From the debut of Wanda Sykes' new Saturday night talk show...:

"I went to sleep, and when I woke up people were mad at Obama. And I thought, 'Did I miss something? Did Obama start an illegal war? Did he fly over a flood zone and just wave? Did he torture detainees in a secret prison? Did he start illegally tapping phones? Did he alienate the world and squander a surplus? Because if he did any of that, we need to impeach that jackass.' ...

I can’t believe people are blaming Obama for the mess Bush left. I mean, Bush just pees all over everything and leaves it soaking wet, and people are looking at Obama like he just zipped up his fly. That's Bush pee!
-
"Carrie Prejean, the former Miss California, made a triple-X movie of herself. So now we know why she was stripped of her title---not for being anti-gay, but for being pro-stupid. She actually thought it wouldn’t get out? C'mon! It always gets out. That's the first 'Law of Pornodynamics': A pair of fake boobs in motion stays in motion."
-
"I hereby appoint myself the president's Tell-People-Where-to-Go-and-What-to-Kiss Czar. Fox News, if you want an exclusive: pucker up!"

http://dailykos.com /

Source: The Nation

On October 29, 2001, while the Taliban's rule over Afghanistan was under assault, the regime's ambassador in Islamabad gave a chaotic press conference in front of several dozen reporters sitting on the grass. On the Taliban diplomat's right sat his interpreter, Ahmad Rateb Popal, a man with an imposing presence. Like the ambassador, Popal wore a black turban, and he had a huge bushy beard. He had a black patch over his right eye socket, a prosthetic left arm and a deformed right hand, the result of injuries from an explosives mishap during an old operation against the Soviets in Kabul.

But Popal was more than just a former mujahedeen. In 1988, a year before the Soviets fled Afghanistan, Popal had been charged in the United States with conspiring to import more than a kilo of heroin. Court records show he was released from prison in 1997.

Flash forward to 2009, and Afghanistan is ruled by Popal's cousin President Hamid Karzai. Popal has cut his huge beard down to a neatly trimmed one and has become an immensely wealthy businessman, along with his brother Rashid Popal, who in a separate case pleaded guilty to a heroin charge in 1996 in Brooklyn. The Popal brothers control the huge Watan Group in Afghanistan, a consortium engaged in telecommunications, logistics and, most important, security. Watan Risk Management, the Popals' private military arm, is one of the few dozen private security companies in Afghanistan. One of Watan's enterprises, key to the war effort, is protecting convoys of Afghan trucks heading from Kabul to Kandahar, carrying American supplies...

...In this grotesque carnival, the US military's contractors are forced to pay suspected insurgents to protect American supply routes. It is an accepted fact of the military logistics operation in Afghanistan that the US government funds the very forces American troops are fighting. And it is a deadly irony, because these funds add up to a huge amount of money for the Taliban. "It's a big part of their income," one of the top Afghan government security officials told The Nation in an interview. In fact, US military officials in Kabul estimate that a minimum of 10 percent of the Pentagon's logistics contracts--hundreds of millions of dollars--consists of payments to insurgents...

Read more: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091130/rost...

Thank You
by Angry Mouse
Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 05:49:18 PM PST

It's been a hard couple of days for women people who care about equal rights.

Far too many Democrats in Congress decided to use women's health as a bargaining chip, and then, to add insult to injury, told us to stop whining because there are more important things.

And then, to add further insult to injury, far too many so-called liberals said the exact same thing.

And then, to really rub it in, we've seen a torrent of diaries and comments from men who dare to call themselves pro-choice and then proceed to lecture women about "responsibility" and "morals."

And it hurts. It feels like a betrayal, to see this kind of misogyny in our own backyard.

But this diary isn't about those men.

This diary is about the other men.

The ones who've stood by us and for us.

The ones who believe that our fight for equality is their fight too.

The ones who have shouted down the sexism.

The ones who are angry too. The ones who are ready and willing to fight against the anti-women members of our party, not because it is about their rights, but because they know it is right. Because we cannot win without them.

For me, and for many other women, there is a new fight ahead. It's the fight to hold the Democratic party to its promises:

We will never put ideology above women’s health.

---

We believe that standing up for our country means standing up against sexism and all intolerance. Demeaning portrayals of women cheapen our debates, dampen the dreams of our daughters, and deny us the contributions of too many. Responsibility lies with us all.

---

Our policies will recognize that human rights are women’s rights and that women’s rights are human rights.

---

We are committed to ensuring full equality for women: we reaffirm our support for the Equal Rights Amendment, recommit to enforcing Title IX, and will urge passage of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

---

The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right.

Yes, there is a fight coming. And it's going to be hard. And it's going to be ugly. But I take great comfort in knowing that we are not alone.

So while I will soon return to my regularly scheduled program of living up to my name and being mighty angry, I just wanted to take a time out to thank the men of our community who have our backs.

You know who you are. And we know who you are. And I thank you.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/11/9/80...

UFC fighter was eating ketchup and rice before UFC 104
By Steve Cofield

If anyone needed a huge postfight bonus at UFC 104, it was Pat Barry. The heavyweight out of New Orleans, scored Knockout of the Night and Fight of the Night for his victory over Antoni Hardonk. That was good enough for $120,000. Good thing, Barry needed the infusion of cash in the worst way. He confirmed to MMAScrapsRadio that he was completely down on his luck before the fight, agreeing that he had little to eat in Los Angeles the week of the fight.

"I still had my apartment but if something would've happened and the fight had been canceled, I would've been evicted six days later."

Barry, 30, said he didn't even tell his trainer Duke Roufus for fear that he would think the fighter had the wrong motivation going into the fight. Barry said he didn't ask anyone for money including his mother:

"I could ask someone but then at the same time, how hard are you going to work for something if everytime you get in trouble somebody catches you? I did something to put myself in this position I have to work my way out of it..."

...Barry got his $120,000 bonus check last Tuesday. He couldn't believe it. When he went to deposit the check, his truck wouldn't start. Barry got a jump and hit the bank sporting a black eye and pink striped shorts.

"I go to the bank, I'm sweaty, I've got the black eye, I haven't shaven in two days, I'm strung out because I haven't slept, I have green circles under my eyes so I'm like 'Can I have a deposit slip mam?'. She gives it to me, I fill it out hand it to her. She looks at the deposit slip, then the check, then looks at me and says 'Excuse me I'll be right back.' Then a manager comes out, a guy in a suit and says 'What seems to be the problem?' I was like 'Well I have a black eye, that's the only problem I know this looks really ridiculous.' So he asks me for my ID, I hand him my license an he's like 'Your license says Pat Barry, but this check was written to Patrick Barry.' So I decided to be funny and tell him Pat Barry is in my trunk right now. He didnt laugh. So I told him take your time man do whatever you need to do because I have no where to go and my truck probably wont start when I go outside so you can just do whatever you need to do. An hour later he came back and everything was fine, the check was in my bank account."

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewrite...

Keep watching till the end. His last few comments are great!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/29/j...

 

Attn. Senate: Most Americans Want a Public Option
Posted on Oct 20, 2009
Flickr / Brent Morales

There may not be enough support in the Senate for a public option, as Finance Committee chair and health industry plaything Max Baucus contends, but according to a new poll, a growing majority of Americans wants one. President Obama says he won’t fight for the option, which may be why Democrats are losing faith in his handling of reform (according to the same poll).

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll says 57 percent of Americans want a public option, up five points from August. The figure was even higher—62 percent—in June. That means that at the absolute nadir of support, when the public option was pronounced dead, most Americans still wanted it. How’s that for democracy?

Other polls show falling support for the Democratic health reform agenda, with a slight majority of Americans opposing it. The Baucus bill, which nixes the public option, has been front and center during this time.

Let’s do the math: Support for a public option is going up while support for the Democrats’ plan is going down. Here’s hoping Harry Reid, who is charged with merging the Senate bills (and possibly deciding the fate of the option), takes notice. Here’s hoping he cares. Reid is the No. 1 Senate recipient of health industry donations this cycle.

http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/ite...

My husband works for a major corporation. We just got the news that they are offering a new health care plan. Where there used to be multiple choices just three years ago, there are now only 2 options:

1. A plan with a $5000.00 deductible for any costs other than annual check ups and immunization shots (provided you stay in-network, that is. Otherwise the deductible shoots up to $10,000). After that, we pay 15% of all costs -- EVERYTHING!!! Unless you go out of network, then it shoots to 35%.

OR...

2. Opt out and you're on your own.


We have 3 people in our family with chronic conditions. We did the math on this, and this new plan is going to cost us a minimum of $500.00 a month -- maybe as much as $700.00 -- until we max out our deductible. We are totally freaking out, we can't afford this.

My husband started looking for a new job today. We love where we live and we'd like to stay here, but we can't afford this. I am just in shock.

The worst part of all:

After learning of this news, I told three people that we need a public option in this country. One person (a doctor) heartily agree. Another person (a professor) thought a public option wouldn't change anything. And a third person (my own sister) claimed that a public option would be the worst thing for this country!!!

How can they be so ignorant???? What is it that they don't understand in this equation???

I just want to cry.

I just got this email from Nation Magazine. Let's DU this thing.

Dear Nation Friend:

We think you're pretty smart (hey, you read The Nation, right?).

Now your smarts can be put to good use AND help The Nation raise some money, quickly and easily.

Our friends at CREDO, the progressive mobile phone company, have figured out a way to put all those crazy things the right wingers say to work for progressive causes like us. They put together a quiz to test you on the latest conservative claptrap -- it's called OMG GOP WTF?!.

Every time you answer a question correctly, we get 10 cents. There are five questions, so that means if we get 1000 people to take the quiz and you score okay...we get $500 dollars. Check out the quiz: www.omggopwtf.com .

But, you'll want to act fast. The quiz only benefits The Nation from October 19 to October 26. Next week, it will be a new quiz and a new organization, so don't wait!

Thanks,


Peggy Randall
For The Nation

P.S. Tell your friends! Just forward this message to them.

I am extremely excited about this because I suffer from a severe breathing disorder that only leaves me at 25% normal breathing capacity on a good day.

I have been very afraid of getting the swine flu. It has been rampant in our area (and 2 of my children may have already had it).

All my kids were vaccinated at the same time. Two of them have asthma, so we are all VERY glad to get the shot.

PHEW!!!

The Right Time To Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell Is Now
by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 02:59:35 PM PDT

Since 1994, almost 13,000 gay servicemen and women have been discharged from the military based not on their performance but on their sexual orientation. In 2009 alone, we've had more than 400 of our brave men and women leave the military under Don't Ask Don't Tell. This is simply unacceptable. It is time to repeal this outdated and immoral policy once and for all and end the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly and honestly in our armed forces.

To that end, I've secured the commitment from Senator Carl Levin, Chair of the Armed Services Committee, to hold the first hearing on the policy since it began 16 years ago. Chairman Levin expects to hold the hearing soon and it's my hope that it will be instrumental in demonstrating the level of support that exists for repeal not only throughout the country -- where polls consistently indicate that solid majorities oppose the policy -- but within the military itself.

I'm happy to see that, as the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing approaches, there are signs of momentum building toward repeal.

On September 24, Majority Leader Harry Reid sent letters to the President and Secretary Gates reiterating his support for repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and requesting their recommendations to Congress on the policy. I agree with Senator Reid. I know the President opposes DADT, and I am confident he and his Administration will work to engage Congressional and military leaders in this debate.

Then, just last week, an article was published in the Joint Force Quarterly -- a publication considered to be the scholarly journal of the Pentagon and released by the Joint Chiefs -- that goes beyond addressing just Don't Ask Don't Tell, but overtly calls for a repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians serving in the US military. In the article, Air Force Colonel Om Prakash writes:

After a careful examination, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that unit cohesion will be negatively affected if homosexuals serve openly. Based on this research, it is not time for the administration to reexamine the issue; rather it is time for the administration to examine how to implement the repeal of the ban.

It's heartening to see such a strong statement coming from the top levels of the military. Not only did this article appear in a publication published by the Pentagon, but it was written by a man currently working under Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and was reviewed by the office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Mike Mullen. Supporters of Don't Ask Don't Tell often cite the lack of support for repeal among the top levels of the military. With this article, those leaders are sending a clear signal that that's simply not the case.

Then, yesterday, the New York Times published an editorial in which they cited the Joint Force Quarterly article and called for a reversal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Colonel Prakash argues that the law has undermined unit cohesion, in part by compromising the integrity of homosexuals who have to dissemble and by posing a moral quandary for commanders — look the other way or risk discharging a valuable service member. He judged the policy a "costly failure" because of the lost manpower and the administrative costs of recruiting and separating homosexuals. He urged the Obama administration to examine how to repeal the ban.

We agree strongly with Colonel Prakash, and urge the Pentagon to press ahead with changes in its regulations to make implementing the "don’t ask" law more humane. Ultimately, Congress must repeal the 1993 statute.

They went on:

We are not confident that the Senate has enough enlightened members to overcome a filibuster. But if the military can show an open mind, surely lawmakers can summon the courage to end this sad chapter in history.

As many of you know, earlier this year I considered offering an amendment to impose a moratorium on DADT discharges for 18 months, but decided against it because I couldn't secure the 60 votes we would need for passage. That said, I believe that we are seeing momentum building nearly every day. Every day I feel we are getting closer to the votes we need to pass.

I look forward to continuing that momentum at the upcoming hearing. I'll also be launching a new DADT story project, which I'll introduce to you all in the coming weeks. My hope is that as people meet some of the brave servicemen and women that have been affected by this unfair and misguided policy, we can build support for repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and move toward allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly and honestly in our military.

In the meantime, you can help by joining the effort. In advance of the hearing, I've launched a petition calling for the repeal of DADT. http://www.democratsenators.org/o/44/t/825... We already have almost 10,000 signatures from people nationwide who are standing with me to show my colleagues that our country is ready to repeal this policy. I hope you'll join us.

I know that many were discouraged by the statement yesterday from National Security Advisor James Jones that President Obama would pursue repeal "at the right time." I believe the right time is now...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/5/78...

Breaking: US $ being replaced as oil currency (Updated)
by cosmic debris
Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 06:37:41 PM PDT

The story is breaking on Reuters, but it comes originally from Robert Fisk at the UK Independent. TheDemise of the Dollar http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business...

Apparently several Arab states have been in secret negotiations with Russia, Japan, China and France to replace the US Dollar with a variety of other currencies including the Yuan, Yen, Euro and a new unified currency "planned for nations in the Gulf Co-operation Council, including Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Qatar..."

As I add info as I find it, please discuss the implications in comments.

From Fisk's article

The Americans, who are aware the meetings have taken place – although they have not discovered the details – are sure to fight this international cabal which will include hitherto loyal allies Japan and the Gulf Arabs. Against the background to these currency meetings, Sun Bigan, China's former special envoy to the Middle East, has warned there is a risk of deepening divisions between China and the US over influence and oil in the Middle East. "Bilateral quarrels and clashes are unavoidable," he told the Asia and Africa Review. "We cannot lower vigilance against hostility in the Middle East over energy interests and security."

This sounds like a dangerous prediction of a future economic war between the US and China over Middle East oil – yet again turning the region's conflicts into a battle for great power supremacy. China uses more oil incrementally than the US because its growth is less energy efficient. The transitional currency in the move away from dollars, according to Chinese banking sources, may well be gold. An indication of the huge amounts involved can be gained from the wealth of Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar who together hold an estimated $2.1 trillion in dollar reserves.

And more on China

Chinese financial sources believe President Barack Obama is too busy fixing the US economy to concentrate on the extraordinary implications of the transition from the dollar in nine years' time. The current deadline for the currency transition is 2018.

The US discussed the trend briefly at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh; the Chinese Central Bank governor and other officials have been worrying aloud about the dollar for years. Their problem is that much of their national wealth is tied up in dollar assets.

"These plans will change the face of international financial transactions," one Chinese banker said. "America and Britain must be very worried. You will know how worried by the thunder of denials this news will generate."

More sources coming in now:

From Reuters: Gulf in talks on replacing US$ for oil: report http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idU...

From Bloomberg: Dollar Falls as Paper Says Arab States May Stop Using Greenback http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/5/79... -(Updated)

The Nebraska Democratic Party put the state's senior senator, Ben Nelson, in an awkward spot on Saturday by passing a resolution making support for a government-run insurance option a central aspect of its platform.

In a nearly unanimous vote at a committee meeting in Fort Omaha Metro Community College, about 70 attendees approved language that urges members of Congress "to vote for such health care reform proposals that contain a robust public option at all stages of the legislative process including conference and reconciliation, and encourage legislators to pass such reform."

Nelson remains one of the highest-profiled U.S. Senate Democratic holdouts on the public plan, even recently declining to commit to voting against a Republican filibuster of legislation that included the provision.

Officials at the Nebraska Democratic Party said the committee vote was not meant as a rebuke of the senator, who has historically taken a conservative approach to public policy issues. More an encouragement to all Democratic state legislators.

"Let's put it this way," said Vic Covalt, State Chair of the state party. "The Nebraska Democratic Party is a big tent party and Ben Nelson is a good Democrat. We believe he will represent us well.

"Sen. Nelson represents the entire state of Nebraska and he is going to do the best he can to do," he added. "The Nebraska Democratic Party is obviously a little bit to the pro-public option side of Ben. Though I'm not sure because I'm not sure where he is at."

Only one of the committee members opposed the resolution, which accuses the "healthcare insurance industry and their allies" of organizing and funding efforts to kill the public plan or pass compromise health care reform. And the Nebraska Democratic Party deliberately put into the final language a pledge to "send a copy of this resolution to all members of Congress who represent any of our members."

" is popular with the Democrats in the state because we believe without it the bill could too easily become a welfare program for the insurance industry," said Covalt. The argument supporters made was that without the public plan, "basically we end up subsidizing insurance companies and hurting taxpayers who don't have coverage."

BELOW IS A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION:

WHEREAS, the heath care system of the United States is in crisis, with almost fifty million Americans lacking any health insurance, tens of millions more lacking adequate coverage, and millions more who do have private coverage paying increasingly unaffordable premiums, resulting in inadequate access to care and premature death, illness, or financial ruin for millions of Americans; and

WHEREAS, public polls show that a majority of Americans want health care reform to offer the choice of a robust public option in order to inject real competition into the marketplace and, in the words of President Obama, "keep the insurance companies honest:" and

WHEREAS, some in the healthcare insurance industry and their allies have organized and funded groups of extremists to disrupt efforts on the part of the majority and administration to discuss the issue with the American people reasonably, and have demonstrated an unwillingness to compromise in any way to pass meaningful health care reform;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Nebraska Democratic Party urge our members of Congress to vote for such health care reform proposals that contain a robust public option at all stages of the legislative process including conference and reconciliation, and encourage legislators to pass such reform;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Nebraska Democratic Party shall send a copy of this resolution to all members of Congress who represent any of our members.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/05/n...

 
You gotta see this...

Great Opening Night -- Do Not Put Off Seeing 'Capitalism: A Love Story' -- Wall Street is Watching
by Michael Moore
Sat Oct 03, 2009 at 02:40:42 PM PDT

Friends,

Thank you, all of you, who packed the theaters across North America last night to see my new film. The movie houses were rockin'! The national movie exit poll company announced this morning that the audiences in America gave "Capitalism: A Love Story" a rare "A" rating! Wow, thank you! In most multiplexes where "Capitalism" played, it was the #1 or #2 top-grossing movie there for the evening. That is nothing short of amazing.


For those of you waiting till next week to see it, I can't say this strongly enough: Do not put off going to see "Capitalism: A Love Story." It is not just a movie. It is a referendum that is being closely watched by the CEOs of America. Let me tell you bluntly, the suits on Wall Street are closely watching to see how this movie does this weekend. So, too, are the members of Congress. If "Capitalism" has a huge opening, it will send shivers down their corporate spines, telling them loud and clear that the American people are mad as hell and are not into taking it any more. It will put all the bosses on notice that the vast Obama-voting majority has awoken from its silence and are out in full force.

But if the attendance is just "ok" or "so-so," then they will be relieved knowing that there is not a popular groundswell of opposition out there -- and then they can go about their business as usual. I'd like to send them a different message.

Treat tonight and tomorrow as if it were election day. Blow their minds on Monday morning when they show up at their executive suites, switch on CNBC or Fox Business News, and learn that America turned out in droves to participate in a raucous denunciation of Wall Street and everything it stands for. I often hear people ask, "What can I do to make my voice heard?" Your answer is at the nearest theater showing this movie. Trust me, packing these movie houses tonight and tomorrow will eff them up in an overwhelming and profound way.

Last night, there were many reports of spontaneous cheering throughout the film in nearly all the theaters. Theater managers reported difficulties in getting people to clear the theater lobby afterwards because groups of total strangers assembled to passionately discuss what they just saw. One manager wrote to me and said, "It's a good thing we carry Gummy Bears and Junior Mints at the concessions stand instead of pitchforks and torches! These crowds were ready to march over to the local Citibank and do something!" Another manager said a crowd in the lobby formed around the little Chase ATM machine next to his popcorn stand and started to "yell at it." Jeez! (Click here to see some of the cell phone photos fans have sent from various theaters around the country last night.)

Here's what I've heard the most about last night: Audiences were stunned and shocked by many of the things I reveal in the movie -- stuff that the networks have refused to show them -- even though they have the footage! They purposely withhold this news from you, the public. And because I dare to show it, some networks now refuse to license any of their footage to me. So I get my hands on it and put it in the movie anyway. I truly don't care. I'm sick and tired of the truth not being told to the American people -- and I am willing to suffer whatever the consequences come my way because I showed it to you. Fortunately we have "fair use" laws in this country that have kept my hide out of court so far. There is something so patently wrong with not being told what Wall Street and Corporate America are up to. If you go see "Capitalism" tonight, you'll see what I mean. You will alternately have your head spinning and then find yourself laughing your ass off!

Much more is riding on the success of this movie than the amount of popcorn that is sold. If we do well this weekend, the studio will expand the film to smaller towns next week. Don't put off seeing it! Click here to find out where it's playing and order your tickets now. Call some friends and make a night of it. My crew and I have put nearly two years of our lives into this and I am honored that it has been so well received. Join in on the fun of giving AIG, GM, Bank of America and all the other thieves the shellacking they deserve. And send me a photo of you and the crowd there tonight! I'll post it and personally send it to the heads of all the financial institutions and the members of Congress. They need to get a clue -- right now -- and I'd like you to help me send them that clue!

Thanks again, and I'll see you tonight at the movies!

Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
www.MichaelMoore.com

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/3/78...