the 941

 They don’t hate us because we’re free. They hate us because they were taught to hate us:

• It’s official; Saudi Arabia won’t be held responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

• The Transportation Security Agency won’t tell you that you’re on a “no-fly” list, but it also won’t tell you if you are on one. It’s starting to make the Stasi look like a bunch of first-graders playing ring around rosy.

• A look inside the jail where protestors will be spending their time at the Democratic National Convention. Seen on sign: “Warning, stun guns will be used in this facility.”

• Thought crimes legislation already being implemented.

• Two of the government’s favorite words: plausible deniability.

• The truth is rising:

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Wind energy may have a nominal carbon footprint, but the proliferation of windmills has its own problems. That the giant turbines have been killing loads of birds is well-documented, but just appearing in the radar screen are the hazards to human health.

• Do we want a dangerous and unstable person in charge during stressful foreign relations events like last week’s invasion of Georgia by Russia? I don’t think so.

• Where are the WMD? Of course, if we can’t find them, we’ll have to plant them. As every cop will tell you, you have to have a throwaway.

• Martial law expands in Arkansas.

• New robot has biological brain. Have we learned nothing from science fiction movies?

•  Get ready for the flu pandemic lockdown.

• Again, best listened to loud:

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Goal: Put conservative-leaning people into what are supposed to be non-partisan jobs at the Justice Department, and, if possible, get away with it scot-free.  Centrist and liberal candidates are quietly turned aside for several years as conservatives flow into what was supposed to be a neutral department. Time passes; the attorney general resigns and his minions who were directly responsible for the hiring fiasco move on to cushy jobs at right-wing think tanks. Story comes into open. Politicians talk it to death. New AG eventually decides that no one will be punished. To quote Michael Mukasey, “… not every wrong, or even every violation of the law, is a crime.” I wonder if we can try that one out they next time one of us breaks the law. Result: Justice Department is now loaded with partisan hacks, none of whom will lose their jobs and those responsible for the illegal hiring won’t get a black mark on their permanent record. It’s pathetic.

• Another day, another death, another human rights violation by the U.S. justice system.

• Who killed Private LaVena Lynn Johnson?

• Strict anti-cucumber laws hit Iraq.

• Return of Fairness Doctrine is a really bad idea.

• Hackers get pwned by one of their own.

• According to the U.S. military’s own newspaper, Stars and Stripes, U.S. forces are still in the middle of the Russia-Georgia conflict.

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 Need we say more: “Giant escaped poo causes chaos.“

• Today in news that’s hardly surprising: from 1998-2005, most U.S. corporations did not pay any federal income tax.

• Is the war in Georgia just a starting point for a much larger U.S.-Russian conflict?

• Some eyewitness reports indicate that U.S. troops are already on the ground there.

• One U.S. mercenary has been captured by Russian troops and there are reports of dead Americans as well.

• Looking past the Olympics to China’s lucrative organ-harvesting business.

• Darn those pesky activist judges enforcing the Constitution.

• The Brits knew Saddam was bluffing on WMD, but went along with the war anyway.

• Maybe the FBI’s explanation of the anthrax attacks is a little too good.

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What’s wrong with the economy? In a phrase, “crybaby capitalists.” These are the heads of major corporations that want no regulations for their industry, but also want the government to bail them out when their greed destroys the company. Amazingly, Republicans have been going along with this.

• The GOP is also pushing for a Big Brother-style employment verification system.

• Was the Constitution really meant to constrain government?

• The situation in Afghanistan is grim and getting grimmer.

• Sovereign wealth funds have a new American target: your house.

• New revelation about President Ford: he was a back-stabbing dirtbag.

• Scientists are closer to making that cloak of invisibility than you might think.

• Another thing to worry about: the iPatriot Act.

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John McCain’s mantra of “drill here, drill now” is getting quite shrill.

• Meanwhile, President Bush just classified another $200 million intelligence program.

• Is your organic food really organic?

• How desperate is the airline industry? So desperate that it’s barely giving pilots enough fuel to complete flights.

• Oil prices are down 25 percent. By my calculations, gas prices are barely down 10 percent. And the oil companies swear they’re not screwing us.

• What does Hillary want?

• Massive U.S. naval armada heads for Iran.

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One of great characters in South Park history… RIP Isaac Hayes, AKA Chef.

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Christine Jennings Challenges Vern Buchanan to Debates

Jennings Running Open and Honest Campaign, Calls On Buchanan to Do the Same

Christine Jennings, Democratic candidate for Florida’s 13th Congressional District, today challenged Representative Vern Buchanan to a series of public debates before the November election, so that Floridians can see where both candidates stand on the issues.

“The voters of the 13th Congressional District deserve every possible opportunity to hear the substantial differences between Christine Jennings and Vern Buchanan from the candidates themselves,” said Jennings spokesperson Melissa Smith. “Candidate debates are one of the cornerstones of our democratic system, but so far during this campaign Vern Buchanan has tried to hide from any real debate on the issues and his record.”

Rep. Buchanan has avoided appearing at any public candidate forums, including one on global warming hosted by Greenpeace in April. On August 6th, Buchanan refused to appear at a well-attended candidate event hosted by The Meadows Community Association in Sarasota. Buchanan has also declined invitations to appear at a Tiger Bay Club meeting in Sarasota with other Congressional candidates.

“Christine Jennings has made a commitment to openness and transparency in her campaign,” continued Smith. “Unfortunately, Vern Buchanan has chosen a different route. The voters deserve to hear from Buchanan, and Christine Jennings is ready and willing to debate him repeatedly until November’s election. We look forward to hearing from his campaign on whether he believes, as Christine does, that the voters of the 13th District deserve a series of debates to hear from the candidates directly on the critical issues facing our district and our country.”

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 What’s the difference between the free speech zones set up by the Communists in China and those that will be set up at the Democratic National Convention?

• Think being a renter means you’re safe from the foreclosure crisis? Think again.

• So who did compose that forged Iraqi letter? Douglas Feith, perhaps?

• Bush’s White House has its own interrogation room.

• But if Congress arrests Karl Rove, he may be headed elsewhere.

• Update: cops who busted in and shot mayor’s dogs didn’t even have a proper warrant.

• Government thugs threaten family of anti-war website operator.

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Another day, another new low hit by the McCain campaign.

• Hillary Clinton, unwittingly, pitches in for the McCain campaign.

• The future of fat: 40 years and every U.S. adult will be overweight.

• The question we all want answered: Who can I sue?

• Forgotten war in Afghanistan passes tragic milesstone.

• Hillary is pressing for a floor vote at the Dem National Convention. Really.

• Shouldn’t civil liberties at least be talked about by the major candidates?

• The United States’ place in the deplorable history of killing women and children first.

• And finally, something that does not depress me (and one of the great moments in movie history):

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