Normally I'd say boo-fuggin-hoo, another reporter complaining about how hard their life is living on a bus covering a campaign, we all know it sucks... but these paragraphs got me interested:

On the bus, the agent ran through some of the security precautions the press would face, like getting rescreened with a magnetometer each time they left the campaign “bubble” [protective cordon]—say, for a trip to the bathroom. The potential risks of such a breach: someone might slip something in your bag when you weren’t looking, or you might pay a visit to your “Lebanese cabdriver friend who hands you a machine gun,” he explained.

This last line didn’t go over so well. Journalists shot each other incredulous looks: he didn’t just say that, did he? Even worse, the network cameraman seated directly in front of the agent happened to be Lebanese. When it came time for questions, the cameraman’s hand shot up. “I take offense” he said of the implied equation between Lebanese people and terrorists. The cameraman then noted the many patriotic Americans who had Lebanese roots. “You’re right,” the agent replied, chastened. “I apologize.”

How can somebody this stupid be running protection for John Edwards? Maybe this guy shouldn't be fired, but he shouldn't be head of security... I mean- making a racist statement directly to the media? How fucking stupid is that?

All week the White House has been saying, "Gosh, we really, really would like the 9/11 commission to continue... gosh darn it... If only that Dennis Hastert wasn't being so mean and saying it shouldn't get an extension but what can we do? We're only the administration, and he's the speaker of the house... aw heck!"

Well, they've gotten their wish- Hastert caved and is now allowing the 60 day extension. Even he suddenly realized there was no way to cut this inquiry short without a good explanation.

The article states he's coming out with a children's book. That'll go well with O'Reilly "No Sperm Zone" condoms, the O'Reilly "Who's Looking Out For You" Dildo Hutch, and the O'Reilly Max "Factor" brand makeup- made specifically for old, balding, blotchy, white men.

Glenn Frankel writes in the Washington Post this morning that British spies have been listening in on Kofi Annan's conversations in the lead-up to the Iraq war.

Prime Minister Tony Blair branded Short's allegations "deeply irresponsible" but refused to confirm or deny them, saying that to do so would violate his government's policy of not discussing intelligence matters.

Yeah, deeply irresponsible to allege this, nevermind if it's true.

What a screwy story.

Drudge has the tranny... er... transcript:

'SMUT ON TV GETS PRAISED. SMUT ON TV WINS EMMYS. ON RADIO, THERE SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT STANDARDS,' LIMBAUGH EXPLAINED.

'I'VE NEVER HEARD HOWARD STERN.

(That's a lie- Before Stern led the way Rush was spinning records for a living.)

BUT WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GETS INVOLVED IN THIS, I GET A LITTLE FRIGHTENED.

'IF WE ARE GOING TO SIT BY AND LET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GET INVOLVED IN THIS, IF THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO 'CENSOR' WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT AND WRONG... WHAT HAPPENS IF A WHOLE BUNCH OF JOHN KERRYS, OR TERRY MCAULIFFES START RUNNING THIS COUNTRY. AND DECIDE CONSERVATIVE VIEWS ARE LEADING TO VIOLENCE?

'I AM IN THE FREE SPEECH BUSINESS. ITS ONE THING FOR A COMPANY TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE PARTY TO IT. ITS ANOTHER THING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO DO IT.'

Finally a conservative standing up for what's right? That's new... I'm starting to think that by November even Limbaugh won't be able to bring himself to vote for Bush.

From the 2/25/2004 show:
Howard: That's our president. Little monkey. Time for him to go. His days are over. Time for him to go.
Robin: Another one-term Bush presidency.
Howard: Yeah, please.
Robin: Be just like your dad.
Howard: Yeah, let him be like the dad- a failure. When it's all said and done. Stupid dick. Call off your attack dogs, Mr. President, get on with the real problems. Stupid-ass gay marriage crap, everything else you're into. They said to him in the paper today, "Well, how do you know gay marriage is bad?" he goes, "I just know." I just know! How does a guy like that just know? A guy who's bankrupted several companies, how does he know? Wouldn't you say to yourself "I bankrupted a bunch of companies, I don't know a goddamn thing?"
Robin: Yeah, "I better ask somebody."
Howard: "I better talk to someone about this." Yeah, what's the difference? What do I know? Do whatever you want.

Hours later Clear Channel pulled Howard from the airwaves.

The commission requested more time partially because the White House was uncooperative and stalled on handing over documents. Meanwhile:

• Condi Rice declined to testify before the commission
  
• Clinton and Gore have agreed to testify before the commission
  
• Bush and Cheney only will talk to the Republican head of the commission, not the entire board.

Before this administration I never considered Republicans inherently evil- I've since reconsidered that opinion.

This is the guy who was the biggest hawk, urged the invasion of Iraq, invented an office in the Pentagon to dream up a case for war, then last week had the balls to say Tenent should be fired for midleading intelligence.

This was one evil fuck- I'm glad he's gone.

While Howard Stern was on vacation last week he read Al Franken's latest book, "Lies and the Lying liars Who Tell Them: A Fair And Balanced Look At The Right."

A combination of the information in that book and the rediculous travesty of the recent hearings before congress about the Super Bowl Half-Time show "tragedy" have caused Howard to rethink some of his normally GOP-friendly political positions.

He's certainly a social liberal- but he's consistantly supported Republican candidates and supported the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive invasions of sovereign nations that are deemed possible threats (and about half the time turn out not to be...) Until this week, Howard (and most of the crew on the show) steadfastly defended President Bush against any and all criticism from callers and guests on a daily basis. Now Howard is making a point of saying that he is no longer planning on voting for Bush- in fact, his new mantra is "anyone but Bush."

He's also started busting the administration on obvious conflicts of interest, such as Colin Powell's son running the FCC and Dick Cheney socializing with a Supreme Court justice who has Cheney's case in front of him. Up until this week Howard was either unaware or unconcerned about these issues. Now, just days after he turned on Bush, he's been barred from all Clear Channel stations.

This is no coincidence.

Clear Channel communications has a damning history of pandering to the Bush administration. Remember the Dixie Chicks? They were suddenly pulled off of ALL Clear Channel stations for criticizing the president. How evil is that? Now that Clear Channel has become the largest radio conglomerate in history, radio has gotten incredibly bland. DJ's are no longer local. Music is programmed through a high tech version of payola. This is the final decline of radio as we know it. Radio used to be a great thing. No longer.

Howard has talked about the corruption of the FCC for years- in 1997 the FCC threatened to halt all of Infinity's paperwork and never approve future purchases of radio stations or consolidation if they challenged the millions of dollars in fines the FCC demanded to be paid. Howard cheered the news that fines were being increased after the Super Bowl Holocaust- maybe now someone will actually fight the fines instead of just writing them off as a cost of doing business.

Howard has predicted that he will be fired before the end of the year- with an environment like this it seems very likely, very soon. He also said he was going to offer his resignation next Monday to Mel Karmazin- the head of Viacom, owner of Infinity. We'll see where this goes, Howard has been threatening to quit since the early '90's because of censorship. Now finally it's coming to a head. It may take moving to a new medium- satellite- to give Howard the freedom he needs to continue doing a great show.

Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart discuss the gay marriage issue.

Right-wing ideologue Bill O'Reilly gave a speech in California last Friday and declared, "If I were gay I'd marry Hillary." This according to Scoobie Davis who attended and files his report here.

O'Reilly still claims to be a regular guy with no agenda, just a desire to set America on the right track- A Jesus (and only Jesus!) loving, gun wielding, sovereign nation invading, homo-marriage-hating, death penalty flip-flopping, hip-hop banning, right-wing nation.

He claims to not even know he's a right wing extremist! Well, we all know the truth, don't we?


What a douche-bag.

Link courtesy of Atrios