Your Right Hand Thief

... all these woes shall serve for sweet discourses in our time to come."

2012-01-17T10:37:00.002-06:00

http://www.moosedenied.com/lift-your-head-up-high-and-blow-your-brains-out-part-1/

I'm sure it looked good on the cocktail napkin

2012-01-12T21:58:00.000-06:00

Fifty-two investors claim fund managers associated with supply-side economist Arthur Laffer took $3.1 million to prop up a Ponzi scheme, then said nothing as their money was "wasted with no reasonable expectation of recovery."

Who wouldn't invest with Laffer? Look at his prescience on oil, stocks and gold five years ago. When he teams up with Kudlow, it's like an unbeatable tag-team.

Bon Anniversaire

2012-01-08T11:55:00.000-06:00

Eye-oh-wha?

2012-01-03T14:27:00.001-06:00

In the past I've been uncharitable towards consultant Mike Bayham's political analyses, and have harped on his miscues. But Bayham is on the ground in Iowa, writing compelling firsthand reports on the GOP campaigns. He'll be liveblogging the Iowa caucus results at his blog. Check it out.

I'll be at an undisclosed location tonight, watching other entertainments. I don't have any exciting predictions about the Iowa results. All I can say is that I hope there's an upset because it will make things more interesting. (Romney is still evitable, I maintain, but the GOP seems intent on proving that in the autumn rather than the spring. They're reluctantly falling in line behind ole Mittens in the hope that he, a candidate with inch-deep support, can somehow prevail over an incumbent President with inch-and-a-half deep support. (As George Will observed, they'd do better redirecting their energies to Congressional races this year, and find a stronger nominee in 2016. But the GOP's previous political virtue of long-range planning is now inhibited by their fevered, apocalyptic-thinking.)

One last thing: the way [the] conservative establishment stoned Newt Gingrich in December was an obscenity. I've never seen them pound one of their candidates like that, all at once, with such intensity. It was absolutely incredible. I've seen GOP pile-ons before, but never a national campaign assassination like that one, against a surging candidate (and former GOP hero!). Makes their dismantling of Huckabee in [2008] look like an evening of courtship on the porch swing.

It would be interesting to compare the intensity of the establishment's "jihad" (Bayham's word) against Newt to the missives they wrote against David Duke 20 years ago.

2011-12-23T10:28:00.000-06:00

Hope your holidays are delicious and jolly.Tip of the old silk hat I found to Karen, who understands my views about Gatemouth Ray.

Yuletide column on digital doomsday

2011-12-20T12:00:00.002-06:00

http://thelensnola.org/2011/12/20/gingrichs-digital-doomsday-scenario/

What the "H"?!

2011-12-18T13:19:00.002-06:00

After a thrilling upset of #1 Kentucky Wildcats, the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball program still can't crack Fletcher Mackel's top 25. The local sports newsman has an AP vote, and last week he rated the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers behind the likes of Memphis, who was 5-3 at the time.

C'mon Fletcher! Show the Hoosiers some love.

---
Also: a warm welcome to former Hoosiers standout Eric Gordon, as he joins the New Orleans Hornets.

That would be hard, er, difficult

2011-12-09T17:11:00.001-06:00

Bill Simmons: "I hope Chris Paul sues. I hope the Rockets sue. I hope the Lakers sue. I hope Dell Demps resigns and makes a sex tape with a stripper wearing a David Stern Halloween mask."

Back off the bivalves, Bishop

2011-12-07T09:48:00.001-06:00

"But there is not any property or circumstance of my being that I contemplate with more joy than my Immortality. I can easily overlook any present momentary sorrow, when I reflect that it is in my power to be happy a thousand years hence. If it were not for this thought, I had rather be an oyster than a man, the most stupid and senseless of animals than a reasonable mind tortured with an extreme innate desire of that perfection which it despairs to obtain."

-- Bishop George Berkeley
"Christian Ideas of a Future State," Guardian, #89, June 23, 1713.

Solomon in memoriam

2011-11-30T12:22:00.001-06:00

The Philosopher from State of Tomorrow on Vimeo.

LNW post: “We Cannot Fail to Try”

2011-11-22T17:20:00.001-06:00

http://www.leveesnotwar.org/?p=6617

2011-11-21T10:56:00.001-06:00

Congrats to fellow Columbus, IN native Tony Stewart on winning the cup yesterday, in one of the greatest drives in NASCAR history.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Was-this-the-finest-race-in-NASCAR-history-?urn=nascar-wp5330

2011-11-17T00:00:00.001-06:00

Football fans say "special teams is a third of the game," but how many truly believe it?

Number one rated LSU's victory over Alabama should've converted a whole new generation to the importance of special teams. Instead, some Tide fans are still seething, and believe the better team lost the "Game of the Century," as it was touted.

But they are are wrong.

I suppose Bama fans could plausibly argue that their team was slightly better on offense and defense. I'd contest both those points, but would charitably grant them for the sake of argument as long as Bama fans admitted that whatever difference between the teams in those categories was miniscule.However, LSU was indisputably superior on special teams-- no one could contest that. They kicked great punts to hold field position, and made the field goals that determined the final score.

So get over it, sulking Tide fans. Kicking is a third of the game. That's why they call it football.

2011-11-13T01:00:00.000-06:00

Rude blankets

2011-11-11T21:26:00.001-06:00

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2011/11/blanket-earth-plan-ever-since-i-first.html

Kenner Officials Shirking their Responsibilities

2011-11-11T09:00:00.001-06:00

Dear Blogger:

Re: “Kenner voters will go to polls on 3 property tax renewals," by Mary Sparacello, Times-Picayune, November 07, 2011

What short memories the voters of Kenner will have demonstrated, in addition to the extraordinary chutzpah, and incompetence, on the part of the Mike Yenni administration, if any tax renewals would be approved by the voters in the scheduled Nov. 19 election.

As reported in the Times-Picayune on Feb. 9, 2011, - http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/02/mayor_mike_yenni_calls_on_da_t.html - based on a ruling by Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, Kenner has “illegally” paid life and health insurance premiums for decades -- thanks to the “generosity” of former Kenner Mayor Aaron Broussard -– a current target of a federal grand jury investigation for payroll fraud.

Aaron Broussard, while serving as the mayor of Kenner, authorized in a “memo” -– under the euphemism of the “Executive Pay Plan” -- benefits be paid to himself for life, as well as former council president Nick Baroni – the now multiple count confess felon who defrauded the U. S. Navy in a time of war, and nine other politically connected cronies.

And as far as I know, ”no” attempt has been made to recoup a dime by Kenner officials! And the most probably illegally paid funds likely run into the millions of dollars!

Furthermore, simply ending the likely “illegally” paid funds does not suffice in correcting the likely abuse of office and the likely misappropriation of funds, and the overwhelmingly apparent conflict of interest as well -– likely criminal acts.

As a person who has been hounded -– among many others -- for years by FEMA to return, with interest and penalties, Katrina rental assistance, I cannot think of any reason why Kenner has not made a legal attempt in their fiduciary responsibility to recoup funds, in all likelihood, “illegally” paid to Broussard, Baroni, and others.

That is, if good ole boy politics is not in play on the part of Kenner officials, which would be tantamount to malfeasance.

In addition, given Aaron Broussard’s current embarrassing conflicts, resigning the office of the presidency of Jefferson Parish in disgrace and under highly inappropriate circumstances, and possible criminal behavior, and the criminal background of Broussard’s best pal, who is a fellow world traveler and prayer partner of Broussard, the multiple count confessed federal felon Nick Baroni -– nefarious behavior is undoubtedly suspected.

Dereliction of the duties and responsibilities of public office should never be tolerated by the citizens of Kenner, particularly in such fiscally difficult times. However, at least, FEMA is exercising, for right or wrong, due diligence to the taxpayers, which cannot be said of Mayor Mike Yenni and other Kenner public officials.

And in the interest of full disclosure, I am the first cousin of Nick Baroni -– the same Nick Baroni who served on the Kenner council for 19 years while the Baroni benefactor, Aaron Broussard, served as mayor of Kenner, La.

Titles of other columns and links to columns of interest regarding Jefferson Parish politics:

“Broussard’s Call for Good Government Regarding Parish Business with Hubbard, and not for the Baronis is Inconsistent” -- by David C. Bellinger

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2009/10/commentary-by-david-c-bellinger.html

“What Jefferson Parish Gives in Contracts, Parish President Aaron Broussard’s Appointee Tim Whitmer Receives!” –- by David C. Bellinger

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2009/11/more-flaming-liberal-commentary.html

"Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court Jon Gegenheimer -- 'Super' Hypocrite--... and Jefferson Parish is A Cauldron of Corruption and Cronyism and Aaron Broussard is a Bully!" -– by David C. Bellinger
{Note: Shortly after above column was published at righthandthief.blogspot.com, the FBI subpoenaed the payroll records from Jefferson Parish for Cherreen Gegenheimer -– wife of Jon Gegenheimer!}

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2010/01/jefferson-parish-clerk-of-court-jon.html

“A Nick Baroni Accolade for Aaron Broussard, or You Got to be Yanking My Chain!” -– by David C. Bellinger

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2010/04/yrht-is-proud-to-publish-another.html

“Connecting the Dots in Aaron Broussard’s ‘Sheikdom,’ also Known as Jefferson Parish” -– by David C. Bellinger

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2010/10/connecting-dots-in-aaron-broussards.html

“Mister Bubbles Carwash or Jefferson Parish ‘White’ Wash!” -– by David C. Bellinger

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2010/10/mister-bubbles-carwash-or-jefferson.html

David C. Bellinger can be reached at 404-762-8779

Cell number: 404-408-4561

E-mail address: davidc53@juno.com

Atlanta, GA

That's why they call him Lee Papa

2011-11-08T19:48:00.000-06:00

The Rude Pundit will be appearing at Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society's "Words and Music 2011"

Friday November 11

9:30 a. m. — Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom
LIFE & LITERATURE IN THE GLOBAL VILLAGE
The Impact of the Internet, Good & Bad, on Artists & The General Public

This session will feature Andrei Codrescu, noted poet, essayist, novelist, and NPR commentator, author of recent article on the danger of the internet in Publisher’s Weekly and the new novel, Whatever Gets You Through the Night: A Story of Sheherezade and the Arabian Entertainments. Andrei is outspoken in his criticism of the freeloading habits of internet sites.

... Lee Papa, a Louisiana native better known to bloggers and their audiences as the "Rude Pundit," who has tens of thousands of weekly readers on his mostly left-wing blog site, http://www.rudepundit.blogspot.com, and appears regularly on national radio. His book, The Rude Pundit's Almanack, is an OR Books Release.

Saturday November 12
12:45pm

LITERATURE & LUNCH:Punditry in the Global VillageLaughing is the best antidote to the depression created by the new messages of woe and horror greeting us on the tube and internet daily. And who better to provoke this healing than the pundits. The discussion will be introduced by Faulkner Society Tall Tales Champion Ken Wells, journalist, humorist, and author of the Meely Labauve series of novels, set in South Louisiana and the recent YA book, Rascal. Featured authors will include Roy Blount, Jr., renowned southern humorist, whose latest book, one of 23 non-fiction classics, is Alphabetter Juice; and Lee Papa, a Louisiana native better known to bloggers and their audiences as the "Rude Pundit," who has tens of thousands of weekly readers on his mostly left-wing blog site, and appears regularly on national radio. His new non-fiction book is The Rude Pundit's Almanack. Warning: Papa is explicit in his commentary on Republicans! Words & Music is balanced in its programming, however, and you can expect to hear from conservatives during the festival, too! For more on these laugh-out-loud funny authors and their work, You can visit Pap's blog at: http://www.rudepundit.blogspot.com/

LSU vs. Alabama

2011-11-04T18:28:00.002-05:00

Business Insider:

Tomorrow's monster game between LSU and Alabama could produce more betting action than any college football game ever, Wynn sportsbook head John Avello told ESPN's Chad Millman.

Well, you'd expect big action on a game like this, which is essentially a pick'em for the bookmakers.

The line right now is either Alabama -4.5 or -5.

Sorry, must've misread that. Let's try again.

The line right now is either Alabama -4.5 or -5.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? This LSU team is a 5 point dog? I don't care who or where they're playing. Unless they're facing a pro team, that line is totally insane. (Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know the line isn't a prediction, it's an attempt to even the books with a spread that looks compelling for bettors on both sides... still... five? FIVE?!?)

75% of bets are on LSU...

I'd imagine so.

... so we'll see if the line moves as even more everyday bettors place wagers tomorrow morning.

So 75% of the initial (presumably professional and "smart") money is already on LSU, and I can't think of any evidence that would dissuade the "everyday bettors" from piling on further.

It's going to be huge for Vegas.

It's likely going to be a huge bloodbath for Vegas, and a significant transfer of wealth to Louisianans. I don't care what happens on Saturday-- in a situation like this, I'd bet LSU +5 every time. That doesn't mean that if LSU and Bama played 100 times, Alabama wouldn't win a few by more than five, but I'm positive the substantial majority of contests would be either LSU victories or Alabama winning by 4 or less.

Man, what a weird line. In a big game like this, you figure Vegas is baiting the stupid money with that fat number, wanting them to pile on LSU (in effect a sucker play where the oddsmakers are happy to have uneven books). But... I really don't think so this time. And if they got the line "wrong," it would've already quickly jumped down from 5 to 3.5 or so. Now they're stuck with a bad line on their biggest college game ever. What can they do? Even if they drop it to 4 or 3.5, I don't see the casual bettor unloading on Bama. And if Vegas takes the line to 3 or under, which would probably lure some casual money on the home team, they run the very real risk of getting "middled." (Say the Tide wins by 4, bookies have to pay all the bets on LSU +5, and all the late money on Bama -3.)

Though I'm crazy about LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr, I'm not a Tigers fan. So consider the following prediction from this neutral observer:

LSU 30 - Alabama 21.

Katrina Zombies want to eat your brain!

2011-10-31T17:05:00.001-05:00

http://thelensnola.org/2011/10/31/levees-org-creation-and-warning/

Odell "Wreck'em" Beckham Sr. breaks down LSU - Alabama

2011-10-28T16:35:00.000-05:00

In this Fox 8 video, former LSU football player Odell Beckham Sr. discusses the upcoming mega-game between the LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide. His son, Beckham Jr., plays wide receiver for the number one rated Tigers, and is a true highlight-machine. (And will be for years to come.) Last year he was catching passes at Newman High. [Video removed because of its annoying autoplay function.]Odell Sr. is the world's biggest LSU fan, in case you were wondering. Tragically, though, he's also a fan of the Dallas Cowboys. I'm hopeful Odell's talented son will develop more sense than his old man.

Fed's Billion $$ Iraqi Money Trail Goes Cold

2011-10-27T15:54:00.003-05:00

Read it at CNBC:

It was one of the largest shipments of cash in history. And the inspector general says that if the money was stolen, that would represent the largest heist in history.

Drilling is not boring

2011-10-25T14:41:00.000-05:00

Anne Rolfes of the Louisiana Bucket Brigades wrote an opinion column for The Lens concerning oversight of the oil industry. Take a look.

Then there's, um, this Statoil music video celebrating oil exploration, which came to my attention this afternoon. It's titled "Black Gold Hunters" and must be seen to be believed, however I'm not recommending that you do so.

Sports news item!

2011-10-20T14:14:00.002-05:00

I will intersperse italicized quotes from this recent rivals.com article, with my in-the-moment reactions. Enjoy:

Auburn quarterback Clint Moseley would not want it any other way.

First off, excellent choice of surname.

When the sophomore makes the first start of his college career,

Let's interrupt right there and offer congratulations. First start, how exciting!

...it will come against the No. 1 team in the country.

Hoo boy, that's quite a challenge. I wonder who is ole numero uno these days?

The 5-2 Tigers travel to Baton Rouge, La. Saturday to face undefeated LSU.

Heaven protect this poor young man!

Moseley was named Auburn's new starting quarterback after going into the second half of the Florida game last week and completing 4-of-7 passes for 90 yards in a 17-6 win.

"It was all surreal at first," Moseley said of learning he was the new starting quarterback.

I predict the surreality will, um, persist through the weekend.

"It was an awesome moment for me."

Hope you enjoyed it.

Getting to start against the country's top-ranked team made the news more enjoyable for him."LSU is probably the best defense that I have ever faced...," said Moseley.

Umm-- "probably?"

"The No. 1 team in the country is a great way to start off. They are a great defense. No doubt about it. And I've heard stories about how loud (LSU's Tiger Stadium) is, but what bigger stage could I get to play on, to get to start on?"

You've...heard... stories... about how loud it is?

Moseley can't wait."I'm so lucky, so blessed," he said. "I feel good about how I've been preparing, but I have to take it to the next level."

Ah, the blind optimism of youth. Enjoy your Saturday afternoon, Clint Moseley.

Huzzah!

2011-10-17T09:10:00.001-05:00

My wife, Lovely, was named to the Sewerage and Water Board's "Hall of Fame," because she's such a frequent bathroom-user!

Life is great.

The Big Fix

2011-10-12T23:48:00.001-05:00

Information on Friday's screening of "The Big Fix" at American Zombie.

Flaming Liberal remembers Greg Louis duTriel

2011-10-10T11:32:00.000-05:00

From: David C. Bellinger – Remembering a dear friend - Greg Louis duTreil – who was a great source of info regarding the “filthy” Baroni ‘crime family’ and will miss dearly.

With much sadness I announce the passing of a dear friend - Greg Louis duTreil - who passed on such wonderful dirt on my first cousin (who we mutually disdained) – Nick “I defrauded the Navy when troops were sacrificing and ‘dying’ in overseas combat” Baroni.

Louis passed on such information to me like Aaron ‘baldy” Broussard’s best pal – Nick Baroni – turned down an offer from the feds which would have allowed his fellow partner in crime, and his “own” son, Keith Baroni – to serve “no” jail time in a federal poky after Keith Baroni copped to thirteen felonies for defrauding the Navy!!!!!!!

And the information Louis supplied to me regarding Nick ‘scum bag’ Baroni turning down the offer by the feds, which would have given his son a pass on jail time, was confirmed to me by two independent sources – a Republican state Senator and a former Kenner political office holder!!!!!!

Even an animal would have the instinct of decency to protect its young – but “not” ‘baldy” Broussard’s best pal – the ‘treasonous” piece of puke– Nick ‘who once handed me a pair of rosary beads in the presence of ‘baldy’ Broussard’ Baroni!!!!!

As well, Louis was the first to inform me that the treasonous ‘bastard’ Nick Baroni had the “F’n” living crap beaten out of him in federal prison – a “fact” a family member later confirmed as well as ‘baldy” Broussard’s secretary confirmed!

And Louis absolutely “loved” my wonderful and fantastic calls to talk radio bashing ‘baldy’ Broussard and the ‘filthy’ Baroni criminals!

And Louis and I were looking forward with much glee and fanfare to a grand celebration when the likely indictment of ‘baldy” Broussard would be announced, which I deeply regret that Louis did not live to witness.

Rest in peace my friend and as I write my eyes are filled with tears and will miss you dearly. And I belatedly dedicate the [column at the end of this post] to you, titled “Flaming Liberal will write letters” by David C. Bellinger.

Times Picayune Obituary

Greg duTreil
| Visit Guest Book

... Louis Gregory Nadau duTreil died on Sunday, October 2, 2011 from complications of liver failure after an 18 year battle with sarcoidosis. Greg was married to Katherine Reilly of Kankakee, IL for 33 years. His beloved wife was with him when he passed away at home. Greg was born February 1, 1947 in New Orleans and preceded in death by his parents Louis Paul III and Ethel Miller duTreil. He is survived by three brothers, one sister and numerous nieces and nephews. Greg was President of duTreil Pest Control Inc. from 1978 until Hurricane Katrina. He was an avid animal lover, but also received the first Nuisance Wildlife Trappers License in the State of Louisiana. He provided and placed insects, snakes and various other forms of unique wildlife in locally shot films, TV shows, and commercials. His wife wishes to express particular thanks to Guardian Angel Hospice and all of their kind caregivers. Greg was very comforted by their assistance in the final month of his life. It was Greg's express wish that if anyone wants to remember him that he would prefer a donation be made to the "Wounded Warrior Project" at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Following his cremation earlier this week a Private Memorial Service was held. To view and sign the online guest book, please visit www.muhleisen.com.

Gregory Nadau duTreil died on Sunday, October 2, 2011 from complications of liver failure after an 18 year battle with sarcoidosis. Greg was married to Katherine Reilly of Kankakee, IL for 33 years. His beloved wife was with him when he passed away at home. Greg was born February 1, 1947 in New Orleans and preceded in death by his parents Louis Paul III and Ethel Miller duTreil.

He is survived by three brothers, one sister and numerous nieces and nephews.

Greg was President of duTreil Pest Control Inc. from 1978 until Hurricane Katrina. He was an avid animal lover, but also received the first Nuisance Wildlife Trappers License in the State of Louisiana.

He provided and placed insects, snakes and various other forms of unique wildlife in locally shot films, TV shows, and commercials. His wife wishes to express particular thanks to Guardian Angel Hospice and all of their kind caregivers.

Greg was very comforted by their assistance in the final month of his life. It was Greg's express wish that if anyone wants to remember him that he would prefer a donation be made to the "Wounded Warrior Project" at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Following his cremation earlier this week a Private Memorial Service was held.

To view and sign the online guest book, please visit www.muhleisen.com.
http://obits.nola.com/obituaries/nola/obituary.aspx?n=greg-dutreil&pid=154005494
Published in The Times-Picayune from October 8 to October 9, 2011

Re-print of post Bellinger's post dedicated to duTriel:

“Flaming Liberal will write letters” by David C. Bellinger

Thursday, August 25, 2011

{E-mail I will mail or e-mail to “every” candidate running for Jefferson Parish public office in the Fall 2011 election)

(Name of candidate for Jefferson Parish public office), I hope that the below columns, with links, which I wrote, and were published at righthandthief.blogspot.com, as well as other info I have supplied, will be of use in your campaign to be elected to public office in Jefferson Parish.

As far as I know, "no" special independent audit of the Baroni invoices has ever been conducted by Jefferson Parish and such an audit was requested by, as well as myself, Drew Broach of the Times-Picayune (see Broach's column– Landing those Contracts the Baroni Way” - ( http://www.nola.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news-0/1203315644106280.xml&coll=1) - and I supplied the Baroni invoices to Drew Broach).

Furthermore, I have discussed with the FBI regarding what I feel, as the FBI has agreed with such, may have been a "criminal" violation (misappropriation of funds and a criminal conflict of interest - among other possible federal criminal violations similar to the scandal in Bell, Calif.) regarding the $340,000 given to the sons of Nick Baroni - the politically connected, and best friends of Aaron Broussard, for improvements made to private business property owned by the sons of Nick Baroni.

I would wish to suggest that as a campaign position you release a press release stating if elected that you would introduce a resolution before the Jefferson Parish Council to request the funds of $340,000 be returned – with interest - by the sons of Nick Baroni to the taxpayers of Jefferson Parish, and additionally request that the district attorney of Jefferson Parish open a criminal investigation as well, since – in my opinion – the $340,000 is as criminally tainted as Macbeth’s guilty hands were stained with blood.

Additionally, I would wish to suggest that you pledge, and challenge your opponents, to issue a press release questioning your opponent whether he or she would, if elected, request a special audit of the $1,300,000 Baroni invoices submitted to Jefferson Parish by the now "26" count confess federal felons (Nick and Keith Baroni – the very very close pals of the now disgraced, and target of a federal grand jury investigation for payroll fraud, former Jefferson Parish president -- Aaron Broussard.

And Broussard’s close friends, Nick and Keith Baroni, defrauded the U. S. Navy when troops were sacrificing and dying in overseas combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and, as well, I have supplied the Baroni invoices to the federal authorities!

I will also be most glad and happy to supply you, or any interested party – including law enforcement agencies, the $1,300,000 Baroni invoices submitted to Jefferson Parish which I have in my possession.

Telephone anytime at your convenience -- would wish to discuss other suggestions and ideas which I hope would help your campaign.

Titles of columns and links to columns:

“Broussard’s Call for Good Government Regarding Parish Business with Hubbard, and not for the Baronis is Inconsistent,” by David C. Bellinger

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2009/10/commentary-by-david-c-bellinger.html

“What Jefferson Parish Gives in Contracts, Parish President Aaron Broussard’s Appointee Tim Whitmer Receives!” –- by David C. Bellinger

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2009/11/more-flaming-liberal-commentary.html

“A Nick Baroni Accolade for Aaron Broussard, or You Got to be Yanking My Chain!”

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2010/04/yrht-is-proud-to-publish-another.html

“Connecting the Dots in Aaron Broussard’s ‘Sheikdom,’ also Known as Jefferson Parish”

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2010/10/connecting-dots-in-aaron-broussards.html

“Mister Bubbles Carwash or Jefferson Parish ‘White’ Wash!”

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2010/10/mister-bubbles-carwash-or-jefferson.html

David C. Bellinger

404-762-8779

Cell number: 404-408-4561

E-mail address: davidc53@juno.com

destruction by definition

2011-10-09T09:52:00.001-05:00

Nomeansno

2011-10-01T03:29:00.003-05:00

Surely one of the greatest bands ever, but I could be WRONG.

Political News Item!

2011-09-22T23:45:00.000-05:00

Capitol News Bureau via The Hayride:

Lieutenant governor candidate Billy Nungesser has backed out of two upcoming forums with incumbent Jay Dardenne, campaign and event representatives said Thursday.

Nungesser scrapped a Pachyderms of Greater Baton Rouge event set for Friday evening as well as one sponsored by the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday afternoon because of “scheduling conflicts,” campaign spokeswoman Amy Jones said.

“He is committed to attend an event for a charity foundation in New Orleans on Friday night and has a fundraising lunch on Monday,” Jones said.

---
Update: Wow that was late notice. Reaction from the Pachyderms and Press Club here.
---
Update #2 Nola.com brings us this quote from Billy, who aspires to be the face of tourism for our State:

Nungesser said he has been "to every Republican group around the state. I look forward to the debates. He (Dardenne) has nothing to run on but his record and it sucks."

Marcello wants workers who can pedal

2011-09-16T19:52:00.001-05:00

From the T-P article titled "Pedicabs start rolling on the streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans":

A new industry was born Thursday in New Orleans... [when] vehicles of the city's three new pedicab companies began traveling around the French Quarter and nearby neighborhoods, looking for customers.

The {Landrieu] administration favored a lottery [to pick the pedicab companies], arguing that it was impossible to find meaningful criteria by which to choose among applicants for a brand new industry, and it won the day. The lottery was held Aug. 12, with about 40 companies applying for the right to operate 15 pedicabs each. The three winners were Bike Taxi Unlimited, owned by Rob Lynch; Need a Ride LLC, owned by Evan Alford; and NOLA Pedicabs LLC, owned by Vincent Marcello.

Hey! Waddya know? Marcello had the lucky number. Good for him. And he gets to drive the mayor around (for what I assume is the first time).

Unfortunately, Mr. Marcello can't do it all alone:

Marcello said he expects to hire 50 to 60 drivers, who will staff two or 2 1/2 eight-hour shifts. He said he expects to have his vehicles on the streets almost around the clock. Besides being "strong and healthy," he said, his drivers need to be articulate and good "ambassadors for the city."

Couldn't agree more. We don't need a bunch of shady pedallers giving tourists the wrong idea about our fair town.

Super Subversive

2011-09-15T13:08:00.003-05:00

Link!

Home invasions

2011-09-10T12:12:00.001-05:00

Zombie has details on the latest.

Relax on a Styler mattress

2011-09-09T11:30:00.000-05:00

Thanks to orbis quintus.

Links to T-P commentary and letters related to the Garland Robinette story

2011-09-04T11:12:00.003-05:00

Although the news was published on a stormy Labor Day weekend and quickly moved off the nola.com "top stories" page, Paul Rioux's article on Garland Robinette's "loan" is still by far the recent comment leader on nola.com. New Orleanians are clearly interested in this (developing?) news story. So YRHT will endeavor to compile links and select quotes from all of the Editorials, Opinion pieces and Letters to the T-P Editor related to Rioux's original article, as The Times Picayune publishes them. (Update: Rioux has written two follow-up articles and nola.com published this online comment poll.)

To save time, let's make a pre-numbered list and fill it in as we go:

1. James Gill "Media Ethics are not negotiable," 9/7
2. Stephanie Grace "Garland Robinette violated the public trust" 9/8
3. Letter to the Editor "Garland Robinette should see ethical issue" 9/9
4. Letter to the Editor "Garland Robinette's credibility is gone" 9/11
5. Letter to the Editor "Robinette has violated his listeners' trust" 9/12
6. Letter to the Editor "Tuning out WWL radio" 9/15
7. Letter to the Editor "Robinette was just speaking his mind" 9/18
8.
9.
10.

I expected that the T-P would soft-pedal the story on its editorial page, and while I'm glad to be wrong, I will dine on some crow in my next Lens column which should be up soon. (Update: column link here.)

Commentary on Rising Tide 6

2011-08-28T23:00:00.003-05:00

Huck Upchuck: Busy Day

NOLAFemmes: Rising Tide VI

Cliff's Crib: Seven Years In Blogger Land And I'm Still Here

American Zombie: The ebb and flow

B2L2: We Have A Winnah

Rising Tide blog: Thank You

Library Chronicles: Standing

First Draft: Rising Tide Thank You Post

Noladishu: Liveblogging: Re-capping the Well

The Chicory: David Simon's "Standing" keynote at RT6

(Not an exhaustive list. Apologies to those I missed.)
===

Update:

Good Children: RT6

Humid Beings: Can you feel it? Rising Tide 6 in 10 movements

The Chicory: ~~Michelle Bachman with Drew Brees' Eyes~~

Circus Pastiche: Wordpress Tips for Photographers

Superdeformed's token RT6 post-- ya happy now!?

Michael Homan: A Redheaded Eskimo from Nebraska...

B. Rox: After the Tide

PT at Large: Rising Tide 6

Rising Tide 6

2011-08-27T08:45:00.001-05:00

Flaming Liberal will write letters

2011-08-25T14:39:00.005-05:00

{E-mail I will mail or e-mail to “every” candidate running for Jefferson Parish public office in the Fall 2011 election)

(Name of candidate for Jefferson Parish public office),

I hope that the below columns, with links, which I wrote, and were published at righthandthief.blogspot.com, as well as other info I have supplied, will be of use in your campaign to be elected to public office in Jefferson Parish.

As far as I know, "no" special independent audit of the Baroni invoices has ever been conducted by Jefferson Parish and such an audit was requested by, as well as myself, Drew Broach of the Times-Picayune (see Broach's column– Landing those Contracts the Baroni Way” - (http://www.nola.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news-0/1203315644106280.xml&coll=1) - and I supplied the Baroni invoices to Drew Broach).

Telephone anytime at your convenience -- would wish to discuss other suggestions and ideas which I hope would help your campaign.

Titles of columns and links to columns:

“Broussard’s Call for Good Government Regarding Parish Business with Hubbard, and not for the Baronis is Inconsistent,” by David C. Bellinger

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2009/10/commentary-by-david-c-bellinger.html

“What Jefferson Parish Gives in Contracts, Parish President Aaron Broussard’s Appointee Tim Whitmer Receives!” –- by David C. Bellinger

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2009/11/more-flaming-liberal-commentary.html

“A Nick Baroni Accolade for Aaron Broussard, or You Got to be Yanking My Chain!”

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2010/04/yrht-is-proud-to-publish-another.html

“Connecting the Dots in Aaron Broussard’s ‘Sheikdom,’ also Known as Jefferson Parish”

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2010/10/connecting-dots-in-aaron-broussards.html

“Mister Bubbles Carwash or Jefferson Parish ‘White’ Wash!”

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2010/10/mister-bubbles-carwash-or-jefferson.html

David C. Bellinger

404-762-8779

Cell number: 404-408-4561

E-mail address: davidc53@juno.com

You gotta admit...

2011-08-23T20:51:00.000-05:00

the Rising Tide schedule is pretty damn strong.

Friday cat blogging

2011-08-19T14:39:00.001-05:00

Rising Tide 6: No horsin' around

2011-08-16T17:03:00.000-05:00

Behold the poster.

Absorb the content.

Nominate a blog for the Ashley.

and

Register today!!

Filling in the story

2011-08-15T17:46:00.003-05:00

I knew this chestnut I picked up a couple years ago was worth saving.

Here's another, from Russ Baker's Family of Secrets (2009), p 132-133 :

Pat Holloway, former attorney to both Poppy Bush and Jack Crichton, recounted to [Baker] an incident involving LBJ that had greatly disturbed him. This was around one P.M. on November 22, 1963, just as Kennedy was being pronounced dead. Holloway was heading home from the office and was passing through the reception area. The switchboard operator excitedly noted that she was patching the vice president through from Parkland Hospital to Holloway's boss, firm senior partner Waddy Bullion, who was LBJ's personal tax lawyer. The operator invited Holloway to listen in. LBJ was talking "not about a conspiracy or about the tragedy," Holloway recalled. "I heard him say: 'Oh, I gotta get rid of my goddamn Halliburton stock.' Lyndon Johnson was talking about the consequences of his political problems with his Halliburton stock at a time when the president had been officially declared dead. And that pissed me off... It really made me furious."
...
In any case, while in Washington, Poppy had a warm relationship with Johnson notwithstanding Bush's persistent attacks on the Democratic Party, especially back in Texas.

One of the more peculiar relationships in an already bizarre enterprise resulted from Bush's choice of a surrogate to run Zapata Offshore's office in Medellin, Colombia. To begin with, there was the question of why a small, unprofitable company needed such far-flung outposts. Why, in particular, did it need one in Medellin, 150 miles from any offshore drilling locale-- a city whose very name would later become synonymous with the cocaine trade? Bush's choice to represent Zapata in Colombia was Judge Manuel B. Bravo, of Zapata County, Texas.

Judge Bravo's singular claim to fame was his role in Lyndon Johnson's fraud-ridden election to the U.S. Senate in 1948. As reports of an extraordinarily close race came in on election night, Bravo continually revised upward the Johnson count from Zapata County's Ballot Box 3, until LBJ was assured victory. A federal investigation led to a trial, but by that time the ballots from Box 13 in Jim Wells County had conveniently disappeared from the judge's office. The lack of evidence effectively ended Johnson's peril. Johnson won by eighty-seven votes.

In 1967, President Johnson sent Poppy a note wishing him a happy birthday. the following year, LBJ's decision not to seek reelection paved the way for Richard Nixon's ascent to the presidency-- and Nixon's steady sponsorship of Poppy Bush's own ascent to power. When Nixon was inaugurated in 1969, Bush took the unusual step of leaving the GOP festivities to see LBJ off at the airport. Soon thereafter, he was a guest at the LBJ ranch. There is no public record of what the two men talked about.

Family of Secrets, p184

Three future presidents of the United States [LBJ, Nixon, GHWB] were all present in [Dallas] on the day when their predecessor [JFK] was assassinated there. Within days, a fourth-- Gerald Ford-- would be asked by LBJ to join the Warren Commission investigating the event.

Early morning UK punk rock

2011-08-14T07:12:00.006-05:00

We'll present these tunes without comment on current events. YRHT readers are smart enough not to need disclaimers.

I used to blast these songs while driving my poor sister and our foreign exchange student, "Pepe," to high school. It was very punk rock of me to inculcate my tastes upon them via forceful repetition and totalitarian stereo control. And they didn't complain once, god bless them.

Anyway, I still think the last minute of The Guilt & the Glory is special.

The Day After is my favorite Conflict song, hands down. Concern over cruise nukes seems dated today, and perhaps also the slags on Gip, Thatcher, Labour and even Frankie Goes to Hollywood. ("Seems" I said.) But the culmination-- a tremendous bass line riff-- still tickles my nads.

I'll always appreciate my Worlds Apart cassette for impressing an older punk rock girl I idolized. And it is a great album. Back then I thought "Straightline Thinking" was the Subhumans' strongest track. Not so sure these days, but for the record...

So maybe it's not your cup of tea, but at least they don't affect phony American accents when they sing.

O no

2011-08-07T14:06:00.002-05:00

The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element in the larger centers has owned the Government ever since the days of Andrew Jackson.

-- Franklin D. Roosevelt to Colonel Edward house, November 21, 1933

They've got a set of Republican waiters on one side and a set of Democratic waiters on the other side, but no matter which set of waiters brings you the dish, the legislative grub is all prepared in the same Wall Street kitchen.

-— Huey Long, campaign speech for the re-election of Senator Hattie Caraway (D-AR), 1932

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me — and I welcome their hatred.

-- FDR, 1936 speech at Madison Square Garden

Instead of "welcoming the hatred" and flipping the table set with Street grub-- as many hoped-- Obama gulped down the wormy slop on our behalf. Now, he's "hated" anyway, while the nightmare kitchen bustles along.

Keep an eye on the Rising Tide blog...

2011-07-31T20:25:00.001-05:00

for frequent and interesting news updates on the upcoming conference. There's a ton of content this year so if you've yet to register, do so today!

Footnotes

2011-07-22T10:43:00.002-05:00

I'm reminded of the profundity of Plato's methodology any time I see a short "quote" from his dialogues casually bandied about the internets. Inevitably it's either useless, misleading, or just plain false.

This one arrived in my twitter feed today, retweeted by the dozens:

Life contains but two tragedies. One is not to get your heart's desire; the other is to get it. ~ Socrates http://bit.ly/philq

First, this is a George Bernard Shaw quote, not some self-contained chestnut from "Socrates" (who never wrote down a word for posterity to use and abuse). Second, even if Socrates did say this, it was during a conversation. Are you so sure that you can profitably excise such a statement from its dramatic context, with no loss in meaning?

Much better to always remember the last paragraph of the Symposium-- full of drama, not quite "clear"-- and recall that charged yet shrouded scene when interpreting any loose "quotes" from the Athenian gadfly.

Agathon arose in order that he might take his place on the couch by Socrates, when suddenly a band of revellers entered, and spoiled the order of the banquet. Some one who was going out having left the door open, they had found their way in, and made themselves at home; great confusion ensued, and every one was compelled to drink large quantities of wine. Aristodemus said that Eryximachus, Phaedrus, and others went away-he himself fell asleep, and as the nights were long took a good rest: he was awakened towards daybreak by a crowing of cocks, and when he awoke, the others were either asleep, or had gone away; there remained only Socrates, Aristophanes, and Agathon, who were drinking out of a large goblet which they passed round, and Socrates was discoursing to them. Aristodemus was only half awake, and he did not hear the beginning of the discourse; the chief thing which he remembered was Socrates compelling the other two to acknowledge that the genius of comedy was the same with that of tragedy, and that the true artist in tragedy was an artist in comedy also. To this they were constrained to assent, being drowsy, and not quite following the argument. And first of all Aristophanes dropped off, then, when the day was already dawning, Agathon. Socrates, having laid them to sleep, rose to depart; Aristodemus, as his manner was, following him. At the Lyceum he took a bath, and passed the day as usual. In the evening he retired to rest at his own home.

Thank God Plato's philosophical artwork is un-tweetable.

Very thankful to Gambit's Allman and Woodward for pursuing the Jim Brown/lifted text story

2011-07-19T13:57:00.001-05:00

Link!

Not sure why, but feeling like some horsecore

2011-06-30T13:47:00.000-05:00

"Hank" by Dead Horse

2011-06-28T22:03:00.000-05:00

Youtube commenter TheSWolfe writes: "Back in the day, I used to think he wanted a car and a gun, not a car and a girl. Regardless, it's worth being old now to have been teenage then. From one weirdo to another, S."

YRHT salutes the Denney brothers.

Pat Paulsen

2011-06-25T16:27:00.002-05:00

Quote of the weak

2011-06-24T15:36:00.001-05:00

"A joke is not a joke when it deals with the sacred goods of the nation."

-- Joseph Goebbels

Americans joke about Britney Spears, so that's one more thing you were wrong about, asshole.

Hedberg

2011-06-11T09:40:00.001-05:00

"I'm a heroine addict. I need to have sex with women who have saved someone's life."

2011-06-08T09:21:00.000-05:00

Flaming Lib reminds us of this previous commentary.

Follow the money

2011-05-30T23:26:00.000-05:00

Cenlamar looks into LFF.

Weekend reading

2011-05-28T01:15:00.004-05:00

Here's my latest Lens post about the "devastating" moratorium.

Link!

2011-05-21T11:45:00.001-05:00

T-P:

According to testimony from Kent Lambert, a corporate lawyer with the Baker Donelson firm, St. Pierre wrote an email on Sept. 1, 2004, in which he said, "Kent, One last point, I'm mostly concerned about the legality and my exposure more than anything else."

Lambert told jurors it wasn't until August 2006 that he asked a colleague in his firm's Memphis office, Martha Crenshaw, to look at possible criminal exposure. That's because on July 25 of that year, a local blogger had posted an anonymous report that St. Pierre's company, Imagine Software, had a no-bid contract with Meffert's office and had provided the yacht, named Silicon Bayou, for Meffert to use.

Lambert testified that St. Pierre came to him and expressed concern about the implications of the blog post. He also told him that Meffert was telling The Times-Picayune that the yacht was his.

The local blogger was Dambala, the Ashley Award-winning publisher of American Zombie. Chip in a few bucks at his paypal, if you'd like to support his ongoing work.

---

And be sure to read and Slabbed's notes on the Baker Donelson firm here.

Time is running short. You better get right.

2011-05-20T13:29:00.000-05:00

This should help:

Cleese

2011-05-13T21:05:00.000-05:00

You're still doing it wrong...

2011-05-12T11:30:00.000-05:00

Latest post at The Lens

http://thelensnola.org/2011/05/11/bp-oil-spill-gulf-airlines-auto-recall/

Zombie files reports from the St. Pierre gallery

2011-05-12T10:52:00.000-05:00

For me, must reading

http://theamericanzombie.blogspot.com/2011/05/best-show-in-town.html

Favorite quote: "My Jerry Springer moment suddenly turned to a Ferris Bueller..."

Oh lawdie... SO good. You gotta go read it for yourself. Can't wait for more installments. Almost makes me not regret that I missed the show.

April Showers bring May... floods?

2011-05-05T10:40:00.006-05:00

Newstar (5/3/11):

According to the National Weather Service , Mississippi River levels will reach an all-time high this month, but the Army Corps of Engineers officials said Lousiana’s levees should contain the rising waters.

We got a firm "should" from USACE. What more can anyone ask for? I think I'll toss out my pillow and rest my head on "should" for the rest of the month.

The forecast is for the river to crest at 57.5 feet on May 18 in Vicksburg. The 1927 crest was 56.2 feet. Flood stage is 43 feet.

...Sen. Neil Riser, R-Columbia, and Rep. Noble Ellington, R-Winnsboro, expressed their concerns for the rising water and the integrity of the levees.

“The river levels are going to exceed that of 1927,” Riser said. “The weak link is Vidalia, where the water will crest on May 18. If it breaks, that water is coming all the way to the Monroe airport.”

Ellington reiterated Riser’s concerns. “What you don’t know is that the water would be 4 feet deep at the Monroe airport if something happened,” he said. “The infrastructure that we have in place today would be in jeopardy. The only thing we can do about this situation is to say a few prayers.”

Newstar (5/05/11):

Flood control officials said Wednesday they're having more trouble keeping people from panicking than they are from the rising waters of the Mississippi River.

Hmm. I wonder why?
===

Update: John Barry's WSJ op-ed is like all his other work-- a must read. Don't miss this little packet of butterscotch buried in the piece:

Blowing the levee is not some wild idea drawn up on a napkin; it is one small piece of a carefully thought-out and engineered plan to control the immense forces of the Mississippi.

What a subtle but wonderful little dig at the Laffer acolytes in the WSJ editorial department! They, quite literally, believe in a "wild idea drawn up on a napkin."

---
Gov. Jindal requests a pre-emptive Presidential disaster declaration. If granted, that won't please Gov. Perry in Tejas.
===
My latest Lens post is up.

OBL Lens post

2011-05-02T19:18:00.001-05:00

Plenty of masturblogging in my recent Lens post celebrating the liquidation of terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden. There's a ton of self-links back to YRHT, and I'll even shamelessly add a few more that I forgot.

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2005/01/concession-regret-something.html
http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2007/03/they-will-follow-us-home.html
http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2008/06/just-so-were-perfectly-clear.html

One little anecdote. A reporter I know had the, um, displeasure of dining with bin Laden about 20 years ago. A middle eastern sheik was hosting a dinner, and all the various guests were having a fine evening. OBL is quiet the whole time, then suddenly pipes up and spouts off some extremely rigid fundamentalist Islamist garbage. There's an awkward silence, most of the Arabs roll their eyes at the bad form, and then OBL shuts up and the evening continues in good spirits.

Quote of the weak

2011-04-26T01:54:00.000-05:00

“What I do best is China, jobs, OPEC, all of this, that’s what I do best, that’s going to be my strength … [But] recently I did a Tea Party event and we had a tremendous crowd. They love this issue. There are so many people that really want [President Obama] to provide his birth certificate. Now you have states going out and saying, ‘In order to run for office, you have to be able to provide a birth certificate.’ There’s a big lot of things going on with respect to the birth certificate.”

-- Comedian Donald Trump

Kovacs

2011-04-24T17:12:00.001-05:00

To what extent has latest birther hysteria been "Trumped Up"?

2011-04-21T10:10:00.000-05:00

http://thelensnola.org/2011/04/20/birthers-obama-creationists-jindal/

This goes out to Tim

2011-03-30T22:21:00.002-05:00

Quote of the weak

2011-03-17T20:51:00.000-05:00

Limbaugh edition.

La pols fiddle with facts while Japan's reactors burn

2011-03-16T16:03:00.000-05:00

http://thelensnola.org/2011/03/16/oil-vitter-landry-japan/

Have ideas for Rising Tide?

2011-03-12T09:02:00.002-06:00

http://risingtideblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/organizational-planning-meeting.html

Noonan!

2011-03-12T08:44:00.002-06:00

http://nomoremister.blogspot.com/2011/03/peggy-noonan-meet-peggy-noonan-peggy.html

New Lens post up

2011-03-09T19:11:00.002-06:00

http://thelensnola.org/2011/03/09/when-the-good-times-roll-must-cameras-roll-too/

Title of article is priceless

2011-02-26T20:33:00.002-06:00

http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/blog/2011/02/24/oil-firms-leery-about-proposal-to-self-monitor/

$16 billion question

2011-02-24T17:04:00.003-06:00

http://thelensnola.org/2011/02/24/bp-oil-spill-coastal-erosion/

Quotes of the weak

2011-02-24T17:01:00.000-06:00

NYT:

In a rambling discourse, [Colonel Muammar Qaddafi] blamed the uprising on the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, saying he had drugged the people, giving them “hallucinogenic pills in their coffee with milk, like Nescafe.”

I would've given anything to be in the Nescafe boardroom when the top execs learned their product got a plug from Qaddafi that included mention of hallucinogens and Osama bin Laden.

How many of these guys are out there?

2011-02-20T23:28:00.000-06:00

http://skydancingblog.com/2011/02/20/us-claims-national-security-to-cover-up-embarrassing-deal-with-con-man/

Curveball

2011-02-15T15:03:00.000-06:00

"Curveball"-- the mentally unstable source for much of the Bush administration's claims about WMD's in Iraq-- admits he lied:

The defector who convinced the White House that Iraq had a secret biological weapons programme has admitted for the first time that he lied about his story, then watched in shock as it was used to justify the war.

Rafid Ahmed Alwan al-Janabi, codenamed Curveball by German and American intelligence officials who dealt with his claims, has told the Guardian that he fabricated tales of mobile bioweapons trucks and clandestine factories in an attempt to bring down the Saddam Hussein regime, from which he had fled in 1995.

"Maybe I was right, maybe I was not right," he said. "They gave me this chance. I had the chance to fabricate something to topple the regime. I and my sons are proud of that and we are proud that we were the reason to give Iraq the margin of democracy."

The admission comes just after the eighth anniversary of Colin Powell's speech to the United Nations in which the then-US secretary of state relied heavily on lies that Janabi had told the German secret service, the BND. It also follows the release of former defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld's memoirs, in which he admitted Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction programme.

The careers of both men were seriously damaged by their use of Janabi's claims, which he now says could have been – and were – discredited well before Powell's landmark speech to the UN on 5 February 2003.

Discredited well before 2003. That's important to note because we still get hacks parroting the conservative shibboleth that "every intelligence agency in the world thought Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction when we went in there."

Janabi claimed he was first exposed as a liar as early as mid-2000, when the [German Secret Service] travelled to a Gulf city, believed to be Dubai, to speak with his former boss at the Military Industries Commission in Iraq, Dr Bassil Latif.

The Guardian has learned separately that British intelligence officials were at that meeting, investigating a claim made by Janabi that Latif's son, who was studying in Britain, was procuring weapons for Saddam.

That claim was proven false, and Latif strongly denied Janabi's claim of mobile bioweapons trucks and another allegation that 12 people had died during an accident at a secret bioweapons facility in south-east Baghdad.

The German officials returned to confront him with Latif's version. "He says, 'There are no trucks,' and I say, 'OK, when [Latif says] there no trucks then [there are none],'" Janabi recalled.

The source for the bioweapons trucks admitted there were none in mid-2000. Three years later, the United States Secretary of State presented the information from these retracted claims (from a mentally unstable man whom the CIA had never met) as "facts" that helped justify the case for war:

Ladies and gentlemen, these are not assertions. These are facts, corroborated by many sources, some of them sources of the intelligence services of other countries.

For its part, senior intelligence officers told CIA Director George Tenet about their doubts, but he dismissed them, as did the Bush administration. According to the commission that investigated the intelligence failures leading to the Iraq war

Up until the days before U.S. troops entered Iraqi territory that March, the [U.S.] intelligence community was inundated with evidence that undermined virtually all charges it had made against Iraq...

Curveball says he lied because it was the only way to bring freedom to Iraq. "There were no other possibilities," he says.

Well, that's hard to say. Seeing Eqyptians peacefully overthrow a dictator and refuse to have his son replace him gives us food for thought. Is it so unthinkable that Saddam Husssein could've been "kept in his box" over the past seven years, perhaps (in the view of some realpolitickers) as a helpful counterweight to Iran? In this alternate universe, would we now be cheering a homegrown twitter-lution in Iraq, as an elderly, rich dictator loses his grip on power? Perhaps we'd also be out of Afghanistan by now.

First we were told Iraq had WMD's. Then we were told Iraq was flypaper that would attract all the bad guys-- better over there than over here. Then we were told Iraq would transform the Middle East. Now some ideological "dead enders" are still peddling the "well, we might've erred, but everyone else believed the same crap we did" justification, even as a vast majority of their fellow-travelers believe the war was a "horrible mistake".

So is it fair to ask, as young people protest throughout the region-- frustrated but hopeful, and connected in new ways by social media-- What has done more to positively transform the Middle East: Facebook, or the Neo-Con's War in Iraq?

Glassman

2011-02-12T17:22:00.006-06:00

In his latest "Intelligent Investor" column, Jason Zweig writes:

Is James K. Glassman right this time?

Don't bet on it.

The co-author of "Dow 36,000"— which was published near the peak of the Internet bubble in 1999 and called for stocks to triple in as little as five years— is rolling out a book warning investors to protect themselves against another round of financial disasters.

That's bloody timely. Hey kids, it's three years since the Great Recession started, and if you listened to me (and former McCain economic advisor Kevin Hassett) you already lost your shirt, but I'm here to tell you now: "Watch out for that market, it can get kinda tricky!"

In his new book, "Safety Net," Mr. Glassman writes the three words that are hardest for any investor or financial pundit to utter: "I was wrong." He deserves some credit for that admission.

No, he doesn't deserve any credit. Two years ago, when the results of his errors were even clearer than they are today, Glassman had no regrets and made no apologies. Admitting he was wrong was probably the only way he could get published again. The dude makes Harry Dent look like Nostradamus.

Recall that in '96, Glassman predicted stocks would fall if Clinton were re-elected. One of the biggest stock market booms in history followed. Three years later, at the top of the peak, he changed course and advised everyone to jump in the market or else they'd miss one of the greatest bull runs in history. Stocks immediately began a decade-long swoon. Now, after maintaining his essential correctness throughout the Great Recession, he's ready to tell us to play it safe. Surely that's a good indicator for Wall Street fortunes.

Glassman's the worst-- perfectly wrong at every turn. Even the introduction to his new book hangs on a false quote. There is no more suitable caretaker for George W. Bush's historical legacy.

More on Glassman here and here.

75

2011-02-11T21:13:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday, Burt Reynolds. One of these days Ratboy and I will get around to that film celebration we keep talking about.

Dear Prudence

2011-02-02T13:59:00.000-06:00

Would it be moral to take f*ckmooks like this one, freeze'em in carbonite, and line them end to end to fortify our city’s floodwalls?

2011-01-31T21:14:00.001-06:00

As a high school senior I listened to an ornery UK punk band-- but I repeat myself-- who screamed songs about why “meat means murder.” Their animal rights arguments weren’t very persuasive, but their music did inspire me to read more about vegetarianism. When I graduated and went off to college in Texas, I decided to not eat red meat. It wasn’t the easiest lifestyle experiment, but I justified it on ecological and health grounds.

After a few years I decided to rejoin the carnivores, even if I didn’t love their fallback position-- Humans have been endowed by their creator with canine teeth and dominion over protein-rich beasts, thus they are designed to cultivate and consume meat. As long as we clean our dinner plates, meat eating is no sin... (Actually, for a more in-depth debate, this post by an ex-vegan and the comments below them is pretty fascinating.)

In terms of meat, I'm definitely going back to a "less is more" phase. Go read my latest post at The Lens.

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You didn't ask me what my favorite Conflict song is. It's (still) "The Day Before."

2011-01-31T20:45:00.001-06:00

From WSJ columnist Dan Neil's 1/15/11 "Rumble Seat" column:

The North American International Auto Show [in Detroit earlier this month]... provides a teachable moment. It turns out, lazy and overfed car companies can lose weight and come out fighting (hello, General Motors). Conversely, a stable of the smartest executives on the planet is no guarantee your company won't stumble into a clearly marked minefield (VW, I'm looking at you).

Other takeaways: It was naive of naysayers to judge an emergent technology such as electric mobility by its previous limitations. They will dine on crows in the coming years. And it's perfectly permissible for national governments to save giant employers in a moment of crisis, because flesh and blood is more important than ideological purity. Just don't make it a habit.
...

The Detroit bailout was the right thing to do: Grit your teeth if you must. Two years later, GM is profitable, right-sized, globally competitive and an engine of automotive change—as evidenced by the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle, named the North American Car of the Year. The government's stake in "Government Motors" is down to 25%. When GM's stock reaches the low $50s range, analysts expect the Treasury will likely sell the remaining stake and actually make money on the deal. That's about as good an outcome as could reasonably be hoped.

As for the government-financed Chrysler-Fiat merger, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says he expects to pay back the U.S. Treasury this year (not least because of the punishing interest on those notes). The company's U.S.-market offerings have been renovated, including a successful reboot of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Chrysler lives to fight another day.

Weird name for a school

2011-01-31T20:29:00.003-06:00

Item!

Florida police are trying to figure out how a 5-year-old boy came into possession of a loaded handgun that he dropped inside a pre-kindergarten class.

A female pre-kindergarten teacher at Moseley Elementary School in Palatka was giving a music lesson Tuesday morning when she noticed the small, .22-caliber handgun fall out of the boy's pocket, Assistant Police Chief James Griffith said. The firearm did not go off, and no one was hurt.

Memory lane

2011-01-29T20:23:00.002-06:00

Read slabbed.

Derrick Shepherd needs to pull up his federally issued "big boy" britches

2011-01-26T09:19:00.001-06:00

http://thelensnola.org/2011/01/25/derrick-shepherd-motio/

New post on an old topic at a new web Site

2011-01-20T14:13:00.002-06:00

Check it.

10

2011-01-07T17:29:00.006-06:00

The experts' Super Bowl predictions say the Saints have a one in ten chance to win it all, and they're favored to beat Seattle by around ten points.

So ten's our lucky number, right?

Ehh, I'm not so sure.

Putting that number in perspective, last year's (better) Saints were 7 point home playoff favorites against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals were tired and had to play in the Superdome against a rested team coming off two weeks preparation, and who were hungry to win after losing 3 straight games (for different reasons). True, the Seahawks are horrible-- horrible!-- but they might not play horribly in this particular game, in the elements, against a tremendously diminished Saints squad.

I don't know about this. Popular opinion expects the Saints to roll over Seattle, and hopefully they will. But, honestly, which team do you think is more likely to surpass expectations? Which team will be more motivated to "go all out" and which team will feel less pressure in a close game? And won't the inclement weather more adversely affect the pass-happy, run-depleted Saints? Tomorrow's forecast calls for rain, snow and freezing temps.

Despite the Seahawks' horribleness, it won't take many slips, fumbles, drops, bad calls, wrong bounces, or un-special teams play by the Saints to make this a very interesting, gut-wrenching game. The Saints beat only 4 opponents by more than ten points all season. (Last year they beat eight teams by more than ten.) Given the weather, venue and situation, what must you assume in order to think that it's likely the Saints will beat the Seahawks by ten tomorrow (for the second time in the same season)? Honestly, I'd like to know. Are you really expecting Reggie Bush to break out and run for 125 yards and 3 scores? Do you think Brees will throw for 350 yards through snow flurries?

I'll be shocked if the Saints run away with this thing, and wouldn't be surprised at all if everything is in doubt at the final 2 minute warning. Hopefully Seattle will help the Saints by blundering during crunch time. But right now, Saints minus ten seems like a very big, very ugly number.

Prediction: Saints 17, Seahawks 14

---
Just as a theoretical experiment, look at it this way: the Saints dominated Seattle earlier this season, winning by 15. Let's charitably assume each team plays as well as they did in that game. But we subtract seven points from the score difference for the reversal of home field advantage (Dome -4, Qwest -3). Then we subtract another two net points because of numerous key Saints injuries. All of a sudden we're at a line of Saints minus six, and that's before factoring in the weather. Freezing rain, snow flurries... what net benefit do you give the Seahawks for those conditions? At least two points, surely, and now we're at Saints -4. Like I said, not a lot has to go wrong for a four point lead to vanish.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-23T08:53:00.001-06:00

Well, I can't beat this. One's again, Greg is the undisputed champion of hostiliday hurt. So, here's a couple Christmas new wave/rock songs that are good:

Lens celebrates 1 year anniversary

2010-12-22T09:02:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to my esteemed associates at The Lens for a successful first year, and thanks to our readers for their tips and support. Exciting things are in store for The Lens in 2011, so stay tuned for more excellent reporting on New Orleans community news and the occasionally decent opinion piece.

RIP, Betts

2010-12-20T12:34:00.002-06:00

http://www.moronosphere.com/rayinneworleans/2010/12/betts.php

From Harlem to Bimini, this song sucks yuletide log

2010-12-19T16:12:00.001-06:00

Sometimes the perfect hostiliday song lies under your red nose. All along, I'd assumed the worst songs were in the darkest corners of the internet, whether they be czechozlavakian parodies or snowboarding grannies. Yet, every year around this time my wife Lovely (happy b-day, btw) afflicts me with the most gorshawful X-mas song, and every year I feel part of my soul die. Some of you might like this-- looking at you Big Event-- but clearly, y'all have had too much egg nog enhanced with wacky nutmeg. Presenting Billy Squier's "Christmas is the time to say I love you":

YRHT approves this message

2010-12-11T18:52:00.000-06:00

Reverend Dennis McCarty's 11/14/10 sermon to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus, Indiana. It's titled "Why I return to New Orleans."

http://postcards.typepad.com/white_telephone/2010/11/why-i-return-to-new-orleans.html

Why so hostile?

2010-12-10T16:39:00.000-06:00

12 Days of Christmas -- granny snowboarder hip hop edition.

Link here (embedding was disabled, perhaps out of a concern for lawsuits).

They laughed at my junk

2010-11-22T20:15:00.001-06:00

I had just passed through the Gate B checkpoint at Louis Armstrong International Airport when security told me to stop and wait. Their scanner had detected an abnormality. Oh brother, I thought. So I glanced over at the agent monitoring my image and saw her leaning forward in her chair, squinting hard at the monitor. It was if she was trying to decipher some very small print in an odd font. She began rotating and enlarging my image, inspecting it from all sides. Why do I merit such full-spectrum scrutiny, I wondered, and is this the uncomfortable prelude to a probing “pat down” session?

The security agent called her associate over for a second opinion. They conferred, squinting at the screen together. Then they conferred some more. Finally they settled on an interpretation of my image, and they began to snicker and snort. They laughed out loud, and made an announcement: “We got Wonshiv! Wonshiv!! Ha ha ha, Wonshiv!”

My worry turned into humiliation. After all, airports are cold places full of nervous people. No one’s really at their best. Why must they laugh so hard-- can’t they save the mockery for the break room? And what the hell is “Wonshiv,” anyway-- some slang term or inside joke?

Laughing, the security ladies waved their boss over. He just had to see this one. I faintly hoped he would lambaste this cackling duo and tell them to show some bleepin’ professionalism. Instead, he studied the monitor. After a long moment he looked my way, sizing me up. Then he muttered something to the crew and they re-erupted in laughter. “Wonshiv! Wonshiv! AH HA HA HA! Wonshiv! ”

I stood there and tried to affect a smile, but my face wouldn’t cooperate. It was all silly putty in different directions. I felt painfully naked and considered fleeing down the hallway. The passengers behind me were intrigued, and wanted in on the joke. I was clearly the unfortunate punchline... but why, precisely? Is my “junk” so laughably strange? Did I set some sort of ignominious record, formerly held by Mr. Wonshiv?

This embarrassment really occurred, but it took place in 2004, long before the current controversy over body scanners and pat-downs. In short, asymmetry was the issue. I’d placed a mismatched pair of shoes on the x-ray machine conveyor belt. One of them contained a metal insert which the other one lacked. Thus the scanner detected only “one shiv,” and the security crew realized my shoes were mismatched. They found the disparity highly amusing. (Alternate version here. Read my Lens column tomorrow for more.)

2010-11-21T13:04:00.000-06:00

Somewhat silly NYT article on the increase in surprise onside kicks in the NFL after the Saints did it in the Super Bowl. (There's 4 more than usual so far this year-- wow!) The NYJ special team coach says the Saints were lucky to recover the kick, which they were. But that's mainly because Roby completely whiffed the most crucial block in the whole play-- a block you HAVE to make so that your other teamates can field the ball without pressure. So, yes, it was a "lucky" result, given the execution. Morstead's kick, of course, was near-perfect, but the blocking and fielding were less so. It wasn't a bad play call, though. That kick would've succeeded most of the time in that situation, assuming that block is made most of the time.

2010-11-16T08:54:00.000-06:00

CBS Marketwatch:
General Motors Co. on Tuesday increased the proposed price of its upcoming initial public offering to a range of $32 a share to $33 a share, from its earlier range of $26 a share to $29 a share. The price change indicates healthy interest in IPO. ... At the midpoint of the new price range, GM will raise $13.6 billion, which would make it the second-richest common stock IPO in U.S. history behind the $18 billion Visa IPO in 2008.

"Progressive Democrat" Walker Hines switches parties

2010-11-12T16:46:00.001-06:00

http://thelensnola.org/2010/11/12/walker-hines-switch/

For informed comment on a hideously dumb political move, consult the experts

2010-11-09T10:13:00.001-06:00

Gambit:

The rationale [for the Family research Council's ad buy against Rep. Joseph Cao] perplexed even fellow Republicans, including Sarah Roy, president of the Greater New Orleans Republicans, who said in a statement, "Tony Perkins and his organization's de facto endorsement of Cedric Richmond is one of the strangest political gambits in a state known for bizarre politics."

So sayeth the Nagin-endorsers.

2010-11-08T23:57:00.000-06:00

WWL is getting a head start on the 50th year anniversary of Ruby Bridges' first day of class at William Frantz Elementary. Previous YRHT posts on Ruby Bridges below:

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2005/05/i-thought-it-was-mardis-gras.html

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com/2007/02/another-lifeless-citizen-from-this.html

Right Wing goes coconuts

2010-11-06T11:48:00.003-05:00

They'll believe anything about Obama if it fits into their narrative.

So let's do an experiment: I heard that Obama's visit to India will cost $2 trillion dollars, and he'll dine on chilled monkey brains.

Run with it, freaks!

2010-11-06T11:17:00.001-05:00

WWL:

JEFFERSON, La. – Jefferson Parish President John Young has accepted the resignation of the head of the film commission, Cherreen Gegenheimer, on the heels of an Eyewitness News 4 Investigates report earlier this week. According to a parish spokesperson, Young accepted the resignation of Cherreen Gegenheimer Friday afternoon just after 4:30 p.m., along with two apparently unrelated resignations.

Gegenheimer was originally hired by former Parish President Aaron Broussard, and in 2004 became the head of the parish’s film commission.

This week she and her husband, Jon Gegenheimer, the Jefferson Parish clerk of court, were the subject of two 4 Investigates reports looking into trips to France, Utah and California for the film commission.

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Excerpt from Flaming Liberal post at YRHT from 1/13/10:

What Mr. Gegenheimer ever so “conveniently” omitted from his diatribe on the Gerry Vallincourt program while spewing his wife’s qualifications-- who holds the title of Chief Administrative Assistant, one level below the top appointed office of chief administrative officer -- was that Jon Gegenheimer and his wife, Cherreen, have heavily donated and contributed financially to their political “Godfather” –- the “disgraced” Aaron Broussard! And for an example, check out “Correction: Gegenheimer’s Loan To Broussard Was Personal”

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Read the whole post here.

What a shellacking that was!

2010-11-06T10:50:00.003-05:00

The other night, as the numbers trickled in, I wasn’t sure how it would go. But later on it became clear that one side had surged far ahead, and the other side wouldn’t catch up. Web sites and news tickers updated the changing totals; twitter was swollen with cheers and jeers; true believers congregated in “victory” parties, waving their signs and flags. Then, finally, the decisive turnover occurred and the balance of power officially shifted. Afterwards, the media interviewed the winners and losers, analysts sifted through the statistics, and pundits speculated on how the results would impact future contests.

So, congratulations once again to the New Orleans Saints for beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-10 last Sunday night.

… Well, what did you think I was referring to?

Alright, alright. I suppose my description of the Saints win could also apply to the Republican electoral landslide on Tuesday, which was even more dominating and lopsided than the football game. Apparently the same party who doubted the reality of the Great Recession while we were in it has just the right tonic to cure the recessionary "hangover” in 2010.

Hair of the dog, indeed.

Believe it or not, I spotted a liberal political/cultural trend lurking beneath the "conservative" electoral wave that swept the country on Tuesday.

No, I'm not being willfully delusional! You have to dig down, way down, to find it, but it's there. And this progressive trend will reach an important statistical milestone in the coming year, and will continue throughout the rest of our lives. Further, a small but deceptively important confirmation of this trend will occur one day soon at, of all things, a major sporting event-- perhaps in New Orleans.

What the blazes am I talking about?

Read my opinion column at The Lens on Monday to find out.