Andy’s whereIstand Blog

9:02

This set the mood just fine: the lady who announces everyone’s entrance just stared at the camera on PBS the whole time while walking forward with this kind of crazy smile on her face, like she is on some great drugs.

9:05

The Papa John’s Pizza arrives at my house. The camera is all focused on Alito with a creepy smirk. All these guys are sharks, with soulless eyes, I swear. We have elected a brotherhood of sharks and they have proceeded to appoint more sharks.

9:06

ABC announces that Cindy Sheehan was invited by a Californian Congressman to sit in the front row, and then promptly arrested for fear of her protesting during the address, perhaps trying to bring a protest banner. The police say they will hold her for an hour so she misses the speech then let her go. Little shark thugs.

9:08

Bush Enters - holla!

9:09

George Stephanopoulos tells us how midterm elections usually see the president lose seats in the house.

9:10

The smiling gladhands really drop their knives while applauding the President enters. there will be so much standing and sitting all night. We’re making it a drinking game.

9:12

Bush starts with a commemoration of Coretta Scott King. Take that Kanye!

9:13

"We must act in a spirit of good will, and I will do my part" - nine minutes after they arrest Cindy Sheehan.

9:15

Says that the War in Iraq has been criticized "misguided idealism."

9:17

Every time he says Freedom or Terrorist, we drink.

9:18

Standing Ovation, except by Prince Bandar whom the camera gives a really nice close-up while brooding. Drink!

9:19

"There is no peace in retreat and there is no honor in retreat" I don’t know, the time I hit that kid with my car and sped off, I was pretty peaceful when the cops never showed up.

"America rejects the false security of isolationism… we are the nation who raised up democracy in Europe." Except for the Greeks who invented it.

9:21

Seven drinks

9:22

Standing Ovation! Drink!

9:23

Camera close-up on Alito, still looking steely-faced, and not standing. For Posterity?

9:24

"There is a difference between responsible criticism and defeatism… second-guessing is not a strategy"

"Our Nation has only one option: keep our word, defeat our enemies and support our military in this operation."

9:25

First "Lenny Scutnik" - Dan Clay’s family get a standing ovation - Bush winks at them - maybe directed towards the dead soldier’s hot sister? Drink!

9:27

"Raising a democracy requires… protecting minorities" Double snap Kanye!

9:29

"Hamas must disarm, recognize Israel, and reject terrorism."

"The Democracies of the Middle East will not look the same as ours because they will reflect the traditions of their citizens." - hot damn! we’ll keep writing their Constitution’s though!

9:30

"Our nation looks forward to one day being friends with a free and democratic Iran" This you will have to do on your own, though, because we are really damn strapped.

9:32

Mentions HIV/AIDS!

9:33

Asks for the re-authorization of the Patriot Act - None of the Justices clap nor Stand! The house is split.

9:34

Addresses wiretaps. Asserts that other presidents have used these powers and that federal judges have approved this.

Hillary Clinton starts shaking her head and laughing, with a smirk that says "you are an asshole!" Score two drinks, I mean points for Hillary. She is on the side that does not stand and cheer.

9:37

My roommate looks at Hillary Clinton after conceding she did well on that facial gesture and says "I am not looking forward to voting for her." yeah, word. But I still kind of like her. Kind of want to give her a high-five.

9:38

The economy. No drinking. "Our economy grows when Americans have more money to spend, save and invest." Yeah in April I’ll be dancing to that.

9:40

No Dems stand up on the call for making tax cuts permanent.

9:41

More program cuts announced - those performing sub=par. FEMA anyone?

9:42

Baby Boomers retiring!

9:43

"Congress did not act on my proposal to cut social security" The Dems go wild! Lead by Hillary on camera. That’s pretty awesome. Partisanship rules!

9:44

"No one can out-produce or out-compete the American worker." Except China, and India, and Mexico contrary to mobilized stereotypes.

9:46

"meeting the resonsibilty to have affordable health care for the disabled and the elderly" Something like that. Shit, someone edit this for me, I’m drunk!

9:47

OBGYN - Medical liability reform.

9:48

America is addicted to oil - it’s official, hell got frosty - 22% increase in clean energy research funding. Bush is like Phillip Morris with a Truth.com campaign.

9:49

"Making our dependence on foreign oil a thing of the past."

9:54

"Many Americans, especially parents are worried about America and the direction of our culture." America is not in a decline - we’ve been doing this shit for years bitches!

9:56

Bush announces Roberts and Alito being confirmed, and Alito gets this grin and laugh that says to my face "I made it, bitches" He then extends both middle fingers

9:57

Stop cloning and making human-animal hybrids. Korea will still win in my book; I need a race of rabbit people stat!

"human life is a gift from our creator" and must never be disrespected, unless we clone it, put it in a uniform and send it to the Middle East to die for the Oil that is our crack.

9:59

Shout out to Laura, looking very Stepford this evening.

Katrina rebuilding - rebuilding levees a huge priority. Yeah right.

Addressing problem of poverty and racism from before the disasters. Kanye is owning this whole night!

10:01

Something about the Ryan White Act being renewed. If healthcare were socialized, HIV would be damn cured because the government would not pay for the treatment.

10:03

May God Bless America - and my hangover tomorrow morning.

He was interrupted for applause 58 times. Dood, whatever, Hillary totally served him though. That was sweet. Beer.

This has been Andy D.

whereIstand Tags

• [Open Thread]

So wjs may find this evening’s proceedings terribly cringe-worthy, but I’ll be damned if I won’t be posting throughout the whole State of the Union. The Has Been defends the as-yet-to-occur Democrat response to the as-yet-to-occur-but-to-be-undoubtedly-universally-reviled State of the Union as Virginia Governor Tim Kaine’s party preemptively turns on him:

It’s easy to understand Democratic frustration with losing, but as the party’s most recent winner, Tim Kaine is the last guy who should be bearing the brunt of it. On the contrary, Democrats from across the spectrum should be throwing him a ticker-tape parade, for showing how to turn the Republicans’ vicious wedge-issue campaign against them. When Kaine talked about his faith, he wasn’t being cynical—he was giving a refreshingly candid response to the GOP’s deeply cynical attacks on his opposition to the death penalty.

The Kaine mutiny is troubling not just because a few bloggers are picking on the wrong guy. It’s also a disturbing reminder of how much time most of us in the blogosphere—and in politics generally—waste pretending that daily tactical decisions are what matters.

I happen to think Tim Kaine will give a good talk next Tuesday. But if I really thought the Democratic Party’s future turned on the Democratic response, I’d pack it in and start looking for a new profession. I’ve watched the post-State of the Union ritual for 20 years now, and not once has the poor soul giving the response—or his party—come out a winner for it.

Please refer to my previous posts about the nature of the Dems because this is going to be perfect fodder to break the Republican Machine.

This has been Andy D.

whereIstand Tags

• wjs
• [Open Thread]
• Will President George W. Bush be impeached?
• Will Samuel Alito’s nomination be filibustered?

Holy crap! Bush Corp is straight-up Mafioso-ing the Green-minded and being complete intellectual spooks about it. As the NYT reports in the article "Climate Expert Says NASA Tried to Silence Him:"

The top climate scientist at NASA says the Bush administration has tried to stop him from speaking out since he gave a lecture last month calling for prompt reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases linked to global warming.

The scientist, James E. Hansen, longtime director of the agency’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said in an interview that officials at NASA headquarters had ordered the public affairs staff to review his coming lectures, papers, postings on the Goddard Web site and requests for interviews from journalists.

Dr. Hansen said he would ignore the restrictions. "They feel their job is to be this censor of information going out to the public," he said.

Since 1988, he has been issuing public warnings about the long-term threat from heat-trapping emissions, dominated by carbon dioxide, that are an unavoidable byproduct of burning coal, oil and other fossil fuels. He has had run-ins with politicians or their appointees in various administrations, including budget watchers in the first Bush administration and Vice President Al Gore.

In 2001, Dr. Hansen was invited twice to brief Vice President Dick Cheney and other cabinet members on climate change. White House officials were interested in his findings showing that cleaning up soot, which also warms the atmosphere, was an effective and far easier first step than curbing carbon dioxide.

He fell out of favor with the White House in 2004 after giving a speech at the University of Iowa before the presidential election, in which he complained that government climate scientists were being muzzled and said he planned to vote for Senator John Kerry.

But Dr. Hansen said that nothing in 30 years equaled the push made since early December to keep him from publicly discussing what he says are clear-cut dangers from further delay in curbing carbon dioxide.

In several interviews with The New York Times in recent days, Dr. Hansen said it would be irresponsible not to speak out, particularly because NASA’s mission statement includes the phrase "to understand and protect our home planet."

Guys, NASA is starting to freak me out. They claim to not be involved in policy, but where else are they getting their funding but from the administration. I don’t think Bush Corp. has NASA on the high priority list of things to fund anymore and they don’t want to be punished in funds for their maverick truth-telling scientists.

I mean I used to be into global warming, because, you know, winter sucks. But then I saw this movie "The Day After Tomorrow" and, it turns out the whole thing may have been misnamed. Now I’m with Hansen, and if that hermit Gore steps out of his cave to defend the environment again, I’ll be with him too.

This has been Andy D.

whereIstand Tags

• Is global warming a problem that humans must take actions to address?
• Will the Left and Right ever find a way to live with each other in a civilized manner?

This is like the third or fourth time this dood has stormed out of his own trial. Someone needs to tell Saddam he cannot do this. He is on trial for heinous crimes, and they should have some idea of contempt of court or something:

Saddam Hussein stormed out of the courtroom at his war crimes trial Sunday after a new chief judge had his half brother forcibly removed from the proceedings by four guards.

The trial’s new chief judge, Raouf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman, wielded a heavy hand in trying to establish order in the courtroom, resulting in the expulsion of one defendant — Barzan Hassan — and a defense attorney.

In the opening moments of the proceedings, which had been delayed five days while two new judges were seated, Rahman told the court that "political speeches" would not be tolerated. "Any accused who oversteps the line will be thrown out of court and will be tried in absentia," he said.

Hassan, Hussein’s half brother and former chief of intelligence, began to challenge the court’s legitimacy, calling it the "daughter of a whore."

"I will not allow you to insult this court," Abdel-Rahman said.

 

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Finally we have an Ito. So did they try him in absentia or not?

Hussein protested after Abdel-Rahman brought court-appointed defense attorneys in. "I don’t want these lawyers, and if they insist on staying here, they are evil," he said.

He took umbrage, however, when Abdel-Rahman told him he was permitted to leave.

"You cannot force me to be in court," he said. "This is my right."

"For 35 years I have run your rights," Hussein said. "And I understand my right and the right of others interrupted by the judge. Therefore, allow me to leave the court. You said the defendant is innocent until proven guilty … therefore, the defendant should be respected and be given full human rights, including the right to speak at court to defend himself."

Abdel-Rahman told Hussein he could leave, but if he did not, he would be thrown out.

Yes I think they did. Contempt of court. Pretty good Abdel-Rahman, pretty good.

This has been Andy D.

whereIstand Tags

• [open thread]

As if Italy couldn’t have gotten any weirder or more awesome after Investigating a Civil Case about the Existence of Jesus, they just trumped their own ridiculousness via their President:

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is famous for his ambitious promises, but he is unlikely to be called to task if he breaks his latest pledge: not to have sex before the April 9 general election.

At a party rally in Sardinia on Saturday, the media tycoon received the blessing of television preacher Massimiliano Pusceddu, who thanked him for opposing gay marriage and defending family values.

"Thank you dear Father Massimiliano, I’ll try not to let you down and I promise you two and a half months of complete sexual abstinence until April 9," Berlusconi replied, in comments reported on Sunday by the daily Il Giornale.

He has often been criticized by commentators and feminist groups for his use of sexual innuendo and sexist jokes.

In June he sparked a diplomatic incident with Finland when he said he had used "playboy tactics" to persuade its woman president to give up a bid to site the European Union’s food agency in Helsinki rather than the Italian city of Parma.

In a news conference in 2002, he famously complimented Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen for his good looks.

"He’s so handsome I’m even thinking of introducing him to my wife," Berlusconi chuckled, in a reference to political gossip at the time that his wife, a former actress, was having an affair with a well-known center-left politician.

I thought this guy was like a corrupt neo-fascist, but really he’s quite a jovial fellow, just sacrificing his sex life for a god-boon.

This has been Andy D.

whereIstand Tags

• [Open Thread]
• Is God infallible?
• Is man infallible?

In a recent interview with Spiegel, Steven Spielberg discussed his new film Munich and revealed himself to be a Zionist:

SPIEGEL: Were you really aware of the political minefield you were stepping into? You portray not only the Palestinian acts of terrorism, but above all the tough Israeli response, the campaign of vengeance. You show agents who have doubts about their moral superiority when liquidating their enemies. Did you deliberately set out to offend — or at least consciously risk offending — your many Jewish friends whose admiration for you was almost unlimited following "Schindler’s List"?

Spielberg: Believe me, I did not approach the subject naively. I am an American Jew and aware of the sensitivities involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

SPIEGEL: Your opponents say that you "humanize" terror.

Spielberg: Do these critics really mean that terrorists are not human beings? I try not to demonize them. Again, this has absolutely nothing to with relativizing their acts or sympathizing with them. But I do believe that it sullies the memory of the victims if we do not ask questions about the reasons, about the roots of terror. My film is not supposed to be a pamphlet, not a caricature, not a one-dimensional view of things. I refuse to give simple answers to complicated questions.

SPIEGEL: You have frequently criticized the Bush administration.

Spielberg: I criticize the Iraq war, the restrictions placed on citizens’ freedom. I criticize it because I love my country.

SPIEGEL: How would you describe your attitude to Israel?

Spielberg: From the day I started to think politically and to develop my own moral values, from my earliest youth, I have been an ardent defender of Israel. As a Jew I am aware of how important the existence of Israel is for the survival of us all. And because I am proud of being Jewish, I am worried by the growing anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in the world. In my film I ask questions about America’s war on terror and about Israel’s responses to Palestinian attacks. If it became necessary, I would be prepared to die for the USA and for Israel.

Now I’m not sure about dying for Israel, or even America, but I feel pretty good about agreeing with Spielberg’s humanizing of Terrorists. In fact I said as much here.

I still won’t see this movie. Not after Minority Report.

This has been Andy D.

whereIstand Tags

• [open thread]
• [open thread]

Donovan didn’t have this in his last invective about judging the military:

Army officials are investigating allegations that members of the celebrated 82nd Airborne Division appear on a gay pornography Web site, a spokeswoman said Friday.

Authorities at Fort Bragg have begun an inquiry into whether the paratroopers’ actions violated the military conduct code.

Division spokeswoman Maj. Amy Hannah declined to say how many paratroopers are involved or identify their unit within the division. A defense official speaking on condition of anonymity said up to seven soldiers are involved.

The best thing the military could possibly do besides kill terrorists is to add to the overall richness of gay fantasy. Plus it’s probably the most authentic thing happening in porn right now.

This has been Andy D.

whereIstand Tags

• Yana
• Donovan
• [open thread]

Just when I thought CNN had given me enough reason to rail against the FDA, I see this bit:

The first inhalable version of insulin won federal approval Friday, giving millions of adult diabetics an alternative to some of the regular injections they now endure.

The Food and Drug Administration said the Pfizer Inc. insulin, to be marketed as "Exubera," is the first new way of delivering insulin since the discovery of the hormone in the 1920s.

So now Diabetics don’t have the track marks of junkies, but still have to look like they are doing poppers all the damn time. No, really this is humane and good. I’m glad about this, if it really works. Diabetes is a hell of a disease, and I don’t swish on anyone except my worst enemies, but I also wish Herpes and Cancer on them.

This has been Andy D.

whereIstand Tags

• [open thread]

One of my least favorite institutions in the world is the Food Industry. The stuff they sell us and feed us, well the stuff they are allowed to sell us and feed us checked only by FDA regulations is the fodder for books like Fastfood Nation and Docs like Supersize Me and nutjob snake oil salesmen like Kevin Trudeau, and quite frankly curls my toes.

So when I see something like the FDA finally making food manufacturers list the use of a red dye extracted from beetle butts, I get even queasier about what else this agency is being lax on making the industry disclose to consumers:

The Food and Drug Administration proposed Friday requiring food and cosmetic labels to list cochineal extract or carmine if a product’s ingredients include either of the two red colorings that have been extracted from the ground bodies of an insect known since the time of the Aztecs.

Release of the proposed rule came after the FDA received 35 reports of hypersensitivity to the colorings, the agency said. A 1998 petition by the Center for Science in the Public Interest asked that the FDA take action.

"Why not use a word that people can understand?" said center executive director Michael F. Jacobson. "Sending people scurrying to the dictionary or to Google to figure out what ‘carmine’ or ‘cochineal’ means is just plain sneaky. Call these colorings what they are: insect-based."

The FDA said comments on the proposed rule are due April 27. The FDA plans to tackle the labeling of prescription drugs that include the colorings in a separate rule.

How about those prescription drugs pumped out by Big Pharm that are targeted to consumers directly, kicked back to doctors prescribing them, and then make all who take it have chronic nose bleeds and insanity (accutane) and die (Vioxx)? Where is the FDA then? So yeah the red bug dye freaks me out, but the idea of the active ingredients in the drugs that obviously aren’t always properly tested freaks me out more.

I mean I know it’s really hard work laundering all those bribes, but do you think they could just spare like a couple of interns at the FDA to get the food industry to tell us what is really in the "natural flavors", "artificial flavors", and the other dyes known only as colors followed by numbers (wasn’t red 5 a problem awhile ago?). It’s weird what these people can get away with putting in our foods without telling us.

I’m not contemplating a hunger strike or anything, but free-range and organic whenever possible - expensive but good.

This has been Andy D, wanting to have sex with Whole Foods.

whereIstand Tags

• [open thread]

Even with a polled majority supporting an opposition to Bush’s policies, the Dems cannot rally enough to cohesively present an alternative to the American populace. The GOP machine continues:

A majority of Americans are more likely to vote for a candidate in November’s congressional elections who opposes President Bush, and 58 percent consider his second term a failure so far, according to a poll released Thursday.

Fewer people consider Bush to be honest and trustworthy now than did a year ago, and 53 percent said they believe his administration deliberately misled the public about Iraq’s purported weapons program before the U.S. invasion in 2003, the CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll found.

Pollsters interviewed 1,006 American adults Friday through Sunday. Most questions in the survey had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

One would think this might get enough Dems to filibuster Alito. You know, making one of those statements we all love in partisan politics.

This has been Andy D.

whereIstand Tags

• Will President George W. Bush be impeached?
• Will Samuel Alito’s nomination be filibustered?