Neko Case - “Hold On, Hold On”

The backup vocals are more subdued in this mix than in the released track, where they work to greater effect (sorry, the sound designer in me). But this is still a good take, and a good intro to Neko. Here’s her Wiki entry and official site.

What a fucking joke.

Less than three months after leaving the Bush White House, Karl Rove is becoming a member of a community not all that popular with administration officials: the media.

Newsweek has signed the president’s former deputy chief of staff as a commentator who will turn out several columns on the 2008 campaign through inauguration day. The move is not likely to prove popular among liberals who believe the mainstream media have been too soft on the Bush administration.

“We want to give readers a feel for what it’s like to be on the inside,” says Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham. “Our readers are sophisticated enough to know that what they get from Karl has to be judged in the context of who Karl is…Readers will have to decide if he’s simply an apologist.”

Newsweek (which is owned by The Washington Post Co.) will announce tomorrow that it is granting regular space to both Rove and Markos Moulitsas, the liberal firebrand who founded the Web site Daily Kos. “I’m fully prepared for both the right-wing and left-wing blogosphere to be outraged, which means we’re doing our job,” Meacham says.

More at the Washington Post

From an email:

Oh, God! Bush promises to rebuild Justice Dept. Departments built up by Chimperz are known to be filled with sinister and incompetent personnel. Does the Justice Dept. have to go through this again? Hasn’t it gotten a big enough black eye under Bush’s watch all ready?

New Attorney General Michael Mukasey speaks during his ceremonial swearing-in ceremony.

Bush made the statement during the ceremonial oath-taking of new attorney general, Michael Mukasey. Mukasey promised to make sure the Justice Department follows an “unswerving allegiance” to the law and the Constitution.

Mr. Mukasey, I hope you’re being sincere. This country has been though enough. Take a few moments to reflect on the actions, and the eventual consequences, of the previous attorney general.

From Raw Story:

From the Chris Dodd for President webpage:

When one of these guys does something right, we need to support them…..and let them know.

John Marburger, Bush’s science advisor, says he did not recommend wiping out eight pages of global warming testimony by the head of the CDC, Julie Gerberding, on Oct. 24. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., informs Mr. Marburger that the White House had blamed him for deleting the pages. The more you keep repeating a comment the truer it becomes.

Stalled legislation, aimed at speeding up cheaper generic drugs, keeps those drug-runs to the north miserably ongoing. Powerful Washington lobbies for drug companies spend millions to keep low-cost prescriptions out of the hands of the sick that need them - to live. Only in America.

A second attempt in a month to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which dictates when the government must obtain court permission to carry out electronic eavesdropping, comes up for a vote today. It seems the chief reason Bush and republicans dislike this version is that it does NOT grant immunity to the large telecoms that aided and abetted Bush in his illegal eavesdropping on American citizens. The Senate Judiciary Committee was to work on its own spying bill. The Senate Intelligence Committee’s version contains an immunity provision for telecoms. Because criminal acts shouldn’t be limited to just our government.

Democrats are known for “tax and spend”, whereas republicans “borrow and spend”. Is there any real difference? Well, yes, there is. There’s no interest accrued on monies raised from taxation. Considering that the Bush administration has borrowed billions from countries such as Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, and Mexico, the interest alone will take years to pay back.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., suggests that we “roll back the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest, the people making over $200,000 a year, close some tax loopholes, including benefits for oil companies, and [start] withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq“.

But that makes way too mush sense, doesn’t it?

Call me crazy but I don’t think these crooks should be able to use campaign contributions for legal fees. Somehow, I don’t think people meant for their contributions to be used that way. Of course, they’re rich republicans……nevermind. I hope Feeney goes down.

More at the Blotter

Ok, was this guy under oath? Is there anyone in the Bush administration that doesn’t just outright lie when in front of congressional committees? No consequences. Makes me sick.

From ABCNews: