Boot-On-The-Ground Check-In Time

Ken AshfordIraqLeave a Comment

So what are our soldiers in Iraq saying?  Is the bad guys, as Cheney said, “in its last throes?”?  Do our fighting men and women (in their ever-decreasing numbers*) see the light at the end of the tunnel? Nope: "I know the party line. You know, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, five-star generals, four-star generals, President Bush, Donald … Read More

Pssst – George! It’s Time To Raise The Terror Alert Level!

Ken AshfordBush & Co.Leave a Comment

Even I am surprised at the Bush sinking ship: Poll: Bush Job Approval Dips to New Low WASHINGTON—As the war in Iraq drags on, President Bush’s job approval and the public’s confidence in the direction he’s taking the nation are at their lowest levels since The Associated Press-Ipsos poll began in December 2003. About one-third of adults, 35 percent, said … Read More

Jesse’s Deathbed Conversion

Ken AshfordHistory, RaceLeave a Comment

In his new book, Jesse Helms admits he was wrong about AIDS back when he thought it was just a gay thing.  He came to see the light thanks to his “friends”, who (he says) include Bono.  Now, there’s a pairing I didn’t expect to see, like, ever. But Jesse can’t quite erase his racist past, try as he might: … Read More

If Dan Rather Had Done This…

Ken AshfordRight Wing and Inept MediaLeave a Comment

Perspectives has exposed Bill O’Reilly for the lying fraud that he is. Specifically, O’Reilly creatively edited an interview with Joe Biden to make it seem like Biden had (to quote O’Reilly) “joined the abuse chorus and called for the shutting down of Guantanamo Bay”. Joe Biden said no such thing.  The graphic below explains it all:

Factoid Du Jour

Ken AshfordBush & Co.Leave a Comment

Bush’s approval rating (around 47%) is about twenty points lower than Clinton’s was around the time of his impeachment. Popular president, my ass.

Fox News Stupidity Of the Day

Ken AshfordRight Wing and Inept MediaLeave a Comment

I know.  It’s like shooting fish in a barrel, but this one I found particularly amusing. The “fair and balanced” network was attacking Democratic Chair Howard Dean yesterday.  Dean, as you may know, made a comment to the effect that the Republican Party is overwhelming dominated by white Christians. Well, Brit Hume at Fox News was going to have none … Read More

I’m It

Ken AshfordPersonalLeave a Comment

Lizard Queen at Bluebus.org* tagged me with this particular meme. (1) Number of books you own: Far too many, especially if you include Samuel French plays (which number in the hundreds). (2) Last book bought: A History of the World In Six Glasses by Tom Standage.  It’s a look at world history and the impact on it from 6 beverages: … Read More

One Has To Wonder…

Ken AshfordRight Wing Punditry/IdiocyLeave a Comment

…why the enraged right is so, er, enraged about the construction of an International Freedom Center (or “IFC") at the site of the former World Trade Center.  As stated in this fact sheet (PDF format), the mission of the IFC is to “strengthen our resolve to preserve freedom, and inspire an end to hatred, ignorance, and intolerance”. Now please tell … Read More

Corruption So Startling, Even GOP Stalwarts Take Notice

Ken AshfordCrime, RepublicansLeave a Comment

You know it’s bad when even GOP senators want to know why the White House is hiding information from Congress on what John Warner called “the most significant defense procurement mismanagement in contemporary history.” Both Warner and John McCain, as well as Carl Levin want to know why the White House is sending redacted emails and other materials to the … Read More

More Playing Politics With Science

Ken AshfordBush & Co., Environment & Global Warming & EnergyLeave a Comment

More evidence of expert assessments being “massaged” at the White House here: A White House official who once led the oil industry’s fight against limits on greenhouse gases has repeatedly edited government climate reports in ways that play down links between such emissions and global warming, according to internal documents. In handwritten notes on drafts of several reports issued in … Read More

Wisdom From The Right, To The Right

Ken AshfordRight Wing Punditry/IdiocyLeave a Comment

Prominent right-wing blogger John Cole speaks the truth and gives sage advice: [Members of the media] may be offensive, in cases biased, and in cases all out jackasses (Linda Foley, Ted Rall, Eason Jordan, and others come immediately to mind), but, as a whole, they are not anti-military, and certainly not treasonous. If the media suffers from some Vietnam syndrome, … Read More

Nothing There

Ken AshfordElection 20041 Comment

For months, wingers have whined about Kerry’s military records, trying to foment grass roots pressure on forcing Kerry to release those records.  Examples here and here.  The right wing blogosphere has “questions” about Kerry’s discharge, although they have nothing to base these “questions” on (in short, it’s a fishing expedition). Well, Kerry finally signed the Form 180 allowing for the … Read More

Tony Award Winners

Ken AshfordPopular Culture1 Comment

BEST MUSICALDirty Rotten ScoundrelsThe Light in the Piazza*Monty Python’s SpamalotThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee BEST PLAYDemocracy*DoubtGem of the OceanThe Pillowman BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICALHank Azaria, Monty Python’s SpamalotGary Beach, La Cage aux Folles*Norbert Leo Butz, Dirty Rotten ScoundrelsTim Curry, Monty Python’s SpamalotJohn Lithgow, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN … Read More