The Xsociate Files

Musharraf Leaves White House in Lurch.

Unconfirmed whether Cheney is Uncle Fester.

(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop

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TGIF and here's what's Shootin' Thru The 'Tubes:

Ann Coultergeist, who no one can ever accuse of being good at political strategery, thinks it'd be a good idea to repeal the 19th amendment. You know the one giving women the right to vote. She says its a personal dream of hers that if women aren't allowed to vote anymore, there will never be another Democratic president elected. According to her, single women vote "stupidly" and thus shouldn't be given the chance. Take it from Coultergeist, she knows all about voting stupidly.

The Republican National Convention released their official logo for next year's event and promptly broke the innuendo-o-meter. The gifted snark was too good to pass up for some in the blogosphere and given my own fetish for Photoshop, I couldn't resist adding my own contribution to the fun.

(Filed at State of the Day and All Spin Zone)

Labels: Coultergeist, Fun with Photoshop, The 'Tubes

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The President gave his address last night that was being billed as a "Return on Success" (which begs the question: when did we ever "leave Success"? Is that anywhere near Basra?). But we all know this is just a return to the status quo. Bush announced that 5,700 troops will be home just in time for Christmas and another 23k will able to celebrate their independence from Iraq next summer. Though even now the Bushies are stressing that is unclear how many troops will actually be brought home.

But in any event, it's back to stay the course, even though they won't call it that. We'll be saddled with this new half-hearted slogan until the next time they need to buy more time to get us through the rest of Bush's time in office. As we've come to know with this administration, the only thing they know is marketing. But if the product reviews are any indication, few will be willing to buy no matter how "small" the price tag may be.

See also Fred Kaplan.

Update: Joe Gandelman has an extensive roundup with linkage to yours truly. Thanks Joe!

(Filed at State of the Day and All Spin Zone)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop

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Specter: Gonzales A "Wily Witness"

(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop

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Whether in the dog house or the White House, this is one pooch who deserves to be hounded.

(h/t Libby for inspiration)

(Filed at State of the Day)

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The Lone Deranger

Shoot 'em up Shooter and his faithful companion Dubya ride again. Respect their extra-constitutional authoritah! Yee-haw!

When the idea that Dick "Angler Mangler" Cheney wasn't a part of the executive branch and thus not subject to executive dictates was rekindled this week, many suggested that Congress should cut funding for the OVP (Old Villainous Posse?). If the Veep wants to be his own boss, might as well let him fit the bill. No one can shoot holes through that logic, not even Dead Eye Dick. Heck, Bush recently pledged to tamp down on wasteful spending. What could be more wasteful than dumping untold millions of dollars onto an entity that claims it is not affiliated with any branch of government yet still claims all of the privileges?

Well, now the Democrats have proposed taking away Dick's fistful of dollars. And if you ask me it's long past time this Lone Ranger rode off into the sunset.

Libby Spencer noticed how misapplied the Bushies were with their implied intent. Then again, the Founding Fathers intended a lot of things. The Bushies just misapplied them.

And speaking of unintended intentions, Steve Young has a transcript of Tony Snowjob trying to clear things up.

Scott Rosenberg says there's more than meets the eye to this Constitutional Transformer.

And Maureen Dowd (free via Rozius), who took a break from obsessing over John Edwards' haircut, thinks that the only way Shooter could possibly be more reviled is if he took a famous adolescent wizard-in-training on a quail hunt.

(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop, OTF

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Gonzales plans to ‘tighten the leash’ on attorneys.

(Plucked from a folder at The Xsociate Files)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop

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Giuliani unveils his new "12 Commitments" campaign platform.

(Filed at State of the Day and Blognonymous)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop

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Huckabee Says Thompson's Likely '08 Bid Reminds Him of 'Mighty Mouse' Candidacy.

(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop

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(h/t Christy for inspiration)

(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop

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Dead polls or dead pools, either way he's a floater.

(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop

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(h/t SpinDentist for inspiration)

(Filed at State of the Day)

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Slow Grillin'

Yesterday's big buzz was the much anticipated appearance of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Gonzo got a major grilling, even from the Republican members of the panel. He was flipping and flopping around so much he threatened to fall right off the hot plate seat. It was indeed like "clubbing a baby seal" as one observer called it. Only difference being you can sympathize with the baby seal. Gonzo? Not so much.

But despite being burnt to a crisp, the White House is sticking with their embroiled and flame-broiled AG.

The Gonzo-meter shows Al is almost well, done.

Kevin Hayden on Gonzo's lame Sergeant Schultz defense. It certainly would explain his way of thinking, so sez Magpie.

Shaun Mullen examines the memory hole, which at this point rivals the grand canyon. Thankfully, the Donkeys are taking us for ride to find what's at the bottom.

Larisa has a few take aways from yesterday's testimony.

TRex, in his own inimitable style, has some late night FDL love for ya.

McJoan thinks the NY Times is starting to sound a lot like your average blogger.

And David Bromwich says it's not hard to understand Gonzo's concept of honor when you consider who he chooses to pal around with.

(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop, OTF

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I love it when a Plan B comes together...or not.

(h/t Heretik for inspiration)

(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop

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Boys in da Baghdad

Sen. McCain was tooling around Baghdad yesterday just to show how well the surge is working. Don't mind the contingent of 100 Soldiers, 3 Blackhawks, and 2 Apache gunships (and a pony), that's just his posse. He takes them everywhere. You should see them try to get a table at Denny's.

McCain's partner in war crime Lindsey Graham, meanwhile, scored a sweet ass deal on some rugs. Let's hope they aren't Persian since that would make him eligible for a stay at the Ritz Gitmo since he just contributed a whole $5 to Iran's burgeoning textile industry.

Back in Never Gonna Leave Land, 6 more US soldiers were killed and mortars rained down on the outskirts of the Green Zone. In other words, just another day in the neighborhood.

Babak Dehghanpisheh on McCain's little jaunt through the capitol. Meanwhile, Atrios has what "Maverick" was really trying to say.

Shelley Lewis gives us the "full picture" that McCain says is lacking in media coverage.

Libby Spencer says it might have been good idea for Graham to practice that trickle down economics the Repubs use to be so fond of.

Mustang Bobby reminds us of other photo ops involving presidential wannabes. Jersey Guy wonders how many soldiers died because others were too busy playing nurse maid to McCain's ego.

And Bob Cesca reports that the "Surge is working" meme isn't well, working.

(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop, OTF

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The Costanza Doctrine

(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop

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I'll have a shot of 5th on the rocks.

Purgegate just got a lot more interesting now that a top aide of Gonzales, Monica Goodling, has pled the 5th and refused to testify before Congress. There's a debate going on about whether or not Goodling can invoke such a right. But one thing is certain: there are probably quite a few Bushies out there downing a fifth over this pleading of the Fifth since this twist now implies possible criminal conduct, protestations from Gonzo notwithstanding. I guess all this pleadin' is what happens when you have a staff unwilling to take the fall for the fall guy.

And how convenient is it that the Bushies should discover the Bill of Rights right when they appear to need it. Once the subpoenas start flying, I wonder how soon it will be before others in the Bush gang start puckering up for a sip from the 5th amendment chalice.

Oliver Willis has some simple advice for Repubs worried about incriminating themselves.

Taylor Marsh says Gonzo-gate has moved into mob territory. PM Carpenter suggests BushCo's shoddy cover-up job is an insult to gangsterdom. And Frank Rich, meanwhile, wonders when Al is gonna get whacked.

Ben Schwartz has an idea for a reality show based on the Bush administration.

Tom Burka reports of other White House officials following Goodling's lead.

And Sandy Levinson says Monica should be given immunity because if "it was good enough for the first Monica, it should be good enough for the second". By the way, what is up with DC scandals and women named Monica?

(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop, OTF

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Suggested shirt to give out in Al Kamen's contest.



(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop

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In honor of the "he's there, no he's not, well yea he is" regarding al-Sadr's whereabouts.



Bonus if you spot the other famous enemy of convenience for the Bush administration.

(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop

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(Filed at State of the Day)

Labels: Fun with Photoshop

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