Bits to Chew, Stew or View 0001

The flavor of today's Russian democracy under Putin ...

(in the old days they would belong to the Komsomol ) .... The Putin Youth get to be punks, terrorizing foreigners and "traitors" with near complete impunity (a few $20 fines for attacking an ambassador), and receive training, free college and professional connections that can give them high-powered careers - a win-win situation, from their point of view.

- From Putin's children, a July 5, 2007 opinion piece by journalist Michael Hammerschlag, who lived in Russia from 1991 to 1994, and returned there in early 2007.


From Lawyer Kickers pro bono a lawyer joke

A student from the University of Washington has sold his soul on eBay for $400. He's a law student, so he probably doesn't need it, but still, that's not very much. Today, Hillary Clinton said, 'Hey, at least I got some furniture and a Senate seat for mine. - verified quotation from Jay Leno

Are you planning to vote for a presidential primary candidate?
Has he/she made any campaign promises that you trust? Ever considered the difference between a campaign promise and the oath of office?

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

A campaign promise, or pledge is unenforceable, like a marriage vow. Unlike a marriage vow, however, a campaign promise is not just between two people, it is between the candidate and 300,000,000 people. Should candidates who have demonstrated through poor judgement, emotional error, or personal weakness the dimunition or dissolution of their marriage vows be trusted with the Oath of Office for President of the United States? Really, why?


Remember TSA Secretary Chertoff's gut feel about islamist terrorism in the homeland? He could be wrong, but Juan Caruso Davenport (Jaycee al-Humacao) thinks he may know what is really going on with Chertoff's mixed ( video ) message. If correct, terrorists still have less than a 5% chance of a successful attack, but no chance of any spectacular attack:

Today, the National Intelligence Estimate confirmed that Al Qaeda remains the most serious threat to the United States. Actually, there is little change in the estimate and no public mention of the myriad countermeasures now arrayed against terrorism. The most potent countermeasure has been infiltration of Al Qaeda cells. Obviously this element is off-limits to public elaboration.

When was the last time that the American public can actually remember the Bush administration finessing a national predicament? Before 911, and it is only a vague memory now. Every Bush victory since then has been tainted by a growing chorus of Bush enemies. One chance remains for a Bush masterstroke of sorts. For full dramatic impact and assurances that the press will keep it adequately in headlines, it is necessary for the administration to stir public fervor in advance - fear, frustration and anger. Those feelings must be stoked until the public mood is near its peak, but not numbed and completely turned off yet.

Such sentiments are exactly what the Bush administration engenders by spoon feeding mixed signals on the terrorist threat in your U.S. homeland. While the DNC expects/ed Osama bin Laden to be captured on the eve of major elections, from September to early November 2008/2004, both bin Laden and al-Zawahiri will be nuetralized between August and October of this year under cover of surge activities. Suddenly, and secretively the final refuge zone for the founders of Al Qaeda will be lifted and penetrated. A precision strike by a coalition of elite forces from three countries will be executed with fantastic and newsworthy tactics, Allah willing.

Brother Juan Caruso D's predictions have often been uncanny. Molten Eagle hopes his gut feeling is on the money again, this time.