Steve Gilliard's NYT obit

It's an odd thing, that a New York Times obituary is still a badge of honor in a world in which the dead-tree press is on shaky ground, particularly because of people like blogger Steve Gilliard, who recently passed away. But Steve got an obit in the NYT, and that still says something, about the ongoing value of, and the value we still place in, the mainstream media. It also says something about what Steve's accomplished. You can read it here. Read the rest of this post...

Open thread

Joe is getting ready to watch the Sopranos. Don't disturb him. I'm watching the Tony Awards, which is something I don't normally do, but a friend mentioned last night that they were going to be on, and I'm feeling like I need a bit more culture.

And in honor of the Sopranos, I'm posting a few photos I bought in Sicily years ago. They're actually photo-negatives of some kind, on glass plates. I thought they were cool, but never figured out how to see what they were until now - I scanned them and used Photoshop. So here's to some very old Sicilians, long lost.

Read the rest of this post...

Bush to GOP Senators: I'm sticking with Alberto Gonzales. You better, too.

The Senate will take a no confidence vote in Alberto Gonzales tomorrow. Besides being a liar, he is a disaster as Attorney General. But that doesn't matter. Bush sent his messenger, Tony Snow, out to tell GOP Senators to stick with Gonzales. And, GOP Senators always do what their leader, George Bush, tells them to do:

The White House on Sunday dismissed Senate plans to hold a no-confidence vote on the attorney general and said the outcome will not undermine President Bush's resolve to keep Alberto Gonzales at the Justice Department.

"Not a bit. Purely symbolic vote," presidential spokesman Tony Snow said. He was asked in a broadcast interview whether Bush might reconsider his decision to support Gonzales should a sizable number of Republican senators vote for the no-confidence resolution.

"It is perfectly obvious that the president has the right to hire and fire people who serve at his pleasure," Snow said.

On Monday, the Senate planned to debate the one-sentence measure that declares Gonzales "no longer holds the confidence of the Senate and of the American people."

Can't wait to see how Susan Collins, Norm Coleman, John Sununu and the others explain their fealty to Bush on this one. Read the rest of this post...

Body armor donated by American Legion sits unused in Iraq

It's a crime. Quite literally. Read the rest of this post...

Lieberman calls for US to attack Iran

All you moderate Republicans, you still think Lieberman is such a nice "moderate" guy? He wants to get us into a third war. I'm increasingly wondering if Lieberman is looking out for Israel's interests rather than America's. And I say that as someone who has been criticized for being too pro-Israel. And I am pro-Israel. But I'm pro-America first and foremost. Read the rest of this post...

"Too early" for Colin Powell to say he'll endorse a Republican for President

Colin Powell refused to say that he would support a Republican for President. That's just not done in GOP world. Loyalty comes first. But Colin played coy when Russert asked Colin Powell if he was ready to make any endorsements for 2008. Powell said it was "too early." When Russert pushed, "But, you'll support the Republican?" Powell again said it was "too early." Powell had to know the question was coming:

Click To Play

Read the rest of this post...

Sunday Talk Shows Open Thread

Big weekend for Republicans on the circuit this weekend: Tony Snow, Colin Powell, Joe Lieberman, John McCain all get top billing. Tony Snow is on double spin patrol this morning. He'll try to tell us that the Bush administration is not a complete and total failure.

Watching Powell now with Russert (it's on early because of the French Open). Unlike many of the current crop of GOP Presidential candidates, Powell would not have gone to war in Iraq if he knew Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction. Like Powell didn't have access to the best intel back then. He knew then what he knows now.

Here's the line up:

ABC's "This Week" -- Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

CBS' "Face the Nation" -- White House press secretary Tony Snow; Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut independent.

NBC's "Meet the Press" -- Former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

CNN's "Late Edition" -- Sens. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and Evan Bayh, D-Ind.; Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman; Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez; Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M.; former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark.

"Fox News Sunday" -- Snow, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Double Snow, Powell, McCain and Lieberman. There will be plenty of fodder from that crowd. Read the rest of this post...

Another bumper crop in 2006

CEO compensation hit new highs. If there was not such a growing divide between the haves and have nots it might not be such an issue but the fact remains, the US is moving in the direction of a Third World country where a small minority bathe in the riches and then there's everyone else. More power to those who can make this money, but there are just too many sacrifices by the middle class any more and never from the top.

A recent report by the Congressional Research Service helps to put the executive pay issue into a real-world context. CEOs make, on average, 179 times as much as rank and file workers, double the 90-to-1 ratio in 1994, according to the agency's calculations.

And those famous $1 CEO salaries? Flashy, but mostly a mirage as well. Read the rest of this post...

G8 strikes again - $60 billion pledge "misleading"

Ugh. It's great that world leaders get together for functions like the G8 but are they ever going to move beyond these big statements that add up to nothing? At this point, why bother if this is the best they can do? The over-hyped and under-delivered routine is old. Bono is 100% spot on:

But the declaration set out no specific timetable, saying the money would flow "over the coming years." Neither did it break down individual countries' contributions or spell out how much of the sum had been previously promised.

"I am exasperated," Irish rock star and anti-poverty campaigner Bono told Reuters. "I think it is deliberately the language of obfuscation. It is deliberately misleading."

Read the rest of this post...

US military planning to withdraw next year, whether we win or lose

Funny, I seem to remember something about us staying as long as it takes to get the job done. Now we're talking about leaving next year, no matter what. (Conveniently before the presidential elections.) I guess that means the terrorists will be following us home and killing our children, as George Bush, John McCain and the Republicans kept telling us would happen if we left before the job was done. Read the rest of this post...