A Recycling President

Fe,

Since Vietnam is a big no-no.

And WWI or WWII will not work, since he's the aggressor, maybe he would like to try the Korean War.

Or maybe he'd like to try finding the cave OBL hid in and utilizing it himself!

He can run, but he can not HIDE from his record and his words. (How long can the media pretend otherwise?)

Headed to Camp Casey II

Third and last time...

The gravity is pulling me...

Come on and take a free ride!

Peace.

The gravity is pulling me...

Posted by: Indy at August 24, 2005 09:31 PM

Phony Acres Ranch: Home of Zero G

Mr. Monkey...shaved your Hyde?

I'll be calling YOU!

Look for strangers names...people jsut hand others their cell phones at the love fest that is Camp Casey!

Get ready with a recorder Monkey Feet!

Opposable toes...too cool!

Opposable toes...too cool!

Posted by: Indy at August 24, 2005 09:41 PM

Some call it an intelligent design. Over time, I have not come to that conclusion.

Peace be with you on your journey... love to Cindy.

Go,Indy...Gooooooooooo!!
Tonight on Olberman,Keith played back the video of Bush saying on the bus with Browkaw in Aug. 02':"Well, I don't mean we can "WIN IT",then today's quote,we will win it"! He doesn't know what he means anymore as the house comes tumbling DOWN!! Then this am the WH is trying to make him look :"kinder and gentler",not so much macho and cowboy. They're trying to run,but they can't hide now.
Now his line is:"We must win as those that died deserve no less." Guess that means we must keep the killing machine going to give honor. So Orwellian...again!!

Listening to The Daily Show right now--

HYSTERICAL!!!

Check out all the support Bush is getting. It is unbelievable.

http://www.polizeros.com/2005/08/24.html#a5846

This is worth seeing too.

http://lefti.blogspot.com/2005_08_01_lefti_archive.html#112481489562408814

I guess to be a Bush and Iraqi war supporter, you have to be a pathological liar as well.

Oncall,

Thanks for posting those links.

Indy,

Don't let anyone mess with Cindy.

Some call it an intelligent design. Over time, I have not come to that conclusion.

Posted by: monkey at August 24, 2005 09:53 PM

And, how long a time was that, monkey toes???

~ ~ * ~ ~

Now his line is:"We must win as those that died deserve no less." Guess that means we must keep the killing machine going to give honor. So Orwellian...again!!

Posted by: Patti Ferschke at August 24, 2005 09:54 PM

Yawn. That sounds like an old line to me. Methinks they overplayed their hand when they sent their boy out to repeat "Private Accounts" too many times after no one was listening any more. Again, he is beating a dead horse.

(TRUTH HAS POWER, BABY! YEAHHH!)

~ ~ * * ~ ~

Listening to The Daily Show right now--

HYSTERICAL!!!

Posted by: karen at August 24, 2005 11:04 PM

Karen, they are expanding our cable service here. I will get forty more stations Sept. 6th then I can watch the Daily Show!

~ ~ * * ~ ~

From Mortal Jive:

A TOAST TO NOBLE CAUSES

+++

Life is funny, full of pride and pain
Happy people, some of them insane
Beautiful, but oh so fleeting
Life is something
We haven't yet destroyed...completely

Raise a glass
To the silent ones
Raise a glass
And look around the room
Raise a glass
And make a toast
A toast to noble causes
A toast to noble causes
To the silent ones

Ghosts are made, a thousand different ways
Carry them, carry them all of your days
Curious, in the void
Ghosts are something
We haven't yet destroyed...completely

Raise a glass
To the silent ones
Raise a glass
And look around the room
Raise a glass
And make a toast
A toast to noble causes
A toast to noble causes
To the silent ones

Life is funny, full of pride and pain
Happy people, some of them insane
Beautiful, but oh so fleeting
Life is something
We haven't yet destroyed...completely

Raise a glass
To the silent ones
Raise a glass
And look around the room
Raise a glass
And make a toast
A toast to noble causes
A toast to noble causes
To the silent ones

+++

This song is dedicated to Cindy and Casey Sheehan.

http://mortaljive.blogspot.com/

We all want to know: What is the noble cause?

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/mortaljive/noblecause.jpg

Kos diary by Bert:

Move America Forward funded by a Republican PR Firm?
by Kayakbiker
Wed Aug 24th, 2005 at 20:11:21 PDT
Mother Sheehan went to Crawford on her own to ask President Bush what the noble cause is for which her son died in Iraq. Mother Sheehan's vigil has resulted in a national grassroots movement that is now being compared to the anti-war movement during the Vietnam war.  Media are discussing her actions as a possible may "tipping point" representing a turn in public opinion against the war.
Listening to the mainstream media, we learn now that the country is still deeply divided, and that a pro-Iraq-war group calling itself Move America Forward is headed for Crawford to show this "other" side of America.  

Kayakbiker's diary :: ::
I learned tonight on MSNBC (Keith Olbermann's Countdown) that the other side of America that we are seeing with Move America Forward is the face of a Republican Public Relations firm.
According to their site, "Move America Forward" is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving our American heritage of freedom and liberty."
The site also states that "the organization was formed in early 2004 by The Honorable Howard Kaloogian (R-California 1994-2000) and acclaimed radio and television personality, Melanie Morgan (KSFO 560 AM -- San Francisco)."
Why then was Move America Forward's web address registered to a Republican PR firm called Russo Marsh and Rogers (RM + R)?
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php title=Move_America_Forward
Here is info from Sourcewatch and the link above:
Snip
"Move America Forward's website address was initially registered to Russo Marsh and Rogers, but after the registration information was reported, the details were quickly changed to exclude any mention of RM+R (http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/moveamericaforward.html).
Move America Forward operates out of the same offices as RM+R and calls to the two organizations are answered by the same receptionist, according to several reports. (http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/000202.html)
In the 2001/02 electoral cycle, Russo Marsh and Rogers received $2,475,223 in payments from Republican politicians, and no payments at all from Democrat politicans. (http://www.SourceWatch.org/wiki.phtml?title=Russo_Marsh_and_Rogers#Politicians_who_have_been_customers_of_Russo_Marsh_and_Rogers_or_its_predecessors)
Move America Forward was launched in June 2004.
Furthermore, although the MAF site describes Sal Russo as the group's "chief strategist," it makes no mention of his involvement in RM+R
Here is a list of Politicians with ties to Russo Marsh and Rogers and the $$$ they have paid:
Name of politician, and amount paid to RM+R or variants thereof:
* Mark Foley (R-FL): $104,507 (as Russo Marsh and Associates)
* Tom Latham (R-IA): $18,074 (as Russo Marsh and Copsey)
*Thad McCotter (R-MI): $821,344 (as Russo Marsh Consulting Services)
* Denny Rehberg (R-MT): $31,650 (as Russo Marsh and Copsey)
* John M. Shimkus (R-IL): $1,499,648 (as Russo Marsh and Copsey)
The total take from Republican politicans for the 01/02 cycle is thus $2,475,223.
RM+R does not appear to have been paid money by any Democrat politicians in the same cycle.
Yes, America is still divided. It's the people versus the big-money interests.  

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/8/24/231121/508

See also our blog at http://www.silencedmajority.blogs.com

130 degrees in southern Iraq and running out of everything - we have created a living hell

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0534,axe,67092,6.html

Acc/NPR the area where the Sunnis live has no oil. The Kurdish area was a no-fly zone for a long time so wants to remain separate. & various news reports have Shiite factions in the south fighting in the streets now.

Civil war in Iraq and American is polarized too.
Some lame duck legacy.

For about 3 days I've been receiving video and reports from various music lists about a legal music festival (permit, etc) that was closed down by military helicopters & now the consensus is that it was for fear more opposition to Bush's Utah visit would be organized there. This is complete paranoia but peoples' civil rights were attacked (not to mention bodies), with a media blackout besides.

Re South America - we may be the bully of the western hemisphere but can't say much for the apparent mental health of some of our leaders & it's not going to be easy to impose our dictatorship on the whole hemisphere/world.
& we are oil-poor, without friends.

fun email:
Subj:Gee I Love This S@*# !!!!!
> Date:8/23/05 1:04:39 PM Pacific Daylight Time

>
> You've no doubt heard that televangelist Pat Robertson recently called
> for the U.S. to assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on his TV
> program.
> Check this out:
>
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
>
> i just called the 700 Club's Prayer Counseling line at 1-800-759-0700
> and i asked
> them, "so, i can request prayer for anyone?" They said "Yes, who can
> I pray for
> with you today?" I was extremely polite, very humble, i told them my
> name, and then
> i said that i wanted to pray for Pat Robertson because he should not
> be calling for
> the assassination of world leaders!!!!
>
> If i wasn't at work right now, i'd be laughing my a@# off on the floor ...
>
> You should try this too ... it's free, it's fast, and it's fun as
> hell!!!!!
>
> Wouldn't it be wonderful if they couldn't conduct business as usual
> because ALL of
> their operators are getting requests to pray for this demon!
>
>
> ================================
>
>>
>> Protest Pat Robertson Calls for Chavez Assassination
>> Americas Watch Action Alert!
>> August 23, 2005
>>
>> Americas Watch, Projects of ActionLA Coalition
>> URL: _http://www.ActionLA.org_ (http://www.actionla.org/)
>>
>>
>> It's widely reported on the media that the right wing conservative
>> radio/TV
>> host Pat Robertson call for assassinate Venezuela's President Hugo
>> Chavez
>> last Monday his the Christian Broadcast Network's "The 700 Club." See
>> the
>> following reports:
>>
>>
>>_http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/23/AR20050823001
>> 76.html_
>>
> (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/23/AR2005082300176.html)
>
>>
>>
>>_http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/64428423-10B4-43C1-A38D-D93D05C26741.h
>> tm_
>>
>>(http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/64428423-10B4-43C1-A38D-D93D05C26741.htm)
>>
>> So far, Robertson had refused to retract and/or apologize for his racist
>> comments. At the past, he had made many anti-gays & lesbian and
>> other racists
>> comments on the air.
>>
>> Therefore, we are calling for international protest against Pat
>> Robertson's
>> "The 700 Club" and the Christian Broadcast Network (CBN).
>>
>> Here's what you can do:
>>
>> 1) Call The 700 Club Prayer Counseling Center: (800) 759-0700
>>
>> This is a 24 hours a day hotline for prayers, we are encouraging people
>> to
>> call this too-free line, and ask why Christians religious worker
>>like him will
>> advocate CIA covert assassination.
>>
>> 2) Call CBN Main Switchboard (757) 226-7000
>>
>> Ask to talk to talk to Pat Robertson office and CBN's public relation
>> office. Demand his to retract and apologize for his racist comments.
>>
>> You also can write to CBN office:
>>
>> The Christian Broadcasting Network
>> 977 Centerville Turnpike
>> Virginia Beach, VA 23463
>>
>> 3) Call local TV stations to kick CBN and "The 700 Club" off the air!
>
>
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1724018&mesg_id=1724018

Imagine that, our government has been lying to us once again! They are starting to talk, maybe just maybe it will finally all come out in their own words...let the house of cards start to tumble!

David Brooks is losing it big time I think-when someone reacts to stuff instead of thinking things through, conflict with past statements often aarise.

from his editorial in todays NYT:

snip
The constitution also exposes the canard that America is some imperial power trying to impose its values on the world. There are many parts of this constitution any American would love. There are other parts that are strange to us.

But when you get Galbraith and Gerecht in the same mood, you know something important has happened. The U.S. has orchestrated a document that is organically Iraqi.

It's their country, after all.

snip
Really? It's their Country? Wow....
And we havn't imposed our (or this administrations) values but have "orchestrated" parts of them...

do these folks read what they write?

and under the be the media topic
http://www.beawitness.org/video

mkh,

Yes, we have given Iraq the ride backwards to 1900 USA that they craved so deeply...

Brooks is an idiot.

I challenge him to read BAGHDAD BURNING, and think for ONE minute that women like Riverbend are going to be *free* or even *free-er* under this compromise.

She worked in the IT field; she could vote; she was/is a modern woman.

OY.

A new religious alternative, straight from a German Army base:

http://www.venganza.org/

for vehicle, straight from someone who used to be a fundamentalist and now sings with a heavy metal group:

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/08/22/diy_flying_spaghetti.html

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster -
alternative to Pat Robertson

Got this from my husband & no link but I think it's today's WaPo. I used to work for Gary Hart campaign.

Who Will Say 'No More'?

By Gary Hart

"Waist deep in the Big Muddy and the big fool said to push on," warned an anti-Vietnam war song those many years ago. The McGovern presidential campaign, in those days, which I know something about, is widely viewed as a cause for the decline of the Democratic Party, a gateway through which a new conservative era entered.

Like the cat that jumped on a hot stove and thereafter wouldn't jump on any stove, hot or cold, today's Democratic leaders didn't want to make that mistake again. Many supported the Iraq war resolution and -- as the Big Muddy is rising yet again -- now find themselves tongue-tied or trying to trump a war president by calling for deployment of more troops. Thus does good money follow bad and bad politics get even worse.

History will deal with George W. Bush and the neoconservatives who misled a mighty nation into a flawed war that is draining the finest military in the world, diverting Guard and reserve forces that should be on the front line of homeland defense, shredding international alliances that prevailed in two world wars and the Cold War, accumulating staggering deficits, misdirecting revenue from education to rebuilding Iraqi buildings we've blown up, and weakening America's national security.

But what will history say about an opposition party that stands silent while all this goes on? My generation of Democrats jumped on the hot stove of Vietnam and now, with its members in positions of responsibility, it is afraid of jumping on any political stove. In their leaders, the American people look for strength, determination and self-confidence, but they also look for courage, wisdom, judgment and, in times of moral crisis, the willingness to say: "I was wrong."

To stay silent during such a crisis, and particularly to harbor the thought that the administration's misfortune is the Democrats' fortune, is cowardly. In 2008 I want a leader who is willing now to say: "I made a mistake, and for my mistake I am going to Iraq and accompanying the next planeload of flag-draped coffins back to Dover Air Force Base. And I am going to ask forgiveness for my mistake from every parent who will talk to me."

Further, this leader should say: "I am now going to give a series of speeches across the country documenting how the administration did not tell the American people the truth, why this war is making our country more vulnerable and less secure, how we can drive a wedge between Iraqi insurgents and outside jihadists and leave Iraq for the Iraqis to govern, how we can repair the damage done to our military, what we and our allies can do to dry up the jihadists' swamp, and what dramatic steps we must take to become energy-secure and prevent Gulf Wars III, IV and so on."

At stake is not just the leadership of the Democratic Party and the nation but our nation's honor, our nobility and our principles. Franklin D. Roosevelt established a national community based on social justice. Harry Truman created international networks that repaired the damage of World War II and defeated communism. John F. Kennedy recaptured the ideal of the republic and the sense of civic duty. To expect to enter this pantheon, the next Democratic leader must now undertake all three tasks.

But this cannot be done while the water is rising in the Big Muddy of the Middle East. No Democrat, especially one now silent, should expect election by default. The public trust must be earned, and speaking clearly, candidly and forcefully now about the mess in Iraq is the place to begin.

The real defeatists today are not those protesting the war. The real defeatists are those in power and their silent supporters in the opposition party who are reduced to repeating "Stay the course" even when the course, whatever it now is, is light years away from the one originally undertaken. The truth is we're way off course. We've stumbled into a hornet's nest. We've weakened ourselves at home and in the world. We are less secure today than before this war began.

Who now has the courage to say this?

The writer is a former Democratic senator from Colorado.

Pat Robertson's Gift (also WaPo, no link yet)

WE WON'T even pretend to have given television evangelist Pat Robertson's latest obnoxious utterance much thought, considering his long history of pious bloviations that have made him come across to most Americans as, well, witless. Were it not for the widespread attention being given in Latin America to Mr. Robertson's call on Monday for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, we would have preferred to allow the Christian Coalition's founder to continue his slide from America's mainstream into the obscurity he has so richly earned. But his latest bit of foolery is worth a comment or two -- if for no other reason than Mr. Robertson, in an act of stupidity only he could outdo, has handed Fidel Castro's acolyte a propaganda gift of immeasurable value.

Mr. Chavez, who, like Mr. Robertson, is infatuated with the absurd, fancies that the United States is out to kill him. It so happens that Mr. Chavez, when not meddling in the affairs of his neighbors and spawning anti-democratic movements, seems to enjoy portraying himself as a target of U.S. assassins -- a charge that he makes without evidence and that has been strongly denied by the Bush administration.

Enter Mr. Robertson. It's a pity Venezuelans don't know that "The 700 Club" broadcaster is a fading shadow of the Republican Party figure he once was. That Mr. Robertson once ran for his party's nomination, built a conservative religious advocacy group that had aspiring office-seekers quaking in their boots and -- entrepreneur that he is -- befriended every sub-Saharan kleptomaniac he managed to meet.

But Mr. Robertson's slide from the mountain peak of evangelical pontification was not because of his politics but because of his mouth. When his words were not ill-advised, they were moronic; when not callow, downright loopy, as in: predicting God would curse Orlando with a hurricane if gay-pride events were celebrated at Disney World; wishing a nuclear bomb would be dropped on the State Department; and suggesting that America had it coming on Sept. 11 because God had been insulted "at the highest level of our government." Venezuelans just may not know the Pat Robertson that America knows. Yesterday, Mr. Robertson apologized. We are used to that, too.

Still, it is curious how some of Mr. Robertson's fellow travelers have not been able to locate their tongues over this latest Robertson-inspired international disturbance. The Family Research Council and Traditional Values Coalition spare no moments in rushing forth to denounce irresponsibility on the part of those they dislike. Not so with Mr. Robertson, who only called for the United States to murder a foreign head of state. Even the Bush administration can't bring itself to censure a fellow conservative who publicly calls for his country to break the law. "Inappropriate," the State Department managed to say. The White House, embarrassed by Mr. Robertson yet again but too afraid to mix it up with his narrow but loyal base of support, simply averts its gaze. For all that, Mr. Chavez owes Mr. Robertson a thank-you note.

Over 1600 Google news sources for Cindy Sheehan's return to Camp Casey but only 400 some for W's speech about staying the course.

There seems to be an inverse correlation between price of oil and W's popularity. Oil hit $68/barrel. It had stabilized around $30/barrel for the longest time. The stock market has not advanced for about 7 years either.

Posted by: not my president at August 25, 2005 09:25 AM

Yes, but oil prices today are actually lower, when adjusted for inflation from 1492 when the world was flat and we harnessed the wind to power our sea vessels.

OK tell me you are sick of my posts regarding High Oil/Gas Prices just like the audience was sick of hearing Chris Rock repeat that message on Bill Maher's Real Time this week.

But here we go again. This morning on CNBC, Michael Economides, Dean of the Oil and Gas Dept at University of Houston, predicted $100 oil within 12 months. Before you laugh him off, they replayed his prediction last summer of $65 oil prices this year.

After turning on Faux News by accident yesterday, it seemed to me that Bill O'Reily was indicating that even more than the debacle in Iraq, that rising fuel prices was dividing the Republican party and he had some not so kind things to say about Bush and his responsibility for rising oil prices. He indicated that he and his friends (didn't know he had any)are sick of paying $3/gallon, blamed Bush's failed energy policies for the problem, and made it clear that Bush is no friend to the environment and far from a conservationist.

This is not intented to praise O'Reily, but rather to urge the DNC, if anyone is listening, to initiate a a pro-environment, conservationist press conference with REAL CAFE Standards, immediately.

Paul Hackett lost by some 4,700 votes just a few weeks ago and we will need a strong Conservationist stand to win over those defecting Republicans in Ohio.
The message is a winner and a real energy policy is the political Answer.

Where are those signs at Gasoline stations that say Security Moms that say WE WANT ENERGY INDEPENDENCE NOW. I will be creating such signs for my family and friends.

Bush claims that pro-peace sentiments "embolden the terrorists".

He is simply wrong.

He and his irrational war plan emboldens the terrorists.

Any attorney knows that the best strategy with your opponents is to take the wind out of their sails. In court, you want the judge to see that your client is acting reasonably and is in the right. In negotiations, you want to diffuse emotions to get to a settlement everyone can live with.

Bush emboldens the terrorists by helping demonize Americans and by creating martyrs for them.

Had we gone into Iraq and genuinely liberated people as we promised and made their living conditions better, we may have diffused the situation and made insurgents and terrorists less popular. However, we didn't. Our hit and run war plan helped foreign radicals take over their towns and we didn't get the utilities up and running too quickly or too reliably either. The situation for women is nothing short of a complete disaster. They are now talking about whether women, in a country that has many very educated working women, will even provide them with a grade school education. All this gives the insurgents and terrorists a battle cry to repeat over and over again to people who will see some truth in their words. They won't seem whacky or out of line when the average Baghdadian is in a food line because they have no food and could not cook it if they had it.

Bush has also been good at creating martyrs in Iraq. The torture victims. Child rapes, beatings, closing them up in metal containers in the heat...all unacceptable by any standards, any time, any place. Then, there is Saddam. We had a golden opportunity to expose him as a corrupt small little man, but we abused his people and stole from his palaces and stole our own thunder in the process. Now, Saddam is setting himself up as the martyr and we made it easy for him. This brutal, secular leader that never did anything for his fellow Moslems is now crying out as the martyr of Palestine.

Bush made this possible. Rather than taking the wind our of their sails, he became the wind beneath their wings.

FromMedia Matters, in case anyone missed this excellent effort by David Brock:

On Monday morning, Pat Robertson called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

This morning, he lied about his previous statements, saying he never used the word "assassination."

Unfortunately, Robertson has a history of making outrageous and hateful comments. For example, he has blamed gays for divorce, abortion, and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He also said that a gay-oriented event would bring about "terrorist bombs ... earthquakes, tornadoes, and possibly a meteor," and he has called "activist" judges a greater threat to the United States than terrorists.

Several cable channels -- including ABC Family -- and local broadcasters show Robertson's The 700 Club, even though his comments are not appropriate for children -- or anyone else, for that matter.

Numerous organizations and individuals, both religious and secular, have denounced his comments. Responsible shows and news outlets should think twice before providing him a platform from which to peddle his false and hateful claims.

Take action today, and urge the channels below to stop airing The 700 Club:

ABC Family: http://abcfamily.go.com/feedback/ (Since The 700 Club is not listed as a show on ABC Family's website, leave the "Choose a Show" field blank.)

FamilyNet: http://www.familynet.com/site/contact

Trinity Broadcasting Network: http://www.tbn.org/index.php/9.html or send email to comments@tbn.org

Tips on giving feedback:

Be polite, and clearly state what you want.
Make your subject line clear and concise.
Limit your email to about 250 words or fewer.
Include a Web link to any information you reference.
Thank you for taking action. Together, we can help ensure our airwaves stay free of conservative hate and misinformation.

Sincerely,

David Brock
President and CEO
Media Matters for America

Please write! This is in my view one of the best ways to fight the hate-christians (as opposed to the love-christians, whose numbers seem to be dwindling in recent years....)

Rocky Anderson, brave Mayor of Salt Lake City on Air America right now.

After turning on Faux News by accident yesterday, it seemed to me that Bill O'Reily was indicating that even more than the debacle in Iraq, that rising fuel prices was dividing the Republican party and he had some not so kind things to say about Bush and his responsibility for rising oil prices. He indicated that he and his friends (didn't know he had any)are sick of paying $3/gallon, blamed Bush's failed energy policies for the problem, and made it clear that Bush is no friend to the environment and far from a conservationist.

*********

Ira, it struck me today that rising gas prices are probably affecting Republicans more than Democrats (in general), because Democrats are more likely to already be conserving gas/carpooling/biking to work, etc. Republicans are more likely to be gas-guzzlers and conspicuous consumers who are much more sensitive to inflation no matter where it hits.

Don't get me wrong, of course all Americans are hit by inflation and I'm sure the wealthy can handle it better than those who are struggling. But there are a lot in the "struggling class" who voted Republican last time around.

veritas:

your point is well taken, but I really think it is the so called security moms driving SUVs which by and large while a few new hybrid models get 10-15 mpg,are otherwise hurting those middle class families. I don't think those owners of those big V8 BMWs care a whole lot if it cost them $60 or $100 to fill up.

It is this break in the voices of those underclass and middle class voters that we inexplicably lost (like those I reported at our rallies in West Virginia) who need to be spoken to, NOW, not next summer when Republicans try some quick election year stunt to get them past next November. And I don't think it is the upper class that O'Reily was speaking to yesterday, but rather the middle class voters who should be voting with us but who were diverted by cultural and security issues last Nov. This is our opening, why are we not driving a truck through it?

meant to say: your point is well taken, but I really think it is the so called security moms driving SUVs which by and large only get 10-15 mpg, although a few new hybrid models get 30-50 mpg, are really hurting those middle class families in their pocket books.

Ira, I didn't think the tax-cut-benefiters were all that price-conscious either, until I read some of the "gas gripes" posted on CNN lately. I guess they are the ones living on credit (despite their healthy incomes), buying McMansions on interest-only mortgages, driving cars they can't afford to put gas in, etc...trying to look richer than they are.
I agree with you though that it is hitting middle class/ "struggling class" the hardest...lots of folks here in the military are really struggling - they can't afford to live near the base because housing prices are too high so they live much further away and commute - but now they can't afford the gas. Yes these are the same military folks who vote Repub because of all the "terra" alerts.

Where is our concentrated water cannon message that this admin is running a George Orwell world? They fight wars for oil that double and triple our cost of gas. They claim to protect us but terrorist attacks increase exponentially. Etc. If the situation were reversed (Dems in power) you can bet there would be a constant stream of angry Repub lawmakers screaming on TV. Where are the angry Dems with their targeted mantra? The only person I see on TV that has a focused message is Ms Sheehan. What does it take to get our lawmakers on TV complaining about gas prices?
It's impacting state/local budgets too, due to things like the price of gas for school buses - kids are being forced to walk, budgets are busted by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Ditto for military fuel budgets, city mass transit budgets, etc. I guess I put this out to everyone here, what can we do to be more than echoing voices in an empty room about the energy crisis? Who is going to say, and repeat, the word "crisis" every night on TV? We can only "be the media" so much...

Ira,

I agree with you--I have several liberal friends--good hearts and souls--who drive SUVs. Reasons vary from "I am short and cannot see over the other cars, so the SUV puts me on a level driving field" to "I need to cart around boxes of stuff" to "I need to drive in the snow."

All valid points, IMO, but perhaps issues in need of creative solutions.

When I was a soccer mom, we had a minivan. When it was stolen and wrecked (for the second time in as many months), we replaced it with a hyrid sedan. We get over 50 mpg--in the city.

Solution to problems: we have to think about how many kids we can transport at one time, but they are learning to get around on their own, via public transportation.

If we have to transport large items, we rent a trailer, or truck.

I may be short, but I know where the horn is.

Snow??? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I grew up in Buffalo...

The following is the exclusive transcript of Cindy Sheehan's 16-minute speech to supporters Wednesday night, taken by RAW STORY via The Brad Show on Raw Radio.

#
CINDY SHEEHAN: Hi. Isn’t she amazing? (applause) Do you guys mind if I sit down too? This has been a pretty amazing day. Oops, did I do that. Oh, okay. I was watching Jon Stewart the other night. I haven’t watched TV for a long time and he had Chris Wallace on from Fox News, I think, and they were talking about what’s happening out here and they were talking about well Cindy’s gone, her mom had a stroke, and then they said that Joan Baez gave a concert last night and Jon Stewart said, “Well apparently they are trying to stop Vietnam.” You know and that kind of offended me because maybe if we had really stopped Vietnam, Iraq wouldn’t have happened (applause). You know we, I think it was such a long struggle that after Vietnam, I’m not going to take any credit or blame for this because I was really young, it was just like well we got our troops out now we don’t have to make sure they never do this to our kids again. And I am going to make sure that after our troops are brought home from Iraq, and they will be brought back, that we’re going to keep the Camp Casey movement going and we’re gonna make sure that our kids are never sent to fight a war for power and greed. (applause)

I’m thinking, I’m thinking probably, probably the country is kind of going to take me at my word from now on. They are going to know that I’m not going to give up and today was really hard when I came in and saw Casey bigger than life over there. I miss him so much and I miss him more every day, but like that song “Joe Hill,” Casey’s not dead. I see him in all of your eyes and Casey will never die. And they can kill the body, but they can’t kill the love and the spirit, and no matter how hard they try they can’t do that.

I want to tell you a little bit about Casey because this whole movement is because of him and because of the others that have sacrificed themselves. The hardest thing for me to hear, I don’t care about them talking about me being a crackpot or a media whore, or a tool of the left, you know. I’m like if I truly was a media whore do you think I would like maybe get myself fixed up a little bit before I went on? That doesn’t bother me at all, but what bothers me so much is when they say I am dishonoring my son’s memory by what I’m doing, that my son would be ashamed of me or what they really like to say is that I’m pissing, or shitting, or spitting on his grave. And look what Casey, look what Casey has started. You know, I’m here because of Casey, we’re all here because of Casey and you know literally there is, there is over 2000 of our brave young people and tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis and I know they are behind us, and I see them, all their faces on your faces.

But Casey was such a gentle kind loving person. He never even got in one fist fight his whole life. Nobody even hated him enough to punch him let alone kill him, and that’s what George Bush did. He put our kids in another person’s country and Casey was killed by insurgents. He wasn’t killed by terrorists. He was killed by Shiite militia who wanted him out of the country, when Casey was told he was going to be welcomed with chocolate and flowers as a liberator. Well, the people of Iraq saw it differently. They saw him as an occupier.

please read more...
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Exclusive_Cindy_Sheehan_speaks_to_crowd_at__0825.html

Thank you Veritas. I was beginning to feel that I was the only one out that that was hearing this noise from my neighborhood.

I agree wholeheatedly with you: "Where are the angry Dems with their targeted mantra? The only person I see on TV that has a focused message is Ms Sheehan. What does it take to get our lawmakers on TV complaining about gas prices?"

Where are they Veritas and how do we get their attention. Some have critized my comments about Ms. Sheehan, but I really feel that we are so fixated with Ms. Sheenhan that we have dropped the ball on gas prices, a persvasive issue which as much if not more on citizens minds than as the war.

Where is our Cindy Sheehan protesting Run a Way gas prices?
Many here have responded, don't worry Ira we are perfectly able to multistask. OK, where is our multitasking on gas prices, a burning issue that crosses over to Red Staters,Blues Staters, Purple Staters, Rich, Poor and Middle Class voters. Where is our voice? What political leader is going to step forward and when? I can't here you Dems.

I can't hear you Dems. Where is our voice on Gas Prices? Where is our Cindy Sheehan protesting Run A Way Gas Prices.

I heard Trent Lott mutter some stuff about high gas prices hurting his constituents on last night's Daily Show.

Veritas and Ira - great discussion. Any ideas on direct actions that would draw attention to these outrageous gas/oil prices while oil companies are socking away enormous profits?

What can we do that would gain attention and possibly influence the 06 midterms?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Democratic Senators Ask President to Investigate and Relieve High Gas Prices

Friday, August 19, 2005

Washington, DC – Today, Democratic Leader Harry Reid, Assistant Democrat Leader Dick Durbin, and Senator Maria Cantwell sent a letter to the White House asking the President to take a leadership role in helping to bring down gas prices. While oil companies are experiencing record profits, American families and businesses are facing record gas prices, even when crude oil supplies are at record highs. Democratic Senators are calling on the President to work with the Federal Trade Commission to help calm the oil futures market, to investigate any artificially inflated prices, and the lack of transparency in oil and gasoline markets. It’s time for the Bush administration to show some leadership on this issue. The Administration needs to put the concerns of average Americans ahead of the special interests by addressing the crushing burden skyrocketing gas prices have placed on Americans.

http://reid.senate.gov/record2.cfm?id=244852

Aloha! to gas price cap in Hawaii
New law caps pre-tax wholesale gasoline costs in an attempt to keep pump prices down.
August 25, 2005: 11:14 AM EDT

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Hawaii issued a list of wholesale price caps for gasoline, the state Public Utilities Commission said, amid this month's record-breaking run up in retail gas that saw island residents paying some of the highest prices in the nation.

This marks the first state cap on gasoline prices since the 1970s energy crisis, when the average inflation-adjusted price of a gallon of regular unleaded hit $3.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/25/news/economy/hawaii_caps/

What would happen if California did this too?

folks getting dresed up in gas pump outfits in front of CNN; protests in front of the Saudi Embassy, GM hdqtrs, Exxon, etc Maybe Dems having Conservation Forums roll across the country like W's SS forums, maybe a caravan of hybrids driving up to Crawford or GM with signs We Demand Energy Independence Now. Maybe a stunt at GM like in Roger and Me.

Washington, DC – Today, Democratic Leader Harry Reid, Assistant Democrat Leader Dick Durbin, and Senator Maria Cantwell sent a letter to the White House asking the President to take a leadership role in helping to bring down gas prices.

*******

What can we do to get these lawmakers pushing their points on TV? A letter to the White House, unfortunately, ends up as TP these days I'm sure.

I think we should also get scientists/business on board talking about developing alternatives to fossil fuels. Why aren't we plunging tons of money into rapid development/production of alternative fuel technologies? The recent nanotech discoveries could have big payoffs in the world of clean energy. This could be one way in which the US could vault to world dominance again, because India and China (and others) would want to license our technologies for clean energy. It would be a huge boon for clean/alternative energy start-ups and for universities that have spin-offs after they discover the technology. I don't want to hear any more about "30 years from now..." We are smart enough to come up with solutions and deploy those solutions within the next 2-5 years if we throw enough money and intelligent bodies at the problem. That's how America always solves problems and there's no reason why we can't do that now.

*****

I also think that whenever we get any communication with the media or any political figures, even if it is someone asking for money, taking a poll on Iraq, whatever, we should ask, "And what are you (or whatever politician, or the President) doing about the huge energy CRISIS right now?" Key words are "right now" - a long term plan isn't good enough now, they've had thirty years since the last energy crisis to figure it out and that's more than enough time.

folks getting dresed up in gas pump outfits in front of CNN; protests in front of the Saudi Embassy, GM hdqtrs, Exxon, etc Maybe Dems having Conservation Forums roll across the country like W's SS forums, maybe a caravan of hybrids driving up to Crawford or GM with signs We Demand Energy Independence Now. Maybe a stunt at GM like in Roger and Me.

Posted by: Ira at August 25, 2005 02:03 PM

good ideas, I see no problem in having multiple themed protests/sit-ins in front of wherever the President happens to be a la Camp Casey. As long as the protesters aren't fighting each other and realize they're all after the same thing, IMHO it's good to hit the admin on as many different important issues at once as we can.

I'm 99.99% sure I'm heading for Crawford for the weekend. Anybody out here who's already there -- INDY, that would be YOU -- I have a couple of logistic questions to ask...

1. Know anything about the rally on Saturday? Events for Saturday evening?
2. Do we take a bus from Crawford Peace House to Camp Casey 2? Or is it ok to drive/park at Camp Casey 2?

Who Will Say 'No More'?

Who now has the courage to say this?

Posted by: DiAnne at August 25, 2005 09:14 AM

Where is OUR voice? I realize we don't want to take anything away from the focus being on Cindy and Casey Sheehan, and that is good.

After Cindy's message resonates a while longer, as more eyes are opened, and more brains are jarred, and Americans awake from their slumber,
we need a voice. A leader, who can step up to the plate, and lead the 65% of Americans who have opened their eyes and see "no more", to say "NO MORE"!

I also think that whenever we get any communication with the media or any political figures, even if it is someone asking for money, taking a poll on Iraq, whatever, we should ask, "And what are you (or whatever politician, or the President) doing about the huge energy CRISIS right now?" Key words are "right now" - a long term plan isn't good enough now, they've had thirty years since the last energy crisis to figure it out and that's more than enough time.

Posted by: Veritas at August 25, 2005 02:08 PM

Excellent point! It's up to us and our representitives to define this as a crisis.

Ira - terrific ideas for direct actions.

defarge: you are coming from a long way. Sorry you have to see the miserable part of our beautiful state.welcome to texas.

For Madame Defarge as she rides off to Texas....

DEAD HORSE
(sung to the tune "Old Paint")

I ride a dead horse, I'm bleeding in the sand
I'm going off to Crawford, and Cindy Sheehan
She stands in the wilds, the wind beneath her hair
Her face is all sunburn, and wrinkled with care

(chorus)
Stand your ground, Mistress Cindy, stand your ground to let us know
For they're hiding and running from the son you let go

Old George Bush had two daughters and a wife
One went bar hopping, the other suffered strife
His gal, she cried in that moment, she was weak
For to now she is crying alone by the creek

(chorus)
Stand your ground, Mistress Cindy, stand your ground to let us know
For they're hiding and running from the son you let go

When I sing, all the soldiers come to life
Riding dead horses in the deepest part of night
Send my heart off to Cindy, send my soul to her dear son
And we'll ride to Texas, to see the shadows run

(chorus)
Stand your ground, Mistress Cindy, stand your ground to let us know
For they're hiding and running from the son you let go

http://mortaljive.blogspot.com/2005/08/in-tradition-of-western-

they've had thirty years since the last energy crisis to figure it out and that's more than enough time.

Posted by: Veritas at August 25, 2005 02:08 PM

And of course we all KNOW this administration is throwing out the old "We want to propose a plan on conserving energy and becoming less dependent on foreign oil" because their poll numbers are tanking (excuse the pun).

I distinctly remember President Bush using that phrase when he was campaigning, too. In fact, I have a tape or two left from the Kerry debates. He manages to say it when he needs to, but, like everything else ......up is down, right is left, $3.00 per gallon gas prices are going to be helped with a proposal that will take years to implement, and then it is a drop in the bucket.

Ira, a perfect campaign tool (and every day should be campaign day from here until '08) would be to run Bush's words from the campaign and then show gas prices across the U.S.

This administration needs to put it's money where it's mouth is, and of course they have no intention to do that.....ever.

the problem with that strategy truth is that Bush is a lame duck and is not the issue(his policies certainly are) for '06 and certainly not '08 other than Repubs arguing to give him a third term by voting for McCain, Allen, Frist etc. for Pres.
The campaign needs to be run againt the Republican party theocracy first and foremost and candidates for Congress, Hackett, Casey etc for Senate and against Voinovich, Santorum etc. not Bush. They will want us to make it about Bush to gen up their base. I think it needs to be against Senator/Congressman x. Bush is history, not the future, thank goodness.

Thanks for the input, Ira. You always have things pretty well reasoned through. I appreciate it any time you can help me see the why's, as I am so still learning!

When you say "they" will want us to make it about
Bush, who are you talking about?