I hope he knows the codes in the Senate outhouse.

So if you’re not reading this, please do so.

I applaud the tellers of the reality. It’s the reality that pisses me off and deserves rebuke. From Mahmudiya to 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, where the responsibility lies.

Let me state that I emphatically reject the puritanical squeamishness driving the calls for Craig’s resignation. I disagree with his legislative issue positions. His hypocrisy sucks. His denials don’t sound convincing. And public bathrooms lack the type of ambience I’d prefer for my own liaisons.

All that could lower his chances for re-election. Which could convince him not to run again. That’s okay; I consider that democracy, working as it should.

But I don’t think what he did should be a prosecutable sex crime. He invaded privacy and posed a nuisance to someone in a bathroom stall. He was charged with misdemeanors that said as much. He was a nuisance. Not a demonic danger to society. I’d consider drunk driving to be a more serious offense than Larry’s lust.

I don’t believe minor misdemeanor violations should cause automatic disqualifications to public service in the Senate. If public censure convinces him not to run again, that’s his decision, ultimately. But the moral posturing by his Republican peers is itself more objectionable than anything Larry did. After all, we have a president that fucked our Constitution, lied about the intelligence, promoted torture and its twin, extraordinary rendition. And hundreds of thousands have died, needlessly.

That the same Senators disgusted by Larry’s leer find no moral objection to actions I consider crimes against humanity is an indicator of badly skewed morality. Sexual desire for other adults is a natural impulse, even though it can produce tasteless choices. But the actions of the Bush administration amount to the advance of serial murder, torture and rape. If there be outrage and calls for dismissals of public servants, let them direct them at the greatest dangers to society. (Including government sponsored travesties like the one I blogged about yesterday).

They should find great moral objection to actions akin to those of Hannibal Lector, not to those akin to Benny Hill.

Satire is an appropriate punishment for the latter.

If you actually spent the time to watch all 29 videos in the post below, something like 90 minutes of your precious life was just spent tagging along through some cheesy humor, rife with gawdawful stereotypes. At least there was a little decent music in the mix, but that hardly is a justified way to move you 90 minutes closer to eternal wormfood.

My humble apologies.

If I offended anyone I wasn’t trying to offend, well, at least I didn’t kidnap your kids, so quitcher whining.

But the whole sloppy, overdone mess points to the dilemma faced when one is well behind the curve on videoblogging (or vlogging).

After the 2006 election I announced to my team members here that I was going to take time off and get the equipment and software and learning to pursue video creation for American Street. Prior to this summer, my total time operating any type of motion picture camera was less than half an hour, cumulative. That means I started pretty much from scratch.

Somehow, I scrimped and saved and succeeded in getting a regular videocam, a monitor-top cam, an idiot-proof thing called a Flip Video, and a digital camera. The latter was the first 35 mm camera I’ve ever owned, too. (So I’m a dinosaur. That’s life near the bottom of the economic ladder. Big whoopty do).

I just started using most of the stuff in August. I’ve made a couple of videos on YouTube that are fair to middling, but there’s a long way to go yet. In another coupla weeks, I think I’ll be pretty comfortable with my camera work. But that still leaves the need for better editing software, editing practice, and learning how to capture video from TV and the internets. Not to mention sound editing.

Plus I need to find a roommate in a week or rent will fall behind, and I have just two months to get regular work before unemployment runs out. But that’s another juggle entirely.

My point is, if I knew how to handle video capturing and editing, I could have taken snippets of most of those videos below, added my live narration and put up a well-edited video or two that would only have taken 10 to 20 minutes to get all the cheesy humor across. And you could have had more than an hour of your life back for something more important. Like trolling restrooms or eating cheese puffs and Diet Rite Cola.

So, for your sake and mine, my appeal is for some help with video. I’d like to know who in the blog world - posters and readers - has a videocam. And who knows how to edit and do all that other stuff?

I don’t plan for American Street to be 24-7 video. But I’d really like some more video contributors than me. Or at least some folks to help process what I shoot.

I’ve got big plans, but I’m already missing my target date to have everything in place by Labor Day. It’d be great if I’m there 3 to 4 weeks after that.

So if you’re interested and halfway competent, please, get in touch, via comments or email. And if you have no interest in posting or helping here, but you at least have a videocam and experience using it, also let me know that. Because I’m trying to track where videocams might be available for use all across the country.

So please, speak up. The hours you save should be spent doing something far more fun than watching an incompetent post bad video slop unedited. Like making balloonimals after you snuff a clown.

Yeah, that dude to the left is what a Technosaurus Wrecks looks like.
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Senator Larry Edwin Craig’s merciless hounding by teh gays cannot continue!

Tonight, in an hour long special newscast, we’ll explore these attacks on the long-serving Senator. (You may have to adjust your volume three or four times; my apologies for that.)

He’s not the first great leader to stand up to his liberal media attackers.

He explained he had engaged the officer in a little role-playing in preparation for a campaign video being planned for the Mitt Romney campaign.

Asked what he meant by the role-play, Craig said it was based on a classic comedy routine. He intended to nudge the cop’s foot and announce: “You da (Utah) man! And I da ho!”

He claims the humor-impaired officer misconstrued his pun=packed words entirely.

As to the claim he pressured the officer to release him by announcing he was a Senator, several brothers in his Delta Chi fraternity came forth to say he was only trying to indicate he was an honorable man:

Several pointed out that Delta Chi was a law fraternity and as such, Craig was honor bound to uphold the law.

“The only way Larry would ever consider breaking any statute,” remarked frat brother Dirk ‘Dirk’ Bunnybuzzer, ” is if the law impinged on a person’s civil liberties.”

The Delta Chi Chess team concurred:

Asked if he had any further words for the arresting officer, Senator Craig issued this statement:

Let’s check in with the chair and vice-chair of the Idaho Republican Party to see if his explanation is reaching his constituents:

It looks like the Senator still has some work to do there. But one of the issues this arrest has raised in the heartland is the secretive codes used by gay men to communicate their desires to each other in public restrooms. Reports have reached our newsroom that heterosexual men all over the country are worried they may be sending signals unintentionally. Some are asking whether gays are anything like gypsies, concerned that if their boys go into restrooms alone, they could be kidnapped and forced to appear in Broadway musicals.

For more on this, we turn to an expert gay codebreaker from the University of Provincetown, Francis P. Mauve (after the fold). Francis?

Read the rest of this entry »

An intoxicated person cannot give legal consent. And though she says she gave a legal refusal, the Air Force intends to assault her again.

On top of ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ they’re enforcing a policy of ‘don’t resist don’t yell.’

If you have any doubt what’s going down in this case, ask yourself: why did the three guys get immunity? I mean, without it, who’d be at risk and why?

The greatest terror threat the country has faced since the land was ‘discovered’, continues. The class war spawns all the sub-wars still. New Orleans is just the latest case in point.

The dead Imam is still dead.

Speaking of al-Sadr and SCIRI, al-Maliki and Allawi, has anyone heard from al-Sistani lately? al-Bundy? al-Franken?

This is actually a major development at a key time in the surgy sales job of al-Petraeus on behalf of al-fred e. neuman Bush. But anyone who claims they can tell you what it means will happen in the next week, month or half-year is clearly an al-Liar.

In another 12 days, we’ll be treated to a fresh round of violence-promoting politicians pursuing their profitmaking enterprise of endless war. They’ll tell us “never forget” the dirty bastards who attacked New York and DC 6 years ago.

Of course we won’t forget. Do you need this stupid clock radio to go off every year without a snooze button? It’s selling fear, not a wake-up call. And the people doing the selling have damaged me personally, several times, unlike Al Qaida or any other terror group.

Never forget? Okay, let’s not forget:

Forged intelligence.

Intelligence conclusions changed to fit a political agenda to go to war against a country that wasn’t a threat to us.

What they did to Joe Wilson, who saved hundreds of lives in the first Gulf War, and how they ruined the career of his wife, destroying an intelligence network, too.

Torture. Murder. Rape. Including women and children.

The videos of the torture and rape that they still won’t let us see.

Violating the Geneva Conventions, putting our troops at risk of the same treatment in retaliation.

Spying on peace groups including one composed of grandmothers. Make that ILLEGAL spying.

And 6 years later, Osama and Ayman are still free, still funded, still attacking people around the world.

Never forget any of that.

Never forget how they abandoned the poor and the ill in the face of a killer hurricane. Never forget that the poor of New Orleans are still waiting for their homes two years later.

Never forget the Constitution we used to have. Never forget that a majority of Floridians elected Al Gore even after thousands were denied their legal right to vote.

And never forget the record profits of Exxon, Halliburton, Blackwater, Saudi Arabia, Cheney while all you got was $3.30 per gallon gasoline, 3,700+ dead troops, 4.2 million Iraqi refugees, more dead Iraqis than Saddam ever did in a 5 year period, and a subprime government.

Never forget Tom Delay, Duke Cunningham, Bob Ney, the whole culture of corruption the Republicans stand for and too many Democrats still shrug about.

Never forget because Alberto Gonzalez has forgotten everything for all of us.

Remember Osama didn’t do this. Muslims didn’t do this. Mexicans didn’t do this. Gay lovers didn’t get married and do this.

Osama’s still free and we’re a lot less free.

And this September 11th, you can strike back.

Never. Forget. The country you save might belong to your children.

I don’t know if any of my american friends have been made aware of some police shenanigans that some Canadian cops were recently involved in. To short a long story: a peaceful protest was infiltrated by some undercover police, who then tried to incite the peaceful protesters into a violent physical confrontation with the crowd control officers at the event. Some of the protesters smelled the rats, told them to go away, and turned them over to the on duty cops at the scene. There’s a YouTube video, and, thanks to an unrepentant old hippie, I’m able to show you this:

Like, thanks to Funny Farm Fave cathie from canada for, like, lots of bloggy goodness on this topic, eh?

No undercover police actions were harmed during the production of this blog post.

I’ve still been busy finishing up some personal projects and haven’t done much cartooning lately, but I found a little time for this one. Heading into the fall, I’ll be back to the old drawing board regularly. Meanwhile, enjoy the linkage!

Satirical Political Report

The Aristocrats with the latest in action figures. (97 days until Zappadan!)

10 Zen Monkeys, by way of Skippy

Firedoglake

Shakesville

Crooks and Liars on Ted Nugent

Zencomix

political, cartoons, political cartoons, webcomics, webcomic, Larry Craig

The number of Iraq refugees has climbed to 4.2 million. That’s about 1 out of 6 Iraqis.

We can do better than that. Let’s go for 3 out of 6. That’ll teach them why democracy’s cool.

Good for MSNBC and CNBC.

It’s great to see some voluntary Fairness Act adherence, even though Reagan took the act away.

The Oregonian:

VANCOUVER — Hundreds at a raucous and hostile town hall Monday night let U.S. Rep. Brian Baird know that they disapprove of his support for the troop surge in Iraq. Many suggested the Vancouver Democrat is not representing the will of his district.

Baird said before the meeting that he expected a negative reception. And the crowd fulfilled those expectations.

The audience often interrupted Baird as he tried to calmly explain his decision to support a beefed-up presence of U.S. troops in the war-torn country. He said the United States has a moral obligation to help Iraq rebuild itself.

“We don’t care what your convictions are,” said Jan Lustig of Vancouver. “You’re here to represent us.”

Lustig added, “You’re not representing us with this stance.”

To that, Baird quietly replied, “I understand.”

I think he understands now.

“I disagree with you so profoundly,” said David Piper of Vancouver.

The auditorium, packed with about 550 people, exploded in applause and cheers when Piper then said, “This administration takes us illegally into war. . . . Shouldn’t we be getting rid of this administration?”

Baird and Piper disagreed about whether Congress had sufficient votes to impeach Bush and how the world would perceive an impeachment.

Many people in the audience, based on interviews before the meeting and remarks during it, have voted for Baird for years. But now they are disappointed with him.

Phil Massey of Vancouver praised Baird for “all the good things you did for so many years. That being said, you’ve just broken my heart.”

Massey added, “You’ve screwed up, my friend. You have screwed up, and you have to change course.”

Baird responded, “You are a dear friend. I understand it broke your heart. It was not an easy decision for me.”

The town hall meeting was scheduled to end about 9 p.m. but kept going mostly because the audience would not let go.

Four Vancouver police officers stood in the auditorium and at least two out in the hall. Baird staff members said it was the first requested police presence at any of his town hall meetings.

Bob Goss of Vancouver left before its conclusion.

On the way out of the auditorium, he recalled campaigning in his neighborhood last November on behalf of Baird.

And next November, when Baird might seek re-election?

“I’m seriously looking for an alternative,” Goss said.

Yesterday in Eugene, Oregon, I attended another antiwar rally where 200 people showed up at the old Federal Courthouse Building. After speeches, people broke up into small groups. Each group took turns reading aloud which US troops died on what day and where they were from. They started with the war’s launch and read till they’d covered the 3,733 troops who lost their lives for a procession of lies.

They ranged from a wheelchair-bound woman in her eighties to children as young as seven. Each read solemnly. Most held burning candles as memorials.

There was no sense of frustration like previous events I’d attended there. Instead, a quiet determination existed that soon they’d succeed in shutting down the President’s war and getting the remaining troops home. These people fully understand it’s a Republican led war. Yet even here, in a very Democratic city, the talk was about how to hold Democratic feet to the fire on this overriding issue. Even war opponents like Congressman Peter DeFazio are hearing that the funding has to stop, now, and no more rationales will be acceptable.

At the rally, several spoke of the possibility that even the liberal DeFazio would have to go if he approved another war funding bill. That’s akin to Massachusetts residents talking about dumping Teddy Kennedy.

I sense a corner’s been turned in the populace. Party loyalties are being stripped away because people are sick of the killing. The oldest and the youngest know. If elected officials don’t get it, they’re going to see these crowds grow from now till Election Day 2008. And then they’ll get their walking papers.

Many think Bush intends to launch a war with Iran. If he does, it will provoke massive demonstrations across the country. I can sense it even in conversations with people who’ve never joined a previous protest in their lives.

Update: General JC Christian adds a letter to Representative Baird.

[A Day Late And A Dollar Short post from the Funny Farm]

[Emphasis of all kinds and / or off color commentary courtesy of the Funny Farm Editorial Staff]

President Bush Stamps His Feet And Gets All Pouty-Faced While He Discusses Resignation of Latest White House Toady To Get Caught Abu Gonzales
TSTC Airport, the Western White House Mobile Press Ops, Waco, Texas
For Immediate Release and subsequent exposure and ridicule by Your Humble Narrator 2 Falltring 2007 - loosely based on the original from the Office of the Press Secretary August 27, 2007

10:50 A.M. CrawfordDesperationTime

The Lame Duck Chickenhawk Drunken Deserter During Wartime pResident: In a telephone call to me last Friday afternoon This morning, lying weasel Abu Gonzales announced that he can no longer lie to Congress with a straight face, and so will leave the Department of inJustice, after two and a half years of obfuscating the high crimes and misdemeanors of the current junta service to the Republican’t Party department. Al Gonzales is a man of integrity (cough), decency (cough) (cough) and the principle of using federal government resources for partisan Republican’t political purposes. And I have reluctantly accepted that I’m not gonna get away with this one any more, so I am forced to accept his resignation, with great appreciation for the service that he has provided for the BFEE our country.

Read the rest of this entry »

Update: Josh Marshall adds a persuasive point: Craig’s choice is understandable as a desperation move.

Which failed.

Accountability depends on Idaho’s voters.

Raw Story, citing a foreign policy report from an outside source, suggests an attack on Iran remains on the table

It doesn’t surprise me that the report begins with the point that “Any attack is likely to be on a massive multi-front scale but avoiding a ground invasion”. I’ve indicated before that the CIA factbook lists Iran’s potential army to be the largest in the world - exceeding even China’s - so a ground invasion would be disastrous. I’d also concur that:

However, it is the option that contains the greatest risk of increased global tension and hatred of the United States. The US would have few, if any allies for such a mission beyond Israel (and possibly the UK). Once undertaken, the imperatives for success would be enormous.

But based on this administration’s record, the ‘odds’ of success do not match the ‘imperative’. Further, I don’t buy the rationale that Iran’s government requires such a drastic aggressive strike for what amounts to a lot of standard hot-air hyperbole and a future threat that displays nothing imminent deserving of any defensive concern today.

So there’s no ethical case for the attack, there’s enormous economic risks, there’s a chance for our nation to become the globe’s pariah and there’s more than three stooges in charge of planning, full of plenty of eye-doinking and hard-boinking ideas.

That’s cause for worry. Israel and Saudi Arabia and us against the world. (And when I say ‘us’, I’m thking of the old Tonto punchline “what do you mean ‘we’, kemosabe?”) There’s an awful lot of ‘wes’ that would risk the gulag to protest such a tyrannical endeavor.

I hope this is just more sabre-rattling, though the only real impact of such rattles is to secure more profits for Exxon-CheneyCronies during their slide from power. Further, it provides distraction that would allow them to wreak havoc elsewhere, foreign and domestic, with limited scrutiny.

Based on the Bush track record of hidden mischief and profiteering, that’s an even greater concern. There’s plenty of Treasury left for the Bush pirates to plunder. They could only attack Iran if the worst case theorists prove right and they intend to overthrow our democratic government completely. And why would they risk the resistance to that when they’re engaged in such a lucrative war spoils racket already?

David Kurtz at TPM covers the Craig story with reasons akin to mine, in my earlier post. But as I said, there still remains the question of his judgment in pleading guilty after two months to ponder the original arrest.

He’s suggesting he made a bad decision by skipping legal counsel. You tell me: do you think a veteran Senator would skip legal counsel, staff counsel and the personal counsel of friends and family after such an arrest? Would you? If you were close to him, as staff, friends or family, would you advise him to cop a plea?

He’s either followed bad advice or sought no advice and made a choice that’s questionable in the end. It’s that - his choices about how to deal with the arrest - that I’m calling into question. There’s nothing impeachable in it, nothing that provokes a demand for immediate resignation. But should he choose to run for re-election, voters really should ask themselves if a veteran legislator should be acting as clueless as a naive teenager arrested without any knowledge of legal recourses.

His judgment in defending himself was deficient. How will he defend his constituents or the Constitution? Also without consulting experts?

The Idaho Statesman reviews the results of its long investigation of Larry Craig and comes to the conclusion that no proof exists that he’s gay. That same conclusion also indicates proof he’s NOT gay is lacking, as well. So which is he?

Craig on Monday denied any misconduct. “At the time of this incident, I complained to the police that they were misconstruing my actions,” he said in a written statement. “I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct. I should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter. In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously.”

Craig, through his staff, declined to answer questions.

As the Statesman relates, Craig said his pre-emptive denials as a freshman in Congress - in 1982 - were based on rookie nervousness. Let’s assume that’s true. 25 years later, charged with a crime, he pleads guilty to a lesser charge. Then says “I should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter. In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously.”

Is it reasonable to expect the nervous rookie would have better judgment after 25 years in Congress? I mean, even if he isn’t gay, shouldn’t voters wonder why he used bad judgment 3 weeks ago and pleaded guilty to something he felt he was innocent of? After all the questions he’s endured through the years, one would think he’d never cop a plea without attorney or staff counsel.

I mean, Jiminy God!

It all sounds fishy, but one thing’s evident: his judgment in this matter deserves criticism. Any US Senator should know to seek counsel in the two months between arrest and his/her day in court. Now he’s stuck with one more judgment call and if he makes it correctly, he should not run for re-election.

I don’t think hypocrisy or his actions in Minneapolis provide a sufficient case to demand his resignation. But I’m not an Idaho voter. He should simply announce his retirement will take place at the end of this term.