Archive for January 2006

The monthlies.

• What is the "blogosphere" exactly, someone please tell me…

  When the ever-more irrelevant Chris Matthews asks David Shuster to examine the reaction of the SOTU in the blogosphere, and David Shuster then handedly carries out that task, delivering the viewers of the ever-more tedious Hardball program the commentary provided in the “blogosphere,” where exactly is David Shuster reading to get the “reaction” from the [...]

• Liveblogging the State of the Union

  Okay, as the president speaks, a few thoughts… – Whose pessimistic? – Renewable energy good. Nuclear power, certainly the main part of his so-called plan, bad. Safe nuclear power is a misnomer. – The Great Spender, the Great Tax Cutter, which one is it? UPDATE: – And the “creator.” Yea, he doesn’t really exist. – [...]

• A Constitutionally-Mandated Event

  In order to take a refreshingly-clear view of tonight’s presentation in the nation’s Capitol Building, the “State of the Union,” as delivered by the President of the United States, George W. Bush, a constitutionally-mandated event, let us recall the sentiment of the public… A majority disapprove of the job Bush is handling just about everything, [...]

• A Phallic Symbol [reyonthehill does dc]

  In the middle of the Washington Mall lies the George Washington Monument, seen from nearly everywhere in DC (it is drastically flat along the Atlantic). The next installment in the “reyonthehill does dc” project… “A Phallic Symbol” (9 seconds) Click above to play movie. Quicktime required (free).

• In the News

  I am not sure if this will become a regularly-posted feature, but sometimes there is so much news to comment on, and so little time to do so; therefore, a la so many other blogs (you read it here, first)… – Speaking of ExxonMobil’s horrific profits, they are now asking for their money back from [...]

• When Democracy Bites You In The Ass

  Cursing in the blog title again… In an unmistakable, possibly-insurmountable task of rewriting the short (but ever-lengthening) history of the war in Iraq, Bush has realigned the planets on the argument that promoting democracy (sometimes, even against the nation’s will) will yield peace on earth, or, at least, more profits for Halliburton (HAL) and Bechtel [...]

• Largest Profit In U.S. History

  More wonderful news out of the oil industry: ExxonMobil’s profits this past year was “the largest annual reported net income in U.S. history.” Bravo; well done.

• Introduction, Take 2 [reyonthehill does dc]

  I step back for a brief moment and introduce the “reyonthehill does dc” project in the second installment. “Introduction, Take 2″ (19 seconds) Click above to play movie. Quicktime required (free).

• Polling the Apathetic

  The most recent CBS News poll examines the idiocy and hypocrisy of a largely-apathetic nation. On the one hand, the public decries (supposedly) the perception that a large amount of bribery occurs in Washington. Oh my… On the other hand, no one seems to care… Images: CBS News

• Bush: Historically Poor, Still

  Eep. The only recent second-term president with a worse approval rating than Bush at this stage in his tenure was Richard Nixon, who was in the midst of a crisis stemming from the ever-growing Watergate scandal and the congressional investigation into the matter. (Nixon would resign in August 1974; hint, hint.) Once again, eep… Image: [...]

• New Wonkettes No Good (Not Even -ettes)

  Wonkette officially has two new bloggers at the helm, and unofficially, I have quit reading it. Where did you go, Ana Marie Cox? My question: why continue the blog, at all? If Cox has retired, why not let her blog go, as well, in peace.

• California Deems Cigarette Smoke Toxic

  It is a very good day here in California as it is “the first state to declare secondhand smoke a toxic air pollutant, putting tobacco fumes in the same category as diesel exhaust, arsenic and benzene because of its link to breast cancer. It could lead to a ban on smoking in private autos, particularly [...]

• Public Sentiment Should Stun White House

  Which of the following revelations about current public sentiment (according to the most recent New York Times/CBS News poll) is most alarming? And which one should result in the Bush administration re-examining their policies? Is it the total lack of confidence in a health care system… Or the fact that the big tax-cutter is also [...]

• SOTU Pretext: Weakened Economy

  Will the news that the economy “grew at an anemic 1.1 percent (the worst performance in three years)” reduce the chances that the president will put his left elbow on the podium, point bravely with his right hand, and say, “The economy is strong, and it is getting stronger,” during the State of the Union [...]

• So, This Netflix Thing…

  Have you noticed you hardly select movies you have seen to put in the queue on Netflix, compared to when shopping at, say, Blockbuster, where when you can’t find anything you’d like to see (figuring you are only looking at the top three shelves of a six-shelve system), you will tend to settle for a [...]

• Bush Acknowledges Constitutional Crisis

  Conservatives sometimes have a hard time holding on to (or maintaining) their constitutional arguments. “The second amendment means no gun control.” And what about former convicts? “Oh, for them, gun control.” “The constitution declares the importance of life; no abortion.” What about the death penalty? “Umm. No comment.” It is a circular and tiring argument [...]

• Bush: Premature

  Breaking News: Bush prematurely declared victory in Iraq. Yes, we have known this for some time now. However, there is nothing like a timeline graphic to put things in perspective. As of December there were more troops in Iraq then when Bush declared the mission was accomplished in May 2003. Image: Associated Press

• Bush: No Doubt

  The exciting Bush press conference has concluded, the exhilaration I feel has subsided, a little, but it is imperative to note that as Bush declared there “is no doubt” in his mind that the illegal domestic spying program is, in fact, legal, Bush has also previously declared there “is no doubt” in his mind that [...]

• Liveblogging the Bush Press Conference

  When Bush was asked at today’s press conference (live now) about the unfolding events in the formation of a Hamas-led Palestinian government, Bush responded (rough transcript), “I have spoken to Condi two times today.” Have you ever heard Bush refer to “Donny” or “Dick?” No, he will state, “Defense Secretary Rumsfeld…” This is just another [...]

• Peruvian Newspaper-of-Record

  I realize it is very difficult to get press coverage here in the States, especially with the impending confirmation of a Supreme Court justice, the illegal wiretaps, and the administration’s foreknowledge of the Katrina damage all looming at the moment. And that is why I always rely on the foreign press. But for the Peruvian [...]

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