HEADS OF STATE GONE WILD!

Three world leaders walk into a bar...

Okay, stop me if you've heard this one already.

So, the big pow-wow in Cancun this past week included discussion of the guest-worker proposal currently on the Senate chopping block. Among a number of other pseudo-amnesty provisions it also includes making passports required for travel between the U.S. and Mexico or Canada. This will "facilitate travel and trade," says the shrub, "if implemented properly."

Oh, okay, so you mean we have to have a $116 passport to come into the U.S. now? Well, I guess I'll just turn around and go home then. That sure stopped me from emigrating from my own poverty-stricken country to come and work for your wealthy corporate gods who are willing to pay me next to nothing because they can't get anyone else to do it.

Great immigration policy. Maybe you should fire your Chief of Staff.

MY SINCEREST APOLOGIES, MR. SCALIA

Evidently, I was wrong. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia did NOT flip the bird to a reporter outside of a church as I erroneously posted on Tuesday. What he ACTUALLY did was tell his critics to "go get fucked up your ass" (or vaffanculo) outside of a church, according to John at AmericaBlog.

And here's a nice pretty picture just recently released by the Boston Herald forever immortalizing the narcissistic Sicilian and his sweet-talking ways.

Oh, and the report of Scalia immediately following the oh-so-hospitable gesture with, "You're not going to print that, are you?" was, apparently, right on. For his part, Big Tony (as Pam likes to refer to him) stands by his statement that the gesture was not intended to be obscene.

Uh, okay.

Ooh, pick me, pick me! I want to ride to hell in a handbasket, too!

ARE YOU A ROOSEVELT DEMOCRAT?

Read a truly poignant piece of writing this morning by Jeanne at Body and Soul that really caught me offguard in its velvety ability to stir inklings of patriotism, democracy, and activism in me without coming across like the Sermon on the Mount.

I was moved almost to tears by her closing paragraph, and am so glad to be starting my day feeling this full.

Beautifully done, Jeanne.

Hat tip, ShakesSis.

REARRANGING DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC

I've always love that cliché. Maybe because it's just so visual. You can almost taste the futility, you know?

This week, and mind you, it's only Tuesday, Dubya's cracker jack team must be freakin' scrambling to identify just the right deck chair styles, cushions, and most appropriate locations on this sinking behemoth.

Here's just a sampling of the chaos...

1. Largest mobilization of Hispanics since Cesar Chavez is scaring the bejeezus out of the GOP
2. Scalia flips the bird at the Constitution and then says, "Don't print that!"
3. Radioactive dirty bomb material slithers right past top notch Homeland Security
4. White House Chief of Staff flees for his life
   
5. Tom DeLay's concealed weapon license is revoked! (duh!)
6. American involvement in Iraqi civil war is unwelcome, damaging, and obtrusive
7. AmericaBlog compiling largest ever stupid Bush tricks (currently totaling 1200+)
8. GOP feeding golden boy Bush to the sharks left and right
9. 19-yr-old nephew Pierce is the Shrub's sole supporter
10. And as if that wasn't funny enough, here's a quick video to top it all off:

SI, SE PUEDE! (YES, WE CAN!)

BOB CHAMBERLIN/LOS ANGELES TIMES/AP

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that would make it a felony (A FELONY,PEOPLE!!!) to be in the U.S. illegally, impose new penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants, require churches to check the legal status of people they help, and erect fences along one-third of the U.S.-Mexican border.

The Senate begins debating proposals Tuesday.

There are currently some estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. At least half a million marched on L.A. this past Saturday in protest.

"When did you ever see a Mexican blow up the World Trade Center? Who do you think built the World Trade Center?" said David Gonzalez, 22, who marched in Los Angeles with a sign that read, "I'm in my homeland."

From news.yahoo.com
Bush will meet with Mexican President Vicente Fox on Thursday to discuss the implications of such a law. For Fox, it could just come down to a matter of numbers -- more than $17 billion was sent back to Mexico by undocumented workers in 2005 alone. You don't really think he's going to take this lying down, do you?

For the 11 other Latin American countries who have met 3 times to discuss their strategy for blocking the legislation should it make it to the Senate floor, it's just a f*cking slap in the face.

Guatemalan Vice President Eduardo Stein, in turn, called the bill "an affront to Latin America by a government that claims to be our partner, but which apparently only wants our money and our merchandise, and that sees our people as an epidemic."

I mean, come on, what does a fence say to you? What do you think it says to Mexico? What about the rest of the world? How would we ever again escape being labeled racist, ethnocentrist, isolationist?

HECTOR MATA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
"ugly American": Poles for a new wall under construction mark the border between San Luis, Ariz., and San Luis Olorado, Mexico. Regional leaders have united in opposing proposals to extend the barrier.

We can't walk away from this diplomatic, social and economic disaster without some pretty severe consequences. And, personally, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that pissy stick once it comes a callin'.

Article excerpts and photos from the Christian Science Monitor (yes, really).

HOW MANY BUSHIES DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

The answer is...10!!!

1. One to deny that a light bulb needs to be changed
2. One to attack the patriotism of anyone who says the light bulb needs to be changed
3. One to blame Clinton for burning out the light bulb
4. One to arrange the invasion of a country rumored to have a secret stockpile of light bulbs
5. One to give a billion dollar no-bid contract to Halliburton for the new light bulb
6. One to arrange a photograph of Bush, dressed as a janitor, standing on a step ladder under the banner: Light Bulb Change Accomplished
7. One administration insider to resign and write a book documenting in detail how Bush was literally in the dark
8. One to viciously smear #7
9. One surrogate to campaign on TV and at rallies on how George Bush has had a strong light-bulb-changing policy all along
10. And finally, one to confuse Americans about the difference between screwing a light bulb and screwing the country

Note: Did anyone notice that the light bulb never actually got changed?

Hat tip to Missy!

YOU'RE GONNA NEED A HELLUVA LOT MORE THAN LUCK

Although it'll be all over the homoblogosphere, I couldn't not talk about the NYC St. Patrick's Day parade banning gays from participating in this year's festivities.

"WHAT THE F*CK?!?!" you say.

I know! Insane, isn't it? No gays in a parade?

John Dunleavy, President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (organizers of the annual 5th Ave. parade) essentially compared gays to Nazis and the KKK:

“If an Israeli group wants to march in New York, do you allow neo-Nazis into their parade?...“If African Americans are marching in Harlem, do they have to allow the Ku Klux Klan into their parade? People have rights. If we let the ILGO [the defunct Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization] in, is it the Irish Prostitute Association next?”

Nice, isn't it?

Pam, over at Pam's House Blend, sums it up stupendously with an "And a top o' the morning to you, f*cktard". Just genius, girl!

Read the rest of the ridiculousness HERE as reported by the Gay City News.

As an aside, I'd like to also note that sHillary, Rudy, and Pitaki are all conspicuously quiet about this whole affair, what with it being an election year and all.

TWO DOZEN ARMED COPS AND A HELICOPTER

Barenaked Joe covers this story so well, I think I'll just let him tell it.

The religious Right's strategy of dealing with Soulforce [LGBT people of faith on a 51-day Equality Ride to faith-based campuses and military academies across the country] is clear in this paragraph about the students' arrival at Regent University:

"We got information that demonstrators were arrested Friday at Liberty University [founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell], so we were just here to keep the peace, make sure the demonstration was peaceful," (Virginia Beach police spokesperson Rene) Ball said.

Let me tell you, you do not need at least two dozen cops, a helicopter, a "Marine Patrol Dive Team," several vehicles, and a police chaplain to keep the peace. Last fall I witnessed about fifty anti-war protesters - some very hostile - across the street from 200 pro-Bush supporters - many just as hostile - kept at peace with a handful of DC police. Even in this tense situation peaceful people were still allowed to cross the lines to speak with one another. Just what kind of information did Virginia Beach police "get" that would inspire them to all but call out the national guard and prohibit students from peaceful interaction?

The religious Right is calling out all the stops in order to portray Soulforce as some invading violent protest group. Now homosexuals must be kept out by force if necessary. What's next?

Soulforce has visited these campuses in the past with no problems, they have repeatedly stated and shown they are firmly committed to nonviolence and dialogue. But all of a sudden Liberty and Regent lock down their students and man the barricades because two dozen kids want to pass out leaflets, say prayer together, and hold bible study. Isn't that what these bible thumpers have been doing to the rest of us for decades?

Pam also notes that one Soulforce rider, Kayla Bonewell, described the "outrageous farce" of not being able to cross police lines to peacefully speak with students who very clearly wanted to speak with them. Some students were even in tears over the injustice of it all.

It's just so unbelievably absurd. Aren't these adults? I mean, aren't these even educated, full grown men and women fully capable of making their own decisions regarding to whom they wish to communicate and in what capacity?

No one has any right to be telling them what they can and cannot do. I mean, it's not like they're impregnated incest victims from South Dakota or something.

ATTA GIRL, CONDI! DIG IN THEM FERRAGAMOS!

Pam's House Blend served up this tasty morsel this morning. I'll just let you fill in the caption, okay?

Oh, alright, if you must know, the real caption is available here.

You just have to spoil all the fun, don't you?

SHAME, SHAME, EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR NAME

Okay, I'm not going to even touch on the whole evil twin thing because, funny as it is, that thar horse has done been beaten to death this week and by much wittier bloggers.

But can we talk a little about the censure please? Here...pull up a chair.

So, I guess I'm a little confused by the whole thing, to tell you the truth. Is Feingold really doing this just to get his name out there for 2008? Really? Is he sharing advisors with sHillary (let's not forget her all out bulldog attack on the shrubbery a few weeks ago)? I mean, that's obviously NOT the best way to get into the Ovaltarium.

So, what could his real motivation be? Is it possible -- try to stretch here with me, saggy Dems -- is it just possible that this is the absolute very least that Dubya deserves???

Hmmm???

I mean, just watch the show, as so superbly noted on the Daily Kos, as the media nonchalantly sweeps this under the Repug rug:

The article [Monday's AP article] claims "several Democrats" are holding back and aren't "inclined simply to scold the President." Several, whoa, wow, I thought. The article made it seem like the AP had better info than we had this morning. I read the article, and who does it cite? Harry Reid and Joe Lieberman. That's not "several" Democrats, that's one and a half.

Love that!!

So, okay, back to the main point here. Prez did bad things. Congress knows. People know. Everyone knows. Nobody does anything. Feingold says let's slap his hand. Congress gasps. Senators run from the light. "Why can't we quit you, Bushie?"

Gimme a freaking break, people! This is a slam dunk. You even get to keep your little Pinnochio in the White House. What's to debate??? Censure the bastard already!!!

And yes, it remains to be seen if Feingold can actually earn my vote for the next go round, but he's at least standing atop the Dem dungheap right now, and certainly deserving of a little ass(kicking)istance, so please CLICK HERE to send just $5 that says we're liking what we see so far, but we've got another fiver if he can actually show us his balls!!!

GAY = SECURITY RISK, SAYS THE NSA!!

Another unbelieveable story about how easily this administration makes it for bigots and homophobes to continue to sail along the sea of tyranny captured at The Raw Story.

The gist, although you really should read it for yourselves, is simply that NSA adviser Stephen Hadley has somehow managed to craftily alter the wording of the guidelines used to determine clearance and access to classfied government information to now not necessarily exclude sexual orientation as a determining factor.

As if that weren't enough, it somehow manages to go even further to now include discharge from the military under "dishonorable conditions" as yet another security red flag, which would, of course, inexorably include any soldier discharged for engaging in homosexual activity. [Can't you see now, Bill, the machination you've created with the DODT???]

It's all just enough to make me wanna email bomb Pat Robertson with suggestions that Shrubya is riding bareback in the faint hopes that he'll put in an express order to the heavens (ala Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez) to help rectify the situation posthaste .

ANYway...Pam's House Blend does an excellent job of spelling out the absurdity of it all -- in case that's still unclear to any of you.

MEOW, MEOW, MEOW!!!TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE, SANDY!!!

Newly-retired Supreme Court swing vote Justice Sandra Day O'Connor recently gave a talk at Georgetown University during which she warned of the "beginnings of a dictatorship".

Yuh-huh.

And now tell us again why you couldn't just hold out for two more years before you gave up THE SINGLE MOST INFLUENTIAL POSITION ON THE SUPREME COURT TO THE DEVIL INCARNATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CENTER FOR FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES?!?

An executive order from our brainless leader to the Department of Stroke-My-Ego Security has created the Center for Faith-based and Community Initiatives to...

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...coordinate agency efforts to eliminate regulatory, contracting, and other programmatic obstacles to the participation of faith-based and other community organizations in the provision of social and community services.

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Oh! Okay, so only Christian organizations can bid for these contracts?

Very nice, very nice.

Can we not even say "separation of church and state" anymore?

YEAH, BUDDY! YOU BETCHUR ASS THEY'RE ABANDONING YOU!

Dems are all over it (finally) and now the House Repugs. Even the GOP Senators have indicated they'll jump on the bandwagon if it appears Bush intends to go forward and veto legislation developed to block the Dubai takeover.

So, yay! Great! It's about freaking time everyone realized what a dumbass Bush is.

Oh, no, wait a minute. It's only because the Republicans are afraid they may actually lose control of the Congress this fall if they continue to not only support their flailing leader (polls indicated approval rating below 34%), but relinquish national security to a foreign country during a time of high-terror alert.

As usual, not enlightenment, just more predictable Machiavellian behavior. But at least this time maybe it'll actually end up being the right thing all the way around.

COME ON, TEXAS, GET OUT THE VOTE!!!

Calling all Texans living anywhere near District 28 (click map below to enlarge):

CIRO RODRIGUEZ NEEDS YOUR HELP -- TODAY!

From the Daily Kos:

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If you haven't contributed yet, the campaign could still use your help. There's a strong possibility that this race will go to a run-off (which would take place on April 11th). If it does, Ciro will need plenty of cash. If there is no run-off, Ciro has said he'll donate all of today's proceeds to ActBlue.

If you're anywhere even remotely near the district and you haven't yet offered to volunteer, click here to do so.

If you can't volunteer in person, join the virtual phone-banking brigades. Calling is fun and easy.

If you live in the district and aren't sure where to vote tomorrow, consult your local county election board (websites | phone numbers).

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So, please help get the word out, get the lead out, get your thumb out of...well, you know the rest...and just vote!

Bush may be from Texas, and he may have property in Texas, but he doesn't OWN Texas and he doesn't OWN us!!!

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

NO ASKIE, NO TELLY, NO MONEY

So, Chief Justice John Roberts got to write the unanimous opinion allowing military recruiters on universities campuses despite the conflict between their "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and academia's non-discrimination policies, as brought forth by a 36 law school conglomerate that sued US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

The Court found no first amendment violation in the Solomon Amendment, as the legislation is called, which requires all public colleges and universities to give military recruiters the same access as any other recruiter -- OR RISK LOSING FEDERAL AID!!!

Hmm...sounds like a blackmailing duck. Smells like a blackmailing duck. Must be a freaking blackmailing duck!!!

RadicalRuss is right on when he hypothesizes whether the decision would've been unanimous had the aggrieved institution been the Ku Klux Klan, for instance.

And yes, the Court may be right on constitutional grounds -- that is, "A military recruiter's mere presence on campus does not violate a law school's right to associate, regardless of how repugnant the law school considers the recruiter's message," wrote Roberts, but if they don't realize the overall impact they're having by continuing to subversively support such offensive legislation (Don't Ask, Don't Tell), they might as well burn crosses on the lawns of all gay military personnel, too.

"HEARTLESS IN THE HEARTLAND"

SOUTH DAKOTA UPDATE

CLICK HERE to tell Governor Rounds how sadistic and abusive this sick legislation is that blatantly disregards the suffering of women victimized by rape and incest.

He has 15 days to respond. He's indicated that he's inclined to sign the bill into law.

There's no time to waste. Please voice your plea for a veto ASAP!!! CLICK HERE

AND NOW MISSISSIPPI'S CLIMBING ON BOARD

The bill was approved by the House Public Health Committee on Tuesday in a state that already had some of the strictest abortion laws in the country. The bill must still go to the House and then the Senate, but Mississippi already only has one abortion clinic in the entire state (in Jackson), so it's not looking so great.

WHO'S THE NEXT IDIOT ON THE BAN WAGON???

What I'd like to see, the people I'd REALLY like to hear from, are the wives and sisters and daugthers and granddaughters and mothers and grandmothers and aunts and nieces of these freaking tunnel-vision, short-sighted, penis-driven, patriarchal bible beaters!!!

What if someone YOU loved (or even remotely appreciated, like your 3rd grade teacher, for instance) was violently raped and then FORCED to not only endure the 10 month reminder of that painful annihilation of her humanity (which, in my opinion, is tantamount to being raped and tortured again and again and again -- for more than 300 days, mind you -- as it is an outright involuntary assault on her own body), and THEN she's expected to push forth from what's left of her ravaged loins and pillaged soul a CHILD that, depending upon any number of circumstances, could in fact be born with any number of medical problems, and perhaps even some so severe that the child doesn't survive its first day on earth!!

Which is not to propose for one second that a child who is the product of rape or incest is not capable of being loved and having a "normal" happy life, or that a victim of rape or incest wouldn't ever choose to give birth to that child, accept it wholeheartedly, and love it unconditionally despite the manner of conception.

But...

SHE SHOULD HAVE THAT FUCKING CHOICE, YOU GODDAMNED POMPOUS, SELF-ABSORBED, CALLOUSLY CRUEL EXCUSES FOR HUMAN BEINGS!!!

THE NATIONAL UNIFORMITY IN FOOD ACT

Ugh! Will they stop at nothing?!?!? They want to actually poison us now?!?!?

The House of Representatives will vote this week on a controversial "national food uniformity" labeling law that will take away local government and states' power to require food safety food labels such as those required in California and other states on foods or beverages that are likely to cause cancer, birth defects, allergic reactions, or mercury poisoning. This bill would also prevent citizens in local municipalities and states from passing laws requiring that genetically engineered foods and ingredients such as Monsanto's recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) be labeled.

The House will vote March 2, 2006 on a bill that would gut state food safety and labeling laws. H.R. 4167, the "National Uniformity for Food Act," lowers the bar on food safety by overturning state food safety laws that are not "identical" to federal law. Hundreds of state laws and regulations are at risk, including those governing the safety of milk, fish, and shellfish. The bill is being pushed by large supermarket chains and food manufacturers, spearheaded by the powerful Grocery Manufacturers of America.

Big food corporations and the biotech industry understand that consumers are more and more concerned about food safety, genetic engineering, and chemical-intensive agriculture, and are reading labels more closely. They understand that pesticide and mercury residues and hazardous technologies such as genetic engineering and food irradiation will be rejected if there are truthful labels required on food products.
Industry-sponsored H.R. 4167 is gaining momentum and must be stopped! Act now! Preserve local and regional democracy and protect yourself and your family from unsafe food by sending an email or calling your Representative and urging them to vote "No" on H.R. 4167.

Please Take Action Now--Send a Message to Your Congress Member in the House of Representatives to Vote "No" on H.R. 4167

CLICK HERE: http://www.organicconsumers.org/rd/labeling.cfm

And please also call your Congress Member at 202-224-3121!!!

Hat tip to Lisa for the heads up.