The fact that I am not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle.

And you will probably find me a blasphemer, but I think Yes, Minister is the better show!

Factors to consider are institutions like the International Monetary Fund, which work to perpetuate structural inequality that favors the West. Even in the unlikely event that the U.S. broke into several states, having such forces as the IMF in place would make a large shift in the global balance of power unlikely, perhaps.

If the states broke up here, it certainly would make a big difference to me, at least! I would move out of this stinking red state I am in and go back to my home state of Massachusetts. Or maybe Oregon. :)

But I suspect that the EU would fill the void left by the weakened states, and they would just create a slightly more enlightened empire. If that isn't an oxymoron, I don't know what is. I am not an economics expert, but cannot debt be sold or transferred?--isn't that practice in fact part of what led to this recession? And the debt to the IMF, for instance, is not exactly the same as debt to the U.S. So then, would any of the developing nations in the grip of the IMF be any better off? It's an interesting hypothetical question, but I am pretty doubtful about any significant change for the better.

He's very upset about Wanda Sykes going after Limbaugh. Nevermind the substance--it wasn't funny, he claims (despite the howls of laughter in the room). This is the same lame critique that Goldberg types used against Colbert--unfunny!, and tasteless!, rhubarb, rhubarb.

I thought Obama was fairly good for most of his talk, though I have my quibbles," Jonah Goldberg wrote on The Corner at National Review Online. "I thought Wanda Sykes had some funny lines, but was generally pretty bad. Yes, I thought the Limbaugh stuff was particularly awful, not just because it was offensive, but because it was unfunny. Biting humor is fine at events like this, so long as it's humorous. Sykes' schtick was a cliche wrapped in a lefty talking point.

Goldberg, whatever you come up with will necessarily be some nonsensical bullshit, but at least you could shoot for some originality, hmmm?

What did the Buddha say to the hot dog vendor?

"Make me one with everything."

I thought some of you would be interested. I certainly am:

www.reasonproject.org

The Reason Project is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation devoted to spreading scientific knowledge and secular values in society. Drawing on the talents of some of the most prominent and creative thinkers across a wide range of disciplines, The Reason Project seeks to encourage critical thinking and wise public policy through a variety of interrelated projects — all with the purpose of eroding the influence of dogmatism, superstition, and bigotry in our world.

It's the equivalent of a toddler screeching at the top of his lungs to make sure mommy pays attention to him. And no one else.

Don't screech. If your arguments are sound, people will read your letter. But if most readers are like me, they take all bold letters as a sign to skip over it.

In the first public testimony of anyone directly involved, former bureau agent Ali Soufan is expected to directly contradict assertions by CIA officials and former Vice President Cheney that the "enhanced interrogation techniques" were successful in prying information out of al Qaeda detainees.

Nevertheless, it is maddening to see that the topic continues to be torture's usefulness rather than its lawlessness.

This whole thing with England is so shameful, so terrible. History will not be kind to the politicians steering us through this phase of late capitalism.

The memo stunt has already taken its toll on morale and the Guantanamo stunt is proving to be more-or-less undoable. Perhaps Obama himself is finally putting aside childish things. If so, it’s not a moment too soon. We await tomorrow’s news.

I wonder how the "memo stunt" has taken a toll on morale? Has anyone done anything other than just assert this? I wonder where the proof of this is.

And does he mean that Guantanamo should keep on doing what it was doing in the past? That would be a good thing, I guess. Great recruitment tool for Al Quaeda.

Childish things: The law and transparency.

At least Bush prayed and wished in his heart that he was doing the right thing

Somehow I can't picture Bush, the guy who flips off journalists and calls them assholes, the guy who jokes about not being able to find WMD, worrying about doing the right thing.

Well, maybe for the super-rich, the ones he calls "his base."

But if I think of Bush praying, it's like that line from Catcher in the Rye:

He started telling us how he was never ashamed, when he was in some kind of trouble or something, to get right down on his knees and pray to God. He told us we should always pray to God - talk to Him and all - whenever we were. He told us we ought to think of Jesus as our buddy and all. He said he talked to Jesus all the time. Even when he was driving in his car. That killed me. I can just see the big phony bastard shifting into first gear and asking Jesus to send him a few more stiffs.

Maybe Jebbie could do an animated version of that Salon pay-per-view!

Yes!

And visualize the outcome. Pic at sig. :)

Rumsfeld whacks his balls with a hammer?

That explains a lot. It's like the monastic self-flagellation of the age of modern imperialism. :)

Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem. WHACK! Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem. WHACK! Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem. WHACK! Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem. WHACK!