Yeah. Laughing at you.

Here's a video from the Gridiron Club Dinner. Note your 'journalists' well.

http://www.youtube.com/...

I can't make a big diary out of this. It just makes me too angry to type.

Of course, it's far from the first time.

You can see a death's head smile from none other than Chickenhawk Joe in that one too.

I've made my decision a while ago, and commented on it here and there, but I never wrote a diary about it.

I will now.

Quite frankly, I see the conditions are ripe for a seismic shift in our government. Like the Republicans of the 1860's to 1870's and the Democrats of the 1930's type shift. We have a chance not only to control the legislature, but to radically shift people's ideas of government AND to enact a highly progressive agenda.

I believe that Obama gives us the best chance of that.

Take this with fair warning: I WILL be supporting whomever the Democratic nominee is.

However, I'm looking for a few things from my nominees. I'm sure they've got the whole 'better than Bush whilst blindfolded and on crack' thing down. And they all make suitable noises about bringing troops home, securing our borders, health care, unions, etc. I also have nits to pick with all of the candidates, starting with 'can't guarantee troops out by 2013' and moving on through 'Iran is a danger to the United States' and other weaksauce and Republican talking points they feel obliged to add to their resume.

However, Obama has moved out in front of them on one of THE crucial issues of fixing the effects of the Bush Legacy - undoing the cloak of secrecy and lies that they've cast over the Presidency like a new Iron Curtain.

Hi.

Introductions first. A lot of you know me, some of you don't. If you want to comment on this piece afterwards, before you type, do me the favor of reading this before you start talking about trolling. K? K.

At any rate, I'm like you, and was really pissed at the FISA nonsense. But then I got to thinking about it. I realized then that this bill is not worth my anger at the Democrats...it's worth action, but not anger.

And there are three reasons why below the fold.

Simple title, says it all.

At the moment, the mainstream media is continuing following the administration spin, and choosing Abu Mazen (That's Mahmoud Abbas for those who only follow big American media) as the 'moderate' and the 'true government head'.

This is....not necessarily a trap, but something we have to be wary of agreeing with.

As a member of the reality based community, I don't want to yell at you to see it my way. However, I think we need to put some things up on the board and discuss them, rather than let the RWCM do it for us. Follow below.

...then make them constructive.

I've been listening to the BBC World News at nights at work; this week they are going over the Six Day War.

Regardless of what side of the fence you're on in this argument, I'd think we can all agree that having up to six million people living in camps is a tragedy of the first order. Not only that, but it makes the camps excellent places to recruit young men for terror.

So, let's try something radical. List ONE THING you want to see in an Israeli/Palestinian solution.

When dealing with Iran, that is - because it validates him.

Yes, you heard me. Validates him.

Provides absolute, unequivical support for his doctrine of preemption.

Gives him the fig leaf of 'bipartisanship' to cover his naked aggression.

Supports his contention that treaties don't matter if we don't like the outcome of them.

Makes a monkey out of our pretense to wish to be a 'peaceful' nation.

This is what you do when you claim 'all options are on the table' with Iran.

But let me ask you two questions, if you disagree.

Reading today's Sun Times article, as a matter of fact, I'm beginning to wonder why I even supported you in the first frigging place, Senator.

Now, I understand courting the perpetual war vote at AIPAC. After all, there's a one percent chance that a single stray donor might be free and not already shoveling money (at AIPAC's behest, of course) at either of the two warmongering Senators who've already shown the willingness to knuckle under to the EverWar™ coalition. And Gods know you can't be seen taking your money from hair-shirted screaming banshees of the Left like Howard Dean, even though you purport to be a member of the community. But let me, a member of the Reality Based Community, give you some points to remember as you follow the siren song of what's been called "The ATM for American politicians" below.

Bob Nardelli, former resident of my town and really crappy head of Home Depot, got a $270 million dollar severance package, as you probably heard. Most of you are as outraged as I am, but very probably don't know how he got such a windfall out of sucking so hard at CEOdom. In short, it's because the Board of Directors at Home Depot, like most other large companies out there, can play (and do play) a little game called Six Degrees of Bob Nardelli.

Follow along below the fold, and we can meet the board, and see how it works - and as a bonus, you can play, too, afterwards!

This scares hell out of me, so I'm not going overboard on the verbiage.

Glenn Greenwald has a post up today about Cliff May at the National Review lecturing an imam about freedom of speech. He makes a few good points about free speech, but there's something there I think he missed in the article that points towards some kind of attack on Iran.

 As most people know, I'm a huge fan of John B. Anderson. And today, I'm happy to announce that, for the first time in a LONG time, he's endorsed a candidate.

 Dick Auman is running in IL-16 against Don Manzullo, he of such STELLAR history. And not only is John B. endorsing Dick, he's also fundraising for him!

 Details below.

 People have this crazy idea that history doesn't repeat itself, it seems. George Santayana said...

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it

 ...and we've spent decades proving him right again and again.

 Do you really think we live in unique times? We don't.

 Follow me below the fold.

 I'd like to thank the six true patriots that stood up today on the  Senate floor today and voted to end the madness in Iraq with a clear timetable.

 Barbara Boxer.
 John Kerry.
 Russ Finegold.
 Ted Kennedy.
 Robert Byrd.
 Tom Harkin.

 You are true heroes.

 The rest? I'm uncertain whether to call you cowards or Republicans. Especially you, Harry Reid.

 While I was absolutely dazzled by the sight of over 1000 Kossacks in one meeting hall, I realize that I only saw a fraction of the community. I also realize that more and different people will be coming in 2007. So after a BUNCH of prodding by some lovely folks (left of center, Mem from Summerville, Ed in Montana), I decided to do this diary as a cautionary tale of what NOT to do if you're going to come. Or at least, a cautionary tale of what COULD happen if you do travel like me.

 Anyways.

 First off, if you're traveling long distances, DON'T - for love of God or money - go Greyhound. Any money you save to gamble with will be more than offset by the trip.

 Follow below for all the Episodes.

 You know, one thing I can't stand is being called unpatriotic because I favor getting the hell out of Iraq now. So when I see it in papers, it really bugs hell out of me, and I usually give someone two earsful.

 Well, it showed up in Neil Steinberg of the Chicago Sun-Times's column today, so I felt obliged to write back. I'd also like to address this to the 'we must stay' crowd, as well - all my arguments are exactly the same. I just phrased them without all the bad language when I emailed Mr. Steinberg.

 Yes, my friends, the book How Would a Patriot Act? is truly a chunk of troublemaking treeflesh, as it took me less than 12 hours to discover.

 It all began when the mailman showed up on my doorstep at 11:30 yesterday morning. This is impressive in and of itself, because I live on a third floor walkup - usually, any packages that don't fit in the mailbox end up going back to the post office, and I get a card in my box. This didn't happen yesterday, a result no doubt of the anarchic impulses emanating from the box. It's a testimony to it's readability that I (a third shift guy) not only was awake to recieve it, but stayed up to tear through it in an hour and a half of frantic reading.

 Then I took it to work.

 Yes, folks, there's proof out there that Iraq is turning into a mirror image of America. No, really. Just ask Ken Mehlman, Chairman for the Republican National Committee:

   

Mehlman defended the war in Iraq despite insurgent attacks and one of the deadliest months for US troops. He said more than 30,000 new Iraqi business had registered since Saddam Hussein was toppled and that Iraqis are now using credit and debit cards as well as ATMs.

    "Property values have risen over 1000 percent in the last three years," Mehlman said. "These are important steps for the new Iraq."

Yep, before you know it, they'll be just like us: Deep in debt with outrageous mortgages. Now all they need is some religious fanatics to run the government and they're all set.

 (Diary slightly timelagged. Sorry.)

 One of my favorite phrases when I'm discussing anything involving government is the old chestnut, 'You get what you pay for'. Nothing irritates me more than watching people who continually vote for the dismantling of the government and then bitch when basic services take the hit at the local level. This is typical in my town; here's one example:

 

ROCKFORD -- In 2005, there were nearly 200 neighborhood streets and two miles' worth of alley improvements either completed or planned by the city's Public Works Department.

Coming in 2006? Zero.

The fallout from last month's doomed sales-tax referendum will be felt in every city ward -- from the rutted back alleys of older neighborhoods to the bustling roads near thriving commercial developments.

 And I sit here, and I shake my head listening to the justifications.