Rooftop Report

Moved

My goal of having a website that doesn't have the word "blogs" in the URL has been realized. Come visit my new site at www.rooftopreport.com

When you get there, make sure to bookmark the site and come back on a daily basis. That way, I can feel good about myself. And, as you all know, this is all about me.

Cartoons are better than paragraphs

Ashcroft Refuses to Release '02 Memo [Washington Post]
The Memo [MSNBC]

Ronald Reagan Dies

ABC News is reporting, live, that former President Ronald Reagan has passed away at his California home today.

I am not seeing anything on the internet yet, but will post more when I do.

A Small Victory and Wizbang had the early coverage on the President's deteriorating condition.

Tenet resigns

Well, it had to happen, somebody had to be the scapegoat in order for the President to deflect blame in the upcoming months. I would have preferred Cheney, Rumsfield, Rice, Ashcroft, or the big boy himself, but why get rid of a cabinet member when you can blame somebody outside of the inner circle, right?

Anyway, as one would expect, the internet is all a buzz about the recent announcement so I thought why not give a recap of what people are saying:

The Left:

- Atrios simply refers to Tenet as "Gore speech victim #1"
- Kos wonders whether or not to believe Bush's reasoning behind Tenet's leaving office.
- Kevin Drum thinks Gore gave Tenet the kiss of death by calling him a "good and decent man."
- Pandagon hasn't rolled out of bed yet I guess; keep checking.
- Wonkette guffaws at the faux surprise coming from the press and Senate leadership. Like this beauty from Daschle:

"I'm surprised," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. "I don't think anyone saw it coming. I think we need to know more about the reasons why this surprise announcement came today," the South Dakota Democrat said.">"I'm surprised," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. "I don't think anyone saw it coming. I think we need to know more about the reasons why this surprise announcement came today," the South Dakota Democrat said.

- Oliver Wills hopes for more.

Really, not a lot of analysis from the left; just the straight facts about the resignation. I guess there isn't a lot to say as Tenet has been in charge of the CIA during some pretty bad times and his exit has been talked about since that horrible day in September of 2001. The right on the other hand is going to have to spin, which probably means a bit more text on the situation:

- Michele comes out swinging here and here. Looks like the first approach is to trash the dearly departed.
- Instapundit makes sure to remind us that Tenet was a Clinton appointee, while also defending the administration from an attack by Tenet (even though one hasn't been launched).
- Mr. Joyner has a roundup of his own as well as some interesting thoughts on the DCI position in general. I will be honest, I find myself reading Outside the Beltway more than anything else. That is saying something, as I obviously don't lean in the same political direction as the good doctor.
- Poliblog (my second favorite of late) is only breaking the news right now, not really analyzing it.

Finally:

- California Yankee has probably the best follow-up reporting on the subject. If you want to be in the loop on some of the politics behind the resignation (outside of the news that has been splashed on the front page for the last two years) read his site.

Good line

I don't know the original source of this line, but I wanted to put it out there.

We're struggling to set Iraq up with a Constitution, right? Why not just give them ours? It's worked fine for over 200 years, and Hell! We're not using it anymore.

Do with it what you will.

Clever

Politics aside, this is a pretty funny link. Thanks Kos.

Ahhhh, The Family Guy

Peter Griffin: Look Lois, the two symbols of the Republican Party: an elephant, and a fat white guy who is threatened by change.

Just makes me chuckle.

Morning Bang

For your pleasure, the Wednesday morning link party.

• Wonkette makes the gossip columns. Damn, she is, like, famous now.
• Page Six wants me to believe that Halle Berry used a body double. Isn't that like using a fake basketball player to sub for Michael Jordan?
• Oliver, Oliver Wills that is, needs your help restoring his Google placement
• Hmm, I don't know what I think about this.
• and finally, check out this great quotes website. Hat tip: Michele

Feel free to add a link of your own, just make sure you reference back to this post. If your blog tool doesn't automatically generate trackbacks, use this nifty little thing.

Trivia/Riddle:

Yesterday's answer: Seal, Camel, and Eland (which apparently is some sort of large African antelope). Anyway, Guancous gets credit for the right answer anyway. Congrats. Score: 1 Guancous - - 0 Rest of World.

You can find yesterday's question here.

Today's Trivia/Riddle:

Only one word can be anagrammed from SPRINGIEST. What is it?

Post answers in the comments or send via email. Once people start guessing the right answer I will put up a standings board on one of the sidebars.

Spam

For the next two weeks I am going to let my Yahoo! Bulk Mail (aka Spam) accumulate. Your task, much like "guess the number of jelly beans in the jar", is to guess how many emails will have landed themselves in said folder by the time June 8th comes around. Closest person to the right answer will have their choice of free porn, unlimited debt resolution services, an infinite number of online credit card applications, or countless email viruses.

My guess? 7,460.

What's yours?

Wow, thanks for the info guys

This just in (emphasis added):

U.S. officials have obtained new intelligence deemed highly credible indicating al-Qaida or other terrorists are in the United States and preparing to launch a major attack this summer, The Associated Press has learned.

The intelligence does not include a time, place or method of attack but is among the most disturbing received by the government since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, according to a senior federal counterterrorism official who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday.

Can someone tell me the point of releasing this information, if it isn't about covering asses or instilling fear?

Terrorists Planning Summer Attack [Yahoo]

[Update]: This is my addition to today's Beltway Traffic Jam.

Prisoner Abuse

Apparently even American soldiers are subject to merciless beatings:

A former military police officer said in a television interview broadcast Monday that he was severely beaten while posing as a detainee during a January 2003 training exercise at Guantanamo Bay.

Sean Baker, a former member of the 438th Military Police Company, said he played the role of a prisoner and was beaten so badly by four U.S. soldiers that he suffered a traumatic brain injury and seizures.

At what point will the the military, and the president, stop paying only lip service to this problem?

Soldier says he was beaten in training [Seattle Post-Intelligencer]

Morning Bang

Good morning folks, here are your links for the day. I especially like the Clay Aiken one; I thought he was gay though?

• Clay Aiken getting a handful of yummy.
• Jamie-Lynn Sigler's husband hints at his wife's real birthday present; idiot.
• Michele talks about her headache inducing dinner that consisted of a Bush speech, a trivia game, and crying babies (not from Bush's speech I assume).
• Outside the Beltway has a roundup of Bush's speech last night. Well, the roundup from the right at least.
• Pandagon has, what should be, the standard left response to Bush's speech.
• And finally, Wizbang has an interesting new way to save yourself, and your blog, from slow loading Blogrolling times.

Feel free to add a link of your own, just make sure you reference back to this post. If your blog tool doesn't automatically generate trackbacks, use this nifty little thing.

Trivia/Riddle:

Yesterday's answer (for the zero people that guessed): Margot likes unknown writers. She only likes words with a silent letter.

You can find yesterday's question here.

Today's Trivia/Riddle:

The names of three mammals are hidden in the following sentences. Find them. All the letters are in the correct order.

The large crowds at the flea market came looking for bargains.I took off the peel and ate the banana.He has no judgment, no sense altogether.

Post answers in the comments or send via email. Once people start guessing the right answer I will put up a standings board on one of the sidebars.

John Kerry is a douche bag but I'm voting for him anyway

Just in case anybody was trying to register it, www.johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway.com is already taken by one Alan Blevins. The site isn't actually as mucb about John Kerry's foul ups as it is about explaining the perceived mistakes put out there by the media or George W.

If you have a couple minutes check it out.

John Kerry is a douche bag, but I'm voting for him anyway

Morning Bang

Monday morning, how I loathe thee:

• Dave Berry has some tips on grocery shopping etiquette.
• Is there anything the Bush administration won't lie about? Well, Kos shows that even bike accidents are worked by the spin team, so I guess not.
• Free airline tickets if you can prove you are a virgin?
• Ooooohhhh, awwwwwww, a handheld Nintendo.
• Finally, the Simpsons talking about blogging? That is what Michele thinks.

Feel free to add a link of your own, just make sure you reference back to this post. If your blog tool doesn't automatically generate trackbacks, use this nifty little thing.

Trivia/Riddle of the day:

Margot likes knights but not battlers; she likes writing but not typing; she likes to listen but not to sing. Does she like an unknown or a famous author?

Post answers in the comments. First person to get the answer receives a brand new car. Well, that isn't true, but they get to feel good about themselves.

Washingtonienne Exposed

Well, Wonkette has finally nailed the interview she has most desired. George Bush? Bill Clinton? Matt Drudge? No, Washingtonienne. Check out both if you don't already know what is going on.

A preview:

Wonkette: What about, "Don't keep a blog about your sex life?"

Washingtonienne: Ha! I think everyone should keep a blog about their sex life, because people should be responsible for the shit they pull.

As always, Wizbang has a very detailed recap of the situation, including a picture link.

Want more?

Um, okay. Here is an interview with the New Washingtonienne via Swamp-City, a bumper sticker sale by Belle Dujor, and a t-shirt sale by I Love Jenna Bush.

Now, can this story die?

Again, nothing surprising

But, damn it is disgusting (emphasis added):

Some prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison were ridden like animals, fondled by female soldiers, forced to curse their religion and required to retrieve their food from toilets, according to a published report Friday.

When did our treatment of prisoners turn into an episode of Fear Factor?

Report: Soldiers Fondled Iraqi Prisoners [AP]

Frist dispels book title

Sen. Frist's Son Charged with Drunk Driving

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's 21-year-old son was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Princeton, New Jersey, police said on Thursday.

William Harrison Frist, Jr., a Princeton University sophomore, was stopped early on Wednesday for passing a vehicle improperly and was found to be impaired after he failed a test for balance, Lt. Dennis McManimon of the Princeton borough police said.

He was taken to the station where a breath test showed his blood alcohol level was above 0.10, or above the legal limit. The charge is punishable by a seven-month suspension of Frist's driver's license plus fines, McManimon said.

Poliblogger (who I stole this story from) notes: "Not smart for a whole host of reasons." Yeah, besides the possible murder weapon his car could have been, he really makes daddy look like a fool for this book:

Title? "Good People Beget Good People"

[Update]: I have added this to today's Beltway Traffic Jam.

It was only a matter of time I guess

The Washington Post has released a small amount of video footage from Abu Ghraib prison. It seems to show the lead up to the infamous pyramid picture.

Nothing new here, just live action instead of still photo. Still distrubing though.

[Hat Tip]: Wizbang

Morning Bang

An end of the week linkfest for ya:

• The Outer Life figures out the odds of a pimple could ruining his day. Who would have thought it would be so close to the likelihood he would be struck by lightning?
• Rebecky makes an obvious point in a not so obvious way
• Spoons thinks Bush has chutzpah. So many things done wrong and still so cocky; gotta love the prez.
• The Chipmunks go locco. You have to watch this
• and finally, Drudge Retort tells us that at the end of WWII the Brits may have been planning biological warfare via pigeon

Feel free to add a link of your own, just make sure you reference back to this post. If your blog tool doesn't automatically generate trackbacks, use this nifty little thing.

Trivia/Riddle of the Day:

Okay, new rules. First person to answer the riddle/trivia question in the comments or via email correctly gets a point. What those points will be worth? I have no idea, yet.

Now, come on folks, this is easy.

Until I am measured I am not known, Yet how you miss me When I have flown.

Washingtonienne rises from the ashes

The much talked about Washingtonienne blog posts have been reprinted in their original form.

This little lady, who was the main topic on Wonkette and Swamp-City the last couple of days, is now forever memorialized. Enjoy.

Oh, and somebody get me her number. Please.

[Hat Tip: Wizbang]

Apparently the Palestinians don't like our media either

I mean, haven't these reporters seen The West Wing? Or, you know, the news for the last century? You can't just go shaking hands in Gaza when the person extending the offer is standing in front of a car with the back door open; even if you are from a liberal paper.

A New York Times correspondent narrowly escaped a kidnap attempt by Palestinians while covering a massive Israeli army raid into Gaza's Rafah refugee camp, the newspaper said on Thursday.

James Bennet, bureau chief for Israel and the Palestinian territories, said he was speaking on a cellphone in front of a Rafah hospital on Wednesday when a Palestinian he did not know came up, smiled and offered his hand, saying "Welcome."

When Bennet shook his hand, the man and another Palestinian grabbed him and tried to thrust him into an old Mercedes car that pulled up with its back door open, recalling kidnappings of foreigners by Muslim militants in wartime Beirut in the 1980s.

New York Times Reporter Escapes Gaza Kidnap Bid [Reuters]

Morning Bang

The daily linkfest, this time to honor the 24th anniversary of my last week in the womb.

• Michele at A Small Victory thinks Day by Day may have finally made it.
• Steven Taylor breaks down the psychology of teacher reviews
• Tony Pierce wonders what happened to Instapundit [hat tip: Atrios]
• Wonkette has moved on from her Washingtonienne story... or has she?
• Finally, Pandagon wants everyone to read a story that is sure to make your blood boil.

Feel free to add a link of your own, just make sure you reference back to this post. If your blog tool doesn't automatically generate trackbacks, use this nifty little thing.

Trivia/Riddle for the day:

Trivia question will be repeated as I received no emails about it:

Until I am measured I am not known, Yet how you miss me When I have flown.

Please send all your answers to me via email. A right answer earns you a point in the yet to be released standings list. The leader in said unreleased standings at the end of each month will win an undetermined prize.

Ambiguous I am.

Two More Pictures

Two more photos from the infamous Abu Ghraib prison.

Now, the Nick Berg incident was obviously disturbing to me, as I have posted below, but these pictures aggravate me significantly more for some reason. Not because there is a moral equivalency, not because I think beheading is less brutal than a torturous beating, but because it isn't what our country is about. It is not what most people's faith is about. Our soldiers standing over dead members of the human race has nothing to do with the chain of command or helping with interrogation, it is just an unfathomable exhibition of power. Just hard for me to take.

ABC Picture Slideshow

[Hat Tip]: Talk Left

Once again

Once again Instapundit would like to imply, through another blogger (this time Iraq the Model), that if you are against the reasoning behind the war, the lies told in the ramp up towards the war, the horrible planning after we knew we were going to war, and the horrible administration of post-war Iraq, then you are quite obviously against American troops, Democracy, and America in general.

Frustrating.

Sad, but true

As a Kerry supporter the comic below hits way too close to home:

by: Stuart Carlson

Morning Bang

Stealing an idea from Outside the Beltway, I am going to turn the Morning Bang into a link fest, with one added caveat though; a trivia question.

• Wizbang points users to a story about Britney Spears and lesbian love; I am forever grateful.
• Insults Unpunished needs your help in his march towards 500,000 users
• Dave Pell thinks Apple isn't that bad of a name, in comparison to others at least.
• Lileks ponders the unthinkable; has Sopranos jumped the shark?
• Finally, Oliver Willis wonders which game is easier to forecast: football or baseball.

Feel free to add a link of your own, just make sure you reference back to this post. If your blog tool doesn't automatically generate trackbacks, use this nifty little thing.

Trivia/Riddle for the day:

Until I am measured I am not known, Yet how you miss me When I have flown.

Please send all your answers to me via email. A right answer earns you a point in the yet to be released standings list. The leader in said unreleased standings at the end of each month will win an undetermined prize.

Ambiguous I am.

Damn

Damnit, the league just announced that my softball game has been cancelled. Strange seeing as I live about two blocks from Wrigley... wanna bet the Cubs play tonight?

Maybe if I got that kid from the ESPN commercials to be a grounds crew member for my softball league this wouldn't happen as often.

The Day After Tomorrow

In response to all the criticism being laid upon the new movie The Day After Tomorrow, Crooked Timber has this to say:

In the wake of the insta-criticism of the film The Day After Tomorrow because it is a silly big-budget action movie and not a policy briefing paid for by the coal industry, CT will be providing further movie criticism along these lines. Reel in shock at The Fast and the Furious for its inaccurate picture of driving conditions in Los Angeles! Be outraged at The Pricess Bride for its whitewashing of the reality of aristocratic forms of government! Fume at Godzilla for ignoring basic facts about radiation and the typical size of lizards! And get ticked off at almost every movie ever that suggests that you eventually get the girl. Or that girls even look like that in the first place.

Crooked Timber 1 - Instapundit 0.

[Hat Tip] Pandagon

Something we can all agree on

I am a little worried right now. For whatever reason I find myself agreeing with Michele pretty regularly lately. Thankfully, currently, it is only because she is talking about stupid names:

There are so many things that make us fight and scream at each other. But I think we can all agree on this one particular issue: Apple is a very silly name to give your child.

20 minutes on their proverbial knees

Wonkette reports that Michael Moore's new movie received a 20-minute standing ovation at Cannes. Now, I think the movie will be good, and though I think Moore is a little out there, I like the guy, but who the hell wants to stand for 20 minutes to do anything? I don't care if my mom wrote, directed, and starred in the thing, I will stand, clap, and promptly sit down.

20 minutes - - sheesh. Is Drudge (the person who "scooped" the story) sure that they weren't just cheering for a certain dress?

French Give Michael Moore Freedom Kiss [Wonkette]