The Liberal Coalition

Let's take a look at what's on the agenda for the gang at The Liberal Coalition.

All Facts and Opinion goes on hiatus due to circumstances beyond Natalie's control. Drop by to wish her well.

archy catches some flies.

Bark Bark Woof Woof knows what Bush is really afraid of happening in Iraq.

blogAmY cites Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on certain family values.

bloggg goes fishin'.

Chris reflects on The Liberal Coalition.

Collective Sigh heaves one for the beatification of Dale Earnhardt.

Corrente on the real reason recruitment is lagging.

Horatio at Dodecahedron wants to know the whole story.

Dohiyi Mir on presidential politics and freedom fighters.

Echidne has a craft project for you.

firedoglake has a checklist.

First Draft on the trials of Cooper and Miller.

The Gamer's Nook wonders what Dick Cheney's heart is up to.

Happy Furry has some quotes from films you didn't know were ever made.

Speaking of quotes, iddybud has some good ones, too.

Help Jesse make up his mind about blogging.

It's Craptastic takes a parting shot at Bob Novak's parting shot on Capital Gang.

Left is Right finds out some interesting things in a Zogby poll.

Liberty Street on the real evil in war.

Make Me A Commentator has some new voices...

Musing's musings on the amazing Fred Phelps.

Pen-Elayne contributes to the Big Brass Alliance.

Respectful of Otters supports the military.

Rook's Rant goes shopping.

rubber hose on the new president of Iran.

Science and Politics has a post about both.

Scrutiny Hooligans has the tale of a former Republican.

SoonerThought on the silence of the troops.

Speedkill finds the real reason our trains don't run on time.

Steve Gilliard on the home ties of war.

T. Rex on how the Republicans have jumped the shark. (PS: get well soon, Kenneth.)

The Invisible Library reviews The War of the Worlds.

Trish offers a chocolate mousse recipe.

Wanda lets fly on the speech.

WTF Is It Now?? on the Great Satan.

The Yellow Doggerel Democrat on looking inward...as in spying domestically.

That's it for now.

posted by Mustang Bobby @ 10:00 AM |

As a scientist I feel very fortunate to be living and working in the USA. It is, still, by far the best place in the world to do science. The funding, the way Universities are organized, the professional organizations and conferences, availability of techincal support, equipment and materials for research, quality of colleagues and students, teaching methodology....all that is much, much better in the USA than anywhere else in the world.

Also, as a scientist, I dabble in history of science. The Lysenko episode is of great interest to scientists in the West. With all the misuse of science by the current Administration I still never expected the Lysenko-style persecution of scientists whose data do not support the party line. Yet, this day has come. The USA has its Lysenko, and his name is Joe Barton.

Chris Mooney reports on a letter from a Congressman (Joe Barton, R-TX) to a scientist (Michael Mann) working on climate change. Read the letter. Doesn't it chill the feces inside your rectum?

Chris also documents the responses here and here, including this, this and this.
Also, this one is good, in the best Billmon style: Heinrich here and again here.

There is an atrocious AP story up on CBS online:

Duncan Black _ who founded the www.atrios.blogspot.com blog _ featured a headline Monday on his Web site, "Bite me, Congressman," that linked to a diatribe against a Republican House committee chairman over global warming.

Atrios responds:

First, it wasn't the headline, it was the content of the post. Second, it didn't link to a diatribe it linked to this rather non-diatribe like post by Chris Mooney. Third, it wasn't "over global warming" it was over a member of congress sending an intimidating letter to a scientist.

You can check out Michael Mann here and send your messages of support to: mem6u@virginia.edu

You can check out Congressman Joe Barton here and you may want to contact him and tell him to "Bite me!"

You may also want to write a letter to the editors of Dalton's local newspapers, e.g., Corsicana Daily Sun and Forth Worth Star-Telegram and politely suggest to the local population NOT to elect him again in 2006.

You can spread a broader web of outrage if you write to more of the Texas Media, and of course, disseminate this information the usual ways: blogs, e-mail, forums...

(cross-posted on Science and Politics)

posted by Bora Zivkovic @ 2:12 AM |

If we stop banging our heads against the wall, the wall will win. It’s what the wall wants us to do. The wall will always be there. That is why we must always be ready to bang our heads against it. The question is, who is stronger? The wall or our heads? We will not back down. We must show the wall that we are firmly resolved to continue banging our heads. The question of how long to bang our heads is not nearly as important as our commitment to bang our heads against any wall that dares to stand against us. We will continue to bang our heads for exactly as long as it takes and not one bang more. You’re either with the wall or you’re with our heads. Young people get it. They realize that even when all seems lost, even when it seems you’re just banging your head against a wall, that we will never tire, we will never quit and, against all odds, we will never fail to bang our heads against a wall. I never said it was going to be easy. We could be banging our heads against a wall for a long time. It’s going to hurt. There are going to be some bumps and bruises along the way. But, make no mistake, we will win. This is a generational commitment. Many years from now, fathers will stop banging their heads and hand the task to their children, who will start banging their heads with twice the ferocity of the forebears. We will continue to bang our heads on that wall for as long as it takes. It is a wall. It will never quit. That is why we must never quit.

How will history view us? That is for the historians to decide. Really, I don’t care. We’ll all be dead. I’m firmly resolved that banging our heads is the right thing to do. To those who say, “stop, look around, we’re not paying attention to the war on terror,” I say that is exactly what the wall wants. Use your head, people. The wall hates us. It hates freedom. It wants to keep us from doing our duty. A wall doesn’t have think. It’s easy being a wall. What we’re doing, it’s hard. Some say the wall is getting harder, that it hurts more than ever to bang our heads against it. To me, that’s a sign of desperation. It’s afraid that we might never back down. We’re winning. It's going to take a strong body and a strong mind, but we’re up to the task. Some will say I’m bullheaded, but I don’t look at it that way. People might disagree with me, but I’m committed to freedom. There are some types out there who dismiss the challenge we face, and that’s fine, see that’s what’s so beautiful about America. We’re free. Free to dissent. That means people don’t agree. You try to talk to ‘em, but I gotta say it’s like talking to a wall sometimes. But I’ve never governed based on a focus group. I stick to my gut. And I lead with my head.


P.S. Friends, Americans, countrymen and women, lend me your ears!!! Disclaimer time! 1) To all you heroic soldiers currently engaged in head banging in Iraq, please know that what I think of the orders you’ve been given do nothing to diminish my gratitude for your willingness to bravely follow the commands of your officers and president. Like Viper said, “you do not make policy, you are the instruments of that policy.” In that regard, you are the finest instruments in the world. It is they who misuse such honor and devotion with impunity who deserve and receive the sum of my contempt. 2) This is not meant to diminish the importance of the War on Terror. It is meant to illustrate that combating an endless and soon to be “generational” insurgency in Iraq is as about far from advancing an anti-terror agenda as declaring war on tomato soup.

Crossposted at Dodecahedron.

posted by Horatio @ 9:07 AM |

It's Craptastic! has returned from self-imposed hiatus. Please try to contain your excitement.

Seriously, I hope you will welcome me back with open arms. Drop on by if you have a free moment or two.

posted by clonecone @ 5:09 PM |