Open Thread

Posted by BooMan | Apr 13, 2006 | 28 |

My friend Anne Dicker gets a good write-up today. You can contribute to her campaign here.

What’s on your mind?

About The Author

BooMan

Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.

28 Comments

Ed J on April 13, 2006 at 4:25 pm

The Iraqis recently crowned a Miss Iraq. Or so they thought:

But last night the people’s choice — Tamar Goregian, 23, a blonde student with photogenic pout — was in hiding in neighbouring Jordan, having hastily renounced her crown after death threats from Islamic extremists.

Later:

Organisers had hoped that her appearance at the Miss Universe contest in Los Angeles in July would show the world a different image of Iraq. By yesterday they were searching for a replacement after fundamentalists denounced Miss Goregian, an Armenian Christian, as “the Queen of Infidels”. The two runners-up, both Muslim, swiftly declined the crown.

And then:

The organiser, who was too afraid to give his name, said: “We have no hard feelings towards Tamar Goregian. She couldn’t handle it and is frightened for her family. She just sent us an e-mail and ran.”

I’m not a fan of beauty pageants, but this is a stunning example of the freedom we’ve bought the Iraqis with our blood and treasure.
Chris on April 13, 2006 at 4:36 pm

I’m glad you asked BooMan. I was thinking about taking my entire tax return and buying some formal attire and a pirate costume for my cat, and then taking some cute pictures and sending them to the Worst President Ever, just to cheer his sorry ass up. But then it struck me that I’ve never really been the sort of person puts silly costumes on his pets, I don’t own a camera and my cat is a mean, old alley cat who probably wouldn’t think too much of me trying put her in a pirate suit or tuxedo. I’m just recovering from the last time I was attacked by an alley cat, so why push it, right? Besides, I don’t really care if the Worst President Ever needs cheering up. So then I was thinking about buying him a $5 calling card and telling him to go fuck himself. But you know what? I don’t really care who he fucks, and if I ever start smoking again I could use that $5. So I’m just going to bide my time until I can escape this nasty cubicle farm I keep finding myself in, and forget about all of that stuff. Then I won’t have anything on my mind and I’ll be happy.
- Omir the Storyteller on April 13, 2006 at 4:55 pm
  
  Then I won’t have anything on my mind and I’ll be happy.
  
  In other words you’ll be just like 90% of this country.
  - Chris on April 13, 2006 at 5:06 pm
    
    That’s the idea. Right. I don’t know if I’d go quite so far as to say 90%, because most everybody I know is a miserable wreck over some jumble in their heads half the time. Then again, I don’t get out much and I don’t really know too many people.
boran2 on April 13, 2006 at 4:58 pm

On my mind is the increasing anger of Repug-coworkers against dear leader. And what’s fueling it? The assault on the shrinking middle class? No. Spying on citizens? No. The continuing quagmire in Iraq? No. Gas prices? You win a cigar.
sbj on April 13, 2006 at 5:23 pm

A rare but meaningful victory over the regime’s obbsessive insanity. Link here.
Theo McCarthy on April 13, 2006 at 5:47 pm
alohaleezy on April 13, 2006 at 6:06 pm

Getting out of this damn office. I am about to fall asleep I am so bored. I think I have read every dairy here and there, including comments, haded out a few fours, played nine million games of free cell, hearts and solitaire. Is it 4:30p yet?
- Man Eegee on April 13, 2006 at 6:11 pm
  
  I still have 1 hour and 49 minutes, I may not make it!
  - alohaleezy on April 13, 2006 at 6:26 pm
    
    Hi Manny!! Heard it’s been pretty hot there. I hate days like this. All apartments are rented, all paper work and book work is done. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
    - Man Eegee on April 13, 2006 at 6:44 pm
      
      more like summer than spring the past couple of days. The nights have been great though, I’ve been going for a run most of the week.
      
      This is how bad it is today: one of my coworkers said, “I would stick a pen in my eye if it would make the time go faster” It was tempting…
      - alohaleezy on April 13, 2006 at 6:54 pm
        
        May the rest of your time go quickly. I am going to close the office in five minutes. This is just crazy. I need groceries. I finally ran out of leftovers from the meetup…teehee!
      - Man Eegee on April 13, 2006 at 6:55 pm
        
        that chicken marinade was so good. Damnit, now I’m hungry too! 😉
      - alohaleezy on April 14, 2006 at 6:18 am
        
        Blushing….thanks Manny!
idredit on April 13, 2006 at 6:15 pm

Riggs is the 5th General to call for Rumsfeld’s resignation. Interviewed on NPR. Becoming one a day, if this keeps up.

SO, what’s it gonna take?
- alohaleezy on April 13, 2006 at 6:27 pm
  
  He would have to get caught eating a baby in the Oval Office and still probably would get the Medal of Freedaom awarded to him.
  - Ed J on April 13, 2006 at 7:09 pm
    
    evidence that the baby was part of a terrorist plot.
- cotterperson on April 13, 2006 at 7:49 pm
  
  Thursday, April 13, 2006; Posted: 6:53 p.m. EDT (22:53 GMT)
  
  Retired Gen. Charles Swannack says Defense Secretary Rumsfeld has “micromanaged the generals” in Iraq.
  
  WASHINGTON (CNN) — The commander who led the elite 82nd Airborne Division during its mission in Iraq has joined the chorus of retired generals calling on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to leave the Pentagon.
  
  CNN link
  - idredit on April 13, 2006 at 10:52 pm
    
    Swannack, (CNN’s Breaking news) makes that 6.
    
    Generals Newbold, Eaton, Zinni, Batiste, and this am, Riggs.
    
    Like I’m saying, one a day. No make that 2 a day.
    
    Next we’ll read a civil war breaks out in the Pentagon.
    
    Oops, spoke too soon.
    - idredit on April 13, 2006 at 11:25 pm
      
      Post incomplete to. ‘..oops spoke too soon’
      
      re that civil war in Pentagon link. I read an interview of Jeffrey St. Clair, Counterpunch author, Grand Theft Pentagon: Tales of Corruption and Profiteering in the War on Terror
      
      St. Clair on what’s responsible for the crooked system in Washington – on the Pentagon generals in fighting ‘old line defense contractors’ vs Halliburton, Parsons and Bechtel. No kind words for McCain and others. Wow.
      
      Go read (h/t cursor.org) “The System is irretrievably corrupt”
      
      [..]Those days may be gone. For a lot of these generals, particularly in the procurement office in the Pentagon, their mission in life was to steer those big contracts to the defense companies. They would get their two or three stars, they would retire, and they would go to work for Boeing and Lockheed, and become millionaires and powerbrokers.
      
      Now, those big projects are being put at risk, because of the fact that the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars can’t pay for themselves. And you have this new retinue of contractors, like the Halliburtons, which are getting the reconstruction and logistics contracts. They’ve now become almost as powerful as the old-line defense contractors. So there’s a kind of civil war going on inside that microcosm.
      
      My view is that the war could end because of this civil war inside the Pentagon–between the corporations, as the pie gets consumed, as it inevitably will. [..]
- Street Kid on April 13, 2006 at 7:52 pm
  
  Half-expecting to hear, “Heckuva job, Rummy!”
  
  <snark>
cotterperson on April 13, 2006 at 7:37 pm

MEET THE PRESS WITH TIM RUSSERT
WEEKEND LISTINGS 04/16/06

SISTER JOAN CHITTISTER, OSB
Author, “Called to Question: A Spiritual Memoir”
Executive Director, Benetvision: Research and Resource
Center for Contemporary Spirituality

RABBI MICHAEL LERNER
Editor, Tikkun magazine
Author, “The Left Hand of God: Taking Back Our Country from the Religious Right”

JON MEACHAM
Managing Editor, Newsweek Magazine
Author, “American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers,
and the Making of a Nation”

SEYYED HOSSEIN NASR
Professor of Islamic Studies, George Washington University
Author, “The Heart of Islam: Enduring Values for Humanity”

REV. RICHARD JOHN NEUHAUS
Editor, First Things
Author, “Catholic Matters: Confusion, Controversy, and the Splendor of Truth”

JOEL OSTEEN
Senior Pastor, Lakewood Church – Houston, Texas
Author, “Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential”

…

A special Easter Sunday Edition of “Meet the Press with Tim Russert” on Faith in America with a panel of religious leaders and scholars. We’ll talk to a Catholic priest and nun; a Jewish rabbi, a Protestant minister, an Islamic scholar and a noted historian about the intersection of faith, morality and politics.
- Street Kid on April 13, 2006 at 7:54 pm
  
  Looks like they are trying to demonstrate religous tolerance. Sounds pretty interesting, at least to me.
Street Kid on April 13, 2006 at 9:20 pm

Donut hole is starting to hit some NOW!!!!

No concrete info on that yet, otherwise I’d write it up!!!

This is getting bad!
BrendaStewart on April 13, 2006 at 9:38 pm

Hey all you Texans, listen up…..I am very sure they would love your support if you can go…thanks…SINCE THIS AN OPEN THREAD

From : George Aldrich, Progressive Patriots Fund <russ@progressivepatriotsfund.com>
Sent : Friday, April 14, 2006 12:53 AM
To : Brenda Stewart <stormyweather1@hotmail.com>
Subject : Russ in Texas next week

Senator Feingold will be in Texas next week for a series of events to support congressional candidate John Courage, the winner of our first “Pick a Progressive Patriot” event last year. Next Tuesday, April 18th, John and Russ will hold a joint listening session on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin. As with the nearly 1,000 listening sessions Russ has held in Wisconsin, across the country, and over the internet, the event will be free, open to the public, and a great opportunity for Russ to meet with students and community members and hear first hand about the issues of concern to Texans.

Tuesday evening Feingold and Courage will take advantage of Austin’s reputation as the “Live Music Capital of the USA” with a large rally with Courage supporters at Jovita’s. The event will feature live music and speeches by Courage, Feingold, and special guest Jim Hightower.

If you know of anyone in Texas who might be interested in attending any of these events please forward them this email. For more details on the times and locations click here.

Sincerely,

George Aldrich
Progressive Patriots Fund

Authorized and paid for by the Progressive Patriots Fund,
Daniel D. Hannula, Superior, WI, Treasurer

PO Box 628008 Middleton, WI 53562 | phone: 608/831-1308 | fax: 608/831-1348
email: russ@progressivepatriotsfund.com | http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com
To unsubscribe, send an email to purge-progressivepatriotsfund-news-1895447B@news.progressivepatriotsfund.com
americanforliberty on April 14, 2006 at 12:19 am

what happen to “whack a mole diary” gone in a flash?
I was going to post this.
http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc-irananalysis0413.artapr13,0,3152949.story?coll=hc-headlin
es-
- Chris on April 14, 2006 at 12:24 am
  
  I was making an edit and hit delete by mistake. And to think. Oops. Sorry.
- Chris on April 14, 2006 at 12:39 am
  
  Ok. It’s back now, in all of its mediocrity. Sorry about that.

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BooMan

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