Yankees Clinch!

BOSTON (AP) -- The New York Yankees are going to the playoffs. New York won its eighth consecutive AL East title on Saturday, scorching Tim Wakefield for three homers and riding Randy Johnson to an 8-4 victory over Boston. Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui homered, and Rodriguez had four hits to help Johnson settle down and win his sixth consecutive decision. When Johnny Damon hit a high chopper back to the mound, Mariano Rivera grabbed it and first baseman Tino Martinez pumped his fist as he caught the final out. The Yankees streamed out of the dugout with purpose -- but not quite joy -- a celebration befitting a 26-time World Series champion that survived its most difficult regular season in a decade.

THREE ROUNDS IN BEAN TOWN

The New York Yankees face the Boston Red Sox this weekend in the last three games of the season to decide who wins the American League East division title.

GO YANKEES!

BREAKING!! Education Department found Guilty

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: September 30, 2005

Filed at 5:40 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Education Department engaged in illegal ''covert propaganda'' when it paid columnist Armstrong Williams to promote Bush administration policies and when it produced a video that seemed to be a news story, congressional investigators concluded Friday.

The Government Accountability Office said the public relations efforts violated the government's ''publicity or propaganda prohibition'' because the department did not clearly disclose its role to the public. The department was ordered to report the violations to Congress and the president.

The investigation was requested by Sens. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., after it was revealed late last year that the department had hired Williams, a syndicated conservative columnist and TV personality, to promote Bush's ''No Child Left Behind'' law.

Reality Check: The failure of Karen Hughes' latest mission

As many of you already know Karen Hughes has finally made it to her post as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy. While she has NO foreign policy experience she is a good buddy of the President and has long worked to create the image of George W. Bush. Her new job is to convince the people of the Middle East that, dispute all the bombings and talks of crusades and stuff, George Bush really cares about brown people...or Arab people, or something like that.

Karen Hughes, of course, is a former TV reporter from who joined the George W. gang back in Texas. She was often his right hand person, and is credited for creating the image which sent Bush to the Governors Mansion in Texas and then the White House. She called it quits recently ( "to spend more time with her family") but she has been called back to try to repair the damage not just to her boss' reputation, but for the entire country which has lost nearly all it's international credibility over the past 5 years.

Unfortunately, Hughes' plan for this weeks trip was the old familiar mix of arrogance (that people will believe what they say because, well, just because they say it), and political spin. This time however, instead of trying to convince Red states to believe her, she spent the week in the Middle East. It didn't go well. When Ms Hughes attempted to connect with Arab women by bragging about how females in the US could drive cars, she was criticized and heckled.

A group of Turkish female activists confronted Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes yesterday with heated complaints about the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, turning a session designed to highlight the empowering of women into a raw display of anger at U.S. policy in the region. "This war is really, really bringing your positive efforts to the level of zero," said Hidayet Sefkatli Tuksal, an activist with the Capital City Women's Forum. She said it was difficult to talk about cooperation between women in the United States and Turkey as long as Iraq was under occupation.

BTW...If you thought that sending an official from the Bush Administration to Arab nations to tell them how to improve their lot would go over well - then apply for a job with the Bush administration today! Your lack of common sense will fit in nicely.

It doesn't end there. Sadly, even in this important task, the Administration can't break the pattern of deceit that so characterizes them. Seems that one of the strongest arguments Hughes chooses to tell her audiences isn't true at all.

She also repeatedly asserted, no less than three times in an interview on the Arabic satellite
network Al Jazeera, that Mr. Bush was the first American president to call for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. It was a bit of an exaggeration, since President Bill Clinton endorsed such a state a couple of weeks before he left office in 2001.

Yes, I know, lies by the Bush team has managed to fool some Americans over the years. But I already know an important fact that my Republicans friends (yes I have them) would be wise to learn - they are alone - in this country and in the world in accepting the word of this administration. No one else is being fooled but you.

Meanwhile the rest of us suffer from the unthoughtful and misleading public relations campaign Karen Hughes plans to continue. If her dishonest and condescending start is any indication of what is to come, our once great Nation may never recover from George W. Bush. Or Karen Hughes.

VP Cheney's Chief of staff is ID'ed as source in CIA leak case!!

MSNBC and The Philadelphia Inquirer are reporting that Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff Scooter Libby is the source of the leak of a covert CIA agents name. This comes after New York Times reporter Judith Miller was released from prison.

This is big new folks. Cheney's Chief of staff takes his orders from one man. This could mean that the Vice President is directly responsible for ...

releasing the name,
of a CIA agent,
in an act of vengeance,
against a man,
who told the truth,
about a lie,
the administration told,
to get us to war.

Whew!! I told you it was big. If it turns out to be true that the Vice President was responsible for leaking the name of the agent then he should resign immediately. It would be outrageous otherwise.

POLL: No more March of Freedom!

Everyone has their opinion of the Iraq War. We know that most people now feel is wasn't a very good idea to invade the country. But what have we really learned? There are quite a few polls taken but this one from Reuters today caught my eye.

72 percent said the conflict has made them feel worse about the use of military force "to bring about democracy" down the road

20 percent said it made them feel better about such a prospect

This shows me that the last reason the Bush Administration came up with to go to War with Iraq (to bring about democracy) was as baseless as their first (WMD). Maybe this poll is showing people are more hesitant to rely on the word of the man who cannot speak. Maybe these same people are seeing the dead American soldiers and the lack of an Iraqi fever for democracy and realizing that this is not a game of make believe. There are deadly serious consequence to bombing the hell out of people. They don't like it no matter what you're selling! You think Bible beaters knocking on your door at dinner time is annoying? Try listening to the 20,000 foot knock of the Freedom Marchers.

It is hardly surprising there were no flowers waiting for us. That's what Dick Cheney said. Could that be why he was so mad at Joseph Wilson? So mad that he leaked the name of his CIA wife? We may find out the answer to that question very soon.

No delay. MQAblog spreads the word about indictment

What fun I had when I heard about Tom Delay being indicted. As it happens today is a day off and I decided to spend some time on the campus of Florida State University. Every Wednesday at the FSU campus there is a huge flea market. It is the one day of the week where thousands of students take time between classes to set up tables and socialize in the Student Union. I was walking around campus for about an hour when I decided to slip into the library to catch up on the news. (I can't go more than an hour without checking). As I was getting ready to leave the library I caught the breaking story that Tom Delay was indicted. I posted it immediately (within minutes - FAST) - then I knew what I had to do. I rushed from the library to make my way back to the Student Union. I sought out the College Republican table. Surely, I thought, there would be no one better than myself to break the news to them.

When I got to the overfilled Union I first saw the table for the College Democrats. "Have you heard about Tom Delay" I asked. They hadn't. So I told them and we exchanges high fives, handshakes and hugs with my new friends. After the brief celebration I asked "where are the Republicans?" Afterall, to be fair I should spread the news to everyone. "Over there" they pointed - two tables down. Off I went to spread the news.

"Hey, have you guys heard about Tom Delay?" Nope. "Well he just got indicted!" I said with obvious joy. They looked a little pissed off and got quite redfaced but had a retort. "Well Cindy Sheehan got arrested two days ago". Hmmm. Watching the news I see foolish counterarguments from a distance but now it was close up. These young reds have been paying attention to their training. A meaningless counterargument is better than none. But really, Cindy Sheehan in the same category as Tom Delay? Not even close. Arrested for protesting a war is comparable to an indictment for fraud? Even less comparable. After pointing out these points the young Republicans at the table turned their backs on me and reached for their cell phones. I guess they were looking for the new talking points of the day.

If this was my last day walking the campus I so adore I certainly am happy it ended on this note. I have spent many, many good times on the FSU campus over the past 20 years. So many memories it would take days just to think about them all. How nice then that today's final chapter was such an enjoyable conclusion to this wonderful chapter of my life.

TOM DELAY INDICTED!

DeLay Indicted in Campaign Finance Probe Sep 28 12:44 PM US/Eastern

By LARRY MARGASAK
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON

A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, an indictment that could force him to step down as House majority leader.

DeLay attorney Steve Brittain said DeLay was accused of a criminal conspiracy along with two associates, John Colyandro, former executive director of a Texas political action committee formed by DeLay, and Jim Ellis, who heads DeLay's national political committee.

The indictment against the second-ranking, and most assertive Republican leader came on the final day of the grand jury's term. It followed earlier indictments of a state political action committee founded by DeLay and three of his political associates.

The grand jury action is expected to have immediate consequences in the House, where DeLay is largely responsible for winning passage of the Republican legislative program. House Republican Party rules require leaders who are indicted to temporarily step aside from their leadership posts.

However, DeLay retains his seat representing Texas' 22nd congressional district, suburbs southwest of Houston.

DeLay has denied committing any crime and accused the Democratic district attorney leading the investigation, Ronnie Earle, of pursuing the case for political motives.

Democrats have kept up a crescendo of criticism of DeLay's ethics, citing three times last year that the House ethics committee admonished DeLay for his conduct.

Earlier, DeLay attorney Bill White told reporters, "It's a skunky indictment if they have one."

As a sign of loyalty to DeLay after the grand jury returned indictments against three of his associates, House Republicans last November repealed a rule requiring any of their leaders to step aside if indicted. The rule was reinstituted in January after lawmakers returned to Washington from the holidays fearing the repeal might create a backlash from voters.

DeLay, 58, also is the center of an ethics swirl in Washington. The 11-term congressman was admonished last year by the House ethics committee on three separate issues and is the center of a political storm this year over lobbyists paying his and other lawmakers' tabs for expensive travel abroad.

New Gun Law in Florida Prompts Warnings to International Tourists

"Thinking about a Florida vacation? Please ensure your family is safe. A new law in the Sunshine State authorizes nervous or frightened residents to use deadly force. In Florida, avoid disputes. Use special caution in arguing with motorists on Florida roads. Police and prosecutors are concerned about the potential for unnecessary violence."

"Brownie" Blames the Victims

"My biggest mistake was not recognizing by Saturday that Louisiana was dysfunctional."

former FEMA Director Mike Brown

How to use MQAblog

I've just talked to a regular blog viewer who alerted me to the fact that some things are not clear about the new blog. Let's fix that!

Top Ten Things To Know about MQAblog

10. Links to news stories are located in most titles of stories and any underlined word or phrase in the text.
9. To comment on a news story click on the Comment link at bottom of the story.
8. Not all stories have that so use the Open Thread.
7. The Open Thread is up for a week and designed to let anybody comment about anything. Do it anonymously if you like.
6. All stories stay on the front page for one week and are automatically rotated out.
5. To see previous issues go to the archives list at the right side of the screen. To see issues over a month old try the MQAblog Classic link.
4. To send me an e mail click my picture to get to that link. The address is MQA@MQAblog.com.

3. Text boxed off like this are excerpts from a news story, often the linked news story. It is for those who want the essence of the story - the cream of the crop, without having to read the whole thing. Long quotes are also put in this box to distinguish it from my commentary.

2. If you see I have deleted a comment is it almost certainly because it was spam. Yep here too.
1. I am updating the site many times a day. I get some stories on the page just minutes after they break - before most radio and television. Check back often for breaking news.

If you have any other questions please let me know .

Thanks and enjoy!

TV's 'Maxwell Smart' dies

Don Adams, the wry-voiced comedian who starred as the fumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart in the 1960s television spoof of James Bond movies, "Get Smart," has died. He was 82. As the inept Agent 86 of the super-secret federal agency Control, Adams captured TV viewers with his antics in combatting the evil agents of Kaos. When his explanations failed to convince the villains or his boss, he tried another tack: "Would you believe … ?" It became a national catchphrase.

Thank You Bernie!

YANKEE LEGEND SAYS GOODBYE

Fans acknowledged Bernie Williams, who played what could have been his last game at Yankee Stadium. Over the previous 10 seasons, Williams had helped the New York Yankees make the playoffs every year, four of them ending in World Series championships. With 2,213 hits in a career of excellence and elegance, he is one behind Joe DiMaggio, who is fourth in team history behind Lou Gehrig (2,721), Babe Ruth (2,518) and Mantle (2,415).

Official decries "Black Hearted Agenda" of GOP and MSM

Aaron Broussard, President of Jefferson Parish in Louisiana was on Meet The Press just a few days after Hurricane Katrina talking about the mother of a friend that died due to a lack of a coordinated rescue after the hurricane. His story was a powerful and emotional retelling of the long ordeal by this ill senior citizen. Well the Republicans and mainstream media (MSM) discovered that - yes the old woman died after waiting days for help and - yes there were promises of help that did not arrive but... There was an inaccuracy in the timeline of the story Broussard told. This was enough for the MSM to follow the right wing hate machine in a coordinated smear against this man who dared to speak up against the Bush Administration's reaction to the storm. Broussard was on Meet the Press again this morning and fought back hard. Click the title to see the video.

Internet Hit Song!

This song and video titled "George Bush Don't Like Black People" is really causing a sensation on line. This song is being downloaded tens of thousands of times an hour. In a couple weeks all your friends may be talking about this. Click the title above and be the first on your block to see the video. (Rated R- profanity)

Sunday Comic