Hey everybody, let's do the Iraq Study Group Twist

Six has already remarked on the vitriolic response of the extreme right to the Iraq Study Group report.  But check this out for twisted logic on why the report is "lying" about the ISG not wanting to "stay the course."

Quote of the day:

If the Religious Righteous want to demonstrate their commitment to the Christmas spirit, let them start by boycotting the big-box retailers who refuse to pay their workers a living wage and family-sustainable benefits. The Religious Right, in its zeal to make every American conform to a specified form of speech during Christmas, is not much different than the Roman Empire requiring its citizens to say "Hail Caesar!" or the Third Reich requiring Germans to greet one another by uttering "Heil Hitler!"
Wayne Madsen, in a Houston Chronicle column dated Saturday.

Want Bush admin to look good? Compare it to itself

Ever notice how often some set of statistics put out by the White House touts things being better "than at any time since 2000," or something similar?  It's because it's tough even for propagandists to spin something in this admin being positive if they have to compare themselves to other administrations.

America in numbers: confidence & happiness quantified

There's a site called Nation Master, which purports to compare facts and characteristics of different countries.  I have no idea how reliable the data is, or how you could ever get reliable data on these issues, but here are some stats I found interesting.

Another election benefit: Iraq inspector general office reprieved

The Republicans' insulting and underhanded effort to put the Iraq inspector general out of business, so that office can't publicize any more of the billions and millions that have been pissed away in Iraq, has ended.

Health care: "market" based solution fails AGAIN

Those blindly addicted to the idea that the "market" is next to Godliness keep pitching one stupid idea after another to solve the health care crisis in this country.  The latest: get yourself a high deductible health insurance plan then keep a real close eye on your health care expenses.

ISG Report Shows Fractured Conservatives

And we thought it was just the election that proved that? Neat piece, from the NY Times reveals that the Iraq report clearly shows: Ain't no joy left in Mudville...

Quote of the day:

A third of self-professed liberals listen to conservative talk radio. Why ? Because we offer hope.
Paul Weyrich, in his recent column on the evils of the Fairness Doctrine in broadcasting.

Military in U.S. getting shaft, while military in Iraq gets billions

When you have a huge budget deficit and need to spend some $8 billion a month in the money pit called Iraq, what's left for military life, training and equipment here in the U.S.?  Not much.

Quote of the day:

There is no guarantee for success in Iraq. The situation in Baghdad and several provinces is dire. Saddam Hussein has been removed from power and the Iraqi people have a democratically elected government that is broadly representative of Iraq's population, yet the government is not adequately advancing national reconciliation, providing basic security, or delivering essential services. The level of violence is high and growing. There is great suffering, and the daily lives of many Iraqis show little or no improvement. Pessimism is pervasive.
The Iraq Study Group Report, Chapter I (link takes you to full text of the PDF version of the Report; quote is from PDF page 19).