The Facts Do Not Align

3:06 pm EST June 27th, 2006 | Politics | 162 Comments

In the White House, only hours after that old elm had fallen, Bush was addressed by a reporter, thus: “I know that you are not planning to see Al Gore’s new movie, but do you agree with the premise that global warming is a real and significant threat to the planet?”

“I have said consistently,” answered Bush, “that global warming is a serious problem. There’s a debate over whether it’s manmade or naturally caused. We ought to get beyond that debate and start implementing the technologies necessary … to be good stewards of the environment, become less dependent on foreign sources of oil…”

The President — as far as the extensive and repeated researches of this and many other professional journalists, as well as all scientists credible on this subject, can find — is wrong on one crucial and no doubt explosive issue. When he said — as he also did a few weeks ago — that “There’s a debate over whether it’s manmade or naturally caused” … well, there really is no such debate.

At least none above what is proverbially called “the flat earth society level.”

Not one scientist of any credibility on this subject has presented any evidence for some years now that counters the massive and repeated evidence — gathered over decades and come at in dozens of ways by all kinds of professional scientists around the world — that the burning of fossil fuels is raising the world’s average temperature.

Rhode Island

2:06 pm EST June 27th, 2006 | Politics | 1 Comment

The overwhelming Democratic tilt of Rhode Island (60% for Kerry) says the state should be Democratic, but so far it seems that Lincoln Chaffee just hasn’t been suitably challenged. The current polling says that Sheldon Whitehouse may be up to the task, and it gets even better if the hardcore con Steve Laffey gets the nomination.

Stay The Course

8:06 am EST June 27th, 2006 | Politics | 53 Comments

(via)

The Times Obsession

7:06 am EST June 27th, 2006 | Politics | 61 Comments

The New York Times, the LA Times, and the Wall Street Journal all wrote about the banking surveillance program. Yet the right has focused all their ire on the Times. Why?

Can’t Help Himself

7:06 am EST June 27th, 2006 | Politics | Comments Off

Glenn Reynolds promotes one of those old school Clinton conspiracy theorists, weaving a grand tale about how Bill and Hillary are going to TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!!

Wingnuttia Is Never Satisfied

2:06 am EST June 27th, 2006 | Politics | 53 Comments

By most sane measures, the philanthropy that Warren Buffett has proposed is one for the ages. His fortune will likely save the lives of millions and affect the lives of billions. But you can never please some people, especially right wing wackos like Tony Perkins at the influential Family Research Council. In Monday’s email from the FRC, Perkins laments that Buffet’s money and the Gates Foundation is so focused on birth control

The press is gushing over Warren Buffett’s announcement that he and his wife will give the lion’s share of their immense wealth to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A sizable chunk will also be given to foundations run by Buffett’s wife and children. Here at FRC we have long memories. Consequently, we suggest one charitable project the Buffetts’ have a moral obligation to fund. Back in the 1990s, the Buffett Foundation gave $2-3 million dollars to fund research and clinical trials needed to bring RU-486, the abortion pill, to market. Thanks to the Buffetts, and other promoters of abortion for population control, the drug was fast-tracked and approved under an order from President Clinton.

Now, you would think that after such invective, Perkins would announce some sort of initative to help the adoption of children or perhaps financial grants for poverty-stricken women who because of their finances and cultural situations, have more children than they can bear. Surely, the FRC and the rest of the right isn’t so shortsighted and dogmatic that they can’t see the virtue in giving people a chance?

Oh, right. Nevermind.

The Borg

6:06 pm EST June 26th, 2006 | Politics | 6 Comments

Anybody else who’s running for president should not take Senator Clinton lightly. Her recent forays into the blogosphere are proof that she knows a perception problem exists, and is acting to neutralize it with some of blogdom’s “best and brightest”.

Missouri?

4:06 pm EST June 26th, 2006 | Politics | 1 Comment

Could be.

State Auditor Claire McCaskill is slightly ahead of Sen. Jim Talent in their race for the U.S. Senate, according to a poll.

The statewide poll released Sunday showed McCaskill, the Democratic challenger, favored by 49 percent, compared with 43 percent for Talent, the Republican incumbent. The margin of error was 3.5 percent.

There He Goes Again

2:06 pm EST June 26th, 2006 | Politics | 14 Comments

Michael Steele does his part to prove that there is no “there” there for black conservatives more than putting a black face on Republican hate.

The fundraiser thrown for Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele on Thursday night, while ordinary in most ways, struck some African American leaders as notable because of the host.

Unlike the dozens of high-dollar events across the country in his U.S. Senate bid, this event was thrown by the producer of the famous “Willie Horton” ad, the 1988 commercial that came to symbolize the cynical use of skin color as a political wedge.

Maybe this week he’ll collect from the Klan – just another donor, you know.