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Where is their Retraction?
 Last week, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai absovled Newsweek of blame for causing deadly riots. Remember, this is the same Newsweek that was screamed at by Republicans. Republicans in Congress and the White House connected Newsweek to deaths. Now that Karzai said it was not Newsweek's fault, where is the right-wing retraction?
See, we just are not good at that game. They yell and scream, until they get what they want. We don't. We should be yelling and screaming about their false blame on Newsweek. Instead, the "liberal" media barely reported Karzai absolving the Newsweek story.
Somewhat Related: Sunday, on Face the Nation, General Myers was asked if, in hindsight, we should have sent more troops into Iraq to secure the peace. He said NO! Who knew, our military leaders can be big time political hacks, just like Bill Frist and Company.
Unrelated: I read recently that actor James Woods reported the 9/11 hijackers as potential terrorists months before 9/11. Why does this guy not have a job doing something to save us? Also, maybe I am too negative, but that sure seems like proof that 9/11 could have been stopped with some better management.
Political Compass Results
 The results are in...kind of.
You know that political compass test I keep yamerin about?
Well, here are the scores of the Chief Source staff and some of our more regular commenters.
For those of you who haven't taken the test yet, it isn't too late...
CLICK HERE
Then post your score in the comments.
(I hope this provides more perspective than comparing yourself to guys like Stalin and Friedman.)
Senator John McCain's New Movie
 One of the things I did to celebrate Memorial Day this year was to sit down and watch Faith Of My Fathers which is a short A&E movie based on John McCain's book of the same name. The film shows McCain's journey from the Naval Academy to the torture of the Hanoi Hilton and then back to his family. I was hoping there would be be a portion on McCain's political career, but unfortunately there wasn't. It certainly made me think about the the cost and sacrifice of war. I'd recommend it, but record it and watch it later because there are a lot of commercials.
It also made me think about military service. Is it necessary for our elected officials to have served in the military? Does the perspective developed through service make one more or less likely to send our troops to war? Share your thoughts in our comments section.
Take that San Fran!
 The results are in and they are calling yesterday's gay parade in Sao Paulo (which I attended) a flaming success!
CNN summed it up like this:
"Almost 2 million gay men, lesbians, transvestites and their supporters -- many in lavish Carnival costumes and waving rainbow-colored flags -- paraded in Brazil's biggest city on Sunday to celebrate gay pride and call for the legalization of civil unions between homosexuals.
More than 20 sound trucks blasting music and carrying go-go boys and drag queens, rolled down the skyscraper-lined Avenida Paulista for the Ninth Annual Sao Paulo Gay Parade -- a parade that organizers said was one of the world's largest gay pride events ever.
Police and organizers said almost 2 million people, including 700,000 tourists from other cities and countries, attended. Last year police said that about 1.5 million people participated. By comparison, San Francisco's gay pride parade typically attracts tens of thousands of people and last year's world gay pride day celebrations in Berlin attracted between 200,000 and 500,000."
And let me tell you...it was big and flamboyant! It was like carnival but all the sexy, topless women with the hourglass figures and the pigtails were men. Confusing to say the least. But, despite the festive spirit, it left me with mixed feelings. Particularly in regards to one question (you might remember it from the Politicalcompass test). That is:
Should a same-sex couple in a stable loving relationship, be allowed to adopt?
I go back and forth on this one, but today I hesitantly say...'yes'
Cast your vote in the comments section.
Okay, so I will post on Michael Jackson.
 I really don't know what to think about Jackson. Obviously if he did what he is accused of, I want him in prison. But the case, from the little I have seen, seems unconvincing. That kid and his family seem like a bunch of liars. So I don't know how anyone can really know what happened.
But what I am really torn about is what I personally want to happen. A huge part of me wants him to walk. Like Dave Chappelle points out, "he made Thriller." Even as I type this, I am listening to Black or White. Just on the outside chance he makes more music, he has to be free.
Then there is the other side of me. That side feels really guilty for wanting a guy that sleeps with little boys, even after he pays out large settlements for similar accusations. I don't what he did, but there has to have been something messed up going on. So I should hate him. But Man in the Mirror just came on, so I don't know what to think.
I am burned out on politics. I have nothing new. This filibuster compromise thing is annoying, because it just extended the issue. The Bolton thing is annoying, because it is still going. I don't care about Tom Delay anymore. He is scum at best (a criminal at worst), but if the Republicans want him as a leader in their party, fine. Iraq is a mess with one of the bloodiest month in over a year, but talking about it never changes any minds on this tragic war and it makes me look too negative.
Maybe if there is a solid breakout of Bird Flu, we'll have something to talk about. Until then, I am taking a step back. Maybe I'll start posting on Michael Jackson.
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Frustrated with the oversimplified, rigid LEFT-RIGHT spectrum of U.S. politics? If so..this site is for you: Politicalcompass.org offers an easy, quick on-line test forcing you to agree or disagree with tons of fun statements such as:
1. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
2. People with serious inheritable disabilities should not be allowed to reproduce.
3. All authority should be questioned.
4. In criminal justice, punishment should be more important than rehabilitation.
5. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
6. A same sex couple in a stable, loving relationship, should not be excluded from the possibility of child adoption.
At the end they give you a score and a rating on a 2-dimensional political grid (with a thorough explanation). Damn good stuff.
Before you go out and get that political party tattoo, go check this out. It might guide you to enlightenment. [da-dum-dum] CLICK HERE (the results might surprise you)
[Yes, today's post IS in the format of a Reading Rainbow book recommendation]
Jeff is Angry
Corporate Accounting Scandals are for Wussies, Check out Social Security
Red Thursday Columnist Jeff Gandee resides in Columbus, OH
 Fortunately for America, the senate has been too preoccupied with judicial filibusters to do much damage to our nation lately. But there is a showdown looming, and before long they will have to find another potential crisis to occupy the news media. I sincerely hope it is social security. There has been a long break in coverage of the President’s Social Security plan, and by now everyone should be able to see through the laughable rhetoric used to defend our current social security system. However, it seems that there are many liberals who are wasting their vast sophistication, nuance, and intellect trying to defend this "ponzi scheme," instead of giving it the lambasting it deserves.
The left is hell-bent on trying to persuade the masses that the social security crisis does not exist, or at least it isn’t a crisis. Every proponent of our current system is quick to explain that the social security trust fund is large enough to sustain the full payment of benefits until 2052, the rosiest of all predictions. And on this one point, I’ll give them credit, but the accounting Washington uses to make this happen is enough to make even our former Enron execs envious.
Social security is a pay-as-you-go system. The bulk of the money collected isn’t being invested; it is immediately paid out to retirees. Currently, Social Security takes in more than it pays out, and by law it is required to “invest” this surplus into U.S. treasury bonds. The money is basically loaned to the government, on the condition that it will be paid back with interest. Unless you live in California, you are probably aware that the government isn’t generating any wealth. So that miniscule interest earned in our Social Security trust fund comes right out of the pockets of you and I. Aren’t you glad to know you are paying interest into your own retirement!
It gets much worse. Our congress loves having the privilege of spending our social security surplus on pork, while at the same time, declaring the program solvent. The average taxpayer believes they are paying social security in order to buy a stake into the retirement benefits, but the money ends up being devoured by politicians like Robert Byrd, who uses the cash to build wasteful government facilities named after themselves (like the “Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center”). - Jeff Gandee's article is continued in the comments section of this post.
DEVELOPING: Revere Schools Tire Scandal vandals have been caught....reportedly from Bath....
Conservative Base Cranky
The conservative base is pretty angry about yesterday's Senate deal and they are taking it out on those seven Republicans (Warner, McCain, Snowe, Collins, DeWine, Graham, Chafee) who cut the deal. Most of the anger I heard was focused on John McCain because he was seen as the leader of the deal. I think this loss is extra bitter for the President and those Senators loyal to his agenda because the initiatives they are fighting for continue to fail. I have been pleased thus far that Democrats have kept quiet and let the Republicans do the talking. Here is what some prominent Republican leaders have said since the deal has been cut:
"So here's the bottom line. McCain is the de facto leader now, because McCain controls these six other nitwits. And, I'll tell you what this is, folks, mark my words, this is pay back to Bush for 2000. Got his little South Carolina buddy Lindsey Graham in tow." - Rush Limbaugh
"On a personal level here, I feel pretty taken advantage of. All last year, President Bush, Bill Frist, and George Allen ran around the country telling me and the Republican Party that we needed to add more Senators to build a majority to get this issue won and finished. We did our part. I donated money to John Thune, Jim DeMint, and others to get them elected. It was my number one issue. But it doesn't matter because people like John McCain, Olympia Snowe, and Mike DeWine undercut the vast majority of the party. Shame on them." - Ben Keeler, The Keeler Report
"The Republicans who lent their names to this travesty have undercut their President as well as millions of their most loyal voters. Shame on them all."
- Gary Bauer, President of American Values
"This Senate agreement represents a ... betrayal by a cabal of Republicans and a great victory for united Democrats."
- Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family
Our President
I am being lazy today. Here are some Bushisms:
 "Do you have blacks, too?" —to Brazilian President Fernando Cardoso, Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2001
"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him." —Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2001
"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority." —Washington, D.C., March 13, 2002
"But all in all, it's been a fabulous year for Laura and me." —summing up his first year in office, three months after the 9/11 attacks, Washington, D.C., Dec. 20, 2001
"I try to go for longer runs, but it's tough around here at the White House on the outdoor track. It's sad that I can't run longer. It's one of the saddest things about the presidency." —interview with "Runners World," Aug. 2002
"Oh, no, we're not going to have any casualties." —discussing the Iraq war with Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson, as quoted by Robertson
Statement on Senate Compromise
It is a good thing that the Senate compromised and did not use the nuclear option. The losers are Bill Frist, George W. Bush, and the conservative base. The winners are not Democrats, but rather the moderate Senators who came to this agreement. I will be curious to see how conservative pundits react to yesterday's compromise. Hopefully, Democrats will remain respectful and keep their mouths shut and let the Republicans eat their own.
Quick Ramblings
Bush appears to be “jawboning” China for some of our textile jobs. Actually, not too bad by W. However, I don’t think it is fair for the US to be picking and choosing when they want to enforce WTO rules.
Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) is another unethical Republican.
Clarence Thomas wants to be NFL commissioner someday. I am all for it, if it means he leaves the Supreme Court. If it happened, the NFL age limit would probably go from 21 to 10, since Thomas basically doesn’t believe in laws that prohibit against child labor. (note: Thomas is the the second most loved SC justice by Republicans…..a man that doesn't really believe Congress should be allowed to prohibit child labor.)
I never got to this story before the filibuster compromise, so now it’s a bit moot. However, I still find it funny that the right-wing attack dogs were even assaulting Trent Lott. Lott showed he is a decent man, and proposed compromise. He was rewarded with threats. Unsure what the Keeler Report’s position on Lott’s compromise talk was.
A new group called the Republican Main Street Partnership had a lot to do with this filibuster compromise.
Finally, on the filibuster agreement. I am happy. Not really because of the agreement, or anything about power. I just feel good that there was actually some middle ground. It feels like the extremes, maybe even on both parties, dominate everything. I would love to see this as a new trend, where compromise and middle ground rule Congress. We’ll see how long it lasts.
Shoot Some Cats
 I get feedback from time to time that we never have anything fun. This was emailed to me and serves as an appropriate follow up to our previous post on shooting cats. Click on the picture and Enjoy.
You could already be a winner!
 ROUND TWO...the latest winners have just been posted! And the empire just struck back, people. In other words: the conservatives cleaned-house!! Check em out by clicking on the colorful 'Quotes of the Week' link in the left side-bar.
Keep the love flowing, people.
-Management
 People for the American Way will send a text message to your cell phone when the "Nuclear option" is put into motion tomorrow with contact information so you can call your Senator. Click here to sign up!
His Jawbone is Under the Fat
 I just paid $2.40 for gas, so I guess the price isn't coming down, despite falling oil prices. Well, I just thought it would be fun to review what some prominent Republicans said about this in 2000:
Dennis Hastert (R-IL and fat guy in picture) had the nerve to blame President Clinton for high gas prices and even accused the Clinton Administration of lying to Congress about gas prices. Another loser, Terry Everett (R-AL) claimed "the Clinton Administration has failed in its duty to develop a policy to deal with our national energy supply and is therefore directly accountable for the higher prices Americans are now paying at the gas pumps." Many others blamed Clinton and Gore, while accusing them of inaction, and demanded that they be held accountable. Even Bush criticized Clinton.
Well, gas is now 50% higher, and these fat losers are silent. I am not quite sure how they sleep at night. (Well, actually, I do know that Hastert sleeps with a plate of Chips Ahoy next to his bed.) Either way, its time for Bush to do some more of his "jawboning" of OPEC....which evidently involves holding hands with the Iron Sheik and other clowns from the country which provided 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers.
Unrelated: Utah teacher dissects a living, stray dog. I don't really even like dogs, but this is just so sick.
Chairman Dean on Meet The Press
Why would Democrats let Tim Russert grill our Chairman for a full hour during a week when Republicans should be answering questions on their plan to trigger the "nuclear option," the failure of the President's Social Security privatization plan, and their absolute opposition to stem cell research? Well, Dean was on and here are my thoughts on the interview:
The Bad - I hate:
MR. RUSSERT: Let me talk about some of the things you have said about the Republicans. Here's Howard Dean in January: "I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for..."
Howard Dean in February: "This is a struggle between good and evil and we're the good?"
Do you really hate Republicans? Do you consider them evil?
DR. DEAN: I don't--well, actually that was a little out of context. But I don't hate Republicans as individuals. But I hate what the Republicans are doing to this country. I really do. I hate deficits, as you know... I hate the dishonesty...
Today's conservative talk radio talking point: Democrats are the party of hate. Come on Dean, we need a better message. How about "The American people deserve better than..."
The Good: National Strategy
DR. DEAN: "But don't forget, I've only been in office for 100 days. We're still raising money at twice the rate we were in the first year of McCain-Feingold, which was 2003, and we're raising $1 million a week. We're also putting people, who are hired by--local people on the DNC payroll in every state in America. And that is going to be really what's going to create the opportunity for us to win."
I have confidence in Deans organizational skills and his ability to build an effective campaign machine. That is why we endorsed him to be chairman. I like our party having a national strategy again. Hopefully it will pay off in 2006.
 First off: I told you so. I told you so. I told you so. Saddam is a briefs kinda guy and NOT a boxer kind of guy (as many conservatives vigorously argued during the run up to the War).
Second off: I never get tired of Bush quotes. Speaking to reporters, W. was asked whether such photos of Saddam 'serve to inspire opposition in the Muslim world' [from CNN]:
"I don't think a photo inspires murders," Bush replied. He said Iraq's insurgents are "inspired by an ideology that is so barbaric and backwards that it's hard for many in the Western world to comprehend how they think." It is a "desire to stop the march of freedom" that motivates the insurgents, he said.
Translation:
1. Certainly, photos don't inspire murder.
2. What does inspire murder? Well, it is difficult for westerners, like yourself, to understand because it is SO barbaric and backwards.
3. I however, understand how they think (don't ask)
4. Allow me the opportunity to deconstruct this complex ideology: "They hates freedom."
Newsflash, oh-enlightened-one: freedom doesn't "march"...soldiers with AK-47s perched on their shoulders' march. Freedom can spread. It can flourish. It can be realized. But it sure as hell don't march [said with strong southern accent].
So, let it all out, people. What are your thoughts on Saddam in his undies?
Do you think this will "inspire murder"?
[NOTE: only comments from non-westerners and enlightened U.S. presidents will be taken into consideration]
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Last week, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai absovled Newsweek of blame for causing deadly riots. Remember, this is the same Newsweek that was screamed at by Republicans. Republicans in Congress and the White House connected Newsweek to deaths. Now that Karzai said it was not Newsweek's fault, where is the right-wing retraction?
Chuck, 
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