Not A Normal Nuclear Holocaust

The president finally explained tonight why the government was not ready to respond to Hurricane Katrina: this was not a "normal" hurricane, so our government's "normal" response mechanisms could not handle the situation. Forgive me for my confusion, but weren't we supposed to be spending the last four years preparing for a mushroom cloud hanging over Manhattan? Perhaps the government was preparing for a "normal" Nuclear Holocaust? You know, just your everyday, normal armageddon.

Defining Image

These superimposed pictures were taken on the SAME DAY. This image defines the Bush presidency.

Daily Show

Jon Stewart:

"Katrina is President Bush's Monica Lewinsky. The only difference is that Monica Lewinsky didn't have 100,000 people trapped in her vagina."

Government Meltdown

Winston Churchill:

The responsibility of government for the public safety is absolute and requires no mandate. It is in fact the prime object for which governments come into existence.

In that most basic of functions, our government utterly failed last week. It was as if we had no government at all.

Ha

_

Look! Pigs Are Flying!

We here at THE BLUE LINE give Republicans a tough time, but only because they deserve. Today, we give a Republican a big time salute because he deserves it. Senator Frist's decision to support stem cell research is big, bold and admirable.

Congrats to Senator Frist, who has proved against all odds that refreshing snowballs can fall in the most fiery depths of hell.

Bush Speaks To Covert CIA Operatives

Administration Supports Torture (Again

From the Washington Post:

The Bush administration in recent days has been lobbying to block legislation supported by Republican senators that would bar the U.S. military from engaging in "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" of detainees, from hiding prisoners from the Red Cross, and from using interrogation methods not authorized by a new Army field manual.

I've said it once, I've said it twice, and I will say it again. These are not good people. They are war criminals.

An Open Letter To My Boss

Dear Boss,

I would like to make some modifications to my current terms. I believe you should hold the same standard for me that Goerge Bush holds for Karl Rove and the rest of his staff. That is, you will only commit to firing me if I break the law. Otherwise, I'm safe. So what do you say? Do we have a deal?

Thanks,
Evan

Case Closed

From the "Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement" Karl Rove signed in order ot get his security clearance:

"Before ... confirming the accuracy of what appears in the public source, the signer of the SF 312 must confirm through an authorized official that the information has, in fact been declassified. If it has not, ... confirmation of its accuracy is also an unauthorized disclosure."

At Last, I Agree With Karl

"I've already said too much."

-Karl Rove speaking to Matt Cooper.

Benedict Rove

Both of my readers have asked me in the last couple days why I haven't written much about Benedict Rove.

The bottom line is I don't feel like there is much point in arguing with these people. They are so dumb and/or such political hacks that you simply can't argue with them. Sorry, but it is just that simple. They insist on using up-is-down logic at every turn and simply do not have the the capacity for objective thought. It's like the people who claim that the situation in Iraq is clearly getting better since the increased violence is a sign that the terrorists are getting desperate...um, yeah, and if a nuclear bomb goes off in Times Square tomorrow we can rejoice in knowing that victory is at at hand. There is just no sense in arguing with people like this. They purchased a one-way ticket away from Reality-ville a long time ago.

So, my advice to my progressive friends is to pull up a chair, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the show. The entertainment value of this one is off the charts. I will get around to some not so inspired posts about America's favorite traitor soon, but just because I couldn't be more amused by the whole situation.

Quack

So, um, what happened to Bush's Social Security plan? And what about John Bolton?

If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, and looks like a duck...quack.

Michael Schiavo Is At It Again

From "The Swift Report":

Florida Governor Jeb Bush has asked a state prosecutor to investigate possible links between Hurricane Dennis and Michael Schiavo. Governor Bush said that he connected Mr. Schiavo with the category 3 storm after realizing that Dennis spelled backwards is actually 'sinned.'

Happy Days

Is anyone having as much fun with this Rove story as I am?

How Does Karl Look in Orange?

Traitor.

Now What?

We've taken down Afghanistan. We've taken down Hussein. Excuse the language, but we've blown a lot of shit up. Yet, according to our State Department, the level of international terrorist attacks is at an all time high. The terrorists have hit us hard in New York, Washington, Madrid, London, Kabul and Baghdad.

There has been more international terrorism in the last 4 years than in all of modern times combined. In any normal society this would be seen as an indication that our strategy is not working. We all need to understand that the rosey scenario where Baghdad falls and the terrorists sink with the ship just isn't going to happen.

We progressives have a few different ideas. Maybe it's time we take Plan B out for a spin.

The Question On Everyone's Mind

Is Roe V. Wade about to die?

Abortion is likely to re-enter the American political scene as a major factor in determining votes, not just for the die hards on both sides, but for the swing voters as well.

Good, America really needed another issue to divide us.

Bush's Speech

Yawn.

Definition of the Day

quag•mire
Pronunciation: (kwag'mīur", kwog'-)
n. 1. an area of miry or boggy ground whose surface yields under the tread; a bog.
2. a situation from which extrication is very difficult

Chuck

I really urge you to read this article about Chuck Hagel, the respectable Republican Senator from Nebraska.

Skeptics might say that he is just trying to carve out a niche for himself before he runs for president in 2008. However, I have to think his recent rebellion against President Bush is much more than a political game. He seems to be genuinely concerned that Iraq is turning in to the same war he fought in the Pacific decades ago. If other reasonable republicans will take the route that Senator Hagel has chosen, George Bush will be forced to change his failed policies. We progressives can scream our heads off, but it won't make Bush change a thing. But if Republicans start demanding action, the noise will be heard and action will follow.

We can't wait until a new president comes along. If we do, I assure you, we will lose this thing. Moderate, reasonable republicans are, quite frankly, the only hope we have of winning this thing.

UPDATE: Here is what Dick "We Will Be Greeted With Orgasms in the Street" Cheney had to say about Senator Hagel:

Since 9/11, we've had people like Chuck Hagel and other politicians and we've had people in the press corps and commentators who've said we can't do Afghanistan.

Chuck Hagel never said we couldn't do Afghanistan. He absolutely never said anything of the sort. It's a flat out lie. It's slander. It's why good Republicans are afraid to speak out. It's why we are losing this war.

Oops

The most stunning poll results I have ever seen.

Forty-nine percent (49%) of Americans say that President Bush is more responsible for starting the War with Iraq than Saddam Hussein. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that 44% take the opposite view and believe Hussein shoulders most of the responsibility.

Did you ever think you'd see the day when the American people would blame their own president for starting a war more than they blame a maniacal dictator?

Good work, George. Quite a legacy you're building.

We do Have Reason to be Proud

Click picture to enlarge