The Xsociate Files

Just wanted to let everyone know I'm still alive. Sorry for the absence. Anyone who knows me, knows that about the only thing that could pull me away from blogging is a girl. And lo and behold I met the most beautiful girl in the world on Christmas Day. Santa was good to me this year and I'm wondering what cosmos favor I must now repay. In any
event, wishing all a Happy New Year.

- X

I've never been one to celebrate Christmas but I certainly love the creativity that the season brings out in people. I've always found my muse to be a bit mischievous at times. And there is no lack of gifts I could write about as many Americans celebrate in the traditional way (the last minute, mad dash to the only Walmart still open in the tri-state area). I could make a crack about Rescue Rudy having a communication problem as he dissembles on the 9/11 radio ruckus. Or I could have a puntackular time with Bush's 2008 itinerary and how he'll be doing more spit shining in the last year of his presidency than a Marine boot camp cadet (no offense to said Marine cadet as his efforts will not be in vain). Or given the heavy emphasis on religion this campaign season, I could even get all deep and philosophical and discuss the intricacies of navigating a world of religion as someone not of a particular faith.

Nah! Bring on the snark. Happy Holidays everyone!

Bob Franken: Yule Fools

Watertiger: Wedged in the Chimney

Steve Young: A No-Spin Yuletide Blame

Moonbat: It’s a Blunderful Life

Libby Spencer: Christmas in Blogtopia

But we can't forget the serious.

Meteor Blades: Never Forget. Especially Today.

Jon Soltz: Helping The Wounded During the Season of Giving

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

Twas the fortnight before Caucus and all through the land, much was stirring and Shootin' Thru The 'Tubes (Yea it doesn't rhyme, so sue me):

With barely two weeks to go before the Iowa caucus and Rescue Rudy tanking like a Brittney Spears' comeback tour, all eyes have turned to Mike Huckabee. Last week, Huckabee bashed the Bush administration's foreign policy as suffering from a "bunker mentality", which perhaps helped his poll numbers. But like all good little Repubs, he soon reserved course a bit to claim that prisoner treatment at Guantanamo Bay is "too nice".

Mitt Romney, however, embraced the Bush with much vigor. Such shouldn't have been any surprise since they seem to have some traits in common. For in seeking to defend his claim of seeing his father march with MLK, "No Lit Mitt" shows his grasp of the english language is about as tenuous as The Decider. Course what should be more worrisome is Mitt's equally messianic mentality.

John McCain has also been on the rise and was working doubly hard to suppress a rumor earlier this week. What it exactly was no one knows for certain but at least his learned his lessons from the '00 campaign.

Fred Thomspon...is he even still in this thing?

Tom Tancredo...nope.

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

A Pernicious and Troubling Vigorous Sentiment

To no one's surprise, the New York Times reported this morning that the White House's involvement in the discussion of whether to destroy CIA interrogation tapes which may have depicted torture was far more extensive than previously revealed. Names now familiarly associated with the subject of torture -- Gonzales, Addington, Bellinger -- were all consulted. And while no one advocated directly for their destruction, there was what the Times called a "vigorous sentiment" that they be disposed of.

So how do the Bushies respond? Do they deny the claims of the report? Heaven's, no. As has become a hallmark of this administration, their defense comes down to an issue of semantics. Sure they were being evasive, the Bushies admit, but they weren't misleading anyone (save for of course anyone who'd take such a claim seriously).

While the Grey Lady ultimately caved to the White House's demands, this silly pushback was so laughable as to almost be undeserving of the usual derision.

But what I and many others do not find the least bit assuming is the fact that the Bush administration did not seek to deny the report. Talk about missing the forest fire for the burning trees. Then again, such should also not be surprising. Any administration that would countenance heinous -- and potentially illegal -- acts would certainly be more than willing to cover-up said acts. Maybe if the Bushies put more energies toward enacting sound policies as opposed to coming up with excuses to justify bad ones, they mightn't need to issue statements scolding the media for calling a spade a spade.

Their silence on that is perhaps the thing we should find far more "pernicious and troubling".

Christy wonders if it is just a coinkydink that a fire should break out at the White House at the same time we are learning their tenants were involved in possible destruction of evidence. Will Bunch on the other hand, delivers the snark.

The Heretik ponders who's the most vigorous of them all and comes up with only one answer.

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

Most people don't like being wrong, but when it comes to my belief that the filibuster of the FISA bill debated before the Senate yesterday wouldn't matter, I'm gladly having a heaping helping of humble pie with my late night meal. Dodd's threat of a genuine, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington-style filibuster, succeeded in staving off the much expected cave.

While jubilation is warranted, the battle is not over. Even Dodd, who along with his fellow compatriots deserve praise for their efforts, recognizes this is only a temporary stay of execution. The bill has been tabled until after the first of the new year and by then the supposed deadline for passing some sort of bill will be even more immense and the Bushies will pull out all the stops to get their dictates enacted.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some pie to finish.

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