cross-posted at skippy and a veritable cornucopia of other community blogs.

we have noticed, as of late, a disheartening trend in various comments and blog posts around blogtopia*. several writers have seemingly fallen into the dumps because things are not progressing as progressively as progressives would like. they cite the dems' refusal to discuss impeachment, the iraq defunding which looks to be dead in the water, and the general tendency of those in charge to ignore the common citizens they are supposedly hired by to run things.

however, we here at skippy international are feeling pretty good about things, and we wish that the rest of you in blogtopia* would join us. after all, there are several major accomplishments that have come to fruition recently, all of which were done, if not completely, then certainly with major efforts, by the netroots.

to start with, blogs and bloggers really came into their own as true-to-life journalists with the libby trial. thanks to the kids at firedoglake, and to marcy wheeler (also known as "emptywheel "...and maybe some day she'll explain what the hell that screen name means), as well as swopa of medianeedle, jerlayn merritt of talkleft and margie burns for bradblog (plus others we have surely missed, and our apologies if we have), the idea of blogs as actual journalism came into existence.

where before blogs were seen mainly as an outlet for cranky powerless people to whine, suddenly it was proven that they could be used as an outlet for cranky powerless people to disseminate information on a national level at a level far deeper and wider in scope than any electronic media, and most dead trees media.

- - more after the jump -

REF http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/3/6/21254 /12233

First - I will introduce myself. I am an out of work Soldier of the United States Army turned militant Politico by a few close friends. I am new to this blog and would appreaciate a warm welcome from all.

Back to the reply at hand -

Let's not forget that Egyptian Pharaohs almost always wed their own sisters. I wouldn't compare Mr. Crime Fighter himself to an Egyptian Pharaoh, but I can see where a self indulged idealistic power centric political figure could decline to procreate with someone outside of his hierarchical family line. "Keep it in the family" faired very well with powerful families of ancient days.  

Who is he to abide by the taboos of a nation full of people far below him? For his love is justified and a caring love - nonetheless it is still not "right" and he will lose points when this is exploited by yours truly. Does the Catholic Church condone "kissing cousins"?

As far as your outcry over Annie C and her quest for self pleasuring echoes of hatred throughout the hallways of K Street; well I think your remarks are fueled by a dab of jealousy entwined with a similar lust for prominent notice from those around you. Oh, don't cry my dear friend for you have gained yet another fan today - me.

It's one day away from the 911 anniversary [why do we say anniversary, as if it was a good day we want to remember?] and I, like every other American, have quite a few memories of that day and its aftermath.

I remember, that it was probably weather wise, the most beautiful morning that I have ever seen in all of my years on earth. The weather was particularly meaningful to me, because although we were at a court conference in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, we were supposed to play a full round of golf that day. I remember, as I was changing in my hotel room, listening to the news report on television about a "small" plane flying into one of the Twin Towers. I didn't pay much attention to it. In fact, as I went downstairs to meet my colleagues for breakfast, and I even joked to them about some guy in a Cessna or something who couldn't get his bearings straight, and crashed his plane into one of the Twin Towers. Boy was I wrong. As we stood in the lobby of that hotel, I will never forget how surreal it was watching the other plane crash into the second tower.

The looks on the faces of every one in that room, the mad dash to go home by people with young children, and families at home was something I will never forget. I suppose being at a conference and in a hotel, made those initial moments even more tense and horrifying to the people that were there with me. Most people were away from home, and most people, seeing the other stories of multiple planes being hijacked, one crashing into the Pentagon, and one of the hijacked planes heading right to us across Pennsylvania, could not help but think that we were under attack, and were at war.

Total strangers were crying with each other, and comforting each other in any way that they could. I called my significant other, who was working in a high rise building in Philadelphia on the seventeenth floor, to make sure she was OK. She said she was, and I told her that no matter what her company said to get the hell out of there. She said she would because she was scared, and that there was allot of talk in the office about America being under attack. I told her that the people in her officer were right. I will never forget the middle aged white lady who came up to me and said: "Can you believe this is happening in our country?" "Well", she said, "we are all together now" As if we weren't together before. Of course she was right, we weren't together before. And not only blacks and whites, but democrats and republicans, rich and poor, red staters and blue staters, you name it. We were just coming off Gore v. Bush, remember that? So in a way, I guess you couldn't blame us. But this incident, this moment, made us all realize how vulnerable we were. As Americans, we always viewed wars and terrorist attacks on our T.V. sets. We never thought that such things could happen to us in our beloved America, insulated in our bucolic Ozzie and Harriet worlds. But it did, because a bunch of religious fanatics wanted to bring the fight to us. So it united us for awhile. For awhile we were together as one America, united against the evil that invaded our peaceful existence.

This is why the war in Iraq really sets me off. Because rather than use a moment when we as citizens, were all ready to unite to defeat a common enemy. Our president, guided by the neocons in his party, used one of the most tragic moments in American history, to score political points, to settle old scores, and to push forth an agenda in the Middle East. It upset me, because of what I saw on the faces of the people in Harrisburg that day, and the bravery and selflessness of a lot of great people who gave their own lives to save others. It upsets me thinking about it now, because we are right back to where we were pre 911, if not worse. We are even more divided, and our president is still trying to score political points from this tragedy. [See his most recent political tour] It upset me, because the NBA sized terrorist, Osama Been Forgotten [that's classic] is still hiding out in Afghanistan somewhere and shaking his d%#k at us. I get upset thinking about people like the camel neck lady, aka Ann Coulter, attacking the widows of the horrific attacks to sell her book, and throw red meat to her fellow conservatives. Unfortunately, thanks to the behaviour of certain individuals, allot more than the Twin Towers collapsed that day. These individuals have led the collapse of decency and civility as well.

So yeah, I remember a lot of things about 911 and the horror that surrounded that day. But the most painful memory I have of 911 and the months and now years after, is the blown opportunity by our president to truly unite us, and show the world that we were going to stand up to the murdering zealots and their ilk. Not just republicans who need the war on terror to push their agenda. But as Americans who want nothing more than to protect our families, and on a beautiful day, be able to play a round of golf.

I have decided to soften the rhetoric of my blogs. Even though the majority of comments have always been positive I have been thinking that some of my terminology might have a negative effect on some readers. For instance: "Georgie" and Dick "The Monster" Cheney will not be used in future blogs by me. That doesn't mean I have ANY respect for these two men or any in their administration. I'm just going to change the way I write about these two in the hope that more readers will be compelled to listen to facts instead of hearing the angry screams of extreme rhetoric.

Originally posted at the Tribune of the Booman

That child of virtual sanity Ann Coulter has done it again and I find myself gasp fatigued and rage weary as hell.  Maybe that's a good thing though because instead of reacting I have a moment to think about it!  Coulter affirms her previous statement about bombing "The New York Times" Office only one day after Lee Salem wrote a piece that was published on June 28, 2006 indicating that his client Ann Coulter writes satire and makes satirical comments that aren't to be taken literally, nor would anybody take them literally.

To be somewhat charitable to the Bush administration, the symbolism and mythology of their behavior is to recognize that "spin" or "lies" have played an important role in the marketing for the Invasion of Iraq and the attendant discourse that has and continues to follow this overall marketing effort.  But there have been some glitches.

"I have no doubt that the free and well-informed people can and sift through the increasing volume of information and over time develop a balanced view of our government, our Armed Forces, and our values and principles."

                              Donald Rumsfeld
                                June 18, 2005

In a de=-classe contrast, one should consider the following:

John Hawkins:   "How about dashing off a quick sentence or just
                a word or two about the following......John
                Murtha."

Ann Coulter:  "The reason soldiers invented 'fragging'".

Need more be said?  Of course and when it comes to Donald Rumsfeld, argumentation and refutation and where the "unassailable" facts are available, Rumsfeld will always lose the argument.

And in this contrast with Ann Coulter, she deserves to be challenged regardless of when, what, and how, she says it.  Otherwise, her constant attempts to convince others that she should be taken serious, will gain traction, and thereby coarsening our public discourse.  Moreover, her opportunistic and lame attempts at addressing the "deficit needs" of Maslow's Theory for a Hiearchy of Needs, should be recognized for what "it" is.  As for me, a simple-minded fellow that I am, I too recognize 'gutter politics' when it is on full display by Coulter and the like-minded.  Thus, she deserves to be ridiculed, but never ignored.

Now, if I am wrong, then it will be likely be that Donald Rumsfeld too will challenge Ann Coulter, and this challenge will take place in a public forum for all to see.

Cross-posted at my silly little blog.

I can't take credit for the term "Coulter Republican." However, the term deserves to replace "Goldwater Republican" or "Reagan Republican" in the political lexicon. It represents a form of conservatism that has nothing to do with all those things Goldwater believed in--you know, restraint, small government, balanced budgets, and the like. Those Republicans are nearly gone. The Coulter Republicans are those who follow a set of talking points and stick to it. They never met a straw man they didn't like and never met a dissenting voice undeserving of their contempt.

I normally avoid any discussion of Ann Coulter for fear of inadvertently granting any legitimacy to her "contributions" to the national debate.  But her latest attack on the 9/11 widows defies ignoring.

I've said before that Ann Coulter is a perfect example of how far a gal can travel on an Ivy League education, a fourth grade sense of humor, and a broomstick.  This darling of the rabid right is so self-absorbed she could suck the sunlight out of summertime.  

For her to berate the widows of 9/11 victims of having a political agenda and calling attention to themselves is such a jaw stretching pot and kettle act its difficult to imagine how even she could have so little sense of shame.  But then again, she's a hardcore supporter of the Bush administration, and makes a good buck being one.

So she probably figures being shameless is just the price of doing business.  

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Commander Jeff Huber, U.S. Navy (Retired) writes from Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Read his weekday commentaries at ePluribus Media and Pen and Sword.