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

Not. Holding. My. Breath.

Rumsfeld to 'face difficulties' over Guantanamo: UN expert. AFP reports: Former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld could soon be in trouble for the role he played in human rights abuses committed in the Guantanamo prison, a United Nations expert said Wednesday.

"In a year or two, his responsibilities will be established. Wherever he goes, he will face difficulties," Leandro Despouy, who is Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, told journalists in Geneva.

* * *

"Judicially speaking, the United States has a clear obligation" to bring proceedings against Bush and Rumsfeld, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak said, in remarks broadcast on Germany's ZDF television.

He noted Washington had ratified the UN convention on torture which required "all means, particularly penal law" to be used to bring proceedings against those violating it.

Not counting on our constitutional scholar president to do a damn thing. Because it's more important that we pass a half-assed pretend health insurance reform bill than address the crimes of the previous administration, that's why.

Thanks to John for the link.

Why can't the republicans just fuck like normal people?

Whole Lot Of Yiffing Going On... Down With Tyranny reports: It was like a cross between an episode on MSNBC's Dateline: To Catch A Predator With Chris Hansen and a re-enactment of those heady days in 2006 when Republican Congressman Mark Foley was exposed as a child molester. Jane Orie is a far right extremist, an anti-choice fanatic and the Republican majority whip of the Pennsylvania state Senate. She represents a backward district north of Pittsburgh. And if you'd guess that she's obsessed with sex and is a virulent and hysterical homophobe you'd be correct.

Friday she fired one of her top aides, Alan David Berlin. The report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is almost funny if it weren't so tragically Republican. It starts off like typical GOP fare-- another Republican closet case solicits sex from a young boy (15 years old) online. But then it gets really strange.

Yes, clicking the link will bring you to a more complete description of the sexual likes of Alan Berlin, a grown man who likes to dress up like a panda and "yiff" (that a "furry" term for having sex). And like Senator David Vitter, Berlin likes to wear a diaper too. Over his panda costume.

Why do I get the feeling that Vitter and Berlin are merely the top of the iceberg? And do click the link to get a lovely photo of Berlin's former boss. God, these people are so fucking predictable.

Thanks to Jim for the link.

Dude, the real problem here is that you just got your ass kicked by a small woman:

Former Cook County Republican Chairman Gary Skoien caught with prostitutes. In his children's playroom. By his wife. So what did Mr. Skoien's 5-foot-4-inch, 110 lb. wife do? Just beat the shit out of him with her fists and an electric guitar. Skoien claims that the police report was wrong and there were no prostitutes. Rather, the wife just came down and beat him, just because. The real question is this: were the prostitutes male or female? Because we are talking about a republican john. I hope Skoien has lots of money that his wife can liberate in the divorce settlement.

Thanks to Jim for the link.

True to form, Cheney refuses to stand like the "common rabble":

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney arrives in a wheelchair at the U.S. Capitol for the swearing in of Barack Obama as the 44th U.S. president in Washington, January 20, 2009. Cheney hurt his back moving boxes. REUTERS/Saul Loeb/Pool (UNITED STATES)

"It is the farewell kiss, you dog"

Iraqi journalist hurls shoes at 'dog' Bush. And for proof that the Iraqi media, for the most part, is as boot-licking as our mainstream media whores, there is this: Some Iraqi journalists stood up to apologise.

Note: I understand why the AFP put the word dog in quotes in their headline, but I want to assume that it was a close editorial call.

Thanks to Mr. Slice for the link.

What a fucking tease:

Cheney to visit hospital after experiencing abnormal heart rhythm. Let's face facts, that evil fuck is going to live forever.

NY GOP pressures Fossella to go away. Far, far away:

NY Congressman Fossella says he won't seek re-election. Not that they are outraged by his misconduct, of course. You know that if Vito could have ran and won they would be explaining everything away while shaking the money tree for his campaign. Party of family values, my ass.

Well, at least it's something:

Court Disbars 'Scooter' Libby. No worries for Scooter. He'll land a cushy job at a think tank, suckling at the teat of some rightwing heir who needs degreed minions to lick his ass so that he can feel powerful and all-knowing. I just wish something would happen that would make me feel like karma (well, my uninformed made up version of it) has a surprise in store for Scooter. My fantasy involves a bear and a pointy stick. Yours?

It's about fucking time:

Republican Rep. Rick Renzi of Arizona has been indicted on charges connected to land deals in Arizona. Don't bother to click the link quite yet. As of 10:45 a.m. EST, all AP has posted is the breaking headline. But there will be more later this afternoon. Ah, what a good start to the day. Almost makes up for the falling snow and the threat of ice pellets later today.

Link via Atrios.

Republican poster child:

Former S.D. Legislator Convicted of Rape. ABCNews.com reports: A former state lawmaker was convicted of raping two former foster daughters during physical examinations that he claimed would help them sell their reproductive eggs.

The jury on Tuesday found Ted Klaudt guilty of all four counts of second-degree rape after deliberating for three hours. Klaudt, 49, could get as many as 25 years in prison for each count when he is sentenced in January.

Maybe you, like me, are wondering, gosh I wonder what kind of defense Klaudt's attorney raised. Well, put down your drink, because here it is: Klaudt's attorney Tim Rensch didn't deny during the trial that his client gave the girls physical examinations or that they were part of a scheme by which the girls were told they could make thousands of dollars for selling their reproductive eggs.

But he urged jurors to acquit his client, arguing that both girls were at least 16 years old when the exams took place putting them above the age of consent in South Dakota and that they both consented to the exams.

If all of this isn't filthy enough, then take a gander at Mr. Former Republican State Legislator/Convicted Rapist:

(AP Photo/Chet Brokaw) Thanks to Jim for the link.