lamont election.

But hey, if Rove wants to help, that's a whole 'nother matter, and he's doing it without W's knowledge:

ABC’s George Stephanopoulos reports, “According to a close Lieberman adviser, the President’s political guru, Karl Rove, has reached out to the Lieberman camp with a message straight from the Oval Office: ‘The boss wants to help. Whatever we can do, we will do.’”

New lie detection equipment needed for White House staff.

Tony Snow is another smug, arrogant ass who thinks he's clever. He's the frat brother who let GWB copy his Psych 102 homework.

On Bob's "comments": Whoever's reposting this over and over actually makes a very clever argument for exactly what the comment says. This site needs registration. Even better, registration and the ability for users to flag questionable comments.

Sombody's marshalling a great deal of effort to try to drive me off of Washington Monthly.

To be perfectly honest, it may well work. I'm getting as fed up as any of you would be under a consistent barrage of handle spoofery.

Bob

Al, pray tell, how do you square your assertion at 2:40 PM with the fact that Bush REGULARLY stumps for other Republicans? Of course, you can't, you're a trollbot.

I'm not sure that Bush endorsed Phil Giordano in 2000, and he did avoid getting his picture taken with him.

Giordano was the Republican Senate nominee from Connecticut, going up against Lieberman in the Senate race. I met him briefly during the campaign when he made a stop at my local railroad station in the morning - I was an independent at the time, and fairly bipartisan. Nevertheless, my skin instinctively crawled when he shook my hand.

My skin, as it turns out, was right. He's now a 38 year prison term for the rape of two girls, aged 9 and 11, daughters of drug addict prostitutes whom he paid for the priviledge. A sick, sick man, obviously.

I doubt Bush's team new about the rapes, or at least I hope not. But he had other behavioral issues, an was not well liked. Whichever of Bush's advisors went through great lengths to avoid having Bush and Giordano photographed together during a campaign stop in Waterbury (where Giordano was Mayor) earned every penny of their salary that day.

Anyway, it does appear there are conditions where Bush won't endorse the Republican. Whether it's Republicans agaisnt Lieberman or Republicans who might be child molestors is in doubt.

The Repub candidate for the Senate is a pretty clear bone-head with a gambling problem. I understand the President's reluctance to endorse him.

There's support and then there's support. Anyone with a grain of sense should understand that.

Steve White:

Well there's support and there's *support* for Ned Lamont by the Democrats, too.

At the very least Bush can stand behind his party's nominee even if he has no desire for the GOP to expend any effort on his behalf ...

Bob

So Bush has never supported any candidate before? He only hopes the democratic tradition of free and fair elections are upheld? Hmmmmm. Something about this seems off.

It is a terrible shame Bob is being targetted by a comment bot. rmk1 has been one of the most reasonable commenters in this community in regards to wanting to hear from all sides of an issue.

zeeeej:

You have decoded my master plan. I have been spoofing myself to arouse support for my call for registration. In a few minutes I will deny writing this, but that is only to make my point. I want to encourage everyone to write Kevin and make the same empty threat I did.

Hostile:

Thank you, friend. I have always enjoyed your comments also.

Bob

It is a terrible shame Bob is being targetted by a comment bot. rmk1 has been one of the most reasonable commenters in this community in regards to wanting to hear from all sides of an issue.

Bwa ha ha ha haaaa!

That wasn't me. I am not spoofing myself and Hostile is not my friend. Except for underage boys who I buy tequila and beer for, I have no friends.

So I think you understand why I can't leave here. *Please* write Kevin.

Bob

zoe: Bush Tried To Cut Bomb Detection Funds: Congress Rejected $6 Million Cut For DHS Explosives Technology

Last year? Last month? Um, no, try last week.

is it any more shocking than this headline:

BUSH BUDGET SCRAPS 9,790 BORDER PATROL AGENTS

- Michael Hedges - Houston Chronicle 2/9/05

not too mention putting bush's social security privatization plan into the current budget and of course...

the cut in health care spending for our troops...

to follow bush apparently you have to hate america...

This is entirely exasperating. The person who's doing this has the mind of a child.

Once again, I suspect Cheney -- and I suspect that Cheney is posting under the moniker of Thomas.

And you'll know this is me because my antagonist sure as *hell* wouldn't write that sentence -- now would he.

Hostile:

Thanks for the support. While this is the last thing from intentional, it wouldn't be a bad outcome of Kevin hears a groundswell of support for registration.

We may have to raise a little money for the new version of MoveableType, but it would be easy to do and entirely worth it.

Bob

I don't know. Why do you ask? Is there something about the candidate that I should know about that would lead to judgments?

I wonder if that cute act impresses the reporters.

I dunno, kc - aside from Helen Thomas the WH press corps often seems to lap up the obtuseness.

I am not sure how much W will help or hurt Joe.

But the irony is incredible. Another case of reality beating fiction: W supports Gore's running mate in a contest where the running mate is running against the Democratic Party. Maybe this explains why Lieberman was so quick to throw in the towel in 2000 --- he had the vision to see that he would need W in 2006. Is it their Yale ties?

Uhh Tony ... he's the GOP nominee for US Senate?

No that truly was the most obtuse comment I've think I've ever heard from a WH press flack, at least since "that statement is no longer operational."

Bob

Al: Actually, Joe "Sore" Loserman would make an excellent dog catcher for that small town in Kansas.

Bob: You need to drink approximately 6-8 oz of vodka ASAP.

This is hysterical! Kevin Drum is having a hissy fit because Bush won't endorse the GOP candidate in Connecticut!

So funny! The latest poll shows Lieberman at 46%, Lamont-the-Moonbat at 41%, and the GOP candidate at just 6%.

I am going to LOVE watching Kevin and the Libs have their emotional meltdown over Lieberman this fall!

Has Bush personally and publicly endorsed Katherine Harris in her FL senate race?

the tbrosz above is not me.

The Repub candidate for the Senate is a pretty clear bone-head with a gambling problem

I'm sorry, could you be more specific as to whom you're talking about? This describes so many of them....

How many of the current Republican Senators are running for reelection? Is the President unwilling to express his support for them? Or maybe they have told this White House to stay out of their races lest they jink their reelection?

I am going to LOVE watching Kevin and the Libs have their emotional meltdown over Lieberman this fall!

Uhhh, who is exactly having the meltdown? Within 48 hours of Lamont's victory, every single right wing pundit and talking head took to the pages and airwaves in full force all talking about how this means the Democratic party is somehow doomed. It's actually funny, in a pathetic kind of way

That is the sound of being very very scared. Why does a Senate primary race in a solid blue state have them all freaked out for?

Why are people trolling under my name? This is driving me crazy.

Bob

"When was the last time George Bush declined to support a Republican candidate for anything? When was the last time any president declined to support his party's nominee for a major office? David Duke?" - Kevin

Isn't it refreshing when a President puts country ahead of party?

btw, Snow's job is not too give the answers the press wants to hear. And he recognizes a set-up question when he hears it.

And I cannot wait until Loserman finally drops out, which he will at some point or another. Then, regrettably, the Mehlmans and Snows will have to do their worst, and endorse a republican for senate in a state where they have no chance.

Can't wait to see that one! Maybe Loserman and Katy Harris in Florida can team up to give Bobo Brooks a hard on of bi-partisan support....bwahahahahahaaaa!

Bob, it means you have ascended to a status that few commentors here enjoy. You now have a doppleganger lurking posing as you.

Here's another "inconvenient truth" for the left.

Lieberman wins as an independent this fall.

Write that down in permanent ink.

Maybe an equally important question is if the Prez won't support the GOP candidate in CT, then why would he support any other GOP candidate?

Hedley Lamarr:

It's too early in the day :(

I probably shouldn't let this get under my skin. Tbrosz put up with parodies the whole time he posted with us -- though truthfully that might be the reason he finally left. At least the fake tbroszes had the decency to use different email addys, though.

It's funny, but I first saw this virulent outbreak of handle spoofage last week. Stefan, Advocate for God, Pierre Asciutto and two or three others were being being spoofed all in the same way -- though none of them were on the thread to witness it at the time.

I know I'm acting like my hair is on fire, and I'm sorry for it. But wait until it happens to you on a consistent basis ...

Bob

"That is the sound of being very very scared. Why does a Senate primary race in a solid blue state have them all freaked out for?" - Tenth

We're not freaked out, we're amazed at how single minded the left has become. Do you realize that Lieberman supported every single Democratic position with class and persuasive arguments including, tax-cuts, education, healthcare, etc. etc, yet lost because he supports a war against terrorists. He was also the VP candidate of the party just a short six years ago.

That sucking sound is the i s the sanity leaving the Democratic party.

Bush endorsing Lieberman (de facto or implied) is terrible news for Joe. If that snap-poll is accurate (any reasonable take would have waited a few days), then he is already getting most of the GOP vote in CT. As the Bush=Lieberman idea grows, he loses more and more Dem votes. And then Joe has to redefine himself as a Dem most of the time, and that turns of Reps.

Lamont will win this easily, not worried at all.

"I'm sorry, could you be more specific as to whom you're talking about? This describes so many of them...." - Stefan

I don't care who you are, that's funny.

Another case of reality beating fiction: W supports Gore's running mate in a contest where the running mate is running against the Democratic Party.

And the right strategy for the Democrats is to send money to the GOP candidate -- but will they figure it out?

By the way, Schlesinger's "gambling problem" is nothing compared to that of the GOP's morality tsar, Bill Bennett.

The previous 3:43 comment wasn't mine ... *sigh*

Key so you know it's me: Hatfield and the North's original keyboardist was Dave Sinclair.

No troll would know obscure crap like that -- and if they *tried* to post progrock factoids they'd look like ignorant idiots :)

Bob

Lieberman was a mole. Moderation in the age of the neocons is collaboration.

Jay wrote: That sucking sound is the sanity leaving the Democratic party.

Nope, it's the sound of your mouth on Rush Limbaugh's asshole.

tenth: That is the sound of being very very scared. Why does a Senate primary race in a solid blue state have them all freaked out for?

Because if supporting GWB's Folly can hurt an incumbent Deomcratic senator in primary, just imagine what's going to happen to the Republicans in the general elections this November. Rove needs to work up an inoculation for this Lieberman thing, or the infection will spread. Oh and GWB? Still polling at 36%, no terror bump this time.

Thanks, I get those two confused.

*Attention* We the blog commenters of this thread have not posted any of the remarks under our names. From this point on there will be a secret word to verify every post's authenticity. Include your secret word in your comment so that others will know you are who you say you are. To obtain a secret word or to know if a particular comment is genuine, e-mail Bob at progbob@shell.skyweb.net

Bloggers Using Genuine Signatures

Thanks, Jay. I salute our moment of putting aside the petty politics of partisan division in the name of comedy.

No, Jay, honey, you are freaked out. So is David Brooks, Cal Thomas, Fox News, Ken Mehlman, etc etc etc.

Because after 5 years of bullshit and lies and 'stay the course', people no longer are buying that "democrats are weak on defense" lie. It's soooo played out, and it ain't working anymore. People have seen how inept the republicans have been with this fake war on terra, and they are sick of it.

How many other Democrats went on Fox News to trash their own party?

Do you think a Republican Senate candidate could go on Keith Olberman and bash his own party? How long would he last?

And Liberman's actions after he lost indicate clearly why he deserved to lose. He's an unbalanced egomaniac who is doing Rove's work. Funny that Cheney and Liberman say the same things , and we're supposed to believe Liberman has his parties interests at hand?

It was so amusing a week before the election watching loserman talk about how much he cares for his party, and how much he'll work for his party, etc etc and then he throws a fit like a 5 yr old when he lost.

What I think is interesting is that a lot of the big money contributions to Lieberman's Senate campaign are coming from outside Connecticut:

Lieberman's list is nearly 200 handwritten pages long, containing the names of more than 700 individuals and Political Action Committees, representing business and special interest groups. The contributions total six figures on some days. The filings contain many well-known individual donors, including Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, former New York City mayor Ed Koch and executives at major companies, among them Hartford-based United Technologies Corp.

The PACs that gave to Lieberman include the Chicago Board of Trade, Tyco International, Verizon Communications, AT&T, Bank of America, Microsoft and Eastman Kodak. Lieberman's PAC money for the two and a half weeks totaled more than $220,000. Lamont's list is shorter -- each report contains only a few names and donations that seldom break the $10,000 mark on a given day.

Only about 15 percent of Lieberman's contributions of $1,000 or more came from Connecticut donors, while almost half of Lamont's big givers lived within the state.

So the question that needs to be raised to Connecticut voters is: Which candidate is going to represent the people of Connecticut?

The Republican candidate has no chance of winning the race. Endorsing him would be a waste of time and could cost Lieberman a chance of winning. If Bush is politically astute, he will do absolutely nothing in regards the race in CT. Letting the race evolve into a 2-man affair, though both are Democrats, gives the best outcome for the Administration a real chance of occurring.

I just can't see Lamont winning the general. Connecticut's Republicans will never vote for him.

The President supports the democratic process in the state of Connecticut...

The Vice President....not so much.

"...how inept the republicans have been with this fake war on terra...." - Tenth

Fake?

"Do you think a Republican Senate candidate could go on Keith Olberman and bash his own party?" - Tenth

John McCain has on CNN, a number of times. Who's Keith Olberman

"... and we're supposed to believe Liberman has his parties interests at hand?" Tenth

You left Lieberman, he didn't leave you. He has steadfastly supported every single Democrat position without fail aside for the GWOT. Who's unbalanced?

Care to place a wager?

btw, Snow's job is not too give the answers the press wants to hear.

No, it's to give the answers the American public deserves.

And he recognizes a set-up question when he hears it.

Not to break our temporary ceasefire, Jay, but how is asking the Republican president if he supports the Republican candidate for Senate (a Republican, remember, who is running against two non-Republicans) a "set-up question"? What's the set-up? Shouldn't the answer be a simple "yes, he does"?

Grape Crush,

By that logic, Lamont would have "about half" of a 100% probability of representing the people of CT.

"I just can't see Lamont winning the general. Connecticut's Republicans will never vote for him." - Stefan

You and I sometimes agree, and this is one of those times.

Hatfield and the North's original keyboardist was Dave Sinclair

OK, now name another prog-rock band for whom Dave Sinclair was the original (but not final) keyboardist. Hint: Singing Drummer

Back on topic: Bush's preferred outcomes are:

1. Replacement wingnut Gooper (without obvious gambling problem) wins seat in 3-way with Lieberman as spoiler

2. Lieberman (Vichy-D, CT) wins in independent candidacy

3. Lieberman (Turncoat-R, CT) wins on GOP ticket (This comes after 2 because Holy Joe would no longer be able to pose as "centrist Democrat")

4. Lamont wins, but Lieberman candidacy pulls resources away from CT house races and reduces the quantity of coming Dem house victories.

I just can't see Lamont winning the general. Connecticut's Republicans will never vote for him.

*sigh* Now I'm the one getting spoofed....

Stefan:

Upon what do you base that?

Bob

You and I sometimes agree, and this is one of those times.

Sorry, Jay, this isn't one of those times. That wasn't me.

In a strict two party system, yes. When an independent brings more experience and knowledge to the table, that needs to be considered.

Stefan:

Somehow I knew that wasn't you. I was going to say something, but figured I'd just query you instead.

Last week you were getting spoofed something fierce -- a lot of homoerotic wrestling over the favors of cmdicely.

It was *almost* sort of funny -- except it really wasn't.

Bob

I, for one, feel badly for rmck1.

You left Lieberman, he didn't leave you. He has steadfastly supported every single Democrat position without fail aside for the GWOT.

You forgot Social Security!!! (and Poland)

Drats, foiled again.

Damn imposters.

The previous 3:53 comment wasn't mine ... *sigh* 4:19 and 4:21 are also not my comments.

Key so you know 3:53 wasn't me: Hatfield and the North never existed. They are a spoof band created by the brothers Richard and Dave Sinclair. They actually wrote a Wikipedia article in order to become popular with girls.

Only an idiot troll would fall for the Wikipedia spoof, not a true progrocker. Here is an actual progrock factoid: Trevor Rabin played guitar on the 1983 Yes album 90125.

Bob

jimBOB:

Why Maching Mole, of course. Dave MacRae took keyboard duties on their second, "Maching Mole's Little Red Record." Great cover painting of them, straight out of a Mao-era Communist Chinese propaganda poster :)

And in return: Do you know the French phrase that Matching Mole is an English pun on?

Bob

PS: The singing drummer hint made it entirely too easy ...

Last week you were getting spoofed something fierce -- a lot of homoerotic wrestling over the favors of cmdicely.

No, no, sadly that was me....

Yancey Ward on August 14, 2006 at 4:17 PM:

By that logic, Lamont would have "about half" of a 100% probability of representing the people of CT.

While Lieberman would have a 15% chance of a 100% probability of representing the people of CT, I know...But I've never been one for the extreme exercise of logic...

"Bob":

Richard and Dave Sinclair were cousins, not brothers.

Idiot.

And a True Bob of the Prog Persuaion would never need convincing of the majesty of Hatfield and the North's first album, not to mention the timeless masterpiece, The Rotter's Club.

And let's not leave out a plug for their recent release of live European club dates, Hatwise Choice.

A True Bob of the Prog Persuasion actually has their autographs sitting on his desk (minus, of course, Dave Stewart's, who wasn't on their American tour this summer).

More proof of the imposter. The troll does not know that "Matching Mole" is French for "soft machine" so he's trying to find out here.

Bob

Matching Mole = Machine Malle, french for Soft Machine, another band where Mr. Wyatt sang and drummed :) Both MM records were much fun and are recommended. We'd better stop this before somebody gets mad.

"Bush believes we should respect the wishes of the people of Connecticut to choose their own representatives without having undue influence from outsiders."

Al, your childlike gullibility when it comes to Dear Leader is absolutely inspiring, in a Pravda-like way. You clearly would be most comfortable in system unburdened by democratic checks and balances. (Sorry, I must have meant Democrat checks and balances.) What's most stunning is the noisy pride you take in the brown stains spreading across your face. Monica's blue dress has got nothing on you, dude!

Meanhwile, check out this memorable line from Tim Grieve in Salon's War Room this morning:

"What's striking is [Dick Cheney'] underlying point: By the very act of voting -- by having a differing opinion and actually exercising a constitutional right in the hopes of furthering it -- Cheney says Democrats in Connecticut have emboldened the enemy."

Just taking a guess since I have no real idea, but is the singing drummer Phil Collins? He is the only singing drummer that comes to mind.

Do any of the people at this press conference ever refer to "the Republican candidate" by name?

Mr Furious,

Yes, it actually is a conspiracy to lead the voters of CT to believe that there is no Republican candidate for the Senate.

Seriously!

You know, Robert Wyatt is still out there in his wheelchair, making fascinating, highly political (if old-school Stalinist) records.

JimBob, your designation of Lieberman as the Vichy candidate is an absolute keeper.
People, spread that meme!

"Bob":

And no True Bob of the Progrock Persuasion would need to *blurt out* his knowledge of Soft Machine trivia. Sheesh.

Nor would *any* True Bob of the Progrock Persuasion *ever* cite the execrable Trevor Rabin joining Yes in 1983 as anything remotely qualifying as a "progrock factoid."

The True Bobs of the Progrock Persuasion are quite ashamed of a poseur such as yourself.

TPI

Kenji:

Stalin wasn't stallin'
When he told the Beast of Berlin
That he'd never rest contented 'till he'd driven him from the land
So he called the Yanks and English
And proceed to extinguish
The Fureher and his vermin, this is how it all began ...

--Robert Wyatt, "Stalin Wasn't Stallin"' from Nothing Can Stop Us (1983)

Although truthfully, I think that was a WW2 popular song he covered.

Bob

No, PI, the very definition of Progrock Persuasion is the inability to refrain from blurting out things -- especially things that seem highly important to us but in fact make women roll their eyes in pity.

While I'm gone, if you see anything posted by me after this it will be my stalker. When I return I'll answer the following question: What was the name of the record label responsible for both Liquid Tension Experiment albums?

Enjoy.

Bob

Kenji

Alas, the Vichy designation isn't mine, having been used by Gilliard and many others. It's a good one, though.

Kenji:

True dat :)

Dave Stewart had an amusing column about it in Contemporary Keyboard called Hormonal Home Truths. About how at National Health shows, it was 98% women, and the few who were there were strictly girlfriends ... he said some very dryly witty (yet deeply embarrassing) speculations about why this might be so.

It's true ... something about testosterone and odd time signatures.

Bob / TPI (who else?)

"Bob":

You give yourself away with such basic trivia. I won't tell you the label name, but I will say that it hadn't yet formed in 1215.

Bob

"Bob"

Liquid Tension Experiment?

Oh please, spare True Bobs that 90s crapola.

I'll bet you're a like Dream Theater fan, too.

TPI

"You left Lieberman, he didn't leave you. He has steadfastly supported every single Democrat position without fail aside for the GWOT. Who's unbalanced?"

I've read that Lieberman's pro-Democrat voting record is 50%. Hillary's is around 70%. I'll check on it and get back to you.

All of this nonsense would be ended if Senators were chosen by the state legislatures instead of the votes as originally designed by the Founders. Prior to the adoption of the 17th Amendment, Senators were properly called "statesmen," who were expected to be above petty partisan politics and charged with safeguarding and furthering the national interest. Remember they were supposed to be the saucer that cooled the overflowing passions of the members of the Peoples' House. Now, they're nothing more than two House members elected on a statewide basis.

Removing Senators from being elected would instantly reduce the power of DC lobbyists and their money by half. Senators would not care in the slightest about raising money because they wouldn't have to campaign for office. Not being accountable to the voters means that Senators would be free to act in accordance with their individual consciouses, which is what most liberals claim they want in their public officials.

Forget campaign finance reform, which is always doomed to failure. For real reform of our political system, join me in supporting the repeal of the 17th Amendment.

98% women at a National Health concert? You mean 2%, perchance?

Yes, the Wyatt tune was a cover. He also did great version of EC's "Shipbuilding", if one remembers.

At this point, the true Bobs and their clones have probably merged. I smell a concept album in the making. But I wonder what Tony Snow would say about all this. (Meanwhile, speaking of Stalinists, Al is frantically Googling to find out exactly what Dubya thinks. I mean, "thinks".)

Chicounsel:

Umm, no thanks. If you're trying to claim that Senators would become immune from the pressures of faction and petty local interests from being chosen instead by *state legislators*, I'd say you don't know very much about statehouse politics.

All you'd do is bring back the smoke filled room -- minus the smoke.

You wanna start talking about repealing amendments, I think I'd rather start with the second, thanks much.

Bob

Kenji:

Yes, that was a brainfart of course. No progrock band, even Yes or Kansas, ever brought out more than *maybe* 30-40% women at their shows, tops.

My favorite Wyatt cover was an extremely poignant version of the Victor Jara song, Te Recuerdo Ananda, I believe it's called. Those are the first words, anyway. Sung in Spanish.

Hehe, I think I mitigated the clone issue with both sardonic humor and a deluge of trivia. We'll see, though ...

Bob

All this energy on a race where a Democrat is going to win no matter what; this has to be a Rove plot.

Stalin wasn't stallin'
When he told the Beast of Berlin

Isaac Deutscher, in his biography of Stalin, considered Stalin to be the most important political figure of the Twentieth Century becuase of his defeat of Hitler. Of course, it is anathema to the West's idea it defeated Hitler and that Stalin was a monster. Stalin was a monster, but a JIT one as far as Nazi Germany's defeat is concerned.

Frank J:

Well, Republicans do this all the time as a matter of course.

Why is everybody freaking out when the Dems do it?

Bob

Bob, or "Bob", that's totally weird, because Radio-Canada is right now playing Mercedes Sosa doing a Victor Jara song. What's the chance of that happening?

Sorry, trolls. You can stop scratching those empty heads and go back to your Barry Sadler albums now.

...go back to your Barry Sadler albums now.

Uh, what's an "album"?

Robert Wyatt, vocals.
Terje Rypdal, guitar.
Carla Bley, keyboards.
Steve Swallow, bass.
Jack DeJohnette, drums.

Name the album.

I guess Ollie North for VA senate happened *after* the GOP lost the White House. Basically the whole GOP establishment supported him, but non-complete-asshole Republican John Warner took an interest and supported Marshall Coleman (I), splitting the Republican vote and giving Chuck Robb one last term.

SecularAnimist:

Damn ... that's the album of Edward Gorey songs !

I've plumb forgotten the name of it, though. I've heard it, of course.

Bob

Kenji:

No, that's me. The other "Bob" is trying to impress us with what the Magna Carta label calls progrock. That's neo-prog and some of it is kinda cool -- but don't try to tell it to a Canterbury freak :)

Next he'll be asking about Asia, GRT and Derek Sherinian ...

Bob

SecularAnimist:

The Hapless Child?

Just a guess ... it's been -- shit, decades at this point.

Bob

"The Hapless Child", yes? Maybe based on an Edward Gorey book, if I remember. And let's not forget one of the bets album titles of the '70s: "Ruth is Stranger Than Richard".

Remember all those JCOA box sets with Linda Ronstandt and Jack Bruce, etc.?

(Daddy, what's a box set?)

Will someone please fuck me? I need it desperately. Do what you want to me. Take me please.

I was wrong. Americans for Democratic Action gave Liebermann a score of 80% and Hillary 100% in 2005. This score isn't based on complete voting records but on what ADA considers to be the twenty most important bills for liberal Dems during the year. It's all beside the point anyway. Lieberman's support for the Iraq War couldn't be tolerated by even moderate Dems.

Kenji:

Jazz Composers Orchestra of America ! Rock the fuck on !

And don't forget Carla fucking Bley. My favorite of hers is European Tour '77, with:

Hugh Hopper, bass
Elton Dean, saxello
John Clarke, French horn
Michael Mantler, trumpet
Andrew Cyrille, drums
Carla Bley, organ
Terry Adams, piano

oh, and ...

Roswell Rudd, trombone !

Bob

If we're, wandering into Carla Bleyland, one Wyatt-sung track not to be missed is "I'm a Mineralist" from Fictitious Sports, a Carla Bley album pretending to be a Nick Mason album.

Hapless Child has lots of great tracks, even if it's a little heavy on the string synth. "The Insect God" will stay with you.

*BLT* stands for what?

I was wrong. Americans for Democratic Action gave Liebermann a score of 80% and Hillary 100% in 2005. This score isn't based on complete voting records but on what ADA considers to be the twenty most important bills for liberal Dems during the year. It's all beside the point anyway. Lieberman's support for the Iraq War couldn't be tolerated by even moderate Dems.

Those scores are also slightly misleading as they are based on only the final votes on the floor. It's often the procedural votes beforehand -- for example, on cloture -- that really matter, and that's where Lieberman chooses to stick the knife in.

Forget campaign finance reform, which is always doomed to failure. For real reform of our political system, join me in supporting the repeal of the 17th Amendment.

Posted by: Chicounsel on August 14, 2006 at 5:07 PM

That's right. If it's good enough for George Hearst (William Randolph's dad), it's good enough today. Who wouldn't enjoy seeing Paris Hilton as one of California's senators?

Oh, and "Stalin Wasn't Stallin'" was initially recorded by the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet in 1943 and became a moderate hit. (As with all records during the Petrillo AFM strike, it was sung a cappella; I believe all of the quartet's songs were sung in this manner to begin with.) The composer, Willie Johnson, was a member of the quartet. Wyatt's version was made in 1980.

Here are the complete lyrics:

Stalin wasn't stallin'
when he told the beast of Berlin
That they'd never rest contented
Till they had driven him from the land
So he called the Yanks and English
And proceeded to extinguish
The Fuhrer and his vermin
This is how it all began

Now the Devil, he was reading
In the Good Book one day
How that Lord created Adam
To walk the righteous way
And it made the Devil jealous
He turned green up to his horns
And he swore by things unholy
That he'd make one of his own

So he packed two suitcases
Full of greed and misery
And he caught the Midnight Special
Going down to Germany
Then he mixed his lies and hatred
With fire and brimstone
Then the Devil sat upon it
That's how Adolf was born

Now Adolf got the notion
That he was the master race
And he swore he'd bring New Order
And put mankind in its place!
So he set a scheme in motion
And was winning everywhere
Until he up and got the notion
For to kick that Russian bear

(repeat verse 1)

Yes he kicked that noble Russian
But it wasn't very long
Before Adolf got suspicious
That he had done something wrong
'Cause that bear grabbed the Fuhrer
And gave him an awful fright
Seventeen months he scrapped the Fuhrer
Tooth and claw, day and night

Then that bear smacked the Fuhrer
With a mighty armored paw
And Adolf broke all records
Running backwards towards Krakaw
Then Goebbels sent a message
To the people everywhere
That if they couldn't hit the Fuhrer
Go down hit that Russian bear

(repeat verse 1)

Then this bear called on his buddy
The noble fighting Yank
And they sent the Fuhrer running
With their ships and planes and tanks
Now the Fuhrer's having nightmares
'Cause the Fuhrer knows damn well
That the Devil's done wrote "Welcome"
On his residence in Hell

(repeat verse 1)

Almost makes you want to go out and buy war bonds.

Great point, Stefan, but one which Jay will no doubt be unable to understand. As a trollbot, he's not programmed to grasp concepts beyond "an up/down vote in the Senate."

Cheers!

Great point, Stefan, but one which Jay will no doubt be unable to understand. As a trollbot, he's not programmed to grasp concepts beyond "an up/down vote in the Senate." This deficiency in the trollbot program is related to their inability to dis-conflate the war in Iraq and the ongoing struggle against militant Islam.

Cheers!

Why do reporters even bother to attend these Snow events? Surely not to gather news. Have they asked about the signing statements yet?

Americans for Democratic Action gave Liebermann a score of 80%

The bankrupcy/credit card bill vote of Lieberman's, or any other Democrat, should weigh several hundred points more than any other measure. Anyone who voted for that bill should be rightly called a banker's pet and given an negative mark by the ADA. It should be the first law that Lieberman voted for that Lamont should bring up, even before the Iraq war vote.

The later Carla Bley stuff (as Tony Snow well knows) is pretty good, too -- anything with Gary Windo. Kind of got me through the late '70s/early '80s dry spell. Don't know what that crowd is up to, lately. Karen mantler put out some good records too,

Kenji:

Was that connection with Tony Snow facetious -- or did he used to be a muso of some sort in his pre-Fox days?

I'm not hugely fond of either Bley or the JCOA bag -- though I love the European Tour album. There's something sort of precious and self-consciously po-mo about her compositions -- and I'm not fond of her husband Michael Mantler's orchestral stuff at all. It was an important venue for American musicians -- and grant-funded, too -- but I have other scenes in the late 70s-80s I'm more fond of: Canterbury, RIO, Allan Holdsworth, the ECM scene (though the quality and intensity varies).

Jack DeJohnette, though, will always remain one of my all-time favorite drummers.

Bob

Kenji:

Oh, and don't forget the Frank Zappa of France: Christian Vander, his amazing and totally eccentric/original band Magma, and the many projects of "Zuehl music" they fostered / spawned.

And Frank Zappa, too -- though much of his 80s stuff is also uneven compared to the earlier decade.

Bob

Chris Mathews played Joe's newest political ad on his show tonight, and as soon as it was over he says "I see dead people".

LOL!

Tony Snow is the biggest gaping sphincter in American history....

Wow, people talking about Zuehl in a Kevin Drum comment thread! I must be on drugs.

Starting in the middle of the day, we can drink our politics away...

jimBOB:

I saw Magma six years ago at The Knitting Factory in Lower Manhattan.

They did all of Mekanik Destrutiw Kommandoh :)

"Ko-bi-a ... "

Bob

Destrutiw = Destructiw (?)

What Tony Snow should find really interesting is that - George W. Bush blew a guy.. Now when is this fact going to be on Fox News, Tony? Hmmm?

Bob

OK, I'm jealous now. Closest I ever came to that was I knew a guy who worked at Tomato Records back when they were doing Udu Wudu and Attahk. The band came through the offices one day and it was apparently quite the culture clash between band members and label staff.

Forgive what may be a dumb question, but do you have a website where you hold forth on all this, or are you just a freelance prog maven?

I notice the support Chairman Dean offered for Cynthia McKinney. And for Joe Lieberman.

What's that?

Oh...

I notice the support Chairman Dean offered for Cynthia McKinney. And for Joe Lieberman.

Dr. Dean supports the nominee from his party as chosen by the voters. Does the president support the nominee from his own party as Dr. Dean does, or does he support a guy who claimed to be a member of the opposition party a week ago?

Seems like Tony Snow could identify which of the candidates for the seat the president supports, couldn't he? It's not a long list, it shouldn't take George too long to read.

I notice the support Chairman Dean offered for Cynthia McKinney. And for Joe Lieberman.

Ah. So the president should model his response after Dr. Dean's. In that case, why not vote for Dean for president and cut out the middleman?

jimBOB:

Oh jesus, this answer is sure going to get the trolls going ... although I notice, heh heh, that I stop getting spoofed when Thomas is gone :)

Anyway ... I'm just a freelance prog freak. I've been printed in the NYT about it (lead letter in the Arts & Leisure section, first Sunday of 2000; they included a picture of Zappa), and in my undergraduate journal (American Studies, $50 essay prize). I have a bunch of very hardcore ideas about the effects of commercialism on people's abilities to assimilate music that verge on the cranky and ideological, most of which I've copped from Zappa and guys like Bill Bruford and Dave Stewart. I also compose music on the computer, which I guess you could call a species of progrock; it's extremely intricate, multi-layered and section-changing.

Mainly I'm just your garden-variety odd time signature maniac.

Oh, and I wasn't lying about having Hatfield and the North's autographs. I saw them at the NEARfest at Lehigh University a month ago (with Alex MacGuire on keys). Their first American performance -- and only 34 years too late.

It was great; before the show, some deranged heckler shouted out a song request at the top of his lungs just as they were about to start to play.

Pip Pyle, without missing a beat, goes "Ahh. Shock and Awe!"

You seriously *had* to be there :)

Bob

You know, given that his party has totally abandoned him, I'm thinking the Repug candidate in CT should "fall on his sword" and tell his supporters to just vote for Lamont! How totally embaressing that not a single Republican leader (from Bush on down) can seem to bring themself to endorse the guy! If he hangs with them it just proves that it's more about party than country...but then we already knew that, right!

I'm also getting pretty sick and tired of the old "experience and influence" argument...guess that means just elect someone and keep them until they DIE!!! Except for the crooks, of course,...that would open up some Repug seats.

I notice the support Chairman Dean offered for Cynthia McKinney. And for Joe Lieberman.

As I recall, those incumbents were candidates in contested primaries within the party, not Dean's party's nominee for any office.

What exactly has Joe Lieberman ever "influenced", especially of late? Seriously, in all his alleged "bipartisan spirit", what has he succeeded in getting the Republicans to compromise on?

My hunch is that not even Joe could answer that.

That's the irony, man.

So it would seem!

I knew I had that moniker for a reason.

Sorry, Bob, that you're being spoofed.

But if conservative commentors on otherwise liberal blogs have being spoofed as their worst complaint, they should try posting liberal comments on conservative blogs.

Generally can't be done at all, spoof or not.

As for Snow's response to the question, it was of course absurd, since it is pretty obvious the Republican'ts are behind Jomentum. Mellman's dance on Press the Meat was hysterically funny.

Why are people trolling under my name? This is driving me crazy.

Bob
Posted by: rmck1

I ain't gonna worry until one of the imposters can spell 'peristalsis' and use it in an undeniably 'Bob' sentence.

I knows 'the real Bob' when I sees it.

“I don’t so much mind that newspapers are dying. It’s watching them commit suicide that pisses me off.” Molly Ivins

Someone's gonna piss off the real Joe Bob Briggs

(a nom de plume in any case for one the smartest and funniest guys I ever met over bourbon neat in the hallowed bar of the dear old Stoneleigh Hotel - oh - ya know, Big D in the old days when it had a 'liberal' evening paper.)

and will someone wake me up so I can watch?

CFShep:

Thankie, darlin' :) I'm sure I'd never mistake your Cajun-spiced flava, neither.

The post you quoted was, of course, not me.

But you doubtless knew that already :)

I know I've been extremely self-indulgent about all of this. I'm hardly the only regular commenter who's endured a spoof attack. And -- yes -- I put a big, red target on my back by issuing that stupid "or else I'm leaving" ultimatum.

I guess it's cuz I'm a 4 wing 5 on the enneagram personality typology. Fours have an intense sense of their own rather tragic uniqueness -- and nothing pisses off/threatens a Four quite so much as having that uniqueness challenged.

Still prolly doesn't change how self-indulgent it all looks to other, less dramaqueenish personality types ... *sigh*.

Sorry guys,

Bob

John Bloom

Waving to Bob.

CFShep:

John Bloom?

Bob

Joe Bob Briggs' real name.

CFShep:

Are you talking about the commenter of that name on this blog -- or did that person take it from a famous person with Joe Bob Briggs as a pseudonym?

Forgive my Yankee ignorance of things pertinent to regional Southern newspapers and such ...

Bob

Yikes!

Sweetie the 'real' Joe Bob Briggs (really the regular film reviewer by the name of John Bloom) started doing these drive-in movie reviews in the Friday entertainment pullout of a now defunct Dallas newpaper which became a big cult hit.

"Heads roll!"

And that Joe Bob Briggs has no relationship to the poster using that handle here.

Google 'Joe Bob Briggs' and you can read this stuff for yourself. The joke that ate its creator.

Lieberman's list is nearly 200 handwritten pages long, containing the names of more than 700 individuals and Political Action Committees, representing business and special interest groups. The contributions total six figures on some days. The filings contain many well-known individual donors, including Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, former New York City mayor Ed Koch and executives at major companies, among them Hartford-based United Technologies Corp.

The PACs that gave to Lieberman include the Chicago Board of Trade, Tyco International, Verizon Communications, AT&T, Bank of America, Microsoft and Eastman Kodak. Lieberman's PAC money for the two and a half weeks totaled more than $220,000. Lamont's list is short

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