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CRAIG INDUCED NAUSEA 2007-08-30 04:12:00
That oh-so-firm grip the religious rightwing has held on America for a number of years now has really started to loosen. No, actually, it's crumbling quickly. So fast it should make your head spin in a 360-degree counter-clockwise loop. Ah, yes, the Thousand Year Rovian Reich lasted but 8 years, and now it's a bad memory, a lesson learned to be taught to children everywhere and for latenight jokesters to use as fodder for stand-up comedy for years to come.
If you also last night has the opportunity to watch a little bit of MSNBC's "Hardball" you were probably reminded just what a weiner Chris Matthews is (he had to tell uber fool Gary Bauer that he, Matthews, 'believed' in the religious right as a group of true believers, not just people trying to make money...wasn't he sitting across from GARY BAUER who makes a pretty decent living stirring up the rubes?) when he talked about the Larry Craig story ("I'm not gay!")
Let's run through this now, a reality check for everyone
COUGHLIN REDUX 2007-08-28 12:18:00
Some Tom Coughlin news today that made us happy. Seems like not everyone thought giving Coughlin detention on his own ranch was the right thing to do. From "The Morning News"
An appeals court ruled today that former Wal-Mart executive Tom Coughlin's sentence of probation and house arrest following a fraud conviction was too light and ordered a lower court to resentence him.
The Arkansas Times says there's a good chance Coughlin will do jail time. The video? In honor of the story, our old friend Henry Rollins visits Wal-Mart in his animated form. Enjoy.
PENT UP RAGE... 2007-09-18 02:51:00
Been a couple of days since we last posted. In that short time, a lot has happened. The Bush-panzee (like the pic? courtesy of this site) has nominated a new AG, someone that everyone seems to like, except the wingnuts. Again, said primate-in-chief has managed to try to hoodwink the world screaming "Anbar! Anbar!" and addressing the nation in primetime. We still can't make heads nor tails of the little speech. So, did the surge work or not? He seemed to think it had by the very fact it failed.
Also, what has become of Thefiveforty.com? We went there and all we saw was some sort of placeholder page? That's one of our regular daily reads, and it po's us to know end that Greg has given up the ship. Who are we supposed to read now? The "Family Coalition" disappeared, Matt hasn't posted in forever and a day, and Warwick long ago gave up his job at the AT. Only Max posts now. Wherefore art thou Arkan-blogopshere-sas?
OK, to the business at hand...we firmly believe that Paul
ROBERT GREENWALD ATTACKS! 2007-09-07 04:09:00 One can sure smell the blood of the candidates on the wind. Filmmaker Robert Greenwald (Wal-Mart, Fox News Uncovered and other films...also once a guest on the old Arkansas Tonight program) has decided to go after Rudy G. of NYC. He's making a series of films about Rudy and putting them online. Interesting as always, and we've included the latest installment above. Here's some of the news release...
LOS ANGELES - Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films launched "The REAL Rudy Command Center" today, a short investigative report on Presidential Candidate Rudy Giuliani's decision to place New York City's Emergency Command Center in the World Trade Center, a site known to be the Nation's number one terror target. The video, the first in a YouTube series on-line at TheREALRudy.org, lays out how Rudy went against the recommendations of experts making a decision that cost precious lives.
Giuliani is often seen as running on his 9/11 record and "The REAL Rudy Command Center" calls in
CANDIDATE JERKABEE 2007-09-07 03:44:00
To wit, a review of the Fox Republican Debate, with name calling thrown in
We couldn’t watch anything else a couple of nights ago.
We had only one real choice to make. Should we, or should we not watch the Republican candidates debate on Fox? We wandered into it, and stayed to watch like a person mesmerized by a car wreck (which is what the debates have become.)
It was truly “theatre of the absurd.”
First of all, after almost 8 years of the Bush administration, a majority of Americans have told pollsters they want a change in Washington. If you believe any of those polls, you’ll see that a Republican has very little chance of winning, and listening to these guys (no women required here) is like listening to a group of people who all claim they’re Napoleon.
The party faithful don’t even know who they want, and haven’t shown any real support for any of the current candidates.
Fred Thompson made his underwhelming entry into the competition the same night…and promptly
MOST DISGUSTING VIDEO 2007-09-26 15:06:00 WARNING - This is a pretty nasty video, don't sit around eating anything when you watch.OK, so why this video? This site has always enjoyed good video, being something started by a television guy. We've posted some pretty nasty tape in our time, from beheadings to other unfortunate things, but this may take the cake.The woman is a Swedish game show host, who claims menstrual pain made her puke live, on-air. We've never seen anything like this before, so thought it was worth putting here. We understand she was applauded for showing grace under pressure and finishing her show. The station even gave her a bouquet of flowers.A truly "memorable moment" for any television personality!
SEMI-DAILY "WALLY WATCH" 2007-09-26 03:27:00
In the interest of keeping tabs on our friends in Bentonville, we've decided to start keeping a little tally of what they're up to each day. Some days you don't hear much, other days you can't seem to keep away from word of what the Wal-Martians are doing to America, besides those low, low prices...always!
WALLY SUED IN MINNESOTA
Seems $7.25 an hour for a single mother, and no breaktime, including trips to answer the call of nature, have landed Wally in the hot seat in court in the Great White North. This case includes tapes...""We know we do some things we probably shouldn't do . . ." a human resources vice president can be heard saying on one of the tapes." read more.
WALLY SAYS "DON'T CALL US..."
The online big-box doesn't believe in customer service, so that little phone number for you to call if you suffer the screw-job while buying online will go away. They call it something like "customer contact reduction"...you can call it your own "Wal-Mart spending reduction."
MORE HUCK HILARITY 2007-09-26 02:09:00 In case you didn't catch this, The Daily Show takes a few "pot shots" at The Rev. Gov. on the issue of gun control and hunting.
Seems ol' Mike takes his hunting seriously...maybe too seriously.
And yes, is heaven for us hell for ducks?
Mr. Stewart seems to think Huck is close to entering the "first tier" of Republican presidential candidates, but we're not sure why. He still doesn't have any money, and he hasn't lit the party afire with his lame rhetoric. However, it is fun watching the guy run. We always wonder what the hell he'll think of saying next.Ah, spokesperson Alice Stewart must make a lot of money to keep an eye on this guy.
ARKANSAS TONIGHT ON YOUR CELL PHONE 2007-09-24 18:38:00 OK, click on this nifty button to get our blog delivered (or accessible) from your cell phone! We are in the process of ramping this thing up, including a redesign of the website (something we've tried several times, but will now be able to manage because of new software)...stick it to the man, get AT on your cell phone. You'll also notice the button on the side column as well.
COMMENT FREEDOM DAY! 2007-09-24 14:10:00 Saw this on the Arkansas TV blog...we thought it was great. Seems you can anonymously post nasty stuff without putting we, the publishers, in danger of a frivolous suit...
Bloggers cannot be hit with libel suits on the basis of anonymous postings on their Web sites because federal law grants them immunity by explicitly stating that they cannot be treated as the "publisher" of such comments, a federal judge has ruled.
In his 22-page opinion in DiMeo v. Max, U.S. District Judge Stewart Dalzell held that the pre-emption clause of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act -- a provision that remains intact despite court rulings that struck down some of its key provisions -- effectively "overrides the traditional treatment of publishers under statutory and common law."
Comment away, my friends!
WHY DOES HUCK HATE AMERICA? 2007-09-24 13:59:00
An interesting tidbit from the religious debate that happened in Florida a few days back. Huckster joined this one, though the front runners did not. You'd think a guy who's had problems with things like his "banana republic" comment might watch where he goes...this was a little dittie you can watch above. Here are the lyrics and some commentary, courtesy of Digby.
Why should God bless America?
She’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back
On everything that made her what she is
Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sin and heal our land
The courts ruled prayer out of our schools
In June of ‘62
Told the children “you are your own God now
So you can make the rules”
O say can you see what that choice
Has cost us to this day
America, one nation under God, has gone astray
Why should God bless America?
Shes’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back on everything
That made her what she
BILLY VEGAS AND THE TRUTH 2007-09-24 02:52:00
We couldn't be more proud of this video. This was put together by Billy Vegas, who is a long-time friend of this blog and is a friend that goes back years before this blog.
We think he did a great job of using video to repeat what will be some of the most important accusations and unanswered questions of the past eight years. We know the answers really, we just don't know why everyone wants to pretend none of this happened. Like Billy points out in this, the problem is truth. That's what journalism is about, that's what most of your churches teach you about, that's what we lecture and hector our children about, that's what everyone swears to do when taking an oath, making a promise, saying a vow. You know how important it is, so why do we just go on our merry freakin' way when the things in this video have yet to be explained, paid for and 'fessed up to?
If being "patriotic" means ignoring all this (and it actually means the opposite) you need to think twice about whom yo
REASON FOR FORTINO SENTENCE 2007-10-03 16:27:00
Some of you thought Michael Fortino got off light, after his conviction on child porn charges. We did find a reason for the sentence, and you can read more about it here...
Prosecutors recommended leniency for Fortino because he’d testified against a former California judge convicted in 2005 of possessing child pornography, assistant U. S. attorney Kyra Jenner said Wednesday.
Fortino had testified against Ronald C. Kline, a former superior court judge, who was sentenced in February to 27 months in prison in U. S. District Court in central California.
Jenner said Kline “made admissions” to Fortino while the two men were in a treatment center after Kline pleaded guilty in 2005.
Justice or not? Your call.
IS WAL-MART "WAL-SHED UP"? 2007-10-03 10:41:00
Seems like the blogs are buzzing today with word that Wal-Mart's attempt at world domination has ended because of changing business paradigms.And the story comes from no less than the Wall Street Journal. Oops!
First, the "blogging stocks" take on the story...
The Wall Street Journal ran the piece on its front page. "Wal-Mart Era Wanes Amid Big Shifts In Retail."
But, it is old news. The company is too down-market. It is not politically correct. The internet is taking customers. Many consumers want quality over price. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) does not offer enough personal service to customers.
The Journal sums it up this way: "For 10 years through 2005, Wal-Mart's sales gains at stores open at least a year averaged 5.2%. So far this year, its comparable-store sales, a measure of market share, is up just 1.3%. The pricing gap between Wal-Mart and rivals has narrowed, and more customers are now choosing convenience over wading through a supercenter."
Sharp observation from Douglas
WANT "MORE"-TINO? 2007-10-03 10:27:00
We've had such a large response to the Fortino story (a story we broke back in 2005) that we decided to provide you with links to our scant archive on the story.
And, we also decided to provide you once again with the before-and-after shots that were so interesting to a lot of people back in 2005.
Keep us updated on the response in PA and among those who worked with this man. Let the public flogging continue!
THE LINKS...
Fortino Update
Will he do time?
Another Fortino Update
Looks like trouble
More...
FORTINO SENTENCED - BEHIND BARS 2007-10-02 19:36:00
For those of you who've been following this, motivational speaker Michael Fortino got his just dues today in court. He'll go to prison for a number of years. The mugshot is in Arkansas, from this afternoon.
Here's copy on the story, courtesy Ron Wood of the Morning News...
FAYETTEVILLE -- A Pennsylvania motivational speaker accused of having child pornography on his laptop computer was sentenced Tuesday to more than 11 years in federal prison.
Michael Fortino, 46, was arrested by Fayetteville police Nov. 30, 2005, after sexually explicit pictures were found on a computer he'd dropped off for repair at a local electronics store.
Police seized the computer and said they found more than 1,000 pictures involving children.
Fortino of Pittsburgh waived grand jury indictment and entered a plea deal with the U.S. Attorney's Office. He pleaded guilty in February to knowingly transporting computer pictures of an underage girl engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Fortino had travel
TURNABOUT IS FAIR PLAY... 2007-10-02 02:15:00
We really like this one, a quick clip on Olbermann's Countdown...an interview with someone who must be one of Rush's "phony soldiers" because he doesn't support the war...a retired general, with a long pedigree of achievements of which to be proud.
So, the big fight started in the Senate. After the morons on the hill (that includes Senator Blanche Lincoln (D) Arkansas who voted to condemn the Moveon.org ad you see here, the 'Betray Us' ad, along with Rep. Johnny B of NWA) chickened up and condemned the ad as "upatriotic", and John McCain said Moveon should be run out of the country...we'll see how many people squeal now Limbaugh's remarks have generated a similar response. (read the post below about so-called phony soldiers.)
Here's what Tom Harkin had to say...
HARKIN: I’ll just close, Mr. President, by noting that in August, seven soldiers published an op-ed in the New York Times criticizing the current strategy in Iraq. Tragically, two of those soldiers were subsequentl
LIMBAUGH HATES THE TROOPS 2007-09-30 05:13:00
Rush Limbaugh again proves himself unworthy of sharing America with others. You don't want this guy polluting your radio airwaves. From Media Matters...
During the September 26 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh called service members who advocate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq "phony soldiers." He made the comment while discussing with a caller a conversation he had with a previous caller, "Mike from Chicago," who said he "used to be military," and "believe[s] that we should pull out of Iraq." Limbaugh told the second caller, whom he identified as "Mike, this one from Olympia, Washington," that "[t]here's a lot" that people who favor U.S. withdrawal "don't understand" and that when asked why the United States should pull out, their only answer is, " 'Well, we just gotta bring the troops home.' ... 'Save the -- keeps the troops safe' or whatever," adding, "[I]t's not possible, intellectually, to follow these people." "Mike" from Olympia replied, "No
NO MUSLIMS (OR HONESTY) FOR MCCAIN 2007-09-30 04:31:00 America's very own Hez'b'allah (party of God, otherwise known as the GOP) continues on toward its imminent self-destruction with mind-numbing speed and power.
First, what the hell has the annointed-one, Mr. Fred Thompson, done since getting in? All the Reagan fans can go home now, the game is over for them. That means a large number of our local young GOPers who seemed to think Fred was Ronnie Raygun's second coming. Your poll numbers paint a different picture, putting Fred down near the Kucinich position in his party primary race.
Secondly, Newt has decided he doesn't really want to jump into that boiling pot with Hillary after all. You'll recall Newtie decided to ask his "supporters" to toss $30 million his way as their way of calling him to service. Now, Newtie says he can't run his non-profit organization and an exploratory committee at the same time. Phew! That's a relief for us, a let down for bus and airline companies everywhere expected to sell a large number of
SENATOR "GAY LARRY" CRAIG SPEAKS... 2007-10-15 02:37:00
Big day for NBC's "Today" show on Tuesday. That's when Matt Lauer has a one-on-one with "Widestance" Larry Craig. Think Matt'll get any answers out of him, or will Larry just tap the floor and feel up Matt's ankle looking for a little love?
Big scoop from the Examiner, right here, they managed to watch some outtakes. We understand NBC and Today have some sort of mysterious announcement to make that same day (Tuesday.) Here's some of what you'll hear...
"It was a tough call, Matt, a very tough call....I was very, very embarrassed about it. I wrestled with it. I didn't want to embarrass my wife, my kids, Idaho and my friends. And I wrestled with it a long while. I sought no counsel. I made a very big mistake. I should have told my wife. I should have told my kids. And most importantly, I should have told counsel."
Craig's wife, Suzanne, also describes her reaction upon hearing the news. "When Larry told me that the story was going to break and he hadn't told me ab
COULTER AUDIO SMACK-DOWN! 2007-10-15 02:24:00
For Ann, a little blast from the past. A response from all the non-perfected Jews to her recent remarks on CNBC.
It's a little old, July of 2006, but Adam Carolla does to Ann what most people wish the TV hosts could do...he smacks her skinny posterior into the dirt, live and on-air, the perfect response to everything she's ever said, done or written, without exception.
Coulter Smackdown, Adam Carolla Radio Show, MP.3
Keep thinkin' those good thoughts, Annie ol' Girl.
VIA
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HOMEPAGE
COLBERT'S NY TIMES EDITORIAL - "FORK IN THE ROAD" 2007-10-15 02:05:00
Stephen Colbert today writes more than half of Maureen Dowd's column in the NY Times. We like it, it's funny and it's sarcastic. The DemGaz will be mighty happy they publicly banished Dowd years ago from the Op-Ed section. Instead they have the talent of Mike Masterson and a couple of nitwits from Jonesboro who we won't even name here (though we have named them in the past.)
Colbert talks about the talk about his possible run for the White House.
Hey, Reagan and GW Bush both won, so why not? It's not impossible...after all, Dobson and his lunatics say they're looking for a third party candidate, maybe they've found their man?
Our nation is at a Fork in the Road. Some say we should go Left; some say go Right. I say, “Doesn’t this thing have a reverse gear?” Let’s back this country up to a time before there were forks in the road — or even roads. Or forks, for that matter. I want to return to a simpler America where we ate our meat off the end of a sharpened stick.
BUSH IN ARKANSAS: CONTINUED ECONOMIC PROSPERITY? 2007-10-15 01:41:00 (Photo: President Bush gives the Nazi salute! Heil Rogers!)
Get ready for some Bush! The Prez will stomp around Rogers today, allegedly to talk about the economy in the only place left in America that will welcome him with open arms. After all, large legions of Republican storm troops still worship him here up North. It has Rep. Johnny B and Generalissimo Womack all a-twitter with excitement, but it could hose your morning commute as George W. visits a business and does other business up at the Hammons Center.
The world's most talented political reporter, Laura Kellams at the DemGaz filed a pretty good piece on the visit this weekend. Here's some of the fun...
About 300 people are to join the president at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers for an invitation-only address that the White House described as focusing on restraining the federal budget “to ensure continued economic prosperity.”
U. S. Rep. John Boozman said Bush will spend about four hours in Benton County, visi
HUCKABEE GETS A GOOD WRITE UP, BUT IS IT TRUE? 2007-10-15 00:00:00
"The Politico" posits Gov/Rev Huckabee as the perfect candidate for Christian right-wingers in America. You can read Jonathan Martin's entire article here. A taste?
There is one Republican who, given his credentials, would appear the likeliest to rally evangelicals and others on the Christian right.
He is resolutely anti-abortion, supports a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and is a man of deep faith. He has been elected — and reelected — to statewide office in a Democratic-leaning state.
And he’s right under their noses: Mike Huckabee.
But evangelical leaders are not flocking to their brother in Christ, as Huckabee, despite his political and personal values, remains far behind other less “pure” Republican contenders in the presidential sweepstakes.
Of course, what isn't covered is Huckabee's stance on taxes and his stance on immigration. You might recall the "Jesus Juice" confrontation with Jim Holt, and recall Huck pushing for those scholarships
MOVIES: RESIDENT EVIL, EXTINCTION 2007-10-13 15:42:00
Editor's note: Again, this is the second time movie reviewer Marlon Wallace joins us online. Today, he reviews "Resident Evil: Extinction." Oddly enough, while travelling online looking for trailers, we found the full version of the movie in parts on Youtube. While we don't condone piracy, here's the link to the film. It'll be interesting to see how long it stays online.
RESIDENT EVIL, EXTINCTION
Rating? *** of ***** stars
Marlon Wallace, Arkansastonight
Saturday, Oct. 12, 2007
As far as zombie movies go, this is pretty good. Yes, it has that comic book, video game, action-adventure aura around it, which never really allows you to take any of it seriously. You know this isn't Shakespeare, or heck it isn't even "28 Weeks Laters" but it's a fun, mind-numbing ride that you can take for about an hour and a half.
RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION of course has elements of George A. Romero mixed with a little Ridley Scott or Jerry Bruckheimer. The look of it and the thrust of it are so
SUIT: UNDERAGE, GAY SEX AT CHRISTIAN COLLEGE 2007-10-13 12:57:00
Oh boy, the ORU story gets stranger still. Now, those PO'd profs have decided to file more paperwork, and the allegations have just become worse. Now we have gay sex, underage sex and sex (or what sure looks like it) with the wife of the man who runs the school. This is from the Tulsa World....
The report says that dead-bolt locks were installed on all bedroom doors at the Richard Roberts residence at the insistence of his oldest daughter.
''This was precipitated by Mrs. Roberts repeatedly moving into the home her 16 year old male 'friend,' which made her daughters uncomfortable,'' the assessment says.
The assessment also says: ''Mrs. Roberts has personally spent the night in the ORU guest house with an underage male on nine separate occasions.''
The report also says there are photos of Lindsay Roberts and an underaged male smoking at the president's residence, and 29 photos of her and an underage male alone in her sports car after midnight.
Ah, evangelical wives w Read more:UNDERAGE
WHAT MLK THOUGHT OF WAR 2007-10-13 04:56:00 This is MLK's "Why I Am Opposed to the Vietnam War" speech. It's only the audio, but it's powerful. It's worth a listen to see if you think anything has changed from one ridiculous war to the one we have now. Were the reasons clear in either conflict? We're not sure the reasons we have now are more clear, perhaps they are less. Those in the generation who've felt the need to re-fight Vietnam in elections, in the middle east, who wanted to argue about "quagmire" and "civil war" a couple of years ago, you should listen to this. MLK as always makes strong points about humanity, and about wisdome.
You want Christianity? This is it, in its most honest form. We're not sure about the other forms, you know? The ones where pastors get on their own television shows and rant and rave how gays and lesbians and liberals brought 9-11 on this country.
VIA
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THE ONLY PLACE BUSH IS WELCOME 2007-10-13 04:15:00
Seems the President has once again deemed the city of Rogers fit to visit. Wonder why he didn't pick Eureka Springs or Fayetteville? Has he ever visited those places? We know Cheney once ventured into F-ville and got protested pretty heavily at the Town Center. Again, Generalissimo Womack sings Herr Chimp's praises, and also praises the only Republican member of the state's congressional delegation.
Rogers Mayor Steve Womack confirmed Bush’s visit on Wednesday, saying he is honored to host the president.
“We are honored that the White House would consider using our city as a backdrop for economic development, ” he said. “ I don’t think there is a better venue for discussion of economic vitality of a region than in northwest Arkansas, particularly the Rogers area.”
Womack credited U. S Rep. John Boozman, R-Ark., for working to secure the president’s visit.
We think Rogers and Bentonville, aside from Crawford, Texas, are the only places the Commander-in-Chie
NO HEALTHCARE FOR KIDS - UPDATE 2007-10-13 04:07:00
Word on the street in DC is that Senator Max Baucus will do the pitching for the Democrats later this morning, trying to get Congress to override the President's veto of S-CHIP.
The grapevine says Max B will tell Americans that the president is telling millions of parents they don't deserve the same basic care for their kids the President had for his.
This tidbit is a dirty, rotten leak on the radio address today, which quotes Baucas as saying (or will say)
"Every Republican must decide whether they will stand with the president and his veto, or stand with our children and their right to a healthy future"
Johnny B, we're lookin' at you this morning. However, eloquent, the effort probably won't work. The numbers and votes just arent' there. So much the sadder this BS will make it harder for poor kids to get healthcare. Your local Republican party should be pretty steamed and pretty saddened by this garbage.
VIA
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ARNOLD TELLS GAYS "NO" 2007-10-13 04:00:00
To the left, you see a one happy Austrian/California Governator perhaps putting the kibosh on gay marriage once again.
Governor Schwarzie vetoed another bill that would have legalized that union in what used to be the most progressive state in America, but is no longer so.
The San Jose Mercury has more...
In his veto message, Schwarzenegger said voters and the state Supreme Court should decide the issue. The high court is likely to rule next year on whether California's ban on gay marriages violates the constitution.
The governor said voters "should then determine what, if any, statutory changes are needed in response to the court's ruling."
Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, a gay rights group, said the veto was "hypocrisy at its worst."
"We find it shocking for the governor to say he opposes discrimination based on sexual orientation and then veto a bill that would have ended discrimination based on sexual orientation," Kors said.
This would seem to cont
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