WaPo: Dems. are divided on Iraq

Washington Post has an article about discord among the Democrats over Iraq. News Flash: There's no coherent strategy from the Democrats. The most salient point to me, was in the last paragraph:

"The American people are much farther ahead in their thinking about the war than the White House or the Republican Congress," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.). "They understand we can't continue down this same failed course in Iraq."

Kennedy's right. The American people have had it. Question is whether the Democratic leadership can figure that out. Read the rest of this post...

Open Thread

So final episode of "Six Feet Under." Wow, pretty intense ending. Great show.

And now, another Entourage. Loving that Vince, Mandy Moore better not screw him over again.

What's the latest in non-HBO world? Read the rest of this post...

Bill Gates Funding Intelligent Design Center

The NY Times has a solid piece on the Discovery Institute, the far right religious group posing as a scientific think tank. It shows how they've pushed more and more into public policy and influencing school curriculum by repackaging creationism in a clever manner and changing the debate from science vs. religion (ie evolution versus ID) to "teach the controversy," which sounds reasonable because most parents don't realize what they're really saying is "teach our narrow religious beliefs in science class."

The big surprise for me was finding out the Gates Foundation has provided targeted funding to a branch of the Discovery Institute called Cascadia, which focuses on regional transportation. (They're giving $10 million over ten years.) Cascadia even set up its own separate web site so people wouldn't keep linking it with the creationists. But how can any part of a think tank devoted to attacking science, dumbing down our kids' education and shoving their own fundamentalist beliefs into public schools be trustworthy? The Discovery Institute is the enemy of science and a good education. Why would Bill Gates want to be linked to it in any way? Read the rest of this post...

Newsweek's CW: Bush has gone overboard on 9/11

Newsweek's snarky, weekly column, "CW," which they tell us is "an informal distillation of the ever-changing thinking of Beltway pundits and the chattering classes." Basically, it's the buzz among the MSM and other DC smarty pants. This week, they give Bush a down arrow noting:

His "9/11 link" pro-war offensive is getting offensive. What he's selling, America ain't buying.

Okay, I won't rant about how the MSM has let Bush use 9/11 as a political tool for almost four years now. I will just say, if the MSM is cluing in that Bush is overplaying the 9/11 references, then he is in trouble. Scary thing for the White House is that they have nothing else...nothing...to justify Iraq, now. Read the rest of this post...

Sunday evening open thread

I'm back Wednesday. :-( Been reading the news today, interesting stuff. Hagel and Vietnam, whoosh. I can't wait until the Red Staters finally start to wake up about what a monster Bush has actually created.

Schadenfreude: When Republicans get the government of their dreams, and fuck everything up. Read the rest of this post...

Americablog: The Big Hits Of The Week

A weekly rundown of the top postings on Americablog. These are the stories that drew the most traffic and generated the most comments.

Americablog isn't just for weekdays anymore. The weekend is getting more and more traffic as people realize Americablog never sleeps.

THE WEEKEND

John (temporarily) in Paris discovered the power of stern language with two fiery pieces, "Bush Is A God Damn Liar" and "Leave September 11 The Fuck Alone."

Cindy Sheehan stayed high in our interest with Joe in DC's two items "Front Page of Washington Post for Cindy Sheehan" and "Bush Uses Radio Address To Talk To Cindy Sheehan."

The Washington Post's bizarre decision to sponsor a Pentagon war rally climaxed with John (temporarily) in Paris urging readers "Tell The Washington Post To Stop Sponsoring pro-Bush rallies." The Post later dropped its support.

And Iraq's neighbor got a little nervous after Joe in DC highlighted the breaking story that "Bush Says He'd Use Force Against Iran."


MONDAY

The harrasment of a grieving mother continued as Joe in DC pointed out with postings "Shotgun Hospitality For Camp Casey" and "The neighbors are getting cranky."

"What Makes People Gay?" from Michael in New York inspired lengthy debate.

Karl Rove is never far from our thoughts, thanks to Joe in DC's update "More On Why The FBI Didn't Believe Rove From The Start."

And Michael in New York continued his questioning ways with "What To Do With Europe's Muslims?"

TUESDAY

Cindy Sheehan still had us rapt with attention. That brutal desecration of the war memorial was detailed in "The Neighbors Are Getting REALLY Ugly" from Joe in DC and John (temporarily) in Paris's look at "Pro Cindy Sheehan Protest At US Embassy, Paris, Wed Aug 17."

Michael in New York took Bush to task for not condemning that nasty act with "Mockery Of The Fallen: Why No Outrage?"

And Karl Rove (who feels the legal noose tightening around him) got his due with "Michael Wolff Is Absolutely Right About Rove and the Media" from Joe in DC.


WEDNESDAY

Some nice news for Cindy Sheehan came with the posting "Some Actual Texas Hospitality For Cindy" from Joe in DC.

John (temporarily) in Paris highlighted Bush's inability (or refusal) to take this country's security seriously with his comments on "More Information Suggesting 9-11 Commission Wasn't Giving All The Facts" and "Next US Plane Hijacked Or Blown Up Is Bush And The GOP's Fault."

The Clinton blame game continued with "State Dept. Warned Clinton About Bin Laden In 1996." Michael in New York is waiting for Clinton to be blamed for the rise of communism, world hunger and the assassination of Lincoln.

And Michael in New York highlighted a Rolling Stone article on Republican successes in Congress with "Bush Hobbled By Rove? Hardly."

THURSDAY

The massive media coverage of Cindy Sheehan was celebrated with Joe in DC's useful roundup "Wow. One Woman Can Make A Difference." Sadly, the day would end with his followup "Cindy's Mother Has Had A Stroke...."

Joe in DC also mocked Dick Cheney's tough guy stance with "Cheney: We'll Get 'Em One At A Time."

And a popular web roundup of quotes from Republicans during the Clinton years that should apply doubly to Bush got attention with "Republicans Speak Out Against The War" from Michael in New York.


FRIDAY

Man whore Jeff Guckert got renewed attention via "Gay Washington DC Newspaper Publishing Jeff Gannon as a Columnist" from John (temporarily) in Paris

Joe in DC bemoaned the dumbing down of education with "Dr. Frist: Teach Creationism in Schools."

Michael in New York highlighted a Paul Krugman column in "Bush Stole 2000 Election, 2004 Election, and They'll Do It Again."

And the Pope showed poor timing by staging a youth rally at the same time "Pope Wants Immunity In US For Hiding Crime Of Molesting Boys" said Michael in New York. Read the rest of this post...

Open Thread

What do we need to know? Read the rest of this post...

Hagel: Iraq looking like Vietnam and "We're not winning"

More blunt talk from the Republican Senator from Nebraska:

A leading Republican senator said Sunday the war in Iraq is looking more like the Vietnam conflict from a generation ago.

Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, who received two Purple Hearts and other military honors for his service in Vietnam, reaffirmed his position that the United States needs to develop a strategy to leave Iraq.

"Stay the course is not a policy," said Hagel, a possible White House contender in 2008. "By any standard, when you analyze 2 1/2 years in Iraq ... we're not winning."

Another Republican calling for an exit strategy. Clearly Hagel didn't get the talking points. Now, the White House is going to have to develop a smear strategy to deal with Hagel. He's a decorated war veteran, just the kind of target this White House loves. Read the rest of this post...

Bush staff trashing Cindy

Man, those guys are ugly. Mike Allen has a piece in the Washington Post today asking if Bush screwed up by not meeting with Cindy. It's clear that the White House staff to whom Allen spoke are freaked out by this situation. It's also clear that they are trashing Cindy Sheehan. They lay out a litany of complaints against Sheehan with the hope that by discrediting her, they discredit her movement. One thing is also very evident. The Bush White House has spent a lot of time talking about Cindy Sheehan. If only they spent as much time strategizing about how to fix Iraq as they did how to beat up a mother who lost her son there. Read the rest of this post...

Morning open thread

Will post some more Paris photos later. Chris in Paris gets home today, need to clean the house! Read the rest of this post...