Hi ya'll - I'm just back from Jeb Bradley's 100th town hall meeting, in Manchester. NH GOP chair Warren Henderson sent out an email to rally the faithful. A quote:"We know that the "usual suspects" will be there to rant and disrupt the meeting as they have tried to disrupt others, criticizing everything and offering nothing. It is important that we show that these are NOT the voices of New Hampshire; just those of the perpetually malcontented."

I felt compelled to appear with a sign reading "USUAL SUSPECT" on one side, and "PERPETUALLY MALCONTENTED - or concerned citizen?" on the other. His aide had the grace to blush. Someone asked Bradley about it, and it was clear he was rather embarassed.

This was almost 100% staged - many of the 50 people in attendence were either Bradley staffers, or people planted by the staffers, with flattering comments and questions. Jeb is a pillar of jello - can't take a position on anything. He had the audacity to suggest the US military should be patrolling the Mexican border in front of the Latino activists in the room, assuring that they'll work for anyone who runs against him in 2006. My favorite was when he said he was against drilling in ANWAR, unless something happens to change that.

Bradley has about $7 million in Halliburton stock, and his top 3 corporate donors are defense contractors. This smelly mess has gone past his expiration date. Buh bye in 2006, Jebster!!

thanks jon and wjcowie - I'm wicked flattered to be invited to contribute, being a flatlander from Jackson and all.

The Bush administration opposes the dispatch of any U.S. or European forces to help enhance security in genocide-stricken Darfur "because they could be vulnerable to attack by terrorists." Apparently we only "take the fight to the terrorists" in countries where terrorists weren't based in the first place.

from C4AP

"The elected branches of our government, and both political parties, are united in our resolve to fight and stop and punish those who would do harm to the American people."
-- President Bush, 10/26/01

VERSUS

"Liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers. Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war."
-- Karl Rove, 6/22/05

from C4AP

"We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts, and those who harbor them."
-- President Bush, 9/11/01

VERSUS

"When you go to the question of dealing with sanctuaries in sovereign states, you're dealing with a problem of our sense of international obligation, fair play."
-- CIA Director Porter Goss, 6/19/05, on searching for Osama bin Laden in Pakistan

(Thanks Atrios.)

from C4AP

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay compared the suicide bombers, roadside bombs and sniper fire that U.S. troops are facing in Baghdad to the "murders, robberies, deaths" of Houston, Texas. DeLay said, "You know, if Houston, Texas, was held to the same standard as Iraq is held to, nobody'd go to Houston, because all this reporting coming out of the local press in Houston is violence, murders, robberies, deaths on the highways."

from C4AP

"Before heading to lunch with Bush at the White House, Frist told the Associated Press that his role had 'been exhausted' in negotiating with Democrats [on the John Bolton nomination to be U.N. ambassador]."
- Washington Post, 6/22/05

VERSUS

"A few hours later, after Bush said he does not want to throw in the towel, Frist said, 'We'll continue to work to get an up-or-down vote for John Bolton over the coming days, possibly weeks.'"
- Washington Post, 6/22/05

from C4AP

Last Tuesday, American Progress hosted a screening of the first episode of the new series 30 Days. In the first installment, Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) and his fiancée, Alexandra Jamieson, spend a month trying to live on the minimum wage in Columbus, Ohio, where they seek jobs, affordable housing and the best possible quality of life. The event opened with remarks from Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA). Following the screening, John Podesta, president and CEO of American Progress, moderated a panel including Morgan Spurlock, Alexandra Jamieson, and Steven Kest, executive director of ACORN. Click here for video, audio and transcript of the event.

For more information on the minimum wage:

Crib sheet on living wage
Economic analysis of the Florida minimum wage proposal

AP - 36 minutes ago

IRBIL, Iraq - A suicide car bomber killed 20 traffic policemen and wounded 100 Monday outside the unit's headquarters in this northern Kurdish city, police and hospital officials said.

from Yahoo News

AP - 7 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A suicide bombing ripped through a popular Baghdad kebab restaurant at lunchtime, killing at least 16 people and wounding 25 Sunday as insurgents stepped up attacks nationwide, defying two major U.S.-led offensives aimed at routing foreign fighters.

from Yahoo News