US Senator Dick Durbin (Insulting-IL), the Senate's Minority Whip, remained unapologetc as the uproar over his insulting comments toward the US military on the floor of the Senate entered a third day.

The Chicago Tribune suggested ignoring Durbin, while other newspapers demanded his censure or ouster from the Senate.

We know what Durbin thinks about the treatment of Guantanamo prisoners. So what's the proper treatment of our coverage-hungry senior senator when he displaces the ever-present microphone long enough to insert his foot in his mouth? Ignore him. That would be torture.

Not so from "Dick Dastardly." Durbin complained about prisoners being kept in alternating hot and cold conditions, chained hand and foot to the floor in a fetal position, and subjected to rap music.

Let's see -- while we're interrogating a prisoner, I suppose Durbin thinks we ought to serve fresh coffee and creme brulee.

I apologize to those of you reading from the great state of Illinois. Growing up in the Chicagoland area, I have a great affinity for folks there. Hopefully, you won't be duped into voting for such an idiot next time around -- even though Dickie's next election isn't until 2008.

I guess Dickie figures that he has to live down to the Howard "YAARGH!" Dean standard of statesman-like speech.

Dean is at least half-way entertaining. Durbin is just a half-ass.

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I've called Senator Dick Durbin "Dick Dastardly" in the past, but he really lived down to that nickname yesterday.

If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime--Pol Pot or others--that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners.

And you have the unmitigated gall to stand there and compare our troops to those butchers?

I don't see any dead prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. I don't see any tortured prisoners in Gitmo.

Hell, we're giving them the time they want so they can pray. We're feeding them pretty damn good food. They've got air conditioning during the day, heat at night.

But because you are so wrapped up in your visceral hatred of the Republican party in general and George W. Bush in particular, you're actually willing to vilify our troops -- endangering them even more.

Because of you and your Democratic cohorts, when the US is attacked again by terrorists, the rest of the world will say that we deserved it. That however many thousands of lives that are lost will be deserved.

Well, Dick Dastardly, those deaths, and the ones of the troops lost due to your personal vendetta are your fault. Yours and your friends. No one elses.

And as far as I'm concerned, you really should resign.

Matter of fact, I'm calling on the Republican leadership to have you censured. You, Senator, have violated your oath. By abusing your power as an elected leader in the Senate, you have violated the trust of our fighing men and women in harm's way across the globe, the trust of the citizens of the great state of Illinois, and the trust of the citizens of this entire nation.

Dickie, you're sullied yourself and what little reputation you had. Do the right thing now and resign before you embarras yourself and this nation further.

Oh. Mind you, Dickie, the longer you put off apologizing, the worse you make it for all you idiots on the left.

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I've heard some wild conspiracy theories regarding the 9/11 disaster, and most of those spewing them have been ignored like the whack-jobs they are.

But now comes Morgan Reynolds, professor emeritus at Texas A&M University, and former chief economist for the Department of Labor during President Bush's first term. Reynolds claims that the Twin Towers, along with 7WTC, which fell late in the afternoon of 9/11, were demolished deliberately by the US government.

"If demolition destroyed three steel skyscrapers at the World Trade Center on 9/11, then the case for an 'inside job' and a government attack on America would be compelling." Reynolds commented from his Texas A&M office, "It is hard to exaggerate the importance of a scientific debate over the cause of the collapse of the twin towers and building 7. If the official wisdom on the collapses is wrong, as I believe it is, then policy based on such erroneous engineering analysis is not likely to be correct either. The government's collapse theory is highly vulnerable on its own terms. Only professional demolition appears to account for the full range of facts associated with the collapse of the three buildings."

But what gets me more is that there are people who are actually paying attention to this conspiracy nut.

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I was on the outs with many of my conservative cohorts on the Schiavo mess, and I don't expect that to change now.

I felt that both the medical evidence, as well as case law, sided with her husband. She was a vegetable, and barely alive in any sense of the word. We, as a society, did not have the right, legally or morally, to preserve her "life" to assuage our collective sense of piety.

I got called all kinds of names, up to and including "Nazi" over my stance in this case, by all sorts of people, including some who I had the greatest bit of respect for. I felt the US Congress had no business getting involved, and after Terri Schiavo died, I insisted (as I do today) that no one "won" in this sad, sordid matter.

The autopsy results were released today, and they confirmed what I had been saying, and had believed then.

An autopsy on Terri Schiavo backed her husband's contention that she was in a persistent vegetative state, finding that she had massive and irreversible brain damage and was blind, the medical examiner's office said Wednesday. It also found no evidence that she was strangled or otherwise abused.

The case -- which was more about spousal rights than anything else, contrary to anything the screaming "Terri-bots" (to coin one phrase used for her supporters) will tell you in print, on the air or online.

The case is over, and Terri, thankfully, is no longer lingering, but the verbal attacks and abuse live on.

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The US Senate on Monday formally apologized for decades of inaction on legislation that would have outlawed lynching against blacks and others years sooner. The practice was used in this country well into the 20th Century, while lawmakers - both Republican and Democrat - across the nation turned a blind eye.

Nearly 200 descendants of lynching victims, as well as 91-year-old James Cameron, Marion, Ind., who is thought to be the only living survivor of a lynching attempt, listened from the visitors' gallery to speeches about what Sen. George Allen, R-Va., described as "the failure of the Senate to take action when action was most needed."

"I came here to bear witness on behalf of my cousin Jimmy," said Janet Langhart Cohen, wife of former Defense Secretary William Cohen and a member of the group that has pushed for the apology.

Her third cousin, 17-year-old Jimmy Gillenwaters, was killed in 1912 by a lynch mob near Bowling Green, Ky.

He was one of 4,743 people killed by mob violence from 1882 to 1968, according to Tuskegee University records. Of those, nearly three-fourths, 3,446, were blacks.

According to university records, lynchings reached a peak of 230 in 1892, but they were prevalent well into the 1930s. Twenty lynchings were reported in 1935. During that time, nearly 200 anti-lynching bills were introduced in Congress, and three passed the House. Seven presidents from 1890 to 1952 petitioned Congress to pass a federal law.

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Today's "too sick for belief" moment comes to us from Kansas City.

A Kansas City abortionist is out of business after investigators discovered a grisly house of horrors at his clinic – with fetuses kept in Styrofoam cups in his refrigerator and one employee accusing him of microwaving one and stirring it into his lunch.

The unsanitary conditions in Krishna Rajanna's clinic prompted legislative approval of new abortion regulations in Kansas, a bill that was vetoed by the governor. Rajanna's activities have reportedly been the subject of law-enforcement investigations for nearly two years.

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At Tuesday evening's Congressional Gala at the Washington Convention Center, President George W. Bush unloaded both barrels into the leadership of the Democratic Party, who has been on the warpath lately, thanks to the constant off the wall rantings of DNC Chair Howard "YAAARRGGHH!" Dean.

The president drew standing ovations from GOP faithful as he hammered Democrats for offering no solutions to the nation's most pressing problems. "If leaders of the other party have innovative ideas, let's hear them. But if they have no ideas or policies except obstruction, they should step aside and let others lead," Mr. Bush said to thunderous applause from more than 5,000 supporters.

The president, who has spent the last several months seeking consensus on his Social Security reform package and reaching out to Democrats with non-confrontational rhetoric, said opposition party leaders are pursuing "the philosophy of the stop sign, the agenda of the road block, and our country and our children deserve better."

"Political parties that choose the path of obstruction will not gain the trust of the American people," he said at the event dubbed "The 2005 President's Dinner."

Mr. Bush said political parties can take one of two approaches: "One approach is to lead, to focus on the people's business, to take on the tough problems, and that is exactly what our party is doing."

"The other approach is to simply do nothing, to delay solutions, obstruct progress, refuse to take responsibility. Members of the other party have worked with us to achieve important reforms on some issues, yet, too often, their leadership prefers to block the ideas of others."

Just damn, indeed.

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Just got something in the mail that simply warms my heart:

Don't know whether you heard about this but Denzel Washington and his family visited the troups at Brook Army Medical Center, in San Antonio,Texas (BAMC) the other day. This is where soldiers that have been evacuated from Germany come to be hospitalized in the States, especially burn victims. They have buildings there called Fisher Houses. The Fisher House is a hotel where soldiers' families can stay, for little or no charge, while their soldier is staying in the hospital. BAMC has quite a few of these houses on base but as you can imagine, they are almost completely filled most of the time.

While Denzel Washington was visiting BAMC, they gave him a tour of one of the Fisher Houses. He asked how much one of them would cost to build. He took his check book out and wrote a check for the full amount right there on the spot. The soldiers overseas were amazed to hear this story and want to get the word out to the American public, because it warmed their hearts to hear it.

The question I have is why does Alec Baldwin, Modonna, Sean Penn and other Hollywood types make front page news with their anti-everything America crap and this doesn't even make page 3 in the Metro section of any newspaper except the base newspaper in San Antonio

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Michael Jackson has been found Not Guilty on all ten counts in his child molestation trial.

In the eyes of most, this is a complete vindication for pop star Michael Jackson, though in the eyes of some, Jackson's musical career -- at least in America -- may never be able to recover.

Personally, I was surprised - I anticipated a split verdict, but not a full acquittal.

The breakdown of the charges and verdict: Count 1 - Conspiracy, not guilty. Counts 2-6 - Molestation, not guilty. Counts 7-10 - Giving alcohol to a minor in order to commit a felony, not guilty.

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A verdict has been reached in the Michael Jackson child molestation case.

According to the Associated Press, we should see a verdict around 5P ET.

Live radio coverage via WSB Radio Atlanta (WMP).

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DNC Chairman Howard Dean continued his foot-in-mouth commentary yesterday in Chicago.

"My view is FOX News is a propaganda outlet for the Republican Party and I don't comment on FOX News," Dean said. That was in response to vice president Dick Cheney calling Howard Dean "over the top" on Fox News on Sunday.

Most liberals won't view this Deansim as part of the over-the-top rhetoric that Dean has engaged in over the past few weeks, as many of them truly believe that Fox News is a "propaganda outlet."

But one question begs answering: if Cheney said this on another network's Sunday morning talking head show, would Dean have attacked that networks as a Republican propaganda outlet?

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California's Corcoran State Prison is the most likely destination for Michael Jackson if he is convicted in his child molestation trial, which is now before the jury.

But Jackson would hardly be the only high-profile inmate there.

Occupants of its 8-by-12-foot cells include Charles Manson and Juan Corona, who killed 25 migrant farmworkers in the 1970s. The unit housed Sirhan Sirhan, who assassinated Robert F. Kennedy in 1968, until he was moved to a harsher lockdown in 2003.

Each cell has a concrete bed, sink, desk and toilet.

Televisions and radios are allowed, if the inmate can afford them. Night lights also are allowed.

Inmates wear denim jeans, blue shirts and brown boots, and are issued white T-shirts, white boxer shorts and a denim jacket.

Staff members, not inmates, prepare and serve food.

Inmates can use the day room to read, play chess or watch television. The exercise yard is available for about 5 1/2 hours a day. There's a basketball court and a bar for chin-ups, but no free weights.

Residents can shower daily. They have access to a law library and may receive weekend visitors for as long as five hours a day. They share one telephone and make calls during certain hours.

By 8:45 p.m., they must be back in their cells, but there's no official "lights out" time.

I can see it now: "Michael Jackson's new CD, 'Live From Jail with Charles Manson!'"

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At the 11A ET update, Arlene's sustained winds are up to 60 MPH, from 45 at the 5A and 8A update. This may portend Arlene strengthening into a Cat-1 Hurricane before landfall sometime tomorrow.

Hurricane Watches and Tropical Storm Warnings are now up along the Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and western Florida panhandle coasts.

Heavy rains will extend well inland -- mind you, I've got to drive down to Georgia Southern to drop my daughter off Sunday, so I guess I've got to fight the rains while I go.

Posted by: mhking at 06:12 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Fox News Channel reporter Brian Wilson opened his mouth and boomed out a question to DNC Chair (and shoe leather taster) Howard Dean during a press conference with he and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid yesterday that has the Washington press corps all in a huff.

Amid all the other questions, Wilson had the "audacity" to bellow out a question asking Dean to expound on his "white, Christian party" remark of the other day, and linking it with Dean's well-known "hatred" of Republicans.

Let's join the presser in progress.

"You know," Dean interjected, "I think a lot of this is exactly what Republicans want, and that's a diversion." He bemoaned the "media circus" of the last two weeks and said that he and Reid were not concerning themselves with that -- only with vital things like Social Security, national defense and jobs.

"And all this other stuff is all fine and good, and we understand how exciting it all is to you," Dean said, shaking his head.

The press chorus then devolved into a cacophony of competing screams. (And Dean knows screams!) After several seconds, a booming voice cut through the noise. It belonged to Brian Wilson, a Fox News correspondent who was standing in the middle of the crowd. He asked Dean "if people are focused on the other things that you've said about hating Republicans, about Republicans being dishonest and then this latest comment about the Republican Party is full of white Christians. You say you hate Republicans -- does that mean you also'' hate white Christians?

Dean didn't respond and Reid talked about having a "positive agenda." Wilson was so insistent that at one point, Durbin asked, "Does he run the press conference?" After Reid took the one question of the morning that was not about Dean (it was about Iraq) there were a host of disjointed and semi-decipherable follow-ups (none of which was about Iraq).

Someone asked whether Dean would "change his ways," or if he planned to be "less confrontational in the future" or whether he "regrets" anything he has said. An aide to Reid announced that the photo op was over.

"We'll decide when we're ready," Wilson said. Later, Durbin would recount the scene with some exasperation. He chided the media for avoiding important issues in favor of trivial matters. "Please, for a minute, get to the substance," he said to a group of reporters. "You guys should be ashamed of yourselves."

Hey Howard! If it'll make you feel better, I can send you a fruit basket! I'll even include a pair of Odor Eaters to make that shoe leather at least smell a bit more palatable!

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Natalee Holloway, the Alabama high school student missing in Aruba, is generating plenty of press, but the lead on the story -- at least according to news sources in Aruba -- is Scared Monkeys.

Move over, CNN and company, the new media continues to roll on.

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CourtTV reporter Diane Dimond, along with the CourtTV network, have obtained a court injunction against a crazed Michael Jackson fan (What you bet he still lives in his mother's basement?) who has been threatening the reporter while she reports on the Jackson trial.

The 20-year old male from Knoxville, Tennessee has been yelling and allegedly "threatening" Dimond for weeks.

"It's turned ugly," a media source explains.

He was served with papers today on the Santa Maria court campus.

The fan has been chanting "bitch, bitch, bitch" as Dimond works and files her reports.

Jackson supporters believe Dimond has been operating as the prosecutor's unofficial advocate and mouthpiece.

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TD-One has strengthened into Tropical Storm Arlene, with sustained winds of 40 MPH in the western Caribbean.

It's anticipated to pass very near the western edge of Cuba and enter the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center expects Arlene to hit the Gulf Coast between Biloxi and Pensacola this weekend.

Stay tuned.

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Tropical Depression One has organized in the western Caribbean.

Current projections have TD-One becoming Tropical Storm Arlene by sometime on Thursday.

National Hurricane Center forecasters are presently projecting landfall on Saturday on the Gulf Coast somewhere between New Orleans and Mobile.

Of course, this is all subject to change -- as is anything relating to tropical systems, so stay tuned.

The image above (from WWL-TV/DT New Orleans) updates every 30 minutes or so.

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Remember the story about the moonbat with the F DUBYA California plate last fall?

Well there's another one. This time in Washington state.

This time, the moonbat in question drove around for four months until a bureaucrat forced him to get a different plate.

He's decided to put it up for sale on eBay.

This is an original license plate accidentally issued by the State of Washington.

I had this plate on my car for 4 months before receiving a letter from the DOL informing me that they determined my plate to be "Offensive to good taste and decency."

This is a used plate but in excellent condition. No scratches or dents. It is a one of a kind. Well, actually 2 of a kind. I'm keeping the other one. You can have either the front one pictured, or the rear plate with the actual tabs so you have proof that it is an authentic, state issued plate.

Bid early and bid often...

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