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The Claremont Institute, for those not familliar with it, is a wingnut welfare shop for (among others) "scholars" Paul Miringoff, John Hinderaker and Scott Johnson, "Publius Fellow" Ben Shapiro and "Lincoln Fellow" Josh Trevino (in honor of which I'm linking to The Marble Douchebag, one of my favorite blog posts evah.)
Who knew there was a support group for adult virgins and those picked last in fifth grade dodge ball. Of course they revere Donald Rumsfeld.
The 2004 award went to Pills Limbaugh.
I'll leave the last word to Crooked Timber commenter Mike:
Asteroid. Big fucking asteroid. Now, please.
(via Jeff Weintraub )
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ZeD☼
Hi Jane!
lolo!
Hi Jane!
OOPs I did it again…it think.
Zed?
And, for the love of all that is good in the world…Rummy. I need a drink!
I was wondering what happened to Rummy. Why hasn’t anyone bothered handing him a subpoena with his award?
Does Rummy have balls of steel or what? How could he even think of accepting an award. He has no shame!
I wonder if there are any lineal descendants of Sir Winston who would like to attend and weigh in….
lolo @ 7
If George Tenet ain’t giving back the Medal of Honor…
Wolfie is doing a much better job promoting Bushie style statesmanship these days, Rumsfeld is so yesterday.
“Pills Limbaugh” - excellent nickname!
lolo @ 6
Does Rummy have balls of steel or what? How could he even think of accepting an award. He has no shame!
Well he hasn’t gotten a Medal of Freedom yet, so in the meantime I guess he’s just graciously settling.
Move the award ceremony to Germany so they can pluck this turd out of the punchbowl and give him a waterboard-award.
Statesmanship Award - oh the stink!
Jane Hamsher @ 8
Some day I hope these ratbastards will be stopped. Rummy still has an office and is being used as an advisor. It just makes me sick.
OT (I seem to be way OT today)
I was listening to 08 Budget hearings on CSPAN radio. Reviewing the VA’s budget. Who is the VA head that would be fielding questions from the subcommittee? I wanted to scream. Base/clinic closings he blamed on “you guys” (read Congress), but he fails to mention that it was the 109th, maybe the 108th, not the 110th. He was such a smarta**. The VA’s 07 budget was $9 mil less than the 06 budget, and the 08 budget is cut even more. The freshman congressman (didn’t catch his name) asked him how could that be in a time of “war”? He gave some convoluted end-run response that I didn’t catch. He was so evasive and condescending. And, why in the world would they be asking for less money when there would be so many Iraq vets coming back and needing services in 08? Again, he wouldn’t tell the truth that the VA budget was cut to increase the DOD budget. He said everything but that. Arrggggh!
EMPY1000 @ 12
The lawsuit against Rummy was dropped. : (
Someone please reassure me that the Claremont Institute is not affiliated with Claremont College in the east bay?
I’d hate to have to be the guy introducing Rummy - how in the world is he gonna come up with an example of Rumsfeldian “statesmanship”?
“ohmygod surely there must be something…somewhere… oh shit!!!”
Donald Rumsfeld assisted Gerald Ford as the youngest Secretary of Defense; was my Congressman in Illinois and one who answered all correspendence; and one who answered the call like Winston Churchill of warning the Nation about the danger which faced the USA when few were listening. He deserves the honour.
jayt @ 18
Rummy will submit his own intro, complete with some zinger Rumsfeldian-speak!
Hi Jane! Looks like you’re in a good mood today! How’s the house hunting going?
The Claremont institute was founded in 1979 by four students of Harry V. Jaffa, a professor emeritus at Claremont McKenna College and the Claremont Graduate University, although the Institute has no affiliation with any of the Claremont colleges. The Claremont Colleges are in Claremont, CA, 40 miles east of Los Angeles.
it’s a fair bet that everyone’s favorite pantysniffer Kenneth Starr runs with this crowd - he’s dean of the law school at somewhat nearby Pepperdine University (Malibu).
16 lolo says: the lawsuit against Rummy was dropped. : (
Sorry. Wishfull thinking.
newspaperbrat @ 17
I’m guessing it’s linked to the Claremont Lounge in Atlanta.
Can anyone point out for me one individual currently working in the Bush administration not devoid of shame, or for that matter a sliver of decency?
jayt @ 8
Winston Churchill’s grandson is expected to attend. As will Fellows William Bennett and William A Rusher.
EMPY1000 @ 22
16 lolo says: the lawsuit against Rummy was dropped. : (
Sorry. Wishfull thinking.
Thye’re still trying. The prosecutor from Germany is looking to see if he can pursue the action in Spain.
Jane,
Are you and the Poodles ready for the TREX!!??
Newport Beach, Orange County, is not exactly a bastion of radical progressive liberals.
Would this qualify as a Wingnut Circle Jerk?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 25
I’m thinking, I’m thinking… Bwhahaha!!! Maybe we could ask Liberty Lee or Yolo!!!
rumsfeld is *exactly* the true iconic rep of bushco; he deserves that award
This is some hideous joke, right? Right? Is this supposed to keep him out of the war crimes trials in 2009?
I love you, Jane! Hanks for the linkee =)
Hi Jane!
All I can say is that when I attended Claremont-McKenna (then it was Claremont Men’s, not co-ed as it is today) from 69-71, he would not have been so welcome. It has always been a conservative place, but not so much when a lot of students were getting low numbers in the draft lottery.
LibertyLee @ 19
GACK…
pardon me…got a chicken bone caught there for a second.
Have another cup of Koolaid, Liberty. You can still type…
Nate @ 31
Without a doubt!
AZ Matt @ 29
Trex is planning on interviewing Kobe about his Nobel Prize nomination, and perhaps doing a photo shoot with Lucy.
Katie is laundering sheets for his bed as we speak.
Yep- Rummy deserves this award- or Rummy and the award deserve one another- or this is EXACTLY the right award for Rummy to win—and right on the heels of the fatrushman!!!
LibertyLee @ 19
LL:
Are you still represented by the IL delegation?
Whatever you do
DummyRummy, I wouldn’t travel to Spain anytime soon. New trouble for Rumsfeld in Spain.npb - I’m not aware of a Claremont College or Institute in the East Bay. There’s the labor-unfriendly Claremont Resort and Spa, however.
kdh22 @ 15
I believe VA secretary is Jim Nicholson, former RNC head. I.E, another “loyal bushie.”
I’m sure Rummy and Churchill would enoy discussing their awards and respective careers:
Rummy: “I just got fired- did you ever get fired huh?”
Winston: “Who the fuck ARE you- are you a midget?”
Gerald Ford: another non-elected president.
dakine01 @ 45
Oh, well, that makes perfect sense. Thanks.
groups such as this and other “Institutes of Politics” really need to be exposed. So many sincecures for so many underqualified people.
Nate @ 31
And Pills Limpbaugh is the point-man!
jayt @ 28
Thye’re still trying. The prosecutor from Germany is looking to see if he can pursue the action in Spain.
After an appeal in Germany.
newspaperbrat @ 17
From wike:
“The institute was founded in 1979 by four students of Harry V. Jaffa, a professor emeritus at Claremont McKenna College and the Claremont Graduate University, although the Institute has no affiliation with any of the Claremont colleges.”
Isn’t Rummy still installed at the Pentagon as a “contractor?”
Digby made a pretty strong case that he’s running Bush/Cheney’s secret war in the ME. It would explain why Bush refused to fire him in the first instance, and why he’s back even with a new SecDef installed: They literally can’t get rid of him, because the nature and details of the secret war need to be kept “in the family.”
I know, it’s tinfoil hat sounding stuff, but Cheney/Rumsfeld make it hard not to speculate.
There’s a rule that whenever a wingnut gets fired by another wingnut- a third wingnut is obligated to give him an award. It’s just one of their odd rules.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 26
No. There are none.
Another edition of simple answers for simple questons. :})
LL, let’s not forget about Deadeye Dick being Ford’s Chief of Staff, ot, I’m a twenty year veteran (USA & ARNG), and I greatly enjoy the rhetoric here at the Lake!!!
Some call me a radical, left wing liberal. But… I don’t take pills.
Stuff like this makes me embarrassed to admit that I live in OC.
Oh, and a question for the congregation: has anyone ever seen Liberty Lee and Bart DePalma in the same place at the same time?
Rummy fired fer losing a war- that’s a pretty serious thing for a secretary of defense- but he did it. Now they’re layin the whole blame on him- fer abandoning Baghdad and turning it over to the Iraqis- which was the STATERGY at the time. Course Clusterfuck lost the war too- but we can’t fire him.
rwcole @ 46
I’m not sure this exchange makes any sense, but I just can’t stop laughing at the mental image. Thanks, rwcole.
707
LibertyLee @ 19
Do not feed the troll. Are you Bernard Lewis with this clash of civilization shit? You’ve been had hook line and sinker.
What reality did you inhabit during the shame of Watergate? I am interested in your perspective to the extent that you have made yourself a pain in the a!@ at this site while we try to have a coherent discussion. sorry for the rant!(NOT)(s and g)
punaise @ 43
Thanks for that tip punaise. I have to stay at the Claremont next week. Now I won’t feel guilty for stealing all the robe and shampoos from my room.
What ever happened to Gary Rupert? I miss HIM. I always pictured him wearing Easter Bunny Ears. Don’t know why.
burnspbesq @ 58
The cons have been cloning for many years. As evidence, I offer you the 30-something neocon class of defects that are inhabiting the DOJ.
rwcole @ 58
Impeachment, what a lovely concept!!! But, it would have to be a twofer!!!
The removal of Bud Cummins precedes any other attorney purge.
The GOP candidate for the same(Arkansas’ First) disctrict is currently under investigation by the FBI.
This according to a senior state Democrat. Jason Willett, former state Dem.party chair, former staffer for Marion Berry, disclosed the fact Stubby Stumbaugh is under FBI inquiry. Stumbaugh the challenger to Rep.Marion Berry(D-AR) is a former cop with a history of disciplinary setbacks.
Look at 1:55 of the following link.
Unconventional Wisdom (Win)
Subscribe to http://www.aetn.org/podcast/unconventional.rss
Cummins’ ouster did more than accelerate Rove’s apparatachik into position. It helped to quell possible investigations and follow-up in the state for other issues. Cummins served as example to other districts, including a Little Rock decision that removed a former Arkansas Secretary of State for kickback from a Diebold subsidiary(Sequoia). The software was sold from Dallas, TX. Thus it probably linked directly to people from the DeLay ranks, and the ability to intimidate a top gun attorney served as reminder along back channels.
“Arkansas Secretary of State pleads guilty to taking bribes in computer voting equipment case
Top
2002 The Baton Rouge Advocate
Reproduced under the Fair Use exception of 17 USC 107 for noncommercial, nonprofit, and educational use.
February 5, 2002 — Arkansas Secretary of State Bill McCuen pleaded guilty to felony charges that he took bribes, evaded taxes and accepted kickbacks. Part of the case involved Business Records Corp. [now merged into Election Systems & Software ] , a Dallas company that sold Arkansas computerized systems for recording corporate and voter registration records.
Arkansas officials said the scheme involved…then-BRC employee Tom Eschberger…Eschberger got immunity from prosecution for his cooperation. Today, he’s a top executive of ES&S.”
It’s my belief the Cummins move was an attempt to discourage others from due process and review of scandals as Republicans are losing ground all over the State.
The above example from 2002 precedes the Cummins outing, but backchannel talks undertaken at such a time had their desired net effect.
The Washington Times was Rove’s main mouthpiece in getting ahead of the voter fraud meme. He used that to justify the continued vote suppression. Cummins was the first example, a prosecutor in the south. It was an attempt to hold the base which is crumbling under the weight of reality with revealed graft and corruption.
“Thye’re still trying. The prosecutor from Germany is looking to see if he can pursue the action in Spain.”
Wow. Maybe I wasn’t so OT downstairs after all with the Hoyt Axton thing. Rummy sings, “Well I’ve never been to Spain.”
Oops, sorry! I thought I wsas at Sadly, No. Gary’s their troll, or used to be. LibertyLee, you ought to check S,N out.
James Robinson @ 53
Oh it’s not all that tin-foily: “Judge whether hit SH @ same time…not just UBL.“ PNAC’s wetdream!
” “Pills Limbaugh” - excellent nickname! “
-Big Pharma
-OxyMoron
-Talent on Loan from Pfizer
Louisiana’s latest racist Secretary of State, a Republican:
http://www.dailykingfish.com/s.....diaryId=74
Rummy “I was the secretary of defense for the United States of America- led it’s armed forces into invasions of both Afghanistan and Iraq…”
Winston: “I see that the US finally fell apart- who did it? Was it a republican”
rwcole @ 72
You’re killin’ me! Bwahahahaha!
Liberty: 1. The condition of being free from control by others. 2. The right or power to believe and act in the way one thinks is right.
Jim Clausen @ 59
One reality from then: both Nixon and Agnew resigned. It’s a nice model for their counterparts of today.
And what medal, award, recognition, or whatever, should Senator Lieberman receive?
Nate @ 61
hey, Nate - the workers eventually prevailed, but I’m not sure everything is hunky-dory there
LibertyLee @ 19
Oh, well if answered all your correspondence, that changes everything… Was it by mail or microwave?
jayt @ 8
Churchill’s parrot died, right? Because that bird could give a great rebuttal for this.
OT but nice to see that my congress critter is SO on top of responding to his constituents. Just received the following e-mail from him:
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I appreciate hearing from you.
I, too, am concerned about reports of our soldiers not receiving the best care possible after bravely serving our country. A bipartisan Presidential Commission has been formed to investigate these allegations. I am hopeful that the commission will act quickly to address these concerns.
Our Veterans deserve the gratitude and support of the nation and the highest standard of medical care available; anything less is unacceptable. Be assured that I will continue to monitor this situation and to work for the veterans who have sacrificed so that all Americans might be free.
For more information on my work in Congress and for updates on pending legislation, please visit the 21st District’s Web site, http://lamarsmith.house.gov.
Sincerely,
Lamar Smith
Member of Congress
I can’t even snark on this as the timing creates it’s OWN snark. Jeebuz!
Liberty:
1. The condition of being free from control by others.
2. The right or power to believe and act in the way one thinks is right.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 73
And what medal, award, recognition, or whatever, should Senator Lieberman receive?
Not sure - but I know which part of the body I’d like to see him receive it in.
Don’t ever share a train compartment with a guy named “Lamar”.
God, what is it with the Repubs and Winston Churchill? Back when Rudy Giuliani compared Bush to Winston in his RNC speech, the husband of a friend, an Oxford don in modern history, noted the following:
Ten Reasons why George W is not like Winston Churchill.
Winston Churchill fought in the front line in 4 of his nation’s wars.
Winston Churchill served in almost every significant office of state
in the United Kingdom before becoming the national leader.
Winston Churchill was the greatest orator of the Twentieth Century
Winston Churchill wrote 2 dozen books and won the Nobel Prize for
Literature.
Winston Churchill spent 5 years before the outbreak of the Second
World War warning his nation of the impending threat.
Winston Churchill led a wartime coalition government including
socialists and liberals which raised taxes and outlined a policy of
free national health care, which Churchill committed himself to
implement.
Winston Churchill created and held together the most powerful
multi-national alliance the world has ever seen.
So far as we are aware, Winston Churchill never choked on a pretzel.
Likewise, so far as we are aware, Winston Churchill never tried to
eat a raw corn cob.
When he was blind drunk, a frequent occurrence, Winston Churchill
would get someone else to do the driving.
Love to hear Rumsfeld and Churchill debate. Anything. And as for the littlest prez… well. Let’s leave him in the sandbox.
jayt @ 82
Not sure - but I know which part of the body I’d like to see him receive it in.
Seconded
Oklahoma kiddo @ 76
Can’t help you here. I don’t know any dirty words in Hebrew.
dakine01 @ 80
lol
newspaperbrat @ 17
Blushing brat - I shoulda written Claremont Colleges northeast of LA. In any event I hope Rummy isn’t flying out to our left coast on the taxpayer tab. The guest list should be interesting especially if our Govenator and his buddy Dirty Harry will be in attendance.
Oh wait, silly me, those boys are too busy gaming the intent of the mission of our California Coastal Commission in advance of their June meeting in Santa Rosa so the Pebble Beach Company can finally launch disasterous enviornmental ruin to the ancient trees of Del Monte Forest inside the gates to world famous Pebble Beach.
Nate @ 31
Or is it a Wingnut Jerk Circle? I can never keep those two straight.
Mods, please advise the hitch with my comment at 84, so I can avoid the error in future?
– and, since it’s in Newport Beach, the collateral damage to actual human beings will be minimal.
How to have a coup without anyone noticing: The Holloween Massacre. Brought to you by young Rummy and Darth.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 85
Methinks Churchill would wipe the floor with him. He managed to hold the UK together long enough and through the fall of the british empire to top it off. We have a few in the wings that might make that kind of statesman. Which we haven’t seen for decades.
Though Rummy would prefer a Freedoom Medal, he must go with the Wingnut Award he’s got, not the Wingnut Award he thinks he should have or wishes he could have.
No armor plating for the grunts, that’s jes for the Deciders, Queen gropers, Winkers, Usurpers, Frauds, Draft Dodgers, Jokers and Commander guys.
Tom in AZ @ 36
Why does that not surprise me?
LibertyLee @ 19
…of several consecutive life sentences.
Jane Hamsher @ 40
That would be an interesting interview no doubt. He will probably ask Kobe when as a pup he knew he was destined to do great things.
EvilDrPuma @ 97
who will write Rumsfeld’s Hague-iography?
jane_jericho @ 91
There is a brand name drug inside the word “socialist” that is used by many spammers. That term trips the moderation filters.
punaise @ 99
Who would read it?
RBG @ 100
Ah, so it’s not the word per se. You have renewed some of my faith in humanity.
kdh22 @ 73
Winston didn’t know may Repub presidents: Harding, Hoover, Eisenhower ……
LC@92, excellent link, it was the birth of the ‘Unitary Executive’, with most of the current cast participating!!! What a travesty!!!
RGB at 100–
Okay, thanks. There’s a standup line in there somewhere…
EvilDrPuma @ 90
Right-wing Reach-around?
EvilDrPuma @ 101
If it talks about his conviction for Crimes Against Humanity… I would!
Nate @ 106
Orrin Hatch’s favorite - special for Abu G.
dakine01 @ 108
“It’s not a pun, it’s my fucking name!”
–Orrin Hatch
Jane-jericho @84
Thanks, you saved me a long post and much funnier.Just one more thing. Churchill saved us from an enemy who made much of their way by gaining information by imprisoning and torturing innocent people to get information. In all my comic books, you could tell the Gestapo man because he said “We have ways of making you talk!” Now who does that remind me of?
Winston Churchill was a genuine, though complex, hero and, Mr Rumsfeld, you’re no Winston Churchill
EvilDrPuma @ 87
The Shameless Schlemiel Hutzpah Medal
Which corporations blatantly sponsor the great and noble hero Rummy (a la Cheney and Haliburton) via Iraqi war profiteering? Bechtel is one. Is Dyncorp another?
Chetnolian @ 110
Hell, he’s not even a Benny Hill.
Ah, yes, the Claremont Institute. Right up there with Olin in terms of Bad Ideas Propped Up With Tons Of Money. Claremont big boy Ahmanson is currently trying to buy the Anglican and Episcopal churches, starting with bankrolling a couple of African prelates, at least one of whom has had run-ins with Nelson Mandela for being a reactionary.
Actually it was Joseph Stalin who saved us from Hitler- Roosevelt and Churchill just drank a lot of tea- (and bourbon) and waited until the Russkies had all but kicked the Hun’s Asses.
AZ Matt @ 29
And, um….you do know he’s coming today, don’t you? He said he was visiting for the weekend which apparently begins on a Wednesday.
Patton and Monty made their famed assault on Berlin facing 12 year old boys and eighty year old men.
Chetnolian @ 110 –
It’s amazing how stupid these folks think we are. Evelyn Waugh would have a field day with them. They think we don’t know the difference between a symbol and the substance it invokes.
Hey all,
This is a great article wrt Iraq’s nationalists and separatists and their current palimentary machinations, sprinkled with a little occupation lamentation.
http://www.rawstory.com/showou.....raq/51624/
EvilDrPuma @ 109