Hump Day Doggie Blogging

Charlie on a hike in the Gila Forest

Mystic Blogging From John Cole

Mr. Cole brings a breathless post linking to a Dan Frooomkin article claiming he has evidence we will be doing in Afghanistan in 2014, pretty much what we are doing now. Fighting a full on ground war with the Taliban. How does Froomkin know this.

There are increasingly clear signs that President Obama's vow to start withdrawing American troops less than a year from now will be fulfilled through a technicality if at all, and that the real timeline for significant troop withdrawal -- barring a change in course -- now extends at least to 2014, if not far beyond

Well, this is how

One signal was Vice President Joe Biden's offhand remark  to ABC News earlier this month that the promised summer withdrawal "could be as few as a couple thousand troops" although "it could be more."

This from the administration's most prominent opponent of escalation, a man who had earlier said you could "bet on" a "whole lot of people moving out" in July 2011.

Sounds fishy from a guy that makes a living, at least in part, from saying weird things and giving everyone a chuckle at old motor mouth Joe. But even if he was spot on, and nobody knows for sure, his remark leaves out the key question "what will those troops be doing then". Or, will they still be pounding a full on ground war with the Taliban, or more in advisory rolls, or like the Iraq model where small teams of US soldiers embedded with the Iraqi Army as sort of shadow commanders for OTJ training. We don't know yet. And for the record, Obama never said we were pulling out of Afghanistan for ever. He said we would begin drawing down our forced gradually and turning the ground fighting over tho the Afghan Army. Which of course is the responsible course of action, as opposed to progressives screaming to pack up and leave tomorrow. And even the best case scenario, Obama didn't say we were leaving completely with no military force in country. Only that our mission will change to more of a support role, and anti terrorist operations..

Froomkin goes on to cite some other readings from his chicken entrails into remarks by Richard Holbrook and Hillary Clinton, claiming obscure and ominous admissions of ill intent that Obama is snookering America and doesn't really mean his announced date to start withdrawing. It is pure conjecture he is scribbling at Huff to feed the red meat to folks like Cole and the rest of the netroot anti war crowd.

Here is what Froomkin didn't tell you. If Obama significantly waffles on his policy to begin disengaging from Afghan, he will suffer at polls of a country that has markedly turned against this war and wants us to start ending it. At least ending reports of dead GI's coming home in body bags. That is what they care about, they don't care that we remain there in some capacity, and likely want us to keep chasing Al Quaida and OBL, but they want the quagmire with the Taliban to cease, at least with our involvement.

Stop the Presses

All about it. Read all about it.

Republicans focus on tax cuts for recess

House Republican leaders largely avoid mentioning former President George W. Bush in their August recess package to GOP members.

Hilarious - after 8 long and bloody years full of wild spending by self described fiscal conservatives who backed George Bush tooth and nail. Now they never heard of the guy. But they have heard of the "cut taxes" mindless drone from the right. Of course, that is only to reign in Obama's socialist spending agenda.

The Irony Gawds are also alive and well within the winger world when they demagogue daily the size of the national deficit, all the while pushing for the government to collect less revenue by giving their rich friends more riches they couldn't possibly spend all of. Team America - Wingnuts Gone Wild.

nstead of calling for an extension of Bush’s tax cuts, which House Republican leaders support, they refer to the looming “Democrats’ tax hikes.”

Under the heading “Job Creation,” Republicans call the expiring tax cuts, set to lapse at the end of this year, a Democratic plan “on increasing taxes by $3.8 trillion.”

There own sun setted tax cuts set to expire becomes Obama's tax increases. How coolfu is that.

Time Heals Most Wounds

Not really surprising that the country is looking more favorable on the HCR, now that we don't have as many wingnuts going on the teevee lying about it, and no Tea Bag fools screaming at town hall meetings for congresscritters. Just the reforms alone, when the public has a chance to take in a deep breath, should slowly pass into peoples gray matter that they can no longer be tossed off their health insurance at the whim of a greedy insurance company, which so often happened when they got sick. And gradually the now prohibited practice of denying coverage for pre existing condition should also sink in.

The still big unnanswered question is will skyrocketing premium increases begin to come down, or at least stabilize with the national inflation rates. This is a big question mark, and until the new reform provisions kick in, the insurance companies will certainly continue to gouge the public any way they can. And that goes double to providers, especially hospitals.

Opposition to Health Care Law Declining
The latest Kaiser tracking poll finds opposition to the landmark health care law signed into law by President Obama in March has declined over the past month, from 41% to 35%.

Meanwhile, 50% held a favorable view of the law, up slightly from 48% a month ago, and the highest level since the legislation was enacted.

via Political Wire

Wingnuts Crank Up the Wayback Machine

From the DNC

For the better part of the past year, Republicans have tried to come up with a new agenda for the American people with mixed results. However, with the Tea Party now the most potent force in Republican politics, and with the recent launch of the Tea Party Caucus on Capitol Hill garnering the support of Republican leaders like National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Pete Sessions and Republican Caucus Chair Mike Pence, the Republican Party agenda has become clear. Republican leaders and Tea Party supported Republican candidates can now rally around the “Republican Tea Party Contract on America” as the blueprint for how they would govern.

One, Two, Three - Open up the Pearly Gates we're all gonna die

Read 'em and weep

Democrats Unveil GOP's "Contract on America"

1. REPEAL THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM)

2. PRIVATIZE SOCIAL SECURITY OR PHASE IT OUT ALTOGETHER

3. END MEDICARE AS IT PRESENTLY EXISTS

4. EXTEND THE BUSH TAX BREAKS FOR THE WEALTHY AND BIG OIL

5. REPEAL WALL STREET REFORM

6. PROTECT THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OIL SPILL AND FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL CATASTROPHES

7. ABOLISH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

8. ABOLISH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

9. ABOLISH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

10. REPEAL THE 17th AMENDMENT

via Political Wire

Abu Graib Comes To California

Brain dead wingnut Tea Baggers plan to intimidate muslim worshippers in California. And of course to show their solidarity with Bush torture stuff, they plan to use dogs. That's right. Wonder if they will make the Muslims practicing their religion in good ole free Murrica  make a nekked pyramid, Only way to be sure. Right. I hate these fucking right wing assholes with the passion of 50 white hot suns. I hope their God sends them to the place where the sun don't shine. American shame. The Tea Party.

An e-mail alert sent to area newspapers last week announced that a one-hour "singing – praying – patriotic rally" will begin at 12:30 p.m. July 30 at the Islamic Center’s existing facility. The advisory – sent by a leader of a conservative coalition that has been active with Republican and Tea Party functions – recommended participants "bring your Bibles, flags, signs, dogs and singing voices."

"We will not be submissive," the notice proclaimed. "Our voices are going to be heard!" The alert went on to question what its authors described as Islamic beliefs. It suggested that participants sing during the rally because Muslim "women are forbidden to sing." It suggested that rally participants bring dogs because Muslims "hate dogs."

via RWW

Mike Huckabee and Tim LaHaye Discuss The End Times of Course Caused By Obama