Much Worse Than We Thought

Okay, we're about a week into the Obama administration and so far it seems he has his hands full just trying to undo the various crisis' Shrub and company left. This is far from news - a welcome change of pace, but far from news. However, a few days back we learned something that definitely should shock the hell out of people regardless of their belief systems. It now appears that the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program may have targeted journalists as a group.

Former NSA Whilstleblower Russel Tice said on Countdown with Keith Olbermann that he was told they were paying attention to journalists just to take them out of the loop but it was going on all the time. He also mentioned that they possibly had the correspondence of all of us. Watch part one of the two part interview and hear things for yourself.

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Does anyone else find this awfully scary as fuck? Yeah, I admit I'm getting old but I remember being a kid in school and being taught that this was the sort of thing those "evil Soviets" did and that a free country like the U.S. would never do. Of course, as we all know, the schools do tend to lie to us in the best of situations. However, even someone as skeptical of the system as me didn't think it was this bad. If we're to be the beacon of democracy then adopting the worst aspects of the former Soviet empire isn't the path we should be taking if we're to move forward.

Granted there are a lot of questions. Did the Bush era NSA use this to go after those who questioned the wisdom of Shrub, Dick the Dick, Turdblossom and friends? Was this used to create a database? For political purposes? These are the questions that need to be asked if we ever need to know what the fuck is going on here. I knew Dubya couldn't be trusted, but this shit is ridiculous even for him.


We're at a crossroads here. Thus we have to do what we can legally to make sure this sort of shit isn't allowed to continue. The story is still unfolding, but I guarantee this will get scary before it gets better.

Get Yer Weekend Pumpin'

Wow! What a week. Between Obama's inauguration (as well as the various responses to Rick Warren giving the opening prayer at it), the adjustment to life without Shrub and company, and people getting ready to mark the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, it's been quite busy for many people. Now it's the weekend and I think it's safe to say people want to let loose for a couple days.

Now I'm not a dance-y kind of person (while my taste can be all over, my heart's in the hard loud fast stuff). However, when I saw this clip on a recent Colbert Report I knew its kickin' beat would get all of us psyched for the weekend.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Stephen's Remix Challenge

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

That actually got me into the groove, so the speak. Anyway, I wish everyone a kickass weekend and hope things are going good. As for me I have to get over this cold.

Blog for Choice Post/Pro Choice Hopes

So we're officially a couple of days into the Obama administration and may see the government move into a direction more amenable to reproductive freedom. The question of what my hopes are for Obama or the Congress are in terms of reproductive freedom and justice issues has come up as something to discuss. In my case the challenge has been trying to determine which one to put up here as well as wondering if I have anything to add that hasn’t already been said on other blogs regarding this. Having to narrow down from the way too many things that many participating in this feel need to change after all these years of reproductive freedom and reproductive justice being under attack does tend to be a challenge of sorts. From getting rid of the Global Gag Rule to maybe simply ensuring access to abortion and birth control to more people (i.e.: maybe overturning the Hyde Amendment), it was hard to pin it down. However, I think I finally found one factor in this issue that I’d definitely like to see the Obama administration as well as Congress tackle ASAP.

The big hope I'd like to see is the passage of the Freedom of Choice Act (H.R. 1964/S. 1173) into law, thus guaranteeing women in the U.S. the fundamental right to determine what to do with their bodies in case of a pregnancy, including the right to get an abortion. Given the defeat anti-choice ballots in several states faced during the last election, this shouldn’t really be an issue. However, with reproductive freedom and justice (from abortion access to birth control) a highly hot button issue means that this bill is and/or will be contested. President Obama has said he'd sign it if it passes Congress, but I have a strange feeling that quite a few Republicans will try to filibuster this bill any chance they get just to prove their anti choice credibility (I’ll leave the decision of whether to call these people “anti choice” or “pro forced pregnancy” up to you).

In a sane and just world, this wouldn’t be an issue. This would be considered a personal decision between a woman and her doctor and left at that. Unfortunately, the anti choice/pro forced pregnancy contingent have made it clear that they intend to make the rest of us abide by their worldview by any means necessary rather than simply live their own lives according to their convictions. Thus, the issue of choice, reproductive freedom, and reproductive justice becomes politicized and what should be a personal decision places the lives of women and those that care about them at risk for threats and possible physical harm at times.

Will this bill become law? I really hope it does. However, Congress may have its hands full on this one trying to get it passed before making it to Obama’s desk for his signature. Thus, its up to us to put the pressure on and make sure the people elected to supposedly watch out for us know we want this to make it through.

What Should Be Next for Dubya

Yes, the end is here. AS I type this George W. Bush and his family have packed up and are all but ready to leave 1600 Pennsylvania Ave (i.e.: the White House) on their way to life as private citizens and 10 years of Secret Service protection (ironically, lifetime protection was ended by Congress in 1999 (a Republican congress, at that) with the last President to get such protection being Bill Clinton). Which leads us to the question of what should happen to the Bush administration post script.

Obama is facing pressure to press charges in regards to torture and war crimes. Bush is off to a house in an exclusive neighborhood in Dallas, TX. So what should the new administration do. I have my ideas on this, but when I came across this special comment from Keith Olbermann, I realized it says it better than I could.

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It's quite a lot to take in, I admit. However, I hope it places things into the proper context. I know right now most people want to be hopeful and focus on the possible good ahead after the eight year long national nightmare. However, this issue has to be addressed. Here's hoping (with our help and encouragement, of course) that the Obama adminstration does the right thing - or at least works with the UN to do it if all else fails.

MLK Day

Just wanted to mention that today was Dr. Martin Luther King Day. I hope you take this day and what Dr. King meant to heart. I think it's important to note that while we have gotten a hell of a lot closer to bringing Dr. King's dream of equality to reality, we still have a long way to go.

It's still fucking tragic that racism still exists in the 21st century. Some people may use Obama's election as proof that we're in a post racial society, but we still have a long way to go before we eliminate a learned behavior that's been institutionalized in our culture to the point that many people may not be aware of how deep it goes.

So where do we go now? We're at a historical moment with Obama's inaguration tomorrow and the end of the Bush 43 era. However, it's important to keep in mind that bringing about a better and saner world required more than just voting in an election. It's a lifelong effort that mandates all of us to further our awareness and go beyond what we've merely been taught, whether its on race, politics, etc.

That's it for now. I hope you've had a good MLK Day.

Dubya's Last Day

Well, the day has finally arrived. George W. Bush's last day of President of the United States. It's a day many feel couldn't come soon enough. In fact when he gave his last TV address last Thursday, I was among those worried that he might decide to stay and pull some sort of coup (see dictator remarks in previous post for why). Outside of him pimping the horrific tragedy of 9/11, there wasn't much to see.

It's somewhat ironic that his last day falls on Martin Luther King Day. Both are controversial figures for completely different reasons. However while Dr. King caused controversy for trying to move this nation and humanity somewhat forward, Dubya managed to try to push humanity back to a simpler, more willfully ignorant, scarier time.

So how do we say bye to G.W. Bush? I don't know. I'm just glad this long national nightmare is over. The next four years may bring their own set of problems, screw ups, and things that have to be challenged. However, I don't think things can get much worse than what we've been through.

The Goodbye Dubya

In a few hours, President George W. Bush will give his final address to the nation before leaving office Tuesday (when Barack Obama actually becomes President and can drop the elect part of the title). Given the recent round of interviews (which for someone who claims not to care what others think seems like he's overcompensating) it'll probably be the usual round of self congratulation that's shown him to be an even more smug, self satisfied prick than he was eight years ago. I know it's the supposed death knells for the Bush II era but I'm still worried.

What if Dubya decides not to leave office and thinks a coup would be a good idea? I really hope this is just part of those paranoid nightmares everyone has once in a while but we forget about his 2000 statement on if it were a dictatorship.

Feel free to watch if you don't believe it.


The media played this as a joke. However, it did seem to answer a lot of questions about how he governed over the past eight years (hell, he made Nixon at his worst seem passable in comparison). However, how do we know he won't pull this shit?

I really really REALLY HOPE I'M WRONG about this. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope these really are the last four or so days of the George W. Bush presidency.

The Godbiscuit knows we can't afford to continue this.

Trouble Everywhere

Hey! I know things seem to be busy with an inauguration next week and everything. However it is important to be aware of the problems elsewhere that may or may not effect us.

I've been meaning to comment on the recent invasion of Gaza. However, given the complexity of the situation I prefer to do it right. In the meantime I linked to a blog detailing human rights in Gaza and Israel while this goes down (see it to your right in the links/sites we like section.

Then there's Dubya's farewell tour, so to speak. I have to agree with Jon Stewart on the irony of someone who claims not to care about people's opinion but is doing interviews like he has a new album about to drop.

As for me I have to finish the new print issue and get that ready so I've been busy and more than a little worried. That's it for now. Feel free to argue amongst yerselves.

R.I.P. Ron Asheton

We have just learned that Ron Asheton, founding member and guitarist for legendary band The Stooges was found dead in his Ann Arbor, MI home. He Was 60. Our condolences to his family, friends, fans, and fellow band members.