Iced Out

Working up some blog-drafts from work today.

A HUGE ice storm rolled through Western Kentucky last night and is probably going to continue through tomorrow.

Not sure if my power will be on when I get home.

Worst In The World v 6.5 & 6.6

Hannity, Malkin, and Rush

CitiGroup Chairman

Richard Fuld

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Glenn Beck

Wall Street Jounral Editorial Board

Dick Morris

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Monday Night Music featuring Koma Bones

Slalom



Morpheus




Travelling On

My Oscar Picks

Haven't missed a single one of these since I was in grade school. Well, there was that one that Whoopi hosted back in the late 90s, but I was delivering pizza that night. Oh, and I REALLY wish I had missed Steve Martin's attempt. I love Steve, but I haven't seen someone bomb that hard since Micheal Richard's attempted to channel Lenny Bruce after repeated shouting "ni**er" at a patron.

And, even though I'm a serious film-head and LOVE every aspect of the process, I'll skip over the tech stuff and get right to the majors:

Best Picture: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Actor: Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler."

Actress: Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"

Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"

( He should have won for Brokeback Mountain too. )

Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Director: David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Adapted Screenplay: David Hare, "The Reader"

Original Screenplay: Martin McDonagh, "In Bruges"

Animated Feature Film: "WALL-E."

Cinematography: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Check out the complete list at The Academy's website here

Reporting What No One Else Is Even Suggesting

Well, there is Jack Murtha.

Not the brightest crayon in the box, but that's another story for another day.

Fox is ALL OVER this like it was a missing white-girl from some vacation hot-spot.

SEAN HANNITY: That’s somewhat frightening, you’re going to close Guantanamo Bay, you don’t know what’s going to happen, you don’t know where you’re going to put these people. [1/23/09]

GLENN BECK: Somebody told me that if this goes through and we put 200 people into this system, that it will shut down our justice system. Our justice system just won’t be able to do it.[1/20/09]

BRIAN KILMEADE: You’re talking about the worst of the Taliban, the worst of al Qaeda, and we have to let them go, give them trials? Why do we need to do this and compromise the CIA and our intelligence bureau — a lot of the intelligence was built on these guys, was done using our clandestine operations. So we have to expose that for these trials? [1/22/09]

Then, there's the Three-Stooges Of Morning Television ( Fox & Friends ) trying to make their viewers think that John Murtha speaks for the Obama administration:



The "Hey, ya'll want them A-Rabs in yur back yard?" photo-poll aside, does anyone lend any cedibility to what Murtha is proposing?

I know I don't.

Moreover, Fox seems to ignore the fact that terrorist have been prosecuted in US Federal courts and even held in US Federal prisions.

More from Think Progress.

Those That Would Sacrifice Liberty For Freedom....

Nevermind that O'Reilly seems to think tha Obama is going to be an amazing screw-up like Bush - under who's watch Said Ali al-Shahiri went to Yemen to "return to terrorist activities".

Nevermind that the 61 number is actually 18. Yes, that still means that there has been recidivism, but O'Reilly ( as well as the conservative media and bloggers at large ) are seriously inflating those numbers.

Bill O'Reilly seems to be edging closer and closer to full-on insanity in his new "Bill "Paul Rever" O'Reilly" persona.

Not only that, but he is telling his viewers that they should give up their liberties, their ideals, their identities, in the name of "security", of "freedom":



*click image to play video*

Bill O'Reilly - ready to be bent-over and buggered in the name of "freedom".

Obama vs. GOP vs. Limbaugh vs. Reality

What happens when President Obama tells members of Congress that Limbaugh is a figure that is a fringe winger that serves only himself and shouldn't be paid attention to?

Why, Limbaugh and his fans claim that he is the most credible voice of the opposition.

Not only could Rush underscore the fact that Obama got petty, Rush also had an opportunity to blast away at Obama’s economic plans on a larger platform than usual. Thanks to Obama, Rush just doubled his effectiveness. And also thanks to Obama, Republican leaders on Capitol Hill might do something that they haven’t done in years, whatever Obama’s paranoia might tell him: they might take Rush’s advice.
Anytime a man in a position of great power attacks someone with significantly less power, it lessens the greater man and raises up his opponent. The American President is, thanks to the office, the most powerful man in the free world. If he’s worried about any political pundit so much that he has to attack him personally, it shows weakness, which is exactly what Obama cannot afford.

Once the dizziness from all this subsideds, try to think about this:

How is stating that someone is irrelevant and not worth your time making that person "powerful"?

They should have a twirlying ride at the county fair called Right-Wing-Punditry.

A Manifest Distortion

Recently, Michelle Malkin - who now apparently carries the label "Whore For The Far Right" - decided that she would weigh-in on Obama's proposed stimulus plan. Not content with approaching this from a perspective that just might be beneficial to the national discussion ( oh, wait, almost forgot who I was talking about ) she goes full tilt and insists that Robert Reich has dealt the dreaded RACE CARD ( OOOoooooh ) by insisting that this plan be beneficial to ALL that need it, not just white people.



Wow.

From the jump, Cavuto is setting this up as "minorities only".

The party of "context" attacks again.

And Malkin wasn't the only one. Hannity and Limbaugh had their own man-on-man-on-racism-disguised-as-socio-political-discourse too.

So, Reich responded to the nonsense:

In a time like this, when tempers are riding high and many Americans are close to panic about their jobs and finances, you have a special responsibility to consider the accuracy of what you say and the consequences of inflammatory and erroneous statements. In the last few days, manifestly distorting my words and pulling them out of context, you have accused me of wanting to exclude white males from jobs generated by the stimulus package. Anyone who takes a moment to examine what I actually said and wrote knows this to be an absurd misrepresentation of my position (see this). My goal is and has always been to create as many opportunities for as wide a group as possible, and not exclude anyone from access. There is and has never been any ambiguity about this. The hate mail I have received since your broadcast suggests that the mischievous consequences of your demagoguery are potentially dangerous, in addition to being destructive of rational and constructive political discourse. I urge you to take responsibility for your words. Words and ideas have real world consequences, and you have demonstrated a cavalier disregard for both.

The "this" in his post was a source that the Right continually froths and salivates over because it, well, exposes nonsense from the Right.

Malki saw this as her chance to pounce, lips fully pursed this time:

Reich’s lone citation to prove his accusation? Media Matters!

Reich refuses to link my post on the subject because I provided full context for his remarks — quoting both his testimony and his blog post advocating for government racial preferences favoring unskilled and non-white workers over skilled and white workers

Well, when checking this context-laden post that Michelle is twitching and crying about, we find that not only isthe video she linked severely cropped, but she seems to have lost the ability to even read words that she has posted from Reich's blog

The stimulus plan will create jobs repairing and upgrading the nation’s roads, bridges, ports, levees, water and sewage system, public-transit systems, electricity grid, and schools. And it will kick-start alternative, non-fossil based sources of energy (wind, solar, geothermal, and so on); new health-care information systems; and universal broadband Internet access.

It’s a two-fer: lots of new jobs, and investments in the nation’s future productivity.

But if there aren’t enough skilled professionals to do the jobs involving new technologies, the stimulus will just increase the wages of the professionals who already have the right skills rather than generate many new jobs in these fields. And if construction jobs go mainly to white males who already dominate the construction trades, many people who need jobs the most — women, minorities, and the poor and long-term unemployed — will be shut out.

What to do? There’s no easy solution to either dilemma…

People can be trained relatively quickly for these sorts of jobs, as well as many infrastructure j0bs generated by the stimulus — installing new pipes for water and sewage systems, repairing and upgrading equipment, basic construction — but contractors have to be nudged both to provide the training and to do the hiring.

I’d suggest that all contracts entered into with stimulus funds require contractors to provide at least 20 percent of jobs to the long-term unemployed and to people with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. And at least 2 percent of project funds should be allocated to such training. In addition, advantage should be taken of buildings trades apprenticeships — wich must be fully available to women and minorities.

So, did you see anywhere in Reich's post that these jobs HAVE to go to "unskilled" or "minorities"? Also, there was an emphasis on training that Malkin and the others completely ignored.

Nope. That's because he didn't say that.

In manual labor fields, people expect you to be "trainable". That's something that any manager or foreman worth their salt looks for.

Perhaps Malkin and company need to check out the definition of "context".

Are people like Malkin liars for things like this?

Of course. You shouldn't even have to ask.

The Ultimate Proof That God Exists : The Banana?

Nevermind that banana's are equated with monkeys and an entire generation of young girls know how to spell said fruit because of Gwen Stefani.

How was your weekend?

Friday Night Music Chain

Justin Scott Dixon - Pure ( Friction's Groove )




Schiller - Rhue ( Humate Mix )




Jondi & Spesh - We Are Connected




Junkie XL - Zerotonine ( Slacker's Tens Mix )




Junkie XL - Future In Computer Hell ( Pt. II )

That Was His Screw-Up ( or ) Set Them Free?

There seems to be quite the rabble-rabble about a prisoner that was housed at Guantanamo being released and then rejoining Al Queada. But, guess who was responsible for this person's release:

The Bush administration released this man in 2007, without trial -a decision made by political appointees, not judicial review - and handed him over to the Saudis who let him walk.

Has the Obama administration said anything about letting these people just walk?

Has Obama himself said anything about letting these people just go free without trial, without finding out what they have done, without dispensing punishment thatis due?

NO.

More here

The Irritation Of A Non-Story

It's called a "Meet-And-Greet"



Tell you what, the next time you see your doctor at the same restaurant you're dining at, go up to him and ask him to give you a check-up at your table while you're enjoying your shrimp cocktail, see what kind of reaction you'll get.

Oh, wait, that's kind of predicated on you actually being able to afford health-insurance.

Sorry.

Can we move on now?

More Hannity And Limbaugh Cuddle-Puddle

In Part II of Sean Hannity's love-letter to Rush Limbaugh, some very interesting topics were discussed that further revealed not only the seething hatred that the two have for their fellow man, but for the party that they vote for.

First off, Rush does't seem to identify himself as a Republican, ever. He expounds of the joys and wonderousness of "conservativism" and how they are perfect for this country. However, this is all within he confines of isolationism, and racial and class division.

There is one moment, in the first half of Part II, where Limbaugh talks about the "blue-print to victory", "the ticket" to winning. He says that if you work to build up your family, your community, your state ( on and on ) that this is how "conservatives" win.

Strange, he normally calls that socialism.

There is the prototypical Reagan diefication, talk about how Democrats and Liberals are always "angry" ( strange, that passion in Liberals is considered "anger" ), but he also talks about how Democrats haven't bought people together, how they haven't convinced those less fortunate, those that have been "without", that they too can change themselves and this country.

Does Limbaugh not realize how Obama got elected? Moreover, does he not realize that the conservative movement - that he considers himself a Personal Jesus of - are the ones that truly do not care about the lesser in society, the ones that need encouragement?

Then there's the whining and complaining about how they weren't invited to dinner with Obama and Krauthammer, Kristol, and Will were.

It's truly a window into the soulessness of Hannity and Limbaugh

More from Ellen at Newshounds

-----------------------------------------------

Also, Dave Neiwert at Crooks And Liars continues his analysis of the Limbaugh / Hannity man-on-fan action by highlighting this moment in the interview:

The Republican Party is making a big -- the Conservative movement, too, making a big, big mistake in planning for the future. You hear things like, well, the Republican Party needs to identify the middle class, the Wal-Mart voters, and come up with policies for them. And then we've got to come up with policies for Hispanics, because they hate us because of illegal immigration. That's the way the Democrats do it. You put people into groups and then you victimize them. And give the victims power over the majority. Because they then have grievances that are nonexistent, and the majority gets cowed into fear, because they don't want to be complained at, they don't want to be blamed, so 'OK, OK, you want health care, fine, we'll go get it."

So, there's no racism directed towards blacks?

Interesting.



"I like everybody, so long as they buy".

Trash Couture

Seem that Palin's infamous campaign clothing wasn't dispensed of as promised:

The expense was shared between the RNC and the McCain-Palin campaign through a joint account, but ultimately are the RNC's problem to deal with. The final price tag for the expensive duds from the likes of Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as a number of other retailers, totaled $180,000, according to Federal Election Commission records.

But for reasons that remain mysterious, the clothes remain stashed at the RNC's Washington, D.C., headquarters. A source close to the issue told NewMajority that the clothes are "in the process" of being donated, and an RNC spokesman corroborated, saying the clothes have indeed been returned from Palin, "inventoried and will be appropriately dispersed to various charities." Attempts for an explanation of when and where the clothes will be donated went unanswered, and the governor's Alaska office does not comment on campaign issues.

The fact that the clothes have not been donated or publicly accounted for, however, has angered some big donors - who want to know exactly how their money was spent, and who are already enraged by the extravagant wardrobe figure. They say it's time for the RNC to air its dirty laundry, if you will.

source

Ah, promises and Republicans.

This video is still so funny.



Of course, it is possible that we could hear the hue and cry of Palin's cheerleaders that "she doesn't run the RNC", but, she accepted the clothing. She is part of the party that said they would be donated.

What else can be said.

Typical.

Hive Five! Nice!

HIGH-FIVE INAUGURATION! - watch more funny videos

Lots a great cameos in this one.

And, I'm not a fan of Newt Gingrich - at all - but his appearance is probably the best.

Thursday Night Tracks featuring Deep Dish

Sacramento ( vocals by Morel )




Morel - True ( The Faggot Is You ) Deep Dish's Poof Daddy Mix




Driving To Heaven ( vocals by Morel )

Still Not Talking?

The more Meghan McCain says "no comment" REALLY makes we want to hear a comment. But, you kind of get the gist of what she would say.



So, you don't want to comment about "the past" or "the campaign" even though you just did?

Okie-Dokie

Remnants Of A Failed Presidency

This would have been an interesting moment to witness:

Two years after launching the most technologically savvy presidential campaign in history, Obama officials ran smack into the constraints of the federal bureaucracy yesterday, encountering a jumble of disconnected phone lines, old computer software, and security regulations forbidding outside e-mail accounts.

What does that mean in 21st-century terms? No Facebook to communicate with supporters. No outside e-mail log-ins. No instant messaging. Hard adjustments for a staff that helped sweep Obama to power through, among other things, relentless online social networking.

"It is kind of like going from an Xbox to an Atari," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said of his new digs.

More here from The Washington Post

Although I am not nearly as tech-savvy as I wish I were, but one would think that the White House of all places would be equipped as it was needed.

And, Right On Cue

Stay tuned to Fox"News" for more on this non-story.

I'm Suprised They Didn't Start Making-Out

Wherein Sean Hannity gives a media-style handjob to the ever expanding mass of cholesterol and lies, Rush Limbaugh. You can really see the post-Oxy-binge weight coming on harsh.



Click the image to view the video from C&L

All the glad-handing, the Reagan diefication, and the talking-points aside, you get the sense that neither of these guys seem to see that "conservativism" really hasn't done anything for this country.


Limbaugh seems comfortable equating what he thinks Obama is going to attempt to do with what has been common-place in China or Russia. Not that it suprises me that he would say this, it's how you enrage your listeners - equate something "unknown" or "uncomfortable" with Communists.

The larger point of this video is that neither of the two can define success - neither of the two seem to realize that there is racism still in the world, as they only see racism towards "white people".

There's so much more idiocy within the video that the mind begins to reel The "media covered-up the Wright story" line will surely make you do a double spit-take.

Check out David Neiwert's on C&L.

Is It Going To Be A Pop-Up Book?

Oh, this is not going to end well.

It looks like Sarah Palin may be ready to tell her remarkable story in print.

The former GOP vice presidential candidate has apparently enlisted the help of superstar Washington attorney Robert Barnett, who has brokered book deals for such political A-listers as President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Additionally, he has handled TV deals for a lot of top anchors and reporters such as Brian Williams, Lesley Stahl, Neil Cavuto, Christiane Amanpour, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

More from The Hollywood Reporter.

I'm not entirely sure that Palin has got what it takes to write a great book about the life of a politician. Of course, there are plenty out there that would love to ghost write this one for her.

I'm not sure how well Palin would fare on television. We all know she can be quite the train-wreck. But, I'm thinking something involving pregnant teenagers, their boyfriends having to field-dress a moose, all in some kind of Hollywood Squares setting.

Wednesday Muscial Mayhem featuring Apollo 440

Ain't Talkin 'Bout Dub




Liquid Cool




Krupa

Oath-x-2, Winger Twitch Too!

Obama takes the oath again:

WASHINGTON — After the flub heard around the world, President Barack Obama has taken the oath of office. Again. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the oath to Obama on Wednesday night at the White House _ a rare do-over. The surprise moment came in response to Tuesday's much-noticed stumble, when Roberts got the words of the oath a little off, which prompted Obama to do so, too.

more here.

But, he isn't the first to so.

The Constitution is clear about the exact wording of the oath and as a result, some constitutional experts have said that a do-over probably wasn't necessary but also couldn't hurt. Two other previous presidents have repeated the oath because of similar issues, Calvin Coolidge and Chester A. Arthur.

Perhaps this will help people at FreeRepublic.com, RedSate, and Chris Wallace sleep easier tonight. Well, maybe this will make them come up with more wild and festive ways to redact Obama's moment. Who knows.

Bishop Gene Robinson: Full Of Win On The Daily Show

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Bishop Gene Robinson

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Greatest line delivered by a Daily Show guest, ever.

Doesn't He Fit In So Nicely

*click image to play video*

Much in the same way that Michelle Malkin invoked Jeremiah Wright in relation to Rev. Lowry's prayer, Beck - a man that asked the first Muslim congressman to prove that he wasn't giving information to "the enemy" - seems to think that at noon EST on January 20th 2009, racism disappeared.

No, you can't talk about the fact that people that aren't white get mistreated, get attacked, get threatened, or worse. If you do that, you're race-baiting, and you will surely be called out for it.

Well, on Fox you will.

Welcome Glen, we look forward to further pointing out how pathetic you truly are.

Ellen at Newshounds has more.

From WAY Up In The Cheap Seats

Yeah, that's A LOT of people.



* found at Bob Cesna's Goddamn Awesome Blog *

Yeah, That Church

And you thought the Westboro mob would miss a fantastic chance to look like dithering idiots? Oh, how wrong you were.



So, let's recap.

- Obama says "sodomy I OK" and he's going to "teach us how to fornicate"

- According to some signs, God "hates" the world and America - which includes the Westboro crew, they just haven't figured that out yet.

- Obama's horns are bigger than The Popes and The Devil looks just like the dragon from that movie with Dennis Quaid, and probably talks like Sean Connery.

- God, more than likely, is a Phillies fan

- Job creation is the new Gay

When Pictures Are Only Worth About Four Words

And those four words are.....

"So, what's your point?"



Wow, you've captured a picture of a littered stretch of ground where upwards of 1-million plus people have trampled for most of the day. This sight is almost to be expected.

Chances are you would find the same scene at any of Sean Hannity's "Freedom" Concerts, outdoor country music festivals, or even at the last two inaugurations.

Who's to say that there aren't people within this picture that are there to pick up trash? Who's to say that this picture hasn't even been cropped to cut those same trash collectors out?

The party of "context" strikes again.

The New Right-Wing Weapon

There was a tiny voice in my head that whispered that the wingers would try and find a way to invalidate Obama's Presidency.

Didn't take them long.



So, Wallace is suddenly going to recognize our Constitution?

Obama became President at noon EST regardless of what these prattle-heads go on about. Dick Cheney even ratified that election results.

But, let's just see how much traction this nonsense gets. It's going to be a fun 4 years.

Tuesday Night Tracks featuring Aphex Twin

On




Flim




Monkey Drummer ( Directed by Chris Cunningham )




Ventolin

Oh, You've Got To Be Kidding

When is Ridley Scott going to say something about this?

Not only are these people misrepresenting the President's statements, but they are molesting the greatest commercial of all time.

In the immortal words of Red Foreman

DUMBASSES!

Idiocy In Action

Nice one, Dan.

We know what you're getting at with that title.

BTW, how's the crazy-lady from the McCain rally doing? You seem to be getting some influence from her - maybe more.

What Else Were You Expecting

Rush Limbaugh, that twitchy mass of cigar smoke and cholesterol, is openly rooting for the Obama administration to fail.

After claiming that he was approached by a "major publication" to give a 400-word response to Obama becoming President, he offered this little peak into his soul - or carion-black pit where normal people keep their soul.

So I’m thinking of replying to the guy, “Okay, I’ll send you a response, but I don’t need 400 words, I need four: I hope he fails.” (interruption) What are you laughing at? See, here’s the point. Everybody thinks it’s outrageous to say. Look, even my staff, “Oh, you can’t do that.” Why not? Why is it any different, what’s new, what is unfair about my saying I hope liberalism fails? Liberalism is our problem. Liberalism is what’s gotten us dangerously close to the precipice here. Why do I want more of it? I don’t care what the Drive-By story is. I would be honored if the Drive-By Media headlined me all day long: “Limbaugh: I Hope Obama Fails.” Somebody’s gotta say it.

More here.

What some people will fail to realize, is that Limbaugh - and all like him - are only relevant within a limited demographic.

Of course, while he may believe that Bush is wonderful, that we were safer with him, that his own gas smells like cotton candy, he is paid to say things like this. He has gained his "fame" through hating things and propping up things that benefit the few rather than the many.

Honestly, if given enough money, Limbaugh would denounce God, allow a man to screw him bareback, and take an Ex-Lax infused squat on the American Flag.

True, he is as far-right as one can be in socio-political thought, but to openly advocate for the failure of an entire administration that has it's foundation built on the betterment of society, of the country, is beyond pathetic.

He doesn't wish for this country to fall.

He just does what the money tells him to do.

Yeah, They're Strapped

This is the Secret Service Yukon XL that follows the presidents limo everywhere it goes.



Yeah

Damn!

Predictability At Its Most Predictable

Michelle Malkin just can't seem to keep from calling people racist, or race baiters, or claim that someone is using racially divisive language. She's pretty much like Sean Hannity, but has to spend more time in the make-up chair in the morning.

She speaks of Rev. Lowry's benediction at the inauguration:

Lowery got big cheers when he weaved in a weird prayer rap expressing his hope for a future in which the “brown would stick around,” the “yellow would be mellow,” the “red man would get ahead, man,” and the “white would embrace the right.”

The “white would embrace the right?”

Who wrote that line? Jeremiah Wright? And what would Obama’s grandparents and mother have to say?

The actual line was "and white would embrace what is right"

But Malkin couldn't stop there, you know:

A reader points to this old civil rights chant that adds context to Lowery’s remarks — but makes the jab against whites all the more egregious:

Michelle and her frothy throngs wouldn't be satisfied unless they took two items that aren't related to one another and place them side by side and claim that this represents "context". Will they ever learn?

Here's the video.



It was a humorous and relevant end to a prayer that bookended an inauguration that showed that people of all races, colors, and creeds can come together in common purpose.

The winger's hay lofts are quite full this evening.

That aside, have a listen at the crowds response call of "AMEN".

Awesome.

A Stumble And A Correction

It as a first for both of them.

Obama had a bit of a false start, but then Chief Justice Roberts transposed, what Sarah Palin might call "verbage", when he said this:

"... that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully ..."

Obama got just a few words in when he caught he mistake.

Immediate Change

Welcome to the new WhiteHouse.Gov

Welcome to the new WhiteHouse.gov. I'm Macon Phillips, the Director of New Media for the White House and one of the people who will be contributing to the blog.

A short time ago, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and his new administration officially came to life. One of the first changes is the White House's new website, which will serve as a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world.

Millions of Americans have powered President Obama's journey to the White House, many taking advantage of the internet to play a role in shaping our country's future. WhiteHouse.gov is just the beginning of the new administration's efforts to expand and deepen this online engagement.

Just like your new government, WhiteHouse.gov and the rest of the Administration's online programs will put citizens first. Our initial new media efforts will center around three priorities:

Communication -- Americans are eager for information about the state of the economy, national security and a host of other issues. This site will feature timely and in-depth content meant to keep everyone up-to-date and educated. Check out the briefing room, keep tabs on the blog (RSS feed) and take a moment to sign up for e-mail updates from the President and his administration so you can be sure to know about major announcements and decisions.

Transparency -- President Obama has committed to making his administration the most open and transparent in history, and WhiteHouse.gov will play a major role in delivering on that promise. The President's executive orders and proclamations will be published for everyone to review, and that’s just the beginning of our efforts to provide a window for all Americans into the business of the government. You can also learn about some of the senior leadership in the new administration and about the President’s policy priorities.

Participation -- President Obama started his career as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, where he saw firsthand what people can do when they come together for a common cause. Citizen participation will be a priority for the Administration, and the internet will play an important role in that. One significant addition to WhiteHouse.gov reflects a campaign promise from the President: we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it.

We'd also like to hear from you -- what sort of things would you find valuable from WhiteHouse.gov? If you have an idea, use this form to let us know. Like the transition website and the campaign's before that, this online community will continue to be a work in progress as we develop new features and content for you. So thanks in advance for your patience and for your feedback.

Later today, we’ll put up the video and the full text of President Obama’s Inaugural Address. There will also be slideshows of the Inaugural events, the Obamas’ move into the White House, and President Obama’s first days in office.

Inauguration Day

I'll be channel-surfing and watching the conervative blogging community soil their collective pantaloons in dispair most of the day.

Should have some interesting updates later today.

Monday Night Progressive / Trance Action

Talla 2XLC - Dante's Peak



Stage One - Space Manoeuvers



Der dritte Raum - Hale Bopp ( Sébastien Léger Remix )

Bending Reality With Sean Hannity

Sean Hannity employs the "Butterfly-Effect-Rationale" in relation to the US Airways crash of last week to do no less than blame Chuck Schumer for it:

SH: Back in 2004, the New York Senator saw to it that a $200,000 earmark went to GeesePeace. Now, this is an animal rights group that devotes itself to saving Canada geese through non-lethal methods. Now, this was Schumer's attempt to solve the problem of overpopulation of geese, some of which live on Riker's Island. That's directly in the flight path of La Guardia airport. Now, the perilous result of this plan was seen on Thursday when the same breed of geese, Canada geese, downed US Airways flight 1549. Now, maybe our lawmakers should focus on preventing such tragedies rather than empowering groups that seem to care more about the birds than the safety of Americans.

More here from the folks at Newshounds.



Using Hannity's logic, we could connect anyone that helped build the twin towers, worked there, knew someone that worked there, drove by the twin-towers, or knew where they were, hd read about them, could spell the two words, had visited Manahattan, had called a member of any customer service group based in New York, or had a great-great-great-relative that came to American through Ellis Island was responsible for what happened on Sept. 11th, 2001.

In related news, since my decendants are from Romania, I am Dracula.

HotAir And Movies ( Part II )

It can be easy to read too much into films.

Perhaps you want to make yourself seem intellectually superior to another. Perhaps you just don't know what you are talking about, and in an attempt to cover for your ignorance, you do your level best to convince people that what you are talking about is "bad", or "pointless", or "so inane that you don't even understand it".

Ed Morrissey over at HotAir takes the later road and continues with his "best/worst movie" meme:

For the upcoming inauguration of Hollywood’s latest hero, Barack Obama, let’s try this again with an easier question. What have been the worst explicitly political movies of the last 50 years, roughly the lifetime of our new President? In order to qualify, the film has to have had a theatrical release, been considered a major motion picture (no cheapie, American International, drive-in flicks or straight-to-video nonsense), and dealt with explicitly political and/or policy themes. They could be conservative or liberal, although good luck finding many of the former; it just has to stink.

Just to hit some highlights, here are some of the films that Morriessy and crew seems to have "explicit" political or policy themes:

The Dreamers (2003) - Three young adults get naked and have a lot of sex in order to rebel against the stifling culture … of Paris in 1968. Complete with the glorification of the 1968 riots that led France into a Socialist economic coffin for four decades.

What Morrissey is missing, is that the catalyst for the meeting of the three youths revolved around French Cinema and the uprising in Paris of 1968 is nothing more than set dressing. Had he done even a modest amount of homework, Morrissey would have realized that Bertolucci's most "political" film would most likely be "The Last Emperor".

The Contender - While I hate the politics of the movie, I have to offer the small defense of it being perhaps the most realistic depiction of the tone in Washington. Also, I thought about this film a lot during the ten weeks that Sarah Palin campaigned for VP. Watch the film again with that in mind, and almost everything that happens in the movie has an analog with Palin, only with the bad guys and good guys reversed.

This has to be one of the classic examples of a member of the lunatic-fringe right not being able to grasp reality. Whereas, within the film, Laurie Hanson ( actress Joan Allen ) is protrayed by a singular Congressman ( Gary Oldman ) as a whore and a blight against the office of Vice President - in the most explicit terms imaginable, none of what was put toward Sarah Palin even comes close - aside from the handful of people that continue with the Trigg nonsense that people like Morrissey think constitutes "mainstream media exposure".

Ed's poor analysis of The Contender aside, it is one of my FAVORITE political movies. You should check it out sometime.

And, the hallmark of conservatives reviewing anything:

V for Vendetta - >Haven’t seen it, although it’s on my Netflix queue just so I can make up my own mind about it. I heard it’s pretty objectionable on its politics.

There's so much more within the comment section and the poll that Morrissey constructed that will provide ample comic-relief for any film buff that can easily dissect the plot of "The Muppets Take Manhattan"

You can check out the results of what happens when people that don't know film start acting like they do at HotAir's site.

Party Favors And Party Favoritism

I'm not entirely sure what to think of this.

I mean, how often are you going to hear someone in your daily walk complain about how much Barack Obama's inauguration costs?

Well, that depands on how easily they are convinced:

As the recession continues to wreak havoc on the U.S. economy and inauguration celebrations ramp up, a lot of people are asking: "How much will this shindig cost?"

The short answer? More than $150 million — and yep, that's the most expensive ever. (By comparison, George W. Bush's 2005 inauguration cost $42.3 million. Bill Clinton managed with $33 million in 1993.)

Turns out that's not exactly true:

When the costs incurred by the federal government and the District of Columbia are factored in, the total cost of Bush's 2005 inauguration was reportedly around $157 million, as Media Matters for America senior fellow Eric Boehlert noted.

Sourced here and here

Serisously, though. This is pretty much on par with the "Super Sweet 16" school of discourse - complaining that the "other girl at school" got a Lexus and all you got was an Acura.

Of course, this doesn't stop some people.

"Right" Said Ted

Not content with convincing people that he is somehow still relevant in the musical realm ( and have you seen his CMT Cribs episode? ) Ted "The Nuge / Hannity's Hunting Buddy" Nugent is attempting to wash away his "such on this assault weapon" statement directed at Barack Obama and, pretty much, ask for a job in the Obama administration:

Instead of death threats, now Nugent wants a job. And not just any job. He's got the Cat Scratch Fever for no less than US Drug Czar.

RAW STORY apologizes for the level of absurdity portions of this story reach. Something tells us that when Obama promised "change that we can believe in," he couldn't have possibly imagined this.

But Ted seems convinced.

"[Drug traffickers] are as evil an adversary as the voodoo terrorist Taliban our soldiers face in Afghanistan," writes Nugent in a Thursday editorial.

Via Raw Story.

Of course, anyone taking this man seriously should really second guess themselves. After-all, Nugent is edging closer to full-on stalkerdom. He moved pretty-much next-door to W's ranch in Crawford.

What If.....

Sometimes I look at shows aimed at the "tween" demographic ( which can be a shade creepy by themselves ) and wonder what it would be like for some of my favoirte directors to give creative input.

This creepy bit of randomness, found by Antares @ croniespace, seems to be David Lynch's version of I-Carly:



I think that is almost as disturbing as the scene in "Audition" where the girl makes her slave eat vomit.

Letterman's Last Moments With Bush

New Mix

Suppliant

Running Time : 01:07:06

Tracklisting

1 - Stephano Frisoni - Oh Mink!
2 - Hobo - I'm Not It
3 - Sasha - 3 Little Piggys
4 - M83 - Coulers ( Sasha's Invol2er Mix )
5 - Spieltape - Fountain
6 - Steve Lawler - Carnival ( Binary & Durden Mix )
7 - Jerome Sydenham - GSXR810 ( Adam Beyer Mix )
8 - DJ Vide / Kobbe - Superbock
9 - Smith & Selway - Updraft ( Maximal Mix )
10 - Talla 2XLC - Dante's Peak ( Jerome Isma- Ae Mix )

The Horror - Sales Rep Version

Take one part poorly constructed football rap song and mix it with some grocery sales reps at a convention and you get this:

Friday Night Tracks featuring Puscifer

Mama Sed




Indigo Children




Rev

Best Conservative Movie?

While I sit in my studio room ( yeah, that place where I keep all my electronic stuff and don't manage to create much of redeemable value ) and ponder whether Budwieser American Ale is the best domestic beer out there, I came across this posting about movies on HotAir.

How could I have missed something so outlandishly hilarious?

And, to think, as of right now, the number one "conservative" movie - according to the results - is The Lord Of The Rings - in which I can only assume that they mean all three of the films that make up the LOTR trilogy.

For all we know, this poll - and those that created it - are being laughed at. How do I know this? Because "Team America: World Police" and "United 93" are in a statistical tie.

You Don't Know Crap About Star Wars

This new version is so hot right now.

Are You Looking For The "Union Label"? It's Right Here

A fantastic diary at DailyKos by blogger EmptyWheel points out that "The Unions" that the Republican party, the far-right, and their ill-informed compatriots have continully misprepresented have actually produced a few heroes.

You just learned about a few yesterday:

Sullenberger is a former national committee member and the former safety chairman for the Airline Pilots Association and now represented by US Airline Pilots Association. He--and his union--have fought to ensure pilots get the kind of safety training to pull off what he did yesterday.

As well as the flight-attendants:

They are members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. Yesterday's accident should remind all of us that flight attendants are first and foremost safety professionals--they should not be treated like cocktail waitresses.

This isn't something that you're likely to hear about.

The entire diary, and comment section, is well worth the read.

He's Hiding Something?

Politico has an article up where Republican Congressman Steve King ( a man that has probably doled out more scary nonsense than the other Steven King ) babbles on - again - about Obama's middle name:

After telling the Associated Press last year that Obama’s middle name was among the reasons Islamic terrorists would rejoice over his election, King says he’s since been careful to avoid using it. Thus he found Obama’s decision to allow it be mentioned on the steps of the Capitol “bizarre” and “a double-standard.”

What could Obama be hinding?

Could it be a Socialist mouse in his pocket that will hide under the seats in Congress and report to George Soros every Wednesday after brunch?

And, how can it be a "double-standard", it's his friggin middle name.

Perhaps he wants to throw it in the faces of people like King, and Coulter, Cunningham, Hannity, and a host of other frightened wingers that like to make their willfully ignorant followers fear just about any and everything he does.

We saw how crazy it got during the campaign.

There's surely more to come.

Truth In Advertising

Saying goodbye to "Mr. Bush" in more ways than one.

A Little Something For You To Digest This Evening

Do you realize that we are now free from the rule of George W. Bush?

Seriously.

As of 5pm EST, all government offices are closed.

The bulk of the Bush staffers have already packed it in.

Monday is a Federal Holiday.

Tuesday, Barack Takes over.

Hope you have a great weekend knowing that it's finally over.

Because Nothing Says Sex Ed.....

.....like a portyly man balancing a ladder on his chin.

From Media Czech and the fabulous blog Barefoot And Progressive:

Derek The Abstinence-Only Sex-Ed Clown

Friday Jams featuring BT and Tsunami One

Hip Hop Phenomenon

Overshadowed, Irrelevant, And A Little Predicatble Too

Last night, in between attempting to perfect my pork-chop sandwich, watching highlights of Eric Holder's confirmation hearing, and a few rounds of Jack and Coke, I paused to hear W give his "fond farewell".

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

YAWN!!!

Not only was Bush overshadowed by Holder, but the real attractionof the day was Chesley Sullenberger's quick action in saving every passenger and crewmember aboard Flight 1549.

Certainly, Bush is going to be lauded by his peers and his channel ( Fox"News" ) but one has to wonder what was going through his mind. I mean, Dick Cheney was even bored:



And I'm sure that there were some people that felt a little sad. Just imagine Sean Hannity, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, and Rush Limbaugh in a cuddle puddle in front of the TV.

Thank God For Toni Collette

Quite possibly, in my mind at least, one of the most amazing actresses of her generation.



Not only is she gorgeous, but she's a veritable cameleon on screen. She can encompass so many emotional states, can take on so many roles, that she is far more captivating than many give her credit for.

Not surpisingly, Toni will tackle MPD in her new Diablo Cody / Showtime series: The United States Of Tara

The 36-year-old Aussie might be rational and no-frills, but her Tara character is anything but. She's a wife and mother of teenagers. And she has dissociative identity disorder; when she gets stressed, she changes personalities. In the first few episodes, viewers see three alternate personalities: Alice (a perfect homemaker), Buck (a motorcycle-loving male) and T (a rebellious teen).

It's Collette's first TV role, and before Tara, she'd never really given small-screen work much thought.



"I started out in theater and moved into film," she says. "Most television programs make you have to live in L.A., and I didn't want to do that. It's a massive thing to move away from your friends and family and drag your own family halfway across the world."

But because Tara is a pay-cable show limited to 13 episodes, her family had to relocate from Australia for only a few months. She and husband Dave Galafassi have a daughter, Sage Florence, who just turned 1, and a band, Toni Collette & The Finish. (She's the singer/songwriter, and he plays drums.)

here

03-06-09 ( Still )

It appears that WATCHMEN will actually be release on time.

LOS ANGELES — The superhero film "Watchmen" will be watched by audiences after all _ and on time.

Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox settled their nearly yearlong dispute over the movie on Thursday, the studios announced in a joint statement.

The movie will open in theaters as planned on March 6, the statement said. The exact terms of the agreement were not disclosed and will remain confidential.

The release date had been in doubt for months as each studio's attorneys grappled for an upper hand. Fox contended that Warner Bros. shot the film knowing that it didn't have all the adequate rights; Warner Bros. countered that Fox had lost its rights in the graphic novel and was owed nothing more than a right of first refusal

More here.

While Fox seemed bound and determined to screw the people that produced the film, as well as those that have been waiting years to watch it, this almost comes as a suprise.

And He'll Sing For His Supper Too

Perhaps this was a test on Obama's part.

Maybe, just maybe, he knew that people like Kristol and Krauthammer would play nice at dinner, but then run to their fanbase and make themselve out to the be dithering idiots they truly are.



More here.

Petty Palin's Pity Party (or) No Soup For You!!!

Obama seems to be developing quite the dinner-party circuit these days.

Next week, he's hosting some big names - including John McCain - but guess who isn't coming to dinner:

On the night before Barack Obama is sworn in as the nation's 44th President, his inaugural committee will host a series of dinners honoring public servants it deems champions of bipartisanship. To be feted are Vice President-elect Joe Biden, Colin Powell, and John McCain, whom Obama vanquished last November. At the McCain dinner, the GOP senator, who managed to suppress his bipartisan tendencies during the hard-fought 2008 campaign, will be introduced by one of his closest Senate confidants: Senator Lindsey Graham. But McCain's No. 1 booster during the last year will not be among those hailing McCain. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, his controversial running-mate, will not attend the dinner, Bill McAllister, a Palin spokesman tells Mother Jones.

More here at Mother Jones.


To me, this isn't suprising in the least.

Palin doesn't play well with other unless she is the center of attention. But, that is also a double-edged sword. the attention has to be the attention that she craves.
And, the folks at HotAir are happy to offer extra-value-meal portions of that with a side of "we're not sure we like McCain anymore" for dessert:

Palin not invited to Obama dinner for McCain?

Her spokesman claims he doesn’t know if she was or not, but come on.

While the predictable hue and cry from the far-right that this is another in a line of moments that somehow prove that people are "afraid" of Palin is beyond laughable, I find even more hilarity in the fact that they honestly believe that she should be invited to, well, "everything".

That moment election night when Palin was asked who she voted for and said that it was her "right to keep it a secret" keeps coming back to me. Within the context of this dinner, the damning effect of that statement still rings true.

I'm not sure what's worse, Palin not realizing that she was nothing more than political set-dressing, or the people on the far-right that actually believe that she isn't.

Wednesday Night Music Chain featuring Pendulum

Slam




Prodigy - Voodoo People ( Pendulum Remx )




Concord Dawn - Tonight ( Pendulum Remix )




And this group and do it live like you wouldn't expect......

From Radio One's Big Weekend:



Check out more musical madness at the bands YouTube Channel.

Thank God There Are Real Women

In which we examine Exhibit A : A-Spice-Girl-Turned-Soccer-Mom as "sex symbol"



Now, should you expect me to praise Victoria Beckham, you would quickly find yourself among the legions of the foolish and those that purchased the last Kanye West album thinking that it would be "cutting edge".

If you happen to think that this is the picture that defines the women of today, you are sorely mistaken.

After the airbrushing, the unhealthy diets, the hours spent packed into gyms with personal trainers, designer clothes, and hours crying in front of the mirror about how you "aren't like real women", what are you left with?

So, ladies, be glad you aren't this woman.

You're better off who you are.

A Theory That Might Not Be So Conspiritorial

.......and, cue the Bin Laden tape:

CAIRO, Egypt — Osama bin Laden urged Muslims to launch a jihad against Israel, seeking to harness anger over the Gaza offensive with a new message posted on the Internet on Wednesday.

The al-Qaida chief vowed to open "new fronts" against the U.S. and its allies beyond Iraq and Afghanistan and also criticized Arab leaders, accusing most of them of being allies of the U.S. and Israel.

The White House dismissed the call to jihad, saying it reflects bin Laden's isolation and shows he is trying to remain relevant at a time when his ideology and mission are being challenged.

More here

I was, at one time, reluctant to think that these sort of messages were "timed" - or at least released in a "timed" fashion - but this is just getting ridiculous.

Here's some thought.

When was the last time you saw bin Laden in video format?

When was the last time you saw footage of someone other than Ayman al-Zawahiri delivering Al Queada's message?

Some of you might find this nonsense, but do you honestly think that bin Laden in still alive?

What I am trying to articulate, is that we have an audio message - not a video presentation that Al Queada seems to have the technology to use. We haven't "seen" bin Laden in quite some time.

The timing of this message is almost to be expected. The format, though, does call in to question it's validity.

Ed Morrissey at HotAir takes up a much lesser point of view to this message without regarding it's predictability in context to Obama's inauguration.

Nevermind The Bush Tax Cuts, Its All MSNBC's Fault

Ok, from the start, I will admit that I am no economist - something that O'Reilly, Rove, and all like them, will never do even though they pontificate as if they are John Forbes Nash in Right-Wing form.

From what I am gathering from Obama's ideas, is that the infrastructure projects will potentially have an exponential effect over time.

No one in their right mind - and I use that term in a non-political stance - understands that rebuilding roads, bridges, etc takes time, so the effects will take time as well. Karl Rove seems to think that the people listening to Obama talk about rebuilding America's infrstructure are partially brain-dead.

All that aside, the fact that O'Reilly is framing this withing in the context ( dammit, there's that word again that people like him don't understand ) of "media bias" is resoundingly absurd. As equally absurd as Sean Hannity's claim that everything is fine:



*props to Newshounds for the video grab*

But something has happened. Something changed. There was a shift in rhetoric, quiet, nearly as imperceptible as.......well, it was actually quite blatant. Bill O'Reilly just did a 180 on his "the economy is fine" schtick that his loyal, lock-step, Ensure-swilling crowd, wouldn't catch.

But, some of us did.

More here and a fantastic post from Dave Neiwert @ Crooks & Liars.

Resurrecting McGoohan

One Hollywood studio and Keanu Reeves has already screwed up the remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still. I'm praying they don't fuck this up as well.

It seems that there is a "revisualization" of the classic dystopian-sci-fi series The Prisoner coming:

Rather than replicating the source material's essentially British mainframe, the team is going international, in cast, location and geopolitical concern. Instead of juxtaposing totalitarian surveillance society against bright color schemes, ubiquitous marching bands and enforcer balloons called Rovers, the new Prisoner miniseries is striving toward domestic normalcy in a world torn apart by terrorism, technology and the idea that being an individual just isn't what it once was cracked up to be

More here

Before I really got into the "meat" of a few articles and found the one I just linked, I had no idea that Patrick McGoohan had passed yesterday.

Never-the-less, this is a series ( limited though it was ) that deserves proper respect. Not often do we find such visionary programming from years past.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Jargon Watch

One of my favorite features from Wired Magazine has always been the Jargon Watch segment.

Here's the most recent list of words/phrases to be on the look-out for

Chemical Equator

n. A 31-mile-wide atmospheric barrier between Earth's hemispheres, formed by weather patterns. Lucky for the south, it keeps out carbon monoxide from the industrialized north.

Not to be confused with the inviible barrier that Rush Limbaugh used to cross in order to get his Oxys.

Cloakers

A device to keep heartless hackers from altering the radio-controlled settings on pacemakers. Still in development, it should permit only authorized doctors to reset patients' hearts.

How exactly do you think Dick Cheney has been alive as long as he has?

Check out these words and more at WIRED.com

Now This Is How Political Satire Is Done

Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency

Courtesy of The Onion

Worst In The World v 6.3 & 6.4

Lou Dobbs

Sean Hannity

Bill O'Reilly

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Brit Hume

Bill O'Reilly

Joe "The Plu...." uh "The Campaign......" wait "The Journal......" ah, fuck it

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Taxation And Right-Wing Misrepresentation

Perhaps it's a bizarre form of punishment - reading over right-wing blogs early in the morning before going to work.

Part of my daily routine is glancing over the latest bit of self-preening nonsense from people like Michelle Malkin, the dueling doofuses at Powerline, or the swirling Marsh Of Doom that is Free Republic.

Often I find predictabilities that don't really warrant a response.

Today was different. Today, Michelle Malkin decided to let her readers know that she knows ALL about taxes, tax preperation, and Tim Geithner:

They were just honest mistakes, really.

And I’m sure the Obama IRS would be as charitable with you or me as Team Obama is being with Timothy Geithner if we used the same explanation for failing to pay self-employment taxes

Yep, jumping in headlong right from the starting gun with the "if" meme. What was that book Ann Coulter just wrote about "victimhood"? I'm starting to think that Malkin is perpetually in that realm.

Then there's the harp about Geithner's hired help:

Oh, wait. There’s more. Geithner somehow overlooked the fact that his immigrant housekeeper’s work authorization papers had expired. Ghost of Zoe Baird:

Oh, she mentions Baird, but leaves off any trace of names like Linda Chavez, or even Mitt Romney.

As far as Geithner's Tax "problem", it became ( and still is ) such a frequent mistake, that the IRS has a solution.

While tax experts will expound on this - at great length - it matters not to people like Malkin. She simply sees the irony - and I suppose it is - in Tim Geithner owing taxes. But, least we forget, another, more well known, politician recently had "tax problems" of their own.

Tuesday Night Music Chain

Kemal and Rob Data - Hostile

One of my favorite tracks from Dieselboy's HUMAN release




Dom & Roland - Soundwall ( VIP )




Adam Freeland - We Want Your Soul ( Ed Rush & Optical Mix )

Joe's "Media Tour" Just Keeps Getting Funnier

Perhaps Joe doesn't realize that the military does has a PR wing:

I think the military should decide what information to give the media and then the media can release it to the public. I don’t believe they need to be in the front lines with soldiers, I don’t believe they need to, uh, you know, be bothering the military for information or for access to certain areas.

You can view the 13 minute clip at PajamasMedia, but it does require registration.


Here's te mission statement of what it means to be a military public affairs official:

Public Affairs fulfills the Army's obligation to keep the American people and the Army informed, and helps to establish the conditions that lead to confidence in America's Army and its readiness to conduct operations in peacetime, conflict and war.

To learn more about these people that Joe doesn't seem to know exist, visit Army.Mil/Institution.

And the hits keep coming.