Virtue Hidden, Jambalaya Cooked

The "Cooch", America's attorney-general, covered the breast of Roman Goddess Virtue on the seal of the state of Virginia. He must admire John Ashcroft who covered the breasts of Justice at DOJ. The "Cooch" also changed the requirements for the state chaplains, who for over a decade had to give non-denominational prayers. Now ministers can pray at state functions in the "name of Jesus Christ", the only one singled out in the bill.

The Saturday "Pray for Forgiveness because we elected evil leaders" rally was sort of a dud. Only 300 turned out in D.C. But they did gain a new sponsor "Americans Telling The Truth about Homosexuality". I think they can apply for a USAID grant in Uganda.

Richard Trumpka's rally against the bankers on Wall Street drew 10,000 but received no media coverge. Pro-immigration reform rallies around the country out-drew the teabaggers on their best days. 40,000 marched in Los Angeles, another 20,000 in Dallas and in over 70 cities Latinos drew crowds. Rep. Luis Guiterrez chained himself to the White House gates. The next day Lt. Dan Choi for a repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rally.

Cheerleader in Chief gave a rousing defense of American democracy and the role of government at the University of Michigan commencement ceremonies before 92,000. Several thousand were denied admission. Elsewhere in the state Sarah Palin spoke to "real Americans" about 3,000 and addressed evangelicals with a slide show about why climate change science is a hoax.

That night after his Michigan speech President Obama did stand-up comedy at the White House correspondents' dinner. He beat Jay Leno. Then in the morning, he flew to New Orleans to get briefed on the BP oil disaster. My kingdom for a shut-off valve. A whole environmental disaster, which could have been avoided if the $500,000 valve had been installed. The oil spill--now larger than the area of Jamaica--is a prime example of de-regulation in action. Two years before the oil well was drilled,the Department of Interior under President Bush loosened the regulations on safety measures to be taken on offshore rigs. Secretary of Interior Salazar claims it might take 90 days before the oil leak is plugged. From an early estimate of 5,000 barrels a day, now some believe it may reach 100,000, making it the worst oil leak disaster in history.

Since Friday, Drudge has been peddling the National Enquirer story about Obama having an affair with the fund-raiser on his 2004 Senate race. An attractive woman, it certainly looked plausible. The National Enquirer is coming off their John Edwards coup so they had credibility where they once lacked it. But, alas, the story was shredded within hours. Even the Enquirer backed off their claim that a video existed of the couple being in a hotel together. It seems anti-Obama people are offering $1 million for such a tape and the limo driver mentioned in the story was discredited during the 2008 campaign when Obama's opponents investigated the same humor. I guess no nooners for the Pres.

A pipe bomb was detected near the finish line of the Pittsburgh marathon. A car with bomb explosives was found in Times Square. The Taliban claimed credit but NYPD nixed this. The culprit appears to have been a white male in his mid-40s from Conneticut. Some say he looks like Glenn Beck, who may or may not have killed a girl in 1999. Pass it on.

Mr. Kadr, the Canadian citizen being tried before a military commission at Gitmo, wasn't in his initial hearing because he refused to wear blindfolds and ear muffs so he could not detect where he was. The U.S. claimed he had a dental infection and a cold. Captured when he was a kid during our invasion of Afghanistan, he has been offered by both the Bush and Obama Administrations to the Harper government, who refused him. His is the first case for the newly re-established military commissions. He has been offered a plea bargain deal of six years in prison. But, alas, the Special Forces officer who originally captured him admitted on the stand that he re-wrote his battleground account to make Mr. Kadr look like he was involved in the action. He said he was merely correcting the history now and that he did not deliberately implicate Kadr for the purpose of prosecution. His family and attorneys charge he has been tortured repeatedly over the years. Just cut him loose. Scott Horton in Harpers has another excellent takedown of torture apologists and he guts Marc Thiessen on this subject.

In a subsequent post, I'll catch up on the whole torture debates as the Spanish courts go forward and the testimony in Britain reveals more unpleasant findings about our past conduct.

A few days ago, Paul Krugman wrote an excellent op-ed in the New York Times on why the Euro really isn't viable and why Euro-skeptics were right about how individual countries didn't have control over their own situations. Evidence--the Greek bailout and the draconian measures being taken for the IMF funds, the same with Portugal, Spain and Italy. We have to watch out--this is the laboratory test for the US and the deficit hawks.

Alan Simpson, the lead Republican, on President Obama's Deficit Commission, said the group was on a suicide mission when they finally make their recommendations. As we've written, so far the military budget is not on the table. Also, I expect there will be an attempt to finagle the figures of Social Security, which really does not get into trouble until about 2037. The dirty secret is that China doesn't own the most of US debt, it's social security--about $2.2 trillion worth--a number I am sure the Commission wants to make disappear. A rant on The Democratic Underground captured easily the solution to Social Security--don't cap the salary level for the tax. End of story. Problem solved.

The Florida GOP is "outing" Charlie Crist on ebay by offering paintings from past leaders, who can be identified with and then they add a list of gay politicians. Stay classy.

Some great primary ads. Kudos to the Democrats for their new ads against Diaper Dave Vitter in Louisiana. "Lawmaker: Lawbreaker", which pretends to be part of a TV series "Forgotten Crimes". The ad replays the Washington Madam scandal, with a voice over from the news interviews with the Madam, and the New Orleans madam. They promise sequels. I hope they get the New Orleans Madam on tape, she's the best. "But, my gosh, he just had the most beautiful taste in lingerie of anyone I've ever known." In a nice Southern drawl.

In California, Republicans are going at each other. The rival to Meg Whitman has launched two great ads linking her to Goldman Sachs where she once was on the board. One excellent ad is "Vulture Funds", which makes the direct link between foreclosures in California and Meg Whitman owning derivatives based on these mortgages. I really want the issue of off-shore accounts to be raised.

I saw a speech of Jerry Brown's the other night. He looks and sounds dead.

In Nevada, they shot the chicken lady last night and burned her house down, too. No,cut, that's a Springsteen parody. But chicken lady Sue Lowden has drop so that Hapless Harry Reid is only 3pts back, when he was given up for dead. His son Rory looks like a lock on the Governor's seat.

The "Tan Man"Boehner says that 100 House seats are in play now. By my calculations, that means $500 million, which I know the GOP does not have.

I am going to submerge myself in work for the next ten days so posts will be less frequent. Hopefully, there might be some calm restored in our great land. But I suspect not. We'll have the teaparty outrage over Wall Street reform and the next nominee to the Supreme Court will be announced. Republicans have already announced they're going after the unknown nominee on the subject of abortion--which last I looked was constitutionally protected. I'll be interested to see whether the House law to reign in the Citizens United ruling takes off.