Akkam’s Razor

As soon as I had heard that a second fiber-optic undersea internet cable (map and story here and here - the number of broken cables now stands at four) had been broken in the Middle East, I automatically thought of the United States, the Bush Administrations desire to hit Iran, and the USS Jimmy Carter.

In the US Navy, tradition is that Presidents names are placed on aircraft carriers. But things would be different for Jimmy Carter, a former Nuclear Submariner. The Seawolf class submarine that would eventually bare his name would also be different than her class-mates.

There an interesting tale coming out of Texas [NPR]:

Faster than a speeding bullet — and bigger than a Wal-Mart.

That’s how residents near the west Texas town of Stephenville described an object they spotted in the sky one night last week.

Dozens of people — including a pilot and a police officer — said a UFO hovered over the farming community for about five minutes last Tuesday before streaking away into the night sky.

Pilot Steve Allen saw the object when he was out clearing brush off a hilltop near the town of Selden. Allen described the unidentified object as being an enormous aircraft with flashing strobe lights — and it was totally silent.

What is it about conservatives that they perceive bias anytime one of their outstandingly brilliant ideas get challenged?  Or better still, that they are crucified for their beliefs socially and economically?  From Mashable's Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins :

[In the beginning] Shown as a Graphic Novel…
http://www.needlenose.com/i/fubar/inthenickoftime.jpg

The Narrative Story…
http://www.americanprogressaction.org/progressreport/2007/05/shocking_lawlessnewss.html

What We Don't Know?
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/05/what-could-possibly-be-so-bad-by-digby.html

Bush's PERSONAL Involvement…
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/16/bush-comey/

The Secret [Domestic?] Wiretap Program…
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003242.php

The Outcome…
http://salon.com/opinion/greenwald/?last_story=/opinion/greenwald/2007/05/16/nsa_comey/

Interesting clusters of UFO sightings, and typical explanations…

At 8:15 AM EST (6:15 CST) there were objects seen falling from the sky over the midwest, as reported by 9News:

I want to take a minute to provide a contrarian viewpoint on Attytood's rant about Rove and Bush orchestrating the Democratic Wave and playing the role of ringer…

I found it ironic that all three (Fox Sunday) animated primetime sitcoms took on politically charged subjects, especially as they are broadcast on the FOX Network…

And so it begins…

You've seen the earlier voter suppression efforts here, and I've also covered a little 2004 incident regarding a caging incident.

Perrspectives has a pretty good roundup of the GOP's "72-Hour Operation", alternatively called the 25% strategy:

Every year, like clockwork, strange occurences occur…

This is Democracy?  Fight back!  Vote.

There have been tinfoil encrusted reports that a tactical (small) nuke had gone off at Camp Falcon, with reports coming from Arab media like Al Jazeera.  The military press releases states all is well, and that the explosion was the result of conventional explosives being hit by mortar fire.  There are of course, other conflicting and unsubstantiated reports of 300 US dead and total destruction.  So which is it?

This is so awesome - and so typical of Delaware County.  It's like allegations of corruption with Philadelphia and Machine Democrats, but with Republicans.  One party rule strikes again.

Via I Live in Delaware County:

Stolen Campaign Lawnsigns
10-11-06
Upper Darby Township
Casey R. Roncaglione
Democratic Candidate 164th District

After a high speed chase through the streets of Upper Darby, going down one way streets and almost hitting pedestrians, a city License and Inspection official was stopped by over 10 Upper Darby Police. The Township official was attempting to avoid being caught by one of my campaign workers who spotted the official stealing my campaign lawn signs. In his trunk were found my political lawn signs, illegally taken from legal Township locations. The signs were taken from private property, whose owners had given permission to me to post the signs. Lawnsigns were also stolen from Roncaglione's home as well as his neighbors and supporters.

The candidate, Casey R. Roncaglione, Democratic candidate in Upper Darby Township, called the actions typical dirty tricks. "I doubt my opponent Mario Civera (R-164) had anything to do with it, but I don't know that for sure," said Roncaglione.

"It's not the end of the world but it is pretty cheap politics, Mr. Civera has over $190,000 in campaign funds, I have a little over $4,000. He could buy 50,000 signs and not even feel it, I have to watch every penny, so a sign is an important expense to me."

Upper Darby Police are filing a report and superintendent Chitwood promised there would be an investigation possibly leading to charges. Upper Darby Township, a Republican stronghold has never been too acceptable of competition. Mr. Roncaglione is different though, actually friendly and respective of Mr. Civera.

"Roncaglione spoke to Mr. Civera earlier on the day of the incident to complain that his signs were being taken down. Mr. Civera told Mr. Roncaglione that he doesn't do that and the two parted amicably. Soon after the episode occurred.

Mr. Roncaglione who has pledged a clean campaign hopes this puts an end to the dirty tricks and that the voters get an honest and fair chance to learn the issues to vote for whom they feel can best represent them.

A phone call to the UPPD (Upper Darby Police Department) proved fruitless - a message was left at the Detectives' desk to confirm the facts.  A further phone call to Phil Herron, Editor at the Delaware County Times, corraborated that there were inquiries to the paper from Casey (Roncaglione) about the incident, and that UPPD was "looking into it".  Any reporting would be based on the finding from UPPD.  When asked as to the newsworthiness of charges NOT being filed if the chase did in fact occur was deferred, given that there are numerous reports of stolen campaign signs each election cycle.  I spoke with a secretary for the Director for Licenses and Inspections for Delaware County, Jeffrey N. Gentile, who advised me to contact him via email. (Contact information for UPPD, the DelcoTimes, and UD L&I are in the above links).

Will you people stop this?  Your making Rove into a Supervillian, a Keiser Soze.  The myth is bigger than the man.

From the Pensito Review via Rawstory:

On Sept. 21, Raw Story reported that Karl Rove was telling conservative groups that he had a surprise scheduled for the last two weeks of October that would turn the midterms in the Republicans’ favor.

[…]

What is Rove’s October surprise? As early as Sept. 8, we suggested that the Bush team could have captured or killed Osama bin Laden recently, and have been waiting to reveal this news closer to the election. Others, including BuzzFlash, had similar thoughts.

At least three people have asked me so far if I thought there was a possibility of a military coup based on the protestations of a gaggle (6 so far) of retired US generals demanding the removal of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.  And given the bloodless coup in Thailand, along with some curious moves by our own Congress (like legalized torture and domestic spying), makes the topic once again newsworthy.

It's not suprising that this issue was previously addressed by a professor at the US Army War College…in the form of a fictional letter written after a military coup titled "The Origins of the American Military Coup of 2012".