U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and six other representatives visit Syria.... a trip the White House describes as a bad idea.... but Israel's Acting President Dalia Itzik, who is a member of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's centrist Kadima party, said to her about her visit to Damascus "I believe in your worthy intentions."
A handful of Republican and Democratic lawmakers have already visited Syria and met President Bashar al-Assad in December after the bipartisan Iraq Study Group recommended a stepped-up diplomatic effort involving Syria and Iran to help calm the violence in Iraq. And, three Republican congressmen, Frank Wolf (VA), Joe Pitts (PA) and Robert Aderholt (AL), were in Syria on Sunday where they met with Assad.
Pelosi promised Israel she would raise with Assad the issue of three captive Israeli soldiers, two held by Lebanon's Hezbollah group and one by Palestinian militants. She is also conveying that "Israel is willing to talk if they [Syria] would openly take steps to stop supporting terrorism," Olmer's spokeswoman, Miri Eisin said.
In an hour-long meeting, Olmert and Pelosi's delegation talked "extensively" about a Saudi peace plan, dormant since 2002 and relaunched last week at the Arab League summit by Saudi's King Abdullah. Olmert has welcomed the plan, which calls for the recognition by all Arab states of Israel in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from territories captured in 1967.
Accompanying Pelosi on her second trip to the Middle East since assuming the speakership in January are Democratic Representatives Keith Ellison (MN), Henry Waxman (CA), Tom Lantos (CA), Louise Slaughter (NY), Nick Rahall (WV) and Republican David Hobson (OH). This trip also includes stops in the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
Olmert has invited Arab leaders to a regional peace conference for an exchange of views about solving the Mideast conflict.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and said the European Union will try to help resolve the conflicts with Israel, stating she believes, "time is of the essence."
Unsubstantiated reports, fueled by Russian intelligence, predict an attack on Iran in early April by U.S. forces.... Operation Bite. These reports are believable mainly because The Decider has proven that he knows only one way to proceed in international affairs, by the use of force.
It's heartening that our lawmakers are aggressively pursuing the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. As for The Decider.... get out of the way!
Monday, April 02, 2007
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Ill Winds....
When a country "legalizes" and codifies the use of torture, the rule-of-law flies out the window along with a country's moral bearings.
We have Attorney General Gonzales to thank for this abomination, he wrote the torture guidelines memo for The Decider.
Because of these expanded-use of torture guidelines, confessions can reasonably be denied, as in the case of an al-Qaeda "Detainee Alleges Abuse in CIA Prison."
Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who was in CIA custody for more than four years, alleged before a military tribunal on March 14 that his American captors tortured him into making false confessions about terrorist attacks in the Middle East.
Because of these expanded-use of torture guidelines, confessions can reasonably be denied, as in the case of an al-Qaeda "Detainee Alleges Abuse in CIA Prison."
Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who was in CIA custody for more than four years, alleged before a military tribunal on March 14 that his American captors tortured him into making false confessions about terrorist attacks in the Middle East.
The torture of detainees, aside from being despicable morally, not only makes such confessions suspect, it opens the door for similar harsh treatment of our, and our allies, captured soldiers.
The "confessions" of the 15 British sailors currently being held by Iran is a sad case in point. The confessions are not believable, but the worry is, how were they obtained. And, will they be used against them in a show trial.
In the continuing standoff, Iran is turning up the heat after initially promising to release the lone female captive and then reneging on that promise.... "Iranian Official: Sailors May Be Tried."
It is the agenda of President Bush that has brought us to this tit-for-tat pass .... by using the law as a political tool. Attorney General Gonzales is the instrument this administration uses to pervert the law and moral conduct to fit their agenda..... and, it's more than just the torture memo.
Just ask the 8 U.S. Attorneys who were fired for political reasons, many during investigations of which the White House disapproved.
Just ask the two border patrol agents who are facing long prison terms for going after a drug smuggler while that drug smuggler not only received the protection of our law, but goes free.
Bush's Attorney General excuses lawbreaking, drug-pushing and violent Latino illegal immigrant gangs as "individuals who have run into a spell of tough luck." (CNN)
It is the agenda of President Bush that has brought us to this tit-for-tat pass .... by using the law as a political tool. Attorney General Gonzales is the instrument this administration uses to pervert the law and moral conduct to fit their agenda..... and, it's more than just the torture memo.
Just ask the 8 U.S. Attorneys who were fired for political reasons, many during investigations of which the White House disapproved.
Just ask the two border patrol agents who are facing long prison terms for going after a drug smuggler while that drug smuggler not only received the protection of our law, but goes free.
Bush's Attorney General excuses lawbreaking, drug-pushing and violent Latino illegal immigrant gangs as "individuals who have run into a spell of tough luck." (CNN)
Actually, is our country's legal system and moral code that have run into a spell of tough luck.... a fetid gale of corruption that blew in with the Bush administration and lay waste to our moral authority. The world will reap the whirlwind.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Abdullah Takes Aim
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has loosed an arrow at The Decider and his administration's adventures in the Middle East.... "Saudis Publicly Get Tough With U.S."
In a speech Wednesday before a summit of the Arab League, Abdullah targeted the "illegitimate foreign occupation" of Iraq by the U.S. and called for a lifting of the "unjust embargo imposed on the people of Palestine" that has been led by the Bush administration.
And, Saudi officials have labeled Secretary of State Rice's proposed coalition of "moderate" Arab states to counter "extremists" as silly.
Abdullah with this break with the White House is saying out loud, The Decider and Rice the Unready don't know what they are doing.... smashing their way through the international china shop in their pursuit of some power-grabbing agenda.
The American occupation of Iraq has fostered the rise of Iran and upset the traditional Sunni-Shiite balance in the region. The Saudis are worried about Iran.
Abdullah and the Arab League want an end to our occupation of Iraq. The majority Democratic Congress and citizens of the United States want an end to the occupation.
An arrogant Bush will have none of it. To our continuing great cost.
The shaft of the arrow had been feathered with one of the eagle's own plumes We often give our enemies the means of our own destruction.
Aesop (620BC - 560BC)
In a speech Wednesday before a summit of the Arab League, Abdullah targeted the "illegitimate foreign occupation" of Iraq by the U.S. and called for a lifting of the "unjust embargo imposed on the people of Palestine" that has been led by the Bush administration.
And, Saudi officials have labeled Secretary of State Rice's proposed coalition of "moderate" Arab states to counter "extremists" as silly.
Abdullah with this break with the White House is saying out loud, The Decider and Rice the Unready don't know what they are doing.... smashing their way through the international china shop in their pursuit of some power-grabbing agenda.
The American occupation of Iraq has fostered the rise of Iran and upset the traditional Sunni-Shiite balance in the region. The Saudis are worried about Iran.
Abdullah and the Arab League want an end to our occupation of Iraq. The majority Democratic Congress and citizens of the United States want an end to the occupation.
An arrogant Bush will have none of it. To our continuing great cost.
The shaft of the arrow had been feathered with one of the eagle's own plumes We often give our enemies the means of our own destruction.
Aesop (620BC - 560BC)
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Are You My Friend?
As Yogi would say, it feels like "deja vu all over again"..... "Britain Takes Case Against Iran to U.N."
Yes, following the crooked script for disaster in Iraq, the Brits have asked the U.N. Security Council for action. They want them to "deplore" Tehran's seizure and "detention" of 15 Royal Navy sailors and marines, demanding their immediate release.
This declaration of condemnation is being resisted. The dispute is over whether the Brits were operating in Iraqi or Iranian waters.... Russia and others aren't taking the Brits "proof" that they weren't operating in Iranian waters. Iran offers "proof" that they were.
Iran says the whole thing can be resolved if Britain admits it made a "mistake" and crossed into their waters. They also suggest that without such an admission, they might have to take legal action, suggesting they might put the Brit captives on trial.
Meanwhile, the buzz in Russia and much of Europe is that Bush and Blair are primed for confrontation with Iran. Perhaps coincidentally, today our head of national counterintelligence, Joe Brenner, warns that Moscow is intent on gaining insights into "the upper echelon of U. S. decision-making.... back to Cold War levels in their efforts against the United States."
Makes you wonder if Russia isn't on target about the our military buildup on the Iran border since our own counterintelligence is saying Moscow's intelligence is pretty good, a Cold-War level threat.
All of this saber rattling comes at a time when The Decider can count his international supporters on..... well, I was going to say one finger, but Blair is leaving office this July, and his successor may not be so enamored of Bush's enemy-making colonialism. They've been there, done that.
"Wait," you may say. We have other allies, especially the Saudis in the Middle East.
Think again. The Decider wanted to honor his Saudi friends, so he scheduled a mid-April White House gala for King Abdullah. But, Abdullah suddenly cancelled offering an Emily Post "prior commitment" reason.
Just another warning that the politically-weakened Bush's "friends" are distancing themselves. Jim Hoagland's "Bush's Royal Trouble" reports that "Bush and his senior advisers were not convinced" by the vague scheduling excuse, "especially since it followed Saudi decisions to seek common ground with Iran and the radicals of Hezbollah and Hamas instead of confronting them as part of Rice's proposed 'realignment' of the Middle East into moderates and extremes."
Adding insult to injury, Abdullah gave a warm welcome to Iran's President Ahmadinejad in early March. It was just a few months ago that the Saudis were championing the realignment approach.... now the Saudi's national security adviser regularly visits Tehran and Moscow.
Let's face it, Bush and much of his administration are in way over their heads.... dragging the country into incredibly dangerous waters.
Yes, following the crooked script for disaster in Iraq, the Brits have asked the U.N. Security Council for action. They want them to "deplore" Tehran's seizure and "detention" of 15 Royal Navy sailors and marines, demanding their immediate release.
This declaration of condemnation is being resisted. The dispute is over whether the Brits were operating in Iraqi or Iranian waters.... Russia and others aren't taking the Brits "proof" that they weren't operating in Iranian waters. Iran offers "proof" that they were.
Iran says the whole thing can be resolved if Britain admits it made a "mistake" and crossed into their waters. They also suggest that without such an admission, they might have to take legal action, suggesting they might put the Brit captives on trial.
Meanwhile, the buzz in Russia and much of Europe is that Bush and Blair are primed for confrontation with Iran. Perhaps coincidentally, today our head of national counterintelligence, Joe Brenner, warns that Moscow is intent on gaining insights into "the upper echelon of U. S. decision-making.... back to Cold War levels in their efforts against the United States."
Makes you wonder if Russia isn't on target about the our military buildup on the Iran border since our own counterintelligence is saying Moscow's intelligence is pretty good, a Cold-War level threat.
All of this saber rattling comes at a time when The Decider can count his international supporters on..... well, I was going to say one finger, but Blair is leaving office this July, and his successor may not be so enamored of Bush's enemy-making colonialism. They've been there, done that.
"Wait," you may say. We have other allies, especially the Saudis in the Middle East.
Think again. The Decider wanted to honor his Saudi friends, so he scheduled a mid-April White House gala for King Abdullah. But, Abdullah suddenly cancelled offering an Emily Post "prior commitment" reason.
Just another warning that the politically-weakened Bush's "friends" are distancing themselves. Jim Hoagland's "Bush's Royal Trouble" reports that "Bush and his senior advisers were not convinced" by the vague scheduling excuse, "especially since it followed Saudi decisions to seek common ground with Iran and the radicals of Hezbollah and Hamas instead of confronting them as part of Rice's proposed 'realignment' of the Middle East into moderates and extremes."
Adding insult to injury, Abdullah gave a warm welcome to Iran's President Ahmadinejad in early March. It was just a few months ago that the Saudis were championing the realignment approach.... now the Saudi's national security adviser regularly visits Tehran and Moscow.
Let's face it, Bush and much of his administration are in way over their heads.... dragging the country into incredibly dangerous waters.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Hostage Fuse Burning
The Stage
In November of 1979, following the overthrow of the Shah, the followers of Iran's new leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, overran the U.S. embassy and took 66 hostages, most of whom were held for 444 days, until January 20, 1981.
In June of 2004 British servicemen were held for two days after apparently straying into the Iranian side of Shatt-al Arab, the river that constitutes the border between Iraq and Iran down to the mouth as it discharges into the Persian Gulf.
So, how serious is the current seizure of 15 Royal Navy crew members? Where on the retaliation meter does and should it fall?
The British sailors and marines were taken after being confronted by six small Iranian vessels in the Shatt-al Arab waterway, accused of entering Iranian waters.
England's prime minister Tony Blair lost much of his luster over Iraq and is retiring from office soon. Now his Navy, once the mightiest in the world, appears impotent on the world stage. He must have an eye on his legacy. What to do?
The Military Might
There are reports that the lone female in the fifteen troops being held will be released soon. In the meantime, Britain is freezing all talks with Iran and the U.S. Navy is staging its largest show of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion, war games on steroids.
President Bush is facing his biggest challenge ever from Congress over his conduct of the war in Iraq... he needs a convincing argument that in this dangerous region he needs unfettered war powers.
Last Thursday Iran also started exercises in the Gulf which their state television said "showed their defensive power for protecting the Persian Gulf." A show of force in the strategic waterway through which two-fifths of the world's traded oil is shipped.
But Iran is treading in dangerous waters.
The EU, Egypt and the Saudis have expressed their condemnation of Iran's actions. Washington has long been challenging Tehran's resolve to build atomic bombs, and has not ruled out the use of force if there isn't a diplomatic resolution.
A Russian news outlet reported yesterday that their intelligence sees a U.S. military buildup on the Iran border. "The latest military intelligence data point to heightened U.S. military preparations for both an air and ground operation against Iran," although the Pentagon has probably not yet made a final decision as to when an attack will be launched. They also observed that the U.S. Naval presence in the Gulf has for the first time in the past four years reached the Iraq pre-invasion level.
This current military hostage situation impacting our closest ally and potentially much of the world's oil supply is primed to explode the festering tensions with Iran.
The stage is set, the military might is in place, the fuse is burning.....
In November of 1979, following the overthrow of the Shah, the followers of Iran's new leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, overran the U.S. embassy and took 66 hostages, most of whom were held for 444 days, until January 20, 1981.
In June of 2004 British servicemen were held for two days after apparently straying into the Iranian side of Shatt-al Arab, the river that constitutes the border between Iraq and Iran down to the mouth as it discharges into the Persian Gulf.
So, how serious is the current seizure of 15 Royal Navy crew members? Where on the retaliation meter does and should it fall?
The British sailors and marines were taken after being confronted by six small Iranian vessels in the Shatt-al Arab waterway, accused of entering Iranian waters.
England's prime minister Tony Blair lost much of his luster over Iraq and is retiring from office soon. Now his Navy, once the mightiest in the world, appears impotent on the world stage. He must have an eye on his legacy. What to do?
The Military Might
There are reports that the lone female in the fifteen troops being held will be released soon. In the meantime, Britain is freezing all talks with Iran and the U.S. Navy is staging its largest show of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion, war games on steroids.
President Bush is facing his biggest challenge ever from Congress over his conduct of the war in Iraq... he needs a convincing argument that in this dangerous region he needs unfettered war powers.
Last Thursday Iran also started exercises in the Gulf which their state television said "showed their defensive power for protecting the Persian Gulf." A show of force in the strategic waterway through which two-fifths of the world's traded oil is shipped.
But Iran is treading in dangerous waters.
The EU, Egypt and the Saudis have expressed their condemnation of Iran's actions. Washington has long been challenging Tehran's resolve to build atomic bombs, and has not ruled out the use of force if there isn't a diplomatic resolution.
A Russian news outlet reported yesterday that their intelligence sees a U.S. military buildup on the Iran border. "The latest military intelligence data point to heightened U.S. military preparations for both an air and ground operation against Iran," although the Pentagon has probably not yet made a final decision as to when an attack will be launched. They also observed that the U.S. Naval presence in the Gulf has for the first time in the past four years reached the Iraq pre-invasion level.
This current military hostage situation impacting our closest ally and potentially much of the world's oil supply is primed to explode the festering tensions with Iran.
The stage is set, the military might is in place, the fuse is burning.....
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Roll the FOG Out
It's about time for Attorney General Gonzales to roll-out the Bush swan-song.... he "needs to spend more time with his family." After all, the last thing his boss needs is another hot potato in his lid-popping political stew.
Gonzales is one of the Bushies whose qualifications for office are FOG.... Friends of George. If ever there was an apt acronym, it is FOG. The behavioral concept of fogging is to deflect criticism and scrutiny by letting someone vent, and then giving a seemingly agreeable, but evasive, response.
FOG fogging example: Congress: "Gonzales, you know that you lied to us about your involvement in the firing of the eight U.S. Attorneys, we now know there was a meeting in your office about the firings and you signed off on them." Gonzales: "You're right, there was a meeting but the deliberations were over. I never participated in the deliberations"
The statement is then followed by obliging media hacks blaring.... "Gonzales played no role in U.S. Attorney firings." Yep, that's how it works. Now you know.
Underlings who aren't FOG appointments have to take a different tack. The Fifth.
Monica Goodling, Gonzales's senior counselor, is refusing to testify before the Senate about the firings, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Remember, we're talking about the Department of Justice here. This means a senior aide to the nation's top law enforcement official is refusing to testify because she might implicate herself in a crime!
We can only hope that Gonzales decides soon that his family needs him. But too many other incompetent FOG appointees.... like Rice the Unready.... are out there, doing the ask-me-a-question-and-I'll-tell-you-a-half-truth Bush shuffle.
It's time for more FOG to roll out.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Lead Us From Terrorization
No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear. Edmund Burke (1729-1797).
As Zbigniew Brzezinski points out in "Terrorized by 'War on Terror' - How a Three-Word Mantra Has Undermined America," (WaPo) the Bush administration's "war on terror" drumbeat has created monster-under-the-bed paranoia that has left the country tilting at all the wrong threats, in all the wrong places.
Combined with The Decider's strutting "Bring it on" rhetoric, his administration's echo-chamber fear-mongering has intensified unreasoning fearful emotions and stampeded the country to a much deadlier place than before 9/11.... going it alone through the minefields of the Middle East while neglecting what Bush 'a la Nazi Germany refers to as our "homeland." A fascist-resonating label I hope will be retired with the Bushistas in 2009.
Where is the leader, of either party, who will restore our national dignity.... stop our cowering and blind lashing-out at every mouse squeak. In a truly dangerous world, who will restore our courage and reason? That is the leader we must seek in this campaign season.
As Zbigniew Brzezinski points out in "Terrorized by 'War on Terror' - How a Three-Word Mantra Has Undermined America," (WaPo) the Bush administration's "war on terror" drumbeat has created monster-under-the-bed paranoia that has left the country tilting at all the wrong threats, in all the wrong places.
Combined with The Decider's strutting "Bring it on" rhetoric, his administration's echo-chamber fear-mongering has intensified unreasoning fearful emotions and stampeded the country to a much deadlier place than before 9/11.... going it alone through the minefields of the Middle East while neglecting what Bush 'a la Nazi Germany refers to as our "homeland." A fascist-resonating label I hope will be retired with the Bushistas in 2009.
Where is the leader, of either party, who will restore our national dignity.... stop our cowering and blind lashing-out at every mouse squeak. In a truly dangerous world, who will restore our courage and reason? That is the leader we must seek in this campaign season.
Friday, March 23, 2007
An Inconvenient Fever
The Hill is alive, with the sound of musing.
A passionate former Vice President Al Gore warned two congressional panels Tuesday that environmentally "we are facing a planetary emergency" because of climate change fueled by emissions of greenhouse gasses. He urged that we take drastic action because we're facing a feverish planet and dwindling time.
But an unmoved Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) mused that Gore was wrong, and rejected Gore's call to action with a flat, "we're not going to do it."
The in-your-face Inhofe rejected Gore's educated testimony, preferring to nurse his narrow ideological biases. As a bible-quoting ultra-conservative, Inhofe rejects global warming as the "second-largest hoax ever played on the American people, after the separation of church and state."
This big-oil-loving, gay bashing, torture condoning, flat-earth Inhofe is what is wrong with religion, and government. Malicious ignorance.
A passionate former Vice President Al Gore warned two congressional panels Tuesday that environmentally "we are facing a planetary emergency" because of climate change fueled by emissions of greenhouse gasses. He urged that we take drastic action because we're facing a feverish planet and dwindling time.
But an unmoved Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) mused that Gore was wrong, and rejected Gore's call to action with a flat, "we're not going to do it."
The in-your-face Inhofe rejected Gore's educated testimony, preferring to nurse his narrow ideological biases. As a bible-quoting ultra-conservative, Inhofe rejects global warming as the "second-largest hoax ever played on the American people, after the separation of church and state."
This big-oil-loving, gay bashing, torture condoning, flat-earth Inhofe is what is wrong with religion, and government. Malicious ignorance.
Inhofe is but one more example of a for-sale dim-bulb lawmaker who has crawled into bed with lobbyists. And make no mistake, Inhofe and his ilk worship at the money trough.... contributions Inhofe has received from the energy and natural resource sector since taking office have exceeded $1,300,000 dollars. That's his real religion.
So, Gore was left to try to intellectually persuade a rude and uncomprehending Inhofe and his like-minded cronies on both committees. For although Gore has the scientific community and facts on his side, the greedy unhinged can obstruct government action.
Gore posited that stemming global warming was "a challenge to our moral imagination."
But "moral" is a foreign concept to the mulishly-musing "Inhofes" on the Hill.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Subpoena Showdown
Today The Decider threatened a legal showdown with congressional Democrats.
He doesn't want his "brain" Karl Rove, and his less-than-Supreme former counsel Harriet Miers to testify under oath about the firing of eight U.S. attorneys last year... and no transcripts.
But Committee chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) wasn't having any of it.... "Testimony should be on the record, and under oath," he said. (WaPo)
To show they mean business, the Senate handed the blustering Decider his Stetson today.... by an overwhelming 94 to 2 vote they revised the Patriot Act so that Attorney General Gonzales can no longer appoint interim U.S. attorneys without Senate confirmation.
The two dissenting votes.... Senators Christopher Bond (R-MO) and non-announcing-press-conference presidential candidate Chuck Hagel (R-NE).
The Decider said of the embattled and politically damaged Gonzales, "Yes, he's got support with me. I support the attorney general."
That can only mean one thing. Gonzales will soon be gone. Just ask Rumsfeld.
He doesn't want his "brain" Karl Rove, and his less-than-Supreme former counsel Harriet Miers to testify under oath about the firing of eight U.S. attorneys last year... and no transcripts.
But Committee chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) wasn't having any of it.... "Testimony should be on the record, and under oath," he said. (WaPo)
To show they mean business, the Senate handed the blustering Decider his Stetson today.... by an overwhelming 94 to 2 vote they revised the Patriot Act so that Attorney General Gonzales can no longer appoint interim U.S. attorneys without Senate confirmation.
The two dissenting votes.... Senators Christopher Bond (R-MO) and non-announcing-press-conference presidential candidate Chuck Hagel (R-NE).
The Decider said of the embattled and politically damaged Gonzales, "Yes, he's got support with me. I support the attorney general."
That can only mean one thing. Gonzales will soon be gone. Just ask Rumsfeld.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Step Up Congress
Four years after the invasion of Iraq, our nation is much more at risk than before 9/11.... our military reduced to the debris left from Bush's war of choice .
"Military is Ill-Prepared For Other Conflicts," is the chilling headline. Military officials say that "it will take years for the Army and Marine Corps to recover" from the over-rotation that has consumed 40 percent of the total gear, "wearied troops and left no time to train to fight anything other than the insurgencies now at hand."
In other words, our military has been gutted. Our treasury has been gutted. Our troops have been used like fodder for the ambitions of our careless and arrogant Demander-In-Chief.
The longer our troops are in Iraq, the more at risk they are. As Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker testified last week, sustaining the troop increase in Iraq beyond August would be "a challenge."
Equipment is also lacking among Army units in the United States, the vast majority of which are rated "not ready."
Our nation is at the crossroads. The White House and Congress have a choice.... put our nation first by starting to end our active military involvement in Iraq.... or, continue risking all on what has been termed our "death spiral" in Iraq.
As Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Adviser, told Tim Russert today on MSNBC, he's afraid nothing will change with the current administration because it is "too committed to its vast errors."
It's up to Congress.... the time for debate is over. Our national security is hanging by a thread.
"Military is Ill-Prepared For Other Conflicts," is the chilling headline. Military officials say that "it will take years for the Army and Marine Corps to recover" from the over-rotation that has consumed 40 percent of the total gear, "wearied troops and left no time to train to fight anything other than the insurgencies now at hand."
In other words, our military has been gutted. Our treasury has been gutted. Our troops have been used like fodder for the ambitions of our careless and arrogant Demander-In-Chief.
The longer our troops are in Iraq, the more at risk they are. As Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker testified last week, sustaining the troop increase in Iraq beyond August would be "a challenge."
Equipment is also lacking among Army units in the United States, the vast majority of which are rated "not ready."
Our nation is at the crossroads. The White House and Congress have a choice.... put our nation first by starting to end our active military involvement in Iraq.... or, continue risking all on what has been termed our "death spiral" in Iraq.
As Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Adviser, told Tim Russert today on MSNBC, he's afraid nothing will change with the current administration because it is "too committed to its vast errors."
It's up to Congress.... the time for debate is over. Our national security is hanging by a thread.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Bottom-Line Patriotism
Welcome to the world Bush has created for you.
Corporations reign, the bottom line is the new patriotism, CEO's are the new lawmakers, legislators are their capo enforcers, citizens the extorted.
Our Constitution-gutting Attorney General Gonzales works for these corporations who want to cheaply employ illegal aliens... so border enforcement is ignored and our port operations are sold to the highest bidder.... he throws law enforcers who try to stem the drug-running border invaders in prison and fires judges who don't toe the Bush administration political line.
This highest law-enforcer-in-our-land receives his marching orders from an alcohol-stunted frat boy.... The Decider, who revels in his high-fives from his fat-cat corporate buddies
Now, enabled by the very laws passed by the last GOP-majority Congress, many of these same power-bloated corporations are moving their headquarters to other countries, thereby avoiding paying taxes to the country and the people they have trashed.... "Halliburton Chief's Move to Dubai Evokes Warning on Hill."
This war-profiteering, no-bid contract company once run by VP Cheney is thumbing its nose.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said of Halliburton's move, "This is an insult to the U.S. soldiers and taxpayers who paid the tab.... they'll be avoiding U.S. taxes."
What will be done about it?.... Congress will hold too-little too-late hearings on Halliburton's over-charge contracts.
Welcome to the New World Order.
Corporations reign, the bottom line is the new patriotism, CEO's are the new lawmakers, legislators are their capo enforcers, citizens the extorted.
Our Constitution-gutting Attorney General Gonzales works for these corporations who want to cheaply employ illegal aliens... so border enforcement is ignored and our port operations are sold to the highest bidder.... he throws law enforcers who try to stem the drug-running border invaders in prison and fires judges who don't toe the Bush administration political line.
This highest law-enforcer-in-our-land receives his marching orders from an alcohol-stunted frat boy.... The Decider, who revels in his high-fives from his fat-cat corporate buddies
Now, enabled by the very laws passed by the last GOP-majority Congress, many of these same power-bloated corporations are moving their headquarters to other countries, thereby avoiding paying taxes to the country and the people they have trashed.... "Halliburton Chief's Move to Dubai Evokes Warning on Hill."
This war-profiteering, no-bid contract company once run by VP Cheney is thumbing its nose.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said of Halliburton's move, "This is an insult to the U.S. soldiers and taxpayers who paid the tab.... they'll be avoiding U.S. taxes."
What will be done about it?.... Congress will hold too-little too-late hearings on Halliburton's over-charge contracts.
Welcome to the New World Order.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
And So It Goes....
This may be the best news of the year so far.... "Senate Republicans Deliver Sharp Criticism of Gonzales"..... with Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) even suggesting that Attorney General "Gonzales's status as the nation's leading law enforcement officer might not last through the remainder of President Bush's term."But then maybe not. Specter's modus operandi is dragging out a GOP Trojan Horse, loudly proclaiming a popular position in the town square, and then quietly letting the GOP malefactors loose to continue their stealthy dismantling of our country
.
And, don't you feel there is something supremely unsatisfying about the conviction of Scooter... lying and obstruction of justice in the Plame-Wilson-yellow-cake leak investigation .... what about Cheney and his neocons lying the country into war?
But, perhaps the best result emerging from Libby's perjury conviction is best summed up: "What Has Happened to Dick Cheney?" The fact that Libby was Cheney's closest adviser adds another cloud to the gathering storm of speculation.... "Is the vice president losing his influence, or perhaps his mind?"
The one on the assent as Cheney's political teeter-toter sinks seems to be Sec. of State Condi Rice.... the Bush administration is making a sharp jump toward diplomacy abroad, even (gasp) talking to other nations.
The Decider's part in this new diplomacy front.... "Bush Embarks on Longest Trip to Latin America." Perhaps trying to dispel the devilish label that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez pinned on him last year at the U.N., he and Laura are winging their way to Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico this week "to bring a message of hope, a message that says we care about the human condition....".
Or, maybe he is just escaping the D.C. political turmoil and starting the customary presidential lame duck world tour. Whatever.
The Decider needs new horizons, he's already muddied the pond of hope and care for the human condition in this country.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
"From Russia With Love...."
Last week, just four days after Paul Joyal, a 53-year-old expert on Russian intelligence, appeared on NBC's "Dateline" alleging that Putin was involved in the fatal polonium-210 poisoning of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko. Joyal was shot in the groin by two men as he exited his car in his Prince George County, MD driveway.
The men immediately fled. Although the WaPo had reported that unnamed law enforcement said that Joyal's wallet and briefcase were taken, thus giving the shooting the appearance of a robbery, his wife and son have denied that his wallet was taken, showing the billfold to reporters, and his briefcase has been accounted for.
Another participant in the "Dateline" show recently died from a heart attack in London.
The FBI is "looking into the shooting." Joyal is still in critical condition although the doctors are now "cautiously optimistic" that he will recover.
Is this "random shooting" more Putin's KGB-sharpened tentacles reaching out to stifle dissent?.... IN OUR COUNTRY!
The silencing of Putin's critics is old news in Russia.
Last Friday Moscow journalist Ivan Safronov plunged to his death from his apartment building.... he was working on a story about Russian plans to sell weapons to Iran and Syria via Belarus. A subject which would greatly upset the U.S. and Israel.
Safronov had traveled to the United Arab Emirates arms fair last month where he called his editors from Abu Dhabi to confirm rumors that Russia planned to sell S-300 missiles to Iran and Su-30 fighter jets to Syria.
Upon his return, Safronov told colleagues he also had learned about Russia's plans to provide Syria with Iskander missiles, MiG-29 fighter jets and Pantsyr-S1 air defense systems. The Iskander has a range of 175 miles and would give Syria the capability to strike targets in Israel with very high precision.
Russian authorities are calling Safronov's death a suicide.
Independent analyst Pavel Felgenhauer, who knew Safronov and met with him shortly before his death, said "It's quite probable that such deals have been signed, and it's also probable that he [Safronov] was killed because of that."
He said a Russian military affairs officer was brutally beaten by Russian military intelligence agents several years ago over his report on arms sales. "I also feel scared since I'm writing about similar subjects," Felgenhauer said.
The men immediately fled. Although the WaPo had reported that unnamed law enforcement said that Joyal's wallet and briefcase were taken, thus giving the shooting the appearance of a robbery, his wife and son have denied that his wallet was taken, showing the billfold to reporters, and his briefcase has been accounted for.
Another participant in the "Dateline" show recently died from a heart attack in London.
The FBI is "looking into the shooting." Joyal is still in critical condition although the doctors are now "cautiously optimistic" that he will recover.
Is this "random shooting" more Putin's KGB-sharpened tentacles reaching out to stifle dissent?.... IN OUR COUNTRY!
The silencing of Putin's critics is old news in Russia.
Last Friday Moscow journalist Ivan Safronov plunged to his death from his apartment building.... he was working on a story about Russian plans to sell weapons to Iran and Syria via Belarus. A subject which would greatly upset the U.S. and Israel.
Safronov had traveled to the United Arab Emirates arms fair last month where he called his editors from Abu Dhabi to confirm rumors that Russia planned to sell S-300 missiles to Iran and Su-30 fighter jets to Syria.
Upon his return, Safronov told colleagues he also had learned about Russia's plans to provide Syria with Iskander missiles, MiG-29 fighter jets and Pantsyr-S1 air defense systems. The Iskander has a range of 175 miles and would give Syria the capability to strike targets in Israel with very high precision.
Russian authorities are calling Safronov's death a suicide.
Independent analyst Pavel Felgenhauer, who knew Safronov and met with him shortly before his death, said "It's quite probable that such deals have been signed, and it's also probable that he [Safronov] was killed because of that."
He said a Russian military affairs officer was brutally beaten by Russian military intelligence agents several years ago over his report on arms sales. "I also feel scared since I'm writing about similar subjects," Felgenhauer said.
Safronov's death comes amid a rash of attacks on Russian journalists who write about official corruption, Chechnya and other abuses.... "13 journalists have been killed in contract-style murders since Putin took office in 2000."
A dazzled Bush looked into Putin's soul and proclaimed he was a man Bush could trust.... just what did he see to admire in this ruthless and dangerous authoritarian.
The Cold War arms race is on again, only this time our enemies are much more dangerous. And our government.... Condi the Clueless, Congress the Confused, Bush the Unready.... seem unable, or unwilling, to confront reality.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Smells Like Rank Political Pressure
So, not only did Sen.Do-do-Menici (R-NM) fess up to contacting U.S. Attorney David Iglesias during an active investigation, but a "Second Lawmaker Contacted Prosecutor," namely Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM), who rang Iglesias up during the waning days of her tight election campaign last fall.Both lawmakers said they didn't pressure Iglesias to speed up the political corruption investigation involving Democrats.... sure.
The now dumped Iglesias sees it differently. He will expose their rotten tactics to Congress today.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Show Gonzales the Door
At a recent press conference, the highest law enforcement official in our land said in response to why he hadn't answered congressional inquiries about the firing of U.S. Attorneys: “I think that the American people lose if I spend all my time worrying about congressional requests for information, if I spend all my time responding to subpoenas.”
This is Bush's idea of justice.... an Attorney General who puts himself above the law.
So.... the Democratic-led House Judiciary subcommittee has issued subpoenas to the fired prosecutors and will start hearings on Tuesday.... prompting Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) to fess up.... admitting he contacted fired U.S. Attorney Iglesias who said he was being pressured by Domenici about the pace of a corruption probe of Democrats.
"Administration officials acknowledged Friday that the White House approved the unusual firings, in which seven of the prosecutors were called Dec. 7 and asked to resign, even though most had positive job reviews. An eighth prosecutor, in Arkansas, was informed of his firing earlier, opening the job for a former aide to presidential adviser Karl Rove." (WaPo)
For his unwillingness to enforce immigration and other laws inconvenient to the Bush administration's agenda.... for going after and prosecuting law enforcement officers while protecting a drug smuggler.... for firing and replacing competent U.S. Attorneys for political reasons.... and, while as White House counsel, personally approving Bush's program for warrantless domestic wiretaps which circumvented the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and lying to Congress about it.... Attorney General Gonzales has to go.
Rid us of this blight upon our system of justice. Congress.... impeach Gonzales!
This is Bush's idea of justice.... an Attorney General who puts himself above the law.
So.... the Democratic-led House Judiciary subcommittee has issued subpoenas to the fired prosecutors and will start hearings on Tuesday.... prompting Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) to fess up.... admitting he contacted fired U.S. Attorney Iglesias who said he was being pressured by Domenici about the pace of a corruption probe of Democrats.
"Administration officials acknowledged Friday that the White House approved the unusual firings, in which seven of the prosecutors were called Dec. 7 and asked to resign, even though most had positive job reviews. An eighth prosecutor, in Arkansas, was informed of his firing earlier, opening the job for a former aide to presidential adviser Karl Rove." (WaPo)
For his unwillingness to enforce immigration and other laws inconvenient to the Bush administration's agenda.... for going after and prosecuting law enforcement officers while protecting a drug smuggler.... for firing and replacing competent U.S. Attorneys for political reasons.... and, while as White House counsel, personally approving Bush's program for warrantless domestic wiretaps which circumvented the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and lying to Congress about it.... Attorney General Gonzales has to go.
Rid us of this blight upon our system of justice. Congress.... impeach Gonzales!
Friday, March 02, 2007
Dueling Pews at Ten Paces
The 42nd anniversary of the 1965 civil rights march in Selma, AL on Sunday has turned into a dueling pews media circus between presidential hopefuls Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Sen. Hillary Clinton. (D-NY).
Several weeks ago Obama, who is gaining momentum with black voters, announced that he would deliver the keynote speech at a service honoring the march from the Brown Chapel AME Church, where demonstrators organized for the 1965 march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
So..... last Monday the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute (located at the foot of the historic bridge) announced that Hillary would attend the 42nd Annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee and represent her husband, former president Bill Clinton, at his induction into their Hall of Fame.
It was then arranged for Hillary to speak at the First Baptist Church just yards away, and at precisely the same time, that Obama is speaking.
But, evidently still worried that she might not upstage Obama, Hillary brought in the big guns.
Suddenly finding a opening in his schedule, Bill will now swoop into Selma for his induction, right after the walk over the bridge.... thus not upstaging Hillary at the church and walk, yet still spreading his "first black president" rock-star aura over her.
And, this is why Hillary's negatives are so high.
She is so obviously calculating. It isn't pretty watching her elbow her way into the Selma festivities, just as she is elbowing her way into the presidential nomination.
Her pushy behaviour simply highlights one of Obama's strengths, his upbeat but measured approach to things. His likability.
And, as long as Hillary's campaign is just obviously reacting to Obama's inroads with black voters, he'll outdraw Hillary and continue his rise in black voter polling.
Several weeks ago Obama, who is gaining momentum with black voters, announced that he would deliver the keynote speech at a service honoring the march from the Brown Chapel AME Church, where demonstrators organized for the 1965 march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
So..... last Monday the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute (located at the foot of the historic bridge) announced that Hillary would attend the 42nd Annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee and represent her husband, former president Bill Clinton, at his induction into their Hall of Fame.
It was then arranged for Hillary to speak at the First Baptist Church just yards away, and at precisely the same time, that Obama is speaking.
But, evidently still worried that she might not upstage Obama, Hillary brought in the big guns.
Suddenly finding a opening in his schedule, Bill will now swoop into Selma for his induction, right after the walk over the bridge.... thus not upstaging Hillary at the church and walk, yet still spreading his "first black president" rock-star aura over her.
And, this is why Hillary's negatives are so high.
She is so obviously calculating. It isn't pretty watching her elbow her way into the Selma festivities, just as she is elbowing her way into the presidential nomination.
Her pushy behaviour simply highlights one of Obama's strengths, his upbeat but measured approach to things. His likability.
And, as long as Hillary's campaign is just obviously reacting to Obama's inroads with black voters, he'll outdraw Hillary and continue his rise in black voter polling.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
McCain Bus Stalls
BREAKING NEWS!
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to attend Anna Nicole Smith's funeral where he will set his hair on fire!
Well.... maybe a little far fetched, but not much.
Not after appearing on late night funnyman David Letterman's show last night where McCain said: "I am announcing that I will be a candidate for president of the United States," whereupon Letterman drum rolled ten reasons why McCain should be ahead of Rudy Giuliani in the polls.
Well, not really, the drum rolled 10 reasons that is.... but considering the deadly dire straits the country is in a little grown-up gravitas would be appreciated here when announcing for the highest office in our besieged at-war land.
McCain has been trying mightily to slow down Rudy's big "mo" and keep the heel-nipping Mitt Romney at bay.
Even though he has loudly supported (and quietly advised) Bush's war in Iraq, McCain recently pulled his "Straight Talk Express" to the curb and turned on the administration, calling their handling of the war a "train wreck" and Rummy "one of the worst secretaries of defense in history."
But nothing seems to be working for him. His timing is off, his finger in the wind appears fickle, he looks tired and regardless of jumping up and down to gain our attention, he continues to trail Rudy.
There is much to admire in McCain.... not the least of which was his noble service as a Navy pilot and brave suffering as a Vietnam POW, and his years of service in the Senate.
But, maybe his time has passed.
Maybe his next announcement should be that he recognizes that fact. That admission might restore some of the luster to his "Straight Talk Express."
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Wall Street's Tempest Tuesday
It was the perfect storm.
U.S. manufactured durable goods orders for January weakened, down 7.8%, fueled in part by the continued slump in the housing market.... with January housing starts down 14.3% while real estate delinquencies swelled.
Former Federal Reserve guru Alan Greenspan predicted a possible recession in 2007.
China's stock markets fell to a 10-year low, partly due to measures taken in Beijing to slow their rampaging economy.
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez announced they were taking at least 60% control of foreign-run oil projects in their Orinoco river region by May 1, affecting the operations, and slowing production, at BP, Exxon, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and France's Total SA and Norway's Statoil ASA. Development of the tar-soaked river belt promises heavy oil deposits that may outstrip Saudi Arabia's current proven reserves.
So.... Tuesday, as the bad-news waves pounded the market, it floundered and then plunged 416 points by day's end, partly weighed down by a barrage of computer-driven sell orders. The worst market sell-off since the terrorist attack of 9/11 in 2001.
Worldwide it was estimated that a trillion dollars in equities vanished.
This was a warning shot across our bow.
There are forces out there greater than the United States financial might that can strike and inflict a devastating, even mortal, blow to our debt-ridden, trade-deficit-saturated economy.
Yet, a heedless Captain Bush has left a "do not disturb" sign on his cabin door, after setting his relentless course toward the deadly Iraq-war reefs.
U.S. manufactured durable goods orders for January weakened, down 7.8%, fueled in part by the continued slump in the housing market.... with January housing starts down 14.3% while real estate delinquencies swelled.
Former Federal Reserve guru Alan Greenspan predicted a possible recession in 2007.
China's stock markets fell to a 10-year low, partly due to measures taken in Beijing to slow their rampaging economy.
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez announced they were taking at least 60% control of foreign-run oil projects in their Orinoco river region by May 1, affecting the operations, and slowing production, at BP, Exxon, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and France's Total SA and Norway's Statoil ASA. Development of the tar-soaked river belt promises heavy oil deposits that may outstrip Saudi Arabia's current proven reserves.
So.... Tuesday, as the bad-news waves pounded the market, it floundered and then plunged 416 points by day's end, partly weighed down by a barrage of computer-driven sell orders. The worst market sell-off since the terrorist attack of 9/11 in 2001.
Worldwide it was estimated that a trillion dollars in equities vanished.
This was a warning shot across our bow.
There are forces out there greater than the United States financial might that can strike and inflict a devastating, even mortal, blow to our debt-ridden, trade-deficit-saturated economy.
Yet, a heedless Captain Bush has left a "do not disturb" sign on his cabin door, after setting his relentless course toward the deadly Iraq-war reefs.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
McCain Loses His Way
Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) "Straight Talk Express" seems to have gotten lost by taking a sharp turn to the Right while swerving blindly behind the defecating Bush elephant.
Columnist Maureen Dowd gives you a glimpse of McCain's bumpy presidential campaign journey in "A Cat Without Whiskers."
She relates how after a speech at a recent business luncheon McCain got this cheeky inquiry, "I've seen in the press where in your run for the presidency, you've been sucking up to the religious right.... I was just wondering how soon do you predict a Republican candidate for president will start sucking up to the old Rockefeller wing of the Republican Party."
The old McCain.... well, the old McCain wouldn't have been asked this question because he wouldn't have been anywhere near the Falwell "Winky Dinky is Gay" religious right. So, the new McCain answered in probably the only way he now can.... "I'm probably going to get in trouble, but what's wrong with sucking up to everybody?"
What's wrong?
No. He's not going to get in trouble, he is in trouble, having lost his moral compass.... the sound he hears is an alarmed voting public fleeing his out-of-control express as it hurls its way to political-pandering oblivion.
Dowd sadly sums up this new McCain, "Sometimes I miss John McCain, even when I'm with him"
Columnist Maureen Dowd gives you a glimpse of McCain's bumpy presidential campaign journey in "A Cat Without Whiskers."
She relates how after a speech at a recent business luncheon McCain got this cheeky inquiry, "I've seen in the press where in your run for the presidency, you've been sucking up to the religious right.... I was just wondering how soon do you predict a Republican candidate for president will start sucking up to the old Rockefeller wing of the Republican Party."
The old McCain.... well, the old McCain wouldn't have been asked this question because he wouldn't have been anywhere near the Falwell "Winky Dinky is Gay" religious right. So, the new McCain answered in probably the only way he now can.... "I'm probably going to get in trouble, but what's wrong with sucking up to everybody?"
What's wrong?
No. He's not going to get in trouble, he is in trouble, having lost his moral compass.... the sound he hears is an alarmed voting public fleeing his out-of-control express as it hurls its way to political-pandering oblivion.
Dowd sadly sums up this new McCain, "Sometimes I miss John McCain, even when I'm with him"
Monday, February 26, 2007
Sharpton, Jesus and Gore
You can't make this stuff up....
The headline reads "Sharpton's Ancestor Was Owned by Thurmond's." Yes, black civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton's great grandfather, Coleman Sharpton, was a slave owned by relatives of late senator and one-time segregationist Strom Thurmon. Coleman Sharpton was given as a "gift" to Julie Thurmond, whose grandfather was Strom Thurmond's great-great-grandfather.
Another headline screaming for attention..... "I've Found The Coffin Of Jesus." A Hollywood filmmaker today will unveil three coffins he claims were those of Jesus, his mother Mary and his "wife" Mary Magdalene. In 1980 ten coffins were accidentally found during an excavation in Jerusalem, six names were etched into them.... "Jesus son of Joseph, Judah son of Jesus, Maria, Mariamne (thought to be Mary Magdalene's real name), Joseph and Matthew." Lots of gnashing of teeth over this one. Stay tuned.
And, Ex-VP Al "Wooden Man" Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth"....in which he starred.... won an Oscar.
Is this a great country or what!
The headline reads "Sharpton's Ancestor Was Owned by Thurmond's." Yes, black civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton's great grandfather, Coleman Sharpton, was a slave owned by relatives of late senator and one-time segregationist Strom Thurmon. Coleman Sharpton was given as a "gift" to Julie Thurmond, whose grandfather was Strom Thurmond's great-great-grandfather.
Another headline screaming for attention..... "I've Found The Coffin Of Jesus." A Hollywood filmmaker today will unveil three coffins he claims were those of Jesus, his mother Mary and his "wife" Mary Magdalene. In 1980 ten coffins were accidentally found during an excavation in Jerusalem, six names were etched into them.... "Jesus son of Joseph, Judah son of Jesus, Maria, Mariamne (thought to be Mary Magdalene's real name), Joseph and Matthew." Lots of gnashing of teeth over this one. Stay tuned.
And, Ex-VP Al "Wooden Man" Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth"....in which he starred.... won an Oscar.
Is this a great country or what!
Friday, February 23, 2007
Biden Hits the Brakes
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) championed a DOA House proposal to make additional funding for the Iraq war dependent on strict troop-readiness standards, which on the surface might seem to be a good idea. But that proposal met stiff resistance.... from both sides of the aisle.... largely because it puts in place risky inflexibilities.
And, the recent "non-binding" resolutions are viewed by the public as a tiptoeingly-tepid approach.... the public wants "binding" action.... want to stop the runaway Bush/Cheney war machine.
So.... here comes the brakeman in the form of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden (D-DE) who is seeking to repeal 2002 war authorization.... "We gave the president that power to destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and, if necessary, to depose Saddam Hussein, " Biden said of the 2002 resolution in a speech last week before the Brookings Institution. "The WMD was not there. Saddam Hussein is no longer there. The 2002 authorization is no longer relevant to the situation in Iraq." (WaPo)
Biden and Armed Service Committee Chairman Carl M. Levin (D-MI) are drafting language to present to the Senate when they reconvene Tuesday that will set a goal for withdrawing combat brigades by March 31, 2008 as recommended by the Iraq Study Group.
Once the combat phase ends, troops would be restricted to assisting Iraqis with training, border security and counterterrorism. This resolution will go directly to the Senate floor for action, possibly as an amendment to a homeland security bill scheduled for debate next week.
At the same time, Murtha's ideas will no be dismissed out-of-hand. The Iraq funding bill due for vote in the House the week of March 12 would require the president to publicly reveal that he is deploying unrested, under-trained or under-equipped troops, or extending combat tours of troops already in Iraq.
Maybe it's just me, but doesn't it seem like he should already have been forced to publicly come clean about troop and equipment readiness before deployment.
Of course, that didn't happen because the previous GOP-majority Houses abdicated their oversite roles, allowing the Bush/Cheney administration to lay waste to lives, treasure and our world standing.
As Congress puts the brakes on an arrogant reckless Bush, hopefully they also vow.... "Never again."
And, the recent "non-binding" resolutions are viewed by the public as a tiptoeingly-tepid approach.... the public wants "binding" action.... want to stop the runaway Bush/Cheney war machine.
So.... here comes the brakeman in the form of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden (D-DE) who is seeking to repeal 2002 war authorization.... "We gave the president that power to destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and, if necessary, to depose Saddam Hussein, " Biden said of the 2002 resolution in a speech last week before the Brookings Institution. "The WMD was not there. Saddam Hussein is no longer there. The 2002 authorization is no longer relevant to the situation in Iraq." (WaPo)
Biden and Armed Service Committee Chairman Carl M. Levin (D-MI) are drafting language to present to the Senate when they reconvene Tuesday that will set a goal for withdrawing combat brigades by March 31, 2008 as recommended by the Iraq Study Group.
Once the combat phase ends, troops would be restricted to assisting Iraqis with training, border security and counterterrorism. This resolution will go directly to the Senate floor for action, possibly as an amendment to a homeland security bill scheduled for debate next week.
At the same time, Murtha's ideas will no be dismissed out-of-hand. The Iraq funding bill due for vote in the House the week of March 12 would require the president to publicly reveal that he is deploying unrested, under-trained or under-equipped troops, or extending combat tours of troops already in Iraq.
Maybe it's just me, but doesn't it seem like he should already have been forced to publicly come clean about troop and equipment readiness before deployment.
Of course, that didn't happen because the previous GOP-majority Houses abdicated their oversite roles, allowing the Bush/Cheney administration to lay waste to lives, treasure and our world standing.
As Congress puts the brakes on an arrogant reckless Bush, hopefully they also vow.... "Never again."
Thursday, February 22, 2007
King George's Delusions
Never mind that the "Ally's Timing Is Awkward for Bush,"... he's still a legend in his own mind. He and his enablers are spinning the British pullback as "basically a good-news story." But Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) said of the notion that it actually signals success.... "I think it's Alice in Wonderland looking through the looking glass."
Congress can, and must, put King George and his feudal whims in checkmate....
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
An Oxymoron: Romney Principles
Richard Cohen in his piece "The Talented Mr. Romney" said it best about the counterfeit man.... "If he were a coin, a vending machine would spit him out."
Why? Well, because once Romney was supportive of gay issues.... until as president-wanna-be he's shoving them into the closet.
Because he wanted abortions to be safe and legal... but is now appeasing the back-alley conservatives and demanding they be made illegal.
Because he used to have a moderate position on gun control.... but has now joined the National Rifle Association and is panting after the Cheney quick-trigger base.
As Cohen so succinctly points out about Romney's "craven crawl toward the White House,"....
"I don't know whether he has any respect for himself, but he sure as hell has none for us."
Why? Well, because once Romney was supportive of gay issues.... until as president-wanna-be he's shoving them into the closet.
Because he wanted abortions to be safe and legal... but is now appeasing the back-alley conservatives and demanding they be made illegal.
Because he used to have a moderate position on gun control.... but has now joined the National Rifle Association and is panting after the Cheney quick-trigger base.
As Cohen so succinctly points out about Romney's "craven crawl toward the White House,"....
"I don't know whether he has any respect for himself, but he sure as hell has none for us."
Sunday, February 18, 2007
"Raider" Romney?
Any way you look at it, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney showed a disturbing lack of moral clarity today on ABC's "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos.
When asked about his vote for Paul Tsongas, a Democrat, in the 1992 primaries, he offered this explanation:
"In Massachusetts, if you register as an Independent, you can vote in either Republican or Democratic primary.
"When there was no real contest in the Republican primary, I'd vote in the Democrat primary, vote for the person who I thought would be the weakest opponent for Republican.....
"I go in their primary, just like a lot of other folks, and voted against the person who I thought was the strongest Democrat....
"So, yes, as an Independent, I'll go in and play in their primary, but I'm a Republican and have been through my life."
This "playing in the primary" is called "raiding." The purpose is not to help to select the best candidates possible, but to frustrate the process.....dirty political tricks.
But, Romney gave another explanation for his vote for Democrat Tsongas 12 years ago. The Boston Globe reported on February 3, 1994 that Romney was giving this explanation for his vote for Tsongas... "he did so both because Tsongas was from Massachusetts and because he favored his ideas over those of Bill Clinton."
Well, that wouldn't be raiding, that would be voting for the best opponent (in Romney's opinion) to run against George Bush, Sr.
So which is it Mitt, are you a dirty-tricks raider, or lying to cover your support of Tsongas. Either way, it's a lose-lose.... and exposes your moral blind spots.
When asked about his vote for Paul Tsongas, a Democrat, in the 1992 primaries, he offered this explanation:
"In Massachusetts, if you register as an Independent, you can vote in either Republican or Democratic primary.
"When there was no real contest in the Republican primary, I'd vote in the Democrat primary, vote for the person who I thought would be the weakest opponent for Republican.....
"I go in their primary, just like a lot of other folks, and voted against the person who I thought was the strongest Democrat....
"So, yes, as an Independent, I'll go in and play in their primary, but I'm a Republican and have been through my life."
This "playing in the primary" is called "raiding." The purpose is not to help to select the best candidates possible, but to frustrate the process.....dirty political tricks.
But, Romney gave another explanation for his vote for Democrat Tsongas 12 years ago. The Boston Globe reported on February 3, 1994 that Romney was giving this explanation for his vote for Tsongas... "he did so both because Tsongas was from Massachusetts and because he favored his ideas over those of Bill Clinton."
Well, that wouldn't be raiding, that would be voting for the best opponent (in Romney's opinion) to run against George Bush, Sr.
So which is it Mitt, are you a dirty-tricks raider, or lying to cover your support of Tsongas. Either way, it's a lose-lose.... and exposes your moral blind spots.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Babs: You'll Never Eat Lunch There Again George
Which ex-president's image makers have crafted a genteel, grandfatherly blue blood for public consumption?..... why, George Bush Sr.
Which actress stars in a wildly popular TV show about a bunch of naughty ladies frolicking about town?.... why, Teri Hatcher of Desperate Housewives fame.
Put them together for lunch in Beverly Hills and you get.... "Posterior Patting Papa."
Isn't technology great!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Bedtime for Bozo
While Georgie is being lulled by Uncle Cheney with his nightly bedtime fairy tale, a horrified nation wrestles with the waking nightmare of Iraq and another troop surge.Outgoing Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker warns "Iraq Troop Boost Erodes Readiness, General Says."
That's right, Iraq has crippled our ability to defend ourselves and others.... "Virtually all of the U.S. based Army combat brigades are rated as unready to deploy..."
Nightie night.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Trust Us
Here we go again.... we're being told there is "proof" that Iran is supplying deadly armor-piercing explosives that are targeting Iraqi and U.S. troops.... "Military Ties Iran To Arms In Iraq."
In a briefing in Iraq on Sunday, nameless explosive experts gave a presentation to the news media without allowing them "to record, photograph or videotape the briefing or the materials on display." (WaPo)
Few doubt that a fate-based Decider would like to build a case against Iran. Can we believe this latest sermon? The Decider's truth-telling on Iraq:
Lied about WMD.
Lied during State of the Union speech re: Niger uranium.
Lied about Saddam/bin Laden connection.
Manipulated intelligence to justify invasion
Falsely claimed finding bio-lab trucks.
Lied about nation-building.
Lied to Americans about the real cost of Iraq war.
Lined Halliburton's pockets in Afghanistan and Iraq with fat no-bid contracts.
So now in an unrecorded briefing held in media-remote Iraq by nameless "experts" we are being asked to believe.... does it really matter what we're being asked to believe. The Bush administration doesn't have the big "C" anymore. Credibility.
The flock no longer has blind faith in the Bush/Cheney gospels.
In a briefing in Iraq on Sunday, nameless explosive experts gave a presentation to the news media without allowing them "to record, photograph or videotape the briefing or the materials on display." (WaPo)
Few doubt that a fate-based Decider would like to build a case against Iran. Can we believe this latest sermon? The Decider's truth-telling on Iraq:
Lied about WMD.
Lied during State of the Union speech re: Niger uranium.
Lied about Saddam/bin Laden connection.
Manipulated intelligence to justify invasion
Falsely claimed finding bio-lab trucks.
Lied about nation-building.
Lied to Americans about the real cost of Iraq war.
Lined Halliburton's pockets in Afghanistan and Iraq with fat no-bid contracts.
So now in an unrecorded briefing held in media-remote Iraq by nameless "experts" we are being asked to believe.... does it really matter what we're being asked to believe. The Bush administration doesn't have the big "C" anymore. Credibility.
The flock no longer has blind faith in the Bush/Cheney gospels.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
The Plane Facts
"Speaker Pursues Military Flights" The Washington Times 2/1/7
"Pelosi is said by military sources to be interested in more, a larger plane capable of carrying more people non-stop to the West Coast." Brit Hume Fox News "Special Report" 2/5/07
"Pelosi Plane Includes Private Bed, Entertainment Center, And Costs $22,000 Per Hour To Operate" The Washington Times 2/8/07
"Air-Ogant Nancy" New York Post 2/8/07
ALL OF THE ABOVE REFERENCES (TALKING POINTS) WERE TAKEN FROM THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE SITE, GOP.com.
Just where did this non-story story about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) get started.... the Moonie Washington Times, who also circulated the "madrassa" smear about Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).... both stories were based on "unnamed sources."
Of course, with glee FOX News jumped on the get-Pelosi bandwagon and others with similar political hatchets piled on.
But, we were sorely disappointed when CNN's Lou Dobbs joined in the howling..... instead of investigating the report he covered the story every evening for six straight days... February 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.... repeating the inaccuracies and amplifying the attacks. On the February 5 edition of Lou Dobbs Tonight he said:
"Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House, can now fly in style at your expense. Speaker Pelosi has been granted authorization to make use of military aircraft whenever she sees fit." And after a report by Lisa Sylvester full of inaccuracies and innuendos he shook his head and said, "Well, it's really a fascinating thing: 42. She could take a circus with her, for crying out loud." Media Matters
Lou had one thing right, it was a circus all right, but the circus was the media coverage of this non-story.
Of course, also weighing in... "House GOP Blasts Pelosi for Plane Request." WaPo 2/9/07
Using the excuse of Pelosi's hearings on global warming to vent their minority-status rage, the Republican representatives accused her of wasting taxpayers money on planes that could seat "175-190 passengers." Shoot-from-the-mouth Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) bellowed "By commandeering a huge government plane for her personal transport to California, this is totally contradictory to the alarm bells we heard her ringing in the Science Committee just a few hours ago."
THE FACTS:
House Sergeant-at-Arms Bill Livingood (one just has to smile at the irony of his name though) who is charged with the speaker's security, issued a statement saying it was actually he, not Pelosi, who had requested that the military provide the larger plane so Pelosi could fly nonstop to San Francisco.
CNN and others reporting on the story provided no support for the claims that Pelosi was asking for Air Force One-like accommodations. Roll Call quoted a Pelosi aide as saying, "All we're asking for is what Hastert [the previous Speaker] had."
Pelosi said Thursday that she's happy to fly commercial. "We never asked for a larger plane. This is a myth that [the Republicans] are talking about on the floor," she said. "They have nothing to say to the American people about the war, the economy, global warming and the rest. So they have this game they're playing."
Finally, The Decider's press secretary, Tony Snow, had to bring the pack to heel, defending Pelosi from the snarling media hype and frothing legislative hyperbole... "White House Backs Pelosi In Tumult Over Plane." WaPo 2/8/07
"This is a silly story," Snow said, ..."it's been unfair to the speaker."
Now we're waiting for the retractions and apologies, especially from Dobbs.
Guess the sensation-bombarded public can forget about that though. The pack won't have time, they're too busy chasing the next big story.... the world-changing demise of ex-"Bunny" Anna Nicole Smith. Sad.
"Pelosi is said by military sources to be interested in more, a larger plane capable of carrying more people non-stop to the West Coast." Brit Hume Fox News "Special Report" 2/5/07
"Pelosi Plane Includes Private Bed, Entertainment Center, And Costs $22,000 Per Hour To Operate" The Washington Times 2/8/07
"Air-Ogant Nancy" New York Post 2/8/07
ALL OF THE ABOVE REFERENCES (TALKING POINTS) WERE TAKEN FROM THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE SITE, GOP.com.
Just where did this non-story story about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) get started.... the Moonie Washington Times, who also circulated the "madrassa" smear about Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).... both stories were based on "unnamed sources."
Of course, with glee FOX News jumped on the get-Pelosi bandwagon and others with similar political hatchets piled on.
But, we were sorely disappointed when CNN's Lou Dobbs joined in the howling..... instead of investigating the report he covered the story every evening for six straight days... February 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.... repeating the inaccuracies and amplifying the attacks. On the February 5 edition of Lou Dobbs Tonight he said:
"Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House, can now fly in style at your expense. Speaker Pelosi has been granted authorization to make use of military aircraft whenever she sees fit." And after a report by Lisa Sylvester full of inaccuracies and innuendos he shook his head and said, "Well, it's really a fascinating thing: 42. She could take a circus with her, for crying out loud." Media Matters
Lou had one thing right, it was a circus all right, but the circus was the media coverage of this non-story.
Of course, also weighing in... "House GOP Blasts Pelosi for Plane Request." WaPo 2/9/07
Using the excuse of Pelosi's hearings on global warming to vent their minority-status rage, the Republican representatives accused her of wasting taxpayers money on planes that could seat "175-190 passengers." Shoot-from-the-mouth Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) bellowed "By commandeering a huge government plane for her personal transport to California, this is totally contradictory to the alarm bells we heard her ringing in the Science Committee just a few hours ago."
THE FACTS:
House Sergeant-at-Arms Bill Livingood (one just has to smile at the irony of his name though) who is charged with the speaker's security, issued a statement saying it was actually he, not Pelosi, who had requested that the military provide the larger plane so Pelosi could fly nonstop to San Francisco.
CNN and others reporting on the story provided no support for the claims that Pelosi was asking for Air Force One-like accommodations. Roll Call quoted a Pelosi aide as saying, "All we're asking for is what Hastert [the previous Speaker] had."
Pelosi said Thursday that she's happy to fly commercial. "We never asked for a larger plane. This is a myth that [the Republicans] are talking about on the floor," she said. "They have nothing to say to the American people about the war, the economy, global warming and the rest. So they have this game they're playing."
Finally, The Decider's press secretary, Tony Snow, had to bring the pack to heel, defending Pelosi from the snarling media hype and frothing legislative hyperbole... "White House Backs Pelosi In Tumult Over Plane." WaPo 2/8/07
"This is a silly story," Snow said, ..."it's been unfair to the speaker."
Now we're waiting for the retractions and apologies, especially from Dobbs.
Guess the sensation-bombarded public can forget about that though. The pack won't have time, they're too busy chasing the next big story.... the world-changing demise of ex-"Bunny" Anna Nicole Smith. Sad.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
A Travesty of Justice
Border agents arresting and detaining drug smugglers and illegal aliens, many of whom end up serving prison time, are no different than other officers of the law. Placing them in prison with the type of criminals they have apprehended is life threatening.
That is just one reason why it is outrageous that two border agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, were each given over a decade prison sentence for trying to apprehend a drug smuggler who was trying to elude them in a van loaded with marijuana. Ramos has already been attacked and beaten in his Mississippi prison.
Yes, the agents lied about shooting at and hitting the smuggler in the buttocks. In the heat of the chase they were trying to guard the border.... doing their job. They tried to avoid the paperwork surrounding such a shooting, so they let it go. And that has cost them dearly. Too dearly. The drug smuggler was given immunity to testify against them, and after a later apprehension for smuggling an even larger amount of drugs across the border, was again given immunity.
Rep. John Culberson (D-TX) said Ramos and Compean "may not have followed proper procedures following the shooting, which at most should have resulted in their suspension from the force, but not criminal procedure." (WaPo)
So, just who is this zealous U.S. prosecutor.... Johnny Sutton. Sutton was then-Texas-governor George W. Bush's Criminal Justice Policy Director from 1995-2000 advising Bush on all criminal justice issues.
Bush has been implored by many in his own party to grant pardons, but has claimed he didn't know enough about the case and has thus far refused pardons. If you believe that, there is a brick from our border fence I want to sell you.
This is Bush's so-called justice, blindfold firmly in place. It was his boy who ran the agents to ground and made sure they are facing stiff prison time.
Bush seems determined to keep our borders open even if it leads to aiding and abetting drug smugglers and terrorists.... part of his perverted vision for a North American Union. Justice be damned.
That is just one reason why it is outrageous that two border agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, were each given over a decade prison sentence for trying to apprehend a drug smuggler who was trying to elude them in a van loaded with marijuana. Ramos has already been attacked and beaten in his Mississippi prison.
Yes, the agents lied about shooting at and hitting the smuggler in the buttocks. In the heat of the chase they were trying to guard the border.... doing their job. They tried to avoid the paperwork surrounding such a shooting, so they let it go. And that has cost them dearly. Too dearly. The drug smuggler was given immunity to testify against them, and after a later apprehension for smuggling an even larger amount of drugs across the border, was again given immunity.
Rep. John Culberson (D-TX) said Ramos and Compean "may not have followed proper procedures following the shooting, which at most should have resulted in their suspension from the force, but not criminal procedure." (WaPo)
So, just who is this zealous U.S. prosecutor.... Johnny Sutton. Sutton was then-Texas-governor George W. Bush's Criminal Justice Policy Director from 1995-2000 advising Bush on all criminal justice issues.
Bush has been implored by many in his own party to grant pardons, but has claimed he didn't know enough about the case and has thus far refused pardons. If you believe that, there is a brick from our border fence I want to sell you.
This is Bush's so-called justice, blindfold firmly in place. It was his boy who ran the agents to ground and made sure they are facing stiff prison time.
Bush seems determined to keep our borders open even if it leads to aiding and abetting drug smugglers and terrorists.... part of his perverted vision for a North American Union. Justice be damned.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Trial Unlocking Iraqgate
What we have here is nothing less than Iraqgate. The breadth and consequences of the manipulation of facts to justify the invasion of Iraq makes Watergate pale into jay-walking-ticket insignificance.
The perjury trial of Scooter Libby, VP Cheney's right-hand man, is ferreting out this slimy trail of deception that leads directly to the White House.
"CIA former associate deputy director Robert Grenier averted his glance from the defense table where Libby sat as he joined the ranks of witnesses helping the prosecution paint Libby as a liar who tried to conceal his bosses' efforts to silence a war critic. Grenier's agency had repeatedly taken a beating from Cheney and Libby in the run-up to the Iraq war, with Cheney deriding the spooks as incompetent in finding evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction." (WaPo)
As Frank Rich points out in Sunday's New York Times, "Why Dick Cheney Cracked Up":
".... Dick Cheney lost it on CNN.... and barked 'hogwash' at the congenitally mild Wolf Blitzer" in an interview conducted "the day after the start of the perjury trial of Mr. Cheney's former top aide, Scooter Libby. The vice president's on-camera crackup reflected his understandable fear that a White House cover-up was crumbling. He knew that sworn testimony in a Washington courtroom would reveal still more sordid details about how the administration lied to take the country into war in Iraq....
"The White House [is] terrified about being found guilty of a far greater crime than outing a CIA officer, lying to the nation to hype its case for war. When Mr. Wilson, an obscure retired diplomat, touched that raw nerve, all the president's men panicked because they knew Mr. Wilson's modest finding in Africa was the tip of a far larger iceberg..... thanks to the commotion caused by the leak case, that damning evidence has slowly dribbled out....
"What we are learning from Mr. Libby's trial is just what a herculean effort it took to execute this two-pronged cover-up after Mr. Wilson's article appeared. Mr. Cheney was the hands-on manager of the 24/7 campaign of press manipulation and high-stakes character assassination, with Mr. Libby as his chief hatchet man."
Like a horror movie's monster octopus tentacles, the same falsifying of facts and propaganda are pulling the country into the bottomless depths of an expanded and extended war in Iraq.
Watergate brought down a president.
Iraqgate will hopefully rid us of the war's evil architect, Cheney, and his apocalyptic influence over future events.
Justice and over 3,000 U. S. heroes' now stilled voices demand it.
The perjury trial of Scooter Libby, VP Cheney's right-hand man, is ferreting out this slimy trail of deception that leads directly to the White House.
"CIA former associate deputy director Robert Grenier averted his glance from the defense table where Libby sat as he joined the ranks of witnesses helping the prosecution paint Libby as a liar who tried to conceal his bosses' efforts to silence a war critic. Grenier's agency had repeatedly taken a beating from Cheney and Libby in the run-up to the Iraq war, with Cheney deriding the spooks as incompetent in finding evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction." (WaPo)
As Frank Rich points out in Sunday's New York Times, "Why Dick Cheney Cracked Up":
".... Dick Cheney lost it on CNN.... and barked 'hogwash' at the congenitally mild Wolf Blitzer" in an interview conducted "the day after the start of the perjury trial of Mr. Cheney's former top aide, Scooter Libby. The vice president's on-camera crackup reflected his understandable fear that a White House cover-up was crumbling. He knew that sworn testimony in a Washington courtroom would reveal still more sordid details about how the administration lied to take the country into war in Iraq....
"The White House [is] terrified about being found guilty of a far greater crime than outing a CIA officer, lying to the nation to hype its case for war. When Mr. Wilson, an obscure retired diplomat, touched that raw nerve, all the president's men panicked because they knew Mr. Wilson's modest finding in Africa was the tip of a far larger iceberg..... thanks to the commotion caused by the leak case, that damning evidence has slowly dribbled out....
"What we are learning from Mr. Libby's trial is just what a herculean effort it took to execute this two-pronged cover-up after Mr. Wilson's article appeared. Mr. Cheney was the hands-on manager of the 24/7 campaign of press manipulation and high-stakes character assassination, with Mr. Libby as his chief hatchet man."
Like a horror movie's monster octopus tentacles, the same falsifying of facts and propaganda are pulling the country into the bottomless depths of an expanded and extended war in Iraq.
Watergate brought down a president.
Iraqgate will hopefully rid us of the war's evil architect, Cheney, and his apocalyptic influence over future events.
Justice and over 3,000 U. S. heroes' now stilled voices demand it.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Missing Molly
It's often said, but seldom more aptly.... we'll not see her like again. Molly Ivins.
It was "Molly Ivin's Joyful Outrage" that helped us laugh at the puffed-up anti-populist powerful. "And joy was the key...fighting the good fight was a kick" for Molly.
Yet, while she did irreverently trim the shrub, let's not forget her political acumen that could send a Texas-sized Tabasco-tipped dart into the heart of the matter. Like Molly's bulls eye Hillary-hit on January 20, 2006:
"I'd like to make it clear to the people who run the Democratic Party that I will not support Hillary Clinton for president.
"Enough. Enough triangulation, calculation and equivocation. Enough clever straddling, enough not offending anyone. This is not a Dick Morris election. Sen. Clinton is apparently incapable of taking a clear stand on the war in Iraq, and that alone is enough to disqualify her. Her failure to speak out on Terri Schiavo, not to mention that gross pandering on flag-burning, are just contemptible little dodges."
Then Molly went on to remind us that we need "political courage and heroes.... when a country is desperate for leadership. There are times when regular politics will not do, and this is one of those times."
Amen Molly.
It was "Molly Ivin's Joyful Outrage" that helped us laugh at the puffed-up anti-populist powerful. "And joy was the key...fighting the good fight was a kick" for Molly.
Yet, while she did irreverently trim the shrub, let's not forget her political acumen that could send a Texas-sized Tabasco-tipped dart into the heart of the matter. Like Molly's bulls eye Hillary-hit on January 20, 2006:
"I'd like to make it clear to the people who run the Democratic Party that I will not support Hillary Clinton for president.
"Enough. Enough triangulation, calculation and equivocation. Enough clever straddling, enough not offending anyone. This is not a Dick Morris election. Sen. Clinton is apparently incapable of taking a clear stand on the war in Iraq, and that alone is enough to disqualify her. Her failure to speak out on Terri Schiavo, not to mention that gross pandering on flag-burning, are just contemptible little dodges."
Then Molly went on to remind us that we need "political courage and heroes.... when a country is desperate for leadership. There are times when regular politics will not do, and this is one of those times."
Amen Molly.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
DC Sopranos Sing
..."sacrifice the guy that was asked to stick his neck in the meat grinder."
Is this a mob boss fingering his pigeon on the Sopranos?
In a way, yes....the political equivalent.
This message was given by "Tony" Cheney to "The Ba-Da-Boom Crew" instructing them that the fall guy for the leak that Valerie Plame was a covert CIA agent would be "Scooter" Libby, and not "Turd Blossom" Rove.... "Big Boss" Bush's front man.
Oh yes, Cheney is the capo trying to shield Bush from any connection to the crime.... the falsifying of intelligence that took us to war in Iraq and the perjury committed by Libby in trying to cover for his bosses. But the cops, in the form of Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, are slowly closing in.
You have to look no further than the response to a query posed by Wolf Blitzer (CNN) to Cheney about Cheney's pregnant gay daughter to see the real "Tony".... the stone wall and threatening-glare shot at a genuflecting Blitzer says it all. Archconservative Cheney's intimidation and refusal to discuss an obvious political paradox is exactly how he and his back room boys operate.
But, these political mobsters, despite all their strong-arm tactics, are being sucked into the legal vortex of Libby's perjury trial, exposing the corruption swirling through the Bush administration.
Matthew Cooper, Time magazine's White House reporter in the summer of 2003, told jurors yesterday that President Bush's top political aide, Karl Rove, was the first administration official to privately tell him that former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson was married to a CIA officer. (WaPo)
Looks like Turd Blossom is fingered after all.... now we want to hear all of the Sopranos sing!
Is this a mob boss fingering his pigeon on the Sopranos?
In a way, yes....the political equivalent.
This message was given by "Tony" Cheney to "The Ba-Da-Boom Crew" instructing them that the fall guy for the leak that Valerie Plame was a covert CIA agent would be "Scooter" Libby, and not "Turd Blossom" Rove.... "Big Boss" Bush's front man.
Oh yes, Cheney is the capo trying to shield Bush from any connection to the crime.... the falsifying of intelligence that took us to war in Iraq and the perjury committed by Libby in trying to cover for his bosses. But the cops, in the form of Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, are slowly closing in.
You have to look no further than the response to a query posed by Wolf Blitzer (CNN) to Cheney about Cheney's pregnant gay daughter to see the real "Tony".... the stone wall and threatening-glare shot at a genuflecting Blitzer says it all. Archconservative Cheney's intimidation and refusal to discuss an obvious political paradox is exactly how he and his back room boys operate.
But, these political mobsters, despite all their strong-arm tactics, are being sucked into the legal vortex of Libby's perjury trial, exposing the corruption swirling through the Bush administration.
Matthew Cooper, Time magazine's White House reporter in the summer of 2003, told jurors yesterday that President Bush's top political aide, Karl Rove, was the first administration official to privately tell him that former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson was married to a CIA officer. (WaPo)
Looks like Turd Blossom is fingered after all.... now we want to hear all of the Sopranos sing!
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