Does Michelle Malkin Hate America?

About 200,000 Americans from all over the nation converged this weekend on Washington, D.C.'s North Mall to protest the Iraq war and demand its end. And according to right-wing pundit and Fox News commentator Michelle Malkin, they all did so because they hate America and its military.

On Monday's "The O'Reilly Factor" with Bill O'Reilly, Malkin said of the protestors: "Their opposition to the war is not rooted in principle, but in clear Bush hatred, and in a desire to see this country fail....It's a big temper tantrum, and that's all the left has to offer....If you listen very closely to...a lot of the rhetoric that you heard this weekend, it is very virulently anti-troops and anti-American. There's no doubt about that."

I am so sick of hearing this divisive right-wing garbage. Does Malkin actually believe this incendiary rhetoric she spews on Fox? Does she truly believe that people take to the streets of America to protest a war--in which 3000 U.S. soldiers have died--because they hate the troops? Not because of principle, but because they hate Bush and want America to fail? How could such ignorant, inciteful suppositions come from such a seemingly bright woman? Perhaps it is Malkin who hates America and the democratic principles for which it stands? Perhaps Malkin would rather just the Iraqis have the fruits of democracy and all the free speech trappings that go with it...and not America? Perhaps Malkin would rather see people like Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn stripped of their inaliable right to criticize their government? As O'Reilly lamented about Penn, "you shouldn't be up at the microphone, Mr. Penn. You have no reason to be there." So untrue, Mr. O'Reilly, he has every reason to be there. It's his right to be there. The same rights your deranged president sent 3000 to die obtaining for Iraq. To O'Reilly and Malkin, I guess the average Iraqi deserves more personal freedoms than we Americans do...that is of course unless we happen to agree them.

Tell us, Mr. O'Reilly and Ms. Malkin, do you hate America?


On another subject......we could use your help at The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of providing film school scholarships and grants to women filmmakers. As many of you know, Adrienne was brutally killed here in NYC on November 1st. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and to make a donation. Every little contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, and to help create something positive out of this horrible tragedy. Thank you.

"Imagine How It Would've Been." Could This Be Candidate Gore's Campaign Theme?

Frank Luntz, perhaps the preeminent Republican political strategist and pollster, appearing on Air America's Al Franken show Friday, said former vice-president Al Gore would make a terrific presidential candidate. And he suggested that Gore will be able to stand before America and say, "Imagine how it would've been" had he become president in 2000 and not George W. Bush. In hindsight, he called Gore "right" about a lot of issues.

So, imagine an America without the Iraq war. Imagine an America that's respected among its allies, and feared by its enemies. Imagine an America that's concerned about global warming and the environment. Imagine an America that's not divided into two socio-economic groups, as John Edwards laments. Imagine an America where the middle class, not the wealthy, get the tax breaks. Imagine an America where the minimum wage is not a paltry $5.15. Imagine an America that's actually led by a brilliant, caring, diplomat who can string three words together in a sentence without sounding like a blathering idiot. Makes ya wanna weep, no?

So if you're listening Al, it's time. It's time to stop the coy routine and officially enter the race. You know you're gonna do it, we know you're gonna do it, so just do it. America needs you. The world needs you.
Yes, imagine how it would've been. America deserves to no longer imagine....


On another subject......we could use your help at The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of providing film school scholarships and grants to women filmmakers. As many of you know, Adrienne was brutally killed here in NYC on November 1st. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and to make a donation. Every little contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, and to help create something positive out of this horrible tragedy. Thank you.

Kerry Bows Out of '08 Race, Narrowing Pack for a Likely Gore Run

Former Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry took himself out of the running for president in 2008, choosing instead to devote his energies to ending the Iraq war. Call me crazy, but Al Gore's prospects just got even better than before. If he doesn't announce soon I'll eat my hat.

Kerry made his startling announcement on the floor of the U.S. Senate Wednesday during hearings on the IraQuagmire.

"Two years ago, I sought the presidency to lead us on a different course," Kerry said. "We came close . . . certainly close enough to be tempted to try again. There are powerful reasons to want to continue that fight now. But I have concluded this isn't the time for me to mount a presidential campaign."

The 64-year-old Massachusettes Senator said he's committed to spending the next two years helping shape America's Iraq policy so that Bush's successor will have "a reasonable prospect of success" in the war-torn nation.

"I don't want the next president to find that they have inherited a nation still divided and a policy destined to end as Vietnam did - in a bitter and sad legacy," he said.

With Kerry gone, Gore's main competition is Sen. Barack Obama (IL), Sen. Hillary Clinton (NY) and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards. Those of you who are regular readers here know my thoughts on Obama: all hype, no substance. Hillary? I like her and think she'd make a fine president. But as with Obama, when the time comes to close the curtain and vote, America's true sexism and racism will keep these two out of the White House. As for Edwards, no way in hell would he be elected president. Like Clinton, he'd make for a good prez, but he just doesn't have the gravitas to pull it off. I'm afraid the Repugs' "Breck Girl" tag has had a lasting effect. That leaves The Goracle. He's got the most experience; was anti-war from the start; and is the global warming/environmental guru. He's 'net savvy, would have instant access to massive funds, and would likely have Howard Dean's DNC behind him as payback for his staunch support of the former Vermont Governor's own presidential bid in 2004.

I suspect Gore's sitting back waiting to see the near-term reaction to both the Obama and Clinton semi-announcements. When the fallout comes, as it will, look for Gore to toss his sombrero into the ring. But what about all of Gore's denials that he's running, you say? You mean those half-hearted, less-than-convincing ones from the King of Coy? Stay tuned.....

Condi Defends Her Madman Boss with Infuriating Psychobabble

It's not an increase. It's not an escalation. It's an "augmentation." No, we're not talking about fixing a pair of saggy boobs here folks, it's how Secretary of State Condescending Rice described Bush's planned 20,000 "troop surge" into Baghdad. When challenged by a bi-partisan panel of Senators this week, Condi lied, side-stepped and offered up nothing but a bunch of Bushevik bullshit. In one day this administration plays more word-parsing and semantics games than Bill Clinton ever did in eight years.

Consider this exchange between Rice and Nebraska's Sen. Chuck Hagel (R) before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee:

HAGEL: My question was the escalation of American troops in Iraq.

RICE: But I think you asked who was supporting it. And I said the Kurdish parties, Prime Minister Maliki and his Shia allies, and the IIP support a plan to do this. And they know that the augmentation of American forces is part of that plan.

Now, as to the question of escalation, I think that I don’t see it, and the president doesn’t see it, as an escalation. What he sees…

HAGEL: Putting 22,000 new troops, more troops in, is not an escalation?

RICE: Well, I think, Senator, escalation is not just a matter of how many numbers you put in. Escalation is also a question of, are you changing the strategic goal of what you’re trying to do? Are you escalating…

HAGEL: Would you call it a decrease, and billions of dollars more that you need for it?

RICE: I would call it, Senator, an augmentation that allows the Iraqis to deal with this very serious problem that they have in Baghdad.

Hagel has called the Iraq quagmire "the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam."

Sorry Condi, but sending 20,000+ more troops into Iraq--about 15% of current totals--sure as hell constitutes an increase. And a pretty big one at that. But why should we expect truth and honesty from these liars now, after 3 1/2 years of their miserably failed war...a debacle that they're now desperately trying to salvage unfortunately at the expense of our young men and women.

Forget the fact that voters in November delivered a loud anti-war message to Bush. Forget that a new Washington Post-ABC News poll taken after Bush's January 10th speech showed that 61% of Americans now oppose such an increase. Forget the advice of the generals. And of even most Republicans now. Of any sane human being. No, this president is intent on carrying out his reckless, lethal plan for Iraq, no matter what anyone thinks or says.

Condi Rice is a walking, talking insult to every American. I'm not so sure she's merely a mouthpiece for Bush. I'm convinced she believes her own reprehensible rhetoric about peace, stability and Democracy in the region. She might even be more of a loon than her deranged boss, if that's at all possible.

Listening to Condi's incessant drivel makes me want to scream the line from that classic scene in 'Dog Day Afternoon" where Al Pacino's desperate bank-robbing character turns down a shady deal with cops by saying to the Detective, Charles Durning, "Kiss me. Kiss me. "Because I like to get kissed before I get fucked."


On another subject......we could use your help at The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of providing film school scholarships and grants to women filmmakers. As many of you know, Adrienne was brutally killed here in NYC on November 1st. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and to make a donation. Every little contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, and to help create something positive out of this horrible tragedy. Thank you.

Bush's War Machine Revs Up. How Many Soldiers Have to Die Before this Dangerous Fool Realizes That It's Over?

Back in November, an overwhelming majority of voters sent a loud anti-war message to President Bush by punishing Republicans and giving decisive victories--and control of both houses of Congress--to Democrats. Did he get the message? What do you think? In true Bush "it's-my-ball" arrogance and stubbornness, the Decider-in-Chief will go before the American public tomorrow evening and make his request to send 20,000 more soldiers to Iraq in a "troop surge" designed to regain control over Baghdad. That's right. Election, shmection, I'm the Decider. Remember, this is a guy who, with 51% of the vote in '04, proudly claimed he had a "mandate."

It's been 3 1/2 years and 3000 dead soldiers since the worst military blunder in U.S. history began. It's such an obvious failure that even the generals on the ground are saying more troops will not accomplish Bush's goals. Mind you, this is the same president that's on record as saying that the generals will be the ones to decide when and if more troops are needed. And the same president who said that sending more troops will send a message to the enemy that they're winning. But this dangerous fool couldn't care less what anyone thinks because, as long he doesn't pull out, he hasn't lost. As long as he keeps us fighting, in his delusional head, there's still a chance of winning. It's like those internet stocks I still hold from the 90's that are virtually worthless. I haven't lost anything until I sell, right?

Does this maniacal war-monger really think that by sending 20,000 more troops we'll be getting any closer to achieving our long-range goals in that country (whatever the hell those goals are)? That we'll secure Baghdad? That we'll regain control of the Sunni Triangle and send a strong message to Muqtada Al Sadr's al Mahdi army and other Shiite militia that Democracy will prevail? Of course not. Just like every other time the U.S. intensified its military efforts. This is a country that mocks the U.S. A country led by a defiant Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who's made it clear he's running the country, not Bush. A country that punished it's former torturous dictator by hastily hanging him and taunting him. They've clearly come a long way, huh? Un-Curious George should be proud of the thriving Democracy he's created.

With Iraq already mired in large-scale civil war, the last thing we should be doing is sending more young men and women to die in Bush's quagmire. It's pathetic the level of denial our president is in. And if it's not denial, it's something worse: intentionally ignoring the facts on the ground, choosing to send soldiers to die because he can't stomach the thought of losing. Well, some battles are won and some are lost. And this one's over. Someone needs to stop this maniac before he kills again and again and again.

On another subject......we could use your help at The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of providing film school scholarships and grants to women filmmakers. As many of you know, Adrienne was brutally killed here in NYC on November 1st. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and to make a donation. Every little contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, and to help create something positive out of this horrible tragedy. Thank you.

Al Gore's Right About Global Warming

If anyone doubts that global warming is a grave threat to our planet, just take a look at what's been happening here in New York. It's January 5th, and it'll be in the 60's today. Tomorrow, 70, high 40's and 50's the rest of the week. And let's not forget the unseasonably high tempts for virtually the entire months of November, December as well as the start of January. And not one single, solitary snowflake has been spotted to-date. Coincidence, you say? Not the result of trapped greenhouse gases? No fears of melting ice caps for you? Well, I for one think at some future point we're all going to be living in boat houses.

Al Gore's site www.climatecrisis.net summarizes global warming this way: "By burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere - trapping solar energy close to the earth instead of releasing it into space - and as a result, temperatures are rising." On Gore's site you can find loads of facts and evidence that supports his warnings: glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced from their habitat, and category 4 and 5 hurricanes have almost doubled in the last 30 years.

The kind of weather we're experiencing is abnormal and suspect, and should not be shrugged off as some freakish anomaly. What we're seeing is the result of years of abuses from man-made pollutants. We can all enjoy the warm weather all we like here in NY and elsewhere, but it's not without consequence. For example, it's wreaking havoc on the retail industry, where manufacturers' unsold inventories of coats and other winter garments is staggering; in the travel industry, where ski resorts are suffering; on vegetation, where flowers are prematurely blooming and might not naturally bloom again in the Spring.

In his film "An Inconvenient Truth" last year Gore laid out a doomsday scenario that's downright chilling. The polar ice caps will melt, he says, with warmer water temperatures causing more intense, longer hurricanes resulting in greater greater property damage. We'll continue to see hotter Summers, warmer and shorter Winters. We'll see unprecedented droughts, famines and flooding. Greenland will melt. The global sea level would then rise 20 feet and much of the world flood.

Sounds like a great campaign speech to me.....

On another subject......we could use your help at The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of providing film school scholarships and grants to women filmmakers. As many of you know, Adrienne was brutally killed here in NYC on November 1st. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and to make a donation. Every little contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, and to help create something positive out of this horrible tragedy. Thank you.