In an announcement that stunned many in Washington and even some in his campaign staff, Hackett declared on February 13, 2006, that he was dropping his bid for U.S. Senate in Ohio, ending his 11 month political career. “I made this decision reluctantly, only after repeated requests by party leaders, as well as behind-the-scenes machinations, that were intended to hurt my campaign,” he said, only hinting at what had gone down. The day after his withdrawal from the race, he told me about the backroom battles that forced him out.

In late November, Hackett got a call from Sen. Harry Reid. “I hear there’s a photo of you mistreating bodies in Iraq. Is it true?” demanded the Senate minority leader. “No sir,” replied Hackett. To drive home his point, Hackett traveled to Washington to show Reid’s staff the photo in question. Hackett declined to send me the photo, but he insists that it shows another Marine-not Hackett-unloading a sealed body bag from a truck. “There was nothing disrespectful or unprofessional,” he insists. “That was a photo of a Marine doing his job. If you don’t like what they’re doing, don’t send Marines into war.”

Just an FYI in case I disappear…

You can commence pointing and laughing now.

College students will get an opportunity to talk with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean when he visits Lacey on Monday for the annual state Democratic Party Crab Feed.

Saint Martin’s University Democratic Donkey Club and College Democrats of America are hosts for the event in the college’s Student Union Building.

The event is aimed at college-age Democrats, although the public is invited, said Damien La Vera, spokesman with the Democratic National Committee.

“We are ecstatic about it,” said Democratic Donkey Club President Crystal Saili, a Saint Martin’s senior. “We know he didn’t want a podium, so I think it’ll be more of a conversation. He wants us to get pumped up for politics.”

If any of you local WA State peeps want to join me, let me know!

And Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a Republican and Vietnam war veteran, told The Omaha World-Herald, “If he’d been in the military, he would have learned gun safety.”

Take this quiz to figure out which science fiction crew you would fit in best with.

My results:

Sierrahome. of course!

the nimrod barks

Finally, tonight, the Winter Games. Count me among those who don’t care about them and won’t watch them. In fact, I figure that when Thomas Paine said that “these are the times that try men’s souls,” he must’ve been talking about the start of another Winter Olympics. Because they’re so trying, maybe over the next three weeks we should all try too. Like, try not to be incredulous when someone attempts to link these games to those of the ancient Greeks who never heard of skating or skiing. So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world’s greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the winter games look like a GOP convention. ...

“Thomas Paine” ???  ”paucity” ?!?!?
Someone‘s been reading… in his copious spare time.

Dick the man vs Dick The Legend

We’ve heard that Dead-Eye Dick x] was drunk x] was over-medicated x] was sending a messssage to Scooter Sopranos-style x] was covering up an affair with the ranch owner / Harry / the doves.  and so on…
What’s your favorite explanation?

Well, Larry what *I* think is that Dick didn’t shoot Harry at all.  No indeedy. The pair were ‘hunting’ with their new friends from ______________________
[fill in the blank Dubai / Denmark / Alpha Centauri]
and it was one of them who was *ahem* The Shooter.  And they just shot Harry ________________
[FITB for fun / for cartoon fodder / for dinner]

Dick, being the patriot BushCo Meat-Puppet that he is [Hallibuuuuurton] jumped to the fore to take the blame knowing that, politically, he is already dead man walking a lame duck ambulatorily challenged water fowl.

Requiring the production of the additional materials sought by defendant would unreasonably encroach on legitimate interests of national security, grand jury secrecy and executive privilege.’’

I’ve highlighted and underlined a few to get you started.

Pakistani police officers beat protesters gathered to condemn the publication of cartoons of Islamic Prophet…

A Pakistani cleric announced Friday a $1 million bounty for killing a cartoonist who drew Prophet Muhammad, as thousands joined street protests and Denmark temporarily closed its embassy and advised its citizens to leave the country.

Police confined the former leader of an Islamic militant group to his home to prevent him from addressing supporters over the cartoons, amid fears he could incite violence, after riots this week killed five people.

Security forces were out in strength, particularly around government offices and Western businesses, as Muslims streamed onto the streets after Friday prayers. More than 200 people were detained, but most gatherings were peaceful.

In neighboring India, police used batons and tear gas to disperse thousands of angry worshippers who rioted in the southern city of Hyderabad. They burned Danish flags, pelted police with stones, and looted shops. Hundreds more protested in Bangladesh.

In the northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar, prayer leader Mohammed Yousaf Qureshi announced the bounty for killing a cartoonist to about 1,000 people outside the Mohabat Khan mosque.

Qureshi said the mosque and his religious school would give $25,000 and a car, while a local jewelers’ association would give another $1 million. No representative of the association was available to confirm it had made the offer.

“This is a unanimous decision by all imams (prayer leaders) of Islam that whoever insults the prophet deserves to be killed and whoever will take this insulting man to his end, will get this prize,” Qureshi said.

Qureshi did not name any cartoonist in his announcement. He did not appear aware that 12 different people had drawn the pictures.

Dick and Harry
Harry Whittington, you better run, I’m counting up to 5
Harry Whittington, what have you done, you shouldn’t have told the wife.

We’ve been coming here for 30 years
They thought it was for doves
But it was for love
Sweet, sweet love

Harry Whittington, we had some fun, we laughed, we danced, we cried.
But now you’ve changed, became ashamed, of our secret life

We’ve been coming here for all these years
From Nixon, through Senior, to Son
And it was for love
Sweet, sweet love

Remember the nights under the stars
I played my guitar, songs of world domination
And we cuddled up in front of the fire
We were more than just friends
I’m sorry that it has to end.
Harry Whittington, Now, I’ve got a gun, I’m counting up to 5

(jill sobule/robin eaton)

At least it wasn’t bagpipes because that would just be silly. Even though they still could have said Ryan Jones, 23, ran at them with the 4ft instrument and stuff.

Boazo

Buster’s girlfriend, she’s a supermodel.

Dan