“Unlimited Chief Executive Authority” is the very antithesis and opposite of democracy. There can be no justification for it in a democracy, never, no time, no way. A far more honest and accurate term for that is “A Dictatorship”.
Allowing unlimited power to a President - any president - is a serious and grave danger to a democracy. Our current President seeks ever more power at the expense of rights and freedoms we have long taken for granted in our country. There is a pervasive and uneasy feeling of intimidation, and those who criticize the abuses of presidential power and our loss of freedoms are fiercely castigated as ‘unpatriotic’ and far worse.
President Bush has abrogated to himself the right to redefine legality, and assigned to himself the absolute right to ignore laws, civil rights and common human decency, internationally and within our own country. He has shamed us and dragged our country’s name through the mud. He is aided and abetted by a compliant majority who apparently sincerely believe they are acting in the interests of “national security”. Many influential people publicly support the loss of our civil rights and freedoms as ‘necessary in time of war’. How quickly we have succumbed to what surely seems to be more like a Fascist mentality than anything else.
Americans are told that extraordinary measures are needed in war time. But, we must not forget who insisted upon the ‘preemptive’ Iraqi war, and the belligerent flag-wrapped far right-wingers who vociferously supported that war from the very beginning. In fact, there is evidence to suggest an Iraqi war was strongly advocated - even planned - before President Bush took office. The US was right to take the battle to Afghanistan and our real enemies - but Bush largely abandoned that fight to attack Iraq instead. No matter how odious the Saddam regime was, Iraq posed little threat to our country and had no part in the 9/11 attacks.
The Neo-Cons hold no mandate for their power grab, and can only do as much as our own citizens will allow them to do through our fear, and their intimidation and manipulation. Our country is vulnerable and in very real danger of losing our democracy under the excuse of ‘national security’ today. Many, even in the President’s own party seem to now be waking up to reality however. Perhaps we haven’t quite descended into a complete dictatorship yet.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Monday, December 19, 2005
The Ends NEVER Justify the Means
The philosophy that “the ends justify the means’ is antithetical in a democracy. Conversely, a defining principle of Fascists is their faith in this credo. But, the first casualty of this doctrine is the abandonment of truth, ethics and respect for law and civil rights in favor of expediency. Once begun, this invariably snowballs into the limitless improprieties we now witness in the current Bush Administration.
President Bush says his ‘authorization’ for illegal wiretapping of American citizens is "a vital tool in our war against terrorists and critical to saving American lives". This administration supports human torture, imprisonment without trial or legal representation, shadowy, sneaky and illegal ‘rendition’ and massively egregious other human rights abuses. Bush excuses this as ‘vital to national security’, and demonizes any who disagree. Fear is the vehicle, with the mantra of “9/11, 9/11, 9/11” used over and over again and again and again.
Never mind the breaking of US and international laws, not to mention commonly accepted basic mores of humanity . And how about that “Patriot Act” which attacks the very foundations of our treasured personal freedoms - all in the name of ‘National Security’?
To put the most benevolent face on it, the Bush Administration has notoriously ‘misled’ the public in the face of completely contradictory evidence. Well known (and admitted) examples:
“(intelligence) leaves no doubt that . . . Iraq . . . continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.” GW Bush
"There's a grave threat in Iraq. There just is." GW Bush
President Bush used fear to stampede our country into a ‘pre-emptive’ war costing many thousands of lives - and untold billions, with no end in sight. The overwhelming tragedy is this illegal war has actually helped terrorists and increased their threat. But, we are there now and the challenge is to extricate ourselves in the least damaging way while still maintaining security for our nation.
Cadres of ‘embedded’ journalists parrot the administration line, and journalists are paid millions to write misleading, untrue propaganda articles for publication. A largely co-opted US media in the hands of a few people, gutlessly fails to perform its vital duty to keep the public fairly informed.
This administration and their supporters savagely attacks victims, persons or groups who dare to point out the truth;
This administration blandly makes wholesale ‘black is white’ assertions which are absolutely contrary to truth:
The “Clean Air Act” (which is anything but);
“There is no proof of global warming”;
The “Healthy Forests Initiative” (actually boosts fire danger and receives no funding);
Denies complicity in supporting a coup against a democratically elected government in Venezuela;
"This new law preserves and strengthens the current Medicare program.” (in fact the opposite, by privatizing much of the plan)
“I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees.” GW Bush (09/01/05)
And the list goes on (and on, and on, and on).
We deserve the government we tolerate.
President Bush says his ‘authorization’ for illegal wiretapping of American citizens is "a vital tool in our war against terrorists and critical to saving American lives". This administration supports human torture, imprisonment without trial or legal representation, shadowy, sneaky and illegal ‘rendition’ and massively egregious other human rights abuses. Bush excuses this as ‘vital to national security’, and demonizes any who disagree. Fear is the vehicle, with the mantra of “9/11, 9/11, 9/11” used over and over again and again and again.
Never mind the breaking of US and international laws, not to mention commonly accepted basic mores of humanity . And how about that “Patriot Act” which attacks the very foundations of our treasured personal freedoms - all in the name of ‘National Security’?
To put the most benevolent face on it, the Bush Administration has notoriously ‘misled’ the public in the face of completely contradictory evidence. Well known (and admitted) examples:
“(intelligence) leaves no doubt that . . . Iraq . . . continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.” GW Bush
"There's a grave threat in Iraq. There just is." GW Bush
President Bush used fear to stampede our country into a ‘pre-emptive’ war costing many thousands of lives - and untold billions, with no end in sight. The overwhelming tragedy is this illegal war has actually helped terrorists and increased their threat. But, we are there now and the challenge is to extricate ourselves in the least damaging way while still maintaining security for our nation.
Cadres of ‘embedded’ journalists parrot the administration line, and journalists are paid millions to write misleading, untrue propaganda articles for publication. A largely co-opted US media in the hands of a few people, gutlessly fails to perform its vital duty to keep the public fairly informed.
This administration and their supporters savagely attacks victims, persons or groups who dare to point out the truth;
This administration blandly makes wholesale ‘black is white’ assertions which are absolutely contrary to truth:
The “Clean Air Act” (which is anything but);
“There is no proof of global warming”;
The “Healthy Forests Initiative” (actually boosts fire danger and receives no funding);
Denies complicity in supporting a coup against a democratically elected government in Venezuela;
"This new law preserves and strengthens the current Medicare program.” (in fact the opposite, by privatizing much of the plan)
“I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees.” GW Bush (09/01/05)
And the list goes on (and on, and on, and on).
We deserve the government we tolerate.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Be Careful Who You Love
Did you know that as a US citizen there’s an organization ‘working on your behalf, in your name’, and in the name of “National Security”, which is totally secretive and unaccountable for it's actions?
Did you know that this organization has a virtually unlimited budget paid by you, the American taxpayer?
Did you know that this organization is responsible for the imprisonment, torture and murder of many people - but no one knows how many, because of the secrecy surrounding their operations?
Did you know that this organization has supported military campaigns, sponsored terrorism and started wars in other countries based on the organization’s leaders’ own, personal determination of what is or is not ‘good’ for the US?
Did you know this organization has sponsored the assassination of foreign leaders, not just one but many?
Did you know that this organization has worked with and hired Mafia ‘hit men’ and groups to do their dirty work?
Did you know that this organization is virtually autonomous and is only vaguely guided by the policies of whichever party is in charge of the US administration. (This organization’s actions and ‘policies’ are however, definitely largely in tune with our current Neo-Con administration).
Did you know that the overall policies of this organization are determined by only a handful of virtually unaccountable people, and depend on their determinations of what is or is not suitable? In other words, they do as they wish with impunity, depending upon their whims and vagaries of the moment.
Did you know that this organization has for many years - decades - mounted totally illegal operations ranging from drug-running, gun running, clandestine shadow companies, airlines, illegal prisons and far worse?
Did you know that this organization has aligned itself with virtually every right wing dictatorship and despot on the planet at one time or another?
Did you know that this organization operates with zero ethical considerations, totally at odds with most American values?
Did you know that the actions of this organization have resulted in many totally innocent and uninvolved persons being imprisoned indefinitely, ‘disappeared’ and even murdered? (No one knows for sure, nor how many).
Did you know that persons of conscience within this organization have been routinely and severely punished for being ‘whistle-blowers’, but no one knows the the numbers of people involved nor the extent of those punishments?
Did you know that this organization has been involved in virtually every scandal, embarrassment and illegal activity the US has ever been accused of since the inception of this organization?
This organization is a malignant cancer on our country, thriving on the blood of their perceived and self-described enemies. We Americans speak of it in hushed voices, afraid of their power and of the consequences if we speak out.
Can you have any doubt this organization is the US’s CIA?
We as Americans are responsible for allowing the CIA to be inflicted upon ourselves and the rest of the world Only we Americans can root out this malignancy before it destroys us. If we do not, it will enslave us along with the rest of the world.
Did you know that this organization has a virtually unlimited budget paid by you, the American taxpayer?
Did you know that this organization is responsible for the imprisonment, torture and murder of many people - but no one knows how many, because of the secrecy surrounding their operations?
Did you know that this organization has supported military campaigns, sponsored terrorism and started wars in other countries based on the organization’s leaders’ own, personal determination of what is or is not ‘good’ for the US?
Did you know this organization has sponsored the assassination of foreign leaders, not just one but many?
Did you know that this organization has worked with and hired Mafia ‘hit men’ and groups to do their dirty work?
Did you know that this organization is virtually autonomous and is only vaguely guided by the policies of whichever party is in charge of the US administration. (This organization’s actions and ‘policies’ are however, definitely largely in tune with our current Neo-Con administration).
Did you know that the overall policies of this organization are determined by only a handful of virtually unaccountable people, and depend on their determinations of what is or is not suitable? In other words, they do as they wish with impunity, depending upon their whims and vagaries of the moment.
Did you know that this organization has for many years - decades - mounted totally illegal operations ranging from drug-running, gun running, clandestine shadow companies, airlines, illegal prisons and far worse?
Did you know that this organization has aligned itself with virtually every right wing dictatorship and despot on the planet at one time or another?
Did you know that this organization operates with zero ethical considerations, totally at odds with most American values?
Did you know that the actions of this organization have resulted in many totally innocent and uninvolved persons being imprisoned indefinitely, ‘disappeared’ and even murdered? (No one knows for sure, nor how many).
Did you know that persons of conscience within this organization have been routinely and severely punished for being ‘whistle-blowers’, but no one knows the the numbers of people involved nor the extent of those punishments?
Did you know that this organization has been involved in virtually every scandal, embarrassment and illegal activity the US has ever been accused of since the inception of this organization?
This organization is a malignant cancer on our country, thriving on the blood of their perceived and self-described enemies. We Americans speak of it in hushed voices, afraid of their power and of the consequences if we speak out.
Can you have any doubt this organization is the US’s CIA?
We as Americans are responsible for allowing the CIA to be inflicted upon ourselves and the rest of the world Only we Americans can root out this malignancy before it destroys us. If we do not, it will enslave us along with the rest of the world.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
The Marble Game
Once there was a fat little boy who loved pigs and thought they were the coolest things ever. Whenever he’d see one he would gleefully follow it around.
One day he fell in behind a pack of Texas swine. One of the hogs looked particularly fine to the little boy and he followed closely right behind that hog. That hog rooted and snorted, stopping here and there along the way and generally making a noisy nuisance of himself. But the little boy didn’t care because he had become totally infatuated with that Texas hog.
That Texas hog loved to wallow around the crude oil tank farms and oily residues got all over him and everything he ate. It was so bad that even that hog’s little pig poops were covered with oil which made them all shiny - and fascinating to the little fat boy. He picked up some nearly round ones, all covered with oil and said to himself,
“Wow! These look just like bright shiny marbles! Maybe that’s what they are!”
And, he gathered up the round ones and put them in a bag that he began carrying for the purpose. Before long he convinced himself the greasy little pig poops really were marbles and began looking to get in a game with the other boys.
There were two groups of boys, some with real marbles and others like the little fat boy who had become infatuated with shiny pig poops. The pig poop boys demanded to get in the game with the boys with the real marbles.
“No damned way!” shouted the boys of that group. “All them things are, are just stinking, nasty, greasy little pig poops!
“That’s where you’re wrong” retorted the pig poop group. “These here things are the real things. As a matter of fact, they are realer that those shiny round hard thingies you fellers are playing with!”
And the pig poop group shouted so loud and so long that the boys in the other group felt obliged to let them into their marble games in all fairness.
At first, the greasy little pig poop marbles did OK. They certainly LOOKED the part. The greasy little pig poop boys bullied their way in and began dominating the game, and anyone who complained about having to play with pig poop was hooted down and called names, and disparaged in all sorts of clever, artfully devious ways.
Before long, the greasy little pig poop marbles began to show signs of being what they really were - obviously fraudulent as marbles. They stank to high heaven for one thing. They began coming apart at the seams and some disintegrated altogether. The folks with the real marbles pointed out the problems with the pig poop marbles, but the pig poop boys refused to acknowledge anything showing their little pig poops weren’t real marbles. They even deceitfully called the real marbles ‘fakes’ and ‘un-marbles’ and such.
As time went on, the defects in the greasy little pig poops became too much to ignore, and even some of the pig poop group began to see the truth of the matter. But, there remained a diehard bunch who could never admit the greasy little pig poops were not the real thing. They convinced themselves to the point that reality could not and would not be allowed to intrude.
The little fat boy was one of those. When others kept pointing out the all-too-obvious fraudulent nature of his greasy little pig poop marbles, he got all pissy and mad and wouldn’t play anymore. He stomped off home with his greasy little pig poop marbles disintegrating and rotting in his pocket and stinking to high heavens.
No one knows what will become of him and the others like him.
One day he fell in behind a pack of Texas swine. One of the hogs looked particularly fine to the little boy and he followed closely right behind that hog. That hog rooted and snorted, stopping here and there along the way and generally making a noisy nuisance of himself. But the little boy didn’t care because he had become totally infatuated with that Texas hog.
That Texas hog loved to wallow around the crude oil tank farms and oily residues got all over him and everything he ate. It was so bad that even that hog’s little pig poops were covered with oil which made them all shiny - and fascinating to the little fat boy. He picked up some nearly round ones, all covered with oil and said to himself,
“Wow! These look just like bright shiny marbles! Maybe that’s what they are!”
And, he gathered up the round ones and put them in a bag that he began carrying for the purpose. Before long he convinced himself the greasy little pig poops really were marbles and began looking to get in a game with the other boys.
There were two groups of boys, some with real marbles and others like the little fat boy who had become infatuated with shiny pig poops. The pig poop boys demanded to get in the game with the boys with the real marbles.
“No damned way!” shouted the boys of that group. “All them things are, are just stinking, nasty, greasy little pig poops!
“That’s where you’re wrong” retorted the pig poop group. “These here things are the real things. As a matter of fact, they are realer that those shiny round hard thingies you fellers are playing with!”
And the pig poop group shouted so loud and so long that the boys in the other group felt obliged to let them into their marble games in all fairness.
At first, the greasy little pig poop marbles did OK. They certainly LOOKED the part. The greasy little pig poop boys bullied their way in and began dominating the game, and anyone who complained about having to play with pig poop was hooted down and called names, and disparaged in all sorts of clever, artfully devious ways.
Before long, the greasy little pig poop marbles began to show signs of being what they really were - obviously fraudulent as marbles. They stank to high heaven for one thing. They began coming apart at the seams and some disintegrated altogether. The folks with the real marbles pointed out the problems with the pig poop marbles, but the pig poop boys refused to acknowledge anything showing their little pig poops weren’t real marbles. They even deceitfully called the real marbles ‘fakes’ and ‘un-marbles’ and such.
As time went on, the defects in the greasy little pig poops became too much to ignore, and even some of the pig poop group began to see the truth of the matter. But, there remained a diehard bunch who could never admit the greasy little pig poops were not the real thing. They convinced themselves to the point that reality could not and would not be allowed to intrude.
The little fat boy was one of those. When others kept pointing out the all-too-obvious fraudulent nature of his greasy little pig poop marbles, he got all pissy and mad and wouldn’t play anymore. He stomped off home with his greasy little pig poop marbles disintegrating and rotting in his pocket and stinking to high heavens.
No one knows what will become of him and the others like him.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
The Pace of Dying
The Iraq War is remote and dimly perceived by most Americans, presented as it is by 'embedded correspondents' and controlled media. Propagandized as necessary for "National Security" it is seen as desirable and supported by most Neo-Cons. It was and is neither necessary nor desirable, and in fact now contributes greatly to future instability in our world. It is also a terrible blot on the reputation of our country. These facts are now being noted by the majority of people in our country today.
The Iraq War dominates the thoughts and lives of the families and friends of those who are being sacrificed there and the consequences will last for the rest of their lives. This gruesomely and chillingly clever site puts the pace of dying in the Bush II Iraq war into a more understandable perspective for the rest of us.
The animation runs at ten frames per second - one frame for each day - and a single black dot indicates the geographic location that a coalition military fatality ocurred. Each dot starts as a white flash and a larger red dot which fades to black over the span of 30 frames/days, and then slowly fades to grey over the span of the entire war.
Accompanying the visual representation is a soft 'tic' sound for each fatality, the volume of which increases relative to the number of fatalities that occurred simultaneously that day. More deaths in a smaller area produces visually deeper reds and audibly more pronounced 'tic's.
Americans owe it to our country to pay attention to what is being done in our names - so suck in your gut a little and watch this if you dare:
(Turn up the volume on your computer a little)
http://www.obleek.com/iraq/index.html
The Iraq War dominates the thoughts and lives of the families and friends of those who are being sacrificed there and the consequences will last for the rest of their lives. This gruesomely and chillingly clever site puts the pace of dying in the Bush II Iraq war into a more understandable perspective for the rest of us.
The animation runs at ten frames per second - one frame for each day - and a single black dot indicates the geographic location that a coalition military fatality ocurred. Each dot starts as a white flash and a larger red dot which fades to black over the span of 30 frames/days, and then slowly fades to grey over the span of the entire war.
Accompanying the visual representation is a soft 'tic' sound for each fatality, the volume of which increases relative to the number of fatalities that occurred simultaneously that day. More deaths in a smaller area produces visually deeper reds and audibly more pronounced 'tic's.
Americans owe it to our country to pay attention to what is being done in our names - so suck in your gut a little and watch this if you dare:
(Turn up the volume on your computer a little)
http://www.obleek.com/iraq/index.html
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Endemic Sleeze & Deceit
Is sleeze and deceit endemic to certain political doctrines? Does history tend to repeat itself? Will it repeat again? You be the judge (but, please try to be careful what you wish for!): Before the Iraq invasion, administration officials -- including Vice President Cheney, cited intelligence 'information' that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction to make their case for war (amongst many other lies).
Yesterday, Vice President Dick Cheney accused Democratic senators who allege the Bush administration distorted intelligence to justify the war in Iraq of making "one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city."
This "Vice" President strongly reminds me of another VP who once famously referred to war critics as 'an effete corps of impudent snobs who characterize themselves as 'intellectuals' " and who complained about the press as 'nattering nabobs of negativism'. Yes, I am talking about good ol' Spiro Agnew, and both these guys sure smell the same to me:
But at least Spiro Agnew chose to resign as Vice President to avoid a White House scandal. He was under IRS criminal investigation for tax evasion associated with his taking kickbacks from contractors while governor of Maryland.
After his resignation, he pleaded 'no contest' and was given a token fine of $10,000. Spiro was subsequently fined $248,000.00 by the state of Maryland. And, Spiro Agnew remains the only VP in history to have resigned under criminal investigation. Ah yes, who can forget good ol' Spiro? Well, the State of Maryland would like to for one example. Today the Maryland Governor's Reception Room is lined with pictures of former governors, but ol' Spiro's likeness just ain't there.
And remember, that Spiro's President, the one and only Richard Milhous Nixon, ALSO resigned the Presidency during his second term to avoid impeachment for his Watergate illegalities.
Now, how's that for a record for an administration! But, it looks like Cheney may try to tough it out in the hope the Fitzpatrick investigation fizzles and Cheney remains unindicted. Time will tell on that. Will history repeat? Well, one can certainly hope. But wait just a darned minute! Dennis Hastert as President? Come on! Lord help us all!
But, even that would certainly be better than having Cheney in the top spot . . . .
Yesterday, Vice President Dick Cheney accused Democratic senators who allege the Bush administration distorted intelligence to justify the war in Iraq of making "one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city."
This "Vice" President strongly reminds me of another VP who once famously referred to war critics as 'an effete corps of impudent snobs who characterize themselves as 'intellectuals' " and who complained about the press as 'nattering nabobs of negativism'. Yes, I am talking about good ol' Spiro Agnew, and both these guys sure smell the same to me:
But at least Spiro Agnew chose to resign as Vice President to avoid a White House scandal. He was under IRS criminal investigation for tax evasion associated with his taking kickbacks from contractors while governor of Maryland.
After his resignation, he pleaded 'no contest' and was given a token fine of $10,000. Spiro was subsequently fined $248,000.00 by the state of Maryland. And, Spiro Agnew remains the only VP in history to have resigned under criminal investigation. Ah yes, who can forget good ol' Spiro? Well, the State of Maryland would like to for one example. Today the Maryland Governor's Reception Room is lined with pictures of former governors, but ol' Spiro's likeness just ain't there.
And remember, that Spiro's President, the one and only Richard Milhous Nixon, ALSO resigned the Presidency during his second term to avoid impeachment for his Watergate illegalities.
Now, how's that for a record for an administration! But, it looks like Cheney may try to tough it out in the hope the Fitzpatrick investigation fizzles and Cheney remains unindicted. Time will tell on that. Will history repeat? Well, one can certainly hope. But wait just a darned minute! Dennis Hastert as President? Come on! Lord help us all!
But, even that would certainly be better than having Cheney in the top spot . . . .
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Liars, all
Do you ever feel as though you are paying some kind of hidden tax or ransom each time you buy fuel of any kind? Maybe you've wondered why gasoline prices have doubled in the past year and a half?
Have you wondered if there was any hanky-panky going on between energy companies, this administration & VP Cheney - especially since Cheney has steadfastly refused to release any documents concerning their 'secret' meetings? Cheney & his staff adamantly maintain that the President & Vice President have the "constitutional right to obtain information in confidentiality", (and apparently from anyone they wish to listen to, especially if they can somehow collude together).
Well, wonder no more:
These were meetings which oil company executives have denied to a man that ever took place. Nonetheless, according to the *Washington Post article:
"According to the White House document, Rouse met with task force staff members on Feb. 14, 2001. On March 21, they met with Archie Dunham, who was chairman of Conoco. On April 12, according to the document, task force staff members met with Conoco official Huffman and two officials from the U.S. Oil and Gas Association, Wayne Gibbens and Alby Modiano.
On April 17, task force staff members met with Royal Dutch/Shell Group's chairman, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, Shell Oil chairman Steven Miller and two others. On March 22, staff members met with BP regional president Bob Malone, chief economist Peter Davies and company employees Graham Barr and Deb Beaubien.
Toward the end of the hearing, Lautenberg (D-NJ) asked the five executives: "Did your company or any representatives of your companies participate in Vice President Cheney's energy task force in 2001?" When there was no response, Lautenberg added: "The meeting . . . "
"No," said Raymond.
"No," said Chevron Chairman David J. O'Reilly.
"We did not, no," Mulva said.
"To be honest, I don't know," said BP America chief executive Ross Pillari, who came to the job in August 2001. "I wasn't here then."
"But your company was here," Lautenberg replied.
"Yes," Pillari said.
Shell Oil president John Hofmeister, who has held his job since earlier this year, answered last. "Not to my knowledge," he said."
(Oil industry executives testifying before the US Senate last week, left to right are Lee R. Raymond of Exxon Mobil, David J. O'Reilly of Chevron, James J. Mulva of ConocoPhillips, Ross Pillari of BP American and John Hofmeister of Shell Oil.)
So, to a man they all LIED. But, why should this be surprising since lying is the very defining hallmark of the current US administration many of whom spring exactly from these same precise roots?
So, how did they get away with lying to senators? Well, the answer will not be at all surprising to any Alaskan. *From the Washington Post article:
"The executives were not under oath when they testified, so they are not vulnerable to charges of perjury; committee Democrats had protested the decision by Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) not to swear in the executives."
*http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/15/
AR2005111501842.html?nav=rss_email/components
Have you wondered if there was any hanky-panky going on between energy companies, this administration & VP Cheney - especially since Cheney has steadfastly refused to release any documents concerning their 'secret' meetings? Cheney & his staff adamantly maintain that the President & Vice President have the "constitutional right to obtain information in confidentiality", (and apparently from anyone they wish to listen to, especially if they can somehow collude together).
Well, wonder no more:
These were meetings which oil company executives have denied to a man that ever took place. Nonetheless, according to the *Washington Post article:
"According to the White House document, Rouse met with task force staff members on Feb. 14, 2001. On March 21, they met with Archie Dunham, who was chairman of Conoco. On April 12, according to the document, task force staff members met with Conoco official Huffman and two officials from the U.S. Oil and Gas Association, Wayne Gibbens and Alby Modiano.
On April 17, task force staff members met with Royal Dutch/Shell Group's chairman, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, Shell Oil chairman Steven Miller and two others. On March 22, staff members met with BP regional president Bob Malone, chief economist Peter Davies and company employees Graham Barr and Deb Beaubien.
Toward the end of the hearing, Lautenberg (D-NJ) asked the five executives: "Did your company or any representatives of your companies participate in Vice President Cheney's energy task force in 2001?" When there was no response, Lautenberg added: "The meeting . . . "
"No," said Raymond.
"No," said Chevron Chairman David J. O'Reilly.
"We did not, no," Mulva said.
"To be honest, I don't know," said BP America chief executive Ross Pillari, who came to the job in August 2001. "I wasn't here then."
"But your company was here," Lautenberg replied.
"Yes," Pillari said.
Shell Oil president John Hofmeister, who has held his job since earlier this year, answered last. "Not to my knowledge," he said."
(Oil industry executives testifying before the US Senate last week, left to right are Lee R. Raymond of Exxon Mobil, David J. O'Reilly of Chevron, James J. Mulva of ConocoPhillips, Ross Pillari of BP American and John Hofmeister of Shell Oil.)So, to a man they all LIED. But, why should this be surprising since lying is the very defining hallmark of the current US administration many of whom spring exactly from these same precise roots?
So, how did they get away with lying to senators? Well, the answer will not be at all surprising to any Alaskan. *From the Washington Post article:
"The executives were not under oath when they testified, so they are not vulnerable to charges of perjury; committee Democrats had protested the decision by Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) not to swear in the executives."
*http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/15/
AR2005111501842.html?nav=rss_email/components
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Friday, November 11, 2005
"BUY BLUE" !
Just a reminder:
"BUY BLUE"!
Your dollars do count - A DOLLAR IS THE ONE UNEQUIVOCAL ITEM THAT WILL MAKE ANY COMPANY FOR PROFIT SIT UP AND PAY ATTENTION!
The "BUY BLUE" outfit has the mission of tracking corporate political donations of major US Corporations, and publishes other 'people' information about them as it comes available. I personally screen their info from time to time, and if the opportunity arises, I definitely try to spend my money biased in the direction of 'progressive' companies, of which there are many.
The "BUY BLUE" folks keep improving this site, and now show 'alternatives' for many regressive national corporations. Let your dollars vote for you WHERE IT COUNTS, and for progressive causes - why shouldn't you? Why reward folks who are so narrowly focused on the bottom line they will support ANY administration, no matter how anti-people or regressive?
And, if you have the time and energy, you should definitely let those regressive companies know what you are doing!
Check it out: http://www.buyblue.org/
"BUY BLUE"!
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The "BUY BLUE" outfit has the mission of tracking corporate political donations of major US Corporations, and publishes other 'people' information about them as it comes available. I personally screen their info from time to time, and if the opportunity arises, I definitely try to spend my money biased in the direction of 'progressive' companies, of which there are many.
The "BUY BLUE" folks keep improving this site, and now show 'alternatives' for many regressive national corporations. Let your dollars vote for you WHERE IT COUNTS, and for progressive causes - why shouldn't you? Why reward folks who are so narrowly focused on the bottom line they will support ANY administration, no matter how anti-people or regressive?
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Check it out: http://www.buyblue.org/
"Conservatives" vs "Tax & Spenders"
I did a little research following recent news reports of the largest monthly US budget deficit in history and stumbled across some statistics of note. It may interest you to know that official figures from the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) show the following:
Ranking the past 9 US Presidents (Kennedy thru Bush II), by percentage of US budget deficit increase during their terms, gives these results, from least increase (best) to the most increase (worst):
Rank
1 Clinton: 1.7% increase per year
2 Kennedy: 1.9% increase per year
3 Johnson: 2.8% increase per year
4 Nixon: 3.5% increase per year
5 Bush II: 6.5% increase per year
6 Ford: 10.0% increase per year
7 Bush I: 11.6% increase per year
8 Carter: 12.3 % increase per year
9 Reagan: 36% increase per year !!! (I believe they used the term "ballooned" for this phenomenon)
In other words, those darned 'liberal, tax & spend" Democrats outperformed those pious, self-righteous 'conservative' Republicans across the board, and by several orders of magnitude. The only 'tax & spender", who was anywhere near as bad as the "conservatives' was Carter and he was pretty bad. And, that 'Great Communicator" and arch conservative, moralistic Ronald Reagan's record was TWENTY-ONE TIMES worse that that nasty, libidinous liberal Bill Clinton's. (I do seem to recall Clinton using the recurring phrase, "It's the economy, stupid!")
I was pretty impressed by Bush II's ranking until I remembered 'well, he ain't done yet!"
And remember, these stats aren't based on dollars, but on percentage of increase in the deficit during their respective terms.
You can check these stats for yourself - I found this most illuminating!:
Ranking the past 9 US Presidents (Kennedy thru Bush II), by percentage of US budget deficit increase during their terms, gives these results, from least increase (best) to the most increase (worst):
Rank
1 Clinton: 1.7% increase per year
2 Kennedy: 1.9% increase per year
3 Johnson: 2.8% increase per year
4 Nixon: 3.5% increase per year
5 Bush II: 6.5% increase per year
6 Ford: 10.0% increase per year
7 Bush I: 11.6% increase per year
8 Carter: 12.3 % increase per year
9 Reagan: 36% increase per year !!! (I believe they used the term "ballooned" for this phenomenon)
In other words, those darned 'liberal, tax & spend" Democrats outperformed those pious, self-righteous 'conservative' Republicans across the board, and by several orders of magnitude. The only 'tax & spender", who was anywhere near as bad as the "conservatives' was Carter and he was pretty bad. And, that 'Great Communicator" and arch conservative, moralistic Ronald Reagan's record was TWENTY-ONE TIMES worse that that nasty, libidinous liberal Bill Clinton's. (I do seem to recall Clinton using the recurring phrase, "It's the economy, stupid!")
I was pretty impressed by Bush II's ranking until I remembered 'well, he ain't done yet!"
And remember, these stats aren't based on dollars, but on percentage of increase in the deficit during their respective terms.
You can check these stats for yourself - I found this most illuminating!:
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Bellwether of the Pendulum's Swing
As a political moderate and a non-partisan independent, I have always believed in a political balance between so-called liberals and conservatives. Nonetheless since 2000, simply because I have spoken out against the present smarmy and deceitfully lying administration - as is my right - I have been called "Commie", "Treasonous", "Unpatriotic" and many other disparagingly uncomplimentary names.
I find that most deceitfully cynical. In my time I spent some pretty arduous years as a US Marine in defense of my country. And almost all of the current Neo-Con leadership and the vast majority of their vociferous supporters found ways to avoid all military service or personal sacrifice - yet they shout the loudest today, strenuously beating the war drums, piously and sanctimoniously proclaiming their patriotism. You know who they are. Some patriots!
So, I am really quite gratified by yesterday's elections across the US, in spite of my non-partisan predisposition. Let's see now:
In New Jersey the Democratic gubernatorial candidate won by 10 percentage points - and will now appoint his Democratic successor in the US Senate;
In Republican Virginia the Democratic candidate won by over 5 percentage points (maybe partly because voters there decided the Republican candidate was pretty darned obtuse for allowing his campaign to be supported by a discredited President with the lowest approval ratings in history);
In California voters defeated all of the Republican governor's ballot initiatives;
Democratic mayors were elected over Republicans in Detroit, Houston, Atlanta & Boston;
Is this a bellwether of things to come and a repudiation of the current Neo-Con Republican administration?
"Nah, no way" say higher ups in the present Republican leadership who have proved to be unbelievably adept at ignoring realities and keeping their heads well buried in the sand.
But me, why I can see the beginning of the pendulum's swing.
I find that most deceitfully cynical. In my time I spent some pretty arduous years as a US Marine in defense of my country. And almost all of the current Neo-Con leadership and the vast majority of their vociferous supporters found ways to avoid all military service or personal sacrifice - yet they shout the loudest today, strenuously beating the war drums, piously and sanctimoniously proclaiming their patriotism. You know who they are. Some patriots!
So, I am really quite gratified by yesterday's elections across the US, in spite of my non-partisan predisposition. Let's see now:
In New Jersey the Democratic gubernatorial candidate won by 10 percentage points - and will now appoint his Democratic successor in the US Senate;
In Republican Virginia the Democratic candidate won by over 5 percentage points (maybe partly because voters there decided the Republican candidate was pretty darned obtuse for allowing his campaign to be supported by a discredited President with the lowest approval ratings in history);
In California voters defeated all of the Republican governor's ballot initiatives;
Democratic mayors were elected over Republicans in Detroit, Houston, Atlanta & Boston;
Is this a bellwether of things to come and a repudiation of the current Neo-Con Republican administration?
"Nah, no way" say higher ups in the present Republican leadership who have proved to be unbelievably adept at ignoring realities and keeping their heads well buried in the sand.
But me, why I can see the beginning of the pendulum's swing.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Letter to Congressman Don Young
(Below is my letter to Alaska's Congressman Don Young, in answer to his smarmy response to my letter regarding the Iraq War. Congressman Young's letter is quoted below in it's entirety.)
Congressman Young:
I'm convinced that you and "295 of your fellow House Members from both sides of the aisle" have allowed yourselves to be taken in by a deceitful administration which rushed our country into a "Catch 22" type war which is proving more each day to be a horrible, bloody mistake for our country. Many of you seemed even eager for this war and many still have your heads stuck in the sand in denial - and the rest of the world is passing you by.
Few of you "House Members from both sides of the aisle" troubled yourselves to take the time to 'look under the rock' to check out the facts to determine if going to war was really the right thing to do. In my opinion, pardon me, but this is exactly what I believe your job is supposed to be, and what you are paid to do. Consequently, I believe you have failed abysmally in your job, and your duty to your country and to your constituents, not to mention the causes of peace in our world. Were I able, I would fire the lot of you in a heartbeat. Perhaps I can help with that next election.
Political motivations, political dogma and lord knows what all else motivated you collectively to jump on the bandwagon and beat the drums for war - fraudulently and illegally, against a nation which had zero responsibility for the 9/11 attacks and which offered no creditable threat to our nation. This is the bald and undeniable truth and must be said. To pretend otherwise is to demonstrate a profound and unbelievable detachment from reality and the facts, and exactly where you seem to be.
You have collectively authored a war which is disastrous for our nation, and for the world at large. This war has already cost over 2000 young American lives, and 200 billions of dollars, with no end in sight. This war has besmirched the honor and integrity of MY NATION which I proudly bore arms to defend. For that alone I can not forgive you nor the others who supported this illegal invasion of another nation for fraudulent reasons.
Saying something is so does not make it so. The whole world sees the rising tide of Islamic theocracy now occurring in Iraq, and the fertile breeding ground which the entire country is becoming for Islamic terrorists. Only a few heavily fortified and defended enclaves exist over the country to which our troops must retreat at night while the rest of the countryside must endure lawless anarchy . Your claims that Iraq 'has been returned to Democracy' is specious on it's very face as Iraq has never been a 'democratic' nation in it's history and most certainly is not now. What is occurring there today does not resemble democracy in the slightest. To pretend that it does is disingenuous at best, and seems much closer to just more smarmy deceit to me.
Perhaps you are easily fooled Mr. Young, but much of the rest of the world - including nearly 60% in our own nation today, are not.
Support bringing our troops home now!
On Nov 8, 2005, at 11:55 AM, Don.Young@mail.house.gov wrote:
November 8, 2005
Dear (Constituent):
Thank you for writing me regarding the situation in Iraq. This is a very important issue and I appreciate you taking the time to share your views.
I joined 295 of my fellow House Members from both sides of the aisle to authorize the President to use force against Iraq to protect the U.S. and enforce U.N. resolutions. We were joined by over two-thirds of the U.S. Senate. I made this difficult decision because I believed it was critical to the security of the United States that an aggressive and belligerent Iraq be defanged.
I am confident that the President's rationale for beginning military action in Iraq was justified. No one knowledgeable on Middle Eastern affairs seriously believed that Hussein was not trying his hardest to acquire weapons of mass destruction, and that with them he would have
threatened the United States. The UN diplomatic disagreements were over how long Iraq should be allowed to flaunt UN resolutions, not over whether Iraq is a threat or in defiance of international efforts to disarm it.
Now we must honor our commitment to the Iraqi people to restore order to their country. Abandoning Iraq before the job is done will leave a breeding ground of terror and Islamic militancy. Both the Baathist elements that remain, and the Islamic-militancy that we have uncovered, must be defeated. We have already come a long way; Iraq has been returned
to democracy and the constitution is on track. I remain committed to completing what we have begun.
I hope you find this information useful and please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
DON YOUNG
Congressman for All Alaska
DY/cc-44419
Congressman Young:
I'm convinced that you and "295 of your fellow House Members from both sides of the aisle" have allowed yourselves to be taken in by a deceitful administration which rushed our country into a "Catch 22" type war which is proving more each day to be a horrible, bloody mistake for our country. Many of you seemed even eager for this war and many still have your heads stuck in the sand in denial - and the rest of the world is passing you by.
Few of you "House Members from both sides of the aisle" troubled yourselves to take the time to 'look under the rock' to check out the facts to determine if going to war was really the right thing to do. In my opinion, pardon me, but this is exactly what I believe your job is supposed to be, and what you are paid to do. Consequently, I believe you have failed abysmally in your job, and your duty to your country and to your constituents, not to mention the causes of peace in our world. Were I able, I would fire the lot of you in a heartbeat. Perhaps I can help with that next election.
Political motivations, political dogma and lord knows what all else motivated you collectively to jump on the bandwagon and beat the drums for war - fraudulently and illegally, against a nation which had zero responsibility for the 9/11 attacks and which offered no creditable threat to our nation. This is the bald and undeniable truth and must be said. To pretend otherwise is to demonstrate a profound and unbelievable detachment from reality and the facts, and exactly where you seem to be.
You have collectively authored a war which is disastrous for our nation, and for the world at large. This war has already cost over 2000 young American lives, and 200 billions of dollars, with no end in sight. This war has besmirched the honor and integrity of MY NATION which I proudly bore arms to defend. For that alone I can not forgive you nor the others who supported this illegal invasion of another nation for fraudulent reasons.
Saying something is so does not make it so. The whole world sees the rising tide of Islamic theocracy now occurring in Iraq, and the fertile breeding ground which the entire country is becoming for Islamic terrorists. Only a few heavily fortified and defended enclaves exist over the country to which our troops must retreat at night while the rest of the countryside must endure lawless anarchy . Your claims that Iraq 'has been returned to Democracy' is specious on it's very face as Iraq has never been a 'democratic' nation in it's history and most certainly is not now. What is occurring there today does not resemble democracy in the slightest. To pretend that it does is disingenuous at best, and seems much closer to just more smarmy deceit to me.
Perhaps you are easily fooled Mr. Young, but much of the rest of the world - including nearly 60% in our own nation today, are not.
Support bringing our troops home now!
On Nov 8, 2005, at 11:55 AM, Don.Young@mail.house.gov wrote:
November 8, 2005
Dear (Constituent):
Thank you for writing me regarding the situation in Iraq. This is a very important issue and I appreciate you taking the time to share your views.
I joined 295 of my fellow House Members from both sides of the aisle to authorize the President to use force against Iraq to protect the U.S. and enforce U.N. resolutions. We were joined by over two-thirds of the U.S. Senate. I made this difficult decision because I believed it was critical to the security of the United States that an aggressive and belligerent Iraq be defanged.
I am confident that the President's rationale for beginning military action in Iraq was justified. No one knowledgeable on Middle Eastern affairs seriously believed that Hussein was not trying his hardest to acquire weapons of mass destruction, and that with them he would have
threatened the United States. The UN diplomatic disagreements were over how long Iraq should be allowed to flaunt UN resolutions, not over whether Iraq is a threat or in defiance of international efforts to disarm it.
Now we must honor our commitment to the Iraqi people to restore order to their country. Abandoning Iraq before the job is done will leave a breeding ground of terror and Islamic militancy. Both the Baathist elements that remain, and the Islamic-militancy that we have uncovered, must be defeated. We have already come a long way; Iraq has been returned
to democracy and the constitution is on track. I remain committed to completing what we have begun.
I hope you find this information useful and please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
DON YOUNG
Congressman for All Alaska
DY/cc-44419
Saturday, November 05, 2005
The Death of our Culture
The “Central Intelligence Agency”, which claims it exists to protect and secure the US against external threats may itself be our country’s biggest long term threat. This secretive, autonomous agency is the author of countless crimes, misdeeds and scandals which do egregious harm to our country. The CIA is in fact a terrible cancer on our country which will inevitably lead to the death of our culture.
When “The Company” began during W.W.II, perhaps it’s motives were relatively pure, although that too is questionable. But, any clandestine agency with a open-ended budget and no oversight or outside control can never resist an inevitable slide to the dark side, and sooner rather than later.
There is abundant proof that the CIA is guilty of and has engaged in the following:
Assassinations of leaders of other nations, democratically elected or otherwise;
The planning and execution of coups against other, sovereign nations;
Assassinations of anyone self-defined by the CIA as a ‘threat’;
Clandestine warfare and invasions against and within other nations;
Manufacturing false ‘evidence’ on a wholesale & sophisticated basis;
Wholesale lying to Congress and the public at large;
Engaging in illegal activities on a vast scale, including the drug trade and slavery;
Illegally furnishing high tech weaponry and munitions to clandestine & terrorist groups;
Payments to and training of domestic and foreign mercenary armies and terrorist groups;
Drug and other illegal trades money laundering;
The wholesale breaking of US and international laws, from breaking and entering through murder and genocide;
Espionage against domestic political groups and other US government agencies;
Disinformation campaigns against perceived domestic ‘threats’ - as defined by the CIA;
Disinformation & smear campaigns against US politicians, directed by the CIA and often the party in power;
Disinformation and false information campaigns in the US to influence the public support of foreign policies with hidden agendas;
The establishment of 'front companies' to engage in normal business while pursuing illegal activities on a vast scale;
The hiring of Mafia groups on contract, for up to and including murder and beyond;
Countless millions of dollars paid in bribes and direct payments to despots and terrorists overseas;
Draconian punishments of ‘whistle blowers’ who attempt to expose the truth, including 'disappearing' them;
Illegal and secret imprisonment of individuals, including US citizens, without trial and for indefinite periods;
Sponsoring physical torture of individuals for indefinite periods of time, secretly and otherwise,
with totally no accountability;
Causing individuals to ‘disappear’ indefinitely and witout trace, with no legal justification, and against all international laws, treaties and standards;
The establishment of secret prisons in our own country and overseas - the “gulags of our time”;
These are just a few of the things this ‘agency’ is doing in the name of “National Security”, at US taxpayer expense and with zero accountability. This what all US citizens are paying for with tax dollars, without choice and with no oversight.
You can not help but notice that every national scandal in the US has some kind of CIA connection.
Purported to be one of the CIA's secret prisons . . . . . used illegally for indefinite incarceration and inevitably for torture of individuals.
This what you are paying for. Are you proud?
When “The Company” began during W.W.II, perhaps it’s motives were relatively pure, although that too is questionable. But, any clandestine agency with a open-ended budget and no oversight or outside control can never resist an inevitable slide to the dark side, and sooner rather than later.
There is abundant proof that the CIA is guilty of and has engaged in the following:
Assassinations of leaders of other nations, democratically elected or otherwise;
The planning and execution of coups against other, sovereign nations;
Assassinations of anyone self-defined by the CIA as a ‘threat’;
Clandestine warfare and invasions against and within other nations;
Manufacturing false ‘evidence’ on a wholesale & sophisticated basis;
Wholesale lying to Congress and the public at large;
Engaging in illegal activities on a vast scale, including the drug trade and slavery;
Illegally furnishing high tech weaponry and munitions to clandestine & terrorist groups;
Payments to and training of domestic and foreign mercenary armies and terrorist groups;
Drug and other illegal trades money laundering;
The wholesale breaking of US and international laws, from breaking and entering through murder and genocide;
Espionage against domestic political groups and other US government agencies;
Disinformation campaigns against perceived domestic ‘threats’ - as defined by the CIA;
Disinformation & smear campaigns against US politicians, directed by the CIA and often the party in power;
Disinformation and false information campaigns in the US to influence the public support of foreign policies with hidden agendas;
The establishment of 'front companies' to engage in normal business while pursuing illegal activities on a vast scale;
The hiring of Mafia groups on contract, for up to and including murder and beyond;
Countless millions of dollars paid in bribes and direct payments to despots and terrorists overseas;
Draconian punishments of ‘whistle blowers’ who attempt to expose the truth, including 'disappearing' them;
Illegal and secret imprisonment of individuals, including US citizens, without trial and for indefinite periods;
Sponsoring physical torture of individuals for indefinite periods of time, secretly and otherwise,
with totally no accountability;
Causing individuals to ‘disappear’ indefinitely and witout trace, with no legal justification, and against all international laws, treaties and standards;
The establishment of secret prisons in our own country and overseas - the “gulags of our time”;
These are just a few of the things this ‘agency’ is doing in the name of “National Security”, at US taxpayer expense and with zero accountability. This what all US citizens are paying for with tax dollars, without choice and with no oversight.
You can not help but notice that every national scandal in the US has some kind of CIA connection.
Purported to be one of the CIA's secret prisons . . . . . used illegally for indefinite incarceration and inevitably for torture of individuals. This what you are paying for. Are you proud?
Friday, November 04, 2005
The Richest Nation on Earth Today
What’s it like to live in the richest nation on earth, the United States of America? If you are a foreigner the answers may surprise you. If you are an American, you already have a pretty good idea:
Employment: NINE million Americans are out of work;
Wages: US wages & salaries are down, universally across the board;
Energy costs: Up over 75% in the past year, and crude oil prices are above $60 per barrel, with the highest profits in history for energy companies, who are also receiving a huge tax break from this administration;
Inflation: Since this administration took office in 2000, US inflation has been approx. 18% - and that’s in the face of 9/11 & aftermath. In practical terms this means a dollar today buys only 82 cents worth in 2000 values.
Poverty: In 2004, another 1.7 million Americans dropped below the income poverty line. More than TWELVE million American children live in poverty (the worst rate by far of any industrialized country!);
Healthcare: Costs are inflating at double digit rates, and roughly 40% of the citizens of the richest nation on Earth are completely without health insurance coverage;
Retirement: Pensions of many millions of Americans have disappeared wholly or in part, i.e., the funds having been raped and/or confiscated by big business;
Investments: The largest corporate bankruptcies in history by far, wiping out many billions in personal wealth have been authored by supporters of this President, on this President's "watch". The stock market is below the level it was when this administration took office over five years ago. On 1/21/2000: DJIA = 11,253; At close on 11/4/05: DJIA = 10,530) = 7% DECLINE;
Food & nutrition: THIRTY-THREE million Americans are now ‘food insecure’ - literally not knowing where their next meal is coming from (that's roughly 110% of our population!);
Nature & the environment: The environment is under attack across a broad front in favor of huge international resource extraction corporations, by an administration which values it only for it's potential for exploitation;
Personal Freedoms: Americans have lost fundamental personal freedoms across the board under the excuse of "national security". Individuals and individual rights are under attack across a broad front in favor of ‘business’ and we citizens are actually more insecure than almost ever in history;
Religious Freedom: Fundamentalist Christian legislators believe they have the right and duty to define and dictate all values and standards for everyone else, and unfortunately are in a good position to do so. This is in a nation that which was originally founded in part on the principles of freedom of religion;
Ethics in government: There appears to be none in a secretive administration now being rocked by one smarmy scandal after another scandal;
BUT, the good news is . . . oops, sorry. THERE IS NO GOOD NEWS!
In Afghanistan:
Terrorists attacks are increasing and compounding daily; with ever higher levels of death and destruction;
Control of the government is largely in the hands of mujahedeen warlords, whom this administration prefers to define as ‘governors,” “ministers” or “presidential candidates” in keeping with their policies of lying and distortion;
BUT, the good news is that the opium poppy fields are now multiplied many times over and have delivered a bumper crop in 2005 which should really help the CIA!
In Iraq:
Terrorist attacks are increasing and compounding daily with ever higher levels of death and destruction;
American military deaths headed for the 'thousands' - casualties are increasing daily. Over 15,000 American military personnel have been wounded;
Iraqi casualties are largely uncounted with estimates as high as 100,000 dead or more and 350,000 or more wounded;
Nearly $200 billion American taxpayer dollars are acknowledged to have been spent on the war so far, with another almost $200 billion earmarked a the war with no end in sight;
Bechtel Corporation has an $1.8 billion contract to rebuild Iraq’s water sewage and electrical systems. Locals say next to nothing has been done and some of Baghdad’s streets are often flooded for blocks with ankle-deep green algae sewage;
Dick Cheney's Halliburton Corporation is the recipient of many billions of dollars in no-bid US federal contracts, and has eagerly managed to overcharge the American government on many fronts, from furnishing soldiers' meals to fuel;
Several international human rights organizations condemn the US for blatant abuses and say that our country is now running the “gulags of our time”;
This administration has redefined - literally - what is and is not ‘torture’ to justify their abuse of basic humanity and unconscionable treatment of helpless prisoners held for years without trial under harsh and inhumane conditions where torture is common. No comprehensive investigation has been made nor has any high level person been called to account;
Consequently, the reputation of the US is at it’s lowest point in history;
The entire nation of Iraq is now in grave danger of slipping into a civil war between Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds - which has the potential to spread wholesale across the entire region;
The stability of the entire Middle East is at one of the lowest and most precarious points in history;
BUT, the good news is . . . oops, sorry. THERE IS NO GOOD NEWS!
Employment: NINE million Americans are out of work;
Wages: US wages & salaries are down, universally across the board;
Energy costs: Up over 75% in the past year, and crude oil prices are above $60 per barrel, with the highest profits in history for energy companies, who are also receiving a huge tax break from this administration;
Inflation: Since this administration took office in 2000, US inflation has been approx. 18% - and that’s in the face of 9/11 & aftermath. In practical terms this means a dollar today buys only 82 cents worth in 2000 values.
Poverty: In 2004, another 1.7 million Americans dropped below the income poverty line. More than TWELVE million American children live in poverty (the worst rate by far of any industrialized country!);
Healthcare: Costs are inflating at double digit rates, and roughly 40% of the citizens of the richest nation on Earth are completely without health insurance coverage;
Retirement: Pensions of many millions of Americans have disappeared wholly or in part, i.e., the funds having been raped and/or confiscated by big business;
Investments: The largest corporate bankruptcies in history by far, wiping out many billions in personal wealth have been authored by supporters of this President, on this President's "watch". The stock market is below the level it was when this administration took office over five years ago. On 1/21/2000: DJIA = 11,253; At close on 11/4/05: DJIA = 10,530) = 7% DECLINE;
Food & nutrition: THIRTY-THREE million Americans are now ‘food insecure’ - literally not knowing where their next meal is coming from (that's roughly 110% of our population!);
Nature & the environment: The environment is under attack across a broad front in favor of huge international resource extraction corporations, by an administration which values it only for it's potential for exploitation;
Personal Freedoms: Americans have lost fundamental personal freedoms across the board under the excuse of "national security". Individuals and individual rights are under attack across a broad front in favor of ‘business’ and we citizens are actually more insecure than almost ever in history;
Religious Freedom: Fundamentalist Christian legislators believe they have the right and duty to define and dictate all values and standards for everyone else, and unfortunately are in a good position to do so. This is in a nation that which was originally founded in part on the principles of freedom of religion;
Ethics in government: There appears to be none in a secretive administration now being rocked by one smarmy scandal after another scandal;
BUT, the good news is . . . oops, sorry. THERE IS NO GOOD NEWS!
In Afghanistan:
Terrorists attacks are increasing and compounding daily; with ever higher levels of death and destruction;
Control of the government is largely in the hands of mujahedeen warlords, whom this administration prefers to define as ‘governors,” “ministers” or “presidential candidates” in keeping with their policies of lying and distortion;
BUT, the good news is that the opium poppy fields are now multiplied many times over and have delivered a bumper crop in 2005 which should really help the CIA!
In Iraq:
Terrorist attacks are increasing and compounding daily with ever higher levels of death and destruction;
American military deaths headed for the 'thousands' - casualties are increasing daily. Over 15,000 American military personnel have been wounded;
Iraqi casualties are largely uncounted with estimates as high as 100,000 dead or more and 350,000 or more wounded;
Nearly $200 billion American taxpayer dollars are acknowledged to have been spent on the war so far, with another almost $200 billion earmarked a the war with no end in sight;
Bechtel Corporation has an $1.8 billion contract to rebuild Iraq’s water sewage and electrical systems. Locals say next to nothing has been done and some of Baghdad’s streets are often flooded for blocks with ankle-deep green algae sewage;
Dick Cheney's Halliburton Corporation is the recipient of many billions of dollars in no-bid US federal contracts, and has eagerly managed to overcharge the American government on many fronts, from furnishing soldiers' meals to fuel;
Several international human rights organizations condemn the US for blatant abuses and say that our country is now running the “gulags of our time”;
This administration has redefined - literally - what is and is not ‘torture’ to justify their abuse of basic humanity and unconscionable treatment of helpless prisoners held for years without trial under harsh and inhumane conditions where torture is common. No comprehensive investigation has been made nor has any high level person been called to account;
Consequently, the reputation of the US is at it’s lowest point in history;
The entire nation of Iraq is now in grave danger of slipping into a civil war between Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds - which has the potential to spread wholesale across the entire region;
The stability of the entire Middle East is at one of the lowest and most precarious points in history;
BUT, the good news is . . . oops, sorry. THERE IS NO GOOD NEWS!
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Greatly Ashamed
I have always been suspicious of national politicians of whatever party, and their pious claims to have the public's best interests at heart, and to be working for "freedom and democracy for all".
But today, I am exceedingly jaded, revolted and disgusted by the things being done in my country's name under this present, unbelievable administration. I keep hoping it is all just a nightmare from which we will all awake. I take solace that I did not vote for the Fascists now in charge- if I had there's no way I could apologize enough for what they are doing in the names of "Freedom", "Democracy" and "National Security" today. The hypocrisy of this bunch would be laughably ridiculous were it not so serious and affecting so many people's lives - and being responsible for the deaths of so many thousands.
The saddest part is that our country's shameful acts actually make matters far worse. Our country's good name is daily being besmirched and smeared by one shameful scandal after another by this group of thugs - there is no other name for them. It is becoming quite clear that the US, under this administration, is now egregiously guilty of what we used to term 'disappearing people' when done by other countries. The names of "Nazi Germany", "Russia", "Argentina", and yes, even "Iraq" under Saddam Hussein come quickly to mind.
And, I am ashamed for the sake of my country. There can be no justification for the shameful acts now being perpetrated by our US government. The ends can NEVER justify the means.
But today, I am exceedingly jaded, revolted and disgusted by the things being done in my country's name under this present, unbelievable administration. I keep hoping it is all just a nightmare from which we will all awake. I take solace that I did not vote for the Fascists now in charge- if I had there's no way I could apologize enough for what they are doing in the names of "Freedom", "Democracy" and "National Security" today. The hypocrisy of this bunch would be laughably ridiculous were it not so serious and affecting so many people's lives - and being responsible for the deaths of so many thousands.
The saddest part is that our country's shameful acts actually make matters far worse. Our country's good name is daily being besmirched and smeared by one shameful scandal after another by this group of thugs - there is no other name for them. It is becoming quite clear that the US, under this administration, is now egregiously guilty of what we used to term 'disappearing people' when done by other countries. The names of "Nazi Germany", "Russia", "Argentina", and yes, even "Iraq" under Saddam Hussein come quickly to mind.
And, I am ashamed for the sake of my country. There can be no justification for the shameful acts now being perpetrated by our US government. The ends can NEVER justify the means.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Case Study
“It is time to take stock, hold people accountable and change course.” - Ft. Worth (Texas) Star Telegram, Sunday 10/30/05
Less than a week before the March, 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the Fort Worth, Texas Star Telegram warned:
An invasion would produce “a theocratic leadership made up of radical Muslim fundamentalists.”;
The cost of the war and aftermath would be prohibitive;
There was no indication in Iraq of “resumed nuclear activities”;
The US had not made a convincing case that Iraq posed a clear and immediate threat and that is was hard to understand the urgency of using military force.”;
And, the harsh realities today:
Iraq now seems destined to be yet another fundamentalist Muslim government, ultimately hostile to US interests (and who will blame them after the insanity of this war?);
Casualties are now over 2,000 American dead, over 15,000 wounded, and VA projections that over 100,000 will ultimately seek medical help as a result of this war;
Costs of the over two and a half year war (and still counting) and restructuring Iraq are now projected to well surpass $400 billion, with no end in sight - in spite of Donald Rumsfeld’s dismissive claims before the war that it would be over in six months and would cost less than $50 billion;
The US national debt now tops $8 TRILLION;
Almost every claim justifying the war has turned out to be false, and justifications are now being widely viewed as actual administration deceptions (i.e., "lies" - they've pretty much given up even the pretense of the "WMD's);
US allies in the war - the “Coalition of the Willing” became the “Multi-national Force” as participants withdrew in wholesale lots, and is now moving rapidly towards “All bailed Out”;
US Army FY 2005 recruiting goals were missed by over 8%, the first full year deficit since 1999, and the largest shortfall in 26 years;
Half the US troops now in Iraq are reservists - the highest proportion ever in history;
Predictably, this administration will become a Case Study in the future on “HOW NOT TO RUN A NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION”. It is hard to understand how anyone could do a worse job, even deliberately!
Less than a week before the March, 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the Fort Worth, Texas Star Telegram warned:
An invasion would produce “a theocratic leadership made up of radical Muslim fundamentalists.”;
The cost of the war and aftermath would be prohibitive;
There was no indication in Iraq of “resumed nuclear activities”;
The US had not made a convincing case that Iraq posed a clear and immediate threat and that is was hard to understand the urgency of using military force.”;
And, the harsh realities today:
Iraq now seems destined to be yet another fundamentalist Muslim government, ultimately hostile to US interests (and who will blame them after the insanity of this war?);
Casualties are now over 2,000 American dead, over 15,000 wounded, and VA projections that over 100,000 will ultimately seek medical help as a result of this war;
Costs of the over two and a half year war (and still counting) and restructuring Iraq are now projected to well surpass $400 billion, with no end in sight - in spite of Donald Rumsfeld’s dismissive claims before the war that it would be over in six months and would cost less than $50 billion;
The US national debt now tops $8 TRILLION;
Almost every claim justifying the war has turned out to be false, and justifications are now being widely viewed as actual administration deceptions (i.e., "lies" - they've pretty much given up even the pretense of the "WMD's);
US allies in the war - the “Coalition of the Willing” became the “Multi-national Force” as participants withdrew in wholesale lots, and is now moving rapidly towards “All bailed Out”;
US Army FY 2005 recruiting goals were missed by over 8%, the first full year deficit since 1999, and the largest shortfall in 26 years;
Half the US troops now in Iraq are reservists - the highest proportion ever in history;
Predictably, this administration will become a Case Study in the future on “HOW NOT TO RUN A NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION”. It is hard to understand how anyone could do a worse job, even deliberately!
Recent Quotes of Note
Some recent statements from interesting sources bear repeating:
“I’m very disappointed in Libby, and the White House, and the vice president and the president. They should have taken care of this a long time ago. They should have done their own investigation. They're going to get very little sympathy on Capitol Hill, at least from me. ... They brought this on themselves."
- House Govt. Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-VA
"The president got a pretty good wakeup call. He needs to stop thinking about his grand legacy and being the all-time hero of the Republicans and concentrate on doing the job he was elected to do. He really has to get a grip on his administration."
- Former Congressman Mickey Edwards, R-OK
“Clinton's approval ratings remained above 60 percent throughout the impeachment battle, while Bush's are in the low 40s. When Clinton said, 'I'm going back to do my work,' people cheered, when Bush says, 'I'm going to do the job I've been doing,' people say, 'Oh, no.' "
- John Podesta, President Bill Clinton’s Chief of Staff
"I very much doubt they will be able to repair the damage. Once you lose credibility, it's almost impossible to get it back."
-Tom De Luca, professor of political science at Fordham University.
"The criminal indictments of a top White House official mark a sad day for America and another chapter in the Republicans' culture of corruption."
- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-CA
"They wanted the president to restore honor and integrity to the White House. Whatever agenda the president wants to pursue, if he hasn't re-established a strong ethical standard, he's going to fail. ... Americans don't like to be lied to."
- Rep Christorpher Shays, R-Conn
“I’m very disappointed in Libby, and the White House, and the vice president and the president. They should have taken care of this a long time ago. They should have done their own investigation. They're going to get very little sympathy on Capitol Hill, at least from me. ... They brought this on themselves."
- House Govt. Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-VA
"The president got a pretty good wakeup call. He needs to stop thinking about his grand legacy and being the all-time hero of the Republicans and concentrate on doing the job he was elected to do. He really has to get a grip on his administration."
- Former Congressman Mickey Edwards, R-OK
“Clinton's approval ratings remained above 60 percent throughout the impeachment battle, while Bush's are in the low 40s. When Clinton said, 'I'm going back to do my work,' people cheered, when Bush says, 'I'm going to do the job I've been doing,' people say, 'Oh, no.' "
- John Podesta, President Bill Clinton’s Chief of Staff
"I very much doubt they will be able to repair the damage. Once you lose credibility, it's almost impossible to get it back."
-Tom De Luca, professor of political science at Fordham University.
"The criminal indictments of a top White House official mark a sad day for America and another chapter in the Republicans' culture of corruption."
- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-CA
"They wanted the president to restore honor and integrity to the White House. Whatever agenda the president wants to pursue, if he hasn't re-established a strong ethical standard, he's going to fail. ... Americans don't like to be lied to."
- Rep Christorpher Shays, R-Conn
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Trashing Our World
In recent decades, 95% of scientists the world over have warned about ‘global warming’ and potential destructive weather as a result;
A few years ago, many of the world’s concerned governments, including the US, got together in agreement to try to avoid global climatic catastrophe;
But the US administration under GW Bush & Neo-Con dogma, quickly torpedoed the Kyoto Accord, refusing to sign and effectively killing that process. This was a purely political and nonscientific decision in favor of big business and unsupported by scientific data. The lame excuse was that ‘global warming hasn’t been proven yet’ - which really amounts to a scam on the world at large in favor of business;
The Earth’s average temperature has risen over the past several decades, and an apparently dramatic acceleration is now in process;
Recently, the world has been hit by several increasingly catastrophic natural calamities, with destructive extent beyond anything ever recorded before;
The number of tropical hurricanes in 2005 equals the highest ever recorded in our historical record to date, with almost two months left in the current hurricane season;
The most powerful and destructive hurricane ever in recorded history is currently bearing down on Florida, as of 10/19/05;
The current hurricane season set a record for the number of most powerful storms;
Arctic sea ice has retreated the furthest extent ever recorded or known, and is projected to disappear completely with unknown climatic consequences;
Arctic climates are currently undergoing dramatic and drastic change in temperatures, threatening the stability of their environments and ecosystems;
Rare and destructive weather phenomenon is now almost commonplace across the entire planet.;
Computer models show unknown and potentially devastating consequences for our current ‘business as usual’, and indeed actually accelerated assaults on the natural environment;
Without any supporting data, this administration doggedly insists global warming is not proven and that the current, unprecedented climatic changes are ‘normal’ and a ‘natural fluctuation”. This is in the face of universally strong and pervasive scientific evidence to the contrary.
http://www.heatisonline.org/disinformation.cfm
How long will people accept the trashing of the planet now being done by the fools currently in charge of the United States of America? What kind of world will be left for our children and grandchildren? Will Neo-Con doctrine kill their world?
A few years ago, many of the world’s concerned governments, including the US, got together in agreement to try to avoid global climatic catastrophe;
But the US administration under GW Bush & Neo-Con dogma, quickly torpedoed the Kyoto Accord, refusing to sign and effectively killing that process. This was a purely political and nonscientific decision in favor of big business and unsupported by scientific data. The lame excuse was that ‘global warming hasn’t been proven yet’ - which really amounts to a scam on the world at large in favor of business;
The Earth’s average temperature has risen over the past several decades, and an apparently dramatic acceleration is now in process;
Recently, the world has been hit by several increasingly catastrophic natural calamities, with destructive extent beyond anything ever recorded before;
The number of tropical hurricanes in 2005 equals the highest ever recorded in our historical record to date, with almost two months left in the current hurricane season;
The most powerful and destructive hurricane ever in recorded history is currently bearing down on Florida, as of 10/19/05;
The current hurricane season set a record for the number of most powerful storms;
Arctic sea ice has retreated the furthest extent ever recorded or known, and is projected to disappear completely with unknown climatic consequences;
Arctic climates are currently undergoing dramatic and drastic change in temperatures, threatening the stability of their environments and ecosystems;
Rare and destructive weather phenomenon is now almost commonplace across the entire planet.;
Computer models show unknown and potentially devastating consequences for our current ‘business as usual’, and indeed actually accelerated assaults on the natural environment;
Without any supporting data, this administration doggedly insists global warming is not proven and that the current, unprecedented climatic changes are ‘normal’ and a ‘natural fluctuation”. This is in the face of universally strong and pervasive scientific evidence to the contrary.
http://www.heatisonline.org/disinformation.cfm
How long will people accept the trashing of the planet now being done by the fools currently in charge of the United States of America? What kind of world will be left for our children and grandchildren? Will Neo-Con doctrine kill their world?
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Yet Another Neo-Con Screw-up?
The Neo-Cons are pulling out all stops to stack the deck - just as they always try to do, al la Tom Delay, etc.
But, in their eagerness to 'prove' Saddam Hussein guilty of war crimes (as if there were any doubts), will Bush, et all compleely screw up the trial of Saddam Hussein too? Sure looks like it:
Asked why he has declined to defend Hussein in his upcoming ‘trial’, famed Swiss international legal expert Marc Heinzelin had this to say:
“I would not like to see the trial turn into a circus show.”
“Investigating magistrates were killed, as well as witnesses and evidence was destroyed . . . “
comparing Nuremberg to the trial of Hussein: “The tribunals can only be compared in part. In both cases it is the victors holding court over the losers. But the difference is that the trials of Nuremberg had a historic goal. They wanted to get as close as possible to the truth about Nazi crimes.”
“The trial of Saddam Hussein is the exact opposite. The trial focuses on a small part of the criminal record of the Iraqi regime . . .”
“I think it is all about justifying the United States’ invasion of Iraq and to string Saddam Hussein up sooner rather than later without asking too many questions.”
“What’s the point of a trial if the defense has not been able to take part in the investigation?”
“The trial of Saddam might provide wonderful material for a US television series with a lawyer and a prosecutor crossing swords. But, this has got nothing to do with a fair trial.”
“In light of the Geneva and the Hague Conventions . . . . this court is clearly illegal. Occupying powers have no right to change the legal system of a country. This is precisely what the US has done.”
“. . . this is not a regular court deliberating the case. Special tribunals are completely against international law.”
“What’s more, the judges were not elected but appointed by the occupying powers. They flew in a nephew of *Mr. Chalabi. . . . he was a lawyer in London specializing in commercial law. Later he was appointed president of the Iraqi special tribunal.”
They are probably gonna completely bomb here too!
* Now, where oh where have we heard THAT name before?
But, in their eagerness to 'prove' Saddam Hussein guilty of war crimes (as if there were any doubts), will Bush, et all compleely screw up the trial of Saddam Hussein too? Sure looks like it:
Asked why he has declined to defend Hussein in his upcoming ‘trial’, famed Swiss international legal expert Marc Heinzelin had this to say:
“I would not like to see the trial turn into a circus show.”
“Investigating magistrates were killed, as well as witnesses and evidence was destroyed . . . “
comparing Nuremberg to the trial of Hussein: “The tribunals can only be compared in part. In both cases it is the victors holding court over the losers. But the difference is that the trials of Nuremberg had a historic goal. They wanted to get as close as possible to the truth about Nazi crimes.”
“The trial of Saddam Hussein is the exact opposite. The trial focuses on a small part of the criminal record of the Iraqi regime . . .”
“I think it is all about justifying the United States’ invasion of Iraq and to string Saddam Hussein up sooner rather than later without asking too many questions.”
“What’s the point of a trial if the defense has not been able to take part in the investigation?”
“The trial of Saddam might provide wonderful material for a US television series with a lawyer and a prosecutor crossing swords. But, this has got nothing to do with a fair trial.”
“In light of the Geneva and the Hague Conventions . . . . this court is clearly illegal. Occupying powers have no right to change the legal system of a country. This is precisely what the US has done.”
“. . . this is not a regular court deliberating the case. Special tribunals are completely against international law.”
“What’s more, the judges were not elected but appointed by the occupying powers. They flew in a nephew of *Mr. Chalabi. . . . he was a lawyer in London specializing in commercial law. Later he was appointed president of the Iraqi special tribunal.”
They are probably gonna completely bomb here too!
* Now, where oh where have we heard THAT name before?
Monday, October 17, 2005
Prime Recipe for Disaster:
First, you invade and militarily conquer a country which poses little threat to you;
Your main excuse to justify the invasion, is ‘locating and destroying’ that country’s “Weapons of Mass Destruction” which in fact do not exist;
You attempt to stifle opposition to your deceit in your own country by destroying careers of high government employees;
When no “WMD’s” are found, not even one little one, you attempt to morph your justification for your unilateral war into “removing a despotic leader and bringing Freedom and Democracy” to the invaded country, and ‘fighting a war on terror;
You bring up the example of “9/11” many thousands of times in your attempts to justify your invasion, even though the invaded country had absolutely nothing to do with that attack. This is done primarily to propagandize your own country’s citizens since most of the world recognizes the falseness of your claims;
You destroy the invaded country’s entire military and civilian infrastructure, essentially returning the country to worse than third world status and reducing the populace to desperation;
Your invasion forces utilize policies and tactics guaranteed to inflame and enrage the citizens of the country and all Islamic religious factions everywhere in the world, thereby providing the greatest fundamentalist Islamic recruitment rational in history;
Your actions create a deadly and steadily growing 'insurrection' in the invaded country costing thousands of lives and billions of dollars;
Your invasion of the non-offending country costs many billions of dollars, taken directly from other pressing needs of your own country, the true extent of the amounts spent will be hidden and never known;
In your increasing desperation to extricate yourself from the awful & increasingly deadly mess you have created, you insist on the invaded country’s adoption of a new ‘democratic’ constitution and 'self-government', under a timetable set by you, which would be optimistic even in a settled, already democratic country. You reach the point where any signed piece of paper will do, so long as you can claim you have helped the invaded country ‘achieve democracy and stability’, but like everything else you have done, that too is a gross lie and bald deception.
You have now reached the point of not only lying to your own countrymen, but also to yourself. What is so tragic is that you are apparently now believing your own lies.
Here is the proof:
New US sponsored & insisted upon Iraqi constitution:
1. Splits Iraq into three semiautonomous regions;
a. Suuni
b. Kurdish
c. Shiite
2. Each region will have it’s own military force;
3. Current oil fields will be “Federally managed”, meaning by Iraq as a whole, with the three regions combined; (This is likely to permit the control and exploitation of those oil fields by American energy companies)
a. But, all new oil fields will be ‘owned’ by the region in which they are built;
4. Islam is to be the “basic source” of all legislation and no law may contradict the ‘established provisions of Islam’; (no joke!)
5. Kurds have successfully put themselves beyond the reach of the overall Iraqi Supreme Court;
6. Women in the north of Iraq will have different rights than women in the south, with issues of divorce and inheritance to be based on religion and with different standards based on where one happens to live;
7. Shiite and Kurdish majorities make no secret of their overall power over the Suunis.
If anyone ever authored an exorbitantly expensive, undemocratic document and stupid recipe for disaster, this one is it! This so bad in fact that one is forced to wonder whether the real goal isn't destabilization in the region!
Your main excuse to justify the invasion, is ‘locating and destroying’ that country’s “Weapons of Mass Destruction” which in fact do not exist;
You attempt to stifle opposition to your deceit in your own country by destroying careers of high government employees;
When no “WMD’s” are found, not even one little one, you attempt to morph your justification for your unilateral war into “removing a despotic leader and bringing Freedom and Democracy” to the invaded country, and ‘fighting a war on terror;
You bring up the example of “9/11” many thousands of times in your attempts to justify your invasion, even though the invaded country had absolutely nothing to do with that attack. This is done primarily to propagandize your own country’s citizens since most of the world recognizes the falseness of your claims;
You destroy the invaded country’s entire military and civilian infrastructure, essentially returning the country to worse than third world status and reducing the populace to desperation;
Your invasion forces utilize policies and tactics guaranteed to inflame and enrage the citizens of the country and all Islamic religious factions everywhere in the world, thereby providing the greatest fundamentalist Islamic recruitment rational in history;
Your actions create a deadly and steadily growing 'insurrection' in the invaded country costing thousands of lives and billions of dollars;
Your invasion of the non-offending country costs many billions of dollars, taken directly from other pressing needs of your own country, the true extent of the amounts spent will be hidden and never known;
In your increasing desperation to extricate yourself from the awful & increasingly deadly mess you have created, you insist on the invaded country’s adoption of a new ‘democratic’ constitution and 'self-government', under a timetable set by you, which would be optimistic even in a settled, already democratic country. You reach the point where any signed piece of paper will do, so long as you can claim you have helped the invaded country ‘achieve democracy and stability’, but like everything else you have done, that too is a gross lie and bald deception.
You have now reached the point of not only lying to your own countrymen, but also to yourself. What is so tragic is that you are apparently now believing your own lies.
Here is the proof:
New US sponsored & insisted upon Iraqi constitution:
1. Splits Iraq into three semiautonomous regions;
a. Suuni
b. Kurdish
c. Shiite
2. Each region will have it’s own military force;
3. Current oil fields will be “Federally managed”, meaning by Iraq as a whole, with the three regions combined; (This is likely to permit the control and exploitation of those oil fields by American energy companies)
a. But, all new oil fields will be ‘owned’ by the region in which they are built;
4. Islam is to be the “basic source” of all legislation and no law may contradict the ‘established provisions of Islam’; (no joke!)
5. Kurds have successfully put themselves beyond the reach of the overall Iraqi Supreme Court;
6. Women in the north of Iraq will have different rights than women in the south, with issues of divorce and inheritance to be based on religion and with different standards based on where one happens to live;
7. Shiite and Kurdish majorities make no secret of their overall power over the Suunis.
If anyone ever authored an exorbitantly expensive, undemocratic document and stupid recipe for disaster, this one is it! This so bad in fact that one is forced to wonder whether the real goal isn't destabilization in the region!
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Setting the Record Straight
Lately there’s been a big misunderstanding about what GW Bush was quoted as saying and what he actually said and meant. This is to try to set the record straight:
The Quote:
“George W. Bush told me: “I’m driven with a mission from God.”
- Former Palestinian foreign Minister, Nabil Shaath 10/6/05
What actually happened: Bush caught his wienie in his zipper. In his excrutiating pain and fundamentalist 'Christian' that he is, he began lamenting’, “I’m riven with a pissin’ from God.”
The Quote:
“George W. Bush told me: ”God told me. George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan,”” and I did.”
- Former Palestinian foreign Minister, Nabil Shaath 10/6/05
What actually happened: Still in excrutiating pain GWB screamed,
“My wienie's in a chicken fight and tearing off in my hand!” and it did.
The Quote:
“Then, George W. Bush told me: “And, then God would tell me, “”George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq!”” and I did.”
- Former Palestinian foreign Minister, Nabil Shaath 10/6/05
What actually happened: Bush had a thought and said: “George, go and mend yer bennie in an ice pack!” And he did.
The Quote:
“Then, George W. Bush told me: “And, now again I feel God’s words coming to me; ‘Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security and get peace in the Middle East.’ and by God, I’m agonna do it!”
- Former Palestinian foreign Minister, Nabil Shaath 10/6/05
What actually happened: By this time GWB had snorted a couple lines of coke and was beginning to float about 15 feet above the Palestinian foreign minister and other more common Earthlings. At this point he thought and said: ‘Now then, ideally God’s turds are cumming on me, and no offset Pennsylvanian bear bait and being surreal is where impurity’s sweat grease in the fiddle priest, and tie rod I’m agonna screw it!”
So, you can see how these misunderstanding get started. In an effort to set the record straight about God being on a first name basis with, and speaking directly to GW Bush, White House spokesman Scott McClelland had this to say:
“That’s absurd! I've been in many meetings with him and never heard such a thing!"
Of course in all fairness it must be noted that Mr. McClelland is in the actual business of and paid for lying, so one should always believe the opposite of whatever comes out of his mouth.
Transcripts of the interview in question will be published by the BBC next month and we can see and listen to the record being set straight.
The Quote:
“George W. Bush told me: “I’m driven with a mission from God.”
- Former Palestinian foreign Minister, Nabil Shaath 10/6/05
What actually happened: Bush caught his wienie in his zipper. In his excrutiating pain and fundamentalist 'Christian' that he is, he began lamenting’, “I’m riven with a pissin’ from God.”
The Quote:
“George W. Bush told me: ”God told me. George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan,”” and I did.”
- Former Palestinian foreign Minister, Nabil Shaath 10/6/05
What actually happened: Still in excrutiating pain GWB screamed,
“My wienie's in a chicken fight and tearing off in my hand!” and it did.
The Quote:
“Then, George W. Bush told me: “And, then God would tell me, “”George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq!”” and I did.”
- Former Palestinian foreign Minister, Nabil Shaath 10/6/05
What actually happened: Bush had a thought and said: “George, go and mend yer bennie in an ice pack!” And he did.
The Quote:
“Then, George W. Bush told me: “And, now again I feel God’s words coming to me; ‘Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security and get peace in the Middle East.’ and by God, I’m agonna do it!”
- Former Palestinian foreign Minister, Nabil Shaath 10/6/05
What actually happened: By this time GWB had snorted a couple lines of coke and was beginning to float about 15 feet above the Palestinian foreign minister and other more common Earthlings. At this point he thought and said: ‘Now then, ideally God’s turds are cumming on me, and no offset Pennsylvanian bear bait and being surreal is where impurity’s sweat grease in the fiddle priest, and tie rod I’m agonna screw it!”
So, you can see how these misunderstanding get started. In an effort to set the record straight about God being on a first name basis with, and speaking directly to GW Bush, White House spokesman Scott McClelland had this to say:
“That’s absurd! I've been in many meetings with him and never heard such a thing!"
Of course in all fairness it must be noted that Mr. McClelland is in the actual business of and paid for lying, so one should always believe the opposite of whatever comes out of his mouth.
Transcripts of the interview in question will be published by the BBC next month and we can see and listen to the record being set straight.
Friday, October 07, 2005
GW Bush vs. Reality
GWB Quote: "This form of radicalism exploits Islam to serve a violent, political vision : the establishment, by terrorism and subversion and insurgency, of a totalitarian empire that denies all political and religious freedom." (Referring to Osama Bin Ladin on 10/6/05)
Reality: This administration’s idea and method of “bringing Freedom and Democracy to the Middle East” is guaranteed to and has proven to mobilize every radical Moslem fundamentalist on the planet into fomenting terrorism, subversion, insurgency and the establishment of totalitarian Islamic regimes wherever they can. That has led to the greatest surge of Islamic fervor since before the Crusades.
GWB Quote: "Evil men obsessed with ambition and unburdened by conscience must be taken very seriously and we must stop them before their crimes multiply," (10/6/05)
Reality: Prophetic words also used before the 2000 US presidential election, but which went unheeded in preventing our national disaster of having that election hijacked by the Neo-Cons.
GWB Quote: "We have seen this kind of shameless cruelty before, in heartless zealotry that led to the gulags and the Cultural Revolution and the Killing Fields." (10/6/05)
Reality: Apparently unconsciously referring to this Administration's blind dogma resulting in prison torture, indefinite imprisonment without trial, unilateral bombing, shelling and slaughter of civilian noncombatants (euphemistically being referred to as ‘collateral damage’), and wholesale violations of basic human rights the world over - including our own US citizens!
GWB Quote: "Like the ideology of communism, our new enemy pursues totalitarian aims. Its leaders pretend to be an aggrieved party, representing the powerless against imperial enemies. In truth, they have endless ambitions of imperial domination, and they wish to make everyone powerless except themselves." (Referring to Osama Bin Ladin on 10/6/05)
Reality: Again, perhaps unconsciously but very accurately referring to the present US administration.
GWB Quote: "Observers look at the job ahead and adopt a self-defeating pessimism. It is not justified," Bush said, arguing that Iraq had made "incredible political progress" (10/6/05)
Reality: Iraq has made incredible progress towards anarchy and civil war, with terrorist attacks up 300% since 2003, resulting in universal condemnation of the stupidity of US actions in the Neo-Con manufactured ‘Global War On Terror, aka the “GWOT”.
GWB Quote: "In Iraq, there is no peace without victory. We will keep our nerve and we will win that victory," (10/6/05)
Reality: There will be little peace when Iraq descends into the hell of civil war, Islamic revolution and domination. This administration has already made all the wrong moves and lost it’s nerve. Our eventual, shameful pullout is only a matter of time.
GWB Quote: "I'll remind them that we were not in Iraq on September the 11th, 2001, and al-Qaida attacked us anyway. The hatred of the radicals existed before Iraq was an issue and it will exist after Iraq is no longer an excuse." (10/6/05)
Reality: Not one single iraqi was involved in the attacks on September 11th, 2001, the Al Qaida was Iraq’s enemy until then, and Iraq was never an issue until the Neo-Cons made it one - so what is GWB’s point anyway? Why do these idiots keep insisting on what the whole world knows is a lie? It’s getting pretty tiresome.
GWB’s words: Bush compared terrorist leaders to ideological "fanatics" Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, Nazi tyrant Adolf Hitler, and Cambodia's Khmer Rouge kingpin Pol Pot.
Reality: The biggest group and most damaging group of terrorists on the planet today is the group of Neo-Cons now running the US government, under the titular ‘leadership’ of GW Bush. Not incidentally, this group also controls the greatest assemblage of WMD’s ever known to mankind. They may well be the death of our country, having already damaged us perhaps beyond repair in our lifetimes.
Reality: This administration’s idea and method of “bringing Freedom and Democracy to the Middle East” is guaranteed to and has proven to mobilize every radical Moslem fundamentalist on the planet into fomenting terrorism, subversion, insurgency and the establishment of totalitarian Islamic regimes wherever they can. That has led to the greatest surge of Islamic fervor since before the Crusades.
GWB Quote: "Evil men obsessed with ambition and unburdened by conscience must be taken very seriously and we must stop them before their crimes multiply," (10/6/05)
Reality: Prophetic words also used before the 2000 US presidential election, but which went unheeded in preventing our national disaster of having that election hijacked by the Neo-Cons.
GWB Quote: "We have seen this kind of shameless cruelty before, in heartless zealotry that led to the gulags and the Cultural Revolution and the Killing Fields." (10/6/05)
Reality: Apparently unconsciously referring to this Administration's blind dogma resulting in prison torture, indefinite imprisonment without trial, unilateral bombing, shelling and slaughter of civilian noncombatants (euphemistically being referred to as ‘collateral damage’), and wholesale violations of basic human rights the world over - including our own US citizens!
GWB Quote: "Like the ideology of communism, our new enemy pursues totalitarian aims. Its leaders pretend to be an aggrieved party, representing the powerless against imperial enemies. In truth, they have endless ambitions of imperial domination, and they wish to make everyone powerless except themselves." (Referring to Osama Bin Ladin on 10/6/05)
Reality: Again, perhaps unconsciously but very accurately referring to the present US administration.
GWB Quote: "Observers look at the job ahead and adopt a self-defeating pessimism. It is not justified," Bush said, arguing that Iraq had made "incredible political progress" (10/6/05)
Reality: Iraq has made incredible progress towards anarchy and civil war, with terrorist attacks up 300% since 2003, resulting in universal condemnation of the stupidity of US actions in the Neo-Con manufactured ‘Global War On Terror, aka the “GWOT”.
GWB Quote: "In Iraq, there is no peace without victory. We will keep our nerve and we will win that victory," (10/6/05)
Reality: There will be little peace when Iraq descends into the hell of civil war, Islamic revolution and domination. This administration has already made all the wrong moves and lost it’s nerve. Our eventual, shameful pullout is only a matter of time.
GWB Quote: "I'll remind them that we were not in Iraq on September the 11th, 2001, and al-Qaida attacked us anyway. The hatred of the radicals existed before Iraq was an issue and it will exist after Iraq is no longer an excuse." (10/6/05)
Reality: Not one single iraqi was involved in the attacks on September 11th, 2001, the Al Qaida was Iraq’s enemy until then, and Iraq was never an issue until the Neo-Cons made it one - so what is GWB’s point anyway? Why do these idiots keep insisting on what the whole world knows is a lie? It’s getting pretty tiresome.
GWB’s words: Bush compared terrorist leaders to ideological "fanatics" Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, Nazi tyrant Adolf Hitler, and Cambodia's Khmer Rouge kingpin Pol Pot.
Reality: The biggest group and most damaging group of terrorists on the planet today is the group of Neo-Cons now running the US government, under the titular ‘leadership’ of GW Bush. Not incidentally, this group also controls the greatest assemblage of WMD’s ever known to mankind. They may well be the death of our country, having already damaged us perhaps beyond repair in our lifetimes.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Timeline on a Meltdown . . .
It's really, really hard not to feel sorry for this arrogant bunch of smarmy Bastards. . . Wait a minute! No it's not! After all, here's a shot of them gleefully & busily 'trainwrecking the government' when Newt the Pervert was still around.
As a veteran, I know why these old boy veterans are feeling so glum about this occasion. Delay tries suck in some glory without ever paying the price. That shit-eating face kinda looks like he knows he can't pull this bullshit off, doesn't it? (But, he did try to volunteer according to him, but, "all the 'slots' were being filled by minorities!" We're not making this up!)
This is known as a 'graphical subterfuge'. So partisanly eager to slam Democrats that Delay is most conveniently ignoring the fact (lying about it!) that the DJIA was over 11,000 when GWB took office - and it still hasn't gotten back to that level yet! This shot was made in 2002.
If ever two people ever deserved one another . . . . this is 'em! Too bad Micheal Brown, ex-FEMA director couldn't make this shot. Losers all.
"Whoops! What's that sound? Does it really mean that I might not be able to bulldoze my way through breaking the law? Hey! Wait just a damned minute! I AM the freaking government, remember?"
Uh Oh!
Presidential Press Interview
Recent press interview with President George W. Bush:
Press Secretary Scott McClelland: "Ladies and gentlemen; The President of the United States!"
GWBush: " Good afternoon everyone. Glad to be here."
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, we're told that yesterday two Brazilian soldiers were killed in iraq. Any comment?"
GWB's Response (Involuntary): "Oh my God!" (Looks beseechingly around for Press Secretary Scott McClelland) "Hey, Scottie - just how the heck many is a bazillion anyway?"
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the the Roe vs. Wade controversy."
GWB's Response: "Listen, I don't really care how those people got out of New Orleans, just so long as they did."
Reporter's question: "Yes Sir, Mr. President concerning Hurricane Katrina, many people have criticized the government and you for the length of time it took to evacuate New Orleans. Would you care to comment on that?"
GWB's Response: "Well, look now. It took us five weeks to evacuate Crawford, Texas when that Cindy Sheehan person was camped out around there. In comparison, I'd consider two weeks pretty darned good for New Orleans."
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, you and FEMA were severely criticized for not having a plan for New Orleans after the hurricane hit. Did you have a plan, and if so what was it?"
GWB's Response: "Well of course we have a plan. We've had one all along. I won't go into too much detail here, but it's a faith-based plan and involves a great big boat."
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, the people of New Orleans have suffered terribly. What will the federal government be able to do for them now?"
GWB's Response: "Well, listen. What really counts is that all but a few thousand of them survived and in a few years it will all be just a distant memory and we don't really need to do anything more. In fact, for most of them it's just a great big holiday. Besides, everyone is forgetting that I suffered too. I entirely lost the last three days of my vacation."
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, there's a lot of the blame game going around, and you yourself have said the federal response was unacceptable. Would you care to elaborate?"
GWB's Response: "Well of course I will. You'll remember when I told the FEMA director he was doing a heck of a job - well at that time I thought FEMA actually stood for 'Fix Everything My Ass', but have since learned it has something to do with emergencies. Anyway, you're not going to be able to blame me. Hell, I was on vacation!"
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, it took an awfully long time to send in troops to help out in New Orleans. Any comment?
GWB's Response: "Well I guess in a way it did, but you can bet we sent in all we could just as soon as I found out there was a lot of oil down there."
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, It has been reported that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay took several ethically questionable golf trips paid for by foreign lobbyists and that his wife and daughter were paid $500,000 from his own political action committee. What are your thoughts?"
GWB's Response: "These sorts of attacks just have to stop! This is just another seedy attempt by the liberal media to embarrass Republicans with our own actions, words and illegal doings!"
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, we all know that you and Congressman Tom Delay are close political and personal friends. Do you intend to do anything to help Mr. Delay?
GWB's Response: "Well yes in fact I am and I'm glad you've asked that question. At Congressman Delay's urgent request, I'm going to immediately get a bill fast tracked through Congress to outlaw prison rape."
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, concerning the scandal surrounding Congressman Delay and the Republican Party in general and they way it seems to be headed these days, is there any comment you'd care to make?"
GWB's Response: "As a Republican, I am quite proud of my party and I must consider our return to traditional, core Republican values to be a good thing."
Scott McClelland: "Thank you, and that's all people. It's time for the President's afternoon nap.
Press Secretary Scott McClelland: "Ladies and gentlemen; The President of the United States!"
GWBush: " Good afternoon everyone. Glad to be here."
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, we're told that yesterday two Brazilian soldiers were killed in iraq. Any comment?"
GWB's Response (Involuntary): "Oh my God!" (Looks beseechingly around for Press Secretary Scott McClelland) "Hey, Scottie - just how the heck many is a bazillion anyway?"
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the the Roe vs. Wade controversy."
GWB's Response: "Listen, I don't really care how those people got out of New Orleans, just so long as they did."
Reporter's question: "Yes Sir, Mr. President concerning Hurricane Katrina, many people have criticized the government and you for the length of time it took to evacuate New Orleans. Would you care to comment on that?"
GWB's Response: "Well, look now. It took us five weeks to evacuate Crawford, Texas when that Cindy Sheehan person was camped out around there. In comparison, I'd consider two weeks pretty darned good for New Orleans."
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, you and FEMA were severely criticized for not having a plan for New Orleans after the hurricane hit. Did you have a plan, and if so what was it?"
GWB's Response: "Well of course we have a plan. We've had one all along. I won't go into too much detail here, but it's a faith-based plan and involves a great big boat."
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, the people of New Orleans have suffered terribly. What will the federal government be able to do for them now?"
GWB's Response: "Well, listen. What really counts is that all but a few thousand of them survived and in a few years it will all be just a distant memory and we don't really need to do anything more. In fact, for most of them it's just a great big holiday. Besides, everyone is forgetting that I suffered too. I entirely lost the last three days of my vacation."
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, there's a lot of the blame game going around, and you yourself have said the federal response was unacceptable. Would you care to elaborate?"
GWB's Response: "Well of course I will. You'll remember when I told the FEMA director he was doing a heck of a job - well at that time I thought FEMA actually stood for 'Fix Everything My Ass', but have since learned it has something to do with emergencies. Anyway, you're not going to be able to blame me. Hell, I was on vacation!"
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, it took an awfully long time to send in troops to help out in New Orleans. Any comment?
GWB's Response: "Well I guess in a way it did, but you can bet we sent in all we could just as soon as I found out there was a lot of oil down there."
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, It has been reported that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay took several ethically questionable golf trips paid for by foreign lobbyists and that his wife and daughter were paid $500,000 from his own political action committee. What are your thoughts?"
GWB's Response: "These sorts of attacks just have to stop! This is just another seedy attempt by the liberal media to embarrass Republicans with our own actions, words and illegal doings!"
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, we all know that you and Congressman Tom Delay are close political and personal friends. Do you intend to do anything to help Mr. Delay?
GWB's Response: "Well yes in fact I am and I'm glad you've asked that question. At Congressman Delay's urgent request, I'm going to immediately get a bill fast tracked through Congress to outlaw prison rape."
Reporter's question: "Mr. President, concerning the scandal surrounding Congressman Delay and the Republican Party in general and they way it seems to be headed these days, is there any comment you'd care to make?"
GWB's Response: "As a Republican, I am quite proud of my party and I must consider our return to traditional, core Republican values to be a good thing."
Scott McClelland: "Thank you, and that's all people. It's time for the President's afternoon nap.
Friday, September 30, 2005
An Overturned Reality
On Sep 30, 2005, at 2:47 PM:
This was sent to me by a friends...Interesting and disgusting both.
Is it true???
And if so, does anybody see any hypocrisy here?
Democrats:
* Richard Gephardt: Air National Guard, 1965-71.
* David Bonior: Staff Sgt., Air Force 1968-72.
* Tom Daschle: 1st Lt., Air Force SAC 1969-72.
* Al Gore: enlisted Aug. 1969; sent to Vietnam Jan. 1971 as an army journalist in 20th Engineer Brigade.
* Bob Kerrey: Lt. j.g. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam.
* Daniel Inouye: Army 1943-47; Medal of Honor, WWII.
* John Kerry: Lt., Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Hearts.
* Charles Rangel: Staff Sgt., Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea.
* Max Cleland: Captain, Army 1965-68; Silver Star &Bronze Star, Vietnam.
* Ted Kennedy: Army, 1951-53.
* Tom Harkin: Lt., Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74.
* Jack Reed: Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91.
* Fritz Hollings: Army officer in WWII; Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons.
* Leonard Boswell: Lt. Col., Army 1956-76; Vietnam, DFCs, Bronze Stars, and Sol dier's Medal.
* Pete Peterson: Air Force Captain, POW. Purple Heart, Silver Star and Legion of Merit.
* Mike Thompson: Staff sergeant, 173rd Airborne, Purple Heart.
* Bill McBride: Candidate for Fla. Governor. Marine in Vietnam; Bronze Star with Combat V.
* Gray Davis: Army Captain in Vietnam, Bronze Star.
*! Pete St ark: Air Force 1955-57
* Chuck Robb: Vietnam
* Howell Heflin: Silver Star
* George McGovern: Silver Star &DFC during WWII.
* Bill Clinton: Did not serve. Student deferments. Entered draft but received #311.
* Jimmy Carter: Seven years in the Navy.
* Walter Mondale: Army 1951-1953
* John Glenn: WWII and Korea; six DFCs and Air Medal with 18 Clusters.
* Tom Lantos: Served in Hungarian underground in WWII. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg.
Republicans -- These are the guys sending people to war:
* Dick Cheney: did not serve. Several deferments, the last by marriage.
* Dennis Hastert: did not serve.
* Tom Delay: did not serve.
* Roy Blunt: did not serve.
* Bill Frist: did not serve.
* Mitch McConnell: did not serve.
* Rick Santorum: did not serve.
* Trent Lott: did not serve.
* John Ashcroft: did not serve. Seven deferments to teach business.
* Jeb Bush: did not serve.
* Karl Rove: did not serve.
* Saxby Chambliss: did not serve. "Bad knee." The man who attacked Max Cleland's patriotism.
* Paul Wolfowitz: did not serve.
* Vin Weber: did not serve.
* Richard Perle: did not serve.
* Douglas Feith: did not serve.
* Eliot Abrams: did not serve.
* Richard Shelby: did not serve.
* Jon Kyl: did not serve.
* Tim Hutchison: did not serve.
* Christopher Cox: did not serve.
* Newt Gingrich: did not serve.
* Don Rumsfeld: served in Navy (1954-57) as flight instructor.
* George W. Bush: failed to complete his six-year National Guard; got assigned to Alabama so he could campaign for family friend running for U.S. Senate; failed to show up for required medical exam, disappeared from duty.
* B-1 Bob Dornan: Consciously enlisted after fighting was over in Korea.
* Phil Gramm: did not serve.
* John McCain: Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross.
* Dana Rohrabacher: did not! serve.
* John M. McHugh: did not serve.
* JC Watts: did not serve.
* Jack Kemp: did not serve. "Knee problem," although continued in NFL for 8 years.
* Dan Quayle: Journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard.
* Rudy Giuliani: did not serve.
* George Pataki: did not serve.
* Spencer Abraham: did not serve.
* John Engler: did not serve.
* Lindsey Graham: National Guard lawyer.
* Arnold Schwarzenegger: AWOL from Austrian army base.
* Ronald Reagan: due to poor eyesight, served in a non-combat role making movies.
Pundits &Preachers:
* Sean Hannity: did not serve.
* Rush Limbaugh: did not serve (4-F with a 'pilonidal cyst.')
* Bill O'Reilly: did not serve.
* Michael Savage: did not serve.
* George Will: did not serve.
* Chris Matthews: did not serve.
* Paul Gigot: did not serve.
* Bill Bennett: did not serve.
* Pat Buchanan: did not serve.
* Bill Kristol: did not serve.
* Kenneth Starr: did not serve.
* Antonin Scalia: did not serve.
* Clarence Thomas: did not serve.
* Ralph Reed: did not serve.
* Michael Medved: did not serve.
* Charlie Daniels: did not serve.
* Ted Nugent: did not serve. (He only shoots at things that don't shoot back.)
* John Wayne: did not serve.
Please keep this information circulating.
Sen. Howard W. Carroll
The above is true -
Many have been hollering about this since 2000, but few seem to pay attention. If you are prepared to really be disgusted, have a look at the campaign that Saxby Chambliss ran against Max Cleland in Georgia for US Senate in 2002 - and won. Saxby, who never served his country (had a "trick knee"), infamously ran campaign ads comparing Cleland (who lost three limbs in Vietnam) to Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden. Unfortunately and unbelievably, too many rednecks believed his hypocrisy to see thru the fraud:
In my opinion, our country is in grave danger and on the precipice (along with Britain) of becoming a totally fascist corporate state, dedicated to the unholy profits of the unaccountable, greedy few who are well on the way to enslaving the rest of us if they can get away with it. Try exercising your US citizen rights, guaranteed by the constitution in Washington (and many other places) to protest these days, and you may be hustled off to jail as Cindy Sheehan just was on some technicality or other. And, in Britain the other day, an 82 year old delegate to a Labour Party convention was grabbed by a couple of security 'toughies' after he had the unmitigated gall to shout the word 'nonsense' in protest as the British Foreign Secretary tried to justify the British presence in Iraq. He was then briefly and absurdly detained under the British "Terrorism Act". (Hint: Watch the video!)
The point is that the powers that be these days are desperate to hold onto control and stifle dissent any way they can, both here and in Britain. Unbelievably, we have become the draconian "Russia of the new millennium"! In other words:
" . . on this very ground, with small flags waving and tiny blasts of tiny trumpets, we have met the enemy, and not only may he be ours, he may be us."
- Pogo (by Walt Kelly)
To many, including sometimes myself, these words seem like some kind of polemical diatribe - but really, I am apolitical. I have never classified myself as "Democrat" or "Republican" - and never liked labels. And, if I tallied all my voting over the years (I've never missed even once, and always split my ticket - until recently), I am sure I would find that I have voted for more Republicans than Democrats.
But, I am for "truth, justice and the American Way", none of which seem to be much in evidence these days. Problem is, not many people take the trouble to seriously look into this hypocrisy, or "check under the rocks" - and many get all caught up in the flaming rhetoric pumped out by these lying, deceitful fraudulent bastards. The hope is now it has gotten so very bad that even the dummies are waking up. I have right many 'right wing' friends who are appalled at what is being done in our name, to our country by the people now in charge.
"It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry for blood, more vengeance. More desolation."
- William Tecumseh Sherman
This was sent to me by a friends...Interesting and disgusting both.
Is it true???
And if so, does anybody see any hypocrisy here?
Democrats:
* Richard Gephardt: Air National Guard, 1965-71.
* David Bonior: Staff Sgt., Air Force 1968-72.
* Tom Daschle: 1st Lt., Air Force SAC 1969-72.
* Al Gore: enlisted Aug. 1969; sent to Vietnam Jan. 1971 as an army journalist in 20th Engineer Brigade.
* Bob Kerrey: Lt. j.g. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam.
* Daniel Inouye: Army 1943-47; Medal of Honor, WWII.
* John Kerry: Lt., Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Hearts.
* Charles Rangel: Staff Sgt., Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea.
* Max Cleland: Captain, Army 1965-68; Silver Star &Bronze Star, Vietnam.
* Ted Kennedy: Army, 1951-53.
* Tom Harkin: Lt., Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74.
* Jack Reed: Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91.
* Fritz Hollings: Army officer in WWII; Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons.
* Leonard Boswell: Lt. Col., Army 1956-76; Vietnam, DFCs, Bronze Stars, and Sol dier's Medal.
* Pete Peterson: Air Force Captain, POW. Purple Heart, Silver Star and Legion of Merit.
* Mike Thompson: Staff sergeant, 173rd Airborne, Purple Heart.
* Bill McBride: Candidate for Fla. Governor. Marine in Vietnam; Bronze Star with Combat V.
* Gray Davis: Army Captain in Vietnam, Bronze Star.
*! Pete St ark: Air Force 1955-57
* Chuck Robb: Vietnam
* Howell Heflin: Silver Star
* George McGovern: Silver Star &DFC during WWII.
* Bill Clinton: Did not serve. Student deferments. Entered draft but received #311.
* Jimmy Carter: Seven years in the Navy.
* Walter Mondale: Army 1951-1953
* John Glenn: WWII and Korea; six DFCs and Air Medal with 18 Clusters.
* Tom Lantos: Served in Hungarian underground in WWII. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg.
Republicans -- These are the guys sending people to war:
* Dick Cheney: did not serve. Several deferments, the last by marriage.
* Dennis Hastert: did not serve.
* Tom Delay: did not serve.
* Roy Blunt: did not serve.
* Bill Frist: did not serve.
* Mitch McConnell: did not serve.
* Rick Santorum: did not serve.
* Trent Lott: did not serve.
* John Ashcroft: did not serve. Seven deferments to teach business.
* Jeb Bush: did not serve.
* Karl Rove: did not serve.
* Saxby Chambliss: did not serve. "Bad knee." The man who attacked Max Cleland's patriotism.
* Paul Wolfowitz: did not serve.
* Vin Weber: did not serve.
* Richard Perle: did not serve.
* Douglas Feith: did not serve.
* Eliot Abrams: did not serve.
* Richard Shelby: did not serve.
* Jon Kyl: did not serve.
* Tim Hutchison: did not serve.
* Christopher Cox: did not serve.
* Newt Gingrich: did not serve.
* Don Rumsfeld: served in Navy (1954-57) as flight instructor.
* George W. Bush: failed to complete his six-year National Guard; got assigned to Alabama so he could campaign for family friend running for U.S. Senate; failed to show up for required medical exam, disappeared from duty.
* B-1 Bob Dornan: Consciously enlisted after fighting was over in Korea.
* Phil Gramm: did not serve.
* John McCain: Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross.
* Dana Rohrabacher: did not! serve.
* John M. McHugh: did not serve.
* JC Watts: did not serve.
* Jack Kemp: did not serve. "Knee problem," although continued in NFL for 8 years.
* Dan Quayle: Journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard.
* Rudy Giuliani: did not serve.
* George Pataki: did not serve.
* Spencer Abraham: did not serve.
* John Engler: did not serve.
* Lindsey Graham: National Guard lawyer.
* Arnold Schwarzenegger: AWOL from Austrian army base.
* Ronald Reagan: due to poor eyesight, served in a non-combat role making movies.
Pundits &Preachers:
* Sean Hannity: did not serve.
* Rush Limbaugh: did not serve (4-F with a 'pilonidal cyst.')
* Bill O'Reilly: did not serve.
* Michael Savage: did not serve.
* George Will: did not serve.
* Chris Matthews: did not serve.
* Paul Gigot: did not serve.
* Bill Bennett: did not serve.
* Pat Buchanan: did not serve.
* Bill Kristol: did not serve.
* Kenneth Starr: did not serve.
* Antonin Scalia: did not serve.
* Clarence Thomas: did not serve.
* Ralph Reed: did not serve.
* Michael Medved: did not serve.
* Charlie Daniels: did not serve.
* Ted Nugent: did not serve. (He only shoots at things that don't shoot back.)
* John Wayne: did not serve.
Please keep this information circulating.
Sen. Howard W. Carroll
The above is true -
Many have been hollering about this since 2000, but few seem to pay attention. If you are prepared to really be disgusted, have a look at the campaign that Saxby Chambliss ran against Max Cleland in Georgia for US Senate in 2002 - and won. Saxby, who never served his country (had a "trick knee"), infamously ran campaign ads comparing Cleland (who lost three limbs in Vietnam) to Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden. Unfortunately and unbelievably, too many rednecks believed his hypocrisy to see thru the fraud:
In my opinion, our country is in grave danger and on the precipice (along with Britain) of becoming a totally fascist corporate state, dedicated to the unholy profits of the unaccountable, greedy few who are well on the way to enslaving the rest of us if they can get away with it. Try exercising your US citizen rights, guaranteed by the constitution in Washington (and many other places) to protest these days, and you may be hustled off to jail as Cindy Sheehan just was on some technicality or other. And, in Britain the other day, an 82 year old delegate to a Labour Party convention was grabbed by a couple of security 'toughies' after he had the unmitigated gall to shout the word 'nonsense' in protest as the British Foreign Secretary tried to justify the British presence in Iraq. He was then briefly and absurdly detained under the British "Terrorism Act". (Hint: Watch the video!)
The point is that the powers that be these days are desperate to hold onto control and stifle dissent any way they can, both here and in Britain. Unbelievably, we have become the draconian "Russia of the new millennium"! In other words:
" . . on this very ground, with small flags waving and tiny blasts of tiny trumpets, we have met the enemy, and not only may he be ours, he may be us."
- Pogo (by Walt Kelly)
To many, including sometimes myself, these words seem like some kind of polemical diatribe - but really, I am apolitical. I have never classified myself as "Democrat" or "Republican" - and never liked labels. And, if I tallied all my voting over the years (I've never missed even once, and always split my ticket - until recently), I am sure I would find that I have voted for more Republicans than Democrats.
But, I am for "truth, justice and the American Way", none of which seem to be much in evidence these days. Problem is, not many people take the trouble to seriously look into this hypocrisy, or "check under the rocks" - and many get all caught up in the flaming rhetoric pumped out by these lying, deceitful fraudulent bastards. The hope is now it has gotten so very bad that even the dummies are waking up. I have right many 'right wing' friends who are appalled at what is being done in our name, to our country by the people now in charge.
"It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry for blood, more vengeance. More desolation."
- William Tecumseh Sherman
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