Live Blogging the C-SPAN Networks

Brian DeBose, Washington Times

2008-02-19T08:42:00.000-08:00

Displays typical American ignorance, with the expected Republican Party slant, on subjects like Darfur and Iraq.

Bob Bennett Knows Finance

2008-02-15T06:32:00.001-08:00

Bob Bennett, in his Thursday questioning of SEC Chairman Cox, proved that he has a great understanding of aspects of the financial markets. I don't think I've yet heard a Senator who has displayed that kind of grasp of the topic.

John Cornyn on FISA

2008-02-14T09:51:00.000-08:00

John Cornyn, one of the stupidest US Senators, adds to the false statements of Warner and Kyl. Cornyn suggests that a corporation would have to consult its lawyers before complying with Federal requests for assistance in the future if this retro-active immunity is not passed. If they'd had a warrant in the first place there'd be no need to provide for retro-active immunity and, there'd be no need to consult a lawyer. There's a truly nasty implication here, too. That the Executive Branch will violate the Constitution, again and again, and each time retroactive immunity will be provided.

Jim DeMint, behind the times

2008-02-14T08:28:00.001-08:00

Berkeley, California has undone the work they did to remove the Marine Corps recruiting center from their town. Jim DeMint is still talking about it. The odd thing is, he brings up the food the members of the Armed Services are eating in Iraq. Doesn't he know that we are paying more per meal in Iraq than the program for organic food he criticizes in Berkeley?

Kyl And Warner Want to Enable Constitution Shredding

2008-02-13T13:06:00.000-08:00

The President couldn't legally wiretap the people the phone companies wiretapped for him. He couldn't get a warrant to do it. What Senators Warner and Kyl want us to encourage is for the President to be able to ask companies to do things that the President is not allowed to do and make it OK.

Senator Whitehouse Gets Big Smile

2008-02-13T08:59:00.000-08:00

Speaking on the idea of applying the Army Field Manual rules on interrogation to a long list of Federal agencies for the rest of FY2008 (1/3 over).

Senator Whitehouse has a graphic of the Spanish Inquisitors waterboarding people. Brilliant!

They have been [subjected]

2008-02-13T07:35:00.000-08:00

Kit Bond, debate on the "Limit the CIA to interrogation techniques described in the Army Field Manual" amendment debate to the FISA bill. Says that only a third of the hundred or so people CIA has held "have been suh[pause] submitted to" the techniques in question. Is the implication that if we only do heinous things once in a while, it is OK?

David Rivkin, Former Justice Department Official, Reagan Administration

2006-07-03T05:34:00.000-07:00

Shame on Mr. Rivkin. What he said was that the war onterror" was "not just some, minor" law enforcement issue. Has anyone on Earth said it was just any old law enforcement issue? Or, even more damning, a "minor" law enforcement issue?

The purpose of this post is to shame Mr Rifkin.

Virginians Butcher History

2006-06-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

Right wing types praise Locke, and never seem to understand Montesquieu. What [Katherine] says is that "virtue" is required for a Republic. Does Montesquieu say this? No. Not only that, she doesn't say anything about Montesquieu, but refers to the "teachers of Montesquieu," as if he was some sort of scribe of previous greatness.

Montesquieu does say virtue is required for a Democratic-Republic, sometimes called today "direct democracy." But that's not what we have, [Katherine], inadvertent right wing stooge.

Then Barbara Clark Smith lies about virtue. Lies about what the Founders thought virtue meant. She is telling the defenseless (no TV stations of their own) people that .

Smith would have served her listeners better if she hadn't skipped the role of credit in pre-17th century Continental European wars. She makes it sound like Britain invented it.

Smith is killing me on the definition of patriot. She asserts it was about debt financing of a military state. Read the Declaration of Independence and you'll see nothing about this.

Strangely, although Smith doesn't seem to understand virtue, she does have a good grasp of the trade boycotts and the power of them, the state of public manufactures in the Colonies and other promising things.

There was a nice part about the rich no longer attending the theatres, and not using funerals for an opportunity to show off clothes.

McGarvie, however, the other speaker, is a sick fascist.

Senator Mike Enzi (R-Why?), Self Contradiction

2006-06-20T13:11:00.000-07:00

Senator Enzi says that people are, on average, going to change _careers_ (not just jobs) 10 times in their lives. He says that most of the jobs people have had don't even exist anymore.

Let's pretend he is right.

He follows this by saying that we need to train young people better.

How, in freak's sake, is it possible to train a young person for a job that doesn't exist yet, all the while asserting they will have a job which will soon be deprecated?

Just ask Senator Enzi. the economics guru from lalaland.

Chris Taylor, Blackwater VP of Strategic Initiatives

2006-06-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

This guy says mercenaries have a history back to the origin of America. Of course, at that time, the mercenaries (as far as I can tell) all worked for the enemy. Is Blackwater admitting it is an enemy of the United States? I'd say so.

According to US History.com "Hessians who remained in the British employ were hated and feared by the Americans, and the fact that George III had chosen to employ foreign mercenaries stirred up much anger among the colonists." People are trying to learn the lessons of recent wars, and have forgotten our most important war.

Senator Santorum on Iran

2006-06-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

Senator Santorum is out of his depth when he discusses Iran. He encourages Americans to view Iran as a threat, a country which hasn't invaded anyone in living memory, and is mostly hated for its role in ejecting Israel from Lebanon by helping start, and supporting, Lebanese Hezbollah. He also calls the effort against terrorism the war against "Islamic Fascism." He pushes the idea, which can only be mocked, that since some people want to establish Sharia globally, the mere existence of these people poses a significant challenge. He calls Iran the central peice of the entire "mosaic" of Islamic Fascism, and calls Iran a threat to the world. Iran, as we all know, funded and armed the Northern Alliance to fight the Taleban. Iran, as we all know, spent its humanity and money to battle Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Iran, as fewer know, has been incredibly helpful in assisting the United States in capturing members of al-Qaeda.

C-SPAN 2, Cloture Vote on the Estate Tax

2006-06-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

Senator William Frist of Tennessee shames himself and his party with his distortions and falsehoods.

One falsehood is that the Inheritance Tax was passed during a time of war. It was passed in 1906, which was not a war. If his deception stopped there it would be easy to forgive, but that was just part of it.

Of course I support an Inheritance Tax, and few exemptions for it, and I also favor hunting down those families who spend their lives in America, earning fabulous wealth, and then fleeing right before this tax comes through.

"Honor: A History" by James Bowman

2006-05-28T05:23:00.000-07:00

It's pathetic, but that's not wrong.

The, ahem, person says that no one, no matter how dictatorial, refused to sell us oil. I guess this, ahem, human has never heard of the oil boycotts in 1973. Strictly second rate defender of Empire.

Montesquieu calls Honor the Principle behind Monarchy. Much of Bowman's talk reminds one of hagiographic "On the Actions of the King." Straw men, myopia, vague terms, and so much else puts this guy in another league. The farm league.

Gale Norton, Sloppy, Deceptive

2005-12-13T10:07:00.000-08:00

Is Secretary of the Interior part of the Environmental Community, or has she been fighting it her whole life? If you listen to her, she gets part of the credit... I closely paraphase her "The environmental movement has advanced a lot in the last 20 years. We ..."

How much better are computers than they were 20 years ago? They are 100s of times faster. They have 100s of times more memory. Applications for business and users are far more sophisticated. Gale Norton, quite deceptively, says that oil drilling has advanced as far in the last 20 years as computers.

These have been a special 20 years for Secretary Norton.

L Fasulo, Author of "An Insider's Guide to the United Nations"

2005-07-09T06:34:00.000-07:00

Is L Fasulo an insider at the UN? She's not a diplomat. All the real work of the UN is done by diplomats, but she's not one of them. She's not a UN employee. She isn't using a position as a staffer to share inside stories. She's a damn reporter. Can someone in the White House Press Pool write "An Insider's Guide to the White House?" What an idiot. It is definitely, in part, a pro-Bush cheerleading. Do foreign diplomats approve of Bolton? Would they tell a reporter if they didn't? Such extreme naïete is hard to imagine, having it get published is amazing. There is, in fact, an entirely pro-Republican political position in this pseudo-speech.

Rep Jim Saxton (R-NJ), Amazing

2005-06-24T17:56:00.000-07:00

He says that because the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, the Taleban could move in, and al-Qaeda took root, and we got 9/11.

One, is he blaming Reagan? Two, the Taleban didn't take root in Afghanistan for many years after the Soviets left. It was the truly awful rule of the thugs and warlords (whom America has no re-empowered in Afghanistan) that created the environment where the Taleban could thrive, not to mention the Taleban's support from Pakistan and Turkmenistan.

Mind-numbingly stupid.

Then he goes on and on about Syria. Even though we know that four or five times more people are coming from Saudi Arabia.

C Bradley Thomspon, Author of John Adams and the Spirit of Liberty

2005-06-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

I'm fairly sure that most people will walk away from this talk stupider than when they arrived, to wit, misinformed.

This Ayn Rand nut, and writer for Capitalism magazine, fits in well with the right-wing theme of almost all of today's BookTV and C-SPAN 3, some other titles including

Three Billion New Capitalists
Cuba Exposed (twice)
Treasonable Doubt, a book which basically says the left is totally evil.
Sandra Day O'Connor
Republican Chris Cox of California

This fool blames France's Terror on a unicameral legislature, and gives Adams credit for predicting it.

John Yoo, Law Professor and former DoJ Official

2005-06-08T09:37:00.000-07:00

Is concerned there isn't enough incentive for countries like America to intervene in countries like Iraq. He is suggesting we create a whole fake terrorist network (see: Hamas, created by the Israeli government to siphon support from the PLO). I have no idea where he gets the idea that Rwanda should be divided in two, perhaps he thinks Hutu and Tutsi live in different regions? I'd guess he's a very religous Christian.

Like your typical AEI fascist, he's far more interested in free markets than representative democracy(aka aristocratic republicanism). God Bless Executive Pay faction.

Yoo is beyond the pale, despite his robotic delivery. Now he's suggesting that, for cost reasons, we should contract out the peacekeeping.

Rep Goodlatte Questioning Dep Atty General Comey

2005-06-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

Terrorists before September 11th used restrooms, doesn't this justify monitoring bathrooms?

James Comey, Deputy Atty General

2005-06-08T07:11:00.000-07:00

USA PATRIOT Act "chock-full" of safeguards. Whew! Now I'm releived.

Denis Boyles

2005-05-28T06:50:00.000-07:00

Simple-minded, bad person.

He suggests that France is ruled by a top slice of elite, and therefore represents are far more stratified society than America. In fact, he simply is bass ackwards. France is a more egalitarian society than America.

That this is a "book" by an "author" worthy of coverage by C-SPAN defies reason.

Mother Duffer

2005-05-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

Senator Kyl had a graphic he presented with the huge number "67%" on it. But Clinton was only at 71% for the same type of nominees. Bah!

Who Writes for Jon Kyl

2005-05-19T15:32:00.000-07:00

It's all over the place
It's self-contradictory
Even if he's making a good point on the 1892 USSC case, he covers it a slime of partisan falsehoods, degrading it (suggesting to me it isn't the precedent he suggests, either
He doesn't strike me as a particularly bright person (but who does?)

Jon Kyl, Contradicting Himself and/or Lying

2005-05-19T15:16:00.000-07:00

Let's ignore whether or not it is true, as Mr Kyl says, that most district courts judges are confirmed.

It is simply a fact that 60 Clinton nominees were not voted upon. Either they were district court judges, which makes Mr Kyl's first statement a lie, or they were circuit court judges, which puts lie to his assertion that Mr Bush has had an unprecedented number of circuit court judges. Perhaps a higher %, but not out of the ballpark.

Both sides are doing badly here. Kyl is pouring gasoline on things.

Not doing much maintenance here

2005-04-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

C-SPAN seemed to balance the Virginia Festival of the Book, but I didn't say much about that.

Senator James Inhofe, Deceives in Part, Dubious en toto

2005-04-12T15:37:00.000-07:00

Senator J Inhofe of Oklahoma, on the Senate Floor now, deceives the listener when he discusses the use of a particular pine tree for a study which shows temperature increase over the last 600 years emerges exclusively in the last 100 years. In answer to Senator Inhofe's questions to Dr. Mann, it is revealed that Dr. Mann relied on 100 different trees to develop his proxy models of climate change. In answer to Question 8, Dr. Mann makes this clear. Senator Inhofe leaves the distinct impression that Dr. Mann relied exclusively on the single pine tree.

Senator Inhofe's conclusion is that the "Mann Hockey Stick" has been "thoroughly discredited." He claims that the global warming consensus is garbage.

We can hope that Senator Inhofe is one of the first to pay if he turns out to be wrong. Likely he will continue to rake in the contributions from the usual suspects. In order, Senator Inhofe gets the loot from 1) Energy/Natural Resources sector 2) Financial Services sector 3) Miscellaneous Businesses 4) Ideology/Single Issue givers.

C-SPAN 2's BookTV Fascist Redux

2005-04-09T19:02:00.000-07:00

With the enabling of C-SPAN 2's Fascists-in-residence, BookTV has become a non-stop right-wing fuxtraveganza. Check out this line-up for the next 24 hours.

Lightning Out of Lebanon: Hezbollah Terrorists, Tom Diaz of Washington Times and Barbara Newman

10:00-11:09	War and Peace in a Globalized World, Foreign Policy, Council on Foreign Relations	Leftish Winner, Rightist Ross for Balance
11:13-11:59	Riding With Reagan, Young America Foundation	Bushita Loyalists
11:59-12:59	Afterwords with Roy Moore	Religious Right Loony
01:00-02:23	On the Justice of Roosting Chickens, Ward Churchill	Dark Browns For Racial Injustice!
02:30-03:35	Ravelstein, Saul Bellow	Literary Neo-Con
03:44:-04:54	War and Peace in a Globalized World, Foreign Policy, Council on Foreign Relations	Leftish Winner, Two? Rightists for Balance
05:01-06:00	Washington's Crossing, David Hackett Fischer	Praise of ancients should be considered rightist
06:01-07:17	Gay and Transgender Rights, Virginia Festival of the Book	Interesting stuff
	Men In Black: The Supreme Court, Heritage Foundation Mark R. Levin and Edwin Meese III	Lying Heritage
08:31-09:51	On the Justice of Roosting Chickens, Ward Churchill	Dark Browns For Racial Injustice!
09:59-10:58	sounds rightist
10:59-	Many Unhappy Returns, Charles O. Rossotti	Reagan official

BookTV, "In Defense of Globalization" by Jagdish Bhagwati

2005-03-26T14:37:00.000-08:00

Jagdish Bhagwait said the following was a causal chain of events. Most of his talk was lame, but this was quite offensive, and I hope he suffers from a serious venereal disease.

A bill, sponsored by Tom Harkin, was in the Senate. If it had passed, no products of child labor would have been allowed to be imported into this country. Bhagwait asserts that women in Bangladesh, women who "carried" their children to work, heard about this bill, and stopped taking their children to work and they went and became prostitutes. Can you imagine, firstly, women who had children that they could carry going out and becoming prostitutes? Or that Bangladeshi women are on top of the proceedings of the US Senate?

Bhagwait is a shameless corporate whore.

Future of Telecommunications Deregulation

2005-03-24T08:32:00.000-08:00

Thomas Hazlett of the Manhattan Institute says there shouldn't be a FCC interested in any public interest, only in consumer interest.

Schiavo Case

2005-03-20T11:30:00.000-08:00

Christopher Smith said there is a "compelling" Federal interest in the case. Terry Schiavo happens to hold, within her brain-damaged mind, the secret of eternal harmony, a new atom-bomb, and secret Chinese plans for world domination.

Donald Manzullo thinks Congress has the right to give or take away jurisdiction from all courts. There is no Constitution which defines jurisdiction in any way. He said "this body could go case by case if it wanted to" totally ignoring the. "Terri is in the process of dying, and people are worried about precedent?" Mr. Manzullo had the wrong answer

Bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, and laws impairing the obligations of contracts, are contrary to the first principles of the social compact, and to every principle of sound legislation. ... The sober people of America are weary of the fluctuating policy which has directed the public councils. They have seen with regret and indignation that sudden changes and legislative interferences, in cases affecting personal rights, become jobs in the hands of enterprising and influential speculators, and snares to the more-industrious and less-informed part of the community.

[James Madison, Federalist Number 44, 1788]

Virginia Festival of the Book ("the Book?")

2005-03-19T11:51:00.000-08:00

Anne Kingston's understanding of culture of anti-feminism which exists past the legal is better than fine. Her not understanding why other people don't get it sad.

Viriginia Celebration of the Reactionary. Politics & Ecology Part 3

2005-03-19T07:33:00.000-08:00

Tom Miller starts with a very bad joke, and the ahistorical comment about opening up Mexican restaurants in Arizona (which, of course, used to be part of Mexico). However, he definitely seems to have a sense of things. He discusses the wall between Mexico and America as an example of one of the famous walls of the 20th century. He exaggerates unnecessarily by describing the border region as a "third country" between America and Mexico.

Virigina Festival of Reactionary, Politics & Ecology Part 2

2005-03-19T07:25:00.000-08:00

Frank Shugart mentions, over and over and over again, the temperature change over the last 12,000 years without ever mentioning the end of the last ice age. It would be like pointing to stock market rises since Oct 15th, 1929, without ever mentioning the crash of Black Tuesday. Shugart is misinforming people. Shugart is encouraging people not to trust scientists on the topic of climate change, but "their own observations." He deserves a dunce cap. Here is a chart showing how unusual our particular spot is. We are at the peak warmth moment of the last four ice ages.

Virginia Festival of Reactionary, Politics & Ecology Part 1

2005-03-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

The introduction describes America as an "illiberal, authoritarian, militaristic democracy."

Geoffrey Stone speaking on the topic of "Politics & Ecology" doesn't mention environmentalism at all. Instead, the topic is the first amendment. The guy tries to say there is no distinction between war times and non-war times. However, when offering examples, points to WWII and the Civil War, both of which were certainly wartime. The Sedition Acts (1798) and Wilson's anti-sedition laws were also mentioned. Only the most distinctly of war times.

Geoffrey Stone is an ahistorical idiot. He ignores Abraham Lincoln, and the numerous other critics of Polk's war, he ignores Carl Schurz, and the other critics of the Spanish-American War, when he ignorantly suggests that the non-prosection of Eugene McCarthy's anti-Vietnam stance, or Howard Dean's anti-Iraq comments, were unprecedented.

Enron Apologists, A Cato Presentation

2005-03-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

Before the proof came out, lots of Republican Senators, Administration Officials, and Free-Marketeers, blamed the the State of California, or regulation itself, for the California Electricity Crisis.
On July 7th, 2003. Andrea M.P. Neves, Principal at CP Risk Management LLC got the job, with her Phsyicists degree, on blaming regulation, when in fact there were criminals behind it.
I wonder, if Dr. Neves is so willing to speak of what she does not know, and make conclusionary statements which are actually covering up the largest known theft in the history of the world, perhaps people should re-analyze their trust in her role at CP Risk Management LLC and Chicago Partners, run by Dr. Culp.
Fred Smith, President of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, claims that, re: Enron, "mistakes" were made.

Debate on Bankruptcy Legislation, Senate Floor

2005-03-02T11:42:00.000-08:00

Reworking the remarks of Senator M Dayton

1059%: Annual interest charged by one, Delaware based credit card company.
0%: Amount this bill does to change it.
300,000,000: Roughly, the population of America.
5,000,000,000: Number of annual credit card solicitations.
17%: Percent increase in bankruptcy filings in the eight years since this legislation was introduced.
163%: Profit increase of credit card companies in the eight years since this legislation was introduced.

The total amount of credit extended to Americans has increased more than 300% in these eight years.

White House Press Conference, President Bush,

2005-02-28T18:35:00.000-08:00

This man couldn't stop lying about the real future of America if he wanted to.
The only goals of he and his are to enrich corporations. None of his programs are going to help anyone who isn't already rich, and all of them will hurt people who are poor.
He brings up the Iraqi woman at the State of the Union, an expatriate, who has been out of the country since 1968, and who is paid by the neo-cons.

News Conference, War Crimes in Sudan

2005-02-28T14:13:00.000-08:00

J Rone, Sudan Researcher for Human Rights Watch, is suggesting America and Americans push for the sort of justice in Sudan that the Americans does not accept itself. Hypocrisy is counter-productive.

Senator C Schumer, Identity Theft, Today, 11:30AM

2005-02-24T08:52:00.000-08:00

WestLaw provides social security numbers, addresses, previous addresses, and more, on a seemingly endless supply of people. No controls are in place.

Q: Judge Myers?
A: He's said the "Clean Air Act" hurts the environment. He's "off the deep end." On the topic of balance, there is only one circuit with a preponderance of Democrats, and the GOP is asking for balance here, but isn't planning to nominate any leftist Judges to any other circuits.
Q: What about Bush's judge picks?
A: One of Bush's nominees said "Slavery was God's gift to white people" and that the purpose of a women is to be subservient to a man.

Hotline, Today

2005-02-24T08:32:00.000-08:00

C Todd, Hotline Editor-in-Chief, says Congresspeople are "scurrying" home and then segues into a conversation _only_ about Senator H Reid, Minority Leader.
C Todd shills for Senate-candidate Lynn Swan, former football star. Exceptionally unremarkable in terms of intelligence or wisdom.
C Todd bashes blogs.

Senator A Specter on Judicial Nomination Process, Today, 10:40AM

2005-02-24T07:41:00.000-08:00

Senator A Specter blamed Democrats and Republicans for the current impasse with regards to judicial nominations.

Q: Will filibuster be ended for judicial nominees?
A: Doesn't think the majority is there. Doesn't want it.
Q: Second hearing on Breyer(sp?), when?
A: Just the first hearing.
Q: Will Senator W Frist, Majority Leader, bring people directly to the floor?
A: That's up to him, it would not be smooth sailing.
Q&A on Pryor, Senator Specter's health, ...
Q: Telcoms and Asbestos
A: Talking to Senator M DeWine.
Q&A on ...
Q: Bad reporter asks if he has heard from his constituents on Social Security, and if that has moved his thinking. A reporter without his head up his ass would know that only one party has a major, organized "flood the channels" program.
A: Need to see an actual plan before I can discuss it.
Q: How much interest has Wall St. had in drafting the asbestos bill.
A: Forty people come to commitees, ten from manufacturers, ten from insurance companies. Follow up is about bond-holders of asbestos companies, but they apparently weren't invited to meetings.
Q: Missile Shield failure, Q: Asbestos legislation and GOP support in Committe...
Someone on the sidelines tries to end the press conference. Specter takes TEN more questions.
Senator Specter has earned more respect from me for his performance.
Q7: Senator O Hatch's amendment on first-generation Americans becoming President.
A7: Support, inactive.
Q10:
A10: In 100 years, the judicial crisis will seem small, but the rights of the minority will still be large.

Concord Coalition presents a discussion of the Budget

2005-02-23T17:15:00.000-08:00

E Steuerle, Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute, had a funny joke and a good point.
In the joke, a scientist runs into a Congressional Budget hearing and declares he's got a cure for cancer. Everyone in the audience looks around happily. Some breathe a sigh of relief for themselves, friends or loved ones. But the members of Congress are miserable. They've just been handed a huge new Social Security budgeting "nightmare."
He was making a point that "budget problems" are generally the result of successes.

D Walker, Comptroller General (Head) of the GAO, spoke. He was very good.

Peter Slen Gannons Author

2005-02-20T18:01:00.000-08:00

Author of book on language and culture is asked by Peter Slen "Doesn't Noam Chomsky write about this, too?" The author instantly goes into a canned tirade saying he has claims proved Chomsky wrong, and that he has claims language comes from "millions of years" of culture. I can tell he's wrong, or, at least, deceptive, because humans and modern language have existed for roughly 150-200 thousands of years. It emerged rather quickly, during or around the last inter-glacial.

Inciting Murder on C-SPAN's BookTV

2005-02-20T16:53:00.000-08:00

W.E.B. Griffin supports killing 7 Mulsims to save 1 American (Someone asks "What about American Muslims?")
He supports torture.
He jokes about killing 240 million Muslims.
He says the guy who filmed the Marine shooting the wounded guy should be shot, that he would "approve" of any accidents.
I do not believe it is rational for C-SPAN to have people inciting murder on their network, but that's what is happening.

Presidential Hagiography

2005-02-20T16:51:00.000-08:00

Just one note. The two gentlemen make repeated references to Presidents who seek mother's approval, and are distant from their fathers, or have absent fathers. They suggest that by dropping their father's name (John Calvin Coolidge, Stephen Grover Cleveland, and one more) is a sign of this humility. They contradict themselves when discussing George Walker Bush, whom they both admire. Didn't anyone notice that by calling himself "G.W" (which George Walker Bush has asked people to do, including the author) he is consciously drawing parallels between himself and George Washington? What insipid minds. They manage to get out some lame Clinton cracks, too.

To show you just how biased this pair was, the interviewee said that the best Presidential parents in history were George and Barbara Bush. They happen to be parents of the current President.

Sam Harris, Author of The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason

2005-02-20T14:59:00.000-08:00

Discusses belief in the mundane sense, things we believe (when a television show might start, whether or not your home is on fire).

Asserts it is taboo to criticize faith in certain ways. And that the taboo is getting people killed. Worried that religion is incompatible with civilization. Notes the circumstance of side-by-side fundamentalist religious States with nuclear-tipped arms.

States some people really believe that the author of hte universe has authored some book or other, and that there are things like this worth dying for. Says that the concessions made by moderates are making things impossible.

Says he believes in ethics and principles. Says there is nothing a person need to believe, without sufficient evidence, to keep people moral, building wonderful buildings, following rituals.

Nptes that if someone claimed Tennessee was on the west coast of the United States, that view wouldn't need respect. That there is no obligation to hire this person.

Beliefs are contagious if backed by reason... except faith.

His argument tends to rely on the argument "sufficient evidence."

Side note: Harris is speaking to a packed synagogue, with hundreds of people. The last BookTV Author spoke to a dozen or so.

Asserts, as I have done, that if a person really beleives the only way to the father is through the son, then it makes it impossible to respect people of other faiths (or heretics). If I am eternally damned, what respect do I hold before them?

Aquinas thought heretics should be killed. Augustine thought they should be tortured. That we don't do this anymore is the result of secularism. His argument is weak here, since it diverts from the main thrust, a discussion of religion, and instead goes to thanking science.

Says this is currently the system in Islam, where any critique of the Koran is technically haram (verboten).

22% of Americans are certain Jesus will come back in the next 50 years, 22% believe it is probably so. A similar 44% believe in Creation. 62% want Creationism in schools, 44% only want Creationism. A 44% of people believe that God gave Israel to the Jews.

The same 44%, he argues, would see a nuked Israel or NYC as a sign that Jesus is coming soon, and so be, in some ways, a good thing.

The 50 years left theory is "perfectly hostile" to any sort of sustainable future.

But his Islam bashing is a bit more extreme. No wonder he is so "popular."

People are dying for an imaginary god. The conflict in Palestine is always discussed as a conflict over land, when, he asserts, were it not for religion, there would be no conflict over land.

What are the alternatives? He says there need be no alteratives, that we can simply relinquish the beliefs, as we did with Santa Claus.

Questions and Answers:
Rabbi Rachlis, Host: What should liberal religionists do to help overcome this ignorance. Specifically for those who believe God might be a metaphor for something that draws people to be good.
Answer: A new intolerance of religion in conversation.
Pastor Steve Swope, Irvine United Congregational: How to get in a dialog with non-fundamentalist Christians? Won't you get shut down in conversation?
Answer: It's an all or nothing game. Says it is a "War with Islam" Says it is a "War with Islam" He +believes+ there is a huge role for people like Pastor Swope, since he is not politic in his discussion. His faith in religious liberals (whom he calls religious moderates) is misplaced.
Question: Why is Europe secularizing while America is becoming more religious?
Answer: This hasn't change much in many decades in America. Says "marketplace of religions" helps, while in Sweden there was a State-controlled, stultifying system. He isn't confident in this.
Question: What is the role of the Bible in the life of a secular humanist?
Answer: Literature.
Question: Is there a future for spirituality based community groups? What about Eastern philosophy and violence? What about the secular killers?
Answer: Stalin and Hitler were not terribly rational, but dogmatic. Religion is dogmatic. Notes Kamikazes.
Question: What would you say to the President about the situation in the Middle East?
Answer: Says it is an issue between Islam and the West, Islam and the Jews, and we must repudiate the theological claims of the settlers. We must win the "war of ideas" with Islam. We need allies, because we are irrational.
Question: Is there something good in getting religious moderates of different religions to seek the good in their collective religions?
Answer: Likes it, but also says it isn't enough.
Question: What is your background? What brought you to the topic?
Answer: Started writing book on Sept 12th. Now looking for neuroloscience answers to mundane questions. That's sad.
Question: What about pre-9/11? What was your religion?
Answer: Mother gave me a choice, didn't want to go to Sunday School, so didn't get a Bar Mitzvah. Interested in meditiation and buddhism. Been a dogmatic Buddhist and Hindu. Oh geesh, he lends some credence to psychic phenonmena.

BookTV: Thomas Woods "A Politically Incorrect History of the United States", Regnery

2005-02-20T12:21:00.000-08:00

How Regnery gets its right wing trash... "We'd like you to write a book, and we'd like the title to be 'A Politically Incorrect History of the United States'" That's what the VRWC is all about.

Thomas Woods, a history professor and "scholar," attempting to explain how difficult his Professor's job is, says it is "like slave labor." Of course, its a common phrase, but as a someone who is holding themselves out as an expert on early American history (his book begins with the Colonial history, it is particularly offensive.

He holds himself out as the true inheritor of the philosophy of Thomas Jefferson. It's a typical Libertarian ploy, similar to the way the Clergy holds itself out as the true inheritors of the philosophy of Jesus the Nazarene.

The discussion of the Alien and Sedition Acts seems entirely mundane, minutes go by without anything resembling non-establishment history. He discusses Jefferson's support for secession, and nullification. He extends it to say, ludicrously, that Jefferson believed that without nullification the States would dissapear. Goes on to recite the standard "died on the 50th anniversary" story. I have rethought my position on nullification, his position is primitive.

He reveals this thesis, in passing, but I missed the phrasing... something about a "theme."

He compares the debate on whether or not slaves should be allowed in New Mexico territory to a debate on whether slaves should be allowed on Mars. He supports this by saying that there were only a handful of slaves in one southwestern State. His reminders that tariffs, free land, and other economic efforts also figured into the slave debate.

He makes a good case that "Civil War" is an unsatisfactory name. There weren't, he fairly argues, two sides competing for control of one country. The War of Southern Secession.

He cites someone else's research to talk about price declines in Monopolist's prices falling during the 1870-1910 period. He neglects to mention three depressions in that period.

He blames WWII on Wilson getting involved in WWI. Blaming him for the Treaty of Versailles. He cites someone else who blames Wilson for Stalin, Hitler, et cetera.

Of course he cites the idea that FDR extended the depression, rather than helping. Again, he ignores the four massive depressions in the seventy years before 1928, and the zero depressions since then.

He says war doesn't create wealth, because so much is destroyed, and he misses an important aspect here, which I shall leave unspoken.

Question from a High School Senior: Notes that he has a teacher whom he presents as exceedingly inept.
Answer presented in a very discombobulated way. I guess Woods has very little hope for a good question.
Question: Same high school kid.
Question: Confused questioner.

House Armed Services Committe, Today

2005-02-16T18:03:00.000-08:00

Rep. ? ?? (D-MS) asks why we are repairing PALACES. Notes there is an anti-IED technology, but the DoD isn't buying it. This guy is on the ball.
• Rumsfeld points to chart...
The Rep interrupts and declares that it took a year.
Fall of '04 went from 1000/wk to 100/wk.
• Gen Myers points to an "overall" chart of armored vehicles in Iraq (Josh: incl. Bradley's and Tanks)

Rep J Saxton (R-NJ) takes time out to criticize the above D-MS. Asks about C-17, a plane that the US is going to continue to purchase until 2008.
• No comment until imminent report is complete. My take? The C-17 is totally overkill concerning our current demands and any demand I can forsee.

Rep M Meehan (D-MA) asks about bringing our troops home in a way that advances our interest. Asks about our interests in permanent bases.
• Doesn't want bases characterized as "permanent"

Senate Select Intelligence Committee, Today, 10AM, Hart, "Threats to the US"

2005-02-16T16:04:00.000-08:00

The C-SPAN announcer is substantively interrupting Democrats, announcing Republicans during Democrats time, Democrats during Democrats time

Witness:
P Goss, Director of Central Intelligence
C Rodley(?), Office of Secretary of State
Unknown, Unknown
Unknown, Unknown
Admiral Loy|Lloyd

Sen J Warner, Chair The Chair asks himself if he has been remiss in any way. In lieu of answering, he asks other Senators to consider how they treat detainees. Asks a torture question, in a tortured way. Basically, should the Senators turn over captives in Iraq to the Iraqi forces, who many not have our "stringent" rules vis-a-vis torturing people.
• The first witness suggests that American interogators don't want to use torture, and say it is ineffective. "What we stand for is what we're fighting for." Denies we'd ever render people to foreign governments for torture.
• Shamelessly relates it to election. Hopes that the future Iraqi intelligence services wouldn't be tortured, like they were under the bad, bad Saddam.
Concerning Rumsfeld's collection of intelligence, noting it is done within the law (Josh: even though no one in Congress seems to have known about it)

Senator P Roberts talks about "encroachment" of DoD into CIA's bailiwick. Mentions Goss doesn't look "encroached upon" (Josh: as if it would be obvious)
• Says published reports are wrong. Says the DoD is AOK. Explains that the FBI is fine to work overseas. Just wants things "co-ordinated." Says it is all just a question of details. Says they are doing things they haven't done before.

Senator E Bayh asks what has improved in the last couple years, so that Americans can trust the recent scaremongering with regards to Iran.
• Says "we have lots more" and are doing it all better. "we are moving well."
• Yeah, Yeah.
• Lots more agents, established an Intelligence Directorate, new "Field Intelligence Group" in each office, which wasn't there before.
Re: DPRK, what gives?
• This is just bluster from DPRK.
Is anyone trying to convince them that they won't survive with nukes?
• No answer.
Might Hezbollah (Josh: a mostly independent Lebanese group) be the trigger for an invasion into Iran?
• Yup.
Could FARC attack the Homeland?
• Yup.

Senator P Roberts notes that Goss says they might be able to produce a weapon "early in the next decade." The scum bag Roberts says that "like Iraq, Iran" has troubling dual-use technology. The motherfucker pretends that he wasn't actually saying that Iraq _had_ weapons.
• Calls nukes "the Holy Grail" (Josh: so they must be looking for it, right?)
• Don't even need to have weapons, but appear as they do, to get the effect. Tells Senator Wyden (D-OR) to be patient, even after his light is on. Asks about agro-terrorism (Josh: obvious play to get his state more anti-terrorism funding). Cites movie.
• DHS is on it. The Dept of Ag is on it.

Senator J Rockefeller (D-WV), has there been any effort to relook at the reasons we have elevated the color code?
• Yes, we have, and I'll tell you why. (loser answer)
• "Today's Yellow is Yesterday's Orange" (Josh: I shit you not).

Senator R Wyden refers to the fact that, years after Total Information Awareness closed, the Senate has no idea where the Agencies are getting their info on Americans. What rules on data mining exist, how are they enforced?
• Non-answer. Mentions CAPS II program.
Senator interrupts to ask if CAPS II is the only data-mining operation in his agency. Again asks if there are any rules.
• No rules.
• DoD has very serious rules about what can be in the files on Americans. The Senator asks if they don't get non-gov't data on US
• We don't keep data on Americans. (Josh: I'm surprised.)
•
• "Has a basis" for bringing it into their databases.
• The only data State collects/maintains is passport data, and that has its own rules, ex. used to notify next of kin.
Senator wants, in writing, what rules on sifting information from non-governmental sources, from each.

Democratic Rebuttal to President's Weekly Address by Sen C Schumer

2005-02-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

Kinda funny in the way he sounds like he is talking to children, but perhaps that's what is needed. I'm smiling.

President's Weekly Address

2005-02-12T11:42:00.000-08:00

President Bush uses his Saturday address to slam Social Security, using the stupid quote "By 20?? the government will somehow have to come up with 200 billion a year."
What does the government come up with today? Over 600 billion per year (200 billion comes from Social Security). But Bush wants you to think that 200 billion is going to be near-impossible to fund. Lies.
Bush is obviously reading from a page. It's pathetic.

UN Briefing, Korean Pennisular Developments, Envoy M Strong

2005-02-11T15:42:00.000-08:00

WOW, who is this guy? I have _never_ heard such candor or fair-coverage of a topic from a Bush administration official, oh, he works for the UN. He is the Envoy for the Korean Penninsula? Can we hire him?

Lincoln 200th Anniversary, White House

2005-02-11T14:08:00.000-08:00

Surprisingly, actor S Waterston and Lincoln Library Historian H Holzer discuss A Lincoln's anti-war term in Congress extensively, both a July 2(6?8)th and the more well known Jan 12th, 1848 speeches. I was deeply conscious of the fact that they were discussing Lincoln committing political suicide.

S Waterston reads from A Lincoln's debates with S Douglas, for his Senate Race, his Cooper Union address, his final home speech, and some other speeches.

The whole peice is interweaved with instances of A Lincoln getting himself photographed.

Senate Armed Services Committee, Thursday, Witnesses Services Heads

2005-02-11T13:40:00.000-08:00

Senator J Warner, Chairman, Senator C Levin, Ranking

Senator B Nelson (D-NE) brings up the issue of nuclear-vessel-capable ports on the east coast of the United States, acts shocked. Concerned about scrapping the Carrier JF Kennedy and Japan's posture, vis-a-vis nuclear vessels, in the future.

Senator J Warner mentions that B Nelson, with G Allen of Virginia, has introduced a bill to keep the carrier fleet at twelve. An absurd policy, thanks Ben.

House SubCommittee on (Drugs?), Chmn M Souder (R-IN)

2005-02-10T13:45:00.000-08:00

Afghanistan's situation, top secret, would "outrage" Americans, and handling opium production is being overriden by political considerations.
• 80% of Afghanistan is a "DMZ" (comparison made to FARC area in Colombia when Uribe took office).

House SubCommittee on , Thursday, Chairman (M Souder (R-IN), Witness ONDCP J Walters

2005-02-10T11:41:00.000-08:00

Chair's opening statement: The Chairman is bringing up the massive cuts to the (A, B, and Haida?) programs, related to drug enforcement. Concerned about Federal/State+Local cooperation. Some increases in treatment programs.
Elimination and level funding for programs, "Safe and Drug Free Schools" eliminated. Reducing demand is a crucial, he says.

Chairman ONDCP "Tax dollers should be spent wisely or not at all."

Chairman claims drug use soared after the fact of Clinton changing White House (ONDCP?) staff from 120 to 20. Here are some facts on teen drug use, here and a graph. Claims a one-shot increase in anti-steriods funding sounds more like a headline grabber than an actual policy.
• Effort to sustain programs that are working is something we all believe in. I guess he says the Drug Safe Schools program is worthless.
• Real cheap shot, the truth is more than half goes to interdiction, law enforcement, and internatinoal.

State Department Briefing, Thursday, Spokesperson A Ereli

2005-02-10T11:29:00.000-08:00

No statements, just questions.

Questioner 1:
Question on North Korea.
What is the goal, North Korea(DPRK) as a member of the community, or dealing with the nuclear issue?
• Inherent problem with nukes on the Korean penninsula(?)
Similar statements by DPRK in past, is this one worse?

Where is Ambassador DiTrani(sp?). Does C Rice plan to ask the Ambassador to return to the region?
• He's in Washington. Doesn't know about any C Rice plans.

Questioner 3: Would the DPRK be welcome into the world if they give up nukes?
• The US has no hostile intent towards North Korea. Prepared to participate in multi-laterial "security assurances." (<-- meaningless words). Prepared to work with DPRK for diplomatic solution to this problem (except 1-on-1, duh). And can't take any steps until "these programs are dismantled."
Can any benefits happen before full dismantlement?
• "I don't want to parse it further"

Questioner 4: The podium has been used to promote diplomacy, and the old line was that the benefits could begin before full stop of nuclear weapons program, and now you aren't saying that.
• Refuses to answer.

A British Questioner: Some talks with North Korea, which claims to have a nuclear weapons, no talks with Iran, although they only may/may not have a weapon.
• Different levels of technology. Different international systems apply. Different regional interests. Our national security, humanitarian interests, he refuses to disentangle them. Bah.

Washington Journal, Thursday

2005-02-10T11:17:00.000-08:00

I am of mixed mind considering blogging Washington Journal, but I will today.

Calls on Dean and the DNC Chair, Democrats only.
• First caller is happy.
• Second caller, a young woman, claims he will isolate Western and Southern voters.(?)
• An older woman, Green Party county coordinator, praises Dean bringing up the Ohio recount situation.

Host: Bush supporting new bill on aliens, back to the callers.
• A young man complains Dean lacks message discipline, then suggests he lacks discipline.
• An older man wants the next half hour to be on Republicans views on Rove getting a policy job.

State Deptartment Briefing, Briefer Adam Ereli, 1PM Monday

2005-02-07T16:50:00.000-08:00

Question about a report in the Polish press concerning easing of visa requirements for Poles.
• No definite answer. Sounds likely, but they don't want to talk about it.

The questioner asks how General Ward might be different than previous envoys to consult on security to Palestine/Israel.
• The briefer refers the reporter to C Rice's statements at D Ben-Gurion airport today, where General Ward's "brief" (powers/responsibility) was explained.

Where will General Ward be based in the Middle East?
• Explains it is very early, and the details aren't available.

Is General Ward in Europe? Will he do any interviews before he goes?
• I don't know and no.

Ex-President's son installed in Togo, any comment?
• Extends condolences to the father, Eyadema. Watching, Consulting (w/EU, AU, and ECOWAS), Considering...

Full text here

White House Press Briefing, Monday

2005-02-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

When asked about the President using the "bully pulpit" to force Congress to reign in spending.
• McLellan's reply concerned the tax code, only.

Stupid war-mongering reporter asks McLellan about the sale of "long-range nuclear missiles" from Ukraine to Iran.
• They sold them missiles that _could_ carry nuclear warheads, but not ones that do.

Charles Murray, In Depth

2005-02-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

Author of racist Bell Curve uses an anecdote to answer a question. He claims he was in a barbershop and heard a stoneworker saying he was getting into doing marblework, earning $30/hour. Murray assumes he gets to work 2000 hours a year, and states it is a good income. Murray also states that he is "making something" and that this should be satisfying. What Murray doesn't state is that marble-workers make things for _rich_ people, exclusively.
Explains that the price of ditch-digger has gone way down, but that gardeners are doing very well. Again, only rich people have gardeners.

Alberto Gonzalez Debate, Day II

2005-02-06T08:59:00.000-08:00

Senator G Allen of Virginia claimed Gonzalez could be a role model.

Iraqi Interior Minister from Baghdad and Reporters in Virginia

2005-02-03T17:18:00.000-08:00

The Minister begins by thanking the United States for its efforts in removing Saddam and claims it is the "first ever Democratic vote in this country." Ignoring parliamentary elections in the 1950s and earlier. Discusses the heroism of an Iraqi Police Chief in attempting to thwart a suicide bomber. [Is reading from sheets of paper.] Closes with further thanks.
• The first question asks about Zarqawi, if his efforts have been weakened.
• The Minister says >350 terrorists have been captured in the last six weeks.
• The next question asks whether or not they've been close to capturing him recently.
• The Minister says he's been followed, and they've come close two or three times.
• R Brown of the AP (first reporter to identify) follows up.
• The Minister claims they might have missed him by an hour.

Armed Services Committee, Witnesses RB Meyers, PD Wolfowitz and R Schlicher (Pt 2)

2005-02-03T16:25:00.000-08:00

Senator HR Clinton of New York
• Wolfowitz claims that the Iraq war will be put into the budget no sooner the FY07... at considerable expense.

Senator D Akaka of Hawaii asks about retention.
• Meyers says they are doing pretty well.

Senator C Levin of Michigan asks about the Consitutional process, asking if the TAL is controlling until then.
• Shlicher says it is.
• The Senator asks about fraud, kickbacks and misappropriations in Iraq. Asks if has made a response to the allegations.
• Wolfowitz praises Bremer's earlier response to the same question.

• Wolfowitz claims there are indications that some terrorists are throwing in the towel.
• Meyers claims al-Qaeda presence in the Afghan/Pakistani border region is almost gone.

Armed Services Committee, Witnesses RB Meyers and PD Wolfowitz, R Schlicher

2005-02-03T15:14:00.000-08:00

Senator J Reed of Rhode Island asks P Wolfowitz whether the cost of the troops will be in the budget. Wolfowitz claims it will be in a supplemental.
• The Senator then asks Meyers how long troops are trained.
• Meyers says 12 weeks for the regular army, 8 weeks for national guard(?), 17 weeks for the next level, 30 weeks for the "Special Forces."
• The Senator brings up the 5,000 American embeds within the Iraqi army.
• The Senator asks Meyers about the Luck report, which the Senate has not been allowed to see. Wolfowitz claims that the Generals can get something from it "first," during its embargo. It's not clear to me that a report will be less effective if given to more people.
• Wolfowitz claims the embeds will work through translators, because Arabic is a "high" capability.

Senator Warner says the the Luck mission, highly publicized, has had a long time already, and tells Wolfowitz the Luck report should be made available soon.

Senator S Collins of Maine asks about shortage of supplies, based on e-mails she receives.
• One soldier speaks about how he has been asked to use Iraqi weapons, weapons he hasn't been trained in. Apparently, he is short of ammo, too.
• Another soldier says they can't keep oil or water drivers or translators, also mentions ammo shortages.
• The third soldier says they don't have radios, so they use Yahoo mail.
• Meyers says the radio he knows about the radio issue, claims he isn't aware of shortage, but they have to aggresively pursue more radios.
• The Senator claims she is troubled that it took her intervention to fix some of these problems.
• Another e-mail explains how the Iraqi rolls are being padded, the Iraqi officers are taking a cut, that Iraqis are given one week's leave out of every four weeks, and don't return on time. Asks Wolfowitz if it is a pattern or an isolated incident.
• Meyers answers and says the US Chain of Command over there is aware of this issue. Meyers blames Saddam for having broken the spirit of the Iraqis. Claims the election will change things. Claims US soldiers are role models for democracy. I'm mortified. Claims the practice of returning late was common during the last few decades.
• Wolfowitz discusses heros and pride.

Senator J Sessions of Alabama takes over for Senator J Warner of Virginia as Chair

Senator E Bayh of Indiana begins by discussing the death benefit. Calls the pay cut for military the "Patriot Penalty."
• Wolfowitz seems concerned that special benefits might extend to non-combat zones troops, and claims they wouldn't be affordable unless so restricted.
• The Senator claims the Syrians aren't doing enough to stop insurgents from entering Iraq. Claims Iran has "infiltrated" the Shia community in Iraq, and are "waiting."
• "We're not looking to end this behavior with another war." Claims that Syria and Iran want Iraq to fail because a succesful Iraq will weaken both. Not our position to destabilize Syria. "They better stop interfering with their neighbors."
• The Senator is concerned that a lack of economic success might lessen Iraqis support for their new government. Wants to show democracy's tangible benefits besides political freedom.
• Wolfowitz claims the post-election euphoria might lead to excessive expectations.

Senator J Sessions of Alabama asks about Fallujah and who is responsible for water and electricity.
• Wolfowitz claims DoD and State are working very well together, and cites the transfer of a billion dollars from infrastructure to security as a sign of that.
• The Senator praises the working relationship between J Negroponte and GW Casey.
• The Senator praises Rumsfeld who saw the big picture most clearly. Praises Wolfowitz. Claims that the pictures Wolfowitz has would bring a tear to anyone's eye who has a "sense of the historic moment." Praises the results of Afghanistan. Makes it sound like Palestine has never had an election before, and still claims "We aren't there yet. Cites AQ Khan "network" (which amounted to a Malaysian company selling things to Libya).
• Wolfowitz thinks its laughable that he'd have to tell the President or the Sec Def what to think. Wants to add to the list that many plots have been foiled, and says the torture caused "controversy." Wants to give credit to the President. Claims we haven't been attacked "here" since Septemeber 11th.

Senator R Byrd of West Virgina makes extensive points on the difference between the war in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq. Afghanistan attacked us, Iraq did not. Claims it was a blotch on the escutcheon of the Senate that it gave the President authority to declare war, and calls the pre-emptive doctrine pernicious. Repeats the distinction between the two wars. Promises to fully fund both wars, because it wasn't the soldiers fault. Claims both wars have cost 150,000,000,000 dollars and the President has not presented any timetable for withdrawing the troops. Claims that the Senate would have produced such a timetable if they had been in charge. Talks about phone calls from Bush to foreign leaders concerning the Iraqi elections, claims they don't pay the bills. Asks how long the President expects the US taxpayer to foot the bill, and shed 90% of the blood of the occupation forces.
• Wolfowitz claims they were the same war. That Zarqawi was aligned with al-Qaeda. This, of course, ignores that Zarqawi was not on friendly terms with the Iraqi state. Wolfowitz also claims that U bin-Laden has attached his prestige to this war. Claims we aren't 90% of the casualties (ignoring Byrd's qualifier "of the occupation troops."). Wolfowtiz claims the whole world should be paying, not just the US.
• The Senator asks for a little extra time to follow up. Claims he has waited a long time, claims Wolfowitz's credibility is at stake. Claims Wolfowitz did not answer the question of "How long will the US shoulder the burden?" and asks what the Bush administration is doing to get outside funding.
• [Wolfowitz]. Schlicher notes that the number of foreign troops, even though the number of nations has decreased. Notes the US is training a Bosnian unit. Notes that Romania and Georgia are expected to increase their troop strengths by 500 and 100 respectively.
• Meyers claims the troops understand and that the terrorists want to do away with our way of life. Quotes Abizaid "You can fight them here, or you can fight them there."

Senator J Thune of South Dakota claims that Iraq is part of the war on terror, notes he has long known that Saddam would have to be taken care of, and that the Iraqi elections were perhaps a sign of a change for the region. Talks about the transformation of the Middle East.
•

I'm switching to just posting highpoints, lowblows and curveballs.

Purpose

2005-02-03T14:51:00.000-08:00

The point of this blog is to "watch" C-SPAN radio and provide regular comments whatever C-SPAN radio airs.
Want to join the effort? Email-me... Josh at Narins dot Net