Thomas Frank on Bob Ney, K Street, and exactly who runs who

From Thomas Frank's column in the August 19, 2006 NY Times, titled What Is K Street's Project?

That Republican civility...again

While so many right wingers pretend to be upset about the supposed lack of civility afflicting "the left" (which I guess means me, though this sure doesn't feel like the left), there certainly has never been any lack of evidence that the Republicans and their supporters are about as civil as nightstick trying to make the acquaintance of some flesh.

Quote of the day

We are not going to stay long enough to succeed in Iraq, and we have already stayed long enough to fail.

Steve Chapman, columnist distributed by Creators Syndicate.

U.S. workers reporting longer hours, more stress

It's not just the lack of vacations that have American workers frazzled; they're also working longer hours and reporting more stress.

The White House is not happy about it

That's what MSNBC host Joe Scarborough told the Washington Post about his recent program that included a panel discussion on whether "George Bush's mental weakness is damaging America's credibility at home and abroad."

Scarborough concluded that "I think George Bush is in a league by himself. I don't think he has the intellectual depth as these other people."

Quotes of the Day

Had we not done this, I really think we would have been overtaken by the Democrats.

Matt Salmon, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, discussing the state party's policy of paying $10 to GOP organizations and paid strategists for every person they recruit to join the party.


Take out your pay stub and look at the line that says "state taxes," because that will double.

Al Bowman, spokesman for the Pennsylvania House Republican Campaign Committee, using a little fearmongering about what would happen if Democrats take back control of the state House.

Pope and American employers far apart on hard work

Do you see any contradiction between the Pope warning against the dangers of working too hard with too little contemplation, and the fact that 25 percent of U.S. workers in the private sector do not get any paid vacation time?

Yet Another GWOT (Giant Waste Of Time)

Cute piece in the Times courtesy Raw Story, which could be filed under "Told Ya So!"......

Quote of the Day

It isn't just about parties in this state. It never has been. I think it's about policies and people, and I think the Republican Party has lost sight of that.

Kate Witek, Nebraska State Auditor, in announcing her switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party (in which she also said the GOP is more interested in getting its candidates elected, and she feels that Nebraskans want more).

Dear Mr. President...the warrantless spying issue, one more time

A Federal District Court decided yesterday that the warrantless surveillance program being conducted by this administration through the NSA is unconstitutional.  If you haven't seen the opinion, a PDF copy is here.

Read the following Q&A with the President regarding that court decision and see if you can find even one point bothered to even address whether the program is constitutional, apart from the bare assertion that it is: