Thursday, August 31, 2006

Joe Lieberman Ad - Just Relax



Joe "out of touch with reality" Lieberman has a new ad that is out right now and if you didn't know better you would think it is a satire. But it is not and the ad essentially tells everyone to relax, take a deep breath and re-elect Joe to another four years and everything will be ok.

Talk about your alternate reality.

Don't fucking do it. Vote his ass out.

If you live in Connecticut that is.

Keith Olbermann's Response To Rumsfeld's Nazi Appeaser Speech



Keith Olbermann does a magnificent job in this video commentary of pointing out fact from fiction and reality from fantasy. One of the best comments on the Bush administration and their right wing authoritarianism and creeping fascism that I have seen.

Now this is must see tv.

Think about the nerve of this man, Donald Rumsfeld, who has not been right about almost anything involving the illegal invasion of Iraq in the last six years to criticize those who point out this fact to him. The reality is that this is perfectly normal behaviour for an authoritarian and I would advise you to read up on this personality type to learn more. One place to start would be the John Dean book Conservatives Without Conscience.

McCarthyism may seem like ancient history to most people but that kind of thinking and mentality are always lurking around waiting for it's moment in the spotlight and they are always right in their mind and want to root out those "bad apples" who will "bring us down" as they always seem to charactize things. Fear not but be wary and pay attention. Close attention.

Right Wing Authoritarians:

1: Faulty reasoning — RWAs are more likely to:

* Make many incorrect inferences from evidence.
* Hold contradictory ideas leading them to ‘speak out of both sides of their mouths.’
* Uncritically accept that many problems are ‘our most serious problem.’
* Uncritically accept insufficient evidence that supports their beliefs.
* Uncritically trust people who tell them what they want to hear.
* Use many double standards in their thinking and judgements.

2: Hostility Toward Outgroups — RWAs are more likely to:

* Weaken constitutional guarantees of liberty such as the Bill of Rights.
* Severely punish ‘common’ criminals in a role-playing situation.
* Admit they obtain personal pleasure from punishing such people.
* Be prejudiced against racial, ethnic, nationalistic, and linguistic minorities.
* Be hostile toward homosexuals.
* Volunteer to help the government persecute almost anyone.
* Be mean-spirited toward those who have made mistakes and suffered.

3: Profound Character Flaws — RWAs are more likely to:

* Be dogmatic.
* Be zealots.
* Be hypocrites.
* Be bullies when they have power over others.
* Help cause and inflame intergroup conflict.
* Seek dominance over others by being competitive and destructive in situations requiring cooperation.

4: Blindness To One’s Own Failings And To The Failings Of Authority Figures whom They Respect— RWAs are more likely to:

* Believe they have no personal failings.
* Avoid learning about their personal failings.
* Be highly self-righteous.
* Use religion to erase guilt over their acts and to maintain their self-righteousness.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Nancy Pelosi Responds To Rumsfeld's "Appeaser" Statment



Pelosi nails it on the head when she says "I have long thought that the Secretary of Defense's judgement has been impaired" when responding to the fact that Rumsfeld is basically comparing anyone who disagrees with the Bush fanatics and their illegal, disastrous invasion of Iraq to Nazi appeasers. They keep tying Iraq and 9/11 together to try and scare the shit out of people and get them to vote for them when as anyone with half a brain knows...Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Only rubes and dupes would fall for that...don't be a dupe!

These guys have fucked this thing up so bad but never, ever take responsibility for it.

Booker T & The MG's - Green Onions Live Video



This is the definition of the term "smokin" as they say. From the Stax/Volt tour of Europe in 1967. Very nice footage and sound. If I remember right, Booker T & The MG's were the house band for the other artists on the label during this tour just as they were back home. Wish I had seen the show, of course I was only 3 at the time.

Robin Trower - Daydream Live Video



Some really tasty guitar playing by Robin Trower on this live version of Daydream. Yeah, Robin liked Jimi Hendrix too.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Montrose - Bad Motor Scooter Live Video



The band was started by guitarist Ronnie Montrose and gave young vocalist Sammy Hagar his first flush of success. Early 70's rock n roll....dude.

I think this is the kind of stuff that gave rise to the term "cock rock" kids.

The Bill O'Reilly Speeding & Loud Stereo Defense



Keith Olbermann has a good time with this one but you really just have to watch and listen to the video from the police car and enjoy it.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Persephone's Bees - Paper Plane Promo Video



Persephone's Bees release their debut record Notes From The Underworld on Tuesday August 29th. Here is a cover of an old Status Quo song called Paper Plane. I don't know the song but I like it and it has kind of a glam 70's sound to it.

They are going to be stars.

Buy it here.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Chris Matthews & Paul Hackett Destroy Republican Talking Points In This Video



I am not a big fan of Chris Matthews who seems to favor conservatives way too much, but I must say, he along with Paul Hackett destroy this fatuous idiot Republican running for congress named Van Taylor who spouts talking points as if they are the truth. I would hope people aren't stupid enough to vote for this clown.

Video quality isn't great but still good enough to enjoy this public undressing of these Mehlman/Rove fantasies.

It's beautiful to watch.

Friday, August 25, 2006

George Bush "Trusts His Eyes"

The alarming August 6, 2001, memo from the CIA to the President -- "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US" -- has been widely noted in the past few years.

But, also in August, CIA analysts flew to Crawford to personally brief the President -- to intrude on his vacation with face-to-face alerts.

The analytical arm of CIA was in a kind of panic mode at this point. Other intelligence services, including those from the Arab world, were sounding an alarm. The arrows were all in the red. They didn't know the place or time of an attack, but something was coming. The President needed to know.

[...]

He's not much of a reader, this President, and never has been, despite White House efforts to trumpet which serious books he is reading at various times.... But he's a very good listener and an extremely visual listener. He sizes people up swiftly and aptly, watches them carefully, and trusts his eyes.

[...]

The trap, of course, is that while these tactile, visceral markers can be crucial -- especially in terms of handling the posturing of top officials -- they sometimes are not. The thing to focus on, at certain moments, is what someone says, not who is saying it, or how they're saying it.

And, at an eyeball-to-eyeball intelligence briefing during this urgent summer, George W. Bush seems to have made the wrong choice.

He looked hard at the panicked CIA briefer.

"All right," he said. "You've covered your ass, now."


....

As Crumpton briefed the President -- and it became clear that the Pentagon had not voiced the CIA's concerns to Bush -- he pushed beyond his pay grade. He told Bush that "we're going to lose our prey if we're not careful," and strongly recommended the marines, or other troops in the region, get to Tora Bora immediately. Cheney said nothing.

Bush, seeming surprised, pressed him for more information. "How bad off are these Afghani forces, really? Are they up to the job?"

"Definitely not, Mr. President," Crumpton said. "Definitely not."

Courtesy of Media Matters and Ron Suskind's book One Percent Doctrine here.

Rick Springfield - Human Touch Promo Video



Rick Springfield went from making a couple of good early 80's power pop albums, Working Class Dog and Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet, to doing this kind of stuff. The video is painful to watch and unintentionally funny (it has an outer space theme with dancing) but mainly it is just bad. I imagine it doesn't bring him joy to see it now either. The song isn't bad though.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Joe Lieberman & Glenn Beck Rightwing Lovefest

Here's a highlight:

BECK: I've been saying this before we even went into Iraq, that we're trying to change the face of the Middle East. The weapons of mass destruction was a nice side benefit. We were trying to go and pop the head of the snake in Iran. That's what we were trying to do. And I don't think anybody had the courage or could actually come out and say that with world politics the way they are.

LIEBERMAN: Well, you're right. And I think if I fault the administration for anything before the war -- 'cause I think we did the right thing in going in to overthrow Saddam -- it's that they oversold the WMD part of the argument....

Read the rest over at Talking Points Memo Cafe here.

Just remember Holy Joe Lieberman considers himself a "progressive" Democrat.

Try not to hurt yourself from laughing too hard even though it's really not funny at all what Joe is doing.

Rockey Vaccarella Meets President George Bush


If you believe this guy just drove up to Washington DC on his own from Louisiana with his FEMA trailer behind him to meet the President and it wasn't set up in advance, then I have got this wonderful bridge to sell you that you may have heard of called the Golden Gate near the city of San Francisco.

This thing was about as real as The Wizard Of Oz or a three dollar bill.

Only rubes and dupes or the media would fall for this disgusting piece of Karl Rove propaganda.

You aren't a rube or a dupe are you?

I hope not because they are counting on it.

Update: Naturally it turns out Rockey is a Republican and ran for office as one. Yawn. What a surprise.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

The Triffids - Born Sandy Devotional Reissue


I received an email yesterday about the reissue of The Triffids 1986 album Born Sandy Devotional (with bonus tracks) and I have to say I was really impressed with what I have heard so far, quite frankly I really knew next to nothing about them although I had heard of the group before. They were one of the Australian bands along with the Go Betweens and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds who went to England in the 80's to "make it" as they say. Really good songwriting featuring great lyrics with real heart and soul. I really like the vocals of lead singer David McComb quite a bit and then I remembered that he did a cover of the Leonard Cohen song Don't Go Home With Your Hard-On from the tribute album I'm Your Fan that I liked as well.

Martin Casey became the bass player for the Bad Seeds in the early 90's and is still holding down that position in the band.

Below are a few songs for you to sample and check out.

Lonely Stretch

Seabirds

Plus the bonus track Convent Walls

Buy it here.

You can check out the bands website here.

Watch the video to Wide Open Road.


Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Todays Insane Republican Quote

“What’s happened [in Iraq] is nothing short of a miracle.”

Sen. James Inhofe

I had no idea that mass destruction of a country and the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians was a "miracle" did you? Not to mention the over 2600 dead and 19,000 wounded U.S. soldiers over there either.

Some miracle.

Thanks to The Senate Majority Project for the tip.

Monday, August 21, 2006

George Bush - "We're Not Leaving Iraq So Long As I'm The President"

"A failed Iraq would make America less secure," said Bush. "A failed Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will provide safe haven for terrorists and extremists."

The president forcefully rejected the suggestion that such concerns did not exist before US-led forces toppled Saddam.

"You know, I've heard this theory about, you know, everything was just fine until we arrived and -- you know, the stir-up-the-hornet's-nest theory. It just doesn't hold water, as far as I'm concerned," he said.

"Imagine a world in which Saddam Hussein was there, stirring up even more trouble in a part of the world that had so much resentment and so much hatred that people came and killed 3,000 of our citizens," he said, in a reference to the September 11, 2001 terrorist strikes.


But this is the best part of all:

At a press conference this morning in Washington, D.C., President Bush declared, "We’re not leaving [Iraq] so long as I’m the president. That would be a huge mistake.” Bush leaves office in January 2009.

No matter what happens this fall in the elections, no matter how many protests there are and no matter how low public approval goes for the Iraq war, he George Bush, is not leaving Iraq.

How many times are we going to hear Bush or Cheney make a connection any way they can between Iraq/Saddam and 9/11?

Iraq had as much to do with 9/11 as Canada did.

Which as most sane people know is nothing at all.

Gnarls Barkley - Crazy Promo Video



Reminds me of a classic 70's soul song except for the drum track. Not too many drum machines used in that era and definitely not playing that rhythm.

Great song.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Psychedelic Furs - President Gas Live Video



This is from a recent tour in 2005.

Relevant right now, of course.

George Bush = Fear Monger

"I would say that those who herald this decision simply do not understand the nature of the world in which we live," Bush said.


Most people understand perfectly the world we live in and understand the difference between following the Constitution or breaking the law. Using warrantless wiretapping to spy on our fellow citizens while refusing to go through the FISA court where you can get a warrant for wiretapping 72 hours AFTER you have started already listening in on calls is not hard to understand. This President and his administration (the Republican party as well) refuse to obey our laws because they believe they are above them and use the fear of terrorism (as well as many other issues) to try and scare people into voting for them.

The U.S.A. is not a monarchy or a dictatorship.

This President should be impeached and so should the Vice-President as well.

Friday, August 18, 2006

Style Council - Walls Come Tumbling Down



A little political pop from the Style Council straight from Thatcher's England of the 1980's. Paul Weller certainly took a stand against Margaret and wrote some great songs in the process.

Bush makes Thatcher seem almost benign in comparison, which is really scary.

Bush Said to Be Frustrated by Level of Public Support in Iraq

President Bush made clear in a private meeting this week that he was concerned about the lack of progress in Iraq and frustrated that the new Iraqi government — and the Iraqi people — had not shown greater public support for the American mission, participants in the meeting said Tuesday.

Those who attended a Monday lunch at the Pentagon that included the president’s war cabinet and several outside experts said Mr. Bush carefully avoided expressing a clear personal view of the new prime minister of Iraq, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.

But in what participants described as a telling line of questioning, Mr. Bush did ask each of the academic experts for their assessment of the prime minister’s effectiveness.

“I sensed a frustration with the lack of progress on the bigger picture of Iraq generally — that we continue to lose a lot of lives, it continues to sap our budget,” said one person who attended the meeting. “The president wants the people in Iraq to get more on board to bring success.”




After reading this try to imagine that Bush lives remotely anywhere near the real world that most of us inhabit. That's what happens when you are a right wing authoritarian who is told what he wants to hear and doesn't want to know about things that don't go along with the plan.

Delusional might be the word.

Yes, we are in extremely serious trouble with this group of Neo-Cons in charge.

Read the rest of the story here.

Thanks to This Modern World for the tip.

The (English) Beat - Twist And Crawl Live Video



From one of the great bands of the early 80's here is a rather dark video of The Beat playing Twist And Crawl live.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

How Do I Know George Bush Is Not The King Of The United States?

Because the federal courts said so today:

The Government appears to argue here that, pursuant to the penumbra of Constitutional language in Article II, and particularly because the President is designated Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, he has been granted the inherent power to violate not only the laws of the Congress but the First and Fourth Amendments of the Constitution, itself.

We must first note that the Office of the Chief Executive has itself been created, with its powers, by the Constitution. There are no hereditary Kings in America and no power not created by the Constitution. So all “inherent power” must derive from that Constitution.”

I will take a wild guess that Dick Cheney is not too happy about this.

Good.

Now will the media start paying attention to all the authoritarian, anti-democratic practises of this administration?

Don't hold your breath.

Federal Courts Order Halt To Warrantless Wiretapping

I think it's wonderful that the courts found the Bush administration's illegal wiretapping program..... illegal.

Read about it here.

Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak Live Video



One of the best hard rock bands of the 70's and a favorite of mine here is Thin Lizzy doing Jailbreak live. Phil Lynott was a great songwriter and singer.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Ignorance Is Bliss?

Strange that this is reported on the Australian ABC news site and not a U.S. site. Could it be that the powers that be don't want U.S. citizens to know how ignorant they really are?

Read the article and weep.

Three-quarters of Americans can correctly identify two of Snow White's seven dwarfs while only a quarter can name two Supreme Court justices, according to a poll on pop culture.

The poll by Zogby International has been commissioned by the makers of a new game show on pop culture called Gold Rush.

It shows that 57 per cent of Americans can identify JK Rowling's fictional boy wizard as Harry Potter, while only 50 per cent can name the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

Just over 60 per cent of respondents are able to name Bart as Homer's son on the television show The Simpsons, while only 20.5 per cent were able to name one of the ancient Greek poet Homer's epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey.

Asked what planet Superman was from, 60 per cent named the fictional planet Krypton, while only 37 per cent knew that Mercury was the planet closest to the sun.

Respondents are far more familiar with the Three Stooges - Larry, Curly and Moe - than the three branches of the US Government - judicial, executive and legislative.

Seventy-four per cent identified the former, while 42 per cent identified the latter.

Twice as many people (23 per cent) were able to identify the most recent winner of the television talent show American Idol, Taylor Hicks, as were able to name the Supreme Court Justice confirmed in January 2006, Samuel Alito (11 per cent).

The pollsters spoke to 1,213 people across the United States.

The results had a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points.

Blue Oyster Cult - Cities On Flame With Rock & Roll Live Video



Blue Oyster Cult with the Ronnie Montrose group Gamma opening was the first concert I ever attended back in the late 70's. It was quite a good show and both bands were great in concert and both could play live, which as many of you know, many bands cannot. But you can see it for yourself when you watch the video.

Cities On Flame With Rock & Roll only, not bombs please.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Have You Heard The New Word?

The Republicans are no longer "staying the course" in Iraq.

They are now "adapting to win" in Iraq.

Because, as you probably know, talking points alter reality.

2 + 2 = whatever you want it to be.

If you are a Republican, that is.

Read the book Conservatives Without Conscience by John Dean if you want to know what is going on right now.

Highly recommended.

Monday, August 14, 2006

The Tubes - White Punks On Dope Live Video



Another classic song from another classic San Francisco band, The Tubes play White Punks On Dope on The Old Grey Whistle Test.

Bush Thinks Israel Attacking Lebanon Is First Phase In Attack On Iran

The Bush administration was informed in advance and gave the "green light" to Israel's military strikes against Hizbollah ­ with plans drawn up months before two Israeli soldiers were seized ­it has been claimed.

The US reportedly considered Israel's actions as a necessary prerequisite for a possible strike against Iran. A report by a leading investigative reporter says that earlier this summer Israeli officials visited Washington to brief the government on its plan to respond to any Hizbollahprovocation and to "find out how much the US would bear".

The officials apparently started their inquiries with Vice-President Dick Cheney, knowing that if they secured his support, obtaining the backing of President Bush and Condoleezza Rice would be easier.

The report by Seymour Hersh quotes an unidentified US government consultant with close ties to the Israelis who says: "The Israelis told us it would be a cheap war with many benefits. Why oppose it? We'll be able to hunt down and bomb missiles, tunnels, and bunkers from the air. It would be a demo for Iran."

A former intelligence officer, also quoted, says: "We told Israel,'Look, if you guys have to go, we're behind you all the way. But we think it should be sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the less time we have to evaluate and plan for Iran before Bush gets out of office'."


Read the rest of the story here.

Yes, these people really are crazy.

No, you are not the only one who thinks that way.

Yes, you should be very, very scared.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Max Q - Way Of The World Promo Video



The group Max Q was the side project Michael Hutchence made with fellow Australian Ollie Olsen in 1989 after the big hit record Kick by INXS. A sort of political edged dance pop record it is quite different than INXS with some of the best vocals, I think, that Hutchence ever did. I also like it better than any INXS record.

The video has some good footage especially a famous shot from Tiananmen Square showing the lone man stopping the tanks.

"Whether it's God or the bomb
It's just the same
It's only fear under another name"

David Brooks - Authoritarian

“Polarized primary voters shouldn’t be allowed to define the choices in American politics.”

The quote is from a recent David Brooks column about Joe Lieberman. What this really shows is Brooks complete hatred of real democracy. If the voters shouldn't be allowed to define the choices for democracy then who should? The elites?

Of course it wouldn't be a democracy then but a dicatorship.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Audioslave - Original Fire Promo Video



I like this new song by Audioslave that has a slightly more soulful edge to it, but it still rocks. The video features images of some past greats of popular music.

David Bowie - 1984 Live Video



A great performance by a very skinny David Bowie of his song 1984 with Luther Vandross on backing vocals. This is from Dick Cavett's show from 1974.

President Fixated On "Reforming" Social Security Again

"The Bush administration has begun sounding out lawmakers and other key figures about mounting a new bipartisan effort to rein in the costs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security after the midterm elections, according to officials in the administration and on Capitol Hill.

No specific plan has been advanced, and administration officials are proceeding gingerly given the political debacle that beset the White House last year when President Bush promoted a plan to create private accounts in the Social Security program. But they have been sending strong signals in recent weeks that they want to try something again after the elections in November.

The new Treasury secretary, former Goldman Sachs chief Henry M. Paulson Jr., has made it clear that a major reason he took the job is to tackle the rising cost of government health and Social Security spending, which he described last week as "the biggest economic issue facing our country."

In his first major policy address since being sworn in July 10, Paulson noted that he has been told by many in Washington that "reform of entitlement programs is just too difficult to achieve" and that politicians will "demagogue" the issue. He said he believes that "when there is a big problem that needs fixing, you should run toward it."

Bush, for his part, appears fixated on the issue, even as he is focused on securing new immigration legislation and preoccupied by several world crises. Despite being forced to shelve his Social Security plan -- which included establishing private investment accounts and reducing guaranteed benefits down the road -- Bush regularly mentions his desire to tackle the issue again.

"We need to cut entitlement spending," the president said in one typical comment last month, as he reviewed the midyear budget numbers. "The easy fix is to say 'Let somebody else deal with it.' This administration is going to continue trying to work with Congress to deal with these issues."

I have said this before and I will say it again, if you vote for Republicans you are voting to "privatize" Social Security which will mean the death of it once and for all. The Republicans despise the program and have wanted to kill it since it started.

Absolutely no doubt about what their intentions are.

Just another reason besides war, tax cuts to the rich, environmental degradation and the biggest defecits in U.S. history to not vote for Republicans.

Do you get it?

Read more about it here.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Jon Stewart & Middle East Reporter Aasif Mandvi



I have never seen Aasif Mandvi before but he does a brilliant job in destroying the Bush administrations completely false and fantasy filled view of the Middle East.

The Daily Show has a new star. If only he didn't hit so close to home in his brutal satire.

"that was just an improvised explosive opportunity, I believe it was filled with what sounded like the flying shards of a better tomorrow"

I don't know how you can't be fucking angry at what the U.S. is doing in the Middle East. Or is enabling in the Middle East.

Dick Cheney: Right Wing Authoritarian Fanatic

Dick Cheney:

"The thing that’s partly disturbing about it is the fact that, the standpoint of our adversaries, if you will, in this conflict, and the al Qaeda types, they clearly are betting on the proposition that ultimately they can break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the fight and complete the task."

It goes without saying that this is a complete lie and is designed to scare the hell out of the public, who he is counting on to be afraid. Very, very afraid.

I am going to keep pushing John Dean's new book Conservatives Without Conscience which is, as far as I am concerned, mandatory reading.

Dick Cheney is a "Double High" and if you want to know what that means you will just have to the read the book. I will give you a hint though, it is very scary.

Buy it here.

Jon Stewart Video: Joe Lieberman Loses The Primary



Watch for the Hannity Sucks Sign in the background when Alan Colmes reports live from Ned Lamont's victory celebration.

Priceless.

Jon Stewart is brilliant as usual.

It is strange that a "comedian" has more insight into what is going on than the "mainstream" press.

Nirvana - Heart Shaped Box Promo Video



Great song and a great video by Nirvana.

What else do you need?

"Forever in debt to your priceless advice"




Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Sore Loserman


Any idea who this could be about? Mmmmm...I wonder.

Joe Lieberman is not a Democrat he is a member of the party of one.


The Liebercan party is easy to remember, it rhymes with Republican.







Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Joe Lieberman Loses

It's official now, Joe Lieberman has lost the Democratic primary in Connecticut to Ned Lamont.

It's also official that Lieberman is going to run as an independent in the fall and will not abide by the vote today.

Loyalty is tops to Joe don't you know.

I have a suggestion to all Democrats in Washington DC, since Lieberman has abandonded the party because he does not want to go along with the will of the Democratic voters of his own state then he should be shunned.

Completely and absolutely shunned.

Steve Miller - Abracadabra Promo Video



The wonderfully goofy video to Steve Miller's synthesizer heavy mid 80's hit Abracadabra.

Stewart Copeland & Stung - Driven To Tears Live Video



Stewart sits in with a Police cover band called Stung at some small club in Southern California I assume. He overpowers the band but it is still fun.

Stewart is one of my favorite drummers.

Monday, August 07, 2006

John Dean - Conservatives Without Conscience

I am about halfway through John Dean's newest book Conservatives Without Conscience and I have to say it is extremely interesting and terrifying as well. If you are not familiar with the terms RWAs (Right Wing Authoritianism) or the followers as they could also be called and SDOs (Social Dominance Orientation) or the leaders, you should be if you want to know what is going on with the Republican party and the hard right of our country which would include Christian fundamentalists and the religious right. Naturally the Neo-Cons are included in these types.

There is a very short survey that can be taken to determine how high you are on the scale. The really scary people are the ones who score high on both surveys, they are called Double Highs. It should not be too hard to figure out who some of these people might be in the current administration.

I remember coming out of the theatre after seeing the brilliant movie Downfall about the last days of Hitler down in the bunker in Berlin at the end of World War Two and telling my wife that I thought that some of the hardcore Republican conservatives reminded me of the people in the movie, even though they are not Nazis. Although I would say we are taking baby steps towards fascism at this point.

Now as I am reading this book I know why I thought that even though I couldn't put into words very well what I meant at the time.

After you read this book you will know why as well.

Buy it here.

Here is an interview by Keith Olbermann of John Dean about the book.


Saturday, August 05, 2006

Classic Saturday Night Live Skit



This is from the first season of Saturday Night Live with a great skit about Star Trek. John Belushi as James T. Kirk, Chevy Chase as Spock and Dan Akroyd as McCoy.

Well worth seeing.

Joe Lieberman Hires Lobbyists To Disrupt Lamont Campaign



Check out this video of lobbyist Richard Goodstein disrupting activities at Lamont functions.

Arthur Lee - R.I.P.



Here is an old clip of the original group Love doing My Little Red Book on television in the mid 1960's. I had no idea Arthur Lee,the brilliant former lead singer and songwriter of Love had leukemia and was very surprised to learn he had died. The first three Love albums are great, the first self titled album Love, Da Capo and Forever Changes are all highly recommended. I went over to amazon.com to check on the records and surprise, surprise they are suddenly selling. Yesterday they had no sales rank and now while looking at them they are going up, Forever Changes was #60 and now it is at #47. I just don't understand why people decide to buy an artist's albums after they have died and not while they are alive.

It is kind of weird that Arthur died so close to Syd Barret.

Friday, August 04, 2006

The Dirty Mac - Yer Blues



From the Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus comes Yer Blues off the Beatles White Album with John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Mitch Mitchell as The Dirty Mac.

Not a bad lineup eh?

"If I ain't dead already
Ooh girl you know the reason why"

Want To Know How Out Of Touch The Republicans Are?


Read this quote by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas and try to imagine the twisted, warped, non-reality world she lives in:

“It is an excuse to make it a do-nothing Congress,” Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Republican of Texas, said. “And we are turning our back on the middle-class and poor people in this country who depend on the minimum wage and death-tax relief.”

Allow that statement to swirl around your brain for a while and see if it makes any sense at all. If it does make sense to you I would advise you get psychiatric treatment as soon as possible.

I say it again, if you are NOT rich and you vote for Republicans you are out of your mind and you get what you deserve. Which from the Republicans will be absolutely nothing at all.

You can count on that from them at least.

You don't have money then they don't care.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On Live Video



Should be obvious why this is posted. This is Marvin's last performance from the Motown 25th anniversary tv special.

GOP College Republicans - Supporting Joe Lieberman While On Summer Vacation

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 01 Aug 2006 18:52:09 -0400
From: "[windows-1252] College Republicans"
Reply-To: College Republicans
To: collegerepublicans@PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Unconventional Primary Campaign Opportunity (LIEBERMAN)

Republicans,

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. In June, I informed you all of a campaign opportunity for State Senator Tom Kean race for U.S. Senate in NJ. Continuing the tradition of letting you about summer campaign opportunities here is a much more unconventional option:

Incumbent Senator Joe Lieberman (Democratic Primary)
Lieberman is facing a tough primary fight versus far-left anti war activist Ned Lamont.
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August 4-9th Primary Campaigning:

Elissa Harwood '09 (NOT A CLUB MEMBER) has organized a series of buses departing on Friday August 4 from Washington DC (6:30 Foggy Bottom Metro) and NYC, destination: Hartford, CT

People interested in campaigning for Lieberman in the Democratic Primary will have lodging accommodations paid for (by his campaign), as well as food and transportation.

Buses would bring you back on August 9th.

If Interested, E-mail: XXX@Princeton.EDU or call her
at (757)-XXX-XXXX.

And you wonder why Democrats all over the country and in his home state don't want Lieberman as a senator.

Email courtesy of Daily Kos.

Dear Joe: A GOP Love Letter Video



I don't know who MikeinCT is who made this video and put it online, but I thank him for it. It is a clip full of Republicans supporting Joe Lieberman. The likes of Hannity, Coulter and others send their love to their favorite Democrat...Joe Lieberman.

Bye Joe, it has been fun watching you support Bush on his policies and scolding Democrats who disagree with him but the time has come to say goodbye.

Goodbye.

Thanks to Howie over at Down With Tyrrany for the tip.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Iraq For Sale: The War Profiteers Movie Trailer



From the people who brought you the films Uncovered:The War On Iraq, Outfoxed:Rupert Murdoch's War On Journalism and Wal-Mart:The High Cost Of Low Prices comes a new film called Iraq For Sale:The War Profiteers.

Apparently it will make you sick to your stomach to see it.

What fun.

Dr. Stephen Hawking On Survival Of The Human Race



Unfortunately, I wouldn't bet on it.

Lenny Kravitz & Eric Clapton - All Along The Watchtower Live Video



A nice cover version of the Bob Dylan classic that uses the Jimi Hendrix arrangement as everyone seems to do now even Dylan himself. I basically consider this version of the song as lyrics by Dylan, music by Hendrix. You might recognize a famous couple at the end of the video and the best actress in the world as far as I am concerned also shows up.

This song seems appropriate to me right now.

"Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl,
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl."

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Social Security: Kiss It Goodbye If Republicans Get Re-Elected

House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) interviewed in the Washington Times.

Q: Where does Social Security reform stand?

A: I just met with Congressman [Frank R. Wolf, Virginia Republican], a few minutes ago with his SAFE Commission [formed to fix the entitlement programs]. In 1990 when I first ran for Congress, I talked about the need to reform these big entitlement programs because the sooner we began the process, the easier it would be to make the necessary changes so that these programs were sustainable for the long term. … If I’m around in a leadership role come January, we’re going to get serious about this.


President Bush, 6/27/06:

"Now is the time for the Congress and the President to work together to reform Medicare and reform Social Security so we can leave behind a solvent balance sheet for our next generation of Americans. … If we can’t get it done this year, I’m going to try next year. And if we can’t get it done next year, I’m going to try the year after that, because it is the right thing to do."

White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, 6/17/06:

"Looking ahead to next year, he is trying to lay the groundwork for a renewed effort to reform Social Security and Medicare, the federal health-care program for seniors. He suggests Mr. Bush and his aides may have learned from their failed attempt to push through Social Security reform in 2005."

House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Jim McCrery (R-LA), 6/6/06:

"Congress should make Social Security overhaul its top priority next year, while a rewrite of the tax code and revamping the nation’s healthcare system probably will wait until at least 2009, House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Jim McCrery, R-La., said today."

More at Think Progress where I got this info from.