Bernard Kerik, Rudy Giuliani’s Character Witness

8:32 pm EST March 31st, 2007 | News | 14 Comments

Giulianikerik

Once again, this is the man who Rudy Giuliani appointed to secure and protect the people of New York – the largest city in the country – and who he recommended to be in charge of Homeland Security for the entire country.

Federal prosecutors have told Bernard B. Kerik, whose nomination as homeland security secretary in 2004 ended in scandal, that he is likely to be charged with several felonies, including tax evasion and conspiracy to commit wiretapping.

Kerik’s indictment could set the stage for a courtroom battle that would draw attention to Kerik’s extensive business and political dealings with former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, who personally recommended him to President Bush for the Cabinet. Giuliani, the front-runner for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination according to most polls, later called the recommendation a mistake.

Topic: Rudy Giuliani

Somebody Will Misinterpret This Polling Data

4:30 pm EST March 31st, 2007 | Democrats | 46 Comments

Newsweek: The latest Newsweek poll shows that 91 percent of American adults surveyed believe in God—and nearly half reject the theory of evolution.

Republicans and the religious right will say that this proves that they’re in the majority, except that contrary to the drumbeat of the MSM not everyone who believes in God (or something like it) is a Republican voter. In fact, the very broad category of people who believe in God constitutes a majority in both parties. Let’s just say that I, Oliver Willis, would probably be on the majority side of this survey but it isn’t likely that I’m voting Republican in this life or the next.

Then the evolution denialists will say that the popularity of creationism means that there is a controversy to be taught. But like I said here it doesn’t matter how many surveys one takes – even if 100% of people believed the earth was only 6,000 years old – that assertion is not supported by the evidence that counts. Its not a valid claim.

Matthew Dowd Puts Down His Kool-Aid

4:22 pm EST March 31st, 2007 | News | 9 Comments

Looks like someone‘s getting cut off of the Christmas card list.

A top strategist for the Texas Democrats who was disappointed by the Bill Clinton years, Mr. Dowd was impressed by the pledge of Mr. Bush, then governor of Texas, to bring a spirit of cooperation to Washington. He switched parties, joined Mr. Bush’s political brain trust and dedicated the next six years to getting him to the Oval Office and keeping him there. In 2004, he was appointed the president’s chief campaign strategist.

Looking back, Mr. Dowd now says his faith in Mr. Bush was misplaced.

In a wide-ranging interview here, Mr. Dowd called for a withdrawal from Iraq and expressed his disappointment in Mr. Bush’s leadership.

He criticized the president as failing to call the nation to a shared sense of sacrifice at a time of war, failing to reach across the political divide to build consensus and ignoring the will of the people on Iraq. He said he believed the president had not moved aggressively enough to hold anyone accountable for the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, and that Mr. Bush still approached governing with a “my way or the highway” mentality reinforced by a shrinking circle of trusted aides.

“I really like him, which is probably why I’m so disappointed in things,” he said. He added, “I think he’s become more, in my view, secluded and bubbled in.”

(via)

Topic: George W. Bush

Fox Goebbels Channel

12:28 am EST March 31st, 2007 | News | 26 Comments

As the Republicans have lost their grip on power, instead of moderation, Fox News has become increasingly shrill — to the point of somehow blaming the Democratic Party and the conspiracy theories of Rosie O’Donnell for hostages being taken by Iran.

Topic: Fox News

Gisele Bundchen Moment Of Zen

8:57 pm EST March 30th, 2007 | Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Tom Brady just exists to stick it to the regular guy. There’s no other rational explanation.

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen

Topic: Women

Rudy Giualini: He Was For Gun Company Lawsuits

7:35 pm EST March 30th, 2007 | News | Comments Off

Video shows Rudy Giuliani announcing his support for lawsuits against gun manufacturers. This was, of course, before he was running for president and had to pander to the gun lobby. Now, he’s against gun control.

Topic: Rudy Giuliani

Readability Test

5:27 pm EST March 30th, 2007 | Uncategorized | 19 Comments

Is this font (Trebuchet) harder or easier to read than the one I’ve been using (Georgia)? I’m not redesigning – I promise – I’m just trying to get the site easier to skim through.

Topic: Oliver's World

Conservative Talk Host Praises 9/11

4:55 pm EST March 30th, 2007 | News | 4 Comments

Michael Savage on 9/11: “That was God speaking”.

Giualini Throws Kerik Under The Bus

12:27 pm EST March 30th, 2007 | News | 8 Comments

When he was recommending someone for oversight of American security, Kerik’s shady ties weren’t a question. But now Giualini is running for president and things have changed. It’s intriguing that Rudy Giualini demonstrates absolutely no scruples when it comes to the security of the rest of us, but when it comes to his personal aspiration to the presidency he doesn’t hesitate to throw Kerik under the bus.

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani acknowledged again Friday that he made a mistake when he recommended Bernard Kerik to be the nation’s homeland security chief.

The acknowledgment followed a report in The New York Times that the former New York City mayor was warned about Kerik’s relationship with a company with suspected ties to organized crime even before Giuliani appointed Kerik as New York City police commissioner.

Topic: 2008 Election

Rachel Marsden Is Crazy

1:53 am EST March 30th, 2007 | News | 28 Comments

The latest con fembot, Fox News pundit Rachel Marsden, is a special kind of nutty. I will note, however, unlike the false reports that Ann Coulter is attractive – God, no – Marsden is a looker. But apparently a stalker who’s fond of false accusations of rape. Has she been hanging out with Phyllis Schafly?