His well-coiffed do makes John Edwards’s shit look frugal. Now this buffoon is afraid of the YouTube debate because — get this — of that animated snowman questioning global warming several weeks back.
Un–friggin–real. What a pansy. All those Republican whores should be lining up to take questions from their potential subjects just like the Democrats did. This is a true test of character on all 762 of the Republican candidates for president.
Though the first YouTube broadcast was a total mess, I feel these types of forums should be the new way to go. Citizens in general don’t buy the alleged objectivity of journalists and pundits who make a living of this shit. Though one can certainly question the judgment of HOW these YouTube videos were chosen and whether or not bias was inherently part of the process, I feel it brings a certain amount of required debate in response to citizen activism that is too often missing in the political arena these days.
Romney and the rest of the GOP morons should have been making plenty of room in their Blackberry devices for this shit.
Update I: Because I know I’m gonna get shit…yes, I think the Democrats are stupid for staying away from the highest-rated cable news network in the country. Which is why most of them are pussies, as well. Just thought I’d cover my bases there!
Posted by Mike Matthews in Common Sense at 10:17 PM PDT
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Totally unsolicited and unexpected, the below email just arrive in my bin. Many of you remember my unending assaults on Sen. Tom Carper last year in response to his pro-torture vote in the Senate. Need a reminder? Click here, here, and here. Well it seems Sen. Carper and his associates are still trying to win my love. Check this email:
Dear Friend:
Knowing of your concern in the past for the suspension of habeas corpus rights to suspected enemy combatants, I want to take a moment to follow-up with you regarding a bill I recently agreed to co-sponsor S. 185, the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act.
Let me begin by stating that I believe any elimination of the basic legal rights enumerated in our Constitution, undermines, not strengthens, our nation’s ability to achieve justice. In fact, it is largely through our Constitution that we have long remained a shining example of democracy and justice for the world. As United States Senators, I strongly believe we have an obligation to ensure the security of our nation without forfeiting our constitutional principles.
As you may recall, in 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the military commissions established by President Bush were in violation of both U.S. and international law. As a result of the ruling in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, Senator John Warner (R-VA), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Committee members Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), spearheaded an effort to craft legislation that would comply with both U.S and international law. Ultimately, Congress enacted legislation to establish a process for trying suspected terrorists that did not alter U.S. obligations under the Geneva Convention, and would uphold America’s core values.
During the Senate debate of this legislation, I supported several amendments that I believe would have improved the bill significantly. For example, Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) proposed an amendment that would have eliminated a section of the bill denying suspected enemy combatants habeas corpus rights to challenge their detention in court. Unfortunately, the amendment to preserve habeas corpus was not approved. At the time, I expressed serious reservations about the bill’s provision to suspend habeas corpus rights and hoped the courts would swiftly rule on its unconstitutional nature. Regrettably, the courts have yet to make such a ruling.
With that said, let me reiterate that I share your concern about the suspension of habeas corpus. Since the start of the 110th Congress, I have urged my colleagues on the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to act to strike this unconstitutional provision. In an effort to address this issue, Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced S. 185, the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act, on January 4, 2007. This legislation, formerly offered as an amendment to the Military Commissions Act of 2006 in the 109th Congress, would restore habeas corpus to those detained by the United States. For this reason, I look forward to supporting the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act in the 110th Congress and will continue to urge my colleagues to bring this important legislation to the Senate floor for consideration.
In a related development, the Senate Judiciary Committee recently approved the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act on June 26, 2007 and reported it out of committee to the full Senate on an 11-8 vote. On several occasions since then, Senator Specter has come to the Senate floor and asked unanimous consent for the Senate to take up, debate and vote on S. 185. Each time he has done so, there has been an objection from the other side of the aisle to bringing up the bill, thus blocking its consideration by the full Senate. I expect Senator Specter to continue his efforts to bring his bill up before the full Senate. In the meantime, companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives.
Thank you again for contacting me about this important issue. Please be assured that I will continue to support initiatives like this one that seek to preserve the principles of our Constitution. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me about other matters of importance to you.
With best personal regards, I am,
Sincerely,
Tom Carper
Someone wants to get in good with the great Mike Matthews.
Posted by Mike Matthews in First State Filth at 12:35 PM PDT
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Mark your calendars and be there.
Save the Date!
Meet and Greet with Jack Markell,
Democrat for Governor
Pleasanton Abbey
1548 Persimmontree Lane
Dover, DE 19901
August 16, 2007
5:30 to 7:30 pm
Homemade pizzas and beverages!
Contact: amchamguy@aol.com
Posted by Mike Matthews in First State Filth at 8:41 PM PDT
Talk dirty to me »
I’m often chided for taking too liberal a position when it comes to the extreme faults of the Bush Administration. According to most conservatives, Bush and Cheney shouldn’t have been forced to give up the details surrounding the energy meetings held several years back that significantly influenced energy policy in the US. Having energy policy written by for-profit corporatists is dangerous, in my opinion, and I’ve maintained the details should be released. The Supreme Court, however, disagreed. Conservatives smiled.
Now Republicans and conservatives are in a tizzy in New Jersey because Governor Jon Corzine isn’t making public several emails between him and a state union worker. Of course, arguments abound in both cases. The president claimed executive privilege as to why he didn’t have to release the energy meeting notes. Corzine contends the same.
While I certainly believe the implications in the Bush case are more severe than Corzine’s case, I think both should learn a lesson and just be forced to reveal all.
Posted by Mike Matthews in Common Sense at 4:45 PM PDT
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Check out the list of politician supporters of John Carney. This is most interesting. Interesting because I’d figured several of the “trailblazers” included on the list would have the balls to break away from the Minner-Adams-Vaughn sect of the party and take the leap over to Jack Markell’s side. Or have these individuals had too much of the John Daniello Kool-Aid and been successfully converted to the Dark Side?
The “trailblazers:”
Sen. Karen Peterson
Rep. John Kowalko
Yup. Just two names. From two individuals I’ve come to respect (though one has trivialized that respect via some questionable tactics in regards to a local activist group) quite a bit. Jack Markell certainly has an uphill battle and his list of supporters is looking quite depressing next to Carney’s.
But that will make Markell’s primary win that much sweeter.
Posted by Mike Matthews in First State Filth at 9:40 AM PDT
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The Delaware chapter of Common Cause every year takes a break from its regularly scheduled meetings during the month of August so the drama within the good government organization will be quieting down for several weeks. That’s not to say, however, that more interesting facts aren’t availing themselves as some individuals continue their attempts to get to the bottom of the major malfunctions currently taking up far too much time.
And this one’s a doozy. It’s well know that former Common Cause Delaware President Gemma Buckley is a popular political activist within the Democratic Party. But it also seems Ms. Buckley has some friends in high places within Family Court of Delaware. Friends who likely weren’t pleased that Common Cause had often made many of their oft-closed proceedings one of the group’s top issue. For years Common Cause has attempted to break through some of the boundaries that keeps the Court’s actions so bound in secrecy.
Common Cause’s former lobbyist, John Flaherty, had been advocating for more transparency within Family Court for years and this seems to have roiled some within the institution. More than two years ago Mr. Flaherty was summoned to Gemma Buckley’s bookstore in Wilmington where she had told him she had someone she’d like him to meet. Flaherty, not expecting what was about to come, agreed and expected nothing more than a friendly gathering among friends of Gemma’s. Gemma and John walked several blocks to the Family Court building in Downtown Wilmington. They proceeded to make their way to the chambers of a judge. Yes — the chambers of a Family Court judge. Gemma had arranged a meeting between she, John, and Judge Barbara Crowell. According to John — a man of the utmost integrity, as I’m sure many of you know — he was told by Judge Crowell that his activities and attempts to make Family Court more transparent should be toned down. John soon realized that this meeting seemed to be totally inappropriate seeing how the three individuals were meeting in JUDGE’S CHAMBERS as opposed to, say, the cafeteria. John told me he felt the meeting was called to attempt to intimidate him and that Gemma used her position as President of Common Cause to attempt to put pressure on him to calm down on Family Court.
I spoke with Family Court Judge Crowell and she didn’t deny the meeting occurred. She completely disagrees with Mr. Flaherty’s assertion that the meeting was called to intimidate him and to get him to stop going after Family Court. She says her courtroom is one of the most open in the state and she’s definitely pro-open government. Judge Crowell hesitated when I asked several direct questions, mostly in relation to Family Court’s treatment of cases in particular (cases I’m not at liberty to discuss). But she seemed a bit surprised that I had the nerve to question the nature of the meeting at all.
You can decide for yourselves on this one. But what we know is Gemma Buckley called John Flaherty to join her in this meeting with Family Court Judge Barbara Crowell. I’ve known John Flaherty only for a couple months, but his integrity in undeniable, in my opinion. He isn’t one to engage in excessive gossip. Or, any gossip, for that matter. I trust his account of things.
Will Gemma Buckley’s and Sen. Karen Peterson’s blind supporters be stopping by to refute this chain of events? We’ll see.
Posted by Mike Matthews in First State Filth at 5:44 PM PDT
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Is anyone else as absolutely giddy as I am tonight? Giddy like a six-year old girl at a Hannah Montana concert.
The news tonight that Karl Rove has been subpoenaed and that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales just keeps getting caught in lies makes me quite happy. Though the Democrats are hardly the panacea to the extreme case of bullshit-itis in Washington, I am quite pleased they’re going after the Bush Administration like the pit bulls they’ve claimed to be.
I don’t give a shit where you stand. If you’re not quite pleases or, at least, wholly entertained that it seems the Bush Administration’s final year-and-a-half will go down in flames, you either have no sense of adventure or you’re just, well, totally unpatriotic!
Posted by Mike Matthews in ODB (Our Dumb Bush) at 9:29 PM PDT
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For years, Delaware’s delegation to Washington has made disgustingly decadent concessions to the pharmaceutical industry. Millions of dollars in tax cuts and incentives were wretched from the backs of tax-paying citizens in the name of “jobs, jobs, jobs!” Rep. Castle and Sens. Biden and Carper have made a career out of swallowing the loads of corporate sycophants in Delaware and then spitting up the same lines that it’s good for Delaware’s citizenry.
Well, gentlemen. You three have collectively earned the new Wanker of the Week title for failing to protect the same jobs you’ve BOUGHT to keep Delawareans “safe and secure.” AstraZeneca to cut jobs in Delaware.
Note to Biden, Carper, and Castle staffers: I know you ‘lil scrappers read my site on a daily basis. I know you check it constantly. Here’s your assignment. Ask your bosses how this came about and why the good senators and representative weren’t likely included in the back-room talks that decided these job cuts when they were very likely included in the back-room, lobster-and-filet meetings in which handshakes were traded and deals were signed to allegedly protect the jobs our representatives to Congress bought years ago.
Posted by Mike Matthews in First State Filth at 9:22 PM PDT
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The Associated Press made a bold move today in its article outlining the continued mess that is the Pat Tillman controversy. I’ve been interested in this story for years now and I found this paragraph particularly refreshing:
The Pentagon and the Bush administration have been criticized in recent months for lying about the circumstances of Tillman’s death. The military initially told the public and the Tillman family that he had been killed by enemy fire. Only weeks later did the Pentagon acknowledge he was gunned down by fellow Rangers.
Emphasis is mine. The AP came out and said it: The Bush Administration lied about the cause of Tillman’s death. They used him as a propaganda tool for their wars of choice and convenience. Conservatives love screaming about the “left-wing MSM” but I haven’t seen nearly enough evidence to prove this allegation. It’s only because Bush’s Administration has been so unfailingly inept that conservatives are under the impression the media is left-wing. Yes, I learned in college (as a journalism major) that a large majority of journalists are liberal. However, I also learned from a VAST majority of my professors that editorial decisions are generally guided by CONSERVATIVE-leaning boards of directors of publications as well as conservative publishers and managing editors.
Bush and his cronies have simply fucked up far too often for far too long. And the media can’t ignore it. Tillman’s unfortunate — and, likely unnecessary — death is a reminder of this. Read the whole article. It’s quite astonishing. Then I expect my favorite right-wingers (G. Rex, me) to come back and completely exonerate Bush.
Since I’m on one of my too-infrequent anti-Bush & Co. rants, I’ll also entertain you with this clip I discovered on Dana Garrett’s blog…simply titled “How to Create and Angry American.”
Posted by Mike Matthews in Political Landscape at 9:05 PM PDT
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From Jud Bennett’s popular Coastal Conservative Network, it looks like ongoing drama at my favorite radio station, WGMD, has come to a head with the resignation of talk-show host Randy Nelson. Here’s Jud’s letter:
Dear Friends,
Have you ever heard the old expression, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it?” Well folks, WGMD FM radio (92.7) has probably made one of the greatest mistakes in the history of talk radio. Today (July 25,2007) Randy Nelson, popular, daily, talk show host of the afternoon, WGMD segment has officially resigned from his 3 Pm to 7 Pm job. Nelson replaced also popular host Ron Letterman a year ago, when Letterman was required to leave due to health reasons. Interestingly, Randy Nelson, brought a whole new perspective to this radio station. Jokingly labeled WGOP in the past by many Democrats, because of its hard core conservative image, Randy Nelson expanded the radio show operation and image with his unique style that included many different points of view, thus substantially expanding the listening audience. Naturally, Nelson’s popularity increased the station’s advertising in a great way with business owners clamoring to advertise on his show.
Indeed-most intelligent listeners would certainly wonder if everything was going so well, why would this remarkably talented individual suddenly be off the air. As someone who was honored to guest host and even help produce his show every Tuesday, I am naturally disappointed and dismayed at what has transpired. I do know the real story and this is it from Randy’s own mouth to me.
Regardless of any spin you might hear on the air or through the rumor mill, the bottom line is that the majority stock holder and for all intents and purposes- the owner of the station, Mr. David Shumaker, did not like the format of Randy’s show. He even criticized him for having Jack Markell on his show. My God, Markell could be Delaware’s next Governor! The real deal is that Randy Nelson, besides being overly qualified and extremely talented, is a very nice person who has absolute integrity and character. When told he had to change his show to suit the owner, Randy had no choice but to resign. There was no way he was going to compromise his ethics, style, or fairness to appease a jaded, out of touch egocentric like David Shumaker.
WGMD Radio with Dan Gaffney in the early morning, Jared Morris in the late morning, and Randy Nelson in the afternoon, indeed had an eclectic, interesting, and winning combination that brought this radio station to a higher level. The radio station was finally clicking on all cylinders. I know that nobody is ever indispensable, but WGMD will suffer severely this loss of Randy Nelson from its afternoon show without a doubt. I predict it will be a public relations nightmare and the business will definitely lose advertisers.
Maybe I’ll open my own talk radio station in direct competition with WGMD. I would bet the ranch I could find the investors and hire the entire WGMD staff to come on board. including Randy Nelson. To David Shumaker, I say to you- “that you are a jerk and do not deserve the good fortune that WGMD has brought you through the hard work of Dan Gaffney and others. Frankly, I cannot understand how anyone could be so stupid. You must like losing money, let alone the huge disservice you have now created for those of us who have faithfully supported your radio station day in and day out for many years.” Mr. Shumaker is definitely out of touch with local reality and what WGMD listeners are really interested in. Why anyone would want to reduce the popularity of a business enterprise by an absurd decision like this is way beyond me. So be it.
Sincerely submitted,
Judson Bennett-Coastal Conservative Network
Apologies to my friend Dave Burris, who had this up first. I was busy folding laundry!
Posted by Mike Matthews in First State Filth at 1:36 PM PDT
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Just in: Delaware’s own Christine O’Donnell will debate former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders on a topic not yet announced. The channel? Fox News, of course. The show? The obnoxiously unmemorable Fox and Friends in the morning. Fascinating.
The former surgeon general was thrown out in 1994 because conservative, right-wing whackos got their panties in a snit because Elders claimed masturbation is a safer form of intimacy than sex with others.
Elders’s view and O’Donnell’s view are near diametrical opposites. We all know what The Lady O’Donnell thinks of these impure actions!
From The SALT:
O’DONNELL: The Bible says that lust in your heart is committing adultery. So you can’t masturbate without lust.
Hot! My bet’s on Elders. I think she’ll whip out the inner diva. But The Lady O’Donnell is hotter!
Posted by Mike Matthews in First State Filth at 9:43 PM PDT
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Out at Borders spending a birthday gift card. Of course you all know the bullshit going down in thousands of bookstores tonight. What’s most shocking is I haven’t seen anyone I know. Which obviously means I’ve picked good friends and have an awesome family.
I think some witch’s broom just brushed up against me…
Posted by Mike Matthews in First State Filth at 9:48 PM PDT
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Something is going on at Grand Central Station in New York. An eyewitness/friend has reported a huge explosion under the Lexington Avenue lines at the station. Lots of rumbling. And lots of smoke coming from the station’s exits.
Update: MSNBC now has it listed as “BREAKING NEWS” at the top of its page.
Update: Seems it was some sort of steam pipe explosion. Not terrorism related. I’m still rather astonished at the speed the information came out. I heard about this before media outlets posted about it. Another reason why the Internet is more indispensable when compared to television.
Posted by Mike Matthews in General at 6:13 PM PDT
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Damn! Jason at DelawareLiberal beat me to it! I’ve been working this story for over a week and was prepared to come out with it in a couple days.
Three independent sources have confirmed to me that everyone’s favorite moral absolutist and the architect of SB 156, Sen. John Still, has left his wife and is now shacked up with his MUCH younger legislative aid in Rehoboth Beach.
Apparently, it’s OK for holier-than-thou Sen. Still to attempt to legislate the lifestyles of others. However, he’d be well served to keep his own scandalous definition of marriage away from Legislative Hall next session.
What a vile, disgusting, hypocritical pig.
Posted by Mike Matthews in First State Filth at 5:18 PM PDT
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Click on the “contact” link on Gov. Minner’s website. I guess it’s safe to say the lazy governor doesn’t give a damn about what her constituents have to say. At least I’m not confined to a hospital bed or I’d have half a mind to to shove my walking cane somewhere…
Posted by Mike Matthews in First State Filth at 2:26 PM PDT
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Celebrity John Walsh made a splash last fall when he jetted in for an hour to endorse Beau Biden in Delaware’s race for Attorney General. It was a pretty ostentatious event and the press and guests went wild. But it was a stunt. Simple as that. A stunt that likely didn’t have an effect one way or the other on the outcome of the race seeing as how a sort of Republican-malaise had overtaken much of the country last year.
Regardless, the caption of this photo is proof that John Walsh got his money’s worth. Helene looks hot. I think her right is her best side. Sen. Patty Blevins looks like a troll and House Speaker Terry Spence is just a towering god. Rep Diana McWilliams looks like she could use some black lipstick.
“June 14, 2007 – Governor Minner signed a ceremonial copy of Senate Bill 60, the Adam Walsh Act, which calls for stricter registration requirements of sex offenders and authorizes additional federal funding to aid in Delaware’s efforts to track convicted sex offenders. Pictured with Gov. Minner (from left to right) are: House Speaker Terry Spence; Sen. Patricia Blevins; Attorney General Beau Biden; Rep. Helene Keeley; Rep. Diana McWilliams; Rep. John Mitchell; and Rep. Robert Walls.”
Posted by Mike Matthews in First State Filth at 2:21 PM PDT
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Read this article. I wonder what righties like Michelle Malkin will have to say in response. My guess is she’ll continue ranting against folk like Cindy Sheehan and Ted Rall…you know…the REAL enemies!
Check this bit:
Lopezromo said a procedure called “dead-checking” was routine. If Marines entered a house where a man was wounded, instead of checking to see whether he needed medical aid, they shot him to make sure he was dead, he testified.
“If somebody is worth shooting once, they’re worth shooting twice,” he said.
The jury is composed of three officers and six enlisted personnel, all of whom have served in Iraq. The trial was set to resume Monday.
Posted by Mike Matthews in Craziness at 10:56 AM PDT
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I’m a busy guy. And I’m not willing to take the time (right now) to debunk half the bullshit lodged by The News Journal’s editorial board in this piss-poor review of what’s been ailing Common Cause. Perhaps if they took the time to talk to those involved they’d have written more than this piecemeal crap they lumped together in ten minutes:
Common Cause has been a serious national citizen advocacy group since its creation in 1970. Founder John Gardner was a respected Republican who served as secretary of health, education and welfare under Democratic President Lyndon Johnson, among other roles, and had an old-school commitment to public betterment.
The organization’s focus has been open government to counter big-money special interests. It has had a hand in getting the vote for 18-year-olds and election integrity, the Freedom of Information Act, ethics rules in Congress and campaign finance reform.
In the past couple years, by contrast, the Delaware chapter hasn’t presented the same sense of mission. Day to day, its energy and influence increasingly seemed dissipated in reacting to incidents and personalities removed from its core issues.
These distractions apparently also prompted Common Cause’s national headquarters to threaten to disband the chapter. That would be a regrettable loss compounding the defections that have already happened here.
The Delaware group has been most associated with John Flaherty, a longtime legislative lobbyist in Dover who is now ending his representation. Internal dissension also provoked the resignation of president Gemma Buckley, another experienced activist.
On the whole, Delaware Common Cause has been a thoughtful monitor and contributor to local politics and policy discussions. We hope this local upset results in the remaining members taking stock and reorienting themselves back toward a greater unity of purpose again.
Posted by Mike Matthews in First State Filth at 4:08 PM PDT
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