Tim Russert Dead at 58

The New York Times is reporting that Tim Russert has died of a heart attack that the age of 58 according to his family.

More later.

UPDATE: NY Post - Tim Russert, NBC journalist and political heavyweight host of "Meet the Press," has died after collapsing at NBC's Washington news bureau, a source said.

NY Times - Tom Brokaw, the former anchor of NBC Nightly News, came on the air at 3:39 p.m. that Mr. Russert had collapsed and died early this afternoon while at work. He had just returned from Italy with his family.

Spreading "Democracy" Throughout The Middle East

de·moc·ra·cy (noun) - government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

We've finally gotten a definition of "democracy" from the Bush administration.

NY TIMES: Iraq’s negotiations with the United States on a security agreement governing America’s long-term involvement in the country are at an impasse because America’s demands infringe upon Iraq’s sovereignty, the country’s prime minister said Friday.

....In a meeting with newspaper editors in Jordan, Mr. [Nuri Kamal al-] Maliki said the current draft of the agreement was unacceptable. “The American version of the agreement infringes hugely on the sovereignty of Iraq and this is something that we cannot ever accept,” he said.

And what is it, pray tell, that Georgie Porgie Puddin' Pie is asking that's making Nuri al-Miliki cry? Well, he'll be happy to tell you himself:

Mr. Maliki said there were four areas in which proposed versions of the agreement failed to give sufficient deference to Iraqi sovereignty.

“Iraq rejects Washington’s insistence on granting their forces immunity from Iraqi laws and courts,” he said. “We reject Washington’s demand to have a free hand in undertaking military operations without cooperation with the Iraqi government.”

He added: “We cannot give permission to the American forces independent right to arrest Iraqis or execute operations against terrorism. We cannot allow them to use the Iraqi skies and waters at all times.”

And that, my friends, seems to be what a free and democratic society is to the twisted rat-bastards in the White House. For all of their hullabaloo about "spreading democracy throughout the Middle East", it is absolutely clear that it isn't the same definition of democracy that the rest of the world understands. But we already knew that.

So Much For McCain's Town Hall Meetings

When John McCain challenged Barack Obama to 10 town hall meetings, one per week, leading up to their respective conventions, I immediately turned to my colleague at work and said, "Yeah, I wonder what the composition for those audiences will be?"

Now comes word, from Fox News no less, that John McCain was a little disingenuous about the attendees at his first Fox televised Town Hall event in New York.

"...as Fox News reported, McCain's campaign misled the public about the nature of the event. The forum was "billed by the McCain campaign as a town hall with independent and Democratic voters," but Fox News noted at the end that the audience was actually "made up of invited guests and supporters," the Democratic National Committee said in a statement.

SHEPARD SMITH: "I reported at the top of this hour that the campaign had told us at Fox News that the audience would be made up of Republicans, Democrats, and independents. We have now received a clarification from the campaign and I feel I should pass it along to you. The McCain campaign distributed tickets to supporters, Mayor Bloomberg, who of course is a registered Republican, and other independent groups."

Straight talk.

Obama's Birth Certificate?

Really? Is this what they're grasping for now?

The wingnuts are trying to cast doubt about Barack Obama yet again by asking him to produce a copy his birth certificate? Or actually by claiming that he is refusing to do so. What the fuck is going on here? It's really a bit over the top, isn't it? Or is there no longer a "top"?

As Markos writes:

"...rumors include the claim that Obama was born in Kenya, that his middle name isn't "Hussein", but "Muhammad", and that his real name is "Barry" and not "Barack". The first and third are attempts to reinforce the claims that Obama isn't "American" enough -- the first because he wouldn't have been born in this country, and the third because he would've taken a perfectly good "American" name and rejected it in favor of a foreign one.

Rumor two, about the middle name, is just weird."

Weird indeed. But as long as w're going to go down this path, can we please request that John McCain release his birth certificate now to show that he was born in Panama? I know it was a military base, but why not rile up the wingnuts with a taste of their own medicine?

I'm guessing either A) McCain won't release it because they didn't issue birth certificates in those days or B) the parchment is too faded to read anyway.

By the way, Kos also includes a copy of the birth certificate, which you can also find posted on a new webpage on Obama's website called "Fight The Smears" which lists every smear e-mail, rumor and misquote and debunks all of them. You can also write in to inform them if you've found a new one.

(H/T Bob Cesca)

"Not Too Important"

35 Articles

I'm so glad this was reported by every news outlet on television and newspapers. What? You "missed it" you say? Hmm...




Within hours of Dennis Kucinich's introduction of the articles of impeachment against George W. Bush, his re-election website crashed due to "suspicious circumstances."

According to a statement released by Kucinich's congressional campaign, the site was "shut down this morning by a series of suspicious and fast-moving events" only hours after the congressman's newly-introduced articles of impeachment against President Bush were posted.

The campaign said the site shut down just as it was receiving an estimated 100,000 hits an hour from people looking for the impeachment articles.

You can view Kucinich's 35 articles of the impeachment of George W. Bush here along with the full transcript.

I'm Voting Republican

I'mVotingRepublican.com

T Minus 222 Days

Happy 84th Birthday George H.W. Bush.

"I am not one who - who flamboyantly believes in throwing a lot of words around."

Wow, George & Barbara's birthdays within a week of each other. Thanks for spawning Satan's son.

Nine Months of Primaries in Nine Minutes

Courtesy of Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

T Minus 223 Days

"I want to thank my friend, Senator Bill Frist, for joining us today... He married a Texas girl, I want you to know. Karyn is with us. A West Texas girl, just like me."

-Nashville, TN, 2004

GOP Blocks Tax On Big Oil

Does this really come as a shock to anyone? Really?

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans blocked a proposal Tuesday to tax the windfall profits of the largest oil companies, despite pleas by Democratic leaders to use the measure to address America's anger over $4 a gallon gasoline.
The Democratic energy package would have imposed a tax on any "unreasonable" profits of the five largest U.S. oil companies and given the federal government more power to address oil market speculation that the bill's supporters argue has added to the crude oil price surge.

The only Republicans voting in favor of the bill:

Bob Corker (R-TN)
Gordon Smith (R-OR)
Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Enjoy it while you can, Rethuglicans.

Bush Fired Rove... In Church?!?!

I always knew George W. was a classsy guy.

"...according to a new book – “Machiavelli’s Shadow” – by former Time magazine reporter Paul Alexander, is where President George W. Bush informed trusted advisor Karl Rove in 2007 that his services would no longer be needed at the White House.
“On a Sunday in midsummer, George W. Bush accompanied Karl Rove to the Episcopalian Church Rove sometimes attended,” writes Alexander. “They made their way to the front of the congregation. Then, during their time in the church, Bush gave Rove some stunning news. ‘Karl,’ Bush said, ‘there’s too much heat on you. It’s time for you to go.’”

This story makes me so FUCKING happy. Even if it isnt true, it's made my day.

(H/T TRex)

Boredom You Can Believe In

What's your caption?

(H/T Bob Cesca)

T Minus 224 Days

"I will not withdraw, even if Laura and Barney are the only ones supporting me."

- To Bob Woodward, 60 Minutes (about the war in Iraq)

John McCain vs. John McCain

This is what I call the ol' Flip-Flop Shim Sham. Two great videos by Brave New Films.

Did Russia Invade Germany?

Russia has apparently invaded Germany and I didn't hear one word about it on televised news or in the newspapers. I suppose we were all too busy waiting for Hillary Clinton to concede and endorse Barack Obama.

According to Crusty McThuselah, "President [Vladimir] Putin of Germany gave one of the old 'Cold War style' speeches" during a conference over the weekend.



(H/T Oliver Willis)

O'Reilly's Porter Barry Gets Destroyed By Bill Moyers

Don't they know not to play with the big boys and the real journalists and reporters?

The O'Reilly Factor "producer" Porter Barry attempts the show's common ambush method on none other than Bill Moyers at the National Conference for Media Reform. I guess neither O'Reilly nor Barry realized there would be cameras other than theirs at a MEDIA CONFERENCE.

Moyers, being an absolute gentlemen, wiped the floor with Barry before sending him on his way. Does O'Reilly really think he can match wits and talent with the likes of Bill Moyers? Sadly, probably yes. Diluted minds often have a higher regard for themselves not matching their skills... or lack of.



(H/T C&L)

T Minus 225 Days

"That's called, ' A Charge To Keep,' based upon a religious hymn. The hymn talks about serving God. The president's job is never to promote a religion."

- Washington DC, 2006

Obama's Secret Support

A friend found this on Post Secret and thought it was awesome. I agree.

I'll comment about this later since I'm currently at work.