Those poor Creationists

By Cernig

Those poor Creationists. Someone up there keeps playing practical jokes on them and their young-Earth theories.

Early humans may have roamed Europe as much as 1.2 million years ago, far earlier than previously thought, scientists said on Wednesday, based on fossils they found in northern Spain.

Researchers excavated a jaw bone, teeth and simple tools in a cave near the city of Burgos dated around 400,000 years older than the previously oldest-known remains found at a nearby site 14 years ago, a paper published in the journal Nature said.

The remains are accurately dated and lay to rest doubts about when early humans first lived in Europe, said Andreu Olle, who has worked at the Atapuerca site since 1990.

"These are the oldest human remains in Europe. With this fossil, we can say it (Europe) was populated earlier than was thought," he told Reuters.

The bones are similar to fossils thought to be 800,000 years old found at the same site in 1994, suggesting a continuous human presence in Western Europe.

Maybe God just likes laughing at them as much as the rest of us.

Air Force Mistakenly Sent Nuke Triggers To Taiwan

By Cernig

Back in 2006 the Air Force mistakenly shipped "four electrical fuses for nose cone assemblies for ICBMs" intended for Minuteman missiles to Taiwan thinking they were helicopter batteries. They had originally been mis-labelled in 2005 during a transfer between two USAF bases, then sent on to Taiwan the following year. The items have now been returned to the U.S. but the breach of nuclear security and threat to non-proliferation was deemed serious enough that SecDef Gate's number two - Ryan Henry - described it as "intolerable" and said Bush had been personally briefed. The Pentagon are stressing that no nuclear materials were involved rather than that top-secret technology was sent to another nation and that the U.S. still wouldn't have known if the Taiwanese hadn't sent the damn things back!

"Pale Rider" and Blue Girl" at the Blue Girl, Red State blog have done a great job tracking down this story and have all the details. Blue Girl writes:

Without saying anything that I shouldn't - my husband spent his career working on electronics systems of ICBMs, so please believe me when I tell you this...it isn't about the nuclear material, and stressing that fissibles were not compromised, move along, nothing to see here...is a headfake.

These fuses are not what civilians think of when they hear the word "fuse." They are top-secret components in the electrical systems of ICBMs. The warhead is the easy part of a missile system. The hard part is the delivery vehicle - you don't deliver a nuclear payload by oxcart, you know. Compromising the electronics is possibly providing the final piece of information to a rogue state like North Korea that is openly developing missile technology to allow them to finally have a weapon that will reach the west coast. This is a big god-damned deal, and careers need to end over it.

So which careers are ending? None, so far, although the Pentagon are investigating. Congress might be too, after Blue Girl spoke to Senator Levin's staff on the Armed Services committee and got them to understand the seriousness of this security breach - especially after revelations a few months back about the Air Force blithely flying nuclear weapons around the country without knowing it. The SASC staffer said "I can assure you something will come of this."

Cheney On 4,000 Dead - Bush "Carries Biggest Burden"

By Cernig

Dick Cheney, what a wanker.

I want to start with the milestone today of 4,000 dead in Iraq. Americans. And just what effect do you think it has on the country?" asked ABC News' White House correspondent, Martha Raddatz...

"It obviously brings home I think for a lot of people the cost that's involved in the global war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan," Cheney said in the interview, conducted in Turkey. "It places a special burden obviously on the families, and we recognize, I think — it's a reminder of the extent to which we are blessed with families who've sacrificed as they have."

"The president carries the biggest burden, obviously," Cheney said. "He's the one who has to make the decision to commit young Americans, but we are fortunate to have a group of men and women, the all-volunteer force, who voluntarily put on the uniform and go in harm's way for the rest of us."

Hat tip to Noah Shachtman at Danger Room, who who is just as outraged that Cheney thinks Dubya's burden is greater than those of the families of 4,000 dead. Noah also has a link to ABC's video and no, the above isn't taken out of context.

What a great way to show you support the troops and their families, Dick. Tell them that they volunteered so if their families should suffer..."so?"

Hey, Dubya volunteered too. He didn't have to run for Decider and he didn't have to invade Iraq - he chose to do both. Nor has he ever been anywhere near harms way as a consequence of those decisions. Excuse me while I don't join in your warmonger's group hug, Dick.

Hey, can someone in the press ask John McCain if he thinks the President carries the biggest burden on this one? Pretty please?

McSame-onomics: Like Bush, Only Crazier

By Cernig

McCain's tax plan would almost double the tax giveaway to the richest one per cent of society compared with simply extending Bush's tax policies.

Kevin Drum has the details.

I can just see the McCain "Straight Talk" campaign ad: "Because giving all those bankers and hedge-funders so much has worked out so well for common Americans already."

Gottle Of Geer

By Cernig

Via Jill from Brilliant at Breakfast (and I've stolen her graphic too), I see John McCain still has Joe Lieberman's hand up his ass and wood in his head.

When McCain made a foreign policy gaffe in Jordan on Tuesday, it was Sen. Joe Lieberman who quietly pointed out the mistake, giving McCain an opportunity to correct himself in front of the international press corps. In Israel yesterday, NBC’s Lauren Appelbaum reports, Lieberman once again intervened when McCain made an incorrect reference about the Jewish holiday Purim -- by calling the holiday "their version of Halloween here."

...Purim is not the equivalent of an Israeli Halloween, Appelbaum notes. The holiday -- although a joyous one -- commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from mass execution. When Sen. Lieberman had a chance to speak at the press conference, he placed the blame of the mistake on himself. "I had a brief exchange with one of the mothers whose children was in there in a costume for Purim," Lieberman, who is Jewish and celebrates the holiday, said. "And it's my fault that I said to Senator McCain that this is the Israeli version of Halloween. It is in the sense because the kids dress up and it's a very happy holiday and actually it is in the sense that the sweets are very important of both holidays."

Jill notes:

It doesn't matter if Lieberman is trying to be a good little Sancho Panza here for McCain's Don Quixote, not when McCain seems to NEED Lieberman to do his thinking for him.

That was Tuesday. By Thursday, McCain was in London pressing flesh with socialists and anti-war conservatives. Oh, and promising to hold India and China to a global warming deal. I presume that means he intends holding the U.S. to one too. Are the rightwingers simply looking the other way in unison or is it that they're ignorant of McCain's plan? Or maybe they just know that McCain will say or do anything to try to look less like Bush (while abroad) and more like he has a functioning braincell (at any time), but they shouldn't take it seriously.

Another "Victory" Parade

By Cernig

There's a piece in the NYT today which has the pro-occupation Right yelling "victory" all over again. It recounts some anecdotal tales that indicate a groundswell of younger Iraqis turning their backs on the violent excesses and corruption of fundementalist religion. Over at Commentary, they're leading the victory parade, calling it:

the realization of the most ambitious goal of the Iraq War: the de-radicalization of Muslim citizens. This is, in its way, more important than political reconciliation and even more important than hunting down al Qaeda. This is the long war stuff, the hearts-and-minds stuff.

The goal was to offer freedom as an alternative to extremism; the criticism was that it was a dream; the reality is that it is happening.

And the rest march in lockstep from that lead.

But of course, Commentary isn't saying who the criticism that extremism had a stranglehold on the Middle East came from. It came from that same Islamaphobic yapping conservative pack who are now claiming this as the real mission. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds.

Lefties always knew that religious fundamentalism, given free reign, will alienate the young. We've always known what moderate conservatives also know - that fundamentalism is the enemy of liberty no matter which religious flavor it comes in. Sullivan makes the point well.

Fundamentalism is, of course, based on a ridiculous lie: that God's will in every particular is ever fully knowable by humans. And when fused with politics, its intolerance and fanaticism always expose themselves. That's why the younger generation of Persians is so hostile to Islamism as well. It's why we will win the long war if we do not destroy ourselves in the process and do not unwittingly empower the fundies by our over-reaction.

One huge caveat, of course. Religious fervort comes in waves; anyone who doubts its power in the Arab Muslim world is misreading the place. But the extremes, given enough rope, often hang themselves. Look at Jordan. Now, if only we could persuade the Republicans about this fundamentalism thing ...

What secularists and moderates on both Left and Right have always said was that even so, if it was replaced by extremist nationalism or a zealous tribal ethic then the violence wouldn't stop. And it hasn't - and the newly-secular youth of Iraq are being dragged into that violence in increasing numbers. Here's the bit from the NYT article the occupation cheerleaders are managing to ignore:

The number of Iraqi juveniles in American detention was up more than sevenfold in November from April last year, and Iraq’s main prison for youth, situated in Baghdad, has triple the prewar population.

But while younger people were taking a more active role in the violence, their motivation was less likely than that of the adults to be religion-driven. Of the 900 juvenile detainees in American custody in November, fewer than 10 percent claimed to be fighting a holy war, according to the American military. About one-third of adults said they were.

A worker in the American detention system said that by her estimate, only about a third of the adult detainee population, which is overwhelmingly Sunni, prayed.

“As a group, they are not religious,” said Maj. Gen. Douglas Stone, the head of detainee operations for the American military. “When we ask if they are doing it for jihad, the answer is no.”

In many cases, they're doing it for money - because the disaster that is Iraq post-occupation doesn't led them make ends meet any other way. What a heckuvva job! What a victory!

Why I tend to stay out of comment threads

by shamanic

This is absolutely despicable.

Better HURRY UP and DIE, Tony Snow, your CANCER has metastasized into your PEA-BRAIN and is making you say such RIDICULOUS PRATTLE!!!!!
Comment by raymundohpl

Just wanted to mention it. I hate seeing stuff like this on the Internet, especially from my own side. I'd really rather see us all joyously mocking the incredibly stupid ideas of the other side, rather than shouting shameful and personal attacks at individuals. We can't demand a better discourse until we begin one.

Wow, 256 letters at Salon? Dude, go outside. Get yourself laid. Something. That rage isn't good for you.

Oh, now Rove cares about the party!

by shamanic

According to Ambinder, Karl Rove has warned state GOP leaders not to attempt to stigmatize Barack Obama by using his middle name as a slur.

Presumably Rove has a bunch of other strategies for smearing Obama, but it is interesting that Rove apparently told his audience that hammering the middle name might perpetuate the odd idea, incomprehensibly held by so many otherwise rational Americans, that Republicans tend toward the bigoted side. Strange, that one.

Anyway, as a symbol of the power of Rove in today's diminished Republican Party, the Tennessee GOP pretty much immediately ignored his advice. Interestingly, Rove was right. When a small public firestorm of distaste erupted, the piece was edited. I would still warn Republicans to take Rovian advice with great caution -- much of the weakness of the current party is due directly to his strategies and worldview. Yeah, he's right that you're going to come out of this election looking like a band of schizophrenic terror junkies who just ain't comfortable with, you know, anything different, but I suggest moving away from Rovian politics entirely. Ideological purity ain't all it's cracked up to be, guys, especially when the job is to govern a gigantic, powerful, and diverse nation.

Snark is good for you

by shamanic

More like this please. The only plausible reaction to absurdity is ridicule, so let's all agree to do our utmost to make a complete mockery of the stupid in this election.

I've never heard Obama specifically condemn, denounce, reject, or annoy any of the following: Joseph Stalin, cheating at cards, reading someone else's e-mail, Canadian winters (middle and Atlantic side; it's not too bad out west), old style incandescent bulbs, riding bicycles without a helmet, or poorly maintained home furnaces.

Really, how has the public been so thoroughly hoodwinked by this charlatan?

So The U.S. Has An ASAT Weapon

By Cernig

So, the U.S. has an anti-satellite weapon. It's a modification of the well-tried SM3 naval missile rather than one of the fancier and far more expensive per unit specially-developed anti-missile interceptors the military are keeping up in Alaska and plan to install in Europe. It might work under all weather conditions - but the military erred on the side of caution.

The neocons are jubilant - Michael Goldfarb calling it the "greatest PR boost the program could have gotten short of actually striking down a North Korean missile inbound to Hollywood". That's a bit hyperbolic - but then again he also headlines his piece "Missile Defense Works" when hitting a satellite the size of a bus in a predictable orbit doesn't actually say a damn thing about ability to hit a dodging, far smaller re-entry vehicle which might have onboard jammers or decoys deployed.

The rest of us? Well, there isn't a single expert in the field who believes the "hydrazine threat" story. The consensus is that the Bush administration just rattled a sabre the U.S. already proved it had the capability for back in 1985 to no good outcome other than heightened international arms control tensions, at a time when the neocon lobby is calling for a walkback by the U.S. on various arms treaties to allow missile defense systems which will include the permanent stationing of weapons in space. The shootdown was a short-sighted act of marginal utility but incalculable diplomatic/foreign policy effects. Welcome to the new arms race with both China and Russia - and India, Japan, Israel...

Worse, if the neocons are successful in riding this PR victory into a Brilliant Pebbles deployment, the next time an SM3 is launched into orbit it may be targeted at a rogue satellite containing a half-dozen interceptor missiles of its own (or even a nuke-pumped X-Ray laser if one of the more nightamrish plans from Ronnie's old Star Wars comix makes a re-appearance). Wouldn't that make a nice firework video for the nightime news?

Chris Matthews an embarrassment to puerile pundits - Updated

By Libby

I'm surprised this truncated video isn't getting more buzz today among the right wing. Maybe I'm not the only one who saw it live. The abbreviated footage doesn't really do justice to Matthew's vapidity. When they publish the illustrated dictionary of pompous punditry, Chris Matthews' mugshot will be right there next to vacuous.

This was election night coverage, not his insipid show and mere courtesy would dictate that the anchor allow the guest to speak. Matthews was nauseatingly pleased with himself for hitting below the belt with a cheap shot, gotcha question. His petulant insistence that Watson had to answer his question said more about Tweety's massive ego than Obama's accomplishments.

So the guy wasn't prepared with a list. Who would be? Customarily this sort of post-victory interview is an opportunity for the winning team to talk up their guy. And who hasn't suffered a moment of blankout like that when confronted with an unexpected and entirely inappropriate question? I understand Obama supporters were able to flood the comment sections at YouTube with the answer as soon as it was posted.

For those who didn't catch it live, when the 'interview' was over, the camera cut back to the studio where his Twittiness was anchoring with Keith Olbermann. When KO asked him to name one accomplishment of any Senator, Tweety couldn't answer that either. Wouldn't you think such a wise and learned pundit would have that information right at his fingertips? He mumbled something about well, that's why they call it Hardball.

As KO politely pointed out, this wasn't a Hardball segment. It was supposed to be election night coverage. Apparently, for Matthews, the venue has no relevance because everything is about him. Disgraceful.

Update: Ah, you can always depend on Crooks and Liars to deliver. Via Zifnab at John Cole's place, KO's takedown of Tweety. And working my way down the comment section, via Jeff Eaton, I see Hilzoy has a darn long list of what Obama has done.

Update two: Mr. Watson explains.

In the meantime, let’s not lose focus on what’s important in this election. It’s not my stunning televised defeat in “Stump the Chump.” Thankfully, it has nothing at all to do with me.

What’s important is the direction our country is headed. What’s important are the priorities, methods, and, yes, accomplishments of those seeking the highest office in the country.

Good to remember.

Deval Patrick & Barack Obama Plagiarize James Madison

by shamanic

I think it's a huge stretch to call this plagiarism. But then again, I've written similar blog posts citing the same lines here at Newshoggers making the same point without being aware of either of these speeches. And I didn't hear Deval Patrick credit James Madison or FDR or King, so it appears that the governor of Massachusetts, in October 2006, plagiarized some of the leading lights of American history by using their words without credit.

Later, Barack Obama used some of the same lines, also without credit, in February 2008, apparently making him a plagiarist of Madison, FDR, and the governor of Massachusetts. Shameful, shameful.

Actually an ex of mine recently told me that things I said were "just words". It's been a few weeks, but I doubt that will lessen the sting significantly now that I finally have a good comeback: "How dare you plagiarize Deval Patrick!" Dude, it took a while, but I'm totally gonna win that fight.