Pretty funny coming from a jackass who's 4 years older than McCain.

"I've served with seven presidents," Murtha told a union audience. "When they come in, they all make mistakes. They all get older."

That's true congressman, at least the age thing. Not a one of them got younger. Calling what you did in Congress "service" is a bit of a stretch though.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 12:02 PM | Comments (26)
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Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Bilal Hussein was released today after two years in custody in Iraq on charges stemming from his suspected ties to terrorist groups.

The AP, for whom Hussein works, makes it sound as if he were found innocent or something. The reality is an Iraqi tribunal found that the crimes he was charged with fell under an amnesty law passed earlier this year so there was no point in moving forward.

But as always, the AP gives the benefit of the doubt to potential terrorist sympathizers.

The U.S. military had accused Hussein of links to insurgents, but did not file specific charges. In December, military authorities brought Hussein's case into the Iraqi court system for possible trial.

But an Iraqi judicial panel this month dismissed all proceedings against Hussein and ordered his release. A U.S. military statement on Monday said Hussein is no longer considered a threat.

"I want to thank all the people working in AP. ... I have spent two years in prison even though I was innocent. I thank everybody," Hussein said after being freed.

AP President Tom Curley said Hussein "is safely back with AP and his family, and it is a great relief to us."

"Our heartfelt thanks to all of you who supported us during this difficult and challenging period," Curley said. "Bilal will now be spending some quiet time with his family and resting up."

You can see some of the ‘work’ that led authorities to think Hussein may have been in league with killers here.

Posted by: DrewM at 11:54 AM | Comments (2)
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In today's LA Times, hirsute/pale journalist David K. Shipler informs us that calling Barack Obama an "elitist" means something entirely different:

"Elitist" is another word for "arrogant," which is another word for "uppity," that old calumny applied to blacks who stood up for themselves.

more...

Posted by: Open Blog at 11:16 AM | Comments (109)
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I don't know about the rest of you, but this is exactly the sort of thing that may seriously threaten my popcorn supply. Not that the Republicans were any smarter, allowing Democrats to have the say they did in their primaries.

While most of the Democratic Party's superdelegates are members of Congress, governors or senior party officials, Awais Khaleel, Lauren Wolfe and Jason Rae are still in college. Yet the votes of the three student superdelegates might help decide the Democratic nominee.

What could possibly go wrong? (jager)

F-bomb after the break. more...

Posted by: Open Blog at 10:08 AM | Comments (23)
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"It's just a glitch."

The Popular Mechanics blog is hoppin' mad that their article on SWORDS' malfunctions was "sensationalized" and taken out of context by numerous sources quoting them misleadingly. They say three of the ComBots remain in theater in Iraq.

I understand that you have had some concerns about
my performance lately, Dave, but I want to assure you I have the
utmost confidence in, and enthusiasm for, the mission

Aw. Who could say no to a pretty red eye like that.

Thanks to Arthur.

Posted by: Ace at 09:55 AM | Comments (17)
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After attempting to write something all day, I have to give up and just say I'm basically useless. I'll post here and there but it doesn't seem like I'm going to be doing more than linking videos of dogs licking themselves.

It's warm here in the Northeast. Way too warm. I think I have spring fever. Or something. My brain does not react well to unexpected heat.

Posted by: Ace at 09:35 AM | Comments (33)
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Confederate Yankee wants to know if Hollywood will notice.

But I don't think the question is seriously posed.

Posted by: Ace at 09:03 AM | Comments (28)
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This just came out a few minutes ago (PDF), upholding Kentucky's lethal injection procedure. It's a lengthy split decision. I'm reading it now and will update soon. I hope the Court manages to sort out some of the historical difficulty that interpretations of the phrase "cruel and unusual" have met.

Okay, this is a splintered decision, with only 3 justices signing on to the plurality. There are six concurring opinions and one dissent. The justices spent little time parsing the meaning of the phrase "cruel and unusual" and no time discussing the difference between the two words. It is a victory for death penalty advocates, but the disagreement between the justices will lead to a great deal of litigation. I expect that the various stays of execution that were issued by the Court and granted by several states while the case was pending will be dropped.

Here's how things shake out:

Roberts, Kennedy, Alito support a standard in which the Eighth Amendment only prohibits a capital procedure if it presents a "substantial risk of serious harm."

Stevens does not present a workable standard.

Scalia and Thomas support a standard in which the Eighth Amendment only prohibits a capital procedure if it is "deliberately designed to inflict pain."

Breyer, Ginsburg, Souter support a standard in which the Eighth Amendment would prohibit a capital procedure if it "creates an untoward, readily avoidable risk of inflicting severe and unnecessary suffering."

Discussion of the individual opinions is below the fold for other law morons. more...

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 07:37 AM | Comments (61)
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Her campaign platform: create a red light area with strip clubs, erotic discos and sex shops called "Love City" just kilometers away from the Vatican

Finally a campaign platform targeted at practical matters that concern the public on a day to day basis. I for one welcome our new porn star overlords. more...

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 06:48 AM | Comments (30)
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Say what you want about the filthy, icebacks but at least some of them know how to treat their elders with respect.

When a male resident at Kildegaarden nursing home in Denmark made an indecent sexual proposal to a member of the staff, the home's director, Inger Marie Kristensen, told a nurse to telephone for a prostitute.

``There was a considerable change in his demeanor after the escort girl had paid him a visit,'' Kristensen said in an interview. ``We do this for our clients just as we offer them other services that they need as human beings.''

Â… Nurses arranged visits by call girls three times in the past three years.

Naturally, thereÂ’s some backlash to this practice but fortunately civil rights activists (aka, hookers) are on the case.

The Copenhagen-based Danish Sex-worker Association was established last month in a bid to protect the industry. The leader, who gives her name only as Susanne on the association's Web site, said prostitutes ``often'' visit Danish elderly homes.

``To forbid vulnerable customers from obtaining the services of a legal business is discriminating, both against the sex workers and the people who need help to get the services,'' Susanne said in an e-mailed response to questions.

You tell ‘em sister. NO HOOKERS? NO PEACE!

BTW- Pace the Village Voice story below...does this post up the stupid rating (come on, it's a hookers for old Scandis story) or the evil quotient (supporting the sex trade)?

Posted by: DrewM at 06:33 AM | Comments (18)
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