Speak It, Brother Gravel

While campaigning in New Hampshire, Democratic 'hopeful' Mike Gravel brought his distinctive style to the preppies of Phillips Exeter. We presume he's already laying the groundwork for a run in 2012.

Whatever one thinks of Gravel's candidacy, we have to give him credit for knowing his audience. As reported by Examiner.com, he touched on a topic sure to be near and dear to the scions of New England wealth.

“We’ve all got addictions,” Gravel said. “Anyone in here not taking any drugs?” Looks. Laughter. Chuckles. “Tylenol, aspirin, we’re all druggies! I don’t know about you. I’ll own up to it. I’m on painkillers!”

But Gravel also chimed in on alcohol as well, as he dropped the line that’s gotten him plenty of blogosphere buzz lately: “I’m sure that a lot of you have tripped out on alcohol.” Again: Laughter, chuckles. “Well, it’s a lot safer to do it on marijuana.”

Of course it is, and anyone with an ounce of honesty and a blip of an IQ recognizes that alcohol is a far more destructive drug than the evil weed. Unfortunately, laws against marijuana aren't going to change until America's current drug dealers - the alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical industries - figure out how to force people to buy from them instead of growing it in the garden beside the parsley and thyme.

Mike Gravel may be a tad more quirky than the usual fringe Presidential candidate, but at least he's telling the truth. We could use that quality in those who are leading the polls.

Quote of the Day

The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes to do, but in liking what one has to do.
   - Sir James M. Barrie

The Bush Spin Machine Marches On

C. J. Craig wanna-be, Bushie press puppet, and resume-padder Dana Perino continues to echo the Lame Duck's petulant whining that Congress is frustrating the will of The Decider, pouting,

It is really unfortunate that Congress has not moved forward on its obligation to have hearings and to hold votes, because the president has nominated very good people.

The truth is, as usual, nothing like what the latest Administration shill claims. As the Center for American Progress reports,

In fact, as the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday, the 110th Congress has approved 40 of Bush's judges, "more than in the previous three years when Republicans held the majority." The nominees currently being blocked in the Senate are some of the most controversial, including Steven Bradbury, acting chief of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, who "signed two secret memos in 2005 saying it was OK for the CIA use harsh interrogation techniques" on detainees. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was forced to hold "pro forma" Senate sessions over the holidays to prevent Bush from installing his nominees through recess appointments.

We understand that as one of the last rats on a scuttled and sinking ship, she's forced to lie as if it was second nature. One has to wonder how the holidays went for Dana, meeting people in social situations where everyone knows you're nothing but a pathetic mouthpiece for the worst President in history.

Quote of the Day

People may forget how fast you did a job, but they will remember how well you did it.
   - Anonymous

Being a Republican

We received this in an email. It pretty much sums up what it means to be a Republican today.


To be a Republican you need to believe:

1. Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.

2. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's Daddy made war on him , a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.

3. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

4. The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq .

5. A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multinational drug corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.

6. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.

7. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.
7a. If adolescents are told not to have sex, they won't.

8. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our longtime allies, then demand their cooperation and money.

9. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health care to all Americans is socialism. HMO's and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart.

10. Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.

11. A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense, but a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.

12. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet .

13. The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's driving record is none of our business.

14. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.

15. Supporting "Executive Privilege" for every Republican ever born, who will be born or who might be born (in perpetuity.)

16. What Bill Clinton did in the 1960's is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '80's is irrelevant.