This is why Bill Clinton was, is, and will forever remain America’s most awesome president:

In 1999 or 2000, after the failed attempt to kill Osama bin Laden with some 80 cruise missiles launched into the al Qaeda camp in Khost, Afghanistan, a frustrated President Bill Clinton thought that somehow the United States could “scare the shit out of al Qaeda if suddenly a bunch of black ninjas rappelled out of helicopters into the middle of their camp,” according to the 9/11 Commission.

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The New York Times reports that National Public Radio yesterday terminated its employment contract with contributor Juan Williams over comments he made on Bill O’Reilly’s talk show expressing fear and mistrust of Muslims who dressed in traditional clothing:

The move came after Mr. Williams, who is also a Fox News political analyst, appeared on the “The O’Reilly Factor” on Monday. On the show, the host, Bill O’Reilly, asked him to respond to the notion that the United States was facing a “Muslim dilemma.” Mr. O’Reilly said, “The cold truth is that in the world today jihad, aided and abetted by some Muslim nations, is the biggest threat on the planet.”

Mr. Williams said he concurred with Mr. O’Reilly.

He continued: “I mean, look, Bill, I’m not a bigot. You know the kind of books I’ve written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.”

Juan Williams and other non-partisan journalists’ participation in Fox News roundtables have concerned media watchdogs for some time. The conservative opinion channel has long waged a dishonest propaganda campaign aimed at discrediting mainstream media organizations by labelling them as politically biased. One of the techniques the channel most frequently employs to propagate the idea consists of putting together discussion roundtables comprised of Right-wing partisan opinion journalists such as Charles Krauthammer and William Kristol one one side and mainstream media journalists on the other –with a partisan Fox News host (such as Brit Hume) acting as supposed impartial arbiter. Though there have been others over the years, Juan Williams was perhaps the most frequent and notable of the “useful idiots” who compromized their employers’ credibility and impartiality in exchange for lucrative face time on Fox News.

The move is long overdue.

An intestersting document making the blog rounds today (meaning I’ve seen it on  at least two sites) is a Pdf prepared by an organization call thirdway that aims to detail for taxpayers just how much of their tax bill goes toward paying for different Federal programs. The Pdf uses the example of an individual making $34,140 a year and paying $5,400 in Federal income taxes. The actual breakdown of that $5,400 is quite instructive and would likely help give the average citizen a much clearer picture of just what his tax dollar is funding. For instance, of that $5,400 these are the totals that go to funding various government programs:

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Fox News comes late to the party with a story about Todd Henderson, the U. Of Chicago corporate law professor who recently opened up to the world on the trials and travails of an average American family struglling to get by on a mere $400,000.00 per annum (we covered it some time ago). As you might expect, the Fox News profile is gentler on the good professor than most such stories, quoting experts who note that:

“Any time you want to take away a sizable chunk of people’s money, it has a big impact.”

and wrapping up with this bit of wisdom:

“But the bottom line… is that no one wants to pay more taxes.” 

More interesting than Fox’s predictable take, perhaps is the reaction from Fox News commenters, many of whom, for some odd reason, assume that this professor of corporate law must be a Democrat. So for your edification, words of wisdom from a few choice Fox News commenters: Read more »

So have you seen Carly Fiorina’s latest ad attacking Barbara Boxer? If not, here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpV4x2f19U8

And, here’s the transcript:

“Honey, don’t complain if he calls you ‘tootsie.’ Take it as a compliment: it means he likes the way you look. Also, understand that he’s a very important man with a very important job to do and a bunch of medals on his chest. What have you ever done that compares to that? Now be a dear, head on over to the break-room, and fix us another pot of coffee, will you? The guys in the office  finished the last one you made for them a whole half hour ago. Chop, chop!

I’m Carly Fiorina, I approved this message ’cause I haven’t got a clue.”

Radio shock jock, queen of hate, Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Iron Maiden mascot “Eddie.” The resemblance is striking. Were they, perchance, separated at birth?

Discuss, my fellow Stinquers.

British Petroleum has released the final results of its thorough, no-stone-left-unturned investigation into the causes of the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and has determined that the company was very much at fault… for believing that the subcontractors it hired were competent in their supposed area of expertise, that is! BP would like you to know that they are genuinely sorry for the unfortunate mess that Halliburton and Transocean caused in your pretty, oil-rich Gulf.
And to think that Halliburton and Transocean had such wonderful references and came so highly recommended! At any rate, BP is terribly embarrased by the whole thing and would like you to know that in the future it will double and triple vet the contractors that it employs, and truly hopes that you will not hold this unfortunate and –given the circumstances– wholly unavoidable tragedy against them. After all, something like this could have happened to any one of us, I think you’ll agree! Let bygones be bygones.