Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The Supreme Court is corrupt. Democrats must win in November and force court reform.

Cole, when it comes to calico cats, restraint is overrated.

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

They’re not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

It’s a new day. Light all those Biden polls of young people on fire and throw away the ashes.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

When do the post office & the dmv weigh in on the wuhan virus?

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

“That’s what the insurrection act is for!”

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

He seems like a smart guy, but JFC, what a dick!

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

The jury literally has a bell they can ring to force Trump to show up on command. Greatest thing ever!

Days Since JD Vance Insulted Women Across America: Zero

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself. We’re allowed to grow past that.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

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Reader Interactions

123Comments

  1. 1.

    chopper

    i wonder if someone jewish sold some stock after hearing about the arrest. that would be interesting reading.

  2. 2.

    Bombadil

    i wonder if someone jewish sold some stock after hearing about the arrest. that would be interesting reading.

    If that happened, the John Coles of the Right would be linking Juan Cole with child molesters.

  4. 4.

    Steve

    “He sure looks like a child molester.” Now THIS is more the brand of punditry we’ve come to expect.

    What stunned me was the revelation that the guy supposedly confessed to details of the crime that weren’t known to the public.

    With all the 24/7 press coverage this case received, you mean there actually WERE details that weren’t revealed to the public? You coulda fooled me.

  5. 5.

    ThymeZone

    “He sure looks like a child molester.” Now THIS is more the brand of punditry we’ve come to expect.

    Steve, come on. The man is “skinny” and “creepy.”

    That’s two of the three identifiers right there.

    Now, a lot of skinny people … say, people who are on chemotherapy, or who are just small-boned … are going to protest. “This is body type profiling!”

    Well, fuck them. When the safety of our children is at stake, your government … and your blog … are going to do whatever is necessary to protect the American people.

  8. 8.

    Pb

    he sure does look like the skinny/creepy/ashen-looking prototype of a child molester, and with a jury system, that will get you halfway to a conviction

    Fortunately–while skinny, pale, and possibly ‘creepy’–I also have a beard, so instead I just look like a prototypical vagrant, terrorist, or possibly (some people’s perception of) Jesus–way better! Hung jury, baby, I can see them in the jury room now, arguing Jesus vs. terrorist!

  9. 9.

    ThymeZone

    Anyone watch the morning “news” shows today?

    They are all JonBenet, all the time. Just like ten years ago.

    I have heard long and frankly disgusting dissertations by … uh … experts …. on the subject of DNA in underpants.

    I tell you, nothing goes better with your morning coffee than DNA in underpants.

    The people who run these “news” programs are psycopaths, in my view, and they should all be jailed. I am quite serious. Jail these people, put them in Guantanamo or wherever we are warehousing terrorists these days. They’re information terrorists. They are out to destroy America.

    DNA in underpants. Can scs be far behind?

    “Behind” here is location reference, not a noun.

  10. 10.

    Mr Furious

    John Mark Karr?

    Lee Harvey Oswald, John Wilkes Booth, John Wayne Gacy, Henry Lee Lucas, Mark David Chapman….

    Three names slams the door for me. Guilty.

  11. 11.

    ThymeZone

    Lee Harvey Oswald, John Wilkes Booth, John Wayne Gacy, Henry Lee Lucas, Mark David Chapman….

    George Dubya Bush.

    Condi Leeza Rice.

    Helloooooooooooooo?

  12. 12.

    Punchy

    Hey, Mr. Cole…I know she’s been worm food and pushing up daisies for a decade now, but could you at least SPELL HER NAME CORRECTLY??

    JonBENET.

  13. 13.

    Mac Buckets

    I question the timing! This is obviously a planted Bushie diversion from the glorious Lamont primary victory.

    I mean, there’s no way this formulaic paedophile (kiddie porn charges, travels to Thailand, “thin and creepy”) gets nabbed for such a formulaic paedophilic crime. It’s too easy.

    Damn you, Darth Rove! I can accept that you mind-controlled the entire British government, but how did you get to the Thai immigration police?

  14. 14.

    Ancient Purple

    From ABC News:

    John Mark Karr, 41, will be taken within the week to Colorado, where he will face charges of first degree murder, kidnapping and child sexual assault, Ann Hurst of the Department of Homeland Security told a news conference in Bangkok.

    Damn. If only Bin Laden had killed JonBenet, he would have been caught by now.

    Your DHS hard at work on the Global War on Underage Beauty Queen Killers.

  15. 15.

    Steve

    At least it beats yesterday’s news, with wall-to-wall coverage about the woman who freaked out on an airplane while in possession of “vaseline, a screwdriver, matches, and a note referencing al-Qaeda.”

    Later the reports changed to say “TWO notes referencing al-Qaeda.”

    Last I heard, they’d decided none of that was true and it was just some woman who got claustrophobic. Ladies and gentlemen, your TV news.

  16. 16.

    canuckistani

    I still think her parents were evil for tarting her up like a lil’ hooker and sending her out on stage. I’m not saying the death of their daughter is their fault. I’m saying they’re guilty of a different kind of child abuse.

  17. 17.

    ThymeZone

    MSNBC:

    NBC News has learned that U.S. and British authorities had a significant disagreement over when to move in on the suspects in the alleged plot to bring down trans-Atlantic airliners bound for the United States.

    British officials knowledgeable about the case said British police were planning to continue to run surveillance for at least another week to try to obtain more evidence, while American officials pressured them to arrest the suspects sooner. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case.

    In contrast to previous reports, one senior British official suggested an attack was not imminent, saying the suspects had not yet purchased any airline tickets. In fact, some did not even have passports.

    Once again, Mac nails it.

    By “it,” I mean “being a fucking idiot.”

  18. 18.

    Vladi G

    Damn. If only Bin Laden had killed JonBenet, he would have been caught by now.

    I think you’ve identified the problem with post 9/11 media coverage. Too much coverage of war and firefighters and such. Not enough coverage of young attractive white women who died in the WTC.

  19. 19.

    Bombadil

    At least it beats yesterday’s news, with wall-to-wall coverage about the woman who freaked out on an airplane while in possession of “vaseline, a screwdriver, matches, and a note referencing al-Qaeda.”

    Turns out that she had asked the flight attendant if they had any Lean Cuisine, ordered a screwdriver from the drink cart, said she had friends in Natchez and had a shopping list that included Alka Seltzer. Understandable errors, all.

  20. 20.

    ThymeZone

    Karr has been “very cooperative” with authorities and that he’s shown a “variety of emotions.”

    The guy should run for president. Already he has shown abilities that our current president doesn’t have.

    And no, having a hideous past is no bar to high office in this country. If we can elect a failed movie actor and an alcoholic cokehead president, why not a child molestor? It’s not that great a stretch.

  21. 21.

    Keith

    but he sure does look like the skinny/creepy/ashen-looking prototype of a child molester

    Except that he lacks the mustache & square-framed eyeglasses.

  24. 24.

    Steve

    In contrast to previous reports, one senior British official suggested an attack was not imminent, saying the suspects had not yet purchased any airline tickets. In fact, some did not even have passports.

    Why trust senior British officials when you can trust right-wing pundits?

    IF THE ISLAMOFASCISTS HAD HAD THEIR WAY …
    we’d be waking up this morning to the horrific news of 10 exploded jets and thousands of murdered Americans.

    But no, it’s not fearmongering that drives the Right!

  26. 26.

    Andrew

    Not enough coverage of young attractive white women who died in the WTC.

    There weren’t any because the Jews took them out to use as exotic dancers on the secret Zionist cruise ship that sails around the Atlantic in a Star of David pattern.

  27. 27.

    ThymeZone

    Read the quote…then look at the picture. Good Lord.

    As I said to Tim’s new thread, the White House is still insisting that “Iraq is the key to war on terror.”

    They apparently now think that Americans will swallow literally anything, anything at all. I think they are laughing their asses off in there now.

    “Okay … okay … what if we tell ’em that global warming is actually a rumor started by Saddam Hussein?” Raucous laughter, sounds of people gasping for breath …..

    Yeah, I think they are just in there laughing at us now.

  28. 28.

    Andrew

    The Daily Show and Colbert could just go on complete autopilot by showing clips of the absurdities of cable news.

  29. 29.

    ThymeZone

    The Daily Show and Colbert could just go on complete autopilot by showing clips of the absurdities of cable news.

    True. Or White House news briefings.

    We have reduced government to satire and farce at this point.

  30. 30.

    Andrew

    We have reduced government to satire and farce at this point.

    I thought that happened in the ’80s. And that government is now in the “Actively trying to kill us (if we’re black); Whites, soon” stage.

  31. 31.

    Mac Buckets

    Once again, Mac nails it.

    By “it,” I mean “being a fucking idiot.”

    Do you mind at least telling me what words you’re putting in my mouth keyboard when you do it? Thanks.

  32. 32.

    ThymeZone

    Do you mind at least telling me what words you’re putting in my mouth keyboard when you do it? Thanks.

    Besides Mac, anyone here not know what I meant?

  35. 35.

    Mac Buckets

    Hey, extra points for taking the time to include the strike in my blockquote.

    Duly noted (golf clap).

  36. 36.

    Steve

    The Daily Show and Colbert could just go on complete autopilot by showing clips of the absurdities of cable news.

    It’s clips like this that lead me to believe Jon Stewart has the easiest job in America. Just put these people up on the screen, you barely even need to comment!

  37. 37.

    Steve

    Gee, it sure seemed to me that Mac was ridiculing the idea that the British terror plot had been trumped up for political purposes, but maybe he wants to walk that one back.

  38. 38.

    Mac Buckets

    Gee, it sure seemed to me that Mac was ridiculing the idea that the British terror plot had been trumped up for political purposes, but maybe he wants to walk that one back.

    Wait, is anyone here really going to try to back up the notion that the arrests were a put-up job by Bush/Rove to the British government to distract from the Lamont primary?

    Come on, I was only joking about that. Someone actually believes it? This must be moonbat heaven. Alert Andrew Sullivan.

  39. 39.

    ThymeZone

    Come on, out with it.

    I’m sure this is a trick, but I am in a good mood so I’ll bite.

    Let me put it this way: Anyone who can look at the facts and the timeline of the British “hair gel terror” case and not suggest a political undertone to the American involvement …. would have to be you, or Darrell. A true Kool Aid drinker.

    You won’t agree, I suppose, but this government has forfeited the right to be taken at face value on these things. If they walk and quack like cycnical manipulating ducks, they must be treated as cycnical manipulating ducks.

    Now, that said, one has to take your earlier post to mean that you don’t share this viewpoint.

    If that is so, then scorn, ridicule and abuse must, by rule, be heaped upon your head.

    If that is not so, then I withdraw the blast.

  40. 40.

    Mac Buckets

    Scientists announced that three new planets should be added to the solar system today.

    Riiiight. New planets, or just a distraction from the Lamont primary?

  42. 42.

    ThymeZone

    Riiiight. New planets, or just a distraction from the Lamont primary?

    Ah. You are working at the Kool Aid factory, as I thought.

    Let the scorn, ridicule and abuse be heaped upon your head in accordance with the rules and in the appropriate manner.

    Say Mac, you agree that “Iraq is the key to the war on terror,” don’t you? The White House said so just the other day. Okay, not the building, but some guy who works in there.

  43. 43.

    mrmobi

    Punchy

    Wow…this is just stunning

    Read the quote…then look at the picture. Good Lord.

    Don’t worry Punchy, at least Israel isn’t completely surrounded by hostile countries, like Iraq.
    You have nothing to fear, because AWOL is going to use strategery just as soon as he figures out where Israel is.

  44. 44.

    Steve

    It’s becoming increasingly apparent that the British terror plot was seriously overhyped.

    I don’t think it had anything to do with the Connecticut primary, mind you.

    The real comedians are the wingnuts who are applauding because they think this is a case where torture actually worked. Imagine, applauding the use of torture. Aren’t they just great human beings.

  45. 45.

    ThymeZone

    I don’t think it had anything to do with the Connecticut primary, mind you.

    You think the American pressure to accelerate the arrests wasn’t politically motivated?

    Believing that requires a leap of gullibility that is beyond my capabilities at this point. It’s hard for me to think that even Darrell would believe it. But, Darrell always surprises me.

    I take the Olbermann view: Even if the pressure was not politically motivated, the thing is, once you have been fucked in the ass for five years over and over by somebody, you aren’t being prudent to just believe them any more. It simply isn’t reasonable. Not because the string of amazing coincidences and history of lies proves that this is another lie, but because reasonableness has to be grounded in one’s own self interest at some point. If I don’t distrust these assholes, then shame on me.

    “Fool me twice, cain’t get fooled agin!” GW Bush.

  46. 46.

    Steve

    You think the American pressure to accelerate the arrests wasn’t politically motivated?

    No, I think it’s very likely that it was politically motivated. I just find it implausible that it was all about influencing the Democratic primary in Connecticut, that’s all.

  47. 47.

    Mac Buckets

    Anyone who can look at the facts and the timeline of the British “hair gel terror” case and not suggest a political undertone to the American involvement …. would have to be you

    Why? What about the timing is so suspicious?

    You won’t agree, I suppose, but this government has forfeited the right to be taken at face value on these things.

    No, you’re right, I don’t agree, because it’s so ludicrous that I just can’t stop laughing. So…Did Rove use his secret mind-control ray on the entire British government and MI5, or did he just use the Jedi Mind Trick?

    So Rove’s had a busy week — first orchestrating the British terror arrests, then framing a stooge for JonBenet’s death, then naming new planets… all to cover up that Democratic primary result!

    What on earth will happen if Santorum loses in November? Rove will have to discover ETs in the White House basement! Pretty, young, white ETs!

    If that is so, then scorn, ridicule and abuse must, by rule, be heaped upon your head.

    Heh.

  48. 48.

    Mac Buckets

    I just find it implausible that it was all about influencing the Democratic primary in Connecticut, that’s all.

    “Oh, that way madness lies.”

  49. 49.

    John Cole

    Steve, come on. The man is “skinny” and “creepy.”

    That’s two of the three identifiers right there.

    LOL. Look, while it is fun to poke at me, if you don’t agree this guy looks like he was cast in Hollywood for the role of pervert, you aren’t being honest. I think what really oogled me out was how narrow his shoulders were compared to his neck and head and that he buttoned the top button of his polo shirt.

    He just looks creepy.

    BTW, Furious:

    Three names slams the door for me. Guilty.

    I wrote the same thing in this very post, backed up and deleted it, because I didn’t want to have to explain it over and over again.

  50. 50.

    ThymeZone

    I just find it implausible that it was all about influencing the Democratic primary in Connecticut, that’s all.

    Hmm, well I have never thought, or suggested, that it was.

    Instead, I think it was about posturing and mining the event for political points, which could be maximized only by having the arrests happen shortly after the primary. They saw an chance to pinch off a few points by taking the result of the primary plus the “threat” and turn it into the kind of shit you heard coming from Cheney and Mehlman late last week.

    I don’t think they wanted to “influence” the primary. I think they wanted, and expected, a Lamont victory and used it to mount a mini-campaign to pimp up their “elect us or die” bullshit.

    I further think that assuming anything else requires a level of gullbility and blindness to the facts that is beyond a reasonable person, based on the words and deeds of these people for the last few years.

  51. 51.

    ThymeZone

    you aren’t being honest

    Um, check the name, and logo, of the blog.

    If you wanted a serious classroom atmosphere, you could have named it “Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy.”

  52. 52.

    Steve

    No, you’re right, I don’t agree, because it’s so ludicrous that I just can’t stop laughing. So…Did Rove use his secret mind-control ray on the entire British government and MI5, or did he just use the Jedi Mind Trick?

    It’s been widely reported that the US pressured Britain to make the arrests sooner than it wanted to, but keep on laughing, I guess.

  53. 53.

    ThymeZone

    So Rove’s had a busy week—first orchestrating the British terror arrests

    What are you doing?

    First of all, you aren’t swaying anyone here with such nonsense. You are going to believe what you believe, and so am I.

    I believe that our government is run by dishonest and manipulative assholes who will stop at nothing when it comes to self justification and manipulation.

    You believe … whatever. I have no idea, actually. Don’t care.

    Four years ago, I believed and said, a war on Iraq was (a) not necessary in terms of any actual threat from Iraq, (b) not appropriate to the so-called War on Terror, (c) a huge mistake for exactly the reasons that GWB said in 2000 wrt to nation building, and (d) a foolish experiment that flew in the face of Mesopotamian history, and would likely result in chaos and civil strife that would make us leave in disgust leaving behind a worse situation than we started with.

    Now, if you want to argue that the Rove-Bush view of that has turned out to be more useful and valuable to America than mine was, go right ahead, the floor is yours. I’d argue that I was right, and they were wrong. I’d further argue that figuring the world out isn’t rocket science. It’s just about results.

    What are the results of five years of these people? A united country? More trust in government? Victory in the “war on terror?” A “new Middle East” as pimped by the insane Condi Rice last week? New, and better, that is?

    This crapfest of a government is looking at an election disaster of major proportions, after having literally won it all and having it all, just a couple years ago, precisely because they have lied and bungled their way into a world of shit over and over over again.

    But like I said, Mac, believe what you want, and say what you want. But cut the crap. Don’t pretend that the view I’m stating here is somehow odd, or nuts, or unreasonable, or inconsistent with the facts, because it isn’t.

    Whatever you think you have, I don’t know, but I’ll tell you in simple terms what you do not have: A convincing argument. That, you do not have.

    Go get one, and come back when you do.

  54. 54.

    Rusty Shackleford

    ThymeZone Says:

    I just find it implausible that it was all about influencing the Democratic primary in Connecticut, that’s all.

    Hmm, well I have never thought, or suggested, that it was.

    Instead, I think it was about posturing and mining the event for political points, which could be maximized only by having the arrests happen shortly after the primary. They saw an chance to pinch off a few points by taking the result of the primary plus the “threat” and turn it into the kind of shit you heard coming from Cheney and Mehlman late last week.

    I don’t think they wanted to “influence” the primary. I think they wanted, and expected, a Lamont victory and used it to mount a mini-campaign to pimp up their “elect us or die” bullshit.

    I further think that assuming anything else requires a level of gullbility and blindness to the facts that is beyond a reasonable person, based on the words and deeds of these people for the last few years.

    August 17th, 2006 at 10:44 am

    Exactly.

  55. 55.

    Punchy

    John, since it’s clear you’re lurking…please fix the post’s spelling. It’s embarrassing.

  56. 56.

    ThymeZone

    BREAKING NEWS

    Updated: 7 minutes ago
    DETROIT – A federal judge ruled Thursday that the government’s warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional and ordered an immediate halt to it.

    U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit became the first judge to strike down the National Security Agency’s program, which she says violates the rights to free speech and privacy

    Darrell will be making a public statement within the hour.

  57. 57.

    John S.

    I further think that assuming anything else requires a level of gullbility and blindness to the facts that is beyond a reasonable person, based on the words and deeds of these people for the last few years.

    Hello, Mac Buckets! Hello, Darrell!

  59. 59.

    John S.

    A federal judge ruled Thursday that the government’s warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional and ordered an immediate halt to it.

    First, we’ll have some code-speak from the GOP about “activist” judges. Then we’ll have the decision by this judge pinned on the Democrats and Ned Lamont. That will be followed by the proclamation that this will hurt the War on Terror, and that the decision gives aid and comfort to the enemy.

    In 3, 2, 1…

  61. 61.

    Steve

    That must be the John Conyers lawsuit. This should be fun.

    Darrell will be quite confused, because Powerline told him the legal issues were very clearcut.

  62. 62.

    Mac Buckets

    A convincing argument. That, you do not have.

    Here’s your argument in a nutshell:

    Bush (to aide): Get Blair on the phone. Karl says I have to distract America from a Democratic primary.

    Blair (answers phone): H-Hello?

    Bush: Limey? Old Lime-arello? Limester! Bush here. Hey, Ned Lamont just won a Democrat primary here, so…I need you to arrest, oh, about 21 innocent Pakistanis to distract America from it.

    Blair: Anything you say, Herr Bush! I won’t even worry about MI5’s ongoing investigations or my own political agenda or career. I must take the lead in distracting people who can’t vote for me from this “Fred LeMont” fellow who I’ve never heard of. Consider it d– Hello? Hello?

    Yeah, MY argument is not convincing.

  65. 65.

    John S.

    Here’s your argument in a nutshell

    Funny, I read Thyme Zone’s argument as the GOP cashing in on an opportunity to exploit a “terror situation” and use to it their political advantage rather than the bullshit “Rove orchestrated it” interpretation you have set forth.

    Do you have reading comprehension problems, Mac?

  66. 66.

    Steve

    Bush: Limey? Old Lime-arello? Limester! Bush here. Hey, Ned Lamont just won a Democrat primary here, so…I need you to arrest, oh, about 21 innocent Pakistanis to distract America from it.

    At least when Mac fights the War on Straw, he’s funny about it.

  68. 68.

    The Other Steve

    I mean we’ve already established, via the mighty masters of Powerfluff, that the government is not spying on people. However, if they were, it would be perfectly legal because President George was annointed by God.

  69. 69.

    mrmobi

    StevenD at Booman has an article about the Liquid Bombers and ends with this:

    Let me repeat what Ambassador Murray just highlighted for us. No bombs. No airline tickets purchased. No passports even for many of these “suiciders.” Explain to me, again, what was so urgent about this threat that we had to shut down trans-atlantic flights and make everyone hand over their water bottles and hand cream before being allowed to board their domestic flights in the US of A?

    Oh! I forgot. Joe Lieberman had a primary election against a mean old commie anti-war rich elite dirty hippy named Ned Lamont! Doh!

    My emphasis. I’m with you, ThymeZone. These fuckers are completely un-trustworthy. Everything they say should be taken as an attempt to deceive.

  70. 70.

    Mac Buckets

    Funny, I read Thyme Zone’s argument as the GOP cashing in on an opportunity to exploit a “terror situation” and use to it their political advantage rather than the bullshit “Rove orchestrated it” interpretation you have set forth.

    That’s because you’ve got the backpedelled version, which he’s walked back from his original swipe at me.

  71. 71.

    Punchy

    Here’s the money line:

    The government argued that the program is well within the president’s authority, but said proving that would require revealing state secrets.

    Translation: We’re right, you’re wrong, and we’d love to prove it…but we can’t, so we won’t, so STFU and get back to being scared and frightened by lip gloss and V-8….

    If I’m the gov’t…why even formulate a defense…why even hire a lawyer…when they can get any joker to just schlepp into the courtroom, tonsil-hockey the judge, wizz in the corner, then just turn around and say “State’s secrets, bitches”, and walk out with the case dismissed???

  72. 72.

    Mac Buckets

    Blair would have referred to him as Chimy McHitlerburton.

    Only behind his back. To his face, Bush prefers “Mein Fuhrer” or “Herr BusHitler.”

  73. 73.

    John S.

    Actually, after re-reading Thyme Zone’s post, you clearly DO have reading comprehension problems:

    I think it was about posturing and mining the event for political points, which could be maximized only by having the arrests happen shortly after the primary.

    I don’t think they wanted to “influence” the primary.

    Compared to Mac’s “interpretation”:

    Bush (to aide): Get Blair on the phone. Karl says I have to distract America from a Democratic primary.

    Blair (answers phone): H-Hello?

    Bush: Limey? Old Lime-arello? Limester! Bush here. Hey, Ned Lamont just won a Democrat primary here, so…I need you to arrest, oh, about 21 innocent Pakistanis to distract America from it.

    Reading is fundamental, Mac.

  74. 74.

    ThymeZone

    Here’s your argument in a nutshell:

    Uh, no. You are going to need a larger nutshell.

    Start with this transcript

    Find the string “term we employ is the nexus” using ind on the webpage. It’s quite a way into the show.

    Then read the text, all the way down this blurb:

    In all fairness, as we observe last October and we observer again tonight, we could possibly construct a similar timeline of terror events and warnings and their relationship to the opening of new chain stores around the country. But if merely a reasonable case could be made that any of these juxtapositions of events are more than just coincidences, especially the one last week in which terror policy was again injected directly into a political race, it underscores the need for questions to be asked in this country, questions about what is prudence and what is fear-mongering.

    That’s my argument in a nutshell.

    From you, I haven’t seen an argument.

  75. 75.

    John S.

    Translation: We’re right, you’re wrong, and we’d love to prove it…but we can’t, so we won’t, so STFU

    Sounds like John Cole on Juan Cole.

  76. 76.

    Mac Buckets

    Oh! I forgot. Joe Lieberman had a primary election against a mean old commie anti-war rich elite dirty hippy named Ned Lamont! Doh!

    Ah, life in Moonbatopia. I always knew that Tony Blair cares more about Connecticut politics than his own country’s!

    Although, it was only a three-point race — why not make the terrifying arrests of these innocent Pakistanis before the Connecticut election, to make Lieberman the winner? Ah, I guess Blair just didn’t think this through enough!

  77. 77.

    ThymeZone

    No. 5, December 17, 2003, 9/11 Commission Co-Chair Thomas Kean says the attacks were preventable. The next day, a federal appeals court says the government cannot detain suspected radiation bomber Jose Padilla indefinitely without charges and the chief U.S. weapons inspector in Iraq, Dr. David Kay, who has previously announced he has found no weapons of mass destruction there, announces he will resign his post.

    December 21, 2003, four days later, the Sunday before Christmas…

    UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Today the United States government raised the national threat level.

    Homed Land Security, again, raises the threat level to orange, claiming credible intelligence of further plots to crash airliners into U.S cities. Subsequently six international flights into this country are canceled after some passenger names purportedly produced matches on government “No-Fly” lists. The French later identified those matched names, one belongs to an insurance salesman from Wales, another to an elderly Chinese woman, a third to a 5-year-old boy.

  78. 78.

    ThymeZone

    No. 6, March 30, 2004 the new chief weapons inspector in Iraq, Charles Duelfer, tells Congress “we have still not found any WMD in that country” and after weeks of having refused to appear before the 9/11 Commission, Condoleezza Rice relents, and agrees to testify.

    On the 31st, four Blackwater USA contractors working in Iraq are murdered, their mutilated bodies dragged through the streets and left on public display in Fallujah. The roll of civilian contractors in Iraq is now widely questioned.

    April 2, 2004…

    UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The FBI Has issued a new warning tonight…

    OLBERMANN: Homeland Security issues a bulletin warning that terrorists may try to blow up buses and trains using fertilizer and fuel bombs, like the one detonated in Oklahoma City. Bombs stuffed into satchels or duffle bags.

  79. 79.

    ThymeZone

    OLBERMANN: On the 21st, new photos showing mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib Prison are released.

    On the 24th “Associated Press” video, from Iraq, confirms U.S. Forces mistakenly bombed a wedding party, killing more than 40.

    Wednesday May 26, 2004, two days later…

    ASHCROFT: God afternoon

    OLBERMANN: Attorney General Ashcroft and FBI Director Mueller warned that intelligence from multiple sources…

    ASHCROFT: Indicates al Qaeda‘s specific intention to hit the United States‘ heart.

    OLBERMANN: And that 90 percent of the arrangement for an attack on the United States were complete. The color coded warning system is not raised. The Homeland Security secretary, Tom Ridge, does not attend the announcement.

  80. 80.

    ThymeZone

    No. 8, July 6, 2004, Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry selects John Edwards as his vice presidential running mate producing a small bump in the election opinion polls and producing a huge swing in media attention toward the Democratic campaign.

    July 8, 2004, two days later…

    RIDGE: Credible reporting now indicates that al Qaeda is moving forward with its plans to carry out a large-scale attack in the United States…

    OLBERMANN: Homeland Secretary Ridge warns of information about al Qaeda attacks during the summer or autumn. Four days after that, the head of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, DeForest Soaries Jr. confirms he has written to Ridge about the prospect of postponing the upcoming president election in the event it is intercepted by terrorist acts.

    No. 9, July 29, 2004, at their party convention in Boston, the Democrats formally nominate John Kerry as their candidate for president. As in the wake of any convention the Democrats now dominate the media attention over the subsequent weekend.

    August 1, 2004, Monday morning, three days later.

    RIDGE: It is as reliable as source—group of sources that we‘ve ever seen before.

    OLBERMANN: The department of Homeland Security raises the alert status for financial centers in New York, New Jersey, and Washington to orange. The evidence supporting the warning, reconnaissance data left in a home in Iraq. Later proves to be roughly four years old and largely out of date.

  81. 81.

    ThymeZone

    Like I said, people can believe what they want to believe.

    Anyone wants to stand here and make a case that the Bush administration has earned the right to be taken at face value, to be trusted, to even be believed any more without strong corroboration from independent sources … go right ahead.

    I think we are ready to have that discussion.

  82. 82.

    John S.

    Ah, life in Moonbatopia Strawmanville.

    Fixed that.

    Do they actually serve straw in Strawmanville like they do margaritas in Margaritaville?

  83. 83.

    ThymeZone

    At 3:p.m. Eastern Time, five hours after the president‘s speech had begun, the “Associated Press” reports that Karl Rove will testify again to the CIA leak grand jury and that Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald has told Rove he cannot guaranteed that he will not be indicted.

    UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We‘re awaiting a news conference at the bottom of the hour…

    OLBERMANN: At 5:00 17 p.m. Eastern Time, seven hours after the president‘s speech has begun, New York officials disclose a bomb threat to the city‘s subway system, based on information supplied by the federal government. A Homeland Security spokesman says the intelligence upon which the disclosure is based is of “doubtful credibility.” And it later proves that New York City had known of the threat for at least three days and had increased police presence in the subways long before making the announcement at that particular time.

    Local New York television station WNBC reports it had the story of the threats days in advance of the announcement, but was asked by high ranking federal officials in New York and Washington to hold off on its story. Less than four days after having revealed the threat, Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York says, “Since the period of the threat now seems to be passing, I think over the immediate future we will be slowly be winding down the enhanced security.” While news organizations ranging from the “New York Post” to NBC NEWS, quotes sources who say there were reasons to believe the informant who triggered the warning simply made up. A senior U.S. counter-terrorism official tells the “New York Times,” “there was no there, there.”

    Believe whatever you like. It’s a free country.

  86. 86.

    The Other Steve

    Honestly, I agree with Mac Buckets.

    I don’t think Bush forced Blair to nail these suspected bomb plot pre-planning possible planners because Lieberman lost to Lamont.

    I think he probably forced his hand just to make it appear as though they are actually doing something.

    It’s similar to how Bush outed that other British operation back in 2004 before the Brits actually nabbed the guys in a desperate attempt to prove he was doing something, only this time they let Blair know a bit ahead of time.

    It was less Lieberman and more Bush perception of incompetence they were trying to help.

    So in that sense I do think Mac Buckets is right.

  88. 88.

    John S.

    I don’t think Bush forced Blair to nail these suspected bomb plot pre-planning possible planners because Lieberman lost to Lamont.

    Who the fuck even argued such a thing? I’m glad you agree with Mac’s scathing strawman attack, though.

  89. 89.

    ThymeZone

    Who the fuck even argued such a thing? I’m glad you agree with Mac’s scathing strawman attack, though.

    That’s just TOS doing his contrarian schtick. I think John pays him $5 a post for it.

    Which is, hey … more than you and I are getting.

  90. 90.

    Steve

    Honestly, I agree with Mac Buckets.

    I don’t think Bush forced Blair to nail these suspected bomb plot pre-planning possible planners because Lieberman lost to Lamont.

    I think he probably forced his hand just to make it appear as though they are actually doing something.

    It’s similar to how Bush outed that other British operation back in 2004 before the Brits actually nabbed the guys in a desperate attempt to prove he was doing something, only this time they let Blair know a bit ahead of time.

    Yeah, that was Mac’s position. Right, Mac?

  91. 91.

    John S.

    Which is, hey … more than you and I are getting.

    Nah, I get paid $10 a post to pretend to be Jewish so I can effectively stifle all debate on Israel.

  92. 92.

    Mac Buckets

    Well, at least you found an unbiased, non-moonbat source: Keith Olbermann. Jeeebus. Was Howard Deam unavailable for comment?

    Is there ever a time, ANY time, when someone could talk about the dangers of terrorism and Olbermann (or me or you) couldn’t mention some recent political event in the prior days to imply that “the government is just trying to distract us?” This from the same crew who has whined for four years that Bush didn’t declare immediate martial law for the six weeks after getting an unactionable PDB that said that OBL wanted to attack the US (duh).

  93. 93.

    ThymeZone

    Nah, I get paid $10 a post to pretend to be Jewish so I can effectively stifle all debate on Israel.

    I’d have done it for $7.50.

    Doh!

    Gotta go, my lox and bagel is ready.

  94. 94.

    John S.

    I’d have done it for $7.50.

    Is this a ‘money-grubbing’ Jew reference?

    YOU ARE AN ANTI-SEMITE!

  95. 95.

    ThymeZone

    Well, at least you found an unbiased, non-moonbat

    Yeah, okay, Darrell.

    The money now is on how long it will before you actually make an argument.

    My bet is on never, but who knows, you could get bored and decide aw, what the fuck? I’ll cobble up a brief that says that the Bush administration has just … doggone it … done its level best to protect Amurricans and … well … consarn it, they oughta be given the benefit of the doubt. Dang it.

    Here’s a $100 on Never.

    Takers?

  97. 97.

    John S.

    Anti-semite? Hell no, I love Woody Allen movies.

    Ah, well in that case you’re objectively pro-neurotic.

  98. 98.

    ThymeZone

    This from the same crew who has whined for four years that Bush didn’t declare immediate martial law for the six weeks

    Yeah, good chuckles. That was back when some people still thought that these turds were actually trying to be a government and that their motives were aimed at doing things to help us, the citizens.

    Now we know different. They are just in this for themselves, they don’t give a fuck about the people.

    But, feel free to (snort) argue otherwise. Any day now, I’m sure you’ll pop an actual argument.

  99. 99.

    Mac Buckets

    Who the fuck even argued such a thing?

    Ppg did. Multiple times. I know, it seems unbelievable — but even you should be able to read the smaller words in his posts above, John.

  100. 100.

    jg

    Is there ever a time, ANY time, when someone could talk about the dangers of terrorism and Olbermann (or me or you) couldn’t mention some recent political event in the prior days to imply that “the government is just trying to distract us?”

    No. Politics is politics. Politicians use current events for political gain. Its how the game works. Bush and company are just a little more craven about it. They can do it openly because they’ve trained you and monay others to attack anyone who points out the obvious. Because of that they’re never accountable, by the time the red herring is caught and slaughtered they’ve done something new and it all starts again.

    I’m sure if a dem administration was doing this you’d notice.

  101. 101.

    ThymeZone

    Ppg did. Multiple times. I know, it seems unbelievable

    Ookay, then. Your harangue is over now. Time to move along.

    Drop by again when you have nothing to say.

    We always enjoy seeing you. Leave, I mean.

  102. 102.

    jg

    So the bombers didn’t have the chemicals they said they would explode on the plane, they didn’t have plane tickets or passports in some cases. These are clowns who discussed their plans in public chat lines and on phones. This group was so infiltrated they couldn’t ever have pulled off the event.

    Why was it exposed in such a way to create air travel nightmares and why did it have to be exposed at that time?

    I ask because I have a trip to europe planned for later this year. Unfortunately I’ll be returning shortly after the midterm election in november so I’m sure I’ll be forced to wait for days in line because another ‘massive terrorist plot’ will be uncovered around that time. Will I have to fly in my underwear? We’ll see.

  104. 104.

    John S.

    Ppg did. Multiple times.

    Where? I don’t see this figment of your imagination. Perhaps you could, you know, blockquote this argument made by ThymeZone? I mean, you keep accusing him of backpeddling and making this argument that the British terror plot was orchestrated by Rove because of the Connecticut primary, and yet mysteriously you haven’t included the offending text that led you to this conclusion.

    I know, it seems unbelievable—but even you should be able to read the smaller words in his posts above, John.

    Ouch. Having my literacy questioned by someone with the reading comprehension of a third grader really hurts. Really.

  105. 105.

    Mac Buckets

    The money now is on how long it will before you actually make an argument.

    The argument has been, since the first post, that your Lamont/terror-arrest notion is loony. Look, when John S. can’t believe your deranged “Bush used Britain to distract from Lamont” rubbish (well, it was probably Olbermann’s rubbish that you, as a true disciple of the Sports Mustache, are spreading like a Jehovah’s Witness), then you know you’ve gone round the bend.

    Here’s a $100 on Never.

    Donate it to John instead — I’d only spend it on booze and gambling — and the rest I’d waste.

  106. 106.

    John S.

    John S. and ppGaz are humourless anti-semantics.

    Oh, I get it. You’re a comedian…

    That would explain your ardent defense of Cole accusing Cole of anti-semitism!

    LOL

  107. 107.

    The Other Steve

    I have a suspicion that this John Mark Karr is a delusional Republican. He didn’t kill the girl, he’s just deluded himself into thinking he did.

    I base this off two things…

    #1. The alibi his ex-wife is giving him.

    #2. While it’s true that not all delusional people are Republican, all delusional Republicans are people.

  108. 108.

    Rusty Shackleford

    Bush is the President who cried terrorist.

    Mac,

    A wise man once said, “Fool me once, shame…shame on you? Fool me twice…uh…you can’t get fooled again.”

    OK, maybe he wasn’t so wise but you get the point.

  109. 109.

    The Other Steve

    Oh, I get it. You’re a comedian…

    That would explain your ardent defense of Cole accusing Cole of anti-semitism!

    Ardent? I just thought you guys were being pretty hyperbolic.

  110. 110.

    John S.

    The argument has been, since the first post, that your Lamont/terror-arrest notion is loony.

    You mean the fake argument that you keep peddling? Ya, it is loony.

    Look, when John S. can’t believe your deranged “Bush used Britain to distract from Lamont” rubbish

    I have a hard time believing in things that don’t exist. Clearly, this concept doesn’t stand as an impediment to your ‘fine’ mind.

  111. 111.

    Steve

    #1. The alibi his ex-wife is giving him.

    It strikes me that either his ex-wife is telling the truth, in which case he is an extremely creepy yet innocent man, or else she needs to be picked up as well.

  112. 112.

    John S.

    Ardent? I just thought you guys were being pretty hyperbolic.

    But conjuring an anti-semite out of thin air isn’t hyperbolic?

    You ARE funny!

  113. 113.

    Mac Buckets

    Having my literacy questioned by someone with the reading comprehension of a third grader really hurts.

    Maybe it’s his name-changes that are confusing you, rather that your own evident limitations. He’s ThymeZone now. I’ll just go ahead and excerpt. I originally made a little snarky comment mocking the Uber-moonbat meme of the last few days that the British terror arrests were forced by Bush to distract America from Ned Lamont’s primary win.

    I question the timing! This is obviously a planted Bushie diversion from the glorious Lamont primary victory…Damn you, Darth Rove! I can accept that you mind-controlled the entire British government, but how did you get to the Thai immigration police?

    Ppg responded with some nonsense about some of British terror suspects didn’t have passports (some did???) and how this proved that I was wrong, or in Ppg’s typical oh-so-compelling verbage, “a fucking idiot.” I must assume here that Ppg was taking the contrary position to mine. After another commenter also disgreed with his Lamont link, Ppg defended with:

    You think the American pressure to accelerate the arrests wasn’t politically motivated?

    He’s since posted long passages which show this is probably just a typical Bush-is-the-root-of-all-evil Olbermeme that he’s discipling on the intertrons. I think it ended with this quote, probably from Olbermann’s show:

    But if merely a reasonable case could be made that any of these juxtapositions of events are more than just coincidences, especially the one last week in which terror policy was again injected directly into a political race, it underscores the need for questions to be asked in this country, questions about what is prudence and what is fear-mongering.

    So now he’s backpedalled to the point of not saying that he thinks the arrests were Lamont-driven (because that would be insane), but that he’s just “underscoring the need for questions,” because…well, Keith Olbermann and he hate Bush SO MUCH!

  114. 114.

    John S.

    LOL

    That is the funniest damn piece of crap post I have seen all day, Mac.

    Perhaps when I have time to give it the trashing it deserves later, I will.

    Chances are, someone else will beat me to it.

  115. 115.

    ThymeZone

    So now he’s backpedalled to the point of not saying

    You really are a horse’s ass.

    My point then, and now, was quite simple:

    You are a fucking idiot.

    Why? Asked and answered, over the last 18 months.

    Asked and answered here, in depth.

    Your “response?”

    OLBERMANN!

    You know what, go fuck yourself. The Olbermann material is nothing but a recitation of facts and a timeline. He didn’t make it up. His conclusion? I posted it. It’s reasonable, and prudent.

    You disagree? Make a counter argument.

    You got nothing? Then make it seem as if the issue is some sort of pissing contest between you, and me.

    You have a government in this country that is a disgrace, incompetant, dangerous, and evil. Am I wrong? Then ….

    Like I said, produce a convincing argument. But you can’t, because you are a fucking idiot. Like I said.

    My argument? Look at the facts, draw your own conclusion. I don’t care what conclusion you draw.

    Do you have a better string of facts? Produce them. Say something, for crissakes, besides “you lefties are so funny.”

    Why the fuck they let people like you and Darrell post here, I have no idea. Oh, yes I do: Page views.

  116. 116.

    Mac Buckets

    My point then, and now, was quite simple:
    You are a fucking idiot…Your “response?” OLBERMANN!

    So your most recent revision of your “point” is now just your own opinion about me (which you must know by now doesn’t interest me in the slightest!)? Then why go to the trouble of citing the Sports Mustache? And my response wasn’t “Olbermann.” My response (paraphrased from several posts) was, “What a moronic pile of unprovable drivel. What kind of retarded loony are you, and is there any known medication for Bush Derangement Syndrome?” I mean, just to be precise!

    So, Ppg, short answer time: Do you think the British terror arrests are just a Bush-forced distraction to the Lamont primary win, or not? Simple question. You had no problem giving simple answers at 9:33 or 10:37.

    Your backpedalling pleases me. Your waffling sustains me.

    Y’know what? On the other hand, forget it. I’ve grown tired of concerning myself with what slimy sludge oozes through your fevered skull. Just save it.

  117. 117.

    John S.

    You’re a real piece of work, Mac.

    I am sustained by the notion that smug pieces of shit such as yourself get what they deserve in the end.

    And believe me, you will.

  118. 118.

    Beej

    Just an observation: For people who profess to abhor everything the Bush administration does and stands for, there are a great many folks on this thread who don’t hesitate to use Rovian tactics to their own ends. Instead of concocting ludicrous scenarios which you can then accuse Mac Buckets and Darrell of believing and/or embracing, why don’t you try a little reasoned argument to counter their statements? Oh, and just to stop the cries of “Bush apologist” in their tracks, I didn’t vote for the man either time and I think his handling of everything from Iraq to stem cell research is ridiculous, malicious, and beneath contempt. I just don’t think I’m going to advance those ideas much by slinging personal insults at anyone.

  119. 119.

    Beej

    John,

    I had to laugh at your post because a friend had just told me he thought there must be something “off” about this arrest. After all, “that guy doesn’t look like a killer”.

  122. 122.

    John S.

    why don’t you try a little reasoned argument to counter their statements?

    Good luck with that, Beej.

  123. 123.

    j

    Unfortunately, when a person is killed, the first person the police look to is the family. Why? Statistics. This family was used by the media in so many ways. The media can be the best friend to those who are right and the worst friend to those who are criminals. But in those instances when no one knows the true answer, then we look at the media to give us the answers. Unfortunately, the media is made up of people, just like us, with opinions, speculations and guesses. They are biased and reflect that in their publications. Regardless of your political affliation, I would assume that you would agree, the media is biased.

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