I've tasted it before. It's not good. The waiter and chef seem nice enough even if the dish washer did a lousy job. Desert? Something in civilized bar form, deep fried of course. Sprinkles on top.

Posted by: Rusty at 04:05 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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Ace points to this article. It seems that the terrorists are now admitting what I've been saying since 9/11: the left encourages terrorism. Hamas: Left Gave us Confidence to Continue Suicide Bombings

Yissocharov outlined the general consensus among Hamas leadership he had interviewed for the book: “The Israeli left-wing and your ‘peace-camp’ are what ultimately encouraged us to continue to carry out suicide bombings. We tried, through our attacks, to create fragmentation and dissention within Israeli society, and the left-wing encouraged us in that regard. When we heard about the ‘Pilot’s Letter,’ the refuse-niks and the elite soldiers refusing to serve [in Judea, Samaria and Gaza –ed.] it strengthened our confidence in the effectiveness of the suicide bomber. The disengagement from Gaza is proof of our victory. The fact that Sharon is willing to withdraw unconditionally is basically equivalent to raising a white flag and retreating. Only by force are we able to teach the other side what to do.”

Posted by: Rusty at 02:28 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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In the absence of more compelling evidence, I would suggest the right-leaning bloggers lay off this forged documents business. Since we now have a witness to 'W' being in Bama, what is the point? Please stop. You're making us look like a bunch of barking-moonbats. The problem with conspiracy theories is that they usually turn out to be false. Usually. Since they are usually false it seems safe to me to put the burden of proof on those trying to prove the conspiracy.

UPDATE: Eating crow? I might be, soon. Bill at INDC and then the mainstream press (via Curbside Prophet) on the case. But, I would still warn readers of the possible methodology problem here. The first rule of hypothesis testing is to accept the status quo until the level of proof is very high. In social science statistice, we generally put that standard of proof at around 95% probability before we can accept the hypothesis (actually, until we can reject the null hypothesis). While we are not talking about quantifiable data here, the fact that there are alternative explanations still does not give me reason to accept the hypothesis that the documents are forged. Update within an update: Bill at INDC now says his expert is 90% certain. That is getting pretty close to the threshold of 'proof'.

The real story here, though, may be that the blogosphere has forced the mainstream press into investigating the allegation. And, as the left has always maintained, it is the seriousness of the allegation, not the facts, that are important. (/sarcasm)

PS-Please follow Updates at Allah's and at NRO. There is plenty of evidence that this could have been produced in 1972. Again, since there are reasonable explanations other than a forged-document conspiracy it is safe to put the burden of proof on those who cry foul. This is a basic methodological assumption. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 12:21 PM | Comments (24) | Add Comment
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1 LGF has the slam dunk, typed it up in word all the default settings, perfect match. I'm skeptical too, but that looks like a slam dunk piece of evidence to me. The burden is now on CBS to come up with a device from 72 that could type that out.

Posted by: James at September 09, 2004 12:43 PM (rP4OC)

2 I was about to add the LGF link too: http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=12526_Bush_Guard_Documents-_Forged I agree with you about conspiracy theories in general. I think this time there really is a wolf.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at September 09, 2004 12:56 PM (ktl9o)

3 Of course the incredible stupidity on display if these documents are forgeries could lead a really conspiracy minded person to wonder if they made forgeries so they could produce the real documents later in a rope-a-dope maneuver. But as my father says never ascribe to cunning what can be more readily explained by stupidity.

Posted by: James at September 09, 2004 12:57 PM (rP4OC)

4 Excuse me? "In the absence of more compelling evidence?" What more compelling evidence do you want? These memos appear to have been produced with technology that did not exist in 1972 and that was far from practical in 1984. And they can't be genuine if they were produced after 1984 because the lieutenant colonel whose signature is on them died that year. This isn't conspiracy-theory stuff. This is, "Hey, that ain't right." Even the IBM Selectric Composer, the most sophisticated desktop typesetting machine available in 1972, couldn't have produced the memos in question. It's that reduced-size subscript that kills it.

Posted by: Jeff Harrell at September 09, 2004 01:02 PM (UAuME)

5 Big mistake on your part pointing to the White House release of these documetns. They only released the VERY documents that CBS faxed to them. To me, the major issue which proves forgery here is the kerning. That's the representative size of letters in a font. Only Microsoft's Times New Roman has such a radical kerning difference between the lowercase "l" and "m" -- the original typsetting machines back in the day did not. I'm afraid the left has been MAJOR busted on this story. They faked it. And they're caught.

Posted by: Gonzo at September 09, 2004 01:16 PM (C0McP)

6 I'm baffled by your strong opposition to this story, Russ. You're right about conspiracy theories usually being wrong, but it's not like people are arguing here that aliens control Kerry's brain. There's some real, honest-to-goodness evidence that the documents might be forged. And as you point out in your post, I've provided links to material that cuts the other way. What's wrong with exploring the issue? If it doesn't pan out, it doesn't pan out. Let the goddamned left have a taste of its own medicine for once.

Posted by: Allah at September 09, 2004 01:23 PM (EeR5C)

7 Rusty, I agree with Allah. Nobody (at least not any of the bloggers I respect anyway) has completely swollowed this story yet. But there are some serious questions about those memos. CBS either doesn't know or isn't saying where they came from and there appears to be some serious discrepancies having to do with font size, etc. Why not explore the issue? Nobody is saying its true yet, but I think there are some legitimate questions that should be asked and answered before CBS and other media outlets go off making headlines with these memos.

Posted by: Rob at September 09, 2004 01:28 PM (fcqpB)

8 But it makes us look as bad as them. They do this shit all the time. Since there is some doubt that something is true, then our worst fears about the other side are correct. I think you're doing a reasonable job of showing that there is some contrary evidence, but have you seen the massive blogosphere reaction? It's spreading like wildfire that there is a CBS conspiracy to forge documents or that this dude forged the documents. Yeah, there may be motive, but as Michelle pointed out to you there are other explanations. These other explanations seem far more reasonable. Plus, I think you underestimate the power of the blogosphere. This is going to get out, fast. And if it turns out these are not forged documents, which I presume will be the case, it's going to look real bad. Sure, you and I know that 90% of the lunacy comes from the left, but the mainstream media doesn't and this will be seen as "proof" that the Bushies are way out there. Mark my words.

Posted by: RS at September 09, 2004 01:32 PM (JQjhA)

9 Sweetums, just asking the question, not making an assertion. As you may know, I'm certainly capable of correcting mistakes or falsehoods. However, I may simply monitor the situation until the facts come out fully, one way or the other. *May* bieng the operative word here.

Posted by: Juliette at September 09, 2004 01:41 PM (1+d4t)

10 I never assumed some conspiracy. I just assumed it was the MSM falling for specious data. The reason I was excited was the fact that I had already seen lefties using the Killian memo to further the "AWOL" meme, and this info refuted that. So what's the latest on the validity of the forgery claims? What about the "th" issue?

Posted by: Brian B at September 09, 2004 01:42 PM (OnnW3)

11 Allah posted this from Forensic Document Examiner that INDC talked to http://www.indcjournal.com/archives/000838.php The guy doesn't seem to key on the superscript which is what I thought was hinky (IÂ’m no expert anyway), he says the kerning (proportional spacing) narrows the field, but that the number 4 seems to show that the document is a modern creation. Not exactly ringing, but the guy is a professional witness so he would be guarded about his analysis until he saw the document in the flesh... I donÂ’t want to be a moonbat but IÂ’ve had the feeling for the last year unless blogs are dealing with a story unfavorable to dems it doesnÂ’t get done. At some point a rumor on the blogsphere will be passed around and blown out of proportion, I donÂ’t think this is that point. But IÂ’ve been wrong in the past.

Posted by: James at September 09, 2004 02:08 PM (rP4OC)

12 Gonna wait until they admit it?

Posted by: Walter E. Wallis at September 09, 2004 02:20 PM (7XPVo)

13 Hey, Occam's Razor boy here. Sorry if I got on your bad side, man. I'm just trying to provide my own analysis of the documents. I'm not crying conspiracy, not trying to posit some sort of evil cabal behind CBS or Sixty Minutes. I'm just presenting my reaction to the facts at hand, and linking to better sources of information than I. And my reaction, looking at those memos, is that they're fake. That's why I'm asking for any evidence otherwise. I'm not trying to be combative, and I'm not assuming there is no counter-evidence; I honestly want to know whether the elevated 'th' was possible (or perhaps I should say plausible) for an internal memo, and I honestly want to know whether these were released by the White Hoouse, or whether they were obtained by CBS elsewhere. I don't like moonbats; I'm trying my best not to be one here. Maybe they're not forgeries, but the initial visual evidence gives me, at least, reason to doubt. I'm looking for more information. And if these in fact are forgeries, who knows who's to blame? Maybe CBS put it together itself, although I very much doubt that. Maybe the Kerry campaign is the source for it, although I again very much doubt that. Others claim it was Bush or Rove, and again -- yeah, right.

Posted by: Josh at September 09, 2004 02:21 PM (iGAEH)

14 "Blog children"? Damn, you ask for one favor and the next thing you know, you're adopted. Double my allowance.

Posted by: Dylan at September 09, 2004 03:03 PM (ueh4n)

15 Its a damn conspiracy, I tell ya! This is getting curiouser and curiouser. First it is implied that Bush leaked the forged documents. Then it turns out that his are copies of the forged documents faxed to him by CBS. Time to put on the tinfoil hat and roll out a whacky conspiracy theory: Did someone plant the forged documents, alert CBS, leading to the subsequent Dan Blather 60 Minutes hit piece? Who would that someone be? Hmmm.....

Posted by: infidel cowboy at September 09, 2004 03:33 PM (1Brws)

16 Ironically enough, infidel cowboy ain't that far from right. The left is already claiming that this is a Rove plant to discredit CBS to begin with. Who're the mooonbats?

Posted by: Brian B at September 09, 2004 03:46 PM (OnnW3)

17 Rusty, When I make an accusation against someone I think it is incumbent on me to provide proof of my allegation. Why is it incumbent on us to prove the documents unreal? We arent making accusations against anyone, why isnt it CBS's job to prove the documents are real since the point of them is to further their overall goal of getting John Kerry elected? I say until they produce the originals or disclose how they got them and from who, I am going to consider them fake. Hey produce the documents give them to a non-partisan third party with the expertise to verify them and have at it. If they are real great if not fine but at least we know the truth. I am way beyond giving the benefit of the doubt to the MSM.

Posted by: Big E at September 09, 2004 04:57 PM (9GaaH)

18 Fox just teased the forged memo story at 6:09 est.

Posted by: James at September 09, 2004 05:08 PM (rl/jf)

19 Fox soft peddled it, they were very careful not to go too far. It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow. FYI on NPR this afternoon there were only two quick mentions of the Bush AWOL story. This morning it was non-stop.

Posted by: James at September 09, 2004 05:15 PM (rl/jf)

20 They are doing a second story with all the goods!

Posted by: James at September 09, 2004 05:25 PM (rl/jf)

21 Good news, Rusty - looks like the 95% standard has been met.

Posted by: infidjel cowboy at September 09, 2004 07:48 PM (AZB61)

22 Hat's off to you, Rusty - you finally managed to cram more links into a post than a typical DailySpam! has. I'm going to have to work much harder now.

Posted by: Ironbear at September 10, 2004 04:40 AM (/Q5By)

23 The left is already claiming that this is a Rove plant to discredit CBS to begin with. So the plot was to fool CBS with obviously fake documents? What kind of wizards at CBS then approved the use of these? Perhaps the network's advanced case of "Clobber-Bush Syndrome" (CBS) clouded their judgment and silenced their conscience. Nah--only deranged people would overlook something as simple as that.

Posted by: Big Dan at September 10, 2004 01:06 PM (roGJq)

24 The time has come for Kerry to be a man, confess his entire campaign is one big lie and that he had the docs forged in a last gasp to keep his collapsing campaign alive! He's toast!

Posted by: ALGORE at September 12, 2004 08:19 PM (B1HGy)

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NZ Bear does a little investigative journalism.

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Now can you guys just shut the hell up? Of course, over at the DU there will be whining that the guy is a NASCAR fan, which is code for bigot-segregationist-homophobe who wants to starve children and force women back into using coat-hangers. USA Today, via Kevin Aylward:

A retired Alabama Air National Guard officer said Friday that he remembers George Bush showing up for duty in Alabama in 1972, reading safety magazines and flight manuals in an office as he performed his weekend obligations.
"I saw him each drill period," retired Lt. Col. John "Bill" Calhoun said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press from Daytona Beach, Fla., where he is preparing to watch this weekend's big NASCAR race.

"He was very aggressive about doing his duty there. He never complained about it. ... He was very dedicated to what he was doing in the Guard. He showed up on time and he left at the end of the day."

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I guess everyone in Canada isn't a metrosexual. And for awhile there I was using the word Canadian as a eupemism for gay. Hat tip: not-gay and-not Canadian John Donovan.

Posted by: Rusty at 09:30 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Via Captain Ed who continues to ignore my brilliant expose on the real Kitty Kelley comes the news that the only source for the outrageous allegation the George W. Bush did coke at Camp David, his estranged ex-sister-in-law Sharon Bush, denies the story. I smell libel suit:

But Sharon Bush, who is divorced from the president's brother Neil, said in a statement: "I categorically deny that I ever told Kitty Kelley that George W. Bush used cocaine at Camp David or that I ever saw him use cocaine at Camp David. When Kitty Kelley raised drug use at Camp David, I responded by saying something along the lines of, 'Who would say such a thing?'

PS-Some other bloggers are also on the case, and have some keen insights: McGehee, Bits, Brain Shavings, Slant Point, DD Sez even has an intelligent remark in there somewhere

Posted by: Rusty at 09:09 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Holy schneike. This is really worrisome. I mean, imagine what these guys could do if they filled a Volvo with explosives. Safe, boxy, deadly. Via Robert Spencer this article which Robert graciously translates:

The police now publicly admit what many Scandinavians have known for a long time: They no longer control the situation in the nations's third largest city. It is effectively ruled by violent gangs of Muslim immigrants.

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I'm thinking this was all just an elaborate ploy to teach the local sheriff to read.

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1 Wrong. Funny, but wrong. Sick and wrong. Sickeningly funny, but sick and wrong. Sick and wrong and funny on so many levels. I can't stop laughing. Is that wrong?

Posted by: Brian B at September 08, 2004 05:05 PM (OnnW3)

2 "She was alerted to the crime by the sound of squealing, which apparently emanated from the pig." Apparently? Also, I don't think the technical term is pig fornicator.

Posted by: Flea at September 08, 2004 05:32 PM (yomYl)

3 If it was the perp squealing, I don't wanna hear it.

Posted by: Brian B at September 08, 2004 06:40 PM (OnnW3)

4 It's no fun if you can't get them to squeal.

Posted by: Leopold Stotch at September 09, 2004 08:22 AM (Z8hxX)

5 بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيم صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. [1] Ta-ha. [2] We have not sent down the Qur-an to thee to be (an occasion) for thy distress, [3] But only as an admonition to those who fear (Allah), [4] A revelation from Him Who created the earth and the heavens on high. [5] (Allah) Most Gracious is firmly established on the throne (of authority). [6] To Him belongs what is in the heavens and on earth, and all between them, and all beneath the soil. [7] If thou pronounce the word aloud, (it is no matter); For verily He knoweth what is secret and what is yet more hidden . ] If thou pronounce the word aloud, (it is no matter); For verily He knoweth what is secret and what is yet more hidden. [8] Allah! there is no god but He! To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 163] And your God is One God: there is no god but He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful . In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 21] O ye people! Adore your Guardian-Lord, Who created you and those who came before you, that ye may have the chance to learn righteousness; [22] Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith fruits for your sustenance; then set not up rivals unto Allah when ye know (the truth). In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 33] Say: The things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds, whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah, for which He hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. [74] Verily he who comes to his Lord as a sinner (at Judgment), for him is Hell: therein shall he neither die nor live. [75] But such as come to Him as Believers who have worked righteous deeds, for them are ranks exalted, [76] Gardens of Eternity, beneath which flow rivers: they will dwell therein for aye: such is the reward of those who purify themselves (from evil). In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 110] If anyone does evil or wrongs his own soul but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [111] And if anyone earns sin, he earns it against his own soul: for Allah is Full of Knowledge and Wisdom. [112] But if any one earns a fault or a sin and throws it on to one that is innocent, he carries (on himself) (both) a falsehood and a flagrant sin. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful [53] Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful 54] "Turn ye to your Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped. [55] "And follow the Best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the Penalty comes on you - of a sudden while ye perceive not! - [56] "Lest the soul should (then) say: `Ah! woe is me! in that I neglected (my Duty) towards Allah, and was but among those who mocked!' [57] "Or (lest) it should say: 'If only Allah had guided me, I should certainly have been among the righteous! 58] "Or (lest) it should say when it (actually) sees the Penalty: 'If only I had another chance, I should certainly be among those who do good!' [59] "(The reply will be 'Nay, but there came to thee My Signs, and thou didst reject them: thou wast haughty, and became one of those who reject Faith!'" [60] On the Day of Judgment wilt thou see those who told lies against Allah; their faces will be turned black; is there not in Hell an abode for the Haughty? [61] But Allah will deliver the righteous to their place of salvation: no evil shall touch them, nor shall they grieve. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 133] Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous. 134] Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men; for Allah loves those who do good. [135] And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins; and who can forgive sins except Allah? And are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done. 136] For such the reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens with rivers flowing underneath; an eternal dwelling: how excellent a recompense for those who work (and strive)! In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. [190] Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of Night and Day, there are indeed Signs for men of understanding. [191] Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (with the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught hast thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the Penalty of the Fire [192] "Our Lord! any whom Thou dost admit to the Fire, truly Thou coverest with shame, and never will wrong-doers find any helpers! [193] "Our Lord! we have heard the call of one calling (us) to Faith, `Believe ye in the Lord', and we have believed. Our Lord! forgive us our sins, blot out from us our iniquities, and take to Thyself our souls in the company of the righteous. 194] "Our Lord! Grant us what Thou didst promise unto us through Thy Messengers, and save us from shame on the Day of Judgment; for Thou never breakest Thy promise." [195] And their Lord hath accepted of them, and answered them: "Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female: ye are members, In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 7] Those who sustain the Throne (of Allah) and those around it sing Glory and Praise to their Lord; believe in Him; and implore forgiveness for those who believe: "Our Lord! Thy Reach is over all things, in Mercy and Knowledge. Forgive, then, those who turn in Repentance, and follow thy Path; and preserve them from the Penalty of the Blazing Fire! [8] "And grant, our Lord! that they enter the Gardens of Eternity, which Thou hast promised to them, and to the righteous among their fathers, their wives, and their posterity! for Thou art (He), the Exalted in Might, Full of Wisdom. [9] "And preserve them from (all) ills; and any whom Thou dost preserve from ills that Day, on them wilt Thou have bestowed Mercy indeed: and that will be truly (for them) the highest Achievement." http://quran.al-islam.com/Index/indexe1.asp http://www.al-sunnah.com

Posted by: suliman at November 17, 2004 07:29 AM (Q1csa)

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....over the fact that the UN is angry with us.

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Today is Wictory Wednesday, witch. John Hawkins' interview with John O'Neil pretty much sums up this weeks argument for why you should vote Bush. Now let's win this thing and go home. more...

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Kitty Kelley's new book The Family is causing quite a storm. Perhaps the biggest revelation in the book is that George W. "Bush did coke at Camp David when his father was President, and not just once either." Quite a shocking revelation, if true, and sure to reinforce the convictions of those who believe that George W. Bush is an overgrown frat boy who never really grew up. But who is Kitty Kelley and can her work be trusted? Is this, as she claims, a family biography or does her work represent nothing more than the National Enquirer in book length form?

Kitty Kelley's books include the 'biographies' of Nancy Reagan, Frank Sinatra, and Jackie Kennedy. Kelley once coined herself 'the Queen of sleeze' and if the subject matter of her books doesn't warn you of the type of reading material she supplies than this might: her book which 'researches' dirt on the House of Windsor has been banned in Brittain for it's libelous accusations.

Kitty Kelley has a penchant for ascribing inflamatory quotes to famous people, often relying on scorned lovers or others who have a bone to pick with her biographical subjects. For instance, in her unauthorized biography of Nancy Reagan she claims Nancy said that President Reagan:

orders killings like he orders linguine.

If that wasn't bizarre enough, Kelley also accused the President of being a rapist:

He pushed his way inside and said he just had to see me. He forced me on the couch . . . and said, 'Let's just get to know each other.' It was the most pitched battle I've ever had, and suddenly in a matter of seconds I lost. . . . They call it date rape today.

As you can see, Kitty Kelley is no stranger to using unreliable sources to make her point: she has never met a celebrity without a sordid past. Kelley herself has been the subject of at least one unauthorized biography Poison Pen, written by former Reagan aid George Carpozi, Jr. The book is not one I can heartily recommend, as it uses Kelley's own libelous tactics against her, but it does debunk much of the myth that Kelley does her homework. This book documents case after case where Kelley uses unreliable sources to put her subjects in the most unflattering light.

And what kind of sources does Kitty Kelley use? Kelly claims that Bush used coke at Camp David based on Neil Bush's scorned ex-wife's word. Professor Bainbridge quotes the Mirror article cited above as naming the source:

She quotes his former sister-in-law Sharon Bush who claims: "Bush did coke at Camp David when his father was President, and not just once either."

The former President Bush refused Sharon's request for a $467,000 loan to keep her Houston mansion, telling her to find something cheaper. "The divorce is final," the elder Bush wrote, "[and] the best thing for you to do is get on with your life. Close the unhappy chapter with Neil, find a job, and look to the future, not the past."

After Sharon pulled some hair out of Neil's head, his lawyers accused her of practicing voodoo. But Sharon shot back: "I pulled Neil's hair out because I wanted to get it tested for cocaine, not because of voodoo."

Update: The source for the cocaine allegation is publicly saying she never made the statement. Kitty Kelley just makes things up.

Others ripping this book apart: Prof. Bainbridge, Talk Left, Say Anything, Jeff Goldstein, Tac Jammer, Everything I know is Wrong, Captain Ed

Others who say inane and stupid things: Wonkette (right, who cares if the accusation is true....In that spirit my 'sources' tell me that Kerry of kills puppies for fun.)

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Just when John Kerry thought his Vietnam troubles were over, another group emerges. I wonder if he really meant it when he said "Bring it on"? From kerrylied.com:

KERRY LIED . . . while good men died
A gathering of Vietnam veterans from across America

Where: Upper Senate Park, Washington, D.C. It is easy to get to, shady and pretty, with a great view of the Capitol dome in back of the speaker's platform. THIS IS A NEW LOCATION AS OF 7/17/04

When: Sunday, Sept 12, 2004 2:00-4:00 PM (EDT)

Why: To tell the truth about Vietnam veterans.
To counter the lies told about Vietnam veterans by John Kerry

All Vietnam veterans and their families and supporters are asked to attend.Other veterans are invited as honored guests.

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It's pretty odd when Atrios starts defending Kerry by accusing the Swift Boaters of being guilty of war crimes. I guess the logic is, "Kerry is telling the truth that he was a war criminal, but since the Swift Boaters deny that they are war criminals they are a liars and can't be trusted about all that other stuff." Right? Via Eschaton this story (subscription):

Now the right had seized upon the Vietnam War, too -- specifically the role, in uniform and out, of Sen. John Kerry. And to Means, it seemed just as wrong.

Means, a 55-year-old investigator for several Bakersfield law firms, was particularly annoyed by the words of one retired admiral. Roy F. "Latch" Hoffman, one of the co-founders of the pro-George W. Bush group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, had publicly criticized Kerry, a former Swift boat commander, for having brought back stories about alleged war crimes by U.S. forces -- often carried out, Kerry said in 1971, "with the full awareness of officers at all levels."

Seemed to him, Means said, his own Swift boat crew had come close to committing a war crime themselves one day. A senior officer, hitching a ride up the coast aboard their Swift boat, had ordered the crew to fire on a small group of unarmed Vietnamese fishermen working their nets in unrestricted waters, Means said. The boat's commanding officer had refused to comply.

Was that the way the boat's commander remembered the incident too, all these years later? Means had to know.

So he got on the Internet and hunted down Thomas W.L. "Tad" McCall, the retired Navy captain who'd commanded Means' boat, PCF 88, as a newly minted ensign. Means called him.

Not only did McCall remember the day in question, and that confrontation off the coast of South Vietnam, he remembered the name of the officer who had given the command to shoot: "Latch" Hoffman himself, then a Navy captain in charge of the entire Swift boat task force in Vietnam.

The next morning Means told me the whole story. Then I called McCall myself.

McCall, now 60, remembers March 14, 1969, because it was his 25th birthday. He'd only been running a Swift boat for a few weeks, having arrived in Vietnam in January 1969, the same month as Means.

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Wait, so a friend of Bush's father tried to pull a few strings when no string pulling was necessary? It reminds me of the student's Mom who called me on the day of a test begging me to let her son take a make-up. "Okay," I says to her, "I'll do you a favor--but don't go spreading it around that I let him take a make-up." Of course, I would have given him the make-up anyway and her son might have known that had he bothered to read the syllabus. But it always makes people feel good if they think they are the reason something gets done.

Posted by: Rusty at 08:46 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Remember, the live-blogging of the Wonkette/Andrew Sullivan ambush will begin at 4:15 CDT.

Click here to join the butchery!!

UPDATE: Whew. Steve pulled through for us, even if Sullie didn't show. I think I heard something about meeting a bear on the way to the meeting....Anyhoo, this is what it is like to be a political scientist. I know on TV there's a whole lot more grave-robbing and bullwhip swinging, but in reality the life of a political scientist is not so glamorous. FYI-Woodrow Wilson was the 1st President of the American Political Science Association. Yips!

PS: Steve

Busted!! Gordon the Cranky Neocon has the 'real deal'

Posted by: Rusty at 03:36 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Bush Opens Double-Digit Lead Mecca leaning bow: Allah

Posted by: Rusty at 02:59 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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And a speedy recovery.

UPDATE: Atrios readers take off tin-foil hats, question timing:

Say a prayer, if that's your style, that Bubba pulls through with flying colors and that his anesthesiologist is a diehard Dem.
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I think it's great that this and the hurricane and even the russian school disaster(terribly tragic) is taking attention away from the RNC. more...

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Bin Laden captured in Pakistan. It's true. No, not really. But I did read it on the internet, which, according to my students, must make it true. I read this earlier today and took a pass. Now that Kevin Aylward is on it I figured I'd just throw it out there for the gullible and/or conspiracy minded.

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TSG has learned that Paris Hilton™ has filed to trademark her name. Other copyrighted Paris Hilton names?

Slut®
Brat©
Bitch™

Unfortunately for Paris, Jessica Cutler had already beaten her to Ho© and Skank®. I hear that Trash and Mediawhore are still available to some entrepreneurial spirit who wishes to sit on the copyright until the Hilton family comes along and makes the right offer.

Speaking of whoring, this post linkwhored at the Traffic Jam

PS-Linkwhoring at its best.

PPS-As long as we're linkwhoring, might I suggest this post by blog-pimp Slithery D. (wink-wink, nudge-nudge--dude, that was some shameless self-promotion!)

Posted by: Rusty at 03:12 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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