The Israelis are fools. Or maybe they just don't get it about Hitler and appeasement (do you think?). They applauded politely  on May 15 as President Bush warned in a speech before the Knesset that it would be dangerous to have a government (i.e., one headed by Barack Obama) that would negotiate with terrorists and the nations that support them.

What Bush said, exactly, was this:

Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: "Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided." We have an obligation to call this what it is -- the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.

Hypocrisy, irony, and what the Israelis really think below the fold.

For eight years we've had an administration that has wrapped itself in the flag while it subverted  the Constitution. So, I am especially annoyed when our candidates for president are confronted with questions about why they don't wear a flag lapel pin instead of being asked what, if anything, they will do about this administration's illegal acts! (Note: Hillary Clinton wasn't sporting a flag pin either, but only Obama was asked this question.)

I don't hate the flag or flag lapel pins. I am amused by those super patriots whose flag pins are made in China. However, I really despise the right wing's use of the flag to cover up its seditious agenda and acts.

For eight years, we have also suffered under cowardly Congresses that lacked both brains and heart. It has been all the more disappointing that Democratic control has not significantly reversed the situation. The Democrats have not lived up to their oaths of office either.

Since last night's ABC News inexcusably stupid debate moderated by Beavis and Butthead Gibson and Stephanopoulos, I've been pretty steamed up. It's not the first time in this campaign season and it probably won't be the last. Since then, I've managed to put myself in a better frame of mind like I usually do.

My "secret" beneath the fold.

There's a parable about social activism that goes like this:

Four women along a river bank see bodies of children floating by. The first woman begins to pull them out. The second woman decides to teach children to swim. The third woman rallies others to help the children. The fourth woman marches upriver to find out who's throwing children into the river and impeaches the sonofabitch! (Oops, wrong story line).

I personally represent woman #____ [choose one], and I'm really distressed that you are oblivious to the plight of these children and especially my noble work to save them.

Over the waterfall. See who survives.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Harry Reid reacted sharply to news of Bush commuting Scooter Libby's prison sentence. If you can stomach fake Democratic outrage, take the flip,

This afternoon, I saw Wolf Blitzer of CNN interview Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech’s football coach. They were discussing the cancellation of the Hokies’ spring football game, which had been scheduled for Saturday, out of respect for students and families who are grieving for friends and loved ones.

I don’t usually pay much attention to sports culture or sports personalities, but what I heard from Coach Beamer literally brought me to my feet.

[Hokum or Hokie? You decide -- below the fold]

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports in an exclusive story today that the FBI is failing to pursue “identity thieves, con artists, hatemongers and other criminals.”

Thousands of white-collar criminals across the country are no longer being prosecuted in federal court -- and, in many cases, not at all -- leaving a trail of frustrated victims and potentially billions of dollars in fraud and theft losses.

This is significant national news from a regional source. Read about it here and here and here and here.

--more below the fold--

It’s not very often that business news finds its way into a network evening newscast. Tonight was an exception--on all three broadcast networks!

The story is this as told by the AP: ITT Fined $100M for Illegal Tech Exports

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) -- ITT Corp. has agreed to pay a $100 million penalty for illegally sending classified night-vision technology used in military operations to China and other countries, U.S. Attorney John Brownlee announced Tuesday.

US armed forces possess a virtual monopoly when it comes to high quality night vision capability. Night vision technology is such an important focus of our military capability that it warrants its own Pentagon acronym – OTN (for own-the-night).

Own the night with me below the fold.

The “why” of the DOJ’s firing of seven U.S. attorneys in December will ultimately be more important than the “who, when, what, where, and how.” But the “how” is another fascinating case study in Bush administration incompetence.

Follow me beneath the fold to see what nuggets of information will be mined from Gonzo's botched human relations attempt.

U.s. District Judge Audrey Collins in Los Angeles has struck down a portion of the Patriot Act and a post 9/11 White House Exectutive Order. Here are excepts from the AP.

Judge Strikes Down Bush on Terror Group

LOS ANGELES - A federal judge struck down President Bush's authority to designate groups as terrorists, saying his post-Sept. 11 executive order was unconstitutionally vague, according to a ruling released Tuesday.

More below the fold.

Today, let us give thanks and share some pie.

This hunger fighting diary was inspired by Fraction Jackson's post last Saturday, Irony, thy name is "hunger banquet," and those who commented on it and encouraged this post today. Special thanks to mem from somerville who offered to marry me if I needed a partner to create the gift registry described below.

****Intrigued? Read on, anyway!--Free pie recipe included*****

Here's a sampling of clips from England, Eygpt, Iran, Russia, and Pakistan reporting on the war in Iraq.

Since this blog is about elections, let's forget about governing in Congress for a moment and contemplate the next election coming in 2008. Here's a look at some of the recent data. Source: pollingreport.com

 

The Gray Lady throws Chris Shays under the bus. Read here!

The political calculus is remarkable. All politics is national!

Excepts below the fold

The MSM in the United States are such a bunch of slugs. This report from Dawn, Pakistan's English newspaper, is the most straightforward report I've read anywhere on the death of HC.

Abdus Sattar Ghazali puts on a writing clinic.

Here's the river!

This year's October surprise is coming in November--just in time for the weekend wrapup of news and talking heads before election day.

QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA reports today from Baghdad:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A verdict against Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants charged with crimes against humanity in connection with an anti-Shiite crackdown in the 1980s will be announced Nov. 5, a senior court official said on Monday.

Sentences for those found guilty will be issued the same day, chief investigating judge Raid Juhi told The Associated Press.

[make the jump]

President Bush, self-proclaimed war president, has taken to saying that his most important job is protecting the country.  He said it again this morning (10/11/06) in his Rose Garden news conference.

[T]he most solemn duty of the American president, in government, is to protect this country from harm.

Plato wrote in The Republic:

This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector.

[make the jump...]

October 3, 2006, Rico filed this post about GM's choice of Sean Hannity to be its car giveaway pitchman. I followed the email link and shared my opinion with GM. I just received the following robo-email from GM in reply, printed below the fold.

That Bush selectively declassifies material to support his political agenda is well known. This week, for example, we've been given a paltry three pages of the National Intelligence Estimate.

Occasionally, Bush even gets nailed by the MSM--even if itis the "left-leaning" NYT. See for example, The fine art of declassification in today's (9/27/06) edition.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of data to work with to debunk Bush's propaganda war about how things are going in Iraq.