Bush defies generals on torture ban

President Bush likes to say that he sides with the nation's military brass in the face of criticism from those lily-livered Democrats in Congress.

The truth, of course, is something else.

The House has passed a measure banning the torture of terrorism suspects by CIA interrogators. It mirrors a ban already in effect in the U.S. Army. Bush is vowing to veto the measure if it's approved by the Senate.

Ah, but what have we here? Why, it's a letter from no less than 30 retired generals and admirals urging congressional Democrats to hang tough on the torture ban in the face of the president's opposition.

So much for Bush's fealty to the brass.

Right-wing scribe fears GOP "Huckacide"

Rich Lowry, editor of the conservative magazine National Review, sees a disaster for the Republicans if the party nominates Mike Huckabee for president.

Of course, there'd also be a disaster for the GOP if the nod goes to Rudy Giuliani, who would drive away evangelicals by the droves.

These are not happy times for Republicans.

"Nah! That's a bunch of hooey!"

Pope Benedict XVI, famous the world over for his infallibility, has declared that concerns over global warming amount to undue alarmism.

Apparently, the pontiff's underlying point is that Earth never will become hotter than hell.

UPDATE: Hold on! This guy says the pope's position on global warming has been misrepresented. If so, The Rascal begs Benedict's forgiveness.

Your so-called liberal media are at again

The Washington Post, a once-respectable newspaper, is out with another long article about nothing. This time, it's Mitt Romney's hair.

O'Donnell disses Mormonism -- big time

Political pundit Lawrence O'Donnell went ballistic on "The McLaughlin Group" last weekend in a discussion of Mitt Romney's speech on religion:

This is funny

This ad was not approved by Mike Huckabee:

Huckabee: Wives should submit to husbands

Yeah, this should win Mike Huckabee a lot of votes among women (at least the kind who let men tell them that the Bible mandates sexism).

Huckabee would love this video.

Onward Christian soldiers

Atrios reports that defense forces in the War on Christmas have struck a mighty blow against the enemy.

The folks at Fox News must be very proud.

Keeping up can bring you down

There's lots of information available to us in this marvelous age of ubiquitous media, but too much of it is depressing information.

Courtney E. Martin assesses the situation and tries to remain hopeful.

Drudge says Dems rooting for Huckabee

The theory is that the religious extremist from Arkansas would be, by far, the easiest Republican to beat in next year's presidential election.

The Rascal has long figured that Rudy Giuliani would be the most likely pushover. But, upon reflection and in light of recent events, I'm beginning to see the logic of hoping that Huckabee gets the GOP nod.

Actually, I don't see any of the Republican candidates as tough to beat.

Romney? Flip-flopper whose Mormonism would drive away lots of evangelicals. Thompson? Boring and out of his league. McCain? Craven geriatric whose straight-talk pretensions have long since worn thin; besides, the GOP right-wing base doesn't trust him. Tancredo? Paul? Hunter? Get serious.

Remember the "Daisy Girl" spot?

Perhaps the most famous presidential campaign commercial in history was the one for Lyndon Johnson in 1964 in which the not-so-subtle message was that Republican challenger Barry Goldwater might start a nuclear war.

The "Daisy Girl" ad, as it was known, aired only once -- on NBC, during the movie "David and Bathsheba" on Sept. 7 of that year. But countless millions of Americans have seen it in documentaries and news reports over the past 43 years.

Rudy should note that FDR did it, too

If Rudy Giuliani becomes president (heaven forbid), he won't be the first occupant of the office to have been married to his cousin.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's wife also was his cousin. In fact, Eleanor's maiden name was Roosevelt.

Here's the skinny on seven famous folks who married their cousins, including FDR and Rudy.

Let's ask GOP pols about birth control

The question of where they stand on the issue of contraception is the one most Republican candidates don't want to hear.

Their answers run the risk of alienating either conservative religionists or the vast majority of the American people.

Reefer makes you giggle and laugh a lot

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that Rudy Giuliani smokes dope on Sunday mornings, but he was pretty giggly yesterday when he appeared on "Meet the Press."



UPDATE: There's more about Rudy's giggling here.

Today is Jane Addams Day

Today is the first annual observance of Jane Addams Day in her native Illinois. It was 76 years ago today that Addams, the famed social reformer, became the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Addams, who has long been one of The Rascal's favorite historical personages, was born in 1860 in Cedarville, a few miles north of my own native Freeport. She attended what later became Rockford College (and earned the school's first academic degree), founded Hull House, the famed social settlement in Chicago, and forged a career in social reform that is unparalleled in our nation's history.

She is widely recognized as the godmother of modern social work, was instrumental in the establishment of juvenile courts, child-labor laws, public health reforms, the 8-hour workday and countless other advances. She also was a founding member of both the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, among other organizations.

In 1998, Life magazine empaneled a group of historians to rank the 100 most influential people in the world over the past 1,000 years. Addams was ranked 66th, higher than any other American woman.

Jane Addams died in 1935 at the age of 74 and is buried in a family plot in Cedarville.

Big Al receives some kind of award or something

Global-warming deniers should not watch this video. They'll only become confused by the big words and the references to actual science:

Flat-earther fired for being flat-earther

Oh, the injustice of it all.

A creationist dude has been shitcanned from a research lab because he doesn't believe in evolution.

The guy has filed a lawsuit seeking $500,000 for the trampling of his civil rights.

Your so-called liberal media

Some pinhead at The Washington Post has written a long article about the fact that Hillary Clinton often wears pantsuits.

This is the same Washington Post that spreads baseless rumors about Barack Obama and offers the senile scrawlings of David Broder.

I remember when the Post was a great newspaper.

WatchforRudytorunhiswordstogether

I've never noticed this, but Oliver Willis has.

Don Manzullo voted for this crap

The Rascal's representative in Congress, Republican Don Manzullo, joined with most of his colleagues from both parties the other day in approving legislation that could expose WiFi service providers to unnecessary liabilities.

Oh, but this measure protects children. That's what the pols will tell you.

There's more on the bill here.