Open Thread

9 Comments

1. 

   Ed J on March 16, 2006 at 1:05 pm

   They’re showing the US assault on Samarra and it’s accompanying propaganda film over and over. The film was made as the assault was being prepared, obviously so the cable nets would play it as a backdrop to their coverage.

   Am I being naive in hoping that someone will stand up and call this bullshit, “bullshit”?

   • 

     catnip on March 16, 2006 at 2:26 pm

     The Iraq War and the Failing Presidency.

2. 

   Cake or Death on March 16, 2006 at 1:05 pm

   After months of me reading this web site out loud, my hubby finally visited all on his own! He checked out the open thread and few other things and when I woke up, made my tea, and turned on the computer to start my daily routine…he says things like..yeah that was totally funny..oh i already read that. I am in shock I tell you!

   Now to convince him to join up…  😉

3. 

   DaveW on March 16, 2006 at 1:15 pm

   to ignore. We’ve all seen the various polls on Bush, but seeing the best parts trumpeted as front page news, as in this Reuters report, is delightful enough to enjoy over and over again like a favorite song:

   As Bush launched a series of speeches to drum up support for the war, a new round of opinion polls found growing skepticism about Iraq and distrust of Bush. His image declined sharply, with one poll finding “incompetent” to be the most frequent description of his leadership.

   Bush’s approval rating dipped as low as 33 percent in one recent poll after a string of bad news for the White House […]

   The political storm has left Bush’s second-term legislative agenda in tatters, threatened Republican control of the U.S. Congress in November’s elections and shredded his personal image as an effective leader.

   “His strong points as a president were being seen as personally credible, as a strong leader. That has all but disappeared,” said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center, whose latest independent poll found a dramatic decline in Bush’s credibility.

   A majority of Americans, 56 percent, believe Bush is “out of touch,” the poll found. When asked for a one-word description of Bush, the most frequent response was “incompetent,” followed by “good,” “idiot” and “liar.” In February 2005, the most frequent reply was “honest.”

   “The transformation from being seen as honest to being seen as incompetent is an extraordinary indicator of how far he has fallen,” Kohut said.

   Bush’s slump is deep enough to put Republican majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives at risk, pollsters said. Democrats must gain 15 House seats and six Senate seats to regain power in each chamber.

   Play it again, Sam.

4. 

   Cali Scribe on March 16, 2006 at 1:21 pm

   Department of Homeland Security can’t even protect its own damn computers…

   From ABC:

   DHS Gets ‘F’ for Computer Security — Again

   House Committee Passes Out Dismal Grades to Energy and State Departments, Among Others

   March 15, 2006 —  You might expect the Department of Homeland Security to have one of the most secure computer systems in all of government.

   But you would be wrong.

   The House Government Reform Committee released its annual report card on federal computer security and DHS — which got an F in 2004 — received another F for 2005.

   The Department of Health and Human Resources, which would manage the bird flu if it reaches our shores, also got an F, as did the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, Interior and Veterans Affairs. Joining them at the bottom was the State Department, which earned a D+ in 2004 but dropped to an F last year, and the Defense Department which slid from a D to an F for 2005. The overall grade for federal agency computer security was a dismal D+.

   The report card measures such practices as ensuring proper password management and restricting access to sensitive information.

   They’re not even talking virus control or firewalls against hackers — just ensuring that no one gives out their password or is able to print out the list of NOCs off the CIA computer…

   If the Democrats do win back the White House in 2008, forget about any of our grand plans…it’s going to take them 4 years to clean up the shit this misAdministration leaves behind…

   • 

     SallyCat on March 16, 2006 at 1:51 pm

     There is something reassuring in their computer illiteracy though. I’m less concerned about terrorists from outside than I am from the despots on the inside.

5. 

   SallyCat on March 16, 2006 at 1:58 pm

   

   Select “cowboy” of your own choice

   Memo to the Feds: This is a cartoon, only a cartoon, and no threat to any individual is implied or condoned…

   • 

     DaveW on March 16, 2006 at 2:34 pm

     This rhinestone cowboy oughtta know better than to go bow hunting with Cheney.

6. 

   urizon on March 16, 2006 at 2:56 pm

   I was just wondering, for the sake of discussion, what might happen if a bullet-proof majority of Americans came around to the idea that Bush should be impeached; let’s say sixty to seventy percent (ARG currently has a poll that has impeachment at forty-three percent, including eighteen percent of Republicans). There would be an awful lot of pressure on the congress to do something, no? Well, what if they did? What if the Senate actually convicted Bush? Would he resign and ride off into the smog-obscured sunset, or would he declare that the whole thing was a partisan witch hunt, suspend the constitution and become a de facto dictator?

   I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m not so sure I want to find out.