RIP Paddy

RIP Paddy. This world is a better place for your having been here. Know that you had an impact on things that matter most during your far too short time with us. You will be missed!

Wow, the place looks great!!!

*Sniff* I kinda missed it. Maybe I'll stick around and re-arrange the furniture a bit.


Does that lamp look okay over there? Different shade maybe?

Okay, for my 3 regular viewers...

I'm having so much fun blogging with Mr Schecter, that I just don't have time to come up with enough regular original content to keep doing this blog. Don't get me wrong, I'm keeping the pickles, but just taking a break until either I get into enough of a routine to do both or..... whatever.

You can find me at Cliff Schecter.

Gherkins of Info.....

I am a neglectful Pickle Woman. *sigh*


Crooks & Liars

The Progressive:

It is the soldiers, their families, and the people of Iraq that pay the human costs. The tab so far: more than 3,000 dead U.S. troops, tens of thousands of wounded, over half a million Iraqi casualties, roughly 250,000 American servicemen and women struggling with PTSD, and almost 60,000 military marriages that have been broken by this war.

Democrats Meet Testicles, Testicles Meet Democrats

Democrats pressured to drop Fox News despite compromise

By MOLLY BALL
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Not satisfied with the Nevada Democratic Party's attempts to placate them, online activists say they won't rest until the party's partnership with Fox News is severed.

"People like Harry Reid and Tom Collins probably are not in touch with rank and file Democrats, who have been pretty mad about the lack of spine in the party for about 20 years," he said. "The Democratic Party has been rolling over for Republicans for ages."

Oh, Man.... can we get this guy to "purify" the US from coast to coast?

Priests to Purify Site After Bush Visit
JUAN CARLOS LLORCA | AP | March 9, 2007 12:20 AM EST

GUATEMALA CITY — Mayan priests will purify a sacred archaeological site to eliminate "bad spirits" after President Bush visits next week, an official with close ties to the group said Thursday.

"That a person like (Bush), with the persecution of our migrant brothers in the United States, with the wars he has provoked, is going to walk in our sacred lands, is an offense for the Mayan people and their culture," Juan Tiney, the director of a Mayan nongovernmental organization with close ties to Mayan religious and political leaders, said Thursday.

Southern Baptist Mengeles?

Original Sin
Posted Mar 9th 2007 9:00AM by Richard Rothstein
Filed under: Gay Rights, Religion, Homophobia

One of the nation's leading Southern Baptists has called for a policy that would support medical treatment, if it were to become available, to change the sexual orientation of a fetus inside its mother's womb from homosexual to heterosexual.

This latest assault on our dignity and existence comes from no less a personage than Rev. R. Albert Mohler, the president of the prominent and influential Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world.

Could Edwards Become First Woman President?

Head meet desk.

Chreeestofer!!!

South Bend Area Barbies

Mattel recently announced the release of limited-edition Barbie Dolls for the South Bend area market:

"Clay Township Barbie"
This princess Barbie is sold only at UP Mall. She comes with an assortment of Kate Spade Handbags, a Lexus SUV, a long-haired foreign dog named Honey and a cookie-cutter house. Available with or without tummy tuck and face lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with the augmented version.


"Mishawaka Barbie"
The modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Wind star Minivan
and matching gym outfit. She gets lost easily and has no full-time occupation. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately.

"River Park Barbie"
This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife,a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a Meth Lab Kit. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) ...unless you are a cop, then we don't know what you are talking about.

"Granger Barbie"
This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of BMW convertible or Hummer H2.Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. You won't be able to afford any of them.

"Osceola Barbie"
This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too
small, a NASCAR t-shirt and tweety bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Bud light and a Hank Williams Jr. CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and kick mullet-haired Ken's butt when she is drunk. Purchase her pickup truck separately and get a confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free.

"Gilmer Park Barbie"
This tobacco-chewing, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own high-heeled sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased beer-gutted Ken out of Osceola Barbie's house. Her ensemble includes low-rise acid-washed jeans, fake fingernails, and a see-through halter-top. Also available with a mobile home.

"Western Avenue Barbie Set"
This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her Willow . She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Point Breeze Barbies and the optional Subaru wagon, you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free.

"Southeast Side Barbie"
This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional accessories include a GED and bus pass. Gangsta Ken and his 1979 Caddy were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of the infant.

"100 Center Barbie/Ken"
This versatile doll can be easily converted from Barbie to Ken by simply adding or subtracting the multiple snap-on parts.

Helen Thomas To The Back Of The Room.

I'm pissed... again.

There were rumblings about this last week, when Faux Freaks in the AM took a poll as to whether or not they should get a seat in the front for the gaggle and kick Helen out. I figured they were full of s**t.

Guess not.

Politico

Helen Thomas Moving Back After 46 Years Down Front

By: Mike Allen
February 20, 2007 04:47 PM EST

Every theater-style seat in the White House briefing room, now closed for renovation, had a brass plaque inscribed with the name of a news organization. Only one, in the middle of the front row, had a name: “HELEN THOMAS,” it said.
(snip)

The press corps is scheduled to move from temporary facilities back into the spiffed-up, rewired briefing room in May or June. Thomas, who has been questioning presidents and press secretaries for 46 years, plans to be there. But her front-row seat won’t be. Plans call for her to be moved to the second row to make room for a cable news channel – a sign of Washington’s changing pecking order, and of the new ways that Americans get their news.

THE NEW WAYS AMERICANS GET THEIR NEWS MIKE?

You mean giving credence to LIARS AND FABRICATORS, not tough minded JOURNALISTS who believe in the TRUTH? I'm having vapors, I'm so F**KING PISSED.

THIS IS THE WAY A JOURNALIST SPEAKS.

I pointed out that there is a school of thought that questions are worth asking even if the president won’t answer them. “At least the public’ll know you’re doing your job,” she said. “Questions should be out there, because the American people have seen us become so compliant and complicit. You were there for the run-up to the war. Where were the questions? Who asked why, what, what do you mean? We drop bombs and we accuse the enemy of meddling? We attack a country that did nothing on us? We dropped bombs on innocent people and started this war. You were there. Nobody said why.” When she paused and I filled the silence with “fascinating,” she continued: “It isn’t fascinating. It’s rid– it’s, it’s sad.”

Good thing Helen has more grace than I, 'cause I'd be firebombing Faux headquarters as we speak.

Pickled Stuffed Meatloaf

Sandwich-cut pickles aren't just for layering between bread.
Here, they are used in meatloaf.
Tomato slices, mushrooms and mozzarella cheese provide color and flavor accents.

2 eggs
1/2 cup flavored dry breadcrumbs
1/3 cup milk
1/2 cup minced onions
1 teaspoon each dried oregano and basil
1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
2 pounds lean ground beef
4 slices mozzarella cheese
6 sliced-lengthwise-for-sandwiches dill pickles
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1 tomato, sliced



Preheat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat together eggs, breadcrumbs, milk, onions, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and combine. Place half of ground beef mixture into bottom of roasting pan and mild loaf approximately 3 inches wide and 7 inches long. Fold 2 slices cheese in half and lay lengthwise down center of loaf. Top with 3 pickles, mushrooms, tomato slices and remaining pickles. Fold remaining slices of cheese in half and place on top of pickles.

Mold remaining meat mixture on top, making sure all stuffing is covered on all sides, as well as top. Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 40 to 50 more minutes, or until meat is no longer pink on the inside.

Serves 4 to 6. Per serving: Calories 551; fat 39g; saturated fat 16g; cholesterol 203mg; carbohydrate 13g; sodium 1,538 mg; protein 36g.

Shining A Green Tinged Light On The News.....

Military Asks "24" Producers To Stop Promoting Torture

In fact, Finnegan and the others had come to voice their concern that the show’s central political premise—that the letter of American law must be sacrificed for the country’s security—was having a toxic effect. In their view, the show promoted unethical and illegal behavior and had adversely affected the training and performance of real American soldiers. “I’d like them to stop,” Finnegan said of the show’s producers. “They should do a show where torture backfires.”

Wonder why Net Neutrality is so important? The Agonist Spins a Tale.....

Questions That Should Be Asked

I wonder if the U.S. government has ever asked the Iraqi government the following question:

If the war started between U.S. and Iran, on which side the Iraqi government will be?

Who knew the Pope was a dinosaur. (Frank Gaffney Smackdown Deluxe)

I can't grab the video, so go to Crooks & Liars to see Colbert take Fauxs' Steve Douchey to town over trying to take away Helen Thomas' pressroom seat.

Major Kudos to my fellow Bloosier John Good on catching this..

KSFR says NO to unnamed source stories

After the recent widely-publicized stories in the main stream media about weapons from Iran allegedly killing Americans in Iraq, based completely on unnamed sources, at least one smaller news outlet has had enough of it.

Bill Dupuy, the news director of the public radio station KSFR in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has directed his staff to ignore national stories that quote unnamed sources. He also challenged other news outlets to take the same stance.

PUNKS. All 5 Reps that parroted the "Slow Bleed" meme on the floor yesterday, well, they are just fucking punks.

If only their rhetoric matched their voting record. In October 2003, as insurgent violence in Iraq was growing and military equipment shortages were becoming increasingly problematic, Rep. David Obey (D-WI) proposed an amendment shifting $3.6 billion to pay for better equipment and other quality-of-life measures for U.S. troops. Not one of the five voted for it.

That’s a real recipe for “slow bleed.”

Liebermans' Right Hand Guy Says Bloggers Are Teh MEAN!!!!

Liebermans' Right Hand Guy Says Bloggers Are Teh MEAN!!!!

And loud, and they curse and make fun of people!! Oy.

Dan Gerstein writing for an ever declining Politico

Nor did they ever stop to think how hollow and hypocritical it sounded for the same people who ravaged George Allen, for his “macaca” moment in last year’s Virginia Senate campaign to cry “free speech” when confronted with a far more nasty, vulgar, and hurtful display of prejudice from two of their own.

Instead, right until the bitter end, most liberal bloggers responded in their familiar mode – by lashing out at their critics and trying to marginalize them. This was, in their eyes, purely a manufactured controversy by the “right-wing smear machine” and a cynical attempt to silence and marginalize the Netroots.

First Danny hun, George Allen was a CANDIDATE. Melissa & Amanda were gonna write PR posts on a blog. Hmmmm, you see a difference here? I know I do!!!

Second, where's the outrage over the man behind the "Call Me" anti-Ford ads working for McCain? Or any one of the many other fringe employees for Republican candidates?

THAT'S the kind of stuff that leads us to theorize it's a RIGHT WING SMEAR MACHINE ATTEMPT TO SILENCE AND MARGINALIZE THE NETROOTS!!!

Because it is Dan, it really truly is.

And let me quote myself from the comment I left at Politico on your article.

And hey!!
Whatever happened to that lawsuit about the Lamont people "attacking" your website? If you're not smart enough to set up a decent website for a senatorial candidate, I'm not paying attention to the rest of the stuff you claim to be an expert on.

We Got Some Good Ones

It's Been A Long Week

I feel about MSNBC the way I do about an old boyfriend. I can't trust him, sometimes he's FANTASTIC, but man, when he sucks- HE REALLY SUCKS.

Tonite on MSNBC I heard lies & innuendos about the "Pelosi Plane" bullshit & the
"Obama Madrassa" bullshit. No facts- not a single one of the talking heads (which included 2 Chicago JOURNALISTS) had the facts. Say what you may about Tweety Bird Matthews, he actually asked for facts from Terry "Human Events" Jefferies & Ron "Hey, You Can't Pick Your Dad" Reagan. NEITHER ONE HAD THE FACTS.

I realize I'm old, and I realize that I'm just some strange lady in Indiana, but when I was on the High School newspaper back in the day, even I knew there are basics to a story.

WHO

WHAT

WHEN

WHERE

WHY

Not single one of these m'f**kers has ANY clue about this. It's all, "Can I get air time? Will it get print space?"

They're all just whores.

Hump Day Hilarity

Lies Coming Home To Roost

Think Progress

Bush’s ‘08 Budget Slashes Middle-Class Assistance
On Jan. 31, President Bush headed to Wall Street and acknowledged for the first time that income inequality exists in America: “The fact is that income inequality is real. It has been rising for more than 25 years.”

But apparently, he’s not quite ready to do anything about it. Bush’s 2008 budget cuts crucial aid for America’s middle class:

– “$77 billion in funding cuts for Medicare and Medicaid over the next five years, and $280 billion over the next 10.”

– $223 million in funding cuts (4 percent decrease from this year’s levels) to the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

– “$4.9 billion, or 8 percent, cut in education, training, employment and social services” grants.

– $100 million cut for Head Start, which provides child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families.

– “$2.4 billion cut in community and regional development grants — which often provide funding for low- and middle-income communities — to $16.5 billion from $18.9 billion.

– $400 million — 18 percent — cut in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, “which provides $2.2 billion to help people pay heating bills this year.”

– $172 million — nearly 25 percent — cut in funding for housing for low-income seniors.

While Bush forgot about the middle class in the new budget, he made sure to look out for the wealthy. As the Tax Policy Center notes, “People with incomes of more than $1 million would get tax cuts averaging $162,000 a year (in 2012 dollars) in perpetuity.”

I'm coming Senator Lugar

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 110th Congress - 1st Session

as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate
Vote Summary

Question: On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S. 470 )
Measure Title: A bill to express the sense of Congress on Iraq.
Vote Counts: YEAs 49
NAYs 47
Not Voting 4
Vote Summary By Senator Name By Vote Position By Home State

Alphabetical by Senator Name Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Alexander (R-TN), Nay
Allard (R-CO), Nay
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Bennett (R-UT), Nay

Lott (R-MS), Nay
Lugar (R-IN), Nay

I've been lucky enough to have a good relationship with the people at Senator Lugars' Ft Wayne office, but it looks like I'm going to be spending some time on the telephone with them tomorrow..... and all the other offices.

What exactly is democratic about stifling debate? Did Senator Lugar not take an oath to protect the Constitution? IS THAT WHAT SENATOR LUGAR IS? Someone who cares more about political maneuvering than American citizens & Iraqi civilians DYING because of a case of "If We Lose I'll Be Neutered"itis?

It may be time to start seriously looking for a Democratic opponent for Senator Lugar in '08. He obviously is insulated from the will of his constituents.

NO MORE TROOPS!!!! NO MORE DEATH!!!!
"CAPTURE, BUILD AND HAND IT OVER!!!!!"

NOW.

senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov


WASHINGTON, D.C.
(202) 224-4814

INDIANAPOLIS
(317) 226-5555

NORTHEAST
(260) 422-1505

NORTHWEST
ph: (219) 548-8035

SOUTHEAST
(812) 288-3377

SOUTHWEST
(812) 465-6313

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat.....

Don't let them get away with it...

TPM

TPM Reader SS on the senate squabble: "I think it's pretty simple. Everyone voting today to shut this down "voted to support President Bush's escalation in Iraq." That's the language I would bash them over the heads with for the 21 months between today and election day 2008. There's nothing untrue about that statement. It's a parliamentary tactic designed to support the President escalation in Iraq by silencing those who wish to criticize the President's decision."

Words To Live By......

This Almost Made Me Cry With It's Truth

By Dan Froomkin
froomkin@niemanwatchdog.org

Lessons we thought had been learned from Vietnam were forgotten in the rush to invade Iraq. And now, as we cover President Bush’s ratcheting up of the rhetoric against Iran, it’s looking like the lessons we should have learned from Iraq may not have been learned at all. So at the risk of stating the obvious, here are some thoughts about what those lessons were. (Feel free to add more in comments.)

You Can’t Be Too Skeptical of Authority

1. Don’t assume anything administration officials tell you is true. In fact, you are probably better off assuming anything they tell you is a lie.

2. Demand proof for their every assertion. Assume the proof is a lie. Demand that they prove that their proof is accurate.

3. Just because they say it, doesn’t mean it should be make the headlines. The absence of supporting evidence for their assertion -- or a preponderance of evidence that contradicts the assertion -- may be more newsworthy than the assertion itself.
Don’t print anonymous assertions. Demand that sources make themselves accountable for what they insist is true.

Provocation Alone Does Not Justify War

4. War is so serious that even proving the existence of a casus belli isn’t enough. Make officials prove to the public that going to war will make things better.

5. Demand to know what happens if the war (or tactical strike) doesn’t go as planned?
Demand to know what happens if it does? What happens after “victory”?

6. Ask them: Isn’t it possible this will make things worse, rather than better?

Be Particularly Skeptical of Secrecy

Don’t assume that these officials, with their access to secret intelligence, know more than you do.

Alternately, assume that they do indeed know more than you do – and are trying to keep intelligence that would undermine their arguments secret.

The entire article is MUST READ.
If only our press and media read it also...

This Weeks' "Oh MY".

Raw Story

Bush says he likes to keep people around with low expectations

John Byrne
Published: Saturday February 3, 2007


U.S. President George Bush told the NHL champion Carolina Hurricanes Friday he likes to be "around people that keep expectations low," according to a UPI report Friday.

"Bush congratulated the 2005-06 Stanley Cup winners at the White House, noting the team was ranked 28 out of 30 at the beginning of last season," UPI said.

"I like to be around people that keep expectations low," Bush said.

Good thing huh?

Pickle Festival Pickle Ice Cream

Top your pumpkin pie with a scoop of this unique ice cream. It’s one of the favorite ice creams served at the ice cream tent of the St. Joe Pickle Festival. All the ice cream is made by the Lion’s Club members.

Ingredients
1 4-ounce package vanilla ice cream mix (we used Junket)
2 cups half-and-half
3 tablespoons finely shredded Sechler’s Sweet Orange Strip or Sweet Lemon Strip Pickles or Sweet Gerkins, drained
1 tablespoon juice from the Sechler’s pickles
1 teaspoon lemon extract
Several drops green food coloring (if you like)

Directions
Stir together the ice cream mix according to package directions (it’s a dry mix), using half-and-half as the liquid. Stir until mix is dissolved. Stir in the shredded pickle, pickle juice and lemon extract. Add green food coloring, if you want green ice cream. Using a 1- to 2-quart ice cream freezer, prepare ice cream according to manufacturer’s directions. Makes about 1 quart pickle ice cream.

We used the dry junket mix for this version, but you can make your favorite ice cream. Just add the shredded pickles, pickle juice and lemon extract in the amount proportional to the amount of ice cream the recipe makes. For example, a 2-quart recipe would use double the amound of pickles, pickle juice and lemon extract.

Shining A Green Tinged Light On The News.....

Russia probes smelly orange snow



Russia has flown a team of chemical experts to a Siberian region to find out why smelly, coloured snow has been falling over several towns.
Oily yellow and orange snowflakes fell over an area of more than 1,500sq km (570sq miles) in the Omsk region on Wednesday, Russian officials said.

Chemical tests were under way to determine the cause, they said.

Residents have been advised not to use the snow for household tasks or let animals graze on it.

"So far we cannot explain the snow, which is oily to the touch and has a pronounced rotten smell," said Omsk environmental prosecutor Anton German, quoted by the Russian news agency Itar-Tass on Thursday.


The origin of the orange effect is still a mystery (pic: Russian TV)
"We are waiting for the results of a thorough test on samples."

Gore ex-campaign chief wishes on her star. 'Wait till Oscar night,' Donna Brazile says of a possible 2008 run.

By Daryl Nerl Of The Morning Call
Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are the hot early front-runners, while 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry has already bowed out.

But could former Vice President Al Gore be waiting to make a dramatic entrance into the 2008 presidential race, especially if he wins an Oscar next month?

His former campaign manager, Donna Brazile, strongly implied that possibility while speaking at Moravian College in Bethlehem Tuesday night.

''Wait till Oscar night,'' Brazile told an audience of about 100 people at Haupert Student Union. ''I tell people: 'I'm dating. I haven't fallen in love yet.' On Oscar night, if Al Gore has slimmed down 25 or 30 pounds, Lord knows.''
(snip)
Before making her Oscar night comment, she said she was ''so proud'' of Gore's work to bring attention to global warming.

''I believe [Gore] is ready for this moment,'' Brazile said in an interview after her speech. ''He is a good leader. I think he can be one of the few leaders who can bring this country together.''

She acknowledged it will be a tough decision for Gore, noting Kerry's announcement last week to bow out of the race. Gore believes he is now doing his life's work, Brazile said. However, she conceded that Gore might be able to do more about global climate change from inside the Oval Office. He has already made an impact by forcing President Bush to talk about the issue, she said.

NYT: Pentagon altered casualty figures on website

RAW STORY
Published: Friday February 2, 2007

The New York Times reported today that the Pentagon has altered how nonfatal casualties are tallied on its website, thus resulting in lower casualty totals.

According to Dr. Michael Kilpatrick, deputy director of force health protection and readiness at the Defense Department, "the previous method of tallying casualties was misleading and might have made injuries and combat wounds seem worse and more numerous than they really were," the Times reports.