SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS...

Posted by Karen at December 25, 2005 08:23 AM

Karen,

I asked a similar question at one time. I asked, "What would happen if a Congressman (woman) voted for the average person, ignored the lobbyists, and told the truth and didn't toe the party line."

I was told, "That person would never be elected because they wouldn't have the money to run. AND if they got elected, they would lose the next election because the corporate money would go to their oponent."

Here is why we can't stop. This is wrong. Morally wrong. Every season, every epoch, every culture, every leader, every day of the year.

US Bombing of Iraq Intensifies

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/122505Z.shtml

US airstrikes in Iraq have surged this fall, jumping to nearly five times the average monthly rate earlier in the year, according to US military figures. Until the end of August, US warplanes were conducting about 25 strikes a month. The number rose to 62 in September, then to 122 in October and 120 in November.

I got sent this with the whole thing in boldface - I'll post it in its entirety as I don't have a link & you won't have to subscribe to the New York Times.

I SAW JACKIE MASON KISSING SANTA CLAUS by FRANK RICH
The good news today is that the great 2005 war on Christmas, the conflagration that launched a thousand op-ed pieces and nearly as many battles on Fox News, is now officially over. And yes, Virginia - Christmas won!

Secularists, Jews, mainline Protestants and all the other grinches failed utterly to take Kriss Kringle down. Except at those megachurches that canceled services today rather than impede their flocks' giving and gorging, Christmas is alive and well everywhere in America.

Last night NBC even rolled the dice and broadcast "It's a Wonderful Life" in prime time. With courage reminiscent of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's defiance of Stalin, the network steadfastly refused to redub the final scene's cries of "Merry Christmas!" with the godless "Happy holidays!"

As Michelle Goldberg wrote last month in her definitive debunking for Salon, there was in fact no war on Christmas, but rather "a burgeoning myth of a war on Christmas."

Most of the grievances cited by Christmas's whiniest protectors - red and green banned from residents' wardrobes in Michigan, "Silent Night" censored in Wisconsin - were either anomalous idiocies or suburban legends.

The calls for boycotts against chain stores with heathen holiday trees lost their zing when it turned out that even George and Laura Bush's Christmas card had called for a happy "holiday season."

But like every other chapter of irrational hysteria in America's cultural history, from the burning of "witches" in colonial Salem to the panic induced by Orson Welles's radio broadcast of the fictional "War of the Worlds" on the eve of World War II, the fake war on Christmas was not without its hidden meanings. Or not so hidden.

If you worked at Fox News, wouldn't you want to change the subject from the war in Iraq to a war in which victory is a slam-dunk?

Rabble-rousing paranoia about a supposed assault on Christmas also has a strong anti-Semitic and far-right pedigree.

In Salon, Ms. Goldberg noted that fulmination about supposed Jewish opposition to Christmas dates to Henry Ford's infamous "The International Jew" of 1921.

That chord is sounded in the very first anecdote in the book by the Fox News anchor John Gibson, "The War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought": a devastated father discovers that his 4-year-old son has brought home preschool artwork showing a Hanukkah menorah and Kwanzaa candles, rather than a Christmas tree.

But Mr. Gibson goes on to add ecumenically that "not just Jewish people" are out to kill Christmas. As he elucidated on Christian radio, all non-Christians are "following the wrong religion," though he reassures us that they will be tolerated "as long as they're civil and behave."

Even so, much of this manufactured war was more banal than malicious. Like Christmas itself, an anti-Christmas scare is an ideal means for moving merchandise.

The first Fox News segment warning darkly of a war on Christmas occurred on Oct. 20 - coincidentally the very day that Mr. Gibson's book hit the nation's bookstores. Many of the five dozen ensuing Fox segments contained lavish plugs for the book or for the Christmas baubles hawked by Bill O'Reilly on his Web site - no yuletide loofahs, alas.

(His wares were initially listed as "holiday" gifts until a Web exposé forced a frantic rebranding.)

Even Fox News's obligatory show Jew - Jackie Mason, ostensibly representing an organization called Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation - seized the mercantile opportunity, using the "war on Christmas" to plug a stand-up booking on Long Island.

But to fully parse the war-on-Christmas myth, it helps to examine it in the larger context of what "The Daily Show" would call This Year in God.

Though religion has always been a fulcrum of culture wars in America, its debased role in that debate has fallen to new lows of lunacy since Election Day 2004.

That's when a single vague exit poll found that 22 percent of Americans considered undefined "moral values" in casting their ballots.

Ever since, politicians of both parties, Fox News anchors and any other huckster eager to sell goods, an agenda or an image have increased the decibel level of their pandering to "people of faith."

An ersatz war on Christmas fits all too snugly into a year that began with the religious right's (unsuccessful) efforts to destroy the box office and Oscar prospects of Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" and "save" Terri Schiavo and that ended with a federal judge banishing intelligent design from high school biology classes.

In his sweeping 139-page opinion, that judge, John Jones III, put his finger on the hypocrisy of many of those most ostentatiously defending faith from its alleged assailants in America.

Referring to the fundamentalists on the Dover, Pa., school board, he wrote that it was "ironic" that those who "so staunchly and proudly touted their religious convictions in public, would time and again lie to cover their tracks and disguise the real purpose behind the intelligent design policy."

That passage fits much of the dishonesty and cynicism perpetrated in the name of religion in America over the past 12 months.

This was the year that two C.E.O.'s charged with wholesale corporate fraud, Bernard Ebbers of WorldCom and Richard Scrushy of HealthSouth, both made a show of public prayer to ward off legal culpability. In Mr. Scrushy's case, the strategy worked.

Faced with the prospect of life in prison and the forfeiture of $279 million, he quit his suburban Birmingham, Ala., church to join a largely blue-collar African-American congregation more in keeping with his potential jury pool, secured his own ordination as a nondenominational minister, and bought local TV time for a prayer show featuring himself, his third wife and various members of the clergy. The jury acquitted him on all 36 felony counts.

"God is good," he proclaimed after his victory news conference. To which one can only add: amen.

A no less unctuous spectacle was provided this year by Bill Frist, the Senate's majority leader and self-infatuated doctor-in-residence.

Mr. Frist played God on national television by giving a quack diagnosis of Ms. Schiavo's condition based on a videotape, and then endorsed a so-called Justice Sunday megachurch rally demonizing "activist" judges - including, no doubt, any who may yet pass on the legality of his brilliantly timed stock sales.

Though the senator's farcical behavior is worthy of Molière, he is hardly unique among his peers with presidential aspirations.

Chastened by a perceived "moral values" deficit that might haunt her in 2008, Hillary Clinton now wears her history as "a praying person" on her sleeve.

In June John Kerry told a gathering that he "went back and read the New Testament the other day" - which presumably will prevent him from erroneously citing Job as his favorite New Testament text, as Howard Dean did in 2004.

Liberals have a lot to learn about the God racket, however. The right is masterly at exploiting religion and religious (or quasi-religious) leaders for its own fun and profit.

Just look at how a few phone calls from Karl Rove flimflammed Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family into serving as a useful idiot in support of the Harriet Miers nomination long after most other conservative leaders had bailed out.

The more we learned about the scandals enveloping Tom DeLay and his favorite lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, this year, the more we learned of how Mr. Abramoff, the founder of a now defunct Washington yeshiva and two defunct kosher restaurants, manipulated a trinity of Billy Sundays to do his bidding: the Christian Coalition's former executive director, Ralph Reed, the Traditional Values Coalition's Rev. Louis Sheldon (dubbed "Lucky Louie" by Mr. Abramoff) and Dr. Dobson.

Though all three are vocal opponents of gambling, they were each recruited for stealth campaigns for the lobbyist's casino and lottery clients.

The campaigns were disguised as "anti-gambling" crusades (often because they were in opposition to casinos competing with Abramoff clients), and these pious gentlemen, Lucky Louie included, have denied any knowledge that they were trafficking in the wages of sin.

If they're actually telling the truth, they are even bigger dupes than Mr. Abramoff took them for.

To those who fear the worst from a born-again president whose base is typified by these holy rollers and the Christmas demagogues of Fox News, a fundamentalist theocracy seems as imminent in America as it does in the "democracy" we've been building in Iraq.

Only last week did Ted Haggard, an evangelical preacher much favored by the White House, fan those fears by insisting to a Jewish television interviewer, Barbara Walters, that anyone who worshiped a different God from Jesus Christ would "unfortunately" be consigned to hell.

But it's also possible that 2005 may turn out to be the year the God card was so wildly overplayed in politics and commerce alike that it began to lose its clout with Americans who are overdosing on the strict speech and belief codes of Christian political correctness.

That the judge who ruled so decisively in Pennsylvania's revival of the Scopes trial is a Republican appointed by President Bush is almost enough to make the bah-humbug crowd believe in Santa Claus.

Tis my custom to read the old Christmas ghost story upon the Eve of Christmas, and each year I find something there I had not seen before.

This is from the Ghost of Christmas Present, and refers apparently to the fundies of the time attempting to close stores on Sundays.. but the Ghost's reply seems to fit today:

In time the bells ceased, and the bakers' were shut up; and yet there was a genial shadowing forth of all these dinners and the progress of their cooking, in the thawed blotch of wet above each baker's oven; where the pavement smoked as if its stones were cooking too.

``Is there a peculiar flavour in what you sprinkle from your torch?'' asked Scrooge.

``There is. My own.''

``Would it apply to any kind of dinner on this day?'' asked Scrooge.

``To any kindly given. To a poor one most.''

``Why to a poor one most?'' asked Scrooge.

``Because it needs it most.''

``Spirit,'' said Scrooge, after a moment's thought, ``I wonder you, of all the beings in the many worlds about us, should desire to cramp these people's opportunities of innocent enjoyment.''

``I!'' cried the Spirit.

``You would deprive them of their means of dining every seventh day, often the only day on which they can be said to dine at all,'' said Scrooge. ``Wouldn't you?''

``I!'' cried the Spirit.

``You seek to close these places on the Seventh Day?'' said Scrooge. ``And it comes to the same thing.''

``I seek!'' exclaimed the Spirit.

``Forgive me if I am wrong. It has been done in your name, or at least in that of your family,'' said Scrooge.

``There are some upon this earth of yours,'' returned the Spirit, ``who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all out kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.''

Posted by: sparrow at December 25, 2005 11:43 AM

Sparrow,

One doesn't have to go far to answer your question. In the Illinois sixth Congressional district, the DCCC decided that an "average" candidate-Christine Cegelis who won 44% of the vote in the last election against Henry Hyde-did not fit in with their plans. Therefore they have sabatogued Christine Cegelis' campaign and instead have worked to promote Tammy Duckworth-a candidate with absolutely no ties to the district or the people she claims to represent.

The DCCC gets a lump of coal from me for their horribly misguided attempts to circumvent the will of the people. Rahm Emmanuel especially should be held accountable for ruining the average citizen's best hopes of getting the seat back. This shortsightedness is surely going to haunt the DCCC, and IMHO is just as worthy of condemnation as the Congress voting to cut funds to those most desperately in need of help.

DiAnne posted this link on the previous thread.
James Bamford: NSA, the Agency That Could Be Big Brother
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/122505Y.shtml
Deep in a remote, fog-layered hollow near Sugar Grove, W.Va., hidden by fortress-like mountains, sits the country's largest eavesdropping bug. Located in a "radio quiet" zone, the station's large parabolic dishes secretly and silently sweep in millions of private telephone calls and e-mail messages an hour.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I call your attention to the paragraphs about what would happen if a dictator or tyrant took over this country and how they would employ NSA.

Additionally, as has been noted before about the terrorists, this paragraph:
"Today, instead of eavesdropping on an enormous country that was always chattering and never moved, the NSA is trying to find small numbers of individuals who operate in closed cells, seldom communicate electronically (and when they do, use untraceable calling cards or disposable cellphones) and are constantly traveling from country to country."

IMHO, we are no "safer" from terrorists today than we were on Sept. 10, 2001. I believe we are less safe, thanks to The Cretin, the #1 poster boy for recruiting terrorists, thanks to his ordering an invasion of a country that had nothing whatsoever to do with 9/11. Certainly, if NSA can't track people using disposable cell phones and calling cards (and other low-tech things, like making themselves into human bombs or making roadside bombs with minimal technical expertise), the only thing NSA has to do is monitor people who legitimately use high-tech methods of communication that have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism or other criminal activities.

In this high-tech world, they can, however, do things like eavesdrop on politicians and obtain political strategies, for instance.... That opens up a whole 'nuther can of worms for someone like The Cretin and his cabal who could do something unprecedented by cancelling the '08 elections and set up a dictatoriship....

There is not enough information in corporate Lamestream Media about the criminal activities of The Cretin and his cabal yet to keep the kool-aiders from foaming at the mouth over their "moral values" political candidates who break laws every chance they get, all impeachable offenses....

Unless corporate Lamestream Media stops censoring themselves and/or stops letting themselves be censored by the White House and/or the Pentagon, not a whole lot is going to change between now and the '06 and the '08 election cycles. They will keep justifying their illegal activities under the vague 'protect you from terrorists' banner, and some people will buy that lame excuse for having our rights taken away because they will not question the details under the 'who, where, what, when, why' categories, and neither will Lamestream Media talking heads.

Then, of course, there are the senators and reps who consistently vote in favor of whatever The Cretin wants.... They need to be educated or voted out of office....

The end of the Bamford article:

After he was briefed on President Bush's secret operation in 2003, Senator Jay Rockefeller, the Democratic vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, sent a letter to Vice President Dick Cheney.

"As I reflected on the meeting today and the future we face," he wrote, "John Poindexter's TIA project sprung to mind, exacerbating my concern regarding the direction the administration is moving with regard to security, technology, and surveillance."

Senator Rockefeller sounds a lot like Senator Frank Church.

"I don't want to see this country ever go across the bridge," Senator Church said. "I know the capacity that is there to make tyranny total in America, and we must see to it that this agency and all agencies that possess this technology operate within the law and under proper supervision, so that we never cross over that abyss. That is the abyss from which there is no return."

Posted by: oncall at December 25, 2005 01:45 PM

Yeh, I read about that Oncall. They've decided the way to Congress in 06 is to utilize the Iraq Vets. I'm not sure why this wonderful woman couldn't run in her own district though.

Can you illuminate?

Does it look like Chritine Cegelis is out though?

Barron's editorial calls for Congress to consider impeachment

Barron's editorial page editor Thomas G. Donlan penned a column for Monday's edition entitled "Unwarranted Executive Power" which calls on members of the House Judiciary Committee to investigate if the Bush Administration violated the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and to either change the law or consider impeachment, RAW STORY has learned.

Barron's Magazine is a weekly publication for investors published by the Wall Street Journal.

Excerpts from the subscriber only editorial:

...Putting the president above the Congress is an invitation to tyranny. The president has no powers except those specified in the Constitution and those enacted by law. President Bush is stretching the power of commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy by indicating that he can order the military and its agencies, such as the National Security Agency, to do whatever furthers the defense of the country from terrorists, regardless of whether actual force is involved.

Surely the "strict constructionists" on the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary eventually will point out what a stretch this is. The most important presidential responsibility under Article II is that he must "take care that the laws be faithfully executed." That includes following the requirements of laws that limit executive power. There's not much fidelity in an executive who debates and lobbies Congress to shape a law to his liking and then goes beyond its writ.

Willful disregard of a law is potentially an impeachable offense. It is at least as impeachable as having a sexual escapade under the Oval Office desk and lying about it later. The members of the House Judiciary Committee who staged the impeachment of President Clinton ought to be as outraged at this situation. They ought to investigate it, consider it carefully and report either a bill that would change the wiretap laws to suit the president or a bill of impeachment.

It is important to be clear that an impeachment case, if it comes to that, would not be about wiretapping, or about a possible Constitutional right not to be wiretapped. It would be about the power of Congress to set wiretapping rules by law, and it is about the obligation of the president to follow the rules in the Acts that he and his predecessors signed into law.

And on a lighter note, and speaking of the many different ways that people celebrate the myriad versions of the yuletide holidays... the obscure burg I'm currently living in actually made the AP newswire because of the way a certain group of folks are doing a certain kind of season's celebration up here...

PA. COMMUNITY CELEBRATES FESTIVUS
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20051225/D8EN1IAG0.html

bigottergrin,
Otter

Festivus for the Rest of Us

When I was heading out to an antiwar demonstration not so long ago, I met an elderly couple on the bus with impressive credentials. They had been a priest and nun, repspectively, they were both Vietnam vets (she had also been a nurse) and they then were social workers with low-income clients. They also live in the "belly of the beast" (near a military base). They told me, "We are in the velvet glove of fascism."

Posted by: marc trager at December 25, 2005 02:34 PM

If this country is really, really fortunate in 2006, there will be a LOT of talk about how The Cretin has broken so many laws he ought to be impeached, and an awakening of the sheeples to what morality really encompasses (deeds, not talk)....

... and Nov. '06 will be a Dem victory - meaning Dems who will stand up for what is right, not what's politically expedient or what only The Cretin's administration and the corporations approve...

I don't hold out any hope of either fortunate event, but I can still dream (at least I think I can still daydream without the intrusion of the thought police...).

Thanks for your piece, Dick. Reminded me of this:

Imagine

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

Here's an real live actual MSM piece, from the Associated Press via the CBSNews.com site, reminding us (and informing others) of what it is that we're all about doing here:

WEB POWERS PEOPLE-DRIVEN POLITICS
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/25/politics/main1165270.shtml

taking back the power to the people,
Otter

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051225/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/powell_1
Powell Backs Eavesdropping to Stop Terror
Excerpt:
Powell, who also is a former chairman of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff, had no reservations when asked whether eavesdropping should continue.

"Of course it should continue," he said. "And nobody is suggesting that the president shouldn't do this."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Does Colin Powell have any credibility left after lying to the UN (and the world) about WMD???

More apt for the above-linked article: WHY would Powell back The Cretin's spying on Americans? Has he no shame, since he still backs the LYING Cretin?!?

NonnyO
Powell is one of them & like McCain, not to be trusted or considered a "renegade" every time he departs a tiny smidgeon from the neocon line. After all, he threw papers in the air and said, "This is bullshit..I'm not reading this," but then he did. & people died.

The other person not to ever trust:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5503299,00.html

Condi Rice's Star is On the Rise

Posted by: Otter at December 25, 2005 03:06 PM
Interesting article Otter. The ending statement said,

"At some point this has got to reach critical mass," Kofinis, the Democratic Party consultant, said. "Nobody knows when that will happen or how that will happen, but it will literally explode into a movement."

I found that interesting, because of two things: first, the idea of critical mass exploding into a new movement makes me wonder if the new movement will split up both the Democrats and Republicans.

Could we in the future find this county has evolved out of the two party system into a legitimate 4-5 party system?

Does the free flowing info of the internet even out the playing field with regards to lobbyists buying votes and laws in Congress?

What do you think?

Clinton and Liel Sing for Peace
Just go watch.

Share the link, and Happy Holidays to all.

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/013509.html

sparrow: caught your last post and the story of the Iraqi war vet running for Congress. The CBS news story I heard says her neighborhood falls in 2 Districts and the reason she is running in her old District is that she is now a paraplegic and a wonderful charity spent $100,000 retrofitting her home with wheel chair ramps and other ADA conveniences that she would lose if she sold her home and moved to the other district. I am not sure sure if that is the same story or whether she is the same Iraqi vet you are referring to of if she is in 'your' district, but she came across as very warm, real, and inspirational in her CBS interview. You would think she would be bitter and angry with her her psersonal loss, but she came across the opposite; hopeful and passionate, and a great image for tv. She claims that her neighborhood is in 2 Districts and her best chances of winning is to run where her ADA home is situated. I was moved by her. Apparently her ADA home lies in an unwinnable district blocks away from the District she has chosen.
Does my response match the candidate you are referring to?

Posted by: not my president at December 25, 2005 04:11 PM

I agree.... At first I thought McCain's anti-torture bill meant something - he's been tortured, after all, so he, of all people, should be anti-torture of anyone anywhere at any time (in theory). Then it was said The Cretin said McCain's bill was okay and all my warning flags were waving madly, causing a flurry in my brain so fierce I could barely think straight. Then I found out there are enough loopholes in McCain's "anti-torture bill" to drive several semi-truckloads of bull$h*t through, and torture is still allowed, so it's meaningless....

Powell floored me when he admitted the WMD speech before the UN was a pack of lies. I thought he had maybe seen the light after his 'retirement' from public office. Then he turns around and supports The Cretin's spying.... Makes him a traitor to the American people, in my book (on top of being The Cretin's stooge and fool lackey).

Condi is never to be trusted, ever. She's gotten to the point (last time I heard her speak, quite a while back) where she can look an interviewer in the eye and lie, even if she does falter and hesitate and stutter a bit while telling those lies. Likely she's gotten pretty good at lying with a straight face by now, and few stammerings while lying through her teeth....

The neoCons will stop at nothing in their quest for world domination and control of the world's oil reserves.... I expect, in the future, they will stoop even lower than they already have....

Does the free flowing info of the internet even out the playing field with regards to lobbyists buying votes and laws in Congress?
What do you think?
Posted by: sparrow at December 25, 2005 04:23 PM

Right now, at this moment in time, the money from corporations matters more to politicians and the political process in this country than the opinion of the American people. I can't see that changing any time soon, but it would be nice if it did (I daydream about it).

I don't forsee a time when America will branch out to three, four, or five political parties. At least not in my lifetime.

I do think that if every household in America gets a computer and internet access that it will matter to the political climate in this country, but it remains to be seen if that will be a positive or negative happenstance in American politics. Right now America controls the world wide web for the entire world, so it could be used against us - as in, if a dictator wanted to, he could take out the free-flow of information to and from the rest of the world, and we'd be cut off from information coming from other countries. The internet could conceivably be used as a big brainwashing tool, as much or more than Lamestream Media for now. He who controls our media and/or communication tools controls our perception of the world.

Posted by: Ira at December 25, 2005 05:11 PM

I'm not sure, Ira. I think Oncall would know more than me.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Posted by: NonnyO at December 25, 2005 05:28 PM

I think the stammerings are intentionally done to try to win support for poor little ole' Condi. *an effort to make her more sympathetic to viewers or bench sitters.

Her stammerings come from trying to think and lie at the same time. She learned that skill extremly quickly - probably due do the early and often exposure by her coaches.

I wrote this yesterday.. did not know what the hell to do with it..

But considering the thread topic I think it is appropriate..

The Laws I Live By.

In the course of human events, there will come a time, when one must break the polite and political bonds they live by. In these moments of uncertainty, and reflection, each of us as individuals, are placed in a terrible position.

A position that will define us as people, regardless of the bonds we break, or render moot.

All my life, I have heard you must render unto Cesar what is Cesar's. But the day has come where it has become clear that never once have I ever lived in ancient Rome, nor have I ever bowed to an emperor.

I have never met a Cesar nor has one ever ruled in my lifetime. And after having lived free, even if I were to meet one, I would rather die on my feet than give on my knees to someone who cares nothing about my way of life.

Living free, I have many times, as we all have, had fundamental moments of understanding the world that interacts with us. Freedom of thought inevitably takes the course of logic, and gravity. All of us must at some point, decide the truth of what we believe.

The truth I have come too is a startling one. A truth I never wanted to find.

As a citizen of the USA, I was always taught to abide by our laws, and to support them. Even as what my eyes saw conflicted with such lessons, I remained loyal to the ideals of this nation.

Until now.

I would like to know WHY I am expected to follow laws made by men who are corrupted and deadly beyond reason...? Why should I follow laws that were meant to be broken by some, while enslaving the rest of us...?

Let us take a very close look at the reality of what our nation has become.

If I were to, say, beat my wife, or my child. I would rightly go to jail. Yet my leaders tell me torture committed in my name is not only perfectly acceptable, but needed. And these same people commanding torture are still doing so with apparently no fear of jail.

To torture, not to torture, How in the hell was that ever even the QUESTION?

If I walk into a convenience store, and rob the clerk, I am going to be arrested, and can expect to go immediately to jail as soon as I am caught. Yet the ones who demand my jailing are the same ones whom have stolen trillions of dollars from my fellow citizens. The Medicaid trust fund has been thoroughly looted. On Sept. 10th 2001 Rumsfield announced that a full ONE FOURTH of the Pentagons ENTIRE BUDGET was MISSING. We were attacked less than 12 hours later, and the thief apparently is not their concern. It has never been explained or investigated.

Who would take such money you may ask..?? Who was authorized to touch it in the first place, is to me the more pressing question.

If I take $134 dollars from the clerk, I will be in jail for quite a while. Had I stole TRILLIONS I would have stolen beyond the ability of the law to do anything about it. Obviously.

If I were to walk outside now, and attack and kill a neighbor... I would even be put to death to avenge that death. Yet the leaders of this nation can openly lie to start illegal wars that kill tens of thousands, they can order up immoral death in a pen stroke, with no real fear they will ever be held to account. They become fat as PIGS from WAR PROFITS.

How is it, MY crime is SO GREAT to require my life, itself, to be the cost, yet the blood on THEIR hands is openly licked clean by faithful servants...? They are even allowed to PAY people to go forth and excuse their immorality.

If I were to be caught smoking a joint... ONE JOINT. If I were caught with that I am going to jail. If my brother is with me and HE is caught with a joint, I will still be arrested and charged with HIS crime.

And yet for decades now the United States Government has been the biggest drug runners and dealers on the planet. Not only does our government supply the routes and bring the product, they even go into gang affected areas and TEACH THEM how to process illegal drugs for street sales to junkies and kids.

From the heroin fields of Afghanistan to the dead children at Mena Arkansas, THESE ARE NOT ACTS DONE IN COMPLETE SECRECY. We KNOW our nation has been setting up little dictators all through the world with illegal drug and weapons money. Then they even have the nerve to call it spreading democracy.

Smoking ONE JOINT will be the end of my freedom yet had I staged a few bloody coups to take over drug territories, and taught gang members to cook up crack I would probably be sitting in the halls of power even now and unaffected.

YOU TELL ME WHERE IS JUSTICE...???

YOU TELL ME WHAT LAWS I AM TO LIVE BY...??

That, I suppose, is the whole point of my argument. The laws I have been told to live by have been shredded and tainted by those whom would make such laws and then openly break them. ALL of the rest of us must sit here, day in and day out and live by laws that have become an abomination on the ENTIRE EARTH. We are expected to follow SECRET LAWS.

We are supposed to teach our children not just the law, but right and wrong, itself. It has become either, or.

Either I can teach my children right and wrong, or I can teach them laws so riddled with exception morality itself is not even an option.

I can tell my children NOT to rob a grocery store because they would be thrown in jail for life, or I can teach them that stealing 300 million and thousands of people's retirements is not even an arrest-able offense. And even if they DO get arrested, stealing HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of DOLLARS will get you less than 7 years. One murder will make you a caged animal, yet 10,000 murders makes you a PATRIOT....???

Have you ever suddenly realized that what you love so dearly has become a monster...? After that realization, you can never look upon it again without contemplating the evil heart that beats within.

I would pray to God for deliverance from such evil, but it is not God who decides Presidents. God does not make Cesar's either. Both only exist as burdens in the minds of men. And women.

But there will come a time in each life when we must decide what burdens it is we are willing to tolerate and which must be cast down. Such a moment is now upon us.

All my life I have loved the Constitution of the United States. Only for such affection to be shattered as our leaders openly, even PROUDLY, violate its statutes and very spirit. Lady Liberty has always stood in my mind, beckoning my free heart. Yet to our leaders she is nothing more than a backdrop to reaffirm their violation of the law appears patriotic.

I am sick to death at what has come forth from the very bowls of our society, and crowned itself KING. To protect themselves from the laws they break, they simply make up new ones or just ASSUME the authority with no explanations.

The last Cesar is dead. And there is no such thing as King of the Americas. There will be no more rendering. The laws that were put in place for all have been destroyed by a handful.

And I will say this one time, very clearly. If I wind up in Gitmo for it, so be it.

If the ones who make the laws are not obligated to follow their own laws, than neither am I obligated. I am not duty bound to follow secretly made laws that will destroy my own nation.

If my president can not be expected to uphold the very duty of good citizenry, than neither should ANY of my countrymen be expected too.

This is not about revolution. It is about living by what I know to be right, true and LEGAL ... IN SPITE OF those who are destroying the very foundations of our system of JUSTICE.

I still believe in the Constitution of the United States of America. I will continue to live by it as a rule. But I can not at this moment in my life even pretend that I believe in those supposedly entrusted to uphold it.

They have destroyed my faith in a country that is my mother. They have turned her into a war zone whore, where morality is moot in the face of hungry children. Hungry children they ensure will STARVE with immoral laws.

And for all the rest of my life I will hate them for it.

Hi C

Interesting observation in your last paragraph. They all have blood on their hands.

btw: Merry Christy-mas

Christy
Thanks for addressing the issue of hypocrisy on Christmas especially - it's so important & so true.

General Pace: Iraqis Want Us Out

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8A7151A1-594C-4492-9EBF-16E46BED6DF7.htm

Now, back to the Beavis & Butthead box set.

Hi yall, Merry Christmas if you can find anything merry about it.

John I tried to think of an image that.. described how it all made me feel. You know I see the pics all the time...

Most people believe I just have a morbid fascination with war zone pics.. That is not true. What I see disgusts me. But strangely enough that is not what haunts me.

I actually started looking up Iraq pics to find pics of their women and children. I can not describe why except I have a very deep desire to see their faces. To understand what is happening to them.

I think they are beautiful. They are the ones who haunt me. I can't not look at them.

I see the bombing has picked up. I just think My God its Christmas and here I am bawling again.

Im so furious I could die dangerously from it.

DiAnne..

Damn..

I wish we could change it all.

It really makes me wonder if my whole life has not been a dream. The hypocracy is so deep and so.. far reaching.. it really never EVER was the way I always BELIEVED it was huh..?

If I ever sleep well again, maybe I'll have another dream some day.

Till then I'll just sit here and wait for homeland insecurity to start rounding up the poets with pics of war crimes on their computers.

Dear God,

For Christmas will you send us a hero?

And please HURRY.

Christy - there is an old joke about a flood and how God sent two boats and a helicopter - I will tell it sometime. But, the bottom line was that the resources God sent were not used.
There are a whole lot of folks out there - both Dems and Repubs - who are now seeing that Blinky needed to be taken to task and John Kerry deserved a long, hard look as a viable candidate. I for one supported Kerry because when I met him, I saw conviction in his eyes: Perhaps John was the hero that was sent.
A Christmas thought.

Thank you John..

Just when I thought being MORE depressed was impossible...

Merry freaking christmas

Oy !
Sorry, Darlin !

OMFG...

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE HAS HAPPENED!!!

Yall know I often bemoan my towns 'dry' status, not cause I NEED a drink so much, but they are all just hypocrits.

Anyways, having the liquor store ATLEAST 5 miles from me seems to have worked well since I have not had a drink in oh three freaking years..

Anyways... My mom just knocked on my door. I opened it and without saying a damn thing handed me a whole pint of RUM!!!!

WHOOOHOOO.....!!!

Warning any future post that may seem slightly crazy,whacked out,or just insane..

I am indian... and it is all white mans fault.

Merry Chrismas Whitey..

Damn I don't remember rum tasting all ghastly like that.

IT BURNS IT BURNS!!!

My eyes....

Doctor My Eyes
Jackson Browne
Doctor, my eyes have seen the years
Through the slow parade of tears without crying
Now I want to understand
I have done all that I could
To see the evil and the good without hiding
You must help me if you can

Doctor my eyes
Tell me what is wrong
Was I unwise to leave them open for so long?

As I've wandered through this world
As each moment has unfurled
I've been waiting to awaken from this dream
People go just where they will
I never notice them until I've got this feeling
That it's later than it seems

Doctor my eyes
Tell me what is real
I hear their cries
Just saying "It's too late for me"

GUITAR SOLO

Doctor my eyes
Cannot be disguised
Is this the prize for having learned how not to cry?

Season's Greetings All

Christy, Dearest...

Remember the last words of a Great American Patriot, Nathan Hale, before being executed by the British in 1776 at the age of 21:

"I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country"

I know we all feel the same sentiments, but do not despair so...there is and always has been great injustice in the world, but you are held in high regard and keep great company.

The disbelief of our government lead astray down a treacherous path of deceit and destruction is nothing we as a people cannot overcome.

Look to our great past...think of the actions and words of the brave patriots who have come before us and know that your voice is not a lone bell clanging in the wilderness, but one of a chorus calling out across the vast seas of time crying for reason to hold back the tides of adversity.

We must have faith.

We must believe.

We shall overcome.

I believe in you as I know you believe in me and everyone here and on every site like this across the world...look at the quote on the home page of the DCP:

"America is a broken promise, and we are called to do what we can to fix it - to get America back on the track. St. Augustine shows us how: 'One loving soul sets another on fire.'
But to move beyond sentimentality, what begins in love must lead on to justice. We are called to the fight of our lives."
-Bill Moyers, August 2004

Consider my words...my love and respect for you and everyone here and know mine is the spark that will set your heart aflame when you feel overwhelmed and weary of battle.

Peace, Love and Compassion and warmest holiday wishes to all.

Indy in New Orleans o

Christy,

Great comments pre-rum.

Ironic Rummy screws up, so we all need to drink rum!

Hello Indy..

welcome back stranger.

Why do they always hang poets??

I hear ya brother man. Preach on.

I still have my faith.

And now RUM too, I think I will be ok.

Sparrow I just poured a cup for you.

Damn rummy.

Never trust a man named after a vile poison.

Wherever this administration goes, liquor is sure to follow.

Why do they always hang poets??

Posted by: Christy at December 25, 2005 09:16 PM

Because poets always get the chicks and or dudes depending on one's orientation.

Yo, ho ho ho and a bottle of rum...

IF you are gonna fall off the wagon might as well take a flying leap.

Cheers!

If you drink liquor from a CUP...

Isn't that a sign of alchoholisim...?

Like socks, my glasses and forks are eaten by the invisible house fairies one by one.

WHY FORKS..???

I just do not know.

Happy Holidays to some of the finest people I've never met (and to some I have... and yes, your fine too)...

Soulfire
by 12 Stones

Every morning as I wake to another day
I bow my head hit my knees and I begin to pray
I search for answers that I wonder if I'll ever find
Running circles in the mazes deep inside my mind
You always take me to a higher level
Show something that's deep inside
You show me things I never knew

You push me you pull me

You set my soul on fire
You take me so much higher
Higher again
Thank you for it all

Everyday living this life not knowing what it means
Consolation from above fulfilling all my dreams
And as I look across the crowd in their eyes I see
All their troubles and their pain staring back at me
You always take me to a higher level
You show me something that's deep inside
You show me things I never knew
You push me you pull me

You always give the best for me
Lift your hands high right where I can see
You always give the best for me
Lift your hands high right where I can see

Yo! Heaux Ho!

You got da thyme, I got the dough!

Posted by: Ira at December 25, 2005 05:11 PM

Posted by: sparrow at December 25, 2005 02:04 PM

Ira and Sparrow and to others who may be interested in the world of sleazy politics,

Yes Duckworth's home has been made wheelchair accessible, and yes some "friends" who live in the sixth district "contributed" to retrofitting her home. But it is true that her home is not in the sixth district. That is irrelevent as regards to her candidacy as Illinois law allows for a candidate to be a resident anywhere in Illinois. Therefore she could just as easily challenge Dennis Hastert for his seat.

I want to be clear that I admire her for her courage and bravery. Yet, her candidacy is at the behest of the DCCC. I am unaware if she had any intention of running for Congress before her injuries. Even though she has announced her candidacy for the sixth district, she has absolutely no connection to the electorate here. Her only connection is what Rahm Emmanuel has created via his friends in the MSM. Not suprisingly more people outside of the district know Duckworth than know Cegelis. The DCCC seems to believe that a veteran with absolutely no connection to the people here can beat an ultra right wing Republican resident candidate in this very conservative district. IMHO Rahm Emmanuel has his head up his ass on this one. Nothing will stop the Republicans from "swift boating" this candidate. They didn't care if they smeared Max Cleland, so why should the Republicans care if they smear an Iraqi vet (especially one who doesn't live in the district)? I am sorry, but as sympathetic as I am to her current situation, I can guarantee that her residency will become a major issue and she will lose because of it.

Christine Cegelis ran a great campaign in 2004 against Hyde and captured 44% of the vote. After the election Cegelis maintained her campaign organization and built upon her earlier success to develop what is undeniably an outstanding grass roots campaign with a huge base. The letters to the editor have been running in Cegelis's favor as regards to this issue. Duckworth is viewed as a carpetbagger a la Alan Keyes. Cegelis has been very active at major events and is widely recognized in the District as the more legitimate candidate.

I am at a loss to explain why the DCCC would decide to support Duckworth when Cegelis needed only a little more exposure and help from the DCCC. The Republican candidate, Roskam, was handpicked by Hyde and DeLay and currnetly has an enormous campaign war chest from out of state donors.

I suspect that Cegelis will win the primary, and then she can honestly claim that she is the "people's" candidate.

Now that I think about it, WHY did I choose GEORGIES reign of ALL times to ever get on the wagon.

Indy... Do you know WHY I think poets are dagerous to governments..??

Because we are all so damn pretty.

Its a conspiracy!

Christy,

The blog is going to look awfully funny if we all share a cuppa rum with you.

But the good news, I suppose, is after two sips, my usually rotten spelling will improve, Bush will start to look mighty fine, and even Rummy and Condi look like the poster-people for honesty, integrity, justice and accountability.

Posted by: oncall at December 25, 2005 09:26 PM

Email and write and get them to have her run against Hastert.

Interesting theory General.

Hey, can I get a big swig o' that? I wanna see how the other 70% lives.

When denny hasteret gets back into his office.. im going to call his office..

I want to know when they will support dropping the gag orders against Sybil Edmonds and do they have any tips on how to NOT get caught on tape taking bribes from the turks.

Posted by: sparrow at December 25, 2005 09:27 PM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

HAHAHAHAHAHA HAHA HAHA

Posted by: Christy at December 25, 2005 09:33 PM

You found something I can spell correctly. BUT...although I didn't have internet connection for the past few days, I discovered great material my L.A. Aaron should read.

Top 12 media myths and falsehoods on the Bush administration's spying scandal
Timeliness necessitated bypassing the FISA court

Congress was adequately informed of -- and approved -- the administration's actions

Warrantless searches of Americans are legal under the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

Clinton, Carter also authorized warrantless searches of U.S. citizens

Only Democrats are concerned about the Bush administration's secret surveillance

Debate is between those supporting civil liberties and those seeking to prevent terrorism

Bin Laden phone leak demonstrates how leak of spy operation could damage national security

Gorelick testimony proved Clinton asserted "the same authority" as Bush

Aldrich Ames investigation is example of Clinton administration bypassing FISA regulations

Clinton administration conducted domestic spying

Moussaoui case proved that FISA probable-cause standard impedes terrorism probes

A 2002 FISA review court opinion makes clear that Bush acted legally

http://mediamatters.org/items/200512240002

These were exactly what I was hearing from him.

Christy,

After a few more chugs of your rum, this will look pretty good to you:

http://theangrytaxpayer.blogspot.com/

I also want to add that Cegelis is not Republican Lite-something that the DCCC feels is necessary to win here. That wont work for Duckworth as she will be mercilessly smeared by Roskam if she should win the primary. I think you will find that Cegelis is more in line with most of the views expressed by many of the contributors to this site. Where does Duckworth stand on the issues?

I have included links to both of their sites and challenge you to determine who has a better grasp and sounder solutions to the promblems we face here.

http://www.duckworthforcongress.com/index.html

http://www.cegelisforcongress.com/ (read her link to the kos interview in the issues section of her site)

Posted by: sparrow at December 25, 2005 09:40 PM

That's why they call them "Talking Points" and not "Thinking Points".

1000 Pints of Lite

Christy,

Or this might look great to you too!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2331300&mesg_id=2331300

Posted by: sparrow at December 25, 2005 09:30 PM

Well Sparrow, the shmucks at the DCCC thought it would be best for her to run in the sixth. She has already announced her candidacy and if she pulls out of this district to run against Hastert she will get a political whipping the likes of which we have never seen before.

Oncall,
So who's the viable candidate against Hastert? Oh..don't tell me...They're playing dead in that race?

Wow Sparrow that site looks GREAT!!!

Hell yes...And a blogger is born.

Well, Christy, and all,

That cuppa rum went to my head. I'm going to bed now.

Here Marc...I'll pass the bottle to you now because I'm sure Oncall is oncall and shouldn't be drinking.

Cheers folks! AND cheer up. I predict in less than ONE month, you will see a lot more people hitting the streets with impeachment signs and I predict the Alito hearings aren't going to be the rubber stamp they all hoped for.

two cups of rum and I decided hey i need ANOTHER Christmas dinner so i snuck next door to my moms and got ANOTHER plate...

May have been the single most dumb thing I have done this week..

Im back on Dr Pepper... That rum is evil and causes engorgement.

I am sure you do know your District oncall better than the rest of us, but Duckworth looks like a viable candidate, why not have Cegilis run against Hastert? I understand your anger with Emanuel, but just like my friend Quan not running against DeLay and instead Lampson being the Democratic nominee against DeLay b/c of better polling numbers why don't we wait and see if there is some grand strategy by Emauel against Hastert before jumping to conclusions.
I understand why we need Iraqi veterans to be running in November to provide an alternative to the Rove/Bush strategy of just doing more of the same. That is why Hackett is making a strong showing in Ohio even thought Brown looks like the more entrenched and stronger candidate.
If you feel so strongly about Duckworth running against Hastert why don't you pick up the phone and contact her and let her know your feelings regarding which District she should run in and offer her an alternative strategy against Hastert(fund raising etc). She sure doesn't appear to be evil, at least from what I saw of her. Seems to me that it will be harder to SwiftBoat mutiple Iraqi candidates.., specifically female Iraqi veterans..

Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of Rum !

If we keep working hard, our day will come !

Christy
Yeah - I can't watch most movies or tv because the violence freaks me out, yet I have to know what's going on in the war zones if possible. I think it's because the other is fake. I need to know what's real & don't like to go only on hearsay.

What I had to drink so far tonight almost put me to sleep but I'm considering something which really will, involving kahlua, vodka & warm milk.

a White Russian ?

Ira,

It makes no sense for Cegelis to run against Hastert especially after she has nurtured a grass roots organization in this district and has much wider name recognition in this district than she does in Hastert's.

I don't think Duckworth is evil. You misunderstand me. I think the DCCC is stupid and out of touch with the reality here. I also think they are guilty of the kind of politics we have all come to recognize as sleazy. Call me cynical but after watching what the Repugs did to Max Cleland, I wouldn't put it past Roskam to smear either Duckworth or Cegelis. Two thirds of this district is comprised of DuPage county (which is one of the wealthiest counties in the country) and home to Wheaton college and multiple uber right wing organizations. The Repubs will not hestitate to smear. I have seen it done to others at the drop of a hat.

I am unaware as well if Emmanuel has decided to support either of the candidates against Hastert.

There are two candidates for Hastert's seat. I don't know who has the better organization at this time.

http://john06.com/bio.php
http://www.zamoraforcongress.org/index.html

Posted by: abqjohn at December 25, 2005 08:45 PM

Two boats and a helicopter huh? That sounds like God sent the Coast Guard!

Posted by: Indy at December 25, 2005 09:20 PM

Funny, didn't think you were all *that* poetic...

Im going to write a poem fir Veritas..

Ode to Buttery Nipples and Hot Women in Uniform...

Ok that sounds more like a movie that can only be advertised at night.

Went to see "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" this afternoon. I thought it was a lavish production, it looks like they spent at least over $150 million to produce it. Scenery was spectacular, and the classic story about good winning over evil perked me up and got me ready for another great year!!!

Truth always wins.
Good always triumphs.
Sometimes it takes time.
But it happens.

Today you take my hand and look into my eyes and teach me, as we climb the jagged cliffs together. Tomorrow, I reach back and grab the hands of a thousand more. (Old Indian saying - paraphrased.)

Yes, they are slimey creepy lying money hungry bastards.

But, we shall stop them.

We will organize, and be active. Get ready for January 7th. Before you know it, it will be Spring again! Blink your eyes, it will be Spring, and time for us to be on the run in every capacity we can, multi-tasking, organizing and being heard!!!

WE CAN DO THIS!!!!! (Keep the faith baby, we can do this!)

Christy,

Isn't Buttery Nipples the name of a drink?

Like Sex on the Beach?

Drink YES

Like Sex.. ohhh nooo... MUCH MUCH better.

UMMMM Buttery Nipples... UMMM my mouth is watering....

TSP - Sounds like a great movie!

ABQ John - Yes, a White Russian is what my drink would technically be called. Very good. Except I heated it up instead of putting ice in it.

Buttery Nipples can be described in 3 words

Care

A

Mel

The full Barrons article

http://www.buzzflash.com/index.php?story=Story

Something wierd I just found

Five Found Dead in Related Va. Shootings 45 minutes ago

GREAT FALLS, Va. - Five people were found dead in apparent murder-suicide shootings Sunday at homes in two well-to-do suburbs of Washington, police said. Officers found the bodies of three men and one woman in a house in Great Falls when they responded to reports of gunfire at about 10:25 a.m., Fairfax County Police said.

Police said they believe one of those found dead at the first house was responsible for all the shootings.

They treated the first shooting scene as a barricade situation until they determined that the gunman was dead after a 20-year-old man came out of the house.

An investigation at the first crime scene led officers to another house in the Tyson's Corner area, about a dozen miles west of downtown Washington, where they found the body of a woman.

Police said the same person appeared to have responsible for all the deaths, but gave no further details.

No of the people involved were identified immediately.

"We do believe that the suspect in this case knew the people that he actually killed," Fairfax County Police Officer Rich Henry told WRC-TV. "That he was not a stranger."

One of two dogs at the house where the four bodies were found had been shot several times.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051226/ap_on_re_us/five_shot;_ylt=AvuWIjKHzOYZxASMY5y7peqs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MjBwMWtkBHNlYwM3MTg-

Buttery nipples are my downfall

I like how they put that...

'in two well-to-do suburbs of Washington,'

SOOO, murder comes to the manor born

How interesting ONLY ADULTS were killed.

The more I think about it the more odd it seems

..Well to do... in DC... hmmmm

Yes, Veritas, but I remember you like to drink Sex on the Beach too, wasn't that you?

Now me, here I sit with a quart of fresh egg nog and no liquor in the house except some rose wine. I feel in a desperate mood to celebrate the occasion properly, but I have nothing to put in the egg nog tonight. (I do have a neighbor with a stocked liquor cabinet, heh heh.)

I am trying to write an ode to Christy. *Ahem, let's see how this goes.....*

oh and this from MY stomping grounds...

Firebomb thrown at abortion clinic
posted: 12-22-2005

Shreveport fire investigators today asked the public for help in finding the people who threw a firebomb outside an abortion clinic.

The Dec. 12 incident did not hit the Hope Medical Group for Women clinic on Kings Highway.

Security camera videotape, released by investigators today, shows a car pull into the parking lot and a woman get out on the passenger side. She is seen throwing the device at the clinic and then fleeing.

No arrests have been made.

"This is not a crime to be taken lightly," Shreveport Fire Department spokesman Brian Crawford said. "It's an arson crime -- and because of the nature of this crime, someone could also be charged with domestic terrorism as well."

Investigators say they have a "substantial" amount of physical evidence that was left from the firebomb.

http://www.ktbs.com/news-detail.html?cityid=1&hid=27563

sex on the beach...sand in my shorts...

blowjobs are great too

but only if there's whipped cream

Now Christy where is this going? this really sounds like the script to one of those late night movies.

TSP

HAHAHAHAHA

Posted by: Veritas at December 25, 2005 11:48 PM

Wow, after that... YOU can write the script.

Wow...

I just realized I am totally drunk.

That shit sneaks up on ya... huh?

Not like yippie haha drunk..

Like warm and fuzzy, don't make me kick your ass drunk...

Take that you stupid dry town!!!

Buttered nipples, whipped cream blowjobs. When did this blog become a recipes blog?

If I remember correctly OC, we used to post recipes to get rid of trolls

Oops it's late OC, didn't mean that personally of course!

Ode to Christy

There is a girl-woman named Christy
Whose poetry makes me quite misty.

Her dark sultry beauty is smouldering and deep, like her soul, heart, and spirit, seen through her eyes. She's a truth seeker, a despiser of lies.

Some say she's a bit wild, but it's her freedom you see....she breathes it in and breathes it out, for freedom is SHE.

She has unbridled passion for that same kind of freedom for you and for me.

She is an artist, and feels everything on a scale magnified to some. She is the gentlest of the gentle, the nurse in every hospital; the mother to every child who has none.

When you see her take the hand of a child, love, kindness and peace envelope her - gone is the wild.

Christy is compassionate, in this you can trust.
She's also a fighter, if fight she must.

When she cries she sobs to the deepest core of sorrow, and when she laughs, she bellows for the joy of today and tomorrow!

Our Christy's saucy and sassy and honest and true. She's a real patriot, and she's red, white and blue!!!

P.W.

And may be a little green tomorrow. Heh heh.

Veritas, are there really drinks named Sand in Your Shorts? And the other one too? We must talk.

Heh, heh, I'm alone, and after all that wild talk I REALLY need a drink.....LOL!!!!

LOL, HAHAhaha

That should have read P.S. (not P.W.)

You girls should know better than to talk about those recipes around Granny. LOL!!!

Shore up, troops!!!

(Happy Holidays!!!!)

Hang On
by Michael W. Smith

Let the tempest and the flood
Shake your soul and spill your blood
Like an old song
Keep hold'n on
Let the people laugh at you
Call you names and say you're through
Never let go
Keep hangin' on

Hang on, hang on
Can you hear me,
I'm gonna say it again
Hang on, hang on
Never giving up, no, never giving in

Hang on every hopeful word
Even when it seems absurd
Keep holdin' on
If you triumph when you fail
Keep your head when you prevail
Be a hero
Keep hangin' around

Hang on, hang on
Are you listening,
Let me say it again
Hang on, hang on
Never giving up, no,
Never giving in

Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at December 26, 2005 12:35 AM

OMG..

I thought you were joking...

Im speechless...

Thank You.

That is ... Amazing.

Christy,

Not nearly as good as yours, but, it's you, darlin'.

(Love you.)

I love you too.

Wow... Thats just great.

I think that may just be the best Christmas gift I have ever recieved.

Ever.

Posted by: Christy at December 25, 2005 07:22 PM

Came on late tonight, and just read this Christy.
You have so eloquently and distinctly verbalized how I feel too.

The last paragraph, the one John talked about.

Here it is:

"They have destroyed my faith in a country that is my mother. They have turned her into a war zone whore, where morality is moot in the face of hungry children. Hungry children they ensure will STARVE with immoral laws."

They have also turned her into a place where morality is moot in the face of the poverty stricken elderly. As you all know I work with elderly people here, and because of the new bankruptcy law, an old woman is having her wages garnished and they are trying to take her automobile (which she needs for her little part time job - with no benefits at minimum wage I might add).......and......this is just the beginning. It is over a medical bill she could not pay as she has high prescription drug bills and has normal living expenses besides.

What REALLY gets my goat is fat cats like Cheney, The Bushies, Rove, Tom Delay, Jiminy Swagger (heh), Pat Robertson are sitting their big fat butts in posh surroundings.

Those tapes came out in the hearings of "Heck of a Job Browney", and he was freaking taking time out for a nice posh dinner while people were drowning, for Gawd's sakes.

I am so tired of the fat cat haves, and the "other America" of poor working people who (I hate to tell you, but it's true. ABQ John, you know it's true, I think you are from my generation, - NonnyO, you know it's true, DiAnnhe you must have seen this.......My parents were not college educated. Before being appointed Municipal Judge in Reno, Nv on his reputation of being a very nice, level headed man with great character, my dad was a blue collar worker for a construction company in Reno for seventeen years. On his lone salary, he housed and clothed and fed five children and a wife. My mother never worked, my family was tradition in those days, and the mother stayed home alot and was a housewife. On my father's blue collar sole salary our family bought a new home with three bedrooms in it (the girls shared a room and so did the boys), we ate real well every day, had money for hot lunch, and ate real nice dinners every night at the table together as a family. We also had wonderful birthdays and Christmases, and family vacations, and I had beautiful prom dresses, and even got to have parties at our house in my junior and senior high school years where we served cold cuts, pop, and everyone danced in our recreation room.

I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE WE COULD DO ALL THIS ON A BLUE COLLAR WORKING MAN'S WAGE. ONE WORKER IN A FAMILY OF SEVEN.

WE WERE CONSIDERED MIDDLE CLASS. NO ONE LOOKED DOWN ON US. IF PEOPLE WERE LOWER CLASS IN THOSE DAYS, IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE LAZY AND DIDN'T WANT TO WORK AT ALL. IT WAS NO SHAME TO BE A BLUE COLLAR WORKER, IN FACT, NEIGHBORHOODS WERE BUILT AROUND BLUE COLLAR WORKERS, AND THEY HAD A PRETTY GOOD LIFESTYLE. LABORERS GOT UNION WAGES, AND THEY DID O.K.

Now we fight for minimum wage jobs. There is a definite lower class, but it is the class that used to be the middle class. A family cannot make it on a blue collars wage alone any more.

The new bankruptcy laws are going to leave people out on the street, young, and old. It is going to get so VERY UGLY before we stop it.

They will have the blood on their hands of all the people who have no medical insurance and can not get good care for diseases like cancer, MS, Aids, just to name a few. Children will suffer too. What they are doing is a TRAVESTY. And, yes, Mr. Bush, you have all their blood on your hands. And you, too, Rovie. And Dickless Cheney.
Rummy. Swaggart. Poppy Bush, you too.

And, every, corrupt, bought off politician who take from lobbyists and let people suffer because of the deals you cut: ~ You have their blood on your hands too.

Once upon a wayward wind,
I reached into the dark.
I found a great fire within,
That only took a spark.

There I found the Truth Prevailed,
And Sparrows brought the drink.
Independence preached the blues.
We found so many links.

We found a Monkey who cheered us on.
In perfect butchered French.
The Coast Guard came, and did the same.
And we've been here ever since.

Like a dream the fire burned,
In each and every soul.
We stood as one, like we begun,
And refused to let it go.

The good doctor, always on call,
Provided a deep examination.
Without discussion, a hot White Russian,
Was Dianne's only explanation.

John told tales of great balloons.
And we all believed.
As darkened clouds shut out the moon,
Not one of us concede.

Bound together, for each our own.
As one we stand or fall.
We found a home, each alone.
A single dream unites us all.

A dream that burns within the breast,
And shows thine eyes the way.
Where visions topple tyrannies.
And mercy wins the day.

Yes, we say, Truth Shall Prevail.
And we will make it so.
High water is the only hell,
When there is no where left to go.

Soon the dark will open up,
New days sought with each other.
But tonight, we stand and fight,
As sisters and as brothers.

A simple dream of better days.
Has changed us all forever.
Simple dreams can change the world.
When we dream together.

For you love...

Merry Christmas.

Thank you Christy.

You have given us a lovely Christmas gift.

One I shall cherish forever.

Thank you.

Indy:

I only regret that I have but one asterisk for my country.

hale fellow well met,
Otter

[P.S. -- nice affirmation at 9:08 pm in this thread, btw]

Bush Presses Editors on Security

By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 26, 2005; C01

President Bush has been summoning newspaper editors lately in an effort to prevent publication of stories he considers damaging to national security.

The efforts have failed, but the rare White House sessions with the executive editors of The Washington Post and New York Times are an indication of how seriously the president takes the recent reporting that has raised questions about the administration's anti-terror tactics.

Leonard Downie Jr., The Post's executive editor, would not confirm the meeting with Bush before publishing reporter Dana Priest's Nov. 2 article disclosing the existence of secret CIA prisons in Eastern Europe used to interrogate terror suspects. Bill Keller, executive editor of the Times, would not confirm that he, publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and Washington bureau chief Philip Taubman had an Oval Office sit-down with the president on Dec. 5, 11 days before reporters James Risen and Eric Lichtblau revealed that Bush had authorized eavesdropping on Americans and others within the United States without court orders.

But the meetings were confirmed by sources who have been briefed on them but are not authorized to comment because both sides had agreed to keep the sessions off the record. The White House had no comment.

"When senior administration officials raised national security questions about details in Dana's story during her reporting, at their request we met with them on more than one occasion," Downie says. "The meetings were off the record for the purpose of discussing national security issues in her story." At least one of the meetings involved John Negroponte, the director of national intelligence, and CIA Director Porter Goss, the sources said.

"This was a matter of concern for intelligence officials, and they sought to address their concerns," an intelligence official said. Some liberals criticized The Post for withholding the location of the prisons at the administration's request.

After Bush's meeting with the Times executives, first reported by Newsweek's Jonathan Alter, the president assailed the paper's pi