State Dept. to Senate: rape even better than torture!

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday May 13, 2009 · 6:36 PM PDT

2009/05/13 · 18:36

"Rape is effective weapon of war, senators told"

So runs the AP headline.

It is a very sad state of affairs when I assume, on seeing that headline, that the article will detail yet another apologist argument in favor of US war crimes.

But no! in fact, these rapes are occurring in the Congo, are not being perpetrated by US armed forces or CIA, and are bad, not good! whew!

theloniously

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday November 05, 2008 · 6:25 AM PST

2008/11/05 · 06:25

No, I don't mean McCain's, though he did an honorable job.

Last night, Gaye Symington, Dem challenger to Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, was graciousness personified in her concession speech at (what was otherwise) the Dem victory party in downtown Burlington.

But that's not the concession moment I have in mind, either. It's this:

Today, when I was driving in, bleary-eyed, too tired to bike as I would usually, from Williston VT into my job in Burlington, Gaye Symington was standing at the interstate exit with a big "Thank You" sign.

I'm sure she stayed up as late as I did. And she's a mom. And Speaker of the House. And lives almost an hour away from Burlington.

So I just want to say, Thank YOU, Madame Speaker, and we'll get'em next time.

If not me, who?

theloniously

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday September 22, 2008 · 5:40 PM PDT

2008/09/22 · 17:40

This will be short. The entire country is livid, freaking out, up in arms, gathering pitchforks, right? That's what you'd think from the blogosphere. But it just ain't so. Call your reps and senators. See below for why.

theloniously

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday June 20, 2008 · 12:56 PM PDT

2008/06/20 · 12:56

This is a short diary. I just want to be sure that credit is given where credit is due. Today Congressman Tim Johnson (R IL 15) was the sole GOP member to vote against the odious FISA bill.

Poll

109 votes Show Results

When GOPers do the right thing, we should

109 votes Vote Now!

When GOPers do the right thing, we should

email or phone our support

60 votes

have their vote-recording devices checked

5 votes

send them pie

7 votes

send them Democratic party registration forms

37 votes

Breaking: Durbin turning! call now!

theloniously

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday January 28, 2008 · 11:03 AM PST

2008/01/28 · 11:03

Sorry for the not-really-legit diary. And I never said the B-word before.

But contrary to earlier postings on dKos, I just heard from a phone staffer that Sen. Durbin WILL support Dodd's filibuster.

Who knows? Maybe we're flipping him. Let's pile it on for one last push!

(202) 224-2152 - ph
(202) 228-0400 - fx

CCR: Please donate to FOX News

theloniously

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday November 28, 2007 · 1:32 PM PST

2007/11/28 · 13:32

The Center for Consitutional Rights just sent me an email asking to contribute money so they can air an ad on the O'Lielly Factor.

I support this group and their mission, but I'll be damned before I give a penny to Fox's advertising department.

Poll

56 votes Show Results

Airing a pro-Consitution ad on The Factor...

56 votes Vote Now!

Airing a pro-Consitution ad on The Factor...

is brilliant: it will capture media attention either way, whether or not FOX refuses it

7 votes

is dumb.

4 votes

is really really dumb.

27 votes

will cause many of Bill-O's open-minded audience to ponder deeply and reconsider their position on the administration's evisceration of Consitutional rights.

9 votes

will get CCR censured by the Senate in 3...2...1...

9 votes

Turn telecom immunity upside-down??

theloniously

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday October 20, 2007 · 8:54 AM PDT

2007/10/20 · 08:54

Suppose that--despite Democratic majorities, public opinion, Dodd's leadership, overwhelming public sentiment, and the quaint little 4th Amendment to the Constitution--broad telecom immunity is nonetheless voted and signed into law.

OK, that sucked! ...but what next?

I am way not a lawyer, but I have an oddball notion: might it be possible to force the issue into court, thus keeping it alive despite the telcom's immunity, by putting telecom providers on the legal offensive?

I'm hoping a few legal minds will read this diary and say whether I'm on to something or just out to lunch.

theloniously

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday October 19, 2007 · 1:39 PM PDT

2007/10/19 · 13:39

As you know if you're reading this, the first honest-to-goodness filibuster since 2005 may take place as Sen. Chris Dodd refuses to allow the Misadministration and the spineless Congress to delete the Fourth Amendment from the Constitution by fiat.

(Note to Harry Reid: filibusters are a tool to protect strongly-held minority positions. When the majority party champions a Constitutional principle supported by a strong majority of the citizenry, the majority "leader" is not supposed to set a filibuster trap for his own party.)

I hope it doesn't come to this. But if it does:

Let's help write Sen. Dodd's filibuster text!

Poll

90 votes Show Results

Should rank-and-file Kossacks submit drafts to Sen. Dodd for possible reading on the Senate floor?

90 votes Vote Now!

Should rank-and-file Kossacks submit drafts to Sen. Dodd for possible reading on the Senate floor?

Hell yes! I can do better than David Frum or Peggy Noonan, that's for sure.

79 votes

Noâ€"I'm really looking forward to the "Smith" section of the DC White Pages.

9 votes

No thanks, I support the evisceration of the 4th Amendment.

2 votes

IL-15 (S-CHIP): push Johnson over the edge! (w/ poll)

theloniously

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday October 08, 2007 · 7:19 PM PDT

2007/10/08 · 19:19

For all you Kossacks in the Illinois 15th, a very brief action diary.

I have anecdotal evidence that Tim Johnson is close to flipping his "nay" on the S-CHIP override.

timmyc has posted this diary linking to all "first-tier" and "second-tier" targets for the override in the house. (The list itself is posted here.)

Poll

16 votes Show Results

Are you in the IL 15th?

16 votes Vote Now!

Are you in the IL 15th?

Yeah! Adlai Stevenson country!

5 votes

Nope. Boy, is it flat out there!

10 votes

Eek! even worse--I'm in the 11th with Jerry Weller!

1 vote

What did Edwards REALLY learn since AUMF?

theloniously

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday September 27, 2007 · 5:15 PM PDT

2007/09/27 · 17:15

First, honest to goodness: I'm undecided, I've contributed to two different Prez campaigns this cycle, neither of them Clinton's or Edwards'. I do like a lot about Edwards and how he's campaigning.

But the very issue so many cite as proof of his refreshing honesty and willingness to rise above political calculation, to me appears to be a pretty clear example of political half-truth and cold calculation, and I wish people would stop trumpeting it as so heroic.

theloniously

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday September 20, 2007 · 7:13 AM PDT

2007/09/20 · 07:13

In the light of recent Republican minority blocks to important bills, some Kossacks are wondering if the Senate Dems should turn the tables and invoke the "nuclear option."

There's a legitimate debate to be had as to whether this is the right thing to do, with good arguments on both sides.

Trouble is, they CAN'T. They don't have the votes.

theloniously

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday September 13, 2007 · 10:15 AM PDT

2007/09/13 · 10:15

Iraq Report Gives McCain a Boost
By CHARLES BABINGTON Associated Press Writer

So you're expecting maybe some objective evidence for, let's say, a boost for McCain?

Nothing for you here.

See below and decide for yourself if the AP is vying for the role of volunteer press secretary for the McCain campaing.

Newer
Older

RSS

State Dept. to Senate: rape even better than torture!

classiest concession ever

If not me, who?

ONE GOP Rep stood for the Constitution today

Breaking: Durbin turning! call now!

CCR: Please donate to FOX News

Turn telecom immunity upside-down??

Let's compose Dodd's filibuster! w/poll

IL-15 (S-CHIP): push Johnson over the edge! (w/ poll)

What did Edwards REALLY learn since AUMF?

Senate: There IS NO "Nuclear Option"

worst AP headline of the day