Fairweather

It seems the right-wing paranoia of just a few years ago has been replaced by a more virulent form that not only infects the general populace, but so-called political leaders as well! Add Madeline Albright to the list of (along with Dean/McDermott) conspiracy-kook's hall of fame......... Albright: Bin Laden Comments Were 'Tongue-in-Cheek' Wednesday, December 17, 2003 WASHINGTON — Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (search) insisted Wednesday that she was just kidding when she wondered aloud whether the Bush administration is holding Usama bin Laden (search) captive, waiting to break him out at the best political moment. PARAM NAME="wmode" value="opaque It was a "tongue-in-cheek comment and was not intended in any other way," Albright told Fox News. But witnesses to Albright's comment said the ambassador did not appear to be joking Tuesday when she suggested President Bush may reveal bin Laden's capture as an "October surprise" (search) before next November's presidential election. Albright was in the Fox News studio's green room waiting to appear on an evening program when she made the remark. "She said, 'Do you suppose that the Bush administration has Usama bin Laden hidden away somewhere and will bring him out before the election?'" said Fox News analyst and Roll Call executive editor Mort Kondracke. "She was not smiling." Two makeup artists who prep the guests before their appearances also reported that Albright did not ask her question in a joking manner. Democrats have long attacked Bush for his conduct in the war on terror, but conspiracy theories are gaining in frequency. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, a presidential candidate, has several times suggested that Bush was told in advance of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks by Saudi Arabia. After Saddam's capture last weekend, Washington Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott (search) made the charge that Bush staged it to win points at home. Colleague Rep. Norman Dicks, D-Wash., scolded McDermott for the comment, and the White House said it would not address such charges. "I don't think I have to dignify every ridiculous comment that's made out there," White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist predicted political fallout would follow Saddam's capture. Frist, R-Tenn., said some Democrats would readjust and adopt new strategies, even to the point of diminishing the significance of Saddam's capture. Political strategists have added that conspiracy theories do nothing to help the political debate, and warned Democrats to be careful in their allegations. "Maybe [McDermott] is trying to be coproducer with Oliver Stone (search) of his next conspiracy movie," said James Lake, a former adviser to President Reagan. "It certainly fits into that category and I think -- to go a step further -- I think former Secretary of State Madeline Albright is walking on very thin ice here to suggest that the president already has Usama bin Laden captured." "I think it is probably not a good thing to do this," said Elaine Kamarck, former senior campaign adviser to Al Gore. "I remember years ago when we made one attempt to kill Usama bin Laden by sending that missile into Sudan, all the Republicans said, 'Oh this was Bill Clinton's way of diverting attention from the Monica Lewinsky scandal.' That was unfair at that time, and frankly, I think accusations that somehow we have Usama and President Bush is holding him for political purposes, I think that's unfair at this time." As for bin Laden's whereabouts, Turkish intelligence officials told the Associated Press that bin Laden recently proposed attacking a military base used by U.S. troops in Turkey, but tight security around the facility forced the terrorists to go after softer targets instead. Terrorists then bombed two synagogues, the British consulate office and a British-owned bank in Istanbul. In those attacks, Muslims were killed, angering the Al Qaeda (search) leaders, according to the Turkish officials. Bush said in a television interview Tuesday night that the Al Qaeda leader is still on the run, but vowed again that the United States will capture him.

Is that a "good job President Bush" I hear coming from your keyboard, Catbird? Another story reports that he personally made this decision re wetlands.

I refuse to buy, read, or be within 50 feet of either Seattle rag. I read The News Tribune exclusively. I am unfamiliar with Brodeur....but her name sounds kinda' French. BTW Catbird, aren't you stealing Ken Schram's editorial line? I watched him address this very issue last night. I do, however, agree with you both.

Gwyneth Paltrow . And now that she's carrying my baby, she'll look even sexier.

Simple, We can't get them all. As for Mugabe, I haven't heard of any mass murder in Zimbabwe, but the guy is a tyrant for sure. If we were to act there we would likely be accused of merely coming to the aid of priveleged white farmers who's ill-gotten (?) land was recently siezed. North Korea: Just thank your god I'm not the president. They are a bigger threat to us than Iraq ever was.

Brilliant!

I just love you lefties here who want to have your cake and eat it too. Your latest drivel goes something like this: "I'm glad we got Saddam, but I don't believe we were justified in our invasion of a sovereign state....." Please explain exactly how Saddam was to be deposed without the bold action taken by our troops and our president? Democrat Joe Liebermann said it best yesterday, "If Howard Dean had had his way Saddam would still be in power and not in prison." Heck, even Koffi Annan sees the good... More.... Annan: Many Kuwaitis Killed in Iraq After Gulf War Tuesday, December 16, 2003 UNITED NATIONS — Fresh evidence suggests that most, if not all, of the Kuwaitis who disappeared after Iraq invaded its oil-rich neighbor in August 1990 were killed, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (search) said in a report Tuesday. Click to learn more... Click to learn more... "After many years of maneuvering and denial by the previous government of Iraq, a grim truth is unveiling itself," he said. "The discovery of mass graves in Iraq containing the mortal remains of Kuwaitis is a gruesome and devastating development." The Kuwaiti government (search) has stepped up efforts to identify some 605 of its citizens who disappeared after the Iraqi invasion. Until its ouster in April, Saddam Hussein's regime insisted it had released all prisoners taken from Kuwait during the occupation and the subsequent 1991 Gulf War (search) that liberated the country. It refused to cooperate with Kuwaiti and international efforts to find the missing prisoners. No prisoners have been found alive since the U.S.-led war in Iraq earlier this year and Kuwaiti hopes that any will be discovered have diminished. While holding out hope that some of the missing Kuwaitis could be found alive, Annan said prospects are dim. His report included evidence of atrocities committed by Saddam's regime including photographs of mass graves and human remains. Annan called for justice for the victims. "The removal from Kuwait of civilians — men and women — their execution in cold blood in remote sites in Iraq, and a decade-long cover-up of the truth constitute a grave violation of human rights and international humanitarian law," he said. "Those responsible for these horrendous crimes, particularly those who ordered the executions, must be brought to justice," Annan said.

I was in Dyea, at the start of The Chilkoot Trail a few years ago, and noticed the decayed pilings that once held up the warf at the turn of the century now stand in a meadow/marsh. Glacial rebound of almost 6 inches/year has lifted the seabed and turned what was once a gold rush era port into a grassy field! It is stunning to see this type of change in the geologic blink-of-an-eye.

Here is what I think: DoctorB = Dr Flash Amazing He's trying hard to change his delivery of the written word, but his radical politics reveal him.

There is a good article in last months "Canoe and Kyak" magazine. The lake is at an all-time low right now and some of the narrow-walled canyons that were recently underwater are drawing paddlers in large numbers. The valley/lakebed is very silted up....over 20 feet thick in places... and would have to be flushed out somehow if it were to ever be restored.

Almost like "glacial rebound" on a grand scale?

JoshK, As expected, I have upset you. Not a difficult task. My point was not necessarily that an SUV is any more, or less efficient than a commercial airliner. I've flown on my share of aircraft bound for both business and pleasure. On the face of it, I don't have an issue with anyone flying to anywhere, for any reason. My objective was to point out the hypocricy you display in your constant harping about light trucks and stereotyping of their owners. A formula for 747-200 fuel consumption on a 1000mi+ trip with 360 passengers on board is this: 1 liter /per person/ per 19km. Therefore, you and dad can each toss a 1 liter fuel bottle out the window at every 19km marker. The hypocricy I point to is that a.) The trip is not "required" for business or to enable performance of any said 'duties'. Is this not the very standard you would apply to SUV ownership? Do you really 'need' this trip? b.) Even a wealthy scheming Republican like me can't afford such an extravagant trip. How can a poor, downtrodden liberal like you? BTW: I don't think kerosene (basically, jet fuel) burns cleaner than gasoline and jet engines (even newer turbofans!) have NO pollution control equipment.

I'm adding Saddam to my collection of desktop mugshots. He now joins Glen Campbell and Nick Nolte in my hall of fame.

A recent hate-filled 'anti-SUV' thread here on cc.com got me ta' thinking.... Which of these is easier on the 'ol petrol?..... OR..... Maximum Take-off Weight Wing Span Overall Length Vertical Fin Height Cabin Width Wing Area Average Cruise Speed Cruise Altitude Maximum Fuel Capacity Range With Full Payload Freight Capacity Volumetric Payload Maximum Thrust Engines 412,769kg/910,000lb 64.94metres/213.06ft 70.40metres/230.97ft 18.96metres/62.20ft 6.10metres/20.01ft 525sq m/5650sq ft 920kph/572mph 29-43,000ft 227,572litres/60,105gallons 12,971km/8,060miles 10,976kg/24,198lb 48,208kg/106,280lb 276kN/62,100 lb CF6-80C2B5F Wow! Did you know a round trip flight to New Zealand will pump aver 104,000 gallons of Jet-A exhaust into the atmosphere? (w/o the benefit of a catalytic converter, even!) Anyway, Have a nice trip JoshK.

I watched that show last week. Amazing. I believe that they came to the conclusion that even if we are in the early stages of a flip, the consequences are not all dire for humanity. A higher cancer occurance rate for sure, but not mass death and starvation. (The show did not address the consequences of an unusually large solar eruption during the 'down' period though.) That computer simulation was run inputing 'all known data', but the show was light on specifics re that data. I've always been curious about the role that our unusually large moon and it's gravity plays in the formation of our planet's strong magnetic field. Catbird?

Blum?

"World Socialist Website"?? Why are you hangin' out at a site like that? Are you a fuckin' commie, Alpinfox? Maybe you and DoktorB-patch-adams should go to your own chatroom and share ideas that you can impose on the rest of us.

...This post is just a test to see if I've been banned.

How about Muir on...................................Saturday.

Will more moderators mean less freedom of expression around here? Just a thought.....

I don't believe this is true. Even if it is true at present, what assurances do we have that environmental lawyers will not attempt to twist the language of The Rule and impose more restrictions on recreational uses? What assurances can Mr Inslee give that The Roadless Rules won't be the "first step" in a larger push to decomission existing trailhead access by letting more roads fall into disrepair each year for the sole purpose of expanding roadless forests? Until I can be assured that existing access will be preserved, I do not support the Roadless Rule. Will you be passing my concerns and opinion along to Mr Inslee, Catbird?

Sorry, I just can't help myself.... Sounds like the latest copy of the Physicians For Social Responsibility newsletter just landed in your mailbox and got you all riled' up! I know it must be difficult for a person of your stature to live in a country so full of "fucking stupid" citizens, but try to at least consider it may sometimes be your ideas that require re-examination. I suspect incompetent doctors have killed more children this year than American bombs.

Scrambler, Here is a sincere for your post. Bill ORilley is a pinhead. I liked him when he first hit the airwaves, and the guy has the makings of a brain, but his condesending style, tone, and mannerism quickly began grating on my sensabilities. I especially hate the way he posts text on the TV screen as he reads it verbatum... as if his audience is a group of kindergarteners. I rarely watch his show. ....but I will happily defend him here against the likes of his biggest detractor, Al Franken. Now that guy is the dumbest *@#% on the planet.

Trask, Let's hope your 'date' tonight doesn't end like the last one....