The Weekender: 'May I Have Some Rhythm Please!?'

I've been listening to a lot of old school R&B this past week. Some of the tunes I've been jammin' to are included in this week's playlist. Click here and enjoy.

Ladies Night - Kool and the Gang
Take That to the Bank - Shalamar
It's All the Way Live - Lakeside
Clap Your Hands to the Music - The Sylvers
Serpentine Fire - Earth, Wind, and Fire
Backstabbers - The O'Jays
Disco Night - GQ
More Than A Woman - Tavares
State of Independence - Donna Summer
Hollywood - Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
Biggest Part of Me - Ambrosia
Jack and Jill - Raydio
A Song For You - Elliott Yamin

End-of-the-Week Levity

Courtesy of my friend, Ben:

Al Gore and Bill & Hillary Clinton go to heaven, and God addresses Al first. "Al, what do you believe in?"

Al replies: "Well, I believe that I won that election, but that it was your will that I did not serve. And I've come to understand that now."

God thinks for a second and says: "Very good. Come and sit at my left."

God then addresses Bill. "Bill, what do you believe in?"

Bill replies: "I believe in forgiveness. I've sinned, but I've never held a grudge against my fellow man, and I hope no grudges are held against me."

God thinks for a second and says: "You are forgiven, my son. Come and sit at my right."

Then God addresses Hillary. "Hillary, what do you believe in?"

She replies: "I believe you're in my chair."

Livin' on the Edge

Ms. Beth DuVall...


...announces the newest addition to the DuVall family...


...a healthy, handsome 2008 Ford Edge. "Biggest sunroof you ever did see," the proud Mama told family and friends.

From Orwell to Bradbury

Having spent the last seven years turning the literature of George Orwell into a true living nightmare, the Bush administration's Homeland Security Department has now turned to Ray Bradbury's classic "Fahrenheit 451" in a continuing effort to ram George's fascist form of government down America's throat.

From CBS News:

The Department of Homeland Security has asked firefighters to act as lookouts for terrorism when responding to emergencies. Unlike the police, firefighters and paramedics do not need warrants to get into private homes and buildings - that is why there's a new push to make them an important part of the war on terror and crime.

I'm sorry...first and foremost, the focus of firefighters should be to put out fires. Imagine burning alive inside your flaming home while the fire department detours into the house next door to rummage through your neighbor's underwear drawer!

Beyond that you have to wonder if there is any point at which the American people will get so fed up with the over-the-top abuses of office by the Bush/Cheney crew that they will demand nothing short of immediate impeachment, removal from office, and criminal convictions on the charges of treason.

Come on people...wake. the. fuck. up.

Why Do Republicans Love Terrorists?

Rudy Giuliani, the current leader in the Republican presidential field, seems to be buddy-buddy with Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, a country with ties to al Qaeda and a man by the name of Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, who was one of the masterminds behind the attacks of 9/11. The former New York Mayor has toured the city with al-Thani and has taken wads of cash from the Sheikh.

This from a man who is running on a "9/11 platform." (Side note: Being mayor of NYC on that day does not make you qualified to run for president.)

Should Giuliani win his party's nomination for the presidency, the Democrats will need to grow some major cajones and play the Karl Rove card. It's rather easy, you see...

A TV commercial showing a Giuliani figure sitting at a table taking wads of cash from a sheikh-like figure who is dressed from head to toe in your typical Middle Eastern robes and head dressings, with a voice over commenting on Giuliani's ties to a known terrorist supporter. The commercial ends with the two hugging and giving the typical kiss on each cheek.

An attack ad? You better believe it! A bit insensitive to Qatar? Probably. But the Republicans would do it in a nano-second, and if the Democrats don't want to spend another four years on the sidelines, then they need to match the Fascist-Republicans at their own Rovian games.

Blake and BT

Blake Lewis and uber-producer BT, at work on Blake's first CD entitled "Audio Day Dream." The set will be released on Tuesday.

No Prescription Required

(Photo: Electronic Replicant)

Joe Is Right

Despite the Obama postings of last week, Sen. Joe Biden (Democrat-DE) is still at the top of my list among his party's presidential candidates.

And Barack, Chris, John, and Hillary all seem to agree...

Little Miss Chloe

...waiting for her very own turkey and mashed-potato dinner on Thanksgiving Day.

The Tree We Killed For Jesus

Lott Scandal?

The blogosphere is sizzling with a potentially huge story regarding the sudden resignation of Sen. Trent Lott (Republican-MS). According to many websites, Lott is the subject of an investigation by Larry Flynt and Hustler Magazine alleging that the veteran Mississippi senator has been using the services of a well known DC male escort.

This story has yet to be solidly confirmed; it's a bit murky for my tastes. But if the allegations are true it will be the death knell for Republican conservatism. Lott has been one of the country's top three Republicans since the 1990s and a leading fascist on gay issues. If he has been romping around naked with a male escort then 2008 is going to make 2006 look like a cakewalk for the Republican Party.

Post-Turkey Day Levity

NOT safe for work or family members...

'Atta Boy!

Quote of the Day:

How would Jesus feel about somebody not being able to visit somebody they love when they're sick? Certainly, as a public official, it's important for me to make sure that basic equality is available.

-Sen. Barack Obama, to the "700 Club" on the Christian Broadcasting Network.

See the exchange below:

Lott Resigning

Sen. Trent Lott (Republican-MS) will resign his Senate seat before the end of the year. No word on whether Gov. Haley Barbour (Republican-MS) will appoint another white supremacist to the seat.

Recession?

Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers and NY Times columnist Peter Goodman think so.

Both think it will be global, both think it will be in full swing in 2008, and both think it will last until at least 2010.

Another example of the incompetency of George W. Bush.

Dear Mr. President

I was hoping she'd release this track as a single. Word is, she will shortly.

Enjoy a recent live version of "Dear Mr. President" by Pink.

The Weekender: Thanksgiving Edition

This week's playlist includes the brand new single from Blake Lewis; a track from Fergie that was released prior to "The Dutchess"; classic grooves from Stevie Wonder, Texas, and Federico Aubele; a schmalzy 80's hit from the one and only Donny Osmond; and some timeless tracks from Neil Diamond, James Blunt, and Van Morrison.

Click here and enjoy.

Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
1973 - James Blunt
Natalia - Van Morrison
Bailamos - Fergie
Inner Smile - Texas
Dreams - Deep Dish w/ Stevie Nicks
Break Anotha - Blake Lewis
Soldier of Love - Donny Osmond
Boogie On Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder
En el Desierto - Federico Aubele
Beautiful - Meshell Ndegeocello
Whispering Wind - Moby

The Holi-daze Begin

We're off to that lovely Republican hell hole known as Placer County (beautiful area, fascist people) for the Thanksgiving holiday.

To family, friends, and readers...enjoy your time with each other, be safe, and Happy Thanksgiving.

Around the World

A big hearty shout out to new regular readers in:

Ashdod, Israel

Melbourne, Australia

and, Chavannes, Switzerland

Thank you for taking the time to read this little ol' blog!

White House Press Secretary: I Lied For Bush

An excerpt from "What Happened," the forthcoming book by Scott McClellan, the former White House Press Secretary:

The most powerful leader in the world had called upon me to speak on his behalf and help restore credibility he lost amid the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So I stood at the White house briefing room podium in front of the glare of the klieg lights for the better part of two weeks and publicly exonerated two of the senior-most aides in the White House: Karl Rove and Scooter Libby.

There was one problem. It was not true.

I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the Vice-President, the President's chief of staff, and the President himself.

Why people still give these guys the benefit of the doubt is beyond me. They lost all credibility on September 12, 2001 when they asked Richard Clarke, their then terrorism chief, to connect the events of the previous day to Iraq, even though there was no connection to make.

The direct involvement of Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney in the outing of a CIA operative rises to the level impeachment. And, as far as I'm concerned, this revelation by the former White House Press Secretary is sufficient enough evidence to put impeachment on the floor of the US House of Representatives.

The members of that chamber should return to Washington DC immediately, bypass committee hearings, and vote to impeach. The Senate should return following that vote and remove both Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney from office. From there, federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald should charge both men with treason (among other things), and then the war crimes tribunal should charge both men with war crimes.

Anything less than impeachment, removal from office, and charges of treason and war crimes would be insufficient. These men have damaged the presidency, the Constitution, and the United States of America beyond recognition. We can't afford to wait the 14 months left in their term and then let them go free.

Don't think for a minute that Republicans would back away from such a confrontation if these crimes had been committed by "President Gore" or "President Kerry." Had a Democratic president done the things Bush and Cheney have done, that president would now be a former president and he or she would be sitting in a jail cell in the Hague, Netherlands.

Give me break Speaker Pelosi. Do your fucking job!

Say it with me folks:
Impeachment.
Now!