It seems that some of the press gaggles archived on the White House website have, um, gone missing. For example, you can no longer access the press gaggle where Ari Fleischer says: But there’s a bigger picture here, and this is what’s fundamental—the case for war against Iraq was based on the threat that Saddam Hussein posed because of his … Read More
Another R.I.P.
TV Dinner Inventor Gerry Thomas Dies Gerry Thomas, credited with inventing the TV dinner more than a half-century ago and giving it its singular name, has died at the age of 83. Thomas died Monday, Terry Crowley at Messinger Mortuary said Wednesday. He had a long bout with cancer, relatives told The Arizona Republic. Thomas was a salesman for Omaha, … Read More
Earth Destruction Watch
Number of days gay marriage legalized in Spain, Canada – 1 Number of days Earth not destroyed – 1 James Dobson – "It will destroy marriage. It will destroy the Earth." [Full credit to Publius]
Bush’s Speech
From the speech: And the larger purpose of our involvement has always been to help the nations of The Middle East become independent and stand alone, self-sustaining, as members of a great world community – at peace with themselves, and at peace with all others. With such an Iraq, our country-and the world will be far more secure than it … Read More
A Sad Passing
R.I.P Shelby Foote. Anyone who fails to read his Civil War narratives and/or enjoy him in Ken Burns’ “The Civil War”, really misses out.
Congressman Questions War And White House Secrecy
"The administration should clarify its intent in [this war]… People lack confidence in the credibility of our government… It’s a difficult thing today to be informed about our government even without all the secrecy. With the secrecy, it’s impossible. The American people will do what’s right when they have the information they need… Who said it? Representative Donald Rumsfeld (R-IL), … Read More
Supreme Court Rules On Ten Commandments
BREAKING NEWS: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Ten Commandment displays are not permissible in courthouses. Well, that’s what the headlines are screaming at the moment. The devil, as they say, is in the details. For example, is the Decalogue permissible if it is part of a larger display about the origins of law? UPDATE No. 1: Decision was 5-4, … Read More
Winnie The Pooh Death Watch
Paul Winchell, the voice of Tigger, died Friday at the age of 82. John Fiedler, the voice of Piglet, died Saturday at the age of 80. Not household names, but you may know them without knowing you know them. Paul Winchell holds a special place in my heart, because he is the subject of my earliest memory. I must have … Read More
Worst. Propaganda. Ever.
A fetus (embodied in a “fresh-faced” young rapper named Nick Cannon) raps in “Can I Live?". Alvin the Chipmuck provides backup vocals. More here.
Intolerance – The Reality Show
Here’s the premise for ABC’s new reality series, “Welcome To The Neighborhood”: Three well-to-do white Christians families get new neighbors. The neighbor-families include an African-American family, a Caucasian family, a Korean family, a Latino family, a gay family, plus one family in which husband and wife are heavily tattooed, and another in which mom and dad are devoted to the … Read More
At Long Last, I Introduce . . .
. . . the religious left. The success of the Religious Right in appropriating the language of Christianity has led many people to become generally wary of religion in the public sphere and of Christianity in particular. The Religious Right has used the language of Christianity to promote an extreme and divisive political agenda that has helped polarize our nation. … Read More
Media Bias
A pregnant mother in California goes missing in 2002, and foul play is suspected. Months later, her body turns up in a San Francisco harbor. Laci Peterson? Wrong. Her name is Evelyn Hernandez. A young attractive woman from the South goes missing. Natalee Holloway? Nope. Her name is Tamika Huston. Never heard of Evelyn Hernandez and Tamika Huston? Of course … Read More
More Krazy Kristian Kookdom
From the Jackson Hole Star Tribune, via Lizard Queen, we learn of a reprehensible protest. A Kansas preacher and gay rights foe whose congregation is protesting military funerals around the country said he’s coming to Idaho on today to picket the memorial for an Idaho National Guard soldier killed in Iraq. The soldier was 19 year old Carrie French (pictured … Read More
Seeing Is Believing
Epilogue to Terri Schiavo: "The brain weighed 615 grams, roughly half of the expected weight of a human brain,” he said. “This damage was irreversible, and no amount of therapy or treatment would have regenerated the massive loss of neurons.” [Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner Jon] Thogmartin said the autopsy report was based on 274 external and internal body images, and an … Read More
Roy Moore – Potential Pain in the GOP Ass?
The Boston Globe suggests an interesting future scenario. Roy Moore, the former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court who refused to follow a federal court order to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the state’s judicial building, is pretty popular in Alabama. And he’s set to run for Governor in 2006 against a rather lackluster tax-raising incumbant governor. If … Read More