Cybrpnk's Rantings

While our so-called president continues to attempt to explain just what he meant when he claims to have ruled out 'torture' by American troops, the vice-president has been having words on the senate floor. Again there appears to be some controversy over exactly what was said, but apparently Dick lived up to his name by aiming one of these three classic lines at Senate Patrick Leahy: 'fuck you' or 'fuck off' or possibly 'go fuck yourself.' Cheney, perhaps illustrating why he spends so much time out of the public eye, told Fox News: `I felt better after I said it.'' and ``A lot of my colleagues felt what I said badly needed to be said.'' As of this writing there has yet to be an outpouring of support for Cheney's claim from Republican senators, although one suspects that Cheney's real colleagues, that is to say Halliburton employees, are probably solidly behind him on this one.

Unclear so far is whether the remark was captured and/or broadcast by C-SPAN. If so, would they be subject to fines for obscenity similar to those recently levied against Howard Stern? Or would it be Cheney who would be fined? In any case, I'm sure that this will play well in Middle America, and bolster Republican claims of having brought dignity back to Washington. One wonders if Cheney's remark will factor in to attempts to increase FCC fines for obscenity. Seems like if it's appropriate language for the vice-president to use on the Senate floor it should be fine for broadcast. Or does Dick Cheney need to be kept away from children for their own protection?

Meanwhile, showing that actions do speak louder than words, Jack Ryan is gone. Not the fictional hero from Tom Clancy novels, the Illinois Republican senatorial candidate. Turns out that people were less than thrilled to discover that part of the record in his divorce proceeding from actress Jeri Ryan included allegations that he had not only taken her to sex clubs in New York, New Orleans and Paris, but had insisted they have public sex in those clubs. Her refusal apparently was a major factor in the breakup of their marriage. What is it with these Republicans. Sure Clinton was unfaithful, but he stayed in his marriage, and didn't throw a fit and divorce Hilary for denying him a questionable outlet for his sex drive. Maybe we can get a statement from Newt Gingrich about how marriage is only valuable when the woman completely bends herself to the man's will, a view his divorce history suggests he may hold. Charmingly, Ryan himself states on his campaign website that he is opposed to "same-sex marriages, civil unions, and registries." He then goes on to state that:

"The breakdown of the family over the past 35 years is one of the root causes of some of our society's most intractable social problems-criminal activity, illegitimacy, and the cyclical nature of poverty.

As an elected leader, my interest will be in promoting laws and educating people about the fundamental importance of the traditional family unit as the nucleus of our society."

Accompanying this little diatribe he has a sweet picture of a man, a woman, and a child. Not him, not Jeri Ryan, presumably not their son. His bio mentions that he has a son, but makes no mention at all of either his divorce, or his current marital status. How's that for full disclosure?

So, Jack, are you the cause or the solution here? Guess we'll never know. Buh-bye Jack.