"A liberal is someone so open minded that they can't take their own side in an argument."

A classic case of that here.

It'll be good to have real debate in Congress...but yeah, here's to hoping that it won't be so open that Republicans can manage to steamroll over us again, despite being in the minority.

This is good for the country in thought and on principle. But I hope it doesn't get taken advantage of to the point that it makes the whole change up in the houses futile.

Let me just take the opportunity right now to appologize to the entire nation for Roy Blunt on bahalf of the state of Missouri, even if I am in the liberal MO-05, represented by Emmanuel Cleaver.

Steve Benen wrote:

But, as Kos noted, "This is an era of hardball politics, and the GOP clearly has no intention to play nice." I suspect he's right -- and I hope Pelosi, Hoyer, & Co. keep it in mind.

They show no evidence of having kept that in mind for the last six years. And given that Pelosi has already decided to pardon Bush for his crimes against America by declaring impeachment "off the table", my expectations for the Democrats are not very high.

".....they weren't allowed to offer amendments to legislation;... _ Steve Benen

"During Committee markup Democratic Members offered four amendments to cure deficiencies in the Committee Print and improve the LUST provisions. Two of the amendments were adopted: An amendment by Representative Hilda Solis (D-CA) to eliminate a limitation on the EPA’s ability to recover federal cleanup costs from liable tank owners and operators, and an amendment by Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to improve the operator training provisions."

http://www.house.gov/commerce_democrats/legviews/109lvhr1640-lust.shtml

"In a Republican-led Congress, life in the minority was surprisingly unpleasant. Legislation was written without Democratic input; bills were passed without letting Democrats read it; Democrats' bills were denied hearings and votes; they weren't allowed to offer amendments to legislation; they weren't even allowed to use hearing rooms." - Steve Benen

Fairly ridiculous (and drama queen) assertion. I offered one post to the contrary, can you prove any of the others?

One thing this president and his party have always gotten wrong is - appearances matter.
See, it's perfectly acceptable in American politics to bend your opponent over a tree stump and make him squeal like a pig. You just don't SAY you're bending him over a tree stump and making him squeal like a pig. That's rude.
What you do is, you tell him (and the media,) that you're "taking the high road." That way, the New York Times tells everyone you're taking the high road, and people think their government works.
Meanwhile, back in the swamp, you screw your opponent like he's never been screwed before. If he squeals like anything other than a pig, you say, "Gee, we're taking the high road here, I can't understand why my opponent is against that. Perhaps he hates fairness and the American Way. Also, puppies."
Appearances matter.

heh heh he said boehner

The rethuglicans only know how to play dirty and as long as they don't get a taste of what it means to be under the boot they will never stop.
The D's were nice after watergate and what happens but all the crooks came back under addled ron.
The D's were nice after Iran-Contra and what happened but poppa pordoned every one who could testify against him they went on an 8 year jihad challengeing the legitimacy of the Clintons and created a constititional crisis just to destabilize the country and promorte their own narrow parochiacial goals.
After 9/11 the D's were bip[artisan and sought consensus and what happened bush and his crooks brought back all the old criminials from nioxon and addled ron's administrations while openly claiming that the D's were traitors.

No sympathy. No prisoners. Got them down now give them the boot. After we trash this group of crooks with criminial prosecutions and jail time and after the, new rethuglican leadership, goes public and apoligizes for the criminial and treasonous activity's of the last 30 years and opens all documents up and supports any further criminial prosecutions against themselves and thier corporate puppetmasters then we can have civility.

No justice. No Peace.

Don't worry about reelection all "red" state america responds to is the image of a strong leader they scorn reason and compromise. By kicking the rethugs while they are down we will automatically pick up 10% to 20% of the rethuglican base who respond to "strength".

Do I like this - No.

But like surgery the cancer must be cut out of the body politic.

Jay -- I don't think Steve meant there were never any amendments allowed. As I understand it, amendments were only permitted to be offered if the Republican leadership agreed that they could be. If not, the Democrats couldn't do anything. Sometimes the leadership had reasons to permit them to be offered; most of the time not. That is to say, a single counter example, or even a few, doesn't really change what the conditions were.

It would seem that holding the majority would give the Dems at least as many opportunities to force these kinds of "difficult votes" on the GOP as vice versa. Plus, Dem policies have the advantage of being popular when stated directly. Bring it on, Blunt.

The Republican operation of Congress the last decade has been unfair, opaque, undemocratic and arguably (often unarguably) in violation of Congressional rules. The Democrats are generally correct in refraining from emulating the Rethugs in this--plainly (if sappily) it is just the right thing to do. Nonetheless, no one should be under any illusion that it will have any impact on Republican SOP. Regardless of how fairly they are treated, they will feed their gullible allies in the MSM with tales of their oppression at Democratic (or, more accurately, Democrat)hands. And they will only see such treatment as a sign of weakness, since most of today's Republican operatives are incapable of even intellectually comprehending the concept of objective standards and rules let alone believe in applying them. Nor do they have any conception of shame, intellectual consistency, or hypocrisy. Expect no reciprocation should they regain the majority in either house.

Ken: Amen and dead-on.

Secular Animist: "my expectations are not very high"? You are not remotely close to cynical enough - must be that Christmas hangover.

Cazart: What I wouldn't give for you to be right, but the dems have proven over and over and over again during the last 12 years that yes, they really are just battered wives who are so addicted to the abuse they can't imagine life any other way.

Pelosi should introduce legislation banning the Republican party from State and Federal government.

How's that for bipartisan?

Jay is actually trying to have a (s)word-fight with Dicely on "expectations" and his empty Christmas paper roll is pretty tattered.

The problem in the Hastert led House was that the majority party was dominated by spoiled little brats. Now they are the minority party and they plan to remain spoiled little brats. Maybe Nancy should treat them accordingly.

ken nails it so hard, it'll be walking bow-legged for the next 3 weeks.

"Democrats have chosen to take the high road."

What a great line! My side still hurts from laughing!

"Jay -- I don't think Steve meant there were never any amendments allowed..." David in NY

This is part of Steve's quote:

".......Democrats' bills were denied hearings and votes; they weren't allowed to offer amendments to legislation; they weren't even allowed to use hearing rooms." - Steve Benen

Sounds pretty matter-of-fact to me. Of course this could be that famous Democrat Doublespeak Shuffle.

For example:

"Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, unapologetic in the face of recent criticism that he has been too tough on his political opposition, said in San Francisco this week that Republicans are "a pretty monolithic party. They all behave the same. They all look the same. It's pretty much a white Christian party."

And then a few days later:

"What I said was the Republican leadership didn't seem to care much about working people," he said. "That's essentially the gist of the quote."

I need to learn this language.

How can you take the high road when you don't inhale?

I think the Democrats should be gracious and take the high road whenever possible. However, I would not trust the snakes in the GOP as far as I could throw an elephant with a broken arm (pun intended).

Global Citizen:

I know a fair amount about Missouri politics and I know Roy Blunt and his son, Matt, are so damn dumb they have to take off their shoes to count to eleven. I like Cleaver, but he is almost too slick for his own good. If only Alvin Brooks were a little younger, that man could be president. What a fabulous speaker.

Kevin, 2 wrongs do not make a right. So even if what the Republicans did was wrong that doesn't mean having the Democrats do the same thing make it any better. Food for thought.
Posted by: Al on December 27, 2006 at 4:48 PM | PERMALINK

Yes!

Even though "payback for 9/11" is often cited as a reason for the Iraq war.

Even though "Dems did it in Chicago in 64" is frequently cited as justification for election fraud in 2000 and 2004.

Even though "those Islamists will happily saw your heads off" is the usual excuse for saying that Abu Ghraib abuses were okay.

Even though "Soviets used to tap people's phones" is a convenient way of saying it's okay that the US government now monitors phone calls and internet traffic using automated equipment.

I think the better option is to coopt them over time, not repeat their mistakes. We shouldn't kid ourselves that they are going to be aggressive and at times vicious about all this, but instead of just bluntly blocking all their initiatives without debate, we should take the opportunity to expose the lies, deceits, and injustices that underlie many of their directions. We should perform a kind of rhetorical judo on them, using their aggressive nastiness to make them even more despised. While visibly being the fairer, more enlightened folks. We don't have to be naive to take the high road, nor ruthless to defend ourselves.

Ken on December 27, 2006 at 4:30 PM

Word.

"Even though "payback for 9/11" is often cited as a reason for the Iraq war." - Extradite

um......no. Don't you remember WMD? Sheesh, pay attention.

"Even though "Dems did it in Chicago in 64" is frequently cited as justification for election fraud in 2000 and 2004." - Extradite

um.....zero proof of that (but that never stops a liberal from accusation). And what about voter fraud in 2006? Did all the machines work this time?

"Even though "those Islamists will happily saw your heads off" is the usual excuse for saying that Abu Ghraib abuses were okay." - Extradite

Those guilty at Abu Ghraib were prosecuted. Last time I checked, that means that it wasn't okay.

"Even though "Soviets used to tap people's phones" is a convenient way of saying it's okay that the US government now monitors phone calls and internet traffic using automated equipment." - Extradite

The SC said it was okay and they rarely do things out of "convenience".

Down Goes Frazier: "What a great line! My side still hurts from laughing!"

Beginning next week, your ignorant GOP cracker asses start getting kicked repeatedly, so that pain will soon shift to the lower extremities.

If only Alvin Brooks were a little younger, that man could be president. What a fabulous speaker.

Amen. Al is a prince. I see him around midtown from time to time, his offices are near my hime.

Cleaver does have a little bit of the "Reverend Ike" quality about him, doesn't he? I actually worked for Metzl in the 2004 primary.

But the 2004 general, the debate between Cleaver and Patterson (aka the Candidate from Cerner) offered the most priceless piece of video! When asked about the legislative process, Patterson claimed ignorance "I didn't know I would be asked that question." Cleaver just looked at her, bemused. Meanwhile, my whole family burst into song I'm just a bill, yeah I'm only a Bill, and I'm sittin' here on Capital Hill...

Those guilty at Abu Ghraib were prosecuted

That's the meme, eh? Undertrained reservists were prosecuted. No brass. But officers are always responsible for those in their command. If they can't keep order they shouldn't be officers.

And I feel an Honor Code rant coming on. Someone distract me, quick.

Global Citizen: "And I feel an Honor Code rant coming on. Someone distract me, quick."

LOOK! OVER THERE! NO, NOT THERE! THERE! Isn't that Oprah?

"Undertrained reservists were prosecuted. No brass. But officers are always responsible for those in their command. If they can't keep order they shouldn't be officers." - GC

These were the convicted officers in charge:

Former Cpl. Charles Graner Jr., of Uniontown, Pa., was found guilty in January

Former Staff Sgt. Ivan Frederick of Buckingham, Va., was sentenced to 81/2 years last October

Time for more family fun?

"Meanwhile, my whole family burst into song I'm just a bill, yeah I'm only a Bill, and I'm sittin' here on Capital Hill..." - GC

And what about voter fraud in 2006? Did all the machines work this time?

Good point. Can you imagine just how hard we kicked your asses when you count all the votes the GOP suppressed, defrauded and undercounted? It truly was a spanking to end all spankings.

That's the meme, eh? Undertrained reservists were prosecuted. No brass.

Which is as it should be because it was only a few bad apples.

Those guilty at Abu Ghraib were prosecuted. Last time I checked, that means that it wasn't okay.

Tuesday October 31, 2006:

Critics say the main problem is that [contractors] are unaccountable. Non-Iraqi employees of private security companies in Iraq were protected from prosecution under Order 17 of the Coalition Provisional Authority, issued shortly before it handed over power in 2004.

War on Want said yesterday that civilian contractors - including men named in US military reports as having carried out abuses at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison - have repeatedly escaped prosecution. The charity pointed to a report by US army general Antonio Taguba which stated that two workers employed by private defence companies CACI International Inc and Titan Corp were "either directly or indirectly responsible for the abuses at Abu Ghraib".

How can you take the high road when you don't inhale?

Poor Jay. Such nasty invective being thrown at republicans these days. Well, I guess the only thing to say is...suck it bitch! We won and you losers get to wander in the wilderness crying like little babies for a decade or so. Have fun asswipe!

jay, you put the lie to your own supposed authority. Staff Sgt's and Corporals are not officers. They are enlisted.

Officers are Lieutenants, Captains, Majors, Lt. Colonels, Colonels and Generals.

No officers were punished.

I keep forgetting to welcome Apollo 13 back. Perhaps we can have some cocoa and holiday haikus later.

CACI International

Colonels and Captain, Inc!

It could be that Jay is just ignorant enough not to know that "officers", unmodified, is a synonym for "commissioned officers" and distinguishes them from "enlisted men" which include noncommissioned officers.

FYI, Jay, corporals and staff sergeants are not officers; they are ranking enlisted personnel.

The term "officer" refers to any rank from second lieutenant up to general -- or second ensign to admiral if in the Navy./i>

Yow! Haikus! Dazzle me, shortstop. I know you can. There's a trophy that shows you are the haiku master. : )

"The charity pointed to a report by US army general Antonio Taguba which stated that two workers employed by private defence companies CACI International Inc and Titan Corp were "either directly or indirectly responsible for the abuses at Abu Ghraib"." - apollo

Well, to begin with, one is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Remember. Secondly, according to your own post, they were a protected class under Order 17. You should be quite familiar with "protected classes". And finally, when one states: "either directly or indirectly", that usually protends a "fishing" expedition. I thought Democrats abhored legal "fishing" expeditions?

Everyone step off Jay. He was unable to fight in Vietnam, even though he says he "offered his services" by...wait for it...complying with the federal law to register for the draft. According to Jay, this is equivalent to enlisting in terms of nobility. Had Uncle Sam taken Jay up on his "offer," which he made freely and open-heartedly by going down to the post office and filling out the form, he might know what an officer is.

It sucks to be the good guys in white hats, sometimes, and realize your moral and ethical standards can be taken advantage of, but that's the well-delineated disadvantage of precluding options for moral or ethical considerations.

If I wanted corrupt governance that has their presdiging legislative officer say "go fuck yourself" to the other side, and routinely breaks rules and laws, I'd vote for Republicans.

These were the convicted officers in charge:
Posted by: Jay on December 27, 2006 at 5:12 PM | PERMALINK

Neither Graner nor Frederick are officers in any but the most reductio ad absurdum sense.

um......no. Don't you remember WMD? Sheesh, pay attention.

No. I don't remember any WMD. That excuse went out the window as soon as it became obvious that there were NONE.

Did all the machines work this time?

No - but the 2000 lawyers the DNC sent around to election halls apparently did.

Those guilty at Abu Ghraib were prosecuted. Last time I checked, that means that it wasn't okay.

Next time you're ordering your "Club Gitmo" t-shirts as Christmas gifts for friends and family from RushLimbaugh.com, ask your rightwing mouthpiece if he thinks it's "okay".

I'll accept that meaningful prosecutions occurred when Rumsfeld is hanging from the same gallows as Joachim von Ribbentrop, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Field Marshall Wilhelm Keitel; Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Alfred Rosenberg, Hans Frank; Gauleiter of Poland; Wilhem Frank, Fritz Sauckel, Colonel General Alfred Jodl; and Julius Streicher.

I'll accept that meaningful investigations occurred when we have the names of the civilian contractors who told the low-level grunts, who only had training in being prison guards, that they had to perform "softening up" and interrogations - something outside of their training. These contractors need to be held responsible. The military intelligence people need to be held responsible. The civilian leadership, at the very highest levels who wrote memos ordering abusive behavior need to be held responsible. And the Republican cunts in congress who stood by and did nothing, and circle-jerked to the photos, need to be held responsible.

Global Citizen and Deflator:
As long as we're talking KC politics - have you checked out Funkhouser?

I was on the Funkhouser bandwagon before he announced his mayoral bid.

Aw, Apollo, I'm not feeling too creative. Let's hear from you.

What's in a rank, guys?
Officer, enlisted guy,
I don't know the diff.

Nancy and Harry!
Please don't beat my vanquished ass!
I whine for mercy.

Sure, we were assholes.
But we expect more from Dems--
You're nobler than we.

These suck. Over to you, Apollo.

cmdicely: "It could be that Jay is just ignorant enough not to know that ..."

... he endangers himself by continuing to revel and wallow in his own ignorance.

Good point. Can you imagine just how hard we kicked your asses when you count all the votes the GOP suppressed, defrauded and undercounted? It truly was a spanking to end all spankings.
Posted by: shortstop on December 27, 2006 at 5:13 PM | PERMALINK

Exactly. And this is why I believe no quarter should be given to the Culture of Corruption that calls itself the Republican Party.

If what the experts say is true about the vote rigging, that Democrats actually won by an additional 5% margin on average, to overcome the fraud - then the actual margins mean that the Democrats have a mandate to put collars on the Republicans, and spank them daily on C-SPAN, and force them to submit to Pelosi's strap-on.

Well, to begin with, one is presumed innocent until proven guilty. .....
Posted by: Jay on December 27, 2006 at 5:23 PM | PERMALINK

That's rich Jay.

Shorter Jay: "IOKIYAAR."

"I'll accept that meaningful prosecutions occurred when Rumsfeld is hanging from the same gallows as Joachim von Ribbentrop, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Field Marshall Wilhelm Keitel; Ernst.....blah blah" - Extradite

Then bring charges tough guy. Put up or Shut up.

"These contractors need to be held responsible. The military intelligence people need to be held responsible. The civilian leadership, at the very highest levels who wrote memos ordering abusive behavior need to be held responsible. And the Republican cunts in congress who stood by and did nothing, and circle-jerked to the photos, need to be held responsible." - Extradite

What about a certain Senator from Massuchusets who killed his girlfriend? Should he be held responsible?

"Next time you're ordering your "Club Gitmo" t-shirts as Christmas gifts for friends and family from RushLimbaugh.com,..." - Extradite

I love those t-shirts!

Graner and Frederick were the highest ranking members placed in charge that were convicted (excuse me if made a faux pas). But incidentally:

"Lt-Col Steven Jordan has been charged with seven offences including maltreatment of prisoners.

He is the highest ranking officer to face criminal charges over events at the prison.
Ten lower-ranking soldiers have already been convicted for abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib from 2003 to 2004."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4956946.stm

Jerkoff Jay spams another thread with his stupidity.

Always nice to have some entertainment for the holidays. He brought all the usual strawmen too, very nice.

Well, the first response team has ably jumped atop Jay. Jay, I know you are still smarting from your pitiful joke about Post Delayed Stress and your lack of concern over anyone serving in the military and your attack on those who have as being stupid.

Warrant Officers are not even included in the above list - Coporals (E-4) and Staff Sergeants (E-6) are not even in the upper echelons of NCOs. They go up to E-9 by the way. Perhaps you were simply making too much money to ever pay much attention to those who have helped protect your sorry rearend.

I don't know Shortstop,
Those Haiku's were pretty good.
You are very sharp.

Then bring charges tough guy. Put up or Shut up.

I don't reckon I need to.

What about a certain Senator from Massuchusets who killed his girlfriend? Should he be held responsible?

What about a certain senator from Illinois, who covered up the abuse of power for hush-money from a senator from Florida, who was using his position of authority to cruise for teenage page ass? At least that happened THIS CENTURY.

Lt-Col Steven Jordan has been charged with seven offences including maltreatment of prisoners.

Not enough.
"Make sure this happens!!!"
Rummy was in charge. Rummy was responsible. Rummy wrote the memo.

Gee, Extradite, we're giving honest subbies a bad name!

Speaking of Madam Speaker (I love to say that), not that anyone really was, I will be traveling on the date of the SOTU. But I plan to record it so that I can enjoy:

a) the view of a Democratic Speaker, preferably in a red suit, sitting right behind Smirky and, I hope, hitting him the back of the head with blowdarts or a bound volume of the Constitution ("Ow!" "Quit whining, Mr. President! It's 'just a piece of paper!'"),

and

b) the sight of the entire Republican side of the aisle frozen in terror, afraid to applaud anything Bush says for fear their constituencies will show continuous footage of it during the 2008 campaign season.

Ah. Good times.

"Perhaps you were simply making too much money to ever pay much attention to those who have helped protect your sorry rearend." - thethird

That maybe true, or maybe I am suffering from post election stress disorder.

But let me see if I have this straight: it's okay to make fun of a sitting VP and his pregnant Lesbian daughter but not okay to make light of PTSD?

But let me see if I have this straight: it's okay to make fun of a sitting VP and his pregnant Lesbian daughter but not okay to make light of PTSD?
Posted by: Jay on December 27, 2006 at 5:51 PM | PERMALINK

Yes. Especially when the sitting VP is a member of a political party that endorses FORCING his daughter to give birth to an illegitimate child, by denying her the right to marry her partner. This is the party of "Family Values"?

Yes, it's great sport to make fun of hypocrites. Especially when they are mass murderers, frauds, thieves, and traitors.

The classic neocon critique of liberalism, the critique offered by Leo Strauss and early 20th century fascists, was directed at liberalism’s openness to everything, including its enemies. The fascists (and the communists) understood that the open structure of the liberal state makes it vulnerable to anti-liberal forces. In Germany the Nazis consciously exploited the weaknesses of Weimar Republic. Conservatism in its classic form is sympathetic to aristocracy. Liberalism is to be kept within bounds and populist inclusion is to be limited. This was certainly the position taken by the founding fathers of the United States. Although it is quite antiquated there is wisdom in it.

The modern American Republican party is a fully developed anti-liberal authoritarian party without contemporary parallel. It shares many characteristics with early right-wing movements including the cult of traditionalism, glorification of the state, veneration of the true people, reliance on propaganda, the cult of the hero, militarism, suspension of habeas corpus, the prerogatives of the leader, secret trials, torture, domestic spying, corruption and anti-intellectualism. This is not an era of hardball politics but a time of struggle against one-party authoritarianism.

Screw them. Payback sucks.

The way they treated Democrats the past twelve years . . . let 'em eat dust.

.

"What about a certain senator from Illinois, who covered up the abuse of power for hush-money from a senator from Florida,...." - Extradite

hmmm....let's see, murder or sex scandal. Which is more egregious? I'll go with murder, in that there are no statute of limitations.

And by the way, why would a Democrat oppose homosexual sex between consenting men over 18 yrs of age?

Shortstop,
Those were great. Don't sell yourself short. : )

Yo! Democrats rule.
Kick the Repubs in the ass.
Such targets are big.

"Please, don't hurt us. Please!"
Whined the Repub goons.
"Nothing up our sleeves." ; )

Repubs lost big time.
But now they want fair play, eh?
Too bad, so sad. Shoo!

Rubber stamp Repubs.
Never give 'em a break, 'cept...
A crack in the ribs.

The pregnancy was attacked by the fundies on the right - All of those Pub, sneaking to, hearts filled with compassion assailed her. Not the left. And that was my posted joke about your post eletion stress, pal. But, thanks for using it.

"Especially when the sitting VP is a member of a political party that endorses FORCING his daughter to give birth to an illegitimate child, by denying her the right to marry her partner." - Extradite

Now, now, that's not true. Many Republicans are pro-choice. How many Democrats are pro-life?

"Especially when they are mass murderers, frauds, thieves, and traitors." - Extradite

You seem like a well balanced individual.

Lovely, Apollo! You're in great form. The trophy is all yours, babe.

hmmm....let's see, murder or sex scandal. Which is more egregious? I'll go with murder, in that there are no statute of limitations.Posted by: Jay on December 27, 2006 at 5:59 PM | PERMALINK

hmm. In what way was a drunk-driving accident murder? Oh - that's right, in the breathless rantings of neo-McCarthyite wannabe-character-assassins such as yourself!

And by the way, why would a Democrat oppose homosexual sex between consenting men over 18 yrs of age?

When did I oppose that?

I didn't.

I oppose Hastur's coverup, and acceptance of hush-money for Foley's serial abuse of power in propositioning 16-year-olds over a period of 6+ years!

Global Citizen: "I was on the Funkhouser bandwagon before he announced his mayoral bid."

"Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser" has a nice midwestern ring to it.

While I was working as a senior legislative analyst for the Speaker at our state legislature, I met Mr. Funkhouser at a Council for State Governments convention in St. Louis. Both he and Hawaii State Auditor Marion Higa gave a joint lecture about methods for streamlinig government operations in response to structural fiscal deficits. Certainly not a sexy topic for everyday conversation, but I was impressed with his wide breadth of knowledge about government budgets, which are very complex creatures.

And from what little I've read, your city -- much like San Diego -- really needs a solid bean-counter like Funkhouser in that office at this particular moment in time, because he'll tend to the neglect in your city's pension plan and its capital improvements budget, both of which have been underfunded by the present administration and your city council.

Just be sure and support him when he does what a good bean-counting mayor will have to do to remedy that neglect -- because no doubt certain people who ascribe to the Dire Straits philosophy* will be hollering mightily.

* "Money for nothin' and chicks for free!"

Donald - I was and ever shall be a blood banker. We are a strange lot, with an almost masochistic streak of self accountability. We get almost as much delight out of catching our own human errors as we do in catching other people committing deliberate transgressions. It's an untreatable disorder.

I hope he uses "(Won't You Take Me to) Funkhouser Town?" as his campaign song!

He's an auditor. He will get Karin Allison to sing the city budget.

Jay: "And by the way, why would a Democrat oppose homosexual sex between consenting men over 18 yrs of age?"

Oh, I don't know ... do you think that maybe it was because one guy was over 50and in a position of authority as a member of the House, and had been stalking the other guy since he was 16 years old and a subordinate?

Those cwazy Democwats!

shortstop,

Let's share the trophy.

Trolletariat
Regurgitated piffle.
Doh-dee-doh-doh-doh.

For Republicans,
Winter grows long and darker.
Sunny Groundhog day!

I didn't write this one, but I found it on slashdot today:

Rumsfeld is a dick
Won't flow the forces we need
We will be too light.
-Haiku by Col. Steve Rotkof

("Ow!" "Quit whining, Mr. President! It's 'just a piece of paper!'"),

Damn, you're on fire today! Fucking funny!

Jay: "And by the way, why would a Democrat oppose homosexual sex between consenting men over 18 yrs of age?"

. . . and why would a Republican NOT oppose non-consensual homosexual sex between a US civilian contractor interrogator, and a detainee?

E Rummy,

You get the haiku trophy. Excellent.

You get the haiku trophy. Excellent.
Posted by: Apollo 13 on December 27, 2006 at 7:05 PM | PERMALINK

I just wish preznit would do the honorable thing and commit seppuku. And Cheney would be his kaishakunin, With a shotgun.

I certainly would proceed with caution. The smackdowns to Democrats were disgraceful during the Republican-controlled years. It seems improbable to trust Republicans still in the House and Senate. These are fresh wounds.
I hope Democrats are not being too generous. Repressive, regressive, aggressive Republicans--that is all we have seen in past years.

I like how Steve Benen summarizes the Republicans' abusive practices. Thank you. I have tried to follow this as well.

Democrats need to be a voice for the American people, for working people, for the poor and the elderly, for minorities, for women. Too much bull crap from the angry Republican male in past years.
But I sense a danger in being accommodating to Republicans------- as a leopard won't be changing its proverbial spots.

A snake can shed it's skin, but it is still a snake in the grass.

I'm standing behind Apollo and clapping approvingly as he presents the trophy to Extradite Rumsfeld.

Here ya go, Extradite Rumsfeld. Congratulations. Take a bow.

Sweet!

Well said, thethirdpaul

I'm for balls to the wall subpoenas. Screw 'em.

Ah, memories, Apollo. Whatever happened to solar? I'd like him/her and Extradite Rumsfeld to tag-team on some haikus. Mmmm.

Well said, Tony Shifflett

I haven't seen solar, shortstop. But I'm on and off here at PA with project work so I miss folks.

Haiku tag teams... now that's something to think about. Hmmm. Maybe haiku fisking? Jay would be easy...for example, on his Foley remarks: And by the way, why would a Democrat oppose homosexual sex between consenting men over 18 yrs of age? followed by Donald from Hawaii's righteous takedown...

It would not matter
If heterosexual.
It was wrong, wrong, wrong!

Congressman Foley
Abused his authority.
Repubs covered up.

Not exactly my best haiku effort, but you get the idea.

Make the first vote of the new congress whether or not to change the rules or keep the rules the republicans used. Make the republicans take a position on which style of governance the congress should use. The debate will be fun to watch.

Ha, ha, bobcn. Good point. Ironically George W. Bush made the statement, always ironic, by the way, which we english majors admire:

"We ended the rule of one of history's worst tyrants, and in doing so, we not only freed the American people, we made our own people more secure."

Oh, and this gem: "You're free. And freedom is beautiful. And you know, it'll take time to restore chaos and order? Order out of chaos. But we will."

HANG TOUGH, DEMOCRATS

Citations--first goony quote, at Crawford 5/3/03. Second ironic quote, in D.C., 4/13/03

Only Shrub could prove to be bi-linugual and incoherent in both of them.

Fuck the high road. Pelosi should run the House under Republican Rules for a few months -- no minority amendments, no access to conference, etc -- and then, when the GOPpers are reduced to a puddle of piss, offer to take the high road.

There have to be consequences for actions, and the GOP in Congress needs to hurt as a result of its defeat.

Great poetry, y'all, but as Tuesday Morning Quarterback reminded us all years ago, Haiku is defined not just by form, but by subject matter, i.e., nature. A 5-7-5 form with the subject matter humor or human foibles is Senryu.

Apollo still wins.

The reason Repubs have a strategy is because a bunch of your new Congresscritters ran as Repubs in all but name. Now the Repub leadership intends to rip the mask off for the folks back home in Indiana or Arizona or whereever, and the Dems are scared shitless.