Muppets do Bohemian Rhapsody

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Huckabee granted clemency to suspect in quadruple cop killer case in Wash state

This is very bad. Huckabee has a history of clemency gone wrong. Let me remind you of a previous Huckabee clemency we wrote about two years ago:

Huckabee basically helped secure the guy's release because the convict had raped a distant relative of Bill Clinton - and being a distant relative of Bill Clinton, the right-wing attack machine said the woman who was raped wasn't credible (even though the guy was convicted), and they demanded that the rapist be set free because, after all, he only raped a Clinton. Well, it seems that Governor Huckabee agreed. He set the rapist free, and then the guy molested and murdered another woman. But even better? Huckabee now denies that he had anything to do with the release of the rapist/murderer. Funny, then why did Huckabee meet with the parole board on behalf of the rapist/murderer?

More on the cop killer story. It's a nasty story. Read the rest of this post...

White House crashers want hundreds of thousands for their story

Just me, or does anyone else want to see these people in jail? Then again, if you could jail someone for being tacky, most Palin fans would be locked up. Read the rest of this post...

Report: Bush let Bin Laden get away in 2001

This is not news. John Kerry repeatedly tried to make this point in 2004, to no effect. You get what you vote for, folks. Read the rest of this post...

Bhopal 20 years later

It's hard to believe how little was done following this catastrophe. How do people not go to jail? How has there not even been a trial? The Independent:

Those who were mere children when the fumes overcame this city of a million are suffering, too. Painful skin lesions, stomach problems and raw, itchy eyes are common complaints among thousands of families, some of whom moved to Bhopal only in recent years. And the clinic says that Bhopal now has some of India's highest rates of gall bladder and oesophageal cancers, TB, anaemia and thyroid abnormalities. Young girls start menstruating much later than normal and experience painful gynaecological problems, which often lead to hysterectomies at a young age.

These problems, say campaigners such as the Bhopal Medical Appeal (BMA), are linked to the continuing pollution of parts of the local water supply by chemicals such as chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. Families have no choice but to use ground water for washing, cooking and drinking when safe sources run dry, according to new research that will be published by the BMA on Tuesday. The study found higher levels of several carcinogenic chemicals in water sources this year compared with last year – strongly suggesting that future generations will be poisoned unless the area is decontaminated. This flies in the face of recent claims by state and national ministers that the site is clean.

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Dem enthusiasm lower than Repubs and Indies

Not good news if this keeps up by the time next November rolls around. From Daily Kos' Weekly Tracking Poll:

The poll now includes a rather simple indicator of baseline voter enthusiasm for the year 2010. The question offered to respondents is a simple question about their intentions for 2010:

QUESTION: In the 2010 Congressional elections will you definitely vote, probably vote, not likely vote, or definitely will not vote?

The results were, to put it mildly, shocking:

Voter Intensity: Definitely + Probably Voting/Not Likely + Not Voting

Republican Voters: 81/14
Independent Voters: 65/23
DEMOCRATIC VOTERS: 56/40

Two in five Democratic voters either consider themselves unlikely to vote at this point in time, or have already made the firm decision to remove themselves from the 2010 electorate pool. Indeed, Democrats were three times more likely to say that they will "definitely not vote" in 2010 than are Republicans.

They've certainly squelched my enthusiasm. Read the rest of this post...

Blair thinks evidence used against him is "distasteful"

Tony Blair is as narcissistic as ever. It always has to be about his personal spin. To speak the truth against this scheming war monger is somehow unfair. It should be interesting to see how this war study commission deals with Blair once he arrives. Will they be gentle and give him a free ride or do they finally smell blood now that he is finished in politics?

Mr Blair's friends claimed last night that he has found some of the evidence given so far "distasteful", and potentially damaging to his reputation. "It is clear that the headlines so far have not been helpful to him," a former minister said. "But more troubling is the sense that some of the people involved are so keen to stick the knife in. It is quite distasteful."

Another Blair ally said the former leader had made clear his concern that "his reputation could be shredded by the Chilcot process". "He is furious that mandarins are seeking revenge and discovering their principles after the event," one friend added.

Sir Christopher Meyer has attracted much criticism from Blairites following a flamboyant appearance during which he claimed Mr Blair's view on "regime change" in Iraq hardened after a private meeting with Mr Bush in 2002. He also compared Mr Blair unflatteringly to Margaret Thatcher. The former diplomat told the inquiry on Thursday: "She would have insisted on a clear, coherent political/diplomatic strategy and I think she would have demanded the greatest clarity about what the heck happened if and when we removed Saddam."

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ABC's THIS WEEK doesn't tell you that Dan Senor is a former Bush official

CORRECTION: It's even worse. The unidentiable journalist was actually Matthew Dowd, top strategist for Bush/Cheney 04 who recently realized he was working for the forces of darkness. So that means 4 ABC had 4 people who were either conservative or leaning conservative, and one liberal.

I'm watching ABC's THIS WEEK with my mom, and the roundtable has Will, Cokie, Krugman, another big journalist (I forget his name), and this guy I don't recognize. The unknown guy is making a lot of weird right-wing partisan comments, and I'm scratching my head trying to figure out who he is. Finally his name pops up on the screen: "Dan Senor, author." Hardly. Dan Senor is a former senior Bush administration official. As the only political hack on the panel, and a former Republican spokesman to boot, Senor should always be identified as such. Not to mention, where is the former Democratic official on the panel?

Right-wing panelists:
Will
Senor

Lean right:
Cokie
Dowd

Left-wing panelists:
Krugman

3 right, 1 left. Welcome to THIS WEEK. Read the rest of this post...

Canadian comedians zing Palin AGAIN

Dear God, she's stupid. The woman on this video is exactly a Canadian comedienne in her conservative character costume. Shes from a show that ABC says is the Canadian equivalent of Jon Stewart. (You'll recall that the previous time the Canadians pretended they were French President Sarkozy phoning Palin during the campaign.)

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Abe Pollin

The mark of a great writer is someone who can weave a fascinating tale about a subject you hate.

I can't stand sports. And only had vaguely heard of Abe Pollin, though I had no idea who he was. Maureen Dowd eulogizes him today in a beautiful article. It's really worth a read. And it's just one more piece of evidence that, underneath the snark, Dowd is a hell of a writer.

(Since Joe is still in Africa until about mid-week or so, I thought I'd mix it up a bit and skip the Sunday morning open thread....) Read the rest of this post...

French Thanksgiving

We've done quite a few Thanksgiving meals in Paris though this was the first truly French Thanksgiving. Jo's cousin Isabelle is 100% French though loves American culture and did a semester or two at Cornell when she was in college. Months ago she made sure that we would lock in this date for her dinner and wow, she really did a great job right down to the pumpkin pie. The turkey was perfectly moist (brining, of course!) and everyone well fed. It's never easy preparing big meals in tiny Paris kitchens but Isabelle is such a great cook so she rose to the occasion.

This afternoon we're lined up for our Franco-American Thanksgiving. I'm bringing the port wine/orange cranberry sauce and a new recipe for sweet potatoes.


The stove was gearing up for the meal. Creamed corn with fresh cream, sweat potato puree, cranberry sauce and a tasty mushroom starter. And of course, a starting supply of wine in the background.

More below...


The turkey has arrived! It's not the most typical food that you will find over here so it was quite a show. It was a 7 kilo bird which is enormous for here.


Full of jokes and a taste for theatrics, Cedric was quite good with carving the turkey. It wasn't the typical think slices that we grow up with but instead, nice chunks. I think I'm going to try that next time.


Turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and stuffing. It's all there.


We found a Thanksgiving quiz online and despite the holiday being American, the group performed well. When it came time to do Joelle's favorite "let's go around and tell everyone what they are thankful for," it crashed and burned. A bit too touchy-feely. Read the rest of this post...

UK extreme right MP to attend Copenhagen climate change talks

Think Inhofe with a bit of Glenn Beck and then make a sharp right turn even if you didn't think it was possible.

In a speech in the parliament last week, Griffin denounced those who warn of the consequences of climate change as "cranks". He said they had reached "an Orwellian consensus" that was "based not on scientific agreement, but on bullying, censorship and fraudulent statistics".

"The anti-western intellectual cranks of the left suffered a collective breakdown when communism collapsed. Climate change is their new theology… But the heretics will have a voice in Copenhagen and the truth will out. Climate change is being used to impose an anti-human utopia as deadly as anything conceived by Stalin or Mao."

Griffin will be one of 15 representatives chosen to speak on behalf of the EU in Copenhagen. The shadow climate change secretary, Greg Clark, condemned the move last night. "It is utterly ridiculous that someone who doesn't even believe in climate change should be seeking to represent Europe in Copenhagen. The BNP does not command the support of the people of Britain, let alone of the rest of Europe," he said.

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