Research Shows Hitler Had Even More Flaws

A retired Bavarian notary and tax expert has stated that Hitler’s tax records (found in a Munich archive) show that Hitler spent years evading taxes, and owed German authorities 405,000 Reichsmarks —equivalent to $8 million today.

Being a history major, CNB does see some merit in researching all aspects of one of history's most important historical figures (in this case, the "bad citizen" aspect, versus the already-researched "megalomaniac human face of evil" aspect). However, only a slow news day explains why this was one of MSNBC's top stories.

CNB Holiday Tip

Cannot find that perfect last minute gift for the child in your life? You certainly cannot go wrong with an action figure, and this site provides you with a unique selection, to put it mildly. Jesus, Oscar Wilde, the Albino Bowler, and Mozart are but a few of the plastic wonders that will dazzle children of all ages.

You're All Nuts -- A CNB Quote Qompendium

1. Missouri state representative Cynthia Davis, discussing her two bills she prefiled for the next legislative session (one would remove the state's requirement that all forms of contraception and their potential health effects be taught in schools, and the other would require publishers that sell biology textbooks to Missouri to include at least one chapter with alternative theories to evolution):

"It's like when the hijackers took over those four planes on Sept. 11 and took people to a place where they didn't want to go. I think a lot of people feel that liberals have taken our country somewhere we don't want to go. I think a lot more people realize this is our country and we're going to take it back."

CNB response: Yes, that is EXACTLY what it is like -- perfect analogy. Don't forget that a vote for Kerry was a vote for more terror attacks.

2. Baseball player Jeremy Giambi (currently in the minors) testifying before a grand jury (investigating BALCO) concerning "the cream" given to him Greg Anderson, the personal trainer for San Francisco Giants star Barry Bonds:

“For all I knew, it could have been baby lotion.”

CNB response: Willful ignorance, while gaining popularity among the American populace at an alarming rate, does not generally equate to the Nixonian "plausible deniability." To dumb it down a shade for you, Mr. Giambi: get a better excuse -- we haven't suffered head injuries.

3. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, defending the pregnant pause taken to respond to a question posed by a National Guardsman in Kuwait (at that now-infamous Q&A session):

"Settle down, settle down. I'm an old man and it's early in the morning. I'm gathering my thoughts here."

CNB response: We know you were just gathering your thoughts (before providing a thoughtless response) -- you were probably just tired. Avoiding issues (you and Mr. Giambi might discuss willful ignorance in greater detail) and answering your own questions (there can be no followups if you don't actually take initial questions from the press) is tiring work. You should look into retirement while Social Security is still available (Sen. McCain certainly will not object to it). You could spend these golden years volunteering your time in Iraq up-armoring Humvees for National Guardsman burned by your "stop loss" policy.

======Update -- 12:34PM CST===============

4. Joe Simpson on his daughter, the ubiquitous Jessica Simpson:

"Jessica never tries to be sexy. She just is sexy. If you put her in a T-shirt or you put her in a bustier, she's sexy in both. She's got double D's! You can't cover those suckers up!"

CNB response: Svengali + Joseph Jackson - child abuse (at least the physical kind) + creepy adoration of daughter's physical attributes = Joe Simpson.

"Pivotal Roles in Great Events"

Today, Pres. Bush presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to retired Gen. Tommy Franks, who oversaw combat in Afghanistan and the initial invasion of Iraq, former Iraq administrator L. Paul Bremer, and former CIA Director George Tenet.

For those without memory of over six months, you might not recall that the 9/11 Commission faulted former CIA Director George Tenet for not having a management strategy to battle terrorism before the 9/11 attacks. You might also recall (as referenced in the Post quote below) that Tenet was widely criticized for his role in providing questionable data concerning the existence of weapons of mass destruction (remember, that was the reason we went to Iraq in the first place) in Iraq, which may have been a cause of his resignation in June 2004. Tenet denied that he received any political pressure to provide that data.

As noted in the Washington Post:

Tenet left the CIA in July after seven years as director. He has been criticized for intelligence failures before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and the never-proven prewar allegations that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

Bush credited him as "one of the first to recognize and address the threat to America from radical networks." He said that after Sept. 11, Tenet was "ready with a plan to strike back at al Qaeda and to topple the Taliban."

Bush further stated that "This honor goes to three men who have played pivotal roles in great events and whose efforts have made our country more secure and advanced the cause of human liberty."

For those actually keeping score of the "great events":

• a suicide car bomber killed seven people at a Green Zone (that used to mean "safe zone") checkpoint early today, which was the second attack in two days near the same gate into the district that houses Iraq’s interim government and the U.S. Embassy (13 died there yesterday)
• 1,294 American soldiers have been killed, with November 2004 tying the highest count to date
• for the ever-rising monetary cost, go here

Kerik Out -- Lieberman In?

Late last week, Bernard Kerik (click for photo -- he is on the left, and is evidently taking his personal style tips from Watergate burglar/right-wing radio host G. Gordon Liddy, pictured at right) withdrew his name from consideration for the Secretary of Homeland Security. Pres. Bush nominated Kerik for the position on December 3, not long after the resignation of current DHS Sec. Tom Ridge.

The official word is that Kerik employed an illegal alien as an employee, and failed to pay the requisite taxes. (Anyone recall Zoe Baird?) However, the developing story is that Kerik's business dealings have been called into question, and there are more reports concerning accusations that he misused resources while head of the New York Police Department. Despite receiving an apology from Rudy Giuliani, who had pushed for Kerik's nomination, the White House has (you should sit down before reading the rest of the sentence) has not admitted the potential mistake. (I told you to sit down -- you're shocked, aren't you?) Instead, the White House says they knew about Kerik's "colorful past" and felt he was still a good nominee.

Now, the word is that the name of Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) has been bandied about as a potential nominee, which has reportedly drawn bipartisan support (his name has been discussed for many Cabinet positions since the November election). Many others, however, feel that Lieberman is part of the problem for Democrats, providing little active opposition to controversial Bush Administration actions (and has been called a "corporate shill").

Should it come to fruition, none of this should come as much of a surprise, considering Lieberman's hawkish leanings, not to mention his postition as Honorary Co-Chairman of the Committee on the Present Danger, whose members inclue Jack Kemp and Ed Meese (interesting note -- the managing director of the Committee stepped down after one day on the job after folks found out his lobbying firm represented the head of Austria's Freedom Party, who had made comments concerning the efficiency of Nazis) . Lieberman would get the press he rarely shuns, and (more significantly) Bush gets to save face by bragging that he has essentially converted the former Democratic VP nominee.