Happy Thanksgiving!

Cheers to
feisty turkeys
everywhere!

Black is here!

Black shirts are now available for ordering at Cafe Press. More styles and other dark colors will be available after the holidays.

Cindy's in Crawford for Thanksgiving

Bush in Freefall

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Emma Lazarus

Camp Casey for Thanksgiving

by Cindy Sheehan

Donkey with Birks

Inspired by the comments of "imn2paine" and "thankful" I present:

"Donkey with Birks"

Red, White and Blue

Think Oval

as in Oval Office...

Peace

Support Our War, Or Else!

It seems that anyone who questions BushCo's war policy is going to be subject to being labeled by this Administration in what can only be described as McCarthy-style rhetoric. The latest to be on the receiving end was Democratic Congressman (and former Marine) John Murtha.

White House Press Secretary Scott McCllelan:

Congressman Murtha is a respected veteran and politician who has a record of supporting a strong America. So it is baffling that he is endorsing the policy positions of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic party. The eve of an historic democratic election in Iraq is not the time to surrender to the terrorists. After seeing his statement, we remain baffled -- nowhere does he explain how retreating from Iraq makes America safer. Statement by White House Press Secretary

Vice President Dick Cheney (via Washington Post:)

President Bush and Vice President Cheney lashed out again against Democratic senators who have questioned the handling of prewar intelligence on Iraq, with the vice president accusing critics of engaging in "one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city."

Speaking before a Washington dinner of the Frontiers of Freedom Institute, a conservative research organization, Cheney said last night that Democrats who say they were misled by the administration are "making a play for political advantage in the middle of a war." The criticism, Cheney said, threatens to undermine the morale of U.S. troops while "a few opportunists are suggesting they were sent into battle for a lie."

George W. Bush (via Washington Post):

Pressed to elaborate, Bush said: "I expect there to be criticism. But when Democrats say that I deliberately misled the Congress and the people, that's irresponsible." Bush seemed personally irritated. He said it is "patriotic as heck to disagree with the president. It doesn't bother me. What bothers me is when people are irresponsibly using their positions and playing politics. That's exactly what is taking place in America."

Bush later stepped back on the rhetoric just a little (via AP):

"People should feel comfortable about expressing their opinions about Iraq," Bush said, three days after agreeing with Vice President Dick Cheney that the critics were "reprehensible."

The president also praised Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., as "a fine man" and a strong supporter of the military despite the congressman's call for troop withdrawal as soon as possible.

Here's what Congressman Murtha had said:

"The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion. The American public is way ahead of us. The United States and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq, but it is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering. The future of our country is at risk. We cannot continue on the present course. It is evident that continued military action is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf Region. Full Statement.

No Exit Strategy

Trying to open a locked door probably isn't as embarrassing as his Dad throwing up on someone, but Dubya's facial expression reacting to his dilemna has to be embarrassing to those PR types who are trying to salvage his kingdom.

Click pictures for large version. Watch video at BBC.

Fun With Words

Sometimes making bumper stickers can be a challenge. Other times, the language of the day just writes them for you. The goal is to come up with something pithy (since the longer the phrase, the smaller the letters, and the harder to read) and clever (hopefully) without making people have to think too hard about what it means. The faster the message can be conveyed, the better. Sometimes just finding a bunch of words beginning with the same letter can be effective:



I'll bet I can eventually come up with the whole alphabet about the Bush Administration's failings.


Sex always sells. I sometimes wonder if this combination alone was what kicked off the campaign in the minds of the general public:


Then, of course, the Vice President's first name can have multiple meanings. BFA's blog nanny finally relented and removed the filter that prevented us from typing Cheney's first name, which had forced us to be creative when referring to "The Big D!ck."

With members of the Bush Administration under a legal cloud, and indictments for corruption happening to Republicans in their circle, this sticker wasn't too far of a stretch.

Every time Dubya gives a speech, I'd like to paste this one on his prompter.


And Bush is always a good source for word play. When he gave a speech accusing his opponents of disassembling, he went on to explain that it meant that they didn't tell the truth. Since it was clear that he meant to say "dissemble," I thought a bumper sticker defining the word he actually used was needed.


Homonyms can work effectively, too. (No pun intended on the "homo." Okay, well, maybe just a little.)

Anagrams can always be fun. Even if you can only come up with one from part of the word, it can still work.


And, yes, I know there are still some good, honest Republicans. I just wish they'd start speaking out. Since most of them are still supportive, or at least silent about the worst president ever, and they *have* presided over the largest deficit in history, I'll add one more jab. This one plays around with the symbols that can form the letters, rather than the language itself.


Sometimes, when you really want a short message, you can even combine a couple of words.

Thank you, Senator Feingold!

Extension of Patriot Act Faces Threat of Filibuster

From the New York Times:

"WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 - A tentative deal to extend the government's antiterrorism powers under the law known as the USA Patriot Act appeared in some jeopardy Thursday, as Senate Democrats threatened to mount a filibuster in an effort to block the legislation."

""This is worth the fight," Senator Russell D. Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat who serves on the Judiciary Committee, said in an interview."

""I've cleared my schedule right up to Thanksgiving," Mr. Feingold said, adding that he was making plans to read aloud from the Bill of Rights as part of a filibuster if necessary."

more...

Thank you to you Democrats who are finally standing up. After almost five years of being railroaded by a Republican House, Senate, and White House, the only bipartisanship that interests me right now is this kind.

Patriot Act Update

by Senator Russ Feingold (via Daily Kos)

"I'm pleased to announce that early this afternoon, Senate leaders threw in the towel on their plan to jam a Patriot Act reauthorization bill through the Senate before Thanksgiving. Bipartisan resistance to the tentative agreement reached by conference committee Republicans stopped them in their tracks. We will come back in December and have a real debate on the Patriot Act, and in the meantime, we can keep up pressure on the conferees to move closer to the unanimously supported Senate bill from this summer. "

"Your support in this effort was crucial. In the past 36 hours, I've had conversations with dozens of Senators that led me to believe that we would have won a vote to block the bill if it had come up. They were obviously hearing from back home that there was no need to act in haste."

more...

The Democrats are showing some backbone and it's finally beginning to look like there are two parties in Congress again. Please, no more Republican-lite Democrats!

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