From the Sports Desk

Some insights from an occasional sports writer:

• The Detroit Lions gave Matt Millen every opportunity to fail, and he took advantage of every one of them.
• The Tampa Bay Rays made the playoffs, eh? Well, looks like I picked a good time to stop caring about Major League Baseball.
• By getting Robinho, Manchester City is officially in the big leagues. After Manchester United spent the last two years making the Premeir League more offense-oriented, the Brazilian star may finally be ready to take his place among the greats of today’s game.

America 2.0: You used to enjoy a hot dog at the ballgame. Now, you blow up unattended hot dogs in front of the stadium.

• Ok, I admit it, I want to see Manny Pacquiao knock Oscar de La Hoya into retirement.
• It’s kind of fun hearing Europeans whine about losing to the U.S. in the Ryder Cup.
• The biggest upcoming sporting event? Why, Reality Rumble II, of course, More on that to come.

–WKW

John McCain hires Sarah Palin’s Kenyan Pastor to “remove Witchcraft from economy”

WASILLA, Alaska — In a move sure to enhance both his reputation as a maverick reformer and his relationship with conservative voters, Republican Presidential candidate John McCain has hired Kenyan Pastor Thomas Muthee as his chief negotiator ongoing financial bailout negotiations in Washington.

Muthee, who is credited with Palin’s rapid ascension in politics by laying his hands on her, will fly to Washington D.C. later today to begin the process of “removing the witchcraft” from the troubled U.S. economy.

“Senator McCain is a proven maverick reformer and so is Pastor Muthee,” said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds. “Huge government bailouts are not what conservatives believe in. Fighting witchcraft, however, is. And no one fights witchcraft like Pastor Muthee.”

Muthee, who first earned fame by chasing an old woman out of his village in Kenya, has long been a close friend and ally of Governor Palin. He said he plans to do the same for the U.S. economy that he has done for Palin’s political career.

“God wants us, wants to penetrate in our society, is in the economic area,” said Muthee. “The Bible says that the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous. It’s high time that we have top Christian businessmen, businesswomen, bankers, you know, who are men and women of integrity, running the economics of our nations. That’s what we are waiting for. That’s part and parcel of transformation. If you look at the Israelites, that’s how they work.”

Israelites did not return phone calls for comment. However, House Minority Leader John Boehner said that by bringing in the Kenyan witchcraft fighter, McCain had again proven that he’s serious about putting country first.

“One thing the American people have to know is that all of us around the table take this issue very seriously and we know we’ve got to get something done as quickly as possible,” said Boehner. “The free market works. Period. The only explanation for our current turmoil is witchcraft, and like the Maverick he is, John McCain is the only one willing to take a stand against it.”

Earlier this week, Palin said she was a supporter of the $700-billion taxpayer bailout plan for the U.S. financial industry.

“We’re ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bailout. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy,” said Palin. “Helping the—oh, it’s got to be about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So healthcare reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans, and trade we’ve—we’ve got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, um, scary thing, but 1 in 5 jobs being created in the trade sector today. We’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation.”

Upon being informed that Muthee would lay his hands on the U.S. economy, however, Palin said she was thrilled and respected Muthee’s boldness.

“As I was mayor, and Pastor Muthee was here, and he was praying over me, you know he speaks, and he’s so bold,” said Palin. “He’s praying, ‘Lord, make a way. Lord, make a way.’ I’m thinking this guy is really bold. He doesn’t know what I’m going to do. He doesn’t know what my plans are, and he’s praying not, ‘Oh Lord, if it be your will, may she become Governor.’ No. He just prayed for it. ‘Lord, make a way and let her do this next step,’ and that’s exactly what happened. So, again very, very powerful coming from this church, so that was awesome about Pastor Muthee.”

Speaking at the Wasilla Assembly of God, Muthee said he was prepared for the challenge of healing the U.S. economy.

“We come against the spirit of witchcraft! We come against the python spirits!” said Muthee.

Reached for comment in Washington, a flummoxed Nancy Pelosi said that while she hates witchcraft and python spirits as much as anyone, she was perplexed as to what Muthee would bring to the negotiating table.

“What? You’re kidding me, right?” asked Pelosi. “Seriously, you’re joking, right?”

Still, many top conservatives are excited about the move to free the U.S. economy from demonic spirits.

“This is the type of move that proves that John McCain isn’t just another Washington insider,” said disgraced former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. “Do you think Barack Obama has the courage to bring Rev. Jeremiah Wright in to lay his hands on the economy? Of course not. This is a big win for McCain.”

–WKW

$25 billion just ain’t what it used to be

For the auto industry, the best part of having a $700 billion financial bailout is that $25 billion for them seems like pocket change. Of course, Big Auto is none to happy about it – they wanted $50 billion.

Auto company loans pass House

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Wednesday approved $25 billion in loans for the troubled U.S. auto industry, as Michigan lawmakers hailed the plan as key toward saving thousands of jobs in the state and vowed to press for an additional $25 billion next year to boost the industry’s retooling.

The loan deal dwarfs the $1.2-billion bailout of Chrysler Corp. in 1979, and reflects the deep economic crisis threatening the survival of Detroit automakers and the companies that rely on them. Automakers had made the loans their top priority over the past several weeks, sending all three chief executives to blitz Congress.

Under the bill, the Bush administration will have two months to write the rules for the loans, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said she expected money to begin flowing to the industry by the end of the year.

The loans were included in a budget resolution that held several other spending measures to keep the government open through March. The Senate was expected to pass the bill today, and the measure should get a signature from President George W. Bush shortly thereafter.

–WKW

Bush unleashes Surge in War on Americans

America is in crisis. Wars on two fronts. An economy in need of a taxpayer-funded do over. Partisanship at historic levels. What’s a President to do in such troubled times?

Call for a Domestic Surge. After all, more soldiers on the ground always fixes everything.

From Army Times:

The 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team has spent 35 of the last 60 months in Iraq patrolling in full battle rattle, helping restore essential services and escorting supply convoys.

Now they’re training for the same mission — with a twist — at home.

Beginning Oct. 1 for 12 months, the 1st BCT will be under the day-to-day control of U.S. Army North, the Army service component of Northern Command, as an on-call federal response force for natural or manmade emergencies and disasters, including terrorist attacks.

It is not the first time an active-duty unit has been tapped to help at home. In August 2005, for example, when Hurricane Katrina unleashed hell in Mississippi and Louisiana, several active-duty units were pulled from various posts and mobilized to those areas.

But this new mission marks the first time an active unit has been given a dedicated assignment to NorthCom, a joint command established in 2002 to provide command and control for federal homeland defense efforts and coordinate defense support of civil authorities.

After 1st BCT finishes its dwell-time mission, expectations are that another, as yet unnamed, active-duty brigade will take over and that the mission will be a permanent one.

In the meantime, they’ll learn new skills, use some of the ones they acquired in the war zone and more than likely will not be shot at while doing any of it.

They may be called upon to help with civil unrest and crowd control or to deal with potentially horrific scenarios such as massive poisoning and chaos in response to a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive, or CBRNE, attack.

Training for homeland scenarios has already begun at Fort Stewart and includes specialty tasks such as knowing how to use the “jaws of life” to extract a person from a mangled vehicle; extra medical training for a CBRNE incident; and working with U.S. Forestry Service experts on how to go in with chainsaws and cut and clear trees to clear a road or area.

The 1st BCT’s soldiers also will learn how to use “the first ever nonlethal package that the Army has fielded,” 1st BCT commander Col. Roger Cloutier said, referring to crowd and traffic control equipment and nonlethal weapons designed to subdue unruly or dangerous individuals without killing them.

“It’s a new modular package of nonlethal capabilities that they’re fielding. They’ve been using pieces of it in Iraq, but this is the first time that these modules were consolidated and this package fielded, and because of this mission we’re undertaking we were the first to get it.”

Yes, the U.S. military will be starting a “Homeland Mission” next week. And if having the military patrol domestically sounds UnAmerican, well, that’s because it used to be. But it isn’t anymore.

Read Glenn Greenwald’s take on it Salon:

The decision this month to permanently deploy a U.S. Army brigade inside the U.S. for purely domestic law enforcement purposes is the fruit of the Congressional elimination of the long-standing prohibitions in Posse Comitatus (although there are credible signs that even before Congress acted, the Bush administration secretly decided it possessed the inherent power to violate the Act). It shouldn’t take any efforts to explain why the permanent deployment of the U.S. military inside American cities, acting as the President’s police force, is so disturbing.

John McCain makes campaign speech to reiterate that he’s suspending his campaign to save economy

At the Clinton Global Initiative, John McCain is currently giving a campaign speech on his plans for U.S. economic recovery. And is reiterating that he is not campaigning until he personally fixes the economy.

Now he’s going off on earmarks.

That John McCain, he sure can give a campaign speech, even when he’s not campaigning. Even when the subject is global warming, HIV/AIDs and world hunger.

–WKW

Fox News Extras in Brazil: More liberal than DailyKos

Fox News has a channel on Brazilian cable that broadcasts all of its programs. Brazilians get to see Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly and the rest in all their untranslated shrill glory.

As you can imagine, however, ratings aren’t so great for Fox News in a nation where most speak only Portuguese. So they get absolutely no sponsors. At commercial breaks, Fox News normally shows teasers to their upcoming shows, as well as something they call “Fox News Extras.”

I really don’t know if they show Fox News Extras in the U.S. or elsewhere in the world, but here in Brazil, these extras are extremely liberal. These two-minute fillers discuss things like global warming, clean energy technologies, health care issues, the plight of Iraqi civilians and other Progressive concerns. Some of them are actually quite interesting.

What’s even better, is that Fox News celebrities introduce the taped segment. There’s nothing quite as amusing as seeing Sean Hannity introducing a segment on global warming. So, at least in Brazil, at commercial breaks, Fox News becomes Daily Kos.

–WKW

Dear Al Gore: You start with the Civil Disobedience and we’ll see how it goes

Despite a past disagreement, I believe David Swanson of “Let’s Try Democracy” is a decent guy who truly wants what’s best for the United States and the planet. But when he wrote tips on how to “make a citizen’s arrest of a war criminal” like Karl Rove or Donald Rumsfeld, I felt like he was missing one vital bit of advice – how to recover from the bullets that the “war criminal’s” security would surely put in your head if you touched them.

My feelings are the same in regard to Al Gore. He’s done a wonderful job of trying to get global warming information out to as many people as possible. But when he says things like: “It’s time for civil disobedience to stop the construction of new coal plants,” the former Vice-President needs to grasp reality a little better.

Mr. Gore, you start with the civil disobedience and we’ll see how that goes. A multi-millionaire defying authority sends a much stronger message than a bunch of poor people tying themselves to trees. The rest of us need to deal with things like consequences. And the U.S. is currently in position to deal out consequences in a pretty severe way.

–WKW

Has Sarah Palin ever spoken in tongues?

After her performance with Katie Couric, it’s highly doubtful that Sarah Palin will answer any questions from any media representative again. But should the opportunity arise, here are a couple questions to ask:

“Have you ever spoken in tongues?”

“Do you agree with Kenyan Thomas Muthee that “our country” needs to be a radical Christian theocracy?”

Because the honest answer to both of those questions is “yes.” It can’t be stressed enough that Palin and her Wasilla Assembly of God cohorts are batshit insane. They dream of being the Christian Taliban, they speak in tongues, they fight witches and demons, etc., etc.

Bat.Shit.Insane.

Pass this video around to those non-theocrats you know that think Palin is “one of them.” She isn’t. She’s a Jesus Jihadist that serves a God that only the radically fringe can relate to.

Take a look at this post from the dedicated and fearless Max Blumenthal and keep an eye on his site in the coming days. You’ll be amazed at just how bizarre and terrifying the Religious Right’s new hero is when she’s in her unnatural element.

–WKW

George W. Bush: “This economy needs a cash enema”

Shorter George W. Bush:

“AAAAHHHHHHHHHHGiveme$700BillionnowHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”

–WKW

Barack Obama: “It is part of the President’s job to deal with more than one thing at once”

Note to John McCain: Barack Obama just tore down your political grandstand:

“It is part of the President’s job to deal with more than one thing at once.”

“The American people need to know what we plan to do to help move America forward.”

Debate on.

–WKW

Statement from William K. Wolfrum: “These are just the birth pangs of socialism”

William K. Wolfrum released this statement to his supporters at 3:30 p.m.

“My fellow Americans, today we stand at a decisive moment in American history. As the Bush Administration works overtime to get the American people to funnel their money to inept financial corporations, many of you are having doubts and fears. But we will get through this. These are but the birth pangs of socialism. Soon, America’s failed financial giants will receive billions and billions of dollars. And then, we will be greeted as liberators.

Thank you and God Bless Wall Street.”

–WKW

See more official “Statements from William K. Wolfrum” Here.

John McCain grabs Holy Grail of political grandstanding – suspends campaign

John McCain, who has admitted to not knowing much about economics, has now suspended his Presidential campaign to “Focus on the economy.” And, of course, he has challenged Barack Obama to do the same.

Ladies and gentleman, mark this date on your calendar – we have just experienced the greatest moment in political grandstanding history. The nation is currently fighting wars on two fronts, but this is reason for McCain to “stop campaigning.”

McCain suspending his campaign is campaigning at the highest level. Obama should tell him to go to hell. The best thing that could possibly happen to the U.S. economy is to have Republicans stop being in control of it.

–WKW

How watching Fox News makes you stupider and more uninformed

From one hour of Fox News’ Live Desk, here’s a breakdown of the major topics covered:

11 minutes: Discussion of Fox News Presidential polls

5 minutes: Bailout

5 minutes: Pennsylvania as an Election battleground state

3 minutes: Upcoming Bush speech on bailout

3 minutes: Catholic Church mad at Nancy Pelosi

2 minutes: Maryland bank robbery

2 minutes: Man hit and killed by train in Sylmar, Ca.

Sarah Palin discusses finances

Let it not be said that Sarah Palin is afraid to tackle the big issues. I just received this e-mail from Palin where she discussed the current financial situation:

When I joined John McCain as his running mate, I knew I was in for a roller coaster ride of ups and downs on the campaign trail. But, I want you to know that I joined John McCain and the others on our ticket in this great election because I’m putting our country first.

John McCain and I have been called “mavericks” and “reformers” because we’re guided by shared values and principles and we’re not afraid to stand up to the status quo in their defense. And that’s why we want you to send us, and other reformers like us, to Washington.

Will you help send us to Washington by making a generous contribution of any amount to McCain-Palin Victory 2008 right away? Your financial support will go a long way in electing Reform Republicans in November.

As the mother of an active duty soldier, I want John McCain as our next Commander in Chief. And I want to elect a Congressional majority in November who has the courage to support our troops and who will stop bowing to political pressure and admit the surge has been successful. We need to send a team to Washington who will support the brave men and women in uniform and bring them home with their heads held high in victory.

Friends, in the course of a few weeks, the Obama-Biden Democrats have launched attack after attack on me, my family and John McCain. They’re desperate to win and they’ll no doubt launch these attacks against other reformers on our ticket.

They are spreading lies and misinformation and we must stop them. Your immediate contribution of any amount- whether it’s $25 or $250- helps McCain-Palin Victory 2008 fight back before they turn these shameful tactics on others we support.

I’m sure you’ve heard that in this election, the Obama-Biden Democrats have a large financial advantage over us. You can help us close this gap today by following this link to make your secure online donation to McCain-Palin Victory 2008. The financial support you give today will make all the difference in this election. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Governor Sarah Palin

P.S. I hope you will join me, John McCain and the other Reform Republicans in standing up to the status quo. Our ticket is ready to take Washington by storm and shake things up to address our nation’s most pressing issues. Won’t you join us today by making a financial contribution to McCain-Palin Victory 2008? Your generosity is appreciated and I look forward to seeing you out on the campaign trail. Thank you.

–WKW

Today’s Logical Fallacy: Moving the goalposts

Welcome to “Today’s Logical Fallacy,” where we take a look at intellectually dishonest argument’s. Today, we look at the logical fallacy known as “Moving the Goal Posts.”

Moving the Goal Posts

Definition: Moving the goalpost, also known as raising the bar or the moving goalpost, is an informal logically fallacious argument in which evidence presented in response to a specific claim is dismissed and some other (often greater) evidence is demanded. In other words, after an attempt has been made to score a goal, the goalposts are moved to exclude the attempt. This attempts to leave the impression that an argument had a fair hearing while actually reaching a preordained conclusion. Moving the goalpost can also take the form of reverse feature creep, in which features are eliminated from a product, and the goal of the project is redefined in such a way as to exclude the eliminated features.

Example: “The move to shut down the reactor was meant to be a step toward eventually dismantling Yongbyon in return for diplomatic concessions and energy aid equivalent to about 907,000 tonnes of oil under a February 2007 deal with South Korea, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan.

But later that month, Washington demanded Pyongyang provide detailed verification of the process, including soil samples and interviews with scientists.

The U.S. has also said North Korea’s exclusion from a list of nations it says sponsor terrorism is contingent on Pyongyang’s compliance in verification proceedings.

North Korea has rejected the demand, saying verification was never part of the deal to which they had agreed.”

–WKW

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