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How Many National Security Advisor's Advisors Does It Take?
Dear Polly Sigh:
I had to write to you after watching the confirmation hearings for Condoleezza Rice, in her proposed role as Secretary of State. It’s well known that Colin Powell sometimes expressed disagreement with President Bush’s foreign policy decisions. I do not think Ms. Rice will ever express disagreement with George Bush, even if she believes his actions are wrong. I don’t think this is good for the country. What do you think?
Signed,
Concerned in Arkansas
Dear C.I.A. –
Are you impugning the credibility of Ms. Rice? That’s appalling. You must be one of those angry partisan hacks I’m always hearing about.
In my opinion, all doubts about Ms. Rice’s qualifications for a high-level government position were erased when she said this to the 9-11 Commission: “I don’t remember the al Qaeda cells being something that we were told we needed to do something about.”
It wasn’t Condi’s fault, you ignoramus. Somebody was supposed to tell Condi to do something about al Qaeda cells in the U.S.... Now, you may think that it was her job as National Security Advisor to the President to know what constituted a threat and what didn’t. Rookie mistake. In reality, there is a person who’s supposed to tell the National Security Advisor to the President when something poses a security threat. Investigators were unable to determine the name of this individual, but don’t worry. The extremely sharp members of the American free press are on the case.
What is clear is that certain people cannot warn the National Security Advisor of a looming security threat. At the top of this list is Richard Clarke, an upper level anti-terrorism advisor. Mr. Clarke warned Ms. Rice of al Qaeda cells being present in the U.S. as early as March of 2001. For obvious reasons, she did not respond to his rantings of airplanes and attacks on New York.
An FBI source in May of 2001 informed Ms. Rice that there was a plan to launch attacks in London, Boston and New York. They were on the same list as Richard Clarke, so she rightly ignored them. She also did not respond (for legal and ethical reasons) to Richard Clarke’s June missive about 6 separate intelligence reports showing al Qaeda personnel warning of an impending attack.
Condi testified to the 9-11 Commission that she didn’t remember whether she had discussed with President Bush concerns about al Qaeda cells in the U.S. These facts taken together clearly illustrate that Ms. Rice is dedicated to serving and defending America. Wasn’t she on television constantly during the 911 hearings? She stressed every day what a great job the President is doing to protect the country. Haven’t you seen her gazing adoringly at President Bush? I just think she’s the keenest. God Bless America.
Love,
Polly
Rummy the psycho...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29414-2005Jan22.html?referrer=email
[snip]
Military and civilian participants said in interviews that the new unit has been operating in secret for two years -- in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places they declined to name. According to an early planning memorandum to Rumsfeld from Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the focus of the intelligence initiative is on "emerging target countries such as Somalia, Yemen, Indonesia, Philippines and Georgia." Myers and his staff declined to be interviewed.
Rummy's not a psycho- he's a fascist operating outside the constitutional limits of our government. He knows exactly what he's doing, and so do the people who are working with him. And if he's caught with his pants down for some illegal activity financed by his "redirected funds," he'll find an Ollie North to take the fall for him- just like in the good old days of Reagan and George the First. And the conservatives in this country will make a hero out of whoever takes the fall, so that 20 years from now he'll be a "respected" commentator on Fox News.
History is just repeating itself. Remember what happens when we don't learn from it.
Dear Polly,
At first, I wasn't sure I felt very good about Ms. Rice being our next Secretary of State. Something about her reminded me of a girl named Monica. I think it is because they both have gazed at their president so adoringly that it gave me flashbacks to angry people making fun of Monica. They likened her to a cheap hooker.
That wasn't very nice.
So I went to the dictionary and looked up what a hooker is. It is someone who sells one's abilities, talent, or name for an unworthy purpose.
After Ms. Rice became so indignant at the confirmation hearings and said she felt her integrity was being impuned, I believe her.
I don't think she is a cheap hooker.
Must just be something about the gaze....
I am just sick.
Front page of Seattle Times is all about felons voting. The implication will be that they're all Democrats since we're all Democrats here. I feel like making a button that says "Felons for Peace" or something.
The upshot is that Rossi will force a revote and oust Gregoire. It could happen. I love Italy and Italian food but Rossi is Italian and endorsed by the Builders Association and most of the builders are Italian-American, going back 5 generations. We've been having roof estimates and have been told this over and over again. They came here to work during the Klondike Gold Rush.
All they do is complain about how Governor Locke (who is Chinese-American) favored Asians, such as rebuilding all the Chinatowns. & I see Cheryl Chow signs in the Asian groceries, so I suppose each group looks out for their own (she ran for City Council).
Well I just got $14 worth of produce at a Vietnamese produce outlet and I figured up that it would have cost me $53 at Republican-owned Safeway. So if I take my business there for a year I'll save alot, help the grocer and take a cut out of Safeway's money they contribute to Bush.
Special interests. I have alot of Irish Welsh English so I think I'll support Gregoire (French name but she is Irish) and McDermott.
I love Teresa. I miss Teresa. I was lucky & got to talk to her 8x! She learned to recognize Patti F & I! What an inspiration she would have been as First Lady. It is unthinkable that we came so close & we have a Stepford now. This is asinine here too that they call her a "Ketchup Heiress." The press treated her horribly. I don't know how anyone could run again after all the defamation of character (John too). Bush deserves every insult he gets.
Will John Kerry run again? The ball is in Teresa's hands
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry may want to consider running for president again in 2008. But his wife, local ketchup heiress Teresa Heinz Kerry of Fox Chapel, has made it clear she won't sit still for another campaign.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," an unidentified Heinz Kerry friend told the Boston Herald. "Teresa will never do it again."
Not necessarily, said Jeff Lewis, a Heinz Kerry spokesman.
"Teresa Heinz is too smart to say that," he said. "She campaigned her heart out, as did her husband ... it was hard work and a great experience and we'll just go from there."
According to the Herald, sources say Heinz Kerry went into a deep funk after President George Bush was re-elected -- especially because her husband came so close to victory.
"She was angry and hugely disappointed and (ticked) off," the Heinz Kerry friend told the Herald. "She wanted to win so badly."
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/search/s_295625.html
Kerry will be on "Meet the Press" next Sunday, I just heard.
I haven't watched tv since his concession speech but I would consider watching this.
How I Can Lose My Job - Under Bush
Organizations Urge Bush Not to Cut or Cap Medicaid"
On January 12, 2005, we sent a letter to President Bush urging him not to cut or cap the Medicaid program. Heres the really big news: 240 national organizations and 775 state and local organizations, representing all 50 states
and the District of Columbia, joined Families USA in signing this letter!
This shows a tremendous amount of support for Medicaid from a wide range of provider, beneficiary, and consumer organizations.
To read the letter to President Bush, visit:
http://www.familiesusa.org/site/DocServer/Medicad_Signon_Letter_Bush_
1_12_05.pdf?docID=6101&JServSessionIdr012=whnx4y7co1.app25a
It's increasingly clear that Medicaid advocates will face quite a challenge in the coming weeks. But our community of advocates is clearly ready to meet that challenge--and we can prevail. We encourage you to use this letter over the
next few weeks with your congressional delegation and with your governor to make the vital point that Medicaid should NOT be cut or capped in the upcoming budget battle.
If this happens .. and it is more likely if somehow Rossi is Gov .. we are seriously thinking about Canada.
Not necessarily, said Jeff Lewis, a Heinz Kerry spokesman.
"Teresa Heinz is too smart to say that," he said. "She campaigned her heart out, as did her husband ... it was hard work and a great experience and we'll just go from there."
Posted by: DiAnne at January 23, 2005 07:56 PM
DiAnne
So much speculation throughout the news about whether JK will run again. I don't know if you caught this on LUTD (The Shadow President), so I'll post the link again -http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=255
I miss Teresa too. Nice to see Jeffrey Lewis speaking up for her. He's a sweetheart. True blue to Teresa.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_05/011905D.shtml
The Thirty-Four Scandals of Bush - each worse than WhiteWater
Impeachable offenses
"The extremely sharp members of the American free press are on the case."
Dear Polly,
This was the most inspiring and reassuring sentence in your letter. I don't know what I'd do if our press here in America was as lazy and lacking in journalistic ethics as, say, The Guardian in Britain. That would be terrible.
Check out this satire site!!
http://www.oldamericancentury.org
to compare:
http://www.newamericancentury.org
Posted by: DiAnne at January 23, 2005 08:04 PM
I know a great spot north of Van that has beautiful oceanview lots going like hotcakes - almost all to Americans! Our next door neighbors are from Austin, and across the street, Salem, North Carolina! We met folks from South Dakota and Ohio, too. Hope they bought, they were so nice. We all plan to fly the American flag upside down.
My Florida friends that were just here bought on Sonora Island, near Vancouver Island. How expensive?!
I went to a newspaper and explained that I was an unidentified Barbara Bush friend, and I told them that Barbara is not really in love with George and hopes to have an affair with....
Wonder why they didn't print my story?
DiAnne,
Around 200-400K CDN for a lot where we bought, but that's oceanview. Some lots were around 100K. Inland is even less. The islands are less expensive and lovely. We're needing to work for a few years yet, so needed an easy drive to a population centre.
They are LOVING all the Americans coming up. We saw "Welcome American Expats" signs and got hugs and even free drinks. One town actually advertised in northwest US papers for Americans to come up and start small businesses. The towns are opening business development offices - government funded centres for helping individuals succeed in 21st century small businesses in smaller towns and cities. We got skads of info and several consultants are assisting us by email long distance.
However... we've decided to postpone our move because - oh, gosh, I may regret this - I want to stay and fight. I figure I'll revisit the issue after the 06 elections.
I can't go to New American Century, it's just too frightening. My daughter keeps telling me that I need to know what I'm up against. I know what I'm up against - Satan! That's all I need to know about their goals - they're the embodiment of all that is against God.
Now strategies, that's another issue altogether. I'm boning up on Republican strategy.
However... we've decided to postpone our move because - oh, gosh, I may regret this - I want to stay and fight. I figure I'll revisit the issue after the 06 elections.
Posted by: Amy at January 23, 2005 09:03 PM
Good!!! I'm so glad. You are needed here.
Posted by: Amy at January 23, 2005 08:51 PM
Really? Barbara's not in love with George??
And she wants to have an affair???
UW: Losing the Ground War in Iraq
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002158381_insurgency23.html
US Foresaw Terror Threat in 1970s
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0105/202171.html
Jack Straw/UK Meeting w/Condi Rice re. Iran
Rosemary Wood, Nixon's secretary, died
Johny Carson died
Amy, yes, you're needed here! Unless you decide to move and open up your new oceanfront home to the rest of us for R&R, in which case.... ;-)
Jon Stewart is this generationS (and I mean that plural) Johnny Carson. Stewart does homage to Carson in his bits, which I've always thought was a lovely gesture of respect.
Patti F is on the phone - two broken arms.
She's hanging in there. Hi to all.
Hugs and Prayers to Patti. {{{Patti}}}
Kennedy: Fascist America :
"The Republicans are 95 percent corrupt and the Democrats are 75 percent corrupt," Kennedy.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7804.htm
RFK, Jr. seems to have his head on straight.... From the quotes in the article, he is seeing the political situation in this country quite clearly. Depending on his stances on any other issues, he just might be someone to watch and vote for in the future???
DiAnne -
So JK will be on MTP Sunday? I guess next week will mark my return to watching that program as well. Tim Russert better not be an ass.
As for the return of Poll-mania. After this election, I refuse to pay attention to any national poll. I have seriously learned my lesson. They are all total garbage as far as I'm concerned.
Oh and the idea about allowing voter registration on the day of election,that may not be a bad idea. While working at my Dem HQ on 11/2, I talked to nearly a handful of people (mostly young voters) who came in to find out where they could vote, but of course they couldn't.
NonnyO
I think he's not corrupt enough to go into politics.
My other political-family hero who has seen the light is Ronald Reagan Jr.
Patti F was just telling me on the phone about having heard RFK Jr. speak about alot of this.
She also reminded me to remind everyone that John F Kerry will be on Meet the Press next Sunday the whole hour.
She said Bush stole a couple of John F Kennedy bits for his speech and Ted Kennedy walked away saying he was no JFK.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/top10/05/183.html
wherein it is claimed that Corsi, head of Swift Boat book 'Unfit for Command' will move to Massachusetts to run for John Kerry's Senate seat in 2008. That's Robert F Kennedy Sr's seat.
Posted by: DiAnne at January 23, 2005 10:14 PM
Good point, DiAnne.... RFK Jr. doesn't seem to be corruptable.
What would it be like to have a politician honestly elected to office who considers the good of all people with any legislation he or she tries to get enacted...??? I have such pretty daydreams....
* * * * *
The link to this was posted before, and when I read it I copied and pasted the whole thing into an email with the link and this message: "Bush gives us fairy tales and abuses our language with lies and rhetoric designed to divide people with the fake crises he invents so he can give corporate control of this country to his cronies who head the corporations who put him in office. Half of the people in this country no longer recognize truth, and wouldn't believe anything but lies even if the truth walked up and slapped them in the face. This author tells it like it is from the viewpoint of people outside of this country!!! Bravo!!! (I've read other pieces from other foreign presses that say much the same.... This writer says it more concisely than most! People in foreign countries see the situation in this country very differently from what the Repuke-controlled media tells us with propaganda from BushCo.) "
http://english.pravda.ru/mailbox/22/101/399/14851_bush.html
We don't want your freedom
New on LUTD -
From Sandy:
Did We Win the “War on Terror”?
23 January 2005
Did I miss something? What happened to the “War on Terror”? It’s astonishing. In the 2,050 words of Bush’s Inaugural Address, the words terror, terrorist or terrorism do not exist. Nor do the words September 11, 9/11, Bin Laden, or Al Qaeda. Conventional wisdom has it that the election turned on the fear of terrorist attacks. We have heard nothing but terror, terror, terror for 3 years. Fight them over there. No attacks on US soil. Smoke ‘em out. “We will not stop, we will not tire, until this danger to civilization is removed”. And yet, one of the most important addresses a President gives is completely void of direct reference to the most serious threat to our security in the 21st Century.
http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=257
On the Environment:
BioWillie: Family Farmers Growing Fuel for America and the World
23 January 2005
A couple of months ago, Willie Nelson set out on a new endeavor to help family farmers and the environment. Nelson and three partners formed Willie Nelson’s Biodiesel, a company that will market Biodiesel fuel to truck stops. Nelson’s brand of Biodiesel, named BioWillie, is produced from vegetable oils, primarily soybeans, and may be burned without modification to diesel engines.
http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=258
That's Robert F Kennedy Sr's seat.
Posted by: DiAnne at January 23, 2005 10:26 PM
DiAnne
Robert F. Kennedy Sr. was never a Senator in MA, he was a Senator in NY -
http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch1.asp
Paul Tsongas (Dem) had the seat before Kerry. Ed Brooke (Rep) before Tsongas, Levert Saltonstall (Rep) before Brooke.