Along the Mall

As a DC resident, it is always strange to see one's city occupied by strangers; people trying to find their way around what is so familiar to us. But today was more eerie than usual.

The people coming to the Inauguration appeared distressed--the snow, the traffic, the general discomfort of getting around a city that had been "militarized" seemed to cause consternation. We all eyed each other uneasily.

They knew that I knew that they were Bush supporters, and that I thought less of them for that. They thought less of me as well.

I look into their eyes, trying to see if there is guilt, regret, shame. They must know how badly we are doing--in Iraq, with the economy, with Social Security. I wonder if they know the election was based on fraud--or if they care.

I think about winning at all costs, and the loss that results.

I am glad I can feel good about the work we did over the past year. I am sad, thinking about JK and THK today. But I am proud of all of us.

And I am looking forward to tomorrow, when the real work begins again.

I can't help thinking about Janis Joplin today--"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." It's just so very sad.

I thought someone was making that up about the Declaration of Independence, now with our own King George.

And DiAnne and I are having flashbacks to the famed hog rally in Sturgis, SD. Wish we were there, except it's so red.

Colors of Metro, because I think Resolute's favorite alert if fuscia?

George Bush is an American inspiration.

I mean, if he can become president, any of us can be President (and, naturally, do a better job).

As Don King would say, "Only in America!"

Thanks for the pics, Dick--and great comments, Karen. So, I made it through the day without spending one damn dime:

http://www.notonedamndime.com/boycott/

I wonder if this action will register in any economic tallies anywhere? At least the protests made some news.

At the peace meeting I attended tonight someone said that Bush quoted from the Sermon on the Mount in his speech. Something tells me he didn't quote "Blessed are the peace-makers"...

JK was there today. Here's a story and pic of him.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6848149/

Big sigh.

There aren't many - if any - parts of the Sermon on the Mount that that Bush could say. He has violated every part of the Beatitudes.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

CNN Poll..
Did you find President Bush’s inaugural address inspiring?

Thinking about Karen comments, and remembering we are in a war here, of ideas, perceptions, and how very, very differently we see our truths. Today there was street engagement, civil, but no mutual understanding of how we see things. That propaganda machine of theirs has made us enemies in our own land. As much as it is talk about it, another to walk around in it.

Will Pitt was trying to describe the errors in the State of the Union, about the WMD proof, and the fellow thought it was all the Dems' story.

Did you find President Bush’s inaugural address inspiring?

Yes 30% 43060 votes

No 70% 98913 votes

Total: 141973 votes

http://www.cnn.com/

The 30% who liked the speech are the same people who think denial is a river in Egypt.

I only watched the protesters on C-Span; couldn't get myself to watch the chimp take the oath of office again. However, I am even more proud of supporting JK today than before, especially after his No vote for Dr. Rice.

Another convert...
Last year, one of my coworkers told be he is a solid Republican and don't even waste time talking politics. I said fine and pretty much ignored him. He does his thing and I do mine...This went on until just now.

Today it was. "So what sites can I go to find out Democratic positions? I can't stand Bush anymore." He mentioned Bush's position on the defecit, the war and social security.

It totally took me by surprise. I gave him this site, Pamela site, a few local Dem sites and a few Dem info and news sites. That is enough to get him going.
So thanks to Bushco, we landed another one. Too bad it didn't happen back in early November.

And I bet his vote was not a reflexive no, as JK said, like everything he does. Spent hours with her 'after class,' as much teaching her, making sure she was prepared, which she wasn't and isn't.

He did not, despite all that press spin, decide from vengeful sour grapes. Boston Herald called it lack of statesmanship. They never stop.

I received an e-mail today from a Vietnam vet friend who, apart from his regular job, is a minister and chaplain for a Christian veterans' organization. My friend voted for W, but his doubts have been growing:

"Nevertheless, at some point even we, those who have been there, have to stand up and say enough is enough. My dilemma is how do I stand against the Administration's policies without causing the Troops to feel I am against them. Every time I hear a story about another American dying, a part of me dies. When it's one I personally know . . . it tears my heart out and causes me to want to lash out against our Government. I have spent too many nights crying and praying with Vietnam veterans, because of their pain, to know that we will have thousands more doing the same as a result of this Administration's failing policies."

What is remarkable is how much my friend has changed in his views -- and that he chose today to send his message not only to me, but to a large mailing list of other veterans.

BB, analysts said the election was a few months too soon, when events would have to take over.

Don't know, but maybe.

BE

Again, I think it was the swifties, because many would have understood Kerry's principled stand described by him or Going Upriver, which I'm afraid did not get seen as it should have.

Living in the DC area I had the opportunity to ride the Metro system in to the city today for a very appropriate (for today) medical procedure and was in shock with the number of fur coats adorning the women. Returning in the afternoon yielded more sightings. My wife had a similar experience last night returning on the Metro about the time the first of the balls was letting out. Her comment was the same. The display of wealth was just not to be believed. PETA should have had a field day with this.

I can only think that had we had our "Bloggers Ball" the image would have been so very much different.

Posted by: Marjorie G at January 20, 2005 08:23 PM

Events are spinning out of control and are accelerating. I think a lot of activities were suppressed - like attacking Fallugah - deliberately as to avoid the public knowing things.

But like I told him, we had four years to see what Bushco is like. We get four more years of hell.

Posted by: karen at January 20, 2005 06:53 PM

Karen, wonderful post - beautifully expressed.

That's terrific that you looked them in the eye. Did they look away or right back at you? Or worse yet, through you?

I can only think that had we had our "Bloggers Ball" the image would have been so very much different.

Posted by: Barry at January 20, 2005 08:29 PM

Barry, my daughter at GW had the same experience last night. Never had seen so many furs, never had seen so many limos. Her voice was shaking with indignation when she called me.

Marjorie,

My friend's negative feelings toward JK date from the 70's, but he was one who forwarded the swifties' garbage that was going around the net.

At some point, I'm going to have some vet friends over to watch and discuss the "Going Upriver" DVD -- and this friend is one who will definitely be getting an invitation!

People are asking about my J/K bumper stickers and why do I have them on?

I tell them "it is too remind you and me about how great we could be, and about how we will be a lesser nation and people with Bush."

Colors of Metro, because I think Resolute's favorite alert if fuscia?

Posted by: Marjorie G at January 20, 2005 07:16 PM

LOL - no I prefer mauve.

resolute, thought you usually say fuscia, so my error in mixing blog-mates. Just thinking of you, I guess.

Resolute,

Is the mauve alert the one where you're supposed to stand tall and make youself appear as large and intimidating as possible to deter attack, or the one where you're supposed to slump your posture and make yourself appear as small and non-threatening as possible to avoid provoking attack? (I can never get those right.) And where does all the duct tape come in?

Is the mauve alert the one where you're supposed to stand tall and make youself appear as large and intimidating as possible to deter attack... And where does all the duct tape come in?

Posted by: Bob Evans at January 20, 2005 09:02 PM

Too funny. And sadly, that's about the size of it when states like NY get the same funding for homeland security as Wyoming.

Found this link on the DU blog. Great pictures of world-wide protest to Bush's inauguration today. It really does look like there were many, many protesters in DC today, more than four years ago. And that the media did pay attention.

How horrifying that the world protests the fact that we've just inaugurated two terrorists as President and Vice President.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/ts/012005inaugprotests&a=&tmpl=sl&ns=&l=&e=1

And I particularly love the sign that says, "50.8% is not a mandate, you nitwit"

All I could do here today in Red Rural was wear my darkest blue jeans, dark blue sweatshirt, and a blue and green peace button made by a Palestine child, distributed by Amnesty International. My husband bought me the button.

That was it. The only statement I could make.

My husband convinced me I needed to watch at least some of the speech. I ranted a bit, but did. Mark Shields got it right, the village idiot is on a mission to rebuild the world. Can anyone spell "grandious?" The pollywanker pissant is on a crusade.

Maybe that button made by the Palestine child needs to be worn everyday.

And I am looking forward to tomorrow, when the real work begins again.
Posted by: karen at January 20, 2005 06:53 PM

Karen,

You are describing a ghost town filled with a force of heartless zombies. Our capitol is occupied by sycophants hostile to the American ideal.

You are right, our real work begins tomorrow. At the risk of repeating myself ad nauseum, "The future is now." As DCP gathers more members and expands, we will lift the gauze from America's eyes. We will be an unstoppable force for principled values.

You should feel good about what we have done over the last year. We are all grateful to you, Dick, and the crew for all the things that you have done to further our cause. I also look forward to tomorrow. I am excited for the future. Our efforts will be rewarded. Our work will not be in vain. We will rescue America.

Posted by: oncall at January 20, 2005 10:38 PM

I second Oncalls thanks to Karen, Dick and all the others. We can do this, its not going to be easy, but we have one advantage we all (unlike Bush and Company) know that nothing worth having ever comes easily. I told the woman who phoned me tonight about starting to work with Local Democrats again about DCP I am hoping they check it out. I asked her to give me a few months to get my head back together if thats even possible, and asked her to notify me when the vote for the new Head of the County democrats is going to happen.

In My Thank You Add to all the local Businesses and people who have been so good to us that will run next Wednsday I included you all the DCP and the Web Address, Two reasons I did this, one because you all have been so awesome to us and deserved thanks, 2 because Angie was terrified of Bush and wanted more than anything to get this country moving in the right direction again. I think DCP and groups like it have the best chance right now to do that.

Karen,

Your efforts and those of JK and THK were successful.

I did not watch the inauguration today, or Bush's speech. I did watch some coverage of the protestors, and wondered if any of them were you or Dick.

CBS news with Dan Rather was quite good. In the effort of being "fair and balanced" they presented viewpoints from the left, and from the right. They showed footage of some usual inauguration traditions being played out. Then they showed footage of a soldier so wounded he was going "home" hooked up to all sorts of machines. I think he is a living vegetable. They showed the Dr. saying he "is going to make it." They showed a man along the route holding a photo of his dead son, killed in Iraq, who chose to turn his back on the proceedings. It was all done on the up and up, even showed a clip of the man saying it was his right to protest, because America has freedom of speech. Bless their hearts. When Rather leaves, CBS is history in my book. It was a great thing to see.

April,
Every single day, I think about Angie and the letter she wrote to JK.

I think about Bethany (my daughter) and the fact that she told everyone to please vote for Clinton.

The children know--they see through the lies better than anyone. And so, we do all we do for them.

I thought Kerry looked positive today. It couldn't have been easy to go being him, but he pulled it off with polish.

Dick and Karen, and each person on this blog and the IRC chat:

Today was difficult. It was the first time I have ever been nauseated at the sight of a man about to take the oath of office of President of the United States. It is the first year I have ever been fearful for the lives of my children and saddened by the truths that the spin and propoganda I believed were lies to cover the spilling of blood for oil and greed. You here extended your hand to me last fall, when my River of Denial was drying up, and I was trying to find truth in a world of lies. I thank you all for doing that, for helping me now to learn more truth and encouraging me to be a part of change.
Today, the truth was a little hard to bear. But not nearly as hard as hearing the lies and not knowing where to go to find truth.

Thank you.

Tomorrow is a new day. The formal humiliations of Democrats are finished, but the humiliation of all America continues with the worsening of the illegal Bush Invasion, the arrogance and grandiose declarations of our president, the shameful rape of our environment.

The future will be ours - the Repulicans own the war, they own the plummeting economy and record deficits after squandering a healthy surplus, they own the slow death of the Great Lakes, the worsening global warming, the loss of manuufacturing jobs, the unconscionable increases in abortions and poverty, and perhaps ultimately the worst of the lot, they have divided America as it has not been divided since the Civil War.

When last our Democratic voices were clearly heard, the economy was healthy, the air and water and earth were beginning to heal, and our country was at peace. Let us all commit our wills and our souls to making those voices heard again, no matter the cost.

I'm watching Chariots of Fire, a movie about the triumph of will, about convictions, and how to live by them in spite of the cost. I hope some of our senators are watching.

Posted by: karen at January 20, 2005 06:53 PM

Your description of the "eerie" atmosphere in DC reminded me of how it felt here in NYC last August-- police on all 4 corners of every intersection, and convention-goers who stood out like such sore thumbs that we could easily spot them from 2 or 3 blocks away. They were more ridiculous than caricatures of "ugly American tourists" in foreign countries. I mean, come on, this is an English-speaking city in their OWN COUNTRY (unfortunately), not some obscure third-world destination where it may be difficult to communicate or navigate without a tour guide. Those people obviously had zero interest in blending in, mixing with the locals, or exploring the city-- they knew we knew they came only to exploit 9/11 and they were proud of it! The way this city was violated-- that must be exactly what rape feels like. How can we not understand how most of the world feel about "Americans" now.

When in New York City two months ago, I visited the ground zero sight that was once the World Trade Center towers. There was a very eery feeling to it.

Karen, today while the inauguration was happening, I felt the same exact eery feeling. Same. Have not felt it since that day in NYC until today. That struck me when reading your post.

I wonder if that is the same feeling that reeked in Washington D.C. today.

Something tells me it is.

John Kerry= A class act.....AND he will be introducing his Health care legislation to the Senate on Monday! The fight for our future has just begun!

A Stoical Kerry on Bush's Day

By Dana Milbank
Friday, January 21, 2005; Page A28

It was just as John F. Kerry must have dreamed it would be: There he stood on the Capitol dais on a sunny Inauguration Day, looking presidential in blue scarf and overcoat, as the Marine Band played "Hail to the Chief" before the swearing-in.

But wait! Something was terribly wrong. Kerry's seat assignment was in the seventh row. And every time they flashed his picture on the Jumbotron, the crowd -- full of wealthy Republicans -- jeered.

It's no fun being the runner-up on Inauguration Day. To add to the poignancy for Kerry, it was a year and a day since his surprise victory in the Iowa caucus propelled him to the Democratic nomination and, almost, the presidency. And yet, Kerry seemed to embrace the role of loser with ironic amusement.

The senator from Massachusetts took a seat up front, where he was sure to be seen on television playing the part of Good Sport. When the color guard approached, he clutched his breast as if suffering a bout of arrhythmia. When the national anthem played, he sang as if he were Denyce Graves. When President Bush spoke, he clapped politely -- and gazed over the Mall with a faraway look.

But Kerry betrayed little of the pain that was so evident when Al Gore stood on the same platform in defeat four years ago. For Gore, it was the beginning of his disappearance from public life and his conversion into a chunky, bearded professor. For Kerry, this is a week of reemergence. Before the inauguration, he fired off two e-mails to his supporters, one highlighting his vote Wednesday against Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state and one demanding Donald H. Rumsfeld's resignation as defense secretary.

"Democracy means working together for the good of our country; it also means keeping faith with your ideals, never retreating from core convictions even as you work to find common ground," Kerry said in a statement his office released yesterday morning. On Monday, he will introduce a plan to provide health coverage to all children, picking a fight with GOP lawmakers and the White House.

If Kerry has political combat on the mind, it wasn't out of place yesterday. The festivities at the Capitol at times resembled a campaign rally more than the solemn inaugural ritual. The big donors -- the "underwriters" who gave $250,000 for the inauguration and the "sponsors" who could afford no more than $100,000 -- sat up front in "Perfect Party" plastic folding chairs. Farther back, demonstrators unfurled an antiwar sign and booed Bush before they were shouted down by supporters who chanted "USA!"

The result was predictably partisan: dueling cheers, from the orchestra seats for former president George H.W. Bush, and from the cheap seats for former president Bill Clinton. The inaugural committee skipped the likes of "America the Beautiful" for Utah Sen. Orrin G. Hatch's ditty, "Heal Our Land," and outgoing attorney general John D. Ashcroft's schmaltzy "Let the Eagle Soar" ("This country's far too young to die/Though she's cried a bit for what we've put her through").

In some ways, Kerry has moved beyond his loss. His Inauguration Day breakfast conversation with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, an aide said, was about Sunday's football playoff between his New England Patriots and her Pittsburgh Steelers -- at Heinz Field. But the candidate hasn't entirely emerged from the campaign and a topsy-turvy Election Day in which early exit polls showed him winning. The night before the inauguration, he had drinks at the Hawk and Dove on Capitol Hill to remember his Iowa conquest with former campaign staffers.

Nor has the other side forgotten Kerry. When the former candidate emerged on the West Front of the Capitol yesterday morning and his smiling image was broadcast, the crowd booed and groaned. One man could be heard to call out, "Loser!" Kerry took his seat alongside an old friend, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), and quickly got to the task at hand: projecting both equanimity and magnanimity.

He admired Harkin's new Stetson. He playfully knocked a 10-gallon hat that was obstructing his view of the lectern off the head of Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.). When Vice President Cheney entered, he stood and offered a wan smile. When Bush entered, he stood and applauded politely until the last bars of "Hail to the Chief." When Bush took his oath, Kerry forced a tight, crooked smile -- the sort of expression that, on Bush's face, is commonly called a smirk.

As Bush read an address full of the religious imagery that helped to mobilize voters against Kerry -- "the image of the Maker," "the truths of Sinai" -- Kerry listened politely, applauded lightly and shifted in his seat. When demonstrators interrupted Bush, Kerry looked toward the commotion, where one protester had unfurled a banner proclaiming "No More War" and another was loudly booing the president.

The speech over, Bush and Cheney waved to the cheering crowd. Off to the side, Harkin put his arm on Kerry's back and offered some private condolence. Kerry hugged his colleague and then closed his eyes and bowed his head for the closing prayer. Only when the minister mention those "ensnarled in petty partisan politics" did the former nominee indulge in a wry smile.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24863-2005Jan20.html

What a day.
On the way into work, I heard CBC & BBC broadcasts about DC & it sounded like the end of the world. Turned to NPR & Juan Williams was interviewing Grover Norquist & Karl Rove. It was about all I could take.

I wore black but no one asked why or said a thing all day. After work I headed downtown. On the way, I heard Land, from the Southern Baptists & Terry Gross was doing a good job grilling him and was about to start with Jim Wallis, for a point-counterpoint.

I had heard from Ben Doko, my Indonesian friend who is such a good Democrat though not yet a citizen. He said, "I pass by WestLake Centre this afternoon around 5 pm and see many crowds and police cars as well as King 5 TV truck and 2 helicopter in the skies. Have no chance to join the crowds as some streets been blocked by baricade." I did not know what to expect.

I saw police & heard the sound of a bullhorn but crowds were dispersing. I ran into Emily from One Voice for Change. She is my favorite komrade in harassing the fundamentalists. She had a sign that said "No More Terror In Democracy's Name." "The usual suspects.." she said, but we both agreed that we had to at least show up.

She told me that in her reading of history, Buddhism and AA literature, her synthesis was that the Bush administration had control of the diamond now but that they didn't realize yet that it is cursed. Then she said that people tell her that when they go to the gallows, they want her along. We agreed to keep up the fight, even if we felt like old salmon swimming upstream.

I saw a gathering of protesters along the pedestrian mall, lit by small Christmas lights and reflected in the wet streets. At first I thought they were antiBush until I processed their crude attempts at irony and spotted a few Rossi signs and an elephant flag. In the corner of one of the signs, I noted http://www.protestwarriors.com. Their signs said things like: Hollywood Activists - Now That's Entertainment, Warning - Peaceniks Urge Surrender to Islamic Fascists, A.N.S.W.E.R. - Fighting For Your Right To Be A Slave, No War Unless The Democrats Are In Power, & something about Che Guevara and George Washington.

A couple of Japanese tourist girls in miniskirts and boots approached me and asked to have their picture taken with these idiots. They asked, "They don't like Bush?" I said, "No, they LOVE Bush" and they jumped away like they'd been scalded. I said, "Why don't you have your picture taken with them & you can go back to Japan and tell your friends it's a joke!" So they jumped back in front of the P Warriors.

Across the street, remnants of the antiBush forces waved signs and shouted taunts such as "Jesus was Gay", "Get out of our city" and "Haven't Your Testicles Descended?" and the cops looked bored. I heard the crowds earlier were large but I missed the party. I decided to move on down the street.

Outside the Showbox I saw hordes of blackclad youth waiting to get into the AntiInaugural Ball and across the street at a coffee shop I'd seen a rocker who looked vaguely familiar.

Drove home, retrieved some good photo links & tried to no avail to figure out how to upload my own photos so they can be viewed over the internet (I'll work on it).

Here are some links:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/ts/012005inaugprotests&a=&tmpl=sl&ns=&l=&e=32&a=0&t=&prev=31 (includes Bush being forced to be somewhat near protesters)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/ts/012005inaugprotests&a=&tmpl=sl
(shows Portland anarchists being bike locked to gas pumps)

http://imageevent.com/kayakbiker/bushantiinaugural
(from cold Minneapolis)

"God has spoken, and this is a celebration," said Carol Poulos, one of the organizers of the event.

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=73652005
(shiver runs round the world as Bush bangs the drum for 'fire of freedom')

and a recap: http://www.left.org/

& here is a report from DC. I'm waiting for another one from a bike courrier but I suspect he'll have to sleep off the effects of whatever he did to drown his sorrows first.

I went to the Inauguration today. Saw Bush's speech live and then attended a very red affair at a law firm on Penn. Ave. On the way, a line of protesters marched by. They made me feel closer to home, closer to "my peeps." They arrived at the fence line that surrounded the parade route and their frustration became palpable. They could not show their dissent to their elected officials. They were shut out and to make sure of it, the SWAT team gathered round them and stoically prevented their ingress to the parade.

The speech was extremely disturbing. No reaching out. No placation. Just forceful messages radiating unrelenting conviction and righteousness. One statement Bush made with his annoying smirk keeps popping up in my head..."The force of freedom." Talk about oxymoronic, not to mention as alliterative and ambiguous as the "power of pride."

I stepped into the Marriot on 14th St. for some chap stick, where the RNC was based. They had a souvenier stand. I bought a button that says "America goes red for Bush." It
had a picture of the entire USA colored in red. More irony. You can smell blood when presented in large quantities. It smells subtle and crisp and
terrifying.

I smell blood.

Another first-person account from DC:

I won't go on about inaugurations past, except to say that I remember that day walking around the Mall in 1980 with my little radio/cassette, playing and replaying the Beatles' "Help." (That radio was stolen from the office the night before Reagan was shot.)

Because the District of Chaos was in lockdown yesterday, I didn't even try to be on the fringe as a witness to events. But last night I got my partial glimpse of the First Couple as they left the American Legion's "Salute to Heroes" ball at the Capital Hilton, a party for veterans. I was on the second floor of the building across the street from the Hilton's service entrance, having a smoke in a room full of windows.

The presidential party left at 9:45, just after my first deadline, entering their super-armored Caddy limo under a tent, then escorted away by approximately 15 D.C. motorcycle cops, a half-dozen or so D.C. squad cars, about 20 Secret Service SUVs, an ambulance and another big truck, probably the bomb squad. It was one of a dozen or so parties that W attended, "requiring" the closing of 100 square blocks in the D of C and three Metro stations.

(The younguns in the smoking room, cute birds with fine bottoms, were wondering whether the ambulance was for Cheney.)

And W's bean-counters want D.C. taxpayers to foot $17 million worth of the bill.

And what about those Bush twins? I don't care if they drink and smoke. Can't they do something about their hair? It's a national disgrace. (As if we need another.)

And what about that announcer during the parade? "God bless America and God bless President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney."

And what about the military rituals? The ball rituals? Somebody told me the other night about a headline that supposedly appeared somewhere after an Eisenhower inaguration. It said, supposedly: Eisenhower Has 3 Balls.

(I haven't been able to confirm this.)

Hero worship always has problems, especially when the heroes start wars.

I can only think that had we had our "Bloggers Ball" the image would have been so very much different. Barry

LOL

Lord, hearing these reports makes me wish I were in a bigger city that actually had a demonstration! Good job to everyone that took part, I was there in spirit.

Hell of a day. I started it by watching Katie Couric and Matt Lauer, but they seemed too happy about the ordeal so I flipped around a bit and decided on ABC because their coverage was more like a day of mourning. Yes, Peter Jennings seemed just as pissed off as me, so I was glad to have his company for a few hours.

It was funny that he kept on looking for shots of and reports on the demonstrators, with a sort of curious appreciation. I'm thinking both Pete and I were living vicariously through them for the day.

However, there was a chink in the ABC armor -- Clair Shipman reported in the early coverage (with glee) that every other person in somesuch area was dressed in a full-length fur coat and how she wanted to be dressed in one too. Jennings cut her off right there, telling her she was inappropriate to say that . She wasn't heard from in the remaining couple hours. Way to go, Peter!

PS you'll enjoy this.
http://toolz.blogs.com/toolz_of_the_new_school/files/fuck_bush_on_cnn.mov

Posted by: on.to.victory4Dems at January 21, 2005 01:25 AM

I was scrolling through reading what I have missed all day before I was about to post the story in the WP from Dana Milbank. Great story about a great man who is indeed a class act.

I read the story with tears in my eyes for knowing that the man Milbank portrayed in the story is the real JK and the media so rarely put that "real" version out there to the public.

As Karen said, the real work begins tomorrow, so I am off to a good night's sleep with a heavy heart for what could have been and gratitude that man who I believe in will be out there in midst, fighting for us every day through the next four years.

I've still got your back, JK!

I just juxtaposed a bunch of headless mannekins, aliens, Superman, Liberty Tax and a tacky "Born to Ride" motorcycle with eagle with the Protest Warriors as a slideshow, to Primal Scream's "Loaded"

& here's more from Emily:

Something just came to me in a flash-I saw a sign that said "No Jeb in '08"and a chill went through me. But on reflection, here's why I think we won't see Jeb in '08: The Bush family does operate as a family (in the Mafia sense)-so in order to keep McCain from backing (or joining) Kerry, or even attacking Bush in a meaningful way, they cut a deal and promised to leave him (McCain) a clear field in '08. If events prove me out, remember you heard it here first. Makes a good rumour anyway. Keep up the fight-

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=73652005
A shiver runs round the world as Bush bangs the drum for 'fire of freedom'

Okay, I deliberately stayed up all night last night and went to bed at dawn on purpose... I knew there was no way I'd turn on the TV and accidentally glimpse the national tragedy of the coronation of the imposter if I slept all day.... If I had thought for two seconds that the coverage of the anti-bush demonstrators would have gotten equal coverage, I'd have gone to bed early last night and gotten up to watch what the protestors were doing and saying....

However, I've not been able to avoid the written info about the speech he made.... Don't know who his speech writer is, but we all know perfectly well he doesn't have the IQ to string ten words together coherently, so we all know someone else wrote the words he spoke.... I'm glad I missed it because the words are perfect double-speak to say the opposite of what he plans to do with the imagined "mandate" he thinks he has for the next four years....(urge to barf...)

The Scotsman article started out three points made at the top of the article which were that (1) "Bush vows to help spread liberty around the world."
Uh... that's doublespeak for BushCo means to start another war to force democracy on another theocracy... which is a prime "hint" that he wants to invade Iran.... (I've said before that a theocracy would not welcome nor adopt democratic principles; it's just not in the cards. Wake up and smell the coffee...! Read the statements and letters on the PNAC web site - they mean to take over the world and they will do so over the dead bodies of our citizens and the citizens of other countries, come hell or high water - and all for the sake of controlling the flow of what is now a finite amount of oil in the world - which is another reason we need to press for alternative energy sources.)

The second point The Scotsman made (2) "Bush vows regimes who oppress their people will no longer be tolerated."
Uh...... REALLY?!?!? Does that mean we no longer have to put up with BushCo's regime that oppresses us - thanks to the Patriot Act and any other illegal and unethical and immoral Executive Orders he signs into law that no one knows about after the fact, and puts people into Gitmo for no reason and doesn't let the detainees have access to lawyers or due process and has authorized their torture with yet another secret Executive Order?!?!? By that statement, he has declared he won't even tolerate his own regime!!! Does anyone else see the irony in that?!?

The last point of The Scotsman (3) "Bush address fails to convince allies of more multilateralist approach"
Uh.... Duh! That ties in with Condisleazy's statement of "The time for diplomacy is now." Three years too late, and she is now saying this is the time for diplomacy?!?!? The time for diplomacy passed when BushCo declared war under false pretenses!!! BushCo wants people to cooperate with him, to kow-tow to whatever he and his administration want, but they dang sure do not convince anyone (me included) that their approach is multilateral or diplomatic. Tyrannical and dictatorial, yes, but certainly not diplomatic or multilateral...! Who do they think they're fooling?!?!?

Key quote [from The Scotsman]
"We are led, by events and commonsense, to one conclusion: the survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands" - President Bush
"The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world." [Another quote of his speech in The Scotsman]

Liberty will never survive in our country or in any other country as long as BushCo rules this nation with secrecy and stealth and by terrorizing our own citizens into believing that declaring war on another nation on unfounded lies is a way to make peace in the world because he's playing 'king of the hill' in a pissing contest like a little bully-boy drunk on power. The BushCo way of "expanding freedom in all the world" is double-speak for imposing democracy on yet another country he plans to invade that will never approve of anything other than a theocracy as a form of government, and that likely means Iran next since it's now known that he authorized missions into Iran within the last few months. Diplomacy, my @$$!!! He is planning yet another invasion of yet another country!!! Where will he get the troops without a draft? How will they be paid since he's cut so many taxes and we're now in debt way over our heads? How many lives will have to be sacrificed at the altar of BushCo's ego before the Repukes who voted for him, and still evidently support him, finally figure out the truth: that he's a selfish and greedly little bastard who is under the delusion that he's the embodiment of a god on earth like the ancient Roman emperors who set out to conquer the known world?!? Will the Repukes ever take off their rose-colored glasses and see reality and stop drinking the kool-aid that keeps their consciences sedated with double-speak where war means peace and death means life and tyranny means freedom?!?

Visions in Need of a Little Realism
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25277-2005Jan20.html?nav=rss_opinion/opeds

NonnyO, happy birthday a day late! I agree with the Scotsman on a couple points, and my mind is with him mostly on his mention of our current goal to conquer the world.

To back up a bit, I have a lot of conflict with our leaders right now. I don't even care who runs for the GOP nomination in '08 because the agenda will be the same.

What bothers me is the conservative approach of growing America's business globally, while absorbing the risks that go along with that. We are doing this to enrich the top 2% and stockholders, not the majority of Americans and, God knows, not the ones fighting. The current end-goal with this conservative approach is to totally dominate the world, like Scotsman wrote, although I personally believe we cannot sustain that hit to our debt or human supply. Every other country that's tried to take over the world has failed, so why do we think we can or should? This is not a worthy challenge, it is infringement. But our leaders seem to think that the injection of greed into these societies will weigh the balance in our favor.

This conservative plan is bold, but stupid. I compare it to the high school jock mentality. Ninety percent of them ended up to be construction workers. Crass comparison, I know, but I think we can work in a better way. Instead of shooting for short-sighted bravado at the expense of long-term failure. We need to handle our finances, to invest our money and resources in our own future. Sure, the top 2% that control our policy wouldn't grow as rich, but they should think of all Americans before they think of themselves.

Argh, got that off my chest but it's still weighing down. And it'll be a long fight for sure. My hope for this fight is to focus on inclusion and understanding, while still rejecting the selfish goals of billionaires.

Posted by: Mark at January 21, 2005 02:54 AM

Jennings loves Republicans. Maybe you missed the sarcasm and double-speak in the coverage?

Posted by: Mark at January 21, 2005 05:15 AM

Thanks for the birthday wishes..., but I'm not the one having the b'day. That was oncall and another person (Cari?) on a previous thread. My birthday is a smidge over a month away yet.... :-) Happy Birthday to both!

However, I think you're right on the rest of what you are saying. Hitler had that same vision of taking over the world. When the world was "smaller" Caesar tried, and before that, Alexander the Great (who BTW, was, in fact, gay... as was the norm for men in ancient Greece who only married women so they could have a way to beget children). They didn't conquer the world for quite the same reasons as Hitler wanted to, or that BushCo and PNAC want to (although the tax monies Rome and Greece collected from the conquered peoples did get back to their treasuries and some trading was done). In the modern industrialized complex, world domination and leadership for the sake of acquiring wealth for corporate heads (note - not governments, but the corporations...) is an idea that ultimately can't work, unless the only goal is to kill off members of a generation through war (that means mostly men, not women, of military age) and allow the sick and aged to die off early from lack of adequate medical care (or make it unaffordable for the poor - or so complex with Medicare it confuses everyone except the pharmaceutical, medical, and insurance industries who get rich off of the ill and aged), or people to die off from polluted water, food supplies, and air (which also contribute to increased infant mortality rates and birth defects in the generations not yet born from contaminated food chains - fish, meat - beef, particularly - grains, etc., not to mention screwing up the environment and global warming issues).... all to keep the top two percent of the richest living in the lifestyle to which they want to stay accustomed while the peons of society get poorer to keep them richer.... When the plague killed off one third to one half of the population of Europe, it became possible for some of the future generations to survive better with more food available for those who survived; the guilds (their version of unions) became more powerful because there were fewer people to do the actual work, so wages went up - the deaths of many benefited the survivors, technically. Eventually, if the world over-populates, we'll have more people than we can feed world-wide (we should probably go back to zero population growth). And, as they have historically, the clergy get just as rich as the richest off of the poor because they use religious reasons to justify why the rich should be and stay richer and the poor must accept their lot in life and remain uneducated and ignorant - and give money they can't afford to the churches (the religious institutions benefit monetarily...).

Nowadays, when wages have gone up in the US when the unions were more powerful and had some bargaining power, the corporations have counteracted that with moving the manufacturing to undeveloped countries where they don't have to pay people much money (or even a livable salary) for the same amount of work, and the corporate bigwigs make obscenely huge bonuses for doing virtually nothing except basic public relations negotiations - they get rich off of the backs of the poor who work for a pittance and get by on subsistence wages - they barely make enough for food, let alone housing and other costs. Even in the US, some of the working poor barely make subsistence wages, even in two-income households in some cases. After housing and heating and insurance and car costs take the bulk of their salaries, they sometimes have to go to food shelters to get by for the month, or get medical assistance for the sake of their kids. We have a vastly unbalanced society and culture nowadays, and that's ethically and morally wrong.

Most people just want to be able to have a job where they will be happy doing what they are doing for money so that they can raise their families with some degree of comfort - or at least provide the basic necessities so the kids don't lack for anything necessary, and be able to retire with enough money that they don't have to depend on their kids or the rest of society for their well-being. That may sound a bit mundane, but we like to feel that we can contribute something to society while not having to rely on the rest of our fellow human beings for charity if something goes amiss in our lives. Few of us seek fame or fortune; we just want a life of reasonable contentment. We all suffer losses - especially when we get older and people we love start dying - it comes with the territory of living a long time. We grieve for a while, and then we move on. We do good when we can, we're nice to our family and neighbors and help them when we can. It's not such a bad life if we can be reasonably content and have what we need for basic necessities and maybe a few extras now and then, especially when we can treat our kids and grandkids to those little extras. Every once in a while there's a family genealogist (like me) who records the family histories and patterns begin to emerge. The microcosm reflects the macrocosm. I don't know how some of the ancestors survived; I only know that had I lived 200 years ago I would not have made it past 18 because adequate surgical techniques were not available to deal with an appendix about to rupture.

The point is, even in a mundane life, people need to feel that they've mattered to someone while they live, that what they've contributed to society has mattered. With BushCo and his minions wanting to take over the world (if their current actions and PNAC goals are to be believed), that leaves our society in a feudal state where the serfs do all the work, don't even get documented, and the only ones who "matter" to the mindset of the "upper crust" of society are those who live very well because of the work the serfs do. Increasingly, there is no middle-class in our economy, and even they are being treated like serfs who don't matter (if the serfs die off, someone who needs the money will come along and work for the low wages). People who just want to live an ordinary life are left feeling like their existence is pointless because the only people who matter are those top two percent who live remarkably well off of the labor of the poorest. Throw in the kind of government we've had for four years, and the next four years to come, and we have a the fascist state BushCo has set up (yes, not unlike Hitler in his earlier days), complete with the threat that hangs over all that if we screw up, we could be sent to Gitmo without reason or due process as an imagined terrorist because even our Constitution and the Bill of Rights have been undermined by the Patriot Act and all manner of secret Executive Orders we don't even know about yet because nothing in our government is open to public scrutiny and the press is censored or self-censored. Yet, if we listen to "infotainment news" nightly, we don't know a helluva lot, nor are we warned by investigative journalists that very real dangers hang over our heads - they just don't report the facts... and most people listening to mainstream media news go along with it all through sheer ignorance because the "news" reflects back at them what they want to hear, not what they need to know, like it or not....

Oddly enough, the one thing that might help most of us is our home computers and our Internet connections.... We can actually communicate with the rest of the world from our very own homes (which past generations could not do), and we don't have to actually rely on the media in this country to tell us much of anything nowadays. True; mainstream media owns a lot of companies that allow us to be on the Internet (unless one has a local phone company with great local tech support, anti-viral and anti-spam software for everything incoming and outgoing). Even home computers are reasonably affordable for most people, or there are computers to use for free at public libraries while one is saving for a home computer. The one "hope" I still have is that the people who still support BushCo and minions will get on the Internet and start searching for facts and for truth.... It will render the 'infotainment news' and mainstream media obsolete if we can still have reliable information via the World Wide Web.... I'm just as aware as everyone else that there is pure junk on the Internet... but there is also very reliable information in cyberspace. Anyone can put up a web site - even I have two going right now and am working on a third, and if I can figure out how to do it, anyone can. (Remember the bloggers were the reliable people about many facts and figures and truths before the last election! Access to information on the Internet is like getting information from a multi-talented genius with multiple facts, figures.) If we are lucky - and I mean really, really lucky - people who have previously kept themselves ignorant deliberately will begin to realize this whole nation has been hoodwinked, that the last election was stolen, and they must start finding out the facts about this administration and the people in it... and perhaps a quiet revolution will begin.... starting with facts and truth.... Opinions are a dime a dozen and that's the job of spinmeisters on Sunday morning infotainment news shows (we're all spin doctors in our own way because we all have opinions)... it's cold hard facts and truth that needs to be "out there" now for people to know....

I don't begrudge the people who get rich. I have a very real problem with our legislators who don't enact legislation that benefits ALL people in this country, not the select few corporations with greedy executives who are in the inner circle of "who's who" in WA DC. The legislators are supposed to be thinking of what's best for all of us, not the corporate big-wigs or the corporations they run who are only concerned with profit margins. That's not ethical or moral behavior - and those who are not enacting legislation that benefits all the people in this country need to be voted out of office.... They need to know that if they don't shape up, we can ship them out.... and we DO INSIST on a way to be able to count ALL the ballots (e-voting machines need to be dumped and paper ballots need to be used again)!!!

Like you and the other bloggers here, I will be keeping my eye on our legislators... and vote my conscience again come the next election....

Watching BushCo and his administration has had the unsettling effect of constantly reminding me of the movie "Soylent Green." Rent it and watch it.... forget the fact that Charlton Heston is in it - pay attention to the plot structure and story line.... Truly frightening....

Oh, and P.S. Yes, BushCo (& PNAC) do have a jock mentality. Winning by brute force.... We're all familiar with schoolyard bullies whether we've observed the behavior or been their victims. BushCo is VERY good at the attitude of "winning by brute force." That's how the Patriot Act got shoved through right after 9/11 - on the heels of the fear BushCo instilled in all to be afraid of the terrorists (who, BTW, mostly all died with their victims - a fact conveniently not mentioned in the wake of the tragedy - so who was left to be afraid of???)... the joke on us is that Bush is the #1 terrorist in this whole country because his war against Iraq has spawned more terrorists than he pretends to stop with his 'war on terror'!!!

This is very encouraging news..........

State eyes election reform

Legislators gather list of problems from last November

By Mark P. Couch
Denver Post Staff Writer

Colorado lawmakers on Wednesday gathered a string of complaints about last fall's voting process as they prepare to craft legislation reforming the state's election laws.

snip....

Mitchell is the co-sponsor with Rep. Alice Madden, the Democratic majority leader from Boulder, of a bill that would create a permanent paper record of each vote cast in an election.

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~61~2663067,00.html

Lots of good articles today...
I'll put them in one post..

http://www.alternet.org/story/21046/
[snip]
Just as the president hit the point in his second inaugural address where he declared to the dissidents of the world that "when you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you," authorities were removing peaceful protesters from the regal one's line of sight.

-----------------------------------------

http://www.alternet.org/story/21043/
[snip
It may not be easy for the center-right leaning power elite in the party to bar the route to the doctor from Vermont. The establishment's original candidate, former Indiana Congressman Tim Roemer, entered the race with the puissant backing of the Democrats' two congressional chiefs – Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

-------------------------------------------

http://www.alternet.org/rights/21049/

Remember the time before RvW.

--------------------------------------------
Benson describes the Iraq elecitons.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/benson/

Elmer Fudd is banging the Iran war drums...

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0121USIran21-ON.html

Over 100 photo's of yesterday's protests. From all over-DC, Seattle, Portland & more..........

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/ts/012005inaugprotests&a=&tmpl=sl&ns=&l=&e=1&t=&prev=32

Just a thought re: election reform, and any other issue... we need to be organized at a state-by-state level to put nuclear (nucular!) heat on our Dem officials non-stop to get them to pay us more than just lip service or using terms like "I have some reservations" (thanks Sen. Ball-less Biden)...

I'm personally pretty tired of parsed words that cover political backsides but have zero results. We need to be like a stone in their shoe at all times.

Who wants to stone?

Have you seen these?

News Conference: Pro-Choice Catholic Politicians to be Sued for Heresy
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=41912

Petition to Investigate and Indict John F. Kerry for acts of treason
http://patriotpetitions.us/kerry/

Not to be taken too seriously I guess, I suppose, I hope, I pray... but revolting nevertheless.

Coronation Celebration in Bend, OR - Republican stronghold - funeral procession parade at noon:

From Robin:

Although work prevented me from being able to be in the parade, much less go to just watch..... I was glad to find pics on portland's indymedia!

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308541.shtml

Heard that approx 5000 people marched in portland.

And some college kids tied themselves to the gas pumps at a downtown gas station (portland, not bend... obviously). Shut down the only gas station in downtown p-town for a couple of hours.

A little Friday humor...............

Q: How many Bush Administration officials does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: None. There is nothing wrong with the light bulb; its conditions are improving every day. Any reports of its lack of incandescence are a delusional spin from the liberal media. That light bulb has served honorably, and anything you say undermines the lighting effect. Why do you hate freedom?

===== Mark Morford's Notes & Errata =====

Do You Suffer News Fatigue?

Sick of dour headlines? Too much Bush and war and death and homophobia and Bush? You are not alone
By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist

Maybe it was the deluge of deeply nauseating election stories. Maybe it was the horrifying election results.

Maybe it was the staggering news of the tsunami devastation or the continued uptick of the number of U.S. dead in Iraq. Maybe it was Abu Ghraib or the brutal Fallujah carnage or the obvious and bitter stories of the foregone failure of the search for WMD.

Was it continued tales of America's staggering deficit? Our humiliatingly weakened dollar? Our nation's current miserable standing in the international community? Shots of Bush's motorcade cruising down Pennsylvania Avenue, heading for Nightmare Term II, as people booed and threw eggs and turned their backs in disgust?

Or maybe it was merely the standard postcoital tryst following the holiday consumerist orgy wherein you just want to bury your head in a pile of recycled Pottery Barn catalogs and wait for spring. You think?

Whatever the reason, news fatigue is rampant right now. Do you feel it? Have you succumbed? My media colleagues complain of it and regular readers lament it almost every day: people are, apparently and quite understandably, deathly sick of the media and sick of the news ....

(click here to read the rest)

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2005/01/21/notes012105.DTL&nl=fix)

NYT op-ed:
Dancing the War Away
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/21/opinion/21herbert.html?oref=login&oref=login&hp
"...you can start wars without having to deal with the consequences of them. You don't even have to pay for them. You can put them on a credit card."

The video I've been waiting for:

http://www.ericblumrich.com/14.html

Does US fit the 14 Defining Characteristics of Fascism? You be the judge.

Too bad Condoleezza doesn't have a kid.

Michael Powell To Resign From FCC

Powell Is Son Of Departing Secretary Of State Colin Powell

An agency official says that Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell plans to step down.

Powell, the son of departing Secretary of State Colin Powell, was appointed as a commissioner seven years ago and appointed chairman by President George W. Bush in January 2001.

His tenure at the FCC has been marked by a push to deregulate telecom and media. The most dramatic moves have involved the indecency issue, such as the fallout from last year's Janet Jackson Super Bowl appearance and fining of radio personality Howard Stern.

An official said Powell plans to issue a statement but is not expected to hold a formal news conference. The official said Powell plans to stay on the job for a time, but whether he will wait for a successor was unclear.

Steve Bell cartoon:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/cartoons/stevebell/0,7371,1395640,00.html

Biggest AntiCoronation rally (stoning "the devil": (Check out the crowd shot!)

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7395009

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1395463,00.html

Comments from UK's equivalent of Barbara Boxer

Robin Cook: Fireworks in Washington, despair around the world

The Bush administration is in denial about its disastrous failure in Iraq

Inauguration does not do justice to the exuberant celebrations of this week. Coronation would come closer.

r.cook@guardian.co.uk (email him if you like it)

Norwegians Confused by Bush Salute

OSLO, Norway (AP) - President Bush's ``Hook 'em, 'horns'' salute got lost in translation in Norway, where shocked people interpreted his hand gesture during his inauguration as a salute to Satan.

That's what it means in the Nordics when you throw up the right hand with the index and pinky fingers raised, a gesture popular among heavy metal groups and their fans in the region.

``Shock greeting from Bush daughter,'' a headline in the Norwegian Internet newspaper Nettavisen said above a photograph of Bush's daughter Jenna, smiling and showing the sign.

For Texans, the gesture is a sign of love for the University of Texas Longhorns, whose fans are known to shout out ``Hook 'em, 'horns!'' at sporting events.

Bush, a former Texas governor, and his family made the sign to greet the Longhorn marching band as it passed during the inaugural parade through Washington during Thursday's festivities, explained Verdens Gang, Norway's largest newspaper.

Dear George W. Bush:

You made some bold promises during your Coronation Day celebration yesterday, Mr. Bush. Well, you were not alone. Many of us made similar bold promises yesterday, too -- promises you can bet your spoiled, selfish, sanctimonous, faux-Texan boots that we are going to keep during the waning years of your so-called Presidency.

"Freedom is the permanent hope of mankind, the hunger in dark places, the longing of the soul," you declared. "Fortunately for the oppressed, America's influence is considerable and we will use it confidently in freedom's cause."

It is, Mr. Bush, and we will. We will use it confidently, and powerfully, and we will use it right here at home where it belongs.

We are led, by events and commonsense, to one conclusion: the survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in our hands -- the success of liberty in *our* hands, Mr. Bush, not those of your fear-driven unduly-selected thugocracy.

We will no longer pretend that intolerant regimes such as yours are acceptable in this, our own beloved country.

Liberty will come to those who love it. Today, America speaks anew to the people of the world: we, the people of the United States, will not ignore our oppression or excuse our oppressors. When you stand against our liberty, Mr. Bush, we will stand against you.

Yesterday your friend Mr. Blair said, "The best prospect of peaceful coexistence lies in the spread of democracy and human rights." His words rang true, because they are true.

And we assure you, Mr. Bush, that we can and we will and we shall stand our ground and fight with all our hearts and all our abilities to encourage the spread of democracy and human rights -- beginning right here in the United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Let freedom ring, Mr. Bush. Let freedom ring. And when the hands of free Americans are pulling on the clapper's rope, Mr. Bush, ask not for whom the bell tolls: it tolls for thee.

THE WORLD MAY NOT FOLLOW:

In his speech, Bush set forth the idea that the United States would become a global leader for freedom and democracy.

One big problem: The world may no longer trust him.

Over the past four years, President Bush and his administration have systematically squandered international support and undercut America's position as global leader.

A new public opinion poll conducted by BBC World Service shows that of 22,000 surveyed in Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia, and Europe, "58 percent of those surveyed said they believed US President George Bush will have a 'negative impact on [global] peace and security.'"

Doug Miller, president of the polling firm GlobeScan, which helped conduct the survey, called the results troubling: "Our research makes very clear that the re-election of President Bush has further isolated America from the world," he said. "It also supports the view of some Americans that unless his administration changes its approach to world affairs in its second term, it will continue to erode America's good name, and hence its ability to effectively influence world affairs."

American Progress Report

Bushco in never-never land....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24581-2005Jan20.html?referrer=email

[snip]
Some of the administration's allies in the war against terrorism -- including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan -- are ranked by the State Department as among the worst human rights abusers. The president has proudly proclaimed his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin while remaining largely silent about Putin's dismantling of democratic institutions in the past four years. The administration, eager to enlist China as an ally in the effort to restrain North Korea's nuclear ambitions, has played down human rights concerns there, as well.

Iraq? what Iraq?

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20050121-9999-1n21assess.html

Hope under Bush

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/hope_under_bush.php

[snip]
We need to be strategic, of course—to learn new ways of framing our vision and reaching out to those who supported George Bush because they saw no other alternative. We need to muster enough power to convince mainline Democrats that capitulation was at the core of the most recent defeats, and that changing America’s politics requires drawing the line. But none of this will happen unless we persist and find ways to keep engaged those several million Americans who’ve just come into peace and justice movements in the past couple years.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-inaugural21jan21,1,4959224.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials&ctrack=1&cset=true

[snip]
There are reasons to be impressed by Bush's new doctrine. There are also reasons to be very afraid. It would be good if this country's foreign policy more closely tracked our professed ideals. It would be disastrous if self-righteous hubris led us into bloody and hopeless crusades, caused us to do terrible things that mock the values we are supposed to be fighting for, alienated us from an unappreciative world and possibly brought home more of the terrorism our neo-idealism is intended to suppress. There is an illustration of all these risks close to hand. But the word "Iraq" did not cross the president's lips Thursday. He referred obliquely to the war there, only in order to say that our troops were fighting for "freedom" — which was not the main reason they were sent over.

General summarey of Bush speech..
Bush Falls Flat on Second Term Vision

January 21, 2005

President Bush's second inaugural address yesterday was filled with lofty rhetoric and idealism (some noticeably liberal in orientation) yet contained no hint of the very real challenges facing the nation. Bush promised to spread liberty and democracy and eradicate tyranny but made no mention of terrorism, Iraq, al Qaeda, Iran, or North Korea. He had nothing to say for the thousands of American soldiers who have died or been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. His domestic vision was a thinly veiled defense of wealth and power and trickle-down economics neatly wrapped in language about "ownership."

President Bush talks about freedom yet refuses to acknowledge the new dangers that his Iraq policies have created. As Bush waxed eloquently about freedom and democracy, more reports emerged of massive violence and unrest in Iraq just days before the elections. In the past few weeks, Americans have learned definitively that there were no WMD in Iraq. We have seen startling evidence that Iraq is now a top terrorist breeding ground. And we know our nation's military is near breaking point and severely overcommitted. Yet not a word from the president about how to deal with any of these issues.

Handouts for the wealthy disguised as opportunity and ownership for the masses is no vision of democracy. President Bush's domestic agenda amounts to little more than stale, trickle-down economics. Over the past four years, Bush has systematically shifted retirement and health care costs and risks onto individuals while making sure financial services and health care providers get billions in new fees and services. His plan for privatizing Social Security will leave the elderly at the mercy of financial markets, while private financial management firms will collect an estimated $940 billion windfall in new fees. And his permanent tax cuts for the wealthiest 1 percent of earners will shift even more of the tax burden onto middle class workers.

Progressives should stand strong against conservative policies and show Americans that there's a better way to do business. Progressives have a better way to manage the economy, tackle big challenges abroad, and promote the national interest. By focusing on community, fairness, and equal opportunity for all, we can show Americans a different path to success and assert a stronger set of principles for moving the country forward.

forgot to acknowledge the origin of my last post..

Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund

its pretty bad when a person can't even remember hop over to a new thread. i posted this on the previous one. i suppose i am still suffering the after effects of yesterday.

you all give me a smile, no matter what kind of day i'm having. renaming the media. MSM becomes BP becomes BM. i call it aural distortion, brought on by an excess of oral copulation performed by the prostitutes of journalism. however, i have not yet been able to give this entire process a good anacronym.
the only thing that fits is KSSR (kneel, suck, swallow, regurgitate)its vile to picture, but even viler that its exactly what they do.
hope i didn't ruin anyones day.

OAF OF OFFICE
Thursday, January 20, 2005

by Greg Palast

Watching John Kerry lip-synch the oath of office, I couldn't help wondering, 'what if.'

Here on stage in Washington was the winner-class warmed and protected by cashmere and tax cuts against the strange, nipple-chilling cold. Hell had frozen over.

http://gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=410&row=0

tutterfly

I just bypass it and have, for the most part, since 1991 (Gulf War). I call it propaganda & want to be influenced by it as little as possible. I know their tricks. Repetition.
Orwellspeak. Framing so unconscious value inference is made. Plus most of them are bad looking & dress funny.

Andree sent me a bunch of articles in French that I have to slowly make my way through. The stuff I've read so far (foreign, in English) suggests that the world sees Bush as threatening world domination & it isn't going over. I also suspect that the 27 references to "freedom" in his speech are meant to be substituted with the word *fundamentalist Christianity." I've thought that with other speeches he's made. Crusade.

This was in my in box..non-political but funny...

HOW CAN YOU LIVE ON WITHOUT KNOWING THESE THINGS?

Many years ago, in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coca-Cola was originally green.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is impossible to lick your elbow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...) The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38% ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs -Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and CharlesThomson.
Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?
A. Their birthplace
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested?
A. Obsession
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"?
A. One thousand
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?
A. All invented by women.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?
A. Father's Day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase......... "goodnight, sleep tight."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month ... which we know today as the honeymoon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down."
It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.
~~~~~~~~~~~AND FINALLY~~~~~~~~~~~~
At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow.

DiAnne

i agree with you about propaganda, but the whorish servitude has reached the peak of rancidity. the word freedom itself is corrupted. i don't hear the words morals and values and freedom now, without cringing at them. what i was trying to convey, is the pornagraphic domination in all its ugliness.

Tutterfly
Yes - my mom (former Republican, age 76) said, "Bush is starting to make me hate the word freedom."

Here is a test to find out if we are neocons:

http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/neocon/quiz/neoconQuiz.html

Q: How many Bush Administration officials does it take to screw in a light
bulb?

A: None. There is nothing wrong with the light bulb; its conditions are
improving every day. Any reports of its lack of incandescence are a
delusional spin from the liberal media. That light bulb has served
honorably, and anything you say undermines the lighting effect. Why do you
hate freedom?

DiAnne...
whoodathunkit. I am a Liberal...aw shucks...

The parent to that article is:
http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/neocon/index.html

which gives a pretty information about newcons...

Think Tankers Respond to Bush Speech

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=MWPMM1FQNL0OECRBAELCFFA?type=politicsNews&storyID=7395539

He is proposing a global strategy but his father couldn't even manage one intervention (Iraq) and urged Shiites to rise up against Saddam, only to be put down & the US was blamed. He wants to oppose tyranny yet several of our "allies" (such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia) are ruled by less-than-democratic leaders.

Oh the shame of it all-I too am pegged 'liberal' by this quiz! It is still a dirty word after all. Liberals strive to protect and defend all from any foreign or domestic threats to our wellbeing, while nurturing the values of peace, cooperation, mutually beneficial progress and the health of the planet (this is my definition). How will I ever show my face again? Oh I know I know- I'll buy a full length fur coat. Do you think I could pass?

Kos stole this from American Prospect & I'm stealing it from Kos:

The progressive elevator pitch

The American Prospect defines the GOP elevator pitch as:

We believe in freedom and liberty, and we're for low taxes, less government, traditional values, and a strong national defense.

Nevermind the ways the Bush agenda has strayed from that pitch. This is how they have branded themselves and it has been spectacularly effective.

The editors at the Prospect are looking for suggestions for the Democratic pitch. I'm stealing their idea so we can riff about it here. So here's the rules: Define what we stand for in a sentence no longer than 30 words.

The progressive elevator pitch

The American Prospect defines the GOP elevator pitch as:

We believe in freedom and liberty, and we're for low taxes, less government, traditional values, and a strong national defense.
Nevermind the ways the Bush agenda has strayed from that pitch. This is how they have branded themselves and it has been spectacularly effective.

The editors at the Prospect are looking for suggestions for the Democratic pitch. I'm stealing their idea so we can riff about it here. So here's the rules: Define what we stand for in a sentence no longer than 30 words.

(Daily Kos is also soliciting ideas for this)

And another thing (taken from Bradblog):The Founding Fathers were NOT all Christians. And the United States was NOT intended to be a Christian country. Thomas Jefferson wrote:

I have examined all the known superstitions of the world, and I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology. Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the earth.

And Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli, drafted in 1796 (President Washingtonâ„¢s last year in office), passed unanimously and signed into law in 1797 by President John Adams, says:

"...the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion..."

Amen. Just a little reality orientation for those, like me, sickened by the overtones of religiosity in that madcowboy's rant yesterday.

Posted by: Denise at January 21, 2005 02:40 PM

Must be real fur and not that faux stuff....
We nutcases don't like faux stuff
except in our leaders, our news, our food, our religion, our morals....
Nope, gotta have real animals - preferably rare ones... and they must die painfully slow...none of this week-kneed lilly liver liberal mamby pamby stuff for us...

Posted by: Denise at January 21, 2005 02:40 PM

Must be real fur and not that faux stuff....
We nutcases don't like faux stuff
except in our leaders, our news, our food, our religion, our morals....
Nope, gotta have real animals - preferably rare ones... and they must die painfully slow...none of this week-kneed lilly liver liberal mamby pamby stuff for us...

I went to a vigil here yesterday - it was good to feel solidarity with others as distraught as myself! A few students sang this song as part of the event, a song which we sang in church many times in the weeks following 9/11, and which still brings tears to my eyes every time:

Finlandia

This is my song
Oh god of all the nations
A song of peace
For lands afar and mine

This is my home
The country where my heart is
Here are my hopes
My dreams my holy shrine

But other hearts
In other lands are beating
With hopes and dreams
As true and high as mine

My countries skies
Are bluer than the ocean
And sunlight beams
On clover leaf and pine

But other lands
Have sunlight too and clover
And skies are everywhere
As blue as mine

Oh hear my song
Oh god of all the nations
A song of peace
For their land and for mine

Dick and staff,
I just sent you an email reporting a post problem.
If this is posted then the problem was on my end with multiple FTP session active.
I killed the other sessions...

DiAnne,

You could ALMOST pass -- until the "democracy orange" color of your fur gives you away . . .

Believe it or not, my test scores confirm that I am "a" liberal. Who would have thought?

Is a liberal really somebody who believes in the entire message of the Constitution and Bill of Rights? Are liberals patriots who are willing to die for their country in the name of a cause for which they believe? Are liberals people who have faith in religion? Are liberals people who believe that a man/woman should be paid an honest dollar for an honest day's work? Are liberals people who believe that a healthy family is essential for the well being of the community? Are liberals people who expect that adults are able to make their own medical choices? Are liberals people who expect their country to be an example of what a country can do for its citizens. Am I "a" liberal? Yes and no. Yes, I am proudly liberal, No, I am not "a" liberal, but I am a human.

the word freedom itself is corrupted. i don't hear the words morals and values and freedom now, without cringing at them.

Posted by: tutterfly at January 21, 2005 01:40 PM

I wholeheartedly agree with you tut. "Protecting freedom" has become euphemism for imperialistic warmongering.

Ladies and germs, CNN and the so-called moral rightwing nutjobs must be stopped!

Check out the latest CNN QuickVote... I mean, this is really hard hitting news, eh?

SpongeBob SquarePants is:

Promoting the acceptance of homosexuality 10% 15804 votes

Promoting tolerance and diversity 17% 25863 votes

Absorbent, yellow and porous 72% 109246 votes
Total: 150913 votes

You liberals are all alike, and to really upset those on the right, I say...

THANK GOD!

Just a few words from abroad.

- Little coverage about the coronation
- lots of coverage about protesters : eggs and vegetables at the limo, fingers at Bush, the cops, the fences, an American flaf being burned, coffins, dems shouting at bushies, protesters,Kerry, Bush blank speech, Kerry, the sky, Kerry... Women interrupting the speech...

And we had such fun of the Texan ball. The utter bad taste, not to speak of the connections between big busness corps and the government. Bribery, just bribery.

And then the news. All European papers worry about the future.
Freedom? Too funny, does he know what he is saying?
We don't have the same meaning about the word.

The main thing I heard is that that Bush had only 2 years left before achieving anything (if he eve does°

2006 is YOUR YEAR.

Just half way before the presidential elections.

i'm taking my last class at moorpark college. it's political science. my counselor said i needed it to graduate. but i can't help it. the book is a brand new edition and they have the whole 2004 election in the book with stories and pics of bush and kerry. i don't think i can survive this class. i can't survive another 4 years under bush. and yesterday was my 23rd birthday. bush ruined my birthday. please get kerry in the white house. we need him. were gonna get attacked again. were gonna go to more wars. we can't afford 4 more years of bush. someone do something to get him out of the white house. i can't live another 4 years under bush.

As long as the fur coat is made from real, live, endangered species animals. To be a true red Repub the animal must have lived poorly and died painfully.
After, only want real animals are good enough for Repubs. Faux news, faux food, faux candidates, faux morals, and faux religion are accepted.

Oh Denise, you are such an elitist Florence Nightengale!

Appeal of redistricting plan is before a federal panel again
Democrat and minority plaintiffs lost the last time
By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

DALLAS - The seemingly never-ending saga of Texas congressional redistricting returns to a federal court here today as Democrats and minority plaintiffs try again to get the Republican plan used in 2004 elections thrown out.

ADVERTISEMENT

But the state plans to argue before a three-judge federal panel that the map is legal and should be used until after the next scheduled round of redistricting in 2011.

21-11 GOP majority
The plaintiffs lost before the same three-judge federal panel last year in an effort to block the use of a congressional redistricting plan passed by the GOP-dominated Legislature in a 2003 special session.

Democrats had come out of the 2002 elections with a 17-15 majority in the state's congressional delegation. One Democratic incumbent switched parties during the legislative fight over drawing the districts.

Elections last year in districts drawn to favor Republicans gave the GOP five more seats, so they now hold a 21-11 majority in the state's delegation.

Appeals in the case were pending before the U.S. Supreme Court last year when that panel rejected a Pennsylvania redistricting case in a split decision. Four of the justices in Vieth v. Jubelirer said the courts have no business deciding partisan redistricting cases.

Five judges said the courts could intervene but disagreed on how courts should decide whether a partisan gerrymander is not just unfair but unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court then sent the Texas case back to the three-judge panel for reconsideration.

The panel is made up of two Republican appointees, U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Patrick Higginbotham and District Judge Lee Rosenthal of Houston, and one Democratic appointee, District Judge John T. Ward of Marshall.

2 of 3 Republican Federal Judges. Guess what they will rule. Even our judicial system has become partisan. Its disgusting to be generous.

Even our judiciary has become poisend by Republican partisnaship. Its disgusting. 2/3 Republicans on this federal bench. Guess how they will rule? The rule of law?

Jan. 21, 2005, 9:50AM

Appeal of redistricting plan is before a federal panel again
Democrat and minority plaintiffs lost the last time
By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

DALLAS - The seemingly never-ending saga of Texas congressional redistricting returns to a federal court here today as Democrats and minority plaintiffs try again to get the Republican plan used in 2004 elections thrown out.

ADVERTISEMENT

But the state plans to argue before a three-judge federal panel that the map is legal and should be used until after the next scheduled round of redistricting in 2011.

21-11 GOP majority
The plaintiffs lost before the same three-judge federal panel last year in an effort to block the use of a congressional redistricting plan passed by the GOP-dominated Legislature in a 2003 special session.

Democrats had come out of the 2002 elections with a 17-15 majority in the state's congressional delegation. One Democratic incumbent switched parties during the legislative fight over drawing the districts.

Elections last year in districts drawn to favor Republicans gave the GOP five more seats, so they now hold a 21-11 majority in the state's delegation.

Appeals in the case were pending before the U.S. Supreme Court last year when that panel rejected a Pennsylvania redistricting case in a split decision. Four of the justices in Vieth v. Jubelirer said the courts have no business deciding partisan redistricting cases.

Five judges said the courts could intervene but disagreed on how courts should decide whether a partisan gerrymander is not just unfair but unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court then sent the Texas case back to the three-judge panel for reconsideration.

The panel is made up of two Republican appointees, U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Patrick Higginbotham and District Judge Lee Rosenthal of Houston, and one Democratic appointee, District Judge John T. Ward of Marshall.

You liberals are all alike, and to really upset those on the right, I say...

THANK GOD!

Republicans have poisend even the judiciary with partisanship. The rule of law? This panel is split 2/3 Republicans, any guess how this stacked court will rule?

Jan. 21, 2005, 9:50AM

Appeal of redistricting plan is before a federal panel again
Democrat and minority plaintiffs lost the last time
By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

DALLAS - The seemingly never-ending saga of Texas congressional redistricting returns to a federal court here today as Democrats and minority plaintiffs try again to get the Republican plan used in 2004 elections thrown out.

ADVERTISEMENT

But the state plans to argue before a three-judge federal panel that the map is legal and should be used until after the next scheduled round of redistricting in 2011.

21-11 GOP majority
The plaintiffs lost before the same three-judge federal panel last year in an effort to block the use of a congressional redistricting plan passed by the GOP-dominated Legislature in a 2003 special session.

Democrats had come out of the 2002 elections with a 17-15 majority in the state's congressional delegation. One Democratic incumbent switched parties during the legislative fight over drawing the districts.

Elections last year in districts drawn to favor Republicans gave the GOP five more seats, so they now hold a 21-11 majority in the state's delegation.

Appeals in the case were pending before the U.S. Supreme Court last year when that panel rejected a Pennsylvania redistricting case in a split decision. Four of the justices in Vieth v. Jubelirer said the courts have no business deciding partisan redistricting cases.

Five judges said the courts could intervene but disagreed on how courts should decide whether a partisan gerrymander is not just unfair but unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court then sent the Texas case back to the three-judge panel for reconsideration.

The panel is made up of two Republican appointees, U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Patrick Higginbotham and District Judge Lee Rosenthal of Houston, and one Democratic appointee, District Judge John T. Ward of Marshall.

'Closed the door'
Andy Taylor, a lawyer for the state, told the panel in briefs that the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Pennsylvania case made the Democrats' lawsuit against the congressional map moot.

"By holding in Vieth that current legal and statistical methods of proving political gerrymandering are inadequate to the task, (the Supreme Court) closed the door to plaintiffs' claims," Taylor said.

Lawyers representing Democratic congressmen and some of the minority plaintiffs looked on the same Supreme Court case in a more positive light: Five of the justices had said courts could decide partisan gerrymandering cases but were looking for a standard of review

New bumper sticker: Life's too short to deal with Republicans

lets see how it goes. quite the afternoon trying to post.

Has this blog gone coronation mad????

YOU'VE BEEN ON OUR SCREENS ALL THROUGH THE DAYS GUYS!

Freedom? What does he mean?
We don't have the same conception abroad.

Who's wrong?

Billy Graham says God was on Bush's side all along.

I'm NEVER setting foot in a church again. Too many people have been killed in the name of some Jewish carpenter.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6844338/

Freedom? What does he mean?

Posted by: Andrée - France at January 21, 2005 07:26 PM

Protecting freedom is euphemism for American imperialism, you know...

This is from Pamela's lightupthedarkness site and is another article by william Lind titled "Coming Unglued"

http://www.d-n-i.net/lind/lind_1_21_05.htm

[snip]
On the ground in Iraq, America’s war is coming unglued. Most of the soldiers and Marines I’ve talked to who have recently returned say the situation is much worse than American newspapers report. Evidence of that came last December, as the U.S. moved to shift its resupply efforts from ground to air. Why? Because the Iraqi resistance controls so many of the roads, including the road from Baghdad’s Green Zone to the airport.

[snip]
The Army, especially the Army Reserve and National Guard, are coming unglued under the stress of deployments that go far beyond what they were led to expect. The general in charge of the Army Reserve recently said that the Reserve is “rapidly degenerating into a ‘broken’ force.” Within 48 hours, the Pentagon responded – by leaking plans to increase the length and frequency of Reserve deployments.

My note: If the soldiers aren't a broken force now, exstending their stay will certainly break them.

Billy Graham says God was on Bush's side all along.

Skinny lawyer,

I think God, whoever, whatever, he/she/it is was on Bank Holiday when he got elected.

About American people????????????????

Now, there is always something good to dig out of bad. You can only get stronger out of that, and he only has two effective years left ahead, with so many problems unsolved.
2006 is the year of rebirth.

In the meantime, we'll keep being bad to him.
You can't explain it, he just raises loathing and laughters.

You liberals are all alike, and to really upset those on the right, I say...

THANK GOD!

Oncall posted the WP's Dana Milbank story about JK last night. It mentioned that JK had playfully knocked Sen. Max Baucus' 10 gallon hat off yesterday on the platform.

Here's a photo link, it's priceless -
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050121/480/wx10201212252

The Sponge Bob Irony
(snip)
Two Christian activist groups are making an issue out of a children's video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney and other cartoon favorites. The video “due to be sent to 61,000 U.S. schools in March. The makers — the nonprofit We Are Family Foundation — say the video is designed to encourage tolerance and diversity.”

(snip)
Now here is the irony… The We Are Family Foundation is proposing a National “We Are Family Day.” It has received the backing of not one but two members of the conservative Republican Party, former Senator Bob Dole and Senator Orrin Hatch. One their website is letter that can be emailed to your local Congress Members and Senators.

Promoting tolerance is good thing. Sadly, not all conservatives see it that way. I sent the letter on the We Are Family Foundation website. I hope you will too. Support the Initiative Here.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=252

Obama's Senate site.
This is my letter to Obama. Similar letters are going out to the rest of the Dem members on the Senate Finance and Judical committes who voted to approve Gonzales and Rice.
We must let them know we are pissed and demand that they stand up to Bush.

I am furious you voted to approve Condi Rise. She was one of the architects of the Iraq war. She repeatedly lies and changes her story to appease Pres. Bush.
All Democrats must oppose Bush when his appointments or policies contradict our values.
You were wrong and if you plan to run for higher office you need to stand up for Dem values.
There is more to being a party leader then giving a wonderful speech.

Obama's Senate site.

http://obama.senate.gov/

See, I think what really has the activist groups peeved is that SpongeBob actually is more of a uniter than Dubya.

They are both yellow though.

Posted by: Pamela at January 21, 2005 08:09 PM

Ready, fire, aim..
Per airamericaradio, the right wongnuts got the wrong group...
They continue to feed on the innocent. Yep, real Repug values.

I wonder if SpongeBob is in cahoots with the teletubby the wrongnuts accused of being gay?

BTW....We Bobs are angry and aren't going to take this lieing down....

Posted by: Andrée - France at January 21, 2005 07:26 PM

Freedom - what does he mean?

I think he is saying he is glad he invaded one country and is getting geared up to invade another one. For the sake of "freedom", you know. (An excuse for both.)

Bush Vows Activist Agenda in Second Term

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/inaugural_rdp

[snip]
His Republican allies said they were eager to begin, as well, while Democrats vowed to resume their fight against "extreme" GOP policies.

---------------------------------------
yeah, right....so far, our actions are:
raise right leg to the heavens.
relieve bladder pressure.

Two Christian activist groups are making an issue out of a children's video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney and other cartoon favorites. The video “due to be sent to 61,000 U.S. schools in March.

Posted by: Pamela at January 21, 2005 08:09 PM

Pamela -

This is where they overreach. They do it every time - full of hubris, drunk with power, feeling morally superior - they are the ones with all the answers.

Average American moms and dads are going to be pretty angry about groups telling them they know better than they do what their children should or should not be watching. Not everyone who voted for Bush is a fundamentalists and per some of the comments above, people who did vote for Bush are having serious second thoughts.

That's the problem with a slick advertising/marketing campaign that lies about what it's selling. People eventually find out it's just not what it's cracked up to be.

We believe in freedom and liberty, and we're for low taxes, less government, traditional values, and a strong national defense.

Nevermind the ways the Bush agenda has strayed from that pitch. This is how they have branded themselves and it has been spectacularly effective.

Posted by: DiAnne at January 21, 2005 02:48 PM

Yes, there is something to be said for having an elevator pitch.

And the GOP pitch/propaganda has clearly worked (although if our population was full of critical thinkers, it wouldn't have been so effective).

As an example, before the election there was a twenty-something guy in my fitness center lifting weights. He was talking to some other guy who had helped to register voters that morning and was saying he was working to elect Kerry. The weightlifter said he was for Bush - because he "believed in freedom." I almost burst out laughing it was such an absurd response - but obviously, it worked for him and millions of others.

The progressive elevator pitch

Posted by: DiAnne at January 21, 2005 02:48 PM

DiAnne, I was thinking about this while running this afternoon (training for my first marathon, how crazy is that?)...well here's what I came up with.

As a progressive, I support
*Personal Responsibility
*Morality in Action
*Fair, Honest, and Useful Government
*Tough Love
*Wise Stewardship of Resources, and
*Opportunity for All

(I was going to say "Principled Compassion", but "Tough Love" is better for Joe 6-Pack)

resolute...

I guess the term "musclehead" is probably not appropriate.

Girly men know freedom.

Democrats believe that Americans should have good jobs, quality schools, affordable & complete health care & quality retirement and that a sensible percentage of earnings should go to help fund this, for the good of all. Democrats believe in being respected in the world and getting along peacefully with other countries and working to make the planet less dangerous through communication and relationships.

To a Republican, that means Socialism, Submission & Sissification. The believe in a "dog eat dog" world.

I used to know Muslims who were shocked the first time they heard that expression, or "that's HIS problem." I was told that was against Islam and that the five fingers all being part of a hand symbolizes brotherhood & caring about mankind.

*************new thread**************