Frivolous Friday Open Thread

15 Comments

1. 

   PsiFighter37 on November 2, 2007 at 7:17 pm

   I saw this movie for the first time a couple weeks ago. Surprised I didn’t notice how many times they dropped the f-bomb.

   I’m impressed.

   • 

     blksista on November 2, 2007 at 10:25 pm

     now that I have been gasping for breath for the last ten minutes while laughing my ass off.  I like Jeff Bridges and I like John Goodman.

     Yes, I’ve got to get this picture.

     • 

       BooMan on November 2, 2007 at 10:32 pm

       you’ll love it.

2. 

   BooMan on November 2, 2007 at 7:20 pm

   Schumer’s statement:

   I will support Judge Michael Mukasey for attorney general.

   I have spent the last nine months doing everything I can to get new leadership at the Department of Justice, and I believe the job will not be finished until we get a strong and independent attorney general. I believe Judge Mukasey is that type of person. Should we reject him, it is almost certain that an acting, caretaker attorney general will take office without the advice and consent of the Senate. Inevitably, that would enable those in this administration, who do not believe in the rule of law, and have done things that caused even former Attorney General Ashcroft to threaten resignation, to have the complete upper hand.

   Only a strong and independent attorney general can return the Justice Department to what it once was and should always be. Under this administration, that nominee will certainly never share our views on issues like torture and wiretapping. The best we can hope for is someone who is independent, has integrity, will put rule of law first and, above all, will clean the stench of politicization out of the Justice Department. I believe Judge Mukasey will be that type of attorney general.

   This is an extremely difficult decision. When an administration, so political, so out of touch with the realities of governing and so contemptuous of the rule of law is in charge, we are never left with an ideal choice. Judge Mukasey is not my ideal choice. However, Judge Mukasey, whose integrity and independence is respected even by those who oppose him, is far better than anyone could expect from this administration. He is recommended by and reminds me of Jim Comey, another Bush nominee who — while he didn’t agree with us on the issues — showed the kind of independence and integrity this department needs.

   I would also like to say something about torture, particularly waterboarding. I deeply oppose it. I supported Senator Kennedy’s amendment in 2006 and am a co-sponsor of his bill in this Congress. Unfortunately, this nominee, indeed any proposed by President Bush, will not agree with this. I am, however, confident that this nominee would enforce a law that bans waterboarding as I hope it will.

   This afternoon, I met with Judge Michael Mukasey one more time. I requested the meeting to address, in person, some of my concerns. The judge made clear to me that were Congress to pass a law banning certain interrogation techniques, we would clearly be acting within our constitutional authority. And he flatly told me that the president would have absolutely no legal authority to ignore such a law, not even under some theory of inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution. He also pledged to enforce such a law and repeated his willingness to leave office rather than participate in a violation of law.

   Judge Mukasey is a lawyer’s lawyer. He will not leap to quick judgments. When we want him to do so, such as on torture, we will be disappointed. But when he resists those in the administration who want quick and facile answers, so they can get their way, so they can roll over civil liberties and blot out separation of powers, it is they who will be disappointed.

   I realize that, should he become attorney general, Judge Mukasey and I will disagree on many issues. I have told him that I will battle just as fiercely against him as I did against previous attorney generals when we disagree.

   These are troubling times at the Justice Department. We cannot afford or allow the department to languish and limp along for the next 14 months. I deeply esteem those who believe the issue of torture is so paramount that Judge Mukasey’s views on it should be the sole determinant of our vote. But I must respectfully disagree. The Justice Department is a shambles: politicized and demoralized. The belief and hope that Justice Mukasey, with his experience, independence and integrity, can restore the department motivates my vote.

   Care to dissect?

   • 

     CabinGirl on November 2, 2007 at 7:28 pm

     Short version:

     “This administration is made up of criminals, and we’ll never get an AG nominee who believes in the rule of law.  Suck it up for what the Dem leadership is claiming will be 14 months until the next election. So, we’ll just go along to get along, like we’ve been doing.”

     Too bad Chuck hasn’t noticed that there won’t be anything left of the constitution by the time 11/08 rolls around…and whoever steps into the Preznit’s seat isn’t going to want to roll back the new powers of monarchy they’ll be receiving.

     Fuck them all.

     • 

       stormkite on November 2, 2007 at 10:33 pm

       Shorter version: Nader was right, we are them and they are us and you are all fucked.

   • 

     keepinon on November 2, 2007 at 8:46 pm

     It is incredibly difficult to believe the statement, especially the last sentence. In it, one out of three ain’t good.

   • 

     billjpa on November 2, 2007 at 10:48 pm

     there is really no reason to dissect this fraaud. Schumer has a different agenda. Let me be clear- I am a Jew by birth but a very limited practicing ew. However, I am first and foremost- an American. And here is the commundrum. Apparently, Schumer has a different agenda. It is a non- provable crime and he should be attacked for the crime. As to should Feinstein. There is a much bigger picture here and nobody is gonna talk.To disect this is an intellectual game. considering the effort needed- its a waste of time. What needs to be disected is the condition of this dem party and on a much more important level, the state of the union.
     That I can do easily. The Democratic Party is dead. Totally and completely dead. As to the state of the union- it is on life support. In any case, the simple answer is what I have been screaming out about for a hell of a long time. Quit the party and lets find a new party to support. It will take one hell of a long time to bear fruitbut the fruit available is rotten.

   • 

     Drewsky on November 3, 2007 at 1:38 am

     I just threw up in my mouth.

3. 

   CabinGirl on November 2, 2007 at 7:30 pm

4. 

   michael72 on November 2, 2007 at 8:45 pm

   i am too upset by all this to make much of a remark or analyze his text other than to say that these two senators are just spineless reactionaries masquerading as ‘moderates’ who have sold out the most basic tenets and humanity of our constitutional system. it’s beynod obscene.
   may they all spend a few aeons in dante’s seventh level of Hell where they should be waterboarded for a few centuries of Eternity (along with the main republican culprits of course. Hell after all is an equal opportunity enforcer)

5. 

   donmyers on November 2, 2007 at 8:50 pm

   The Democrats are not winning the next election – they have given it away! Many of us will question whether we should simply stay away from the polls – what good has it done to have these Democrats in office?

6. 

   Brendan Skwire on November 2, 2007 at 8:57 pm

   It’s 8:45 PM, and I’ve had a ling day away from the news.  I knew Schumer was going to cave but I am still angry about it.
   So i called his office to leave a message.

   the phone is busy. on friday. at 8:45 PM.

   The last time the democrats made up their minds to do something shitty, I believe it was the Military Commissions Act or perhaps the Blank Check of 2007, all their phones were coincidentally off the hook at the same time until well after the business day was over.

   That’s a cowardly act that shows what shitheads these people are.

   Charles Schumer isn’t just a bad leader or a bad Senator.  He’s just proven that he is a bad PERSON.
   He should be shunned.  It should happen to HIS family.  Oh wait, it did.  

   Disgraceful.  What a disgraceful troglodyte of a hobgoblin. I’ve pinched out bloody stools with more character than Mr. Schumer.  His announcement today makes it clear he doesn’t honor his relatives’ memory in the slightest, it’s all just cheap politics.

   Fuck you Senator Schumer.  Fuck you in your shriveled little dickhole with a soldering iron.

7. 

   BlueMonkey on November 3, 2007 at 2:22 am

   Couldn’t have said it better myself.

   The dude abides.

   (And Schumer should have a pineapple shoved up his ass sideways.)

8. 

   Kamakhya on November 3, 2007 at 2:42 am

   I am so pissed.  I can’t believe that my senator endorses torture.  It is just too fucking sickening to contemplate.  DiFi is a corporate whore who will do anything to keep the status quo.  Fuck her.  I will write an angry email that will be just as ignored as every other email she receives.  She doesn’t give a flying fuck for her constituents.  She is completely beholden to corporate interests.  DiFi is a corporate whore and should be kicked out of office.  She’s as bad as LIEberman and we need to scream it loud and clear.  She’s an embarrassment to democrats and an embarrassment to her constituents, most of whom have no clue how she votes.