"In Sarah Palin's new book, she says when she first laid eyes on her future husband, she said out loud, 'Thank you, God,' which is the same thing the Democrats said when they first laid eyes on Sarah Palin." –Conan O'Brien

"Her book is number one on Amazon.com right now. Stephen King actually has the number two book. Very scary new book called 'Sarah Palin Becomes President.'" –Jimmy Kimmel

"Sarah Palin's book is supposedly full of shocking revelations. Some of it even surprised John McCain. 'I ran for president?'" –Craig Ferguson

"She believes that women are held to a higher standard than men. She quotes Margaret Thatcher, who said, 'If you want something done, ask a woman.' I guess that's why she asked a woman to write the book for her." –Jimmy Kimmel

"People see her as a candidate in 2012. Some people have started giving money to her campaign. For instance, she just received a very generous check from Barack Obama to run." –Jimmy Kimmel

"Earlier this week — this is crazy — the country's first marijuana cafe opened up, which not only sells medical marijuana, but also has a restaurant where customers can eat. In a related story, the recession is over." –Conan O'Brien

"President Obama has lifted his ban on doing interviews with Fox News. Well, yesterday, President Obama was interviewed by a reporter from Fox News. Yeah. And you could tell the reporter was from Fox News because the first question was, 'How do you think you're doing as president on a scale from minus one to minus ten?" –Conan O'Brien

"Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he will not run for another office once his term as governor is over. He said, 'I have never labeled myself as a politician.' At least that's what I think he said. Either that or, 'I never sat down at the table with an obstetrician.'" –Jay Leno

"Anybody reading the 'Going Rogue' book, the Sarah Palin memoir? Remember the interview she did with Katie Couric before the election and it was confusing and clumsy. Well, in the book, Sarah Palin says that she felt ambushed when Katie Couric asked her what newspapers she read. This coming from a woman who hunts wolves from a helicopter." –David Letterman

"You guys hear this? 'The Oxford Dictionary' declared that the 2009 word of the year is 'unfriend.' To unfriend means to completely delete somebody you don't like from your life, or as CNN calls it, 'Lou Dobbs them.'" –Jimmy Fallon

"It's been announced that President Obama's first state dinner at the White House is going to be held in honor of the prime minister of India. Guests are encouraged to wear black tie and to bring any laptops with tech problems." –Conan O'Brien

"President Obama took a tour of the Great Wall of China. He said it was, quote, 'magical' as opposed to two years ago, when former President Bush stood at the exact same spot and said, 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!'" –Conan O'Brien

"And Congress now looking at a possible amendment to a bill that would allow passengers to check guns on Amtrak. That's amazing, isn't it? They figured out a way to make Amtrak even more dangerous." –Jay Leno

"And last night in New York, for the third time in two weeks, Vice President Joe Biden's motorcade was involved in a traffic accident. Remember the old days when the Vice President would just shoot you? No wonder they want universal healthcare." –Jay Leno

"Liz Cheney hinted that her father, Dick, might run for president in 2012. This news was greeted with cheers, hope and great relief — and that just from the Democrats." –Craig Ferguson

"Hey, did you see guys see 'Oprah' yesterday. Sarah Palin was on it. Sarah Palin said that running for president in 2012 is not on her radar screen right now, which was really, really, really upsetting for Democrats." –Jimmy Fallon

"Obama and the Chinese president pledged to work together on climate change. Then they drove off in their Hummer motorcades." –David Letterman

"Do you know where President Obama is right now? In China. Today he was over there. They're touring him around. He got to see where they keep all our money." –David Letterman

"President Obama arrived in China yesterday. And to foster the spirit of good will, he wore the traditional clothes made by the children of China. You know, L.L. Bean, J. Crew, Banana Republic, Nike, Reebok." –Jay Leno

"Former Vice President Dick Cheney is in the news. Cheney slammed President Obama for bowing before the emperor of Japan. Cheney said, 'Come on, it's not like he's the CEO of Exxon.'" –Conan O'Brien

"But you know, President Bush never bowed to any foreign leaders. He just held hands with them and also he kissed them and then they shared a bunk bed. But that was different. That was for oil." –Jimmy Kimmel

"President Obama went to China and you know, China is the world's third largest economy, right behind Japan and Oprah." –David Letterman

"President Obama in China this week, or as they call it, the 'People's Republic of Wal-Mart.'" –Jay Leno

"Fox News is criticizing President Obama because he bowed to the Japanese emperor, and earlier he got in trouble with bowing to the Saudi king. See, that never would happen with President Bush. He only bowed to Dick Cheney." –Jay Leno

"Sarah Palin's got that book out, that 'Going Rogue.' And she says that she was upset with John McCain because at the end of the election night, the McCain people would not let her deliver a concession speech. And I thought, don't worry, Sarah, I'm sure you'll get another opportunity." –David Letterman

"In her new book, 'Going Rogue,' Sarah Palin says she doesn't like vegetarians. Palin says all vegetarians should go back to Vegetaria, where they came from." –Conan O'Brien

"Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City, says Sarah Palin is 'great for the Republican Party.' Well yeah, that means a lot from the guy who finished fifth." –David Letterman

"In her new book, Sarah Palin claims that before John McCain chose her as his running mate, his campaign spent $50,000 on a background check. Yeah. When he heard this, John McCain said, we should have spent $75,000." –Conan O'Brien

"According to excerpts from Sarah Palin's memoir, 'Going Rogue,' the former vice presidential nominee says her infamous Katie Couric interview went so poorly because Couric was badgering, had a partisan agenda, and asked questions." –Seth Meyers

"Sarah Palin is everywhere right now. Have you noticed that? This week, Sarah Palin is going to appear on 'Oprah,' 'Good Morning America,' 'ABC World News,' 'Nightline,' 'Sean Hannity,' and '20/20.' During all her appearances, Palin will talk about how the media won't leave her alone." –Conan O'Brien

"She said she was super excited to meet Oprah and also to hug a black person for the very first time." –Jimmy Kimmel

"Lou Dobbs announced on his CNN show thursday that he's leaving the network. What is it with CNN and run-away bags of hot air? [on screen: a picture of 'Balloon Boy's balloon" –Seth Meyers

"CNN announced today that political reporter John King will replace Lou Dobbs. King said, 'I'm excited to report about the political landscape, and Dobbs said, 'I am excited to report my landscaper to immigration.'" –Jimmy Fallon

[gathered from NYTimes Laughlines]

Wow -- since wingnuts, teabaggers and birthers have learned to protest about everything these days, they have no problem going after their heroine, Sarah Palin. In Noblesville, Indiana, several dozen of the 1000 lucky wristband holders got pissed when they didn't get their books signed. After all, they waited outside the bookstore for hours in the rain and cold.

When Palin tried to take the money and run, in 4-inch heels and Baby Trig on her hip, the crowd outside started booing, hissing and chanting "Quitter!" "She's a Quitter!"

Here's the video.

Read more here.

Too bad I don't do facebook - there seems to have been an awful lot of facebook bitching from devastated Palin fans.

But not to worry, Sarah will win them back after she blames the bookstore, her staff, the event organizers and the bus schedule.

Goodness knows, Fox News is doing everything they can to help her and promote her. They had to come out with another apology for using fake video footage - this time it was old Palin campaign footage, pretending it was film of the crowds who showed up to buy her book.

(Last time it was about the fake footage they used for a teabagger rally - splicing two events to make it look like the crowds were bigger.)

Don't get me wrong, I am rooting for Palin. I don't want to see her discredited because she does more harm than good to the GOP brand while she's out on the trail.

I want her to succeed, on the theory that she can never pull in more than a fraction of the GOP base - but one big enough to split the party and play hell with getting a rightie elected.

You might remember seeing Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) grinning for the cameras as she stood behind Rep. Michele Bachmann during that anti-healthcare reform "press conference" on the Capitol steps the other day.

Well, yesterday, Rep. Foxx stood up on the House floor and tried to revise history by attacking what she calls "revisionist history" about which political party should get the credit for passing historic civil rights legislation in the 1960's. She wants people to believe it was Republicans who were the civil rights champions.

She said: "Just as we were the people who passed the civil rights bills back in the '60s without very much help from our colleagues across the aisle," said Fox. "They love to engage in revisionist history."

Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) immediately challenged Foxx, strongly denying that the GOP passed the Civil Rights Act with almost no help from the Democrats...saying that it was passed by the Johnson administration over the objections of people like Jesse Helms from her own state. And that Rep. John Lewis, "a member of this House, was beaten on the Edmund Pettus bridge to get that civil rights legislation passed. Tell John Lewis that he wasn't part of getting that legislation passed."

Maybe Foxx was talking about the 1860's, when Republicans passed Reconstruction and then Southern Democrats passed Jim Crow laws. Back then it wasn't a party thing...it was a conservative vs liberal thing. The conservatives in both parties opposed civil rights of any kind, and those leaning liberal in both parties had to fight tooth and nail to get these things passed.

Can you imagine liberals in the Republican party? It's much different today, our two parties have an ever widening difference between them...even though the Democrats still have their Blue Dog conservatives.

If we're talking about 1960's, overall, Senate Republicans voted 27-6 for the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The voting record shows a distinct split between Northern and Southern politicians. When you take this into account, the facts show that "in both the North and the South, Democrats supported the 1964 Civil Rights Act at a higher rate than the Republicans."

Virginia Foxx is wrong. Yes, 1960's civil rights legislation was passed with strong bipartisan support...but, the credit for the civil rights victory has to go almost entirely to liberals and Democrats.

Don't forget that Richard Nixon began, and Ronald Reagan continued, the now-famous "Southern Strategy"...which led to an exodus of Southern Democrats to the Republican Party. THOSE were the kind of Democrats who voted against civil rights -- the racist, white-supremacist Dixiecrat Democrats -- NOT the ones who form the Democratic Party today.

The South has never forgiven Democrats for supporting the Civil Rights Movement and that's the dirty history of Republicans and racism.

Today's Democratic Party owes its soul far more to Northern liberals than to Southern Democrat Dixiecrats.

BTW - if Rep. Foxx really believes what she said, I'd like her to tell me what has the GOP done for civil rights lately? How's that minority vote working out for you? Also...would you vote for the Civil Rights Act today, Virginia?

He broke his silence yesterday:

"WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Republican Senator John McCain on Wednesday strongly defended the top advisers from his 2008 presidential campaign in the face of sharp criticism from his vice presidential running mate, Sarah Palin.[..]"

I am certainly not worried that Palin will ever win elective office. After her book tour storm dies down, I predict she will be on her way to a TV talk show, because running for political office is hard work, harder than beauty pageants. She seems to quit when the going gets rough.

And, after all, Limbaugh and Beck are getting millions for a just chatting a couple of hours a day, why shouldn't she?

But her celebrity can be dangerous in certain ways. Like she's the one who came up with the GOP talking point, "death panels" (probably with someone's help)...one of the more ridiculous lies which soon overtook the healthcare debate. Here's what she said when Barbara Walters asked her about it...

From abcnews.com: "Sarah Palin is acknowledging that "death panels" aren't part of Democrats' health care bills.

But, she says, she's been talking about them to make a point -- and she's comparing her use of the term to Ronald Reagan's cold war references to the "evil empire." [..] You're never going to find the evil empire on a map of the world,"

...Asked if Obama -- who has pushed back aggressively against the notion of "death panels" being part of the Democrats' bills, is a liar, Palin said no:

"He is not lying, in that those two words will not be found in any of those thousands of pages of different variations of the health care bill. No, ‘death panel' isn't there," Palin said.

"But he's incorrect, and he is disingenuous, if he is telling the American public that it doesn't come down to people -- committees, bureaucrats -- deciding who, ultimately, will receive government-run health care, if that's where we end up. With government-run health care, the only way to provide all the services to those who will need this health care is to ration it at some point. Who will do the rationing? It will be bureaucrats."

"They will be able to call the shots, based on somebody's subjective judgment of productivity, of somebody's life, who will receive the health care that needs to be rationed, and who will not. So, it was funny though, that the president said, ‘There's no such thing as death panels in there,' and some Congress members were saying there's no such thing. And yet then, steps were taken to take the ‘death panels' out."[..]"~~

Can you believe it?

It was Blumenauer's amendment for end-of-life counseling that she called a 'death panel'...and it WASN'T taken out, it PASSED with the rest of the House bill.

I repeat -- there NEVER were provisions for "bureaucrats" who "will be able to call the shots, based on somebody's subjective judgment of productivity, of somebody's life, who will receive the health care that needs to be rationed, and who will not."

These provisions NEVER existed...other than in her goofy mind. This woman is an embarrassment to all women who struggle to get taken seriously. Doesn't she realize that the rest of us read?

Shame on you Barbara Walters for not calling Palin on this...for letting her get away with her lies.

The REAL death panels are made up of insurance executives...the ones who routinely deny life-saving coverage...who pull the plug on "expensive" treatments for sick people. Who are then kicked off their policies because they get sick. Who then die.

Thank you for your service, Senator Byrd...now please get your dozing butt (yes, we C-SPAN watchers see you napping) off the Senate floor and into retirement. It was time for new blood long ago.

I mean, how long had Strom Thurmond been dead before he left finally the Senate? Power has to be the most addictive drug in this world...

This is exactly why people want term limits for Congress. This is why Washington gets stagnant and stuck in old-white-guy ways of thinking.

All too often, career politicians concentrate more on trying to keep their jobs...instead of doing their jobs. New people are needed to get fresh ideas into the system and avoid any one person becoming too powerful because of seniority. I think the founding fathers meant for citizens to *temporarily* serve in national, state and local offices...then go back home and give someone else a chance.

Everyone knows Byrd has been very sick for quite a while...someone on his staff has to be running the show, but he/she was not elected. Byrd's not really serving if he's incapacitated...all he did was falsely break a record for longest serving.

Just like the rest of us, when we reach a point where we are physically and mentally incapable of doing our jobs, Senators and Congresscritters should retire gracefully.

Texas lawmakers wanted to make sure gay people couldn't get married in their state, so they approved an amendment to their Constitution that bans gay marriage. But the wording is clumsy, and now it seems they may have made all marriage illegal in the state. Even Common Law marriage.

The amendment included the following clause, which was supposed to ban civil unions and domestic partnerships -- "This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage."

But, wouldn't the one thing that's "identical…to marriage," be marriage?

Sounds pretty clear to me...marriage is no longer recognized in Texas...in fact, it is banned.

I've lived a lot of my life in Texas, and have to say that not all Texans are racists, homophobes, or ignorant. There's a lot of good Texans who respect the rights of women, gays and minorities...same thing in Oklahoma. Yep, there are plenty good people round these parts...and many good people who also have backward ideas....

A lot of people are against prosecuting 9/11 terrorists in NYC civilian courts instead of military tribunals. Maybe some of them had all these Jack Bauer "24" fantasies.

But, why should this be any different than the trial of OKC bomber, Timothy McVeigh? Terrorist acts are crimes and should be prosecuted in a court of law, in the jurisdiction where the crime was committed.

It's important that we don't treat these terrorists as war criminals...it would only help them exaggerate their arrogant self-importance. They're just small time criminals...crazy cult followers. They crave attention and recognition as jihadist soldiers in a holy war who sacrifice for their god...and we shouldn't give it to them.

They need to be tried in civilian courts...dull, bland courtrooms. No military uniforms, no military insignia in sight. Let's bore them to death as them anticipate prison time with killers and rapists...where they're the only virgins. Show them and the rest of their cult how religiously uplifting it was to sacrifice for their god.

It should also be more satisfying for us to handle terrorism and Islamic extremism this way, instead of railroading them through some kangaroo court in Guantanamo. We should try them by the book and then watch their sorry asses rot as they serve life in “Supermax.”

No, no death penalty...don't give them the “martyrdom” status that they crave. Remember how pissed Zacharias Moussaoui was because he wasn't executed and sentenced to life in solitary instead?

People have so many concerns about these trials and are asking so many questions. Like if the terrorists can receive a fair trial in New York...or anywhere for that matter. If they can find 12 qualified impartial jurors.

Or if they have enough hard evidence against Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and whether anything he said under torture will be inadmissible. Or if authorities can limit his ability to propagandize. Well, just so happens that federal courtrooms do not allow TV cameras, so he can preach and blab all he wants.

People worry that the trials will make New York again a target for religious fanatics...like they had forgotten all about NYC until these trials. The city has tried terrorists successfully there before without cowering in fear.

I saw a poll that said 45% of New Yorkers think the trial is a good idea, versus 41% who think it’s a bad idea.

I've read both sides of whether we should drag NYC through the drama and horrific memories of 9/11 again. Some relatives of victims relish the justice this will bring, and say they will be in the courtroom every day. Others dread it and condemn the decision.

Most people seem to have faith in our justice system and those responsible for our security.

Here's a good read on the subject. "[R]egrettably, no trial can provide closure for the traumas of that day. But a judgment in New York, where the greatest suffering was inflicted, will remind us both of the narrow viciousness of the terrorists’ cause and of the enduring strength of our own values."

Sarah Palin is upset and calling Newsweek sexist because it used a pin-up type picture of her on it latest cover. Yes, she posed for it willingly...for a Runner’s World magazine article.

I'm wondering where she was when Hillary Clinton was being savaged with everything from toilet paper to nutcrackers.

Since a cover is also considered commentary of a sort...it's obvious that Newsweek thinks Palin is an empty political shell, along with most Americans. In a recent poll, 60 percent said she is not qualified to be president.

Some people are saying that Sarah Palin is the one who's sexist...for thinking she could use her beauty queen training to flirt and wink her way to the White House. And then is surprised when Newsweek reduces her to just a hot chick in shorts.

Call me sexist, but would Palin be this media phenomena if she had looked like Dede Scozzafava to begin with? No, with a capital N. Palin's looks are her greatest strength.

Anyway, notice that the righties are not pitching a fit about how she's leaning her elbow on the US flag -- which is tossed casually around like an afghan over a sofa. Isn't that a violation of the Flag Code?

Newt Gingrich thinks the teabaggers are ruining the chances of a GOP comeback.

Naw...what was his first clue?

That three-ring circus full of clowns with teabags hanging from their hats and stapled all over their clothes? Running around carrying signs showing everything from Holocaust death camp corpses, to President Obama as Hitler...signs that said, "Next time we'll come armed."?

Just when moderate GOP voters were looking for a serious thinker to run the country, they didn't know whether to cringe, laugh, or go jump into the Boston Harbor.

Hey Newt, Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann ain't listening...and just when you finally started making sense too...

From politico.com: "Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich predicted disaster for his party if the conservative wing of the GOP continues to field independent candidates to the right of the party’s nominee.

"If we get into a cycle where there are tea parties and there are conservative third-party candidates, we will make [Nancy] Pelosi speaker for life," Gingrich told POLITICO in an interview Thursday, calling the practice "totally destructive." [..]"

I keep trying to tell everyone that this teabagger movement is just a fringe element...it will never be taken seriously.

If they claim they are not associated with any political party, they will fizzle and die in no time flat.

IF they declare as a national political party (they registered as a state party other day in Florida), they will be dismissed as a third party that will never accomplish much. That's always been the fate of third parties...look at Perot, look at Nader.

If they keep crowing that they'll soon take back the GOP...well, that's not going to fly with moderate conservative voters. That's the GOP's biggest problem right now -- they're seen as extremists who will not allow moderate voices to speak to the mainstream of citizens and voters.

Democrats, don't be tardy to the Tea Party party...cheer them on, they will surely siphon off votes from Republican candidates. Remember...that's how Ralph Nader helped elect GWBush president.

Right now, a majority of the voting public has little faith in the Republican party or its future. Its mostly seen as the party of NO, the party of Neander-cons...and that's not gaining them much traction.

Maybe the tipping point began in 2005, when GWBush decided to hitch up his "political capital" to destroying Social Security. Yeah, he wanted to ditch Social Security and replace it with plans that would put worker's savings in the stock market.

Now just imagine the pickle this country would be in if the GOP had won that fight. Worried voters squirmed, contacted their political reps and hooted it down.

It's been downhill for the GOP ever since.

President Obama greeted Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko with a polite bow as he arrived at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Saturday.

It sure didn't take long for the rightie rage puppets to zero in on it like flies on dung and start taking political cheapshots. They whine that a US President shouldn't grovel before furriners.

Oh no!...this will lead to terrible things! Next thing you know, we'll all be driving Japanese cars and watching Japanese TV...

Everyone else saw Obama playing the part of polite guest in a part of the world where this sort of formal protocol counts for extra.

At least he didn’t vomit in the emperor’s lap ...ala Poppy Bush.

Anyway, see the bow here...and don't blink or you'll miss it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kyD_e0Y7FQ&feature=player_embedded

Don't righties realize that bowing is what the Japanese do instead of shaking hands? They don’t equate bowing with groveling...just with being polite. Notice that they never shake hands with each other...they always bow.

And where were these outraged wingnuts when their hero GWBush was holding hands with the Saudi king? Or when he gave Saudi prince Abdullah a big old smoochy? And if you want to talk about breach of protocol, what about when he gave a sneaky little neck rub to the female German chancellor...treating her like she’s a customer in a massage parlor?

I'm glad that Obama bowed knowing that righties would freak...shows that he won’t be bullied by small mean minds.

This was a deft move by Obama, but the wingnuts are too blinded by hate to see it....and if he had not bowed, these same wingnuts would attack him for committing a horrible, unforgivable breach of protocol.

There is absolutely nothing President Obama can do that righties would approve of...NOTHING. He’s too personal...he’s too aloof...he’s too polite...he’s too rude. You just have to laugh and enjoy their antics as comedy skits.

I am proud to have a President who is knowledgeable about another country’s culture. To show respect is very smart for him personally, and for our country generally.

You know, maybe we should start this bowing thing here...it would be more hygienic. Think of all the flu germs that are spread by shaking hands.

Our country has so many serious problems. How sad that we don't have a rational opposition party that would discuss these problems without rancor, and maybe offer solutions or alternatives. Even if we didn't agree, sometimes a good discussion can often bring about new ideas.

But no, all these guys want to talk about is Obama’s bowing style...

Carrie Prejean is in the news again. She’s the beauty pageant contestant who spoke out against gay marriage. She’s a very family-values-oriented woman who, in her spare time, made a pornographic video tape. She says it is not a sex tape because she’s the only one in it. It’s s solo sex tape. It’s the first female solo sex tape . . . she flies solo. She’s like the Amelia Earhart of the naked." –Jimmy Kimmel

"She's trying to downplay the incident. In pageant terms, it was a swim-suit competition minus the swim suit but with a lot of baton twirling." –Jimmy Kimmel

"Former Miss California, Carrie Prejean, got into trouble for making a sex tape. She’s the only one in the tape. But I think this could be innocent too — last time for the racy photos, she said the wind blew her vest open . . . so maybe the wind blew her into some sexy positions and made her do some sexy gestures." –Craig Ferguson

"The AMA is urging the Federal Government not to classify marijuana as a dangerous drug and do more research. That's what they said. It's a big story, yeah. Yeah, that request came not only from the AMA but also from KFC." –Conan O'Brien

"It's been reported that outspoken anti-immigration anchor Lou Dobbs is leaving CNN. Yeah. True story, yeah. He'll be replaced by a guy named Juan, who will do the same job for $5 an hour." –Conan O'Brien

"Dobbs said he's leaving because he wants to engage in constructive problem solving. He's already solved one problem, for CNN." –Jimmy Fallon

"On Monday, Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Palin will sit down and they're going to talk for an entire hour. And I was thinking, too bad John McCain didn't do that with her before he chose her as his running mate." –David Letterman

"It's the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down. Before that, the only way to get from East Germany to West Germany was your dad would have to put you in a balloon." –David Letterman

"Google has announced that they’re going to give free Internet access in airports all across the country. It’s fantastic! Up until now, the only way to see something pornographic at an airport was to follow a senator into the bathroom." –Craig Ferguson

"Remember the Congressman, William Jefferson, who the F.B.I. caught with $90,000 in bribe money in his freezer? Well, he was convicted of 11 counts of bribery and corruption. Prosecutors asked for the harshest prison sentence ever handed down for a member of Congress. Something like 30 years. The Congressman is saying — he said he still did nothing wrong. He claims he just fell in with the wrong crowd — Congress." –Jay Leno

"Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, who was forced to resign because he used prostitutes, will deliver a lecture tomorrow at the Harvard center for Ethics. Yeah, if you want to check out the speech, it costs $500 for half an hour, $900 if you want to stay for the whole hour." –Jimmy Fallon

"Some pictures of President Obama posted on the internet seem to show the President looking very thin. ... Tthey say he looks too thin, but White House docs say not to worry, Barack Obama's one of those guys who can eat whatever he wants and still not gain weight. Yet another reason for Rush Limbaugh to hate him." –Jay Leno

"The senior citizen group AARP endorsed the Democrats' health care bill. Senior citizens endorsed it. Yes. Yeah, yeah, a spokesperson for the senior citizens group said, 'We can't wait until this bill is signed by President Harry Truman.'" –Conan O'Brien

"Congressman John Boehner told a crowd of protesters yesterday that the new health care bill was the 'greatest threat to freedom he's ever seen.' And then the Taliban was like, 'Uh, helloooo? What?!'" –Jimmy Fallon

"President Obama hosted a conference of all the Native American tribes. I know the U.S. economy's in bad shape, but Obama told the Indians, 'Look, you can have the country back. Okay, fine.'" –Jay Leno

"President Obama met with Native American tribal leaders, and they gave Obama the Indian name, 'He Who Cares.' Isn't that nice? That's nice. Yeah. Then, they gave Vice President Joe Biden the Indian name, 'Big Chief Running Mouth." –Conan O'Brien

"During the middle of his show, Fox News commentator Glenn Beck was rushed to the hospital for an attack of appendicitis. Yeah. Apparently, Beck was crying and screaming incoherently, so his audience assumed everything was normal." –Conan O'Brien

"It's interesting what former presidents do when they leave office. Bush is now working as a motivational speaker. And if you want to be motivated, who better to turn to than the guy who invaded the wrong country and started a depression." -David Letterman

"Bush will be a great motivational speaker. Look how many people he motivated to vote Democrat. So there you go!" --David Letterman

"New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine said he's considering leasing the New Jersey Turnpike to help raise money for the state. He's going to lease out the New Jersey Turnpike. And of course, a lot of people are furious about this. Because, you know, parts of the Jersey Turnpike are considered a sacred mob burial ground." –Jay Leno

"The only opponent to Afghan President Hamid Karzai backed out of the planned recount. He's not going to be in the race. He says he wants to spend more time with his family and not get killed." –Jay Leno

"Abdullah Abdullah may be out of the race, but they say in four years his idiot son will be on the ballot. That would be Abdullah W. Abdullah." –David Letterman
Leno

"A year ago Barack Obama was elected president. It's been a year, can you believe that? Yeah. A lot's happened. Yeah. In one short year, Obama's slogan has gone from, 'Yes, we can,' to 'Wow, this is freakin' hard.'" –Conan O'Brien

[gathered from NYTimes Laughlines]

A US District Judge has ordered South Carolina not to issue an auto license plate with a Christian image and slogan...which had already been approved by the SC Legislature. The plate showed an image of a cross in front of a stained glass window with the words, "I Believe."

Judge Cameron Currie said no, no...this amounts to state endorsement of a particular religion, and ruled that the plate was a violation of the First Amendment, which is all about the separation of church and state. Or, in this case, church and plate.

More here: ~US judge bans 'I Believe' license plates~

["W]hether motivated by sincerely held Christian beliefs or an effort to purchase political capital with religious coin, the result is the same," Currie wrote in a 57-page order.

"The statute is clearly unconstitutional and defense of its implementation has embroiled the state in unnecessary (and expensive) litigation.".........

"This is great news," Americans United executive director Reverend Barry Lynn said in a statement.

"Some officials seem to want to use religion as a political football.... That's an appalling misuse of governmental authority, and I am thrilled that the judge put a stop to it."...........

In most US states, a driver can choose a customized license plate for 20 to 30 dollars, in the name of groups defending state-approved causes or in their own name.

Flyfishing enthusiasts, animal rights activists, veterans or even anti-abortion activists -- who proclaim to be "4LIFE" -- thus make their own personal stamp on US roads."

Last year another judge struck down the use of a similar plate in Florida.

The South is just too dang accustomed to having its double-dipped born-again Baptist way. People who want to express their faith can use bumper-stickers, or put a 'Honk if you love Jesus' sign in their window.

Wonder how many key scratches a car would get in SC if it had a 'Honk if you are Muslim' sign?

Each car owner is also free to buy special plates to make a religious statement...just like the anti-abortion "4LIFE" driver did. But the state CAN NOT dictate that every driver, atheist, Buddhist or Jew, has to drive around proclaiming to believe in a faith that's not theirs.

The Washington Times, a conservative propaganda outlet, has announced the resignation of Executive Editor John Solomon a year before his contract was up.

Maybe because Solomon had said that he wanted to bring balance to the rightie newspaper...and try to keep opinion and commentary from bleeding over into hard news?

Mr. Solomon, please, please, please write an insider expose. I'd love to learn more about this crazed cult leader Moon and his money-laundering empire...which funds the hard-right media, and key Republicans.

WT also fired Tom McDevitt, the publisher and president, and several other executives.

Then security was beefed up on the top floor.

The paper is owned by Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church, and apparently a feud between Moon's sons has caused all the turmoil.

Which Moonie will end up in charge? Rumors have the sons wanting to shut down the print edition. Rumors also have the Rev. Moon wanting to shut down the whole thing, and start it up again in China or Russia.

Aside: Hmm...what would happen if a leading liberal newspaper was owned by a foreign mind-control cult? Just think what Glen Beck could do with that...or just wingnuts in general.

Anyway, with all print media suffering,..and only 20 percent of Americans admitting that they're Republicans, maybe it's natural that more rightie outlets are failing...

I read that Moon has pumped almost two billion dollars into the WT to keep it afloat since he bought it, and other rightie rags like Weekly Standard lose over a million a year. Maybe the market has already given a big thumbs down to this kind of "journalism."

Here's more: ~Mystery deepens at Washington Times~
"The situation at the Washington Times is getting even more bizarre. Days after the mysterious firing of three top executives at the city's No. 2 paper, and with no word on whether suddenly absent executive editor John Solomon will continue to lead the paper, armed guards have been posted on the third floor at the Times' headquarters, where management's offices are housed.

That's led many to wonder what in the heck is going on at the Times, which has long been shrouded in secrecy. The paper is owned by the Unification Church led by Rev. Sun Myung Moon, a shadowy figure whose church was often accused of brainwashing its followers, known as Moonies. [...]guards were posted so that the new chief financial officer can secure the paper's financial records, but armed guards seem a bit unnecessary for bookkeeping. There have been rumors that the paper is doing anything from folding to going online only, but thus far its owners have stayed mum. The shakeup ...was blamed on the economy."

Sen. Tom Coburn (OK-R), a doctor, is the lone holdout blocking a bill that would give veterans more access to health care. You’d think that funding for a new bill that would allow the VHA to provide caregiver assistance to our most wounded veterans would be a no-brainer, right?

But, they don't call him 'Dr. No' for nothing. Coburn had no problem voting for the war that put these Americans in harms way, now he's blocking funds to help them.

See, he's all for supporting the troops, as long that means cheering for them as they go off to fight the bad guys -- but when they return home from the battlefield, wounded, deaf, blind and limb-less, when it comes to all their special needs, well, Coburn doesn't have much sympathy for that.

Ever notice how gung-ho Republicans are to authorize spending billions of our dollars on bombing some other country (whether we need to or not), but the minute government wants to spend a little money to help those in need, like our injured veterans, Republicans get all balky?

But, while that statement is generally true, in this case I must mention again that Coburn is the ONLY Republican blocking bill S-1963. All the other R's are voting for it.

I love what those at examiner.com have to say:

~Tom Coburn: Oklahoma's shame~

"Doctor "No" once again embarrasses Oklahoma by holding up the Veterans Caregiver and Omnibus Health Benefits Act - S. 1963. Yes, he's holding firm to his ideological bent to drown the federal government in a bathtub.[..]"

Not all Okies are wingnut righties, "Bryan" said in comments -- "To pick up on your theme of Coburn as our statewide shame, he is the pubic hair in the teeth of Oklahoma."

This Daily Show episode shows unmistakable evidence that Fox News splices and doctors its videos to fit its agenda. They show footage of the last House Call rally...with some of the 9/12 rally spliced in. You can tell that the trees changed color. Journalists, my left foot! Thanks Jon Stewart for holding them accountable...and keep up the good work!

Yep, Jon Stewart caught Sean Hannity using misleading video clips of a protest rally to support his claim that nearly 45,000 people turned up at a health-care-reform protest last week.

Washington Post had reported that only 10,000 people attended, or Hannity might have gotten away with using old protest footage to show larger crowds.

"If I didn’t know any better, I would think they just put two different days together and acted like they didn’t," joked Stewart.

He then showed clips of Glenn Beck using the same footage two months ago at a different event.

Watch here:

http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200911100063

President Obama gave a beautiful and moving speech at the Fort Hood memorial yesterday..it was clear that the families of the fallen were touched by his words.

He pointed out the strength and diversity of America's military: "This generation of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen have volunteered in a time of certain danger. They are part of the finest fighting force that the world has ever known. They have served tour after tour of duty in distant, different and difficult places. They have stood watch in blinding deserts and on snowy mountains. They have extended the opportunity of self-government to peoples that have suffered tyranny and war. They are man and woman; white, black, and brown; of all faiths and stations -- all Americans, serving together to protect our people, while giving others half a world away the chance to lead a better life."

He even took a moment to mention the man responsible for the shootings: "It may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy. But this much we do know -- no faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor. And for what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice -- in this world, and the next."

But the most touching part was when the President identified each one of the victims, taking a moment to talk about their life, family, and legacy. "Neither this country -- nor the values that we were founded upon -- could exist without men and women like these thirteen Americans. And that is why we must pay tribute to their stories."

Here is a video of his speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dswVUdlK9DY

On this Veterans Day there should be no Democrats or Republicans, there should be only Americans. Today we honor all veterans who fought to protect the freedoms we often take for granted.

It's sad that Veterans Day doesn’t seem to rank very high on America's list of favorite holidays. People seem to pay more attention to other patriotic holidays like the 4th of July, ...well, it does have fireworks.

But we have to remember that without the brave fighting men and women of our armed forces there might not be a home of the brave.

Remember what this day is all about, a day to honor all American veterans of all wars, from the Revolutionary War to the present day Iraq and Afghanistan wars. So many have given the ultimate in sacrifice.

Some of our wars haven't been as popular with our citizens as others, but the American soldier’s willingness to sacrifice his or her life for our country should never be questioned. Any man or woman who honorably wore a soldier’s uniform is a hero in my book.

We should also recognize and honor military families for the great sacrifices they have always made throughout the course of our history.

I am grateful to all the World War II veterans, the Vietnam veterans, the Korean War veterans, the Desert Storm veterans, and those today fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan...they have all served our country with such valor. I salute them every one.

Thank You for your service to our country! Semper Fi!

"The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war."
~Douglas MacArthur

When I first learned of the Fort Hood shootings, and who the suspect was, I was genuinely torn about how to react...other than with shock and grief. I truly tried to keep an open mind about the role of religion in this tragedy -- believe me, I am the kind of person you'd want on your jury -- but the past few days have revealed many troubling things about Hasan.

My feelings changed and intensified after learning that he had visited radical Islamist websites, chatting up suicide bombers...and that he had been in contact with that radical Imam for a year. An Iman known for his incendiary anti-American teachings...and whose website is now praising what Hasan did.

Hasan's mind had to be sick to begin with, and if they weren't actual co-conspirators in the shooting, these jihadists helped to inflame his mind with extremist religious dogma before he snapped.

Let's be clear -- if a madman just happens to be a Muslim, then religion might be immaterial. But if he yells "God is Great!" in Arabic right before he shoots 43 people, then he commits his crime in the name of Islam.

I read that the Departments of Defense and Justice have decided that Hasan will be prosecuted in military court...which means that they believe he acted alone. Because his case would be tried in civilian court if they thought he conspired with non-military people.

Some people are saying that Hasan went on the shooting rampage because he was a coward and didn't want to go to Afghanistan. Well, then why didn't he just commit suicide? At first I thought he was trying to cause "suicide by cop"...but, since he was trying to take so many soldiers with him, now I think this was his "suicide bomb."

Hate to say it, but it looks like the Army dropped the ball on this one. Regardless of what they knew and when they knew it, they should have let this madman out of the Army. Yes, investigators said that Hasan's emails with the radical Imam were consistent with a research project he was doing at Walter Reed on post-traumatic stress disorder...and that there was nothing to suggest any threat of violence. BUT, wasn't this something to worry about, given the nature of the Iman's communications with others?

Maybe the Army is too keen on keeping either Muslims or psychiatrists in the service. Muslims are valuable with Iraqi and Afghan locals; the Army has only 408 psychiatrists for 545,000 soldiers...a ratio of 1 to 1335.

And since there were no flaming threats, the Army just didn't follow up on the FBI and Homeland Security investigations. Like they should've been watching when he bought the "cop killer" gun.

What gets me is that in the middle of the FBI investigation, the Army left Hasan in his post, even promoted him to Major last May.

Here is the latest news on Hasan from CBS.

Aside: Notice that the "D.C. Sniper" John Allen Muhammad is executed at the same time rightie blowhards are bellowing that the shooting at Fort Hood is the first terrorist attack since 9/11.