Watching Consummate White Man Sessions question Sotomayor on her ability to be unbiased -- maybe not the clash of civilizations, but demographically, Sir Sessions will soon exuent stage right. And take that horrible Kyl person with you please.

In Country

Since I am too lazy to do any original posting, I'm just gonna use some excerpts from my outgoing email this last week.

New Friends, Old Enemies: So Chris got the water on in my cabin, which pleases both me and my roommate, Mr. Daddy Longlegs. Mr. L looks nothing like Fred Astaire and has a large family -- hundreds it seems. Sometimes I shoo them away so I can clean, but next day, there they are. with their cute little hammocks strung around the walls and ceilings, singing "You are not alone; I am by your side."

You must be in the city. I too am going to the big city today, downtown Happy Camp, which boasts two -- count them, TWO- statues of Big Foot. I wonder if Mr. BigFoot knows Mr. L. Hope he doesn't come to visit.

Did you watch Obama and Medyvedy? I found it too boring (come to think of it, almost everything about Russia seems drab and boring*). Obama is breakfasting with Putin; do you think he will look for his soul in his eyes? Or just eat his eggs and be nice...KG

*exceptions: caviar, vodka, blinis....

MJ: And here's a not-so-wild-prediction: Jackson's funeral is gonna be a riot. Literally. kg

Honduras: Who knows. The ousted Pres is one in a series of dark-skinned-not-of -the -upper crust- leaders South of Mexico -- Hugo Chavez being the most well known. Also, the Ecuadorian President (Correa) and Bolivia (Morales). Correa has roundly pissed off the US by insisting that Chevon compensate for the damage they did to the rain forest. These guys are left of center, i.e. they want to use systems that work for them, not for the IMF and Dick Cheney. I suspect the CIA has its fingers in the current mess, just as they aided and abetted the 2002 failed coup against Hugo Chavez. That is not to say Obama would approve, but I think Panetta walked into the CIA and crawled in bed with those guys. I will never forgive the CIA for sabotaging Jimmy Carter; why don't they spend some time getting humint in the Middle East, huh????

As for what is specifically the deal in Honduras, I'm afraid I haven't kept up. But it looks like your classic upper class instigated military takeover of a democratically elected president who does not cater to them...Apparently the new guy is pretty right wing. Think Pinochet....

Have to go move sprinklers around. KG

Cabin/Palin/Etc: Chris is at my cabin -- hopefully he is turning the water on. Then I can start cleaning it up....The Vanity Fair article is about Ms. Palin and I am printing it out as we speak, so to speak...So don't buy no mags for moi! George cancelled a lo of his TV stations so I didn't see any talk shows; maybe later. He does John King's show but JK had that horrible Ed Rollins and that horrible black Demo whose name I have blessedly forgotten -- you know, the break bread lady. [on edit -- this would be Donna Brazil.] Also some other right wing moron. So I didn't watch it. Watering the garden takes up a good deal of the morning around here anyway. Let me know the update on Ronnie Wilhelm....kg

Re: Palin At first I thought it was a Pawlenty deal -- that she did not want to run again because she would lose and that would compromise her rep for a presidential run. But not if she is actually resigning. Rumors have it that there is some about-to-come-out scandal involved (oh, I'm SURE not...) but I have no idea what it would be. Maybe she is gonna fess up that Trig or whatever his name is, is actually Bristol's baby - hee hee. Maybe she is just an idiot. Oh, and it could just boil down to she is just an idiot. Remember -- it's now silly season, 24/7, 12 months a year. And we thought only Friday was Anything Can Happen Day! --- kg

Letters to the Editor Department

Mike Slizewski, managing editor
Siskiyou Daily News
PO Box 129, Yreka CA 96097
530.842.2963 x 105
editor@siskiyoudaily.com


Dear Editor:
Thank you for printing this lengthy diatribe. (...Nation is in Peril; guest opinion 6-9-09) Although it was lacking in facts and long on whining, it did provide lots of chuckles. Evidently, President Obama is the straw that this cabal thinks will break the back of the camel. Pulleeze, President Obama enjoys a 65% approval rating and where was your outrage when Bush- Cheney & co were gutting the constitution , torturing detainees,and handing out no bid contracts to their friends. When progressives and the left complained, we were called traitors, un-american and on side of the terrorists. Here's the deal: The right proved in the last eight years that they can't lead, in the last four months that they can't follow, so now it is time to get the heck out of the road and watch as we get this country back on track. Have your little meetings and whine about loosing the election, taxes, and having a president that does not look like you as you drive on the roads and expect the fire department to save you when you really are in peril.

Christopher Garrett

Hike, eat, hike, eat...

Went up to the Pt. Reyes Visitor Center Wednesday; took the Earthquake Trail and the Woodpecker Trail. By now C is fully aware that as a Birder I am a complete fraud. But she is too nice to say so. Lunch at Olema Farmhouse. Last week with the Kirby X!s took the short loop at Audubon Canyon Ranch and picnicked on the grounds (thank you Cindy!).

At Play in the Land of the Wingnuts

News Release: Summer Food Service
Source: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services


Rep. Cynthia Davis' latest outrage is Missouri’s Summer Food Service Program, which provides food during the summer for thousands of low-income Missouri children who rely on the school cafeteria for free or reduced-price meals during the regular school year. This week's newsletter from Davis contains a point-by-point response to a press release announcing the program, at the end of which she concludes the program is really "all about increasing government spending, which means an increase in taxes for us to buy more free lunches and breakfasts."
And to cap things off, she offers this very helpful tip:
Anyone under 18 can be eligible? Can't they get a job during the summer by the time they are 16? Hunger can be a positive motivator. What is wrong with the idea of getting a job so you can get better meals?
Tip: If you work for McDonald's, they will feed you for free during your break.

********************
“A Republican Indiana congressman has a new plan to protect members of Congress from a terrorist attack: enclose the Capitol gallery with a Plexiglas shield.
In a little-noticed proposed amendment to a bill last week, Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) sought a study to examine the feasibility of enclosing the Capitol gallery chamber with a protective shield.
“What this bill does is it would authorize a study to look at enclosing the chamber, the gallery chamber, with Plexiglas so that somebody can’t throw a bomb down on the floor and kill a lot of us,” Burton told the Rules Committee Thursday.”


Why do I hope people like this lose their jobs, lose their health insurance, end up being carried on a cot to the local soup kitchen and have to sleep on the corner of Fifth and Mission. Or we could just encase them in Plexiglas and ship them to Disneyworld. One way only.

It was good of my bro Kelly to call me on Father's Day. As well he should, being a father and all. Now all I need are some pictures of mi sobrinos mas guapos.

"Take what you want, God said. And pay for it." -- Arab Saying

I am in awe of the brave young people of Iran....

"We should go under the rain.

We should wash our eyes,

And we should see the world in a different way."

-Sohrab Sepehri, Iranian poet

Give 'til it hurts...

The Associated Press: Pacific state Palau to take Uighur detainees: Two U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. was prepared to give Palau up to $200 million in development, budget support and other assistance in return for accepting the Uighurs and as part of a mutual defense and cooperation treaty that is due to be renegotiated this year.


I have always admired the generous and hospitable people of Palau. Or would have, had I known it existed. Having been enlightened I am inspired to do my part for these unloved and unwashed Uighur people whose only crime was to move to Afghanistan for training in how to overthrow the Chinese Government. Okay, let's add stupid.

Nevertheless, at $12 million a pop, I'll take two.

Happy Birthday Mom

We miss that beautiful smile....

Settlement is to Theft what Enhanced Interrogation is to Torture

Is there anyone who really thinks that Israel will stop building and expanding on the West Bank? I don't believe that the Israeli government will stop stealing Palestinian land so long as there remains one square inch on which to plant its boots.

What I do believe is that there will be new negotiations between Israel and the US. Since AIPAC and their fellow travelers will never stand for cutting off funds as a deterrent (Obama will not stand up to this voter block), I suspect we will go for the carrot instead. You stop "settling" and we'll give you more money. And they will agree, the money will flow, and Israel will keep on building away. Oh wait! That's no prediction -- that's history!

"I [Orin Kerr] have accepted a position as Special Counsel for Supreme Court Nominations for Senator John Cornyn for the duration of the Sotomayor nomination."

Why does Cornyn need a Special Counsel? What does he do? Who pays his salary? Just asking.

As if on cue, Jeremy Scahill reports on his (new!!) blog. He was on Thom Hartmann's radio show this morning.

http://rebelreports.com/

A clown sees life simply, without complications – George Bishop

It is amusing to watch the clowns in the right wing freak show juggling for positions in the New Republican Party. These Bozos and their predecessors were promoted by Reagan in order to increase his base and the hoax was refined by the malodorous Turd Blossom during the Bush Crime Family Dynasty (a period of time that includes the Clinton presidency).

What they refuse to see is that they were always doing the bidding of the RP and continue to do so now. Their comical ravings provide the cover of an actual debate in the country between two parties and two philosophies. But this dichotomy is an illusion --there is only the One, the Corporate America Dream Machine. What is the real difference between Pelosi and the rubes who were calling for her head (until the media got tired of the whole thing)? Torture of detainees in Guantanamo and its way stations was always pretty much accepted as fact, but -like the love that dare not speak its name - was not mentioned by patriots in polite company. (Well of course there was that spoil sport Seymour Hersh, but he never really got over My Lai so why listen to him.) Pelosi did nothing about it – nothing was done or said by any of the weenie Democrats or their Repub cohorts. Now that it cannot be denied by anyone other than, say, John Ashcroft, the debate is centered on who knew what and when (as if the elephant wasn’t in the room all the time) and more important, how it can be arranged so no one is held accountable or, god forbid, testifies.

My point is that while the clowns are running the circus, the country has not changed hands or stripes or direction. It is not just the wealthy Wall Street profiteers, it is the International Free Market Capitalists and their enablers, the war mongrerers (here a pipeline, there a pipeline), and the complacent media. And a public terrified of terrorists or recession or both needs its bread and circuses. There is no longer any need for political parties, except to create the illusion of choice and it matters not a damn whether it is Obama or Bush, Thomas or Sotomayor. So enjoy the show. Popcorn included in price of admission.

Four arrested for planning New York terror attacks

This has all the bling of a good old USA sting op, wherein the FBI provides plot, plan, timetable and materiel to entrap a gang of swarthy goofballs with aka’s* like “Daoud” and “Hamza” and who couldn’t find their balls with their right hand.

Meanwhile, Harry Reid is peeing in his garment over Obama’s plan to release the Guantanamo-held terrorists into the USA, finding them jobs as baristas at a Starbucks near you. Better they should stay in Cuba eating Happy Meals with their free colonoscopies.


*James Cromitie, also known as Abdul Rahman; David Williams, also known as Daoud or simply DL; Onta Williams, also known as Hamza; and Laguerre Payen, also known as Amin and Almondo.

Ada Barker Kennedy

The wedding picture of Ada Barker and Deward Kennedy. These are the parents of Edward Richard Kennedy, AKA Dick Kennedy or, as we used to call him "Grandpa Rat."
Ada Barker was only sixteen at the time of their marraige and she died in 1898 when Grandpa Dick was three years old. Her father was a reporter who covered the Battle of Little Big Horn; he had five children: Ada, Edward, Jesse, Eugene & Charlie. My mother's notes say that Edward Richard got the name Richard from Richard Rudolph -- but I have no idea who that is. Deward Kennedy was a professor at the University of Wisconsin. I have been unable to find any more information on Ada and Deward.

Now that Obama has become Bush, what is Cheney complaining about?

As Obama morphs into Bush and the Democratic Party becomes the party of Arlen Specter….one asks

WTF?

Clearly the two party system is, in fact, a one-party system with two interior decorators but only one driving force – the big money machine of Pharma, Monsanto, Boeing etc. – and no matter who we vote for, they will surely continue to drive this boat up our asses and still come out smelling of money. That these greedy bastards end up co-opting just about everyone is obvious, but what is amazing is their ability to convince us plebes that we really do have choices – that there exists a Change We Can Believe In, a New Deal, a Thousand Points of Light – and that Yes We Can doesn’t mean Yes You Can (Suck It Up Again).

Ms. Pelosi is not caught in a net – she is part of the net and mistakenly thought being in the loop would protect her. Actually, it is apathy and a short news cycle that will protect her and all of the rest of those wide-eyed Who ME? sons of bitches.

We have ALWAYS been at war with Eastasia…

What a Boner!

John Boehner in re Nancy Pelosi’s (convoluted and self-serving) statements this morning: “It is hard to believe anyone in our intellegence area would try to deceive Congress.” John! – No one in this entire country could hear that statement without rolling their eyes.

Glenn Greenwald on Arlen Specter - Link Below

Exerpts:

Consider Specter’s most significant votes over the last eight years, ones cast in favor of such definitive right-wing measures as: the war on Iraq, the Military Commissions Act, Patriot Act renewal, confirmation of virtually every controversial Bush appointee, retroactive telecom immunity, warrantless eavesdropping expansions, and Bush tax cuts (several times). Time and again during the Bush era, Specter stood with Republicans on the most controversial and consequential issues.

--snip--


Reports today suggest that Democratic officials promised Specter that the party establishment would support him, rather than a real Democrat, in a primary. If true, few events more vividly illustrate the complete lack of core beliefs of Democratic leaders, as well as the rapidly diminishing differences between the parties. Why would Democrats want a full-blooded Republican representing them in the blue state of Pennsylvania? Specter is highly likely to reprise the Joe Lieberman role for Democrats: a “Democrat” who leads the way in criticizing and blocking Democratic initiatives, forcing the party still further towards Republican policies.

--snip--

Specter is also complaining incessently about the fact that Lieberman lost his primary and Specter only won his 2004 primary by 1%. This apparently demonstrates all sorts of bad things about our political process. They really do believe that they are divinely entitled to keep their seats forever, and anything which threatens that is intrinsically illegitimate and wrong.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/04/28/specter/index.html?