mypetjawa v. 2.0 (beta) "<i>Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to ev

February 19, 2005

Bad Naked

There is an old stereotype about nudists. Stereotypes are not always true, only mostly true. That is why they tend to be so long-lasting. Here is the evidence. (safe for work)

Posted by: Rusty at 10:13 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Iran's 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Policy

I've known for a long time about tolerance in the great land formerly known as Persia. In Iran, the maximum penalty for being gay is death. But the Religion of Tolerance does allow you to be a Christian. See, tolerant. However, if you try to practice your Christianity and follow the Great Commission you will be thrown in jail. And if you happend to convert to Christianity? Jail--or worse. The maximum sentence for conversion to Christianity in Iran is death.

Today a knew one for me. In Iran, it appears Christians are also barred from military service. Compass Direct:

Yesterday a Tehran military court sentenced Iranian Christian pastor Hamid Pourmand to jail for three years, ordering his immediate transfer to a group prison cell in TehranÂ’s notorious Evin Prison.
The former army colonel was found guilty of deceiving the Iranian armed forces by not declaring when he acquired officer rank that he was a convert from Islam to Christianity. Under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is illegal for a non-Muslim to serve as a military officer.
During yesterdayÂ’s hearing, PourmandÂ’s lawyer produced several documents in which his clientÂ’s military superiors had acknowledged years ago that the colonel was a Christian. He had even been excused by his commander from observing the Muslim month of fasting, an exemption granted only to non-Muslims.....

The next part sounds eerily similar to the way in which Muslim states treat Jews. Jews are routinely accused of being spies for Israel and are forbidden from making any contact with family members in 'The Zionist Entity. The mass migration of 500,000 Jews out of Muslim dominated countries to Israel can be partially blamed on this scapegoating of Jews as 'Zionist spies'.

During the hearing, prosecutors also questioned Pourmand closely on accusations that he had been involved in spying against his country. Â“They have nothing at all to prove this,Â” one acquaintance of the lay pastor told Compass. Â“He denied it, because he really had no contact with foreigners at all. He is not that kind of person.Â”
In 1990, the Iranian regime used trumped-up spying charges as a pretext to arrest, try and execute a convert Christian pastor from Mashhad for alleged Â“treason.Â” ...
A lawyer acting on behalf of PourmandÂ’s family said he will appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court. Simultaneously, he hopes to block efforts to put Pourmand on trial before a sharia court of Islamic law, where under charges of apostasy and proselytizing he could be sentenced to death.

ht: Robert Spencer

Posted by: Rusty at 09:51 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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February 18, 2005

Is Brit Hume a Gay Prostitute?

Having taken down the highly influential and powerful media figure of Jeff Gannon, the left takes on the VRWC's #2 man--Brit Hume.

Sources inside Media Matters have revealed that Brit Hume misquoted FDR and is really a gay prostitute name 'Joe Hung'. He also likes gay sex, with gay men.

When asked about the matter, Duncan 'Atrios' Black said:

You wingnuts just don't get it. This is not abut sex, this is about Brit Hume lying about the icon of heterosexual masculinity's, FDR's--a real ladies man, a man who was schtooping some really fine secretaries (not like that bull-dyke, Eleanor!!)--view of Social Security. FDR felt the same way about Social Security as Bill Clinton, who as we all know banged a lot of chicks in the White House. This is not about the sordid details of Brit Hume's secret gay life as a gay prostitute with gay men. Nor is it about all the gay sex he was having with those hypocritical and biggotted Republican Nazis who hate gays because they secretly are gay in the White House. It's not even about whether or not the President knew Hume was probably having gay sex with Andy Card for money. No, this is about lying.
Why do you wingnuts always focus in on the sex? Homophobes.

Bill at INDC has the Oliver Willis wing of Media Matters reaction after he stopped taking his meds.

Goldstein has the vital background info here. He also has an important poll up here.

Kevin at Wizbang offers a blow by blow smack down of Gannongate (via TxFx). Meanwhile, I received this informative press release letting me know of the importance of Gannongate:

WHITE HOUSE SCRAMBLES TO EXPLAIN
FAKE REPORTER IN ITS PRESS CORPS
Feb.17, 2005 -Internet researchers have uncovered new evidence that contradicts the Bush Administration's claims about James Guckert, a Republican activist allegedly involved in criminal activities [ed note: italics added]and linked to an incident involving a major breach of national security [update: added the bold] . Guckert, operating as "Jeff Gannon," was granted daily access to White House press briefings for more than two years as a "reporter" [ed note: the quotes are original, but I wish I had added them]for Talon "News" [update: added "" around News for dramatic affect].
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan stated that Guckert was granted access in part because he was affiliated with a news organization that "publishes regularly." But yesterday, bloggers discovered video footage suggesting this standard was not applied to Guckert. Video footage of a Feb. 28, 2003 White House press briefing shows Guckert, apparently unaffiliated with any news organization [ed note: how does video suggest this, er...???], asking former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer a question. It is unclear why Guckert was granted any pass at this time, since the Internet-based Talon News did not register its domain name until March 29, 2003. [ed note: plant!!! See, Bush=Hitler, chimp-shrub-Bush is a liar, thousands died because Bush lied!!]
Maureen Dowd, a Pulitzer Prize [update: italics added] winning columnist for the New York Times, reported today she was denied press credentials at the start of the Bush administration in 2001. Yet Guckert, whose only journalistic training was derived from a $50 weekend seminar, was repeatedly granted access. [ed note: $50 gained by renting his cornhole out to the highest bidder (not that there's anything wrong with that)0
Despite calls from Congress for the White House to disclose its standards for entrance to the briefing room, the Bush administration has yet to reveal its credentialing standards or details surrounding the scandal, including: specific dates when Guckert was admitted to the briefing room, how many passes he was issued, as well as how he cleared a Secret Service background check while owing the state of Delaware over $20,000 in back taxes (penalties and interest) and possibly engaging in prostitution, as revealed by Americablog.org. [ed note: but this is not about gay sex. Those nude gay pictures of Guckert with a gay erection on Americablog is just incidental to the story]
Guckert has also been implicated in a leak of federal classified information that revealed the identity of CIA undercover agent Valerie Plame [update: italics added--unfortunately, no tinfoil available in html]. Revealing the identity of an undercover agent is a federal crime [ed note: what did Bush know, and when did he know it?? Bush lied thousands died!!].
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan has insisted that President Bush will do anything he can to assist the Plame investigation. But the White House has not answered questions about the role of Guckert in the Plame investigation [ed note: namely, did President Bush have gay sex with Guckert and reveal Plame in a moment of passion?] or his inexplicable access to White House Press Corps briefings.

More on Hume at Rob at Say Anything, Secure Liberty, Confederate Yankee, Villainous Company, and others from Instapundit.

Posted by: Rusty at 12:27 PM | Comments (22) | Add Comment
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1 I apologise as this is off topic but Rusty, you have got to see this shit. http://www.forsakethetroops.info/index.html

Posted by: elliott at February 18, 2005 02:17 PM (yYGP5)

2 Huh? Rusty, what have you been smoking my friend?

Posted by: Brian B at February 18, 2005 04:14 PM (CouWh)

3 He was no more a fake reporter than Dan Rather. Just like Rather he put out his opinions as news. He just happened to be pro America instead of anti America. If this same "standard" were applied at ABC,CBS,NBC,CNN, NYT, WPost, LAT et. al. they would not have anyone to "report". The old double standard of the MSM, or do as I say not as I do.

Posted by: Rod Stanton at February 18, 2005 04:41 PM (spcOy)

4 Hey, revealing CIA agents' names is NOT pro America. It's treason. This sort of guy thinks if a hooker is Republican, he's more "American" than a Democrat preacher.

Posted by: Joe at February 18, 2005 05:52 PM (Lh2hf)

5 NPR beats up on "conservative bloggers" at CPAC http://curbsideprophet7.blogspot.com/2005/02/npr-needlessly-generalizesdenigrates.html

Posted by: James at February 18, 2005 08:05 PM (rl/jf)

6 Gannon had nothing to do with Plame. That is a lefty delusion

Posted by: joe 2 at February 18, 2005 08:13 PM (2grsP)

7 Rusty, fyi - your link to villainous company is a duplicate of the confederate yankee link.

Posted by: Dan at February 18, 2005 10:17 PM (IdIcG)

8 The Left part of the pajamasphere is desparate at this point. They have nothing else to go on. They have 2 issues: hate Bush and raise money. The hate Bush thing hasn't worked out so well, so they have to try anything.

Posted by: William Teach at February 19, 2005 06:30 AM (HxpPK)

9 Jeff Gannon, hyper patriot moral value citizen of virtue, a man with family values, a true american...Hypocrite! Seriously folks, if you have not figured out that this is a very serious issue, you must be "divorced from reality" as Gannon would say. The Bush admin has BROKEN THE LAW by admitting a fake reporter from a fake news service into official executive news briefings. The Bush propaganda machine, whichs holds many of you captive is not only hiring pundits to pimp his policies, but hiring a gay male hooker to create news. It just amazes me that conservatives think they can defend this. It is funny though, irony I guess, that this hotmilitarystud9.com hooker liked to bellow at fellow dittoheads what a "moral values" guy he was because he owned a gun and drove an SUV. That usually describes conservatives, wishing you were something you are not. Truly, to support the GOP lie machine at this point shows pure ignorance and sterility. A true wonder to observe for sure. ernie

Posted by: ernie at February 19, 2005 03:40 PM (ursvs)

10 Ernie got it right. This isn't about Gannon/Guckert being gay. This about someone who espouses the rightwing version of "family values" and works as a prostitute. This is called hypocrisy, not a good fit for those of us not yet divorced from reality. Also, how many laws have been broken? This isn't going to die without some answers. Monica Lewinsky didn't change her name to Mother Theresa because it is easier to pronounce nor did she charge 200 bucks a pop. Monica who?

Posted by: JohnPaul at February 20, 2005 11:43 AM (AaHaX)

11 Why does the religious right hate America? Because they want to install a fascist theocracy.

Posted by: FlushCheney at February 20, 2005 10:06 PM (j38bt)

12 In Guckert's CBC interview, he was asked what he was up to before coming to Talon News. He said he was "pursuing entrepreneurial activities in the private sector." http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/bulldogdc.html This is not a "whore with a heart of gold". This is an evil man without a conscience, though he professes to be a good Christian. He embodies Evil, and just like W, is totally unaware that he is Evil, since his motives of supporting Right wing Republicans are so pure. When he got paid, Gucky probably claimed he was a church. That's what a lot of trashy super right wing guys do. And this man is trash. Actually, this man's behavior really makes all of us appreciate the fine moral standards maintained by those who are brought up in trailer parks in the rural South and housing projects in the urban North. When folks paid him, he wouldn't need to report those "charitable contributions" he collected. And the fellows who gave him contributions really didn't want to be bothered to track those receipts for "charity". I'm sure Gucky's a burglar, too. I've never heard of a prostitute who won't commit burglary. Come on now, after he's done the deed with a John, don't you think he might decide to take along any loose knick-knacks lying around as a "souvenir"?. When he took a shower afterwards, in the John's home, do you think he kept his hands off the medicine cabinet? If he saw a prescription bottle of oxycontin worth $500, would he say to himself, "Oh, no, my client will complain to the police," or did he say, "Eureka. I'm getting paid double if I just pocket that prescription bottle"? Considering the bad habits whores fall into of lifting stuff away when they've been visiting "customers" at home, I think there's a strong possibility that Gucky has also lifted some stuff from the White House. If the DC police were to search his apartment, they'd undoubtedly find an ashtray or sterling silver teaspoon or a fancy Presidential pen that he did not receive as a gift, but that he stole from the White House or from one of his johns. In addition, Gucky has not been adverse to committing white-collar crimes. Bedrock corporation -- the last line of the Flintstones' theme song is "Beddrock, bedrock and we'll have a gay all time" -- that he set up to clear checks has acted as a factor, financer, and a collection agent. Asserting false claims against families of the recently deceased and offering to improve the credit of economically marginal people, for a fee, are some of the "work" Bedrock performs. Though it's not as entertaining as gay sex, asserting false claims against berieved widows evinces how Gucky and his supporters cross the line from sociopath to psychopath, from being an antisocial, non-violent criminal, to being criminal, even violently so, without conscience. We are not just fighting hypocrisy here, but EVIL: evil that is inspired by the moral direction of George W. Bush and Karl Rove. The Right claims the moral high-ground while relying upon EVIL criminals to accomplish its objectives. It's not just a gay prostitute who was close to the president, but a grifter, part of a whole group of far-right grifters, stealing directly from the poor and destitute to enrich themselves. Getting cash from a general because you gave him a good ride in bed is one thing, getting cash from a young soldier's family, after he has died young, by asserting totally false claims against his widow is another. Guckert reassures himself that no matter how criminal or foul his behavior, he is a good Christian and God will love and forgive him, even as God has forgiven our president. Gucky undoubtedly sees as his role models for good Christian behavior George W. Bush and Karl Rove. That means when he kicks at bums sleeping in the street, for the sheer pleasure of watching them wiggle in pain, he only kicks hard enough to cause permanent injuries, not death. In doing so, he imitates President Bush who supports the right of infants to be born, but not the right to stay alive: thousands of children are to go to bed hungry, without health care, because of reduced funding for food stamps and medicaid.

Posted by: Bjoleslaw Schlabatinskyskya at February 20, 2005 11:29 PM (r6xM1)

13 I think the democrat lackies are pissed off because a queer has came out to be a Republican. Normally, funny bunny types are democrats. Are right wingers incursing into left wing populance? Stealing some of their most vocal members. My God, will jessie jackson be next to cross over?

Posted by: greyrooster at February 21, 2005 04:01 AM (CBNGy)

14 If you know a child going to be bed hungry, why aren't you feeding him?

Posted by: greyrooster at February 21, 2005 04:05 AM (CBNGy)

15 Greyrooster - because we haven't caught and cleaned you yet.

Posted by: JD at February 21, 2005 11:07 PM (Hbrqi)

16 This whole thing only proves this bloggers point that you can't believe anything that falls out of this administrations foul mouth... It makes no difference if you support their rhetoric or not. Americans are becoming less trusting of our government because it is hypocritical stances on moral issues. I have nothing against gays (I happen to be one), but I do have a problem with people who bash them with one hand while they stroke them with the other. Answers are required in this matter. This makes the Monica Lewinsky scandal look like an episode of "I Love Lucy". I say crucify the sons of bitches. It's time they got a taste of their own medicine.

Posted by: james at February 24, 2005 08:31 PM (4YR0d)

17 Jd: Now that makes a lot of sense. Americans becoming less trusting of our government? Hogwash. The government has never been trusted. The nature of the animal. (No man's life, liberty or property is safe when congress is in session). Ben Franklin. And James, sorry about the queer comment. I know you faggots like to be referred to as gay.

Posted by: greyrooster at February 25, 2005 05:29 AM (CBNGy)

18 grey rooster isnt jeff gannon is he? thats what "jeff would do" show all his bad faith homophobia showing the rest of us that his "conservative " facade was nothing but the classical fascist mentality who hates everything. women, the aclu, liberals, the french, germans, chinese, mexicans etc etc ...its like the ann coulter people who spill vile hatred then call themselves moral anf virtuous...the scary thing is the idiots are in control and america is now paying the price. ernie

Posted by: ernie at February 25, 2005 11:41 AM (ursvs)

19 ernie: You lying shit. I love women and mexicans. Yea. Americans are paying the price. Thats why the list to get in keeps growing and growing. Liberalism is like assholeism and you've got a big case of it. Sorry society has passed you by. Not our fault. If you weren't such a creep maybe the world would be better to you. Just another friggin loser blaming his own inadequacies on others. Bet your ugly too. Blame nature, not the government. You to can be normal. Just try harder.

Posted by: greyrooster at February 26, 2005 01:47 AM (CBNGy)

20 ernie: In your infantile raving 2/19/05 3:40 pm you claim in capitals that the Bush Administation has BROKEN THE LAW. Can you quote which law? or is this simply another exaggerated lie.

Posted by: greyrooster at February 28, 2005 06:24 AM (CBNGy)

21 I find this whole story extremely interesting. I am sort of shocked that this guy Gannon was in the White House at all. I have now read the story and I have a pretty good grasp of it now. In my opinion, Gannon was intimately involved with someone high up in the Administration. Even better, there could possibly be more than one official. It's kind of scary. People are losing their lives for this country and the deciding forces are just getting themselves sexually which contrary to what they preach in their morality and ethics sermons. I can't beleive it. If you ask me, this is going to get pretty big. This is not liberals against conservatives this is the ultimate good verses evil. Imagine all the lies, clandestine sex, prostitution, more lies, pictures of men urinating, s&m maneuvers all professed under a false cloud of decency. This has got to be rooted out. Bloggers keep going. Don't let anything stop you. Keep nailing this story til the coffin containing these hypocritical ideals is forever sealed away. Mash them and tell all you know. Don't hold back. I cannot the NPC invited this hooker to sit on a panel. He should be answering questions posed by the grand jury. I can not beleive this story. This one is hard to accept as reality. Really. Truthseen

Posted by: Truthseen at March 30, 2005 02:49 PM (213oX)

22 I'm not finished. This Gannon guy needs to brought out to the town square and block his head and wrists as apublic display of what is wrong with these morality police. Give him water and vinegar. I am really mad as hell. Truthseen

Posted by: Truthseen at March 30, 2005 02:54 PM (213oX)

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Iraqi Born Swedish Man Threatened With Beheading on Video (Images)

A new video has been released of a Christian Iraqi who had returned to Iraq, from which he had fled to Sweden in 1984, to run for pollitical office. He is a naturalized Swedish citizen. Minas al-Yusifi is the leader of the Christain Democratic party in Iraq and was taken hostage in Northern Iraq three weeks ago by a group calling itself Martyr al-Isawy Brigades.

The group has threatened to behead al-Yusifi if any security forces were contacted by the family, have demanded ransom, and that US forces be replaced by UN forces.

UPDATE: The video may be downloaded from the Expressen, a Swedish news service here. The video runs about two minutes and is in Arabic. Although fairly low-quality, Mr. al-Yusifi can be seen visibly flinching and recoiling from his captors rifle.

From Local, a Swedish source:

A video of the Swede who was kidnapped in Iraq three weeks ago was released by his captors on Thursday. With a machine gun to his head, Minas Ibrahim al-Yousifi appealed to the international community to help free him.
"I beg everyone to do their utmost to free me," he said on the film, which lasted for just over two minutes....
"I appeal to His Majesty Carl XVI Gustav, Sweden's king, and Queen Silvia, Pope John Paul, the international federation of Christian parties, the Muslim clerics in Iraq and Iraq's constitutional assembly to work for my freedom," he said.
On Saturday Mr al-Yousifi made a telephone call to his family in which he explained the kidnappers' demands. According to Expressen, they have requested around 28 million crowns and for US troops to be replaced by UN troops in the Iraq.

Developing......

Posted by: Rusty at 10:13 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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1 OT: But this Gannon/Guckert thing is totally getting out of hand: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WHITE HOUSE SCRAMBLES TO EXPLAIN FAKE REPORTER IN ITS PRESS CORPS Feb.17, 2005 -Internet researchers have uncovered new evidence that contradicts the Bush Administration's claims about James Guckert, a Republican activist allegedly involved in criminal activities and linked to an incident involving a major breach of national security. Guckert, operating as "Jeff Gannon," was granted daily access to White House press briefings for more than two years as a "reporter" for Talon News. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan stated that Guckert was granted access in part because he was affiliated with a news organization that "publishes regularly." But yesterday, bloggers discovered video footage suggesting this standard was not applied to Guckert. Video footage of a Feb. 28, 2003 White House press briefing shows Guckert, apparently unaffiliated with any news organization, asking former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer a question. It is unclear why Guckert was granted any pass at this time, since the Internet-based Talon News did not register its domain name until March 29, 2003. Maureen Dowd, a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for the New York Times, reported today she was denied press credentials at the start of the Bush administration in 2001. Yet Guckert, whose only journalistic training was derived from a $50 weekend seminar, was repeatedly granted access. Despite calls from Congress for the White House to disclose its standards for entrance to the briefing room, the Bush administration has yet to reveal its credentialing standards or details surrounding the scandal, including: specific dates when Guckert was admitted to the briefing room, how many passes he was issued, as well as how he cleared a Secret Service background check while owing the state of Delaware over $20,000 in back taxes (penalties and interest) and possibly engaging in prostitution, as revealed by Americablog.org. Guckert has also been implicated in a leak of federal classified information that revealed the identity of CIA undercover agent Valerie Plame. Revealing the identity of an undercover agent is a federal crime. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan has insisted that President Bush will do anything he can to assist the Plame investigation. But the White House has not answered questions about the role of Guckert in the Plame investigation or his inexplicable access to White House Press Corps briefings.

Posted by: Heiny at February 18, 2005 11:22 AM (ELnLC)

2 Press release from who? The Democratic Underground??

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at February 18, 2005 11:37 AM (JQjhA)

3 Heiny, even if everything in your DU press release is true, so? Is the problem that he didn't go to the right school, or is it because he owed back taxes? Or because he was making money on the side selling smut? Or that he wasn't a flaming Liberal? I'm scratching my head trying to find the scandal here.

Posted by: Carlos at February 18, 2005 04:09 PM (8e/V4)

4 I hope that they don't put underwear on his head, you know, like those nasty Amreicans did.

Posted by: Steven J. Kelso Sr. at February 18, 2005 05:42 PM (U4SDZ)

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Left Wing Rebels Blamed in Kidnapping/Murder of Former South American President's Daughter

Did you think that the many Marxist/Maoist inspired rebellions in South America were over? Think again. I hadn't heard about the kidnapping, torture, and then murder of Cecilia Cubas until today. From today's NY Times: more...

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Indonesian Journalists Taken Hostage in Iraq

Two Indonesian journalists have been taken hostage in Iraq, one of them a woman. Meutya Hafid (pictured right), a female television reporter for Metro TV, and her cameraman Budianto have been missing since January 31st.

The Associated Press reports that according to an Indonesian Foreign Ministry Spokeperson, the two were heard from shortly after they crossed the border from Jordan into Iraq. When contact was attempted, someone other than the two answered the telephone. The person claimed that the pair had been stopped near Ramadi by people wearing 'uniforms'. However, there have been no reports from either the Coalition Authority or the Iraqi government that the two had been detained.

Al Arabiya television has reported that the two have been taken hostage.

ht: Jeff Quinton

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February 17, 2005

X-Wing Fighter Lands On Jimmy Carter

Posted by: Rusty at 04:59 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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1 That's a flat high deck for submarine! Everything else looks good to me, though.

Posted by: John of Argghhh! at February 17, 2005 06:00 PM (10rgs)

2 Wooden deck! Centerline elevator! What is this, the USS Shangri La??

Posted by: Airdale at February 17, 2005 08:11 PM (WOQ34)

3 Is that really how they land? Looks like the plane is partly in the water...?? Cindy

Posted by: firstbrokenangel at February 17, 2005 10:05 PM (PEKrh)

4 That is how they land if Carter is flying one

Posted by: William Teach at February 18, 2005 07:34 AM (HxpPK)

5 "Is that really how they land? Looks like the plane is partly in the water...??" lol...

Posted by: Venom at February 18, 2005 08:34 AM (dbxVM)

6 Well it does! I sure as hell wouldn't want to be a pilot having to land on the "attack" sub named Jimmy Carter! lol Cindy

Posted by: firstbrokenangel at February 18, 2005 10:05 AM (PEKrh)

7 It's a fucking X-Wing, Cindy.

Posted by: Venom at February 18, 2005 10:39 AM (dbxVM)

8 Caption time: 1) "Trust the Force..." said Yoda. Yeah, well, that's the last time I ever trust Yoda, thought Luke to himself. Besides, the green bastard forgot to tell me that I've got to go toe to toe with my dad, Darth Vader. 2) And you're wondering why my X-wing looks like it's about to fall off a cliff? Too many things on my mind right now. Fear. Anger. Hate. And suffering. Oh yeah, and the Dark Side (or is it the Wet Side). 3) It's times like this that I wish I were back on Naboo and Jar Jar was yapping away 4) Jeez, what a piece of junk... that I've landed on... said Luke to Han. Han responds that the carrier can launch 110 planes in three rotations in under 2 hours and bomb all the way to Tokyo and back without anyone catching her. And oh yeah, this baby could do the Kestle run in under 3 parsecs.

Posted by: lawhawk at February 18, 2005 12:33 PM (nzf/N)

9 Cindy and Venom....I want to thank the both of you! I haven't chuckled like that in a long time.

Posted by: Dough at February 18, 2005 08:55 PM (uk8G6)

10 Venom, We made someone chuckle in a long time. I just ask that you don't use foul languange. Now if you wanted to talk about my ex-husband from 20 years ago, then would be appropriate, believe me. :0 Cindy

Posted by: firstbrokenangel at February 19, 2005 12:32 AM (PEKrh)

11 Wasn't it Pork Jenkins that said "I can handle it?"

Posted by: Matt at February 19, 2005 01:52 AM (4O3ry)

12 This makes the second time in history that I actually laughed along with Venom.

Posted by: greyrooster at February 19, 2005 03:27 AM (CBNGy)

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Religion of Peace Update: 'Democracy is No Tea Party' edition

The man I am most jealous of in this world*, Salmon Rushdie, gives us today's theme:

The idea that any kind of free society can be constructed in which people will never be offended or insulted is absurd. So too is the notion that people should have the right to call on the law to defend them against being offended or insulted. A fundamental decision needs to be made: do we want to live in a free society or not? Democracy is not a tea party where people sit around making polite conversation.

ht: Simon who's Asian blog roundup is up.

CIA finally admitting that border security is part of national security, and not a moment too late after Mexico decides not to require visas from Middle Easterners.

Joseph Braude reminds us in his New Republic Online post that the goal of American foreign policy ought not to be simply 'democracy', but liberal democracy. He notes that a leading member of those agitating for more democracy has written "Yes, we have the right to celebrate [the September 11 attacks]. This was the first step in a thousand-mile journey toward defeating America in a knockout blow." Read the rest.

Is the back-stabbing sick-man of Europe, Turkey, the best we can hope for in the Middle East? New Sisyphus says yes. (via Bill's Comments)

From Dhimmi Watch:
The 'Secular' Palestinian Authority forbids Christians and Jews from praying on Temple Mount. Also, Germany is finally deporting a radical Imam that calls (like Noam Chomsky and Edward Said) the US the real terrorist in the world.

And via Jihad Watch: Palestinian Authority to integrate wanted terrorists into ranks.

Like the terrorists in Iraq who behead known 'collaboraters', Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas gives the thumbs up to collaborater execution. (via LGF)

Shiite crowd in Iraq kill suspected suicide bomber. (via Emperor Misha and Elliot)

France proves once again that they are the dhimmi bitches we all knew they were by failing to condemn Hezbollah because, you know, we wouldn't want to offend Syria. I got news for you France: The Nazis were a political party too. (via Cranky Neocon)

Shocker: Anti-war activist and former US weapons inspector Scott Ritter now working for al Jazeera. And guess what? His writing fits right in! (ht: Michelle Malkin who still hasn't blogrolled me)

Pantano beheading video hoax uncovered. (via Chad at ITB)

John at Crossroads of Arabia notes the 'Riyadh Declaration' on Terrorism. Is it just me, or when I hear about the right of 'resistance' am I supposed to be reading 'the right to resist, you know, Jews and Americans--but, no one else.' It's kind of like the 'right of return' means 'the right of Palestinians to return' but not, say, the right of Prussians to return to the Baltic states.

*For the record, I'm not a fan of his fiction, which I find boring, but I am jealous of his being the recipient of a death fatwa. For the love of all that is holy, what does one have to do to get a fatwa issued against him around here!!

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1 Fine. You want a fatwa? I'll give you a fatwa: By decree of the Ayatolla Teebee Khomeini, let it be known: The foundation of the Islaamic faith is belief in the Unity of God. The Infidel known as Rusty Shackleford has demonstrated his believe in an unidentifiable pantheon known as the force, which is contrary to the core of the faith. Furthermore, he denies Allah and his servants and mocks the holy jihad. For this, as well as for failure to revere the Prophet Muhammad and the Q'uran, we issue this fatwa against Rusty Shackleford: May all the faithful consider it their sacred duty of jihad to seek out this infidel wherever they may find him and extract from him his life force, that is, his blog. May jihadi hackers reduce his blog's coding to a useless muddle; may his pages fail to load for browsers throughout the universe in the name of Allah, and may the faithful rejoice at the silence of the archive of the Jawas. So let it be spoken, so let it be done. Allah akbar! there. ya happy? I figure we're pretty much both screwed now.

Posted by: tee bee at February 17, 2005 05:55 PM (q1JHF)

2 Some of Rushdie is very, very good; some of it is horrid. Satanic Verses is good if you know what he's talking about before you pick up the book, otherwise it's pretty inpenetrable. The Ground Beneath Her Feet, on the other hand, is absolutely splendid! It combines Indo-Pakistani history, contemporary US & London, and a great history of Rock & Roll. Midnight's Children is haunting and wonderful, IMO. Grimus is simply impossible.

Posted by: John at February 17, 2005 06:36 PM (IuAUA)

3 I don't care, I'm going to call you Salman Rusty from now on anyway

Posted by: Eric at February 17, 2005 08:19 PM (lK7Sh)

4 Stop playing beehive baseball and the bees will leave you alone.

Posted by: Collin Baber at February 17, 2005 10:47 PM (FV4oJ)

5 That's the thing, Salmon Rusty has been stirring up the hive for awhile--but not bee stings!!!

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at February 18, 2005 08:10 AM (JQjhA)

6 I can't help you in the fatwa department, but since I'm an ancient Egyptian crocodile-headed god I can threaten to swallow your soul and devour your children. Good enough?

Posted by: Sobek at February 18, 2005 05:53 PM (i+rdT)

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State of Denial

Actual comment from reader: I see that your suffering from ignorance, dont worry tis very common....I have nbever come across a race that is more Hostile towards muslims then christian Lebanese and maybe they should blame themselves, or the Zionists they have a hand in everything.

Posted by: Rusty at 03:47 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Two Lebanese Hostages Freed: Four Americans Still Held Hostage

Two Lebanese hostages, Hassan and Ghazi Haydar have been freed in Iraq. At least four American hostages are still being held Roy Hallums, Dean Sadek, Tim Bell, and Bill Bradley. Two journalists, Italian Giuliana Sgrena and Frenchwoman Florence Aubenas are said to be captive.

Meanwhile, a former Turkish hostage, Kahraman Sadikoglu, released last week admitted to paying a ransom of $500,000. Some hostage takers, it would seem, are nothing more than common criminals. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 01:37 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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What do 'Journalistic Credentials' Have to do with Good Journalism? CBS News and Eason Jordan

I am a citizen journalist, hear me roar. Why should the old-media be considered more reliable than me? Is it because they have 'credentials'? The Wall Street Journal seems to think so. The gist of this editorial seems to be that the MSM is the grown up media, while we bloggers are the immature. I'll take that as a compliment.

What are Eason Jordan's credentials? What journalism school did Dan Rather go to? How about Josh Howard, Betsy West and Mary Murphy? Did Leslie Moonves go to Harvard? Does any of that make them more 'mature' as journalists?

And the WSJ is up front about its fears: what happened to Eason Jordan could happen to us.

It could. It might. Watch out.

Hugh Hewitt's column in today's online edition of the Weekly Standard (via Michelle Malkin) completely misses the mark before redeeming himself in the end. What was Hugh's mistake? He played the MSM game. He attempts to refute the 'bloggers aren't qualified' accusation by listing the qualifications of a number of prominent bloggers.

That misses the whole point. If what I have to say is informative, credible, well-written, inciteful, etc, then what does it matter what my 'qualifications' are? This is the logical fallacy of resorting to authority.

Believe us, says the MSM, because we are the MSM. Look at our degrees! Columbia, Harvard, Berkeley, etc. Don't take the bloggers too seriously, because they are not qualified like us.

Do any of my readers know where I went to graduate school? Do you care?

I have gone out of my way not to mention it. The only time I mention my profession is when I am blogging on something personal (such as what it is like from the professor's point of view to give a test).

Let what we write be judged according to its merit, not by our 'credentials'.

Hugh, after playing the MSM's game, finally nails it on the head:

redentials, of course, have little to do with facts--either they are facts or they aren't. And one man's opinion, no matter who signs his paycheck, should be judged by the same standards of logic and persuasiveness as all others, regardless of the letterhead on which it arrives.

Peggy Noonan also gets it (also via Michelle).

Blogging changes how business is done in American journalism. The MSM isn't over. It just can no longer pose as if it is The Guardian of Established Truth. The MSM is just another player now. A big one, but a player.

Your monopoly is over, MSM. The free market in journalism has finally arrived.

To Peggy's predictions I would also ad this, and it goes to the core of why the MSM is afraid and should be. When Oligopolies finally are faced with real competition the inevitable result will be that some of the companies will go out of business.

Which media news empire will be the first to fold? To early to tell definitively, but my money is on CBS.

Credibility? Downward spiral. Market share? Downward spiral. Ad that to a fixed cost structure and you have a recipe for disaster. Either CBS will learn quickly from their mistakes, or they will become the victim of changing market forces.

All early signs, though, point to CBS not having a steep enough learning curve. They play the role of JP Morgan against the blogosphere's trust busting hordes of Teddy Roosevelts.

Two days ago RatherBias broke a story about the continuing troubles at CBS. Josh Howard, Betsy West and Mary Murphy were not going to accept the role of fall-guy for the memogate scandal and go quietly. A New York Observer article on the same subject also seems to indicate that CBS president Leslie Moonves believes that by simply shuffling a few cards around the deck will take care of the whole mess. That deck, though, has been used to build a house of cards, and it is about to fall.

What Moonves does not realize is that the problem is no longer memogate, nor is it simply a matter of a botched report on memogate, it's much bigger now. The problem is the arrogance of the MSM. The problem is that we have seen the inner workings of the 'mature media' and have found that despite their 'credentials' they are no more qualified to be the caretakers of the Fourth Estate than I am.

They pretend to be better than you and me when in fact they were you and me.

Eason Jordan's recent comments reveal what we in Red State America have suspected for years: the MSM is full of bias, and it's not the kind of bias we like.

All people have biases. Most Americans have biases. We are biased toward America. We are biased toward believing our troops. We are biased toward believing the purity of our own motivations. My own blog shares those biases.

The Muslim world also has biases. They are biased against America. They are biases against believing our troops. They are biased against believing the motivations of the US. Al Jazeera shares those biases.

Eason Jordan revealed his biases when he is reported to have said that American troops target members of the media. This is something al Jazeera has been saying for years. They were no doubt very happy to have learned that an influential American journalist agreed with them, so they ran this cartoon.

CNN firing Eason Jordan (or him resigning, conflicting reports) tells me that CNN gets the totality of the threat of the citizen-journalist to some extent. CBS does not.

Yes, we bloggers are biased but I think that can be a source of our power. Why? Because to say you are biased is to be honest. To say that you are unbiased is to tell a lie. If the media is about any one thing it ought to be about truth. In this, bloggers hold a distinct advantage.

UPDATE: John at Metallicity has more.

Posted by: Rusty at 12:58 PM | Comments (23) | Add Comment
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1 Typically, journalists actually engage in research and fact-finding when it comes to their reporting. Yes, yes, we all have heard ad nauseum about how Dan Rather didn't exemplify these traits, but the fact is that 99.99% of published stories in MSM are checked and verified to ensure that the exact same fallout doesn't befall them. Is blogging journalism? Of course not. It's more akin to editorials where opinions are thrown about. Anyone can have an opinion. Doesn't make their story true or not, though. Who's going to trust "news" coming from sources where there's no real checks and balances to ensure the validity of what's being reported? Rathergate notwithstanding, blogging would probably get more respect if more bloggers actually did the grunt work of researching instead of opinionating.

Posted by: Venom at February 17, 2005 01:20 PM (dbxVM)

2 The problem is not in the 'facts' but in how thos facts are presented. Bias comes out in the context and in the stories that are picked to run.

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at February 17, 2005 01:25 PM (JQjhA)

3 I suppose, but at the same time, that's the way any kind of media works. Whether it's film, art, journalism, music, etc. It's human nature to put things in our own perspectives. Not that it makes it right when it comes to journalism, but it's impossible to have a perfectly objective story to be written, no matter where it's coming from. You could have the most objectively written story ever written, but the fact remains that there will be some things included and some things discarded which will ultimately lead to a certain "opinion" being shown. But yeah, I see where you're coming from.

Posted by: Venom at February 17, 2005 01:32 PM (dbxVM)

4 I agree, the difference is that bloggers don't pretend to have no biases. We are biased. But so is most of the MSM. The difference is that we know we are biased and state that outright.

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at February 17, 2005 01:49 PM (JQjhA)

5 Hmmmmm well now..... Belive NONE of what you hear, 10% of what you read, and only half of what you see. That is what I used to believe anyway. I suppose in some way it is still true...... However with photoshop can you really ever believe ANYthing you see?? Chris

Posted by: Chris at February 17, 2005 02:39 PM (vNZrQ)

6 MSM. The first "M" is the proof of the end of their corrupt dominance of opinion, ideas and thought. Last century there was no "Mainstream Media"- there was simply "The Media". And they all read the NYT every morning and lazily parroted it throughout the news cycle. From morning radio drivetime newscasts to the evenings' network newscasts would reflect the same topics, and often have phrasing lifted straight from the NYT. Wouldn't be too hard to slip a couple of operatives into the NYT and control much of the thought in the country- this is true if you are G.E., CIA, Pentagon, Communists, or a foreign power. Now we have a media with multiple, diverse systems of limited compatability- MUCH harder to corrupt.

Posted by: Admiral Rusty Shackelford at February 17, 2005 03:28 PM (PX+vn)

7 You're right about "credentials." They are meaningless if your ideas don't stand up to scrutiny. One of the fundamentals I express to my communications students is that critical thinking means not only considering the ideas being presented, but the writer's ability to present them in a critical way and make their biases and conclusions clear. We also cover certain key aspects of logic concerning the apparant and subtle relationships writers give to facts and conclusions. It is also why I don't accept non-academic publications as sources for their writing (we're at a tech college, so the precision of these welding, engineering and nursing students has significant importance). Mainstream journalists are writers and aggregators - without a grounding in many of the things they discuss, they tend to balance research out in a manner that sounds right to them but includes erroneous material, and therefore they arrive at an erroneous conclusion. I point out to the students that they are aggregators of information just as most reporters are, except they aren't paid for it or published. For most of my students, a lightbulb goes on. for some, cynicism reigns. I'd like to include this post in some of my coursework if I may, fully credited, of course.

Posted by: tee bee at February 17, 2005 04:17 PM (q1JHF)

8 The larger question is why your beloved monkey of a president let a male prostitute into the White House. He sure as hell wasn't there to be a journalist. I guess Scott McClellan was tired of Bush buggering him daily.

Posted by: Jake at February 17, 2005 04:50 PM (8TCjH)

9 Man, why didn't Jake drop that in the previous post!! tee-bee, be my guest. It wouldn't be the first time someone was required to read a diatribe by a fictional character.

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at February 17, 2005 07:58 PM (JQjhA)

10 Dr./Admiral/Rusty Shackleford (do titles count?), Yes, the bloggers can act as a check on error by the MSM. That is good. However, taken as a whole, the bloggers are unaccountable and incoherent and highly subject to hidden manipulation by various political parties. They also don't generate information like the MSM but instead simply opine about what others report. Agreed, academic credentials aren't all that important in journalism. But years of personal and institutional experience in gathering and evaluating and presenting information, plus the discipline of public accountablity, are important. When you dismiss these factors, you only show that your picture of the world is sketchy and naive. Put it this way, if I were responsible for editing news from Baghdad, would I prefer to send you there to report from the scene or Dan Rather or Eason Jordan? With all due respect to your medical, Navy and blogging experience, I would have to choose the journalists, no matter how loud your "roar." Your idea that impartiality is not a worthy or realistic goal needs to be rethought. Yes, experienced journalists have opinions, though you'd be surprised how open-minded they are as a group, owing to their experience with a world that seldom behaves according to logic or ideology. Journalists can have opinions and yet strive for balance in what they report. That is an ideal and ought to continue to be one. What really is abhorent is ideologically driven news that pretends to be impartial. Yes, I'm talking about Faux News. Summing up, I'd agree that the bloggers are changing things for the MSM. However, they've got a lot of learning and growing up to do before they earn the credibility enjoyed by the MSM. Think of trying to apply the standards you use for The New York Times to FreeRepublic.com. That's laughable. Cheers, Larry

Posted by: Larry at February 18, 2005 10:13 AM (lhe9V)

11 Thanks, Rusty. I figure if your students don't mind being lectured to by a fictional character, my students won't either. PS Should the attribution read, ***MUST CITE JAWA REPORT*** ? 'cause I was just gonna cite Dr. Rusty Shackleford, mypetjawa.mu.nu.

Posted by: tee bee at February 18, 2005 10:36 AM (q1JHF)

12 >To say that you are unbiased is to tell a lie. If the media is about any one thing it ought to be about truth. In this, bloggers hold a distinct advantage.__ ay, 'fair & balanced'

Posted by: ptt at February 18, 2005 05:24 PM (zzA4f)

13 I will make one concession. While the lack of public accountability of bloggers makes any one of them unreliable, as a group they are able to offer "irresponsible" opinions very quickly and without substantiation. By surfing various websites, one can gain insights, often conflicting, about what's really going on. The MSM, on the other hand, have reputations to protect and must check everything six ways from Sunday before committing going public. For example, blogsites already are indicating that the Bush Tapes, in which the president admits to trying marijuana (golly!), probably are a Carl Rove put up, which took in The New York Times. The MSM may never get around to this conclusion for fear of stumbling.

Posted by: larry at February 20, 2005 05:11 PM (twYt8)

14 LARRY: Do you really believe what you have said? I have found that reporters will sell their children for a story. I place lawyers ahead of reporters on my list of people one can trust.

Posted by: greyrooster at February 21, 2005 05:46 AM (CBNGy)

15 Grey--I don't trust all members of any profession--priests, politicians, doctors, lawyers, journalists, machinists or jockeys. There are some members of each of those classes I'd trust my life with. You trust individuals, not professions. That said, I would add that lying journalists--like Blair, Kelley and Glass--tend to get caught pretty fast, while quack doctors or pederast priests can operate for decades without being exposed. Unintentional errors in print, too, get detected quickly because they're out there for all to see. When as a reporter your name goes onto a story, your reputation and often your job are on the line. That tends to enforce discipline, regardless of the character of the journalist. Question: does it matter to you that most journalists are willing to go to jail, rather than reveal confidential sources?

Posted by: larry at February 21, 2005 10:39 AM (twYt8)

16 LARRY: Sure glad you left engineers off your list. As to reporters, perhaps they go to jail because the confidential source was a figment of their imagination. How long did the infamous young black reporter in New York get away with his stories? Never trust a reporter. Even a report based on truth is normally so exaggerated and blown out of proportion one cannot pick out the truth. I speak with some experience having had to defend cities, states and the military in the past. What they tell you today and what you read tomorrow may be entirely different. Sorry; but I stand unconvinced. Reporters live by the headline. And the bigger the better. Truthful content is secondary.

Posted by: greyrooster at February 21, 2005 07:57 PM (CBNGy)

17 Grey--My list comprised "for instances" and was not exhaustive. I don't trust all engineers, either. You are well advised to read news with skepticism because the swift and baffling flow of human events is difficult to capture accurately in hastily written words. I know because I did that for a living for four decades. The reporter shoots at fast-moving targets and sometimes just wings them. By contrast, the historian can take careful aim at stationary targets, even if they are farther away. You won't get any argument from me that The New York Times kept Jayson Blair on too long. However, he was dumped as soon as he was caught in lies, and you can be sure he will never work in mainstream journalism again. Please note that the editor of the Times and his main deputy had to quit over this. Yes, any journalist worth his or her salt loves a big story. But big stories that turn out to be wrong are big trouble. Ask CBS News, where Rather was forced out of The Evening News, Mary Mapes was fired and three other employees were asked to resign. It's called accountability. Bush never heard of the concept. Or he has, really, but he likes to make fun of it. He loves to clown around, getting laughs from various toadies, as he pretends to look high and low, without success, for WMD. Meanwhile, our boys and girls are dying or being maimed in a war of aggression that he lied us into. Maybe politicians ought to study how the MSM handle lies and gross errors.--Larry

Posted by: Larry at February 22, 2005 12:40 PM (twYt8)

18 Understand your well described point regarding reporters. What I don't understand is your point on Bush. Was he making up these reports on WMD? Nay! He was listening to someone else. He personally did not investigate the issue. The system was to blame, not Bush. He didn't create the mostly democratic government workers, CIA, FBI, etc: I do not bring Dan Rather into the issue of reporting. He was not reporting. He was trying to influence an election by lying to suit his political/personal beliefs. Something tells me the president doesn't check press credentials either. I doubt that the president goes over the list of reporters allowed in the white house. However, as the liberals say, he did it. Who can Clinton blame? Was someone else on the receiving end of Monica? Therein the difference, just how one chooses to interpretate the issue to suit himself. I also doubt that Bush is solely responsible for the Iraq war. If I remember the majority of people in the United States were for the war. Something the liberal set continues to forget. They were in the minority. The second election is proof that the majority still backs the president. Something the liberals still refuse to admit. I still do not believe reporters on the whole leave their personal beliefs out of their stories. Everyday, listening to the news I can pick out where reporters intentionally attempt to bias the news to their agenda. Naw! I still don't trust reporters. They remind me of bloggers. Have a good one.

Posted by: greyrooster at February 24, 2005 06:10 AM (CBNGy)

19 Grey--Do you really believe Rather lied, a lie being a deliberate and knowing untruth told in order to deceive? I don't believe that, and nothing in the Boccardi-Thornburgh report, which I have read cover to cover, would suggest that. I do think that the documents that figured into his report about Bush probably were forged, and that Rather and the CBS News team failed to observe sound journalistic practices when they used the documents. As I said, their big story landed them in big trouble. Did Bush lie or was he deceived about WMD? My best guess--and that word means I'm not certain--is that he lied. He appeared determined to invade Iraq and to cut short the UN's program of intrusive inspections, which was turning up nothing. His administration continued to try to link Iraq with the 9/11 terrorists in the public's mind, when they knew that there was no proof of such a link. You seem to be saying that Democrats--because they are Democrats--in the CIA and FBI tried to rig the evidence against Iraq. I don't find that credible. Are you aware that Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz set up a special Defense Department intelligence unit to come up with evidence against Iraq because they were not satisfied that the CIA was building a strong enough case for war? Bush would not be the first president to lie, and he probably thought his ends justified his means. Yes, the public supported him--because they believed him. If he had leveled with the public and told them that Iraq, though no threat, had to be democratized, I doubt they would have approved the price in blood and money. As to Clinton, well, he was not the first president to have an extramarital affair, but he was the first in the 20th Century to be pilloried for it. His enemies wanted to destroy him, and damn the consequences for the country. The press went along with this farce, led by Kenny Starr and other tools. In the end, Clinton proved too tough for the jackals who sought to bring him down, but his presidency and the country suffered because he had to divert so much energy from governing to fighting them off. I agree the public endorsed Bush in the 2004 election. The Republicans are in charge now, and buck stops with them. It's time for the GOP to stop sounding like a persecuted minority. They are running the show now and have been for the last four-plus years.--Larry

Posted by: Larry at February 24, 2005 07:53 AM (Fa6W9)

20 Rather lied? I don't know so will discontinue that subject. A lie came from his mouth. This I do believe. Could it have been put there by others? Don't know. If WMD was a lie, then why couldn't that lie been put in Bush's mouth by others? Are you working a double standard? Ah reporters. I do know the Clinton's famous (I did not have sex with that women, Monica Lewinski) was a lie. I also believe Clinton had relations (or attempted relations) with other women while Governor of Arkansas. I do believe that he attempted to ruin the lives of his victims by calling them liars. He was the liar. I cannot forget or forgive his waving a finger at America on television while saying Monica was the liar. Other presidents have had affairs. I'm not well versed on presidental affairs. The only one I have ever seen proof of was Kennedy. A democrat. Is that an excuse? Should Mickael Jackson be forgiven because there were child molestors before him? Is the reporter in you coming out. Attempting to skew the facts to minimize the damage to your beliefs? Reporters. Clinton's inability to fully function in office was not caused by others hounding him for his lies and behavior. The was his inability to keep his dick in his pants. He violated the office his was elected to. He is shit. Still don't trust reporters. Your attempts to minimize Clinton's transgressions while maximizing Bush's are one of the reasons. It's called human nature and cannot be taken out of the equation. I do wish you a nice day. The sun is coming up and no rain forecasted. Going to feed my calves and go chase some wahoo around the gulf.

Posted by: greyrooster at February 25, 2005 06:18 AM (CBNGy)

21 Grey--You and I have some big differences, but I don't support Michael Jackson any more than you do. Yes, Clinton had a weakness for the ladies but by itself that didn't do much harm. Monica was a big girl, who should have known enough to keep quiet but didn't and for some reason held on to the semen stains in her dress. I never did figure that out, but I do wonder about her motives. Clinton was giving lawyer-like answers when he denied having sex with her. He later said something like, "I was trying to be truthful without being particularly helpful." Why wouldn't he want to help Kenny Starr? Because Starr was trying to end his presidency. I am not an expert in presidential love affairs, either, and I wonder how important they are. Ike is said to have had one affair and Johnson many dalliances. I don't pretend to know the final truth about their sex lives or to care much. Both were great men. Just one clarification: when I blog, I am not being a reporter, just a private citizen blowing off steam. When I report, I put on a different hat and play a much different role. My opinion in that different role is of no importance. All that matters is my ability to gather true facts and present them clearly. Good luck with the wahoo, whatever they are.--Larry

Posted by: Larry at February 25, 2005 08:11 AM (Fa6W9)

22 Larry: Some of your points are understood. I differ on the importance of Clintons transgressions while holding the highest office in the land. To me, he has forever degrated that office. Horny Billy cheapened my country in the eyes of the entire world. Some obviously have a different moral standard. I will stick with mine. I thank you for the professional incite into the world of reporting. Never discussed issue before. Normally, I'm cussing at the manipulative, exaggerating bastards. Heh, heh. A Wahoo is a fish. Growing to 7 feet. Extremely fast and growing to over 100 lbs. Today we caught two, one 42 lbs and one 61 lbs. We tagged the largest and released him. The small one will go one the grill this weekend. We also caught 3 dolphin. Nothing better on the table than fresh dophin and tuna. Fishing is my hobby and is fast becoming a business. I just returned from the Florida Keys where I placed 2nd overall in the King fish tournament. Life's a bitch, huh. Getting paid for going fishing. Only in horrible, greedy, selfish, arrogant America. Understand why I like it like it is?

Posted by: greyrooster at February 26, 2005 01:31 AM (CBNGy)

23 Grey--I am signing off this website now because I'm not sure what it's really all about. The mumbo jumbo about Jawas is lost on me; I don't understand the code. Nor do I understand who the now-silent Dr./Admiral/Citizen-Journalist Rusty Shackleford is. If I were a cynic, I'd say the whole thing is funded by the Republican National Committee. Anyway, I enjoyed our exchanges and wish you all the best for the future.--Larry

Posted by: Larry at March 03, 2005 07:30 AM (pgq7T)

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Moonbats Speak Out at the Post that Generated 373 Comments (and climbing)

Who would have thought that a silly little post making fun of Duncan 'Atrios' Black would generate nearly 400 comments? The first 100 or so are almost exclusively from Eschaton readers and I've got to say something about them--it's not so much the vitriol or the threats of legal action against me that I mind, it's the smugness.

Big shout out and thank you to all the wingnuts (as we are apparently called by the moonbats, this means you wine-aholic and other minions) who rushed to the comments section to defend my honor. For your courage, each of you will receeve 72 virgins!

Jeff Goldstein, though, gets the pick of the virgins litter for rushing into the comments section early on and pointing out the hypocrisy of the whole thing. He was completely right when he said to me in an e-mail:

Atrios doesn't have "readers" so much as he does run a clubhouse for lefty cranks who fancy themselves intellectual attack dogs.

Don't believe Jeff? Just read the comments in this post. Since I know my readers, unlike Eschaton's, have jobs and therefore can't spend all day lurking on my blog, I've reposted some of the highlights of the moonbattery. I honestly haven't read them all. Feel free to pick out any choice nuggets and post them again here. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 09:10 AM | Comments (33) | Add Comment
Post contains 1099 words, total size 7 kb.

1 Thanks for the shout-out and the virgins, Rusty. It was like fighting off a massive swarm of bees... well, bees that had no stingers, of course. May I speak for the minions when I say the moonbats really made it too damn easy at points. Jeff is dead on about Atrios' readers, based on those who made comments. Not only where they mindless, but they were proudly mindless. Two of my personal favorites (and I stopped reading the comments arounf 100-something since I had to, you know, get my sorry ass back to working) were these: I got a question for you people... Has anyone EVER seen a female Jawa? They're all male! Which means the juvenile Jawa that publishes this site is a wanna-be boner-smoker. If he lives long enough to grow hair in his crotch, he'll become a full-fledged pillow-biter! Posted by Jawa Boi, Jedi Knight at February 15, 2005 01:13 PM Why do I get the feeling that the creator of this site -- with a Norwegian address to boot -- has "painting with his feces" skills listed on his resume along with his rudimentary HTML abilities? Posted by Jawa_Is_Douche at February 15, 2005 01:19 PM See, bringing such ideas and concepts to the floor prevents such people from advancing in the professional world, I suspect. I just feel dirty that I actually replied to their comments, because they were just so silly. I cannot believe I am responding to this... but if all Jawas were gay, how would they reproduce? I mean, those little fuckers are everywhere? Besides the fact that if you can prove any Jawa to be a male, you have obviously done more investigating than just watching the films. Posted by Wine-aholic at February 15, 2005 01:19 PM How dorky can you be to mock "rudimentary HTML abilities"? It's not like the page is just text on a blank surface. Then again, Rusty has a job so he cannot spend every moment adding Flash animation or the excellent features over at Atrios... Posted by Wine-aholic at February 15, 2005 01:23 PM

Posted by: Wine-aholic at February 17, 2005 09:55 AM (Wsn+K)

2 The American Left. Unable to take a joke for 229 years.

Posted by: Eric at February 17, 2005 09:55 AM (lK7Sh)

3 Not only that, when the lefties get outraged, they're just downright hilarious. *posted on my lunch break during my WORKDAY at my JOB.

Posted by: Eric at February 17, 2005 10:03 AM (lK7Sh)

4 Excuse me sir but, I could really go for a hot 30 something divorcee' myself. Just one is all I need.

Posted by: elliott at February 17, 2005 10:09 AM (yYGP5)

5 I was stunned by the rush to say the same d@#ned thing again and again. it was like they had to post that they spit on you so they'd be let back into the Atrios clubhouse. so, yeah, I had too much fun playing with the ones that hung around. so sue me, mrs. atrios. [was that his wife or his mommy?]

Posted by: tee bee at February 17, 2005 10:24 AM (q1JHF)

6 I loved all the "You guys just don't GET IT" stuff over and over. "It's not about sex, it's about (insert whatever here)"

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at February 17, 2005 11:05 AM (JQjhA)

7 http://www.livewireforums.com/W6/index.php?action=8 Perversion knows no oreintation.

Posted by: Judy at February 17, 2005 11:43 AM (K+wLc)

8 Yes, I noticed how kind, patient and tolerant all the moonbat comments were. It just goes to show that when the left speaks, it's best just to step back and let them shine in all their vulgar glory.

Posted by: Eric at February 17, 2005 11:58 AM (lK7Sh)

9 Eric- At least we don't use gay tax-evading hookers to get our message out.

Posted by: mihow at February 17, 2005 12:05 PM (ELnLC)

10 nah, Barny Frank's pal was no tax evader. just a hooker. which is totally different. that other guy had access to the halls of power. sort of. we're pretty sure.

Posted by: tee bee at February 17, 2005 12:12 PM (q1JHF)

11 Mihow - You're right. You use fat old men who drown women in Chappaquiddick to get out your message...and "Reverend"s who were "ordained" at six years old, who have a reality TV show, who impugn assistant DAs with false accusations of rape and feces smearing...and wild-eyed former vice-presidents who call bloggers Nazis. Oh wait, those aren't your message carriers. They're your leaders. Get a grip.

Posted by: Hammertime at February 17, 2005 12:13 PM (cFg3z)

12 I think the interesting thing about the whole Gannon scandal is that a media whore turned out to be an actual whore. Surprise!

Posted by: actus at February 17, 2005 12:28 PM (Eg4/w)

13 What I loved was the guys comparing the dems to the Rebellion. "Democracy through force of arms" sounds pretty conservative to me.

Posted by: Head Cheese at February 17, 2005 12:33 PM (K5g5u)

14 You know what this comment thread needs? MORE GAY PORN!!

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at February 17, 2005 01:08 PM (JQjhA)

15 "bone-smokers?" "pillow biters?" Rusty? What up? We've gone deep into these postings and no one's used the term "fuzz darts" yet? I'm disappointed both in you, and Jawa Boi. Someone other than me shoulda' come up with that by now. Anyway, I thought the left was where all of the free-love-hippy-sh*t was located .. all I'm seeing here are bunch of pissed off liberals doing a lot of gay bashing. I've read Rusty for awhile now .. he may be a lot of things, but an ignorant bigot, he is not. Between sarcasm and offensive, there is sense of humor. I believe Rusty has exposed the left as being lacking in the latter. Now, if you'll please excuse me I've got to go steal the batteries out of the wheel chair of the transexual, quadrapalegic, thalydamide-ravaged, minority immigrant midget down the hall.

Posted by: Pete at February 17, 2005 03:08 PM (Stkxb)

16 "The American Left. Unable to take a joke for 229 years." *Left* of what? This President, who calls himself a conservative, has: 1) Increased the size of the Administration by one more seat (hint: NOT reducing government), and 2) Passed four years of HUGE deficit-generating spending bills. Tell me again who this "left" is that you speak so derisively. I need another good laugh (the first being the White House using an alleged gay prostitute to toss softballs to the President in the Press Room). Vote for a change. Vote Libertarian.

Posted by: Body Bagger at February 17, 2005 03:30 PM (cl1Cw)

17 I have to say when I saw all those comments and climbing, I figured you wouldn't see mine in defense of you so I didn't bother to comment. I am still amazed every time I look at the numbers; it's just phenomenal. I haven't read them because I'd probably write an essay --- but those of us females for you, what the hell are we going to do with 72 virgins? Not quite my cup of tea thanks, so what do women get? heh Cindy

Posted by: firstbrokenangel at February 17, 2005 04:36 PM (PEKrh)

18 Body Bagger has a point, except for the idea of wasting a vote for the Libertarian party (which I am a closet member of). Newt Gingrich had a great line I heard him use the other day. "George Bush is the first big government conservative." Alas, I believe he is right.

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at February 17, 2005 08:01 PM (JQjhA)

19 Number of Libertarian Party Presidents: Number of Libertarian Party members of Congress: Talk to me when you actually win something

Posted by: Eric at February 17, 2005 08:28 PM (lK7Sh)

20 "Number of Libertarian Party Presidents: Number of Libertarian Party members of Congress:" None. How many Republicans held office before 1860? "Talk to me when you actually win something" I guess you only ride with the winners, not the people who are right. Sad, really. Vote for a *change*. Vote Libertarian.

Posted by: Body Bagger at February 17, 2005 08:53 PM (cjCfM)

21 Do these moonbats and asshats even have an idea who you are? or am I reading joking. Rusty is a Professor of Politics in College, is married and has 3 children. Where do these people come from? Cindy

Posted by: firstbrokenangel at February 17, 2005 10:12 PM (PEKrh)

22 I don't mean just the comments here, but throughout this entire page. They think you're a 15 year old wannabe... what idiots. Cindy

Posted by: firstbrokenangel at February 17, 2005 10:15 PM (PEKrh)

23 "Do these moonbats and asshats even have an idea who you are? or am I reading joking." I'm not sure. What is your question again? "Rusty is a Professor of Politics in College, is married and has 3 children." I'm a Professor of Industrial Hygiene and work for a national laboratory as a research engineer. So much for the Appeal to Authority fallacy. "Where do these people come from?" Can't speak for everyone who has posted here, but I'm from the Pacific Northwest.

Posted by: Body Bagger at February 17, 2005 10:25 PM (cjCfM)

24 wouldn't it be funny if this scandal also had a stained blue dress?

Posted by: actus at February 18, 2005 09:54 AM (Eg4/w)

25 Fun-ny body-bagger - you're new here. Cindy

Posted by: firstbrokenangel at February 18, 2005 10:13 AM (PEKrh)

26 Glad to help, I couldn't stay long. I had to jet to the left coast and head up a new project. Too much work. But, you are right. Complete lack of any humor whatsoever. I would place the median age of those atrios commentors to be 14.

Posted by: capt joe at February 18, 2005 08:33 PM (2grsP)

27 Yes indeed, Body Bagger, you've got that whole "elitest snob political junkie" thing down pat. The only difference between you and the Democrats is that they've managed to get more people elected to public office. Considering that they've a far more effective political network (read: vote buying/stealing machine), they're going to continue to put more people in office than the LP until the LP wises up and loses the whole "elitest snob political junkie" image.

Posted by: Mr. Bowen at February 19, 2005 02:19 AM (rZWXl)

28 "Yes indeed, Body Bagger, you've got that whole "elitest snob political junkie" thing down pat." Speaking to mirrors is an indication of a weak mind. "The only difference between you and the Democrats is.." That Democrats are irrelevant to this discussion? " that they've managed to get more people elected to public office." And that for a century they had their own terrorist wing (hint: they wear hoods and attack blacks). "Considering that they've a far more effective political network (read: vote buying/stealing machine), they're going to continue to put more people in office than the LP until the LP wises up and loses the whole "elitest snob political junkie" image." Thanks for your enlightening political analysis. Of course I could care less what you think about Libertarians or the Libertarian Party. Since you didn't bother to ask what I thought, your attempt at prognostication is not only stupid, but pointless as well. Throughout all of your dismissive rant, you haven't discussed *once* the role of third parties in the US and the recent interest in the alternatives to the Republicrats.

Posted by: Body Bagger at February 19, 2005 05:59 PM (cjCfM)

29 Body Bagger: Where do you find this recent interest in alternatives to the Rupublicrats? I must confess I haven't found any. Must be a regional thing. I voted for Bush. The reason. The less of two evils. When Republicans are in office they do something greedy. When Democrats are in office they do something stupid. I choose greed over stupidity. Greed I understand. Stupidity I do not. I haven't found any support for any third party. Where I live things are fairly simple. If you've got a few bucks in your pocket and don't care for the likes of of Jessie Jackson, the Clintons, Barnie Franks, Al Sharpton and such you vote REPUBLICAN. Also if you are Cuban. If you drink wine you vote republican unless you are a beer guzzling racist. Then you also vote republican. The party that keeps appointing blacks to high level cabinet positions?? Make sense? If you are Black, in a labor union, in Academia, or work for a government and prefer beer guzzling to wine drinking you vote DEMOCRATIC. Even if you are a wealthy black, you still vote democratic. The party that never places blacks in high level positions? However, they do give high level positions to white old ladies, midgets, odd balls, etc: Now none of this makes sense, just the way it is. Ah, the good ole southern simple life. Much easier than when I lived in the almost northwest. I am looking for a party that represents both wine and beer drinkers like me. One that cares about important issues like fishing. One that realizes that if you set a free table the diners will grow and grow and grow until everyone is poor. Those that sit in public housing on public assistance don't have much to do except multiply. I'm looking for party with enough sense to realize that there is already enough people in Los Angles. Black and liberals as a whole don't like me, as I am pro all Americans, instead of pro black, pro Indian, pro immigration, etc. Does this party of recent interest accept agnostics? One who is not anti-Christian, but is anti-muslim. What about keeping what my family has earned through their sweat? Does your party allow me to keep a few bucks for my children and grandchilren? Please let me know if I fit into this party of recent interest. Maybe I can start a chapter here.

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Posted by: slipping at September 05, 2005 06:36 PM (FB5KR)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

February 16, 2005

Blogroll Calling

Am I on your blogroll, but you're not on mine? Let me know and we'll fix that.

Posted by: Rusty at 09:45 PM | Comments (26) | Add Comment
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Has the whole world gone gay? Not Oliver Willis too??

Behind the scenes at Media Matters.

Posted by: Rusty at 09:02 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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How does Al Gore know Jeff Gannon? Al Gore Outted

Former Vice President Al Gore dropped a Jeff Gannon reference in a conference call about Global Warming today, reports ABC News (Via Geraghty and Ace): we L-O-V-E-D Gore's unbidden, unprompted reference to Jeff Gannon Â— made with barely contained fascination and glee

How did Al Gore know Jeff Gannon? We sent our crack team to investigate, and found out what could be a major story.

Was Al Gore a Jeff Gannon John?

The Al Gore-Leif Garrett connection??

Posted by: Rusty at 04:50 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Italian Hostage Video Released (UPDATE)

A new video has surfaced of Giuliana Sgrena. In the video she claims the only way her life will be saved is if the occupation of Iraq ends.

Sgrena pleas are heard in both Italian and French. The video also superimposes the Arabic words "Mujahadin Without Borders" on the video.

The Associated Press translates her pleas:

You must end the occupation, it's the only way we can get out of this situation...
I ask the Italian government, the Italian people struggling against the occupation, I ask my husband, 'Please, help me You must do all you can to end the occupation. I'm counting on you, you can help me'...
Show all the pictures I have taken of the Iraqis, of the children hit by the cluster bombs, of the women. I beg you. Help me, help me to demand the withdrawal of the troops, help me spare my life.
These people don't want foreigners here, nobody should come to Iraq at this time. Not even journalists. Nobody.
Thousands of people are in prison, children, the elderly, women are raped, people die because they have nothing to eat, no electricity, no water.

What is interesting about the plea is that Giuliana Sgrena was already trying to end the occupation before she was kidnapped. Further, the Mujahadin Without Borders group is previously unknown and is a different organization than the Islamic Jihad Organization that initially claimed her abduction. Moreover, her claim that the jihadis do not want foreigners in the country is simply empirically false. What the jihadis do not want is non-dhimmi infidels in the country. Foreigners who wish to fight the 'Zionist-Crusader Forces' are always welcome.

While Sgrena seems to be visibly shaken in the video, the fact that she believes exactly what the terrorists believe, namely that the US is an evil aggressor, makes it somewhat difficult to swallow that she would actually be killed. Unlike other hostages, Sgrena was in Iraq for the sole purpose of producing anti-American propaganda.

Still, the video does seem to be authentic. Our initial reaction that this possibly could be a hoax seems less plausible now. Even so, it seems unlikely that she will be killed. In any event, anti-American activist with an agenda or not, we pray for her safe return.

However, we would also remind readers that several Americans are still being held hostage in Iraq. They are: Roy Hallums, Dean Sadek, Tim Bell, and Bill Bradley.

Update: Confederate Yankee chimes in with this:

A vigorous anti-war protestor, Sgrena's video was shown just hours before Italy's Senate started voting on extending the nation's 3,000-member military mission in Iraq until June.

He also points out this MSNBC story and notes that Sgrena seems to be directing the video:

At one point, her eyes watering as she struggled to recite her message, she waved the camera to stop.

If the intent of the video was to influence today's vote in Italy, it failed. BBC:

The Italian Senate voted by 141 to 112 to extend the country's 3,000-strong military presence in Iraq until June.

(Photo: Reuters. Sources: Agencies)

Bloggers react: Digger on the fact that 3 organizations have now taken credit--Most of these organizations don't seem to want to take credit for taking Mrs. Sgrena hostage and that may be because she was an outspoken anti-war advocate against the Iraq war.

Likwidshu at Say Anything--The people who kidnapped her donÂ’t care that sheÂ’s against this war. They care about the propaganda aspect of her saying what they want her to say. SheÂ’s what is called a Â“useful idiotÂ”.

Chad at ITB thinks the video strengthens the case of this being a hoax.

Others: Command Post

Posted by: Rusty at 03:43 PM | Comments (51) | Add Comment
Post contains 614 words, total size 5 kb.

1 Wasn't she supposed to be dead already? Didn't she already got released? I guess they decided that more publicity is needed.

Posted by: BigFire at February 16, 2005 09:59 AM (i5qPG)

2 They first said she would be released, then a bogus claim came out saying she would be killed, then another one saying she would be released, then Il Manifesto claims they were in contact with her, and now this.

Posted by: Rusty at February 16, 2005 10:18 AM (JQjhA)

3 What a fraud. Commie skank thinks she is doing the world a favor.

Posted by: Obsnooks at February 16, 2005 10:37 AM (yBHNA)

4 Hands not tied behind her back, hmmmmm...no islamic flag...hmmmmmmm Fake- She is a fraud. Wonder how long it took her to set up the video camera. She did a good job with the graphics.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at February 16, 2005 10:39 AM (yBHNA)

5 And there are more.......from other countries, too. Italy will not pull out and won't give in to terrorists. Remember when we went into Fallajah and they found hundreds of discs with executions and beheadings on them? People we didn't even know were there or kidnapped/killed? If they kill her and they are using her right now basically because she is a woman, will be on another disc somewhere. Can't trust those fanatics. Cindy

Posted by: firstbrokenangel at February 16, 2005 10:52 AM (PEKrh)

6 No one has her- She is a fraud. A Foreign Deaniac Fraud. I hope she gets twat blisters from a dirty toilet seat.

Posted by: obsnooks at February 16, 2005 10:58 AM (yBHNA)

7 Snooks is right. My money is on her being a fraud. Anyone ever read the trash she prints on the USA?

Posted by: Allah's Cousin Pootay at February 16, 2005 10:59 AM (yBHNA)

8 If they really do have her, don't think for a second they wouldn't kill her just because she agrees with them. These people have no soul.

Posted by: Rightwingsparkle at February 16, 2005 11:02 AM (18nhC)

9 Whassa matter with all of your brains? They killed other lefties like Margaret Hassan and Enzo Baldoni; Rightwingsparkle is the only one who seems to get it. Plus, none of you can come up with a plausible reason why Ms. Sgrena would stage this anyway. Are you too thick to get that it only gives political ammo to people that she disagrees with? The world is never just black vs. white; in this case, the terrorists hate us, but they hate people like Ms. Sgrena, too. She hates us and (I'm sure) the terrorists, and you guys hate her and the terrorists. As for me, I hate the terrorists, I severely dislike most of you - but I want the fewest number of people on any side involved to die. Too hard for your black and white minds to deal with? Well, then, you can hate me all you want, but just remember, all of your mothers love me.

Posted by: Dr. Dr. at February 16, 2005 11:48 AM (9+bUG)

10 oh yeah, and I don't want anyone to forget this: February 07, 2005 Italian Hostage Hoax: Terrorists to Release Giuliana Sgrena As predicted, Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena is to be released: Comments I think that you can pretty much give yourself a highfive for that call Rusty. Nice job! Posted by: elliott at February 7, 2005 02:04 PM Pats self on back... Posted by: Rusty at February 7, 2005 02:16 PM That stunk from the beginning. Good call! Posted by: Beth at February 7, 2005 07:40 PM Use the same hand that you used to pat your own backs to now wipe all that egg off of your faces.

Posted by: Dr. Dr. at February 16, 2005 11:51 AM (9+bUG)

11 Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi... you're my only hope!

Posted by: OneDrummer at February 16, 2005 12:02 PM (85oJs)

12 The major difference being that Enzo Baldoni worked for the Red Cross, and thus could possibly be seen as a man working for the infidels. Margarat Hassan worked for CARE, another international charity which worked with the occupation government. Sgrena was a reporter for a left-wing paper that supports the terrorists as 'freedom fighters'. I never said I "knew' this was all a hoax, only suspected it. I also 'suspect' that even if not a hoax Sgrena will be released.

Posted by: Rusty at February 16, 2005 12:14 PM (JQjhA)

13 Would further stipulate that if Ms. Sgrena is killed, that you will no longer suspect that this is a hoax? I still would like for someone to dream up a plausible scenario that would explain why should would come up with a hoax like this, even though, like I had said previously, this only helps out her opponents in the West. Anyone?

Posted by: Dr. Dr. at February 16, 2005 12:22 PM (9+bUG)

14 "Mujahadin Without Borders?" Is that a spinoff of Doctor's without Borders, by any chance? My first thought was that this could have been the same person or persons who made that stupid hostage video starring the G.I. Joe doll. And her plea? We must show the pictures of the dead children and the women being raped? Nope. I'm not buying this "hostage" video. You were right with your initial skepticism. To me, her and her cohorts are trying a different tactic, since her initial pleas to get out have been ignored.

Posted by: mark at February 16, 2005 12:28 PM (ZitLd)

15 Of course Dr. dr, so stipulated.

Posted by: Rusty at February 16, 2005 12:29 PM (JQjhA)

16 I see great minds link alike. I blogged this as a possible fake as well, especially after the MSNBC version said she was waving to get the camerman to stop at one point, like she was directing the piece as well as starring in it. I'm not saying it is defiately fake, but deserves some skepticism.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at February 16, 2005 02:03 PM (C5gjM)

17 Thank you, Dr. Rusty, you're not such a bad rightie. All right, mark, since you're so sure, why don't you take a shot at explaining what this gains her. Come on, I'm really interested. Or anyone else for that matter! Anyone? Don't just say that you think it's a hoax because a few things are fishy, and then not have any plausible explanation for why. Try to understand both the effect and the cause. If you don't focus on the "why" of things, you're likely to fall victim to being a full-time conspiracy theorist - and then you're a slave to either Rush Limbaugh or Oliver Stone.

Posted by: Dr. Dr. at February 16, 2005 02:11 PM (9+bUG)

18 I could be wrong, but my gut instinct tells me that this is no hoax. Why would it be? It makes her side look bad. She's a terrorist sympathizer and apologist and she gets kidnapped!? Puts a dent in her credibility, doesn't it?

Posted by: likwidshoe at February 16, 2005 02:29 PM (XJO7P)

19 I'll believe it when her head comes off little that it is actually attached to her body anyways. What was she thinking going to that country to suck up to garbage as she was clearly intending to do. Hell, from what I heard of her she is the biggest fan of bringing in as many muslims and everyone else in the world into Italy so she's getting her justice for what she believes in. She's going to find out the second that blade hits her neck that the world isn't full of idealistic dreamers like her. Tough shit for her.

Posted by: Andre at February 16, 2005 03:08 PM (2kPXV)

20 Dr. Dr., if you're asking for proof of why people think this is a hoax, you've probably come to the wrong place. Most people here rarely back up they're "thoughts" with little more than a "because"-style answer. I'm sure the discovery that the action-figure kidnapping was a hoax emboldened a lot of people here into thinking they're smarter than they actually are, but the sad fact remains that they're more conspiracy theorists than actual detectives. As such, asking them for proof is pretty much an exercise in futility. Do I believe it's a hoax? No. Not yet anyways. I haven't seen anything suggesting it is, and the fact these criminals kidnap and murder anyone shows that it doesn't matter who's kidnapped. Although I'm sure that if this turns out to be a hoax, you'll probably see half-a-dozen people suddenly exclaim how "right" they were.

Posted by: Venom at February 16, 2005 03:23 PM (dbxVM)

21 For those of you who don't know a lot about this woman, she went to Iraq to try to find pictures of the U.S. Military killing civilians, especially, children, for anti-war, anti-US propaganda purposes. She shares a common goal with her kidnappers. The question remaining is whether they feel that way as well.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at February 16, 2005 03:54 PM (C5gjM)

22 What does faking her own kidnapping gain her? What did Dan Rather think his presenting forged documents would gain him? ass.

Posted by: filthy allah at February 16, 2005 03:54 PM (yBHNA)

23 This chick is a freak. She fakes her own kidnapping to get her nasty puss on the tube. Press is eating this up-

Posted by: obsnooks at February 16, 2005 03:56 PM (yBHNA)

24 I have updated the post. Confederate Yankee made an excellent point that I had to ad, namely, that the video came out on the same day that the Italian Senate voted on whether or not to leave Italian troops in Iraq. Again, I never said I was positive about this. As for my readers, I don't know if they're conspiracy theorists or not. I don't think there is a conspiracy theory I've ever truly believed. This would be a first.

Posted by: Rusty at February 16, 2005 03:58 PM (JQjhA)

25 How do you figure she's faking her kidnapping?

Posted by: Venom at February 16, 2005 03:59 PM (dbxVM)

26 I would direct you to my first post on the subject, the day she was kidnapped. A number of things raised the suspicion. She was, at that very moment, interviewing refugees from Fallujah camped at a mosque. The story was to be on how horrible it was for the Americans to invade that city. She also happened to be on the phone, at the moment she was kidnapped, with another journalist. Her own newspaper says she has a working relationship with radical Jihadi clerics in Iraq. There's more like that. Like I said, I have no evidence, I'm just speculating. Part of me thinks it's a hoax. The greater part of me thinks that while the abduction was real, the fact she has not been let out by now is propaganda. Her own newspaper has publicly stated that they have SEEN HER WHILE IN CAPTIVITY. That would be a first and it is the fishiest thing I've ever heard.

Posted by: Rusty at February 16, 2005 04:05 PM (JQjhA)

27 Likwidshoe, Mark Flacy, Venom, thanks for the responses. Mark, you have a given a decent enough reason. Andre, your head is jammed so far in your butt that you can lick your own tonsils from behind. If you want to broadcast your mind's thoughts to the World, it's a good idea actually think while you're doing it. This will help your cause instead of making it look like it's supported by people with less understanding of things than a sponge.

Posted by: Dr. Dr. at February 16, 2005 04:16 PM (9+bUG)

28 Sorry, Rusty, my last comment was for obsnooks...you just got your post in before mine. In response to this comment by Beth: "3) The reason some of us suspect it could be a hoax, Venom & Dr. Dr., is because she is virulently anti-war and before this, she was campaigning, if you will, for Italian forces to leave Iraq. Now she's the one who will die if the Italians don't leave. Get it???" *cough* Margaret Hassan *cough* Like I said, the Islamofascists behind these kinds of kidnappings don't care who they're holding or what their political beliefs are.

Posted by: Venom at February 16, 2005 04:17 PM (dbxVM)

29 It's actually a good point that Venom is making, and had she been abducted from her office--like Hassan--I wouldn't be inclined to speculate like this. Hassan's activism was not really the same. She was against the war, but was not anti-American and pro-insurgency. The same cannot be said about Sgrena. I would be both saddened and surprised to learn of Sgrena's demise.

Posted by: Rusty at February 16, 2005 04:21 PM (JQjhA)

30 Beth your points, one by one: 1. Actually, a good number of the people here seem like they'd be happy to see her get what she's got coming. I'm not going to say that you're like them anymore than it would be smart to lump Ms. Sgreda together with her kidnappers, but don't act like the people here are all good people. 2. Hey, I'm completely aware of it. You don't see me out there. But I'm also capable of seeing that there are at least three sides in Iraq, probably closer to 20 million sides. Nothing is as simple as those who would like to see everything in binary want it to be. 3. If that's all it takes for you to think the worst of her, so be it. I return to the argument that you didn't read well either, that she has to be aware that this will only make her side weaker in Italy. Terrorists the World over sometimes believe that irrational acts will goad the enemy into committing irrational acts in return, which is the best recruiting tool they can have. Look at the most extreme acts of terrorism in Israel, the Basque homeland, Ireland, Sri Lanka, heck, look at Al Qaeda, for God sakes. You don't really think that they thought that we wouldn't come after them, do you?

Posted by: Dr. Dr. at February 16, 2005 04:30 PM (9+bUG)

31 I think your third point is the only one that needs my comment. This may or may not weaken her side's position in Italy, but her motivations would be based purely on her subjective read of public opinion in Italy. If she believed it would help the anti-war position than that is all that is needed. Many people make bad political moves with the best of intentions.

Posted by: Rusty at February 16, 2005 04:53 PM (JQjhA)

32 Its a fake!

Posted by: Karl at February 16, 2005 04:55 PM (PM/BC)

33 I hope they let the women go and just leave her alone.When iraqs come to uk or us we dont decided were gna cut peoples heads off do we? the terrists need to be stopped and the us or the people to do this as for bin laden and al quida burn in hell

Posted by: pow at February 16, 2005 08:45 PM (pd5Gf)

34 what do they want now ? sgrena'a forced statement about starving and dead children etc ...... what was islamoslobs' problems with margaret hassan ? she was one of them and a humanitarian aid worker for iraqis. these POS just like to kill for fun.

Posted by: salome at February 16, 2005 10:31 PM (6krEN)

35 Sorry lady. You went there for attention and you got it. I'm sure you now understand the problem better.

Posted by: greyrooster at February 17, 2005 02:06 AM (CBNGy)

36 She faked her own kidnapping in-order to influence Italy's vote on extending troop stays- She is a vile sack of puss in a skin suit. Why would she fake her own kidnapping? C'mon. Same reason Dan Rather brought out the forged docs and claimed they were authentic. Grow up Venum.

Posted by: Obsnooks at February 17, 2005 07:53 AM (yBHNA)

37 I hope this "kidnapped" lady sees reason and let's herself go. FAKER FAKER FAKER FAKER FAKER FAKER

Posted by: Filthy Allah at February 17, 2005 07:55 AM (yBHNA)

38 Filthy Allah is a perfect example of a people who doughts EVERYTHING. I fact, i will bet, if this person was ACTUALLY killed he would walk around her body saying "Oh...that blood is FAKE. that bullet hole is FAKE. ITS A FAKE! SOMKE AND MIRROR I SAY!! hahahahaha........BLAH!" But thats just what I think...

Posted by: Night Weasel at February 17, 2005 08:09 AM (tkj+t)

39 Pow, they wouldn't start hacking your heads off upon arriving in your country. They will wait till they have enough biomass so that they can actually accomplish it and make sure that resistence against such would be minimal.

Posted by: Andre at February 17, 2005 08:12 AM (2kPXV)

40 You are very easy to manipulate. She has convinced you. I bet you thought Gorbachav was a great guy too- The filthy Commie Skag, is a fake.

Posted by: filthy allah at February 17, 2005 08:20 AM (yBHNA)

41 Heh, whatever you say snooks. I guess that's why you've got that high-profile job at the FBI where you can use those great detective skills of yours?

Posted by: Venom at February 17, 2005 09:35 AM (dbxVM)

42 I know everyone's left the party, but I wanted to say a few things about this 2:11 post from venom: Dr. Dr., if you're asking for proof of why people think this is a hoax, you've probably come to the wrong place. Most people here rarely back up they're "thoughts" with little more than a "because"-style answer. V, it's easy to confuse trolls on hot posts with people who actually have an interest in a topic. trolls know no ideology [more like an idiot-ology] and often mirror what they perceive to be the high ground in any conversation. they curse and wish ill and don't bother with facts or consequences. they are trolls, little garbage-eating, bile-spewing, scenery-chewing beasts with some sort of nuclear exchange thing fueling their spleen. tarring everyone in a room with the same brush is fun sometimes, but ultimately pointless (unless you are a troll, then this works into that nuclear exchange thing). I'm sure the discovery that the action-figure kidnapping was a hoax emboldened a lot of people here into thinking they're smarter than they actually are, but the sad fact remains that they're more conspiracy theorists than actual detectives. As such, asking them for proof is pretty much an exercise in futility. you're responding to the trolls, not Rusty or the more thoughtful posters. but hey - if it's fun, carry on. Do I believe it's a hoax? No. Not yet anyways. I haven't seen anything suggesting it is, and the fact these criminals kidnap and murder anyone shows that it doesn't matter who's kidnapped. you'd be right about the Islamofascists, if they are behind this. what you've said is probably the only thing I would claim to know about them. Rusty is the expert. am I convinced of a hoax? it looks odd, that's for sure, but if anything, I think this woman has been hoodwinked into thinking it will be a useful hoax, and I fear that she will be woefully disabused when the captors find they have no more use for her, other than to prove they will put any infidel to the sword to maintain the fear and demonstrate their power and resolve. nonetheless, if she has cooperated, she is part of the hoax. Although I'm sure that if this turns out to be a hoax, you'll probably see half-a-dozen people suddenly exclaim how "right" they were. well, so? they will have been, but that doesn't make them smart or respectable or reliable. me? I'll be glad if she escapes with her life, sad if not, but bad behavior like hoaxes is like trolls - sometimes amusing, sometimes just a waste of energy to acknowledge, and sometimes tragically sad. but it should be unmasked when it attempts to weild political clout, because it ushers in anarchy.

Posted by: tee bee at February 17, 2005 09:48 AM (q1JHF)

43 Sure looks and sounds like a fake job to me too.

Posted by: Larry Bon Jones at February 17, 2005 10:05 AM (yBHNA)

44 tee bee, Good points made on your third paragraph. Thanks for using your head in replying. Also, the people on here who will claim they were "right" about this being a hoax if it is one won't be "right," they'll have been lucky. Big difference.

Posted by: Venom at February 17, 2005 10:05 AM (dbxVM)

45 okay, V, you win. not that that's what was implied with "that doesn't make them smart or respectable or reliable." have fun with the trolls! invert the nuclear reactor that is mindless energy expense! hey... the greenies should get on this one. think of the global warming coming from all that energy - think of the potential for meltdown!

Posted by: tee bee at February 17, 2005 10:41 AM (q1JHF)

46 Venum has a soft head. Much like an over ripe peach.

Posted by: obsnooks at February 18, 2005 02:00 PM (yBHNA)

47 Your blog says she was released. Where did you get that info from? No one else says she has been released! These terrorists kill even their own Muslim fellows, why wouldn't they kill her? I think you guys are going a little overboard with the conspiracy theories! It's war and it sucks. EVERYONE kills.

Posted by: iaia at February 21, 2005 07:41 AM (Xfl4H)

48 Ahhhh! Where's Dr Jack Shepard when you need him?

Posted by: greyrooster at February 24, 2005 05:34 AM (CBNGy)

49 I thought this woman was a fraud all along. She is an enemy of the U.S. and has never been anything else. I doubt if she was really kidnapped in the first place, because it all seemed so staged from the start. Besides, she's on their side, and they know who their friends are. Seeing as how she and the people in the car with her tried to run a checkpoint and one of them got shot, the negotiator, coincidentally, it's starting to look even weirder. Somehow I don't think the negotiator was in on the hoax, and considering that he died from a single gunshot wound to the temple, I bet he was murdered to make it look real, or possibly they planned on getting themselves killed at the checkpoint in order to die as anti-American martyrs. Oh, and one more thing, leftists are a bunch of retards, or as Lenin called them, "useful idiots".

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at March 06, 2005 06:57 PM (mMn6/)

50 Maximus, you are an idiot for which a lack words to describe. Call the nurse to take you back you your room.

Posted by: Giuliana Srgena at March 07, 2005 02:07 PM (+JyVE)

51 Lots of keyboard wankers here, to bad ya gots ya head in the sand about said commie. Can't tell what's right or wrong, can't see things for what they really are. Most likely due to ya game playing 24/7, I'm in my own world thinking, I control ya thoughts...LMSAO, ya right. Pot Luck behind the keyboards, whom never leave their own backyards. Out Of The Inner Circle

Posted by: Pathogen at March 12, 2005 10:40 AM (cJXfY)

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Syria and Iran Form Anti-US Alliance

The Axis of Evil decided to replace Iraq with Syria today. Iran announced they will put up a united front against the US with their Muslim brothers in Syria. While both Syria and Iran have opposed the two year old US occupation of Iraq, the latest diplomatic maneuvering came after the US objected to the nearly 30 year old Syrian occupation of Lebanon. BBC:

Iran has vowed to back Syria against "challenges and threats" as both countries face strong US pressure.
"We are ready to help Syria on all grounds to confront threats," Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref said after meeting Syrian PM Naji al-Otari....

"Our Syrian brothers are facing specific threats and we hope they can benefit from our experience. We are ready to give them any help necessary," Mr Aref said.

Syria, for its part, backed away from the Iranian threats:

However, Syria's ambassador in the US denied that the common front was an alliance against Washington.
"We are not the enemies of the United States, and we do not want to be drawn into such an enmity," Imad Moustapha told CNN.

Others:Wizbang

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Muslim Websites Still Targettting Christians

A week ago we reported on an internet site that was tracking Christians who were bold enough to say things that Muslims believe is blasphemy. It seems that this thing is a bit more common than we had originally thought. Another site is now doing the same thing. From Internet Hagganah commenting on a page that lists targets:

...each paragraph starts with the target's chatroom nickname, followed by whatever personal information has been gathered about the target, e.g.
- one is a Taxi driver who used to live in Egypt but he left the country
- another is believed to be a dentist, likes to argue with Hamas sympathizers
- one lives in America and he is "worse than the Americans themselves..."
- two others are "Christians from Syria"

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross comments on why this is so frightening:

Another page on Barsoom features rulings on those who curse God's prophet....For example, the page of religious rulings states that "the one who curses God deserves death." Another ruling states, "The one who curses God, his Prophet and [the Prophet's] companions or successors has denied the Qur'an and should be killed. Also anyone who defames Aisha, the Mother of the Believers. And they should have their heads cut off."

In light of the mass murder of a Coptic Christian family in New Jersey, web threats which target individuals need to be looked into by law enforcement agencies. Hossam Armanious, his wife, and his two daughters, age 16 and 8, were found brutally murdered in their home on Jan. 14th. Mr. Armanious was an Egyptian Christian who spent his spare time at the PalTalk website speaking out against Muslim persecuation of Christian Copts in Egypt. He had been singled out and threatened online for his criticism.

In the last several days the family and their representatives have spoken out. The NY Sun (via Robert Spencer) reports today that the families believe the most probable method and motive for the slayings is a ritual murder for religious reasons. And yesterday a spokesperon for Christian Solidarity International issued the following statement on the Armanious family murder:

From the perspective of ethnic and religious minorities who have fled religious persecution and violence by Jihadists in their native countries, this case is unnerving. Many non-Muslim immigrants have told me that they believed that when they fled to the United States from these pressures, they would be safe. This case has made them feel vulnerable. More than any other group, the Coptic community hopes that their fears are proven wrong, and that this was not religiously motivated or an act of micro-terrorism by extremists.

To show my solidarity with those who are being hunted down by good Muslims bent on following Allah's will by killing those that blaspheme Allah, Muhammed, or Aisha I offer the following statement.

There is no god named Allah and Muhammed is not a prophet. In fact, Muhammed was a child-molesting mass murder. Aisha? Nothing more than the victim of pedophelia with a bit of Stockholm syndrome.

Issue a fatwa against me. I dare you.

Posted by: Rusty at 02:45 PM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
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1 Interesting. Why don't apostates just catch fire? Why does this weakling of a god require men to carry out punishments? If it really is a god and has it in for Americans, why doesn't it just blink its eyes and wish us away?

Posted by: Sharp as a Marble at February 16, 2005 02:50 PM (VxPRK)

2 It's a test of faith, man!!

Posted by: Rusty at February 16, 2005 02:55 PM (JQjhA)

3 Rusty, I checked the English version of the fatwa's on Al Jazeera, your name is not there but watch out my friend. Have you read Dhimmi watch? It's quite enlightening. He writes about Islam to make others understand it - so stop asking for a fatwa - remember that guy who got murdered here in Massachusetts just because he'd go on jihad sites and put down Muslims and what they're doing. Well they got him and his family. Cindy

Posted by: firstbrokenangel at February 16, 2005 03:08 PM (PEKrh)

4 Cindy, do you have a link to that story?

Posted by: Erik O Baylor at February 16, 2005 03:12 PM (2M6YL)

5 I think Cindy is mistaking the New Jersey family, mentioned in the story. I haven't seen a story about a family anywhere else.

Posted by: Rusty at February 16, 2005 03:25 PM (JQjhA)

6 If you get a fatwa, can we call you Salman Rusty?

Posted by: Eric at February 16, 2005 06:12 PM (lK7Sh)

7 I will say it boldly!! Islam is a farce. They all worship Satan. Another thing is that the Koran is garbage. It's only useful for toilet paper. There I said it!!! Rock on JAWA REPORT!!!

Posted by: michael at February 16, 2005 07:07 PM (TJ8HB)

8 The thing about The Satanic Versus is that it deserved a fatwa. Not because it was blasphemous, but because it was so boring.

Posted by: Rusty at February 16, 2005 08:43 PM (JQjhA)

9 what is a fatwa anyway?

Posted by: jon at February 17, 2005 08:21 AM (I68Q5)

10 In all honesty, both Christians and Muslim have reasons to believe as they do and wish. That if you believe in a 'god' or 'higher power' is their right; however, let us not play the part of fools. Both sides are to share the blame and guilt, though I honestly believe both faiths to be false and diluted by man and his greed. Violence will solve nothing, nor will inciting high tensions more than they are help resolve the growing rift in the world.

Posted by: Tragic Poet at February 17, 2005 06:36 PM (j07p3)

11 Tragic Poet--You are tragically wrong in your assessment of the One True Faith, Christianity.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at February 18, 2005 06:08 PM (E6lNL)

12 Rusty: Being brave will not get you a fatwa. Try a more ass kissing, cowardly approach. They respond better if they know you will not or cannot fight back. Tell them you normally keep your hands tied behind your back. That should draw some attention from the brave Islamic warriors.

Posted by: greyrooster at February 19, 2005 03:47 AM (CBNGy)

13 mnimxafterclub.com but I think that's pretty unavoidable http://gas-grills.imxafterclub.com/gas-grills.html gas grills in music, pop at least.) Take for instance http://art-supplies.imxafterclub.com/art-supplies.html art supplies an adult who really, honestly likes the http://cigars.imxafterclub.com/cigars.html buy cigars music of The Wiggles...there's a certain http://usa-visa.imxafterclub.com/usa-visa.html internet usa visa irony there, isn't there? Or imagine if http://lawn-mower.imxafterclub.com/lawn-mower.html lawn mower the St Matthew Passion was Richard Dawkins's http://green-card-lottery.imxafterclub.com/green-card-lottery.html green card lottery web favourite piece of music (plausible enough--scientists dish network go for Bach)

Posted by: directv at March 06, 2005 08:02 PM (cN2QS)

14 http://www.libertyunites.us/modules.php?name=Forums&file=posting Chock full of terrorist sympathizers from all over the world....

Posted by: eagle888 at July 21, 2005 10:34 AM (jG+4Z)

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White Trash Wednesday: Glenn Reynolds Edition

Howdy folks. Today is White Trash Wednesday.

For today's edition of WTW I sent my pet Jawa poking around Glenn Reynolds' garbage to see what I could come up with. Why pick on Glenn Reynolds? Well, yesterday amidst all the major linkage from certain lefty site Glenn gave the Jawa Report an Instalanche. Then Glenn decided to 'fix' the link. That giant sucking sound you heard was all the traffic going away. You might just say Rusty is a bit pissed off.

Sour grapes? Maybe. But I guess after getting so many links in the past 24 hours you'd think I was satisfied? Isn't a link from Hugh Hewitt, Jeff Jarvis, Charles Johnson, Pandagon, and Eschaton enough? No!!!

Now, some may say that's a sure sign of an Indian giver. But did you ever pause to think who made up that term Indian giver? Yup, white trash.

Does Glenn Reynold's come from a long line of people of the earth? That's what we sent our crack reporters to find out.

Here is the evidence.

Exhibit A: Glenn Reynold's teaches in Tennessee. That's right, Tennessee. You don't get more bubba than Tennessee.

Exhibit B: We sent out our young intern Clarice to interview famous psychologist and serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. "Was our hunch about Glenn right?" she asked. In the process, we uncovered a little more information than we were after. But hey, I hear that in the hills it is considered perfectly normal for young boys to experiment with each other--as long as they are kissin cousins. This is what he had to say about Glenn Reynold's roots:

You know what Glenn looks like to me, with his good blog and his cheap shoes? He looks like a rube. A well scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste. Good nutrition has given him some length of bone, but he's not more than one generation from poor white trash, is he, Instapundit? And that accent he's tried so desparately to shed? Pure West Virginia. What's his father, dear? Is he a coal miner? Does he stink of the lamp? You know how quickly the boys found him... all those tedious sticky fumblings in the back seats of cars...while he could only dream of getting out... getting anywhere... getting all the way to the University of Tennessee.

Exhibit C: Our young Paduan learner followed Glenn around for bit and snapped these photos. Damning, to say the least.

Image 1: Here is a candid shot of Glenn in his office at UT. Notice the NASCAR screensaver? A sure sign of his white-trash roots.

more...

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Anti-War Activists Kicked Out of Career Fair

Sounds shocking? Well, it turns out the career fair was on a military base. (ht: Jeff Quinton) more...

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