"We all know how Satan hates to be disturbed..."

Whooboy, Keith Olbermann has Hellena laughing like a giddy schoolgirl this morning. Do click on the link for a response to Bill O'Reilly's allegations that MSNBC is journalistically bankrupt.

My Bush Doesn't Declare War

Alright, soldier, listen up; War is silly, whack your willy, and that's an order!!

Here's a cause Hellena can certainly get behind. And goodness knows, this is just another reason to love the internet.

From the "Stupid, Dangerous Criminal" Files....

Here we have a person who obviously did not think his alleged crime all the way through..... now in all appearances, this little angry fella has committed a crime against gay men, but let's give him at least the shadow as a doubt as to his motives since we haven't had a chance to hear his side of the story...... However, IF it was a crime committed against gays because he has an issue with homosexuality as it appears, Hellena would like to point out where this Robida fella failed to assess the consequences of his actions. When he is caught, and identified by the eye witnesses, and then is sent to trial for the alleged crime, chances are very good that he is going to end up in a jail cell for a very long time. It does not take a great stretch of the imagination to see where Hellena is going with this...... little Jacob is probably going to find himself on the receiving end of an amorous relationship while serving his sentence.... should he be convicted, of course.

That is what Hellena refers to a "poetic justice."

Just Another Story that Proves....

Fundies have no freakin' sense of humor.

According to NBC's initial synopsis of the episode, Jack's fictional TV network, Out TV, is taken over by a Christian broadcaster, leading Spears' character to do a cooking segment on his show called "Cruci-fixin's."

The American Family Association immediately raised objections to the planned episode, saying it "mocks the crucifixion of Christ" and will "further denigrate Christianity" by airing the night before Good Friday.

On its Web site, the Mississippi-based advocacy group called on its supporters to urge network affiliates to refuse to run the episode and to write letters of protest to NBC.

Hellena has a suggestion for the American Family Association: Turn the channel if you are offended. Also, if you have time to write letters of protest for this, please think about writing letters for some things that REALLY stand for family values, like tell President Bush that going to war on a LIE is not family values. Write Fred Phelps and tell him that as Christians, you don't think hate speech reflects family values. And while you're at it, write Pat Robertson a letter to tell him to keep his mouth shut as every time he opens it, he spews something other than family values.

I'm sure there's more, but that's enough for now.

Whew, Hellena feels better.....

House Passes Bill to Cut Spending for the Poor and Elderly.

Well, looks like Granny will have to start taking in wash to pay for her meds; a bill just passed through the House, that will now go to Bush to be signed into law, is trimming $39 billion to cut health care for the poor and elderly and other programs. Now don't get Hellena wrong, we support trimming the budget where necessary, but cuts to Medicaid spending would affect 13 million poor people, 20 percent of the program's participants, with many of those being children.

The spending cuts are a high priority of conservative Republicans who want to continue cutting taxes amid huge budget deficits, which could top $400 billion this year.

"Today we can begin the process of controlling out-of-control government spending," said Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, a conservative Republican.

OK, so the Republicans, who also want everyone to be pro-life, anti-abortion, anti-sex ed in schools, and anti-birth control distributing now are cutting programs that benefit children? WTF?

Hey, Hellena has an idea - if the U.S. needs to cut our spending back so sharply, how about we stop spending billions of dollars a day in Iraq?? Maybe can the Billion Dollar Bunker we have planned?

Well, so a Vacation Makes One Lazy....

So much news to cover, so little time.

Look for Hellena to come back in spades after this weekend.....

Merry Christmas!!!

What a Jackhole....

NEW BEDFORD -- The UMass Dartmouth student who claimed to have been visited by Homeland Security agents over his request for "The Little Red Book" by Mao Zedong has admitted to making up the entire story.
The 22-year-old student tearfully admitted he made the story up to his history professor, Dr. Brian Glyn Williams, and his parents, after being confronted with the inconsistencies in his account.
Had the student stuck to his original story, it might never have been proved false.

Here's to the investigative reporter not doing his job well. Research your story before you get it published, dipwad.

As for the 22 yr. old, is there nothing he can be charged with for making up such BS?

You Just can't Make This Shit Up...

The Pope realizing that Dubya is even dumber than he thought...

"The GO Zone Act ... increases funding for Hope scholarships and lifetime learning credits for students attending colleges and graduate students in the -- and graduate schools in the Gulf Opportunity Zone. It's going to make continuing education for workers more accessible and help support high school training that these Gulf Coast residents are going to need to fill the jobs which are actually going to be existing."

Aw-righty. Hellena's no grammarian, but she's pretty darned sure that sentence would make any of her past English teachers cringe. This is the stuff they pick to put on the front page of the White House web site.

When Bush ran the first time, I realized something: I want my president to be smarter than I am. I don't ask much, but I want him to be smarter than me. - Mike Mills, R.E.M.

Hellena couldn't agree more, Mr. Mills.

Warning: Evil Kitten Content

Oh-so-sweet-and-cuddly..... or so you think. My Cat Hates You is a web site with "cute" appeal. Cat lovers every where share pictures of their dearest companions to either humiliate them or to share the atrocities of cat association.

OK, sharing adorable pics of your evil kitty isn't really ground-breaking news, but enjoy the diversion from the usual politics anyway as Hellena's Solstice present to you.

Aw, Isn't That Cute?

See the 2nd post below.

More "Christian" Quotes...

Hellena uses the quotes around the word Christian because it seems highly unlikely that anyone who understood the real tenets of Christianity would utter such statements. After all, isn't Christianity all about loving your fellow man? And if you couple that with the American ideal that all citizens are free to exercise freedom of religion..... anyway..... read 'em for yourself.....

From Christian conservative writer, Gary North:

The long-term goal of Christians in politics should be to gain exclusive control over the franchise. Those who refuse to submit publicly to the eternal sanctions of God by submitting to His Church's public marks of the covenant–baptism and holy communion–must be denied citizenship.

Here's one that demonstrates the old Southern axiom that, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Apparently Bush, Sr. was absent from school the day(s) his instructor(s) spoke about freedom of religion. That certainly might explain why Bush, Jr. seems not to have grasped the principal either. Anyway, on to the spotlighted exchange:

When George Bush was campaigning for the presidency, as incumbent vice president, one of his stops was in Chicago, Illinois, on August 27, 1987. At O'Hare Airport he held a formal outdoor news conference. There Robert I. Sherman, a reporter for the American Atheist news journal, fully accredited by the state of Illinois and by invitation a participating member of the press corps covering the national candidates had the following exchange with then Vice President Bush.

Sherman: What will you do to win the votes of the Americans who are Atheists?

Bush: I guess I'm pretty weak in the Atheist community. Faith in god is important to me.

Sherman: Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are Atheists?

Bush: No, I don't know that Atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.

Sherman (somewhat taken aback): Do you support as a sound constitutional principle the separation of state and church?

Bush: Yes, I support the separation of church and state. I'm just not very high on Atheists.

Well, he may not have been "high on Athiests," but Hellena thinks it is safe to believe he was high on something.

Evidence That Bush Smokes Crack....

Bush called 2005 "a good year for the American people." Well, Hellena guesses when Bush visited the Mississippi Coast, he never got far from the runway. If he had, he would be aware that people are still living in tents FOUR MONTHS after Katrina wiped out the entire coastline there. Hellena also assumes he hasn't really had to face any of the parents who have lost children in his war based on lies.

Hellena has met meth addicts with more scruples and ethics.....

Mike Luckovich's Top 16 of the Year...

Mike Luckovich is one of Hellena's favorite political cartoonists. In this feature he chooses his favorites from 2005. You can find his work in The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

What's Wrong with This Picture?

Far be it from Hellena to tell people what they can use as the image on their Christmas cards, but doesn't it seem a bit odd for the Southern Baptist Convention to use a picture of the Supreme Court building?

Richard Land, who has served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission since 1988, claims there is no political intent in the choice.

::coughbullshitcough::

In fact, after visiting Dr. Land's web site, it seems pretty obvious to Hellena that Dr. Land's entire existance involves the interaction of politics and religion.

In his latest book, Imagine! A God-Blessed America (Broadman & Holman, 2005), Dr. Land encourages readers to envision an America where more Christians are radical change agents who reflect Christ, not culture, and where people are liberated from the cult of self and instead committed to the common good. Dr. Land has also recently authored Real Homeland Security (Broadman & Holman, 2004).

Dr. Land is also Executive Editor of Faith & Family Values, a national magazine dedicated to coverage of traditional religious values, Christian ethics, and cultural trends.

Dr. Land, if you don't mind, Hellena would like to have a word with you.....

Dr. Land,

If you and your organization cannot be content with your tax-free status and keep your religion out of politics, then Hellena would like to suggest that your church give up it's tax-free status. Hellena believes this would bring you and your flock out of the "cult of self" and allow more money to be committed to the common good. Instead of palatial churches, homes, and expensive stages from where your sermons are given, Hellena would like to suggest that you and your brethern choose to leave a few 1,000' square feet off your homes, fly economy, and buy cheaper pews so you can spend more of the money you collect to help those in need - you know, like Jesus would.

Worship whatever version of the Bible you wish, but please understand that this is a large country, with millions of people from every conceivable religious & social background you can imagine. Never, in your lifetime, or anyone else's, are we all going to be reborn again as fundamental Southern Baptists. See, the REAL challenge here is not for you to convert all of us, but for you to learn how to play well with others and accept as Americans, we all have the same inalienable rights as you.

We all have the right to freedom of religion. Though this may not be your vision, it was the vision of our founding fathers.

Happy Holidays to you, Dr. Land.
Hellena Handbasket

Gotta Keep Watch on Those Vegans

The definition of "terrorist" for some folks must be pretty broad in light of revelations from the F.B.I. that

... agents in Indianapolis planned to conduct surveillance as part of a "Vegan Community Project." Another document talks of the Catholic Workers group's "semi-communistic ideology." A third indicates the bureau's interest in determining the location of a protest over llama fur planned by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Could someone please explain to our government the difference between civil disobedience, lawful protest, & terroristic activies? Of course, Hellena doubts the explanation would sink in with someone who thinks the Constitution is "just a goddamned piece of paper!"

If Hellena Only Had More Time...

But she doesn't, so here is today's commentary:

Bush, you're a big, fat LIAR.

White House press release with the big, fat lie.

Lying on tape.

Lying: The ReMix

Bush Tried Desperately to Kill the NYT's Spy Story

Photo credited to Joshua Roberts / Reuters

Well, all over the internet news organizations are reporting what a pathetic pile of guilty crap GW really is.....

Dec. 19, 2005 - Finally we have a Washington scandal that goes beyond sex, corruption and political intrigue to big issues like security versus liberty and the reasonable bounds of presidential power. President Bush came out swinging on Snoopgate—he made it seem as if those who didn’t agree with him wanted to leave us vulnerable to Al Qaeda—but it will not work. We’re seeing clearly now that Bush thought 9/11 gave him license to act like a dictator, or in his own mind, no doubt, like Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

...and they are pulling no punches. Now Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) has released a dated letter that shows at least one Dem did not approve of Georgie's illegal spying. The letter can be read in its original form as released by Rockefeller on Talking Points Memo.

Can anyone say "Congressional inquiry?"

Quotable Quotes

For years Hellena has been stating that the Religious Right (which is neither, btw) has been plotting a hostile takeover of the world. In that vein, Hellena has decided to gather quotes that demonstrate this.

Here's today's offerings:

"That is the delicate balance the Secretary of the Interior must have: to be steward for the natural resources for this generation as well as future generations. I do not know how many future generations we can count on before the Lord returns; whatever it is we have to manage with a skill to leave the resources needed for future generations." -- James G. Watt, testimony before the House Interior Committee, February 1981

"We don't have to protect the environment, the Second Coming is at hand." -- interpretation of the above testimony by Austin Miles, Setting the Captives Free

Lovely. Forget recycling or watching your consumerism. The Lord is Comin'!!

"Yes, religion and politics do mix. America is a nation based on biblical principles. Christian values dominate our government. The test of those values is the Bible. Politicians who do not use the bible to guide their public and private lives do not belong in office." Beverly LaHaye - “Ms.” magazine, 2/87

“Separation of church and state” currently means almost exactly the opposite of what it originally meant." - David Barton WallBuilders

Hellena would like to propose the abolishment of tax-free status for all churches and religious organizations that wish to participate in the political process. Even if it is just voicing opinions like the ones above.

Hellena Just Loves Accidental Truths....

A Freudian Slip of sorts?