Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty defended the fact that counter-terrorism programs have effectively set up a dragnet in which over half of those arrested have no connection whatsoever to terrorism by saying that:

The enforcement of immigration laws, identity theft, identity related laws, financial support, security access - enforcement of crimes associated with those issues is important even if there isn't information specifically tying a particular subject to a national security threat. Why? Because those systems are so vital to us in securing our country, and it's the exploitation of those systems that we have seen as a method of operation for terrorism.  So we do put some emphasis on making sure that - and I would say renewed emphasis or special emphasis in recent years in going after things like document fraud crime.

Video here.  So basically, anybody that poses a threat to the System, whatever that means, is fair game under the terrorism laws.  Anybody who voted for Bush in 2004 asked for a police state and that's exactly what they got.  Any they're dragging the rest of us along for the ride.

The New York Times broke the story today:

A military investigation into the deaths of two dozen Iraqis last November is expected to find that a small number of marines in western Iraq carried out extensive, unprovoked killings of civilians, Congressional, military and Pentagon officials said Thursday.

SNIP

Evidence indicates that the civilians were killed during a sustained sweep by a small group of marines that lasted three to five hours and included shootings of five men standing near a taxi at a checkpoint, and killings inside at least two homes that included women and children, officials said. That evidence, described by Congressional, Pentagon and military officials briefed on the inquiry, suggested to one Congressional official that the killings were "methodical in nature."

One senior Defense Department official who has been briefed on the initial findings, when asked how many of the 24 dead Iraqis were killed by the improvised bomb as initially reported, paused and said, "Zero."

Of course, when this is all over, the Bushies will blame it on a handful of "rogue" marines, who will then likely face murder charges resulting in a slap on the wrist compared to a similar civilian atrocity. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for them facing responsibility for what they've done. But the real menace is the incompetent administration that sent these guys on multiple tours, pumping them full of lying proaganda, and then put them in such an untenable situation that they went literally crazy. Then they covered up the event, and when they got caught, lied about it and claimed they were killed by an IED. Wankers.

All part of the free-for-all of a sinking administration.

If the Democrats are baby killers, then the repulikkans are women killers . Honestly, I don't even understand what the point of having regulatory oversight bodies like the FDA is if decisions are made with the political winds and absent sound scientific reasoning. If left unchecked, the radical right in this country are not so unlike the Taliban or any other radically theocratic state.

The irony is that Plan B effectively reduces the number of abortions. But that was never really the point. The real purpose is to punish women (working-class women specifically) for having sex. This is the difference between the left's social consciousness and the right's sense of retribution. God help us.

In light of today's revelation of McCain's solution to all the world's problems, I present the following:

My Escape  - A Short Story by John McCain

Captain John McCain lays sweating and panting in a Vietnamese bamboo prison. A savage looking man in military fatigues has his testicles and nipples hooked up to a car battery. The acrid smell of burnt flesh lingers in the stale air. "So Yank," he says, "are you ready to sing?"

Wracked with pain and tears streaming down his face, McCain watches in horror as his captor moves once again to connect the battery circuit. But as he braces for another shock, a smile suddenly spreads across his lips because, finally, he knows exactly how to escape. With a determined scowl, he quickly springs into action and bellows to the heavens, "STOP. THE. BULLSHIT!"

The VC, a cigarette dangling from his lip suddenly pauses.  "I, uh," he stammers.  "Oh my god, what am I doing?"  His eyes soften as a single tear rolls down his cheek and onto the jungle floor. Without another word, he unclips the victorious Captain and releases him from his restraints. As McCain stands, the VC immediately drops to his knees, his head prostrate in a solemn bow. "Please," he whispers between sobs, "please forgive me."

McCain slowly, grudgingly uncurls his fist and lays a gentle hand upon the VC's shoulder. Though no word was spoken, his warm touch let the man know that all was forgiven. Breathless, the two grasp one another in a long embrace, as though they had been brothers all their lives.

After what seemed like an eternity of tears, the two walked hand in hand to the Ho Chi Minh's quarters.  "Hey Ho Chi," said the two. "It's all over now." The embittered leader looked from one to the other in shock, then dismay, and finally acceptance.

"Gentleman," he said.  Come with me, I have something to show you."  Ho Chi Minh opened a flap in the back of his tent to reveal a cotton candy machine.  "It's my own special recipe!"

The three lay back as they stuffed their pink mouths with all the sweet candy goodness they could stand.  "Wow," said McCain.  "I feel like I might burst!"

Ho Chi Minh smiled.  "Well, you better get a grip, because I have ponies! And after that we can ride the Ferris wheel. And after that, I have a big balloon that we can fly all the way to the moon! And after that..."

McCain's tittering giggles cut him off.  "It's finally happened," he cried. "God bless us, good sirs. God bless us every one!"

The End

"Frist smiled and spoke unremarkably from the lectern, reeking of silverback testosterone."

Go read the rest of the lovefest .

Maybe Cheney can finally get rid of the hump on George’s back?

This is hysterical. Apparently, Pat Robertson is claiming that, thanks to his age-defying health drinks, he can leg press over 2,000 pounds. He's not being figurative, as in, "I can leg press a ton" but literally says he can press 2,000 pounds.

Clay Travis notes: "That would mean a 76-year-old man broke the all-time Florida State University leg press record by 665 pounds over Dan Kendra. 665 pounds. Further, when he set the record, they had to modify the leg press machine to fit 1,335 pounds of weight. Plus, Kendra's capillaries in his eyes burst. Burst."

Whereas Bob Harris muses, "I'd really, really like to see Pat Robertson strapped to a table somewhere, with 2000 pounds being slowly lowered down on top of him. This would be Pat's big chance to show us just how fantastic his drink-powered leg presses really are."

Maybe God gave him the strength?