‘Nuff said.

My friend Bob DeRosa is having is first movie filmed in January! Right on!

You know, people always say, “It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy,” but in this case it’s really true. Bob’s been working and chasing this dream for a long time, and he’s the kind of guy you just want to be successful, because if he isn’t, what hope is there for you?

The movie is called “The Air I Breathe.” Read the Variety article about the film here. And, for criminy’s sake, tattoo the title on the back of your hand and go see it the minute it hits the theatres.

I completely agree with this post by Atrios. The idea of a “gatekeeper” media isn’t necessarily bad, but our media gatekeepers have behaved badly of late. They’ve got nobody but themselves to blame for the public’s loss of faith and their own loss of influence. (UPDATE: On this same point, Atrios points us to James Wolcott, who nails it.)

I also like this post by Kevin Drum. The “ticking time bomb” excuse for torture is absolutely ridiculous. There is no good reason for the United States – of all nations – to sanction or condone torture.

Finally, here’s just a little ammo to use when your conservative friends claim that Congressmen and Senators had the same intelligence about Iraq as the President. They didn’t, and they still don’t, because the White House refuses to release the Presidential Daily Brief from September 21, 2001, which is purported to have claimed that Iraq had no connection with the 9/11 attacks.

Bonus Link: Kitten War makes me very, very happy.

The following is a report by Doug Thompson, from a blog named “Capitol Hill Blue.” I was not aware of Mr. Thompson or his blog before reading this piece. He seems to have good credentials, but I’m taking this with a big grain of salt. Whether this actually happened or not, though, it sure seems to sum up the attitude of the Bush Administration.

Capitol Hill Blue: Bush on the Constitution: ‘It’s just a goddamned piece of paper’:

Last month, Republican Congressional leaders filed into the Oval Office to meet with President George W. Bush and talk about renewing the controversial USA Patriot Act.

Several provisions of the act, passed in the shell shocked period immediately following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, caused enough anger that liberal groups like the American Civil Liberties Union had joined forces with prominent conservatives like Phyllis Schlafly and Bob Barr to oppose renewal.

GOP leaders told Bush that his hardcore push to renew the more onerous provisions of the act could further alienate conservatives still mad at the President from his botched attempt to nominate White House Counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court.

“I don’t give a goddamn,” Bush retorted. “I’m the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way.”

“Mr. President,” one aide in the meeting said. “There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution.”

“Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,” Bush screamed back. “It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!”

I’ve talked to three people present for the meeting that day and they all confirm that the President of the United States called the Constitution “a goddamned piece of paper.”

My buddy Lloyd is a Feedster Feed of the Year Finalist! Woo-hoo! Way to go, Lloyd!

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Check out the Year of Coffee Blog. But hurry… the year’s almost up.