Frankly, I never understood why they'd bother targeting Doggett. He's a moderate liberal in a liberal district that might prefer someone more liberal. And if that wasn't enough, we were BIG supporters of Obama last year and I doubt that's changed much. Were he to bow to these bozos, he'd most certainly face a serious challenge next year. Every damn Republican in Texas could have turned out to shout at him and he'd STILL have been a fool to listen.

They might have helped stifle debate, but they hadn't any chance of influencing Doggett. If anything, all they did was make his constituents like him more. Besides, if he listened to them, it would have just made it more likely we'd send someone more liberal to Congress. They need to quit while they're behind.

Australian TV interviews the little old grey-haired guy in Adelaide" whose birth certificate Orly Taitz swiped. Needless to add, it's a hoot.

The right thing to do in the case of Orly Taitz, see if her own documents to be in the U.S. is a forgery.

BTW, I don't know why she haven't been arrested for forgery of GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS.

Example, you use a passport that's fake, that's a criminal offense, regardless what country you're in.

Steve Benen wrote: "CBS News offers a good example of how not to report on the right-wing harassment strategy."

Actually, CBS "News" offered a good example of how the corporate-owned mass media works in close coordination with the corporate-owned so-called "conservative" media and the corporate-owned Republican Party to advance the interests of corporations -- in this case the insurance corporations -- at the expense of, and to the detriment of, the American people.

And Steve Benen's comment offers a good example of how some "sensible liberal" bloggers are still, somehow, so oblivious and confused as to imagine that the corporate-owned media is "reporting" on facts and issues rather than propagandizing in the corporate interest.

anjell:

if you present a fake U.S. Government document for some official purpose, you are committing a crime.

if you lie or present a fake document (foreign or otherwise) to the U.S. government for some official purpose, you are committing a crime.

if you lie or present a fake document to a private person or entity for the purpose of defrauding them of money, then you are committing a crime.

but if you lie or present a fake document to the public for the purpose of winning a political argument, then you are a dishonest, dishonorable piece of scum but you are not committing a crime.

* Iranian officials confirmed today that Iran has detained three American travelers hiking in Iraqi mountains. -- Steve Benen

And what the eff right do *Iranians* have to arrest people in *Iraq*? I thought that privilege was reserved for Iraqis and us.

* Consumer spending went up in June, but not for any good reasons. -- Steve Benen

Well, fancy that! They have noticed -- and mentioned! -- the prices of food and fuel. Goodness gracious me, will wonders never cease?

It's been a sore point with me for years that, no matter how high the food prices went, they're never factored into the general picture, because they're "volatile". So, you went to the store like you went to a museum -- look but don't touch -- because the price of a piece of meat or a pound of fruit is about the same as of a museum exhibit, but, when you read the paper, the picture of economy was all rosy.

When the fuel prices went up and up and up last summer, the prices of food went up with them -- transport costs. But, when the fuel prices went down, the food prices didn't budge; they stayed on their mountaintops. Of course nobody's gonna be buying video games and other crap, when they're not sure that their savings will cover their food bill in a month or two. And that's before you get worried abut getting sick or losing your job, or both. But that logic never seemed to penetrate through, to the economists...

And SecularAnimist offers a good example of liberals who get upset when bloggers don't tell them what to think. I personally have never had any difficulty comprehending Benen's subtle snark against the media, but I suppose some people prefer to be hit over the head with it.

Look, it's a "He Reports - You Decide" situation. If you want to think that CBS News reporters are told what to say by Karl Rove or whatever, that's your business. And there's nothing in Benen's posts that suggest you're wrong. But if Benen started saying stupid stuff like what you wrote, I'd stop reading. For me, it's enough that Benen tells us what's going on and allows us to decide what their motives are.

I mean, "close coordination"? Sorry, but I find your conspiracy to be laughable, as I have my own theory of why they're so bad. But that's my opinion, just as you think I'm laughable for not agreeing with you. And Benen gets both of us to read his material because he doesn't make pointless guesses about their motives. That's why he gets paid the big bucks.

I honestly don't understand why people bother attacking Benen for not jumping to conclusions. That's just not his niche.

Why is Paul Krugman protecting the identity of the cowardly press person/company? Of what value is that? Can we believe him? If the rightwing did such a thing, we would accuse them of making stuff us without evidence.

I thought Paul Krugman was a courageous person. Now, I'm not so sure.

making stuff up, not us.

Hey! I'm a real person who worked in Kenya and saw the birth of Barack Obama! And I am not a conservative either, I am very Earth Friendly!

st john, I personally would like to know who canceled his appearance because they couldn't find anyone to argue against him and what the topic was going to be. However, him telling us sounds like a good way to not get invited back in the future and we need people like Krugman to get all the airtime they can.

As for "Countdown," don't expect to see Wolffe for awhile.

Didn't expect to see him last week, and when I did I was horrified, so I'm chalking that up as good news.

"The Democratic National Committee released a pretty hard-hitting statement this afternoon, slamming Republicans for 'inciting angry mobs' or 'rabid right-wing extremists'."

Charlie Gibson opened the top of the ABC World News by saying that as congressman return to their local districts they are getting an "orchestrated earful".

I would say that things are getting better for the reality based thinker
Something these republican obstructionists have trouble refuting
Don't be dismayed

What comes around goes around, these "government out of my Medicare people" are just flustered at the loss of their tidy, little Jesus land entropic dystopia. There's no black president there, no how! I've waited 8 years for some semblance of sanity to return, and that's only an easily startled and pale shade for certain. Fuck the wingnuts, one and all. Send them all to Iraq for the weekend, I'll pay for the first ticket.

Mouthpiece Theatre likely shot up in popularity owing to its recent notoriety. As everyone can see in the modern "liberal press", as long as you boost ratings, they really don't give a tin weasel WHAT you say.

Limbaugh journalism comes of age - repornography triumphant.

Tea Baggers are organized by Dick Armey.

They're the dick army of teabaggers.

Yes. It is true.

Just sayin'--regarding Mr. Obama's classiness:
George Bush Junior would have never acknowledged Helen Thomas for her birthday.....
nor could he have negotiated release of the Current TV reporters, as did Bill Clinton.
Wash it with Febreeze??
Unlike these rebellious and militant republicans....
It is becoming scary for us culturally.
This is one hellava president and former president. I also admire Jimmy Carter

Tanstaafl,

I agree with you, however, the point I'm making is, Orly is presenting this as an official document to disrupt government officials in their official capacity to do their jobs.

Example, when protestors showed up at any GOP conventions, meetings...they were arrested.

Another example, though not the same thing, you yell fire in a public place, it's a crime.

These protestors are potentially putting government officials in danger, to the point they need escorts to their cars.

These people are hostile and could be dangerous - there's always a knucklehead in the crowd that takes things a little further.

Another thing, depending on who you are, just having possession of certain documents can land you in jail. In her case, she is arguing as a matter of fact, the documents are legitimate with a certified seal.

There are people in jail right now for intent to sale narcotics, or possession, and they can prove it was maybe just baking soda, or parsley. Yes, sometimes the cases are dismissed, but sometimes it isn't.

Also to keep in mind,

Yes, we have freedom of speech right now. But, if those rights were taken away, it would be these extremists to blame the Dems/Libs for that.

These people are more scary than, what are called domestic terrorist - environmental groups, animal rights groups...

Tanstaafl,

Orly is soliciting on-line fundraising funds - for what I don't know.

Personally, I think they should deport her - she's not a natural born U.S. citizen.

If they were able to deport the last guy for activities with the Nazi camp, surely, they can deport her.

Okay, I will go ahead and say it

Orly's act is considered "SEDITION"

Okay, I will go ahead and say it

Consider occasionally having a thought without expressing it out loud.

Susan Johnson, I'm no lawyer, but I take it you don't know what sedition is?

Regardless of the fact, that her behavior is seditious, she needs to be dealt with one way or another.

They need to treat her like the criminal that she is. They need to treat her like any other criminal facing the courts - rack up the charges to guarantee she will not get off so easy.

And as far as fake documents - go ahead and argue your point. There are people that are pulled over by the police, doesn't matter if the fake credit cards or identification cards were not used - they are charged with being in possession of fake instruments.

And you should consider having a thought before trying to attack others - unless, of course, you endorse these foreigners coming to this country influencing our laws and government!!!!

Besides, how do you know this lady is not a Russian spy, or something else - we get people in this country all the time that are selling our secrets to other countries.

Now, why don't you bite on that for a minute!

You have Americans that can't get a visa to Europe/Britain for things they have said here, or done here....an example, Snoop Dogg was denied a visa to perform there because of his actions here.

It wouldn't be hard to push Teabaggers over the edge.

Try throwing paper airplanes at them.

If they psychopathically attack you just remember to get it on camera.

annjell, you are becoming unhinged. Criminalizing speach is what the Republicans do, not us. As odious as Orly is, what she needs to face is not criminal charges, but universal ridicule and disgust. The solution is not to throw her in jail, but to have every news report that mentions her lead off with "proven liar Taitz Orly" until nobody, not even Fox News or World Net Daily will pay any attention to her.

As for Taitz Orly's immigration status, a naturalized citizen is still a citizen and is specificallly entitled to all of the rights of a natural born citizen except the right to serve as the President or Vice President. In the absence of real, specifc evidence that she is a spy, or that she falsified information in her immigration and naturalization applications, your insinuations are every bit as offensive as those of the birther, the Minutemen or the other, mostly right-wing xenophobes.

Blackwater Founder Implicated in Murder,

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090817/scahill

and then some.

Sending Bill to N.Korea was more brilliant than a 1000 suns

Of course, the backstory here is Barack fishing for information.
Having this tête-à-tête with Kim Jong we now have a better feel for his state of mind.

Here is why this was vital: Our culture is gradually forgetting the terrors of H-bombs. If Kim is truly losing his mind the implications are ginormous. A cranky, ailing curmudgeon with his finger on the button is something that obviously needed ferreting out.

I just finished reading Phillip Wylie's 1963 nuclear apocalypse novel Triumph. Wylie tries to do for the idea of nuclear war what Orwell did to the idea of despotism: Destroy it from ever happening. There are some absolutely stunning descriptive paragraphs in the book. To remind of us of the horrors of H-bombs, here is one passage that describes the flood of USA refugees into Montreal:

In each vehicle was at least one man or woman--the driver--who had not be blinded by seeing a fireball close enough--and in many cases forty miles was "close enough"--to lose his sight. But each load of refugees was in varied conditions that, even when shown one by one, beggared description.

Many were naked and of the naked, many were burned scarlet or, in places, black, from head to foot, or on arms and heads.

The ears of thousands were gone. Their eyes had "melted" and lay on their cheeks in phlegm-like gobbets. Their noses were not there, and they breathed through holes in crisp, black faces. Their hair was gone. It was impossible to tell of thousands (unless they walked) which was the front, which was the back of their horrible heads.

A sound rose from the stopped and backed-up caravan. It was like a dirge played on a demonic, stringed instruments bloated in scale with endless columns, a sound even the ears of the TV watchers could hardly believe, yet, on recognizing, recorded forever: the sound of thousands of people screaming and groaning and begging, often simply to be shot....

cld @ 23:10,

Thanks; that's god news. If there's anything I'd welcome more than seeing Cheney nailed to the cross (figuratively speaking. I think), it would be the total annihilation of Prince and his cohorts.

Tansfaal, I'm not sure what to say about your explanation.

As far as becoming unhinged, you're totally wrong.
I'm just stating the facts. Besides, as you said, free speech - I'm entitled to it.

You are confusing me, are you one of those people posting that's really part of the right but acting as if they are Dem/Lib?

I already have suspicions that Susan Johnson is really Suzie Q.

I am asking this because, as far as I know, Dems don't attack other Dems on this board, it's usually the GOP undercover.

But you know what, whatever - I won't respond to anymore of your responses to my post -

And another thing, you're not talking to one of those dumb idiots that follow the GOP. So don't treat me as if I am dumb or stupid.

I am well aware of what I say. I am an adult, I am not a child - so don't talk to me as one.

Thanks a lot, koreyel. Now as soon as I finish It Can't Happen Here, I'll have to look that book up.

Obama is Hamlet. He can't make up his mind. It's understandable but it's been over 400 years since it was written. Has he read it?

As far as a naturalized citizen, they can have their citizenship revoked.

When the hell does Faux News tell the truth. All they care about, like the others, is selling books, their own and their guests.

Lady or Man, I don't know who you think you are talking to. As I said, I am not one of those dumb A** people that believe everything I hear.

The more you talk, the more I am convinced, that yeah, you are siding with them.

more CCS projects

When you post xenophobic, paranoid bullshit then I don't care whether you are a liberal or a conservative.

Deride her if you will Libs, but, Orly has at least stopped one person from being able to run for President of the US. As Orly has wrongfully preached, time and time again, both parents must be American citizens at the time of birth. As Michelle Malkin's parents were in the US on work visas, when she was born in Philadelphia, she doesn't qualify under Orly's myopic vision. Thank you, Orly, you have done this nation a great service in stopping Michelle. When, you get back from your father's celebration in Russia, Orly, please pull a citizens arrest on MM.

The irony of this is that MM has railed against children, such as she was, being granted US citizenship, merely, because they were born on US soil. Orly and MM, you deserve each other.

tanstaafl,

Nice tries above.

You made a good point to me, in distinguishing (as I thought you meant) between "attendance at public meetings" and "shouting down opponents." I think that the tea-partiers and others who attempt to stifle discussion hurt their cause. But I also think that supporters of the health care reform should turn out in large numbers at the offices and speeches of their representatives.

There have been pro-reform rallies at which opponents outnumbered the proponents by 10-1 and more. If that happens a lot in the next 2 months, then the health care reforms will not pass.

You make a good point about needing to get out the supporters for these meetings. If nothing else, it will provide a good visual balance for the news cameras. But ultimately, if the protesters are only interested in shouting things down, responding in kind just helps their cause.

It is up to the politicians to accept that support and make it clear to protesters that they won't be allowed to disrupt the meetings. And it is up to the news media to report accurately.

Let's cut through the crap over universal healthcare by asking the following, simple question:

"If our vaunted American-made healthcare model is so superior to the healthcare systems in Canada, the UK, France, Norway, Sweden, Germany, as well as other Western industrialized nations, then why haven't these countries eagerly converted their healthcare systems to the "far more superior" American-made model?"

Short answer: they haven't because it isn't. Not a single one of these countries has rushed to make the American model their own, primarily because their citizens get more bang for their healthcare bucks, unlike in America where most citizens just get banged by the insurance companies, the HMOs and the pharmaceutical companies..

There is a such thing as learning or knowing to 'pick and choose your battles.'

If you don't like what I say, ignore it.

Be classy and just ignore my comments!!!

some people tend to learn the hard way about butting in everyone's business.

As far as I'm concerned, you damn right, I will fight against any FOREIGN invasion of the country I was born in.

And F***Orly - people doing research on her and finding discrepancies. She put herself out there, she'd better be able to take what anybody throws at her, like the lies she's been telling - the only documents people are finding is her marriage license in Vegas, where she listed she was already a California resident.

But, her own words is she came straight away to Las Vegas from Israel.

BTW, I hope the State of Cali Bar does disbar her!

"..Senate Republicans, under pressure from dealers back home."

Adlai Stevenson had a great line about Eisenhower replacing the New Dealers with auto dealers.

SUB-ROSA NEWS

Some of the News
That may be True

REPUBLICANS IN SEARCH FOR LOUD VOICES

Party Chairman Michael Steele instituted today an intensive search for loud people to attend and disrupt town meetings and press conferences where Democrats would discuss health care reform. Mr. Steele emphasized that the Republican disruptive program is a public service, protecting the public from discussion of complicated issues that could lead to government take over of health care, as in the Medicare program.

Ideally, he said, all of the women recruited would sound like Ethyl Merman and the men like a loud Andy Devine, or a rock and roller. Some of the committee members would be dispatched to rural regieons seeking champion pig callers while others are flying to Switzerland to seek high level yodelers.

homer www.altara.blogspot.com

There used to be a guy named Swan who hung out here. Absolutely crazy as a bitsy bug. He used to accuse everyone who told him to chill out of being secret Republicans, too. Much easier than listening to someone else.

Just love some of the Obama appointees - Such as Assistant Treasury Secretary Michael Barr who said, of the lack of mortgage modifications by huge banks which had received massive bailouts, that "I think we've been disappointed...about their performance in helping people in a timely fashion with the respect they deserve under difficult circumstances".

Bank of America has a list of over 796,000 loans eligible for modifications, yet, they have only modified 4 per cent of them.

Mr Barr, you have let the Foxes run the hen house. BofA is doing nothing but, attempting, to force people into default so they can collect more fees. A whistle blower, who held high positions with both the BofA and Countrywide has confirmed this practice. Of course, the top VP for BofA vehemently denied his accusations. This, in addition ot BofA raising almost all credit cards to 25%. Just love the responses from independent modifiers who tell folks to just go into default and then they can receive help. ACORN is no better in advising people to either commit fraud or go into default for their modifications. Of course, that "commiting fraud" will never appear on paper, but, I have heard the comment from one of their advisors, who spoke with a wink and a nod. OK, bad fruit, but, this system is not working, Mr President. Get rid of your banking advisors.

Yeah, well Swan, probably got sick and tired of people trying to control this damn blog.

If you don't like what people have to say, don't read what they say.

Only manners prevent people from attacking everything they don't like. It's called get a life, or is this the only thing you have going for yourself, always judging and picking on others.

People that go around always attacking others normally don't have many friends, they run them off.

Oh, but then that's why they turn to the internet and cause the type of s*** they do with others.

Be real!!!