According to this WaPo article, the GOP may be planning a coup to oust Cheney and replace him with a 2008 presidential contender, giving their eventual ticket some "incumbent" advantage.
I've been saying for years this would happen—although I underestimated Cheney's fixed adoration of his little dictatorship, so I figured he would have stepped down "for health reasons" by now.
More Cheney-Hatin'
I Hate Dick Cheney
Larkohio wants some Cheney-hatin' this morning, and I couldn't agree more. The WaPo's four-part series on the vice president has so infuriated me, I just want to punch something every time I hear his dicktastic name or see his dicktastic face. Last night, The Daily Show delivered the goods, as per usual, about Cheney's tortured logic about how the vice president isn't part of the executive branch.
Discuss.
Shakesville Down
In case anyone happens to stop by over here to see what's going on with Shakesville, here's the deal: We appear to be under a DOS attack. We are in the process of trying to move to a dedicated server, and we'll be back ASAP.
UPDATE: Well, I wish I had an update for you, but I don't just yet. We're working on it, and I hope that Shakesville will be back online soon. In the meantime, I'll open a Virtual Pub just below, so at least we have someplace to hang out.
Moving Day!
Recently, Space Cowboy had the idea of putting together a Shaker Mosaic, compiling as many of our collective gorgeous, smiling faces as there were Shakers willing to participate.
At long last, the image is ready—but you won't find it here.
You're going to have to go to our new home.
That's right, Shakers. Update your blogrolls, your feeds, and your favorites—because Shakespeare's Sister has moved to Shakesville. Head on over and join us. We're waiting for you there.
Quote of the Day
"Just wait until Chocolate Jesus melts. I bet it'll be into the shape of the Virgin Mary. Then everyone will really go nuts." — Mama Shakes
Donohue: Head of the Hate League
The six-foot chocolate Jesus, "My Sweet Lord," that was set to be displayed at the Lab Gallery in Manhattan will not be shown as a result of the whinge assault led by the Catholic League's Bill Donohue. The gallery's creative director, Matt Semler, has resigned in protest.
Bill Donohue, head of the watchdog Catholic League, said it was "one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever."What a familiar pattern. Donohue gets his panties in a wad over something, and the targets of his ire get death threats. Where have I heard that before…?
The hotel and the gallery were overrun Thursday with angry phone calls and e-mails about the exhibit. Semler said the calls included death threats over the work of artist Cosimo Cavallaro, who was described as disappointed by the decision to cancel the display.
"In this situation, the hotel couldn't continue to be supportive because of a fear for their own safety," Semler said.
Lest there be any remaining doubt about from whence this violent hatred comes, check out Donohue debating the artist, Cosmo Cavallaro, on Anderson Cooper's show (there's a full transcript at the link). Donohue not only states quite plainly that his goal is to make people with whom he disagrees "financially bankrupt," but tells Cavallaro: "You're lucky I'm not as mean [as the Taliban], because you might lose more than your head." So, in case you're keeping score—a statue of Jesus carved out of chocolate: "one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever." Veiled threats of deadly violence against the artist: totally cool.
Why on earth did Anderson Cooper let him get away with that horseshit? The only appropriate response after a statement like "you might lose more than your head" is "I'm sorry, Mr. Donohue. We don't tolerate our guests speaking to other guests in that manner. Cut his microphone. Thank you and goodnight, sir." Instead, Cooper blandly goes on with the inane questioning—"Cosimo, did you want people to eat this?" leaving Cavallaro to state the obvious: "No. Did you hear what this gentleman is saying, that I would lose my head?"
It's not Cooper who replies, however, but Donohue, who repeats himself: "You're lucky I'm not like the Taliban, because you would lose more than your head."
This is what now passes for acceptable public discourse. (In fact, crypto-eliminationist rhetoric is all the rage these days, it seems.) Donohue cannot distance himself from the inevitable death threats received by the targets of his smear campaigns by claiming he didn't tell people to do that, nor can he profess surprise, when he's leading the charge. Only the profoundly foolish or willfully ignorant could deny the true nature of the statements made by Donohue. If it weren't for my pesky morals, I'd do worse than behead you is what he is saying. And once it is said, I believe there's no question that his morals are little more than window dressing—a necessary embellishment on the otherwise stark fortress of hate in which he resides if he wants to keep that $300,000 annual salary rolling in.
Digby wonders why the Catholic Church has not officially denounced Donohue and the Catholic League, which evokes a rather consternating conundrum. The Catholic Church obviously never sanctioned Donohue as some sort of official spokesperson, and yet he's become one—for which the media tends to get the blame. Every Catholic I know says Donohue doesn't reflect their views and puts the onus for his being treated otherwise on the media outlets who give him the spotlight; in a recent interview with Salon's Rebecca Traister, the outgoing president of Catholics for a Free Choice, Frances Kissling, noted she's "horrified" Donohue is treated as "represent[ing] some mainstream organization" and that his positions are "being given merit" by the media. It's a position with which I am deeply sympathetic, as I'm absolutely furious that Donohue—and all the rest of the eliminationist brigade—continue to be given free reign by the media to disgorge their taunts and threats and hatemongering. It's not just vulgar, but irresponsible, that Donohue was given air time to spew provocative vitriol and all but exhort violence against his ideological enemies.
But here’s the thing—if the media turned to Catholic news aggregates and community sites to see if they consider Donohue's positions meritous, it's no wonder they afford him attention. Catholic News, which appears to stick to what might be called more important news, seems to blissfully ignore him. But Catholic Online, which purports to be "the World's Largest and Most Comprehensive Catholic Information Service available," asserts their Catholic laity and clergy staff seek to "provide Internet users with resources and connections to sites and information which are truly Catholic," and claims a million page views a day from 120 countries, posts favorable stories about Donohue. So does American Catholic, part of the St. Anthony Messenger Press and Franciscan Communications, which "conducts its publishing ministry with the official ecclesiastical approval of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cincinnati." So does Catholic Exchange, which describes itself as "a non-profit media organization that seeks to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ as proclaimed by the Catholic Church" and has been endorsed by presidential candidate Senator Sam Brownback. Catholic.net features stories citing Donohue as a credible source. Etc.
The sites promote Donohue, the media (fairly) sees he is a spokesman for some Catholics, so they quote him, thereby bolstering his credibility; more Catholic sites pick up the mainstream media stories about him and promote those; the media picks up on that increasing noise, and, begins (unfairly) to present him as a spokesman for all Catholics; and, then, in an ironic twist, his dissenters must inadvertently legitimize him as well when they are thusly compelled to weigh in. To highlight their dissent at his being regarded as a spokesperson for Catholics, for example, Catholics for a Free Choice highlights five stories in which Donohue is quoted—because they are, too. And so it goes. Frustratingly but factually, Donohue's credibility is not just conferred by the media, but this whole all-too-familiar, self-perpetuating cycle that does indeed include Catholics who have no problem with Donohue's schtick.
Truly, the problem isn't that he doesn't speak for everyone as much as it is that he does speak for someone. Donohue gets only half his nourishment from the media. The other half comes from the people who believe in his crusades, who support his crusades with letter-writing and donations, who nod their heads with righteous vigor when their crusader demeans, marginalizes, attacks, or threatens his targets, whether it is a single artist or an entire American demographic, like pro-choicers, the LGBT community, atheists, or liberals. We say things like, "Bill Donohue doesn't represent all Catholics any more than Pat Robertson represents all Protestants," and we should—but we've also got to stop using that to end the discussion. Too many quick dismissals about how Bill Donohue and Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell and James Dobson et. al. don't represent all Christians has left us with a country in which, collectively, they nonetheless represent a hell of a lot of them, who are now politicized, organized, and determined to overcome the incompatibility of their particular brand of religion with American ideals not by reexamining their religion, but by changing the face of America.
This is why "Bill Donohue doesn't represent all Catholics" will never suddenly make the media stop paying attention to him, because they can (and always do) come back with the legitimate response that there are nevertheless Catholics he does represent. Instead, we've got to feast on any opportunity Donohue gives us to point out rhetoric that justifies his permanent exile from the public discourse, even if there are a lot of people who support him. "You're lucky I'm not like the Taliban, because you would lose more than your head" is one of those opportunities.
Contact Anderson Cooper 360° and let them know you won't watch shows that allow unchecked threats to be made on-air.
More from Zuzu and Pastor Dan.
You Shall Know Me By My Bumper Stickers
Spot the irony!
Saturday Night Music
It's still Saturday where I am!
I thought this would work well enough: Jesus of Suburbia
Just for fun, my favorite off the American Idiot album: Homecoming
Friday Cat Blogging
Olivia: Sniffin' stuff with the cutest pink nose evah.
Layin'.
Sittin'.
Don't Let the Door Hit Ya Where the Good Lord Split Ya
Over the past several years, Peter H. Wehner has sent a blizzard of e-mails around the White House and the rest of Washington, offering strategy and policy ideas to President Bush and making the case for those policies to outsiders. The president calls them "Wehner-grams," and their author has been so prolific that they now fill 24 binders.Wehner says, "I've been here six years, and there was just the sense that it was time to go." "Insiders" say that Wehner's departure "owes more to the cycle of a presidency late in its tenure rather than to any overall design." White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten says it's just the "natural ebb and flow" of the institution.
But sometime in the coming weeks, Wehner will gather those 24 binders in a box and sign off of his well-worn White House e-mail account for the last time. Wehner, the White House director of strategic initiatives and the official in-house intellectual for a president often derided as anti-intellectual, will be the latest Bush aide to move on.
I say maybe this has something to do with it: "Wehner became best known, though, for his e-mails. They started out as notes to colleagues pointing out an essay they might have missed and evolved into lengthy musings on the role of the Bush presidency in history or the nature of radical jihad—sent to 1,000 officials, lobbyists, journalists and others." Hmm. I'd love to read those. I'm sure the now-Democratic chairs of a couple of Congressional committees would, too, all things considered.
And likely outta there:
Multiple sources reported today that a top aide to President George W. Bush's key adviser Karl Rove will soon step down from her job in the White House. The aide, Sara M. Taylor, was identified in yesterday's hearing with a former top Justice Department official as seeking the resignation of a US Attorney in Arkansas. She could still face a subpoena, RAW STORY learned.In fact, the Wire reports that not just Taylor, but Barry Jackson, a longtime Rove aide, is also expected to leave soon.
…Both the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire blog reported today that Sara Taylor, the White House political director, is set to resign soon.
There are two issues likely at play here. One is that Taylor, along with her deputy, Scott Jennings, were both identified by Kyle Sampson during his testimony yesterday as being keen to replace ousted US Attorney Bud Cummins with Tim Griffin. (You may remember that convincing Arkansas' Democratic Senators of the wisdom of Griffin's interim appointment was described by Sampson as needing to "be done in 'good faith' of course.") So there's a road into Rove's office from the US Attorney Scandal.
The other issue is that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is seeking more information about the PowerPoint presentation given to the General Services Administration " that discussed targeting 20 Democratic congressional candidates in the next election." (Recall GSA director Lorita Doan's pitiful testimony about said presentation on Wednesday.) That presentation was given by—surprise!—Taylor's deputy, Scott Jennings. So there's a road into Rove's office from the GSA Scandal.
Shocking.
Sad Kermit
This would be the yin to the cute otters' yang. I was listening to the radio yesterday in the car and a local DJ was laughing herself silly over this video. It's Kermit the Frog, covering Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt." It really isn't easy being green, bitchez!
Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" video here. Lyrics here.
Caption These Photos
Via Attaturk. H/T Chet.
Many thanks to Reuters' Jason Reed, who is still a total fucking genius.
Vet Net, "Unsung," and 2000 signatures
Chuc Smith of Veterans for Peace, who co-hosted the airing of Vet Net (station KDHX) in which I was a guest, is pleased to report that the show is now available in streaming audio. It can also be downloaded as a podcast. Our show on LaVena Johnson is the first one available. Get it here!
Last weekend, many visitors came to the petition site by way of an impassioned piece on the LaVena Johnson case posted at Welcome to Pottersville. It was heartening to read, and a fine example of the writing and advocacy many others are doing on behalf of LaVena's family.
LaVena’s death just eight days shy of her 20th birthday would be an excellent counter recruiting commercial as to why you should do everything in your power to keep your daughter from enlisting. The straight A student, who wasn’t ready for college right out of high school, wanted to travel, earn money for college for later. She was seduced by the siren call of a recruiter at Hazelwood High School who told her only what he wanted her to hear, what she wanted to hear. After her funeral, her father went through her drawer and found a recruiting brochure that said, “Earn $25,000 toward college.” [...]Gone now are the pie in the sky promises of college and $25,000 for it. Now, her usefulness at an end, the Army cannot and will not even tell her family the truth about her death. Here’s what they will talk about: When LeKesha Johnson, the youngest of the five Johnson kids and the sole surviving daughter, became a senior, the Army began calling the family. When the Johnsons finally told them that they’d already lost a daughter in Iraq and that no one else would be enlisting, the calls kept coming, anyway. Back then, the Johnsons didn’t know they could opt out and prevent the DoD from using No Child Left Behind to get their contact information. Now they know but only too late.
I recommend everyone to read the post in its entirety. Heartfelt thanks to the author (a Shaker not unlike yourself, or myself), who goes by the non de plume "jurassicpork." I will gratefully post his actual name here should he grant his permission.
Last night the number of signatures on the LaVena Johnson petition passed the threshold of two thousand. Each name on this list, every concerned person, is valued and important.
Quote of the Day
"The problem this bitch sees is that no one takes the time to connect all those 'families have been stretched to the breaking point' Today Show headline-making studies with dumb ass big business supported ideas like 'we need to rethink the family leave act'. If they did connect them, they might find that the sandwich generation is going to need that family leave business...big time. And yes, they will need it for shit like a cold. Elderly parents with the common cold are a 'I'm going to stay home' kind of illness. Now of course a bitch is sure there are some people abusing FMLA. Shit, Big Business abuses the tax code every year and I don't see anyone doing anything about that shit (wink). Seriously, abuse of anything goes hand and hand with people. But some abuse should not be the excuse for tossing aside FMLA just when the largest generation of Americans is most likely going to need to start using it. Blink. Or is that the point?"—Shark-Fu
Sweet Jesus
Bill Donahue is back in the news, this time he's bitching about Jesus. Well, more specifically about one sweeeeeet Jesus:
NEW YORK - The Easter season unveiling of an anatomically correct chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ, dubbed “My Sweet Lord” by its creator, has infuriated Catholics preparing to observe some of their holiest days of the year.OH NOES! No loincloth! You mean Jesus had a penis?! A giant chocolate Jesus with a penis for all to see. I'm surprised Donahue didn't keel right over.
The 6-foot sculpture by Cosimo Cavallaro was to debut Monday evening, four days before Christians mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. The final day of the exhibit at the Lab Gallery inside Manhattan’s Roger Smith Hotel was planned for Easter Sunday.
“This is one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever,” said Bill Donohue, head of the Catholic League, a watchdog group. “It’s not just the ugliness of the portrayal, but the timing — to choose Holy Week is astounding.”
[...]
The artwork was created from more than 200 pounds of milk chocolate, and it features Christ with his arms outstretched. The Cavallaro creation does not include a loincloth.
You can check out a (SFW) picture at the link.
