You don't elect someone to look over his shoulder every minute second guessing him.

Actually, I want Congress doing that, and the courts watching both; according to the Constitution, that's their job.

Finally we have a decent president and you want to hobble him at first opportunity.

Again, that's what those quaint "eighteenth century laws" demand. After the transconstitutional Bush, I most definitely want the Presidency "hobbled."

The telecom industry was deputized for that purpose.

Gack...sputter...aaaggghh!...I'd trust the freaking KGB before I trust the telecoms!

Well, if they've been "deputized," can I at least deduct my telecom bills from my taxes?

Click on my sig.

Her explanation is very clear and straightforward.

or if you drove in on roads,

or were kept safe on the way by cops,

or had to take medicine whose development I helped pay for.

Sorry, but that sign up front (though I do admire its artistic lettering!) is another bit of wingnut self-pity that gets on my nerves: the idea that no one else pays the tax bills but poor little you.

Well, sorry pal, but I just mailed off a fat check, carved out of my hard-earned dollars, that'll help pay for your protection, for the education of your kids, grandkids, neighbors, and employees, and for keeping your air and water cleaner than it's been in the past, oh, eight years or so. So instead of "oinking," or indulging in masturbatory self-rightousness, I suggest you help yourself to a big, steaming mug of STFU.

And during the days of the Republic, the Texas President was mostly a figurehead.

Thus, we get dinguses like Governor Goodhair, reelected with a whole ~34% of the vote because it was a four-way race (so don't assume he represents the majority)! Or the recent President Disaster.

Ann Richards, on the other hand, had the good sense when elected to ask herself, "What are the real powers of the Texas Governor?" That turns out to be making appointments, which she did with a vengeance, resulting in a much more representative state government.

Texas is much purpler than many other states. Democrats view it as competitive. It is already a majority-minority state. Plus, it is pretty much neutral on inflow/outflow of Federal $ (mainly due to oil revenues), is a major oil producer, deals with the people to our south better than other border states (it did not produce Governor Pete Wilson and his Prop. 187, and the Minutemen have been mostly a non-issue there), and yes, it's contributed a hell of a lot to American music.

Texas did not elect Bush to the White House by itself, so don't go ignoring the beam in your own eye. Even if Perry makes a jackass of himself.

(Apologies for my non-existent French.) Did anyone read the linked article? He trashes everyone else, too, except for...Berlusconi! Why? Because “The important thing in democracy is to be re-elected.”

And now I hear that the French, to their credit, give this boor a 37% approval rating. Quel Bushique!

Oh, and Critical Path:

Real Potential Hilarity: Will come from watching WTFox anchors try to avoid imminent head explosions as they realize they agree with "the French".

If you want an example, just look at libertyaintfree's post above yours: "The Europeans are absolutely right--and they suck--and George Soros runs everything!"

I find the timing of its release (the week before the Tea Parties) to be suspicious, and Janet even admitted it was rushed out- why, if not for that?

Also, I'm sorry, but Obama and Janet own this, not Bush.

I don't know if the release had anything to do with the tea parties, but the fact is we just had a week of uninformed nutbars shrieking about "revolution!" and--even up to the level of the governor of a major state--"secession!" So yes, it is kind of apt now.

That, and the last time we had a Democratic president, the same lunatic fringe birthed armed militia movements across the country, as well as the bloody work of Tim McVeigh and Eric Rudolph. Own that, awesome-o.

But hey: I may want the feds to keep an eye on the most dangerous elements, but I do want them to obey the Constitution. That means warrants for surveillance, which have to be justified before a judge. No fishing expeditions, and no broad-based surveillance of anyone vaguely suspicious.

There's a fellow named Glenn Greenwald who's helping to lead the fight to get us back to that standard. You might find a link to him around here.

courtesy of Rick Perlstein in Nixonland. Liddy harkens back to the time when a, um, slightly different salute was used for the Pledge of Allegiance:

[Liddy] confessed an admiration for Adolf Hitler and wrote in his memoirs about the pledge of Allegiance, "I enjoyed the mass salute and performed it well, unexcelled in speed of thrust and an iron-shaft steadiness throughout the remainder of the pledge. That habit became so deeply ingrained that even today, at assemblies where the pledge is made or the national anthem played, I must suppress the urge to snap out my right arm."

Just a little bit TMI in his description, eh what?

General McKillemol, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told President McCain that launching a massive first strike would be a "high risk, high reward" choice. Considering McCain's reputation as a gambler, his response shouldn't be too surprising: "You shouldn’t have told me that. I’ve been a risk-taker all my life."