Month: March 2010

by Eric Martin Mark Benjamin at Salon has a very disturbing piece that recounts details of the Bush administration's infamous use of the waterboarding technique for torturing certain detainees accused of belonging to al-Qaeda: Self-proclaimed waterboarding fan Dick Cheney called it a no-brainer in a 2006 radio interview: Terror suspects should get a "a dunk … Read more

by Eric Martin Megan McCardle seems a bit confused about what the Democrats are proposing to achieve in terms of modifying the current health care legislation via the reconciliation process: I have at best a passing interest in the "legitimacy" of the reconciliation process, but James Joyner pretty much dismantles the current liberal talking point that Republicans use … Read more

by Eric Martin While I'm no stranger to multi-tasking (day job, new daddy, Obsidian Wings contributor, senior editor of what is likely the best foreign policy website EVAR!!, etc.), I'd say the buck…or something…would stop here (would that I have such similar, um, interests): …37-year-old [Megan] Barnes catapulted to instant fame for an alleged multi-tasking mash-up that earned … Read more

by Eric Martin …as a lazy* blogger’s way to highlight some topics** and offer a forum for flaming each other in the comments section. 1. Why don’t sex scandals involving Republicans matter to the media/result in resignations?  I’d add Mark Sanford to Matt’s list of teflon Republicans.  And John Ensign’s misdeeds are worse than any of them. 2.  Representative … Read more

by Eric Martin Gregg Carlstrom offered the following theories regarding the motivations behind the recent spate of arrests of Taliban figures by Pakistani security forces : On the Taliban arrests, there are two major theories about Pakistan's motives. One says Pakistan rounded up "moderate" Taliban leaders, those who favored reconciliation talks, so they would be replaced by … Read more

by Eric Martin Rush Limbaugh's travel plans appear to have hit a snag: Yesterday, Rush Limbaugh — who has been one of health care reform’s most vociferous opponents — warned his loyal troop of “ditto heads” that if health care passes, he’ll leave the country for Costa Rica. “I’ll just tell you this,” Limbaugh said … Read more

by Eric Martin Peter Beinart is worried that if U.S. troops leave Iraq, the civil war will reignite and and all the hard work on the part of our selfless liberators will be for naught.  His piece is all over the map (both literally and figuratively) and is as muddled a crie d coeur for the soon-to-be-abandoned Iraq as you'll … Read more

by Eric Martin The residents of Iraq took to the polls Sunday for another parliamentary election.  While the results in terms of voter preference won't be known for several days, the turnout (in the 60% range) was solid, if not overwhelming (turnout was lower than the mid-70% seen during the last parliamentary elections in 2005, but up from … Read more

by Eric Martin Sarah Palin during a speech before a Canadian audience: PALIN: We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada. And I think now, isn’t that ironic? Haha.  Irony!  Apparently, that whole socialism thing didn't look so bad after all – even for someone with access to the Best Health … Read more

by Eric Martin If you live in the Swissvale-8 burrough in Alleghany County, please vote for Dave Anderson for precinct captain for the Democratic Committee.  I've had the pleasure of meeting both David and his brother for a pint (well, several pints if you must) of Guinness on a recent trip he made to the rotten … Read more

by Eric Martin Eric's life improved significantly with the purchase of a portable chair suitable for kids his age (plenty of back support).  It gives him a sense of involvement and parity with others in the room.  But it may be going to his head.  The typical pattern ensues.  Joy:  Then a world weariness and … Read more

by Eric Martin What Glenn said: When discussing the McCarthyite DOJ witch hunt spawned by Liz Cheney and Bill Kristol, I wrote yesterday:  now that "we have real, live, contemporary McCarthyites in our midst — Liz Cheney and Bill Kristol — launching a repulsive smear campaign, we'll see what the reaction is and how they're treated by our … Read more

by Eric Martin Following in the fine tradition of tax allergic Colorado Springs, the government of the State of Arizona has penned one peculiar "Dear John" letter to its constituents: The people of Arizona kept their upper lips stiff when officials mortgaged off the state’s executive office tower and a “Daily Show” crew rolled into … Read more

He deserves Paradise who makes his companions laugh -The Koran (or perhaps a Hadith) If you haven't heard already, the blogger known as Jon Swift has died rather suddenly, and far too soon regardless. His real name is Al Weisel. His mother posted this comment on his blog. I don't know how else to tell you … Read more

by Eric Martin Elrond and Cirdan counselled Isildur to destroy the Ring immediately in the fires of Mount Doom. But Isildur refused, saying: "This I will have as weregild for my father's death, and my brother's. Was it not I that dealt the Enemy his death-blow?" -The Silmarillion: "Of the Rings of Power and the … Read more

by Eric Martin Digby cites the New York Daily News' version, but there's something short and sweet (and crow-ish) about the take from Murdoch's Post: The video that unleashed a firestorm of criticism on the activist group ACORN was a "heavily edited" splice job that only made it appear as though the organization's workers were … Read more

by Eric Martin While it depresses me to no-end that so many on the Right side of the spectrum insist on obfuscating the nature of the climate change crisis by making sophomoric arguments - like pointing out that sometimes it snows in February, and that the presence of snow in winter supposedly disproves climate change – at … Read more