August 13, 2009
May 17, 2009
Rumsfeld and the Crusades memos
“On the morning of Thursday, April 10, 2003, Donald Rumsfeld’s Pentagon prepared a top-secret briefing for George W. Bush. This document, known as the Worldwide Intelligence Update, was a daily digest of critical military intelligence so classified that it circulated among only a handful of Pentagon leaders and the president; Rumsfeld himself often delivered it, by hand, to the White House. The briefing’s cover sheet generally featured triumphant, color images from the previous days’ war efforts: On this particular morning, it showed the statue of Saddam Hussein being pulled down in Firdos Square, a grateful Iraqi child kissing an American soldier, and jubilant crowds thronging the streets of newly liberated Baghdad. And above these images, and just below the headline SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, was a quote that may have raised some eyebrows. It came from the Bible, from the book of Psalms: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him…To deliver their soul from death.”
This mixing of Crusades-like messaging with war imagery, which until now has not been revealed, had become routine. On March 31, a U.S. tank roared through the desert beneath a quote from Ephesians: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” On April 7, Saddam Hussein struck a dictatorial pose, under this passage from the First Epistle of Peter: “It is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.”
In the days surrounding the U.S. invasion of Iraq, cover sheets–like the ones in this slideshow–began adorning top-secret intelligence briefings produced by Ronald Rumsfeld’s Pentagon. The sheets juxtaposed war images with inspirational Bible quotes and were delivered by Rumsfeld himself to the White House, where they were read by the man whom, just after September 11, referred to America’s war on terror as a “crusade.” From GQ.
May 15, 2009
Bush/Cheney kept us safe through torture.
If 3,000 Americans had been killed on your watch, in an attack that could have been prevented, perhaps you’d be a little hesitant to accuse anyone else of endangering America. And if you had advocated torture, and the torture produced false information that you used to mislead America into an unwise, unjust and unwarranted war, you might be a tad sheepish about defending the use of torture.
Paul Begala, “Mr. Cheney, You did not keep us safe.”
April 5, 2009
Ruling upholds proud Iowa tradition
…[P]rotection of liberty, even in the face of contrary popular opinion, is an Iowa tradition. The very first reported decision in the territorial era protected the liberty of a former slave, and the court has built upon that foundation over the past 170 years. On Friday, the court added another historic decision to the body of Iowa constitutional law.
Des Moines Register, “Ruling Upholds Proud Iowa Tradition”
January 22, 2009
December 29, 2008
July 21, 2008
“Pull up your pants!”
“In the south Chicago suburb of Lynwood, village leaders have passed an ordinance that would levy $25 fines against anyone showing three inches or more of their underwear in public. [In Jasper South Carolina, a "proposed ordinance ... carries a maximum penalty of $500 and 30 days in jail."] (more…)
July 20, 2008
“The most exploited worker in American history”
Phil Gramm, until yesterday John McCain’s campaign co-chair, referred to Ed Whitacre–former CEO of AT&T, who retired with a $158 million pay package– as “probably the most exploited worker in American history.” Read article
July 16, 2008
Your reps’ rides (Rangel is old-school: a Caddy)
Representative Charles Rangel is proud of his leased-through-Congress 2004 Cadillac DeVille. And he even offers rides to constituents, so they can discuss issues. Rangel told the NY Times, “I want them to feel that they are somebody and their congressman is somebody. And when they say, ‘This is nice,’ it feels good.” (more…)
July 15, 2008
Dyson on Obama
Michael E. Dyson of Georgetown criticizes Obama’s speech on African-American families. (more…)
