|
|
Republican Relection Strategy: Bang Little Boys
Yes, its gotten this bad for Republicans. If scandals about Iraq, Valerie Plame, 9/11, Jack Abramoff, and Katrina weren't enough.....now we have a good old fashion child molesting Republican scandal. Republican Mark Foley has been forced to resign after his attempts to bang a kid were revealed. 
"Do I make you horny?" asked the Republican.
"You in your boxers, too? ... Well, strip down and get relaxed," asked the Republican.
"He acts much older than his age...and he's in really great shape." said the Republican.
Then there is this disgustingly graphic instant message exchange where the Republican speaks of the boys "cute butt bouncing in the air."
And the Republicans placed this sexual predator as the Chairman of the Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus! And we thought Mike Brownie or Rumsfeld were unqualified! Good job Republicans. Oh, and if the Republicans putting a sex offender in charge of protecting children isn't bad enough, the Republicans have been covering this scandal up for months. Republican Leaders John Boehner and Dennis Hastert have known of the "inappropriate contact" since the Spring. Republican Rodney Alexander (who the sexual prey worked for) knew of the scandal immediately. After he found out, Alexander ran to Republican Thomas Reynolds, the chairman of the House Republican campaign organization. See, Alexander was more concerned with their campaigns. And so no big shocker, all these Republicans decided to cover up the scandal for months, instead of going to the proper authorities. Have you ever protected a sex offender? Well, anyone that votes Republican now, is officially pro-covering up for sex offenders!
 Bush's Housing Secretary has admitted that he unethically/illegally favored Bush supporters when granting contracts. It seems obvious that this goes on, but it is still remarkable that he actually admitted the favoring of Bush-supporters happened. What is most offensive about this story, is that now that the story has been revealed, Bush & Company have issued the guy a vote of confidence. This a-hole should be fired for his obvious ethical/criminal violation.....but I guess that stuff doesn't matter to Republicans. Obama '08? I didn't think it was possible, until he recently turned up at an event in Iowa. The Bush Administration's own National Intelligence Estimate has concluded that overall terrorist threat has grown since the September 11 attacks. Way to go Republicans! If they stay in control for 6 more years, just think of how much more terrorism Republicans can create! Bush is going to host talks on "Borat" (Sasha Cohen's HBO character) with the the Kazakhstan government today. There is a whole Borat movie coming out later this year. I am very excited. I just hope Bush doesn't screw something up and cause me to not see this movie. More Borat: I just read this funny article about how Borat was denied entry to the White House yesterday. He wanted to invite "Premier George Walter Bush" to a screening of his upcoming movie. Also invited to the screening: O.J. Simpson, "Mel Gibsons" and other "American dignitaries."
Masturbation Investigator Carl Monday
This is why I don't watch local news in Cleveland.
 Daily Show had a great piece last night on WKYC investigative reporter Carl Monday's recent work. Apparently Monday set up a sting camera in a public library in Cleveland and caught some 18 year old kid jerking off to porn on a public computer. Carl Monday followed the kid to court, his house, and other places over many months. The Daily Show made Carl look like a complete asshole and it was pretty funny. Visit Carl Monday's blog.
Fair Elections or Propaganda
 Senators Barbara Boxer and Chris Dodd have introduced a bill that would mandate boards of elections provide paper ballots to people who request them in the upcoming election. Her plan would cost an estimated $10 million to the Federal government ($.75 per ballot), and would help aleviate concerns about electronic voting.
The Lincoln Group has been awarded a $6.2 million dollar contract by the US government to "monitor" Iraqi, Arabic, foreign, and American news outlets and to produce more positive talking points about the war in Iraq. The Lincoln Group is the firm that was planting stories about the US Military in Iraqi news outlets.
These two programs cost a similar amount. Which is better for our country as a whole, to guarantee fair elections, or to produce pro-war propaganda?
Hint: Watch this Princeton video on how easy it is to hack a Diebold voting machine.
Looks like Newsweek got a jump on The Lincoln Group's plan to present happy stories to the American public. Photo hat tip to Huffington Post and/or The Daily Show.
Tom Sawyer for State School Board
Tom Sawyer and his campaign have released a short video on why he is running for State School Board. If you don't know who Sawyer is, I still recommend the video because it is a good politics 101 lesson in a candidate introducing himself to voters. We fully support Tom's candidacy and look forward to providing more detailed information on his race in the coming weeks.
TCS Akron Marathon Relay Team
 This Saturday morning The Chief Source relay team will be taking to the streets of Akron for the Road Runner Marathon. We are officially listed as participants in the business relay challenge and are the only dot com. Here is the team roster in race order:
1. John Grucella - 10K
2. Mike Morgan - 5K
3. Kyle Kutuchief - 10K
4. Kurt Mears - 5K
5. Michael Maney - 12K
Click on the picture for a color coded map that shows the course route and who will be running where in case you will be watching the race. I'd like to thank Maney for pulling this together and I look forward to the race. What a great event for the City of Akron and The Chief Source.
Republicans: Pro-Bankrupting The Troops
 A Pentagon report last month found that 20% of US soliders “ are being preyed on by loan centers set up near military bases” that can charge interest of 400% or more. Many people in Congress (even some Republicans) have come together to limit the interest rates on loans to troops at no more then 36%. Seems reasonable enough. But not for the all the savage Republicans in Congress. Kentucky Republican Geoff Davis has sided with the banks. This Republican thinks it is fair to charge 400% interest rates on a loan to our troops, when they are just seeking a payday advance of say $350. This is truly disgusting. And this is truly Republican. They are literally the only people capable of such outrageous greed. Unrelated: Ends up Bush Senior did get booed on Monday night at the Superdome. It is being reported that ESPN edited the broadcast and imposed cheers over the boos. I listened to the broadcast and did not hear boos - I was very surprised. But after read this story, along with a lengthy discussion on the topic, it all makes sense. Bush was booed, but ESPN took it out. If you listen to the broadcast again, you can hear the generic cut in the audio. There are two reasonable theories to why they did this: 1) ESPN wanted an entirely positive broadcast, feeling that was best for New Orleans; OR 2) the ESPN folks are simply good friends of the Bush folks. I am not trying to make some huge conspiracy out of this, but consider: (a) ESPN is the same family that recently brought the untruthful "Path to 9/11", (b) ESPN did the same thing (editing boos out) when Dick Cheney threw out the first pitch at a Nationals game, and (c) ESPN's President is a big Republican donor.
Banned Book Week
 It's here! Banned Book Week is September 25-29. I know I'm a day late, but I just love this week. It's kind of a mini-celebration of our right to free speech. Why are books challenged? Usually to "protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information." - American Libraries Association. The top 3 reasons, specifically, are " sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group." I always love the "offensive language" thing because I don't swear, but I guarantee that what I say would be offensive to people who would ban books. How do they define "offensive langage?" Why isn't extreme or unnecessary violence included in the top 3? Here are just a few of the most challenged books. Celebrate Banned Book Week and read one for yourself, or share it with a child. They're enlightening and fun! Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
lots of Judy Blume
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Something to ponder this week... Is it more patriotic to ban books, or to read them?
Ohio Democrat John Glenn
Bob Shamansky is the Democrat running for Ohio's 12th Congressional District against Republican Pat Tiberi. Ohio's 12th is a district where the Democrats try and turn out east Columbus and Republicans try and turnout Delaware County. It leans Republican, but this year all bets are off in Ohio. I wanted to stand an applaud after seeing this ad. What a great reminder to voters of great Democrats serving Ohio. I hope that Glenn gets on the air for Brown and Strickland too. I can't think of a better endorsement to get in Ohio.- Hat Tip: Buckeye State Blog
Make abortion unnecessary, not illegal
This is the last week of sessions for the do-nothing Congress, and I have a suggestion for one thing they could do:
Consider Congressman Tim Ryan's Abortion Reduction Legislation. Ryan, a pro-life Democrat, has joined with Rosa DeLauro, a pro-choice Democrat, to write a bill that would provide unwanted-pregancy reduction programs, and also provide resources, education, and support for women who might otherwise have an abortion.
House Resolution 6067 focuses on prevention through sex education, afterschool programs, teen pregnancy prevention incentive grants, restore and expand family planning and Medicaid health care programs to low income mothers who would otherwise not be able to afford the hospital bills associated with giving birth, and others.
The bill would also provide support for programs that encourage alternatives to abortion, and to help women who feel hopeless at the prospect of having a child she cannot support. It would expand Medicaid and S-CHIP, help pregant students and new moms to allow them to stay in school, expand adoption assistance for families, support group homes, and support new parents through child-related education programs.
This is a well-rounded resolution aimed at not only preventing unwanted pregnancies, but also supporting parents after they have the child. Anyone who calls him/herself pro-life should be in support of reducing the number of teen and unwanted pregnancies. And pro-choice supporters generally want women to have the right to make her own decisions, but also to be supported in her choice. Ryan's proposed legislation provides both. Here's a good summary of HR 6067.
Slightly related: Check out this video of Tim Ryan's speech on why young people believe the Bush Administration wants to institute the draft, even though they say they won't. Unrelated: More proof that Senator George Allen is a racist. "Allen said he came to Virginia because he wanted to play football in a place where 'blacks knew their place'," says an old teammate of Allen's at the University of Virginia. Check out the article. Three sources confirmed Allen's racist attitudes.
Shame On The NFL
I have never been a big fan of the National Football League. My biggest complaint: he players get a raw deal, with no guaranteed money, which allows management to discard injured players like they are peices of garbage. NFL players literally cut years off their lives from their sacrafice, but they are the least paid of all the profesional athletes (and I know, they are still well paid, but compared to other sports, its a joke). Meanwhile, the owners are making milllions, whether they do a good job of running their team or not. There are also several other little things that bug me about the league, like the NFL's obvious drug problem, their stupid age limit, and the encouragment of kids in their 20s chasing their dream to be 350 pounds. About a month ago, Bryant Gumbel went on a bit of a rant about the NFL on his HBO show, and he could not have been more accurate. Well, now I think I have hit my breaking point.....  Tonight the NFL makes its triumpant return to the New Orleans. This return is certainly quicker then many, including myself, every imagined. This historic event is going to be a star-studded event, as it should be. However, I am violently ill over the fact that George Bush Sr is going to be doing cointoss for the game. This is the man they picked! The man married to that scumbag Barbara Bush that claimed that Katrina was a "good thing" for the poor people of New Orleans! The man that fathered the current disgrace of a President, who should be charged with criminal homicide for his hurricane response! Sure, Bush Sr did raise a few bucks for Katrina victims, but what public figure didn't? The NFL should not have allowed anything named Bush be apart of the Superdome re-opening. Okay, I just remembered Reggie Bush of the Saints is important. So new rule: No white people named Bush at the game.
Bu$h In Cincinnati Today For Dewine
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a great ad up in Ohio to welcome the President. Today, donors in Cincinnati are paying $10,000 to have their picture taken with the President at a fundraiser for Mike Dewine. While you won't see President Bush and Mike Dewine together in public, know that people with a lot of money are spending quality time with them in private. The more I see this ad, the happier I be. Enjoy. Senate Debate On TrivisonnoI listened to most of the "non-debate debate" between Brown and Dewine on Cleveland's WTAM 1100am last Friday. I thought Triv did a good job of moderating and was fair to both candidates. Like every debate I have seen in Ohio thus far, the questions sucked. Still, it was worth listening to and fun to hear the candidates in a non-traditional environment. I don't think there was a winner or loser and that both candidates came across like down to earth men who could talk sports and joke around. I don't know if Blackwell or Strickland would fare as well in that format. Money: In a Brown campaign press release, I was informed that Dewine is outspending Brown 2 to 1 on television. National Democratic leaders need to spend every dime they have on candidates like Brown. Ohio, Ohio, Ohio. Columbus Dispatch Poll: Brown 47% - DeWine 42% - Undecided 11%* *this is a mail poll  Cleveland Browns: That game was so typical of being a sports fan in Cleveland. Crushing.
Clinton Debunks Republican Lies
Bill Clinton is currently on a media blitz, promoting the Clinton Global Initiative Conference, which is a bipartisan project that has raised $7.3 billion to fight global problems. Well, Clinton's trip through the nation's talkshows and cable networks led him to an with Chris Wallace on FOXNews Sunday. One of the first questions Clinton faced was "why didn't you do more" to get Bin Laden? Clinton made Chris Wallace his bitch..... "I think it’s very interesting that all the conservative Republicans, who now say I didn’t do enough, claimed that I was too obsessed with bin Laden.....They were all trying to get me to withdraw from Somalia in 1993 the next day after we were involved in Black Hawk down, and I refused to do it and stayed six months and had an orderly transfer to the United Nations."Exactly. All the damn Republicans claimed Clinton was out of control and wanted him out of Somalia (and other interventions). Now they have the nerve to say he did too little. Well, as Clinton admitted: " I had responsibility for trying to protect this country. I tried and I failed to get Bin Laden. I regret it but I did try."Clinton then adds something that I dare one peice of crap Republican to explain: "But at least I tried. That’s the difference in me and some, including all the right-wingers who are attacking me now. They ridiculed me for trying. They had eight months to try. They did not try. I tried."Bush came into office in 2001. He went 8 months, despite warnings like "Bin Laden determined to strike in US" and did not hold one damn meeting on Bin Laden! Come on Conservatives of The Chief Source past, EXPLAIN THAT! Clinton admittedly did not get Bin Laden, but at least he tried. Until 9/11 happened, Bush literally did absolutely nothing in regards to Bin Laden. So anyone that wants to bash Clinton needs to get their facts right......or just ignore the facts, as usual for the pathetic conservatives.
Sherrod Brown In Akron
 Sherrod Brown came to the University of Akron this afternoon for a press conference to discuss education. Candidate for State School Board Tom Sawyer was also in attendance. The two men gave short speeches on education and then opened it up to questions. Afterward, Sherrod stayed and mingled with the crowd. He stopped and talked with us for a bit. We wished him well in his debate on WTAM this afternoon and with the rest of his campaign. He was a great guy in person and we will be pulling for him down the stretch this fall. I'd say this is one of the closest races in the country. - more pictures
During ABC's controversial "Path to 9/11", I remember many Republicans claiming that liberals were just whining because it blamed Clinton. I remember hearing that that it was no different then conservatives dealing with Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. Umm, not so much. (1) Fahrenheit 9/11 was not on national TV, uninterrupted (except for speech by Bush, where he not-so-coincidentally confused the issues of 9/11 and Iraq). (2) Moore's movie was a documentary based on facts.....ABC's movie had a disclaimer explaining that parts of it were fiction. In what comes as a huge surprise to me, Larry David has signed up for a 6th season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Great news. Episodes to be released sometime next year.  Republican Congressman Bob Ney admits to federal corruption charges. Sadly, the Republican leadership refuses to call for the criminal Ney to resign. These are the same sick SOBs that called for Clinton to resign. Sometimes I sit around and think about the hypocrisy surrounding the Clinton impeachment and just get insane. If you need more proof that a whole lot of these right-wing evangelical "Christians" are nuts, click here. Kids at a "Jesus Camp" are taught to worship to a picture of President Bush.
|
Chuck, 
, 
