I can't believe it's not a democracy!

Interesting:

Contact lost, India terminates first moon mission. You know what would be funny? If India had to outsource mission communications to the U.S. Hahahahahahaha. Thank you, I'll be here all week.

Matt Taibbi shows the media whores how to be a real journalist:

Goldman Busted Again. Among other things, Taibbi doesn't let his eye off the ball. He follows up. Every time.

Thanks to John for the link.

Sorry for the light posting.

Just feeling like I need a break for a few days.  It's the end of summer.   That must be it.   

With all the attention on health care reform--and the Michael Jackson bullshit--the recently released CIA Inspector General report hasn't gotten the air time it deserves.

Fortunately, Scott Horton isn't easily distracted: Seven Points on the CIA Report. Cick the link. It's a short but very valuable overview. And note that the first point is this: The worse is yet to come.

Link via Atrios, who asks (and answers): Why did Cheney and pals preside over a monstrous but ultimately pointless for the purpose of obtaining useful intelligence torture program? Because they got off on it.

I agree with Atrios--they got off on it. Maybe not in a sexual way, but they got pleasure in controlling--and destroying--lives by simply ordering some underling to do the dirty work. I bet they watched every interrogation video and looked at every photo too. Serial killers like to collect trophies.

An effective ad against the "religious" reich assholes who are trying to kill same-sex marriage in Maine:

Thanks to John for the link.

Can't wait to see this:

It opens on October 2nd.

Thanks to John for the link to the trailer.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: Obama and Rahm are using the blue dogs and Baucus, et al.

as cover. The reason the health care reform bill is such a fucking mess is because they are happy with the result. Obama said one thing on the campaign trail, but now that he's president, well, he and Rahm would love to tap into all that big Pharm and insurance money--and keep it from the republicans. And Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake spells it out in: The Baucus Caucus: PhRMA, Insurance, Hospitals and Rahm.

Thanks to John for the link.

Another reason I was not going to become a partner at a law firm:

Law Firms Submit Joint Letter to SEC to Oppose Shareholder Nominations to Corporate Boards. Because I'm not a fucking greedy bastard who doesn't understand that a corporation's law firm is supposed to represent the shareholders--i.e., the fucking owners. I hope that people realize that what these law firms are doing is expressing the interests of the CEOs and other high level executives who think that the corporations exist to make them obscenely rich. Time for some blow back from shareholders.

The crazy will continue here, but at least some (unintended) good may come out of the rightwing health care reform attacks:

GOP attacks on British National Health Service are hurting conservatives in the UK. Now if only the backlash could begin with force here. Unlikely to happen, sadly, given our half-assed, corporate whore media. But we can dream.

Thanks to Reamus for sending me this link.

Pol Pot and Pinochet get a new playmate:

Conservative commentator Robert Novak dies aged 78. Reuters reports: [Novak] reveled in the nickname "Prince of Darkness," which referred partly to his dour look and partly to what another reporter called a "dim view of the prospects for our civilization."

And with his passing the prospects for our civilization seem just a little bit brighter.