So, the genuises over at the AP no longer want dirty little hippie bloggers quoting their stories word for word. Instead, our new corporate overlords would prefer that we link to the article and then summarize what it is saying in our own words. However, like many of us on the intertubes I am a lazy SOB, so the way I see it there is only one solution to this intractable problem: Babelfish.

Many of you, no doubt, have been enjoying Poblano's work this primary season as much as I have. Both in his diaries here and on his excellent website, www.fivethirtyeight.com, he has given us the kind of detailed, number-crunching, reality-based election analysis that is unmatched anywhere in the traditional/mainstream media. Well today, Poblano has decided to pull back the curtain:

So you can make faster progress on that hole you're so intent on digging:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...

"I do think this was a mistake on part of the Obama campaign," she said. "They didn't have to do this, and they did it to hurt Hillary. I just think that's bad. I think it's bad business, and I think it's bad politics.

"I was accused of being divisive. I think those tactics are divisive," she added. "And the amazing thing is it's not something I started, its something they did in reaction to this."

Ferraro also implored Obama's campaign to turn "the spigot off the hate mail I am getting."

"I find it very, very upsetting," she said. " I've been called all kinds of names, and the attacks are ageist, they're sexist, they're racist. It's been very, very uncomfortable.

So I see this little item from everyone's favorite little snake oil salesman, Mitt Romney:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...

Count Republican Mitt Romney among those who aren't happy with Time Magazine's choice of Russian President Vladimir Putin for Person of the Year.

In an interview with CNN's Glen Beck, the presidential candidate called the choice "disgusting."

"You know, he imprisoned his political opponents. There have been a number of highly suspicious murders," Romney said on Beck's radio show. "He has squelched public dissent and free press. And to suggest that someone like that is the Man of the Year is really disgusting. I'm just appalled."

Stop me if you've heard this one before:

http://www.cnn.com/...

A U.S. military commander Friday reported the death of a senior al Qaeda in Iraq leader, a Tunisian who was considered the "emir of foreign terrorists in Iraq."

...
Anderson called the death "a significant blow" to al Qaeda in Iraq -- a Sunni-dominated militant group that takes its inspiration from Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda.

Great, that means we can leave now, right? I mean, surely with all of the #2's, top lieutenants, and right-hand men that Al Qaeda in Iraq has lost they are no longer a threat, right?

Ok, it's obvious that all of us are mighty pissed about what's gone down the last couple of days, and with good reason. However, I humbly submit that we should have seen this coming. With the razor-thin majority that we have in the Senate, we were never going to be able to peel off enough pretend-to-be-concerned-about-the-war Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats to override a filibuster, much less a veto. Add in the Dems that think ending the war would be a good thing, but aren't willing to risk their seat to do so, and it becomes obvious that the Boy King was eventually going to get his money.

The following TIME article was definitely NOT approved by the Ministry of Truth. This is the most pessimistic article about Iraq that I have ever seen from the MSM. Perhaps Rummy or Tony Snow would like to take a little ride with the article's author, Mr. Ghosh, and show him all of the good news that is occurring in Baghdad that he is somehow missing while dodging the suicide bombers and militia groups that commit massacres on a daily basis.

http://www.time.com/...

Better watch out Randy, you don't want to get that plea agreement revoked. If he doesn't fess up maybe we can put him in a Supermax cell for a while:

Note to Nancy Pelosi: THIS is what is called taking the gloves off. Every Dem on Capitol Hill should be demanding to get on TV today and driving this phrase home: "Leaker-in-Chief. Leaker-in-Chief. Leaker-in-Chief." Say it until you're blue in the face. If all any Dem talks about is the leaker-in-chief for the next week, then guess what, the traditional media will have no choice but to cover it as a big story. When your opponent is down, don't wait for him to get back up, hit 'em with the effing chair!

Our good pal Atrios just found this little nugget:

http://in.rediff.com/...

The Central Intelligence Agency did not target Al Qaeda chief Osama bin laden once as he had the royal family of the United Arab Emirates with him in Afghanistan, the agency's director, George Tenet, told the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks on the United States on Thursday.

Had the CIA targeted bin Laden, half the royal family would have been wiped out as well, he said.

This, ladies and gentleman, is the kind of simple, undeniable connection that we can really bash Bush over the head with. The average joe may go a bit glassy-eyed when you start talking about how terrorist funding flowed through UAE banks and such, but this they can understand. I'm sure there are better framers out there than me, but my first shot at it is: "If the UAE are our allies as George Bush says they are, then why the hell are they meeting with Bin Laden? Are they with us, or are they with the terrorists?"

I think it's a shame that old Tom has been a bit neglected lately amid all the other GOP scandals, but the Washington Post seeks to rectify that. According to this article in today's WaPo, Tom Delay may have Cheneyed himself big-time. Hasn't he ever watched any of those cop shows where the first thing the bad guy's lawyer does is tell him to keep his mouth shut?

Living in Dallas and all, I am required to think Houston is a total craphole but even I didn't think it was THIS bad. I guess I've missed all the stories about suicide bombers in Houston killing scores of people on a regular basis:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3235606

Tell you what Tom, why don't you take a little tour outside the Green Zone without a platoon of bodyguards and then tell me how wonderfully things are going in Iraq. I hear Ramadi is nice this time of year.

Russ Feingold has introduced a resolution asking President Bush to establish a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq and for training of Iraqi security forces. I like it: it emphasizes the fact that Bush STILL has no plan for Iraq and puts him on the defensive. Hopefully Reid can get the Dems behind this and make a little noise here:

http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/content/134/statement-of-us-senator-russ-feingold-on-the-reso lution-calling-on-the-president-to-create-a-timetable-for-achieving-goals-and-withdrawing-american-t roops-from-iraq

It's good to know that I'm so well represented in Congress. Whether he was kidding or not, what a nutjob:

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2005_02_27_atrios_archive.html#110960552746244232

I've already called his Washington office to register my displeasure, if you live in his district and would like to do the same his # is

(202) 225-4201

I guess the "bribe pundits to spread Bushie propaganda" bit is starting to get a little old, so it's time to move on to plan B. I'm encouraged by the Dem. response on SS so far, looks like we're actually going to stand up and fight for a change. My question is, why is Bush trying to ram this through now, when an early victory for us will only embolden Democratic opposition? You would think he (or Rove, at least) would have learned something from Clinton's health care debacle.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=4&u=/ap/20050128/ap_on_go_pr_wh/so cial_security_12

Move over a little, Mr. Hersch, and make a little room for your New Yorker co-worker, Mr. Jon Lee Anderson. He's been doing some checking up on our good friend Mr. Allawi and it's pretty damn scary. I guess the American tradition of installing brutal tinpot dictators continues:

http://www.newyorker.com/printable/?fact/050124fa_fact1

Score another one for Knight-Ridder:

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/politics/10040891.htm

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=5&u=/ap/20041028/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ir aq_weapons_iaea