Weekend open line
President Bush is on vacation in Crawford, and we're taking a break to let you have this open line.
Instead of parking here for the whole month, Mr. Bush, who arrived Thursday night, will spend just 10 nights before returning to the White House. During his stay, his aides are taking pains to present Mr. Bush as deeply engaged in world events; on Saturday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to arrive to brief him on the Middle East.
“It basically reflects busy times and a busy schedule,” said Dan Bartlett, counselor to Mr. Bush, explaining the abbreviated visit.
It also reflects a political decision made by Mr. Bush’s advisers, and the president himself, to prevent a repeat of the public relations debacle of last August. That month began with highly publicized protests by Ms. Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, and ended with the image of the president on vacation while New Orleans drowned, an image that helped start his slide in popularity.
So when summer planning time rolled around this year, the White House was determined to do something different.
“It was a political calculation that his advisers persuaded him that he needed to do, and I think he knew it,” said one Republican with close ties to Mr. Bush, who would discuss internal White House decisions only if not quoted by name. He added, “I don’t think he is resentful or angry or anything; I think he is resigned to it."




Comments
Let's get this stuff on Hillary in while Max is gone:
from Maureen Dowd -NYT;
The enunciation of a clear sentence about the war in Iraq by Hillary Clinton means that there must be an election coming up.
Until now, she has been unsubtly subtle about the most urgent issue facing the country, sending signals rightward, sending signals leftward, tacking here, tacking there. Some days she seemed to be signaling whether she intended to signal.
But now, suddenly, she's a woman of passion, a model of concerned clarity. After an eon of calculated silence on most of the big moral questions of the day, there is a calculated breaking of the silence. The enigma won't play anymore. It's time for the drama.
But the drama played like "The Taming of the Shrew," with the only question being, who was the shrew?
Hillary was trying to bring Rummy to heel, and Rummy was trying to exert manly control over Hillary.
The junior senator from New York staged a drama in three acts, first sending a letter summoning the reluctant Rummy to appear before the Armed Services Committee; then hectoring him with a litany of his "numerous errors in judgment"; and finally at the end of the day, like the Queen of Hearts, delivering her climactic demand for his head.
"I just don't understand why we can't get new leadership that would give us a fighting chance to turn the situation around," Senator Clinton said after the hearing, summing up a truth acknowledged by everyone except W. and Dick Cheney, and particularly felt at the Pentagon, where the deeply unpopular defense chief has gone from self-styled matinee idol to self-destructing idle martinet.
During the hearing, Hillary unmanned Rummy, as Shakespeare would say, accusing him of incompetence, impotence and improbity.
"You did not go into Iraq with enough troops to establish law and order,'' she said. "You disbanded the entire Iraqi Army. Now we're trying to recreate it. You did not do enough planning for what is called phase four and rejected all the planning that had been done previously to maintain stability after the regime was overthrown. You underestimated the nature and strength of the insurgency, the sectarian violence and the spread of Iranian influence."
She pointed out that the administration succeeds only in achieving the opposite of its aims - with the number of American troops in Iraq scheduled to increase, not decrease, and the violence and instability spreading.
She cited the administration's reality disconnect on the Taliban in Afghanistan, where every new claim of success has been followed by new evidence of failure. The Taliban have been written out of the war by administration flackery, but they keep coming back like Mel Gibson's hangovers and apologies.
She tartly summed up: "Because of the administration's strategic blunders and, frankly, the record of incompetence in executing, you are presiding over a failed policy. Given your track record, Secretary Rumsfeld, why should we believe your assurances now?"
There was a pause while Rummy summoned all the condescension he usually reserves for doltish reporters.
"My goodness,'' he exhaled finally, firing off a defense that could have been translated as: "Where do I start educating you on your utterly superficial understanding of the enemy, you harridan hippy-dippy Henny Penny?"
The Pentagon rank and file have tuned out Rummy, whose only transformation so far has been to transform himself into a dangerous, deluded codger. But when the respected General Abizaid admitted that "it is possible that Iraq could move towards civil war," it was clear Iraq was already in one. It opened up a river of talk across the river about what people there had long been afraid to say: that Rummy's jutting jaw is not going to cut it. There needs to be an alternative strategy to keep our kids from having to fight their way out of a sectarian conflagration.
When Hillary and Rummy square off, it is a gladiatorial contest of two masters at hauteur, self-righteousness, scriptedness, infighting and belief in their own manifest destiny.
Hillary wants to avoid Joe Lieberman's fate by arguing that how the administration went about this war has caused all the problems, not that it went to a needless war she supported. Her stratagem avoids the lie that set off all the other lies, and leaves Hillary risking a John Kerry problem, being both for the war and against it.
It's going to be a tough triangulation. Even Bill never had to squirm his way out of something as hard as this
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 01:34 PM
Anon 1:34
That run-on ramble of a post sure killed the open line.
Posted by: Citizen | August 5, 2006 01:56 PM
What's so hard about saying - Bush and Company gave Congress faulty information, and they voted with the information "they had, not the information they should of had".
Posted by: BlueTicker | August 5, 2006 01:57 PM
Only 10 days?
Poor guy.
Posted by: RickBaber | August 5, 2006 02:22 PM
Georgie has been on vacation since he and Rove high jacked the WH in 2000. He's a puppet and can read a telaprompter with below average confidence. Some else does his think, the strategy and policy.
We would of been just as well off, if we'd of had a wind up toy for a President. Wind em up when you need him to preform and put him away in the drawer otherwise.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 02:46 PM
Josh Blevins might be the biggest tool I have ever ecnountered.
This douche registered himself as a lobbyist at age 20.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=60301688
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 02:54 PM
The Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld legacy is a litany of incompetence.
Posted by: ed peffErman | August 5, 2006 03:01 PM
I've never begrudged a president a month-long vacation in light of the fact that with modern communications and air travel he can be in touch virtually instantaneously and on the spot shortly thereafter should the need arise.
Note that I said "can be."
Given Georgie Boy's history of AWOLs, from the National Guard to September 11 to New Orleans, and who knows what else, it ain't gonna happen. He might as well stay in Crawford throughout August and hide from Cindy.
Oh. Maybe he prefers to let Crawford deal with Cindy so he won't have to.
Goin' AWOL again, boy?
Posted by: Doigotta | August 5, 2006 03:26 PM
It's hard work Doigotta, give a guy a break. Being the leader of the free world and f**king up everything you touch.Then having to hde from each and every single f**kup - it's damn hard work and Junior should take the next 2 years off - with pay.
We'd be much better off without this idiot being the face of our county - don't know how more "hard work" we can stand.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 03:34 PM
This administration's 'Middle East Policy' essentially consists of just two primary elements: (1) Spend $250 million a day in Iraq no matter what and (2) Support the madmen at the helm in Israel no matter what. So, why is Condi Rice going to Crawford to "brief the president on the Middle East?" What is the point, other than possibly for her to whine about the Lebanese banning her useless ass from their ash-heap of a country?
Posted by: Just Curious | August 5, 2006 03:40 PM
Wow, is our Party going to follow Howard Dean, John Kerry, and now Hillary Clinton over the edge? It is wrong to criticize a President NEEDLESSLY while our Country is at War, and Israel is fighting for its very existence in the face of Russian, Chinese, Iranian, Syrian, and Hezbollah rocket and missile attacks. Lieberman may lose next Tuesday, but our Party will NOT be better for it. We should be careful, lest we all go over the cliff.
Posted by: Dem but not following the lemmings | August 5, 2006 03:54 PM
Watch that OUR PARTY shit, nony cause I think you're as much part of the Democratic Party as Bill Frist. I'm sorry Hillary voted for this sorry war we're busy losing in the first place. But she and all the rest were fed lie after lie by Bush-Cheney and Company. I like to think I would have been like Russ Feingold and not fallen for it, but I wasn't there, so maybe I don't know.
But we all know now the Bush administration lied their asses off to go after Iraq's oil. And it's way past time for Congress to wake up, but I'm still happy Hillary has out of her slumber. Every cotton-picking thing she said to Rummy's face was the truth. And MY GOODNESS........ Samantha Stevens..what a stupid, arrogant failure is our man Rummy.
Fire him.....drag him behind a pickup is more like it. Turn him over to the families of the 2588 dead soldiers for the weekend and see how much of him is left to pile in the limo by Monday. When did Americans become so stupid they can't tell success from failure??
Our own Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln could be leading the FIRE RUMMY brigade, but no....they're too busy taking turns voting for such important business like flag burning and gay marriage. Why don't they both take a stab at Rummy too?
America sent 15 million soldiers to WWII and we won that war. Now with only the poor and Democrats volunteering for service, we can only eek out 130,000 troops for the war in Iraq. Of that number many are on their 3rd tour and they're cracking and coming apart from the heat and the stress and never seeing things look any better...always worse...always hopeless.
Our 130,000 troops are probably just days away from being the meat in a civil war sandwich. When that happens I won't have enough fence to list the dead count in Solo cups. Will Rummy say My Goodness then? Will Bush bother to leave the fake ranch then? Like it matters....he's on vacation 365 days a year. I'm as much President as he is. It would be smarter to look and see where Cheney is. And he's no doubt very close to a safe bunker at all times.
Scream it Hillary! And may she be joined by other voices from both parties until we run off the incompetent criminals bungling this war today!
Posted by: Deathbyinches | August 5, 2006 04:42 PM
DBI, you prove the point with your rant. Kos kool-aid is available, but that doen't mean I'm going to drink it.
By the way, Mike Beebe doesn't drink it, either.
If you are recruiting more Charles Ormonds (or our separate versions of Jim Holt), you do not have my blessing.
Over the cliff alone you go.
Posted by: Dem but not following DBI either | August 5, 2006 05:04 PM
Not alone, cuzzin.
I'm with ya.
I say we get the hell RID of anybody who calls themself a Democrat and isn't battling these incompetent doofuses in the Administration with every breath. I like that guy from Ohio that was on Colbert the other night. What was his name? He's the antithesis of a "wimpy Democrat". We gotta get some muscle in there and save what's left of the country from the profiteers in office. We're well beyond "getting along".
Posted by: RickBaber | August 5, 2006 05:17 PM
Ok, Dem but not following..
What is your plan? For the Dems to stay the minority, cohesive losing unit that they are today? We are past needing some shakers, some "let's do it different," people. We need to elect some Dems who are voted in just to MAKE that change. I also hope there are Repubs voted in that don't come from the Shiite wing of the GOP if any are left.
Let's hear your plan, "not following." More of the same is not going to cut it. And what cliff is it we're going over? I think we're in free fall right now and those rocks look sharp down there.
Posted by: mag | August 5, 2006 05:18 PM
Look nony, I'd take Charles Manson's vision for America over the current neo-con crop in the White House. There is nothing wrong with being extreme when you see the bus heading over the cliff.....since you like cliffs so much.
When the other party is dead wrong, we should be shouting it from the rooftops! You may not like Howard Dean, but I think he's telling it exactly how it is. You may continue to Lieberman out all you want, but in my view you're aiding the enemy.
Enjoy your Freedom Fries while I do my best to kick some neo-con butt.
Posted by: Deathbyinches | August 5, 2006 05:19 PM
I love how you lefties get so fired up about ideology.... then go out sand vote for Beebe.
Fake democrats are more destructive to your cause than neo-cons.
Its like the hypocrite Christian who turn people away from the church. You shouldn't support the Beebe's of the world if you are idea-driven as you profess.
But in the end it ain't about people and the right thing, to you its my team and your team. You just want to win, even with a phony and a liar like Beebe.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 05:26 PM
Finally someone is fed up enough to take a stand! I'm with HILLARY!!
Posted by: go HC | August 5, 2006 05:40 PM
Dear anti-Beebe Anonymous,
How do you know we will vote for him? I think we're having mutual posting here by people who are all into Arkansas politics and the rest of us who are more concerned about national elections. Not much Beebe can do for me except hold back the Arkansas National Guard from deployment to Iraq and I'm not even sure he can do that.
Posted by: mag | August 5, 2006 05:44 PM
I keep seeing this use of "Kool Aid," a reference to Jim Jones' suicide cult. Actually, they drank Flavor Aid. It was cheaper.
Posted by: Mr. Kool | August 5, 2006 05:56 PM
Wow, is our Party going to follow Howard Dean, John Kerry, and now Hillary Clinton over the edge? It is wrong to criticize a President NEEDLESSLY while our Country is at War, and Israel is fighting for its very existence in the face of Russian, Chinese, Iranian, Syrian, and Hezbollah rocket and missile attacks. Lieberman may lose next Tuesday, but our Party will NOT be better for it. We should be careful, lest we all go over the cliff.
If you so-called 'middle-of-the-road dems are pushing the same Republican swill that Lieberman's pushing' I'm pushin' y'all over the cliff. And, it is never wrong to criticize a president (NEEDLESSLY--HAHAHA--Bush?--you've got to be kidding). Only a true Republican would argue that an unending war against bad guys entitles a president to a criticism-free zone.
Posted by: zelda | August 5, 2006 06:15 PM
Several trees are down in Quapaw Quarter area; saw some trees down this morning on a walk in the Clinton Park; any other reports of damage? Where is Carol Allen's (carol.allen@cjrw.com) weather update. I don't think Carol even predicted Friday's storm.
Posted by: Interesed in weather damage | August 5, 2006 06:35 PM
I heard the same spiel (ruin the party) attack yesterday, but it was from Rush Limpbaugh and his Neo-Con-Right-Wing-Nut Party.
Posted by: GetRush | August 5, 2006 06:38 PM
Hillary wants to avoid Joe Lieberman's fate by arguing that how the administration went about this war has caused all the problems, not that it went to a needless war she supported. Her stratagem avoids the lie that set off all the other lies, and leaves Hillary risking a John Kerry problem, being both for the war and against it.
Many folks were duped into going "for" the war originally. We must hand it to the neo-cons: Good Sales Job boys. Not only did you sell it, you withheld information from the Pentagon no less that indicated Iraq was on the verge of a internal breakdown; it's military was designed for one mission-protect Saddam.
Hillary and a majority of others from both sides of fence gave the neo-cons the benefit of the doubt.
It was wrong. Hillary and all the rest now know it just as a majority of Americans. What is she or any others who were duped supposed to do--lay down and say "I'm unworthy" ? Hell no. I want them to correct the mistake.
_
Posted by: LWood | August 5, 2006 07:49 PM
Hillary is using the neocon argument. The problem is not that we are in a situation from which we cannot emerge triumphant; we just aren't putting enough resources into it. Those quasi-Nazis have been pounding that drum incessantly; America can "win" any war, as long as it has the will. Do whatever it takes; nukes are an option. Everything is an option.
I'm sick of the pandering crap. We need to get out of there and go home, but no politician will dare say so for fear he or she would be consigning the lives of over 2,500 American servicemen and women to worthless dust. It has already been established that Rummy and the rest had their eyes fixed on Iraq from the moment Dubya slithered into office, and conjured up a fake terror link just to make this Godforesaken military venture palatable to the American public. They needed an outpost in the Middle East, a puppet government whose strings they could pull; it was the resurrection of a failed policy that smelled of the Phillipines, and Iran, and Chile.
It didn't work then; it will not work now. The Presidential candidate who says, "Upon assuming office, I will commence immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq" has got my vote.
Posted by: gjdodger | August 5, 2006 08:10 PM
Anyone have a report from the Republian state convention that was held in LR today?
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 08:22 PM
Finally, Hillary has come around to a logical position. What was wrong with her -- and all those other wimps -- who voted for Bush-Cheney to go to war?
No one stopped to say "HEY, WAIT". No one was willing to remind the American public what had happened to the Russians just a few years earlier in Afghanistan and Chechnya.
No, those were Godless Russians -- God was never on their side in Chechnya and Afghanistan.
How many times do we have to listen to our Republicans tell us "We're the world's ONLY superpower!" -- whatever the hell that means.
As THE superpower, it was up to us -- with God on our side -- to show up the Godless Russians as incompetent and bumbling fools. Yes! God spoke directly to Bush and convinced him that he is the Chosen One to remake the world in the image of Democratic USA.
Intoxicated by his self-perceived image of personal immortality, Bush swaggered out in front of the world and staged this debacle.
Who else is to blame? Everybody, especially the Democrats who let a bunch of Right-Wing Nuts cow them into submission. It should have been so EASY for the Democrats to get their act together and vote against this madness.
KUDOS to Ted Kennedy for seeing through the charade from the beginning. NO THANKS to Hillary for being stampeded with the other wimps until -- FINALLY -- yesterday!
--Desipere in Loco.
Posted by: Ecce! Spiro et Spero. | August 5, 2006 08:37 PM
The BlackBerry busted (don't build 'em like they used to . . . back in 2004) and Cingular sent me a new one. This means I've a new PIN. Take note and update your address books and BlackBerry Messenger lists accordingly.
My new PIN is ******.
While I've got you on the line, I ought to let you know that I'm heading to Jonesboro June 1 to work as the field director for Marion Berry's re-election campaign; feel free to swing by when you're in town. (Luther Lowe, who is returning from out east to work for James Lee Witt in Little Rock, will be taking care of the Little Rock house while I'm gone.)
I hope you're doing well and have progressed significantly on developing your trademark summer tan. If it's been a while, hit me up to buy you lunch.
Josh
__________
Josh Blevins
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 09:15 PM
ArkFam's got a hell of a post up about the Chair of the Arkansas College Dems dressing in drag.
Yeah, sure, Arkansas Democrats are conservatives....yeah...
And Beebe is anti-gay, yeah.... right...
www.ArkFam.com
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 09:46 PM
http://arkansasfamilycoalition.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Dressed in Drag | August 5, 2006 09:51 PM
Now who would violate their puter to go over ArkFam.com?
Cowards, I say cowards, who post anon opinions and observations without having the courage to post their names. Typical Thuglican mentality - hit without taking any responsiblity - great job Davey and Jer - you demonstrat just what sniveling cowards you really are.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 09:52 PM
Davey and Jer?
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 09:53 PM
Think journalist and term limited legislator.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 09:56 PM
So what? He dressed in drag for a fundraiser for cancer prevention. .
Put in context, he was being a pretty good sport and raised money for a worthy cause.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 09:59 PM
Not Jer.
He's at Juanita's singing Karoke right now.
I think DS is outta town.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 10:02 PM
Davey and Jer? Don't get it.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 10:04 PM
Jesus, I thought my fellow dems were smarter than this.
Think David - and Jeremy one a soon to be irrelevant jounalist who when the Dems take the Governor's office will be passe' and the other a self proclaimed Republican dynasy name.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 10:08 PM
How do you suppose the Bush baby would have managed to justify instigating a war if 9/11 had never happened? Since many credible sources have said he had sufficient intelligence to have prevented the disaster, it's a thought worth weighing.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 10:18 PM
You think they run the blog? I don't think they do.
Why do you think they do?
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 10:19 PM
Word on the street for the last 2 months, can't believe many haven't heard it. And if not, let them be men and deny it. Little hope for them being men though.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 10:21 PM
"ArkFam's got a hell of a post up about the Chair of the Arkansas College Dems dressing in drag.
Yeah, sure, Arkansas Democrats are conservatives....yeah..."
And Arkansas Republicans turned out to see this guy support ASA!
http://nrd.nationalreview.com/
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 10:26 PM
Ok, answer the question, who is the coward "proud conservative" who posted that? Max and Warwick at least have the balls to sig their post...who is the coward "proud conservative"? Another conservative who prefers to do his dirty work under the cover of anon postings....coward - yes "proud conservative" you are a shining example of Repulican courage - stay the course coward.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 10:33 PM
I can tell you for a fact it ain't them.
Reason being, I'm one of the editors. Neither of them are editors.
Posted by: Posted from out of state. | August 5, 2006 11:01 PM
Oh yeah, the Times blgo ain't anoymous...
Just ask sbutts
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:16 PM
Don't matter to me if every man in America went walking at the mall today in a dress, doesn't change the fact that Bush-Cheney are plunging the world into a living hell of misery and death. All Republicans and neo-Democrats should be punished this November by being thrown out of office in record numbers.
Then and only then might we have a chance at righting the wrongs of the last 5 years and saving the planet Earth. No men in dresses imagined or real, never started a war for oil and killed tens of thousands of innocent people. Prison is too good for the current White House crowd. Send them a clear message with your vote this November.
Posted by: Deathbyinches | August 5, 2006 11:17 PM
Yeah DBI!
Vote for Beebe democrats! He's not a crook!...oh, wait, he's a liar and a crook.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:22 PM
Oh, beautiful! So what you are saying "out of state" is that the ArkFamBlog is run by a bunch of "out of state" Neocons? That being out of the state or Arkansas?
So, you "out of stater's", are driving that blog? Well isn't that interesting?
The editors of the Arkansas Family Blog is produced and run by a bunch of outsiders?
Who's payroll you on?. Why would you care enough about Arkansas politics to run a blog about Arkansas politics when you don't even live here? Nor do you have the courage to sign your name.
Sounds like a front to me!!!! How convenient!
So if you are an out of stater, "proud conservative", tell me, since you care so much about Arkansas, even though you're not here - who are you? A Washington mouth piece for the Hutchinson campaign?
Let it be known, that the driving force behind the now exposed Ark Family Blog is run by a bunch of cowards who don't even live in Arkansas. You have just confirmed my suspicions. The ArkFamBlog is a front and a sham run by cowards.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:26 PM
Hey you at 11:26, you caught us.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:31 PM
Indeed - caught and exposed.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:33 PM
Any candidate with ties to the Republican party in the 2006 or 2008 races (from dogcatcher on up) will also have ties to an anchor around the neck. The current bunch of thugs has ruined any credibility traditional Republicans ever had, not to mention the once great reputation of this nation.
Posted by: hugh mann | August 5, 2006 11:35 PM
Na, it's a smoke screen Anon - it's the handy work of Davey and Jer - trying not to take responsiblity - the - "cowardly" way.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:37 PM
Why would they run the site?
PLenty of other could do it.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:39 PM
Ego
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:40 PM
Attorney general's son arrested on marijuana possession charge
Associated Press
White County sheriff's deputies say they arrested Attorney General Mike Beebe's son, Kyle, on a felony charge of marijuana possession. Kyle Beebe, 22, was arrested Friday when deputies went to his home west of Searcy in response to a call at 9:44 a.m. from his girlfriend, authorities said. Deputies did not provide her name. The couple wasn't in the house when deputies arrived, and they went inside to check on the girlfriend's child, who was in the house. Deputies said they found more than an ounce of marijuana in a plastic bag inside the house. Kyle Beebe was arrested when he returned to the house moments later, deputies said. He was released on $5,000 bond from the White County Jail. He also faces a misdemeanor battery charge after his girlfriend told deputies he shoved her, the deputies said. The younger Beebe, who has an unlisted telephone number, couldn't be reached for comment. "Obviously, his mother and I are heartbroken like any parent would be" Mike Beebe said Friday. But his son is an adult, the attorney general said, "and if he broke the law he needs to pay for it. He needs to be treated like everybody else - no better, no worse." The elder Beebe said he was told of the arrest by the sheriff's office, and hadn't yet talked to his son about it. "He's still my son. I still love him," Mike Beebe said. "But he has to understand - if he did something wrong, you have to be accountable."
http://kylebeebe.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Makes you proud to have a Beebe sticker on your car, huh? | August 5, 2006 11:41 PM
Heard an interesting story about this. Beating up a girlfriend and felony drug possession are big deals.
Kyle Beebe was on probation, but moved to Florida... a clear violation of the law. Heard Beebe told probation officers they'd turn their heads the other way if they knew what was good for them.
Nice honest guy Mike Beebe must be.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:46 PM
A2005 incident?
Be very careful here - make you proud. Query a sea of Fort Smith students who went to Southside High School about drugs and the supplier - you might be shocked that the identifed subject has the same name as your candidate.
It is also pathetic that you would post this in response to something Drew Pritt alledgedly challenged. My advise, leave the kiddies out of this race - it might just bite you in the ass.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:47 PM
It ain't them.
Jeremy ain't got the time I'd imagine. Davey has a full time job, a big family (particularly for his young age) and on top of that writes a column, so he ain't got the time either.
I heard the blog was run by Drew Griffin of NWA.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:48 PM
Drugs aside (my son has batteld them too)
Beating up your girlfriend is a different issue altogether.
Like father like son?
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:51 PM
Heard an interesting story about this. Beating up a girlfriend and felony drug possession are big deals.
Kyle Beebe was on probation, but moved to Florida... a clear violation of the law. Heard Beebe told probation officers they'd turn their heads the other way if they knew what was good for them.
Nice honest guy Mike Beebe must be.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:52 PM
Brother like Brother? Can't have it both ways.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:53 PM
This is by far the most boring open line I've ever encountered. Come home, Max, come home! This whole thing is degenerating from discussion to gossip.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:55 PM
Hell, I've done a little pot in my day (still do on occasion).
But I've never beat my wife up. Certainly never been arrested for it.
Didn't even seem like Beebe cared his son beat the shit out of the girl.
Just look at the picture of her:
http://kylebeebe.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:55 PM
Hey you at 11:55...
What gossip? AP says little Beebe beat up his girlfriend. Comments from Mike Beebe don't seem like he cared too much about it.
Picture of girlfriend at http://kylebeebe.blogspot.com/
If my son did to a girl what Mike Beebe's did to that girl, I'd kick the shit out of my son, not threaten the probation officers with their jobs so he could leave and move to Florida!
But thats Beebe's style... above the law...above the rules.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:59 PM
The Repug anaonymous trollers don't understand that they can't change this election with the sleaze tactics the Rovians used in the past.
Beebe will win handily in November. A$a! is just not a likeable guy and was a failure at Homeland Security to boot. Say Bu-bye.
Posted by: Stick a fork in Asa! | August 6, 2006 12:03 AM
Oh, cuz Beebe's got such a stellar resume, is magnetic, and has proven track-record of winning elections...right...
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 12:05 AM
To you at 12:03
Are you saying that the AP is making this up?
That Beebe just brushed his son's beating the shit out of a girl as nothing?
You are delusional!
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 12:07 AM
Good Lord, Anon, 11:41. You don't mention that this incident happened three years ago.
While you're at it, why don't you write about President Bush's past (???) problems with drugs and alcohol? Or Laura's traffic "accident" in which her classmate (some say former boyfriend) was killed because she ran a stop sign at a high rate of speed?
I don't have a Beebe sticker on my car, but I do have one that says "Had Enough? Vote Democratic."
Knock on wood, I raised successful children who say they never tried drugs. I hope my grandchildren won't ever try drugs. But, hell, lot's of people smoke pot. Should not even be an issue.
Dragging out old stories to try to discredit Beebe shows me that you are pathetic.
I am not a big Beebe fan, but I would vote for Mickey Mouse before I would let ASA! get control of this state.
Posted by: pj | August 6, 2006 12:09 AM
PJ,
It ain't about the drugs. Its about beating up a girl (and Daddy Mike not caring, see AP story) and about threatening probation officers so Kyle could move to Florida.
This is the man you are supporting.
Look at what Kyle Beebe did to this girl:
http://kylebeebe.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 12:12 AM
...I am not a big Beebe fan, but I would vote for Mickey Mouse before I would let ASA! get control of this state.
Amen!
Posted by: zelda | August 6, 2006 12:18 AM
Democrat rallying cry:
"Our guy sucks bad, but yours is even worse!"
Quite inspirational. You must be so proud. For such a candidate we'd just stay home.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 12:20 AM
To vote for a Beebe-type is to encourage/reward his behavior.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 12:25 AM
So what's the Republican battle cry? "We can screw up the whole country. Now let's finish the job and go state-by state!"
Posted by: hugh mann | August 6, 2006 12:29 AM
I'm so proud of Arkansas. We have a toll-free number we can call to report litterers; and we have a snappy sing-along TV commercial just to spread the word. I'm not quite sure how that's suppose to work, however...guess the state just takes the word of whoever is calling (good Samaritans only)...guess Ashcroft's TIPS program got sized down.
It is a stupid idea, a stupid commercial and par for the Huckabee course.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 12:32 AM
Arkansas sucks not only because of Huckabee, but because of decades of democrat control.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 12:35 AM
Republican rallying cry:
"War, gays and Abortion"
Posted by: zelda | August 6, 2006 12:38 AM
Dammit I hate Josh Blevins.
All he talks about is how much money he has and how cool he is.
What a queen.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 12:39 AM
To vote for Beebe is to keep Asa out of the governor's office...that's enough reason.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 12:41 AM
Republican rallying cry:
"War, gays and Abortion"
Yes, we believe they are all issues needing our attention.
We have phonies like Beebe and fags like Blevins.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 12:42 AM
Sell your soul to a lying ass like Beebe?
You come cheap.
Man oh man does Blevins stink. Does anyone like him?
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 12:44 AM
>>Hey you at 11:26, you caught us.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2006 11:31<<
Right now you little putz-pullers are nothing. But keep up your junvinille joy ride and find out how damn fast Ark Fam blog can crash.
Posted by: Richard Needmore | August 6, 2006 01:09 AM
Anon, 12:12.
Where in the AP story did Mike Beebe indicate that he didn't care?
And do you have evidence that he threatened a probation officer? If so, offer it up.
Bringing up an old story about a candidate's offspring is pathetic, at best.
Posted by: pj | August 6, 2006 01:29 AM
Exactly, pj.
So what would you guys have the sitting Attorney General (/candidate for Governor) do in this situation? Flog his son on the courthouse steps? Or since his son is of age, maybe he should just let the legal system work out the situation without his intervention.
The latter seems more prudent and appropriate than the former.
Either way, I think he should have privately kicked his kid's ass, but that's noe of our beeswax..
Posted by: hugh mann | August 6, 2006 01:56 AM
That's not her in the picture. Not even close. Don't know who that is, but it is not the girl referenced in the above article. There are no pictures from that incident, nor would they reveal anything if there were, because nothing happened other than an argument that resulted in a call to the police that resulted in a marijuana arrest. Kyle ain't a saint, but he didn't do that. Kyle's move to Florida was approved by his probation officers after I asked, on behalf of Kyle, for permission for him to move. I never, not one time, talked to Mike Beebe about anything involving his son's arrest, defense, move to Florida, or anything else. From my understanding, Mike told his son that he loved him, but that he was an adult and had to deal with everything like an adult. He was treated exactly like any other criminal defendant in White County, Arkansas would have been treated for the same offense, which is to say a helluva lot harsher than in a lot of other counties in Arkansas. I won't name the girl involved because you people are sick, perverted misfits who couldn't withstand five minutes of scrutiny into your own lives. Leave this stuff alone. It's in every home. Glass houses. Remember that. For God's sake, get a grip.
Posted by: Kyle's Lawyer | August 6, 2006 02:09 AM
Well that makes sense. I should have recognized the neocon modus operandi. Say it enough times and they will believe it. (And a picture is worth a thousand words.)
Posted by: hugh mann | August 6, 2006 02:17 AM
Here's the URL for the photo that supposedly depicts this awful thing that Kyle Beebe did to this woman:
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3745/1997/1600/000008-domestic_abuse.jpg
Notice the fact that the photo never attaches to the article. You can Google it six ways from Sunday and the AP article will never match up with the picture. Then notice the year on that picture: 1997. Pretty amazing stuff to have a picture of something six years BEFORE it happens.
Posted by: Kyle's lawyer | August 6, 2006 02:24 AM
That girl's picture looks like somebody had a good time with makeup and fake blood. Doesn't even look as good as the special affects in the bad slasher movie I saw tonight.
Posted by: Hillcrest Homo | August 6, 2006 02:27 AM
I couldn't sleep so I spent a little time looking for dirt on Kyle Beebe and all I found was an arrest for 2 oz of pot. BFD, in my opinion.
The bloody girlfriend story and picture are obvious fakes and show that not only was Asa incompetent in DC, he can't even fake a news story about someone's kid back here in Arkansas. And way to go.....framing a kid. Good show Republicans!
I know a few stories on one of Asa's kids. Nothing criminal, just would be embarrassing in the middle of a campaign. Though I don't like Asa, I like Asa's kid and they do not deserve to be used for cheap political tricks. I'd rather lose to a Republican than stoop to their level to win.
I expect before November we'll be treated to fake pictures of Beebe's naked mother. It's very apparent the Republicans will do everything they can think of to hold on to the power they so richly deserve to lose because of their 5 solid years of failure and criminal activities. No one should vote Republican this November.
Posted by: Deathbyinches | August 6, 2006 02:55 AM
Right-O, DBI. We ain't seen nothing, yet.
Posted by: hugh mann | August 6, 2006 03:07 AM
Posted by: Deathbyinches | August 6, 2006 02:55 AM
Posted by: hugh mann | August 6, 2006 03:07 AM
You city folks amaze me. I don't even think I made it to 3 a.m. on the night of my high school graduation!
Posted by: Spirit | August 6, 2006 07:47 AM
The piece about Kyle Beebe is sleazy and whoever posted it should be ashamed but spare me the "republicans are so much meaner than democrats" crap. Willet, Beebe and the Arkansas Democrat machine can be just as nasty and worse.
Posted by: Red Rocket | August 6, 2006 08:07 AM
" . . . makeup and fake blood . . ."
That was my impression too. Color can be misleading in photos but the bruises around the eye are not accompanied by swelling. As someone who has been hit in the face (by a softball), let me assure you the area puffs up like a balloon first.
Added to that, the article cited earlier stated only that the young Beebe shoved her. (No he shouldn't have done even that, but he's not the candidate.)
Mike Beebe's not my favorite gubernatorial candidate -- that one doesn't exist this year -- but he's not Asa.
Posted by: Doigotta | August 6, 2006 08:39 AM
Well, looks like outsiders run the Ark Blog - these outsiders post fake stories, fake pictures and don't use their real names.
Pretty sleezey - being a "family blog" and all - it's irrelevent and should be takes for what it is...a tool to spread fiction and lies for the "Christian Right". Nothing there resembles anything I know about Christian values.
DBI is right, it is apparent that they'll do anything and say anything to win. Damn the truth and Christian valuse. It's just the beginning - and we can't let them get away with it -
Looks like it took just about 3 hours for the picture and the Ark Fam's credibility to be trashed. Let's keep that kind of rapid response up and question everything they say and do - man, if this is the Republican example of family values, the 32%er's are not only TFM's they need to open their bibles again and find that Christ never condoned that the ends always justify the means.
Posted by: BlueTicker | August 6, 2006 09:11 AM
Um, looks to me like that Kyle Beebe thing has nothing to do with ArkFam.
Different website alltogether.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 09:26 AM
That bit about Kyle Beebe was nothing but a cheap republican shot. True, Kyle got into trouble like millions of kids do and he's paying for it now.
It's not his Dad's fault. But the gop will twist and turn that story to their sick advantage every way from Sunday.
Glad someone looked at the date on the picture to prove it was a fake.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 09:43 AM
Every time Bush goes on vacation, something bad happens.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 09:44 AM
Bush ten years ago and today. Something happened.
http://www.adbuzz.com/OLD/bushbuzz/BushTenYears.mov
Posted by: Cato | August 6, 2006 10:05 AM
Bush ten years ago and today. Something happened.
http://www.adbuzz.com/OLD/bushbuzz/BushTenYears.mov
Interesting. I didn't know he spoke English so fluently 10 yrs. ago. Now that they mention it, I do notice similarities to the way my 84 year old mother's speech has slowed down, become more halting. It takes her twice as long to compose and verbalize a thought as it used to.
I hope she's not becoming a Republican.
Posted by: Spirit | August 6, 2006 10:22 AM
Went back and checked the timeline and sources. My bad, the Kyle website was not ArkFAm...that being said, my opinion and observations about the ArkFam blog hasn't changed one bit. For example - the attack on Luther Lowe - who was having fun at a fundraiser with a bunch of his friends. Pretty sure there are some picture out there that could easily be posted and eyebrows would be raised about many R's....the cheap theatrics offend me.
Did anyone read David Sanders love piece this morning. Swear, the Republican Party ought to pay for the 5 inches x 5 columns that Sanders got to spread the glories of the R candidates. Or Stephens should at least report Sanders column as an inkind donation.
At least with Brumment, he offers equal opportunity love / hate critques. Maybe when we sweep all the Constitutionals, gain seats in the state house and senate and move into the Governor's office for the next 12 years, Sanders will either find some clarity or objectivity or move to Kansas - of couse that's starting to show some wearily wear and tear.
Posted by: BlueTicker | August 6, 2006 10:35 AM
Anyone read the DemGaz artical about the per-diem re-imbursements?
I found it troubling and possible fruadulant for the state to provide an automobile and also pay the Speaker milage when using the car. If the mileage was for another car, then why are we providing a state car?
This looks like a good case for the Prosecutors office to investigate.
Posted by: Per-diem straight to jail | August 6, 2006 10:39 AM
Brummett's love fests go way too far, like his apology for McDaniels lawsuit today.
And Sanders takes a dig at Asa, reagrding the polls today. Read it again.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 10:44 AM
That's a dig?
"Every poll I have seen or heard about has Beebe in the lead, which means the Repubican nominee has a lot of work to do."
Sanders scores with a cutting, bitting commentary and critisim of the Repbublican nominee!!!
What you drinking this mornin?. If this is an example of what you call a dig - you ain't gonna like the next 4 months...of course I expect Sanders to continue to make these biting commentaries of the Republican nominees....adnausem.
Posted by: BlueTicker | August 6, 2006 10:55 AM
Hey BlueTicker...
Saying Asa has a lot of work to do ain't a love-fest.
Brummett's writing, on the other hand, thats a love fest.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 11:15 AM
Yuck! Looks like the blog grew a canker sore in the middle of the night. Where are those smear merchants this morning? Oh, the sun is shinging. Back under their rocks.
Posted by: mag | August 6, 2006 11:21 AM
Blevins: incompetent, arrogant
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2006 11:30 AM
DOES ANYONE DENY THAT KYLE BEEBE WAS ARRESSTED FOR DRUGS AND FOR VIOLENCE TOWARDS HIS GIRLFRIEND?
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